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The night had started like many others. It was routine at this point for the team to sit around a fire together and drink after a long work week, especially when they had done well. Sniper often served as the host, since his campervan was parked right next to the pile of sand they decided would serve as a fire pit. He didn't mind, really, especially since that meant he didn't have to babysit the lightweight Scout or help carry Heavy when they drank too much.
Plus, something that Sniper would never admit, it was nice to be surrounded by people for once. It often got lonely in his van (even if it was a choice not to sleep in his assigned room), and having the people he was closest to over was a pleasant change of pace. Sure, there had been a point in his life when loneliness was the status quo, but he was part of a team now. He was slowly getting used to constantly being around people, even if he still lagged in the necessary social skills.
Sniper never really considered himself close with his teammates, not like they were with each other. Heavy and Medic were inseparable (Sniper had his own speculations as to why that was), Soldier and Demo could often be found sharing inside jokes, and Pyro and Engie often spent days off together. Even Scout, who no one could stand, seemed to know the others more than Sniper himself did. The only one who seemed to be in a similar situation was Spy, but Sniper had little evidence to believe he wanted to connect with the team, too.
Until that night, however.
It started off as any old celebration. As tradition, Engineer had brought some hot dogs and Medic some bratwurst. Pyro lit the kindling, and the heat from the fire kept the cold of the New Mexico desert at bay. Each of the team members brought something to share, from Scout's cheese-flavored chips to Demo's liquor. Spy even ended up bringing a charcuterie board of a variety of bread, meats, and cheeses. Everyone ate, drank, and shared stories of their fights this week against BLU.
It was well past midnight when the first of them began to shuffle inside the base. Medic was first, followed by Heavy, and Engineer. Pyro headed in next, once the roaring fire was diminished to a smoldering ember and there was no more firewood. Demo had long since been passed out and was helped inside by Soldier. Then, it was just Scout, Sniper, and Spy. Surveying the group, Scout decided that anything interesting would be happening inside, and took his leave.
Then there were two.
Sniper felt slightly uneasy being around Spy, but did not want to tell him to leave. Sniper, naturally being observant, reflected on what he had seen throughout the night. Spy normally kept to himself, drinking fancy French wine only he was allowed to partake in. He sometimes shared a few stories, like when he backstabbed the BLU Medic, or how he ruined their sentry nest, but otherwise said nothing and barely interacted with the others.
Tonight, however, something was different. Tonight, his glass was full of Demo's liquor, and he drunk it adamantly. Instead of seeming disinterested, he seemed to be paying attention to whomever was talking and even chuckled a few times. The only time Sniper saw what reminded him of their usual Spy was when Scout told the group about his four-person kill streak which ended in a backstab by the enemy Spy. If Sniper hadn't known better, he'd have thought that the BLU spy had replaced his counterpart.
Sniper snapped out of his thoughts, directing his focus to Spy. Spy's glass was empty now, and he was staring off in the direction of BLU's base. Sniper let his eyes follow the outline of his mask, examining the wrinkles and age that seemed to weigh heavily on his face. He had never seen Spy look so old before.
"What are you looking at." Spy's voice broke the awkward silence, and his piercing eyes shifted to Sniper's own.
"Nothing, mate," Sniper looked away, uncomfortable. "Just, worried about you is all."
Spy barked out a short laugh. "Worried? Why would you be worried, bushman?"
Sniper shifted in his seat, body buzzing with adrenaline. He hated confrontation (up close, of course), and Spy was definitely not making it easy on him. "Well, why don't you tell me, mate? Is something wrong?"
Spy laughed again, standing to refill his glass. "Ah, yes. Let me tell you all my deepest-darkest secrets. I'm sure that will never come back to bite me in the ass."
Sniper's face flushed, but he said nothing. He let the heavy silence lay over the two of them like a blanket, staring at his fingernails. Even though his voice had been drowned in sarcasm, Spy did not leave.
It felt like hours before Spy spoke again, his voice soft. "My past has come back to haunt me. I thought I had covered all of my tracks, but it appears that is not the case." He pulled a cigarette out of his jacket and lit it with shaking hands.
Sniper kept his mouth shut, encouraging Spy to go on with his attentive gaze. He sighed. "If I hear that what I'm about to tell you has gotten out, I will personally make sure your parents never see your next birthday." Sniper nodded, and that was apparently enough for Spy.
"Do you remember a week ago, when I was gone for a day or two?"
"Yeah, what about it?"
"I was recruited to infiltrate the BLU base, to try to grab the intelligence from right under their noses. I was close, too. I had the intelligence in my hands until their Spy came in. I, disguised as the BLU Scout, was shown incriminating pictures of a past affair, which should not exist. I had been very careful to ensure it was kept a secret, but somehow their Spy has those pictures. I was able to grab them on the way out, but I fear there are still other copies out there. I thought I could simply leave it in the past, but it's only a matter of time before the truth is revealed." Spy dropped his spent cigarette into the ground, stomped it into the sand, and lit another.
Sniper remained silent when Spy was done, trying to take it all in. Suddenly, it all seemed to click. "Wait, mate, why were you shown the pictures when you were disguised?"
Spy's face looked ten years older as he made eye contact with Sniper. "Must I say it out loud?"
