Archive of Our Own

Bloodhound has Fuse’s guitar strapped to their back when they hear a knock at the door. They furrow their brows while pulling their long hair out of the guitar strap, wondering who would be visiting. They look through the peephole in their door and are surprised to see Fuse, scratching the back of his neck nervously.

Bloodhound can’t help but panic. Their thoughts on how to handle this interaction are not in order, yet. They were planning to come up with what to say to Fuse on the walk over to his apartment, but here he is, standing at their door.

They at least owe it to him to invite him in. They open the door, and study Fuse’s expression for a moment.

He looks tired. More than just tired, he looks a little sad. Bloodhound rarely sees Fuse in a mood they’d describe as anything but energized. But now, standing outside their apartment, Fuse looks entirely depleated. When Fuse looks up at Bloodhound, he looks almost hopeful for a moment, the light returning to his eyes. But Fuse must see something he doesn’t like about Bloodhound’s expression, and furrows his brow.

“Walter, um, please come in,” Bloodhound manages to say quickly by way of greeting. Their mind is still racing. Fuse must have just come over to retrieve his guitar. So why does he look so upset?

Before Bloodhound can ask what troubles him, Fuse says, “Thanks, Houndy. Mind if I grab some water?”

“Sure, I will get you a glass,” Bloodhound says while unstrapping Fuse’s guitar to set it next to the couch again.

“Nah, don’t worry about it. Up here?” Fuse says already in the kitchen, reaching into a cabinet.

Bloodhound joins him in the kitchen while Fuse fills the glass with tap water. They watch as he leans his back against the counter across from Bloodhound, one hand gripping the counter and the other bringing the glass to his lips. He’s focused on his water and hasn’t met Bloodhound’s eyes since they met at the door. He furrows his brow again as he lowers the glass to set on the counter. Finally, he looks up to meet Bloodhound’s eyes.

“Houndy,” he begins with a sigh, “I owe you a few apologies. First, I’m sorry for making you wait half the day for this. I shoulda came here first thing. Second, I’m sorry for runnin’ out on you last night. I got…jealous of seeing so much of Boone.”

Bloodhound openly gapes at Fuse. He is jealous? Why?

“I know how you felt about him and how you feel now, but I just wasn’t thinking straight,” Fuse continues. “Third, I’m sorry for not having a better grip on my feelings about you to keep myself from gettin’ jealous and causing this mess in the first place. But I know how I feel now.”

Bloodhound doesn’t even have a chance to think through what Fuse is saying before he starts again, “You know you’re my best mate and I mean it. I don’t want what I’m about to say to change that.”

Bloodhound holds their breath.

“But, I care for you more than just as a mate,” Fuse says sheepishly, exhaling in a rough laugh. He scratches the back of his neck again and continues.

“I want to be more with you, someday, if you'd let me. You take all the time you need and I’ll wait as long as it takes, if you ever want that with me. No matter what, I want to be with you for as long as you’ll have me, as a friend or more. I just needed you to hear that.”

Bloodhound feels their mouth fall open. Their breath quickens and they start to feel dizzy; they lean back against the counter to steady themself. Meanwhile, Fuse dumps the rest of his water and sets his glass in the sink. He begins to walk out of the kitchen past Bloodhound.

“Wait,” Bloodhound says, reaching out to grab Fuse’s arm.

Bloodhound isn’t sure what to say in response to the man they’re holding on to, but they know he can’t leave yet. They look into his eye, searching for more answers. The word jealous is circling their head now like it was all morning. Bloodhound figures it’s a good enough place to start while they sort through everything else Fuse just said.

“Why were you jealous?”

Fuse’s face still looks tense but lightens a little when he says, “Isn’t it obvious? I’m crazy about ya and you showed me your ex. Apparently, I can’t hold my liquor like I used to or else I wouldn’t have stormed out of here. Like I said, I know you’re over him. I’m pretty embarrassed I acted like that,” Fuse smiles small when he says, “Sorry again.”

Bloodhound begins to accept that Fuse feels the same way that they do about him. Instead of the happiness and relief they should feel, their heart feels heavy with worry. Bringing up Boone is trudging up the extreme grief they felt when they found him deathly injured, especially after Bloodhound couldn’t protect him.

