Chapter Text
Demoman, on the other hand, was having the time of his life. He was excited to go and save his teammate and most importantly, try out his new batch of bombs. In celebration of his new bomb formula he had a couple of drinks and ended up knocking out at the kitchen counter, his head buried into his arms on the granite countertop. He snored softly but being that it was dead silent in the base, Medic could hear it before he turned the corner to the hallway that lead to the kitchen.
Medic shuffled to the fridge containing just water, glancing over demo as he pulled a bottle out of the packaging. He closed the fridge and quietly walked over to demo. He leaned on the counter across from him and opened the water bottle open taking a quick sip before he looked over demo, poking his arm once just to see how hard the alcohol knocked him out. Demo moved his arm closer to him but other than that he didn't even wake up. Medic sighed and left the kitchen to go back to his room, hoping that they'll
be able to wake him up. He felt better after some water but he was still worried about the engineer and what the RED team wanted from him*
Sniper watched him with a sigh and fixed the coat ontop of him to keep the small engineer warm before huddling next to the rising embers of the fire , he pulled out a poking fork and jacked around with the crumbling logs as the spark rose up and once he deemed it good he sat the pole down again , hugging his arms to his chest . What would happen if the blue team came to fetch their team mate , they certainly wouldn’t find him at the base. He shook his head and pulled off his shades. Tucking them into the folds of his collar scared some . He knew the blues to be bold and prestigious but he knew that even if they may not be the closest if people when working together , they are still very admirable and loyal to themselves and they wouldn’t take losing a mate lightly for that . He glared up . He knew something bad was going to happen that he couldn’t help but he was used to that worry by now . He laid his head down on the back of the wall and stuck his feet up before sighing and shutting his tired eyes . It was a wonder Pavel wasn’t back by now … he wasn’t too concerned. He’ll be back soon and then the reign of torment will continue. He figured he would get in trouble for letting engies hands loose but he was prepared to fight that battle for him . He felt himself get dizzy and tired before knocking his head to the side and falling asleep . Huddled to what warmth he could come across. It was very cold outside and the roads had frozen . The snow didn’t stop and continued to fall like mad . Going out at a time like this was suicid. But amidst in the further you go the darker will show
The night passed and sniper had fallen asleep leaning against a wall , when he woke up to a nibbling feeling at his finger and saw a rat he kicked it away with a shiver and rubbed his shoulders sitting up looking around , the fire had gone out and it was still dark but that was shed from the boards and curtains around the windows , it was still light outside . Sniper rubbed his eyes before standing up and looking around . He backed up and stretched his leg up against the wall before shifting his arms out . He was still cold but got used to it. he looked down at the crumpled engineer with a sigh , still feeling bad , at least he has his arms now to move freely with . That still wasn’t much of a pro . It wasn’t until he looked around that he realized there was no pavel , he scratched the top of his head before going to the door and trying to open it , it was shut , he groaned and put his foot up against the wall pulling but it wouldn’t open , he shook his head and looked over , dusting his hands against his pants and went to the window , ripping down the boards collectively and the curtains , filling his fingertips with splinters he pressed his hands up against the window and tried to brush away the frost … there was nothing , it was just complete snow . He shook his head and backed away “…bloody hell we’re snowed in “ and indeed they were . No way in - no way out … no food no warmth besides the few logs they had left … no heavy to dig them out .
Sniper groaned and leaned against the door banging his fists profuse with anger. Engie groaned and rolled over on the floor before looking up and shielded the light from his swollen eyes , he huffed and covered the, with his fingers rubbing them for clarity and sat up . His feet tied right together . He tried to stand up but just fell over from inbalance . He huffed and hit the floor . Busting his tail and shook his head “ w-what .” He pulled up his overall straps and the coat covering his bare skin on his arms and chest. Sniper turned around leaning on the door with a few bloody fingers “ were trapped …. the doors frozen shut and we’re buried in .” He covered his eyes and engie looked up shaking his head “ n-no that ain’t right . We can’t be . He struggled to stand up again but just fell . “ We ca-will you get these damned things offa me “. He shook his head and dug his fingers underneath the metal , digging at it.
