Lisa's ears rang as she hit the ground with a bone jarring jolt as she covered her head with her arms. The explosion had gone off not five feet from her and she found herself coughing through the dust that rose. She was quickly on her feet and running again.
"Atta girl, Backup! Get back up and keep runnin'!" Scout shouted from a safe distance away. He was sitting on one of Engie's mechanical lawn chairs with a cold can of Bonk and a bowl of chips. He was quick to stuff another handful in his mouth as he observed his "student's" next move.
Scout's shout was muffled but Lisa could make out most of what he was saying over the constant barrage of bombs being shot at her from a rather chipper and determined Demolitions Expert.
"AHAHAHAHA! Lass! Ye can run bu' ye can't hide!" Demo taunted before a bomb landed far too close to her and sent her flying.
The air was forced from Lisa's lungs as she fell hard on her back. She wheezed as she tried to catch her breath and opened her eyes to Demo standing over her with a sword to her neck.
"If this were a REAL fight, ye would be-" Demo began but was interrupted.
"Dead? Mutilated? Horribly traumatized?" Lisa snarked wearily turning her eyes to Demo's amused face.
"All o' th' above, I 'spose." Demo chuckled before pulling his sword from her neck and helping her up.
She thanked him and brushed the sand from her clothes. It was everywhere. Her shoes, her hair…her underwear. She was disliking the desert more and more every day. She put her hands on her hips and sighed.
"I wish I could say I was improving."
"Ye are lass. Jus' slowly. Some progress is bette' than none." Demo roughly patted her shoulder as Scout walked over to them.
"Yeah fo' real! You lasted three minutes dis time! That's so much bette' than before. You were lastin' maybe ten to thirty seconds at the beginnin'." Scout agreed before squaring his shoulders and stating. "Don't get cocky though. Ya can't fully replace me!"
"Not my intention, Scout. Just got to hold out long enough for you to get back." Lisa sighed rolling her neck and groaning at the strain. Her limbs ached and popped as she walked to a nearby rock where her satchel was sitting. A groan escaped her lips as she bent to lift it and she gasped as a sharp pain shot through her neck again.
"Ya hurt ya neck?" Scout asked eyes furrowing as he observed her.
"Think I'm tense…I might have strained it." Lisa admitted rubbing the back of it before looking inside the satchel. Upon finding the contents neat and still intact she shrugged it onto her shoulder.
"Ye took a few good tumbles. Wouldn't be shockin'." Demo agreed as he sheathed his sword and turning to Scout.
"Yeah. I'd say we're done trainin' for th' day." Scout yawned as he stretched his arms above his head.
The sun was high in the sky and glaring down at them all. Sweat rolled down Lisa's neck, she wanted nothing more than to get out of the heat and somewhere cool. Lemonade…God she would KILL for lemonade…
"Alright. Well…I think I have training with Heavy later. I want to eat before then. Either of you coming?" Lisa asked turning to them.
"Nah, I just ate a whole bowl of chips." Scout dismissed downing the rest of his Bonk and giving an obnoxious belch.
"Charming." Lisa deadpanned as she wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Demo?"
"Nah lass. I got m' lunch right 'ere." Demo stated holding up a large bottle of scrumpy.
Before Lisa could comment her concern for her colleague's health he said.
"'sides it's almost time for Poker!"
"Aw yeah! I'm in!" Scout enthused with a fist pump.
"We'd invite ye lass but…Solly will be there and ya know how he is…" Demo apologized.
"No worries. I don't know how to play anyways." Lisa shrugged.
As she turned away Demo grabbed her roughly by her shoulder.
"Ye dunnae how to play Poker?!"
The same time Scout shouted,
"WHAT?!"
Lisa blinked in confusion as Scout shaking his head in bafflement.
"But…you're a mercenary…it's like…a requirement!"
"My grandfather taught me a little bit about cards behind my grandmother's back…but she said it wasn't lady-like, so I never learned." Lisa admitted eyes flitting between the two men.
"What? Were ya raised all snobby like Spy?" Scout snorted crushing his can of bonk.
