How do the mercs react the first time their SO says I love you?
Chances are he won’t believe it at first. He’ll laugh and shrug it off, honestly not expecting much out of the statement beyond it being friendly banter. But once he has a chance to think about it, he’ll seriously overthink it. Were you being serious? There was no way you were being serious. No way. Seriously? But wait, had he totally ruined it? He’d shrugged it off and now you thought he was an asshole, right? Shit. He’d messed it up he’d messed it up he’d messed it up why did he shrug it off shit shit shit shit shit shit.
Of course when he goes to ask about it, he’ll say it very jokingly since he doesn’t expect you to answer in the positive again. After that, he’s head-over-heels happy for at least the next few weeks; constant bragging comments few months.
He doesn’t understand the gravity of the statement at first. He laughs, slaps a hand on your shoulder and thanks you for the compliment. He would, however, tell you entirely honestly that he loves you as well, then proudly stride off while entirely content with his belief that, since you were clearly only meaning it to be platonic, he got to admit his feelings without his secret being known! The perfect ruse!! You’d have to say it a few more times for the message to sink in, and after that he’ll probably turn a bit red in the face and say that he had been honest too.
Absolutely filled with glee. They are all giggles and sunshine whenever they’re around you, showering you with flowers and sweets and little drawings of the both of you together. Of course, they’ll also invite you to watch the giant bonfire made from the corpses the opposing team, but look at the pretty sparks that come off of their glasses and watches! Isn’t it pretty~?!
It may take a few tries for him to remember and realize that you’ve said it at all (late nights with drinks made it very difficult to remember anything at all), but once he does he sees it as the go-ahead to finally get romantic. He’s a bit more gentle for a while whenever you’re alone, soft-spoken and kind. But once he feels comfortable enough in the relationship, he’ll get back to being his loud and rather brash self; even moreso now that he’s got you by his side. He’ll undoubtedly watch your back, just so long as you always have his.
Heavy never had the chance to grow up somewhere where love and romance were common things. In his childhood, having people outside of family that you cared about was a dangerous thing, and things could only end badly for you both. That’s why when you first told him that you loved him, the entire world felt cold. It was too dangerous. Too risky. He wants to care for you, but he’s scared of what it entails. It will take a long while for him to feel safe enough to start showing emotion around you; although you’ll definitely be able to tell how fiercely protective he’ll be of you right off the bat.
Engie will be beyond delighted that you’ve finally admitted your feelings for him; because it finally gives him the go ahead to do what he likes. Every time you’re together he’s got his eyes and hands all over you, making sure your attention is on him and only him. Even if you’re both out on the field, he’ll find a way to get to you and make sure you remember to whom you belong. Heaven help the poor soul that happens to glance at you; enemy team or not they’ll be seeing the reset before the end of the day. You’re his, after all; and no one else is allowed near you. No one. Ever.
Sniper can feel his heart stop beating the moment after you say it. The man can’t believe his own ears, and has to take about three full minutes to process what you said. At that point he can practically feel his blood pounding throughout his body, turning his cheeks and ears a bright red. He is still silent as ever, excited and anxious if a bit stiff and stuck in a daze. He wants to believe it, and yet he simply can’t. Did you really just say that? Naw, you couldn’t have. But you did. But you didn’t mean it. But what if you did? There’s no way you did. But he could have sworn you said it! Maybe it was a mistake. Oh, but that look on your face… That couldn’t be a mistake.
Eventually he finally processes the statement and grins widely, hefting you up to spin you around, keeping you safely secured in his tight bear hug. He’s laughing heartily and his heart is practically leaping out of his chest. This has got to be the best day of his life.
Medic isn’t exactly one for serious romance. He’s the type for a “friends with benefits” sort of relationship, and any mention of emotions is sure to get little more than a laugh and a dismissive wave. However, when you happened to be the one to say that dreaded phrase, the man genuinely had to pause and take in what you’d said. He eventually laughs and waves a hand to shoo the idea away, but it is far more halfhearted than what it would normally be. Lots of people had said that to him before, but few have genuinely meant it. Chances are he’ll be thinking about that moment for a long time, and only if you said it again will he think it’s genuine.
He might be afraid to speak to you for a while, just because he’s unused to that feeling being genuine. He doesn’t know what to think of you, himself, or these feelings; so he’s afraid to get involved with anything. After a while, he’d probably warm up to the idea of trying something serious, although he’ll probably go about it all wrong at first.
(admin undercover’s spin on his reaction below. everything above is all admin headshot’s! :D)
Unlike his other teammates, his reaction doesn’t lead to a happy ending. Spy is a walking shadow - meaning he must sever any connections to him as discreetly as he can. True, maybe his heart yearns for settling down…giving up espionage…making another life for himself. But in the end, he knows he’ll always choose the thrill of spying over the routine that comes from loved ones.
So hearing a lover of his say, “i love you” for the first time, he knows it’s time to leave. There are two generalized ways he’d react: A) he can’t find himself loving this person back/doesn’t return the same intensity this person feels for him. or, B) he has a dawning realization, “oh merde, i’m in love, oh god, i can’t do this.” (the B route is rare in comparison to the A route). Either way, it doesn’t matter what Spy feels.
He’s going to do what he does best, and what he’s done for all of his life - flee and melt into the shadows. He’ll make himself obscure from his own lover, and would most likely never return to them again.
