Cracking The Commander (DJ x Commander)

CHAPTER 13

To say Scout didn't look happy was a severe understatement.

Little man was red in the cheeks, brows furrowed, cheeks puffed out with air, and hands clenched to his sides. He looked like he was on the verge of literally blowing up.

Commander was, as expected, leaning on DJ's side as he gave a rundown on training that afternoon. He wasn't lying when he said the moment he could get back on his feet, he'd torment them all with constant training. Truly a man of his word. But, as he held Commander, the whole time DJ was fighting every urge to stop making awkward eye contact with Commander's kid, who was glaring right into his very soul.

DJ always found Scout's resentment for him odd. He was so considerate when they first met, why was it any different now? Just because DJ's caring for Commander? It reminded DJ of a kid whose mom got a new boyfriend and can't accept that. Which is a really weird comparison in retrospect but it was all that came to mind.

When Commander sent everyone off to do what they were instructed, he asked DJ if he could be left to sit at a nearby bench for a moment. Now alone, DJ saw Scout scramble over to him with that same frustrated look on his visage. "What now?" DJ sighed, knowing exactly what he was about to huff and puff about.

"You know what." Scout crossed his arms and cocked his hip to the side sassily.

"I truly wish I did," DJ shot back. Of course, he wasn't looking for a fight. That wasn't like him to pick fights on purpose. Especially not with Commander's own kid — that would put him in deep, deep shit. Scout just didn't seem to realize DJ was only toying with him.

"Ugh!" He shot his hands up into the air, exasperated. "You're driving me insane!"

DJ just shook his head and ruffled Scout's hat, only frustrating him further. "C'mon, kid, you were so nice to me at the start. I pose no threat to Commander. Or you for that matter. Why are you so protective about him?"

"I found you cool until you started getting buddy-buddy with my dad!"

"You find me cool?"

"W-Well, yeah?! Who doesn't?" Scout huffed. DJ was actually really flattered at that. Sure, Scout had a hardcore grudge against him, but he thinks he's cool? DJ smirked. "Why are you smiling?!"

"I'm just really honored!" He slapped a hand against Scout's back, who, oddly enough, didn't fight it. "I didn't think you had any sort of admiration for me. And to be honest, I didn't think anyone on this team did. Haha." People liked him for sure, but he couldn't picture anyone actually admiring him. That was foreign to him.

Scout rolled his eyes and grumbled. "Dad definitely admires you. Too much." He continued, "Before Dad got hurt, he would always talk about you. Even from the start, he told me about how hard you grabbed his hand and nearly broke it—"

DJ's jaw dropped.

"That was him who told you?!" This was the second goddamn instance someone close to Commander expressed the extent he talked about DJ!!

Scout nervously cleared his throat and scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "I wasn't really supposed to tell you that. But yeah."

"I don't get it. Medic told me he talks about me, now you."

"He," Scout paused for a moment, clearly hiding something from DJ, "...probably thinks you're cool too. I dunno!" His shoulders lifted into a half-hearted shrug.

DJ opened his mouth to shoot back a retort, but was quickly silenced.

"RANGER! Pick up the pace, boy!" Commander yelled, making both men jump in their place. "You're lagging behind!"

Of which was followed by a faint, breathless, "Sorry, sir!"

It grew quiet again, leading DJ to turn his head back to Scout with a squint.

"You're hiding something."

"And you're changing the topic." He wasn't really wrong... That was what bothered DJ the most. "Commander's like...the only family I have that actually checks in on me. And he's not even biologically related to me! If you take all his attention, then I got nothing." Scout glared. "Do you get where I'm coming from finally?"

He supposed he did. Maybe he didn't know the mere gravity of Scout's attachment, but he understood what he could grasp. "I'm sorry, Scout. I wasn't aware of your home situation."

The younger man looked away. "It's fine. Only Minigunner and Dad are aware. Mini knows everything about me." His face softened, almost into a love-struck, dreamy look. Oh boy. DJ knew that face. "He just gets me."

"What's the deal with you and Mini?" Scout's cheeks flushed a bright red. It was like a switch was automatically flipped at DJ's (invasive) question.

"Um." He cleared his throat. "It's nothing."

"No, now you gotta tell me!" DJ urged.

Scout proceeded to roll his eyes and groan. "If you promise to not tell Dad, I'll tell you. He'd probably kill Mini if he finds out." Man, Scout was really easy to persuade.

"...Why?"

He leaned in, whispering something into DJ's headphone-covered ear (which was pretty useless considering...he couldn't hear Scout all that well through the plastic), "Minigunner and I have been dating for a while now. Dad doesn't know."

That explained everything.

"For real?" He received a nervous nod. "Congrats you two!"

Scout yelped. "Not so loud! Commander's like— right over there!" He gestured to Commander, who was still sitting and watching the team act like clowns on the training grounds, oblivious to what was going on beyond that.

DJ was really becoming an outlet for secrets recently, wasn't he?

"Sorry!" In a far more hushed tone, DJ whispered, "Congrats. Still." He glanced off and swallowed, gritting his teeth ever so slightly. He had to admit, he was a teensy bit jealous. 'Scout can get action before me?!' He thought. 'That's very humbling...'

The younger waved a hand, similarly to how Commander did when he dismissed people. "It's whatever. Thanks. But that doesn't change anything about the whole Commander deal."

Nothing was getting past Scout's firm stance, so he brought out the only thing that would help: tug at the kid's heartstrings. "I won't get in the way of you and Commander's bond if you let me care for him. I'm only helping him heal, alright? You want him to get better, yeah? Just lemme do my job, kiddo then I'll get out of your way." DJ stepped back. "All I want is your dad to be able to walk again. It would be cruel of me not to do anything."

It seemed like Scout hadn't thought of that before, because his glare softened and a new look of sympathy dressed his face. "I guess you're right." Gotcha. "Fine. I'll let you do your...whatever you're doing. When Commander's perfectly healed, I'm gonna keep my eye on you." And he made a gesture of pointing to his eyes and back to DJ's covered ones. "You better keep him safe."

"I will, don't sweat it." He saluted, receiving an unamused eye roll (again, insanely similar to Commander). As DJ shrugged it off and turned to go assist Commander once again, he tilted his head over his shoulder and spoke, "Also I like the stubble you're growing there. Makes you look real tough." He winked, though he doubted Scout caught it, his visor was pretty hard to see through anyway. "I'll catch you later, Scout."

He didn't miss the shocked expression on the younger man. DJ hoped his compliment lessened the tension a little bit. Judging by the glimpse of a smile he saw on Scout's face, it must've done something.