Work Text:
Korsica took a deep drink of her decaf and leant back in her chair, satisfied. It was coming to the end of another productive day of ensuring Roxanne’s vision was kept safe.
With only a handful of seconds left before her last break, Korsica permitted herself to allow reminiscence of the last time she’d met up with the others. Chai’s guitar was coming along steadily, CNMN was now back on his feet, courtesy of Macaron and Peppermint…
She felt a flutter in her chest as she thought of the younger woman. Peppermint’s pale green eyes, the shock of the blue dye in her hair to match her style, her passion and skill…
Korsica took another gulp of decaf. It was decaf, she’d checked before making the cup. There was meant to be less caffeine to spike her blood pressure, but it felt like she’d had three shots of espresso.
“Okay…” Korsica breathed, feeling warmth rise on her cheeks. She hadn’t felt so... unbalanced... before as she looked down and noted that her hands were shaking slightly, causing ripples to appear on the surface of her coffee.
“I should get this looked at.”
-
She found Macaron in R&D.
“Macaron.” She nodded to him.
“Korsica.” He greeted her warmly, turning from a tangle of wires and circuits. “What brings you down here?”
“My implant’s been acting up.” She explained. “I wanted someone familiar with it to run some tests.”
“Of course.” His calmness helped relax her. “Take a seat.”
Korsica sat ramrod straight on the edge of the offered chair. She wanted to find the issue, sort it, and get back to work.
“So, what was acting up?” Macron asked, tapping a button on his workstation.
“I felt my heart skip a beat and my heartrate spiked.”
“Were you drinking coffee again?”
“Decaf.” Korsica qualified. “And it was my first cup of the day.”
“Were you doing anything strenuous when it happened?” He asked, swiping on a tablet to bring up a wireframe model of her implant.
“No, I was sitting down.”
“In that case, it’s probably nothing physical.” He mused. “Were you thinking of anything stressful or painful?”
“No.” Korsica said. “Just… the last time we got together.”
Macaron hummed. “I wonder…”
“Macaron?”
“It’s just that…” He shook his head.
“What?”
Macaron shrugged.
“Macaron, what aren’t you telling me?” She growled, temper fraying from stress.
“I think you might want a second opinion.” He said evenly.
“Fine, I’ll go speak to Peppermint then.” Korsica snapped, angrily standing and storming out the exit.
Macaron pressed the button on his workstation, unmuting his assistant.
“Lady Korsica’s implant was working perfectly fine that last time we saw her.” CNMN noted through the comm. “It was a clever idea to send her to Miss Peppermint. She would not have acted on her own.”
Macaron allowed himself a small smile. If his hunch was correct- and he had understood CNMN’s frequent observations- he had just played wingman.
-
Korsica paced back and forth before the hideout’s door. She knew what she needed to do- walk up, and the door would open for her. But her implant was acting up again, making her heart flutter, and she didn’t want to overly concern Peppermint.
The door slid open.
“Hey, Korsica.” Peppermint said.
“Peppermint!” Korsica yelped. “How-?”
“I still have motion sensors wired up. And I saw you outside on the camera.” Peppermint pointed upwards, indicating the device. “You look worked up. Want to come in?”
-
Korsica sat on a crate as Peppermint brought up a page of data on her screen.
“Well?” Korsica asked, frustration sharpening her tone as she looked at information she couldn’t parse.
“There’s nothing wrong with the hardware, which is good.” Peppermint explained. “Perhaps a software bug? I can write a patch if that’s the case.”
“Good.” Korsica sighed, regretting her tone. “And thank you, I always appreciate the work you put in.”
“Oh. Well, it’s nothing.” Peppermint said, turning to face the screens.
“Nothing? You saved my life with the implant! I owe you a debt for that.”
Peppermint laughed nervously, her tone high, refusing to turn around. “It wasn’t just me.”
“But you’re working on a solution now, plus you helped open my eyes to Kale’s plans.” Korsica continued. “You’re inspiring.”
Peppermint squeaked.
“Peppermint?” Korsica asked. “Are you feeling alright?”
“Never better! Could you give me a moment?”
“Sure.” With nothing to occupy herself, Korsica inspected the blue tubing that ran from the implant in her chest, up to her shoulder and down her arm. She assumed it worked the same as Vanderlay tech, only flickering if there was an issue. There had been no change in the steady blue lighting…
“There’s nothing wrong with the software either.” Peppermint reported. “The only thing that’s abnormal is…”
“Yes?”
