Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Scout wasn’t the type to stay quiet about how he felt in fact, he was very verbal. Especially with the members of the team he was closer with, it was a small list but it included; the Sniper, who let him ramble on and didn’t seem annoyed by his constant need to speak, The Pyro, who would be there to distract Scout and help him feel better, and the Engineer who was a father figure to him. Engineer always gave Scout the best advice, it was as if the man always knew what to say. So the list was only three out of the team of nine of them but it was enough for Scout. Until one particularly bad match.

Scout had been running for a while, his legs ached and stung every time his shoes pounded against the desert ground. He was panting heavily breathing in dry New Mexico air as he heard gunshots behind him, everything hurt. 

“Yew can run but, ye can’t hide!” The enemy team’s Demoman was leaping toward Scout quickly, taunting him in his thick Scottish accent. Scout took a moment to look behind him and his eyes widened in fear as he saw how close the BLU Demoman was. He kept running and took the risk of diving into a nearby alley. 

“Shit!” Scout cursed when he was cornered at a dead end.

“I knew I’d get ye.” BLU Demoman grinned, his hand around his weapon ready for the final blow. 

Suddenly Scout was pushed to the ground, a heavy boot crushing down on his chest. He gasped in pain as the boot dug into him, and tears began to form in his eyes. 

“But maybe I should teach ya not to mess with a real man” 

Tears dropped from Scout’s face as he looked wide-eyed at the BLU Demoman. It wasn’t on purpose, or maybe it was, but The Demoman somehow knew exactly how to break Scout, even if it wasn’t in the way Scout took it.

“H-how do you know!” Scout choked “No one but Medic knows how the fuck do you know” 

The Demoman looked thoroughly confused, Scout realized his attacker didn’t actually know what Scout was talking about. Scout clenched his mouth shut.

“No-Nothing! I said nothing! Can you kill me already I’d love to go back to respawn about now.”

The Demoman shrugged off any suspicion, pulled out his rocket launcher, and ran back before blasting it at Scout.

Everything went white, then black. Scout sat in the dark, his body tingling. It felt as if he was dissolving, only to be put back together just to dissolve again. Then it was bright, too bright to see. Respawn had worked, as it always did. Scout took a moment to shake off any lingering sensations from the futuristic technology and then equipped his scattergun before hastily running off in the direction he heard gunshots. 

“ YOU FAILED ” The Administrator announced as the entire RED team was sent to respawn. They all endured the same experience but some shook it off faster than others. Scout, Sniper, and Medic seemed to be the only ones who took a minute to reset their bearings.

“ MAGOTS! WHAT IN THE NAME OF UNCLE SAM WAS THAT? I HAVE BEEN YOUR FEARLESS LEADER FOR MONTHS AND YOU REPAY ME BY LOSING THREE MATCHES IN A ROW? ” The Soldier yelled, his voice echoing against the concrete spawn room. 

Scout covered his ears, his head felt like it was exploding from the overstimulating experience of respawning and then being yelled at.

“Hey! I tried really hard that round I was running for the last quarter of it!” Scout yelled back, attempting to match Soldier’s agitating volume.

“ RUNNING IN BATTLE IS FOR LADIES, YOU TELLIN’ ME YOU’RE A LADY? ”Soldier spat back

Scout was stunned into silence, his expression contorted in pain. Then his blood boiled.

“I’M NOT A FUCKING LADY IMMA REAL MAN LIKE DA REST OF YA’” Scout’s Boston accent came out stronger from his rage.

The room was shocked, looking at Scout in collective confusion. Their confusion quickly transformed into concern when Scout gripped his head hard enough to pull out his hair and began to cry. Spy reached an arm out from where he was standing behind Scout, but just as quickly as he did so he put his arm back down reluctantly. Sniper decided to step forward, he took Scout around the shoulder and led him out into the hallway. The team stayed silent. Sniper was about to speak when he was cut off by Scout wrapping his arms tightly around Sniper’s torso. He sobbed into Sniper’s chest and spoke in choked cut-off sentences.

“I’m S-sorry! I didn’t mean to- I shouldn’ta yelled like that I just- I-I” 

Sniper shushed the small figure that clutched onto him as if he was a lifeline.

“It's awright mate, you- I uh- I don’t really understand ta be honest but I am here ta listen like always” Sniper consoled, his thick Australian accent comforting to Scout.

Scout didn’t say a word as he pulled away from Sniper with his face wet with tears. He took Sniper by the hand and dragged him down the hallway. Scout heard Sniper's voice but he didn’t comprehend the words as he rushed toward his room. The two rapidly approached a door with a large metal sign that read ‘Scout’s Room KEEP OUT’. Scout slammed the door open, forced Sniper inside, then pushed the door shut holding it closed tightly as if keeping a monster out. 

“Wot the bloody ‘ell is goin’ on ‘ere” Sniper questioned.

Without a second thought, Scout quickly raised his shirt over his head and exposed his pale chest.

“You see these scars? I’ve known I was a boy since I was a kid! I fought to be like you and the rest of the team and none of that mattered until I got here. I finally got that M on my ID, I got Medic to give me these scars and fix what’s wrong with me! But now it doesn’t even mean anything because I just ruined all that progress! EVERYONE KNOWS NOW!” Scout cried out loudly. 

“Wot? I’m not following, wot on Earth are you talkin’ about??” Sniper replied, completely oblivious.

“I’m transgender Sniper,” Scout spoke in a hushed tone, no longer yelling. “I wasn’t born this way, I was born a female and had to have fuckin’ surgery to fix my damned body.”

Suddenly the gears clicked and Sniper understood. 

“Oh, crikey mate. I… I don’t know what to say. Thank you for… for trusting me enough to tell me.” 

Scout threw himself onto the bed behind him and covered his face in his pillow before screaming into it. 

“This doesn’t change anything. You’re a man like the rest of us, except maybe Pyro I can’t even tell if they’re human, heh” Sniper attempted to joke to lighten the mood. It didn’t help anyone. He awkwardly cleared his throat before continuing. “You’re a man like the rest of us. I’m sure Soldier didn’t realize the gravity of what he did, he didn’t mean it to hurt you, not like this anyway. Who knows… about it?”

“... Medic and you, that’s it.” Scout finally answered, his voice muffled by the pillow. 

Sniper took note of this but thought to himself one other person who definitely knew.

“I won’t talk about it unless you do. I’m sorry for what happened out there.”

Scout didn’t answer, he felt the mattress under him shift in weight as Sniper sat down next to him. He hesitated before taking his calloused hand and gently placing it on Scout’s bare shoulder. Scout flinched at the touch but quickly eased into it. Sniper began to stroke his arm comfortingly. 

“You doing okay?” Sniper asked

“I’m okay now.” Scout felt the hand leave his shoulder and the bed shift slightly, “Please don’t leave I can’t be alone!” He quickly added.

The bed shifted again and Sniper moved closer to Scout and removed the pillow from over his face.

“I’m sorry you have to be the one to deal with me like this…” Scout spoke.

“No! D-don’t apologize! I’m glad I could be the one to comfort you, I probably am one of the only ones that would have been slightly comforting. The others aren’t as feel-y as we are. I’m… I’m so glad you trust me, Scout.” 

Scout nodded and closed his eyes. He was exhausted from crying. He adjusted his position, now laying with his head on Sniper’s lap. Maybe it was exhaustion, maybe it was how much he trusted Sniper but he didn’t think twice about laying on him. Scout breathed out, and slowly drifted off to sleep.

A bright light shone through gaps in the blinds that covered the window to the left of Sniper. Sniper’s eyes fluttered open groggily. He went to rub his eyes but was blocked by his orange-tinted sunglasses. He sat blinking in confusion before he realized he had slept in not only his sunglasses but also his outback hat. He took both of them off and reached to his right where his nightstand usually was, but he touched something soft. He flinched and startled the figure that rested on him. Suddenly the events of last night played through Sniper’s head quickly. He looked down to see Scout stirring on his lap, the younger man opened his eyes sleepily and raised his head to look around.

“AAH! I’m sorry!” Scout yelped. “That was probably really uncomfortable. You stayed here all night? I thought you woulda left!” 

“I uh-” Sniper was cut off as Scout quickly lept out of the bed, He looked at Sniper worriedly. 

“I’m sorry I shouldn’ta done that! I- You can leave if you wanna-”

“I wouldn’ta stayed if I didn’t want ta.” It was Sniper’s turn to interrupt.

Both the boys blushed bright red, neither of them realized, however. Scout looked down to see that he was still shirtless and he quickly scooped his bright red shirt off the ground and slipped it over his head. Sniper got up from the bed and tidied the blanket slightly before he looked back at Scout.

“What time is it we should probably head ta breakfast,” Scout said, avoiding eye contact with Sniper.

“Roight, uhm- after you.” Sniper gestured to the door.

Scout nodded and opened the door, he exited quickly but held it open until Sniper joined him outside of the room. Sniper’s eyes widened as he looked to his left. He met eyes with Spy who looked equally as bewildered.

“What ze fuck are you two… ” Spy paused, connecting dots in his head, right or wrong. His face quickly dropped from confusion to anger. “What do you zink you are doing? Did you take advantage of my so- him while he vas having a breakdown!?” Spy’s french accent stood out as he hastily approached Sniper and flipped out his butterfly knife.

“No! I would never do something like that who do you take me for?‘ Sniper quickly put his hands up in surrender and backed up against the door.

Scout sat dumbfounded before his brain processed what he had heard. He blushed bright red and looked fearful.

“Spy! You can’t just say shit like that it can be-” Scout cut off as he choked on his words. 

He was obviously triggered by the accusation. His expression dropped as he began to dissociate. His eyes unfocused and his head swam, He heard the voices around him but barely picked up what they said.

“Scout?!” Sniper and Spy said in unison. 

“Mate? Are you awright? ” Sniper said.

“Vat is happening?” Spy asked.

“I don’t know! What did you do!?” 

Scout shakily reached his arms up and held himself, his eyes burned with tears as he was brought back to the worst day of his life. 

Scout was back in high school, he had shaggy hair and wore the same hoodie every day. He was much paler, skinnier, and shorter. It wasn’t long till he realized where he was. He stood outside of the large gym doors. He walked in shakily and made his way to where he sat on the coated basketball court. He was surrounded by girls that he could only assume were all looking at him as he never looked up from the floor. The P.E. coach spoke to silence the rowdy bunch, then she began attendance. It was the worst part for scout besides changing. He winced as she got to a familiar name.

“Julia” 

“Here.” Scout groaned before he laid his head on his arms that were crossed on top of his legs

Girls giggled around him and they were released to go into the back room to change. The Bathrooms of the girls' dressing room and the boys’ dressing rooms were connected by a heavy locked door. Scout had learned long ago how to lock-pick it, He had taught himself when the bullying first started. He took the bobby pin he kept hidden in his hair and stuck it into the lock, when he felt and heard the key pins click he carefully turned the knob and snuck into the boys’ bathroom. He went to the stalls and began to change. Once he was finished he exited the stall and went to wash his hands.

“Well look what we’ve got here, the tranny is trying to be like us.” A boy spoke from the right of Scout.

Scout froze in fear but was quickly snapped into reality when he was pushed against the door. He gasped in pain and looked at the group in horror. Two of the boys took him by the arms and forced him into the handy-capped stall. Scout’s knees stung as they hit the tile.

“What’s your name girly.” The main boy taunted.

“I’m not a girl! My name is Jeremy!” Scout argued.

He was quickly kicked in the side. The wind was knocked out of him and he coughed painfully. He was doubled over in pain until he was dragged up off his knees.

“You’re a boy huh? Well let's just see about that,” The boy not holding Scout up spoke.

Scout screamed but was quickly silenced by a hand that clasped over his mouth. The boy yanked down Scout’s knee-length shorts.

p>
The rest of it he couldn’t remember, his brain protected him from thinking about it too much. The last thing he remembers from that day was coming to on the boys’ bathroom floor. His lower half ached and burned. And when he looked down he saw an amount of semen that was too much for just one of the boys to produce. He tried to cry but his wet face told him he had already spent all of his tears. Instead, he got up and stumbled to the toilet where he attempted to expel everything out of him. He took wads of toilet paper and scrapped out as much as possible. The tissues were stained with clear-ish semen and bright red blood. He looked back over to where he previously lay and saw the blood that was left in a small puddle. He wanted to throw up but had nothing to throw up. 

When Scout was sent back into reality He found himself curled up in a ball on the floor. He felt phantom soreness from his memories and his face was wet from sobbing. Spy and Sniper sat next to Scout, keeping their distance. Sniper had attempted to hold Scout earlier like he did last night but when he tried, Scout screamed. Scout whimpered before he attempted to sit up. He shakily lifted himself on his arms before they gave and he dropped back onto the floor.

“Can I help you mate?” Sniper hesitantly asked.

Scout nodded slowly, confused as to why Sniper asked. He was gently lifted to his feet and he quickly wiped his tears.

“What happened while I was out?” Scout nervously asked 

“Tears, screaming, you curled into a ball at some point. It’s been about an hour.” Spy said bluntly.

“Sorry…”

“Don’t apologize, You did nothing wrong.” Sniper Joined the conversation.

“Yes, The Sniper told me about your reaction, said I triggered you and it was probably a flashback with how out of it you were” Spy added.

“Ah geez, yeah it was a… a flashback” Scout confirmed.

“You wanna talk abo-” Sniper began.

“No please!” Scout quickly shouted. ”I’m sorry I- I just don't wanna talk about it”

“It is okay Scout we wouldn’t force you to talk.” Spy said sweetly.

It surprised Sniper and Spy when Scout’s face went from dazed anxiety to anger. He without a thought stepped close to Spy and pointed an accusatory finger at him.

“What’s your fuckin’ problem? Why are you acting all nice I’m harder on you than anyone else, and usually, you do tha same. What game are ya playin’ here?” Scout interrogated.

Spy backed up away from his accusitor.

“I am not playing at anything I-” Spy stuttered uncharacteristically. “It is nothing, I was… I was concerned for my teammate. We need you around I had to make sure you… Never mind I will leave you alone.”

With that Spy quickly turned around and retreated to his smoke room. As soon as he entered the chamber, he quickly whipped out a lighter and a cigarette, he lit it and flicked the lighter off before he collapsed into a nearby oversized leather armchair 

Chapter Text

Scout felt guilty as soon as Spy was out of sight. He and Sniper stood awkwardly at the end of the hallway, Scout to the left of Sniper. Scout looked to his left, out the window.

The sky was midnight blue, as dark as ink. It was blotted with varying sizes of stars. Scout, looking to distract himself, took in every star, every dark cloud in the sky, and the mountains that marked the edge of their boundary. 

“Mate? Are you doin’ okay over there?” Sniper interrupted

Scout snapped back into reality and looked at Sniper sadly. He nodded before pausing, took a deep breath, and then shook his head.

“I don’t know. I’m just… I’m just gonna go to my room.” Scout sighed.

Sniper nodded after forcing himself not to pry.

Sniper liked Scout and thought he was a cool guy but he didn’t really know him that well. Sure they talked more than Scout talked to others but did Scout consider Sniper to be his friend? Sniper assumed not or at least not close enough friends to give Sniper to right to ask Scout what was wrong. After Scout disappeared into his room Sniper sighed and walked to the exit of the base. It wasn’t a long walk to the camper van he lived in, but it was long enough for Sniper to get stuck in his own head. Could I have done more? Scout would have probably tried to comfort me better if he ever saw me like that. What the bloody hell even was that. He thought. He turned to knob on the camper door and stepped inside.

The camper was small and housed only one person. Sniper’s bed sat raised against the wall, a small ladder helped him get to the top. It was one room only with the bathroom separated from the rest. The kitchen was small but had plenty of storage space with counters lining underneath a window. There was a small pantry and next to it a counter with a coffee pot on it. It was late, too late to go to sleep and wake up early Sniper deduced. He flicked on the coffee pot and loaded the filter with coffee beans. 

“Awright, let's see how he feels tomorrow. Maybe I can get ‘im to talk.” Sniper spoke aloud. 

He took a deep breath before the coffee pot began to hum and start-up. He took a magazine from a nearby shelf, flicked on a lamp, then sat down on the thin couch. It creaked under him as he got comfortable.

O O O O O O O O O O O O

Scout leaned against the heavy door that closed him off from the rest of the base. He gasped for air, not realizing he was holding his breath while with Sniper. He looked around his room.

Empty cans of BONK!, Clothes both dirty and clean scattered around his room, the desk that only held a digital alarm clock that came with the room, and his bed. His bed. He smiled before he climbed into it and allowed himself to be swallowed by the blankets and mattress. It wasn’t anything fancy, just a spring mattress that had sunken in from all the time he spent in it. He bought a couple of fuzzy blankets for it that he really only used during winter. Despite being in the desert nights did get freezing during winter. Although it wasn’t winter right now Scout took every blanket and pillow on the bed and threw them on top of himself. It was hot under the mass of cloth but it was comfortable. It was like being tucked in by your mom as a kid, like sitting in front of the fireplace with your dad while he sits in a large armchair behind you.

His dad.

Scout’s mood was immediately dampened. It was rare he got a memory of his dad and he sure as hell didn’t need one right now. He tried to push it away focusing instead on his mother but the persistent memory came back more vividly. 

Suddenly Scout was back to being a kid. He didn’t know how old he was but being that his father had left him and his family when he was 7, he had to guess he was young. He felt the presence of a large figure behind where he sat on the carpeted floor. It was a winter night, snow poured from outside and danced as it fluttered toward the ground. Scout’s nose was hit with the thick scent of smoke. It reeked but seemed familiar, like something he smelled recently. He turned around to look at his father but his face was covered in shadow despite the fire that illuminated behind scout.

Why couldn’t he remember his face?

Scout woke up unexpectedly, sweating from the cocoon he had put himself in. He quickly threw off the mess of blankets and pillows and sat up gasping. He looked to his left at the digital alarm clock.

‘3:42 am.’ It read.

Scout didn’t want to be in his room anymore. What was once his place of comfort and peace had been infected by the unwarranted memory of his father. He practically threw himself out of bed as he scrambled toward the door. Who would he even be able to go to for a distraction right now? He erupted into the hallway and looked around. No one was nearby so he quickly slithered his way to the exits. He pushed the enormous heavy metal doors and ran to Sniper’s camper van. It wasn’t long before he reached the door. He hesitated. What if he’s asleep? It is like four in tha mornin’. Maybe I should just go- Scout’s thoughts were cut off by the door suddenly opening.

Sniper stood in the doorway and looked down at Scout who was frozen like a deer in headlights.

“You awright there bud?” Sniper spoke.

Scout looked up at him awkwardly and blushed out of embarrassment.

“Yeah sorry I uh didn’t know ya were awake.” Scout admitted.

“Need somethin’?” Sniper asked.

Scout nodded and Sniper gestured for him to come in. He led him over to the couch and allowed him to get comfortable while he retrieved his Coffee cup from the machine.

“So what’s up?” Sniper questioned after taking a sip from the hot mug.

“Just wanted ta visit ya, Snipes.” Scout lied.

“At four in the morning? You just wanted to come by for a visit, after what happened yesterday?”

Scout had forgotten about what had happened earlier before he fell asleep, the unwanted memory of his father had caused his event to slip his mind.

“Right uh… Look I’m not gonna lie it obviously isn’t workin’” Scout surrendered. “Just… thought of something and needed a distraction.”

“Something like the flashback or somethin’ else?”

Scout tensed up.

“Something else. Not as bad but not good either. I mean- It wasn’t a bad memory or anythin’ just somethin’ I’d rather not remember to be honest.”

Sniper nodded before he opened his mouth.

“Do ya… ya wanna talk about it or uh- I know earlier ya didn’t but you said it wasn’t as bad so…” Sniper rambled and awkwardly scratched the back of his neck. The shaved hair was prickly as it was beginning to grow back. 

“It was just somethin’ with my dad.” Scout sighed.

Sniper carefully sat next to Scout and looked at the spot Scout was zoning out at.

“I was a lil’ kid an’ he was sittin with me by the fire. It was winter. It wasn’t anything big we were just sittin’ together. He was smokin’ though and it smelled so familiar.”

Sniper tensed up. He immediately connected the dots, it was easy since he knew who Scout’s father was. It wasn’t like Spy had told him, He didn’t willingly tell anyone he was Scout’s father but most of the team realized with the way Spy was secretly protective of the youngest team member. They all were but Spy was protective in a different way. Medic knew from snooping through files and the various blood tests he did on the mercenaries. Heavy knew from Medic accidentally blurting out his finding, Engineer had recognized the similarities between the two and assumed, then pyro found out by sneaking up behind him while he was thinking out loud. Soldier and Demoman were really the only people besides Scout who didn’t know. They kept it from Demoman at risk of him drunkenly spilling the secret and Soldier they didn’t tell because it frankly just hadn’t come up.

