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Sniper technically had a room in the base, but it was right next to Scout’s, so can you blame him for sleeping in a campervan?
After a job well done he liked to have his own space to decompress and relax, and between Engineer tinkering at the workshop, Tweedlebomb and Tweedleboom playing around with explosives and whatever was going on inside Medic’s lab, there was always too much noise.
There was a decent trek between him and the main base but he thought that was one more incentive to keep everyone away when he needed some peace. When they were stationed in New Mexico, he tended to find himself completely isolated in what would otherwise be the completely barrand desert. So you can imagine his surprise when he heard a soft meowing coming from the engine.
He cautiously opened the hood to find the smallest kitten he’d ever seen. The thing couldn’t be older than a couple months.
“How did you get here?” he paused to look around “How did the coyotes not get you?”
Sniper reached to pick it up, not really knowing how to proceed. The kitten was shaking in his hands. It was getting really late, so leaving the poor thing outside meant it would be a matter of time before some night crawler got to it. Sniper shook his head in an attempt to get rid of such thought. He couldn't leave the thing there. It was a miracle it was still alive!
He petted it gently as he felt the poor thing still shaking. It somehow felt too small. He held it near his chest as he struggled to open the door with one hand.
“What do you even eat?”
Sniper placed the kitten on top of his bed as he began searching his pantry for some food. He only kept canned veggies to serve with whatever he was able to hunt, nothing suitable to feed a baby cat, he reckoned. While thinking of what to do next, he heard something falling and turned around to find the kitten on the ground.
“Sorry mate!”
He gently picked up the kitten as he looked around the camper once more trying to find a safe place to lay the animal. Not pleased with any of the options, he pulled some extra ammo from his pocket to make space to place the small animal inside.
Something about being warm and bundled made the kitten feel better as it began to purr. Sniper smiled in relief as it fell asleep.
It didn’t take long for him to decide he needed to get some more adequate provisions. He didn’t like to move his camper for small trips because it was such a hassle, but this was an emergency. He pulled the bricks and drove towards the Teufort general store.
Once there the Aussie looked at the animal in his pocket. It had fallen soundly asleep. Should he just leave the kitten in the van? He didn’t want it to wake up from walking around, but leaving it alone in the camper didn't feel ok either. Would the AC in his van work if he left it parked? He shook his head at the thought of the poor thing passing out from the heat.
Bloody hell, he should just bring it with him.
There wasn't anyone at the shop besides him and the owner. Sniper could feel the man's eyes glued to his back, he knew the feeling too well. Though it usually ended when either him or Spy being sent to respawn.
He wandered aimlessly wondering what he would need. Cats… they eat tuna right? But this one was really small, would it be ok to give it solid food? Ah! Cats love milk, that should probably do.
He got a couple of jugs of milk, some canned tuna and a bag of kibble. He reasoned that even if he didn't really know what he was doing, it should last for at least a week.
Once back in his camper Sniper took the kitten out of his pocket. It was still sleeping. He placed it inside his hat thinking it could serve as a bed. Feeling exhausted after a long day, Sniper fell asleep as soon as he laid down.
*Beep Beep, Beep Beep*
Falling asleep wearing his uniform was definitely not a good idea. He could feel every single button and seam pressed up against his body. Ugh.
The marksman did his morning stretches feeling how his joints cracked. He knows it's not the best, but it feels way too good to pass on it.
Once he finished washing his teeth he picked his hat to get ready for the day. Oh! The kitten was still there.
His sleepy brain had tried convincing him that was just a dream, but now it seemed real enough to him.
The milk he left for it was completely gone. The thing must have drank it all during the night and gone back to sleep. Thinking how it went back to sleep in the hat trying not get caught made him smile. He gently stroked the kitten’s face as it began to purr.
“You’re probably a little girl. I'm sure of it. You're too sweet.”
Sniper laid her on his bed making sure to keep her warm with a blanket. He also left her some milk mixed with half a tin of tuna, as well as some water before heading for today's match.
The battle was relatively uneventful. He didn't have much to do since Junction has terrible sightlines. But throughout the entire day he couldn't stop thinking about her alone in the van. After the third hour he began worrying. Did he leave enough water? Could she have escaped back to the desert?
He practically ran back to the van as soon as he heard the announcer saying they won.
“Where are you?”- he said concerned as he searched for the cat.
She responded with a stretch and a soft meow. Seeing she was fine, he felt most of his worries melting away.
“You need a name. Can't keep calling you thing”
She politely meowed back.
