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Damn, she’s tall.
These were the words running through Gabriel's mind as he tilted his head upward to look his newest recruitment in the eye. He recalled watching her briskly strut through Overwatch’s halls and stand next to the likes of Jack Morrison; he knew then she was of quite an unorthodox stature, but witnessing her as she resided so close and stood so perfectly erect was an entirely different experience.Her smile was cold and her gaze freezing as she held out her left hand for him to take."I’m grateful for the opportunity to work beside you, Commander.""Likewise, Doctor," he returned her smile, albeit his was not as mischievous."As you should already know: Genji Shimada and Jesse McCree. If you’re on active duty, these are guys you’ll be working with." He gestured to each man as their name was spoken. Gabriel watched silently as she introduced herself (Doctor Moira O'Deorain) to his greatest soldiers. The way she examined each of them was unsettling; her eyes quickly ran up and down metal, clothing, and scarred flesh, seemingly taking in information that Gabe’s own eyes could not see. It was immediately becoming apparent to him that her mannerisms were nothing short of peculiar.Once finished, Moira straightened her back and glanced at the Commander expectantly, folding her arms behind her back."It would behoove you to reveal what Blackwatch has to offer me," she commented with an unnerving tone in her voice. In response, he gestured to a hallway behind one of two large staircases that led to the second floor of the main lobby."Right this way."As the two began their journey, he glanced over his shoulder nonchalantly and noticed Jesse giving him a discontented stare.Gabriel understood the Cowboy’s eyes. Very much so. But his only reply was a shrug and a turn of his head.
He knew what he was doing. He didn’t need Jesse’s opposition.
The Black Ops Commander led Moira through labyrinthine hallways and rooms that, when strung together, created the Blackwatch wing of the military compound. As each new section was passed, he explained to her the purpose of the space or where it led to, or both. She didn't say much, and he decided the reason being was she kept her mind busy by taking in her new surroundings; her new home.The laboratory was on the ground floor, located in a hallway that had no other rooms within, save for the storage space at the very end. Gabriel walked up to the former’s set of thick metal doors and swiped his identification card across the side of the padlock, which rested adjacent to the sealed opening."I made sure this place was spotless before you got here," he told her as the doors slid open, hissing pistons partially drowning his statement."Thank you.” Her accent poured into her words.Where was she from? England? She didn't sound exactly like Oxton; maybe a different city? He hadn’t truly paid much attention to her voice until now.Moira practically shoved past him as he pondered on her nationality, snapping him out of his thoughts.Gabe followed her inside and watched as the Doctor scanned over every desk, chair, cupboard, table, tube, and any other science apparatus the room had to offer. A smile made its way onto her face. "Oh, this is lovely," she cooed, and he could understand why.The room was massive. On the far end were two doors, one leading to a storage area, the other leading to a second section of the lab. What he assumed was an operating table and a padded chair were shoved back into that area, as well, awaiting use. Long desks and sizable cabinets lined the sides, and off in a corner was a sink, a shower, and a station to wash the eyes, should something happen."The door to the left is a closet, and the right leads to the second part of your lab," Gabriel explained. "I'll get a few helpers in here to move all your equipment from Overwatch down to here.""Thank you," Moira repeated, keeping her back to him."Not an issue, Doc.""Please, you’re allowed to call me Moira."He crossed his arms. "Right. Anything but ‘Gabe’ goes for you. Not a fan of throwing that around."She turned around and observed him."That would mean 'Gabriel' is acceptable?"“Gabriel's, uh…”He paused.
Her eyes.
"You got some crazy eyes.” The corners of his mouth turned upwards in a very slight grin.How had he not noticed that before? The eyes were the first feature one would pick out during an initial meeting with an individual, and he was certain a trait as unique as heterochromia wouldn't go unnoticed. Nevertheless, that was exactly what happened, and it left Moira chuckling."You seem taken aback.""It’s not something you see everyday," he explained. One eye was a scarlet-brown, and the other a bright blue. Such contrasting colors found on the same face was unheard of to him before now."Regardless, Gabriel's fine.""Very well, then, Gabriel, I eagerly anticipate working with you."He laughed, rather mischievously, at that."I could say the same to you! Now, I have to get some things squared away regarding your uh, ‘change in affiliation,’ so to speak. So, if you’d follow me."Gabe jogged over to the door, and Moira trekked close behind with calm, slow strides.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Where's Jesse?" Ana questioned."On his way," Gabriel responded."What about your new companion, Gabriel?" chimed in Torbjorn. “Or, should I say, the old companion you so graciously took off our hands.”"I’m not even going to try to get her up here,” said Gabe. "I’ll pick my battles."“This isn’t optional, you know," Jack objected. The Strike Commander glared at him, all friendship and camaraderie absent from his eyes.Jack Morrison hated Moira O’Deorain. He did, with every fiber of his soul and body. When Overwatch made the decision to shut down her research and excommunicate her from the organization, he, along with most others, rejoiced in her absence. She is everything Overwatch stands against, Ana had said. It would be best if we do away with her. She means bad publicity for us.Moira was disgraced, and that was supposed to be the end of it. 
But there were others in the shadows.
 And now, here Gabriel stood, faced with Morrison’s highly displeased gaze.“I’m not worried,” the Blackwatch Commander spoke, “she’ll hear what she needs to from me.”“Why don’t we just let everyone play hooky, if we’re going by your logic?” said Ana, though very little frustration was roped into her words.“Look, I could handle briefing one person, but once we get to two and over, then it starts becoming unmanageable.”Amari seemed less than satisfied with his dodgy answer, and so, he added, “You let me worry about my soldiers, and I’ll let you worry about yours.”That wasn’t much better, admittedly, but he wasn’t going to say anything more, and both Morrison and the Captain seemed to understand this.Once everyone had settled down and McCree had arrived, Jack addressed the room."We've recently lost sight of Talon's whereabouts in England, as you all know, but as of this morning, we've pinpointed what seems to be a new hotspot."He turned on the heel of his foot and gestured to the expansive blue screen illuminating the darkened room, the latter depicting a recreation of a land mass and a dot with the description Rialto, Italy adjacent to it."There have been reports of a significant increase in Talon activity culminating here," Jack continued. "According to intel, heavy traffic flows through this area; imports and exports and whatnot. I’m of the belief we’re sticking our noses into something big, here."Morrison directed his attention towards Gabriel. "The Overwatch Team and I are going to explore this more. Once we have enough data, I'll relay it to you so you can decide if you want to get involved or not.” The Blackwatch Commander offered a curt nod.Jack geared his focus towards the rest of the room. smiled. "Is there anything anyone wants to add?"When there was nothing, he warned, “Stay on your toes and keep an eye out for more information in the coming days. Dismissed."The room sprang to life as everyone stood from their seats and trekked to the doors or formed small groups and began conversing.As Gabe rose from his spot, he noticed Morrison stride over to him."Tell O'Deorain," the Strike Commander advised, "she can’t pick and choose what briefings she wants to show up to.""And how well do you think that’s going to go?” he retorted.Jack, instead of using his words, huffed in anger, and walked off to speak to (or, more likely, complain to) Amari.Gabriel simply didn’t care enough to scold Moira. The Doctor was a busy woman that had more important matters to attend to, anyways.Not to mention he was more interested in having her place complete concentration on said matters.He decided on following Genji and Jesse down to the Blackwatch wing of the compound. Genji stayed completely silent, per usual, but McCree was as talkative as he ever was."What do you think, Commander?" Jesse asked."What do I think?" Gabe repeated.“You think this sounds like something Blackwatch will end up handling?”“Oh, no doubt about it. Especially now that we have that new watchpoint in Venice, it’s only a matter of time before the situation is passed onto us.”“So be it,” Genji ended.The latter half of their journey together was filled with nonsense banter led by the Cowboy (It was the cruddiest pub America has ever been given). When the time came, Gabriel, Jesse, and the cyborg split, and the Commander traveled down a hallway that led to the bottom floor while his teammates continued towards the recreational area and barracks.He traversed long corridors and winding stairs and was stuck in an elevator for a minute-too-long while making his descent. All the while, a thought in the back of his mind told him there was a chance that a specific someone wouldn't allow him to enter his intended destination.
Again.
A sigh left his mouth as he approached those infamous metal doors and pounded his fist against them. There was no voice that called out to him.He tried again, and just as before, there was no answer.If it were anyone else, they would have simply left, tried to look for Moira somewhere else, because clearly she wasn’t here.But he knew better."Moira, it’s me," he called.It was faint, but behind the doors, the click of heels and shuffling of clothing could be heard.She was here, as he suspected, hiding herself from the world and burying her mind in her work. This was commonplace for the Doctor, he gathered as the months went by and he learned of her habits.There was a click, and the doors slid open with a hiss, allowing him to step inside.The room was more cluttered than when he last laid eyes upon it. Piles of papers and styrofoam coffee cups were littered across the tables, complimented by a small stack of plates with a group of forks resting on the very top. There were apparatuses Gabe was uneducated on the function of pushed to the sides of the laboratory. Said units were connected to thick wires (or tubes, it was hard to distinguish at this point) that ran up the walls, to the ceiling, and into the secondary chamber, forcing the Doctor to have the door swung open. Beyond that threshold was another machine. He didn't want to know its purpose.The Commander studied his surroundings for a bit longer before landing his eyes on Moira. She stood a short distance away from the door, gripping her right hand with the other and stroking her knuckles with a free thumb."Hello, Commander," Moira greeted as he trekked closer to her.She looked exhausted.Strands of hair were falling into her darkened and drowsy eyes. The white pants she wore had purple fingerprints and hand markings decorating the fabric, and the tie around her neck was partially undone, causing the collar of her button-up to fall out of place."Seems like you’ve been busy," he commented."You’d be correct."She let go of her right palm and used it to adjust her tie. 
And his heart dropped into his stomach.
 For that hand, dull, puffy veins roped around violet skin and led to nearly-black nails that tapered to an elongated, needle-like point. "Is something the matter, Gabriel?"
What? Could she not see the issue?
"What’s wrong with your hand?" The question was hoarse, stern, and it clearly demonstrated his disbelief.She raised her perfect eyebrows and gazed at him with perplexed features.
As if she was the one who should be confused.
"I took a sample of my improved nanabiotic serum and injected myself with it, to observe its effects on the human body. This was done preceding my employment under you, I assumed you would have noticed by now.”Gabriel thought back to every video call, every brief meeting, every instance he gazed at her in the hallways of the Overwatch wing, and he couldn’t for the life of him recall picking out such an unusual sight.She slowly ran her left palm up and down her right arm, lifting her sleeve and exposing the intricate ways her veins wrapped around the muscles of her limb. The look in her mismatched eyes as she inspected her work nearly frightened him; Moira was so proud of what she had done to herself.The Doctor glanced back at him."Once the testing is complete, I'll be sure to inform you promptly, so I may begin my work on your body.""Right," he said hesitantly, “and I’m not going to end up like that?" He nodded to her arm."No, you will not. I've already exterminated the factors responsible for changing the appearance of my arm."Gabe nodded, continuing to feel a bit uneasy at the sight."Besides that, are you happy with the results of, uh, what you did to yourself?"The smile on the Doctor's face sent chills down his spine."Very much so. And once I finalize my work, you will have the ability to writhe in the fruits of my labor, as well."She walked over to him and smiled devilishly.“Will you allow me to use you in order to demonstrate?”He was perturbed and lost and off-put by the woman’s character, and yet, he nodded his confirmation with stoicism.Despite the muddled emotions within his mind, he was excited to discover what she had in store for him, and eager to writhe in the fruits of her labor.
He trusted her. He trusted this Doctor. With his life, he trusted her.
Moira held her hands in front of her body and used a decrepit and talon-esque nail from her right limb to make an incision in the center of her left palm. It was difficult to determine the depth of her wound due to the blood that began to pool, but Gabriel made the assumption her skin had been slit open significantly.She winced as she performed her act for him to behold, but the pain did little to stop her.Once she was satisfied with herself, Moira used her right hand to reach for his own, which hung loosely at his side. She squeezed gently, and that’s when he felt it.The initial sensation could be described as an intense burn; after that, something akin to sucking or pulling accompanied the pain. It felt as if all of the blood in his body was being taken from him through his palm, and he became weak and lightheaded and dizzy. His fist felt as if he was sticking it directly into a fire, and that agony traveled through the bones in his arm and up to his clavicle and cervical spine and down into his scapula. Breathing seemed to be unavailable to him, because every time he inhaled, it was shallow, and barely reached his lungs before being expelled.
He felt as if he were withering away, dying slowly, ceasing to be.
And then the burning and pulling stopped, and Gabe realized Moira had let go of him.She held up her left hand, fingers spread, for him to view.Her wound was gone completely, with no scar or swelling or erythema in sight.The sight astounded him, it truly did, but at that moment, his legs felt weak, his head spun, and nausea consumed his abdomen. The Commander backed into the desk he stood adjacent to and sat himself on its surface, holding his head in his palm.“You will be alright,” Moira’s voice spoke within the darkness, “I didn’t cause enough damage to harm you in any appreciable way.”A nod was all that she received."This is the kind of power we can possess if not held back by morality," she lectured. "Not only will you be cured of your ailments, but this technology will allow you to exceed your current abilities as a soldier and benefit you while out on the field.”Cautiously, Gabriel removed his hand from his face and gazed upon the Doctor through half-lidded, drowsy eyes.“You will be unstoppable, Commander.”
He sure enjoyed the sound of that.
“I think hiring you was the best idea I ever had,” Gabe chuckled hoarsely, and Moira smirked unnervingly, replying to him with, “I most certainly agree.”She ran her fingers over her decrepit hand once more."Now, tell me why you’re here." It was at her words did he remember why he sought out her presence.The Commander fought against his grogginess."Right. Uh, there was a briefing regarding Talon’s activity. I guess Overwatch found a spot in Italy where they like to all huddle together.""Is that so?"

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Gabriel watched as her eyes ran up, down, and across his topless form, searching for any differences or imperfections. It was the way she looked at him, he concluded, that made him so uneasy; made him shift his weight from one foot to the other as he stood before her. Moira wasn't performing a physical on a patient; rather, she was analyzing the effects of the tests done to her lab rat, gazing at the latter as cold and unsympathetic as ever.That truth always left a pit in his stomach. He couldn't fathom viewing his teammates as she did: nothing more than walking lumps of meat. It didn't quite matter if the person was respectable or not, it made no difference to her. All and everyone was beneath the Doctor, and it was probable that “everyone” included him.She wouldn't (or perhaps couldn't) empathize with him. Moira would brush his pain and agony right off her shoulder, stating his agony was for the advancement of scientific research and the betterment of his health. Which, in all truthfulness, it was, but that didn’t make his current situation with her any less unsettling.Everything was already in motion, however. Gabe couldn't back down now, there was already so much progress made.He had passed the point of no return too long ago."Are you experiencing any pain?" Moira questioned. Gabe shook his head. "Nope."“I see.” She wrote down what he assumed to be his answers on her papers, occasionally glancing back at his face. He nonchalantly watched her as she wrote, taking note of the way she created her letters and smudged ink onto the lateral side of her left palm in the process.“No pain at all, Commander?”She sounded perplexed, as if his admittance wasn’t what she was expecting to hear.The Commander thought deeply about his current state.“I’m, uh…no, actually. Nothing.”Moira tilted her head to the side. “I’m surprised.”“I’m getting the feeling I should be in pain.”“I don’t believe that’s the correct way to phrase it. It was likely you would feel pain, but not experiencing any was never impossible.”He examined the long, red, acrylic nails that hid what Gabe deemed her "claws" and compared the length with the short nails on her left hand. There were no fakes there, simply her natural nail beds exposed to the air. Such an unusual style would have looked strange on anyone but her."You appear to be stable, Commander," Moira eventually told him, flashing that infamous smirk. "Everything is coming along well." “Wonderful," Gabriel commented."And you aren’t having any transient episodes of unusual symptoms?”“None that I can remember.”She gave him a strange look, yet said nothing.He wasn’t too sure what she meant by her action, but decided he didn’t care enough to press further.Moira grabbed the chair behind her and spun it to face him, planting herself in the seat and crossing her long, thin legs. "Any questions?"He shook his head."If that's all, then I believe we're done here."She reached for the cup of coffee behind her, gripping it at the strip of cardboard wrapped around its white material and twirling it, resulting in a very unhappy Moira."All out?" he smiled, throwing his shirt over his head. The woman stood and set the cup back on the table. "Unfortunately," she sneered.The Doctor spat a few words to herself in…some language, and looked over at Gabe.She stared at him for a few moments, expressionless. It confused him.“Why are you still here?” she asked.
Why was he…?

What?

Because they were just speaking to each other, right?
”Hm?”There was inflection in her voice as she repeated the question, but he couldn’t decipher what it was.Blood rushed to his ears as he thought of something to say.“You want me to leave? Is that what you’re saying?”Now she appeared to be confused.“If you’d like. I don’t see why you would stay.”He was lost, and wasn’t sure why he’d stay, either.Moira removed her lab coat and hung it over the back of her chair.“Unless you’d like me to provide coffee for you, as well,” she offered, and walked to the back of the lab, disappearing to the door opposite of where he stood. He watched her as she went, arms crossed over his chest.If he took her up on the offer, would he simply leave after? Or was that an invitation for him to stay?To him, that’s exactly what it sounded like, due to his prior experiences with his colleagues. But Moira didn’t necessarily strike him as someone who would lend out a friendly invitation to chat.Despite that, Gabriel followed her to the back, deciding that it couldn’t hurt to socialize with his newest recruit.He knew so little about her, other than she was a brilliant, morally ambiguous geneticist. The Commander never cared to bond with members of Blackwatch, and they could say the same about him (perhaps Jesse could be excluded from that group), but it’s possible simply speaking with her could be of good use. It was always beneficial to establish common ground and copaceticity with coworkers.The back room of the laboratory mirrored the main section: cluttered and in disarray. The machine Moira kept stuffed in this space had been moved to a location unknown to him. Boxes were stacked upon the green sofa stuffed in the corner, and the two tables present had miscellaneous items and papers thrown about.Moira had disappeared, much to his surprise. He glanced around, but with the space being as small as it was, there was no chance of catching sight of her.Gabe almost called out for her, but the Doctor’s low, smooth voice sounded, without warning, “You seem lost.”She was to his left, just out of view, offering him black coffee and looking down at him with passive condescendence.There was a door behind her, in the process of sliding itself closed.From where he stood, boxes stacked to the ceiling blocked his view of the left corner of the room, and it was only until Gabriel stepped further in did he realize said door existed.The Commander took the cup she held out to him, warmth seeping into his palm and fingers.“The day’s been long, that’s all,” he replied eventually.“I can empathize. Most of my free time is occupied by the process of ‘moving in,’ so to speak. I would greatly appreciate it if you could send a few more interns my way.”“What happened to the last guys?”“It appears they are unaware their task is incomplete. Or they are hesitant to complete it, as I’ve noticed I am being avoided like the plague.” There was an appreciable twang of irritation in her voice as she spoke and in her angular face as she sipped her caffeine.The information relayed to him was frustrating, to say the least.
He would have to have a talk in the near future, and a talk from him wasn’t as lighthearted as a talk from Jack.
Moira walked away from Gabe and sat herself atop the round table a few meters away, shuffling a few items out of her way before placing her body on its surface.He casually and silently watched her as she made her journey. He watched her meticulously place one foot in front of the other and the subtle sway of her hips and backside. And when she sat herself down, her legs were long enough that the bottoms of her wedges were able to stay planted upon the floor.“You aren’t obligated to stay, Commander, you are more than welcome to leave. Your day has been ‘long,’ as you’ve mentioned.”She grinned, and if she were attempting to show kindness and sympathy, it wasn’t working.Moira’s smiles were anything but pleasant.He nodded, studying the floral print expanding across the (rather unnoticeable) swell of her chest.“Thanks for the coffee,” Gabriel told her.“It sounds as if you will need it for the remainder of your day.”“Most likely.”Moira tilted her head. “Do let me know if you begin to feel unwell.”“Right.” His back was already turned towards her as he replied.He left Moira to herself and her silence, sitting comfortably within the back room of her laboratory.Her caffeine offering was not an invitation to chat, clearly. It was an invitation to provide him with coffee and have him leave.Gabe appreciated that, ironically. No awkward small talk from her, or attempts at friendship; simply professionalism and nothing more. He preferred it that way when it came to the employees of Blackwatch.And, he was discovering, he preferred that it be kept that way with Moira O’Deorain especially. She didn’t appear as someone worth befriending, if that were even possible.Using her as a means to an end was quite enough for him.
Their relationship needn’t be anything more.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Gabriel walked alongside Jesse to the conference room, partially listening to his nonsense stories as they made their journey. God, the Cowboy could go on and on forever. The Commander began to wonder how McCree kept enough air in his lungs to speak as much as he did. He must love the sound of his own voice, Gabe thought disdainfully.The pair met with one of the many doors leading to the conference room and stepped inside.As they approached the top of the stairway, Jesse paused and gave a peculiar look to the crowd below. "I'll be damned. Look who decided to show up."Gabriel didn't need to look to know the identity of the person his cohort spoke of. Not only that, it wasn't difficult to pick her out of the bustling crowd of oddities. She was the only woman with such a saturated scarlet head of hair, the only one able to tower over a decent majority of the soldiers present."What do you think her reasoning is? For being here?" McCree pondered.“Good question.”“Well, you certainly know her better than me: give me your best guess.”The Commander racked his brain, deciding to humor his friend. He imagined asking the Doctor Jesse’s question. He tried to picture, in her deep voice, how she would respond.Many blanks were drawn.“Sudden change of heart?” Gabe joked, which earned him a laugh.“No offense, Gabriel, but I wouldn’t bet a cent on that.”The Cowboy clapped him on the shoulder and bounced down the stairs to join Reinhardt near the back of the room, the spurs of his boots jangling as he went.Once he was alone on the balcony, Gabriel leaned on the guardrail and examined the crowd below him. It seemed as if everyone was present. Jack was busy explaining (albeit rather angrily) something to Moira. The latter appeared to be more annoyed than usual as she snapped her replies at him. He was too far away to make out their words among the noise, but, judging by the way Moira forcefully rubbed her hands together behind her back, he was able to pick up that her composure was beginning to crack.Morrison eventually became fed up with whatever the Doctor was saying and marched away, leaving Moira to her lonesome.Gabe, too focused on the ordeal, did not hear the door open behind him and did not hear the footsteps walking towards him—not until Angela appeared in his peripheral."Hello! What were you thinking about?" Mercy greeted happily."Nothing important."“And what does ‘nothing important’ mean?”There was a pause on his part.“Jack and Moira were arguing.” He gazed at her and shrugged."Oh," the woman sounded, and mimicked his position on the railing.The two were silent for a moment, Angela's blue eyes scanning over her teammates as well as the personnel assigned to Blackwatch, before murmuring quietly, "I don't trust her, Gabe."He remained silent, allocating her room to speak."The way she conducts her research is so... unethical. She demonstrates her technology and its functionality, and I must say, it is very impressive. She’s a very intelligent woman, but..." She trailed off and sighed. "It just worries me, how she finds her answers. And how far she's willing to go to get the results she wants." Gabriel understood Angela’s concerns. He very much did. Doctor Ziegler was someone who valued her morals and human life too much to step outside of her own boundaries.
But he was different.
He didn’t share her caution.
And neither did Moira.
"Just keep an eye on her for me, okay?" Angela's signature smile returned."Anything for you, Doc," Gabe replied, his voice low and gravelly.She lingered on the rail for a moment longer before heading down the stairs, himself following close behind.He peered around the room, searching for Ana or the Strike Commander and failing to find either."They’re most likely hiding in the backroom. Again," Angela sighed. "I'll drag them out." The blonde shook her head as she traveled to a silver door and disappeared within.A minute after Ziegler’s disappearance, Moira’s irritated voice rang above the rest, “What is happening, Gabriel?” A shift of his head revealed the woman to be at his side, arms crossed heatedly.“Intel came back from Rialto. You didn’t get the notice?”
Either that, or she chose to ignore it, which was more likely.
“I am speaking in regards to the Strike Commander; if he must schedule a briefing for 1500, he should stick to that time.”
Oh.
She scanned the large crowd.“But it seems he has other intentions.”“Angela’s figuring it out. If something came up, I would have been dragged into it by now.”“Are you implying there is no substantial reason he and the Captain aren’t here right now?” Sort of, he wanted to say, but decided, based on Moira’s obvious fury and irritation, that wasn’t the answer she needed to hear.“This is unlike them; I’m sure something’s going on.”She huffed, and he was unsure if his answer satisfied her.“Why show up today?” Gabriel tried. He had nothing better to do with himself right now.
Why not pick her brain to pass the time?
“You said it yourself, Commander: it seems to you this is an issue requiring my involvement.”That’s right. Just after he gave her the synopsis on Tuesday's meeting, he made the comment. It was passing, but apparently, it stuck with her.
Seems like I’ll be taking you with me on this one.
“Right.”He thought for a moment.“What were you and Jack arguing about?”If she could look any more irked than she already did, his question was what caused it.“He wanted to give his opinion on my employment within Blackwatch.”“And I’m guessing you didn’t appreciate it?”“How wise you are.”Jack usually held no negative opinions of Blackwatch‘s soldiers, regardless of how questionable and unorthodox their backgrounds may be. What made Moira so different?Gabe rubbed his eyes and offered the room a sweeping glance, deciding he couldn’t answer that question himself.Everything was still pandemonium, Jack and Amari (and now Angela, as well) still nowhere to be found. He returned his gaze to the Doctor, who was now searching her much-too-long nails for imperfections.“Overwatch is incredibly diverse,” she abruptly pointed out, not bothering to glance up. “It has always amazed me that the world’s governments possess the ability to coordinate and discover such peculiar individuals.”He supposed it amazed him, too, in some sort of way. Perhaps not in the way it amazed Moira, however.“Not a single one from Ireland, however,” she finally lifted her head and gazed towards the crowd. “How strange.”That peaked his interest. And made a few things widely apparent to him.“You’re from Ireland?”The look she offered him was one of confusion.“You say that as if you’re surprised.”She was most certainly speaking in regards to her employee profile; he was her employer, he should know her information by heart.But he didn’t.In hindsight, this should have been apparent to him. Her nationality should have been glaringly apparent to him. Her appearance gave it away, and if not that, her accent was most certainly, without a doubt, Irish-like in nature.It simply…didn’t click, for reasons unknown to him.Gabriel shrugged, unsure of how else to respond.“What part of Ireland?”“Dublin. I resided there until I was employed by Overwatch.”“I heard that’s a beautiful place. A lot of folks I knew wanted to vacation there.”“It is quite beautiful. Tourists-”“I need everyone’s attention!” Jack’s voice suddenly rang high above the rest.He stood at the head of the circular table along with Ana and Angela. The room quieted as everyone noticed the trio's presence.“Nobody needs to be seated," Amari began. "Something urgent has arisen. We need Commander Reyes here to discuss this matter. Everyone else, you are free to go, and we will explain the issue once a conclusion has been met."
What?

Has something happened? Was something wrong?
Murmurs of worry broke out among the crowd, and everyone filed to the doorways.Moira was not happy. As a matter of fact, if looks could kill, Jack and Ana would have dropped dead where they stood.
Of course, they would absolutely deserve it, in her opinion. They wasted her precious time, and she will never be given those minutes back.
“Unbelievable,” she grumbled.The Doctor sighed, perhaps in an attempt to maintain her composure, and spoke to him, “Visit me as soon as you can.”Gabe nodded his understanding, and she left to join the rest in their departure.His body coursed with adrenaline as he trekked over to meet the small group standing at the table.Once the three were completely alone, he questioned, "What is it?"Jack awkwardly tapped away on the large tablet he held in his hands. “Well, we can finally stop scratching our heads about who’s calling the shots in Talon.”
Seriously?
Overwatch and Blackwatch have been tracking Talon for years; however, as expected, their highest ranking officials kept an extremely low profile. They haven’t so much as pinned down a leader as they have picked out a few suspected ones.“We found a man named Antonio Bartalotti. He’s some Italian arms dealer stationed in Venice.” Morrison showed Gabriel a picture of a bulky, dark-haired man with a silver chip-esque implant located above the eye. "Based on the bits of information we've uncovered, there’s reason to believe he’s arming Talon for some sort of attack. Now, Overwatch won't take action until we have a better picture of the story. That's where you come in, Gabe." The Strike Commander set his tablet down and crossed his arms. "You think Blackwatch could paint a better picture for us?" Gabe laughed, perhaps a bit too condescendingly. "Jack, this’ll be a walk in the park. You have nothing to worry about.”“Never was worried.”“We’ve already sent all of the information to Blackwatch‘s systems,” Ana jutted in, “before Jack forgets to let you know.”She playfully elbowed Morrison in the side before continuing.“Run it by your team and get back to us with a plan, okay?”“Right.”Light banter pursued the conclusion of their small meeting. It continued as the three marched up a set of stairs and out into the bustling hallway.Once the border between Overwatch and Blackwatch was met, Gabriel said his goodbyes and headed towards the basement of the complex to fulfill Moira’s request.Or, better yet, Moira’s orders. What she wanted him for, he wasn't entirely sure. It was usually a mystery when it came to her and her practices.As long as he saw results, he didn’t care how she went about achieving them.The laboratory doors were left unlocked, for the first time ever, and slid open to reveal Moira sitting on the table in the middle of the room holding a large packet of papers and briefly glancing over each one.She peered up as she heard his approach.“That was quick."The metal doors shut behind him.“Tell me, Commander, whatever was the reason Jack and Ana decided to waste my time?”“Some pretty big news on Talon was uncovered. I guess they thought it was easier to keep it between us until Blackwatch could get in there and dig up more dirt.”She wasn’t pleased with his response, judging by her expression.“It would have been nice to know much sooner I wouldn’t be needed.”The Doctor hopped off the desk and took a few steps forward, her hands folded behind her.“I am ready to perform the second half of your procedure. I was wondering if you would like to proceed now or perhaps schedule a date.”There were no follow-up questions from her. No What’s the big news? or What’s going to happen now?
Moira simply did not care.
And the information she relayed to him was exciting, to say the least.Just in time for their next operation.“Allow me to demonstrate, first,” Moira spoke.Without warning, in an instant, she disappeared in a light cloud of dark mist, the action accompanied by the soft swish of the air as she pulled it with her. Not a moment later did she reappear a few meters from her initial location, quiet bellows of a draft sounding once more.“Becoming accustomed to this power takes time, but it isn’t impossible,” Moira told him. “I’m certain you will get along well.”Gabe was…well…. 
Awestruck. Flabbergasted. Mesmerized. Astonished.
 And he had the most horrible grin upon his face. “Amazing!” he laughed. That was the only word he could think to form. It was the only word he was capable of forming, in that moment.The Doctor hid her right hand behind her back and bowed, obviously quite proud of her work.
As she should be.
“Your weight will have an effect on how quickly you are able to disappear, but it shouldn’t hinder your ability to any appreciable extent. As for how my work will interact with your enhancements, we will have to wait and see.”Her words were concerning, truly, but any fright they could have possibly brought about was lost on him. Any state her alterations left him in were better than his current… predicament, he decided.“That being said, Commander,” Moira placed her hands behind her back, “shall we?”His heart was slung into his throat and blocked air and noise from passing.And she smiled at him eerily.
Eerily.
 
And he became afraid.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

She wasn't in the lab. Gabriel sighed, beyond frustrated at his situation and at Moira for not being present (perhaps it wasn’t her fault, but that didn’t matter right now). He retraced his steps, running up a set of stairs and through the various rooms of the base. Everyone he came across was asked the same question: Have you seen Moira? Their response (no, I haven't) was usually accompanied by either odd looks or comments on his anxious state, neither of which he had time to offer a reply.He turned a corner, his senses fiery and ablaze, and was met with Ana stepping into an elevator.She was about to greet him, her face adorning a pleasant smile that faded as they both entered the confined space.Once inside, Amari commented, "You're certainly in a hurry." The Commander pressed a button that would bring him to the floor of the Dining Hall, elevator doors closing shut as the two began to move upward. It was the last place he could think to look with any possibility of success."Have you seen Moira?" he asked with great frustration, breathless from his lap around the entirety of the base. The Captain shook her head. "I haven't, Gabe. I’m sorry.” "Shit," Gabe breathed.It was unlike Moira to just disappear like this. And he had no way of contacting her. He had no way of telling her that he needed her right now, urgently, as soon as possible. Because he wasn’t sure if she was near any sort of computer or not. And texting or calling her was completely out of the question; he was beginning to believe she forgets her cellphone exists.She shouldn’t be this difficult to contact. She should know there’s always the possibility of issues arising. This is extremely unprofessional of her.
A woman with a stick that far up her ass should know better than to put him in this situation.
The two rode in silence for a moment before Ana questioned, "What’s the matter? You seem stressed."
That was not a conversation he was having right now.
"There’s information I need to discuss with her, and I’ve been looking for her all morning.”“‘Information’?”“Right.”She offered him a perplexed eyebrow raise, but didn’t press him further.
She knew he wouldn’t give her anything more.
“I don’t find myself crossing paths with Doctor O’Deorain very much,” Ana told him. “Truthfully, I think you interact with her more than anyone else. From what I’ve witnessed, at least.”“She never did strike me as the social type.”“Far from it,” Ana chuckled. “But I suppose that’s a good quality to have when employed under you.”“I agree.”After what felt like an eternity, the doors slid open upon their arrival to Gabriel’s (and apparently Ana’s) desired floor.Cool air engulfed him as he stepped out into the hallway, the large entrance leading to the Dining Hall straight ahead of them. He trekked over slowly, listening to the distant conversations being held. It was still early in the morning. The drowsy members of Overwatch and Blackwatch, half of which didn't bother to change out of their nightwear, were attempting to revive themselves with pancakes, waffles, and coffee. Enticing scents wafted from the compound's cafeteria and caused his stomach to clench with hunger.The cafeteria itself was noticeably warmer than the outside halls, most likely due to the preparation of food and collective body heat, he assumed. If he closed his eyes, the setting may become something akin to calming.Gabe peered around the massive room, and (thanks to all he believed in, which was not much) spotted Moira near the small island in the back corner of the room. She was standing at its head reading her silver tablet, a glass of water placed adjacent to her body.He marched over with all the frustration and exhaustion in his being, leaving Amari to her lonesome."Moira," he sounded sternly as he neared her, agitation gripping his vocal cords.The woman didn't lift her head. "What is it, Gabriel?"“I’ve been looking for you for the better half of an hour.”“Well, it seems your efforts have finally paid off.”She finally lifted her eyes and offered a calm smirk.That pissed him off, but he didn’t argue. He wasn’t going to win an argument against her; not in his tired state, anyways.“Why did you need me? Are you well?”“I’m not sure, I…” he trailed off, contemplating how he wanted to go about explaining the situation to her.He gazed at her amidst his thoughts. She was holding her tablet to her chest, her expression one of expectancy. Locks of hair rested lightly in her face and on her ears. Even this early in the morning, Moira made a point to look as proper as ever.She was an attractive woman, he had to admit. And he hated how he thought that, because she was so unnerving and vain and callous.
And, truthfully, was not his type at all, which made him question why he felt the way he did about her appearance.
It wouldn’t be the first time he’s thought of one of his coworkers in such a way, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. Hell, when he was much younger, it was thoughts of this nature that led him to the mother of his son.Of course, he was much younger then, and he acted on those thoughts. Now, they were simply passing and forgettable, products of a now-lonely life and forced close proximity to so many other lonely lives. And now was no different.“When I,” Gabriel started quietly, “uh, hit the bots in the shooting range, it heals me.”“You’ve demonstrated your understanding of that to me already.”“No, with my bullets!” That caused a couple heads to turn, but he didn’t care.He lowered his voice again. “When I shoot them, it heals me.”Moira’s interest seemed to be stimulated. “Is that so?”“Is that supposed to happen?”“Well, it was certainly a possibility. Has this begun today?”“Yeah.”She went silent, a smile on her features. It aggravated him.“Is that normal? Why is this suddenly happening now?”“It’s likely you’ve stimulated your body in a way that caused the gene to become ‘unlocked,’ essentially. Specific external stimuli can release the right amount of hormones and proteins in our bodies in order for this to occur.”When he still appeared to be confused, she added, with vexation, “There was always the possibility this would occur, it was stated in the document I gave to you. Perhaps you should learn to read more carefully.”The document she referred to was most certainly the one full of so much science jargon he decided to give up on page five.“Am I fine?” he then asked.“You are perfectly healthy, as far as I’m concerned.”The Doctor sipped at her water elegantly.“You should be celebrating this finding, Commander. This will aid you greatly in your endeavors.” Celebrating. He should be celebrating. And he has been, up until this point. Even as they trod in unknown territory and he watched his fingertips dissipate before his very eyes, he celebrated.He was full of certainty and determination up until this point—this point in which things became unclear and unexpected. He had full right not to celebrate immediately.“Are you experiencing any other symptoms?” The Doctor interrogated, taking another nonchalant drink from her glass.He thought for a brief moment.“No, everything’s great.”The smile she offered was disturbing. “Yes. Excellent.”Moira then stepped away from the island, examining him with her mismatched eyes.“I will be in my lab for the remainder of the day, if you require further assistance.”And with that, she left him alone, no further explanations or comments.So he was…fine? Healthy? She wasn’t concerned at all? This was…supposed to happen? Or rather, it was likely to happen? And how did it work? What was the science behind this power?There was a tap on his shoulder, and Gabe tilted his head downwards to meet the gaze of Angela Ziegler.“Would you like to come sit with us, Gabriel?”Peering above her blonde head let him know that Jack and Ana were looking in his direction. Ana was smiling, and Jack seemed confused.He returned his attention to Mercy.“Sure.”That earned him another smile, from the Surgeon this time, and she chatted happily about how well her morning was going as the two fixed themselves breakfast.He didn’t realize it at first, but her chatter was relaxing his nerves. It wasn’t anything substantial, simply friendly banter, but that’s exactly what made it so effective. The calmness of her topic allowed him to take his mind off of Moira and the anxiety she created for him.And by the time he sat down with the rest of their small group, he was able to smile along with them.“What was that all about back there, Gabe?” Morrison asked with seemingly genuine curiosity.“I had to set a few things straight with her.”The Strike Commander nodded. “She’s difficult to argue with. Always has an excuse. And always thinks she’s in the right.”“She’s so weirdly full of herself,” Angela put in as she bit into an egg. “If I met her parents, I would have a long talk about how to properly raise a child.”That made Gabriel chuckle.“Little late for that!”“Unfortunately.”“I still don’t get why you took her on,” Jack said. The Blackwatch Commander was not going to give his friend a straight answer. Not yet, anyways. He’ll find out why soon enough.“I felt she suited my purposes.”There. Good enough. More than enough, as a matter of fact.Gabe never wanted to trouble Jack with his problems. He never wanted to let him know that he was sick, unwell, and dying. And Morrison assuming the position of Strike Commander affirmed that his decision to keep his secrets was the correct move.So it was not only for his sake that he answered so vaguely, but Jack’s, as well.And Jack trusted him. He trusted him very much.
He would never press for more than what he was given.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Alright everyone, I've decided we'll be heading to Italy exactly two weeks today. That being said, I've also come up with our plan of attack…sort of," Gabriel addressed his team. It's been a while since he's seen everyone in one room. Interns, pilots, and mercenaries stood, while the rest sat at the grey rectangular table placed in the middle of the room."First of all," he started, "Genji, Jesse, and Moira will be heading with me to the new Blackwatch headquarters located in Rome. That’s where Gerard will be waiting. He’s our rat. He’ll be collecting most of the information we need to proceed with the attack via some nice camera placements. While he’s doing that, we need to get closer to our enemy. Go undercover, to put it more bluntly. I’m still figuring out a couple ideas on how we can do that.”He paused for a moment to think before continuing.“Our tactics will give us all the information we need on this Antonio guy. Once we get what we want, we’ll figure out a plan of action and let Jack know.”Gabe watched his audience. Their gazes were intense, taking in his information carefully. Moira seemed to be the only one less-than-eager to begin preparations.He paused again to run over his thoughts."Now, once the four of us head to Rome, I'll also send a few interns to help at the facility. It's pandemonium over there, and they could use the extra help. It won't be permanent, just until the amount of cargo we have coming in over there dies down."Quiet mumbling broke out for a few seconds before everyone settled."Right," he muttered to himself. "Is there anything anyone wants to add?" There were no responses and some scattered head shakes."Alright, then. Get out of here."The room sprang to life as Gabriel sat in the chair closest to him and stretched, tightly shutting his eyes as anticipation for the events to come filled him with energy.He locked his fingers above his head and rested his hands atop his scalp, sighing as he reopened his eyes.McCree was attempting to speak to Genji, the Commander noticed, who was offering the former devilish glances. He watched them for no reason other than he needed something to stare at while he thought.Gabe was glad he got to work alongside Gerard once more. They certainly have been through quite a bit together (although he could say that about many of his coworkers), and the Frenchman was a kind and respectable individual. He was incredible at what he did, and gave it his all when Blackwatch needed assistance. No one could ask for a better ally.“I am excited for you, Commander,” Moira’s low voice rang, and the woman appeared in his sight shortly thereafter.Her gaze was unsettling, as usual, and she loomed over him frighteningly.It took quite a bit to unnerve a man like Gabriel, and yet, Moira achieved it.“Why’s that?” he asked her.“I am eager to see my work in action. This is a perfect opportunity for you.”
Her work.
“I won’t let you down,” he joked as he lowered his arms.“You exhibit exemplary skill and intellect, I’m sure you will not.”She examined him up and down once with a devilish smirk and a raised brow, and then left without another word, strutting away with her hands behind her.Was that a compliment? From Moira, of all people?He remembered the few instances he encountered her while she worked under Overwatch, and the many times others complained about her attitude. She did not think highly of anyone, to say the least.That being true, a compliment from her was quite special. On the other hand, should he even want to be complimented by her? “What’d the Doc have to say?” McCree asked as he marched up to Gabriel and pulled a seat over to sit with him.
That I exhibit exemplary skill and intellect.
“I got a compliment,” Gabe said as he raised his own brows in amused shock over the fact.Jesse gave him a quizzical stare. “You pulling my leg?”“Said I was smart.”The Cowboy scoffed with a Pssh and a smirk. “I got you nailed to the counter here, Boss. Ain’t no way she said that.”“Believe what you want, Jesse, but I know the truth.”His friend shook his head, eyes falling to the side for a moment.The Commander waited for him to speak.“Look, I’m not going to ask you why she’s a part of our team, because I know your answer. But you say you need her for advice; what kind of advice are you getting from her?”Gabriel paused. Because his health was in jeopardy, he could have said. Because he was fading the older he became, and he saw her. He saw her practices and beliefs and they melded with his.
Because she was the only one who could help him.
“It’s not worth bringing up,” he opted for. The answer was unsatisfactory, but he didn’t care.McCree clearly didn’t approve of his response, either, but there was no further interrogation.“Don’t like her much, Reyes, and I think a lot of the folks here agree.”“Whether anyone likes her or not isn’t important.”“You’re right, it ain’t too important. But what I’m saying is, you should keep an eye on her. Just to be safe, right?”
Right…
Truthfully, he didn’t fault Jesse for his worries, but the man had to put faith in his superior.
He wasn’t an idiot. He knew what he was doing.
And McCree understood that, Gabriel was sure of it. What was with all this reservation? He acted in a similar manner when Genji began to work under Blackwatch, as well.
Years of living within the Deadlock Gang, perhaps. Years of not being able to trust anyone but himself.
Jesse began to speak of more lighthearted topics, to which Gabe responded pleasantly. It was a wonderful change of pace from their conversation regarding Moira. It was a wonderful reprieve from the duties that awaited him.
It was a wonderful distraction from the insufferable amount of paperwork that lay unfinished upon his office desk.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Blackwatch personnel hauled crates of expensive technology into large cargo ships near the back of the hangar.The ships were to arrive at Rome’s headquarters in sporadic intervals so as to not raise suspicion.The way in which everyone prepared, Gabriel noted, resembled a machine; a single unit that completed a task perfectly, never stopping or slowing down. A few individuals brought mounds of boxes in on trolleys, to which another group reacted accordingly, hauling said boxes into the ship and allowing yet another crowd to perform their designated task. He enjoyed simply watching every now and again, almost proud of his crew for the amount of coordination present in their work style."Commander," a seemingly frustrated mechanical voice said, followed by a clap on Gabe’s shoulder.It was Genji, but of course it was. No other individual in the facility had a tone of speech as unique as his.“Where is Moira?”He contemplated the Ninja’s question, and drew blanks.Now that his focus was on the topic, he realized that he had not seen Moira once this entire morning.He was surprised, to say the least, because she was Moira—a woman who never slept, never forgot, and would never miss an opportunity to witness her work on active duty.Not only that, but there was never an instance where she simply did not show up for a mission, regardless of how much she lamented being deployed.“I’ll figure out what’s going on,” he appeased Genji, whose eyes were full of poison and fury as he huffed his displeasure.“This is unprofessional of her. Everyone should be here loading the ships.”“Look, you don’t worry about it. I’ll get her here.”Gabriel clearly did nothing to quell the man’s irritation, but there wasn’t much more he could say to help.And so, he left Genji to his lonesome, dodging many trolleys and forklifts and interns to reach one of the many exits of the expansive area.Thankfully, the hangars were on the ground floor, along with the lab and workshop. However, despite not having to trek down flights of stairs, the laboratory was the farthest room from everything else.There was still no escaping the journey to find Doctor O’Deorain.Once Gabe’s destination lie directly in front of him, he pounded his knuckles against its great metal doors a few times over and called the Doctor’s name.He waited to hear her voice on the other side.And waited some more.But there was never a response.And so, he called again, this time at a higher volume than before. Silence.  Great, he thought.Deciding that, if she were in the lab, she couldn’t hear him or chose to not hear him, he fumbled around in his pockets for his wallet and pulled out his identification card, using it to manually open the doors.She wasn’t anywhere to be seen, he noticed as he stepped inside and the doors closed behind him.Again, he called her name.Nothing was out of place. There were no coffee cups or mugs, no papers thrown in disarray, no monitors displaying information.Gabriel trekked towards the back of the lab, and as it neared, he heard something that sounded similar to…snoring?It was the only notable sound in the lab, aside from the white noise emanating from Moira’s contraptions.Was that a machine he was unfamiliar with? Or the ventilation system? Or… Was…was that Moira? He suddenly felt awkward, like he was somehow invading her privacy by catching her while she was asleep. If she even was present and asleep.Gabe, in all honesty, couldn’t picture Moira partaking in a simple human activity like sleeping. And he couldn’t picture her in anything other than her Blackwatch uniform or a lab coat. He couldn’t picture her performing tasks like painting her nails, or cleaning her teeth, or choosing what outfit she wanted to wear in the morning.He simply could not picture her being human. The only image of Moira O’Deorain in his mind was a pristine white lab coat and perfectly-styled ginger hair and an erect posture and large hands folded behind a thin frame. That was it. She could not be anything else.Despite all of that, however, when he opened the door to the second half of the lab, he was met with Moira, clad in a sleeveless shirt and leggings, sleeping peacefully on her side atop the small couch in the corner of the room.
And her snoring was so incredibly loud.
Gabriel almost didn’t want to wake her up. He didn’t want Moira to know that he found her in such a vulnerable state. But he also didn’t understand why she wasn’t awake and moving when she knew full well they were set to leave in an hour.He walked over to her body despite his unusual reservations, taking note of how strange it felt to visualize so much of her pale skin and a larger portion of the bulging veins wrapping around her right arm.
The way in which they pulsed filled him with unease.
He tapped on her bony shoulder with two fingers, making a conscious effort to keep his eyes off an exposed section of her breasts that her low-sloping shirt made visible to the world.“Moira,” Gabe spoke gently.Her shoulder was poked a few more times before her snoring ceased. He backed up as to not loom over her when she finally came to.“You know we’re leaving soon. You shouldn’t be sleeping,”  the Commander lectured, though he wasn’t as frustrated as he typically would have been in this situation. Moira’s eyes opened halfway as she looked upon him with what he can only decipher as vexation. She shut them once more as she sat up and ran her long fingers through her hair, brushing delicate strands that rested upon her ears into place.“You told me 0800, Commander,” the Doctor protested.“Right, that’s when we leave. Stuff needs to happen before that point. You know that.”“My equipment is already loaded into the carrier, if that is what you’re referring to.”
It…was?

When did that happen?
He furrowed his brow.Moira finally fully opened her mismatched eyes and gazed at him with strong discontent.“Unless you would like me to do the interns’ task of loading the supply ships.” There was poison laced into her words.He paused, unsure of how to proceed. Moira wasn’t very strong; she wouldn’t be lifting heavy crates and carrying them across the hangar. But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t be of any assistance.He also wasn’t ready to face the possibility of having to wake her up a second time, should he allow her to fall back to sleep.“It’d help,” Gabriel finally said. Her displeasure seemed to grow with his answer, but she did not argue further.The Doctor stood and rubbed the drowsiness from her eyes.“It isn’t as if I could have fallen back to sleep,” she grumbled.“You can sleep on the way there.”“No, that won’t be happening.”With that, she trekked past him and into the small room to his left, which seemed to be full of personal belongings, judging by the clothing hanging from a rack at the opposite end.
He was able to visualize the logos present on some of her blouses; she had quite expensive tastes, it seemed.
Moira closed the door, and there was no more sound to be heard. Alright then, Gabe thought for no other reason than to drown out the white noise in his head.He decided to lean himself against a wall and wait patiently for her return.He could use the few spare moments of quiet.  “I tried explaining that it was for the best, but Jack didn’t want to hear it,” Gabriel told Moira as they trekked towards the hangar. “Kept saying that he was worried for me.”“Hm,” she grunted unenthusiastically. “Commander Morrison is too dense to understand what I have done for you. He has been and always will be that way, I wouldn’t waste my breathe arguing with him any further.”Moira wasn’t going to appreciate any sentiment from someone who didn’t approve of her research. He wasn’t sure what he was expecting her to say.He recalled Jack’s face when he discovered what Moira had done to alter his body. He recalled Ana’s, and McCree’s, and Angela’s.
Everyone’s faces, he recalled.
Their shock and dismay was palpable. Their disbelief—it made Gabe’s stomach churn.He felt many things in those moments, but everything was too muddled together to distinguish one emotion from another.But what had he done to feel this way? Moira had saved his life, and his new alternate form was the result of it. He was thankful; they should be, too.What did it matter if they understood what had happened or not? He was alive and well and in no pain. That should be their only focus.His thoughts dissipated upon their arrival to the hangar (or, rather, Moira’s arrival and Gabriel’s return). Genji and McCree were stood beside a stack of crates near the door.Gabe nodded a greeting. Genji said nothing. Moira said nothing. McCree nodded in return.The task of loading cargo resumed, this time with an extra set of hands. Moira was not physically built as Ana was and boasted no visible muscle definition as Angela did, but she made herself useful, nonetheless.She was no combat medic and no sniper. Before Blackwatch, to his knowledge, she was a scientist and no more. There was no need for physical training.Of course, her situation has since changed.Gabriel enjoyed having her tag along during specific operations. He applauded her coolness under stress, her cunningness, her intelligent decisions and movements, despite never having prior training. She did not shy away from the death that surrounded them.No, she welcomed it—smiled when it faced her. Like a damn psycho, he thought as watched her assist genji.But, whatever. It didn’t matter. Her morals aided Blackwatch (and, especially, the Commander himself) greatly. And they were all mad in their own respects. A sane, weak-minded, average individual could never partake in the operations of their division.
But they didn’t draw pleasure from killing. They didn’t smile and laugh as their enemies suffered and died. But Moira did.

Moira did.
 He decided not to focus on that. Once their task was complete, the three main soldiers congregated by one of the many exits. As Gabe neared, he witnessed McCree attempting to make conversation with Genji as Moira stood silently beside them.
Listening.
  Once the aircraft landed and Gabriel’s ears popped, everyone bustled in their seats. The flight to Rome was not long, and that reality thankfully kept the group from arguing with one another.Moira seemed cranky, however, muttering words unpleasantly in her second tongue.Gaeilge, or Gaelic. It was an interesting language. It didn’t flow as smoothly as French, but it wasn’t as clunky and choppy as Russian or German. She sometimes spoke it to herself aloud as she examined him. Rarely did he ask for a translation.The group stepped out of the carrier, with Gabe at the helm, and made their way to the door on the other side of the landing pads. There was security even up on the roof of the building, one officer sitting, and one standing. He received a greeting as he passed through the large steel doorframe.The topmost stairways and halls of the Blackwatch headquarters were eerily silent. Every footstep echoed down through the empty hallway they traversed.“Gerard’s out doing some field work, so we’re not going to be saying hello to him today,” Gabriel told the group, his voice reverberating off of the walls. “Today’s mostly going to be us settling in.”“Snazzy place they built,” voiced McCree.“It is. Get used to it, you’re going to be seeing a lot more of it from now on. All of us are.”Moira grunted a dissatisfied noise, but nothing was said. Gabe decided not to entertain it.After being stuck in an elevator for a few minutes too long and making their way down many winding hallways, the group eventually reached one of the main lobbies.Gabriel received many greetings as he took in his surroundings. There were trolleys carrying large boxes being wheeled left and right. There were countless conversations overlapping one another, and it made focusing on any one thought quite difficult.Genji, without warning, removed himself from their small group, disappearing into a sea of individuals.He couldn’t pinpoint where the Ninja was headed, but Jesse certainly had an idea.“Looks like he’s headed for breakfast, Boss.”
It certainly didn’t look that way.
“Should we join him?” The Cowboy seemed almost impatient as he waited for Gabe’s reply.He wasn’t necessarily hungry. And their hands could be more useful elsewhere.But McCree didn’t seem as if he wanted to hear Gabriel reject his indirectly-spoken offer; he could be a pain when irked. And perhaps putting some food in his stomach could be of benefit in the end.“We are in the way,” Moira’s annoyed voice sounded, and it interrupted his thoughts. “Tell me where you’d like me to be, Gabriel.”“Why don’t you come with us, Moira?” McCree spoke before Gabe could reply.“Where are we going?”“For breakfast!”“I never agreed to that,” interjected Gabe.“Well, I know you, Boss. You were about to.”Gabriel furrowed his brow, but didn’t object. Something (but he wasn’t sure exactly what) was compelling him to agree with Jesse.
Yes. He was about to head for breakfast.
“Whatever, Jesse.”“I know you too well, Gabriel.”“Uh huh.”Gabe looked to Moira, curious whether she would join them or not.The woman gazed down at him with a frown and expectant eyes.“I’ll join you if I won’t have to be subjected to McCree’s stories,” she said.“Ah, you don’t worry, Doc,” said Jesse. “You can have a seat all to yourself.”She wasn’t amused.However, despite Moira’s evident displeasure, she followed closely behind Gabriel and McCree.There were signs suspended from the ceiling guiding them to their destination.Rome’s base offered a food court instead of a central cafeteria. There were small stores offering meals from around the globe: American soul food, Japanese, Thai, Turkish, German, Indian, Italian. Eventually, Gabe stopped attempting to keep track.He absentmindedly gazed at Moira, whose eyes flicked wildly as she took in her surroundings.Her brow was furrowed with what seemed to be either annoyance or intense concentration, or both.“What’re you thinking, Doc?” asked McCree, raising his voice above the noise emanating from the crowd engulfing them. But the Doctor did not answer. She didn’t acknowledge his question in any way at all.Jesse raised his eyebrows before stating, “Alright, then. Japanese it is.” I don’t get a say? Gabriel thought to himself, but decided against speaking to save his breath.“I like that we’re putting the big bucks where it counts,” the Cowboy spoke as they walked. “This is something Switzerland could use.”“I’ll be sure to bring it up to the Union,” Gabe replied.“You got to really sell it. Throw some buzzwords around. Maybe mention how it’ll boost morale.”“I’m starting to think you’re serious about this.”McCree whistled. “Dead serious, Reyes.”The man’s attention was drawn away from their conversation and to the menu bolted onto the wall behind the stand workers.Well, it wasn’t so much of a stand as it was a large professional kitchen. Behind the front counter was a workspace so incredibly expansive that Gabriel could not visualize the most distal ends of it.“Howdy sir! Could I get, uh…” Jesse proceeded to order a few items that Gabe was unfamiliar with. He wasn’t very good with accents and proper pronunciations of words outside of English, but he was certain Jesse butchered the names of whatever items he requested.His inclination was supported by Moira’s deep voice by his side wondering, “Why must he curse my ears?” And when Gabriel himself ordered, he was, for a reason unknown to him, hyper-aware of Moira’s presence on his six, listening to the way he pronounced his words. He stood beside McCree somewhere off to the side, chatting lightly about nothing in particular. The Doctor did not join them, deciding to instead disappear within the crowd. She was not spotted again until they began searching for a place to sit and found her by her lonesome at a table positioned away from the hoard of employees.He immediately considered seating himself away from Moira; her comment regarding Jesse earlier led him to believe it would be a good idea. And she was not someone who ever truly enjoyed company, he had learned over time.Jesse himself did not hold the same considerations, apparently, as he gladly planted himself across from his colleague.The face she made was impassioned with powerful anger and irritation, as if she were staring at the physical incarnation of everything wrong with the world.McCree smirked in return, seemingly pleased with himself and the rise he got out of her.
Why was he so keen on irritating her this morning?
Gabe (cautiously) placed himself in the seat adjacent to Moira. He received a look, too, but it couldn’t be compared to the one she presented to Jesse.Somehow, there was silence between the three of them for a long while. It seemed McCree was more interested in his food than conversation, and Gabriel was thankful for it.Moira didn’t so much as briefly lift her eyes away from her food—not even for a moment. She seemed keen on picking it apart with her fork and eating the small portions she determined to be adequate.Her mannerisms mirrored the way in which Gabe’s son used to pull apart his food whenever his meal was unfamiliar in nature. It left the Commander’s throat tight and his head foggy for an unknown span of time.He was not pulled into reality until a sharp poke at his temple interrupted…well, whatever was going on in his brain.Moira was frowning at him, her gaze stern and unwavering. Despite her tiny frame and inferior ranking and the pleasant environment that surrounded them, her stare was perturbing. In that moment, in his addled mindset, turning away from her eased his nerves. And then, she smiled. It was one of her smirks, one full of knowingness and pomposity and wickedness. And he didn’t like it.“What?” Moira asked, and her tone oozed condescendence.“Nothing important,” was his reply, and despite the stoicism he displayed, Moira seemed to detect something he could not—something behind the brave wall he set up between them.She continued to grin eerily, but didn’t push him any further.“Do you care for any?” She nudged her plate towards him.Gabriel wasn’t sure why she offered; the act couldn’t have been provoked by any feelings of kindness or camaraderie. And her expression certainly contradicted her saccharine tone.It annoyed him. She annoyed him. She did and said practically nothing, and yet, she was crawling under his skin in the most uncomfortable way.
This isn’t new. She’s capable of this—fully capable of making him feel beneath her. It filled him with an indescribable sort of exasperation.
And Gabriel Reyes wasn’t the only one she had this effect on. She could make someone as strong and grandiose as Wilhelm feel so small. But she achieved it with so little effort, as if their human psyche could sense in some way that she was aberrant and twisted. Doctor O’Deorain need not put on a display to boast superiority; she had a way of simply being that unsettled everyone around her. And yet, despite everything, he had let her help him. Despite everything, there were many moments where he looked upon her with wonder and amazement and kindness, as a small, small voice in the back of his mind pointed out how strangely attractive her appearance was. His emotions clearly contradicted themselves, and he couldn’t figure out why.  “No,” Gabe huffed. His colleague raised her brows, but said nothing in response, and resumed organizing and sectioning off her meal.It was only then did he realize McCree was gone. His plate was sitting lonely atop the table, partially eaten and cooling.“If this is to be our new center of operations,” Moira spoke up, catching him off guard, “does that insinuate I will be relocating from my laboratory in Switzerland?”He couldn’t affirm with himself if one option was better than the other; the Doctor’s equipment was already up and functioning in Switzerland, but if she was moved to Rome, her work could be more easily accessed.He mulled these ideas over for another minute.“I haven’t decided yet,” was his response. Moira, apparently, didn’t like it very much, telling by the sour face she gave him.“I would prefer to stay put.”“I don’t think that will be a problem.”“Hm.” She speared a piece of meat with her fork.He attempted to further appease her with, “My plan isn’t to move you around. So unless you really want to tear everything up and haul it here, I think you’re staying right where you are.”She huffed before telling him, “I’ve already done enough of that.” He thought about her words; they could be used to fill the silence that was beginning to set in again. And Moira, despite being incredibly introverted and conceited, was quite good at small talk and the back-and-forth of conversation.
And he didn’t want to be left alone with any intrusive thoughts that abruptly decide to plague him.
“What were you doing before Overwatch?”She seemed to ponder his question.“I worked in the genetics laboratory of the university I received my doctorate from. My published work is what led Overwatch to me.”“And where was that?”“Dublin. My home.”Gabriel was almost convinced her smile showed a hint of fondness at the mention of her home country, but it was also possible he was imagining it. The latter was more likely.He nodded in acknowledgment of her answer and prepared to carry their talk onward; however, Moira spoke before he had the chance.“You were a police officer from the States. Tell me, Gabriel, is America as wonderful as they say?”“Uh, well, I can’t speak for anywhere outside of L.A., but, I wouldn’t recommend settling down there. Once you see past all the pretty tourist sites and whatnot, you start to realize how common crime is, and how little they care about keeping their city clean.”Moira’s brows were furrowed in concentration as she listened. Again, her gaze was intense, but the emotions within it were far from anger and patronizing superiority. It made eye contact much easier for him."How unfortunate,” she said.Another question popped into his head, one that he typically didn’t ask others. But, with Moira, he didn’t hold any reservations.“You have any family or friends in Dublin?”She shook her head, and he wasn’t surprised. She didn’t strike him as someone who held others near and dear.“I don’t have the time for that nonsense,” she told him.“You must have family, at least. You came from somewhere.”
Or, perhaps she was manufactured in a lab. He would wholeheartedly believe her if she said as such.
“They aren’t around anymore,” Moira admitted. Her affect was as flat and distant as ever. He wondered if that meant her parents were dead, or if they simply ceased all association with her. He couldn’t imagine anyone loving a daughter like her.Moira went to speak, but was interrupted by McCree’s return.“Mind if I join the sparkling conversation?” he smirked as he returned to his chair. “Greatly,” hissed the Doctor, but Jesse didn’t seem offended.“Awesome!”Moira didn’t attempt any further discourse; instead, she went back to meticulously picking through her meal and placing bite-sized sections into her mouth.Gabe decided not to bother her.McCree began to fill the silence with a story from his past. Despite the insignificance of his tale, Gabriel didn’t want to interrupt him; it was something lighthearted and easy to focus on.It was something other than Moira.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"There are two beds, correct? I would hate to have to force my boss to sleep on the couch," said Moira as she walked into their new room."Why am I the one that would have to sleep on the couch?" Gabriel paused at the doorway."Because the taller one always gets the bed.""Oh right, right, yeah, almost forgot about that nonexistent rule." Moira cast a smirk from over her shoulder and opened the door that separated the bedroom and bathroom from the kitchen and what could loosely be called a living room. "You're in luck, there are two beds.""Glad they didn't mess that up."The plan was that three stay in one room and two in another. The Blackwatch team decided to go with the seating arrangements they had chosen in the hoagie shop earlier that day, sticking him with Moira once more. Gabe didn't mind, however. He found himself to have grown the smallest bit fond of her company in the previous months. She certainly wasn't his friend, or even an acquaintance for that matter, but she was calm, and her dry sense of humor was enjoyable; all in all, she was very tolerable, and Gabriel needed to associate with someone tolerable every now and then less he lose his mind completely.He gave his surroundings a onceover before trekking to the bedroom. It was simple: two beds, a nightstand, upon which stood a small lamp, and to the left, a bathroom. Moira had claimed the twin closest to the bathroom and had removed its pillows and stretched a blanket over its expanse. She glanced in his direction before returning to her task of renovating the bed, pulling pillows from her multiple bags of luggage and meticulously placing them upon the mattress. "I find the beds in hotels to be uncomfortable," she explained lamely. He nodded and stepped over to his portion of the room, placing himself on the end of the thin bed and crossing his legs. "You're something, you know that, right?" Gabe watched her fold another blanket atop the first. "I'm aware," she confirmed. He studied her as she worked, smoothing the wrinkles in the covers with a large hand and making sure every pillow was where she wanted it to be. How she worked so assiduously reminded him of the way she went about her tasks in the lab; off in her own little world, she became focused and precise, performing each task carefully yet quickly, making sure everything was absolutely perfect before allowing herself to relax. He often wondered what went on in that strange mind of hers, what gave her the ability to process such perplexing information at such an accelerated rate. She was so much more than just smart, that couldn't have been the answer. Perhaps the answer was that she's brilliant, or even better yet, possessed some form of hyper-intelligence.
Or maybe hyper-intelligence and insanity balanced on a pencil's edge. Perhaps that was his answer.
Whatever it was, Gabriel knew one thing: Moira O'Deorain was an enigma wrapped in a riddle; a puzzle that couldn't be solved; a code that couldn't be cracked. She wasn't something that was meant to be understood, and so everyone and everything around her was forced to live in ignorance, clueless to the odd inner-workings of that incredible brain.She finished redesigning her mattress and looked to him expectantly. "Do you need to use the restroom for anything? I'm in need of a shower."He shook his head. "Nah, go on. I'm going to head downstairs and what kind of food they have, anyways.""We ate hardly an hour ago.""I'm just going to look. Maybe I could bring something up for later." She had a look on her face that screamed really? He got up off his ass and cracked his knuckles. "Do you want anything specific? If they have it, I'll get it for you.""I'm fine, thank you," she responded, and headed into the bathroom, a small pile of clothes draped across her forearm.After her departure into the shower, he made his way from Room 314 down to the hotel's cafeteria. It wasn't packed, but a substantial amount of residents filled up the tables and buffet line. As he walked closer, he noticed that among these residents (of course) was none other then Jesse McCree, sitting at a table and stuffing his face with as much food as he could fit, a few containers residing near his plate.Gabe had a feeling he knew what happened.He traveled over to his Southern friend and asked the question, "They sent you down to get food?" Jesse swallowed, looked up at him, and replied with, "Said I was talking too much, and they needed a little peace and quiet.""I figured that was it.""What about Moira? What happened to her?""Showering. How's the food?""Mighty fine, Boss. Go get some, we'll sit and have a chat then."Gabriel followed the man's orders, stepping in line and fixing himself something to eat, internally commenting on how amazing everything smelled. Truthfully, he wasn't starving like Jesse seemed to be, but the scent alone was delectable enough to help him work up a small appetite.Along his way, with each portion he put on his plate, he made an effort to pick out types of food he thought Moira would enjoy and placed some into a container. She couldn't not eat for the rest of the night, he thought. He was going to make sure she did, regardless of how annoyed she might become. That toothpick isn't losing anymore weight.The silverware was located at the very end of the line. He picked up a couple of forks and knives, keeping O'Deorain in mind."Wow," sung a female voice, and he flipped around to notice a short woman looking up at him.She looked hammered. She smelled hammered."I've got to say, Guy, you've got some muscular thighs. And, wow, like, a really tight..." she trailed off and began laughing. Gabe didn't need her to finish to understand what she was trying to get across. "You're high," was all he said. The brunette nodded as her laugh died down. "I'm sorry, I just had to. You're super good-looking.""Thanks..." 
There wasn't a fiber of his being that didn't want to run away and hide.
"Did you come here with anyone?""Uh, yeah, my..." Think, God damnit. "my, uh, boyfriend. He's waiting for me over there.""Well, tell him I said he's a very lucky man.""I will."The woman strode over to a hallway, waving her goodbyes as she left, and disappeared into a newly-opened elevator.Gabriel practically sprinted back to Jesse, looking over his shoulder once or twice to make sure that woman wasn't following. Only when he sat down did he realize McCree was casting him strange looks. "You alright there? Were gone for a while.""Jesus Christ," he sighed. "There was this lady who was baked out of her mind complimenting my ass, and the only way I got her to leave was by telling her you were my boyfriend."
The laughing fit Jesse broke into was unlike anything Gabe has ever witnessed.
Smirking, he added, "She also told me to tell you that you're 'a very lucky man.'""Stop!" the Cowboy inhaled, trying desperately to catch his breath in between laughs.Eventually, his laughter subsided, becoming nothing more than a few giggles."Speaking of relationships, Boss," McCree said, clearing his throat, "I got a genuine question: where do you and Moira stand?""We aren't together," he responded. "We're not even friends, really.""You know, sitting with her at that place in the airport and being stoked about her being your roommate tells me otherwise.""The only reason I did any of that was because I wouldn't have to sit there and listen to the three of you act like assholes to each other.""We're just horsing around.""Still," and as an afterthought, Gabriel added, "and why do you care who I'm dating?""Because then I'd win the bet.""What bet?""Gabriel!" Gerard's voice rang in his ears, and he glanced to his right to see the French man jogging towards him."What happened?" he questioned. The man held his head low as to not be forced to speak as loudly. "We've just received news from Commander Morrison: the facility in Oslo has been attacked. The entire building is in shambles with a total of thirteen casualties in counting; five are dead, the rest are wounded." Lacroix's voice, although quiet, was filled with haste and worry. Gabe, on the other hand, could hardly swallow. The building was destroyed.
The building was destroyed, and people have died.
 
