"RISE AND SHINE MAGGOTS!"
Pyro was violently awoken from her sleep when the Soldier made his rounds banging his shovel on each of their doors. She lay beneath her covers for a moment, letting herself come fully aware. She knew she'd never fall back asleep if she tried, but maybe she could just lay there for a moment.
"REPORT TO THE INTEL ROOM AT 0500 HOURS FOR DEBRIEFING!"
Nope. Not happening.
She turned over, making a hole in her covers to look out at her room. Wait a minute, did he say 0500 hours? She looked at her clock, 4:01 a.m.
"Ugh, what the fuck Soldier," she grumbled into the sheets, burying herself in them once more. She could hear the groans and protests from her drowsy teammates as the Soldier continued his rounds. She really didn't want to get up, but if she missed the meeting Soldier would be on her case all day. One hour of yelling was quite different from twenty-four hours of it. She found herself sitting up, her muscles aching slightly from the previous day's work. She lazily slid her gasmask off her bedside lamp, stifling a yawn before slipping it over her face. She groggily made her way out of bed. There wouldn't be much action this early, even if the Soldier was running around like the human embodiment of an alarm clock. If she hurried she could get in and out of the bathrooms with little hassle. She dragged her comforter with her halfway across the room before finally dropping it at the door.
"Shut yer geggie yeh bloody shtupit yank!" the sun wasn't even up and it was already turning into a shouting match, "Mah heed's poundin' enuf already waeoot yer help, there!"
Pyro opened her door, peering down the hall at her teammates. Soldier stood at Demoman's door, none too happy with the drunken Scotsman.
"IF YOU ARE NOT AT DEBRIEFING, PRIVATE, YOU ARE AWOL. DO YOU HEAR ME?"
"Ah! GONNAE NO DAE THAT?" The Demoman held his head, more than likely hung over from a night of drinking.
"0500 HOURS!" repeated the Soldier.
Pyro took a brave step into the hall, praying she wouldn't be next on Soldier's screaming agenda. "Mmff" she held up a hand to the irritated Demoman as she passed by. He glowered and slammed his door shut.
'Good morning to you too.'
The locker room wasn't exactly empty, two of the shower stalls were occupied. The Spy was examining himself in the mirror, whether or not he was ever out of uniform was a mystery to everyone. Beside him stood the Sniper, he must have just come out of the shower, wearing only his slacks with a damp towel draped over his shoulder. He was leaned over the sink brushing his teeth, sunglasses set on the counter. It was the only time anyone on the team saw his eyes, the steam in the room preventing him from seeing successfully through the lenses. She couldn't help but smile beneath her mask. Even amongst these murderous men she could pick out the blatant similarities between the girls she used to associate with; just like in high-school, huddled around a mirror applying makeup and checking their outfits.
The Spy's eyes locked onto her from the mirror's reflection. Oh yeah…She almost forgot about last night. "Mff" she greeted her colleagues as she quickened her step. She just wanted to get into a shower.
The Spy turned about fully, leaning back on the counter as he watched the Pyro disappear. Sniper looked up at him in the mirror, toothbrush still in his mouth. He followed the Spy's gaze, turned to look back at the Pyro, then back to the Spy.
"Somefin yer not tellin me there, mate?" he asked, the toothbrush clacking between his teeth.
The Spy didn't answer. His eyes were trained, but unfocused, as if lost in thought.
"Oy," he jabbed the Spy with his elbow. This seemed to do the trick. The Spy blinked, coming to realization, lifted his arm and checked his watch as if it had never happened at all.
"Pardon, but I must get going. I will meet you in ze Intel room."
"Eh? Roight then" he wasn't stupid, but he wouldn't pursue the subject with the Spy. Something was definitely up. Spy had never particularly shown an interest in the Pyro before, unless of course he was avoiding the blasts of fire on the field. Something had happened.
He rinsed, spit and dried his face.
Whether it was an unpleasant altercation or something else he couldn't quite decide on yet. He grabbed his glasses and turned on his reflection. He glanced back at the shower stalls as he approached the wooden cubbies.
