CHAPTER 15

Ocelot strolled in front of the door and looked down at his wrist watch impatiently. Snake had better finished his breakfast, it was getting late for his medicines. He heard a little shuffle from inside and then Tatiyana walked out, adjusting her glasses.

She shook her hair over her shoulders and stared at him, standing in the door way. He could have been easily able to discard the awfully revolting look that she was giving him only if she wasn`t standing in his way. He took a step back to give her room so that she might be off but she took a step towards him. Smiling a little, as if pleased with that gesture. Ocelot looked around irritably; none of the guards seemed to be paying attention. He looked at her to find her another step closer to him. This was getting annoying.

"can we talk Ocelot?" there was something in the way she said his name, like she was licking at a strip of melting butter, impatient but cautioned, "privately?"

He frowned and tried to peek inside the ward from behind her, it was no use. His eyes adjusted on hers again and he nodded shortly before heading towards his room with his same brisk but reluctant pace.

Snake didn`t know how long had it taken, ten minutes? Fifteen? An hour?

He was staring at his hands when he heard the door open and then close lightly. He turned his head to the direction and watched closely as Ocelot walked in, totally forgetting what he had been waiting for all this time. Ocelot`s slightly shifted gait and a forcefully calm demeanor didn`t help much to wipe the slight smirk from Snake`s face as he leaned back to the pillow and watched carefully, not to mention his pale face all but dripping crimson in fury that was blowing through him in waves with every breath he took. Snake was amused.

Ocelot didn`t meet his gaze, he walked up to him like a robot and started pouring some water in an empty glass mechanically. He opened the drawer and took out the set of tablets and capsules for Snake. He did everything silently and precisely while Snake watched amusedly. That façade could have been able to fool anyone, anyone but him. Snake noted the tightened jaw into which Ocelot was putting loads of efforts for going by unnoticed and the way he gripped the glass, as if afraid he might reduce it into smithereens if his hold got any tighter. Looking closely Snake could make out a faint darker version of red near his mouth; the skin was slightly roughened as if wiped a dozen times to erase the trace. He shook his head, humor still evident in his eyes.

"here." Ocelot held out the medicines for him and handed him the glass, still refusing to meet his gaze.

Snake gulped them down and placed the glass back, "what happened?" He wished that the mock was absent in his tone.

Ocelot looked up at him for the first time after his return and Snake couldn`t control the laughter that escaped through his lips. He could almost feel the other radiating heat. He laughed for almost a whole minute before recomposing himself and looking uncomfortably at Ocelot`s vexed face.

That was it! Something in Ocelot`s mind gave way and every pillar of sanity that he had built came tumbling down as soon as Snake stopped snickering and glanced at him, "that-she-your-Tatiyana!" He broke out and Snake`s jaw hung open at the loath he used. He started letting out incoherent words, wiping his mouth off on the rough garment of his sleeve again, "She tried to- that bitch!" he looked accusingly at Snake, "what is wrong here?"

Snake shrugged, then remembered something, "you didn`t hurt her, did you?"

"hurt her?" Ocelot`s eyes narrowed, "sure, you would care about your girlfriend." He rubbed his hand across his mouth in disgust, "what a slut! She had it coming and I could have given her a piece of my mind. She was this close to having it-" he held out his forefinger and thumb almost touching, "this close…" it seemed like he really regretted letting her go unharmed, "and then she mentions you! For heaven`s sake Snake, you know I would have helped you out." And for a second there Snake could feel his throat getting constricted at the way Ocelot`s voice broke in the end. Ocelot was hurt. There was a great deal of pain as he stared into Snake`s eyes for assurance, "what do you think I've been doing here from the day you set foot on this land?"

chapter

Snake choked, on plain air this time, "hey…" He tried to wonder when the humor had disappeared from the entire situation, "I trust you. I just thought it was comical, her trying to seduce you and all. You needed a time out."

"and I would get a break with her?" Ocelot`s voice was bitter with an edge to it as he tried his hardest to not get angry at Snake.

"why not?" Snake raised his eyebrows, "what`s wrong with her?"

"never mind." Ocelot looked away and sighed, perfectly masking his irritation over the question.

There was silence. A long stretched silence. Ocelot had dropped into the chair, his usual spot and was spinning his revolver vigorously in his grip. An action clearly depicting that he was thinking. Deeply.

"Ocelot?"

"hmm…?" He didn`t look at the other`s face and said distractedly, still looking into space.

