Crystalline Universe: Team Fortress 2/ Overwatch

There is no end to this madness, there is only the endless run from danger, and the eternal struggle for survival. Like preys on the run, the only way we can escape from the hunt is to kill the hunter. Will that day ever come to be? Where is the land of promised happiness? When will we breathe our last breath? Is there hope?

Paxton analyzed the environment around him in search of any suspicious activities. He looked around the shopping stands, the bathroom area and the boarding docks. He was very cautious of every detail he could observe while Darlynn treated Mergiann's wounds.

[Azur] - "Found anything suspicious? "

[Paxton] - "Not yet. The squad we are dealing with is made up of professional hunters. They do their best to cover their traces and keep their enemies guessing. "

[Azur] - "Do you know them personally? "

[Paxton] - "I've worked with them before. I know their tactics and their intents. "

[Azur] - "What's the plan? "

[Paxton] - "We need to separate. "

[Azur] - "Huh? Why? Wouldn't that be more dangerous? "

[Paxton] - "One of their members has a very potent ability that can take us all out in a single strike. Sticking together means that we will be an easy target for them. "

[Azur] - "What is his ability? "

[Paxton] - "I cannot tell... but I know its destructive potentials. "

Darlynn quickly approached the two with Mergiann holding on to her shoulder.

[Darlynn] - "Did you guys catch anything? "

[Paxton] - "We need to split into 2 smaller groups. The current situation is dyer... at this rate, they'll strike us all at once and kill us all. "

[Mergiann] - "Splitting up? Why should I trust you? "

[Paxton] - "I already gave you the keys to the information bank. Isn't that enough for you to trust me? "

[Mergiann] - "I doubt any mother f.u.c.ker that acts like he knows everything. "

[Azur] - "Oh please, Mergiann, you keep acting all mighty and shit because you are just jealous. You just can't stand seeing me having a boyfriend, don't you? You are gonna keep doubting him just because he is associated with me? "

[Mergiann] - "You bitch! Karson went missing because of this mess. Do you think I would just trust some random guy you brought in with us? "

[Azur] - "You and your arrogance is starting to get on my nerve! You are just paranoid. You and your Karson just wants to see me suffer. I'm pretty it's you guys who attracted those attackers' attention to us. "

[Mergiann] - "It's always with you! Every damn time I see you around, an enemy appears. Heck, I'm pretty damn sure you are a double agent! "

[Azur] - "A double agent? You know what? Why don't you find Karson on your own? If you want to go as far as doubting me also, then let me tell you this: I quit! Let's see if you can still be this hard-mouthed when I'll be gone, you sassy child! "

[Mergiann] - "What did you just call me, you bitch? "

Mergiann, out of rage, pulled a grenade out of her pocket and proceeded to pull the pin. Azur, with a swift swipe, used her sapphires to instantly disassemble the grenade. Mergiann watched as the explosive in her hand fell to the ground in harmless pieces.

[Azur] - "You guys always doubted me, even you Darlynn! You guys wanted nothing more than seeing me suffer because you think I'm a troublemaker. But guess what, this is your problem, deal with yourselves! I'm out of here! "

Darlynn stared blankly at Azur, with a broken heart while Mergiann stared at Azur with a burning hatred.

[Mergiann] - "Then get lost! I also dreamed of having my happy moments with Karson but you... you kept bringing danger and doom upon us. I know back then that you are the one responsible for deleting a few locations on the files we captured. I knew you sabotaged us but seeing how you also fought for our lives, I kept my mouth shut. I showed you kindness once but you... you keep putting our lives in danger with your stupid decisions. "

[Azur] - "Sabotage... more and more false accusations... you truly have a demon in you, don't you, Mergiann? My stupid decisions? Because you see that I'm happy, you are gonna call them stupid decisions. "

[Darlynn] - "Please guys... don't do this. "

[Azur] - "Shut up, Darlynn, don't get involved in this! "

Paxton quickly took Azur in his arm and urged her to walk away from the two. As Azur left, Mergiann smashed the wall with her fist and screamed out loud: "TRAITOR! " Upon hearing the word, Azur wanted to turn around but was held back by Paxton.

[Paxton] - "Listen, dear, calm down. It's not worth it. "

[Azur] - "*Breathes* Yeah, you are right. "

On the other side, slowly, as Mergiann's rage died down, tears slowly ran down her cheeks.

