A/N: Here's another chapter for you all~ Update schedule isn't really going to have a set time, it will most likely be after days where we have long drives and hotels with wi-fi, so hopefully we can get the next chapter up in a few days!
Hey Anonymous! I'm glad you are enjoying it! I was a bit worried that Scout would end up being a little off, but hopefully I don't get it too wrong. ouo
And thanks to Sukauto Doragon for the story alert! c:
Enjoy~
The morning bell tolled, startling Scout out of sleep, sending him rolling off of his bed and onto the floor with a thud. "Wh-" he mumbled, ignoring the pain of his bruises, and he realized that he really had slept through the night. He stood slowly, wincing, and pulled a fresh change of clothes from his closet. Midway through changing, he paused, staring at himself in the mirror. Bruises stretched from his ribcage to his abdomen, over his arms where he had been grabbed by RED's Spy, and the new skin over his stab wound shone in the low light. Scout frowned to himself and threw his shirt on, tossing his hat on shortly after, reaching for his headset and bat. Heading toward the door, he snatched his pack from where it hung by the door, slinging it over his shoulder and leaving the room.
Scout saw the rest of the team walking past him toward the cafeteria, as if nothing was wrong. Perhaps it was easier to believe that everything hadn't changed, that the game remained the same. Perhaps it really hadn't changed for some of them.
The first thing he saw when walking into the cafeteria was Pyro lighting some dish aflame, and he could only hope it wasn't their breakfast. Sniper was sipping his usual coffee, resting his feet on the table, Demo was starting his day with another bottle of Scrumpy – where did he get all of them? – Heavy and Medic were discussing something over breakfast in the far corner, and Spy was visible through the window, smoking outside. Scout noted that both Soldier and Engineer were nowhere to be seen. He guessed that Engineer was still trying to fix the Respawn system, and Soldier was still planning his battle strategies.
"Hey, Demo! Have you heard the Announcer since you guys stopped the battle yesterday?" Scout asked as he walked nearby, stopping for a moment on his way to the food.
"Now 'at you mention it, laddie, I dun' t'ink I have." Demo appeared confused for a moment, but washed it down with another gulp of his drink.
"Weird. You'd think she would'a yelled at us for not killin' each otha'."
"Maybe she wants us all alive. Or she'll let us figure it out on our own. T' be honest, I don't really care. S'long as she dun' interfere, I'm happy." Demo shrugged, and Scout had to agree, turning to go grab his breakfast. Another day of cold cereal, it seemed. Though, of course, he wouldn't complain to Pyro, for fear of losing his breakfast entirely. Cold milk was better than burnt crisps. He took his bowl to an empty table and sat there, digging in as he tried to fully wake himself up. He would have to be on his toes today, despite all of his aches and bruises. The threat of actually dying loomed over his head, and he knew it was no longer a game. Their perfect – if a little violent – world was falling apart around their very feet.
Scout didn't even know if he should report to the war room after breakfast – there was no match to strategize for today. Soldier would want to give them orders, but he didn't intend on following them. Not if they called for the deaths of others. Perhaps the general couldn't understand – he hadn't almost been killed just yesterday. It was different when one realized that if they died, they wouldn't simply wake up a few minutes later perfectly healed. Scout cut himself off – he didn't want to think about it.
He noticed he had not been eating for his cereal, and swallowed down the last few soggy mouthfuls with a grimace. Scout picked up the bowl, taking it over to the sinks and rinsed it out, his bat pinched between his arm and side. Looking across the room, he realized it was mostly empty. Only Heavy and Medic were still there, and he left them to their conversation, walking back out of the hall, unknowingly heading over to the conference room. It was too much of a habit to simply ignore routine, regardless of the changes.
Scout took his time, feeling no need or desire to hurry along. Soldier wouldn't start the meeting without Heavy and Medic, would he? After all, he would probably want to convince Heavy to help him – a team without a Heavy didn't get much done. He stopped outside the closed door upon hearing Soldier's raised voice, and crouched underneath the window, pressing his ear to the metal of the door.
"We will kill them if it's the last thing we do!" Soldier growled.
