o hay I'm actually bein a dude lol Pyro x Sniper IT'S A TRAP

[notintehkitchen]

Pyro had gotten used to the years pretending she was a male for all intents and purposes, she had convinced herself to a fault that her female self had to be hidden away at all times in order to keep up the charade. It had worked so far and no one was the wiser. Sure, she might not look as masculine as the others but not every man was born super manly. She was still passable enough visually to look like a young man who would do better in a boy band on American Bandstand then on the battlefield.

Leaning against the base after a hard days work, Pyro smoked and listened to an always frantic Scout go on about Miss Pauling. It was a good thing she could just stare and nod, Scout loved to talk and if she had to give advice on girls she would be pulling shit so far out of her ass. Scout would probably take anything though. It was pretty cute how desperate he was for that woman to accept him and he was obvious, she could only assume that Miss Pauling was a smart enough lady to not mix work and pleasure. A good woman.

Comments

[hasstandards]

His hand went to his hat, pushing it down over his face. "I've got a career to focus on, Pyro. And so do you."

He sighed, prodding the food in front of him. "Me mum's always askin' when I'm gonna settle down. My parents don't understand that I'm a bloody professional, one who doesn't have time for gallivanting around with some American sheila."

[notintehkitchen]

"I know, but you have to balance it out a bit by having some fun." Frowning, she crossed her arms. At the comment about American girls, Pyro pondered if he didn't like the ladies here.

There had to be something she could do to help him relax but how could she? It was nice seeing Sniper smile in the rare times he did, if she helped could he do that more often?

"Um." Pausing, she closed her eyes and focused on the situation at hand. Or she thought she had, really the next words that escaped her mouth should of never been said in the first place.

"I have a cousin that lives somewhat around here..."

[hasstandards]

He raised an eyebrow at Pyro, his eyes flicking to his teammate.

"You do?"

[notintehkitchen]

"Yeah, I do." If that cousin happened to be her. As much as she hated lying, wasn't it her duty to make sure people like Sniper and Engineer were in tip-top shape and happy with their lives? She was doing this because it was her job, there wasn't any other ulterior motive to bringing up a fake cousin.

"If you want, I could plan for you two to meet over something casual."

[hasstandards]

Sniper grunted. "I just said I'm not—"

Well, he'd said he wasn't interested in an American sheila, and given that Pyro was some kind of Easterner -- he recalled the lad mentioning Japan -- that meant his cousin likely would be, too. He needed a different excuse.

Another sigh. "I've got a job to do. I'm not lookin' to meet a girl just to appease me mum."

[notintehkitchen]

"I understand that, but there is downtime. Maybe you two could be friends." As she pushed a little harder, she began to wonder what it was that made her do it. This would truthfully be out of her territory of work. Yet... she still was persistent in wanting to do something about it. Pyro confused herself.

She had a thought, there was a picture that she had carried of her past self ever since arriving in the states. It was a past her that could never come to fruition again unless she gave up the lifestyle she loved. If she went back to being a woman... could she even do that? Biting down on her lip, she reached into her jacket and searched about. Feeling a slick piece of paper, Pyro pulled it out and pushed it towards him while looking away.

It was her, but it was not her as she was now. Long black hair, smooth ivory white skin and dressed up in her high school uniform holding her diploma with a smile and a peace sign. With her pretty boy disguise, she could pass it off as her fake cousin.

At least she hoped.

"What do you think? This was her a few years back, she hasn't changed much."

[hasstandards]

Realizing he wasn't getting out of this so easily and figuring there was no harm in looking, Sniper took the picture, not noticing how Pyro averted his eyes.

He had to admit to himself immediately that he could see the relation between Pyro and his cousin: they certainly did look alike. Same features, same eyes -- all that seemed to be missing were some inches on the hair and the burn marks that covered his teammate's face. Seeing someone with a similar face, save for the scars, only served to reinforce that feeling Sniper got in his gut when he eyed his teammate for too long: it encouraged him to steal another glance, to try to endear himself to Pyro. He wasn't sure of the word for it, but he absolutely wasn't about to call it 'attraction.'

It wasn't that, he assured himself. That was not a word to use when talking about another bloke.

