I had a cute idea of Heavy giving Scout gentle comfort tkls, but then I remembered you said you think he’s basic so there’s probably nothing for him to really be angsty about. I know you said you project things onto him, but I feel like making you talk about your personal problems is too far. I mean if you can think of anything with this, you can take the idea, I just wanted to share/complain.
Oh no no no, just because I think his canon self is kinda boring does not mean at all he doesn't have things to be angsty about either canon or headcanony. And I love me some hurt/no comfort. As well as hurt/comfort. And since he is the blorbo he gets the honor of everything bad being thrown at him. My favourite whumpee <3. All of that to say I did write it ^^
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Heavy and doctor are boyfriends now.”
Alright… if anything that was expected really. Scout didn’t suppose it would change that much anyway, those two were those two regardless of whatever relationship status they chose.
“Yeah, I guess me 'n' this guy over here are together. Don’t ask me why.”
“Aye, ye can ask me though. Happy to tell allll about how I swayed that wild bushman my way.”
Scout had to wonder if those two announcing this only a few days after the previous duo was a simple coincidence.
“I do not see how this is relevant to anything any of you should know but fine, me and Engineer are a couple. Try to do anything about it and I promise you’ll never sleep peacefully again.”
The Frenchman said it with Engineer sitting in his damn lap and grinning all smugly but with undoubted happiness.
That’s when it really got tight but at least Scout still had 2 other mercenaries who weren’t all lovey-dovey all day every day. Not just any two mercenaries either but his own offense teammates. If anyone noticed he started spending most of his time with them then they didn’t say it and Scout could appreciate that in a secure kind of way. Plus, Pyro and Soldier together? As a couple? Out of everyone there? No… no, that would be just strange. The two were too weird for each other.
…
“What?!”
“Affirmative, private Scout. Me and Pyro have realized the American bond between us is even more special than expected.”
“Mmpph!”
“I don’t- Pyro’s not even…!” Scout gave up. Fine, the two were weird but apparently that’s precisely what brought them together.
“Wonderful, that can’t end well.” Spy rubbed the bridge of his nose.
“Aw, I’m sure they’ll be fine.” Engie chuckled, patting his boyfriend’s shoulder. “Hey, at least we can all go on double dates now. Ain’t that fun?”
If Spy or anyone else replied to it then Scout’s mind completely missed it.
“Yeah, all of us…”
Everyone’s eyes landed on the slouched figure.
Scout didn’t reciprocate the stares.
“Well, yeahhhh,” Engie started slowly, “it’s just math, son. Nine people in the team, divided by two leaves one guy.”
“But it ain’t like we suddenly stopped bein’ lads or anything.” Demo walked up to the separated mercenary and squeezed his shoulder. “Ain’t that much of a change fer ye anyways.”
Yeah, not much of a change. Aside from the fact that now there was potentially a couple making out in every corner. Why them…? Sure, yeah, they were great. And okay, they had the looks and lots of skills and talents and most of them probably earned much more than he did but… Scout was the one who always chased romance.
He actually tried. He had wanted it for years. The sight of others kissing or cuddling already caused bursts of jealousy the size of nuclear bombs inside him. And now… now…
“Yeah, yeah, good for ya and all that.” Scout sniffled quietly and slapped Demo’s hand away. “I’ll be-I’ll be in my room in case someone needs me. Doubt that though,” He added much more quietly, leaving others to cough awkwardly or shrugging.
Without another glance at his team, Scout was gone. What he did not realize was that someone’s eyes followed him all the way until he disappeared behind the doorway.
The hope of that disgusting sadness disappearing dwindled fast. He was Scout, for goodness’ sake! He was not supposed to mope like that! If he got shot, whether physically or mentally,. he was supposed to bounce right back. If not sooner, then later.
So then why couldn’t he find the energy for much those last days including leaving his room unless it was to get Bonk or to attend the matches? Even then, he barely managed to motivate himself to properly prepare, the lack of effort mirrored on the goddamned scoreboard.
Would he not coming even change anything?
Heavy would still pick Medic up to hug at the end of each match.
Demo would still make heart with his fingers for Sniper to see from the other end of the map.
