Work Text:
Unfortunately, it was that time of the month for the Scout.
Unfortunately, he had to fight on the battlefield everyday in pain and discomfort for the whole week.
Unfortunately, Spy knew.
It was the night after a particularly tough battle. RED had lost the control point at the last second and BLU won the round, taunting and laughing at them as if they didn’t pull the win out of their asses at the last minute. Of course, Scout being Scout, he blamed himself. He was the fastest, he was the best, he was the Scout! He should’ve done better, he shouldn’t have let down his team, yet he did, in his eyes at least.
And of course, the constant cramps and bleeding didn’t help.
Scout was sneaking out of his room and to the bathroom, a box of pads in hand. He knew the other mercenaries were all asleep trying to sleep the embarrassment of losing away, he didn’t have to worry about them— or so he thought.
“What are you doing up?”
Scout jumped and, without thinking, spun around to the source of the noise. Of course, of course it was Spy. Only then had it occurred to him what he was holding, and even in the dim lighting Spy would be able to see what was in his hands. He shoved the box behind his back in a panic, flashing a totally normal smile Spy’s way.
“Oh hey Spy! What’s uh… what’s up?” If Spy wasn’t already aware of what was in Scout’s hand, his lack of insults would’ve thrown him off.
“You do not need to hide those from me, Scout. I am well aware of your… predicament.”
“What?! How did you— I mean, what predicament?”
“Scout, I am your father. Have you forgotten?”
Oh. Right. Honestly, Scout had tried to forget, but unfortunately not all things went the way he wanted them to. “Whatever. Fine. Ya’ caught me. Want your trophy now?” Scout scoffed, pulling the box out from behind his back and pushing the bathroom door open, stepping inside. “You know I want no such thing.” Spy replied, hands held behind his back. “So then make like ya’ did twenty years ago and buzz off.” Scout slammed the door.
Spy sighed from outside the bathroom and retreated to his smoking room. He wasn’t done talking to Scout, yet he knew that his son’s own persistence would bring him his way right after. And he was correct. Not long after he had left the boy, he was met with a soft and hesitant knock on his door. “Come in.” He didn’t have to check to know who it was.
The door creaked open and in popped Scout, lacking his usual cocky demeanor. Instead, his face was downcast and almost… sad. His hand dropped from the door handle and went to the arm hanging by his side, picking at the skin and goosebumps. Before Spy could even get a word in, Scout spoke up, his voice slightly shaken and cracked.
“Are ya’… disappointed in me?”
That was enough to break Spy’s façade.
Spy’s frown and sigh said enough for Scout. “You are. I knew it.” Scout was holding back tears, biting his tongue to avoid letting out a choked sob.
“You are assuming, mon lapin. I never said that.”
“Ya’ might as well. Look, ya’ don’t gotta tell me twice, I get it. Ya’ don’t like me being a boy.”
“You are assuming.” Spy repeated, pulling a cigarette and lighting it. Scout watched as he held it with grace in between his fingers, spinning it gently as a way of fidgeting. “Sit, mon fils.” He gestured to the spot next to him on his loveseat, scooting aside to make room.
Scout reluctantly obliged, sitting down next to his father, fidgeting with the bandages on his hands. His posture was stiff, afraid to get comfortable in case he was kicked out or shunned for what he was. “If you’re gonna say somethin’ mean, get on with it.”
Spy inhaled from his cigarette and puffed out the smoke through a sigh.
“I don’t care that you’re a boy, Jeremy. I don’t care that you were born a girl. What I care, as much as you are led to believe I don’t, is that you are happy, and by the looks of it, you are.” Spy took a moment to pause, allowing Scout to speak up if he wished. Instead, he stayed silent, his frame shaking in his seat. Spy continued.
“You may not know it, but I know you were miserable as a girl. I watched you and your family from afar, mon lapin. I knew that someday, somehow, you’d discover your happiness. And you did. I’m proud of you for discovering who you are, and nothing you do can take that away.” Spy hated vulnerability, but he was willing to shove that bubble of fear away for Scout. His son.
Soft sniffles and hics could be heard next to him, and reluctantly, Spy placed a hand onto Scout’s shoulder, rubbing soothing circles into the fabric.
“I-I thought… I thought you were disappointed, disappointed that I wasn’t… I wasn’t “daddy’s girl” anymore.” Spy paused his circling, looking up into Scout’s eyes.
“You remember that?”
Scout let out a pathetic laugh and shook his head. “N-nah.. Ma always told me you called me that though.” He paused. “She always told me that no matter where you were, ya’ always cared about me. That, out of all her children, I was the special one to you. I was your special girl.”
“And she was right, except now…” He cringed at his next words, but pushed through. “now you’re my special boy.”
That had sent Scout into a fit of tears. For the first time in 20 years, Scout had hugged his father.
Spy had held his son tightly, yet awkwardly. He wasn’t good with physical contact, especially one from the son he thought hated him— despised him for leaving him and his family all those years ago. Spy acted like he disliked him, was annoyed by his antics and cockiness.
But he knew. He knew where he got it. Only from the best, after all.