Chapter Text
The hot orange sand of New Mexico slowly grilled under the hot summer sun.
There wasn’t a soul in sight, only crickets and lizards of the region.
Far far away in the middle of nowhere, two small wooden fortresses stood there in the desert.
Did anyone even know there were buildings in this nowhere?
Apparently there was a war about to begin there. A war without a victory.
Well, only if you aren’t one of the mercs who are paid to fight.
There was a prize all right.
The mercs were lined up, preparing for battle already.
It was countdown time.
War was about to begin.
Everyone was holding on to their weapons tightly, grinding their teeth.
They seemed tired from the hot weather. Who wouldn't be? The air was damp and the men in the room were sweaty, focused and under a lot of pressure.
Their eyes focused on the exit door, it was almost time.
Everyone was thinking about the plan they made earlier to get the intelligence. Well, that was the plan. Getting the intelligence. They had too many of these “wars" that they didn’t bother to stop and plan anymore.
Everyone had their own role after all so what was the point, right?
The person responsible for taking the intelligence had his head over the clouds though. The whole point was to ensure him, the Scout, to get the intelligence. Simple, right?
He was in love. Busy thinking about his “work place crush”.
People who think about their crush usually look in peace and happy but he looked the opposite.
The match, he had to win this match. He had to win her heart.
He was suddenly interrupted by Administrator's harsh, strong announcement.
“Ten seconds!"
Team’s Sniper; a tall, tired man with a dirty stubble saw right through him. His eyes were sharp, after all. He wanted to make sure his teammate was doing okay but there was no time. The match was about to begin in…
“Nine seconds!" The voice howled through the speakers once again.
So he didn't move, he held on to his rifle and waited like every other merc in the room.
“Eight, seven, six, five, four..!”
Scout took deep breaths. “I got this, I got this. Focus.’’ he whispered to himself. He tightly held on to his pistol and knit his brows.
“I got this.”
“Three, two, one..!" Continued the Administrator, harshly.
He leaned forward to run as soon as he hear…
" Fight! “
The door opened and men rushed through it with their heavy weapons clanking and boots clattering.
The Scout was ahead of everyone like always. The wind hit his face like a wake up call. He was already feeling better. He smiled, slightly showing his teeth. It was time to prove himself. To her, to himself, to everyone.
The trigger made a loud clanking when he pulled it, someone was approaching. He knew it.
Without having to spare a second to look around, the enemy’s head has exploded into a million pieces. The blood splashed on Scout’s left shoulder as he ran by. He didn’t even notice since both him and the slash of blood were both hot as hell.
His muscles,working crazy when he ran, were glaring beautifully under the sun until he finally crossed the bridge and got inside the enemy territory.
Got some time to look around and control his breathing.
Right before him there was the Spy. His teammate.
They never got along because Scout thought he was too “sassy". Which is strange because that is the same exact thing Spy says about him.
The spy, hiding behind a wall across from him, signed with his hands that seemed like it said ‘’clear’’.
Scout quickly nodded and ran inside without a second thought. It was time to run for the intel.
“Yeah, easy!" He thought with a smirk, runing as fast as he can.
But it was not clear at all. The enemy team’s heavy was right there to greet him.
Scout flinched, quickly sprinted in a dash. He had an idea. He was going to dodge the Heavy and slip away between him and the wall.
Heavy heavily took out his gun but by the time there was any fire, Scout had already run off clean.
Luckly, he dodged his bullets that came after him. Without a scratch, he made it past the Heavy.
‘’That was easy.’’ he said with a mocking tone.
It was right before him now, the handbag that carried all the intelligence.
He heard boots approaching. Not only one but around four people were after him.
“Fuck, they're coming…”
He grabbed it with both hands, adjusted it to his back and kept running with all he got.
“Yeah! Woohoo!" He cheered, unaware of the enemy Sniper who was aiming at his skull.
Two bangs in a row and in a second, silance.
Scout fell on his face. Soon where he lay was a fresh puddle of blood.
Luckily his team’s Sniper was quick enough to shoot the enemy. That’s why he missed Scout's head and only tore through his arm.
Scout flinched in pain, trying to endure the sharp hurting that soon spread to his head from his arm.
“The intel! Someone get the intel..!” He screamed with a croaky voice, gasping for air.
“Shhhh, I got it. Little Scout."
Oh. The enemy Scout. Oh, he hated the enemy Scout more than anyone. This was the last person he wanted to see right now.
" Bitch.” he growled through his teeth.
Before he could raise his head and grab the intel that was before him, it was gone. So was the Scout.
The blood splashed to his face when he punched the ground with rage.
“Fuck!"
Hours later, in the infirmary, everyone was frowning and groaning in pain. Almost everyone was severely wounded. Since they lost, the air was depressing and stressful.
