"It's time for bed, Fareeha."
"I'm in bed," Fareeha muttered distractedly.
"That's good. Now save your game and turn it off."
A petulant whine.
"Come on, you have to sleep."
"There's no school tomorrow," Fareeha complained.
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean you don't need to sleep. Ami needs sleep too, and she's been waiting for you to save that game forever," Ana pointed out, keeping her face straight even as she felt like laughing, recognising that stubborn streak in Fareeha's pursed lips and the wrinkle between her brows. But she knew what kind of trouble it could spell, so Ana adopted a stern expression and said, "Fareeha."
"Fine." With a few taps on the gaming device's buttons, Fareeha saved her game and switched it off, handing her newest toy over to Ana with the mightiest pout on her lips. She'd been glued to the device ever since Ana bought it that afternoon, and they'd had to coax her into putting it down, even just to eat her meal or take a bath. Though she understood that fascination, Ana planned to monitor the girl's gaming time if it went overboard.
When Fareeha had wiggled into place, Ana pulled the covers up to her shoulders, then smiled at her daughter's sulkiness. "Wanna play ball in the park tomorrow?"
"Mm." The pout had faded, but was still there.
"Or we can ride bicycles. We'll see. For now, habibti," she crooned, leaning down to kiss the girl's forehead, then tapped on her nose. "Good night."
"Good night, ami…"
Ana bit down another laugh and rose from the bed, heading over to a wall cabinet to deposit the gaming device. She took one last look at Fareeha – who had closed her eyes – before switching the lights off and closing the door behind her. When she crossed the corridor into her own bedroom, she found Kamilah already seated in bed with the covers about her legs. Kamilah lifted her gaze towards Ana, who sighed as she walked in.
"Alright, I know that look," she said, crawling into bed. "Mama's going to nag again."
"You need to slow down, ami." Kamilah gestured at Ana with her phone. "You're going to spoil her at the rate you're going."
"So? It's just…stuff."
"Ana, she already gets a lot of presents from you and all our friends. And I mean, a lot. Sooner or later, she'll expect to get whatever she wants – either from us, or the others."
"But you cave too."
"Yes, and we shouldn't be so easy anymore. And no." Kamilah raised a finger when Ana grinned. "That joke's too easy, even for you."
"You do have a point, dear. But–"
"No 'but's. I know you want to dote on her – I do too. But start doing it more reasonably." Kamilah turned back to her phone. "And, we're running out of space in the house."
"What, worried I'll buy a bike for her too?"
Kamilah glanced at her, brow raised. "Didn't you get her that bicycle last week?"
"Oh, right…"
"My point exactly."
It took a while for Ana to notice, but she paused in the middle of sorting out her clothes, when she realised Fareeha's plane noises were accompanied with eager pitter-patting up and down the stairs.
"Fareeha!" Ana called from her room, waiting for the girl's acknowledgement. "Don't run on the stairs!"
"I'm flying!"
"And don't fly. Never fly." She stayed still for a moment, listening to Fareeha's loud groan, before the girl continued playing – with only the plane noises this time, and no thudding of feet on the stairs. Fareeha could very well just be sneaking around the steps, but at least she was taking more care now.
Ana sighed, then turned her attention back to their old clothes – nearly eight years' worth, spread over the floor in front of two empty cardboard boxes, where the rejects would go. Kamilah had assigned this mundane task to the decorated hero of the family, since she had free time on her hands while her wife was stuck in the academy. Just as well – the old piles of clothes were starting to be an eyesore anyway.
She tossed two faded shorts into a box, then made her joints crack by getting onto her feet, groaning lazily as she walked over to Fareeha's room. She paused in the hallway and fixed her daughter with a pointed stare, for the girl had just finished a short run up the flight of stairs. Fareeha hesitated but, fortunately, didn't argue. Instead, she sat down on the top step, then turned her head around to look at Ana, as she slid her butt onto the next lower step, and the next, all the while with her toy plane held in the air.
Needless to say, Ana couldn't wait for the girl's rebellious teen phase, and all the headaches that would surely come with it.