The building was destroyed, and people have died for no reason.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

They just got out of the car. They just finished laughing about how Jesse was let go. They were just talking about the information on Antonio that was discovered. He just finished telling him how exciting it was to be working together again.
And now Lacroix was being rushed away on a gurney, Angela yelling German to the nurses accompanying her.
He didn't move. Gabriel couldn't make himself move. His body had decided to enter a state of catatonia, forcing him to watch as one of the only friends in his life was rushed to a medical bay within one of the aircrafts before him.The heat from the destroyed facility, the searing pain from the burn covering the expanse of his forearm, the smell of fiery flesh: all became nonexistent. He was hardly capable of registering the screams from the people around him. The image of that man's skin dripping from his chin and sliding off his hands in sheets was stuck on perpetual repeat in his mind.
Over and over again, it played. Over and over and over again.
"Reyes!" McCree's voice seemed to hit Gabe's ears and bounce off the cartilage, the man's voice becoming lost on him. A pair of hands gripped his shoulders, and he was shook violently; only then did he return to Earth. "Reyes, he'll be fine! Mercy's got him! Come on, we have to get to the ship so they could put this damn fire out!" Blinking a few times, he nodded and followed Jesse as he ran towards the aircrafts.The Southern man stopped and pointed ahead of him. "Anyone that's seriously injured goes to that one." He gently shoved Gabriel forward. "Go get your arm patched up.""My arm isn't-" He glanced down and realized that his arm was, indeed, that bad. It resembled Gerard's face and hands: charred skin was hanging off muscle while blood congealed in the orifices. His pause seemed to hint to McCree that his commander had realized how serious the situation was. "I'll see you, Boss.""If this is where the seriously injured go, why wasn't Gerard taken here?" Gabriel questioned."Because there's serious cases, then there's Gerard's case:" Jesse called over his shoulder, making his way towards another ship, "a new level of bad. Now get in the ship!"He watched his teammate disappear into the aircraft adjacent to the ship he was assigned to, the residents of the base swarming around him as he stood completely still. A young man brushed past his boiled arm with a sorry, Commander, and that was the moment the pain resurfaced. A sting so intense it made his stomach churn shot through his arm and made it to the base of his neck, reminding him of where he needed to be. Cursing at himself for staring into space yet again, Gabe gripped his bicep to alleviate some of the pain and jogged towards the ship's opening.The scent of burning flesh hit him upon entry. In the relatively small confines of the ship, the smell was more potent than it was outside, making it impossible for him to block it out as he did before entering the aircraft. He mimicked the actions of those around him and hid his nose within his hoodie, although it didn't help his predicament very much. He gagged as he traveled to a bench stationed away from the crowd. Breath through your mouth, Gabriel told himself. Breath through your mouth and don't think about it.He watched as nurses went from patient to patient, sticking arms with needles and muttering she'll be here soon. She's very busy. He assumed they were speaking of either Moira or Mercy; both shes were equally as popular.The way the medical staff went about their job, completely unperturbed by the horrific scent of their comrades' burning flesh, amazed him. It filled him with as sense of pride, as a matter of fact, seeing as how each and every individual, young or old, was willing to put the welfare of their teammates before their own discomfort.
Only the best.
"I hand you the tools necessary to keep yourself from injury, and yet..." Moira came into view. She knelt beside his arm and muttered a few words in her second tongue as he studied her. The woman was fully suited up, Gabriel noted, right down to her dark beret. A clean white mask covered her nose and mouth, preventing her breath from hitting his wrist as she examined the wound. "How did you sustain this?" she interrogated."I had to save Gerard," he responded quietly, some of the initial shock and disbelief from witnessing that burning man returning. She glanced up at his eyes, holding his gaze for a few moments before returning her attention to his forearm. "I see," was all she said. Her lack of a pretentious response and the stare he received told him she heard something in his voice, saw something in his stare. This Irishwoman was so fucking far from stupid; his emotions were, almost without a doubt, not lost on her.Moira gently gripped his elbow with fingers tainted violet and hovered her remaining hand over the burn. As the golden liquid came into contact with his body, a familiar dark mist rose from his skin with a dull hiss. "Don't worry," the Doctor said quickly, "this is expected."He cleared his throat before responding with, "If you say so."Gabe watched as her palm repaired his damaged arm, taking note of how the skin on her fingers dipped inward between her joints.
Even through the glove, her thinness was too noticeable. Way too noticeable.
That very thought brought his attention to her torso.The elastic material of her suit accentuated the form of her body in a way the slim shirts she wore never have. She seemed to become slimmer, the shiny material stretching over her snakelike torso and drawing attention to the outline of her ribcage.
The outline of her ribcage.
"You know it isn't healthy for your ribs to be poking out like that?" Gabriel explained, removing his nose from his shirt. The smells from the group of patients had already seeped in; his best bet was to try to ignore it from then on. "I'm the one that should be worrying about you, not the other way around," Moira didn't remove her gaze from his healing skin as she voiced her retort."You're a part of Blackwatch, I have to worry about you. It's kind of my job.""I suppose that's fair enough." She gave is now-fully-healthy forearm a speedy inspection before rising to her feet. In the positions they resided in, she towered above his head, something that did not go unnoticed by Gabe."You needn't worry about my health, Gabriel," the woman told him. "Keep those worries and give them to someone more deserving than me." She sped away after that, disappearing into the horde of nurses and injured residents of the now-destroyed compound. The main opening to the aircraft began to shut, and as he leaned over to look through the glass, he noticed a new fleet of planes and helicopters flying overhead, all bearing the iconic symbol of Overwatch. "Good luck with the fire, guys," he muttered as the ship he was seated inside of began to take off.Gabriel ran his hand over the healed flesh of his forearm and the burnt, crispy ends of his destroyed sleeve. That was going to have to be fixed again, he thought, a bit annoyed at the situation. He had to be thankful he didn't end up as Gerard did, however, with the skin of his face quite literally peeling off his cheeks and forming thin rivulets that ran down his neck.
At least he didn't end up like Gerard.
 
At least.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Gabriel shut the door behind him as he entered his bedroom. The very last thing he needed at the moment was more of Jack's scolding, or more of McCree's offended screaming. He was so tired of the media; Just for an hour,-one hour, that's all-he wanted tranquility.The man disrobed and fit himself into something more comfortable than his gear, setting the latter on his bed and deciding to tend to it later. He stepped out of the bedroom and began walking, though he wasn't entirely sure where to. Truthfully, Gabe didn't have a destination in mind; his focus was too centered on the silence that engulfed him to care about nonsense topics like where he was headed.As he walked, he ran his fingers over the stubble coating his cheeks. When was the last time I shaved? he asked himself. Before he could turn back and tend to his facial hair, Gabriel found himself striding into the Dining Hall, realizing for the first time that night just how hungry he was.The room was completely barren, though he expected as such, considering how late in the night it was. The smell of food lingered no more in the cafeteria and was instead replaced with the harsh scent of cleaning products. Only a single row of beams was to illuminate the massive area, causing most of the space within to be shrouded in darkness. He made his way to the refrigerator located behind the counter on the left side (also the best lit side) of the room, opening its chrome door upon arrival. The contents mostly consisted of containers of leftover food, each adorning a sticker with a date written in a different penmanship for each plastic box. Gabe pulled out a container of pasta and placed it on the countertop behind him, shutting the fridge door in the process. "Hello, C-""Jesus Christ." he breathed.
He jumped.

He jumped like a little fucking kid at the sound of her voice.
Gabriel turned around and was met with a very confused, very startled Moira O'Deorain standing in the doorway that led to the dimly-lit kitchen. "My apologies," she told him, "I didn't mean to frighten you." The Commander gave a breathy chuckle, his heart continuing to beat a mile a minute. "You're quieter than Genji."The woman had a blanket-the same blanket she pulled over the mattress in Venice, he noted-draped over her shoulders, and she held in her hands a small bowl of grapes and cheese slices, spearing a piece of each with her fork and popping it into her mouth."It's fine," he sighed after a pause, "you didn't mean to do it." He turned to the cupboards and opened a few, searching for a plate as her eyes followed his movements. "I'm glad I'm not the only one who changed into their nightwear and went in search of food," Moira sounded, a lilt present in her voice. Gabe laughed as he found his desired item and began shoveling noodles onto his plate with a fork. "Well, you know what they say: 'great minds think alike.'" It was her turn to laugh. "I suppose you are correct, Gabriel."He placed his food in the microwave a few cabinets down, and putting in his desired time, asked her, "Are you doing anything?""I was watching a documentary, nothing spectacular. I suppose not to you, anyways.""Yeah? What were you watching?" She raised her eyebrows and her eyes darted to the side as her face switched to a shade of red.
She blushed.

Gabriel has never, ever seen her blush.
Her pale complexion caused what would have been pink to become a relatively dark red that traveled across her cheeks, around her eyes, and along her forehead."It sounds childish when put into words," the Doctor smiled sheepishly. He folded his arms against his chest and chuckled. "What, is it porn? That's pretty normal, if you ask me.""No, it's..." she paused and looked to him. "It's a documentary about the dinosaurs." Another pause. "They're such fascinating creatures, but what truly amazes me is how far paleontology has advanced. With each decade passed, we've come a step closer to completely understanding these long-extinct animals. Imagine, Commander: we're only a meter's length away from resurrecting some of these creatures; how incredible is that?"Passion poured off her tongue as she spoke, so much so that Gabe was almost able to feel her enthusiasm.The microwave began its signature beep, beep, and as he removed his food from the machine, he explained to Moira, "That is amazing. I'm not sure I want a horde of giant chickens running around getting shot by bastion units, though.""That wouldn't be a pleasant experience."he speared a noodle and brought it to his mouth. "Are you alright after what happened in Rialto?""Oh, please," she retorted, "I'm fine. You should be asking the Cowboy that question.""I don't think he's speaking to me at the moment.""Then let's take that as a blessing." He chuckled at her ever-present, ever-blatant disgust towards McCree. "The wrong one died."Moira raised her eyebrows. "I never expected something so grim from you, Commander."
Did he really just say that?
Gabriel shook his head, shutting his eyes a bit too tightly. "Fuck, I..." he sighed. "I didn't mean to say that. I'm sorry. I think I'm just tired.""It's alright, I understand." She cocked her head to the side and raised an eyebrow. "Now that you mention it, you do look exhausted." Moira smirked. "Go and get some sleep, Gabriel." Oh.He sighed. "You're right, you're right."
Oh, God.
She began walking towards the exit. "Have a good night, Commander."
The way she said his name.
"Good night." 
It made his heart skip a beat.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Ever since the events in Rialto, Talon activity has seemed to slow," said Morrison to the residents of the Conference Room. "However, as of yesterday, well, this doesn't seem to be the case anymore." He turned to the large screen behind him, glancing up at the Omnic (Gabriel was almost certain his name was Maximilian) being projected. "We're all aware of Max and his casino. Yesterday, we uncovered that people like Doomfist and Vialli have vanished off the face of the Earth. 'Ironically,' another piece of information brought forth to us was that Talon has seemed to have picked up where they left off at this casino. In other words, most of their transactions have been traced back to Monaco. We're going to need further insight if we are to act upon this."He paused and shut his eyes for a moment. "Now, I'm aware of what happened in Italy, I don't think anyone needs reminding, but I'm going to send Blackwatch to collect the information we need. When it comes to this stuff, there's no one better than these guys, and you all know that." There were murmurs circulating around the table. Gabe heard comments like as long as they stay out of sight and Commander Morrison really trusts him. "It seems as though you're getting another chance, Commander," Moira's voice sounded in his ear. He twisted his head around to face her, admiring the way her defined cheekbones perfectly complimented the toothless grin she gave to him. "Don't you mean we're getting another chance? You're not getting out of this one." That lovely smile left as fast as it came. "How disappointing."He laughed at her crestfallenness. "You'll be alright." Gabriel patted her shoulder a few times over, focusing on the way the blade so prominently jutted out from under her skin."Like I've said," Morrison silenced the crowd, "this information was received only yesterday, so once we have a bit more, I'll start giving you the details, Blackwatch." His tone became sinister. "Don't let me down this time. I'm giving you one shot.""You can count on us, Commander," Jesse spoke, an underlying message in his tone that was not lost on Gabe.We're not fucking this up again, Reyes, those were the words conveyed in his voice, and everyone knew it."Yeah? Well, here's hoping," says Jack. "Alright, dismissed." Once more, the group stood in unison and moved seemingly as one unit to the doorways.Gabriel walked alongside Moira, unsure of her destination but not truly having one himself.
It just felt right to follow her.
"He seems to be taking the incident in Venice quite personally," the woman commented. He shook his head, memories of Jesse's passive aggressive comments and disgusted remarks flowing through his mind. "I'm almost positive it was his idea to shoot Antonio, and I was the one who talked him out of it. Or maybe Gerard was, I don't know." The scene of the three of them speaking to one another replayed in his mind in an attempt to offer Gabe a better picture.As he racked his brain for greater insight, Moira spoke up with the statement, "Commander Morrison and the Cowboy are blaming me for your actions, I'm not sure if you're aware." He glanced up at her and scoffed, sounding a simple, "What?" She paused at the entrance to an elevator. "I was told ever since my arrival, you've become distant and secretive.""They're blaming-? Oh, my God."She laughed, clearly finding her situation way more humorous than he. "I'm working alongside people of quality intelligence, I see." Gabriel leaned against the wall and folded his arms."You aren't excluded from this 'group of geniuses,' either, Reyes," Red told him before he could voice anything."What? What did I do?""It isn't so much what you did as what you did not do."When he raised a brow, she explained, "I gave you the ability to become fluid, an incredibly powerful gene. It allows you to move completely undetected and grants you access to otherwise inaccessible areas. During our time in Rialto, I didn't feel as if you utilized this to its greatest potential. It was horribly disappointing."
Horribly disappointing.
"That isn't to mention you were, evidently, inexperienced. You had noticeable difficulty becoming solid once more, and at times, you didn't even completely change back. It was pitiful at best."Gabe sighed. 
Well then.
 "Why don't you give me some pointers, if that's the case?" he offered, concentrating on her uniquely-colored eyes and the pronounced collarbone her dark shirt exposed, refusing to let embarrassment get the better of him. She folded her hands behind her and cocked a hip to the side. "To begin, I suppose, you should focus more on the less sensitive places of your body when willing yourself to shift into your second form. You should also practice in a more hectic environment. That way, it will become increasingly difficult to focus." Her eyes darted to the side of her head in thought, another quirk of hers that did not go unnoticed by him. "What sort of...pointers would you like?" He shrugged. "I'll just go with what you just said to do." Moira raised an eyebrow skeptically. In response, he smiled sheepishly and raised his hands in defense. "I promise, the next time you see me, I'll ace it. Deal?" That devious smirk returned to her perfect face. "If you lose, what do I get?""Oh, that's how it's going to be?""Is that not how deals work, Gabriel?" The lilt in her suave voice twisted the contents of his ribcage in an indescribable fashion. The sensation was foreign, yet lovely, and deny it all he wish, there was a small voice in the back of his mind that pleaded and cried for her to say his name again. It wanted her to say it that way, with that condescending, intelligent tone coupled with her infamous smirk and a perfect brow raised above the other.
Oh, how it begged, yet its cries slammed against the backs of his molars and dissipated under his silent scolding.
"Alright, how about this:" Gabriel offered after the fight he had with himself had ended, "if I end up kissing your ass,"-his words earned him a low chuckle from Moira-"what would you want from me?""Hm." She tilted her head to one side. "I would love for you to clean and organize my closet in the laboratory.""Yeah? Alright.""I would have to be there, of course, so I'm able to watch you while I sit on the couch.""Alri-" he wasn't able to finish because of the laughter that her statement had induced. "Alright, alright, deal.""And if I'm the loser?" she questioned him. Gabe shook his head. "I'll think of something, don't worry.""If you insist." She held out her left hand for him to take. "Good luck, Commander." He engulfed her pale palm in his much darker one. "The Luck of the Irish, it can't fail me." Finally, her grinned revealed those perfect teeth. "We'll see about that."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"That was pathetic, Gabriel," Moira commented as she sunk her teeth into a bagel. Gabriel wiped the sweat from his temples with a forearm, the sun's heat mocking him as he created waterfalls of perspiration. It wasn't sweltering necessarily, but if one was standing in direct heat for nearly fifteen minutes on cream-colored concrete near a beautifully cold pool...
Well, it can get pretty hot.
Moira had herself situated on a lawn chair not too far away from where he stood, sitting in the comforting shade the umbrella above her brought about. Even then, she still had a layer of lotion spread across her skin. I'm Irish, Reyes. I don't tan, I fry, was her response to his remarks about her redundancy.The woman had offered to help him hone his "wraith" skills, explaining to him that it would be "more beneficial to practice in an environment [he is] less comfortable in."
And so, here they sat.
"It seems to me that you're continuously having trouble materializing your body," she noted."Yeah, the heat is screwing me up," he told her, removing his dampened shirt. "I can't concentrate.""If I am able to fade while experiencing mind-numbing menstrual cramps, then surely, the weather shouldn't be a problematic factor for you." He stepped over to the small table next to her and set his shirt down on its circular surface. "Was bringing that up really necessary?" he questioned."I'm using it as an example to prove a point." Moira set her plate on the armrest of the chair and adjusted her sleeveless shirt. "Now that we've located the problem, we can work on eliminating it. Now, fade again, this time focusing on your issues." Gabe huffed, determined to hear this attractive woman say something positive about him that afternoon.He strode a few steps back and channeled his focus into the task at hand, becoming a cloud of mist almost instantaneously. Gabriel couldn't see Moira, but he could hear her breathing, feel the vibrations her body gave off, and he was able to paint a decent picture in his mind of his surroundings and the doctor a few feet away. Doing his best to ignore the heat and knowing she was expecting to see improvement, he once again began to reform his body, focusing on a single part at one given time yet working quickly (or at least trying to) in order to complete his objective, all the while hoping to see an impressed Moira O'Deorain upon his return.He regained vision, and the first thing he did was stare into her pretty eyes and hope to find some form of impressment. Against his wishes, however, her expression remained as void of emotion as before he became a blob of dark smoke."That was an improvement," she explained, finishing off her slice of bagel. "It still needs work, however.""Hey, I'll take an improvement." He scratched the top of his head. "I might actually win, who'd of guessed?""I said it was an improvement, not perfect. Let's not get ahead of ourselves.""Yeah, yeah, shut up and let me have this.""You know I can't allow that," Moira laughed.Gabe relished in the moment of joking around with this woman. He liked to imagine such a time was exclusive to him and him only. Nobody else was tolerable enough for their company to actually be enjoyed.
Nobody but him. Nobody's but his.
"You think w-" Gabriel was cut off by a cheerful, "Hey, you two!" from Oxton. He glanced over to witness the petite woman walking towards him and the Doctor, a pen and notepad held within her fair hands. "What are you up to?""Practicing," he replied."Yeah? It looks like you've really been working hard. And you too, Doc! It looks like you've been practicing harder than Commander Reyes!" The Brit giggled at her own joke, and it seemed as if Moira couldn't help but smile. "Coaching this man around is harder than any amount of physical work he has done this afternoon."Tracer rolled her eyes. "Cut him some slack!""I'll think about it."The way Oxton spoke to O'Deorain nearly dumbfounded him. Everyone resented her, for one reason or another. She was untrustworthy, suspicious, sociopathic, sadistic, cruel, unsettling, any word and every word that held any negative meaning at all.
And here Lena was speaking to her as if they were friends.
She had such a kind soul, Gabe thought. If this kid hated anyone, they sure as all Hell had to be a step beyond genuinely horrible. 
And that wasn't Moira, right?
 "We're getting pizza for dinner, and I have to go around and get everyone's orders," Oxton explained."They chose the right person," he commented. She smiled. "Of course they did! Now, what kind of pies do you guys like?""I'd like Sicilian," Moira told her."And what about you, Commander?""It doesn't matter. Sicilian, too, I guess." She wrote a few things down on the small booklet in her hand, nodding as she did so. "Alright-y, thank you."With that, Oxton flipped around and blinked back into the doors of the Overwatch base."Were you going to say something, Commander?" asked Moira after a moment of silence.
Gabriel didn't like how she called him "Commander." It no longer sounded right.
"Yeah, why don't we head inside for a bit?" he offered. "It's hot as balls out here."
Instead of replying, or standing up, or nodding, she began laughing.
It wasn't similar to her usual calm chuckle; it was loud, uncontrolled, and more snorting than laughter took place, provoking a smile from Gabe. This just about made his day.The woman sat up and covered her mouth with a hand, keeping herself in that position until her fit died down into nothing more then a few giggles here and there. Her dual-colored eyes shot to him, and the skin on her face became a dark red. "I apologize," Moira chuckled, "that wasn't very dignified of me.""It's okay," he grinned, his own laughter threatening to pour over his bottom lip. The Doctor shook her head, a smile still present on her face. "That was disgusting, not 'okay.'""Oh, it wasn't disgusting!"
No, it wasn't. It was adorable, way too adorable, and as much as he didn't want to admit it, it was music to his ears.
"What the hell were you laughing at, anyways?""Your comment," she explained. "'It's hot-" she snickered, "hot as balls out here.'""That was really that funny?""Exactly how hot are testicles, Reyes? Care to explain that?" The giggles woven between her words made his heart expand to fit the entirety of his chest."It's an expression," he said to her, fighting off the emotions mixing behind his ribs, "you never heard it?""Clearly not."Gabriel scoffed and held out his hand. "Come on, let's go inside."She grabbed her plate, then his hand, and he helped her hoist herself onto her feet."Remember your shirt," Moira reminded. He nodded and picked up the heap of black cloth resting on the table. It was still damp with his sweat, and he cringed as he held it. "This is going in the wash.""That isn't the only thing that needs to go in the wash," hinted the redhead."Oh, I'm aware, believe me," he laughed.Suddenly, she took a few steps closer to him, and in a low voice, said, "Keep that between us, yes?" He nodded, her close proximity bothering him in the loveliest way."You know you don't have to be embarrassed by the way you laugh," Gabe reassured."Sometimes, you can't help the way you feel, Gabriel," Moira countered."Well, just throwing it out there.""I know, and I appreciate it. Now, give yourself a shower. You smell like perspiration."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Did Morrison ever say anything about when we were heading to Monaco?" Jesse questioned. Gabriel, who was seated across from the Cowboy, shrugged. "He never got back to me.""The hell's he doing? Sitting with his thumb up his ass?""I doubt Ana would allow that.""McCree has a point," Genji spoke up. "We have been waiting quite a while for an order.""With little-to-no insight on the holdup," Moira added."Well, believe me," said Gabe, "if I knew anything about it, I'd tell you guys.""Hey, Commander Reyes!" a young voice sounded, and the man turned his head to witness Brigitte darting through the Dining Hall to stand in front of him. She greeted Jesse and Genji upon her arrival with a cheerful hey guys! and peered in behind Gabriel to smile at the Doctor. "Hi, Miss!" The teenager paused and giggled. "Sorry, I'm a little excited to be here. I'm Brigitte Lindholm!""Doctor O'Deorain," Moira gestured to herself. "Are you related to Torbjorn, by any chance?""Oh, you made Commander Reyes's eyes turn crazy colors! I heard about you! And, um, yeah, he's my papa. I know that sounds kind of weird because I'm, like, a million feet taller than him, but it's true!"Moira chuckled. "I was forced to look down at my father when I was around that age, you aren't the only one.""Well, we can relate at least!"Brigitte glanced back to Gabe and pushed her palms down on the table. "So, how's Blackwatch going?"He laughed. "I think a better question would be 'what are you doing here?' I thought your dad was keeping you home?""Yeah, but we decided a couple days back wouldn't hurt. Plus Reinhardt sort of really missed me. And I kind of missed everyone." The last sentence was said in a sheepish tone. "Well, it's good to see you again," Jesse greeted, touching the pads of his fingers to his hat."It is a pleasure," Genji chimed in."You guys should come downstairs," Brigitte suggested. "Ma will be happy to see all of you. And she never met you, so she has to!""It would be more productive than whatever was going on here,"  Moira pointed out.Genji was the first to stand up, followed by Redhead, McCree, and himself. Brigitte's face lit up as she gestured for the group to follow her. "Everyone's hanging out in the family room.""Do we still have all that pizza from yesterday?" Jesse pondered. Gabriel chuckled. "We should have some." It was in that moment McCree stopped abruptly and glanced in the direction of the refrigerator. "Might be a moment, Brigitte.""Just don't take forever getting cold pizza," the teen called over her shoulder. Gabe himself slowed his step to a stop, becoming slightly interested in whatever was in that fridge.As the trio disappeared into an elevator, Jesse commented, "I love that kid. Feisty.""All of his kids are nice," Gabriel replied. "He's got a nice family.""Wife's pretty, too.""Mhm."There was a moment of silence, the only sound that can be heard being the unwrapping of aluminum foil on McCree's part. Gabriel listened to the obnoxious crinkling sound for a few moments before the Cowboy began laughing to himself."What if Moira had kids?" Jesse said, peering over his shoulder. His question earned a nervous chuckle from the Commander. "I don't think that'd pan out too well.""We'd wake up and one'd be green. The other has three eyes or something.""'It's for science, Jesse,'" he joked, leaning on the countertop. Jesse himself laughed as he took a slice of pizza from the plate he placed on the counter."Between me and you, Reyes, the Doctor's a bit funny-looking, isn't she?" There was a small, unwarranted twang of anger in his stomach at McCree's words. Fighting against it, Gabe asked the man, "What do you mean?""I mean when I first met her, I thought she was a man," he chuckled, keeping his voice low. "Couldn't get a gander at her tits; I thought she didn't have any. Then she started talking, and that's when I realized." He laughed, but Gabriel didn't.
Gabriel didn't laugh.
"With all due respect," McCree continued, "that has to be the ugliest woman I ever seen.""Oh, fuck you," he snapped back. "That isn't true.""Matter of opinion, Boss.""Is being an asshole really necessary, though?""It's the Cowboy, of course it is."
His breath caught in his throat.
Gabe has never seen Jesse tip his hat goodbye as fast as he did in that moment. Not once glancing at the woman, the Southern man nearly jogged out of the cafeteria, Moira's digusted eyes following him as he left.Gabe sighed. "How much of that did you catch?""Oh, only all of it," she replied flatly."I'm sorry about him.""Don't be, it doesn't faze me any longer." She stepped closer to him. "That wasn't the first time I've heard it."
That wasn't-what? How many times has she heard that before?
He thought back to when they ate together at the airport, and how she had explained to him that no one had ever returned her feelings.
Was that what she meant?
"That's terrible," Gabriel said pitifully, "you shouldn't have to hear that." Moira shrugged. "It's what I've heard all my life. I was ugly, too tall, my body didn't have enough form, I didn't look like a woman." Her eyes shot to the side as if she were trying to remember the insults she'd received in the past. "Come on, you're not any of those things," he explained, "don't believe any of that bullshit." She presented him with her signature brow raise. "You seem awfully worried about my self esteem, Commander.""Well, it's nonsense said by a bunch of assholes. And, uh...just call me Gabe.""I thought you didn't like nicknames.""Listen, there's a select group of people who are allowed to call me that.""What made you consider adding me to this group?"
Dear Lord, this woman...
Gabe shrugged. "Might as well.""Alright then, Gabe," Moira smirked, "don't worry as much. It doesn't bother me." To hear his nickname spill from her lips wrapped in that accent made him grin with a unique happiness that he hasn't experienced in a while. "If it doesn't bother you, then it doesn't bother me, I guess." He hoped it didn't bother her.
He hoped.

But chances were that it genuinely didn't faze her. This was Moira O'Deorain, after all.

This was Moira O'Deorain.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

They've done this about a hundred times, and yet, as Moira poked and prodded and inspected him for muscle atrophy, all Gabriel could do was scold himself for the emotions he allowed to arise when she requested he removed his shirt and for the thoughts that raced through his mind as her eyes danced across his torso.None were good, of course, but the worst was did she like what she saw?That isn't right, he thought. He shouldn't think about those kinds of things when it came to her, and he shouldn't experience these feelings whenever she was around. Gabe has always attempted to keep every relationship of his as professional as possible, for the sake of making his life (and the other party's life) easier; why was he letting himself slip? It certainly isn't the first time he's felt...like this-whatever this may be-towards a colleague. He would ignore his emotions, and they would fade into nothingness.But this, he's nursing this.Every offer to eat breakfast together, every hotel room shared, every practice spent near the pool, every casual conversation in the hallway, every hour-long trip spent next to one another on a drop ship, every appointment; he was allowing this to become something it shouldn't."You appear to be stable, Gabe."
And then she says his name, and everything about avoiding friendly occurrences is thrown into the wind.
God, of all things, it was his name on her tongue that made his heart beat a mile a minute and rendered him incapable of frowning.It was her voice, Gabriel deduced. That low, suave voice amalgamated with her unique accent is what made her speaking his title so...attractive.A flick at his temple brought him back to reality, and the first thing he saw upon his arrival was an expectant set of colorful eyes and the pale, beautifully contoured face they were attached to. "What?" Gabe said rather stupidly.Great job, he mocked himself. Moira rolled her eyes, seemingly only slightly irked, and (he assumed) restated, "I asked how your improvement was coming along. It doesn't seem as if you're interested in conversation this morning, however."
No, he was very much interested in conversation. He would sit on that cold table the entire day if it meant the time passed would be spent with her.
Gabriel should have told her he was busy. He should have left that lab and went about his day. There was no need to allow this to grow.Instead of doing the right thing, however, his lack of self-control prompted him to say, "No, I'm fine, really. And uh, I think I've gotten better, but then again, compared to you I have the intelligence of a caveman, so..." His words earned him a laugh from the woman in front of him "I don't believe that's entirely true.""No? Only somewhat true?"Moira nodded enthusiastically."You're such an asshole," he laughed."I strive to be."After a moment's pause, Redhead asked, "Have you thought about what you're going to get from me?""Not yet. I'll think of something, though, don't worry. It's most likely going to have to do with food. I'm just saying.""Something I would expect from the likes of you.""Yeah, pretty chunky, aren't I?"Moira's grin disappeared. "I hadn't meant that.""Could it not be implied?" he mimicked her words as well as her accent."You're mocking me," she retorted, "and your accent is disgusting.""Is it disgusting?""I'm quite amazing at making it seem like involuntary manslaughter."Gabe chuckled. "It's funny how you talk, I don't know, properly, and then you say things like amazin' and makin' and disgustin.'"She quirked an eyebrow. "It's the way I speak.""There isn't anything wrong with it, it's just unorthodox."Folding her arms behind her back, she informed him, "In my family, pronouncing the 'G' is considered out of the ordinary.""Really? I never knew that."He didn't like the way he was speaking. Words flew from his lips quickly and carelessly, and Gabriel had no power over it. That part of him (that stupid, childish part) perpetually battled with the more logical, mature side of himself and won.
Over and over and over again.
"Well, if you don't have anymore comments, you're free to leave," Moira told him. He nodded and stood, slinging his shirt over his forearm in the process. "I'll see you, Moira," he called."Bye," she replied, walking towards the back of the room. "Perhaps you should run a few laps around the pool, you seem awfully full of energy today." He scoffed nervously as blood rushed to his ears. Of course she noticed that. She's Moira. "That isn't a bad suggestion.""It would be in your best interest," she said.Gabe sighed, quite embarrassed, and trekked out of the main doors once they slid open."What were you guys doing in there?" Lena's voice, although slightly drowned out by the hissing of pistons, made his heart skip a beat. Hers eyes widened, and she covered her mouth with the stack of papers she held in her hand. "Sorry, Commander!""Don't worry about it," he sighed once the entrance to the laboratory was sealed shut. "What do you think we were doing in there?""Well," she began sheepishly, "you guys were laughing, and your shirt's gone, and your ears are really red, so I thought you were..." her eyes went to the floor, then her papers, then back at him, "making out?""You know, in between that laughing, there was talking," Gabriel pointed out."I couldn't hear that!""Why immediately assume we were making out is my question.""Well, McCree tells me things.""I thought you were smart enough not listen to him."The Brit shrugged and giggled nervously. "Sorry, it's fun to poke fun at everyone sometimes. I really couldn't care less about what you do, Sir." He pulled a Moira and raised a brow. "You're lucky I like you. Now, what are you doing down here?""I need to give the Doc her paperwork." Oxton gestured to her papers. Gabe, being the good samaritan that he was, stepped to his right and punched in the necessary code. As the doors parted once more, Lena walked past him with a small thank you and headed inside.As he walked away, he heard Moira's voice as she called out Gabe? and the second, shorter woman's voice as she responded with Cadette Oxton, actually. He cringed. Lena knew he didn't like that nickname being tossed around.
What if she asked about it? What would be Moira's response?
Gabriel hoped it went over her head, because if it didn't, her supposed theory on the Doctor's and his relationship would seem all the more plausible.
And the last thing he needed was more of McCree's jokes.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"I got kind of an odd question, Boss," Jesse said as he helped the Commander carry a few items to their ship. "If you ever had a few kids, would they be born with your, uh, powers?" Gabriel wanted to answer with no, that was a dumb question, but he couldn't bring himself to. Truthfully, he wasn't sure, because it sounded so stupid yet so plausible. "That's a good question," he laughed nervously. "Nothing Moira can't answer."
He liked speaking her name.
"Think you should ask her that. Seems like she hates you the least. I can already hear the earful I'd get just by wondering about that in front of her."Gabe was able to picture exactly how that conversation would play out. Moira would offer a set of raised eyebrows and something along the lines of why exactly do you care, Cowboy? Jesse would shrug, and she'd roll her pretty eyes and ignore him for the next hour or so."Speak of the devil," said McCree, and the Commander snapped out of his thoughts to see the Doctor on her silver tablet as he entered the aircraft. She hadn't glanced up as they passed, and as he stepped closer, he noticed the headphones in her ears and the small flower pinning her hair out of her face.
Gabriel has never seen her with a barrette in her hair.
 
It was adorable.
 "You checking her out or something?" Jesse called over his shoulder. That got Moira to look up. That got everyone to look up. His face was so hot that his skin might as well have been melting off the bone, and holding the redhead's gaze as she gave him a perplexed look was so incredibly fucking difficult he could very well have vomited right then and there."What's going on?" she asked, removing a bud from her ear. He shook his head and stomped over to where the Cowboy stood grinning, seemingly oblivious to the angry manner his boss approached in. "The fuck were you doing?" Gabe snapped. McCree's smile faltered. "You're back there staring at her!" He jerked a thumb over his shoulder before tucking his hand under the cardboard box he carried."Listen, I was just spacing out. You didn't have to shout that!""Then I apologize. Was the first thing that came to mind.""Of all things, Jesse!"Gabriel placed his container atop the pile of many others at the back of the ship and voiced, "Now I got to explain myself. Great."He had to shove his way through a horde of bodies to reach where his doctor was seated.
He wasn't "checking her out," right? Admiring the small addition to her appearance wasn't "suggestive" in any way; that was true, wasn't it?
Course it was true, he assured himself. It wasn't as if he were staring any place...inappropriate. The miniature flower in her bangs was adorable, that was all. That tiny flower was ado-He was spacing out.
Right, he was spacing out.

Right.
"Hey," Gabe said as he approached her. Moira raised her head once more. "Hello, Gabe.""Hi, uh, I want to explain what happened there.""It isn't necessary, don't fret. I've worked with Jesse long enough to know he doesn't always act his age.""Okay, great," he exhaled. "Yeah, he pisses me off sometimes.""So I see."As her focus returned to her screen, he decided to place himself in the seat adjacent to hers. There was room for a five-minute break in his busy schedule, right?"So, what's all that?" Gabriel asked."Your current status. I'm checking it over to be certain that there aren't any mistakes.""Sounds interesting.""Is that sarcasm?""Yep," he chuckled. Moira rolled her eyes, a slight grin present on her face. "Believe it or not, Gabriel, some of us enjoy our work.""I know, I'm just busting you."They didn't speak for a small amount of time. He watched as people began flooding out of the aircraft as the pilots prepared to take off before becoming disinterested and studying the small flower attached to Moira's temple. The center was a magenta that faded into baby-pink-tipped petals, a color that matched the stripes on her shirt. Of course it had to match."Giddy up, we got to get going!" McCree's voice rang over the drum of the engine. A thought suddenly popped into Gabe's mind at the sound of his colleague's accent."I've got a question," he told Moira."Yes, Gabe?" she responded, her eyes focused on the words she typed out."Alright, if I had kids, would they be able to do what I could do? I mean, enhancement-wise?" The Doctor looked up from her text and offered him a concerned stare, throwing him off guard. "No, your abilities aren't able to be passed down. Would you want that? I apologize, I wasn't aware you were planning on having children.""Oh, no," he laughed as he shook his head, "I'm not planning on it. I was just curious.""Well, alright, then.""Yeah," Gabriel said, "I think I'm getting too old for kids, anyways.""Biologically, that's impossible. If you're able to keep an erection, you aren't 'too old' to bear children."He laughed at her statement. "You talk about getting hard like it's something you can casually throw into any conversation.""I'm a geneticist, Gabe. Reproduction is a large aspect of my field of work. It doesn't faze me.""It's kind of funny how blunt you are about it, though.""I'm glad you find the functions of the male anatomy so amusing, then."The doors to the dropship sealed shut, and Genji and Jesse found their way to the seats beside Moira and their commander.
Onward to Monaco they went.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"That isn't working," Doomfist acknowledged in a low, threatening voice. "Overwatch is still capable of discovering us!" The man huffed and placed his hands on the table he stood at, lowering his head for a moment only to pick it back up and glare at the smaller individual across its dark surface. "We have increased-no, maximized our productivity here. This is not a matter of if they will find us, but when. What part of that did I not make clear, Vialli?" He raised his voice at the last sentence of his statement. "That's why I said to space out our transactions over multiple locations," Vialli rebutted."And put every location of ours at risk," Maximilien countered. "Until we find an efficient method of keeping our inflow under Overwatch's radar, this is the reality we must deal with. We explained this to you.""Maybe you should go over it one more time in case he didn't understand," said a young Mexican woman Gabriel has never seen before. Her snarky comment earned her a few undesirable looks and a scowl from Vialli."Look, I'm just trying to make sure Talon has a future. Financially." The man turned his attention back to Doomfist."So are we," was Ogundimu's reply. "We're simply doing a better job at it.""You don't know how to handle this like I do.""Pssh, okay," added the obnoxious young woman."That's enough with your comments!" snapped Vialli. She shrugged. "You're digging your own grave here, Amigo.""Don't call me that.""Vialli," Akande's voice boomed, "figure out a plan and relay it us."Without another word, the Nigerian man stomped out of the conference room, followed by Max and Vialli, the only woman staying behind. Gabe heard a large door shut over the camera's microphone, and, beside him, Moira muttered how uneventful under her breath. Intrigued, however, he watched the girl over the video feed. Why was she staying behind?The unidentifiable lady glanced to her right, then her left, then straight at the camera and stared the Doctor and Commander right in the face, a devious smirk forming on her features."That's pretty much how things have been going ever since you killed Antonio," she informed them. "Doomfist is going to take charge, I know it. Everybody here is too scared to stand up to him. Well, except for Vialli, but when it comes to tense situations, he doesn't think right. Clearly."The way she spoke-so casually, as if she and him were friends-sent chills down his spine, and the only thought that ran through his mind was they were so fucked.
She knew the cameras were there the entire time? Why didn't she say anything?
"I know Sparrow and McCree aren't with you two," she went on. "They're still running around doing who-knows-what here. That means I can say things I wouldn't normally be able to. So here goes." The woman paused."I won't rat you guys out. Honestly, I couldn't care less what happens between Blackwatch and Talon. I'm really just here because they pay me to do what I love. Wow, that sounded really cheesy. Anyways, because I'm not ratting you out, I expect that you won't rat me out, got it? I know you got it, you're Reyes and...fuck, what was your last name? It reminded me of deodorant." As the darker woman racked her brain, Gabriel glanced to his left and studied the expression of the more ghostly Irishwoman beside him. She seemed to be slightly irritated as she mumbled to him, "Deodorant." He almost began laughing, but it wasn't because he found her annoyance comical, or the skewed reiteration of her last name entertaining, or the intense situation they were in and the information being thrown at him nerve-wracking.
It was a combination of all three that caused him his odd internal laughter.
"Whatever, you get it." The pixelated lady's thick accent brought him back to the drop ship he currently resided in."Look, I trust you guys more than I trust anyone in that group. You're pretty damn good at keeping secrets, but hey, if anyone finds out about this, it's your asses." She took a moment to scratch the shaven section of her head."Alright, so, why am I talking to you? Well, I have an offer for you. So I know you're like 'I have to catch the bad guys,' but what if you...'became' a bad guy? Hear me out."Gabe most certainly did not want to hear her out."What's your life like in Blackwatch right now? Trying to stay under the radar, Overwatch getting shit, Jack not trusting you probably, everyone doubting their commander, probably, again; did I get that right? Maybe. My point is, you're most likely being treated like an outcast. And Deodorant, too, I'd imagine. You don't exactly have the cleanest reputation ever. So, why stay and fight with Overwatch when you're being treated like the villain? Why continue to lie to yourself that you're the hero? You two aren't appreciated! They use you! You're the backbone of that organization and they don't acknowledge that!" She began to point at the camera. "To Overwatch and to the rest of the world, you're a group of delinquents, and that's what you'll always be. They don't see a hero, they see a member of the Deadlock Gang, and they don't see a hero, they see a member of the Shimada Clan. The world sees a no-good doctor, and a nameless asshole who decides to work with all of them. You don't deserve praise and accolades and all that bullshit, because you're villains, and that's what you'll always be." The woman inhaled and let out a long sigh. "Damn, that was a lot. But seriously, have you ever thought about that? Even for a second?" She itched her head once more. "Just think about it, amigos. Talk to us if you ever want to work something out, alright? I'm out."She left the large room, and once Gabriel heard that familiar bang of the out-of-view door, the air was enveloped in an eerie silence.Neither of them spoke. There were too many thoughts racing through his mind to be able to formulate words.
Too many thoughts. Too many emotions.
A light tapping sensation on his shoulder caused him to instinctively look to Moira. "Do you know who that was?" Her voice was soft, as if she could see the inner turmoil he now faced and decided to become more gentle than usual. Gabe had to blink a few times to focus, and he shook his head once he processed the question. "I don't know." He sighed. "She scares me, though.""That's very understandable."He wanted to sit there in that silence for hours with no one but Moira at his side. He wanted to contemplate what he was just told. He wanted to work out the emotions racing through his body.He couldn't, however.He had to call Jesse and Genji back and assess the information that was uncovered."Would you like to notify the others of that woman?" Moira questioned. He glanced up at her. Even while they were seated, she continued to be taller than him. "Do you think that'd be a good idea?" he responded. She smiled at him, an act that made his internal predicament the slightest bit better. "You're the Commander, why ask me that question?""I don't know, just humor me.""Alright then, I feel as if we should keep this to ourselves. It would be safer."He nodded. "I agree."
A secret shared only between the two of them; that was nothing new.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Why stay and fight with Overwatch when you're being treated like the villain?
Gabriel laid in the partially-comfortable bed of the hotel room, that mysterious woman's words replaying in his mind perpetually. He didn't want to agree with her; Blackwatch being portrayed as a group of delinquents (villains), their hard work going unnoticed, being used; none of that was true, right? He wasn't a villain.
Right?
He shook his head. She was getting to him. Gabe was stressed and exhausted, and in a weakened state of mind, of course he would think up some funny thoughts. He needed sleep. Between Talon, Overwatch no longer having complete trust in him, and sleep deprivation, his psychological health was beginning to dwindle."For your sake, go to sleep, Gabe," Moira's voice brought him back to Earth. "You're muttering to yourself." He glanced over to the bed beside his and up to the woman sitting cross-legged and reading God-knows-what on her infamous silver tablet. "Sorry," he mumbled. "And who the hell are you to tell me to go to sleep?" Thankfully, she picked up on his sarcastic tone and smirked as she said, "As long as I can say I tried."Absentmindedly, he ran his eyes over her dampened hair and watched as a single lock dripped water onto her sleeved shoulder. Judging by the redhead's facial expression, she was not pleased by this; but who would be? Moira picked up an unused washcloth she had placed by her bedside and began to give her head a thorough rub with its dry texture. Her raised arms showed off the holes her slightly-oversized nightshirt bore. They caused him to question (only for a moment) just how long she's owned that article of clothing.The Doctor finished angrily drying her hair and set now-dampened cloth back in its place, mumbling something along the lines of I don't even care what I look like. "You look amazing," he told her ironically."If you were not my boss I would flip you off.""I'd flip me off, too," he laughed. Moira rolled her eyes before asking, "What were thinking of before I told you to shut your mouth?""Uh," he sounded lamely while sitting himself up, "it was about that girl we talked to on Monday."She looked over at him. "Is that bothering you?""It doesn't bother me, it just got me thinking.""About what, exactly?""About..." Gabriel trailed off, choosing the correct words wisely. "I'm not saying I want to head over to Talon, I'm just saying that...maybe, deep down, I agree with a lot of the things she pointed out." O'Deorain nodded slowly as she flattened a few stray pieces of fiery hair. "You aren't the only one who agreed." Her eyes swept to the side and did not return to his face as she told him, "I feel as if you're the only one who truly appreciates what I do for this organization."Don't smile like an idiot. Don't smile like an idiot. Don't smile like a fucking idiot."Really?" he said, smiling like an idiot."Well, I shouldn't say 'I feel as if': I know. I'm not quite sure of the reasoning behind it, but I seem to be singled out from the rest of Blackwatch and despised. I have a few theories as to why, but as I've said, I can't say for certain." He thought about the few times he's spoken about Moira with another colleague. Everytime her name was brought up, it was accompanied by something negative, which was understandable by itself, in his own eyes.
He understood, he was afraid of her when they first met, too.
However, he supposed that was just it: nobody ever had anything positive to say about this hardworking woman.Never."Well, I know this has already been established, but I see the arm and leg you give," Gabe said, and as an afterthought, he added, "And the pounds.""Must you always mention my weight?""Yep.""Why?""Because you look like a pencil.""Oh, I'm a pencil now? I was under the impression that I was a toothpick.""You're anything that's long and skinny.""And you're an arse," she smirked, then shook her head. "Stop making me do this.""What?""Act like a child.""So you joking around with someone is childish?""It's unprofessional." She turned herself away from him and picked up her device once more, sighing as she did so. "I did agree with much of what that woman said, but I feel as if we should discuss further when the both of us aren't as exhausted as we are." Gabe didn't want to admit it to himself, but seeing as how she didn't want to speak with him any further was somewhat discouraging, despite knowing that attempting to relax and eventually fall asleep was in their best interest. "You're right," was all he said.Moira shut off her device, then the lamp beside both of them, and he heard the blankets on her end shuffle as she situated herself. "I'll say it again: for your sake, get some sleep, Gabe.""Alright," he chuckled, "night, Moira.""Sleep well."He rested his head on his pillow with the knowledge that he wouldn't hear another word come forth from that doctor's mouth.No, no, that wasn't right. She wasn't just that doctor. She was Moira: his doctor, his newfound companion, his-
Well...

That was just about it.

Right?

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"And if you say goodbye. Too many times. The sentinels will find me and switch me off this time. Because all my fears invaded. All the crazies put on buses and sent up here to find you. Living on the limits."
Gabriel listened as Moira muttered an unfamiliar song while packing her neatly-folded clothes into a suitcase. It was interesting to hear such odd lyrics come forth in her unique accent, and he wasn't quite sure why. Perhaps it was that he could never truly picture the peculiar individual listening to any type of music that wasn't...well, classical, if he's being brutally honest. That sounded so ridiculous, he thought, and yet, it was the utmost truth."What're you singing?" Gabe asked, leaning against the wall with his arms folded neatly against his chest. Moira didn't care to look up from her pile of miscellaneous personal items she had precariously placed on the edge of her bed as she explained, "It's from an old band. They were popular around the beginning of the twenty-first century, if I'm not mistaken.""That's not that old.""It isn't. When I was young, I would listen to alternative songs from around that time. Many of them stuck with me since then.""Yeah. I'm more of uh...I don't know, 'I'll listen to whatever's on' kind of guy.""You've never found yourself favoring one genre over the other?"He shrugged. "I might have, I just never acknowledged it."He thought back to when he was younger and the aspects of his life he enjoyed the most."I mostly focused on soccer. Did that for a long time.""How long?" she questioned."Oh, God, well, I started when I was around five and did it until I was like...early twenties, maybe. It was a pretty decent amount of time."She glanced at him for a moment before returning her attention to her current task. "I-That is quite the substantial timespan.""Yeah, and what about you? Any sports?"A small grin appeared on the Doctor's face. "Does the Mock Trial Team count?""No, sorry, it doesn't," he chuckled."Then no, I haven't participated in any sports." Once finished packing up her things, Moira zipped her luggage closed and collected the remaining bags."I suppose after we return, Blackwatch will have no further involvement in this case," the woman said as she headed out of the room. Gabriel hoisted a few bags of his own over the shoulder and tailed her lovely form after closing the door behind him.He admired the way her outfit hugged her thin figure and brought out her (lack of) hips. The tight clothing was painstakingly eye-catching to him,  and he nonchalantly gawked at the subtle sway of her backside for a second-too-long.
Right before he realized what he was doing.
Gabe jogged a few steps forward to walk alongside his...acquaintance and asked, "What makes you say that?" Moira looked down at him, and he ignored the way his heart twisted and constricted and squeezed as the woman replied, "Dr. Ziegler informed me.""And not me?""Commander Morrison is going to explain this to Blackwatch upon our return. This is what I was told."He scoffed in utter annoyance. Jack really didn't trust them anymore, did he?"This grants Blackwatch some days off," she continued with a smirk. "You'll have plenty of time to start on my closet." Gabriel's bitterness subsided as fast as it came. He liked hearing her joke; it was with him and no one else. It was exclusive, and therefore precious."I think I should win by default," he retorted playfully."And why's that, Gabe?" The both of them stopped near the elevator. Moira hit a button that would bring them downwards, all the while plucking at his heartstrings with those incredibly long fingernails.
Or perhaps she'd use her left hand instead. She's left-handed, isn't she?
"Well, because I'm your boss, Moira," he said, adding her name at the end partially to lightheartedly mock her and partially because speaking it was like a cigarette to a smoker: he yearned for it."The last time I checked, you hadn't even worked anything out.""Well, that's going to change right now." He cleared his throat. "If I win, which I will, because of 'by default,' you...I don't know...Why don't we just both take a day off and go do something?" Moira raised a brow, and the small ding of the elevator was nearly completely drowned out by every fiber of his being screaming and wondering why the fuck did you just say that?"What would we be doing?" she inquired as they entered the small box. He shrugged and clicked one of the many buttons on the side of the metal doors. "I'll think of something."She rolled her eyes. "Out of all things, this is what you choose.""Hey, hear me out: it's a break from everyone's bullshit,"
That isn't the reason he suggested it.
"-no running around setting cameras up everywhere,"
No, that wasn't the reason, either.
"-and I think the both of us need to have a talk about what that chick said. In private."
Nothing he was saying came close to the truth.
Moira nodded slowly. "You've made decent points."
Come on, Gabe.
"Alright then, Gabriel, we will work out a time and date once Commander Morrison decides what Blackwatch will do next. I don't believe Doctor Ziegler would lie to me, but you can never be too certain."
Where's your self-control?
"Yeah, I agree with that."The doors opened and revealed Genji and Jesse waiting patiently in the lobby."That outing of ours stays between us," Gabe muttered to the tall woman beside him. Moira gave only a simple, curt nod, but it was all that was needed. He wasn't sure if she understood why it needed to be kept secret, but he was sure he could conjure up some excuse.
An excuse to hide...what? What was the reason behind their secrecy this time?
"Do not worry, Commander," Genji said in a calm voice, "we were not waiting long."
It just felt right to lie and act as if their plans didn't exist.
"Alright," Gabriel responded. "You guys are good?"
It felt right, but...why? Why did it feel right?
"All's good in the hood, Boss," McCree answered."Great.""I've missed sleeping on a comfortable bed," Red chimed in. He chuckled at her statement. "You're telling me."
Why?

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Gabriel trekked down the path he knew too well: take the elevator to the bottom floor, use (specifically) the third staircase, make a left, make a right, make another right, then make a left once more. He knew this path forwards and backwards, inside and out, and the only one who likely knew it better was Moira."I would have gotten myself so lost down here," Angela said as she walked beside him, "thank you for this. I appreciate it.""Anytime," he responded. "I didn't have anything better to do."Yes you did, Asshole, he scolded himself, but pushed that thought from him his mind as quickly as it came. He was simply helping a friend sort a few things out, a quick and simple task that he couldn't deny.
He wasn't making excuses to see her. He wasn't.
Try as he might to have himself believe otherwise, however, the delight that struck him as he heard that low, feminine voice call come in was too unbearable to ignore.Upon entry, he noticed Moira sitting at one of two incredibly long desks with pen in hand, furiously scribbling away at an innocent piece of paper. "What's the matter, Gabe?" she called."Nothing serious, don't worry.""Have you finally decided on a location and telling me couldn't bare to wait?" His heart lept into his throat for reasons he was unsure of. "No, that's not it. I've got Angela here. I think your guys' paperwork is messed up." The Redhead looked up at the duo, then began rummaging through various drawers located near her long legs. "I hadn't noticed that," Moira commented as she pulled out a tan folder and flipped through its contents. "You're right." The woman made her way over to Angela, and the two doctors exchanged papers. As he watched the trade take place, Gabe couldn't help but notice the lack of speech on Ziegler's part. She was normally so humble and kind, and now she didn't care to offer even a smile. Her demeanor brought everyone's opinions on O'Deorain back to his attention, and an amalgamation of conflicting feelings formed in the pit of his stomach. A mix of annoyance and anger and, to an extent, resentment, clashing with the truth that these were not emotions he wanted to be experiencing towards Angela, left him frowning and unsure of the way he truly should be feeling."Thank you," the blonde said flatly, followed by a walk to the exit. She paused once she reached her destination, looked over her shoulder and asked, "You aren't coming, Gabe?" He hesitated. 
He fucking hesitated.
Instead of following Ziegler, Gabriel glanced to Moira. "You need me for anything? While I'm here?"The woman raised a brow. "If you truly wish to stay.""Yeah, why not, right?""I suppose."He turned his attention to Angela. "Do you remember the way back?" She nodded, and shut the doors without another word, leaving him and his cohort alone.She's acting weird, Gabriel concluded, and he could think of a plethora of reasons as to why, all involving Moira.Perhaps the reason being was she knew as well as he did that his act of kindness was to grant him the opportunity to spend a few minutes or longer with redheaded doctor.
No, wait, no, that wasn't true. That wasn't the case.
"Not very busy today, are you, Gabe?"
Fucking hell...
 
That was exactly the case.
 "Yeah, she didn't know where to find you, so I offered to stop in and say hi," he told her with an awkward chuckle, "figured it'd help her out."
But...so what, right? Right?
"It appears as if she's acting very distant today," Moira commented. Gabe nodded while taking a glance at the doors. "I saw that. She's usually not like that.""No, normally she feels the need to run her mouth to me. Never has she been so quiet."He internally winced at her passive aggressiveness towards his long-time friend. "What can I tell you? She gets passionate about certain things.""Evidently so."With that, she made her way back to her spot at the desk and continued to scribble what he assumed were notes onto her paper, leaving him to stand in awkward silence."Anyways, what did you need me here for?" Gabriel asked."I didn't need you for anything," Moira explained. "I thought you would like to relax, and if you're with me, it will be easier to pretend as if you're busy, should anyone ask." His heart fluttered at the thought: just the two of them relaxing together, free of all distractions."What happened to being professional?" he smirked, heading over to the seat beside her."I've decided that since you've been so kind to me, the least I can do is return the favor.""What do you mean, 'been so kind'?" He found himself to be highly interested in her response, and deep down, he knew why, but fuck, he'd rather die than admit his reasoning to himself."I mean exactly what I say," she explained. "Don't assume your camaraderie goes unnoticed. It is truly appreciated." Oh.
She noticed all that.

Of course she did.
"I've never experienced anything like it."
She's never-What?
"No?" He was unsure of how to word his sentence. How was one supposed to react when faced with a statement like that?The Doctor shook her head. "In case you haven't noticed, no one particularly is a fan of my existence. Save for you, I suppose.""Oh, come on, don't say that.""It doesn't upset me, I don't need your condolences. As a matter of fact, I could understand why the world feels the way it does. If I were of the likes of McCree or Doctor Ziegler, I would feel the same way." Gabe sighed quietly and shook his head in disbelief. "That, in all seriousness, doesn't bother you?""Not in the slightest."His raised his eyebrows, still slightly taken aback by her declaration. "As long as you're alright with it, I guess."Her eyes returned to her paper, but her focus seemed to be elsewhere. The laboratory was dead silent, the only sound being the small clack of her pen as she set it down near her notes."I'm not ignorant to the state of my health."
She wouldn't look at him.
"There's something seriously wrong with me, Gabe."Gabriel licked his lips, and the sound of someone knocking on the metal doors resonated within the room.Moira glanced over his head and called, "What is it?" Angela's voice could be heard, and although she was extremely muffled, he was able to pick out the words sorry and thought and ended up. "I think I need to help her out again," the man told the redhead. She nodded in response."I'll be right back." He stood and jogged his way over to the exit, Angela appearing in his vision as the doors slid open once more. "I'm sorry, I thought I remembered," the blonde said sheepishly."Not a problem," was his reply, irritation and eagerness to continue that conversation threatening to spill into his tone. It wasn't her fault she became lost; this section of the facility wasn't a place Angela frequented.
But he couldn't help the way he felt.
"I'll get you to the elevators, alright?""Thank you so much!"Deciding to leave the doors open,-he wasn't going to be gone for very long-Gabe backtracked to that specific stairway with Doctor Ziegler at his side.The trip was silent, allowing the last words Moira had said to play in his mind.Her statement sounded so genuine, like there was emotion tied to it, something that was unheard of when it came to her.Perhaps she, in fact, was upset, but not because she cared.
Perhaps it was because she didn't care.
Maybe the horrifying fact that the whole planet could turn their back on her and she wouldn't bat an eye frightened her. She knew it wasn't healthy to think that way.Perhaps there were other aspects of herself that concerned her as well, or traits she didn't particularly like. It was impossible that she was as heartless and void of emotion as she appeared to be.
At the end of the day, Moira was human, too, and she had layers just like everyone else.
And she was willing to open up to him, he realized with delight. It was only a small bit of information, but based on the way she acted as she confessed to him that part of her, it wasn't something she broadcasted to everyone. Moira trusted him enough to express that thought, and God damnit was that a wonderful reality.Gabriel eventually reached the top of the staircase and said his goodbyes to Angela, then near-sprinted his way back to the Irishwoman's lab.
He wouldn't miss the opportunity to spend time with this woman for anyone.
Upon his return, he noticed Moira had moved from her chair and was now fiddling with the coffee machine she had placed on a separate table near the entrance to her lab, right beside him."I've become obsessed with this watermelon tea I've found," she said, "and why were you running?" He gave a breathy chuckle, and once his panting ceased, replied, "Exercise."She offered him a look that said really? "Clearly you need more of that.""You could never be too healthy.""That isn't true, but alright."He couldn't help but laugh at her stubbornness. That was Moira for you."Hey, uh, did you want to tell me something earlier?"The woman shook her head and picked her now-filled mug up from its place on the machine. "Don't listen to me when I get like that.""You sure?""I'm sure."That's alright, he thought. If she wasn't comfortable, then she wasn't comfortable. He wasn't going to pry anything out of her."Would you like some tea?" Moira offered. Gabe shrugged. "Eh, why not?" She walked over to a small cabinet in the corner of the room and pulled out a mug and a box of tea bags. "You're going to love this watermelon tea." The redhead glanced over her shoulder. "You've forgot to shut the door.""Shit, right, right." He turned around and did what he was asked of.
Now they can relax.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"If it so happens that you end up dragging me somewhere for lunch, I would prefer that no one knew," Moira told him, placing herself on the couch she had stuffed in the corner of the back room. "I don't need to hear anymore accusations." Gabriel, being very conscious of not sitting too close to her and very conscious of not spilling his tea, seated himself on the green sofa. "What kind of accusations?" he asked."Nothing you haven't heard before, I'm sure. I'm 'manipulating' you, and you're being forced against your will into these agreements. Not to mention Commander Morrison's trust in Blackwatch has become questionable. If he happens to learn of a private arrangement between us, it's safe to assume he'll conclude the worst.""That we're conspiring against him or some shit?""Unfortunately, that is in the realm of possibilities." She took a small sip of her tea before setting it on the ground. "I'm tired of hearing him bitch."
God, that was adorable.
He loved to hear her cuss; it was so damn special."Yeah, well, you're not the only one," he chuckled. "And, uh, just to be clear, this isn't like a...""I know," the Doctor stated before Gabe could get his last word out. "This wouldn't be the first time I've gone to lunch with a coworker, no need to worry.""Right. Nice, nice."Christ, he wanted this to happen so bad.
But he didn't want it to be professional.
No, he didn't want it to be professional; he wanted to see her laugh and smile and enjoy herself, and they could speak about nonsense and joke and take time to get to know one another better.
Like a date.
He wanted to take her out on a fucking date, and that was the truth. That's why he suggested this in the first place, right? Of course, it was never blatantly stated that the two of them would find someplace to eat, but it could have easily been implied. That was the reason Moira spoke of his suggestion the way she did now: he was implying that they would head out for lunch.This is why he scolded himself as that question crossed his lips. Deep down, he knew the reason behind his actions, he simply lacked the balls to admit anything to himself.
But why was he coming to terms with all of this now?
Gabriel has denied emotions and the true motives for months, and now, suddenly, he's had a much easier time coming to terms with himself; why was that? What could have possibly changed the way he handled certain feelings and thoughts so abruptly?He absentmindedly took a swig of his tea, blinked, and nonchalantly locked eyes with a very attractive, very curious-looking Moira O'Deorain."I haven't seen your eyes become grey before now," she commented."They went a dark blue once," was his reply. She nodded slowly, seemingly continuing to contemplate something."What were you thinking of?"
You.
Deciding against answering truthfully,-he was not doing that-Gabe responded with, "Just some nice places to eat around here."The woman picked up her mug. "Do you like Japanese?""Yeah.""There is a Japanese restaurant a little ways from here. I couldn't tell you the name if it were to save my life, but it suffices.""I might know what you're talking about."She brought her cup to her pink lips. "That settles that, then. You're welcome."After yet another sip of watermelon tea and a playful scoff from himself, she continued with, "I would still love to tell you what terrible progress you're making. That way, my closet wouldn't be an issue of mine.""Is it really that bad?""See for yourself on your way out.  I'll let you be the judge of that."
Another sip.
"I'm not one to put off tasks, but the thought of organizing and cleaning that closet is horrific.""So you make me do it?""Yes, of course," she smirked."It'd get done a lot faster if we both worked on it.""That would nullify the deal we made, and that isn't too fun."She laughed as he rolled his eyes."How about I help you clean out that fucking closet, then we head to this place you're talking about?" Gabriel suggested. "It's a win-win.""I don't attest to that.""So deal null and void?""Only for this one instance. I do agree that four hands are better than two."
So she wanted to go.
"Alright, just this once," he concluded. If she was suggesting places to eat, that meant she wanted to go, right? He wasn't "dragging" her anywhere; she said that just to be an asshole. 
But then again, she considers this to be nothing more than lunch with a coworker.
 That meant she expected a professional environment, and her main reason for agreeing to this would be that they could have the opportunity to speak of private matters free of any possible distractions.She said something about four arms being better than two, too, he thought. Moira wasn't particularly excited about their arrangement; hell, she didn't even say that she wanted to go, only that her chores would be completed quicker if she had him to help. In a sense, he was dragging her, if Gabe was going by that logic.
And that wasn't right. He didn't want to force her to do anything.
If Gabriel were forcing her, that meant she didn't view the situation as he did, that she didn't...that she didn't feel the same way.
Wouldn't she be rooting for this to happen as much as he was if she shared emotions similar to his?
Oh my God, stop. Stop, he told himself. Thinking too hard about this.It's true, he was overthinking things. He had to relax and look forward to their outing, not contemplate it as much as he was."Do you want more?" Moira's voice snapped him back to planet Earth, and her question caused him to glance into his mug, which was now empty. Only then did the faint memories of him taking swig after swig come flooding back. "No, I'm alright," he told her. "I'll get sick if I drink too much." The redhead nodded."Would you like to see the closet?""I would love to see your closet," he laughed. Moira hauled herself to her feet. "Try not to get scared. It's quite terrifying."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"I have somewhere to be, Jesse," Gabriel scolded, "Let me shower for God's sakes.""Why ain't you telling me where you're headed? Being real secretive here, Reyes.""I don't have to tell you shit.""What the hell're you two up to this time?"He removed his shirt. "Get out of my face.""And you wonder why Jack don't trust you.""I don't 'wonder' anything. Now come on, get out of here." McCree eyed him with an unsettling look and marched away without another word, shoving the door open with an unnecessary amount of force.Prick, he thought, now irked beyond comprehension. He wasn't entitled to know everything that went on in Gabe's personal life. Even if he did know, it wouldn't have changed the way their conversation played out.
He'd just start bitching about Moira.
Yet another reason why he hated the communal showers: too much company. Perhaps if he hadn't taken that unexpected nap in his office, overslept, then had an argument with a certain cowboy, he could have been able to make his way to the barracks and shower in peace, but that wasn't the case. There wasn't enough time to make that journey, and so, he was consequently subjected to McCree's wrath.He turned the handle and disrobed as the water heated up, noting how oddly cool the room was. The Commander threw his clothes into his bag and wrapped a towel around his hips as he waited.
Nobody needed to see his ass.
 
