Chapter 14 - Betrayal of trust
The Spycrab awoke to an unfamiliar sound. Most likely the RED Medic and his terrible whistling skills was the Spycrab's first guess. Then again, the Medic didn't sound like... a truck? Half-awake, he looked around for clock or something to check to see what time it was. There was nothing on the Scout's walls except for a few pro-RED and baseball posters.
"Damnit, Scout." He yawned and tried to rub the sleep out of his eyes with his good claw. The other claw was still sore from his attack against his own reflection.
Very clumsily, he removed himself from the crook of the Scout's neck and scuttled across the bed and lazily walked off the edge, conveniently landing on the discarded pillow he had slept on the other day. A few slurred curses in French before the Spy finally landed on the hard floor and scampered up to the chair of the desk. He was lucky the Scout had thrown a shirt across the seat of the chair of else he wouldn't of had something to climb up. By this time, he was getting better at using his crab body to his advantage. Those large claws were much stronger than his tiny little hands he had as a human.
The Spy grunted as he pulled himself onto the flat surface of the desk. It took him a few seconds to realize what he had done by this point; He got from the Scout's bed all the way up to the desk by himself. A frustrated growl escaped his mouth. Honestly, he never expected to get use to his body, he never wanted to anyway. The Spy was born a human, and he wanted to die as one. Although he wouldn't admit it, he feared if he got use to his crab form, he would lose interest in becoming human. Then again, being a small little helpless crab gave him the advantage of remaining close to the RED-
"NON!" He hit the top of his crab shell with both claws, getting the thought out of his head. " When this is over, I'm returning to BLU, nothing more! Right?" He glanced over at the slumbering RED Scout. "Nothing...more..."
Although it was faint, he heard voices from outside. Back to business. The Spycrab struggled some more getting on top of the windowsill. A few jumps made it obvious that he was too short. Damn his short crabby legs! That didn't stop him though, he was a smart man...crab...he could figure out how to up there. He quickly searched the desk for something he could use to give him a boost. The Scout's desk was just as out of order as the floor. Papers everywhere, most of them were blank or just slightly torn of letters from his mom or brothers.
"Cute." The Spy thought to himself.
There were various pencils of different size and condition and only one pen that seemed to be treated far better then the pencils. Perhaps that pen was a gift. The Scout certainly seemed to treat gifts better then things he either earned or bought with his own money.
After seeing paperclips that were bend into shapes or objects, the Spy just had to let out a disappointed sigh. Why the Scout even had a desk in the first place was beyond his knowing.
In the end, the Spycrab ended up using an empty tissue box as a boost. The fact that the tissues were gone and he found the box next to a bottle of lotion gave the Spycrab a very disturbing idea of what happened to all the tissues in the first place. He couldn't help but cringe at the thought as he pushed the box across the mess of papers to up against the wall. Although he found himself licking his lips at the same time.
With another grunt, the Spycrab finally got himself up onto the windowsill, slightly hesitating to know what was going on outside.
His little beady eyes widened in horror as he caught the quick sight of a pickup truck driving off, the letters 'TF Industries' painted on the tailgate. He remembered when he first joined BLU, they drove him out in a truck just like that. While it never drove onto the field itself, it remained on the other side of the fence that boarded the fort and parked near a gate that the driver had a key for. Once a mercenary got onto the field, they were on their own.
That wasn't what the Spycrab was focused on though. He could watch with hurt eyes as he watched his former BLU teammates filing out of the base, smiling and greeting the new BLU Spy that stood outside with suitcase in hand.
"No..." The Spycrab whispered.
The BLU Soldier was the first to reach the new Spy, an unusually happy grin on his face as he reached out a hand and shook the Spy's hand very eagerly. He couldn't tell what they were saying, he wished he could read lips. All he could see was the Solder talking and laughing with the new BLU Spy before the Soldier gestured to the rest of the BLU members. Each one shook hands with the new Spy with a smile and a nod.
"No..." Repeated the Spycrab, his voice shaking.