She retrieved Fareeha's old baby clothes from the dresser, and went back to her room – shooting another glance at Fareeha, who was already climbing up the stairs with much more speed than before. Clicking her tongue as she went along, Ana dropped the stack of baby clothes right into a box, but then kneeled down and rifled through them, cocking her head as she went through so many outfits that she didn't recognise. She heaved another sigh as she held up the bear onesie, feeling older as she wondered where all those years had gone. No, not 'wonder' – she regretted the loss of so much time that she could've–
One loud thud. Then a second.
Ana froze at the noise, which had come from downstairs. Fareeha's name had risen to her tongue when the girl's loud cries reached her ears. Cursing under her breath, Ana bolted towards the stairs and – sure enough – she found the girl still lying on the floor, having fallen flat on her face from all that 'flying'.
Panic flooded into her veins though, when Fareeha made no attempt to get up, and Ana practically jumped down the stairs to reach her daughter. She felt about the girl's arms and legs, checking visually that there were no swollen areas in her limbs, then picked her up carefully. Fareeha continued to bawl at the top of her lungs as she came face-to-face with her mother, tears rolling down her cheeks, face scrunched up in pain.
"Fareeha, are you okay?" Ana asked, even as she noticed the swollen, bleeding spot on the girl's bottom lip. It seemed she really did fall on her face, and was in no mood for even the simplest form of communication, other than crying.
Carrying the girl in her arms, Ana brought her to the kitchen, where she wet an end of a cloth, then had to coax Fareeha into staying still when she touched it to the girl's lip. It took a while, but the girl finally obeyed and let Ana tend to the wound – shallow, but still painful nonetheless. Fareeha continued sobbing and hiccoughing as Ana dabbed at her lip gently, then went to get an ice cube from the freezer. She let the girl hold the ice to her lip, and the little task helped to distract Fareeha from whatever pain she was feeling.
"See, Fareeha," Ana said, setting the girl on her lap as she sat by the counter. "This is why you have to listen to ami and mama. All your flying always gets you hurt."
A small whine, but Fareeha pouted to herself, eyes lowering to the ice cube she held to her mouth.
"Remember that time you fell from the fence?" Ana reminded her, prompting another whine. "Yeah, and from the tree at the playground? That wasn't fun, was it?"
Fareeha hiccoughed again, wiping a hand over her eyes.
"Ami and mama don't want you to get hurt, Fareeha. That's why we always nag at you. But promise you'll listen to us, okay? So you won't get so many boo-boos." She pointed at the faint bruises on Fareeha's knees, making the pout on the girl's lips grow more severe.
Nevertheless, Fareeha nodded glumly and handed the half-melted ice cube to Ana, who tossed it into the sink.
"Alright, you can go play again."
Fareeha shook her head, then hugged Ana about the neck, still sniffling through her stuffy nose. She stayed like this without moving, so Ana took to patting her back, humming a vague tune until Fareeha's head lolled sleepily onto her shoulder. Huffing in amusement, Ana rose from the stool slowly, careful not to jostle the girl as she was carried up to her bed.
"Mama, mama! I wanna do pull-ups too!"
"You do? Here, hold on."
Ana paused in her exercise, hanging from the side of the monkey bars as she watched Kamilah grasp Fareeha by the sides and lift her up. Fareeha grabbed at the bar eagerly while Kamilah supported her weight, and the girl grinned at Ana.
"Think you can do better than ami, little one?" Ana asked, then did a trio of rapid pull-ups as Fareeha squealed and followed her example – or rather, Kamilah did, lifting the girl up and down. But Ana slowed her pace down after that, making sure that Fareeha had the lead. "Oh, you're going too fast, Fareeha! Ami's too old for this!"
Fareeha giggled, though she slowed down as well when Kamilah started to tire. So Ana drew out the impromptu competition a little more, before putting on a convincing act of tiring out, and let out an exhausted puff as she dropped back to the playground's rubber floor.
