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Quiet crinklings of paper, soft buzzing of the over head lights, cold tile and metal and an abrasive, sterile scent were all familiar notes of the Medic's office and medbay.
Medic wrapped up the left over paperwork from his previous patient as he waited for the next one to enter.
He was expecting a new patient, hooking them up to the respawn machine, and updating and filing what paper work they had.
Oh, speaking of. Medic's finger tips glided over the entries in the open file cabinet next to him. A lot needed to be cleaned out, or well, terminated. What use was the file of a dead man anyway?
He plucked their newest Pyro's information from its folder. It was a mere two pages. And... mostly blank?
Well, this was going to be interesting.
There was no name, sex, age, or records of medical history, save a rabies shot and blood type... Ms. Pauling did warn him one of the files might be tricky, but this was more... well, much less, than he was expecting to deal with.
There was the click and hiss of the medbay doors opening, entering through them was the Pyro.
"Ah, you must be the new Pyro?" Medic called out from his office. He could see the medbay door if he left his office one open. Convenient if you asked him.
He left his desk to prepare the padded table as they stood boredly a few feet from the door. He directed them to sit up on the table and with the trailing soft clicks of his boots, he was gone again to retrieve some papers he forgot in his office.
Pyro sat politely on the table with their hands folded and feet swaying in the least distracting manner they could manage.
Medic could not remember where he left the new patient forms. He'd checked the desk, corner cabinet, the rolling file cabinet. He knew they weren't in the stationary file cabinet, but now he was beginning to wonder. Has it really been that long since their last recruit?
He stood a moment, humming in frustration. "We'll have to make due without," he mumbled to himself.
He readjusted his right glove, "Well, Pyro? Are you ready to get started?"
The glass eyes of the mask stared back emotionless in manner.
That was all the confirmation he needed!
He started with a series of questions, what he could remember from the form he lost at least, and Pyro answered with a nod or a shake of the head. All without a hitch.
"There was some basic information missing on your file, Pyro. Your gender, age, and medical records. Is this something you care to fill me in on?" Medic rose a brow as he eyed the other.
He watched as the pyro' hands clench and shoulders tense, then relax, if only minutely. They shook their head.
He'll have to update it over time then. Something is bound to come to light eventually.
Medic gave a curt nod and clapped his hands together, more ready for the next part, "Now that's out of the way, would you care to undress? I need to get to your arm for something."
Pyro shook their head determinedly.
"I only need a blood sample and to check some of your body's performance." He can experiment with the ubercharge on someone.. more agreeable.
Still, the masked person disagreed, looking down at their fidgeting hands.
The medic sighed, bring a hand up to palm at his receding hairline in frustration, "You can't leave until it's done. I assure you I will not share anything I witness, doctor's word." He may not be a true doctor anymore, but he sounded honest and that's what mattered.
Their head made the slightest tilt to the side.
Were they considering it? Medic couldn't be sure. Yet. He'll need to watch this one to better under stand them... All in due time. For now he needed to figure out how to get this person to cooperate with him.
He did not want to use force with them, he exerted plenty of that with their scout. Really though, that was his smallest needle! What a baby.
And... he'd heard some tidbits about this particular Pyro. Extremely violent when engaged in combat, and sometimes out of it. The being's seemingly docile demeanor might be a... face of sorts for them? Medic shook his head. He's getting ahead of himself here.
He leaned back against the counter's edge, propping his chin on a thumb and curled finger. His brows knit together in thought.
The Pyro started to swing their feet again, looking around the room. They were surveying all the shelves' and nooks' crannies. At least that was medic's guess.
So, what else had he heard about this new Pyro? They were an exchange from another team, and he wasn't supposed to tell the others or... there would be some sort of repercussion waiting for him. He couldn't remember the details... Continuing, he'd gotten their files from another medic, who promptly left no notes and seemingly disregarded filing altogether. That medic must have been lazy. He even told him he'd get fresh, up to date files and he was given these two empty pages of all things.
Ms. Pauling didn't mention a direct reason for the Pyro's transfer, but she was kind enough to tell him that the medic didn't have trouble with them. So... he can't imagine the Pyro never needing medical attention, and that leaves him very limited conclusions.
That medic could have had a trick up his sleeve... or the Pyro is shy.
