Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It started with a BLU Scout.

Ms. Pauling called them up, told them to keep an eye on BLU in particular. They were getting too close to a circus in town.

Typical day. Colin had asked if it was okay if they went to the circus after, and Ms. Pauling granted them permission. Mutual respect and puppydog eyes were good negotiating tactics.

Sniper was posted up in the watchtower. Shoot down anyone who gets out of bounds. Easy. Then-

He heard it from behind. The squeeze of a trigger. Sniper's never moved so fast before. Instead of dodging, he instead reached out.

His fingers dug into the Scout's arm. His claws drawing blood as the gun went off. Blood poured from the wound. Sniper only grunted, then pulled. He pulled until he heard it disconnect.

A mess of snarls and teeth and claws. He couldn't tell what was happening, what he was doing. He awoke to long limbs and a missing head. An urge to retch as he looked down.

Why-

He's BLU. Clearly so. It shouldn't bother him. This was their job. Kill on Ms. Pauling's command. Sniper was a professional at that. Why did those slender proportions bother him so much? Why was the head missing? What was this taste in his mouth?

"Sniper!"

Oh, he spaced out. Colin ran to him, he was crying. Oh no.

"You're bleeding! Here-" Delicate fingers pulled at bandages until they unraveled. Then, he pulled up Sniper's shirt a tiny bit so he could see the wound. "Oh- He shot you at point-blank! Did he hit you in the head too? There's no way-"

Sniper stopped listening at this point and just slumped over Colin. "Ack- Oh.." He heard his voice mumble nervously. Colin was wrapping his wound. "I'll bring you to Jack. Um..can you stand?" Sniper nodded absentmindedly. He wants to throw up so bad. He feels sick.

Colin helped him down the watchtower, making sure no one noticed them. Colin was stronger than he looks to be able to run like this while still supporting him. That was good. Everything is fine. It's perfectly normal.

It made sense. Scouts were reconnaissance. Run fast, carry stuff, report. Likewise, Snipers shoot, kill, watch.

Suddenly, Colin let out a cry. Sniper snapped up, his ears perked. Bullet. Leg.

Sniper looked up and saw the BLU Sniper up at his watchtower. Smug bastard. With a growl, he changed up their position. Sniper grabbed Colin around the torso and dragged him behind a barrier. "Stay." His voice come out unnaturally. Colin frowned and tried to move. He was worried about Sniper.

Then, Sniper snapped his teeth at him. He..snapped his teeth at Colin. What was he doing? His body felt like it was moving without his brain piloting it. Colin flinched, his eyes wide and startled. Like a baby deer looking into the mouth of a wolf for the first time.

Sniper felt a wave of guilt. Fuck. He had no time for that. He can hear bullets raining down. The BLU Sniper was clearly enjoying this. A good Sniper doesn't need a whole magazine for one target. Colin was already injured, this many bullets wasn't necessary.

Before Colin had a chance to say anything more, Sniper snarled and ran along the barriers. He knew his watchtower better than the BLU team did, so he knew his way around. That was his job   to watch.

He climbed up the watchtower, ready to strike. Fuck. Sniper can smell him, but where did that bastard go..?

Then, Sniper dropped to the ground as the barrel of a gun whipped the side of his head. He felt the world spin. He tried to vomit, but all that came up was spit.

A foot came up to press his chest down. "Been watching you, wolfboy." The BLU Sniper hummed, his foot shifted. "You're fascinating, mate. Got that look in your eyes..that one look I can't find in any of these other wankers' eyes."

Sniper reached up to claw at the BLU's leg. "The pay isn't the only reason you want this job..isn't it? You're much too quiet to only do this for the money."

The more he talked, the more Sniper realized that BLU Sniper had the same voice as him. The BLU Sniper whistled, then turned to the dead Scout in the corner. "Did a number on my little Roadrunner, aye? Didn't even use your kukri. I'm impressed." He lifted his foot, walking over to pick up a dismembered arm. "Hmm..Now, where'd the head go? You wouldn't happen to know, would you-"

Sniper lunged. His fur bristled, breaking through skin.

"There you are!" The BLU Sniper laughed, a grin stretched across his face. His skin squished audibly as it wrinkled around his teeth.

Sniper had his neck in his jaws. "Go on..Bite down, wolfboy!" The BLU Sniper's hand came up to grab at Sniper's fur, pushing down.

Sniper felt frozen. He should bite down. He absolutely should. Why does he feel afraid to?

"The thrill of the hunt. That's why we're here. You and I." The BLU Sniper pressed his cheek against Sniper's shoulder. "Took my hunt from me, so figured it was fair if I took yours..Shouldn't have underestimated a huntsman."