Sniper looked over before grabbing the keys off of the table and came back over . Unlocking his shackles before he stood up very wobbly and held his arms out for support. Looking up with a little frown , “ didn’t you have someone else here ,... whys it just me and you “. , sniper looked to the door again “ well I did have a partner but he left to do something . I assume he’s snowed out … may be here right now trying to get us out . Who knows “ he shrugged and wiped his red and runny nose “ we’ve gotta get another fire started” he muttered looking back at the ashes from last night.
*a couple of hours pass and the three mercs were already on the road, or at least they think its the road. Last night's storm brought in a lot of heavy snowfall, it was like someone spilled a bag of powdered sugar onto the area they are stationed in. Even though they were all bundled up the cold still made efforts to nip at any exposed skin. Even in the truck the three men kept their ski masks, gloves and scarves on, not wanting to feel the painful stinging of the icy wind. Down the "road" they went though, nice and steady, surprisingly having too much difficulty with the snow. Sure they stuck the snow twice and almost swerved into a tree to avoid a caribou but we won't talk about that. The headlights were shining brightly but the outdoor darkness seemed to consume the light as much as it could. Medic kept a very close eye on the road while Spy, sitting in the passenger seat, directed Medic towards the RED base, having memorized the path there. Demoman was chilling in the backseat, still half asleep. After a few long and brutal hours the mercs could see the RED base. They pulled up behind a couple trees, out of sight but still close to the base. Medic and Spy turned towards each other and demo inched forward to them* You know vhat you are doing, Herr Spy? *medic whispered through his ski mask* Yes I do *Spy nodded and gently opened the car door* Eh, Spy? *Spy sighed and turned back around* You have your comm on zhe right channel, right? *Medic smiled nervously. Spy nodded and pulled his scarf farther over his face before popping the car door and landing knee deep into snow. He shivered and shut the door behind him, slowly making his way down to one side of the enemy base*
Engie got up and shook some pulling the coat tighter around his arms , usually the coat wouldn’t fit but being that he hadn’t taken the time to eat anything in the past few weeks he was a little leen . He zipped it up before walking over to the log stack and grabbing a couple , muttering to himself . Sniper shivered and shook his head . “ m-mate we don’t know how long we’re gonna be here we have to save those “ . Engie stopped in his tracks and looked up trembling “does anyone …. besides your friend know where we are ?” He stared at the wall before turning around . Sniper tripped over his words unable to form anything before shaking his head “ no “. Engie looked at the floor before taking an exhale to calm down “ what supplies … do we have to work with” . Sniper went into the smaller separate room and brought out a small bag with a few water bottles , some bandages , a lighter . Some cigarettes. A hand held radio and a gun . Engie poked around the bag before looking up “ ya didn’t think to bring any food ? “
“ well it’s not like we were bloody intending to get snowed in “. He pointed and pulled out another cigarette . Engie shook his head and pulled it out of his hand “ don’t do that boy that’s nasty “. He stuck it back down into the bag engie sighed “well ya had to have known coming out here unless if … we’ll sometimes the weather can be unpredictable.. I-it’s fine “ he coughed a little , his breath exhaling into clouds of vapor before them. Sniper shivered and engie sighed, taking the coat off and handed it back , keeping the beanie on . “ take it … we’re gonna have to share “ . Sniper nodded jittering and grabbed it , slipping his arms into the sleeves . Engie continued to observe the contents to see what he could salvage before taking the radio out and turning it - on sniper glared over “ I doubt that’s g-gonna give you a signal lad .. w-we’re pretty far off “ he hummed and licked his dry lips , “ w-we could be stuck h-here for a while “. He rubbed his hands in his pockets , dry and stale from the temperatures .
“ I know but we’re gonna have to do our best . He glared up and took the log over to the fire before grabbing the stick and poked the faint embers , stirring them as they snapped and crackled , he leaned down close and blew on them gently , trying to spark them so he wouldn’t have to waste the lighter and cupped his hands , there was a small sizzle of smoke . Then a flame . He smiled and put in another log letting it take hold , keeping watch over it until they had a small fire.
