Work Text:
When.
That's all the mercs asked each other.
When?
Seeing Sniper and Scout together all of the time, every day, twenty-four seven, hanging out, laughing together, leaving together, fighting together, sitting with each other, caught outside of the base walking around Teufort together- When?
Because surely, surely they weren’t just friends. Surely.
So when? When were the two men finally gonna admit their feelings for each other and date. Every merc on the team that wasn’t the culprits knew about it, even Miss Pauling- who agreed to keep under the Administrators nose. In fear of a Demo/Soldier situation to happen. They were all waiting for Scout and Sniper to finally get together.
And they all felt like school girls with gossip and drama, reporting the news on what Sniper did this time and what Scout is planning to do with him, what they saw the two men doing, and eavesdropping on their conversations. Sure, sure. It was weird, overbearing, a little creepy, kinda like a helicopter parent. But this group of grown adults never get anything interesting to look forward to other than the next fight and if their mass murder weapon of war machine is done getting fixed in the repair shop.
So yes, men over in their thirties to their fifties are hyper-fixated on two guys relationship. It was just.. Interesting, okay? They all knew Sniper was gay, and Scout came out as bisexual after a overnight crisis over the phone with Miss Pauling a week after Pauling came out as a lesbian. So, it was possible!
I mean come on, there was now way those guys weren’t in love. And the seven other mercs wanted to know. They wanted to know bad.
~~~
Scout walked into the common room of their base stationed in Teufort, making himself at home as he allowed himself to fall flat onto one of the comfortable couches of the room. He let out a content, comfortable sigh, his legs stretching out over the dark red cushions and resting on the arm rest over a pillow, his arms placed comfortably across his chest.
Spy, who decided to leave his smoking room to actually hang out somewhere else for once was sitting in a singular chair across a wooden table, his leg crossed over his thigh, cigarette hanging out of his mouth and a magazine in his hands. He looked up when he saw his son, taking his cigarette out of his mouth and tapping it against the glass ash tray he had on a table next to him, getting rid of ash destined to fall.
“Another day with the bushman I presume?” Spy said, putting his cigarette back in his mouth and flipping the page of his magazine. Spy didn’t exactly agree with his son stooping so low as to mess around with the marksman, but he dealt with it like a man should. He just wished his son would go a man like he would a women, like he did with Miss Pauling.
“Yeah..” Scout said, breathing in a gulp of air and breathing it out loudly. A gentle smile sat comfortably across his face. “He drove me around Teufort, and we got lunch together. He knows this really good place downtown, don’t think you’d like it though. It’s not as fancy and up to you're dumb standards.” he spoke his last words against Spy with sarcasm, sitting up a little so his head was rested against a small white pillow.
Spy hummed, blowing out the gray smoke from his cigarette. “You seem to spend a lot of time with Sniper.” He said, “Tell me, what’s so good about that jar man?” He asked out of genuine curiosity. But also because he was genuine intrigued. As he has been intrigued for months, really. Ever since the team started taking notice in the close relationship.
Scout laughed, sitting up as fast as he can run, legs now flat on the floor. “What! What’s not good about Sniper?!” He said loudly. “His habit of urinating in jars and throwing them at people.” Spy interrupted, which Scout chose to ignore. “He’s laid back, he’s nice when ya get to know ‘em, he’s cool, funny, he has great jokes, he’s a guy you can rely on, he’s really damn good at cooking, uh- uh.. What else, what else..”
“I think I’ve heard enough.” Spy said, trying to stop his son from rambling on and on and on like he always did if asked a question.
Scout sighed, sitting back against the couch. “He’s great, man.” He said, “Yesterday, we went out on a road into the middle of the desert and he literally shot a rabbit like- like- soooo far away. And then he like showed me how to cook it- and god it was so good dude.” He rambled, which told Spy that his attempts at stopping the runners rambling was simply useless. It was inevitable, Scout loved the sound of his own voice.
“I thought I said I’ve heard enough? Are you deaf, boy?” Spy said, lowering his magazine from his face to look at his son. Which Scout, in response, rolled his eyes.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah whatever Spy. I just.. Really like the dude.” Scout said, relaxing back against the comfortable cushions of the couch and crossing his arms over his chest. His hand reached under his forearm, grabbing his dog tags and lifting them over his arm. He began to fidget with them, looking at how the cozy light of the common room reflected on the silver.
“Hm.” Spy said, shrugging his shoulders and licking the tips of his gloved fingers before flipping the page. “You sound like you’re in love with the bushman.”
