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#wanna draw Mei next. I have a cool ass idea
littlekatleaf · 4 years
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Buried in a burning flame is love and its decisive pain (part 3)
Part One
Part Two 
“Did ya see that shit,” Junkrat said as he squeezed close to the door to let Roadhog have room next to him. “Bloody fuckin’ bonzer, mate. Blasted those dipsticks back to the scrap heap. An’ the fire, what a beaut.” Only had to blink to feel it again. The weightlessness of flying. The OR14 exploding into scrap. The whooshing rush as air filled the explosion’s vacuum. The flames. The burn. The acrid stench of sulfur and potassium. “Fuckin’ did it. Fuckin’ won!”
“For the love of God, shut up.” Roadhog interrupted and only then did the silence of the others register.
Tracer’s knuckles were white on the steering wheel, her jaw clenched. Mei stared out the window, pointedly ignoring him. Even Lucio and D.Va were quiet.
He frowned. Missed something, somewhere. Cast his thoughts back. “No one hurt?” Assumed someone woulda said immediately, or just gone without waiting for him and Roadhog.
“None of us,” Mei said shortly, emphasizing the ‘us’.
“Someone else?” Flash of Emily and Tracer forehead to forehead.
“Don’t know. Tracer can’t reach them on her com.”
Junkrat sat back. “Shit. Didn’t think...”
“Of course not! You never do. An idea crosses what passes for your mind and you’re off doing something on your own - something incredibly insane and dangerous - and paying no attention to what you’re supposed to be doing. What you were ordered to do.”
“Coulda left me.” Came out a little more defensive than he meant it, but hell, was true.
“And the team’d be two men short because Roadhog was trying to keep your stupid, scrawny ass alive.”
“What if you’d gotten hurt? Or Roadhog? We wouldn’t have known or been able to help you,” Lucio added, quietly.
“Been fine on our own plenty of times.” Swallowed hard as he said it - hadn’t really thought about Roadie gettin’ hurt. Mei’s right - you never think. Rubbed his forehead, as if he’d get rid of the voice that way.
“It’s not how we do it, Junkrat. You know that,” Hana said. The disappointment in her expression was a kick in the teeth. Rather have Mei yellin’ at him.
He did know that. He’d just forgotten. Or maybe not really understood. Made no sense. Sure Roadhog saved his ass any number of times even when it put him in the line of fire - but that was a job. Doing shit for dosh, made sense. This? This made none. Mei didn’t like him, Tracer didn’t seem to have an opinion either way - he sure as shit wasn’t as important as her Emily. An’ while he reckoned Hana and Lucio liked him fine enough, they’d known Emily and Satya far longer. Just stood to reason they’d add it up and let him ‘n Roadie fend for themselves. Simple matter of maths. Apparently he’d missed something in the calculation.  Mei tallied it for you - six necessary to succeed. Subtract two and you fail. Really, Jamison - must you be so stupid?
Tracer parked the ute where it would be hidden by the Orca. The brilliant blue sky glared down at them; sun reflected off the metal of the ship and the snow covered trees and into Junkrat’s eyes. His head throbbed and he squinted against it. Adrenaline still fizzed through him, making his teeth want to chatter and his hands shake. Or maybe it was the cold again? The sweat of the fight had cooled in the winter wind. Shoved fists into his pockets, followed Roadhog and the others, head down.
Silence. No sign of bots; no sign of Emily or Satya neither. Least the traps hadn’t been tripped. Tracer reached out and rapped a pattern on the door. No more than a second passed before it was yanked wide and Emily fell into Tracer’s arms.
“You’re all right!” Emily said, breathlessly.
Was like Tracer faded into Lena as he watched. The tension bled from her body as she held Emily close. “So are you,” she murmured into Emily’s hair.
“What happened,” Satya asked, putting an arm around Mei and drawing her inside. They all followed.
“There was an attack, like Morrison warned. But the settlement was deserted. No one’d been there in weeks. Lena thought it meant they’d be coming for you and Emily. You are okay?” Mei studied her carefully, like she might be hiding something.
Satya nodded. “We are. It has been quiet.”
“So much for a relaxing vacation.” Mei gusted out a breath, laughed, and just like that the tension dissipated. Lena and Emily disappeared to their room, likely to have a naughty. Satya and Mei lingered for only a second before disappearing as well. Hana and Lucio took over the vid screen for a game. Roadhog picked up his book, but Junkrat could tell he was watching Hana play more than actually reading.