‘’You said it was clear!’’ yelled Scout completely covered in his own blood, his face and clothes.
He was sitting on one of the infirmary beds and Medic was picking the bullet that was stuck in his arm with a medical tweezer.
The Spy, from the other side of the room, picked up a cigarette, responded annoyedly while holding it between his teeth
‘’The sign meant ‘wait’ you moron! I told you to learn the bloody signs!’’
‘’Whatever, it was on you.’’
‘’Oh, you…’’
Spy got ready to teach him a lesson but stopped with the painful screech Scout led out.
‘’It’s almost over.’’ said Medic while Scout was grinding his teeth in pain.
‘’Whatever. You’re already paying for your stupidity.’’ said Spy before leaving the room.
Scout kept on whining. ‘’He said ‘clear’, I swear!’’
The Medic, while sewing another stitch, responded cynically.
‘’Ja, he sabotaged you because he wanted us to fail.’’
Scout looked away in a childish huff. Now all he could think was how he was going to face Miss Pauling with this failure.
She’s gonna be so disappointed, he thought, that's for sure. He was more sad than angry now. He felt like crying but he held it in. The room was full of guys. Tough guys. He couldn’t let his soft side slide to them.
He turned his face to the wall and waited.
The mercs packed their stuff and left one by one.
Moments later there was only him in the room. The lights were flickering from time to time.
The room smelled like medicine and plastic gloves. Before he got up, he took a deep breath. And shakingly exhaled with tears.
His shoulders were trembling. He sobbed, led it out for a few minutes.
The dried blood smudged all over his face after he wiped his tears with the bandages around his knuckles.
He looked horrible. He felt horrible.
The last thing he wanted to do was get up, get out of the infirmary and face her.
‘’What will she think?’’ he whispered to himself.
‘’It’s okay.’’
‘’Wait, really?’’ Scout raised his head, quite surprised by Miss Pauling’s reaction.
They were in her office.
On the table there was a ton of random junk with a lot of paperwork. Coffee mugs piled up, all different bills and letters from there and there around the table. It was messy but there was an order in this mess. Only she knew the exact place of everything in this mess.
Behind them, there were multiple coats hanging on the door’s hanger, covering it completely.
She reached for the drawer, grabbed a pack of some common brand cigarette and a lighter you could find in every store.
She put a cigarette in her mouth and lit it up.
‘’I didn’t know you smoke…’’ asked Scout, nervously.
‘’I don’t.’’ she responded. She seemed intimidating, especially while not making eye contact. No one knew what she was thinking behind her sharp edged glasses.
‘’So you’re not mad at me?’’
She stopped to take a look at his face after shedding the ashes into an empty mug.
His eyes followed her hand. From her mouth to the lipstick stained mug.
‘’Scout… You’re in a team. It’s not on you. It’s on the team. Don’t get so worked up on yourself.’’
Scout scratched the back of his head, smiling timidly. He seemed nervous but slightly relieved.
‘’Oh… Okay.’’ he sighed.
Now they were looking at each other's eyes in complete silence. Scout helplessly tried to avoid eye contact for a few seconds but she was staring right into his soul. He felt like throwing up from stress.
‘’Scout.’’
‘’Yes, Miss Pauling?’’ he responded quickly.
‘’Come closer.’’
As Scout leaned over to her desk, she blew her cigarette on his face. He backed up quickly, couching, shutting his eyes in pain. It burnt.
He didn’t argue or get mad. His face was still the same. He deserved after all.
‘’I saw you. You got distracted.’’ she said.
‘’I’m sorry.’’ he bowed his head, hiding his red, nervous face. It was embarrassing, being a failure. His eyes were wide open. His heart was racing. He was trying not to make a noise while breathing manually and he was having a hard time doing it.
‘’It will not happen again.’’ she demanded. Her voice was harsh. No one besides Scout has ever seen her like this.
He was quick to respond. ‘’Yes ma'am.’’ He was still hiding his face which had always annoyed her.
‘’Look up.’’
He slowly raised his sight. First his tense eyebrows, blue eyes, then his red cheeks and lips. Looking straight at her without any other choice.
She asked, this time a little softer.
‘’Do you know why you’re here?’’
He opened his mouth, revealing his front teeth, to respond but no words came out. He slowly shook his head as in ‘’No.’’
She said ‘’Because you’ve done good. I’ll reward you.’’ with a smile.
His eyes brightened up.
‘’Really?’’
“Come." She said, pushşng herself a little to the back, leaving space for Scout at her desk.
He did as she said. Stood there right before her, without knowing what to expect.
She got up. Being this close face to face made their height difference quite visible. She had to look up a little to take a closer look at his arm.
‘’Miss…’’
‘’Shhh. Leave it to me.’’
That was all he needed to hear.
‘’Okay.’’
