[Author's note: This story was inspired by Wat's picture, here: http://www.tf2chan.net/afanart/res/5553.html#i6291. Arin already wrote a story about it, http://www.tf2chan.net/afanfic/res/6325.html and I don't mean to poach on that territory; I think Wat has enough awesome for two tales. Thanks to Spork for all-seeing GMod assistance.]

It was cold when they got off the train at the Yukon base. The Heavy and the Scout seemed delighted- when the American pelted the Russian with snowballs, the big man playfully responded by clobbering the skinny runner with a snow-boulder the size of his head. The Soldier ranted about winter battled that he'd either fought or (more likely) watched in the movies. The Demoman, Medic and Spy all seemed unmoved except that they switched out their uniform jackets with winter-weight coats. What the Pyro thought was obscure, as always.

The Sniper and the Engineer, however, were miserable. The lanky Australian looked like he might blow away, while the stocky Texan seemed ready to freeze solid. Neither of them was the type to complain, but even wrapped in their winter gear, they were bitterly cold. The icy wind stung their faces with snowflakes, and the ramshackle buildings on the base didn't promise much comfort.

After unloading their gear, the Engineer's first order of business was to inspect the fireplace in the shanty that was his billet. He wasn't sure how one knew whether a fireplace was structurally sound, but this one looked stable. There was a metal lever on the outside of the chimney; when moved, it caused something to grate inside. When he turned the handle straight up-and-down, an old bird nest fell out. A valve, then, and parallel to the chimney was open, probably to let smoke out while keeping heat in. He felt a bit silly for feeling very proud of figuring out this alien technology. He closed the valve for the time being.

The next order of business was fuel. Not a problem, there were plenty of empty shipping crates around. However, it was already getting dark as the Engineer began breaking down the boxes- night came on quick in this cold land. The Sniper came out carrying several crates stacked inside each other, so the Engineer hailed him.

"Hey, Deadeye, help me break up these boxes an' we can share a fire."

"What exactly does 'Deadeye' mean?" the Sniper asked cautiously.

"Means you can fix a flea from across a field."

"Too right." The Sniper took the crowbar that the Texan offered and began helping to break the crates apart.

When they had a fair stack of boards, they carried them into the shack that the Engineer had chosen. The stocky man carefully lifted the bird nest off the hearth and set it on a windowsill before laying the fire. The Sniper watched for a moment, then went to get another armload of boards.

The Engineer laid down four big baulks of timber first, though the fire was hardly going to sink into a brick hearth. It was just what he knew how to do. Then, he made a tepee-shape out of splinters and split bits of board with a few larger boards leaning on top of them. Finally, he poked some wood shavings, packing material he'd saved, into a likely-looking gap in the centre of the stack. He lit a match, shielding it from an icy gust of wind as the Sniper came back.

"Y'do that quoite tidy," the Sniper remarked, looking at the temporary structure of the firewood. "Most blokes'd use the nest as kindling.

"Didn't seem right, it's such a purty little thing."

The Sniper nodded. "Over in the main barracks, the Soldier's not lettin' anyone light a fire. Says it'll give away our position."

"Sound strategy... if we hadn't pulled in on a big ol' red train."

"I know, roight? I snagged a tin of beans. If you have some spare wire, I could rig up a beaut billycan."

"Have you ever known me not to have some wire handy?"

As the Sniper opened the tin and rigged up a way to hang it above the fire, the Engineer put his bedroll on the shanty's cot and wrapped his blanket around his shoulders. He sat down on the cot, wrapped around himself for warmth.

"Sod it, there's wind blowin' in through the bleedin' walls!" The Sniper glared at an offending crack in the boards.

"C'mere." The Engineer held up a flap of blanket like a wing. "Darn cold."

The Sniper settled in beside the Engineer, pooling their body heat. He leaned against the Texan's side, and they wrapped their arms around each other's shoulders. "Worse'n cold."

They sat together in the gradually warming shack, so close they could smell each other's sweat, so close they could feel each other's heartbeat. A howl of wind outside the shack made them pull close together. The Engineer and the Sniper wore identical expressions, obvious even with their eyewear. Something like hunger, something like fear.

The Engineer's arm tightened convulsively around the Sniper. Hesitantly, the Sniper tilted his head to the side, brushing his lips against the Engineer's stubbled cheek.

"Worse'n cold. I... reckon I know what you mean." The Engineer turned his head to lay a clumsy kiss near the Sniper's mouth. The corners of their lips touched, shocking in the cold air.

The Sniper groaned softly, and pressed his lean frame against the stocky man. "You... y'can pretend I'm a sheila if y'like. I don't mind. I just need- " he bit down on his own words.

"I don't want to pretend you're anythin' you're not." The Engineer traced a finger down the Sniper's weatherbeaten cheek. "I do believe we both need this."

