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“Welcome, filthy creature, to my laboratory!” Talon’s most talented scientist almost cackled the words out as a peg-legged, dirty Aussie with a hunched back followed her cautiously.
“Maybe I shouldn’t be here…” Junkrat thought to himself for perhaps the first time ever. Maybe it was walking through the unsettlingly sterile corridors of Talon, maybe it was the bright white overhead lights and smell of formaldehyde that seemed to overwhelm his senses, or maybe it was the faces of terrified rabbits sitting in cages. Half of them seemed to be undergoing some type of mutation or healing from various surgeries. The other half dreaded the same fate.
“You don’t look well, little lab rat.” Moira commented, turning back toward her newest test subject. “If you’re having second thoughts, don’t. Frankly, it should be an honor to have me experiment on you at all.”
“Ah, I’m fine! I’m just not used to being in such a fancy-schmancy place!” Junkrat insisted, making his way over to the rabbits to stick his fingers in their cages.
“Do not touch them!” Moira scolded, grabbing Junkrat’s hand with her right. Her overgrown nails sunk into his skin slightly as she yanked him hard enough to spin him around. The flesh on her hand was near-dead. Cold, saggy, and tough.
Junkrat let out a small whimper at the touch, and to that, Moira’s face changed. A subtle grin pulled itself across her gaunt face as her claws tapped against his wrist.
“Did you just smile?” Junkrat asked, his head swiveling to examine her face more closely. It was something he’d never seen from her. The hints of a crazed smile that may rival his own if given the proper time.
“No.” Moira lied without any hint of emotion. The only hint toward truth being the way that her left hand lifted itself to cover her mouth. Junkrat’s brow furrowed. He was sure she smiled, and he was sure he could get her to do it again.
“Anyway, if you’re done harassing my precious little test subjects,” Moira began, letting go of Junkrat and walking toward the examination table, “You may lie here.”
“Why would I wanna do that?!” Junkrat asked, taken slightly aback. “I’d never lie to you, doc! I pride myself on being an honest rat!” That, of course, was a lie in itself. Moira’s jaw clenched at the stupidity.
“I meant— just sit on the table, Jamison.”
“Ohh!” Junkrat cooed, “That does make more sense doesn’t it?” The man hopped up on the table with haste, shifting his weight once he was on it in an attempt to make himself comfortable.
“You may need to remove your… tire.” Moira pointed out. “And remove those explosives while you’re at it.”
“You can’t be serious!” He protested, crossing his arms over his chest as if to somehow protect the grenades that decorated each shoulder.
“Now.” Moira demanded. Her voice sent a chill up Junkrat’s spine and made his hair stand on end. He began to remove his beloved bombs while grumbling under his breath. He moved sluggishly, like a child throwing a silent tantrum. It was amusing to his new so-called doctor.
“You should feel lucky, you know.” She began to explain as the tire hit the floor. “Talon doesn’t receive guests often. What’s even rarer is that they allow a stranger to bring weapons into the building. I had to make quite the case for you.” Her laugh was dark. Maybe that was just how it sounded all the time.
“Yeah? And why’d ya do that?” Junkrat asked, removing the multiple explosives as though he were simply taking off a vest.
“Because you’re interesting.” Moira lifted her right hand to Junkrat’s face and caressed his strong jaw with her purple fingers. Her nails scratched against his stubble in a way that made his body stiffen. His grip on his belongings loosened, causing the metal canisters to loudly hit the tiled floor. She was almost concerned by how casually he treated such volatile weapons. Almost.
Moira retracted her hand and got back to business. Her eyes scanned his long, slender torso for other possible complications. Junkrat wasn’t used to being… looked at. Not this intensely. He could almost feel her cool gaze against his skin. It gave him goosebumps. Moira’s eyes fixed on the subtle changes to his skin, his posture, his body language. There it was again. A hint of a smile. Junkrat didn’t even notice it this time. Perhaps he was distracted.
“Alright, lie down.” The doctor turned around to grab some tools. Junkrat couldn’t identify them exactly, but if you were to ask him, he’d probably say there were some stickies, some pokies, and some proddies.
When Moira turned back around she saw the tall man laying on his side. His arm propped up his head, his hand holding the side of his face. Meanwhile one of his knees was up in a perfect triangle.
“What are you doing?” She asked, completely unamused.
“I’m laying down,” He responded. “What does it look like?”
Moira’s hands slammed down on the examination table so hard that it startled the man on top of it. “I don’t know what you think you’re doing,” she began, leaning over so she could speak directly into his ear. Her breath, unlike everything else about her, was warm. “But this is strictly professional, do you understand?”
