( Written by http://mortalanonymous.deviantart.com/ ) Ch 1 - Orientation "...aaand that's what that was. Like I just finished explaining, yesterday was to make sure those 'respawn' dealies we put in your brains worked. Your real jobs start tomorrow. If you have any problems about this, please direct your concerns directly to my fists! If you have questions, direct them to your administrator's version of Bidwell here because I don't care. That is all. Welcome to Mann Co!" The burly Australian wrestling seven cougars on the small television set became a wall of static and the mousy woman in the purple dress next to it pushed a button to eject the tape. Also turning off the set she then turned from the wooden table against the far wall of a somewhat shoddy war room, facing nine rather unimpressed-looking mercenary men. Her hands modestly clasped a clipboard before her, but her smile was friendly as she informed, "My name would be Miss Pauling. I work mostly behind-the-scenes with Administrator, but I'm also here to handle all your problems. Did anyone have questions?" No one had any real ones, simply being miffed about finding out the hard way that their mirroring kill targets kept coming back and that they were suddenly unable to stay dead as well. The only one who raised his hand to speak was the youngest man, sporting a red t-shirt, dogtags and a cocky smirk. "Yeah, I got a question: you single? Cuz I noticed you haven't been able to take them pretty eyes off-a dis." His fingers all spread as they indicated his smooth, boyish face. "If there's nothing, then I guess I'll leave you to get acquainted," Miss Pauling continued to smile, adjusting her horn-rimmed glasses and ignoring Scout. She hadn't looked at him once since shaking his hand. "You can kill each other while in the base, so be careful please. Leaving base property will mean you're outside the respawn censor and only have one life again. Other than that, pick a room for yourself if you haven’t yet and be ready to report to the mess hall at oh-seven-hundred. Nice to meet you all." As she departed, the men shifted a little awkwardly now that they had to socialize. They really had to live with each other? They didn't know anything about each other, other than what they'd seen on the field yesterday. Well this was just peachy. "She digs me," Scout assured everyone as he stared dreamily at the exit. The others could already tell the boy was going to be annoying. One man, however, had immediately taken the freedom to interact as he stepped quickly to approach the largest party present. Medic had gotten a chance to see how this man worked and that he would be practically perfect as a field partner, but he was interested in more than that. All of the men around him looked like fun specimens and the doctor couldn't wait to have his hands at them, their minds and their insides; in fact, the one in the flame suit trying to hug his fellows now was also quite curious, but the giant Russian...he was powerful. Strong. Tough. Big. There was a lot of potential there, in many areas. "Guten tag, mein Freund," the German greeted flirtatiously over the circular rims of his glasses, "I hope sincerely zhat you like men, but if not, I suppose I vill just have to convince you." Oh, the large man was as handsome as he was intriguing; large hazel eyes, perfectly rounded yet hard features, such expressive muscle structure. Medic wanted to lay him as badly as he wanted to cut through his guts. His arms crossed on his chest, Heavy had listened quietly through the presentation Mr. Hale had kindly provided for them. The Australian looked like a strong man. Such a worthy opponent he would be. The Russian made a mental note to keep an eye out for any opportunities to fight this man. Once the little lady had left the room, he glanced around himself at the eight men he was supposed to call his teammates from now on. Such babies. How were they even able to fight with real weapons when half of them looked like twigs? Especially the tiny, loud one. Then there was this masked, smoking one. How would he carry his own Sascha with those weak arms? The tallest one had big hands, but otherwise he reminded the Russian of a flagpole. Next there were two short ones. Not as thin as the three previous, but small otherwise. Then there were the black one and the screaming one. They looked like they knew how to fight like real men. They even had real weapons with them, too. Then last, but not least, there was— The giant blinked when the doctor was suddenly talking to him. The things Medic spoke were even more surprising. The whole room was suddenly quiet as Scout's sex life as their eyes were on the two. Heavy hated how his cheeks felt warmer all of a sudden. "Leetle man is stoopid," he snorted, turning his head away from the German. What kind of thing was that to say when they had just met? Medic's eyes closed briefly as he tutted in amusement. Convincing it was. He enjoyed every eye in the room being on him as he maintained visual contact with the large man's face. They would each get their own turn. "Actually, I vas top of all my classes in Stuttgart. I vas also zhe top physician for a gute while at my old practice, until zhis razher unfortunate incident got out about a man und his skeleton being entirely out of his body...but I will tell you about zhat later. I assure, if nozhing else, I know my way around zhe male figure extremely vell..." A sly glove had ghosted so lightly up the Russian's forearm it might have been a gentle breeze. Reactions from the others started to vary. The doctor sensed curiosity, stun, disgust...and interest. Hm. Now who could that be coming from? He let his gaze flick for a second to find the masked agent next to the hobo in a helmet who had forced his way into the meeting. Was this team so easy? Medic smirked and held it as his lids turned sultry and went back to drilling Heavy's pink cheek. The Russian glanced at the doctor in the corner of his eye before snorting again and walking off. He'd have plenty of time getting to know to his team later. It was Sascha's bedtime and his little baby needed her rest. Without another word the giant took his leave and headed for his new bedroom. He felt the team's eyes in his back until he was out of sight. "What the hell was that crap?!" the youngest of them exclaimed, turning his wide eyes to their new doctor. So he was, like, gay? No way he'd ever take his shirt off for any medical tests! For standing still so long unguarded, the doctor became the first victim of the suited man trying to give out hugs. Being surprised and then chuckling Medic answered, "Zhat vas called being friendly, jungling. Vould you like me to teach? You might vant to decide quickly, as demand seems to be spiking." Turning to the person over his back he inquired, "Und who might you be?" Two syllables perked from the optical mask on his shoulder but the German couldn't understand them. "Firo?" The shorter party shook his head exaggeratedly and backed up a couple steps before bringing his hands together and launching a brief burst of flame to the room's center. Scout now screamed and flinched animatedly, not getting a chance to deny the doctor's freaky offer. Where the heck had that fire come from?! "What, now we got a freakin' pyromaniac??" The huggy man bounced excitedly and clapped after pointing eagerly to show Scout had gotten it right Medic found his brow quirking. Perhaps that man, if it really was a man, was just a certain kind of special. He would really have to look into it at some point, but right now there was still more suggestive groundwork to be laid. Three down, five to test. "Cheers, mate!" The dark man with an eyepatch waved his half-full bottle in the air before taking a few gulps. He offered some to the German, but since the taller man didn't seem to be very interested, he pulled his arm back. "So, yoo're da medic, eh? Eet's good ta have one o' those een da team, ya knoe? Ah mean, don't ever go ta work for a wizard withoot havin' a bloody medic with ya! Ya lose yer eye, mate! See?" He pointed at the patch through his Scottish slurring. He was pushed aside by Soldier who kept a close eye on the doctor from under his oversized helmet. "Listen here, sister. This is America! We are Americans! As your duty, you WILL heal my ass whenever I need you to! You got that, cupcake?!" He barked with his loud, hoarse voice. "Oh, I do not zhink zhat vill be a problem," a pass-offish hand was waved while the German smiled coyly at these two. There was a slight glint in his eye as he found their sloshing and swaggering idiotically charming. "Und I vould expect zhe same from you, should my drift be caught. All of you." His eyes cast over the trio he'd yet to talk to. They'd each been rather quiet, like the Russian, but far less striking. The stringy one had nice sharp teeth and looked like he could provide a good grip. The one in the fancy suit seemed vain but still worth a shot. The goggled one in the hardhat actually felt a little boring. But you never knew. "Eet ees a pleasure." Spy reached his hand to the healer when he walked towards the Frenchman. It was nice to meet an actual doctor in the middle of this bunch of madmen. The agent's eyes were sharp and he didn't seem to be able to let go of the cigarette in between his lips. Nearby, the tallest of the group didn't look very impressed. Fancy clothes or titles, it was all the same anyway. They alone weren't enough to ensure success on the field. A kneading thumb ran over the agent's as Medic took Spy's glove with both of his, firmly and with purpose. "Mm. Yes, I certainly hope it vill be." A quick glance at the cigarette and he couldn't help mentioning, "Zhat is very unhealzhy you know. Uck. Poisonous filzh, even." He didn’t care about the spy’s well-being, but wondered what the man's lungs must look like and how often he was going to have to replace them. And what with? "Oui, I am quite aware of zhat," the Frenchman nodded lightly. "Zhe forbidden fruit always tastes zhe best, non?" he continued, giving the German a meaningful look. He was sure everyone