Demo on the other hand nodded.
"Eh, me Mum don't like it much either. Says somethin' along 'he lines of, 'gamblin's fer those who don't wanna work.' Family is complicated lass, I understan' that."
Scout rubbed the back of his neck with an awkward grimace.
"I never tol' my ma about it…"
"Yeah, I just try not to hide anything from them…they seem to find out sooner or later." Lisa mumbled still wondering how her grandparents and Vincent found her so quickly.
"Ye talk a lo' about your grandparents but what 'bout your parents?" Demo asked sitting on a rock nearby and observing his sword for any scratches.
Lisa grimaced and her expression turned a bit sour.
A couple of seconds of silence pass before Demo's single eye widened in sympathy.
"Aw…touchy subject. I'm sorry, lass. Didn't mean to pry none."
"Hey! Backup! It's ok! None of us here have good relationships with our parents…I don't think Solly even has parents…heck he coulda spawned from the ground for all I know. Anytime we ask he says his dad is Uncle Sam and his ma is Lady Liberty or somethin'."
That got a small giggle out of Backup before she rubbed her arms and her lips tilted into a small apologetic smile.
"My home life is…complicated. I don't really like talking about it."
"No rush, lass. Wheneve' yer ready, we're 'ere for ye. Lord knows everyone 'ere has a strange and sordid past, right Scout?" Demo jerked his head toward Scout.
"Uhh…sure. Yeah." Scout agreed his face scrunched in confusion.
Lisa tummy decided to take that moment to rumble in disapproval and she blushed.
"Well…that's my cue to go eat. Thanks for training with me guys. I appreciate your help."
"Weren't nothin', Backup." Scout waved before turning to Demo and smacking his arm, a challenging glint in his eye. "Let's go play poker! Bet Solly's already waitin' for us."
"Tha' eager to go lose again, Scout?" Demo taunted as Lisa walked away.
Lisa shook her head fondly as the sound of their squabbling diminished as she entered the building. Her footsteps echoed quietly around her in the bare and empty hallways. Her stomach rumbled and it reverberated against the walls. She picked up the pace and hugged her stomach a bit.
"What does it take for a girl to get some lemonade around here?" She mumbled to herself as she hugged her now aching stomach. Her lips were chapped and throat sore from the dry desert air and she made a mental note to put items for lemonade on the grocery list in the next shipment.
As she wandered through the hallway toward the kitchen, she could hear bits of conversation.
"I know, Pyro…I know…we all have to prove ourselves…even you have to admit this was suspicious…"
Lisa's brows furrowed at the bits of conversation she heard. It was Engie's voice and a very disgruntled sounding Pyro. The conversation grew louder as she approached the swinging doors to the kitchen. Not wanting to seem rude or be caught eavesdropping, Lisa pushed the doors open and looked to the two people sitting at the table.
Engie's head snapped up from some blueprints he had been looking at and Pyro from his left gave a chipper,
"Wrrhmph Wrr brrkrrp!"
"Oh, hey Pyro!" Lisa smiled and waved as she walked to the counter to make a sandwich.
"You guys eat yet?" Lisa continued as she set a couple of pieces of bread on the counter and searched for peanut butter.
"Yup." Engie stated turning back to the blueprint in front of him. His lips were pulled downward in a troubled frown and his eyebrows furrowed over his goggles.
Lisa turned in surprise at his tone and observed him. She was not used to Engie being short with her and she summed it up to him being focused and worried about a project. Even as she rationalized his attitude a small seed of doubt was planted in her mind.
She finished making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in silence and went to sit across from him. As soon as she sat, Engie rolled up his blueprints and muttered something about losing daylight. With that he left the room. Lisa jumped at the loud slam of the swinging doors as he left. Her heart beat fast as she thought through what she could have done to make him upset. She looked at Pyro whose shoulders seemed to be slumped in discouragement.
"Is…Is Engie ok?" She turned to Pyro.
Pyro didn't answer. They just looked down at their plush unicorn and started petting it.
