Work Text:
IKEA
“Brig! Brig! Look! Sweden! You’re from there!”
Brigitte Lindholm and Hana Song had never really been into the nearby town in Gibraltar, and after a bunch of movie and video game dates- not to mention working in the workshop or the missions they went on, they decided they deserved to kiss in places that were out in the open, but not ones where mortal danger was always so imminent. They decided to take a trip through town, crossing through in and out of stores, making small talk about interests and stores they had in their home countries. They moved towards the end of the stores, with a large area up against the edge of the cliff.
There towards the end of the day, they found the large yellow and blue building, an IKEA, the Swedish store was such an old concept now, as it was a popular store before someone like Reinhardt was even born. Brigitte obviously knew about it, but had never been in one before. Hana was about to change that.
“It’s your people! We have to go!” Hana turned in front and pulled on Brigitte’s arm, her voice higher pitched than usual, a good indicator she really wants to do something. Brigitte sighed as she followed along with a small soft smile, Hana was so hard to say no to when she got in moods like this.
“Alright alright, kanin.” Brigitte took a couple longer strides to come up to her girlfriend’s side, turning her arm and interlocking her fingers with Hana’s. “Just for you, though. Looks like they close soon though.” She said this and leaned in and rested her forehead against the side of Hana’s head. She gave her a quick kiss on her temple as they walked toward the entrance.
Two flagpoles graced the outside of the store, one with the flag of Spain, and the other of Brigitte’s native Sweden. Hana gave the latter of the two an over the top salute and winked at Brigitte. The muscular auburn-haired woman chuckled and hugged her girlfriend to her side, rolling her eyes as they passed by them through the automatic doors gracing the front of the square building. As soon as they entered, large blue letters on the yellow wall to their immediate left greeted them with the word “Hej!”
“Hey! I know that word! That was the first Swedish word you ever said to me!” Hana gleefully pointed out the sign to Brigitte, who was smiling unabashedly at how cute Hana was acting about all of this. “I’ve never been to your home country before so it’s like I’m visiting for the first time. Is everything this yellow and blue? I know it’s your flag’s colors and all but that’s a lot of patriotism.”
“Just yellow. We want everyone’s eyes to hurt when we look around. But the Swedes are all used to it.” Brigitte said with a joking lilt to her words, drawing an unamused face from the small Korean woman.
“Ha. Ha. Brigitte.” Hana leaned forward placing her fists on her hips. “I’m serious! You hardly talk about Sweden unless it’s just about your dad or your cats!” Hana’s eyes looked up in a disappointed demeanor, one that made Brigitte shift on her heels. She let out a small sigh as she let a little smile form on her face.
“How about this? We ask for Christmas off and take a vacation there for a week or so?” Brigitte takes both of her girlfriend’s small, soft hands in her own, looking deep into her eyes. Hana’s whole body shifted upright, seeming like she wanted to jump up and down there in the entryway to the store.
“You mean it?! We get to spend the holidays together?” Hana raised up onto her toes, seemingly the outlet of her excitement as she beamed up at the taller woman. “In Sweden?” Hana was bouncing on her toes now, the energy fully releasing from within her. Brigitte could not stop thinking about how adorable it was. She could really see herself enjoying her company forever.
“I mean it. Korsa mitt hjärta!” Hana didn’t really understand that last part in Swedish, but she could figure it out from the way Brigitte held her head a little higher and the earnestness of her voice. Her lovely melodic voice. Hana was so in love with this woman, she hasn’t said as much yet, but she does think about it all the time. The “L” word was too strong, she didn’t want to scare Brigitte off, sure they’ve been on life-threatening adventures and missions, and sure it’s been months since they began dating, but “love,” was still too strong. Hana had never told anyone she’s dated this word before, but Brigitte was different, it could really be true this time. She shook these thoughts off, however, pulling lightly on Brigitte’s hands and pulling them up to the escalator which would take them to the main showroom.
“Great! I’m so excited! I can’t wait to see Sweden in the winter time!” They stepped up onto the escalator moving up to the next level, where model rooms were peeking out at the stop of the moving stairs. A restaurant sat on the opposite end of the second level, which Hana made a mental note of, she hadn’t really eaten much today as the excitement of touring a city she’s looked at for almost a year now without setting foot in took hold of her. “What does this word say?” they were at the top of the escalator now, and another Swedish word greeted them on asign hanging from the ceiling of the store towards the corner of the second level.
“Uh. Hana, that says restroom.” Brigitte stifled a laugh, not wanting to embarrass Hana in public. Hana pursed her lips and let out a long exhale through her nose.
“Well. How about you just tell me when a word is interesting then instead.” Hana gave a slight smirk at her own expense and Brigitte squeezed her hand supportively.
“Sounds like a plan, Hana.” Brigitte chuckled a little as she responded.
The two walked through the first selection of showrooms, a lot of offices and living rooms. Every so often the two of them would stop and walk around one of them, Brigitte telling Hana what some of the Swedish words meant, and Hana being enraptured by it all.
“How would you want rooms to look in your house?” Brigitte asked nonchalantly, not really thinking anything of her question. “What would your ideal home have in it, the one thing you can’t live without?”
“You.” The word slipped out of Hana’s mouth before she could even really comprehend it. An immediate spread of pink ran across her cheeks and she looked down and away from Brigitte, trying to avoid her gaze. Brigitte tried to meet her eyes as well, a similar blush painting her freckled cheeks as she reached her hand out to gently tilt Hana’s face back towards her.
Hana grimaced, slowly turning her head back, a meek expression on her face. The brown eyes of the Korean girl seemed to entrance her girlfriend, who slowly pulled Hana’s lips towards her own, closing the distance with her in the process. Their lips met in a quick and fleeting kiss, Hana’s eyes fluttering closed into it, wishing desperately that it was longer.
“That’s so sweet of you, kanin.” Brigitte said as she backed away, tucking Hana’s dark brown hair behind her ear. “I’d like to have a home with you too.” Brigitte managed to say, the blush feeling hotter in her cheeks. Hana smiled warmly in response, feeling validated and not nearly as exposed as she had felt moments prior. The two exchanged loving glances before they were pulled out of their reverie and realized they were two public Overwatch members showing vulnerability in a very public place.
“Come on,” Hana began, “let’s keep moving before we settle down in one of these fake rooms.” The two continued on, moving aimlessly and distracted by one another to really take note of much surrounding them. It was only then after a little bit that they realized they had forgotten which way they had come from. The arrows which usually pointed along the correct route were nowhere to be found each section feeling familiar yet alien at the same time.
“Um.” Brigitte hummed, pulling a finger to her lip and nervously scratching lightly along it with her nail. “Are we lost?”
“Wait what? Lost?” Hana seemed genuinely puzzled by this. Completely unaware of the predicament in which they found themselves.
“Uh yeah. Which way did we come from? Which way do we go?” Brigitte looked around for signs but they weirdly seemed to be missing for whatever reason. Hana smirked, believing this all to be a joke from her tall partner.
“Is it not like a Swedish thing? Like, you know the way around every IKEA?”
“N-no?!” Brigitte was incredulous, surely Hana could not be serious.
“Have you never been in one of these stores before?” Hana asked, her playful demeanor falling slightly, realizing what was going on.
“I have not. Pappa always built his own stuff, we never really had a reason to come into one of these stores.” Brigitte’s hand was now rubbing the back of her neck, her calloused hand rough against the soft skin of the back of her neck.
“That makes an annoying amount of sense, to be honest.” Hana’a posture dropped as she raised an eyebrow. “So what now? We just run randomly in a direction and hope we find the exit?”
“We don’t have to run anywhere, Hana; we can take this at a brisk walk.” Brigitte tilted her head and placed her hands on her hips. “We’re still in a store. Not trapped behind enemy lines.”
“Fine. I just would like to get home is all. Lucio and I are having a game night tonight and you have to make sure he doesn’t cheat somehow.”
“Hana, we all know the only way he can beat you is if he cheats.” Brigitte chuckled a little as they chose a direction and continued moving towards what they thought might be the location of the exit.
“Yeah but I play to win.” Hana folded her arms in a mock upset pose. “You know that.”
“And you always win.”
“Exactly. I won your heart after all.” Hana winked.
“Can we just get going?” Brigitte rolled her eyes at this shameless flirting move Hana tried to pull to distract them. “If you wanna get home we gotta find the way out.” They took note of a light yellow model bedroom with bunk beds in it, and decided to keep going.
The two of them walked in the same direction for a long time, moving through the store at a quick pace, turning back and forth as the aisles continued, Hana having to more rapidly move her legs in order to keep pace with her Swede and her long legs. They were confident in their choice until they stopped and realized they were back where they just were, seeing the same pale yellow room they had left.
“We’re back where we just were.” The two of them said in unison, one an outsider would think was rehearsed. They exchanged glances and grimaced.
“Well. I think we’re very lost.” Hana admitted at last, drawing a sigh from Brigitte. “What now?” The store was empty for the most part, all of the other customers they had seen along the way moving out of their rooms and seemingly finding the exit so there was no one to ask for help, with even the employee help desks barren.
“I’ll figure something out.” Brigitte brought her hand to her chin in contemplation.
“Okay. Let me know when you have something.” Hana nonchalantly shrugged before leaping onto one of the model beds in a nearby deep blue room with a fake view of the New York City skyline outside of the artificial window.
“Hana?! What are you-“
“Relax! Maybe if we mess around an employee will see us on the cams and find us!” Hana explained as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. She pulled her hands up behind her head resting and looking out the fake New York window.
“That’s not exactly the way I would go about doing something like this, Hana.” Brigitte objected as she walked over to the comfortable looking Hana with her arms crossed.
“Oh come on! We had a long day of walking around, don’t you want to unwind in our brand new room?” Hana patted on the bed next to her, sliding to the opposite side of the bed from Brigitte. The Swedish woman tried to find an objection but it could not form in her mouth as the thought of snuggling up to Hana in this very public place was just comforting and scandalous enough to have her very intrigued. She let out a sign before walking over and gently sitting down onto the bed, carefully keeping her shoes off the bed as she turned to lay down.
“I’m here now, is my kanin happy?” Brigitte turned her head to look at Hana, her signature ponytail draped up over the top of the pillow.
“Of course, I am always happy with you here at my side.” Hana beamed, her hands resting underneath her rather uncomfortable pillow. “I just really value all the time we get to spend together. It’s always such a fun day when the two of us just get to spend time together doing aimless stuff, y’know?”
“I understand completely,” Brigitte started, “almost makes you forget we’re in a formerly-yet-still-kinda-illegal vigilante group based out of a bunch of countries.”
“Yeah! Almost like, domestic, like we’re just two normal girls who-” Hana paused, a slight blush that Brigitte nearly did not notice appearing on her soft, pale cheeks.
“Who... “ Brigitte initially meant for this to sound like the beginning of a question, but mustering courage slowly began to open her mouth for words that still failed to come out. “Who… love each other, right?” Brigitte’s face felt hot as she said this, neither of them had said anything about love before, although they both certainly did feel it.
“Yeah. That’s what I was going to say.” Hana replied happily, her toes curling as her legs began twining together, trying to keep her cool. Brigitte’s head rushed at hearing the confirmation come from Hana’s mouth and her jaw slacked open, only slightly aware of its occurrence. “I. I love you, Brigitte Lindholm.” Hana tried her best to put the accent on her last name, going over each syllable like it was an incantation she wanted to get just right.
“I love you too, Hana Song.” Brigitte was now overcome and overwhelmed with her love for the other woman, pulling her by her hips in close and planting a searing kiss on the small Korean’s lips. Hana responded by wrapping her arms around Brigitte’s neck, her forearms crossing behind the Swede’s head as she responded in kind, her love overwhelming as well. Their lips crashed and broke away like the rough cascading of waves on a shore. It was only after Hana had turned them, putting Brigitte on her back and continuing her downpour of kisses that the two broke at the sound of a chime.
“Our store is now closed, please make your way to the exit to finalize any purchases. Godnatt!” The semi-robotic voice announcement echoed across the whole store, breaking the two women’s concentration on one another and realizing what was happening.
“Well, I guess we should find our way out now.” Hana sighed as she sat up, pulling her legs out from the sides of her girlfriend before moving to the end of the bed. Brigitte, still a little woozy from the quick and passionate makeout session they just had, slowly sat up, clearing her throat and adjusting her hair so it was in proper order.
“Right. Right.” Brigitte stood up, shaking her head a little, tossing her auburn hair back over her shoulder as she reached her feet. She looked around, taking note of where they had previously been lost, and discovered the arrow on the floor pointing for the exit had once again become lit. “Huh? Where was this earlier?” Hana shook her head, exasperated by it all.
“Beats me, I am just so thankful it showed up at all.” Hana began to head in the direction for the arrow and Brigitte began to follow suit, however, she became quickly distracted by an empty shopping cart sitting near the doorway to the next showroom.
“Wait, Hana, I have an idea.” Brigitte’s face drew into a wry grin, one Hana turned to see, following her gaze over to the object in question.
“You’re not thinking what I think you are, are you?” Hana observed, eyes wide with curiosity and a little fear.
“Get in.” Brigitte playfully demanded as she took position behind the shopping cart. Hana looked quickly between her girlfriend and the cart and before she knew it, she was climbing into the main basket section of the cart, curling her legs up to her chest and holding onto the sides of the metal cart.
“I can’t believe we’re doing this.” Hana giggled.
“Believe it, because we’re going to see how fast this can go.” Brigitte’s hands gripped tighter onto the handle and Hana turned slightly around to see what her girlfriend was doing, only to be thrust back and having to catch herself from Brigitte’s sudden rush forward. Once the shock had worn off, Hana began whooping wildly, enjoying the rush of the speed but also the scandal of it all.
“Let’s go!” Brigitte cheered as she pushed the cart down a straightaway, laughing maniacally as she did, looking away every other moment to see Hana with one hand gripped the side of the cart, and the other a fist in the air, in a move seemingly taunting the capitalists who ran the store. They would slow down on turns, making them every so often to move from one section to the next.
So gleefully unaware was Hana, eyes closed, enjoying the rush, that once they turned a last corner and suddenly halted. Almost throwing Hana out of the seat. The whiplash of holding herself in the cart dissipated and before she could ask what was the matter, she saw a blue and yellow clad employee with a clipboard and a scowl standing immediately in front of them. Brigitte’s face ran a pale white color in fear and embarrassment and Hana tried to give a small, playful grin that ultimately looked way too forced.
Hana quickly got out and upon quick inspection her and Brigitte realized they had finally made it to the exit of the superstore, only now they were being escorted out by clipboard and instructed to not come back. The two walked out in a silence, both their heads down for a bit, Hana only looking up to glance at the flags in front of the store as they exited.
“That was embarrassing.” Brigitte finally said.
“Yeah but...” Hana started before seeming to cut herself off with her own thoughts.
“But?” Brigitte really had no idea what this was going to be about and her curiosity was piqued.
“But you love me.” Hana still looked down and forward, brushing hair behind her ear on the side Brigitte was walking on. The move made Brigitte’s heart flutter and she was so endeared to the smaller woman that she truly did not know how she could ever live without her.
“I love you.” Brigitte emphasized, not wishing to merely parrot her beloved.
“I love you too, Brigitte. So much. I can hardly contain all the love I have for you.” They were standing face to face now, eyes locked onto one another, just on the edge of town far enough from the store.
“Promise me, if we love each other forever…” Hana looked off at the setting sun on the Gibraltar straight.
“Yes?”
“That if we are together forever, that we won’t shop at IKEA for furniture.” Hana giggled out the last words, the realization hitting a little late for Brigitte before she ended up laughing in an almost hysteric fashion. The two women laughed as they reached out and held one another in their arms, content to just be there with each other.
“I promise. I’ll build all of it. Or, at least get my grumpy father to do it for us.” Brigitte smiled, pulling Hana into her hip as they began moving away again, back towards their base. “Now come on. You have to beat Lucio at gaming and I have to get in front of this story with Angela before she finds out from the news.”
“You don’t think they’ll put us on the news for getting kicked out of IKEA do you?” Hana questioned.
“Maybe not. But we did also kiss on one of the display beds.”
“Oh. Right.”