3AN- So, yeah, I found this pairing and kinda liked it, but was very disappointed in the fan fiction community. Nothing I could find really impressed me. That said, if you know a good story for this pairing, please share it with me. For now, here's my own go at it. Keep in mind that I am not the best at romance, but I will try. Bare with me. Also, forgive me if this chapter seems a bit rushed. There were a lot of ideas I wanted to get out in the first chapter without making it too lengthy.
It was an organization like no other... When it came to 'military,' Overwatch was a massive step above the standard and one that operated considerably well in spite of the diverse personalities in its employ. As a matter of fact, the diversity was the unit's greatest PR asset; however, aside from protesters wanting to keep Overwatch in retirement in the wake of the Omnic Crisis, internal conflict was still a present issue above others. One of the best examples of this was with Blackwatch's newest recruit, Hanzo Shimada. The archer was as cynical and disapproving as he could be. Symmetra wasn't a great deal better. In fact, very few of Overwatch's members were actually pleasant to be around.
Lucio was happy to be considered one of those few. It wasn't something he prided himself in, but rather something he was happy to be. Positivity was an aspect many more people needed, especially with so much hatred in the world as of late. Billboards, public service announcements, and even television shows were littered with underhanded jabs at the expense of a people only looking for rights on the grounds that they possessed sentience. Lucio himself understood completely and agreed with the movement. If they were capable of emotion and free thought, then they should have rights; however, many of his teammates didn't share this opinion, making Lucio one of the minority. He wouldn't openly argue with anyone over it, though, even if one were to make a rather venomous remark. Opinions were opinions and the line between right and wrong was a blurred one because of them. For some, it was understandable in the very least. Zaria's home of Russia had been campaigning against the machines for years, meaning she would've been brought-up on the propaganda, knowing no better. This case was, again, understandable, but still felt wrong.
Over the span of a year, Lucio had gotten in comfortably with Overwatch and was working happily with just about everyone, in spite of many of their differences. He'd also made a few friends. Lena, usually going by the title 'tracer,' was always fun to be around. Sure, keeping up with her was an impossible challenge, but she was funny and her optimistic outlook made Lucio feel like he wasn't alone. Hana was great, as well, being an Internet celebrity who also was a fan of his. She had an energy about her that he borderline adored and her competitive spirit was fantastic. Lucio would be lying if he said he didn't use to have a crush on her. Bonds were important to the team, he knew. Friends worked best together and strong friendships meant a stronger team. Though not everyone in the Overwatch liked one another, those who seemed to work best together were close enough to do well.
Lucio sat up in the booth aboard Overwatch's transport vessel, a massive freighter-like ship. The inside was roomy enough to take whoever it needed to places both local and far out of reach. It was clean, practical, and had a few luxuries for the benefit of those aboard, not to mention it was piloted by Winston's state-of-the-art artificial intelligence, Athena; however, the ship was a little sluggish, meaning that it took a while to get from place to place. That made Athena's tactical predictions a godsend. She hadn't been wrong yet. Lucio had opted to curl up in the corner booth and nap for the majority of the trip to Numbani where there had been some desturbances as of late, many of which prompting a temporary stationing of Overwatch agents on the grounds. Winston had carefully chosen Lucio, Genji, Zinyatta, and Tracer to stay in the city and keep an eye on things.
When the Brazilian awoke, he glanced about the hold of the ship, finding Zinyatta and Genji sitting side-by-side in the center of the floor, both resting in meditation. Lena was sitting in front of the basketball hoop making free throws. She'd make each basket, allow the ball to roll back to her, then throw again. Having her be the kind of person she was, she probably hadn't been doing it long.
With a quiet yawn, Lucio sat up the rest of the way and looked at Lena. "How far out are we?" he asked. She caught the ball with both of her hands and looked at him with a smile.
"Five minutes." That was a relief. He didn't think he could stand waiting any longer than half an hour, having already waited around two full hours before falling asleep.
