The Right Colour
Co-Written by Harley Quinn hyenaholic and ShdOzzy
Harley: I don't suppose you'd want to review?
Chapter Eleven: Just Being Held
Medic stared at the new desk. It was in fact, the previous Blue Medic's old desk, which very much gave her the feeling that she was filling a dead man's shoes, or boots. On the plus side, he had an interesting Ubersaw that could nicely replace her bonesaw while still proving extraordinarily useful for cutting off faces. Admittedly his jacket didn't really fit her, what with the having breasts and all, but on the whole gloves, a tie and a loose surgeon's jacket weren't that picky about who they fitted.
Without warning, the office door swung wide open. Sniper stepped in, looking as smug as ever. "So, I see you've found your new uniform," Sniper remarked with a sly grin. "I've gotta say, it's a much better look for you than those RED duds I used to see you in. Of course, any colour is better than one that makes you look like a moving target."
"How intuitive," Medic replied, "Und look, zere is even a little switch on mein medigun zat changes zer healink rays I shoot from red to blue." Without waiting for permission, she promptly fired a blast of healing energy at Sniper. It was now blue. She stopped and straightened her now blue tie with her now blue gloves, placing the bottle of whiskey and the other bottle of chloroform into her new, blue-tinted desk, "Und das is comink from ein man who has targets upon his shoulder symbols."
"They're crosshairs, thank you very much," Sniper corrected her. "And I sure didn't put them there. Soldier decided it would be a good idea when he designed the uniform. Daft sod. Oh, speaking of which, I'm guessing he didn't give you too much trouble when he showed you around? I know he can be a bit of a windbag sometimes."
"No, he only told me all about his many escapades during Vorld Var Vun viz George Washington und Abraham Lincoln," Medic replied, "Vich is, ironically, not unlike vat Soldier at mein base also talks about, except he also vill talk about religion as vell."
"Oh, if he went on about that, I'd have to pop him myself," Sniper remarked. "I swear, I get that enough from my parents. I don't need it coming from my commanding officer too... if you can call that lunatic an officer. Someone was on vacation when they put that bloke in charge of this place. But hey, at least the guy gives me people to shoot at. Suppose that's all I really need out of him anyway."
Medic nodded, disbelieving, before sagging slightly, "I still am not sure that I am glad to be here," she told him, "I keep feelink that somebody vill savagely attack me in zer back..." she watched Sniper, a somewhat gloomy look on her face, "Maybe even djou," she admitted, a little shamefully, "In fact considering djour previous history it is quite a high suspicion das djou vill take advantage ov mein generous nature..."
"Well, I'll admit, after the first time we met, I'd have a hard time trusting me too," Sniper admitted with a sigh. "But I think it's safe to say that from here on out, you're the one calling the shots as far as we're concerned. Besides, we're on the same side now, so it's not exactly the wisest decision to go attacking you when you've my allies to heal."
Medic nodded absent-mindedly, and watched Sniper closely, "Tell me," she said calmly, "Vat did Scout sat ven he learned I am goink to be here for some time?"
"Scout? Well, the kid SAID he was thrilled, but... I dunno. He seemed a bit weird to me when he heard the news. Like he didn't know how to feel. Which is odd to me, because I thought he'd be ecstatic about you joining us, what with you saving his scrawny hide and all," Sniper answered.
"Vell... maybe I shall talk to him later," Medic replied, "Or maybe now. Das vill find out vat is zer matter," she gave it some thought. Scout shouldn't know about her having sex with Sniper. It was probably not a good idea that he find out for a while though. It occurred to her that Scout had asked her to join the BLU Team, and she'd refused, "Ah, I zink I know vat zer problem is..." she said after a moment.
"You do?" Sniper asked, a little bit surprised by this. "And what might that be?"
Medic shrugged, "Vell, he suggested das I join zer BLU team," she informed Sniper, "He may be offended a little das I said nein to him und said ja to djou." she wondered if it was worth the effort of informing Sniper that she'd screwed Scout.
"Hmmm. Possibly," Sniper replied. "But to be THAT offended about it? I dunno Medic. I mean, the way he acted I could've thought he had a crush on you if I didn't know any better."
Medic sighed, "Viz boys beink boys it is likely he does," she told him, "Alvays viz zer makink zinks complicated. Das is djou BLU teams for you."
"Heh. No arguments there," Sniper chuckled. "I swear, half the time we're not fighting is spent turning this place into one of those American reality shows. Frankly, I'm pretty happy to be up in my nest where I don't have to hear 'em."
