Fifteen Years Ago…
I rounded the corner with Reyes and Morrison. Ana was on top of a wrecked train. Aiming down her scope at the waves of Omnics guarding the payload full of prisoners. There were loads more prisoners in the diner. Route 66 was closed as of today. I held my knives and looked back at Morrison.
"Well?" I asked waiting for Morrison to give an order.
"Ana," he went to his coms. "Do you see any way we can hit?"
"I see two giant holes and a train slanting for one of them. I suppose you could technically ambush them."
"Well, is that the best way?"
"It's better than a head on assault. Wait! I also see a path leading from that sign down to my train. It's lower ground, but if you're undetected, you're aced."
"How about the diner?" He asked.
"Well, it's a little crowed with prisoners, but I see only two Omnics in there. You might actually be better off fighting those guys up front though and I can handle the diner."
"It's a done deal," he said. "Reyes, you're up top. I'll go down the path."
"What about me?" I asked.
Reyes gave me a crooked smile. "You're going head on to test that knife."
I looked at him blankly. "You're joking right?"
Morrison was smiling too. I could only imagine Ana doing so as well. I shook my head and pulled out my knives. "Hopefully they made this flashbang knife an EMP too," I muttered. "Well, see ya!" I charged right at the Omnics. The Omnics looked at me and they beeped. I prayed it wasn't calling me a fucking idiot because that's what I was. I threw up my shield and deflected each shot back at them.
When they stopped shooting, I did my flashbang and the machines reeled back shutting down temporarily. I cheered as the k I've began to recharge. I ran forward and sliced the gun off of one Omnic. I spun and then sliced the chest of another's and destroyed it. The Omnics began to revitalize and they were about to shoot me, but Reyes began picking them off. As they tried to put their sights on the two of us, Morrison popped up and shot them. We decimated our confused enemy and moved through the diner.
I ran inside while Morrison secured and broke the lock off the cage holding prisoners. I looked around and shot the Omnics as Ana swooped in with me and supported. One of them decided to shoot me, but a young woman jumped in front of me and took the bullet. I was surprised and shot the damn machine and instantly went to the woman's side.
It was a dirty twenty two or twenty three year old Mexican woman. The grim made her look beautiful though. She had black eyes and her head was shaved. She was probably abused in these conditions. I wouldn't be surprised if she was underfed as well. I picked her up. She was my hero.
I looked around and saw Ana had a pistol with a health syringe ready and primed. She shot the woman in the shoulder and the woman cough as her eyes fluttered open. She was in no condition to walk, but I sure as hell wasn't going to let her go from my arms. I nodded to Ana as she directed everyone to follow her.
Reyes and Morrison ran in. "Let's go," Reyes grabbed a child and put it on his back. "Can you hold on," he asked the little boy. The kid nodded. Morrison held his rifle to the ground and pulled a radio out.
"I need multiple helicopters for evacuation," he said looking down at an elderly woman.
"Down in two," the pilot said.
Morrison looked at us. I looked at the woman in my arms and laid her down on the ground. I began to nurse her bullet wound. Applying pressure.
She gave a small moan and looked up at me like an abused animal. Her eyes were locked on mine. She smiled and tried to touch my face. "Who… who are you?"
"My name is Nyght."
"You're my hero."
"No, you're mine," I said taking off my shemagh. I began to wrap her up and bandage her in a loose healing process. "I will forever be in your debt."
"Your face is more handsome without the veil," she commented with weak laughter that made her shudder in obvious suffering.
"You need rest," I said.
"Why is your skin so white?"
"Because… well, I have a story for that. Much later. Would you mind discussing it over a glass of wine and steak?"
"Actually, I'd like to discuss it in bed."
"I don't believe in sex before marriage," I said.
"Well," she looked at my hands. "You don't have a wedding ring on."
"I think we should talk in the hospital before we make any decisions."
"I'll be waiting."
I smiled. I was in love. I heard the helicopters coming down. I picked her up and we went outside. I put her the first helicopter as more Overwatch operatives got out to help us. We began to take off with the side door open. I was still by her side. She hugged me by the neck and pulled herself up.
"You know anyone here?" I asked.
"No. I'm not really supposed to be here. I was looking for a job at the bar up the road when they caught me."
"After the saving move you pulled," Ana looked at her with a smile. "Consider yourself a new Overwatch operative."
"I never caught your name," I said brushing my thumb under her eye. She rubbed her head around as if she was purring. I could tell she enjoyed being touched. Caressed at the minimum.
