Note: I know the mercs getting whole was quite sudden but this whole becoming one by fixing personal issue just like that was starting to get repetitive. they might have a whole soul but that does not mean their issues are fixed.
this happens a couple of days after the last chapter.
*human world*
After have gotten away from Grey’s base, the mercenaries had at first been in doubt if they should stick together or disband once again now Twilight no longer needed their aid. Miss Pauling, however, had taken that choice for them as she still needed them to make sure the Administrator was safe after she accidentally gave the enemy the coordinates to where that woman is currently located. None from the team really fancied the thought of helping the woman who has caused them so much grief, but after a long discussion and promises of a very nice payment from Miss Pauling, they agreed to help her out.
They arrived at the place and have to destroy an army of robots, fortunately, that was all they had to deal with. With the robots taken care off, Miss Pauling heads inside the hidden base of the Administrator. And with nothing else to do, the team waits near a rock formation while Miss Pauling does her business with the Administrator.
“She better let us off the hook after this.” Engineer muses, caressing his sour right hand there is fortunately out of flesh but he has a bad feeling parts of metal is trapped underneath the skin after the merge. But that he can worry about later, right now his worries are on his son he left with his own father. “I need to return back to my boy.” He turns to Pyro who mumbles something only he understands and smiles. “Sure, you can come along and meet him. Just don't introduce him to your flames.” Said firebug giggles but agrees she won't set anything on fire.
“Same here with my mum, I should make sure she’s alright.” Demo says from his spot, unable to stop grinning when Soldier beside him declares proudly. “I need to ask my girlfriend to marry me!” Less so when Heavy tells him hard.
“Not before you date her more than year.” Surely the big guy is still sour about the fact that his sister decided Soldier to be her boyfriend. Demo finds that very amusing since Heavy and Soldier's past relationship have been more killing one another than having a polite conversation.
Scout catches his baseball and after a moment of thoughts, he says to the others. “I would like to see my family too.” It’s been long he last heard from his mother or even his brothers, it’s really hard not knowing if they are alright or not. He feels a hand on his shoulder and looks up, his now brown meet Spy’s reddish eyes but now with the BLU Scout in him too, he is no longer entirely sure if he wants his father around or not. Without a word, he turns his gaze back to throwing with his baseball.
Spy removes his hand, he knew this might happen and prepared himself for it— Of course, his years of training does not reveal his true emotions about this rejection and stay calm and collected as ever.
Leaving Scout, Spy eyes Sniper who has ever since the emerging with his other kept his distance, right now the Aussie is slicing at a stick he found lying around, it seems the manic cutting side of him is still there. Spy feels like he should say something, but what can he say? That he understands? Doubt the bushman is going to listen to the spook. So he leaves Sniper to his own gloomy thoughts and ponders if Jeremy will be willing to let him drive him home. He presumes that depends on how strong the BLU is in him.
“I honestly have no idea where I will be going if the team is to be disbanded.” Medic admits, he sold the apartment he had when Miss Pauling came to hire him to work for Mann Co and he does not have in mind going back to Germany. The allies and Russia are currently using his home country as the shield against the other- not to mention that he is pretty sure a lot of people want to get their hands on a former Nazi. No, he thinks he will stay away for some time. Question is now… where should he go?
To his small surprise and shock, Heavy says. “We will figure something out, I will not leave you behind again.” Medic eyes him, then worried to the others. To his great surprise, only Engineer, Soldier, Demo and Sniper have more or less the reaction he expected. The rest doesn’t bat an eye. Spy and Pyro he sort of expected this reaction, Spy knows more than he ever lets out and Pyro... well it's just how she is. But Scout? Medic was certain that loudmouth to Scout wouldn't shut up about it, seems like he underestimated the young man.
“Um, don’t get me wrong, but from how you said it... it sounded like you two are well…” Engineer muses, not sure how to say this. So Spy does it for him “Heavy and Medic are an item.”
Engineer jaw drops, Soldier starts to sputter how wrong it is while Demo and Sniper just watch the whole thing quietly while trying to get a better understanding of the situation.
Medic jumps on his feet, livid on how Spy revealed this secret he has been so set on keeping hidden for the public but before he can reach for any weapon, Misha stops him. He eyes the big man who quietly asks him not to act rashly, taking a deep breath to calm himself, he tells those who didn’t know- very annoyed though. “Thanks for throwing that out herr spy, yes I and Heavy are a couple, so if you want to patronize us for it, kindly do it now.”
