Pharah

Fareeha should've been resting. The quickest way for her to recover came from giving her body the chance it needed to heal on its own. And yet, she couldn't sleep; not by a long shot. She kept closing her eyes, but she could literally feel them having a spasm behind her lids. Sleep was impossible. Sleep could only be imagined when all Fareeha could think about was Angela.

Fareeha pulled the covers up over her face at the internal admittance to herself.

The last battle had made it brutally clear to the woman that, no matter how much she tried to convince herself otherwise, she now knew she harboured feelings for Angela. She thought perhaps it was a sense of admiration taken too far, but the fact she didn't react similarly to any other "legendary" Overwatch hero was telling. Not only that but, reflecting upon it further, Fareeha had felt a spark the moment she met Angela again after so many years. That initial spark had only grown despite Fareeha's attempts to reduce the swelling in her heart. When Fareeha's very life was in danger, she could only think of two people: her mother, Ana, and the woman that had touched her soul in recent days, Angela Ziegler.

Was it love? Fareeha couldn't say quite yet. But she could certainly submit to the very reality that she was, at the very least, interested in Angela. And she was interested in having something more than simple friendship with the older woman. It's why she had gathered all the courage she had and asked Angela on what could very well be interpreted as a "date".

But that was all a matter of perspective, and even Fareeha wasn't foolish enough to assume Angela could be aware of Fareeha's intentions. Fareeha barely knew her own intentions. All she knew was that she wanted to spend more time with Angela to figure her own feelings out and proceed from there.

It was insanity. Angela Ziegler was a world-famous doctor that could, quite realistically, have whoever she wanted in her life romantically. She had chosen to not see anybody for so many years. So, why did Fareeha think she even had a figment of a chance? She didn't. But that also didn't mean she wouldn't try, at the very least. Fareeha had learned, quite the hard way, that not even trying could lead to a world of regrets. She would never make that mistake again.

The Egyptian groaned into her blanket, the deep gash still healing on her face swelling painfully.

Waking up from such a brutal battle only to see Angela was like a dream, and it had emboldened Fareeha enough to do something she had never done before to someone who she felt was leagues beyond her.

"I would like that very much. Yes."

She had said "yes". Not only that, but it was said with enough confidence that Fareeha didn't get the impression Angela was committing to the outing due to pity. Granted, "social rhetoric" was Fareeha's area of opportunity, so, what did she know? All she knew was that she now had to actually follow through with the gettogether, and it was nothing short of terrifying.

And thus, the inability to sleep. And yet, the hours went by as Fareeha's thoughts swirled in a cyclical fashion. Excitement. Fear. Joy. Relief. Anxiety. She went through the emotions as the waves of memories and anticipation tormented and invigorated her. The moment she got better, she prayed she would be able to remind Angela of their "date", or whatever it could be called. She prayed she wouldn't back down from this opportunity. She hoped she could manage to keep her composure in the face of such an incredible human being.

"Fareeha?" An unfamiliar voice came over the intercom nearby, and Fareeha jumped, fearing her inner turmoil was so prevalent that anyone could tell what she was thinking.

'Yes?' She answered, her voice groggy.

"You have a visitor. Are you well enough to entertain one?"

Fareeha's heart skipped a beat.

'Yes. Please let them in.'

Was it Angela? Who else could it be? Maybe Jack? Winston? Fareeha couldn't be sure, but the slight chance of seeing Angela again did send her mind into a frenzy, and Fareeha sat up, adjusting her messy hair a little as the door slid open and Bradley stepped in.

It wasn't fair to the poor man, but the level of disappointment Fareeha felt was almost crushing. She attempted not to let it show, but she doubted she succeeded overly well. Perhaps blaming her state would be believable.

'Hey, Fareeha. Glad to see you're awake and seem to be doing a little better.' The fellow Overwatch agent made his way to a nearby seat, his raven hair freshly washed and smelling rather nice. His sharp features and darker skin made him, admittedly, fairly appealing, and the fact he had light blue eyes despite all this was even more fetching. Fareeha didn't deny that Bradley was a good looking individual, but that was as far as her appraisal of him went. She liked him enough, but when she entertained the idea of being "more" than just friendly with her temporary mentor she knew the shiver that ran her spine was the answer to any more investigation into that realm.

'Dr. Ziegler is quite the miracle worker.' Fareeha hoped she didn't say the woman's name with the affection that jolted through her system.

'She is that. Cleared the room and everything when she saw you. I tried to stay, but she can have quite the death glare. Did you know that? Always thought she was supposed to be super sweet and angelic. Funny.'