"Zøe," she said looking distracted. I followed her eyesight and saw there were Omnics about to shoot us down with rockets. I looked back at Zøe. Before I could yell to Ana, Zøe shoved me on the floor of the chopper and grabbed the turret. She sliced the Omnics up and when they fired one rocket, she swivelled the gun towards it's path and shot it down. I looked up and saw nothing but pure determination her eyes.
"Die you useless scum!" She screamed.
I rose up and looked down at her. Twice she saved us. Those Omnics would've shot us down. I could use a strong woman. I was looking forward to expanding on the marriage offer. I wondered what her view on kids were.
Present…
"…And that's how we met," I said. "She joined Overwatch and we got married. Zøe Granada was her real name. She then became with me. Nïver. So, uh, we couldn't have kids. She had cancer. That's why she had a shaved head. It rendered her sterile and I felt so bad. That's all she'd ever talk about. Wanting to have one."
"Oh, I'm so sorry," Angela said. "I didn't know."
Tears were forming in my eyes. "She never really believed in Omnic rights because they injected her with the fucking stuff. She didn't want any operations done by them or their technology. Didn't even want an Omnic child. So, we, uh, were just going to live it out. She wanted a miracle to come and the kid to come naturally and by me alone. She even wanted a surrogate to come in and I was about to to along with it.
"And that's the worst mistake I made," I continued. "Is that when you lay with someone, you form a bond with them. I fell in love with the surrogate. Her name was Velva. And when Zøe found out, she was heartbroken. At the worst time too. As soon as she found out, we were at dinner with Jack, Reyes, and Ana. Some Omnics just swooped in and burned the place down. I remember it like yesterday…"
Twelve Years Ago…
I stepped out of the car wore the face of the happiest man alive. Zøe was in my left arm. I hugged her close. One night we could all enjoy ourselves. Velva was already at the establishment. She had snagged a hook up with Reyes as Ana was playing with who she liked more: Morrison or Reyes. Morrison was with Ana. Pharah would be back at home, so it was just an adult party and hardcore happiness.
Zøe and I walked in the dining hall. She smiled her beautiful smile at me. I loved it and it nearly drove me crazy. Do I ever so wish we could have traded places when she took the bullet for me. I would do anything not to let her be hurt. Such beauty should not even be treated to a Route 66 diner. It should be treated to the most extravagant foods of all the world at the most expensive restaurant in the world: McDonalds.
No, but on the real, we were at a banquet hall in London. There was hundred foot tall ceilings and a chandelier that was easily forty meters in circumference hanging right in the middle of the grand roof. I led her in. I saw the group at the table in the middle right under the gigantic hanging aesthetic.
We waltzed over to them and sat down. Reyes with left to me and Zøe to my right. Everyone was in good spirits. We ordered water and the best of steaks. Except for Zøe. She had some fresh bred catfish imported straight from the States. I never really got her taste, but if that's what she wanted, that's what she was going to get.
"I love your hair," Velva made small talk with Ana.
"Really? I only used shampoo."
"It must've only taken you ten minutes to get ready," I said right before Zøe punched me in the arm. Even Reyes gave a smile as everyone laughed.
"What's new with you?" Zøe asked Reyes. Zøe and I had just come off a sting operation that lasted a no the and needed to catch up with our group.
"We've expanded a couple bases and recruited almost triple what we had before you left," Ana reported drinking from her glass.I got some new implants."
My eyes instinctively dropped to her breasts.
"Oh come on!" Ana exasperated. "Eye implants you fucking perv."
"Oh, and I'll just assume Reyes and Morrison didn't do that when you just said, " oh by the way, I have implants,"" I began to mock her sovereign voice.
Zøe was about to hit me again, but I hit her arm and redirected it to thin air.
"Hit a lot?" Reyes commented.
"You should've seen her when she nearly blew our cover for commenting on her biceps was as thick as her ass."
Zøe grinned wildly as she flexed. Her muscles were bigger than Ana, it then Reyes had to ruin it by putting her to shame. Then Morrison flexed. Then Ana did. As soon as I attempted, Zøe put her hand on my shoulder and shook her head. "Don't try and embarrass yourself love," she blinked and her lashes were clearly added on for innocent affection.
"That won't be the only thing he's surprised about," Ana said.
"I haven't told him yet," Zøe smiled to Ana.
"What?" I said.
"Well, I'm-"
Velva stood up. "I have an announcement to make," she said.
Everyone fell silent.
"Nyght and I are getting married."