Well, except for one person, but she wasn't allowed in the men's room.
 What the fuck, he thought as he shook his head. What was going on with him? It was true, this wouldn't be the first time he's...well, felt a certain way towards a teammate, but it's never gone this far. He never made excuses to see them, or admired their body (specifically the sections he most certainly should not be admiring) from behind, or now did...this. Why was Moira, of all people, different? What about the Doctor made interactions with her so crucial to his happiness? She wasn't a particularly kind or pleasant person.
Well, except for those rare moments.
The moments in which she'd let her guard down and laugh and playfully mock him; those times seemed to be unwarranted by her, if the way she stopped herself in the hotel was anything to go by.God, how he wanted her to know that she didn't have to stop herself, that it was okay to not be so uptight and professional all the time.
And fuck, he wanted to hear that laugh again.
The one she hated so much, Gabriel thought as he entered the shower. It was "disgusting," apparently. It was true, it wasn't so much of a laugh as a string of snorts, and it was true, the only time he's ever heard anything like it was in the videos Jesse had shown him, wherein the person laughing was being mocked (as much as he hated to admit it, he made a few unpleasant comments at the time), but this was Moira, and each imperfection of hers was so fucking perfect that he didn't know what to do with himself."Boss?"
And then Genji's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
"What is it?" Gabe called over the white noise resonating within the room. When had the door opened? "May I inquire when you will be back? We need to discuss schedules for the next few weeks."
At least he doesn't stick his nose in my fucking business.
"I'll be out for a few hours. Just tell Jesse we'll deal with that in the morning. Seven sharp.""Only McCree? Would you not like Moira to know as well?"
Shit, that's right, he didn't know.
 
Well, now Gabriel wasn't too sure about that anymore.
 Genji wasn't a stupid kid by any means. There was no way he was climbing out of the hole he dug with that response.The man turned off the water as to not have to shout every sentence of his."Hey, Genji," he said."Yes?""Want to keep a secret for me?""I'm surprisingly quite good at that.""Great, now listen:" he paused, wording his next statement carefully, "me and Moira are heading out. We want to discuss some things regarding...me, I guess, and we wanted to do it somewhere private. I need to keep this on the down-low because if this shit gets to Jack, he'll think we're plotting against him or something, and my ass will be out of here. You got it?""I understand, Commander. Confidentiality is something Angela and I seem to have a difficult time with."
That's right, Genji was sort of in the same boat he was. They could relate to each other in a way, yeah?
"If anyone asks for me, just tell them I'm busy and don't want to be bothered," he continued, and turned a handle so the water ran once more."You have my word." With that, he heard the door open, and the almost-completely-drowned-out metallic pat pat of the Cyborg's footsteps ceased with the click of the entrance being sealed once more.He trusted Genji. Besides, it would be better if at least one person knew of their whereabouts, that way panic wouldn't ensue.He finished his duties in the shower and pulled himself together as quickly as humanly possible.We could meet in the hangar, she said, there's a door that leads to an area behind my lab. I'll be waiting for you near the entrance. There isn't a doubt in my mind you won't be able to find this place without my assistance.She made it sound like we were making plans for the next operation, was what went through his mind as he made his way to the hangar.
How does 19:00 sound, Gabe?
Perfect. That was his response.Of course it was.Gabe unlocked the doors to his desired destination, and as they slid open, the familiar musty scent of the ships, tools, slabs of metal and wood, and other miscellaneous Lindholm items filled his nose.Everything seemed to be in place, save for Moira.She said the hangar, r-?"Hello, Gabriel!"
And yet again, the nearly-three-hundred-pound Black Ops Division Commander jumped out of his skin.
Gabriel whipped around to notice the cackling woman (adorned with most adorable glasses) leaning against the wall, arms folded just below her breasts, causing the smallest bit of cleavage that dared him to steal glances."All things considered, you're awfully skittish," Moira commented."You know, in my defense, I wasn't expecting you to scream in my ear.""I didn't scream.""Well, yelled. Whatever."The woman pushed herself from her spot on the wall and took a few steps towards him. "I'm glad we both decided on a more simplistic look. I feel less underdressed now. And you'll have to excuse the glasses. Until my contacts arrive, I'm stuck with these abominations." He studied her eyes for a few moments, admiring just how well she was able to pull off such perfectly circular lenses. "You look"-adorable, stunning, beautiful, perhaps?-"fine. Don't worry about it." She raised her eyebrows, yet said no more. "Besides that, follow me."She led him past various ships and workbenches, out of the designated doorway, and across a field with boxes of varying sizes littered throughout its expanse. Now, Gabe has spent the better half of his life at this facility, and he's never, not once seen this place. However, the only time he actually began frequenting the bottom floor was when Moira showed up.Speaking of whom, the Doctor pulled a set of keys out of her back pocket and dangled the bundle between her spidery fingers."This one's mine." She approached and unlocked a small silver vehicle as they reached the car lot, and all he could think was holy shit. "You have a nice fucking car.""I'm aware, now get your arse in it before someone catches us."The inside was completely spotless, he noticed, and smelled of cinnamon.
Of course it smelled nice.
"I haven't had dinner outside of a facility or laboratory in a long while," she said as she turned the ignition. "This will be unusual for me.""I thought you told me you went here before?" he pondered as he examined the small jar of scented beads she so carefully placed in a cupholder."I ordered from here before, is what I meant."He laughed, partially at her and partially at himself. "Right, why did I think otherwise?""You mustn't be the brightest one here, that's my hypothesis."The drive to the restaurant was a rather quiet one, both parties deciding to simply enjoy the tranquility of the moment. It was rather calming to know that, even if only for the evening, he had escaped the chaos of his life, with Moira, nonetheless.A whole evening would he be given the privilege to have this amazing woman all to himself. Could it get anymore perfect?Amidst his delight, an unwanted thought managed to wiggle its way into his attention: he saw this as a privilege, yet no one else could say the same.An evening, an hour, a moment spent in this woman's company seemed to be a curse to anyone but him. She was despised and singled out, but why? What made her past far worse than Genji's or Jesse's? If anything, it wasn't particularly that bad, all things considered. Her personality could be very off-putting, he wasn't and couldn't deny that, but he got along with her perfectly well. He enjoyed her dry sense of humor, and if one dug deep enough, they could find a kind bone in her body, much like he has.Yet, no one bothered to take the time to meet this highly-introverted individual, and so, it left her feeling as if her efforts went unnoticed.Perhaps that was the reason Gabriel got along with her so well: she appreciated that she was appreciated.She told him herself that she acknowledges his friendliness. Perhaps her snarky comments and jokes were her trying to reciprocate? Then why had she stopped herself that night? Just the other day she told him "not to listen to her" when she spoke of her feelings. Did she truly want to distance herself from the world like that?Or is she just unsure of how to act around people who intend to befriend her?God, then that begs the question: when was the last time she's had someone meaningful in her life?"I have a feeling you will enjoy the food here," Moira's low voice spoke."Yeah?" He looked over at her, and it was the moment he realized they were sitting in a parking lot.The woman opened her door and muttered to him, "Come on." He sighed and mimicked her actions, following her into a black building and taking the time to read the large letters that made up its name in an attempt to distract himself from the somber thoughts that plagued his mind.
He just worried for her, that's all. He worried for her health and happiness.

And there wasn't anything wrong with that.
The interior was rather fancy, he noticed, and the smells wafting from the food that surrounded them made him hungrier than ever."Two," he overheard Moira tell the man behind the pedestal. 
Just two. Just the two of them.
They were led to a small table pushed against a wall, and once seated, taken care of, and the conversation of this is how you pronounce this, Gabe had ended, he decided to bring up what has been bothering him for a good ten minutes.
He wasn't quite sure what the response would be, but God damnit, it was nagging him.
"So, I've got something to ask you," Gabe began," but...don't feel like you have to answer.""Yes?" She twirled the straw in her glass and caused the ice to dance in a perfect circle."When we were talking the other day, you were saying something, then told me to uh, 'just ignore you when you get like that.'"
She was frowning now.
"Why-what made you say that?"The doctor eyed the water in her glass. "I wouldn't have said anything meaningful, had I continued.""You know, I wouldn't of minded."Moira seemed to contemplate something before subtly shaking her head. "My boss certainly doesn't need to hear of my nonsense.""Can't we just forget I'm your boss for five minutes?"
Oh, that sounded weird.
The woman in front of him apparently felt the same, if the perplexed look she gave him was anything to go by, which it was."I don't understand; what do you mean?" was her question."I'm saying...God, uh..." He paused until he found the right words, and even then, he spoke slowly as he voiced, "I don't have to just be your boss. It doesn't have to strictly be business and graphs and strategies, it can be... W-we can talk like...you know, friends."His ears were on fire, his face was on fire, fuck, his skull was on fire, and he prayed that she understood him, because he wasn't sure he could bring himself to say that again without vomiting.Bless her soul, Moira's expression remained thoughtful and free of judgement. She sipped her water before asking, "You consider me as a friend, Gabriel?" His stomach fluttered at the sound of his name on her tongue, and all he could seem to do was chuckle rather nervously. "Am I not supposed to?""You can, but"-She took another swig of water-"I must say, you have a horrible taste in friends.""Now, I don't think that's true.""I'm not talking about myself."He shrugged, knowing all-too-well who she spoke of. "He really isn't all that bad. Some days are more tolerable than others, though.""So I've noticed."Gabriel breathed a laugh. "Well, he isn't here to bitch at either of us, but, um, back to what I was saying.""I understand, I suppose." She paused."Perhaps I knew and yet-" The Irishwoman went silent, preferring to stare at the table rather than him. After a few moments of doing just that, she opened her mouth as if to say something, closed it, waited a few seconds, repeated the process, began an unfinished sentence with, "I-," then seemed to simply give up and shook her head violently for a longer-than-normal period of time, all the while only sparing him short, quick glances here and there."That's not...That's not very easy for me to explain," Moira said simply, quietly."What isn't?" When she didn't respond, Gabe decided to say, "Let's just drop it. I didn't come here to make you uncomfortable.""I apologize," she told him."What the hell are you apologizing for?""I wasn't able to respond.""Don't be sorry for that.""It isn't normal.""Moira, calm down. It's fine."She rubbed her thumb alongside a strip of metal plating on her decrepit right hand, eventually causing the area to become an unorthodox maroon color.He's never seen her like this, so bothered and unsure. This wasn't the woman Overwatch and Blackwatch alike have come to know.Yet it was.This was simply a different side of her, one he wasn't able to understand."Hey, sorry for making you uncomfortable.""It wasn't your intention."After a minute of awkward silence, Moira (ironically) was the one to speak up first."Have you been feeling well lately?""Yeah, completely fine, as a matter of fact.""I stopped your appointments because you haven't had any complaints.""No, I've been doing great, thanks to you."She smiled again; finally. "It's what I do best.""Did you ever think of doing something else?""Oh, ever since I was small, I've been obsessed with biology and genetics.""You were the kid who knew where babies came from?"Redhead laughed as she nodded her agreement. "You'd better believe that was me. This reminds me, as well: when I was nineteen, a company was going to have me model for commercials and magazines.""Get out." God, she looked like a model."It was exciting to say the very least.""You ever do it?"She shook her head. "When I met the woman in charge, she told me they would make alterations to my appearance, primarily because I 'looked too much like a man.' I said it was ridiculous, and I was never called back."Gabriel remembered when she had talked to him a while back about "not looking like a woman." Was this what she had in mind as she said that?"You don't think you look like a guy, right?""If that's the truth, so be it. I always have something more important to worry about than others' opinions.""Well, for the record, you don't."
You're beautiful, as a matter of fact.
"I'm flattered," she smirked, then questioned, "Have you always wanted to be a soldier, Gabe?""Well, my shitty grades told me I wanted to be a soldier."Before their conversation could continue, a plate was placed in front of him and-Wow, did that look and smell amazing.The rest of their time was filled with lighthearted talk of certain events in their past. It was enjoyable, Gabe had to say, to see Moira smile when she spoke and listen to his nonsense, and it was a step in the right direction. She wasn't holding herself back or cutting herself off; they were talking as friends, and that made him the happiest damn guy in all of fucking Switzerland.The ride back was nothing like the drive to the restaurant; he was more content than before, and despite neither of them speaking, his mind didn't wander towards negative thoughts so much as it did replay the events of the last two hours.
Everything went so fucking well. So fucking well.
They snuck (like two teenagers) back through the hangar and made their way to the laboratory.Upon arrival, Moira paused in front of the doors and took her glasses from her face, proceeding to wipe the lenses with the hem of her shirt."I can't stand these," she said. "They're horribly uncomfortable.""Wouldn't know," he replied, crossing his arms. "You're not heading up to the barracks?""I stay here for the night more often than naught." She placed her glasses over her eyes. "Besides, most of my wardrobe is down here.""I think it was a good thing I dragged you out," he laughed."It was pleasant, I must say. I hadn't minded it at all."She glanced at the time on the padlock on the wall. "You should go upstairs and show yourself. The Cowboy may begin to think I took your life.""Wouldn't doubt it." He paused. "Alright, uh..."A thought crossed his mind. A very tempting thought. Screw it. Giving into himself and his heart racing a mile a minute, Gabriel placed his chin on her shoulder and wrapped his arms around her tiny form in a hug.Her back was so bony, and her shoulder was so bony, and she was so thin and so, so stiff.
But he loved the contact.
With a few small pats on her shoulder blade, he released her and looked up to her dual-colored eyes, which sported a look that he considered to be a mix of bewilderment and confusion."I'll see you," Gabe told her, "good night.""Good night, Gabe," Moira responded quietly, and with that, he began his journey to his bedroom.Why was she so stiff? Did she hate it? She hadn't pushed him away... 
But she hadn't hugged him back, either.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Hey, where were you last night?" Brigitte questioned Gabriel as she sat down with him, her plate of breakfast in hand. "We were looking for you.""Why'd you need me?" was his reply."Because we all were having a big cookout and we wanted everyone to be there! Genji wasn't there because Angela said that he didn't like eating in front of people, because he has a hard time with it, I guess. But nobody could get in touch with you!"
He should really start bringing his phone when he went places.
"Sorry, I was swamped last night.""I know, but, just so you know you weren't forgotten."
Now, that was sw-Wait a second.
"Moira wasn't there, was she?""Well, I wanted to ask her if she could come up and hang out for a little, but Jack said that he didn't want her there. He said she was..." she paused, lowered her voice, and with a nervous chuckle, finished, "a bitch.""Yeah? And he's a dick."The Swedish girl sighed. "I just wish everybody could-"She paused, and when she did, Gabe heard the sound of an annoyed voice approaching the cafeteria....Moira?Not a moment later did the person in his thoughts appear, folder in her hands and Jack at her side.
She was in the middle of saying something.
"...dead, I would have done it by now. You're never around, yet you have the audacity to dare lecture me on what's best for him and how to do my job."They paused at the entrance."You're practices are sketchy," Morrison rebutted. "I think I have the right to be skeptical.""This is past the point of simple skepticism; this is ignorance. You're seeing problems where there are none because of an unjustified bias."God, she sounded smart even when telling people off, he thought to himself, grinning ever-so-slightly."'Unjustified?' You messing with me?" the blonde continued."Oh, come on, you can't be this stupid." The redhead looked over in Gabriel's direction and motioned with her finger for him to join them."Oh no," Brigitte muttered. "Good luck.""I think I might need it," he told the brunette, and stood up and marched over to Moira's side."I need you to complete this," she said as he arrived, handing him the folder.Her face was a deep red."What are you guys bitching about?""Oh, screw it," Jack said, and began walking away from the Dining Hall. "I don't feel like hearing it from the both of you."He left, and Gabriel was...so confused.
So confused.
Moira spat something in her second tongue before voicing, "It's hard to believe he is Overwatch's Strike Commander. He has the mind of an adolescent.""What, you're untrustworthy again?""He's incredibly opinionated, yet ignorant to facts and details, and decides to form a bias that's grounded in propaganda and sensationalized information. People like him breed stupidity."
Wow.
"Right."
She's so angry.
"You get used to his bullshit after a while.""Unfortunately, I'm a bit more petulant than you."She pulled a pen from behind her ear-wait, that was there the entire time?-and handed it to him. "Get working on that. I'm busy at the moment, so if you have any questions, I'll be downstairs. You're brighter than most, however. I genuinely don't believe you'll have any problems."Her statement made him smile. "Glad I don't look like a Neanderthal to you.""You are of the rare sort," she grinned, and waved her goodbyes as she traveled to the lab. He waved back (definitely not wishing she would stay and definitely not wishing she would continue to compliment him) before glancing behind him.Brigitte had already finished both plates of food; there was no point in going back to his original seat.Deciding on sitting in a secluded section of the room, he opened the folder and glanced through the thick packet of papers within. It wasn't anything interesting (honestly, it didn't even look as if Moira would have fun going through it); questions regarding his general information, if this or that felt sore or numb or normal, illnesses he was vaccinated for; information she was obligated to document. He sighed as he began to print his name on the front page."That looks fun."Gabe whipped his head around, frantically searching for the woman he begged and prayed he didn't just hear."Enough, you're making yourself look dumb."Am I going crazy? he thought for a hot moment, completely horrified."Hey," her disembodied, heavily-accented voice started, "I have a suit that lets me go invisible and shit. I'll get you one if you want, but right now you got to stop acting suspicious. I'm trusting you, Gabe. Here, look." He felt a few light pats on his shoulder, and he wasn't sure if it calmed him down or made him worry even more. "See? You're not entirely out of you mind. Now, act like you're reading that.""How'd you get in here? Is more of Talon here?" he questioned as calmly and non-suspiciously as possible, looking back at his papers."No, just me," the Mexican woman replied. "It wasn't easy breaking in here, if it makes you feel better."It most certainly did not make him feel better."But yeah, we're in the area. Don't tell Jack, though. They could figure it out for themselves. See how much I'm trusting you right now?"He didn't look in her presumed direction as he spoke. "What do you want?""I want to talk to you and Ms. Long-Legs. I was going to yesterday, but you guys snuck out somewhere, and I didn't feel like following you.""You were here for that long?""Hey, sleeping in a car isn't as bad as it sounds."Gabriel heard a soft pat beside him, and the woman's voice now came from his right. "You think you could talk her into sparing a couple minutes?"He internally laughed-Moira O'Deorain sparing anyone a couple minutes of her precious time? Really?-as he explained to her, "When she's busy, she's busy."He was even shunned at times, and she has voiced over and over again, directly and indirectly, that his company (at the very least) wasn't despised."Tell her it's important.""And why can't you?""Because I don't know where she is!" she silently shouted. "I saw her walking out of here, but I looked back and she was gone."He hadn't the slightest clue of what that meant."Then I saw you and I was like, 'cool, he's even sitting away from everyone.'"He pondered for a moment. This was technically urgent, right? He was sitting next to a member of Talon (as if that wasn't bad enough) who was deciding to trust them both, apparently.
Still, in the case that this woman is lying, he doesn't want to put the Doctor in harms way.
"Are we the only ones you're talking to?" Gabe continued."Well, I tried talking to Genji, but he wasn't having any of it. He never ratted me out, though. Probably because of the dirt I have on him." She snickered at her own statement. Himself, on the other hand, was left confused. "You were talking to Genji?""Yep.""Really."
Want to keep a secret for me?

I'm surprisingly quite good at that.
 
That little fuck.
 "Don't call him out on it," the woman went on. "You're doing the same thing."He looked up to make sure no one was looking his way, then responded with, "I know."Genji was a good kid. He was troubled and resentful, but a good kid nonetheless.
He was like Gabriel in that way.
"Are we going to see Doctor Whatever-Her-Name-Is or what?""O'Deorain, and yeah, come on."
He loved saying her name. Loved it.
Picking up his folder, they traversed Switzerland's Overwatch facility, and as he guided her, she placed small taps (still here) on his back to notify him she was close behind.He made an effort to glance out the windows and into the open, and as he did so, noticed rioters and picketers surrounded the barrier Athena had so graciously set around the compound.Each time he viewed such a sight, he felt as if he could punch a hole through the reinforced metal wall.
Ungrateful bastards, have no idea what we've done for you.
A pat on his back stripped him from his thoughts, and that was the moment he realized they stood before an elevator.Gabe had no fears of stepping into an enclosed space with this person. He was able to change his state of being on the snap of a finger.He also knew she was the only one present. Her presence he could sense, and her perfume he could smell.He had to admit it: she smelled quite nice."Now people are going to think I put perfume on," Gabriel voiced as they reached the bottom floor. There were no cameras here, and evidently she knew this, because she revealed her being the moment the doors shut. "I didn't put that much on," she said, and waved her hand dismissively. "By the way, I'm Sombra."She wasn't armed, he noticed, but then again, he could never be entirely sure."The hacker?" Gabe interrogated. In recent times, reports of a mysterious individual known only by the alias "Sombra" has appeared, though a face could never be put to the name. The issue has never been brought up due to the hacking having no impact on Overwatch or Talon."That's me," she confirmed, "no pictures, though. I don't want to be found out again."
Again?
"And I have something to ask you: I'm thinking of coloring the tips of my hair to match my suit: do you think that would look stupid?" He gave her a look that made her laugh. "I guess I could tell you're not much of a hair guy."They turned that infamous corner and were met something he thought he never would see: the doors to Moira's lab were left open. Beside them sat a pile of boxes upon boxes.Was she cleaning out her closet? Wasn't he supposed to help?"Wait here," Gabriel told Sombra, and he made his way to the near-end of the hall and into the large room, careful of not tipping anything over.Moira was standing in front of her closet, seemingly scrutinizing its contents. He would have called out to her, alerted her of his being present, but the relatively loud mumbling in her beautiful voice stopped him.
Of course he had to tiptoe closer.
"Perhaps those should go to the back? No, throw everything into the hallway first, Genius. Right, right, of course. That will make sorting much easier. And Gabe could help, as well. Are you certain of that? Yes, because I'll force him to." She laughed to herself, then shook her head gently. "You're stalling, Moira. Yes, because I hate this. At least you've started, that's an achievement, is it not? I suppose." The woman nonchalantly glanced over her shoulder and jumped as she noticed his presence.
Now she was the one being startled. How the tables have turned.
"Having fun talking to yourself?" he said smugly. Her ears, cheeks, and the bridge of her nose shined pink. "What do you want, Arsehole?""We've got a guest.""And why is that important to me?""Because," he set the folder on one of her desks, "remember that chick who preached to us in Monaco?" Moira never looked so surprised in her life, he thought.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

You guys could be some valuable assets, you know?
That's what Sombra had said.
You've got a smart cookie on your side here, Commander. The stuff she comes up with; pretty snazzy.
That's what Sombra had said.
I'll be around. And I'll keep in touch with you. Now, show me how to get out. I'm not going back the way I came in, you know what I'm saying?
"God only knows what way you came in," Gabriel mumbled to himself."What's that, Gabe?" Moira called over to him."No worries, just thinking.""About?"He walked over to where she stood near her desk, a box of glass science apparatuses within his arms. He promised he'd help.
It most certainly wasn't an excuse to spend time with her.
 
But it was.
 "Nothing specific," he replied. The woman only hummed her response as she looked away and opened a drawer, fishing out a small plastic bag of what looked like chocolates."We could stop if you'd like," Moira offered, and she sat in the seat beside her and popped a candy into her mouth. Gabe set his item on the flat surface to his right. "I think that's what you'd like."She looked to the side. "What gave it away?""Maybe all the complaining? That's my guess."The Doctor went silent for a moment. "It smells like dust in here."He couldn't help but laugh at her disgust. "You're not having too much fun right now.""I'll be honest with you:" she scratched her forehead, "I'm dealing with the most painful cramps at the moment."He decided to pull out a stool from underneath the table a little ways away and sat himself in front of her. "Can't say I know what you're going through." She shook her head gently."Can't you, I don't know, exercise that off? Not sure how much I remember from Health class," he chuckled awkwardly.At least he was attempting to be helpful, right?"You can," she smiled, "that's why I decided to begin organizing without you. I can't say it assisted me very much, however."She crossed her legs and slumped in her chair.The poor thing looked so tired, and her focus seemed to be elsewhere."We'll stop for now," Gabriel said, "if you're in pain." Moira simply nodded, placing another chocolate on her tongue."Go and enjoy the rest of your day," she commanded. "I'm not very entertaining.""More entertaining than the other two shitheads we work with." He meant that wholeheartedly.She grinned once more, but it faded as fast as it appeared, and after a brief moment of thought, the Doctor told him, "You still say that even after the way I acted yesterday night."He furrowed his brow. Was she talking about not answering his question?"Didn't I tell you not to worry about it?"She shook her head for a second time. "It was embarrassing and...wrong.""What the hell do you mean, 'wrong'?""I wanted to respond, yet couldn't."What did that mean?He decided against asking that question. Truthfully, he was afraid she would freeze again. Gabe hadn't the slightest clue why it happened or what triggered such a strange reaction, but fuck, he'd rather castrate himself with a butter knife than give this pitiful toothpick another reason to beat herself up."Well, if you couldn't, you couldn't, right?" he continued hopefully. "Some people aren't comfortable with certain things.""And what I'm not comfortable with is ludicrous, and it gnaws at me," she said, a hint of irritation present in her voice. He had a feeling it wasn't directed at himself, however.Moira wiped a bead a sweat from her temple, something Gabriel wasn't aware of until her actions brought his attention to it.Why was she sweating? Was she anxious? Was she nervous, perhaps?It could be a "that time of the month" thing, too, couldn't it? I don't know how this shit goes, he thought."You alright?"There was a nod; a small one."Uh, right, well, why don't we just screw the subject?"She nodded once again. "I apologize.""Dear God-Moira," he smiled nervously, "quit with the apologies. You didn't do anything wrong."When the woman in question said nothing, he continued with, "What do I need to do to get you to believe that?"He hated seeing her like this, he truly did, but he couldn't help the thought of him being the only one allowed to witness this part of Moira O'Deorain. This strange second side of her that he couldn't figure out was something only he saw, and that notion alone was enough to make him feel so fucking special."I wish I were able to tell you, Gabe," the redhead replied, and it raised more questions than it answered, if it answered any at all. It seemed as if she'd become angry at herself in uncomfortable situations. Of course, that made absolutely no sense to him, but at the moment, she wasn't making anything easier, and it was the most logical conclusion he could come to.Moira held out the small baggy previously placed in her lap. "Would you want these?""You sure?""I am." With that, he took her offering from her hand, fingers delightfully brushing against fingers."I may shower." She ran the heel of her palm across her forehead. "I feel disgusting."You don't look disgusting. "I get it, sort of," he said, putting in his best effort not to sound crestfallen."Bathing helps numb the pain.""That sounds depressing.""I'll tell you what's depressing: you're required to complete that paperwork for me and you haven't.""That's agonizing, let alone depressing," he laughed as he dumped the entirety of the small bag's contents into his hand (there weren't many left) and threw them into his mouth."I left everything on your desk in your office. There will be an extra page, I forgot to staple it to the rest when I gave them to you."She stood and pushed in her chair, and, attempting to combat the overload of mint he was experiencing,-holy Hell, that was not just chocolate-he brought his stool back to its original location. By this point, Moira was already heading to the back room. "Bye," she sounded pleasantly."You going to be around later on?"
That didn't sound weird, right?
"I might be." She paused near the back door and turned ninety degrees to face him. "Why?"Gabe shrugged, his face heating up in an uncomfortable way.She smiled at him. "You'd better be careful, Gabriel. I'm beginning to think it was genuine when you called me your friend."He rolled his eyes and told her, "No, I was lying just to get a reaction," then tossed his empty bag in the bin under her desk."It's happened before," the woman said, and God, how he just wanted to hug her and make every terrible memory from her seemingly shitty past and every aspect of herself she hated just fade away.
Even though he wasn't quite sure if she were insecure about anything or if she even liked physical contact, that's what he wanted to do.
"Well," Gabriel explained to her, "I'm not like that.""I believe you," she smirked, and with that, the two recited their goodbyes and went about their day.He decided to journey to his office and complete the task Moira had assigned to him.Of all people, he didn't want her to believe he slacked off.The path he usually took was now more unfamiliar than the path to the Laboratory, and he wasn't sure how to feel about that. Now that Blackwatch wasn't as active as it used to be, he found himself traveling here less and less. Overwatch was apparently now receiving a lot of slack, and this was the true reason the division is dying, from what Genji explains Angela tells him.Did he feel the same way that Gabe felt about Moira with Angela? It sounded so plausible, considering-
No, because Genji's not a dumbass like I am.
The Shimada was apparently also absorbed in self-loathing and -hate; this is what the Doctor explained to him one evening in a meeting.He didn't have the greatest reputation amongst women, either, now that the Commander thought about it.He eventually reached his destination, ending the odd internal predicament he had about his employee, and the object that stood out the most was the infamous folder sitting on his desk, a single paper placed squarely on top.Normally, he didn't allow anyone access to his office, but with Moira, there was an exception, for more reasons than just one.He shut the door behind him and trekked over to the desk at the front of the room. Deciding to hold up the lonely sheet out of curiosity, he glanced over the front and spun it around to- 
What?
 
"...I want to apologize-"

"...argued with myself-"

"...didn't want you to believe-"
 It was a note. "Before anything, I want to apologize for not having the ability to tell you this in person. Truthfully, Gabe, there are topics I have difficulty expressing outwardly, as you've witnessed. I'm not quite sure why, when the rest of the world speaks their mind so freely, that I pause and stutter. I have an inkling that the cause is multiple aspects of my mind arguing with one another, deciding whether or not I should say, but this is only speculation. Regardless, I would like to complete what I was attempting to get across to you: I recognize"-something was scribbled out-"your respect and the companionship you offer, and I"-another scribble-"wanted to explain to you how appreciative I am that you find enjoyment in my company. The words would just not come forth. That night, I argued with myself; I couldn't and still do not understand why something so simple as an acknowledgement is"-scribble-"difficult for me to put into words. I was afraid; I didn't want you to believe you did nothing but render me uncomfortable. You didn't. That was simply me acting like my undesirable self and becoming angry over it. Forgive me for when I placed the blame on you. Something else I would like to bring up: I also apologize for the way I acted later that night. Contrary to what I'm certain you believe, I genuinely didn't mind your hug. The truth of the matter is, that was the first time in nearly 20 years I've received one, and the sensation was so foreign to me and I was so caught up in conjuring up something to say (which I never ended up speaking) that I essentially froze. If you haven't figured it out yet, I was never a very loved individual. Please, don't believe I find physical contact repulsive, it's simply new to me. And as a note, if you try to bring to my attention"-yet another scribble-"anything I've written in this letter to me in person, I may very well curl in on myself and die, so unless you would want to witness that, I would refrain from doing so.
Thank you for being as patient with me as you are,

Moira."
 Gabriel reread it.And reread it.And reread it.
Over and over.
 
And over.
 
As his heart pounded in his chest.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Again and again and again.

Over and over and over.
Even when Gabriel had long since taken his eyes and mind off her words, they still played verbatim in his head. He wasn't sure of the answers he wrote or if they were correct, but he couldn't find it in himself to care.Should he say something? Moira asked not to, though, hadn't she? Should he write back, then? Would that make the situation uncomfortable for her? She clearly wanted him to understand, well, everything; would it be fair to leave a note simply explaining that the contents of her letter were not lost on him?
Or would that make her uncomfortable?
He returned to reality for a moment to realize his pen had stopped moving, yet he didn't bother to have it continue its current task.Wouldn't she want to know that Gabe received the words she poured her soul into? He believed so, yet he continued to hesitate. In all honesty, he was unsure of how she would react, though whether his fears were irrational was something he debated.
And then something about multiple things in her mind arguing?
His first thought was when he walked in on her speaking to herself yesterday morning. Sometimes she referred to herself as I and me, then other times she was not her, she was Moira, as if a second party was present and took part in the argument, explaining to the Doctor you're doing this and you're doing that.Was that what was happening as she went silent that night?Was she herself arguing with the other half that didn't seem to recognize they were one and the same? Did said other half win? Did she win? Which one wants to keep the individual hushed so terribly?Is it healthy for her to have that thought process? he pondered afterwards, though he was sure he already knew the answer.
It didn't look like a good one.
This would then beg the question: did he ever believe her mental state was fine?It was impossible for someone that intelligent.Gabriel remembered being eighteen or nineteen and jokingly complaining about "wanting to be the smartest," then Dad telling him that he didn't want to be too smart, because "people like that don't function properly." He brushed it off as the burly man simply acting like an asshole, but...
Was...was Moira proof of that being true?
The way she saw the world, the way she saw people, placing her work over her own health and needs, living in extreme solitude and enjoying it, the obsession she had with finding answers and simply proving yes, she can, and she will; it wasn't...healthy.
Don't friend around with people like that, Gabe. Some of them are so screwed up.

Dear God, calm down.
Gabe silently chuckled to himself. He was nearly positive that was how the conversation ended, but holy Hell, if the young, rebellious version of himself could glance into the future; perhaps he would have never hired Moira.Perhaps the young him wouldn't even become a soldier after witnessing the results of the SEP and the effect they had on him (disregarding the spectacular body and thighs; he was indeed attractive; at least, he hoped).What would have happened to O'Deorain then is a mystery to him. She would most likely stay in Dublin, having no other reason to leave. That meant there would be no logic-defying genes, no peaceful dinners, no awkward hugs, and no letters stating sorry, I'm just really shy.
What a terrible fucking world to live in.
Gabriel fished out that certain paper from underneath his packet and gave her mostly-average penmanship (not very neat, not very sloppy) a quick glance.What would he even write if he decided to respond? So, hey, if we're being honest with each other, I think you're gorgeous, and I make excuses to spend time with you because truthfully, I can't not enjoy myself when we do shit together and oh my God, I'm going off the deep end...Gabe sighed. "What in the fuck are you doing to me, Moira?"The door then swung open, Jack marched in, and the Blackwatch Commander's first instinct was to gently slam Moira's note down on the stack of papers before him.Jack eyed him with a confused look. "I come at a bad time?""It's just a bunch of nonsense. You need something?"There was tension in the air and in their voices."I need to talk to you about an upcoming operation," the blonde told him."Why?""Because we may need your assistance.""What's going on?""Null Sector's up to something in the U.K."
Null Sector? That Omnic Rights group?
"Ana's got more details. You're going to have to head up with me to E-1."Gabriel peered down at the papers on his desk. He had practically completed everything there was to complete, yet..."Could you give me ten minutes? I'm in the middle of something.""Just don't be too late, Gabe," said Morrison."Yeah, yeah," he responded, and with that, the Strike Commander exited the office, shutting the door behind him as he left.Alone once more, he pulled a blank sheet from a drawer to his left and moved the rest of his paperwork to the side. He didn't quite think of what he would write, the words just seemed to come as he went along. "Sorry if this sounds rushed or half assed Jack wants me for something and I told him to piss off for a bit, so a bit is really all I get. I felt like i had to let you know I got your note and I want to say its (don't take this the wrong way) sweet that you went out of your way to clear some of that up. I understand alot better now. I think I was kind of nervous when you froze when i hugged you, I didn't really know what was going on and I thought maybe I did something wrong. Glad to know you weren't thoroughly disgusted by me. Also I get not wanting to talk about it in person. I know it can be difficult some times. Im not sitting here saying I know you but you get it." He pondered his next sentence carefully for a moment. "And hey if you ever want to talk about anything, you can. I'm all ears. No need for apologies or anything.
Anyways, from the shitstain you're forced to deal with,

Gabe."
Giving his note what could barely even be called a proofread and writing on his folder paperwork from Gabe, he finished the remaining few pages of the packet and took a stroll (and sometimes a jog) down to Moira's lab.He was doing the right thing by responding, it was clear now. At least she knew he read and comprehended her letter.The doors were still open when he arrived, and as he entered the large room, he heard a faint, relatively high-pitched rumbling noise emanating from the back room.She was probably blow drying her hair, he thought, and for a moment, imagined the tall woman standing in front of a mirror doing just that, though he wasn't entirely sure why.Gabe placed his note inside the folder and set the cardboard container on a desk, then proceeded to jog to the Overwatch wing of the facility.
God-only-knows what could be happening now.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Commander Morrison called for a meeting; you remember as such, do you not?

I'm aware of it.

Then act upon that.

I am. I am.
Moira stood perfectly still at the entrance to her laboratory and ran through-
Worry about it another time. You have more time on your hands than you can ever ask for. You're simply stalling.

You're stalling. You're stalling. You're stalling.

I'm stalling.

Enough standing in one place.

Of course.
With that, she opened the doors and made her way to the Conference Room.
It's awfully quiet.
The bottom floor never bustled with life, especially not her little section of the building. It was rather lovely; Blackwatch and Overwatch gifted to her the solitude she desired, perhaps without even realizing it.It was unlike her to attend these meetings; however, Gabe had stressed th-
Gabe.
Gabe was going to be there.
Had you thought otherwise?

It slipped my mind.
He would most likely want to speak with her, as well, and it wasn't as if anyone else at the facility were particularly fond of her.
Calm yourself. He explained nothing had to be spoken of. You're becoming anxious over nothing.

Is that truly where this anxiety stems from?
She mentally paused to assess her predicament.
Perhaps I want for everything to be brought up in conversation.
The more she pondered such an idea, the more likely it became.
Why would you want that?

To prove to myself that I can, I suppose.

That you can what, exactly, Moira?
The words appear normal and handle these types of situations came to mind, but she knew neither answer were correct. It didn't seem as if that were a question she could respond to adequately without a bit of prior contemplation.Moira continued her journey rather reluctantly, partially due to not wanting to attend in the first place and partially due to...
Anxiety. Am I truly anxious? Do I not want to face him?

That's exactly the case.
"How childish," she mumbled to herself.
Pitiful and sad. Childish, pitiful, and unutterably sad.

You scolded Jack for unjustified emotions, and yet, here you are.
She grimaced at that thought.
All we can do is recognize our mistakes and work to rectify them.
She continued the rest of her adventure void of any thought. Arguing with herself won't bring about any pleasant emotions, she decided, and the very last thing needed was to desire peace and silence in a room bustling with life and interactions.Not that anyone besides Gabriel would even remotely wish to interact with her.
Does that upset you?

It's better to keep it this way. There are less distractions and annoyances.

Do you think that's healthy?
 She chose not to answer. Upon her arrival, Moira found the large room to be strikingly void of Overwatch's members. Lieutenant Willhelm and Captain Amari seemed to be conversing happily, judging by the large man's body language, as well as Winston and Genji, who resided in a corner, and Gabe was reclining in a chair-his arms folded, a stance she noticed he took up often-with Jesse at his side, though her eyesight was too poor to make out how lighthearted the interaction was.I'd sooner believe the sky was falling than my being early, she thought to herself with a smirk despite her strange nervousness, and hopped down the curved staircase before her toes.
He will speak to you at some point.

I'm aware. I'm aware.
The words could have been choked out, had she not shouted her question."What's going on?" Moira paused at the edge of the table as the Commander turned his head around to face her. His only response was a shrug of those massive shoulders."Had Captain Amari explained anything?" She pressed.
Relax.
"Yeah. Guess she doesn't know either. Jack's MIA."
If I'm forced deal with that man's games again...
"It's a bunch of horseshit most of the time," Jesse said, standing from his chair, "won't lie. But Morrison's always got something keeping him busy. Angela, too." She watched as the man walked over to the coffee brewers and heard Gabe stand from his seat, as well, though she didn't truly register it until he stood next to her."There was also a time where he completely forgot to announce the meeting to everyone," he explained. "They were all busting his balls for about a week."
How unprofessional of all parties involved.
"How unprofessional," she commented."I know. But sometimes you get so swamped stuff slips your mind. Maybe not for you, but, you know."
This isn't as terrible as you originally thought.
Moira even found herself smirking at his comment. "I suppose it may be difficult for me to empathize.""Oh, shut it, Einstein.""Is that jealousy I hear?"The American laughed and recrossed his arms. "I could kill you sometimes.""That wasn't a 'no.'""Wasn't a 'yes.'"
It's so easy to speak with him.

A sense of familiarity perhaps.
 
And he was always smiling.
 It was almost odd how perpetually joyed this man was to socialize with her. Never in her existence has she experienced anything like it; not from acquaintances, nor coworkers, nor her father. She appreciated it, she truly did, more than anything, but the gesture more often than naught left her unsure.Moira wanted to discover what it was like to trust and be a part of a friendship, but it was hard. She wasn't the greatest at relationships of any kind.
Far, far from it.
"Sorry," Gabriel smiled, "I'm just so fucking bored.""No need to apologize, you hadn't done any wrong.""Look who's talking."His voice became quieter as he finished his sentence, and the grin he bore turned awkward and nervous."Sorry. I shouldn't of said that."
You hadn't offended me.
"It's alright. It isn't very easy to offend me."
I know how it may sound.
"I know."
I simply cannot stand the way I act.
The bulky man turned and examined the crowd. "We got a few more.""Any sign of Commander Morrison?"
It gnaws at me.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"I told him, I'm not going to do it if I'm going to have to deal with his shit." Gabriel dipped a slice of toast into the yolk of his egg and bit off the desired section."Ironic," Moira said. "I'm forced to put up with everyone's nonsense, and I don't complain.""Listen, it's different when it's Jack. He's infuriating on a whole n'other level.""I suppose I could agree with you." The woman gracefully-yes, everything she did was graceful-sipped her tea as she turned her head to the side, seemingly glancing out of the windows of the cafeteria."It's warm today.""Perfect swimming weather," he commented. "You like swimming?""Not with others."
That response was so Moira he didn't know what to do with himself.
"I prefer to relax when I swim, something that can't be done when others are around." She skewered a piece of pancake with her fork and muttered, "Perhaps later tonight," before popping it into her mouth."Does that include me?" It was an odd question, but he wasn't taking it back.He wanted to hear her response."It depends on how I'm feeling that day," Moira smirked."Well, you must be feeling good today. You aren't the easiest person to coerce out of their cave.""I wouldn't necessarily call 'I'm not leaving this room without you' coercion so much as manipulation."Gabe recalled journeying to that infamous laboratory with a few ordered boxes and the full intention of enjoying breakfast with her.
He recalled saying that. He recalled how hot his face became.
Even now, as he recollected on the event, he could feel the blood rush to his ears."Hey, sometimes you got to do what you got to do," he chuckled."Unbelievable." She shook her head lightly. "It mystifies me how I'm able to tolerate you."He threw a chunk of egg white into his mouth. "I must be more tolerable than Jesse.""While that's true, you're nowhere near as tolerable as Genji.""Can't argue with that." Gabriel swallowed. "I don't think I'm that bad, though.""No, I can't say you are." The Doctor looked away from him and to her small stack of pancakes. "Your grammar is, however."
Oh.
The note. His note.Didn't she not want to talk about that? he thought. However, judging by the I wish I weren't here right now demeanor she boasted, it seemed as if that wasn't something she'd meant to be heard.
He couldn't just sit there awkwardly, though.
Gabe decided to tread lightly."I told you I didn't have a lot of time.""I don't believe time would have made a difference," Moira said through flushed cheeks and an averted gaze."Love how nice you are to me."Her smile grew a bit wider as she looked to him once more. "I-""...because the Commander's too busy flirting!" Jesse's voice suddenly called out, and both Gabriel and Moira turned their heads to the source of his voice.A large chunk of Overwatch and the remaining few of Blackwatch encircled a table and were looking to him expectantly, save for Genji.Determined to fight off the embarrassment threatening to rush to his ears and cheeks, he huffed as he stood and marched over to the bunch, food left where it sat."Is this important?" was the Commander's first question, and it had better be important, because Moira was just starting to get comfortable and it was fucking adorable."You remember Mei, right, Boss?" said McCree. An image flashed in his head of the short Chinese woman they spoke to over a video feed a few times before. They spoke of recruiting her to Overwatch, but she was never sure."What about her?""We got her paperwork all set. She's heading over here as we speak."Gabriel paused and thought over the man's statement. "What does that have to do with Blackwatch?""Oh, come on," Ana spoke up, "you've been here how long, Gabriel? You know we throw together something nice when someone like her joins."
Oh, yeah, right.
Blackwatch members weren't offered the same treatment as Overwatch members, so it was easy to forget sometimes, despite how many parties (excuses to drink alcohol) he has seen in his day."You better come Friday," Brigitte looked up at him from her father's side. "I don't want to have to hunt you down again." The teen offered Moira (who was standing to his right, something he was vaguely aware of until then) an odd glance before turning back to Ana.The woman smiled. "I'll get you up to speed on when this is taking place soon enough, okay, Gabriel?" The motherly tone in her voice was impossible to ignore."Got it," he grinned back.The crowd slowly broke up after that, with most returning to their meals. Gabe decided he was no longer hungry and trekked over to a trash bin while Moira finished her breakfast.She is coming to that party, he thought as he returned. I'll carry her to it if I have to.Which he wouldn't mind doing at all."You're going to that thing, right?" he questioned the Doctor as he sat down.She pierced a slice of strawberry before answering. "I'm not sure.""Why not?""Well, in the case that you're a bit slow and haven't noticed, social events are not my forté.""Aw, come on, it won't be that bad." When she didn't answer, he decided to tell her, "I want you to come.""Why's that?"
If only I could grow a pair and tell you.
"The hell do you mean, 'why'? It can't be just because..." He trailed off, mainly due not having the ability to speak the words that sprung into his head.Perhaps this made him like Moira, in a way: awkward and closed-off emotionally. Despite how outward he may be, there was still that second side of him.And perhaps it was a side he'd like to bury.
He simply wasn't sure.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"Come on, what's the big deal?" Gabriel testified, not allowing any negative emotions to get the better of him."I've explained this to you, Gabriel," Moira said while organizing the stacks of papers she laid out on the desk before her, "I'm not a fan of social events. Go and enjoy yourself, I need to work on a few things."I'd enjoy myself a lot more if you were there, was something he didn't say. Instead, he opted for, "Those few things can wait. I'm not asking you to become this 'outward' person, just to go up and have a few drinks or something.""For someone whose coworkers scold him for associating with me, you're extremely adamant at flaunting said association around.""Well, screw them, then."The woman paused, curling her arms behind her back. "I don't know, Gabe.""I know for a fact you'd enjoy yourself. And if you don't like it, just head back down."When she glanced to the side, he decided to add, "Come on, you're my buddy. I like hanging out with you," before crossing his arms both nervously and awkwardly and leaning his hip into the desktop beside him, the cartilage of his ears threatening to melt off at the intense heat accumulating there.Moira smiled, her gaze still focused elsewhere. "That's sweet," she said softly, and his heart fluttered at her words.Her tone wasn't mocking or condescending, she was genuinely touched, and just...wow.Before Gabe was able to respond, the woman blurted, "Fine, I'm feeling generous now.""All of a sudden?" he questioned, still a tad embarrassed at the corny nature of his previous statement."You have a point, I may enjoy myself. And I'm not heartless; it's hard to decline when you tell me that."He laughed before stating, "I knew you had it in you."She shook her head lightheartedly. "Give me a moment to change.""Want me to wait for you?""If you'd like," she said as she began to walk towards the back room, "I won't be long."The small smile that Gabriel physically could not remove from his features...God, it was infuriating, but it wasn't a liar.He was ecstatic, and it showed.Even as a bit of time passed and Moira had since walked over to his location within the lab, he continued to smile."What?" she questioned."Huh? Oh, I'm thinking of something.""Of what?"
Got to tell her something.
Gabe shook his head. "Nothing.""What do you mean, 'nothing'?""I mean I really don't want to say," he laughed nervously, and prayed he didn't come off as rude.The Doctor herself looked more confused than ever, yet (thankfully) she chose not to interrogate him further."Are we going, then?"He nodded and spun around, the lanky woman at his side as they made their way to the common room.There were so many answers he could have spoken that would have seemed plausible, and yet, he chose the I won't tell you route.It simply felt right to offer such a statement at the moment, thought he couldn't place his finger on why.Because I suck ass, was what popped into Gabriel's head, and the thought made him quietly scoff to himself.Nonchalantly, he glanced up at Moira only to find her perplexed once more, although this time, a smirk was placed upon her beautifully contoured face."What? Don't look at me like that," he smiled."You're odd, Gabriel.""I'm odd. Right, sure.""I'd say as much.""Alright, Moira, whatever."She chuckled in response, oblivious to just how much he adored saying her name. "I'm glad you enjoy entertaining yourself.""I mean, I think everyone enjoys entertaining themselves." The look he was hit with meant his quip did not go over her head."You're insufferable.""I had to.""No, you did not..." Her sentence trailed off into a laugh that was punctuated with a small snort at its end. "Damn you," Moira smiled as she covered her mouth."See? Who doesn't like shitty jokes about masturbating?""I could very easily turn around, and that would be the end of this."Gabe couldn't help but chuckle. "Alright, alright. I'm sorry, Your Highness.""Hmm, I suppose you're forgiven. For now, that is."
God, she was so beautiful.
Everything about this woman was so fucking amazing. From her personality to her unique quirks to her lovely body; she was beautiful in his eyes, and fuck everyone who tried to tell him otherwise.I'm losing it, he thought. Oh well.Gabriel looked over to his tall friend (who was a much happier camper now) and simply watched her walk alongside him for a few a moments for no other reason than the fact that his eyes happened to land on her.
She-
Oh, fuck, no. He immediately looked away. Come on, Gabe, really?It was true, this was the first time he has ever felt so strongly about another person, but he never imagined allowing himself to entertain anything...sexual. Deny it all he'd wish, however, the split moment thought of she definitely plays with herself down here and the image that came with it made his lower belly stir and burn. "Any reason you don't like parties? Or people in general, I guess?" he asked her. There was no way in Hell he was letting himself venture down the hole he was standing at.
No way in fucking Hell.
Moira seemed to ponder his question for a moment. "I was never a fan, particularly."She paused. "My father never allowed me to enjoy such things, either. That could be a factor."That was enough to peak his interest. "He didn't?"The Doctor stopped at the elevator and shook her head. Although she stood next to them, it didn't seem as if she had any intention of pressing any buttons.Gabe didn't mind, however."My father was not a kind man," she started, her voice lowered by emotion and her gaze averted. "He was controlling and...twisted.""What would happen?"He wanted her to open up and feel comfortable around him, but when that time would come wasn't for him to decide.That didn't mean he couldn't help her along, though."He wouldn't allow me to spend time with groups of friends;" she continued, "he explained that it wasn't safe. And I was not allowed to have anyone male in my life, besides him." The redhead paused once more. "I remember he told me that I couldn't date or marry, and if I ever became pregnant, he would throw me down the stairs or poison my food."
Oh, fuck.
"He used to hit me, and it would leave bruises and scratches, and if I ever explained to anyone the true cause of those injuries, that I would be so sorry, I'd wish I weren't born." She shook her head. "And the reasons I'd be punished were ridiculous. Dressing a certain way, or if my scores weren't up to his standards, or if I gained this...small amount of weight." Moira sighed, and it was quick and troubled. "And he'd mock me if I told him how I felt. I was psychotic if I were angry, and a pussy if I were depressed." Her expression contorted into something more lost. "I apologize, I didn't mean to be so heavy.""No, y-you're fine. You can talk to me."There was a moment's wait before she spoke up once more."I blame him for the way I am. This..." Moira shook her head and ended it there, and Gabriel decided it was great that she didn't activate the elevator just yet."Really sorry to hear that," he told her. The woman closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose."We don't have to go up right now." She nodded at his statement.As an afterthought, he decided to ask, "Do you need a hug?" Moira scoffed and nodded for a second time, her eyes never meeting his.Tentatively, Gabe took a step closer to her and enveloped her in his arms, and a second later, she returned the gesture.There were multiple things he could have focused on: the pressure of her chin resting on his shoulder, the feeling of her long fingers against his back, how close she was; instead, his mind went to the single, curt, shaky breath she exhaled.Wow, he thought, just...wow.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Gabriel walked alongside Moira to the common room, the air filled with silence and her quiet whispers here and there, too low for him to make out anything coherent. She seemed to spend a lot of time speaking to herself, he absentmindedly noticed, and, perhaps against his better judgement, decided to comment on that fleeting thought."You really like talking to yourself."Moira went silent for a moment-too-long. "My apologies. I didn't realize you were able to hear that.""Hey, it isn't bothering me. Continue."However, she didn't continue. As a matter of fact, the poor doctor's cheeks bore a heavily-saturated pink, and he suddenly felt like a jackass for making her feel so self-conscious.A pit grew in his stomach as he thought of something to say; and as his mind drew blanks. Gabe's thoughts ran back to her note to him, and the way she spoke about herself.She used the term undesirable to describe herself.
Undesirable.
What was so undesirable to her? Was talking to herself on that metaphorical list of undesirable aspects? What was so wrong with that?"You know," he sounded more quietly now, "you seem to really enjoy doing a number on yourself.""What do you mean?" she responded.They entered a main hallway, a place perpetually buzzing with life, and it was no different then. He decided to step closer to her, voice level approaching a whisper.
Holy fuck, he loved the proximity.
"You're always beating yourself up. For one reason or another."She glanced in his direction for a singular second before returning her gaze to the path ahead. "I have my reasons.""I can guarantee you, they're not good ones.""Well," she huffed, "sometimes I feel as if I deserve it.""What the hell makes you think you deserve it?"To his utmost surprise, the Irishwoman smiled, though it seemed slightly pained."There's a lot of things that cause me to believe that I deserve to be scolded, Gabe.""Like what?"The duo stopped in front of the doors to the common room, laughter and discourse emanating from behind the wall. "I suppose..." She paused. "I suppose it's a more of a particular instance than a series of anecdotes."That confession both confused and intrigued Gabriel, and a part of him did not want to attend the gathering and instead sit and chat with the woman that stood before him.
In private, specifically.
"What instance?" he questioned, and she shook her head and opened the door she faced, the noises from inside now escaping the room and dancing into the hallway."I'll talk to you about it at a later point," Moira explained, her voice raised.She looked to him. "It isn't a story I'd like anyone to overhear."Shit, that nearly made him smile."I got you," he told her, then decided to add, "Glad I'm special."He couldn't not comment on the fact that it was a story she was entrusting to him and him only.The Doctor raised her eyebrows, a miniature smirk forming on her features. "You're something, that's for certain." The Commander scoffed at her remark and looked into the now-breached entrance to the common room.Before Moira could venture inside, he questioned, "You're sure you're all good?"
It was completely fine if she needed a few more minutes to relax.
The redhead's smile faded. "We're already here. I'll be alright.""I don't mind, you know that.""I do know that, and I appreciate the sentiment, however..." She trailed off and shook her head, breaking their eye contact. "No, don't say that," Moira seemed to say to herself, then proceeded to glance back to him. "I'm going to be fine, I'll get over myself eventually." All he could do was roll his eyes and follow her inside at that point.
I'll get over myself, she says. I'm upset and kind of emotional for some pretty damn valid reasons, but I'll just need to get over myself.
Gabe could hardly believe his ears at that moment.
Un-fucking-believable.
He was beginning to worry about this woman, now, more than he did previously and for extremely different reasons.Does she think that lowly of herself? Does she believe becoming upset is wrong?
Or not "normal"?
Fuck, when Gerard died, he was a mess...
Didn't want anyone seeing that, though.
Perhaps that was it: a sense of pride and dignity.Even if that were the case, however, he never believed "getting over himself" was ever a notion he should rightfully believe. God in Heaven, the closer he became with this strange individual, the more depressing her story seemed to be. All Gabriel could do is be there for her when she needed him, he decided for the night.
No one else was going to be.
"Looks like Gabriel and his cohort finally decided to show up," Ana's voice sounded, and he realized he stood at the bottom of a stairwell and in front of a group of sundry individuals."Yeah, sorry, got distracted fishing my cohort out of the depths of Hell," he smiled in return."This place is akin to Hell, isn't it?" chimed Moira's melodic voice.In the meantime, Gabe glanced around the room, admiring the large assortment of food resting on the tables placed haphazardly along the walls as well as the empty alcohol bottles strewn about the television stand. At the moment, there were too many to count-go figure.The thing that caught his eye, however, was the barely-familiar face that pushed her way through the wall that was Reinhardt Willhelm and stood before the Blackwatch Commander, a jubilant smile accompanying her features."It's nice to finally see you in person, Commander!" Mei expressed, and took his hand in her much smaller one and shook it firmly."Good to see you," he replied.The brunette then turned to Moira and repeated her gesture, her hand once again being much smaller than the one she grabbed."Hi! I'm Mei-Ling Zhou, but just call me Mei.""Doctor Moira O'Deorain. And I've heard of your research, Mei. I'm impressed."Mei giggled, visibly delighted by the redhead's comment. "Thanks! I'll have to, um...tell you about it sometime!""I look forward to that.""Good! And can I just say, you're really pretty!""Oh?" Moira seemed to be genuinely taken aback by the smaller woman's compliment, and her ears seemed to flush in the slightest bit.You are pretty, was what he thought at this point."Mhm. Even your voice is pretty," Mei nodded.The tall geneticist scoffed rather awkwardly. "Thank you, that's kind of you to say.""Just saying what I'm thinking! But now I have to go, I think my food is getting cold.""No problem," Gabriel assured her. "Go and enjoy yourself.""Thanks, you too!" The Chinese woman spun around and waved her goodbyes, then proceeded to jog over to the couch and disappear behind its headrest."I talked with her for a bit," Lena spoke up, "she's awfully nice.""A wonderful addition to the team!" Lieutenant Willhelm boomed before turning to Ana. "You and Jack have a good eye for new comrades!""Only the best for my organization," was the Captain's response.While Gabe listened to the two soldiers absentmindedly, Moira decided to lean closer and mutter to him, "I wasn't expecting that."He couldn't help but chuckle at her admittance. "You're funny.""I'm not joking.""I know, that's why it's funny."The woman gave him a look that screamed what the hell is wrong with you?, yet she smirked as she did so. "You're such a child sometimes.""Hey, I'm a guy, it's in my genes. I'd think you of all people would know that."She rolled her eyes wholeheartedly. "I'll be back shortly, I'm going to use the restroom.""I'll be here."Moira nodded and headed towards a doorway, and all the while, he, trying to make it as unnoticeable as possible, watched her go.After the geneticist disappeared, Gabriel opted for examining the various types of alcohol and treats that were scattered about the room; however, his scrutinization was cut short when he discovered Cadette Oxton simply staring at him with an almost childlike curiosity within her gaze.She stepped closer to him, possibly so her voice wouldn't be drowned out by the white noise bouncing off the walls of the large room. "You know, Boss, I don't want to be nosy, but do you actually have a thing for her?"The group had since dissipated; it left only her and him.
And he was somewhat relieved by that.
"Didn't I already answer this a while ago?" Gabe nearly spat out rather defensively, and he hated how he could hear the defiance in his voice, because that meant she could hear it, too.The Brit shrugged. "It really seems like it, from the way you act around her.""What's that supposed to mean?""Well, I'm just saying, it seems to be turning into a 'you can't find one without the other' situation. And you just told us that you went out of your way to bring her with you. Not to mention that it's hard to ignore that you get kind of flirty around her." Lena shrugged as his skull burned with embarrassment. "I'm a girl," she giggled nervously, "we tend to notice these things."
Oh my God. It's that noticeable.
He put his hand over his eyes and shook his head, unable to form words at that moment.If she picked up on shit like that as easily as she did, who else picked up on it?
Who else is laughing to themselves right now?
"You know..." he started, yet those two words were all that came forth.He needed to dig himself out of this hole he caused."It's alright, Commander!" Oxton patted his shoulders reassuringly. "I get it. You're forced to be stuck with someone for a while; that could lead to some weird feelings."He sighed, defeated.
There was no getting out of this one, either, was there?
"Is it that noticeable?" He could barely look her in the eye.
Why am I like this?
"Well, to me and maybe a few others, sort of. To her?" She seemed to look back on some things before answering. "It's hard to say, honestly. She's really good at not showing how she feels. Like, crazy good.""You're telling me," he scoffed.Lena giggled once more. "Well, I'm rooting for you! And this will stay between us, don't worry!""Thanks.""No problem, Commander!" She offered him a quirky salute and blinked over to where Winston stood placing food onto a plate.She definitely knew, he thought. She's smart as all hell, nothing got past her.If she were aware, that meant she wasn't acting upon it because she didn't feel the same, then, right? 
Oh...
 
Oh, that was so fucking depressing.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"I have some pretty major stuff to discuss with you guys," Sombra told them. "We might be sitting here for a while." She adjusted herself in her spot on the couch. "Who knows? This could even be our last time talking." Gabriel wrinkled his brow and looked over his shoulder at Moira, who appeared to either be only mildly concerned or in deep thought, or both. There was a twang of...something behind his chest as she glanced to him, and he reactively turned away and focused on the much smaller, much curvier woman in front of him.
It felt as if he experienced a loss of hope, or perhaps even sorrow, and if he didn't make a conscious effort to ignore that feeling, it would distract him to an infuriating extent.
"Whether it is or not is up to you, you know," the brunette said."Let's get on with this, please," the Doctor chimed behind him, not too rudely, not too pleasantly.Sombra rolled her eyes. "My boss still doesn't know I'm keeping in touch with you two, and that's because I want to be sure you're one-hundred percent in on this before I tell him.""You've barely explained anything, and you want us to be on board already?" he hissed in response.
Was she crazy?
"That's why we're here today, amigo. I have a few words that I need to get across."He listened intently, ignoring the dull, psychological ache behind his ribs to the best of his ability.
Stop acting like a kid, for Christ's sake.
"Basically," said the Talon woman, "remember a while ago when I chatted with you over the camera? Remember what I said?"Truthfully, Gabe found it difficult to recollect on that particular instance, and apparently it presented itself to Sombra, because she decided to begin her proposal with, "Well, I offered you a little...spot among our ranks, so to speak. And before you say anything, let me explain."A pit formed in his stomach, and as he flipped through the memories of fighting alongside Overwatch, it became a sinking feeling that was near-impossible to ignore.Was he truly considering working for Talon? A terrorist group that has slaughtered the innocent just to have their way?
Was he going mad?
"I'm not saying you should just ditch Blackwatch and come help us. That would be great, but I didn't think you were going to do that. So, I opted for the next best thing."
God, he nearly felt sick as he listened.
"But first, I have to ask you: do you really love working underneath Overwatch, Commander Reyes?" He blinked and thought for a moment, then decided to answer as truthfully as ever. "I don't know."Sombra seemed to ponder on this before continuing her interrogation. "So, would you be attest to, say, handing over everyone's dossiers and the information you're going to collect on Null Sector eventually? And throwing in the info you already have?" 
Why?
 "What for?" Gabriel pushed.
What would Talon want with that random information?
"Future reference," the Hispanic woman said ambiguously, and it pissed him off."Look, I'm not saying ditch Blackwatch and come work for us. You could stay loyal to your organization, and you'll just offer us a hand every now and again; deal?"Conflicting thoughts and feelings raced through his mind at unfathomable speeds. The ache between his lungs had since disappeared and was replaced with a dreadful sense of confusion.
He didn't know what to do.