She held the end of his shirt and slowly pulled it up, exposing Scout’s thin but well built pale torso. His ribcage was slightly visible, so was his abs and arm muscles. Maybe he would be more muscular if he gained some weight. Then there were his freckles on his shoulders, between them his military tag hanging from his neck to his chest. He had so little chest hair. He wasn’t as hairy as the others in his team. The little hair he had wasn’t even that visible since it was a light color.
He didn’t say a word or move a muscle.
His body was all hers to examine.
She let the shirt fall on the floor, right before her purple high heels and his black crampons.
They were so close to each other. He worried if she could feel his breathing on top of her head. Would it be weird if she did? Her hair smelled so sweet… Vanilla maybe? He was never good at naming smells.
‘’Oh, it’s over for me. I’m gonna faint.’’ he thought. ‘’Do I look bad? I don’t have an impressive body, did she like my body? Did she hate my smell? Do i still stink of blood and sweat? What if i didn't clean well? What about my voice? My face? The way I talk? Did i say something wrong since i got here?’’
She gesticulated her hands around his bare arm. Like she was searching for something but with a rhythm. She softly drew wide circles with her fingers.
He was looking away by then, to not face her. If he faced her their noses would touch and that’d kill him on the spot. But she wasn’t interested in any of that anyway.
She traced his wounds. Some old, healed. Some new, just stopped bleeding.
She said ‘’Does it hurt?’’ …her voice… It was caring again. She looked worried, even.
His heart was racing. ‘’God, I feel like I’m gonna faint.’’ he thought after watching her for a second then looking away again.
‘’N…No.’’
She didn’t change her sight. Her hands were around the scars, glancing softly.
‘’Don’t lie to me.’’
‘’O..Okay. Sorry.’’
She sighed and got a closer look at the bullet mark he had today. It was a deep scar. She kissed it. As soft as a kiss can be.
It burnt his flesh which made him let out a small, painful whimper.
This was the last thing he had expected.
He loved it.
Her lipstick left a rosy pink mark on the scar.
“That was all." She said.
Just as he knew, she had already tossed the butt of the cigar in her mug and left him all alone with his shirt on the floor.
He smiled bashfully. He looked around for a minute and grabbed away the lipstick marked cigarette butt before he left.
During the night all he could think was her. Her. Her.
He couldn’t sleep.
There were two dorms. Pyro, Demoman, Sniper and Scout slept in one room. The rest of the mercs were in the other room.
The beds were bunk.
Scout was on top of Sniper since they decided the placements by playing rock paper scissors and Scout has lost.
While laying on his bed he imagined the feeling. Again and again. How it hurt when she kissed. It never hurt so good before.
He wanted to believe she felt bad for him. That she cared. Nobody else but him.
Even though they lost, she still rewarded him.
What else could he ask for? This was a blessing. This was all he could ask for. Why would she do that if she didn't like him?
His heart was pounding faster and faster.
He’s been busy with his job and he didn't have any time to take care of himself.
His excitement.
Now that everyone has slept, he might have had a little time.
His erection was still visible under the sheets.
He slowly reached his hand under his sweatpants but not under his boxers. He slowly grabbed his bulge and rubbed his hand around, drawing circles.
This wouldn’t work.
It was too hard and he had no patience.
Was it worth taking the risk?
He stopped and listened, hopefully to hear snorings. He knew everyone slept with a little bit of noise and everyone seemed asleep by his experience.
It seemed clear.
The fabric made a slight noise as he pulled his sweatpants down. He tried his best to listen if anyone had woken up.
His dick bounced straight up when he pulled his boxers down. Even though it was under the sheets, it was extremely visible.
He just looked at it for a few seconds. Then he thought about her.
Oh god…
It was twitching.
Just thinking about her smell made him wet. He was wet now. So were his fingertips. Now his palm. He clenched his teeth tightly so no noise could slip through.
He slowly stroked himself, not really using his whole hand but barely touching it, trying not to make noise. With his other hand he covered his mouth. He muffled softly, trying not to let any noise slide. It wasn't easy.
He was breathing a little faster now, he felt like he was drowning.
Too bad he had to hold himself back. His face got more red. In this hot weather, taking care of himself felt ten times more tiring.
He was almost finished. His hand was shaking, his dick was twitching. He bit his hand, just to hold his voice.
‘’Fffffuck…’’ he whispered really, really softly.
Suddenly, like his voice had been cut by force, he was twitching. He slightly lifted his hips, uncontrollably. After a few seconds of trembling, he took a deep sigh
and surrendered his body to his bed, relaxing every muscle.
He had finished. Finally.
“I needed that…” he thought.
Now satisfied, his breath slowed down while he fell into a deep peaceful sleep.
The room was in complete silence again, if you didn't count the night long snorings.
Sniper could finally fall asleep too. It was really late.