Snake cleared his throat before saying, "I need to take a bath."

The revolver in his hand stopped abruptly and he turned his head to look at Snake, "what?"

"I need to take a shower. I feel like I might not get this opportunity soon."

Ocelot furrowed his eyebrows. He thought before answering, "can it wait till dusk?"

Snake nodded.

It was noon in no time. He didn`t go out, one: because he was afraid he might encounter Tatiyana on his way and two: because he knew that these might be the last few hours he would spend with the other, taking in count his plan and Snake`s return to the states after that, so he wanted to savor the most from the chance.

Getting Snake to eat lunch wasn`t nearly as hard. He was somewhat glad that the other was feeling better. The plan in his mind had taken another edge. He also mentioned Snake`s desire for a shower to Sergeikh. The medic was skeptic as to why would he need it with a wounded limb but Ocelot ran him out. He always did.

Ocelot explained his plan to Snake as the other sat their motionless, taking in each and every detail. "I would have to go out so that Tatiyana can give you the legacy." He said it without any emotion, almost professionally, as if the thing in the morning hadn`t even happened. He was abruptly brought out of his thoughts, his piercing eyes boring into Snake`s, "do you think you can walk that far?"

"yeah, I think so." Snake looked down at his leg and pressed his fingers near the wound. It still hurt severely, although some of the harshness of pain was muted, but he was far from showing it. Something crossed Ocelot`s face when Snake looked up to meet his gaze and shrugged, "its better." He didn`t believe him.

Ocelot pursed his lips but didn`t comment. He looked down at his wrist watch and then up at him again, "I`ll have a word with Sergeikh." He got up just as gracefully as ever and was off to the medic`s office.

It was only a while later that he walked out. He didn`t look at Snake as he walked pass the bed and straight out the main door.

Eva came in just as soon as Ocelot left, she was a little bashful but there was smugness masked over her demeanor. "how are you Snake?" She asked in her sugary voice as she neared his bed.

"I`m uh…" he looked down at his leg and then up at her, managing to smile, "better."

She bought it, "that`s good. It`s confirmed that your breakout has to be tonight. I…" She paused, looking for the right words, "I negotiated with Ocelot and he was a little stubborn but it`ll work out just fine, I`ll just have to keep him busy for another few minutes till you-"

"wait." Snake held out his hand to stop her, "Ocelot was a little stubborn?" He raised his eyebrows incredulously but then shook away the humor from his voice, "He`s not going to be a problem and you don`t have to uh… negotiate with him again."

"what do you mean?" Eva glared at him, "how are you going to work out then?"

"I just need the legacy. I`ll get rid of him myself." He tried to sound like he wanted some personal revenge from the spetsnaz major. Eva bought it again.

She nodded, "if you say so. Listen," she added more seriously, digging her pockets for something, "if you need help, you can contact me through this." She handed him a radio transmitter, almost the size of a wrist watch. "it`ll not work for far off distances but till you`re on this land, we can use it." Snake was grateful. But he didn`t know why he started feeling sorry for her all of a sudden. She was doing all in her will to help him, mostly because he thought she felt a thing for him. But he was hollow, he didn`t even feel the slightest for Eva, other than being thankful and a little sorry. Nothing.

She walked up to sit on his bed like before and stared down at her hands.

"thank you Eva." He said slowly, pocketing the communicator. "Thank you very much." His voice reflected his thoughts, he really was grateful.

Eva looked up at him and smiled sadly, "this is going to be the last of it then?"

"why?"

"a flight will be waiting for you in the forest when you get out. Your mission is over Snake." She said gravely, holding out the silicon chip for him, the legacy.

Snake couldn`t form proper words. Surely he was expecting this, he was even looking forward to his return but hearing it was something different. Something real.

"what about you?"

"I have to set a few records straight here first." She pretended to shrug, "I`ll meet you in a couple of years." She waited for him to comment but he didn`t so she continued, "I wish we could be more than just mission companions." The fervor in her voice made his throat burn because he knew she couldn`t be anything more to him. That was it.

Eva leaned in and Snake closed his eyes involuntarily, turning to the limp that had kissed her earlier. Only this time it was difficult, more painful. The last time had been his first time; he had nothing to compare it with. Now as their lips met, Snake couldn't help but wish she was someone else. Someone less fervent yet more, much more, engaging. He tried to shake the thought away, even gave himself a mental kick for it but it didn`t stop him from lying there motionless, indifferent if not repelled.

A/N: i`m sorry for the delay. =(

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