Safety. That word meant little to nothing nowadays. At least, it meant little to nothing for Lena Oxton. The place where she had felt safest was now a nightmare, the safest place for her now was a prison.
The accident had taken everyone by surprise, although looking back on the day it should've to have. They had asked her to drive a vehicle that had never been tested before, one that could warp spacetime. What could go wrong with that?
Nothing, Lena had thought at first. She was just excited to fly for the prestigious organization that was Overwatch. It was the sort of opportunity she had been waiting for her whole life. She had never imagined this. Being stuck in a tiny capsule, with a few windows, unable to leave, wondering when she was going to disappear again. She had been assured, time after time, that they would find a solution but it had been two months and nothing. Doctor Angela Ziegler had performed various tests, others had helped her. They had tried several physical and mechanical solutions. Yet, every time Lena thought it'd work out she would disappear, whisked away into another timeline, trapped in the unknown. This tiny prison of hers became her home, a living nightmare. Stuck day after day, waiting to disappear. As much as they claimed the room would help keep her anchor she knew, she knew it was only a matter of time until she disappeared once more.
There was one day, however, where things got better.
Lena was just sitting there, hugging her legs, leaning against a metallic wall. She wore gray overalls and pink fluffy slippers. She couldn't feel the cold of her prison, she couldn't feel anything at all. Not on a physical level at least.
Knock knock knock.
Lena's face shot up as she heard the knocking on the wall. The Brit got up and cautiously walked to one of the windows. It was the doctor, smiling as always. She was wearing a white lab coat above a black turtleneck, jeans, and sneakers. Lena had grown used to her visits, yet this time she frowned. Something was different, the doctor seemed happy. She wasn't faking her smile, as she always did, she was genuinely happy.
Why?
"Good morning, Lena," Angela said cheerfully. "How are you feeling?"
"No, ah, episodes today doc," Lena replied, shrugging. "I suppose that's good. How about yourself?"
"I'm doing well, lots of work as always. We're making progress with the chronal anchor, by the way," Angela chirped. But there it was, that forced tone, the voice that let Lena knew she was lying.
"Ha, sure thing Doc," Lena answered bitterly, sitting back down but still in view of the window. "Are we doing more tests today?"
"No, not today, I'm actually here with a visitor," the doctor announced. "Do you mind if I open the door? It will be a quick moment, that's all."
"Are...are you sure? I haven't had any moments today and opening that door-"
"The door does not affect how often or not you...leave," Angela cut in. "I've already explained that. I understand you feel safer in there, but the truth is you are just as safe walking outside as sitting around. Opening this door for two seconds and letting your visitor in won't affect you. Besides," Angela's smile turned coy. "wouldn't you like to see your new visitor?"
Lena thought about it for a few seconds, then walked over to the opposite end of the room and nodded at Angela. She might be afraid of opening the prison gates, but she was curious as to who this visitor was. She had no friends here, having left the people she knew back in the army or back home in London. Besides Angela, very few Overwatch agents had seen her. The ones who had visited only did so to question her or study her.
The Brit cringed as the door slowly opened but stood her ground. Angela's smile grew and she playfully waved at Lena, then waved another figure forward. Lena's fear melted, replaced with sudden surprise and a nervous feeling. The door closed, leaving the two people stuck inside. Lena felt her cheeks flush, and wanted to look away but couldn't.
Her new companion was absolutely gorgeous, a real killer. Tall, slim, with long purple hair and fair skin. The woman had amber eyes, a small, polite smile and a face that made Lena's heart race. She wore simple clothing, jeans, a white tank top and heels, but everything about her screamed "royalty".
"Bonjour, my name is Amelie," The other said politely, cautiously extending a hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you."
"H-hi," Lena stammered, her blush growing. She bit her tongue and firmly shook Amelie's hand. "Hello, um, thanks for visiting. Do I know you?"
"I believe we have not met," Amelie replied. Oh, how Lena suddenly loved her thick French accent. "But my husband Gerard has met you, he is working desperately to find a solution to your...condition."
As soon as she heard this, Lena went back to normal. Her blush subsided, her heart slowed down, she sighed and sat back down, suddenly unable to look the Frenchwoman in the eye.
"I've met Gerard, he ran some tests and all," Lena finally mumbled. "But why are you here?"
"I've been told about your situation. I had nothing to do today so I decided to come provide you with some company," Amelie answered, smiling in a very friendly way. She walked over to a window and sat by it, her back straight, one leg crossed over the other. "It must get lonely, in here."
"Sometimes," Lena admitted. "And I appreciate the thought love, I really do, but you don't have to stick around. Odds are I'll disappear in the middle of our chit chat." Lena chuckled bitterly at that.
"Your problem isn't the chronal disassociation, Lena," Amelie said firmly. The Brit shot her a glare, Brit's questioning this. "Right now, your problem is you. How can anyone heal when all they have are bitter, negative thoughts?"
