So it turned out that the night had become a 'date'.
Reyes loathed the idea of it, but it was becoming startling clear that this evening was just that. The pair had gotten situated in new clothing: Angela wore her jeans and sleeveless turtleneck that she had when entering King's Row almost a week ago, on the other hand Reyes went with a dark-gray t-shirt and his usual black pants that paired well with his dark beanie hat and black aviator glasses. The doctor had been surprised at his casual appearance, but he had reasoned no one would be looking for a dead man's face, or in the very least Reaper's mask would have stuck out like a sore thumb compared to a face that hasn't been seen in years. As far as the several scars across his body, well, many men in Dorado were up to illicit business, so it wasn't unfounded to see someone with scars. It seemed logical, so Angela nodded her head and went along with it.
They departed the house together, side by side as they traversed down the dirty gravel roads winding into town. It was occurring to Angela just how much of a walk it was between the heart of Dorado and where they had been staying. It was obvious why she initially got lost and simply kept running down the seedy alleyways. Not her finest moment, but at least Reyes had been there to assist when trouble arose. She recalled hearing of the rise in cartel activity in the town ever since the Omnic Crisis, she merely never saw it first hand before. With any luck, they would not give them any trouble tonight.
As soon as the two entered the main square of town, everyone seemed to turn heads and look right at them. Angela would blink and smile in kind, but it wasn't welcoming enough in the face of Reyes' grim expression. He certainly wasn't fond of all the stares, but he knew his 'disguise' would hold. He had combed the town when he arrived here to ensure there would be no old Overwatch operatives in case he ever did need to go into town as a man rather than a monster. Despite this, the town populace was thinking he was a monster regardless due to his scowl and demeanor. The pair certainly looked like opposites, but Angela was hopeful that she'd soften his mood.
"Gabe, you've been wearing such a mean mug ever since we entered town."
"I don't like prying eyes."
"You can pass as a local, but I am definitely a foreigner," She began speaking as she eyed the darker complexion of her companion, then her own creamy skin tone. "I don't think your gloomy persona right now is really helping matters. I think it might be the major draw to their eyes."
"I don't give a damn as long as they leave us alone."
"Miss, you there!" A foreign voice called out to Reyes and Angela, causing both to perk up and turn to view an elder woman flagging them down. By the looks of it, she ran a small pavilion that must have set up shop for the festival tomorrow. Reyes sighed; he knew her type. These shop owners liked to make a quick profit whenever possible, hence why they'd all congregate prior to the festival even beginning. This woman was hoping to make an example out of Angela, but not on his watch. Reyes turned to stare down at Angela and tell her just that, but he gaped in shock that she was already gone and by the older woman's side who was now holding up dresses to her body.
"Hey," Reyes practically snarled, approaching the two women with a bit of frustration. "You don't need that."
"Now, now, no woman ever needs things, she wants things. It's the festival tomorrow, and she ought to have something to wear." The elder woman with a long black braid of hair replied, gesturing to Angela just then. "Look at her eyes! Do you not see how the ocean twinkles to the sun?"
"What're you—" Reyes snapped back, pausing only when he noticed just how much Angela's eyes lit up when gazing at the dress currently held up to her. He remained silent and rubbed the back of his neck. This was irritating, but somehow that expression of hers made it all worthwhile. Gaining the answer she was hoping for, the shopkeeper turned to Angela and ushered her into a changing room.
"W-Wait, I shouldn't—" Angela protested with a weak smile before being catapulted into the changing stall by the elder woman with surprising strength.
"The man insists, please!"
"I never said I insisted."
"You never said you didn't." The elder woman snapped back with a smug grin, as if knowing a dirty little secret that she wouldn't share with Reyes. This just got under his skin even more and he began pacing in place. He ought to summon his ebony guns and blast the woman away for her cocky attitude. She wasn't worth his ire or his bullets. It also would disappoint Angela, and for some reason that was starting to become a major decision-making factor for him. Case and point being when she stepped out of that changing stall and revealed her new clothes.
The top was a traditional red ruffled blouse with off the shoulder short sleeves. The crimson dye was a startling contrast to her porcelain skin, but it was an appealing contrast. The tricolor sash around her waist separated the blouse and the lengthy black skirt whose trim was another ruffled texture that rippled just above her ankles. The ensemble looked shockingly well on the Swiss doctor, something that Reyes hadn't been anticipating.
"You look so beautiful! Bonita! Your boots certainly do not go with it…here, I have a spare set of shoes that were my granddaughters. You would be doing me a favor by taking them. They'll go with the outfit well!"
"A-Ah, I simply couldn't bother you for that…I'm truly not sure it suits me nor if I should even buy—"
"It's fine." Reyes called out quietly, causing Angela to whip her head toward him. He had been mostly looking away, though she could see him gaze at her from the corner of his eyes as subtly as possible. "It's what you want, so wear it."
"Are you sure? If that's the case, then I'll go fetch my wallet—ah…my currency is all foreign…I never had the time to exchange it…" Angela began with a bright-eyed look which considerably dimmed when she realized her currency. With a grunt, Reyes finally walked into the pavilion and slammed his hand into his pocket. He pulled it back out and left a fistful of money on the counter, earning a surprised look from the elder woman. She swore under her breath in Spanish before glancing up from the money.
"This is more than enough, are you sure?"
"It's fine." He replied quietly, now turning his full attention to the blonde woman who was slipping into the simple wooden heels. He rarely had the opportunity to see the woman in another other than her Valkyrie suit, even before the incident in Switzerland. It was a welcomed change to see the woman wear something more suitable to her figure. The dress certainly accentuated her womanly curves well, the ruffled top bouncing over her chest in waves while that sash hugged the small of her waist in such a pleasing way. He hated to admit the shop owner was right, but Angela was stunning. He also hated the cliché, but he was forced into this role regardless.
"Angela," He spoke up again, a bit of his usual tone coming back to him. "We're leaving."
"Right! Thank you so very much, ma'am." Angela perked up and waved goodbye to the vendor as they departed from the booth. The old woman had been kind enough to give her a small bag to keep her original clothes in. The sway of the new fabric left the blonde woman a bit more conscious of herself, but it seemed like those they passed had a positive reaction to her new style. It boosted her confidence, but as she glanced back at the worsened dark expression Reyes worse, her face dropped.
"…should I take it off?"
"No, it's fine." He replied gruffly, clearly straining his frustration. A slender brow arched as she gave him a quizzical look. They had been in the center of all the commotion, so none would hear her over the loud rummaging of the crowds.
"Gabe, what is wrong? This was your idea!" She huffed indignantly, crossing her eyes as she eyed his reaction. He seemed dismissive at first. That was when he pulled her into an alleyway and cornered her against the wall. A quiet yelp of surprise escaped the woman as he caged her there with his arms, nowhere for her to look but the boiling reddish-brown hues that peeked over the black shades.
"I don't like any attention being drawn to us, but it can't be helped. We're an odd combination, you and I." He then breathed slowly through his nose, measuring his own restraints while looking away. "I also don't blame them for looking; you look mesmerizing."
"Don't try to butter me up now." Angela teased lightly, placing a single hand on the scarred cheek of her companion. A smirk began to grown on Reyes' lips, sparking delight in the woman. They may gather attention because of how opposite they appeared, but as long as the other was happy, life was swell it seemed.
"Oh, no, I'd never dream of it. Not in public, at least." He paused to giving her a flash of his devious toothy grin. "Unless you're into that sort of thing, Doc."
"Wouldn't you like to know?"
"Would you answer me if I asked?"
"Depends if you would try to set it up as a game with tequila." She quipped back at him, earning a chortle from the man who moved aside so they could reenter the town square. They both had fallen into better spirits and continued to rotate through the town idly. Angela had her fill of the culture, but it seemed like everywhere she looked there was always something new to take it. Reyes had been right; the vibrancy of color, the rich aroma of freshly baked goods, not to mention the hustle and bustle of life thrived so fervently in the large city square. It was refreshing and warm compared to her scenic mountain range.