in the room knew what he meant. "Yeh do realize yer comparin' fruit ta cancer sticks?" The Aussie next to the masked agent spoke up. The shorter one raised his eyebrow. "Excuze-moi? I do not remember saying anyzhing to you, monsieur." He gave Sniper a long, measuring look. "And, for your information, mon ami, eet was a figure of speech. I was not comparing my cigarettes to any fruit," he clarified. He did not like the bushman. "Oh, I think he was," Scout chipped in. He hadn't been sure whether to wrinkle his nose or poke fun, but now it was too much. The way Spy had taken that weird comment...no way, could there be two gay guys here? The boy had such a big mouth but it still overflowed easily. "This whole room's startin' to feel like a big ol' fruit salad to me. What about you, huh Hardhat? You fruity too?" He'd bumped his elbow into the only man who hadn't spoken. He earned a glare and a light reprimanding smack upside the head, a clear southern scold ringing, "Boy, you shut yer yap..! A man's preference ain't nothin' to be ashamed of, nor anythin' to be interrogated about. Private matters are private for a reason." Pyro had giggled over the little smack and came in to give the man who'd amused him a hug too. Scout wiggled his fingers and sarcastically bugged his eyes. "Oooo, yeah? Well sounds to me like someone's a little defensive. Hey look, ya even got a scary boyfriend right there..! Well as much as I'd love to stick around and enjoy the flirt-fest--oh wait, no I wouldn't. I'm gonna go find myself a room. See you losers later." With a click of the tongue and double trigger fingers he left. While the man in overalls hemmed to himself, Pyro darted to follow the youngest. Find a room? Oh boy! He wanted to be sure to get something next to at least one new friend! Medic had liked Spy's reaction, but noted with disappointment that the engineer was quite probably every bit as boring as he seemed, and the Aussie sounded a bit slow on uptakes. Scout...well he was clearly a brat and needed work, but was a scrawny virgin worth it? He found himself thinking about Heavy. Oh, now there was an opposite. He could probably crush the runt's spine in his massive hand. Mmm, the Russian was definitely going to be the doctor's first prey, no matter what. Just the thought of manipulating that powerhouse was giving him goosebumps. Heavy was putting Sascha to bed. He had built her a tiny little one that was next to his own. Just a humble little thing for his beloved minigun, but it had to do for now. Next the man would take a shower. They had common showers downstairs but the giant didn't really mind sharing. Those were the rules and he was going to follow them. He stripped to his undershirt and boxers, grabbed his towel and left to find said showers. On his way he couldn't help the fact that his mind was constantly slipping back to the doctor. The smaller man was older, but he had sharp features. Icy blue eyes, perfect teeth when he grinned...Heavy shook his head. Such stupid thoughts. The German was eager and attractive, but why should he be interested in the Russian? It didn't take long for Heavy to manage finding the showers. The base was like a maze, but that wasn't enough to confuse him. His mind kept racing when he undressed. He thought about his former lovers. He hadn't had many, thanks to his big size. While some had rejected him for simply being too fat - a real man had to eat! - the ones who had ended up bed with him...they had been hurt. Not only was the man himself quite huge, his manhood was also massive. He had never had sex twice with a same person. Never. He wasn't sure what the healer saw in him, but for his own safety it was going to be better to stay away from Heavy. Medic and the others finished talking quickly enough. There hadn't really been much to say past introductions that the doctor cared about. He wasn't fond of the emotional side of human interaction, could read personalities rather quickly, and was sure he'd hear plenty of stories in due time whether willing or not. Now he entered the medical ward, the entirety of which he'd been quick to claim for himself, and felt a wave of relieving familiarity wash over him. Taking off his coat and gloves he let a pleasant sigh escape him. This was truly his element. He couldn't wait to dirty the place up with smatterings of instruments and organs. It would be like breaking in a new car. His room across the way he didn't think much of so long as it would be a quiet place to escape and read. His office and waiting area were mere necessities. But the operating room...oh yes. He was already loving this one and smiled easily as he called in greeting, "Hello my lieblings! Daddy is here! Is everyone settling in alright?" Thirty-seven doves flapped, shifted and cooed at the call. Medic counted them in satisfaction as a handful came to him and settled about his head and arms. Good, no one had had run away yet. These birds were his closest companions, and that was perfectly fine with him. They listened far better than humans and their constant curiosity gave him something to talk to. He'd never thought himself to be a pet person, but then he didn't really consider them pets. He just happened to think stealing that wedding van as he escaped Stuttgart had been a happy accident. He chuckled now to himself as he wondered if anyone would care to hear that story. It was quite funny, but his sense of humor was often lost on others. Another reason birds were so much better. Turning to one now he started talking sweetly, "Oh, vhat a couple days zhis has been, ja Socrates? So much deazh. Vonderful. Yeees, yes it has been my little friend. Und Daddy's even found himself somezhing of interest on his team..! I know, such a surprise! But he really looks quite fun..!" He tickled choice doves' chests affectionately as he opted to continue unpacking his belongings from the crates they'd joined him in. He had a lot of stuff. As he did this he shared his first real impressions about his new teammates. The one he discussed most was Heavy, his chatter turning a bit energetic in regards to him. Gott, was he really that eager to get his hooks into a simple slab of meat? At the end of the day it was just a man. The German chalked it up to time gone without a lay and simply never having seen someone so able and willing to cause pain. He liked both watching and experiencing pain, though the first a bit more. After the Russian was done showering, he dried himself and wrapped his towel around his waist. On his way back he managed to scare Scout half to death as the boy was walking around the corridors, looking for his way to the showers himself. The tiny one was awfully jumpy. Just seeing a man's bare chest made him twist his face and make stupid gagging sounds. Heavy ignored him. Back in his room he pulled on a fresh pair of underwear and tested his new bed. It complained weakly under his weight, but other than that it was fine. The giant decided he had earned his rest. With a quiet groan he closed his eyes, relaxing and going through the day's events. Medic's smirk kept popping into his mind and that made sleeping impossible. Why would the doctor want him when he could have any gay man for sure? Surely the man hadn't sensed his sexuality, had he? No, that was impossible! Heavy did a good job hiding his feelings and sexual desires. Being as big as him he practically had to do so. He found himself rolling back and forth in his bed. He couldn't believe it. He had killed people recently and the only thing keeping him awake was the German. It was unbearable. And like it wasn't bad already, his mind started slowly filling up with ideas on what he would like to do to the smaller man if they ever went to bed together. In the end the Russian kicked the blanket and his underwear aside angrily and grabbed his stiffing member. He had thought he had already gotten used to dealing with sexual tension. The doctor's brow furrowed as he leaned back and realigned his spine, head rolling. Damn he was old. Healthy as could be, but lifting and carrying was not something any middle-aged man's back appreciated. If he'd been able, he'd have replaced his long ago. His thoughts touched briefly on the team's engineer. Guh, with how much that man hefted contraptions he really hoped he wouldn't become like a repair shop for the laborer's spine. He loved messing with insides, no doubt about that, but he didn't like just performing stupid little fixer-uppers. He wanted to mess. Tinker. Experiment freely. Thinking of experiments, he recalled the project he'd started putting together after that first battle. He'd spent most of his time since on it and it was looking like a strong prototype. A couple more hours tonight and he might have it ready for pitching as early as tomorrow. Grinning toothily to himself, he located what looked like a gun made out of a blender with bits of tubing popping out everywhere and worked on it until he felt sleep was needed. Some doves followed as he crossed the hall to sizeable quarters lined with shelves of books, instruments, a desk and sexual toys. His eyes flicked casually to those as he strode towards the bed. He was tired, but there was always time for a quick one, wasn't there? He went to the toy shelf and let his hand hover to find the box with his cock ring. Then he picked up his favorite rod, one of impressive size, and went to have a lie down as gently cooing, sleepy birds dotted his headboard. For some reason he felt like taking something huge, and not letting himself release too quickly over it. In no time the German had rid himself of his glasses as well as lower layers and worked himself to hardness, quickly slipping the ring into place and grabbing for the object of penetration. He let out a strong series of loud cries and foreign cusses after wetting the thing and forcing it inside himself. It would plunge fast and hard and he imagined something that must be even bigger attached to a certain Russian. When he let himself finish it would be harsh, jolting and extremely satisfying. He would sleep easily in contentment.