“Haha yeah it was weird I don’t usually get memories of the fucker but eh my fault for thinkin about my childhood.” Scout spat insulting names at his father anytime he talked about him, today he seemed to have more poison behind his choices.

“Don’t say it like that mate it's not like we can choose when and what we remember.”

Scout shrugged and then grinned slyly.

“You got any beer in this place? I’m not trying ta remember tonight.”

Sniper looked at him shocked.

“Don’t believe it a good idea for you ta drink like this mate, no, even if I had some you aren’t gettin’ any.”

“R-relax I was jokin’.” Scout frowned.

“Seemed like a serious ask to me.” Sniper took a sip from his now barely warm mug.

Scout felt awkward and began to survey the room for something to change the subject, he just revealed to Sniper that he wasn’t exactly the healthiest when it came to coping. Eh, better than him accidentally telling Sniper about the other ways he coped with stuff.

“You planning to stay up all night too?” Sniper broke the excruciating silence.

“I wouldn’t be able to sleep alone anyway.” Scout admitted.

“I mean you could always sleep with me” Sniper paused going bright red. “N-Not like that I meant like in my camper, you napped on me that one time and uh ya just seemed comfortable then so I- I’m sorry.” Sniper backpedaled and covered his red face with his hand. 

Scout chuckled at his flustered friend and looked at him smiling. He looked at Sniper’s hands. They were rough and calloused from holding a gun in the same position for hours. Despite this, his hands felt so delicate and nice when they rested on Scout the other day when they slept. He didn’t mind the idea of resting together again, it was nice, and he felt safe. Scout imagined those rough hands playing gently with his hair, holding him comfortably and protectively. 

Now was Scout’s turn to blush brightly. He looked to his left, away from Sniper, and attempted to rip his mind from the subject. He wished he had something to awkwardly drink right now, his mouth was dry as the desert around them. He coughed before speaking.

“It’s alright Snipes I know ya didn’t mean it like that”

“Words are stupid mate” Sniper laughed.

“Agreed.”

The silence was comfortable this time as Scout and Sniper watched the sunrise from outside of a nearby window.

“Ugh, I really don’t wanna go to work today, running for my life and killin’ people ain't exactly the most relaxing thing.” Scout mumbled.

“Look on the bright side, just a couple more days, and it's the weekend.” Sniper shrugged.

“Yeah. It’s weird how this job works kinda like a normal job. I mean we spend the weekdays shootin’ and killin’ each other than on the weekend we just agree to take a break? Shit’s wild.”

“Yeah, it is weird. Eh at least we get breaks, could ya imagine if we were at it all day every day?”

“I don’t think I’d be able to keep this job they’d probably have ta pay me more.”

Sniper held his hand near his mouth to dampen his laugh. It wasn’t often he did laugh and it wasn’t a quiet one. It always made Scout smile just hearing that deep chuckle. He blushed thinking about it, and when he noticed he was glad that the orange glow of the sunrise masked it. 

“What are we even doing today? Control points, payload, maybe basic attack and defense?” Sniper asked looking over to Scout.

“I don’t know I usually find out from Engie or just wait for Pauling to tell us.”

“Yeah me too.” Sniper looked over to the clock he kept on the wall. “Well, everyone’s alarms should be goin’ off soon we can probably wait till then to go back to the base an’ ask one of ‘em.”

Scout nodded and settled back into the couch, not realizing he had ever sat up. 

Eventually, it was time for the two to go meet with the others. Sniper was the first to get up and he grabbed his hat from the nearby rack, along with his vest. Scout hadn’t ever changed out of his uniform and had grabbed his hat before he first came to Sniper, so he was already ready. Sniper laced up his shoes and then opened the door.

“Awright, let’s get a move on then,” Sniper said.

Scout got up from the couch and followed Sniper out of the camper. The two walked in peaceful silence to the base where Scout ran ahead to open the door for Sniper. Sniper chuckled before he walked in, Scout beaming behind him. Sniper was first to enter the lounge area and was met with Spy, Pyro, and Engineer who all looked up at him. Spy looked almost offended when Scout walked in behind Sniper.

Engie and Pyro were playing Checkers on the floor while Spy sat with his legs crossed and a newspaper in his hands. Despite being in a secluded, fenced-off area in the middle of the dust bowl the mercenaries always managed to wake up to the day’s newspaper outside the base. The rest of the mercenaries trickled in, Medic was next surprised by Scout being early, then Heavy entered and made his way over to Medic. Soldier arrived exactly when the meeting was supposed to start, 7 o’clock on the dot. Demoman was always late and hungover. He quickly fixed it by chugging a beer and sitting with more nearby.

“So, what’re we doin today boys?” Scout loudly asked no one specifically.

“Looks like basic Attack and Defense, we vill run until 11 zen take a break, and finish around 5 pm.” Medic answered as he read over a clipboard of information.

Scout groaned loudly and Sniper noticed the shift in how he acted. Around everyone Scout was loud, always talking, and most importantly confident. He didn’t know Scout entirely yet but he could read the persona he put on wasn’t who he actually was. He wouldn’t dare mention it though. Scout had sat himself next to Pyro and Engie, asking who was winning every few minutes and playing with the checker's pieces that were out of the game. Sniper had taken his usual spot in a corner by himself near the archway that separated the lounge area and the kitchen. Everyone had a morning routine and his was to sit and watch everyone else. He usually found himself watching Scout. He seemed so happy when he was with the rest of the team like this. Boasting that he would be the one at the top of the leaderboard and that he would wipe the opposing team easily. The team usually rolled their eyes being that they were on a losing streak at the moment, but they all allowed him to convince the team that they would win this time.

“Come on we’ve got this! Sure we haven’t been doin’ all that good and the Administrator is up our asses about it but we were just in a funk. This time for sure!” Scout said optimistically.

“Oh please, we are losing because we’re uncoordinated. Ze medic and Heavy always team together while ze rest of us all go our separate ways, ve lose because you people are not calculating, you just run in and shoot.” Spy rebutted.

“Obviously. Some of us are offense it's like our job to run in an’ shoot. S’not my fault all you do is skulk around and try to be invisible.” Scout said annoyed. 

It was like this every day. Scout would try and pep up the team while Spy ripped down his attempts. The two would argue, everyone would get annoyed and Medic would put a stop to it.

“So what do ya want us to do wiseguy? You always say we’re uncoordinated and runnin’ in willy nilly but I don’t see ya givin’ us any ways to be better.” Sniper said out of the usual routine.

The team looked at the usually silent watcher with confusion. Sniper tensed up at the sudden crowd of eyes on him, sweating nervously.

“... Well sticking together more would be helpful, ve’re a team and zhis is normal attack and defense ve don’t need to split up to capture anything ve vill just be easily picked off by them protecting points” Spy suggested. “I would understand ze Scout running ahead to grab intel but in rounds like this, ve need to stick together only one alone should be ze Sniper and me as our jobs are singular. ”

Sniper nodded.

“See if ya use your words we’ll get somewhere instead of you two arguin’ every mornin’. I don’t see any reason not to try what you think we should do. Let’s see how it goes today, maybe Scout’s right, today we’re gettin out of that losing streak.”

The team nodded taking in the final moments of their morning before getting ready for the match. Sniper wasn’t sure what led him to speak. Was he just tired of them fighting every morning or was he just trying to defend Scout? Maybe the pep talk worked and he really did believe they would win today, with Spy’s new ideas it may actually work. The mercenaries made their way to the large concrete spawn area that separated their base from the battleground. Sniper grabbed his rifle and Kukri.

“Hey, thanks for uh, for earlier I’ll admit I’m getting tired of fightin’ with him every day.” Scout said as he leaned against the locker next to Sniper’s.

“S’no problem I just uh, I don’t know if the guy had a problem he just needed to say somethin’.” Sniper didn’t really delve into why he butted in, he didn’t really know why he did.

“Yeah, I agree I just didn’t expect it ta be you ta say somethin’ that’s why I wanted to thank you.” Scout rubbed his neck.

“Someone had to do it and I wasn’t gonna wait forever.” Sniper ended and pulled the strap of his rifle around his torso letting it hang on his side.

Scout took the grip tape he grabbed from his locker and wrapped it around his hands tightly. He had already done his other before-round prep and left this step for last.

“Ya sleeve is fallin’” Sniper spoke as he adjusted the rolled-up fabric.

Scout blushed before thanking him and running away to his locker. He leaned deep into the metal box and set the roll of grip tape on the shelf while he tried to catch his breath.

What was going on with him?

Chapter Text

“Five…Four…Three…Two…One!” The Administrator spoke loudly over the microphones that were scattered around the battlefield.

Our RED team stood at the ready and once the countdown reached one they ran forward. They were on the attack and were tasked with capturing two BLU points. Scout stuck with Soldier and Demoman, only running slightly ahead to scan for incoming BLUs and then backing up to attack with the other two. Sniper ran immediately to the highest place he could think of, sitting just on top of a building that was just across from the elevated control point. Medic, Heavy, and Pyro headed past Scout’s team of three to hold off BLU troops while they captured the point. Scout was first at the control point as he was the fastest. He was instantly met with a BLU soldier that quickly pointed his rocket launcher at the RED weasel. Scout had gotten ahead of himself and was farther ahead than his trio leaving them unable to aid him. Scout braced himself for the rocket to explode against him.

BANG!

Scout opened his eyes to see the exploded head of the BLU Soldier. He whipped around to catch where the sharp shot bullet came from and made eye contact with Sniper. Sniper looked up from his weapon and winked at Scout, causing him to immediately go bright red. Flustered, Scout allowed his entourage to catch up to him and together the three captured the control point. The large indicator that once displayed the BLU logo fizzed out, the lights illuminating it shifted from a light sky blue, to a bright red, the logo replaced by their own. 

Scout smiled, looking up at his work, and turned to continue forward.

BAM!

Everything went white, then black. Scout came to, floating in the abyss of respawn, his body tingling and dissolving just to repair itself. Scout groaned, he had gotten too caught up in capturing that one point he didn’t watch his back. He’d also run ahead and almost died, but he didn’t die then. Scout thought back to Sniper saving him and winking at him. Was it in a flirting way? No! It couldn'ta been he’s just- The wink was in the way of like saying “I’ve got your back” Not in an “I wanna see you on your back” Kinda way. Scout blushed brightly at the thought that popped into his head and he quickly flicked it away. Focus idiot . He ended before he was thrown into the bright desert battleground.

He ran out, quickly making his way back to the point they had just captured and regrouping with his mini-team. He forced himself not to look at where Sniper was, He didn’t want to risk his entire face going red and getting flustered. They had captured one point, better than they’d been doing. He couldn’t risk getting distracted and messing this up for his team. He continued onward. The were a few casualties, nothing serious of course, everyone would respawn. Scout had gotten a few kills, about 9 or 10 counting assists. He always counted those. His mini-team and Medic’s had come together near the final control point. They were working on getting enough of the BLU team down so they could get the point easily but the opposing team just kept returning. Scout eventually decided to rush the control point. He was met with a lone BLU Medic who had been healing his teammates from afar. Scout quickly exploded the head of the Medic, blood splattered on his clothes. He came to a rest on the BLU control point. He was reminded that there was an alert for when the control point was being captured when most of the BLU team spun around to glare at him. He flinched at the sudden ambush of eyes and readied his scattergun. Luckily his teammates noticed the BLU team’s change in attention and began mowing them down before they could reach Scout. A large hand clasped down on Scout’s shoulder. He jumped and quickly turned around, jabbing his gun into the chest of his aggressor. A loud heave was heard as the figure backed away.

“Snipes?! Oh geez, sorry dude I didn’t expect it to be you,” Scout quickly apologized.

“S’all good,” Sniper coughed painfully. “My fault for comin’ up behind ya like that”

Scout turned back to the battlefield to keep BLUs from the point, Sniper had recovered enough to steadily hold his weapon, which he used to pick off BLUs that attempted to sneakily kill REDs.

“Victory.” The Administrator said happily over the speakers.

Scout spun around and beamed at Sniper. who looked up at him proudly from his crouched sniping position. He stood happily and threw his arm around Scout’s shoulder. Scout blushed but would deny it and say it was from the heat. The two stood there and watched their victorious team dance around happily. Engineer grinned before he began the conga. Team members happily unite as Scout jumped down from the control point and joined his team in celebration, leaving Sniper by himself on the control point. Scout danced cheerfully with the others clapping rhythmically. 

Scout suddenly felt a sharp blade stab in between his ribs, he screamed out in agony as his heart pumped violently. The blade was twisted and burned as if salt had been poured into it. He went slack against his assailant and a BLU spy was revealed to the team. The round is over why am I… Scout was only able to think half of his sentence before his vision blurred and began to go black.

“Mate? SCOUT?!” Sniper yelled as he practically threw himself off the control point. 

He quickly unsheathed his Kukri and aggressively sliced the neck of the BLU Spy. Despite being slow Sniper was the first to reach Scout, and the majority of the team was stunned. Spy was next to arrive at his side.

“Mein gott! Why on earth would he attack after the round ends? Everyone is aware respawn doesn’t work outside of rounds!!” Medic cried out as he quickly rushed over to Scout, who was being held by Sniper.

“Doctor! What do we do?” Spy shouted, uncharacteristically concerned.

“I vill keep him under this until ve can get him on an operating table.” Medic replied, he flicked on his Medigun and pointed it at Scout. “Iz the knife still in him?”

“Yeah,” Sniper went to take out the butterfly knife but was quickly stopped by Medic.

“Nein! Do zat and he shall bleed out before we get him out of here!” Medic warned.

Sniper quickly dropped his hand and took Scout in his arms, holding him with their chests together and Scout's arms over Sniper’s shoulders.

“Let us go then!” Spy shouted in annoyance. 

The mercenaries that didn’t stay with Scout ran ahead, shooting dirty looks at the BLU team as they ran by. Heavy held the door for Sniper, Medic ran next to him with the Medigun shooting red mist at Scout, Spy behind the two.

“Spy okay?” Heavy asked.

“Of course I am okay, there is nothing to worry about ze Scout will be fine.” Spy spat. 

It was obvious even to Heavy that Spy said it more to convince himself rather than Heavy. Everyone quickly reached the RED base and erupted into the hospital area.

“Everyone out! I cannot work with 9 people in my vay!” Medic yelled over the buzzing noise of the Mercenaries talking. 

Everyone listened, quickly exiting the room, everyone except Sniper and Spy. Medic went to argue but knew there would be no convincing them, he had more important things to worry about. He flipped Scout onto his stomach and examined the butterfly knife sticking out of him.

“Gott damn that BLU Spy.” Medic bitterly said.

He took the knife in his hands and carefully removed it, Scout was long unconscious so he took his time. Sniper had to look away as the blade began retracting from the red skin. 

O O O O O O O O O O O O

Scout awoke in pitch black. Around him was nothing, leaving him floating in inky darkness. He looked down at his hands, turning them front to back as he examined himself. His head hurt intensely.

“Where the fuck am I?” He spoke to no one.

He swam through nothingness looking for something, anything. He suddenly was blinded by warm light. When his eyes focused he saw a familiar fireplace with two people around it.

“Mommy, where’s Jack?” Young Scout said.

Current Scout flinched at the mention of his eldest brother’s name. It hurt to remember him.

“He went to… went to fight remember? I told you he joined the army.” His mother replied.

“... Oh okay… Where’s Dad?” 

But even the thought of his late brother wasn’t as bad as the thought of his father. The question alone was enough to make Scout tear up. He scrambled to get out of there, quickly swimming away from the warm glow of the fire, away from the memory that was brought to him. More lights appeared in the darkness, voices echoed from them loudly.

“Where’s Dad?”

“Where’s Jack? I thought he was coming back.”

“What happened to Joseph?”

“I want my brothers back mom!”

“Mom stop drinking!”

“I want my mom back!”

Scout froze, the words getting to him. He curled up into a ball, attempting to hold himself comfortingly like his mother used to. Before everything happens. Before He left.

Scout awoke, actually woke up this time, to the feeling of the cold operating table beneath him and the bright fluorescent light above him. Tears burned his eyes and dripped from his face onto the metal table. He quickly sat up, startling a figure nearby.

“Mate! You’re awake!” Sniper happily said.

Scout flinched, his voice was loud. He looked around confused and eventually looked down at his body. Bandages were wrapped around his torso both dry and fresh blood covered them. He stuck out his tongue in disgust and went to talk. His voice came out hoarse and strained. He took a minute to wet his mouth and clear his throat.

“Wh-what happened?” Scout finally got out.

“Roight- uhm so. You’re in the base hospital.” Sniper spoke quieter after noticing Scout’s sensitivity to noise.

“Why?”

“Oh uhm, you don’t remember at all?”

Scout shook his head.

“Well uh we finished the round, we won!” Sniper threw his hands up excitedly. “But uh, after we started celebratin’ the damned BLU spook stabbed ya in the back.”

“Shouldn’t I have just… respawned? I think I died.”

“Respawn’s off after rounds, you knew that right?” Sniper looked shocked. “Wait did you say you died?!”

“I don’t know what death is like?! I just kinda started seein’ a buncha memories n’ shit.”

Nearby, Medic’s head perked up at the description of death. He quickly grabbed a clipboard and began taking notes.

“Yes he did in fact die, I had to bring him back. I am interested however, please tell me more about what you experienced Herr Scout!”

Scout shook his head, “I don’t wanna talk about it.”

Sniper looked at him, face full of concern but he brushed it off. Medic looked sad that he couldn’t learn about Scout’s death experience but even the mad scientist knew better than to press him for information.

“Anyway, you vill be in here on Iv’s for about one more day then you may go back to your normal routine. The Administrator, with lots of convincing, has set us into a break period until you recover enough to fight again.” Medic stood from his desk and strolled over to the metal table Scout rested on.

“Spy snuck into their base after we got told about the break, he said they were doing a bunch of troublesome work as punishment if it makes you feel better,” Sniper added.

Scout didn’t reply he instead looked down at his hands. They were pale on the palms and had a few freckles on them. His nails were chewed down to the skin on most fingers. Without a second thought, Scout attempted to get up from the table.

“Woah mate, you gotta stay layin’ down you’re still recovering.” Sniper carefully put his hands against Scout’s chest to gently lead him back down onto the table.

“Ja, if you get up you risk hurting worse or straining too much.” Medic joined in.

“What you just expect me to sit here all day? Doc, you of all people should know I can’t do that!” Scout groaned loudly. 

Medic nodded before handing him a familiar half-white half-yellow capsule pill and a glass of water. The two exchanged knowing looks, further confusing Sniper who had an eyebrow cocked in uncertainty. 

“Wot’s that?” He asked.

“Do not vorry-” Medic began.

“S’my ADHD medicine. If I’m expected to sit here n’ do nothin’ all day I gonna need help.” Scout answered nonchalantly.

Sniper nodded before he went to where he previously sat. He approached the metal chair and grabbed the bag he left next to it.

“Well while I was waitin’ for you to wake up I brought a few things to keep me entertained, knock yourself out and see if anything interests you,” Sniper said kindly as he set the bag in Scout’s lap.

Scout nodded and began to rifle through the backpack. A Rubix cube, A really thick book, A puzzle magazine. Scout smiled in excitement as he pulled out the puzzle notebook and a pen.

“Decided on puzzles?” Sniper asked standing close by Scout’s side.

“Nah I’m drawin’ on the covers” Scout grinned. 

“didn’t know you could draw,”

“School was boring and I wasn’t particularly good at it so it helped to have something else to do.”

Sniper nodded and leaned against the now-raised metal table. It was very modern despite being in the middle of nowhere, a long metal slab with a button on it that raised the upper quarter of it to prop up whatever lay in it. Scout was scribbling away on the semi-hard cover of the puzzle book, the sound of the pen scratching against the page filled the silent office. He was unsure of what he was drawing he just allowed his hands to move. He felt heat emanating from beside him and suddenly realized how close Sniper was to him. He looked from the side of his eyes at the lanky mercenary and began to blush slightly.

“Sorry I’m definitely in your space right now,” Sniper apologized as he met eyes with Scout, and he began to move away.

“It’s alright you’re just watchin’” Scout attempted to not stutter.

Sniper smiled and leaned back in, his warm breath sharing space with Scout’s. He had drawn a circle and a few lines in a rectangle shape to form a head and before he knew it he was drawing the teammate beside him. He drew his crooked nose, assuming it at one point had been broken, he drew small lines of stubble and Sniper’s bright semicircle eyes. He continued, drawing the short black-brown hair that poked out from the Sniper’s light brown outback hat. Then, he moved down sketching the collared red shirt Sniper always wore with the buttons up.

“Is that what I look like to you? Damn, I’m handsome.” Sniper spoke softly next to Scout.

Scout blushed brighter as Sniper’s low-toned voice growled pleasantly in his ears.

“I mean I’m just drawing what I see” Scout laughed awkwardly, it hurt his chest to laugh so he quickly stopped.

