Pharah

' – eeha…! Fareeha!'

Her mother. She sounded younger, but with every call out of Fareeha's name, she aged.

'Fareeha! Fareeha!? Can you hear me?'

Yes. She could. Ana Amari. Legendary sniper. Second-in-command of Overwatch in its prime. A woman who had earned her place in the world.

'She's waking up!'

Waking up? Was it such an incredible moment? Wait. Waking…up?

She saw the omnic's arm swinging. It would crush Angela. Kill her. Fareeha surprised herself with how quickly she came to the decision to take the blow in her princess' place. The look on Angela's face hurt more than Fareeha's own armour crushing into her body, penetrating every part of her until she could feel no more.

But Angela was safe.

She had to be.

'Angela…!' Fareeha sprung up, and the world spun in a dizzying whirlwind of white blurs. There was a beeping sound, and it escalated until Fareeha fell back in her bed, her lips dry and her stomach twisting.

'Shh. Calm yourself, my child.' Ana's voice again. When was the last time it sounded so nervous? So full of emotion? Her hand touched Fareeha's own, and the younger woman struggled to stay conscious, already exhausted somehow.

'Where am I?' Fareeha managed, still disoriented in more ways than she could fathom.

'Back at Overwatch Gibraltar.'

Jack now. The hero. The symbol. Another legend.

'You've been through much, my daughter.' Ana went on, stroking Fareeha's head. 'It's…been a trying few days.'

A soft whimpering. A whisper of despair restrained. Fareeha knew that sound. She knew it intimately well. She pushed up on her bed desperately, her innards repelling her, and she groaned in discomfort, looking across the room and allowing her eyes to focus as best as they could.

Angela Ziegler. There she was.

'Angela…' Fareeha grinned, even her face hurting.

'Fareeha. G-good evening…' She couldn't go on. She was covering her mouth, sobbing into her hands. She looked worse than when Fareeha had first lay eyes on her in Iraq, but somehow, she was even more beautiful than the woman could recall.

Yet, she cried. That wasn't permitted.

'Fareeha! Wait!'

Fareeha stumbled out of her bed, yanking at the cords attached to her, the nauseating pain of various needles haphazardly plucked from her body almost enough to bring her back down.

But a more powerful force moved her now. Something that couldn't be quantified.

Fareeha knelt next to Angela's bed, aware something unbelievable had occurred, but unsure of exactly what. She took Angela's hands, their grip weak and cold, and held them tight, the doctor's tears streaming even more freely, a troubling crimson tone filtered within the liquid lining her cheeks.

'I'm here, Angela.' She claimed, and Angela nodded, her mouth tense.

'Unbelievable…' Jack could be heard in the background, and Zenyatta's ethereal intonation fluttered through the air.

'Note the monitors.' He suggested, and Winston audibly exhaled in disbelief.

'Her nanomachines…They're reawakening. No…they're evolving…?'

'Love. How wonderful.' Zenyatta sounded almost as though he were about to laugh. 'Its power is boundless. Just as stress wreaks havoc on one's body, the opposite can be said for a limitless emotion such as pure, unfiltered, sincere affection; the rare kind that I have seldom witnessed in this reality.'

'God almighty…' Ana breathed out in a trembling tone. 'These wonders never cease.'

'I'm not dreaming.' Angela's palm cradled Fareeha's face. 'Say my name again.'

'Angela.' Fareeha didn't hesitate for a second. 'Angela.' She repeated.

'H-hah…!' Angela held Fareeha's cheeks with both her hands now, seemingly attempting to speak but only more sobs escaping her throat.

'There is an intriguing belief from the east that one's finger is tied by a red string of fate to another's, signifying the individual they are destined to find eternal happiness with.' Zenyatta spoke wisely, evident amusement in his mechanical voice. 'Some do not wait long enough to discover this gift, settling for mediocrity or social expectation, perhaps. While others,' He placed his hands together in a motion of prayer. 'Are blessed to reach the end of such a meaningful piece of material.'

'Pretty words.' Jack scoffed. 'I'm just glad they're both okay for now.'

'Y-you should really return to bed, Fareeha.' Angela encouraged half-heartedly.