"Phew! You're so strong, sweetie!" Ana quickly took Fareeha into her arms when Kamilah was starting to struggle with the girl's weight. "You're stronger than ami!"
"No I'm not," Fareeha laughed, as Ana nuzzled into her cheek. "Ew, ami! You're so sticky!"
"Oh, you don't know sticky, darling."
"Ana."
"Relax, dear." Ana set the girl down, watching Fareeha run over to her bicycle. "She doesn't get it."
"Ugh." Kamilah stood with both hands on her hips, still panting heavily from their jog. She'd wanted to join Ana for her nighttime exercise, which then led to Fareeha insisting on tagging along as well – and they ended up jogging with the girl cycling behind them, who called out regular encouragements like, 'You're going so slow!' and 'I can cycle faster than you!'
Oh, the unfiltered mouth of children. How innocently they could hurt at times.
Ana took the end of Kamilah's towel around her shoulders, and patted at her sweaty face. "You getting tired faster now, Milah."
"Getting out of shape," Kamilah breathed, straightening herself. "I hate it. Probably can't even suplex you anymore."
"…Then stay out of shape, please." Ana cackled when Kamilah clamped both arms around her waist, then lifted her off the ground. "Try it, Milah. Try it."
They tipped just slightly off-centre and Kamilah tried to lift Ana even higher, but she gave up, and dropped her wife back on the ground.
"Aw. See? Bet you can't even kick my ass anymore."
Kamilah shot her a piercing stare mid-pant, and Ana quickly brought her arm up to block Kamilah's left hook. As Ana shook her head and clicked her tongue, Kamilah's lips spread into a crooked smile, before she aimed more punches at Ana – slow and without impact, but it was a fun exercise regardless. Though Kamilah had complained she was getting less involved with the actual training in the academy, it was apparent that she was still fighting fit, what with her quick reactions and proper form as she blocked and countered Ana's attacks.
Then Ana lunged forward and grab her sides, digging her fingers in to get a screech from Kamilah, who laughed breathlessly and tried to break free of the tickle maneuver. Ana didn't let go, hugging Kamilah tight with one arm, but she did stop when she felt soft punches on her leg. She looked down and found Fareeha knocking her fists at her thigh.
"I wanna fight too!"
"Huh, do you want to learn?" Ana asked.
"Yeah! I wanna fight like in the movies!" Fareeha mimicked whichever scene she remembered, aiming punches and kicks at the air, supplying sound effects with her mouth. "It's so cool!"
"Really? Maybe ami can teach you, then."
"Isn't she a little young for that?" Kamilah pointed out, then leaned closer to Ana's ear and whispered, "And she did just pick a fight with her classmate the other day."
"Oh, that was just some…childish thing. It's okay." Ana tried to wave the concern away, but eventually sighed under her wife's doubtful gaze. "Or, I guess we can teach her some discipline first."
"That would be best, yes."
"As always, the voice of reason," Ana cooed, snickering when Kamilah tapped her on the forehead. Then she knelt before Fareeha. "Ami will teach you, habibti. But you'll have to wait a while, and be good first. Okay?"
"But why not now?"
"Ah-ah, see?" Ana wagged a finger at her, already hearing the whine in Fareeha's tone. "If you want to learn, you must know how to listen to ami. Then ami will know you're ready."
The pout made its way onto Fareeha's mouth again, and she looked up at Kamilah, though she found no concession there either. "Fine…"
Ana ruffled the girl's hair, hiding a sigh as she shared a knowing glance with Kamilah.
Her two months' break flew by too quickly in hindsight, but Ana was still glad to return to her duties after the much needed rest, even if just to find out what she'd being doing now, after the end of the Omnic Crisis. God Eye was still intact, though its roster had been significantly reduced since the war, when they were needed as support for the dwindling army. But now, after two years of rebuilding and recruitment, there was little need for such a large contingent of dedicated snipers, and many were reassigned to their original posts.
