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Amari usually hated the rain. She hated how wet it made her. She hated how mellow it made the sunny skies. She hated how thunder would scare her fragile heart when a thunderstorm arrived, reminding her just how brutal nature could be.
But now, she found some solace in the rain.
Phone in hand, every gray message from her once beloved dug the grave further. Every rant, every complaint about her, the way she lived, the way she cared too much about her mother, her pets, the paragraphs were like daggers over and over again. Only difference is that she’d rather be backstabbed by the enemy Spy instead of ever having to face those text messages for the first time ever again. The puddle under her sneakers was growing larger from the downpour. Perhaps it was symbolic. The puddle was a hole threatening to swallow Amari alive the longer she dwelled in the breakup. Funny, isn’t it?
A low rumble of thunder didn’t even faze Amari. The rain just kept coming on down like bitter accompaniment. Her black hair was drenched, her clothes were sticking to her skin, and her shoes would likely mold from how much water soaked them. Brown eyes just read the text messages until her stomach forced her to stop. Amari then put her phone away and just stood in the busy grounds of ongoing city goers. For once the temperature cooled down.
Amari didn’t know what to feel. Anger? Sadness? Numbness? Clarity? Even after the asshole posted pictures of other girls’ asses online just to “get a reaction” out of her? Nah. Fuck all of that. She deserves better, she knew that. But still, everything hurt. She couldn’t just put up the mercenary facade and tough it out with smirks and laughs. It wouldn’t heal the scars so easily. But perhaps for once she would feel in control…
Retreating base to bask in solemn rainfall wasn’t the easiest. Second Soldier finds out, he’ll threaten to put her head on the handle of his shovel even though he really doesn’t mean it. Amari would obviously come back, but alone time was a must. Consider it…finding resolution within one’s inner self.
So much for being alone however…
An umbrella shielded Amari’s head from the rain. She stiffened in confusion for a bit before turning her head to the right to see Scout in his sweater, still open on the front like he never bothered to zip it up. His cap was on backwards and his blues looked neutral, but the other Scout could clearly see that he was worried. What a change for this smug bastard.
”Mind if I hang here, tuts?” Scout asked gently, using that nickname that always made Amari feel better. She didn’t know why, it just always fucking worked.
Amari’s gaze softened before she shook her head, allowing his company. Both Scouts stood under the rain, watching and counting every car that passed with a brief splash of puddles. Amari felt Jeremy’s hand snake around her waist, gently coaxing her into a hug.
And that’s when she broke down in little sobs.
Amari buried her face into Jeremy’s chest, her shoulders shaking with every cry. It was devastating. Jeremy’s eyes widened before he carelessly dropped the umbrella and embraced Amari with both arms, thumbs caressing wherever they could reach. Fuck the umbrella. He didn’t care what asshole would trip over it and complain. He had a best friend to tend to right now.
”You’re thinking about it again, aren’t you?” The Bostonian murmured quietly.
Amari simply nodded, hands just now returning the embrace, but for some reason, her arms felt too heavy to hug. Eh no matter. She knew that he meant well. She couldn’t even speak. Her throat was burning with cries. Jeremy seemed to hear her chokes of hesitation before patting Amari’s back.
”No need to say anything you don’t want to. I already know. But you know I’ll still make fun of that balding fuck right?”
Amari let out a wet laugh before shaking her head. Typical Jeremy. Always willing to find every opening just to be an asshole. But because of Amari’s situation? Oh he had every right to call her ex every damn name in the book.
”They sent you, didn’t they?” Amari asked, finally looking up to blink away the remains of her tears. She immediately found the lip bite and simply nodded. Of course the team would send her best friend to find her. It would be the only effective way to drag her back.
”Everyone got worried.” Jeremy replied lowly, pulling away from the hug to lean against a light pole, hands in pockets as he stared at the pavement that gleamed with every raindrop. “And I sure as hell wasn’t going to demand someone else go. So I scrambled the second they said you weren’t anywhere after dinner. I figured you’d be here…”
”You seem to like the rain more now.” Jeremy finished softly.
Amari sighed deeply. Yeah, she was. It became comforting now. The pellets fell hard, but it just provided more solace to the numbness that her skin felt. Maybe if she pained herself further, she would grow to have enough strength to get through anything. Even tough heartbreaks.
