"I'm bein' ridiculous; I'm afraid of a damn door."
Scout's aggravation with himself does nothing to change the tenseness that coils along his strained arm, his fist still extended with his knuckles pressed gently against the steel entrance to the camper van.
He sighs heavily, looking at his feet and nodding determinedly at them, drilling the toe of his black cleat into the loosened earth upon which he stands. With a spastic whip around the boy surveys the location, grateful that it all remains as secluded as it was when he'd snuck out of his own base to begin with.
The exteriors of the bases are still and unmoving in their considerable distance from the van before which Scout finds himself, Scout letting the edges of his knuckles rap firmly against it's surface, instantly pocketing his fists and standing in anxious anticipation.
He was looking forward to seeing the Australian, after all—a whole week'd gone by in which Scout had been denied the company of his best friend, Heinrich restricting him to the confines of the wirey bed in the infirmary. True, the week was necessary for Scout's recovery, the young man now sporting only a few fading bruises along his stomach, the only visual reminders he'd earned from the events of last week.
The soreness had faded to dull twinges that only reared themselves when he strained himself too hard whilst trying to run as fast as his job called for. But now that he can move at all without the overbearing throbbing emanating from every muscle within him, it would only make sense he spent his first free moment with the very man responsible for his second chance in the first place.
"C'mon, wombat!" Scout knocks again, his right leg jittering from impatience, Scout sucking on his lower lip. "C'mon man, open up..." Scout mumbles as he tucks his now unslung arms to his chest, releasing a soft puff of breath as he takes yet another look around to ensure his seclusion.
But he gasps slightly as the lanky man swings the door open, Sniper's features brightening from surprise.
"Oi, Scout!" Sniper beams down at the brunette, whose goofy smile widens with each second their gaze remains connected. "C'mon in, love, haven't seen ya all week!" Sniper motions for him to step inside the camper, Scout obeying and hoisting himself up, closing the door behind him.
"Sorry your first time in here's when it's so messy—if I'd known I'd be havin' company I woulda bothered to tidy up a bit," Sniper chuckles, but Scout shakes his head, casting the man a charming smile.
"Nah, it's fine, wombat, really," Scout assures him. The van, though shady due to the lack of open blinds, was just as he imagined it to be. Sniper may have been a hunter of sorts, but he was certainly far from filthy.
As far as he could tell, there was no dirt or grime, everything being cleaned, and sanitised. The kitchenette in the front seems spotless, and the camper itself dusted and swept. Scout sniffs a little, the scent of heavy incense scratching at his nostrils, though Scout fails to see a stick of it actually burning. A faint trace of cigarettes can also be found if one tunes their nose in with just the right sensitivity, but it's faded, as if Sniper hadn't smoked within the van itself in quite a while.
A slight inconsistency of the floor against his sole draws his gaze downward to the floor, bullets of his sniper rifle littered about in strangely innocent clusters. Scout smiles smally before bringing his face upward and taking in the sights of the Australian in full capacity, whose towering figure straightens up the van in an abashed haste.
Scout further brings his eyes to wander to the man's sleeping quarters near the back, consisting of a down mattress with a variety of unmade blankets strewn about it. He had his civilian clothes as well as his red uniform folded nicely in a small drawer compacted into the tiny "bedroom", a small lamp resting upon its surface.
"Go 'head, love, take a seat," Sniper motions to his mattress, Scout lowering himself along the edge of it.
"Don't get visitors in the bush,'s why there's no place for ya t'sit," Sniper chuckles, Scout returning the man's humour with a kindly smile. "Promise I'll have somethin' more comfortable rigged up for ya next time—y'want somethin' to drink?"
"Nah, nah, I'm fine," Scout smiles, his voice gentle as he rests his wrists upon his knees.
"Lemmie at least get some blinds open, 's just I like the dark—don't need people lookin' in'n snoopin' about tryin' to figure me out,"
With just a few flicks of his wrist the van seems shades brighter, the natural lighting of the sun gracing the interior of the bedroom, small flakes of dust swinging in the path of the revealing rays.