“Haha, that you’re way of tellin’ me you think I’m handsome, Roo?” Sniper spoke slyly with an upturned grin.

“Roo?”

Now was Sniper’s turn to blush, he didn’t mean to call Scout a nickname like that. Blimey, was that too far? Are we close enough for nicknames?

“Sorry,” Sniper quickly said.

“No, no I like it but now I need a nickname for you!” Scout beamed.

Instant relief washed over Sniper, glad he didn’t cross a line. Scout began thinking of nicknames and listing them off aloud to see the other’s reaction to each of them.

“Strech, Legs, hmm I don’t know those sound rude. I already call ya Snipes but that doesn’t really count. Ugh! I can’t think of any how come it was easy for you.” 

Sniper shrugged and took the pen from Scout. He drew a little smiley face next to the portrait of him while Scout struggled to think of nicknames.

“Casanova, uhm Ace, I don’t know what about fuckin’ mon ange haha!” Scout regretted saying the last one it definitely was too far.

“What language is that?” Sniper asked sensing the change in dialect and accent.

“French, Ma taught us it ‘cause of dad but we don't use it often since he left.”

Sniper tensed up at the mention of Scout’s father. 

“Ah, well it's cool that you’re bilingual.”

Scout nodded.

“My… everything hurts I’m gonna rest.” Scout yawned

“Alright, you get some sleep, Roo.” Sniper smiled before ruffling Scout’s hair and leaning away from the metal table. “I’ll always be here if ya need me!”

With that Sniper exited the room, leaving his bag of distractions with Scout. The room was silent and Scout closed his eyes.

“So you and ze Sniper eh?” Medic broke the silence with mischievous laughter.

Chapter Text

“What are you talking about?” Scout said, flustered at what he believed Medic was implying.

“You and he have been particularly close recently. I’m confident everyone made zheir assumptions vhen you both valked in together before ze battle.” Medic teased.

“Assume all you want it isn’t what you think, we’re just friends.”

“Come on herr Scout you can tell me I wouldn’t tell a soul, you’re as red as a tomato, which tells me most of what I need to know.”

“You don’t need to know jack, but you obviously aren’t gonna leave me alone. Fine, fine, yeah I like him…like that but he definitely doesn’t like me like that.” Scout emphasized.

“You do not know that, there’s a possibility he does!”

“Doc, don’t get my hopes up.”

Medic frowned and picked up a paper on his desk. He read Scout's medical documents, which listed every diagnosis, every injury, every death, and every family member. His eyes paused at Spy’s name and picture. ‘Father’ it read. He looked up at Scout who was zoning out facing him, but his eyes were focused on the ground. Medic concluded that he would not tell Scout. He wasn’t sure who besides him knew of Scout and Spy’s association but he wasn’t going to be the one to tell Scout, that was for Spy to do. This wasn’t the first time he had found a good opportunity to tell merc about his ancestry, but as usual Medic always decided against it.

“Can I go to sleep now?” Scout said exhaustedly.

“Hm?” Medic hummed, still looking at the file. “Oh yes, you can rest.”

“Swag.”

O O O O O O O O O O O O

Sniper had been in his camper for a few minutes and already wanted out. The van was nice as an escape from being social but when he was having a bad it was as claustrophobic as a cage. It was late, he had spent the whole day by Scout’s side, including spending most of the last few days in the med bay with him. Now that he was alone, he didn’t know what to do.

Sniper sighed and decided to pull a random book from the shelf next to his couch. He sat down and flipped through it before finding a bookmark.

“When’s the last time I’ve read this.” He spoke aloud to himself.

He skimmed the pages, unable to focus until he paused on a sentence. 

“I… I think I’m in love with you.” It read.

Sniper wondered why he lingered on that specific sentence. Eh, love is such an overused word. It’s not that big’ve a deal. He thought. His mind wandered down the path of love. He wasn’t inexperienced, but it wasn’t like he’d been with a lot of people. He thought of past lovers, some ended like a flame that burned out, and some blew up and left him with scars. His most recent was the latter. Should I even bother dating again? I tried so bloody hard on the last one and where’d that get me. Not like there’s anyone around here that’d be interested in me, let alone me in them. The image of Scout popped into his mind. Shocked, Sniper sat straight up in his chair and blushed slightly. 

“Nn-no way!” He gasped.

He stood abruptly from the creaky red sofa and began pacing around his van. No way! But, Scout is obviously not gay, with his giant crush on Miss. Pauling… Let alone the other girls he’s talked so highly about. Just ask him about it- NO! Why would I? We… we aren’t that close, and what if he’s…

Knock Knock!

Sniper was interrupted by two loud, seemingly excited knocks on the van door. S’not Spy, his knock is more formal, S’not medic, he knocks three times…

He opened the door to Scout leaning against the wall of the van. 

“What’s up Stretch? Augh…” Scout greeted before clinging to his side. 

Sniper looked down at where Scout covered, his eyes went wide when he saw wet black shining in the moonlight.

“Crikey! Are you awright there mate?” Sniper reached out for him, surprised when he easily lifted Scout from under his arms.

Scout turned bright red.

“Get in here, What the hell are you doing out of the infirmary?” He questioned as soon as he laid Scout on the sofa.

“Medic was buggin’ me so I slipped out,” Scout paused to cough painfully. “I guess the wound wasn’t feel healed? I prolly did too much and opened it again.” 

“Didn’t you get stabbed in the back why is there so much blood on your side?!”

“... I got really paranoid and brought my pistol, then I uhh… I kinda tripped and it fired.”

“You fuckin’ shot yourself?! And you didn’t go back to Medic??”

“... I didn’t want him to yell at me.” Scout’s voice broke slightly.

“God, mate. I don’t know how to treat this I’m not a bloody doctor.”

He leaned over, now knowing he can carry Scout, and picked him up. One arm was just below Scout’s neck and the other was under Scout’s knees. 

“Careful! I really do think I opened the stab wound again!” Scout sucked the cool desert air through his clenched teeth in agony.

Sniper adjusted how he held the small merc and then walked as quickly as he could to Med bay. Medic rolled his eyes when Scout and Sniper burst through the doors. 

“I knew somezing like this vould happen.” Medic spoke calmly as he cleared the space around the metal operating table. 

Sniper gently laid Scout onto the cold table, he writhed in pain and curled into a ball.

“Now, now, you cannot curl like that you vill stretch va wound. You’re already stuck in here for a vhile, I vould not make it worse for yourself. What did he do?” Medic turned to Sniper, knowing Scout was in too much pain to speak.

“He uhm, accidentally shot himself.” Sniper answered while still looking wide-eyed at Scout.

“Christ, Scout you must be more careful. I von’t lecture you now, I doubt you can even hear me.”

It was true, all Scout could see was red, and his vision faded to black every once in a while but returned when he fought passing out. He felt his warm blood pool around him as he was turned onto his back. A sharp pain shot through his back as if he was stabbed again. The pain was unbearable until the   calming mist of the Medigun showered over him. Scout had just realized he had been hyperventilating, his lungs screamed for a steady intake of air and untightened when Scout took a deep breath. He stared at the white concrete ceiling above him as he felt something poking and picking at his side.

“He gonna be awright?” Sniper hesitantly asked.

“Hmm? Of course, he vill he missed everything vital. Do not look so concerned, he is in my care. Have I ever failed this team?” Medic spoke carefully while focusing on extracting the pistol round from Scout’s side.

“Is this gonna make it take longer for me to heal, Doc?” Scout whimpered.

“It should only add a day or two,” Medic answered.

Scout groaned loudly, then the room was silent. Silent for too long.

“Medic, I’m sorry… I shoulda been more careful- I shouldn’ta left in the first place. Fuck I’m so stupid!” Scout buried his eyes with the palms of his hands and small tears escaped his eyelids and trickled down his face.

“Herr Scout, It is okay I am not upset, I know… vhy you left- and it vas an honest mistake.” Medic paused his work to ruffle Scout’s hair comfortingly. Sure, he did get blood mixed into the brown, semi-curly mess but Scout would have to shower anyway.

Sniper couldn’t help but smile at the display. Despite knowing who Scout’s father was, and by the secrecy of the fact why Scout couldn’t know, he thought of the way Medic treated Scout to be fatherly. Like a dad taking care of his rambunctious kid. He knew Scout wasn’t a kid, but he could be clumsy like one. It was sweet. Sniper had noticed a couple of the mercenaries had taken to Scout in a fatherly way; Spy, because he was actually Scout’s father, Engie, because Scout knew he was super smart and always went to him for advice, and Medic, who always took care of him physically. Personally, Sniper believed Medic and Engineer were way better at it than Spy. They would always be proud of Scout’s victories, no matter how small, they would be there whenever they needed him, and they didn’t feel guilty when Scout says a specific phrase to them.

“Haha! I wish I had a dad like you guys,” Scout had said to both Engineer and Medic. 

Coincidentally, Spy was around both times, and both times he had the same heartbroken expression for a moment, then he would try to be more caring around Scout as subtly as he could. 

Sniper shook his head and brought himself back from his mind.

“You want me to stay here, Roo?” Sniper said.

“Roo?” Medic slyly looked up at Sniper.

“S’just a little nickname. Friends have nicknames for each other.”Sniper blushed brightly and spoke defensively.

“All I did was repeat it.” Medic grinned.

When Scout and Sniper met eyes both of them were red and flustered. Scout sunk into himself and covered half his face with his shirt while Sniper scratched the back of his neck.

“vhy don’t you stay here and make sure he doesn’t try to leave again.” Medic suggested.

“Sure, I mean it’s not like any of us are doing anything for the next few days anyway.” Sniper agreed.

“You say that like you’re only doing it cause you got nothing better to do, hah…” Scout chuckled awkwardly to mask his sadness.

“No! I’m sorry I didn’t mean it like that I meant- Sorry.” Sniper quickly specified.

“I was just kidding.” Scout said sorrily.

“Vell! I have vork to do tomorrow so I am going to sleep, rest vell you two!” Medic smiled and waved before disappearing into the back room.

“Snipes… Uhm I don’t want you to be uncomfortable sleepin’ in a chair. Do you want to… s-sleep up here with me?” Scout cautiously asked.

“If you’d like me too.” Sniper smiled.

Scout beamed and scooted to his right and left room for Sniper. He crawled up and sat close to Scout. 

“Haha! You sure that'll be more comfortable, Roo?” Sniper chuckled

“Let’s try it and find out.” Scout grinned.

Sniper leaned over to recline the Metal table. He pressed a couple of buttons before the bed murmured and began to lean back. The two lay next to each other closely, both of them trying not to fall off the operating table. It wasn’t long before Scout fell asleep, he snored quietly and left Sniper alone to think. 

Why do I feel this way? Sniper thought before he drifted to sleep.

Chapter Text

Scout took, as Medic had predicted, two more days to fully recover. The first thing he did when he was cleared was sprint through the base. He burst through the doors of the Medical room into the waiting room. He breathed in air that was for once, not filled with the scent of cotton balls and chemicals. The wind danced through Scout’s hair as he ran to Engineer’s workshop.

“Engie! Guess whose out!” Scout beamed as he pushed open the heavy metal doors. 

He jumped to his left when a large missile was fired at him and looked fearfully at Engineer who quickly turned off the turret.

“Sorry kiddo! Haven’t got this one ta separate us REDs from BLUs yet. Haha!” Engineer chuckled trying to ease Scout’s fear

“S’all right, but c’mon man I just got out of the Doc’s prison. You tryna put me back already?”

Engineer shook his head and laughed to himself before he turned his full attention to Scout.

“You look chipper, son. Got any plans now that you’re out?” Engineer asked.

“I don’t know, Engie, I haven't really thought about that. Probably gonna go on a run an’ visit the rest of the guys.”

Engie nodded at patted Scout on the back. 

“Heheh, you and runnin’. You’d think with how many laps you take around the base you would tire yourself out and yet, you never do.”

Scout laughed and waved before exiting the warehouse and making his way into the lounge area.

“Guys! I’m alive!” Scout cheerfully said when he entered.

The sight before him was incredibly boring. Demoman was drunkenly passed out in a corner with Soldier watching over him, it seemed Pyro had convinced Spy to play against him in chess, and Spy, underestimating their intelligence, was losing horribly. Heavy sat at a comically small table eating a sandwich, Scout decided to stroll over to him and sit on the counter nearby.

“You people miss me?” Scout said smugly.

“Of course not, it has been wonderfully silent.” Spy said before groaning in annoyance as Pyro took his king.

“Ouch, I’ve got feelin’s y’know.” Scout crossed his arms over his chest and looked dejectedly at the ground.

Spy looked over at the pouting mercenary and his face softened.

“Heavy missed you, Scout. It was too quiet and there was no one to hang out with.” Heavy attempted to whisper to Scout. His naturally loud voice gave him away, however.

Demoman burped out slurred words in jumbled sentences seemingly replying to Heavy. The room was silent when Scout didn’t say anything. He instead got up and wandered out of the room. He walked into a broad hallway that had rows of doors on either wall. Each door had engraved gold-colored name tags on them. Not the mercenaries' actual names just their roles, Scout didn’t need to look at the tags to know which was which.

“Pyro. Engineer. Demo. Spy. Sni-” Scout paused his listing and looked at the door that led to what was supposed to be Sniper’s room.

Everyone was assigned rooms but Sniper was the only one who didn’t sleep in his. He chose his campervan that he fought to even have on the base grounds. Scout wrapped his hand around the doorknob and the door clicked open.

It was a small room and the bedroom furniture was scooted into one corner. In the middle of the room were too large armchairs, a small round end table, and a burnt-out fireplace. The scent of hundreds of cigarettes clung to every surface. Scout identified the scent to be Spy’s usual, expensive, fancy cigarettes. He looked at the fireplace and noticed a carton on the fireplace’s mantle. He grabbed the package and opened it to see a few cigarettes left inside. On the end table behind him was a lighter. Scout grabbed the lighter and bent over the burnt wood that rested in the fireplace. He flicked it a few times before a flame burst out of it. He held the lighter under the wood and burned himself while trying to start a fire. Embers burned from the wood and flames began to form. He released the lighter’s trigger and looked at his black, burned thumb. Scout clicked his tongue before wiping his thumb on his pant leg. He then looked at the carton of cigarettes he was still holding, took one out, and lit it. He collapsed into the armchair to the left of the door and leaned his head back. He listened to all the things he heard; Crickets that chirped loudly from outside, the crackling of the fireplace, and his thoughts.

His thoughts. They yelled at him. Awful, terrible things. He didn’t notice his breathing getting rougher as he focused on the rambling in his mind. He opened his eyes in panic, the chaos of his brain too much to bear. He swiped the white lighter on the table next to him and held it shakily. He flicked the striker a few times and finally got the lighter to ignite. He held it under his fingertips and eventually pressed the root of the flame against his tanned skin. It burned and of course, hurt like hell, but that was exactly what Scout was hoping for. His thoughts cleared as he focused on the heat against his fingers. He turned the lighter off and set it back down on the table before he closed his eyes again. He was tired, no, exausted. Yet, all he had done recently was rest.

Click.

Scout kept his eyes closed, ignoring whoever decided to come in. To be fair he didn’t even know if it was the room's owner being that technically the room belonged to Sniper, but he assumed Spy had been the one making use of it.

“What are you doing in here?” Spy grumbled. 

“Just hangin’ out, what this isn’t technically yours anyway. May as well let everyone in.”

“Ze Sniper did not want it now it is mine, and get that out of your mouth!” Spy had walked up behind Scout and glared at him before snatching the cigarette out of Scout’s mouth and putting it out on the ashtray on the table.

“Aw come on man! What gives!” Scout crossed his arms.

“It iz bad for your health, I for one should know that.” Spy sat in the armchair to Scout’s left.

“Since when have you cared about me let alone my health.”

“Look, I am sorry for what I said earlier I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”

Scout said nothing. Spy looked at him with a soft expression, it quickly changed to concern when he noticed Scout’s black fingers.

“What happened?” Spy said as he grabbed Scout’s wrist.

“Ow! What da hell man! It’s nothing!” Scout yanked his hand away.

“Did you burn yourself? It shouldn’t be this bad.” 

“Mind your business Spy.”

“Did you do it on purpose? If it was an accident it should only be on your thumb,”

“Spy! I said mind your fuckin’ business!” Scout abruptly stood up from the armchair, nearly knocking it over in the process.

Spy looked up at Scout with genuine concern. In turn, Scout looked down at Spy in anger.

“Look, I just… I don’t wanna talk about it. Especially not with you. I mean hell we’re like enemies even though we’re on the same fuckin’ team. I’m annoying and mean to you, and you’re the same to me, it's just our thing. I don’t know what’s going on lately but you’re messing up the dynamic by suddenly carin’ about me.” Scout explained.

“I know I’m not ze nicest to you but I don’t mean for you to hate me. I’ve always been kind of caring about you in the background.” Spy sighed and rubbed his temples

“What?”

“When you’re on ze battlefield and someone tries to sneak attack you, I usually backstab zhem before zhey have ze chance. I’ve killed BLU Snipers before they can shoot you, I was worried sick when you got stabbed last week.”

“Why do you care?” Scout looked at Spy with pure confusion.

“Scout… Sit down I have something important to tell you.” Spy covered his eyes with his hands.

Reluctantly, Scout leaned back in the armchair and looked at Spy expectantly.

“Ugh, do not stare at me like zat!” Spy stressed.

“What do ya want me to do?! You’re makin’ this seem pretty important!” Scout stated.

“Okay fine! Uhm, Scout how do you feel about your- No I don’t want to know. How should I put zhis?”

The confusion that Scout expressed grew more extreme with each sentence Spy got out.

“I’ll be blunt. Scout I care about you because… Because I am your father.”

“What.”

“I’m-”

“I fucking heard what you said.” Scout clenched his hair in his hands.

“Scout… son I-”

“No! No, what we’re not gonna do is that. My whole life! My whole fucking life I’ve wished you were around. Sure you left when I was seven but it's not like you were around much for those seven years. So you leave us and now that you’re back you want me to just accept that?” Scout was now standing. “ Fuck you buddy. That’s the last thing that’s gonna happen.”

As Spy expected Scout did not take it well. Scout ran out, slammed the door shut, and left Spy alone in the fire-lit smoke room. Scout didn’t want to be alone with this knowledge, he knew if he hid in his room he would get worse, but he didn’t know who to go to.

“Sniper.” Scout decided.

He walked out of the base and trudged his way to the camper van. He thought about what he would say. Hey! Do you know the one guy on this team that hates me the most? Here’s a shocker, he’s my father! He thought. Every word he spat out in his mind made him feel worse.

Knock, Knock, Knock.

“Who is it?” Sniper grumbled from inside the camper.

“It’s me, Snipes.” Scout said just loud enough for Sniper to hear muffled through the door.

There was rustling inside the van, and it rocked slightly. The door gently opened.

“Scout? Mate, you awright? You knocked differently.” Sniper asked.

“Can I come in?” Scout said quietly.

Sniper opened the door wide enough for Scout to walk in. Scout didn’t even think twice as he walked over to the mini fridge he knew had alcohol in it. Before Sniper could intervene Scout was gulping down a beer. 

“Roo? What’s wrong?” Sniper again asked.

“Guh,” Scout exhaled deeply after chugging most of the beer. “Well, Spy is my fucking father. ”

Sniper’s eyes went wide. He didn’t want to admit he already knew, to be fair he had no idea what to say; so he stayed silent.

“Hehe, yeah an’ he figured out I hurt myself on purpose!” Scout took another beer from the fridge and began to down it.

“You what?” Sniper looked extremely concerned.

“Not often just sometimes, s’nothin’ to worry about!”

Sniper looked at Scout’s hand that was holding the beer, the fingers were burned black.

“Ugh! He suddenly wants to start carin’ about me as if he didn’t fuckin’ leave me.” Scout ranted as he grabbed a third beer.

“Mate, I think you should stop,” Sniper warned, holding his hands out to Scout. 

“What? Aww, come on man! Wouldn’t you rather me do this here? I mean if I’m not doin’ it here I’m just gonna do it in the lounge around everyone else. I feel… I feel safer around you.”

“I’m glad you feel safe around me Roo, but you shouldn’t drink like that while you’re this upset it’s-”

“Don't try to tell me how to handle this. I’m just doing what I know how to do.”

“Drink yourself to death?!”

Scout looked guiltily at Sniper with big sad eyes. He collapsed into the couch next to the mini fridge, set down the almost empty beer on it, and put his hands over his eyes; attempting to rub away tears that began to form. Sniper stood in front of Scout cautiously. He’d never seen anyone like this before, let alone someone like Scout, he had no idea what to do. Scout; the usually cheerful, confident, smug little guy who never seemed to be bothered by anyone; was now showing all of his vulnerabilities to Sniper. Sniper sighed and shuffled over to the couch. He waited a moment before he sat down next to Scout, who had given up on not crying. He was shaking like the ground during an earthquake and when he began to loudly sob, Sniper felt every whimper tug at his heart.