"You would do well not to announce that to the rest of the team. I believe they actually value their lives." Spy's voice was unmistakable when coupled with his sarcastic tone.
"Then they are poor soldiers! A soldier is always willing to die for his cause!"
"They are mercenaries and assassins, not soldiers. A mercenary makes his life more important than any cause he is sold to. After all, what use is money when one is dead?"
"Are you on my side or not?" the general barked angrily.
"You will not have a side for much longer if you are not careful with what you tell the team." The Frenchman paused, and Scout's grip on the bat tightened. "We are not alone."
"What? What are you talking about?" Scout stood slowly, silently, making certain that his bat would not drag on the ground. He beat a quick retreat to the nearest corner, and turned back around, striding calmly toward the room as if he was just arriving. The door in front of him opened just as he was swinging his bat over his shoulder, and Spy watched him approach with narrowed eyes.
"Mornin'," he greeted him.
"Good morning. Did you see someone here?" he asked, studying the younger man closely.
"Nope. Why, did'ya see something?" Scout looked bewildered. "Are ya' messin' with me?"
"I am not. Perhaps—" Spy was interrupted by Engineer jogging down the hallway.
"Ah, there you are, Spy! I got a coupl'a questions for you."
"Oui? What is this concerning?" Spy glanced dubiously once more at Scout before turning to face Engineer.
"RED's Demo. Are ya' feelin' any different? Anythin' feel like it shouldn'?" Engineer scratched at his stubble thoughtfully.
"No, nothing in particular. Why do you ask?"
"Wanted ta' know if the system had anythin' to do with us. It seems like the machine used ta' work with somethin' in our bodies."
"Like what?" asked Scout, confused.
"Like a chip. Or…or somethin'. I don't quite know. I've never seen this kind'a tech before. I'll need to keep checkin' it out. And maybe get myself one." Engineer smirked, "I'm still open for volunteers."
"No way, man! You ain't cuttin' me open! I don't even let Doc' do that!" Scout crossed his arms, "And besides, you don't even know where it is."
"It has to be programmed in the machine somewhere. I'll find it eventually." Engineer looked thoughtful, spinning his wrench absentmindedly. "Say, did Soldier call up a meetin'?"
"Damn right I did! And what are you maggots doing? Standing outside jabberin' like a bunch of REDs!" Soldier's yell could probably be heard throughout the entire base.
"We're comin', we're comin'! No need to throw a hissy fit, man!" Scout grumbled, swinging his bat by his side as he stepped past the general into the conference room. He picked a seat and threw his bag down, sitting down and kicking his feet up onto the table. The rest of the team slowly congregated, each arriving in their own time, taking their usual places.
Soldier began his usual marching pace back and forth across the front of the room, his eyes hidden under his helmet, though Scout was certain he was studying all of them, some longer than others.
"Today we start our assault! If we hesitate, they will have the upper hand! We cannot let this happen! We will start our battle like usual! With a few changes." Soldier stopped suddenly, bending over to look Scout in the eye from under his helmet. The general turned his head away, looking over to the side of the room, "Medic! You will remain in the hospital! We cannot have you killed! Heavy! You will be on the front lines with me! Spy—"
"No," Heavy growled, unmoving, staring Soldier down.
"What?" Soldier stopped, whirling to face the large Russian.
"Leetle Soldier not understand. I not leave Doktor." His expression left no room for argument, and his hands were sitting on his beloved Sasha, a threat if the general ever saw one.
"Fine!" Soldier snapped, before resuming his earlier directions. "Spy, search for their weak spots! Kill anyone who is alone! Scout, you will be up on the rooftops! Protect your teammates!" Scout realized that this order was given in such a way that arguing over it would deem him a traitor, wishing for his teammates' deaths. He nodded in acquiescence – after all, Soldier said nothing about killing REDs. "Engineer! Are your sentries and dispensers working?"
"No sir-ee. I don't even wan'ta test my teleporters."