Lucio hated missing his concert in Numbani. Little mattered more to him than his music, but being a freedom fighter was one of those exceptions. As he exited the ship on the outskirts of the city, he could see a flood of faces light up with both surprise and excitement, perhaps at seeing him, but perhaps at seeing the arrival of an Overwatch unit. Two people came directly from the crowed outside the airport and approached them, one a native of Numbani in a crisp, black suit and tie, the other an Omnic that looked much like Zenyatta, but wearing a long, emerald green robe.
"Greetings, agents," said the human. "I am Msedu Oban, a councilman for Numbani and this is Kashikoi, my personal adviser." The Omnic bowed.
"Welcome, Overwatch. We are thrilled to meet you." Lena stepped forward, giving a little salute with a broad, friendly smile.
"Glad t' be 'ere, gents. What seems t' be the problem?" Msedu and Kashikoi looked at one another, one expecting the other to say something. Eventually, Msedu made a gesture towards Kashikoi that prompted the advisor to speak.
"Well, we believe our citizens are in great danger and they seem to realize, as well. For the past month, we have had a string of violent attacks that have nearly leveled buildings, destroyed streets, and left our people fearful of their lives. Our police have been unable to capture those responsible so we turn to you as a last resort. They possess a powerful amount of weaponry and we fear any further confrontation will result in more death and destruction than we can handle without evacuating a large portion of the city."
"Could it be Talon?" asked Zenyatta.
"Perhaps. I would not dismiss the idea. Do you think you could help us be rid of them soon?"
"You can count on us, love!" Lena beamed dutifully. "Where would you 'ave us be?" Msedu turned with a wide, sweeping gesture.
"Come with us. We'll show you the damage."
An entire street lay upturned with asphalt chunks thrown about deep gashes in the ground. Scorch marks were everywhere, on buildings, sidewalks and inside the ruined shells of businesses that had windows and doors ripped clean off or bashed in. The area was completely empty save for their group. "Why have you not dispatched repair teams?" asked Genji as he glanced around the ravaged scene.
Msedu sighed. "Until those responsible are caught, there's no point."
"You believe they will attack the same place twice?"
"We aren't sure," said Kashikoi, "But we will not put in the resources until we needn't worry about the possibility." Lucio listed to them talk in silence, taking in the images around him with a sickened feeling. The amount of actual damage was incredible considering that these places didn't look like Talon targets. He saw a jewelry store, a coffee shop, a small hotel and a bank, not to mention the bodies of police drones thrown everywhere. Talon didn't need money, so this might've been but a scare tactic, if not a group of well-armed criminals.
"Do you have any witnesses?" Lucio finally asked. Kashikoi gave a single nod.
"We have a few police officers who saw one of the assaults. We will let you talk to them shortly." The DJ nodded and resumed his previous silence. Msedu and Kashikoi led the group out of the damaged zone and into a rather normal area of the city. Unlike before, the streets were well alive and flowing like a city's should be. Things seemed as normal as they could be with crowds huddled together on the sidewalks for as far as the eye could see, only parting to allow their group through with curious eyes. Lucio would smile and wave to the citizens if only to make their presence seem more comfortable as a few faces looked grave, but his efforts were in vein.
Eventually, they made it to the front of one of Numbani's massive skyscrapers. Windows lined every face of the curving structure, making its rising spire appear crystalline. A holo-sign floated out front over a slim, lit-up fountain of green and blue orbs. The larger letters on the sign read 'Lotus Hotel' while the two lines under it were written in other languages, presumably Spanish and another secondary language spoken in Nigeria. The foyer was illuminated in rich golds and gentle, spring greens with small accents of light pink here and there. The ceiling was high with grand, golden arches leading towards the elevators and a sitting area off to the left of the doors. Centered in the foyer was a dark, wooden desk with the hotel's name printed on it in silver. The receptionist was a women in her late thirties or early forties, but on the better end of the appearance scale. It helped that she wore her makeup modestly and the hotel uniforms weren't gawdy.
