Chapter Text
Mei held her blaster awkwardly in her lap, hoping no one noticed her frustration as she toggled with the connector valve. She glanced over at the easy manner Commander Morrison’s heavy pulse rifle sat resting on his leg. Unable to control her curiosity, her eyes wandered a bit further to lay on the newest recruits seated next to the greying soldier (if being separated by three vacant seats could count as next to). One of whom was staring right into her eyes. She blushed and quickly looked away, unable to prevent her nervous frown. She hadn't really spent any time with them since they arrived, which she felt guilty for. Her mother would have scolded her for not being more friendly. She ventured a second glance a moment later and saw his gaze had not wavered. He gave her an unnervingly wide grin, the glint of a golden tooth showing. Her temper was peaked. Staring was so impolite! Anger getting the better of her, she locked eyes with him and wouldn't back down. His grin seemed to get impossibly wider and he had the nerve to wink at her. Mei had met men like him before, guys who saw her as a commodity. The token curvy girl. With a reputation like his, Mei could do nothing but pray the blonde mercenary would look away. Except he didn’t look away, not when they landed, not during the briefing, and not even as they cautiously made their way through the maze-like temple.
They had been sent to Cairo when reports of Talon agents had been spotted around the Giza Plateau. It was a small mission led by Pharah, who knew the layout well after her time with helix. Mei didn’t fail to notice how the peg-legged Aussie seemed to follow her as they split up to search. He was always just out of sight, but the echo of his uneven gait was unmistakable. Mei continued her search, the hot Egyptian sun stifling her. She knew she should be on her guard, but the temptation to remove her coat was becoming greater and greater. Mei peeked out behind a corner of a tall egyptian pillar. She saw no one in sight and quickly began slipping out of her top. When she was finally free, she cinched the stifling layer in a knot around her waist. The breeze felt amazing on her bare shoulders. She looked down to her chest, disheartened. Even in her blue tanktop, that yellow eyed Junker was going to get an eyeful if he caught up to her. Mei blew out an exasperated sigh, the heat was much more exigent than her modesty. Suddenly, a loud explosion from behind shook her eardrums. From the sky, like a crazy irradiated angel, came Jamison Fawkes. He landed deftly in front of her. With one long arm he pushed her behind him, and with the other he grasped the rip tire off his back and held it in front of their heads. A half second later, with a metallic keen, a sniper bullet ricocheted off the steel rim. He raised his grenade launcher, maniacal laughter bouncing off the walls of the ancient stone temple as he blasted the attacker to smithereens. Mei stared, wide eye in wonder at his back until he turned his head to her. His joyous grin heating up her cheeks again. “Drongo’s can’t even hit an easy target! I thought talon was supposed to b-.” His eyes dipped low and his eyebrows shot up, his mouth dropping open doltishly.
“Hooley Dooley.” He murmured.
Mei silently gave him a nudge away. It began as a suggestion, but she soon realized she had pushed much harder than intended and the stunned Junkrat fell right on his face.
“O, wǒ de tiān na! I’m sorry!” She exclaimed. She bent to help him up, giving him an even more ample view without meaning to.
“Na na, I deserved that.” he answered, raising his eyes only for them to once again offend her by locking onto her chest.
Mei made a disgusted sound, dropping him in the dirt. She turned the other way and flounced away as gracefully as she could muster with legs made of jelly. Behind her, Junkrat sputtered dirt out of his mouth and quickly loped after her.
“Mei, roight? Listen I’m sorry. We don’t get ladies like you in the outback, I just couldn't help me'self.” He grinned apologetically.
Her suspicions were confirmed. All the girls in Australia must be skin and bones, fighting for scraps. She tried not to be too sensitive. If she wanted to cry about her self image she wasn't about to do it in front of this man she barely knew.
“Don’t treat me like a show!” She exclaimed, hoping they came across somebody, anybody else on the team.
“Alroight alroight. I know I’m not the best lookin’ blow in but I’m not trying to do that, snowball.”
Mei’s patience broke. “Just because I’m not thin doesn't mean you can stare!”
“Wha’?” He paused his pursuit of her for a moment. “You think I’m crackin’ onto you just because you’ve got an extra bit ah’ meat on your bones?”
“Why else would you be?” Mei whirled on him, hand on her hips.
Junkrat paused for a moment, looming over her. His expression stormy. Suddenly his frown melted away, being replaced by a dashing smile. He chuckled lightly, closing his eyes. When he opened them a moment later he had a captive audience. “Because you’re beautiful.”
Mei thought she had froze all over again by the way her toes went all fuzzy and her stomach did backflips. “I uhh-.” She was at a loss for words.
“You look stonkered, greenie. No one ever told you that before?” He laughed, mussing her neat bun. “Sorry for perving on you.”
He finally moved on, but Mei was glued to the spot. Had the Junker really called her beautiful? How could an uncouth dirty bèn dàn make her this flustered? True, she never had much experience before she froze, or after for that matter. But she had just begun her career, there was no time for romance. She totally did not envision it happening this way. Whatever it was! She shook the snowflakes out of her brain and jogged in the opposite direction.