He didn't fucking know what to do.
Gabe was aware that this conversation would happen at some point, and yet, like a dipshit, he decided to push anything and everything related to Sombra and Talon to the back of his mind. Truthfully, the weight and gravity of this bound-to-happen exchange hadn't dawned on him before then, and now that he sat in front of what he turned a blind eye to and couldn't ignore it any longer, it left him lost and unsure."You need more time to think about this," the Hacker's voice brought him back down to Earth, "clearly, and being the nice person I am, I'll give you a few more days. But I'm not going to give you forever, here, amigo."The brunette stood from the couch, keeping her violet eyes (he still couldn't understand why her irises were that shade) locked with his multicolored ones. "Just keep in mind that we're not going to be the only ones benefiting from this, Commander."With an odd wave of her hand, Sombra vanished into a vortex of purple flashes and glittering hexagons, leaving only him and Moira to inhabit the laboratory.Gabriel sighed and rubbed his face. Out of everything he's been through in his life, all of the wars and attacks and deaths and wounds and scientific experiments, the conversation that just transpired left him mentally and emotionally drained more than ever.
He just wanted to sleep.
There was a small poke on his shoulder, followed by Moira's melodic voice. "Would you like any tea, Gabe? It aids in doing away with stress. Certain types, that is."He looked over his shoulder as he voiced, "Yeah, I'll sleep-uh, have some."
Oh, boy.
He scoffed at himself as the woman behind him raised a brow. "I need a nap," he told the Doctor, and repositioned himself so that he faced her."If you would rather sleep, I won't keep you," Moira explained to him.
And miss the opportunity you're giving me here? Hell no.
Of course, he wouldn't mind sleeping with her. Not in a sexual way (not...in a sexual way), but in a sweet, comfortable kind of way. A vision popped into his head for a brief moment of him watching her side rise and fall as she slept beside him, her back turned to face the Commander and her fiery hair thrown in disarray. She bore the black tank top Gabe saw her wearing all that time ago, and the sheets were pulled up to her waist. Truly, a beautiful scene.Gabriel decided to force said beautiful scene out of his mind before he either stayed silent for too long or let it consume him, or both, and continued on with responding to her statement."Nah, I'm fine, I could stay for a bit.""Are you certain?""Yeah. Don't worry."Moira raised her eyebrows and looked off to the side. "As long as you're sure of yourself."The redhead stood and began walking over towards the entrance to the first room of her lab, and he followed her closely behind as she did so."I reccomend," the Irishwoman said as she pushed the door before her open, "that you rest before making any decisions for her.""Right," he replied. "I don't think I could make a decision right now even if I wanted to. My brain is fried.""From that small exchange alone?""Well...Yeah," Gabe admitted to her sheepishly. "That's going to have a major impact on me and Overwatch, and possibly Blackwatch." The two of them paused at the coffee machine. "I think it's going to effect me more mentally than anything.""Why is that?"He paused and racked his brain until the right words presented themselves."Guess I'm not ready to betray everyone yet.""And yet, neither are you prepared to reject Sombra's offer."
Bingo.
"Shit, you're sharp," he smiled, and Moira smiled back."I hear that often.""Of course you do. Regardless, I'll look into all this at a later time.""I have a question, Gabe.""Shoot.""What is it that tempts you to continue to consider the offer?"A million scenes and images from the past shot through his mind at the question, the most frequent being comments of distrust towards him and his current strained relationship with the Strike Commander.
Fucking Jack.
He didn't describe any of these thoughts to the person in front of him, however.
He couldn't.
Gabriel didn't fair well when talking about emotional subjects, the atmosphere always became too awkward for him to bear, and he absolutely refused to allow Moira to witness him become...whatever he would become should the situation become emotionally charged.So instead, he opted for, "Honestly, couldn't give you an answer. Not right this very second, anyways.""I see. Perhaps we should drop it for right now.""I agree. And weren't we making tea or something?"The Doctor's ears flushed red as she explained, "I didn't want you to believe I wasn't listening, so I...I decided..." She scoffed and looked away as her cheeks became red, clearly becoming annoyed with herself. He held up his hands in an it's okay, really gesture. "Hey, relax, I'm messing with you." The woman seemed to sigh at his statement and proceeded to cover her eyes with a hand and shake her head slowly."Why am I like this?" Moira voiced softly, and he responded by stepping over to her and placing his hand on her shoulder."Hey, I don't need you having a mental breakdown, too," he told her."My life is a mental breakdown.""Welcome to the club, we have jackets." He patted her shoulder and removed his hand."Why do you worry so much about small things like that?" Gabe inquired. Moira studied him for a few moments before abruptly squinting her eyes shut and violently shaking her head.
The same thing she did on their night out.
He raised his eyebrows in shock. "Nevermind, forget I asked.""I'm fine," she consoled as she spazzed out for a second more, then seemed to calm down afterwards. "My apologies, I'm fine."
She wouldn't look at him anymore.
He stood still for a moment or so, unsure of what to do or say, but eventually opted for, "How about we agree to forget the past hour for right now?" She only nodded and said no more.Is she embarrassed or something? he thought.Gabriel supposed that he would be as well, if he were in her current situation.Why she did, well...that, he didn't have a clue, but there was no way in hell he was going to inquire about it. She may become too stressed or upset, and that would absolutely kill him.In an attempt to distract both of them from the currently strained and awkward situation, he decided to try and direct Moira's attention somewhere else."Hey, you hungry? I could get something."She (thank the Lord) glanced over to him. "Do you have anything in mind?"
There we go.
Now, the both of them could relax. 
Thank God.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Gabriel awoke to find himself engulfed in the warmth that was the blankets atop his bed.As he roused and sat up, the first thought to come to mind was why am I still naked?He hadn't any memories of the night before, nor did he feel a chill, nor did he examine his body: he simply knew."I don't think you have a day off today, you know," Moira's voice chimed to his left. He glanced over to witness the woman sitting up and shirtless, adorned in nothing but her bra, and the covers were pulled over her lap.Huh, never thought this day would come, he thought."Hurry up," the Doctor urged, "go."Gabe dragged his attention over to the door positioned ahead of him, except there was no door.The only thing staring back at him was a rectangular hole in the wall where his slab of metal and electronics once stood.He wasn't entirely sure of the time, but something told him it was late into the morning, and a sense of dread washed over his being, for more reasons than just one."Let me get some clothes on first," he told Moira."Nobody's going to be looking at your ass," she countered, "only the fact that you're there on time. Just go."She's talking differently, he observed. Maybe she's exhausted.
And she had a point, too.
It would be better to show himself on time completely stripped rather than be clothed and consequently late."Right. I'm going then," Gabriel announced, and began to try and remove the blanket that covered his legs, only to realize he was unable to do so. His arms and the area around him made it feel as if they were engulfed by jelly, and his vision blurred as he glanced from his lap to Moira, who was staring thoughtfully at his person."Hmm," was all she sounded. And then he opened his eyes. 
And this time, he was clothed.
 Firstly, Gabe reached for the phone located at his bedside and glanced at the time (three in the morning; he never wakes up so early) before placing it down on the table once more. Secondly, he pondered on what the actual fuck his brain conjured up for him while he slept.He was dreaming about her now? Was that healthy?
And she was practically nude...
He sat up (for a second time, he absentmindedly thought) and stretched his arms and legs, yawning as he did so.This was unbelievable. He was acting so immature, so unprofessional. He never let emotions overcome him like this.
Never.
Gabriel was stoic and cold, putting the operation and goal above anything else, and apparently, he has now also gone soft for an apathetic, probably-sadistic, narcissistic doctor who clearly suffers from some sort of social and emotional dissociation and is five sizes too tall and five sizes too...well...flat.And holy God, how he thought she was so damn cute.If they hadn't been forced to associate as much with each other in the beginning, perhaps he wouldn't be stuck in his current predicament.Or maybe I wouldn't be stuck in this predicament now if I just... He paused.
There were so many ways he could end that thought.

Maybe if I hadn't taken her on that date. Maybe if I hadn't hugged her. Maybe if I hadn't spent those mornings and afternoons sitting alone with her drinking tea. Maybe if I hadn't shared a hotel room with her all those months ago.
The list simply continued on.Why did he allow himself to do this? Why did he torture himself by falling so deeply in...in...
In love with this woman?
God, that sounded so fucking sappy, but that was the truth, wasn't it? He didn't just simply have feelings for Moira O'Deorain.He loved her.He loved her.He fucking loved her.From her flat chest (that he secretly wanted to physically admire) to her small, toothless smiles, he loved everything about that strange woman.
Even if she didn't love him back.
Suddenly, Gabe's smile (which he was unaware of until then) disappeared from his features.
She didn't love him back, did she?
Holy shit, I got to stop, he scolded himself.Sighing, he decided to step out of bed and out into the hallway.Sitting in bed and in complete silence by his lonesome would not help his predicament, he decided.The hallways were pleasantly quiet and cool, and the cold floor against his feet was an ironic distraction from the emotions that dared to ruin his night.Gabriel didn't have any particular destination at first, but the longer he traversed the facility void of any thought, it became clear to him that he was headed towards the Dining Hall.There was no particular reason as to why that was, it simply felt right at the time.He decided on taking the longer, more scenic route to the base's cafeteria: using the stairs rather than the elevator, turning right instead of left, and eventually, the Blackwatch Commander found himself standing at the glass doors that led to the pool area.He absentmindedly contemplated how long it had been since he'd stepped foot on that beige concrete as he ventured into his new location.
A month or so ago, maybe.
The air was surprisingly warm for a Switzerland night. Of course, warm in this country never meant anything above perhaps seventy-five, and that was even a stretch to make. Nevertheless, Gabe welcomed the temperature and how the warmed ground felt beneath his feet as he strolled along."You're up early."
That voice.

No, no, he was hallucinating.

And he stopped and turned his head, and there was Moira staring back at him from her vantage point at the pool, arms resting on the siding, those eyes ever watchful.
A brief thought passed through his head: she was the one and only reason he was taking his walk in the first place.Perhaps it would ease his nerves to speak with her."Says the one swimming," Gabe retorted, and decided to make his way over to the Doctor's location. "It really isn't even that warm out.""I've swam in weather colder than this," Moira explained as the Commander stopped and stood directly in front of her. He sat himself near the pool's edge, not so close that he would make his Irish friend uncomfortable, yet not so far away, either. "Well, that's not concerning at all," he replied."I don't believe so.""Clearly."The woman looked away thoughtfully as she rung out her drenched hair with large hands and wrinkled fingers. As she raised her arms, the ribs below her strapless white top and above the edge of the pool and water presented themselves to him.They were so defined.
Way too pronounced.
Gabriel knew she was underweight, everyone did, a single glance and one could come to that conclusion, but without clothing to cover her skin, her condition appeared to be worse than it seemingly was.The two locked eyes once more, and he prayed he wouldn't offend her as he spoke."You need about an extra forty pounds, Doc."
He came off as almost disappointed or defeated.
That was not how he wanted to sound.Almost immediately, Moira seemed to shrink into the water, although her towering height didn't allow for much submersion.There was no emotion in her eyes as she looked to Gabe, and that would have bothered him if it were anyone else.
But he knew better. He knew Moira.
"I was always a little too thin, there's no need for concern."He exhaled through his nose. "Whatever you say, I guess.""Does it seem to you that I lost weight?" She walked over to the steps leading into the pool and ascended out of the water as she spoke.Look at your hips, Gabriel thought as he stood, and as Moira walked over to her towel resting on the back of a chair.The way her bones jutted from the skin was so unnerving."Not particularly," was how he answered her question.A moment passed, and arbitrarily, the Doctor shook her head violently and briefly, not once directing her attention elsewhere.
What?

That was out of nowhere.
He furrowed his brow and (rather cautiously) approached the woman."You alright?""I am," she told him, though as she grabbed the towel and wrapped it around her body, her hands twitched and a finger tapped against the fabric quite harshly.Moira spun around to face him, and when their gazes met, she pondered, "What brought you out here?" Gabe's eyes went to her active pointer finger as she spoke, and he noticed that her tapping ceased the moment her lips parted.He looked up to meet her disgustingly beautiful face boasting an arched brow."You know I get worried when you do that."Her expression softened, and her cheeks and ears flushed red at his words. "Don't worry so much about me, Gabe.""I'm sorry, I just..." He paused to find the right phrasing, and lightly scoffed at himself as he told her, "I've never seen anything like it. A-and I have no clue what it is or...or why you do it, you know?"
And I'm sort of hoping you'll shed some light on everything right now.
Moira glanced away and resumed idly tapping on the fabric wrapped around her lanky self, though the action was much more tame this time around."Sometimes I think of unwanted thoughts, and that's the only way I know how to clear my mind of them. That's the best answer I could give you."
That...somewhat made sense.
"You don't have to tell me, I don't want to make you uncomfortable-""I do want to tell you." She wasn't looking at him. "I simply cannot think of a better method of describing to you...why..."
And that was it.
Gabriel decided to ask a different question."When did it start? Seems like it was recently."The woman shook her head. "This has been something I've dealt with all my life. However, it becomes more prevalent in certain situations."He thought about what she said, and his heart sunk into his stomach."You would let me know if I was the problem, right?"Her face flushed dark red, and she glanced frantically to the ground and back at him."No, that's not...I hadn't meant-"
More strange and violent head shaking ensued for a few moments.
"I hadn't meant to imply that. My apologies."In a selfish way, seeing her so frazzled by the thought relieved him.It let him know just how genuine she was."You're fine, no worries," he consoled, "I just want to make sure. Wouldn't want to do that to you, I give too much of a shit about you, yeah?" He laughed nervously at the end of his statement as his face caught fire like a goddamn kid.Moira smiled, and it wasn't one of her calm smirks, it was wide and presented her perfectly aligned front teeth."I understand, I feel the same way."She turned her attention from the concrete below to the massive building behind her, and yet, all Gabe could do was stand there and ponder on one of the most heartfelt and caring things he'd ever heard fall forth from her mouth.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"If I ever had the time, I'd love to learn how to play the guitar," Gabriel smiled. "It's always kind of been on my bucket list.""I could picture you playing it," Moira responded. "The instrument seems to suit you.""Yeah?"Moira nodded as she glanced over to the swimming pool teeming with the life that was their coworkers. With the summer beginning to come to a slow yet steady end, the residents of the facility were trying to enjoy as much warm air as the atmosphere would allow them. Of course, Overwatch and Blackwatch were residing in Switzerland, a country that never became too hot, but the weather was just right for all of them to enjoy a day outside.
Even if they had to keep weapons at the ready in a few crates stacked up against the side of the building, everyone enjoyed their time the best they could.
"Had you ever wanted to write your own music?" The doctor in front of him questioned. Gabe studied for a moment the way the shadow from the umbrella above their heads cast itself along her cheekbones and highlighted just how pronounced they actually were. Before answering his friend's question, he contemplated on how said shadow must have done the same for his."I thought of it once or twice, but the problem is, I suck at words and being poetic and shit." He laughed at his insult."Have you ever tried to write anything?""No. It's one of those things where I don't need to try it to know I'd suck.""I see," Moira smiled, and brought her fingers to the clip adorned with that familiar small flower in her hair. "When I was younger, writing poetry was a favorite hobby of mine.""For some reason, that doesn't surprise me.""Hey, Commander!" Oxton's cheerful voice chimed from somewhere not so far away. He turned his head to see the petite woman in her drenched swimsuit holding two bottles. She gave him a cheeky smile as she gently shook the glass objects simultaneously. "You guys want any?"Gabriel looked to Moira, who raised her brows at his glance. "Want a beer?""Why not?" she responded calmly, a miniature smile finding its way to her features."Right," he stated with a curt nod, and stood from his seat at the small round table and traveled a few feet forward to meet Lena halfway.
That bastard handed their drinks to him with the most vicious smirk he'd ever seen take over her lips.
"Knocking her dead, Sir?""Quit looking at me like that," he snapped at her, though it wasn't meant to be as malicious as his gruff, worn voice made it out to be.Bless her soul, Oxton remained unmoved, and she scoffed good-naturedly as Reyes took the bottles from her possession."I'm messing with you! Relax!"When he only responded with raised eyebrows and a bored stare, the woman added, "She is waiting for you, though," and nodded in Moira's direction. Following her stare, Gabe looked over his shoulder at his Irish friend and found her doing nothing more than scrutinizing her phone and bouncing the foot attached to the leg that she purposefully threw across the other.Issuing a thanks to Lena for lending him the alcohol (and attempting to brush off the thought of the Brit internally laughing at him right then and there), he sprinted back to his small table and placed his items flat on its surface."Welcome back," Moira said to him without removing her gaze from her screen."You miss me?" he responded as he sat down."Very little.""Hey, I'll take it."
She's so fucking awesome.
 He smiled to himself like a dork as the thought crossed his mind. "I'm thinking of cutting my hair," the Doctor began, "tell me what you think of this, Gabe." She rotated her phone for him to see, and Reyes was left gazing upon a dark woman with short, straight, gelled hair. He looked up to Moira's slim face (and as he did, she looked away) and attempted to imagine how she would appear in such a haircut.
Needless to say, she looked beautiful. However, he would believe she were beautiful no matter what she did with her appearance.
"I like it," Gabriel explained."In all honesty?" She returned her eyes to his once more."Yeah! You're someone who could pull that off, trust me."The woman gazed down at the photo on the screen before her. "You aren't the first to say that.""Because it's true." He opened his bottle and took a small sip.Alcohol never tasted very pleasant to him, but after the first swig, he always felt compelled to drink the rest."Alright then, thank you for the input." Moira shut her device off as she spoke."Hey, no problem. And uh, think you were saying something before we got cut off.""About poetry.""Right, right."O'Deorain hummed her response and sipped her alcohol before continuing."I don't write very much at all anymore, but there were times when I was younger where I wouldn't sleep at all because I was too invested in what I was writing.""You still write, though," he said rather matter-of-factly.She thought over her response for a bit too long, and evidently didn't like this fact, for her face became red and twitched in an irritated fashion as she told him, "No, hardly anything. Only when an idea comes to mind, and that happens once in a blue moon."Gabe nodded slowly, soaking up her voice and her words."What do you write about?""It depends on how I'm feeling.""Well, how've you been feeling recently?"She paused.
As if she wanted the suspense to kill him.
Sounding slightly unsure, she went on to say, "Happier, yet...horrifyingly anxious. And...I feel as if I must take time to reflect on myself, and perhaps change and grow as a person."
Okay...

He wasn't quite sure what to do with that answer.
"Why?" was all he seemed to be able to muster, yet it sufficed.
Why was she happier? Why was she anxious? Why does she need to reflect? Why does she feel as if she needs to change?
"And that's an oddly specific answer," came his afterthought, followed by a small, unsure laugh."It is?""Guess so, yeah.""Well, I like to be able to describe my emotions. When I can." That last sentence was finished with an agitated smile."Fair enough. And so, um, why do you feel that way?"Moira began to say something, yet she paused almost immediately after parting her thin lips."Hey, you don't have to tell me, it's okay."Another pause. "It…pertains to you, Gabe." His heart skipped a beat and instead decided to shoot into his throat for a few surreal moments."Yeah?" Gabriel's tone was soft and curious, and he hoped Moira picked up on his sincerity. The scientist herself sipped from her bottle of poison and sugar in such a fashion that the Commander pondered over her demeanor for a quick moment.Anxiety, he thought, and then she continued on."I've never found someone like you before." She was only sparing him quick glances as she spoke, and her face was terribly flushed.Yet a small smile perpetually rested upon her face, and that was something so impossible to ignore."Your behavior is so fascinating to me. You're so kind and genuine, and I feel as if I'm able to empathize with and trust you. I've never felt such a..." Stutters and a few quiet fragments of words came from her mouth after that, followed by her simply sealing her lips in defeat, but the two-and-a-half sentences she was able to muster were more than enough for him.That coming from her meant more than she probably even knew.Smiling like a moron, he rubbed his eyes with a thumb and finger nonchalantly and told her, "First of all, don't get the wrong idea or anything, but"-He simply has to let her know-"you're adorable. An-""I am?""Hm? Oh, yeah! Hell yeah," he laughed nervously. Too flirty. Way too flirty.She raised a brow and replied to his compliment with, "Alright then, go on."Just a few degrees away from melting his ears off and burning his cheeks away, he went on to ask, "Um, I'm fascinating because...?"Moira's eyes glanced to some arbitrary location, and long, thin, pink fingers tapped against the brown-and-blue glass they clutched in a rhythmic fashion."I feel as if I barely know you."Her gaze returned to him as well as her shoes from time to time."It seems to me, and I could very well be wrong, however... You look as if you're so focused on your position and profession, and perhaps on your friends and coworkers, that you either...put yourself second to what I've mentioned, whether it be intentional or not. Or you refrain from opening up to forget and bury a large part of you, for your own reasons. I feel as if I've seen the whole of Commander Reyes and Soldier: 24, yet only a third of Gabe." 
Holy shit, what the fuck...
 "And I'll have you know, I would like for you to break out of your shell just as much as you would like for me to be relinquished from mine."There was a smirk on her face, though Gabe wasn't exactly sure what it meant. It looked proud, or knowing, or perhaps both, or something else entirely."But as I've said, I don't know you, I could be completely off in my hypothesis."He narrowed his eyes at her, a million thoughts and words and memories racing in circles within his brain, and his mind became too cluttered and he became too lost in the mess to offer her any reply for a moment or so.One thing he was able to recognize, however, was that there was too much to think over and apply her hypothesis to in that moment. Instead, he opted for taking mental note of her words and saving them for the shower later.
On the other hand, her believing he was emotionally closed off wasn't very far from the truth.

Neither was him putting his friends and job first and his own self second.

Or him doing that intentionally.

And unintentionally as well.

In order to bury the parts of himself he hated. Or the parts he couldn't stand to face.

Or to put up the walls that protected him from himself.

The walls that protect him from himself.
 After his much-needed, thoughtful pause, Gabriel simply told this brilliant woman, "You know more about me than you think you do.""Is that so?" she questioned as he took a rather generous gulp of whatever sort of beer Oxton had offered him."Did you just pull all that out of your ass?""It's what I've concluded after being closer to you for this long."The Commander thought over his answer. "You know, Moira, fo-""Reyes."He stopped and spun around at the mention of his name. A few feet behind him stood Morrison, clad in swimsuit and a towel hanging around his neck and draping down his shoulders and chest. A little off to the side stood Ana, who was, in contrast, fully clothed and dry."Sorry to interrupt, but you need to come with us," Jack said."Right," Gabe acknowledged, adrenaline already beginning to pump through his veins. He stood from his seat and turned back towards Moira, who bore a rather curious look in her mismatched stare. He slid his alcohol over to her side of their table and told her, "I'll be back.""And if you take too long, I'll be elsewhere.""I'll know where to find you.""As always, Gabriel."He offered her a grin that said yeah, I know what you mean before turning back to his other companions and following them as they walked towards the main section of the watchpoint."So what is it?" Gabriel questioned as they continued their journey."Null Sector," Morrison responded. "We've just got wind of an attack somewhere in England. So far there've been eleven casualties, four of which are dead.""We're currently working on finding out more about the situation," Captain Amari chimed in. "We're hoping we could eventually send the Strike Team over to help.""Do we know which part of England yet?" the Blackwatch Commander questioned."Not yet," said Ana, "but I'm sure we'll have that information by the time we get back up there."The three of them walked through glass doors as they slid apart to allow entry."We were hoping you would help us with the mission should we be able to send the Team over there," the woman continued.
He knew that didn't mean he would be deployed or stationed anywhere, and that was mildly infuriating.
"Unless you're busy," said the Strike Commander abruptly.
And he knew what Jack was implying when he said what he did, and that was more than simply mildly infuriating.
"Don't start," Gabe snapped. "I'm tired of hearing it.""I'm tired of the secrets, Gabe.""The hell are you referring to?"He didn't answer."The two of you, please!" Amari said, exasperated.She sighed and paused for a moment."Secrets are just that: secrets. Gabe isn't going to give up his because of your pestering, Jack." She glanced back at the blonde at the mention of his name.The implication that Gabriel held undesirable secrets from the two of them sat wrongly with him.
It seemed like Ana didn't completely trust him now, either.
He continued to trek along with them in silence, internally sulking the entire duration.
He was so tired of the mistrust.
 
Even if it wasn't completely unwarranted.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“What do you think, Gabriel?”She ran her hands across bright red, slicked back hair. Moira had it cut and styled to resemble the woman she had shown him on her phone a few weeks ago. Short on the sides and in the back of the head, not a single strand loose or resting on the cartilage of her ears.She admired herself in the reflection of the laboratory’s window a moment longer before turning to face Gabe, who stood a few beats off to her right. “Adorable, would you say?” the woman smiled, drawing back to his sheepish remark towards her as they sat beside the pool. Adorable? he thought.No, Moira did not simply appear adorable. She was stunning, gorgeous, attractive, alluring, dazzling- “Beautiful,” Gabriel told her.
You are so beautiful.
And Moira’s smirk wavered to welcome what the commander read as bewilderment to her expression.She blinked. “Beautiful.”He nodded, a confident smile that hid the fiery sensation underneath his skin ever present. She looked as if she were unsure of what to do with herself, and he wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. Should he not have said that?The doctor’s smile left her face as she went back to analyzing her reflection in the window. It was uncomfortably silent for way too long, but Gabe dared not speak and ruin her concentration. He knew better.After what felt like a century, Moira looked to him and said flatly, “You think I’m beautiful?”His words caught in his throat for a moment. That was such a simple question with an answer harboring so many implications. Friends could use the adjective beautiful to compliment one another, but the way he said it…
Simply put, friends would not call each other beautiful in the way he regarded Moira if they wanted to continue to only be friends.
Always have, is what he wanted to say. Instead, Gabriel opted for, “Well, that’s why I said it.”“I see,” she replied. He had been so busy worrying about how pink and hot his face must have looked, he failed to recognize her own reddened ear tips.
He made the situation weird for both of them. Great going.
“That’s very kind of you to say,” Moira told him. She was no longer smiling, or smirking, or showing any emotion at all, as a matter of fact, and Gabe worried that he creeped her out.“You don’t seem very happy anymore.” His smile and cheerfulness was now gone, as well.A pause.“I am happy.”Another pause.“I’m happy that’s how you feel. I’m thinking…is all.”“About what?”“About…how I’m feeling.”“And how do you feel?”“I feel happy, I just told you that.”At that, he fell silent and left her to her thoughts. She stared intently at the floor for about a minute, brow furrowed, seemingly unblinkingly, before straightening her posture, placing her hands behind her back, and looking at him once more. “I would like to explain something to you, Gabe.”That caught him off guard. “Um, okay? Yeah, shoot.”She began with an inhale.“When I was a very young girl, a psychiatrist called my parents into my school for a meeting with him and the professors. And they told my mother and father that I was different. That I had a gift, and it was something worth evaluating.”Gabriel remained silent, his arms crossed across the span of his chest. He wasn’t sure where her story was headed or what it had to do with their prior conversation at all, really. But, he supposed, there must be some sort of reason she felt it was necessary to bring up.“So,” she went on, “I was evaluated, and would you like to know the results of that?”“Sure do.”“Well, they explained to my parents that I was, in fact, on the spectrum, and that perhaps it contributed to the savant syndrome I exhibited then.”The…spectrum?“How they reacted to those findings is a story for another day, but I wanted you to be aware of this. I believe it is imperative that you understand, Gabe.”Her voice became quieter as she finished her story.It was imperative that he understood…what? Because, quite frankly, he wasn’t sure he understood anything right then and there.He tried to appear as if he were in deep thought, when in reality, his mind was completely void of any critical thinking.“Moira, I’m really sorry, but I’m not sure what you’re trying to get at, here. What do you mean by a spectrum?”She smirked and gave him a confused glance all at once. “You have no idea what that could be?”“I really don’t.”“Do you have any understanding of what autism is?”

Oh. His epiphany seemed to show on his face, or in his body, or somewhere visible to her, because Moira walked closer to him and continued on in a low, deep voice, and it set his nerves and his mind ablaze in the strangest way.“I’ll reiterate: I am happy, and I have been happy. And I believe these are all things you truly need to understand going forward.”Gabriel blinked. It was all he could do at that moment, for his brain failed to string together anything even remotely coherent.This…was a lot. It was a lot at a time he was expecting it the least, and he needed to mentally take a step back and breathe. Her serious, emotional tone and the powerful look in her eyes was something he had never seen prior to now, and it put pressure on him to respond to it all in the most appropriate way he could come up with.The Commander paused and contemplated a moment longer before continuing with the only sentence he could muster.“Alright, if you don’t mind, I’m going to take myself through this slowly.”Moira nodded.“When you say this is something I need to understand, and I’m not saying I don’t care, by the way, but um…what do you mean by that?”She contemplated her answer for a moment too long before simply explaining, “Because you said I was beautiful.”That…didn’t answer his question at all, actually.“I don’t follow,” Gabe admitted.“Then allow me to rephrase that,” she declared. “You think I’m beautiful, and Lena and Jesse poke fun at you because of it.”
What?
He was so lost. Gabriel was so, utterly…

And then it dawned on him.

Oh, how it dawned on him. How it hit him like a fucking bus, right in his heart, and he wanted to curl in on himself and die and go and be anywhere else but with her for the first time in his life.
Because she knew. She knew. She understood. Found him out. Was privy to his inner thoughts.And they both simply stared at each other, Moira’s expression cold yet warm, anxious yet calm, and Gabe probably looking ready to cease to be.

She knew.

“Moira…” was all he said. It was all he could say.“Did that clear things up, Gabe?” She sounded so distant, and her expression remained either unreadable or anxious as she stared him down. He nodded his affirmation. “I’m glad,” she explained.Moira then walked over to one of the desks lateral to the center of the room and picked up her silver tablet without another word. For a long time, the only noises in the lab were her wedges clicking against the floor as she fidgeted in one spot and frustrated exhales whenever she misclicked.Gabriel stood in the same spot she left him in, staring at the floor while occasionally glancing at Moira, arms crossed as usual. He just…had no clue what to think or what to do. She ended the conversation in such a horribly awkward place, and it made him uncomfortable.
Very, very uncomfortable.
So, that was it? That’s where she was going to leave it? In an atmosphere with so much tension it could be cut with a knife, an unhappy geneticist, and an anxious strike commander? He still had so many questions; so many topics that needed to be talked through still lingered between them.
Because you said I was beautiful.
Yeah, he thought, I did say that. And I’ve been saying that. And you knew damn well I was, apparently.

Because you have feelings for me, is what she was trying to tell him. In her own little way, of course. She structured the sentence so that it was tolerable to her, and she was able to express it to him, free of freezing up and shutting down.

And now, it was his turn to ask her something.

“Moira.”“Gabe.” She didn’t look up, or turn around, or even move at all.“So, do you think that I’m beautiful?”She fell silent and still. Oh so silent. Oh so still. It drove him insane.

And he waited an eternity for her reply.

“Of course I do, Gabe.”

That’s what she said.

Of course I do.
Of fucking course I do.

The way he felt inside made him believe he was ascending and descending simultaneously. That’s truly how it felt.He took a few steps closer to her, heart pounding in his ears. “Can I touch you?” he asked. It felt right to ask.“Not right now,” Moira replied in an abnormally low voice.
Not right now. Got it.
“Can you look at me?” he questioned further. She paused for a second before slowly placing her tablet on the desk, turning to face him, and folding her hands behind her back once more. They locked eyes, and she let out a shaky breath.He needed to find some way to calm her down, even if he weren't the least bit calm himself.“Do you want to stop talking about this for a second?” Gabe offered, but she shook her head. She said nothing preceding that, and he sighed. “Okay, well, you’re stressed, I’m stressed, and right now all I’m worried about is making your stress go away, so that’s what I’m going to do. Somehow.” Moira seemed to consider his words, then glanced behind her and hoisted herself on top of the desk.“Tell me a story, Gabe,” she said as she crossed her long legs. The request caught him off guard.“Tell me about your first relationship. What was it like?”
Okay…
“Well,” he raised his eyebrows and sat himself onto the ground, “it was this lady from the U.S. Iowa, specifically. Didn’t last too long.”“Oh?”“Well, as it turned out, she was cheating on me from the get-go, and I only found out after I got deployed and my mom let me know. So, not a great experience.”Moira raised her eyebrows at the conclusion of his tale. “You’re terrible at telling stories.”“I am?”“Stories are full of details, what you just gave me was a synopsis.”“Hm, might just be the Black Ops Commander in me. Keep stuff short and sweet and all that.”“That’s a fair assumption.” She removed her lab coat from her shoulders and let it pool around her lower back. “What was it like maintaining that relationship?”He pondered for a moment. “Well, she lived with me for a bit before I was sent off, so that made it pretty easy, I gu-““What about it made it easy?”He had a feeling he understood why these questions were so specific and thematic, and it made his heart beat at an increasingly unhealthy rate. “I mean, I saw her a lot, so it was easy to bond and spend quality time.”Moira’s gaze fell to the side as she submerged herself inside her head.“I see you a lot,” she said finally. Gabriel smiled, teeth and all, because her statement was simply so adorable and full of an almost childlike amusement. “That you do. And we got a long road ahead of us, I don’t think I’ll be leaving you anytime soon.”“You most certainly won’t.”A period of silence passed.“What do two people that are in a relationship do? I couldn’t imagine it changes their current practices very much.”He shrugged. “It’s like being friends but with the added benefit of getting to touch them and kiss them and fuck and all that, you know, neat stuff.” And touching her and kissing her and fucking her sounds so wonderful, he thought with less shame than ever before.“That sounds interesting,” the doctor said absentmindedly.“Moira,” Gabe said, and he stood up and walked forward until he was only a few inches away from her knees. “What’re you thinking?”“I’m thinking of you, if that weren’t already blatantly obvious.”“I think I got that much.”“How surprising. I didn’t believe you could manage it.”She seemed to be in a slightly better mood now, thank the Lord. He didn’t like seeing her so distraught.It gnawed at him.Moira then stood up at her last remark, and Gabriel stepped back to give her room. She quickly scanned him over with her dual-colored eyes and, somewhat awkwardly and stiffly, hugged him.He practically melted into her touch. Instead of placing his chin atop her shoulder like usual, he ducked his head slightly and pressed his cheek to the junction between her shoulder and collarbone. She didn’t protest.“So is that what you want, Moira?” He asked as the thought arose. “A relationship, I mean.”“I believe so.” There was minimal anxiety in her statement. He closed his eyes and patted her upper back.“Well that’s fucking phenomenal, because that’s what I want, too.”“I suspected as much.”So many emotions were stirring right then and there. Too many. All happy ones, however.He released her from their hug and moved his hands to her shoulders, squeezing lightly. Moira glanced seemingly curiously down at his left hand and back up at him, he noted.“So tell me Doc, what gave it away?”He received an arched eyebrow from her. “What didn’t give it away?”God, he laughed. He laughed because he needed to get rid of stress and because of her sassy comment and because her, Moira, the lady whom he adored and had occupied most of his life for just about a year, had just informed him that yes, I would like to be your girlfriend, as a matter of fact. It was insane. It was insane in the best way possible. And then a knock at the door made Gabe’s early afternoon a thousand times worse. He didn’t know who it was or what it was for, only that it made him less happy than he was a second before it happened.“What is it?” Moira called out.“Excuse me, Doctor, I’m sorry to bother you, but it’s urgent,” Winston’s voice rang out. “There’s an increasing number of casualties being reported due to some sort of bomb going off in the center of town. We aren’t sure if it’s Null Sector or Talon, but we need field medics!”The Commander thought about what Sombra had said in passing; Overwatch will eventually find out about Talon’s close proximity to their headquarters. Is this what she meant?Moira flung her lab coat on with haste and told him with a smile, “we’ll pick up where we left off at some point,” then she hurried to the laboratory doors and opened them, a frantic and distressed gorilla on the other side. Gabriel followed a few meters behind her after taking a glance around the lab to check if there was anything worth bringing.“By the way,” he overheard Winston say to Moira, “have you seen-?” Gabe passed the threshold and stood in front of the ape before he finished his statement. He seemingly found his answer.“Uh…n-nevermind,” he retracted as he glanced at the Blackwatch Commander. “Come now, there’s people waiting!”And so up they traveled, from the ground floor (Moira’s floor, as he liked to call it) to the main launch field gates. Gabriel barely had time to process anything that just transpired in the past thirty minutes. His head was swimming with thoughts of Moira, Sombra, and anyone and anything in between. His focus wasn’t on anything. He walked and jogged and ran, but it felt as if he controlled none of those movements. A leader, he thought. He was a leader, he better fucking act like one. And that meant getting his head out of his ass for the time being.The outside atmosphere was cold, with jet engine fumes inconsistently heating up select pockets of air. An ORCA with Overwatch’s emblem and a few smaller, unnamed, grey choppers were present at the launch field. Any and all medical staff were seemingly being rushed to the ORCA. Winston ran forward to join said group upon the three’s arrival.“Reyes!” Morrison’s voice called, and the man in question jogged up to him, Jesse and Genji in tow. “I need Blackwatch to be on guard, get your guys and their guns.”“I was going to say, Genji and McCree aren’t exactly equipped to give first aid!” he called over the roaring sounds around them.“I’m decent enough!” McCree retorted.“I’d wager roughly as ‘decent’ as your Italian accent,” Moira retorted. She turned to Jack before she could witness Jesse’s sneer. “I feel as if it would be moronic not to send a medic with them, wouldn’t you agree?”“If you’re implying that that medic should be you, you got another thing coming,” said Morrison.“That isn’t your call to make.”“It is when Overwatch is on the brink of collapse! I don’t need another Venice, got it?” The Strike Commander turned to the Black Ops Commander, who was equally as annoyed as the woman standing next to him. As annoyed as his partner, he thought for only a moment.“I’m sending Mercy with you, O’Deorain will be chief medical director. Am I clear, Gabe?”“Clear as day, Jack!” he retorted, poison in his words, and looked to the doctor by his side. “Head to the ORCA.”It felt strange speaking to her like that, it almost always had, but now it felt outright wrong.Maintain professionalism, however, it’s what he had to do. It’s what they both had to do.“Come to me later if you experience any complications,” Moira told him. There was a fierceness to her gaze, steady and strong, and it told him if Sombra rears her ugly head, you’re going to let me know. “Will do, Doctor,” he smiled innocently. Moira peered back towards the hoards of nurses and practitioners and EMT’s and anything in between gathering in the ORCA, then she looked to Gabe. She placed her hand on his shoulder (so lightly) for a moment before walking away from the group, passing Angela as she strutted to her destination.Doctor Ziegler wasn’t wearing her Valkyrie suit, not just yet. Her, McCree, and himself still had to get suited up.“We have practically zero intel on the situation because of the abruptness and close proximity of it all,” Morrison explained. “But, I’m sure you’ll all be fine. Hopefully, anyways.”The next half hour or so was spent preparing and flying to their destination. The screens that hung above Blackwatch’s (and Angela’s) head displayed the outside of the aircraft, revealing quite a terrible sight.Thick smoke darkened the sky and blocked out the sun nearly completely in certain areas. Hoards of citizens ran from the smoke, and Gabriel swore he could faintly hear their cries and screams. Everything escalated once they neared what he believed was ground zero.Roughly three buildings were leveled, and the surrounding area was upturned, charred, and destroyed. Local medical personnel scrambled around frantically between twitching and limp bodies, of which there were numerous.“What a terrible tragedy,” Ziegler said quietly. Gabe turned his head in her direction and found her attention glued to the screens, a melancholic look present on her pale face. She shouldn’t be here, he told himself. No, Moira should be. Angela should be with Overwatch and the medical staff, not with Reyes’ degenerate crew.But Jack didn’t trust him, he thought bitterly. He didn’t trust him enough to send him and Moira together to defend against Talon, and Angela was a living symbol of that suspicion and animosity.
And he resented her for it.
Gabriel knew the feeling would pass, but at that moment, he simply didn’t wish to entertain Ziegler’s comment.“Commander,” spoke the pilot over the comms, “Landing site in view. Descending.”“So the plan is we run into the thick of the flames and shoot anyone we find?” McCree questioned.“It would not be wise for us to kill innocents,” stated Genji.“Well, yeah, yeah, I knew that.”“We’re going to pull out anyone we think is alive, and keep the perimeter under watch while the medical aid does their job,” explained Gabe. “And if anyone down there sees something screwy, it’s going to get reported to me, so we know.”“So we splitting up or what?” Jesse interrogated.The aircraft landed.“How about this: Jesse, you and me will stick together and work clockwise, and Genji and Angela will do the opposite. The four of us will make like a circle around the site.” He turned to the surgeon. “I have faith you could hurry over just in time in case McCree gets shot or something.”“As do I,” she smiled, and he, somewhat reluctantly, smiled back.The hissing of pressurized air as the hatch of the aircraft opened drowned out the cowboy’s exclamation of hey, why the hell would I be the only one getting shot? What about you? The four of them ran out onto the desecrated streets of the city, and Gabriel assessed the burned buildings before his eyes as well as the firemen desperately trying to calm the last living flames.“That way, you two,”  he pointed in a direction, and off Genji and Doctor Ziegler went.“So, run it by me again why Moira couldn’t come with us,” Jesse asked as he followed Gabe through the hoards of people. “Not saying I’d prefer her over Angela or anything, but Commander Morrison’s logic was odd.”“It’s because he’s a dick, Jesse, that’s all that needs to be said.”“It would’ve been smarter to send Angela out there. She’s got a lot more medical experience than her, and she actually speaks German. A lot of folks out here could’ve maybe benefited from that.” “And you’re right. Like I said, no other reason for switching them other than his need to complicate things and piss Moira off.”The duo stopped at the edge of a building that looked slightly worn down yet intact. Gabriel turned to lock eyes with McCree. “Start doing some laps, I’ll be close by. See any funny shit, you let know me.”“I know the drill,” the younger man told his boss.“I know you know, now get moving.”  The sun had already set by the time all teams congregated together. A makeshift relief camp in a large park not far from the site of the explosions was sets up, anda sea of critically injured people rest upon blankets and sheets thrown about the grass.Gabe’s team uncovered nothing from their extensive search. Nothing. It was as if the bombs planted themselves.It didn’t make any sense. The buildings that were targeted weren’t anything special: a few stores and apartment complex. It was like it was done for fun and nothing more.
This needed to be discussed at a later time.
His time was now occupied by caring for civilians and transporting crates of medical supplies wherever needed. He couldn’t perform anything beyond very basic first aid, but he helped by wrapping wounds and applying pressure and CPR when needed. I’m Commander Gabriel Reyes. I’m with Overwatch, I’m here to help you, is what he repeated countless times to countless injured city folk.He spotted Moira a few times in his endeavors. She wore black scrubs underneath her lab coat instead of the shirt and jeans she dawned when they left headquarters, and she never looked very happy to be alive at that given moment. Once he spotted her saying something to a nurse with the most disgusted expression on her beautiful face.More and more people were rushed out of the camp by chopper, ambulance, and family members as the hours ticked by, and soon enough, there were so little people that Gabriel’s abilities were no longer needed.Taking a glance around, he noticed Moira sitting on a bench and rinsing her hands off with a half-empty bottle of water, the sleeves of her coat hiked up to her elbows. She hadn’t noticed him as he approached her, and only acknowledged his existence after he placed his hand on her upper back and quietly greeted, “Hey.”She glanced up at him, her eyes giving away how exhausted she was. “This is torture.”He moved around the bench and sat beside her, not so close that they were touching, but not quite far away, either.“Sounds like you had a wonderful day,” he mused.“Do you know how many children I had to handle? Do you know how many of them vomited on me today, Gabe? Any more than zero is already too much.”“Good thing you’re not a mom, otherwise that’d be your everyday life.”“I would rather shoot myself in the foot.” Moira placed her now-empty bottle beside her, the plastic crinkling as she did so, and pulled down her sleeves and placed her hands in her pockets. She was cold, he thought, but there wasn’t much in the way of what he could do to fix that. He had so many layers of weapon holsters and bullet-proof plating over his jacket that offering it to her would seem unreasonable.“How was your day?” She asked him.“Wonderful,” he smiled. “Wonderful and tiring.”“That’s an excellent way to describe it.” She paused for a moment, her small smile wavering for a second before returning to her features.“I was pondering on our conversation today, and it made me realize something.”“Yeah?”“Yes. I realized how…” she stopped and looked to him before continuing, “…truly horrific I am at conveying to you my emotions. And before you object, let me speak.”“I’m all ears.”She shifted her body so that she faced him. “I was replaying your behaviors in my head, and I thought of the emotions you felt and how they were tied to these actions. I had similar feelings to yours, yet I never acted upon them in the way you did.”“That’s because you’re a hell of a lot more composed than I am most of the time.”“No, it’s because I think differently from you. However, the point I’m trying to make is, I most likely confused you more often than naught, yet you continued to…pursue me, I suppose. That’s interesting to me.”“Hey, if you never brought anything up, I would have still been doing that. I don’t think would ever have worked up the balls say anything.”“I see.”Moira glanced over his body before moving on.“So, now that our relationship has changed, this means I am allowed to do what, again?”
Huh?
“What do you mean, Moira?”“You told me those in relationships touch each other and kiss and have sex; that means I am allowed to do those things to you, then?”He laughed good-heartedly at her innocent question. The poor thing was so new to this.“It sure does!”The woman seemed lost in her head once more. Then, she sheepishly admitted, “I don’t know how to do any of those things.”“Well, I do, so there’s no need to worry. You’ll be a pro in no time.”“That sounds lovely, Gabe.”Moira stood, and from his vantage point on the bench, she looked like a skyscraper as she idled next to him.“I suggest you help load the supplies onto the ship. We’ll leave faster that way,” she told him, and only then did Gabe realize the last of the casualties had left, and crates and bags were being loaded into the ORCA and surrounding choppers. “You make a good case,” he mused, and stood up and cracked his neck and back. Moira waited and watched as he did so, he noticed, with her hands behind her back. He considered asking her if there was something on her mind, but threw that thought away as he remembered that it was Moira, and one of the things Moira did best was simply observe.He wondered briefly how many times in the past she admired him without his knowing.Gabriel picked up the empty bottle on the bench before beginning the trek back to the rest of the group. Moira decided to walk alongside him.“So aside from the vast amounts of children, everything was alright?” he decided to ask.“I suppose,” she replied, “but that doesn’t imply I would ever want to do that again. I also was asked the question ‘Where’s Doctor Ziegler?’ just about a thousand times.”“Jesse was telling me earlier that he thought Jack’s decision was stupid, too.”“I’m surprised he had such a level-headed take. The cowboy may actually have a brain in his skull.”“Oh, it’s there, you just got to dig a little for it.”“I’m not sure I’ll ever believe you.”And so, they began to pile equipment into the stair age compartments of the aircrafts. Moira was somewhere in his peripheral vision throughout most of the process, he noted to himself. Even when she was summoned by others, she managed to find her way back to him.The doctor never said anything to him, she simply watched when she could.He found it oddly sweet. It was as if she found him interesting enough to examine, or that watching him brought her some form of joy. Either way, he didn’t mind it.He welcomed it with open arms, as a matter of fact.Everyone completed their tasks, and, with a thumbs up to Morrison and Amari (everything’s in order, getting ready to take off) he made his way to Blackwatch’s main aircraft, Doctor O’Deorain following close behind. Genji and McCree already stood outside of the open hatch, a cigar hanging from the cowboy’s lips.“Welcome back, Doc,” Jesse greeted Moira. “How was walking in Angela’s shoes?”“Akin to Hell, I would have to say.”“Truth be damned.”The geneticist walked past the men and into the chopper, and Genji followed her.“Don’t you think it’s odd we found no trace of Talon? Or anyone, as a matter of fact,” Gabe said to McCree as the thought arose.“Almost like they did it to prove a point,” the man in question puffed.“That’s what I’m thinking.”He thought Jesse was going to bring up Venice and Antonio for a moment (which he would not have appreciated at all), but he didn’t. He simply took his cigar out from his mouth and offered his boss, “When we were packing up, I heard the Strike Commander telling Angela that Blackwatch will mobilize pretty soon.”“No kidding.”“None at all, Boss. Something about the Shimada empire, I think. Not sure what’s going on there, though.”“Yeah? I thought they’ve been pretty quiet as of late. Ever since-“ He nodded to the inside of the aircraft, where Genji resided.“S’what I thought, too,” Jesse agreed. “I’m sure he’ll let you in on the details soon enough.”The roar of the aircraft engine and the whirring of the jets as it came to life drowned out all background noise and signaled the end of their conversation. McCree put out his cigar and placed it back in its box, sounding, “Well that’s that,” as he did so.The two entered through the hatch and found Moira and Genji finishing a conversation.“They could all die, it would make no difference to me,” his metallic voice rang slightly above the engines. Gabriel suspected he was speaking of his former empire, because Genji didn’t speak of anything else in that tone.The trip back was a quiet one. It only totaled probably fifteen minutes, but in that short amount of time, he had to keep McCree from falling asleep twice.When was the last time the guy slept?Gabe sympathized with him, however. He was tired, too. Not physically, necessarily, but mentally. He needed to decompress and assess, well, a lot of things that happened today. It was wave after wave of information that he had no time to contemplate: Moira’s story, her confession, Jack switching Angela and Moira for a seemingly odd reason, finding no evidence of the terrorists despite hours of searching, and now, the apparent remobilization of Blackwatch.It was a lot in so little time, and all of it amalgamated in his head and didn’t allow him to think clearly. I need a shower and a bottle of vodka, he thought to himself. I fucking deserve it.Maybe he could share it with Moira.Once they returned to headquarters, Gabriel planned a meeting with Overwatch and Blackwatch (don’t expect me to be there, Gabe was what Moira said to him, her smirk ever present) and then headed with McCree to the showers located near the gym and training stadiums. Those were the closest in relation to where he was. Genji headed towards the medical bay to wash up privately, and Moira headed to her lab to do the same.   What the hell happened to all the alcohol? Gabe thought to himself as he rummaged through the large refrigerator in the dimly-lit kitchen. There was so much of it, where’d it all go? He began to suspect he wasn’t the only one looking to drink alone in the very early hours of the morning.Or perhaps he would find Moira this time and drink with her. He had a lot on his mind and could really use her intelligent input. Well, that might not be happening, he told himself, and stood up and closed the refrigerator doors, defeated. There was nothing.Gabriel turned around and-“Oh, hi! You’re quiet,” he said to Moira. She was standing behind him and leaning on the island in the middle of the small room, a tired look in her eyes. Placed next to her was a large thin bottle of a clear liquid.“I greeted you, but clearly you didn’t hear me,” she told him. “Here, I brought this for you.”“What is it?” He picked it up by the bottleneck and spun it around to read its label.“Read it and you’ll get your answer, believe it or not.”“Yeah, yeah.”It was vodka with some sort of tropical flavoring added, from what he could tell. “How’d you know I was looking for this?”“I have my ways.”He gave her a questionable look before ripping off the seal and drinking straight from the bottle.“I knew there wasn’t any left in here, so I brought up my own,” she explained.Combatting the burning sensation in his throat, he told her, “That’s nice of you, thank you! I didn’t know you kept a stash.”“I keep the essentials.”“This is considered essential?”“Did I stutter?”He laughed and took another swig. She went out of her way to do something nice for him.Nobody would believe him if he told them.“I suspect you didn’t find anyone unusual while out on your patrol?” Moira stated. He shook his head. “Not at all. It was odd.”She furrowed her brow and spoke quietly. “I believe she plays a major part in that attack, Gabe. Perhaps it was even directed at us, or Blackwatch at the very least.”He considered her words before nodding.“I wouldn’t doubt it. And she said she’s going to come back, whenever that may be.”The ginger raised her eyebrows, yet said no more. Instead, she…Well, she chugged the bottle of alcohol she brought to him, the meniscus of the liquid inside lowered by a considerable amount when compared to before she picked it up. Wow.“Damn,” he laughed, and she raised an eyebrow at him. “I think you could actually beat Jesse in a contest!”“I’m assuming he is usually the victor?”“Mhm.” His voice was muffled by the bottle he pressed to his lips. After he swallowed, he added, “The people here would be hella impressed by what you just did!”“That wasn’t impressive. I’ll show you impressive.”“Is that so? How you going to do that?”“When the opportunity presents itself.”“Alright, Moira. I better be impressed.”“Oh, you will be, Gabe. Your skills, however, seem to be lacking, based on what I’ve seen so far.”“Well, I’m impressive in other ways.”“Oh? May I hear an example?”He pondered on her request, but not for very long. There was only one thought in his head at that point, and he smirked as he responded.“You’ll see.”“How unfair.” She crossed her arms and cocked her hip to the side. Oh, I’ll impress you, he thought. I’ll fuck you so hard you’ll be shaking. “You will,” he told her, “I promise.”He nonchalantly studied her appearance. She resembled a porcelain doll, in his eyes. Milky white skin with no blemish or scar in sight, thin pink lips on a perfectly sculpted face, with the most beautiful eyes to match.“I better,” she concluded. Her voice was low, and when she spoke, it was eloquent and as smooth as butter. She stood perfectly straight, with thin arms perfectly crossed underneath the small swell of her breasts.And oh, how brilliant she was. How brilliant, and sophisticated, and ambitious, and insightful she was.She was perfect. Flawless. Without error.And now, she was his.Gabriel walked around the island to stand next to her.“Moira.” He placed his hand on the counter beside him.“Yes?”He paused, but because of excitement rather than anxiety.“Would I be able to kiss you?”She seemed to contemplate his request. “You can, but what should I do?”“It isn’t hard, trust me. All you got to remember to do is close your eyes. The rest sort of comes naturally.”“For your sake, I hope it comes naturally.”He chuckled and stepped closer to her, placing one hand on her jaw and running a thumb along her lips. So soft.“I’m going to be honest,” Gabe said quietly, “this is my first time kissing someone taller than me.”“You’d better get used to it then, hm?” Her breath smelled like the vodka they shared, and he realized that his must have, as well.He smiled, then placed both of his hands on her cheeks and brought her lips to his.She went stiff, but he barely registered it. He also didn’t seem to completely comprehend when she lightly gripped his wrists. He was too focused on how it felt to be kissing her and the fact that yes, this was happening and yes, she was enjoying it, too. It made the hair on his arms stand on end and his skin prickle with nerves and his heart beat at a million miles a second.He kept her head between his hands and close to his face once they separated, and Moira didn’t remove the grip she had on his arms. She immediately appeared to be thinking hard about something.“So?” Gabe offered.“I feel as if I’m not doing something right.” Moira responded calmly and quietly.“You aren’t that bad.”“Why thank you, that makes me feel so much better.”He moved one hand to her shoulder and the other to run through her fiery hair, which was also, go figure, incredibly soft. She let his wrists go as he did this.“Everyone starts somewhere,” Gabriel consoled.“Of course, now kiss me again.”He smiled.“Gladly.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

I am happy, and I have been happy, she told him. And I believe these are all things you truly need to understand going forward.Gabriel thought back to the other day; the day he and Moira had their talk.That’s what she had said to him, that he needed to understand a few things, one of those things being that she apparently was autistic.He never really put much thought into that. Knowing this information didn’t suddenly change his view of her; she was still Moira. She was still the woman he came to know and appreciate, quirks and all. This is why he didn’t understand why she found it so important to tell him.It wasn’t that he didn’t care, he simply didn’t understand why the information was so imperative to their relationship.Gabe watched as she traveled back and forth from outside the back room and to the laboratory closet to various places within the entire area, all from his vantage point on her couch. She carried boxes of varying sizes with her to her destinations, not bothering to open them just yet.He was helping her, and then he sat down on the couch for a short break. Next thing he knew, he was waking up from a nap.After being zoned out for a few more minutes and eventually losing his train of thought, he sat up and rubbed the drowsiness from his eyes.“Good morning,” said Moira as she stepped into the doorway of the back room, a large white box within her hands.“Hi,” he replied hoarsely. “What time is it?”“You’ve been asleep for three hours.”“Oh. Why didn’t you wake me up?”“You were exhausted, that’s why.”“I’m always exhausted.”“All the more reason to let you sleep.”She set down her box a small ways away from his feet and sat next to him, crossing her legs as she did so. “Don’t forget you need to attend your meeting at 1400.”Gabriel nodded and rubbed his eyes once more. “Not a lot of prep has to be done this time, since, you know, we found nothing. It’s still worth going over, though.” He paused to yawn into the back of his hand before continuing. “I’m going to take a shot in the dark and say you’re adamant about not coming up with me.”Moira didn’t answer him. Her expression was unreadable, as it usually was. While he’s gotten very good at deciphering her habits over the months, he really had no clue what was going on in her head, sometimes.The action brought him back to his first thoughts preceding waking up.“You thinking about something?” Gabe tried.“No,” was her reply, “simply running through a few things.”The meaning of that was somewhat lost on him, and he nodded before continuing on.“Hey, so, do you mind talking to me about something for a couple minutes?”“It depends on what that something is.” She patted his thigh lightly. Since their talk four days ago, Moira has slowly been offering him small touches here and there. They were cautious and a bit unsure, as if, with each tap and pat and occasional stroke, she was trying to understand what he liked and didn’t, or what was acceptable and what wasn’t.Gabriel adored all of it, however. Being touched by her, however ephemeral the contact seemed to be, was an incredible feeling.“Well, the other day you mentioned…” he tried to think of an adequate way to word it, “your ‘condition,’ I guess you could say.”Moira glanced to the side for a moment. “I see what you mean. I had.”“You said it’s important I understand it; why is that the case?”“I believe it could be a large part of why I am the way I am. And, I suppose…it could also explain some of the behaviors you had questions about in the past.”He was going to speak after her silence set in, but she spoke up once more.“I’ll be honest with you, Gabe, that diagnosis was from twenty-six years ago, so I’m entirely not sure if it holds any truth. But in the case that it does, I wanted you to be aware of it.”He thought for a second. “Do you think you’re autistic?”“Well, I’m certainly not neurotypical, that’s for sure. Something must be wrong, and that disorder happens to coincide with my experiences.”“There’s-”“Yes there is.” She seemed to focus on the wall opposite to their position in the room. “Yes there is, Gabe.”Hearing her words saddened him a bit. “But being autistic doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you. It just means, I don’t know, you think differently.”“Hm.” She looked to his lap, then at his face.“Do you think I’m autistic?”Her question threw him for a loop. If he said yes, he’d be afraid of affirming the twisted view of her mental state she had in her head. But if he said no…  Well, he’d be lying. “I don’t know,” he settled upon. “It wouldn’t matter to me either way. You’d still be my Moira.” He put his hand on her head. “Just because you’re not the greatest socially, or just because you might be autistic, doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you. A lot of times, people with big brains like yours have a lot of room for knowledge, and only a little room for…’socialness.’“That isn’t a word.”“My point is,” he moved his hand to her cheek, “not everybody’s good at everything. I might be better at socializing, but I couldn’t even pretend to understand things the way you do.”“It isn’t simply socializing I have issues with.”He exhaled through his nose and dropped his hand to his lap. Then, he decided to ask a slightly different question.“Why is being autistic so horrible to you?”“I want to demonstrate acts of affection to you in a way that is typical, as you do for me. But I want it to be genuine and associate my emotions with my actions. It’s proving too difficult for me to accomplish, however. Emotions and physical expressions can be so…” She ended it there. He wanted to give her examples of emotions she clearly displays, but he had a sneaking suspicion her situation wasn’t as simple as that. Moira herself appeared to be frustrated and lost in thought.“You know, I would much rather you show affection the Moira way than the Reyes way. It’s nicer that way.”She looked at him. “Is that so?”“Mhm.”“Are you sure?”“I wouldn’t be sitting here if I wasn’t.”She offered him a small smile, and it just about made his entire day.“And hey,” he patted her thigh (but unlike her, he left his hand in its place), “I want you to know that whether you’re autistic or not doesn’t change anything.”She looked down at his hand and ran a line up and down his metacarpal with two fingers. “I think I might be.”“And that’s okay. Honestly.”Then there was silence. Moira was thinking. She was always thinking, always running through a few things. Gabriel wondered if it ever became tiring: having so much run through one’s head at all times.Perhaps it wasn’t, because she rarely ever slept.Eventually, she stopped caressing his hand with her fingers and opted to rest her palm on top of his. It was cold, he noticed. Her grey, darkened, scarred hand was so very cold, and, in all his time spent with her, he never truly realized it until now.Gabe glanced at the clock on the wall. Time-to-get-my-ass-moving-o’clock.“I need to get going, Moira.” No answer.Slowly and carefully, he removed his hand from underneath hers and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer and placing a light kiss on her cheek. “I’ll come back and fill you in on everything when I can.” A nod was her response.Moira seemed unsure for a moment longer before glancing at him and mimicking his actions, pecking his cheek with her lips. And oh, how he loved it.“I will be here, doing this.” She uncrossed her legs and poked the box placed next to them with her foot.“Clearly all the things in these boxes aren’t that important,” he concluded. “You’ve been here for almost a year and nothing has been used.”“That’s wrong,” the doctor countered, “I‘ve used almost all of this equipment. I kept putting it back in the boxes, however.”“Why?”“I prioritize my research over organization. But it’s becoming quite the hassle to deal with. I’ll thank myself once everything is put away.”He chuckled at her explanation and stood, rolling his shoulders to work out the kinks and stiffness.“Before you leave, I should mention I left something on your desk,” said Moira. He looked down at her. “What is it?”“You’ll see, Gabriel. I have a suspicion you’ll appreciate it. Retrieve it before you meet the others, I think they will be fond of it, as well.”He had no idea what that meant, but nodded regardless. “Will do.”“You can thank me later.”“You’re really not going to tell me what it is right now?”“Why would I do that? It would ruin the surprise.”He smiled and raised his eyebrows. “Alright, Moira. I’m going to go find out what it is then. I’ll see you.”“Have fun at your meeting.”“I’ll try,” he called as he left the back room.He had zero clue of what she could have possibly given him. He rummaged through his head for ideas as he traversed the hallways of the Blackwatch wing, but always came up short handed. He wasn’t expecting anything from her, and she gave no clue in the past as to what it could be. And the others will like it too, huh, he thought. That didn’t make guessing any easier.Gabriel pulled his wallet from the pocket of his sweatpants and picked out his ID from its holster as he approached his office door. Moira’s ID card worked on his door, too. He had set it that way long ago. Just in case.A white folder lay on his desk, he noticed as he entered. Attached to the front cover was a sticky note with…some language written on it (Irish Gaelic, he supposed), as well as his name (Gabe, not Gabriel or Reyes) at the end of the unfamiliar lettering.Upon opening the folder, a piece of scrap paper read, in English this time, the following note:  I tried to give this to you earlier, but time did not permit it. This is all I was able to collect from the day of the attack. Use it wisely. After that, there were pictures upon pictures of different scenes from the other night, all taken from the vantage point of someone surrounded by medical personnel and injured civilians.Pictures of Null Sector bots fleeing the smoke, of nameless dark faces looking down at the crowd through the broken windows of dilapidated buildings, of drones flying above Gabe and McCree’s heads, just out of sight.And finally, a picture of a tall, dark man standing with Sombra on the edge of a smaller building.There were times and comments written in the white margins the pictures were printed onto, comments such as happened after local police force left and I could not tell if drones were following Genji and Dr. Ziegler at all.The picture of Sombra and the taller man had no comments or time written directly onto the paper. Instead, there was a sticky note on the bottom that read if you’re going to bring this up, I would do so in a way that doesn’t hint at an affiliation with Sombra.Gabriel found himself smiling. “Thank you Moira.”He wasn’t sure how Talon and Null Sector evaded his search party, but it didn’t matter. There was proof they were there and caused the incident to occur.He ripped the sticky notes off of the picture of Sombra and the front cover and put them in his pocket, then closed the folder and headed to the conference room.  “Would you look at that,” Commander Morrison said as he examined the open folder on the table. “I’m surprised no one else caught any of this taking place.”“I kept having to tell Doctor O’Deorain to focus on aiding the wounded,” Captain Amari explained to him, “this could be why she was so distracted. These pictures seem to be taken from the outskirts of the park. Not many of us were focused on those areas.”“Why didn’t she clue you in on what she was doing?”Ana shrugged. “It may have been in order to not worry me, or to make it seem like she wasn’t privy to what the folks in these photos were up to. I’d wager it’s the second one.”“Right.” Jack nodded. He then turned to Gabe, who was standing across the table from him and Amari. “She did something other than piss me off, for once.”“There’s a first for everything,” he responded bitterly. The sound of Lieutenant Wilhelm’s laughter ringing from the main conference room and through the closed door of their much smaller one distracted him from his annoyance, however.“Why would Null Sector attack Switzerland, though?” sounded Ana. “They’re only looking for rights in London.”“Talon may have had something to do with it,” Gabriel offered. “I’m not sure what, but it's nothing me and my guys can’t figure out. I know you were saying something about that already, Jack.”The man in question nodded. “We may need you to send out a team and gather intel.”“Send a team to where, exactly?”“My guess is London. I wouldn’t doubt this attack was to get our attention in some way. We should figure out what they have planned before moving forward and sending a strike team.”“They’ve already been causing a disturbance over there. Why would they feel the need to get our attention if they already have it?”Jack and Ana seemed to ponder his question, but the Blackwatch Commander answered it before they could come up with anything. “That’s why Blackwatch is headed over there, right? To figure that out.”“I suppose so, Gabriel,” said Amari, and she closed the folder and slid it over to him.“I need to get the existing documentation we have on Null Sector and Talon’s recent activity before we continue,” Morrison told them. “We can maybe draw parallels between what we have and this new information. You two can entertain everyone in the meantime.”“We have Reinhardt out there! They don’t need us to be entertained,” Gabe said as the three of them exited into the main conference room, the white folder in his hand.Ana and Gabriel stopped and stood next to each other as Jack headed for the stairs. He looked to the Captain, then at the rest of the room.And, to his genuine surprise, a tall, thin, pale, red-headed woman entered his gaze.She was speaking to Reinhardt and Torbjorn, both of whom looked quite interested in what she had to say.She changed her clothes, too, he noticed. A brown sweater and white pants were thrown atop her tiny form.“Looks like she followed you up here, Gabe,” Ana joked, clearly referring to Moira.“I’m just as surprised as you.”“She was watching you very intently the other day, now that I think of it. While you were loading the medical cargo into the ship. It was…interesting, I should say.”Oh, he knew. She didn’t have to tell him. But if he told her that he knew, it would put him in an odd situation.“What do you mean?”“I mean just that, that she was watching you. I wasn’t quite sure what to make of it.”He shrugged. “She does stuff like that a lot, you get used to it.”Ana turned her body towards him. “What were you two talking about that day? When you were sitting on the bench? You seemed quite happy.”When he paused at her question, she decided to add, “I’m only asking because I haven’t seen you smile and laugh in a long time. It was nice to see it happen again.” She put him in the odd situation he thought he just avoided.Should he…tell her? Should he explain to her why he was happy? And why it was Moira specifically that made him happy? How would she feel about that? Would she tell Jack? He certainly would be pissed to hear it. Don’t let emotions get in the way of your job, he would probably tell him. You’re her boss and nothing more. That’s how it should be. And he’s right, Gabe admitted.  But he didn’t fucking care anymore. “Earth to Gabe?” Amari’s voice brought him back to reality. He blinked and found her looking at him with an expression he could only describe as amused.“Um,” he started, somewhat flustered, “what’d you say?”She smiled. “Well, not much. I was hoping you would say something.”“Oh.”He could always go the it’s none of your business route, but he didn’t believe that would fly with her.“Personal stuff, I guess.”“Hm.”His friend paused for a moment. “You know, before you arrived, I greeted Moira. I told her something similar to what I’m telling you, that I was happy to see you smile the other day. I said it rarely happens anymore. And she said ‘what are you talking about? Gabriel is always that happy!’” Of-fucking-course she said that, he thought, not angry at Moira, only frustrated because he had a sneaking suspicion he understood where Ana was taking the conversation.“Alright,” was all he gave her.“Don’t ‘alright’ me, I wasn’t born yesterday.”“What are you getting at?”She sighed and paused. “You seem to have gotten very close with her. I don’t think I’ve seen you two apart for very long since she arrived here.”He considered his word choice. “She keeps good company.”“I think you’re the only one who would say that.”“Well, I mean it.”“And she can call you by your nickname as freely as she pleases without so much as a peep from you.”Gabriel became quiet. He knew he practically put his closeness to Moira on display, but having someone like Ana address it made him feel unsure if he should do a better job at hiding it.“That’s right,” he admitted to her, “as much as she wants.”He and Ana locked eyes for a moment, not a word out of either of them.“Just be careful, Gabe,” she finally said.“Whatever you say, Captain.” She smiled at him before switching gears and continuing on.“I won’t lie, I’m not her biggest fan. But I trust your judgement. If you believe she’s a good fit for Overwatch, then you certainly have your reasons.”“Well, I appreciate that. Glad someone’s on my side.”Amari nodded. “I try to give everyone a chance. And I could understand why you like her. Her field skills fit Blackwatch quite well, from what I’ve noticed.”“Sure do.”“Captain! Commander!” boomed Reinhardt, and she and Gabe glanced in his direction.He had Moira with him, who looked as uncomfortable as ever.“Did you see what Doctor O’Deorain here could do?” He patted her shoulder with his large palm, and she physically flinched and took a step to the side. Wilhelm looked unphased.“They are very awa-“ Moira started, but the large man cut her off.“She can disappear! Just like that! Like magic!” He laughed, and underneath his thunderous bellows, Gabriel heard Moira say it’s not magic, it’s science.“Go on, Miss! Show them like you showed me and Torbjorn!”“Actually,” the Blackwatch Commander interjected, “I need her in private right now. That’ll have to wait, Lieutenant.” He stepped over to where she stood, her face hot and red and agitated and exhausted all at once.“Aw,” Reinhardt sounded. “Well then, another time it is!”Gabe put his hand on Moira’s shoulder and guided her away from Ana and her new, loud companion. As they trekked, Reinhardt could be heard explaining to Amari I’m not crazy! It’s true! She vanished right before our very eyes!Once they stood in a corner of the room, Moira asked “What did you need me for?”“Nothing. I just said that so he would leave you alone.”“That is highly appreciated.”“Reinhardt can be a bit much, especially if you aren’t used to him.”She huffed and crossed her arms, accentuating her already-visible cleavage.“What made you change your mind? About showing up, I mean,” he asked.“I wanted to see if you liked my gift,” she smirked.“I think everyone likes it, Moira.”“As I suspected.”Gabriel crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, propping himself against it with his shoulder. “I’m pretty sure we’re headed to London soon. That’s how things are looking.”“And it’s imperative I go with you?”“It would be pretty nice to have a medic around. You know, since we’re always getting shot at out there.”“You could manage.”“Maybe, maybe not.”He took a quick survey of the room. No sign of Morrison yet. Ana and Reinhardt were deep in conversation, and Tracer and McCree were chattering happily. The few others were sitting at the table waiting for Jack to return.“What happened to Commander Morrison?” asked Moira.Before he could respond, Gabe heard Tracer call out, “Oi, Moira!”The shorter woman zipped over to where he and his partner stood. Moira looked down at her with an unreadable expression.“I have a question! So-wait,” Oxton stopped herself. “Am I interrupting anything?”“No, go on,” said the doctor. Gabriel noticed McCree walk over to their position as the rookie continued.“Alright, well I have a question about your, you know, smokey abilities. I saw you showing Torbjorn and Reinhardt!”“That was my first mistake,” she muttered, and Jesse chuckled at that. “Not a big fan of Reinhardt, Doc?”“Too loud and… tactile.”“Yeah, he’s a…an acquired taste, but he’s very nice! I like him!” Lena inputted. “So, back to what I was saying. Can you give me an explanation of how it works? When I saw you do it, it reminded me of my condition! Are they similar?”Moira’s face lit up with pride, and it caused Gabe to smile along with her.“I would not say so,” she began, and went to work explaining the ins and outs of her genetic alterations.It wasn’t anything Gabriel hadn't heard before. He’s ran through that very conversation with Moira countless times in the past, as a matter of fact. And yet, he listened to every word she said so intently.She spoke so passionately, eloquently, and concisely about her work, failing to skip a single detail. There were times she went on tangents full of science jargon Tracer and Jesse clearly didn’t understand, yet did not bother to interrupt her. He found it adorable.“…which is also why Gabe’s cells degenerate at a slower rate than mine. Other factors certainly have a part to play in that, as well, but I won’t discuss those,” she ended.“Is that also why his eyes change colors sometimes?” Oxton questioned.“Certainly.”“Wow. That’s crazy. You’re super smart, Doc, you know that?”“I’m aware.”“Well, you should be! That’s incredible you were able to do that!”“I believe this technology will benefit Overwatch and others in the future. It’s a matter of recognition, for now, however.”A hand placed on Gabe’s shoulder snapped him away from Moira’s speech. “You ready Gabriel?” Jack’s voice sounded.“I was waiting for you.”“Good.” The Strike Commander turned his attention to Moira, who looked significantly less happy than before he showed himself. “Glad you decided to show up, Doctor.”“I believe you owe me a thank you.”“I guess I do. This information is invaluable. Good work.”When the woman raised an eyebrow, Morrison sheepishly tacked on “Thank you,” to the end of his statement.She smiled. “That’s all I wanted to hear.”“What’s happening?” McCree chimed in.“You’ll see,” said Gabriel, and with one last glance to Moira (she spoke something quick to him in Gaelic, he’d have to ask later what it meant), he followed Jack to the head of the room, folder in hand.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