Sniper releases a calming sigh before sitting himself next to his guest, casting the young man a gentle smile over his glasses.
"You've really healed nicely," Sniper beams, bringing a friendly arm to wrap around Scout's shoulder.
"This is the first time Heinrich's let me outta bed in almost eight days!" Scout scoffs, his shoulder tingling as Sniper rubs his thumb along it absentmindedly.
"You needed the down time if you ever wanted to move again, gremlin—missed seein'n spendin' time with ya, but's crazy how quick he got you patched up!"
"Yeah, whatever—was borin' as Hell, and you all were constantly battlin' so I didn't have no visitors,"
"Sorry, love—if breaching your base wouldn't start a conflict I woulda been there for ya," Sniper grins, sighing however seconds later.
"Ha ha, I thought you didn't like the company, Snipes!"
"Gah," Sniper scoffs, waving a hand of dismissal.
"Reminds me, your Scout say anythin' about the—yeah..."
"Nah, he was outta bed after a couple days—didn't seem like it was anythin' major for'im, like it was just another fight..."
"Yeah, it almost fuckin' killed me..."
Sniper grumbles, their embrace growing tighter as he pulls Scout closer against him.
"Don't worry 'bout it, you're breathin', aren't ya?" Sniper smiles, Scout shrugging half heartedly and glaring at his feet.
"Y'alright? You're right sulkin' over there,"
"Yeah, I'm alright—just thinkin'," Scout's heavy frown lightens slightly however, and Sniper can see the pressure of words forming against his lips.
"You know, how you saved me,"
"I thought I told you t'quit mentionin' it," Sniper chuckles, Scout smirking at the man's slight scowl. "'S not like you to get all quiet'n starry eyed."
"I know," Scout growls as if it irked him too. "But I was sittin' in that bed, and I had a lot of fuckin' time to think, you know? 'bout everything—home, Ma, my brothers, and what it is I'm really fightin' for,"
"Yeah, seclusion gets your mind goin',"
"I'm damn good at what I do, so why—you know..."
"Rushin' into dark sewers with no ammunition isn't exactly what I'd call a class A plan, Scout—doesn't matter how good you are,"
"Yeah, but I figured no one else would be in there, ya know?"
"I told ya before, you always have to assume the enemy is waitin' behind every corner, fully loaded'n ready to react—seems like somethin' any Scout worth his salt would keep in mind..."
"No, I mean I thought it would be safer down there than runnin' across the battlements with nothin' but a fuckin' bat..."
"It's over, Scout—I understand you're gonna be hung up on it a bit, but be glad you're still breathin'n learn from it," Sniper explains calmly, Scout nodding tiredly. "Don't let it get to ya—Your spy has gotten pretty close to doin' me in a numbah of times, that bastard—"
"You safe up there? I mean, scoped in'n shit? What if someone sneaks up behind you?"
"They gotta find me first, love—often times I'm too hard to spot 'til it's too late for 'em,"
"But Spies—"
"Yeah, they find ya—gotten real close to killin' me, 'n they like to leave behind little reminders," Sniper points to a small gash along his cheek.
"That's how you got that thing—?"
"But you have to keep your head out there, always trust your gut—and don't go lookin' for revenge—"
"You serious—?!"
"Don't be reckless, Scout,"
"You expect me to take a beating from that asshole and not wanna knock the fucker out—?!"
"You're gonna charge at the git angry'n throwin' whatever you got at'im—'s what landed you in the infirmary in the first place—don't plot'n don't dwell on him, or you'll forget about the others after ya,"
"Whatever..."
"Just sayin', Scout—I'm lookin' out for ya, 's all..."
