"It all started like, thirteen years ago. I was ten, living with my Ma, my seven olda' brothers, n'my Dad. I was closer to my dad than anybody else, and then, he just... Died. That just left the nine of us. Ma had to get a job, and she was working every day. She didn't even have Sundays off...

So, anyways, she finally gets like, a three day vacation, and goes out and does whatever stuff she does at the mall or whatever all day, and she comes back around like, dinner time with some strange dude. When I say strange, I mean really strange. He talked funny, walked funny, and even dressed funny."

You nodded, listening intently.

"So, this weirdo sits down at the table, and Ma says he's a good friend, although none a' her friends were dudes, just ladies. And none a' them wore suits either... He says his name was Acelin or something, I didn't pay attention.

So he's sitting there, right, like some sorta' creeper. He's staring at me, and finally he actually speaks...

xXx

After a long silence, the stranger spoke. "What is your name, mon ami?"

"Money who?" Michael asked, looking at him funny.

The European guy laughed. "Mon ami. It is an expression from my home country. It means 'my friend'."

"Oh... My name is Michael... Mikey."

The stranger laughed, ruffling Michael's hair. "Adorable."

Michael shrank away slightly, looking to his mother for guidance.

Michael's mother smiled at him and nodded reassuringly. "Why don't we go somewhere alone, dear? Mikey, go up to your room, okay? We're going to be working on something special in Mommy's room, and you mustn't come in."

"Okay, Ma..." Michael left the room quietly.

xXx

"He kept coming around more and more after that, bringing lotsa' gifts and crap for me and my bros, like this one time he bought me this super expensive baseball glove I'd been eyeing for ages in the store...

Anyways, like, I knew about sex but hadn't put two and two together until like four years after he showed up, I walked in on them doin' it."

"Oh god..." You whispered.

"Yeah... I didn't think either of them'd seen me, but a couple'a minutes later he came up to my room and threatened me that if I talked to anybody about it, even my brothers, he'd kill me. That scared me half to death, I mean, I was fuckin' shaking.

Later, when I was fifteen, Ma was out late for a bit, and it was just him an' me. He- he came into my room and..." Scout broke off, sobbing quietly.

"He abused you?" You asked quietly.

He nodded softly. "I-in every way possible... That's when he gave me this... S-so I'd know I was 'his'..." He choked up, closing his eyes.

"Oh man..." You took his right hand in yours and looked at his palm, fingers tracing the small A.F. scarred into his palm, below the thumb. It was a bright white, a never-fading scar.

"Oh, Scout..." You whispered, hugging him close as he sobbed into your shoulder.

"You don't even know the worst part though... I joined RED to get away from all of it, and... on my first battle... I ran into him. He was wearing a mask, but I could smell that familiar cigarette smell, and he fuckin' smirked when I ran into him, like, literally. I fell over, and just sat there looking up at him for what seemed like forever. And then... I shot him. I panicked! My fingers pulled the trigger, and I felt a small recoil, and then he was dead. I was surprised with myself, but I knew he'd be back.

He was sent to respawn, and I hid out the rest of the battle. Afterwards, when the team was celebrating, I just hid in my room for the night..."

Scout hiccupped and then sighed. "And there's the story of my pathetic life..."

Scout sniffled and used his other hand to wipe at his tears, smearing a bit of blood onto his cheek. "You don't want to hear this... it's pathetic... but... Thanks for fixing up my hand..."

You smiled softly. "Your life isn't pathetic... and you're welcome..."

"And... thanks for... everything else, too..."

"You're welcome..." You smiled again. "You've got blood on your cheek..."

He grinned. "No biggie... It doesn't really matter, I'll wash up eventually..."

You giggled and used your thumb to wipe away some of the blood, unconsciously leaning closer in the process.

"There you go..." You wiped your hand on your jeans, ignoring the fact that you were probably ruining them.

"Thanks... again..." He smiled gratefully at you, leaning a bit closer as well.