Both make sense and could even coexist, but he doesn't have enough material to work from now-
There was a metallic squeak. The cheap cushioned table that Pyro was sitting on creaked as they got off it, but they then pause during the movement. Half on and half off the piece of furniture, the Pyro stared him dead in the face.
Medic had bored his patient. Great!
"Sorry about that Herr Pyro. As I've said, we can't have you leaving just yet!" He pushed away from the counter.
Pyro's shoulders sunk as they scooched back onto the plasticy material of the padded table.
Medic gathered up a stethoscope and other items he needed to properly assess his patient. "You wouldn't happen to be willing to share what that other medic did to get you agreeable, would you, hmmm?" Medic asked with a bit of humor and a cheeky smile. He didn't expect an answer.
With a rubbery squeak, Pyro idly pulled at one of the fingers of their gloves. A heavy breath made it through the hiss of their ventilator.
He was only slightly disappointed he guessed right.
"You realize this leaves me no choice!" He proclaimed if only for added effect. He had... more than enough ideas of what else he could do. All at the expense of the poor Pyro, however. Not that it was a bother to him.
The doctor rummaged through a cabinet noisily. Clinking glass, ruffling papers, and the sharp scratch of metal on metal could be heard. With little flourish, but a proud gesture, medic presented a wide, lidded jar with colorful candies in it. Taffy, a variety of hard candies, suckers, and chewing gum made up the selection!
Even if the jar was a sad fourth of the way full, the pyro bent forward and tilted their head up. It made the vent on their mask level with the glass jar. Hurried breath, or... sniffing, could be heard through their vent.
Perfect! Medic grinned triumphantly and brought the jar back to his chest. "If you let me do what I need to by agreeing to my requests, I'll give you one handful," he held a red, gloved finger up for emphasis.
The gesture dissuaded their slowly lifting hand from potential candy thieving. They stared. The glass and metal of their mask was dull, covered in a thin layer of soot. What was most likely soot at least.
Medic stood his ground, waiting almost patiently for a response. His smile started to strain when they finally answered with a curt nod. They brought a hand up to the zipper on the front of their suit.
"Wunderbar!" he set down the jar on the counter behind him and swiftly pulled over a rolling cart he set his stuff on. He wasn't expecting that to work! He only had it in there for Scout, Sniper, and Heavy. As for why it was tucked away, he had to hide it from Scout specifically. You give that boy a piece, and he takes a handful.
Medic pretended to occupy himself with organizing his tools. It reminded him of his time at the medical school. It was a miracle they let him finish... Though, he didn't have any sharp objects in the spread this time around.
The clicking of a zipper being pulled down painfully slow could be heard from behind him. Once the zipper stopped, a rattled breath could be heard from the other's vent.
Medic turned and was pleased to see that they were already taking an arm out of their suit sleeve.
Their skin was sweaty and flushed from being in the stuffy, fire-retardant suit. Obvious burn scars peaked out from their damp, ratty old tank top and disappeared under where the other half of the suit was still pulled on.
Medic completely ignored the scarring and got ready to take their blood pressure. The scars were no business if his, and he'd keep it that way.
He slid the cuff up their arm, noting the sparse scarring compared to what he saw on their chest. They seemed to be a female, going off of skeletal structure, but he wasn't about to bet on it.
Pyro's gloved hand anxiously pulled and pinched at the suit's rubber over their leg.
A gloved hand stilled their kicking leg, "the kicking would mess up your blood pressure's reading. You can get back to it once we're done. Only a while longer."
They fidgeted more with their hands as they tried to keep their legs still.
--
They still weren't entirely sure they could trust the doctor. But if anything was betrayed, they'd just have to make him regret it.
Maybe it was a bit childish to agree over some promised candy, but it kept things simple. And made a decent tool to make others underestimate them. The more they learned about their facade the better.
This medic had more patience than the last... and they didn't wanna mess that up. Other Medic was handsy and forceful, but, thankfully, this medic managed to have some poise and manners at least. They could do without his inconsistent but prominent yapping or pregnant silences but it wasn't unlivable.
It was a good day the leave the goggles in their bag... they needed to keep a keen eye on this guy. He was confident. Concerningly so... but he hasn't made a mistake yet.
They were almost wanting him to make one.
A sigh wheezed though their mask as they leaned back on their free hand. That could be fun, but it probably wasn't worth it. Ugh, they just wanted this over with so they could get the goggles back on. Being so cognate was tiring...
