Captcha = psyche flay ....SHHHHHH CAPTCHA. So here's more, you guys. Y'all keep on makin' me wanna write for you, so that's good. I need the motivation, or else I'll sit and play Warcraft all day on my days off. That being said, this isn't another nightmare; I decided I needed a break to really think about what I wanted to do next, rather than just rushing it. So this is just a little interlude between two characters who have already been covered, and one who won't. Sorry... but there are some situations that I just...decided I didn't want to get into. Anyhow, FIC! I hope y'all continue to enjoy, and all my love to those who read. ~~Interlude~~ When Scout makes it down to the mess hall, he is surprised to find it already occupied. Spy is there, one hand curled weakly around the remnants of a cup of coffee and the other covering his face; thumb and middle fingers rubbing gently at his closed eyes like he has a headache. Scout has just decided not to say anything when another person comes out of the kitchen with coffee. “Pyro? Man, you’re up early. What’s the occasion?†If it’s possible for a gas mask to look sheepish and ashamed, Pyro does so. Maybe it’s something about the tilt of his head, or the slump of his shoulders. “Nhhmrr.†He sits at the table, at the opposite end from Spy, and cradles the steaming mug in his gloved hands. Scout hesitates for a moment. He’d only come down here to get a glass of juice before taking his morning run. He hadn’t expected to see anyone else up, much less get involved in conversation. Pyro sighs heavily, and that makes the decision for him. “Nightmare, huh?†He sits down by the firebug, who nods. “Yeah, those suck.†“Yrr hff ‘m trr?†The tone is almost hopeful, and Scout can’t help but laugh and thump Pyro on the back. “Yeah, me too. Hey, just ‘cause I’m awesome don’t mean I don't got worries, you know.†He grins, and it’s only half an act. “It’s weird you had one last night, man. So did I.†There is a slightly awkward silence. Then Pyro offers Scout his untouched coffee. Scout smiles and pushes it back to him. “Nah, don’t need that shit. I didn’t wake up until my alarm went off. Slept bad, but slept enough, yanno?†Pyro nods, staring down at the coffee. After a moment, he pushes his mask up just enough to take a sip. Scout politely turns his head away, looking at a spot on the wall. When they’d first started working together, those brief glimpses of the person under the mask would make his sense of curiosity go haywire, and he’d stare and stare, and wait for Pyro to lift his hood again. But as he never saw any more than that brief glimpse of jaw and lip, eventually curiosity turned to boredom, and then to simple acceptance. “Drr yrr wnn’ trrk?†Scout looks back over to see Pyro watching him, mask firmly back in place. “Talk? About… oh, about the nightmare?†Scout laughs, slightly nervous. “Not really, man. It was kinda, um,†he thinks for a moment, staring down at the table. “It was kinda intense. Not sure I want to bring it all up again.†A snort comes from the far end of the table. Scout and Pyro turn to look, but aside from the noise, Spy has not moved. “Hey, Spook, you okay down there?†Scout says, deliberately louder than necessary. If the Frenchman has a headache, then all the better to annoy him with. The only answer is pointed silence. Pyro turns and looks at Scout, who shrugs. “What about you?†Scout surprises himself by asking in return. “Do you need to…well, you could talk. I don’t know how well it would get across, but…" he cuts off lamely. Pyro chuckles, shaking his head, and he reaches over and pats Scout’s arm before cupping his hands around his coffee mug again. Scout takes it as the gesture of thanks it was meant to be. Probably. They sit in companionable silence for a moment before Scout gets up to get his juice. Leaning in the kitchen doorway to drink it, he studies the quiet, huddled man at the end of the table. Spy’s shoulders are hunched; he looks utterly miserable. Despite the fact that he’s got no lost love for the guy, Scout doesn’t actively hate him either. Kinda admires him, in a way. It’s well known by now that he’s sleeping with the BLU Scout’s mother, and he really hates that little poser prick. He grabs the coffeepot and walks down the table to Spy. The Frenchman’s cup is nearly empty. Carefully, Scout pours him a new cup. He doesn’t ask if he should get cream or sugar or any of that crap, because he doesn’t care quite that much. “You look like you slept like shit, man. Bad dreams?†“Oui…†the answer is a heartfelt groan, and that surprises Scout. “Really? Shit. You, me, and Pyro all on the same night?†He tops off Pyro’s coffee, since he’s there, and then returns the pot to the machine. On his way back out to the table, he grabs the sugar and creamer. “That’s really fuckin’ weird. Think it’s a coincidence?†The cream and sugar are set down by Spy’s elbow. After a moment of hesitation, Spy uncurls and fixes his coffee the way he likes. “I do not see why it wouldn’t be.†Pyro says nothing, taking another sip of black coffee. “Well, maybe something happened!†Now that the idea is in Scout’s head, it won’t leave. “Respawn fucked with our heads… or… maybe BLU spiked our drinking water! Or maybe,†he starts to pace, doing laps around the table. “Maybe Medic is doing one of his freaky experiments again! What if—“ “Scout.†Spy’s voice is loud in the room, and his name is almost a growl. “Please shut up. And do not mention the docteur right now, s’il vous plait.†“Ohhhhhh.†Scout winces theatrically. “You had another one of those ‘gonna kill the doc the moment I see him’ dreams again?†He downs the rest of his juice and goes back into the kitchen to rinse out the cup. “I am so totally outta here, then. No offense, but I don’t wanna hear Heavy get all overprotective and growly and shit this early in the morning.†He stops on the way out of the door, turning back to look again. “Still, nightmares suck, and ones that make you wanna kill your own teammates gotta suck a LOT, so… Sorry, man.†He doesn’t stick around for Spy’s response, if there is one. The sun is up now, taking the night’s chill from the air. Scout takes a deep breath, pushing all thoughts of zombie brothers from his mind, and takes off at a run.