Next morning half of the men looked exhausted as they met in the mess hall. They sat down around the long table and waited for breakfast. They were quiet, half of them hardly having slept well. Pyro, Soldier, Medic and Spy seemed to be perfectly fine, but the rest of them had had their share of dreams filled with nightmares. Getting used to the concept of dying repeatedly was taking some time. Even with a briefing day where they could rest and wrap their heads around it, that first day had been harsh on all of them and it was showing. Pyro was wondering why everyone was so quiet. To him death was nothing but a fun game, rainbows and lollipops. Spy was rather unflappable and Soldier and Medic were just insane in their own ways. Some blood and spilling body parts wasn't enough to make them lose their good night sleep. Heavy walked in and took his seat. It was right next to the German, but he doubted the man was going to try anything with him anymore. He had made it perfectly clear he wasn't interested, no matter what the doctor had in his twisted little mind. Soldier scanned the eating selections with a certain level of poutiness. "You call this military grade? Where's the canned rations? Where's the gruel?" He seemed to be the only one upset with the arrangement. Scout tucked right in when he arrived, and since his mouth was unable to stay closed, instantly brought life to the room while he struck up some conversation. "Aw yeah, grub time! Hey, speakin'-a food, that Miss Pauling's a real dish, eh? I am so her type. Prince Charmin'-the-heck-outta-chicks ovah here." His dreams had involved a lot of pretty females. Demo scoffed. "Och, boyo, if you ever land that lass Ah'll stab oot me other eye. Yer as blind as Ah'd be in thaht situation if ya cahn't see when a girl's got taste." Others nodded, some looked amused. Miss Pauling had been so unresponsive to the boy it was like he hadn't even existed. That was quite impressive from the little lady considering how insistently Scout had pressed his "awesomeness". "Alright, what is this? He puts the moves on you and you all just take it." An accusing finger went the German's way. "I flirt with one chick and you all gang up on me like it's wrong!" Medic's glower was solid as he met the boy's eyes. "Zhere is a difference between flirting und harassment. I do not pester; I invite. You I have only seen brag und babble. Do you have zhe skill to back up your claims? I very much doubt. I can keep any promise I make und zhen some." While the kid puffed and sputtered, a meaningful look swept the table, lingering last on Heavy. Did the man recall his promise of skill or discard it? He quite hoped the prior. The large man didn't seem to mind how he'd been sidling slowly closer. Or perhaps he hadn't noticed yet. The doctor made sure that wasn't the case by putting his fingers to the giant's knee and scraping over the nerves that generally caused a reflexive kick when struck. When grazed, however, he knew most tended to find a chill up their spine. It would have been better if his nails had been out, but his intent was going to be rather difficult to miss. The Russian didn't like the attention everyone seemed to give him all of a sudden. He was about to open his mouth to say something about it when he felt the doctor's fingers on his knee. He shot the smaller man an angry glare before hitting his hand away. "Nyet," he growled. Apparently the healer had forgotten their little "chat". Heavy wasn't going to give in, either. True, he had masturbated to the image of having the German under him last night, but that was that. Only his huge paws were big enough for his length. He couldn't risk hurting yet another person during sex. Spy chuckled. "You should be grateful 'aving someone eenterested een you, mon ami. Zhis ees not a place where you 'ave zhe freedom to choose," he reminded the bigger man. "Nein?" Medic was pretty sure he'd chosen. He had also decided the runner was not worth anything more than head games at best. So obnoxious. "Und vhy can't zhere be a choice? Are you saying you zhink zhere is somezhing wrong wizh mine?" A coy eyebrow was raised in Spy's direction. His goal wasn't really to sleep with all of them. He was an attention whore more than a proper one. He wanted them all to wish him to sleep with them above all else, but that didn't mean he wasn't up for a fuck if the interest was mutual. "Oh, of course not, my dear docteur. What I am saying ees zhat given zhe circumstances we are een, we might not find our ideal sex partner een our teammates. So, een case you are not eenterested een ozher men, you weel 'ave a hard time trying to satisfy your needs by yourself." The Frenchman glanced at Heavy, then turned his eyes back to Medic. "Een ozher words, I would grab zhe opportunity eef one offered eet to me. One of my liking, of course," he shrugged. Some of the others turned their gazes away. They didn't really need to hear all that. It was like a confession the agent was into men, too. A sparkle shot through Medic's eye. "Ohh, please, call me 'doctor'...I like zhat." When was the last time anyone had honestly granted him that title? Quack, madman, psycho, butcher...all applicable, admittedly, but used quite harshly by those at his old practice. Couldn't they also see that he was a visionary genius and far better at doctoring the human species than any of them? What a bunch of moral-fussing babies. He wasn't sure his honest appreciation for the label came across, since he'd kind of rasped from surprise, but then supposed he didn't care. What did he need to be clear about something like genuine sentiment with this lot for? Heavy glanced at the German in the corner of his eye. Apparently the older man flirted with everyone as he flirted with him. Well, he should have known. He was glad he hadn't taken the healer seriously. Now he was free to push his fantasies aside, knowing Medic was not going to be pestering him for long. Of course it had been very flattering, but now the doctor had a new target. End of the story. Still, somewhere deep inside of him, he might have been just a little bit disappointed. Not much, though. Spy leaned in closer with a smile so charming it had most likely broken plenty of hearts. "My pleasure," he replied to the German. The healer returned the smile with his own style of charm, but leaned back just a tiny smidge to inhale less of that pungent smoker's odor baked into the agent's clothes. He found the back of his head grazing the arm of the giant he sat so close to. Reminded again of his original goal, he decided to try striking a friendly conversation. The Russian had yet to speak very much to him at all. Maybe it would loosen him. "I noticed on zhe field zhat you are quite tough und like making pushes. Uhn, vant zhat I was so strong; I vould gladly spill more blood zhan stop it. But zhe vay you laid into zhe enemy over und over vas honestly a pleasure to vatch. Und for as much as I stopped by to patch you up, I don't zhink you died zhat often. Vell, during one of zhose stops zhere vas a spill, und zhough I lost you as a patient, somezhing happened zhat inspired me to create. It is a gun zhat could increase my effectiveness at healing a zhousand fold. If I used it zhere vould be no medical kits to lug around, no shortage of bandages or syringes. I vould just put a beam on someone such as yourself und damage vould be hardly a worry. You would be free to lay vaste to as many bodies as you liked. It is in what vill soon be my workshop if you are interested to see. Von't you please come wizh me after zhe battle?" It appeared he couldn't help himself from staying a little flirtatious as he minutely stressed the suggestive syllable. For a moment Heavy had actually thought the man was seriously talking about work and being more effective, but when the doctor highlighted that one word it made him lose his interest. "Nyet," he repeated. He wasn't in the mood for any games. Why couldn't the German test on someone else? It was true the entire team was full of babies, but the way Medic made it sound, he would certainly be happy with anyone to be his little laboratory rat. "I'll do it! God bless America!" Soldier stood up and tapped at his heart with his fist. He was going to make the noble sacrifice of testing the new whatever-it-was. Medic closed his eyes and sighed lightly. Perhaps he should contain himself a little better. Heavy did not seem to respond to suggestiveness as well as Spy did. To the patriotic party he addressed, "Zhank you for zhe offer...Soldier, vas it? But I really zhink zhe Heavy would be best. He is most resilient. Also he has zhe most blood. I do not like to lose my experiments midway." He tilted his head towards the giant. "Entschuldigung. Do forgive zhat I jest. I am quite serious about zhis prototype. Zhere is even an invincibility feature I am toying wizh." Faces perked around the table at that mention. Invincibility? Could a doctor really grant such a thing? He wasn't a wizard...but the idea certainly added a spark of hope that they wouldn't need to die as often as it had appeared from the first fight. Maybe not at all. The Russian quirked the smaller man next to him a suspicious eyebrow. "Is not possible," he replied, being a little too skeptical to believe such a theory. Invincibility was impossible. No man was invincible. Then again, Heavy had to admit to himself he was curious. He wanted to see the machine that could do impossible things. His mind was now starting to ponder what the machine would look like. In the end he shook his head with a sigh. "Alright. I will come. But only tests, da?" He gave the German a meaningful look. He was not allowed to poke Heavy in any way unless it was absolutely necessary for the invincibility-machine. A satisfied smile cracked the German's lips. Progress..! So rather than pressing the giant he had merely to lure. The method required more patience, and in general he had little, but Medic wanted this man to want him enough he quite felt it would be worth it. And besides, studying the man's pain threshold was on the list of things he wanted to do to