Year of the Rat

Chapter 3

JUNKRAT GETS SOME FLOWERS!

There he was, Overwatch's 'Strayan Underdog, meticulously planning on his desk.
However, each sheet of paper he had churned out was either scratched out violently by a red marker or crumbled into oblivion and sprayed all over the room.

Tracer stepped in and looked at Junkrat, then sped to a place right beside him, "What's wrong, Junkers?" she asked with much concern.

"Everythin' I'm doing is failing." Junkrat sighed and looked at all his plans, "Like look at this one, mate." he brought up one sheet of paper, "I tried makin' Fareeha Darlin' a huge eagle built of scrap! But that stupid bloke Trobjorn didn't want to share his." he growled angrily.

"Blimey." Tracer crossed her arms, "And what's this?" she grabbed another sheet.

"That was supposed to be a huge pyramid made of wrecked cars." Junkrat answered, "Ya know, because Darlin' is from the Afric. But Reinhardt didn't want to give me his!"

"And I still won't give you 'zem." Reinhardt, who was shaving nearby, called out, "If you have 'ze money to buy me new ones to smash with my hammer, maybe I'll 'zink about it."

"See... Everyone's a stupid bloke but me..." Junkrat sighed in defeat, "If this keeps up, I'll never get Fareeha Darlin's love."

"Oh, come on Junkers!" Tracer groaned, "You don't have to build those colossal things to get her attention! Be a thinker, not a junker!" she smiled.

"Genji is here." Genji jumped from his bunk and landed nearby, "I hear trouble." he looked at Junkrat, "It seems you need some help." he pondered, "What does Pharah like?"

"You're helping me too?" Junkrat looked at Genji, "Well... I ain't gonna be wasteful." he shrugged his shoulders.

"I feel indifference to my aid." Genji spoke with surprise.

"Well... you're a machine-bloke." Junkrat responded, "I don't think you can ever get a darlin' in that state."

Genji paused, then let out a deep sigh and looked down.

"Junkers!" Tracer yelled, "That was so rude! Apologize to Genji right now!" she scolded him.

"No no..." Genji muttered, "He's not in the right state of mind."

"Is he ever?" Reinhardt, now intrigued, said as he joined the group, getting a few laughs from everyone except Junkrat.

"Stupid blokes." Junkrat grumbled to himself, "I'll have you know I am a certified Genius! I just... need to be recognized..." he mumbled.

The three others laughed again, then were finally stopped by Reinhardt, who as usual took the main charge.
"Worry not, my friend." he told Junkrat, "I am here to help you." the knight cleared his throat, "Now I remember a long time ago when I used to have butterflies in my stomach." he smiled.

"Aw..." Tracer smiled, "Who was she, Reinhardt?"

"She was beautiful..." Reinhardt nodded as he reminisced, "She shone like 'ze sun, and had a voice like 'zat of angels."

"I guess you had it good, old timer." Genji chuckled as the knight looked up.

"I tell you." Reinhardt grinned, "She had 'ze best armor... and 'zat superior German engineering." he chuckled.

The other three stood silent.

"What type of woman are you talkin' about, mate?" Junkrat asked in confusion, perplexed at the odd compliments.

"Woman? HaHAA!" Reinhardt laughed roughly, "You are so funny! I was talking about the Leopard 2 Battle Tank!" he informed, "'Zat German Masterpiece." he sighed, "But irregardless... I remember what I did to get one of those."

"What?" Tracer asked in curiosity.

"Uh... Eh..." Reinhardt pondered, "Actually... I don't remember." he frowned, "But... Eh..."

"Much help you are." Junkrat grumbled, "Now what am I supposed to do?"

"Get her some flowers." Genji finally brought up a valid point, "I heard there are many a woman that like them." he suggested.

"Flowers..." Junkrat scowled, "Blegh... I hate them."

"But they're not for you, Junkers." Tracer told him, "They're for Faree... And hey, she may like ya for it!" she smiled.

Junkrat changed his attitude rapidly, "But where am I supposed to get these flowers?" he asked.

"I can go hop 'ze border to Spain." Reinhardt said, "I meant to go 'zer with Angela to pick up 'ze supplies!" he informed, "I will not forget 'zem, my friend!" he grinned and walked off.

