Chapter Text
The scorching summer sun blazed over Badwater Basin, turning the air into a shimmering haze. Medic kept his Medigun trained on Heavy, the steady hum of healing almost drowned out by gunfire. RED was defending (barely) while BLU pushed the payload with relentless force.
The Medigun crackled with that familiar red glow, signaling it was fully charged. Heavy glanced over his shoulder.
“Now, Doktor!”
Medic flicked the switch and ubered Heavy.
Heavy charged ahead, invincible and roaring with laughter as he mowed through anyone in his path. Medic stayed close behind, the two cutting through BLU’s advance before they could even react. And just like that, RED had gain back the upper hand.
The other mercs seized the opening, charging forward and pushing BLU back, tearing into the nearest enemies —those who hesitated or retreated too slowly. Even those who managed to fall back weren’t safe. Demoman had already set up sticky traps and with a simple click, he detonated them. The explosion ripped through the ground, sending BLU mercs—mostly their body parts—flying in the air.
RED repositioned quickly, tightening their formation and resetting their defense. Engineer kept his buildings running, wrench in hand, moving from dispenser to sentry like it was second nature.
“Booyah!” Soldier cheered as his rocket directly hit the enemy team’s annoying Scout, blowing the man into pieces. Blood rained down, splattering onto his uniform. A sickening crunch rang out as Soldier knocked multiple enemies down with his shovel. “Hehehe!” He giggled, like a maniac.
The BLU Spy let out a gut-wrenching scream as Medic pulled back his Übersaw from the man’s abdomen. He fell to the ground, convulsing, as he bled out.
Somehow, they managed to hold out just a little longer.
When the timer finally ran out, BLU’s push collapsed.
RED had successfully defended the point.
“Haha! Great job, men. We won!” Soldier celebrated.
Demoman chuckled and slung an arm across Soldier’s shoulder as they walked toward base. Pyro clapped their hands together behind them, quiet but cheerful.
“Heh. Nice work there, Doc,” Engineer said, catching up to the group, hauling his toolbox over one shoulder.
Medic grinned. “Well, you’re not so bad yourself.”
“Ah, now you’re just butterin’ me up,” Engineer replied, a small smile tugging at his lips. “One thing’s been buggin’ me, though—my sentry kept getting sapped by that darn Spy.”
"Ach, ja! He tried to stab me in the back too. You should’ve seen his face when I—” Medic made a stabbing motion in the air, grinning, “—finished him off. Ha!”
“I gotta hand it to you for that one,” Engineer said, nudging Medic slightly as they walked side by side.
They walked in silence for a few steps, shoulders brushing occasionally. Engineer opened his mouth to speak again. “Ah, right—ya remember that new project? Well... I was wondering if you’ll be free later—”
Before he could finish, Scout barged between them.
“Pft—oh, that’s nothing! You guys should’ve seen me! I absolutely wrecked those guys—their Soldier, Heavy, Sniper—" Scout rambled, counting each one off on his fingers. By now, Medic and Engineer had moved past their little Spy showdown, but Scout didn’t seem to notice—he was too busy showing off.
Medic looked him up and down, unimpressed.
Engineer frowned slightly. “Ah. Good job…Scout.”
Scout rubbed his nose proudly, a smug grin plastered across his face. “It ain’t a big deal at all. ’Cause, y’know, it’s me you’re talkin’ about.” He puffed his chest out.
“Oi, Scout! You’re comin’ or not?” Sniper called from the distance.
Scout waved his arm slightly at him. “Yeah! Hold up—I’m comin’!” He shot them one last grin. “Gotta go. Smell ya guys later.” And then he was off, sprinting toward Sniper.
Engineer shook his head. “Right. As I was sayin’…” He turned back to Medic.
Medic hummed, rubbing his chin. “Hmm… I’ve got something I need to take care of first. But if you’re willing to help me, I can finish it quickly—then we can get back to your project.”
Engineer tilted his head. “Sure, I can help. What d’you need done?”
Medic laced his fingers together in front of him, a sly smile spreading across his face.
***
Thud. The bucket hit the dirt, the contents inside sloshing violently.
Engineer wiped sweat off his brow with his forearm. His overalls tied at his waist, straps dangling loose and his shirt was unbuttoned enough to show the white tank top underneath.
"Doc… when you said you needed help, I thought you meant paperwork or somethin’..."
Medic didn’t even look up. He knelt near the corpse and scooped out a handful of guts, thick blood sliding between his fingers. “Ach! This heat is making them decompose faster,” he snapped. “The organs are going bad. I need them fresh!"