"Right..." Scout sighs, his stomach clenching at the embarrassment of how easily readable he must've been—he'd only spent the whole week replaying the same visions of him caving the RED Scout's skull in, his BLU counterpart laughing maniacally above him while Sniper stood by his side, going on about how good of a beating he gave him and how he never liked the bugger anyway—though this was where the fantasy had switched from a glorious day dream to a full fledged delusion.
Of course it didn't stop there, either, the way Sniper would chuckle darkly before bringing the boy into a deep kiss, Scout's blood soaked hands pressed against his cheeks, staining them with the iron of his comrade***...
"Y'alright, Scout?" Sniper asks calmly, Scout nodding his head both to confirm his statement and shake away such violent perversions.
"But—I really gotta tell you somethin', Snipes—'s been botherin' me all week," Scout scratches behind his neck, sure to avoid the man's eye.
"Y'know how I asked if you got, y'know, a lady?"
"Yeah,"
"Well, 'cause—you wouldn't happen to have, you know, some dude you're doin' or nothin', right?"
"No," Sniper raises an eyebrow, chuckling lightly. "'s with your obsession with my sex life?"
"I'm not obsessed, I just—well, you know—I wanted to make sure you weren't seein' nobody—"
"I'm sure they wouldn't mind me spendin' time with ya, if that's where you're gettin' at—"
"Nah, like—you ever wanted to kiss another guy?"
"Well..." Sniper begins hesitantly, casting his eyes to the side before peering back at Scout.
"Yeah. I—I have," he admits cautiously, awaiting Scout's upturned scowl of disgust.
"Have you?" Scout asks with sudden quiet enthusiasm, Sniper clearing his throat before nodding.
"How is it...?" Scout shifts, leaning closer toward the older man as if afraid he'd miss a word.
"You ever kissed a dame before?"
"Well, yeah—"
"You like it?"
"Yeah—"
"Then there ya go," Sniper smiles smally, Scout raising an eyebrow.
"What the Hell's that supposed to mean—?!"
"If ya like who you're kissin', 's gonna be nice whether they got a cock or not," he chuckles. "Why? Got a bloke you've got an achin' for?" Sniper asks slyly, Scout freezing with embarrassment as he looks Sniper up and down, the man before him so blissfully unaware of the dirty thoughts centered around him Scout had relied on to get him through his secluded week.
"I think that little smile o'yours means yes, mate," Sniper beams, Scout shaking his head but smiling meekly.
"Oi, isn't that sweet, the litle bugger's in love—don't have nothin' smart ass to say 'bout that, d'you?" he laughs, Scout opening his mouth to speak.
"Forget it, man—would you still kiss a dude? Like, now?"
"Depends on if I like'im or not,"
"Because, y'know—"
"Why're you so into it all of a sudden? Don't tell me you got a thing for our Scout—would just be wrong—"
"Nah, fuck that bastard—I just—"
"Someone's got you all bothered,"
"I think I might wanna kiss you, okay?!" Scout barks, his expression mingled with unchanneled frustration. "There, I said it—!"
"Well, I guess I earned one savin' ya—!"
"You know what I mean, wombat!" Scout hisses, his expression tense as he awaits the Australian's response. A deep silence stands between them, Sniper shaking his head before looking sheepishly to the side.
"Oh Lord, Scout..."
"Yeah, so what?!" Scout snaps, Sniper pinching the bridge of his nose as if begging it for mercy.
"And if you got a problem with that—!"
"No, of course not!" Sniper smiles soothingly, wrapping a carefully placed arm around his shoulder.
"Alright', 'cause—...y'know..." Scout whispers, and Sniper watches his friend cautiously, careful not to say or do anything to rile him up in this particular moment.
"There's no need t'be so flustered; don't need you workin' yourself up, now..."
Scout says nothing, leaving Sniper alone with these wildly racing thoughts, his heart beating with presence as it settles that the boy he holds had, in his own way, confessed to actually being attracted to him.
"'S nothin' to be ashamed of, boyo," Sniper soothes the somewhat shocked Scout, who sits still with a dull expression on his face...