Sniper heard enough. His jaw snapped shut as the neckbones pitifully cracked and shattered. He felt flesh flatten and stick to his gums. Blood filled his mouth.

It's that taste again.

"Sniper? RED won, so they're all returning to their bases. Um..Your team is healing up, and then the circus. You going?" Miss Pauling's voice come through his earpiece.

Sniper took a few seconds to register what was said. "No..I..I'm just going to stay at the base."

Miss Pauling sounded almost disappointed. "Oh..Alright then." Sniper wanted to apologize. He should, he disappointed her.

That's what his parents taught him. They taught him many things. How to hunt, how to kill, and how to bury the him that was real.

The TV in his camper van buzzed with static. It struggled to display the old dully colored cartoon. A wolf with a sharp laugh, and a little prey running about. Sniper was bandaged and hiding beneath blankets, watching the screen. The lights were off. Beside him, a large plush wolf. Colin won it for him at the circus. "No one can run as fast as me!" Sniper listened to him talk as he handed the toy over.

Sniper couldn't help but notice Colin's long legs and how the purple of his shirt matched the color of blue stained red.

Sniper looked down at his arm. Old scars. White lines and unnatural notches. Another thing his parents taught him. In the outback, there wasn't much he could do to escape his parents' distain. He could go to LIME Team's Sniper, Dingo, but that would leave him feeling guilty. Dingo didn't deserve to constantly have his couch taken. Instead, Sniper would hunt. It felt good to hunt. His mother wasn't there to tell him to tuck in his tail and ears. His father wasn't there to tell him to stop smiling because his teeth showed.

It happened when he was eighteen. He got his thumb stuck in the bolt-action rifle. He couldn't felt but panic and yank his thumb out, leaving a bloody nick. After he pulled his thumb away though, that feeling came. It wasn't good, but it felt like a release of all that was pent up inside of him.

So, he hunted more often.

Staying outside in the bushes and not coming home until no one was there to see the bandages wrapped tightly around his hands and arms.

He didn't sleep that night. The camper van was too quiet. Too dark. The pitch black reached out and pulled his eyes open like a speculum. Its form dug deep into his jaws-

Sniper jolted up and off the couch. Frantic shaking legs carried him to the bathroom. He vomited nothing but red mush and thick saliva into the bucket. The sun rised, shining light into his van as he continued to gag. Sniper felt horribly ill, his stomach was cold and empty.

Suddenly, he heard knocking. His ears and nose told him that it was Colin. Slowly, Sniper stumbled over to the sink, rinsing his mouth out. He looked at his reflection in the dirty mirror he never bothered to clean.

He looked like a wild animal. His hair was messy and he looked like he hadn't slept in years. His only saving grace was that he didn't sweat. He looked quite a lot like that..damned BLU Sniper. His words still irked him in a way nothing has before.

Once he opened the door, Colin launched forwards and hugged him. "Doc told me you got sick." He explained. "Sorry about..um, tackling you."

Sniper just pulled him into the van and ushered him over to the couch. Colin sat down, and Sniper joined him uncomfortably close. Sniper can feel Colin's right leg bouncing nervously.

At a minimum, Sniper sat five inches away from others when on a couch or a bench. That was the usual. Right now, Sniper was far into Colin's personal space. This was new. "Are..are you feeling alright?" Colin asked him, looking up at the wolfman. Sniper hummed and nodded in response. He was waiting for Colin to start talking like usual, but their proximity was causing Colin's throat to clam up.

"Um...That's uh, good." Colin was nervous under Sniper's gaze. He was watching *intensely.* More so than usual.

"You have..freckles." Sniper finally said something. "Yeah..I um..always have." Colin was very quickly regretting letting Pyro go on that contract. Usually, they went everywhere together, but Pyro insisted on Colin staying at the base.

Suddenly, Sniper's finger flicked the top of Colin's head. So distracted by the odd closeness, Colin's usually quick reflexes couldn't react. "Boom..Headshot."

Normally, Sniper would smile after. And then, Colin would too after playfully huff and pout. But..Sniper didn't smile. Just *watched* him. Colin looked up at him with a confused expression, his deer-like eyes looking for any indication of a laugh.

Colin tried for a joke. "D-don't bite my face off next!" Bad joke. Not even remotely funny, he doesn't know what to say.

Sniper grinned finally, then opened his mouth. Colin froze. Deer in the headlights.

Sniper's mouth inched closer, and closer. In a split second of his mind finally catching up, Colin remembered he had a weapon with him.

He panicked as his hands grabbed at the toy gun. A toy. An actual one this time, not even one he modified to sting or disorient. The Shortstop, named for the barrel being comedically short.

