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It was Neon's first official mission for Valorant. Was she nervous? Somewhat, but she's worked hard, training for 2 months and now here she was on the battlesite codenamed 'Bind'. Was she excited? Somewhat as well, it was her first mission, she wanted to do well and maybe make her tutors, Reyna and Sage proud. Also she could maybe finally rival Jett on the batllefield.
Jett, oh it was an awkward topic for Neon. They become quick friends in her few weeks in Valorant, they were very close however there laid a tension between them. Neon had a growing crush on her rival, between every playful fights, she found herself pinning for the Korean duelist more and more. She wasn't sure why but Neon found herself staring into those sea blue eyes with admiration, she found comfort looking the way she tied up that pearl white hair into a messy bun, even her messiest buns Neon found Jett incredibly pretty,
Yet at the same time it felt one-sided, Neon didn't ever catch those pretty blue eyes staring back. Her breath didn't hitch when Neon tied her hair. It felt unfair, how could one girl fall for such a pretty woman and know at the same time, she'll never get the chance. No matter how much Killjoy would whisper how 'obvious it was', it felt suffocating to Neon knowing how she was chasing someone when she couldn't keep up. Why would the veteran fall for the rookie?
Forget it. She shook those distracting thoughts away, picking up her rifle and all 5 agents in spawn.
Sage cleared her throat "Okay here's the plan, me, Skye and Viper stack A-site. Neon and Jett play on B. Play for information, we can retake quickly with numbers-"
Everything the healer said didn't get processed by Neon's ear after she heard she was with Jett. The duelist internally groaned, don't get her wrong working with Jett was wonderful, pleasant even. Neon would die for Jett and she knew the reverse was true. But. But she could also die because of Jett, blame the Korean duelist for being too pretty in Neon's eyes.
"Got it" Neon said, nodding her head, she definitely did not get what Sage said. She couldn't fail her mission, what would Reyna say? Would Jett still think she was a worthy rival? Would she get kicked out? The grip on her rifle tightened as the thoughts continued, could Neon really keep up with Valorant?
"Yo, Earth to Neon? Earth to Neon? Mission control, this is Alpha Earth to Neon answer" Jett looked at her with a raised eyebrow, she had her head tilted, leaning close to the younger duelist.
Neon took a step back, not realizing her pause. There was a tint of pink on her cheeks before she answered "Huh? Yeah sorry- all good"
Jett smiled, stepping back before indicating Neon to follow her "Don't worry about it, if you're in danger I'll protect you!"
The blush on the blue haired duelist face hardened, pink very evident in her whole face, thankfully Jett was looking the other way or Neon would have been teased mercilessly.
~
They were in their position, diligently holding their angles.
"No sound made here.. it's been too quiet" Viper's voice calmed Neon down but the news wasn't relaxing. "Any noise in your side Jett?"
"No?" Jett sounded confused as well, Neon knew she was playing in an enclosed space in hookah, so any noise from either entry points will be heard by her.
"What? I cleared showers" Skye sounded even more confused "Viper is watching short, if they aren't hookah.. are they long?-"
"Who's holding long?" Sage interrupted with urgency
"Neon's holding long" Jett spoke up again but the conversation was getting messy for Neon, what's happening? Where are they? "I didn't hear anything, are they playing contact?-"
It was at that moment the attack started, 3 enemies peeked the angle Neon held in the cubby at B-site. There were a flurry of shots and the poor duelist wasn't mentally prepared. It was her first time to have the actual consequence and the entire team was confused with the tactic. And it costed her.
The duelist was thrown back as 2 shots hit her lower abdomen and up thigh. There was a mind ripping pain searing from her body, it was overwhelming as Neon screamed out in pain. The world was blurry as she fell on the ground, Neon saw a green wall, was that Vipers? and a grey smoke near her, Jett? Jett! where's Jett? Neon tried to look around, the pain filling her mind but she had to find Jett.
"NEON!" The voice felt distant as the blue haired duelist clutched onto her abdomen, red, that was what she was seeing. The red of blood. She felt herself being carried, it hurt, it hurt alot.
"st-stop" It was all Neon could let out, it came out as a tiny whisper through the gasps and hisses of pain the duelist let out. She held onto the arm of her carrier, she recognized the sleeve. Jett? Jett's carrying me. What's happening? Hurts.
Jett quickly placed Neon down in the hollow tube within the site, safe from enemy fire and utility for now. Neon leaned her head back against the cool metal as the pain bubbled within her, her pants increased. She heard something over her voice comms but it was a static noise to her, she wasn't processing anything but the white hot pain within her.
