They may have just got here- to this car, but Viper still knew what she needed. She’d followed along dumbly the entire way here, her senses numb to the world and just going through the motions, but luckily she’d snapped out of it once they entered the mine, and had instead reverted into a better… mask for facing the puzzle at hand. But that did little to quell the welling shame burning in her chest. She’d longed for Matsukaze right after Jack had gone back… but Abel’s comfort had been much safer- in the sense he wouldn’t feel flustered or embarrassed by her hugging onto him so publicly.
But she needed Matsu, too. Just… to be with them. Just as much as she could. To feel more normal. To feel more… okay. Even though she knew it wouldn’t fix it, it wouldn’t stop her from burning that stupid register, it wouldn’t stop Jack from going back for Ibah…
And yet, it would dull the ache. Even temporarily.
But as Viper sees them, her eyes scan down, before widening sharply when she sees what’s in their hand. A pickaxe?! What were they doing?!
Whilst she’d been ambling along until now, she breaks into a sort of… half jog, reaching them just as they were getting ready to swing. Her arms quickly slide around their waist, and she brings them into her arms, face pressed into their shoulder.
“Matsu…” Her voice is low, vulnerable, “…Please don’t force ya’self… I don’t want ya ta get hurt.” Whilst her words could be interpreted to some as condescending, like she was doubting them, none of that context bled through. Instead, it was pure concern, anxiety.
A kiss pressed to their cheek, a deep, wobbling breath in, as she squeezes them softly. “I know…I’m… sure ya wanna feel useful… but there’s other ways…I…” Her face presses against them more. “…I don’t wanna lose ya too.” It’s so hard to admit that. But the words fall off her tongue before she can stop them, but she knows it’s the truth and it’s out there. She doesn’t think she could cope if she did.