From the moment they met and Fuse started causing chaos, Bloodhound had been intrigued. They weren’t particularly intimidated by the man like some of the other legends had been. Instead, they had found themself watching his every move eager for what joke he would crack next or what he would blow up. They’d always been watching him. But that same mayhem that intrigued Bloodhound is what’s holding them back now.

“Walter, I care for you as well. I do want something…more with you. However, I am hesitant because of Boone. It’s not that I still have feelings for him, it’s that I’m afraid I won't be able to protect you like I couldn’t protect him,” Bloodhound looks down and quietly adds, “I’m not sure I can love you the way you should be loved.”

Fuse grabs Bloodhound’s hand that was on his arm. Bloodhound looks up to see a huge smile breaking across Fuse’s face. His cheeks are a little pink and he bites his bottom lip before speaking.

“So you really do like me, huh? I wasn’t just imaginin’ things? Heh heh,” Fuse laughs. “Well in that case, I’ll remind you I am a grown man. Quite an old one, at that. I sure appreciate it but I don’t need protectin’. We’ve talked about this before, Houndy. It’s not your job to protect your lover. From what you’ve told me, Boone died doing what he wanted, against your wishes.”

Fuse’s voice gets softer, “You did your best at protecting him, but you don’t need to feel responsible for what happened to him or anything that happens to me.”

Bloodhound feels the warmth of Fuse’s hand and his soothing words overtaking them. They feel themself letting go of that hesitation, like they could truly trust and believe what Fuse is saying. Bloodhound takes a deep breath and finds the feelings of worry they had moments ago have nearly disappeared. 

“Will you promise to behave and be more careful?” Bloodhound asks while looking at Fuse, their voice still a little tight.

Fuse smiles at them, “Can’t make any promises. But, I’ll try my best if you’re watching.” 

He pulls their hand up to his mouth and kisses the knuckles of Bloodhound’s hand, his eyelashes fluttering shut. Bloodhound feels a smile forming at the feeling of Fuse’s wiry mustache brushing against their hand.

Fuse opens his eyes to see Bloodhound’s softer expression. He softly runs his fingers up Bloodhound’s arm and steps in closer until their arm is draped over Fuse’s shoulder. His other hand gently lands at their side above their hip bones. 

His eye never leaves Bloodhound as he makes these slow movements, one at a time, to bring their bodies together. Bloodhound wraps their other arm around Fuse’s neck and looks at him for a few moments, feeling Fuse’s other hand settle on their side. His hands slowly start to wrap around Bloodhound’s back, and they pull his neck down to fully hug him. Fuse buries his face into the hair blanketing their neck and shoulder.

Bloodhound feels their eyes hang shut as they begin to drown in the warm safety of Fuse’s embrace. Bloodhound turns their head to whisper in Fuse’s ear, “You should be on your best behavior. I’ll always be watching you, Walter.”

Bloodhound feels a shiver run through Fuse’s body, then feels a smile pressing against their neck. Fuse pulls away, his metal hand holding their neck over their hair. His human hand is holding Bloodhound’s cheek and tracing circles over their skin. His nose is nearly touching Bloodhound’s when he quietly says, “Can I?”

Bloodhound doesn’t answer and instead brings their lips together. Fuse seems shocked and doesn’t move for a moment, but then releases a slow exhale through his nose. Bloodhound can feel that they’re kissing a smile. His mustache tickles their face a bit but his smooth lips and tongue are more distracting. His movements are hesitant, like he’s trying to repress his urgency. Bloodhound is slowly, deeply exploring Fuse’s mouth and trying to savor this moment.

Fuse pulls back first, his cheeks blushing a deep cherry red and his breath coming out in slow pants. Bloodhound already misses the warmth, thinking they could spend hours lost in his mouth. He smiles at them again, combing his human fingers through Bloodhound’s hair. 

“This alone is breathtaking,” he says, “Almost confessed right away walking in and seeing your hair like this. You look incredible.”

Bloodhound blushes deeply now, their feelings of desire turning feverish. They decide they desperately need more, and fast. They turn so that they’re in front of Fuse, pushing their body against his into the counter. 

They thread one hand behind his head and gently pull at the hairs on his neck signaling him to expose his neck. Fuse complies, and Bloodhound plants kisses to Fuse’s neck while breathing in his musk. Bloodhound feels a low chuckle rumble through Fuse’s neck. The vibration seeps through their lips and into their blood, setting it on fire.

