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The Tell Tale Heartbeats

“Molly sat on the couch in the common room finishing up her last bit of math homework before she stretched and looked around, only to find that Bob wasn’t around, which was unusual since he was often by her feet when she was doing her homework, only to recall that Bob was passed out on his little doggie bed on the first floor at home, exhausted after accidently cutting up his other back leg and needing stitches and only coming home earlier that day. The poor pup wearing a cone of shame and bandages on his shaved foot...

She shook her head, she’d get upset if she thought too much about it, heck, her bringing her homework to do here was so she could focus on it and not mope around the house worrying about him.

She eagerly picked up a collection of Edgar Allen Poe stories the librarian suggested she read, her bracelet shining in the light of the room for a moment as she marvelled at it excitedly. The librarian was one of her favorite people in school and she always suggested good books for her and she was eager to see what this Edgar bloke had in store for her.

She nuzzled deep into the couch and started to read, pleased that she could get her mind off of poor Bob at home.

“What cha readin’?” McCree asked from behind her, making her jump, the book flying in the air for a moment before she spazzed out to catch it. Only for Winston, who had also been in the room, to do so instead.

“Edgar Allen Poe?” He read, “Isn’t this a bit dark for someone your age?” He asked the eleven year old as he carefully passed the book back to her.

“Th’ librarian at school suggested it fer me.” She said, before narrowing her eyes, “’N whaddya mean ‘fer someone mah age’?” she asked.

“Well, it’s just, his works often have dark and twisted imagery...“ Winston began, only for McCree to pipe in that, “I had ta read ‘The Tell Tale Heart’ when I was your age ‘n that story still gives me nightmares!”

“I can handle it! It’s jus’ a story!” She insisted.

“That’s what I thought too.” McCree said, “I think Winston’s right, you should put that down ‘n read something else.”

“Niethah of you is mah Da’!” she snapped back, “’N I ain’ afriad of no story by some creepy dead bloke! In fact...” She scanned the index and flipped to the page with the title of ‘The Tell Tale Heart’ and held it up for the two males in the room to see, “‘M gonna read this whole story, roight now ‘n prove it!”

Winston gave her a concerned look and McCree just gave her a smug look, as if to say, ‘yeah right, good luck with that’ before giving her a shrug and saying, “Suit yourself.” before leaving the room.

“It ain’ scary!” She insisted as he left the room, looking to Winston as the door closed behind the cowboy, “I should take me bracelet off in case he wants ta scare me, shouldn’t I?”

“I think that would be wise.” Winston agreed before excusing himself and leaving the room as well.

‘Stupid Jesse...’ she thought to herself as she took off her bracelet, ‘It’s jus’ a story, it ain’ real...’

She then placed it on the table with her completed homework, settled back into the couch and began reading.

She dove into the story of a mad man who committed a fairly violent murder of an old stranger.

She stopped as she heard Junkrat’s thoughts pop into her head, “Christ, I love this woman!”

She smiled, Rat and Sat were probably close by, the sweetness and the affection in the thought was a welcomed moment of warmth from the dark, dreary story.

But, alas, she had to keep going so she could prove her point.

‘... now, I say, there came to my ears a low, dull, quick sound, such as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton...’

Th-thump

Molly jumped a bit at the noise, glancing back and forth, but there was no one there.

“Th’ hell?” She murmured, wondering where it had come from, hearing more happy adoring thoughts from Rat as his voice became louder. She shook her head, ordering herself to stay focused. She needed to finish this, she found her last spot and continued reading.

“...I knew that sound well too. It was the beating of the old man’s heart...’

Th-thump

Molly jumped again.

“Okay, what is tha’?” She asked softly, doing her best to keep the building discomfort that was settling between her ribs. “Jesse must be tryin’ ta mess with me.” She decided, her own heart rate starting to increase as she heard the door open and looked up to see Rat and Sat enter the room, smiling and chatting when they spotted her in the room.

Th-thump

“Christ, Molls, ya look loike you’ve seen a ghost.” Rat told her.

Th-thump

“‘M-m foine.” She stammered, despite herself, “Jus’ readin’...”