“The implant’s been registering a higher-than-average resting heartrate since you walked in.”
Korsica could feel her high pulse, her body ready to fight, for flight- then it all fell smoothly into place. She slid down from the crate.
“Peppermint.” She said, her voice soft.
The woman in question spun around, cheeks pink. “Yes? What? I can look at the data again.”
“There’s nothing wrong with the data.”
“Then what could it be?”
“It’s because of you.”
Peppermint swayed on the spot, stunned. Korsica instantly stepped forward and steadied her. By putting her hands on Peppermint’s hips.
Peppermint looked up at her, pale green eyes locking onto Korsica’s. Her tongue darted out to wet her lips.
Oh, Korsica thought. Peppermint’s nervous.
Korsica found that her hands were shaking again, fingers shivering on Peppermint’s sides.
Oh, Korsica realised. I’m nervous too! Appreciating what the feelings truly were, she laughed, and Peppermint joined in, breaking the tension.
"I- I never dreamed you'd actually say that." Peppermint confessed shyly.
“I’m such a fool.” Korsica told the shorter woman. “I know what’s happened to my heart.”
“Yeah?” Peppermint smiled widely up at Korsica; giddy enthusiasm clear. “Care to share it with me?”
Feeling relaxed, Korsica leant forwards, saw Peppermint closing her eyes. Korsica did too as her nose nudged Peppermint’s, their faces tilting to allow their lips to meet and-
Korsica’s heart soared. She kissed Peppermint again, the revelation and reciprocation sending pure joy through her. She eagerly stepped forward. Peppermint bumped back against her computer, knocking something loose and turning the screen off, but neither woman was particularly concerned by that.
They stumbled past the graffiti pictures and up the stairs to Korsica’s corner- and the pale red couch she had claimed. Korsica detached her pauldron on the way, the external armour unnecessary and right now in the way of getting her jacket off. Peppermint’s hands were not idle either, finding the rips in Korsica’s leggings and delightfully tracing along the exposed skin.
“Clothes. Off. Now.” Korsica growled, the burr of her voice low and hungry.
“Fuck, your accent is-.” Peppermint’s gasped words were cut off with a moan when Korsica pressed a kiss to her neck. The tool harness clattered to the floor. It was swiftly joined by the rest of their clothes, a pile forming by the coffee table.
It didn’t take long to them to find the rhythm of one another’s bodies, quickly adapting to and accepting that Peppermint had a prosthetic and Korisca an implant as part of their passionate motions.
-
Korsica ran her fingers over the buzzcut hair on the left side of Peppermint’s head, softly letting the short hairs brush against the pads of her fingers. Peppermint exhaled a happy breath and nuzzled closer atop Korsica, their bodies flush against each other under a rug that had been found underneath the couch and repurposed as a blanket. Lying against the armrest would be murder on Korsica’s back and neck if she fell asleep, but she didn’t care. Peppermint was all she cared about right now.
“When it was just me, I used to spend all-nighters here, trying to infiltrate Vanderlay.” Peppermint explained. “It got so lonely, so I built 808.”
Korsica’s hand moved to trace the shell of Peppermint’s ear, feeling the piercings before sliding against the line of her lover’s jaw, which flexed against her fingers as Peppermint continued speaking.
“I didn’t think that I’d get to meet all of you, let alone succeed.”
“But here we are.” Korsica said. She applied featherlight pressure on her fingers, and Peppermint eagerly moved with the motion, guided into another kiss.
“So.” Peppermint drawled once they paused. “Work out what’s up with your heart?” She tapped one finger lightly against the implant in Korsica’s chest.
“Yes.” Korsica smiled. “It’s been hacked by you.”
Peppermint snorted. “I think Chai’s a bad influence on you.” Peppermint noted. “He has a terrible sense of humour.”
“Blame the endorphins.” Korsica winked. Peppermint blushed and shifted. Korsica felt her lover’s prosthetic flex and shift against her leg as Peppermint adjusted her position. It continued for longer than Peppermint needed for getting comfier, so…
“Oh? Looking for an encore?” Korsica asked, quick on the uptake.
Peppermint blushed deeper, smiling that adorably goofy smile. “Yeah, I mean, if you’re ready.”
Korsica slipped her hands under the rug, nudging it down so it wouldn’t get in the way.
“For you, darling, I always am. Now, shall we?”