After an hour or so of practice, Scout was tiring. He had almost fallen asleep on his feet foot, only to be caught from falling by the Engineer.

"Son, you oughta' go rest up some." Engineer advised. Medic had gone inside a few minutes before, leaving Engineer and Scout alone.

"C'mon man, I don't wanna go rest. I wanna keep practicing until I can actually walk!"

"Rome wasn't built in a day, Scout."

"The FUCK?"

"Never mind..." Engineer sighed.

"C-can I just stay out here for a little while?"

"Alone?"

Scout nodded. He liked being alone, but he hadn't had the chance much, being stuck in the med-bay almost all week.

Engineer thought for a moment, and then nodded. "I think that's fair."

"Awesome!"

"I'm going to send Medic out in about ten minutes, a'right?"

"Fine..."

"Don't go anywhere."

Scout glared at him good-naturedly. "Nah, I think I'm just going to dance across the border and into the BLU base, what do you think?"

Engineer chuckled. "Be safe."

"I will, Ma."

Engineer disappeared back into the base, leaving Scout alone outside, sitting on a crate. He inspected the prosthetic he now wore, examining every inch of it.

It was a simple metal setup, with a strap that wrapped around his upper thigh, holding it in place. The main piece was built into his skin now, meaning he could detach the leg, but not the base attached to his upper leg.

Scout sighed. Medic was right. He'd never get to run again. He'd be stuck like this, living a half-life, staying in the med-bay and watching everybody else battle without him.

Somebody coughed behind him. Scout turned to see who it was. The BLU Spy, his stepfather, stood there with a smirk on his face.

"What do you want?" Scout seethed. He was in no mood to speak with Acelin.

"I came to see 'ow my stepson was doing."

"And?"

"'Ow are you?"

"Do you care?"

"No, but your mother does."

"YOU TOLD MY MA?"

"I 'ad to!"

"..."

"..."

"She called me to see 'ow you were doing, Matthew."

"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO CALL ME BY MY NAME."

"Really? I believe I do 'ave all ze right to use your name."

"Fine. Then I'm calling you Ass-lid."

"Do you 'ave to be so immature?"

"Yes."

"Your mother is worried about you, Matthew."

"..."

"She wants you to come home."

"She knows I can't."

"That doesn't stop her from wishing you could."

"I'm not going home."

"I know you aren't, Matthew."

"..."

"..."

"I hate you."

"I know."

"Good."

Acelin sighed, and then disappeared into the air. "I'll be watching you, Matthew."