He looked back toward Pyro, then to the picture, eyeing it a little longer this time. The lad seemed insistent, and it wasn't as through she wasn't good-looking. Maybe if he told is mother he'd gone on a date, she'd ease off the pressure on him to settle down. It would at least look like he was trying.

"She's, er..." He fumbled with his hat. "She's not sore on the eyes, I'll tell you that."

tempted to renew for icons now

[notintehkitchen]

God in heaven or Buddha or whatever high existence, how did this work? The corner of her mouth twitched when she realized the compliment about her fake cousin was actually about a her that could of been--may have been and yet, she would not be here at this moment if she had kept those looks.

Laughing nervously, she got up and patted him on the shoulder. Was it hot in here? She was sweating and she was certain no flames were about. "Oh! Right, right! I'd never try to hook you up with some dumpy girl!" Like herself now, the one that pretended to be a boy. She could never come out and just say, Guess what, Sniper? I'm a girl. Surprise?! That wasn't allowed. She had been put here for experimentation and worked both with Medic and the higher-ups to see if her fellow comrades as men would be drawn to her despite the disguise. Biologically, Pyro was still a girl and men had instinct. But would that instinct really drive them to lust over a man? However that idea came into fruition, she didn't know. But she was here now doing what she loved thanks to it.

"I'm better then that."

Except now, you really got me feeling pretty crummy... I already know the fake me won't be around forever.

Giving a thumbs up, she winked and then began to step backward toward the door. "Uh. I'll go phone my cousin, are you okay with setting something up? Hell, she probably wouldn't even mind some of your bushmen thing, she is kind of an outdoors girl..." Pyro did like the forest... it wasn't a lie...

I have already caved into temptation.

[hasstandards]

"I don't know, mate. I don't know much about, um." He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to think of a better way to admit he wasn't very versed in the art of dating. He could hit a mark from nearly a mile away on a clear day, but talking to women was just beyond him. He'd never really practiced it.

He started cleaning up the table, packing up the plates and food, hoping the busyness helped cover for his inability to express his thoughts. "I know it's not a date, but -- wait, it's not a date, is it?"

SAME

[notintehkitchen]

"I suppose maybe we should call it a blind date?" No, no, NOOOOOOOO. She had never been on a date in her life. All she had ever done was held hands with another man and that had been nerve-wrecking enough. Sure, now she grabbed people all the time but it was different because she didn't harbor romantic feelings towards them--Okay, FINE. Maybe Engineer, but she had lived with it because she assumed old men were probably married and there was never going to be a big reveal to the rest of the team.

Her mind was screaming while her heart told her to continue. It is for the good of another person! For a comrade! For a friend!

Beating at her chest once with a clenched fist, she continued to back off. It was going to be hard to get any of her friends in the small town to understand she wanted to dress like a woman for some reason and required a bra and stockings to go along with a dress. What about make-up?

She had not been a woman in four years. FOUR YEARS.

"Don't worry. Just be yourself. You know, you are pretty cool because you are all loner and mysterious like! That vibe! I think girls like something like that-- and when you play hard to get. Make it a game! Don't give in too easy!" Please shoot her now, she was the last one to give love advice.

[hasstandards]

"S'not the same as bein' on the hunt," he noted, not wanting to think of it as a game in the least. He had to admit that it was odd for Pyro to be both complimenting him and giving him dating advice -- the lad was the last person he'd ever thought he'd be talking with about women, and yet, here they were. Pyro seemed so adamant he go on this date, too. Sniper sighed -- he did owe Pyro for watching his back, and he did want his mother to stop henpecking him about how he wasn't getting any younger and that he might like some people if he just tried to get to know them.

And well... Pyro's cousin did seem like a right beaut from the picture. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

He couldn't help but feel a little bolstered from Pyro's encouragement, too. "But you know? I shouldn't worry. S'just a woman. S'not as though it's anything serious. And maybe Mum'll get off my back if I tell her I went out with a girl."

He grinned, feeling better already. "Yeah. You go make yer call, and I'll set up somethin' for the weekend. Maybe Saturday."

[notintehkitchen]

This was actually happening. A date with a comrade--but only for the greater good. She would pound that into her very being.

"G-great! So, I'll go off to do that." Rubbing at her short and uneven hair, she closed her eyes as she felt her cheeks glow from embarrassment. Romance was not Pyro's strong point. She had felt love and even loved a man, but she wasn't any good at it and could never expect to have a significant other.

