It Takes Time / Reaper x fem!OC

14. Disquiet of the Soul

As it turned out, Sienna wasn't so lucky. The next morning, not only had her shoes not turned up but her training jacket had also gone missing. This time however, the brunette shivered at the thought - she'd been in her room all night, so that meant whoever took it was very, very close.

'And... This suddenly got a bit too close for comfort.'

However, despite her building discomfort, Sienna couldn't bring herself to tell Winston as he questioned her at breakfast.

'I, uh... I just, well, got some food on it last night at dinner.'
The lie came out forced, but Winston didn't seem to notice, and she inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. He waved a big hand nonchalantly.

'Ah, no worries. If you speak to Mei she'll show you where to get a new one, and-' the gorilla tapped his nose and grinned at her '-where to wash your old one before it starts to smell.'
He had begun to turn away when, suddenly, he seemed to remember something and twisted his wide chest back towards her again. 'Ah, Sienna, I forgot-'

He scratched his head a little sheepishly, as if broaching a difficult subject. 

'I thought that maybe since you've had some time to settle in and calm down... Maybe we could have a chat about what happened when you were kidnapped? I, uh, understand it's maybe difficult, but...' 

Sienna couldn't help but smile softly as she watched the gorilla tiptoe around the subject, obviously not wanting to push her. He prodded his glasses back up his face.

'Of course, from a purely scientific view... It's just that, well, if you have any information on Reaper it could come in very handy if we come face to face, and-'
Sienna held up a hand to pause Winston, unable to stop herself smiling at how worried he was, his kind-hearted nature showing through clearly.

'It's okay Winston, I'm fine! I can meet you somewhere to talk about it if you'd like?' 

His grey face lit up immediately as if he was a baby again, being given a banana for the first time.
'Perfect! You can come to the office in the west wing as soon as you're ready, then? I'll go fetch the team, and get my documents ready... And probably pick up some peanut butter.'

Sienna couldn't help but smile warmly as she watched him lumber off back to his lab.

'He is very pure of heart, is he not?'

The robotic voice floated out of nowhere, and Sienna span on her heels. ...An omnic?
There was a brief silence as they both regarded each other. History seemed to pass between them in the quiet space, both of them seemingly reliving personal moments from the past war.

The warm bubble in her chest from speaking to Winston turned cold. Seconds of silence passed by, infiltrated only by a slight whirring of the omnic's machinery.

Sienna forced herself to speak first, swallowing loudly, unable to hide her fear entirely as she watched the gold orbs circle his neck. Round and round.

'Yes. Ah, h-hello. My name is Sienna - I apologise for my rudeness, it has been... A while since I last saw an omnic. I hope I haven't offended you.'

Listening to her own voice, she cringed at how overly polite and false she sounded.

Truth be told, she was scared. Although she had been an omnic sympathiser during the crisis, the death of her parents to their side had.... Well, it definitely changed me. And now, standing in front of the silent omnic as it - as he - regarded her brought it all back. A cold, creeping feeling up her spine, like an anaesthetic crawling in her blood-

'It is my pleasure, Sienna. I am Zenyatta.' He bowed his head slightly, and Sienna's body unfroze. His voice was warm and unexpectedly comforting; yet the shock on her face must have been evident as he spoke again.
'I feel there is disquiet in your soul. It is understandable that you are scared; it is but a reflex to keep you alive.'

This time it was the omnic who paused, as if gaining inspiration.
'There were many losses on both sides of the war, but I hope we can learn to work together in peace.'

His voice remained soft the entire time, but his words echoed through her core. Something about him quelled her fear; liberated her. 'Mondatta...'

Zenyatta suddenly tilted his head at her and raised a hand to the side of his temple. 'My apologies, what was it you said?'

Sienna looked up, unaware she had said it out aloud. Embarrassed, she started again.
'Ah, I'm sorry. Um, well... You remind me of Mondatta. I looked up to him a lot, it was heartbreaking when... what happened to him.'

Zenyatta said nothing for a few moments, and Sienna couldn't help but worry she had said something wrong. Sweat formed in beads on the back of her neck, and she had opened her mouth to revise her sentence when he spoke up first: his voice was low and quiet... Sad, almost.

'Thank you, Sienna. Truly. Mondatta was a close friend, and that is the highest respect you could pay to me. If you are not busy this evening, would you care to meditate with me? I sense some discord within you, perhaps it may help resolve your problems?'

'That...' Sienna swallowed her resignations, and lifted her chin.
'That would be lovely, thank you Zenyatta.'

'Wonderful. Do you know where the courtyard is? I will be there if you wish to join me - I hope I can help in any way.'
With a slight bow of his head that Sienna subconsciously reciprocated, the omnic left, leaving her a damp neck and a thumping in her chest.
Shaking herself off, she took a deep breath, lifted her head up and walked.
You're fine, Sienna. Now, where can you find Mei?

------------------

One new jacket, a warm furry hug from the ever-cheery Mei, and a training offer from the Siberian bear-fighter later, Sienna laughed at the turn of events that had happened. Heading towards Winston's office, she couldn't help but feel happy. A part of her heart stilled pulled on her when she delved into her memories, but the more she got to know the heroes of Overwatch, the more she felt like a family was forming.
A family that I am so, so glad to be a part of.