Before we get into the story, I must make two things clear to my dear readers (of which I am surprised I have quite a few, considering this is a relatively dead fandom, until Overwatch 2's release). First, my knowledge of Overwatch lore is spotty at best, but I have a genuine grasp of key things due to Youtube and Wikipedia; second, I will attempt to make this as non-cringily romantic, and decent relationship wise. Tracer's is not going to instantly fall in love with our sniper, and as such, we will more than likely have to wait at least twenty-ish chapters before the relationship happens. Anyhow, here is chapter 4.
"Achi! You called!" Anoush's voice resounded loud and crackly into the scout's old flip-phone, surprise and joy evident with each word.
"I promised you, Anoush, and a Kohen always keeps his promises."
"You sound like abba, Levi."
The scout heard a faint, "and just what do I sound like," echo into the phone by the man whom he was compared to. Levi chuckled, imagining the look on his father's face.
"So, what's it like?" the little Kohen immediately asked, somehow managing to smile into and through the phone with his genuine curiosity and happiness.
"Well, I can't tell you specifics, you know the usual top secret world saving stuff," Levi answered his brother, hints of sarcasm and humor in the statement, "but everything seems alright. The people here are okay, though most are too busy with their work."
Levi internally cringed at that last sentence. He was brought up to always be honest with the family, but he did not want to taint his little brother's innocent view of Overwatch by telling him the truth. The scientists and the soldiers avoided the scout as if he had leprosy, a few, of whom were all Egyptian, went so far as to openly insult him. Like a true soldier, he took it all with a straight face, especially in the light of recent events—Israel was back at war.
"Did you meet any of them, achi?"
"Whose them, Anoush?"
"You know, the heroes."
"Ah, like your girlfriend Mercy."
Levi could practically see his brother going red as a tomato at the mention of his crush. His father's light laughter drifting into the phone, no doubt enjoying his youngest son's reddened face.
"Well, to answer your question, yes I did, but only one." Levi answered, redirecting his brother's attention away from his embarrassment.
"Who?"
"Tracer. I quite literally bumped, well actually crashed, into her while walking back from the shooting range. She's just as bubbly and quick as the videos, achi."
"Cool, anything else neat happen."
"Nope, unfortunately, things are pretty relaxed here, but I will let you know the moment anything happens, alright?"
"Okay."
"Levi," his mother took over the phone.
"Yes, mama."
"Have you eaten yet, ma petite cochon?"
"umm, no, not yet, but dinner is in an about thirty minutes. Why'd you ask?"
"The government probably already dealt with it, but make sure you're able to eat, okay?"
Levi nodded, before mumbling "yes" to his mother, know she was talking about his kosher diet. He highly doubted that the cooks wouldn't know about it; besides, standard issue rations were meant to follow kosher, as well as some other diets.
"Anything else, mama?"
"Does stay safe count?"
Levi rolled his eyes, "yes, mama, I will."
"ben," the voice of Levi's father now spoke, in a hushed and serious tone.
"Abba."
"How bad is it after all this with the country? I know you were lying to Anoush for his innocence but tell me the truth."
"It's not too bad. Most people avoid me, only a few have said anything."
"What?"
"You know, the usual crap," the scout answered, running a hand through his hair, waiting for his father to ask for specifics.
"Did you respond?"
"No. Abba, I knew there would be repercussions for joining, especially with all that is going on right now."
There was a brief moment of silence, as his father inevitably took in his son's words.
"You are strong, ben; always remember that."
"I will."
"It's almost time for dinner, I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay?"
"Night, abba."
"Night, ben."
The scout gently laid his phone down on his bunk, taking in the quiet and preparing for what awaited him in the cafeteria for dinner. His father's words echoed in his brain, offering a small sense of comfort, but it was the scout's imperviousness to insults which brought him strength and pride. He was no stranger to it, especially after the Second Yom Kippur War. His time at the Gibush and in the field allowed him to bare it all with a cold exterior, a game face.
With a sigh, he got off his bunk and walked into the bathroom for a shower.