With so many changes in their ranks, Ana spent the first few days reorienting herself as the reinstated head of God Eye, with Khalid's help. And though she was kept rather busy, she still found herself sipping tea in Jaida's office – which was now larger and more comfortable, as befitting of a colonel.
Except, she hadn't really the mind to indulge in tea at the moment.
"I recognise that look," Jaida drawled with a tinge of exasperation.
Ana gave a sheepish smile, looking back down at the box in her hand – and the golden insignias of an eagle and star. She'd expected a promotion of sorts to be pushed her way, but only to the rank of major. Now, she was staring at a possible promotion to lieutenant-colonel…but shut the box's lid with heavy fingers. She took a steadying breath at her own decision, and placed the box on Jaida's desk.
"Sorry, ma'am. But I…don't feel up to it just yet."
"Really? Did you just knock your head on the way in?" Jaida replied drily, resting her elbows on the table. "Because – if you're unaware – you are planning to reject a promotion to lieutenant-colonel."
"Yes."
"What is wrong with you, Amari?" Jaida sighed. She threw her hands up, and leaned back in her chair. "You're looking at a cushier job and better pay, even if it comes with its own bullshit. Isn't that better than slogging it out in the field?"
"Not from where I'm standing, no."
Though the God Eye was still active – being assigned to escort notable omnic representatives, patrolling the Temple of Anubis and other important installations, and keeping discrete watch over omnic rallies – it was damned difficult for Ana find a way into the field herself. Granted, it was part of the deal that came with being God Eye's commander. But she'd been pulled into so many meetings and discussions with the brass, and been stonewalled from field duty so often, that she was about ready to shoot someone in the foot just to get some action.
And Jaida seemed to understand, as evidenced by the smirk on her face. "Fed up with getting your hands tied?"
"Yes," Ana groaned. "It's like there's a conspiracy against me, or something."
"There kind of is, actually," Jaida laughed. "There are some who want to keep you back in base – safe and alive – so you can keep being their 'symbol'."
"Fucking hell. And I guess this stupid promotion's part of their plan?"
"I would assume so, yeah. But if it were me, I'd accept the promotion. Life still goes on after that, but then again, I'm not the one with the itchy backside."
"Jaida, I like being on active duty, alright?" Ana said. "I'd rather get shot by a rifle than suffer cuts from pieces of paper."
"Say any more, Ana, and you might starting hurting my feelings." Jaida tilted her head. "Though I have gotten more papercuts since my promotion."
Ana groaned out loud, dragging her hands down her face. "God, I fucking hate this."
"Ana, listen." Jaida lowered her tone, and her sobriety caught Ana's full attention. "You've already done a lot of good for us. Hell, you saved the whole damn world. And for that, I am grateful to you. But heroes have their time and place. Don't overstay your welcome."
Ana's brows furrowed slowly into a frown. "Jaida, this is not about my bloody ego–"
"Ego has nothing to do with this," Jaida said simply. "You're a good soldier. I know you have good intentions, and I know you like being in the field. But this is a matter of knowing when to step down. You can only carry the world on your shoulders for so long, before it starts crushing you in return."
"…Did you read that somewhere?"
Jaida shrugged. "Maybe. But you get my meaning."
Ana sighed, and rubbed at her eyes. "I don't know, ma'am. I just don't feel like I'm ready for it yet."
"So be it." Jaida reached for the box, and pulled it over. "But make sure to tell me when you're ready. I'll have your badges on hand."
She snorted a laugh. "I always knew you liked me, Colonel."
"Shut up before I demote you, Amari."
Gabriel: [My god it's only been ONE fucking year]
Gabriel: [And I was just starting to feel -happy-]
Ana: [Chill, edgelord]
Reinhardt: [I HEARD ABOUT THE RIOT]
Reinhardt: [ARE YOU SAFE, MY BROTHERS]
Jack: [Yeah, we weren't involved. But thanks, Rein]
Jack: [Also it wasn't a riot…just a peaceful march gone wrong]
Ana: [Still a lot of angry humans around…]
Torbjörn: [Pushing for omnic rights this early. They were asking for trouble]
Jack: [Makes sense tho. Their programming and stuff have been regulated to hell since the war]
Ana: [^ I'm surprised nothing has happened over here yet]
Ana: […not counting the assaults and stuff]
Reinhardt: [I understand the need for rights. They are planning to begin omnic production soon]
Reinhardt: [Don't want their own people born as second-class citizens, yes?]