Lisa suddenly felt nauseas and her sandwich looked unappetizing. The culminating smell of the peanut butter with the jelly did nothing to calm her nerves. She was overthinking this. He was just worried about a project. He didn't hate her. She hadn't done anything wrong…right?
She was so lost in her sea of thoughts that she had not noticed Pyro get up and stand behind her. Her thoughts stuttered to a halt when Pyro's gloved hands gently pat her curly head. She turned to look at them and realized Pyro was trying to comfort her.
"Thanks, Pyro." Lisa smiled.
Pyro then shoved a lighter into Lisa's hands and exclaimed,
"WHHRRMM TTRRRMMM FRRRMMM WHOOOSHHHH!"
Pyro then nodded as if giving sagely counsel and left the room with a spring in their step.
Lisa stared at the lighter in her hand in utter bewilderment.
"What am I supposed to do with this?"
Lisa looked from the lighter down at the sad sandwich in front of her. Her appetite was gone but she knew she had to eat before Heavy's training. She still had about forty-five minutes until she had to meet with him. Feeling the warm sunshine through one of the kitchen windows, an idea struck her. Maybe she could finally go sit on the roof like she had wanted. That would certainly lift her spirits. Eyes brightening, she stuffed the lighter in her pocket next to her good luck charm and picked up her plate and headed to the roof top. A smile spread across her face as she took in the empty halls and hope blossomed in her chest that she'd finally get to see the view from the roof without an angry Australian.
She pushed the swinging doors open as she stepped outside and squinted as her eyes adjusted to the sun. Looking to her left she saw…Sniper. Her heart dropped.
"Oh…hey, Sniper." She said smile falling from her face.
He cleared his throat and tipped his hat with a rough,
"G'day."
They stared at each other for an awkward moment before Lisa gestured from her plate to the roof,
"You…uh…headed to the roof? I wanted to eat lunch up there, but I understand if you want to be alone."
"Nah, just need t' get past ya, sheila." He brushed past her and pushed through the door. "See ya."
Lisa hesitated before smiling and headed for the roof. Balancing her plate in one hand and climbing with the other, she crawled onto the blistering hot sheet metal. With a hiss she quickly got off her hands and headed to a more shaded spot of the roof that was eclipsed by the shadow of a large rock formation. Settling into a comfortable position, she smiled as she took in the view. The air shimmered in the heat and Lisa could see the desert wind on for miles and miles. She truly was in the middle of nowhere. She ate her sandwich, enjoying the relative silence of the world around her. A breeze brushed gently through her hair and she sighed at the soft reprieve it offered against the heat of the sun. It was late March and it had been an unseasonably hot year even for the state. Lisa swallowed her last bite and sat thinking about her encounter with Engie. She was unsure if he was in a foul mood because of something she had done or maybe he was just focused on his work? She did not want to make assumptions on the brief bits of conversation she had gathered while eavesdropping. Maybe she could bake something for him later and try to talk to him. She hadn't baked since being sent to the base. Might be nice. Coming to the end of her current train of thought she realized that Heavy was probably waiting for her. She stood with a stretch before picking up her plate and climbing down the ladder. She first went to the kitchen and cleaned her plate before hurrying to Heavy's room.
Within a few minutes she was in front of Heavy's reading room. Putting her worries aside for the moment, she summoned enough courage to knock on the large door in front of her.
"Da?" Came a deep voice from inside.
"It's Backup, Heavy. I finished the book." Lisa informed him from outside the door.
There was no answer as heavy footfalls were heard from the other side of the door. Lisa rocked back and forth on her heels as she waited for him to open the door.
The door then opened to reveal Heavy. He had a pair of reading glasses on, and he observed her from head to toe.
"Finished book?"
"Yeah. I couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed it." Lisa admitted reaching into her satchel and holding it out to him.
He accepted it from her and observed the book from cover to cover.
"Took good care of it. It is appreciated."
Lisa nodded still swaying on her heels before asking,
"So…what now?"
Heavy jerked his head,
"Come."