Spy would still “begrudgingly” follow Engie to the workshop to either celebrate or complain or who knows what else.
“Grats, me.” Scout pumped his fist with vestigial enthusiasm in the air as he observed Soldier giving Pyro a too energetic noogie. Pyro didn’t seem to mind.
Scout’s legs felt heavier than they should have. His stomach emptier than normally, but it didn’t growl, not in a while really.
He told himself he should go talk with someone, do something with them. Anything. That’s what he did. Effortlessly and without overthinking. For what though? So they could complain about him talking too much about nonsense? He wasn’t anyone’s boyfriend, not anyone’s most important person, not the guy anyone wanted to cuddle with or kiss at the end of the day.
The dirt moved underneath his foot as Scout turned around on his heel and made sure he wasn’t too close to anyone on their way back to the base.
All he could realistically want right now was to get a Bonk and return to his room, likely to rot in his bed with it while giving the ceiling far too much of his attention than it deserved.
Chilly air hit him upon the fridge door being opened. However, just as he reached for the one thing able to bring him some sort of comfort he felt himself being pulled backwards.
“Agh!” He stumbled but before his legs could even fully bend his back hit what might have been a wall if he didn’t know any better.
“Scout.”
Said mercenary gritted his teeth and sighed.
“What’s up, big guy?” He straightened and wiped nonexistent dust off of his clothes before sparing a glance at the other. “Just wanted to take something, not hoardin’ the fridge for myself or anything.”
However, once he retried to fulfill his goal he got stopped again when Heavy picked him up like it was nothing.
“What the-?”
Heavy turned him around in the air but to Scout’s dismay he did not put him down. Well uh, at least now he didn’t have to strain his neck to see Heavy's face properly? Even if that left his legs dangling in the air…
“You are sad.”
Scout’s eyes widened. “Wh- no I ain’t!” He protested immediately. “Let me go, Heavy.”
“No. You are. You were since Soldier and Pyro became couple. Maybe earlier,” Heavy added after a moment.
“Pfff, nah I mean- me? Sad? I’d never and I-I mean even if I were-,” Scout stumbled over his words only regaining coherence when the taller mercenary gave him a look. “I ain’t sad! Why would I be?”
He looked away when he didn’t have to wait for a response.
“Because all teammates are in pairs now.”
Damn it.
“I’m-.”
“You are not.”
“No… no…” That’s when Scout’s voice broke and he realized that Heavy’s grip was even more of a curse than he expected when he found himself unable to properly turn away. His eyes were already tearing up… He gulped and swallowed.
Heavy nodded simply like it was the most obvious thing in the world but contrary to Scout’s hope he still didn’t put him down. No, instead Scout was now held properly against the other's broad chest and being carried… somewhere.
“W-Wait.” The younger mercenary rubbed his eyes furiously. “Put me down, man!” But Heavy didn’t. “Where are we going!?”
“Room. It’s private there.”
Despite everything, Scout just had to roll his eyes. Wonderful. Sure, he was somewhat glad he wouldn’t be crying where everyone could potentially come in at any moment, but Heavy’s room likely meant Medic would be there too.
Yeah, of course he would be there because those two spent their entire time together. He’d probably be waiting and be disappointed the moment he saw his damn boyfriend carrying Scout like some sort of charity case.
Scout sniffled again.
“Scout, is okay.” Heavy’s voice, even though gentle and soft, only caused the Bostonian to choke on his tears more.
Scout cursed under his breath when the door to Heavy’s room opened- but there was no Medic in sight. In fact, there was no one. He let out a shaky breath.
When was finally put down he had to fight all his instincts not to curl up into a small, pathetic ball in the corner of Heavy’s bed. Instead though, he just sat there, legs shifting awkwardly.
“Can I go now?”
Heavy shook his head resolutely and took a seat next to the mess on his bed. Close enough to make his presence known without cornering Scout. Well, not too much.
“Tell me more.”
“Bout what?” Scout scoffed but there was barely any real irritation in it.
Heavy’s head turned and he raised a brow.