“Do you want a hug, Roo?” Sniper asked and held his arms out.

Scout couldn’t even answer through his choked sobs, he practically threw himself into Sniper who took him comfortingly and wrapped his lanky arms around him like a blanket. Scout let everything out, every horrible feeling he had since the absence of his father. The two sat as the air weighed heavily around them. Scout quivered and cried in Sniper’s comfortable grasp and for once felt like he could be vulnerable. The clock on the wall near them clicked rhythmically as Scout slowly grew quieter. Eventually, he ceased crying altogether. The silence was comfortable and Sniper allowed it to stay that way until Scout wanted to talk again.

Scout’s head felt fuzzy, his body buzzed like a washer that’s cycle was coming to an end, and his stomach hurt. He thought about the day and realized that he hadn’t eaten anything in a while. Did he even eat when he was in the infirmary?

Grrrroowwl.

Scout was going to ignore how much his stomach hurt until it sounded like an alarm and gave him away to Sniper.

“You hungry?” Sniper asked, looking down sweetly at Scout who still rested in his arms.

“Maybe, just a little bit,” Scout admitted.

Scout separated from Sniper, stood up, and stretched. His bones cracked like clay and joints noisily popped. Sniper stretched like a cat on the sofa and then stood next to Scout.

“What time is it?” Scout asked and rubbed his eyes.

“Eh, it's about one in the morning” Sniper answered as he squinted at the clock on the wall in front of them.

“You need glasses, Stretch?”

“Probably.”

The two laughed. Scout turned around to grab the practically empty beer he left on the mini-fridge.

“What are you doing?” Sniper asked with an eyebrow cocked.

“Can’t let the rest of it go to waste,” Scout chuckled and raised the mouth of the bottle to his lips.

“Then I’ll finish it,” Sniper stated and grabbed the bottle from Scout, quickly downing what was left in it.

“You act like I drank I ton! I only had like three!” Scout held up two fingers and quickly switched to three.

“Sure you only had three, but you had them one after another, and judging by the growl your stomach made, you haven’t eaten in a while.” Sniper chuckled.

Scout crossed his arms over his chest and pouted. Sniper laughed and ruffled the shorter mercenary’s hair before he grabbed his hat and sunglasses.

“It's the middle of the night! Why are you puttin’ on shades?” Scout teased.

“The lights in tha base are too bright, makes my head hurt” Sniper answered honestly.

“Oh, that’s fair I guess.”

Scout threw the bottle he was holding into a trashcan by the door. The two walked to the base in comfortable silence, Scout walking particularly close to Sniper. This time, Sniper reached the door first and pulled it open, and held it like that for Scout to walk in. They walked into the dark lounge, Scout led the way since his eyes had already adjusted to the darkness. He flicked on the light and went into the kitchen that was separated by an arch, he turned the light on in there as well. The fluorescent lights kicked on and Scout listened to them buzz while Sniper rifled through the fridge. While he was listening to the sounds of the quiet base, he heard what sounded like the clicking of heels approaching the two.

“You hear sum, Shades?” Scout asked.

“I wasn’t paying attention, mate,” Sniper said truthfully.
Scout got up and wandered out of the kitchen. In the lounge room, he felt eyes on him. Sniper continued to rummage around the refrigerator and eventually found something to make the two. He clicked a few buttons on the oven, pulled out a tray, and began arranging chicken nuggets on it. Scout stuck his head out into the hallway, looking down both sides and squinting at the shadows trying to make out if a person was there.

“What are you doing up so late, Mon fils?” Spy said from behind Scout.

Scout screamed and quickly threw his hands over his mouth to shut him up. 

“You scared the shit outta me, Spy! Wait, hey! What did I say about calling me son!” Scout growled.

“Ah, my apologies I wasn’t aware you knew french.” Spy said.

“Of course I do, Ma taught us, maybe if you were around you would know that.” Scout verbally stabbed Spy.

“You awright, Roo? Careful screaming this late,” Sniper poked his head out of the kitchen archway and spoke.

Spy glared at the bushman but kept what he had to say to himself. He looked back at Scout.

“I get it, I was not around much and you hate me for zhat but please, give me a break it's not like I chose to abandon you all!”

“I’m not talking about this right now!” Scout groaned.

“We will have to talk about this eventually Scout! Stop running away like a child.”

Sniper scrunched up, feeling pitiful for Spy and the yelling at he was about to get, yet he stayed silent.

“Wow! Okay yeah, sure call me a child you think I care? I’m not running away jerk! I just found out that the person I hate most is my co-worker and also the co-worker who is the worst to me! Maybe give me a minute to process and stop tryin’ ta spring everything on my at once?!” Scout was yelling now.

“Mate, I get that you’re upset. You’re allowed to be upset but I just want to remind you it’s two in tha mornin’.” Sniper tried to calm Scout down.

“It’s fine I’m done talking to this wad, come get me when food’s done.” Scout stormed away to his bedroom and slammed the door behind him. The metal sign he had hung on his door scraped against the wood and fell off the tack, it clattered loudly against the floor.

“Spook. I get that you’re relieved he finally knows but you really do have to give him time-” Sniper began

“Do not tell me how to talk to my son, he is being childish, he needs to be an adult and talk to me.” Spy spat out

“If you know him so well you better than anyone should know he needs time to process. Hell, anyone would in this situation!” Sniper was now standing in front of Spy.

“Tsk, Of course, but he can still talk to me-” Spy was cut off.

“I just watched him come into my van, chug three beers, and cry for about an hour. He is in no place to talk about anything right now!”

“He what!? You just sat there and watched.” Spy’s emotions got the better of him and he shoved Sniper.

“Keep your hands off me Spy. I didn’t just sit there I of bloody course tried to stop him!” Sniper caught himself on the couch against the wall behind him.

  Spy glared daggers at Sniper, who in turn scowled at him. The two stood ready for the other one to make the first move and trigger a fight. Neither of them did, however. Sniper tensed when Spy calmly walked past him into the hallway.

“ What ze hell!” Spy yelled.

Sniper quickly darted out into the hallway, assuming something happened to Scout. He was instead greeted by Medic, Heavy, Engineer, Pyro, and Soldier leaning against the wall.

“Were you listening the whole time!” Sniper assumed.

“Oops!” Medic shrugged.

“We heard yelling, wanted to make sure no one was dying!” Engineer explained.

“Mmph!” Pyro mumbled in a tone of agreement.

Spy rubbed his temples and shoved past the mercenaries, quickly diving into his smoke room. Sniper sighed, relaxed now that the threat of him and Spy fighting had passed.

“Well, what happened?” Soldier asked.

“Not my place to tell.” Sniper said as he heard the oven ding. He shuffled past the group and went down the hallway to Scout’s room.

Chapter Text

“Scout? Mate, you in here?” Sniper spoke quietly into the dark room.

He looked around taking in the sight before him. Clothes and empty cans of BONK! Covered the majority of the floor. The desk had an open notebook and more cans on it illuminated by the lamp next to them. Sniper carefully tiptoed over to the desk, and his eyes widened as he began to read a tear-stained, scrible-covered, crumpled paper.

“Dear whoever reads this,

Well, this is awkward. To be fair i didn’t think it would ever get this bad. i thought i was finally starting to get better but now somethin i never wanted brought up again has shoved its way into my life. I’m sorry i did this i know i shouldn’t have but i dont really feel like i had a choice yknow?

To Spy, fuck you. How dare you do that, honestly angry doesnt even begin to describe how i feel. I was perfectly content never knowing who my father was, hell the only good news about him would be that he was dead. And yet here you are.

To Medic and Engie, Hey sorry about this to be fair i thought of you two as my dads more than fuckin Spy so :D.

To Pyro, sorry buddy i wish i could have done more with you, you were a really great friend.

To Soldier, Demo, and Heavy i wish i knew you guys better, we didn’t talk much and Soldier only really yelled at me.

And finally Snipes,

I”

The letter abruptly ended, the last of the writing smudged by bright red blood. Tears formed in Sniper’s eyes as he processed the note.

“Fuck, Fuck! Scout? Please… please tell me you’re in here!” Sniper was hyperventilating as hot tears began to drip down his red face.

The bed next to him jostled and creaked. The blanket moved slightly then was quickly thrown off. Sniper flinched.

“Huh?” Scout mumbled as he rubbed his eyes.

“Oh thank God!” Sniper sighed in relief, quickly running to Scout’s side. He looked at the arm Scout was rubbing his face with and his expression dropped. 

Thick red lines covered his wrist.

“Scout! What the bloody hell was that?!” Sniper pointed to the lamp-lit notebook.

Scout squinted at the notebook, his eyes went wide before he looked guiltily to his right, avoiding eye contact with Sniper.

“S’nothin I… I meant to throw it away,” Scout wrapped his arms around himself.

“Doesn’t seem like nothing. You scared me Roo… I thought- I thought I lost you.” Sniper Paused and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Look, I know things have been rough but please, please do not do that.”

Scout stretched after getting out of bed, still avoiding Sniper’s gaze he quickly changed the subject.

“You came to get me for dinner right? Let’s go then,” Scout said dejectedly.

Sniper sighed in annoyance but knew there was no chance he would get anything out of Scout right now, he instead got up and followed Scout out of the room.

The two walked into the lounge. Scout decided not to worry too much about the fact most of the team was now awake and in the lounge with him, despite it being 2 o’clock in the morning.

“Should we go over the mission for today?” Sniper asked after he and Scout walked out of the kitchen with their plates.

“Herr Spy is not here, ve should vait for everyone,” Medic answered.

Scout dreaded when Spy would eventually show up, he hoped he never did. He looked down at his plate in disgust. Suddenly, the thought of eating made him sick, and yet, he forced a few nuggets down to hopefully keep Sniper from being too worried. He felt the eyes of the room on him, watching every move he made.

“I can feel you starin’ y’know. What are you looking at.” Scout looked up at the mercenaries before him.

“Well… we’re a bit worried about you kiddo to be fair.” Engineer scratched the back of his neck uncomfortably. “What happened with Spy? We kinda… uhm kinda heard y’all yellin’,” 

“None of your business,” Scout said coldly.

“Ve just vant to help you, Scout, vhat is the matter?” Medic asked cautiously.

Scout stared down at his plate, tears began forming in his eyes and his face turned red.

“You wanna know what’s up so bad? I just learned that the person I hate most in my life, my father, is my teammate! Not even to mention he is the teammate I get along with worst! I hate him!” Scout finally admitted. “There, happy?” Scout said as tears streamed down his face.

The room was silent, everyone was awestricken. Not in surprise of the fact, but fearful for what would happen now.

“Vell, that is certainly new-” Medic began.

“MAGGOT! WHAT IN TARNATION IS THAT? WE HAVE NOT BEEN IN BATTLE IN DAYS HOW ARE YOU INJURED!?” Soldier interrupted.

The room turned to Soldier all glaring at him in unison. Scout looked very confused as he thought about what Soldier could possibly be talking about.

Then it hit him.

He looked around the room at the people most important to him.

Sniper, Medic, Engineer, They all looked at him with faces full of concern.

The room blurred and faded before his eyes, he felt his lungs rapidly inflate and deflate as he hyperventilated, his eyes stung worse than they did before and his arms suddenly stung as he was reminded of what he had done. He looked down at them, how could he forget? How could he possibly have let himself leave the room without covering them?

Sure, people don't always cut themselves in an attempt to kill themselves, but in his case it was.

And now, everyone knew.

Especially Sniper, who had read his note.

He felt a hand on his shoulder, when he looked up to meet eyes with them he smiled thinking it was Sniper.

It was instead the last person he wanted to see right now.

“Mon fils, what on earth happened?” Spy said, his words felt fuzzy in Scout’s head

Scout’s expression dropped to genuine fear. He shoved Spy off of him and stood immediately.

He looked around the room, he noticed Sniper and Soldier were gone, assuming Sniper had removed Soldier from the lounge completely. Everyone looked up at Scout with the same sad eyes.

Scout opened his mouth to talk but he choked on his words. His face scrunched up and he quickly ran out of the room. He hastily ran to his room and threw open the door. He grabbed the notebook roughly and tore out the page, crumpling it in the process. Then, he stormed out of his room, ignored Sniper and Soldier talking in the hallway, and entered the lounge again. Spy and Medic were talking in the corner while the rest of the mercenaries spoke in an oval formation. 

“Here, have fun with this it should let you know everything you need to know, I was gonna leave it for one of you to find anyway.” Scout handed his note to Medic while covering his face. 

Medic took the paper hesitantly and Scout noticed the doctor’s hands shaking before he ran away. He didn’t know where to go. He hated himself.

“Why! Ugh, I shouldn’t have given ‘em that!” Scout yelled out into the dark emptiness of New Mexico. 

Scout was outside. He stood in the cool night and eventually decided on where to go. He ran back inside, past Sniper who looked at him with unease, past Soldier who for once looked like he had some sense of guilt, past the lounge full of his teammates who all panicked as he walked by, past Engineer’s workshop. A large concrete staircase in the back of the base that hardly anyone, especially Scout, ever visited. Scout quickly raced up the stairs and pushed open the large metal door.

The cold air hit his skin as he stood on the top of the base. Scout looked up at the sky speckled with stars, and tears rolled down his face while he thought about what to do. He would not jump one; on account of the fact the building wasn’t tall enough for the fall to kill him; and secondly, because he wouldn’t be able to do it. 

Scout thought about everything he had. He had friends, He had his team, and he had Sniper. 

Thinking about Sniper made his stomach flutter. He pushed down the feeling. Instead, he wandered over to the side of the stairwell building and sat against the wall. He sat with his legs against his chest, his arms crossed over his knees, and his head on his arms. He was freezing but…

I deserve to freeze, I hope I stay out here forever. 

Sniper ran through the base in a blind panic.

“Hey, where was Scout running to?” Sniper had asked when he re-entered the lounge. 

The team stood dumbfoundedly around Medic who shook violently with a paper in his hand. A crumpled, red-stained, scribble-covered paper.

Everyone was aware Sniper knew what it was.

Spy stood away from the group with his hands over his eyes. Sniper considered going over to comfort Spy, even if they weren’t the closest, but he decided against it. Medic opened his mouth to say something but was at an obvious loss for words.

“I uh… we heard most of the argument between Spy and him… Does this mean what I think it means?” Demoman managed to speak up.

“I’ll… I’ll find him, maybe he just- I don’t know, I hope this doesn’t mean he’s-” Sniper couldn’t finish his sentence.

He darted out of the room.

Every room Sniper searched. He saw Scout go towards the back of the base, away from the living area. Sniper checked the Infirmary, Engineer’s workshop, hell even the supply room that they never went into. Sniper froze when he reached the back of the base. Where a single staircase stood.

He… He couldn’t have. Sniper thought.

Sniper climbed the stairs as quickly as he could, tripping up them every few steps. The door slammed against the wall and left a dent. Sniper panted as he tried to catch his breath. Hastily he looked around, looked at each ledge praying he wouldn’t see Scout at one of them. He looked behind him and sighed when he spotted a hunched-over figure against the stairwell wall.

“Scout!” Sniper yelled.

He hesitated to approach him when Scout jumped at the sound of Sniper’s voice. He shook off his uncertainty and cautiously walked over anyway. Sniper stood next to the shaking boy and eventually slid down the wall to sit with him.

“Scout… you-you’ve got us all worried, we thought…” Sniper trailed off.

“Yeah, well maybe I just should.” Scout sniffled and covered his head with his arms as he tried to cry silently, to no avail.

“No! No, don’t say that, I… I know things are hard but please don’t do… it . Things will get better I promise it's just… a lot at once right now.” Sniper tried to convince Scout without making the mercenary feel guilty.

Scout gave up on hiding his pitiful sobs and shoved himself onto Sniper.

“I’m sorry! I shouldn’ta given ‘em that stupid fucking note. I’m tired Sniper, things were already bad and now things are getting so much worse and I’m freezing my fucking ass off!”

“We should go inside-”

“No! Th-the guys have seen enough of what a stupid-”

“Mate…” 

“ Useless-”

“ Scout.”

“ Weak fucking-”

“ Scout!”

Scout didn’t even realize he had been pulling his hair until he felt Sniper’s calloused hands holding his. He looked at Sniper through tears, attempting to read disappointment, anger, and any sense that the sharpshooter was going to leave him, and yet, all he was met with were Sniper’s kind eyes and someone who genuinely just wanted to help.

“Scout, you are none of those things, hell you’re one of the strongest guys I know!” Sniper spoke softly/

“You’re just sayin’ that. We have Heavy on our team I’m nothin’ compared to him!” Scout chuckled, attempting to lighten the mood.

“Mate, I didn’t say anything about physical strength. You have been through so much and yet you’re still here, I’m so proud of you for that.”

Scout had ceased crying momentarily but at that moment he burst into tears and hugged Sniper as tightly as he could. Sniper smiled and wrapped his arms around Scout like a blanket. Scout absorbed every wave of heat happily and held the hug longer than he felt necessary.

“What do I do?” Scout asked after the two finally separated.

“Well one, we should let the guys know you’re awright, you scared them half to death, mate,” Sniper stated.

Scout looked guiltily at the ground and nodded. Sniper stood up, his bones cracked loudly as he stretched. He held his hand out to Scout.

“Come on, let’s go I’m freezin’.” Sniper said with a smile on his face.

Scout looked up at Sniper and felt happy for the first time that day. The day had not even started yet, and somehow it had been the most eventful morning in his whole life. He took Sniper’s hand and held it tightly. Sniper opened the door and held it open for him, letting it swing closed behind them.

They walked back to the lounge and when they entered Scout noticed Spy leaning in the corner with his eyes closed, Medic pacing around with Heavy attempting to calm him down, Engineer sitting on the couch bouncing his leg with Demo on his left and Pyro on his right and noise from inside the kitchen.

The room released a sigh in unison when they noticed Scout and Sniper enter.

“Scout!” Medic, Engineer said. Pyro too seemingly yelled Scout’s name, muffled in their mask.

Spy’s eyes shot open and he jolted forward, he appeared to almost lunge to hug Scout, he quickly stopped himself and wiped tears from his eyes. 

“I uhm… I’m sorry about that, I uh don’t really remember what I wrote but… I meant the good things.” Scout said looking at the ground. He shook his head and approached Spy. He looked down at Scout in what seemed like fear, guilt pitted in Scout’s stomach. Scout breathed in deeply and pulled Spy into a hug.

“I’m so… sorry for what I said. I do care about you and just ‘cause you’re my dad doesn’t mean I want my teammate dead. I shouldn’t have written it and I… I just don’t know how to feel.”

Spy choked from attempting to hold back his tears, he wrapped his arms firmly around Scout and cried on his son’s shoulder.

Chapter Text

Scout lay in his bed and stared up at the ceiling. He thought about everyone and how he’d hurt them. Medic, the usually precise and steady doctor, was shaking when Scout saw him. Engineer, who just wanted to help him, was coldly pushed away. Spy, who Scout had just figured out was his father, was sobbing at the thought of losing him. Hell, even Demoman who was never serious was genuinely concerned over him. And Sniper…

“Fuck…” Scout groaned out loud.

Sniper and him were finally getting close. Scout had been so vulnerable, so honest, so… himself around Sniper. Sniper truly and deeply cared about him and didn’t even make Scout feel bad about the fact he scared the entire team with his little stunt. Thinking about Sniper made Scout’s stomach flutter, he felt his face burning slightly. He shot up from where he lay, his mouth agape.

“Nn-no way!” Scout said loudly.

He thought about it more. Sniper’s soft smile contrasted the sharpshooter’s rugged exterior. His gentle calloused hands were so comforting when wrapped around him. How warm Sniper was when he held Scout. How he cared about him and wanted what was best for him. I wanna kiss him. Scout thought.

“WHAT?!” Scout shouted aloud.

He covered his red face with his hands and breathed deeply, attempting to process the sentence he just thought. I really wanna kiss him…

Scout hid in his blanket, the cocoon he made quickly growing warm as he continued thinking about Sniper. He thought about him until he slowly fell asleep.

The sun peeked through the blinds and illuminated his room. Scout woke up sweaty, the mass of blankets he had hidden under had warmed him as if he were in an oven. He threw the blankets off of him as he tried to remember the previous night. Instantly he was reminded of what he did.

“Ugggh, it's gonna be so awkward with the guys now.” Scout groaned as he remembered how they reacted to his note… and his arms. 

Scout lifted his head and after a few moments got out of bed. He walked over to his desk which had a set of drawers connected to it. He opened the middle drawer, inside were boxes of assorted bandages and a couple of rolls. He grabbed the two rolls of fabric bandages and began wrapping them around his arms like he does his grip tape. It took a few minutes but eventually, his forearms were covered. Scout stretched and groaned before he walked over to the door and exited his room. When he arrived in the lounge. Everyone was there already. Scout looked up at the clock on the wall next to him. He was extremely late.

