Sorry its been so long. I said I'd have this up in a week, didn't I? That was a lie. At least I've been keeping busy! With the Highlander Open and stuff. Yep, I'm in that. Playing Scout. No surprise there...

"Aye laddies, look who finally decided 't come outta 'is room!" Demoman announced to the mercenaries inside the cafeteria area.

Scout ignored the Scot and sat down, placing his head in his arms. The boy had dark circles underneath his blotted eyes. His ruffled hair was partially slicked back and had a greasy sheen to it. He had hardly slept the in the past day, the mockery of his teammates and inability to hold a conversation with the one person he liked in this desert wasteland set him into a state of depression. Hearing further ridicule kept him locked inside his room until he could no longer suppress his body's cries for food. Even now he dreaded the walk to where the fridge was. They would ask about his deteriorated state; the Demoman or Spy would make a snide remark. How Scout wished he could be left alone at least until the match tomorrow.

He heard the sound of a plate being placed on the table in front of him; looking up, he saw a neatly made sandvich and Pyro tilting its head.

"Mmmph?" The pyro muttered, sliding the plate towards the scout.

"Thanks." Scout mumbled, starting to slowly eat the food.

Pyro quickly gasped and hurried to the back kitchen, soon returning with a can of Bonk! Atomic Punch. It handed the drink over and sat down across from Scout.

He ate his meal in silence, looking down at the bread crumbs and small dollops of mayonnaise that kept accumulating on the plate, so as to avoid eye contact with anyone. This was broken up by the periodic looks upward, every time eying the same unmoving pyro that sat across from him, chin cupped with its hands, looking at the scout in what seemed like wonderment.

"Uh, hey, Pyro? Really appreciate the food and all, but can you clean this up? I, uh, gotta take a shower." Their pyro seemed kind for the most part, but it bothered Scout that he never had seen the person underneath the mask. Having it seated across from him, constantly watching, was more than he could handle.

He shrugged as he headed down the hallway to the showers. It wasn't like he was lying to the mute, he really did need to get cleaned up. He was sure whatever was under the mask would understand; unlike a few of his other teammates. Soldier was sure to breathe down his neck once he found out the boy was up. If there wasn't a mission, it was practice. If it wasn't practice, it was reviewing on how they could do better for the next mission. Scout swore there was something wrong with that man; he only lived for this stupid war. The only other thing he seemed to enjoy was bread.

Scout undressed and stepped into the shower. Turning on the water, he tilted his head back, letting the cool water flow over him; with it, his feelings of the previous day. No more feeling sorry for himself, he was going to focus on scoring a date with the lovely Miss Pauling.

"Heh, maybe I can get Snipes to drive me to Teufort. Get myself a notebook and write down my plan to get a date."

"Oh? With who, may I ask?"

"What the fuck! Haven't you ever heard of privacy?!" Scout fumbled to cover himself up. He finally decided on pressing his back up against the wall and placing his hands over his crotch. The spy stood right beyond the water's reach. He scanned the naked Bostonian and rolled his eyes.

"Oh please, like I've never seen another male's anatomy." He tossed the boy a towel. "You haven't been here after losing an important mission. Ze Soldier and Demoman like to get especially drunken those nights. This can lead to some, undesirable encounters."

"That doesn't mean you can just barge in here!" Scout wrapped the towel around his waist. "What's so important that you had to bother me now?"

"I can't worry about my teammates? I heard you were out of your room and wanted to see how you were doing."

"Spy, you and I both know that's total bullshit. You were spying on me."

"And? It's my job." He pulled out a cigarette and lit it. "Now, what was zis about a date?"

"It's none of your business, so get out of here and let me finish my shower."

He blew a puff of smoke in the boy's face, "Everything here is my business. This date of yours, it'll be with Miss Pauling, I presume?"

"I told you, its none of your goddamn business!"

Spy smirked, "Oh please, you'll never get a date with her on your own. You're terrible with girls."

"Hey, like I told Lardass yesterday, I am great with girls."

"How so? You've only had a single girlfriend and the reason she went out with you for three months in your senior year is because she felt sorry for you. I'd hardly qualify that as being an expert."

Scout's voice got soft, "How did you know that?"

Spy quietly laughed and locked eyes with the scout, "Trust me when I say, I know everything about you. Might I tell you the reason you're here in this war? It was either join RED or go to jail, wasn't it?"

"Fucking stalker..." Scout mumbled under his breath.

"Now, this date with Pauling, would you need any help setting it up?"

Scout eyed the Frenchman, "Spy, you want to help me?"

"Why not? You obviously need some help."

"Listen, I don't need your help. I can score a date with Pauling on my own."

"Oh? I'd like to see that happen."

"I can, and I will, fancypants. And when I do; you, Demo, and all the others better shut your mouths about me, got it?"

Spy smiled, "No guarantees."

Yep. This was a short chapter. Sorry about that too. It's just kind of a bridge. The next one will be much longer. So there's that to look forward to. I'll try and not have it take as long to have it posted, I promise. Anyways, leave me a review of what you think, and see you all next chapter!