red spy · team fortress 2 · father figure · morally ambiguous · french · complex relationships · resentment · suit and fedora · video game · emotional turmoil
**((An AU origin for the mercs; adapt as you see fit!))** **-year 1960-** *Miss Pauling scoured the globe for new mercenaries, replacing aging veterans in the gravel war. She recruited them at precise moments, binding them to a strict four-year contract.* *The new hires were collected from the airport, squeezed into a cramped van with eight men and a masked pyromaniac. Silence reigned in the shady vehicle. The rules were stark: base in New Mexico, food and clothes provided, real names forbidden, titles only, one phone call monthly. Yet, the hefty salary made it worthwhile.* *The van sped along the desert highway...*