Finally updated! Sorry about that, I was pretty uninspired for a little while. Still am, but I wanted to get something out to you guys. Sorry it's a tad shorter than usual. x_x
The ball they were forced to attend came faster than Tracy had expected. It was only a day away, and she was becoming more and more nervous as the hours ticked by. Spy had told her that the suit he ordered had been delayed due to the horrible weather. Engineer had timidly offered to lend her one of his old suits, why was to say... less than pleasant in terms of wear and tear.
Still, it was the only thing she had, and even though it sagged on her and was in bad shape, it was far better than nothing. Spy, on the other hand, was completely disgusted by the state of dress and offered to fit it on her.
She stood in the Spy's smoking room (another one he procured for his own and rarely let anyone inside besides himself) with her arms out to the sides. Her shoulders ached from standing still for so long, frowning as another cloud of smoke hit her square in the face.
"Are we almost done?" She couldn't help but whine. She felt a headache coming on, and really wanted to just grab a drink with the Heavy and Demo before going to bed. Spy was making some adjustment to her cuffs, pursing his lips at her with an unimpressed expression on his face.
"Be patient. Do you want to attend looking like you slapped on a pair of hand-me-downs? I do not think our employer would appreciate that."
"He can suck it."
Spy raised an eyebrow, but otherwise did not comment. Tracy didn't know how Spy knew so much about clothes, but figured it was another thing she would never figure out about Spy. He rarely, if ever, stuck her with a needle. Thank god for small favors. Still, the smoke in the room was stifling. Even if the cold rushed it, she felt it would be a better alternative to open a window than continue breathing in that room.
The Frenchman eventually took notice of her discomfort and stood up, towering over her by at least a head. "I suppose I can give you a break, but tomorrow morning we must continue. We must leave early tomorrow to get to the Mann Estate."
Tracy sighed in relief and thanked him, gently peeling off the suit and folding the garments. It was a dark blue number, not totally unsimilar to Spy's, but clearly not as classy. It had a silly blue fringe for the undershirt and a bright and shiny bow-tie. Spy refused to even look at it, replacing it with a white button up shirt and black tie.
Glad to finally relax her shoulders, she thanked the Spy for his help and began to walk out.
"Wait a moment." Spy's voice called out just as she had opened the door. Tracy stopped in her tracks, turning back to him and shutting the door.
"What is it?" There was a slight sense of foreboding in the air. Spy was a good man, for all she knew of him. He had a pretty good reputation with most of her team, although a few seemed a bit jealous or annoyed by him. He was dependable and dangerous.
Spy stepped forward, releasing a puff of smoke in his wake. "I have a feeling, and excuse me if I am intruding as it is my job as a spy, that there is something you are hiding."
She froze, if only for a moment, but he noticed. Tracy stared, not sure how to respond.
"I know it is none of my business, but I am quite curious. I have asked the doctor for his opinion, yet he refused to even speak of you. Either he dislikes you, which I doubt, or he's covering for you. I am intrigued." Spy stepped around her, barely brushing her shoulder. "This is not an interrogation, I am simply asking. If you do not wish to share, then that is your business."
"But know this, I will discover what it is sooner or later. I did not procure this position for nothing. I looked at your files, yet nothing has turned up that would stand out. It is... infuriating." He closed his eyes a moment, shaking his head. "Regardless, I will wait for your answer. Or lack thereof."
Spy left the room, leaving Tracy in the dark.
Tracy stood around for a few minutes, shifting her weight, not sure what to do. She knew that Spy wouldn't wait outside for her, he planned to sweat her out until she finally cracked. Shaking her head, she decided to just get a drink like she had planned to all along. Stepping out, she made her way to the kitchen.
A small group consisting of Heavy, Demoman, and surprisingly Scout were all sitting at the kitchen table laughing. Laughing at Scout to be precise. The Bostonian had spat all over the table and himself, clearly having tried and failed to shoot a glass of Scrumpy. His face was red, either from pain or embarrassment.