Msedu approached her with a wide smile. "Hello, again. These are the Overwatch agents staying with us for a little while. May we have the room keys, please?"
"Of course, sir. One moment." The receptionist disappeared behind a wall of cubbies for a few minutes before returning with a clutch of four keys.
"All of your rooms are on the second floor for obvious reasons. The Lotus Hotel is one of the best in Numbani and we hope it will suit you and then some." Msedu took the keys and handed them to each of the agents.
"I am sure they will be fine. Thank you, Councilor Oban," said Genji. The Councilor gave a considerate nod before he and Kashikoi turned and left.
Lucio's room was decent if the rooms he was used to staying in were anything to go by. He wasn't complaining, however. Great hotel rooms were just that, but he didn't mind having a normal one. A room was a room. As long as it was comfortable and clean, he was happy. Of course, a 'normal' room for the Lotus Hotel was wonderful. Done in the normal colors of the building, the room was large enough to fit a standard dresser, a queen-sized bed with silk and satin bedding woven into flowing, floral-like designs, and two bedside tables with modern grav-lamps while having room to spare. Lucio threw himself onto the bed and stretched himself out to cover most of the mattress. He groaned as his muscles tensed and joints cracked before exhaling into a state of limp relaxation. Though allowing himself to drift into thoughtlessness for a few minutes, work came to the forefront of his mind and he found himself thinking on the reason that Overwatch was in Numbani.
The damage to the storefronts was perplexing, to say the least. Talon may have been a terrorist organization, but randomly tearing a small, miniscule fraction of Numbani violently apart didn't fit them. Talon attacked military sites, government properties- a bank arguably being that- and industry buildings where armaments and new technologies were being produced. These targets would have a large impact on societies as a whole and would induce fear on both a shock level and a morbid dread level as the people within became uncertain of their future. No, whatever was happening in Numbani wasn't Talon, but a concern of Overwatch, nonetheless. Whoever these people were, they were dangerous and their motive was purely monetary judging by the targets. 'A Jewelry store, a bank, normal businesses... Scorch marks and craters... These are thieves with serious firepower.' Lucio thought with a scowl. 'Bullies that grew past hornets and spitballs.' With another groan and a sigh as he loosened his tensed muscles, the DJ rolled onto his side and opted for a short nap.
A ray of amber light tore into his dreamless sleep and forced Lucio's eyes ajar. He'd fallen asleep facing his window and had left the curtains tied back. As a result, a street lamp in the alley outside his room cast a puke-hued glow through the glass. The Brazilian sat up with a growl and threw himself onto his other side. He hadn't intended to sleep as long as he did, but, if he didn't need to get up, he wasn't going to. Lucio was energetic, sure, but he didn't conjure his energy from another dimension. He needed sleep- loved sleep, in fact.
A frantic knock on his door prevented him from getting any more, however. "Lucio! Get up! They've been spotted! They're close! Come on!" Lena's voice called through the door.
"They- Where?"
"Just a few blocks away! Hurry up! We got some cruisers outside!" With only a moment of sluggish hesitation, the Brazilian was on his feet and rushing for the box next to the dresser which he'd carried in with him. The box was a solid, industrial grey with a single, glowing green button on top. It was a small box that reached just below his knees. Lucio pressed the button and the two sides of the box spit open, producing a mechanical arm with what looked like armor plating massed together in its grasp. Once set down, the plates separated, forming a pair of large, armored legs. These were of his standard arsinal. They allowed him more mobility, protection, and stopped him from over-exerting himself in the midst of battle. The back of the armor snapped open to allow Lucio entry. Once suited and equipped with his sonic amplifier, a weapon he'd stolen many years prior, he burst from his room and leaped right for the staircase. He shoved open the metal door and hopped right onto the wall. His skates stuck him to the surface like magnets and Lucio found himself sliding down the shaft towards the bottom floor faster than any elevator could take him. When he reached the bottom, Lena and Genji were waiting in the foyer with Zenyatta close behind. They wasted no time getting through the doors and into the back of the two waiting police cruisers, Lucio and Zenyatta hopping into one and Lena and Genji into the other.
