You did your best to push... whatever just happened out of your mind. Maybe he didn't mind it? But his face... fuck. He's not touchy with anyone, but I thought I was different? Idk. Am I? Best not to dwell on it right now. You looked up to, thankfully, not find Spy in the living room. It was just Demo and Sniper. Demo looked passed out, but there was no bottle of scrumpy to be found. It was only dinner-ish time. What's got him so tired?

You looked over to find Sniper sharpening his machete again, but he seemed a tad bit frazzled. Concern or frustration haunted his face while his movements were erratic. Tomorrow is the battle... is what they all have said true? You watched a frown form on Sniper's face. You didn't think he even registered that you were there. Better not bother him right now.

You checked the kitchen to find nobody. This meant you would have to talk to people in their rooms. Who would be best to help you replan? Definitely not Scout, he'd try to take the glory of it all and overestimate his strength. Heavy might be a good choice, but depending on how much he cares about the whole respawn thing... He cares just as much as Engie. Not a good idea. Demo's passed out, I can't talk to Pyro, and Sniper seems... I don't know. I just don't want to mention anything like this around him. Medic and Engie are in the Medbay resting... so that just leaves... shit. I can't. Can I?

You shook your head and grabbed a water bottle. Maybe if Engie agreed with the plan, I could've used his blueprints to fix the water filter. Well.. maybe it's just best to buy a whole new one at this point. But who has the money to buy a- nope. Bad idea. Or is it?

Nervous about the potential confrontation, you chugged the water bottle. This sucks ass. After you were done, you tossed the empty bottle into the recycling can. I mean, I can drive into town, but I've never been there before. I'm afraid I'd get lost. Besides, the money I brought couldn't replace a water filter for a whole building. You sighed, knowing what you have to do.

You seemed to drag yourself over to Spy's room. You were tapping your foot on the floor, unsure of how to react to him saying he never wanted to see you again. No, he hasn't said that. Just as you lifted your hand up to knock, the door swung open followed by a small groan.

"What iz it?" You slowly lowered your hand and started absentmindedly twiddling your thumbs, noting the... the whole "I don't want to see you" tone in his voice. "Well Strategist?" His accent was heavier than normal.

"I- uh," you cleared your throat. You could ask about the French powerpoint, but now wasn't the time. "I wanted to ask for your help-"

"With what?"

"The plan. I showed it to Engie and Medic, and they hated that I'm being used as bait.

"So?"

"I wanted to ask for your help rewriting that part.." Spy sighed.

"Why iz zis my problem?"

"It isn't-"

"Then I bid 'ou good day." He started swiftly closing the door, but you stopped it with your foot.

"I'm sorry."

"I do not care," he grunted, trying to push your foot out of the doorframe.

"Please Spy. You're the only one with sense around here!" Spy sighed, realizing he couldn't close the door.

"And?" He looked up at you with a look in his eyes you couldn't place. It almost looked like betrayal.

"I need you. No one will listen to me except you. You're literally-" Spy held his hand up for you to stop, which you happily did in fear that continuing would embarrass you.

"Thought zat iz not my problem, I will help 'ou." Without another word, he slowly opened the door for you. You hesitantly walk in, met with a wall of the smell of smoke. He closed the door behind you, seeming more upset than uncertain. "Well?"

"Right." You grabbed the device and pulled up the plan. It seemed so perfect, how could we fix it? "I just don't get why it's a big deal I respawn." Spy was silent for a moment.

"Though I am not immune to 'our charms... I do not understand eizher. It seems.. Silly to be overprotective of 'ou."

"Not immune to my charms, huh?" You smirked at him, causing a slight pink to be seen rising from his mask. He coughed and adjusted his tie as if it were too tight.

"If anyzing leaves zis room, 'ou're dead, Strategist." This caused a light laugh to leave your lips despite the death glare he was giving you. When the look didn't dissipate, your laugh did.

"Um, understood, Spy." Spy looked away from you and coughed.

"Good. Now, what can we do?"

"That's what I'm unsure of. To be honest, there's a part of me that wants to just not change it and tell them I did, but that would make me feel horrible."

"Not to mention it would be rude to, uh, trick zem like zat."

"Exactly," you nodded. "So did you have any ideas?"

"I'm not ze Strategist, 'ou are." You sighed and smiled, earning a confused look from Spy.

