#...hexton

Now you speak my language :D. I'm actually the biggest fan of Saxton Hale and shipping him with the mercs

Their dynamic is basically rivals to lovers, but one-sided because Heavy's the only one who sees Saxton as his rival. Why? Because of course Heavy's used to being the strongest and he damn worked for it and then this beefy Australian shows up bigger and stronger than him and defying gravity too and he doesn't even need any gun or even to be ubercharged. Heavy's a bit pissed

ironically enough those are exactly the same features that later sway Heavy to fall for Sax. While Heavy takes pride in his strenght and all that, there are moments when he wishes for once he didn't have to be the strong, reliable one. And with Saxton that's quite literal cause next to him Heavy is very much just downright smaller and weaker. I do also think in some way Saxton has admiration for Heavy's strenght and ability to take damage. Yep, they are inferior to his own, but Heavy's still the closest person to his level out of everyone Saxton has ever seen

Sax is definitely this kinda boss that gives his boyfriend aka Heavy in this case more money and benefits. And maybe one day the rest of the team sees somehow that Heavy's salary went up out of nowhere (for them) and they're are like ???. This is kinda headcanony kinda canony but Saxton is filthy rich so he's not above spoiling Heavy rotten if he wants (I mean have you seen everything that Mann Co. owns? I think the man basically owns the world at this point. Then again I never went deep into understanding the logistics of Mann Co, I'm not even too sure if Saxton can be counted as the mercs' boss)

Those two becoming a couple has potential for Saxton's influence to make Heavy feral, but it doesn't work the other way around. Heavy's influence no matter how strong won't domesticate Saxton. Either they're both going feral or Heavy is the stay at home partner while Saxton goes out to kill yetis or something