You blinked, confused. What do I have to tell you?

"Well?" Engineer snapped. Why do you care?

"Why do you care?" You didn't mean to say it, and it didn't come out the way you wanted it to. It was just a thought you couldn't help but blurt out. Oh shit. Engineer's mouth shifted in a scowl and he let out a frustrated groan.

"What in the Sam hill do ya mean 'Why do Ah care?'" He threw his hand up, having trouble keeping his voice to a whisper. "Last time Ah checked, you were afraid of him an' now yer doin' this with 'im!"

"Engineer... Do you want to come in? I can explain everything." You were trying your best to keep him calm in fear of disturbing anybody's sleep. Or have someone like Demo come and beat your ass. He clenched his fists and shook his head.

"No, Ah don't think so. Ah plan ta talk to ya right out here." He recrossed his arms, but looked stiff.

"O-okay... Do you want to talk in the living room or somewhere away from other people sleeping?" You shut your door behind you and Engineer took a step back for you.

"No, this won't take long. Ah want you to tell me what the fuck you were doing with the man ya cried in mah arms about." Okay shithead-no! I will not be angry over this. People are sleeping (Y/n).

"We were watching a movie-"

"Why, damnit? Why!"

"Engineer!" You whisper-shouted and then shook your head, trying not to get riled up.

"Just tell me!" You let out a slow breath and calmed yourself the best you could.

"Look, I'll be honest here. We made up and we're friends now. Does that satisfy you?"

"When did that happen?" Engineer kept staring down at you with an expression that sent chills down your spine. Still, this outburst wasn't cute.

"A while back I suppose.."

"What do ya mean by that?"

"He can get into my dreams, and we made up there. It was just.. at the time, I didn't know it was actually Medic." Engineer looked surprised, but a look of recognition crossed his face.

"So that's what he had me work on. That damn machine." It was your turn to be surprised.

"What do you mean?"

"Ah said it plainly. Ah didn't know he'd use it on ya. Ah should have known!" You could tell he was getting more and more frustrated. He was turning slightly red and the adrenaline rush had his hands clenching his arms with his muscles bulging under his shirt.

"Okay? Do you want me to get him to stop? Why do you care so much about this?" Engineer just clenched his jaw and shook his head. "Please answer me."

He stood still and you felt a pair of eyes studying you up and down. Then, he looked to the left and then to the right. He offered a hand to you. Concerned, you gingerly took it. Immediately, he gripped your hand with too much force causing you to let out a sound of shock and pain. He started leading, or rather pulling, you down the hall.

"Engineer, please, don't squeeze my hand that hard!" You choked out. It felt like your bones were being crushed and your hand was being crumpled. He glanced back at your pain-stricken face and looked forward. Slowly, he let up on your hand, but still held it uncomfortably tight. He made his way past the MedBay and outside by the Arena. Once there, he let go and went back to crossing his arms. You quickly pulled it to you and started massaging it. "What was that for? What are we doing?" You felt your expression grow more serious as you looked at Engineer.

"Ah heard Spah creepin' up on us. Sorry 'bout your hand," Engineer said in a way that didn't sound too convincing. His voice was still tight.

"Fine, but I need you to explain yourself. It's not a question anymore." You did your best to keep your voice calm. Engineer motioned for you to keep speaking, so you did. "Why is it so bad that Medic and I are friends now?" He didn't answer. "Why are you acting upset when I'm with someone else to the point of fighting with them? I heard about you and Demo." He didn't answer again. "Okay. Fine. What are you staying up so late for? Can you tell me that?" It was your turn to cross your arms. Engineer sighed.

"Ah'm findin' lead in the water. There's a purifier on it, but it's barely holdin' up. Ah was tryin' to fix it."

"Good start! Now tell me why you're acting why you hate me, because I know you weren't angry at me enough to purely lash out at me earlier. By the way, what you said hurt." You couldn't help but raise your voice a little. Heat seemed to want to radiate off of you. The Texan looked at you with a shocked expression. "Well?"

"Ah don't have to tell you that." He seemed to snap back into the anger you felt from him before. "And Ah don't care if what Ah said hurt your little feelin's." He snapped every word like it was him who deserved to be frustrated. Oh. My. Fucking. God. A rush of anger flooded through you.

"GOD-FUCKING-DAMNIT! STOP TREATING ME LIKE SHIT!" Your voice soared through the New Mexico Badlands. You didn't bother to wait for Engineer's reaction. "I don't care about how you think about me, but I do care about you! At this point though, I'm not sure if I should! I don't know why you're so upset with me, but I think you're jealous of how I don't have to rely on you! I can have fun with Scout, goof off with Demo, and be friends with everyone else including Medic! You storm up demanding to know what I do with my time and then get angry towards me! It isn't fair or logical, which was two things I thought you were!" You clenched your jaw shut, and shook your head immediately regretting your outburst. Engineer stiffened up and let out a shout of frustration, marching over to the door.