“Sorry for bein’ late.” Scout rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

“It is fine Herr Scout.” Medic said without looking up at the clipboard he was reading off of.

Spy sat in his armchair reading the newspaper, Engineer and Pyro were playing chess, Heavy was with Medic, and Soldier was with Demo. Sniper strolled up to Scout and whispered to him.

“You awright, mate?” Sniper asked.

“Yeah, just had to…” Scout raised his arm to show Sniper the bandages that covered them.

“Ah, right.” Sniper stopped whispering “How’d you sleep.”

“Was okay I guess.” Scout blushed as he thought about the subject that lulled him to sleep. The subject that was now in front of him.

“Alright, today’s mission is capturing intel. You know the plan stay together in some vay and always have someone's back.” Medic spoke while reading the clipboard.

“Scout, I assume you will do your usual and stay with someone until you can get close enough to the intel, then go alone.” Spy said from behind the newspaper.

“Of course! It’s hard to stay with you guys since I run so fast, plus If I get the intel I gotta get it back to our base as quick as I can! I can’t wait around for one of you guys so you can keep up with me.” Scout confirmed.

Spy shot Sniper a look, the two of them conversing with their eyes. Scout cocked an eyebrow at Sniper when he turned to face him.

“What was that about?” Scout asked.

“Nothin’.” Sniper quickly answered.

Scout shrugged off the suspicion that gathered in his stomach and instead talked to Sniper about random things. The team enjoyed the rest of their morning.

Eventually, they all got up as the clock struck 8 o’clock. Scout was first to enter the locker room before spawn. He bee-lined to his locker and began his routine. He still wondered what Sniper and Spy were thinking. Everyone got ready relatively quickly. They all stood at the large garage door and waited patiently for it to open. A loud whirring noise abruptly started and the door was pulled up. The mercenaries entered the spawn area and waited for the familiar voice of The Administrator.

“Five…Four…Three…Two…One!” She said loudly over the speakers.

They ran, Scout tried to stay around somebody as he blasted opposing team members with his scattergun. He got a few kills and was saved a couple times by Demoman who he decided to stick with. Scout could see the intel as he got closer and closer to the enemy base. He sped up and left demoman’s side racing quickly toward the intel. He scanned the room as so as he entered it. He killed a lone BLU Soldier who was protecting the intel and quickly scooped up the suitcase. Scout paused for a moment to strap the suitcase to his back, then he sprinted out of the room. His feet pounded against the desert floor as he ran as fast as he could toward his base, the suitcase weighed heavily on his back. 

Scout skidded to a stop when he was confronted by the BLU Spy, immediately, he grabbed his scattergun and aimed it at the Spy.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” The Spy said menacingly.

“Or what?” Scout asked his gun still aimed at his enemy.

“Or I’ll tell everyone your little secrets. Not born a man, into both genders-”

“How do you know that!” Scout raised his voice, shoving the shaft of his gun into The Spy’s chest. “Listen you bastard, I  will not hesitate to pull this trigger on you.”

“And send me back to respawn? Making it easier for me to tell all of your teammates?”

Scout clicked his tongue in frustration and removed his gun from Spy’s chest.

“What do you want,” Scout grumbled.

“Give me the intel.”

“No! That’s literally my whole job right now dude!”

“I saw most of your team is sticking together, would not be hard to let them know.”

“Can you at least send me back to respawn, make it look like I didn’t just hand it over?”

“I will grant you that pity, yes.”

Scout handed the suitcase to his enemy and braced himself. Spy held his gun against Scout’s forehead and pulled the trigger.

Respawn.

“I hate respawn.” Scout groaned in the inky darkness. 

When he respawned he shook off the tingly feeling that respawn left him with and raced out of the bay. He quickly met up with Demoman. 

“Victory.” The administrator spoke over the speakers proudly.

“No way,” Scout said in awe.

The RED team cheered and eventually made their way back to the spawn area. Mercenaries began taking off belts of ammunition and armor, a few of them retreating into the back of the locker room to shower. Scout jumped onto a stack of crates and sat on the edge of it, watching his teammates happily talk to each other.

“How’d we win anyway?” Scout said to no one in particular.

“THE SNIPER BROUGHT THE CASE TO US!” Soldier boomed.

“Snipes?” Scout said in confusion.

Sniper walked over to the crates Scout sat on and leaned in close, whispering quietly in his ear.

“I saw… and heard, what happened with the BLU Spook, I knew he wouldn’t let you take the intel back so I did it.” 

Scout’s eyes widened and he looked at Sniper with a concerned face.

“How’d you hear?” Scout asked.

“I was in the building next to you, the window’s knocked out there.”

Sniper noticed Scout looked upset, he wanted to ask what was wrong and comfort Scout but knew that he would get nowhere with the other mercenaries around.

Scout was silent the rest of the day. Sniper couldn’t help but worry. Eventually, all of the mercs returned to the base. They had their usual celebratory drinking party that they did every time they won, Scout stayed away from everyone, drinking alone on the couch. His face was bright red.

“What’re you thinkin' about, Roo?” Sniper said as he carefully sat down next to the runner.

“Well, I’ve got three beers in my system and more to come might as well tell you,” Scout paused to chug his apparently fourth beer. “Snipes, I think… I think I like you.”

“Well, I like you too” Sniper answered platonically.

“No, like- ugh” Scout set his empty beer down and rubbed his face aggressively. “Snipers, I think I have a crush on you, like, a big one” 

Sniper was reaching for a beer when he froze.

“A crush huh?” Sniper said. “S’at why you’re so red? I assumed it was the alcohol.”

Scout grabbed another beer from Demoman who was walking by with a crate of them.

The two sat in awkward silence a pit formed rapidly in Scout’s stomach.

“Well, I’ve been thinking about it too, I… it may be too fast to say but I think I like you too”

Scout’s face lit up. He scooted closer to Sniper, closing the gap between them. Sniper blushed and cracked a smile.

“So what about the guys? Can we do stuff like this around them?” Sniper asked.

“I don’t mind em knowing, plus I wanna date you, they’d find out anyway,” Scout answered, his face bright red.

“You… you wanna date me?” 

If he could Scout would have grown more red. Scout nodded and slowly slid his hand over to Sniper’s. He hesitated, barely touching Sniper’s hand with a finger before Sniper moved his hand toward Scout. They awkwardly attempted to figure out how to put their hands before they interlocked fingers. Scout scrunched up slightly, his eyes squinted by the large smile he donned, He looked forward and noticed Medic, who looked at him with a cocked eyebrow and a smile.

Chapter Text

Sniper stayed on the couch while Scout got up to grab more beers for the two of them.

“Soo.. things are going vell I see.” Medic smiled as he stood next to Scout by the crates of beers.

“It's nothing yet, I don’t even know if this means anything,” Scout shrugged

“You held hands before we got to the point of being drunk?” Medic noted.

“Yeah but, I dunno, I’ll ask him about it and let you know, alright?” Scout waved off Medic before he got comfortable on the couch.

Sniper watched him intently, scanning his face for something unbeknownst to Scout. Scout blushed under the gaze of the sharpshooter. His face went redder as his thoughts wandered.

Sniper’s so hot. I would love to see him above me-

Scout choked on his beer, he spat most of it out but continued choking on remnants of the liquid. Sniper looked concerned as he slapped Scout on the back. Scout coughed, dislodging the beer.

“You awright, mate?” Sniper asked, worry coating his voice.

“Ye-yeah just uh- nothin’. Don’t worry about it.” Scout blushed and covered his face.

Sniper smiled comfortingly and rubbed his thumb against Scout’s hand. Scout looked down at his hand and smiled before taking Sniper’s hand as he did before. The two sat, their finger’s intertwined for the rest of the night. 

Eventually, the party was over. Demoman took the leftover crates with the help of Soldier and the two left the room to store them. Medic, Heavy, and Pyro were cleaning up while Spy tried to wake up Engineer. Sniper stood up with Scout’s hand still in his. 

“Want’a go to my place?” Sniper asked.

Scout stood up and wobbled before regaining balance and smiling widely at Sniper.

Sniper nodded and led Scout by the hand to the large metal doors of the base. He pushed them open and held it for Scout before letting it slowly swing closed. The walk was brief, only a couple minutes, and eventually, the two arrived at the camper van Sniper called home. They walked inside and Scout immediately began wandering around the cramped space, taking in every item that decorated the area.

Empty coffee cups, A lofted bed, a red sofa. Scout wasn’t sure if it was because he was drunk but he was much more excited about the van than he had previously been. Sniper had sat himself on the couch and watched as Scout looked at everything. Eventually, Scout joined Sniper on the sofa. 

Like a cat Scout cuddled up next to Sniper. He chuckled before opening his arms and allowing Scout to lay his head on his chest. Scout’s brain felt fuzzy and he felt warm. He could tell he was blushing brightly but he didn’t care. This was the closest he and Sniper had ever been and the thought alone made him happier than he had ever been.

“Duuude, I have the wickedest boner right now we should” Scout paused to hiccup “We should fuck”

Sniper blushed brightly. With all the events recently Scout had ended up drinking a lot more than Sniper, hell, probably more than Soldier even drank! Yes, Sniper drank, but he wasn’t drunk like everyone else was, he was just buzzed. The question startled him, not in a bad way he just wasn’t expecting it. 

“I don’t think we should do that, why don’t we just stay here like this?” Sniper finally collected himself enough to speak.

“Awww, fine you’re lucky I love being like this!” Scout smiled before he moved to be practically in Sniper’s lap.

Scout had his arms wrapped behind Sniper’s neck and held him happily until he slowly drifted to sleep.

“Scout? Mate, you awake?” Sniper whispered.

After getting no response Sniper smiled and picked up Scout carefully. He took the lightweight mercenary over to his lofted bed and gently set him down in it. Scout stirred seeming as if he was going to wake up, but he instead snuggled into the pillow and snored softly. Sniper sighed when Scout seemed fully asleep again and looked at the clock across the room from him.

‘3:47 am’ Sniper read.

Might as well try an’ get some rest. He thought as he made his way back to the sofa. He removed his vest and his sunglasses and put them on the coffee table. Then, he took his hat off and laid it on his face, blocking out the light from the moon that shined in his face through the blinds. 

O O O O O O O O O O O O

Scout woke up to unfamiliar scents. Coffee? He questioned. He stirred slightly before he sat up in the unfamiliar bed. It smelled like aftershave and coffee beans.

“Morning’, Roo.” Sniper said sweetly as Scout painfully tried to remember yesterday.

“Dude, how much did I drink? I have- Ugh, The worst fuckin’ hangover.” Scout asked as he rubbed his temples.

“Well, The only people that drank more than you was Demoman, and Engie who blacked out.” 

“Oh. Sorry… Did I  uh… Say anything weird last night?” Scout hesitantly asked.

“...just one thing but it was nothing to be worried about.”

Scout pouted and crawled down the loft bed’s ladder. He walked over to the kitchen where Sniper was drinking a mug of steaming hot coffee.

“Uhm, speaking of last night, the whole hand-holding thing… are we?” Scout asked, avoiding eye contact with Sniper.

“Depends… Do you want to be my boyfriend?” Sniper blatantly said.

Chapter Text

Sniper had asked the question so casually it had caught Scout off guard.

“I-I mean, of course, I’d be lucky to call you that but uh… Is it what you want?” Scout stuttered.

Sniper hadn’t dated in a while, not to mention he’s only dated a few guys after realizing he was gay, it would be a new experience for sure, he’s never been with someone like Scout before. The thought of Scout waking up next to him and calling him his boyfriend made Sniper’s stomach flutter.

“I think I would like that a lot, yes.” Sniper finally answered. 

Scout sighed in relief and smiled widely from ear to ear. He stretched like a dog before he scooted to the loft bed’s ladder. The metal steps were cold against his bare feet as he quickly made his way down them. He stood idly on the campervan’s soft carpet, the fibers hugged his feet before he finally walked over to the kitchen where Sniper stood. Scout bent down slightly before he hopped up on the counter next to the coffee pot Sniper was using.

“So, boyfriend ,” Scout made sure to annunciate the second word. “ What should we do? I mean there’s no work today so we should do somethin’ together!” 

“Hmm…” Sniper scratched his scruffy beard and acknowledged it was about time he shaved. “Well, we could go to town, not much to do here on the base.” 

“Sure! I mean, s’not like there’s much to do in Teufort either but eh, we might have a better chance.”

Sniper nodded before sipping his coffee. The two sat in comfortable silence and took in their morning. Sniper couldn’t help the glances Scout shot in his direction. Eventually, Sniper finished his coffee and put the mug in the sink. Scout hopped off the counter and began to examine the campervan.

“Awright, let’s hit the road. You ridin’ up front with me?” Sniper asked.

“Of course! Ride’ll probably be boring without you anyway.” Scout answered.

The two walked out the back door of the camper van and made their way to the front of the vehicle.

“Should we let anyone know we’re leaving?” Scout asked.

“Eh, If you want to, usually they just see the van’s gone and know,” Sniper replied as he turned the key in the ignition.

“It’ll be fine, they’ll probably ask to come with us if we do.” Scout decided.

Sniper shrugged before turning the vehicle and exiting the base. The two paused at a gate and after a few moments, it squeakily began moving to the side. Finally, the two were on the road. Scout watched the orange terrain speed by out the window. There were a few cacti and birds, other than that the land was barren and rocky. Scout closed his eyes for a while, his head propped up against the window. When he opened his eyes they were entering the town. Buildings were few and far between for a while until they became more clustered. Eventually, the two arrived at the town square. 

“Has the town square always been a bunch of trash?” Scout cocked an eyebrow at the dump in front of him.

“Yeah, I don’t know about that one?” Sniper scratched his head.

Scout shrugged and began looking around the town square in an attempt to spot something to do. He spotted a small shop with a rack of clothes on the outside. It was decorated with mandalas and crystals.

“Ooo let's go in there!” Scout pointed to the shop.

He took Sniper’s hand in his own and led the sharpshooter to the bright building. Scout held open the door, the motion caused a bell to ring.

“Welcome in!” A cashier said from behind the counter.

Scout waved enthusiastically before beelining straight to a table full of shiny rocks. His eyes sparkled as he looked at rows of rose quartz, malachite, amethyst, and more crystals.

“AA! Snipes look!” Scout squealed and flapped his hands. “They have so many crystals here!”

“Didn’t know you were into all that?” Sniper said as he examined the table.

“I just like how they look,” Scout smiled before he picked up a black rock with yellow stripes. “ Tiger’s eye… harmonizing.” Scout read the notecard next to the bowl “Pretty badass name,”

Sniper nodded before he wandered off to look at other parts of the store. Wind chimes made of stained glass, plants in colorful pots, eventually, he paused at a wall of flags.

‘Pride flags’ A nearby sign read.

Scout had come to stand next to Sniper with a small bag of rocks. They clinked against each other noisily before Scout silenced them. The two stood next to the stand of rainbow flags and Sniper cracked a smile.

“Ain’t that something. Never thought a town like Teufort would have something like this.” Sniper beamed as he took a small flag on a stick before he looked over at Scout. “Got everything you want?”

“Yep!” Scout smiled

They locked hands again before walking up to the counter. 

“Will that be all for you two?” The cashier asked as Scout put down his bag of rocks and Sniper put down his flag.

“Mhm! Scout saddled up closer to Sniper and laid his head against his arm.

Scout paid for the items and smiled at the cashier before they left.

Chapter Text

The two exited the shop and Scout looked in all the windows as they walked down the sidewalk. Scout held Sniper’s hand as the two talked about random things.  Sniper looked to his right at the street and spotted a couple. The girl sat on the boy’s lap but the two stared at Sniper and Scout as if they were the ones in the wrong and whispered to each other, glaring at the two as they did so. Scout looked in the direction Sniper was looking and tensed up. He dropped Sniper’s hand and crossed his arms over his chest. Sniper looked at him with concern before he spoke.

“We should uh, we should get lunch and head back to the base,” he said

Scout just nodded.

The two walked in silence for a while until they came across a street with many restaurants. Scout looked through the window of a few but ultimately decided on an old pizza place. They entered, were greeted by a waitress, led to a table, and sat down.

“Hey uhm, about earlier… Don’t let those people make you feel ashamed. We aren’t doin’ anything wrong.” Sniper whispered when the waitress walked away.

“I know, I know it's just- I uh. I’ve never been in a real relationship with a guy before and… some stuff happened with my brothers so I’m a little… I’m a little anxious about it, to be honest.” Scout said quietly.

“You wanna talk about it?” 

“Not here, not in public.”

Sniper nodded and looked down at his menu. After a few moments, the waitress returned and took their order. They ate in relative silence, Scout said a few miscellaneous things and Sniper attempted conversation. Eventually, they finished their meal and left. It was a short walk back to the van but it felt like an eternity of silence. When they finally reached it they quickly got in and Sniper looked over at Scout.

“Okay, you ready to talk?” Sniper said sweetly.

“Yeah, I mean it’ll be nice to tell someone and finally… I guess makes me feel better.” Scout shrugged in an attempt to lighten the tension.

Scout paused to take a long sip of his drink to lubricate his throat for the long story he knew he was about to tell.

“Okay so… Uh when I was in high school I started to realize I was… not fully straight, an’ I started like, experimenting with that. Well I was a freshman and my older brothers were juniors and seniors. To cut to the chase they found some uh,” Scout paused to awkwardly glance at Sniper “Some magazine- ahem- and after school, while we were waitin’ for ma, they took me behind the school and beat the shit outta me. I’m just scared of what people will do if they see us together…”

“I’m sorry, mate. It’s awful they did that to you, and I’m sorry but I can promise you I will never let anything bad happen to you because of us. No one is gonna hurt you for being with me.” Sniper consoled. 

Scout smiled and blushed brightly before flusteredly waving off Sniper.

“Yeah, Yeah, thanks Snipes, we sh-should get going.” Scout giggled.

“What, do I make ya all flustered, Roo?” Sniper said in a low tone.

“AAaaa Stop! It’s not my fault you’re-” Scout blushed and slumped into himself, and covered his face with his shirt. “S’not my fault you’re so hot.”

“You think I’m hot?” Sniper teased.

“‘Course I do! I’m literally your boyfriend it’d be weird if I didn’t think you were hot!”

Sniper chuckled before turning the key in the ignition and pulling out of the parking lot. The two talked and flirted during the short drive and finally, they pulled under the large tarp that covered the base’s entrance.  Sniper parked closer to the base than he usually did and exited the cockpit of the van. Scout stretched his legs and paced to get out the pent-up energy he had from the drive.

“What should we do now?” Scout asked

Sniper shrugged and led Scout into the van. The two sat on the couch, thigh to thigh. 

“We could just lay here together,” Scout said as he stretched across Sniper’s lap.

“I’d like that.” 

Chapter Text

Sniper and Scout, despite their wishes, were in the locker room as usual getting ready for battle. They glanced at each other and Scout smiled goofily 

 “Five… Four… Three… Two… one!” The administrator said like usual.

The RED team rushed out of their base, and immediately met with BLUs that attempted to push them back into their spawn.

“Shit, this is rough,” Scout grunted as he hid behind a barrier that caught the bullets shot at him in bursts.

Sniper had long run off, probably in a high-up building somewhere attempting to pick off BLUs. Scout tried to focus on the job before him but couldn’t help worrying about the sharpshooter. He tried to empty his mind as he aimed his scattergun. He shot quickly and managed to kill the BLU Spy that attempted to disguise himself as Medic. Scout saw right through the facade, Medic would never have been without Heavy like the Spy did. 

The BLU Spy respawned soon after he was shot. He growled angrily and slammed his fist into a Blue locker nearby. It dented against the force.

“Vatch yourself Herr Spy, Ve have to stay focused. Do not let your anger get the best of you.” Medic said as he recovered from respawn.

Spy sneered at the BLU Medic before he ran back into battle. Spy had made up his mind and headed straight for the taller buildings. He cloaked himself and scanned every window for…

“Zhere.” Spy Smiled slyly. 

He ran up the stairs and threw open the door. Sniper whipped around and held up his rifle in an attempt to protect himself against the knife that the BLU Spy jabbed at him. Sniper grunted against the force and pushed the Spy off of him. Spy screamed out in anger before he ripped his revolver out of his suit and shot Sniper in the head.

“Guh, now I can get to work.” The BLU Spy dusted off his suit jacket and exited the building.

Scout had been with Demoman and Soldier attempting to send most of the BLU team to respawn when Heavy came by and mowed some of the team down. They returned quickly though, Scout glanced to his right and saw Sniper. He smiled brightly at him and blushed.

His mood was quickly damped when a familiar taunting voice shouted across the battlefield.

“Cease fire!” The BLU Spy yelled. “I have an important piece of information for you all.”

Scout’s heart pounded, he wasn’t sure why but he knew that the BLU Spy was his enemy. His enemy who had been relentlessly targeting him as of lately.