As soon as the car pulled away from the curb, the officer in the passenger seat turned back towards the agents. He was a middle-aged man with short blonde hair slightly hidden under his uniform hat. He was a husky man, but not too much so that it might affect his work. "A couple of guys were spotted downtown matching the descriptions witnesses gave us. We shadowed them for a little bit and watched them park their vehicle outside the mall, specifically near an electronics storstore that's been getting some pretty good business since it opened a few weeks ago. We're certain that this is their target."
"What makes you so sure?" asked Zenyatta.
"They also target places with prominent Omnic employees, managers, or owners. This store is both owned and operated by a staff consisting mostly of omnics. That coupled with the high income is a sure shot." As though considering something intently, Zenyatta sat in thought, even including some audible 'hmm's and a scratch of his metallic chin.
"They target high-income businesses with omnics in their employ... They are heavily-armed thieves who want to both optain large sums of currency while also sending a message of negativity towards omnics... Curious. What do you think?" He looked to Lucio, smoothly motioning towards him with a single hand. Each movement Zenyatta made was like flowing water, even in the most stressful situations. Lucio couldn't say the same. He stammered for a moment in an attempt to collect his thoughts before what he wanted to say finally came out.
"They aren't Talon." It was simple, as responses went, but the Omnic's own vast vocabulary and ability to convey his thoughts at length didn't bring him to antagonize the less opulent responses.
"Yes, I suspected that. They are only ill-willed criminals. We must put a stop to their misconduct, nonetheless. Overwatch's duty is to the people, no matter if it is Talon that threatens them or a simple band of trouble-makers." As much as he agreed, Lucio couldn't help but feel that he was the last one across the finish line with a participation trophy just for being involved. Zenyatta made it sound like his conclusion was an obvious one.
The cruisers weaved through the labyrinthine streets of Numbani on which other vehicles jerked to the curbs to allow them through. Then, with two blocks left to go, the cruisers pulled off onto a side-street into a small apartment complex. The buildings were boxed together on four small lots with sparse vegetation made only to stop the area from looking completely out of place in comparison to the rest of downtown Numbani, but it was a surreal visual, either way.
"Transport ends here. Go one block over on Ivory until you see the Iyabo Admission building. Sergeant Kahza will meet you in the lobby and explain whatever idea he's cooked up. Good luck." Both Lucio and Zenyatta nodded with passing remarks towards the officers, meeting Lena and Genji across the lot. Lena was teetering on her heels, obviously itching to get moving.
"They tell you where to go?" Asked the DJ. Tracer nodded.
"Yup! Let's get moving." Lena zipped off down the street towards Ivory. Without hesitation, the rest of them bolted after her- Zenyatta seeming to leisurely float along, rather, but at a pace much quicker than his norm. The streets were just as empty as the destroyed block farther downtown minus the damage. Lights were off, apartments were quiet, and the city seemed silent as though holding its breath. It sent a slight shiver down Lucio's spine.
It was surreal, in a way, seeing this section of Numbani almost completely blacked out while lights in the distance shone like the crystalline stars that would've glittered overhead if the unnatural lighting of the city didn't out glare them. It felt like being in an isolation zone. Not even the automated holo-signs were on to advertise upcoming events, lawyers or soda brands every five feet. It didn't feel like Numbani.