Before he could say anything else, she headed towards the door with a dash while leaving a trail of a rather pleasantly flowery scent. This was one a man on the battlefield didn't have too often, she kept ridiculously clean for someone posing as a male. Some of her more feminine habits were harder to keep dead.

When she got away, she instantly headed to her room and flopped on the bed. Her breathing was hard and her face wouldn't stop it's stinging burn.

What had she gotten herself into?

[hasstandards]

Sniper sighed again, heavily this time, as the door closed behind Pyro. He ran a hand through his hair as he felt himself redden with embarrassment, his skin betraying how he felt about this entire situation. He wasn't one for dates; dealing with people was very different than dealing with animals. People were an entirely different kind of beast, one he wasn't sure how to handle.

He'd had to learn how to deal with people upon joining RED: he'd spent years alone in the Outback, only caring about his own survival. It was easier that way. However, with RED, he had to work with a team. It went against his solitary nature, but the money was enough that he could adapt.

Still, people were foreign to him in many ways. He was working on it, little by little, year by year.

Finishing cleaning up after their meal, Sniper started digging through his clothes, trying to figure out what he would wear on this date. Or what would they do? Go out to eat? Kill something? Just how much of an outdoors girl was she? He was a hunter by both trade and nature, but he had a very different perception of the wild than most. He was freer there, able to be himself. He was the top predator -- the best.

And he was not those things in the world of courting.

He glanced at the calendar, his brow furrowing. Thursday. He still had two days to think of something, some way to get himself through this outing. Not just any outing, either -- a date with a teammate's cousin.

What had he gotten himself into?

[notintehkitchen]

Pyro had a busy rest of the week until Saturday trying to get everything together and take it inside the base without anyone questioning what was in all the bags. How she didn't get caught, she had no idea but by Friday night she had accomplished getting everything she would need to meet up with Sniper tomorrow.

A long black wig, plenty of make-up to cover her scars, black stockings that would hide the scars on her legs, a bra, a long sleeved dress, a pair of boots and a few pieces of jewelry. That was all she needed she was pretty sure as she ran a hand to the clip that controlled her voice and took it off to look at it.

With the door shut and the device in her palm, she spoke softly with her the voice that truly belonged to her. "Yeah. This is weird. My ears don't even recognize my own voice." With a sigh, she sat down on the bed and continued looking at the device. Turning it off for now, she decided to keep it with her just in case. She had to be prepared for an emergency.

If tomorrow would be anything, it would be a rush. A thrill. There was always that chance she could get recognized or caught. But that wouldn't happen because she was a professional in disguise. She was getting paid both to hide her identity and to kill. They should of been paying her double even if she didn't know what the hell she'd do with the money.

[hasstandards]

In two days, Sniper had managed to acquire both a tie and a decent button-up shirt, courtesy of Engineer. While Sniper had considered asking Spy for help, he knew better than to ask for dating advice from a man whose trade was stealing secrets. He certainly didn't want the spook wondering just who it was he'd be courting for the evening. Besides that, they weren't friends -- just coworkers, and of his choices, Engineer was the better of the two when it came to minding his own business.

Though he had something to wear, he still hadn't a clue on how a date should go. He'd not been on one years -- he had to pause to think of how long it'd been, and it was at least a decade and a half any way he looked at it -- and even then, casual conversation wasn't really his forte. It'd be even harder with a complete stranger.

And a lovely one, too. He'd spent two days trying to scrub his mind of the girl in the photograph, but to no avail.

Saturday came, and his nervous habits along with it. He'd told Pyro that he'd set up a reservation for six o'clock at a very nice restaurant in the town nearby. It was the kind of place where the menus were mostly in French and one was expected to dress appropriately -- it was probably far too fancy for the occasion, but his choices were a bit limited around Sawmill.

Sniper arrived fifteen minutes prior, parking his camper and adjusting his tie for the umpteenth time. If he waited on the sidewalk, surely he'd see her and recognize her. Or maybe Pyro would have told her who to look for.

And if she didn't come at all, he could go back to the base and write this off as a foolish endeavor after all. At least he'd be able to say he tried.