The words were uttered, and Scout’s heart sunk into the deepest part of his stomach. He felt the eyes of his entire team watching him. Of course, they were Scout’s biggest secret, something only three people knew, something he never wanted anyone else to know was now out for everyone.

“Ze Scout iz a female! ” The BLU Spy had revealed in his thick french accent.

On the battlefield, stuck in a stalemate, both teams stood in silence. No shots fired, no words spoken.

Scout felt hot tears trickle down his face as Sniper looked at him, his face was contorted with concern. Sniper… Scout hadn’t even realized he was there. He looked around and saw his entire team was there, his and the BLU team. Sniper was one of the three people who had known Scout’s secret prior to the BLU Spy telling everyone, Sniper, Medic, and Spy; Scout’s father. Sniper swallowed his anxiety, and the fear of getting shot and ran to Scout. The BLU team, startled by Sniper’s sudden dash shot at him. Sniper ran as fast as he could, dodging bullets that threatened to pierce him as he dashed from barricade to barricade. Finally, Sniper reached his boyfriend and sighed as he crouched behind the stack of crates Scout hid behind.

“Scout, mate, are you okay?” Sniper asked, shaking from adrenaline.

“No, no! I’m not okay Last time someone found out I was-” Scout’s fearful yelling was cut off by his sobs. He gulped, attempting to silence the pitiful scene. “Everyone knows I’m transgender, this… this is the last thing I wanted!”

Sniper peeked over the crates and glared at the BLU Spy before ducking back down. A shot ricocheted off of the metal casing of the crate. He scooted over to Scout and wrapped his arms around him. Scout immediately melted into Sniper’s arms and choked as he cried out violently.

The two stayed huddled behind the wooden boxes as the RED team lunged at the BLU team. They slaughtered them savagely, most of them aiming very intentionally at the BLU Spy who had attempted to cloak himself. It was no use, RED Spy had earlier cloaked himself and now had stabbed his butterfly knife into the BLU Spy’s back, he twisted the blade and when BLU Spy’s body went limp against Spy’s, he didn’t hesitate to throw the corpse off of the ledge the two stood on.

He glared down at the bleeding body, rage seething from every part of his body. His malicious expression quickly turned to worry as he jumped down from the platform and ran to where he heard Scout’s sobs emanating.

“Scout?!” Spy said as he skidded to a halt behind the boxes.

His face softened as he looked down at his son. Scout didn’t look at him, he just switched from Sniper’s comforting arms to Spy’s. Surprised, Spy hesitated before he wrapped Scout in his arms and held his crying son.

“Dad I don’t know what to do! I- I never found out all to deal with this- FUCK everyone knows now!”

“You are more of a man than they will ever be, son.” Spy stated.

Scout’s expression collapsed and he covered his soaked face in Spy’s blood-covered suit jacket.

Chapter Text

Scout wasn’t sure when his sobbing grew silent. The tears still slid down his face but he made no noise. Sniper was walking next to him quietly. The entire team refused to utter a word. Sniper looked down at Scout’s hand that swung sadly next to his slowly walking body. Hesitantly Sniper took Scout’s hand in his own and interlocked their fingers. He looked back up at Scout and smiled, but Scout didn’t even look at him, let alone change expression. Despite this, Scout also didn’t let go. So Sniper kept their hands together.

They arrived at the RED base and everyone departed ways. Everyone but Scout, Sniper, Medic, and Spy. Sniper let go of Scout’s hand when he noticed the latter two hadn’t left like everyone else. Scout continued walking and silently shut the door to his room after he entered it. 

“Herr Sniper, Herr Spy, I believe someone should stay vith Scout. Not to share too much of his personal information but… Vhen he first came here I performed some… surgeries, ahem, and I noticed lots of scars on his arms and thighs. I believe he may try to hurt himself. Please take care of him.” Medic explained.

“I’ll do it,” Sniper quickly said.

“He iz my son! If anyone should vatch him it should be me!” Spy interjected.

“We don’t know how he’ll be tomorrow. ‘E hasn’t exactly taken the whole “you bein’ his dad” thing well,” Sniper argued.

Spy’s face sank sadly but he nodded anyway.

“Fine, you stay with him, but I swear to god if anythin' happens to him-” Spy began.

“Nothing will happen to him while I’m around.” Sniper cut off Spy

“You have my trust Bushman, do not fuck it up.” Spy threatened.

Sniper nodded before tipping the rim of his outback hat. He spun around and approached Scout’s door. He wasn’t sure why he forgot to knock but he immediately was glad he did.

“Sc-Scout?! What the-” Sniper said shocked.

Scout sat in the middle of his room on the floor like a deer in headlights. His arms had lines of thick red blood trickling down it. Sniper grabbed the hand Scout hadn’t harmed by the wrist and pulled it towards himself.

“What the bloody hell do you think you’re doing?!” Sniper raised his voice.

Scout flinched at the volume and tears began falling down his face in rivers.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry please don’t hurt me! I thought you were all leaving-I-I- I thought no one was gonna come- please don’t hurt me!” Scout screamed in a blind panic.

Sniper crumbled at the sight before him and released Scout’s hand. Scout threw it and his other arm over his face in an attempt to block a hit he believed was coming.

“Scout, love, I would never hurt you! Christ, I’m sorry you just- It’s ok I’m not gonna hurt you”

Scout coward below Sniper, shaking as if the whole room was. There were rapid, loud knocks on the door.

“Hey! What’s happening in there, let us in!” Spy frantically said through the door. 

With no regard for privacy, and with the fear that Scout was being hurt, Spy didn’t hesitate to quickly turn the door knob and throw the door open. Spy and Medic stood frozen at the sight before them. Scout sat shivering on the floor with his arms covering and protecting him. Fuck his arm- Spy didn’t have time to think about that. Above Scout stood Sniper, he looked as if he was trying to explain himself. His arms were up in front of him like white flags of surrender.  Medic pushed past Spy who still stood stunned in the doorway.

“Mein Gott, Herr Scout this is…” Medic was for once, at a loss for words. 

Scout backed away from Medic quickly. He crawled back and pushed himself into a corner like prey hiding from its predator. Spy felt his heart shatter, tears slid down his masked face. Medic had no idea what to do; he knew better than to try and approach Scout but needed to stop the bleeding. Spy coughed, choking on the lump in his throat. He covered his face with his arm. Then his eyes went wide. He stepped forward and ripped off his mask.

An almost mullet of salt and peppered hair stuck up at odd angles, his greying beard that the team usually saw was now shown to be more black near the sideburns. The man had sad, tired eyes that seemed almost sunken into his tanned face, there were noticeable tan lines from the mask’s openings imprinted around his mouth and eyes.

Despite their intentions, the room stared at the now unmasked Spy. Sniper inspected the face of the man while Medic noted any identifying features.

“ Scout, mon fils, mon monde, do you recognize me?” Spy asked.

Scout looked up at the tower of a man above him, Spy recognized that Scout was intimidated and crouched down to be at the same level as his cowering son. Scout looked up at Spy like a child in trouble. He nodded slowly but still shook violently in the corner.

“Good, will you allow ze medic to help you?” Spy backed up to allow Scout to see Medic who was now also crouched near the ground.

Scout nodded again and slowly, hesitantly, crawled over to Medic. Medic allowed Scout to get comfortable before he reached into the medpack he always carried on his belt. Scout flinched but allowed Medic to continue. From the medkit, he brought out a cotton pad and turned back to Scout.

“May I?” Medic asked.

Scout nodded.

Medic gently pressed the cotton pad into Scout’s arm. It quickly turned red as it soaked up blood. Medic then returned to his kit and brought out a few bandages and medical tape. Sniper stood next to Spy now. The two watched Medic do his work for a while until Sniper spoke.

“He… Scout was… Afraid of me.” Sniper said defeatedly.

“I’m sure it iz nothin’ against you, he seemed afraid of all of us.” Spy reasoned.

“I walked in and he seemed… so scared… He kept sayin’ ‘Please don’t hurt me’ and ‘I’m sorry’ as if… something like this happened before an’... I shouldn’t assume but, I’m worried about him.” Sniper whispered.

Spy was stunned, his eyes were wide.

“Merde, what did that boy go through while I was gone.” Spy pinched the bridge of his nose as tears slid down his face. “Mon fils, je t'ai déçu.”

Scout perked up and looked sadly at Spy.

“Père, tu n'as rien fait de mal.” Scout stated

Spy looked up from his hand and smiled before he approached Scout. Medic and him stood next to each other, Scout’s arm was now wrapped in bandages.

“Can I ask you some things?” Spy spoke quietly and sweetly.

“Ye-yeah I guess…” Scout hesitated.

“Why were… why were you so scared of ze sniper when he came in?”

“Geez, that was like, the one I was hopin’ you wouldn’t ask…” Scout paused to scratch his neck awkwardly. “Uhm, well when Ma would catch me… doin’ that, she would get really mad and…” Scout’s voice broke, “She would hi-hit me so ‘I would have somethin’ to cry about.” Scout held himself in a hug as his breathing sped up.

“Your mother? She… Oh, Seigneur, I have missed so much.” Spy hesitated before he opened his arms toward Scout.

Scout flinched and closed his eyes but then realized and accepted the hug Spy was offering. Spy let the tears fall from his face into his son’s hair and Scout let his own drip into Spy’s suit jacket. Medic now stood next to Sniper and the two spoke too quietly for Scout and Spy to hear.

“How bad was it?” Sniper asked.

“Pretty bad, he’ll be lucky if he didn’t damage any nerves.” Medic whispered

“Christ…”

“I stand by vhat I said, do not leave him alone for too long, especially not in here.”

Sniper nodded, Scout and Spy separated and both wiped the tears from their eyes. Spy looked around and spotted his mask then put it back on, Scout smiled at him like a kid.

Chapter Text

Scout and Sniper were alone in Scout’s room now. Medic had gotten Spy out to hopefully allow Sniper to get Scout to talk. Scout was laying in his bed staring up at the ceiling while Sniper sat at the desk and fiddled with his fingers. Bloody hell, when’s the last time I’ve been this nervous. Sniper thought.

“So… Uhm, how are you feeling?” Sniper awkwardly asked.

“Not great, but better I think,” Scout spoke barely above a whisper.

“Can… Can I ask you something, love?” Sniper hesitated.

Scout looked up at him with concern. His heart pounded rapidly in his chest but he nodded anyway.

“You don’t have to answer but… when we were on the battlefield, you said something about “Last time someone found out”, what happened?” Sniper asked, his eyes staring a hole into the floor.

Scout laid back and sighed. Was he ready to tell anyone? Even someone as close to him as Sniper? It was so long ago, does it even matter anymore? He thought. Yes, of course, it still mattered. If it didn't, Scout wouldn’t be afraid to go into the guy's bathroom. He wouldn’t be scared to even go into the locker room with the guys. Being outed wouldn’t have scared him as much as it did if what happened didn’t matter.

“I hated gym class as a kid. Not ‘cause the same reason everyone else did, but because every day I would walk in, they'd call out my birth name for the whole class to hear. All the girls would laugh at me.” Scout paused to look at Sniper. He looked at Scout with sad eyes, the thought that Sniper was pitying him made Scout’s stomach turn. “That wasn’t even the worst part, when we had to change the girls would hide my clothes or stare at me. I started changing in the stalls but they would dump water over the door. They would yell awful things at me. Eventually, I started bringing a bobby pin to school and would sneak over to the guys changing room. I would just go to the bathroom and change there.”

Sniper nodded, he listened intently but still looked at Scout with pitying eyes. Scout hated it. He didn’t need pity. Scout looked at the wall.

“Anyway. I walked out of the stall and these guys surrounded me. “What’s a girl like you doing over here?” They said, They… They drug me into a stall an-and…” Scout’s voice broke and he choked on his words. “They touched me… there, said it proved I wasn’t a boy. I blacked out and when I woke up I was on the bathroom floor and- Th-There was- I was-” Tears fell from Scout’s eyes. His face burned and he felt like he was going to throw up.

“Can I give you a hug?” Sniper asked with his arms outstretched.

“Please.” Scout cried.

Sniper got up from the chair and sat in the bed next to Scout. He wrapped his arms around him and stroked his hair.

“It's okay, everything is okay. No one's ever gonna hurt you like that again. I’m so sorry that happened to you, you didn’t deserve that. No one does.” Sniper consoled.

“I-I still have nightmares about it. I’m scared someone’s gonna do it again, someone here.” Scout spoke through sobs.

“Who?” Sniper asked.

“No one in particular just… someone.” 

“It won’t happen. Those boys were… were awful, you know us, mate. You know none of us would do that to anyone let alone you.

Scout looked sadly at Sniper.

Chapter Text

Scout was alone for the first time in a while. He was with everyone in the lounge but left to go to the bathroom. He wasn’t sure how but he ended up on the battlefield. It was empty… cold… silent. Scout squeaked and ducked behind the nearest barricade when he heard footsteps. Carefully he peeked over the barrier and his eyes widened when he saw BLU Spy. His expression quickly turned to anger, he clutched the edge of the barricade roughly. Scout clicked his tongue before lunging at the Spy from behind the barricade. Spy screamed as he was driven to the floor by Scout.

“What ze fuck are you doing here?!” The Spy yelled at the Scout that pinned him down.

“Could ask the same to you!” Scout yelled back, he used all of his weight to keep Spy down.

“I just come here to clear my mind, get the hell off of me!” Spy pushed against Scout and flipped their positions, holding Scout down with a knife pointed at him.

“What plan to try and kill me again? Leave me out here where no one will look?” Scout said a hint of fear in his voice

“I just might” The Spy smiled slyly as he pressed his blade against Scout’s neck.

“Wait really?! No wait Spy don’t do this! Look I just want to know why you fucking hate me!” Scout screamed fearfully.

Spy pressed the knife harder against Scout’s neck, Scout felt a slight burn.

“Dude P-please don’t do this I’m only 27 my ma’ll be devastated!” Scout felt tears forming in his eyes. Sure he’s felt the pain of dying but he’s always came back. Sure he had wanted to kill himself a few times but that was in his control. The thought of his life being taken from him made tears flow from his eyes like untamed rivers.

Scout screamed loudly. His voice cracked as he sobbed for help.

“It's useless, no one will hear you. Make this easier on me,” Spy pitied the squirming boy beneath him, his sobs echoing in his head.

“Why do you fucking hate me so much?!” Scout screamed.

“You are just the easiest to pick on lièvre” Spy sneered.

He pressed the knife deeper and drug it across Scout’s neck. Scout lost consciousness from either the pain or the fear. He wasn’t out for long but when he woke up the BLU Spy was nowhere to be seen. Scout propped himself up against a nearby wall, He sat there for a bit as his neck stung. He weakly reached a hand up and felt where the Spy had tried to kill him. It hurt more than Scout could describe. He knew he needed to get to someone quickly before he bled out. He shakily stood up and stumbled out of the battlefield. When he reached the locker area he grabbed a spare shirt from his locker and pressed it against his neck. The blood absorbed into the red T-shirt as if it were a sponge. Scout continued onward. It took a while, it felt like forever for Scout, but he finally reached the large metal doors of the RED base. He pushed with all of his weight. The door barely opened enough for Scout to squeeze through. He had to lean against the wall as he approached the light of the lounge. He heard laughter. How would they feel if Scout walked in like this? The last thing Scout wanted was to ruin everyone’s night with something he could have avoided, but… he needed help or else he would die. Finally, he pushed against the doorframe of the lounge and leaned against the other side of the frame. 

“Mm-Medic..?” Scout choked out. He hadn’t realized his mouth had been filling with blood. He dropped the shirt that he used to stop the bleeding.

Medic sprung up from the couch and rushed over to Scout. At that moment Sniper had turned the corner and saw Scout.

“Scout!” Sniper yelled as he ran over to Scout’s side. “What the bloody hell happened?!” He panicked.

“No idea, he just got here. Can you carry him to the infirmary? Hold this against his neck” Medic Let Sniper grab hold of the shirt before he lets go. 

The two rushed to the infirmary and Sniper quickly laid Scout on the metal operating table. He closed his eyes tightly when he felt the shirt slip slightly, he couldn’t stand to look at the wound that could kill his love.

Medic quickly pulled a Medigun over and flicked it on. The red mist showered over Scout’s almost lifeless body.

“He should be okay,” Medic consoled Sniper, who was obviously distressed. “ve just need him to regain consciousness so we can figure out vhat happened"

It took an hour, which felt like an eternity for Sniper, but Scout finally opened his eyes. Medic sat next to him in a chair.

“Herr Scout… how do you feel?” Medic asked.

“I feel… like I’m being choked.” Scout lifted a hand to touch his neck. When he did he felt a raised scar. “That bastard.” He gritted his teeth.

“Right, who did this to you?” Medic asked next.

“That fucking BLU Spy! I asked him why he hated me so much and he said it's cause I’m fucking easy to pick on!” Scout fumed.

Sniper’s brows furrowed as his hatred grew for the BLU Spy

“The Medigun couldn’t heal you completely, I believe you’ll be stuck with this scar,” Medic added.

It wasn’t unusual for this to happen. All of the mercs had a few scars from particularly deep wounds that the Medigun wasn’t able to fully reverse. The only way to get back to their previous health was to immediately go through respawn. Some wounds were healed after the battle and left the mercenaries with scars.

“God. That Spook is lucky I don’t head out there right now and blow his head off.” Sniper threatened. 

“He’s probably back in his base by now, he left me for dead,” Scout added.

“Where the hell were you? You said you went to the bathroom and I go to look for you after 20 minutes of you being gone and when I finally find you you’re about to die!” Sniper raised his voice.

Scout’s face scrunched up as he scooted against the back of the raised operating table.

“I… I just went on a walk and I don't know, got lost in my head and ended up on the battlefield. Turns out he was there too. Look I’m sorry for runnin’ off I just… I don’t know.” Scout looked down at the table like a kid in trouble.

“I know you get lost in yer head sometimes, love, but Christ. ‘Cause of recent events you can’t just wander off without tellin’ anyone! Now you especially can’t since that damn Spook wants you dead!” Sniper was almost yelling.

“I’m- I’m sorry Sniper, please don’t be mad at me!” Scout held his knees close to his chest and put his hands over his ears. “I’m sorry!” He yelled with his eyes squeezed shut.

Sniper paused and his face softened. He sat on the edge of the operating table and sighed.

“I’m sorry, mate. I’m not mad at you I’m just… I’m scared for you Scout. What if you wander off and never come back? I can’t lose you.”

“...I’ll be more careful…” Scout answered.

“You seem stressed Herr Sniper, why don’t you go rest, I’ll keep an eye on Scout.” Medic stepped near the operating table and put a hand on Sniper’s shoulder.

Sniper nodded and stood up. He looked back at Scout and frowned before he walked out of the infirmary.

Chapter Text

Sniper felt awful for yelling at Scout as he had, but what was he supposed to do? He was terrified of losing Scout and with that damned BLU Spy, there was no chance of him being safe. Sniper had started on the path back to his familiar campervan then paused suddenly. He nodded before turning and making his way back into the base. He walked down the wide hallway and eventually made his way to a room he hadn’t visited in a while. The gold plate on the door was engraved with a class Sniper had grown to know well.
Spy. It read.
Sniper knocked on the door and waited a moment before taking in the fact it was well past when the spy would go to bed. Surprisingly The door cracked open and a face poked out.
“What could you possibly want bushman?” Spy pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration.
“I coulda come with news about your son and this is how you welcome me?” Sniper teased rudely.
“Right, How is he?” Spy asked suddenly interested in the conversation.
“He’s good! Got a wicked scar but he’s awright. Anyway, that’s not what I came here for.” Sniper jumped subjects. “You want’a get revenge on that BLU Spook?” Sniper grinned mischievously.
“And how do we plan to do this?“ Spy grinned, options already swimming through his mind.
“Well, we can’t just kill him, we’ll get hell for it and most likely lose our jobs over it, but we can torture him like he tortured Scout.” Sniper leaned against the doorframe speaking in a whisper.
Spy nodded and closed the door for a moment. Sniper leaned back and waited patiently until Spy returned and exited his room. They stood awkwardly for a moment.
“We need a plan, come with me,” Spy whispered and led Sniper down the hall.
The two quickly arrived at the room that was supposed to be Snipers. Spy took halted at the door and took a key from around his neck.
“I don’t remember this room ever being locked?” Sniper questioned.
“I started locking it to keep Scout out, last time he burned himself pretty bad.” Spy admitted.
Sniper felt a pit in his stomach but he nodded anyway. The two sat in the armchairs that rested next to each other and began quietly plotting.
“Why don’t you stalk ‘im and see what he’s got to hide? Then we can use whatever it is against him.” The sniper thought aloud.
“I don’t see why not, let us try that then.” Spy agreed.
The two smiled evilly before rising from their seats and making their way out of the smoke-scented room. Sniper led the way, the two silently walking down the corridor. Past the other mercenaries' rooms, pausing at Spy’s for a moment to allow him to grab his equipment. They continued down the hall and Sniper paused for a moment at Scout’s room.
“What are you thinking bushman?” Spy questioned.
“I want to go in and get whatever he’s been usin’ to hurt himself, I… want to help him,” Sniper whispered.
“I’ll help, we need to be quick.” Spy smiled.
The two quietly entered the room, silent as if someone was in it. Sniper looked around the desk and under it while Spy looked around Scout’s bed.
“Put everything back where you found it exactly,” Spy instructed quietly.
Sniper nodded then began quietly rummaging around piles of clothes on the floor.
“I think I found it!” Spy quietly cheered before pulling out a tiny black backpack that was shoved in between the mattress. Sniper sat on the bed next to Spy as the latter unzipped the tiny bag. Inside of it was a razor blade. Sniper felt his heart pounding as his stomach filled with dread. Spy took the tiny backpack and tucked it into his pocket.
“I’ll dispose of it later,” Spy said sadly.
Sniper nodded then the two returned the room as they had found it, and slipped out. They traveled down the path and eventually made their way to the RED locker room.