His attention almost immediately caught sight of the BLU Scout, who was slightly hiding behind the BLU Medic, looking a bit upset. The BLU Medic turned to the Scout, mouthing something and nodding his head towards the new Spy, the Scout only sneered in response. Eventually the new Spy walked up to the Medic and Scout. The Medic smiled before pushing the Scout in front of him and said something. The Spycrab watched as the new Spy smiled and mostly likely said something nice like 'it's a pleasure to meet you, I hope we work well together' and held out his hand for a handshake with the young man. The BLU Scout's nose wrinkled as he slapped the Spy's hand away and yelled something at the new Spy before running back into the base. The BLU Medic nervously looked at the Spy as he followed after the Scout.
The Spycrab couldn't help but smile, he was still upset and felt betrayed the he was replaced by another Spy. But the fact that the BLU Scout refused to accept the Spy so easily relieved him a bit. It felt good being missed by at least one of his teammates. He missed the BLU Scout as well. While he was close with his other teammates, he was more close with the BLU Runner than the others.
He jumped slightly when he heard the RED Scout let out a groan as he shifted onto his stomach. The boy practically jumped awake when he landed on his 'dinner', the bags of chips crunching loudly underneath his weight.
"AH JEEZE!" The Scout shifted again and he landed on the floor. He let out an embarrassed sigh as he laid on the floor for a bit before he sat up. Scout saw the Spycrab looking at him from the windowsill. "How'd you get there?"
No answer. The Spycrab looked down a bit before looking out the window again. Scout raised an eyebrow as he picking himself up onto his feet and walked over to see what was going on. He only managed to see the last of the BLUs file back into their base.
"What's goin' on?" Scout asked.
"They...replaced me." answered Spy.
"Crap! You serious?" Scout tried to sound like he wasn't expecting that to happen. Although from what he saw yesterday when he retrieved the Spy's cigarettes, he kind of knew it was.
The Spycrab nodded. Scout bit his lower lip. "Sorry, man." He didn't exactly know how to react since the RED team never had to replace a member before.
"Crab," The Spy corrected, letting out a sigh as he sat down. "They don't need me anymore. Scout, you can just release me outside and-" Scout let out a growl.
"HEY!" The Scout lightly punched the Spycrab on the head. "What the hell? Yer just gonna quit? After all the shit you put me through? No way!" The Spy looked up at him, looking surprised and confused. "Nu-uh! That ain't gonna happen! I didn't got through four days of hell with the Sniper being accused of being a fag, the others thinking' I'm insane, and the BLU Scout unintentionally tellin' me he's not a virgin for your to just GIVE UP LIKE A FUCKIN' PUSSY!" The Scout was yelling at this point.
The Scout settled down finally, he was panting heavily as he glared at the Spycrab, who continued to stare up at the Scout in shock. Neither one of them said anything for a while. What was there to say?
"Yer a selfish asshole." The Scout finally said. That seemed to hit the Spycrab the most.
There was another moment of silence before there came a knock on the door. The Scout turned.
"Scout?" Is the Soldier. "You alright in there, boy?"
The Scout took a final glare at the Spycrab before walking over to open his door. The Soldier looked at the Scout curiously through his helmet.
"Yeah, I'm fine," The Scout lied. "I...uh...I just saw BLU receive a new Spy and I got a little upset."
"Ah, Engie saw that earlier, can't blame you for yellin'." The Soldier agreed.
" You need somethin'?"
"Yeah, the Administrator stepped in to help decide if we're going to Harvest or not for the October month," The Soldier explained. "We're needed in the Meeting room."
"I'm comin'," The Scout grabbed his shoes before following after the Soldier. He needed to get away from the Spycrab, he was beyond mad this time.
"Well? What are you waitin' for? RUN, MAGGOT!" bellowed the Soldier.
The Spycrab didn't know what to do. With the BLU team with a new Spy, would they even take him back if he became human again? Or would he be rejected? That wasn't what bothered him though. Although he was concerned about what was going to happen, he couldn't help but agree with what the Scout said. He was thinking only of himself during this whole time.