Th-thump

“Th’ hell yous readin’ tha’s makin’ you all jumpy?” He asked her, leaning over the couch to read the title on the top of the page, “The Tell-Tale Heart?” He read.

Th-thump

“Yeah.” Molly replied, her hands starting to shake. That sound was starting to freak her out, but where was it coming from? It wasn’t her heart beat, she could feel that somewhere in her throat and they weren’t lining up there.

Th-thump

“Are you sure you’re alright reading that?” Satya asked, “It’s quite dark.”

Th-thump

“Y-you sound loike Winston ‘n Jesse, ‘m foine.” She said with a nervous laugh as the two adults looked at her with concern.

Th-thump

“Alroight.” Rat said, obviously uncertain as to why she seemed uncomfortable, “We was gonna watch a movie in ‘ere, tha’ okay with you?” He asked her.

Th-thump

“Tha’s foine!” She blurted, before quickly tacking on, “ I-I could use th’ company...”

Th-thump

“Cheers,” He said, the usual energy behind it gone as the two adults gave each other worried glances before settling in on her left side.

Th-thump

Molly did her best to shake her head and focus on the words in front of her, the sounds of a heart beating loudly in her head as she read the trembling page before her. Trying to use the words and Rat’s chipper thoughts as a distraction from the quickening heart beats pounding in her head.

‘My manner had convinced them. I was singularly at ease.’

Th-thump

‘They sat, and while I answered cheerily, they chatted of familiar things.’

Th-thump

‘But, ere long, I felt myself getting pale and wished them gone. My head ached, and I fancied a ringing in my ears: but still they sat and still chatted.’

Th-thump

‘The ringing became more distinct: --It continued and became more distinct: I talked more freely to get rid of the feeling: but it continued and gained definiteness’

TH-THUMP

‘--until, at length, I found that the noise was not within my ears. No doubt I now grew very pale;’

TH-THUMP

“Molls? You feelin’ alroight?” Rat asked.

TH-THUMP

She didn’t answer, she couldn’t. It was difficult to even breathe at the moment.

TH-THUMP

‘--but I talked more fluently, and with a heightened voice. Yet the sound increased --and what could I do?’

TH-THUMP

“Molly?” Satya called, gently grasping her shaking arm, the action making her jump, but her watering eyes didn’t leave the page.

TH-THUMP

“C-can you hear tha’?” She managed to whisper through lightheadedness, dread and the thundering sound in her head.

TH-THUMP

“Hear what?” Rat asked.

TH-THUMP

‘It was a low, dull, quick sound --much such a sound as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton. I gasped for breath --and yet the officers heard it not...’

TH-THUMP

“Molly...” Satya began before her words were drowned out by the sound a watch apparently makes when enveloped in cotton...

TH-THUMPTH-THUMPTH-THUMPTH-THUMPTH-THUMP

The sound of a beating heart.

Molly flung the book across the room with a scream before clawing at her ears, tears streaming down her face, “MAKE IT STOP! MAKE TH’ SOUND STOP!!!” She pleaded. Rat and Sat quickly grabbed at her hands with their flesh ones, shouting at Athena to get Angela and Roadhog as fast as she could. Molly struggling against them and screaming for anyone to make it stop.

By the time they got there, Ana, Pharah, Lena, Winston, McCree, Hana and Lúcio were all struggling to keep the terrified psychic contained as she shrieked and starting destroying the carpet with her mind and fingers, as if searching for the heart the murderer in the story buried under his floorboards.

Angela quickly gave her a sedative and she found herself sinking into darkness, letting out a terrified, “NO!” before passing out.

When she woke up, she was panting hard and glancing around the room, praying it would be her room. But Bob was not curled up beside her, the sheets were white and crisp and... she was in the med bay, wasn’t she?

“Molly?” Angela said softly. She turned to see Angela and her Da’ looking at her with concern and relief that she was awake.

Speaking of relief...

“Th’ sound...” she said, calm starting to settle into her as she realized how quiet it was in here, “I-it’s gone. It’s...” She felt tears of relief streaming down her face.