"Really, don't think no less of ya 't'all, love...but, I'm afraid I'm gonna have ta break your little heart," Sniper mumbles, Scout's glare still fixed determinedly on the grass, Sniper sighing as he sees the young man tense up with disappointment.
"Yeah..."
The two don't say anything for a bit, nor do they move from their positions. Sniper still keeps a secure arm around his friend, Scout sitting rigid and unmoving, disgusted with his own pathetic, girlish reaction to rejection, finding it impossible to brush away the stifling sense of hurt with some smart ass comment or gesture.
Sniper instead pulls him closer, eyeing Scout caringly, though Scout's eyes still shine, pointed straight ahead.
"'S nothin' personal, love, I just don't think..."
But his voice falters as he feels the frame of the runner submit to the wracks that are followed by the unmistakable sniff that can only mean...
"Don't go cryin' on me," Sniper pleads quietly as he turns the boy to face him, and Sniper never would've guessed he would ever sit with Scout crying silently in his arms, lovestruck and beaten beyond anything his self assurance couldn't remedy.
"Scout..." Sniper sighs as Scout sniffs, his lips twisted as he gives a slight hiccup, wiping his eyes the best he can while still concealing his tears in the first place.
"WHAT IN THE HELL IS THE MATTER WITH YOU—?!"
"Scout, don't shout, love, you'll only hurt yourself further—"
"HOW CAN YOU JUST BECOME MY BEST FRIEND AND SAVE MY FUCKIN' LIFE, AND THEN JUST EXPECT ME NOT TO—TO—?!"
"Scout, really—!"
"SERIOUSLY, AFTER ALL WE'VE BEEN THROUGH!"
"Scout, keep your voice down before someone—!"
"Fuck you, wombat!" Scout shouts, his face miraculously dry save a few small streaks left behind from a trail of escaped tears. "Over here fuckin' savin' me and callin' me 'love' and—!" Scout roars, hoisting himself up delicately from the the bed.
"It's not my fault you've fallen for me like a bloody schoolgirl! Just 'cos you got all rosy over me, that doesn't mean you can sit here and blame me for your insecurity over your own sexuality!" Sniper growls, the runner falling silent as he balls his fists and steels his jaw, his eyes narrowed.
"Tough love, posie, 's what you get, fallin' in love with your enemy in the middle of a war!" Sniper snaps, Scout scoffing before setting his eyes in a soft glare once more.
"WHO THE FUCK SAID I WAS IN LOVE WITH YOU?!"
"You pretty much did, 'bout two minutes ago; 's your memory really that bad?! What if the Administrator finds out 'bout your feelings?! It's bad enough we're friends, and I'm not too keen on takin' it any further—"
"I never said shit bout taking it further, do I look like a fuckin' fag to you?!"
Sniper shakes his head softly.
"What is it you want from me, Scout?" Sniper asks in short sternness, the young man biting on his lip.
"I dunno, maybe just a fuckin' like—shit, I dunno, you're the one over here holdin' me, fuckin' carin' in the first place! I don't see you holdin' your Scout like this!" Scout retorts, his words jumbled and stumbling underneath themselves as he clenched his teeth, weighted by his staggering frustration.
"It's fuckin' confusing, man!" Scout whines, almost as if pleading that the older man finds it within him to shed a little bit of mercy on his plight. Sniper nods from understanding.
"Listen, it ain't your fault, and it ain't nothin' personal—stop fidgetin' 'n' listen to me would ya?!—I haven't been this close to no one in fifteen years, gremlin; that it's your scrawny little arse that's grown on me is a bit of an eye opener—but first of all, I didn't mean to lead you on if that's what you're 'ccusin' me of—I don't and never wanted romance—second, I don't need it now, and third, it's all more than love notes and pecks on the hand and chocolates and roses—I don't even think' you're ready for a relationship yet—"
"Excuse me, you callin' me a fuckin' kid—?!"