“Fuck Houndy…if only you knew…” Fuse says in a breath while gripping Bloodhound’s back.

Bloodhound pulls back to look at him inquisitively. “Knew what?” they ask.

Fuse grins, “Had a dream about ya last night is all. This is even better in person,” he says while circling his arms around their back to pull them in closer.

Bloodhound is shocked at the implication and desire overcomes their mind. They lay kisses up his neck to his ear and over his jawline. 

They move their lips back to his ear, “Will you show me what your dream was about?”

Fuse puffs an exhale, gripping Bloodhound tighter. “Only if you show me to your room again. I couldn’t even think of running out this time,” Fuse says in a strained voice. Bloodhound’s blood pumps faster hearing Fuse’s low voice dripping with desire.

Bloodhound grabs Fuse’s hand off their back and takes a few steps backward, intending to pull him to their bedroom. Instead, they notice mischief playing in Fuse’s eye as he bends down and scoops Bloodhound into his arms, their legs hanging around his sides. They feel his metal arm supporting them and his other circling Bloodhound’s waist.

“W-Walter! This is not necessary, I must be heavy-” Bloodhound starts to say.

“Nah,” Fuse says, “light as a feather, love.”

Bloodhound’s arms settle on Fuse’s shoulders. They can’t help but lean in to taste him again. For how long love was a foreign word to Bloodhound, it came out of Fuse’s mouth so easily. Now that it’s floating around in Bloodhound’s head, it doesn’t feel foreign, or even unwanted. Fuse pulls away then to look at Bloodhound and happily hums at them.

“Weren’t we going to the bedroom?” Bloodhound prompts when Fuse stops walking to dazedly look up at them.

Fuse chuckles, “Sorry, got distracted.”

They make their way to Bloodhound’s bed where Fuse sits with Bloodhound straddling his lap. Without a second thought, they push Fuse into the bed with a hand over his chest, feeling the muscles through his thin t-shirt. Their hands slowly graze up his body over the shirt until they’re holding his head in both hands.

Bloodhound sinks down over him to align their bodies parallel with the bed, then leans in to kiss him. Meanwhile, Fuse’s hands are exploring Bloodhound’s back over their shirt, feeling the muscles that have been hardened from years of practiced shooting. Fuse’s breath quickens in their mouth as his hands drop to rub at Bloodhound hip bones.

Bloodhound pulls back to take a few deep breaths, tucking strands of hair behind their ear. They feel Fuse grab their hips, both hands digging into the muscle and flesh. Bloodhound gasps at the contrast of cold metal on one side of their body, and a warm human hand on the other. Fuse holds them in place as he gives one shallow, restrained thrust upwards. 

A beautiful moan escapes Fuse’s mouth and Bloodhound can feel themself holding their own moan back, sucking air through their teeth at the pleasure. They fall over Fuse’s body, one hand finding purchase on the blankets next to Fuse’s head and the other gripping his shirt.

“Walter…” they manage to say in a strained voice.

Fuse throws his head back into the bed while jutting his body upwards again. Bloodhound gasps again, hands gripping tighter.

“Fuck, say that again, just like that,” Fuse says with his eyes pinched closed.

Bloodhound breaths a smile, content in knowing something as simple as saying his name excites the man this much. They move the hand on his chest up so that they’re gripping the top of his shirt near his neck. They look dead into his eye and hum, “Mm…Walter…” in a low voice.

Fuse leans his head up off the bed to catch their lips, but Bloodhound pushes him back into the bed with the grip on his shirt as they sit up over him again, denying the kiss Fuse was seeking. They hear a low chuckle and feel themself smile as they peel off their shirt.

When they look back to Fuse, they find his mouth agape and his eye rapidly scanning their body. Fuse’s hands slowly leave their position on Bloodhound’s hips to gently trace the scars traversing Bloodhound’s uncovered body. Bloodhound shudders at the contact but doesn’t feel uncomfortable. They know Fuse isn’t scrutinizing in judgment, but simply curiosity.

“Always thought these were beautiful, Houndy. I know it must’ve hurt, but I’m fascinated,” Fuse says quietly.

Bloodhound feels tears beading behind their eyes but quickly pushes them down.