'There's certainly a lot more to her than meets the eye.'

'Well, I guess that's what happens when you're a celebrity. Finding out how human all these heroes are is pretty humbling. Makes me want to try harder. I mean, sure, some of them have been…er…altered in some ways, if you want to get into details, but that doesn't mean I can't push myself a little bit, right? You're normal enough, and you saved half our squad!'

'My mother was also considered "normal", and she was classified as one of the best shots in the world.'

'Exactly. Keep up the good work and you'll be just as legendary, I'm sure.'

'Oh, I don't know about that.'

'Come on.' Bradley gave Fareeha a light jab, and she grinned doubtfully. 'You really do have something special going on. Maybe…maybe that's why I have a hard time keeping my eyes off you.'

Fareeha laughed.

'That, or I seem to make a spectacle of myself whenever the chance is there.'

A small pause followed Fareeha's reply, and she watched Bradley's face drop a little. Had she missed something? Rhetoric. Social rhetoric. Was that it? Was there more behind Bradley's words? Was he being serious? Was he trying to…flirt with Fareeha? He did seem to snatch any opportunity to be with her, but she thought it was more so out of their shared heritage. Now that she thought about it, she had caught him looking at her a few times more than one might expect.

'Oh.' Fareeha shook her head, not able to look at Bradley right away. 'That is…um…thank-you?'

'Hahah!' Bradley's face broke, and he nudged Fareeha again. 'Not someone fishing for compliments, huh?'

'No. I guess not.'

The fellow agent stretched, sighing as he exhaled strongly.

'You've interested me since the moment I met you, Fareeha. I felt pretty blessed to be your mentor for a time, although you pretty well knew everything I tried to show you outside of Overwatch protocol.'

Fareeha shifted in bed. She was suddenly feeling sore again. She had been in such conversations before, although not recently or frequently. She had been on enough dates, as she told Angela before, and she had even slept with men before, but just the thought of doing either thing with Bradley when Angela was so prominently on her mind was…nauseating?

'Right…' Fareeha practically gasped.

'Anyway, the last mission got me thinking…and I made a promise to myself not to waste any more time because we all don't know how much of that we got left.'

'True.' Fareeha had to agree, for she was spurred into action in a similar fashion.

'So, yeah, if – when you're better, of course – you want to maybe spend some time together, like, get a drink or something like that, then I would be honoured to have your company.'

Fareeha swallowed, the lump in her throat hurting. Yet, a thought passed through her mind, and her heart swelled suddenly.

'So…that would be a "date", right? A…romantic outing between two people? What you just asked me is undoubtedly a proposal to go on a date with you?'

Bradley laughed again, rubbing the back of his neck.

'Well, yeah, I guess you could say that, Fareeha. You ever been on a date before? You almost make it sound totally foreign to you.'

'It isn't. I was just curious.' Fareeha tried not to smile. So, Angela had agreed to her request when it was so obviously a date? No. Maybe not. It was different between persons of the same sex still. She couldn't make any assumptions. No matter how far society had come, even Fareeha knew it was still not quite normal yet for two individuals of the same sex to be involved with one another in such a way. Fareeha had a feeling it would never really be completely "normal" somehow. Even someone like the amazing Tracer was whispered about here and there. Fareeha herself had heard it. It had sickened her.

'So…?' Bradley persisted, and Fareeha realized she couldn't say "yes", which meant something of an awkward interaction from here on out. Social rhetoric. She needed it now more than ever, but she was blunt by nature, and it was a hard habit to kill.

'No, thank-you. I don't think that is a good idea.'

Bradley physically appeared to be pushed back, and he laughed in embarrassment, obviously not expecting such a curt response.

'…Really?'

'Yes. Really.'

'Wow. I…definitely misread something.'

'You did? How?'

'I just thought…Huh. Maybe we had a connection?'

'We are comrades, yes. We share the same heritage as well. I like you as friend, there is no doubt about that either.'

'Right. Right.' Bradley fumbled. He was generally fairly smooth; thus, it was a little odd to witness him so dishevelled. 'So, you have a boyfriend already?'

'I do not.'

Bradley shook his head, evidently confused, and Fareeha saw her chance to show some intelligence during this social exchange.

'However, I think I am interested in somebody, and that is why I would rather not risk jeopardizing that potential relationship just yet.'

'Oh.' Bradley nodded happily, relief on his face. 'Oh! Okay. That makes a bit more sense.'

'Does it? I'm glad to hear so.' Fareeha grinned, her head pulsating a bit.

'Not much I can do, then. I mean, if that goes south, feel free to let me know and then maybe you can give us a chance?' He was shrugging, evidently shy about pushing his luck, but admirable and flattering in his own way as well.

