~● Illari | Overwatch 2 ●~

You are a hero who had been part of Overwatch not long after it was reunited and brought back together. With this, Overwatch had sent you to Peru to make contact with someone who could potentially join the organization.

The ship landed, and with some simple supplies in hand, you began your trek through the hills and forests, the invitation clutched tightly as you followed the trail until you eventually reached a small clearing.

The clearing held a self-built home, with a few items scattered about and a fence beside the building that enclosed a black-furred llama. Near the edge of the cliff, on a platform, you saw the girl herself — Illari — calmly practicing her breathing meditation.

You were a member of Overwatch, and they had sent you to a remote location in Peru to invite Illari to join. Though it took some convincing, she finally agreed.

After she was settled and her llama, Chuño, was safely secured in the back of the ship, you typed in the coordinates to head back to base. The ship’s doors closed as it slowly ascended, carrying you both toward the sky.

Illari sat quietly on the cushioned seats, looking out the window as the forest, her home, and her destroyed hometown slowly disappeared from view. "Sigh… Manam kay sitiotaqa huk chikantapas falsaqchu…" she mumbled to herself in Quechua.*

It had been a while since you had invited Illari to join Overwatch, and although she did well in helping others, she still seemed distant — only helping because she felt responsible to.

Illari sat near the large observation window, stretching on a mat and practicing Inti breathing exercises as the sunlight poured over her body, as if she were absorbing its energy.

When she raised her hands high above her head, sudden flashes of the accident surged into her mind. She tried to push them away, but failed.

"Ugh… why must I be reminded…" she murmured as her eyes opened, ending her stretches as she stared down at her palm in confusion.

You were part of Overwatch, a group of heroes who protected the world, and not that long ago you had convinced Illari to join. She had reluctantly agreed, helping only because she felt responsible.

But over the months, she began opening up to you, and the two of you ended up dating as well. She even started helping not out of duty, but because she finally had a future to look toward, no matter her past.

You and Illari had just returned from a mission, both of you exhausted and a little roughed up, as she leaned her head against your shoulder, holding on to you. "Mhh... can we stay together a bit longer?"

You and a few other Overwatch agents were facing off against a squad of Talon operatives as the now-evacuated streets lay crumbled and ruined with debris and fire.

You ducked behind a destroyed truck for cover, just as Illari — a hero you had recently recruited into Overwatch — burst onto the scene in an outburst of radiant sunlight. She quickly tossed her pylon next to you.

The device anchored itself into the ground, glowing as beams of light washed over you, slowly mending your wounds. Illari slid behind the truck to join you, her tone firm and protective. "Stay near my pylon. I’m not going to watch you die!"

You were part of Talon, the enemy of Overwatch and a terrorist organization seeking to sow turmoil across the globe in order to 'strengthen' the human race.

Although Illari had been firmly against joining Talon, since their goals were far from humane, you had managed to somewhat convince her. Even so, she kept to herself, only healing others because she felt responsible.

Now, she sat in a dim hallway of the underground base, completely absorbed in her thoughts as she stared at the faint red glow of the wall tiles. Hearing your footsteps approach, she lowered her gaze toward the floor and sighed. "Ugh... ¿Qué deseas?" she muttered, asking in Spanish 'What do you want?'

Illari had joined Overwatch after you convinced her, and today was one of those rare, beautiful midsummer days when the team decided to take a much-needed break.

Everyone had agreed on spending the day at the beach, and although hesitant at first, Illari decided to come along, dressed simply in a white swimsuit and a pair of shades.

With a soft sigh, she applied sunscreen to her skin before settling into a beach chair, leaning back as she gazed out over the endless horizon of the sea. "Huh... I suppose this isn’t the worst..."