“No one has ever said that about my scars. Thank you, Walter.”

Fuse smiles, “Anytime. I mean it.” 

He loops one arm around their waist while the other traces a rib around their body, then up to hold the back of their neck. Using his grip on Bloodhound’s neck as leverage, Fuse pulls himself up to kiss the scars on their shoulder and neck, gently tucking their hair out of the way. Bloodhound’s body feels like a live wire in contrast to the slow, gentle kisses Fuse is laying up their neck towards their ear. Fuse’s mouth reaches a sensitive point on their neck that expels a moan out of Bloodhound’s mouth.

“More of that, please,” Fuse growls into their ear as his tongue traces the outer edge of it. Bloodhound grips Fuse’s hair as a louder moan releases from their body.

“Perfect, just like that, love,” Fuse says as his lips are still pressed to their ear.

Bloodhound feels overcome with the urge to feel that tongue in their own mouth again, so they pull Fuse down by the hand still tangled in his hair. His head lands back on the bed with a soft thump and a wild grin spreads across his face. Bloodhound dives into his lips with urgency and abruptly reaches under Fuse’s shirt, desperate to feel more of his skin.

Bloodhound’s hands explore Fuse’s abs and chest, feeling the deep scars scattered over his body. They begin to pull his shirt up when their fingers accidentally graze his nipple. Fuse’s entire body jerks and a quiet, almost embarrassed whine escapes from him.

Bloodhound realizes what they did and smile, eager to hear more new sounds from Fuse. They slide down the bed so that their face is level with his belt buckle. They undo his pants and pull them off completely. They take in the sight for a moment: his mussed shirt and hair, full and swollen lips, and bulging boxers on display just for Bloodhound.

Suddenly, Fuse’s distant and hazy eyes come into focus, apparently realizing what Bloodhound was planning.

“No way, Houndy. I'm gettin’ a taste, first,” Fuse says.

Bloodhound, looking at Fuse in a confused silence, doesn’t realize what Fuse is doing until he flips them so that they’re on their back and Fuse is perched above them. They swear under their breath for their complacency and can’t help but imagine the consequences of being this unaware during a match.

“Oh relax,” Fuse tuts, seemingly reading Bloodhound’s expression. “I’ll make it good for ya. Matter of fact, it’ll be no less than mind-blowing.”

Fuse smiles, laying his body against Bloodhound’s. They nearly moan at the maddening amount of warmth they feel on their skin. Fuse kisses up the column of Bloodhound’s neck again, undeniably seeking the spot that made them cry out in pleasure earlier.

“And if it’s any less than mind-blowing for you, I’d better hear it,” Fuse says against Bloodhound’s ear. “I promise, I’m very receptive to feedback. And, I pride myself on being a fast learner.”

Fuse’s tongue finds the soft spot behind Bloodhound’s ear again, causing Bloodhound’s body to pitch upwards. But, Fuse’s body traps them against the bed. Every movement brings a maddening amount of touch and the lovely feeling of being trapped under a warm body. But soon, that body disappears, leaving Bloodhound to blearily blink their eyes open in confusion.

Fuse is still towering above them and is panting with barely restrained desire.

“Groundrules. Boundaries,” he says roughly. “What can’t I do? Where can I not touch ya?”

Bloodhound’s heart expands at this incredible man’s obvious care for them. If the wet spot on the front of his briefs is any indication, he may just reach orgasm from a light breeze. But still, he stopped himself to check in with Bloodhound before going any farther.

Instead of responding immediately, Bloodhound traces the hem of Fuse’s shirt laying along his waist. The desire to see this man naked eclipses any other thought in their brain.

“Off,” Bloodhound orders.

Fuse bites his lip to suppress a groan, but does as he’s told. As Fuse strips off the last of his clothes, Bloodhound considers what areas they would like Fuse to avoid.

They can’t remember the last time they’ve had this conversation, if ever. Their sexual experiences after Boone had been hurried and more so about fulfilling a natural need, rather than truly seeking pleasure.

“I do not like my hair pulled roughly,” Bloodhound says. “And my thighs are quite sensitive to pain.”

“Got it,” Fuse says while tracing Bloodhound’s body with his heavy gaze. Bloodhound practically feels their pupils dilate with lust.

