Chapter 14: Aussie Wisdom.

Jesse lay away in his bed as thin sheets of moonlight penetrated the space between his blinds casting their light upon his chest and face, but that alone wasn't the reason why he lay still, eyes wide open in his room. The thoughts of this morning, thoughts of Sombra raced through his mind, almost like an unwanted haunted memory. The feeling of guilt was in the pit of his stomach, and almost a dull twinge of pain in his heart as if somehow he could've seen this coming and should've been able to stop it. He sat up and stared into the darkness, his eyes not finding purchase on anything physical in the room. When he stared hard into the inky depths of the shadows he saw her standing there, he saw her everywhere now, his head had become a cauldron for thoughts of her brewing fantasies, and desires, but now in this moment it seemed like a battleground. He wishes he didn't understand why he felt this way towards someone; why he feels the need to blame himself for not being able to protect her. Deep down inside he knows that he loves her, but even deeper still he knows that love is dangerous in their line of work, and can be a tool used by the enemy. Widowmaker is the most striking example of this, the woman that tried to brainwash Sombra into an emotionless killing machine. Even now she still hides the scars of her horrible past. Jesse pushed himself to get out of his bed, his body felt heavy under the weight of his doubt.

This girls' turnin me soft, and I wont get any rest just sitting here, might as well do something productive.

Jesse grabbed his duffle bag that contained his gym gear, and headed out of his room and down the dimly lit halls of the Overwatch barracks, the halls were dead silent, except for the sounds of Jesse's footsteps as he headed for the gym.

Sounds like the girls are still out, good time to get a solo workout in. Jesse thought to himself.

He continued on his path to the gym, passing Genji's room, Roadhog's room, Then he finally stood in front of the large gym doors, as he pushed open the doors he was greeted with a dark room mired in shadows in the same fashion as his room. Workout equipment that saw extended use from many members of the overwatch team sat alone and unmoving. Jesse flipped a switch, turning the lights on with a soft hum. Jesse headed over to the locker room, undressed, and donned his gym clothes. Upon leaving the locker room he saw something move out of the corner of his eye. He turned quickly and was greeted with the soot covered face of Jamison Fawkes, AKA: Junkrat.

"G'day mate!"

He chimed in his usual boisterous way. Jesse had to give Jamison credit, there wasn't much that could ever get him down, even in the darkest times he was always excited to be blowing something, or himself up, that attitude had lifted Jesse from some depressing holes on multiple occasions. Even now it was a welcome sight… even if he was covered from head to toe in ash and smelled of sulfur.

"Jamie, didn't think I'd see you in here, you don't look like the gym type." Jesse quipped.

"Ah c'mon mate, I heard you were back, and I just had to come see ya myself."

Jaimeson extended a greasy hand towards Jesse, who took it reluctantly and shook it.

"It's good to see you again, old friend." Jesse smiled.

"Likewise, now what's this I hear about you havin a bird of your own?"

Jesse was dumbstruck for a moment, there was talk about him and Sombra already floating about, he knew some of the girls liked to gossip but the men too? It seemed nothing ever was truly private at watchpoint Gibraltar.

"I don't know what there is to say, I took a lady out for a nice dinner to apologize for doing something wrong. Nothing more than that I s'pose."

"Mate listen, you don't take a girl out for dinner to apologize too 'er if you don't like 'er. If that were true Satya would still be shooting laser beams out of 'er eyes and into me chest."

"Is that so?" Jesse raised an eyebrow inquisitively.

"Look, I might not be the most intelligent bloke around, but I know a thing or two about romance." he said striking a pose that mimicked a swooning woman.

It was almost comical in its simplicity, but Jesse couldn't help but smile at Junkrat's carefree attitude towards relationships. Though he had to admit, with Satya's organized and calculated mind, paired with his chaotic antics they both made up for each other's flaws.

"Right, so let's say I do like the new "bird." as you put it, what would you say I do?" Jesse asked with a slight hint of sarcasm in his voice as he really didn't expect a serious answer from Jamison.

"Well that one's simple mate, just tell 'er how ya feel about 'er. Sure it feels like someone is rippin your beating heart out of your chest at the moment, but what 'ave you got to lose? I'll tell what, everything, that's what. Cause if you don't tell 'er she'll get away.

"And what if she feels she's too broken to reciprocate those feelings?" Jesse asked, dropping his sarcastic tone.

Jamison put a hand on his shoulder and smiled reassuringly. "You tell 'er that you'll be there for 'er even in the worst of times. Satya and I went through the same shit."

Jesse pondered a moment. Jamison was right, if he didn't do anything nothing at all would come of what he's been feeling, nothing. He already told her he loved her, but has he really told her why? He has never been the best with words but he sure as hell better start thinking of the right ones. Even if she rejects him, he tried and that's all that matters.

"You're right Jamison, if I do nothing, nothing will happen, but I'm not the one to never take a gamble on something, especially if it means there's something to gain, or something to lose."

Jesse uprighted his posture and put out his hand, which Jamison delightfully shook up and down in an erratic manner.

"There's that gunslinger I know, now why don't you go back to your room, and think about what ya need to say?"

Jesse smiled and looked down at his soot covered friend. "Y'know I think I just might do that."

Jesse turned and headed back to the locker room, while Junkrat stayed beaming at him, it was as soon as he had left his sight that Jaimeson placed a tiny device beneath the bench press, giggling softly to himself about how he "really is going to get Reinhardt this time."

Notes:

It's been a long time coming but I'm back, things have been hectic, I started having a gender transition a year ago and it clouded my head and I felt I couldn't write until I truly found myself, now that I find myself comfortable in my skin and valid as who I am I have returned to upload a chapter that has taken me far to long to work on and I wish I had added more to it but I promise one of these next chapters is gonna be a long one and will be worth the time you put into reading it. Thank you all so much for reading, you really are the best.

Stay Classy -Katherine.~