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"Ugh, just SHOOT at the GOAL you idiot, what are you doing?!" Reinhardt shook his fist at the old wallmounted tv and leaned back into the cushions. There were some noticable dents and scratches in the screen, but despite its rough state you could clearly see the players running across the green soccer field. Sometimes Ana wished he finally rammed the remote into the tv, then at last she could have some peace. But sadly Reinhardt remained somewhat collected, even when his favourite soccer team let him down once again. With a grimace he took a sip from the beer bottle, not looking away from the screen for even a second. Ana had just wanted a quiet corner to clean her sniper rifle, unaware the small living room at the far end of Watchpoint Gibraltar was occupied by this loud german man every saturday evening. Cleaning her gun had become a side-activity, as watching him finishing one beer after the other and yelling at a tv had proven to be much more entertaining. Reinhardt wasnt a total stranger to her, they had met a few years prior, fought countless battles together and saved each other's lives more than they could count. And still, they never talked besides a little chitchat and polite conversation before and after mission briefs. They greeted each other in the hallway and ate next to oneanother in the dining hall, yet she didnt even know how old he was. Where exactly he came from. If he had any family waiting for him back in Germany. Reinhardt was constantly talking, telling tales of his battles or complaining about the poorly made roulades the kitchen served them, yet he still managed to keep the details around his person a mystery. Maybe Ana just didnt pay attention close enough, or maybe he did it intentionally. She watched a giant hand reach for the bag of chips on the table, moving around aimlessly as its owner was still focused on the game. Finally it found what it'd been looking for, shoving a fistfull of chips into the mouth that had shared some very heavily worded german insults mere moments ago. Could someone like this really have the cunningness needed to hide his past even from his closest co-workers? A few chips crumbs were stuck in his beard. Maybe not.
Excited german shouting started echoing out of the tv as Reinhardt leaned forward, gripping the bottle in his left hand tighter. Ana squinted at the screen to figure out what was going on, but couldnt make sense of all the players and lines on the ground. Whatever it was, it had the Lieutenant on the edge of his seat. The commentator rambled louder and louder, Reinhardt shot up in anticipation, his beer spilling all over the couch - then suddenly a crack, a beep and the TV only showed static.
Every once in a while Ana was glad she didnt recall much from the German lessons she had back in school, surely the swears now escaping the very angry man in front of her were nothing to scoff at. Eventually, he calmed down. Dropping back onto the couch he finally wiped the leftover chips from his face and set the empty beer bottle down on the table, next to the other ones. Without the tv running, the room was uncomfortably silent as Ana quietly continued polishing her scope for the third time this hour.
"They really gotta get this fixed." She could feel him glancing over and responded with a nod, not looking up from her gun. "It's starting to get ridiculous! This is the third time this week! You would think a global organisation could manage to keep their cable tv running!" Ana rotated the handle towards the light, critically mustering the foggy reflection. "Mhh..." This very enthusiastic response finally got Reinhardt to fall quiet, sinking deeper into the couch. The sniper rifle looked as new as ever, there was nothing left to polish. With a sigh, she carefully leaned it against the table and neatly tucked the satin cloth back in her pocket. Ana didnt know why she shut down their conversation, she enjoyed his company and silently wished they could spend more time together. But her past left her wary, bitter almost and frustated about her inability to lay it to rest. Ana needed to be in control, to have a clear view of the whole situation - its what she was trained to do, what kept her alive through countless years of combat. But whenever Reinhardt was near she experienced that dreaded feeling deep inside, no matter how much she tried to suppress it. Instead she used all of her willpower to keep her body still, making sure every breath was calm, biting her tongue to keep her heart from racing. Not even Cassidy would've spotted a twitch in her face when Reinhardt smiled at her with that radiant fire in his eyes. She completely shut in her feelings, unnoticable for everyone but herself. Or so she thought.
When Ana finally looked over, Reinhardt was staring at the ceiling. She opened her mouth to start a conversation, maybe to apologize, maybe to make a joke about the tv - but the words escaped her. "Reinhardt-", her voice was firm but got interrupted; "Do you think I'm obnoxious?", he hadn't moved, still staring at the ceiling. Ana had never heard him sound so... defeated? Unsure? Quiet. Reinhardt was never quiet. Even in moments where he should be, he still managed to exist loudly. He was bold and cocky at times, sickeningly optimistic and had a sheer endless supply of determination. But as his eyes finally met hers, they felt dull and hollow - it made a chill run down Ana's spine. She hadnt noticed how she subconsciously pulled back, not knowing how to react, while Reinhardt looked down at his fidgeting hands. "I overheard some agents' conversation. It wasn't flattering.", the big bulky man seemed to shrink in size, "If I wasn't a crusader, I would've never made it into Overwatch. They just keep me around because I'm the last one." Ana didnt know what to respond. She wanted to yell at him, to assure him he was so much more than just his shield and armor - but her body didnt react to her commands, her feelings finally exploding after years of being pushed down. Reinhardt searched her eyes for an answer but couldn't find it. "Maybe everyone would be better off if I just quit. Return to germany and finally take over my father's workshop repairing clocks all day. It's what he always wanted.", he sighed.
His father was a clocksmith. The absurdity of it made Ana snap out of her freeze. As he got up to leave the room she reached out and grabbed his arm, using his confusion to force him back down on the couch. "I am glad we have you.", she closed her eyes and took a short breath before continuing, not letting go of his arm: "A good knight isnt determined by the thickness of his armor or his skill with the sword. It is the heart that makes him strong, it is his spirit that keeps him going and it's his passion that inspires everyone around him to reach their highest potential." Ana reached for his hand and gently held it as she continued. "You dont need any big guns or cannons - your fire comes from within and it burns brighter than everyone else's. Brighter than that of the agents who spoke ill of you, sometimes too bright for your own good. You are like a lighthouse for those who are lost in uncertainty and doubt, you shine everywhere you go without even noticing." She finally dared to look up, admiring the widened pale blue eyes staring back at her, framed by reddened cheeks. "I... I feel safe when I am on missions with you, even if you are all the way on the frontline. Watching you charge forward helps me believe everything will be alright, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. Your fire is not your weakness, it is your greatest strength."
Ana could feel her face heat up, she hadn't been that vulnerable with anyone in a long time. Not since-... he had left. She felt like a schoolgirl again, sliding letters under doors and hiding around the corner. But it was too late for careless romances, those times were long gone. She let go of Reinhardt's arm with an assuring squeeze, her body screaming at her to flee this overwhelming situation as fast as possible. A battle-scarred hand cupped her cheek before she could turn away, lifting her chin and gently forcing her to face it's owner. The fire in Reinhardt's eyes had been reignited, glowing calmly. His cheeks were still rosy, a warm smile on his lips. Slowly, almost hesitantly, he pulled her closer and finally closed the distance for a soft kiss.
"...thank you."