Lisa followed without question and followed Heavy through his study to a door on the left side. He picked up a notebook and a pen from his desk before unlocking the door and walking through. Lisa was greeted with a large training room. Heavy weights and exercise equipment that Lisa had never seen lined the room in every direction.
"This is Heavy's gym. What can leetle mouse lift?" Heavy asked turning to meet Lisa with an expectant expression.
"I lifted boxes for a living. Those were typically ten to thirty pounds I think."
"Lifted boxes for living?" Heavy questioned looking over some of the weights in the gym.
"Yeah. I drove a commercial vehicle for my family's bakery and would unload the boxes. We have two bakeries, so I'd drive back and forth between them doing deliveries."
Heavy gave a soft hum before finally stating,
"Nothing in gym is so small. We will improvise."
Lisa cocked her head in confusion at the large man.
"Improvise?"
"Da. Get in plank position."
"Uh…ok." Lisa agreed before getting in a plank position. Her arms and stomach trembled as she tried to keep herself up and Heavy gave a long-suffering sigh.
"This will be more work than I thought. Stay in plank…tell me about book."
"W-what?" Lisa panted.
"I ask question, you give answer." Heavy hummed.
"S-sure. Whatever…you say." She stuttered limbs quaking.
"What is point of railroad in story?" Heavy asked.
"It's…the main source of economic growth in America at the time." Lisa was having trouble staying up.
"Hm. Yes. But there is more." Heavy agreed. "What else do you think railroad mean?"
She started to collapse into the floor beneath her.
"BACK STRAIGHT!" Heavy boomed.
Lisa was frightened into staying back up and Heavy seemed satisfied.
"I mean…does it maybe…represent capitalism?"
Heavy cocked his head.
"Go on."
"America was being ambitious in their inventions…I think the railroad represented that?" Lisa guessed.
Based on Heavy's nod she was on the right track.
"Da. That is good. Railroad is to show capitalism and America's ambition. What did you think of characters?"
"They were…interesting. May I rest now?" Lisa pleaded her body screaming in protest.
"Rest." Heavy nodded.
She collapsed to the ground puffing and panting.
"Tell me about characters."
"Well…I thought it was interesting that the main characters hid their emotions. They had deep feelings about what was happening around them but rarely shared it."
"Why do you think this is?" Heavy asked casually picking up a large weight and doing arm curls.
"The society the story is in is very capitalistic and emotions are weakness. Almost like they're questioning the authority in place by displaying emotions." Lisa replied from her place on the ground.
"Good. What else?"
Lisa thought for a moment.
"Those who displayed excessive amounts of emotions…could have been seen of being in favor of a collectivist government? They were whiners wanting the government to meet their needs."
"Hm. Yes. Who else in this story displayed much big emotion?"
"…The villains…"
"Da." Heavy said with a smile moving his weight to the other arm. "What did writer mean by this? Villain display big emotion. Big emotion weak…"
"Acting rationally is more important than acting with emotion?" Lisa suggested.
"Hm. Yes. Do you agree with author?" Then Heavy gestured and commanded. "Begin pushups."
Lisa bit back a sigh and got into push up position.
"Yes and no? There's a time and place for both."
"And here? At base as mercenary, is time for emotion or rational?" Heavy questioned and Lisa nearly collapsed mid push up at the forward question.
She looked up and met Heavy's stern blue eyes. He looked like a disappointed father figure. Something unreadable in his gaze…like he knew something about her and was waiting for a confession.
"I'm…assuming that rational thinking is best?" Lisa answered trying her best not to be intimidated by the large man.
"Da, emotion on battlefield will kill you. Shoot first, think later." Heavy nodded before pausing and turning to fully face her. "Inexperienced mercenary…they think too much with heart and not enough with head. Make…poor decisions in battlefield and with teammates. You think much with heart…need think with head."
Lisa paused feeling small in more ways than one around the large, imposing man.
"I will…keep that in mind, Heavy. Thank you."
Heavy nodded and the questions flowed as the training intensified but Lisa still could not shake the feeling that something was wrong…and everyone here knew what except for her.