Even though he was a crab now, up till now, he bossed the Scout around. Sure, it helped keep the Scout alive on the field, but it was against the nature of a Scout to hide or slink around like...a Spy. Not only that, but it was just dangerous when he asked the Scout to get his box of cigarettes. Had other members been around with the BLU Scout, the RED Scout could've been captured and held in the BLU base as a prisoner. Perhaps even tortured or worse. The RED Scout had gone beyond just helping him just for getting a free kill in the end. He was even risking healthy interactions with his own teammates just to avoid getting stray looks from them when he talked to the Spycrab. Why the Scout was even helping him in the first place confused the Spycrab.
Spy let out a slight growl. As much as it annoyed him to admit someone else was right, the Scout...was right about him. He was selfish. And because he was selfish, he didn't like the fact that the new Spy was going to be sleeping in his room, talking to his teammates, wearing his expensive blue color imported pinstripe suits, and attempting to hunt down and kill his RED Scout.
"No," The Spycrab growled. "I won't allow that to happen."
He cursed to himself when he realized in order to become human right away to reclaim his spot in the BLU team, he was going to have to sink to pretty low terms to get the RED Scout to kiss him. Very. Desperate. Means.
It took the Spycrab a while to get down from the windowsill. In the end, the Spycrab ending up jumping from where he stood and landing in a pile of dirty clothes. That was one scent on the Scout he wished he never knew, the sweaty side.
He was thankful the Scout had left his bedroom door open or else the Spy's plan would've ended horribly - by not happening at all. The Spycrab pushed the door fully open with his large claws and then scuttled into the hallway.
No one was around, thankfully. Spy assumed there were all at the meeting. Had he been human, he would've taken the opportunity the listen in and report to his teammates what he heard. That wasn't important now. He was still a crab and he had a plan to work out. If it all worked out, he should be human by nightfall. Maybe even earlier.
Despite what happened earlier, the Spycrab found himself humming as he scuttled down the hallway, peeking into each room looking for a specific room to carry out his plan. The Scout's room was next to the Medic's room, it was evident due to the amount of medical books that were piled in the man's room. That's not it. He walked down to the other room, that one belonged to the Engineer. Nope. The last two rooms belonged to the RED Spy and Heavy, he didn't even bother looking into the Spy's room. The RED Frenchmen's room reeked of expensive - or cheep- cologne and ash. With a sigh, the Spycrab crossed the hall way to the other line of doors. What he was looking for had to be here.
After a few more rooms, an evil grin appeared on the Spycrab's face as he reached the room he was looking for: The Demoman's room.
He entered the room, looking around with fascinated eyes at the explosive material the Scotsman had. Most of them were sticky bombs. The rest were miscellaneous types of bombs; They were probably never to be used due to either being defective or too dangerous to use in battle. The Spy couldn't help be wonder if the Demoman would be completely worthless to a team if he never had any of these materials to his disposal. He'd just be a one-eyed, drunken, burden. The explosives weren't what the Spy needed though. Since the Demoman had a never-ending supply of alcohol, perhaps the man wouldn't mind if...the Spycrab...'borrowed' a bottle.
Yes. That was his plan. To get the RED Scout drunk. A desperate motive, yes, then again, he was desperate to become human again. He knew he'd be proving the Scout was right by doing this, but he was running out of time, patience, and options. If the new BLU Spy settled in before he returned, he was going to be forgotten by his comrades. Even to the BLU Scout with time. What was he going to do then? Live forever as the RED Scout's pet? He was too proud to go from a top professional spy to a low life pet that depended on a buck-toothed, fast talking virgin. However, although he wasn't ready to admit it yet, he had grown quite fond of that young man. He especially loved that intoxicating scent that belonged to the Scout.
The Spycrab wasn't sure if he was going to enjoy this or not. Once he was human, he could leave and just forget everything ever happened. Then he and the RED Scout could continue hating each other again. Shame really, those days he spent to earn the boy's trust, would be for nothing.
