Fortress of Death
Chapter 05 - Lost without you
Comment: Bros, couples, a calm and sweet chapter. I wanted to have everyone in it, even if it's just a short scene, but then mainly focus on Scout and Sniper. I actually had that scene between the two in my mind for a lot longer than this whole story and never would have thought it would end up in the middle of a zombie crossover one day. But then I heard the song and not only did the scene fit well for it but I also got the idea it would quite perfectly combine with the rest of the story.
Song from the original challenge for this chapter: "Lost without you" by Beverly Craven
And also the music played at McDonalds can be quite inspirational. Have been sitting in one of the restaurants for hours sometimes while writing this.
Sniper stretched his limbs and walked a few rounds through the small room. His side stung a little when he made the wrong movements and the skin where once the wound had been felt tense but he was sure when he kept moving it would go away or he at least would get used to it. Medic hadn't come to check on him for hours so he hadn't been able to ask him yet if he already was allowed to leave the hospital but Sniper probably wouldn't have stayed anyways, no matter the answer. His fever was gone, the wound completely healed, he didn't get sick from the slightest head movement anymore and he was tired of staying in bed staring at the ceiling for hours.
The only other merc he met on his way out of the building was Heavy - probably as usual on the way to help the doctor out with something, or just to talk with him.
"Hey, how's our other patient going?" Sniper asked.
"On two legs", the Russian answered.
Sniper wasn't sure if that was meant to be ironically or if he had taken the question literally but then Heavy showed a grin on his face.
"Demoman is feeling better too. Medic is doing exercises with him so he can put weight on his leg for longer. I think you heard news that we might continue travel tomorrow?"
"Scout told me - yesterday. By the way, have you seen him? I haven't in a day. Kinda miss our spastic bunny."
"Njet, at least not since afternoon. He went with Soldier to the river. They should be back before it gets dark."
"Good, I'm out trying to be a bit useful or whatever else."
"That took you quite a long time, boys. You almost got us worried", Engineer said when he opened the gate. It was already pretty dark and the two figures outside were hard to make out but he was sure they were his returning friends. Who else but Scout would jokingly say he needed a dispenser here when Engineer asked who was there?
"Sorry for the delay, pal. We were stopped by the highway patrol", Scout said.
"That is not a joke", Soldier explained. "These walkers were wearing the uniforms of cops. But at least they were already half damaged before we gave them the rest."
"And there are good news from the camp", Engineer announced. "Demo and Sniper are up and according to Medic we can move as soon as we are ready."
"Gee, that's great for sure", Scout said a wide smile on his face. "C'mon, let's get that water to the storage and then we have to pay someone a visit."
Demoman stood on the roof of the office building and let his gaze wander over the area. Here and there torches lit up the place but else it was dark.
"First day up and already on guard duty? My respect for such praiseworthy conduct", Soldier said with a grin and stepped beside him.
"Hey, good to see ya, lad. Must have been an eternity ago since we last met each other. At least ... five hours. That was when the doctor kicked you out and sent you to do something useful instead of always standing in our way", Demo said and returned the grin. "Actually I was just looking at our place a bit. Spy is on guard duty but so far I haven't seen him anywhere. For all I know that sneaky bastard could have been standing silently right beside me for an hour. We do have quite a great place here. Too bad we have to give it up so soon."
"Yeah, it was a good place but unfortunately it had nearly no shopping possibilities and rude neighbours. We even had to shoot a few of them. This world is so fucked up..." His smile had slowly faded by now. He let out a sigh and slowly shook his head before he continued, "Do you remember what that woman from the survivor group we once fought said? She asked us if we ever had to shoot a turned friend. I had to think of it when I did exactly that a few days ago in the town. I have already told you that I had to shoot a RED. That was him. I had to shoot at someone who once was my best friend."
Demo looked at him in surprise but didn't say anything and waited if Soldier continued on his own which he also did.
"Back in the old days I got the order to kill him or be killed. Wherever the Administrator is, I hope she is happy now. It is strange though. I'm kinda sad but not as much as I should have been after the death of a friend. It's like it already happened months ago, not only a few days. Probably because I was prepared to find out about his death since it all started. Probably because it wasn't me who killed him after all. I just shot a dead body and made sure he wouldn't roam around as a zombie." He vigorously shook his head. "But I don't want to drag myself down now with those old memories. I rather want to be glad that you have made it, that we all are still alive."
He took off the backpack he was still carrying and started digging in it.
"Hope you don't need to take any medications anymore because you know I promised we will celebrate as soon as you are up again. It's just liquor but who cares?"
Demo chuckled. "And the doctor thought I would finally be able to stay away from that crap for good. Well, too bad I wasn't an alcoholic because I was addicted or wanted to drown anything in it. I was alcoholic because I loved to be one. Shall we share something with the others as well?"
"Only when they are fast enough."