Vultures were already circling, hopping closer to the bodies. Engineer waved them off with an irritated shoo, then hauled the bucket back over to Medic. “I get your point, but good lord…” He tugged at his collar, fanning his neck, "the heat's killin' me."
“Just a bit more, ja? Bitte.” Medic looked at Engineer, a small grin on his face.
Engineer sighed softly, continuing to follow Medic toward another body.
It was, in fact, not just a bit more.
What was supposed to be a few more minutes turned into another two hours. By the time they were finally done, the sun was no longer baking them alive—but the light had started to slant low, stretching shadows across the sand.
“There. All done!” Medic said, cheerfully, as he carried two buckets full of various body parts.
Engineer trailed behind him, tiredly dragging a wheelbarrow loaded with about five more buckets.
“Quite bountiful today, isn’t it?” Medic added with a pleased little hum, like he was admiring a good harvest.
Engineer found it amusingly grim that Medic treated organ harvesting like farming.
"Do you really need this much organs, Doc?" Engineer asked, raising his eyebrow.
“Ja, of course.” Medic’s grin widened. “Just stocking up. You can never have too many organs.”
Engineer wasn’t sure how to react to that. He wasn’t exactly collecting organs… and neither was any normal person, to be honest.
The two began walking back to base.
In the distance, the sun was setting on the horizon—low and slow, like it didn’t want to leave. A soft orange glow spilled across the land, turning the dirt and rocks copper. The sky looked almost painted, layered in shades of gold and burnt orange then bleeding into pink and violet further up.
A dry breeze rolled through, warm but gentler than the heat of the day. It carried dust with it—fine, powdery grit that danced along the ground. Sparse desert brush and clumps of dry grass shivered in the wind.
Engineer’s steps subconsciously slowed, then came to a halt altogether, his eyes fixed on the scenery. He tilted his helmet back slightly, admiring the view.
It felt… tranquil. Like the world, for once, wasn’t demanding anything from him.
He’d seen sunsets like this a thousand times before, but they still managed to pull him in.
“Breathtaking, isn’t it?” Medic’s voice came from behind him.
Engineer glanced slightly over his shoulder, a small smile forming on his lips, then turned back toward the horizon. “Yeah…” He paused, as if searching for the right word. “It’s beautiful.”
Then he added—softer, “Reminds me of home back in Texas. In a way.”
Medic inched closer, hands clasped behind his back. “Hm?”
Engineer let out a short, quiet chuckle.
“I used to do this all the time when I was a kid,” he said, voice a little slower now—like he wasn’t just talking, but remembering. “Our place was right by a creek. I’d lay out there after a long day and just… watch the sky for hours.”
He shifted the wheelbarrow’s handles absently, like he didn’t quite know what to do with his hands.
“Air felt different in the evenings,” he added. “Even in summer. Cooler. Smelled like water and dirt and… I dunno. Home.”
Medic stayed silent behind him, just listening.
Engineer swallowed, then cleared his throat like he was trying to pretend he hadn’t gotten sentimental.
“Maybe I oughta show you my hometown sometime,” he said, half-joking. “Y’know—if we’re not busy fightin’ and dyin’ all the time.”
But he meant it. He really would be glad to bring Medic back to Texas. Show him the creek, the hills, the way the sky looked when it opened up at dusk.
“It does sound nice,” Medic replied.
He might’ve been imagining it, but Engineer thought the way Medic said it sounded… sincere.
***
The last of the light had faded by the time they arrived at base, the sky darkening to a deep indigo. A few early stars were already beginning to show overhead.
Engineer helped Medic unload, packing the organs away like leftovers and sliding them into the fridge. Yes. An actual, normal fridge. Like one you’d find in someone’s kitchen.
Afterwards, they went straight to Engineer’s workshop.
Medic looked through the blueprint Engineer gave him, an amused smile on his face. “Oh?” he murmured. “Fascinating… What do think about this—”
He was just about to ask Engineer, but realised the man had nodded off in his chair, still gripping the edge of the workbench like he’d been trying to force himself to stay awake. A soft snore escaped him.
Medic let out a small chuckle, finding the scene mildly amusing—if a little pitiful. He adjusted his glasses as he stood up, neatly placing the blueprint on top of the workbench.
He went to one of the lockers and rummaged for something. After a moment, he pulled out a thin blanket. Engineer slept in his workshop often enough that he kept things like that around.
Medic draped it over Engineer’s shoulders without much ceremony, adjusting it just enough to cover him.
“Entschuldige,” Medic murmured. “Maybe next time, ja?”