Something to Live For (TF2 and Child! Reader fan-story)

Chapter 1: A New Type of Intruder

With the new element discovered called Austrualium, the two superpowers of RED and BLU have become even more powerful than ever before. Thankfully, this new element has been used by scientists to bring life back to the badlands of Teufort for the sake of resources being available again. Now trees and grasslands run throughout the land as well as new clean rivers filled with all kinds of new species of fish and other creatures.

There is only one problem. The neverending war of Redmond and Blutarch still continues and they especially don't show any signs of stopping soon now that both sides are flourishing with even more valuables than before.

While the mercenaries on both sides were starting to get irritated by their increased clocking time and docks in pay, the fresh air and water were at least making up for that, even if only a little. The city was also slowly building up and becoming less of a battlefront, at least away from the main Red and Blu bases.

Since they were directly employed under Redmond and Blutarch, the mercs were allowed to pay a visit downtown in full uniform and weapons whether it was for business or not. Today, Scout, Soldier, and Heavy were just restocking on food for the base, courtesy of a local store under direct orders from the higher-ups.

"Stop slacking and get the rest of the boxes, Maggot!" Soldier yelled at Scout who was eying some young women. Heavy nudged him.

"Heavy thought you had eyes for Miss Pauline?" he asked Scout as he loaded an abnormally large box into the Red's truck. Scout stuck his tongue out for a brief second, not really having a good rebuttal to Heavy's question. Heavy just ignored him and continued to stack boxes.

"And that's the last of them! Abraham Lincoln would be proud of you, Heavy!" Soldier complimented, making his way to the front of the truck. "I am entering the truck now."

"Not my father?" Heavy asked, following him.

"Hey! What about me!?" Scout yelled like the obnoxious man in his twenties that he is.

"YOU DID NOTHING FOR THIS COUNTRY!" Soldier yelled as Heavy started the truck. The giant actually drove like a civilized person until he got outside the general area and close to the base to which he sped up. Scout had already fallen asleep despite doing practically nothing and Soldier was sticking his head out the back window like a dog, shouting and barking whatever.

Once back at base, the curtains lowered to hide their location and in the garage, they went. Inside, Engie was waiting to help unpack things with Sniper who was desperately hungry, and Demo, who was desperately drunk, as per usual.

"AYE! Finally, they're back, them slow bastards." Sniper pointed out as the truck pulled in. Demo could be heard mumbling drunkenly in response, but no one could understand what he said. "Aye, Demo, get up, man. Help us with this so we can get to eatin' faster."

Engie chuckled. "I don't think he will listen to you when he's in that state, Mun-dee."

"Clearly..." Sniper replied as he made his way to the back of the truck, his stomach growling. As Heavy pushed a sleeping Scout out of the truck face-first into the cold concrete floor, Soldier dismounted his way out and yelled for the others.

"HEY, MAGGOTS! THE FOOD SUPPLIES ARE HERE! BE REAL AMERICANS AND GET YOUR BUTTS OUT HERE!!"

"But what if you're not American?" Spy asked, appearing right next to Soldier, obviously spooking him.

"I wasn't scared!" was Soldier's immediate response. "I don't care if you eat baguettes and make out with Scout's mom for a living! You live in America, and you help us!" A distant "what" could be heard from Scout as he carries in all the small boxes after trying to kick Heavy in the shin. Spy made no response except he blew smoke in Soldier's face, making him cough.

Soon, Pyro came running in, his arms flailing all over the place, excited to see his friends back with all the yummy food. Pyro tackled Scout and gave him a big hug. Trailing behind him was Medic, who had Archimedes tucked into his lab coat pocket.

"What is even happening...?" Scout asked. There were small chuckles from all the mercenaries at the rather weirdly innocent display, minus Demo, who had finally just passed out ultimately.

"I guess the boy's just happy to see ya, Scout," Engie replied.

"Since when!?"

"Mmmrrph mmrrph mmrrph mmmrrrph!"

Meanwhile, Medic stopped by Sniper, Heavy, and Soldier to help unload boxes. Archimedes hopped out of Medic's coat pocket onto Sniper's shoulder.

"What's wrong, Archie Arch?" Sniper asked before Medic could. Then Archimedes flew deep into the back of the truck.

"Archimedes!" Medic climbed in after his pet dove, not paying any mind to ensuring no crates fell over.

"Aye! Medic!" Soon Sniper was right behind him, catching as many crates as he could that Medic knocked over. Once at the back of the truck, he sees that Medic has stopped in his tracks. "Bloody hell, mate. What is your deal–"

Now Sniper has stopped in his tracks. Both mercenaries stared wide-eyed at what was before them. Sniper's jaw finally just dropped in disbelief. In front of them was a little girl, no bigger than three feet and nine inches. She was in dirty rags for clothes and curled up into a ball, fast asleep. She also had peanut butter on her cheeks, remains from a jar that was opened to the side. The young girl was about six years old from what they could tell.

Sniper and Medic looked at each other for a second. What should they do? What could they do? Then the end, they both slowly walked out of the truck with the blankest of stares on their face. All of the rest of the mercs noticed them and stared back.

"What's wrong, you two? You both look like you've seen a ghost. This is especially weird for Medic..." Engie asked. Both Medic and Sniper said nothing. They just kept their blank stares and pointed to the back of the truck. One by one, each mercenary made their way to see what has Mexic and Sniper so shook up.

"Uh... There's nothing there," Scout said.

"Go deeper inside... You'll see it eventually..." Medic informed, not even bothering to turn around and face everyone. The mercs looked at each other. Then Soldier and Scout pushed Pyro in. Shaking from fear, the inferno-obsessed man-child tip-toed deeper inside to the point where no one could see him anymore. And then there was silence.

"..."

"What do ya see, Pyro...?" Scout whispered.
There was some more silence.

"MMMRRRRRPPPPHHHHH!!!"

"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"

At blazing fast speeds, out ran the little girl as fast as she could, startling all of the mercenaries before any of them could even react. The girl briefly trips over a passed-out Demoman, waking him up.

"Mmmm... What did I miss...? Who was that?"

"Get up, you drunken fool!" Spy bellowed as he and the rest of the mercs all run past him to try and catch up to the little girl. Archimedes landed on Demo's shoulder and tugged on his facial hair. Just from that message from the little dove alone, Demo knew that it was going to be a long day.

———

Note: I'm sorry this first chapter was so short and so fast paced. I'm not very good at writing introductory chapters, and even after editing it, I just couldn't think of anything to add...
I promise the next chapter will be longer and more engaging. After all, the mercs have to catch that little girl. :D