It’s been a while since Blackwatch was assigned to any task. Following Venice, the division had to quiet down, deny any affiliation with Doctor O’Deorain, apologize, make public statements, and so forth. Gabriel liked to think Overwatch was really feeling the effects of their inactivity since that night.It felt good to load firearms and ammunition and cameras and drones into crates and into the storage compartment of the aircraft. It felt good to run over the plan with McCree, Genji, and Moira, once during the briefing, once before entering the ship, and a last time as they took flight.
It felt good to hear his heart in his ears thumping with excitement.
The trip to London via flight wasn’t a long one by any means, yet Gabe felt antsy. He wanted to get there, waste away the day as quickly as he could, and get to work.
Midnight was go time.
“Once we get there, I’m going sightseeing,” McCree sounded to the Commander’s right.“Just be back before the time we agreed on and I don’t care what you do,” he responded.“Ireland has many beautiful landscapes and historical buildings, if sightseeing is your muse,” Moira chimed.“Believe me, Doc, it’s on my bucket list.” He adjusted his hat. “You should come with me, Gabriel. Be more fun than sitting in a hotel all day.”“I’ll think about it.”“All I ask. Wasn’t ever much to see in Texas…Hey Genji, how about Japan? I heard it’s a mighty pretty place.”No answer. Genji kept his gaze focused on his feet.Well, the feet that were made for him.Jesse sighed. “Alright then.” “Don’t you think you should get some sleep?” asked Gabriel.“I will! Eventually. Can’t waste this opportunity.”The Commander shrugged and looked at Moira, who was reading something on her tablet. She looked relaxed, but to the untrained eye, she may have appeared agitated or fed up with something. Resting bitch face, he thought as he smiled to himself, and he leaned back and closer to her to get a better view of what captured her attention. Injection into leukocytes yielded vastly different results was all he read, and that alone was enough for him to lose interest. She glanced at him through her peripheral and smirked before turning her attention back to the screen.“Would you like an explanation on what I’m reading?” Moira asked.“I think I’m alright,” Gabe admitted to her, which earned him a laugh. A low, steady cadence that dared him to pull her down by her sweater and shove his tongue in her mouth and kiss her passionately. In the midst of his thinking, to his surprise, she shut off her device and angled her body towards him. “You seem to have a lot of energy today.”“Blackwatch is finally back in business,” he smiled, “it’s something worth being excited about!”“About time we started getting our feet wet again,” Jesse announced. Even Genji spoke softly, “I agree.”Gabriel was glad his group shared his enthusiasm (save for Moira). They were most definitely going to need it for their first mission in quite some time.The squad eventually were dropped off near their hotel in London, and the aircraft lifted off to refuel.“I’ll come back and land right here around 2330,” the pilot had explained to him beforehand. “You four can come and get your weapons then.”Since that point, they checked in and threw their bags, if any, around the small living space. Genji went to occupy the restroom, and McCree laid down on the couch after removing his boots. He placed his hat on his chest as he let out a content sigh. “Could maybe fall asleep here.”“What happened to sightseeing?” Moira interrogated.“That was before I discovered this comfy couch.”Gabe glanced around the room and decided to seat himself on the love seat in the rightmost section of the small room. Before walking away, he heard metal clanking coming from the bathroom before the sound of a squeaky shower head turning. He never considered the fact that Genji may have had to remove pieces of his armor to bathe.Truthfully, he believed everything the ninja wore, save for the faceplate, was permanently attached to him. Perhaps he was wrong, however.It felt good to gaze ahead of himself and see a room other than his own or Moira’s lab. It meant they were gone, deployed, sent out. They would infiltrate the factory, collect the information necessary, and be out, all while staying quietly within the shadows. He would relay everything they gathered to Jack, and the Strike Team would be on it the very next day. And he would be the one commanding the team, he pondered. Once the Strike Team reaches the factory, no one other than him could provide them with better intel, all thanks to their little excursion tonight.Jesse’s sudden yawn made him aware of his own exhaustion, and sitting on a comfortable, cushioned seat in an air conditioned room was not helping him in any way.Gabriel nonchalantly glanced up to Moira. She was standing next to the couch he sat on and running her left hand across its white armrest. She stopped rather abruptly upon his noticing her, it seemed, and placed her hands behind her back before looking up at him.She was frowning.He gently patted the spot next to him, an invitation to her, but she quietly shook her head.
Now he was frowning.
Did he do something to upset her? She was happily chatting with him not very long ago. He hadn’t said anything offensive towards her, he thought.
Or, at least, he hoped.
He wanted to ask her what the matter was. He wanted to apologize, though he wasn’t sure what for. Yet, with McCree well within earshot, all he could do was mouth you okay? She nodded and offered him a tiny smile. It somewhat confused him, but he took her word for it. Gabe nodded back.“I wish Genji didn’t start hogging the bathroom soon as we got here,” huffed Jesse, and the other two in the room turned to him. He was putting his boots back on in a rather annoyed fashion, hat back in its place. “I’m going out for a smoke. I’ll be back.”“Now I know you weren’t planning on smoking in the bathroom all four of us have to share,” said Gabriel.“Course not, Commander.” McCree smiled and tipped his hat, then made his way out of the room, leaving them alone.It was quiet for a moment, the only sound coming from the shower as the water hit the floor.“He frustrates me,” Moira told him eventually.“Is everything okay?” he asked her.“I don’t like touching couches or beds that aren’t my own.”Her statement made him think back to their stay at the Venice hotel and how she covered her bed with blankets of her own. “Why not?”“It’s unsanitary.”“They’re cleaned, you know.”“It doesn’t matter.”“I’m sorry, I’m not understanding.”“It bothers me.”The tips of her ears were red, and he figured the conversation was making her uncomfortable. Seeing her in that state made him feel guilty. “I’m sorry I asked.”“You have a right to ask.”She walked over to the table her duffel bag was set upon and began to unzip it.“McCree doesn’t have a card to access the room,” Moira explained. “Perhaps we should leave him out there once he returns.”“You have some great ideas. I’m sure Genji would be on board with that, too.”She pulled out a nearly folded blanket from her bag. “I’m sure he would.” The Doctor then walked over to where Gabe sat and laid out her blanket next to him, placing herself on the love seat close enough to his body so that their hips made contact.Moira crossed her legs and smiled at him, and he couldn’t help but place his hand on her shoulder and kiss her soft, thin lips.She’s gotten better at it since the first time they kissed. A quick learner, he had thought in the past.“Are you going to join McCree on his outing?” Moira questioned, and he shook his head. “I’m exhausted.”“Sleep, then.”“That’s the plan. What are you going to do?”“That somewhat depended upon what you were doing. So it seems as if I’m relaxing here.”Gabriel considered what she said for a moment, then stood up and glanced down at her.“You should lay in bed with me,” he smiled, hoping the offer didn’t sound too demanding. Moira seemed slightly surprised by what he said. “What about the others?” What if they saw? he translated to himself.“I’m sure there’s a lock on the bedroom door.”“And the others won’t question why Gabriel and Moira have suddenly disappeared? And why the door is suddenly locked?”He considered her words for a moment; she interrupted his thinking, however.“I’m not worrying that much about it, simply bringing it up to make sure you’re alright with the possibility of questions.”A knock on the door cut into their conversation, and a muffled Reyes! Forgot my lighter! rang through the wood and plaster of the walls. Gabriel trekked over to the door and granted access to the cowboy on the other side.“Don’t you think you should check if you have that before you leave the room?” he questioned as his friend waltzed over to the couch he was laying on.“Well, that’s why you’re the boss and not me:” he picked out the small item from between the cushions, “I’m not too good at thinking ahead.”“You don’t say.”A glance to the right made him aware of Moira’s absence from the main room, along with her blanket and duffel bag. It sparked a bit of happiness in him.
Maybe she decided to take him up on his offer.
“I’m not coming back until later,” McCree said as he joined Gabe in the doorway. “You think about it? You coming with me?”“I’m headed to sleep for a bit, is what I’m doing. I thought you were going to do the same.”“Stepping outside made me rethink it.” He placed his lighter in the pocket of his jeans. “I’ll take some pretty pictures for you.”“I’ll look forward to seeing them.”And with another courteous tip of his hat, Jesse had vanished around the bend of the hallway.Gabriel turned his head to peer into the bedroom. He couldn’t see Moira (or most of the room, for that matter) from his position, but rustling could be heard.He walked over and crossed the threshold of the bedroom just in time to find her pulling the heavy curtains over the windows, effectively making the room much darker than before. Her sweater was gone, replaced with a sleeveless shirt, and she was muttering something. Gabe closed and locked the door behind him gently so as to not startle her.Moira paused. “Lena Oxton is going to be put on the Strike Team and sent here for her first mission.” She spun in place to face him. “They’re putting a lot of trust in an airhead that travels through time.”“She’s new. All the new ones are naive,” he responded, and trekked over to where she stood. “Blackwatch takes a different breed of person, you won’t find that kind of airhead on my team. And before you start on Jesse, let me tell you, he’s a different kind of airhead.”“Of course you would believe that.”“And I thought you liked Oxton?”“When have I said that?” She sat herself down on the bed, and that’s when he took notice of the pillows and blankets thrown atop the mattress that were most definitely her own.“I guess you haven’t,” he admitted, and she smiled. “You of all people should be aware that I dislike everyone.”“Even me?”“I dislike you the most.”“Oh yeah? Why’s that?”“I’m not sure, I’ll have to think of something.”“You’re a liar.” He sat next to her. “Do you mind if I take off my shirt?” She shook her head and watched him, he noticed, as he removed the article of clothing.That question popped into his head once again: did she like what she saw? Of course she did, he reasoned. That’s why she was sitting there in the dark of the room with him, keeping him company.“You truly believe I’m beautiful, Gabe,” Moira said quietly. “How fascinating.”Throwing his shirt onto the floor, he turned himself towards her and crossed his ankle over the adjacent thigh. “Why is it fascinating?”“It brings forth many new feelings.”“They’re all good ones, I hope.”“Indeed they are.”He paused to admire her for a moment. “I’m glad I can make you happy.”“You very much do.”A moment of silence from her ensued, only to be broken by a question.“Gabriel, what is it about me you find so alluring?”
What a fucking question that was.
There were so many things he could tell her. Her intelligence, her accent, her dry sense of humor, her snarky personality, her beautiful face and body, the way she did her makeup and nails, her deep voice, the very words she spoke.The list went on.“Just about everything,” Gabe laughed.“But that doesn’t make much sense. I don’t understand how you can witness me as everyone else does and form such a vastly different opinion from the majority.”“It really just comes down to who I am and who you are, right? Individuality and all that.”She didn’t seem satisfied with that answer.“There must be something wrong with you, as well. That’s the best explanation.”Gabriel chuckled at her statement, knowing full well she was dead serious.
He adored the way her mind worked.
“Of course there’s something wrong with me, Love. War does that to you.” He situated himself so that he rested on the mattress perpendicular to the head of their bed, bowing his legs so they didn’t hang off of the side.“I don’t know if you’re thinking about this the right way,” he told Moira. “People are a lot different from objective science.”She glanced over her shoulder and down at him. “Hardly.” He shrugged, and they spoke no more.The silence that filled the room made him aware of the shower no longer running. Despite that, Genji was not able to be heard from the main room, and Gabe wondered if he had either left or fallen asleep; not that it mattered either way. Genji didn’t care enough to poke his nose in others’ business.
McCree, however…
If he heard Moira and him speaking quietly in a dark, locked room, he, nor the entire base, for that matter, would hear the end of it.Gabriel didn’t care if others knew, but putting it on display for Jack to notice is what bothered him. He never truly would be able to live it down.Moira put her hand on his thigh and stroked him gently, breaking him from his thoughts.“That’s something I found alluring about you: you’re easy to read. And right now, you seem to be doing anything but relaxing.” She smirked. “You should try and fall asleep. Love.”
Oh, that accent. The things it did to him.
And so, he moved and situated himself near the pillows, then gestured Moira to come closer with two fingers. She did so, her gaze watchful and curious all the while.With the two of them sitting so close, Gabe threw her blanket over top of them both and placed his hands on her shoulders, angling her away from his body and beckoning her to lay down alongside him.His arm around her waist kept her close as he relaxed, and he chastely kissed the back of her neck before explaining, “Let me know if I’m making you uncomfortable. I’ll move.”“You’re very warm,” she said almost inaudibly.“Is that a good thing?”“It is.”He felt her run her foot against his calf, and a cold hand created pressure on his forearm. Moira then said a few words quietly in her second tongue.“What does that mean?”“You’re so close to me,” was her hushed response. Instead of speaking, he simply pressed his forehead against the back of her skull (her hair smelled wonderful) and lightly squeezed her waistline.“Sleep well,” she whispered, and God, how it made him smile like an idiot.  Gabriel woke to the sound of his cell phone vibrating in his ear. He propped himself up on an elbow and surveyed around his body. Moira was sound asleep and snoring softly. She hadn’t moved at all since falling unconscious, it seemed, and it made him wonder how much time had passed.He located his still-ringing phone and answered. Jack Morrison was on the other end.“Reyes, I know you’re not going to like to hear this, but there’s been a change of plans.”He situated himself on the other end of the bed so Moira’s snoring would not be picked up, and spoke quietly as he responded.“What is it?”“The British government doesn’t want any Blackwatch or Overwatch involvement in their crisis. As of right now, the United Kingdom is suspending both organizations indefinitely. You can’t touch this situation. I’m sending a ship to your location, the pilot will fill you in on the details regarding the extraction.” “What? Are you fucking joking?” “I wish, Gabe, but there’s nothing I could do. We can’t go against a sovereign nation’s orders.”“So they’re going to handle all this by themselves?”“As of right now, yes.”Gabe sighed and muttered “Unbelievable,” partially to himself. “When did they decide this? I thought we had an agreement.”“Not long before I called you.”“Yeah? Well, make sure to tell them they’re wasting everyone’s fucking time.”“If I could, I would.”Ana’s voice could be heard in the background, too distant to make out any words, and at that, Morrison sounded, “I’ll have to let you go. I’ll see you in a few hours, Gabriel,” and hung up.Gabriel himself was seething. That had to be illegal in some way, it had to be. No way could the government decide on a whim that they suddenly didn’t want any Overwatch interference anymore.He glanced at the time on his screen (they’ve been asleep for a couple hours, it told him), then at Moira, who had shifted and was now facing him, still deep in her slumber.Quite a heavy sleeper, she was.He stood up, walked over to and opened the door of the bedroom, and stepped outside.It was much colder in the main room, the air hitting his bare chest in an uncomfortable way. McCree had returned and was watching television while lounging on his couch. Genji sat on the floor not too far away from him with his eyes closed.Jesse switched off the device and looked up at his boss upon noticing his presence. “Who were you talking to in there? Moira?”“No, Jack. I’ve got news.”“What kind of news?”“The worst kind.”He relayed the information to the two men, both of whom were equally as displeased as he was.“So they want us to stand by and watch as their people are murdered?” Genji hissed.“Bunch of bastards,” added McCree, who was now sitting up. “They got no fucking right making us come all the way out here just to tell us they don’t need us!”Gabe pondered on the situation as the cowboy continued to complain, seemingly to himself and no one else.Blackwatch most certainly would be caught if he ignored England’s wishes and continued with the investigation of the power plant. It could also be safe to assume a representative of the United Kingdom or the Mayor of London would want to discuss the matter with him upon his return to headquarters.
And neither Blackwatch nor Overwatch needed another public relations nightmare.
But he needed to do something to help. It was ingrained within him. Within all of them. Gabriel definitely couldn’t even be caught dead in that plant, nor could Moira, and if Genji were deployed without any sort of medic with him, Blackwatch’s cybernetics division (and Angela, most definitely) would have his head.But Jesse, on the other hand…“McCree.”“Yes, Boss?” His voice was low and full of a fury he rarely exhibited.“How keen are you on being a one man army for a night?”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“So the world hates us,” Gabriel said, “whatever. I’m used to it at this point. If they want to be ungrateful and ignorant, be my guest. But I’m starting to get real sick of Jack acting like I’m the bane of Overwatch’s existence. And it’s been this way for a while, I know you know, but since London he’s gotten worse, and I’m starting to reach my fucking breaking point.” He paused and huffed. “After all I’ve fucking done for him. Blackwatch has been the backbone of this organization for years, and now all of a sudden I’m the bad guy! If it weren’t for Blackwatch getting stuck doing all the dirty work Overwatch’s pathetic soldiers aren’t able to do, nothing would have ever gotten done! The whole point of the division was to skirt around the law, and suddenly nobody’s okay with that anymore! It’s fucking nonsense!”Moira listened quietly to his anger.
He was right. He was justified.
She played devil’s advocate by saying, “Perhaps the pressure created from public knowledge of Blackwatch is weighing on him, and he needs someone to blame.”“Sure sounds like it. Jack could never do anything wrong! He’s the face of Overwatch after all.” Gabe crossed his arms and leaned against the laboratory desk in behind him.He was examining the ground, brow furrowed and frowning.
Frustrated.

Is there anything worth saying that would help him?

There must be.

What is it, then?
Moira drew blanks the longer she pondered, and tapped a nail against the armrest of her chair to focus herself.She was never good at consoling people. Or perhaps there was not anything she could say that would aid him. Listening is the best thing you can do right now, she concluded.“I’m sorry, Moira, this isn’t your problem,” he spoke up.
That was wrong.
“It most certainly is. I’m a part of this organization, as well.”
And I’m his girlfriend.
“And we’re together, which also makes your emotions my problem.”“If you say so.”“I’m merely stating truths.”Gabriel sighed, perhaps attempting to decompress. “Something is going on with the Shimada clan over in Japan again. He wants me to be involved because we got Genji.”
Is that so?
“He just goes back and forth between me being Satan and asking for my help. Maybe he’s losing it, I don’t know.”“Well, then? Will you help?”He became lost in thought for a moment. “If I do, I’m going to be the one calling the shots. Things are going to get done the Gabriel Reyes way. It’s the only way anything gets done anymore.”“And what does the Gabriel Reyes way consist of?”“Get in and get the job done by any means necessary. I don’t care about legal formalities anymore. The way things are going, Blackwatch is going to get disbanded either way.”
How decisive.

But what happens after Blackwatch is disbanded?
“Once it’s disbanded, what will become of the employees?”“I’m sure a lot of them would move to Overwatch. Either that or they’re sent back to wherever they came from to operate with military forces.”
And where will you go?
“And you?”“I’ll most likely be transferred back to Overwatch and operate as a soldier under Morrison. Even they know I’m too good at what I do to get rid of me.”
I can’t imagine I’d be offered the same kindness.
“And me?”“You’re staying right here with me. I’ll make sure of it.”
Overwatch most certainly wouldn’t support me. And that would no longer be your call to make.

What would be his answer if-
“If I were to be discharged from the organization, what would you do?”“Um,” he sighed, and shrugged his massive shoulders and shook his head. “I don’t know, I couldn’t give you a good answer right now.”Her question did have a number of factors tied to it, those of which needed extensive contemplation by him, it seemed. It would make it easier on him if she dropped the subject, she decided.
Because you’re adding to his stress.

That was not my intention. He knows that.

You don’t think before you speak. You don’t think of anyone else before you speak.

I never had to. But I think of him.
“You alright?” sounded Gabriel.
I think of him.
“I’m sorry I asked that question.”
I think of you.
“You have a right to ask.”
I’ve said those exact words to you before.
“If that’s what you believe.”“It is.”He took a step towards and placed a hand on shoulder.“I can tell you this: wherever you end up, I’ll make sure you can continue your work.” He moved his hand to the top of her head and gently stroked her hair. “You’re doing amazing things, even if no one sees them.”
You do.
“You see them.”“Well, one of these days, a lot more people are going to see them, too.”“Let’s hope.”
Your smile.
Gabe stepped away and examined the lab. “Well, there you go, closet’s all done. Now you don’t have to worry.” She stood from her chair.
Taller than him. How uncommon.
“I truly appreciate it, Gabe.”“Anything for you.”There was a knock at the door, and it irritated her.
I don’t need this right now.

Why not? Why are you angry?
Moira contemplated her own question.
What if they decide to stay? What if they need Gabe? I-
“Yes?” she spat.
I don’t want him to leave just yet.
There was no answer, but the person on the other side knocked again, this time in a rhythmic pattern that created a small tune Moira was familiar with. Gabriel huffed beside her and walked over to the door. Moira stayed behind and watched him curiously, placing her hands behind her back instinctually.The door opened, and a woman stepped inside hurriedly, telling Gabe to Shut the door! Shut it! in her accent.
Sombra.

After everything, now she decides to show herself.
The Blackwatch Commander heeded the woman’s request with an Alright! Damn! and looked at her in a rather annoyed fashion.Moira was fixated on the black laptop in the woman’s hand.Sombra glanced at Gabriel, then at her, and smiled. “Hi, guys! It’s been a little while, I know. Got wrapped up in some stuff. But I think now is a better time than ever to chat!” She trekked over to an empty spot on the desk in the middle of the room and placed her computer, then herself, on its surface.
Her hair. Purple. It’s purple now. Some of it is. An ombré.
“Okay, gather around.” She made a gesture with her hands that correlated with her demand. “We’ve got lots to discuss.”“Like what?” Gabe snapped.“You’ll see.”“I’m already not happy about this, you better start talking.”“I am, you just got to shut up for a second.”He looked at Moira for only a heartbeat. He seemed to be uncomfortable, or perhaps irked, or exhausted, or upset, or all of those things at once, or none of those things at all.After a pause, Sombra began. “So, how are we doing?”Neither of them answered. Gabriel was giving the woman a look that would kill her if lethal.“Tough crowd. Anyways, I know things have been going south recently, and I’m here to…offer you a little bit of help. But as long as you can help us out in return, okay?”
It seems as if it’s time for him to make a decision.

What is your decision?
“I’m listening,” her partner told Sombra.
That would depend on a variety of factors.
“What we’re thinking is, you receive some intel and funding on your future endeavors with Null Sector and that Japanese mafia gang, and we-““There’s no way I’m handing over classified employee documents,” Gabe interjected.“I didn’t think so. But me and the bosses came up with something else.”
When did the rest of Talon become aware of this?
Sombra looked at Moira. “Hand over that genetic engineering technology, and you’ll get all the funding you could ever dream of.”
Hand it over?
The thought made her scoff. “I’m the only one that can properly perform the procedures necessary to alter one’s genome in such a way. Your scientists couldn’t so much as dream of pulling it off.”The Latina woman seemed to consider her words.“You wouldn’t mind stopping by and doing these procedures then, would you, Doctor?”“‘Stopping by’?”“You know, taking a little trip down to HQ one of these days? You could bring your friend here, too, if it’d make you feel better.”“And you will support me financially?”“As long as you continue to lend us that big brain of yours, we’ll give you anything you need. Doomfist’s words, not mine, by the way. Well, I lied. He said something like that, and I put a spin on it.”
Anything. Anything at all.

Should I trust her so blindly?
Walking right into the middle of Talon headquarters is not what put her at unease. It most certainly would not be the first or last time she was placed in a situation such as that. She also did not stress over why they wanted her to share her work, she could draw some conclusions. The effect handing her research over to Talon would have on Overwatch had no part to play in it, either. No, what she worried about was handing over her life’s work and gaining nothing in return.
An eye for an eye, so to speak.
Moira noticed Gabriel was looking at her quite intently. She did not understand his face, but he did not appear to be content.“What are you thinking?” she asked him. He turned his gaze towards the floor. “I’m torn.”“Well, that sucks, because I kind of need an answer now. Talon is pretty impatient,” said Sombra.“You’re going to use what we give you against Overwatch.”The hacker scoffed. “And? Let them deal with it. Whether you decide to help us out or not, the Strike Commander still will blame you and Dr. O’Deorain here. Have you heard what he’s been telling the public? About how her work contributed to the Omnic Crisis? And he’s grouping you two together. He doesn’t think too highly about you anymore, Amigo. And I doubt the rest of Overwatch still does.”
I was aware of that.
Gabe was silent, still fixated on the floor.The air was so heavy. “Your call, Moira,” the Commander finally declared.Moira shook her head. No, no, no. It is not my call. “This should be an agreement between both of us.”“This affects you more than it affects me.”“That isn’t true.”“You never cared about Overwatch or Blackwatch, so this should be easy for you.”“You’re right, I never had. But I care that you care.”
Because I think of you.
Sombra seemed to wait patiently for their answer.
I think of you.
“Moira, please. Decide.”
I think of you.
“This will affect both of us. Your input matters.”
I think of you.
Gabriel sighed, and it was the shakiest breath she had ever heard him exhale. He glanced at Sombra and held out his hand. The gesture was slow, but the way he held the Talon member’s gaze reminded her of the day he killed Antonio. 
Confident and sure.
 The woman smiled and hopped off the desk cheerfully, standing perfectly erect and shaking his hand with enthusiasm.“I barely had to convince you,” she smiled, and walked over to Moira to shake hands with her, as well. “I’m looking forward to working with you two.”“If you or anyone at Talon tries some funny shit, I’ll kill every last one of you,” Gabe hissed.“Well, you’re in luck, because right now, killing you guys would put us at a disadvantage.”She trekked back to her computer and picked it up, then spun around to face Moira once more.“I’ll keep in touch with you. And hey, you let me know if you’d want to get drinks sometime!”
Why?
“Smart, pretty, and terrifying: what more could a girl want?”And with that, Sombra disappeared in a flurry of purple code.
She was flirting with you.

How odd. She seems too young.

Why bring the computer if she wasn’t going to reference it in any way?
Amidst her questions, Moira peered over to Gabriel.He seemed…lost.His arms were crossed and his shoulders sagged as he leaned against the desk behind him. His eyes were once again focused on the floor.
Quiet.
Unsure of what to do, she walked over to him and placed her hand on his shoulder.“I guess I’m a criminal now,” he said softly, a small smile forming on his features.“You were always a criminal,” she replied. “Blackwatch is made up of those who utilize disobeying the law as a means to an end.”“Well, I’m a traitor now, too.”“I think a better way of phrasing it would be ‘getting things done the Gabriel Reyes way.’”
Talon is simply another means to an end.

You said you would do whatever is necessary to reach your goal, Gabe. Because Blackwatch is going to be disbanded either way.
“You know what, Moira? I think you're right. That’s all it is.” He paused and looked up at her before continuing. “I’m sorry I stressed you out.”
I don’t believe you did.
“I guess I knew what my answer was already and I just didn’t want to hear myself say it. I thought maybe hearing you agree would make it a bit easier.”
He was stressed.

He was looking to you for help.
“My apologies,” she admitted unhappily. She was not there for him when he needed her.
She could not see that he needed her.

But I think of him.

You’re selfish.

No, I think of him.
“I’m the only one who should be sorry,” Gabe told her, “I shouldn’t have…” A pause. “I’m sorry.”He looked sad.She suddenly did not want to talk about this anymore. The atmosphere was tense, and she felt uneasy at the sight of his sorrow.
Do something to fix this.

What would that something be?

Something, Moira.
She removed her hand from his body and stepped away, and he watched her as she did so.It felt hot.
She was hot.
Moira removed her lab coat and slung it over her arm.“You know, when I was younger, my dad told me that I shouldn’t friend around with geniuses,” Gabriel explained. “He said that they’re all a bunch of crazy people and don’t make good friends. Wonder what he would have thought of you.”
Based on what you’ve just told me, not many good things.
“I suspect he would think poorly of me.”“Maybe. I never understood why he thought like that. It’s such a specific group of people to dislike. He was odd himself, though.”“Why are you bringing this up?”He only shrugged. She thought for a moment on what her own parents would say about Gabe.Perhaps that he was handsome, or out of his mind. Her father most certainly would not appreciate his presence, but her mother may have said otherwise.Moira imagined taking him to meet her parents, much like her siblings had done with their significant others so long ago. They most likely would not have been as happy to see her in a relationship as they were with her sisters.Perhaps her family would poke fun at him. Perhaps they would tell him he is making a mistake, or that he is extremely moronic because she is so unfavorable. “Did your mother hold the same beliefs?” she questioned him.“She didn’t care who I brought home, honestly. As long as I was happy. You think your mom would like me?”“She would believe you are delusional, to start. Her main goal was to get as many grandchildren from her daughters as possible, so I suppose she would like you for that reason.”“Daughters? You had sisters?”
Unfortunately.
“I had six.”Gabriel’s eyes widened. “You said before you had no family left alive?”“That’s right. And as I have also said, I’m glad they’re all dead.”He simply nodded.A moment of silence washed over them.
Put the coat down.
Moira placed her lab coat on the desk behind her companion.“I need a shower,” he muttered to himself.“I suggest you do that, then.”“Right.” He pushed himself off of the desk.“You’re always welcome to join me.”
In the shower?
 
That sounded…interesting.
 “That sounds uncomfortable.”“People do it all the time!” he smiled.She tried and failed to imagine what it would be like to attempt to bathe with another individual in the way.
Especially if said individual was someone as massive as Gabe.
He would also be able to witness her entire body, free of any clothing, and she would be able to do the same with him.
This is his goal. You realize that, right?

Oh, she realized it.
“You just want to see me without any clothes on,” she accused. He chuckled. “Am I wrong for wanting that?”
No.
“No, but if that’s your goal, you should just say as such.”Moira had never shown anyone her body. It was not anything impressive. Gabriel was not missing out at all. Despite this, being able to witness someone completely void of any clothing was an incredibly intimate act, one he clearly wanted to partake in. 
Oh, and how she wanted to, as well.
 “Saying ‘I want to see you naked’ is a bit less romantic,” he explained.She contemplated his offer as he stepped closer.Gabe wrapped his arms around her and kept his head nuzzled into her collarbone. His breathing made her skin prickle.“I want to do a lot of things to you, Moira,” he said quietly.
What did that mean?

You’re aware of what that means.

I know I am, however…
Moira placed her hands flat on the plane of his back.“What sort of things?”He chuckled into her skin. “Hm.” Gabriel pecked her neck lightly.
“Whatever you like.”
Whatever she liked?
What did she like?
“I could not tell you what I like. I don’t know myself.”“Looks like we’re going to have to figure that out, then.”
Oh?
“What do you enjoy, Gabe?”Her heart was racing, but she could not identify why.
Excitement, perhaps? Nervousness? What is there to be nervous about?

This is new. This is very new.

What would his answer be?

What sort of things did he want to do to you?

To me.
“That may have to be a conversation for another time,” he responded, and let go of her.“Tease,” Moira chided playfully. She felt slightly disappointed. “I want to know now.”“You’ll have to wait and see.”“What’s the purpose of that?”“To surprise you. And to piss you off.”“I’m not fond of surprises.”“Well, that’s too bad.”Their conversation made her stomach clench and her heart race and her brain tell her let him show you what he likes right now. Irrational, was her response to these urges, yet she did nothing to stop them.Moira crossed her arms and cocked a hip to the side. “You’re being quite unpleasant.”“Am I?”
So attractive.
He was smirking, as if he knew he was getting under her skin.She scoffed. “Asshole.”“I try.”He began making his way towards the door, calling over his shoulder, “The offer’s still on the table.”
No, not now.
“I’ve stalled long enough. I need to get working again.”“Yeah, I figured.”Gabriel stopped at the entrance and spun around. “I’ll see you…tomorrow night. At the earliest.”“I’m sure you will get the chance to see me before then.”“Well, I mean, the earliest I could spend time with you again.”Moira nodded. “I look forward to it.”He was smiling. He was happy again.That made her happy.“I’ll see you then,” he said as the doors slid open.“And just so you know, I like when you curse. It’s hot.”With that, he was gone.
Hot?

As in sexy.

Of course.
On that note, she lost herself in her thoughts.
Sexy.
She was sexy in his eyes.Moira smiled.
And you are in mine.
  “Doctor O’Deorain!”
Oh my God.
“That is not how you pronounce my name.”“Oh. Well, that’s how Torbjorn pronounces it.”Tracer seemed to watch Moira intently as she unlocked the door to Gabriel’s office.
Why am I not surprised?
“What do you want?”“Um,” the younger woman followed her inside the small room, “Commander Morrison is looking for you. He sent me to come find you.”“What does he need me for?”“Well, he said…um, should you be doing that?”As they spoke, Moira began rummaging through Gabe’s desk.
She needed his files.
If she were going to perform the same genetic alterations on others, it would be nice to have them. Keep this in my office, he had said. Just in case anyone tries to take it from you. And by anyone, I mean Jack. “Yes, I should be doing this,” she spat impatiently, “now answer me.”“Okay, well…he said he wanted to talk to you about what you saw the night Zurich was attacked. I guess we have some new leads, and since you were the only one who saw anything that night, you’re the only one who could give input. That’s what Morrison said.”She shut the drawers to her partner’s desk. She found what she was looking for, but that mattered none if she was not going to be able to immediately take it back down to the laboratory.
Why such short notice? Why not tell me about this beforehand?

So I’m supposed to drop everything I’m doing for him?
Anger boiled in her throat and stomach.“Why wasn’t I told I would be needed?”“It’s sort of an ‘on a whim’ thing, from what I could tell.”
Not everyone has time for things that are done “on a whim.”
“I’m sorry, Doc. I know you’re probably super busy. I’m just following orders.”
This is asinine.

Or a bunch of bullshit, as Gabe would say.
“Do you want to walk up with me?” smiled Oxton.
Not in the slightest.
“Fine,” was her reply.“Yay!” She blinked outside of the office and into the hallway, waiting patiently for Moira as she sauntered around the desk and out of the room, shutting the door on her way out.“Things have been pretty crazy lately,” Lena said as they began to walk. Her steps were much shorter and more frequent than Moira’s. “I suppose everyone’s feeling it. Morrison and Reyes especially, I’d imagine.”
Entertain her, it will make it easier on you.
“They’ve been arguing quite a bit as of late.”“You noticed that, too? I’m glad it’s not just me! Then again, you’re always with Gabriel, so I guess if anyone was going to see it happen, it’d be you.”
Always with Gabriel.
Lena seemed to pause for a moment. “How is Commander Reyes, Doc?”“In excellent health.”“Good to know! I haven’t seen him very much since what happened in Venice.”“Are you two close?”“Mm, I guess not, but I care about him as much as I care about anyone else. You definitely know him better than I do, though.”She thought back to their conversation earlier. She thought back to his smile, his words, his offer, his sadness, his question about her mother.
She wanted to go back to that. Be there instead of here.
“He seems to really like you, Moira!” Tracer pointed out. Well, I would hope so. She internally smiled to herself.Oxton was someone who would comment on Gabe’s actions towards Moira. It was one of the ways she became privy to his feelings for her in the first place.
I suppose I should thank you somehow, Tracer.
“Is that so?” The Doctor played dumb for the sole purpose of humoring herself.“Can you not tell? He’s all over you! If you were to ask me, I’d say he’s crushing on you. The way he’s acting around you reminds me of the way my girlfriend acted before we got together.” She giggled at that.Moira raised her eyebrows. “You’re certain of this?”“I mean, people act a certain way when they’re flirting, and he checks all the boxes in the flirting category I think.”“I see.”The girl’s words made her think of the first time she realized Gabe was not simply being friendly, he was flirting. The cowboy had called it out.
The Commander’s too busy flirting. That’s what he had said. That’s right.
And Oxton would laugh to Ana when Gabriel was out of earshot.
He’s head over heels for her!

I thought he had better standards.
Moira frowned.
Prude.

No need to wonder why your daughter’s father isn’t in the picture. I would leave as well if I were stuck with you.
And then he would hug her, and drink her tea, and spend his free time helping her organize her closet, and write her a letter with the most god-awful grammar that told her she was sweet and he was glad she enjoyed his company.And then there were her own feelings.How convoluted they were, in her eyes. He made her feel so many things.He made her happy to see him, then made her wish he were there, then made her yearn for them to be alone, then made her want his touch and kind words, then, right before their confessions, he made her wish he would use all that muscle to pin her down and have his way with her.
Yes, that’s right.
 
He made her think of him.
 “What do you think, Doc?” sounded Tracer.Moira blinked. “What do I think of what?”“You know, do you think it’s flirting?”
I don’t think, I know. And you know, as well.

You need to respond to her.
She considered her next words carefully.“What would I do if it were flirting?”Oxton herself laughed. “Whatever you want, I guess! I mean, I know relationships between the boss and the soldier aren’t always ideal, but I’ve definitely seen it happen before.”
I’ve never understood the issue with such a relationship.
“Or you could let him down gently, that’s another thing you could do. It’s up to how you feel, really.”
Adorable, would you say?

Beautiful.

Beautiful, that’s what he said.
Moira did not answer Tracer, and opted to walk the rest of the way in silence. Oxton did not protest.She soon realized they were headed to the Dining Hall, of all places. Another thing she noticed, to her surprise, was muffled yelling. And the closer they got, the clearer the two voices became.“We had an agreement even before London. You told everyone and their brother Blackwatch had the green light.”“That was before-““You told me this morning you wanted our involvement! We had an entire conversation on this!”“Listen to me, Gabe. My issue comes from what you did in Venice and London.”“I did what I thought was best for this organization and you know it. Don’t start with that shit.”“I have my doubts.”“Look, if you don’t want me in this, fine. But one second it’s-““Genji is the only asset from Blackwatch that I believe is invaluable in this situation.” “One second it’s ‘get Blackwatch in there,’ the next it’s…”“They’ve been going at it since noon,” Tracer explained. “Commander Morrison can’t decide whether he wants Blackwatch to go to Japan or not. It’s making Commander Reyes angry.”“Hm,” Moira sounded.
He’s like a child. Cannot make up his mind and whines when he doesn’t get what he wants.
“…it’s always my fault! You can never do no wrong! We’re receiving so much shit from the public and every time you got to deal with it, it’s ‘let’s blame Blackwatch! Let’s blame Moira!’”“Because we wouldn’t be in this mess if it weren’t for you!”“I did what had to be done! If I didn’t kill that prick, nothing would have happened!”“You’re right, nothing…!” Morrison trailed off as Moira and Oxton approached.Gabe’s face was a bright red despite his darker complexion, and Jack’s was the same. The two were standing around a table along with Doctor Ziegler, who was looking at the ground with an odd expression, and Genji, who looked at nothing and had no expression. On the table lay papers and a computer.“I’m back,” said Tracer with what sounded like feigned enthusiasm.“Thank you, Tracer,” Morrison said hoarsely. “I need to speak to you, Doctor O’Deorain.”“As I’ve heard.”
I’ve heard many things.
“I’ve also overheard we are no longer involving ourselves in the Shimada’s affairs?”“That doesn’t concern you. Whether Blackwatch is sent or not, you won’t be a part of that team.”“Oh? Is that so?”“Don’t get smart with me.”“Do you hear that, Gabe? Morrison is suddenly able to make calls on your behalf.”“We were just discussing it, actually,” Gabriel sneered.“I don’t want to hear it!” Jack interjected. “Answer me, that’s all I need from you.”He grabbed a paper from the pile on the table and held it up for her to see. It was the picture taken of Sombra and Doomfist.“That’s Doomfist,” the Strike Commander said, “but we can’t identify the woman. Have you seen her at any point before this picture was taken?”
Yes, I have.
“No, I have not,” she replied.“Are you sure? Think, Doctor.” “If I had, you would be seeing more of her here.” She tapped the paper he held in front of her.“Why do all the other papers have writing on them, but this one doesn’t?”
He is accusing you of conspiracy.

It seems so.
“I wasn’t the one who took it. I had no details to provide.”“Who did, then?”“The nurse Ana stuck me with. He was also the one who gave me the camera.”“Why would he have a camera?”“Why are you asking me that? How should I know? And if you’re implying I purposely left out any details on this specific paper, allow me to remind you of the other two pictures of Null Sector bastion units that also have no writing. Those pictures are not my own.”“I have no proof of that.”“You most certainly do. The three with no writing are all taken in the same area, near the back of the drop ship, where he was ordered to be by me right before 1800. You can ask Captain Amari to confirm this if you don’t believe me. The level they were taken at is much lower than the ones I had taken, as well.”As she spoke, Morrison rummaged through the papers to find the other two she spoke of, and sure enough, once he found them, her claims were confirmed to be true. All Jack could do was exhale through nose.
You’re wrong. You’re wrong and you know it.
“Why didn’t you ask him for this information then?”“I hadn’t realized they were taken until after the film was transferred to the system. By that point, would you have liked me to find and interrogate him? That sounds like your job, Commander.”He sighed and analyzed the pictures. Moira waited for him to say something before giving up and breaking the silence herself.“If I truly wanted to conspire against you using these photos somehow, why would I give them to you?”No answer.“You’re searching for ways you can override Gabriel’s authority and terminate my employment. It won’t happen. You can spare yourself the effort.”
You can't outsmart me, Jack.
“You won’t outsmart me.”Jack looked at her, and it was the most evil look she had ever seen appear on his face.Moira smiled. “You poor old bastard,” she told him in Irish.“You’re a disgrace to this organization.”“I am an asset.”“If it were up to me, I’d have you shot.”“Aim a gun at any of my people and I’ll fucking shoot you!” Gabe warned as he slammed his fist onto the table.“Enough! That’s enough!” said Angela. “Please! Stop threatening each other! This isn’t how we run things!”“Tell Jack that!” said the Blackwatch Commander. “He’s the one fucking everything up!”“It’s not just one person, it’s all of you-!”“That’s bullshit, Angela!”“Don’t yell at me like that, Gabe!”That seemed to quiet everyone down. Gabriel crossed his arms and huffed, and Morrison focused his gaze on the ground.
Gabe…
“The both of you have been arguing all morning! Where is this getting you?” Doctor Ziegler explained. “I say we decompress before continuing anything. This is going nowhere. And in a day or two, the both of you will be on good terms again. That’s how it always goes.”No one spoke a word. Gabe looked at Moira for a second with an unreadable expression before looking away and in Mercy’s direction.“Sorry,” he sounded.“You need to relax,” she told him, and placed her hand on his arm. “You and Jack.”“Angela’s right,” the Strike Commander added, “this isn’t working right now.” He turned his attention to Moira. “I’ll need to call you back at some point. I have more to discuss with you.”“Are you going to shoot me at the end of that discussion? I may reconsider attending if that’s the case.” She smirked as she spoke. Jack gave her one last look before marching away. She watched him as he went.
The weight of so many issues rests on your shoulders. And instead of handling it like an adult, you push that stress onto others.
A hand was placed on her shoul-
Touch.
Moira flinched and stepped away, turning and facing the one who laid their hand upon her shoulder.It was Tracer.“Oh, I’m sorry, Doctor. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Don’t touch me. Don’t touch me. Don’t touch me.
“What do you want?” she said angrily.“Well, to say sorry for bringing you up here. If I knew things were going to turn out the way they did, I wouldn’t have.”“Don’t apologize, Lena,” Angela chimed. “You meant well.”Moira rubbed where the woman touched her. The action made her feel a bit better about the situation.“I wish everyone would stop fighting,” Tracer continued somberly.
It usually doesn’t bother me as much as it does now.

Stress, perhaps?

I don’t feel stressed.
“This will get worked out, Rookie, no worries,” Gabriel consoled.
I am uncertain.
“Wouldn’t be the first time Jack and I butted heads. Won’t be the last.”“I know, Commander.”
This environment is not aiding me.
“On a happier note, I should bring my girlfriend over for Halloween!”“You have a girlfriend?”“Yeah! Her name’s Emily!”I didn’t know that, that’s awesome. She’s definitely welcome.”
Gabriel has a girlfriend.

It’s you.

It’s me.

That’s right.
She looked at him.Genji was gone, and Angela and Gabe listened to Oxton as she told the story of how she and her significant other met.She felt out of place. Moira had every right to leave, as well. There was nothing keeping her there, yet she found herself glued to the floor. She wanted to leave, though. Perhaps she could leave by herself, or with her partner in tow, despite knowing all too well he was busy.
It must be stress.
“Wouldn’t trade her for the world,” Lena concluded.“Lena, how come you never told me about her?” asked Angela.“Well, I just did! She’s heard a lot about everyone from me, I’m sure she’s dying to meet all of you.”She turned her head to face Moira.“I told her about you, too, Doc! I told her how smart you are! Do you think you’d want to meet her?”
No.
Tracer’s proposal seemed to relinquish her from…well, whatever was plaguing her, as she suddenly felt okay to move again.
I must return to my work. To Gabe’s office.

Thank you again, Tracer.

Make haste, you don’t know how much time they will give you.
Moira removed her hand from her shoulder and trekked to the door and out into the hallway.Jack had wasted her time yet again. And he had apparently wasted Tracer’s, Gabriel’s, Doctor Ziegler’s, and Genji’s time, as well.
What a sorry excuse for a leader.
He seemed to not have his head properly on his shoulders, if the way he handled public backlash and commanded Overwatch was anything to go by. Everyone was seemingly being pulled in a plethora of different directions, and he was the one responsible for the confusion.
And to blame me.

And to blame Gabriel.
Everyone was responsible but himself. The decline of Overwatch’s credibility had nothing to do with Morrison’s poor decision making regarding Blackwatch’s status and Overwatch’s greenlit operations.Overwatch would never overstep their boundaries, except for when they did. Blackwatch were the ones to blame. They were the criminals.
That was the point, was it not?

If Overwatch was not able to get the job done, it was up to Blackwatch to circumvent the barriers put in place.

It was up to us to do their dirty work.
And they were shunned as a result.Moira did not care for the reputation of either organization, necessarily, but oh, how she hated ignorance and hypocrisy, two things Jack Morrison seemed to be the king of.A light whoosh behind her broke her from her thoughts.This noise was shortly followed by a gruff, “Hey.”She paused and turned to find Gabe looking at her, a peculiar look in his eyes.“You alright?”
What?
“I’m fine,” she replied. “Do I seem unwell?”“Well, no, but, I wanted to make sure. You…You know, um…” He paused, then shook his head. “Nah, nevermind.”“What is it?”“I figured it out myself.”“Figured what out?”“I figured out that what I was going to say was lame.”She chuckled. “That hasn’t stopped you before.”“Well, I’m learning.”
I thought you were busy.
“I thought you would be busy today.”“I am, but after that conversation I wanted to check in with you.”“I’m alright. Jack is nothing more than talk and hollow threats. He doesn’t faze me.”“That’s good. Hey, what’d you say to him earlier? In Gaelic, or whatever it’s called.”She smirked. “I said he was an old bastard.”Her admittance made Gabriel laugh, and that caused her to feel many things.“I would say the same thing,” he continued, “but I’m an old bastard, too.”“Fifty isn’t that old.”“Fifty-one, soon.”She rolled her eyes, yet the action held no discontent or malice. “Whatever, Gabe.”With that, Moira continued along her path, Gabe walking by her side. She gazed out of the large windows that they passed, admiring the orange trees and leaf-covered grass.Peaceful.She was hyper-aware of her companion’s presence. She was hyper-aware of his footsteps, his exhales, and the ruffle of his clothes. She was hyper-aware of every time his arm grazed against her, and the pressure it created.The first time it happened, he apologized, but she told him it did not bother her. He was not sorry about the instances preceding that.As a matter of fact, she wanted more than that. She wanted him to wrap his arms around her in a hug, to be in bed with him holding her close, and to be completely void of clothing in the shower with him at her side, figuring out how that could possibly be enjoyable.“Moira?”“Gabriel.” She turned her head in his direction.“What’s your age?”She raised an eyebrow.
I suppose I never told you.
“Forty-one, soon,” she mimicked.“Damn. I’m a lot older than you then I realized.”“Does that bother you?”It was after she asked her question that she realized a part of her did not want to hear the answer.
A part of her did not want him to say yes.

Why is that?

I’m not sure.
“No. I’m surprised, that’s all.”“I see.”
It never bothered me.
“You should teach me some Gaelic,” Gabriel offered unexpectedly.“Why would you want to know it?”His answer was simply a shrug.“I think you would be horrible at pronunciation. Americans always are.”“It can’t hurt to try.”“It most certainly can. It can hurt my ears.”“So that’s a no to that, then?”
I never said that.
“Not exactly. What would you like to know?”“Slurs and Curses.”“Why did I ask?”The rest of the walk to his office was full of mindless chatter. Gabe was quite good at keeping conversation, which worked well with Moira, who was less skilled in that area.Once they reached their destination, they said their goodbyes, and Gabriel was on his way. I want to kiss you, she told him quietly. Right back at you, he responded. But I don’t think everyone around us would appreciate the boss doing something like that to a staff member. He was right, he was most certainly right, even if she did not agree entirely with the sentiment. And as much as she wanted to pull him into the office and have him all to herself, he was busy, and that would be selfish.He already gave her more than enough of the time he did not have.And so, he left, his image and his words imprinted on her mind.That’s how it went most of the time. He played like a broken record in her head.
He is a large part of my life, that’s the reason behind it.

That’s the reason I think of him.
Moira unlocked the door and trekked back inside. The information she came to retrieve earlier was left lying neatly on the desk, right where she left it before following Lena up to the Dining Hall.
And I think of him quite a lot.
She fingered through the pages to be certain that everything was present.
I think of him.
Every page was accounted for and in proper order.
I think of him.
She closed the white binder and read the cover. In the top left corner, in black marker, in her own handwriting, read Gabriel Reyes.  “I think of you.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“The other day, Tracer was talking about bringing her girlfriend to base for the holidays,” Moira said. “Why is she doing that?”“Overwatch likes to get festive for the holidays,” McCree told her. “Halloween, Christmas, New Year’s, don’t matter. Everyone shows up.”“That sounds hectic.”“It is hectic,” Gabriel replied. He knew Moira wouldn’t be the happiest soul during the colder seasons. She wasn’t a social person by any means.“Hectic in a good way,” Jesse continued, and leaned back in the recliner he sat in. “Everyone brings the family, family brings the food, and food makes for a happy me. The change of pace will probably be good for, you know, easing up the nerves, too.”The relations between Jack, Moira, and Gabe had improved since their fight in the Dining Hall a few days prior, but a small bit of tension still existed.Gabriel himself was stressed. He worried about the fate of Blackwatch, the issues arising in Japan, and the connections Talon had to all of this commotion. He knew Jack felt the same, but the way in which he went about handling the situation is what irked him to an unending extent. I owe you an apology, Gabe, things got way out of control. That’s what Morrison said the day after their fight. Let’s just focus on working out a plan of action, was his reply.
You’re right. And I need you to be a part of that. We need to work together now more than ever.
Despite amends being made, he still felt ever so slightly resentful. A part of him didn’t believe the peace would last for very long. Moira had little to no faith, and even laughed when he told her Jack apologized.He tried to push all of that away, however. If he could still somehow salvage whatever future Blackwatch as an organization had left, threatening to shoot the Strike Commander was not aiding his cause.Now, the four main Blackwatch soldiers, as well as Ana and Lena, sat in the lounge room discussing Halloween.Moira originally came looking for Gabriel for an unspecified reason, and once she discovered he was mid-conversation, she decided to stay. His mind was blown, to say the least.“I love when Torbjorn brings his wife and children,” Ana continued their talk. “He has such a beautiful family.”“How long will everyone be staying?” Moira asked. She was looking at Gabe from her seat.“Not long,” he told her. “A week at most.” She raised her eyebrows at him. Clearly, that was not the answer she wanted to hear.“Some of us like having fun, Miss Grumpy,” McCree chimed. “Ever heard of it?”“I do not find the chaos of the holidays fun,” Genji sounded before Moira could reply.“At least someone here is sensible,” the Doctor sneered.“Whatever, to hell with y’all,” said the cowboy. “Hey, Gabriel! How about you and me take a trip down to the plaza and restock before everyone shows up?”“That’s not going to be for at least another few days,” said the Commander. He sat himself on the armrest of the chair Moira sat in and crossed his ankles. His back was slightly turned to face her, yet he was extremely aware of how she didn’t take her eyes off him.“Don’t see how that’s a problem. Might as well get a head start on things, right? While we still got the chance.”“I guess I can’t argue with that.”“You two are so rude,” Amari interjected, “making plans right in front of me and not even bothering to invite me!”“Hey, we were getting there,” the cowboy consoled, and Gabriel laughed.It was nice to see everyone getting along and speaking like good friends. It’s been so long since he had been able to witness it, and it warmed his heart, in a way.“Genji, you should see if Angela would like to come. I’m sure she would be happy that you stopped by, too.”“Yes, Captain.” The man nodded once, and stood from the sofa to leave.Once he was gone, McCree pointed out, “I would ask him to tag along, but something tells me he wouldn’t be too keen on that.”“He’ll come around,” said Tracer. “He’s going through a lot, Doctor Ziegler said.”“Sure is.”Moira wasn’t included in their plans, he noticed, and it saddened him slightly. She most likely didn’t want to be invited, but that was besides the point.He glanced down at her. She appeared to be lost in her own world, staring at the floor with a neutral expression and looking up at him only when she noticed his movements. Her eyes were so beautiful, he thought.Gabe smiled at her, and she smiled back. And God, how happy that small act made him.“It’s so nice out today, too!” Lena told the group. “Perfect weather for an outing!”“It’s cold,” Moira pointed out.“It’s the nice kind of cold!”“What are you on about?”“Come on, Moira! You’re from Ireland! You of all people should know what I’m talking about!”“I’m afraid I do not.”“You know, the kind of cold that makes you happy and snuggly!”“I think the issue is that Moira don’t know what happiness is,” McCree explained.“That isn’t true,” said Moira.“Could have fooled me.”She rolled her eyes. “I’m not wasting my breath on you.”“Everyone, let’s be nice to each other, okay?” Ana said. “Even if it’s only for a minute.”“I’m the nicest there is, Ana,” Jesse replied, and Moira decided to comment, “Could have fooled me.”“Alright, being nice starts now,” Gabriel declared, and he followed that up with a few short pats on Moira’s head with the flat of his palm. It wasn’t necessarily an intimate gesture, but in a way, it displayed a closeness to the woman he resided next to.He wouldn’t nonchalantly go around doing anything like that to Tracer or McCree.“Maybe I could drive all of us!” Lena sounded. “I just got my driving license, I need my practice.”Jesse responded to her, but Gabe did not hear him. Instead, his attention was focused on Moira, who tapped him on the back with a finger and quietly asked, “No one will be allowed in Blackwatch-designated spaces, is that correct?”“Yeah, you’re right. Most of them don’t even know of Blackwatch’s existence. That usually stopped anyone from getting too curious in the past.”“I don’t need disturbances while I’m working.”“You won’t have to worry.” He turned his body so that he was faced in the same direction as the chair, throwing one leg over the armrest and planting his foot on the cushion Moira was seated on. Now, he wasn’t straining his neck to see her.“And if anyone ever wandered somewhere they weren’t supposed to, me or security got to them before they saw too much.”“I feel as if bringing unauthorized people here is asking for security issues.”“It is, but it’s the safest way the people here can see their families. If they have them still.”She looked away from him for a moment. “I always hated holidays.”“I could tell.” He pondered for a moment, absentmindedly listening to Ana and Lena’s banter. “I never minded them. My mom’s side of the family was huge, so I sort of had to get used to the craziness. My buddies liked coming over during Christmas, too, because my mom is originally from Mexico, so her family would always bring over all this authentic food. It was great.”“She was from Mexico, you said?”Her question had little to do with the topic they were on, he pointed out to himself, but he went with it anyway. “Yeah. My dad lived in L.A. his whole life, and my mom met him there when she came to America. They were both Hispanic, so I guess that was enough to hit it off.” He chuckled at his own joke.“Do you know any Spanish?”“Very little. My mom rarely ever taught me any, and my dad knew basically nothing. Why?”“Curiosity, simply. You never gave any indication you could speak a language besides English.”“Yeah, I can’t. I wish I could, though.”“I wish I could speak French. Such a beautiful dialect. However, I was more focused on expanding my English vocabulary while attending school, since it’s such a widely spoken language. Especially in my home country.”“Was English your first language?”“No, Irish was.”Gabriel became confused. “Tell me something: is Irish an accent or a language? I thought Gaelic was the language and Irish was the accent.”Moira paused, eyes wide. She looked as if she were about to say something, but that apparently faded behind her teeth, and instead, she was overcome by laughter.He was still lost, but he smiled happily at her. She was trying to control herself, trying her hardest not to draw attention, and it was adorable.
He loved that laugh, the one that’s unabashed and uncontrolled. He wanted to hear it more and more.

