Sitting on his couch, Brian had his elbows on his knees, and his hands rubbing lightly at his eyes.
Across from him, in one of the two overstuffed chairs his parents had bought….he had no idea when. They had just always been there. In happier times, they would sit next to each other while watching tv or videos, while he and his brother sat on the couch.
Okay, Brian. Escaping reality isn't going to help….
Sitting in one of the chairs was his online friend, who also set him up with a lot of his freelance web work, Sombra. She had, apparently, decided she needed a vacation, and that visiting Brian was the place to go.
She was a beautiful latina woman, even with all her built in cyberware. Even when she sat heavily in her chair, her arms crossed under her breasts. Her long legs were crossed, the top one swinging...not quite violently, but with rapidly, with clear irritation. This also, of course, matched the dark, not quite pouty, but not quite angry frown on her face. She had even drug her chair to the other side of the room to avoid the object of her irritation.
Said object, was sitting tall, and primly in the other chair. Her bright red hair, and sharp features, gave her a harsh beauty, almost to handsomeness. Moira had a mildly amused smirk as she sipped from the cup of hot tea Brian had brought her.
Moira. She worked with Brian's parents during and just after the Omnic Crisis. Together they had made many breakthroughs. His parents helped her through some difficult times in the beginning of her career. Brian could remember many times in his early childhood when Moira would visit for dinner or even babysit him.
Even when she struck out on her own, his parents kept in touch. Even through the scandals, they had her over for a meal and a drink.
When Brian had been hurt in a lab accident, she dropped everything to come and help his parents do what they could for him. Things that….he'd rather not remember.
In fact, the only time that they didn't have contact with Moira was the time she was, apparently, part of Blackwatch. But, even then, when Brian's parents were killed during the fight between Doomfist and some of the members of Overwatch, Moira came to see both him, and his brother Timmy. She had helped them through the paperwork. She had been made, technically, the legal guardian for both him and Timmy. Her obligations, including her reputation, however, incited a minor courtwar. But one that was cut short by some of her Blackwatch contacts. Brian didn't know the particulars, and he didn't want to know.
One of the things Brian liked about Moira was her willingness to let Brian do as he wished. Which was to stay in their families apartment. Technically it was a condo, but he kinda hated that word.
She let Brian be independant, and take care of Timmy on his own. She kept tabs on them, of course, even after she went underground following the fall of Overwatch. She kept the bills paid, the power on. Made sure they had the money for food and clothes. She even came out from under her rock to give Brian his twice yearly checkups.
When he turned sixteen, Brian had requested he be allowed to support himself and Timmy. He had started doing freelance work on the web. It took some to convince Moira that he could do it, and she had insisted he build up a small nest egg. And when he succeeded, she let him go to it with a smile.
Of course, she was still he technical legal guardian. But she promised to only step in for emergencies. Something Brian had managed to not need. Though with school, Brian didn't get enough time to really make as much money as he wanted, but it was enough. And he had the backup nest egg that he had also slowly grown whenever he had extra money at the end of the month.
And with him turning eighteen in a little over six months, he would be legally independent, and Moira promised to set him up as Timmy's legal guardian.
It was kinda surreal, when he thought about it all. Despite all the accusations and scandals that surrounded the scientist, she was, to himself, and Timmy, the one solid rock that had always been kind and loving to them.
Not that Brian didn't believe what he heard. She had said, point blank, that it was all true. And looking back on his youth, now with more knowledgeable hindsight, the things his parents did were also...suspect.
And somehow it got weirder. When he had first begun doing minor webwork, he had done some white hat hacking. Looking for backdoors and exploits in servers and domains, then informing the companies in exchange for rewards. Something, it turned out, he was good at.
It also drew the attention of some of the more major players in the hacking business. Ones that were getting irritated when some nobody from out of nowhere began shutting down the holes they had carefully made.