“Otherwise, do not be gentle with me,” Bloodhound adds, almost as an afterthought.

Fuse grins and presses his body against Bloodhound’s again with a low grunt, “Wouldn’t dream of it, Houndy.”

Later, when Bloodhound is comfortably sated and after their pleasure had been ripped from their body by Fuse's mouth, they kiss every inch of Fuse’s skin they can find.

“Same for you, Walter. I would like to know your boundaries,” they say while swirling their tongue around Fuse’s nipple.

Fuse grunts but smiles and runs a hand through Bloodhound’s unbound hair.

“None that I can think of. Pull my hair, fuck me, bind me, tie me up, smack me, bite me…anything you want, Houndy. I’m all yours.”

Bloodhound’s chest warms with affection as they continue to trail their tongue down Fuse’s body.

“And I, yours.”

Fuse wakes to find Bloodhound sprawled out on his body. Their head is on his shoulder and slow warm breaths are puffing against his neck. He has one arm under them with his hand resting on their head. Their hair splays out across the pillow like a wildfire and Fuse combs his fingers through it as he lays a kiss on their forehead. He doesn’t remember the last time he slept so peacefully.

He glances around the room since all his memories of it are foggy from either alcohol or the heat of Bloodhound’s body pressed against his. He admires the paintings and drawings framed on the wall, wondering if Bloodhound made all of them. The room is as cozy as a legend’s apartment can be, and Fuse imagines a fireplace in the corner would fit perfectly with the rest of Bloodhound’s decor.

His gaze lands on the bedside table and sees their journal open with his own face drawn in the open page. He picks it up carefully, without waking Bloodhound, and looks closer at his own eye staring back at him. He turns the page to see himself laughing. Fuse smiles, wondering when Bloodhound drew these.

Before he can speculate, Bloodhound stirs. He sets the book face down on his chest. Bloodhound pushes up from the bed so that their faces are level. They look a little disheveled, their face puffy from sleep, but still as beautiful as ever.

“Mornin’ sunshine,” Fuse says.

Bloodhound smiles and squints at the light coming through the blinds.

“Good afternoon, Walter,” Bloodhound responds.

“Only afternoon, huh? We weren’t even at it that long.”

Bloodhound laughs and Fuse has a fleeting thought that maybe he died in a recent match and this is some kind of pleasant afterlife he’s spending with Bloodhound.

“When did you start drawing me?” Fuse asks, picking up the book on his chest.

“After we trained with Mirage…after you fell asleep on me,” Bloodhound says.

Fuse smiles. “Funny. That’s the first day I decided I wanted to do this, and I’ve been smitten ever since,” he says while leaning up to kiss Bloodhound.

When he pulls away, Bloodhound says to him, “Well, if you would’ve stayed longer yesterday I would’ve shown you the drawings then. And maybe, we could have kissed a day sooner.”

“And I could’ve woken up this morning with you? Damn, missed out,” Fuse says.

Bloodhound lays their head back down on Fuse’s shoulder, “I’m sure we will have many mornings like this, Walter.”

“Yeah, I sure hope so,” Fuse responds, setting the book aside and rolling over to face Bloodhound.

Their lips meet, Fuse’s hand coming up to hold Bloodhound’s face. His tongue lazily slides into Bloodhound’s mouth, recounting any detail he may have forgotten during their nap. Bloodhound’s hand finds Fuse’s hair and a soft moan escapes his mouth. The effect on Bloodhound is instant, they hook their leg over his body to bring him closer and pull his hair a little. Fuse feels like he’s melting as the kiss quickens.

Bloodhound pushes up with their other leg and rolls Fuse over on his back so that Bloodhound is straddling him. Fuse's hands immediately fall to their bare thighs.

Bloodhound pulled on Fuse’s discarded shirt and a pair of their own briefs before they fell asleep, mentioning the cold air seeping through the window. As if he wasn’t turned on enough already, the sight of Bloodhound in his own shirt pushes Fuse closer towards the edge.

The shirt is a bit oversized, but Bloodhound fills out the top half with their toned arms and shoulders. Their thin, yet carved, waist is where the shirt hangs loose. Fuse’s hands travel under the shirt to feel the hard lines of muscle.

“Bloody hell, what a view,” Fuse says.