My mouth fell open. What was she talking about? I never said such a thing. I grabbed my glass and I was about to throw it at her head, but Zøe slammed her fist into my jaw. I fell to the floor with pain shooting through my veins. Zøe got on top on me and started to pummel me in. Reyes was trying to pull her off, but Morrison was getting in the way by aiming kicks at my head. Ana was trying to escort Velva out.
Fire engulfed the room as the chandelier exploded into multiple stones and jewels. It rained down solid rock and cut everyone. It was the Talon mercenaries and they were shooting at everyone. People screamed and people died. Blood sprayed everywhere as the mercenaries fanned out in a coordinated attack. Zøe got off me in surprise and we were unarmed.
There were too many. They knocked out Morrison and grabbed Zøe. I tried to run to intercept them from touching my wife,but the Talon kicked me in tue chest. They placed down a bomb and forced everyone to the ground. I got up and met eyes with Reyes. We ran and fought so many and I took the bomb and threw it to the ceiling. It flashed bright red and then exploded. We tried to help everyone as the Talon made their exit with Zøe. He went for Ana and I for Morrison. Velva was dead from a rock shard piercing her temple.
We evacuated everyone that we could before the bomb could detonate.
Present…
Angela was looking at me skeptically. "So you cheated on Zøe-"
"No," I said firmly. "No one believes me except Genji and Reyes. I don't know what went through her head. I can only guess. I remember she wanted to have me write her a poem. I think she misinterpreted it. I wrote it as an epic. A tale of two lovers. Pure fantasy. Maybe she thought she was the maid being saved by the dragon and I was the dragon. Whatever happened to her thought process, I truly do not know. She must've not been able to distinguish a poem of pure entertainment from the reality of romance."
"So you're innocent?"
"I know my conscience is clean. But the only reason I have a slight strain and not a crippling depression is because Reyes still believed the truth and Genji imparted peace with the mind to me. If not, I would probably would've lied to myself and convinced myself of false guilt."
"Can't you just present evidence of the poem?"
"No," I responded. "The poem died with Velva. I burned it the day Zøe died. I don't really care what everyone else thinks as long as Zøe knew my innocence."
"Did she ever find out?"
"No," I whispered. I wiped my eyes and held back the tears. I closed my eyes and forced the tear to run down my cheek before I reopened them and my eyes were just red, but no more salty abominations would come out anymore. "No, she never did."
"What happened?"
Nine Years Ago…
I kicked in the door and decapitated a Talon agent. I ran up to another and stabbed him multiple times before throwing him off the balcony to his inevitable death. I slit another's throat. I kicked one in the crotch before stabbing down on his neck and twisting it off.
Snapping his neck, I stepped into the control room and destroyed the Omnic guards. This Omnic compound was full of themselves and Talon who sold their works with the evil. Looking down, I typed in a passcode and opened the gate. Overwatch operatives rushed in and began to fight. I crashed through the window with my shield out.
"Get back you sons of bitches," I screamed as I slaughtered anything not in chains or a cage.
Reyes was next to me with shotguns, but I killed everything. Not even Ana got a clear shot as I was singlehandedly ran from Omnic to Omnic and cut them down. I deflected their shots. Morrison put his hand on my shoulder roughly.
"Nyght, calm down," he commanded.
"Get off me and kill these fuckers," I said shrugging him off and charging the next. The Talon shot me twice in the belly as I jumped on her. The Talon operative went to the ground as my knees went straight into her collarbone. She collapsed to the ground. Her rifle slid away. I began to choke her after I sheathed my knives.
"Where the fuck is she?" I yelled. The woman's face began to turn blue. I punched her while still choking her. "Where the fuck is she?" The woman began to shudder as her legs twitched wildly. She had spit coming out of her mouth. I got off her and picked her up by the shirt collar. I ran into the wall and put the full force into her back and continued to move. I broke her ribs.
"Where is she?"
The woman sputtered up blood. "Over there," she nodded her head to my left. I saw a cage of people. Almost inhumanely cramped. I nodded. I dropped the woman and then took my knife to her mouth. She tried to close it,but I pushed right through her teeth and slammed it through the back of her throat. I let the shield expand and the energy went through the top of her he'd and split her in two. I tore the shield out and deactivated it again.
I turned back to see a Reyes. He nodded as I pointed to the cages with my red knife. I ran to the cage and sliced off the lock. I opened the door and prisoners began to swarm out into the arms of Overwatch. I dashed inside the cage and looked around trying to find Zøe. My dear blossom. I would beg for her love and explain to her what happened. I would never look another woman again when we came together.