"So it's not 'Engie' anymore, is it?" Engineer said in a suddenly calm voice as he opened the door.

"No." He slammed the door behind him.

Though you were still frustrated, all of your anger melted off of you and seemed to just disappear, leaving only regret and shame. God-fucking-damnit. You wiped your eyes, refusing to cry after this stupid crap. You waited for a minute before going to open the door, but it didn't budge. The fucker either locked the door on me or slammed it so hard it jammed. Now what? You shook your arms and started to realize how cold it was getting. You weren't exactly prepared for forty-something degree weather without much more than fluffy pants and a loose shirt. You started walking around the building with a feeling Engineer wouldn't open the door for you.

I shouldn't have shouted at him. I'm so dumb and impulsive. Fuck, man... What am I going to do now? You shivered. Is he really jealous of everyone? I mean, he did act like he was jealous every time I went to hang out with someone like Scout. I don't know what I'm doing. I made a mistake, and it's not okay. I will be, though. Moral of the story I guess. How is this going to affect our battle? My first battle... is only in a couple of days. Fear struck through you. Why am I so scared of that? Yeah, I'm nervous, but why? I've only been training for this. I mean, I don't really want to disappoint anyone... and they really don't seem too fond of me. No, Engineer doesn't seem too fond of me. The others are. I think. More than Mr. Science at least. Why is he lashing out at me, though? Is it some sort of prank? I hope not, that would be horrible, but is it just as bad as him doing it on his own or better? I don't know. I suppose it would be harder to make up with him if it weren't a prank. Do I want to make up with him, though? Well... I guess it would be good on a fighting side, but I kind of don't. We'll have to see how I feel. Ugh, why is it so cold?

You started jogging instead to warm up despite your aching legs. Eventually, you spotted the garage where they kept the vehicles. More importantly, you found a door. Racing up to it, you forced it open. Immediately, an alarm started blaring. Oh shit! You raced around, trying to find the control for it, but then it stopped with a click. Then, you heard the click of a gun being cocked. You slowly started raising your hands. You really didn't want to be sent to the respawn for breaking into your own base.

"Hold roight thar ya nasty buggah," you heard Sniper's voice behind you. You turned around cautiously to find Sniper pointing his rifle at you. "Sheila?"

"Uh, hi," you smiled sheepishly, but Sniper didn't lower his gun. "You gonna shoot me?" You hoped he could hear how nervous you sounded. Please don't kill me. I haven't eaten the hot pockets I wanted to try.

"Depends. You could be one of tha BLUs. Probably a disgusting Spy."

"H-how do I prove that I'm not?"

"Just tell me somethin' only we would know, Strats."

"Oh, o-okay. Well, we- um, we talked outside of the building once."

"Try again," Sniper rang, starting to aim. Fear jolted through you.

"Wait! Okay, when you trained me, I killed Medic and we hid in the Training Facility."

"Hmm. Whot happened next?"

"Medic came back for blood, found you, and then I flipped him onto his back when he chased me. You helped me hold him down so he wouldn't snap both of our necks. Then! Then, we had to clean the MedBay to apologize. Is.. that enough?" Sniper laughed and you started making a mental will.

"Yeah, it's foine." He lowered his rifle. "But-ah, whot are ya doin' here?" You let your hands drop back down and your frown might have given it away. "It wasn't Medic, was it?"

"No, no it was Engineer."

"Oh, that's strange of 'im. Whot happened?" You sighed. I trust him.

"Have you noticed he's been acting off?"

"Whot about it?"

"The man showed up at my door as I was about to go to sleep and started demanding answers from me I didn't have."

"Answers for what?"

"I was watching a movie with Medic, and I think it pissed him off." Sniper blinked in his sheep pajama bottoms.

"Medic? Oi thought-"

"I know, and we made up thankfully."

"Oh! Good ta know you're not in any danga." You smiled and laughed. "So you're locked outside, huh?"

"Unfortunately. Engineer yanked me by the hand outside and then left me when I... when I blew up at him. I really regret that."

"Oi'll say, you're out here when it's bloody freezin'!"

"Not just that. I really wanted to control my anger. It just felt unfair and then I couldn't control my outburst."

"No worries, Sheila. Sounds loike he deserved it." You couldn't help but smile.