It was like music to his ears.
After she composed herself enough to speak once again, all she had to say was, “What?” “What do you mean, ‘what?’” He was smiling like an idiot.“I don’t understand your question, Gabe.”“It’s a valid question!”“I disagree.”“Alright, well, disagree all you want, but an answer would be appreciated.”“A question that moronic is not deserving of an answer.”She chuckled, and he rolled his eyes, accepting defeat. “You’re lucky I like you.”“Indeed I am.”“Gabriel,” Ana’s voice sounded, and he turned his attention toward her.“What?”She was giving him a look, one he intuitively knew the exact meaning of.It was one that said what are you thinking? and you know how obvious it is, right? and you’re the commander, Gabe. That’s unprofessional.
Oh, but who cared about professionalism here, anymore?
“What’s the matter?” Moira asked him. Perhaps she couldn’t see Amari’s face, or could and didn’t understand it.“Well, I’m waiting for Ana to tell me that.” He smirked at the Captain, and she shook her head. McCree snickered from where he sat. Lena sat wide-eyed next to the older woman.“You’re hopeless, Gabriel,” Ana told him.“You can do better than that, Commander!” laughed Jesse.“Shut it, McCree.” He then decided to add, “It isn’t what you’re thinking.”“Are you sure?” Ana questioned.“Beyond sure. Don’t go giving Jack any ideas. He doesn’t need any more fuel.”
He wasn’t fooling Ana, though.
“Please.”
She knew what was going on.
“I heard we’re taking the morning off?” Angela’s voice rang, and she and Genji appeared before the small group.“Sure are, Doc,” said McCree, and Gabe was so thankful they distracted the younger man from their current topic. “Genji, you coming?”“No.”“I’m just saying, some fresh air might do you some good.”Genji himself looked at Angela and gave a small bow, then began to walk away.After a short goodbye to her friend, the surgeon said, “Well, most of you don’t even look like you’ve showered yet, so why don’t we get moving?”Everyone began to shuffle and move around after that, agreeing on a meetup spot in the meantime. Moira somehow became wrapped up in a conversation with McCree of all people amidst the chaos, and what surprised Gabe the most was that she didn’t look ready to murder him.He stood near the chair he sat upon minutes prior. Before having the opportunity to leave, a hand gripped his shoulder, and Ana’s voice rang quietly yet firmly in his ear, “I need to speak with you.”He turned his head to face her. “This is about Moira.”
He was certain of it.
“You know how Jack feels about things like that. And you’re higher ranking than her, you know relationships like that aren’t allowed.”
Bingo.
“Jack doesn’t need to keep sticking his nose in my business. He especially doesn’t need to know about my personal life.”“Gabriel, this is highly unprofessional of you.”“She doesn’t change anything, Ana. I’m not an idiot, I can juggle personal and professional. You’ve done it before, I can too.”Amari looked upon him with concern. “I’m only watching out for you.”“What you do best.”She harbored an uneasy look in her eyes. “I won’t tell Jack. Or anyone else, for that matter, but you need to realize how much this can hurt your reputation in Blackwatch if it were to become widespread.”“Don’t worry, I know.”“You should work on making it a bit less obvious, then.”“I’m working on it,” he smiled.Ana offered him a tiny smile in return and glanced past him. Gabriel followed her eyes, eventually landing on the woman they spoke of.Her and Jesse seemed to finish their conversation cordially, as the man nodded, and she offered him a very tiny smile in return before disappearing into dark smoke.“What is it, Gabe? Why her?” sounded the Captain behind him.He thought of a simple answer to give his companion.“She gets me.”“If she’s the one that ‘gets you,’ I feel like I should be worried.”“Don’t be, she’s not as scary as she looks.” He turned his head back to her. “Not always.”“I suppose you would know.” She shrugged and looked back to the entrance to the lounge room. “We should get moving, I would hate to keep everyone waiting.”And so, Gabe made his way to the barracks and to his bedroom. He didn’t need a change of clothes, but a jacket would be useful in combating the colder weather.Somewhere along his journey, McCree caught up with him, and began explaining to him where he believed the group should purchase their food and alcohol from. He also learned that the cowboy was apparently inviting Moira to join them, but she declined.
I’m a gentleman, got to extend the offer to everyone. Even her.
Gabriel wasn’t surprised she denied the offer. He was already taken aback by her deciding to insert herself into a group of people and be a part of the conversation; if she made the decision to join them on their outing, as well, he may have not even believed she was sober.And the others most definitely would not have appreciated her presence, much to his dismay.Moira preferred it be that way, however, and he had to respect that.Despite that, he wasn’t wrong for wanting others to appreciate her the way he did, right? He wasn’t wrong for wanting the rest to praise her work, her dedication, and her brilliance.
Of course not.
Gabe and McCree, upon reaching their destination, parted ways at the doors to their bedrooms.The three main agents and the Commander’s rooms were all huddled together at the end of the first hallway. Jesse’s door was to the right of Gabriel’s, and across from that was Moira’s and Genji’s. Moira’s door was always open as she never used the space. From what he saw, the sheets on the bed always appeared untouched, and there were no clothes thrown around, no trash, nor any personal paraphernalia to be seen that gave any indication someone owned that bedroom. He was starting to believe she forgot it even existed.Gabriel entered his own quarters upon arriving and trekked over to the closet. His bedroom, on the other hand, was not nearly as tidy, and he noticed it every time he walked inside.He’ll get to it eventually. He always does.He picked up the first hoodie he saw and threw it over his body, then turned around and examined his room. Only then did he notice an off-white tent card sitting on his nightstand.
That wasn’t there before, right?
Curious, he made his way over to it and picked it up to read the words pencilled into the cardstock.It read November 2nd, 0000, and a street name, followed by We’ll be waiting. Make sure you bring your friend. And make sure she brings what we discussed. At the bottom right corner was the letter S with a smile adjacent to it.He sighed. It was all he could do.
Did Moira know about this?
No, she would have told me, he decided.It sounded like a trap, and at the same time, it didn’t.
He had no idea how to feel about it.
There was a knock behind him, and before he could turn around, Moira’s voice rang, “I found that note in the laboratory, so I brought it here. I hope I wasn’t intruding on your privacy by doing so.”He turned and gazed at her as she closed the door behind her.“You weren’t,” he consoled, “you’re allowed in here.”“That’s what I assumed.”She walked up to him and picked the note from his fingers. “Do you think this is an elaborate plan to kill us?”“It’s a possibility.”“And how likely of a possibility would it be?”He considered her thought. “Honestly, probably fifty-fifty. Killing us means they don’t get what they want and alerting Overwatch that they’re up to something, but on the flip side, killing us would mean eliminating two big obstacles.” “Or, they could take what they want and then kill us.”“I’d like to see them try.”Moira returned the note to Gabe and sat herself down on the side of his bed. “It sounded to me as if they need my continuous assistance, rather than asking for one specific item or piece of information. If that’s so, killing us would be very unwise.” She ran her hand back and forth along his blanket. It was a slow and methodical act, and it seemed to capture her attention better than he did. I don’t like touching beds that aren’t my own, she had said in the past, and those words rang in his ears over and over.Was his bed an exception? Probably not, he decided as he watched her frown and slightly furrow her brows.Moira eventually folded her hands in her lap and looked up at him. “Do you mind if I stay here while you’re away?”Her question caught him off guard. “Not at all.” He set down the card he held on the nightstand and sat next to her. “You’re always welcome. If I knew you’d be showing up, I would have cleaned a bit.”“It doesn’t bother me.”Why would she want to stay if it made her uncomfortable?Perhaps she would relocate her blankets up to his room, which he wouldn’t mind her doing.
It would be cute, in a way.
“It smells of you in here, it’s quite pleasing,” Moira told him.The statement made him realize he never paid attention to her scent.“What do I smell like?”“Cologne, and…something faint. I can’t grasp what that may be, however. It’s pleasant, nonetheless.” She leaned closer and ran her nail gently along one of the scars beneath his eye. She studied him in the same way she would when they first began their genetic alterations: inquisitively.Gabriel smiled, and he placed his hand on the back of her head to bring her in closer for a kiss. She dropped her hand as their lips met and rested it upon his thigh.Once he broke away, he immediately moved to her neck, trailing kisses from just below her ear to her collarbone, ending his gesture by (gently) biting her soft skin.“You should come with us,” he offered. “It’d be nice having you with me.”“I’ve already told McCree I wouldn’t be attending.”“I heard.” He thumbed over the red mark he created on her clavicle. “Just throwing it out there.”Moira hummed in thought and paused momentarily.“Perhaps for you, I’ll reconsider.”“Hell yeah!” he smiled, beyond elated. She was smiling, too, before switching her expression to a more perplexed one.“Why did you bite me?”He thought about his response.“You’re a bite-able person.”“You truly have such a way with words.”“Do I?”“Not in the slightest.”“Yeah? Well, how about I show you what it means then?”And God, how bad he wanted to. How bad he wanted to pin her underneath him and rip her clothes off and show her exactly what it meant.Moira apparently picked up on where he was going with that, for she warned, “Would you have enough time to properly ‘show me’?”He chuckled, somewhat disappointed. “I don’t think I will.”“Hm, what a shame. I was looking forward to your explanation.”She had to know what she was doing to him, she had to. “When did you suddenly get so flirty?” he teased.“Right around the same time you had.”“Yeah? I like it.”I like it, as well. It makes me…” she paused to think before continuing, “wish you would show me what you like.”“Is that so?”
Fuck, he wanted to kiss her. He wanted to kiss her so fucking passionately.

He wanted to leave her breathless.
Gabe oriented his body to face Moira.“Well, two things first: are you okay with me touching you, and are you okay with touching the bedsheets?”He needed to make sure she was alright before anything.She smiled and nodded. Her voice became quieter and her body language more shy as she told him, “Touch me anywhere you’d like, Gabe.”With that, he leaned closer and quickly pecked her cheek before running his hands along her thighs and eventually reaching her ass. In a single fluid motion, he lifted her slightly (she weighed nothing, he noticed) and threw her rather forcefully onto the bed behind him, Moira landing with a quiet huff that barely went noticed by him. Gabriel didn’t give her any time to situate herself before crawling on top of her body and grabbing her wrists, one knee placed in between her bowed legs.She smiled and sounded a soft oh as he kissed her temple.“This is new,” Moira told him.“Hm?”“This.” She ran her eyes up and down his body.“Yeah?” He ran his tongue along the junction between her jaw and neck, taking mental note of the taste it left in his mouth. “I’ll make sure you get used to it.”He let go of one of her wrists and used his hand to push the cloth of her shirt and the strap of her bra out of the way, exposing the skin just below her collarbone. Black. Her bra was black, he noted as sucked on the section of her body he exposed.She was so fair, he shouldn’t have to be there for very long in order to leave a mark.With her now-free hand, she stroked the back of his head and quietly told him, “I can remove my shirt if it’s in your way.”“Or I can,” he said into her skin.“Whatever would be best.”Of course, he wanted to be the one to expose more of her body. The act was small, but it made him feel like she and her skin were his to admire and love.
Moira was his and his alone.
And once he removed her shirt and threw it to the ground with the rest of the clothing he didn’t bother to pick up beforehand, he couldn’t stop himself from admiring her elegance.She was so very tiny and thin, something he recognized all the time, and her chest, telling from the exposed sections of it, was covered in light freckles.He briefly thought back to the time he found her in the pool in the very early morning that one day, and all the times he could recall glancing at her shirts that dipped far down past her clavicle.Had he really never noticed this before? Was he really that unobservant?“I know, I’m nothing worth gawking at,” Moira chuckled. Her face was bright red and her hands cupped the sides of his head lightly, barely touching his skin.
She was shy.

And wrong.
“You’re beautiful to me,” Gabe replied.“You’re delusional.”His response to her was a bite to the exposed part of one of her breasts, one that wasn’t as gentle as the last. Then, he pecked her cheek lovingly and grabbed her tits.They were soft and small and fit into his massive hands somewhat awkwardly, and it was wonderful.
God, it made him so fucking hard.
“You’re so fucking beautiful,” he whispered in her ear. “I want to fuck you so bad.”“I want you to, as well,” she whispered back.Gabriel latched onto the base of her neck once more and sucked on her skin as he brought his other leg in between her thighs, grinding his hips and his cock against her.He circled her nipples with his thumbs through the thin fabric of her bralette, and it caused her to exhale rather shakily.“Gabe,” Moira’s hushed voice sounded, and she placed her hands on his shoulders, “now’s not the time.”Directly following her statement, he was able to hear McCree’s muffled voice through the door telling someone I’m just waiting for him. That someone turned out to be Angela, as her voice replied how kind of you. It broke him out of the state he was in, and he sighed into Moira’s skin and told her, “I know.”He kissed her neck one last time before sitting up, grabbing her arm and her waist in the process and helping her up, as well.Her face was still a dark red, the same color as the numerous marks he left upon her, and her nipples poked through the cloth that contained them. Her hair also wasn’t as perfect as it was before she entered his bedroom.
She looked absolutely gorgeous.
“I’m not going out there with you,” Moira told him quietly. “I would rather die.”He laughed at her statement. “So I guess that means you’re not coming, then?”“That isn’t what I said, Gabe.”“So you are?”“Only for you.” She smoothed down her ginger hair with a hand, and with the other, she ran her fingers along the red spots he placed upon her skin.“I like this.”“Me too.” He also noticed, on her breast, there was blue bruising where he bit her. It stoked coals in his lower belly, but he pushed those feelings away.
Now’s not the time.
Despite that, it made him think of all the other places he could bruise her white skin. It made him think of the blue fingerprints and bite marks he could leave on her neck and on her thighs and on her hips and on her ass.
And it’d be so easy to.

And she would like it.

She would enjoy every ounce of pain he’d inflict upon her.
A hand on his thigh and a kiss on his lips broke Gabe from his fantasies.“I’m going to fix myself,” Moira said, “I won’t be long.”“I’ll probably be waiting at the front gates with the others.”“I’ll meet you there.”“Sounds like a plan.”She moved herself over to the edge of his bed and picked up her shirt from the floor. As she did so, he admired the freckles covering her upper back and the few beginning at the hem of her pants and dipping below. He also paid attention to the way her spine and shoulder bones prominently jutted out of her skin.Moira threw her shirt over herself and angled her body so that it was slightly facing him.“Enjoy the Cowboy and Doctor Ziegler.”“I’m going to try.”He was still so hot and bothered; the last people on Earth he wanted to see right now were his coworkers.Moira smiled and waved goodbye, and then disappeared before his eyes in a gust of wind and smoke.Gabriel sighed as white noise filled his ears once again. He shouldn’t keep everyone waiting, despite how uncomfortable he was at that moment. The feeling will pass eventually, he decided, and stood up and stretched.After looking at himself in the mirror hanging on his bathroom door and idling for a bit to ensure his arousal was no longer apparent, he headed out of his bedroom and into the hallway. As suspected, McCree and Mercy stood chatting a little ways away from where he exited. The cowboy tipped his hat to the Commander, and Angela smiled.“Thought I’d be a good friend and wait,” said Jesse.“How sweet of you,” Gabe responded sarcastically, and the three of them began walking.“I wish Genji would come,” Ziegler started. “He could use some socialization. He’s so angry all the time.”“I’m sure you could understand why,” Gabriel offered.“I know, he’s in a horrible place right now. It’s so nice seeing him smile though.”“Genji? Happy?” said McCree. “No shot.”“It’s rare, but it does happen.”Jesse looked at the Blackwatch Commander briefly. “What was Moira laughing about earlier? That’s someone I’d never seen happy.”He smiled as the thought crossed his mind, teeth and all. “She was laughing at me.”“That makes more sense. She’s another one who don’t like having fun. If she got some sun and had a beer or something, maybe she’d be more inclined to take that stick out her ass.”“She was acting very rude towards Tracer the other day, I didn’t appreciate it,” the Surgeon continued, and Gabriel racked his brain to try and think of what she might have been referring to.“Doesn’t surprise me.”“Lena, Gabriel, and me were having a conversation, and when she tried to include Moira, she became so hostile. Moira did, that is. And Tracer tried to ask her something at a point, and she just walked away. It was like Lena hadn’t said anything at all!”
Oh. That time.
“I believe it. Sounds just like her.”Mercy huffed. “I don’t understand how someone can react to kindness with such hostility.”He was picturing the situation in his head. Moira was lost in her mind, and Tracer broke her out of her thoughts. That was the rookie’s first mistake. Her second mistake was touching the Doctor.
One doesn’t just touch Moira like that.
And then Lena tried to speak with her, but at that point, Moira was no longer ready for conversation. Thus, she left without a word, leaving the young girl lost and perplexed.Did I say something? Oxton had questioned.I think she’s got a lot on her mind, right now, the Blackwatch Commander then tried. You’re fine, Tracer.Gabe wasn’t entirely sure why the woman didn’t always respond, but he never pried. He assumed it had something to do with her…well, condition, he supposed. It never bothered him, it was simply a part of her character, but others didn’t know what he knew. Of course they would believe it was her being rude and angry.Even he didn’t get a response half the time, and he was the one fondling her chest and sucking on her neck not even ten minutes prior.The entire ordeal that day also made him realize how little he knew about the condition. He considered doing research in his free time, in case that would help him help Moira in some ways, but never got around to it.Gabriel tuned back into reality to overhear Angela finishing a thought. “…I would imagine being that brilliant would take a toll on you in some way.”“Probably. Glad I’m too stupid to have that problem.”“Oh, please, McCree, don’t give me that.”
Brilliant.
Moira was that brilliant. That’s why he hired her.The rest of the trip was full of mindless banter. Somehow, he ended up getting roped into one of McCree’s unbelievably long tales from his Deadlock days.
God, this man knew how to blow his eardrums out sometimes.
Upon reaching the main gates, Ana, Tracer, Winston (to his surprise), and Moira were congregated.Moira dawned a different shirt from before, he noticed, a much warmer one. Her and Winston were conversing, and both seemed to be relatively relaxed.“Well, I’ll be damned,” McCree paused his story to exclaim, “she lied to me.”“Who lied to you?” asked Angela, and the Cowboy pointed.“Moira. She said she wasn’t coming.”“You asked her if she wanted to come with us?”“Course I did! Like I said, I’m a gentleman, Doc.” He looked at Gabe. “Maybe she remembered you were coming and decided to change her mind.”“I’d be flattered.” “Pssh, course you would.”The three of them met up with the rest of the group, and the Blackwatch Commander was immediately hit with Tracer’s pleas of, “Can I drive? Please please please! I’m getting really good, I swear!”“You can, but it’s not going to be my car.”“You’re always welcome to drive my vehicle, Lena!” Winston offered cheerfully, and behind the monkey, Moira made a face that he read as What the fuck? “Yay! I promise everyone will live!”She then blinked through the turnstiles and through the gates and waved for everyone to follow. They began to lumber after her, and as they did so, Moira walked up to Gabriel’s side.“Does the ape know how to operate a car?”He laughed. “Somehow, yeah.”“I thought I’ve seen it all.”“You never will.” He paused to admire her for a moment as they passed through the main gates and the crisp air hit him in the face. “You look good.”She smiled and placed her hands behind her back. “Thank you. As do you.”A part of him wished he could see the marks he left on her body, but he understood that showing them off wouldn’t be the brightest idea.
He knew they were there, however, and she knew who put them there.
The group of seven eventually reached a large white van parked in the very corner of the base’s lot, right next to a band of large rocks and the ocean below. The van was scratched on the driver’s side, he noticed as he trekked around the vehicle.“There’s seven seats for seven people! Well, six people and a gorilla,” Oxton giggled.Everyone loaded themselves into Winston’s van. Gabe opted to sit in between McCree and Moira, allowing the woman more space and significantly less of a chance of coming into physical contact with those that were not him. Winston was located in the passenger's side, and Ana and Mercy were behind all of them.Tracer lit the ignition and craned her neck to face Jesse. “Where are we going again?”“I’ll show you.”“Jesse, you’re terrible at giving directions,” Gabriel said as he crossed his legs.“Well, if that’s the case, then go ahead. Lead the way.”“It is what I do best.”“I have an even better idea,” Moira chimed in, and reached over Gabe’s lap to hand Lena her cellphone. The driver took it with a cheery thanks! and propped it up in the cup holder nearest to her.“That works, too,” McCree admitted sheepishly.“Technology has truly come such a long way. Now, we have the ability to search up directions. How incredibly groundbreaking!”“Don’t sass me. Just slipped my mind, is all.”Moira hummed condescendingly and said no more, much to Jesse’s chagrin.The ride was relatively silent, save for the small interactions between the passengers of the vehicle. Gabriel would glance over at Moira now and again. Almost every time, it was because the movement of her hand as she ran her fingers over the sections of concealed skin he left marks upon caught his eye. When she did so, she would appear to be lost in thought. He wanted to pick her brain regarding the matter, but that would draw too much unwanted attention.“I wish Commander Morrison could have come with us,” Tracer sounded eventually. “He’s so busy, though.”“I told him he needs to dial it back with all the Shimada Clan business,” Ana spoke from the back of the car. “He’s falling into one of his moods again, where he doesn’t eat or sleep or…stop. Nothing gets done when you’re not taking care of yourself like that.”“He informed me Monday that he wanted to shoot me,” Moira said.Ana’s voice became sad. “That isn’t the Jack I know.”“That’s the only Jack I know, Captain.”“He really isn’t like that, Moira,” Lena added, “promise. Things have just been a little crazy lately.”The Doctor said no more preceding that. Gabe didn’t say anything, either, despite him debating on it in his head. He’s known Jack and Ana for way too long. They were the only people he could truly consider friends for just about ever.Jack is a good person.Ana is a good person.And he was turning his back on them and siding with Talon. Because things change, he told himself, becoming bitter, people change. And now he was placed between a rock and a hard place because of them. Jack was a good person.Ana was a good person.Now, with the situation they threw him into (that Jack threw him into), he had no choice but to receive aid from Talon, and aid them in return.“Nobody’s shooting you,” he told Moira, who smiled at him sweetly.“Thank you for watching out for me, Gabe.”“Well, it’s the least I could do.”
After all you’ve done for me.
“I don’t want anybody shooting anybody,” Mercy declared. “The last thing I need is one of my coworkers being rushed to the ED because another one of my coworkers put a hole in them.”“Then let’s agree to not shoot any of our friends!” Winston offered, and laughed nervously.“A shame we have to even say that anymore.”“Be as it may,” Moira ended, and continued to gaze mindlessly out of the window.Or maybe mindlessly was incorrect. Her head always seemed to be filled with hypotheses and ideas and speculations.Upon reaching their destination, the atmosphere became filled with praise for Lena and her driving capabilities and questions regarding where the party should head first. They all were situated in a tight group chattering to each other, except for Moira, who stood off to the side and gazed at the roads beyond their parking lot and the trams that pedestrians entered and exited. The wind that whipped past Gabriel’s ears ruffled the tall woman’s sweater and tinted her cheeks pink, but her gelled hair stayed perfectly in place, not a strand leaving its post atop her head.He gave his input to the rest of the gang and walked up to the Doctor. Not too close, but not too far away, either.“You looking at something?”No answer.Instead of repeating himself, he followed her gaze.Nothing was noteworthy about the scene. Traffic was flowing steadily, and groups of people and omnics crowded the sidewalks. Some were even pointing in their direction, most likely at Winston, or perhaps it was because they recognized everyone’s faces.“Are we leaving yet?” Moira finally spoke up. He glanced back at the rest of their group, who appeared to still be in deep contemplation. “I don’t think so.”He then decided to try again.“What are you looking at?”There was a moment’s delay in her reply. “The environment here reminds me of Dublin. Not by much, but it does. When I still resided there, I would walk to most places, and I would always watch the others as they walked, too. None of them ever seemed to be alone.”That was where her story ended, and he wasn’t sure what to take away from it. He nodded in response, not thinking of a better way to answer her at that moment.“Now I won’t be alone, either.” She turned her body towards him. “How ironic is that?”Was she looking for an answer? Or was that rhetorical?“You’ll be with me and them.”She looked away from him at seemingly nothing, then at the rest of their party, then at nothing once more.It was almost inaudible over the sounds of Mercy and Winston talking and the noise of Zurich, but Moira clearly mumbled to herself I’ll be with you, and ran the tips of her fingers over her shoulder and clavicle.She was doing that a lot. He wondered if their time alone earlier was occupying her mind more than she let on.
That was a sweet thought.
And she said it was new, as well. She’s never done anything with anyone before him. He would be her first time for everything.
How lucky was he.
The group finally settled on a location and began to walk. Winston had to trek alone at the back due to his size.As they were overtaken by silence, Gabe was clearly able to make out passerbys whispering comments such as that’s the monkey from T.V., I think and those are Overwatch soldiers and look at how tall that lady is! No one dared approach them, they were simply admired from a distance. He didn’t blame any of them; Overwatch was a strange collection of individuals, and Winston made them stand out even more.Somehow, they made their way around town with zero opposition from any of the citizens they passed. McCree spoke about the food Ingrid would bring for the holidays as they entered a bakery Angela insisted they visit.It was much warmer inside than out, he realized immediately, and the atmosphere was pleasant. Pastries, loaves, and sweets were in baskets and display cases scattered around the area, and people speaking German exclusively sat at round wooden tables. It looked like a place Mercy would frequent.Speaking of whom, the surgeon walked up to a lady organizing one of the display cases and began conversing with her in their shared native tongue.“They shouldn’t have let me in,” McCree sounded next to him. “Everything here looks mighty tasty.”“Hey! You two!” Tracer’s voice sounded from behind, and the two men spun around simultaneously. The woman was standing in the glass doorway, holding it open with her body and causing a draft. Winston was on the other side. He was never going to fit through the entrance.“I don’t want to leave Winston out here all by himself. Do you want to go with him to fetch your booze and whatnot? So it’ll be us four girls here and then you three elsewhere.”Winston protested with No, really, I’ll be just fine. I’ll wait right here, but Jesse spoke over him with, “Sure thing! Can’t leave anyone behind. Besides,” he turned to Gabriel, “if I stay in here, I might end up spending our whole budget.”He paused. He wasn’t very adamant on leaving Moira, especially if his being there was the only reason she decided to change her mind about attending.He considered his options. He could ask McCree and Winston if it would be alright to have her tag along, or he could refuse and tell them he would like to stay behind. There’s also the possibility that she wouldn’t care if he left, but he wasn’t sure how plausible that was.“Um,” he sounded, and decided on, “let me tell Moira where I’m going first.”“Right…” said Jesse as Gabe walked over to where Moira stood admiring the interior.She had the tiniest smile on her naturally-defined face, and as he neared her, she closed her eyes and hummed as she exhaled.He couldn’t help but smile. She looked so…content. Happy. Relaxed. It was so fucking cute. “Moira,” he sounded right before placing his hand on her shoulder.He didn’t want to startle her.She opened her eyes slowly and looked down at him.“This place is so lovely.”“Why’s that?” He removed his hand.“It’s quaint and quiet and…relaxed.”“And warm.”“That, as well. Do you need something?”“Winston, McCree, and I were going to head out to get alcohol. The ladies were going to stay behind, that’s what Tracer told me.”Her smile faltered, and before she could say anything, he added, “You’re more than welcome to come with me. You know that.”Moira glanced over his head briefly. “I’ll join you, if that’s so.”
“That is so.”
Before they moved from their place inside the bakery, the Doctor abruptly glanced down to her side and pulled her hand away, much to Gabriel’s confusion.He followed her stare to find that a toddler, probably not any older than eight, was standing next to her, pointing at her and speaking in German.
Moira was no longer happy. In fact, she looked absolutely disgusted.
He, in an attempt to take the child’s attention away from his partner, bent down to her height and said, as softly as he could manage, “Hi, do you know any English? We don’t know how to speak German.”“Yeah, I am good at it,” said the small girl in a heavy accent.“Can you tell her what you were saying in English then?”“Just…why is she so tall? She is like…” the girl made a gesture with her arms, and all Gabe could do was chuckle.“She was born like that.”“Girls get born short, though.”“Not all of them.”“I’m sorry, Gabe!” Angela’s voice called, and she ran over to where the three of them stood and took the toddler by the hand. “I know this girl’s mother. We were talking and she must have gotten curious.”He put his hands on his thighs and pushed himself to his full height. “She was asking me why Moira is so tall.”That made Angela smile, and Moira frown.“She should be taught how to keep her hands to herself,” said the distraught woman.Now Mercy was frowning.“I’ve never seen someone look at a child the way you just did. What is the matter with you?”Moira said nothing, and Doctor Ziegler began speaking her native language to the small girl and ushered her away from them.Once they were alone, the Doctor told him quietly, “I hate children.”He considered her statement. “I know you do.”“One of the many reasons I’m not excited for Halloween.”“Well, like I said, you don’t have to bother with them too much. Nobody’s allowed in Blackwatch territory.”
“Wonderful.”
“Hey, you coming or what, Gabriel?” McCree’s voice rang.“Hang on, I was busy.”“Busy making us wait.”“Yeah, yeah.”“We should be off, then,” Moira said, and Gabriel nodded.“Back out into the cold.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Gabriel listened silently as muffled chattering and clanging seeped through the walls of his bedroom and into his head.Family and friends have been arriving at the compound since the very early hours of the morning, long before the Sun had to show itself over the horizon, and he wasn’t able to fall back to sleep because of it. Blackwatch living quarters were also located directly underneath the main gates of the complex; that didn’t make his situation any better. Even the darkness that consumed his bedroom did not aid his restlessness.He should be up there helping the others and accommodating the guests, he argued with himself earlier. Everyone must have been wondering where Gabriel could be.But he couldn’t bring himself to move. He couldn’t make himself get up from his bed and fix his appearance until he was presentable.Tomorrow night was go time. Tomorrow night, he and Moira had to meet up with Sombra and possibly other members of Talon to aid them in becoming stronger, more resilient, and better equipped to hit harder against Overwatch.He was helping them possibly take the lives of the ones he worked alongside for so long. And also the ones who kicked him to the side and blamed him and Moira for the decline of Overwatch’s credibility. After all he’s done for them. After all he’s fucking done for them.
They deserve it.
Gabe tuned back into reality and, instead of listening to the discourse happening above him, honed in on Moira’s snoring at the back of his head.Few were the nights they slept together and she wasn’t so loud. Now was certainly not one of those nights.He was still getting used to her presence in his bed: her body, her snores, the heat she emanated, her shuffling; all of it.It had been so long since he had a partner to fall asleep with; it was basically foreign to him at this point. He imagined it was a similar situation for her, considering she’s never had someone to drift off into unconsciousness with.He began to wonder if she ever became lonely. She wasn’t very good at keeping friends or acquaintances, and she was estranged from her now-deceased family at some point in her life.And he was the first person to show interest in forming a bond of any kind with her, she had said in the past. I was never a very loved individual, she had written.The endless silence must have gotten to her at times, he concluded. The lack of another friendly body keeping her company and making sure she felt wanted by someone had to take a toll on her happiness. Or perhaps the lack of anyone meaningful in her life numbed her to the point where she no longer was certain if it saddened her or not.Gabriel became lonely at times; not often, but it did happen. The soldiers of Overwatch kept great company, but they could never take away the rare feeling of missing something or someone. They didn’t take away the longing that plagued him in the late night, right after stressful encounters and a lack of food and sleep took hold of him.These thoughts were essentially nonexistent in present times, but when Blackwatch first was established, they did circles in his brain at a thousand miles a minute. Longings and yearnings for someone to touch, to appreciate, to make love to, and to fall asleep with. And, when he was a much younger soldier than he is now, he yearned to be a father, too.Perhaps that was another reason he was so drawn to Moira: they were both alone in the world. Two withdrawn, angry, war-plagued, backstabbed, psychotic, lonely individuals.The woman lying next to him eventually stopped her snores and sniffed, and he flipped his body over to witness her sitting up and rubbing her eyes.Her pin-straight hair, no longer held in place by the confines of gel products, cascaded down her ears and temples and into her face. She was wearing the same sleeveless top he found her in when they were preparing to head to Venice, except this time, there was no bralette supporting her chest, and her breasts lay naturally underneath the fabric. The bruise on her left bosom had become purple dancing alongside yellow as the days passed, and the red marks cascading across her clavicle and around the base of her neck were partially faded.Gabe enjoyed this picture of Moira, one where her composure and professionalism was gone and was replaced with something more raw.She glanced at him, then up at the ceiling, drowsiness written all over her features.“The guests are arriving, I’d imagine.”“Yeah. It’s been nonstop for a few hours now.”“How torturous.”She laid herself back on the bed, this time much closer to him than before she woke.“Are you going to join everyone soon?”“I don’t know. I’ve been here forever debating.”“You shouldn’t.”He smiled. “Should I stay here with you instead?”“That’s for you to decide.”She blinked slowly, and didn’t bother to open her eyes completely. “I’ll be staying here, that’s for certain.”He already knew that much. Not only did she despise everyone and everything going on in the Overwatch wing of the complex, but she appeared to still require rest, as well.Gabriel ran his hand through her hair and down her back, bringing himself closer to her and situating his head underneath her chin. She brought her leg over his hip as their bellies pressed together and laid her palm on the back of skull, pressing his head gently into her chest.Her heartbeat rang in his ears, and it drowned out all sounds and thoughts and negativity from his world. It wasn’t a loud sound, trapped far beneath the flesh and bone of her body, but truly, nothing existed in that moment except for the wonderful thumping reverberating beautifully against the walls of his skull and the grooves of his brain.He closed his eyes and just listened for what felt like an eternity.Eventually, Moira whispered a few words in Irish (not Gaelic, Irish, apparently) against his hair. What stuck out to him most was his name ( Gabe ) placed clearly in between words that were alien against the grooves of his ears.“Hm?” was all he said, eyes still closed.“Figure it out,” she whispered back.“How?”“Figure that out, as well.”He scoffed and moved his hand from her slender back to her rear, grabbing and squeezing with force.“I don’t appreciate your ‘baptism by fire’ way of teaching me Irish.”Instead of verbally responding, Moira stroked his head gently for a minute or so before going still, her cold exhales causing the top of his scalp to prickle. Tired, he thought absentmindedly.He liked having her fall asleep with him; she’s done so almost every night since their outing. Each instance, he would fall asleep in her absence, and wake up in her presence. This concerned him only slightly, because Gabe himself already retired pretty late into the night. He didn’t want to think too hard about how much sleep she was truly able to manage.He knew he wouldn’t like the truth.He stayed put beside her for God knows how long, and the longer he resided, the louder the noises above him became.Gabriel was being lazy. He should help the rest of the base deal with the oncoming guests as he always had.He could already hear the collective Where were you ringing in his ears.Moira was so comfortable, though.Begrudgingly, he said into her breasts, “I think I should get moving.”“Why?” Her response was hushed and delayed, as if she were pulling herself out of sleep to speak.“Because I always have.” He took his hand off of her rear and grabbed the one she kept at the back of his head, kissing her knuckles and bringing her palm to his bare chest. “Are you going back to sleep?”“Yes. Your head is soft.”Gabe laughed at her remark. He wasn’t certain if it was supposed to be a compliment or simply a statement, but it was adorable nonetheless.“Yours is too!” was his reply.He squeezed her fingers lightly before letting go and directing his body away from hers, sitting up once he was a comfortable distance away.He rubbed his cheeks instinctually, the pads of his fingers grazing across unshaven stubble. Moira was studying him from where she lay, her eyes moving and her head not. He looked at her, but this didn’t seem to break her concentration.“Why do you shave your chest and not your back?” She sounded genuinely curious, as there was no mocking tone in her low voice.“My back isn’t that bad,” he countered. It wasn’t, right? The last he checked it wasn’t.He craned his head over his shoulder and pulled at the skin covering his scapula to get a better view of his posterior.“Your lower back is.”
Oh.
“I like it like that.”“That doesn’t make much sense.”“Do you not like it?”“I’m making an observation, not a judgement.”“You’re making a lot of observations about me this morning,” he smiled, and she grinned back drowsily. “It is my specialty.” Moira adjusted the blanket she resided under. “Your body is attractive, it’s worth observing.”He adored her little compliments. They were always spoken in a way that was very…well, Moira. He thought about what she said, and it led him down a string of thoughts he decided to entertain.“Let me tell you, there were a bunch of times I thought you didn’t like me. And I would sit there and think ‘damn, she’s the most intelligent and beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, and I’m fucking this up.’” He laughed at the end.“Why didn’t you believe I liked you?”He thought about his answer carefully. “Liked me romantically, I guess that’s what I meant.”Moira sat herself up as he spoke, and she appeared to lose herself in thought once upright.“I wasn’t aware of how you felt for quite some time. Truthfully, I believe I was the last to know.”“Yeah?”“I would have said something sooner if I had known.”He went to speak, but she cut him off.“I was very frustrated with myself for a long time, Gabe. I didn’t truly comprehend my views towards you for a long time, and once I had, I was angry I felt that way. I argued with myself that I was incapable of bringing you happiness, and you were incapable of offering me any joy, as well. I had also convinced myself that I, and everyone around me, were incorrect. I tried to believe you weren’t interested in a relationship, and it was simply ignorance and misguided views that made me believe it to be so.”Her words sunk into Gabriel’s skin uncomfortably. “You don’t believe in any of those things anymore, am I right?”“I do not.”Relief washed over him, and only then did he realize his heart was beating arrhythmically in his chest. “I’m glad, because none of that’s true.”She paused for another moment. “This isn’t the first time I’ve felt this way, but it’s the first instance the feeling has been so consuming. I firmly believe your actions had a part to play in that.”“My actions?”“And your words.” She ran her darkened palm over the length of his arm. “And your body, as well.”He grinned and placed his hand atop hers as she rested it at his wrist.“Do you truly believe I’m the most beautiful woman you have ever witnessed?” Moira’s question was abrupt and filled with heartfelt curiosity.“Yeah, of course! You look like a…uh, model, or a queen: stunning and perfect.”And he meant it. Every word he said.Moira herself chuckled. “What a compliment!”“I mean it, you’re gorgeous.”“I don’t believe your brain is processing information correctly.”“I assure you it is.”She was smiling so genuinely, it was beautiful.“Are you going to assist in welcoming our guests soon?”“I’m going to head in the shower first.” He lightly squeezed her hand once more. “You joining me this time?”“Would we not be in each other’s way?”“That’s half the fun.”She made a face, one that looked either disgusted or confused. “Relationships bring about strange activities.”“What else would you consider strange?”Moira contemplated. “Oral sex.”Gabe laughed a bit too hard at that, but how could he not? “Don’t knock it till you try it, Moira.”“I can’t imagine it’s all that pleasurable.”“You’d be surprised.”Another pause.“Is it something you enjoy?”Of fucking course it’s something he enjoys.
And to watch her do it? To watch her kneel between his legs and run her tongue along his length and suck on his tip and look so fucking fabulous as she did so? He would enjoy that even more.
“It’s something I enjoy a lot,” Gabriel told her with a smirk.“Gabe, I wouldn’t even know where to start with that.”“You’ll get it. You’re a quick learner.”Her response to that was an eyebrow raise and a nod.The silence brought him back to the noises surrounding them, and he decided to let go of Moira and stand, rolling his shoulders and neck and listening to the cracks that followed.“They’re going to start thinking I’m dead soon,” he explained sarcastically.His partner didn’t comment, but instead decided to say, “I’ll follow you upstairs.”She…will?“I thought you were going to stay here?”“I was, but I’m no longer certain I could manage to fall asleep. If you’re leaving, it would be best if I did, as well.”“You want to be a part of that mess?”“No, but I’ll walk with you.”No, she won’t. He should have known.“Right,” Gabe stated flatly.Moira decided to stand following the end of their conversation, and walked over to his open closet, examining it carefully. He didn’t move, simply watched and admired her svelte form from behind.Eventually, she reached out to run her fingers against a shirt hanging amidst many others. There was nothing special about the item, from what he could tell, but Moira seemed to be intrigued.There was silence for a long while, and only when he broke it did the Doctor offer any details on her thoughts.“What caught your eye?”“This was what you wore the first day we met.”He raised his brows. “You remember that?”“I remember many things.”She turned around slowly. “Would you still want to shower together?”
Absolutely.
Gabriel smiled. “You know the answer.”Moira touched the bruising on her collar and left her finger lingering. She wasn’t smiling, but he was beginning to understand that frowning didn’t always mean she was upset.“What if you don’t like what you see?”His happiness was depleted at that.“Do you mean, what happens if I don’t like your body?”“That’s right. What happens then?”Gabe was confused. What did she mean “what happens then”? Did she believe he would find her unattractive?“Why wouldn’t I like what I saw?”“To my knowledge, it’s a common occurrence.”No, no. He was going to like whatever he saw. Because it was Moira’s skin.He was surprised, to an extent. Despite showing no emotion in her face, she sounded self-conscious or insecure, two things he would never expect from her.“Do you not like your appearance?”“I never put much thought into it, I’m only wondering if you would.”“No.”She stepped closer to him, and now, she seemed concerned.“Did my question bother you?”Gabriel didn’t want to tell her the truth. He didn’t want to worry her.“I didn’t get what you meant in the beginning, that’s all.”
He still didn’t really get what she meant.
There was silence ringing in his ears, despite the perpetual background noises dancing around them.Moira looked him up and down once.“Do you want to see my body?”He contemplated her offer. Only for a moment.“As long as you’re alright with it.”She took a step back, gazing to the side and down. Her face was red. Very, very red. Her fingers grazed the hem of her shirt, and she scoffed and smiled. “Bear with me, this is new.”Gabe sat himself down on the edge of his mattress. “You don’t have to-““No. I want to.”
Alright, then.
Tentatively, Moira pulled her top up and over her head, her rib cage protruding from the skin as her belly muscles grew taut.Gooseflesh covered her chest and stomach as those sections of her body touched the air of his bedroom. Her breasts were small and perky, and her pink nipples stood erect due to the chilled air. There were freckles covering her chest, as he’s noticed before, and three birthmarks formed a rudimentary triangle near her left areola.“It’s cold,” Moira pointed out almost inaudibly, and placed her shirt on his bed.She looked shy.
Very, very shy.
Gabriel was smiling; he couldn’t stop it. She looked so fucking gorgeous. He reached out a hand for her to take, beckoning to her with his fingers. The Doctor appeared confused, but did as he asked, and he drew her closer and hoisted her onto his lap, her long legs folded on either side of and straddling his hips.He held her as close as he could, for who knows how long.“You’re so fucking beautiful.”“If that’s what you believe.”In response, he kissed the breast pressed against his cheek and tugged at the hem of her sweatpants.“Can I take these off?”“Of course.”With that, Gabe decided to lay her onto the bed once more (on his side, this time) and kissed her stomach, right above her navel. She touched his head once before he slid the fabric hiding her body down her slender legs.
And oh, was she stunning. And oh, how it aroused him.
She was so slender, and being without clothing accentuated that quality. There were more freckles covering her lower half, as well, he noted. Much more were located on her buttocks than on her pubic region, which was shaven neatly.Moira bowed her legs and crossed one over the other, placing her hands on her forehead in the process.“Give me a moment,” she asked, her face hot. And so, a moment he gave her.Gabriel moved his body to lay next to her, and she glanced at him from her peripheral. “I feel awkward.” She was smiling slightly.“You look like a model,” was his encouraging reply.“Or a queen?”“And a queen.”She shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Why is it that I’m the only one without clothes? That isn’t very fair.”He shrugged, smiling at her elegance, and she flipped onto her side to better watch him remove his shorts.Gabe was so fucking hard, and it showed.It was because of her. It was because of her beauty. It was because she was so regal, so sexy, so alluring. Moira examined him briefly before reaching over his shoulders and placing her hand on one cheek and planting a kiss on the other.“You look like a king.”
Oh, did he?
“You know ‘Reyes’ means ‘king?’” he told her. She hummed thoughtfully. “Befitting.”There was a look in her eyes, but he couldn’t decipher if it was arousal or drowsiness, or perhaps both.Eventually, she closed her eyes. “I do wish you did not have to leave me.”
Oh…right.

He was supposed to be getting ready to leave.
Moira brought her body closer to his and threw a leg over his abdomen, her breath hot against his shoulder.Her eyes were still shut, and loose strands of her hair pricked his face. He absentmindedly traced the distended veins running up her right arm as he contemplated his situation.He didn’t want to leave before, and he most certainly didn’t want to leave now.He wanted to stay there, in his room, with Moira. He wanted to place himself in between her pale thighs and fuck and bite and slap and scratch and choke and bruise her until she couldn’t take it anymore. He wanted to show her exactly what he liked, and that was to make her beautiful, intelligent, condescending self his bitch. But then again, maybe he should leave. Maybe he shouldn’t worry the others with his absence. Jack would most certainly conjure up some story in his head as to what Gabriel could possibly be doing. Perhaps he would relay it to the others, and tension would build again. Moira told him not even ten minutes prior staying huddled up in his bedroom wasn’t benefiting her at all, as well.There was simply no good reason he should stay.“I might have to leave soon,” he told her quietly.“I suppose it was my mistake for reminding you.”She knew he forgot? It was obvious, he decided.“You getting tired again?”“It’s a possibility.”Gabe kissed the top of her head and demanded politely, “Get on top of me.”Moira opened her eyes at that. “Hm?”“You heard me.”Without truly giving her a moment to process anything, he slid his arm underneath her side and assisted her in directing her body overtop his own.She placed one hand on his shoulder and the other on the mattress as she adjusted her hips, the folds of her vulva resting on either side of his shaft.The sensation was absolutely wonderful. Their chests and bellies pressed together as Moira lowered her mouth to his ear and whispered something in her native tongue. It was low, with a lilt to her words that knit fire and sparks within him.Gabriel placed his hands on her ass and pressed her hips into his, creating more pressure where he wanted it most.“What’s that mean?” he asked with a smirk.“Why should I tell you?”“Because I’m your favorite person.”She scoffed and ran her left hand down his body, past the thick, wirey, unshaven hair of his lower end. Once she reached his cock, Moira ran her fingers all the way from the base to the tip, dragging and pulling the taut skin gently as she did so. It made his muscles twitch, and the way she pressed on the most sensitive part of him caused him to swallow dryly.“It’s…hm…” she said into his ear. Her eyes were closed and her teeth were showing as she grinned.“All for you,” he finished.“There’s quite a lot here for me.”Gabe laughed, and Moira chuckled along with him.He loved her, he thought. He loved her so much.
He loved her so much.
 “Gabriel! How nice of you to show up!” Ana smiled cheerfully. “Did you not get much sleep last night?”“I forgot what day it was,” Gabriel lied, “but I’m here now.”He had to raise his voice slightly over the chatter and commotion happening around him. There were so many people crowding the entrance and hallways, so many familiar faces. It almost made him smile seeing everyone return.“Where were you?” Amari asked as the Commander approached her.“I woke up a little too late.”“‘A little’?”“Hi, Commander Reyes!” Brigitte’s familiar voice rang, and the girl ran up to where they stood. Gabe smiled and nodded politely.“Where’s Genji and McCree? And um…I don’t remember her name, sorry.”“Moira.”“Yeah, I remembered it was something weird.” When Gabriel chuckled, Brigitte quickly corrected, “I-I mean, I’ve just never heard it before!”“Don’t sweat it, I know what you mean. The name is Irish. She’s from Dublin.”“Oh, awesome!”He was tempted to say the name of the city in her accent, but decided against it. He was terrible at replicating the way she spoke, even after all the moments they spent together.“I believe Jesse and Genji are helping your family with baggage,” Ana chimed. “There is quite a bit of it.”“ Oh. okay!”“Yes, and with Moira? She doesn’t usually like to socialize, so to speak. I can’t imagine you will be seeing her too often.”
He couldn’t argue with her on that one. He agreed, even.
“Really? What if she gets lonely?”Gabe wondered that himself. He was saddened by all of her comments to him as he dressed himself to leave the bedroom. Comments like You should sleep more. You told me you’ve been lying awake for quite some time and You owe none of them your presence. To him, they sounded like she was either trying to say Please fuck me or Please come back to bed with me. Either way, he didn’t like leaving her in that state, whichever one it might have been. I’ll pop in now and again to say hi, he told her right before they left his room. It was only before they parted ways at the elevator did she make the snarky comment Perhaps during one of those occurrences you will remember to bathe. Why she didn’t remind him he needed a shower until it was too late was beyond him.“She likes to isolate herself, Brigitte,” Jack’s voice sounded to Gabriel’s right, “she’ll be alright.”“Just making sure,” the Swedish girl replied.Ana began to speak to Brigitte, but the Blackwatch Commander didn’t catch much of it. He was too focused on Morrison’s sudden appearance.“Nice of you to show yourself,” he said.“I’ve always got to be fashionably late, Jack, you know that.”“I wouldn’t consider a few hours ‘fashionably late,’ but I’ll let it slide. Just this once.”“Uh huh.”The Strike Commander was wearing a light blue sweater with grey jeans, and it looked awkward on him.Jack always managed to appear awkward, however. It was his style, in a sense.“Your boyfriend showing up?” Gabe tried. His friend didn’t light up at the question. In fact, he seemed to become crestfallen, and the Black Ops Commander suddenly felt guilty that he asked.“I don’t think so. He’s been…distant lately.”“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bring anything up.”“You didn’t mean any harm. It’s just, with everything going on in Overwatch nowadays, it’s been…hard. It’s been hard.”Gabriel’s mood dropped. It’s been a while since he’s seen Jack in this state: uncomfortable and sorrowful, with a longing look in his eyes and in his body. The sight upset him.
Morrison loved Vincent, too. He loved him so much.
He remembered the first time he met the man. Jack was ecstatic, over the moon, head over heels for him. Vincent was all he ever talked about, was all he ever wanted to see.Jack’s feelings never changed, but recently, Gabe had a suspicion the Strike Commander’s partner couldn’t say the same.“You know I’m here if you ever need to get it off your chest,” Gabriel offered genuinely, and Morrison nodded.“I know, Gabe.”He was somewhat conflicted. He hated Jack so much, but…
But he cared about him so much, too.
 
Why?
 He was truthfully saddened by his friend’s situation; truthfully. But the resentment he held towards him felt just as honest.It made him think of his meeting with Talon that was going to take place soon, and a rock formed in his stomach. 
Maybe he was making a mistake.
  No, he scolded himself. This isn’t a mistake, this is a means to an end.
For the betterment and greater good of Overwatch.
“What about you?” Jack asked, reeling Gabe back into reality.“What about me?”Morrison glanced around. He seemed to make sure Brigitte and Ana (and everyone else, for that matter) were a considerable distance away from them before continuing. And when he did, he spoke as low as he could over the noise bouncing off of the walls.“How is your…girlfriend? I suppose I’ll call her that.” 
Ex-fucking-cuse me?
 Gabriel wasn’t sure if he looked as utterly surprised as he felt, but it didn’t matter.“What do you mean?”Jack shrugged. “Just curious, is all.”His mind immediately went to Ana, and then Tracer, and then McCree; he was a possibility, as well.Jack knew? How? Who? The man’s face was unreadable, and Gabe did not know how to feel.“I went to wake you up earlier, but then I heard you two talking, and thought it would be a good idea to leave you alone. It sounded, um…intimate, your conversation.”Were they being that loud? They weren’t talking at higher volumes, and the noise coming from the front gates and main hallways should have been enough to drown out any sounds.
Apparently not.

And Jesus Christ, what did he hear?
With his ears hot and brain in its defensive mode, Gabriel said nothing. There was nothing he could think to say. He didn’t have the energy to become hostile, and with evidence like what Jack had just pointed out, it was hard to dispute the man.“How long has this been going on?” Morrison didn’t sound upset in any way, moreso curious.
It’s been a little while now, hasn’t it?
He thought about his question. How long has it been?
Moira definitely would know.
“You don’t know?”Gabe glanced at Jack again, not realizing until then that he was staring at nothing.“Jack, look-““You don’t have to explain yourself to me.” Morrison stepped closer and put a hand on his shoulder. “I trust your decisions. Even when I…don’t really understand.”“You’re being awfully calm about this.” It was confusing, to say the least. “Because I know you. We might butt heads, sure, but I know you have your priorities straight.” He removed his hand and crossed his arms. “I’ll keep this between us for you. Ana won’t know.”Gabriel almost laughed.“But Gabe, listen: her and I don’t get along. I trust your judgement, but I can’t say I’ll ever be her biggest fan, if you get what I mean.”He shrugged. “I guess.”“Works for me. Just keep her in line.”He bit his tongue, resisting the small amount of annoyance Jack’s comment brought forth. He didn’t mean any malice behind it.At least, that’s what he told himself.“I hope you could understand when I say it’s hard for me to imagine Moira being very, uh, caring,” Morrison continued.“You’d be surprised. It took me a while to find, but there is a heart and soul buried underneath all that…callousness.”“Oh, believe me, I’m surprised.”Gabe smiled. He found it odd how nonchalantly Jack was behaving about the situation.He hated Moira. He hated her with a fiery, unforgiving passion. She stood for everything that went against Morrison’s ideologies.And so did Gabriel, in a way.And Moira hated Jack. She never said, but she most likely believed Gabe was insane for still appreciating Morrison, despite everything crumbling around them. At times, he felt that same way about himself.And yet…“…you aren’t treating any of his family the way you treat the rest of us! I-” “You, Doctor Ziegler, are concerning yourself with me right now for no substantial reason. I want to be a part of this as much as you would like me to.”Gabriel and Jack glanced in the same direction. There was Angela, her face hot and bright and her eyes livid, and next to her, there was Moira, tall and prim and proper and thoroughly irked. There you are, he thought to himself, for some reason. The two women walked towards the double doors on the opposite side of the lobby, Moira’s lab coat flowing gracefully behind her. Goggles hung around her neck, and her hair was gelled to her liking.“Wonderful! I hope I don’t have to see you at all this week,” Mercy continued angrily. “Why Gabe associates with you is beyond me.”“Hm, I would choose myself over you or Jack, as well.”“You’re unbelievable!”As they walked further from where he stood, listening in to their conversation became more difficult. However, just before Moira disappeared into the doors opposite of where he stood, he heard Angela use the words strain and manipulating, and the Doctor responded with, loud and clear and eloquently and exasperated, You don’t know anything about him. With that, she left Angela alone, seething and red.“You sure she’s the one, Reyes?” Jack interrogated, craning his neck to look Gabe in the face.“Positive.” Gabriel himself returned Morrison’s gaze confidently. “I have a lot of respect and appreciation for her.”Even if no one else did.The Strike Commander sighed. “I was never able to sway you then, I guess I can’t sway you now.”“Sway me how?”“Well…sway your opinion of her.”No, no, Jack could never sway him. Nor could Ana, or McCree, or Tracer, or anyone. He knew how beneficial her work and brilliance was to Blackwatch and to humanity. They will all see it one day, too.“Maybe I’ll end up being the one swaying you, Jack. Who knows!”“We’ll see,” Morrison smiled, and off they went to make themselves useful somehow.  “You’re telling me you’ve never baked anything in your life.”“I never had a reason to.”“For fun?”“Preparing food isn’t fun.”Gabriel stared at Moira in disbelief. She was smiling, amused at his shock perhaps, and sipped her wine gracefully.Everything she did was graceful.“You never struck me as someone who enjoys baking, Gabe.”“I make a whole bunch of stuff for the holidays. But this year there was already more than enough food, so I held off.”“You usually dress up, as well, I’ve heard; what happened to that?”“Didn’t have a lot of time this year.”“To do what, exactly?”“Eh, design something impressive.”Moira’s smirk disappeared and was replaced with utter dumbfoundedness.
“‘Design’?”
Before Gabe could reply, McCree’s voice rang to his right, “Reyes always makes his own costumes, Moira. I’ll never tell him he’s good at it, though, and you shouldn’t, either. His ego don’t need to get any bigger than it already is.”The Doctor was looking over his head and at Jesse, of whom patted the Commander’s shoulder twice before trekking away without another comment, a plastic cup in his hand.Of course, Moira said she wasn’t going to join them in the festivities, but after he ventured down to her lab for the fourth time that night and told her all the children were asleep, she finally caved.The day was long. From helping family and friends get themselves situated at base in the late morning, to keeping up with the stamina of everyone else during the day-long party in the late night, he didn’t rest once. And he was exhausted. Moira seemed a bit more awake than he was, but she definitely was not full of vim and vigor, either.They sat together at the back of the room on a sofa pressed against the wall, away from everyone else. A large, empty room in the Overwatch wing was repurposed to house the food, tables, chairs, couches, and anything in between, and that was where most of the food was eaten and where the adults congregated. The size of the space also allowed the pair to be decently removed from the rest of the group, which gave him the opportunity to tell her how beautiful she looked and that her eyeshadow complimented her dark lipstick perfectly and that her ass looked wonderful in those pants, all without stares from others.“You never told me you knew how to design outfits,” Moira stated, “that’s impressive.”“I learned when I was a lot younger than I am now. I always had a knack for it, I guess.”She smiled. “Perhaps you can design costumes for me when occasions arise.”
I would love to.
“I’d love to.”“Moira!” Brigitte’s voice rang, and the Swedish girl, clad in a black feline ensemble, ran up to where they sat and stopped a few meters away. “You’re super tall and I can’t find Reinhardt; do you think you could help me with something? I’m sorry if I’m bothering you.”“Shouldn’t you be sleeping, Brigitte?” was Moira’s somewhat-irrelevant reply.“Nope! Not me! I’m old enough to stay up late! And drink apple juice.”The Doctor smiled. “I’d be happy to aid you.”She handed Gabriel her glass and stood to follow Brigitte to wherever she was needed. He watched them leave the room before examining the object he held in his hand. The glass was half empty, and traces of Moira’s lipstick were smudged onto the rim. He decided to finish off the rest of her drink, meticulously placing his lips where hers left their mark, and stood up to join the others.Angela was there, dressed as a nurse, and Tracer was a bottle of ketchup, Torbjorn was a vampire, Ingrid was Frankenstein‘s monster, and so on. Jack wore a shirt that simply read costume and nothing more.
He probably thought he was hilarious.
Gabe trekked over to one of the tables and poured more wine for his partner.“You never struck me as a wine drinker, Gabriel,” Ana chimed, and she came into his field of view not a second later. She was adorned in everyday attire, he noticed.“It’s not for me,” was his reply, and Amari nodded in understanding.“Have you seen Genji? He makes me laugh every time I look at him!”“No? He’s here?”“Surprisingly! Jesse gave him his hat, and Genji hasn’t taken it off since! Perhaps it’s the alcohol, but I’m finding it hysterical.”“That doesn’t sound like him at all. You sure he’s not plastered?”“No.” She chuckled, but for seemingly no reason.He peered around the corner and noticed more of his colleagues conversing there. The rightmost corner of the room extended into a hallway that led to another section of the space, one that was smaller and more awkwardly shaped. There was a television playing in that room, and, from Gabriel’s vantage point, he noticed a hatless McCree sitting on a leather couch.“I noticed Moira surfaced after all of the children left,” Ana began.“Yeah, she’s…not a big fan of toddlers. Or anything younger.”“I could have figured that out from the way she reacted when that little girl tried to get her attention in the bakery the other day.”The anecdote replayed in his head briefly, and ended just in time for him to catch his friend state, “So much for motherly instinct.”“I don’t think that’s something she ever had.”“I can agree with that.”She seemed as if she were about to continue speaking, but Gabe was no longer focused on her. Instead, his eyes landed on Jack and Moira conversing with one another, the act capturing all of his attention.Moira was exhibiting an emotion he couldn’t decipher. Her face was red and hot, but her expression was neutral and plain. Morrison observed the woman with a stern gaze, his lips moving quickly as he spoke.“They’re arguing yet again,” Ana sighed. Acknowledging her with a glance and setting the alcohol he held down on the table adjacent to him, Gabriel inched closer to the pair as inconspicuously as he could manage. Once he was within earshot, he caught the latter half of their conversation.“…I’m well acquainted with it by now, but these accusations are asinine,” said Moira. “I’m starting to believe you don’t even hear yourself talk.”“I know you-”
“No, you don’t. Clearly.”
“You’re selfish and manipulative. All I’m saying is I wouldn’t be surprised to find out you were screwing with his head the entire time.”Moira paused, her eyes filling with fury. Gabe became concerned.
What were they on about?
“How dare you, Jack.”Her words were loud, and they caused some heads to turn.“I am not the monster you make me out to be. You cower from my discoveries and label my practices as immoral because you’re afraid of the implications they bring about. And then when there is someone who recognizes my potential, you label them as liars or victims of my actions.”“I’m speaking what the rest of us are thinking. You’re psychotic, and the only one who doesn’t seem to get that is him. You-” “I’m psychotic?”
Jesus Christ.
Before they could continue on any longer, he marched over and asked rather loudly, “What is going on?”Most of the room was watching them now.“It’s got nothing to do with you, don’t worry,” Jack tried, but Gabriel wasn’t having that.“Something tells me it does.”“You’re going to lie to him, now? Is it because you’re aware that what you’re spouting is ridiculous?” Moira hissed.“I’m not lying. This is between you and me.”“You’re a lonely old bastard who can’t handle the weight of the reality he made for himself, and now your anger is manifesting itself as this ugly thing you’ve become. How pitiful.”“Hey,” Gabe said softly. It was enough to get Moira’s attention, and she turned her head and looked at him with an indecipherable expression. He almost gently grabbed her arm, something he hoped would be grounding or reassuring, but when he moved his hand, she retreated ever so slightly. Don’t touch her. She can’t be touched. Now right now .It hurt him, if he was being honest. It hurt somewhat, seeing her back away from his touch, even if he knew it wasn’t because she didn’t like it.He looked at Morrison.“Tell me what’s happening, Jack. We were fine up until now.”Jack sighed, and he adjusted the coat Gabriel didn’t realize he was wearing until that point. “Nothing you don’t already know.”The Strike Commander paused before adding, “I’m sorry, Gabe, I’ll bring this up later in private,” and began to walk away. Gabe looked up to Moira after he disappeared through the doorway.She wasn’t meeting his gaze anymore.“I would like to say I can’t believe him, but that would be a lie,” she said.“What is he telling you?”“That I have you wrapped around my finger. And I care not for you.”“Do you think he’s drunk?”“Well, those certainly sound like ideologies he’d subscribe to while sober, do they not?”She met his eyes again, and it provided a small amount of joy and relief for him, though he wasn’t sure why.“I guess so.”“Is everything alright, Gabriel?” Ana sounded from behind him, and she trekked up to and stood by his side. Gabriel himself nodded, just after he witnessed Moira begin to stare daggers into the side of the Captain’s head, arms folded neatly behind her. 
If looks could kill…
“Jack likes to put in his two cents even when no one asks for it, that’s all,” the Commander explained.Amari said nothing in response, and instead turned her attention to Moira.“I could talk to him, Doctor. You aren’t the only one he’s been arguing with lately.”“And what would you say?”“I suppose that depends on what you were arguing about.”The Doctor raised her eyebrows. “I don’t believe that’s any of your concern.”Ana paused, her face contorting into something reminiscent of surprise. “Fine. I’m only trying to help you out.”“I’m more than capable of handling myself, Captain.”“I suppose you are.” She seemed to contemplate something for a moment. “You and Gabriel are very similar. You’re both so stubborn.”“Quite a useful attribute in our line of work.”“Not always.”“And I suppose that’s the type of ideology that sets you apart from Gabe and me.”Ana nodded and added no more to the topic.“I’ll go find Jack,” she said, turning her attention towards Gabe. “He’s most likely sulking outside somewhere, that’s what he usually does when he’s drunk and angry.”The Commander chuckled. “I know.”Amari followed Morrison’s path, and once she was gone, Moira moved closer to Gabriel and spoke in a lowered tone.“Jack wanted to speak to me about our relationship. He explained to me that he does not trust what I tell you and believes you are making a mistake.”“He said something earlier to me about it, but I don’t remember anything from that conversation.”“It sounds as if he’s worried for you.”
I know he is.
“I wouldn’t doubt it, but he also needs to realize he’s worrying about nothing.”“Will he ever?”“I don’t know.”Moira loomed over him with an irked expression on her face. “I am not drunk enough to deal with his nonsense.” She unfolded her hands to adjust her shirt.“What now, Gabe?”  “My father lamented my existence even before I was born,” Moira told Gabriel. “He said out of all my mother’s pregnancies, I was the child who caused her the most complications. He told me he should have listened to God’s warnings and aborted me.”“Did he feel the same way about your siblings?” he asked her cautiously, and she shook her head. “I disgraced my family and was sent by the Devil, per his own words.”“Dad of the year.”He exhaled the tension in his chest through his nose and adjusted his body, crossing his arms underneath the pillow his head rested upon.The duo stuck around upstairs with the rest of Overwatch until the remaining individuals became thoroughly intoxicated. Moira was exceptionally agitated at the behavior of her coworkers, and once McCree began to sing, she decided she had enough.Gabe wasn’t sure what prompted the Doctor to touch on the subject of her past, but he didn’t stop her for the odd fear of upsetting her somehow. He lounged on the couch stuffed into the back of her laboratory, one leg thrown over Moira’s lap and the other shoved behind her, fully planning on drifting off into sleep where he lay. However, stroking his thigh, which was crossed over her own, Moira began to speak. Suddenly, drowsiness was no longer a concern of his.“Did your mother not know what was going on? Or did she not care?”“She never reprimanded him, but never encouraged his actions. And my sisters and peers at school were always so confused by my behaviors. It made me feel as if there was something setting me apart from everyone else. I always embraced whatever that something was, however. I was and am different from the majority, and it is a gift I revel in.”“The gift is that big brain of yours.”She laughed, and it made him smile.He loved her laugh. It was so deep and low and suave and attractive. “Many are intimidated by my intellectual superiority; I find it amusing.”“Not me! I always admired it.”She turned her head to meet his gaze. “I always had an admiration for your tenacity. That is a quality every leader must demonstrate. I believe you exhibited it much more potently than Jack ever has, even before I had left Overwatch.”“I think so, too. Glad to hear someone feels the same.”She fell into silence, her smile slowly fading from her face, yet her eyes stagnant and unmoving. Gabriel held her gaze until it became uncomfortable for him to continue, and he dropped his attention to her large hand stroking his thigh.“Would you like to hear something interesting, Gabe?”“Sure.”“Right before I left Dublin, Overwatch was displayed on the television in our living room. And there you were, clad in blue. My mother said to me, ‘If I’m not mistaken, that’s the leader, Commander Reyes. He was one of America’s greatest soldiers. He reminds me of you, Moira.’”“How so?”“She explained to me that the tenacity you exhibited then must have matched my own. Otherwise, you could not possibly have excelled as you had. I let her know there is a great likelihood our paths will cross, and she said to me, ‘Should you meet him, I want you to ask him something for me: when his friends and family think of him, do they believe him to be an ambitious and strong-willed man worth admiring, or do they view him as a monster, as your own friends and family view you? Should you ever receive an answer, I’d like to know what it is.’ Her death took place days after I had left, but I often ponder on the answer I would give her, had I the opportunity.”Gabe paused, mulling over her words in his brain. “What would your answer be?”Moira stopped caressing his thigh, ending her gesture with a light squeeze and a few pats. “I would tell her that the world views him as a monster; a cruel, soulless thing, reminiscent of myself. But he does not think of me as a monster, and I do not think of him as one: so what could that mean for us? Are we both so ignorant towards our own malignancies that we cannot differentiate between good and evil any longer, or could it be that the world is in need of people such as ourselves, yet society locks those individuals away for fear of what they could accomplish? Is it possible for two monsters to love each other simply because they are both evil, or are we drawn to each other because we possess the qualities necessary to advance in this day and age? When two evils collide, can copaceticity possibly be achieved? I believe these are all interesting thoughts, ones that have more than a single answer.”He was not a philosopher by any means, and if she was looking for some sort of input from him, she certainly wasn’t going to get it.He liked the thoughts she brought forth in his mind, however. They were intriguing, to say the least.“That’s not something I could answer, Moira.”“Nor am I able to. Perhaps it’s something time may tell, or perhaps the answer will never truly reveal itself. It’s difficult to say.”They were alone in the world together, was what he picked up from her heavy questions. They were alone, they were outcast, they were misunderstood, and they were in love. “I think, in the end, our heads are in the right places,” Gabriel added lamely, “all that matters. And if anyone wants to get their tits in a twirl about it, they’re more than welcome to come up with better solutions on their own. Problem is, for them, usually nobody can.”His partner nodded and stared at his pant leg for what felt like an awkwardly long period of time. In the meanwhile, he took his arms out from under his pillow and laid them on his chest and diaphragm. They loved each other, she said. They were in love. She loved him. Moira loved him. 
Oh, and he loved her. So fucking much.
 “My apologies, I don’t mean to keep you awake. You must be exhausted.” She offered him another pat on his leg. He shook his head and furrowed his brow. “You aren’t keeping me awake.”“As long as that’s so, Gabriel.”“It’s so, Moira.”She smiled at him once more, and in return, he held out his hand for her to take. She obliged without hesitation, to his delight, and he squeezed her long fingers in his fist and rested their conjoined hands on his belly.Gabe sighed and closed his eyes. “Moira.”“Yes? As it turns out, I am keeping you awake?”“Do you know how much I love you?”He wished he could tell her. He wished words did it justice. He wished he could properly convey how much admiration, appreciation, and adoration he felt for her. But the words wouldn’t come forth, and whether it was because he was unskilled with language or there truly wasn’t anything he could use to do his feelings justice, he couldn’t say.Moira was very silent. Opening his eyes let him know she was deep in thought, her eyebrows furrowed and the corners of her mouth turned downwards.
So analytical, so judgemental.
She carefully considered every word he said, and he found it so intriguing.“Love can mean a variety of things,” she said eventually.Gabriel wasn’t sure if he was supposed to answer that in some way, but nevertheless, he continued with, “It can.”She drew her eyes away from his thigh and examined the hands they had clasped loosely together.“You may very well be the only person to ever love me.” She met his gaze and smiled.He sighed somberly.“Don’t feel sorry for me,” Moira continued. “It’s the way things will always be.”“Well, you can’t blame me for wishing that weren’t true.”“I don’t blame you at all.”A moment of silence washed over them. The Doctor seemed to stare into nothingness. Again, he wanted to ask her if everything was alright. He wanted to make sure he hadn’t said or done anything to make her uncomfortable. Because she appeared to be lost, at unease, and within intolerable thought.But he refrained. With Moira, she could appear one way and feel another. That would be confusing to most, but not to him.He knew better.“If it helps,” Moira started, “you’re the only person that I have ever loved.”
Oh, the things that statement did to him. The things it did to his heart and his lungs and his stomach and his head.
“I think it does.” He was definitely smiling so incredibly stupidly, but if he was, he couldn’t register it.“I’m glad,” she finished.Moira removed her hand from his grasp and ran the flat of her palm across his belly, down his hip, and along his inner thigh.He liked when she physically admired his body. He told her as such at some point, encouraging her to continue her gestures.“Are you prepared for our meeting tomorrow night, Gabe?”“Course I am!” he said sarcastically. “Waltzing into obvious traps in the dead of night is my specialty!”“Indeed it is.”And with that, Gabe lost himself in the endless possible scenarios that could take place spinning circles inside of his head. This is a means to an end, he said to himself.
For the betterment and greater good of Overwatch.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The late night Zurich air was unbearably frigid, to the point where Gabriel’s fingers ached, and his legs were numb despite a thick pair of sweatpants. That should have been the least of his concerns, all things considered, and yet, his discomfort was at the forefront of his mind. To his right, Moira remained calm and collected, as she always did in obviously life-threatening situations. He always admired (envied would be a better word) that quality of hers. He hoped it would rub off on him one day.“Are you certain you don’t want me to take that off you temporarily?” Moira asked for the second time that night. He looked up at her face, nonchalantly studying her dried lips and reddened nose and cheeks. “No, I’m fine. I’ve carried heavier for longer.”“That’s unimportant.”“Look, you could save your breath. I’m not letting you carry anything.”She sighed, a smirk forming on her chilled face. “Chivalrous and stubborn.”“That’s right.”Gabe adjusted the large pack he had slung over his shoulder, the trapezius muscles in that area sore and stiff from the pressure of the strap. He wasn’t sure of its contents, but Moira had explained to him right before they left base that it held “most of what she needed.” When asked to elaborate further, what she offered was All life saving equipment is in my laboratory, so let’s hope everything runs smoothly and everyone cooperates. He trusted her, he truly did, but she could be quite disconcerting at times. 
It was attractive, if he were honest, however.

