How to Stay Warm in Nepal - Chapter 1
The stone room was crowded with conversation and bodies; Mercy stepped carefully over Junkrat, fallen asleep on the cobble floor with a beer bottle clutched in each hand. Smoke smelling of McCree's signature cigar drifted from the darkest corner, but a bright fire roared in the hearth opposite.
Mercy shivered; it was difficult to warm back up once you'd been outside, here in Nepal. But she'd wanted to check that Genji was awake at his watch post – perhaps that was paranoia, but there was a strange feeling to the air tonight, as if it were waiting for-
"Mercy!" a high-pitched voice called excitedly. "Come sit with us, pleeease!" DVa scooched over on a loveseat which already looked liable to break, supporting two girls and with Lucio perched on the arm.
As she sat down, DVa wrapped both arms around Angela's shoulders, and rested her head. "I missed you, Mercy. Will you stay now?"
"Of course." She stroked the girl's long brown hair, and smiled over at Mei. "What have you girls been talking about?"
"Lucio was telling us jokes," said Mei.
"Whaddya call a Torbjorn with two turrets?" Lucio's eyes danced, and Mei frowned. "A love triangle!"
"Is that really funny?" DVa complained. Mei giggled.
"Hey there."
That voice.
"Oh hey Soldier, how's it hangin'?" said Lucio.
"Alright, thanks." He stood there in the leather jacket, expression serious as always. Mercy tried to relax.
"We're running a midnight op and we'd like a couple supports. Are you two up for it?" He glanced at her, cold blue eyes questioning.
"You can count on me," she replied, looking over at Lucio.
He grinned. "Like the lady said. Let's do this!"
Soldier gave a nod. "Assemble outside in five minutes." He strode away towards the back door. Mercy breathed out.
"Come back soon, okay?" DVa whined, pulling the hug tighter.
Mei kissed Lucio on the cheek; a lip-gloss imprint stayed. "Stay safe out there!"
Mercy thought she might have one strong drink before they left.
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Breath hovered in frosty clouds, thin air making each inhale count for more. Jack tried to breathe slowly, holding the oxygen in for a count of 8.
"Did you find us a healer?" Reaper growled from the darkness. Reyes didn't seem bothered by the cold: long jacket open as always, he leaned back against the stone building.
"He knows what he's doing," said a strong voice. Sombra sat on a nearby wall, analyzing the state of her guns under the moon's light. "I just hope there's no trouble from those snipers this time."
"I'm not afraid of them," Reaper replied. Sombra rolled her eyes and cocked a pistol.
The back door opened, spilling light onto the snow.
"Here we are."
That voice.
It flooded into his head like warm water, melting a little of the anxiety deep down.
"Let's get this show on the road!" said Lucio.
She stepped out of the doorway. How could a person embody a form so perfectly? Every curve, each bright glowing feather was beauty itself.
Shit, he was staring.
"Are we going to stand here all night?" Reaper demanded.
"Move out. Healers behind. Try not to get yourselves killed." Soldier strode into the snow, shaking his head to clear it. They had a mission to carry out.
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