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TF2 The Act of Persuasion: Chapter 1

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Time hadn't been kind as the years had gone on, and with the fighting ceased and forts ruled by dust, retirement felt out of place. Only months had gone by since leaving, but here or there it was as if they'd never left. The grudges of old battles still raged on within their minds; a virus collecting and overwhelming to some as they ignored or pleasured the darkness festering against the empty threshold within them.
The cracks of bone dry wood spew silt into the stiff darkness of the room, it's minuscule specks throwing a thin layer of dirt over the area as it became more prominent and settled over a pair of heavy leather boots at it’s floor. A harsh block of smoke consumed the ceiling as it’s potent origin provided the room a singular point of colour.
The cigarette embers lit a grimfull expression; a face of a man too filled with resentment and anger to desire anything other than inflicting pain and vengeance...
In the stillness of the room his breath brought the only form of wind, swirling dust around his hands down to his ankles as he twisted the balls of his feet and leant cautiously into a small dirty journal.
Sniper's coarse hands held it tightly as he scrawled notes across it’s lines, ignoring margins and tears in the paper as he filled it with channelled hatred and flicked onto the next page. The stains and marks of his previous words followed each line before his harsh script covered them; digging in and repeating the pattern to the oncoming page over and over again...
Sore tensed eyes looked each word over before glancing away through the clear skyline window, peering over the street below…

This wasn't the Fort anymore...

The constant allure of daydreams kept Sniper on his toes, feeling out of place as the ground beneath his feet turned from his crooked memories to the short haired carpet of the hotel room; the specks of dust atop his shoes changing to ash as he glanced around and reminded himself of the present...
Firm fingers rubbed his forehead as Sniper's fixated eyes followed the ageing street signs and peered across the sidewalk to the dully lit window two blocks from his position...

As early morning sun crept across the small, clothing strewn bedroom floor an alarm clock sounded. A steady hand reached over and softly tapped the off button, fact is, he'd been awake for at least an hour and a half.
Scout lay there a moment longer, thinking about the past and the possible future; he actually missed his old life, having a captive audience for him to talk to, taunt and prank was great for one of the youngest members of the old team, but coming back home had been much lonelier than he had expected…
Scout got up stumblingly and shambled to the bathroom, examining his face quick in the mirror before he left.
He glanced down then back up, looking himself in the eye sternly as he searched for his confidence, "You got this!" He assured himself, turning to go down a narrow hall to the small but extremely clean kitchen.
"Good morning, sweety! Big day tomorrow! Are you excited? Oh, I could just die, I know you're gonna do great! " His mom gushed.
"Hi ma, morning...yeah." he said, attempting to sound confident as he poured himself a bowl of cereal.
"Imagine, my boy, in the big leagues finally! Oh, I'll have to tell everyone! Its much better than that old job of yours. You had me worried sick with that!" She continued happily.
"Uh hu.." Scout sighed a little, having heard this same conversation almost every day this week. He'd gotten into the minor league almost immediately after leaving the fort life, and now, finally, he'd been invited to try out for the Boston Red Socks.
The young athlete put his empty bowl in the sink and headed for the door, turning back to speak over his shoulder. "See ya, ma, I'm heading to the diamond.”
"Ok sweety, have fun!" She called back, waving a little.
That small gesture always made him smile, and he headed out to ride the elevator down from their apartment and walk out onto the sidewalk. Scout had taken to running to the local park diamond everyday to meet a few friends for last minute practice before try outs; he checked the laces on his shoes before taking off, picking up speed until he was at a comfortable pace and his mind finally started to empty. Running brought a nice oblivion to his frantic thoughts and soon there was nothing going through his mind but his own steady breathing. A song popped into his head; he let it stay. Today wasn't so bad, he felt pretty good compared to his hectic baseline.
Scout rounded a blind corner as a car rounded from the other way, obviously burning oil and breaking down, it blew a toxic cloud of black smoke straight into his lungs. "Ack! Hey! Loser! Fix your damn car before you kill someone, jackass!" He shouted, trying to wave the smoke out of his face. The taint forced him to slow down as it caused a small stitch in his diaphragm, but thankfully,the driver ignored him and kept on his way as the engine coughed and spluttered down the road. Throwing the back of the beat up vehicle a final dirty look, Scout slowly got back up to speed, the stitch fading away as the air cleared again and let him exchange the smoke for fresh air. "Yeah..I got this." He thought to himself as he continued down his path.