Scout paused, feeling the world freeze up for a second. Like the world stopped turning, and the universe was put on pause other than Scout and Spy in the room. His eyes widened, and his crossed arms dropped.
Spy raised a brow, peeking up from his magazine to look at his son, who seemingly sat there flabbergasted, looking like he just got the most shocking information told to him in his entire mortal existence. He cleared his throat, “Are you alright Scout?” He asked.
“In- In love?!” Scout said, suddenly the universe going un-paused and his words ready to shoot out like a speeding bullet. “What- whatdoya mean by in love? I-I-I-I-I-” He stuttered like an idiot, “I- NO! Me? In love? With Mick?!-”
“Mick?” Spy interrupted, but it did not stop his sons never ending unintelligible rambling.
“I ain’t in love with him! He ain’t- he ain’t no stupid crush! I’m- we’re just close, close close friends, alright?!” Scout spat out, jumping out of his seat, “I ain’t in love with- … Does everyone else think I’m in love with him?!”
“You should go see for yourself if you’re so curious.” Spy said, tapping the ash out of his cigarette before putting it out, smoke dwindling up into the air.
Scout stood there for a moment in shock, blinking wildly before shooting out of the room like a bat out of hell. And it left Spy sitting there silence, a blank expression held upon his face didn’t make him less.. Dumbfounded. Then he just sighed, looking back at the pictures and words on his stupid French magazine. If Scout really wasn’t in love with that Aussie, then he wouldn’t have jumped out of his chair and had a near panic attack right on the spot.
And what Scout called the sniper too. He called him Mick. It was no secret that everyone on the team knew each others real names- with Pyro being a mysterious acception, but Spy hasn’t seen anyone call anyone by their real names. Everyone just saw being on a first name basis as a.. Close relationship type beat. So Scout calling Sniper by his first name? Only made Spy know even more sure that a relationship was in sheer pissing distance around the corner.
Spy was certainly looking forward to dropping this news to the rest of the team.
~~~
“Engie! I need answers!” Scout yelled as he burst into the repair shop with Engineer commonly resided. He looked over to a table, seeing Medic standing by it with a dove on his shoulder. “And you too, doc!”
Medic and Engineer looked up from their work, blinking at the kid that just ran into the room with a fire they only see radiating off Pyro. And Engineer turned his body to face Scout, “Uhhh.. sure, Scout. What.. what do you need exactly?” He asked, Medic standing in silence across from him- but looking just as bewildered.
“Do- do you two think I’m in love with Sniper?!” Scout said, walking further into the room. And for a second, Medic and Engineer seemed a little shocked. But then their moods lightened, and with all their might they were able to hold back laughter.
“Kid, what?” Engineer said, “Yer’ asking us if we think that you’re… in love with Sniper?” He took a glance at Medic, who looked back at him, and they couldn’t hold back the little bit of giggles that they managed to hold back before.
“Yes! Spy thinks I am! And what’s so funny?! I need answers!” Scout said, his voice raising just a little to get his words across the room fast enough to smack both Medic and Engineer in the face for a double kill.
Medic laughed, “Okay, okay! We heard you the first time, kaninchen.” He said, making his way over to the runner. His hands in the air, he smiled at Scout. “If you’re so desperate for an answer, then yes, we do think you’re in love with Sniper!”
“Wh- WHAT! I’m- I’m not!” Scout yelled, his hands flying out to his sides in shock. “How- how the hell would you guys know?! What- I- how!”
“Well uh.. Ain’t it kinda obvious, kid?” Engineer said with a quick shrug of his shoulders. “Sniper is all you talk about.”
“He’s all you hang out with too!” Medic added, his arms held behind his back, his hand holding his wrist. “Have you really not realized it either?”
“Does anyone else think so?!” Scout said, “Does Sniper know- does everyone really think I’m in love with him?!”
Engineer and Medic fell silent, swiftly turning their heads to look at each other. After a brief moment of quick silence, they turned their attention back to the wide eyed runner and nodded their heads yes. And with a quick loud groan, once again Scout shot out of the room like a bat out of hell.
~~~
The next hour was the same thing. Find a teammate, ask them if they think he’s in love with Sniper, and then run away to find another. And with every single member of the team, they said he was. They all thought he was in love with the damn marksman. And to be honest, it made Scout sweat and make his heart beat.