'No.' Fareeha shook her head, seeing the fear in her lady's eyes. 'You need me.'

'To be seen through so easily…We have grown rather close, haven't we?'

'Very.'

'I owe you my thanks, Angela Ziegler.' Ana stepped forward now, placing a hand on Fareeha's back. 'You saved my daughter. I…don't think I could ever repay you.'

Fareeha blinked. Something in the way her mother said that seemed heavier than it warranted. Angela had simply healed her, had she not? No. "Healed" her? That impact. That pain. That emptiness…

'All I ask is for your approval, Ana.' Angela smiled, colour returning to her face thankfully. 'For I do believe – unless something catastrophic occurs – I shall spend the rest of my life with this woman.'

Her life. Fareeha found joy in the statement, but her brain prickled, and her heart skipped unnaturally.

'What…happened to me?' Fareeha asked, somehow knowing it was the correct question to present given her sudden confusion.

'W-well…'

'Fareeha…'

Both Angela and Ana hesitated, and now Fareeha knew there was a piece of this narrative she was missing. She looked to Winston, the large animal fixing his glasses and feigning interest in something on the screens nearby. Finally, Jack exemplified his blunt personality by saying the truth, and it took a moment for his words to fully sink in.

'You died, Fareeha. Angela brought you back. It was touch and go for some time in between, but it looks as though you'll both pull through.'

Fareeha was stunned. It made sense though. This strange sensation in the pit of her stomach. This haziness in her mind. This bizarre disconnect. Her body was still adjusting to being…alive again?

A wave of anxiety hit her almost as hard as the omnic in Korea, and Fareeha's brow construed as she snapped her focus back to Angela, the pieces of a horrid puzzle falling into graphic place.

'What's the sacrifice?' She hissed, looking over Angela and seeing the signs of her body degrading more clearly than ever. She was seemingly improving, thank goodness, but…

'What did it do to you?'

'She'll recover as she always does, Fareeha. No need to become antagonistic.' Ana chuckled.

'She won't!' Fareeha yelled, and everyone discovered confusion in the young agent's fierce proclamation.

'Fareeha, please.' Angela begged, but Fareeha was hysterical, her panic overriding everything else.

'How many years did you lose? What was the cost?'

'What on earth is she…?' Winston trailed, and he examined the monitors more closely, a form of understanding coming over his intelligent eyes. 'Wait. Your body…It's…!'

'What does it matter, Fareeha? Hm? Do you truly believe I could stand to lose you? The most important soul I have ever had the pleasure of being associated with? There was no choice whatsoever. I had to try. Fortunately, against all odds, I succeeded. I was more than aware of the risks, believe me, but to see you here before me now? Why, I would do it again, and again, and again.'

She couldn't argue without becoming a hypocrite. After all, Fareeha had done something similar. It really wasn't fair to contest the facts.

'Life without you?' Angela sensed the calming coming over Fareeha, her tone becoming gentle. 'I can hardly imagine the concept adequately.'

'…I guess…I can sympathize with that.' Fareeha found Angela's beautiful eyes and settled on them, the adrenaline losing its effect and her own body crumbling under the ongoing stress. Nonetheless, she smiled, because the value she found in this moment surpassed anything else. Fareeha reached and opened her palm over Angela's chest, feeling her dog tag, her relief escalating.

'I love you.' She said so clearly she made Winston fidget uncomfortably, but not without a little grin of his own. Even Ana could only observe all this with intrigue, never perhaps knowing Fareeha was capable of such raw emotion considering the somewhat stoic woman she had become to most.

'And I obviously love you.' Angela teased. 'Now, get some rest. You're nearly passing out, you passionate girl.'

Jack rushed to Fareeha's side, and she felt his hands reach under her arms, but that's where all conscious memory of what was occurring ended. Fareeha needed more time to recover, and there was no denying that further, primarily now that she knew Angela would be alright…for the moment.

It was a blink in her world, but perhaps much more in many others'. Fareeha awoke to quite the sight, regardless, her stomach twisting for more reasons than expected hunger.

