A/N for WidowTracer, SomVa fans: This is a multiple-pairing fiction centered on Pharmercy. Meaning that if you came to to read a fic with one of the two pairings as the center of the story, I'm very sorry but other stories would suit you better. If, however, you want a good femslash fiction with romance, friendship, and drama, I'll do my best to deliver it. Thank you.
1
All doctors have a mixed feelings for soldiers, and Dr. Angela Ziegler was not an exception. Causes or no causes, a soldier destroys life, the opposite of medicine. Even after 20 years of treating and healing soldiers, the particular feeling never really went away.
"Fareeha Amari, operating under the code name Pharah, newly reporting for duty. It is an honor to meet you again, Doctor Ziegler."
When seeing a young soldier, the said feeling returns to her strongly. A person who has only recently chose a profession that must kill are almost always, unlike the veterans who have lived through deaths and war, full of pseudo-bravery, youthful recklessness, and misconceptions upon honor and values.
On frank terms, Angela disliked young soldiers. And so, she did not expect meeting the newest overwatch member to be enjoyable. She would just wear her social smile, pass a reasonably social moment, and let it be. No sense in picking a fight with a comrade in arms. No need to become best friends either.
And that's where she would have left it, if the person in question was looking very much like a new soldier. She was not. Fareeha was giving her a bright, happy smile, as if they were best friends reuniting.
"...I'm sorry, but have we met before?"
This time, Fareeha's eyes drooped, showing disappointment and sadness clearer than words.
"D, Don't you remember me, Dr. Ziegler?"
Stuttering. Did she just hear a soldier stutter.
Fareeha must have misunderstood Angela's astonishment into disapproval, because this time she flushed, glanced around nervously, and fidgeted with her fingers.
"...I'm Ana Amari's daughter. We've met once, on... my 12th birthday."
"...Oh."
Suddenly Angela remembered. Once, in one of the most peaceful years of Overwatch, they had thrown a birthday party for one of their colleague's daughter. The image of a 12 year old girl─slim and small, childish face features─and the adult beauty in front of her─clear black eyes, beautiful muscled body─overlapped for a split second.
"So that's why you shared the name. Pardon me, captain Amari."
"No, it's really alright. I'd been just a kid then, I understand."
Fareeha said, waving her hands in front her, her face all red, eyes swimming, but still looking very much happy that Angela remembered her. Enough to make Angela feel guilty for forgetting her in first place.
But she had grown so much, Angela told herself. Fareeha had become a dark-skinned Egyptian beauty. With straight, clear brows, dark eyes deep and enchanting, mocha colored skin smooth as silk, and her hair, lustrous and long. She was not the kid hiding behind Ana anymore.
"...I really meant it when I said honor, ma'am." Fareeha said, "I've heard a lot about you from my mother. She told me how much a great doctor you are."
Normally, Angela would have said that the stories were exaggerated, since they mostly were. But Ana was known for not messing around with facts.
So she had no choice except to say, "Oh," and blush. It had been long time since she had taken a compliment full force.
Fareeha's smile was dazzling.
x
It has been a month since Winston has recalled the Overwatch members, and ironically it was the younger generations who had returned the most; McCree, Tracer, Genji among others. But if there was a representative for the older generations, it was Reinhardt, the German soldier and knight, who had, in absence of others, somehow became the elder of the community.
"So you have met Ana's daughter."
Reinhardt said, drinking down his beer. As far as Angela had seen, where soldiers stayed there was a bar, and Overwatch had its own stock of drinks.
"How should I put it..." Reinhardt frowned, "a nice girl, isn't she? Though I'm not certain I should say that to a soldier, a captain at that, but..."
"I think you got it right." Angela said, because what other words could you use to describe a woman who broke into sunny smiles, and gave puppy-eyes equally a lot?
Reinhardt chuckled. "I have hard time imagining Ana like that. She was more of a bellowing, guffawing type... but she's not Ana. I've never felt the word 'generation' as closely like this before, Angela. She's certainly reliable, soldier-like or not. She has been working for the Helix Security, and I know they don't name people Captain easily. They're not a ragged group of mercenaries, but an international security company."
"I have heard of the name," Angela said, "So she really is joining us."
"Do you have anything against it?"
"Not really. Just... I've known her─well, a little─since she was a kid. It somehow feels wrong, almost like recruiting a boy soldier. Not that I'd mention it in front of her, but still..."
"I understand what you say, however we..." Reinhardt thought for a moment, then, "Perhaps I could help you there."
In the watchpoint Gibraltar, they had a practice range on which they could practice their weaponry or tactics. Even though the sun had long set, Fareeha Amari, or Pharah, was there alone. But the place was far from silent.
Sounds of rockets firing, missiles crossing the air, explosions and destructions as practice bots were blasted apart. Heavy sounds of motor, engine, and exhaustion.
