**Chapter 1: Confrontation in Confinement**

The dimly lit, cramped room seemed to close in on Viper and Sage as they stood facing each other, the air thick with tension. They had been on a mission together for days, but it felt like an eternity since they'd last spoken without sniping at one another. Viper's gaze was a piercing cold, her eyes flashing with disdain as she looked at Sage. The younger woman, usually bubbly and optimistic, now seemed tired and frustrated. The two operatives had been sent to retrieve a valuable piece of intel from an abandoned facility, but things had taken a turn when they'd stumbled into a trap. A security system had sealed off the area, trapping them inside with no clear exit. Now, they stood opposite each other, the only sound the soft hum of the facility's life support systems. Viper's expression was a mask of indifference, but Sage's eyes brimmed with tears. "You're always doing this, Viper," Sage said, her voice shaking. "You always make these little comments, give me the cold shoulder... Can't you just talk to me like a normal person for once?" Viper raised an eyebrow, her face impassive. "What's it to you, Sage?" she replied, her tone laced with venom. Sage took a step forward, her eyes welling up with tears. "It matters because I'm tired of it! I'm tired of being treated like I'm not good enough. I'm tired of being ignored and insulted." As Sage's voice cracked, Viper's gaze flickered to her lips, and for a moment, her mask slipped. A spark of attraction flared to life within her, but she quickly suppressed it. Her expression remained frozen as she took a step closer to Sage. The younger woman's tears spilled over, and she sobbed, her body shaking. Viper's eyes narrowed, her mind a jumble of conflicting emotions. She wanted to hurt Sage, to bruise her, mark her...rape her. The thought sent a shiver down her spine, but her face remained impassive. Without warning, Viper reached out and grabbed Sage's arms, placing them above her head against the wall. Sage's eyes widened in confusion as Viper's face neared hers. For a moment, they were inches apart, their breath mingling. Viper's gaze locked onto Sage's lips, and her heart pounded in her chest. She could feel the warmth of Sage's tears on her skin, but her expression remained cold. Then, with a sudden release, Viper let go of Sage's arms and stepped back. "I have nothing to say to you," she said, her voice detached. As Viper turned to walk away, Sage's eyes followed her, a mix of sadness and confusion etched on her face. Viper didn't look back, didn't dare to. She knew that if she did, she'd see something in Sage's eyes that would shatter her carefully constructed mask. Viper disappeared into the shadows, leaving Sage alone in the darkness, her tears still streaming down her face. The silence between them seemed to grow thicker, a living, breathing thing that threatened to suffocate them both.