Chapter Text
Isolation is such a strong word to describe a feeling that are seen as minor and unwanted like the constant need to be by oneself.
Frizt thought so too.
That is why he was only seen in his office within the BLU hideout.
He never felt appeal to interact with anyone, especially strangers.
Moreso than not, he is afraid of what they really are, he had been told when applied to this particular job that he would be as good as dead in the real world, along with living among the strangers from different nations.
Frizt sat motionless in the office, staring at the paperworks on his desk. He felt rigid, worse than the other day.
No one ever bothered him, outside of the battlefield that is. They seemed to be stuck to their rooms, only came out to eat or seek comfort from a friend.
Today, however, is colder than most day. The heating system from his office was broken couple days ago and he hadn't found the time or the passion to fix it.
The paperworks glistened under the light, it looked uncomfortable, full and yet somehow appeared inviting and intoxicating.
As workaholic as he was, he was tired today.
Sleep seemed to be the last option his mind thought of.
Standing up weakly, Frizt made an halfassed attempt to right his attire, hands flowing like he had done this every time he made a stand.
Pushed away the dust and imaginary dirt on his pristine coat, he trotted around the desk and to a hidden door, far from prying eyes and situated beside a closet, big enough to cast shadow over the frame.
His quarter was small, terribly unused and cold. A bed in the middle, leaning against the wall across from the front door and a cupboard besides it, complete the looks.
Frizt shivered and stepped in, feet dragging slowly on the carpet covered floor. Each steps felt heavy to him, he hummed once reaching the soft bed.
Eyes gazing it as if it have done something worse than he imagined. Not like he didn't noticed the way they looked at him in fear or indiffrence, he once jealous of the man that is Ludwig, the Medic of the opposing team, who is his counterpart and the most enthusiastic man he has ever seen.
Ludwig, or Dr. Ludwig preferably, was confidence and straight-forward in his own way, he talked like he owned the place and he was strong enough to win a one-on-one fight. His team trusted the male enough to be by himself and more than not relied on him to save the match.
Frizt shook his head, rid of the thought and got into the bed. Sleep seemed enticing to him right now.
It was no later than six hours, Frizt has done up his attire to be more winter-like and a lot warmer.
After the nap, he felt fresh and awake, albeit a little. Frizt sat with his gloves on, pulled up passed the elbows and settled just a short distance away from the armpits, the fluff kinda tickle but the warmth it provided outweighed the issue.
Eyes gazing to the double door belong to his office as the sound of hurried footsteps reached his ears.
It opened to reveal the familiar hard-hatted adorned with a dark and warm yellowish colour and the goggles under it.
Frizt has never shaken away the thought that both teams Engineer looks almost the same, even him being the 'alledged' clone of his RED counterpart, he have differences large enough to not be mistaken as the other.
The blue worn-out attire completed the looks, BLU Engineer is his status, coming in to the job that is killing for ones' entertainment and enjoyment. It was sick but it paid well enough.
" Hey pardner! " The familiar voice pulled Frizt from his thoughts as he gazed at the engineer and bobbed his head as a nod. He never spoke much, especially to strangers he just met 6 months ago.
" I see you're free at this time right? " Frizt made an affirmative noise, eyes still locked onto the other but albeit more awkward.
" I just so happen to stumble upon this at the front. " Engineer presented a box, sealed up and have small holes poked on top of it.
Frizt tilted his head in curiousity and concern, the other shook their head and placed the box back under his armpits, 'has that always been there', and looking at the doc's face, taking out the note from his front pocket.
" Here I believe is yours. " Engineer then lifted his hat and stroded out the door. Leaving Frizt still gazing at the male in confusion.
He looked at the note and shrugged nonchalantly, it wasn't his bussiness and never will be so he shook it away.
Engineer is weird in his appearance and the way he acted around the other team engineer and the team manager, Miss Pauling, Frizt has noticed.
Both of them exhibited the same attitude towards wining and losing, when won they would cheer and pat the closest to their good arm in the back and when lost, they will both grunted and groaned, usually grumbling in distress.
His engineer is more fidgetive and struggled with a lot of things, such as the sheer coldness every morning brought and extreme insonmia like Medic over here. He rarely talked to anyone both outside and in battle, he sets his nest often near the base so the others would know.
The blue attire and plain overalls was all he is seen in, never has anyone seen Engineer wore more casual clothes or just something comfortable. It just overall and blue shirt with scarf and boots along with gloves.
Frizt's eyes fell down to the crumpled paper. It was Miss Pauling's. A request and gift for Christmas.
--------
Frizt sat rigid in the same position two days ago. Hands clasped in his laps and his curious gaze trailed down to the small being on his desk.
Wearing the work clothes of his but mini, sporting the same neat but unkept hairstyle of his and a pair of snow leopard ears and a long spotted tail. Its shining green eyes were big and flashy that was locked onto his, dull emerald.