That won't move the wolfman an inch. Instead, in a panic, Colin shoved Sniper. His bandaged hands pushed against Sniper's furred chest.

His brain clicked back into place. The shove wasn't really anything at all, but the sheer shock of Colin defending himself against him was enough to startled Sniper.

The wolfman stared at Colin as the boy held the toy gun in one hand. His arms were drawn back against his chest. He looked scared.

What scared Sniper most was not what he had almost tried to do, it was the disappointment he felt. It was as if someone dangled meat in front of a starved wolf, and then snatched it away at the last second. Still, Sniper feigned guilt. He moved forwards, slowly. His arms wrapped around Colin as he whispered apologies to the boy he doesn't believe. He should feel bad for trying to bite at his brother's face, but he doesn't.

Sniper felt like something was twisting his innards around within him.

Sniper was allowed a call. Ms. Pauling heard about his apparent ailment and granted him one. Not really kindly, more so as compensation. Sniper dialed Dingo's number immediately. It didn't ring once before he picked up. "If it ain't the big bad wolf, how's that flu treating ya?" Dingo spoke casually, with superficial charm.

"Not a flu, mate. Wish it'd be that simple. Something feels...actually wrong about me." Sniper admitted. Dingo only hummed. "Oh?" Sniper can hear Dingo's necklace clanking around. "I..I almost bit Colin's bloody face off!" Sniper snarled, feeling a vicious frustration building at Dingo's nonchalant voice. "..So?"

Sniper frowned. Dingo continued, "What's the problem with that?" Dingo is a fucking idiot sometimes. "Bloody hell, what do you mean 'what's the problem'? I almost chewed his fucking face off- And..And I apparently caused the BLU Scout to lose his head..without a bullet." Sniper growled, damn near shouting at Dingo over the phone. He tested him a lot for someone living only 5 feet away from him.

"Yeah? And you're a wolf, big guy. Figure it out." Dingo laughed coldly. This wasn't the slightest bit funny. "If you're done crying about all that, I got a prank I need to pull off. You'll hear it from your van, promise." Sniper couldn't even get in a word before Dingo cut the call. Bastard.

Jack's checkup was tense. Looks like Colin didn't keep the..face biting incident to himself. Though, after Jack's possession incident, Sniper couldn't be mad. He doesn't have the right to be. Jack only sighed as he mentioned the BLU Scout and the BLU Sniper's wounds, and the..interesting parallels they had to what could've happened. Sniper was silent the whole time. He felt uneasy under the carnivorous deer's gaze. For Jack's son, Colin wasn't close to being carnivorous.

He could eat meat, but the smell of it raw or cooking made Colin sick. In this new, deformed state of himself, Sniper found that amusing.

That night, he heard the telltale sounds of his wolfpack dragging in prey. A little deer.

Sniper threw up something finally.

He watched Scout do his morning run. Earlier today, before the Sun even rose. He had the mind to bolt his door closed. Someone could say Dingo has always been Sniper's friend. They grew up alongside each other. He was right. Sniper is a wolf.

He didn't move from the couch in his camper for weeks. Coffee, sleep, watch. He's fine. Sniper's always been fine. He felt so hungry, always a second away from lunging at Colin when he ran by the van. His arm's skin became rougher each day. Bite after bite.

It reminded him of hunting. It reminded him of his old bolt-action rifle. Sniper's never been more at home.

The wolfpack dragged in more and more deer, but he couldn't bring himself to eat any. He already has a deer, he watches him everyday.

Chapter Text

Falling, falling, Sniper could feel it, the warmth of blood, the sweetness of flesh. Yet, he was so full of guilt, regret, and grief. His body began to collapse.

Skin flaked off like scales. He couldn't feel his fingers. There was light in front of him, but he felt paralyzing fear. 

He couldn't do it. Sniper couldn't reach the comfort of the light. He'd rather drown. He'd rather pull his skin off himself.

The team hasn't seen him in a month now. Even on the field, they don't see him. Bullets still came down with precision to take out RED and BLU team, but he wasn't in his watchtower.

Sniper wasn't missing. They knew where he was, but he wouldn't let them in. Not even Soldier could get him to budge. Colin was still trying to convince the others to just break in, but Sniper's privacy was something they all understood. It frustrated Colin to no end, but he kept trying. Colin wasn't one to give up on any of his teammates.

Colin was jumpier than usual. He flinched at the darkest shadows just as he did after the incident with Jack. He walked down the halls with company now. Teeth shined in the dim light.

The supply room often had rolls of bandages missing. Eventually, the team figured out that Sniper wasn't in his van like they had thought.