Scout opened his eyes to a familiar sight. He was in Sniper’s campervan. He looked around for Sniper and eventually saw his lover in the kitchen. He smiled feeling instant relief he attempted to walk over to him but when he tried to move his legs he couldn’t.
“What…?” Scout spoke aloud.
Sniper turned around.
“Hey Snipes, can you help me I can’t move?” Scout chuckled nervously.
At that moment Sniper walked forward. His eyes were on the ground. He continued walking and eventually walked through Scout.
“What?!” Scout began to freak out.
He looked to his left where Sniper had gone and saw himself sitting next to Sniper. Sniper was in his normal work outfit, minus the vest, hat, and shades, while Scout wore sweatpants and a shirt he didn’t recognize.
“Scout. We need to talk.” Sniper spoke in a gravelly tone.
It was rare nowadays that Sniper would call Scout something other than a nickname unless Scout was in trouble. He looked at his counterpart and noticed the shift in his mood and posture due to the statement. It even made Scout’s stomach pit.
“I want’a break up with you.” The Sniper said.
Both Scout and his counterpart looked immediately back at Sniper with fear in their eyes.
“...What are you talking about…?” Scout’s counterpart asked, his voice trembling.
“What can I say, you’re obnoxious, you’re impulsive, you’re immature.” Sniper began to raise his voice.
It was as if Sniper knew everything Scout was insecure about. The sight made Scout’s heart pound and his eyes swell up with tears. He stopped being able to hear when Sniper and Scout’s counterpart began screaming at each other. Scout curled into a ball, floating now in the air. He pulled at his hair and yelled at himself to block the other two out.
This isn’t real. You’re dreaming you have to be dreaming! Scout screamed inside his mind.
At least that was true. Scout shot up from the metal operation table, He touched his body to make sure he was real, then he looked over at Medic. Scout sighed and then built up the courage to wake him up.
“...Hey uhm, Medic?” Scout spoke. His voice was hoarse.
“Mmmnn… Yes herr Scout…?” Medic stirred and reluctantly answered the young mercenary
“Medic, I uh… Ugh, this’ll sound so stupid…” Scout stalled.
“I’m sure it is not stupid. I’m up now, what is it?” Medic put his glasses on and looked at Scout with slight concern.
“Okay so uhm… Okay, fine, I had a bad dream, and… can I go see Sniper?”
“Do you vant to talk about it with me first?” Scout had Medic’s attention now.
“Yeah, I guess I can…” Scout submitted, not wanting to really bother Sniper. “I don’t know, it’s stupid. I just had a nightmare I guess where Snipes wanted to break up with me and things turned into a fight and I just wanna make sure he still loves me.” Scout Sniffled
“Scout… He still loves you I promise. I have those dreams sometimes about Heavy, I understand how you feel-” Medic was cut off.
“Wait you and Heavy are a couple?!” Scout interrupted.
“Wha- Ves, we have been for quite some time. Everyone knows?” Medic said confused.
“I didn’t!!” Scout laughed.
“Come on Herr Scout, let us go see Herr Sniper.” Medic sighed.
“Really?! Yay!!” Scout cheered.
Medic got up from his desk and walked over to Scout. He helped him down from the table and checked the scar on his neck before the two wandered into the hall of the base. Scout dragged his hand against the wall as the two walked and eventually, they made their way to Sniper’s campervan. Medic knocked on the door three times and the two waited expectantly for an answer. Scout looked left and saw two figures walking toward to RED locker room.
“Hey is that them?” Scout asked pointing in the direction of the two figures.
Medic squinted in the direction Scout was pointing and nodded.
“Vhere are those two going?”
“I don’t know, let’s follow ‘em!”
Scout didn’t wait for the medic to respond before running off in the direction he saw the two figures.
“Herr Scout! Stay quiet we don’t want them to know we’re following them!”

Chapter Text

Medic hurried after Scout, the two then began to follow far behind Sniper and Spy. The air was dry and thick with tension. They walked for a while before reaching the garage door that separated the RED locker room from the battle field. Scout and Medic watched in confusion as Sniper lifted the metal shutter and held it open for Spy to walk through. 

“How are we gonna get in if they shut that?” Scout asked.

“Vell, we will just have to confront them.” Medic said decisively before he ran from the two’s hiding spot. 

Medic grabbed the door loudly and held it open for Scout. He quickly caught up and entered the locker room. Sniper and Spy spun around immediately, Spy angrily looking at Scout.

“Vhat the hell do you two think you are doing here?!” Spy spat out.

“We came to ask you the same thing!” Scout yelled back.

Spy pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance and grumbled to himself as he began pacing around the room.

“Snipes, what’re you doin’?” Scout asked.

“Uhm, listen mate its hard to say. We are uh-” Sniper began.

“Ve are just getting revenge on that bastard BLU Spy!” Spy finished.

“It iz true, what ever you two are thinking it is a terrible idea.” Medic spoke calmly despite the 

others.

Suddenly the four heard the sound of metal hitting concrete. They all froze and searched for what created the noise. There was a chuckle from the darkness.

“Hahah, too weak to fight me all alone, you really are fun to pick on.” The assailant jabbed. 

Everyone knew who the voice was talking to. Scout felt a pit in his stomach. They all flinched and whipped around when an empty can of BONK! Was thrown at the wall. Abruptly Scout was rushed at. The BLU Spy quickly took the comparatively small Scout in his arms and flicked out his butterfly knife, quickly pinning it to Scout’s neck. 

“Must have taken a while to heal this, wouldn’t want to have to reopen it.” The BLU Spy grinned slyly.

“Let him go!” Sniper shouted as he and the other two stood ready to fight.

“Now why would I do that? This is just a game to me you know, entertain me.” The BLU Spy sneered.

Spy gritted his teeth before he ran at the attacker and pushed both Scout and him to the ground. Scout rolled away from his enemy and ran over to Sniper and Medic. The BLU Spy reached for his cloaking watch and went invisible.

“Fight me like a man!” Spy yelled as he got to his feet. 

The BLU Spy reappeared and quickly transformed into RED Spy. Spy tackled him and the two shuffled around throwing punches. 

“Someone, help me!” One of the Spy’s yelled.

“No! Help me! He is the fake one!” The other retaliated. 

Scout panicked. He wanted to help his father but couldn’t tell the two apart. What if he messed something up? He tried to think of something, anything that would help him tell which one was his Spy.

“Dad! Which one are you?!” Scout yelled out.

Both Spy’s froze.

“You called me dad…?” RED Spy said happily.

“You’re related!?” The other questioned. 

Immediately, Sniper and medic rushed the BLU Spy and ripped him off of the RED Spy. He struggled in their grasp, attempting to escape. Spy stood up and wrapped an arm around Scout. He smiled up at Spy.

“What do we do with him?” Scout asked.

“There is not much we can do, we may have to just let him go…” Medic answered.

“Let him go?! He is nothing but trouble we should punish him!” Spy replied angrily.

“Mate, the plan was stupid let’s just go.” Sniper reasoned.

Spy fumed and ultimately threw his hands up in defeat. Sniper and Medic let go of the BLU Spy and watched as he skittered away like a cat.

Scout rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably as a shiver shot through his body.

“I don’t like the idea tha he’s still out there. What if he comes back for me again?” Scout panicked.

“Mon Fils, I promise I won’t let him hurt you-” Spy attempted to console

“You can’t promise that! He hates me there’s no saying what he’s willing to do!” Scout interrupted.

“Let’s just go back to the base,” Sniper sighed.

Chapter Text

Scout felt unease as he walked with the others back to the RED Base. He felt… as if he was being followed. He clung to Sniper as if he was the only thing that could keep him safe. Sniper noticed Scout’s nerves and cleared his throat before asking him about it.

“What’s wrong Roo?” Sniper whispered.

“I feel… like someone is watching me.” Scout hesitated.

Sniper pitied the mercenary and held him close as the group of four continued on their way back. The walk felt longer than it actually was. Spy glared at Sniper as he held the door open for the other three to walk in. Scout flinched as the door slammed shut. 

“Mate, you’re awright. I promise. Nothing, especially not him, is gonna hurt you on my watch.” Sniper attempted to calm down Scout, who was on edge like a rabbit hiding from its predator. 

“Can you stay with me then? I don’t wanna be alone…” Scout asked.

“Of course!” Sniper egarly agreed.

Scout nodded and held Sniper’s arm as the two of them walked into Scout’s room. Spy looked annoyed.

“What’s wrong Herr Spy?” Medic asked with a cocked eyebrow.

“I do not trust that Bushman. He’s up to something…” Spy spat out.

“Scout trusts him, shouldn’t that be enough?” 

“Scout is just a boy, he is obviously blinded by love! You can tell by the way he just looks at ze Sniper.”

“We are all on the same team here Spy. I know you worry for your son but we need to trust eachother.”

Spy didn’t answer, he just sighed and walked down the hall into his smoke room.

Scout and Sniper had sat down on the edge of Scout’s bed. Sniper had only been in here a few times and it seems to have gotten messier. Could it be the stress of dealing with the BLU Spy?

“Hey uh, I really appreciate you lookin’ out for me.” Scout broke the silence. 

“Of course mate! I really care about you.” Sniper blushed

“Oh really? How much do you care about me…?” Scout angled he body to face Sniper. He carefully took Sniper’s face in his hands. He played it cool, but his heart was practically beating out of his chest in fear.

“I uh,” Sniper was bright red, he tried to think of words as his head was overwhelmed with thoughts of Scout. “You… You’re one of the most important people to me. I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you on my watch. You’ve been through so much, you deserve the world.”

Now was Scout’s turn to blush. He turned bright red at Sniper’s kind words and leaned in closer to Sniper’s face. 

“...Can… Can I kiss you, Roo?” Sniper asked.

Scout nodded and closed his eyes before leaning even closer. The two connected lips and it was as if fireworks went off around them. Scout never wanted to let go. He hadn’t been much for kissing before, usually he never got to the place in a relationship where someone wanted to kiss him. He certainly hadn’t gone farther. He was scared in all honesty. 

“Snipes…” Scout began. “I uh… I don’t know where this is going but I know where I want it to go,” 

Sniper leaned back and raised an eyebrow. 

“I’m scared…” Scout blurted out.

“What? Why are you scared?” Sniper looked hurt, as if he had done something wrong.

“No no! Not because of anything you’ve done! I don’t want to talk about it right now because I really don’t want to ruin this but, I haven’t had sex since I was… anyway I just want to go slow okay. I’m terrified of… remembering it.”

“... I won’t ask, but will you tell me sometime? I want to understand you and I can’t do that if I don’t know. Do you still want to or… do you want to wait. I’m okay with either it’s completely up to you!

Scout thought for a moment. His head was filled with fear of what had happened, and thoughts of what he wanted Sniper to do to him.

“Let’s try, and if I ever need to we can stop… okay?” Scout hesitated.

“You sure? I don’t want to do anything you don’t want to do.” Sniper reassured.

“I want to! I really do, I just. Lets go slow.” Scout nodded

Sniper nodded back. Then took Scout in his arms and held him close.

“Can I go back to kissing you?” Sniper asked.

“Please do.”

Scout engaged the kiss this time, not wanting to wait for Sniper to hesitate. He locked their lips together. Scout’s fears where still in the back of his mind, but momentarily he felt bliss as he kissed his boyfriend. He loved every second, the taste of coffee, and the possibilities of what was to come. Scout led the way for now, so Sniper knew he was okay. He wrapped his arms around Sniper’s neck and moved himself onto his lap. The two passionately kissed for a few seconds before Scout pushed back for air. 

“God, you take my breath away, Ace.” Scout gasped.

“I want to kiss you all over.” Sniper said in Scout’s ear.

“Do it.” Scout quickly gripped at the edges of his shirt and hastily began ripping it off.

Sniper moved down to Scout’s neck and began kissing it. Scout couldn’t muffle the moan he let out. It was high pitched and coated in pleasure. He felt Sniper’s erection grow underneath him. Scout threw his shirt onto the floor and began working to take off Sniper’s button up. He pulled it off of him and threw it with his shirt. 

“...Fuck… I need you Snipes.” Scout scooted back and allowed himself room to begin to unbuckled Sniper’s belt.

“I’m here, and ready when you are.” Sniper continued kissing down Scout’s body, now at Scout’s chest. 

“I’m more than ready” Scout continued, now undoing the buttons on Sniper’s pants.

Sniper scooted back to allow more room between the two of them as he carefully pulled out his fully erect dick. 

“How long have you wanted this?” Scout asked.

“A while, but when you first asked you were so bloody drunk I couldn’t morally say yes.” Sniper chuckled. 

Scout adored Sniper’s laugh. He chuckled back and began kissing the sharpshooter again as he took Sniper’s dick in his hand and began to jerk him off.

“I’ve never done it like this before, isn’t there prep we need to do?” Scout asked with his head

cocked to the side. 

“You said you were trans, I uh, did some research. What do you have?” Sniper grunted between sentences.

“Oh right!” Scout nodded before unbuckling his own belt and taking down his pants. “Medic is a pretty good doc, Got lucky the technology here is so advanced! I got a dick just like yours.” He sat on his knees and pulled down his underwear showing his own erect penis to Sniper.

“Awright!” Sniper said, “Then yeah, I’ll need to lube you up.”

Scout nodded as he halted stroking Sniper’s dick. Scout got up from the bed and shook off his trousers and underwear and went over to his desk. Quickly he opened the second drawer on the side and scooped up a bottle of lube. It was unopened. Scout shuffled back to the bed and Sat in the same position he did before.

“Can you help? I don’t know how to do this in all honesty.” Scout scratched the back of his neck awkwardly with his free hand.

Sniper nodded without judgement and took the bottle from him. He poured some of the liquid onto his hand and played with it in his fingers before he took Scout by the hand.

“Might feel a bit weird at first.” Sniper warned.

Scout nodded and moved to lay on his back with his legs around Sniper. The sensation was like Scout had never felt before as Sniper gently inserted a lubed finger into Scout’s ass. Scout sucked air through his teeth.

“Guh, it’s a little cold. It feels so… interesting.” Scout clenched around Sniper’s finger.

“Roight sorry. Interesting in a good way or a bad way?” Sniper hesitated feeling Scout tense around him.

“I think its good?” Scout said honestly.

Sniper continued, probing the smaller mercenary before he cleared his throat.

“Okay, I’m gonna move up to two, awright?” Sniper paused.

“Alright, I can handle it!” Scout replied confidently.

Sniper chuckled before letting in a second finger. He let Scout grow used to the feeling of two before he began to move his fingers in a scissoring motion to promptly stretch out Scout. He squirmed slightly under Sniper before getting fully used to the sensation.

“Ready?” Sniper asked as he began to pull his fingers out.

“Yeah of course! Come on Stretch show me what you can do.” Scout teased.

Sniper smirked before pulling out completely and switching his fingers for his throbbing penis. He halted at Scout’s entrance.

“I’m a bit bigger than two fingers, so I’ll give you time to adjust.” Sniper affirmed.

“Come on already, I can’t wait much longer!” Scout smiled from ear to ear.

Sniper laughed before pouring lube onto his dick and pressing the tip of it against Scout. He carefully pushed in. Scout moaned loudly and Sniper quickly threw a hand over Scout’s mouth.

“Careful Jackrabbit. We live with seven other people, including your father.” Sniper said with concern

“Maybe I want the world to know how good you make me feel. Well except the last one.” Scout giggled as Sniper moved his hand. 

He traced it over Scout’s naked body. Scout shivered against the touch, it made his hair stand up and his dick throb.

“Snipes, I want- I need you to touch me.” Scout whimpered.

“Oh yeah? Well, just a little bit. Wouldn’t want you finishing too fast now would we, Roo.” Sniper grinned.

Scout moaned quietly. He loved that nickname. Sniper took his hand and lubed it up before taking Scout’s precum covered dick in his hands. He stroked him slowly while he thrusted into Scout. Each whimper and moan that escaped Scout’s mouth made Sniper want to ram into him. He continued stroking as he paused.

“I’m gonna go faster awright?” Sniper breathed out.

Scout couldn’t speak through his pleasure he just nodded his head enthusiastically. Sniper moaned as his pushed deep inside of Scout, hitting him where it felt best. Scout’s dog tags clinked against eachother with every motion. Scout couldn’t help himself anymore and felt around sporadically for a pillow. He found one next to his bed and quickly slammed it over his face before moaning loudly, the noise dampened by the thick pillow. He was a mess, He gasped for air between moans and was overwhelmed by the feeling. He clenched around Sniper as he neared his climax. He moved the pillow slightly and quickly spat out words.

“I’m- Fuck Sniper! I’m gonna- Cum!!” Scout threw the pillow back over his face as he felt Sniper grab him by the hips. 

It was only a few more rough thrusts until Scout screamed into the pillow. Sniper grunted as he to finished. He clung to Scout’s hips tightly and dug his nails in as he thrusted in a few more times, pushing his cum deep inside Scout. Scout chucked the pillow across the room as he panted. Sniper’s arms shook as he held himself up, soon giving in, pulling out, and laying down on top of Scout.

“Jesus, Snipes. I’ve never felt this good in my life!” Scout’s voice was hoarse. 

“Me… Me neither, mate.” Sniper panted as well, taking in as much air as he could.

“I need water.” Scout stated as he sat up.

“Could you get me a glass as well?” Sniper asked as he took off his outback hat and placed it on Scout’s head.

Scout nodded before scooting off the bed, collecting his clothes of the floor, and approaching the door. He turned the knob quickly and threw open the door as he finished pulling down his shirt. Sniper shot up when he heard a scream.

“Scout?!” Sniper yelled with concern as he quickly wrapped himself in the blanket and stood up.

“What the fuck are you doing here!?” Scout said angrily.

“I was just coming to check on you two I thought I heard a scream- WHAT- WHY ZHE HELL IS SNIPER NAKED?!” Spy yelled as he covered his eyes.

“Shut up! Oh god uh- Listen Spy-” Scout quickly shut the door behind him and entered the hallway with Spy.

“I do not want to know.” Spy pinched the bridge of his nose.

Scout was bright red from embarrassment.

Chapter Text

It was the next day now. Spy was very awkward around Scout and Sniper, while the two of them couldn’t keep their eyes off each other. They would always be looking at eachother, speaking in the language of eyes. They would sneak off and kiss or just spend time in Scout’s room or Sniper’s minivan. Finally, Spy brought it up.

“Jeremy!” Spy whisper shouted after dragging Scout into his smoke room. “I do not want to know what happened that night but, are you and ze Sniper romantically involved?”

“Wha- Yeah we are, got a problem with that?” Scout spat, already defensive.

“Zhat is a terrible idea! You are here for work. If you muddy your mind with romance you will just be distracted on the field! Not to mention that he is Sniper! That disgusting bushman is not fit for you! I disprove, you two are not allowed to be together!”

“Spy, I don’t care about your opinion on our relationship! I am a grown man! If I want to be with Sniper, I can be with him any way I damn please!” Scout raised his voice.

“Jeremy, he is not right for you!” Spy raised his voice in retaliation.

“Dude don’t say my name so loud! God you’re so annoying!”

“You are acting like a child!”

“Then so be it.” 

With that, Scout left the room and slammed the door behind him. He quickly headed to Sniper’s campervan. He knocked on the door four times quickly and heard stirring in the van, soon the door opened.

“Hey there, Roo! What’s up? Its getting kind of late and we have work tomorrow.” Sniper said

“I know, I’m sorry. Spy is just pissing me off and I wanted to tell you about it. I can come back tomorrow if you’d prefer?” Scout compromised sadly.

“No its okay, come in! Tell me about it,” Sniper opened the door and lead Scout to the couch.

Scout sat on the sofa and quickly got comfortable. He allowed Sniper to sit next to him before he began his retelling of the events prior.