"So,.. why are you in the garage?"

"Oh, yeah. Oi have a campa Oi used to sleep in. Guess you could say Oi got home sick."

"Okay...wait you don't live on base?"

"Well, yes and no. Each fighting ground has a place ta sleep in the event a battle takes more than a few days, and this base was built to recuperate afterwards if ya wanted. We were asked ta stay here by Pauling for you, actually." Sniper laughed. "Spy hated the oidea- poshed buggah-, but Oi think he's warming up to it. If not, then Oi'm still happy." You laughed along.

"I'm really glad it's warm in here."

"Ditto. Hey, do ya want me ta open the door to let ya in the base?"

"Yes please." Sniper moved over to the door on the opposite end of the room and punched in a code you didn't know. He opened it and looked through, but slowly took a step back to close it. "Is something wrong?"

"Goggles is standin' in front of your room. Oi wouldn't want ta send ya through that again. Ya can bunk with me for the night."

"Okay, thank you. How could you see my room?"

"So ya know when ya face the MedBay and there's a little door to tha left?"

"I guess..."

"That's tha door to this place."

"No wonder I missed it."

"Oi won't blame ya. Here, follow me." Sniper led you to the other side of the garage and past the other vehicles until you came across a modest-looking camper. He opened the door and offered a hand to you. You hand at first flinched back, but you accepted it. Compared to Engineer, Sniper's grip was soft yet firm. He helped you into the Camper and you hissed when he squeezed your hand. "Oh sorry!" You took a look at your hand.

"Geez! It's already bruising slightly."

"Well... on the bright side, you don't have ta worry if ya need to get Medic now!" You laughed and nodded. "Home sweet home!" Sniper spread his arms out eagle style to show off his camper. It made you smile. Sure it was cramped, but it had a small table, a bed, and a few cabinets.

"It's cozy! Thanks Sniper." You rubbed your arms for warmth.

"Don't mention it. Now, let's get ya ready ta sleep! Oi'm sure Heavy wore ya out." Sniper started fixing the sheets on the bed.

"Oh! You don't have to do that! I could sleep somewhere else-" Sniper held his hand up.

"Oi simply cannot let you sleep on tha floor in my camper. It's not professional. No, listen. You let me worry about all that instead and just focus on getting a good night's rest, oilroight?"

"A-alright. Thank you." You shifted nervously, feeling like you were intruding.

"Didn't Oi tell ya not ta mention it?" Sniper laughed, finishing his task. You laughed as well.

"You're right."

"Now, hop in! Well, not literally that would damage the floor." His joke made you laugh more, and you slipped into his warm bed. You got comfortable and sighed. He smiled and placed his hands on his hips. "Now for me to figure out how Oi'm gonna sleep. Oi'm not gonna leave ya out here all alone. Oh! Oi got a brilliant idea!"

"What'cha got?"

"Oi'm-" Sniper took a breath as he moved the table "-gonna sleep on this."

"Oh, are you sure? I can switch with y-"

"Now what did I tell ya about me bein' a professional? Oi can handle sleepin' on a table for one night. Oi've slept on the ground for days! Oi'll be fine."

"Right, you're right."

"'Course Oi'm right, but Oi appreciate how much ya care." Sniper rummaged through the cabinets for a pillow and a blanket. Once he found it, he created his makeshift bed. "There! All ready ta sleep. Now if Oi just get comfortable-" He slid onto the table with his back first, but his legs were hanging off enough that his feet could touch the floor. "Just loike a cat!" You couldn't help but laugh. On the floor next to you, you noticed an instrument case.

"You play alto sax?"

"Yea! How'ja know?"

"I saw the case. I'd love to hear you play."

"Good eye, Sheila. Oi'd love ta play for you." You both sat in comfortable silence and you became more and more drowsy. "Hey Sheila?" Sniper's voice became softer.

"Yeah, Sniper?"

"Do ya know... why Goggles is actin' the way he is?"

"I... I wish I did. Honestly, my theory is that he might be jealous of me getting along with Medic again. Maybe he's just confused or something." You sighed. "I don't know."

"Oi agree." Sniper shifted on the table. "So... are you excited for your first battle?"

"I wish I was."

"Whot do ya mean 'wish'?"

"I just... I'm afraid of screwing it all up and embarrassing myself... letting everyone down."

"Sheila, if it's any testiment to whot we've all seen, ya won't screw anythin' up. No clone of you, no BLU Spy, no BLU Sniper is going ta stop ya. That's a given." You gave a small smile.

"Thanks, Sniper. That helped."

"Not a problem. G'night, Sheila."

"Good night, Sniper."