Otasune Long story

“You know, you could get killed like that.” He warned with a smile, trying to wake him. “Come on, we have to go.”

"mmmn...." Otacon groaned

He didn’t have the patience to sit there so he grinned and picked him up. “Get up, I am kidnapping you and taking you to the patriots!” he called with a laugh.

"Snake...you were the one complaining about me not getting any sleep.." Otacon groaned sitting up

He put him on the floor once he knew the scientist was able to fend for himself. “Yeah, but we’re missing a plane ride.”

"Oh..right..." Otacon replied putting his normal clothes on as fast as he could.

Snake left him to it and he went to grab the things and give Hal some space.

Otacon walked out of the bedroom and grabbed some of the equipment

Snake was getting the things on the vehicle and helping Otacon load it. “It’s a… But I think we can load it. The island is not that far from here and the pilot might be my ex today if I’m lucky.”

Otacon nodded and finished loading the vehicle. He got into the passenger side.

Snake got on and proceeded to drive them to the place they’d meet her. He looked around it and noticed the plane was there but she was not. “You can walk in front for me, can you?” he joked.

"In front of you?" Otacon asked waking up.

“Yeah, so I can use you as human shield.” He said, turning a corner and just parking to load the things in the plane. He didn’t even wait for her to show up as he knew the aircraft by memory.

Otacon helped him load the things on the plane. "I hardly think that I’d be of much use as a shield."

“Otacon, I’m joking” he said, with a smirk as he was finished with the belongings and was securing them. However he did not notice the red laser pointer over his body, Otacon could see it if he stopped to look but it was away from Snake’s face.

Otacon looked up and looked at Snake. "When's that girl supposed to show up?" he asked

“I don’t know. I’ll go check if she’s asleep in the pilot seat again.” He said, the laser pointer making the red dot travel to Snake’s neck as he walked a little distance to look into the cabin. “I can’t see her from here.” He told his partner.

Otacon saw the dot and blinked. "Snake get down!" he shrieked pointing to it

Snake looked at otacon’s pointing finger and he had a general idea of what it was so he rolled under the plane and grabbed Hal’s ankles. “Cover your face.” He said as he was about to yank. However the annoying laughter made him grimace. “On second thought take him, not me.” He told her as she leaped down with the gun.

Otacon blinked and looked around. "Snake! You asshole!" he shrieked before rushing under the plane. He looked at snake and punched his arm as hard as he could.

“Ow! What’d I do?!” He asked as she came to a stop in front of them. “Get up, coward.” She said, Snake nudged Otacon as if she was talking to him. She huffed.

"She's your ex Snake!" Otacon replied crossing his arms refusing to move

“Yeah… That’s why! She has no reason to harm you but I’m its main pray!” That sort of pissed her off and she simply reached under the chopper and grabbed him by the hair. He came out with a “Jesus!”

Otacon followed him out and brushed himself off. He watched them trying not to laugh at Snake

“We just needed a plane, woman!” He said as if asking God why his fate was so. She snorted and let go of the mercenary, only to check on Hal as if he were injured. “Are you alright, sweetie? That bastard… Let me look at your glasses.” She said, inspecting him.

Otacon blinked and handed her his glasses. "I...I'm alright.." he replied

“You’ll live, I guess.” She said, ignoring Snake and showing Hal into the hold. “You’ll need to sit in the back, Snake.” She pulled the seat next to her so Hal could sit there. “Where am I taking you…?” She asked and Snake replied; “Otacon” she apparently didn’t like that.

Otacon sat next to her. He looked back at Snake, "What?"

“She asked” He said. Soon she was taking off and told Otacon to strap up. Snake had to follow his example. She looked at him for a little while as if trying to figure something out from the scientist, or as If he knew something she did not. “Is this why-” She was going to ask but it landed Snake’s hand on her mouth.

Otacon blinked and looked at them after strapping in. "Why what?"

“Nothing, Otacon, nothing… you… just pilot the damn plane.” He said, annoyed that they were getting into this right now. She was quiet for the moment, still glancing at Otacon every now and then. “Is he your… Is he yours?” She asked pointing at Snake like some piece of property. That kind of did it. “Pilot the plane and shut the hell up!”

Otacon blushed slightly and looked away embarrassed. "I..um...not really..."

Snake was the one to shut up now. He just did what he’d always do and close himself in. He didn’t need this right now he had work to do… Where was his work? He was checking his inventory when she decided she had struck a nerve.

Otacon sighed and stared forward. He had feelings for Snake but knew this wasn't the right time to bring it up.

Yep, now she was positive she had struck a nerve. When they got there she was actually much more agreeable and worked with them, helping them out with the things. “Alright, this territory is not very full of people but the people here mind their own affairs so you won’t have too much trouble with that.”

