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

Chapter 2: Operation Hide And Seek

   "Come on, Pyro! Get up, man! Quit being such a baby," Scout said. Pyro was in a fetal position, rocking back and forth after being spooked by the little girl. While the other mercenaries ran after her, Scout was forcibly left behind to comfort the kiddy-like firebug.

    Scout could hear Pyro whimpering. He had to pull him out of the truck. Pyro aggressively pushed him away. He said, "MRPH!"

    "Wha–! I-I thought you were supposed to be a mercenary! No wonder Heavy calls you a freak'n baby all the time!" Scout stammered, already getting extremely frustrated. Pyro only crossed his arms in a very pouty manner and turned away from Scout. "Why do I even bother with this...? Why do I even bother with anything...?"

    Scout just stood there, Pyro still sitting in the truck with his arms still crossed. Not even getting out a lighter was helping to get his attention.

    "Hey! Pyro, look! Pretty fire!" Scout cooed, holding a lighter he had stolen from Spy up to Pyro's face. Pyro turned his head to face him for a second.

    "Yeah, that's it! Now come out of the truck. You can have the fire once you step out of the truck."

    Pyro's face lit up, not that Scout could see it. "Mrph mrph mrph mrph mrph mrph mrph mrph mrph mrph mrph mrph mrph! (You're just trying to get me to come out of the truck!)" Pyro scowled. Scout didn't understand a word he said. Usually, Engie is the only one who can understand him.

    "What!? Y-Ya know what? If ya want to stay in that truck so much because it makes you feel so safe, why don't I help ya!?" Scout offered sarcastically.

    Stepping on a nearby box, Scout reached up to the top of the truck and grabbed the handle to the cargo door. From there, he jerked it down as hard as he could, Pyro unable to react fast enough to grab it. Pyro was now screaming his head off inside the truck's cargo hold with no light at all. All he could do was bang on the door as Scout grumbled to himself and slowly walked away back to his room to go listen to some Tom Jones in an attempt to cool himself off.

    Meanwhile, the rest of the mercenaries were still playing a not-so-fun game of hide and seek with the little girl. It was one thing if none of them could find someone, but Spy? He should have been able to spot and catch her quickly, and his colleagues are taking too much care to remind him. At this point, Spy was now on his second cigarette, having gone through the first one a little too fast from the stress. Medic still wonders how he hasn't croaked yet.

    While invisible, Spy's watch would still time out before he could catch the little girl, giving her another chance to escape. The others weren't much help, either. They were being unusually clumsy.

    "I can't believe you imbeciles can't play a simple game of hide and seek!" Spy insulted, meeting back up with the rest of the group in the hallway.

    "Wha– Well, neither can you, you self-centered show pony!" Sniper retaliated, standing back up after resting his sore spine against the wall from bending over so much. Heavy and Engie looked at each for a second.

    "Is it not strange that a small child can hide so well...?" Engie thought out loud. All attention turned to him. He did have a point. "I wonder what's keeping Scout? I thought I told him to head to the survey room and inform us of everything once he dragged Pyro out of the truck."

    "Now, Engineer, this is Scout we're talking about," Spy said, taking his cig out of his mouth and waving it around. "What makes you bet that boy will listen to orders?"

    "He does listen to orders! Sometimes..."

    Spy just stared at Engie. The rest could only awkwardly look at each other, minus Soldier, staring off into the distance away from the group, picking his nose. Sniper finally huffed and crossed his arms.