Over the weekend, I spent most of my time in my room. You could say I was stewing in negative thoughts, but can you blame me? I haven't heard anything about any enemies infiltrating our base this weekend, but that doesn't mean it won't happen. That damn Baguette has me so high-strung, I can't even focus on menial tasks like cooking or washing the dishes. My mind immediately starts drifting into darker waters. 'What if he is watching me right now? I know it's ceasefire, but what does he care?' I shook my head gently and headed for my room until I was stopped by Snipes in the hallway. "Y'alright, Mumbles? Ya've been actin' right jumpy all weekend."
I nodded vaguely, then shook my head. He cocked an eyebrow at this, then set his hands on his hips. "Alright, I've been patient enough with whatever's goin' on with ya, but I'm done. Spill, or I'll make ya." I bit my lip. 'I hate it when he gets like this. Then again, what harm could it do if I told him?' He noticed my reluctance and leaned against the wall next to me. "This about tha BLU piker?" My blood froze in my veins. Again, I nodded gently.
He looked at me with a measuring glare, "You will tell me if 'e's botherin' ya outside a battle, won't ya?" I decided to take the easy route he offered and nodded. He scowled. With the flourish of a great storm, he rounded on me like a bloodhound after a scent. "I get it, ya want ta see what tha piker wants from ya, but Mumbles, nothing good can come from talkin' with that git!"
I held my hands up in silent surrender. *Alright, Snipes, I promise I won't deal with him.* He visibly relaxed when I spoke. *Can I just say that up to this point, it hasn't been my choice to deal with him, either. I've been actively trying to avoid him outside of battle.*
He smiled a tad and punched me lightly on the arm. "I know, I just hate ta see ya so…" He trailed off, his expression worried.
I patted his shoulder in understanding. *I know. I'm sorry I made you worry.*
Surprisingly, the rest of the weekend was… less exhausting after that. I was down in the commons on Sunday night reading when Spy approached me. He eased himself into the chair next to mine and took a moment to gather his thoughts. When he was done with his little pep-talk, he turned to me, "I spent some time snooping in zhe neighbor's base. It seems our friend 'as been insufferable to deal with. More zhan usual, 'e seems more snappish to 'is team," He regarded me for a moment before continuing, "'Ave you thought about 'is offer?" I placed my bookmark, seeing that this wasn't going to be a quick little chat.
*Yes, I thought about it, but I've decided against it.*
"Any reason why?" He didn't look angry, so I took that as a good sign.
*I don't like the thought of using someone to get info.*
"And you will tell 'im zhe same?" I nodded. He thought for a second, "Be careful with 'ow you tell him zhis, I'm not sure if he'll handle your… rejection well." I narrowed my eyes.
*What aren't you telling me, Spy?* He gave a 'Lord, Give me Strength' pose. Exhaling, he faced me head-on, his eye contact unsettling me.
"Those first days after Spy's interrogation, he didn't kill zhat much, oui?" I nodded. "He only killed a few people, people you talked to, only minutes after you talked to them." I laughed incredulously.
*Are you saying he's jealous?* He half-nodded, half-shrugged.
"It's hard to say, he could be, or he could be trying to distance you from your teammates. He could be working to increase your paranoia and leave you vulnerable," he paused to regard me a moment, "All I'm saying is that in his mind you're his target now. What that all entails, I don't know. What I do know, as you know just as well, is that having a Spy as an enemy never ends well." I clasped my hands together. Spy pursed his lips and put his hand on my shoulder. "I wish there were more I could do for you, mon ami."
Not once did the Spy on the BLU team kill during the battle on Monday. It's like he decided to not participate because of his nerves or something. There were several times when I thought I smelled his brand of cigarettes, but the smell passed as quickly as it came. Despite the Baguette's lack of participation, the BLU team still won that day. I guess they had some pent-up aggression from last week as well as having to deal with a troublesome teammate.
The walk back to the base was anti-climactic until I heard yelling behind me. That, and the dull thud from, presumably, a couple of bodies falling to the ground. I turned to see the BLU Spy standing above Scout and Sniper, blood on his suit and knife in hand. He glided up to me with the suave facade of a cat while wiping the blood off of his blade, "Have you decided?"
His act of nonchalance was see-through: he was keeping his eyes pointedly away from me, his hands were still wiping down the already cleaned knife, and he was biting his lip. For a spy, he's horrible with people. I chose my words carefully, keeping in mind what Spy told me yesterday.
*Yes, and I've decided against it.* Several emotions flickered across his face too fast for me to identify, but one finally settled- he looked like a cross between someone who ate an entire lemon and a puppy who'd been run over. It was such an odd expression, I would've laughed in any other situation, but I schooled my inner child and reined in the laughter to try to keep the serious and businesslike atmosphere.
His eyes met mine and I saw a vulnerability in them that I hadn't thought was possible for anyone of his class, "Why? Is it that you don't trust me to bring you good intelligence? Because I can assure you, zhe intelligence means nothing to me." Then his eyes widened as if he'd had an epiphany, "Is it zhat you don't like hand-outs? Mon Dieu, I apologize! I didn't mean to offend-"
I put my hand up to silence his rambling, *I don't like the thought of using someone else for info. It doesn't sit right with me. That's it.* He froze. He just stood there looking at me. I was beginning to get creeped out. Honestly, I would've just left if he didn't lunge at me the second I moved. His eyes were downcast, but he held onto me firmly.