Heavy anyway. "Oh, ja," he shrugged easily. There would be tests alright. He would be testing his own limits in addition to the Russian's. How far was he able to suggest? When would be best to nudge? What type of bait was most responsive? "You know, I feel like we vould be a most effective pair on zhe field. If you did not need to fall back to let me heal you, I vould hardly leave your side. It would be zhe next best zhing to vatching my own hands spill ozher's blood." He let himself have a little tingle of joy as he imagined having a direct hand in annihilating BLUs with a front row seat to the carnage to boot. Then he tried offering a pleasant beam instead of a sultry smirk. The Russian's face turned suspicious again. Was this some kind of a trick? Most effective pair? He had to admit that was probably true. He could take more hits and bullets than the rest of the team because of his size. Then again, because of his size and Sascha in his arms, he was also the slowest of them all. It was going to be handy if he had the German with him all the time. "Maybe..." the giant muttered, turning his eyes to his humble breakfast. "Maybe," he repeated quietly and started eating. Trick or not, it indeed was the most effective combo. He wasn't sure if the doctor's motives had been pure on this one, but Medic was right nonetheless. No matter how Heavy wanted him not to be right, he was anyway. The rest of the team eyed them curiously. What was going to become of these two? Following the meal, Team RED immediately collected their weapons and headed out to the foundry meant to supply both bases with their crafting metals. This was the territory they would be fighting to control for their first real mission. It was rather an important building after all, and despite some hesitation regarding the rather odd style of fighting they were to take part in, as the field announcer urged them to do it the nine men rushed out to capture the points that represented which side was winning. This was a little odd too. What kind of war had lead markers? Then again, the two old men who started it were quite keen on declaring a clear victor. The middle point of five was in a rather open area, so Medic couldn't run out to help anyone capturing. He had to make due with hanging back around corners and letting the injured come to him. He couldn't even run out to shoot his needle gun without coverage. At the moment he was barking at Scout, "You don't have to take off your shirt! Just lift it! Swinehund!" The boy had taken a lot of bullets and it was difficult to remove them with cloth and blood in the way. Scout groaned and shook his head with arms crossed over his gut. Medic growled and slammed him to the ground behind some freight crates, hopping to sit on his legs and wrench both of the boy's wrists above his head. His free hand yanked the shirt out of the way before plunging tweezer tongs into the wounds. He cursed while the runner screamed and wriggled. Fess, this would be so much easier if he didn't have to use his hands! Problems like this were half of what had inspired him to try making an all-purpose healer. "Oh my God HEEEELLLP! He's gonna friggin' rape me!" the runner cried out and tried to kick the doctor off of himself. He wasn't half as worried about the pain as he was about his butt-virginity. Or virginity to begin with. Hell no he was gonna lose it to this creepy old fart! He struggled like a fish in a trap, crying and babbling and shouting whatever came to mind. "MEDIC!" Their sniper limped to the scene, holding his bleeding right arm. His counterpart's arrow was standing proudly from it. "That bloody wankah..! Lucky bastard, that's wot he bloody is..!" He hissed through his gritted teeth. Once the kid was done, he would be next in line. "C'mere, Sally!" Soldier was jogging there next. He had a knife in his shoulder but by the looks of it he had managed to get the BLU rat before the Frenchman could finish him. The German was running out of time already and the match was only starting. "Fess fess fess fess!" He was already emotionally exhausted too. It wasn't easy to stay perky when your patients were piling up and one of them bucked like a bronco. He'd already treated so much, but he just wasn't quick enough. Fed up with the boy, he let the bullets not about to graze vitals stay in him and gauzed as best he could one-handed. "Zhere! Maybe zhat vill help your guts stay in for five seconds! Alzhough if you are going to continue to be such a baby, do not even bozher calling for me!" He practically threw the boy from under him and beckoned Sniper. A weighted angry sigh. "It is inside zhe bone. You are lucky zhere is no nerve damage. I will do vhat I can." He snapped off the arrow shaft right against the head under the skin before quickly cleaning the area, injecting it with a numbing agent and giving it a quick bandage as well. "Soldier." His next patient wasn't so lucky. The quick examination yielded the diagnosis, "You have got nerve damage. Zhis arm is useless unless I operate. Or amputate now. Or take preventative measures." He took out his saw, quite ready to ease his workload by just killing the man. They weren't allowed to kill teammates on the field, but who was going to stop him? Trying got his arm grabbed before it could hit the man's neck, however. "Was das..?!" He didn't like the eagerly determined look on that face. "Feeeess..." "Oi can't bloody shoot with this arm! Oi can't even feel it!" The Aussie waved his injected arm in front of Medic, trying to make his point. It felt like boiled spaghetti starting from his shoulder. A part of him that still wasn't a part of him. Unlike him, Soldier would have been more than happy to return to the battle already. "Nonsense! I have enough nerve to go to the moon! Damage is not going to stop me from stomping those little maggots into their holes! SCREAMIN' EAGLLLLESS!" He wrapped his arm around the German's waist before dashing to the frontlines. The BLUs were capping the middle point and by God he was going to stop them! He took his rocket launcher with his free hand and aimed at his feet, ignoring how the arm holding it spasmed. "Americaaaaa!" he shouted and fired, still carrying the healer with him. The two flew high in the air, approaching the middle point at an alarming speed. "Dammit," the American then muttered when he noticed he had lost his legs launching the two from the ground. He hit the roof covering the middle point with a "splat". Medic hadn't even gotten a chance to yell at Sniper before he was screaming from the sudden sensation of flying, then forcing himself to go limp to prevent too much fall damage. He'd had nothing against being lifted, but this..! Reckless! He collapsed to the roof and slid on his side a ways, hurt but alive. He lay there panting and trying to get his bearings. Registering the sounds of fire and the sense of openness, it was deduced that this was not a good place to be. Trying to make his vision un-blur and his breath any sort of still, he laid flat on RED's side and stuck himself with a needle that stemmed blood flow. He was running out of those...he also had no choice but to seek aid. "I require assistance! Assistance, bitte!" That's when RED Heavy's minigun started spinning. With a roar the Russian, along with Demoman and Pyro stepped in, forcing the BLUs back from the point. Crying for their own doctor the enemy Scout, Sniper and Demoman fled towards their base where their defensive lines were. Heavy stopped as the other REDs rushed to the point in order to steal it. He looked up and saw Medic on the roof. "What is Doktor doing there? Is not good place," he reckoned and reached his arms to catch the German if he jumped. Gratefully Medic rolled himself sideways to take the offer. As he landed to be held he chatted, feeling much safer, "Tell me about it. Zhe Soldier is an idiot. Dragging me up zhere, I don't know what he vas zhinking...vould you carry me to a medkit please? Bozh of my shins have splintered und I vould like to knit zhem." Heavy huffed but did it anyway. He hadn't planned on carrying Medic anywhere, but since the man couldn't walk on his own, he assumed it was his duty as the healer's teammate. "Soldier is stoopid." He agreed about that one. The American couldn't keep himself in check, as it very much seemed. The doctor had to chuckle at that. Mocking stupidity was excellent stress relief and he was happy Heavy seemed to be on the same page. He didn't mean to talk so much to the giant, but perhaps the need to vent urged him to continue. Or maybe he was just eager to hear more of that throaty, gruff voice he was realizing the other had even when he wasn't angry. It was really quite sexy. "Zhe Scout may be vorse...he cries so much to be healed, but writhes like an eel vhen I deem him hurt enough to treat. Und everyone is so ungrateful! Swinehunds!" When Heavy put him down next to his medical tools he was almost disappointed. He'd quite enjoyed how easily he'd been caught and transported. The man really was strong. From his supply Medic popped some painkillers and took some bracers to lash tightly around his legs. Using Heavy's arm to pull himself up and test if the problem would escalate to fracture he also added, "You have been helpful however. Danke schoen. Uhn. Curious. It feels as zhough zhey vill schnap if I run." He bobbed a little distractedly to make his bones creak some more. They still screamed through just enough sting to allow function being dulled by pills. The Russian watched as the smaller man patched himself up. He was guarding so nobody would sneak back there to hurt the doctor further. At Medic's words his brow quirked. "Doktor is still hurt? Should I carry you back?" He asked, although it didn't seem very good in his ear. The German was rather useless if he couldn't even walk on his own. Shouldn't he just go back to the respawn and heal himself there? Or get himself killed on purpose just to come back good as new? "Ah, no. My legs will vork. I only meant I find zhe sensation quite interesting." He gave a quick pat to show his gratitude for the help. "Really