“This is outrageous! It is wrong!” Soldier shouts.
Heavy shoots the man a glare, retorting. “So do I with you dating my sister.” And very glad his sister is not around. She is currently in the nearest town where he will pick her up later after have figured out what to do next.
That’s not the same. "She is a woman.” Soldier grumbles
“And Russian— communist in your words.” Heavy points out, he fists his hands and towers over the American. “You got problem with it?” To his surprise, Soldier does not argue further which is a relief for Heavy is really not in the mood for a deathmatch with the man at the moment.
Sniper returns back to his task slicing the stick, apparently, that is way more interesting than the subject between Heavy and Medic. Engineer wishes he could adapt that quickly. “Okay, um, caught me quite off guard there. Don’t get me wrong you two.” He eyes the healer and big guy, two he both respect each their way. “I can respect this just… darn, give me time to get used to it.”
Medic completely understands, almost all people consider being gay a physiologist mistake, something there can get fixed, and he has tried that by being with female partners but he now understands that this just how he is and well, he has learned to accept that. “Take all the time you need Engineer.” For honestly, hearing that Engineer is willing to accept this is more than he ever could’ve hoped for.
“Now kiss!” Scout grins from his spot, burst out laughing when that tease made the big brute to Heavy blush like a school girl. Medic just got really flustered and hid it behind anger. “Schweinehund! You will lose a leg for that!” Scout yelps and is both surprised and relieved when a certain spy goes all paternal protective over him. “I like to see you try.”
“What’s going on?” Miss Pauling asks, leaving the hidden base and finds a scene of Spy and Medic looking ready to kill one another, she sighs. “Spy, Medic, don’t kill one another.” The two men step away. If they sheathe their weapons or not is another question. “The Administrator told me that she still has use of you— if you are willing to work for her.”
“Not really.” Demo says probably for everyone.
Yeah, she figured that was the case and so did Helen. “If that’s the case then I will bring you to the facility where the respawn liquid can be removed.” She ignores the multi objections coming from the mercenaries. “When that's done, you can all go home. All contracts you have with Mann Co will be terminated and the company won’t take responsibility for any action made by or used against you.” Her eyes meet each of the mercenaries. “You will be the first mercenary-” Sniper and Spy shoot her a glare “— and assassin to ever leave Mann co alive. If it was dumb luck or something else, I don’t know.” She sighs and starts walking towards the nearest town. “I will find a shuttle and bring you—”
“Don’t bother with me, I will stay.” Medic interrupts her, he needs the protection the Administrator offers him, not to mention he really does not want to return back to society with all the tension going on between the world powers at the moment.
“I will work for old woman.” Heavy says, long decided that he will go wherever Medic goes, now more so after his sisters made him aware they no longer need his protection.
Spy covers his eyes, right now wishing he could go back to Equestria but like before when Ignis left them, he has realized that his skills of infiltration are needed here- the team would be lost without him. “My contract will stay as well.” He hates to do it but he is safer working for Mann Co than as a freelance assassin. Wish this protection would come from a more benevolent character such as Princess Celestia instead the protection is from one that will use any seen weakness against him without a second hesitating.
“As long there are wars to be fought, I will fight!” Soldier salutes, although he does not fully understand what Miss Pauling said of them having the chance to leave, he does understand there are still some fighting to do and Mann Co has been the only place willing to accept him. So he will be their soldier.
Engineer takes off his hard-hat with a very split feeling, he can return back to society with ease and he sure heck wants to now that he has a chance in living a normal life with his son but… damn it, these guys will kill one another if not for him playing peacekeeper. “I have a few… demands if she wishes to keep me employed.” Engineer says. He will not continue working for the Administrator if she refuses him the chance to be with his son. He wants to be there for Logan, not just be some guy visiting him every weekend. “I want to be able to go home after each mission, no fighting at the big holidays, and if the Administrator won’t agree on these terms, then she can find herself a new engineer.” And she needs one hell of a luck to find someone capable inventing machines for Australium in a matter of months.
Sniper does not speak, he much rather wants to leave, go back to the bush. But he fears he will turn murder insane if he leaves the only people he knows on a somewhat personal level. He does not want to be alone with that sinister voice as his only companion.
Demo scratches the back of his head, like Engie, he too would like to spend more time with his mother, but he sure hell wants to keep this job as well. “If she gives me a day off least a week, then I will work for her again.” He tells Miss Pauling, thinking that will give him some time with his mother, but he figures he should maybe hire a servant so she's not so much alone all the time.
