Medic didn't move for a good minute, wondering if maybe Heavy would return. After a while, he realized his friend wasn't coming back. He sighed and slumped into a nearby chair. What was he going to do now? Heavy certainly didn't appear to want to hear the doctor out. So Medic decided to go and see if one of his friends could help. Mainly Engineer, after all, he was the one who had been helping him through most of this crazy mess.

But when he went down to Dell's workshop, he saw no sign of that the Texan man had even been in there all afternoon. Then he remembered that Dell would be in the base's courtyard, talking to Pyro about their tattoo. Medic quickly made his way through the base and headed outside, he looked around and saw Engie and Pyro were sitting on a bench and talking. Medic rushed up to Dell and when Engie saw him, he gave his friend a nod and moved to make room for him, Medic sat down as Dell spoke.

"Howdy, doc! How're things going?"

"Not great. Heavy is upset with me. Because of you."

Engie frowned, confusion on his face. "Me? Why would the big guy be mad at you cause of me?"

"He thinks we are hiding something from him. Something. . .intimate."

"Well did ya tell him that nothing "intimate" is happening 'tween us?"

Medic lowered his head into his hands as he sighed in frustration. "I tried, but he wouldn't believe me. I don't know what to do, Dell. I can't lose him."

That's when Pyro chimed in, patting their friend on the shoulder.

"Med, I think you need to just tell him."

Medic looked surprised and slightly confused. "Tell him what?"

Both Dell and Pyro looked at each other and then stared at Medic, speaking at the same time.

"Tell him how you really feel."

Medic shook his head. "I can't. He doesn't feel the same. He-"

Dell stomped his foot down as he shot up from the bench, surprising both of his friends. "Okay, enough! Doc, if you are serious about your feelings. You gotta let him know about 'em. Before it's too late."

Medic shook away his shock and nodded, rising from the bench. A newly found sense of courage filled him. He was going to tell Heavy how he felt. He was done hiding and running from his emotions. He spoke no more words as he briskly left the courtyard and began his search for Heavy, looking in the places he frequently was during ceasefire hours. He found the lumbering Russian man in the base's armory, polishing his beloved minigun, Sasha. Heavy sensed the doctor's presence and looked from Sasha, a brief look of worry flashed across his face before he hid it behind a mask of neutral look.

"Ludwig. What brings you here?"

"I came to see you, Mikhail."

Heavy sneered in annoyance as he scoffed, "Me? Why would you want to see me? Shouldn't you be with Dell?"

"I'm only seeing Dell a lot cause we are friends. And I need to tell you something."

"Friends? Sure, that's right. I'm sure you two are very good friends."

Medic gritted his teeth as Heavy's stubbornness was starting to get to him.

"Mikhail, listen to me-"

Heavy suddenly rose from his seat with surprising speed and was inches from Medic within the blink of an eye. He jabbed a finger into Medic's chest, pushing the smaller man a bit as he glared.

"No, you listen to me. Don't call me that. Only friends call me Mikhail. You are not my friend."

Medic's face turned red as anger filled his heart and whispered. "You idiot."

Heavy's own face burned in anger, "What did you call me, little man?"

Medic's anger took over and he got right in Heavy's face, jabbing his own finger into the larger man's chest. "You heard me! You, Mikhail, are an idiot. A moron. A bumbling dummkopf!"

"You dare talk-"

"Yes, I dare to talk to you like this! Because you are too much of an idiot to open your eyes and realize what's right in front of you."

"And what is right in front of me? All I see is little nurse screeching at me."

Smack!

Both Heavy and Medic were too stunned to react as the red imprint of his gloved hand appeared on Heavy's cheek. Medic snapped out of the trance quicker and breathed in anger sharp breaths. He tore off his coat and shirt, letting them fall to the floor, before turning his back towards Heavy, who slipped out his daze soon after.

"This is what is right in front of you. This."

Heavy's eyes went down Medic's back and soon settled on his name, burned into the doctor's flesh. He knew what it was and he looked back up at Medic's face, his own full of shock.

"Is that. . ."

Medic didn't answer, instead, he gathered up his clothes and walked out of the armory without another word. Leaving Heavy with a sore cheek and an even more sore heart.

X X X

Weeks went by after Medic and Heavy's final fight. Neither spoke to one another during that time and it seemed neither slept during that time either, as evident by their poor performances in their recent battles. The team knew if they didn't get these two to make up, the team would end up being fired or replaced. Besides after everything those two crazy guys had been through, it couldn't end like this?

Right?