Eventually finishing her training with Heavy, Lisa headed outside. It was just starting to get dark and Lisa realized she had probably missed supper. She would have to make something later. For now…she would just enjoy the cool temperatures that rolled in with the desert night. She headed outside and found what looked to be a bonfire pit. Cozy seating circled the pit and Lisa quietly chose a seat and closed her eyes and she listened to the sounds of various wildlife. She sighed softly. Finally…a little bit of peace and quie-
"Whadd'ya doin' out 'ere, sheila?" A grumpy voice growled.
Lisa turned her head to see the outline of Sniper in the fading sunlight behind her. His eyes were narrowed severely, and his lips curled into a deep frown. His kukri hung low on his hips and his fingers danced over it methodically. Lisa opened her mouth to retort but remembered how amiable he had been earlier by letting her stay on the roof.
"I just wanted some peace and quiet. The others can be…rowdy." Lisa offered with a small smile.
Sniper's expression didn't change, and Lisa felt the hair on the back of her neck prickle. He wasn't happy with her. He was angry…he was dangerous. She had the urge to bolt.
"C-can I help you with something?" She tried instead turning slightly in his direction from where she was seated.
Sniper began to walk toward her, and Lisa shrank back.
"I can leave if that's what you want. You can have this spot and I'll find somewhere else to-"
"Know what I hate more than anythin' in the world?" Sniper started as he arrived next to her. "Liars. Ya wouldn't lie to me, would ya mate? Because if ya did…that would end rather poorly for ya now wouldn't it?"
Lisa swallowed looking at him with wide eyes as he turned to meet hers dead on. His eyes were so focused it was unsettling and his obvious height advantage shook Lisa to the core.
"I will…keep that in mind?" Lisa offered before submitting to her anxiety and casting her eyes to the ground. "Is this about earlier?"
Sniper paused.
"Earlier?"
"Yeah. Earlier. Um, I sat on the roof and I know that's your spot but…" Her eyes met his again and the glare swallowed her other words as she whispered. "I'm sorry. I won't do it again. Can you…can you tell me where I can go? I d-don't want to disturb you anymore."
"Know where ye can go, sheila?" Sniper answered leaning into her space.
Lisa's heart raced in her chest and all thoughts escaped her mind except the instinct to run. She could barely make out the words over the loud crescendo of her heartbeat..
"Ya can go back where ya came from and I'll let ya live."
Lisa could feel tears building in her eyes as her body shook from adrenaline. Sniper stayed in her space making it impossible to do anything besides stare into his cold, blue orbs.
"I-I can't." She managed. "I can't leave."
Sniper continued to stare at her with his unrelenting gaze.
"I can't. I can't." She just repeated, trembling. Her mind was drifting. She was back…there. No…she couldn't. She couldn't go back there. Sniper's face blurred from the tears in her eyes and his face morphed with HIS. HIS smug grin…HIS hateful eyes. The words, "I'll let ya live." echoing in her mind. She was there…no…not again. She reacted pushing Sniper roughly by the shoulders with all her strength. His eyes widened comically as he fell backwards on the ground with a grunt clearly surprised by her show of force. He turned to snarl at her but froze upon seeing the state of the woman in front of him.
Her small frame shook from head to toe and tears rolled in a tidal wave over her rosy cheeks. Her lower lip trembled as she gasped pitifully before staring at him with the wide, desperate eyes of a cornered animal.
"Don't ever do that." Lisa hissed through her sobs. "Don't ever…I can't…"
"Howdy ya'll! Pyro wants a bonfire tonight so we thought-" Engie stopped when he reached them. He looked from the quivering, panic-stricken girl to Sniper on the ground and opened his mouth to ask what was going on when Lisa bolted past him and Pyro back inside the base, the occasional soft sob tearing from her throat.
"W-what in the Sam Hill did ya do to her, boy?!" Engie wheeled on Sniper.
"I…I honestly dunno." Sniper blinked getting up.
"Ya dunno? She seemed to be awfully upset for ya to just NOT know." Engie snapped before turning to Pyro who was worriedly ringing their hands. "Go check on her. Would ya, buddy?"
Pyro nodded in affirmation before taking off after the girl.