As if with foresight, the scout had been given his own private quarters, while most soldiers and personnel were forced to share. It was a small area, set within the complex of building hidden inside Gibraltar's cliff's, etched into them like a mine shaft. The scout's quarters only possessed two rooms, bathroom and bedroom. There was no other furniture beside the bed and the desk which lay propped against the wall just beside the door. There were only two lights within, one in the middle of the bedroom, the other within the bathroom. Each light was enclosed in a squarish box, which was latched into the ceilings, which were grey, just like the walls. The only non-grey element within was the door, which was black, and rather rudimentary, using a handle and locks over an electrically operated sliding door.
Inside the tiny shower, the scout absentmindedly hummed as hot water poured down his back in a never-ending wave. Once finished, he redressed himself in his second pair of fatigues, carefully attaching his unit's pin, the flying tiger, to his left breast before placing his brown beret atop his head. These extra elements were not needed, but it was his way of showing he was proud to be Israeli.
After spending some time wandering through the buildings, complexes, streets, and tunnels of Watchpoint Gibraltar, the scout finally arrived at the cafeteria. Soldiers and scientists were lined up, crawling towards where the food was being served, whilst those already with the meals ate at one of the many tables within the large hall. Some of the actual members of Overwatch, the heroes, were spread about, inevitably eating with those of their nationality. From his vantage point, the scout only identified three—Tracer, D. Va, and Pharah.
The moment the line shifted forward, the scout noticed the eyes on him. None of those who watched him were of any concern, save for the ones with Pharah. They stared at him with contempt and rage, inevitably as a response to the events of the day. Swallowing and immediately identifying the exits, the scout defined a way to leave the cafeteria, and find some small sanctuary, knowing full well, staying would more than likely not end well. The scout was not a coward; he just knew when to fight, and when to fall back.
After what felt like hours, it was finally the scout's turn at the counter of food.
"You're the Israeli, ain't ya?" the man from behind the counter, an American with a long awry red beard said.
"Yes."
"Welcome to Overwatch, kiddo," he said offering his hand for the scout to shake.
"Unfortunately, we ain't got shit you could eat with that kosher thing, but there's soup and bread. I'll put in a word with the brass hats for somethin',alright."
"Sure, thanks."
With that, the scout grabbed what the American had recommended, and immediately headed out of the cafeteria and into the open air. The rest of his dinner passed uneventfully as he ate his food atop a building overlooking the sea. At least all of the people here aren't so bad, he thought, watching the sun set, slowly merging and disappearing behind the ocean.
===line break===
Levi's first week in Overwatch was relatively uneventful. The staff of soldiers and scientists were still against him, save for the American man, whom the scout learned was named Dan. However, he barely spent any time near them, instead training personally with General Aleksander, who had returned after two days.
The Ruach was officially assigned to help Levi, as his final assignment before retirement, whilst his generals fought the war against Egypt. The man was ruthless by nature and as such transferred that into his training, instilling in the scout the skill of the knife and other techniques of close quarter combat.
Most days ended with Levi returning to his quarters bruised and bleeding somewhere, as well as extremely tired. For an older guy, the Ruach could easily kick his ass up close and personal, but on the shooting range, especially at long distances, his skills faded. He claimed it was old age and worsening eye-sight.
The only place Levi felt remotely normal was on the range. He quickly figured that out after his third day, discovering a place he could frequently go and find peace. It was a strange thing to him, finding peace while shooting a gun, but he did not question such things, especially when finding his targets.
"Do you plan on shooting, or just staring at it?" the Ruach said, snapping the scout from his reflections on the week's events.
"At this distance, you do not rush the shot, sir."
"Ever hear the phrase 'time is money,' captain?"
"Yes, sir."
"Same applies here, take too much time, you and your fellow soldier's might be dead," the general deadpanned.
"Take too little, and you miss."
The Ruach sighed at that statement.
"Then find the right timing soldier."
"Yes, sir."
Saying nothing else, the scout attempted the general's advice, finishing off the remaining five rounds in his magazine. Only one missed, merely by a hair, whilst the other shots were scattered throughout the body.
"Crap."
"Not bad, soldier. Reload and shorten those spaces. A single miss is not too bad."
"Respectfully, sir, every shot counts when you're on sniper duty."
The Ruach looked at the younger man questioningly.