"Fine. Keep yourself inside, then. Do not get shot!" Soldier's eyes narrowed. Perhaps he understood that if RED did not have Respawn, neither did BLU. "Sniper! Your usual methods will be fine! Pyro! Stick by those on the front lines! I want constant spy check from you! Demo, blow up anything you want to! Especially their systems! Understood? Dismissed!" he growled, and the team stood, heading out.
"'ey, Sniper!" Scout called as the Australian left the room before him.
"G'mornin', Scout," Sniper answered, waiting for him in the hallway.
"Are ya' really gonna shoot 'em down?" he asked, looking up at the taller man.
"If I gotta'."
"What does that mean?" the younger of the two growled, his bat resting over his shoulder. Sniper's gun was strapped to his back, fully assembled.
"It means that if I see anyone tryin' to kill our teammates, I'll kill 'em first." He was looking ahead as he said this, glancing down only once to meet Scout's gaze.
"I see. Try not'ta get caught by any spies, 'right?" He spotted the turn-off for the staircase leading to Sniper's nest.
"I never do, mate."
"Good luck then, man."
"You too."
In hindsight, Scout realized it was not quite an adequate farewell when it could be the last words they spoke to each other. He kept walking.
Scout climbed up to the rooftop beside Sniper's nest and spotted the barrel of his gun poking out through the boarded up area. He grinned and climbed up above the nest, scooting to the edge and hanging the upper half of his body off the end of the roof. He waved his hand over the scope of the gun, the slightly reddened bandages lending to easily identifying who it was up on his roof. He heard a curse and laughed, pulling back up and rolling away from the edge.
"See ya' later!" he called, hopping down a level and crouching to be less visible across the field. Scout watched his team take their positions, and he noticed Soldier scanning the area, searching for his own teammates as well as RED team members. He seemed satisfied with his scan, for he motioned the BLU team forward, and when they reached the middle ground between the two fields, he let out a fierce war cry, firing a missile through the RED team's front door. The RED team burst out through the smoke, as if they had been nearby, planning their own attack.
Their Heavy led the way, opening fire on the advancing BLU team, followed closely by their Medic. Their Soldier and Pyro came next, adding their own damage to the fray. Scout frantically searched the battlefield, the enemy base, for a glimpse of their Spy or their Sniper. If he could find either, perhaps he could stop them from doing untold amounts of damage.
Scout heard a pained shout over his headset, and his gaze snapped down, searching for who was hurt. Demo had been hit in the chest, but he laughed a moment later, pulling the bullet out from his thick vest. The young runner looked back up at the sound of quick footsteps, and saw a red blur rushing at him just a moment before they made impact. He pulled his bat forward and met the RED Scout, the sound of metal hitting metal echoing across the rooftop. Scout scrambled to keep his footing and keep from tumbling off the tiled surface, but the RED Scout pushed harder, and the sudden imbalance sent Scout scrabbling backward, losing his footing as he fell backwards with a yelp. For a moment, he was falling freely, before he twisted quickly, righting himself and preparing for landing. He hit the ground and bent his knees to absorb the shock, toppling forward a moment later.
RED's Scout hopped down, waiting with a grin for his BLU counterpart to find his way to his feet. "It wouldn't be fair t'a add ya' to my head tally if I beat you down on tha' ground. So stand up, punk!" Scout's hand tightened on his bat, and he heard Sniper over the headset.
"Need any help there, mate?"
"I've got this. Don't waste your bullet," Scout replied, standing up and running forward to attack. "Batta' swing!" he grinned, aiming to hit the Scout solidly in the chest. The RED Scout dodged and swung in turn, and their bats met again. Scout ducked and kicked at the back of the other's knees, sending him sprawling in the dirt. He placed a foot on his back as he whacked the young man's right hand to keep him from picking up his bat again, hearing a few bones crunch. "Ya'd better stay down if ya' wanted to stay alive."
"Is that kind'a threat supposed t'a work?" the RED Scout asked, bucking up and shoving Scout's foot off of him, kicking himself to his feet. His right hand hung limply by his side, useless.
"So ya' want me to kill ya'? Why didn't you ask sooner!" Scout answered, swinging heavily and hitting the other over the head with his bat before he could dodge. The impact made a dull thunk, and the RED Scout dropped to the ground, unconscious. "You're just lucky you tried to kill me, and not my other teammates." He tucked his bat between the strap of his bag and his back, and knelt to pull the other scout out from the middle of the field. He winced as the adrenaline faded, awakening his various pains.