The Sniper clung to the Engineer and took a deep breath. "Can. Can we kiss, mate? I can... do without."

The Engineer kissed him, testing gently with his tongue. "'Course we can kiss. What kind'a low-down polecat do you take me for? We're doin' this, might as well do it proper."

They kissed deeply, caressing each other's faces and stroking each other's backs. The Sniper slid around until he was straddling the Engineer's lap, cupping their shared warmth between them. They only stopped when the Sniper's stomach growled.

"Those beans should be 'bout done," the Engineer offered. They untangled enough to grab the tin.

"Me spoon's back with me kit... d'you have a spare?"

"Nope, but you can use mine." The Engineer retrieved a utensil set made so that the spoon and fork nested together and latched to the knife. With a utensil apiece, the men sat side-by-side under the blanket and attacked their dinner with a will.

"That's a sight better," the Engineer sighed when they were done. "A full belly and a friendly face make a world of difference. I dare say it's even gettin' warm in here."

"Don't know if I'd go that far," the Sniper smiled. He put a hand on the Engineer's knee. "D'you, ah, want to pick up where we left off?"

"Sure thing." The Engineer wrapped both arms around the Sniper, nuzzling and kissing him. The Australian whimpered faintly and arched his back into the Texan's touch. "Oh... oh bloody Hell," he gasped, flushed with eagerness and embarrassment.

"Woo-ee, frisky one, ain'tcha?" The Engineer ran his hands all over the Sniper, loosening his clothes and exposing his skin. The Texan took advantage of the bare flesh with more kisses and some licking.

"Oh, mate... I must smell like a dingo's armpit!" The Sniper laughed as the Engineer's tongue tickled along his ribs.

"Nonsense, pardner, ya jes' smell like a man."

"You ever... been with a bloke before?"

"Not like this, I must admit. I'm considerin' it a learnin' experience." The Engineer kissed the Sniper's lips again. "You?"

"... few times," the Sniper admitted. He looked nervous. "Only with blokes wot had their eyes tight shut an' were, well, pretendin' I was a female."

"I ain't got the imagination," the Engineer smiled as he slid the Sniper's pants down his narrow hips. "I'm a practical type." He nibbled at the Sniper's hipbone while pushing a hand up the Australian's shirt to tweak his nipples. "So, since you've got the superior experience with this project, how 'bout you tell me how it goes?"

Gripping the Engineer's sturdy shoulders, the Sniper was doing battle with his laconic nature and his own fear. "D'you... ah... want to be on top?"

"Only if it suits you." The Engineer looked up to meet the Sniper's eyes.

"It does. Suits me brilliant." The Sniper stroked the back of the Engineer's neck.

"Good, good. Just tell me if I'm doin' anythin' as doesn't suit you, okay?" The Texan slid his hands down to toy with the Sniper's pubic hair.

"Ahh Christ!" The Sniper bucked into his teammate's hand. "Please... just... please..." he muttered.

"Glad to oblige." Working methodically, the Engineer stripped away the Sniper's shirt, boots and pants, kissing each inch of flesh as it was exposed. Under his careful, callused hands, the Sniper's chilled skin warmed to a blazing heat. He moved slowly, methodically, as the Sniper writhed beneath him.

Their bodies moved easily together, the Sniper's long legs wrapping naturally around the Engineer's hips. The Australian shuddered as the American's leg slid under his groin, and he pressed more tightly to the other man's chest.

"So," murmured the Engineer. "Is there any technique I should know about?"

"A little grease would make things go easier, mate."

"Always does," the Engineer smiled. He pulled a tube of white petroleum grease from a pocket in his overall. "I reckon this'll work just fine."

The Sniper moaned and gasped as the Engineer greased up his fingers and slid his hands under his ass. The Australian closed his eyes as if denying that this was happening, but spread his legs wide. The Engineer moved gently and methodically, caressing the Sniper's cock and balls, exploring the Sniper's ass, testing the resistance of the tight muscle.

"You gotta tell me if I'm doin' it right. Don't let me hurt you."

"Always hurts, mate," the Sniper muttered.

"Then why in the Sam Hill are you gonna let me do it?" The Engineer sat back on his heels. "I need to feel another body beside me so bad I think I'd die, but I'm sure we can find some other way ta..."

"Feels good, too." The Sniper fixed his teammate with a strange, hungry glance from behind his aviators.

"Well then, it's a simple matter of maximizin' the benefits and minimizin' the risk." The Engineer smiled and touched the Sniper's cheek. "Lemme know how I'm doin'."

The Engineer began to fondle the Sniper's ass again, and the lean man pushed himself down onto the other man's thick fingers. "Whoa nelly," the Engineer gasped, feeling the tightness surround him. He experimented with pistoning his fingers slowly in and out, wringing a moan from his teammate. "That's, ah..." The Engineer was shocked speechless. He opened his overalls one-handed to stroke himself in time with his thrusts into the Sniper's body.

