(#teamwriting3 the first chapter of my entry into the contest. :3 this was written by me with assistance by my friend Endria and my Editor.)
Chapter 1 - Coffee And Dawn.
It was early morning at Rottenburg and the sun had yet to rise. The sound of birds awaking could be heard as a man climbed up the rusty and old ladder that lead towards the large watchtower that sat in the base. Two mugs of coffee where in his left hand while he used his right hand to help him up. The man in the red suit hoisted himself atop the landing. “What do you want ya bloody spook?” Spy looked up and saw a lanker man standing there. Sniper stood there, his kurki nearby. Since the two teams merged after the ‘Incident’ at Teufort, Sniper still didn’t trust the former RED Spy. He, along with three other BLUs, had RED. It meant that they would have to work together. Each BLU and RED coped in their own way with the merge. Soldier and Demoman finally got the friendship that they had been kindling since two years ago. Even after the war they had between each other they still got along better than the others. Medic had started to give them all ‘check ups’, a thing that the mercenaries weren’t looking forward to. Medic always found a way to make himself unwanted. Scout had been getting up early and running laps, Sniper would know. Every morning he would grab his mug and head outside to the watchtower with his sniper rifle strapped to his back. He would stay up there till the sun would rise before getting a fresh supply of coffee. Black circles under his eyes was normal for him because he always lacked the amount of sleep he actually needed. However to keeping the base safe it was worth it. Yet the merge of the two teams made Sniper more anxious and hide away in his van or the old tower he called home. Two places Sniper would feel at peace with. Yet now it seemed that someone, the one person he would never want to befriend was trying to be nice to him. Lifting his kurki he turned towards his former enemy. A scowl slowly appearing on his face as he sent daggers towards him. Unsure if it was a trick for the kill. He was never nice. Sniper knew that for sure. What makes it so different now?
“I thought you would like a cup of coffee.” The man said, a smile across his face. Sniper stepped back bumping into the railing of the tower.
“I have my own coffee” Sniper stated, his voice brimmed with venom and hate. Sniper in hoped that the snake would leave. The Spy moved forward, the two mugs in his hand. One was red and an image of a cat in a balaclava was printed on it. The other mug was blue, it’s edge was chipped at one place and the colour was faded. Sniper grabbed the chipped, dull blue mug while holding onto it tight. “How did you find my mug?!”
“It was on the dish rack.” Spy said as he took a sip from his own mug. With the remark Sniper grumbled before drinking a bit of his coffee. A smile spread across Spy’s face.
“Why are you still here.” Sniper snapped at the man before taking another sip from his coffee.
“You still holding a grudge against me and I want to make anew.” Spy says as he leant against the railing, an honest smile across his face. Sniper pulled up one of the two small stools that sat up there. Lifting a few jars of Jarate off of the other one, he kicked the wooden piece of furniture over the the other man. Spy grabbed the stool and sat down opposite Sniper, a cigarette placed between his nimble fingers. Sniper stared at the man. It wasn’t the fact that his uniform consisted of a dark red suit, fancy dress shoes and a red balaclava. No, the reason Sniper was staring is because the one he thought was his enemy was sitting there trying to become his friend. The wind started to pick up as the two sat in silence, nether wanting to break the first peaceful silence between the two mercs. The sun started to rise behind Spy. The cooing of Medic’s doves could be heard and the soft hum of the Dispenser that sat outside where the drunk Demo lay, the drunken haze he was in making him see things. Smoke curled around Spy as he looked at Sniper, waiting.
“Why?” Sniper said as he looked away and taking a sip from his lukewarm coffee.
“We are teammate now. Would it make sense if we got along better, non?” Spy said as he threw his used cigarette to the floor and stepping on it, snuffing out the small flame that was burning. With a sigh Spy sat back down.
“Fair point but still.”
“I want to be your friend isn’t that enough?”
“Eh.” Sniper said as he shrugged.
The next day, Spy did the same thing. It was before dawn when the man arrived. The smell of burnt metal and other thing could be smelt from atop the high tower. Spy balanced a tray with his left hand as he climbed with his right. He feared that if he slipped up he would spill the hot coffee across his suit. This morning, the beeping sound of a sentry could be heard below Spy, as well as the sound of a wrench hitting on metal. Engineer had awoken early and thought it would be wise to build a sentry outside the base. A small smile appeared on Spy’s face. The fact that some people have settled down already with the new arrangements made the man smile. The smile that last for only few short moments died away to a thin line as Spy starts to climb the watchtower, once more, that he knew someone would be up there no matter what the time. Unless Sniper was in his van which he rarely was recently. Grumbling a bit as he looks at the rusty and damage ladder that lead up to Sniper’s nest.