Medic nodded, "I feel very much as if I am... how is it said... fillink a dead man's shoes?" she checked. She looked at Sniper again, "Djou are glad I am here, are you?" she asked him.
Sniper kindly laid a hand on Medic's shoulder. "Course I am love," he answered. "After what happened back at the RED Base, why wouldn't I be?"
Medic nodded, wishing she was more certain about what she had just done. She felt treacherous. But she was concerned that telling Sniper that would make him think she was just going to swap back to the RED team again.
"Look, I realize that this is gonna take some adjusting to," Sniper continued. "But once you do, you're gonna feel right as rain in this place, I promise. Even if we're sharing the place with people who would otherwise be considered lunatics."
"If I am truthful, I am already missink mein Scout und Heavy a little," Medic replied. She sat down at her desk, "I suppose I haff disappointed djou now."
"No, you haven't," Sniper assured her. "I'm not Soldier, love. You told me before you had friends at Red Base. I'm not gonna expect you to forget them overnight. That would be ludicrous."
Medic looked up at him, a tinge of gratitude in her greyish-brown eyes, "Danke, Sniper," she told him, straightening her tie again. She still couldn't forget the unexpected cruel treatment by Spy though, and it haunted her even now, filling her with a deep-seated fear that it would happen again, in the BLU base.
"It's no problem, darling," Sniper said. "Well, I've gotta get back to my post. I told Soldier I was calling my mum again so I could get over here, and he gets pissy if I 'stack the phone bill too high,' so I'll see you around." Giving Medic one last pat on the back, Sniper left the office, leaving the doctor to her thoughts.
Medic sat quietly at her desk to think. What did she want? She wanted somebody to hold her... and to mean it, not to just want some flesh. She knew her presence made a difference. But nobody else seemed to notice. Well, not for days, anyway. Not until they were all dead. She picked up some sheets of paper that were piled up paperwork from the previous Medic, and read over them. They were very similar to her own paperwork. Oddly similar, in fact.
Scout sighed as he walked through the metal halls, hands buried deep in his pockets. Why the hell am I doing this? he asked himself. I don't even know what the hell I'm gonna say to her... When he had heard that Medic had agreed to join the BLU Team, his feelings about the matter were... mixed, at best. In all honesty, he didn't know what to think about it. It was true that he was glad she was on their team now... but because of Sniper? He didn't understand it. Why would she listen to the Australian gunman above him? Or even Spy? There must have been something he was missing. Some crucial bit of information that he just wasn't seeing. His hope was that he might get that by talking to Medic, he could get some answers, but exactly how was a whole new story. But he had to go through with it, if only for the sake of clearing his head. As he reached Medic's office, he saw Sniper leaving it. Oh, there's a good start, he thought, rolling his eyes at the unpleasant coincidence. Sighing, he rapped his knuckles onto the door.
"Ja, come in," Medic called out to the knocker, looking over the paperwork. Oddly similar to her own paperwork... but how? Of course it was different in that the BLU Medic had different people to heal... but there was just something off about the whole thing...
Scout walked in, one hand still in his pocket as he approached Medic. Well, there's no backing out now, he thought. Do what you came here to do. "Um... hey doc," He awkwardly greeted the doctor. "How's life as a BLU working out for ya?"
"Vell, it has not been goink for very lonk," Medic admitted, "So it could be said it is not yet workink out at all. But... it is not das different yet... zer base appears very similar..." she turned over some paperwork, "Is zer any problem viz das?"
"No, not at all," Scout answered. "I mean, whatever makes ya feel at home here, heh. Well, anyway, if it ain't too much trouble for ya, I've... well, I've got some questions that've been on my mind for a while, and I was hoping to get some answers."
"Very good," Medic agreed, "Qvestions? Such as about vat? I vill help djou if I can."
"Well..." Scout began. "...well, there's something that's been bugging me over the last day. When you were first here, and I tried to persuade you into... well, this... you said no. I was just wondering what exactly happened to make you change your mind." He didn't want to mention Sniper's involvement, lest she think he was accusing her of something.
"Ja, I thought djou might ask somezink like das," Medic put down the paperwork and walked over to Scout, slinging an arm around his shoulders, "Imagine if djou vill, a curious hybrid creature betveen Hitler und Stalin, whose very urine is pure liqvid malevolence," she patted him on the back, "Do djou haff das image in djour mind now? Good. Now imagine that zink in ser RED base doing pure liqvid malevolence to me."