Pyro simply nods that she will work for the Administrator, mostly because the people she feels safe around will be there.
Scout drops his head in almost defeat, really feeling split about this, in one hand he can go home and possibly chase the dream of becoming a professional baseball player and be with his family but— he’s pretty sure that’s the RED part of him from having the feelings that he wants to be with his father and, well, his second family. “I can’t give you an answer right now.” He tells Miss Pauling, he needs to go home and talk with his mother about this. “I need to go home first.” Miss Pauling simply nods.
“You do not have to fight like us, Scout.” Heavy says, unlike most of them, Scout has the best chance of leaving all of this behind and get himself a normal life.
“I know...” Scout muses back, god is he aware of that fact.
*45 hours later, Boston*
Scout leaves the airport, must admit it feels quite surreal being home again, last time he walked here, he was quite the arrogant prick. Now, well a lot has happened in the span of two years. “Sure hell feels longer.” He muses to himself. The first year as both RED and BLU scout was really hard, not only did he have to endure the older guys insults and at times bullying but also the constant assaults he got from the other team there wanted nothing else than murder his ass. He dealt with a lot of nightmares from those traumas of constant death he had to endure. Then there was the time in Equestria, Scout can’t help but laugh of those memories. “Yeah, no way in hell I am going anyone about that.” Especially not to his brothers. They probably think him gay if he starts talking about he befriended a bunch of colorful ponies and was chosen to carry the Element of Laughter which he used to turn the tide of battle against horse like ghosts that bring the meanest winter ever. "Wow, just thinking about it makes it sound weird and epic at the same time. Doubt they will see it other than gay." Scout does stop for a moment to think about what his brother consider gay. “I don’t think they know that being gay has nothing to do with masculinity.” For Heavy sure hell doesn't lack those points. Medic, eh a bit but Scout sure aren’t going to say that to that crazy doctor’s face- he might end up as his next experiment, that or Heavy will punch out all his blood- again.
On his way to the bus station, a fancy car stops before him, at the driver seat sits Spy. Scout finds himself with two thoughts. One- probably RED wants to go inside the car and let his father drive him home, the other- BLU much rather wants to take the bus and get as much distance to Spy as possible.
Spy eyes him and after a moment of silence, he asks calmly, something that takes the BLU side of Scout off guard. “Which side of you is going to win?”
Scout hesitates with the answer, then decides to ask instead. “What are you doing here?”
“I need to speak with Saffira… and you.” Spy replies softly, he is not sure which part he looks forward to the least. This letting out the man behind the mask thing is unnerving and he does not like showing weakness, but he knows this has to be done… for both their sake. After a moment, Jeremy gets into the car. Spy drives away and over to the house, the way happens in an uncomfortable silence. It breaks when Scout can’t take it anymore and points out. “You know how messed up this is?” His voice is both angry and sad. “A part of me hates you and another…”
Spy is very aware what part of him that is. “Remembers the love I shared with your as a changeling.”
Scout nods slowly, after a moment of silence, he asks. “Was it genuine?” For the BLU side of him does not think someone like Spy can show such emotions. To his surprise, Spy drives into an empty driveway and after he has checked the area, he; to Scout’s great shock takes off the mask. Scout’s eyes wide seeing the face behind the mask. The more he looks the more he can see the similarities between them. He understands that his father—that Antoine has taken off the mask for a reason, he… he’s just not entirely sure for what reason. “Why are you…?”
Spy turns away, the urge to put on that simple but protective fabric is great but he resists it. “After I became a spy. I haven’t shown my face to anyone other than your mother and my old master. And now...” The urge gets too great and he puts on the mask, once again hiding from the world. “You know it too and if you hate me more than you care, then you can use this as leverage against me.” It's a huge risk but... he's so tired shutting people away.
So this is his father’s way showing ultimate trust? Kind of a bold move, Scout thinks. “I won’t be able to keep this secret if one of your enemies captures me.” He can barely handle shrapnel, so what hope does he have against real torture?
Spy smirks weakly. “I don’t expect you to.” Scout raises a brow, not sure how to take that statement. His father does not go further into details, instead, leave this secluded area. The rest of the drive home happens in a way more comfortable silence.
When arriving at his home, Scout is about to leave the car but stops himself when he notices Spy is not making a move to follow. He eyes his father confused.
“You go on ahead.”