"I'm just sayin' is all," Sniper winks, catching the pathetic fist aimed for his chest in the hand.
"I hate you," Scout whimpers, his friend chuckling sadly.
"I'd be more hurt if I didn't know you were in love with me, mate,"
"I'm not in love with you! Were you this much of a dick to your lady too?!"
"Nah," Sniper grins, Scout shaking his head in disgust.
"How the fuck can you fuckin' laugh about this shit?!"
"'S just who I am, gremlin, 's why you want nothin' to do with me—I'd be terrible for ya—I'm old, mentally unstable, as you can see—on the other bloody side of the war..."
"You ain't that much older than me," Scout hisses, Sniper shrugging before the young man swallows and turns to give him a determined stare.
"And I ain't no twelve year old girl, I can fuckin' handle myself—I don't need you tellin' me what's good for me and what ain't,"
"You honestly think you wanna kiss me?!" Sniper asks in a tone Scout can only identify as a perplexed combination of pity and surprise.
"You sure it's the whole package deal y'want?! Kissin' me'n holdin' hands, whatever else you got your lovestruck little brain cookin' up over there?"
Scout nods curtly.
"But I ain't lovestruck..."
"Good lord, mate..." Sniper rubs behind his neck, the determined younger man steeled in his resolve. "You're completely mental,"
"So what?!"
"And how the world d'you know it's what you want when you haven't even kissed a bloke before?!"
"It ain't all about that, wombat, maybe 's 'cause of a connection I feel for ya or—or somethin'—"
"God, you've been sittin' on that ball of cheese for a while now, haven't you?!"
"Seriously, though," Scout blinks slowly, Sniper's eyebrows raised in resignation.
"Scout, I honestly don't think I'd be any good for you," Sniper sighs. again. "That look in your eyes, breaks my heart, really, but—"
Sniper remains motionless as he feels the lithe frame weave itself closer against him, a head resting calmly against his chest, one arm slung over his shoulder, another arm taking its time to snake itself around his body.
"What's so wrong about this?" Scout asks quietly, and Sniper's nervous system clenches under a temporary fit of seduction as he catches sight of the licentious gleam within Scout's slightly lidded eyes.
He groans hardly at all at the feel of Scout pressing his limber front so that he rests against the Australian's. Sniper's chest, Scout can sense, taughtens with caution—though Scout tempts him with an arousing presence the dark haired man finds himself unable to ignore.
Scout letting his groin rub against Sniper's thigh does elicit a reactionary sigh the man can do nothing to hinder, his chest barely heaving as Scout cranes his neck with a slight tilt, his lips parting and sliding teasingly across his own and down the length of his neck.
Sniper says nothing, rubbing Scout's back affectionately, though his eyes narrow at the American's determined grin.
"I ain't lettin' up, wombat," Scout growls, Sniper sighing with a slight roll of his eyes as he lets a hand skate through Scout's hair and along his jaw line.
"Don't do this t'me," Sniper grumbles, Scout serious as no shift Sniper makes is able to shake the young man off him. "You have no idea what bein' with another man is like—"
"I thought you said it didn't matter as long as you wanted to kiss the person—!"
"I could probably kiss ya right now and you'd hate it! You'd go crawlin' right back to your dames—!"
"Alright then, do it!" Scout snaps, Sniper scowling before raising a disbelieving eyebrow.
"Sorry?"
"C'mon, you say I ain't got no clue 'cause I ain't never kissed a dude, so do it!" Scout glares viciously at the Australian, who sighs and adjusts himself.
"Do what—?!"
"Gimmie a clue," Scout rolls his eyes, falling silent as he feels Sniper's surprisingly soft lips press against his cheek, and he nearly shrivels as their eyes meet, Scout's unwavering as he dares not break the gaze Sniper commands.
Sniper removes his hat, placing it gently against the bed, dropping the tinted sunglasses next to it in a calm motion, time factorless and relaxed.