Mei picked up a perfectly ripe peach from the mess hall cue. They rarely got shipments of her favorite fruit to Gibraltar. The soft flesh dented against her fingertips. Raising the fruit to her nose she deeply inhaled, it’s fragrance filling her senses. But there was something on the back end. What was that? With another breath came the unmistakable stench of gunpowder and gasoline.
“Fancy seeing you here.”
Mei looked up to see the tips of blonde hair. Once again, her personal boundaries were contested. She turned around to face Aussie, her heart quickening its rhythm. She had tried not to think on her girlish crush since they had returned. It had to have been the Egyptian heat playing tricks on her. Making her think his crazed yellow eyes were a little sexy. Making her dwell on his near-constant state of shirtlessness. She could confirm now that was not the case, as Gibraltar was kept at a perfectly reasonable temperature.
Her eyes drifted down to his tray, laden completely with junk food and meat.
“You really eat that?” She asked, barely hiding the disgust in her voice.
He looked down at his plate and eyebrow raised. “If you’d rather I ate a bit healthier.” He leaned down towards her, one arm reaching behind her to pluck a peach from the bowl. “We didn’t have these in Junkertown.” He took a wet bite, the juice running down his chin.
Mei gulped. “Peaches?”
He swallowed, his adam’s apple bobbing. “Fruit.”
“It must have been hard growing up there.” Mei sympathized. She didn’t know much, but what she did know was that Australia was practically a wasteland after the omnic crisis. Junkrat grunted and turned away with his tray. She turned, her own tray in hand and rushed after him, earning the notice of a few teammates.
“I’m sorry if I said something wrong, please forgive me.” Mei apologized, having to walk quickly to keep up with his long steps.
“You didn’t say anything wrong, darl. Just don’t like you pitying ole’ Junkrat. You don’t need to be sad for me.”
“I- I still feel bad.” Mei muttered.
Junkrat stopped his pace and turned to her in the hallway outside of the hall. “Last time sheila, you got nothin’ to feel sorry for. I’m livin’ the high life.” He gave her a mischievous grin and Mei’s heart settled.
As they walked together Mei wondered idly how odd it was she was following him now. He didn’t mention her presence or tell her to bugger off. But he seemed pleased, well as far as she could tell. “Do you mind if I eat with you?” She asked.
Junkrat’s eyes widened. “Sure, come on, I know a right ace place we can grub.”
Mei settled down next to Jamison atop the storage facility roof, overlooking the ocean. It was admittedly a much more romantic place than she had expected. Junkrat seemed to notice and smiled.
“Don’t tell me you thought I would let you down on our first date?” He teased.
Mei stuttered, her porcelain skin turning bright red. “I-I didn’t know, I didn’t expect!”
“No need to get into a tizzy, darl. You don’t need to impress me. I’ve seen enough.” He wagged his eyebrows and Mei blushed furiously, her stomach fluttering uncomfortably.
The two tucked in and ate, while Junkrat told Mei the story of how he had been hired along with his Junker bodyguard by Winston.
“Cleared our records completely. Not that that had me chuffed, mostly in it for the money. I’m still a bad drongo.” He winked. “Look at this.” He proceeded to show off the tattoo on his upper arm.
Mei laughed. He was so enthusiastic, she had never met anyone like him before.
Her laughter was like music he reckoned, still unable to believe she was sitting next to him. He knew he was irresistible to the fairer sex but girls like Mei were in another league. She was talented and smart as a whip. Maybe the other blokes here hadn't rubbed her the right way and she was looking for a cheeky root. That was a mistake, thinking about rooting her. Now he wouldn't be able to stop thinking about her tits. He peeked down, grabbing her untouched peach from her tray.
“Hey!” She exclaimed, trying it snatch it back.
Jamison laughed, leaning away from her, but she was determined. She continued reaching until she was laying flush against his chest as he supported himself on his metallic elbow. She began laughing too when she finally closed her fingers around the peach.
“Nice try Jamie!” She spoke around giggles. Suddenly she realized how hard he felt against her soft chest. The struggle froze as the two stared into eachothers eyes. Junkrat relinquished the peach as she climbed off of him.
“Sorry.” she smiled, holding the peach close.
“You can’t keep your hands off me, understandable.” He held his hands up in surrender.
Mei rolled her eyes, taking a bite from the juicy peach. They walked back to the barracks together, in her pocket sat the peach pit.
She planted it that night after it had dried. Three inches deep in a soil of sand, silt, and organic matter, excited to see if anything grew.
Mei tip-toed through the main barrack hallway, her soft boots muffling her footsteps. She didn’t really want to explain to anyone that she was slipping into the mess hall for a midnight snack. The soft glow of the lights illuminated her way as she snuck into the kitchen. A loud clang from the industrial fridge shocked her and she froze. An unmistakably Australian voice muttered a curse behind the open door. He was too tall to be inconspicuous. Mei smiled, sneaking around him. She watched as Junkrat placed the fallen potatoes back into the metallic bowl. Her curiosity was piqued as he pulled out a gallon of milk and an opaque small container. Items in hand, he turned to place his loot on the counter when he spotted her.
