Scout was running across the Teufort bridge away from the BLU's base, their intelligence briefcase strapped to his back. He could hear the angry shouting voices of his enemies not far behind as they stomped after him, shots ricocheting too close for Scout's comfort. He was halfway across the bridge, halfway to the safety of his base, when something small and bright blue rolled across the bridge just underneath his feet.
The BLU Demoman's grenade.
Scout barely had time to utter a swear before it went off, the explosion blowing Scout across the remainder of the bridge's walkway and sending him slamming hard into the dusty ground on the other side. He tried to get up but found he couldn't feel his legs. Scout could really feel much of anything and laid there on the dusty ground, the taste of blood and dust heavy in his mouth as he struggled to keep his eyes open. Mustering up any and all strength the young man had, Scout pulled himself across the barren wasteland with his arms, trying his hardest to get closer to his base, closer to salvation and safety. His progress was slow and painful, every time he grasped at the hard ground and pulled himself across it, he could feel the rocks and razor-sharp rocks scrape across his chest and legs. He was so close, he could see the front door to his base.
But he couldn't go any further.
Scout let out a defeated groan, using the last bit of his energy to roll onto his back. He stared up at the bright blue sky for probably the last time. He felt his eyelids get heavy and the weird drowsy feeling of death's embrace start to take him, Scout could only chuckle to himself as he whispered to no one in particular.
"Man, dying sucks."
Scout shut his eyes, and everything went away. The pain, the screaming, the gunshots, and explosions.
Everything.
X X X
Scout's eyes snapped open and he gasped for breath, nearly choking on the stale almost medicinal taste of the air. He knew exactly where he was. The base's infirmary. But how? The last thing he remembered was lying on the ground, dying as he stared up at the sky. His entire body felt sore and he could still taste the coppery taste of blood in his mouth, reminders of what happened hours ago. Scout tried to sit up only to hear the sound of someone rushing over to him before feeling a hand push him back down onto the cot. He looked at the person attached to said arm and found the RED Medic staring back at him with a stern yet worried expression.
"Nien! Scout, I'm glad you're okay, but you need to rest!"
Scout ignored the doctor's request, sitting back up. He opened his mouth to speak, but the Boston youth found it drier than the desert outside their base. Medic noticed this and grabbed a glass of water from the nearby nightstand beside the cot. Scout nodded his thanks and drained the glass of water within seconds.
"Doc," Scout sighed, having parched his thirst and regained his voice, "What the hell happened?"
"You were hurt badly during our match at Tuefort last week. You're lucky that Engineer found you and brought you to me."
"Wait, wait. Last week?!", Scout's eyes went wide for a second before he raised an eyebrow in confusion, an equally confused looking frown on his lips, "And what 'bout respawn? Woulda just brought me back right? Good as new?"
Medic gave a shrug as he rubbed the back of his head nervously, "Respawn has been acting weird lately. Taking too long to bring people back, bringing people back in different clothes than what they wore before they died. Remember when Demo respawned wearing a seashell bra a few months ago?"
Scout chuckled, "Yea, that was freakin' hilarious."
"Heh, yes it was," Medic smiled and then his face changed into a serious frown again, "But we can't always rely on respawn bringing us back in one piece."
"Well I feel fine. Can I leave? This place gives me the freakin' creeps," Scout put a hand up, "No offense, doc."
Medic huffed, "Fine, go. But be more-"
Before Medic could even finish his sentence, Scout leaped from the cot and dashed out of the infirmary faster than the German could even blink, leaving him alone and slightly annoyed.
". . .Careful," Medic shook his head as he grumbled, "Dummkopf."