As they neared their destination, Gabriel was able to make out two dark figures across the road, standing near the side of a building, appearing as ominous as ever. The smaller figure waved cheerfully at the duo, and he made the assumption that Sombra was the one greeting them. The much taller individual sat unmoving with their arms crossed.
He had loaded guns at his fingertips. They could easily show Talon he and Moira weren’t the ones they wanted to fuck with.
“I believe that’s who we’re supposed to meet, Gabe,” Moira stated oddly cheerfully. “I do hope this isn’t the way we’re killed.”“It won’t be,” he replied darkly.“I have an inkling you’re correct in your assessment.”Cautiously, they made their way across the street to where the unidentifiable couple stood. Gabe found himself repeatedly shooing away the doubts he had regarding the entire encounter. His heartbeat pounded in his ears, and it drowned out all sounds taking place in his external environment. Traitor, he was screaming to himself.
Liar.

Backstabber.

Betrayer.

Hypocrite.

Conspirator.
“Commander Reyes,” the deep, heavily-accented voice of the tall figure accompanying Sombra greeted.
Commander Reyes.
 
And there you were, clad in blue.
 “I hope it wasn’t too difficult to find us.” The figure pulled the hood off of his head, and Gabriel was able to get a better look at his face, free of the many shadows once concealing it.His skin was dark, much darker than the Commander’s, and his brown eyes flashed eerily within the brightness of the street light above them.
Doomfist.
“Not at all,” Gabe replied, a hint of poison in his words.“I gave some pretty simple directions, I’d be surprised if they got lost,” Sombra chimed, adjusting the pom hat she wore to better cover her ears.The smirk on Doomfist’s face dissipated as the Hacker spoke, and he made no attempt to acknowledge what she said.“Just so we’re clear,” the Successor continued sternly, “turn your back on our agreement, and I’ll make sure you don’t live to see another night.”“We wouldn’t dream of it,” Moira hummed with a grin. “As long as you don’t mind us returning the sentiment.”“That I’m fine with.”Doomfist held out his hand to Moira, which she promptly studied with a displeased face.“It is truly a pleasure to finally meet you, Doctor O’Deorain.”The Doctor herself returned his gesture, yet did not say nor express anything more.It was strange watching her tilt her head upwards to return someone’s gaze. Gabriel most certainly was not used to it.“I’ve reviewed your previous work, it’s impressive what you do.” Now she was smiling.“I’m delighted to hear of your support.”
It’s impressive what you do.

It is impressive. It is. It’s mind-blowing, really.
With a curt nod, Doomfist brushed past Gabe and Moira and began to walk without another word. Sombra stayed behind and trekked alongside the duo, falling in sync with their footsteps.“Where are we going?” Gabriel asked the woman, his voice stern and commanding.“Not too far from here. We picked out a nice spot super close, since bringing you two back to base inconspicuously didn’t seem like it was going to pan out. It’s big enough for the Doc to do her thing.”“Care to elaborate?” Moira inputted.“Think—away from the public’s eye.”“I wouldn’t call that an elaboration.”“You’ll see, Smarty Pants, I promise.” There was a short pause, and then, “Hey, are you single?”
Is she being serious?
Then again, Sombra rarely ever seemed to take anything seriously.Moira seemed to share Gabe’s thoughts, if the look on her face was anything to consider.“No,” was all she offered. That was not what the Hacker wanted to hear. “Ugh, that’s the case with all you good-looking people.”The rest of the journey, which was not very long, went in silence. Gabriel’s heart was in his ears, pumping quickly and erratically. His body coursed heavily with adrenaline. He felt like he needed to run, to fade, to fight, to kill. He felt like he was in Venice, fleeing through the stone streets with Genji, McCree, and Moira as Talon resistance aimed firearms at his skull. He felt like he was in London, sneaking quietly through the shadows and collecting data on Null Sector activity, knowing one wrong step would lead to his lungs being blown wide open. He felt like he was watching the old Blackwatch headquarters crumble around him as he desperately fought to extrapolate Gerard from the ashes. 
Gerard.

Gabe’s eyes fell to the sidewalk below, now lost in painful remembrance.Oh God, Gerard would be so disappointed in him.
So this has what’s become of you?
Scenarios of Gerard, Ana, and Jack becoming privy to their exchange tonight flashed through his head.
Betrayer.

Backstabber.

Liar.

No, you’re all wrong. This is not what this is. It’s for all of you. It’s because of you.
He was doing this for them. Because of them.
For Overwatch. Because of Overwatch.
 
They’d better fucking appreciate everything, in the end.
 Doomfist led them to a quite extravagant-appearing hotel, the group of four stepping through large glass doors and over to a set of elevators located down a hallway on the right of the main lobby.The heat of the building was relaxing, oddly enough. It brought Gabriel out of his thoughts and into the present.They entered an elevator, and he watched as Sombra pulled an aged brass key from her pocket, fitting it neatly into the slot within the number pad and twisting. Above the keyhole was the letter “B.”“I tried to find a space that would accommodate your needs, Doctor,” Doomfist explained once the doors slid shut. “I hope you find it suitable.”“I’m sure it will suffice,” responded Moira. “Who will I be working with?”“A few mercenaries; ones that could use the extra…stealth.”“So that is the sort of procedure you’re looking for.”“For now. As for the future, we shall see.”“There won’t be a future if you don’t hold up your end of the deal, just so we’re clear,” Gabe interjected, and Doomfist smirked. “You needn’t worry. We want you as much as you want us.”The doors opened, and Gabriel was presented with a hallway created by the wall on the left and shelves and racks on the right, all housing boxes and miscellaneous items. The air was musty and heavy and dust-ridden, and it hit him in the face with force. Doomfist and Sombra stepped out first, and the Blackwatch Commander followed hesitantly. He was acutely aware of Moira’s position in relation to him when he exited. Should things go south, it would be useful to know where she stood in the room. They could coordinate their actions from that point on.Reaching the middle of the expansive basement gave rise to the image of multiple Talon agents pointing guns at him, awaiting orders. Gabe returned their gesture, aiming the barrel of his own gun (one he pulled from nothingness, all thanks to Moira) in their direction.His heart pounded in his chest.“Look at that,” a robotic voice rang, and only then did he become aware of Maximilian‘s presence within the dimly-lit room. He was adorned in the usual suit and tie Gabriel was familiar with seeing displayed on Overwatch's video feed, and he closed the handle of a large suitcase in both hands.“Did you catch that, Akande? What an incredible ability to possess.”“That is exactly why they are here,” Doomfist replied, and gestured to his crew to lower their weapons. Gabriel mirrored their actions, but kept his finger on the trigger.Maximilian took a few silent steps over to where the Blackwatch Commander and the Doctor stood, propping up the suitcase in one hand and unlocking it with the other.“Your half of the transaction, Miss and Mister.”Inside sat a few folders and a tablet. Fingering through a few of the pages, Gabe discovered the case was teeming with transcripts of conversations with Null Sector and a few with the Shimada Empire, photos, financial transactions, and so on. There were also pictures from the day Null Sector attacked Zurich: pictures of the Overwatch team, omnics, and one of a deceased man with something written in Asian symbols below it.Gabriel felt a large palm on his shoulder, and Moira’s body gently pressed into his as she reached over with her free hand to grab an envelope placed neatly adjacent to the other items within the case.“You will be pleased to discover what is inside that, Doctor,” Maximilian explained.A check it was. One that made Moira drop the envelope she held to grip it’s edges with both hands. Her expression was subtle, but it was one of disbelief.“I’m assuming the amount is to your liking?” the Omnic stated with a lilt in his voice.The Doctor flipped the check around for Gabe to behold, and-
Holy shit.
It was a check for more money than he had ever possessed in his entire life.Sombra giggled to his side. “You guys are so cute.”“Expect more of that, should these encounters become commonplace,” explained Doomfist.Moira was smiling, and rightfully so, because what a gift that money was to relish.And Gabe was getting everything he wanted, too: information on the Shimadas and Null Sector, a peek into Talon’s business, support for Moira’s work, and a happy partner.
Truly, a gift to relish.
“I must say,” Moira admitted, “I am incredulous.”She extended her arm past Gabriel’s shoulder to place the check back in Maximilian’s suitcase, the Commander himself stepping slightly out of her way. “However, you aren’t earning either of our trust until we’ve established you will not try to end our lives once this is over.”“I can assure you there is nothing to worry about,” the Successor consoled, and gestured to something behind Moira. “Shall we?”Maximilian closed the suitcase and handed it to Gabe as Moira started pulling the large rucksack off of his body.The thought of leaving then and there crossed his mind for a moment, but he immediately disregarded it. It wouldn’t be wise to try and escape, and he believed Moira knew that, as well. It‘s possible they would be severing a link that possessed access to an endless fountain of knowledge and secrets on Overwatch’s enemies.Well, on Overwatch’s other enemies.
No honor amongst criminals.
One of the Talon agents, who was standing opposite to Gabe, set their gun down and sat in a chair placed up against a rack of boxes on the left of their corner of the labyrinthine basement, per their boss’s orders.Moira set her rucksack down to their side and knelt, looking up at the individual while on the floor. “Remove your helmet and top for me, if you’d be so kind. I can’t work with your armor in the way.”The agent did as instructed, and Gabriel realized the mystery soldier was a man easily in his thirties.The room was silent. The only notable sounds in his ears were Moira rummaging through her pack and his own bounding heart.The man sitting next to his partner had a stoic face, yet was incredibly pale and sweating profusely. It almost made Gabe laugh, seeing a person as psychotic and twisted as a Talon agent so petrified.Moira pulled out a needle full of a dark liquid and stood, looking down at the man with a devilish smile. She spoke a few condescending, mocking words in Irish. This is going to hurt. That’s what she said. If he picked up anything from her, that was it.“Sit still for me. Writhing will cause unnecessary complications.”A needle was plunged deep into his arm (the Talon agent twitched uncomfortably as Moira did so, Gabriel noted) and off she went, fulfilling their end of the deal.  “So, what do you see when you disappear?” Sombra asked Gabriel.“Nothing.”“Then how do you know where you’re going?”“You…feel it, I guess.”His explanation was poor, but the Hacker seemed to accept it.“What made you want to do that?”She was not getting the whole story, he decided vehemently.“I had issues, and it was part of the plan to fix them.”“‘Issues’?”“That’s all you’re getting out of me about that.”Sombra pouted, and the two fell silent just in time to hear the individual Moira was tending to yelp out in pain.He has been, by far, the least cooperative and most fidgety patient yet, and the Doctor was not pleased.“You are insufferable,” Moira spat at the agent. “I’ll have someone hold you down if I have to.”The three other agents, who had already completed Moira’s process, were slumped on the floor, lethargic and drowsy and white as bone. One was asleep, he noticed upon closer inspection.Gabe knew how they felt: somnolent and spent, with intervals of tachycardia and bradycardia causing nausea in the stomach. They’ll sleep well tonight, he thought.“So, how does it work?” Sombra continued, and Gabriel thought for a moment.“I couldn’t give you a better explanation than Moira. You should ask her at some point.”The Hacker shrugged. “That’s fair.”There was a moment of silence, and then Sombra asked, “How tall is she? She’s almost up there with the Boss.”He blinked and looked at Moira, who was very much in earshot of the question, but didn’t acknowledge its existence in any way.Why did she ask random questions? What did she get out of it?Gabe sighed.
That must be why Doomfist decided not to entertain her comment earlier.
He planned on simply ignoring her, but Moira spoke up before any silence set in.“They’re going to be lethargic for a few days, and they will need time to adjust to the changes.” She stood along with the Talon member seated next to her, the latter of which fell as soon as he made it to his feet. Moira was unphased.“That time will vary, depending on their bodies’ capabilities.”Doomfist, who was seated on the floor behind Sombra, stood and stepped closer to the Doctor to assess his soldiers. “Many thanks to you, Doctor,” he stated after a moment had passed, and turned on his heel to face Gabriel. “I hope we will stay in touch.”“I’ll make sure of it.”With gifts like the one he was given tonight? He’ll gladly aid their new friends, free from the knowledge of Overwatch.“If the next time we meet is on the battlefield,” the Successor continued, “I wish you the best of luck.”“Likewise.”Gabe had mixed feelings about witnessing this group of Talon members at the other end of his shotgun, but he pushed it all to the side.That was too complicated a topic to burden himself with right now.The two leaders shook hands, and Doomfist returned the gesture with Moira, who smiled this time around. Now that she was much closer to him, Gabriel noticed traces of red and black and purple and grey liquids streaking lightly across her lab coat.“We will be here,” the Successor explained, “but you two are free to leave.”With that, Moira removed her lab coat and threw on her heavy winter jacket, placing the former in her rucksack and slinging the bag over her shoulder.The room was uncomfortably silent as Gabe and the Doctor made their way to the exit. So silent that the buzzing from the few lightbulbs dangling loosely from the ceiling could be heard loud and clear.Sombra waved goodbye as the two entered the elevator and the doors shut, and Gabriel let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding in.
“Fuck.”
“We aren’t completely out of the woods yet. Let’s wait until we’ve returned to relax.”“I know.”It was silent for a while, until Moira explained, “It felt so strange answering Sombra’s question with ‘no.’ Had the circumstances been different, I most likely would not have answered her at all.”She spoke about when the Hacker confirmed if she was available or not, he realized.“That question annoyed me,” Gabe replied. “She doesn’t seem to want to take anything seriously.”“I’ve noticed. Perhaps we can equate her to the Cowboy.”“At least he shuts up when he needs to.”“Not always.”“I’m never going to get you to like him, am I?”“It’s an improbable outcome.”“I’m starting to get that.”The doors opened, and the natural light coming through the glass walls of the lobby made him squint.
What time was it?
Taking a few strides into the middle of the main room and glancing around, he saw a clock on the wall behind the front desk.
08:00.
They were down there for that long? With nobody coming down to wonder why? The two individuals working the front desk when they arrived must have suspected something was awry, right?Gabriel blinked and removed his gaze from the clock, realizing Moira stood a few meters ahead of him and was waiting patiently, a smile on her face and bags under her eyes.She looked beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. Despite her fatigue, she was utterly flawless.“I would like to return some time today, Love,” she called.“I didn’t realize we were gone for so long.” He trekked up to her side, and they continued out of the front doors and onto the sidewalk.It was entirely possible Talon made certain that every bystander privy to their presence was kept hushed and quiet. That must have been the case, because otherwise, someone definitely would have needed to enter the basement at some point or another during the night.The town was much more lively than it had been hours ago. Traffic returned to its regular flow, and people, some somnolent and some not, stepped past and in front of them.The sun shone down on Moira’s face and accentuated the pallor of her skin as she examined the layout of her surroundings.“Do you believe we’re in the clear, Gabe?”He pondered her question.“Most likely. I don’t think they would try anything in the middle of town, it would make too much noise. Alert the wrong people.”“It seems we made sound judgments then. Both parties walked away satisfied.”“I’m beyond satisfied.”“Likewise. Do you believe Jack will want to interrogate you regarding your whereabouts when we return?”“Well, if he does, I’m not going to offer much in the way of what we were actually doing. For obvious reasons.”“How will you introduce the information you were provided to Overwatch?”“Stumbled upon it by accident.”“And what were you doing when this occurred?”“We were, uh, out! Right? I took you out, and we found it! Sounds reasonable, considering that attack not too long ago. And I’ll just fluff it up a bit for Jack and Ana, and we’ll be in the clear.”
“Genius.”
“They’ll believe me. Jack trusts me.”
He’ll use that trust to his advantage.
They passed a building with the wonderful smell of coffee and baked goods emanating from its walls, and it made Gabe aware of his appetite. He decided the first thing on his agenda for the day was breakfast. Sleep could come after.
He was going to make sure Moira ate, too. Whether she liked it or not.
“And why would our enemies keep a suitcase of invaluable information lying around?”“Well, it wouldn’t be so much that we found it all together, moreso we gathered it.”Moira, seemingly satisfied with his defenses, nodded.He smirked, pleased with himself. “I’ve got everything under control, you don’t need to worry at all. Alright?”“I wasn’t worried to begin with.”“Good!”Gabriel, in all his love for Moira, switched the suitcase he held to the other hand and lightly smacked her rear. The contact, although brief, released enough oxytocin and dopamine in his brain to make his cold, compassionless heart swell with joy and love.A brow was raised at his actions, but Moira smiled nonetheless.They chattered lightly the entire trip back to base. It calmed his nerves quite a bit, ironically. In an odd way, it detached him from what took place not very long ago. The encounter with Talon felt foreign and distant to him, almost akin to a dream.Truly, in that moment, his life felt normal. Conversing pleasantly about whatever the topic was (You play the violin?) made him feel as if he were just like everyone else.It made him feel like he was a normal working man, trekking home after an overnight with the woman of his dreams, ready to head home and make breakfast for the both of them and fall asleep together with the television playing in the background.For that small period of time, he was able to block out how he left that life behind when he chose to be a soldier (the best there was and is) many decades ago.And Moira wasn’t simply a lovely lady he met while on the job. No, she was also the most brilliant woman Earth has ever seen. She was someone who didn’t let the ordinary governances of society keep her from what she sought. She was the woman capable of altering the circumstances life placed humanity in; only her and her alone.And he was able to be there with her as she did it. 
How lucky was he.
 The compound was bustling with life upon their return. Interns, soldiers, medical personnel, and the occasional teen or toddler flooded the main lobby and branching hallways, all full of vigor despite the early hours. The scene reminded him of his lack of sleep and Moira’s disdain for the youth.He glanced at her, and she was…frowning.
She was frowning, and she was uncomfortable.
Adjusting her bag, she turned to him and gestured with an outstretched hand for him to hand her the suitcase. He did so, and she told him, “I’ll come find you shortly,” before disappearing into the wind.Gabe, if he were being brutally honest, was somewhat confused by her leaving abruptly, but dismissed it as her simply wanting to remove herself from the main halls as quickly as possible. Probably headed back to her cave, he joked with himself.He no longer felt hungry, and decided against eating for the time being. Instead, he began the journey to his bedroom, assuming Moira would make her presence known there at some point.He first passed McCree, who tipped his hat in greeting, then Ana, who offered a pleasant Good morning, Gabe.
No “Where were you last night?” from her. Good.
The date and timing of their encounter with Talon was almost too perfect, to the point where he questioned if they considered his schedule and situation. How kind, if that were the case.He wondered when Moira would be needed by them again, or how they would find her when the time comes. Would Sombra make a grand appearance in her lab again? Or would it be something a bit more…well, formal?And what about when the time inevitably comes when they meet on the battlefield? How would Talon interact with Blackwatch? I wish you the best of luck, Doomfist told him.Would Talon still be keen on ending their lives? Gabriel wasn’t so sure he’d enjoy interacting with them like he had an hour ago if they killed any more of his soldiers.
Not that the ones in the past didn’t matter.
“Gabriel, you look exhausted,” Angela’s voice rang, and he glanced up from the floor to witness her concerned gaze staring right into his soul.What was she doing in this part of the base?“I’m always exhausted,” he replied, and Mercy rolled her eyes.“You look more exhausted than usual.”“Hey, it comes with the title. What are you doing over here?”“Well, I was looking for Moira, but either she’s in the ground level lab and ignoring me, or she’s somewhere else, because I can’t seem to find her.”Gabe couldn’t really assist Angela with that; he had no clue where she was, either.“I’m not sure. Last time I saw her was”—Ten minutes ago—“yesterday.”“Hm…” The Surgeon looked away for a moment.“Gabriel, do you really believe she’s a good fit for Overwatch?”His mood dropped, and annoyance creeped up his chest and into the back of his mouth.He was too tired for this right now.“Her skills suit Blackwatch perfectly, Angela. I think that’s a good enough reason to keep her around.”Mercy had a look of concern on her face. “I just feel, and I know it probably isn’t my place to say, but-”“It isn’t your place.”Perhaps if he were less exhausted and in a better mood, she wouldn’t have gotten under his skin as quickly as she had.
However…
“You give your input where it’s needed. I don’t need you questioning my decisions, alright?”“I’m not trying to question your authority, I just don’t feel comfortable having her here. And I know there’s others who share the same feelings.”“I don’t care.”“Well, you should!”“I don’t. And if anyone has a problem with that, they can come and tell me, and I’ll give them my two cents.”She looked…upset. Sad, perhaps. Gabriel wasn’t too sure at that moment.“You’re a good man, Reyes. And she’s an evil woman. Why do you defend her so valiantly?”
Because she’s the kind of person this braindead organization needs.
“She’s an invaluable member of this organization, and I’ll die on that hill.”She shook her head, refusing to add to the conversation.“When you see her, tell her there’s boxes waiting in the lobby of the med bay for her.”A small nod from him, and Mercy walked away quietly.Angela and Moira butted heads so often, and it was always Angela initiating it. She always had something to say.
Just shut the fuck up already.
He was so tired of hearing it.Gabriel made his way to the barracks in silence, attempting (and failing) to drown out the sounds of muffled discourse taking place all around him. Once he made it to his bedroom, he was somewhat surprised to find Moira sitting on the edge of his bed, her heavy coat removed from her body.She looked up at him and smiled, and it made his morning better again.“I told you I would come find you,” she said.The door to his room slid closed, drowning out the latter half of her sentence.“Angela wanted me to tell you you got stuff waiting in the med bay.”“Oh?”“I don’t know what it is.”“Nor do I.”Gabe sat next to her and tilted his head to kiss her neck.“She pissed me off.”“How so?”“Trying to tell me who she thinks is best for my team. Like her opinion is what’s going to make me change my mind about you.”The Doctor raised an amused brow. “Very opinionated, she is.”“I could do without her bitching opinions for once.”Moira moved herself away from him and propped her body up against her pillow, bowing one leg and folding the other underneath the former.“There’s a popular Irish saying that states,”—she switched to her native tongue temporarily. “I believe you would wish for Doctor Ziegler to hear of it. And perhaps many others within Overwatch.”He was smirking.Look at her lounging on his bed. Look at her. She was so fucking gorgeous. “And that means…?”“‘May the cat eat you, and may the Devil eat the cat.’”“Right…”She gave him a perplexed stare. “Am I overestimating your intellect, Gabriel?”“Not at all! I get it.” He removed his shirt. “‘Go to Hell,’ right?”“Hm, essentially.”Gabriel decided to join her where she sat, politely pushing her knee and foot out of his way to kneel in between her slender legs.He kissed Moira. With all of the love in his tired body and unstable head, he kissed her. He cupped her angular face and bit her bottom lip, and when she ever so slightly opened her mouth at the sensation, he forced his tongue inside and ran it along the flat, moist plane of her own and along a set of her upper molars.Her mouth was hot. So, very hot. And the sensation was so unfamiliar yet so needed, and she tasted like nothingness because they were both starved, and when he pulled away and examined her beautiful face and her swollen red lower lip, he found that she was smiling. “Why lick the inside of my mouth?”Why? Because he loved her. Because she was alluring.Because he wanted to taste her, feel her, have her. “Why not?”The Doctor chuckled, showing off her perfect teeth. “Do it again.”Gabe was no longer drowsy. No, most definitely not. He was awakened with a new sort of vigor that offered him the energy to shove her to the side and onto her back; a new vigor that allowed him to climb on top of her svelte body and use one hand to grope her breast and the other to grab a fistful of her gelled hair, which was much softer and more malleable than it had been when she first styled it.The side of his thigh was flush against the headboard as he sealed his lips against hers and ran his tongue against her own. Her movements were slow and experimental when compared to his, but he enjoyed it, regardless. He enjoyed anything she did, really. The way she tilted her head for a better angle and ran her tongue against the sides of his own and felt his rear with her large hands made his senses burst and flood his body with fire and sparks.Gabriel pulled his face from hers, increasing his pull on her fiery hair and causing her head to tilt backwards moderately.“Moira.” His voice was low and hushed.“Gabe.” Hers was, as well.“I want you so fucking bad.”“Then have me.”“Yeah?”“Yes. Now.”His heart was pounding uncomfortably and there was a voice shouting inside his brain to fuck her or touch himself or do both right now, but he restrained.Gabe removed himself from Moira and sat up, allowing her to do the same.“Take your clothes off,” he commanded.Her hair was thrown in disarray and her lips and face were crimson, he noted passively. His partner smiled as she followed his order, wasting no time in disrobing.Her nipples were peaking, and the bruises he left on her collar and breast were appreciably light and faded.He would have to grant her some new marks soon.There were just about a thousand thoughts racing through Gabriel’s head as he removed his own clothing and rummaged through his disorderly nightstand for protection. Oh, the things he wanted to do to her. The ways in which he wanted to hurt her.He wanted so badly to squeeze her neck and bruise her sides and bite her clit and spank her ass and choke her with his cock and leave his handprints all over her pale skin.
And he’s so much stronger than her. It’d be so easy to pin her down and get what he wanted.
 But he stopped those thoughts. Because he wouldn’t get any enjoyment out of doing that to her if she wasn’t enjoying it, too. Take it slow, he thought.Moira was very new to this. She was still feeling her way around, discovering what she liked and didn’t. The last thing he wanted to do was cause her stress and discomfort by coming on too strongly with things that needed to be communicated to her prior to attempting them.Moira herself was sitting upright and fixing her hair by the time he turned his attention back to her. She had moved, as well, her body parallel with his bed now.Of course, even right before they fucked, her appearance had to be up to her standards.“You look beautiful,” Gabe explained as he sat in front of her.“Thank you, as do you.”She inched closer to him and cupped his face, examining his body with that inquisitive stare he was all too familiar with.“May I say this is fascinating?”“Why’s that?”“This situation is…ironic. I could have never imagined it.”Her words broke the mood a small bit, if he were being honest with himself, but he didn’t mind. He enjoyed hearing her thoughts.She was an insightful, analytical woman, and the thoughts she shared reflected that. That part of her most certainly wasn’t going to disappear temporarily for any reason, which he gladly accepted.“Life throws crazy shit your way all the time,” he entertained.She raised her perfect eyebrows. “I suppose I would consider you as ‘crazy shit.’”Moira removed her hands from his skin and chuckled at herself.
It was adorable, he had to admit, and he grinned because of it.
Her hands dropped to his thighs as she leaned in to kiss him once more. The sensation of her right hand against his bare skin made him shiver and prickle and the hairs surrounding her palm stand. He was accustomed to her peculiar touch, however; the contrast between the warm, lively fingers of her left and the cold, spidery ones of her right was becoming something of a comforting sort. Gabriel indulged in the dichotomy of her hands against his trapezius as he pushed her down and licked at her neck and the curves and hollows of her ear.The morning sun shone through his windows and illuminated their bodies, the freckles dappling Moira’s skin becoming a bright shade of maple in the light.
So beautiful.
He rocked his hips against her own, making sure to center the friction and pressure he created in between the folds of her vulva.
You are so goddamn beautiful.
Turning his attention away from her neck, Gabe meagerly lowered his body and ran the flat of his tongue along her left nipple before taking it into his mouth and sucking gently. He pinched the other between the hollow space of his index and middle digits, earning him a dry swallow from his partner.Gabriel could hear nothing: not his heart, not the hum of the intricate machinery within his walls, not the distant chatter of his coworkers, none of it. There was no image in his head, no internal voice residing in the tubes of his inner ears, distant but assuredly present. No, all of his sensory perceptions were overridden by the carnal sensations gripping and suffocating his lower belly and groin and causing the skin of his manhood to draw all too taut. It caused his breath to hitch and ephemeral bursts of sharp pleasure to shoot up into his stomach and swirl and expand every time Moira shifted her hips upward and caused his tip to catch and press on her labia. Bliss is perhaps what he would call his current state. It wasn’t something he had experienced in quite some time.Gabe eventually decided to lift his cock away from his partner’s sex and plunge the hand that wasn’t preoccupied into the space between their hips, curling two fingers and pressing his knuckles against her clit. Moira’s sensitive pink vulva was already lathered in lubricant from the condom he wore, allowing him to form circles without uncomfortably dragging her skin.He started her off slow. Painfully slow. Applying just enough pressure to stoke the coals in her own belly, but nothing past that. Not yet.He removed his mouth from her breast and momentarily glanced to her face, deciding instead to quickly nibble at the sensitive skin spread across the side of her rib cage.Moira was watching him, he noticed. Through half-lidded eyes and with a frown adorning her features, she was studying his actions, taking note of the things he was doing to her.
Oh, he liked that.
She squirmed lightly when his teeth met her skin, and God, it made his cock twitch and pulse and the powerful need to just have her right fucking now washed over him and he nearly drowned in it.But again, he listened to none of that.No, no, no, not yet. Not just yet.Gabriel shifted himself up to kiss her thin lips, pressing the knuckles of his fingers firmly against her clit as he did so, and Moira exhaled unevenly through her nose and closed her eyes.She widened the distance between her knees as he dropped two fingers down to the entrance of her body, his thumb taking their place.While licking the insides of her mouth and biting her swollen lips and causing saliva to become trapped in his facial hair, he pushed his fingers inside of her, enveloping them in warmth and smooth muscle; and that earned him a wince and a break from their tongue dance.Gabe stilled. Concern built up in his chest.Moira shook her head. “It’s alright.”“Did I hurt you?”“It’s unavoidable.”He sobered up just enough to push away his arousal for the moment.“Keep on it, Gabe.”“Are you sure?”“I’m enjoying myself.”There was a smile on her face, one that he only saw when they were alone. One that was full of enough sincerity to almost drown out the gloriously sadistic and alluringly unnerving nature of her grins. Almost. A peck to her cheek was his confirmation to her.Gabriel redirected his course of action and removed his fingers from her body and sat himself upright. Moira surveyed his every move, raising her brows to a degree as he wiped his face with the back of his palm and placed his fingers in his mouth, sucking off the layer of clear fluid present.Perhaps it was the taste that reimmersed him in the carnal emotions of their act, or perhaps the texture, or perhaps the amount that coated his digits (Lord be damned, she was so fucking wet), but whatever the source, it caused a wave of excess pleasure to pool and build in his groin and his thighs to flex with anticipation.He watched her stomach rise and fall with each breath, Moira’s abdomen flattening as he pressed his tip against her introital area.Gabe kept his hips still and locked in place, opting, for the time being, to grab one of her thighs and place kisses along her perfectly slender leg.His entire body screamed at him, demanded that he override his inhibitions and shove himself inside of her and please himself until he couldn’t take it anymore. And he wanted to do the same for her; he wanted to tease and edge and deny her until all of that smugness and narcissism was stripped from her being, and all that would be left is a begging, pleading, quivering hot mess of a woman.Or perhaps she wouldn’t beg at all. Perhaps she would enjoy herself until she became fed up with antics. Perhaps she would attempt to finish herself off, to which he would, of course, do everything in his physical power to stop her (make her suffer for him longer). Or maybe she would simply force him to do as she pleased; Moira didn’t put up with anyone’s bullshit, and his was no exception.Gabriel leaned against her, her breasts squishing against his pectorals, and began sucking on and nibbling at different areas around her collarbone. I’ll go slow, he told her at some point. He thought she might have nodded, but he wasn’t paying attention. Tell me if you need me to stop. That was thrown in there, too, but he wasn’t sure exactly when.And when he finally began to push himself inside, it was slow and at her pace, and he kissed her and spoke gravelly sweet nothings into her ears and created tight circles against her clitoris with the pads of his fingers.Moira’s long nails dug into the lean muscle of his back, her eyes closed and brows furrowed, and once their bodies were glued together and Gabe went still to allow her body to adjust to his length and his breadth, she tittered quietly against his head.“This doesn’t feel the way I assumed it would,” she smiled. He removed his hand from her sex, pulled her arms from his cervical region, and pinned them to the mattress above her head, his fingers tightly wrapped around her tiny wrists.“Is that good or bad?” he interrogated.“Neutral.”The sensation her vaginal walls created around his cock (tight, constricting, and warm) was making it difficult to concentrate on much else, but God, he tried, he tried for her.Gabriel pecked her jawline in an attempt to focus himself, though he knew the moment would be transient.“I feel as if I should be doing more,” Moira continued, and he shook his head.“No.”He wanted to give her a better answer, he truly did, but no more words would proceed from his lips.He sat patiently for a few more ticks in time before latching onto her collar and beginning to gently thrust in and out.His movements were small at first, but they were enough to pressure him into holding and trapping air in his lungs and caused his brain to be hijacked by emotion and feeling and primal instinct, and he bit down on Moira with enough force to pull some of his sensibility back into his head. It’s been way too fucking long, was what ran through his brain as he quickened his pace and found a steady cadence that seemed to please both of them.At some point, he let go of his partner’s wrists and dug one fist into the bedsheets and the other into her hair, shutting his eyes and pressing his face into the crook of her neck involuntarily.The smell of her sweat and shampoo and the sounds of her quiet grunts and shaky exhales and dry swallows and the feeling of her cold, hypoxic right hand digging into the skin atop his spinal column, coupled with the tension and fire growing between his thighs, drove him mad.
It was all her. She was doing this to him. She was driving him crazy. Dear Lord, she was driving him crazy. She needn’t feel as if she weren’t adequately giving back, because she was doing so much for him already.
And he hoped that he was doing enough for her. He hoped he was touching her in the right places, with the right amount of pressure and with the right movements. He hoped that his thrusts and the sight of him using her body to pleasure himself drove her forward, stimulated the sparks, nerves, and muscles in her thin belly and below.He opened his eyes, only for a blip in time, but just long enough to notice Moira pressing on her clitoris with the flats of her bony fingers, mimicking his motions from earlier by forming circles around her bundle of nerve endings in tune with the rhythm of his hips. The scene was marvelous, beautiful, breathtaking, and it stayed put wonderfully in his mind as he panted and continued to satisfy them both.Once the fire in his gut became too strong, Gabe slowed his movements to a halt, taking a few deep breaths before pressing his dry lips against Moira’s.He wasn’t going to allow himself to come that fast. Absolutely not. Moira herself pulled her left hand up from between their hips and onto his rear.She was breathing heavily, exhaling forcefully from her mouth and her head lolling to the side once their lips parted and his grip on her scalp loosened.“You aren’t done, are you?” Moira asked right after licking her lips.“No.” That seemed to be the only word he was able to form.Gabriel once again used his fingers to create pressure against her clit. When he chose not to make any movements, she began to grind against his digits, the act creating a pleasant sensation within his cock as she did the work of marginally moving him inside and out of her body.
The image of her pleasuring herself as he thrusted into her accentuated the moment.
He began small circular motions with his hand  and thrusted in and out at a much slower rate than before, but it appeared to be enough to get her off. Her head continued to be craned to one side and her hands gripped his shoulder and pressed into his lower back, and he ran his tongue along her neck as he quickened the motions he created with his hand against her skin. I love you, you know that? he said into her ear as she rocked her hips and pushed into his touch. I do. It was shaky, barely audible, and it flooded his head with dopamine and arousal.He knew she was aware, he knew, but hearing her struggle to say it was so wonderfully fucking erotic. 
Where was that composure now?
 He quickened his thrusts, doing everything within his mental power to stay focused on the rhythm of his fingers swirling her prepuce. Aside from the occasional auditory sigh or squeak, Moira made very little noise, but her grip on his skin was tightening and her thighs began to shake as she held them apart for him and her teeth rested lightly on her bottom lip as her mouth hung open ever so slightly and she was so close and— And when she came, she threw her head back and arched her spine and pressed herself against him and breathed at an unsteady pace and the muscles of her pelvic floor and vagina pulsed against his cock and Jesus Christ he could have came right then and there. 
The scene she created was perfect, angelic, quintessential, a vision of beauty upon his bed.
 When she came down from her high and he halted his movements to allow her some relaxation, Moira, to his surprise, chuckled, and she wiped her sweat-streaked forehead with the palms of her hands. She placed a gentle, chaste kiss on his forehead and spoke a word or two in Irish.Her voice was breathy and low and coarse, and she smiled lovingly at him.Perhaps, to others, it would appear as an unsettling grin, but Gabe knew better.He returned her expression, yet vocalized no words. The image of her orgasm was plastered to every groove and crevice of his brain, unwavering and clear as day.He existed in place for one moment longer before adjusting his hips and taking Moira’s hands within his own, pressing them into the mattress. He kissed the woman beneath him with all of the passion and lust he could muster (which was a whole lot, truthfully) and began thrusting at a pace that was better suited to give him the release he was desperately in need of.Moira increased the grip she had on his palms and lightly tipped her head back. Gabriel listened as she periodically held her breath for a prolonged amount of time. Whenever she would let go, shaky exhales and a few deep breaths proceeded.He loved it. He loved how she was having him, and how she let him have her. He loved how she was taking his cock so well and how a tiny smirk crossed her features as he quickened his pace and increased the force he put into each thrust.And oh, there was that image. The image of her arched back and eyes that were glued shut and hips that twitched and bucked due to over-sensitive nerve endings. Something akin to perfection; the most beautiful, angelic scene he had ever witnessed, and it was because of him that it happened.It was because she loved him. It was because he loved her.
And he loved her so fucking much.
Finally, he pushed himself over the edge, oxytocin flooding his brain and coursing down his spinal column and to the rest of his body. His thrusts were jerky and uneven as his manhood became much-too-sensitive, and he panted and grunted and whispered fuck and Moira into his partner’s neck.He rode out the last remaining bursts of pleasure and slumped against Moira once his lower muscles relaxed.Gabe kept himself from laying his full weight against her thin frame, but that was all he was physically able to accomplish. Euphoria and fatigue and testosterone encompassed his being while he struggled to catch his breath, his head settled somewhat uncomfortably onto the pillow Moira rested against.He felt her gently squeeze one of his hands and whisper something he was pretty sure wasn’t English near his face.“Huh?” He opened his eyes (in all honesty, he didn’t even realize they were closed) and caught blurry visions of her heterochromatic gaze in his peripheral.“You are very handsome,” she repeated, he assumed, in what was very much English.“Oh. Thanks.” That wasn’t the only thing he wanted to say. Those weren’t the words he truly wanted to speak to her, but it was the best he could do in that moment, and he hoped his efforts were palpable.She was smiling at him, and she continued to hold that smile as he found the strength to remove himself from her and hoist his body into a sitting position near her hips.The room spun around him and an insignificant ache pounded in the back of his skull, and he had to close his eyes momentarily to stop himself from falling over.“You’re very beautiful, Moira,” Gabriel said without looking in her direction.He pulled the rubber off from his now half-flaccid member and discarded it in the trash, using his hand to wipe off lingering lubricant and semen from himself.With every movement, the pounding in his head and the pain that accompanied it seemed to worsen.Christ, he could listen to the cacophony of gunfire and explosions and scraping metal and the whirring of choppers for hours, but sex is what gives rise to a headache?He eventually turned his head in Moira’s direction and found she was sitting adjacent to and looking at him expectantly, though he wasn’t sure what she wanted him to do or say.“My head is starting to kill me,” he chuckled. “It’s not bad right now, but it’s definitely there.”“I’d imagine it’s because you ate nothing and then exerted yourself.”“Nah, I’m used to that.”“Then I’m uncertain as to the cause, if that’s the case.”He nonchalantly watched a bead of sweat trickle from her temple and be sucked into the loose strand it came into contact with at the end of its journey.Finally regaining his full mental capacity, Gabe placed Moira’s hand in his own and leaned in to kiss her perfectly-defined cheekbone.“That was wonderful, what you just did to me,” the Doctor said quietly into the cartilage of his ear, just before he pulled his face away from hers.
Wonderful.
He laced his fingers through her ginger hair and softly pressed her temple to his forehead, exhaling calmly through his nose. That was wonderful,  she said. 
What you just did to me.
 There were fresh red marks dappling her chest and just below her clavicle, he noticed. One in particular had the very clear outline of his teeth branded into her milky skin. He enjoyed the sight, perhaps a bit too much.
She was his and his alone, and she would be reminded of that every time she removed her shirt.
They sat together in silence for an indeterminate amount of time before Moira’s previous words suddenly reminded him of something.“You need to eat.”“As do you.”“Right.”His head continued to swim with feel-good sensations and glimpses of the very-recent past despite his throbbing skull.Perhaps those factors will work in tandem and he’ll sleep well for the first time in forever.Gabriel dropped his hand from Moira’s head and squinted to visualize the time located on the holopad adjacent to his door.
The morning was still young.

Somewhat.
White noise and indistinct chatter filled his ears. He shut his eyes in an attempt to quell the growing ache in his head, noticing Moira’s watchful gaze just before doing so.He wondered how she kept finding things to ponder on, or even what she pondered on in the first place. She would answer if he asked, but he kept his mouth closed for the sake of his head. Talon has been awfully quiet as of late, Angela’s voice rang through his door, growing and shrinking as she walked past, but Morrison and Reyes are keeping close tabs on them. I don’t think you need to worry so much, Jesse. A huff seemed to be Jesse’s only reply.“Very close tabs, indeed,” Moira spoke quietly, and he could feel the smirk in her voice and on her face.“They could say the same about us,” Gabe spoke. Images of their night in the hotel basement spun rapidly in his mind’s eye: Doomfist’s calm smile, Sombra’s wide and curious eyes, Maximilian’s emotionless face, and the terrified expressions of the mercenaries as they beheld Moira and her determination to fulfill Blackwatch’s end of the exchange; all of it.The epinephrine and norepinephrine secreted from his adrenals made his body switch and his heart face and his brain holler that he should have splattered their brains all over Moira’s pristine lab coat while he had the chance. And the pounding in his head grew horribly.
Come on, not now. Don’t start that shit now.
No, he shouldn’t have killed them. He couldn’t have. He did the right thing.He honed in on Moira’s presence, hoping it would do something to appease his heart and his brain.“How tall are you, Moira?” Gabriel blurted out. He wasn’t sure what led him to ask, but it didn’t matter. He needed to hear her low voice.“I believe around two meters,” she calmly spoke, “why do you ask?”“I don’t know. Humor me.”A pause.“I grew taller than everyone in my family. I was quite a peculiar sight in group photos.”The notion of Moira towering over a group of pale redheads and smiling awkwardly crossed his mind, and he grinned.“How much taller?”“Marginally. My mother and father were approximately your height.”Her hands rested upon his shoulders and pulled him against her lean body, the curves of her chest molding and forming to his muscular pectorals.Her skin was cold, he realized, and her darkened hand colder.“How tall are you, Gabriel?”“Shorter than you,” he chuckled.“I’ve gathered as much throughout my time knowing you, believe it or not.”Her skin against his forehead calmed the bounding in the back of his skull, just a bit.And he sat there like that, with her, in the calm of his room, the images of Talon faded and distant.The crook of Moira’s neck smelled heavily of perspiration, he noted with a twang of pride.Perspiration, sex, and hair gel.

“Perhaps we should stay awake until tonight, considering how late it is into the morning,” Moira offered.“I can’t do that,” Gabriel told her. “My body starts to give out way before I reach the twenty-four hour mark.”“That’s ironic, coming from you.”“It’s the truth.”The bright lights of the compound, the bustling of people, and the cacophony of random noises thrumming against his ears were not helping his head, which has gotten significantly worse since leaving his bedroom. Moira had suggested analgesics as he complained to her in the shower (and as she complained about how cold she was, regardless of the amount of instances she stood underneath the water); he explained to her that looking upwards at her face was causing him discomfort, but he declined any sort of medication.
I don’t need that, I’ll live.

Then suffer, it matters not to me either way.
And thus, suffer he shall.“O’Deorain!” a gruff voice called out to her, and Gabe lifted his head.
Jack.
Moira’s content smile faded too quickly, and she frowned at Morrison furiously as he approached them through a corridor and into the hallway.“Can I speak with you for a moment? Please. You too, Gabe.”The Blackwatch Commander rubbed his scalp and opened his mouth to remark something, but Moira cut him off with, “I will not stand here and have you run-”“That’s not why I’m here.” “Don’t interrupt me.”“I’m-” Jack halted his words rather abruptly and sighed. He appeared as if he were looking to Gabriel for some form of assistance, but the latter kept silent.
Moira had every right to be upset with Jack.
“Look, I’m sorry,” Morrison told the Doctor, sounding quite defeated. “Moira, I wanted to apologize for yesterday.”“You seem to be doing quite a lot of that as of late. It is possible you’re beginning to realize that you stir up more trouble than you originally believed?”“Well, I don’t know about that. But yesterday, I had…a bit more to drink than I’d care to admit, and I put you in a tough spot. I just want to set things straight so we can move on. Or…so we can get back to arguing about other things, better yet.”That last part was one of his jokes, Gabe managed to catch, but Moira gave no indication that she appreciated it correctly.Such was Morrison’s sense of humor: lame and dry.When the Doctor said nothing, Jack told her, “My goal isn’t to screw up anything between you and him. We may have our differences, but I trust Gabriel, and I trust that he trusts you.”Gabriel remained indifferent to his words, letting Moira decide how she wanted to take the man’s apology.There was nothing inherently wrong with Morrison’s statement, yet Moira bristled, beyond irritated.“I have an inkling you don’t believe in the words you speak.”“You’d be wrong.”“I’ve witnessed your behaviors in the past. You exhibit quite a few patterns, and they’re working to your disadvantage right now.”“Look, if you don’t want to accept my apology, that doesn’t affect me. I’m not doing this for you.”Gabe closed his eyes to give his vision a rest.Perhaps he should have listened to Moira earlier; ignoring his migraine seemed to only exacerbate it.He knew why Jack was apologizing. He would never feel sorry about saying anything to Moira, sober or not, and the Black Ops Commander had to accept that.Nevertheless, he decided it was a sweet gesture on Morrison’s part, undergone for Gabriel’s own sake, if no one else’s.“What’s the matter with you?” Jack’s voice said, and he opened his eyes once more to find the Strike Commander gazing at him with a concerned face.“I have a migraine,” he said flatly.“What’d you do?” Moira, he thought, and snickered to himself like a damn teenager.“Your guess would be as good as mine.”“Are we now regretting what we said earlier?” Moira chimed in.“Like I’d ever admit you were right.”“If your head’s killing you, what are you doing up here?” Morrison questioned.“Well-”“Why are you all standing in the middle of the hallway? Everybody’s having to walk around you!” rang Ana’s voice.The Doctor huffed next to him, and it sounded exceedingly displeased.“My two favorites: the Strike Commander and his cohort,” Moira muttered to Gabe, just loud enough that Jack most certainly would have heard.Which was probably her goal.“What if I meet you at the cafeteria?” he suggested. She smiled and gave an almost unappreciable nod.Moira, just before leaving, placed a hand on top of his head and told him, “Take something for your pain.” She was a considerable distance away from the group by the time Ana closed the distance between herself, Gabriel, and Jack.The Captain placed her hands on their backs and directed the men to the side of the hallway with a partially-audible Come on now, you’re in everybody’s way. “She was saying something about pain, Gabriel? What happened?” Amari interrogated him.“I have a migraine.”“How did you manage that?”“No idea.”Ana folded her arms across her chest. “Is Doctor O’Deorain beginning to realize your stubbornness when it comes to admitting you’re in pain?”He smiled, remembering her words to him in the shower earlier. “She’s patched up more than enough nasty gashes for me to figure that out.”“Well, for once I agree with her: you should take something. The only thing that migraine is doing for you right now is ruining your morning, whether you want to admit it or not.”“Right, I got it, Mom.”Ana offered a satisfied grin, and beside her, Morrison commented, “You and her are so damn stubborn. Maybe that’s why you get along.”Gabe shrugged. “I always liked that about her.” Always. From the moment he became privy to her practices to now with their unique circumstances; he always appreciated that aspect of Moira.“I know,” Jack grumbled.Ana asked the Strike Commander about the reason he and the Doctor seemed to be fighting, but Gabriel didn’t catch much of their short conversation after that initial bit. His head pounded as the light from the Sun shone through the glass walls of the hallway and into his eyes. His heart was in his ears as he shut his eyelids and tried to focus on anything other than the ache in his skull.That anything turned out to be the stomachache he was developing from his lack of sustenance.He was a mess, an uncomfortable mess.Without warning, there was a hand pressed against his lower back, two distinguishable fingers coming into contact with the top of his behind, and he jerked away and opened his eyes ready to discover who in the absolute fuck would touch him there and—And Moira stood in front of him with a surprised look in her mismatched eyes, a glass of water in one hand and the other in the process of being placed around the girth of her cup, fingers lacing gracefully together.“It’s me,” she said.Gabe’s fury quickly dissipated as he realized it was Moira who had her hand on his body. He felt his heart race from the adrenaline released, and it caused his head to feel as if it were going to explode.“I see that.”“It was not my intention to startle you. Here,” she offered him her drink, “you are dehydrated.”He took the glass from her hands without much thought, the item chilled from the liquid it held, and the sensation was quite lovely against his fingers.When he drank, he was able to feel the water travel down his esophagus and into his gut, and it was only then he realized how horribly parched he truly was.“That was nice of you,” Ana spoke to Moira. “Perhaps Gabriel was right: you do have a kind bone in your body.”“Most do not get the chance to see it, because they do not deserve to,” the Doctor retorted.“And what makes someone worthy of your kindness?”Moira seemed to contemplate her answer.“Sensibility and intellect,” she smiled. “You mean your standards of sensibility and intellect,” Jack added.“Hm, that isn’t how I would phrase it, but I suppose.”Morrison gave an expression of either astonishment or confusion, or both, but Moira didn’t entertain him further. She was smiling at the Commander with her iconic devilish smirk, the one that could put an entire room of people at unease.Gabriel always found that aspect of her to be quite attractive. The power and dominance she was able to exhibit in her body language and gestures was impressive, to say the very least.Moira placed herself above the rest, on a pedestal overlooking the masses, and he wholeheartedly believed she deserved to be there.“I trust her standards of sensibility and intellect,” Gabe admitted, his glass very empty and the pounding in his head lessened for the moment, “that’s why she’s here. And…”He stopped.
And why she’s mine.
He could have said it, he really could have. Jack and Ana were privy to his unorthodox relationship with Moira. But Jack wasn’t aware that Ana knew, and Ana wasn’t aware that Jack knew.Perhaps it should be kept that way, for now.The three of them were looking at him, waiting for the latter half of his sentence. Moira nonchalantly itched at her collarbone, right on the spot where he left his teeth marks. She pulled the lip of her shirt downwards, only for a moment, so her nails could make contact with her body.Red, bruising, puffy dips in her skin from where he bit her collar were put on subtle display. Moira certainly wasn’t someone willing to proudly show off the results of their intimacy, and he wondered if she even realized his marks were visible to the rest of the world.She adjusted her shirt, and again, the bruising was hidden.“Nevermind,” Gabriel spoke.“Why don’t you go and rest, Gabe?” Ana suggested. “I could bring up what I wanted to tell you later.”That peaked his interest.“What did you want to tell me?”“Worry about it later.”“Give me a brief.”He wasn’t going to take no for an answer, and Amari, judging by her defeated face, seemed to understand this.“There has been Talon activity sighted right here in Zurich. Nothing has happened, so far, but we have increased surveillance around the base. Blackwatch may be of use in handling the situation, but that decision will be left up to you after intel comes back and you could make your assessment, of course.”He wasn’t surprised. At all. It was possible the group was relocating their lethargic mercenaries out of the hotel when Overwatch managed to catch their movement. Or perhaps Talon was surveying Overwatch, making sure of Gabe and Moira’s compliance with their agreement. Making sure they kept their mouths shut, kept Jack and Ana none the wiser to Talon’s location.“I’ll take a look,” Gabriel smiled innocently. “After you take care of yourself,” Ana stressed. “You will make better decisions that way.”“Of course.”Moira remained silent and stone-faced, staring sinisterly at Overwatch's leaders, as she usually did.Her gaze was discomforting, even to the war-hardened Commanders (Amari opted to keep her eyes on Gabe, and Jack stared Moira down with obviously-feigned stoicism), and Gabriel marveled at how she could make someone feel that way.It was attractive, alluring. It filled him with excitement and jealousy and the yearning to pull her down and kiss her passionately and grab her ass and steal her breath away in front of everyone. Yes, that’s what he wanted to do, despite his raging migraine and the ache in his abdomen.He wanted to show the entire world that she was his. She was his beautiful, brilliant woman to admire and kiss and fondle and fuck. His and his alone.
And they all would be so fucking jealous.

As they should be.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“The Shimadas think they can get away with anything now that Overwatch isn’t on active duty,” Gabriel huffed to the table of soldiers, “but I’m not going to stand by while people are getting killed in the name of contraband.”The conference room was dead silent as he stood at the helm and spoke. Nobody dared to interrupt him. They knew better.“The Japanese military clearly doesn’t have a grip on the situation. And, per Genji, half of their armed forces have been paid off, so there’s that. But, let me show you all something.”All eyes in the room were on him as he clicked away at the computer placed on the table. Gabe pulled up the transcripts he received from Talon a few days prior, as well as a few financial transactions, onto the large holo screens. The wording utilized Japanese symbols, and only Genji, the one individual capable of reading the text, appeared to be in shock and dismay.A few more clicks, and an English translation was placed adjacent to the scans of the transcripts and accountant records on the screen.“As it turns out, Genji’s brother Hanzo left the clan. They’ve been in hot water with a lot of their patrons since, seeing as how you can visualize a decline in imported products and merchant titles on these transcripts. I’d say this is a better time than ever for Blackwatch to get in there.”There was a pause as the soldiers before him scanned over the holo screens. Genji was the first to break the silence.“What became of Hanzo?”He sounded furious. “Unfortunately, we aren’t sure. He fell off the radar pretty quick,” the Blackwatch Commander told him.
“What is his reason for leaving?”
He was going to answer the Ninja with another version of I don’t know, but Angela, who was seated next to Genji, placed her hand on his shoulder and spoke softly, “Genji, please.”“He dares to lecture me about honor and nobility, then runs like a coward? He is a dishonor to a dishonorable clan! They should never have let him past the gates alive-!”“Genji!”Genji quieted down, stubbornly avoiding Mercy’s concerned eyes.Gabriel chewed on his lip as he watched his subordinate’s emotions get the better of him, a smirk unknowingly present on the Commander’s features.Genji’s rage was highly beneficial to the team. It would allow him to become more ruthless, merciless. His skills could be honed further, fueled by his sadness and fury. “Anyways,” Gabe continued, “what we need now is to know who’s stepping up to fill Hanzo’s position. Can you help us out there, Genji?”No answer.The Ninja reminded him of Moira when she would find herself caught inside the intricacies of her mind: unmoving, silent, and mentally present elsewhere. It was because of this similarity that he waited an awkwardly long amount of time for the man to respond. But he never did.“If you do know something and you’re refusing to answer me, that’d waste a lot of our time,” Gabriel pushed. His statement was just harsh enough to make Genji look up at him through the corners of his eyes.“I don’t know of anyone,” he muttered. The Commander raised a brow.“You sure?”“Yes. Hanzo’s absence was never prepared for.”“If that’s so, who do you think would be the hot shot in charge right now?”“It’s difficult to say. My guess would be the ambassadors being paid off by the clan, or the CEOs and accountants that are in charge of all financial transactions.”What he was saying made sense, but it frustrated Gabe. He wanted a clear cut answer right now, and that was not what he was getting.He huffed forcefully through his nose, dark smoke billowing from his nostrils for a single moment before absorbing back into his body.“Looks like we’re going to have to make a few people talk, then.”“Can’t talk if they’re dead,” McCree inputted, his eyes small glints beneath his hat.“That’s why we’re going to make them talk before they get splattered all over the walls.”“Learning from last time, Gabriel?”“How long is it going to take you to get over that?”“I’m still deciding.”Gabriel lightly shook his head.He looked to Jack and Ana, who sat to his right.“How’s this sounding so far?”“Better to strike while the iron’s hot,” Jack commented.“And if Overwatch is needed, we could keep a Strike Team close by,” added Amari.“Close by and undetected,” finished Gabe, to which the Captain nodded her agreement.He turned his attention back to the rest of the group. “Right, Blackwatch and Overwatch will start coordinating an attack. Once everything’s in order, the teams will be notified of the itinerary; am I clear?”The room was silent. A few individuals offered nods.“Good! Expect deployment within the next few days. Dismissed.”Shuffling commenced. Most of the room left, save for a few that lingered. Genji and Mercy moved to a corner and were conversing privately, and Moira, who resided to his left, tapped away on her computer. He guessed she was waiting for him to leave, as well, because there was no way she preferred to conduct her work seated next to former colleagues that resented her.Gabriel sat himself down in his seat and kicked up his legs onto the table, crossing one ankle over the other.“Short and sweet,” he commented happily to Ana and Jack, “the way it should be.”“You didn’t bring up anything regarding the recent Talon activity going on close by,” Amari pointed out, “is there a reason why?”“I’m not worried about it. I think the increased surveillance around the base is enough for now.”“Are you sure?”“Nothing of concern has happened so far. If they are planning on trying something, it’d be better not to scare them into being more careful by sending agents. I don’t want to take that risk.”“Do you have such little faith in your agents that you’re convinced they’ll get caught?” questioned Morrison.“No, but I need my best to focus on what I believe is of greater concern. I’ll get others involved with Talon if the need arises, but I don’t think it has yet.”The two seemed to contemplate his words before silently accepting his decision.“The ones that definitely will get caught are reserved for stalking your son, I guess,” the Strike Commander joked. Gabe shrugged, his emotions becoming muddled. “I prefer to call it ‘making sure he’s well.’”“You’re a father?” Moira’s voice rang abnormally loud, and he turned and found himself staring into her shocked face. 
Oh. Right.
 