Soon enough, the three agents caught sight of Lena who waved to them from the front walk of a building that was actually lit-up. The walk was a short yard of lush, green grass cut through by a span of even stones. The building twisted upwards a few stories short of the Lotus Hotel but more opulently in a swooping design. The holo-sign out front read 'Iyabo Admissions and Checking' in bright, amber neon. Tracer zipped through the glass revolving doors being followed by the other three. Unlike its modern exterior architecture, the inside of the building was dark and warm. The floor was covered by a deep, red carpet and Its walls were of an earth tone marble. Most of the building's fine details weren't visible, however, due to the overwhelming number of SWAT enforcers filling the lobby. The sheer volume of the masses was overwhelming, but Lucio wasn't surprised. As far as many of them knew, Talon was the suspected threat they were facing. The Brazilian managed to grab a passing enforcer by his black, woven sleeve.
"Overwatch sent to see Sergeant Kahza." The enforcer turned wordlessly to a heavy, wooden door tucked away in a corner behind the front desk and pointed to it before shuffling off in a hurry. The agents approached it together, but Lena grabbed the handle first, pressing her shoulder to the door before giving it a stern, but not too heavy handed, knock. From the other side came a deep, croak of a voice, one obviously aged and irritated for whatever reason.
"What is it?" it barked.
"Sergeant Kahza?" asked Tracer.
"Who's asking?"
"Lena Oxton a' Overwatch. We're going t' be an attachment for your operation an' were sent to see ya, sir." There was a long pause before the door was pulled open. The agents were met by an older gentleman who was an obvious native of Numbani by appearance and accent. His hair, becoming abundantly white, was shaved down close to his scalp and his eyes, both a deep brown, bore the badges of years in their bags. Wrinkles were placed sparsely about his features, but his stance was strong and his determined expression indicated that he had some many more years of fighting ahead of him. Lucio didn't think the man transparent, but he was very readable and the Brazilian saw the kind of man he often respected, though less often agreed with method wise. "Sergeant Kahza?"
"Yes. Come in. I'll brief you." Kahza turned and beckoned them in with two fingers. The agents followed him inside were a desk had been shoved to the center of the room and covered with a holo-map of what Lucio assumed was the mall mentioned previously. A floating blip was placed on the wall of a shop towards the east end. That must've been the store. "Agents," began Kahza, "I assume you were told SOMETHING of the situation?" They all nodded. "Good. I'm sure Counselor Oban showed you the damage left by these low-lives downtown and I'm sure you realize the danger they pose for Numbani. No fatalities have happened yet in connection to them, but serious injuries are being treated and three officers of the Numbani police force might not make it a week. We will not stand for anymore destruction. This is our plan..." Kahza pointed to a store a little down the way from the one in question. "We need two units to enter from this end and hide themselves in the store itself. You will be Team A. Your job will be to keep damage at a minimum and drive the criminals towards Team B who will be waiting here." He moved his finger across the parking lot and to what looked like a small row of shops across a hill separating the businesses from the mall itself. "Team B's job will be to intercept in an area where the damage will be reduced and much cheaper to repair if any should occur, which, at this point, knowing their 'run-and-gun' method, is inevitable. My men, along with police drones, will be stationed along the rout we want them to take to ensure that they go where we need them to be. Team A will need to be precise and Team B will need to be fast and I informed your superiors of this. Did they choose correctly?"
"Sure, did, love! Lucio an' I will be Team B. Genji n' Zenyatta will be Team A. We won't let those blokes get away!"
Kahza nodded sternly. "Good. We mobilize immediately."
The mall was lit up and as alive as one would expect it to usually be. From across a grassy knoll, Lucio could see the rows of cars parked outside and the lights from the complex shining brightly in the early night. Street lamps lined the parking lot and illuminated a number of vehicles and a few people entering and exiting the mall... All except the east end. The east end was empty and dark. Having the mall open was what Kahza called a 'calculated risk.' He needed the perpetrators to believe that everything was just slightly normal, giving them a sense of comfort that allowed them to enact their own plans. Lena waited with him and watched intently as Genji and Zenyatta could be faintly seen entering a clothing store not far off, both appearing casual in spite of the stares they drew. Soon enough, they had vanished inside and the pins and needles fully set in. The pressure and thickness of air was almost palpable in the silence and stillness. Cars passed on streets nearby, people walked upon the sidewalks, voices rose above the night air from outdoor seating at restaurants. It was far too calm considering the situation at hand, but the rest of the world was oblivious. If the methods of these criminals were to be completely believed, they would soon know and would soon be feeling the intensity and fear that crawled up Lucio's spine at that very moment.
