Chapter Text
Several months had passed since you were placed under Strike-Commander Morrison’s care. He was kind and thoughtful, so you did not feel tense when reporting to him what you had found during the day in various databases and mission scans. However, you had not clung to him as desperately as you had to one another, your emotions never truly as vibrant as they used to be. Jack, as you had grown used to calling him, had taken note of this many times, yet you could not point out the reasons why. Or, more likely, did not want to.
You had not turned back into a ghost, as you had assumed you would. Instead, people recognized you and tried to include you in their gatherings and conversations still. Even if you did not smile or laugh as often. You could appreciate the effort, truly, but that changed very little.
McCree, who still worked closely in relation to the “one who shall not be named”, continued to visit you and talk about random things. In fact, he was the only one who had the opportunity to see your true self day to day, your happiness showing itself whenever he was around. You sometimes wondered if it was because you had grown to see him as your closest friend, or whether it was because he was the only remaining contact to the other man you had. It sounded cruel in your head and you would muffle the thought instantly, knowing that there was no way that you could overlook the genuine relationship that you and McCree shared.
You had a little desk amongst many others in the room, working there throughout the day. The atmosphere of no privacy sometimes made you tense, the craving to slink back into the dark room of Blackwatch springing up every once in a while. There was no hiding that the situation wasn’t the best, even after all these months, what you considered to be short-term depression hanging above you like a dark veil.
Even now, as you clicked the buttons on the keyboard, typing in the mission report for one of the agents so it could be shared on the database, you could feel yourself blanking out, staring emotionlessly as your fingers turned into an endless blur. You hadn’t heard the murmur from surrounding desks, nor the familiar clink of cowboy boots.
“Sweetheart?”
You blinked awake from your daze and snapped your head to face the man, his body tall in front of you as you continued to sit. When had he come here? Or why, at all? He wasn’t really supposed to show himself around others this openly, you thought. Catching a glimpse of the others around you, who seemed awestruck, for the lack of a better word, you looked back at McCree and raised a brow.
“Jesse? Can this wait?” You didn’t mean to be rude, but you didn’t want to deal with the repercussions of bringing outside affairs to the workplace. Even if the whole damn building was your workplace.
He shook his head and motioned for you to come with him, seemingly serious. You bit your lip in worry and stood up, following his lead just a few steps behind. Finally, as you passed the exit door, the man spoke up, reaching for a cigar behind him and lighting it.
“If you’ve got the time to smoke, are you really sure this is important enough to disturb my work?” You asked to make it clear that you didn’t feel good enough to mess around or play hooky. Not after the reflection you had earlier on the past few months.
“The Commander needs to see ya.” He mumbled past the cigar in his mouth, his gaze locked on you.
“Morrison is in the next room, he can always come to me if he—“
“Gabriel, hon. Gabriel Reyes needs to see ya.” McCree corrected himself, shifting in his spot and crossing his arms. He seemed tense, not like his usual easy breezy self – and now you understood why. You did a double take and furrowed your brows. Of all the people, your best friend should have known all the reasons in the world why you would not want to meet that man, nor talk of him.
“Jesse, for the love of God, you know better than me that I am not going to see him in this lifetime or the next.”
“I know, love. That’s why ‘m askin’ for him.”
“Hold on, you? Asking for him? What?” You once again found yourself confused by the approach this man had, tilting your head.
He sighed and took a puff of his cigar, his eyes moving to find some spot on the wall above. You, however, kept staring at him with fiery intent, silently demanding him to further explain.
“Heavens, girlie, ya know I can’t stand ‘im after what he did, but…” He clicked his tongue, gritting his teeth on the cigar hard enough to crush it. “… He’s not doin’ so well, and neither are you.”
You squinted at him, ready to blow back enough responses to shut him up about this subject for good. Yet, the look in his eye… Something was truly disturbing him, enough to ask you something as bizarre as this.
“Reyes went on a mission last night and got ‘imself wounded, ‘cuz he was stubborn enough not to call anyone for help. Still, the damn bastard made it out alive, though now he’s limping ‘round and refusing to explain ‘imself.”
You breathed out quietly, worry squeezing your wounded heart. For some fucking reason, you could not shake off the feeling that you were somehow related to the incident. You already had scenarios in your head, where you had stayed in Blackwatch and managed to save him without so much as a cut. If only you had still been at your old desk, guiding him.
Wait, no. That was not a reality that you had wanted to be a part of. Not after that.
“So? What the hell do I have to do with that?” You tried to seem unfazed, though your face likely betrayed your words. McCree gave you a look. You shifted your eyes away and bit the inside of your cheek, squeezing your fists tight.
“Sweetheart… He’s not functionin’ right. Hasn’t been since you left. If he gets any worse, he’ll…” Jesse trailed off, lowering his head and shifting in his spot once more. Neither of you could admit it, but Commander Reyes had taken an important position in your lives. It was hard to shake it off.
Had he not called for help because of guilt?
That was the real question, wasn’t it?
You let out a soft sigh and nodded, rubbing your forehead shakily. You really hated confrontations, but something had to be done – it had dragged on for way too long. You both needed an ending, something to tie it all back together.
“I’ll go talk to him. Do you know where he might be right now?” Asking that was a shot in the dark, yet surprisingly McCree nodded and walked towards the nearby window. You followed, looking out as soon as you were close enough to see through it. You could see a dark form sitting on a bench in the distance, past the neatly trimmed trees.