”I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
”Don’t play coy, tuts.”
Both Scouts laughed and bumped foreheads, the faintest of blushes tainting their cheeks. Jeremy picked the umbrella back up and snaked an arm back around Amari’s waist to walk her.
”C’mon. It’s too rainy out here. You’ll get a cold. We’ll cuddle back in my room. We can…watch a movie, talk about baseball, steal some snacks…”
Amari smirked playfully.
”You make it seem like you’re trying to date me.”
Jeremy immediately frowned, making Amari snicker before they both let out guttural laughter and ran together in the rain, hand in hand.
Best friends their asses.
By the time they both returned to base, Amari was immediately smothered by the rest of the mercs. Heavy pulled her into a hug, Pyro made very scared mumbles on her behalf, Engineer and Medic chided her for not taking a jacket, Spy just shook his head with disappointment, Demo offered a beer to which Amari kindly refused, and Sniper patted her head. Soldier was the only one that stood to the side, still upset that Amari just left like that. Oh well. He can go stuff it in his socks.
Jeremy grabbed Amari’s hand again and gently pulled her away from the team after she apologized and explained herself briefly. The two Scouts made it to Jeremy’s room, where it was nice and warm. Perfect. Jeremy took his cap off and placed it on the dresser. He then took his jacket off next and hung it. Seeing Amari all dripping with rainwater and hidden anguish just broke his heart. He had to do something.
Digging in his drawer, Jeremy took out two shirts, one for him and one for her. He did the same with sweatpants. Walking over to Amari, something in the air shifted. It felt warmer. Amari felt it too and she smiled and blushed because of it.
”You don’t need to do a thing. You trust me?” Jeremy asked softly.
Amari nodded firmly. “More than anything.”
Knowing that Amari was comfortable, Jeremy also nodded. He began to help her out of her clothes, carefully pulling the garments up, off, and into the hamper. Amari felt her heart pound like a bass drum at the action. Jeremy was so gentle, so loving, so caring… Just what lessons did Spy teach him?
Jeremy put the shirt and sweatpants on for Amari before ridding his own wet clothes as well, tossing them into the hamper and getting comfortable and warm. He caught Amari staring for one second too long and smirked, flexing a bicep.
”See something you like, sweetheart?”
Amari tossed a pillow at Jeremy with a snort.
”You wish.” She replied sarcastically.
Jeremy picked it up and laughed. Shaking his head, he tackled the other Scout on the bed before they rolled around, play fighting and trying to beat the other one up with punches or tickles. The fighting turned into soft giggles which then led into warm cuddles. Amari laid on Jeremy’s chest and Jeremy’s hands began to gentle massage and wander, squeezing and kneading out tense knots wherever she was still tense from thinking about her ex’s harshness.
Amari’s head laid still and softened with every smile. Jeremy also smiled. Good. That’s what he wanted to see. He placed a small kiss on Amari’s head of short hair, ruffling the androgynous haircut before the two locked eyes with each other. The heat began to circulate again.
”Hi.”
”Hi, yourself.”
Eventually, the two closed the gap and became lost in gentle, yet sensual kisses. Amari had never felt so much better being with this man. Everyone could talk so much shit about Jeremy and her impression on him would never change. He didn’t look at Pauling anymore, he didn’t provoke a reaction out of her by taking pictures of ass, he didn’t belittle her insecurities and feelings, and he didn’t disrespect her interests. It was like the two could understand each other and talk about anything and Amari wouldn’t have to worry about anything.
Jeremy left hand snuck under the shirt and began feeling Amari’s back. Her skin was hot from blush. Perhaps being the guy he was worth it in the end. He found a sweet person who didn’t treat him like shit. He met someone that saw him for him, and not just his bravado.
”Easy there. It’s getting quite hot in here.”
Jeremy chuckled and bumped foreheads with Amari, his smirk returning.
”You don’t seem to be complaining.”
”You’re right. I’m not.”
A few more giggles, and both Scouts shared one last kiss before going back to the cuddles, Jeremy caressing Amari’s skin and Amari finding solace in his embrace. The harsh rain outside still continued, but it made the moment feel more tranquil. More peaceful. Amari could just stay here forever and she’d never had it any other way.
”I’m still gonna kill him.”
Amari cackled and slapped him in the chest.
”Jeremy, don’t.”