You followed him, continuing to glance back as if hoping someone would come running to get you.

“If you vant to go back, I von’t stop jou,” Medic said without looking back at you. This was your chance, your out, so why did you not want to get away? What is wrong with me?

“No…,” you thought for a moment. “I guess I’m concerned Sniper will tear into you like he did Scout.” You hoped a joke would lighten the mood.

It didn’t. Medic seemed to glance back for the sole purpose of showing you how he rolled his eyes. He scoffed lightly.

“Ja, like I vould be scared of zhe Sniper, or really anyvone on zhat team for zhat matter,” he spoke as if he was annoyed, and it made you worry slightly. Do I annoy him now? Is that why he’s been avoiding me? You hadn’t noticed that he was waiting for you to answer.

“Right… I don’t doubt that… knowing you…,” you trailed off. He only nodded sternly before returning to face the front. He led you through a wired gate that was to the side of a building with holes for windows, but no windows in them. He pointed to the yellow-bordered gates on the right.

“Zhe BLU team vill come out of zhere. Zhe point iz in front of them.” He continued on turning the corner of the windowless building to the left and headed towards the points on a little concrete platform.

“Heard,” you wanted to respond as shortly as possible so as to not get on his nerves. I haven’t felt this concerned by just being around him in a long time. Was it that long? I mean-

“Strategist.” You snapped back to reality having noticed Medic call your name. You had stopped moving.

“Right, sorry.” You sped over to him, speed walking.

“Eh, right….” He looked at you quizzically before clearing his throat. “As I vas saying, zhere are many narrow hallways and corners coming up.” He led you down what felt like an alleyway. “It iz imperative zhat you use zhis to jour advantage.”

“Understood.” You didn’t know the real reason as to why you felt like you had as if he was your boss over a friend, but this was how you were at the moment.

Eventually the hallway opened up into a broader space and allowed for more room. There was a bridge in front of you as you both turned the corner. It looked like a not so fun fall underneath.

“Ja, zhe stairs are to jour left,” he commented as if he was watching you and leaned over the ledge slightly, perring down into the pit. You looked and sure enough, there they were.

“I see,” you said as he started briskly crossing the bridge. You jogged to catch up with him.

“And zhis iz zhe final point of zhe battlefield.” Medic gestured broadly over to the point right under a… rocket? Your eyes went wide as you leaned back to get a better look. It was red and white-striped and looked… surely there can’t be a use for this? It’s just decoration. Has to be.

You took a step back, and another step, and another, and another. Then, you felt the ground give away beneath your foot. You started falling backwards. Fuck! You felt a hand tug your jacket as the sun glared into your eyes to the point you had to close them. However it was too late and you fell off the side of the bridge.

You landed with a thump on something soft, something that most certainly wasn’t the ground. You rapidly opened your eyes and looked down to find that Medic had cushioned the fall for you. You got off of him as fast as you could, but it didn't help that he wasn’t moving.

“Medic?” You asked, feeling a little worried. Remembering your class disks were on you, you switched to Medic’s equipment and quickly started healing him. With what sounded like a groan of relief, he sat up. You turned off the beam and switched back to your uniform.

“Danke, Strategist,” Medic thanked you, but you shook your head.

“No, thank you. I should’ve been more, uh, spatially aware you could say.” You rubbed your arm and chuckled lightly. For the first time in a long time, Medic smiled at you. It felt… nice but weird at the same time, as if it were unearned. It felt like you had to earn it back, and you didn’t know why, so now that you just have it, it felt wrong.

“Though zhat iz true, I am glad zhat you are safe.” He seemed to blush slightly at the realization of what he said. He shook his head in his hand, muttering to himself. After noticing you staring at him, he stopped and cleared his throat. “Come, zhe stairs are zhis way.”

He led you up the stairs and eventually into the red resupply room. He looked around and checked for Spies, which made you anxious. What’s he got up his sleeve? You rubbed your arm again, not sure what to think of this. Then, you watched as he stopped and turned to you.

“Vhat iz said in zhis room stays in zhis room, iz zhat clear?” He commanded while holding his hands together behind his back.