The Raptora suit was one of the grandest developments of contemporary human weaponry. A mobile suit that allowed a human being to fly without help of large machinery. Overwatch, before being disbanded, had a few members who used it as well, but it has become much more sophisticated and developed over the years.
A flying human being was always a grand sight to see, but Pharah wore the suit like it had been born for her. Angela stood by the balcony, breathless, as Pharah practiced her flight, aim, and her weapon.
She was majestic.
Angela felt like she had finally got to meet the woman completely. A nice girl, yes, that Fareeha Amari was. But a soldier, dangerous and valiant, that was her as well.
And she was beautiful.
Both of her were.
Fareeha noticed Angela by the balcony, and slowly hovered down to her. Her suit must be modeled after a bird of prey, and clad fully in her suit that was what Pharah looked like, a grand bird of prey.
Then she took of her sharp helmet, and she was Fareeha again, sweating heavily, but smiling the same bright smile.
"Did you come to see me?"
Fareeha said, excited, and Angela couldn't help but smile in return.
"So that is how you fight. I must admit, you are a person to be depended on battlefield."
"They are all new─Winston's upgraded practically everything I have brought with me! It used to be that I can only jerk up or not, now..."
Pharah put on her helmet again, than slowly rose up, hovering. So free in the sky.
"...It must feel wonderful."
Angela whispered what heart most felt at that moment, and she saw Fareeha's lips curve under her helmet.
"Would you like to see how it's like?"
Fareeha hovered back down, and offered her hand to Angela. It took a moment for her to understand what she meant, but when she did, Angela felt heat creeping up her cheek.
Hoping that the night would mask her, Angela held out her hand. Instead of grabbing it, however, Fareeha wrapped her hand around Angela's back, another at her legs, and then─
And then she was flying. They were flying. Fareeha's arms, strong and gentle, holding Angela's body up in the air.
Angela felt no fear. Fareeha's arms felt as if they would never let her fall, that they would take her across the world and still not falter.
"...Why did you choose to become a soldier?"
Watching the stars, Angela felt the question slip from her mouth.
"To protect the innocent."
And that was voice of Pharah, speaking from the utmost core of her heart. Not a phrase, not a sentence, but a wish.
The wish that was her core.
"When I had been younger," Fareeha said, "You, were my hero."
"...Me?" Angela was astounded.
"Yes. Angela "Mercy" Ziegler, the genius, the prodigy, the doctor whose researches has saved thousands already and millions to come. The first time I heard that... I thought you were the greatest person on earth."
There was a faint gist in her tone that suggested that she still thought so, but Angela, astounded, failed to catch it.
"But I... well, I didn't do too bad at school, but not enough for medicine. So I chose a path I could take, and take well."
They flew over the meditarian seas, the sky cloudless and full of stars. Starlight gazed down upon them, drawing a beautiful contrast of mocha and pearl.
"I..."
Angela wondered what she should say. There were a great number of things she wished to right now, but for some reason, what came out was,
"I really like your tattoo, by the way."
Fareeha blinked, then smiled, again that puppy dog smile.
"Really? I'm fond of it too, so I'm glad you said that."
"Ana had one very similar... am I right to assume that you took it from her?"
Fareeha laughed, and it was a very sweet sound to hear.
"I suppose it shows?"
"Your mother was a hero, Captain Amari," Angela said, "our greatest, maybe even the world's greatest sniper to exist."
"And I'm here, blasting things apart with rocket bombs." Fareeha said, "We don't have the most similar fighting styles, do we?"
Angela smiled. "I'm enjoying this flight too much to take my older colleague's side, though."
Fareeha laughed again, and took both of them closer to the heavens.
x
Three days later, Genji said to Pharah on flight board, "Are you nervous?"
They─Genji, Pharah and other Overwatch members were on a mission to Brazil. Part of the plan included seeking support of a local musician and protester; it also included blasting a Talon base to pieces after searching for information of new weaponry in it. A dangerous mission.
"I'm a soldier. I'm used to dangers."
"Pardon me for wrong choice of words, Pharah." The cyborg ninja said, "This is your first mission as that as Overwatch member. As one of us, one could also express. And first times always brings tension."
"...I won't say I'm not. But I also won't say that I am."
It was very hard to tell with his visor, but Pharah swore that he smiled.
"A soldier you said you were, and I must agree. Ana Amari would have been proud of you... may her soul be in peace."
"Thank you. But I don't think you don't know my mother so well."
"That is very interesting. I have worked with her until the end of the first Omnic Crisis. We went on many missions together. My impression was that she was proud of herself."
"Proud of being a soldier, yes, she was. But she would have preferred if I lived a more peaceful life. Running a flower shop or bakery, perhaps. She never said anything out openly, but... you just know how a family thinks of you."
"Indeed we do."
For a second, a strange sense of nostalgia was over him, then was gone.
"But you chose to become a soldier nonetheless. Your goal must have been set clear."