Fear was never not a factor. Fear would always exist, no matter the frequency of these occurrences or if he was assigned to the detail or not. People were in danger, be it him or innocent people who didn't ask for it. Those thoughts shook him. They shook him enough to make him jump when Kahza's whispering, gravely voice broke over the com. channel right into his left ear. "Targets spotted half a click from location. Target confirmation positive. You'll know 'em when you seen 'em. Await arrival." Lucio took deep breaths, loud ones. He balled his hands into tight fists before releasing them in time with his breathing and sometimes swallowed in-between actions. Lena appeared more calm in comparison, only staring and twitching her fingers every few minutes. She was the model of readiness. Both agents waited and waited... Waited for what seemed like an agonizing eternity. It was like the last few moments before the final bell rang on the last day of one's senior year of high-school. The minutes, though they ticked by steadily on any other day, slowed to a minuscule crawl for that very moment. All eyes were on the clock, on the second hand as it ticked to each tally, drawing nearer and nearer to the minute when all the pressure would burst. Kahza came back over the radio.
"Targets have parked their vehicle behind the east-end. Entering from the staff door. Team A, be ready to push them back." Lucio couldn't see them, but he knew they were there. That scared him even more. He wanted to know what to expect, what he was facing around that corner when the plan went off the way it was suppose to, but that comfort, as slight as it could've been, was denied him. It left his heart snatching for any shred of stability in his chest. It was threatening to pound his insides to a slushy pulp. More waiting... Long... endless moments... Horrifying moments...Moments of uncertainty... In those moments, he listened more intently than he ever had. He could hear the subtle breeze rustling through the bushes. He could hear crickets chirping together in a soft song. He could hear a conversation drifting in from a balcony nearby. It wasn't exactly appropriate.
Then, there came a low, ground-shaking rumble. "Contact! Contact! Targets fleeing! Team B prepare for interception!" Lucio's muscles stiffened as he readied himself. He and Lena took similar stances as they waited for their que. "Targets rounding the east end! Be ready on the turn!" Team B was placed on a turn near the east end of mall. If the Numbani SWAT did what they were suppose to, the targets would have to round it and, as it was a sharp curve, they'd be forced to slow down considerably. If all went accordingly, the decrease would be enough for Tracer and Lucio to catch up and stop them in their tracks while keeping damage at a minimum.
From the back lot, another rumble snagged the DJ's ear, one at a constant that would raise in aggression before spitting and starting the cycle again. It was a motorbike and one seeming to be struggling. His fingers gripped the turf in anticipation. Finally, the vehicle rounded the corner. Even from the distance, Lucio could make out a few, simple details such as the driver being on the heavier side and the passenger in the beaten side-car a solid two-hundred pounds lighter, give-or-take. Each time the sputtering motorbike tried to detour through a section of the parking lot before the turn, a stream of gunfire would shatter against the ground, pushing it back on the right track. The Numbani police force didn't, of course, want to kill them just yet. So far, they were but thieves and vandals. Albeit, armed thieves and vandals, but a peaceful resolution with the possibility of interrogation was preferable. With Overwatch agents on sight, it was more possible. Then the bike began to round the turn. Lucio went stiff, his body not entirely registering when the que came through and when Lena dashed off down the knoll. She was half way to the interception point when he came to his senses and bolted after her.