I couldn't find her. No. No. She must've slipped by. But then hours rang on and I had no sign of her. I sat down in grief. Maybe she did a run or something. I've heard of people on the run from these places. I've saved some of those escapees. Is it possible that she escaped?
A woman came next to me. She touched my shoulder. Correction, she was a fourteen year old girl. She had long tattered hair. She squatted next to me and rubbed my shoulder. I looked up at her.
"Are you Nyght Nïver?" She asked.
"Yes," I perked up. "I mean, yes. I am."
"I'm sorry. She tried to escape with a group of kids and she got shot while the others got away. They brought her back and she died shortly thereafter from cancer."
Reyes saw me as I let the first tear come in my eye. He was the first to comfort me. The first to understand what I was going through. The first to care for me like no other had in my lowest, most darkest, overwhelming moment The first to tell me I was innocent. He was truly my best friend. A friendship that lasted through the flames and the murky waters. I would die for him.
Present…
I was sitting still in my chair. I drained my tea cup despite it's vengeful coldness. I poured myself more and then slammed my teacup down and rose from the chair. I walked to the window unable to stand looking at Angela during such a distressful time. I could see why now I found the lights down below to be disturbing. I didn't have Zøe by my side to appreciate it. But now, I try to move on to harlots and women who remind me of her lovely features. Despite being quite softer and gentle, Angela was nearly identical to my dead lover. Kind and compassionate. Not taking bullshit and independent. A rare feature to have in a hell of a world we live in today.
I felt a hand brush against my shoulder. I barely acknowledged it. All the sudden, I felt Angela leaning on my back and whispering in my ear.
"I think you're innocent," she said. "I may not agree with all the violence, but I think you're innocent."
"Thanks," I whispered back. "Anything else you want to know?"
"I want to know why you hit on me so often," she chuckled.
"Because you're passive and innocent, but yet so assertive."
"You think I'm two faced, but still innocent on the same side of the coin?"
"No. Everyone's stained. But I think you're beautiful on both sides and on the inside. Because it doesn't matter who you are or what you did. It matters what you are to the others. No matter how much you think you are, you're always a hero and a villain. By you thinking I'm innocent, I'm the hero of my story. Ana thinks I'm guilty. I'm the villain in that light. Even terrorists and the Omnics have heroes and villains. Just from a certain point of view."
"Well, I think I'm disgusting on the inside."
"I say you don't appreciate yourself enough. Passiveness and selflessness are brothers and sisters."
"But by my standards, I'm disgusting."
"Then let me in and I'll clean out what you don't like," I said turning around and kissing her. She shoved me back. I looked at her and she stared back.
"Sorry," she said. "I'm just a little surprised. Do you mind if we try again?"
"No," I said. I leaned forward and we kissed. She broke it off. "Sorry, I just… I shouldn't have come by. Maybe we can try this some other time. But, uh, thanks for the chocolates and tea."
I nodded as she headed for the door and pulled on her shoes. She turned back around. "Uh, don't take this awkwardly or as a no," she said. "I'm just wondering whether or not I should buy red or blue stockings." I smiled. As she opened the door to head out, she looked back at me once more.
"Angela," I said. "I'd appreciate if you didn't tell anyone my story. To let it die even if everyone hates me for it."
She nodded. "Thank you for letting me hear your story."
I waved to her as she shut the door and was gone. I punched the air with half hearted joy. I turned around to be face to face with Genji. I fell back on my ass.
"What the fuck man!" I said getting up. "How long have you been in my apartment?"
"The whole thing. I was wondering if you'd like to go on a morning race with me."
"Just let me get dressed," I said shaking off the adrenaline rush. I walked to my room and started to change. Genji followed me. He may have respected the boundaries of talking to others in their nudity, but the only people I knew who didn't mind him was Reyes, myself, or Lena.
Genji looked at a torn picture of Zøe. The other half was me and I kept it on my nightstand. "You told a slightly different story if I recall."
"Yeah, I did. Let's go," I said prepping myself to leap out the window. The average twenty mile race we had once a week. He did it everyday, but I wasn't half cybernetic, so I did it once a week if not a major operation week. Never have I beaten him, but I always manage to keep up.
Genji was right though. I did tell a lie in my story. Velva got what she got coming to her for breaking up my marriage. I remember stabbing her through the temple. The fear in her eyes as I slaughtered her like a lamb being led to a mountain. Reyes wouldn't have had it any other way. Nor would I.
But Angela didn't need to know that.