Chapter Text
Engineer was used to spending his nights working away at his workshop, fixing up blueprints for his sentries and dispensers - how to make them better. It became routine, really; finish a match, eat dinner, maybe play a card game or hang out with Pyro, and head to the workshop to.. well, work.
It was all the same, tonight, except that he heard static noise coming from his radio. “Engineer? It’s Pauling. You’ve got a special delivery from the Administrator.”
Engineer blinked, slightly shocked, to say the least. “Really, now? What’s the occasion?”
“I honestly don’t know. Something about thanking you for your hard work.” Pauling responded. “Anyway, I have to go. Uh, just a heads-up? Your gift is a little..”
A pause.
“..Nevermind. Check in with you later. Pauling out,” Her voice breaks up until the static settles.
That was.. odd. He’s worked under the Administrator for years now, not to mention most of his family line literally worked under her. Maybe this was a good thing. Engineer felt pride bloom in his chest, frankly, it felt good to be appreciated. With a grunt, he got up from his workbench and stretched his tired limbs, before walking towards the main area of the RED base. His steps echoed throughout the empty halls as he made his way there, night pouring through the gaps in the small window blinds. Dell eventually made it, and he was a little surprised to see Sniper at the kitchen counter, his favourite coffee mug in hand (#1 Sniper, a gift from his Ma).
He dipped his head in greeting and once it was returned, he walked to the door. His mind wanders. What could the Administrator possibly have gotten him? As much as he’s aware, she didn’t bother getting to know anyone that didn’t guarantee to be beneficial to her cause. Maybe a mug, like Sniper’s. Or a new toolbox - no, unlikely. He has too much of those already. Even someone as dense as Scout would realise it, but, there is also the possibility that the Administrator didn’t put much thought into the gift. But, oh well, Engineer thought to himself. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
He gently opened the door..
“Hi.. Is this RED residence?”
A teen? No, adolescent. What’s a young gal doing out so late.?
“Uh, hi. Yes, this.. is.” I think. “Who are you?”
“I’m Wheel.” she holds her hand out. “Someone told me that a guy who goes by Engineer adopted me?”
What in tarnation?
“Hold your horses, what.” Engineer coughs, baffled.
Somewhere behind the two, Sniper sips his coffee in equal bafflement. As much as the workaholic was good with young people, he didn’t seem like the type to want a kid, let alone raise one.
~~~
It’s morning, and the kid had slept on the Engineer’s bed, while the man took to sleeping on a pull-out mattress. The kid, Wheels, as she introduced herself, was still asleep as pancake batter sizzled onto the pan. The team sat at the table, eating their own respective breakfast foods, while they contemplated the young girl’s sudden appearance in silence. Well, all except Scout. He was running his mouth as fast as he worked his legs, ranting about how it would be cool to have a new addition (and he’s not the youngest anymore), but how it was bad because.. honestly, I can’t decipher it anymore. He’s talking too fast.
“I mean, like, Engie, did you willingly take ‘er in? Why?? Sure, it's cool ‘cos I can, like, play baseball with ‘er or somethin’, and I have someone else to hang out with other than you old cracks, but what if we’re gonna have to do re..revona- revonations? For her room? Do you want to sleep on the floor?” Scout rambles, until a very still-exhausted Medic massages his temples.
“Jeremy, I will castrate you if you don’t shut up.” Medic smiles sinisterly.
Heavy places a hand on Medic’s shoulder and rubs it gently while he eats his sandwich. The doctor sighs and continues eating. The team eats in silence as Engineer places another pancake on Scout and Pyro’s plates, before putting some on his own. Demo takes a swig of his scrumpy and shrugs,
“Lad’s got a point. Where’s the poor lass gonna sleep?” he grunts.
Soldier slams his fists on the table in a dramatic move. “WHAT IF SHE IS A BLU SPY?”
“She’s not a BLU spy.” Engineer speaks up, feeling slightly defensive. The girl was now his responsibility, was she not?
Soldier stares at Engineer for a while, before sitting down sulkily. Scout finishes his pancakes in record time and puts his dish in the sink with a loud clatter. Engineer’s door creaks open, and the girl walks out, nearly bumping into Scout.
Now under bright light, Engineer could see that she had fiery hair and brown eyes. She also looked shorter than the first time he saw her, though that was probably because she was distanced a bit far from where he was seated. Scout stared at her wide eyed. “Oh my god.” he exhales. “Engie, you weren’t kidding!”