"I fucked up. I fucked up. I fucked up," he mumbled to himself, a painful cringe engulfing his features. He slid down the hill and skidded against the curb as Lena placed an emp mine against the tank of the bike as planned and zipped away. Lucio, however, was not where he was suppose to be and found himself in range as a sphere of pressure erupted and sent both he and the perpetrators flying and skidding across the asphalt. The bike dropped from it's hover and tumbled over Lucio whose skates were locked up by the emp. Metal, paint, and a large array of other things, including the driver and passenger, came down with their vehicle and Lucio saw the smaller one rolling across the ground before him. He was quick to his feet, however, and merely gave the DJ a passing glance as he and his larger friend bolted for the parking lot. Both of them were surprisingly slow, but fast enough to find cover between two cars before the SWAT personnel pinned them down. Without his skates, Lucio was unable to give much aide until his armor re-booted and simply got to his feet as Lena zipped to his side.
"What 'appened?" she asked, obviously perplexed. Lucio's face now portrayed his sheer disappointment in himself and, with a sigh, he responded.
"I... I guess I was nervous..."
Tracer responded with a sigh of her own. "I just- People are in danger, love! We gotta fix this!" She opened her communicator. "Genji, Zenyatta, we gotta problem. Things didn't work out quite right..."
"What happened?" Genji's voice broke through the channel. Lena would've answered, but the explosion that tore clean across the lot large enough for anyone to see spoke for her. "Ah... We must work quickly. Civilians are in danger. I will try to distract them." Lucio looked over the vehicles to see a steady flow of round explosives rolling in different directions before detonating and tearing up sections of asphalt. Vehicles that were caught in the crossfire went up in balls of flames. Finally, Lucio felt his armor power up, an event that Lena noticed and she smirked.
"I call the big one!" she yipped and ported off towards their cover. Lucio took a deep breath and skated off after her. The brit vaulted over the cars and landed in front of the two criminals. Lucio saw their forms stiffen through the windows of the first car and adjust their position to aim at her. Before anything left the barrels of their weapons, however, Lena shot off behind them and managed to snatch a weapon from the bigger one. She ported off into the parking lot behind a new set of cars. The larger sat dumbfounded for a moment before hunkering down, albeit poorly, and crawling after her while attempting to keep his head down. His partner hunkered himself down even lower, drawing back his weapon. Lucio managed to catch his figure lying flat on his stomach from under one of the cars. Lucio switched to the SWAT channel on his communicator.
"Don't shoot either of them unless we say so. I think we can get them."
"We would have already had you not choked, boy! You got five minutes to make SOME progress before I deck them for good!" barked Kahza. Lucio didn't hold the harshness against him as it was perfectly justified, but he stiffened obviously from annoyance, his strides becoming more like stomps and jerks than his usual, calm glides. The Brazilian reached the first car and wasted no time skidding across the hood and into the space between it and the second. He and the criminal locked eyes in seconds. The other's were striking and bright, like a volatile wild-fire. Just seeing them stopped Lucio dead in his tracks with a freezing chill that rolled down his spine. It made him feel sick. Lucky for him, the criminal seemed just as stunned as he was and sat there for a good minute staring right back at him. In that single moment, Lucio swore he'd seen enough of that thin, sharp face to remember it forever. The criminal snapped out of the daze first, however, and flopped onto his back, kicking out with a booted, left foot. The sole hit the DJ square in the chest and slammed him against the ground with a dull thump. Before he could even register what had happened, the man had shoved past him in the direction his friend had gone. Lucio managed to get to his feet and skate after him. He caught up quickly, however, the criminal being impeded by what looked like a missing leg, replaced by a crude, pegged alternative that served him little good in a foot-race on top of the fact that he kept himself ducked down behind vehicles, only really MOVING to shuffle between rows. Lucio realized too late that he wasn't running from him... There was a horrible, metallic crack and Lucio was thrown forward, face-first into the pavement. Looking back, he stared in total disbelief at that fact that the right foot of his armor was caught in... a trap... A bear trap... That wasn't the realization, though. The realization came when he saw the grubby, disk-like object lain next to it, a stitched smiley-face painted haphazardly atop a pressure plate adorning the dome. Lucio managed to looked up at the other for but a moment simply to see his sick, gleeful grin as he held a small device in his robotic hand. The man was trying to clear the blast radius...