“R-Right.” Scout scratched at his nape. “Look, it ain’t nothing. Just you all suddenly paired off and I’m the only one without a frickin’ boyfriend and I- feel dumb.”
“Dumb?”
"..."
“Scout, why do you feel dumb?”
“Cause I’m the one left behind!” Scout’s voice raised more than he planned but once it happened he did nothing to stop it. “Now you all are gonna be just with your stupid boyfriends and there’s no place for me and I am the one who always wanted to be in a frickin’ relationship when most of you don’t even care and then you are the ones actually experiencing romance?! It’s not fair!”
…
Heavy waited for Scout’s breath to slow down before replying, “Scout, just because the rest of us are this way now does not mean we don’t want you around. Like Demoman said. Heavy and Medic don’t spend their entire time together either. We have others and have things to do separately. You are young, have time to find love yet.”
“W-Well, maybe.” Scout wiped the remaining tears away. “I ain’t sure if I believe ya anyway. Not like anyone even tried to spend time with me lately.”
“We can spend time now.”
Scout opened his mouth, waiting a breath to respond, “Really…?”
Heavy nodded.
“I guess… but I ain’t too much fun right now.”
“We don’t have to do anything fun. If you want to lie down and rest here, you can.”
“Fine…”
Damn it all, after all that Scout did end up curled up into a small, pathetic ball in the corner of Heavy’s bed. At least Heavy said nothing about it. Or about him facing the wall.
In fact, Scout didn’t know what he was doing. What he was sure of was that Heavy didn’t leave the room.
He uncurled a little though no sooner than a few minutes into the whole moping session.
“You are still sad.”
“Don’t say.” Scout shrugged.
“Hmm, there is one thing that always works on Medic when he is upset.”
Scout sighed in irritation but even that emotion died down almost immediately. “Just ‘cause something works on your crazy boyfriend don’t mean it will work on me.”
“Yes, but this will.”
“Fine. What-?”
Scout’s breath hitched when in the corner of his eye he saw Heavy’s ginormous hand worming itself into the space between the wall and his body. More specifically, between the wall and his stomach.
Then those big fingers touched his stomach, covering pretty much the entire expanse of it. Then Scout jumped and sucked in his tummy.
“H-Heavy?”
Then they started wiggling slowly.
“Ahahahaha, wait!” Scout simultaneously gasped and squealed, almost pushing himself away from the wall and rolling onto his back, but he realized just in time what kind of position that would put him in. “Heheheheheheavy! This suhuhuhucks!”
No number of protests however could stop Heavy from seeing the delightful display before him consisting of kicking wildly legs, red cheeks and of course taped hands trying to find their way to cover Scout’s stomach. Very very unsuccessfully. Those helpless attempts were almost as satisfying as seeing the other finally genuinely smiling.
As if that wasn’t enough, once Heavy’s fingers accelerated, not even by that much, Scout’s reactions matched, his laughter bordering on a properly loud one. Oh, if that didn’t spur Heavy on…
“You have a very ticklish tummy, Scout.” Melodious squeals reverberated in the air in response. That is if the melody was very chaotic and high-pitched. “It would be easier if you uncurled.”
Either Scout saw through the lie or was physically unable to perform that action but whatever it was, Heavy decided he simply needed help.
“Heavy!” Scout yelled through a wheeze when the other got to squeeze his hips. No, not to tickle for once though that very much happened too, but the primary goal was to turn Scout onto his back. “NO!” He was quick to see through his vicious tickler. Regardless, it helped with nothing with the hands on his middle. “OHMYGOSH!” Scout braced himself and… the tickles came, but not as intensely as expected. Still, two hands were more than one and added to his new vulnerable position it caused him to wheeze and squeal.
Heavy’s kept switching between gentle and a bit less gentle tickles. What did not change was Scout laughing and squirming, not even that much. Heavy didn’t even need to really restrain him, just two of his hands pressing on his body were enough.
“See?” He made sure the other could see his smile. “We can still spend time together and have a good time.”
“Ya cahahahall that a gohohood- eheheh… ahaha! Good time?!”
“Yes.” Heavy nodded. “A very good time. You seem to enjoy it too.”
