(I don't own Team Fortress Two)

~Chapter Four~

There wasn't a whole lot to do around the base. Russel did a lot of resting, and when Beryl was convinced that he was strong enough, he went with him on his daily inspection of the grounds.

"Well, I'm retired now, and you're not actually fightin', but it's still a war. Ya can't be too careful..." After Russel and Beryl had been there alone for almost two weeks, Russel convinced the engineer to let him make the rounds solo. After all, there's no one better for a scouting mission than a scout, right? He had recovered, for the most part, from his physical wounds, and he could finish in half the time the two of them took.

"Be careful!" Beryl always warned him sternly.

"Yeah, yeah, I know, Ma," Russel would reply, rolling his eyes. He wasn't too sure why the engineer cared so much about his well-being, but he was beginning to find that he liked the idea of someone watching out for him.

This morning, however, was different. For one thing, it was raining. It never rained. They were in the middle of the desert! Apparently, they'd gotten their one day of rainfall for the whole year.

"So what're we gonna do?" Russel asked, watching the rain hit the window.

"Dunno. Not much we can do, 'cept wait it out. Hey!" Russel jumped. "What're you drinkin'?"

"Nothing." Russel tried to conceal his mug. "Just water."

"Why is it steaming?"

"I... wanted to make tea. But we got no tea bags."

"You hate tea." Damn! The engineer and scout had gotten to know each other too well over the days; he couldn't fool him. "Now put the coffee down before I hit ya over the head with my wrench," he ordered sternly. Russel stuck his tongue out at Beryl before zipping nimbly around the larger man and speeding out of the room. Beryl shook his head. He'd one day given the already energetic scout a cup of coffee, mainly to see what would happen, and he'd regretted it ever since; he'd created a monster. Russel was hooked on the stuff, and even one mug would send him bouncing off the walls for hours. Truthfully, though, Beryl loved the scout's energy and antics. He had changed so drastically from when he had first started taking care of him... he still wasn't a big fan of being touched, and Beryl had heard him crying in his sleep a few times, but he seemed happy enough, chatting openly with Beryl and following him around the base. He was glad for the company; the boy was fun to be around, and Beryl was growing more and more attached to him.

"Hey, man. Whatcha doin'?"

"Drawin' plans for a house. I gotta settle down somewhere now that I'm retired. I been thinkin' of ideas of where to live. I dunno yet." Russel silently watched Beryl's hands moving deftly across the page, carefully measuring and plotting each line with precision.

"Where ya gonna go? I mean, like, when you goin' and stuff?" Beryl stopped drawing when he heard the shaky, uncertain voice.

"Russel? What'sa matter?" He studied the boy intently.

"Huh? Nothin' wrong, why'd you think there's somethin' wrong?" Something was definitely wrong.

"Russel, you can tell me what's botherin' you... why do you look so sad?" The scout shook his head defiantly after glancing again at the unfinished blueprints. Beryl's heart jumped. Did it have something to do with him? With his plans to move away? To be fair, the boy had suffered horrible trauma, and afterward, Beryl had been the one to take care of him. It would make sense that Russel would feel very attached to him. "It's not like I'm leavin' any time soon anyway. Just doodles, really."

"Whatever." The scout seemed nonchalant, but Beryl thought he could see a hint of relief in his face. Or maybe he was just imagining it. He flopped down on the couch. "God, it's so frickin' boring when it's raining!"

"Aw, come on. It rains once a year, if that. Don't complain. What would you rather do?" Russel shrugged.

"Dunno. Whaddya do when you're bored?"

"Eh... not usually too bored... Dad had a farm, so I was usually helpin' him out. You?"

"Baseball. I'm the best in my neighborhood. Fastest, too." Beryl laughed.

"Yeah, I'd believe that. You're fast, all right. So you got a girlfriend or anything?" He told himself that the question was purely out of platonic curiosity. They'd never before breached the subject of romance.

"Nah. Not a girlfriend." Hm.... not a girlfriend?

"And, uh... a boyfriend?" Shit! Had he sounded eager? He didn't want to sound eager.

"W-wh- I- no!" The scout stuttered, blushing like crazy. "Why? You think I'm gay?"

"I didn't say you were. You said you didn't have a girlfriend, so I figured maybe ya liked guys. Not a big deal, so just cool it."

"I- oh. Well. Um..." Beryl raised an eyebrow as the boy struggled with his words.

"Well, do ya fancy guys?" Russel wouldn't look at him. He looked at the floor, he looked at the wall, he looked at his shoes, but not at Beryl.

"Eh... I dunno... I-I so...what if I do?!" Beryl was stunned that Russel had (sort of) admitted it. The scout was a very proud person; usually, he let nothing embarrass him. "Huh?" He sounded very awkward.

"Oh."

"That's it? Just 'oh?'"

"Well, what else 'm I supposed to say?"

"I dunno, freak out on me, call me a moron. Whatever."

"Why would I do that?"

"Dat's why I left home in the first place. 'Parrently, likin' guys if you are one is a one way ticket to hell." Beryl shook his head sadly.

"Nah. If yer born one way, it's just wrong to try an' go against that. If anythin' is gonna get you to hell, it's hatin' people for how they are naturally." Russel scratched his head thoughtfully.

"Huh. Mebbe you should market that idea..." Beryl just laughed. "Or talk to my ma." Hm. What're you supposed to say to something like that?

"She really minded that much?" Beryl asked, unable to help thinking of his own parents and their... old-fashioned views.

"Yeah, she don't like gays that much. Says it's unnatural. But you don't think so, right? I mean... not like I wanna be gay. Or whatever." He was starting to ramble.

"Hey, calm down, boy. 'Course I don't think it's unnatural. I wouldn't say I'm too unnatural." The scout stared at him for a moment, not comprehending.

"... Oh!" Took him long enough... "Oh. Oh, uh, you're...?" He blushed profusely. Beryl nodded.

"Yep," he stated matter-of-factly. "Never told my folks, though. Wouldn't of set well with 'em, you know?"

"Well, not like I really meant to tell her or anything like that... she kinda saw some things she shouldn't 'ave, if ya get my drift." Beryl nodded, chuckling, although he was curious as to what exactly had happened. Not that he was jealous. No way, not him. They sat there in complete, awkward silence for close to a minute before the caffeine kicked in, and Russel started fidgeting, and then stood up, looking out the window mournfully. "Why does it have to rain?" he lamented, bouncing up and down on his toes.

"Why did ya have to drink the coffee?" Beryl countered, mimicking the scout's tone.

"Aw, c'mon. You know ya love me," the scout chided him. Beryl nodded seriously.

"Yeah, yer right." He was right. Beryl was just beginning to wonder exactly which way he loved him...

A/N: Thank you, everyone who reviewed! I'm glad you guys are liking this so much... I'm doing my best!

~many thanks to soundofmadness223~

I would love reviews!

~alex~