"Okay..." Scout complied, trying to conjure up Medic's image in his head. It wasn't exactly the most pleasant of thoughts. In fact, the notion angered him. Moreso than he would've thought. But never the less, he kept the image in his head, trying to see where Medic was going with this.
"Vat changed is das..." Medic shrugged, "I vas attacked in mein home base by vun of mein comrades. Und furzermore, mein superior did not believe I had been hurt. Das is vy Sniper successfully persuaded me to join zer BLU team, at least for ein little vile." Also he's a better kisser and fucker than you, she added in her thoughts.
"...Oh," Scout uttered, suddenly feeling ashamed that he brought the subject up. He had no idea that she had been attacked by one of her own. And the RED Soldier not believing her? That must have really stung, "I'm sorry that happened to you," Scout finally told Medic, feeling obligated to say it.
"Ov course djou should be," Medic agreed, "Und djou believe me, but das is because zer RED team is evil for djou..." she shuffled her papers again. She had managed to remain stoic thus far. She wasn't sure for how much longer she could maintain the facade. She didn't want to cry in front of her new comrades. They would ask her what was wrong, and then they would find out, and then she would be sent on leave back to Germany, where some serious shit was going down in Berlin. She sighed, "Danke for djour concern, Scout," she added, almost as an afterthought.
"Hey, it's the least I can do after all that's happened between us," Scout replied. "And you know, despite hating the REDs, I think that'd be a horrible thing to happen to anyone. Hell, someone on my team ever attacked me, I'd probably be waving scarlet by now. Er... don't tell Soldier I said that, though."
"It is called Patient-Doctor Confidentiality," Medic smiled dryly, "Das is vun measure of zer Hippocratic Oath I find simple enough to maintain."
"Heh. Looks like that oath's saved my ass again," Scout joked, a smile across his face now that he was under the impression that Medic's decision had nothing to do with Sniper personally. "So, uh... I should go, but thanks for clearing all that up doc. I appreciate it."
"Ja, don't vorry about it," Medic smiled, "And bitten, don't talk about it, ja? I vould razzer it not be common knowledge."
"You got it. My lips are sealed," Scout replied, tipping his cap. "I'll be seeing you around. Hopefully, not for another stab wound." And with that, Scout departed, feeling much better that he had mere moments before.
Medic nodded and sat back down again. No questions asked, no answers given. It was a huge relief. Scout probably wouldn't ask any questions for a while. It would give her time to adjust.
Hours later, Sniper whistled a tune as he strolled through the halls. It was yet another uneventful day. Another day of looking at nothing but a barren wasteland through his scope. It was boring beyond belief, but at least there was a fat paycheck involved, so he hardly complained. Besides, it was the perfect opportunity to do some light reading, which in one instance had paid off astoundingly when he found the comic book advert for Jarate. However, no such luck came today. So, he made his way to his bunk in order to call it a night.
As he walked along the corridor to the bunks, most of the rooms were silent. His sharp ears however heard a soft whimpering sound, which he quickly identified as crying. It came from the old doctor's room - or more accurately, the room that Medic was now bunking in. He didn't think to knock, but just opened the door of the dimly lit room and looked in. In the dim light, he could just about see Medic face down on her bunk. She sounded as if she was crying. He could see her shoulders trembling slightly. It didn't take much imagination to guess why.
Sniper froze, not knowing how to react. Normally when a woman cried, he walked away, due to the fact that it was usually his fault to begin with. Obviously, it was different here, not only because of the cause, but because he and Medic were... well, he didn't know exactly where they stood, but suffice it to say that he didn't want to piss the doctor off. But alas, walking away felt somewhat irresponsible on his part, so cautiously, he approached her and knelt down by her bunk. "Er... hey," Sniper whispered.
Medic was currently in a set of baggy, army-issue pyjamas, her brown hair loose to her waist. She looked up with a jolt, and he saw her face smeared with tears, "Sniper?" she tried to stem the tears quickly, "Vat do djou vant?" She flushed, embarrassed at being caught crying. That was something babies and the vulnerable did. She didn't cry. It was a sign of weakness, "Stop looking at me," she told him, trying to hide her face.
"Er... sorry," Sniper apologized, looking away from Medic. "I just heard some noises in here. I wanted to see if you were alright. I'm not used to seeing you..." He stopped before uttering the word 'crying'. She obviously didn't want him paying attention to that fact right now.
