Overwatch Comes to Marvel: Chapter 5 - Everybody Knows
After the intense interrogation and a hot cup of tea, Robert and Lucy finally left the police station.
They had no weapons, no ammunition, and no direct evidence linking them to the deaths. Soldier 76, or rather, a man resembling him, was implicated in the bloody events at Derin Deniz Bar. Sheriff Jeffrey doubted this explanation, but it was the only one that fit the facts, as unbelievable as it sounded. Could a character from a movie really cross into reality to fight for peace?
The Sheriff preferred to dismiss it as mass suicide rather than entertain the notion that Soldier 76 had somehow escaped from fiction. For now, he had no choice but to file the case as unresolved until clearer evidence emerged.
One of the younger officers looked over to Jeffrey, "Chief, should I let them go? Mr. Ronin's in rough shape, and letting him leave alone with Ms. Berrent could lead to complications."
Sheriff Jeffrey thought about it briefly and then nodded. "Alright. Let them go."
Just as Robert was about to call Thomas for a ride, a car honked nearby. Turning, he saw a friendly face smiling from the driver's window. "Mr. Robert, need a lift? The roads aren't very safe tonight."
Robert hesitated but ultimately agreed. A police escort sounded like a good idea. Thomas was likely tied up, but judging by the sound of upbeat music in the background, he seemed safe enough for the moment.
The officer introduced himself as Henry Wagner, Overwatch's "biggest fan."
"Thank you, Officer Wagner," Robert replied politely.
"Please, call me Henry! You have no idea how much Soldier 76 means to me. As a kid, I always dreamed of being a hero like him. Seeing him on the big screen was like a dream come true," Henry said, barely containing his excitement as he drove.
Henry could hardly believe he was in the same car as the man responsible for his favorite character's movie adaptations. Being this close to Robert felt surreal.
"I'm glad to hear it," Robert responded with a smile.
"Actually," Robert continued, "the 'Winston' movie is in post-production. It'll release at the end of the month. If things go well, the next movie we'll work on is 'Iron Man.' Perhaps I could get you a cameo if you're interested."
"Are you serious? That'd be incredible!"
Henry's face lit up with excitement. Even a minor appearance in an Overwatch movie was worth it to him, and the idea of an Iron Man project had him even more thrilled.
Henry slammed the brakes unexpectedly, almost causing Robert to slam into the seat ahead. "Drive carefully," Robert warned. "There's plenty of time for all that later."
"My apologies, Mr. Robert." Henry steadied himself, focused more on the road, though his excitement lingered.
The ride continued quietly for a while. Lucy sat in the back, nervously biting her nails, occasionally glancing around with a look of concern. She hadn't spoken a word since the interrogation.
When they arrived, Robert gently tapped her shoulder. "Lucy, it's time to go."
Lucy snapped back to the present, grabbed her bag, and thanked Henry before stepping out of the car.
Closing the door, she looked back at Robert, her voice soft but firm. "Mr. Robert, it might be a sleepless night for you."
"Good thing I've got a big bed," Robert replied, smirking.
Lucy rolled her eyes but said nothing, walking away without another word.
Henry chuckled, glancing at Robert in the rearview mirror. Even from the back seat, he could see the faint smile on Robert's face. Trying to keep things professional, Henry cleared his throat and remarked, "You know, I really don't want to get in your business, but it seems like you two have some kind of code."
"It's just that: a code," Robert replied, smirking.
Henry found himself in awe again. Robert wasn't only a visionary director but also an unexpectedly witty conversationalist.
As they reached Robert's home, he chuckled, "Sitting in a police car isn't as uncomfortable as I'd imagined."
"Mr. Robert, you're welcome to visit the station anytime for tea," Henry said, lightly tapping the steering wheel.
"Thanks, but I think I'll stick to being a law-abiding citizen." Robert waved him off as he exited the car.
Once inside, Robert barely made it to his bed when his phone buzzed. He didn't need to check to know it was Lucy. He had a feeling she was still thinking about what had gone down at the bar.
"Hey, Lucy, it's late. Shouldn't you be getting some rest?" he answered, suppressing a yawn.
"Mr. Robert," her voice wavered slightly, "tell me what I saw at the bar wasn't real."
"More or less," he replied vaguely.
"That's not the answer I need," Lucy pushed, her tone fluctuating with anxiety. "You might be my boss, but I need the truth—for your own safety."
Women! Robert sighed inwardly. She had wanted him to downplay the events at the bar, yet here she was, pushing for answers. The heart of a woman was like a needle in the sea.
"For my sake, how about we hang up, and you let me sleep? I'm exhausted."
Robert genuinely was. The transformation had drained him, leaving him feeling worn out and longing for a good night's sleep.
"What about tomorrow, though? How am I supposed to handle the media? What happened at the Deep Sea Bar will be all over the news."
Lucy's voice held a tone of frustration and fear. She'd been terrified last night, even though she knew Robert would save her. Now, she was shaken by the realization that her boss was hiding a monumental secret from her, from the company—from everyone.
"It's like I said back at the station. This is all Charlie's responsibility and has nothing to do with us."
"But what about you?" Lucy's voice was laced with worry. "What's your connection to Soldier 76?"
Robert laughed, "Think of Soldier 76 as a son. When I'm in danger, he'll appear to protect me." Growing impatient, he added, "You'll understand someday, Lucy, but not tonight."
Ending the call, he tossed the phone aside. The fewer people who knew the truth, the safer he would be. Accepting his new identity came with risks—if S.H.I.E.L.D. ever got wind of his powers, they'd be on his doorstep in a heartbeat. He preferred to stay under the radar, just a quiet CEO without any entanglements with heroes or powerful agencies.
He slept through the night, waking up to find his face plastered across the morning news.
"At 9:00 PM last night, a violent altercation erupted at the Deep Sea Bar in Manhattan. Sparkle Charlie, CEO of Flying Films, allegedly attempted to coerce Overwatch Films into a merger. Witnesses report that a mysterious individual—possibly resembling Soldier 76 from the Overwatch films—intervened, killing Charlie and his associates. Overwatch Films' CEO, Robert, and his assistant escaped unharmed."
The news continued, "Local police have suggested, though cautiously, that the mystery man might indeed be Soldier 76. This outlandish theory is unconfirmed, and investigations are ongoing."
The report shifted to an interview with a young eyewitness.
"I saw Soldier 76!" the boy said excitedly, clutching the microphone. "He was blasting away bad guys with his pulse rifle. And when the cops showed up, he just disappeared. I was taken to a safe place after that, but Soldier 76 was already gone."
Robert chuckled, shaking his head. "Kid, you've got quite the imagination."
Events at the bar had launched him from being an unassuming CEO to a man of public intrigue. Now, with his secret identity nearly exposed, he'd have to think carefully about what came next. Playing it low-key wasn't going to be easy—not with his new "celebrity" status as Soldier 76's mysterious double.
Being a salt-of-the-earth CEO, it turned out, wasn't going to be as easy as he'd thought.
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