Neon felt multiple taps against her body, signaling her. When she opened her eyes, she saw the blurry face of Jett, it was clear she was worried. Neon looked down and saw the older duelist tapping against her arm which was clutched around her abdomen tightly.
Neon wish she could move but it felt too tight to just let loose, she could barely breathe properly "I- can't"
Jett said something as she wiped away the tears from Neon's cheek, she saw how Jett's mouth moved. Did she say she's sorry? Why? I'm the one who got shot.
Neon's train of confused thoughts were cut short when Jett's lip met hers.
It was like the world stopped, all the shooting, all the pain just for a few moments stopped. Jett was kissing her and that was all that mattered. The lips she spent a few moments staring too long everyday were finally against her. It was awkward in probably the worst situation but it was soft, it was gentle, it was nice.
Her body must have went limp from the shock as her hand slipped away from the bleeding wound. Jett (unfortunately) pulled away from the kiss and took out a bandage and wrapped it around the wound tightly, red staining the white of the bandage quickly.
Jett quickly repeating the process with Neon's leg, apologizing with every grunt and hiss of pain from Neon. She held Neon's face muttering something, Neon recognized the word 'Sage' and 'heal you', it didn't take a genius to understand what was happening. Neon gave a small little nod before leaning back against the metal container.
The minute it took for Sage to meet up with the two duelist felt like agonizing hours to Neon, she was barely conscious and lightheaded as hell from blood loss. The concerned healer kneeled down next to the pained duelist and bought out teal sphere of radiance before gently spreading it across the bandages on Neon.
Both Jett and Sage watched as the teal slowly disappeared as it slipped through the bandage and slowly closed the wound. The bleeding might have stopped but the pain didn't, Neon was still wiggling in searing pain.
They two agents talked which Neon was not paying attention but when she felt herself being carried, she forced her heavy eyelids up. Jett was carrying her back to spawn and there wasn't much the younger agent could do but let out a grunt of pain occasionally so she rested her head against the duelist's chest just hoping it can just end. Today was messy and she just wanted it to be finally done with it.
~
Today was a messy day for Jett. Physically she was fine but mentally her brain was scrambled with her actions.
How did all the wrong things line up? They suspected a contact push much too late and Neon was shot. When Jett realized, she quite literally screamed that Viper put her toxin screen up and she jumped out of hookah, smoking her and Neon from an enemy just incased they crossed to site.
The condition she found Neon was worse than she thought, there were two shots and there was alot of blood, she tried to carry Neon and she set her down in the metal tube. Jett knew she had to bandage up Neon even if Sage was a minute away but the grip the younger duelist's hand was on the wound was hard and the duelist needed a quick way to calm the younger agent down.
So she kissed her. In hindsight it was a terrible idea, horrible idea, a terrible fucking idea but she panicked. In her defense Jett had a growing highschool-like crush on the new agent, she saw how those warm brown eyes would always stare at her when she looked back at her. She always adored those bunny like hairstyle Neon had, she would feel her knees weak every time she see knees trained, her trained muscle, those clear abs made neurons activate in Jett's brain.
Jett knew the growing attraction between them, she wasn't sure if Neon noticed her hints but she knew. Yet she kissed her in the worst possible time, the worst confession someone could ever make and it was just to get her arm to stop clutching onto her wound? There was something going on between them but Jett took advantage of Neon in a vulnerable position, she felt horrible.
The duelist did bandage the wounds and Sage quickly joined them and healed the duelist. She told to take Neon back to the aircraft and Jett didn't disobey the sentinel's command. She scooped up Neon, muttering a 'sorry' everytime Neon let out an indication of pain.
The younger agent rested her head against Jett and she couldn't help but smile seeing just the cuteness from Neon.
And now we come to her current situation.
Jett was stuck, Neon fell asleep and rested her head onto Jett's shoulder. She could only hug Neon back and tried to be comfortable, there was no way in hell would she wake up Neon, she looked way too cute like that and Sage told she'll handle the retake.
It was warm in a nice way, it made Jett's eyelids heavy. She looked at Neon with a soft smile.
"Sweet dreams"
With that she leaned her head back, her body going limp as she fell asleep.
~
Jett was shook awake gently, she slowly blinked her eyes open to see a curious Sage.
The healer leaned forward, slowly rubbing Jett's hair like a caring mother "Jett wake up, we cleaned up the attack"
She rubbed her eyes, yawning quietly "What hap-pened?"
Sage stood up straight, wiping her sleeves "They planted the spike, we defused it with no further injuries" Jett nodded. Sage spoke up again "How's Neon doing?"