"Cryink?" Medic finished for him. She wiped her face and sat up, "I do not usually... I am not really zis weak... I haff just been holding it in for hours – not das zere is anyzink to hold in..." she wiped her face again, "I am... I am fine," she looked away, to hide the fact that she was still crying quietly, "I am fine. I vill BE fine. Just a little... obviously... still a little shaken... up..." she choked back a few more tears.
"Yeah. I know," Sniper replied, knowing full well she was talking about what the RED Spy had done, "If it helps though, I'd say you're pretty damn brave for trying to hold it in. Not a lot of people would the same in your position."
"I am not... it didn't affect me, I vill be fine..." Medic covered her face with her hands. She looked different, out of uniform and in less formal wear. Less stern, and more like a real person. But she was still trying not to cry, "I am not usually zis... silly about things..." she sniffed.
"Silly?" Sniper questioned. "Darlin', after what you've been through, I'd hardly consider this silly. I mean, you went through what some nations believe to be a viable form of torture. Showing that you feel a little pain isn't gonna kill you."
Medic nodded reluctantly, "It... does hurt," she admitted to Sniper, "I do not vant to go to sleep... I know I vill remember it..." she paused, then leant her forehead against his chest, "He made me... It vas punishment... for beink such a whore..."
"A whore? Wait... are you talking about what happened with you and me?" Sniper questioned. "How the hell would he know about that?"
Medic looked up again, horror in her face. In her unhappiness she'd forgotten that Sniper didn't know about her and Scout, "Nein," she said, "He... he did not know about us. It vas... somezink else. Somebody else. If he had known about you too... I don't know how it could haff been vorse, but it vould haff been, I am sure."
"Hang on a second," Sniper responded. "You mean to tell me that you got in the sack with someone else as well? Who?"
Medic flushed shamefully, her face still hidden in Sniper's chest, "Scout," she mumbled, waiting for some sort of outburst of anger.
"...Scout?" Sniper repeated, not entirely believing what he had just heard. "Did I hear you right? Did you just say that skinny, baseball bat toting, talkative, ever-fucking-annoying Scout?"
"Oh, don't start..." Medic didn't look up, "It vas stupid... I just... don't even properly know vy... he vasn't even very good..." she was crying again now. She turned away from Sniper quietly, and hid her face in the pillow, her shoulders shaking.
"Alright, alright. I didn't mean to upset you," Sniper placed a hand on her back in comfort. "I'm just a little surprised, is all. He just doesn't seem like your type to fool around with. Not to mention that frankly... I didn't know the little bugger had it in him."
"Djou are right, he is not mein type," Medic admitted, "I thought it vould be mein last ever..." she looked up again, "I am... am sorry," she said softly, still trying not to cry, "I did not mean... I could not..." she wiped her face and buried it in Sniper's lap, her arms around his waist, "I zought ve vere goink to die in zer mornink... or similar..."
"Well, if that's the case darlin', there's no real need to beat yourself up over it," Sniper ran his fingers through her hair. "Honestly, if I was in your shoes, and I thought I was gonna die the next day, I'd probably have done the same thing, preferably with a woman, mind you, but still it'd be the same sort of thing."
Medic continued to cry, trying to not be too conspicuous as she curled up next to Sniper. Despite her situation, she appreciated his kind words and touch, sitting up a little and curling up in his arms. She could still imagine Spy's harsh and unforgiving touch, but at least Sniper's hadn't been quite the same.
Well, at least I know why Scout was acting so damned odd... Sniper began to gently rub her back, trying his best to make her feel at least a little bit comfortable during her moments of despair. He couldn't help but compare this to their first encounter, where he had all but forced her into having sex with him, and realized that what he had done wasn't too far from rape itself.
A small wave of disgust swept over him at the realisation. He'd held a knife to Medic's throat, told her if she went back to the cell it would probably be even worse – true or false that was still a dreadful thing to do – and then taken her sexually for his own personal pleasure. The fact that she'd started enjoying it about halfway through was irrelevant. He had taken advantage of her extremely vulnerable position to get what he wanted.
And with that in mind, curiosity caused Sniper to ask, "Tell me love, if what Spy did to you is bothering you so much, why is it that you're not pushing ME away? I mean, I know I wasn't quite as horrible to you, but it was along the same lines..."
"I... I know," Medic admitted, "Und I am... still angry at djou. But in comparison... for me at least..." she choked slightly again, "At least viz djou... djou vere zer enemy... not ein comrade. Und djou kept djour vord. Djou helped me..." she held on to Sniper, her back arching slightly in appreciation as he petted it, "Still I am angry... but it did not hurt at least... djou did not force for it to hurt..."