"You're right. There's just a part of me-" How do I put this? "-that really enjoyed when we worked together on this, y'know? It was like I could bounce my ideas off of someone that didn't... I don't know, judge me for them being bad? I'm not sure how to put it." You laughed a little more in the hopes you could eliminate the awkward air you acquired. A little sigh left Spy and he nodded curtly, almost as if he was dismissing what you said.

"Well, I cannot lie and say I didn't judge 'ou." You started to laugh, but stopped when he didn't join. That's probably just not in his nature. "But.." He trailed off, stopping to think. "I did... enjoy... ze work we did." You smiled, catching him off guard.

"Me, too, Spy."

"Care to sit down?" You hadn't even realized that you were both still standing.

"Oh! Yeah, we might be here a while."

He led you to this little red couch-thing and you both sat down. When your knees touched, Spy moved his away. Taking note of that, you allowed him to feel comfortable.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"Do we need bait here?" You coined the idea.

"Someone would be without ze choice, so itz better to just put one of us zere."

"You're right, but who?" You grumbled.

"What waz zat?"

"Just that you're right." Spy smirked.

"So 'ou finally admit it." Spy seemed to stare you down as you laughed it off. You sound like Scout. Deciding against saying that, you decided to stroke his ego.

"I thought that was a given here!" Your laugh seemed to turn off his brain for a moment, because he looked at you with disbelief. "What? You know more about fighting these guys than me." He shook himself out of it.

"Ahem, yes, 'ou are correct about zat.." He trailed off.

"So what should we do?" You crossed your legs, reminding you of how you sat in kindergarten.

"I think I may have an idea.."

-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

After the sun set below the skyline, you both came out with a completely different yet similar plan. You had decided to keep the original just in case respawning for you wasn't a problem anymore. You stopped right before you left his room, the door still closed.

"Y'know, I'll be honest here, I'm worried about tomorrow's battle," you admitted, turning around to face him. A look of concern flashed across his face.

"Why do 'ou say zat?"

"I just... I'm not used to failing so much, and I really want this to go well. It would really suck to get this far in training only to realize I suck at my job." A nervous laugh escaped you, but he shook his head.

"No, zat's just stupid." You grimaced.

"Gee, thanks..." Spy looked surprised.

"What I meant waz-" he spoke quickly in an effort to cover up what he had previously said, but took a second to calm down and clear his throat. "What I meant waz, 'our overzinking. It'll be fine. Based off zat note from ze BLU Strategist, she seems much more immature zan 'ou."

"But what does that have to do with our plan?" He seemed to perk up at the sound of you saying "our plan."

"Simply, really, she cannot think as calculated as 'ou." Your lips tightened. "Look, we all know what 'ou did to ze laborer. 'Ou fight well, 'ou can outsmart all of us, and 'ou will be fine in zis first battle." A small smile replaced your worry.

"Thank you, Spy." You wanted him to know you meant it, but you didn't dare hug him. That would be weird. It got across, though, because his eyes widened in surprise.

"I'm getting soft due to 'ou..." he mumbled, and you couldn't quite hear what he had said.

"What was that?" You chuckled.

"Nothzing at all. Remember, what is said in zis room-"

"Stays in this room. Got it, Spy," you finished for him, smiling. He nodded curtly.

"Now get out of 'ere."

"Got it, right." You left the room and closed the door behind you, just now realizing you had missed dinner. Well that sucks.

Deciding you should eat something anyway to keep your strength up for tomorrow, you headed into the living room. To your surprise, you found Demo still asleep on the couch. No one woke him up? You walked over to him and shook him a little. No response. You shook him harder. Nothing. Sighing a little, you smirked and looked down. He had a bottle clasped on his belt. You gently reached down to grab it from him...and-

"What do ya think yer doin'?" Demo scolded you, grabbing your wrist. You laughed slightly.

"Trying to wake you up. I had a feeling touching your scrumpy would work." He scoffed.

"As if I'd let anyone touch it, lass." You nodded, your smirk still playing on your lips. You still felt a hand on your wrist, but you didn't mind.

"Soo have you eaten?" You started, waving your hand around. Demo has yet to realize he's still got a grip on it.

"Now tha I think about it, no."

"Would you like to get something together before bed? It would be bad if we went to bed hungry after all." Demo smirked, catching on to your idea.

"Oohh, aye, I would."

"But first I need my hand back." You chuckled at Demo's surprise, hoping how you felt now was how Medic felt earlier.

"Oh! Sorry lass." He gently let your hand go and you tried to put it in your pocket, only to realize that your uniform didn't come with any. That's silly.