"Bloody Hell, Truckie, please..." the Sniper gripped the bedroll and pressed his hips down.

The Engineer's jaw dropped, and he groaned at this evidence of desperation. "Ya gotta tell me if I'm hurtin' ya," he cautioned, withdrawing his fingers to press the tip of his cock against the Sniper.

"I will, I will," the rifleman panted, writhing against the Engineer.

Even lubricated, even with the Engineer's explorations, the Sniper's ass was incredibly tight. He whimpered and panted as the Texan pressed gently but inexorably in.

"Oh-" The Engineer's exclamation was a sort of whispered moan. He held himself still above the Sniper, giving them both time to adjust. "This... is this all right?" he murmured.

"Nngh... aye." The Sniper was trying to keep quiet, too, his face flushed and sweaty. He pressed his hips down toward the Engineer, taking it a little deeper.

"Auh-" the Engineer gulped. Unable to stand it any more, he began to move, thrusting as slowly and gently as he could.

His attempts at caution were thwarted by the Sniper, who bucked down onto him while biting back hungry moans. The Sniper clawed at the Engineer's shirt, seeking purchase, leverage, closeness. He rammed himself onto the other man, compressing his lips into a tight line to keep from crying out. The Texan thrust deeply, and the Australian gasped.

"Did I hurt ya?" The Engineer pulled back, concerned.

"Nah- felt good- do it again-" the Sniper panted.

The Engineer did as he was asked, letting his instincts take over. He moaned softly as he hammered into the Sniper, holding him close. In his ardour, the Engineer rolled the Sniper half onto his side, spreading the other man's long legs wide to get closer still.

"Ohh, Sniper- ah- I don't think I can- ah- hold out-" he whispered.

"Do it, Truckie," the Sniper growled.

Groping blindly, just trying to fit himself tighter to the lean man, the Engineer seized the Sniper's wrist. The reaction was immediate- every muscle in the Sniper's body tensed, and he bit his lip to keep from crying out.

The Engineer's eyes rolled behind his goggles as the sudden tightness pushed him over the edge. The vigour of his thrusts momentarily wrenched him out of the Sniper's body. A spurt of semen hit the slender man's perineum before the Texan rammed roughly back in, completing his release deep inside his teammate.

"Oh, darlin'," the Engineer whispered, shuddering against the Sniper. He collapsed against the Australian in ecstatic exhaustion, supporting his weight on his knees and elbows so as not to crush the other man. The stocky man trembled and pressed close to the man below him, savouring the aftershocks, the unaccustomed closeness.

Beneath the Engineer, not quite pinned down, the Sniper moved his hips as much as he dared. His erection was still slick with grease, and he ground furtively against the Texan's hip as the stocky man sighed above him. He was so close, just needed a little more- maybe the Engineer wouldn't notice-

"Whu... oh, Sniper, I reckon I didn't finish the job." The Engineer gave an embarrassed smile and slid his hand off the Sniper's wrist to caress his straining erection.

"Please," the Sniper whispered.

"Tell me what you need," the Engineer replied softly. "I'd about do anything for you right now."

"Pin me down again," the Sniper pleaded. The Engineer obliged, moving his hand back to the Sniper's wrist and letting his body weight press the other man to the floor. The Australian whimpered, thrusting against the Texan's hip. "Bite me, Truckie," he begged. The Engineer ventured a tender love-bite on the Sniper's neck. "Harder!" The Sniper's voice was an impassioned rasp.

The Engineer sank his teeth firmly into the side of his teammate's neck. Beneath him, the Sniper moaned, spilling his semen between their bodies. He struggled, and the Engineer reflexively tightened his grip. The Sniper's moan rose a note, his eyes rolled back behind his aviator shades, and a final spurt of semen splashed the Engineer. He fel limply back onto the cot, and the Engineer slid off to lie beside him, wiping the semen off with a bandanna.

"Mmh, Truckie," the Sniper whispered, eyes still closed. The Engineer leaned over and kissed the Sniper tenderly on the cheek. He wrapped an arm around the Sniper to rub his shoulder, but the Australian seemed surprised. "Why are y'doin' this?"

"Doin' what?" The Texan was perplexed, but didn't stop stroking the Sniper.

"Doin' anything but kickin' me out of bed, actually," the Sniper ventured a smile.

"We're doin' this to combat the cold and lonesome, and you're awful warm and friendly. I'd have to be a fool to kick you out of bed."

"... other men have," the Sniper admitted.

"They were fools, then," the Engineer scoffed. "Anything worth doin' is worth doin' right. Especially this, and especially with you." He wrapped his arms tightly around the skinny man and held him until they both fell asleep.