Housemates
The news was devastating. "Getting laid off sucks. And so sudden as well! I mean like, one day you're fighting and the next you're getting kicked out. If I eva see that administrator lady again, it's on. And Snipes, ya wanna know the worst part? I got nowhere to go." "Wait Scout, repeat that last part?" "I'm homeless! I got nowhere to go... unless?" Scout said with a hint of another scheme in his tone. "Unless what Scout?" Sniper replied with a raised eyebrow. "I'll stay with you!" Scout beamed at his own genius. "Scout, ya know I'm moving back to Australia, roight?" Sniper asked incredulously. "So, I don't care." Sniper rolled his eyes but didn't respond. When Scout made up his mind, there wasn't room to argue with his judgement. "Fine then, your move on that one. Just don't expect me ta listen when ya start complaining. "Sweet! Give me an hour to grab my stuff, I'll be right back don't you dare drive away!" Scout pointed his finger at him to seem more threatening, but his goofy smile didn't help much. Scout slammed the door of the camper behind himself, making a beeline for the base. Sniper just sat there for a moment, thinking over what the hell he had just agreed to.
Being 35,000 feet in the air with the world's loudest Bostonian ain't so bad when that Bostonian falls asleep on your arm. One moment of peace, something he probably wasn't gonna see again anytime soon. Scout was kinda cute too, when he wasn't hitting you with constant earbash. Scout stirred in his sleep. Wait, was Scout sleep talking? Scout murmured something about his "ma" and curled tighter around the Australian's arm. Well, that answered his question. Sniper smiled and rolled his eyes. His ears pricked at the sound of an approaching flight attendant, honed from listening for spies in his nest. Thank god for the flight attendant! Sniper elbowed Scout. "Huh? Wha, ma todays naht school, lemme sleep." Scout rubbed his eyes, or at least tried to but couldn't as they were preoccupied with holding Sniper's arm in a death grip. "Oh my god, sorry man!" Scout backed off in embarrassment. "It's fine mate." Sniper said and gestured towards the flight attendant. "What can I get for you sir?" "Could I get some peanuts please, oh and maybe a water?" "I'm sorry sir, but we don't offer peanuts. Could I interest you in vegemite toast instead?" Sniper and the hostess exchanged a devious glance. "Uh yeah sure, I'll try it." Scout glared suspiciously at the two Australians. She dug around in her cart for water, and handed Scout the odd toast, all while quietly giggling. Scout thanked her and she left to assist the other passengers. "Vegemite huh?" Scout took a sniff and recoiled. Sniper wiggled his eyebrows as he took a bite, further adding to his uneasiness. The runner scrunched his eyes at the taste but kept chewing. "Whot do you think?" Sniper chuckled. "First of all, frickin gross! Second, how the heck do you guys eat this stuff? Here take it." Scout shoved the toast in the Australian's lap. "Well then, your loss mate." Sniper laughed, stuffing the treat in his mouth. Scout took a swig of his water and turned to face the window. "Woah snipes look!" He said, grabbing the marksman's attention to the window. "Scout, I don't see anything." "Thats the point, it's all blue! To bad it's not RED cause BLU sucks. I don't think I'll ever look at the color the same again. Hey speaking of jobs, what next?" "Nothing." Sniper answered simply seeing as it was the truth. "What?" "Scout, ya do know that my family house is in the middle of nowhere, right?" "Uh yeah, I uh, totally knew that." Scout said with an air of false confidence. "Doesn't sound like it." Sniper mumbled. "Snipes, could ya tell me where your house is exactly?" "Like I said, In the middle of nowhere, bushie central." "What's a bushie?" "Y'know people from the outback n'stuff. Closest neighbors are the wildlife." "What kinda wildlife?" Scout's eyes widened slightly "The usual kinda critter, crocodiles, emus, tarantulas, uh... you good roo?" Scout's eyes were open all the way now. "Weird question, b-but how big are the spiders?" "Why do you ask?" Sniper responded, trying to coax Scout into giving him some info. "Tell no one about this, kay? I'm scared of spiders. There, I said it, happy?" Scout crossed his arms. "Roo, that's nothing to be ashamed of. A lot of scary looking spiders ain't even poisonous too." Sniper gave Scout a toothy grin, trying