'I can do that, yes. Thanks for understanding.'

'Ah. No problem. Just work on getting better, okay? Either way, our unit wants to treat you to something special for helping us out. We're also going to be holding a little funeral for the agents lost. The date and time is T.B.D., but it's the least we can do.'

'I'll be there.' Fareeha nodded firmly, and Bradley gave her a lingering look, getting up and cracking his neck.

'Great. Glad to hear it. And with that, I'll leave you to rest.' He paused at the door, breathing out deeply. 'I'm sorry for putting you on the spot like that; especially when you're sort of recovering. Definitely bad form.'

'Not at all.' Fareeha waved her friend off. 'I'm honoured, really. You are a good man.'

'Coming from you, that can only lift a guy's spirits for days on end.' He gave Fareeha a small salute. 'Take it easy, soldier.'

'You, too, Bradley.'

And he was gone, leaving Fareeha to herself and thoughts of a certain angelic individual that continued to distract her the more she allowed her mind to imagine. It was a curious thing, for Fareeha's first time with a man was not an overly pleasant experience. If she were to be honest, it was downright miserable. Perhaps because she didn't really like him to begin with and was pressured into the act, or perhaps because she was always that much more interested in her career and following in her mother's footsteps. Either way, she distanced herself from such scenarios from that point forward. Any form of a sexual relationship was very much a distraction Fareeha had no reason to participate in.

And yet now, at thirty-two, well into her womanhood, Fareeha finally felt something like a spark of intrigue that expanded beyond passing curiosity. Her, admittedly, limited imagination was being tested, and she pictured Angela close to her, their faces mere inches apart, so close she could feel the other woman's breath. Did she want to kiss her? Was that truly what Fareeha desired? Angela's lips looked so soft and full. Her blue eyes were like the purest aquamarines Fareeha had ever seen. Her body was slender but shapely in all the right places, practically sculpted by the gods of lore.

'Mmm…' Fareeha's voice hummed, the lower half of her blanket shifting slightly.

If given the opportunity, would Fareeha be willing to hold Angela's beautiful face in her hands and tell her how much she adored her? Could Fareeha slowly peel off the doctor's lab coat, skirt, blouse, and underwear to reveal her feminine form? Would Fareeha be capable of drawing pleasure from Angela's soft, pale skin, her modest but pleasing chest, and her slender legs? How did two women make love exactly?

'A-ah…'

Right. Perhaps that was a silly question. Fareeha was a woman as well. Although that didn't give her all the answers she needed, she had a better grasp of what to do than when placed before a man's wishes. A woman would like to be touched and eased into the exchange. Fareeha would start by kissing Angela softly, and then, as that kiss grew more intense, she would caress the other girl, learning where and how she liked to be pleasured by the way her voice moaned through her throat.

'Hah…h-hah…'

What sort of voice would Angela have in the heat of the moment? It would surely be adorable. She would resist giving herself over completely, for she seemed proud, like Fareeha, but the Egyptian had confidence she could convince the doctor otherwise.

'Ung…'

The images in Fareeha's brain escalated alongside her own rhythmic allowance. She had rarely engaged in such an act of self relief, but she couldn't stop herself now. She could almost feel Angela's naked form beneath her own, their bodies pressed together and lips passionately embracing one another. They wanted nothing but pleasure for their respective partner, and Fareeha bit down hard on her lip, her body still aching, but her desires suddenly hurting even more so.

'Angela…Angela…' Fareeha gasped, a current of ecstasy overtaking her abdomen, circulating downward.

Suddenly, however, the door to Fareeha's private room slid open once more, and the young woman's whole body jumped, her heart racing and her right hand immediately extracted. In her momentary disillusionment, Fareeha hardly believed her eyes, but after a secondary assessment, she knew it was Angela who had suddenly entered.

'Hello, Fareeha. How did you rest last night? It's nearly midday, you know? Bradley told me you seemed fairly well.'

Fareeha breathed out slowly. Her mind was compromised, she knew, but she still couldn't help but eye Angela as tentatively as she could get away with. She was dressed somewhat casually, but there was something about that lab coat and loose-fitted t-shirt beneath that drove her wild suddenly.

'Fine. I-I'm fine.' She stuttered, cursing herself.

Angela raised a brow, checking Fareeha's forehead and cocking her head slightly.

'You're perspiring slightly, but you don't have a fever. Are you too hot? Shall I get you some thinner blankets?'

'Er…I don't think so.'

