**Chapter 1: Locked Up and Fed Up**

Viper sauntered through the dimly lit corridor, her eyes fixed on Sage, who was walking a few paces ahead of her. Viper couldn't help but feel a surge of disdain every time she looked at Sage's calm and collected demeanor. It was just so...infuriating. Viper had always made it clear that she hated Sage, and she wasn't afraid to let anyone know. The constant bickering and sniping had become a familiar rhythm between the two, but Viper was starting to feel like it was getting old. As they navigated through the winding passageways, Viper began to feel a growing sense of frustration. She hated being on missions with Sage, hated the way she always seemed to get the upper hand, hated the way she always managed to stay so calm and composed. Viper, on the other hand, was a ball of emotions, constantly simmering just below the surface. The mission had been to infiltrate an enemy base and gather intel on their operations. It was a straightforward assignment, but Viper had managed to complicate things within the first hour. She had gotten into a firefight with a group of guards, and in the chaos, she and Sage had gotten separated from the rest of the team. As Viper watched, Sage stopped in front of a large metal door and examined the lock. Viper rolled her eyes and pushed past Sage, expertly picking the lock and sliding the door open. "Great, now we're in," Viper said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm sure this will be a huge success with you along." Sage shot her a level look, but Viper just laughed and stepped through the doorway. It wasn't until they heard the sound of the door locking behind them that Viper realized they were trapped. The corridor was narrow and featureless, with no signs of exit or rescue. "Well, isn't this just perfect," Viper muttered, turning to face Sage. Sage was standing stock still, her eyes fixed on Viper with a look of deep frustration. "Viper, we need to talk," she said, her voice low and even. Viper snorted. "Oh, I'm shaking with anticipation." But Sage didn't back down. She took a step forward, her eyes welling up with tears. "I'm tired of being bullied, Viper. I'm tired of being constantly belittled and mocked. I'm tired of being treated like dirt." Viper raised an eyebrow, taken aback by Sage's outburst. She had never seen Sage cry before, and something about it caught her off guard. For a moment, she felt a pang of...something. She wasn't quite sure what it was, but it was definitely not sympathy. Sage took another step forward, her voice cracking. "I just want to be treated with respect, Viper. Is that too much to ask?" As Viper looked at Sage, she felt a flutter in her chest. She hadn't expected this. She had expected Sage to fight back, to stand up for herself, but instead she was crying. And Viper had to admit, it was kind of...hot. She felt a flush rise to her cheeks as she looked away, trying to compose herself. What was wrong with her? She didn't get turned on by her partner's tears. That was just...wrong. But as she glanced back at Sage, she couldn't help but feel a spark of attraction. She took a step closer, her voice low and husky. "Sage, don't cry. Please." Sage's tears slowed, and she looked up at Viper with a mixture of sadness and surprise. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the tension between them palpable. Then, Viper reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair out of Sage's face. The touch sent a jolt through Viper's body, and she felt a rush of desire. She hadn't felt this way about Sage before, and she wasn't sure what to do with these new feelings. But as she looked into Sage's eyes, she knew that she couldn't ignore them. Not now. Not when they were trapped together in this small, dark space.