Angela Ziegler was working away at the nearby desk, her hair tied in a messy bun high on her head, enticing glasses adjusted over her pretty nose, a lab coat draped about her partially hidden form, just a touch of cleavage poking out from the blue button-up beneath. Fareeha simply stared, a lightness hitting her chest at the thought that this woman was hers. Angela, out of all the options she must have had in life relationally, had chosen Fareeha Amari. It still baffled her, but she had no ground to stand on when questioning whether the reciprocated affection was authentic or not.

Likely due to a change in the monitors facilitating Fareeha's state, the woman perked up, the tranquil event lost, and Fareeha's desire to admire Angela from afar gone for now.

'You're awake.' She smiled, appearing much healthier than the last time Fareeha had seen her. Thank goodness. For now, at least, she was fine.

'Yes. How long was I out?'

'After out last conversation? Approximately three days. Your body had much work to do, but the progress has been satisfactory, and it is adapting to…everything quite well.'

They were alone. Perhaps being facilitated via a surveillance camera, but physically alone. Fareeha pushed herself up from her laying position, her muscles aching, of course, but feeling much, much better.

'What do you mean "everything"?'

'Well,' Angela stepped away from her chair, approaching Fareeha, her slender legs contained within a tight, black pencil skirt. Had she dressed so attractively on purpose? She was like a character out of an adult's video. The overly sexy nurse, if more naturally and less scantily clad, but nonetheless…!

'I hope you are not alarmed to hear that, in order to save you, one of the steps I took was to transfer a great number of my nanomachines into you. The risks were great, naturally, due to the machines being quite organic in nature, and preferring me as a host above all else at this point. But they took to you, unbelievably, and they continue to adapt, it would appear.'

'I…have part of you inside me?' Fareeha blinked, the concept immediately stimulating.

'Indeed.' Angela blushed. 'I suspect…ahem…it was due to the D.N.A. you had…er…consumed from me not terribly long before the transfer. I-I could be wrong, but my nanomachines surely found comfort in the remnants of my being within you.'

Fareeha was already, likely because of Angela's outfit, feeling more provoked than expected, and this sort of talk was hardly helping matters. Recalling their last moment of intimacy pushed her over the edge, and her body ached, images of what lay beneath Angela's clothes taunting her. The thought of seeing the way her form wrapped about Fareeha's artificial extension was far too stimulating to remain focused on.

'Incredible. So, does this mean I will not physically age like you?'

'It is yet to be seen. But one would suspect a similar developmental progress, yes. However,' Angela's self-interjection made Fareeha's temporary elation drop. 'My nanomachines remain degraded due to my actions from the past and present. I do not know what this means for you, but I won't lie, Fareeha, they are our lifelines now, and we should both attempt to use their healing properties sparingly. You are not invincible, the same as I.'

'Right.' Fareeha nodded, the simple fact she was so much closer to Angela now anything but upsetting. She must've been grinning like a child unable to contain herself, because Angela chastised her lovingly.

'Are you that pleased to have a part of me within you?'

'Very.' Fareeha nodded zealously. 'I couldn't be happier, to be perfectly honest.'

This made Angela's cheeks colour again, and Fareeha touched her wrist, tugging at it gently.

'What would you like?' Angela continued to play with Fareeha, maybe testing to see just how honest the younger woman could be. Challenge accepted.

'A kiss from the woman I love.' Fareeha nearly demanded, and the look on Angela's face was priceless, because she was evidently smitten yet embarrassed by the idea. Nonetheless, she leaned in and gave Fareeha exactly that. The younger girl wanted so much more, but knew her doctor would never permit such a thing upon just awakening. It was probably for the best. Therefore, changing the subject matter made sense, shifting Fareeha's thoughts away from the sensation of Angela's tender lips upon her own.

'What is Overwatch's current status?' Fareeha saw the change in Angela's visage, her own mind perhaps needing guidance as well. She cleared her throat, standing back up fully, her features on terribly clear display.

'Quite riveting, truly. Our most important mission since coming back together is in its final stages of development, and deployment will occur likely within twenty-four hours. The exact agents to be sent out is still under scrutiny, but I believe we shall have it all solidified soon. I have given my input, regardless.'

'I suppose I am not part of the candidates.' Fareeha frowned.

'Of course not, Fareeha. Although you have clearly displayed unparalleled courage and fighting prowess, you simply need too much time to recover. Many tests following your recovery. And finally, only minor missions in the field before being permitted anything of this scale.'

