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Clouds had scattered in the afternoon causing a breeze and Andy was looking for a particular red soldier to spend it with. Seeing Seth go to Murray’s sniper nest hours before was no surprise, he’s been going a lot there lately. Or maybe Andy’s just been noticing it more.
“Hey Seth,” he called out. “What’re you guys up to-?”
“Nothing!” Without warning Seth had appeared from the depths to cut him off. He was sweaty and gave an awkward smile. “Nothing going on here!”
What were they doing up there…and alone…was Seth more than just friendly company? He tried to shake the thought from his brain.
“What about you?”
“Huh?”
“You- what’re you up to Andy?”
“Oh- the day was just going really slow- I'm already done with my duties and just wanted to see what you were up to…” Andy said. “If…you guys are busy I can just leave?”
Something flickered in Seth’s eyes. “Oh we’re not doing much here, let me go back to Murray for a sec’ and I can catch up!”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah it’s no biggie, Murray’s a busy guy after all!”
And with that Andy saw his friend disappear back into the depths of the sniper's nest.
For the few moments Andy was alone he couldn’t help but let his mind wonder. Murray was a bit older than the two, and definitely more experienced. He wondered if that was something Seth found attractive — it was no secret his friend looked up to the older man.
Could there be more to it? Perhaps his loner personality mystified Seth? The more Andy stood alone the more he wanted to leave.
Eventually the red soldier returned, he seemed calmer this time, but it was no doubt something was on his mind.
“Everything okay?” Andy asked. He began to lead them over to a regular hang out spot.
“Huh? Oh! Yeah, sorry, don't worry about that, it's nothing.”
Andy had to hold back a scoff. Obviously it wasn’t nothing. But he did his best to move on. “Okay, but if you ever want to talk about it-“
“I will! I promise.” Seth’s dark brown eyes were sincere. “How did you get everything done for today? Didn’t you have to wash warthogs?”
“Tch yeah but Sam owed me a favor.”
“Nice.” Horrible. Seth was really looking forward to Andy getting frustrated about a job Seth had complained about all season. Frustrated and maybe even glowing from working under the sun…
He pushed the thought from his head before it finished. Together they headed up to a hill within the perimeter. Seth looked back to where Murray’s sniper nest was. He was sure he could handle the alien issue back up there himself, but it was nice to spot from far distances.
When he looked back at Andy he saw a face of regret. Was something on his friend’s mind? He was about to ask, but Andy was faster.
“My family used to go camping a lot, it looked a lot like this.”
“Oh yeah how was it?”
And then Andy rambled. Even though Seth would make fun of the occasional voice crack, he had to admit: Andy’s voice was soothing to listen to when they were just shooting the shit like this. No urgency, like they were in a military base under the threat of a surprise attack.
“The radioactive mosquitos weren’t the best though.”
“What’s it like getting bit by one?”
“Bit? Those things could swallow a toddler whole! Don’t ask how I know…”
“Rough day?”
“Worst summer ever.”
Andy pulled a lock of golden hair behind his ear. When it started to grow out Seth would always advise him to slick it back, hell, just cut it off so it’s not in the way during drills. Thankfully Andy never took his advice, now his hair framed his sun kissed face quite well-
“We probably have the worst tan lines, forget farmers tan, a Spartan tan is gonna take forever to balance out.” Seth interrupted his own train of thought.
“Eh we could put our helmets back on?” Andy suggested.
“No!” Seth almost shouted. “Erm…it’s just nice to get fresh air, y’know?”
He continued, “…it’s also nice seeing another person’s face once in a while…”
Andy’s ears turned pink. How cute…
“Yeah you’re right there.” Andy agreed.
“How's Maya?” Seth quickly moved on.
His friend’s face wavered. “Oh..! She’s doing good, she and Kris are really getting serious, almost one year!”
“Damn has it really been that long?”
“Yeah I guess time flies when you’re with someone.” His eyes soften. He must’ve been really happy about those two.
“Uh yeah, but I also meant since we’ve been stationed here.”
Andy’s eyes suddenly widened.What was he thinking? Of course his mind had to wander. “Right! Right that too!”
“You’re right though, I bet it’s easier when you’re in the honeymoon phase.”
“Yeah, I’m not gonna lie, I’m happy for Maya really, it just gets so boring around base and I don’t want to be a third wheel either.”
“Ahh you still have me buddy.”
Andy looked away, pursing his lips.
Seth scoffed playfully. “What?”
“Well…” Andy began. “You’re kind of stuck in Murray's nest nowadays-not that there’s a problem with that! I just don’t know him like you do, I feel like I’d be butting in.”
“Don’t worry though,” Andy said. “Boredom never killed anyone.”
Seth never realized his best friend had been feeling that way. A pang of guilt washed over him. “I’m sorry Andy… Murray’s been needing my help lately,” His blonde friend winced. “If I could, I would tell you everything, it’s just not my place…”
Andy shrugged. “It’s okay, really Seth. I’ll be fine.”
