Authors note: I'm well aware the pacing isn't too good so far in the story but I don't want to drag out the story with pointless details without advancing the plot. But I'm off work today so I'm cranking out as many chapters as I can! :)
A couple of weeks had gone by and Chris and Lena were in sync with their schedules. They always met for lunch and talked for a bit before having to go back to their duties. Lena was excited because so far the tests so far for the slipstream were going well, even though the jumps were on a small scale. Chris was anxious about his final test coming up very soon. Lena often stopped by in her spare time, if she had any, and observed the sparing sessions between Genji and Chris.
Genji and Chris were now just going in all out sparing sessions. Genji was throwing his shurikens to try and throw Chris off balance to which he nimbly avoided them. Chris rolled forward to close the distance as he used his wrist blades to strike the ninja, Genji quickly unsheathed his sword to deflect the attack and parried it to the side, transitioning to a roundhouse kick that sent Chris flying off to the side.
"Still so very predictable." Genji said as he sheathed his sword.
Chris just grunted as he got back up and grinned. "One more round."
Genji looked to the window seeing Lena standing and watching, "Trying to impress your audience I see." Chris' face flushed red slightly but try to play it off cool. "Na I'm just trying to end on a high note and win a round."
Genji turned and took his stance. "Very well, strike when you are ready." Chris sprinted towards Genji avoiding the blades Genji was hurling his way. And now here comes the roll and strike combo he does all the time. Genji thought as he telegraphed his moves to land the kick again. Chris did a roll towards Genji again but instead of dashing in for a strike, he transitioned to a flying kick which Genji wasn't prepared for. Genji closed his arms to brace for the blow Chris delivered knocking the ninja off balance. Chris took this opportunity to sweep Genji's leg out from under him tripping him to his back, after which Chris back flipped landing on top of the ninja with his blades mere centimeters from the ninjas face.
Chris was puffing heavily sweat dripping from his brow. Genji then chuckled to break the silence.
"You baited me." Genji said as Chris helped him up. "Interesting and effective tactic. I'm impressed."
Chris looked at the window to see Lena smiling bright with two thumbs up. Chris gave her a little nod and turned back to Genji. "Don't stress about your test Chris, You are a strong fighter. I have taught you everything I know, and if it makes you feel any better, you're the only one to beat me." Chris still trying to catch his breathe smiled and gave the ninja a formal bow. "I believe commander Morrison wanted to speak to you after we were done here."
And just like that Chris' smile faded. Reyes and McCree were out on an scouting mission in Mexico based on intel Jack had received from an anonymous tip about Talon activity. This made interactions with the commander and Chris more frequent as Reyes usually served as a buffer between the two.
"Understood." Chris said and exited the room.
"That was amazing! See I told you the kick first would have been a good move" Lena said nudging Chris' with her arm in an "I told you so" fashion.
"What would i do without you." Chris said as he put an arm around her. He was feeling more confident now that he had bested the Genji for the first time
Just as they turned the corner Chris saw Morrison approaching him to which he quickly retracted his arm and fixed his posture standing upright. "You wanted to speak to me commander?"
"Indeed, in private." Morrison signaled Lena to go somewhere else.
"Common you can use your words and say pretty please." Lena gave Jack a wink with her playful tone. "Meet me in the mess hall after your done ok?" Chris nodded and started walking with Jack to his office. They both entered and Jack closed the door behind him and pulling a chair out for Chris to sit in.
They both sat down, but Chris always hated being in his office. It always felt like an interrogation every time he was in here.
"As you are aware your final test is tomorrow. I've see how hard you have been training with Genji."
"I'm just doing everything I can to prepare for the test sir."
"Indeed, do you have any idea what your test will include?"
"No sir."
"It's a bit unorthodox compared to our past tests, but I'm sure you will find no trouble in it." Jack tossed a folder in front of Chris signaling him to pick it up.
"There is a small matter that seems to be growing out of control in London. Instead of a training course as your final test, we are having you do some hands on work. You will be accompanying a small strike force to negate this resistance and destroy a factory being used to construct bastion units for Null Sector."
"With all due respect sir, you are trusting me to go on out on the field already?"