Because.. Was it really that obvious that he had some hardcore feelings for his close friend slash co-worker? He hoped not, he really, really hoped not. But lord have mercy, everyone thought he did. From the drunkest man he knows, to a man stuck in his own rainbow wonderland, all the way down to his own damn blood. And he wondered to himself, how long have they assumed?
And then he wondered, did they think Sniper was in love with him too?
Too many thoughts rushed through his head as he ran down the hallway of the base and right out of the building. He skirted down the dirt floor of the outdoors, heavy feet thumping against the ground and kicking up dust as he sprinted. He raced his way down a path off base, where he knew Sniper liked to park his campervan. The man never really liked being or sleeping on base.
He saw the campervan in the distance, and new that Sniper was probably inside. So as expected, he didn’t wait to get himself to the back entrance, opening the door and rushing in without even knocking.
And what he was greeted with was Sniper sitting on small little couch connected to the wall in front of a small table, his #1 Sniper mug in hand as he took a sip of coffee. When Scout ran in, he nearly fell off the couch, almost spilling all of his coffee onto the table and floor.
“JesUS CHRIST MATE!” Sniper yelled, taking a quick second to regain his lost composure and wipe away the small spilled coffee droplets with the sleeve of his shirt. “What’s got you in such a hurry you little bugger? You can’t just burst your way in here like that!”
Scout stood at the door, panting just a little before swallowing a large gulp of air and letting out a big breath. “The whole rest of the team are being real crazy with me.” He said, sitting down on the small couch next to Sniper. It was a cramp fit, but Scout always liked to sit closer to people. “All of ‘em keep assumin’ stuff ‘bout me, and me ‘n you so.. I dunno.”
“Assuming what?” Sniper asked, leaning back against the couch and taking a sip of his black coffee.
Scout paused, his face heating up. He felt embarrassed, too scared to admit it. But he hated lying to Sniper, and he knew that if Sniper asked around he’d find out. Everyone was definitely willing to out their opinions on Scouts supposed feelings for the New Zealander. So Scout thought maybe he could pass it off as a ‘I’m totally not in love with you, aren’t they crazy? HAHAH!’ type of thing.
“All em think I’m in love with ya!” Scout said, moving his hands to the air as his eyes widened, praying to god that Sniper will see this as a joke too. But who is he kidding? Deep inside, he hopes Sniper is in love with too. Maybe this could be an purposely accidental confession. But Scout would never admit his true wishes to his actions. He was too much of a nervous asshole to say it outloud.
Sniper’s eyes widened ever so slightly, showing off his clear shock to Scout. But his brows then furrowed nervously, maybe a little awkwardly, and he itched the back of his neck as he shy looked away. “Ah- they do..?” He said, his words coming out sounding slightly bashful. Though Scout couldn’t tell why, maybe Sniper was just as embarrassed as he was.
But hey, little did Scout know, Sniper had the same hidden feelings that Scout had. And Sniper felt like he was constantly being led on and leading on with the runner at all times. It was a strange relationship, but he always got choked up in his own throat whenever he built up the courage to confess. Sniper was a quiet guy, confessions weren’t exactly his strong suit. Plus when he was signed up for a job like this he didn’t exactly read the ‘fall in love with you're co-worker’ part of the contract.
So usually, he kept things to himself.
But if everyone thought Scout was in love with him…?
“Crazy ain’t it?!” Sniper was ripped from his wandering thoughts by Scout, making his snap up and focus on the boy sitting next to him. Scout stood from the couch, walking over to the small counter. “I ain’t in love with ya! Yer- yer just a- jus’a friend to me.”
Sniper cleared his throat, “Yeah, strange how they’re lookin’ at two mates and assumin’ that you’re in love with me.” He said, but let a chuckle leave his lips. “I hope they don’t think I’m falling for ya.”
Scout shrugged, “I dunno, dude. Soldier literally told me it was clear as America’s glory that I gotta thing for ya- Whatever the hello that means.” He crossed his arms.
Sniper let out a small grumble, “Let em wonder.” He said, his accent seemingly stronger than it usually is. “Those buggers assume everything about anything, think we should just ignore em mate.”
Scout sighed, “Yeah, I.. Yeah! You’re right. Ignore them.” He said, peeking out through the small cracks in the window of the campervan, out to the desert that they camped in. And he sighed deeply, wishing that he just fussed up and confessed to Sniper. It was perfect, so goddamn perfect.
And Sniper wished the same.
~~~
“Alright, what do you guys have to report about the Sniper and Scout situation?”