After searching around the room, the former Frenchmen eventually came across a large cabinet that was up next to the Demoman's bed. To a person, it would be a short cabinet, but from the Spycrab's point of view, he could've easily have used it as closet for this clothes. That is...if crabs wore clothes. Either way, it looked promising. He scuttled up to the case and observed it, wondering if by chance the RED Cyclopes had booby-trapped it. He knew the BLU Demoman had a tendency to do something like that. Was this man the same way? Only one way to find out.
With a silent pause and a few breathing exercises, the Spycrab finally latched onto the knob of the cabinet the best he could with is claws. It took a few tries before he finally got a study grip. He counted down in his head from three down to one and pulled the right door open, flinching by reflex, expecting an explosion.
Nothing.
"Oh, Dieu merci," The Spy nervously chuckled to himself, as he pulled open the other door.
The cabinet was allied with bottles upon bottles of the same brand of scrumpy. A signature brand most likely. The Spycrab shook his head slightly at the limited selection. He wanted the Scout drunk, not brain dead. Then again, what was the difference?
He was just about to forget the whole idea when a bottle on the bottom shelf, hidden behind more brown bottles caught his eye. With a curious hand (or claw), the Spycrab moved the bottles aside to see a single row of clear bottles, the labels were slightly silver with a red colored rim. Some of the bottles were filled with equally clear liquid, but a few had slightly reddish brown liquid as well. Vodka.
"Well, well," The Spycrab grinned. "I guess the Demoman is more cultured than I thought."
The Scout didn't want to return to his room after the meeting ended. He couldn't even remember what even happened during the meeting. All he could remember was some old woman screaming at them, berating them, calling them every profound word known to man and then blah, blah, blah, blah...
As soon as they were dismissed, the Scout was the first one to leave, but he didn't exactly know what to do next. If he returned to his room, he had to deal with the Spycrab, but then again, what was there to do now?
"Scout?" The RED Medic grabbed his shoulder, making the Scout jump slightly.
"Shit, man, don't sneak up on me like that!" He hissed, sounding very angry. The Medic stepped back slightly. Scout saw the Heavy was with the Medic as well.
"I'm sorry, herr Scout," The Medic squeaked slightly. " I didn't mean to startle you."
"Is leetle Scout, ok?" asked the Heavy.
The Scout narrowed his eyes at the two. "Yer not here to stab me in the neck with that medicine again, are ya?" He growled.
"Oh, nien. Ve are just worried about you, zhat's all." The Medic said.
"What do you mean? I'm fine!"
"It's just...zhat...vell...you haff been unusually distant lately," Began the Medic. "Are you still upset about zhose three days of suspension?"
"No." Scout's eye twitched slightly. "I'm fine."
"Iz someone giving you trouble?"
"No."
" Did one of zhe BLUs threaten you?"
"No."
"Did someone...touch you...inappropriately?" The Medic's eyes widened slightly.
" Oh god, NO! What the hell, doc?" yelled the Scout in disgust.
The Medic shrugged. " Just listing zhe possibilities." The Heavy chuckled.
"L-look, I'm just bummed that..." He looked around for something to blame, he saw Sniper walk past the Soldier and Spy- who looked at him with suspicious eyes. "...everyone is being a jerk to Sniper."
"Oh!" The Medic believed him. "Vell, you don't haff to worry, herr Scout. Things vill get better when me move out to Coldfront in zhe morning."
"Right...Coldfront." The Scout sounded disappointed since he knew where they were going to a colder area instead of a semi-warm area for October. He was looking forward to going to Harvest, at least he'd have access to some pumpkins to shoot.
"You should go pack now, Scout." The Medic turned him towards his room and gave him a light push almost playfully. "Remember to pack a sweater, ja? Ve don't vant a repeat of December!"
Scout grumbled to himself as he walked lazy towards his room. Guess he had to face the Spycrab either way.
"Bonjour, mon Princess!" The Spycrab smiled pleasantly.
"I'M NOT A PRINCESS - oh, hey, you're in a good mood," The Scout's expression immediately softened after realizing how happy the Spycrab sounded. "What gives?"
