>>83207840Title: "Between the Crosshairs"
The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the gravel of Badlands. The RED team had just finished a grueling match, and the base was unusually quiet, with most of the mercenaries retreating to their own spaces for some much-needed downtime. Scout, however, had other plans.
"Yo, Snipes! You up here?" Scout called out as he climbed the stairs to the sniper’s nest. His voice echoed slightly, bouncing off the metal walls of the tower.
"Bloody hell, what d'ya want, Scout?" Sniper grumbled from his perch, not even bothering to turn around. His rifle was still in his hands, the barrel pointed out the open window as he kept watch out of habit.
"Chill, mate. Just wanted to check on ya," Scout replied, walking up to Sniper’s side. He leaned against the wall, looking out at the sunset. "Nice view up here, huh?"
"Guess you could say that," Sniper muttered, lowering his rifle and setting it aside. He finally turned to look at Scout, raising an eyebrow. "But somethin' tells me you didn’t come up here just for the scenery."
Scout chuckled, shuffling his feet awkwardly. "Yeah, well, maybe I just wanted to spend some time with ya. Ain't that allowed?"
Sniper's stern expression softened a little as he regarded the younger man. "You're a strange one, Scout. You spend all day runnin' around like a madman, and then you come up here to sit in silence. What's on your mind?"
Scout shifted his weight, suddenly feeling the intensity of Sniper’s gaze. The way those sharp eyes could focus on him, it was almost like being in the crosshairs. "I dunno, man. Just… You ever feel like this job’s got more to it than just shootin' people?"
Sniper sighed, leaning back against the wall next to Scout. "Sometimes. But it ain't the job that keeps me goin'. It's the people. Some of 'em, at least."
Scout smirked, nudging Sniper's arm playfully. "Yeah? And what about me, huh? I in that 'some of 'em' group?"
Sniper glanced at him sideways, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Maybe."
There was a moment of silence between them, the only sound the distant chirping of crickets as the night began to settle in. Scout felt his heart rate pick up, and for once, it wasn't from running laps around the battlefield.
"Listen, Snipes, I ain't good with all this mushy stuff," Scout started, rubbing the back of his neck. "But I gotta say, you’re kinda the coolest guy on the team. And… I like hangin' out with you, even if you’re a bit of a loner."
Sniper’s eyes softened, and he nodded slowly. "Same here, mate. You're a pain in the arse sometimes, but I like your company."
Scout grinned, his confidence returning as he leaned in closer. "Yeah? Well, maybe we should, y'know, hang out more. Just you and me. No guns, no explosions. Just us."
Sniper chuckled, a rare sound that made Scout’s heart skip a beat. "That sounds alright to me."
Before Scout could second-guess himself, he closed the distance, pressing a quick, nervous kiss to Sniper’s lips. He pulled back almost immediately, face flushed and eyes wide, waiting for Sniper's reaction.
Sniper blinked in surprise, but he didn’t push Scout away. Instead, he reached up, cupping the back of Scout’s head, and pulled him in for a proper kiss. This time, it was slow and deliberate, and it left them both a little breathless when they finally parted.
"Didn’t think you had it in you, kid," Sniper said with a smirk.
Scout laughed, the sound a mix of relief and excitement. "Guess I’m full of surprises."
Sniper shook his head with a chuckle, resting his forehead against Scout's. "Let’s keep this between us, eh? At least until we figure out what the hell we’re doin’."
"Deal," Scout agreed, his smile widening. "But I gotta say, I’m lookin’ forward to findin’ out."
As the night fell over Badlands, the two of them stayed in the sniper’s nest, side by side, no words needed to fill the comfortable silence. There, between the crosshairs and the stars, something new had begun, and neither of them could wait to see where it would lead.