"What're you doin' down there Scout?" Sniper asked over the headset.
"No need t'a make this kid a target," he answered curtly, aware that Soldier was listening. He pulled him into an abandoned shed in the middle ground between the two bases. He should be alright for the time being this way. He would need a Medic's help for his hand, but there wasn't much Scout could do about that right now. The runner left the shed and pulled himself back up to roof level, staring down at the battlefield, firing a warning shot by an enemy's feet should he feel they needed one. Usually it made them hesitate enough for his teammates to get into cover, and by then, the RED's opportunity had disappeared.
The next time he heard a sound of pain, it was Sniper's.
"Sniper! Are y'alright?" He asked, running toward their home base, jumping up a level to reach the Sniper's nest. He heard the sounds of a fight and jumped, clinging to the roof of the boarded up room. He kicked off of the wall, swinging out into space, and drove forward, snapping clean through the wooden boards. His momentum threw him into the room, and he pulled his bat out as he landed, just barely keeping himself from slamming into the opposite wall. He whirled and searched the dim light, momentarily blinded. He thought he saw a shadow moving, though it seemed to carry no substance. A spy? Scout searched behind him and saw Sniper leaning heavily against some of the boxes in the room, clutching his side. The runner stepped in front of him, scanning the darkness for any enemy.
"Ah think e's gone," the Australian grunted. Scout glanced across the room once more before turning to his friend.
"Lemme' see." He gently pulled Sniper's hand from his side, gazing at the wound in the stream of light pouring in from the large hole he had made in the wall. The Australian's hand came away wet with blood, and the younger man moved to pull apart Sniper's vest, looking closer. "He knifed you?"
"Yep," was the Australian's terse reply. "I'll be alright."
"No, we can't leave you like this. C'mon, let's get you down to Medic." He moved to sling Sniper's bloody hand over his shoulder, his other wrapping around the older man's waist, supporting some of his weight. As an afterthought, he grabbed the Australian's gun, slipping the strap over the one for his bag. He pulled him away from the ruined nest, guiding him along the stairway. "Doc'! We're gonna' need your help. Sniper's hurt," he announced into his mic as he helped the other limp down the stairs.
"Vhere are you?" was the quick response.
"On our way. It's a knife wound."
"Very vell. Ve are vaiting for you."
"You'll be alright, Sniper," Scout murmured as they walked slowly, making their way deeper into their base.
"Can't believe I was caught unawares. Was too busy watching out fer you guys," the other said with a weak laugh.
"Happens t'everyone, man. You just got unlucky." Scout looked up and saw the doors to the hospital wing before them. Heavy was standing just inside, staring out the windows. Upon recognizing them, he pushed open the door and signaled them in.
"Safe here," he told them when they stepped in, taking back his position by the door.
"Thanks, Heavy," Scout told him as he led Sniper over to one of the few beds. There were only four of them because of the simple fact that no one had ever stayed injured for long here, not with a Medic on hand.
"Ah, zhere you two are. Let me see," the German doctor said, walking over as Scout gently let go of the Australian. He pulled the sniper rifle off of his back and set it to rest against the bedside table, and then sat across from the Australian. Sniper lifted his hand from the wound, displaying it to Medic, and the doctor studied it. "I can probably stitch it shut and not have to use too much of ze gun, I believe. It will be enough for you to move easily, but it will still hurt if you hit it."
"Then do it," was Sniper's terse answer, followed by a wince as he shifted to pull his vest off.
"Scout, you are no longer needed here. You vill be wanted back on the field." Medic was terse as he gathered the necessary materials, heating a needle over a flame to make certain it was sterilized. Scout knew better than to argue with him, and stood, nodding to Sniper with a reassuring smile before heading out.
"Thanks for keeping 'em safe, Heavy," he told the Russian as he passed, pushing the doors open. As it swung shut, he heard Sniper groan.
The doors and distance only barely muffled the pained cries.