So Engineer with the help of a few of the other mercenaries, cooked up a plan to get Heavy and Medic to make up. Dell told Medic that he needed his help in base's rec room, saying it had something to do with Pyro, and Scout had the plan to challenge Heavy to an arm wrestling match there in order to get him there as well. Medic showed up a few minutes before Heavy did and was confused when he didn't see Engineer. He shrugged it off and sat down in a comfy chair, deciding to wait for the Texan to show. The door opened again and instead of Dell, appeared Heavy. He frowned in confusion as he saw not Scout, but Medic.

"Where is little Scout? I am here to destroy his baby arm."

Medic shrugged but didn't look at Heavy. "I'm just here waiting for Engineer. He needed my help with Pyro. Like last time."

Heavy grunted in reply and started to leave the room when the doors suddenly slammed shut, followed by the unmistakable sound of it being locked. Heavy pushed on the door and soon became anger as it wouldn't open. He put all his body weight behind his shove as he slammed into the door. It didn't budge, no matter how hard he pushed.

"This is not funny. Whoever did this. I will end you if you do not open door for Heavy!"

Medic got up from his chair and pushed on the door, but if Heavy couldn't get it open then Medic had no chance. Heavy was about to try again when he was stopped by the sound of crackling static as the base's intercom came on and Dell's voice rang out from the speakers.

"Can ya'll hear this?"

Medic stared up at the intercom, speaking up to it. "Dell, let us out of here!"

"I hope you like this room. Cause ya aren't getting out until you make up and play nice. You two are best friends and I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say, there is more than just friendship going on between you two. So stop this fighting, tell each other how ya feel. Or have fun in the rec room, boys. Your choice."

Static cut through and Dell's voice was heard no more. Both Heavy and Medic stared up at the speaker in disbelief. Certainly, Dell wouldn't really keep them locked away in here forever. Heavy slammed his fist against the door, trying to force it open. But no dents or signs of stress appeared on the door from his strikes, so he soon gave up, walking over to the couch and sunk into it.

Medic sat nearby, but not next to him. Neither spoke for a long time. Soon the whole day went by and by the time the sun had set and the room darkened, neither men had moved an inch from their spots. Engie and the rest of the team watched the room from a camera mounted on the ceiling and Dell almost gave up and thought about just letting the two go. But he couldn't, he knew that they had to fix things. After hours of silence, Heavy took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before opening his mouth to speak once again.

"Ludwig."

Medic had been falling asleep but was woke from his stupor by the other man's voice. He stared up at him and yawned softly.

"Misha?"

"Ludwig, I am sorry for all this."

Medic looked away for a second before speaking, "This is mostly my fault."

"Heavy is to blame too."

Heavy shifted in his seat and turned to look at Medic, "My name is on your flesh. Burned by a feeling that is stronger than any flame. Your feelings are strong for me, aren't they?"

Medic was taken by surprise by Heavy's bluntness and turned red again, this time from embarrassment. "I. . .I don't. . ."

"And I found your name on my flesh as well, in the same spot. Do you know why?"

"Why?"

Heavy stood up and walked over to the doctor, whose heart pounded like a drum being shaken in an earthquake. The Russian man stared dead into his eyes and held the side of his face with his larger hand.

"Because I love you, Ludwig."

And the before Medic could react, Heavy closed the distance between their faces with a single kiss that sent both of their hearts into overdrive. The kiss ended far too quickly and both men were tinged red. Medic's face suddenly broke out into a smile and he stood up from his chair. Both men turned as they heard the door to the rec room being unlocked and Dell appeared in the doorway as it was flung open, a smile on his face.

"Well, now that wasn't so hard. Was it, fellas?"

X X X

"Let's get going! Only thirty seconds left!"

Boots thundered on the concrete floor as nine men stormed down the hallways. All armed to the teeth and ready for fighting. Medic and Heavy were in front of the charging pack, Heavy's minigun shining the dim light of the ceiling lights. The team stopped at the gates, everyone was smiling and cheering as the time ticked down until battle began. Medic saw Heavy was staring at him with a smile on his face and he spoke to him.

"You ready to kill some BLUs, doctor?"

"As long as you are here by my side, Mikhail."

Heavy was about to reply when a siren cut him off and the gates opened and the thundering of boots resumed as the men charged out into the battlefield. Medic and Heavy didn't move for a second as Heavy replied with a small smile.

"I will always be here for you, doctor."

Heavy charged into the battle as Medic stood there for a second, shocked as he remembered that's what he told Heavy all those years ago when they first met. Smiling and ready for battle, he followed Heavy out into the warzone, ready for whatever he faced.

As long as his Heavy was at his side.

X X X

Oof. It's over.

This was my first gay fanfiction. And I gotta say, I'm really pleased with how it turned out! Hope you guys feel the same and let me know down below! Thanks for reading and I'll see you, nerds, next time!

~ Flannel