"Steady..." The barrel of the gun rested lightly on the latch of the open window, pivoting towards the  memory provoking target as he sped up the sidewalk. Sniper was quite proud of the fact he'd managed to keep posession of his rifle, but it's glory days seemed to be long behind it as the mechanism caught up and jammed on the first bullet. A forced sigh cleared his throat as he quickly exchanged it and scoped in on Scout, coming closer and closer to the corner for easy pickings…

The bullet soared... Sound covered by the bangs of the engine and exhaust pipe as it went missing into a thick black fog covering his vision... It blocked his target from view as he stood up sharply for a better look, attempting to focus through the thick screen of smoke obscuring the scene below.
"Agh... Piss..."
He couldn't be sure...
In a rehearsed movement another bullet slipped in the cartridge, aimed directly for Scout's head as the smoke cleared from the corner.
"Gotcha..."
Sniper pulled back the trigger, readying himself for the kick as the bullet ignited and fled from the rifle…
However, a swift the motion of falling caught him in disorientation as the barrel slid off the latch and lowered the trajectory to the side of Scout's collar bone… He watched it wrongly pierce through, hoping by shear fluke it would finish the job... But it wasn't enough. The injury ruined the opportunity of getting a third and final chance especially when the athlete was fuelled by adrenaline and paranoia…

Scout felt like someone had punched him in the shoulder, but the closest person was down the sidewalk a ways yet. He had stopped and was staring at the other person in confusion when his skin registered the dampness seeping through his shirt. He looked down and saw the blood blooming through the thin fabric and only then did the pain choose to strike.
"Ah, Shit!" He swore as the muscles in his shoulder clenched, sending a wave of agony up into the side of his neck. He backed up, standing flat against the nearest building. This was a familiar pain, but not a welcome one as he scanned the upper floors of the buildings across the street. He darted through traffic, holding his wounded shoulder and crossed the street, plastering his back to the opposite buildings facade and scanning the buildings again before darting down the sidewalk; he wasn’t going to stay in one spot long enough to provide another shot for the old friend. “God Dammit! Really?!" He shouted, more angry than panicked as he yelled to the rooftops. He knew he had to get somewhere safe, and fast if he wanted to survive. Scout skirted along the front of the buildings he figured the culprit was most likely in, trying to stay too close to be seen from above. He was bleeding bad, and running wasn't helping matters, pulsing the blood faster and faster through the flayed opening on his shirt. "I gotta get to a hospital." He thought desperately as the blood soaked down and began to stain the waste band of his pants. People gave him panicked looks as he passed them, a few even screamed, but no one offered any help as he ran past them, almost as if they didn’t want to accept the reality in front of them.
Scout knew a short cut to the nearest hospital; he'd just been there last month getting stitches from a wild pitch hitting him above the eye, but following the route meant the ER entrance was on the other side. Scout didn't know if he'd make it that far without passing out. He walked into the nearest door, which was just the clinical side. Nurses ran to his aid, getting a wheelchair and hurrying him to the Emergency side of the hospital, barraging him with questions about what had happened; how long ago? did he see the shooter? was his arm numb? blah blah blah... He tuned them out, his head pounding as he heard his heart loudly reverberating through his skull. The nurses rushed them through several sets of doors until he realized he had slowed.  He looked around sluggishly and his eyes fell upon a familiar frame. "Doc? wha...is that you?" He asked, reeling forward a little as his head swam.