zhough, do continue calling me zhat, vould you? It is gute to be acknowledged. Und I razher like how you say it." That said, he cracked a smile and made his way forward to where the team was advancing, a small whimper of pleasure slipping from him as he walked as fast as he could without running. He couldn't enjoy his injury too much, though. Now was time to work. Heavy wasn't quite sure what had just happened. He had thought Medic had requested help with his legs because they were hurting, but instead he described the feeling as "interesting". He didn't know what interesting there was about having broken legs, but wondering about it wasn't going to take the team anywhere. The second confusing thing was how the German had mentioned liking the way Heavy called him "doctor". What was so special about that? The giant looked after the healer. He truly was an odd one. He grabbed Sascha again and followed Medic back to the frontlines. Hiding around a doorway, some of Medic's frustration was coming back. This point was guarded by the whole blue team as it was so close to their spawn. It was sure going to be fun trying to get the one inside said building. A sentry on one side by a fence and a sniper on the other kept the doctor rather pinned to his little corner. If only there was some way to charge in there and just destroy everything like a bolt from God. Demo, as he healed now, was good for blowing up the engineer and his machines, but kept getting too hurt to finish the job. Even worse, though he'd helped for a little while, Medic was completely unable to keep up with everyone coming to him through the high intensity clash. He wasn't even sure who it was, but eventually one of his patients snuck in behind him and stabbed him in the back. That was going to give BLU an upper hand. The battle went on for hours. It was more trying to get the enemy team tired than anything else. And boy, were they getting tired! BLU capped the middle point, RED soon taking it back. None of the men was able to actually get to the last point and in the end the announcer declared something called "sudden death". It wasn't anything unusual otherwise, but once you died, you stayed dead until a team won. No respawn. The REDs were nervous. Being dead more than ten seconds was an unnerving thought and most of them clung onto Medic when the doors opened. Nobody dared to complain about their treatment anymore. They all wanted to stay on the man's good side to receive healing. Seeing right through the nervous cowering, Medic was a mixture of irritated and smug. He was glad to be finally appreciated and somewhat liked the attention, but the cluster was ultimately just limiting his movement even more than before. He focused on healing the most productive ones who would leave him alone to go do some damage. This method wasn't ideal though because the pushers still had to come back. The pyros actually didn't seem to think anything of the new situation and just rushed out ahead of everyone to end up killing each other in dead heat, so at least neither of them added concern. But still. Impatient, exhausted and sick of how long this mission was taking, Medic decided he was just going to have to be a little reckless if he wanted to leave any time soon. He calculated his target options and decided Heavy really would be best. As soon as he finished patching the giant up after inevitably being sought out he jumped onto the man's back. "Just go shoot zhem, ja? End it! I vill assist wizh all I have left!" And he plunged a needle of adrenaline directly into the giant's neck. The giant was about to shoo the doctor off of him, but the syringe into his neck made him yelp in surprise. He felt his veins getting filled with adrenaline instead of blood. He lifted his loyal minigun and rushed forward. "Yaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!" He shouted a war cry and took down the BLU Soldier and Scout trying to invade the middle point that was still glowing red. BLU Spy sneaking up behind the duo got his fair share of the German's needles before getting close enough to stab them. The Frenchman collapsed with a choked cry, suffering from whatever poison the needles included. "We make good team!" Heavy thanked the smaller man as they continued their way. Nothing was going to stop them now! The rest of their living teammates followed them, pushing their way to the next point and finally killing BLU Engineer trying to defend the last one. They had won the battle. Injecting Heavy again to stem the flow from the spot that had taken rocket damage, Medic was a bit wiped to smile at the moment. His forehead dropped to the back of the other's head in the relief of the match's aftermath. "Ha. I told you we vould. Ohh, zhat vas exciting..!" A large sigh. "You schmell nice." He was unable to avoid inhaling that salty-sweetness accenting a deep, rich musk. He didn't know why he decided to mention his approval. Blame it on fatigue. His stream of consciousness tended to get away from him when he was tired. The last comment was enough to bring the Russian back to Earth. He had forgotten all about their differences during the heated battle, but now when the doctor was on his back, sniffing his neck, he once again remembered who he was dealing with. "Is not funny," he muttered and shook the German off of himself. He joined their teammates who were celebrating their victory. They congratulated one another in a choir, remembering their own moments during the battle and sharing them with the rest of the men. Medic rubbed his temples and sighed again before also joining the group. His work wasn't quite over. Speaking first to Heavy, then the rest, he said, "I am not trying to be funny. Vill everyone survive or does someone still need treatment?" He scanned the leftover team members. He felt Pyro, Scout, Sniper and Soldier were lucky. They'd died and so got an extended break. "Aye! We're good, lad!" Demoman raised the bottle in his hand as he assured Medic they were fine. Just some cuts and a few broken bones. They would make it back to the respawn and fix themselves there. Heavy wondered what was going to happen next. He had promised to help the healer with his newest project, but at the moment it didn't seem like such a good idea. He was rather sure the German would try and make yet another move on him. His after-battle plans were what the doctor was thinking about after being informed he didn't need to do anything else here. His attention was back on the Russian in an instant. "Vill you be keeping your promise, zhen? I am going straight back to my vorkshop und can do nozhing furzher wizhout a test subject. Do not stop by zhe spawn. Your battered condition is ideal." A brief touch to his glasses as he swept over the damage the other had sustained a little hungrily. Heavy would have been happy to heal himself, but since Medic insisted him not to do so, what other choices did he have? The German was the doctor here, after all. "Da. I will keep promise," he muttered and when they got back to base and the doctor turned around to head for the infirmary, he followed. He had a bad feeling about this. He could feel the other men's eyes on his back as they walked. He could pretty much hear them whispering and betting what the two were going to do. He wished he knew himself. Medic was able to allow himself a tiny smirk now. The giant took manipulation well. When he entered his examination room his gloves and coat came off, same as they would every day. It was much easier to do things without his uniform's restriction and let him get his hands dirty. The clothes were tossed to free counter-space and, feeling the life coming back into him, he collected his completed prototype to display on a counter that was actually clear, near his refrigerator. He bent at the waist to lean on an elbow beside it, the other arm gracing a casual hand up one buttock to rest on the small of his back. The medicine man looked to Heavy. "Vell? What do you zhink?" The man in question found himself staring at the healer's ass. The position the German had taken was screaming "take me!" all over. It was driving him insane. "About what?" the bigger man asked, forcing his eyes up to the doctor's face. Focus, he told himself. He was not going to allow Medic to confuse his head. Even if it was starting to be rather late for that. It would have been better to avoid Medic rather than stay in his company outside the battle. He felt like a fish, swallowing bait and being reeled in. The doctor couldn't have been more pleased to feel the giant's ogling. Did he crumble so fast when simply presented an eyeful? He let one hand up to remove his tie and let the shirt collar under his vest fall open the tiniest amount, playing it like he just wanted to free himself of the constriction. The arm on the counter touched the gun next to him lightly and made a little rub. "Zhe prototype of course. If it appears to be made mostly from a blender, zhat's because it is. As vell as some ozher appliances. If it works I am zhinking of calling it zhe Quick-Fix, as it vill quite hasten my fixing of your bodies." Heavy had found himself a dot on the wall to stare at. Yes, it was a dot. No, it wasn't the least bit interesting, but to prevent himself from pouncing on the German where he stood, he really needed to get himself something else to look at and think about. The wall was fine. It was a nice wall. It was so white and un-Medic-y. "Sounds good." The giant nodded after the presentation and quickly glanced at the machine Medic was introducing so proudly. He was extremely careful not to lay his eyes on the doctor again. He didn't want the German to lose any more of his clothes. Seeing how the other was now adamant about not meeting him with his eyes in any way, Medic decided that was no good. He cast his gaze to the rafters, where several small white animals were observing the goings-on in interest, then held out the pinky on his waist in sly invitation. A clustering of birds took it immediately, seven of them managing to get a spot and one deciding to sit on the stranger's head