Morrison got up from his chair and walked to the other side of his desk and sat on the edge leaning down towards Chris. "Look I'm not going to sugarcoat this. Our help is being stretched pretty thin. Both the Amaris are out in Egypt scouting out some disturbance we believe to be the work of Talon. Same thing with Reyes and McCree in Mexico. We need all the help we can get at this point. Your efforts to get up to this point haven't gone unnoticed. Reyes has made a point to tell me about all the progress you have made in the past year. So this mission for you will be your first field test, to be quite honest I have no doubt you will pass with flying colors."
Chris sprang up from his chair and simply gave the commander a salute. "I won't disappoint you sir."
Morrison chuckled and gave a lazy salute back, "As you were kid."
Chris walked out of the room while looking over the synopsis of the mission. He was going to be accompanied by Reinhardt and one of the other newer recruits Jamison Fawkes, an expert in explosives according to the files. They were to infiltrate the factory and plant explosives in critical structure points to crumple the factory with minimum damage to the surrounding area. Resistance was expected to be at a minimum but that doesn't mean there wont be any.
Chris finally made it to the mess hall still studying the file cover to cover. "What you got there love?"
Chris looked up to see Lena sitting across from him with her hands holding her head up peering at the file. "This..is my final test apparently." Chris said.
"So they are sending you out already? That's awesome they must really think your something special." she said winking at him.
"Yea I guess you could say that."
"Well don't hog it to yourself, give me the scoop." Lena slid over next to him and started reading the file too.
"Apparently we have to disable this factory in London. Supposedly they are using it to buil-"
"It's in Kings Row." Lena said her tone dropping as fast as her face. "That's..where my home is."
Chris stopped and didn't know what to say at first, he could see the distress in her eyes and the tone in her voice.
"I'm sure nothing has happened, see it says here it's a covert ops mission. Which means we are to keep a low profile." Lena looked up at Chris. "Meaning there probably is no damage to the public or surrounding areas." Lena started to bright up a little bit, but a wave of concern was still sweeping through her.
"When do you leave?"
"Tonight it looks like. Looks like our shuttle is leaving at 11 tonight."
"Oh." Lena sounded almost disappointed.
"Lena, don't worry I'm sure everything will be fine. We'll stop them before they can even get a chance to do anything." Chris said in the most reassuring tone he could muster.
"Yea your right." Lena still sounding unconvinced.
Chris walked in to the armory where Reinhardt and Jamison were suiting up. He gave both of them nods as they reciprocated it back. Chris equipped both of his hidden blades and holstered his two sidearms. He grabbed 8 extra clip for his sidearms and looked in the mirror to see himself in an Overwatch uniform. It was all black with the logo showcased on the chest plate. This is what you've been training for Chris. He still had his locket tucked under his undershirt under his armor. He pulled it out and looked at the picture inside. He started making his way towards the shuttle getting lost in his thoughts again. This is why your doing this, don't let them down. The nerves were finally start to hit home. What if I can't do it, what if I falter under pressure, what if I choke and somebody dies because of me, what if-
"Chris!" His mind was pleasantly interrupted once again by the tone he loved to hear more and more. He turned to see Lena sprinting towards the shuttle. She was wearing just a white tank top and shorts. She looked like she had just rolled out of bed. Jamison and Rein were already on board the shuttle waiting for Chris.
"Lena what are you doing here it's late, you shouldn't be here."
"I just wanted to..just..you know..send you off with good luck." she finally spat out with that cute little smile. Chris just laughed a little and started shaking his head. "How do you do this?"
"Do what?"
"You always seem to kick me out of my own doubts" Chris said with a nervous laugh escaping him.
"Call it convenient timing I guess." She said winking at him. Chris shook his head and turned to get on the shuttle when he felt Lena tug on his hand stopping him from turning around. Chris started to get lost in her eyes as he started to relax a bit more staring in the beautiful hazel eyes that were enhanced by the moonlit sky. Lena pulled Chris in close for a tight embrace. "Please be careful love." Chris almost melted away in her arms.
"I will don't worry." Chris started to pull away before he felt Lena give a little peck on his cheek. Chris turned bright red as Lena just nervously giggled.
"Well if you don't do something back I'm gonna feel a little silly for doing tha-"
Chris cut her off by pulling her in close covering her lips with his. Lena's eyes went wide before she got lost in the sensation of their first kiss. Chris finally pulled away before looking down pressing his forehead to hers. "There now we both did something silly." Lena giggled that infectious laugh before Chris finally walked on board the shuttle looking back at Lena standing on the landing pad watching them leave. As the shuttle took off Lena gave a little wave.