[Darlynn] - "It's ok, Mergiann, don't mind her, she's just... "

[Mergiann] - "What if they killed Karson? I never even had the chance to confess to him. "

[Darlynn] - "Shhh... calm down! Karson cannot be defeated so easily. You gotta be strong in these times. "

After a short walk, Azur sat on one of the benches by the air gate and looked outside the window at the planes. She was drowning in thoughts, so much that she forgot that Paxton was there with her.

[Paxton] - "Shit! "

Azur turned her head to see Paxton who accidentally spilled his drink on his pants.

[Azur] - "Is everything alright? "

[Paxton] - "Yeah... haha! I just... you know... spilled it. "

[Azur] - "It smells funny though... smells like piss. "

[Paxton] - "haha... it's probably your imagination... I mean it's not possible that I would pee my pants, right? "

Paxton turned around to suddenly see a piece of tissue in his face handed to him by Azur.

[Azur] - "Here, clean yourself up. "

[Paxton] - "Ah... thanks... "

[Azur] - "I'm so pissed off by all this. "

[Paxton] - "Huh? Piss off by what? "

[Azur] - "By what just happened back there of course. "

[Paxton] - "What happened? "

[Azur] - "That bullshit with Mergiann! What the hell is wrong with you? Don't act like you don't remember, it's not funny. "

Paxton had a moment of nervousness before suddenly smiling and acting all sorry.

[Paxton] - "Oh right, I'm sorry, yeah yeah, I remember. "

Azur looked at him with a raised eyebrow before dismissing it and resting her head on his shoulder. Paxton, with a shy look on his face, carefully tried to take her in his arms.

[Azur] - "I feel secure with you around. No one has ever been so nice to me besides mister Mike. "

Azur raised her eyes and stared at Paxton, who strangely, stared her back with a shy and nervous look. Azur approached to kiss him but their teeth collided instead of a passionate kiss.

[Azur] - "What's wrong with you? Why are you acting all stressed and shy? "

[Paxton] - "Haha... I don't know... maybe it's the heat? "

[Azur] - "Oh... Ummm, maybe the climatization here is broken. "

[Paxton] - "Haha... perhaps... "

Paxton turned his head and nervously stared at afar, hoping for something to happen.

As Darlynn marched slowly across the crowd, Mergiann suddenly spotted someone being dragged toward an empty storage chamber.

[Mergiann] - "There, Darlynn, there is something. "

Upon seeing the strange sight, Darlynn pulled her rapier out and cautiously walked toward the mysterious man who disappeared behind the doors.

[Darlynn] - "Stay there, Mergiann. If I'm not back in 3 minutes, you run. "

[Mergiann] - "No, I'll come with you. "

[Darlynn] - "You are injured, you cannot fight properly. Listen to my advice! "

Upon kicking the doors open, Darlynn saw a man standing in front of her. Paxton stood there, ready and waiting for his prey to enter his trap.

[Paxton] - "Congrat to your friend, Mergiann. She really did me a favour today. "

[Darlynn] - "Did I not kick your a.s.s enough earlier? You want a rematch, is it? "

[Paxton] - "No, I'd say that this is my first fight of the day. "

Without further delay, Darlynn thrust her blade forward toward Paxton but instead of spikes, her rapier stopped at his abdomen and before she knew it, the energy from her blade was redirected back through the floor to her body. A shock of energy suddenly surged through Darlynn's body and before she could do anything, her body gave up and fell to the ground.

[Paxton] - "Oh? Already down? What a shame, I was expecting more from you. "

As her consciousness faltered, she could only watch helplessly as Paxton slowly dragged her body inside a bag.

[Paxton] - "Don't worry, your friend outside will soon join you. And then... Azur. "

As Paxton, followed by Azur, moved toward the airport exit, sweats slowly filled his forehead. He was nervous and scared of something that others cannot see. He tried his best to hide his attitude to Azur. He knew that something was coming but he didn't have to courage to say anything.

[Azur] - "What's wrong, Paxton? You look so pale. "

[Paxton] - "It's nothing... "

He wanted to warn Azur about something but he still didn't have the courage to say it out loud. Every second that passed is a step more into danger. He quietly swallowed the saliva that has been building up in his mouth and swept the sweat off his head. Paxton turned around to see Azur's face one more time.