It was in a meeting room on the RED base, the whole team subtracting Sniper and Scout and Miss Pauling were there. It was a meeting to discuss the recent circumstances of Scout’s questions. Miss Pauling stood at the front of the table where everyone sat, speaking to the rest of the team.
They always had these meetings, and this? This was a big one.
“He came running around to all of us today, asking us if we thought he was in love with Sniper.” Engineer said, his arms crossed across his chest as he leaned back against his plastic chair. “I think Spy was one the one to start it all.”
“I told him, yes. He freaked out and ran away.” Spy said, taking a drag of the cigarette he just lit and blowing out the gray smoke- in which traveled to Pyro, who swapped it away.
“Huhm, mhmh hmhm.” Pyro said, his words muffled against his mask that he refused to take off, despite the lack of fire and smoke in the room.
Miss Pauling nodded, “So he went to.. All of you guys one by one and just asked?” She said, “So he’s catching on.. Okay.”
“I think this happenin’ is one step closer to them finally gettin’ together.” Demo slurred, placing his bottle of scrumpy on the table and resting his elbow next to it. “We just gotta hope that he ran off to Sniper after it happened, yeah?”
Everyone seemed to agree.
“But what about Sniper?” Heavy brought up, “Can we be so sure that he is also in love with the Scout?” He was skeptical of the situation, the stakes of Sniper liking Scout too was 50/50 across the whole possibility board. Sniper was recluse, a quiet marksman who knew his craft. He knew a thing or two about lying, and staying quiet. He was reserved.
“Nonsense! I see the way he looks at Scout.” Medic butted in, “I think they’re definitely going to get together after this! It’s just a matter of time.”
“Do we know where they are now?” Pauling asked, looking over the table at the men. They all shrugged, none of them knew the exact location. But they all knew in their heads that Scout and Sniper must’ve been together, probably in Sniper’s van. Though, Sniper never had a consistent area in which he parks. It could be the same thing one week, and a completely different spot the other.
“They are probably together in Sniper’s campervan.” Soldier said, “Though where they are exactly.. Is a mystery.” He shrugged his shoulders.
“I think we should leave those two alone for now.” Engineer said, sitting up straight in his chair and leaning against the wooden table. “And see what really happens.”
“I agree with Engie, it’s best if we stay on the sidelines.” Spy said, “Maybe give it a week, see if they get together by then.”
Everyone seemed to nod, and the meeting seemed to be over.
And Scout was outside the door, listening to their meeting. When he heard the sound of chairs against the floor and footsteps towards the door, he quickly took it upon himself to dart down the hall and out of the closest exit door of the base. He scurried off as fast as his legs could take him, thinking to himself: what the hell?
~~~
“SNIPER!” The sound of the door to the marksman's van gave him a quick jumpscare, and thankfully he had no cup of black coffee to spill all over himself. Scout was back after overhearing the meeting. The meeting that connected all the dots and spoiled the movie. It was confirmed in his head, everyone, and I mean everyone were hoping on him and Sniper getting together. And as much as it shocked him, bewildered him, left him with a cold sweat in the dark, he felt a tiny flicker of hope in his chest.
Well fuck, if everyone and their mothers and fathers and fifth twice removed cousins were praying to god on his and Snipers relationship, maybe it was time for Scout to just fuss up and confess his true feelings. Maybe after that he can kiss Sniper and do questionable things together with their bodies, which was another dream Scout had buried in his mind. So he hoped that Sniper felt the same. Truly.
“Christ mate you’re gosh darn lucky I don’t have a cup of coffee this time.” Sniper said, sitting on the same couch as last time. “What is it that you need, Roo? No need to bust your way into my humble abode all unannounced acting all crazy like that.”
“I HAVE GOOD REASON!” Scout yelled, closing the van door with a loud SLAM and slowly taking his steps towards Sniper. “Okay so- I- I was on the base, you know as per usual.. BUT!” He slammed his hands on the little table in front of the sofa, looking into Snipers eyes through his orange tinted glasses. “There was a meeting going on.”
“Wait- a meeting?-”
“SHUT IT! I’m not done Snipes!” Scout said, “Everyone on the team was at the meeting, including Miss. Pauling. And they weren’t talkin’ bout the usual stuff like contracts and battles and missions and weapons and what big guy threatenin’ company we gotta kill next-” He took a breath of air, sitting down on the sofa next to Sniper. Sniper turned his head, looking at the runner next to him with a perplexed expression painted on his face.
“No no, they-” Scout gulped, “Fuck dude they were talkin’ about how they’ve been spyin’ on us expectin’ us to get together romantically for like- months now! MAYBE EVEN LONGER!”