'Right…'

'The good news?' Angela tapped her cheek provocatively. 'I am certainly not fit for active duty beyond this base as well. We shall endure the restrictions together.'

'Hm. Could be worse, I guess.' Fareeha was happy about spending time with Angela, but the idea of not contributing to justice against Talon irked her immensely.

'I understand your frustration.' Angela smiled wryly. 'But we are needed here as well for the other agents in the field. It's been decided that attacking this particular facility of Talon's requires a delicate, somewhat special operations approach. Only a handful of our best will be performing the task, a pre-emptive strike being our best chance of landing a critical blow.'

'Who will be involved?'

'As I said, there isn't a solid answer to that question yet, but some consistent names have been Ana, Jack, Lena, Amelie, McCree, and Genji. Reinhardt, Dva, Winston, and Brigitte on standby should something transpire that requires a more forceful touch.'

'Jesus…' Fareeha gasped. The best of the best. What couldn't such a group accomplish? 'And…Hana?'

'Heheh! Indeed! She is more than willing to fight alongside us now that the tyrannous omnic has been contained, for the most part, in Korea's sea. We owe her our lives, by the by, so ensure you thank her proper. Purchasing something sweet for her consumption seems to be a rather efficient way to please her. She is excessively popular among the agents, I might add. Her and Lucio certainly keep morale quite high, which is lovely.'

'I will be sure to speak with her.' Fareeha thought of the young Korean woman, pleasing memories associated with her primarily. 'And what is the mission exactly?'

'We both missed out on an interesting development, it would seem, because Lena and Amelie successfully formed an alliance with Sombra, the hacker who was employed by Talon and has been an incredible thorn in Overwatch's side for some time now.'

'Ah. Her.' Fareeha knew of her, but hadn't given the troublesome girl much thought.

'Through some negotiation – and surely financial consultation – Sombra revealed where Talon is attempting to clone the alien matter we first discovered upon that omnic in Volskaya Industries, its finite origin being Oasis.'

'Right…' Fareeha's brain hurt, still sluggish with following all the information.

'We must shut down the facility in order to stop further production of the black omnics, for their power is already difficult to handle on a singular basis, let alone an entire army of them.'

'Thus, the all-star lineup.' Fareeha was relieved that Angela had kept the explanation simple enough, all things considered.

'Precisely. Our return delayed the mission's progress, but fortunately – and I can attest to this – cloning is no simple matter; most notably when handling an alien's D.N.A. Without Moira, Talon is surely struggling.'

'Good.' Fareeha nodded, still wishing she could be part of such a pivotal moment for Overwatch.

'Chin up, my knight.' Angela winked, her desire to lift Fareeha's spirit so beautiful. 'Thanks to us, the Korean government is personally contributing to Overwatch's ongoing establishment. Under the table, of course, but nonetheless, our efforts for that country did not go unnoticed, and Hana's cooperation only adds to the trust gained. It is a great accomplishment of which you should be very proud of.'

'That is good to hear.' Fareeha wanted to sound enthusiastic. She doubted she was convincing.

'Heh. But my reckless girlfriend wants to dive straight into battle once again, hm?' Angela checked Fareeha's charts, expertly removing the needles this time, her touch goosebump-inducing as she did so.

'It's the little I can do for the world.'

'Well, you best accept the fact that you and I shall be remaining here for the time being. The good news?' Angela placed bandages over Fareeha's puncture wounds, although Fareeha could already feel a strange tingling where her skin was reconstructing itself much quicker than normal. 'I am giving you permission to, at the very least, wander about the base as needed. No weight-lifting, for heaven's sake, however.'

'Tch.' Fareeha honestly wished to do just that.

'Oh? You did not just "tch" me, did you?'

'U-um…Sorry?'

'Indeed.' Angela scowled, and it was somehow cute.

'Then you better not push yourself either, Dr. Ziegler. We both need to learn to stop punishing our bodies.'

'Quite. Wise words, young lady. I shall do my best to abide by them.'

'Good.'

Angela looked Fareeha over, her cheeks suddenly warming up and her eyes flickering about as she seemed to tap away at her computer.