“Is that him?...” You asked, a little taken aback. You had not known the Commander to go outside unless he needed to for official matters. McCree nodded one last time and tapped you on the shoulder twice.
“Work your magic on ‘im, sweetness. Make it right.”
You let out a light chuckle, not knowing whether you were truly prepared to deal with whatever would come at you upon meeting Reyes again. Still, there was nowhere to turn now.
---
Finding the exit was a little difficult, as you had almost never left the building, staying always by your desk. However, you did end up finding a way out and were now heading towards where you had seen Reyes through the window. The sun was high up in the sky, its heat comforting, especially with the light breeze that brushed against your hair. The gentle rustling of the leaves eased your anxiety, calming your thudding heart upon seeing the man’s back ahead, slouching downwards as he rested his arms in his lap.
You stopped in your tracks for a second, clasping your hands together nervously. Memories of the night flashed in your head, though not as fresh after the few months. You could still, however, remember the shame and the hurt you felt, the sorrow of leaving him upon realizing that what you had could never work out.
Slowly, you continued onwards, your steps audible in the green grass. And, soon enough, you stood right behind him, trying your best to steady your heartbeat. Surely, he knew someone had approached him.
“Leave me be.” His voice was as hoarse as ever, though worse, like of a man with a hangover. You flinched slightly, instincts telling you to do as he said, but you tightened your lips.
“Gabriel.”
He jerked. For a while, you just stood there, listening for anything else from the man, acknowledgement or even a dismissal. However, when he sunk deeper into his slouch, you decided to sit down next to him.
His head was hidden by a hood, though you didn’t try to see him. You knew he’d need a moment to adjust to your presence. So you eyed his battered and bandaged hands, free of the gloves he normally wore. Your arm stretched out a little as you placed your hand upon his, grasping tenderly. Your fingers were much more slender, fitting perfectly in-between his. You immediately noted how cold it felt to the touch.
His hand twitched a few times, then finally curled around yours, soft and unlike the man you knew. Careful. You sat like that for some time, enjoying the silence and the sight of the green fields of grass ahead.
“I missed you…” He spoke, catching your attention instantly. He moved the lock of your hands to his cheek. You could feel the texture of a bandage brushing against your skin. Reyes then moved it to his lips, planting a kiss upon it with foreign tenderness. “I’m so sorry…”
“Gabriel, it’s okay…” You tried to hush him, sensing immense hurt from the man next to you. However, you did not expect to feel a warm droplet hit your hand. You released his hand and instead cupped his jaw, making him look over to you. A tear stained his face, cheek and forehead bandaged, covering up the red and blue. His brown eyes no longer were as piercing as the first time you had met him, immeasurable softness in them as he looked at you. Teeth gritted as he pushed back the rest of the tears.
“I am the worst man you could’ve fallen in love with--”
He began, but you didn’t let him finish, pressing your lips to his. Your hands brushed lightly against his jaw and neck, embracing him as he at last kissed back. It was gentle, slow and long enough for you to feel the rest of the tears rolling down his cheek. At some point, Reyes took over, clasping his hand on the back of your neck, desperately keeping you from moving away.
When the kiss broke, you breathed against each other, meeting your gazes.
“I don’t want you to go. Come back to me.” The man pleaded, not hiding just how much this meant to him. “Nothing I will ever do or accomplish will ever come close to you.”
You laughed softly, much to the Commander’s confusion.
“If you couldn’t tell yet, I’ve been waiting to be yours for months.” You ushered to him, evoking a slight chuckle.
“What kind of an idiot would be blind to that?” Gabriel teased, looking much more at ease. He kissed you once more, this time passionately, delivering a portion of what had pent up in him during the time you spent apart. Your hands running through his curls beneath the hood.
By the time you pulled away, both of you were left without a breath, clinging to each other. Reyes eyed you up and licked his lips tentatively, only for you to shake your head and crush whatever ideas had been brewing in his mind.
“Not while you’re limping. That’s your punishment for being careless.” You hummed, amused by the groan the male made in response. He knew exactly what you meant.
“I hope you’re not thinking of returning to Jack.” The Commander in him showed as he hovered above you, trying to steal another kiss.
“I’m still—I’m reporting to Jack—I’m currently supposed to be at—“ You tried dodging him, releasing a yelp as he wrapped both arms around you and caught your lips, pushing you back against the bench. Figures he wouldn’t want to hear a thing about his rival.
You quickly broke it and laughed against him as he persisted, realizing that the likelihood of you returning to work had just been erased entirely. And, hell, you didn’t mind it all that much.
---
You stayed with him, later reporting to Strike-Commander Jack Morrison that you would be switching your positions yet again. He seemed a little displeased by the fact, but ultimately glad that things had been sorted out. He did point out that he’d keep an eye on how things go, just in case.
McCree was the happiest to hear that the mess was dealt with, picking you up and spinning around until Reyes ordered him to stop, only to tease the man further about his jealousy issues. Or the fact that he wouldn’t be able to “consummate” the relationship properly in his state – which of course enraged the Commander.
You ended up spending the night in Commander Reyes’ quarters, despite your protests and worry about his wellbeing. And, really, in the end you were glad you didn’t stop it. If there was a way to describe it, you’d call it a “religious experience”.
As you laid there, an arm draped across your lover’s chest, you were thankful for ever deciding to join Overwatch in the first place. Perhaps destiny had meant for you to find Gabriel Reyes.