Suddenly feeling like a puppet with its strings cut, Junkrat slumped. Adrenaline’d been the only thing keeping him going and now that it was gone he needed to crash. Made his slightly unsteady way to the bedroom, stripped off his shirt and pants - reeked of sweat and explosives - and flopped onto the cot without taking off his prosthetics. Waking up so early after late night whiskey was kicking his ass. He’d just rest a minute, til the headache fucked off.
“Junkrat? … Hey, Junkrat?”
“Mmf…?” He surfaced from sleep like he’d been underwater, disoriented.  Where…? He squinted at the sunlight streaming in the window, then discovered Emily hovering in the doorway, looking uncomfortable. Right - Taos. Vacation. And, if the way he felt at the moment was any indication, a burgeoning case of the wog. Just fucking aces. He resisted the urge to sniffle and raised a brow at Emily. “Needed somethin’, mate?”
“Um. Roadhog asked me to wake you - food’s ready, if you’re hungry.” Her gaze skittered over him, and he realized somewhat belatedly that the sheet’d slipped low over his hips. Least his bits were still covered.
“Be there in a tick,” Junkrat said. He sat up, snagged a t-shirt and yanked it over his head. “Tell him not to be such a bloody bludger next time.”
“Might, if I had the first clue what that means.”
Junkrat laughed. “Just sayin’ he’s a lazy bastard, making ya do his dirty work.”
“Not a big deal,” Emily shrugged. “He’s in the middle of a game with Hana.”
Soon as she was gone, he let himself slump back on the pillow again. His head felt heavy, thoughts slow and muddy. Truth was, he wasn’t hungry. Would really rather go back to sleep, but then they’d figure out something was wrong. He was always hungry. So he pushed himself to stand, tugged on a relatively clean pair of pants, raked a hand through his hair and headed for the stairs.
Unfortunately, standing up seemed to redistribute the congestion in his head and his nose prickled. Tried a small sniff, but it didn’t help, the sensation only increased. He hunched his shoulders, pinched his nose and squelched the sneeze into silence. Fuck it hurt, always felt like he was exploding his brain when he did that. But was better than anyone suspecting. He knuckled his nose roughly, and the itch faded.
Someone’d made brekkie for… well, whatever meal it was. Maybe scrambled eggs and toast wouldn’t kill him. And coffee. Needed fuckin’ loads of coffee. Snagged a chair between Roadie and Lucio.
“Welcome back to the land of the living,” Hana said, toasting him with her coffee cup, then narrowed her eyes. “Mostly, that is.”
“Yeah, you look rough, man. You okay?” Lucio asked.
“’M fine. Little too much ta drink last night, reckon.” Felt Roadie giving him a look behind the mask. Ignored him.
Lena laughed. “I’ve seen you drink way more than that. Sure you didn’t get hurt blowing yourself up?”
“Fuck no. Done that millions a times. Worked up mines special. Wanna try it?”
“Fuck no,” she echoed and he laughed.
“It’s a rush. All that power… Closest thing ta flyin’.”
“I’ll stick to the Orca, thanks.”
Waved away her concern. “Ah, it’s safe as houses.”
Lena looked meaningfully at his mech arm and he faked an expression of affront.
“That ain’t got nothin’ to do with me own work. How could you even think it?”
“How did it happen, then,” Mei asked, like she didn’t believe him.
Yes, Jamison. Tell them how it happened. Mouth went dry and it took him a second to swallow the bite of eggs he’d taken without choking. Cleared his throat. “Not really a story for dinner table convo,” he managed and took a long drink of coffee.
“A better story is how he got the gold tooth,” Roadhog said and launched into a woefully unembellished tale of the bar fight and subsequent need for a replacement tooth. Somehow this led to other stories about heists gone wrong in various ways … your fault…  and the others were laughing and sure he’d laughed at his own cock ups plenty of times but there was an odd echoing edge of this laughter and it scraped against his skin like sandpaper. Rubbed a hand through his hair. Leg started jittering. Got up, took his unfinished plate and Roadhog’s empty one and left them in the sink, trying not to notice that his hand was shaking.
Listen to them laughing. You think you can trust them? In the joke, you’re the punchline. Ain’t the way it is. No? Wait until they see how weak you really are. See if they keep you around then - or if it’s just Roadhog they want. But we’re a…
A what, Jamison? What are you and Roadhog?
