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Overwatch was never Junkrat’s strong suit. It felt more like a no joke army fleet rather than what he was ever used to in his old days. But hey, at least he can just blow things up. That was always his tactic; blow things up, get things done. It kind of fit him, really. That doesn’t necessarily mean people loved it. Take Mei, for example. She saw Junkrat as a bully, with all negative traits applied to him (no exceptions). He was brash, apathetic, underachieving; nothing could change her mind, she thought. She thought.
Mei was assigned for an outing with the Overwatch crew, which just so happened to include…him. Junkrat inched closer to Mei, sliding his feet across the ground.
“Ooohhh, is that the little snowflake?” Junkrat spouted out words like a kettle. He pouted his lips as if Mei was a little kid.
“Stop it,” Mei responded, feeling like a headache was coming on. This was always how it started, with Junkrat calling her a ‘snowflake’, and then going on with some random topic seemingly out of the blue. She always wondered how he could be so dense, but that question could be answered with one word: Junkertown.
“Oh, don’t be a square. What? Am I too DIRTY for you?” Junkrat said as he pushed Mei around like a punching bag. The whole time, Mei was silent. “I-is it my clothes, or…or my explosives!? Come onnnnnn Mei, tell me!!”
“I’m not talking to a bully like you.” Mei crossed her arms and looked the opposite direction of him. She felt the headache grow worse. Junkrat waved his hand in front of her face, with no response from her.
“Hey, Mei. Hey, hey Mei. Hello? Wake up, Meiiiiiii…” No response. “Oh my- what’s your problem, mate? Just because all your best friends DIED doesn’t mean you can-“ Junkrat covered his mouth with both hands. Shit shit shit shit shit, he thought. The word repeated in his head as his eyes slowly wandered away from her. He straightened his arms and his neck crunched up. Mei’s headache vanished in an instant. She shockingly stared at Junkrat, who was now avoiding her contact.
“I…Y-you know I didn’t mean it, Mei!” Junkrat nervously chuckled, not knowing how to respond. He suddenly revealed a wide frown to Mei as he turned back. There was complete silence between the two.
“Come on, you knuckleheads. We have a payload to move here!” Soldier 76 shouted, his voice beaming at the uncomfortable pair. The two immediately ‘soldiered’ on. They both felt like they were walking too close to each other, so they slowly spread apart from each other.
I’m never ever gonna see the end of it from Mei, aren’t I, thought Junkrat.
This is the worst day ever, thought Mei. Suddenly, the both of them bumped into each other. They felt a rush of adrenaline firing through their brain, and the two stared directly at each other.
“Hi,” they both blurted at the same time. This is what hell feels like, doesn’t it?
“…” Mei stared into Junkrat’s wide eyes with a forced smile. Junkrat smiled back, looking like a little kid from how terrible it was. Suddenly, Junkrat started streaming tears from his eyes.
“LOOK IF YOU HATE ME YOU CAN TELL ME IT’S NOT MY FAULT IM SUCH A FREAK REALLY JUST ASK JUNKERTOWN AND THEY’LL HAVE THE ANSWERS PLEASE JUST DON’T BE MAD AT ME IT WAS AN ACCIDENT I SWEAR-“ He continued his rambling until neither of them knew what he was saying. This cruel string of words felt like it lasted forever, until they were once again interrupted by more shouting.
“WILL YOU TWO MAKE UP ALREADY!?” yelled Soldier 76. “Right now, you two are dead weights. Either get your head in the game or return to HQ.” Junkrat and Mei stared at each other, Junkrat’s face drenched.
“Wanna leave this garbage?” Asked Junkrat.
“…Yeah.”
Back at headquarters, the two sat down in the central room, both holding warm mugs of coffee. Junkrat held the mug from the bottom like the manic he was.
“You know, you really should not hold it like that. You could burn yourself.”
“Well after years of burning yourself every day it all just becomes a blur, doesn’t it?” They both chuckled at Junkrat’s insight. “I didn’t mean it, really. I’m not a bully; maybe it’s just…maybe it’s just me, or something.” His voice quieted down. “I’m…sorry.”
“No, don’t be sad! I understand your apology and I forgive you.” Mei’s smile felt real as she looked at Junkrat. He sniffled and stared into his mug.
“I haven’t cried in so long. It feels so good to just *sniff* let it out of your system, you know?” He looked more sincere than ever. Suddenly, he dropped onto Mei’s lap, dropping his mug on the floor. He softly weeped.
“Jamison, I never knew you were so emotional.”
“I-it’s not common, really. No one really knows about it.” He sat back up, accidentally stepping in some of the coffee that was now spilled all over the floor. His head jerked to his right to look at Mei. “Don’t tell a single soul you saw me cry. That’s a can of worms that i’ll never open.” Mei laughed like a child.
“Okay. Pinkie promise?” She held out her pinkie to Junkrat.
“Pinkie promise accepted.” He hooked his pinky onto hers. They grinned at each other, with Junkrat slightly blushing. “Hey, do you wanna go out sometime? Like maybe a dinner, or something?”
“Of course. Anywhere from that old man.”
“Oh, definitely. I reckon he’ll wither away any time soon, don’t you reckon?”
“Jamison, stop!” They both laugh at their quips.
“Welp, Roadhog and I have a bank to rob. I’ll see you… let’s say, 8.”
“Ok! Goodbye, James.”
“G’day.” Suddenly, he kissed her cheek and ran off. Mei face was immediately flushed. She watched as Junkrat stumbled away, bumping into Soldier 76.
“Where’s he off to now?” questioned Soldier, still annoyed at their terrible job.
“I don’t know, but he’ll be back.”