"I see..." Sniper replied, moving his hands further down Medic's back as he rubbed it. So in short, he was the lesser of two evils. Knowing that... did not feel good. He'd hurt her too. Scout had managed to let her go without demanding a quick fuck. He should have either let her go or taken her back to the cell. He didn't feel good about realising that, "Tell me love," he whispered to her, "Is there any way I can make up for what I did? I treated you pretty bloody badly... I can't take it back, but if there was a way to put it behind us..."
"I... I do not know. Mein dignity is taken from me..." Medic wiped away more tears, "Bitten, hold me... wizzout takink anyzink more." She held on to Sniper, unsure of why she was giving him this chance. She hurt inside, deeply, and she knew that what she badly wanted right now was somebody holding her because they cared about her.
Sniper obliged, wrapping his arms around her and embraced her as she did him. He honestly didn't know how this would help, but if it helped to ease the pain she was feeling, on both Spy's and his own accounts, he was more than willing to do what she asked.
Medic returned the embrace, glad that he wasn't asking for anything in return. Her tears began to subside a little as she curled up next to him, but she still felt unusually frail, as if she needed somebody else to be strong for her at the moment.
Sniper was happy that Medic was holding him in kind. It meant he was doing the right thing. This was all very surreal for him, trying to comfort another, especially one that he had hurt so badly. It was a very drastic change of pace from leaving his victims either crying in the dust or with a bullet lodged into what was left of their skull. Yet oddly enough, it wasn't that unpleasant of an adjustment. It was still tough to be sure, but making amends with Medic like this... it gave him a certain satisfaction. One very unlike the kind he got when pulling off a successful headshot, or taking the pelt off a wild animal. It felt more... real somehow. More of a genuine feeling.
Somewhat comforted, Medic buried her body closer to Sniper's, nodding a little as he ran his fingers through her hair, "Danke, Sniper," she murmured. She still hurt, but at least she wasn't being hurt. And she did hurt less right now, in his arms.
"Least I can do, love," Sniper replied softly, his fingers moving through her hair with the utmost delicacy, "Least I can do." He was happy to be helping, at least in a small way. Hopefully, this was would be the start of the long road he knew he'd have to travel in order to fully gain Medic's trust. He'd have to work at it, moreso than he'd ever worked in his life, but he'd be damned if he didn't say it wasn't going to be worth it.
Medic began to relax again, her arms around Sniper and her body pressed against him. She wasn't crying right now, although her face was still stained with the tears. Right now that she was in her pyjamas - even army-issue ones - he could feel much more of her body than he'd expected to - and she could feel his touch more acutely too.
Sniper enjoyed the sensation of her body pressed against his. He had never taken the time to fully experience it when they had sex in the base, the sharpshooter having preferred to get right down to business. Now, he was noticing things he'd missed out on that day. Things like her curves, and her slim body. It was a good feeling for him.
Medic gave a sigh. Less pain, more comfort. It would still be some time before she would want actual intercourse. She hoped Sniper could understand that. Men usually only wanted one thing, and right now that was the last thing she could imagine wanting, after recent experiences. For now, simple intimacy would be enough, "I feel zat zis is good for djou?" she asked softly.
"Yeah. More than I would have imagined," Sniper admitted. "And yourself? This is more for your comfort than it is for mine, after all."
"So... djou do vant to help me..." Medic sighed in relief, "Before... it vas all about djou... zer sex felt good, but knowing das vas just ein coincidence... das hurt. Sometimes... a voman only vants to be held. Sometimes das is enough."
"I... didn't know that," Sniper replied. "But then again, it kind of makes sense. It's sort of a satisfaction through simplicity, I suppose."
"Ja," Medic confirmed, "For now... das is vat I vant," she lay down on her bunk, holding Sniper to her so that she could curl up next to him, "For now..."
"That's fine," Sniper accepted, lying next to Medic. "I wouldn't expect you to want anything more after... well, after everything that's happened."
"For now," Medic nodded again, resting her head on his chest and closing her eyes. She wasn't asleep yet, though. Only laying there, listening to his heartbeat.
Sniper tipped his hat over his face, before he laid his head down, relaxing as Medic cuddled up to him. "Take your time, love. Honestly, there's no rush for me," he assured her. "Seeing your old mates in action, I'd say we've got all the time in the world."
Harley: Review!