"And looks like our fastest is already here to have his part."
Scout had entered the roof as well. He was still wearing his smile but something seemed to bother him.
"Oh ... uh ... hi. I hope I don't disturb anyone. If I do ... well, sorry, but deal with it. I wanted to pay Demo a visit for a change and see how he is."
"I thought you already were with Sniper", Soldier asked. "Everything alright? You look somewhat nervous."
"Haven't found Snipes yet. The doc said he's somewhere out but, hey, that area is huge and I haven't been everywhere yet. And yeah, I'm alright. Probably just the nerves. As soon as someone is gone without a trace for just a few seconds I'm already thinking of a disaster."
"Want some liquor?" Demo asked and held up the bottle. "To celebrate with us or just to calm down your nerves?"
At first Scout hesitated but then he took it and had a sip. The alcohol burned in his nearly empty stomach and even though he had drunken just a little bit he could already feel its effect.
"Thanks, pal, and I'm glad to see that you are better again but sorry, I now have to get going again." With that he turned around again and nearly crashed against the door leading to the staircase.
"I can't help but something seemed to bother him", Soldier sighed.
"Ach, to me he seemed quite normal. Maybe even more hectic and also quite nervous but I guess I would be too if I couldn't find you on the whole place."
"Or maybe he is crossed in love, who knows", Spy said and appeared at Demo's side.
"See? I told ya", Demo said.
"In love with whom?" Soldier asked.
Spy shrugged. "How should I know? A zombie maybe?"
Demo snorted with laughter. "Oh crap, I can't get that picture out of my head anymore. Can we finally start with the drinking part? Maybe it helps me to forget that."
"Of course." Soldier lifted up the bottle. "May all your children be born with four eyes, you Scottish cyclops." He took a gulp and reached the bottle over to Demo.
"Yeah, cheers to you too you bloody monster eagle."
The liquor wandered over to Spy.
"Santé, salauds. Do we want to drink or throw profanities at each other's heads?"
"Who knows, it at least gets funnier that way, French toast."
"Oh please, we don't even have a Pyro up here."
The only Pyro of the camp sat in front of the fire place and like mesmerized listened to Engineer's guitar play.
"It's good to get outta here again", the Texan silently said. "We're already running low on supplies." He shortly interrupted his play when his stomach started grumbling but only for a second then he continued and with a chuckle he added, "And my insides share that opinion. Darn, I had my ration today but still I'm hungry enough to eat zombies. Let me loose on that town and they soon wouldn't have any problems with them anymore."
Pyro searched his pockets and dragged out something that looked like a roasted peach.
"That is part of your ration, ain't it?"
Pyro mumbled something that sounded to him like, "I want to share it with you."
Engineer gave him a surprised look but then a warm smile wandered over his face. "I can't express enough how much I appreciate that, buddy."
Medic stood in front of the window and watched the flickering torches outside. His patients were out, most of his supplies were already in the van for their departure tomorrow. Maybe someone still needed his help later that night - probably those three drunks up at the roof whom he could hear all the way down after they realized alcohol and a nearly empty stomach didn't fit together too well - but else it was a free night. He smiled lightly when he heard steps behind him - he knew he would come, he always did.
"You still here, doctor?" Heavy asked. "Others are celebrating or spending time with each other or ... running around like headless chicken and searching others. Well, at least they are all outside today."
Medic shook his head. "I still had a bit of packing up to do and also decided to spend my spare time in here. It might not be warmer zhan outside but else I have everyzhing I need. Calm around me, zhe sounds of celebration above me, campfires I can watch." He leaned back a little until the back of his head touched Heavy's shoulder and he could look at his face. "And someone's company I can enjoy."
"The problem with feeling cold can be easily solved", Heavy said and gently wrapped his arms around Medic's body.
The reason for Scout's nervousness was in fact Sniper. But not because he was actually worried about his disappearance - Scout was sure he was still somewhere in the safety of the camp. The problem was rather the lack of courage to admit his own feelings. For days he had wanted to talk to Sniper about it, even though he had no idea how to tell him but then he always had gotten cold feet, talked about something else and kept his distance. The same bloody distance that already separated them for such a long time. He didn't even know what he was actually afraid of. Out in the middle of nowhere and moreover in a zombie infested area - what society was left that could still punish or shun him for his actions? There hadn't even been much of it back in the gravel pit - just a bunch of other mercs and he had never given a crap on what they actually thought about his behaviour. And still...
But now the alcohol in his blood gave him courage.
The roof of the garage he found Sniper standing on was protected from wind a little bit by the walls of the higher building right next to it, but actually wind didn't matter since it wasn't blowing strong. What rather mattered to Scout was that he had chosen a place that was also a bit protected from sight.
"If you are on the lookout you haven't chosen the best place, pal", Scout said when he climbed up the ladder in the back and walked over to him. "You can only see the backyard from here."