[Azur] - "Huh? What's wrong, Paxton? Just tell me, is it the enemy? "

[Paxton] - "No... "

[Azur] - "Then what is it? You gotta tell me if you want me to help. "

He looked at her cute body and beautiful eyes. He felt like the need to protect her as he passed his hand through her blu smooth hair. Instead of the things in his mind, he felt love. He only wanted her to be safe.

Azur slowly put her hand on his face and asked once more: "Are you feeling sick, dear? Tell me? "

Without further hesitation, Paxton quickly took Azur to a desolate area of the airport and before speaking, he made sure no one is around to listen.

[Paxton] - "Listen, Azur, they are trying to kill you! I know they are coming for you but in order to escape them, I need you to listen to me. "

[Azur] - "Who? The enemy? "

[Paxton] - "Yes, their only goal now is having you captured and handed over Mazzatello, so listen carefully to what I have to say. "

[Azur] - "Tell me then. What is your plan? "

[Paxton] - "Ok... ok... *calm down* I can do this... alright... Ummm... "

Before Paxton could open his mouth, he was suddenly wracked in the head by a metal club and passed out. The masked man that hit him quickly took Azur into a room and closed the door behind him. But before he could speak, Azur kicked him in the stomach, causing him to fall.

[Azur] - "Who the hell are you? Are you trying to die? "

[Man] - "Shhhh! F.u.c.k! I just saved your life, you dumbass! "

[Azur] - "What the f.u.c.k? You just knocked my boyfriend out, I might as well just knock you out as well. "

[Man] - "Woah! Woah! Seriously, listen to me for a second, I beg of you. "

[Azur] - "I'll give you 30 seconds to give me a damn reason why I shouldn't kick your a.s.s into a pulp! "

[Man] - "My name's Carl-Emile L. I'm a tank ace of Heavy tank battalion 502 of the Armato-XX. "

[Azur] - "A XX soldier? Well, this gives me even more reason to beat your a.s.s into a bloody pulp! "

[Carl-E] - "Woah! Woah! Listen, don't do this, please let me finish... "

The tank commander rapidly pulled a picture out of his pocket and showed it to Azur. To her shock, it's Paxton but there were 4 of him.

[Carl-E] - "Listen, Paxton is the common identity of the Valentine Brothers. They are a squad of crystal executioners under the direct control of XX-Capo Mazzatello. The reason why they look alike is because they are quadruplets. Listen to me, their target is you and your team. The other 3 are already captured by them. "

[Azur] - "Paxton is my boyfriend! He'll never betray me! Why would I trust you, a random stranger? "

[Carl-E] - "You have spent enough time with Paxton didn't you? If you do realize, one of them is a coward, another is a charmer, the other is a douche and the last one is a sharp and calculated man. "

Azur raised her sapphires in an attack stance and aimed her stare right at Carl's eyes.

[Azur] - "You are not convincing enough. "

[Carl-E] - "I've observed you guys during the entirety of this morning. Remember when Darlynn said that the Paxton who attacked her pissed his pants? You can see that he switched place with your real boyfriend, the charming Paxton. I know how hard it is for you to believe me but once you walk out of that door, you'll be once more their prey. Paxton won't hesitate to kill you, he won't care that you are his girlfriend. "

[Azur] - "I'm leaving this room. You are full of shit! "

Azur pushed Carl-Emile aside and reached for the door handle but before she could open it, Carl-Emile screamed: "WAIT! "

[Carl-E] - "Try connecting the events that happened this morning with what I just said. You'll see the truth in what I said. Please... at least... *hesitation* I got an idea... wait for me here. "

Carl rushed out of the room and came back a few seconds later with Paxton's still unconscious body. After closing the door behind him, he sat the body in a chair and tied his arm behind it.

[Carl-E] - "I hope he was serious when he was gonna tell you something earlier. "

[Azur] - "Paxton, are you alright? "

[Carl-E] - "If I can't convince you, then he will! "

As they spoke, Paxton slowly moved his hands and gradually woke from his slumber.

To be continued... Next Chapter: [The Valentine brothers]

EXTRA:

-Profile: Carl-Emile Levesque

-Role: Minor character

-Affiliation: Secretly on a personal mission (Before: Armato-XX, Liberaforza, tank division)

-Backstory: will be explored later in the story

-Ability: None (not a crystal user)