#reader x tf2

You, on the other hand, were incredibly out of it. You used Dell's presence as a guide to where your feet should move. The passing buildings, sidewalk, cars, people- it all was a blur to you. But not in the way of panic or through water-covered eyes, but in the way one would feel when focused. As if nothing around you could possibly distract you, as if nothing besides your held thoughts even mattered.

You were replaying the scene over and over. You were almost confused in a way. As if your own mind had become blurry with a focus on something you didn't understand. The only feeling your body even registered was the ring that your hand continuously fidgeted with, its engravings rubbing against the pads of your fingers as if to remind you that your body was still something you controlled. That, even though the strings of your life slipped through your hands, pulled by the sheer will of others, your body was your own, your mind was your own. You still had even just that bit of control.

Your body didn't come back to you even as the two of you made it to his rusted red colored truck, its keys turning and the two of you now on the road. Nor when Dell made his fruitless attempts to further calm you. You gave him nothing but the occasional hums and nods of acknowledgment. You simply couldn't bring your mind to focus on his words, even with as hard as you tried. You were just so...so...

So tired

It was only once you felt the car stop, its engine letting out a quiet mumble before falling back to its silent state, that your mind was thrown out of this fuzzy state and back to consciousness, your eyes finally turning back to Dell only to see that he was already looking at you.

"We're here but uh..." he spoke nervously, his eyes flickering from yours, as if almost unsure of his own words. He felt a tingle of annoyance spread throughout himself, irritated at his inability to keep himself together in front of you. He looked away as that annoyance grew.

"I'm gonna need ta go talk to 'em first. I'll be right back" his hands quickly moved to unbuckle his seatbelt. By now the sky had turned to its void-like color, the only light remaining being that from the car and the house in front of you. You only now noticed that you were in a slightly forested area, the type where it felt like you were in the middle of nowhere, but in reality the nearest house was less than half a mile away. Still, even with that knowledge you felt shudders of dread spread throughout your skin, your eyes slightly widening as Dell stepped out, your voice suddenly breaking its prolonged silence.

"Dell" you called through the silence, the tone of your voice falling on his ears in a way he almost couldn't describe. It wasn't a plea or a question or even a statement, but it was a sound that stopped him comepletely. He didn't even think before turning back up to look at you as it was something he didn't dare fight against.

The eyes he looked into weren't something he'd seen before, however the emotion he felt upon seeing them was something he knew well, even when he found it hard to describe. The only way he could was a comparison to fearful guilt, though even that didn't quite explain how powerful it made the urge to never leave your side, no matter the cost. And for a moment he almost fell to the urge. After having been left in nothing but silence for what felt like such an agonizingly long time, hearing just your voice at all felt like comfort. But he knew that he didn't have a choice. There was no way he was walking with a stranger into that house without warning. He'd have better luck finding a wolf's den to sleep in for the night.

"Yeah?" He finally answered, his hand held on the door though his prior intent to shut it had completely ceased.

"I..." You started, your voice trailing off. You soon found your eyes turning away from his again your body following long after as you looked at the dashboard instead. You went to speak again but found that no words came. You didn't find your silence very surprising though as you found little reason to stop him other than childish fear. You knew whatever fell out of your mouth was going to be nothing short of stupid.

"I forgot what I was going to say" you answered in a quiet mumble, your body sinking slowly into the chair as you now actively avoided looking at him. He wasn't sure what to do for a moment hut soon he took a deep breath, the stress of everything beginning to weigh heavy on him.

"I'll be back before you know it" he left off before shutting the door, leaving you in sudden silence.

Dell found his hands falling into his pockets as he walked towards the now looming building, his worry biting at him as he wondered how this would play out.

It wasn't unheard of to have company other than family over. Hell, he was pretty sure half the people who lived here didn't know a damn thing about what they were really like. However when it came to as late an hour as this and with no prior meeting between the two partys, well...

Things could get a little messy.

He hurried through the front door, hoping to not leave you behind for any longer than he had to.

He was met with the normal scene, his uncle playing cards at the front table, though his cousin Alex wasn't to be seen. By now the house was rather quiet, though the small movements and stray conversation could be heard throughout. As he stepped in he became fully aware of the pair of eyes that turned to him, though he chose to ignore them and walk further into the building.

