Chapter Text
Feelings? Look mate, you know who has a lot of feelings? Blokes that bludgeon their wife to death with a golf trophy. Professionals have standards.
That's what he always told himself. That was the motto he followed for his entire career. And for the most, he was very successful at following it. Until he met the Scout… From day one, he had a certain weakness for this boy. The way he was always so confident about everything he did, the way he had so much spare energy. They were complete opposites and yet, became best friends almost immediately and spent most of their days together. But a while ago, Sniper started feeling that Scout was more to him than a friend.
It started on the day, when Scout found out he had no clean shirts left. He rummaged through his entire room, but couldn’t find a single clean shirt and that included the one he was wearing. Usually, the way he wore his clothes was very calculated, so that he wouldn’t have to do laundry for as long as possible. Turns out he’s really bad at math. He scratched his head, trying to think of any other solution than actually doing the laundry. Unfortunately, there seemed to be no other solution. He slowly started to gather all the dirty clothes, groaning loudly. Doing laundry was his mortal enemy. He made his way to the laundry room, carrying all the clothes in his hands, because laundry baskets are for the weak. There was so much dirty clothes that it could barely fit in the washing machine.
The man has already made peace with the thought that he will have to wait half naked in the laundry room until his clothes are washed, when something red caught his eye. On a table in the corner, there was a shirt that one of the guys probably forgot there. Scout was relieved and put the shirt on. It was too big for him and he had to roll up the sleeves. While doing that, he noticed the yellow patches that suggested who did the shirt belong to. He smiled and full of confidence, he walked out of the laundry room.
Sniper was standing in the kitchen, leaning against the counter and drinking a cup of coffee. He noticed Scout entering the room and completely froze. Scout was wearing his shirt. And it looked dangerously good on him. The way it was baggy on Scout, the way the rolled sleeves were still too big for him, there was something about that, that made Sniper have very unholy thoughts.
„Hey Snipes. I run out of shirts and I found this in…“ Scout never finished that sentence, because he was smashed against a wall by Sniper, who was holding him by the collar of his own shirt mind you.
„Take it off,“ Sniper growled too close to Scout’s face. So close that it made Scout hold his breath. „But I have nothing else to wear… And I have…“ He started, but was cut off by Sniper again. „I don’t care, take it off!“
„Please let me have it just today,“ Scout begged: „Tomorrow I’ll have clean shirts and I’ll give it back I swear!“
Sniper let him go. He didn’t say anything and just went to the kitchen counter to finish his coffee. He was standing with his back turned to Scout, hoping he could hide the blush he felt burning on his cheeks. He was staring at the grey kitchen counter and tried to think about anything else, but the man behind him. He felt Scout’s hand patting his back. He felt that all over his body. „Thanks man,“ Scout said and looked through the cupboards for some snacks. „Get lost before I change my mind,“ Sniper turned his face away. His response really confused Scout. He didn’t understand why Sniper made such a big deal only because of one forgotten shirt. Looking at Sniper, he left the kitchen.
Sniper's mind was full of Scout. It was all he could think of. He still saw Scout entering the kitchen, how the shirt was so big on him and how wide his smile was. Sometimes, his mind would slip and he'd think of the things he would do. He'd press him against the wall, gently this time. He'd kiss Scout's lips and Scout would kiss him back, wrapping his arms around Sniper's shoulders. Then Sniper would break the kiss, only to start kissing the other's neck, while slowly undoing the shirt...
Sniper had to shake his head. It wasn't really the first time things like this crossed his mind. Scout was a very handsome man and they were very close. But he always had to stop himself from going further in his thoughts. They were friends after all. But the image of Scout in his shirt didn't leave him for the rest of the day.
It didn't leave him the next day either. Even though Scout was wearing his own shirt now, Sniper couldn't help himself but to think about it. Suddenly, Scout's smile was brighter than ever and his eyes were shinier. Sniper's heart started pounding whenever he saw the smaller man. Time seemed to stop, whenever Scout talked. Sniper stepped into the kitchen, where the entire team was eating breakfast together. Sniper tried to keep his calm, but he could feel Scout's presence very clearly. He made his way to the counter to make his usual breakfast – large cup of coffee.
"Hey Snipes! Be a lamb and get me a BONK! from the fridge!" He could hear Scout's voice that hit him right in the heart. Mindlessly he opened the fridge and grabbed the nearest can of Scout's favorite drink.
"You shouldn't be drinking that so early. Or ever... It's not good for your health." Medic said from his spot at the head of the table, not bothering to look up from the paper he was reading.
"Yeah, so what. It's tastes awesome." Scout replied confidently and went to Sniper, who was standing by the fridge like a statue. He handed Scout the red and yellow can, trying to control his breath. Scout grabbed it and their fingers met. It send a shock through the taller man's hand and he drew his hand so quickly it almost made Scout drop the can.
"Geez what's gotten into you?" Scout said, half joking: "I think the camper van life is getting into your head." The team chuckled at that note. Sniper was trying to think of a response, but he panicked. So he did the only thing he could think of – leave the room. Scout immediately regretted his behaviour: "Oh shoot," he said: "I think I overdid it."
Later in the day, Scout approached the camper van and knocked on the door. "Hey, it's me," he raised his voice, so Sniper could hear him inside: "Sorry about earlier. I went a little too far." The door opened and Sniper peeked out. He looked like he hasn't slept for 2 days, but he tried his best to look as normal as possible. "It's okay. I overreacted. Sorry." He mumbled. Scout gave him a big smile, that made Sniper's heart skip a beat. Scout offered him his hand: "Friends?" Sniper smiled a little and shook the other's hand: "Yeah." With that Scout left. Sniper was standing in the door. He still could feel the warmth of Scout's hand on his own.
He knew immediately what was happening. He was falling in love. The thing he spent his entire career trying to avoid. He didn't understand. He's been friends with Scout for years and everything was fine. But lately, without knowing why, he started to have deeper feelings for the youngest team member. He thought it was just due to their friendship, they were best friends after all. But the thing with the shirt proved to him it was more than friendship. Sniper rubbed his hand on his shirt, like it was supposed to make the feeling of Scout's grip go away. It didn't of course. He looked at Scout's figure, that was slowly disappearing in the distance. He couldn't help but smile.
Yeah.
He's screwed.