before the rest flew back up to their normal perches. "Oh, Lieblings, vhat are you doing? You vill distract Daddy und his guest..!" The speaker rubbed his collar bone in mock distress. "Aagh?!" Heavy jumped when the horde of birds was suddenly all over the room. He tried shooing them away, but the small creatures dodged his big paws with ease. "Where did birds come from?" he asked, now meeting the German's face with overflowing confusion. Did Medic have pets? Why did they all come there without warning?! The dove on his head turned its own back and forth. It was curious about the stranger in the room and to show Heavy was alright he rewarded the giant man with a warm, wet gift right on his scalp. "Aaaaahhh!" Heavy tried to grab it but the agile little thing flew away again. Glad to be in the man's sights again, Medic bit his lip in amusement at first. "Zhey came wizh me from Stuttgart. It is hilarious how I acquired zhem. Vould you like to hear?" Then the bird atop the giant left its mark and his face turned scolding. "Archimedes!" He threw the first thing he could find at the retreating dove but naturally missed. "Ugh, forgive him. He is too curious for his own gute, und not vell-behaved." A drawer was opened and a cloth fetched to be handed to the Russian. A quick glance was given to a shifting bird on his own shoulder. "I'd also vatch out for Leonidas until he knows you. He is territorial." "I do not like birds," the Russian decided muttering. They didn't seem to like him, either. What was the point in keeping animals if they were too tiny to eat? "Did not come to hear stories," Heavy reminded and took the cloth from the doctor to wipe his head. He wasn't going to stay for a moment longer than he absolutely had to. No stories about birds. Not happy at hearing his darlings met with displeasure, the doctor frowned a bit, protectively stroking the few that had lighted on him. Their job was done at least. Heavy didn't need to like them. "Zhat is razher harsh. Manners aside, zhey have only interest in you. Und we will need somezhing to talk about vhile I operate." "I know nothing about birds," the bigger man notified before sitting on the surgery table, "We should talk about weapons instead." He knew about guns and liked to talk about them. Especially his own gun. The suggestion was met with an eye-rolling shrug. Medic was used to talking about his own favorite topics to his subjects. Usually he had no reason to get to know them and they were too busy screaming to give much input anyway, but this one seemed like he might be able to hold up half a conversation. If he let him blather about what he wanted he might start warming up again, and besides, sometimes people could have something surprisingly interesting to say. This man certainly had the potential. Some mental prodding would be allowed. The German took up his prototype and climbed onto the table himself, over and around the larger man until he knelt with his back to Heavy and a leg on either side of him. He was inserting the strange gun into what looked like a tampered x-ray positioner as he started things off, but the innocent task didn't stop him from being very present. "Before I get ahead of myself we vill need to test if zhis heals. Zhere can be no invincibility if it does not. So, I have nozhing against veaponry. Zhe larger und more damaging, zhe better. You carry a minigun, ja? Zhat is not usually one zhat is carried. Mm, but zhen you are zhe heavy weapons expert...is zhere a reason for zhe choice?" His own pun was casually smiled at. The Russian let Medic do what he had to, trying to pay the smaller man as little attention as possible. It was hard when the doctor practically threw himself over Heavy. He was thankful Medic agreed to talk about weapons. It was a topic they both would enjoy, he was sure. "Da," he replied with a slight nod, "Have always been beeg. Beeg and strong. Is easy to carry beeg guns." He explained and a weak smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he thought of Sascha. "Beeg guns are more deadly, too. Do more damage," he continued, "Why don't you have a beeger weapon?" He looked at the German. Needles weren't very effective, even if Medic had managed to take BLU Spy down during the sudden death round. Having connected the tubes, Medic grabbed the ceiling contraption and hooked the new machine under his arm, slamming it home before sitting back with a sigh. He stayed a mere second on the other's lap before letting himself off the table, keeping his conversation casual. "I don't doubt zhat." A smirk as he imagined just how strong Heavy might be. "I also could not carry anyzhing larger while carting my medical equipment. Ve are not all as strong as you, my friend. Zhe needle gun was kind of zhrown togezher during zhat event I mentioned, zhen re-made more solidly on zhe vay here. It is gute for when I am chased." "But it's not powerful," Heavy argued, "Is important to defend self on the field. Killing cowards is fun, too." He couldn't help a smirk. He was slowly forgetting how annoyed he was supposed to be around the German. Talking about guns and work was helping him to relax. "Why did you want to be doktor? Is a stressing job, da?" He eyed the strange device in front of his nose. He had no idea what it was or what it would do, but like a good patient he let Medic do his job. A tut from the healer. "Zhe gun may not be powerful, but it is effective. Zhose needles vill eat your insides." A little sparkle met his eye as he looked to the other. He went on, "Ohh, zhe hurting...zhere is nozhing more enjoyable, I agree. But it is not what I vas hired for. I vas hired for assisted homicide." There was a slight bitterness there. Then he heard the next question and laughed. "Oh! Stress! Zhat is a gute one. Zhere is no stress in being an office doctor! People are ill, give zhem medicine; people are hurt, patch zhem up. It is boring! Zhat's vhy I did not go into medicine to help people. No, I vent into medicine to doctor. In zhe sense zhat I vould dig zhrough insides, make changes, und find out just vhat humans can live wizh or wizhout. Zhe stress only started vhen zhere were complaints." Heavy listened very carefully. "You still heal team. Is your main job. Is it not what you want?" To him it sounded like the doctor wasn't the least bit interested in healing his patients. The German was obviously more interested in hurting and using his knowledge against people. "Did many complain?" the Russian asked. He was rather sure plenty of people had come to the German to get themselves healed. He wondered what the man had done to most of them. "Countless. I do not like zhose who complain, but I could not silence all zhe vhining babies. Despite choosing my specimens carefully zhere were alvays more, und it would be suspect if no one left my practice alive. I vas still zhe best doctor und surgeon in zhe country, even refusing to let a team assist my procedures." Medic flicked some switches on a panel that sent the device over Heavy humming. "I do heal zhis team now. It is my new job. But it is not vhat I like best. I am professional und will do vhat is asked of me, but I will not vaste an opportunity to cause harm. It is most interesting zhe types und amounts of damage a body can endure." His bare hand clutched over the scabbing cavity where that rocket had burst in Heavy's side, his expression much less sour. Fawning even. The Russian hemmed. Medic sure sounded like he knew what he was talking about. "Baby guns only do leetle damage. Beeg guns are better when we kill cowards," he said again, watching as the German touched him, "Should get better needles. More poisonous. And Doktor has his saw. Is good, da?" He only used his fists in melee fights. He didn't see a need for a weapon since he was strong enough without them. Unfortunately the other's saw wasn't the most effective possible. It was sharp, yes, but it could have been a lot sharper. The end of the weapon was round, so only one side was able to hurt the enemy. It wasn't a knife or sword like Sniper and Demoman had. Those weapons were way more dangerous than Medic's bone saw. The doctor stopped fondling Heavy's biggest injury and grabbed the thing in the ceiling. He couldn't wait another second. "You vill see how gute my saw can be in a moment. Time to see if zhis doesn't kill you." Grinning excitedly, he jammed a lever upward and a red vapor poured out of the weird gun, seeming to seek out each wound without being aimed. Seeing that, Medic let the gun go to observe. Then his eyes widened as he hunched wolfishly beside the table, gasping to see the cavity he'd groped shrinking. Elsewhere bullets and shrapnel were forcing themselves out of the skin that repaired underneath them. Once the subject looked totally repaired, the healer yanked up the clothes on the side he'd been watching closest and dug his fingers in hard testing. "It is gone..! It vorks!" He let out a short and gleeful mad laugh, then noticing his patient's skin was glowing with a slight tinge of the beam's color, looking a bit overly healthy. Quite intrigued the doctor touched his glasses, perking, "Ooo, zhat is unexpected. Your cells appear to be oversaturating. I did put it on zhe highest setting. Are you going to explode?" The Russian watched in awe as his body was repairing on its own. Even the bullets exiting his body through his skin felt like nothing at all. The doctor was a maniac, but he still knew what he was doing. Once his wound was fully healed, he too touched over the spot that had been open just a moment ago. He felt great. He felt healthy. He felt like he could do absolutely anything at the moment. "Nyet. Feels good. I feel stronger than ever, Doktor," he replied and met Medic's deep blue eyes. He gave the German a half smile, relieved and confused at the same time. Medic smiled widely, lop-sided and dorkish, first to Heavy and then at his own hands. He was a little disappointed he wouldn't get to see a body overload itself, but this breakthrough was too big to take away any glee. "Yes! I have created medicine on zhe levels of magic! I am Gott!" More