“Easy… Easy, Lad…†Ragged gasps. His head was spinning. Suddenly, he felt so, so thirsty… “Stay down – don’t get up or you’ll worsen it. Bloody hell, where’s that damn Medic…†Oh, god, he was suffocating. Panicked gasps as the man rolled onto his stomach, clinging to the charred, wooden floorboards of the workshop. He vainly attempted to pull off his mask, but his arms wouldn’t obey. Demoman couldn’t wait anymore. He fled the scene, screaming, “MEDIC! COME QUICK – IT’S THE LAD!†Going black. Spinning hazily now. Oh, God, he didn’t want to die. Not for real. Don’t let it… Don’t let it… Darkness. ------------------------- “There – he’s comin’ to.†He didn’t want to open his eyes. He could tell by the steady beeping filling the room, the breeze on his face, and the numbness of his limbs, that this was NOT a position he would ever want to wake up in. Not ever. A small groan. “It seems you’re right, Mister Demoman.†A chuckle. “I didn’t think he’d ever wake up…†“Aye, a good thing, too. Was afraid I’d lost ‘im, and everyone would have it in their heads that I was some sort o’ murderer or somesuch.†“Well, we DID find the remains of one of your bombs in his room. Was that simply a coincidence, Demo?†“I told ye—I didn’t have anything to do with—†“Hush, now, he’s waking. Don’t upset him with such talk.†Pyro’s eyes cracked open slowly, trying to grow accustomed to the wicked, bright lights of the room. Another groan as he painfully surveyed the area. “Medic? Demo? What am I…?†Horror gradually overtook him. “Where’s my… My mask? My clothes?†“Shhh, shhh, darling,†Medic reassured. “I knew you would be upset, but I had to in order to give you the care you needed. A bomb went off in your room. Both of your legs and your right arm are out of commission.†Oh. He hadn’t even noticed that most of his limbs were encased in plaster. He was in RED’s emergency clinic, hooked up to all kinds of vitality-checking machines he didn’t understand and didn’t care to. “How many saw me?†he pressed, trying to lift his head. It flopped right back down on the pillow, and he sighed. “Just me and Demoman – the one who brought you here. As I said, it was necessary.†A grunt. Maybe so, but it didn’t mean he had to be happy about it. He blearily looked up at the Demoman. “So… A bomb went off, huh?†It was hard to look intimidating while bedridden and largely useless, but it didn’t stop him from trying. “I promise ye, lad, I had nothin’ to do with it! Sober or not, I think I would’ve remembered putting a landmine in yer—†“Ugh. Doesn’t matter. Doc, when do you plan on letting me go? How come we have to do all of… this? Where’s the Medigun?†“I knew you would ask that. Silly young men, always wanting to do things the fast way, and not the right way.†Medic tutted. “The Medigun doesn’t work on bones. At least, not damage this extensive. We only use it on the battlefield because the expected lifespan is minutes, at most. Were I to use it on you now, you’d be hobbling along on misshapen, crooked nubs for the rest of your life. No, only time may heal you now.†“And how long is that supposed to take?!†Pyro’s heartbeat escalated. “Maybe a few weeks—†“WEEKS?! Doc, I… I can’t stay here that long, especially without my… without my—†His face felt naked and vulnerable. He covered his face with his good, if not slightly bandaged hand, shaking. Medic affectionately patted his shoulder. “Now, now, there…†the Doctor soothed. “I assure you that the secrets of your appearance will be kept within this room at all times. I’ll also keep this door locked at all times, so no one can stumble across your room by accident.†A reassuring, if not somewhat devious smile. Pyro heaved a great sigh. “Alright,†he muttered, looking up at the ceiling. Weeks without his bodysuit. Weeks without his mask. Weeks without FIRE. He didn’t think things could possibly get much worse than that. ------------- Sorry for errors. I'm freeballing this shit. If it feels really vague, all I can say is that it's kind of supposed to. Kind of. This is an experiment that I hope I don't fuck up.
This post has been deleted.
>>2 This is going to bug me all night.
I enjoy your writing style. Do continue!