"I'll have my codec on just in case as well." Otacon chimed in

Snake nodded and went to get things moving. He pulled her into a friendly hug for a moment. “I’ll see you around, hun.” He said as if she had not come so close to ending with his mental peace a few minutes ago.

Otacon started setting up his equipment inside the chopper, watching them. "..."

She smiled and held him back like if she did not want to kill him dead. “Fine, but do come back safely, I’ll give you a call if you need me.” She added with a wink then she turned to wave at Hal. “And you too, take good care of this looser for me!” She said to Otacon. ‘She starts off well then slips like that- What can I do?’ thought Snake as he went to get off in this new place.

Otacon laughed and nodded. "Ok…"

Snake was on the wheel at once, he had not checked in what side of the road they traveled in this island and he was hoping that, like last, it was through the right. He hated having to adjust to transit. He was waiting for Otacon to get on as he had no more affairs to tend to here. While he waited he stretched his arm over his shoulder since that side of his back was developing a disagreeable knot.

Otacon got on and sat down. "She seems nice."

“Don’t make me kick you out of this car.” He said. getting it to start. “She’s nice, yes, but firm and… Well she’s nice.” He said, trying not to think about it. “She refuses to give me a chance too.” Then they were on the road, on the right side. Snake didn’t change lanes until he saw a car coming on his same lane as well.

Otacon looked at him. "Snake. Change lanes!" He shrieked

“I’m on it, I’m on it” He said, moving the wheel and changing to the left side. The missed the car just barely.

Otacon had a death grip on the car door. He didn't move. He didn't speak. He just stared wide eyed through the windshield

Snake was about to smile at him in an apologetic manner when he saw his state of shock. Instead he pulled over and turned to him. “Otacon, are you alright?!” Damn it he had to let go of that when they were in this kind of situation. “Hal?”

Otacon slowly turned his head towards him. ".........................DON'T YOU EVER DO THAT AGAIN!!!!!!" he yelled hitting Snake across the face. "WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!!!"

Snake moved his tongue under his cheek for a moment but Hal didn’t hit him with a damaging blow. He tried not to think about it and not to harm Hal for it either, since he knew it would be a ridiculous excess of power. “Understood” he confirmed detachedly, trying not to let him on how close to home he had hit Dave. After all, if he was hit with the back of a gun on his skull by a perfect stranger he didn’t care for what that person felt, but if Hal yelled at him like that he became worried; it was different.

Otacon sighed and crossed his arms.

“Don’t hit people like that, it’s inappropriate.” He said, also it left him without a clue on how to defend himself. Was diverting the blow acceptable against Hal? Or was it going to make the scientist mad?

Hal looked over at him. "Don't drive like a moron then." he said. He was still angry about having expressed his love for Dave but didn't even get a response about how he felt.

Snake kept driving, trying to pay attention to what he was doing but apparently the mission, Hal and even the world politics came into mind. It was great that he was able to fully concentrate. Otherwise he’d have quite some trouble doing this. “I’ll try to watch out for that, then. Just calm down, you seem so upset.” He said, not too ‘intelligently’. In retrospect maybe he should not have said that.

"Upset?" Hal said continuing to stare forward

“Angry.” He pointed out. “Probably because of the negligent driving, I’m sure” he corrected, trying to get to Hal’s ‘good side’ this time.

"That...among other things." Hal corrected.

“Like?” he asked, making a turn to where they were supposed to stay in for the moment. This traffic was pretty nice to be the opposite lane and all. He could grow accustomed to it.

"You know why." Hal replied.

Ah yes, that. He thought. Then turned to a light and came to a stop there. Not a complete stop but a stop. He looked at the traffic lights until they turned, trying to think of something to say. “Why do you insist on doing that to yourself?” He knew it was the easy way out to not have to worry about himself when he made himself belief it was unimportant and ok.

Hal looked at him. "Doing what? Expressing my true feelings after all of these years?"

“Getting me involved, that can’t be good for you, I already told you that.” He said, trying not to sound hopeful at all. Why would he sound it when he didn’t want to get involved with Otacon to begin with – ‘Keep telling yourself that, Snake.’ He thought.

"Just..." Otacon sighed. "Drop it. Forget I even said anything..."

Snake was going to take himself to a desolate corner and beat himself up. But he still put his foot in his mouth. “That’s very disappointing. Here I thought I had a chance.” He said, trying to keep his arms firm in case he was attacked on his way. Blissfully the place was coming to view.

"For what?" Otacon asked

“Forget it, we’re here.” He said, pulling them into a parking area and opening the door quickly to get the things.

Otacon eyed him suspiciously before getting out.

Snake took the heavy things onto his shoulder and the weapons and left the light things to Hal, like papers and anything to do with fabric and basic equipment. He made his way to the place and proceeded to lie… a lot.

Hal followed him with the rest of the stuff. "........"