She looked at the other duelist, examining her face "Shit, she's drooling all over my uniform"
Sage chuckled, settling onto a seat next to Jett "She seems alright" Her face suddenly went cold, her eyes losing some of it's warmth "So do you wanna tell me what happened?"
Jett's breath hitched, she physically shivered, unable to meet Sage's gaze. "Well you know they played contact, well she shot her twice and I jumped outta hookah and carried her into the middle tube thing. Her hand wasn't letting go off her wound and I needed a way to calm her down..." Jett felt tears formed in the corner of her eyes.
Sage's curious face turned into concern, leaning closer but letting the duelist continue.
"I kissed her Sage.. shit I feel horrible..." She hugged the sleeping girl tighter as she let a tear fall "I took advantage when she was in a vulnerable position Sage. Fuck"
Sage's face was deep in thought, it took a few moments before she spoke up. "I.. I'm not sure of this situation, you both weren't thinking clearly and it didn't matter if you wanted to do it Jett, you did it on reaction and panic right?"
Jett nodded, finally being able to meet the eyes of the Chinese healer.
"You need to talk about it with her" Sage stood up, giving a firm nod to the duelist before walking somewhere.
Jett looked back down at Neon, muttering under her breath. "Yeah."
~
The pain when Neon woke up was numbing, much better than before but holy hell did her body feel sore. The blinding lights of the medical bay quickly adjusted to her eyes and she saw Jett's face lighting up as she blinked awake.
"Neon!" Jett rushed over, helping the duelist sit up on the bed.
Neon noticed she had a blood bag connected to her as she looked around the room. "Huh, was it that bad?"
Jett nodded "It should be okay now though, how are you feeling?"
"It's better"
Jett nodded at that. The air quickly turned tense and they both looked down at their laps, someone had to address the huge elephant in the room.
"I'm.. sorry" Jett started
Neon wanted to start but Jett continued her rant of apologies
"I took advantage of you and I'm sorry, I get if you will hate me for the rest of your life. I'm sorry for ruining our friendship" By the time she was done, Jett was harshly gripping onto her jeans.
Neon was quiet for a few seconds, just processing those words. Did she regret it? Was I rejected? Were we not meant to be? "D-Did you not like it?"
Jett tilted her head in confusion before shaking it "No it isn't.. that, I just feel... bad for doing that to you suddenly.."
Neon spoke without hesitation "I liked it. I.. like.. you Jett" It felt weird confessing it, the sudden pain of rejection was there, why was it so overwhelming to Neon?
"Oh." The confession left Jett at a loss for words, the signs were obvious but hearing it out loud was different. She was right, she wasn't hallucinating. "If I was honest, I do regret the kiss but I liked.. it"
They both looked at each other, sky blue staring into cinnamon brown. It's like the suffocating tension was fading away.
"I like you Neon."
Neon hesitantly pulled her hand out to the edge of the bed. Jett sat on the edge of the bed slowly interlacing their fingers together.
"Can we.. do it again? Kiss?" Neon asked quietly, she was looking away embarrassed but still held onto Jett's hands.
The taller duelist couldn't help but smile, cupping Neon's face and making her face her. "Of course"
They leaned their faces closer together, they kissed once again. It was as soft as Neon remembered, the same tenderness, the same feeling how the entire Earth stopped rotating. She wanted to get lost in the feeling and share this moment with Jett forever. Her scent, her touch, it was all the things Neon admired and remembered.
"Neon? Oh-" Both duelist pulled out of their kiss as Sage opened the door unexpectedly, all 3 agents looked at each other with shock and bewilderment. The sappy romance moment between the two kinda ruined by the concerned healer getting into the medical bay. "Oh.. uh"
"Why can't you just knock?" Jett's tone wasn't mad, just confused
Sage ignored Jett's question, instead popping out her own "Uhhh wait Jett you kissed first right?"
Both duelist looked at each other and looked back at Sage with a raised eyebrow "Yeah..?"
"Fuck" It was a rare sight to see the diligent sentinel cuss. "You lost me like 4000 credits"
"Wait-" Neon tried sit up straight too quickly, a quick hiss of pain and assistance from Jett, she sat and looked at Sage with a titled head "Thought bets were against protocol rule?"
"Yes but so was fraternization" Sage fired back before closing the door and leaving the room.
Neon was let with an embarrassed blush but both agents let out a sigh of relief. They both looked at each other again, their hands subconsciously finding their way to each other, holding on tenderly.
"Neon? Be my girlfriend?"
"Gladly"