Roadhog smiled behind his mask. He'd wanted a child for the longest time, since he found out his wife couldn't bear children. She had died during the big explosion. He made a silent vow to protect this child with his life.
"Why were you out in the rain yesterday, Jamison?" Roadhog asked.
Jamison's face darkened.
"There's this kid... named Jeb... he and I had gone outside the walls to explore. Then, as usual, he decided to hurt me. Then he ran back to town when he heard the thunder and trapped me out. If I had been a bit faster, I would've made it. Maybe I would have looked a little less pathetic." the boy replied, tears welling in his eyes.
Roadhog wiped away the tears and patted Jamison on the head.
"If he's so desperate for superiority that he's willing to beat up someone smaller than him, than he's the pathetic one. Not you." Roadhog reassured.
"Really?" Jamison asked.
"Really." Roadhog told him.
Jamison looked down at his shoes then back up at Roadhog, his eyes now filled with curiousity.
"What are you working on?" the boy asked.
"Canisters of gas. I use them for medical purposes, though only I can stand them." Roadhog explained.
"Cool!" Jamison replied.
"When I'm done making some, we're leaving town. There are too many hostile people here." Roadhog said, ruffling Jamison's hair.
"Gotcha! Can I help?" Jamison asked eagerly.
"Actually... you could go to one of my old sheds near here. I stashed some spare empty canisters there. It's just to the right of that little shop, see it?" Roadhog asked.
Jamison nodded.
"I'm going to leave the door open. That way, if you need help, just call my name and I'll be there to help." Roadhog told him, handing Jamison a key.
Jamison nodded and ran out the door. He followed the simple directions and saw the shed. He took another step and felt a hand grab his shoulder, pulling him back. He turned, and was met with a hard punch to the jaw. It was Jeb. Jamison fell to the ground, still in shock.
"Didn't I make it clear you were supposed to stay out there and suffer yesterday rat?" Jeb asked angrily.
"I-I did suffer..." Jamison managed to stutter out.
"Well let's see the damage!" Jeb yelled, ripping off the bandages.
Jamison squeaked a bit, wincing in pain while trying to stand up. Jeb smiled a little, pulling off more bandages from the smaller boy's arms and legs. When they were all off, Jeb victoriously dropped them on the ground, smirking at his handiwork.
"Happy now?" Jamison said sternly, the tears on his face stopped in their tracks. He now looked angry.
"Look at all those burns. Damn I really am a genius!" Jeb said.
Jeb walked over to Jamison and poked the burns. Jamison gritted his teeth and winced in pain.
"That hurt, rat?" Jeb teased.
"Not at all." Jamison forced out a small smile through the pain.
This pissed Jeb off to no end. It was a mistake he'd regret.
"Oh really? Then I'll make it hurt!!" Jeb yelled, grabbing Jamison's shirt and pulling him into another punch to the jaw.
Jamison was knocked to the ground again, winded. Jeb walked over to his victim and put his foot on the smaller boy's chest, putting all his weight on that one foot.
"Get. Off!!" Jamison wheezed, using a threatening tone.
"You can still talk, huh? Hm. Guess I'll have to kick your ass worse!" Jeb smirked.
Jamison gave him no time to react, using both legs to kick the other boy off him. He stood up and stared at his rival, anger in his amber eyes. Jamison walked over to Jeb and attempted to land a punch, but instead he left himself open. Jeb took the chance to stand up fast, arms outstretched. He grabbed Jamison by the throat and hoisted him up, slamming his back against a wall, strangling him.
"Road..hog..." Jamison coughed out, losing air by the second.
"Who's that? Your imaginary friend?" Jeb said, kneeing the other boy in the stomach. "Choose your next words carefully, if any at all."
Jamison was still attempting to get Jeb's hands off his throat, holding back tears.
"Let... go..." Jamison almost sounded threatening.
Jamison took his hands away from preventing loss of oxygen and landed a solid punch to his rival.
Jeb punched him in the eye in self-defence and anger, leaving a large bruise on his left eye. Jamison fell from Jeb's hands onto the ground, coughing and choking uncontrollably, finally getting to breathe. Jamison kicked the other boy as hard as he could, knocking him back a bit. Jeb dragged the other boy to his feet. He punched him in the stomach three times before Jamison couldn't move and fell to the dirt again. Jeb curled his hand into a fist until he had white knuckles and prepared for another punch, when he was picked up by the back of his shirt. He turned to see a large man with a pig mask holding him four feet in the air.
"Let me go, asshole!! I don't know who the hell you are, but you sure as hell better put me down NOW!!" Jeb whined, kicking his legs.
"You're hurting a boy younger than you, with a clearly weaker body build. Does that make you feel good about your own life?" Roadhog asked.
"Not really. I do it to make his life misery!" Jeb smiled.
"Wrong answer." Roadhog coldly replied.
Roadhog punched Jeb square in the face, knocking him out and breaking his nose. Roadhog walked over to Jamison who was barely conscious.
"D-did you... get em?" Jamison spoke, his words slurring as he struggled to stay awake.
"Yeah." Roadhog reassured.
"Thanks..." Jamison trailed off, finally sleeping.
Roadhog picked up the unconscious boy and carried him in his arms like a newborn back to the workshop. He laid him on his bed and put more bandages on his arms, legs, and back to cover up the burns once more. He treated the bruises on Jamison's face and neck, where some heavy bruising was showing up. When he was sure that all the wounds had been patched up, he went downstairs and took a much needed nap.