"Wanna play sleuth?" Sniper growls, hovering only inches above Scout, whose own eyes widen as he sees the feral countdown of his dwindling restraint in the man's grey ones, a burning sense of sincerity raging within them.
"'cause I got plenty of'em for ya," Sniper damn near whispers, and when his voice trails into silence, Scout's eyes swirl in an observant anxiety, like the victim of a serial killer who with his last moments takes in the tools of torture meant to execute his demise.
"Don't gimmie that face," he sneers, spreading the Scout's legs so he can slip between them easily.
"'S your own bloody fault your mouth's landed you underneath me in m'own bed..." he maunders, taking a finger and sliding in along Scout's jawline.
"Don't have nothin' t'say now, d'you?" Sniper snarls mockingly at the situationally quiet Scout that lies underneath him.
The first feelings of lips catching his own stuns Scout, his muscles locking as his back is pinned harder against the down mattress under the weight of the man who leans forward the inches necessary to close the gap between them.
It doesn't take long for him to grow a little more comfortable, however, Scout's lips massaging Sniper's, his hands curling around Sniper's neck as he feels in such a short amount of time a pulsating rhythmn forming between them.
Hell, he even feels Sniper's hands trail underneath his shirt and along his hips, and jumps slightly at the sudden feel of tongue sliding between his teeth, Sniper showcasing what must be a rather tantalizing gift of his, honed through experience, the thought of said experience causing a subtle jealousy to well within him—
Scout pulls apart gently for air, breaking the connection only to bring their lips together again, pressing himself harder against the grip Sniper claims on him. The soft smacking is the only thing Scout can hear save the rustling of their clothing. It's kindahot, actually...
But Sniper, who straddles the young man beneath him, lets a sigh escape from his slightly frowned lips, taking in the Scout whose eyes are shut from bliss, his body heaving in slight motions involuntarily from the pleasure Sniper causes him.
"'s it really what you want, love?" Sniper asks quietly, Scout nodding gently as he leans forward to kiss the man again, Sniper's gentle laughter stopping him from completing the act.
"The fuck's so funny?!" Scout snaps, unamused by Sniper's smirk.
"Wasn't expectin' to excite ya, mongrel," he sneers, Scout turning an instant red and shifting to hide the hardness he had no idea was forming in his pants. "Hardly even did anythin',"
"Shut up..."
"Least I know you're not lyin' 'bout likin' it," he grins, taking the pack of cigarettes and matches off the drawer, lighting one and blowing smoke about the quiet room.
"You were gettin' into it too—!"
"I never said I don't wanna kiss ya, I said I don't want to bugger ya—"
"Why not?!"
"I'd ruin ya—I already have! With you sittin' here, cryin' your eyes out 'n' confused—'s not you at all! And I'm a grumpy old hunter who lives in a van—what could I possibly offer you?! I mean, I'm gettin' paid to kill ya for God's Sake—!"
Scout shrugs, Sniper closing his eyes, weary and at a loss for words.
"So then this ain't even a question about you wantin' me—"
"Scout, what if the Administrator finds out—?!"
"You just don't think it's riiigggghhhhhhtttt"
"Or our teams—?!"
"So what, we keep it hidden," Scout grins as if it were always so simple. "I'm sittin' here in your creeper van'n they don't know shit! It ain't no different for real—'cept, you know, we'd be kissin'n shit,"
"'kissin'n shit'—you say the most bloody—"
But Sniper can say nothing as Scout falls against him again, the sensation of holding him far from aiding him in his defiant stance.
"Yeah, some fight you're puttin' up," Scout grins, nestled in the reluctant embrace of his friend, the older man narrowing his eyes before kissing his ear.
"...I want you man, and that's that; I don't need no boyfriend, we ain't gotta be more than friends—I just want some sex—so what is it? We gonna do it or not?!" Scout asks in a strained voice, his features serious with determination. But Sniper finds as he places his lips against Scout's again, the same resistance typical to their interactions flares up as always.
"Wanka."