[This part is dedicated to Oper. Cat Bountry, don't worry, I still love you]. ---------------------------------------------------------- PART 5 Perched on his haunches, listening to the BLU Heavy’s retreating footsteps, the RED Medic was bowled over backward when the door to his cell slammed open. The BLU Scout rushed him and walloped him with his bat, first breaking the arm that he held up in self-defence, then stunning him with a blow to the head. While the Medic struggled to blink away the flashes of light swimming in his vision, the Scout threw him to the bare mattress and lashed his hands to the bed. “Okay, freakshow,†the Boston boy addressed him while ripping open a medi-kit and letting its packaged vapours wash over his captive, “Our Doc thinks you’re a Respawn mutant, Demo’s convinced you’re a horror monster, and Truckie thinks you’re plain crazy. Me, though, I’m playing the odds. If RED has super-power blood-drinkers that can’t die, whether they’re from nuclear radiation or curses or what, then BLU needs ‘em, too. And if BLU is gonna have a super-monster, it’s gonna be ME. Got that?†Although the Medic’s head was clearing, the younger man’s tirade still wasn’t making much sense until he unsheathed a pilfered scalpel, undid his handwraps and cut a gash in the heel of his hand. “Shit, that smarts. Go on, drink up, pally. We got some work to do if I’m gonna be a vampire.†“But your soul- you prayed-†the Medic turned his head away. “Yeah, but I been thinkin’. After what I done, my odds of Heaven are only about fifty-fifty, at best. And the Pope says God will forgive anyone as long as they repent, so as long as I crack open a Mea Culpa before I go down, I guess I’m good.†He pressed his bloody hand to the Medic’s mouth. “I-†Suddenly, the Medic’s mind was full of the Scout- taste, smell, heat, heartbeat. He moaned as he licked the blood from the younger man’s hand, and sighed with disappointment as the Scout pulled his hand away. “Huh, shoulda brought another medi-kit,†the Scout said, binding his bloody palm back up with his handwrap. “Or maybe two.†He twisted open the buttons on the Medic’s BLU-issue pyjama jacket and laid the scalpel against the older man’s chest. “Now, how I understand it, you drink from me, and I drink from you, three times, then I’m a vampire.†“Nein!†“Tough, Fritz. You got yours, now I’m gettin’ mine.†“Nein! No! I mean- do not! Do not become what I am! Please!†The Medic thrashed against his restraints. “I am poison!†“Relax, Doc.†The Scout put a calming hand on the Medic’s bound shoulder. “Just let me do this.†The Scout pressed his lips to the Medic’s breastbone, lapping at the blood. As he did so, the German felt something pour into him, warm and sweet, making the blood he was losing seem trivial by comparison. He moaned again, arching his back to offer more of himself to the Scout. “Man, I hope that tastes better to a vampire, if that’s what I have to drink forever.†After an interval both timeless and too sort, the Scout stood up, wiping his mouth on his handwraps. He glanced down the Medic’s body. “Whoa, uh...†He glanced again. “Anyhow, I’m not letting you up, but the knots are pretty shitty, so you should be able to squirm out eventually.†He sidled out of the room, locking the door behind him. The RED medic worked his hands free, but did not leave the bed. He dreaded passing on his curse to the BLU, but the Scout’s breath and blood and lips had been so warm. He wanted to drink from the boy again, wanted to let the boy drink from him until there was nothing left. He slid his hand down the incision that the boy had made, down the centre of his body to where the warmth had pooled. The Medic had thought that this was one of the behaviours that had sent him to Hell. If that was so, why was he able to do it still? He wasn’t even certain that he was in Hell anymore. The screams and explosions had ended, and for the past few days his life had been proscribed by these pale-grey walls and solitude. The BLU Engineer and Medic had peered at him occasionally through a grille installed in the door, but had made no aggressive move. And now... this. The Medic stroked himself delicately, the pleasure of the Scout’s touch reverberating through his body even as his own blood dried on his chest. Such a little thing to sacrifice, for so much in return. Better than stealing blood on the battlefield, to take something willingly given. Willingly- as much as he didn’t want the Scout to die like him, to suffer like him, he wanted to take everything the boy had to give. He came, imagining what else the Scout might demand. When the BLU Medic slid the grate aside the next morning, he winced to see his fellow German smeared in semen and blood. His stomach turned at the man’s pathetic obsession. At least he was sleeping peacefully on the bed for a change, rather than perched wild-eyed near the door.