"Besides, everyone expects me to make my shots, and to add to that kill the world's most lethal assassin. I shouldn't be missing."
"Then get better, you've got a lot of time between now, and when you fight her."
"Yes, sir."
The scout returned to shooting.
Crack!
The bolt opened up, freeing the used bullet shell.
Crack!
The bolt was once again pushed back into the receiver, chambering another round.
Crack!
The process restarted.
After emptying another clip, with only two misses, the scout looked at his observer.
"Better, lessen the spaces, I see four major injuries, two minor, and two dead."
The scout restarted his shooting.
"Four dead, three major injuries, two minors."
Another clip was used, yielding the same results.
"Faster."
The scout quickened his pace, ramming his fresh clip into the gun and unlocking and locking the bolt into the receiver.
Crack!
Crack!
Crack!
"Faster."
Crack!
Crack!
Crack!
"Better."
Crack!
Crack!
Crack!
Crack!
"Cease fire."
The target, some five hundred yards off, was completely covered in bullet holes. The ground beside the scout and the Ruach was littered with a valley of spent shells, glistening in the sun.
"Nice shooting, kid. Only one miss with this mag."
The general lightly patted Levi's shoulder, slight traces of a grin etching their way onto his face.
"I didn't know you could smile, sir."
"Loose the smartass, soldier."
"Yes, sir."
===line break===
General Aleksander left after two weeks of observance and aid to Levi, claiming he would return when the war was won, and Israel was safe. Country first, he said, band of misfits second.
Levi chuckled as he remembered that moment, as well as some of the other things his general had said. Currently, the scout was eating his lunch outside as usual, all the while watching the birds fly over and around the base. An old saying of his mother's came to mind, we all soar sometime in our life.
"Need any company, luv?" a voice behind him said in a familiar British accent.
"Wouldn't be against it, Tracer."
The bubbly brit zoomed over to him in a bright trail of blue light, plopping down beside him. As usual, she was unable to remain completely still, her fingers patting against her knees, one after the other over and over and her head shifting slightly every few seconds.
"I'm curious, are you ever completely still?"
Tracer turned her head fully to him, cocking up an eyebrow and showing off a lopsided grin.
"Maybe."
"And do you always never answer with yes or no?"
"Maybe."
Levi shook his head, smiling to himself. His British associate always had a way of making everyone happier with her antics.
"One of these days, I'm going to get a straight answer from you to one of my questions," the scout said.
"Keep trying luv; the only people who can are Morrison and Emily."
"I will join that list if it's the last thing I do, speedy boots."
"I still don't know how you came up with that nickname."
Levi shrugged, still unsure of where he had exactly thought of naming his British friend speedy boots. The honest answer was that it just spontaneously happened, the second time they met, three days before the Ruach left.
"Anyways, sorry, went off again. The reason I'm out here is to invite you to join me in the cafeteria," Tracer explained, looking directly at the scout and gesturing towards the cafeteria building.
"And the request is mandatory, luv, no backing out."
"You know I can't accept that, Tracer."
The Brit placed a single finger to his lips, signifying for him to shut up.
"No buts, as I said, mandatory. People have problems with it, they can talk to me."
"Nope, sorry Tracer."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"For the love of God, yes! I will drag you in there if I have to."
"Try me, speedster."
Tracer blinked, taking in the newest nickname.
"Speedster? Really? You could do better."
"You're one to talk. Your vocabulary is only limited to luv."
"Levi, please. I insist you join the rest of Overwatch in for lunch."
The Brit then preceded to use a facial expression akin to puppy eyes, similar to the scout's younger brother. Where it looked cringy on Anoush, it looked rather cute on Tracer's face.
"Pretty please with a cherry on top?"
"Fine."
In the blink of an eye, Tracer grabbed Levi's hand and zoomed away into the cafeteria.
Originally, Pharah was supposed to show up in the chapter, but I couldn't fit it in without it being bad or forced. Right now, I am rewriting the whole meeting scene between Levi and her, and making her less hostile. Even though I believe her to be very nationalistic, I do know she has an overwhelming sense of justice, so being automatically out to get Levi seems bad. Also, the next chapter has Levi's first Overwatch mission, so that's going to take a bit of time to write. Until then, adieu.