“Fuck me dead!” Jamison exclaimed. “Shouldn’t sneak up on a man like me, snowflake.” He admonished her. “No tellin’ what I’ll do.” He wagged his eyebrows.
“I’ll take my chances.” She flirted shyly.
“Ooh sheila you don’t know what you're getting into.”
Mei blushed and brushed past him to reach into the freezer to grab a popsicle. Turning back she saw Jamison open the small mysterious container. “Boba? I would never have pegged you for the type.” She stood next to him, leaning on the counter.
“A sweet treat is n-ice once in awhile.” He winked at her.
This punny flirtation was innocent enough. But Mei honestly was starting to wonder if it was that simple. Did he expect anything from her? She felt her heart quicken imagining his hands on her. The way he had felt earlier in the day against her chest, eliciting sensations she had only read about. She felt herself begin to panic. She wasn't modelesque like the other female agents, what if he was disappointed? What if he didn’t like the way she looked under her clothes.
Jamison noticed Mei’s turmoil as her mouth set in a hard line. She was staring down at the popsicle she held in one hand. Maybe the greenie was actually oblivious to how fucking cute she was. The idea drove him wild. He wanted to show her how gorgeous she was, taste her sweet skin on his tongue. Before he knew it his body was responding to the idea and he quickly reeled in his imagination. Roadkill, his Nan, that one time Roadie bent over in the buff. His condition subsiding, he looked back over to Mei.
“You wanna’ help me make some boba tea?”
Mei smiled, her eyes remaining dull.
When the two finished they went to bed. Mei had returned the popsicle to the fridge and politely declined a cup of his famous half sweet concoction. Both had trouble sleeping, their minds busy with thoughts of the other.
The next day Mei woke bright and early at 6 am. She drank a cup of water and ate one bowl of oatmeal with strawberries. Morrison was the only other soul awake in the quiet compound. If he was shocked to see her, he didn’t let on. Mei always felt comforted, if not a little intimidated, by the older man’s presence. He greeted her with a smile and asked to join her.
“Do you have something going on this morning?” Jack inquired politely, raising his mug of black coffee to his mouth.
“I was thinking about going to the gym actually.” Mei admitted.
“Thats great, getting active always makes me feel good. So how are you getting along with our new recruits?”
Mei couldn't help her blush and Morrison pretended he didn’t notice.
“I uhh- I think they’re very interesting.”
“Do you mind Mei,” he paused to formulate his words. “You’re still very young. If you have any problems, don’t hesitate to ask me for help. I’ve put men in their place before.” His sinister tone shocked Mei.
“I’m sure it will be ok, but thank you. Mr. Fawkes has been very polite.”
Soldier 76 seemed satisfied and leaned back in his chair. “Good, but don’t forget he has a reputation. Don’t ever know what a man like him is going to do next.”
Mei bit her lip and excused herself. She hadn’t dwelled much on the Junker’s past. She knew he had been a notorious thief, destruction following him everywhere he went. She wondered if he had been telling the truth about why he joined Overwatch. Did he really feel no remorse for what he had done? At which point did the man who made boba tea at midnight and the one who dispensed havok indiscriminately separate? She couldn’t shake the unease as she stretched before stepping onto the high-tech treadmill. Mei was soon painfully aware of how long it had been since she really worked out.
An hour later Mei was drenched in sweat, her tight sports bra clinging to her skin uncomfortably. She passed by the mess hall on her way to take a shower in her room. Loud laughter echoed out and she rushed by to avoid notice. As she passed one of the doorways she was suddenly bounced to the side, “hùnzhàng!” she mercifully fell on her soft bottom. She really needed to be more careful.
“Fuck you Roadie! Look what you did!” Junkrat looked up to yell at his friend. The massive man just grunted and reached down to help Mei up. She accepted, her tiny hand dwarfed in his. Junkrat stewed to the side, cursing himself for not helping her up first. He had been distracted by the flush of her skin, the sheen of sweat on her forehead. The way her leggings clung to her perfect legs. He was near salivating. “Did you already eat, Sheila?” He asked. Mei nodded, her arms crossed in front of her. Roadhog noted she looked uncomfortable, or was it shy? He knew Fawkes had his eye on the small Chinese Climatologist. It was the first time Roadhog actually had seen the kid head over heels for someone. What an unusual pair, he thought, and moved on without a word.
“You went to the gym?” Junkrat asked, awkwardly watching Roadie leave, his robotic hand coming up to rub the back of his neck.
“Yes, I- I thought I could use some exercise.” Mei admitted.
“Always does the heart good, a bit ah’ exercise.” He grinned widely. There was a moment of silence and he decided to ask her what had been weighing on his mind. “Listen, Mei.” He was cut off as he noticed her attention was drawn behind him. He turned to see at least ten of their teammates silently watching their interaction. Caught red handed, they all returned to eating and chattering with renewed gusto. When he turned back to Mei she had rushed off. Quickly turning to flick off his interrupting team, he chased after her.