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The battle was heated. Fuse sat behind a cargo container and just started recovering his shield using a shield battery. His clothes smelled like singed skin and hair. Empty bullet shells covered the ground, crunching below his feet while he shifted around. A sniper shot whirred above his head and he ducked down. The newbie Legend Vantage didn’t seem to have mercy on him. His teammate Bloodhound crouched through the room. They were silent, their face glued to the entrance. Fuse could see bullet holes in their battle suit.
“I need shields!”, they said while clutching the side of their stomach. Blood seeped between their hands, dripping on the ground. The noise was loud as nobody dared to move in the last ring. The grenadier took a deep breath and took a peek through his scope. Vantage had turned around and he took the chance and tossed a med kit and a shield battery in front of Houndy’s feet.
“I will take that, Fitzr —uhh… Walter.”, the Nordic hunter breathed out loud and injected the medicine to their wrist.
“Don’t mention it, mate. Fitzroy’s ya boy.”, and he winked at them, resuming to look through his scope. That was why the older man didn’t notice the hunters intense gaze on him. Staring and taking a good look at his crouched body. His arm muscles flexed as he took up the weapon again, daring a third look at the last enemy squad. Then, piercing shots burned their ear drum as Fuse had taken the chance to shot at Vantage, who leaped across the buildings.
“Strewth, we’re in for a rough match, Houndy. She’s on top of us.”, Fuse gestured above his head. Steps could be heard from the roof.
But before any of the two could decide which strategy would be best against the sniper specialized Legend, said person stormed inside the house they camped in. Fuse sprinted from behind the box and pulled out his Wingman. This was the only weapon he had enough ammo left to take her out. He missed a couple of shots before landing a crisp headshot on her, breaking her shield and taking off most of her health in the progress. Bloodhound finished her off using a well-placed hit with their hatchet. Xiomara crawled towards the entrance. A mistake on her side. Caustic, who had just caught up now after realising that the newbie had pushed in and got herself downed, couldn’t get in. Houndy changed their weapon and hit the bulkier man with crackling shots of the L-Star. Then, the mechanical voice of the announcer thundered through the arena.
“You are the Champion”
Fuse took in a deep breath and finally relaxed again. His head hurt from being shot in the head twice. Bloodhound didn’t seem to be in a better condition, as the fatigue from the bullet wounds and waning adrenaline hit them. “Post-match-blues”, as Walter called them. The grenade specialist fell down onto his backside and flashed his signature broad smile. Their teammate chuckled oh so quietly and reached out a hand to the older man, pulling him up to his feet. Bloodhound’s stature was lean, but sure enough strength hid behind those fully clothes arms and legs.
“Thank you, Houndy. What would ol’ me do without ya, mate?”
“Hmph, no thanks needed, Walter.”, they said and Fuse could smell their smile behind the respirator and googles. He loved the way they rolled his name in their accent. Just as Fuse thought all well and done, Bloodhound groaned in pain and grabbed their stomach. At the same spot where bullets had pierced through their armour and skin. Without batting an eye, the salvonian man grabbed the hunter and pulled them close, giving them assistance while walking towards the dropship.
“Thank you, my mate.”, they said, gently grasping his clothes.
This left the older man speechless. Not only did Bloodhound accept his advances, no, they used the word “mate” which was the most important word in his vocabulary. It meant a lot to Fuse that Bloodhound used his language, showing him, they certainly liked his company.
“Anytime, my mate”.
After arriving back at the Apex quarters, Fuse strolled around the long hallways, relaxing in the warm afternoon sunlight. The medication in the med bay had done their work and he had left early. The headaches were gone and his arm felt much better. His mechanical always hurt and throbbed after a stressful game, as the metal was heavy and bulky. Not to mention it tugged a lot at his stump.
Houndy had stayed a bit behind, getting their bullet wounds treated in one of the recovery chambers. It made Fuse a bit sad, as he would give everything for their company now. The hunter was perfect in his eyes. Well, at least from what he saw now; their voice, their gestures, the way their accent rolled over their tongue when they spoke to him. The way they hunted in the game – oh he couldn’t stop thinking about them. Thinking how he would peel off their layers one by one, revealing the human under them. A delicious shiver ran over his back and he swallowed thickly. Fuse didn’t care what he would find under all those clothes and the mask. Houndy was this precious to him.
Lost in thoughts he wandered off to his rooms. Which he opened with his keys after fumbling in his pockets to search for them. Then, a familiar smell hit him: the smell of rain, plants and gunpowder. A lean body he knew well – missing the helmet.
“H-houndy?!”
The hunter turned around. And now he could see that more things were missing. Instead of the red respirator that covered their mouth was now pale skin littered with uncountable blue-greyish scars. Sone strands of fiery red hair peeked at the under cloth of their helmet.
