"You two took forever," Brian complained. "Now we are stuck in the after work rush."
"Doctor Mercy is so cool though!" Timmy bounced again. "Did you hear about how she got the protein synthesis to work? It was amazing!"
"Mercy?" Brian frown slightly as he looked down at his brother. "Like the one from Over watch?"
"No!" Timmy exclaimed so loudly that he drew attention form the crowded tram car around them. "She is the Mercy from Overwatch!"
"Then...what is she doing in Numbani, doing basic work, like doing s wrist fracture on a crazy kid?" Brain tilted his head slightly.
"Really?" Timmy looked aghast. "Mercy is super awesome! Every Place she goes she does medical work for anybody that needs it."
"That...almost sounds like she is too good a person to be true," Brian shrugged. "Not going to turn down free stuff right now."
Timmy's expression shifted immediately to one of shame. "Are...are we going to be late on rent again? I'm sorry about the roof thing. Maybe I can do something to help pay it off? Maybe we shouldn't have ordered pizza last week…."
"Timmy, no, you stop that," Brian smiled as he pulled his brother into a hug. "It was your birthday. We always get what you want to eat on your birthday. It's how those things work! And no, we won't be late with rent. Sombra gave me a bonus for getting the work done so fast. And I'll get some more jobs lined up. It'll be fine!"
"But…" Timmy looked up unconvinced. "I've been doing all that extra science stuff in school. Isn't that expensive?"
"Nah," Brian ruffled Timmy's hair. "Nothing I can't handle. Anyway, I-"
Brian was interrupted by his phone's message ring. Pulling it out, brian gave it a quick look and frowned darkly. "Why now…"
"Brian?" Timmy looked concerned.
"Ah, nothing," Brian gave Timmy a forced smile. "Just a moment."
Hitting a couple buttons on his phone, Brian brought it to his ear. After two rings, the line picked up.
Hello, Brian! What can I do for you? Orisa's warm voice greeted him.
"Hey, I'm sorry that is last minute, but can I sent Timmy over there for a couple hours? I had something come up last minute I need to take care of."
One moment, Orisa paused for a moment. Talking to Efi, he assumed. Of course, Send Timmy over. We'd be happy to see him for a while.
Relief washed over Brian. "Thank you so much. I'll make it up to you sometime. I'll send some money with Timmy for dinner."
Oh, that isn't necessary! Orisa laughed. A dinner guest sounds like fun!
After a few more exchanges, Brian and Orisa said their goodbyes and hung up.
"Okay little man," Brian looked down at his brother. "I need you to go see Efi. I'll come pick you up when I finish with a meeting I need to do. Think you can get there on your own?"
"Umm...yeah," Timmy was frowning. "But, is something wrong? Can I help?"
Brain waved Timmy's concerns asaid. "No, It's fine. I just need to see somebody for a private conversation. It's just an old friend I haven't seen in a while."
As Brian approached the door to the small apartment he shared with his brother, he paused. Giving Timmy some money and sending him off to play with Efi was an amazingly convenient way of getting the boy away so he could meet this person. They might be a family friend, but still, as little exposure to Timmy, the better.
Taking a deep breath, Brian opened the door and walked in. His guest was sitting in one of the two overstuffed chairs in the small living room. The woman had turned it so that she could look out the window, and was currently watching the sun setting over the city.
"Hello, Moira," Brian smiled tightly. "I'd really rather you stopped dropping in so last minute."
"Where would the fun be in that?" Moira smirked as she stood. She was as tall as always. Most people were tall to Brian, but Moira was unusually tall, with long, thin arms and legs, narrow, sharp cheekbones, it made Brian feel even shorter.
Her black shirt tucked into black dress pants, was offset by a purple tie. His favorite shade of purple as well. It really made her pale skin and contrasting bright red hair stand out.
But it was her eyes that almost always drew Brian's attention. One sparkling blue, the other, a blood red.
"Falling in love with me again?" Moira smirked. "I didn't think you were into old women like me?"
"Pff," Brain shook his head as he walked into the living room. "You look like you might be thirty. And you are as pretty as always. But what do you want?"
"Always so suspicious!" Moira chuckled. "I'm here for your check up. It's the spring equinox, after all."
"I still don't know what the spring or fall equinoxes have to do with coming to do check ups. And I don't need them anyway. I'm fine," Brian sniffed.
"Nothing really special about them," Moira shrugged. "Just convenient dates to keep track of. And I don't care how you are feeling. I need to make sure. Now, come here."
With a resigned sigh, Brian dropped his bag onto the floor and pulled his blue hoodie off, dropping it onto the bag. He then stepped forward and stood still.
"That's my boy," Moira smiled as she reached out and ran her fingers lightly along the underside of his jaw and neck. "So...I heard Tim is doing well."
