Crystalline Universe: Team Fortress 2/ Overwatch

There was a moment of silence while they waited for Paxton to wake up. His eyes slowly opened to see Azur but also Carl, who he didn't recognize.

[Paxton] - "Where... Where am I? "

[Azur] - "Are you feeling alright? "

[Paxton] - "Ouch... that really hurt though. What the hell happen? "

[Azur] - "This crazy-head knocked you down for some reason. He said that you have siblings that look exactly like you. Is it true? "

[Paxton] - "Huh? No! That's impossible... How could I- "

[Carl-E] - "Stop lying, you fraud! I know you and your brothers, Valentine. "

[Azur] - "Now, you said can prove your claims, Carl, so why don't you go ahead? "

[Carl-E] - "Simple. Ask him something specific that happened this morning in the coffee shop you and the other Paxton were sitting. "

Upon hearing Carl's words, Paxton's suddenly turned pale. He tried to avoid Carl's regard but like a tiger who's stalking his prey, Carl kept staring him straight into the soul with his piercing stare.

[Azur] - "What drink did we have this morning at the coffee shop? "

[Carl-E] - "Hmm? See? I told you he is a different guy. "

[Azur] - "It's just a small detail that could be easily forgotten! It proves nothing! "

[Carl-E] - "Then let's see if he knows what did he give to Mergiann earlier this morning? "

Azur turned around, confident that Paxton will be able to answer correctly but Paxton stayed silent while choking on his words. He hasn't the slightest idea of what Carl meant by what did he give to Mergiann, who's a total stranger to him.

[Azur] - "Paxton? Come on you know it, just tell me. "

Paxton's forehead was covered with sweat and his face looked like that of a ghost. He didn't know what to say and how to pull himself out of this desperate situation. Azur, on the other hand, started to worry that what Carl said might be true.

[Paxton] - "I forgot. "

[Azur] - "It's the key! Paxton! The key that can access the central computer! "

[Paxton] - "How would I... Oh, I mean... yeah the key. "

[Carl-E] - "You just exposed yourself, Paxton! You can't hide the truth! Come on, tell her what is your true purpose here today. "

[Azur] - "Stop this! Why are you doing this? I don't even know you. "

[Carl-E] - "Be thankful that you are still alive, Azur. If it wasn't for me, you would already be dead! "

[Azur] - "but he is Paxton? Right? "

[Carl-E] - "I know you are in a state of denial but we need to move. Paxton never was your boyfriend to start with, he only seduced you because he needed you to guide him to your team. "

[Azur] - "No! I don't believe you! "

Azur ran to Paxton and looked him in the eyes. Paxton tried to avoid her stare and then she knew the answer. "I was scared to tell you... I actually liked you but my brothers wanted you dead, said Paxton in a light voice.

[Azur] - "Tell me, Paxton. Who was he? He who I thought to be the love of my life. Is it you or someone else? "

Paxton looked away from Azur and after a few seconds, confessed that it was his brother that pretended to love Azur.

[Paxton] - "I'm the weak one amongst my team. I'm always slow and shy and never dared to talk to you. Thinking back, I should've told you the truth a long time ago. The only reason my brothers took an interest in you is because they wanted information on the dimensional portal you can create. Then seeing how you can't create the portal, they decided to eliminate you along with your team when orders came from Mazzatello. "

[Azur] - "So much for my first time. "

Carl pulled his pistol out and crawled into a ventilation shaft and signal for Azur to follow him. Azur, now with nowhere to go, decided to follow the stranger. During the entire journey, the 2 remained silent. After a few minutes, they made it to a camping van and drove off far away from danger. After a few hours, the sun started to set and the orange glow of its light shined across the horizon.

The road was quiet and cars are rarely seen rolling on it. Soon, the 2 made it to a secure location by the sideroad behind a set of trees where they are out of sight of any vehicle that may pass by. Carl scanned the surrounding area and after making sure they are safe, he moved to the kitchen.

Azur on her seat without a sound. How could this happen? Why did this happen? She couldn't get herself over the fact that she was once again betrayed by someone she trusted. Her thought process was suddenly disturbed when she was startled by Carl who stood beside her with a bowl of soup.

[Carl-E] - "Soup? "

[Azur] - "No thanks. "

[Carl-E] - "Welp, your loss. It's the best thing in the world. "

Carl sat down and ate his meal in silence. Then there was a moment of calm where none of the 2 spoke to each other but after a while, Azur had it enough.

[Azur] - "What do you want from me? "

[Carl-E] - "I'll put it simply, I just need your help, that's all. "

[Azur] - "Why me? What do I have to do with you? I don't even know you! "

[Carl-E] - "I need your help to take down the Valentine brothers. We currently have a common goal after all. "

[Azur] - "Common goal? Heh... no, why would I? "

[Carl-E] - "So what about your teammates? They were captured by the Valentine brothers... are you planning on abandoning them? "

[Azur] - "They'll figure it out on their own how they'll escape. I want nothing to do with them. "

[Carl-E] - "Listen well, whether you like it or not, I'm going to kill the Valentine brothers. Like you, I don't care! I don't care if one of them is your supposed boyfriend... besides, he betrayed you. "

[Azur] - "No, he didn't. I know he won't. "

Carl stood up and brought his empty plate to the kitchen sink where he proceeded to open the water tap. With an old sponge, he then washed the dishes clean before coming back to sit beside Azur.