Minutes passed, then half an hour, then a full hour, and then two without any sign of Reinhardt and Mercy.

"How long is this gonna take?" Junkrat grumbled as he, Tracer, and Genji waited in the lounge, "Tik tok tik tok tik tok!" he looked at the clock.

"Come on, Junkers." Tracer told him, "Reinhardt sacrificed his efforts to get you those flowers... at least be a bit more considerate." she frowned.

"Grr..." Junkrat growled, but calmed down and then looked when the door opened.

"Thank you so much, Reinhardt!" Mercy said as the knight carried the bulk of the supplies, "Come to my office to get a lollipop!" she smiled as the man set down the items.

"Ooh.. I hope it's 'zat blue bubblegum!" Reinhardt said excitedly, "Do yo-"

"OY! MATE!" Junkrat sped off to him, "Do you have it!?" he looked frantically at the supplies.

"Have what?" Reinhardt responded.

"YOU FORGOT!?" Junkrat exploded and stomped his foot, "I told you we shouldn't have trusted this old relic!" he yelled at Tracer.

Mercy and Reinhardt stared as Junkrat became manic and started to punch the air, only springing into action when the man pulled out his frag launcher.

"STOP!" Tracer, Mercy, and Reinhardt jumped to grab the man before he fired.

However, Reinhardt, being the chivalrous crusader he is, pushed aside the two women and took the brunt of the frag grenades that were launched.

KAPOOOM! KAPOOOM! KAPOOOM! Several explosions rocked the lounge.

"AGH!" Junkrat flew back and hit the counter.

"DWAH!" Reinhardt, taking the brute force of the blasts, was thrown to the wall and slid down, "I'll feel 'zat in 'ze morning..." he groaned as he saw his charred breastplate.

"Calm down, Junkers!" Tracer yelled as she seized the man's frag launcher, "Ugh... look at this mess!" she looked at all the tables thrown about.

"Well..."

"On a scale of 1 to 10, how bad is your pain?" Mercy flew over to Reinhardt and administered first aid.

"Not bad..." Reinhardt groaned and held his back, "But bad for 'ze flowers." he pulled out a bouquet, whose flowers were charred beyond recognition.

Junkrat was devastated, there went his gift.

"And these were for?" Mercy asked as she looked at the pitiful mess.

"Junkrat wanted 'zem for Faree-"

"Shh!" Junkrat ran up to the crusader and covered his mouth, "No!" he scolded.

"Well, I'm sorry to say these are a mess." Mercy sighed and threw the flowers in the trash, then saw Junkrat become downhearted, "But... I can help." she smiled.

"FLOWERS NEVER DIE!"

00000000

Junkrat walked up to Pharah's bunk, only to find it empty.

"Welp, it was a nice tr-"

"Oh no you don't, you bugger!" Tracer scolded from behind a bed, "You stay there and wait for her!" she growled and hid again.

"Huh..." Junkrat exhaled deeply, "Ugh... I can't believe I'm wearing a shirt." he looked at his yellow polo, "My masculine build would certainly woo Fareeha Darlin'."

An audible British laughter was heard.

Junkrat growled, only to stop when he heard someone enter.

"Nice flowers." a voice called out, and Pharah stood next to him.

"Ah!" Junkrat was shocked, but then regained his composure, "Pharah! I-Uh..." he rubbed the back of his head, "Now I just want to give these to you!" he handed them to her.

"Oh! Thank you, Jamison!" Pharah smiled, then smelled them.

Junkrat was filled with joy.

"You remembered I was trying to promote building a garden in the Outpost!" Pharah added.

Junkrat's joy exponentially declined.

"Now that I have support from Mercy, Genji, Hanzo, Zenyatta, and you, I can finally get a stepping stone up to Commander Hardwood!" Pharah informed, "Thank you so much! I'm so glad you could help my little garden project!" she patted his shoulder and walked off.

Tracer sped to Junkrat's location, "It's ok, Junkers."

Junkrat sighed and walked away.

Tracer frowned, but then put on a determined face, "Time to switch up the gears!" she yelled and sped off to help her friend.