The argument was getting heated. No one in the base remembered what is was about since they had been arguing for about a month now. There they stood, everyday in the rec room, yelling and throwing things and arguing, enough to give everyone a headache. Except today, something was different. Sniper had a plan, a winning sentence. And he said it right as Demo walked into the rec room.

“Oi just realized somethin’. You’re just a one-eyed Scottish drunk. How did OI EVER see anything in you.”

Demo freezes. He doesn’t breathe, he doesn’t move, doesn’t blink, nothing. Then he slowly gets up and everyone thinks that he’s going to punch Sniper. But he doesn’t. He goes to his room and grabs his portable safe full of alcohol and walks out the door, grabbing the keys for Engie’s truck as he walks out. Engie started to reach out to stop Demo, but stopped and dropped his hand, letting Demo walk out. The team hears the truck start up and the low growl of it’s engine faded into the distance. The only sound that remained in the rec room was small breathes and all eyes turned onto Sniper.

“Well he deserved it.”

2 hours have passed and he’s still driving. 4 hours have passed and he hasn’t stopped. 8 hours have gone by. 16 hours. A day. He just keeps driving and driving and driving, not following the road at all, just going straight out west. There’s short stops for gas along the way, but other than that he stays in the same spot in the same position. The safe is open and large brown bottles are seen inside of it. Some empty, some full, one half empty one in Demo’s hand. Tears have stained the dashboard and steering wheel forever because he cries so so much. He doesn’t stop driving for anything. Including the approaching cliff that ends in the sea. But he doesn’t care.

He just doesn’t care anymore, about anything. The one person he cared about most didn’t care. His family didn’t care. His friends didn’t care. Hell, even his ancestors and spirits didn’t care. No one would miss him if he left. No one would would notice how there wasn’t drunken yelling on the battlefield as someone stepped into a trap. No one would notice how there would be less conversations. No one would notice how the bars around Teufort were more quiet. No one would notice how Medic didn’t have to keep 10 livers on stand by. No one would notice how the formula for the rockets in the sentry gun became less effective. No one would notice that Soldier barely talks during the day. No one would notice how there were less drunk drawings of Balloonicorn on Pyro’s wall. No one would notice that Heavy wasn’t laughing as much as normal. No one would notice how Scout didn’t share as many as his stories as before. No one would notice that Spy had a lower supply of wine, leaving him to be reminded of his past more often. No one would notice how Sniper...how Sniper. How Sniper wasn’t talking. To anyone. How Sniper would sit in Demo’s room every day, screaming “sorry” into the pillows. How Sniper would mope around and not react to anything anymore. How Sniper would start stealing alcohol around the base and drink it alone at night. No one would notice anything. No one would notice he would be gone.

So when the cliff approached, he welcomed it. He welcomed the idea of something waiting for him, even if that something was Death. He welcomed the cool breeze, the calls of the birds. Birds. Sniper liked birds. He remembered when Sniper taught him different bird calls and showed him Sir Hootsalot. But Sniper was unwelcome. He would always be unwelcome. No one can be welcomed. It’s like showing someone a gift you spent years on just for them, only to have them smash it into a million pieces. Just like Demo’s heart.

So he welcomed the cliff. He welcomed Death. He welcomed the sea that was swelling with the oncoming storm. He welcomed the wind howling at him to keep driving in his ears.

He welcomed the dark pointed rocks at the bottom of the cliff. He welcomed the feeling of every bone in his body impacting the rocks. He welcomed the pain that comes with his abdomen being split open by a sharp rock and sending his insides spilling down the sides of the dark surface. He welcomed his skull being impaled with stone, splitting his brain clear in half, only nerves connecting the two hemispheres.

He welcomed the dark pointed rocks that were once only stain with sea spray. Now they’re stained forever with the sea spray and the blood and fluids of Demo, painting maroon streaks onto them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

His spirit waited on Earth for years to come. Then he saw a light. He thought he would finally leave this plane and go elsewhere for eternity. But no. It was Sniper’s spirit going to Heaven. They made eye contact for just a second, just long enough for Sniper to say two words.

“I’m sorry.”

Demo flew back to base in a matter of seconds. He had to know, he had to ask. Finally he was back there and all the team was in one place. Perfect. Summoning all his power, he asked one question to the team.

“What did Sniper do after I left?”

The team turned to face the general direction the voice came from. At first no one answered. Then, Soldier’s voice spoke out of the silence.

“He died.”

Demo didn’t understand. How did he die just after he left? But then others in the team started talking.

“After the first hour he called you over and over again, eventually realizing you left your phone here.”

“He died.”

“He stopped talking to everyone. Didn’t say a word at dinner, on the battlefield, or even in his sleep.”

“He died.”

“He wouldn’t laugh anymore. Wouldn’t smile.”

“He died.”

“He spent hours every day in your room, crying “I’m sorry.” over and over and over again into the pillows.”

“He died.”

“He developed a drinking problem a year or so after you left.”

“He died.”

“One night, last night, he drank too much. He gave himself alcohol poisoning.”

“And he died.”

And that’s when he realizes.

Everyone did care. The person he cared about most cared. His family cared. His friends cared. His ancestors and spirits cared. Everyone noticed how there wasn’t drunken yelling on the battlefield as someone stepped into a trap. Everyone noticed how there was less conversations. Everyone noticed how the bars around Teufort were more quiet. Everyone noticed how Medic didn’t have to keep 10 livers on stand by. Everyone noticed how the formula for the rockets in the sentry gun became less effective. Everyone noticed that Soldier barely talked during the day. Everyone noticed how there were less drunk drawings of Balloonicorn on Pyro’s wall. Everyone noticed that Heavy wasn’t laughing as much as normal. Everyone noticed how Scout didn’t share as many of his stories as before. Everyone noticed that Spy had a lower supply of wine, leaving him to be reminded of his past more often. Everyone noticed how Sniper wasn’t talking to anyone. Everyone noticed that he was gone.

And that’s when Demo remembered that he was cared about and loved by everyone, even those who are dead.

That’s also when Demo felt a warm light from inside him. And he realized that he was going to Heaven. That he would see Sniper again and forever.

Sniper greets Demo in Heaven with open arms and tears of joy in his eyes.