The team ran out to find him. Colin ran out to the forest. His Scattergun loaded with a bullet. One, single metal round. The deadliest thing Colin's ever held. The tree's leaves shined speckled light down onto Colin's freckled skin. He was unsure where he was even supposed to find Sniper. The wolfman was an assassin, how does a boy from Boston track a trained professional down? Colin was fast, however. He was very fast. On his legs, long as a deer's, the boy ran through the forest.

Until, his leg landed through the loop of what he thought was a branch. It pulled taut. Colin fell to the ground, dirt and moss stained his shirt and face. Frantically, Colin flailed wildly, but the snare got tighter and tighter.

Slowly, clawed paws stepped out from the shadows. The wolves surrounded Colin. They were low to the ground, teeth bared. A circle of fur, and teeth, and claws.

The boy nervously watched the wolves move. "..Sniper..?" He called out, voice small as the trees echoed it back to him.

Two amber eyes in the darkness, his glasses reflected the light. Colin can see how badly cracked they were. Sniper stalked forwards, like death slowly approaching. A deep creeping dread began to latch onto Colin like hooks. Beneath the trees where nobody sees, a wolf took the form of a man.

In the blink of an eye, Sniper lunged.

Chapter Text

The first thing Sniper felt was sharp pain. Shearing, agony. Then, his blood seeping out onto the dirt below. He stumbled back.

Back and back, until he fell. His wolves surrounded him immediately. The behavior of prey, not of predators. Colin was shaking. His eyes wide like a deer.

Smoke smoothly poured out from his Scattergun. The first, and only time Colin has used a real round. His ears rang with the aftershock of the sound.

Then, apologies flowed out like a river. Apologies that made Sniper laugh.

The wolves obedient backed away, one licking at the wound. In turn, Colin bursted into tears. "I- I shot you! Stop laughing..! Stop it. It's not funny!" He was frustrated, understandably.

Sniper's laughter finally died down as he sighed. Exhausted now that hunger wasn't on his mind. "Sorry, kid..Bloody..fucking hell." The wolfman looked at Colin sitting there with the snare still wrapped around his ankle. "That was the first time you actually shot someone." Sniper noted, shocked but not surprised. "Wasn't even some merc bloke we're fighting-"

Colin cut him off, "You tried to attack me..Like, for real! I..Why?!" His voice strained with the tangle of emotions he felt. Sniper finally frowned. He instantly looked horribly guilty. "..Truth be told..I am a wolf...Dingo don't lie, he's just a real dickhead."

Colin didn't seem to get it. "That..That doesn't explain anything." Sniper thought about how to respond, then spoke. "Honestly, it was a combination of shit. I..I told you about my folks before, and my...old hobbies." Sniper paused for a split second. "They let me hunt, but they didn't let me be a wolf. Ain't healthy. Guess I still thought I had to go by their rules, built up inside of me..And I fucking exploded and..here we are now."

Sniper watched Colin's face for any change. "You can hate me, Roo. It's fair. I tried to bite your head off and all." Colin looked down, thinking. Sniper watched, anxiety filling him.

"I..I don't hate you. I'm mad, but I don't hate you, Snipes." Colin finally looked up at him again.

"So..Um..I guess don't worry about..doing what you need to. You're not there anymore. Everyone else on the team does what they need to." Colin encouraged him, gently. A large tan she-wolf walked up to Colin and began to rub her head on him. A sort of apology on behalf of the whole pack.

Colin rubbed her fur, pressing his head to her shoulder. Sniper nodded slowly. "Yeah..I..I'll be nicer to myself."

A week later, Colin finally approached Sniper's camper van. One hand was holding an ice box, and the other hand was poised to knock. But, he hesitated.

His choice was made for him when Sniper suddenly opened the door. "..Colin?" The wolfman looked confused, and very startled. He still felt very guilty. "Oh..um, hi. I- I brought you something." Scout lifted up the icebox.

Sniper tilted his head, his ears going flat against his head. "Beer..? Kid, you can't get this stuff legally-" "It's not that. It's..um, it's just ice." Colin clarified. That just made Sniper more confused. "..Okay..?"

"Um..check this out." Colin set the icebox down on the steps of the camper and opened it. He took a piece of ice out and handed it to Sniper. "Now..um, just hold it there." The wolfman, still confused, obeyed. His skin began to sting. Not quite the same as the pain he got when he was stabbed, shot, or bitten. Still stung though. "I..I um, heard it's a less..harmful way to um..yeah." Colin looked at Sniper's arms, then looked back up at the wolfman expectedly.

"..Thanks, Roo." Sniper smiled. "It's..I'll try it.."

He'll try.

He wasn't there anymore.