The words that slipped out of Scout’s mouth, Sniper’s eyes widened. He seemed taken aback, sitting up in his seat and meeting Scout’s eyes with the same wild, shocked expression.
“What mate?! You’re telling me that- that the whole team has meetings about us just solely getting together?!” Sniper said, “They really think we’re in love huh?”
“Yeah! It’s- it’s insane!” Scout said, “Because- because I don’t love ya! I love ya like a friend, y’know? Yer’ my best friend, yeah? Not a lover, not someone I’d look at romantically!” His words sounded oddly forced and bashful, sort of a twinge of embarrassment and fear that was built up like a dam blocking the ocean of raging emotion in his abdomen. It was like his circulatory system only transported the feelings of love and shame at the same time instead of everything else important that it should. Like his brain decided he needed emotion more than oxygen and nutrients.
Sniper cleared his throat, he could read Scout’s emotions and tell that he was hiding something. And Sniper had enough thought in his mind to recognize exactly what Scout was thinking. The opportunity seemed perfect, and he seemingly had the perfect chance to just confess to Scout. But Scout still wanted to hide.
Sniper didn’t want to, though. He hid long enough. And especially when the stakes seemed this high, a flag waving high in the air with multiple smoke signals. Sniper knew in his mind if he questioned Scout, he could force the words out of him himself.
“Do you really?” Sniper said, his eyes focused on Scouts body language.
Scout in response looked confused, and quite a little perplexed. “Uh, what do you mean?” he said, confusion in his eyes that were too scared to lock with the Aussies.
“Do you really see me as just a friend? Or am I something so much more to you?” Sniper said, thinking this was a great start. Whatever it takes, whatever he could to try and force a confession. It was the easy way out, knowing Scout was a stubborn man that acted like a hare on fire.
“What? Sniper, what are ya tryna do? Of course I just see ya as a friend..” Scout trailed off, seemingly becoming more and more nervous as they went on. “How about we turn this around, huh?” He faced Sniper, trying to ignore his lack of confidence. “Do you really see me as a friend?”
“No.” Sniper said bluntly and fast, as if he was already prepared to answer. It left Scout in shock, his lips barely parting and blue eyes wide. Sniper continued on, seeing the opportunity to keep speaking.
Say his true feelings.
“I thought it was quite clear. Especially after you told me about the incident, where everyone believes you’re in love with me? Well, I thought about it. You definitely are in love with me.” Sniper went on, but was nearly cut off by Scout.
“What! Snipes what are ya!-” Scout was quickly cut off.
“I feel the same way, Scout.” Sniper said, and boom. Scout’s mouth fell agape, his eyes somehow widening. “And I know for a fact that we’ve felt these ways about each other since the beginning mate. I’ve been hiding my feelings for a long time, too afraid that you’d resent me or that you wouldn’t like me back. But look around Scout! The whole goddamn teams thinks we’re in love! So..”
As Sniper trailed off, Scout took this as a chance to get his words in. But he didn’t have much to say, really. Sniper already wrote it all down for him right there. And Scout felt his chest explode, felt his brain turn to mush, and felt his heart jump around his body, but he held back his excitement with every atom in his body.
“I… Yeah.” Scout said, his eyes meeting Snipers, and their gazes locked on one another. Then he laughed for a quick second, and shook his head. “Shit, I guess we never noticed we were in love..”
“Thought it was a one sided tragic romance.” Sniper said, and they both had a good and sweet chuckle together.
Then Scout sighed, “Ay listen Snipes, we should give it a shot. ‘Specially if it means we can.. Just.. be closer.” He said, “Be together, as..”
“Lovers?”
“Yeah! Yeah.. lovers.”
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It was three weeks after Scout and Sniper finally got together, and they decided to keep it on the down low, knowing the news would rile up the rest of the team. Plus it made Scout feel adventurous, and Sniper feel young. So it was a win win lose. The losing team being the eight plus Pauling individuals who’ve been following Scout and Snipers lives like they were famous.
But they were walking along a path on base, hands entwined in broad daylight. They thought no one was looking, everyone was usually busy during this time of day during the week. So they felt safe acting like lovers outside.
But no, no no. Someone was watching. And when that merc saw what he saw he raced into the building, down the hall down and up the multiple flights of stairs in the main building and bursting into a random room- which was full of multiple of the other mercs.
“CALL MISS PAULING GODDAMNIT! IT HAPPENED.”