Jack: [Or slaves]
Gabriel: [And I heard China's gonna start fiddling with the God Program again]
Ana: [WHAT]
Jack: [WHAT. YOU DIDN'T TELL ME]
Gabriel: [ shuqi]
Reinhardt: [I am not looking forward to this]
Shuqi: [Yes, hi, yup the govt wants to do some…research into the AI]
Shuqi: [See what went wrong and how. And they've invited me to be part of the team]
Ana: [You accepted yet?]
Shuqi: [I'm…still debating it. I've been wanting to do some investigation myself, but I'm not sure…]
Shuqi: [I'm not sure if their intentions are pure]
Shuqi: [I'm not even supposed to say this, but the place that Incident occurred?]
Shuqi: [They've reached out to us. They want to reconstruct it]
Gabriel: [Are you fucking serious. It's like sticking your hand back into the fire, right after you got burnt]
Torbjörn: [When will people learn to leave well enough alone]
Jack: [I need a fucking drink]
Ana: [Yes, I would like a glass of wine while dingdongs try make the world burn. Again. After we put out the fire]
Reinhardt: [THIS IS FINE]
Gabriel: [Memelord]
Reinhardt: [YOU SAY THAT LIKE IT'S AN INSULT]
Shuqi: [Anyway I hope everyone is ok. Please keep safe]
Reinhardt: [NO PROMISES]
Shuqi: [REIN]
Reinhardt: [I am only joking, my lady. I PROMISE :D]
Jack: [Why do I feel like he just promised on our behalf]
Ana: [Why would you say no when someone asks you to stay safe]
Jack: […true]
Gabriel: [Dumbass]
Ah. Quiet in the house, near midnight. No one could truly appreciate such a simple pleasure, until they've had a child. An energetic, active child who insisted on staying up because she wasn't tired. Thankfully, Fareeha was rather tired out from her lengthy playtime with her friends that day, and so went to bed without fuss, leaving her mothers in a measure of peace at night.
Ana joined her wife in the kitchen, pressing a kiss on top of Kamilah's head as she took a seat by the counter, pulling over the warm cup of tea Kamilah had made for her. She took a sip and sighed in satisfaction. "Milah."
"Mm."
"We need to buy shampoo."
"Then add it to the list," Kamilah said without looking up from her tablet.
"Later."
"'Later' will turn into us walking home from the supermarket, and you yelling 'I forgot about the shampoo'."
"I just sat down. Later."
Kamilah lifted her head just to roll her eyes at Ana, letting out a breath as her wife poked her in the cheek. Ana had just stuck a finger in Kamilah's hair, and was twirling it about her fingers when the doorbell rang.
"I just sat down," Ana repeated, and got a knock on the forehead in return as Kamilah stood. She smiled into her cup of tea, taking a slow draught when Kamilah called for her. And so, despite her previous argument, Ana had to heave herself off the chair to have a look for herself–
Ana froze in the hallway, when her eyes landed on her wife standing by the door…and the omnic standing at the doorstep with knees bent, so they could see his entire frame. She made eye contact with Kamilah, then started moving forward again, the world slowed around her as if she were moving through water.
Placing a hand on Kamilah's back to steady herself, Ana said, "Ado?"
"Hello." Not a single twitch in Adofo's body – which was still the same old model, but the damage it sustained in the war had been repaired, leaving no sign of his…combat experience. "It's good to see you."
"I–" Her breath caught in her throat, and her fingers dug into Kamilah's shirt. "I didn't expect to see you."