“ cmere shiveres . We ain’t dying from hypothermia… at least not yet “
Engie sighed and sat down in front of the small fire , holding his hands up to it . Sniper timidly looked over before shaking and approaching , he was a little scared of the BLU but he wouldn’t start anything he didn’t have to. He kneeled down on his bony knees near the flames and held his hands up too . His lips were chapped so he continued to lick them or hold them under his hands which only made them burn worse so he started biting them in habit . Engie kept to himself unsure of how to approach the RED and bolted his jaw shut again , just keeping to himself . It wasn’t until then that he really began to ponder the future , would they make it out and if they did what would wait in the other side? , would the sniper betray him and bring him to Redmond?,.. would his companion return and take them away to another isolated location .?. would the sniper turn on him and harm him ?.. would he die freezing to death or from hunger ?… Would he lose his mind ? That idea didn’t scare him so much being that it has already happened before . Maybe this was a test from Bluetarch to see how resilient he was .. he didn’t know but the questions continued to flood his mind- so deeply that he mumbled most of it aloud without even realizing it .
Sniper turned his head and looked over, raising an eyebrow. Some of the questions seemed preposterous but he found a couple kind of funny , he let him ramble for a bit before realizing how more dramatic his questions were getting and how the tone in his voice had drastically changed . He nudged the engineer's shoulder lightly and he didn’t stop for a moment before his senses finally detected someone in contact with him and he perked up some . Running off course with his endless monologue “ uhh yeah ?”. Sniper took his hand back and rubbed them together again. “ I’m not .. here to hurt you … and I don't have any intention or interest doing so-so don’t worry about that .. and as for the plan. my companion here was gonna break ya here to a point so he could take you to Redmond and from there I have no clue, but I have no interest as I stated before . In all honesty I wanted to get away from here” his dry eyes became watery as they gazed into the fire , the glows and sparks dancing crossed his iris “I don't think any of it’s fair .. I mean I don’t know what was on your contract but it certainly couldn’t have been the same .. all we got was basically a wager saying we’d fight three times a week and take up some space in a building but more than less that’s all … I should’ve known they’d pull a doozy .. writing all them tiny letters on the back , I really am naive “ he stroked the bottom of his stubbled chin and shook his head “ I just wanted to do my job and make a few mutuals but .. of course it couldn’t just be easy .. I mean heh what really is ? “. Engie lowered his hands some and stuck them in between his folded legs.
Well .. our boss was pretty straight forward about what we’d be gettin into but I h-had no idea it’d be so lonely .. I figured someone would wanna strike up a conversation but my team could care less about me , figure they’re all happy to get rid of me by now “. he chuckled and shook his head with a faltering smile “ they’ll probably sweep my room clean and then spy can take whatever he’s after without a complaint “ he continued to smile but it sunk some “ demo probably never even noticed I was gone and the medic will just shrug and keep working on his studies ” . He looked down at the floor before shaking his head again . “ hell if Redmond thinks he can scoop something outta me - well ,,.. I’m all his “ - I’ve got nothin else to lose “ . Sniper looked over and sighed “ none of that is true and you know it .. I’ve heard how isolated that base is, especially with us always parked out but … you can’t say that you are very talented -w- Why else would he be after ya for one and two it’s hard to say but there’s a lot more for ya to lose . W-we’re gonna figure this out and I’ll get ya outta this somehow” . He fumbled and looked up . Blinking a few times before coughing and rubbing his nose. Engie looked over at him before smiling faintly and going back to an empty look “ it’s alright , thanks … it’s been a toll on my passion and pride ever since I got here. I just figure what’s gonna happen Is gonna happen and it’s outta my control .“ he shrugged, putting his warm hands to the sides of his face and cheeks.
“well what I’m “ gonna “ make happen is going to happen. I don’t think this place is good for ya and there are certainly better places for a brilliant person like yourself to work and I’ll get ya out of it . You and the rest of my mates” . He made a fist confidently and smiled a toothy grin before toning his excitement down and looking back into the black wood again.