"I don't mind. Being used, I mean." His eyes were so desperate when they met mine, it made me sick to look at them. I shook him off and turned to walk back into the base. He didn't stop me this time. For that, I was grateful. 'Where the Hell does he get off, talking like that to not only an enemy, but a total stranger!' I huffed as I plopped down at my spot in the lounge area.
I tried to focus on what was going on outside of my own bubble of confusion: Heavy and Medic were playing chess, Scout was furious about Spy getting a kill on him after ceasefire, Snipes was fuming behind a mug of coffee, Demoman was playing pool with Solly, and Engie was drawing something up on the coffee table. I don't know where our team's Spy is, but I don't see him in the room. 'Maybe it's for the better, seeing him would only remind me of that damn Baguette'
I snapped out of my thoughts when I noticed a bit of fabric standing in front of me. Familiar fabric. I glanced up into Sniper's eyes, expecting him to still be a bit upset at his recent death, but instead he was smiling down at me and holding a pool cue, "Care ta join in? I wouldn't mind ya on my team." I smirked and nodded, grabbing the extra pool cue and joined in on the game.
At some point in the game, a small mound of money began to pile up for whichever team won. I threw in a twenty, but that was all for my contributions to the gambling pit. I chuckled at Sniper when some of our balls were moved after one of Solly's turns. We were holding our own fine, but Snipes tends to take games like this seriously. I mean, everytime he goes it looks like he's lining up a shot for the kill. I've been up in his nest before, but when he's on a killing spree, I tend to back off and let him concentrate. Which at this moment is everything but what he's able to do, what with Demo drinking and Solly screaming for him to take the shot already.
I shook my head at their unsportsmanlike conduct, but it wasn't my place to tell them to shut the hell up. I desperately wanted to, but I didn't. Mainly because Snipes is my best friend and I know he doesn't like it when I stand up for him. He can stand on his own two feet. I pouted at the memory of a particularly vicious verbal lashing I received after defending him. He didn't talk to me for days after that. I think it took me getting killed during battle for him to finally apologize. He might or might not have witnessed it, that I'm still not sure about. All I know is that that death was also particularly brutal, so if he did see it, he might have felt sorry for me. I don't care for pity, but I was bored to tears the days we went without talking. Let's just say I was thrilled to accept his apology.
I was nudged back into the present by Snipes, who gestured for me to take my turn. I eyed the table and chose a decent combo move that I prayed I wouldn't mess up. 'I want to impress him.' I took the shot and thankfully, all of the balls went where they were supposed to- except for the eight ball. I glared at it while it trembled on the edge of one of the holes.
Then Scout came over and just had to fucking lean on the table right in the area of the eight ball. Needless to say, it fell in the hole and I stood there silently fuming. Sniper took notice of my anger and backed away, but Scout remained oblivious much to his folly, "Hey guys, whatcha doi- Ach!" I grabbed him in one hand, lifting him up by the throat. If there was any a time I hated this kid, I wouldn't remember. This white-hot rage overrides any thought processes I might make to prevent casualties.
Next thing I know I'm picking up my pool cue, Scout's gone, and the pool table is broken. I pursed my lips and turned to Snipes, who was watching me warily. "Y'alright now, mate?" I sighed through my gasmask.
*I broke the table, didn't I?* He shrugged and nodded. I hung my head in shame. 'Again, I ruin a perfectly fine evening.' I felt his hand on my shoulder as he guided me away.
"It's alright, it wasn't a total loss." He smirked as he pulled out the money from the gambling pit. My eyes widened and I looked back to see that neither Demo nor Solly were there, either. I facepalmed and let my hand slide down my face before resting in front of my vent.
*You think they'll remember?*
He chuckled. "Solly an' Scout will."
*Great, just another thing to add to my list of things to try and avoid: A verbal lashing from Soldier.* He smiled with mirth and walked side by side with me, putting his hand around my shoulder companionably.
"I'm sure 'e won't be too rough on ya, Mumbles." I rolled my head to look at Sniper in the eyes. He looked like he was just barely repressing a fit of giggles. 'Bastard.' I elbowed him in the side and the giggles poured out of him uncontrollably. I shook my head, but couldn't help but smile at how cute he was when he laughed.
*Whatever, I'm going to bed. Night, Snipes.* He waved me goodnight, tears gathered in the corners of his eyes. 'I have to get the story of what happened from him tomorrow. If not him, then maybe Medic will tell me. He's always been good with describing gory details, even if he was just a spectator.' I grabbed a smoothie from my personal fridge and gulped it down, not really realizing how hungry I was until the drink was empty. Sighing with contentment, I patted my belly a couple of times before crawling under the covers and turning off the light on my side table. I smiled fondly as the image of Snipes laughing replayed behind my eyelids. Thank God I got the chance to see that in such a rare, open form. Usually his chuckles are subdued and his laughs are half-hearted. I fell asleep with a smile on my face.
