Overwatch: The Gentleman Thief

by Alexander A. Nastasi

When Fernando Aberquero isn't strolling through the streets of Granada and enjoying the Spanish way of life he becomes the Laughing Fox, a thief known for stealing from those who have lost their manners. One job will make him realise that, perhaps, he wasn't meant to be just a simple thief.

1. Sleight of Hand

I - Sleight of Hand

"...protesters show no sign of relenting and keep pressuring the UN to take drastic measures. While the UN hasn't spoken on the issue yet, many believe that the downfall of the organisation known as Overwatch is inevitable."
The gagged man moaned, rocking back and forth, his whole body tied to a wooden chair.
"Ahh." The thief lifted a gold watch in the air. "Magnífico."
The man moaned again.
"If you hadn't slapped that woman none of this would've happened, hmm? A gentleman should never hit a woman." He stuffed the watch into a pocket and stepped up to the man, slapping him gently. "Next time you come to Spain you behave, yes?" He adjusted his mask, a laughing fox, and gave the man a two-finger salute. "So long." He leapt out of a window and landed on the street below, silence pervading the area.
He hid as a car flew overhead, his back pressing against a grey wall. Then he skittered through a narrow alley, symbols and messages spray-painted on the walls on either side denouncing the government, the omnics, and Overwatch. As he turned he peeked around the corner and watched more cars go past him before darting across the road and climbing up a medieval wall, using cracks and protruding bricks as footholds. A moment later his boots thudded against the cobblestones and once again he ran through the streets of Granada under cover of darkness, lithe and silent as the animal his mask depicted. "Stop watching," was written on a wall in a grimy alley and right below it was the manhole he was looking for. He knew that a tiny camera was watching him.
Two halves of the manhole receded, allowing him safe passage. He plummeted into the sewers and followed the tunnel, a door at the far end. "Why don't they clean this place," he whispered and then knocked on the steel door, another camera observing his every move.
The door opened. "Laughing Fox."
"Marco."
The stout man with a bionic eye waved him in and shut the door as soon as he entered. Other men were sitting at a table chatting and drinking while a woman stood behind a counter.
"What would they do if we didn't have an underground tavern?"
"I don't care." Marco left him alone.
"Eh."
"Oi, Fernando!"
He removed his mask, his thin moustache glistening with sweat. "Esperanza." He bowed and exchanged a nod with the others. "Where's Guido?"
"Same place as always," the bald one answered.
"Got anything?" Esperanza said.
"Not much."
Another one gulped down his drink. "That's because you steal only from the 'unjust.'"
He strode past the counter. "Someone's got to teach them a lesson," he said, grabbing a bottle as he did so, and headed for the fence, wondering how much he'd earn for the watch.
"Fernando," Guido said as he entered the room.
He drank some wine, put the bottle on a shelf and studied the robotic parts strewn across the table. "Omnic?"
"Dead omnic, if you consider them living things." He tossed an arm into a box. "Found him in a skip."
"Poor fellow." He pulled out the gold watch. "I got this."
Guido glanced at it and soon after placed a pouch on the table. "And here's your reward."
Fernando raised an eyebrow. "You didn't even weigh it!"
"Do you trust me?"
"Yes."
"Then here's your reward."
"Huh." He shrugged, grabbed the pouch and hid it away. "Any news?"
"Some people sought us out," Guido said as he fiddled with the omnic's chest. "We met them while you were gone. They were all dressed in black, even their faces were covered."
"Who were they?"
"They didn't say." For a second the omnic's eyes lit up. "They only offered us a job."
He already didn't like the sound of that. "How much would they pay us?"
"A nine-zero figure."
He burst into laughter. "Wait...you're serious? What in the world is worth that much here in Granada?"
"That I do not know."
"What did you tell them?"
A spark zapped his finger. "Jesus."
"Jesus? Are they religious?"
"You fool, I told them we'd let them know."
Fernando tapped his foot repeatedly. "Hmm, this is all too suspicious. They could be t—"
"Terrorists, yes."
He stepped closer. "You've known me for years and I've made it clear ever since I got into this business. I will never, never kill someone, even if it means living like a haggard."
Guido looked at him and then went back to work. "There won't be any need to murder anyone, if what they told us is true."
He drew his head back. "Eh? What? Is whatever they want us to steal in a damn abandoned building?"
"Exactly."
"Ah." He scratched his head. "Where?"
"The omnium."
"Pff, that place went to rack and ruins years ago, what could they possibly want from there? Dust? Cockroaches?"
"Documents, they told us."
"Very important documents, I bet."
"There might actually be something of interest there," Guido said. "They'll tell us more only if we accept."
"But why us? We're just a bunch of damn hobbyists."
Guido frowned. "They know one of us can break into anything."
"Who?"
A spark zapped Guido again. "The Laughing Fox, you idiot."
"Ah." He thought deeply. "How long do we have to make a decision?"
"Three days, no more, no less."
He sighed. "I'll let you know then. In any case I need you take a look at this." He tossed a lock pick on the table that automatically changed size and shape. "It keeps doing that by itself. Can you fix it?"
It was Guido's turn to sigh. "You do know these are rare."
"Yes."
"And you do know they're a pain to repair."
"Yes."
"Hmm." Guido shook his head. "Give me a day."
Fernando raised his hands in celebration. "That's my amigo!" As Guido grumbled he grabbed the bottle of wine he had left on the shelf and took his leave. "By the way," he said at the door, "did they give you a name?"
"No."
He saluted him with two fingers. "Hasta la vista then." He skittered away as the corpse of the omnic zapped Guido a third time.
"Hasta la vista my sh—"
"Fernando," a short-haired woman greeted him.
"Cecilia."
"Did he tell you everything?"
He nodded.
"Have you decided?"
"Nope."
She narrowed her eyes. "One billion, remember. Don't make me mad, or I'll kill you."
"I thought you loved me."
"Go. Now."
He rushed towards the main lounge before she could cut him to pieces. "I saw a smile!" he said.
His colleagues were still drinking, though the bald one, Pablo, had fallen asleep, his fingers still wrapped around his tankard.
"Fernando!" Esperanza called him, pushing her braided hair back. "Coming tomorrow?"
Finally a sight for sore eyes. "What's tomorrow?"
"Flamenco in the plaza, everyone will dance!" She smiled widely at him.
"Of course, señorita." He bowed. "A gentleman would never refuse a dance with a lady as beautiful as you."
She winked at him. "Don't be late."
"The Laughing Fox is never late."