Bloodhound’s hands are on his bare chest and they slide their hips a little until they find Fuse’s undeniable hardness from only a few minutes of kissing. Bloodhound sighs into the air, their hands gripping Fuse’s chest harder as they keep grinding against him, painfully slow.

“Fuck, come here,” Fuse grunts out. Bloodhound obliges, letting their hair fall around Fuse’s face as their lips meet. His hands travel to their briefs but as he starts to peel them off, he hears his own stomach growl.

Bloodhound pulls back a little to face him, "Walter, you need to eat."

"Nah, I have everything I need right here," Fuse growls into their ear.

He hears Bloodhound gasp but soon they're shrugging out of his grip and climbing off him.

“I have plenty of food in the fridge, I'll make you something,” Bloodhound says while walking out of the bedroom before Fuse can protest. He can only watch helplessly as muscular legs carry his meal away.

Fuse sighs, considering taking care of his own erection, but decides he should calm himself down and continue where he left off with Bloodhound later. He makes his way to the bathroom to splash some cold water on his face.

"Oi Houndy, you got a pair of sweats I can borrow?" He shouts to them. He shrugs on the sweats from the drawer Bloodhound indicates, then joins them in the kitchen.

He hugs them around their waist and lays a few distracting kisses along their neck before Bloodhound shoos him out of the kitchen. Fuse resigns to playing his guitar on the couch until Bloodhound walks over to the dining area with two plates.

They eat together, idling chatting until Fuse brings up the previous night.

“By the way, I thought you were totally wasted last night and that’s why you were acting so differently than usual. Mirage assured me it’s because you were just in your own home and have a higher tolerance than me.”

“Yes, I was barely buzzed,” Bloodhound agrees.

Fuse laughs, “But when you touched my face…?” He nods towards the balcony doors.

“I also…did not have a grasp of my feelings for you at the time,” Bloodhound says. “You were looking at me with such an intense expression, I could not help myself from touching you.”

“Do you have a grasp of them now?” Fuse asks, a little nervous and seeking reassurance that this is really happening. And, most of all, that they do feel the same way he does.

Bloodhound stops eating to look up at him across the table, “I do,” they say. “I feel safe in your embrace and I feel that you care for me as much as I care for you.”

Fuse sighs in relief. “I really do. Hell, I might end up being the one to protect you. And, if it somehow wasn’t obvious, I think you’re absolutely stunning. And incredibly strong. Your smile has always driven me crazy, the way your eyes light up. Last night, I looked at you like that because I was admiring you more than the stars.”

Bloodhound blushes a little while looking down at their plate. “Walter…thank you,” they begin to say.

“And I love that. I’ll never stop making you do that,” Fuse smiles.

Bloodhound stands abruptly and walks over to where Fuse is sitting.

“At least I can do something about it now,” Bloodhound says, sitting themself in Fuse’s lap. They grab his face with both hands and pull him into a kiss.

Fuse smiles into the kiss while grabbing the muscles in their thighs. Bloodhound pulls away to gaze at him and Fuse takes the opportunity to tease, “Didn’t you complain earlier when I lifted you up? You seem to have no problem being on top of me.”

“I am likely a burden, I’m sor-,” Bloodhound starts to say. Fuse feels their body tense and their legs begin to rise. Fuse grabs their thighs and roughly pulls them back down.

“You stay right here, I like ya within my reach,” Fuse whispers in their ear. "And you are absolutely not a burden."

“Walter,” Bloodhound sighs happily. “Are you done eating?”

Fuse smiles with obvious mischief, “Not quite.”

A match is underway. There’s only a few teams left, so few that an innumerable amount of legends remain. Bloodhound guesses three teams are still alive, as they traverse a hill over Olympus with Fuse and Mirage by their side.

It’s been a while since Fuse has been on a team with them and it’s been months since Fuse’s guitar has left Bloodhound’s apartment. They were confident their chemistry would only serve to help them in matches, which has proven true. Their fears of protecting each other have rarely got in the way of their matches. Luckily, when on opposing teams, they’ve barely run into each other.

“Hey Houndy, don’t know about you but I’m in the mood for an after-match ritual tonight,” Bloodhound hears Fuse say over their radio.

Bloodhound grins under their mask, “I would like that very much, Walter.”