Pyro yanked her mask off once in the safety of the shower stall. The static generated by the motion caused her hair to gravitate upwards with the gasmask. She was quite comfortable even with the men in the room, knowing none of them would peek out of politeness. Plus if they made any motion to, Scout would be quick to label them a faggot. She stripped down and piled her clothes outside the stall, plopping her mask down on the top of it. Still, she'd rather not risk running around in a towel.
She was definitely not one of the girls. She could shower in five minutes and be ready in ten. In war there was no time for dawdling, up and ready in as little time as possible, those were the rules. She showered, dried herself and dressed. By the time she was done the Sniper's place by the sink had been replaced by Medic and Heavy. They must have been the other two in the showers. The Sniper was at his locker, pulling the last of his equipment (his quiver) over his shoulder.
"No, like dis, see," Heavy was meticulously tying the Medic's tie. Over, under, up, down and pull. He tightened the tie around his partner's neck. "There!"
"Danke," the Medic buttoned up his coat, tucking the tie into it.
Pyro wasn't too fond of the Medic. He generally wasn't kindhearted towards her or anyone else for that matter. What he shared with the Heavy Weapon's Guy would not be shared with the rest of the team.
"Leetle Pyro!" Heavy's face lit up, "Ready to crush BLU Team babies?"
"Yuubet" she gave a thumbs up.
The Medic tilted his head towards her, his expression just as stern as it was when he was on the clock.
"Ah, Pyro, I vas vondering vhere you vere."
"Hh?" That couldn't be good, what did the Medic want with her?
"I vas goin through my files, und it vould appear zat you haff not had a visit in ze past couple of months. So I took ze liberty of scheduling you for a checkup zis veekend over ze ceasefire." He produced a note card from his pocket and scribbled the time down on it. "Here," he handed it to her, "I expect to see you bright und early."
"Bhht-" she attempted to protest it.
"Ah-ah, no buts." He waggled a finger at her, "Bright und early!" He made his way past her and out of the bathroom.
"Don't worry, Doctor not bad," Heavy whispered behind the Medic's back. He gave Pyro a hearty pat before bouncing off after his best friend.
"Yhh bhht he lkff yuu," Pyro grumbled, despite the fact her audience had gone. Whatever happiness she had gathered before the briefing had been dashed and replaced with a new feeling of dread (Thanks for that one, Medic). She hated Doctors, no nothing against the Medic, she just didn't like doctors…and needles. And if Medic was giving the examination there were bound to be needles.
"Nuffin ter be nervous about there, mate," Sniper interjected. He held his hat tightly, brushing the dust off its brim. "Medic aint a bad bloke, a bit unconventional yea, but not bad, you'll be fine." He placed the hat atop his head, pressing it down securely. He paused a moment, weighing his next statement. "Is uh…Everyfin alright?" he asked, inclining his head towards her slightly, "Between you an' the Spy?"
Where had that come from? Why would he ask about the Spy? Why would he ask about her well being at all? Sniper wasn't one to get involved with other people's business, especially on the job. A most unwelcomed thought crossed her mind, her heart leaping to her throat. The previous night...The Spy...had he told?
"Whut?" was all she could muster.
"Somefin happen between you two?" He unfolded his sunglasses and slipped them over his eyes.
A good percentage of expression is manifested in the face, thankfully Pyro's was shielded, otherwise the man could easily deduce how worried she was. She took a few breaths to catch up on what she'd lost. Right now she really didn't need another interrogation. One had been more than enough. "I hffnt ffeen fpy fnfe yuftuduy un thuu ffld."
The Sniper stared her down, it was impossible to read if the Pyro was being hones or carefully avoiding the subject. "Roight…" he hesitated. It was true there had been no opportunity for the Spy and Pyro to have any sort of argument, after the battle Spy had disappeared and Pyro had stayed for the "afterparty." Maybe it was nothing after all. "Never mind then, not important." He checked his watch (of all the teammates, he was the only one with a functioning watch). "Soldier's goin' ter have a conniption," he muttered, obviously discontent with the outcome of the questioning, "Mon."
One problem avoided. Pyro breathed a sigh of relief. Other problem-
5:03 a.m.
Not avoided.
Sniper was right. Soldier was going to throw a fit.
She regained composure, gathered her things and tagged along after the Australian.