Engie turned to Sniper, his shoulders tense clearly on the defensive.
"Now, yer gonna tell me what exactly just transpired and ya bette' make it quick." Engie demanded his accent thick with his anger.
"I swear it's not what it looks like, mate." Sniper responded raising his hands in surrender. "I saw her out 'ere by the fire pit and thought she might be tryin' ta burn some more papers. I started questioning her thinkin' maybe if I interrogated her, she would break and confess…and well…"
Engie took a deep calming breath before pinching the bridge of his nose and sighing,
"Boy…I coulda told ya that was a bad idea. What the hell was you thinkin'? Ya tryna play good cop, bad cop or somethin'?"
Sniper lowered his gaze ashamed.
"I thought she'd break and admit to what happened that night. I didn't mean to…"
"Ya sure didn't mean ta but ya did! If you don't apologize to her by the end of the night, my foot will lodge itself so far up yer-"
"Right. Got it." Sniper nodded looking decently ashamed of himself.
He turned to Engie his shoulders sagging.
"I…I mean it, Truckie. I didn't mean to hurt her or nothin'."
Engie pushed his hard hat back on his head and rubbed his temple.
"Yeah, but the fact is that ya did. Ya triggered somethin' in her that didn't need ta be triggered."
"That was…the wrong way ta got 'bout it." Sniper admitted.
"Darn right it was." Engie huffed walking to the fire pit and beginning to lay some logs out to burn. "Look, I get that the lot of ya is suspicious. Heck, I am too. But she is NOT a seasoned mercenary. Is she hidin' somethin'? Sure. Everyone of us is, but that girl needs our help. She won't make it without us. We will learn what we need ta by buildin' trust. Dunno if that's on the table for ya after that display."
"I still don't trust her." Sniper grunted eyes flitting back to Engie.
"Didn't say ya had to. But ya do need to have manners. What would yer Ma think about this?"
Sniper looked stricken for a moment before growling,
"Don't bring me Mum into this, Spanner Monkey."
Engie kept his eyes locked onto Sniper.
"I won't if ya do her right. Isn't that part of yer code? Be efficient, have a plan to kill everyone ya meet and…?"
Sniper looked away admitting defeat.
"Be polite."
"Right. Remember when we all got drunk that one time after beatin' the BLU team for the seventh time in a row? Ya mentioned to me that yer Ma taught ya to be polite and you're Pa taught ya work ethic. I'm not mentioning them as blackmail…just remindin' ya who the Sniper I know is. Ever since that girl has been on base ye've been a lot snappier than usual." Engie lectured as he stacked the logs meticulously.
Sniper gave a soft grunt of acknowledgement and his lanky form turned from Engie and began slowly heading to the base to find Backup.
In the shadows watching the retreating form of Sniper and the Engineer preparing a bonfire, was a certain BLU Spy. A disconcerting smile spread across his lips.
"Interesting." He murmured.
Lisa's surroundings swam from tears. She just wanted to get to her room. She could get to it…lock it…barricade…find weapon…
"Brrkrrp? Strrp plrrz. Hrrrnnnn nrrrrnnn."
Lisa felt rubbery arms wrap around her torso and for a moment she forgot to breathe, until the smell of smoke and kerosine and melted gummy bears filled her nostrils. It was overwhelming…but it broke her trance.
"P-pyro?" She sniffled.
"Hrrrn. Whhhrrrn grrrn?" Pyro nodded not pulling away.
"I-I don't feel good." She admitted swaying on her feet.
"Hrrrm. Mrrdrrc." Pyro stated before wrapping an arm around her middle and practically carrying her through hallways.
The lights and hallways all blended until she was struck by the smell of blood and antiseptics and felt like vomiting again.
"MRRDDRRC?!"
There was shuffling in the corner as an annoyed German voice rang out,
"Pyro! It is late, can you not see I am performing surger….Ach Scheiße!"
Lisa heard a whirring noise as a bright red light flashed in the corner of her peripheral.
"What is wrong with mouse?" A deep voice rumbled, and Lisa grimaced as it grated on her ears.