“Scou-“ Medic cleared his throat, cautious to what could be unearthed if anyone looked why they knew each other; he wasn’t going to lose his medical licence again… This job brought a level of peace to his mind that he hadn’t experienced since leaving his mercenary profession. “Shhh…” The Doctor whispered to himself “I von’t risk it…”
His unfitting gloves creased as he clenched his fingers on the edge of the medical cart, pushing and ordering the nurses to administer varying doses of chemicals. The paper-thin blue latex felt uncomfortable; after years of wearing thick rubber gloves it was like putting your hand into a powdered mold that no felt too loose to fit…
Looking at Scout brought back more memories than he’d of liked but he couldn’t crack. Not now. Not here. After he’d gotten so far… So far from the clashes of anger and torment within his head…
Scout had been murmuring halfhearted questions the whole trip to the back room, all of which seemed to be getting ignored. "I must not be loud enough." He thought to himself.
As they crashed through the emergency doors those unvital were pushed out of the way, leaving only Medic and a few other nurses to accompany them as they pulled Scout from the trolly and positioned him on the steel medical bed.
A rough sigh escaped him as Medic came closer to examine an all too familiar wound. “A notorious mark… I didn’t zhink I wouldn’t be seeing zhis injury on you again.” He turned swiftly away to the closest nurse and muttered bitter sounding commands out of ear shot, persuading him to leave and gather more supplies.
A solemn look drifted from his face as he turned back to scout, carefully edging him to lean up as per protocol. “Interesting.. Zhe bullet seems to have ricocheted off your bones and exited a few inches from it’s point of entry” Medic hid the reminiscent excitement from his voice, but could only dull his keen expression towards the wound, pressing around the outside as he made sure it was one bullet.
It wasn't until Medic began examining the wound that Scout found his voice fully. "Ow, hey...That hurts..." He murmured a little louder, and glared cautiously as the Doctor picked up syringe.
Medic could barely hear the rest of the world as he pulled the medical cart closer. It felt as though the spotlight on him and scout extinguished any life or voices outside their presence into darkness…
The needle twang as he checked the morphine for air bubbles, clearing it for injection as he inserted it between the two wounds. “Vhat did you do?” His thick accent asked firmly.
Scout winced, looking away as the needle stung into his skin. "I didn't do anything...not this time… I was just out on the sidewalk, but..I think we both know who did this, yeah?"  He looked up, bleary eyed at the Medic before a moment of realisation hit him. "O no! Hey, Doc, you can fix this right? Ah, shit!" He spoke like someone who had just been woken from deep sleep. "Doc, hey...i gotta be 100% tomorrow..my life was just starting to get on track here..hell.." He looked up at him pleadingly. "Do you still have your medi-gun?”
A tang of anger pierced the clinical atmosphere; Medic’s teeth gritted against each other as he found words to reply, “No.” The displeasure ached in his words, “It vas 'not my property’.” His eyes focused on the wound, pressing on it thoroughly to make sure the area was numb as his fingers squeezed lightly into a pair of forceps. The surgical steel edged into the bullet hole carefully extracting bloodied fragments into the kidney dish beside him, “You vill have to heal in your own time Scout… but zhat shouldn't be vhat concerns you.” His eyes peered up over Scout's shoulder, though far more decisive and stern than expressing worry for the situation, “Vhat did you do, Scout.” the doctor repeated, keeping direct eyes contact as his hands cleaned him up in a manner he’d done so many times before.
Scout looked down in distain at the bloody fragments. "Nothing, I swear. I told ya, I was just mindin' my own business when outta nowhere, I get hit!" He said defensively, trying to rub the headache out if his forehead with the hand of his good arm. He sighed heavily and looked up a Medic. "Couldn't have come at a worse time too... bastard!" He dropped his head, looking at the floor in frustration. "Ya know, I was going in tomorrow, tomorrow morning even! Got invited to try out for the Red Socks...ida made it too..." he trailed off as he spoke, hearing the clangs of bullet fragment as they collected beside him. Suddenly, smacking the arm of the chair as hard as he could with his good fist, Scout spoke a little steadier, "You know who did this, right!? Now what?!" He asked, looking murderous. He swayed a little from blood loss and his face paled, he was forced to settle back down and sat quietly a moment.
“Ja…” Medic turned back to focus as he pulled surgical thread from the cart and held the long end between his teeth. It kept tight as he pierced through and began cross-stitching the section, beckoning a nurse over through closed teeth as the blood seeped and made it difficult for precision.
Scout grimaced as he felt a numb tugging at his flesh as the thread drug through it. He could hear the popping of the needle as it poked through with each stitch.
A hefty blood bag came through the doors; set up quickly as Scout began showing strong signs of frailty. “Have you stopped to consider zhe past?”
The questioned lingered there for a moment, looking for a deeper answer than the current conclusion Scout had been burning on. “Obviously zhis not because of vhat is happening now"
"Hey, the past is in the past. Not like we weren't all at each others throats. I pranked everyone, hell, you know that." He said, with a shallow laugh, glancing away as the nurse secured the IV of the blood bag. He sighed and continued. "So I joked around with him a bit...so what? He got back at me, he got back at everyone..." He trailed off, chancing a look back at the half-stitched wound. "Hey Doc, is it gonna be ok?" He asked, trying to hold on to some hope.
Medic’s tone was void of sympathy as he recollected the years they had spent, forced to co-exist, in the never-ending battleground, “Your vounds vill be fine.” He breathed, reluctant to give him a definitive answer, “…You on zhe other hand…”
The Doctor looked to him carefully, pausing as he realigned the needle beside his other stitches...