[notintehkitchen]

Pyro would show up on the sidewalk facing the road. Casting her gaze downwards, she immediately was surprised with the looks she got from men from walking all the way to where she had hid her motorcycle. This was how a woman was supposed to look like according to society. Pyro didn't mind girly clothes, but it felt when she was a woman that she was treated differently and not taken as seriously.

Running her hand through her long black hair as someone wolf-whistled at her, she perked up slightly and looked to see where the sound came from. It was just another civilian she didn't recognize. She didn't fear men. Even without a weapon she could kill the average man easily. They would be wrong in more ways then one to take advantage of her now that she had become sexy. A dress made entirely out of black lace that clung to her body, black stockings hiding her scars but complimenting her thick legs. She was a curvy girl, curvy might not be a strong enough word. She was a bit of a big girl, even she knew the truth. Men liked all sorts of women, it just depended on their tastes. She supposed her belt wrapped around her waist gave the illusion she was thinner and bustier then what was accurate. Of course, there was no way to hide her butt. In men's clothes she had always worn such baggy clothing to hide the futures of her body...

This is a little embarrassing... Biting her lip as she kicked at the ground, she pondered when her familiar date would pop up.

Ooo, I dig the new journal style. :>

[hasstandards]

The whistling and cat-calling drew Sniper's attention in the same way a rustle in the bushes would -- instinctively automatically. His mind, however, was elsewhere, ready and waiting for his date to arrive. It was only a second after he glanced down the sidewalk that he realized the commotion was caused by said date.

Well, at least he was pretty sure that was her. She was prettier than the picture had led him to expect: long, raven hair; heavier than the average woman, wearing stockings to show off the curves of her legs -- and she really did look quite a lot like her teammate.

He stomach leapt somewhere into his throat -- she was much more attractive than he wanted to admit, especially since he was still against the entire prospect of dating. He was there because he didn't want to disappoint a teammate whom he owed a favor or two. That was all.

Not that that stoicism came across as he waved her over, a nervous smile pulling at the corners of his lips.

I used to do my own HTML but over like 10-15 years I just forgot everything. I want personalization

[notintehkitchen]

Ah, hell. Here went nothing. If anything, she knew how to act the role of the proper young lady. Her parents had wanted her to become a Yamato Nadeshiko; The Perfect Japanese Woman. As much as she loathed all the training she was put through it did have it's uses. As a women of Asia, her looks were quite exotic but blended strangely with her westernization in clothing. She accepted all parts of the world and saw no point in clinging only to her home country's ideals.

Sniper's footsteps were natural to her ears. Every one of her teammates walked a certain way and she had picked up on their movements to a precision. It helped during battle more than one could think. Spy-checking tended to be easily if the walk wasn't perfect or the way the impostor mercenary held himself.

Waving back at him, she smiled and headed on over. The voice changer she had double-checked to make sure was off and for now, her real voice was about to shine through. "Hello! You must be my cousin's friend and co-worker." Placing a bawled up fist underneath her chin, she tilted her head cutely and blinked. "I guess he didn't lie! You really are handsome!" She would brush Sniper's ego, but with her eyes focused on being a woman the idea that Sniper had a nice outer appeareance wasn't a lie. She liked when could avoid lying while already lying. She wanted to be as truthful to his feelings as possible.

Yeah, same. I only know how to do a few things here and there.

[hasstandards]

Pyro could consider his ego brushed regardless; he fumbled with his hat as she greeted him, covering his face so he couldn't feel her eyes on him.

"Er." God, he did not know how to talk to women. He could talk to his mother, and Miss Pauling was another matter entirely, but when one was right before him, calling him handsome when he couldn't even think of a proper word to describe her?

This was all in his head, he reminded himself. He had no business dating, and definitely no business dating a coworker's relative, and she looked a fair deal younger than he was. What was he doing here?

"We're not friends," he managed to muster after a few seconds of dumbfounded silence, falling back on familiar phrases to give him some comfort. "I mean -- business associates, is all. Teammates."

Yep. This was going well.

AINT NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT

[notintehkitchen]

"Is that so?" Inside she was a little hurt. A Pyro should be special to a Sniper especially when they did a pretty great job watching his back. She couldn't show her anger or her sadness so instead she reached out her hand and smiled despite the pain.