"...You almost sound like your jealous, Genji."
"A little. Most of my life was about what I didn't want to be, instead of what I wished to be."
Fareeha knew enough of Genji's lifestory to understand.
"I'm sorry."
"No, please do not be. I have been saved twice, and that is a very fortunate thing indeed."
This time, Pharah knew that Genji was smiling under his visor. She was getting better at this.
"Genji? Are you... oh, you must be Captain Amari. Pleasure to meet you, I'm Zhou Meiling, but you can call me Mei."
"The metreologist!? I know you, miss Mei!"
Fareeha broke into her smile, and that was when people realized that she was more than just another stone-faced soldier.
A sudden rush of introductions and handshakes started.
x
Only very few Overwatch missions required the entire army to move, and for today's mission Angela was one of the people to stay on the watchpoint.
That did not mean rest for the Overwatch's greatest doctor, though. Soldiers and mercenaries were always hurt one way or other, not to mention the medical support she served for the local hospitals. She was busy, always at that, and for her that was just fine. It meant more lives to save.
And now, Angela was working on Jesse McCree's shoulders, which he had got injured on one of the spars he had with other mercenaries. Quite a number had given their support to the new Overwatch, and McCree enjoyed their company more than 'the stiff, stoic bunch', as he described the soldiers.
But both soldiers and mercenaries were also great at concealing wounds and pain, so when a single brow was slightly raised, Angela knew she had messed up.
"Sorry."
"'Tis fine. Unlikely of you to make a mistake, though. S'mething on your mind?"
Angela hesitated, then decided to tell the truth. She knew McCree well enough.
"Have you met with Captain Amari?"
"The gal in blue bird-suit? Yes, I say... ah, you be worried about her." McCree tipped her a knowing wink.
"No! I mean yes, but no, not in a way like that."
Angela stuttered, and McCree raised an amused eyebrow.
"Well that's fine if you're not... though I'm worried about her. Worried mighty."
Angela flustered. "You are?"
"S'hoar"─sure, Angela translated inside her head─"A gun like mine could shoot her down in five shots. Three, if I miss none. Her rockets could be very tactically useful when we need firepower, I give her that, but... Jack's old rifle could take her down just as well, y'know?"
Angela's face grew pale, then blue. Her hands, always steady, began to tremor just slightly.
"Or, this might be unlikely, but if someone manages to shoot her with another rocket... she'd crash right to the ground, she'd. And then no one could help her."
McCree knew he was enjoying himself too much, but Angela's expression was priceless. The always calm, always stern medic decomposed... a sight worth dying for. Quite literally, considering he was playing with his own doctor.
"Or maybe, Genji's shuriken or Mei's icicle or something like can get stuck and she'd─"
"Jesse McCree, enough!"
And Angela pulled on the bandage in a way that caused the mercenary to scream.
The mission was expected to be completed in eleven hours. Angela spent that eleven worried, and worried very much about her.
She knew that she was being paranoid... obsessive, even. She was a army doctor. She was used to having her patients get hurt─die, even─in missions or attacks. She was feeling it, however. Feeling worried. And that feeling wasn't going away.
Fareeha's smile, bright and pure and clear surfaced on Angela's mind.
'Is this... favoritism?'
She felt her cheeks turning red from shame. That was not good for a doctor. All her patients were equal. There should be no favorites or hates; feelings dulled one's hands and clouded judgements. A doctor should be a mechanic, patients' bodies a machine to fix. That's what they taught at medical schools.
"Angela." A voice called, and she turned around to face Winston. "We need you in to meeting room. There's a riot in France, and we suspect someone's pulling strings behind. We need a healer to go with us."
"I'm on my way."
Angela said, and forced herself forget all about Fareeha right now.
x
Upon returning to the base after a succesful mission, Fareeha parted with her now comrade in arms, and headed straight to the doctor's quarters. It was past official visiting hours, but she had a little injury in her shoulders, something she would usually not have bothered doctors with, but this time... well, maybe she'll be a good patient for once. It was a very fine reason to see a doctor at late night.
"Doctor Ziegler?"
She knocked, but no response. She would have turned away, but the door was slightly open.
Fareeha looked around to check no one was watching, then peeked inside.
Angela Ziegler was sleeping, sprawled over her desk. Numerous files and papers were topped high as towers. Equipments that should not belong in a private quarter were too much in here, suggesting she carried her work here.
Hesitating, Fareeha entered, and drew lose to Angela, as if attracted by magnet.
In her sleep, Angela was devoid of all her hard and cold expressions, almost innocent. The mechanic that saw to all ailments and all pain, was for now, gone. And for the first time, Fareeha could see the girl under her, the girl who just wanted people to be happy.
Fareeha brushed her golden hair, and Angela smiled in her sleep.
Without understanding, without planning, and without intention, Fareeha knelt down.
And planted her lips by the golden angel's cheek.