“Molly,” Her Da’ said softly as he gently took her hand in his massive one, his low rumbling voice a comforting sound after everything that had happened. But she always found his voice a comfort, he was the one thing scary things were afraid of after all. (They were right to be scared of him, but Molly knew she’d never have to fear because he was the sweetest and most loving Daddy and he always protected her), “What sound are you talking about?”

“It was a loud heart beat!” She exclaimed, “Rat ‘n Sat said they couldn’ hear it, but it was so loud!”

“Molly, are you sure it just wasn’t this?” Angela asked, holding up the library book she had thrown across the room in hopes that if she wasn’t touching it, the sound would stop. Molly scooted away from it, squishing herself closer to the safety of her Da’ before saying, “No!” She then had to be instructed to take a few calming breaths before she explained that, “It wasn’t scary ‘til I heard th’ sounds. Then th’ book jus’ made it worse...” She looked down at her hands, noticing the bracelet on her wrist, “You put me bracelet back on?” She asked.

“It wasn’t on when you started reading?” Angela asked.

“No, Jesse said tha’ one of th’ stories had scared ‘im when ‘e was mah age, so I wanted ta prove I wasn’ scared. I took me bracelet off jus’ in case ‘e came back ta spook me.” She explained, “Can’ spook me if I can hear yer thoughts.”

“... Well tha’ explains why you didn’ stop readin it’.” Her Da’ sighed before murmuring about how damn stubborn she could be.

“Molly, if your bracelet was off and Junkrat and Satya couldn’t hear the sounds you heard, could you have been hearing one of their thoughts?”

“Maybe...” She said softly, thinking about it, “I could still hear Rat’s jus’ foine fer a bit...” She paused, “But I couldn’ hear Sat’s at all...”

“Rat said she seemed really worried about you when they were sittin’ with ya, said you nearly gave them heart attacks when you threw the book...”

“I couldn’ hear Sat’s thoughts at all, though.” She said, “‘N th’ sound got even louder when they got really worried...”

She could practically hear the gears whirling through the adults’ heads until Angela’s eyes widened in comprehension.

“Mako, can you bring Satya in here for a moment please?”

“Jus’ ‘er?”

“And Ana too, please, if you would.”

He let out a grunt of confirmation and walked out of the room.

“You think Sat was makin’ th’ noise?” Molly asked her.

“In part.” Angela said as she began rummaging through cabinets and drawers.

“In part?” Molly repeated, confused.

“Yes, I’ll explain in a moment.” She said as she smiled and pulled out a slim box and slipped it into her doctor’s coat’s pocket as Ana and Satya walked in. The elder Amari closing the door behind her as she looked at the child in the bed.

“You feeling better?” She asked her.

“Yeah,” She held up her wrist, “Helps when ya have somethin’ ta block out th’ sound.”

“And what sound was that?” Satya asked.

“In a moment.” Angela said, “But first, we need to confirm something.” She then motioned for Molly to remove her bracelet.

Molly wasn’t very keen on the command, but after a shaky breath, she did so.

Th-thump

She grabbed the bracelet with both hands and nodded, “Yeah, tha’s what I heard.”

Angela smiled before turning to the other women in the room, “Molly heard the sound of a heart beating when you and Junkrat were nearby when she didn’t have her bracelet on. She said she heard Junkrat’s thoughts, but not yours.”

“But I was not thinking about the sound of a heart beat.” Satya said.

Ana’s eyes widened in understanding, “You didn’t, but someone else did.” she said clearly.

“But I heard Rat’s thoughts clear as day when I heard th’ heart beats, ‘n if Sat wasn’ thinkin’ ‘bout tha’ sound, then why couldn’ I hear ‘er thoughts?”

“Because you were hearing someone else’s thoughts from her.” Angela said, pulling the box from her pocket and handing it to Satya. The architect’s eyebrows crinkled in confusion, “A pregnancy test?”

“A developing brain wouldn’t be able to have thoughts like Molly’s used to, it would probably hardly have anything close, but it might be able to hear it’s mother’s heart beat and process that a bit.” Angela said, her friend’s golden eyes widening at this information and her face paling a bit.

