"Dude! I can't get over how dumb the BLU team looked as we won and killed them off. Frickin' hilarious!" Scout laughed.
"Scout is credit to team," said Heavy as he patted Scout on the back, which made him stumble a bit.
"'Ey! Watch it buddy. I got a bat and I'm not afraid to use it." Scout wasn't too welcoming on the gesture.
Heavy heartily laughed and said something in Russian before leaving and going about to his own duty. Archer chuckled to herself as the scene played out. As she entered the living room, she took off her hoodie and turned on the fan. She was drenched in sweat, for not even the wall she hid against could protect her from the humid battlefield. She plopped onto the couch, letting the fresh breeze of the fan cool her. The female glanced over the couch, making sure her weapons were there, and they were; wrapped in her own hoodie. Next time, she was going to wear a zipper-up hoodie, no doubt about it. She felt someone plop beside her, and she turned her head to see Demoman with his skrumpy.
"So how did da wee lassie do on 'er first day?" His breath smelled of booze.
"Pretty well, I assume. Ask Sniper; he was the one who stayed with me." At that moment, Soldier walked to Sniper.
"Progress report," the American demanded.
Sniper rubbed the back of his head. "The shiela can sure hold her own, mate. She did well in taking down the enemies while Oi distracted the other Sniper." Soldier grumbled to himself, which made the Australian sigh.
"'Well' isn't going to cut it! We're in a war, and being great is only acceptable!"
"What in sam's heck are you two blabbering on about?" Engineer asked as he passed by. He supported his toolbox on his shoulder and looked at them.
"'Ey mate, we were just discussin' on Archer's performance today."
"Well, I think the lil' miss did a darn good job, considerin' it was her first day and all. Why don't we all leave it at that, partners?"
Soldier didn't feel like arguing with the Texan, so he left, shoving Sniper and Engineer out of the way.
"Oi! What's that's bloke's problem?"
"He probably still doesn't accept Miss Archer to be on the team yet." Engineer sighed and looked at Archer who has seemed to create a conversation with Demoman.
Pyro already went to his room; Medic has already headed to his medical bay; Heavy was in the kitchen eating his beloved sandwiches; Spy was nowhere in sight, that damn spook; Scout was most probably in the wreck room blowing off some of the effects of his BONK!. Engineer decided that it was his turn to leave the room. He bid Sniper and the two farewell as he left.
After an interesting conversation with Demoman, Archer decided to take a shower. She felt dirty and uncomfortable, and she hated that feeling. Then, she headed toward the kitchen to see what she can snack on. There, she meets Engineer who was preparing dinner.
"Hey Engie. What are you making?" She smells a whiff of it. "Smells good."
"Aw, thanks miss. I'm making some ribs with mashed potato. Somethin' of my specialty."
"And I bet it is going to be simply delicious. The food last night was, too. I'm guessin' you're the magician of the kitchen?" She heard him chuckle.
"I guess you can call me that."
"Damn, I'm not even sure if I want to help. I might ruin a good meal." Archer smiled and leaned on the counter, looking at the half-cut vegetables.
"Aww, shucks. You give me too much credit," says Engineer, smiling.
"Hey, what comes out of this mouth is the truth," says Archer, pointing to her grinning mouth. She turned around and picked up the kitchen knife. "Do you mind?"
"Naw, go ahead partner. Just don't cut yourself." Engineer added some seasoning to the ribs.
She proceeded to finish cutting the vegetables, and she added them in boiling water. The young female continued to help the Texan by preparing the table, fixing the dishes, and putting out the drinks. She looked at her work proudly, smelling the food behind her. She smiled; it was time to get the others.
"And that is today's report, ma'am!" Soldier saluted to the lit up screen before him. He waited for the smoke to clear up.
"Hmm, I see," the Administrator sighs and rubbed her temples. She had already known some of the information that the RED Soldier gave before-hand, but at her old age, it was difficult to keep up with everything the multiple screens showed. Due to that fact, it was both Soldier's duty to give her the rest of the missing information, since they had open eyes to everything, or at least most of the details, considering the helmets they wore. Still, though, the Soldiers were trained to be attentive during their years of service within the RED and BLU team.
"I am glad to hear that the new teammate hasn't given any of you much trouble." She puffed a cloud of smoke.
"Ma'am, may I ask: Why on earth have you brought a female to this dangerous battle?"
"Concerned are we? Listen, it is none of your business. I decide who is on and off the battlefield; no questions asked. Got it?" she said in a cold tone, her icy glare piercing through the RED Soldier.
"U-Understood!" He heard the woman scoff before the transmission ended. He sighed and he could feel his breath tremble. He could never get used to that stare. Never.
Soldier exited from the room, bumping into someone as he closed the door.
"Watch where you're going, MAGGOT!" He glared down at the new recruit.