“Could it be possible zhat our resident bushman is part bird or something similar zhat. Maybe a owl? Ooh, a nocturnal Jarman!” Spy chuckles at little at his remark before he carefully climbed up the ladder some more. Once he was up, with his feet stumbling and his hand barely managing to hold onto the tray, Spy got his large body atop the building. The wooden planks that covered the watchtower was splintered in places and a few gaps in the wood could be seen.
“What are you bloody here for?” Sniper hissed out as he looked through his scope, not giving much attention to Spy.
“Zhe same reason as yesterday Bushman. I brought you some of zhat coffee zhat you love so much.” Spy placed Sniper’s chipped mug onto the old wooden bench that was built into a nearby wall. Atop the table was a large sum of scattered papers, letters, pens, pencils, a few sketch books and some more art supplies. Spy knew the man enjoyed drawing. Going closer to the desk Spy peaked a few of the letters that were addressed to Sniper.
“Thanks” Sniper quietly says but enough to make reality wake Spy back up from his daydream of mystery. Spy glanced at Sniper before smiling a bit.
“You aren't as hostile as yesterday. Which I must say is great,” Spy said as he looked out to the area around them. When he turn back, Sniper had a large frown on his face. “Are you alright?”
“It’s nothing.” Sniper said before he turned away and looked over the ledge and down to the ground where Demo and Engineer were currently arguing about something. Placing his rifle carefully onto the other small stool in the area, Sniper got up and walked over to his desk. The cooing of doves that nestled in the timber beams above the two could be heard as the sun began to rise to its full glory. One dove peaked it’s head out of the papers that lay on Sniper’s desk. It cooed with delight at the two men.
“I see Medic’s doves have taken residences up here as well as you.” Sniper just shrugged as he took a sip from his mug. Sniper smiled with delight while sipping from the mug filled with the hot liquid. Sniper sat back down but picked up his rifle, leaning it against the railing. He then kicked the stool over to Spy. Grabbing the worn out stool, Spy sat down, his own mug in hand. Sniper looked at the man sitting across him not fully trusting him yet.
“Alright. What do ya really want ya bloody spook?” Sniper said as he took another sip from his rapidly cooling coffee.
“I ‘ave already told you Sniper. I wish to become friends. Zhat is all.” Spy said, a blank expression on his face.
“‘Ow do I know you ain’t gonna stab me in the back.”
“How about zhis.” Spy took out each of the weapons he had on him. His butterfly knife lay on the floor next to his revolver, the metal of each of the weapons shining in the sun that was slowly peeking it's head over the horizon. “Now. How shall I know if your going to stab me in the back, eh?” Spy said, a smug grin across his face.
“It ain’t my job. It’s yours.” Sniper said as he too tossed his weapons into the pile, excluding his rifle which was leaning against the side nearby. Before the men could talk any further the watchtower shook with a large bang. The sound of metal on metal screeched in their ears as one of the cars that belonged to RED rammed into the tower. The two men gripped onto whatever they could until the ramming from below stopped. The shouting of Engineer could be heard from below as well as muffled cries of protest. Spy lifted himself up and looked over the edge. Below them he could see Engineer shouting at Pyro who was seated in the car that had been ramming the tower. Spy’s face turned red with anger as he jumped out of the tower and onto a nearby roof. Aiming his revolver, he targeted the pyromaniac's air tank. Before he could shoot he was knocked to the side by Sniper who had found his way down as well. “My leg!” Spy looked up at Sniper who was cradling his left leg which was broken. Spy reached up to his head and felt something sticky under his mask. Blood. Spy left Sniper where he was and moved towards Pyro who was trying to divert the blame onto another one of their teammates. Spy snaked his way onto the ground. He landed onto the ground with a large thump between muffled yells and the shouts of the enraged Texan. With a huff of rage his pushed to two apart.
“ENOUGH!” The two stared at the man before Pyro pulled out his shotgun. Laughing like a mad man they started to chase after Spy with the weapon. With a flick of Spy’s wrist he pulled out a battered, old, golden watch. “Do you really want to shoot me?" Yet before Spy clicked the fateful button that could save his life. a bullet went through Pyro leg making him tumble down to the ground, dropping his weapon instantly.
“Mate we aren't here to kill each other. We had to merge so deal with it unless you want a bullet through the head and I'll make sure you won't respawn too.” Sniper said atop the massive roofing of another building. He slowly got before looking at Spy dully “I suggest you and Pyro go to Medic.”
“I’m fine. Zhe Dispenser is nearby anyway,” Spy said before he turned to Engineer. “You go make sure Pyro gets to our crazy dockor.” Engineer nodded before he helped the limping Pyro towards the base. Sniper slide off the roof and landed with a large thud. He limped over towards the Dispenser. Spy lay his body atop the red machine as its red coloured healing beams snaked their way over to the wounded men. Sniper layed down on the other side, a slight grin across.
“Well this has been an eventful morning..” Sniper chuckled.
“Least zhere hasn’t been a robot attack.” The two men sat in silence as the sun finally showed itself in the sky.
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