“So get this! Spy was all like “Sniper is gross, he isn’t good for you” And I was like, “I’m an adult its my choice!” And he tells me he disapproves of our relationship and starts saying my name all loud! I yelled at him and he called me a child then I left. God it was so annoying!” Scout explained.

“Spy doesn’t like me?” Sniper said sadly.

“I don’t think he dislikes you, I just don’t think he likes you with me.” Scout quickly said, sensing Sniper’s sadness.

Sniper frowned.

Scout stretched before leaning over to the minifridge next to him and retrieving a cold beer.

“I’ve really gotta keep those somewhere else if you’re gonna do that every time your upset.”

“Look, you’ve seen what else I do, this is the least of your worries.” Scout said coldly. “...Sorry.”

He added. 

The two sat in silence.

Chapter Text

“God I’ve really gotta stop drinkin’” Scout groaned. Guilt-filled tears spilled out of his eyes.

“Woah- Roo, are you awright?” Sniper said as he heard muffled sobs from Scout.

“It’s nothing just… I’m tired a’ feeling numb every time I’m upset. I just am upset so fuckin’ often.” 

“Hey, it's not your fault! You’ve been through a lot. And hell a lot has happened in the last month.”

“I know.” Scout sobbed, “I just feel so bad man like fuck, I’ve scared the team half to death about five times and my own father has sobbed into my arms. The fuck am I supposed to do?! I can’t fix this!”

“Hey, jackrabbit it's okay. I promise things will get better! You just gotta get through this.”

Scout scooted closer to Sniper, leaned in his arms, and cried. He shook like a leaf. Sniper felt tears begin to perch in his eyes too and a few fell into Scout’s hair.

“Hey, no ah- don’t cry man! What’s wrong?” Scout quickly sat up.

“It just- It’s just so hard to see you so distressed, love. I can’t imagine how I’d feel if-” Sniper choked and cleared his throat before attempting to speak again. “I couldn’t handle losing you.”

Scout’s eyes were wide. This was his fault. He couldn’t cry anymore. He would never cry around Sniper again. He would never worry Sniper again. This. Was his fault.

“Snipes, you won’t lose me. We’ll figure out the Spy thing and, I don’t want to leave you either so… I’m not gonna kill myself. This is the happiest I’ve truly been in a while, I don’t want to lose it.”

Sniper nodded and rubbed tears from his eyes after lifting his shades. Scout had moved from Sniper and was now at the farthest end of the couch. Sniper was so distracted trying to compose himself that he didn’t notice the weight shift. Scout dissociated facing the wall. His eyes were unfocused and blurry. He would never hurt Sniper again. The only thing he wanted to do was make Sniper happy.

Sniper hadn’t seen Scout all day. It made his stomach turn. He didn’t know what to think, did Scout not love him anymore? Did he do something wrong? When Sniper walked into the lounge inside the base, he noticed Scout alone in a corner. He wasn’t with Pyro and Engie like he usually was. He wasn’t with his father. He was utterly alone. Sniper swallowed the pit that formed in his throat and sighed before going to the kitchen. Scout had noticed Sniper walk in. He didn’t look up from where his gaze was transfixed on the floor. Didn’t take a genius to feel the tension in the air.

“Did something happen?” Medic asked below a whisper.

“I don’t know ta’ be honest. Everything was normal yesterday, we talked about some stuff then I noticed he was on the other side of the sofa. I’m scared ta’ be honest” Sniper answered honestly. 

He and Medic weren’t normally the closest. However, during the month Sniper had spent a lot of time in the infirmary with Scout. Since Scout was usually unconscious, Sniper and Medic had a lot of time to talk.

“Well, vhat were you two talking about?” Medic questioned after a few moments of silence.

“I don’t want ta’ talk about it in front of him,” Sniper answered.

Eventually, he left the room and went right over to Scout.

“Hey, love, is everything okay?” Sniper went straight to the point.

“Huh?” Scout said as he snapped back into reality. “Oh yeah, I’m good!” Scout faked a smile.

Sniper saw right through it. He felt Spy’s eyes on the two of them. But ignored it in an attempt to get Scout to talk.

“You sure, you can always talk to me, Scout,” Sniper reassured.

No, he can’t. Not anymore.

“I’m fine, Snipes. I promise,” Scout finally said.

Sniper dropped it and the two half listened as Medic went over the mission for today. Scout moved for the first time and started fidgeting with his hands. Sniper didn’t know this, but Scout was picking at the skin around his nails. After what felt like an eternity, the team got up in unison and exited the small lounge door.

They made their way to the locker room, and soon to the garage door. Sniper looked over at Scout, he was unfocused and looked disheveled. His sleeve was falling and his hands were wrapped in grip tape poorly. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

“Five…Four…Three…Two…One!” The Administrator said familiarly.

It was no comfort.

Scout ran out first, as usual. He quickly whipped around a corner and was gone. Sniper tried to shake off his remaining fears and ran to the nearest building he could find.

Scout ran as fast as he could. He broke into a dead sprint as soon as the garage door lifted. He didn’t know where he was headed but his legs carried him nonetheless. He found himself in a deep corner of the battlefield and tensed up when he heard a familiar chuckle.

“Well, well,” The voice was sharp as a blade. “Look who has wandered so far from his team. Not very smart of someone with your record. Espèce de garçon stupide, je vais t'apprendre ce qu'est la vraie douleur.”

Scout translated the words in his mind. You stupid boy, I’m going to teach you what real pain is. Scout kept his back turned to the BLU Spy, Something he knew he shouldn’t do, but he was terrified, to be honest. He didn’t want to face him.

“Keeping your back turned to me? You really are an idiot.” The spy chuckled. 

He swung something heavy over his head and the heave he let out made Scout turn around immediately. Scout screamed as he dodged the heavy, sharp object. It was a large Kukri. He instantly deduced that this was no weapon of the BLU spy. Scout tried to run but his legs wouldn’t move. He shook violently. The spy readied his weapon again but quickly dropped his arms and rushed at Scout instead. Scout was straight away brought to the ground. 

“Haha! lapin faible.” The spy spat out. “I’m going to torture you for a long time. Each second more painful than the last.”

Scout panicked. Suddenly, a large laceration was sliced into the back of his forearm. He screamed out in pain as tears lept out of his eyes.

“Come now lapin, we have games to play.” The spy said as he dragged Scout by his non-injured arm.

----

Sniper felt something. A pang in his heart. Something was wrong, worse than before. He quickly scanned the area. Heavy, Medic, Engineer, Pyro, Soldier, Demoman, Me… Where is Scout? Of course, Spy wasn’t on that list either, but it was usual for the skulker to be unseen. Not Scout.

----

Scout regained consciousness in a dark room. He attempted to get up but was soon stopped by bindings at his wrists and ankles. He moved his dominant arm. It stung like nothing before.

“Ah ,le lapin est réveillé,” 

Fear was back in Scout’s mind.

“What sick fuckin’ shit are ya’ gonna do to me?” He screamed, scared to actually receive an answer.

“That is for me to know.” The spy said.

----

Sniper didn’t know when he started running. It wasn’t often he did so, his body ached with every step. He kept running for who knows how long. Scout would have traveled this distance in no time. He thought.

----

“It’s no use you maniac. Sniper and Spy’ll notice I’m gone and come for me.” Scout said, masking his panic.

“Is that so? Well, we’ll see how he will find your corpse then.”

A bead of sweat beat down Scout’s head. He surveyed the room as his attacker turned around to examine a pile of tools. Scout tried to peer around the Spy, to no avail. Whatever that creep had was out of his sight. The room was dark, the only light being from a small lightbulb that hung from the middle of the ceiling. The walls were barren and concrete. Scout looked back to the BLU Spy who laughed to himself before turning around. 

“What first lapin,” The Spy said before picking up a scalpel, Scout assumed it was stolen from the BLU Medic.

Where the hell is Sniper? Scout thought.

----

Sniper reached a dead end. He made a quick decision and began to run around the battleground yelling for Spy. 

“What ze hell do you think you are doing?!” Spy shouted as he uncloaked.

“It’s Scout, He isn’t anywhere to be found, and neither is that BLU Spook, I’m startin’ to get worried,” Sniper answered.

“Merde, let us go find the boy.” Spy pinched the bridge of his nose.

---- 

The scream Scout had let out echoed around the room and reverberated in his ears. The BLU Spy smiled.

“Let us see, is this good enough?” The Spy questioned as he raised Scout’s chin with the scalpel. Blood ran down Scout’s face and sunk into his shirt.

“You’re fuckin’ insane,” Scout stated.

“Oh please, you have yet to see my worst.”

---- 

Sniper ran ahead of Spy, his eyes darting around the battlefield to attempt to find Scout. Something on the ground reflected the sun and caught Spy’s eye.

“Sniper! Look!” Spy skid to a stop.

Sniper halted as well and Spy grabbed the item off the ground.

“Shit. Scout never goes anywhere without those.” Sniper said as he examined the dog tags with a newly broken chain.

“This may be worse than we thought,” Spy spoke fearfully.

The two looked at what was nearby, and as they did so they heard the slamming of a garage door. 

“No way the spook would take ‘im into his base… right?” Sniper said quietly.

Spy didn’t respond, instead, he tugged up his sleeve slightly and began talking into his watch.

“Team, this is very important. Do not kill any BLUs right now. We may have an issue.” He said.

“Vhat do you mean?” Medic replied.

“Just for a moment, Then, keep them distracted as long as you can.” Spy continued.

“On it!” Engineer joined in.

----

Scout’s eye stung. He couldn’t tell if it was from tears or the massive black eye he could tell was forming.

“Using your hands huh? Guess you’re not as prissy as you look.” Scout coughed.

With that another punch landed on his face, causing it to swing right violently. He coughed again, this time spitting up blood. Scout looked fearfully at the BLU Spy and the spy smiled.

“There’s what I’m looking for,” The spy sneered. As he returned to his table of supplies.

---- 

Sniper and Spy waited a moment, and when they noticed an absence of BLUs in the garage, they ran for it. Quickly the two made their way into the garage and slipped into the BLU base.

“Where do you think he’d be?” Sniper said, his voice coated with concern.

“I have no clue. Assuming this base is a replica of ours…” Spy spoke quietly.

Suddenly Spy paused. A scream echoed through the hallway.

“This way!” He continued

They ran as fast and as quietly as they could. The screams grew louder Spy quickly identified the Screams as Scout’s and picked up his pace. Quickly, the two arrived at a door. Scout screamed from inside, Sniper had to cover his ears. 

“What do we do?!” Sniper said as quietly as possible.

Spy pulled out his gun and aimed it at the door before throwing it open. The BLU Spy immediately turned around. Nothing but anger on his face.

Sniper got one look at Scout and gagged. Tears formed in his eyes. There was Scout, the love of Sniper’s life: Bloodied, bruised, and most horribly? He was scared out of his mind. The enemy spy quickly grabbed a syringe off the cart and then promptly flipped it, throwing torture instruments at Spy and Sniper. Scout struggled in his chair before the BLU Spy saddled up behind him with the syringe pointed at Scout’s neck.

“Any movement and he dies.” BLU Spy threatened.

“What the bloody hell is that?!” Sniper shouted as he lifted his hands in surrender.

“Oh? Do you want to know? I can show you right now.” BLU Spy raised his hand.

“NO!” RED Spy yelled.

The attacker halted. He looked down at Scout with venom in his eyes. 

“What the fuck man!?” Scout screamed in panic. “Why?! Do you get off on trying to kill me?” Please man I’ve barely lived a life. Hell, my ma hates me, my dad just reentered my life after disappearing for seventeen years, and I finally found the one person I love with everythin’ I’ve got. Why do you want to take it away so badly?!” 

The BLU Spy held his breath. He thought thoroughly for a moment before a grin spread across his face.

“What else are you good for?” He finally said. He raised the arm with the syringe quickly.

Spy whipped out his pistol and shot at the BLU Spy. 

He missed.

The BLU Spy, startled by the reverberation of the shot, dropped the syringe onto Scout’s lap. Luckily the needle didn’t stick. Scout squirmed attempting to get the syringe to fall onto the floor. It clicked against the ground like a tack. The BLU Spy shook his head before attempting to grab the syringe. Spy threw his gun into Sniper’s hand and reached for the syringe as well.

“BANG!”

Another shot.

Scout tensed up, attempting to cover his ears but was restricted by the ropes bound to his arms. Spy quickly stepped back and looked down at the perpetrator before him. The BLU Spy, who now sat with a bullet wound through his chest.

“I usually go for headshots but pistols are a little different.” Sniper spoke shakily.

“Help…me..” The BLU Spy said as he began to choke on his blood.

Spy ignored the man’s plea, and kicked him in the face. The BLU Spy fell to the ground as Sniper quickly ran to Scout’s side. 

“Scout! I’m-I’m gonna get ya’ outta here okay?” Sniper stuttered.

Scout weakly smiled up at him, tears streaming down his face.

“There a knife on over there?” Sniper asked pointing to Spy.

Spy nodded and grabbed two sharp objects from the floor. One a butterfly knife, he knew how to handle, and the other a bloody scalpel. He handed the scalpel to Sniper and the two immediately began to cut the rope that bound Scout to the chair. The BLU Spy coughed and everyone but Scout ignored it. He began to cry harder.

“It’s awright love, we’re getting you outta here.” Sniper spoke sweetly.

Suddenly the door swung open. The entire BLU team stood on the other side.

“Fuck.” Spy, Sniper, and Scout said in unison. 

Chapter Text

They stood stunned at the sight before them. The BLU medic rushed in and began tending to the BLU Spy’s bullet wound.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing in here?” The BLU Engineer spoke in a low tone.
“What’d you do to our spy?!” The BLU Sniper chimed in.
Red Spy paused for a moment. Thinking thoroughly about what he would say.
“Your Spy has been targeting our Scout for weeks, We notice his absence and follow his trail to find him torturing Scout. Merde look at the state of him!”
The opposing team examined Scout. He looked awful. Scout stood weakly and wobbled as he noticed all the eyes on him. The BLU team looked a lot like the RED team, each with only a few subtle differences.
“Control your fuckin’ spook,” RED Sniper spat.
“Hey maybe if your Scout didn’t run around like an idiot it wouldn’t be so easy to capture him!” The BLU Scout spoke up.
“Are you really blaming him right now? While your dog has some vendetta against him you’ll blame it on Scout?” Sniper questioned.
“Yeah? So what if I am? And hey, don’t call Spy a dog! The Scout approached Sniper.
It was startling as Sniper noticed all the similarities between this Scout and the Scout he loved. The BLU Scout was blonde and had no freckles. His face was scarred but he looked scarily similar to RED Scout. Sniper was uneasy,
“Back the hell up!” Sniper warned.
“And what if I don’t?” The Scout got closer.
Suddenly RED Scout ran at BLU Scout and pushed him.
“He said back up! I suggest you do so before I beat your ass,” Scout threatened.
“Hey!” A shout came from behind the group of BLU mercenaries. “I reckon we all just calm down and return to where we belong.” The RED Engineer was revealed with the RED team behind him as the BLU team moved to the side.
The RED Scout, Sniper, and Spy looked instantly relieved to see the rest of their team. The BLU team also seemed relieved to know the REDs would soon be gone. Scout moved first, quickly making his way over to Engineer who took him by the arm and looked at him with anger in his eyes. It made Scout’s stomach churn. Sniper and Spy weren’t far behind Scout, getting equally as angry glares as they began to make their way back to their base.
Why was everyone so mad at them?
The RED team exited the BLU base with their heads down. Sniper’s hands still shook from firing the pistol at the BLU Spy. Had he killed him? Was it over. Christ what would happen if the administrator found out. Sniper’s stomach hurt.
“What the hell do you people think you’re doing.” Engineer boomed as they entered the RED base.
“What do you mean we’re doing?! I was tortured by that guy! Fucking hell all he ever does is break the rules! How come the one time we do it you get so mad?!” Scout yelled back.
“What do you think the Administrator is gonna do when she finds out you could have killed that BLU Spy. Respawn exists for a reason, we aren’t supposed ‘ta actually kill ‘em”
“Oh right! So its okay for him to almost kill me how many times now? He should be the one gettin’ in trouble not us!”
Engineer pinched the bridge of his nose, then he stormed off, Pyro not far behind him. The remaining team stood in silence. Medic finally broke it.
“Herr Engineer is just looking out for the team, he is right there’s no telling what the Administrator will do when she finds out.” Medic tried to reason.
“Yeah well what’s the point of lookin’ out for the team if one of ‘em’s always getting hurt.” Scout rebuttled. They stood in silence again until Scout pushed medic aside and retreated to his room.
“Don’t follow me Sniper.” Scout stated.
He slammed the door to his room, the metal decoration swung violently and loudly. As soon as he had shut the door he started crying. He covered his face with his arm in shame.
“...Fuck-” Scout choked quietly. “It’s not fuckin’ fair,”
Scout stood crying for a moment before he stomped over to his bed. He pulled up the mattress and his eyes went wide.
“Fuck!” Scout yelled. “He did not.”

Sniper stood awkwardly with the rest of the team for a moment. He considered going into Scout’s room to comfort him, but knew he’d be no help being that he was explicitly told not to. The team had been discussing what to do going forward, how they’d help Scout, and what to do about the BLU Spy. It was suddenly that Scout threw open his bedroom door. He quickly approached Sniper and dragged him into his room. He didn’t need the rest of the team to hear this.
“What? I thought you didn’t want my help?” Sniper said in confusion.
“I don’t. I don’t want it and I definitely don’t fucking need it. Did you take my blade?” Scout asked out the gate.
“Of course I did! I don’t want you hurting yourself! You may think it doesn’t do much hurt but medic said with the way you’re doing it you could get nerve damage!” Sniper explained.
“So that gives you to right to take my shit? Sniper you don’t get what this is like! I need it or I’ll do something much worse. Trust me.”
“Roo, what are you talkin’ about?! You don’t need it! What’s worse than you constantly hurtin’ yourself?!”
“Oh? Do we not remember my note? Sniper that hasn’t been the first time! It’s been much worse. Fuck I’m not supposed to even be alive right now!”
“Wha-What are you talking about” Sniper looked full of fear.
“Aren’t I just lucky my mom found me? The only “nice” thing she’s ever done for me is take me to get my stomach pumped and hell I didn’t even want that! She should have just let me die!” Scout fumed.
“Don’t say things like that, you-you’re not in the right headspace you don’t mean that,”
“Wouldn’t your life be better if I weren’t in it?” Scout crumbled with the last words. He fell back onto his bed and sat there with his head in his hands.
“No! My life would be awful without you! I… I love you Scout. Nothing you do can change that, I would be some recluse my whole life if I hadn’t met you.” Sniper stood in front of Scout and hesitated before began running his hands through Scout’s hair.
“You don’t mean that.”
“I do! I would be such a-”
“No! You don’t mean that you love me.” Scout choked.
Sniper stood stunned for a moment. He had no clue what to say to that. He did love Scout, but Scout was in no position to hear it.
“Do you think I’m a liar?” Sniper said sadly.
“No I just mean- How could you love someone like me? I’m always getting into trouble, hell half the team is disappointed in me right now. I’m a mess Sniper!”
“Everyone has issues, it’s not your fault that BLU Spook has it out for you! And the team isn’t disappointed. They probably just don't want to lose their jobs.”
Scout was silent. His eyes were covered by his hands. He sat for a while before he felt the bed shift next to him. Sniper sat close to Scout and rubbed his back comfortingly. Scout wanted to cry, he wanted to scream and hurt himself and do everything he’s always done. However, Sniper was here. He wouldn’t worry Sniper anymore. Scout looked up from his hands at Sniper. He smiled at him weakly before taking him in his arms.
“It’s okay roo, things will get better. I’m sure of it.” Sniper consoled as Scout sat silent in his arms.
Would things be okay? Scout has delt with this for what felt like months. Could everything go back to normal? Would he ever be safe again. Fuck, the team has seen him at his worst. Everyone was worried about him constantly, would he ever get to go back to his confident, annoying self? Did he even want to be that old version of himself?

----

The BLU Spy woke up in the infirmary, his medic a the table near him. The infirmary was concrete, littered with medical supplies and notes. Spy felt his chest and noticed a rough patch. A bullet wound. Medic looked up at him for a moment. They locked eyes, then Medic quickly dropped it. No one else was in the room, no one waited expectantly for Spy to regain consciousness. He felt… lonely. He laid on the operation table. It was cold on his bare torso. When Spy realized this he quickly felt his face for his balaclava. It was still on. Medic was silent.
“...How long will I be here?” Spy asked.
“You are free to leave,” Medic answered.
Spy nodded before he began to struggle to get up. Damn that RED Sniper. It hurt to bend his torso. He continued anyway and eventually got to his feet. The Medic watched him intently, silently. Spy waved at him before he pushed open the large metal doors and exited the medical wing.