Fractured Facade

Night had descended, casting a dark shadow over the facility. The fluorescent lights in Viper's lab hummed softly, illuminating the scattered equipment and papers that littered the room. Viper sat hunched over her workbench, her eyes scanning the data streaming across her computer screen. She was trying to make sense of what had gone wrong on their mission, but the more she analyzed the information, the more frustrated she became. It was her fault. She had miscalculated, underestimated, and underestimated again. The weight of her mistakes bore down on her like a physical force, making her chest tight and her head spin. With a sudden burst of anger, Viper slammed her fist onto the desk, sending equipment and papers crashing to the floor. The sound of shattering glass and crunching metal was almost satisfying. As she sat there, seething, she became aware of a presence behind her. She didn't need to turn around to know it was Sage. She could sense it. "Why the fuck are you here," Viper growled, rubbing her temples in an attempt to ward off the impending headache. "We need to talk," Sage replied, her voice calm and measured. Viper snorted. "I don't have time for this. I have things to do." She began to continue her experiment, trying to shut out Sage's presence. But Sage wouldn't be deterred. She stepped closer, her footsteps quiet on the lab floor. "I'm really not in the mood," Viper threatened, not looking up. "I just want to talk about what happened," Sage said, oblivious to the danger building inside Viper. Viper's patience snapped. She grabbed Sage from behind, slamming her onto the table and pinning her down. Sage's eyes widened in shock, and for a moment, Viper's mind flashed back to the dark impulses she had struggled with for so long. The thought of wrapping her hands around Sage's throat, squeezing until the life was choked out of her, was suddenly very appealing. "I warned you," Viper bit out, her voice barely above a whisper. And then, without thinking, she leaned forward and bit down on Sage's neck. Sage's eyes went wide, and tears began to stream down her face as Viper's teeth sank deeper into her skin. Viper felt a rush of adrenaline and a twisted sense of satisfaction. For a moment, they lay there, Viper's body pressed against Sage's, the only sound Sage's quiet sobs and Viper's own ragged breathing. Then, slowly, Viper pulled back, her eyes locked on Sage's. "You should have listened," she whispered, her voice cold and detached. Sage's eyes searched hers, and for a moment, Viper thought she saw fear there. But then, something else flickered to life, something that looked almost like... understanding. And Viper's chest twisted, her heart aching with a pain she couldn't quite explain.