Junkrat was frozen for a moment before swallowing the lump in his throat and nodding. “…How do you want me to lay then?”
“Down.” She said, making sure to enunciate while reaching to grab her tools.
Junkrat didn’t find that response very helpful. He thought he was lying down. But if this wasn’t right, maybe he should be lying on his back instead. That’s how they did it on tv, wasn’t it? He began to adjust himself. It wasn’t very pleasant or familiar to him, but neither was anything else right now.
Soon, Moira’s hands were back on him. She stuck small… thingamajigs to his collarbone. Each one had two wires leading out of it.
“What do these do?!” Junkrat asked, entranced by machinery unlike anything he’d ever seen.
Moira hesitated before answering, as though actually being helpful in any way was unfamiliar to her. “These will tell me how much radiation your pathetic body is expelling while I run my tests.”
“Oh!” Junkrat started, “Like a thermometer!”
“No.”
“Like an x-ray?”
“No.”
“Like a Geiger counter?!”
“No— well, yes. Sort of.” Moira found herself impressed. “Perhaps you’re smarter than I originally thought. Good job, vermin.”
“Why thanks, lady!” Junkrat smiled at the praise. No one ever called him smart. Well, she didn’t really call him smart, she called him smarter than she thought he was. Still, it was a compliment all the same to him.
Her hands moved down toward his pectorals and the strange feelings arose again. She prepared each spot with a cool, gel-like liquid before carefully applying the sensors. Interestingly, all with her bare hands. Junkrat had never felt Moira’s left hand before this, and he’d certainly never had anyone’s hands on his chest. The faint traces of human touch made him feel vulnerable. Vulnerable and warm.
“Now I’m going to attach something different to you.” She informed him. “These will pump more radiation into your body.” She held up another sticky thing with two wires leading out of it. It looked identical to the first.
“How exactly am I supposed to tell them apart?” Junkrat asked.
“Why would you have to?”
“Good point,” Junkrat shrugged. As Moira continued with whatever she was doing, Junkrat found himself looking at her. Perhaps staring would be a better word. Her face was always so… stern. But when she worked, it was different. She seemed calm, and her hands were gentle. They glided around Junkrat’s body as his chest rose and fell. He, too, was unusually calm.
Soon, Moira had made her way to his abdomen. Junkrat began convulsing slightly as she prepped the area, a smile growing on his face. Once she began to apply the gel, all hope of keeping a straight face was lost. He began to laugh and kick his legs.
“What are you doing?” Moira asked, already knowing the answer.
“Sorry doc, I’m a bit ticklish!” Junkrat tried to explain between chuckles.
“Well stop it.” Moira said, as though such a command would be simple.
“How do you suppose I do that?!” Junkrat asked, as if he was about to hear of a miracle cure.
“Self control.”
A disappointing answer. Still, Junkrat flexed his abdominal muscles and made his face more serious-looking. When Moira tried for the second time, Junkrat trembled under her touch for a few moments before completely losing it again. He erupted in laughter and thrashed his body so hard that Moira began to worry about the other sensors she’d already attached.
“Enough!” She shouted, grabbing Junkrat by the shoulders. His breathing was still unsteady, but he was having much less fun with her yelling at him.
“Jeez, lady, I’m sorry.” Junkrat said earnestly. “I really tried! Truly, honestly, absolutely!” His face went a bit flush as he spoke.
“It’s…! fine, I suppose.” Moira said, keeping her hands on his collar. Her thumbs adjusted themselves, making small circles over his clavicle while she considered her options. Junkrat looked up at her, a fluttery feeling filling his stomach. Moira’s sharp features were deep in thought while her hands pinned him down. He felt his chest raise her hands as he laughed awkwardly. He could make a somewhat suggestive joke, but for some reason, he wouldn’t dare.
“I have an idea,” Moira stated.
“Another genius idea! Lay it on me!” Junkrat couldn’t possibly have guessed that the doctor would take his suggestion literally. She lifted herself onto the examination table with him.
“Woah, what are you doin’?!” Junkrat asked, shifting uncomfortably under Moira. If he wasn’t blushing before, he definitely was now! She managed to get herself onto hands and knees. Both hands on his chest, her knees placed on either side of waist.
“I’m keeping you stable.” The words came out as if the answer was somehow painfully obvious. Moira lowered herself so she was sitting on Junkrat’s lap. Her hands, one completely human, the other mutated, found their way to Junkrat’s hands.
