(A/N): Enjoy!
The trio stayed silent as they moved towards the direction of the Ring. The Cage was in their path, so they decided looting would be best for now until Bloodhound picked up on information of nearby enemies. Caustic minded his own business, searching for ultimate accelerants to prepare for the final Ring. Bloodhound was also handling themselves, but they were more distant towards Walter compared to their first conversation back in Spotted Lakes. Walter had noticed and believed it had to be due to the sudden coughing. He would admit, it was a bit worrying to witness, but Bloodhound shrugged it off as if it was an everyday problem for them. Which it was…
Bloodhound was searching the second building, closest to the Cage as Caustic used the Replicator at the first building resting on the side of the hill. Walter stepped into Bloodhound's building, a bit desperate to wipe away the awkward atmosphere surrounding them.
"Uh…so you were right about the whole beer messing with my eyesight. Probably would have saved Octane a few bullets." Walter spoke, grinning at Bloodhound who was filling their bag with a few shield cells.
Bloodhound gazed up at Walter, smirking behind the mask. They stepped away, out the door and towards the Cage. They checked their map for Caustic, making sure he wasn't too far away. Walter chased after the hunter, wondering if that was the best way to start that topic.
"I'm sorry I got ya' shot if that's what you're upset about." Walter continued.
"I am not upset, but I thank you for coming to me to discuss this. You are my teammate during this match and just as you protected me, I want to protect you." Bloodhound finally responded, slowing down so Walter can catch up with them.
"Well, I appreciate the protection!" Walter grinned, wrapping a quick arm around Bloodhound's shoulders for a side hug. Then he suddenly remembered the Wingman at his face and pulled away. "Oh, yeah. Sorry about that…"
"…A hug is fine. Though your choice of showing respect towards the doctor is – um…uncomfortable to me." Bloodhound explained, scanning their surroundings since they were focused on their discussion.
Suddenly, Walter laughed and it startled Bloodhound. They were even amazed at how loud the man was and checked their surroundings once more due to the worry of being found.
"Fitzroy, your laughter. It may lure our enemies close." Bloodhound warned with warm cheeks behind their mask.
"Sorry, mate!" Walter answered, laughter still strong as he tried to calm down. "I know some of ya' here can be a bit uptight and I get that. Ya' not gonna get any ass slapping from Fusey, alright?"
"…Will it be wrong of me to say that I don't trust your words?" Bloodhound asked.
Walter stared at Bloodhound, trying to hold back another burst of laughter, but he wasn't strong enough. His hands held at his stomach, starting to gain pain in his stomach from too much laughter. There was even a tear of laughter in his eye. Bloodhound's cheeks were hotter, turning their gaze away from Walter, and beginning to hope an enemy team attacks to stop the embarrassment Walter put upon them.
Suddenly, a Kraber cracked and Walter's laughter instantly stopped. As Bloodhound turned to push the man into cover, it felt as if the world was in slow motion. They noticed as they rushed for Walter, he was the one caught by the Kraber's bullet that went right through his head. He was staring back at Bloodhound as he collapsed to the ground.
"Fitzroy!" Bloodhound gasped, trying to catch him, but fell with him due to dead weight.
"Hound, I'll cover fire. You need to activate the Nox masks." Caustic demanded in the mic and Bloodhound instantly followed as they flipped a switch that had their mask glowing green. A bullet flew over Bloodhound's head just as they grabbed for Walter's mask and placed it on his mouth, turning it on. Then, Bloodhound scanned their surroundings and pulled out their Wingman to shoot at the scanned targets.
"We have them on, Doctor!" Bloodhound shouted over the gunfire and into their mic. A second later, Caustic tossed his Nox grenade onto them and Walter.
"Revive him!" Caustic called back and grunted onto the mic. His arm was shot when he tossed the gas cover and retreated behind his wall cover.
Bloodhound pulled out a syringe and stabbed Walter with no hesitation. Within moments, Walter raised quickly while panting.
"What the bloody hell?!" Walter huffed before suddenly getting a striking pain in his head. "Shit!"
"Fitzroy, you're severely injured. We must move within our cover while we still can." Bloodhound told him, already attempting to get Walter to his feet.
"Yep!" Walter agreed and tried his best to do what Bloodhound requested. The pain in his head nearly had him dizzy, but he didn't want to end this match so soon with an easy shot to the head.
Bloodhound allowed Walter to lean on them into the building nearby and avoided all windows as they both collapsed on the floor to rest for just a moment. Bloodhound pulls out medical supplies for Walter as Caustic hurried into the building with them.
"We cannot stay here. Revenant will use his totem any moment now. We must move now." Caustic warned as he trapped the doors with his gas traps.
"Yeah, yeah. Just…just give me a sec, will ya?" Walter huffed before thanking Bloodhound for the medical supplies and healed enough just so he could have the energy to run. The headache was still kicking his ass, but he bit back the pain and stood up. He reloads his guns and glances at his teammates. "Alright, let's go."
The trio hurried out of the building and Bloodhound scanned their surroundings, making sure a second team or Revenant's team wasn't right behind them. There was no scan, so they were safe for now. Since the entrance to Cage nearby the Labs was being scouted by a Kraber, they took the opposite entrance. A further walk, but it was safer than being shot at and Caustic can layout his traps on the way.
Bloodhound was stuck in their thoughts. They had hoped for the worse on Walter and it happened. They clenched their teeth as they felt the need to puke. What were they thinking?! They already have lost so many people in their lifetime and now they're hoping for death on others?! Bloodhound's hands clenched.
"Ya got guts saving me out in the open like that, Hound." Walter suddenly said, pulling the hunter out of their thoughts. Bloodhound wanted to take that compliment, but they believed they didn't deserve it.
"…You should thank the doctor. If he didn't cloak us with his gas, there would have been no way of saving you without sacrificing another." Bloodhound responded, feeling their chest ache increase in pain. It started to make them wonder if another cough was emerging.
"Well, thanks to both of ya! Drinks on me after this, yeah?" Walter responded with a grin on his lips, attempting to ignore the headache.
Then the three grew silent, checking their surroundings again for any form of threat. Though, Bloodhound made eye contact with the dry blood on Walter's temple. They're glad they never saw the impact of the bullet hitting his head, but the expression Walter made when he was shot was terrifying. Bloodhound had seen worse, but they believed because of their wrongful request of shutting up Walter's laughter by an attack, the memory seemed a lot more…emotional.
These feelings Bloodhound felt, they were uncomfortable to them. And…it has been some time since someone could make Bloodhound feel embarrassed and flustered. Bloodhound began to wonder why Walter Fitzroy was here. He didn't enter the games like Revenant or Loba had done and started trouble for everyone. Walter entered the Games more like how Ramya did…
"Hey, Hound! Doc here wants us on the top floor so he can set up! You walkin' around or meeting up?" Walter suddenly called out on the second floor of the Cage.
Bloodhound realized they were still outside the Cage and looked up at Walter. Caustic was walking past him to get to the next floor as Bloodhound smirked behind their mask.
"I'll be up there momentarily. I would like to search this area. Are you looking for anything particular to assist you in our next battle?" Bloodhound asked.
"Grenades. Lots of grenades, mate." Walter grinned, almost evilly. Though it wasn't as terrifying as Nox or Revenant.
Bloodhound chuckled softly to themselves before stepping away to begin their search.
(A/N): Comment & Review! Also, check out my Wattpad for my original stories! (ashlin_port)