The Spycrab was sitting on top of the Scout's desk. The desk itself being completely reorganized with the scattered papers, pencils and pens properly sorted so it looked somewhere presentable. Behind the Spycrab was tall clear bottle of vodka.
"How'd you get up there?"
"It's a long story, trust me." The Spy sighed, sounding a bit tired just thinking about it.
"Alright, that's fair, I think." The Bostonian muttered to himself, being a bit confused about what was going on as he shut his bedroom door. "Seriously though, what gives? Why are you so happy all of a sudden?"
"I thought about what you said, and...you are ...you are right," The Spy had a bit of trouble saying it out loud. "I was acting very selfish, and you have worked too hard putting up with me all the while. I'm not giving up becoming human."
"Good!" Scout said simply, it was easy to hear his excitement in his tone as being told he was right. "So...what's with the bottle? Where did you get it?"
"Oh! I was hoping maybe you and I could...celebrate." The Spycrab smiled again, looking a bit TOO happy but at the same time, rather genuine.
"Celebrate what? Your team got a new Spy and my team still thinks I yell at windows on a regular basis." The Scout sat down in the desk chair as he spoke.
The Spycrab shrugged slightly. "Our last day at 2fort, of course." He chuckled, seeing the Scout nod slightly, believing every word. "So, where are we going?"
"Coldfront," groaned the Scout. "I hate snow."
"As do I," The Spy agreed, being truthful. "No Harvest this year. It's probably for the best."
The Scout didn't say anything, he looked at the bottle curiously, taking it in his hand and looking at it. "Is this Vodka?"
Spy nodded, pulling out two paper cups he had found lying around in the desk while he was cleaning up the mess. "You drink?"
There was a nervous moan, the Spy looked at the Scout as the boy bit his lower lip. "N-not really." The Spycrab snorted. "Hey! What's so freakin' funny?"
"You are such a virgin." responded the Spy.
It took the Scout a while to realize what the Spy was talking about. Not just being a virgin with sex, but also a virgin towards drinking alcohol. He let out a low groan as the Spycrab continued to grin. "Would you like to give it try?" the crab asked, pushing one of the cups towards the boy.
Scout looked at the bottle, then at the Spycrab. He knew the Spy would taunt him more if refused it, just claiming he was 'pure' in more ways than one. With a loud huff, the Scout unscrewed the cap off the bottle and took a huge gulp from it. The Spycrab flinched, not expecting the Scout to go for it so quickly.
Scout swallowed hard before pulling the bottle away and letting a disgusted gasp. "This crap tastes like shit!" He coughed.
The Spycrab chuckled and then let out an amused sigh, shrugging a bit. "Well, I suppose any man who can't hold his liquor is...just a boy."
"Hey, I got enough of that crap from that wrinkly old boss lady," The Scout hissed. "That was just my first sip! It tastes better after a few more, right?"
"Of course, it begins to taste like heaven so to say." The Spy held out his little paper cup for some and the Scout poured a little into the cup before drinking from the bottle again.
It was amusing watching the Scout drink so eagerly. Almost too easy the Spycrab though as he took very tiny sips from the cup. Every few sips, the Scout would slam the bottle on the desk and take a few heavy breathes before drinking from the bottle again. Spy assumed the Scout was trying to prove something to him, he wasn't sure what it was, but it was becoming a bit evident that the vodka was starting to take its effect.
"Oh god..." The Scout's speech was slightly slurred as he struggled to set the bottle on the desk. After a few misguided attempts, he just dropped the bottle all together before slamming his head onto the desk. "I don' feel so gooooood."
"iPerfect/i," The crab slowly scuttled around the Scout's head still he reached the boy's face. "Are you feeling alright?" He didn't know why he asked that.
"Room's spinnin'." Scout giggled slightly when his eyes locked onto the Spycrab. "Oh hey! You gots yourself a buddy! Like- four of 'em."
"Aww, poor baby," The Spycrab cooed sarcastically, as he used his good claw to push the Scout's cap off his head. The Scout let out a drunken groan as he slid from the desk to the floor. "Oh! Did you hurt yourself?" He called down to him.