“I-I am a bit late, but with Vishkar trying to sue me for patent stealing when we made me a new arm so I could still use hard light without their technology again...” she rubbed at her sleek blue and white arm before looking up at Angela, “Are you sure that Molly hearing that means...” Satya began.

“Molly’s never been around a pregnant woman before...” Ana recalled, “And I do believe there was an issue during a recent PTA meeting because of this...” she said as she looked to Angela, who scowled at the thought.

“Issue?” Molly repeated.

“A pregnant mother said that, as a Junker, you were probably radioactive and she didn’t want you near her or her family, lest her developing baby be harmed.” Angela snarled.

“She does know tha’ I ain’ a rod of plutonium, roight?” Molly asked, making Ana let out a snort of laughter and Satya smile a bit.

“No, but I will use that in the next PTA meeting if I have to.” Angela said before getting back to Ana’s point, “Anyways, the point is, Molly’s never heard thoughts that have come from a developing child’s head before, and since you’re obviously not very far along, what she is hearing makes sense.”

Satya looked worriedly at the box in her hands.

“Yer jus’ makin’ sure I ain’ goin’ bonkers.” Molly told her, “Plus, you ‘n Rat loike me foine, imagoine how much you’d loike yer own kid!” Satya smiled a bit at that before nodding and Ana began going over the instructions with Satya and Molly looked to her mother figure beside her as she began unplugging her from everything.

“Does this mean ‘m gonna get a cousin?” She whispered to Angela excitedly. The doctor smiled warmly at her, “Probably, but we should let her take the test first, just to be sure.”

“‘Kay.” she said as she bounced on her bum, waiting a moment before asking, “... So I can’ congratulate Rat yet?”

“No.” Angela said, smiling despite trying to be firm here. But it was probably hard since she was relieved that the girl who’d had a huge frightened freak out was now currently bouncing on her bum with glee.

“’Kay... How ‘bout now?” She asked.

“Molly...” Angela warned.

“Foine...” She pouted as she watched Ana hand Satya a paper cup of water and saw her down it, “How’s Bob?” she asked.

“He’s fine. Your father was watching him, but Mei offered to cover him when he heard you were having a panic attack.” Angela assured her, “She hasn’t reported him having any trouble, so he’s fine.”

“Tha’s good.” She said, watching Satya walk into the bathroom with the box and a pair of gloves out of the corner of her eye, a need to know overflowing her system but knowing she couldn’t know until she came out was infuriating.

A few minutes later, Satya left the bathroom with the box, looking a bit pale.

“Can I...”

“Molly, the test still needs to...”

“For Christ’s sake, we loive in th’ fuckin’ 20 - - s!” Molly cried, “How have we not made pregnancy tests tha’ work faster?!”

The older women immediately began to laugh at that, Satya still nervously looking at the box, and despite Molly being unable to read her mind, she had a feeling that only one person could make her feel better about all of this...

Rat walked up the hall, surprised to be suddenly summoned to Mercy’s office, but a bit worried too. It had been a while since Molly had her freak out and after she woke up, Hog was basically kicked out to have Ana and his new wife in. He bit his lip nervously, his gut was saying that something was up, but it wasn’t the ‘when in doubt, get the fuck out’ kind of something’s up. He didn’t know what to think here.

He knocked on the door, nervous.

The door opened and Molly hopped out, happy as a clam and gave him a big hug.

While he was a fan of hugs and was glad she was better than she was before, the suddenness of the change was a bit jarring.

“Good ta see yer feelin’ bettah, Molls.” He said, gently ruffling her hair.

“Ta!” She replied, “’N congrats, Rat!”

“Congrats?” He repeated as the near pre-teen booked it past him, “Th’ hell?” He murmured, confused as Ana walked out, gave him a pat on the shoulder and wished him good luck.

“Th’ hell do ya mean by...” And she was gone.

“Great.” He groaned, confused.

“Junkrat?” Mercy called, motioning him into the room. He did so, cautious.

“Does someone wanna explain what those two were on about?” He asked.