laughter. Then he put a hand by the Russian's head and bent close, looking quite eager. "Now zhe little snag. For zhe next step I vould need to...tinker a bit. Electrocute your heart actually. Vould you let me inside you?" A beat as the choice words sank in. "In here I mean." A bare finger stroked downward over Heavy's front, right along where his bone saw would need to cut. Heavy's face turned a little unsure. Sure, they couldn't die as long as they stayed in the respawn's range, but he still wasn't a fan of pain. His eyes turned ever so slightly to glance at the machine behind Medic. It was going to keep him alive through the whole thing, wasn't it? For a moment he thought how weird it would be to see inside of himself. To see the German's hands inside of him, doing whatever they wanted to his insides. He wasn't afraid. He wasn't a pathetic baby who couldn't stand any pain. He nodded slowly. "Da. Is alright. Doktor does what he needs," he agreed. For the team, he thought. This was a very important experiment and to help the healer to achieve this wonderful healing machine, he had to make the sacrifice of getting a little hurt. A pat to the giant's cheek. "Gute answer." It was so nice when a patient was cooperative. Heavy would have been a hassle to restrain. The healer was a little giddy about getting to have his first operation in the new location. It was such a big one, too! He grabbed his saw from the counter behind him and raised it, ready to plunge. "You are zhankfully not such a vimp, but do still try not to flinch, please," he requested, and drove straight through Heavy's sternum without even an anesthetic. He wasn't one for traditional practice. Alas, as his arm moved in strong repetition to try opening the other he found the incisions closing right after he made them. Slightly annoyed, the hand not sawing fiddled with knobs on the gun; a balance was sought between how much healing substance would keep the large man conscious and open. "Gaaarrrhhh!" Heavy roared before biting his teeth together tightly. No, he was definitely not a fan of pain. His huge hands clutched to the edges of the table, trying to keep him from moving. He grunted every time Medic thrust the saw into him. Every time the wounds healed and the German had to try again and again. Then, finally, the smaller one managed to adjust the machine so it didn't close his wounds anymore. The doctor was able to open him as he pleased while the Russian gritted his teeth not to whine or move. He couldn't help his face getting sweaty, but once Medic was done stretching the wound he was able to relax. He leaned back on the table with a weighted sigh. "Is good now, da?" he asked. Fortunately the machine soon took the pain away and it was like he'd never been opened in the first place. Calming from doing something so familiar and loving the reactions he'd gotten, Medic's smile was friendly. "Ja. It vould seem. On lower output zhis appears quite gute for an operation. It even stems most of your blood for me." He tossed the broken bits of the giant's chest out and put his saw down to wrench the exposed ribs wider. Then he let his hands slip into the soft pile of living organs. If he wasn't such a steady surgeon he'd have let them tremble. Oh, the vulnerability of such raw, pulsing life. He could do anything in here. Marveling as he felt a massive lung swell in one hand and the huge heart pumping in the other he gushed, "Uhhn, even such powerful insides...your structure does not struggle to support you in zhe slightest..!" "What is Doktor going to do now?" Heavy asked, lifting his gaze from the man's hands inside of him to the healer's face. Now when he was open, the German was most likely going to do something to his heart, like he had mentioned a moment ago, but he wanted to know the details. He was prepared for it. Though seeing his own insides felt like something out of this world. It was such a weird feeling, something no one ever thought they would see. Looking up from his distraction the healer reminded, "As I said, I vill be stabbing your heart wizh electricity. Zhe, uh, medifluid I suppose, to produce invulnerability it needs to agitate zhrough use und zhen meet wizh a powerful electric force." He took a rounded device with three nasty-looking prongs and some miniature tesla coils from atop the unused heart monitor to show it off. "Zhis vill hopefully spread zhe reaction. I could not do study on a full body. I had only a head to work wizh." The bigger man wasn't looking all that convinced anymore. "So Doktor hasn't done dis before?" he asked with a quirked brow. It didn't sound very promising. The device the healer was holding looked rather nasty. Just imagining it impaling his heart made him wince. Again he reminded himself they were doing this because of the team. "Fine. Doktor will do what is needed." He leaned back once more and closed his eyes. He decided not to watch. Seeing the uncertainty Medic took a little offense that he was being doubted. He'd just proven he was a downright magical genius! "Your faizh is so comforting. I zhought you were approving of zhis idea. Do you want me to provide proof zhat invulnerability is real?" "I told Doktor to do it. I cannot die. Respawn keeps me alive." The Russian opened his eyes to glance at the German. "I am approving. I am not a coward baby. I keep my word." The doctor's lips turned smirking again at the protesting order. "Vell, all else aside, your attitude is certainly unique amongst my subjects. It is appreciated, your villingness. I'm so grateful you could open up to me." He chuckled at his pun and promptly plucked out Heavy's heart like a peach. But he didn't stick the device in. He wanted to do some measuring first, as well as see if the new medicine had any effect regarding removed organs. The giant bared his teeth when his heart was pulled out. Soon the machine numbed the pain and it was like he never had a heart to begin with. He opened his eyes and looked at the organ Medic was holding. It was like nothing he had ever experienced. The feeling in his chest was so very hollow, yet curious. "And now?" he asked. The doctor had his heart; it was thought he would test if it was strong enough. "Fascinating…" Medic's eyes were wide in awe as he shook his head with a sort of hungry beam, glasses very much touched by blood-soaked fingers. He didn't answer Heavy as he stepped away to an offal scale to weigh the heart, and measured it with a couple other instruments. "Yes, promising." The other innards were then wondered about. He set the heart aside and started taking more to make recordings about in a notebook of medical records, but those he returned, again intrigued by how they seamlessly re-integrated. While doing this he started a merry ramble about how this gun would have been nice to have during his old experiments, especially that hysterical final straw that had cracked his secret practices wide open and gotten his medical license revoked, to put it kindly. Talking to this man…it was surprisingly enjoyable. Heavy had been finally willing to engage him and had yet to call him something like 'butcher' and lash out. Words just kept flowing freely. The bigger man didn't look too pleased when the doctor started emptying him of his organs. At least he put them back, which was very nice of him. As the German kept talking, Heavy started relaxing and opening himself. Never had he thought he'd have such a conversation with such circumstances, having his guts open wide and getting his heart taken away. Still, he was alive and feeling perfectly alright. Some of Medic's stories even made him laugh. At the patient who, according to the healer, had lost his skeleton because of him and a lousy fellow doctor he gave a roaring laugh, hitting the medical table underneath himself. Medic had lost himself entirely in just playing with and studying the Russian's insides, but eventually he remembered what he was supposed to be doing thanks to the bird deciding to dig around in Heavy too, and had to force himself to wind down and take the heart back up, along with the stabbing electrocuter. He couldn't believe he was laughing with someone. A person! He really couldn't remember the last time that had happened. He didn't want to stop the exchange, but there was still science to be done. After the last anecdote, which he was pleased to see get a boisterous roar that told him he should recount the second half soon, he got back on track with, "Now...most hearts couldn't wizhstand zhis voltage, but I'm quite certain your heart..." It burst. Medic stared at the mess for a second. He'd been so sure...well, science wasn't always exact. Luckily he had innards more powerful than any human's for sure on hand. He passed off the failure and tried a mega baboon's heart from the fridge instead. Heavy didn't need to know it wasn't still his own. "What was noise?" the bigger man asked when he heard the "splat" coming from Medic's direction. He rested assured when the German told him they were making progress. That was good news. The Russian watched the birds watching him on the table as Medic did whatever he was doing. The doves looked like vultures, eyeing his exposed insides. The one called Archimedes had already made its way into his guts and was now covered in his blood. It was not one of his favorites. Heavy's attention turned back to the German when he walked back with his heart. Medic simply dropped it in the middle of the gory mess. "Should I be awake for dis?" he asked, his face being a mix of worry and confusion. Touching his glasses meekly this time, the healer admitted, "Vell, no. But as long as you are, could you hold your ribcage open a bit? I can't...seem..." The even larger than before new heart, which was deemed to be looking good with its now shimmering surface, didn't quite fit into place. The giant obliged to aid him while Medic strained to force it inside the chest. It made it, but apparently it hurt so much Heavy clutched one of his own ribs off. The doctor passed that off as well and tossed it aside to heal the massive cavity closed. Heavy seemed