His uncle remained strangely. silent. Why he didn't do his usual taunting didn't cross Dell's mind though as he became focused on his mission. He passed only one person on his way and, to his immense relief and utter horror, it was Tommy.

"Howdy Dell-" he started his usual pleasantries but stopped upon seeing the strange look on Dell's face. His own smile fell, seriousness taking over.

"You alright?" Tommy asked, his tone brimmed with concern as he put a hand to stop Dell in his tracks. Dell felt his throat tighten. He thought for a moment about lying to Tommy if only to get out of the situation quicker. He soon thought better of it, knowing that Tommy wasn't really a man you could lie to.

"No. No I got a big problem actually" he admitted, Tommy's look only further sank into worry as Dell continued. He almost instinctively reached out, his hands landing on both of Dell's shoulders, his eyes never straying from his.

"How bad" he whispered. Dell felt his stomach drop at his brother's reaction, though he had expected it. He never really did take things like this lightly.

"The um...the new friend I made, the one I talked to ya about at the shop. They had someone break in their apartment. Destroyed the place, head ta toe. They didn't have nowhere ta go and so I...um..." Dell replied in the same whisper, his voice falling off at the end as his eyes turned away from Tommy's, though the tightening grip on his shoulders told him all he needed to know.

"Dell, for the love'a mah own sanity tell me ya didn't" Tommy pleaded, anger- no not anger. Tommy was never angry. It was something else entirely. A voice Dell had heard ever since he first began to understand what different tones meant. He knew what Tommy was thinking, and so did he. But, even with that tone, he found his panic rose.

"I didn't have much of a choice! They don't got no one else ta go to and- and- they had nowhere to go and...look I just didn't want 'em in trouble okay? I ain't ever seen nothin' like that before. I panicked" Dells panic driven conviction left as quickly as it had risen, shame building in his chest.

His mind only repeated over and over how stupid he must sound, how many other options he could have taken, how badly he fucked up on this one. Yet even then he knew he couldn't just turn around and walk back on his offer. He wouldn't- no he couldn't. As horrible as Tommy's pleas had made him feel he knew he couldn't have just left you alone. He couldn't imagine how he'd feel if you had gotten hurt had he chosen not to help.

Tommy's eyes never strayed from Dell, his intensity felt even even though Dell couldn't bear to face him. After a bought of tense silence Tommy took a deep breath and let go of his brother. His face still brimmed with worry, but a tiredness could still be found in his eyes.

"Where are they now?" He asked, his cold tone earning Dell's attention immediately, his eyes widening at the question. What would he do? Would he tell someone? Get you in trouble? Get you hurt?!-

No, no Tommy wasn't like that. He wouldn't do that. He was his brother, he could trust him, he wouldn't...

It wasn't like Dell could lie to him now.

"They're still in the truck" Dell answered, a tingle of anxiety spreading through him at his brother's current state.

"Okay" Tommy spoke before taking a deep breath.

"You take them up to one'a the spare rooms. Nowhere else. I'm gonna go talk ta pa-"

"Tommy that ain't your job. I should be telling pa about this-" Dell attempted to intervene but immediately stopped when Tommy glared down at him.

"I'm gonna go talk ta him and paw. You are gonna bring your friend to a spare room for the night. Understand?" Tommy confirmed, his voice stern and unshakeable. Dell wanted to retaliate, to own up to what he had chosen to do. However, he knew better than anyone that Tommy was no man to be messed with when he got like this.

"Fine..." Was all he could think to respond with. Tommy gave a quick nod to him before starting to walk off.

"Wait" Dell quickly garbbed him though, stopping him just a few feet off. His brother looked at him expectantly.

"I really don't want 'em in any trouble Tommy...they didn't do nothin' wrong" Dell pleaded as Tommy's face softened, if ever so slightly.

"And they ain't gonna be in no trouble, Dell. What I'm worried about is you. Now go get 'em before the whole damn house knows about this" Tommy broke off from him after those words and walked quickly out of view.

Dell didn't move for a moment, the guilt of his actions slowly sinking in. Just as they began to sink in though he found his feet moving again, determination falling back into his step as he let his mind wonder back to you.

It was worth it. It had to be.