'Oh. I suppose now is as good a time as any to tell you something…'

'Hm?' Fareeha was genuinely curious, for Angela rarely became so sheepish.

'I…took it upon myself to relocate my room'

'Uh…okay? Is it much further than your previous one?'

'Not much, no. I used certain…liberties granted to us Grandmasters, I'll have you know.'

'Good for you. You should take advantage of such things more, really.' She was too modest in most cases.

'Y-yes.' Angela took off her glasses, and Fareeha's heart raced at the motion for whatever reason. 'I also…requested a larger area for myself.' She paused, sucking in some air carefully. 'One with a queen size bed.'

'You do move a fair amou – ' Fareeha's mouth hung open, and she physically felt her body fend off a chill of enthusiasm.

'Heh. You seem to understand my implications? You've come a long way with reading between the lines, my gallant knight.' Angela fidgeted with her projected keyboards again. 'I hope…I wasn't being overly presumptuous. We haven't been together that long, really, but…it just felt right; especially after recent events. I…truly wish to be with you as much as humanly possible.'

'I'm deeply flattered.' It was Fareeha's turn to blush. 'It's…very good news. So, I will be moving in tonight?'

'Everything is already there.'

'Hahah! Confident in my response, huh?'

'Mostly…!' Angela's face seemed anxious, and it was just too fun to see.

'I would be more than honoured. Angela Ziegler, you know I only want to be by your side.'

'G-good. I presumed as much, but one never knows.'

'With me you should always know. There is no hesitation in my heart whatsoever.'

'The feeling is mutual.' Angela crouched next to Fareeha, looking up at her as if demanding a kiss. The younger woman had no issue with such a request. She did so willingly, savouring every second her lips were in contact with the most amazing, brilliant woman she had ever known.

Fareeha was eventually released from the medical ward in the evening time. She respectfully left Angela to her work and went to the café for some dinner, having been warned her bowels were likely quite sensitive and to be careful with what she consumed. Fortunately, Overwatch took care of its agents, and the cooks worked hard to prepare meals that satisfied the majority. Angela had made sure Fareeha had a change of clothes prior to leaving, and she had brought her a navy-blue hoody, and a black tank top with jeans. She knew her so well.

Fareeha didn't love the idea of being made a spectacle, and thus, she threw her hood on, and attempted to quickly grab her meal before proceeding to her new room, her body still a little achy, but pieces of Angela continuing to heal her more hastily than ever.

However, she did spot Hana Song surrounded by quite a number of (mostly male) Overwatch agents, the lot of them obviously into the newest member of the group and quite clearly smitten by her (admittedly) good looks. She was eating a decent plate of food, giggling and gabbing away as if she had always been part of the team. Fareeha wanted to show her appreciation at some point, but now hardly seemed like good timing…until Hana perked up, somehow able to tell Fareeha was present even with her hood up.

The young Korean girl jumped out of her seat and almost dashed over, her pink short shorts and tank top that graciously exposed her curvy midriff more than enough of a reason for her attention, even if the matching pink unzipped sweater suggested a little modesty.

'Fareeha! Fareeha!' She called out, the touch of her Korean accent endearing. 'You're doing okay?'

'Better than before, yeah.' Fareeha shrugged. She suddenly felt overly conscious of her demeanor and size in comparison to this petite little thing. Angela was clearly happy with Fareeha and what she had to offer, but she had also shown interest in Hana's appearance. Fareeha would never be the princess, and had never really wished to fulfill that stereotypical role, but on excessively rare occasions, she did wonder…

'Thank goodness! Really gave us all a scare!' She leaned in, whispering almost dramatically. 'Mostly everyone just thinks you were super hurt, so keep the deets on the D.L., kay?'

'Affirmative.'

'Heh!' She beamed, and her smile was something else. 'Awesome! But really, you and Angela are all good? Like, for real?'

'Absolutely. And we owe you our thanks for returning us here so promptly.'

'Psh! You sorta helped me with my eternal foe, so, no biggie.'

'Still, we would love to treat you to a dinner or…dessert at some point?'

'Ooo! A snack sounds perfect! I won't say "no" to that!'