Not sure why he does this, but figures he has his reasons, Scout grabs his bag and leaves the car. Stepping inside he is greeted by his mother and two of his brothers; Peter, the second oldest and Dean the middle child of this bunch. His mother is of course very happy to see him home. His brothers are more interested in trying to nudge the information out from him of where he has been all this time. “Cut it out!” He snaps at Dean for keeping on poking him in the sides to make him slip up. “It’s in my contract I can't speak about it.” To then glare annoyed at Peter when his older brother smacks a hand on his head, asking in a somewhat taunting tone. “You got into the mafia or something baby brother?” and Dean laughs with: “Nah, he’s too scrawny for their standards. He’s probably just cleaning up toilets and too embarrassed to tell us about it, isn’t that right baby brother?” Scout angrily slaps Peter’s hand away, sneering at the two grinning older brothers. “No! my job is cool! Way cooler than any of yours!” Peter learns forward, asking. “Oh really?” Scout nods. “Yeah, but I can’t talk about it and I ain’t telling you.”
“Boys, leave Jeremy alone.” Their mother tells them hard and shoves Peter away from Scout, much to the youngest relief.
“Sure thing ma.” Peter says and after have quite forcefully ruffles up Jeremy’s hair. “Nice see you back from toilet cleaning.” Both he and Dean laugh when their youngest and smallest of this gang of brothers yells very annoyed at them. “I am not cleaning fucking toilets!” They leave as they only came to help their mother out with a bit moving around. “If you say so.” Dean calls and before leaving the house. “Later baby toilet cleaning brother.”
Scout glares after them, but even if they piss him off and can be quite the bullies too, he still relieved to see they are alright.
“I’ve been worried you wouldn’t return home.”
Scout turns to his mother and is for a moment unsure how much she knows, now knowing the truth who his father is, there is a big chance his mother knows what his job is truly about. “Sorry, ma… my boss just refused to let us leave thanks to… uh disagreements— it is fixed now.” He quickly adds and heads over to the kitchen. “Man, I’m staving, haven’t gotten anything since the plane.” He grabs some bread and cold cuts along with a half-empty juice.
Barely started on his quick lunch and Spy steps inside, his mother is quite surprised in seeing him. “What a surprise. I didn't think I would ever see you again.” She says and walks over to him, Spy nods in agreement. “There were some loose ends I needed to fix.” Saffira turns to Scout, she does a good job but the hint of worry is there in her own brown eyes. She turns back to Spy when he says calmly. “He knows.”
“You told him?” She asks surprised.
Before Spy could, Scout speaks from his spot. “No, the spider-lady threw that bomb.” and what a bomb that was.
Understandable his mother gives him a confused look and explaining that fully will just make her the more confused. “She’s a mean woman with a bunch of spiders.” He lies. Highly doubts his mother would believe that this spider-lady really is a horse-shaped bug with the ability to change into any form she chose. Oh, and she can suck out the love out from one like a spider suck out the juice from its victim- hence the name.
“A former client of mine.” Spy takes over, stepping inside the house he explains his former lover. “I can’t stay for long, but I think it's fair telling you that I have found someone who truly makes me happy.” She smiles hearing this, like him Saffira is aware that what they felt was more lust than love. “This will be the last time you see me.” Both notices the look in their son’s eyes, now to the tricky part. “Thanks to certain circumstances Jeremy has gotten a hold on a very powerful artifact, I cannot tell you more than that. Only that he currently stands with two choices: He will return this artifact, leave Mann Co and live a normal life back here with you. I will do everything in my power to ensure no danger will come to you, and for safety reasons; this will be the last time he ever sees me in person. or-” Spy eyes his son. “- Jeremy will return back to Mann Co and face the danger head-on along with the team, he might still be able to visit you but chances are he can't in risk endangering you and the rest of your sons.” He will be able to see them for a time but if Jeremy chooses to stay connected to the respawn. Then like Miss Pauling, he will be forced to abandon his family as time will pass- several from the team will be forced to do that as well but Spy has a strong feeling that choice will be easier for them. Either because their own parents already or soon will be gone and know the remaining of the family can take care of themselves. Engineer might find a loophole with his son, but Jeremy cannot do that to his whole family, less so when it is very risky to be connected to respawn. Spy is aware this is a hard choice, especially to one just reaching the age of twenty. "Think long and hard about it." He tells Jeremy and turns his gaze back to Saffira. With the last touch over her soft cheek. “Goodbye.” He leaves, never going to return to this very house. The answer to what Jeremy will choose will be answered in a month, that’s how long Miss Pauling gave him to think about this.