The pulsing stillness of the room shattered as the atmosphere outside the emergency doors twisted from organised to shaken; uneasiness crept in with startled gasps, igniting a strengthening sense of panic that crashed it’s way into the room, bearing an all too familiar sight.
Sniper thrust himself through the body of restraining nurses, jagged Shiv glistening in his rough hands as he caught Medic off guard, yanking his shoulder to the floor as the thread ripped through Scouts flesh and followed suit.
Scout cried out in fear and pain as the thread ripped through his skin, tearing into an un-anaesthetised area. He tried to bolt up, but fell, pulling out the IV and knocking the stand down beside Medic. "Come on!" He shouted, grabbing Medic by the coat and tugging at him feebly as he groaned disorientated on the floor. Scout turned on his back, looking up fearfully at Sniper and scrambled backwards awkwardly.
His malice filled eyes stared down at Scout, shining in sync with the blade he twisted in his palm as his dark leather boots strode within striking distance of of the runner. “This time…” The whites of his teeth bared as he grinned, raising the notched weapon into the blinding overhead beam of the medical spotlight, "...you won’t be so lucky”

An air of fragility had washed over Medic as he fumbled around in a daze like state; the multiple lights in his vision blurred into one before he could comprehend the events just a few moments prior.
The shifting dark figure of a man focused in and out of the light, becoming more distinctive with each second as the realisation hit him, forcing Medic from the cold hard plastic of the floor as he threw himself against Sniper before his action could be executed.
The pair hit faith force against the wall, entwined in a battle for the other’s subjugation as their snarls, fuelled by past and present feuds, filled the compact room.
"Oh shit, oh shit!" Scout swore, backing up in a scuttling crawl until his back hit resistance. He startled, looking up behind him at the double doors he'd backed into. Scout considered calling out to Medic, but didn't want the attention turned back to himself as he leaned against the doors and neatly rolled backwards through them. Looking down the hall for help he found that everyone had already fled, but it wasn't devoid of hope. There, on the nurses station desk, sat a dial phone. Scout got up and jogged to it, clutching his shoulder as he impatiently circled the dial to a familiar number and groaned as it buzzed back after each digit, “Com’on. Com’on!”
The phone picked up on the second ring, "Hello?" A pleasant voice asked.
"Ma! Ma, listen get outta the apartment, now! Go outta town and stay there, you got it?! Now! Go stay with Uncle Jas! You're in danger here!" He shouted, hoping she’d listen as he hung up before she could reply. His slim finger's frantically dialled again, knowing who the next target was going be: his best friend and partner in most of his shenanigans, Sammy, the other Scout.
Sammy had just gotten home when the phone rang and rushed to answer it, "Hello?”
"Sammy!! Sam! You gotta watch out! " Scout shouted into the receiver, exploding down the line at the other end.
Sammy cringed at the volume, and held the phone further away from her ear, "What? What are you on about? Dude..if this is a joke..."