“Then we paddled down the river, the chipmunks on the boat with the cheerleader screaming her lungs off… and I ended up thinking, hey… we should pay that little island a visit for vacation… Anyway… have space?” He asked the landlady.

Hal stared at him with a confused look.

Eventually they where let to take a room close to the top floor. He placed everything to set the makeshift base here. “This place has a ‘view’ to the compound. You could see it in the distance in a clear day.”

Otacon nodded. "good." he said as he started setting up his computer and things

Snake was eventually done with these things and he went to sit for a moment. “I guess its back to information gathering for now. I believe you will remain here while I go, am I correct?”

"Unless I’m hungry, yes." Hal said logging onto everything

“Alright.” He said, getting his things in order. He could not be still, otherwise he was going to end up having a word with Hal about something that was not a possibility, he just knew it.

Otacon nodded. "Anything else?" he asked

Snake went to sit next to him for a moment and he looked at the scientist. “Did you find anything?” he asked, stealing a look at the man.

"Not yet." Otacon said staring at the screen.

“It’ll end up making you sick.” He said, not sure if he was referring to himself or the computer. He then placed his hands on Otacon’s hair, feeling the texture beneath his fingers.

Otacon blinked a little and blush came to his cheeks.

Snake played with his hair for a little while, looking over his shoulder at the computer he was using.

Otacon tried to keep working but he felt frozen as Snake touched his hair

“I’m making you feel uncomfortable?” he said, not able to help himself as he leaned the arms around Otacon’s shoulders instead so that the scientist could see his hands. He placed them on the sides of the keyboard so that it didn’t bother him.

"N...No it's fine..." Otacon said shaking his head

“Sure I aren’t” he teased while gripping Otacon in a ridiculous hug. “Don’t be angry at me, Hal.” He said, wondering through which window he had tossed this common sense before lowering his lips to the man’s neck.

Otacon blushed more and tilted his head slightly to give Snake more room.

The man in question gave Hal his space after that, getting up and going to get himself something to drink. “I guess I should let you work.”

Otacon blinked and shook his thoughts out of his head. "Y...Yeah..."

Snake was back with the bottle in his hands and looked at the screen from a distance now, wondering if he was distracting his partner. His intention was to sit here until he was done.

"I've got the maps of the entire compound." Otacon said looking back at him

“Alright, let me take a look at them” He said, actually having a better feeling about this mission then the last. He leaned over Otacon again but with a farther distance this time.

Otacon showed him each entrance of the compound.

“What would I do without you, Hal?” he said memorizing the entrances which were so important, not to get in, but to get out of the place if something went wrong.

"You’d be lost." Hal replied.

“Now what do you need?” he asked, wondering if his partner was going to do something with the internet after he was done or something like that.

"Nothing." Otacon replied

“Those are good news.” He said, standing up again but this time to pull the chair away from the computer, being careful that the man on it didn’t fall.

Otacon looked at him. "Yeah I guess."

“Well then I say you get some sleep.” He said, knowing Hal could stay awake for hours. “Come on” He then pulled Hal out of his chair.

Hal blinked and got up. "o...ok.."

Snake let Hal get to sleep and looked around at the entrances and security measures here.

Hal fell into a deep sleep as Snake looked around

Snake eventually took a look around and ended up sitting on the bed looking at Hal. He just stared in a weird way.

Hal slept peacefully. "...."

Snake was staring and looking around Hal all the time the man was asleep, not moving once from his spot. You could tell because by the time Hal was waking up Snake was curled up and asleep on the spot.

Hal rubbed his eyes and sat up, looking at Snake.

“You’re awake.” He stated the obvious, looking at Hal like someone who was caught doing espionage.

Hal nodded. "Yeah..."

He looked at him for a moment, unsure if he should leave. He had a thought that he was not getting a chance like this again so he went for it. He was not sure what propelled him to kiss Otacon so suddenly. He’d kissed a man, more than once, but not with the same intention.

Otacon blinked as Snake kissed him and blushed deeply.

Being like he was Snake remained where he was, waiting for Hal to do something, punch him, and react at all…

Hal didn't know what to do but found himself kissing Snake back

The man was calmer now that Hal was agreeing with him and he just relaxed, enjoying the moment and letting the consequences rest so that he could deal with them when they became important.

Otacon sat up a little more and continued to kiss him

Snake ran his hand on Otacon’s hair before he had to pull away. “I’m going to get something to eat.” He said; voice broken a little but he’d live.

Otacon nodded and looked at him

“Can you not look at me like that; I’ll end up staying there.” He said, trying to get up from the bed when most of his mind refused to listen.

Otacon blinked and looked away, "Fine." he said standing up. He went over to his computer and sat down. "I won't stare at you."

Snake had to smile brightly at him. “You don’t have to take it like that.” He said trying to remain optimistic about all this.