There was silence between the two for one split second while Scout’s mouth hung open. The fact that he didn’t say “no” was enough of an answer for Heavy.
One of his hands moved higher, now a single finger wiggling under Scout’s chin.
“Pfff ehehe! Heeheheheeeeavy no!” Scout’s attempts to lower his chin proved futile. “What- ahahah!”
“Yes, very adorable.” Heavy caressed the freckled cheek with his now free hand, leaving Scout’s tummy untickled. For now. “You are appreciated, tiny ticklish Scout.”
“Don’t cahahall me thahat!” Scout once more attempted to pry Heavy’s limbs away and once again failed miserably.
“No? Hm…” Scout hated that Heavy was actually pretending to think about it. This could not end well for him. Then again, he was already seen as a squealing, blushy mess by someone. It couldn’t get that much worse... “Then I will call you little dove.”
“What?!” Scout covered his cheeks.
“Yes, little dove,” Heavy confirmed as if he didn’t just turn Scout’s entire world upside down. “Because you sometimes remind Heavy of Medic’s birds. If you were a little bird… you would have wings right here.”
The massive fingers dug into Scout’s sides, right where they met the ribs.
“Ah!” Scout jumped. “Ahahahaha wait! Okay okay! I gehehehet it!”
“You must be little bird with wings if this spot is so sensitive.”
Scout remained wiggling on his back as Heavy kept on tickling that delightful area, but as seconds ticked away his defiance was less and less. He did, however, meet Heavy’s eyes a few times, his own ones shining with something sweet and joyful.
“Okay, okahahahay, I really get it!” Each time Scout turned away from one hand the other one tickled him twice as much until he returned onto his back. “You lihihihike me!”
“I do.” Heavy grinned.
“Then stohohohop!”
“нет,” Heavy teased, not even commenting on the unholy shriek Scout let out. “Be honest with Heavy. You like it, yes? You like wiggling under Heavy and laughing.”
Once more, the lack of contradiction contributed to the warmth building up in Heavy's chest with each of Scout’s adorable reactions.
That was however also the moment when Scout remembered why he was hesitant to get inside Heavy’s room in the first place.
“Okay, okahahahay, stohohop!” He squealed, the tickles now teasing his hips. “Ep, nohohot there!”
“Stop?” Heavy titled his head playfully.
“Seheheheriously!”
Something in Scout’s tone halted Heavy. He moved his hands away, presenting them to the other in a placating gesture, receiving a weak and shaky thumbs-up in return.
“You are good? Did Heavy tickle you too much?”
“N-No… No… ain’t that.”
“Ah, so it’s not the tickling?” Heavy teased but switched back to the gentle tone almost immediately when Scout turned onto his stomach and hid his face in the pillows. “I apologize.”
“You’re a tease, big guy… You uh, really meant all you said? That... you still like me ‘n’ all?”
“Of course. I am sure the rest of team also thinks it.”
“Maybe…”
“But even if not, you can be sure I do, little dove.”
Scout remained on his front but looked back at the other, giving him a soft though still slightly unsure look.
“Alright, thanks…”
When a big hand started reaching towards him, he tensed up but relaxed when Heavy nodded assuredly and let his hand rest on Scout's back.
“You and Medic are similar,” Heavy continued as he started massaging Scout’s back, causing him to melt. “You both like affection and are very ticklish.”
“And we both also have something to do with birds?”
“Yes.” Heavy chuckled.
“Fine. Maybe I overreacted a bit anyway…”
“Hmm, there is reason for everything.”
Scout repeated that sentence in his mind. There’s a reason for everything. Huh.
Heavy’s voice interrupted his thoughts.
“Do you want me to invite doctor so three of us spend time together?” He stood up.
“What?! No- okay, actually, fine, I guess. Just make sure you two ain’t spendin’ the entire time kissin’ and makin’ out.”
“Would you rather three of us kissed and make out?”
“Wh- huh?!”
Scout’s shocked, red face was the last thing Heavy saw before he left the room with an amused smile on his face. It was time to bring the doctor to the function.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am producing myself for 2 likes. Awooooooga. Well, to the main tags it goes: