Mirage & Octane (WIP)

|:|{Chapter Three}|:|

Octavio found his phone in his shorts pocket as he was walking home. Several text messages from Ajay pop up, clearly annoyed with his lack of a response. Scrolling up, he sees that she's inviting him to lunch. He answers with a yes, stopping at home to change his clothes. Although he had been friends with Ajay for a long time, he didn't really feel like seeing her with sweat and beer soaked clothing. Quickly changing into a pair of track shorts and a hoodie, the speedster heads into the direction of the restaurant.

When there, he sees Ajay sitting in a booth. When he sits down, he sees four glasses of water at the table.

"Who else is coming?"

"Just a few other friends. That's okay, right?"

"Of course Che! Just surprised is all."

Anita comes in, seemingly confused to see Tav there and sits beside Ajay. After talking for a bit, Elliott seemingly comes out of nowhere and takes the remaining spot next to Octavio. Flustered, the speedster looks at his glass of water, finding himself trapped on the inside of the booth. Taking a deep breath, he looks back up and resumes the conversation as normal, talking to the trickster as if nothing happened the night (or morning, for that matter) before.

After everyone orders and gets their food, Octavio finds he's not hungry and remembers wolfing down the eggs Elliott made for him. Still trying his best to eat the food he ordered, he notices a few side glances from the girls. They know something he doesn't and, from the looks of it, Elliott doesn't know either, a confused expression on his face.

"Yo, what's that about compadres?"

"What's what about?" Ajay asks in her I'm-innocent-but-not-really kind of voice.

"All the g-gla-.... looks you're giving to each other." Elliott manages to stutter out.

Anita does a pointing look at Octavio's neck, then Elliott's. "Oh, nothing. Nothing you need to worry about."

Octavio is clearly confused, looking a bit closer at Elliott than he did before. He finally notices the subtle bite mark on the left side of his neck, covered by the collar of his jacket. Flustered, he quickly pulls his hood over his head, both Ajay and Anita laughing at him and the trickster. Elliott, still visibly confused, looks to the speedster. Octavio, as red as a tomato, points at one of the several bites on his neck, then at Elliott's. Both the medic and the soldier start laughing even harder as Elliott turns red along with Octavio. 

Grabbing Octavio's hand, Elliott quickly leaves the restaurant, adjusting his collar with his other hand.

Octavio finds himself at a park nearby, sitting next to the trickster. He tries to find something to say, but falls flat. The speedster can't think of anything to make Elliott feel better. Octavio sits with him, and, to his relief, he starts to speak.

"At least it was Ajay, she would've found out anyways I'm sure" He let out a dry chuckle, as if he was trying to convince himself.

"Che won't tell anyone. I've known her long enough to know that. She just wanted to swoon Anita, that's all amigo. There's nothing to worry about." Octavio responded confidently.

"I know I know, I just... I wish it never happened, is all. Not sleeping with you! I mean, them finding out." Elliott quickly sputtered out, a panicked look on his face.

Octavio, slightly hurt, told him it was alright and decided to walk home. Giving his usual playful smile and goodbye, he couldn't help but wonder why he was even hurt. It's not like he ever had a crush on Mirage, much less the person beneath the persona he displayed. But, ever since the morning, he couldn't stop thinking about the trickster, his nervous smile and his cute stutter. Shaking his head, he started to run.

His alarm waking him up, he realized it was time to get into the dropship and start the games. Quickly getting dressed and adjusting his legs, he ran out and went to the pickup. Anita, Ajay, Gibraltar, and Pathfinder were already there. The robot waved as soon as he noticed him, the screen on his chest showing he was happy to see him. Ajay, deep in conversation with Anita, nodded to him and Gibraltar gave him one of his usual bear hugs. Wraith, Revenant, Bloodhound, Caustic, and Wattson came shortly after. Finally, Crypto and Mirage came, arguing about something once again. Octavio's legs itched him to go say hello, but his brain told him not to. The trickster probably hated him after what happened. Suddenly being more still than usual, he realized his relationship with Elliott would never be the same. Once the dropship came, he silently went inside, taking a seat and sitting still. No legend complained about his tapping foot or his constant twitching or his dumb questions. No, he didn't do any of those things. He only sat, his brain filled with anxieties. Not for the danger ahead, but the fear of losing one of his closest friends.