It squeaked in delight as it saw him, as if meeting him was the best thing ever happened in today alone.
It stood with the help of its tiny blue gloves and wobbled over to his figure, Frizt flinched away out of reflex but soon driving by anticipation and the urge to move closer, he inched slowly back toward the creatures which greet him with another low squeak.
He returned it with a small smile, barely shown but it still cheered in its excited jumping and waving arms.
Miss Pauling has sent over a gift for both teams as the way to express gratitude and as a thank you gift.
'Bitty' is what they called.
Small and insignificant creature that has yet to he seen outside of the area of Teufort, where RED base is located acording to Spy and Sniper.
Frizt didn't trust it at first, thinking Miss Pauling had sent to the wrong guy in base since he was the quietest of them all, but nonetheless, later that day, he got called in to the Meeting room and came face-to-face to the RED Engineer.
His beard was more present and darker than his engineer and clearly more calm than the rest of their team, he respected Frizt and never talked too much just to fill in the empty silence, waiting for Miss Pauling.
Frizt learned about him as Dell, the RED mercs were more than open to introduce themselves by name if needed to, except for Spy and Sniper. He was the usual assigned leader of the group and the smartheaded one, along with Ludwig, the RED medic.
Frizt then held up the note and pointed to it, careful to present the paper and directed to the gesture. Dell seemed to catch onto it and pulled out a paper as well, in his overall pocket, the top one.
" I haven't got a damn clue why am here either pardner. " A nod was all Dell received as Frizt went back to be by himself.
Miss Pauling then stroded in, holding the package for both team. Her face strict but lessened along the edge and her hair was tucked messily into a bun, her glasses shifted as she came to a stop at her desk, having to lean down to put whatever it was on the wooden surface.
Her dress framed her body to appear more elegant and sharp, light purple fabric blended into the background but made it more stood out in a duller area, which is this room.
She let out a breath, shoulders hunching and Dell got to stand up, " Everything alright, Miss Pauling? "
The woman gave a nod before patting the package, " Yeah, I'm good. It just a long way from the pick-up station to here. I hope you guys have a great time while waiting for me. "
Frizt gave a grateful nod and Dell let out a chuckled, glove came up to grasp at his hard-hat, clutching the above.
Habits from engineers of both sides. How amusing.
" Yep. Great as ever, dearie. " Miss Pauling nodded and motioned for both to sit down.
Frizt was the first since being the closest to the plastic chair painted in blue, it was obvious he fell gently back down in one swift motion, Dell trotted over, his heavy boots clicking on the concrete and he sat quickly down, getting comfortable in his seat as he did so.
Miss Pauling nodded and clasped her hands together, face lit and smile wide. Frizt shrunk back instinctively but recorvered quickly, no one in his life that he could remember smiled like that with a good intention.
" Firstly, thank you for making time to see me as this isn't in our schedule. And getting to the point, have both of you read the letter I sent you? " Dell held up the paper with his left hand, the gloved one, indicating he had, Frizt gave a small nod, fishing out the note as he did so. Miss Pauling thanked both of them and handed out each a box.
Frizt accepted it skeptically, there was some shuffling inside and what felt like whine and scratches. He didn't ask though, never had he questioned what they given him before, it was automatic and fear of disqualified is what get him to today.
That didn't stop Dell, though. With a confused voice, he asked Frizt's question, " What's this? " The woman smiled and urged them to take one out, upon opening the box, Frizt was met with a squad of tiny critters 8 of them, every one looks exactly like his teammates, saved for one, Engineer.
The creature have normal porprotions of a human but smaller and eyes bigger than normal, it all have some sort of animal's body parts to indicate their moods, agressiveness level and looked more adorable and appealing to the eye.
One of them which looked like him, shuffled over and grinned at him, it beamed excitedly before being pushed over by his Demoman's lookalike. It whined and scratched the big thing and got away successfully, although a bit scruffle and cried a little. It have snow leopard features and very fluffy fur.
Frizt stared at it, mesmerised.
Before long he snapped out of his own little imagination and scooped up his little döpperganger, looking over to the side, he registered the RED Engineer, gushing over how cute and adorable the creatures are and Miss Pauling proudly rambling along to the situations.
Frizt sighed tiredly, the being moved in his palm as it fell onto his suit and scrambled up to his shoulder, grasping the hair and finally arrived on the top of his head, the jet black hair held together strongly as the little critter gripped onto it to stay balanced.
" Ah- Now you have seen it. So we will begin our discussion and brainstroming about how we going to take care of it. " Frizt stared on, he couldn't kept calling it little critter or something along the line.
Names is what it needed.
Eyes green like grass, full of hope and enthusiasm gazed into dull, devoid of any life emerald.
'Smaragd'
Frizt grabbed its attention by tapping his finger on his desk, the creature looked.
He whispered lightly, it was hard to catch but it heard.
" Your name is Smaragd. "
_________