Chapter Text
Revenant sighed loudly.
On a duo team... with Pathfinder. Normally he tolerated that chatty bot if they were on a three person team because at least then, that third person would stand with Revenant in snapping at Pathfinder to quit his idle chatter. But alone? Something almost like social graces reminded him that it was unkind to just snap at Pathfinder for no reason, and he almost felt bad for it when he did. Not to mention, Pathfinder polled well with viewers. People being 'mean' to Pathfinder did not poll well and Revenant usually got the closest thing to disciplinary action that they were brave enough to give him... more time with Pathfinder and his jet pack conveniently launching him off the ship and into highly populated areas in the arenas.
So he 'gritted his teeth' per say and dealt with Pathfinder and his annoying ways.
Right now, they were looting the train area. Revenant's hub was saying that they were one of the few squads left, so chances were that they would have the train area to themself for a moment before anyone came really looking for them. However, a down moment meant that Pathfinder was talking... again... and given that he did not need to stop and take a breath and that he could move without interrupting himself. Which meant that he could go on... and on... and on...
And Revenant really was trying to hold it together. Several shit games in a row was making him actually want to win this one, because he sure as shit did not want to get dropped in a hot zone next game and get shot in the face within the first minute of touch down and get taken out. Or get stuck in yet another game with Pathfinder and get annoyed into yelling at him again and start a vicious cycle of punishment that would grate on Revenant's nerves in a way that almost felt human.
"And then my friend Gibraltar said--"
Revenant felt a optic glitch out, his closest attempt to an eye twitch.
"And then my friend Mirage said--"
Revenant's nails dragged along the crate that he was trying to open, dragging along metal and carving lines into it.
"AND THEN you wouldn't believe what my friend Lifeline said--"
"Pathfinder."
"-- Yes, friend?"
Revenant stalked over to him, seeing actual red because his coding was stressed to hell and back and he just wanted some fucking silence. His hands hastily went out to press against the Pathfinder, angry and just wanting to stop the fucking noise.
"SHUT UP!"
There was silence for a moment.
"Are you trying to cover my mouth?"
Revenant took a second to process that, realizing that he was, in his fit of rage, trying to cover a mouth that Pathfinder did not have. And then that anger was ice cold and humiliation flooded his system.
"That is a completely useless gesture, as I do not have a mouth!" Pathfinder laughed, his screen switching over to a laughing emote just to further his humor. "You are cute!"
"... C-cute?" Revenant asked, his hands falling away.
"Yes. You are quite cute for doing that," Pathfinder chimed. "You are also quite funny, friend Revenant! I am glad that you are on my team and one of my friends, Revenant."
Revenant stood there, baffled, unsure how to react. He had just tried to cover a creature's mouth that did not have a mouth and in response... he had been called... cute and funny. His arms dropped to hang limply by his sides as Pathfinder finished looting and hopped off the train that they had been traveling around on. He heard the chime of Pathfinder's voice outside, calling him to come join him.
He got called... cute...
Later, when the two of them did surprising do well and ended up finishing first together, one of the higher ups in an expensive suit that they never worked a day in their life to afford, stopped him as he wanted to go numbly recharge and contemplate what the fuck happened.
"I won't hold you, but you did very well today Revenant, fans loved the flirting!"
They walked away and Revenant felt a finally third blow to his person that day.
Flirting.... Pathfinder was flirting with him...?