The night fell upon them faster than either realized. As activities began to wind down, Angela and Reyes found themselves sitting upon a small walkway that hung above one entrance to the large fountain area that the vendors were in. The moon rose above the clouds, the wispy white balls unable to eclipse the clarity of the golden-white orb hanging up above. It was a bright evening, but even so there were strings of lanterns and other fiery lights dotting the vicinity. It gave off such a welcoming aura, as if the town never slept during festival season. By the looks of it, that might not be far from the truth.
"It's been such a lovely evening." Angela spoke quietly, a smile hanging from her lips as she dangled her legs off the archway, swaying them playfully. "Who knew Dorado held so much for me?"
"Yeah, you only had to be shot to experience it."
"Oh, hush now. It all turned for the best in the end."
"Hmph," Reyes grumbled quietly as he shifted in his position beside the angelic blonde, uncertain if he agreed with her comment or not. "I wonder how things will play out now."
"Tomorrow morning, I wish to start a round of tests on you."
"Oh, yeah, sure, let's just use the basement downstairs. I have state-of-the-art equipment that's on par with your lab at the Swiss base."
"Really—"
"No, I'm being fuckin' sarcastic, Ange." Reyes snickered as Angela feigned offense. She knew he didn't mean it, but it was still fun to have banter with him. "How are you going to run tests on me without your usual tools?"
"There are certain things I can learn without invasive action, all thanks to the Valkyrie unit. In particular, I want to see just how your cells work."
"Don't get too excited, Doc."
"Only just enough." She replied with a quiet giggle, resting her head on his shoulder. After a moment to sigh, Reyes leaned his head on top of hers, earning another grin from the woman. Taking a moment to savor this memory, the broad-framed man reached over to an adjacent hanging flower pot and plucked a single crimson flower at the base. Pulling back from his blonde companion, he tucked the blossoming bud behind her ear and delicately weaved it into her golden hair.
"Red is a lovely color on you, Angela."
"Only because you see me as such."
"I may care for you, but I wasn't the only person to think you looked stunning tonight." He smirked a bit as he gave it more thought. "Too bad I'm the only one who gets to enjoy it, and I intend to thoroughly later."
"Gabe."
"We've been separated for years, Ange. That's a lot of time to catch up on in more ways than one." At that, Angela knocked her elbow against his arm in a gentle manner, as if a warning shot. That softened pink glow on her cheeks and the smile delicately resting on her lips told him otherwise. The grin he wore was from ear to ear, so he wasn't much to talk.
"You know, Angela," He began quietly, turning a bit to face her more. There was a brief moment of coyness, but it disappeared almost instantly when he saw her dazzling blue eyes. She was perfect, and honestly, she always has been. "I have cared for a long time, I simply never thought I'd ever…"
"Ever what?" She asked breathlessly, shifting a bit to eye him better. She looked expectant, eager to hear that sweet string of words from his mouth. Reyes gulped, knowing that they were coming all the same but he was feeling unprepared suddenly. He couldn't stop now.
"Ever express to you what you mean to me…exclusively to me."
"Gabriel…" She sighed with a hopeful light in her eyes that rivaled the moon's brilliance. This was beyond sappy and cliché, everything that Gabriel hated in this world. This wasn't who he was, not this vulnerable, soft heart of a man. The heart he thought died all those years ago. It seemed as though his soul was not the only thing to be resurrected by the woman, he was discovering. With his hands curling around hers in a firm hold, he gave out a shaky breath and continued.
"It frustrates me that you've reduced me to this state, but I couldn't give a damn about that right now. Angela, you are my home, and more than anything I want to tell you—"
A loud explosion from south of the city square erupted, causing both ex-Overwatch operatives to perk up cautiously. Almost immediately, Angela got to her feet and ran toward the hallway leading to the alleyways. Reyes had to scramble over from his position just to catch up to her.
"Angela!" He called for her, only a few paces behind.
"We have to go! Someone may be injured!"
"You don't have your weapons! What're you gonna do? You're just going to get hurt!"
"I'm made of far sterner material than you give me credit for!" She then glanced more over her shoulder to gaze at him while she ran. "I need you to grab my Caduceus Staff; someone's life could depend on it!"
"This is spelling trouble, Ange, I'm not even a hero anymore—"
"But I am, so please!" She urged him as she rounded a corner and darted out of view. Resigning with a huff, Reyes began to focus his energy and create a black pool beneath his feet. A pang in his head alerted him that he couldn't pull off many more tricks like this without resting. It was his curse for being alive, but if he could hold off feasting on the energy of others for Angela's sake, he would hold out for as long as possible.
The darkened corridors were dank and desolate. Not even the street rats rummaged in these parts of Dorado. It worried Angela a bit, but not for her own safety. If someone was hurt, it'd be difficult to transport them anywhere. As long as Reyes returned with her medical equipment, it should be fine, and she had every ounce of faith he'd come to her side as swiftly as possible.
By the time the tiny alleyway opened up to an intersection, it sounded as though most of the noises had died down. There was plenty of bullet and other minor explosions, but it otherwise sounded as if things were ending. A rev of the engine told Angela that she was close. Darting into the center of the intersection, she glanced down on alleyway and saw the retreating form of the cartel members that clung to their vehicle while an innocent cry of a girl echoed in the distance. Instinctively, Angela leapt forward and cursed internally as she realized she wasn't wearing her Valkyrie suit.
Then, another explosion filled the proximity, causing Angela to falter backwards from shock. Luckily, she kept her footing well in these heels and braced herself for the heat wave which followed. That had been fortunate, but her heart sank as she recalled the voice of a small girl. She took a step forward with haste when she was frozen once again in place. The coughs of a girl as well as an older man filled her ears, alerting her that they were alive. Typically, Angela would rush out without fear to inspect the wounded, but she found herself faltering tonight. Namely because of what she could see from the back of the man.
A large "76" sewn into the leather of his jacket.
"You…you saved me…b-but why?" The meek voice of the native girl called out to the injured but still intimidating masked man. He turned to her—giving Angela another wonderful view of his leather back—as he answered her.
"Old habits die hard, I guess. Run home, kid, it ain't safe out here." He replied while tossing her a tiny coin purse, one Angela could only assume belongs to the girl in the first place. Noticing how the man approached the alley she occupied, she clung more to the wall, hoping the misty darkness would cloak her presence from the red optical visor.
"You're one of those heroes, aren't you…?"
"Not anymore." Was all he gave in reply before entering the haze of smoke, disappearing now into the same murky alleyway as Angela. At this point, she had turned down one of the adjacent alleys and pressed her back into the wall with both hands clasping her mouth. She needed to be silent and observe. This man was definitely the notorious Soldier: 76 that Winston warned of, but was he that much of a criminal. The gear he used definitely came from Watchpoint: Grand Mesa, but he just saved the life of an innocent girl over pursuing the cartel. Surely that stood for something.
A moment passed and Soldier: 76 rested his back in the alleyway just across the intersection. He hadn't seen Angela yet, but she definitely could see him from the position. He had held onto the strong posture while in the girl's presence, but now that he was alone, she could tell he was hurting. Shoulders slouched forward as he rested awkwardly against the wall.
"Where is it…I know I've got a couple left." The voice mumbled quietly as he patted his body down. A sigh of relief escaped his mask as he grasped the small cylindrical capsule in his hand. The rifle he had rested against the wall beside him as he used both hands to twist the device. Angela's eyes widened as the recognized the object. It was one of her creations. It was a canister meant for Overwatch field agents for quick fix healing. A small device that any soldier could have on their person that—with simple activation—could emit a biotic field in the area, healing all injured allies within the field. Angela poured many hours into the creation of the emitter as it helped her be in more urgent areas on the field. It seemed like the capsule was jammed, and the man hadn't enough patience or energy to take time trying to release the biotic healing wave.
"Oh for crying out loud—open!" He exclaimed quietly as he fidgeted with the device in his gloved hands. As he gave it one more go, the healing capsule fell out of his grasp and began to bounce across the alley. Angela had been silent this entire time, but as she eyed the small device that now rolled up against her ankle, she couldn't help but gasp in awe. Her eyes slowly rose from the device to meet the single red line that glowed in the low lighting of the alley. Angela could see Soldier: 76, and now, he could see her as well.