God Bless America

It took Demo and Engie to carry the unconscious Soldier downstairs to the infirmary. They had to pound on the door to get the Medic’s attention. "This is the fourth time he crashed through the window this month!" Medic gestured for the duo to settle the Soldier down on a lumpy infirmary bed. Once Soldier laid down, Demo rubbed his forehead. He set down the pamphlets on the nearest desk. "Aye, you ken how Solly can be." Soldier lied limp on the bed. He often did not pass out from rocket-jumping. Demo found it odd he passed out. With the daily beatings he took in battle, Soldier had a high pain tolerance. It happened before, whenever there was enough of a distraction. There shouldn’t be anything urgent enough to break his concentration. After all, the battle was over. There were days when Demo wondered about Soldier's well-being. At least, without the Respawn system and Medic's technology. It was a wonder how he survived before joining the team. Not that Demo would say it aloud. “Yes, yes, I know he is a dummkopf. Even after six years…” Medic turned away in a huff, returning to his desk. Before he could sit down, he noticed the pamphlets. Engie fiddled with the recording device he recovered from Soldier. He checked the reel. “How long till Solly’s up, doc?” In an airy tone, he replied, “The usual time.” Then, Medic waved one of the pamphlets. “Mind explaining this?” Engie took the pamphlet. Then, he lifted his goggles to take a better look. His face scrunched up in confusion. Demo sat down on the stool beside Soldier’s bed. Medic was a good doctor, but Demo was unsure of what to make of his character. It was no secret that Medic enjoyed dubious medical experimentations. Sure, they worked together for six years, but Demo didn’t go out of his way to visit him. It would be best to stay here and look out for Soldier. Once Demo settled down, he leaned back against the bed. “Aye, Solly made those. Ah dinnae ken why, but he told me to pass them out to the ‘non-Americans’ here.” “Hm.” Medic stared at one of the pages of the pamphlets with a frown. Then, with a grin, he looked over to the Soldier. “If I keep one of his pamphlets, do you think he’ll agree to be my patient?” “Doc, no.” Demo crossed his arms, scooching closer to Soldier’s bed. “Solly wouldn’y agree to that.” “Best to keep those experiments of yours for another time, sawbones.” Engie looked down at his recording device, striding towards the door. “I’ve been meanin’ to take a look at what Solly’s been filming.” He waved without a backwards glance. “I’ll see y’all later.” Engie wasn’t at dinner that night. Meanwhile, Demo slammed the pile of pamphlets down on the dinner table. “Solly made these for the ‘non-Americans’, he said. Dinnae ask me why.” Pyro and Spy took pamphlets. The rest of the team looked dumbfounded, waiting for further explanation. Pyro set the pamphlet alight with one of the lighters they carried around. They made muffled squeals as the coloured paper soon became a burnt black. Once the entire pamphlet became ashes, they reached for Spy’s pamphlet. Spy batted off Pyro’s flailing hands. Once they backed off, he continued reading. His face smoothed over as if he were playing poker. If one were to look , his eye twitched. The rest of the non-Americans picked up their pamphlets, which led to a mix of reactions. Heavy had trouble reading, as his English skills were poor. He wore a frown while perusing. Medic sat beside Heavy, helping him to understand Soldier’s written ramblings. He resorted to criticizing the pamphlet, giving up on deciphering the pamphlet. Sniper kept reading, his expression unreadable behind his shooting glasses. Scout looked over Sniper’s shoulder, wiggling himself into his personal space. After a few seconds, Demo got up, grabbing a foiled baked potato for the Soldier. “My job’s done, lads. Go bug Solly ‘bout it when he wakes-” “Ya know the deal with the anthem?” Scout fiddled with his fork and cold potato, bored of reading the pamphlet. “I’m American, an’ even I thought it’s nuts!” Demo forgot about that. Rushing one’s best mate to the infirmary would do that. He’d have to ask Soldier about it when he awakes. “What is little Soldier planning?” Heavy placed down his pamphlet. He raised an eyebrow at Demo. Demo wished he had answers for any of these questions, but he didn’t. “Ah dinnae ken.” He hated how often he had to say that in the past few days. Spy stood up, tucking the pamphlet into his suit jacket. “Who knows what that idiot is thinking.” He stepped out of the room and disappeared into the darkness of the hallways. If Demo had to guess, Spy was investigating. Despite his dismissive words, it was certain he wanted the truth. “Spook’s taking this too bloody seriously.” Sniper scoffed. He tossed the pamphlet on to the table. “What’s Soldier supposed to do, kill us all?” Medic adjusted his glasses. “He is capable of that, but so are we!” He smiled. “Besides, that dummkopf’s currently recovering.” “Rocket-jumping went wrong?” “As per usual.” Sniper muttered something inaudible to Demo. Reaching for Sniper’s discarded paper, Scout took the pamphlet and handed it to Pyro. Pyro lit the pamphlet on fire, burning it to crisps. They clapped when Scout grabbed the leftover pamphlets, pushing the pile towards them. Chances were, another fire would start again. Demo did not want to be here when that happened. Without another word, he sprinted out of the room. Before he left, he caught a glimpse of Sniper reaching for Pyro’s lighter. In the safety of the dark hallways, Demo strode back to the infirmary. He needed to take a break from this day, but Soldier also needed dinner. What he didn’t expect to see was Engie about to enter the infirmary. “Demo, you don’t mind me having a chat with Solly alone, do ya?” Engie’s rubber glove now covered his Gunslinger. He held the recording device with his other hand. “It’s nae a ‘Texan-styled’ one, is it?” Demo wondered if Soldier did damage the device. If that were the case, his friend was in deep trouble. “Let’s hope not.” It wasn’t a promising phrase. Still, whatever Engie had to say, Soldier may have deserved it. “At least give him dinner, will ye?” Demo handed over the foiled baked potato, which was now lukewarm. With a nod, Engie accepted the potato. Then, he entered the infirmary. It was about time Demo took a break. He walked upstairs back to his room. Once he was inside his room, he took out a nearby bottle of scrumpy. Then, he chugged down the bottle. The rest of his night continued like that until he blacked out. Tomorrow better be smoother than today. But he doubted it.