Not a second later and a powerful force sent him toppling forward, flipping numerous times through the air before he came crashing down on the roof of a car. He landed with a crash. White-hot burning seared up his back, shins and calves, but, looking down at them, his legs seemed to be intact; in total agony, but, nevertheless, intact. The armor had taken most of the damage and was left in bits of scrap scattered all over the lot. Blurred swirls fringed at the edges of his vision as he attempted to roll onto his stomach, but fell from the car onto the ground with another painful thud. He looked forward and saw the hazy figure of the criminal ducking further and further away, soon becoming almost indistinguishable from any other shape around him. Then, a voice that seemed to be screaming burst into his ear. "He got the bike back!" It took the Brazilian far too long to figure out it was Lena. Not soon after, he heard the same, sputtering and spitting from earlier far to his right and growing weaker and weaker.
Figures began to sharpen, again.
"That is just one of them," said Zenyatta.
The feeling in his entire body returned with force and he slowly got to his feet.
"Where is the other one?"
Lucio's eyes remained fixed on a single thing as he staggered across the lot: A dumbfounded expression both confused and almost betrayed, but emotions masked under a glint of disbelief.
"Tracer, where is he?" It was Genji.
He slunk around the side of a group of cars as the messy, blond head peaked out from under a mini-van. The shoulders twisted out, metal hand grasping a weapon as its owner slid between vehicles on his stomach.
"I dunno! Snipers got eyes on 'im?"
"No, ma'am," came an unfamiliar voice.
"You lost them both?" Yelled Kahza. Lucio pressed a finger to the transmitter in his ear, a single, raspy whisper breaking into a short respite between exchanged shouts.
"No..." The utterance of a single word washed a wave of silence over them all, a moment of calm and confusion that halted suddenly when the Brazilian threw himself at the man, wrapping his arms as tight as he could about the criminal's neck. In his minute of mental crisis, the man hadn't seen Lucio shuffle up behind him and had allowed himself to be entangled by the smaller male. When shock gave way, however, the man was quick to exploit his attacker's smaller stature and grasped both his wrists tightly before throwing himself back against the van. Lucio felt the burns on his back writhe under the impact, but he did not relinquish his grip. He had screwed up too much already to let this fucker get away. He tightened the pressure around the other's windpipe with his biceps. The added pressure caused the criminal to choke slightly, but try his best to dislodge the smaller, nonetheless. He toppled over two more times, each bringing a new wave of agony into the DJ's body, loosening his grip little-by-little. Lucio tried using his weight and other other's feeble balance to throw him off, but the man was strong enough to toss the other around as though he weighed near to nothing. The amount of physical strength the man possessed was astonishing to the Brazilian. He looked like a scrawny, sick, broken man.
Lucio wouldn't be able to fight much longer, but he didn't plan to. Suddenly, he released his grip and fell back, his spine resting against the van as the other turned on his heel and leaned against a jeep. They locked eyes for the third time that night, but expressions had changed dramatically. On the criminal's face were exhaustion, shock and caution. Lucio's shared exhaustion, of course, but there, in his eyes, screamed a dare for that man to so much as twitch as the smaller held his own grenade launcher, barrel aimed at his stomach. The other wouldn't get to call Lucio's bluff, either. It didn't take Tracer, Genji and Zenyatta much longer to encircle the blond and force his surrender. In spite of it, however, a sigh of resignation and relief gusted from his mouth as he raised his hands weakly. In that regard, both men were thinking the exact same thing: 'It's over...'