He stared at his reflection in the mirror, studying his black trousers, his black shoes and the white shirt he had chosen to wear.
"Never goes out of style," he said, straightening his vest, black as well.
He left his home, waving at an elder as he did so. "Don Leonardo," he said and went his way, greeting friends or acquaintances or even strangers he stumbled across.
"Fernando! Have some jamón!" a butcher he knew said, his plump cheeks red.
"Gracias but I think I'll pass this time." He noticed that the elders sitting at a small table outside the shop were beckoning him to come.
"Have some wine," one of them said.
"Thank you but no, I'm in a hurry."
Another one wearing an old-fashioned hat lifted a piece of cheese. "Fernandino, have some cheese, come on."
"No, no, really, thank you, but I have to dance and eating wouldn't be a good idea."
"Dance?" the butcher said. "With a woman?"
Why they were so surprised was beyond him. He nodded.
The butcher and the group of elders wagged their fingers, cheering. "Eeeeeeh!"
"Hasta luego." He laughed and marched on, wondering how people that old could be so energetic.
The moon shone brightly over the plaza, countless people clapping, dancing and singing to the rhythm of a guitar, the women swirling about the place with dresses that made them look like living flames. A few omnics watched the whole scene from the safety of the shadows, all of them seemingly enjoying the spectacle as much as the people of Granada. As he got closer he took a good look at the dancers and at the guitarist, his skill with the instrument impeccable, his voice echoing throughout the plaza.
"Fernando," Esperanza said whilst dancing, her ruby earrings jiggling. As the music momentarily came to an end she ran towards him in her flamenco shoes and in her flaming red dress. "I'm glad you came." She kissed him on each cheek and, giddy with excitement, studied him from head to toe. "Well, well, aren't we guapo?" She winked. "This is going to be so fun! There are many couples already!"
The guitarist twanged his strings and the music began anew.
"Shall we?" He raised his arm.
Grinning and without uttering a word she dragged him where all the other dancers were. Slowly she moved around him, her body inches from his, clapping her hands at different intervals, sweeping her arms, her scent filling his lungs, everything she did enthralling him.
The music picked up speed as they circled each other, Esperanza stomping the ground as if she'd crack it. Fernando kept up the pace, clapping and stamping, sending her defying glances, the music growing faster.
Esperanza accepted the challenge and her footwork became unbelievably fast, her movements surreal. A sight for sore eyes indeed, he thought as he couldn't get his eyes off her red lips.
They danced closer to each other and their bodies intertwined before he set her spinning. Then their breaths washed over each other's face. She bit his lip playfully and backed away.
"Careful there," he said, almost out of breath, "you're playing with fire."
She grinned and growled, then stamped her feet repeatedly as he began clapping. He caught glimpse of a man selling red roses, grabbed one and held it with his teeth as he approached Esperanza.
"Ready?"
"Are you?"
They became one, their bodies never detaching, the energy radiating from them palpable as if they truly had become fire. The couples cleared the way for them, everyone too focused on how quick both Esperanza and Fernando were, the sound their feet and hands made mingling perfectly with the music. She spun one last time and silence fell, her hand buried in his dark hair while he held her left leg high above his waist, their lips temptingly close, their chests rising and falling.
"Are you trying to steal my heart?" she managed to say.
He removed the rose from his mouth. "I thought I already did."
"Perhaps." She winked.
The crowd cheered loudly as they disengaged and even the guitarist rose from his chair to praise their performance. He bowed while she curtsied, thanking them. Fernando then threw the rose into the air and a lady caught it just in time.
"Here." He threw a coin at the rose seller.
"Thank you, Fernando." Esperanza caressed his face. "That was...maravilloso." She kissed him on the cheek, leaving lipstick.
He bowed. "Anytime."
"What will you do now?" she asked as she loosened her hair.
"Hmm." He scratched his chin. "I was thinking of having a drink with a beautiful woman. Have you, perchance, seen one?"
Her lips twisted into a grin. "Sangria?"
"Sangria."

The blinding sunlight roused him from sleep.
"Madre de dios." He shaded his eyes and fell from his bed, slamming his nose against the floor. He rolled sideways and stared at the ceiling.
"Three days, no more, no less."
Grunting, he straightened his back. "I should've called myself Sleeping Fox."
An hour later he was walking through the streets of Granada towards the hideout, yawning continuously. The manhole opened as soon as he stood above it.
"I hate this place," he said as he reached the door which opened almost immediately.
"Laughing Fox," Marco greeted him.
"More like Yawning Fox right now."
Marco just ignored him and closed the door.
"Hola." He casually waved at Guido and sat at the table near the counter, resting his head on the rough wood.
"Have you decided?" Guido asked.
"Yeah...yeah...yeah." He exhaled. "As long as no killing is involved."
"Very well, I'll tell the others. I'll let you know when the meeting takes place." Guido pushed his chair backwards and strode away.
"Did he accept?" Cecilia asked as she arrived.
Guido nodded.
She breathed a sigh of relief. "So you're not as stupid as you make us believe." She patted Fernando on the shoulder. "You may deserve a kiss after all." She took a chair beside him. "Fernando?" She nudged him.
He grumbled.
"I compliment you and you fall asleep?"
Later that day he found out that instead of kissing him Cecilia had left a bruise on his arm.
"Why won't you love me?" he said, rubbing his arm.
She huffed. "You missed your chance this morning."
"Enough," Guido said.
They stood inside an abandoned mill, light filtering through several cracks and holes. While Marco was staying in the hideout, Esperanza, Guido and Cecilia had come, including Pablo and the other two, Bernardo and Ricardo who often made fun of his noble manners. They all wore masks and bore appropriate nicknames: Esperanza was Burning Phoenix, Guido was Snarling Wolf, Cecilia was Cat, Pablo was Bulldog and Bernardo and Ricardo were Black Crow and Angry Monkey respectively.
"Have you taken...security measures?"
Guido showed him his transparent phone. "If they try something funny, they'll regret it."
"Lovely."
"Quiet, Laughing Fox," Bernardo said as a car stopped nearby. "They're here."
Three men wearing balaclavas strode into mill, the sunlight dappling their dark clothes as they entered. As they stopped the one in the middle took a step forward, one of his hands holding a suitcase.
"Have you made a decision?" he said.
"Aye," Guido replied. "Laughing Fox here will do the main job...if you guarantee him that murder is ruled off."
"There won't be any killing."
Fernando lifted his hands. "Then it's a deal!"
Cecilia jabbed him as the man gave Guido the suitcase. "A quarter of the payment. You'll receive the remainder once the documents are in our hands."
Guido nodded. "What can you tell us about the omnium?"
The man stepped backwards and another one placed a small device on the dirty ground. As the man they had spoken to earlier pressed a button the device projected a holographic version of the omnium, bathing them in blue light.
"Sweet," Fernando said.
"Now," their client began, "the place may look like it's been abandoned and forgotten, but we know that it's not." He pressed another button on the controller to show the wall surrounding the factory. "The whole place is constantly monitored. All cameras send feedback to the main control room underground and, if the guards aren't enough, automated turrets will pop up and fire at any intruder."
That amused him. "There are people there?"
The man glanced at Fernando. "Yes, government forces have taken control of the omnium ever since the crisis ended."
"You are enjoying this too much," Cecilia whispered.
The man swept his hand and the image spun. "There are eight floors. The ground floor," he said and the hologram zoomed into the chosen floor, "is inaccessible and the few points of entry were sealed long time ago. The first floor isn't any different, as the ceilings of the corridors leading into the heart of the building caved in." The hologram zoomed out to highlight the second, the third, the fourth and the fifth floor. "These can be accessed, if you bypass the tight security systems. The safest way," he said, pressing a button, "is the sixth floor."
Fernando rubbed his chin as he observed the hologram.
"There is a window that leads into an office that was destroyed when the omnium was under siege. One of its vents can still be used to infiltrate the floor below."
"I don't like vents."
Guido hushed him. "What's on the fifth floor?"
The image of a chamber appeared. "This."
"A...secret chamber?" Fernando said.
"Indeed. It cannot be entered by normal means. Not even the government knows about it."
"The government never knows anything," Ricardo noted.
"There's a hidden panel somewhere. If you find it you will need to hack it, as it uses all sorts of recognition software. Once inside," the man said as the hologram displayed a series of objects, though it focused only on one, "you will find a safe and within what we seek. How you get in is up to you." The hologram disappeared.
"That won't be a problem," Guido said.
"Here." The man tossed him a flash drive.
But the Laughing Fox had more to say. "What are you really looking for? Come on, documents? All this trouble and all this money for just a bunch of papers? We're all amigos here! You can tell us."
The men in balaclavas weren't perturbed in the slightest. "The safe contains information concerning us that we'd like to dispose of."
Liar. "I appreciate your honesty. Now we can work as a team, hmm?"
"We will meet here when the deed is done," the man said.
"Very well." Guido shook hands with him and the lot left.
As the car sped away Cecilia punched Fernando's shoulder.
"What was that for?" he said.
"Are you stupid?"
Everyone but Esperanza was glaring at him. "You could've blown up the whole deal," Pablo said.
"Come on, it was obvious that they were lying!"
Cecilia was on the brink of striking him again. "How the hell can you tell?"
"It's true," Esperanza suddenly said. "When he asked what was really inside one of them reached for his gun but changed his mind as soon as the other one spoke."
"And that's why I love Esperanza." Fernando smirked in triumph until he noticed that Cecilia wanted to murder him. "Eh?"
As she punched him a second time Guido spoke. "What did you learn, Esperanza?"
"The one doing all the talking was American, I'm certain of it. The two men behind him were too difficult to read, but the one ready to shoot seemed Spanish. I briefly heard his voice as they walked out, his accent was too familiar, and his gun, it didn't look like a weapon a petty criminal could own."
"Anything else?" Guido said.
"I caught glimpse of a tattoo on his arm. A strange symbol, I don't know what it meant."
Fernando was more than pleased. "See? What would you do without the Laughing Fox?"
Cecilia shot him a glance. "Quiet, you."
"Huh."

"So." Fernando clasped his hands. "How shall we proceed?"
Guido showed him his computer. "I've studied what they've given us. It shouldn't be too hard, if Bernardo, Ricardo and Cecilia manage to disable their security systems for a few minutes."
"Few minutes?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Three or five minutes. More than that and we'll be discovered."
"Fair enough," he said, smiling widely. "What have you got for me?"
Guido put on the table a pair of gloves. Fernando picked them up and turned them around to admire the intricate gecko-like design.
"These should make climbing easier." Guido gave him kneepads and shoes. Then with those huge arms of his he took out of a drawer a truncheon. "And this, should there be trouble."
"My beloved Siesta!" Fernando tossed the truncheon in air before catching it again.
"Careful with that, you might stun yourself. Knowing you, you probably will."
"Nah."
Guido shook his head, as he often did. "And take this, but don't use it."
Fernando held the device between his thumb and index finger. "EMP?"
"Aye."
"Splendid."
Guido blinked twice. "What?"
"I was thinking," he said, rubbing his clean-shaven chin, "should we tip Overwatch? You know, just like four years ago, when we discovered what those terrorists were planning to do in Madrid."
Guido neither liked nor disliked the idea. "If what you find could be dangerous in the hands of terrorists, yes, but back then they had no idea we were involved in their arrest. These people though, they could suspect something."
Fernando shrugged. "Yeah...but, I'm sure you'd find a way to make the whole thing look like a...plausible coincidence. Overwatch always appears when least expected after all."
"I'll see what I can do."
"That's my amigo."

As night came they got into Guido's van, only Marco staying behind to guard the hideout.
The whole back of the van was filled with electronic equipment. Cecilia, Bernardo and Ricardo were in charge of three computers, Pablo was driving, Esperanza was in the front passenger seat and Guido was checking that Fernando's tools worked properly.
"Here."
Fernando wore the earpiece as the van steered. "How long do I have to get in?"
"Five minutes," Cecilia said.
"Question is, how will I enter the courtyard?"
"Got that covered." Guido nodded at Ricardo who was typing almost as quickly as Cecilia.
Ricardo stroked his beard. "We will open the main gate just a little, enough for you to walk through, then Bernardo here will cause a blackout."
"After that," Cecilia continued, "the five minutes will start." She donned a pair of headphones with a microphone. "Can you hear me?"
"I can hear a violent woman, yes."
And Cecilia kicked his leg.
He winced as he tapped his earpiece. "I think I can hear a nice woman now."
"Careful," he heard Esperanza telling Pablo as the van flew across another street.
A flash of light highlighted the scar on Guido's cheek. "If something happens," he said as he checked Fernando's Siesta, "we'll get you out immediately."
"Use this when you find the panel." Cecilia gave him another gadget. "It will allow us to hack into the system."
"We're almost there," Pablo said.
Before they knew it they were on the outskirts of Granada. The van slowed down as the factory came into view and as Pablo switched off the headlights they hid in the shadows of a derelict building.
"Esperanza, the mask."
"Coming."
Esperanza unfastened her belt and joined them in the back with Fernando's mask. Then Guido pointed at the eyes of the fox. "This mask has night vision." His finger then went to a tiny button on the side of the mask. "To activate it, press this."
Fernando inspected the mask. "That's my amigo."
Esperanza kissed him on both cheeks. "Come back safely and then, perhaps, I'll show you what real flamenco is." She winked.
"Start the van," Guido said. "Keep all lights off as we head towards the gate."
The van hovered quietly out of the shadows, every part of the area a dire reminder of the Omnic Crisis. Roads were cracked, buildings were covered in bullet holes and here and there one could find massive craters.
"Ricardo."
Ricardo nodded. "Opening gate."
"I can see it," Esperanza said. "That's enough."
Bernardo slammed a button on his keyboard. "Blackout in three...two...one..."
Darkness filled the van, the electronics the only thing that allowed them to see anything.
"This night vision is glorious." Fernando giggled. "You all look hilarious!"
The door opened as Cecilia kicked him again. "Go!" Guido waved. "Go!"
"Hasta la vista." He gave them a two-finger salute.
He leapt off the van and as it whooshed away he crouched and darted towards the gate, the whole world turned green by the mask's night vision.
"We're tracking your movements," Cecilia's voice came through the earpiece. "Keep going."
He heard other human voices and quickly squeezed himself through the space between the two halves of the gate. "I'm in."
"Don't talk and move."
"Lovely as ever." He skulked forwards, his footsteps muffled by the grass that had claimed the courtyard.
"Shh!"
"What's going on?" A guard shouted.
He turned, his mask revealing a few figures gathered close to the gate, all of them holding rifles.
"Move," Cecilia said. "Turn left now."
"I can see that, thank you." The factory stood before him, an unsettling silence pervading it. "Which windo—"
"Tell them to fix it!" another guard said.
"Quickly, which window?"
"Um...sixth floor, third-last window on the left. You have two minutes and a half."
"Better get going." He stretched his fingers, shook his feet and clung to the wall. His gloves easily stuck to the surface. "Magnífico," he said as he began climbing, a thrill of excitement running through him. "Put some music on."
"Bad idea."
"Please?"
The song started, a guitarist plucking away at his strings while another one strummed, a beautiful and energising ensemble. Fernando made his way up, his movements matching the music.
"Listen," Guido's voice echoed in his ears as he reached the third floor. "I'm talking to you via a hidden network. Someone is listening. Just behave normally. It could be our client."
The music went on. "Tell Burning Phoenix to get ready for some flamenco."
"You have thirty seconds."
"¡Ay, caramba." He saw the window and made haste.
"Fifteen seconds."
"Open."
The window receded into the wall as the music stopped and Fernando flung himself inside. "Bad idea." He rose from the floor, his buttocks aching, and dusted himself off. "I'm in the office now. It's ghastly in here," he said, a mound of rubble towered over him right where a door had once been. "Huh, curious."
