When the sunlight streaming through her bedroom window woke Sienna up the next morning, the uncomfortable feeling in her chest was still there.
Disappointment.
And, as if that feeling wasn't enough, it was soon accompanied by a heavy dread, that pulled Sienna back under the covers like a dead weight.
It had been an entire week since she had started training, and she had seen head nor tail of Reaper. That in itself was another thing to think about, the villain himself.
The big problem in all of this mess.
Wrapped up warm in her duvet, sunk into her mattress, Sienna couldn't bring herself to move for a few seconds, just wallowing in the warmth and secure comfort as if she had no cares in the world.
But, as part of Overwatch, I really do have all the world's problems now... on top of all my own.
Worrying inwardly, Sienna thought again.
But I guess those problems are one and the same.
///
Zarya was waiting as usual when Sienna arrived at the training grounds, gearing up for their normal run. They had a pretty standard routine now, and she could hear herself distantly replying to something her mentor had asked.
As they did their stretches together, Sienna's mind wandered away from her and Zarya's conversation, thinking about how to broach the subject of some... well, weapons training.
Suddenly feeling a pair of eyes on her, Sienna zoned back into the present moment to hear silence. Zarya was looking at her expectantly, with a bemused look on her face.
'So' the Russian woman spoke, 'what do you think?'
Drawing a complete blank, with no idea what the question was, Sienna took a guessing punt, frantically searching her brain for an answer.
'Um. Yes. I...think that's a good idea...?'
Mildly scared by the huge weightlifter, she swallowed loudly, shifting uncomfortably on her feet - but Zarya just laughed.
'Oh, Little Bird. You do make me laugh. What are you thinking about to make you so distracted?'
Suddenly thrown into the deep end of her problems, Sienna didn't know what to say.
'Oh, it's uh, it's nothing. Don't worry about it! I should really learn to focus better'
Putting on an obviously fake smile, the brunette inwardly cursed herself for not using the moment to talk to Zarya about it...
But the Overwatch member was having none of it.
'Hey now, you know you can talk to me right?'
With a few steps, Zarya was by Sienna's side, her huge hand dusting over her shoulder. Looking directly at her, she could see the worry in Zarya's clear eyes, reflecting back her own fears.
'I know I can seem scary, but I want the best for my student - my Little Bird.'
Not having seen this warm, overly caring side of Zarya before, Sienna couldn't help but be reminded of her past... her late mother. Something about the way Zarya spoke, honest and caring. A burst of confidence shot through her veins like a spark, banishing the memory.
'Zarya...' Sienna took a deep breath, trying to hold in her confidence. 'I feel like your training has helped me improve so much...'
Not sure how to phrase it, she spoke slowly. Turning to face her mentor directly, there was no backing out now.
'But, I want to learn how to fight. I can't... I'm not going to be able to keep anybody safe if all I have is the stamina and technique to run away from somebody.'
Half expecting Zarya to be angry at her ungratefulness, she peered up at the woman from under her hair.
Instead, the pink Russian bundle of muscle just sighed, but the bittersweet smile said it all.
'I knew this day would come, where my Little Bird would fly the nest.'
But rather than anger, Zarya pinched Sienna's cheek fondly, squeezing slightly like all her too-familiar aunts used to do until they both laughed.
'But' Zarya spoke again, unfinished with her words. 'I didn't think it would be so soon. A week! I'll admit, you learn fast! And, although you are not perfect yet, there is not much more I can teach you. The rest is practice. Many, many years of practice.'
Zarya paused, looking deeply into Sienna's eyes in thought.
'I can not teach you how to use weapons. Unless you're looking to use my gravity gun, I am sorry I will be no help, Little Bird.'
Zarya herself looked sad, but it was nothing compared to the horrendous sinking feeling in Sienna's heart.
'But' Zarya continued, with a sly look in her eyes, 'I'm not the only member of Overwatch here. I was planning to send you back to Soldier 76, Jack, when you had completed your training with me...'
Sienna's mentor paused, pushing a hand roughly through her short hair in a semi-embarrassed motion; something that Sienna had not seen before.
'But I guess I enjoyed your company enough that I didn't think about what was best for you.'
Not knowing how to respond to such heartfelt words from someone she admired so much, Sienna's eyes nearly welled up.
'Come. Join me on one last run, Little Bird. You must take some time to decide your weapons specialties, after all. Every member of Overwatch has their own skills and technique. Soon, you will too.'
Before Sienna could even comprehend a response, Zarya had taken off on the running path...
just like the first day of their training all over again - she thought, tensing her muscles and sprinting after her. Maybe there was some hope, after all.
//
With the sound of feet pounding the ground, and lungs struggling for air, Sienna and Zarya exploded through the last part of the forest. Sienna's face contorted as Zarya reached the end point a good few metres ahead of her, kicking up dust in front of her eyes in an accidental taunt.
Finally, with both of them grinning widely, sweat dripping and no hard feelings, Sienna took a well earned lie-down on the hard ground. Surprisingly this time, Zarya sat next to her; the woman rarely took breaks, and she didn't even look out of breath. If it weren't for the sweat covering her, Sienna wouldn't have guessed she'd exercised at all, let alone run 10km.
Sitting up, Sienna plucked up the courage to ask something that had been worrying her. 'Zarya... May I still come on runs with you? Even if I'm training with Jack?'
All the worry that Sienna had been sitting on was wiped away with one grin from Zarya and a hearty laugh.
'Of course you can, Little Bird! Besides, you're not good enough until you can beat me, so you had better keep coming!'
The Russian stood up, and Sienna took the notion to do the same.
'I'll miss you, Zarya.'
Sienna's face was suddenly being crushed into her mentor's chest, with a pair of knuckles rubbing against the top of her head, and she couldn't help but laugh along with Zarya.
'Don't be silly, Little Bird. I'm not going anywhere.'
Pulling out of the hug, Zarya took the opportunity to wrap her hand around Sienna's bicep, and there was a flash of surprise across her features.
'Jack had better look out, it seems as if Little Bird has become Little Bear, now' she said with a wink and patting Sienna's head before turning her back.
As if this wasn't their last session, Sienna watched as Zarya left to go her own way as was usual, with a melancholy feeling in her heart.
Sienna stood in the same dusty spot until Zarya was far from sight, until a surprise memory of Widowmaker's laser sight on her chest forced Sienna to steel her emotions and snap out of her haze.
'Next... weapons.'
And I'm not going to wait until I can hunt him down and stop him myself.