Brian nodded. "Yeah, but don't think I'm going to let you teach him anything."
"Arms," Moria smirked as Brian lifted his arms for her to probe his armpits with her finger tips. "I know, Brian. Tim is in a completely different field than me anyway. Besides, I would never get him involved with… well anything."
"Good," Brian sighed again. "I'm sorry I am always so rude with you."
For the first time, Moira looked slightly taken aback. "No, Brian. I understand. After everything that happened. And my working with Talon at the moment, you must be even more displeased. Pants."
"Oh, come on," Brian groaned.
"Pants," Moira said again, raising an eyebrow as she held up one of her sharp fingernails. "Or I can do it myself…."
"Ugh...so embarrassing," Brian grumbled, as he dropped his pants.
"Ehem," she cleared her throat, still giving him 'the look'.
"I hate you," Brian flushed as he closed his eyes and dropped his drawers as well.
"Sorry, Brian," Moira said, placatingly. "I am a doctor. And this is a check up."
"Yeah, yeah," Brain looked away. "And no, I am not happy with your Talon affil- HOLY MOTHER YOUR HANDS ARE COLD!"
Snickering, Moira released his bits, shifting her fingers to his inner thighs. "Well, didn't have to ask you to cough after that, Lymph nodes in the neck, under arms and inner groin are also fine. Go ahead and redress."
"Thanks," Brian said dryly. "Anyway, I was saying that no, your Talon work really pisses me off. And, yes, I know why."
With a sigh, Moira crossed her arms under her small breasts. "I owed your parents a great debt. Making sure you are doing well is part of that. Besides, after the accident, you can't go to a regular doctor. And then after..well, after your parents, I'm the only one that knows what happened."
Zipping up, Brian nodded. "I know. I appreciate it. I just...I want to live as normal as I can. I've got to take care of Timmy."
"If you'd let me give you money…" Moira started before Brian cut her off with a raised hand.
"No, I have to do this," Brian said firmly, before his expression softened. "But, yeah. If it becomes something I can't handle, I'll call you. Thanks."
"Well, then I shall be satisfied with that," Moira smiled and nodded. "And I ordered food. I wanted to talk to you about the...incident."
Frowning again Brian dropped into a chair and gestured to the other. "What 'incident'?"
"The museum."
Brian's eyes widened as his mouth made an 'O'.
"You used your power," Moira looked at him seriously. "That's the only way the Doomfist would have worked."
Making a face, Brain shrugged. "I guess those two were Talon then. I kinda figured."
"Indeed. Widowmaker, the woman you punched across the room, was very...unhappy." Moira laughed. "She wanted to hunt you down for it. Which is impressive, considering almost all of her emotions have been cut out of her."
"I really don't want to know anymore about that," Brian shuddered slightly. "I just want to be me."
"Yes, well," Moira tilted her head slightly. "It'll be fine. She was denied, and has already forgotten it. She has many other things to do. I am more concerned with your using your power, and how it affected you."
"Well, as you can see, I'm fine," Brian held his arms open. "You even made sure my man bits froze off to make sure."
"Yes, and you will make whomever you marry, very happy," Moira gave the boy a wicked smile. "You are seventeen now, and your birthday is what? Six months?"
Opening his mouth to speak, Brian was saved by the doorbell.
"Must be food," Brain stood, moving to the door. "What did you order, anyway?"
"Oh, just a pizza," Moira shrugged. "Figured that was the eternal, universal teenager food."
"You're not wrong," Brain laughed and opened the door.
It wasn't a pizza.
"Meta! Mi Amigo!" A light brown woman, slightly taller than him stood in the doorway. Her purple leather clad arms were wide open as she rushed forward to give him a hug. As she did, Brian noted the lightly glowing stripes of the cybernetics in her head. She then shoved him back to arms length. "Good to see you! Bet you didn't expect me, huh?"
"Umm...no?" Brian stood confused.
"Ah, estupido," the woman lightly tapped herself on the head. "Sorry! It's me! Sombra!"
"Sombra?" Brain's eyes widened in shock. "You're so….pretty."
"Ahh, smooth talker!" Sombra grinned shyly as she pushed past the confused boy. Who just noticed the little wheeled carry bag she pulled behind her. "I know it's short notice, but I need a bit of a break, and you're pretty much my favorite friend, so I figured, 'hey, might as well met the guy in person', no? And here I am!"
"Yeah...here you are…." Brian stood in the open doorway still stunned.
Then he heard a shriek.
"Moira?!" "Sombra!?"
"What are you doing here?!" Both women demanded at the same time.
"Brian!" At this point, Brian was amazed at how they could speak in unison like that,
"Hey…" a dull quiet voice interrupted Brian's thoughts. "I got a pizza here?"