Chapter Text
"Dobre Utra, Friend!" Aleks beamed as she acknowledged her gym partner's presence entering the Gibraltar gym.
"Good morning to you too Aleks." Fareeha replied good naturedly, bandaging her hands before starting her stretch. The worn sand bag greeting her woefully with a slight swing.
"Have you been using the sand bag again?!" She asked, eying the pathetic display.
"Perhaps." Aleks grunted as she lifted up a set of barbells.
"I'm gonna have to report this to Winston that we are in need of a new one then." Fareeha grumbled in annoyance, walking to palm the hastily done duct tape covering the rips.
Fareeha hears a grunt of agreement then the sound of barbells swinging upwards. She takes a small glance to see her companion holding up much more weight than usual.
"I have to say I'm impressed but why the sudden interest in more weight? Another national contest?" She said casually, starting a low jab of hits against the sand bag. The punches hitting their marks, precise and careful movements, intending to sustain the bag. Trails of sand still leave, too many rips to keep track of with too little tape.
"You could say that." Aleks remarked holding the set for a few counts and then lowering them back down. A distinct sound of the weights shifting from the movement is heard.
"Huh. Then don't tell me you are secretly trying to beat me in weights? Because I thought we both agreed to it that you won in that department a long time ago." She mused, adding another swipe at the sand bag.
"No, no! None of that I assure you!" Aleks gasped dropping the weights to flex her hands. She massaged old calluses with new ones, wondering whether to powder them some more.
"Wait...you're trying to impress someone aren't you?!" Fareeha smirked, as she made her way to the water cooler. The conversation would have been dropped if not for the tell tale pause of silence that dwelled before Aleks could answer.
"No, I-"
"Okay. Who is it Aleks? Don't tell me it's the doctor or else I'll have to challenge you to the death." She teased through a grin, but prayed it wasn't the case. The other woman's gaze widening but shaking her head.
"Oh crap. It's me isn't it? I should have known the friendly rivalry was too friendly!" Fareeha joked again laughing, walking to meet with the taller woman, two cups of water in her hands. She offered one to her and Aleks gladly takes it, responding with a grateful nod.
"I..." Aleks felt tongue tied, ending her sentence with a swig of water from her cup.
"Whoever it is sure has you winded up. Are you gonna be alright?"
"That's the thing. I feel suddenly weak every time I see her, inadequate and unfit to like her." She lamented. Fareeha sighed and sat on a nearby bench, motioning her to sit beside her. Aleks took the invitation, needing a break from her previous work out.
"Listen, you shouldn't feel weak next to them. I'm sure they'll find you charming and if they don't well too bad for them, they refused the chance to meet such a great person such as yourself."
"Thanks. " Aleks said dejected.
"I guess I won't ever figure out who this mystery crush is then, he?" She stated with a smile. Aleks raised her brow at her, then realized she could use her friend's curiosity against her.
"Oh! Only if you can beat me in my squats record!"
Aleks sat sore in the dining hall. She had won the challenge easily, saving her secret for another day. Fareeha entered the room glaring at her, taking her place across from her at the table.
"I'm still sore from this morning." She said. The admittance making Aleks laugh.
"Oh friend! You should have known that there was no contest against me." She gloated, flexing her arms and then folding them across her chest. A big grin coating her face at the early victory.
The woman across from her rolled her eyes then suddenly started smirking, a malicious thought.
"Okay. How about a rematch? Except the challenge is an arm wrestling contest." A sure statement, not a question. Aleks, unfolded her arms and furrowed her brows in thought. What was the harm in that?
"Fair. But if you lose you are going to finally ask for a date from the doctor." Aleks said, pointing subtly pass Fareeha. She had taken Fareeha's plan against her once more. The dark haired woman's gaze widened as her cheeks turned a rosy pink. She followed Aleks gesture towards a corner of the dining hall, where a peculiar doctor, pretty in her work clothes had showed up to lunch for once. She was sitting with Winston and Mcree, chatting idly before she made eye contact with her. Turning back rapidly, Fareeha looked at Aleks, who now had a smug look.
"Deal." Fareeha stated, determined to win.
The match went off without a lot of attention. It was only when the loud grunt of Fareeha struggling midway, was when Lucio noticed and when Lucio noticed the crowd came like dominos. Well most of them. Suddenly the two were encased by their teammates shouting and yelling. Some even making friendly bets amongst themselves. Fareeha and Aleks felt the pressure but refused to give in. They both pushed harder than usual, Fareeha scared of rejection and Aleks afraid of giving away her person of interest.
The tipping point arrived when a short woman came late to the dining hall, confusion following by excitement as she got closer to the crowd unnoticed. Fareeha could hear her fans supporting her but only one voice was stirring her to win. If she were to lose she wasn't sure how to deal with a broken ego but also Angela who was now cheering her on. She furrowed her brow, staring deep into her rivals green eyes, seeking to intimidate her. The woman across from her burrowed her gaze and included a nefarious smirk. She was getting too cocky.
"Keep pushing Zarya!"
Almost immediately Aleks gaze relaxed and a faint blush befell her, subtle for no one to notice except for her best friend and rival before her. The sudden change of her demeanor caught Fareeha off guard and caused her to lose the match with a loud pound against the table top.
The crowd cheered as Aleks raised her arms in victory. She felt relief flood over her that she wouldn't need to disclose her precious information to Fareeha. She glanced at her momentarily, only for a slight shudder to come over her. A well knowing smirk had glazed her friend's face. She had discovered who it was.
As Fareeha got up to make way for people to congratulate her, Aleks felt a sudden fear. Not from her friend knowing, but because the person she had long admired was before her. Aleks was distracted enough to not see her friend hold her part of the bargain, Fareeha having been whisked away shortly by the doctor to have her arm examined. She was too busy trying to figure out how to talk to the woman in front of her, the one who had always occupied her thoughts.
"You are so strong Zarya!" The woman beamed. The compliment had been told to Aleks a thousand times, except this time it now felt as new as freshly laden snow.
"Huh..thanks Mei." She said bashfully. Inside her mind, she kicked herself for not being more articulate. She had defeated many foes, started new records and even brazed against the cold Siberian winter, why was it so hard to talk to one woman?
Before Mei could say anything else, Aleks felt the strong pat on her back that could only be from Reinhardt. Not wanting to be rude she turned to talk to him and accept his congrats. By the time she was finished, the small vixen had already left.