'Hm.' Angela grinned a little, and Fareeha prayed she couldn't tell somehow. 'Well, you seem to be doing well otherwise, and that pleases me greatly. I still have my touch, it seems.'

'You do.' Fareeha felt her cheeks burning.

Angela giggled a little, but then her expression grew serious, and she pulled in a chair near Fareeha, concerning the other woman.

'You didn't require a follow up quite yet, but I needed to tell you something. Jack insisted that I simply e-mail you the details, since time is of the essence, but I felt you deserved a face-to-face disclosure.'

'Oh. Okay.' Fareeha blinked, suddenly concerned about this seeming blessing of a visit.

'The situation in Russia has escalated into globally dangerous territory over the past twenty-four hours. Overwatch has to act now or the second Omnic War could be officially upon us. Winston and Genji are already en route from their skirmish in Numbani, but we cannot wait for the others anymore. They have been given the mission statement, and we can only hope they make their way there as well to assist.'

'…Who are "they"?' Fareeha felt light-headed, but she could manage that question at least.

This brought a small smile to Angela's pretty face.

'You might recognize some of their names. Reinhardt, Torbjorn, and even his daughter, Brigitte, will be joining the fight.'

'Reinhardt?' He had always been one of the greatest heroes in Fareeha's mind.

'Heheh! Your eyes sparkled a little. Quite adorable.'

'I-it's just…meeting you and Jack was amazing enough. I'm still adjusting to being a part of all this, I guess.'

'You're nothing to be ashamed of either, Fareeha. Your name is quite popular among the higher ranks right now, I'll have you know.' Angela raised a finger to her lips quickly thereafter. 'Oh, but don't let anyone know I've told you. Our little secret, yes?'

'Of course.'

The doctor's face dropped again, and she placed a hand on Fareeha's shoulder suddenly, almost intimately, although Fareeha's prior activity could have been warping her perception of everything.

'In any case, I am here now to let you know…that I am being dispatched to Russia to aid in the fight. It's that serious. They need me on site and even in the battle itself to reduce the number of casualties.'

'What!?' Fareeha sat up, her wounds pulsating from the sudden movement. 'No!'

'It is nothing new. I've been active in such fights before. It is…somewhat frightening, I suppose, but I've been blessed with such talents for a reason, and I will not shirk my duties because of…some recent changes in perspective, perhaps.'

Fareeha's jaw tightened, and she shook her head.

'Then I am coming with you.' She said automatically, not caring for formalities when the life of this woman was suddenly at stake.

'You won't be cleared to participate in your current state, Fareeha. I promise you that.'

'I don't care. It's up to me.'

'Not if you can potentially become a hinderance to the mission. Jack would never allow it.'

'But…!' Fareeha grimaced, her cheek and collar hurting.

'Fareeha.' Angela said her name so tenderly, and the other woman could only subdue her frustration some. 'I resisted as much as I could, but I will admit now, amidst these circumstances, that I value our friendship more than I could have ever anticipated. I look forward to deepening our bond, for true companionship is a rarity for individuals such as us, I believe.'

'But what if you don't come back? What if I never see you again?'

Angela's lip quivered, but she was used to difficult conversations, and she held fast.

'It is the reality of my job, Fareeha. I'm sorry. It's why I distance myself so adamantly. It's why I attempted to do the same with you…and somehow failed along the way.'

Fareeha wanted to say it right there. She wasn't sure of her feelings exactly, but she felt compelled to say it as the potential she was starting to see began to crumble around her.

I care about you.

But she couldn't. It didn't feel right. It didn't feel fair. And thus, she endowed her military training and nodded slowly.

'…Fine. We both failed in that regard, it seemed.'

'Kindred spirituality has a way of working past our personal preferences.' Angela shrugged, her phone going off and her visage faltering at what could only be a message of urgency regarding the mission to Russia. 'I must go…'

Fareeha's face buzzed, but she relented.

'I'll…miss you.' She pushed the words out. She could admit that much, at the very least.

'I'll miss you, too, Fareeha. Very much.' Angela replied quickly, her voice finally shaking. She went to the door hastily, perhaps to hide the emotion beginning to overtake her, and waved on her way out, struggling it seemed, to Fareeha's mixture of devastation and crude relief.

The Egyptian woman grunted, pushing herself out of bed, but stumbled, her body sore all over. If she could get at her armour and convince Bradley to fly her to Russia, she could…

Fareeha's phone went off, and she managed to check the message from Angela. It nearly took her breath away, and tears finally began to fill her dark, wondering eyes.

"Get back into bed, Ms. Amari. How are we ever supposed to have a drink together if you won't allow yourself to recover properly?"