The Hunter | Overwatch

A Reluctant Awakening

The Next Day, 12:23 P.M.

Shaun sat in the dimly lit room, his hands trembling as he stared down at them, as if they belonged to someone else. The weight of everything was suffocating—Lena, the machine, the strange powers surging through his body. His mind was a storm, swirling with confusion and pain. It all felt like too much.

The door creaked open, and Shaun looked up, expecting Jack. Instead, a tall, dark figure entered—Gabriel Reyes. Shaun had heard of him. He knew him somewhat. Strike Commander Reyes, Jack’s confidant, known for his intensity and unyielding demeanor. Shaun tensed as Reyes approached, stopping just a few feet away, his arms crossed over his chest.

“Jack told me you’re struggling with whatever’s going on inside you,” Reyes said, his voice calm but edged with a tone that suggested he wasn’t interested in soft reassurances.

Shaun stayed quiet, unsure of how to respond.

“Look, kid. I’m not one for hand-holding. You’ve got power, whether you like it or not. That light in the forest? That was you. You either figure it out, or it’ll eat you alive. There’s no middle ground here,” Reyes continued, his bluntness making Shaun flinch as anxiety flared up again.

His words were harsh, but they rang with a truth he couldn’t ignore.

“I’ve seen soldiers crack under the pressure. The difference between those who make it and those who don’t? They confront the fear head-on. You don’t have to like what’s happening to you, but you need to face it. Understand?”

Shaun nodded, though it felt like his throat was tightening. He didn’t want this power. He didn’t want any of it. But there was no escaping it. Not anymore.

Before Reyes could say more, Ana Amari stepped into the room, her presence immediately softening the tension. She shot Reyes a look that spoke volumes, and he backed off slightly, leaning against the wall.

“Reyes is right, in his own way. But it’s not just about control—it’s about understanding what this power means for you, Shaun,” Ana said gently, soothing him yet lacing her words with the wisdom of someone who had seen more than her fair share of battles.

She walked over and sat beside Shaun, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I’ve seen young soldiers like you grappling with things they never asked for. The weight of it can crush you if you let it. But it can also make you stronger—if you learn to work with it instead of against it.”

Shaun looked at her, unsure of how to respond. His head was still spinning with everything. Jack had been kind and patient with him, but Reyes' no-nonsense attitude and Ana’s calm wisdom felt like a different kind of pressure.

“You’re not alone in this. You have people here who are willing to help. But you need to take the first step, Shaun. Let us help you,” Ana urged.

Shaun swallowed hard, the lump in his throat making it difficult to speak. “I don’t know if I can. What if... what if I hurt someone?”

“Then you learn not to. That’s what training’s for,” Reyes replied, his bluntness offset by the slight smile Ana offered in agreement.

“You won’t be doing this on your own. We’ll guide you through it, every step of the way,” Ana added, her reassurance soothing the tension in the room.

---

Later that day, Shaun stood in the training area, his nerves firing on overdrive. Jack had asked Reyes and Ana to join them, knowing their expertise would be crucial. Reyesʼ role was to push Shaun beyond his limits, while Ana would guide him, helping him find the balance he so desperately needed.

The area buzzed with activity as soldiers trained in the background, their focused movements and controlled power adding to the weight Shaun already felt pressing down on him. He didn’t belong here. He wasn’t one of them.

“Alright, Shaun. Focus on your breathing, like we talked about,” Jack instructed.

Shaun took a deep breath, closing his eyes as he tried to concentrate. His hands tingled, the sensation of power lurking beneath the surface, waiting to break free. It terrified him.

“You’ve got more inside you than you realize, kid. The trick is not letting it overwhelm you. You control it—don’t let it control you,” Reyes said, his tone firm.

“Let the power flow, Shaun. Don’t force it, just... guide it,” Ana encouraged.

Shaun clenched his fists, trying to steady himself as the warmth in his hands began to build, the familiar steam rising from his skin. His heart pounded in his chest as the pressure mounted, his mind screaming for him to stop, to let it go before it spiraled out of control.

And then, the fear hit.

Shaun’s eyes snapped open, and the power surged. A blast of heat shot out from his hands, sending a wave of energy rippling through the training area. The reinforced walls held, but the ground beneath his feet scorched as steam hissed into the air.

He fell to his knees, panting, overwhelmed by the sheer force of it.

“Whoa, easy! It’s okay, Shaun. You’re fine,” Jack reassured him.

Reyes stepped forward, his expression unreadable. “You need to push through the fear. That’s what’s holding you back. Next time, don’t flinch. Own it.”

Ana knelt beside Shaun, her hand resting on his shoulder. “You’re doing well, Shaun. It’s a process. Controlling something like this doesn’t happen overnight.”

Shaun wiped the sweat from his brow, his chest heaving as he tried to calm down. He felt shaky, uncertain, but a small part of him realized that he hadn’t lost complete control. Not this time.

“I... I can’t do this,” Shaun admitted, vulnerability creeping into his voice.

“You can, Shaun. It takes time. You’re already making progress,” Ana encouraged gently.

“You’ve got potential. But you’re not gonna get anywhere if you keep doubting yourself,” Reyes added, his tone firm.

---

The training session had left Shaun exhausted—physically, mentally, and emotionally. As he sat alone in the dormitory, his thoughts whirled. Jack, Reyes, Ana—they all seemed so sure he could handle this, that he had the potential to control his power. But Shaun wasn’t so certain.

His hands trembled slightly as he looked at them. What if he hurt someone? What if this power was too much for him? But then Ana’s words echoed in his mind.

“You’re not alone in this.”

In two days, they would head to Canada. Shaun didn’t know what awaited him there, but for the first time, he felt a flicker of something he hadn’t felt in a long time—hope.

He wasn’t sure he believed in himself yet, but maybe... just maybe, with their help, he could learn to control what was inside him.

Maybe he wasn’t alone after all.