“I suppose so, yes. Why wouldn’t that be the case?” You asked, feeling slightly intimidated all over again. He nodded in recognition before he shook his head and swiftly started pacing. Remembering what Bluey said, you got a bit concerned. This had to be about you, but this wasn’t going to be an easy conversation, was it? After a few moments had passed, you decided to break the ice. “Is everything okay?” Your voice was softer than you would’ve liked, but Medic stopped and side-eyed you.

“I….” He trailed off, shaking his head again. “Zhis is… eh, no. I do not find everyzhing to be okay. I simply do not know if zhis iz a conversation I vant to haff.” Your head cocked to the side slightly in confusion and you watched as he stared at you, waiting for your response.

“If this… If you aren’t sure about it, why ask me to follow you?” He grumbled something you couldn’t discern.

“I… don’t know, Strategist. I wish I did, but zhe worries I haff overvhelm zhat.”

“What do you mean? What worries?” He shook his head, not speaking. He started pacing again and you decided you weren’t just going to stand there. You went over to sit on the bench and noticed how he stopped to watch you. Sitting down, you patted the space next to you. “Care to join me?” With a moment of hesitation, he came over and sat down next to you. After psyching yourself up in the silence, you decided to ask him. “What’s bothering you, Medic?”

“It feels as though it vere everyzhing.” He looked down at you before his eyes flicked to the wall in front of you.

“Do you want to talk about it or just sit here for a while?”

“It vould be a vaste of time if I didn’t.”

“Then where do you want to start?”

“I don’t know. I suppose zhe Demoman is getting in my head. It’s vorrying me.” You were taken aback. It was not often, as far as you know, that Medic would admit to being worried.

“Do you want to talk about them?” He shook his head.

“No, zhere’s somezhing much more prevalent. I….” He trailed off.

“Take your time.” You watched his eyes look from you to the wall back and forth.

“I simply do not know how to put zhis, but…” He stopped himself once more, clearing his throat. “But I am… afraid of… you.” You didn’t hide your puzzled look.

“In what way? Surely you could beat me in a fight.”

“Zhat’s just it, I don’t vant to.” He turned his body to face you.

“What do you mean?” He paused, his eyes searching your face.

“I haff never had… concern.. for anozher like I haff concern for you.” You nodded slowly, kind of getting it. “Vhat I mean iz, jou are an outlier in how I see human life. Ve are nozhing but animals and I haff alvays done as I wish vith zhem, but I am scared zhat I view you as more zhan just an animal. As you may know, my experiments knew no bounds, but yet I am concerned for you, more so than anyvone… ever.” He groaned slightly and wiped a hand down his face.

“Is that why you’ve been so distant?” He nodded.

“Uh, yes. I vas hoping zhat my… concern for you vould simply go avay, but it didn’t. It got vorse after jour first battle, and zhen I vas afraid zhat I scared you after zhe second vone, so I stayed avay. I can’t scare jou ever again. I von’t allow it.” Medic let out a breath he had been holding.

“I guess it’s my turn, um, well, I’m sorry for potentially ever making things awkward or acting in a way that makes you think you’re not enough. And I mean about what Demo was saying earlier.” Medic studied you.

“But did I scare jou, Strategist?” You sighed. “Please tell me.” You looked into his eyes and found someone who was scared and worried and… not as you’ve come to know them. This was a side of Medic you didn’t know how to traverse or explain. This was new for you.

“I mean, uh, I don’t know. Maybe, BUT-” You added that to keep him from speaking. “It was only because I thought I was annoying you or making you uncomfortable or at the very least I was the problem. I was afraid that you didn’t want to be around me anymore, and I know that sounds dumb and ignorant, but still… yeah.” You didn’t know how to continue. You shifted under his gaze as he seemed to study you. Then, a sigh left his nose.

“I’m sorry, (Y/n). I suppose it iz my job to vork through zhese new feelings before… scaring you-” he said the word as if the concept was too much to think about “I von’t leave you like zhat again.” You made eye contact with him after staring into the ground.

“Can you promise that, Medic?” Medic stopped and thought for a moment. You sighed and leaned into his shoulder. He flinched ever so slightly, but didn’t move.

“Vould zhat be enough for jou?” You tilted your head up to look at him.

“It would.” You were nothing but honest. He stared into your eyes for what felt like a long time.

“Zhen I promise.”