Too many sounds, too many smells, too many memories. Lisa's vision went dark, and the world went blessedly silent.
Lisa awoke to lights far too bright for her liking and a feathery butt in her face.
"Shoo. Shoo." She muttered dazedly as the pigeon startled into taking flight.
"Ah! Good! You're awake! I vas considering using electric shock therapy but since you're awake zhere is no longer need for zhat!" Medic stated eyeing the live wires in his hands with a bit too much disappointment.
"Vell…maybe it is still needed. Ve will see after your exam!" He said his face brightening.
"What…what happened?" Lisa mumbled rubbing her eyes.
"Pyro carried you in looking half-dead. Zhey said you had been crying and that it was Sniper's fault. I laid you on zhe gurney to rest while I looked through your files."
The memories came flooding back to Lisa and she groaned as she covered her face in embarrassment.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to cause a scene."
"Oh, zhe passing out didn't cause as much of a scene as did you muttering in French while in you were asleep."
"I…I did what." Lisa stammered panic seizing her chest.
"Ja. You said a few nonsense sentences in French, with excellent grammar I may add." Medic said looking up at her from a manilla folder.
"Nobody else saw…did they?"
"Heavy saw. He vas impressed. He didn't know you spoke another language."
"He came to check on me?"
"Ja. Ve vere in the middle of surgery vhen Pyro came bursting in vith you. Pyro's always so dramatic. I used the Medigun to fix Heavy up and postponed the surgery to deal vith you and your problem. He came in a few times to check on you since."
"Really?" Lisa asked in surprise. "How long was I out?"
"Hm. I vould say around eleven hours. It is very early in zhe morning. You've been a popular patient to visit. Engie, Pyro, Scout and Sniper have come to stop by too."
Lisa's eyes widened.
"Sniper did?"
"Ja, I vas surprised too. I think he feels responsible. I got his side of the story. Now it's your turn. What happened that caused zhis…attack?"
Lisa quietly explained what had happened and Medic quietly listened, writing notes into the folder giving the occasional hum of understanding.
"So, you found what Herr Sniper did threatening?"
"I think that was the point." Lisa commented blandly.
"Hm. Vell, zhis does tie in vith the information I found in your file."
"The information?" Lisa questioned.
"Ja. Your personal medical history."
"Oh." Lisa murmured quietly looking away. "So, you know about…everything?"
"I understand zhat zhis information is very…touchy. However, based on your reaction with Herr Sniper, I believe you have developed a condition from your previous experiences." Medic stated calmly flipping through papers.
"A condition? The hospital said I was I was fine."
Medic paused to study her under his wire frames.
"Your body was stable as records show…but after your experiences, I am under zhe suspicions zhat your mind has not recovered. You are showing very similar symptoms to a disorder soldiers develop after intense combat. I vould like to treat you as such seeing as you are a mercenary now."
Lisa swallowed and looked away.
"Zhere is no shame in it. A few of your colleagues have conditions of zheir own zhat zhey do not share. I vill not tell zhe others vhat I know regarding your experiences but I may have to medicate you…and have regular meetings vith you to check any reactions to medication. Positive and negative effects, mental improvements etc." Medic nodded scribbling in the folder.
"I…I…"
"Fraulein." Medic interrupted removing his spectacles and piercing her with his gaze. "It vould be in your best interest to cooperate vith treatment. Should zhis continue, your performance here vill suffer, and the Administrator vill not be pleased."
"My performance?" Lisa parroted her head spinning.
"Ja. I am zhe team Medic, true." He said polishing his glasses before replacing them on the bridge of his nose and turning to her. "I am also responsible for zhe continuous improvement of zhis team. Physically, mentally…I am required by contract to report to Miss Pauling on individual performances and medical conditions."
"So…you have to report to her…this incident?"
Medic nodded.
"Zhey will not be satisfied if I were to report such division happening in zhe team and possible instability in a recent recruit vithout a plan for recovery. Do you understand, maus?"
"Yes…I understand. And Medic?"
"Ja?"