“I could just put you in the restraints but…” She began to talk again as she put Junkrat’s hands in a very specific position by the sides of the table. After that, she pressed a button. “You’re far too tall and… volatile to be held as still as I’d like.” Mental cuffs closed around Junkrat’s arms and legs. Moira remained on his lap as she reached for her tools.
“This doesn’t seem very— erm— professional!” Junkrat protested, his face hot as he avoided eye-contact.
“I’m sorry, did you expect Doctor Ziegler when you came in today?” Moira snapped back. He didn’t. To be frank, he didn’t really want to be in Angela’s care either. She didn’t seem like nearly as much fun.
“That’s what I thought.” Moira finished. She began applying the gel once again. Junkrat struggled to control himself for exactly five seconds before completely giving up. That was fine, because Moira’s plan worked. Jamison’s wrists and shin slammed against metal as he cackled, but he couldn’t thrash around nearly as much as before. Soon, everything was set up.
“Done already?” Junkrat asked, as Moira lowered herself off of him.
“Indeed,” she replied. Weirdly, Junkrat was slightly disappointed.
“Alright then, can you get all this stuff off of me?” Junkrat asked, trying to squeeze his hands out of his bindings.
“Oh, you misunderstood me.” Moira explained, “I’m finished with sticking my devices onto you. The experiment hasn’t started yet.”
“Oh.” Junkrat seemed confused and a bit concerned. “That was only the set-up?”
“Affirmative.”
Junkrat laid in silence while Moira turned dials on a large machine next to his head. After a few minutes, she spoke again.
“Now is the fun part.” She flipped a small switch. Junkrat braced himself. For… nothing?
“What’s going on?” Junkrat asked.
“You don’t feel that?” Moira questioned, immediately turning to scribble something in her notes.
“Feel what?” He asked, looking around as if he’d find the answer somewhere.
“I’m pumping you full of radiation right now. Any normal person would feel like their skin is burning.” Moira explained, her eyes widened with amazement.
“Well you’re gonna have to try harder than that to affect ol’ Jamison ‘Junkrat’ Fawkes!” Junkrat boasted. If he had any self-awareness at all, he’d know that it’d be unwise to pose such a challenge to Dr. Moira O’Deorian. Before he could rethink his statement in the slightest, she cranked a knob by more than a few settings. Junkrat grimaced as the tingly burning began.
“Oh yeah, now I feel it.” He said through gritted teeth. Moira’s surprised expression turned to intrigue. Junkrat saw it again. That smile that crept at the woman’s lips.
She turned the dial slightly further.
“Oh shit!” Junkrat’s neck strained as though his head was trying to remove itself from his body. The burning wasn’t the worse part, the dizziness and nausea that came with it was. His face began to change hue as his wrists fought his bindings. His whimpers and whines became groans with every passing moment. Despite it all, he didn’t tell her to stop. He simply watched her face the best he could manage. Her eyes were almost manic with interest. Her small smile turned into a grin.
She turned the dial one final time.
Junkrat yelped. The radiation pouring in and out of his body was intense. More intense than anything he’d ever encountered in Junkertown. It made his head spin and his body ache. His shin slammed into the metal, leaving bruises.
Then, Moira began to laugh. She leaned over Junkrat until their faces were nearly touching. “You are so incredibly fascinating, my little lab rat!” The image of her swirled uneasily as he tried to smile with her. “You're receiving unheard of amounts of radiation and yet somehow you’re still conscious. You are an absolute wonder of science.” For whatever reason, this time it was her left hand that caressed his jaw while her right combed through his patchy, burnt hair.
“G-glad to be of h-help.” Junkrat managed, closing his eyes tightly. He tried to focus on the sensation of her touch and not the overwhelming sickly feeling.
“Now, time to get you out of there.” Moira said, almost as if she were disappointed.
“I can t-take more!” Junkrat insisted, his robotic hand clawing at the exam table. Moira looked at him, surprised then disappointed.
“That would be fun, my eager little play-thing. But alas, even I am not that… irresponsible.” She stated, flipping the switch on her machine once again.
To Junkrat’s unspoken relief, the radiation stopped. Although his breathing was hard and he still didn’t feel well.
“We will run more experiments soon.” Moira stated, freeing Junkrat from his restraints. Junkrat grabbed his bruised wrist and rubbed it to try to dull the pain. Still, he didn’t get up.
“Do you need… help?” Moira asked after a few moments.
“Y-yes please,” Junkrat pleaded. She gently sat him up. Then she caressed his back, perhaps longer than a doctor should, as she waited for him to recover.
To Jamison, that small bit of compassion made it all worth it.