“Why would I be?” he raises a brow, chewing on a honeyed pancake slice.
He flashes her his best smile. “I’m Scout, the best runner and, heh, basically the best person you will evah meet ‘round these parts.”
Wheel snorted and shook his hand. “I’ve got competition, then. You know, I’m also quite fast.”
Scout’s jaw drops, but he quickly picks himself back and sneers. “Well, I bet I’m faster!”
“I bet not!”
Heavy picks up both of them by the scruff of their shirts. “Stop fighting,” he says gruffly.
Spy (actually, when did he get here?) raises a brow at the young girl and continues to sip his tea. Medic got up close. He moves her limbs around and blatantly ignores her protests as he clasps his hands together, his eyes glimmering with the same amount of warmth as when he’s performing heart surgery. Or any other surgery, to be honest. Pyro’s plate is empty. When had they finished their food? They stood up, leaving their plate on the table quite rudely, and ran over to Wheel. Muffled sounds of joy were heard through their thick gas mask, and they pinch her cheeks. Wheel grumbled angrily.
”Are we not the slightest bit concerned about our.. newest addition being a liability? The last thing we need in the battlefield are attachments, much less a child.” Spy speaks up impatiently.
To be fair, he had a very good point. Having a young girl on the battlefield was not a great tactic, and Soldier impulsively decides he will loudly agree with Spy’s statement. Starting off with pointing an accusing finger at the poor (maybe not-so-innocent) girl. “SHE IS A LIAR-BELLY-TEA!”
”Liability.” Spy corrects him.
”LIBALTITY!”
”I give up.”
“Engineer, I demand we rid of this pest!” Soldier jabs a finger into the shorter man’s chest.
Engineer, unimpressed, brushes the accusing finger away. “Yeah, I’m not doing that. She’s just a child, Solly!”
”I’m 13,”
Sniper finally speaks his mild surprise. “You look 8. No offence,”
”None taken,” she smiles. “I’ve been told that a lot,”
”Can someone tell Heavy to put me down, now?” Scout whines, getting a little nauseous being held up in the air for so long. Honestly, it was quite impressive Heavy was able to hold up two brats (one manchild) for so long. But at the same time, it was Heavy. If it had been Sniper or Spy, it would be much more impressive. Those two, plus Scout, barely had any meat on their bones.
Medic, satisfied with his poking and prodding at the girl, pats Heavy’s back in thanks before retreating to the medbay - as if he had picked up the two rascals specifically for Medics enjoyment. The large bear of a man accepted the thanks nonetheless, and puts the two back down, ruffling Wheel’s hair as he does so. The girl runs over to Engineer and shields him from Soldier. “Don’t bully him!”
Soldier stares down at the girl and glares. “Don’t you dare take advantage of my Engineer’s kindness, maggot! You are not worthy of his attention!”
Engineer sighs and pats Wheel’s back. “He’s an idiot, don’t mind him. I’m sure he’ll get used to you.. soon enough,”
“I can tell.”
~~
Engineer walks with Wheels back to their room in comfortable silence. Engineer only now notices the girl was wearing one of his old shirts, still slightly stained with oil grease and what smells to be kerosene. It was also surprisingly small. Seems he’s gained a lot of weight since then. He chuckles lightly to himself, to which Wheels responds with a small giggle - as if she knew what Engineer was laughing about. Once they reach the door to Engineer’s room, she stopped. Dell, hand on the doorknob, turned to look at Wheels, who was fiddling with the hem of that old t-shirt.
”Engineer?” she shrugged. “Are we, like- father daughter?"
He swallowed. To be honest? He didn’t want to be a father. Ever. But this girl seemed to be desperate, in Engie’s eyes. He was unsure how to respond. He didn’t want to be a father, or even raise a child - to give it morals, and to set an example. They were all mercenaries, for goodness’s sake! How was he supposed to even keep them safe around.. wait, let me list them really quickly; an insane German doctor, a large bearish Russian who can crush you with one hand, a one-eyed drunkard, an egoistical young man with daddy issues, the daddy issues, a guy who pisses in jars and a literal pyromaniac who sees severed heads as lollipops. And the worst of all, the one he’s closest to, and the one who just might be the dumbest, Soldier. A patriotic American who despises everything non-American (the team is excluded). But at the same time, he wants to give this girl a childhood. Something.. normal. With a loving and supportive family. Its too late to make childish memories for him, but there was still a chance for her.
“..We’ll see,” he smiles. “Alright?”
”Alright, then.”