Murderous grunts of exertion came between the two physically matched men, growling through their chests as they fought to pin the other against the concrete wall. The daze the doctor had been in put him at a disadvantage, loosing his balance as Sniper swung around and grabbed Medic’s hair as he hit his face against the wall. A strong taste of iron burned his tongue as he felt blood escaping his nostrils and trickling down his lip. Looking fiercely into the Australian's eyes.
Medic had undoubtedly lost, only able to keep a tight grip on Sniper’s clothing as the moment dragged on and secured the man’s position over him.
“You and I both know it needs to happen.” the thick Australian accent boomed through the adrenaline filled atmosphere, inches from Medic’s ear as he narrowed his eyes in confusion.
“Vhat?-” Sniper pushed up on medic’s throat, tightening the doctor's airways as he cringed and growled under his breath.
“Did you forget the years of turmoil he put is through? What all of 'em put us through?” The words snapped from his mouth as Sniper gestured fiercely with the Shiv.
Medic glanced cautiously at the blade, but only held his gaze on it for a second as he stared back from the corner of his eye into Sniper’s. Hesitancy began to take over his mind, combating the rage he’s suppressed those long months ago as they'd left the site of warfare…
Silence passed as the venge filled man waited for an answer, knowing the truth already as Medic tried to suppress the answer and it’s definitive cause inside him…
For years they’d been mocked; by their own team no less, people who were meant to be working together, supporting each other amidst battle… There was no friendship, no sympathy, just a twisted reality that came to pass unnoticed by the onlooker as it festered inside and attached itself to the dark recesses of his mind…
“No…” Medic mustered, his expression of anger fading towards melancholia as Sniper’s grip slowly eased from his skin, “I could not forget..."
His gloved hand wiped the blood from his nose as they stood facing one another; a single word didn’t have to be said as their aged bond reinforced itself between them, understanding in the other’s rage and vengeance as they agreed on an unspoken plan.
Medic adjusted himself accordingly and turned towards the door, opening it just a fraction as he called out for his previous patient and peered down the hallway.
“Scout?"