"What?" Cecilia said.
"There's a hole here."
"The vent?"
"No, no, a pretty big round hole in the floor." He knelt down and ran a finger along the rim of the hole. "Someone must've done this...recently."
"Keep an eye out," Guido said.
He poked his head out of the hole above the fifth floor. "I could get down there through his hole."
Cecilia sighed. "Just go through the vent."
"I don't like vents."
"Use your damn shoes then."
"Ah." He recalled what Guido had told him and touched different parts of the shoe. "There it is." His shoes altered their soles and as he lifted one he noticed that they were identical to his gloves and just like them they attached themselves to any surface with ease. He stepped closer to the hole and looked down. "This should be...interesting."
He climbed down, wary of what would happen if he fell. With one hand still clinging to the sixth floor he touched the ceiling of the fourth with the other one and then attempted to glue his feet to it. "This is very, very uncomfortable," he said as his whole body was clinging to the ceiling. "I think I appreciate vents more now."
"Get going."
"As you command, my love." He knew Cecilia would punch him when he got back into the van.
He crawled towards the wall closest to him and descended, breathing a sigh of relief as he finally stood like a normal human being. He deactivate his shoes' feature and looked straight ahead. "What the...?"
"Laughing Fox? What happened?"
Fernando gaped at the huge hole in the wall, its rim smooth and flawless. "Someone was here." He strode forwards quietly.
"What?"
He entered the chamber, thousands of documents strewn across marble-like floor. Opposite him in the darkness was a thin red light that sent a shiver down his spine.
"Laughing Fox?"
"Someone...or something is here," he whispered.
The light moved slightly. "How did you find me?" a robotic yet human-like voice said. "Speak at once." An arm morphed into a cannon that glowed red.
Fernando raised his hands whilst noticing that the figure was standing right in front of the safe. "I think there's a misunderstanding here."
The figure glanced backwards. "You're here for the safe."
"Perhaps...perhaps. You're an omnic, aren't you?"
"Yes." The omnic replied, the light from his cannon vaguely revealing the ragged cloak covering his metallic body. "Do you know what's in this safe?"
He shrugged. "Documents? Blueprints? Love letters?"
"So you do not know."
"How about you lower that...thing and we sit down and talk?"
The glowing red slit studied him. "You have seen me. Now you must die."
"Settle down there, amigo!" He waved his hands repeatedly. "The war ended long ago!"
His cannon charged up. "War...war never ends."
"Sh—"
Fernando threw himself out of the chamber, a deafening explosion destroying the wall facing the courtyard. As the red slit hovered closer he scrambled to his feet and looked left and right as the wind blew against his back, his feet knocking stones below, the guards racing about the place shouting.
"Fernando!" Cecilia said.
Fernando tossed his EMP but a laser shattered it to pieces. "Who are you?" he roared.
The omnic aimed his cannon again, ready to fire. "I am One."
He found himself flying through the air surrounded by debris, the bright red beam still vivid in his mind, countless voices coming from the courtyard and through the earpiece, and then, at long last, the world he knew and loved was no more.

---

Suggested Music:

Diablo Rojo - Puss in Boots Soundtrack (the live version by Rodrigo y Gabriela is also pretty good)

Notes:

- You can find this on DeviantART where the formatting is much, much better.

- I'm in the Overwatch beta and what I really like about the game is its lore, thus I tried to come up with a character of my own that would fit the universe and possibly, if Metzen-senpai noticed me, actually make it into the game (a man can dream, right?).
It's probably not that great, but I had tons of fun writing it. I hope you like it!

- If you spot any mistake or inconsistency let me know.

- This chapter is set before Overwatch disbands (though its downfall is imminent).

- I hope it feels...Spanish.

- For the flamenco scene I actually watched a couple of flamenco videos to depict it properly, so I dearly hope it is faithful to the real dance.

- While writing this I was listening to the Puss in Boots soundtrack Diablo Rojo all the time. I suggest you also check it out as it's fantastic and makes reading this even more epic (in my humble opinion).

- As the lore hasn't been expanded upon yet, there are a few things that confused me, such as the omniums (I interpreted them as being factories that manufactured omnics).

- I don't think it's far-fetched to imagine that there are evil omnics.