When they came after him, he was able to fend them off. Something that seemed to earn him a bit of respect. Enough so that them making holes, and him coming along and finding them had become a bit of a game. A game he was good at. A game that also drew the attention of the most powerful hacking collective on the planet. Sombra.
Sombra came to him directly, easily cutting through his systems and firewalls. They began dropping files directly onto his computer. When Brian went through them, followed the instructions, they led to treasures, tests, and more. And at the other side of the rabbit hole, they led to Sombra, herself.
That was when she contacted him directly. She impishly informed him that Sombra wasn't a collective, but a single woman who 'didn't exist'. She also offered him work. Very lucrative work. And he needed the money at the time, so he took jobs. She paid well. It helped that she was a fun person to talk to. She was funny and had a sense of humor that Brian appreciated.
And when he saved up the money he needed, she understood when he wanted out of the more dangerous, illegal jobs. She even found him legal work, building and maintaining websites. Of course, she also handed out bounties, if he wanted to take them. Usually small jobs, like leaving a backdoor in a site he built, or passing a virus program. Things she also paid pretty well for.
They continued an online friendship. Sometimes they wrote to each other just to chat, or vent about things they were doing in life. Kinda like penpals.
And now she had come to visit.
And now things were awkward.
Brian knew that Moira had joined with the terrorist organization that Doomfist controlled, Talon. If nothing else, Moira was always upfront and unapologetic about what she was doing. And while Brian wasn't happy, he understood. But now, Brian was also aware Sombra worked for Talon. And by extension, so had he.
"Allright," Brian said at last. "Moira is an evil scientist, I knew that. Sombra is an evil hacker, I knew that as well. But the fact that you worked together was not something I could have imagined. And we should eat the pizza before it gets cold. And I have to get Timmy soon."
"Agreed," Moira smirked. "Your being involved with Sombra is a shock to me as well. I admit, however, the fact of our connection slipping past the dear, amuses me to no end."
"Dios," Sombra sighed. "I did a dive into Brian's background when I first found him. But he was like, fifteen at the time. He didn't have a whole lot of background, so I didn't do as complete a dive as normal. Looking back at it now, I probably should have. Ah, bien." Sombra shrugged and sat up, taking a piece of the pizza and munching away at it.
"I should be heading out," Moira nodded as she took some food and stood. "I'll be in touch as usual, Brian. Give Tim my love."
"Will do," Brian stood as well and smiled before bringing the psychotic doctor into a hug. Something he took a perverse pleasure in, as it always made her uncomfortable.
"Yes, well," Moira cleared her throat, before turning to give Sombra a dark glare. "Do not put these boys in any danger. It would be most...unpleasant for you."
"No te preocupes," Sombra waved a hand dismissively. "I like the kid. He's good people, I'll watch him."
Moira's eyes narrowed a moment as she *hrumphed*. Then with a final smile and nod to Brian, Moira left as quietly as she came.
After a few minutes of silent eating, brian sighed. "I have to go pick up Timmy from his friend's place. I probably should have done it a while ago, but…" He gestured at Sombra with a shrug.
"Ha, ha!" the latina laughed. "Lo siento, just needed away time, and you are the one I trust the most. And you are a cool kid."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Brian chuckled. "We can work out sleeping arrangements when i get back. I'm sure you can find everything around the place that you need."
"Ah! Wait!" Sombra stood quickly as Brian did, stuffing the last of her pizza in her mouth and wiping her hands off with a napkin. "M erph iff ur!"
Blinking a couple of times, Brian smirked. "You want to go with me?"
"Mm!" Sombra nodded, swallowing heavily. "Yeah, you can point out stuff, tell me about the city."
"Sombra...I can't imagine there is anything I can tell you that you either don't, or can't just as easily find out," Brian chuckled as the pair went to the door.
"Eh," Sombra shrugged as the headed out. "I could, sure. But having the inside scoop from somebody that knows the place? First hand advice? That's where you come in amigo!"