in the quiet loop. (solid snake x reader)

06 - something warm... yet cold

Hal nodded, brushing her hair gently back from her clammy forehead. "Yeah... that's right..."

A heavy silence lingered as Emma's breathing became shallower. You kept your distance, crouched by the nearby terminal. Snake stood beside you, arms crossed, jaw clenched in quiet solemnity. Then, Raiden stepped closer to the two of you, lowering his voice to a whisper.

"What if the virus doesn't work?" he asked.

Snake's eyes narrowed slightly as he responded in a firm, low murmur. "Either destroy that thing... or take out Solidus and his men."

Raiden's expression tensed. "How do we get on board?"

Snake gave a slight exhale, looking past Raiden for a moment. "I don't think we can... unless somebody inside gives us a hand."

You remained silent. You already knew. That "somebody" was Raiden. No one needed to say it aloud. The weight of it was there in Snake's voice, in Raiden's clenched jaw, in your unwillingness to look him in the eye.

Behind you, Emma moved again. "Can I... can I ask you one last favor...?" she whispered, barely audible.

Hal leaned in. "Sure."

Her lips parted with trembling effort. "Call me... call me... Emma."

He blinked, stunned. "What...?"

"Please call me... Emma..."

She reached up, trying with the last of her strength to touch his cheek. Her fingers hovered... then slowly dropped, limp against her side.

Hal's hand caught hers too late. "What's wrong with E.E....?" he asked, as if saying it would wake her, as if clinging to the name would keep her with him.

But her chest no longer rose. Her face was peaceful, her body still.

"Emma?" he called again, desperate. "Emma...!"

His voice broke as he pulled her closer, burying his face into her hair, grief crashing through him like a tide. His sobs echoed against the sterile walls, raw and unrestrained.

You turned away, the ache settling heavy in your chest. Snake looked to the ground, his expression unreadable but somber. Raiden exhaled a silent breath, his gaze solemn as he took a step back.

None of you spoke. There was only the sound of Hal's tears, and the quiet, aching respect each of you paid to the sister he had just lost.

Several long minutes passed after Emma's final breath. The stillness in the air was heavy, like the world itself had paused to grieve. Then, from the corner of the room, a small, warbled voice broke the silence.

"Hal... Hal..." The Parrot called out from the cage. "I miss you."

Hal's head lifted. His eyes widened slightly, glassy from tears, as he turned toward the cage where the parrot perched. The sound hit him like a wound reopened. He walked over slowly, trembling. The white sleeves of his lab coat were soaked and darkened with Emma's blood, drying into a dull crimson. Reaching the cage with unsteady fingers, he opened the door.

The parrot cocked its head, then hopped out onto his hand, chirping quietly as it settled there. Hal looked down at the little creature that had unknowingly memorized Emma's love for her brother in its voice. His face crumpled again. His shoulders shook as another wave of grief overcame him, tears slipping freely down his cheeks.

You stood still, watching with a lump in your throat. Even Snake bowed his head slightly. No one dared interrupt.

But before the stillness could reclaim the moment, a sharp buzz cracked over the intercom.