"Please…keep this under wraps. I don't want…I don't want to have to explain my past to everyone. I can't…I can't…"
"Do not vorry about such zhings. I vill simply tell zhem zhat you vere dehydrated and needed some extra fluids. Now, Fraulein…I am going to need to meet with you every Thursday at eight pm to examine you. Take this once a day, with or without food it does not matter. However…do you drink, maus?" Medic replied fetching a small container of pills and handing it to her before grabbing the manilla folder again.
"Oh, um no I don't drink." Lisa replied hesitantly accepting the pills.
"Excellent. Drinking alcohol vith zhis is not recommended. I am looking forward to checking our progress next week. I am hoping zhese work better on you zhen zhey did, Soldier." He said the last part half muttering under his breath.
"Better than Soldier?" Lisa questioned gripping the container of pills tightly.
"Hm? Ah, don't vorry about it. Vell I vould suggest going and getting some sleep. It is a ceasefire day today, though I suspect ve vill have a match vithin zhe next week." Medic informed her as he closed the file.
Lisa suddenly felt very tired and nodded as she rolled off the table and found her footing.
"Alright. Thanks, doc. I'll let you know if the medication does anything."
"Ja. Please do, I am looking forward to our checkups." He nodded eagerly before walking her to the swinging doors of the med bay and opening it for her.
Lisa thanked him and walked out but froze upon seeing the figure sitting in a chair by the wall. Chairs lined up on the sides of the hallway in a makeshift waiting room. There in the last chair, sat Sniper. His legs had been stretched out in front of him and his hat over his eyes as he lay leisurely…possibly sleeping. However, as the swinging door shut behind her with a loud thump he startled, and their eyes met.
Lisa swallowed and looked down the hallway past him as if gaging if she could make it past him if she burst into a sprint. She settled for a brisk walk and began to quickly pass him.
"Uh-hey, sheila!" He called.
She stopped and regarded him warily.
"Lemme walk ya to your room. Don't want ya passin' out again." He muttered though she could see a flicker of what could have been guilt in his eyes.
Lisa gave him a curt nod and he took his place beside her, his long legs slowing down awkwardly to keep pace with her shorter ones. The tension was palpable between them as they walked. Lisa was content to stay in the heavy silence until she made it to her room where she could go to sleep and do her best to forget about what had happened.
"I'm sorry, Backup."
Lisa's eyebrows rose at this and she turned to look at the tall man walking next to her.
His eyes remained glued ahead of him and Lisa realized with a start that he was…nervous. His hands were stuffed in his pants pockets and his shoulders were tense as he fully expected her to reject his apology and slug him.
"You're forgiven. Just don't…" She sighed and looked away. "Please don't do that again. If you are upset about something, just tell me why and we can work it out. I don't…I don't deal well with being threatened."
Sniper huffed at that and said,
"Never met anyone tha' does."
Lisa mouth tilted slightly upward at that.
"Yeah, guess not. Let's just…keep the overall threatening to a minimum, yeah?"
"Yeah." Sniper nodded in agreement.
They walked in silence some more until Lisa reached her room.
"Alright. 'ere ya are. Night, sheila." Sniper said plainly before turning to walk away.
As he turned to go, Lisa blurted out.
"Sniper?"
He stopped and half turned in her direction.
"W-what was it you were so upset about earlier?"
He paused for a moment as he thought over his answer before giving a small shrug of his shoulders,
"'s'not important. Get some rest."
"Alright. You as well." Lisa acquiesced with a nod before entering her room to finally rest.
Author's note: So sorry that it's been so long! Life got chaotic. My whole family got covid and I was struggling to keep up with school while being sick. All I wanted to do for like three weeks was sleep or sit in a steamy shower so I could breathe. My whole family has recovered though and we are doing great. I'm so happy to get this chapter out. I changed the title to something I thought was better too. Let me know what you think in the comments!
Also, here is some lovely art of Backup by one of my readers! It is so good and I just had to share! If any of you ever make art of my character let me know! It makes me so happy to know people are enjoying my story. /sometepaintnew/status/1381060501602439169