The Miracle of Science | Winston x Reader

I. Pineapple Pizza

(Y/N): Your name
(L/N): Last name
(S/N): Sister's name

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(Y/N) (L/N)'s first two years in Overwatch were a nightmare to say the slightest. Before she joined the organization, her loved ones tried convincing her to attend university or meet someone to settle down with instead. She juggled those options for years during high school until she realized the Omnic Crisis was beginning to truly affect her town. Prices were tremendously high, tension between humans and omnics seemed to only increase, and neighbors who she's known all her life began to suddenly disappear. Everything had changed in just a short amount of time.

In contrast to that, her childhood was pretty great, thanks to her hard-working parents. She even had a little sister who idolized her. But when (Y/N) would walk farther into her hometown and spot three, young children wrapped in old blankets, each one eating nothing but a piece of bread, that's when she realized she couldn't choose her "normal life" future.

She needed to do something.

The children introduced themselves as they desperately chewed on their warm meals at a diner she brought them to. They were all orphans thanks to the war. One of them explained that every orphanage and shelter nearby were beyond maximum capacity. It'd be another week until they'd get a chance to stay for a night.

She sat with them for a while, holding back tears as they each told tales of their parents. The harsh reality was caving in for (Y/N), and she wondered how she could've been so blind with all of this happening around her.

After they ate, the young girl took them to a store to buy coats for the cold weather. She felt it wasn't much, but it was plenty for the kids. She asked them what they wanted to be when they grew up. None had an answer, but they immediately switched the question towards her.

Something awoke inside of her in that very moment. It was a spark of burning determination to fight for the innocent. Somehow, she now knew what she was meant to do. (Y/N) had finally found her calling.

She was going to join Overwatch.

"That's awwwesome," one of them said.

It was painful to say goodbye.

When her family was informed of her decision, she received mixed reactions. Both her mother and father were terrified; her dad tried to reason with her but she wouldn't listen. Her younger sister took it better but still showed signs of reluctance. Her friends were happy for her, congratulating their courageous comrade.

(Y/N)'s grandparents were proud of her choice, especially since her grandfather served in the Marines for about six years before he lost a hand and ear due to an explosion that should've killed him; however, every other generation's first-born from his side of the family inherited some type of mutant durability, skin that was almost invulnerable, which meant (Y/N) had it. Its origins were unknown.

Wherever it came from, she felt blessed to have it, and it only set her decision much faster into stone.

And while losing a body part or worse, possibly losing her life lingered in the back of her mind, her greatest fear was seeing this war destroy the planet. She could only imagine the horrors of what others were dealing with right now as she packed her suitcase in her bedroom. As it clicked closed, she stood there lost in thought, wondering if she'd even make a dent in changing this world. She thought of the three kids. Her door creaked open, revealing her sister with a scared frown.

"You're... you're not gonna die, are y-you?" (S/N) asked, her voice breaking as a trail of tears rapidly fell down her face.

Her older sibling quickly embraced her tightly, rupturing in a soft cry, even though she tried her hardest not to. "I promise... I won't," she replied, wiping her own nose with her sleeve and casting a small grin to lighten the mood. "Trust me, I like you too much to leave you alone."