At the door Saffira watches Antoine drive away for the very last time, it saddens her knowing this but does find some comfort that he has found someone who truly loves him. She knows that for when he mentioned this other woman, she saw a gleam in his eyes she has never seen before. Saffira is glad Antoine found happiness and he has more or less mended a bond with his son. She closes the door and with a sigh takes a seat beside Jeremy, young man is awkwardly quiet and she does not blame him. The choice he soon will have to take is a big one, especially for her youngest son who has been quite immature to really decide what he wanted in life.
Slowly he recovers and with his lunch completely forgotten. “I don’t want to leave you…” He says in almost a whisper.
Saffira pulls her youngest son into a hug, something she hasn’t giving him ever since he was a child. “I know, sweetie.” But if Jeremy is anything like his father, then he will leave and yes it will sadden her but also fills her with joy thinking her son will join his father. She strokes gently his brown and quite messy hair thanks to Peter. “Whatever you choose, know this; I will always love you.”
Scout lowers his gaze, wishing he knows the answer but he doesn't... He wants to be with both of his parents but both of his sides know that’s not possible. Sooner or later he will have to choose if he wants to stop or continue fighting, there is no middle ground, not with this.
****
The next weeks' Scout spends all his days wandering in Boston’s streets. His wandering was very aimless, like his thoughts, he has no idea where he should go. He tries to make up his mind by visiting those of his brothers still living in town but none of them are any help, busier teasing him or not getting why he stress so much about it. Several of them told him he has a whole life to decide what he wants to do, one of them even suggested he should try and start on that dream of becoming a professional player.
Scout followed that advice and tracked down a coach there has been training some baseball players there had the same dream as him. The man was interested in training him and for a time Scout really thought this was his place, he has a chance, small but still there among the many trying to reach the same goal but just two days before the end of the month Miss Pauling gave him. Scout found himself standing at a road splitting in two. On the right was the path to the training field, the other leads to what feels like the unknown. Scout stares at the two paths and knows that whatever choice he will pick now, he can never go back. He eyes the path to the training field: He has a chance of becoming a baseball player, maybe a big one, he has wanted this ever since he learned what baseball is.
Eyeing the path he knows leads out the forest but standing here it feels differently. Watching what path, Scout thinks about the team. Through the two years, he has known them they have fought their other halves, a pissed wizard, beings of darkness. He knows life will be hard and probably unpredictable as he was chosen to bear an artifact he has little to no knowledge about.
He turns his gaze back to the training field, watching it for several moments, this time he thinks about his family. Slowly his many thoughts settle onto a choice, the answer to what he will do with his life. He is certain he will regret it more than once but it has to be done, this is after all no longer just about him anymore.
*The next day, unknown location*
The team awaits inside this run down building, waiting for Miss Pauling to return and tell them where they need to go next. All look up when she steps into the room, and for a moment, everyone’s eyes are on the one behind her. Scout, dressed in red like the others walks inside, giving them a cheeky smile before turning around to face Miss Pauling as she tells them. “A train awaits you, the Administrator wants you to track down Grey’s mercenaries and make them tell you where Grey is hiding.”
They nod and one by one they head out, Scout follows, having his iconic grin for right at that moment, he knows this is where he belongs.
***
*Equastria*
Returning back to Starswirls studies, Celestia passes the many artifacts decorating one of the shelves. She stops before one of the shelves and after a moment of searching, she finds the book she is looking for. Levitating it over, Celestia flips the pages and smiles weakly when finding the spell she has been looking for.
This spell will be the perfect final test for her faithful student and Celestia would very much like start on it now, however, Twilight is no longer alone on this and know how important it is to strengthen the bond between the bearers and their new partners. There are a few things Celestia has to do before she sends this book to her student. If memory serves correctly, there should be something there can get in contact with the human world other than the now closed portal.
It takes a lot of searching, Celestia does messes up the room but she can always clean that up later. She is very relieved and also feels a bit silly not doing this before when she finds a book holding a mark she now remembers to be their old friend. It’s a dark sphere with several spikes surrounding it, forming a star. A green flame— if Celestia remembers correctly, it’s the color of his magic— surround this star. Looking at the cutie mark for a moment, it saddens her that only a faint memory of the owner of the mark appears in her mind. Celestia flips open the book and finds the first long but after the millennia fades into smaller conversations. The last one they had before the duty of each their worlds pulled them apart were them both apologizing for having to leave the other for a while. That while turned into a thousand years, but what to expect for creatures where time has little meaning? Does he still remember her? She wonders and starts to write.