"I…didn't expect that you'd see me, either." A quick flicker in the blue glow of his eyes – a smile. "But I understand if you don't want to. If you want me to leave, I will…"
"No," Ana said reflexively. "No. Come in." She gestured into the house. As Adofo walked in, Ana noticed the small brown backpack the omnic carried on his shoulders, its size nearly hilarious compared to Adofo's bulk. He stood in place quietly, until Ana led him into the living room. He started to sit on the floor, as he'd always done during their squad hangouts, but Ana gestured at the armchair near the window, and he took a seat there instead.
Ana sat on the couch, never more grateful to have her wife beside her, with an arm circled around her back. "I didn't realise they'd activated you already."
"They reactivated me four days ago, actually," Adofo explained. "Kept me in custody, scanned me over and over until they're sure there's…nothing left in me. Then they wiped my military programming, and that's why I'm allowed to travel here…with permission, that is. And with a tracker. And the failsafe. So don't worry."
"I'm not…" Ana's voice died off when she realised she was – every muscle coiled and ready to leap to her family's defense if she was needed. "Why are you here?"
"To visit."
"Have you been to see the others?"
"No." Adofo bowed his head briefly. "Mesi was there when I woke up. She was still…friendly. Was the one who suggested I visit the rest of you. So…" He scratched at his cheek. "I came to see you first, because I thought you'd be the safest. The others… I don't know how they'll react."
"Do you remember what happened?"
Adofo's eyes dimmed to the faintest glow, then brightened to half intensity. "Yeah," he said mechanically. "I killed Ebo. I nearly killed Layla. I shot Hakim in the knee. Are they still…okay?"
"Yes. Layla's fine. Hakim is too, but he's limping now. Pulled from active duty."
Adofo nodded slowly, scratching absentmindedly at his chest, where a faint nervous click could be heard. "I'm…sorry for everything I've done. I know that doesn't change anything, but I am. I'm sorry." A sigh came through his speakers, as he rested his head briefly in one hand. "You know, I don't think it's a good idea to go see the others anymore. After what I've done, I just… I shouldn't even be here."
"Ado," Ana said gently. "It's alright. It wasn't you…was it?"
He shook his head, and shrugged. "I was conscious, and I knew what I was doing. But I couldn't think. It was like, there's this presence in my head, controlling my thoughts. I only knew I had an objective, and I had to complete that objective. That's it."
"It was the God Program, then. It wasn't your fault."
"But I still killed people!" Adofo insisted, his voice growing a little louder, but not by much. "It was me, my hands, my programming that did it. I shouldn't–, I shouldn't even be here–"
"Ado," Ana cut in, setting a hand on his arm when his eyes started flickering angrily. "Ado, relax. Please."
"I'm–, I'm sorry," he said heavily, head falling into his hands as his eyes went dark for a few long moments, before coming alight again. He lifted his gaze towards Ana, but it drifted to the staircase opposite him.
Ana followed his line of sight, and found Fareeha sitting on the stairs, clutching onto the banister as she eyed Adofo warily. How long has she been there?
The seconds dragged on, until Adofo reached for his backpack. Unslinging the straps from his shoulders, he opened the bag and reached in, pulling a teddy bear out. Then he held it facing Fareeha, and waved its paw at her. Ana saw an uncertain smile flitter across Fareeha's face, but the girl remained huddled on the stairs until Ana waved her over.
Fareeha walked down the stairs carefully, and approached them with a hesitance Ana had never seen in the girl before. Kamilah smoothed the girl's mussed hair as she took cautious steps towards Adofo, who held the bear out to her and waved its paw again.
"Hello."
Fareeha gave a soft giggle. She glanced at Ana, who nodded, and she reached out to take the bear in her hands. "Thank you."
"You're welcome, kiddo." Adofo's voice was noticeably lighter when talking to her.
Hugging the bear to her chest, Fareeha shifted on her feet, then asked, "Who are you?"
Adofo's eyes dimmed a little, then looked to Ana.
"He's…a friend, Fareeha," Ana said, holding Adofo's gaze. "A good friend."
Adofo continued staring at Ana, his eyes flickering briefly in a smile – though she noticed a slight quiver in the gentle blue glow.