to lighten the mood. "Okay but ya never told me how big they get." "Oh, they get like eraser sized to dinnerplate, but that probably doesn't make you feel any better." "Bingo." Scout said, slouching back to look out the window. Suddenly he sprang up and shuffled around his carry-on bag, looking for his sketchbook. Flipping to a blank page he pondered what to draw. "Hey Snipes!" "Yah?" "Hold still." "Kay...why?" "Cause I'm gonna draw ya!" said a beaming Scout. Scout furiously started drawing before Sniper could say anything. "Wait whut?" "Hold on I'm just about done...there!" The sketchpad was promptly shoved in Sniper's face. He squinted at the drawing before turning to face Scout. "Wow, this is bloody amazing! Where'd ya learn to draw like this?" Sniper's eyes flicked between Scout and the cartoony yet flattering caricature of himself. "Oh, before I dropped outta school we had art class, and it was the only class I was ever really good at, so I neva stopped drawing. Sniper looked back at himself. "I like it roo, but you should draw the rest of the team." He passed the sketchbook back to the runner. "Ya, good idea! But speaking of the team, what do you think their doing now that their jobless?" "I'll bet ya 15 bucks Medic dragged Heavy back to Europe, that's fer sure. "Ya think demo n' BLU solly did the same thing?" "I'd be more surprised if they didn't." Sniper chuckled. "Do ya remember that one time when Demo got wasted and started that slurred rant about Solly's American flag underwear?" Scout asked. "How could I forget; I'm traumatized by it!" Sniper grimaced and laughed. "How many more hours till we get there Snipes?" "Let's see. You were asleep for three, and we've been talking for one, so we got about... six more hours to go. Then after that we gotta get me van from the shipping company, then we gotta drive a day or two to reach the farm." Sniper dropped his hands. "Jesus Snipes, but hey, at least ya got me to here to keep ya company!" Scout said sticking a thumb to his chest. "True, but loud company at that." Sniper teased. Scout crossed his arms. "You just say that to be a prick, I know you like me being here, cause if I wasn't here, you'd have to be old and alone." Sniper rolled his eyes at that. Scout always poked fun at how old he looked, even though he was only like two years older than him. "Ya, ya whatever, did ya finish your drawing yet?" Sniper leaned over to see the sketchbook better. "Just about, gotta give medic his glasses and... there, done!" Scout handed him the pad. "Crikey mate, that's good! Scout was glad Sniper was so focused on the paper so he wouldn't see his blush. When Sniper gave praise, he meant it, and it meant a lot to Scout. "Oh, ya even put miss Pauling in there!" Sniper turned to Scout and smiled, showing his canines, making Scout blush harder. Thank God for the sunset, hiding his rosy cheeks. "Hey Scout look at the sunset!" Sniper pointed. "Oh wow!" Out the window the sunset was reflecting off the ocean and the soft orange light flooded into the cabin. Scout pressed his face closer to the window to see more. "Roo, could ya move over a little?" Sniper asked. "ya...sure." Scout almost whispered as he gave the Australian room to see. Scout didn't realize but the Australian was watching the way the sunlight filled his eyes, painting his features orange. "Bloody beautiful." Sniper whispered. "Me or the sunset?" Scout joked, noticing the way the marksman was looking at him. "Oi, ya know what I meant ya bloody drongo!" Sniper feigned annoyance. "Well maybe I don't cause you're always using made up words!" Scout shook his head in disapproval. "Get used to it then, since your moving to a continent full of people who talk just like me." "See, their ya go again, ya just said one! "Continent" or whatevah!" Sniper face palmed. "I'm not gonna argue with ya, roo." "So does that mean I win by default?" Scout asked, triumphantly. "I'm not gonna answer that." Sniper laughed. Scout put his sketchpad back into his carry-on as the lights of the plane dimmed. "Isn't it crazy that when we wake up, we'll be in Australia?" Scout whispered as he lowered his seat. "Yeah, I feel the same." Sniper pulled his hat over his eyes. Scout pulled a blanket from the the bag and tossed half of it over Sniper. "Whoever wakes up first wakes the other, kay?" Scout asked. "Ya, sure whatever wanker." Sniper fixed the blanket over himself. "Goodnight." "Night roo."