[Carl-E] - "You can't afford to be so stubborn and be in constant denial in such a situation, Azur. He was your first love, it's fine. But you can't risk your life because you can't let go of- "

[Azur] (suddenly) - "What do you know about me? You are a stranger who came out of nowhere in an attempt to convince me into some weird assassination mission. You know what? It's a waste of my time, I'm leaving. "

Azur stood up and headed for the door but before she could open it, Carl suddenly spoke.

[Carl-E] - "All this emotional rollercoaster because of one badly timed break-up? And because of this one break-up, you gonna leave your teammates to die without any second thought? Tabarnak, you are one spoiled girl. "

Upon hearing what he has to say, Azur angrily turned back and walked toward Carl in a fury of rage.

[Azur] - "You have no idea what I've been through all these past years! You are just some petty war criminal that- "

[Carl-E] (suddenly) - "Then what do you know about me? "

Carl abruptly stood up like a wild bear, pushing aside all the furniture around him.

[Carl-E] - "I served in this bloody war for almost my entire life! I've seen more death and suffering than you could ever do. You are so naive for what reason? A broken heart? At worst, you got a few lost family members? But me, I've seen my fellow soldiers burn in the fire of the battle of Warsaw, I've seen my friends being dismantled by my enemies, I've lost more family than you could have in 10 lifetimes and I lost another thing: my humanity! "

Carl-Emile stared at Azur with his savage regard. The expression in his eyes could only be seen in people who have been through hell and back. A fierce look of apathy and ruthlessness forged in the fire of war. A face that could only be described as anguish and sorrow with an expression of pure agony shaped by the years of bloodshed.

[Carl-E] - "You are so innocent and naive because you are a spoiled person. You don't go fight in the frontline like me because you are special, you have this crystal ability thing. You never experienced how it feels to be weak and helpless for your entire life. I want to kill the Valentine brothers because they slew someone in my family, my tank driver, Kostas. And here you are, abandoning your teammates and being sad about petty things such as a break-up. "

[Carl-E] - "You'll never understand my pain. I didn't risk getting myself killed to rescue you for nothing. I just hoped that by some miracle, you'll help me. On my own, I can't kill the Valentine brothers. You people are like demi-gods to me, you have those superpowers and I have nothing. Nothing left... but memories. "

Azur's anger slowly died down as she felt the sudden silence that filled the room. Quietly, she sat down and thought back at everything that happened in the recent few hours.

[Carl-E] - "You have no obligation to help me. You are free to go if you wish so. "

Azur looked at Carl. She didn't know what to say else than a simple: "Sorry. "

[Carl-E] - "Sorry for what? You have nothing to be sorry for. It's just how things are and they can't change either. It's a cruel world we live in and we are still far from escaping the fate that is chasing us. "

[Azur] - "I'm sorry for misjudging you. You saved me... and taught me a valuable lesson... just like when I first met Mike. I guess it's been a while since someone schooled me. "

[Carl-E] - "Mike? Do you mean The Mike G. Mundy? "

[Azur] - "He was also misunderstood. But unlike how you say it, it's not because he is so powerful that he is invincible. He lost and suffered more than us. I guess throughout the years, I forgot the meaning of true pain. "

[Carl-E] - "We don't have much time, we need to get moving before they find us. "

[Azur] - "Do you have a plan? "

[Carl-E] - "If we face them one per one, would you be able to defeat them? "

[Azur] - "What are their abilities? "

Carl reached for a piece of paper he hid amongst books and showed it to Azur.

[Carl-E] - "These are what I know. "

"-Rudolf K. Valentine (The leader): Basic attacks and punches

-Albert K. Valentine (The gentlemen): Energy redirection

-Ritter K. Valentine (The coward): Spike manipulation

-Walter K. Valentine (The douche): Material fusion"

[Azur] - "Is Albert the Valentine that was my boyfriend? "

[Carl-E] - "It should be him, yes. "

[Azur] - "Then I'd prefer to have a few words with him before I fight the other Valentines. "

[Carl-E] - "Talking won't bring him back to your side. "

[Azur] - "I know but I need to put a few suspicions to rest. "

[Carl-E] - "As you wish. "

Carl quickly headed to the driver's seat and started the engine without further delay. Meanwhile, Azur rapidly moved to the passenger seats and took a few deep breaths. She knew this won't be easy, as, for one of the few rare times, she's actually on her own against many superior enemies.

To be continued... Next Chapter: [My Way (part 1)]

BONUS:

-Profile: Paxton Valentine

-Real Name: Ritter K. Valentine

-Ability: [Silence of the lamb] - "Allows Ritter to erect invisible spike structure of variable shape and size out of his surrounding surfaces. There is no limit to how many spikes he can erect. The spikes that are already erected can still grow in length, shape and size.

-Affiliation: Talon, The XX

-Role: Minor villain

-Backstory: "Being the weakest of the 4 brothers with a very shy and closed personality, he was often the laughing stock of his siblings. Oftentimes, when scared, he even tends to piss his pants but despite his cowardice persona, inside, he is a kind person who never wished to harm anyone. "

-ABILITY STATS:

Power - D

Speed granted by ability - E

Speed of the ability - D

Range - C

Durability of the ability - B

Durability of granted by the ability - E

Potential - A