"I feel fantastic~!" responded the Scout.
The Spycrab sighed. "You are makin' this so difficult," He muttered as he jumped from the desk to the chair.
"Y'know what we should do...? We should...like...go inta town...an' hire a prostitute to...do stuff to ya!" The Scout announced. "That'd...that'd totally turn yo' back into a human fer sure!"
"I highly doubt that." The Spy grunted as he jumped onto the floor. "Scout? Do you honestly want to help me?"
" Yeah, of course I do." Scout rolled onto his back. "Yer my friend, an' friends help each other, that's what they do."
"Friend?" Spy froze, looking at the Scout in disbelieve. He couldn't tell if it was the vodka talking or the Scout. No one had ever referred to him as a friend before, even when he was in BLU. The word was foreign to him, yet...Spy shook his head. "You are lying to me."
"No, no I'm not," The Scout struggled to sit up, he fell back down and then struggled again to roll onto his stomach so he could face the Spycrab. "You tried to save my ass yesterday, 'dat shows tha' you care 'bout me." He managed to say, although it was hard for the Spycrab to hear.
The Spycrab sighed, feeling a bit guilty now. Even if the Scout was drunk and what he was saying was nothing but drunken lies, it felt nice being told that. He smiled lightly as he watched the Scout flatten out on the floor, more drunken groans escaping his mouth.
"What am I doing?" He tried to remember why he had gotten the Scout drunk in the first place. Although, no matter how hard he tried to picture the new Spy in his territory, it kept fading out in his head as he looked at the RED Scout. The boy just lying there with his eyes closed, looking so helpless. " I'm going soft." He growled.
"Spy?" The Scout muttered slightly, shifting onto his side. "Can I tell you somethin'?"
He walked up near the Scout, a bit curious about what the Scout was going to say this time. More sweet lies perhaps?
Once the Spycrab was near enough, the Scout suddenly grabbed him, pulling him in for a rough and awkward hug.
"I'm...I'm kinda glad you go' turned inta a crab," Scout slurred. The Spycrab was silent, he was still surprised the Scout was holding him so closely, although still awkward. " cuz...cuz I'm not alone anymore."
"I don't understand." The Spy muttered.
"Non of th' guys here get me, they're so different 'n stuff," continued the Scout. " I don't have any friends, I'm all alone here."
"What about the Sniper? Aren't you friends with him?"
"I tried being nice t' him, but we keep endin' up arguin' 'n stuff. I hate that." His arms became limp and the Spycrab fell onto the floor. "You listen to me when I talk an' you never get angry at me. Like...ever."
The Spy remained silent, he was still sidled up slightly against the Scout's chest, but he didn't mind. He was focused on what the Scout was saying.
"I wanna kiss you so you'd be human again...but I can't...I just can't...you'd hate me..." The Scout's voice trailed off slightly as the Scout lowered his head onto the floor, slowly falling asleep.
It was quiet for a while. The Spycrab remained nuzzled up against the Scout, feeling extremely guilty now for trying to take advantage of the young man in the first place for his own selfish reasons. Never once would he imagine the RED Scout would go from hating his guts and wishing him dead to thinking of him as a friend now. Then again, it was most likely the vodka speaking. He didn't know what to believe. Once the runner slept off the alcohol, he was going to be mad when he realizes what the Spycrab tried to do to him. Or at least suffer from a major headache.
He was still surprised at himself for acting so out of character. Why did the Scout's words make him feel so...human. Every word completely erased the empty feeling he had earlier when he saw the new BLU Spy arrive and take his place. It was replaced with warmth and...he didn't know how to describe it. It almost felt as good as before he became a crab. The feel feeling he had every time there was a battle. When his eyes would catch sight of the RED Scout and he would run across the field just to reach him. He would always look the Scout in the eyes before he killed him
The Spy felt tears weld up in his eyes. "Merde," He whimpered, hating himself for knowing what it was and for feeling this way. But he was afraid to say it out loud.