"Well, what am I supposed to think!" Lena suddenly yelled, jumping to her feet. "There is nothing positive about this situation!" She balled her fists, looking around the prison. "I'm stuck her, waiting until I finally disappear into some other timeline where anything could happen, knowing I'll eventually die. To make matters worse I can't see my friends or family and I can't feel anything!" To prove her point, Lena shoved a hand into the metal wall. It went right through, like a ghost.
"See? All negative, you need to look at the bright side," Amelie insisted.
"What bright side could there possibly be?!" The Brit demanded, leaning forward in a challenging way.
"Just think about it, you are the first time traveler," The other suggested, hand on her chin as she looked at the roof thoughtfully. "Lena Oxton, the brave English pilot that flew the Slipstream and was lost to time, only to return months laters with scattered memories of the past. Our first pilgrim in time travel! The children would love you."
Lena couldn't help it. The way Amelie acted, the way she spoke it, everything about her was just so warm and kind and positive. Slowly, very slowly, Lena opened her hands and laughed. It was small at first, soft, but then it grew louder, louder and louder until she was literally hugging her stomach and tearing up. She sat next to Amelie, finally wiping a tear and facing her cellmate.
"You're not wrong, besides, Lena Oxton is a good name for a time traveler, right?" She asked.
"Very good name," Amelie agreed with mock seriousness. "All the girls will want to be like you. Maybe the boys will too."
Lena laughed again, and they continued this for the rest of the morning and the better part of the afternoon. The two talked, told stories, made jokes. Lena learned Amelie was a world famous ballet dancer who had married Gerard before he joined Overwatch. Amelie learned that Lena had been a pilot for the military, recruited by Overwatch. The two women were content to stick together and talk, especially Lena. She hadn't realized it until now but she had missed human contact, craved it, wanted it. Now that she had it, she really didn't want this person to leave her. Not yet.
"Lena? Lena, are you listening?" Amelie asked, leaning closer to the Brit, who blushed in response. She had been staring, completely forgetting the conversation they were having.
"Y-yeah, my bad," Lena answered sheepishly. "I was just- Ah, trying to see something. You got a little thing on your face-"
She tried to remove the "thing" (there wasn't actually anything on the ballerina, Lena just wanted to excuse her staring) and this proved to be a mistake. Her hand passed through Amelie's face, causing the other to shiver and for Lena to automatically pull back.
"Lena-"
"Sorry, love," Lena apologized quietly, looking away. God, she wanted to feel. She wanted to hold Amelie, to feel the warmth of her body, the kindness of her touch, anything. She hated being unable to touch anyone-
"Lena..."
-hated not being able to feel like a normal human being should-
"Lena-"
-hated being so separated and for having this bloody condition-
"Lena!" Amelie yelled, shaking the Brit out of her thoughts. "Lena calm down!"
"W-what, Amelie I'm fine, sorry-"
"You're disappearing!" Amelie yelled frantically.
Lena looked down at herself to discover that her new friend was right. Her body was flickering, like a broken lightbulb, in and out of existence. Lena's heart began to race, her hands to shake, her breathing grew faster and more panicky.
"Lena, Lena please calm down," Amelie pleaded, standing up and right in front of the brit. "Look at me, right in the eyes, Lena, focus on me."
Lena did as told, but her body kept flickering, faster by the moment, it wasn't just bits of her anymore it was the whole thing. Her eyes widened and she stared at Amelie, tearing up.
"Lena, keep your eyes on me! You're going to be fine, Cherie. Understand? Fine," Amelie yelled. "Control your breathing, slowly in, slowly out. Oui? Slowly in, slowly out."
"I-I'm going to disappear again, I'm about to leave-"
"Focus on me Lena, I am your anchor."
"There is no anchor!" Lena screamed, terrified. Tears began to fall down her cheeks and she sobbed. "I can't feel anything or anyone, I'll disappear, maybe for good this time. There's no fighting it."
"Lena Oxton, look at me," Amelie demanded in her fiercest voice.
Lena Oxton slowly looked up, surprised to feel two strong hands grab the side of her face and pull her close. She yelped with even more surprise as her lips clashed with Amelie's. Her mind went completely blank and her arms wrapped around the taller woman's neck, her eyes closed, everything turned to bliss. Amelie pulled away, smiling widely.
"See? You're still here, anchored," Amelie whispered, wrapping her arms tighter around the brit's waist.
"I...I felt it, I feel you. Amelie, I can feel you," Lena exclaimed, smiling widely. She pulled herself tightly against the other and pressed her face against Amelie's neck.
The ballerina gently used a finger to raise her chin, smiled back at the young woman in front of her-
Then felt her heart drop as Lena completely disappeared.