He walked over to the car, opening your door once he had made it over. He was surprised to see that you jumped a little, considering he thought you must have at least heard him walk up on the gravel. He let that thought quickly pass as he went to speak.

"House's gone down for the night so we gotta be quiet headin' in" he stated as you stepped out. You nodded along, your eyes glazed over as you stared at him. He felt a slight constricting of his chest at the look, your mind still clearly a little out of it. You both stood in silence for a while as he tried to think of anything he could say to help you feel better. When he realized that his tongue lay dead in his mouth he decided it best to just start walking.

You both soon walked into the building, your eyes immediately looking around the new space. He walked side by side with you the whole way as he quickly guided you through the halls. You assumed this guiding was simply because you didn't know the place, though he was painfully aware with each step he took where he was pushing you in the direction of. He avoided as many people as he could, which in the late hour was thankfully all of them, as he led you to the only spare room he felt comfortable bringing you to.

Upon making it to the room both of you stopped, a strange silence still remaining between the two of you. He looked over to you once again, his concern unhidden as he stared. You made eye contact with him though you swiftly turned away, unable to stare at him for very long at all. He found that his sound once again died in his throat, any comforting words that usually came so naturally now so lost as he dwelled on your unsettled state. He eventually decided to try to move on, if not to help you then to at least stop the tense silence.

"This is the spare room" he stated before finally opening the door and walking in, you not far behind.

The inside of the room was larger than you had expected. It contained a queen bed, a dresser, and a small couch all styled with dark wood and tan colors, the place having an almost warm feeling to it. Your eyes scanned the area, finding no items lying around to identify this room belonging to anyone. Hell, the bed didn't even have a blanket, just a sheet to cover it. It was definitely clear that this room wasn't in use at the moment, though the lack of dust meant that it was either well-kept or used recently.

"Oh uh, forgot about that. I'll go ahead and get you a blanket-" Dell was about to leave when he felt a short tug. Looking back he saw your hand on the sleeve of his jacket, the strange look from earlier taking hold once again. He froze, pure concern writing itself on his face in the seconds of paused silence before you spoke.

You made no sound, the words not seeming to have fully formed just yet. But for a second your lips parted, and your expression showed you were about to speak whatever had been causing you to resist his attempts at leaving. But that look faded as quick as it came, your shame biting you faster than your words could leave.

"Never mind it's- it's stupid" you murmured before letting go. However, Dell could no longer take this silent problem. He simply couldn't stand not being able to help in some way, to fix it, to rid it from your mind once and for all. So he stopped, his hand reaching out just in time to catch your wrist, his grip secure. It wasn't tight enough to trap you, but it was enough to gain your attention.

"If it's botherin' you it ain't stupid" he stated plainly, your eyes quickly turning back to him. Another second of silence ensued before tears began to weld in your eyes, your facade of calm breaking once again.

"I um..." You started, almost a little startled by his insistence, though you didn't attempt to pull away, even as your throat tightened with embarrassment

"I don't want to be alone" you admitted in a slightly crackling voice, clearly trying to pull in the emotions that were escaping you. Dell felt his heart drop for about the thousandth time tonight, his concern melting into pure worry. He stepped closer again, almost afraid that pulling away now would mean hurting you.

"Ya want me to sleep here tonight?" He asked, your eyes widening slightly at the request. At most you had expected an 'I know it's hard' or 'It's just for the night', not a flat-out offer to stay. You felt a small part of guilt mix with your shame at asking more of someone who's already given you so much, but you found your head nodding anyway.

"Well that's fine by me. I'll just go grab my blankets too" he announced in a lighter tone with a small and slightly strained smile on his face in an attempt to dissipate the strange atmosphere. You let out a short laugh, though the prior joy the sound had was dull now. You gave a nod and he left out the door to go grab said blankets.

He moved first to his room and then to the closet down the hall. He wanted to take as little time as possible getting them and was on track to doing so when he began to hear muffled voices grow louder. He had both blankets in hand when he passed the stairs, the muffled sound becoming clear for a moment.

"Ya let 'em do what!?!" A voice that burned the very marrow of Dell's bones yelled, his fury clear. There was a calmer voice that spoke, one that even in its quiet sound Dell knew was his brother, though that sound didn't calm the yelling of his father.