'Excellent.' Fareeha nodded toward the large group of Overwatch agents who had been conversing with Hana. They were waiting around a bit awkwardly. 'Your friends?'

'Meh. Groupies at best. I miss my team back home, to be honest. Dae-hyun was so not into me coming here, but it just made sense, you know? Plus, I promised. A promise is a promise!'

'He seemed very smitten with you.'

'Smitten? Hahah! I like that.' Hana's upbeat persona lapsed for a split second, as if in reflection, but then returned in another instant. 'Yeah. He's a good guy. Like a brother, you know?'

'…That poor man.'

'Oh, I know he might have a thing for me. I'm not a total idiot. But you'd be surprised by how the industry works. Gotta know when to turn on and off the switch.'

'I'm afraid I don't follow.'

'That's good. It's pretty messed up. Tee-heh!' Hana made a face, and then relaxed, rolling her eyes. 'Anyway, I met the Tracer, and that was pretty amazing! She's crazy fun! I think we'll get along just perfect! She had a gorgeous woman with her, too. Never heard of her. Had weird skin. Amelie was her name? She new to Overwatch?'

'More than less.'

'Scary! Let me tell you, she was scary! Sexy as sexy gets, but boy oh, boy I wouldn't tease her!'

'A wise choice.'

Hana glanced at Fareeha's meal, grinning wryly.

'Guess you wanna go eat now? You sticking around or getting back to your room?'

Truthfully, Fareeha had no desire to be anywhere but her new room, especially since she now shared it with Angela, but she sensed Hana's hesitation and reluctance to return to her "groupies", and decided she would go with her gut, and trust her maturing ability to read people just a touch better than before.

'I…wouldn't mind joining you, if that's okay.'

Hana's eyes lit up, and she practically dragged Fareeha to the table she had been previously, a number of the agents suddenly far less enthusiastic about their circumstances, since Fareeha intimidated many of the grunts with her accomplishments and overall presence, especially being so close to the Angela Ziegler.

'I brought a friend!' Hana almost screamed with delight.

Fareeha couldn't say she didn't enjoy spending time with Hana, but it was mentally taxing, especially fresh out of the medical ward. It was hard to pinpoint precisely, but Fareeha could tell something was off about her body. It wasn't terribly surprising, considering what she had been through, but still, concerning nonetheless.

She exchanged numbers with Hana, promising to contact her here and there, and then made her way back to her new room, the details outlined by Angela prior to her initial departure.

Fareeha half-expected/hoped her mother might be lurking about in wait of her daughter's release, but there was no such luck, and the young woman swallowed the knot in her throat. At least she had been there for her during the critical moments, and it would have been odd for Ana to be so attentive now…

Fareeha was granted access to her room via voice command, saying her name and noting the way it filled her mouth with discomfort. Just as her inner health seemed off, so did such moments, oddly enough. However, the sight of her new residence contributed to lifting her spirits, and the little touches of Angela already present made her even happier. A coffee mug here, a medical magazine there, a hologram still projecting from one of the pages, but flickering due to the short lifespan of such trinkets. Fareeha took off her sweater, stretched, and explored further, making it to her – that is, her and Angela's – room, her guitar in the corner alongside her other things, although she didn't have much to begin with.

There was a single queen-sized bed, the sheets in disarray and a pillow on the floor. Angela obviously had other things on her mind as of late. Imagining the woman sleeping alone bothered Fareeha, yet, they both had done it for so many years; Angela even more so.

It was bizarre, Fareeha realized, how much she adored the doctor. The smallest thing tickled her heart, like the view of a shirt hanging out of a drawer. Angela's shirt. A piece of her. A fragment of her life. The fact Angela had gone ahead and moved them in together was a testament to her feelings as well. Such a blessing. Fareeha would be a fool to question the emotions at play ever again.

She had always dreamed of joining Overwatch. But never in those wildest dreams could she ever have anticipated gaining a soulmate in the process of achieving that wish.

Fareeha sat upon the bed and felt her heart, knowing it beat because of that same precious individual. She had been given a second chance. She wouldn't waste the opportunity. She would protect the innocent. But most of all, and above everything else, she would remain by Angela's side, the woman a manifestation of all her dreams she never knew she had come true.