... A duo. Where I go, he goes. He’s my… my bodyguard. And when he gets a better offer? One where he won’t have to put up with you? Suddenly a hand touched his arm and he jumped.
“Didn’t mean to startle you,” Lucio said apologetically. “You sure you’re okay?” He frowned, reached toward Junkrat’s forehead. “You feel a little warm.”
Junkrat stepped back, out of reach. “I’m f…” but even as he was saying it, he realized he was about to sneeze. Shit. He just managed to twist to the side, ducking away from Lucio. “Ah’Riiish!”
“Santinho,” Lucio said.
Only a second for a breath before another hit. “Ah’Riiish-iish!”
“Deus te ajude.”
Another breath, another sneeze. “Ah’Riiish-uh!”
“Deus, te faça feliz.” Lucio handed him a tissue.
Junkrat blew his nose. “What ya sayin’, mate?”
Lucio shrugged. “Just what my grandma used to say when I was a kid. Don’t usually get to say all three, though.”
“Aww, you got Roadhog’s cold,” Hana said. “How’d that happen?” Her tone was teasing, insinuating. “No, ‘m fine,” Junkrat said, but spoiled it by sneezing again. Least this time he had tissues.
“Gross, you’re like a plague rat,” Mei said and Hana actually laughed. See?
“Rack off,” Junkrat said. Hadn’t thought Hana would laugh at him. Not really.
“She didn’t mean anything by it.” Satya looked at him flatly.
“Fuck you.”
“Rat.” Roadhog’s voice was low, warning.
“Nah, fuck this.”  Out out out. Had to get out. Get away. He turned and, yanking his jacket from the peg by the door, slammed out.
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Prompt: the penny in the water bottle prank. Person A puts a penny under the water bottle and claims they can get it INTO the bottle as a magic trick. Puts a towel over the bottle, says the "magic words," and removes the towel and tells Person B to look. As person B leans over to look into the open water bottle, person A squeezes the bottle and sprays the water all over B's face.
Oh this is delightful.
Genji has gotten it out of his system for nearly all valuesof it. It’s honestly a pretty magnificentaccomplishment. There’s a lot of itin the world. Genji’s very proud of himself.
There is, of course, the nasty matter of that nearly. Which, as the cunning will grasp,precludes all.
That’s how Genji ended up here.
First off, he’s buzzed,not drunk. He’s had a normal number of drinks for a man in his mid-thirties whoisn’t trying to prove anything to anyone. Just, the regular amount when tryingto unwind in good company.
Hanzo might bedrunk.  Hanzo’s face is flushed, and heseems hyperfocused on whatever is in front of him in the way only the trulysmashed do.  Genji hasn’t been payingattention to how many of those eye-wateringly pink drinks he’s had, but hesuspects its north of several. And they’re of Mei’s doing, and she is truly amenace behind the bar.
Second off, this is a great idea no matter how many drinksanyone has had. It was great when Fareeha did it to Jesse almost ten years ago,and it’s going to be great now.
Genji’s only metMcCree’s little sister a hand full of times, but he can already tell she up tosomething. If McCree realizes, he isn’t giving it away. It’s possible that she’spicked up his interest in sleight of hand, but that doesn’t really seem likeher style.
Speaking of, Genji surreptitiously glances around. Jesse isdeeply embroiled in a conversation with Reinhardt and Lucio. There are shoutsabout overtime and shootouts and bullshit. An argument about soccer is the mostmiring thing known to man or omnic. Perfect. Jesse wouldn’t let him get away with this.
“Hey, Hanzo, wanna see a magic trick?”
Genji tries not to look too excited. Hanzo scowls, but inhis usual “I am considering this very thoroughly” way. Fareeha, who had been talkingwith Angela and Lena, shoots him a look from where she’s standing behind Hanzo.
“Fine,” Hanzo says, already looking unimpressed.
Genji jumps to his feet and walks around the couch to thecard table where bottles of water are sitting. There are only about fivemissing from the case, which explains a lot about the ambient volume. He also grabs a pokerchip from the beat up cardboard box in the center of the table and a napkin.
“I am going to get this,” Genji rolls the chip between hisfingers, “into this!” Genji shakes the water bottle.
Hanzo looks deeply skeptical. Fareeha is grinning ear to earand completely ignoring her conservation partners. Genji hears Jesse shoutingabout red cards across the room.