"No! I'm not kidding! Just..." Scout startled and starred back at Medic with wide eyes. "Just..watch out." He said to the phone, hanging up and taking a cautious step towards Medic. "You...did you get him?" He asked hesitantly.
Medic looked guardedly to the handset before looking back to Scout with a deceiving look of success, “Vell enough.” He chuckled breathlessly, still removing excess blood from beneath his nose, “I am... 'in need of assistance’” he quoted, letting the doors swing behind him, “I can’t move him on my own"
Scout let out a sigh of relief, sagging against the desk for a moment before trudging to the door. He pushed it open with a tired grin that fell and shattered as he looked up at the two men. "What!?"
“Zhis has taken far too long to be done.” Medic grimaced, looking to Sniper as he lurched forward and cornered Scout. The barrage of medical instruments now looking sinister as the doctor mulled them over, picking up a small jar of clear liquid affixed with the words Ritalin written in bold black letters as he took a clean syringe and filled it to the brim with the substance. “Ve can’t just let you forget what you did, Scout.” He glared, a slight smile darkening his face as he twisted the needle between his fingers, "Zhis… Zhis vill make you all zhe more responsive to zhe experience…"
Scout let out a frantic yelp as he was seized and restrained by Sniper. He gave a desperate betrayed look at Medic and tried to plead with him. "Hey, Doc, no! Hey, come on! What are you doing?! Shit! What the hell!?" He kicked out weekly and tried to break free, fumbling against Sniper’s secure grip.
“Did you think zhere wouldn’t be consequences?” Medic leant down to Scout’s eye level, spitting in his face with resentment as he spoke, "For years I vasted time, attempting to tolerate your insolence…” the needle slipped through into scouts neck, steadied as doctor’s other hand gripped under his chin and took away his choice to reject it.
Medic stared straight into the fear in Scout’s eyes…
“Now… it’s time for you to get vhat you deserve."
This is my first collaboration and I have to say I really really enjoyed working with Fortyninemorgan. She is an absolutely wonderful person and I look forward to writing the next several gory chapters with her.


Brief Misleading Summary
After repressing years of torment, Sniper makes it his duty to inflict justice on those who wronged him, stalking the perpetrators and teaming up with old comrades to help him in his pursuit.



The Act of PersuasionChapter 2
Sammy thought about the urgent phone call earlier, how Scout had been so frantic in his words… She shook her head in annoyance, "Whatever.." she breathed, going back out to her car and bringing in her gear bag. She had been partially unloaded when the phone rang and lost track of time trying to figure out what he’d meant by what he said. This was just a prank right? Sammy got the last of the odds and ends out of the car, setting the things beside the vehicle. She had been coaching Little League for the Evansville Blue Devils since she had left her team at the forts; she kept in contact with Scout and they spoke on the phone often. It wasn't below him to call and try and scare her as a joke from time to time. "Well, that one time anyway..." she murmured out loud, collecting the bags and loose items off the ground. He had called her once after they had planned on seeing the same horror movie in the same night, trying to scare her after he knew she'd
     TF2 The Act of Persuasion: Chapter 3Warning: Contains extremely graphic scenes of non-con
Spy's breath seized in his throat as his gaze shot at the two men by the fire. It was impossible to pass the sound off as the engine cooling, especially after this long…  
Sniper picked up on the creaky suspension, lifitng his head off his entwined hands as he turned purely out of curiosity and dragged his elbows off his knees. His keen eyes widened in shock but were fast to narrow as a look of delight crossed his face.  
Spy abandoned the truck, edging backwards as Sniper pushed off the floor and picked up pace towards Renard. “Was ist los?” the doctor called after him, his expression turning from slight curiosity to blatant glee as he caught sight of the familiar Spy and slowly rose to eye level.
“Nothin'. Thin’s just got interestin' is all.”  Sniper chuckled, gaining distance as Medic came to his side and agreed with a breathless snicker… Spy stared fearfully into the malic
     The Act of Persuasion Chapter 4CHAPTER 4
Warning: contains nsfw SniperxMedic
Medic’s stare became hard to ignore as Sniper drove his rusted camper van along the barren highway, “What?” Medic kept his eyes fixed on him but wavered as he spoke.
“Do you have a map?”
"I think I've got one under your seat.” Sniper glanced over, gesturing to the collective mess crammed underneath the ageing passenger seat. Medic turned away, moving his hand between his legs to remove the map from its hiding spot and sat back in the chair; his precise hands plotted the previous and present course, leaning over to look at the speedometer as his eyes flickered between their readings and the lined coordinates in his hands.
"If ve carry on overnight... ve could be zhere by late morning, sleep during the day und attack at night." He looked steadily back to Sniper for his reaction and found him nodding at the suggestion. “It'll be cooler at night too. Radio said it’s gonna be foul 'n hot this week.
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