"Oh no, not you again. Don't ya have somethin' better to do?" Sniper said. His back was still turned towards Scout but from the sound of his voice it was clear that he just wanted to tease.
"I can go away again if you want me to."
Now Sniper finally turned around, a little smile showed on his face. "Nah, actually I missed ya."
"I know, right? I'm like a drug. No one can stay away from me."
"Hope you didn't search for me just to brag about that."
"No, I wanted ... Uhm ... I ... Hey, when I was out with Soldier I didn't just hear the chopper, I also saw it on the horizon. The van could reach the landing place within not even a day in case it keeps landing on that same place."
Well, here we go again.
Sniper said nothing and waited patiently as if he knew there was more Scout wanted to say.
"I ... Uh ... Oh screw talking."
He suddenly grabbed the older man's shoulders, stood on his toes a bit so their faces were at an even level and pressed his lips on Sniper's. It happened so fast and without a warning sign he wouldn't have been able to avoid it and now Sniper also didn't do anything to get away from it. In fact he did nothing at all, his hands remained resting on his hips where they previously had been, his eyes were on Scout. After just a few seconds the boy withdrew, leaned back and crossed his arms in front of his chest, a defiant look on his face.
"Alright, I did it and I am perfectly aware of what I did. So sue me."
Sniper let out his breath with a deep sigh.
"Boston Bunny ... You are drunk. I could taste liquor. Hell I can also still smell it."
"I'm not! Those were only one or two sips. But more you don't have to say about it?"
"Only that I don't want to be a desperation fuck. Have you thoroughly thought about it? I know, we are far away from everything. Maybe it is desperation that draws us together closer than we should be. Maybe we confuse our feelings for ... something deeper than they actually are."
"Have I thought about this? Man, I have thought about it for weeks, whenever I wasn't distracted by some other crap. When you were lying there with your wounds and fever and it was unsure if you would still live to see the any other day... I-I regretted everything so much. That I never said a word, that I just continued running away from everything I felt, that it were actually my childish actions that caused you to be in this situation. I would have gone through hell to get you back - maybe I also did. How much shall I still think about it?"
He stopped and averted his gaze when he noticed how loud he had become. Shouting at Sniper was the least he had wanted - and letting the others know what he was talking about.
A hand was placed under his chin and he was gently forced to look back at Sniper. He showed that soft smile again.
"A simple yes or no would also have been enough", he said before he pulled him closer and kissed him.
When the first rays of sun showed at the horizon Sniper was already up, sitting at the sleeping Scout's side, watching the last remaining burning torches, the landscape but most of all Scout.
So many years he spent alone, found his haven in isolation. It had an advantage - there were hardly any people he could put in the danger a job like this normally came with. No loved one someone could kidnap, or torture, or kill in revenge.
But Scout could take care of himself, he didn't need protection. If anything then it had been the other way round for many weeks. The boy might have been down too at times but he hardly ever showed it to him and his positive nature kept Sniper from losing hope completely. If it hadn't been for Scout - would he even have fought to stay alive?
Scout let out a groan, followed by a silent curse.
"How do you feel?"
"Tell the sun to go away and not come back until I had more sleep. But aside of that I feel great."
"Still no second thoughts now that we can talk without the help of alcohol?"
"Hell no."
"Good." Sniper stretched and sighed. "Another one of these mornings without coffee and a durry. That's the reason to hate these bloody zombies most."
Scout chuckled. "Well, a good way to stop smoking and lay off the caffeine." He now sat up too. "Gee, since I won't be able to get more sleep anyways we could as well look for the others."
It was odd to sit in the back of his own van between the other mercs but Medic had wanted to have an eye on him and Demo - just in case. To his left Scout was sitting, head leaned back and fast asleep. Somehow Sniper felt like putting an arm around Scout's shoulders and pulling him even closer so his head would rest on his shoulder but he didn't know if Scout would already have wanted to let the others see how much they cared for each other. As if the other mercs would give a crap; they also never said anything when Medic decided to lean against Heavy - but on the other hand that could be because Medic always has been known to be odd at times, or because no one wanted to start a fight with Heavy. Anyways, for the moment he had to be content with just sitting so close to Scout.
To his right side Spy snored loudly but no one could tell if he was actually sleeping or just pretending very well. Soldier and Demo hadn't even tried to sit somewhere and lay stretched out on the floor. Those two would remain all knocked out for at least the next few hours.
Engineer and Pyro were in the front and Sniper hoped to whatever god available that it was still Engineer who was driving and they hadn't switched places during one of the breaks.
They must have been on the road for several hours by now when Engineer made another stop.
"A break again?" Medic asked. "Zhe last one hasn't even been half an hour ago."
The door to the front opened.
"Guys, look at that", Engineer said. "Looks like we got some massive problem."