“Beautiful…”, Fuse thought at the sight of the scars and the pale skin. His heart thumped loud as the Nordic hunter creeped nearer to him until they stood right in from of him. Right now, Fuse didn’t dare to move, still dazzled by their appearance. Clothes fingers reached to his, guiding his hand to their face. Warmth tickled under Walter’s fingertips and he sharply inhaled. Their cheeks felt soft and a tiny bit of beard stubble tickled him. The scars webbed through their face like a spider net, coarse under the touch. A deep shudder crashed through his body. Bloodhound guided him to his googles. They snapped open the buttons to the googles and the last piece of clothing holding back anything under it. Fuse looked at them, tugging at the fabric for confirmation. A nod was all he needed. With one swift but gentle pull, Fuse took off what was left.
Flaming red, messy hair was the first thing he saw. Long strands fell to their shoulders like flames engulfing their whole upper body. The scars littered their whole face and some red marks on their cheeks and their forehead accentuated their features. The beard was there but almost not noticeable. It gave them a slightly messier look. Years of fighting and traveling made their face mature. The hunter had their eyes squeezed shut, but after Fuse gently petted their face with his thumb, they opened them to take a good look at the man before them. A sharp inhale shook the muscular body as Fuse’s head tried to wrap the situation before him around his head.
Beautiful, emerald-coloured eyes looked into his direction, the sunlight reflecting in them.
Neither of them had said a single word. Fuse’s hand sank and he turned to move to the sofa. He then proceeded to slump on it, dust fluttering around them.
Bloodhound followed him and sat next to him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. The salvo man’s head turned to them; a gentle smile made his moustache go up at both sides.
“Yer… beautiful, Houndy…”, he muttered his thoughts. Hound’s shocked eyes made him realize what he just said and pink flush dusted his cheek.
“You… think so, Walter?”
Their voice was different without their respirator; smooth and deep. It made Fuse shudder in anticipation.
“I… uhm… I reckon yer the most beautiful person in the outlands I have ever met in me ol’ life.”
Now it was the hunters time to flush a little and the pushed him away in embarrassment.
“You’re lying, you sly fox!”, they said playfully and pushed the older man onto his back. His head met with the armrest of the small couch, but nothing could distract him from the view above him. Fiery hair covered his vision, but quickly got brushed away. Bloodhound climbed on top of his hips, straddling them.
They bend down and stroked Fuse’s cheek tenderly before placing their lips on his. Fuse sighed deeply into the kiss, closing his eyes, returning their advances. Bloodhound felt Walter’s moustache tickle their upper lip pleasantly and soon his tongue ran over them. As soon as they parted their lips, the rosy muscle began to explore the depths of their mouth; running over their sharp canines, their gums and shortly their own tongue. A passionate little dance began in their mouth, heating their bodies up. Fuse tasted like beer and fruits. The alcohol made their head swirl but they didn’t mind. Parting after both of them had no air left was hard, but the struggle for oxygen left them no choice.
“Wow…”, was the only word Fuse could mutter. He grabbed their hips and sat himself back up, now both of them eye to eye. Smiling.
But before they could continue with their shenanigans, the door to Fuse’s apartment opened and someone entered the living room. Bloodhound reacted quickly and hid themselves, laying down on the couch. They pressed their hands in front of their mouth to muffle their breathing.
A certain curly haired man stood in the door.
“Hey.”, Mirage greeted the salvonian man friendly, “wanna come and grab a drink with me and Ramya?”
The trickster had leaned to the doorframe and pointed his thumb up in an inviting manner.
“Uh, not right now, mate…”
Mirage clicked his tongue before sighing defeated. His shoulders slacked off and a disappointed look spread on his face.
“Yeah, sorry mate. Not bloody feeling it right now.”, Fuse said and scratched his neck.
“Well, it’s your loss. Say, you should really start locking your door. I mean…”, he said and peeked over the sofa, catching only strands of red hair.
“Yeah…”, Fuse said nervously and relaxed once Mirage left the apartment for good with a quick “bye, have fun!” while winking at him.
Now as they were alone again, the older man’s gaze fell towards Bloodhound, who had kept quiet the whole time. They took a deep breath, wheezing.
“Respirator…”, they said between short, rattling breaths, gesturing below them. Fuse picked up the respirator and slipped it over Hound’s mouth. Two deep breaths were enough to calm them down. Their chest began to sink and grow at a stabler rate.
“Thank you, Walter.”, shushing Fuses hands away, they sat back up, nuzzling into his neck, taking in all his scents. Two strong hands wrapped around their body, pulling them close.
“Hmm, Houndy…”, he whispered and ran his nose through their soft hair. He would give up a whole planet for the person in front of him.
“Hmm?”
“Ya know, I…”, he started, but a long and slender finger stopped his stutter.
“I know, Elskan, I know. Me too.”, they said and moved up to place a small kiss on his lips.