"I'm sure my cousin thinks highly of you to set you up with me. He wouldn't do this type of thing so casually..." Realizing she needed a name, a Japanese one and that she lacked all originality she quickly continued. "I'm Momoko." Good job, adding just ko to the end, I'm such an idiot.. Hopefully he wouldn't want to know the name of the Pyro he worked with or she'd be in a lot of trouble. "I know you two go by work names and that it's dangerous stuff. So, I don't mind if you give me a fake name." Actually, she expected it.

She was so good at this date stuff. NAILING IT.

[hasstandards]

His hand went from his hat to the back of his head, rubbing some inkling of guilt away. Now he definitely needed to do his best on this date, especially since Pyro had apparently taken his offer very seriously. Sniper couldn't back out now, either: his pride wouldn't let him.

And honestly, he'd let down his teammate before his own pride. He only had to deal with one of those for the rest of his life, after all.

"Sniper," he offered immediately, wondering in the instant that followed if he should have given her some semblance of a real name. He decided against it -- this was just a date, and he didn't want her telling her cousin his real name by accident. A name was a dangerous thing in his line of work, as he'd found out the moment the company had threatened his parents to keep him from discussing his contract.

A fake name was easier. Less attachment. "Just Sniper is fine," he concluded, taking her hand and giving it a shake. " I, er. Got us a reservation, if ya don't mind dinner."

[notintehkitchen]

"Sniper! Okay then, I take it that is some sort of work name." She giggled and shook his hand back firmly. Momoko had just as strong an aura that gave off that Pyro did. Both were similar in their friendliness and the likeness in looks was rather uncanny. Blame that on genes--or lies.

When he mentioned dinner her eyes lit up and she stood on her tip toes like a child and looked up at him with big hopeful eyes. "I love dinner! I love food! Okay, but I'm not going to eat like some delicate maiden. Sorry but one of my loves in life is food. I don't do salads." Getting closer to his side, she tried to make it obvious just how friendly she was by reaching for his arm and holding it. In comparison to Sniper, Momoko did look and indeed act like a child. Pyro had said the high school photo of her was only a few years old and she certainly hadn't been lying. It looked like she didn't mind being in the company of a much older man.

[hasstandards]

Sniper's immediate inclination was to move away as she held onto his arm -- it wasn't that he was opposed to it, so much as he just wasn't used to having a woman hang onto him like that. If he was perfectly honest, he wasn't used to getting much attention as it was -- he was considered abnormal in Australia, and ever since he'd arrived in the States, he'd focused on his career. His job required him to remain out of sight, away from the attention focused on the battlefield, and he preferred it that way.

Not that this was bad, of course. He tried his best to not look as out of his element as he was as he headed for the restaurant with her. "Good. Great. Aces, even. I don't got much to, er. I mean, I've got plenty, so you can get what ya like. Don't go on dates much."

Or ever. Ever was closer to the truth. He held the door open for her, trying to be a gentleman.

[notintehkitchen]

"I apologize. I do not intend to be selfish. I can pay." Momoko then repeated something very similar to that of his comrade. "I am not after money. In fact, I do not want you to feel you must pay for me. If I liked someone just for being rich, I doubt I could call myself a decent human being." The tone of her voice had been both serious and underlined with a hint of sadness. Observing Sniper fully, she thought it was possible he assumed a woman might only want him for his wealth.

Deciding she should keep her friendly smile and revert back to her chipper tone as soon as possible, Momoko squeezed his arm lightly into the front of her frame as she spoke. "But thank you... Sniper. I can tell you are a gentlemen. I'm lucky to be able to meet you."

[hasstandards]

"S'not that I thought that," he returned quickly. "If a sheila wanted money, she could do better. S'just that I, er..."

He trailed off, feeling himself redden as she squeezed her arm against her chest. He fumbled with his hat, reluctant to take it off even though they were indoors. The concierge greeted them both, asking if they had a reservation.

Sniper managed to mumble something about six o'clock under "Mundy." The host looked down his list, eyeing them both for another moment before he managed to find the name. He motioned for them to follow him to their booth, grabbing a couple of menus before he took off.

Sniper motioned for Pyro to lead the way, not sure if he could bring himself to wrench his arm from her. He had been taught to let ladies go first. Despite having spent decades hunting in the wilderness, he still knew his basic manners.