“I can get this pennyin the water bottle.”
Jesse snorts.
“Prove it.”
That smile on Fareeha’sface is trouble. Genji watches her carefully.
With a flourish, Genji opens the bottle and sets the chip onthe low coffee table between them, then very carefully places the napkin overthem both. He wiggles his fingers over the bottle very dramatically. Hanzo isswaying slightly in his chair and staring holes into the napkin.
“Ready?”
“Yes,” Hanzo says, hesitant.
“You’re not ready. Come closer.”
Hanzo does so, which, rookie move. Such a rookie move, dearbrother.
Genji rips away the napkin and grabs the bottle in the sameinstant, then squeezes the bottle, sending its room-temperature contents upwardand into Hanzo’s face. Fareeha immediately makes a sound like a dying cat,which shocks Lena and Angela into sharp shouts of their own. Immediately aftersilence descends.
Jesse sputters andwipes the water out of his face. Fareeha howls, drawing the attention of everyonein the room. Genji has to bite his lips to keep from laughing any louder thathe is. That was fucking priceless.
Hanzo is staring at him, face blank. His bangs are matteddown over one eye and water is still dripping down his face. He’s eitherstartled or so mad he’s forgotten how to work his face. Genji’s grin begins tofade. Shit. It was just supposed to be a joke.
Genji opens his mouth to apologize, and that proves to be amistake, because Hanzo launches the entire contents of his cup directly atGenji’s face. He’s covered in a pink, strawberry flavored mess. It burns. Did Mei make these with jet fuel?
“Babe?” comes a concerned cry from the other side of the room.
“Beer, Jesse!” Hanzo shouts, and Jesse tosses an unopened canfrom the other side of the room. Hanzo shakes it vigorously, then pulls the tab,completely coating Genji in faintly bread scented foam.
“Asshole!” Genji shouts, not sure if he means Jesse orHanzo. Probably both.
“What the fuck?” Jesse shouts.
“I’m gonna kick yourass!” Jesse snarls, swiping at Fareeha. She takes off, still laughing. Jessehas her on brute strength, but he’s a slow runner. Genji already knows he’s notgoing to catch her. Tonight, Genji’s almost certainly going to be asked aboutrevenge pranks.
“Wanna see a magic trick, Jesse?” Fareeha cackles back.Genji can’t see it, but Jesse immediately goes red-faced and jabs his finger inFareeha’s direction.
“Oh, don’t you think I’ve forgotten the ass kicking I oweyou!”
Reinhardt grabs him by the collar in what was probably anoble attempt to contain the inevitable melee, but Jesse wriggles out of hisshirts with a move one only learns by spending time fighting in trailer parksand barrels toward Fareeha. Fareeha doesn’t look the least bit intimidated.
Genji frantically looks around for a weapon of his own. Heturns to try to make it over the back of the couch, but Hanzo tackles him from behindand pins him. Genji tries to wriggle free, but Hanzo is like some drunk wrestlingsavant, and he can’t seem to get loose.
He is having a flashback to noogies past. Safe to say, thishas gone off the rails a bit.
Genji catches a glimpse of both Fareeha and Jesse going down.Angela looks appalled. Hanzo grabs him around his middle before he can see more,and that takes up all of his attention. Hanzo manages to drag Genji off the couchand somewhere. Whatever hold this is,it’s bullshit.
The next thing to really grab Genji’s attention is thecooler full of ice in the floor. Hanzo seems to be heading right for it.
“Nononono,” Genji shouts,his struggling growing more frantic. Hanzo just squeezes tighter.
Hanzo dumps him head first into the ice water and beer canmixture. Genji tips the whole thing over in his panic. Hanzo is standing over him,exuding smugness. Genji grabs a can of beer and shakes it. He’s not done yet.
This is how you can tell Winston was never an officer in anyarmed service: it takes him almost half a dozen tries to get the attention ofeveryone in the room.
“Why is McCree almost naked?” he asks, bewildered. That doesn’tseem like the most pressing problem, but Genji’s never been an officer, so who’she to judge? Hanzo turns on his heel to see, which, real smooth.
“Uhm,” Jesse answers helpfully.
“What happened in here?” Winston asks, cutting Jesse off. Apparently, some things are better left unknown. All eyes turn to Genji and his brother.
“Uh, I well, I learned this really cool magic trick. Wannasee?”
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