"You're good! I don't mind haha." You beamed at him and helped him off the couch. He groaned like an old man until he popped his back, smiling as wide as you. You both walked into the kitchen with a mission, arms linked together. Hopefully, you won't destroy it. As you unlink your arms, you put your hands on your hips and look around. "I hope you realize that I have a horrible baker."

"I can't believe ya knew what I was thinkin'!" You shrugged.

"I just know things."

You both had decided to bake something. For what reason? Obviously, the real question was why not? There was no leftover food anyway. You both chose to make brownies.

Following an onslaught of you adding too many chocolate chips to Demo spilling the batter... maybe once or twice onto the floor, you both had to keep yourselves quiet from the laughter. Didn't want to wake anyone up after all.

As your brownies baked in the oven, you both relaxed on the couch, talking to each other to keep from falling asleep.

"Y'know, I feel like this was a bad idea the night before a battle," you commented, coming to a realization.

"Aye, but it'll be alright. 'Sides, we have a chance to sleep in tomorrow and it's not tha late." You nodded.

"Fair enough."

"How's yar plan?"

"I had to change it, but it's finished."

"What do ya mean 'change it'?" Do I want to have this conversation again?

"Wellll," you started but trailed off. Snapping yourself out of it, you continued: "I was going to use myself as bait, but-"

"Lass, no." You felt a little exasperated.

"Demo, I really appreciate that you all care for me, but I can't avoid respawning forever."

"Doesn't matter."

"All of you can't protect me forever. It won't end well for us if you do."

"We'll work it out."

"Demo-"

Ding!

"Look, they're done!" Demo got up and walked off to the kitchen. When you didn't follow, he poked his head out and wiggled his eyebrows. You laughed despite your annoyance. Following him into the messy kitchen, you started cleaning while he took the brownie out to cool. A worry crossed your mind.

"I hope you all still see me as a mercenary. It seems as though you don't trust me to fight by myself," you admitted, not even thinking about what that meant to say or if you believed it. Demo turned around and started scrubbing the floor. He sighed.

"That's not it at all, lass. We're, I'm worried for ya.."

"But why?"

"Yer special ta me, and I don't wantta risk the respawnin' not workin'."

"Is that why you all are acting so strange?"

"Aye. There's a chance it won't work and you'll just be... gone." A twinge of fear twisted your heart.

"How big is that chance?"

"Big enough." You stumbled a little and Demo caught you. You've never thought about death before, not in the context that it could happen so soon.

"Why, why wasn't I made aware of this? Demo, how big is the chance?"

"Lass, it was in tha contract ya signed..." You cursed yourself. Nothing I can do about it now.

"How. Big. Is. The chance?" Demo was silent. "Demo please, I have to know."

"... Ten percent." You felt like fainting. Demo steadied you, one hand your back and the other on your shoulder.

"Shit," you groaned.

"That's only if it doesn't work, though. If it does, ya won't have to worry about it again." Your vision cleared.

"Demo, I-I think I need to lie down. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" He didn't say anything, not letting you go. "Demo."

"Will... will ya please just share this wit me?" This may be my last dinner, anyway. You felt like crying, but held it in for Demo's sake. You turned to him and nodded. A weak smile formed on his lips.

You two ate in near silence, commenting every so often about how good they came out and how much of a pain it was to clean. Was it fair to Demo to not talk? Was it fair to me? Do I even risk the tears?

"Thank you, Demo," he looked up at you, "For telling me, I mean," you started, sighing. You held your face in your hands. He got up and sat next to you.

"Lass, for all I know, the Doc could've fixed that part of tha chip." It comforted you a little, but the wariness was still there.

"But what if he didn't? Or couldn't?"

"Then... then I don't know, lass..." Demo trailed off. You fell off the chair onto your knees, he followed.

You held yourself and leaned into him. He slowly wrapped his arms around you as tears of worry and fear rolled down your cheeks. He didn't shush you, he didn't do anything to make you any more upset. He just held you in a soft embrace, fearing to lose you. You didn't know why they all cared for you so much, but it hurt to know you could leave them. It almost, no, it did hurt more than leaving your parents or friends. You didn't know why. It just... did.

You looked up to see a red, puffy eye. Shock enveloped you. Wordlessly, Demo forced a smile, his cheeks wet with tears. You smiled back at him, getting comfortable against him.

You were probably going to be there a while.