But it wasn’t just boredom. Andy missed him and he couldn’t help but feel hurt that his best friend hadn’t noticed.
“Have you ever seen Murray without his helmet?”
Seth raised an eyebrow. Where did this come from? “Uh yeah a couple times, he’s in a sniper nest so I bet a helmet’s not that necessary?”
Andy opened his mouth, but then quickly closed it.
“You want to know what he looks like huh?”
“Can you blame me? Most people don’t realize he’s even there…he’s mysterious.”
Seth tensed. Was his friend…interested in Murray?
He coughed. “Erm, well, he has grayish hair, I think it’s still blonde but it’s hard to tell. It’s like a Silver Fox I think?”
He noticed Andy staring intensely at him. He must’ve been doing his best to imagine it.
“He’s .., I think early 40s? And…I dunno – sad eyes?”
“Sad eyes?”
“Dude, what do you want? A poem? I suck at this.”
Andy let out a laugh. “Yeah you do, I’ll try not to become MIA.”
“Whatever man.” Seth grumbled. He stretched out across the grass field. If he was going to be made fun of on break he might as well relax.
His friend followed suit. Even though Seth’s eyes were closed he felt his friend’s gaze on him. Did he want him to keep talking about Murray? He couldn’t understand, one minute Andy’s jealous, the next mooning over a man he’s barely known!
Seth huffed, “What do you want man?”
“Nothing! What!?”
“It’s so obvious you have a crush.”
Andy's face felt hot, shooting himself up quickly, his mind began racing. Was he that obvious? How long has Seth known? His mouth opened but he fumbled to form a sentence, “Huh-? What do you mean? I don’t have a crush, and even if I did there’s like over a hundred people here-how would you-?“
Seth smirked, eyes peering from under his red bandana. He was eating this up wasn’t he? And to make matters worse, Andy couldn’t help but think how charming Seth looked when he was pleased with himself. Like the Cat that got the cream.
On one hand, it was cute that Andy was trying to hide his face. A nice blush had fully blossomed on his cheeks and his eyes darted anywhere, but to Seth. And his hands, his hands were fidgeting, part of Seth wanted to reach out and calm him.
He knew Murray was a catch, but what did he do to work up his friend this much? Despite the pretty picture that was unfolding in front of him, more than anything, Seth wanted to let out a defeated sigh and roll over. Maybe afterwards… but for now he would keep teasing his friend. “Dude it’s okay. I get it.”
Andy hesitated. “Really?” His eyes shyly began to meet Seth’s gaze.
And Seth really wanted to punch himself in the jaw. But if Andy really was infatuated with Murray, there wasn’t anything he could do besides help his friend. He was just talking about how lonely he was after all.
“Yeah, I mean, Murray spends all his time in the sniper nest, but I think I could get the two of you to meet at some point, it’ll take a lot of work to get him free…”
Andy’s awe began to turn into a face of confusion. “…What?”
“Yeah, there’s no rotation, so he literally doesn’t move from it.”
“Oh…uhm…”
“What? It’s Murray right?”
“Uhhh…”
“It’s not him? Wait— who do you have a crush on!?”
“Hey-! Let’s not focus on that-!”
“No no no no no, let’s talk about this,” Seth grabbed his friend's arm before he could leave. Andy let out a surprised yelp, excitement had fueled the both of them. What was once a relaxing afternoon had turned into a playfight.
“So I got partial credit: if I was right about the Crush Thing, but wrong about Murray, then who is it Andy?”
His friend’s face was practically glowing and his eyes were darting again. He tried to break free from Seth’s grip, but gravity does crazy things when you’re on a hill.
Together they tumbled. Seth did his best to save his friend, but when they finally stopped he was practically on top of him. Looking down, poor Andy had all sorts of leaves and twigs in his hair.
“Andy I’m so sorry-“
But Andy was only looking up at him with the same face of awe as earlier.
Oh.
Oh.
Seth was so dumb.
Carefully, he leaned down. He didn’t miss how his friend held his breath as he closed the distance between them. Until his lips were nearly touching Andy’s.
“Who do you have a crush on Andy?”
Andy pushed Seth off of him, embarrassment turning into anger then defeat. He looked away covering his own lips with his hand. They were so close, Andy felt his friend’s breath on his cheek. One wrong move and Seth would have…
“Oh fuck off man.” Was all that Andy could manage to say.
“Andy-“
“You didn’t-Why did-?”
He wanted to leave, but his face was being guided back into Seth’s direction.
Seth had tilted Andy’s face with a gentle touch and before he could choke out an exclamation, his friend had cut him off with a deep kiss.
Butterflies fluttered inside him as Seth felt how soft and warm Andy’s lips were. Seth was an asshole, but he definitely wasn’t cruel. Andy’s lips parted in a pleasant sigh letting him move in deeper. As soon as his friend began kissing him back, he couldn’t help but caress his cheek…then his blonde hair, pulling each other closer. When they finally parted they were both flushed.
Maya “Woah! These bitches gay! Good for them! Good for them!”