He looked away, staring into his drink. This is the only time Sniper had ever seen him embarrassed about something. "I...am Scout's father. I met his mother in Boston years ago, during an assignment, and I was entranced by her. One thing led to another, but I could not have a child in my line of work. I left their family when Scout was very young, as much as it pained me to do so. I never thought I would see him here, of all places. And now I learn there is evidence of the encounter."
"Wow, okay." Sniper's mind reeled, finally connecting certain dots. His observation skills (which were built upon and tested every day in the field) often led him to notice things others didn't. Like how Spy's expression would harden slightly whenever the conversation got back to speculation about Scout's dad. Like Spy's seeming inability to refuse Scout's pleads for help, both on and off the battlefield. Like the tension Spy holds in his shoulders whenever Scout is stuck in respawn for just a second too long. And Sniper had always wondered to himself who the pretty lady was and why she was so important that she earned an engraved spot on Spy's beloved Ambassador. Suddenly, the answer to all of those questions is clear.
"Does he know?" Sniper asked, his voice low. His hand itched to reach out for Spy's, but it remained glued to his armrest. He was never very good at people, and the delicacy of the situation was not helping. His heart raced more than it usually did on the battlefield, but he was trained to keep frighteningly still. So he did.
"I do not know. He has never said anything to me, he did not have an immediate reaction when we first met, and I left when he was very little. But, unfortunately, he is intuitive, and I believe at least subconsciously he knows." Spy reached up to rub at his face, and Sniper pretended to not notice the tears threatening to form in his eyes.
"What are you going to do now?"
"I am not sure. I had planned on the secret being kept indefinitely, but now it seems that is impossible. I suppose I will have to tell him eventually."
Sniper grimaced. "Better from you than some other bloke. If I were you, I'd tell him soon. You've already waited long enough. He deserves to know."
"Ah, but you are not me, bushman. I'd advise you to not give me advice on how to run my personal affairs, thank you." Spy's voice held venom, but all Sniper saw was fear. Spy was scared.
"Look, I'm sorry, mate. Just trying to help." Sniper held his breath until he saw Spy's eyes soften.
"Yes, of course. My apologies...I suppose I'm just a bit shaken at the moment." Spy stood, only stumbling slightly.
"Thank you, bushman, for listening. However, my promise still stands if you share this with anyone." He pulled out his balisong to emphasize his point, before turning and walking towards the base. Sniper's eyes followed the figure until it entered the building, then began to pack up himself for the night.
Laying in his bed, he kept turning the conversation they had over and over in his head. Spy being Scout's dad was a shock, for sure, but he was more surprised at Spy's willingness to open up. The alcohol had definitely helped, but even with that Sniper had expected much more resistance. It was possible that Spy craved connection, like he did, but was too proud to ask for it. He drifted off to sleep trying to avoid overthinking the interaction.
~~~
Sniper's heart dropped into his feet when they turned the corner to find a dying Scout on the floor, blabbing as his blood pools around him. Even without hardened sniping skills, anyone would have noticed the way Spy's body tensed and his expression froze. Sniper nudges Spy, knocking him out of his stupor, and he kneels down next to Scout. Sniper turns away, trying to give them a bit of privacy, before his curiosity gets the best of him, turning back to make eye-contact with Tom Jones.
Sniper rolls his eyes and watches, keeping his senses open for any enemy trying to attack them during a fragile moment. Scout goes limp in Spy's arms, and the disguise melts off Spy. He uses his gloved hands to touch Scout's face, wiping away the tears that had collected in his son's eyes. For a moment, Sniper sees Spy at his most vulnerable, holding Scout, the child he spent so long trying to distance himself from. Scout's blood covers Spy's suit, and Spy's tears drip onto Scout's shirt. No one moves.
Sniper feels out of place, but bows his head for their fallen teammate. Scout wasn't the most likeable person on the team by any means, but he brought energy and an easy scapegoat that everyone will miss.
They stay there for a moment too long, and both know that, but Sniper cannot find the courage to call him out on it. Eventually, Spy gets up, gently laying the body on the floor and trying to discreetly tuck Scout's dog tags into the inside of his jacket. The two of them begin walking away from Scout, trying to stay stealthy as they do so. Sniper is just about to ask what Spy wants to do with the body when Scout begins to cough, and blearily opens his eyes.
Sniper fails to fight the giant grin that breaks out on his face, and chuckles when he sees Spy's annoyed relief as well. The two of them tend to Scout's wounds, wrapping his abdomen in some clean(ish) cloth they found nearby. Scout babbles as they help him walk, about foosball tables, Tom Jones, and Earth blowing up. Sniper and Spy make eye-contact, and Sniper studies Spy's face when it is revealed that Scout had no knowledge of the confession or moment that just occurred. Spy shoots him a death glare, the threat missed by an oblivious Scout.
Eventually, he can stand on his own, and they jump into battle with the rest of their teammates. As Miss Pauling gives her speech right before the older Heavy can die, Sniper notices Spy standing defensively in front of Scout, but draws no attention to it. He makes a mental note to talk about it later, but for now enjoys the victory as Demoman wraps his arms around him and laughs loudly. They can celebrate in the moment, as Spy got some vulnerability practice, Scout is alive, and they have won. Emotional conversations can wait until after the party is over.