“Ritual? You guys gonna go sacrifice animals or something? Or, knowing Fuse, you’re probably gonna go blow shit up, right?” Mirage interrupts.

Bloodhound quickly says, “I really do not think you want to know.”

Bloodhound desperately does not need Mirage to know that their ritual consists of making a meal, showering together, and releasing the pent up tension that builds during a match on each other for as long as they can stay awake before collapsing until morning.

They can hear Fuse chuckle over the radio, “Hey he wants to know, I’ll let him know.” Bloodhound gulps in anticipation.

“Houndy cooks me a nice dinner and I eat a delicious meal. We take turns in the shower, and head to bed. That’s it, right Houndy?”

Bloodhound sighs, relieved at only a few innuendos and details that they hope Mirage doesn't catch, “Yes, that is all.” 

“Man, that sounds nice. I’d love to have a routine like that. I prefer to curl up on the couch with a bag of chips or a lady friend. But I gotta say, your little ritual sounds like something a married couple would do.” Mirage responds.

Bloodhound’s eyes go a little wide and a loud, cheerful laugh from Fuse comes through the radio, “It does, doesn’t it?” he says.

Just in time to escape the conversation at hand without having the chance to think about that comment any deeper, Bloodhound spots an enemy in the distance and pings their location. 

A group of two, Lifeline and Octane, duck into a building. Bloodhound sits behind a hill and switches out their close-range R-99 for a flatline with long-range sights. They see the two gathering loot but they're ducking around the windows so that Bloodhound can’t get an open shot.

“The hunt begins. Moving in here,” Bloodhound says to the others.

“And with Fuse, it’s a party,” Fuse responds.

“You’re not leaving me behind,” Mirage says, following close behind.

They see the two enemies duck into the next adjacent building connected by a short metal bridge. Octane leaves the double doors open behind him.

Mistake, Bloodhound thinks.

If he had closed the doors, Octane might've been able to hear Bloodhound, Fuse, and Mirage sneaking in behind him. But instead, they follow silently.

Fuse enters first, pointing his peacekeeper out of the window nearest the adjacent building. Before he can line up a shot, a flash of light, Vantage’s sniper beam, appears on his chest from the roof of the adjacent building and he is falling backwards before Bloodhound can take a breath.

A trap, Bloodhound thinks.

Panic overtakes them seeing the blood sputtering out of Fuse’s chest, but they take a steadying breath as Fuse finds a shield battery. Before Bloodhound can release the breath, Octane bursts through the doors, aiming for Fuse.

”Strewth, I’m down,” Fuse says in a shakey voice.

However, he hasn’t noticed Bloodhound staked in one corner of the room, and Mirage creates a large distraction with his decoys. 

“Dupes to the rescue!” Mirage yells as a room explodes with images of him. Octane looks up from where he was shooting Fuse to aim at one of the many Mirages and starts firing wildly.

To avoid any stray shots, Bloodhound slips out of the door behind them, painfully leaving behind their downed partner. But, if anyone can safely revive Fuse, it's Mirage.

“Scanning the area,” Bloodhound says, focusing on the building Octane came out of. They see one figure in the building rushing towards their team and one on the roof.

As quietly as they can manage, Bloodhound sneaks around the building to hop onto the roof behind where Vantage is crouched. They notice she's still gazing through her long-range sniper scope, undoubtedly searching for Bloodhound.

Before she can turn around, Bloodhound unloads their R-99 into her back. She doesn't stand a chance and falls off the roof, blood gushing from her wounds.

“The Allfather graces you,” they say quietly.

“Downed an enemy,” Mirage says while Bloodhound hops off the roof. “Gettin’ shot at, hostile right here right in front of me.”

Bloodhound tries to sort through the messages rapidly coming through the radio, but is interrupted again.

“Ugh, I'm down,” Mirage says at last.

Bloodhound takes a breath. Both their teammates are down, Octane was likely downed, they took down Vantage. That means Lifeline is still out there and could revive either of her teammates rather quickly. Bloodhound breaks into a sprint through the back of the building Vantage was staked out on.

“Clown here, revivin'!” Fuse shouts.

As Bloodhound approaches, they see Lifeline deploying her robot to revive Octane. Bloodhound fires from their flatline at her, hitting some shots but not all. She dashes around the building, dodging the shots.