"Hey lad, take a seat." Demo offered, scooting out a chair. He was clearly already drunk, although Tracy couldn't tell due to how drunk he was all the time. Still, he seemed lucid enough. She took the seat beside him and took a glass and swallowed it down fast. It burned wickedly all the way down, forcing a cough from her.
"How in the hell do you drink this shit?!" Scout was still coughing his lungs up, doubled over the table with a fist clenched beside his head.
"Ach, grow a pair! This shiet is the weak stuff." The Scotsman rolled his eye and took a gulp from his bottle, smacking his lips audibly. Tracy couldn't help but snort out a laugh.
"Have a chaser or something. Y'know, drink something you like right after to take away the taste. Or drink it cold." Tracy offered, gesturing to Demo to pour her another.
Scout stood up and ran towards the fridge, taking out a can of BONK! as the Heavy snorted out, "Chaser is weak, drink like man!"
The Thief eyed the soda, not sure if it was a great idea or not to drink that soda while doing shots. She'd seen what that stuff was capable of on the battlefield. If anything, it could make the scrumpy twice as potent.
Yet she couldn't help but be a little amused by the thought of a totaled Scout bumping around in the halls drunkenly. Tracy took another shot as the Heavy began speaking about his time in bars and bar fights.
"Medic and I in bar, drinks very good. Back at 2fort, before new little man. Was many people, many did not like doctor. Doctor laugh in faces, Heavy crush little men in face and throw them across room. Other little men join and try to fight, but too giant for tiny men to hurt me. Medic broke bartender's nose with glass." They all laughed, perhaps a bit too hard. Tracy blamed the drink, and the giant man's broken english.
Just as the Heavy finished his story, Tracy caught sight of the Scout taking a swallow of vodka (he must have grabbed the glass while the story was being regailed, and quickly grabbed his can and chugged it down.
The effect was immediate, the younger man buzzing and flickering in and out of sight. It was not so much flickering as it was a vibration. Tracy experimentally tried to touch the Scout's shoulder, but her hand met little resistance and she passed through him. She yanked her hand back, staring at it.
"Oh man, this feels so weird." Scout mumbled as the effect wore off. He slumped over the table, his eyes glassy and distant.
"You're telling me." Tracy replied, deadpan. Demoman burst out laughing and slapped her on the back, going into a coughing fit. She grabbed his bottle of scrumpy while he was distracted and took a longer drink than before.
They left Scout at the table for awhile as they talked. A warm buzz filled Tracy's body, leaving her warm and sated. They grabbed some food, leftovers from dinner earlier. Tracy scarfed down a drumstick while Demoman stuffed mashed potatoes and gravy in his mouth. Heavy had a... sandwich. Tracy knew Heavy's sandwich was off limits to all, since it was specially made for him and him alone. She also knew it had healing properties, for some reason.
"Ach, time for sleep. Little Scout need bed." Heavy stood from the table, grabbing the Scout by his collar and lifting him onto his shoulder. Scout mumbled incoherently, still not aware of his surroundings. Tracy muffled a laugh at the sight, but waved the two goodbye and turned back to the Scotsman.
Demoman was now slumped over the table, sleepy and sighed, standing from her seat. She was wobbly and her sight was double, but she was a tad too drunk to think straight. Grabbing the Demoman, she hauled him from his seat. Which was quite a feat, since she wasn't that strong. Still, somehow she managed to drag him from the kitchen and down a set of halls and stairs.
Some things went fuzzy, like how she was able to open his door. She could vaguely make out the shape of the Heavy already inside, snoring like a bear. Demo had the top bunk, and for a short amount of time she was able to rouse him into wakefulness in order to force him up the ladder. Still, she had to help push and guide his hands til he eventually got to the top. Just as she was about to fall down the ladder to go back to her room, he grabbed her arm and pulled her onto the bed.
She protested, but she was far too drunk and the bed was too comfortable. She pulled the blanket over them, falling asleep too quickly to notice the Demoman throwing an arm over her.
Hope you guys liked it!