"It's no problem, really..." You assured, leaning towards him some more.

You both leaned in, closing your eyes as you brought your faces closer and closer, and were just inches away now, so close you could feel Scout's warm breath on your face-

"MAGGOT!" Soldier yelled from the hallway, pounding on Scout's door. You both sat up, startled.

"What?" Scout yelled back, somewhat frustrated.

"HAVE YOU SEEN (F/N)?"

"Yea, can you not friggin' yell at me? What do you need 'er for?"

"MEDIC WANTS TO SEE HER."

"Jesus man, don't fucking yell!" Scout replied, standing up and helping you to your feet as well. "Do ya.. Wanna hang out later or something?"

You smiled at him. "Sure..." You said, pulling open the door. "Hey." You greeted Soldier with a nod.

"Hello, cupcake!" Soldier yelled back, albeit slightly quieter.

"Medic needs me? Why?"

"I do not know, he only said it was urgent!"

"Oh... Okay... I'll go down there, them..." You said quietly, beginning the short walk to the med-bay.

Arriving at the metal door emblazoned with the Medic's logo, you knocked timidly.

"Come in!" Medic called from somewhere inside.

You pushed the door open and stepped into the room. "Hey. You needed me?"

He looked up from his paperwork, seated at his desk. "Ach, ja. I do."

You sat down casually in the only available place- the edge of the operating table. "Whatcha' need?"

"Zhe truth, my dear."

"The... truth? About what?"

"How you survived in zhe water. Zhe ozhers might believe your story, but I know different. You met him, didn't you?"

"Him?"

"Zhe Spy. He vas alvays so curious... Zhat a probably vhy he vould have saved you..."

"I... uh... yeah... He saved me..." You mumbled.

Medic smirked. "I knew it."

"How'd you find out about him?" You asked, curious.

"He came to me lazht year, after zhe previous Medic had died, a veek or so after I had joined as zhe replacement."

"And you couldn't do anything to help him?"

"Nein. Not vizhout guidance, or zhe notes from zhe previous Medic. Scout said he'd seen zhe man write in a small diary of sorts, but I haven't found it yet."

"Oh..."

"Actually, he used to have your room, but vhen he died, zhey used it as a storage und a guest room of sorts."

"Maybe his notebook is in my room then!" You exclaimed.

Medic shrugged. "I have looked, but you are velcome to search if you vish."

"Alright, will do then. Do you need anything else or whatever, while I'm in here?"

"Ah, actually, zhe Administrator, your mozher, if I remember correctly, paged und asked for you to meet vith her."

"She... wow. Okay then. Where do I go?"

Medic gave you directions, and you Left the room with a 'thank you' and a 'see you at dinner'.

You walked down the hall, passing by Sniper, who was deep in conversation with Spy. "...in moi van, later tonight. How about after dinner?"

Spy nodded. "Of course, mon amour."

You passed by the two with a nod and a small 'hey.'

They both smiled at you, and you continued walking down the hall. You exited the base, stepping out into the bright sun.

Shielding your eyes, you surveyed the barren landscape. Medic said there would be a car waiting for you.

You spotted it and headed over. A suit-clad man got out of the driver's seat and opened the door for you.

"Thank you."

"You are most welcome."

He got back into the driver's seat, and you took off down the road. The windows were tinted on the inside, preventing you from seeing where you were going.

After about ten minutes, you felt the car pull to a halt, and then stop. The driver opened the door for you again, revealing an underground parking garage. You smiled and nodded at him, and he smiled back. "Just go up that elevator, floor three is the one you want; the top floor."

"Thanks again."

"You're welcome. I'll wait for you to return, then drive you back to your base."

"Thanks." You headed towards the small elevator, pressing the only button available: up.

The elevator dinged, signalling its arrival. As the doors pulled open, you glanced behind you to the driver, who nodded reassuringly.

You entered, and the small elevator closed behind you. You pressed the button for floor three, and slowly began to rise.