"You said not to stare at you so I’m not." Otacon said

It almost hurt Snake to have to go there. “It’s a…” great, now he was embarrassed. “I’m… It’s called flirting… You can’t possibly take it so literally,” He said, thankful that Hal was not looking at him.

"You call that flirting..?" Otacon replied

“Thanks for doing magic with my self esteem, Otacon.” He retorted, now really getting up for breakfast. He was muttering to himself about not understanding some men less than some women even.

"Now you know how I feel." Otacon replied. "Most of the time."

Snake was grabbing something to eat when he just glared at the water. He blatantly glared at it as if it where the reason that Hal probably thought he was joking around with him or something and that this had been a completely failure. “Mission failed” he whispered to himself with frustration.

Otacon sighed and got up. He sat on the bed and looked at Snake. "...so it took you that long?"

“I’s make Dave feel inadequate day, isn’t it?” He said; looking around for that salami he was sure they had packed. Where did that piece of meat sneak off to?

"No I was just asking..Since you were all angry with me when I told you about my feelings.." Hal said softly hugging his knees to his chest.

“I wasn’t angry at you! I was worried.” He said as if Otacon should know that by now… which he should. However he turned to look at the man for a moment when he heard the shift in movement and noticed the knees.

"Worried..?" otacon asked

“Still am. That someone could get to you. That I’d be far too close to keep going – I’m not making sense, am I?”

Hal shook his head no. "I d…don't understand..."

“Well I get it, and it’s not you” he said, trying not to sound like he was not going to give this a try.

Hal looked at him. "...So...what does that mean..?" he asked

“Means I want to be with you and am simply making a big headache of thins for no reason.” He said, trying to straighten that out.

Hal blinked and lifted his head up. "So you feel the same way I do but you decided to be a dick about it?"

“Did you wake up and /hate/ me this morning!?” He exclaimed, not believing this.

"NO!" otacon yelled back

“Easy… easy…” He said as if in the middle of enemy fire. “I meant that in the most respectful way possible.”

"You yelled!" Hal said defensively. "How else am i supposed to react?"

“Fine, I yelled, just don’t be so mad at me.” He said; not even sure if he should even think about approaching the other man.

Hal sighed and hugged his knees tighter

He did, however, go to him and sat next to Hal. He placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to seem friendly at all at this point. “Sorry…”

Hal trembled slightly. "......I...It's ok..."

Snake was massaging his shoulders from where he was. “When do we leave?” he asked, as Hal was in charge of finding the strategic moment to strike the enemy’s base.

Hal shrugged. "Security's a minimum at night."

“Oh really?” he asked trying again for the sake of trying and leaned over Hal. “Then I guess I’ll do that infiltration as /soon/ as that sun sets.”

Hal nodded and stood up. He dug around in a box and tossed him the salami he was looking for.

Snake caught is and got the message, getting his sandwich done.

Hal ran his hands through his hair and pushed up his glasses

“So let me see if I’m gripping this, you don’t want me now, do you?” he said, kind of surprised at how incredibly cold Otacon was right now.

Otacon shook his head. "Did I say that?"

“No… You tossed me salami…” he said out loud thinking from where he had drawn that conclusion. “And you’re pretty distant.” He said, eating his sandwich.

"I gave it to you because you were looking for it." Otacon replied

Snake shrugged it off since he had to think about something else, the problem was that Otacon was like a ghost, he haunted his thoughts when he was far too quiet.

Otacon sighed and looked at him. "Don't forget to pack plenty of water." he said

Snake nodded as he knew that he’d probably die otherwise.

Otacon lay back on the bed with a heavy sigh

“Just tell me when I should leave and I will.” He said, laying down and feeling the effect of his lack of sleep.

"Get some sleep and I’ll wake you up when it's time." Otacon said

He did as he was told since he had wasted his time staring at Otacon. But what else was he expected to do? He was now fast asleep in the complete trust that Hal would shake him up.

Hal got up and went to make himself some food

Snake was already transporting himself to the battlefield so to speak, since he was having a nightmare that involved it. He was tossing in this dream.

Hal got up and went to make himself some food

He had a good feeling about this mission and was sure things would go well for him, so when he finally got up he was relieved to be out of the weird dreamland into a weird but maybe less unpleasant reality.

Otacon got him up when he was supposed to and sat at his computer.

“Hmm?” he asked getting out of the bed and looking at the man go to the keyboard. “Time?”

Otacon nodded. "Yes."

Snake nodded and he got his things to leave, he was almost out the door when he turned for a moment. “If you need anything try to stay away from the compound, just say it by codec.”

"I know." Otacon nodded turning to look at him

Snake had to take that as reassuring and he left. Eventually he was close to the place but he had to walk most of the way as to not leave a trace; disadvantages aside he managed a way into the terrain. The building would be another story.

Otacon stood by waiting till Snake needed assistance