The doctor didn't seem to have any issues with their body. He'd be getting a swift kick to the groin if there were any issues! Problem with their body? They got one with yours.
The medic's glassy eyes flicked up at the pyro.
He was gonna say something wasn't he?
"I hope my idle talk doesn't bother you too much," the doctor said conversationally.
Ah, yep.
They tilted their head, simply to let the other know they heard. Truthfully, they don't wanna hear it. Just getting it over with would be nice.
Uggghh, this better not be a full exam or whatever. Pyro was not gonna stand for that. Crusty old man can keep his hands to himself.
"You know, Pyro, you're the quietest mercenary I've ever treated. And that's impressive!" The man straightened his posture, and pulled the blood pressure cuff off. He put the stethoscope's buds in his ears and placed a large, warm hand on their shelless shoulder.
They barely fought the urge to shove him off and hit him with the tool cart. Their hands fisted into their thick rubber suit legs. A subtle tilt of the doctors head told them he noticed.
"Our Sniper is as shy as a bat! We hardly see him, even at mealtimes, and much less hear him talk," Medic placed his stethoscope's ear to their chest and mumbled for them to take a 'nice' deep breath.
"Oh! Did you get the schedule? Our Scout was supposed to give you the paper, but you can also find it posted on the kitchen door. It's not updated regularly. Anyway," he shifted his jaw and idly tapped a finger on their shoulder. "Have you had any trouble with your body, any concerns?" His tone was... bored almost. It was still pleasant but it was as if asking took the life out of his soul. Very much a contrast to his talk about... novelty. He seems to enjoy that a lot.
They shook their head. This medic was... something. Definitely not trust worthy, but not.. unpersonable? He hasn't been unkind, and he's better than the last doctor they had to tolerate. So far at least.
"Perfect!" He clasped his hand together, threw the stethoscope on the cart, gleefully looked at the cart, hand ready to grab something, and he paused. A grumble left him as he sped walked over to a cluttered counter. They couldn't make out what he was mumbling about through their mask... not that they really cared.
They watched as the doctor returned with something held, hidden in his fist. This time he walked behind them briskly. There was a quiet creak of something moving, but they didn't turn around fast enough to see.
The doctor was back in view and presented what was a sharp needle connected to a-
They pointedly looked away. There was no getting out of this. Making it difficult will make it worse. And they don't want it worse.
A full bodied but short laugh left the doctor, "afraid of needles, Pyro?" They could hear the grin in his voice and they hated it.
He firmly took their upper arm the same moment they tried to lean away. "Ah, ah. None of that. You're doing so much better than that Scout, don't start acting like a baby now."
The pinch on their inner elbow meant one thing and they couldn't help the way they braced their body or the muffled exclamation that escaped them.
Ok! This medic was evil. He's getting time out as soon as they get the goggles back on.
He chuckled again, light heartedly, "we're almost done here. You should be free soon." There was something off in his voice.
They couldn't place it, they were too busy with the needle in their arm to really think about it.
This medic was evil, but was he worse than the last one? Sitting in agony outside of the medbay for what felt like hours, fresh bruises, dim, twitching lights, and the subtle but ruining smell of rotting laundry flashed through their mind.
Yes, he'd better be an improvement if he knows what's good for him.
Their hand found the metal siding of padded table and tapped loudly. Anything to try forgetting the needle and unwanted memories. It didn't work as much as they wanted it too.
A strip of gauze wrapped around the crook of their elbows and was secured with a small metal clip. "There we go! That wasn't so bad, now was it?" Medic teased as he checked over the vials he got.
He talks too much.
After a hiccup with their sore arm's bending, they pulled their shell back on, zipping it up swiftly with metallic clicks.
The pinkish taffy, two, round hard candies, yellow sucker, and single piece of chewing gum was not worth the trouble they dealt with. The parse, hallway lighting glittered over the treats' wrappers unappealingly.
They stood just outside of the medbay. Still as one of the cheap waiting chairs lining the wall.
Admittedly, the encounter was better than most of their previous ones. No bruises or unpleasantness. Things were even looking better than they had in a long while.
They were dissatisfied with that.
Why is that..?
They shook their head, rubber squeaking comfortingly. The candy was shoved in a belt pouch intended for ammunition. Likely to be forgotten about, and dubbed a surprise by future Pyro.
It was time to get those goggles back on.