McCree watched as Molly happily bounced on her toes towards him, Hana and Lúcio, the freshly lit cigar sliding out of his mouth between gloved fingers before he asked, “Either of you have any idea why she’s...?”

“Nope.” Lúcio replied before he had a chance to finish.

“I’m just glad she’s okay now.” Hana said.

“That remains to be seen.” The cowboy said as he walked up to her, “Molly, there something you want to share with the class?” He asked her.

Only when Molly eagerly opened her mouth, they heard Rat’s loud voice explode, “’M GONNA BE A DA’?!!?” and heard the words echo through out the compound.

“Oh,” McCree said before motioning for Molly to pass him, “Carry on.”

Only to jerk backwards a bit when she hug-tackled him instead, “Thanks fer tellin’ me I shouldn’ read tha’ book, Jesse!” She said, “If it wasn’ fer you, I wouldn’ have heard th’ baby’s thoughts at all!”

“Uh, yer welcome?” He replied, confused as to how he did that exactly, only to then ask, “So that means your Pa ain’ gonna kill me or nothin’?”

“’E’ll be too busy keepin’ me away from th’ phone ta call Sat’s Mum.” Molly said plainly, her eyes widening, “Tha’ reminds me! Mei, Da’ ‘n Bob don’ know yet!” She then ran past them all towards her house, “Gotta go!”

“Wow.” Lúcio said.

McCree put his lit cigar on the ground and started stomping it out, since, with a baby on the way on base, smoking was probably a no go from now on and muttered to himself about how withdrawal will probably be a bitch.

“I want to congratulate her, but I also don’t want her having a panic attack.” Hana said softly.

“Maybe we can all go together and get it over with all at once?” Lúcio offered. Hana and McCree nodded in agreement and the three made their way inside and were just a hallway away from Mercy’s office when they saw Rat burst out of the door and surprise a passing Lena in the hall, “LENA, ‘M GONNA BE A DA’!!”

Lena let out a happy gasp, “Congrats Rat!”

“’M SO HAPPY!!!!” He cried, before running over towards them,“’M GONNA BE A DA’!!!” before running off further down the hall, “ROADIE, TORB, REINHARDT, WHERE YA AT?! ‘M GONNA BE A DA’!!!” He cried as he vanished out of sight.

“OMG this is the best thing ever!” Hana laughed as Satya poked her head out of the office with Angela.

“Well, I think he took that well.” Angela told her. Satya smiled, “It makes me feel so much better that he’s so happy about it.”

“Happy’s an understatement.” McCree said as they heard Junkrat announce the wonderful news to an equally loud Reinhardt further down the hall. He scratched the back of his head, tilting his hat a bit, “Hard to believe all this came from Molly scaring the crap out of herself.”

“At least this story has a happy ending.” Angela pointed out.

“Better than the Tell Tale Heart, that’s for sure.” He said.

“Wait, I thought in that story, the crazy killer gives himself up to the police. Isn’t that technically a happy ending too?” Hana asked, “I mean, the murderer goes to prison for what he did.”

“Huh, never thought about it like that...” He said thoughtfully.

“I’m with Angela.” Lúcio said, “This is a much better story, because we get to tell that kid,” He pointed to Satya’s belly to clarify which one he was referring to, “Exactly what happened when Daddy got the news.”

And that’s how you turn something scary/unnerving into something sweet.

Also if you’ve never seen How It Should Have Ended’s Happy dad Darth Vader happily freaking out about being/becoming a dad. That’s what I picture Rat’s like for the rest of the day.

For those who do not know the comedy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6U6I9Jbkxs

You’re welcome.

His crazy infectious happiness staves of the panic attack Symmetra was about to have right after she told him and makes her feel more than a bit better. She does make him calm down because she will be the one to tell her mother and then will give him the phone to let them freak out about the baby because she will then be in control freak mode and she has research to do, her mother will call back to ask everything she will ask him another day, so Momma will focus on taking care of unborn baby.

Also, this baby is Aarush

who belongs to @dnnysma formally known as bowlersandtophats

Molly and Bob are mine. Overwatch’s stuff is Blizzards. Poe’s stuff is Poe’s. And HISHE’S stuff is hilarious.