more accepting of this as he prodded himself again when the wound was gone. He seemed to feel good as he took a deep breath. When asked yet again what would be happening next, Medic couldn't help being appreciative that someone who wasn't a dove was bothering to be nosy. He loved sharing procedural details and giving direction, but the operation was over. He only gave another grin as he helped the giant off the table. "Now? Let's go practice medicine…during zhe next battle I mean. Ve need a field test. But I zhink it's actually dinnertime." A clock was searched for and one on the heart monitor confirmed the hour. "What should new heart do?" Heavy asked and tapped his chest where he felt the brand new organ throbbing. He would have wanted to test things already, but apparently the German had made his decision. They would need to wait for the next morning. Besides, dinner sounded good too. It had been way too long since they ate their breakfast and his stomach was grumbling in complaint of its emptiness. He picked up all his belongings and was ready to leave the infirmary. Medic didn't put anything he'd taken off back on, only washing his hands thoroughly in a lab sink as he waited for the other. Insides were filthy, and filth was not for his mouth. Getting it anywhere else was fine and fun, but ingesting more germs than necessary was unhealthy. The doctor fell to the Russian's side as they headed for the mess hall, eager to chat more about the project. "Vhen I flip a svitch on zhe Quick-Fix, which I will do once zhe medifluid has been agitated enough, it should send a jolt zhrough your body zhat in combination vill make all of you completely impenetrable. I explained zhe spreading already. Do you not really listen so well? Ah, vhatever. I enjoy zhe subject. I could ramble for days about my science. How is it holding? Does your body vant to reject zhe changes yet?" "Nyet. Is good," the Russian replied. It didn't feel any different than before the surgery. He didn't even realize the heart wasn't his. "What if it won't work? What den?" he pointed out. There was always a chance the heart wouldn't perform as needed. The man of science shrugged, "Zhen we try again. Now zhat zhis power readily exists, I am villing to stop at nozhing to make it vork. I do not believe a higher power currently exists, but I vant to create gods. I vant to break zhem. I vant to be Gott amongst gods! Ah, I love control und I am just razher drawn to power in general." He sidled a little close with a somewhat devilish face to show that draw easily extended to his sexual desires as the dinner table was reached. They were last to arrive and the current topic trailed off, the others noting the blood staining the doctor's vest and that Heavy was still alive and not looking terribly scarred. Scout leaned in next to him to poke and ask, "Hey fatty, how bad he break ya? Bein' alone with him's gotta be horrible, yeah?" For once other REDs took stock in what the runner was assuming. The German seemed grouchy, unstable and of course...predatorily gay. "It was only for job. No big deal. Everything is good," the Russian replied. He was actually impressed Medic hadn't tried anything with him. Maybe the German was finally realizing the bigger man had set his boundaries and decided to respect them. He was very thankful of that. "Are you sure? You've got blood on your suit," Spy notified, nodding at Heavy's clothes. If it was him, everything would have been all but fine. The large man didn't seem to mind, though. "He is not fat," was all Medic addressed regarding Scout. He hated when people got their medical facts wrong. "His stature requires more mass und a larger area to hold organs of proper strengzh. It is quite healzhy for him to be built zhat vay." Then something else came to mind and he didn't give the boy a chance to react. "Schpeaking of healzh, I vant all of you to undergo zhe same examination und heart procedure I have just performed on zhe Heavy. Prepare your schedules for sometime after zhe field test of my new...eh, would you call it a veapon?" He looked up at the Russian he was sitting quite close to again. "Is an assisting weapon," the bigger man offered. He couldn't really call it a real weapon since it didn't do any harm, but it was certainly going to help the others doing harm to cowards. So, practically it was a weapon. It was also odd to hear someone so readily defend his weight. His sisters might, but he'd only known the German a few days. Well the giant no longer thought anything of his size other than it proved his strength, so he passed off the action. It had been thoughtful though. The other men looked rather skeptical about an operation. "Ah dunno, Doc...let's just wait and see if it works first, yeah?" Engineer asked. It felt a little rushed to plan any surgeries yet when they couldn't even tell if Heavy's surgery worked or not. "Sounds about right. Danke, Heavy." Then Medic flipped his wrist in scoffing at the Texan. "Feh, it already vorks! You vill all be much less annoying to heal now." A special look was thrown Scout's way. "Und I didn't say it was going to happen immediately. Of course zhe testing stage is necessary. But you will need zhe surgery if you vish to ever be invulnerable, und if nozhing else, I vill get a gute look at your insides. Zhat is important too. For instance, I'm zhinking of making amendments to your schpine, Engineer." Well, by "amendments" he meant "rip out completely and replace with one that would wear slower and ease his own workload", but the laborer didn't really need to know that, did he? And alright, Medic could admit to himself, he was just eager to perform more tinkering. Demo wasn't too keen on the idea of jumping into surgery either. "But ya don't knoe about thaht part? The invulnerable part? Ah think Ah'm with Engie on this one, mate. No need tah be jumpin' the gun." Sniper nodded, not a fan of the thought of getting cut open in general. The doctor tutted. "Vell if you stopped by anyway, it vouldn't have to be surgery. I'm sure we could find somezhing just as fun to perform." Gazes averted. Well that hadn't taken long. Did the German only think about two things? Soldier hunched forward and pounded the table, declaring, "Sissies! This is an opportunity to do something for your country! I'd have gladly lain in that room and cut mySELF open if this man had only let me! Just you wait and see, Sally, you're not keeping ME out of there anymore..!" If his wide sneer was anything to go by was quite prepared to take the offer before anyone else could pounce the tease. Medic gave another tut. When he wasn't ruining things on the field Soldier's blindly dumb energy made him so very entertaining. Demo he thought had seemed more amusing drunk, but he still wouldn't mind playing with either of Heavy's fellow assault classes. "We do not know if it works. Should not rush," Heavy repeated the popular opinion, glancing at the noisy American in the corner of his eye. He didn't understand why the man was so keen on making a racket. Everyone had just said they hadn't tested anything in battle yet. None of them had any clue if the surgery was going to work or not. "Rah, you are all no fun," groused the doctor. He turned a chiding face to the large man. "Und even you don't vant me to slice zhem. Could my newly carved friend be jealous?" Another one of Medic's favorite ways to play with people was emotional prodding. It was always enjoyable to find what made someone the most defensive or squirmy, and the bar was often surprisingly low. He deemed it safe enough to give a jab when the reluctant giant was being amiable. He laid a hand gently over the back of Heavy's, giving the sappiest expression he could muster. "Don't vorry, Liebchen, you vill alvays be my first." Well, Scout sure squirmed. Pyro made a weird muffled squealy noise and pressed fists under his chin. The Russian's cheeks turned red again and he felt the heat rushing through his whole body. This man sure was persistent. Heavy wondered what he was supposed to do to make the German realize it was not going to work. He was not going to sleep with him and that was it. He pulled his hand away determinedly. "I already told you no. Is not going to happen." he replied, this time being able to keep his tone of voice calmer. In his mind, the Russian was a mess. He wasn't sure how much longer he could resist the healer. The smaller man had practically thrown himself at Heavy from moment one. He was glad the whole team was present in the mess hall. His self-control might have not been strong enough to resist Medic if they had been alone in the infirmary right now. The rest of the team watched the display. The way the giant was blushing was not supporting his words. Spy was wearing a smirk watching them. It was going to be just a matter of time before those two would end up in bed. Medic's face fell into betraying surprise seeing the fast rosy cheeks and humble reaction. Cracks..! Full on shell-cracking..! He hadn't been expecting that, he only meant to tease a bit. Was Heavy much less challenging than he let on? Was he actually desired? The idea that the man could break so quickly sent the doctor's urges sparking. He promptly tested further as he made his face turn pleading. "Ohh, does zhat mean you von't be coming back wizh me?" "Da. It does." the Russian murmured, focusing on his dinner instead of the man who was constantly trying to get into his pants. It was not going to happen, why couldn't the German understand it? The doctor was...challenging. He had his flaws, but when he wasn't trying to flirt with everyone he met or laughing like a maniac while cutting his patients open, he was alright. His stories were entertaining and he was very attractive on the outside. Being a little insane was always allowed, wasn't it? Wait, what?! Heavy was trying to keep himself away from the German, not list the good things about him! He shook his head slightly, once again trying to put all his concentration in his food. Medic put his elbows on the table and stared in frustration at his own plate. So the large man wasn't com