Engineer and Pyro quickly developed a pattern. They'd work together in battle, with Engineer providing Pyro time to adjust after a respawn. Pyro would help Engineer tinker with his machines, handing him various tools here and there. Every night, Engineer would come out to the shack and sing Pyro to sleep. He was getting more comfortable around the firebug, and the little flame baby took to him like a puppy. Engie even built Pyro a turret to ward people off on their shower nights.
Engineer noticed something odd about Pyro. With the mask on, they chattered and cheered like a little kid. Without the mask, however, they were always silent, using head shakes and facial expressions to communicate. Occasionally they would come close to saying something out loud, but they would always catch themselves. It was as if they were afraid of anyone hearing their voice.
That changed a few weeks later.
Pyro was bumbling around in their shack, lighting a fire and humming a wordless tune to themselves. They were a lively girl with short blond hair and a flat chest today, and it made them smile. They had learned that Engie had a thing for blondes, and they felt really cute today, so they were humming. Their rubber suit and helmet lay on the bed, and they danced around in their short clothing.
Engineer walked up to the shack, a small bag in hand. He heard humming coming from inside the shack, and raised an eyebrow, smiling when he realized that it was the same tune he'd been humming to them every night. He stopped just outside the door, humming along.
Pyro jumped when they heard Engie's deep humming, but something inside them compelled them to keep going. They went through the whole song, and then Engie opened the door, smiling at Pyro's outfit. He hadn't expected them to wear much under the suit, but what they were wearing now suited them well. He held up the bag.
"I brought you somethin'," he said, handing Pyro the bag. They took it, grinning when they opened it. Inside was a utilitarian but cute pair of barrettes.
"I figured you'd want something to hold your hair back out there," he said. "Y'know, when it needs holding back."
Pyro's smile lit up the room, and they ran forward, glomping him. He couldn't help but grin as they let out a small giggle. He put his right arm under their legs, holding them up in a wedding carry.
"Y'know, I could teach you the words to that song." They blushed, shaking their head. "It's no trouble," he said, reassuring them. "You've got the voice for it."
They shook their head again, this time with sadness. They had a good voice today. Who was to say what kind of voice they would have tomorrow, after all their respawns? Who knew if their voice would be the same by the weekend?
"Well...I'll sing it anyway," Engie said, not wanting to push his luck but still in the mood for serenading. He carried them over to their mattress, kicking off his boots and tool belt. He lay down next to them, enjoying the warmth of the fire Pyro had started. They pulled the blanket over him and curled up, head tucked into his shoulder. He rubbed their head soothingly, humming the first few chords of the song.
"Come and look out through the window
The big old moon is shinin' down
Tell me now don't it remind you
Of a blanket on the ground
Remember back when love first found us
We'd go slippin' out of town
And we'd love beneath the moonlight
On a blanket on the ground..."
He smiled down at their sleeping face, yawning a little. I've got nothin' to do in the morning, he thought, and closed his eyes, falling asleep next to Pyro. Their sleeping breaths synced up, and anyone listening would have heard their hearts beating with the same rhythm.
The pair would awake the next morning to some awkward conversation and blushing smiles, but neither would regret falling asleep together.
[Author's Note: Blanket On The Ground is an actual country song from the 70s, and I figured it fit these two the best (mostly because of Pyro's mattress). The song will appear again, but it's pretty good. Also, just for a note, Pyro looks like either Kagamine Rin or Paz from MGS in this chapter, because kawaii.]