"S-Sorry Soldier." Archer rubbed her nose and glanced up at the American. "I just want to inform you that dinner's ready. And don't scream in my ear. I'm right in front of you for pete's sake." She walked past him, heading off to find the rest of her teammates, not really wanting to stay and chat with Soldier.
It wasn't too hard finding the others. Heavy and Pyro were in their rooms. Medic was in his infirmary. Demoman was still on the couch in the living room. Archer was searching for Spy next. She knocked on the door labeled "Spy," hoping he would be there. No reply. She tried opening the door, and to her surprise, it was unlocked. She took a peek inside.
"Spy?" She asked again, and opened the door. There was no one there, and Archer scanned the room. It was fairly neat; the bed made, the desk cleaned. But what less would you expect from the French-man? Still, it was strange to her that he would just leave his door unlocked. She sighed and decided to look somewhere else. Maybe the Intel room? She can start there. Archer was about to close the door before she felt a breeze; the window was open. She narrowed her eyes and looked around the room once more.
"Hmph. That's strange." She walked over and closed the window, locking it. She then heard something behind her. As a reaction, she swiftly turned around to punch what seemed to her air. She was about to stop when an invisible hand grabbed her wrist. The RED Spy uncloaked, smirking.
"Is zat anyway to greet a comrade?"
"Sorry. I just had to make sure the BLU Spy wasn't behind me," she replied with a similar smile. Spy let go of her wrist, and watched her rub it.
"I'm sorry. I believe zat if you were to punch me, mademoiselle, you would have broken my nose, and we couldn't have zat, now, can we?" Spy fixed his tie. "By ze way, I like how you've kept your guard up. It's good to have that in zis war." He puffed smoke as Archer looked at him.
"Don't tell me that was another one of your 'tests' now, was it?"
"Maybe."
"Dammit Spy, don't make me actually punch you." Archer took a step for the door, forgetting why she was there in the first place. She was suddenly stopped by Spy, who placed his gloved hand beside her head. He leaned in towards her, who couldn't help but press herself against the wall.
"S-Spy?" she choked out as she felt her face blush. Archer, in her twenty-five years of living, has never gotten into such close counter with a male, except when she hugged her father when she was little. She felt his other gloved hand caress her cheek, then cup her chin, making Archer's eyes look at his. She never noticed how much taller he was, and she could see the handsome features in the French's face. He removed his cigarette and places his hand beside her head, the cancer stick between his fingers. He began to lean in, bringing her face close to his. Being this close, she could smell the smoke, and can almost taste it. Archer shut her eyes, preparing for what Spy had in store. Yet, she didn't feel his lips touch hers. Instead, she heard his voice on her right.
"You let your guard down." Those five simple words almost set Archer in a rage. This now gave her a reason to punch him. She glared at Spy as he distanced himself from her, putting out his cigarette and placing another in his mouth. "Looks like you failed zis test, mon petite fleur." He grinned and dodged an incoming punch from the angry female. He quickly cloaked and left the room, laughing to himself as he headed toward the mess hall. He already got the memo when he passed by the Soldier, who informed him of the meal.
Archer panted, sinking to the floor. She could still feel her heart beat from the close encounter. She gently touched her right cheek, her face still feeling hot.
"Dammit…" That Spy was going to get it. "Damn you!" She punched the ground, only to bruise her hand in return. "Shit…" She rubbed her knuckles as she stood up.
She headed toward the wreck room, hoping to find Scout there, seeing that he wasn't in his room. Luckily, her guess was right, and she saw the young mercenary beating a punching bag mercilessly.
"You. Fat. Son. Of. A. Bitch." This made her giggle a little. At least this was able to cheer her up. Scout stopped punching the bag, which had a picture of the BLU Heavy taped on, and looked at the female.
"Dinner's ready, lil' tyke. Might as well get there before Heavy eats it all." The words 'dinner' and 'Heavy' seemed to get Scout on high alert. He cursed and ran past Archer. "Mind telling me where Sniper could be? I can't find him!" she quickly called out to him before she forgot. The only word she got out of him was, 'van.' She headed outside, looking for Sniper's van. It would make sense, seeing as she couldn't find a door labeled 'Sniper' anywhere. There's she saw the worn camper van, behind the RED base. She walked up the three steps that led to the door and knocked twice. She heard someone grunt and some shuffling.
"Sniper, it's me, Archer." The door opened to reveal the man who was in his late twenties. His hat wasn't on top of his head, and his vest hung near the door.
"What is it that you want, mate?" His voice sounded tired.
"I just want to tell you that dinner's ready. Did I interrupt anything?"
"Naw, mate. Oi was just nappin' is all. Come, let's get some meat in our stomach. I'm starving." Archer nodded and headed back inside with Sniper.