Octane is nearly revived, and they know they'll never survive the two on one, so they switch tactics. Instead of wasting time reloading the flatline, they quickly switch to their trusty R-99 and unload as much light ammo as the gun will allow.

Seconds later, Lifeline's deathbox clunks on the metal floor with Octane's following shortly. They hear the thud of Vantage's deathbox on the grass outside.

“Bloody hell, darlin’,” they hear Fuse whisper over the radio.

They peer around the door to see both teammates bleeding out and gaping at Bloodhound in awe. Against their better judgement, they rush to Mirage first to revive the support legend. Once he is up and popping a phoenix kit, they turn their attention to Fuse.

“Rise, love. You are needed,” they say quietly. Fuse's smile is nearly blinding as he sits up slowly and starts healing his shields.

“I could kiss ya, get over here,” Fuse says full of affection.

“Later, my love,” Mirage cuts in with his best Bloodhound impression. “Now is not the time mitt Walter, we have more enemies to slátra before we can go home and - OW!”

Fuse rubs his knuckles where they slammed against the shields protecting Mirage's face.

True to their after match ritual, Fuse heats up a meal that Bloodhound meal-prepped for them earlier in the week. By the time they make their way to Bloodhound’s shower half an hour later, most of their clothes are already discarded.

Fuse was ravenous when they got back to Bloodhound’s apartment, in more ways than one. He demanded that they should eat dinner, but hasn’t been able to keep his eyes off Bloodhound. They could feel his heavy gaze, making Bloodhound feel a bit too warm. Fuse is always especially turned on after matches where Bloodhound shows off their skill as a hunter. Bloodhound certainly doesn’t mind, especially when Fuse takes his time draining any remaining energy out of Bloodhound’s body.

It seems like Fuse is set on that task now too, as he heats the shower and turns to finish undressing Bloodhound. They both know Bloodhound doesn’t need anyone to take care of them, but they feel so comforted by Fuse’s gentle touch.

Fuse gently combs through Bloodhound’s hair, pressing kisses all over their face. Bloodhound melts into the touch and lets their eyes flutter shut.

”Love you,” Fuse murmurs into their skin.

Once Bloodhound can feel the steam of the shower in the air, they push Fuse’s hips until he’s stumbling backward into the shower and pulling Bloodhound along with him. When Fuse’s back hits the shower wall, their bodies press flush together. Bloodhound feels Fuse’s erection pressing into their hip, and they gasp against Fuse’s mouth.

Bloodhound pulls away to let their blood cool, and lets the stream of hot water flow through their hair. They hear Fuse’s low chuckle a few feet away.

”What’s so funny?” Bloodhound asks.

”Nothing,” Fuse says. “Just thinkin’ about how well I can read you now.”

Bloodhound opens their eyes and sees Fuse flushed and fully hard. He’s just trailing his hand over his stomach and watching Bloodhound, but otherwise, not touching himself. Bloodhound pushes their wet hair off their shoulders and stands in front of Fuse again.

”You could always read me, Walter.”

Fuse’s eyes glow with warmth, partially from arousal and partially from the love he feels for Bloodhound.

Bloodhound holds Fuse’s jaw in their hand and kisses him. They trail their other hand down his body until their fingers meet Fuse’s erection. All the while, Fuse grunts and moans into Bloodhound’s mouth.

When Fuse’s kisses become little more than wet pants, Bloodhound nips at his neck and works his way down Fuse’s body until they’re kneeling in front of him. Bloodhound licks and sucks at Fuse lightly, knowing he’s already close. Soon, his breathing becomes ragged and he’s spilling into Bloodhound’s mouth.

Bloodhound continues stroking him until he’s pulling Bloodhound’s face up to meet his again, and crushes their lips together.

”Houndy,” Fuse says breathlessly. “What was that for?”

Bloodhound feels dizzy with desire and such deep and profound love for the man standing in front of them. The man that was determined to understand them and befriend them, even though they were often so cold and distant. The man who makes sure they never forget their beauty, intelligence, and prowess. The man that was willing to stay friends forever, even if it meant setting aside his romantic feelings. The answer to Fuse’s question couldn’t be more obvious.

”I just wanted to do something for the man I love,” Bloodhound says.

Fuse crushes their lips together again, and again, and again.