"If this isn't about the stupidest- how the hell are we gonna explain this ta your papaw?!" The voice continued. Dell decided it was probably best if didn't listen in on this. The last thing he wanted now was to be dragged into it. That'a what Tommy was trying to avoid after all, otherwise Dell would have been in Tommy's position the second he walked through that door with you. So he made his way back to the spare room.

Opening the door he expected to see you sitting around waiting, but instead found that you had already passed out on the couch, your coat and shoes lying beside you. His eyebrows knitted a moment, seeing as you had chosen the couch over the bed. He didn't dwell on it though, knowing that he wasn't about to wake you up or move you.

He instead walked over, gently placing one of the blankets he had over you, trying to not disturb your much-needed sleep. Once the blanket was laid you slightly adjusted yourself in your unconscious state, pulling the blanket tighter around you. He tensed as you did so, but let out a relieved breath when you had remained sleeping. He then went about taking his winter clothes off, his own exhaustion pulling at him. He remained as quiet as he could as he moved around, afraid with every sudden breath that he might wake you. However, whether due to your exhaustion or his quietness, you continued to remain peacefully at rest.

Finally! You get to go see Demo. It had been a few years since you saw him...but that didnt matter now, you finally get to be reunited with him. "Yes here please." You said to the taxi driver. "Here? Its in the middle of nowhere?" The taxi driver said with an eyebrow raised. You nodded and the taxi driver shrugged, getting out to open the door for you. You smiled at the taxi driver, and started walking towards the RED/BLU base. When you finally got there, you knocked on the door and paitently waited for an answer. You were suprised to see a very tall and...well large man open the door. He looked down at you, "Da?" He said. You stood there, looking at him for a moment, before clesring your throat, "Uh, is Tavish-er I mean Demo here?" You asked excitedly. The man was quiet for a moment before nodding, "Yes, one moment." He said, walking back into the base. You waited there, fidgeting with your ring. It was a little ring Tavish had given you. It wasnt a proposal ring, more like a promise ring. Finally you heard a voice. You looked up, you recognized the voice. "Aye lassie?" Demo said when he got to the door of the base. You smiled and ran to hug him, and he stood there awkwardly. "I-er-" He stuttered confused. "Can I help you lad?" He asked, looking at you. You looked up at him, "Tavish, its me!" You said, pulling away from the hug, kind of confused, but figured he probably just needed a little push in memory. "..." he stayed silent, obviously confused. You felt your heart drop. "D-dont you remember me?" You asked, looking up at him, a little bit of sadness and confusion in your eyes. "Im afraid I dont, lass." He said, scratching the back of his neck. You could hear footsteps tun in and looked up. You saw a man with black hair and glasses. He had a little bird on his shoulder. Covered in blood. You chose to just ignore that. The man walked to you and said, "Oh uh hello!" With a little wave. You didnt answer. "I assume youve met Demo?" The man said, he seemed to have a German accent. "Uh yeah...im his partner." You muttered, looking at the ground. Medic winced a little. Demo stood there, "Uh, who are you again?" He asked, still confused. He looked at his scrumpy. "Im too sober for this..." He muttered, walking off for a moment. You almost cried when you heard that. You felt everything in you just...shatter. You looked at the ground. Medic sighed and put a hanf on your shoulder. "Hey, dont vorry, its not his fault he doesnt remember jou." He said. You looked up at him, "Wait what?" You said confused. "Aheh, vell uh- I uh, may have...heh, you know, done a little bit of brain scooping on zhe Demoman." You looked confused. "He kept asking for a new eye, and, vell, his eye is a little...vell haunted." He said with a little embarrassed chuckle. You looked up at him, "You did what?" You said, almost seeming a little mad. "Tavish doesnt remember me because of that?" You said, your heart breaking. Medic looked at you, "Look...zhere vasnt anyzhing else I could do." He muttered. "Im sorry." He muttered. You walked away from Medic and in the direction of where Demo had gone. When you saw him again, you saw him sitting on a couch, drinking scrumpy. You almost cried on the spot. The one man you had truly loved...gone. Demo looked up abd waved at you in a friendly manner. You gave a little smile, holding back you emotions, waving a little bit back. Demo went back to his scrumpy, stumbling around a little bit. You looked at him, feeling weak. Weaker than you had felt in a long time. You looked at your lost love, wondering if you could ever get him back.