Otacon was really starting to get tired of the weapons work. Snake could see his eyes moving towards the kitchen every now and then, probably hoping for a coffee. Should he take pity on the programmer?

No... He needs to have it rough, or he'll just keep up with this idea about going on missions and starting up metal gear hunting facilities.

Snake looked up and saw the sun, then smiled. Noon. That was about the right time to let Otacon start hiding in boxes and behind trees. Too bad he didn't have any lockers around.

"Otacon." The programmer looked up. "Time to do something else. It's not as though your aim is improving any. I told you those video games were no substitute for the real thing."

"Just because I like games doesn't mean I'm good at them. Look, could we take a break for a coffee or something? I'm getting a headache."

Snake just barely kept himself from grinning uncharacteristically. Caffeine withdrawal? "Otacon, when you're on missions you can't just hop over to Starbucks." He walked over and took the gun. "It's time to do a few stealth moves. Or we'll see how much you can approximate, anyways. Come on."

Snake went inside and placed the gun on the table. It would be safe enough there. "If I were an enemy soldier, where would you hide in this room?"

"Under the table," replied Otacon instantly. "Just like you did those times in Shadow Moses."

"How would you see if someone was in the next room?"

"I'd peek around the corner."

Snake frowned. Sounded like Otacon had been watching videos of what he'd done at Shadow Moses. "What about listening?"

Otacon looked around a little bit sheepishly. "Yeah, I guess I could do that too."

"You need to be aware of your environment at all times. Just the wrong choice of hiding place could give you away. And with skills like yours, I wouldn't be trying to get into a fire fight."

Otacon nodded. "Don't worry, I wouldn't try to do that. You don't even try to do that..."

"Of course I don't. Only an idiot fights the enemy when he doesn't have to. Better to avoid them."

"So what now? Since you won't let me have a coffee."

"Have a cigarette."

"Snake! Those things will kill you!" Snake chuckled and gave a meaningful glance at the guns. "Oh, come on, Snake. You know what I mean."

"Cigarettes can be useful, Otacon. Better than coffee." Otacon rolled his eyes at that. "We're going to play hide and seek."

Otacon stared at him for a moment before he started laughing. The laughter quickly died as Snake kept a cool gaze leveled at the engineer. "You're not serious, are you?" Snake didn't respond. "You're serious..."

"I'll go outside. You have thirty seconds to find a good hiding place in the house." Otacon's face was priceless, a mixture of disbelief and exasperation. Snake walked outside and smirked. There probably weren't many places that Otacon would think to hide.

For such a smart guy, Otacon wasn't that bright when it came to physical memory. He still had trouble hitting a tree within 10 meters, and each time he acted like the recoil from the gun was completely unexpected. And Snake could have walked to beat Otacon at running. How could someone like that think he could go on missions and fight terrorists and governments?

Snake took out a cigarette and lit it. Deep drag, blow out the smoke. Repeat until finished. It was good to have a cigarette without a certain someone complaining about how it was going to earn him an early grave. Who was it trying to send him on missions?

He tossed the cigarette to the ground and snuffed it under his foot. Otacon should be hiding by now. Snake stealthily opened the door and frowned. That was not hiding.

Snake went back out and circled the house. There was no way he was going to let Otacon just get away with that. It was uncalled for, and against orders! He let himself in through the back entrance and snuck into the kitchen.

He put his fingers into the shape of a gun, then crept up behind Otacon. "Freeze!"

Otacon sat there drinking his coffee, apparently not worried about the soldier behind him. "Sorry, Snake, but I told you I needed a coffee."

Snake growled. Otacon gulped down his coffee. "Time for another run."