“I’ve been thinking Midnight. You did appear close to that after all”
She rubbed her little face against his boot
“Guess that settles it”
Feeling satisfied with his inquiries, he took a peek towards the food he had left her. The entire corner was a mess, with food splashed on all the nearby areas, but she had definitely eaten a fair share. Sniper sighed as he began cleaning the mess.
Weirdly enough, there didn't seem to be any cat “gifts” hidden away anywhere. He hadn't remembered cats need a litter box until he began making his way back home. Being in the desert he decided to use a regular tray filled with sand. Again, he didn't know if cats needed to be potty trained, but seeing she didn't have any accidents he figured it could be an instinctual thing.
During the next week they formed some sort of routine. Sniper prepared more food for her. He'd come and go and the food was gone. After a couple of days he began finding small puddles of puke. No matter what he did, she wouldn't pick any weight and she wouldn't poop. The last couple of days she wouldn't even eat.
“Come on girl, what's wrong? What am I doing wrong, kitty?”
Each day Midnight seemed to get weaker and less energetic. But Sniper wouldn't let her go. He kept her warm and hand fed her in the hopes she'd spark back. He couldn't stop. She hadn't been eaten by coyotes, so she wasn't going to go now.
It didn't take long for the other mercs to catch on to Sniper's weird behavior. Being isolated wasn't uncommon for the marksman but the way he practically ran towards his van after every match began worrying them. It had been a week since it all began and while they didn't want to be nosey, they had to do something about it.
He didn't come to poker night, he began arriving late, and he wouldn't even attend team meetings! It was getting serious.
Without planning, they found themselves conducting an impromptu meeting to decide how to tackle it.
“Bushman is hiding something.”
“Yes. We know”
“Should check on him”
“Don't think he'd take very kindly to it”
“Well we oughta do something ”
“I'll go check on the lad. If it's too bad I'll come back to get some backup”
As Demo approached the van he heard tired sobbing coming from the inside.
“I'm so sorry, I'm sorry kitten”
Worried, he gently knocked on the door. The sobbing stopped but there was no response. He slowly opened it…
Sniper was sitting in a corner with red eyes and a towel on his lap. Demo crouched, placing one of his hands on Sniper's back.
“Hey, what's wrong lad”
The marksman unfolded the towel allowing Demo to see the animal. Midnight let out a really soft meow. She was impossibly small.
“Oh”
Sniper just nodded, he didn't feel like he was able to speak. He'd tried everything and now he felt so tired and so ashamed, he didn't know what to do.
Demo helped him to get on his foot allowing him to keep holding the kitten.
“Let's go see Medic, is that alright?”
He nodded again.
Demo took them to the base and discreetly went to the medbay.
Heavy let them in with an indecipherable expression. Sniper looked pretty rough.
“Aye Medic? I think we need some help.”
“Let me see…”
He adjusted his glasses and took the kitten for a thorough examination.
“Has she been eating?”
Sniper shook his head
“Do you mind if I take her to see what I can do?”
He handed her blanket over with his arms shaking. Medic looked at the animal and then redirected his sight back to Sniper.
“I can tell you've been taking care of her. You've done a good job”
He didn't know if Medic meant it but that threw him over the edge again making him break into sobs. Demo embraced him as he walked him towards a couch. Soon after Heavy walked in with a cup of tea. Without saying a word, he handed it to Sniper. He held the cup in his hands feeling the heat.
Sniper didn't manage to take a single sip before falling asleep on top of Demo. He stayed by his side while Heavy went to the medbay to see if there was anything he could help the doctor with.
“Meow~”
Sniper bolted awake to the feeling of paws on top of his torso. He took Midnight in between his arms as he began crying. It was a weird experience. He felt like he could breathe again for the first time in days.
“Her digestive system was clogged” -he looked up to see Medic and all the others around them. They all were at a healthy distance, but he was shocked to find he wasn't alone - “I sincerely don't know how you've managed to do it, but she wouldn't have made it without you.”
“You did a great job, lad. But maybe next time remember you deserve help as well before giving us all a bloody heart attack”
There was a warm cup of coffee on the table waiting for him to pick it up.
Maybe being with his team wasn't that bad.
Midnight was Sniper’s kitten, that was an undisputed fact. But after meeting everyone else, he knew he couldn't keep her all for himself. For one, she loved to play with them and making her lose her friends would be too bad. It was also the perfect excuse to hang around. And while it took him a while to come to terms with it, sometimes being around was nice.