She didn’t know.
 She didn’t know. Moira didn’t know. And every time thoughts of his family popped into his head, it was accompanied with I should let her know. But he never did.He never did. The words would never leave his mouth. Never. For one reason or another, the knowledge she was most certainly entitled to was forever trapped in his throat.He felt something akin to shame as her expression remained in its surprised state.She needed to know. She should have known. He should have made her aware before they made love. No, before he kissed her. Or before he confessed to her his true, unabashed, honest feelings towards her. Or when she began to relax around him, or when he began to feel this way (infatuated, fond, and smitten) about her, or when they began his genetic therapy, or way before that, when they were discussing her employment. 
Moira should have known about this long before the point they were at now, but she didn’t. He wanted and needed to tell her, but he never did. He never did.
 Yes, shame. That’s what he felt, he realized. Pure, true shame.His heartbeat quickened, though it felt as if that were the result of an unknown, confusing feeling within his chest.Gabriel swallowed the knot in his throat.“Actually,” he spoke quietly,” I’m about to be a grandfather.”“His fiancé didn’t have her baby yet?” Ana chimed. He quickly snapped his head towards the woman. “No, but it shouldn’t be long.” The Commander patted his stomach. “Her belly looks ready to pop.”“Exciting,” Jack said.Gabe nodded and removed his feet from the table, planting them firmly on the floor and angling his chair and body to face Moira, whose face went expressionless.Her laptop was closed. Her legs were crossed. She was frowning at him.“Go on.”There was a note of distance in her features, but he actively ignored it to focus on what he spoke to her.“After the Omnic Crisis ended, I met a woman in L.A., and we had a son together. And when I took over Blackwatch, she decided it’d be better for everyone if I weren’t in their lives anymore.”The way he told his tale was very matter-of-fact and void of feeling. There was something he guessed was anger boiling in his gut, but it was so beaten down and muddied he couldn’t be entirely sure.Moira was still, her face unchanged. “Were you married to this woman?”He nodded somewhat reluctantly.His ears rang as dead silence filled the air, and only then did he realize Jack and Ana had vanished from their seats and were nowhere to be seen. Mercy and Genji still chatted at the other end of the conference room.“I was.”“Do you speak to her?”“No. Haven’t seen her in a long time.”That wasn’t a lie. The very few times he attempted to reach out and explain to Martina that he still loved her and wanted her and their son in his life, she shut him away with visible regret. Those few instances would always leave Gabriel feeling hollow and without purpose, like a part of him was lost forever.of course, this was before he met Moira.“How old is your son?”“Twenties. He’s married, got his own life. He’s  about to have a baby with his wife.”“Have you spoken with him recently?” That got him. He felt his insides crumble and die, and his body and mind became hollow, dark, an empty void. He felt so many things and nothing at once, and the only thing he could focus on was Moira.It was…frustrating. So, very frustrating. Because it was so complex and confusing and he hated it. He hated his son for making him feel this way and he didn’t hate him at all and he wanted to manage his anger with a bullet and a gun and the body of Antonio Bartalotti and Hanzo Shimada and Jack Morrison. 
He wanted to kill something. Someone. He wanted them to understand his inner thoughts, and that was the only way they could.
 Moira gently patted the top of his head with her left hand. “Have you spoken with him recently?” she repeated.Gabe blinked and breathed deeply, his belly expanding as far as it was able to.“No.”The hiss of the main doors alerted him of Genji and Angela’s departure.It was him and Moira now, in a room so silent he could hear his blood flowing.“Do you wish that weren’t true?” his partner asked calmly.He wasn’t sure. He didn’t know.He didn’t know. He truly didn’t know.Gabriel shrugged and shook his head.She tilted her head to the side and examined his face thoroughly.“Why was I not aware of this until now?” 
He didn’t know.
 “I kept him and his mother off the books,” he explained, “they were safer that way. I, uh, knew I needed to have this conversation with you for a while but…it never happened.”“Until now.”“Right, until now.”There was a deafening silence that settled between them. It made him antsy and uncomfortable, and he felt the need to speak of something, anything so he wouldn’t be left alone with his thoughts.Moira’s face was still unreadable. He would have never known if she were angry, or upset, or felt betrayed by him in some way.It put him at unease. The air was so heavy, and he was so lost, and she was only exacerbating that. However, he made no attempt to interrogate her. No, the Commander sat still and watched as her eyes drifted away from him, rested on nothing in particular, and circled back again.“Are you glad you chose to become a father?”He…Gabe paused. He mentally took a step back before answering.“I guess.”
Good enough.
Moira nodded.“Do you wish the circumstances were different?”
Maybe.
“I don’t know.”He lost himself in the thought of his son being born to Moira instead of his previous partner. It was a strange notion to contemplate.He thought of himself, much younger than he was now, sitting in bed and looking over to see Moira instead of anyone else, her abdomen swollen and distended with the life they created together. He imagined her telling him that she was excited to meet the newest addition to their tiny family, exactly the same way his wife had spoke it to him long ago. He pictured her in a hospital bed in Los Angeles, her face red and sweaty, gripping his hand tightly and spreading her legs as she strained and huffed and fought to push their baby out of her belly.And when he came back to the present, Moira herself was still frowning, still gazing at him intently, still with no emotion present in her mismatched eyes.“I meant to tell you sooner, Moira,” Gabriel admitted. She blinked, her foot bobbing to a rhythm he couldn’t hear.“Is there anything else I should know about that you’ve forgotten to mention?”
Fuck.
Did she feel lied to? That’s what it sounded like, despite the lack of meaningful inflection in her voice.“No.” I’m sorry, he didn’t say.
I’m so sorry.
“I wasn’t purposely keeping anything from you, do you realize that?”“I don’t believe you were trying to hide anything from me.”The monumental wave of relief that washed over him was indescribable.“But I would appreciate if we could discuss something as important as you having a child a bit sooner than this, should there be a next time.”
I’m sorry.
“There won’t be a next time,” he told her, something like shame gripping his entire body and squeezing. “Are you happy you’re going to be a grandfather?”Truly, it seemed like he felt nothing appropriate. The image of his son walking happily along the streaks of America with his wife and unborn child, spread wide and apparent across the holo screens, made his chest feel tight and vexed him to no end. A part of him wanted to be able to speak to him through the cams, but he wasn’t sure what he would say. Another part of him wanted to look away, to tell his agents to cut the video feed and return to base. Sometimes he followed through with it, sometimes not. But he was never happy. The sight never brought him any joy.Only…muddled emptiness, confusion, and anger.“Don’t know,” he grumbled, and she nodded her understanding.“May I tell you something?” Moira asked. Gabe stayed silent, watching her.“I lied to you.”She…did?
That’s concerning.
“I told you my family has perished, and I am the last of my kind, but that simply isn’t true.”
Oh.
“As it stands, I have my father and a sister left alive.”“Why lie about that?”She raised her brows. “Simply because I wish they were dead.”“Right.” He paused, slightly confused. “What made you think to tell me that?”“Well, you said you are a grandfather-to-be. I am an aunt, biologically speaking. But I lamented the times my sister brought her children around me. I told her as such, that I didn’t care for her daughters, and I never would. That upset her, of course, but it bothered me none.”Their situations were different, but he understood why she made the correlation.“She let me know that she felt sorry for my future children.” Moira scoffed. “As if it were certain they would exist in the first place.”She shifted in her seat.“Of course, my father explained to her that individuals such as myself were born unholy and unfavorable, and that there was no need to worry that I would bear any offspring. I suppose he was correct about the latter.”He considered her words carefully, mulling them over in his brain and picturing a younger Moira (her right hand was as perfect as the left in his depiction) being lectured by her ignorant father.“I’m sorry your family sucked,” he told her, but that was quite the understatement.“I’m sorry for your current circumstances with your son.”Another pause.“I’m fairly certain I’m going to die before that kid ever gets to see his grandpa in person.” He sighed. “But what can you fucking do.”“Is that something you would want, Gabriel? To pay a visit to your grandchild?”Gabriel himself shrugged and said nothing. He didn’t have an answer for her; he wasn’t sure himself.He wasn’t sure.   “If it’s not in my office, usually it’s somewhere in here,” Gabriel explained as his bedroom door closed behind them.He didn’t mind having her here. There was nothing personal on display. Everything was spotless. The bed sheets were pristinely folded and tucked in upon his mattress.“You keep classified documents in your room?” Sombra questioned.“Only when I don’t want Jack looking for them.”“He snoops through your stuff?”“I don’t know, but I don’t want to take a chance when it comes to certain, uh, artifacts.” “That’s fair.”He knelt and began shuffling through one of the two bottom drawers of his dresser, pushing aside socks and a few shirts in the process. One of his tops was missing; he was acutely aware of its absence, because Moira had taken it to wear, and he has not seen it since. The Commander didn’t mind, however. In fact, he hoped the next time it appears is when it’s thrown over her thin torso.Beneath his clothing was a folder, and inside that folder was another folder, and inside that was what Sombra was looking for.Or rather, what Talon was looking for.Documentation of every physical Moira had performed on Gabe thus far. It was in paper rather than electronic; it was harder to dig up and find that way.Moira informed him that it was alright to lend this documentation over. It will be useful to them, she had said. And, perhaps, making Talon aware of your extraordinary strides during recovery and the subsequent sharpening of your skills will cause them to yearn greater for my research. She made an excellent assumption, he believed. Talon was after her incredible knowledge; possessing the ability to visualize her research at work, as well as his incredible durability and skill while in combat, would surely draw them in even further.“I'll make some copies,” Gabriel informed Sombra as he closed the drawer and stood.He glanced over at her, but she wasn’t interested in him. She was sitting on the edge of his bed, nearest to the headboard, pinching something between her fingers.When he trekked closer, he realized the Hacker was holding a red strand of hair between her thumb and index finger.Her eyes shot back to him, and she smiled mischievously. “Is this yours?”He never invited her to sit on his bed, was his first thought. His second thought was how he would never, ever live this down. Not while he and Sombra were still breathing, their hearts still beating.Gabe huffed out of annoyance.“The only redhead I know of in this whole compound is Smarty Pants in the basement. And I know of everyone here.”“Do you want this or not?”“I didn’t realize when she said I couldn’t have her, that meant you already snatched her up. I guess you two are a cute couple. You’re both so grumpy and spooky.”He was giving her a look, one that said I’m not fucking around, and she seemed to acknowledge and ignore it.“If something doesn’t work out, though, tell her to hit me up.”Sombra let the strand of hair fall delicately to the carpeting before hoisting herself off his mattress.“Alright, Boss, let’s go see your babe.” She chuckled just before disappearing into her usual, pastel flurry.Gabriel pitied Moira. She was about to be teased by Sombra to no end, and no amount of willpower and mental strength could give her the patience to put up with it.The Commander placed his folder in an inconspicuously plain binder, surrounded by other miscellaneous, uninteresting documents, and began his journey down to Moira’s lab.Sombra informed him, as he snuck her through the barracks and into his bedroom, that her and Moira needed to have another talk. What this “talk” was supposed to entail, he wasn’t sure, but he had a feeling Talon was expecting the Doctor’s services once more.A week had barely passed, it was impossible they were asking for her again so soon. And what more could they provide him with? What more could they possibly have up their sleeve that he wanted?Gabe traversed the ground level of the Blackwatch facility. There was an increased amount of commotion as preparations were made for the Covert Ops Team and their future departure to Japan. He found himself awkwardly shuffling and wading through many individuals of different statuses (all beneath him, however, as an Excuse me, Commander was in order every time he passed) as he attempted to reach his destination.Gabriel clung to the information in his hand with his life, making sure nobody could knock it from his grasp.He passed Jack on his way, who waved politely (Gabe did not wave back), as well as Ana, who told him that she’d like to speak with him when he had a free moment.It seemed to him that she was concerned. He wondered if it had anything to do with the Shimadas.When he eventually entered the hallway containing the doors to the laboratory, he found that it was…loud.Loud, and very crowded.It wasn’t often this part of the base teemed with so much life and vigor, but for an operation such as this, it seemed the weaponry and excess supplies stuffed down here would prove useful.Gabriel shoved his way to the doors, not caring to step around anyone this time around. His patience faded extremely quickly, and his broad shoulders and overall wide physique allowed him to plow through with relative ease.The Commander swiped his identification card, and inside he slid. There were interns and cargo handlers, he noticed, that peered curiously through the opening created just before it shut once again.The bustle of life swarming within the hallway seeped through the walls.Sombra was there, as he suspected she would be. She was sitting in a chair, her legs crossed, and her face full of…confusion? She raised a brow as her and Gabe locked eyes.Moira was there, as well, standing across from the Hacker, her palms folded behind her back.When she stared at him, her face was unreadable, but something was there.Her eyes were stern, unwavering, unblinking. She was frowning. The expression suggested irritation, but that didn’t quite fit to his liking.“Hey,” Gabriel started slowly.Sombra waved, and Moira spoke up with, “What is going on?” The Latina woman winced. It gave him the impression this wasn’t the first time Moira has raised her voice.He walked over to the Doctor, concern tugging mildly in his chest. “Preparations for our trip to Japan.”“I understand, but what is happening out there? It is unlike normal protocol and preparation.”To the unfamiliar ear, it sounded as if Moira was angry with him, or that she was scolding him.
But he knew better.
To the familiar ear, which was his and his alone, it sounded like stress.
She was stressed.
Her body language spoke as such. Her expressionless expression spoke as such. The way she folded her hands behind her back spoke as such. Moira was uncomfortable, and it made his stomach churn.“I noticed Jack and Ana on my way here. They might have given orders I wasn’t aware of.”“They have no jurisdiction over your subordinates. What gives them the right to dictate and meddle in your affairs? You’re more than capable of handling yourself.”She huffed, spun on her heel, and marched angrily to the second section of her lab. No attention was paid to Sombra as she went.“It is simply…” she raised her hands to her ears, hovering centimeters away from her cartilage without ever making contact, “loud.” Moira shut the door behind her. There was no noise coming from the room she now resided in. If there was, the discourse and racket from the hallway pushed it way below, too low for the Commander’s ears to pick up. Gabe let out an unhappy sigh. It was indeed loud. Not loud enough to bother him or Sombra, but definitely loud enough to bother Moira.It didn’t make sense to him; she seemed perfectly capable of handling the noises war brought about. What was so different now?That may be a question he will never get an answer to. Not anytime soon, anyway. And he certainly wasn’t going to interrogate her on the matter, for obvious reasons.“She was freaking out about that when I got here, too,” Sombra told him, her voice slightly hushed. “She wouldn’t tell me why.”Moira’s discomfort was upsetting to him. It made him less tolerant of the Hacker’s presence and more driven to simply…end her. “You and her seem to be easily annoyed, Boss, I hope you don’t mind me saying that. Actually, I don’t care if you mind.” She shifted her legs to plant one foot on her seat. “You know, Talon knew about her work for a long time. We had eyes on her, but you got to her before we could. The bosses were pissed, before they realized money could sway her. Then we were planning on taking her from you. As you know, Gabriel, we’re always looking for people who are the right amount of crazy.” Sombra pointed a finger at her temporal lobe and drew a circle within the air. “And Doctor O’Deorain is a seriously messed up lady. She’s hot, of course, but definitely messed up. Wait, she’s your girl; pretend I didn’t say that last part.”Without another word, the Hacker proceeded to trek around the laboratory for seemingly no reason, glancing curiously at the miscellaneous science apparatuses strewn about.Gabriel stood in place, the binder he once held placed on the desk behind him, and his lips turned downwards in a frown.He was seething. Furious. Enraged. It was because of what Sombra said. It was because of the way she spoke about Moira.It was because of her explanation: that Talon wanted the Doctor because she was mentally unsound.It was how casually she told him Moira was defective. It was how casually she let him know that something was wrong with her. How dare she speak of her that way?Moira was not defective. She was not messed up; she had a gift. It was a gift that all of Talon was keen on utilizing.And Sombra had the audacity to insult her?“I could fucking shoot you right now,” Gabe told her.
He could. He very much could.
The Hacker looked back at him and quirked a brow. “Did I touch a nerve? Sorry, Reyes. Shooting me wouldn’t be a good idea, though, would it?”No, it most certainly wouldn’t, but God, how he wanted to. How he fucking wanted to.He remained silent, but adrenaline coursed through his muscles and made him sweat with anticipation for an act that would never take place.“Does Moira know why you’re here?”“No. I think I’m making the executive decision to see myself out and come back later. I don’t feel like dealing with her attitude right now.”For the first time in his life, Gabriel heard a twinge of annoyance in the Hacker’s voice.Sombra sighed longingly. “The crazy ones are always the most beautiful; I think you could agree with me, Jefe.”He was happy she was leaving, he realized.He was upset at the moment.The last person he needed to see was her.

Gabriel shifted his head before he opened his eyes. His neck felt sore, and his left hand had pins and needles stabbing at his nerves.When he finally lifted his eyelids, he found he was still in Moira’s lab, arms folded neatly upon the desk he sat at.It was dark, the lights from monitors and equipment illuminating small sections of the room. The noise from outside had ceased, and soft whirring and beeping emanating from the machinery within the lab took its place. He found it soothing, ironically.Gabe arched his back and stretched out his muscles. His eyes watered as he blinked and took in his surroundings.Moira was nowhere in sight. He hadn’t interacted with her since his initial entry to her lab.Truthfully, after Sombra had left, he was unsure of whether or not he should speak to her. He didn’t want to exacerbate her negative emotions while in the process of attempting to eliminate them.Because he cared for her. He cared for her wellbeing.Another thing the Commander noticed was that his binder was gone. He had placed it right in front of him, just before he rested his head, and now it wasn’t where it should be.Moira could have taken it, but he wasn’t certain why she would. Sombra could have, as well, which the thought of was frustrating.A quick walk around the lab let him know that his information was nowhere to be found.His heart rate picked up as his mind filled with anger, and Gabriel marched to the back door with an eagerness to tear the entire room apart in search of what he lost.Or, perhaps, what was stolen from him.However, right before he went to unlock the door, two faint voices could be heard from the other side.Moira and Sombra, he recognized almost immediately.And he stopped to listen.
You would have nothing to lose and everything to gain, Doc, just think about it.

There is nothing to consider. It is more beneficial to stay employed with Blackwatch and receive funding from both organizations.

We could easily pull our financial support from you. Promises can be broken.

Then you would not receive my help, and I’m sure your superiors are not keen on that happening.

Whatever. I just think you’re not considering our offer enough.

I would have to discuss it with Gabriel before making a decision.

You really wouldn’t, Amiguita.

I absolutely would.
Gabe paused.
What was going on?
He hurriedly unlocked the door, light blasting him in the face and causing him to squint.As he suspected, Moira and Sombra resided within, sitting apart and angled towards each other on the Doctor’s green sofa.Moira smiled when their eyes met. It was small, but most certainly present, and his mood lifted ever so slightly.“Good morning, Sunshine,” Sombra greeted. “You were out for hours. I shut off the lights so you could get a great nap in.”“We were discussing possible employment opportunities within Talon,” Moira informed him calmly, and it made his heart twist with an unidentifiable emotion.
Employment opportunities?
The Hacker let out an overly-exaggerated groan. “Let me do the talking, okay?”Sombra turned to face the Commander.“Remember that talk you and I had a little while ago? You know, the one before I left temporarily and you decided to hit the hay. About Talon keeping tabs on the Doc’s work?”Gabriel remained silent and stone-faced. “Well, we were thinking about possibly having her come to work for us. As in, have her pack up shop here and head over to Italy.”
What?
“The invitation is open to you, too, Jefe. It wasn’t originally going to be, but someone insisted you should know about the plan.”Moira offered Sombra a vexed stare, but the latter didn’t seem to mind.“Think about it, Reyes. Overwatch is already on suspension; it’s only a matter of time until you guys get caught operating without a country’s say-so. And when that happens, where will you go? No military or special ops network is going to take you in after you fucked around with Antonio and got your whole team exposed. And what will happen to your babe once Overwatch is gone?”Sombra placed her hand on Moira’s shoulder, to which the Doctor jerked away from her touch and sneered viciously.“Have you thought about that yet?”The Talon woman stood, walked over to the table shoved in the corner of the room, and picked up a folder that sat upon it.She waved it in the air for him to behold.“I got those copies while you were dozing off. I guess I should thank you for the info. Yours is over there, by the way.”She pointed to the binder sitting atop a desk to his right as the room remained silent.“I think the three of us will end up as work buddies, if you want my opinion.”Sombra stepped closer to him.”I could see it in your eyes, Gabe: you give in a little more every day.”The Hacker waved and faded away, leaving behind white noise and a very disgruntled Blackwatch Commander.Moira was looking at him, her face unreadable. She tracked his movements carefully as he trekked over to sit with her on the couch.“I took your records from you while you slept, I hope you don’t mind.”Gabe shook his head.The smell of Sombra’s perfume lingered in his nose.“It’s quiet,” he remarked. His partner smiled and sighed.“It is.”Again, deafening silence. He stared at Moira’s hypoxic arm and bulging veins with an empty mind.He didn’t want to think of Sombra. He didn’t want to have the conversation now. He was still in the process of waking up; that’s how everything felt at the moment.Moira moved closer to him and leaned in to study his face.“Does your son resemble you?”His daughter? Is that what she was thinking of the entire time? It was quite possible.He decided to entertain her, unsure of what else to focus on.“Not much. He’s his mother’s twin.”“Can you describe his appearance?”“Uh, well, about my height, dark hair—has my eyes, I sh-”“Does he have your skin tone?”“Uh, not really,” he chuckled. “Mama was a bit fairer than me. You really wouldn’t be able to tell I was Dad if we stood next to each other.”She nodded slowly, taking in his information with care.“Why do you want to know?”His question was lame. Why did she want to know? Because they were together, they’ve been together, and she was just now discovering he had reproduced.“Curiosity,” Moira responded, and he wasn’t sure what other sort of answer he was expecting.“What made you want to have children?”He put thought into her question.“I always had.”“Why is that?”Gabriel shrugged. “I had a feeling when I was a kid, and it stuck with me.”“What made you love that woman?”“She was, um, intelligent, sensible, easy to get along with. Uh, easygoing. That is, until I got her pregnant. Then she got pregnancy brain.” He laughed a bit somberly at his comment.“How unfortunate.”“I mean, once she popped the baby out, she was back to her old self.”He leaned in to kiss her cheek as she lost herself in her brain, planting his hand on her thigh and squeezing.“Everything was fine until I was placed at the head of Blackwatch. That’s when she decided it was better for the both of us to split. Said I was clearly meant for other things in life and she was holding me back.”It felt strange recounting their conversation to Moira. It felt strange because she was the only partner he’s had since he split from Martina. It felt strange because all of his feelings at once caught in the back of his throat and quieted his voice.“Do you love your son?”Does he…?
Does he love him?
The answer was so simple, but it wasn’t, and his brain shut down and his emotions disappeared and he began to run on autopilot.Did he love him? He was certain at some point in his life he did. Gabe recalled cradling his son’s tiny body in his arms, holding his hand as they walked down the street, and falling asleep with him in bed when the dark gripped his mind; Gabriel had loved him then, he was sure of it.
But now?
Moira gazed at him softly with sharp eyes, and spoke warmth into his soul with cold words.“You needn’t answer if the task proves too difficult.”No, no, no, it wasn’t difficult. It was very simple.
But it wasn’t.

But it was.

He wasn’t sure.
Swallowing dryly, he attempted to answer her.“I think.”He hated it. He hated that answer. He hated how unsure and weak it was. But Moira didn’t appear to share his feelings.She nodded gently.The clock on the wall ticked on endlessly, the darkness from the doorway calling to him as drowsiness tugged at his brain.Again, he pictured Moira in Martina’s position. He imagined her beckoning him into their swimming pool after coming home from work, and becoming tearful with joy as he knelt to propose, and resting on the couch after dinner as she commented joyfully that the thirty-week-old baby in her belly loved Gabe’s cooking.It brought about strange feelings, ones he couldn’t begin to describe in any particular way.He knew for sure, however, that Moira fit quite awkwardly into each of those scenarios. The two women were so different, and Moira would act and respond very differently in each of the flashbacks that played in his head.
She, most certainly, without a sliver of a doubt, would never be caught pregnant, especially.
“Do you still love your ex-wife?”He contemplated her new question for quite some time.On one hand, he couldn’t recall a set time where he stopped loving Martina. There was never a moment he thought of her without some sort of muddled longing accompanying it.On the other hand, the feeling seemed to be different now. And perhaps it had been different ever since Moira decided to bring up the unexpressed emotions between them in the lab that day.It was different from the love he felt for Moira. It’s entirely possible “love” isn’t even what he should be calling it.“No. Not like I love you.”Martina would have smiled at that. Moira stared him down with a frown and thoughtful eyes.“I see. Were you in the room when your son was delivered?”He raised his eyebrows, a tad surprised at her question. “Yeah.”“What sort of emotions did that bring about?”Her questions were very…well, Moira. That was the best way he could describe it. They were wrapped in her personality, in her inquisitiveness and yearning to know ever more.It was adorable, he thought. Quite adorable.And it took his mind off of Sombra and Talon and Overwatch and Blackwatch.A much needed reprieve from his life, which seemed to be falling apart at the seams.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The air was frigid in the worst way. His eyes were horribly dry, and to blink stung rather uncomfortably. The heat emanating from the vents of his shotguns was an ineffective, ephemeral source of warmth.

Jesse’s flashbang reverberated against the wooden walls of the small building doubling as a watchtower.

“The armory can be easily accessed through the passageway at the bottom of this tower,” Genji explained, just before they descended. And just before any life within was dealt with.

Quickly and quietly.

There was no bang of McCree’s revolver, and no blast of his own guns. No, only the squelch of skin as the Ninja effortlessly pierced their foes with his soul blade, and the labored, dying moans and gasps of the Yakuza as Moira used what was left of their lives to fill the canister at her back.
 It was a painting that hid the passageway Genji spoke of, Gabriel recalled. 
The catacombs were long and winding and labyrinthine, but prior intel and knowledge from their cyborg allowed them effortless navigation.

It smelled of authentic hardwood and musk, and the ornate pillars holding the tunnels open were full of dust and old gashes.

“This is one hell of a place,” Jesse pointed out silently.

“Quite traditional,” Moira added.
 
He focused on her comment.
 Gabe recalled what it felt like to reach the armory. He recalled what he saw. 
It was massive, truly. One of the most impressive stocks he’d ever laid eyes upon. There were weapons lining the walls and thrown atop tables and crates with Japanese lettering adorning their sides. Half of those weapons were modern, and half were quite traditional. He wasn’t sure how to use most of those sorts.
 
When the time came, and he used his own firearms to pop the heads of the Shimada, one by one, Gabriel found something akin to happiness growing in his chest.
 
All of the anger boiling in his heart left his body through each shotgun pellet. The smell of iron and gunpowder, something quite familiar, took its place, and he felt nothing and everything simultaneously.

He found the escape from his own mind he’d desperately needed for so long.
 And it was a new feeling, too, he remembered.Yes, very new, and very odd. 
There was never anything holding him back from pulling the trigger. The only thing he ever felt was the recoil.
 
But now, he felt something.
 
It was faint, and buried beneath his usual hollowness, but it was there. And it was something pleasing.

Satisfaction, perhaps. Or joy, but that would be concerning.
 Wait.This is something he’s felt before. 
Right. When he shot Antonio. He’d felt it then, too. 
 
But in that moment, in the depths of the Shimada castle, the feeling wasn’t so anecdotal. It kept returning, bursts of it flourishing in his heart and throat when he hit his mark and dissipating shortly after.

He was seeking out that aura with each shot, he realized after a while. When a bullet was fired, he was hoping to end a life, not out of duty (not entirely, anyways), but in the hopes his strange emotion would stick around; just a little longer, and just a little stronger.

He wouldn’t admit to himself this was a portion of the reasoning behind each pull of the trigger. Not at first.
 
He looked at Moira, at some point during their shootout. Or rather, he studied her. Observed her. Admired her. Brought in her essence.
 
She was smiling, cackling devilishly. The plasma she grabbed and manipulated with her right hand swirled around her svelte body. It rose from the sunken eye sockets and dry mouths of the corpses around her, attracted deeply to her body and to her altered palm.
 
It formed a halo around her head. She returned the gaze he offered her. His reflection appeared in her chest plate, the swell of her breasts morphing his face.

She was smiling.
 
And he was smiling, too.
 His love for her danced proudly in that moment, tapping its shoes rhythmically across his brain matter.The same way in which it did now, as Moira sat before him on the desk in his office, legs spread to make way for his hips and a pink hand plunged into his sweatpants, applying pressure where he needed it most as they mashed their lips together. 
They found the individual they were looking for, after many threats to others’ lives.

Lower-ranking members of the clan would be held at gunpoint with the promise of life if they told him what he wanted to hear. Most spoke up rather quickly.
 
They were shot anyway.
 
Blackwatch’s questioning led them to a middle-aged woman Genji was unfamiliar with.

They successfully escorted her back to the ship.
 Gabriel sat down in his chair, his senses and thoughts overcome by desire. His pants and boxers were at his ankles as Moira knelt between his knees.She took his cock into her left hand and squeezed gently, placing a loving peck on the tip.The buttons of her lab coat were left undone, which was unusual for her.“Direct me, Gabriel,” she said with an emotion in her voice. 
When Blackwatch and their captor returned to Zurich, Jack and Ana were there waiting.
Impatiently, he thought as he recounted. They were very impatient.
They asked questions regarding the Shimada Clan’s backers, their greatest allies, their greatest enemies, and anything else of the sort.

She was slow to answer, and when she had, her answers were vague and unhelpful. It pissed him off in the worst way.

They brought Genji in to speak to her, Morrison suggesting that perhaps a translator would help her along, but something told Gabe that wasn’t the issue.

Genji argued with her. He argued a great amount, and didn’t bother to translate it into English after a point. And eventually, when he became fed up with whatever the Clan’s official was telling him, he pulled his blade and held it near her jugular.

Ana had snapped at Genji then, telling him this wasn’t the way Overwatch operated.

“It’s the way Blackwatch operates,” Gabriel countered.
 Moira ran her tongue along the underside of his length before taking him into her mouth, her fingers wrapped around the base.Her mouth was hot. Very hot. And he was able to feel and experience the shift of her tongue and the small grazes of her teeth along his skin and the pulse of her esophagus and tonsils as she pushed him into her throat and swallowed.She did not gag, which greatly surprised him. Not once.She had no reflux. None. Zero.  
How lucky was he.
 
The Shimada woman warned that Blackwatch had made a mistake. Even simply setting foot inside the castle grounds had alerted the Japanese Government of their presence. She informed them that, no matter how many Yakuza were killed, the word would spread, and Overwatch would suffer the consequences.

That interrogation ended with unsatisfactory outcomes. The woman would be held by Overwatch for further questioning, but Gabe had doubted anything would happen unless they found a better way to make her talk.
 He was right to have his doubts, looking back on it. But he didn’t want to think about any of it right now. No, he wanted to focus on Moira, and the lovely way she bobbed her head on his cock and pressed the flat of her tongue against the most sensitive parts of him.She was a wonderful listener. She followed his commands flawlessly, and took every breathy Yeah, that’s it and Fuck and Good girl into thoughtful consideration.Unfortunately for him, however, his mind had other plans.
The days had passed, and little by little, they were extrapolating information from the Shimada member. It was at a snail's pace, and Gabriel grew antsy. Things would have gotten done a lot faster if they did things his way, but no; for whatever reason, the Yakuza member had to be treated with some form of decency.

They retrieved valuable information from her, he had to admit. But never were they able to discover what became of Hanzo Shimada.
 Moira sucked on his tip and swirled her tongue and cupped his testicles (her hand was so cold, but he willed his body to pay no mind) and stroked him at a satisfying pace, using her saliva to relieve any friction. The pleasure she created within his belly grew stronger, and it caused his mouth to dry up and his breath to hitch, and he tugged at her hair with more strength than he was meaning to use.It seemed to bother her none. He liked to think she was enjoying it. 
Truth be told, Overwatch was steeped into hot water with the Japanese government. The national announcement put the organization at odds with all of Europe and Asia, and everything rested on the lonely shoulders of Jack Morrison.

“You did what needed to be done, Gabe,” he’d said to him. “You played it as safe as you could. This is no one’s fault. Just some bad luck.”

He felt something as he witnessed Jack’s distress, something like sorrow. And yet, Gabe stayed quiet as his friend paced back and forth within the conference room.

Computer screens displayed accusations and ridicule; all were targeted at Overwatch.

Later that day, Gabriel traveled to the makeshift prison cell their captive resided in. He shot her without a second thought, and without a single word. That feeling returned again.

It felt good to do away with her. It felt like a satisfying end to her pathetic story. He noticed his emotions become mellowed and relaxed.

Jack said nothing when he learned of what Gabe had done. Ana was livid. Moira lit up with joy.

“The body will contribute to the furtherance of science, should you place it in my care,” she told him.
 
That’s exactly what happened. With Jack, Ana, Angela, Jesse, and anyone in between none the wiser.
 Gabriel’s toes curled and he huffed and panted as Moira would bring him so fucking close and then change direction, forcing him away from his orgasm.He wasn’t entirely sure if she was even doing it on purpose or not, but he was loving every second of it, nonetheless.She drew it out, made it last, swallowed his entire length and then spit it back up when she saw him nearing release. It was driving him mad.  
It was eventually decided that Genji would be removed from Blackwatch and placed on the Overwatch Strike Team. Gabe believed it was because, with Hanzo gone, Genji had no use for Blackwatch anymore.

Angela most certainly had a say in it, too.

It angered him, losing such an incredible soldier, but with the future of Blackwatch now bleak and dreary, he supposed the Ninja had no other choice.

Jesse would still operate as a spy within the organization. And Moira, of course, would stay behind and conduct her work, as well.

“This lowly organization‘s days are numbered,” she had said to him one day. “Perhaps it is time for us to consider our options.”

She was right, and he understood that.

“You mean ‘option,’” he corrected. She nodded.

Talon could provide many opportunities for him to continue his duty of doing away with the scum of the world.

And Moira could happily continue her research. By his side, with all of the funding she could ever dream of.
 
Sombra was right. He was giving in.
 Finally, she pushed him over the edge. Gabriel breathed shaky breaths and grunted and puffed as the pleasure gripped his entire being and constricted forcefully, racking his body with waves of overstimulation. Moira licked at the underside of his tip and sucked lightly at his sensitive skin and hummed as she did so and massaged his shaft in just the right ways.
And when she was done, he was left alone in euphoria.
His racing thoughts were calmed. The anxiety of the past few weeks had left his body, trapped inside her mouth and down her throat as she pulled away from his manhood.The moment was temporary, he knew, but reveled in it regardless.He simmered in the thoughts of what she just did to him, the ways in which she learned so quickly how to satisfy him using her mouth.Before he could say anything to her, Moira stood and spit into the trashcan near his desk, his semen dripping from her bottom lip.Perhaps he would have found it erotic and beautiful, if not for the disgusted expression she currently held.“That is horrid.” Gabe laughed at her. It was all he could do. And he continued to do so as she hacked up whatever was left in her throat and spit again, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand once finished.He stood and hiked his sweatpants and boxers to his hips, taking a step closer to her and leaning upwards to kiss her temple.“How about I return the favor?”And then there was a knock at the door.His smile died.Moira appeared equally displeased, but he wasn’t sure if they had similar reasonings.
Most likely, they did not.
“What?” he called, a vexed tone present in his words.“Gabriel?” Angela’s voice called. “Did I catch you at a bad time?”“Yes.”Moira was lightly smacking her lips and frowning.He rubbed her shoulder endearingly (and half mockingly, if he were being honest) as Ziegler continued with, “I’m sorry, I never mean to bother you. Something was delivered to the med bay for Doctor O’Deorain today, and it’s…well, interesting. I was wondering if you would want to discuss that with Jack and Ana.”That peaked his interest. And Moira’s, too, who stayed completely silent.“What is it?”“It seems to me it’s an invitation.”The Doctor looked confused instead of repulsed now. She shook her head lightly as she stared at the door to his office.“An invitation to what?” Gabriel prompted.“I’m uncertain, that’s why I believe you should take a look. Before she becomes aware we have it.”A bit late for that, he thought, yet remained silent.Moira mimicked his quietude; she was now spitting into a tissue obtained from his desk.“It raises some concern, Gabriel, if I’m being honest,” Angela said.The Commander huffed. He did not want to deal with this right now. Not immediately following the moment he shared with Moira, who still seemed to be…recovering.But she would want him to discover whatever it was Angela spoke of. She would want him to leave as soon as he possibly could to tend to that.But he needed a shower. And to give back to Moira, to repay her for the wonderful experience she had just gifted him.It was apparent both of those things would have to wait, however.“Right. Hang on,” Gabe told Mercy.He glanced at Moira, who smiled when he did so.She went to kiss him, it seemed, but before that could happen, he placed a hand between their mouths and shook his head.
Absolutely not.
The Doctor’s face turned from pleasant joy, to mild shock, then to great amusement. Her grin showed off her snow-white teeth.She was so gorgeous. Moira nodded lightly in understanding, and, quite abruptly, she disappeared before his eyes.With that, he sighed and collected himself, mentally preparing for whatever it was Ziegler was about to throw his way.He also wondered where Moira went exactly. His office only had one entrance, and she wasn’t capable of fazing herself through solid objects; was she still present? Simply…invisible?Gabriel opened the door to reveal a concerned looking Angela in a puffy sweater.“You mentioned Moira doesn’t know about this?” he asked.“That’s right. As far as I know, she has no idea.”As they began to walk, he decided to ask, “What sort of invitation are we dealing with here?”  Gabriel examined the item he held before his eyes, periodically glancing up to assess the others present in the room. He assessed their faces, their expressions.It was another check, most certainly from Talon, one for a substantially bigger amount of cash than last time.
Moira’s efforts must have been appreciated.
Along with it came another handwritten note, which lay neatly on the white table before him. 
We are waiting in the shadows.
 Next to the writing was a hastily-scribbled erlenmeyer flask (the drawing made him believe Sombra wrote this note) and the title Dr. O. He focused on the way her name was written. 
That was it. That’s all it was. Money, and an ambiguous letter.
 It made Gabe’s mind churn and stress over what it could mean, what sort of message Talon was intending to get across.“That was all we were given,” Ana explained. “Trust me, we checked countless times.” Jack beside her nodded.“That’s a hefty wad of cash,” McCree commented, “Whoever that came from must really like what she does.”“I don’t think we have to wonder ‘who it came from,’” Angela replied. Why? Why would Talon do this? Why send this to the base for Overwatch to find?Was it a mistake? If so, it was the worst mistake they could have ever made. And it most likely Sombra was the one responsible for it. He wouldn’t put it past her to make such a careless move.Now Overwatch was suspicious of Moira. Well, more suspicious than they were previously.There was a hand on his shoulder. Jack was now at his side, with Mercy relocated to allow the man room.“What do you think?” he asked Gabriel.What did he think? Well, he thinks he’s about to have a stroke, that’s for damn sure.“I haven’t seen anything like this come up until now,” Gabe lied. “I think it’s an extended hand, so to speak, but I don’t know if that makes Moira suspicious of conspiracy.”“What do you mean?” Amari pressed.“I mean, Talon could offer the same thing to me or you; that doesn't mean we’re going to accept it.”“Why go after her, though?””Well, I think-”“Because she’s just like them, Ana!” Ziegler explained. “She’s just as crazy and unhinged as the rest of them! She would fit in perfectly!”“Shut your damn mouth, Ziegler. I don’t want to hear it,” Gabriel snapped.He tried to breathe as she spoke her poison. He tried to ignore it and calm himself and stay level-headed. 
But it wasn’t working.
There was so much hurt in Angela’s eyes. There was pain, and disbelief. It made his stomach churn uncomfortably, but never once did he feel regret for what he had said.“Gabe, what is the matter with you?” Ana protested. “Your mood has been so horrible lately! You would never say something like that to her!”He was stressed, he thought. Stress is what it felt like, and it wore his patience unbearably thin.“I’m trying to figure out what’s happening right now! I don’t need to hear any bitching and moaning from anyone.”The Captain shook her head disapprovingly. There was a moment of silence afterwards, but Jack eventually broke it.“Look, they know of the current situation with Blackwatch. It’s possible they’re trying to get to her while the future isn’t certain.”The man paused.“And for one reason or another, they chose her.”The Blackwatch Commander set his check down alongside the letter.“Should Moira be told about this?” Mercy spoke up. It sounded cautious, as if she were trying to evade a reaction from Gabe.He thought about her question.Moira certainly would feign surprise and astonishment should he present this to her.But his true question was what the meaning of this stunt was.“I think whether we do or don’t,” Jesse said, “we should keep the money.”“Yeah,” Gabriel agreed.“What difference would it make if we let her know versus if we don’t?” pondered Morrison.The room seemed to become lost in thought, but he didn’t contemplate his friend’s question for very long.“I don’t think the outcome would change either way.”“Well…with all respect, I think we need to take into account your bias.”His bias.
Fucking Hell.
“I’m not-” Morrison tried.
“I don’t have a bias.”
All eyes were on him.“Don’t take that as me saying your input doesn’t matter. But I think I speak for everyone here when I say Moira isn’t the most loyal person on our side.”“And what are you basing that on?”“Her character. She’s shady, and you’re the only one who doesn’t think so.”“If Blackwatch didn’t have her, we all would have been laying dead on the battlefield long ago. You’re-”“Listen, Gabe. Whether you want to admit it or not, she’s not trustworthy. She’ll go wherever support for her work is, and if that’s with Talon, she’ll turn her back on you as fast as she can.”No, no, no. That was wrong. Jack was so wrong. Moira has encountered that situation. And the first thing she did was seek out Gabe’s input. Let him know what was happening. Let him impact her decision. How fucking badly he wanted to say that. Oh, how badly he wanted to out him and Moira, just to shove it into Morrison’s face.“You’re wrong,” Gabriel said darkly. What little patience he had left had faded.“Perhaps you should look at this objectively,” Ana said, an indecipherable emotion present on her face. “To try and understand where Jack’s coming from.”His blood boiled with a barely-manageable rage.Did they fucking think he wasn’t looking at this objectively? Did they all believe he was biased?“I’m not some fucking idiot, Ana. I know damn well where he’s coming from. My relationship with her has never swayed my decisions in the past, but all of sudden you and him want to throw it in my face.”There was a scoff from McCree.“I know what her motives are, and-”“I hope you don’t agree with them,” said Jack.“Stop interrupting me!”“You want to know why Overwatch and Blackwatch are in the state they’re in? It’s because of her! You understand that?”“I don’t want to hear that shit.”“The entire reason everything is falling apart in the first place is because she’s still attached to this organization. If you just let her go, none of this would have ever happened!”“I had my reasons!”“Whoa, now, Jack! Come on, you’re working him up,” McCree interjected. “The moment y’all start arguing, the talk comes to a standstill.”He adjusted his hat. “How about, before we consider bringing her into this at all, we keep that fancy little present locked up and wait to see if Talon does anything about it?”
Finally, someone said something that didn’t piss him off.
The room was silent with contemplation.Gabe stayed quiet and still, allowing the others to answer while he regulated his emotions.“I think that’s the best plan of action,” Jack stated gruffly. He turned his head in the direction of the Blackwatch Commander.“I’m hoping I can trust you to keep this between us.”He grumbled in response. It was the only way he could convey to Morrison that he did not appreciate being singled out and he’s incredibly infuriated right now without making anything worse.Jack grabbed the note and check resting upon the desk before marching away unhappily.Once he had disappeared through his chosen door, Gabriel sighed.He was so relaxed and jubilant before coming here. He was alone, with Moira, basking in her presence. And he had to leave that perfect scene to listen to Overwatch and their nonsensical opinions.“Is that true, Boss?” McCree asked as he sat in the chair adjacent to him and removed his hat. “Is the Doc your lady?”He didn’t answer the Cowboy. He was too frustrated.“Because if it is, color me surprised. That woman’s heartless, far as I could tell. Unless she had a little piece of it left, and you managed to find it.”That was a good way of putting it, he thought, and his face must have softened as he contemplated, because Jesse’s knowing smirk grew.“I hope it’s not true,” Angela said, “because you’re better than that, Gabriel.”“Does it matter anymore? With the state of this organization, does anything matter?”The Surgeon was silent for a moment, looking at him with disbelief.“Really?”“Why are you so concerned, Angela? How does this affect you?”“I just…don’t believe she’s good for you.”“I think they’re made for each other, Doc,” McCree stated before Gabe could get a word in. “All I’ll say.”“Has Jack known about this?” Ana questioned.“Why does this need discussion every time it’s brought up? Get over yourselves.”No more words were spoken. McCree was still smirking for a reason unknown to the Commander.He huffed, giving Ana and Angela one last glance.They seemed concerned. It vexed him.Gabriel marched away without another word. The Captain looked as if she were about to speak, but he didn’t care. He couldn’t stand to hear her voice right now.A shower. He needed a shower. That’s right.He left the small room with a punctuated silence. The lives that walked past him were ignored with all his might. Any bump or brush set his nerves ablaze and made anger bubble at the base of his throat.Try as he might, he couldn’t push the thoughts of their meeting out of his brain.The disrespect he just endured was unbelievable. The mistrust and ridicule. After all he’s fucking done for them.After all Moira’s done for them—for Blackwatch. That is the sort of behavior they are forced to endure.They were no strangers to being treated this way, he acknowledged with indignation. But that didn’t mean he had to submit to it.That didn’t mean he had to simply stand there as Angela bashed Moira, and as Jack accused him of bias and untrustworthiness. No, not at all. What is the matter with you? Ana had said.
I’m fucking tired of everyone’s bullshit and attitude.
And Jack had instigated it. Things would have gone smoothly if he didn’t bother to open his disgraceful mouth.Gabe passed Tracer on his journey. She yelled a cheery Hi, Commander! but received no response.Willhelm was offered a poisonous glance from him as the two passed each other.
He would appreciate Reinhardt more if he could staple the man’s mouth shut.
Genji didn’t so much as acknowledge the Commander when the two crossed paths. Torbjorn was offering others steaming mugs of some liquid, an attempt to combat the chill of the compound and of the outside as the middle of December neared.He wasn’t offered anything to drink, which he was grateful for.Gabriel, after what felt like a decade, stood at the entrance to his bedroom. But he hesitated. Only for a moment, and he wasn’t sure why; exhaustion, perhaps.“There you are,” a friendly voice rang behind him.
Well, as friendly as Moira typically sounded.
“You disappeared after you left the room. I was having trouble finding you.”She was standing erect with her hands behind her back, a shirt much too big for her torso hiding her white skin.“How are you feeling?” Moira interrogated.He scoffed as he stepped closer, lightly gripping her bony shoulders in his large palms.“I feel like you’re the only one I don’t hate anymore.”“I was watching over your conversation. I heard all of it.”“Yeah?”He had no idea, and neither did the others; a product of her field work within Blackwatch.“Quite an intriguing gift I have received. What did the letter read?”He thought.“Nothing substantial. It had your name on it.”“I’m sure we will discover the meaning behind this stunt soon.”“I hope.”He wasn’t sure why, but he decided to wrap his arms around her, right where they stood, in the middle of a hallway.Hand hands met his back a few beats later.Gabe breathed in deeply, taking in the pleasant smell of her soap as he practically nuzzled into her neck. His nerves relaxed marginally, but it was more relief from his emotions than he’s felt in hours.“May I kiss you now?”He chuckled. It was sincere and honest, and it felt good. Perhaps that was her goal: to ease his frustration and stress. Perhaps she wanted to absorb all of his negativity through her lips as their mouths met, just so he could be okay and well again.It didn’t relieve him completely, but it was an incredible help.A thought abruptly popped into the forefront of his mind.“Where did you come from?”“My bedroom.”“You’re never in there.”“Well, it is much quieter up here than it is on the basement level.”He gave her a confused look.
What was going on down there?
“What’s happening down there?”“It’s hard to say. It seems Blackwatch is relocating cargo.”Had they received another order? Strange, considering nearly all support for Overwatch has been pulled. A last shipment, perhaps. Gabriel glanced behind his partner and into the open door of her bedroom, realizing the sheets of her bed were ruffled and undone.Difficult thoughts continued to swarm through his head.“Moira.” He was looking at the floor, deep in thought, with his arms newly crossed.“Yes?”“I need to speak to you about something. In private.”“Define ‘something.’”His head became muddled and unsure, and there was a knot in his throat; yet his adrenaline and ambition ate away at all of these things.“I think I’m giving in.”She smirked, evil and devilish, and he had an inkling Moira knew she would hear those words eventually.“Is that so?”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Genji landed on the mat of the training rink with an inaudible sound. The green lights of his new prosthetics flashed as he brought himself to his full height.
Which was not very tall. Perhaps around one-hundred-and-sixty-five centimeters.
Tracer, who was breathless from her skirmish with the Ninja, pumped her fists into the air.“You’re doing amazing, Genji!”“If you say so,” Genji replied with a nod.Tracer was right. He was performing phenomenally. It was quite impressive, objectively, and with that man, it was expected.The body he utilized in the rink was only a prototype. The final product would take many more months to complete. According to a few overheard conversations, the Ninja could not wait to be fitted in his new, high-tech, artificial limbs.Doctor Ziegler commanded Overwatch’s cybernetics team flawlessly; she knew Genji better than anyone else. Why she did not play a more important part in the creation of his first artificial body remains a mystery.“He is acclimating to his new body at an incredible pace,” Moira commented to Angela. You’ll be heading out on your first mission in no time! Lena told Genji in the rink below.Her thoughts drowned out the Ninja’s reply.
That is only true if a “next mission” exists at all.
“You should be proud, Doctor Ziegler.”The Surgeon did not look to her, and simply continued to stare through the glass of the observation unit and down at her coworkers.“I’m proud of Genji. He’s making great progress.”“All thanks to you.”“No. Because of his strength.”Moira frowned.Can Doctor Ziegler not see what she has done for Genji? Did she not understand that he breathes and fights today because of her?
Perhaps she will never understand.

She is stubborn.
Moira returned her gaze to Genji and Tracer, who were now located on the sidelines.Jack was there now, too. He was conversing with Genji, all while Lena beamed with delight.Moira, again, did not have the opportunity to overhear their conversation, for Winston spoke up to her left.“Genji is very strong-willed and an amazing soldier! I can’t wait to start working with him!”“I’m sure the entire Strike Team shares your sentiment,” Ziegler smiled.Her and the Ape were talking now. I’m so happy Genji is finally stepping away from Blackwatch, said Angela. I’m sure you are, replied Winston.Tracer, Jack, and Genji himself had vanished from below, and not a second later did they appear from the elevator on the other end of the observation room.Angela hugged Genji and congratulated him on his performance.Tracer, Jack, and Winston agreed.They were all smiling, happy.For Genji, it was uncertain whether he smiled or not. His helmet hid his face. He was talking quite a bit, however.His training was clearly over. Moira had no reason to be there, anymore. And so, she left.Everything was so hectic anymore. There were constant quarrels between the employees of Overwatch and Blackwatch.Constant.And the topic was always surrounding the decline of Overwatch.Overwatch tended to blame Gabriel and his “poor practices” and “unreasonable decisions” for its downfall, and Blackwatch blamed Ana and Jack for constantly placing the blame on Blackwatch and not taking better actions towards keeping the world safe.Moira did not blame the employees of Overwatch for their views.
Of course they will parrot their leader if only his side is ever presented to them.

Ignorance—that’s all it is.
And Jack and Ana address the fighting; Gabe does not. The way we’re treated isn’t fair. They have a right to be pissed, he would tell her, in his wonderfully thick American accent.Him and Morrison usually bickered about the lack of action on Gabriel’s part.
Jack always initiates it.

No, never has it been Gabe. Not once.
Jack suggested the fighting will do more harm than good for Overwatch.Gabe’s retort always included the fact that he doesn’t blame Blackwatch for being upset. And he will bring up how sick he is of being treated like the villain. I’m their boss, not their father, he would say. Let them sort it out themselves. Jack never appreciated this.
Why don’t you, as their boss, tell them to cut it out with all this nonsense?
Tensions will only grow if everyone is advised to be copacetic with one another, Moira thought.
What does Jack hope to accomplish?

Another example of his poor rationale.

Gabe is not their father. He is a father, though.

That’s right. Soon-to-be grandfather, if not already.
Moira could never imagine bringing a child into the world and raising it. She would not care enough to offer it quality maternal care and affection.
A nuisance and a hindrance to scientific progress.
As she neared the dining hall, pleasant, savory smells wafted from the entrance. The only voice she could pick up was Gerard’s.She could not decipher his words until she neared closer.“Either Overwatch will lose all credibility and be torn down by the EU, or a meeting completely reworking it’s internal structure will be held. I doubt the world will simply sit and let it destroy itself.”“Well, that’s what’s happening,” Gabriel’s voice responded. His was clear, gravelly, loud, and firm, and forcefully shoved its way into her ears and brain.“I don’t think it will stay this way for long.”“Neither do I. I’m just sick of hearing Jack’s lectures on the entire situation. He lets me know damn well that the past few Blackwatch operations haven’t been conducted with Overwatch in mind, and that I only ever care about my own agenda and my own grudges. Says we need to work together to fix this. What he doesn’t realize, is the only reason I’m so fucking pissed anymore, is because he doesn’t listen when I tell him the only way the problem will be fixed is if we hit harder and more unpredictably. They can’t counter us if they can’t see us coming. But he doesn’t want to hear that. He tells me I need to clear my head! He isn’t goddamn listening to me! We can’t reach common ground if he doesn’t bother to see it from my perspective! He has his head so far up his ass he doesn’t realize it’s shit like this tearing Overwatch down!”There was a pause.“And every time something goes wrong, I’m the one who’s blamed. If I…” The sentence was never finished.“Venice and Hanamura didn’t have to be these huge spectacles if Overwatch didn’t immediately resort to pointing the finger and feigning ignorance.”“Well, we can’t turn back the clock,” came Gerard’s reply.“If I’m talking honestly, I hope Overwatch fails. I’m sick of all this nonsense. I’m sick of Jack. Everyone can go their separate ways and I’ll be happy.”“And where will you go?”“I don’t know, I don’t care. As long as it’s as far removed from Overwatch as possible, I’ll be fine.”“Will you be taking Doctor O’Deorain with you, Commander?” There was a strange lilt in his voice.“I am. She doesn’t deserve to deal with this bullshit, either. And I’m taking some of this to her.”The last sentence was said with less fury.
Some of what?
Just as Moira realized she was standing and listening in to their conversation, the familiar blip! and blue flash of light as Tracer zipped past knocked her from her thoughts.“That smells amazing! I could smell it from all the way down the hall!”A faint Thanks was heard from Gabriel, just before the group from before turned the corner.She thought of continuing to walk towards her laboratory, to leave all of them behind; however, another part of her wanted to speak to Gabe. A part of her wanted to hear him mimic her own frustrations with the organization.And, perhaps, see him smile up at her, for one reason or another. She liked when he did that, and he did it quite a lot.
He has perfectly white teeth.
Deciding against what was perhaps her better judgement, Moira saw herself into the Dining Hall once Winston, Genji, and Doctor Ziegler, none of whom paid any mind to her, had entered.Jack followed at her right, as well, sneering at her before breaking away and stepping up beside Oxton to engage in conversation.Moira sneered back, of course.The group, along with Gerard, huddled around Gabe near the bar located at the left side of the room. On the countertop was a large pan of…pasta, it seemed.It most certainly smelled of pasta.There were already large sections removed from the pan, and all but Genji, Gabriel, and Moira herself were enjoying it.“I’m not on anyone’s side in this,” Doctor Ziegler was explaining to Gabe. “I think everyone needs to take a step back and breathe before any progress can be made.”“How do you suggest we make that happen?” he questioned.“You and Morrison need to come together and make amends before anything can be done, that’s for sure.”“You’re lecturing the wrong person, then.”“I already gave him a piece of my mind, it’s your turn now.”He grumbled in response.Gerard was the only individual who smiled politely at Moira as she approached, his mouth closed as he chewed his food.She wanted to approach her partner, touch his skin, but he was too close to everyone else.Much too close for comfort.She folded her hands behind her, a calming, familiar action, and watched and listened to everyone.Their voices overlapped, and with Gabe staying silent, there was no one sound to focus on.He was wearing a sleeved shirt, she noticed as Gerard spoke a few words to him.
No, it was a sweater.

It must be very soft.
It was black, and fit only somewhat snug on his body. The muscles of his arms and chest were still quite prominent.And he wore sweatpants, as always. With the colder weather, one never witnessed Gabriel adorning anything else.His sense of style was very simple, yet he was handsome, nonetheless.
He could be fashionable when he wanted to be, I suppose.
He had better taste in clothing than Jack or the Cowboy, that was for sure. Even in another world, where she did not care for him the way she did now, that belief would still hold true to her.Above the light banter and her mind was a whistle, one quite close to her face, and one that caused her blink.And there was Gabe, looking up at her and smiling.
Hello, you.
Moira returned the expression genuinely.It was almost as she had pictured earlier: brown eyes and old scars and scruffy facial hair on mocha skin. No teeth, however. He was not smiling with his teeth in this instance.“Thinking about something?” Gabriel asked.
I am always thinking, Gabe.
“I am always thinking.”“Right. Uh, can I tell you something, Moira?”
Moira.
“Go on.”“My daughter-in-law had her baby a couple days ago. A boy.”
Oh?
“There were no complications?”She asked for the sake of the conversation.“Uh, not sure. She seems fine, though. So does the little guy.”“Are you happy?”
I cannot tell.
He paused and glanced away. She studied the crow’s feet in the corners of his eyes and the creases of his forehead—signs of his age.“I guess happy enough to want to tell you.”He sounded unsure of his answer, as he always did when she asked about his emotions.Emotions surrounding his child appeared to be especially difficult.In this way, she was able to empathize. Moira herself was brilliant (so very brilliant), but she had her shortfalls when it came to the inner workings of herself. There were many aspects of her emotional mind she found confusing, regardless of how she analyzed them.It was beyond infuriating.“Then I am happy for you, Gabe. Congratulations.”
I do not care for your family.

But I care that you care.
Her partner seemed to not be present. He was gazing elsewhere, frowning, his brow furrowed.If she knew how to whistle, she may have done so, simply to mimic his prior action and pull him back to Earth.“I hope they keep him safe,” Gabe said after a long moment. “It isn’t a nice world he was brought into.”“For your sake, I hope so, as well.”He chuckled at that, but she was not sure why.“Well, thanks.”He stepped closer and grabbed her right hand, covering it with both of his large palms.Her skin tingled and her veins throbbed as she came into contact with him.This happened only when she touched him. Her body seemed to be able to detect the power of his own. Especially her right arm, which begged her to steal the energy of his modified cells away.Their DNA now shared striking similarities. That is the sort of life her body craved. Are you hungry? he asked her, but it sounded distant.He ran his thumbs across her knuckles, the pads of his fingers leaving prickling and tingling trails. The sensation ran up her arm and down her spine, and her heart began to race. Perhaps due to a physical response to Gabriel’s touch, rather than an emotional one.
There isn’t a reason it cannot be both.
The feeling was similar to the one she experienced during battle—similar to when she went through with the necessary actions to fill the canister at her back. However, this was softer and more diluted, unlike the overwhelming experience she endured as she robbed others of their life.Gabe released her hand from his grasp, yet the feeling lingered. It was as if he had never let go at all.“No, I am not,” Moira eventually responded.
Then what brings you here?

You know the answer, but he does not.
“I overheard the latter half of your conversation. I found it intriguing.”The Commander huffed and, in true Gabriel Reyes fashion, crossed his arms.“Just blowing off steam.”
As usual.

You are not happy in your current situation.
“I feel as if ‘blowing off steam’ has become commonplace as of late.”“For obvious reasons.”She nodded in complete understanding. “You are becoming visibly unsatisfied.”He raised a brow in an odd expression. “‘Unsatisfied’?”
In regards to our situation.
“In regards to your situation.”He nodded slowly. The dark circles beneath his expressive eyes had worsened in the past week. The hair atop his head had grown fluffier, as well, and it begged her to stroke and touch and admire it.
How wonderfully soft it must be.

Softer than usual.
His facial hair was trimmed to perfection, paradoxically. It made her wonder what his thought process was as he shaved one part of himself and not the other.And the long hair of his arms peaked out from the sleeves of his sweater, gradually shortening from his wrists to the dorsal surface of his hands.How attractive he was. How alluring. “Gabriel!” It was Captain Amari who called for him, and it was Captain Amari who stood approximately three meters away and beckoned Gabe to step nearer to her.Gabriel himself was frowning, and while his current expression was a fairly common one for him, there appeared to be more negativity behind it than usual.He looked at Moira, and brought himself closer to her own body and leaned upward to whisper in her right ear.“Where can I find you tonight?”“The laboratory, most likely.”“I got something I need to tell you.”
I understand.
“Understood.” Oh, that made her heart race. That made clouds of energy form in her chest and belly and radiate to the more distal parts of her body.He stepped away from her, and Moira stood perfectly still and watched as the Captain and  Commander left the Dining Hall.Whatever he wanted to admit to her most affirmatively had to do with Talon. 
Oh, how she dreamed of the two of them leaving Blackwatch behind in favor of Talon.
 How she pictured in her mind Gabe entering her laboratory beyond frustrated, or speaking her name behind her back as the two laid in bed faced away from one another, or catching her in the hallway with a relaxed greeting and stern face, or just after making love and laying nude and wide awake in the early hours of the morning—how she pictured in her mind him telling her that they were leaving. It is time to go now. He has had enough. There are better places to live out their days. But it has not happened yet. Not yet. He had to move at his own pace.But Moira was so ready. She had one leg out of the door. The only thing stopping her from ultimately crossing the threshold was Gabriel.The reasoning behind that was complicated. Gabe did not necessarily need her to stay; he was handling his new genetic alterations wonderfully. Blackwatch certainly did not require her assistance any longer; the organization was in shambles. And she would never lend over her assistance out of the kindness of her heart; her interactions were always purely transactional. She did not care enough to aid them for any other reason.No, it was something telling her that leaving without Gabe would cause both of them problems.Perhaps she would lose his trust and kindness, which would be highly unfavorable, or her disappearance would cause an uproar within the organization, leading to an increase of Talon suspicion and surveillance from Overwatch.Then, should that happen, it is possible Gabriel would have a difficult time removing himself from Blackwatch. Or, in the most extreme case, Jack or someone else within Overwatch may kill Gabe for the sake of precaution.She would not put it past anyone to commit such an act.
I don’t want him to die.

We must become increasingly careful of our actions as our transition progresses.

You must not be too hasty. Jack is already suspicious.
“Um, Earth to Moira?” Lena’s voice asked.Moira looked down at her.She had no plate of food in her hands. She must have eaten all of her share.“You were staring into the abyss. I wanted to make sure you were still with us.”
She did not want to be here anymore.
“I was contemplating something, until you interrupted.”“I’m…sorry?”Moira sneered.
This sort of transpirance is the exact reason I should leave.
Her only excuse for staying had left her out of necessity. It was time for her to leave, as well.“Did Reyes tell you he’s a granddaddy now?”“Indeed he had.”“I guess, in a way…you’re a stepmom now! Or a step-grandma, rather.” Tracer chuckled, but Moira barely registered it, because the Pilot’s comment left her bristling. She was annoyed, she was frustrated, and she was uncomfortable. 
No, I have nothing to do with his family. Don’t dare insinuate otherwise.
 “I am not associated with his family in any way.”“I know that. It’s just a silly thought.”
No, it is-
Suddenly, there was a loud crack! from outside of the Dining Hall, followed by a cacophony of male voices shouting cusses and the sound of glass crashing against the floor.Gabe’s voice was mixed in with the amalgamation of sounds and speech.
What now?
As the group ran hastily towards the sound, leaving their unfinished food behind, Moira walked calmly behind them.Whatever happened, it, most certainly, could not be as urgent and intriguing as they believe.Once outside of the cafeteria, she turned a corner at the end of the familiar blue-white hallway and was met with…a peculiar sight.A portion of one of the large glass panels separating the interior from the exterior had shattered, and a Blackwatch intern lay unconscious on the floor, bleeding from scattered lacerations across his cheek and a contusion to his head. Ana was kneeling by his side and yelling for someone to aid her in relocating him. Beside them both were a few toppled crates, and a large trolley was on its side and snapped at a handle.Medical personnel swarmed around everyone and everything. The scene was rather hectic.And then there was Gabriel, who stood off to the side with two of Overwatch’s employees, his face red as he scolded them. One was rubbing his arm in what seemed to be pain. The other was bleeding from a gash on her ear and elbow.Now that Moira was closer, she could pick out his words from the many voices emanating through the hallway.“…and if I see any of this shit one more fucking time, I’m blowing your brains out! You hear me? This is fucking unbelievable!”He continued to yell as the unconscious man was hoisted up by Genji and Ana and taken away. Another crew in a different set of uniforms began to swarm in and clean up the new mess created, as well as direct people away from the scene.Moira surveyed the situation, taking in the blood spatters on the ground and on a few white laboratory coats, the dirty wheels of the upturned trolley, Tracer’s shocked face, the dents and nicks in the fallen crates, and the angry face of her partner as he watched his mercenary duo walk away from him shamefully.She decided to walk over to him, acutely aware of every individual that brushed and bumped against her, and where they had touched.It was not a comforting sensation. In fact, with every instance of contact, she became more unsettled.But she reached Gabe, and his gaze met her face.“What happened?” she asked, her voice raised.He huffed, face still flushed and bright.“All I got out of those two asses is that they got into a fight and somehow managed to push the trolley into the glass. Poor guy got caught on it and was smashed through. Ana and I had to pull him out.”
Oh my.
“Why do such a thing?”“They wouldn’t tell me! Fucking bitches.”
You poor thing. This stress is not aiding you.
“Gabriel!” called Jack, and Gabriel himself whipped around to face his colleague.“I told you this was getting out of hand! You didn’t listen!”
Excuse me?
“Are you blaming me for this?” Gabe asked with an ungodly amount of rage present in his voice.Morrison stepped closer to her and the Blackwatch Commander.“You want to ignore all of this? Well, this is what happens!”“This is my fault? It was your fucking employees that caused this!”“I don’t care what organization they were a part of, we needed to address this problem long ago!”“Whether I told them to play nice or not, this still would have happened!”“It’s that mentality that caused that kid to get hurt!”There was too much going on. There were too many feelings swarming in Moira’s head and chest.Her situation was not unlike the ones she finds herself in when deployed wherever Gabriel saw fit. Except now was different; now, she was able to remove herself.The tag attached to the inside of Gabe’s sweater was flipped upwards against the back of his neck and was visible to the world—to her.  She will fix that. She will not allow him to walk around like that. And so, that is exactly what she did, and the action caused Gabriel to cease his argument (only for a moment) and crane his neck to quietly assess her.She smiled at his handsome, reddened face.
There you are. You’re welcome.
And then, Moira walked away from everyone and towards her partner’s bedroom. It was quieter there than in her laboratory.The basement has become quite obnoxious in the past month or so.

Slowly, Moira came to, reality regaining its properties as she roused from sleep.Near her face was a warmth. In fact, the entirety of her anterior body felt that same warmth: heavy, massive, claustrophobic, almost tangible.“Did I wake you up?” quietly spoke Gabriel’s face above her head.When she opened her eyes, he was close. In fact, so close that she could only visualize from his chin down without craning her neck. He used an elbow to prop up his head, resting it on his palm.
His question.
“I don’t believe so.” Her voice was soft.“I hope not.”His chest was bare, but his sweatpants were still present. The hem of his boxers rested slightly above those. Moira was able to read the brand name printed clearly on the thick band.She looked at herself. She still wore her laboratory coat. The tablet she picked up from her own bedroom and brought into his had been placed on the nightstand adjacent to her.She had not meant to fall asleep.“We got everything sorted out with that situation in the hallway,” the Commander continued. Moira was slow to register his words as she continued to climb towards full mental awareness.She moved herself away from Gabe to sit herself up comfortably.“That must have been relieving,” Moira commented. “Jack told me there were more fights like that. Between Overwatch and Blackwatch employees. I don’t know why he waited so long to bring that up to me.”
That is strange.

Does he not trust you with that information, Gabe?
“So the tension has been escalating,” she stated bluntly.“A lot of employees are leaving. They’re fed up with the state of Overwatch.”“As am I.”Gabe smirked at her, though she was not sure why.“I know. I think Ana is, too. She was-”
Is that so?
“What makes you believe that?”“Well, we were talking, and…” He paused for a few seconds.“I don’t know, it just didn’t sound like her. Telling me this organization is in shambles and trying to rectify things with the world’s governments is pointless anymore.”
I wholeheartedly agree.
“I agree with her assessment.”He nodded.He was not gazing at her anymore.But she wanted him to. She wanted him to look at her and tell her that he was fed up, as well. She wanted him to get angry at Overwatch, at the world, at Jack, in a similar fashion to the last time they spoke of this topic. I’m giving in, he had said a few days prior. But think about it: what’s changed since Overwatch was officially founded? Not a thing, she had responded.
No matter how many mercenaries we shoot, or how many connections we sever, nothing will change! If you want a problem dealt with, you attack it at its source. That’s how I’ve always operated. It’s the reason those Omnics stood no chance against me and my team.
Wisps of smoke flicked from his shoulders as he stood at the bottom of her bed and vented. Moira wondered, at that time, if he were consciously allowing that to happen, or if the surge of hormones in his body was the root cause.
If we continue to be stuck here while Overwatch and Blackwatch crumble, what good am I? What’s going to be done about…
He stopped then, and stared at her as she sat cross-legged on the edge of the bed she never used. Moira, he had said quietly. Moira, she had repeated in her mind, in his accent.He walked over to where she sat and placed himself next to her.
I don’t support Talon. I don’t agree with the shit they do—the problems they cause. But…they’re an outlet for you and me. I feel like they can give me what I want. And what you want. And what the world needs.
Moira returned to the present, because Gabriel was now touching her. He was removing her coat from her shoulders, and she bristled and tingled uncomfortably as he accidentally brushed his hand against one of her elbows.But she didn’t tell him that. She didn’t tell him what he had done and why it was not okay. Truthfully, she hardly knew herself. The only thing she could say with certainty is that his touch lingered even after her coat pooled at her hips and his hands were placed in his lap, and none of her attention was on him.From the corner of her vision, Moira could tell Gabe was watching her with some sort of gaze. She turned her head forward to not watch him at all. We’re meant for more than this, he said behind her, but it was hardly paid any attention. Nothing’s going to change if we stay, like you said.
Like I said, she parroted in her brain.

I don’t believe those were my exact words. As a matter of fact, I believe you were the one who spoke of a need for change.

You are aware fighting under Overwatch will prove fruitless. You want to have a bigger impact on this world.
A million images flashed before her mind’s eye—images of Gabriel as a police officer, as a soldier, as an Overwatch agent, and finally, as the Blackwatch Commander, wearing his hoodie with his dog tags around his neck as he fought alongside her and McCree and Genji.
A hero.
A noble hero, fighting for the betterment of humanity.The sensation lingering against the dry skin of her left arm was fading, she noticed. It was faded enough to focus on the wonderful man behind her.“You are quite the hero, Gabe,” she commented to him, angling her body towards his own. He seemed surprised at her remark.“You think so?”“I do.”He chuckled, perfect white appearing just beneath his fluffy mustache. “I think you’re the only one.”“Well, I believe more will share my sentiment once you are freed from the clutch Overwatch has on you.”He nodded.A moment passed between them. She studied the contours of his chest and the hair spanning his anterior torso and the dark, taut skin of his nipples.
Attractive was he.
“I’ll let you sleep, Moira, I don’t want to keep you up if you’re tired.”“I am not.”She felt relaxed. Her brain was focusing on his presence more than anything else, and it was peaceful for that time.“Did you eat today?”“No.”He did not seem pleased with that answer.“I made pasta earlier! You should have some! Unless everyone ate it, which is, uh, more likely the case, at this point.”He appeared to be proud of himself. It made her feel joy, seeing him smile so nonchalantly. It rarely happened anymore.“I’ll make some just for you, if there’s none left.”“That isn’t necessary.”“I think it is, considering you didn’t eat.”
Why?
There was food in the Dining Hall; why spend so much time doing that for her?“There is already enough to eat downstairs, I don’t understand.”Gabe narrowed his eyes.“I think you’re taking what I’m saying too literally.”
Oh?
He placed his large hands on her cheeks.“How about this: I make something for you because I want to.”“That sounds reasonable.”“Great,” he chuckled, and decided to lean closer and kiss her lips. Moira reacted accordingly, something she was proud of. She told him a long while ago about her excitement, about how well she performed whenever he decided to kiss her and vice versa.He said that Moira was “adorable.” She told him that it was not adorable, it was impressive how quickly she could perfect a skill she never learned previously.For one reason or another, Gabriel decided to remove his hands from her face and, instead, run them along her chest and squeeze lightly, kissing her cheek as he did so.The sensation was lovely, and she reveled in his action’s intimacy and exclusiveness.
It was something that could only be shared between them—something only he could do to her.
“We aren’t going to be stuck here much longer,” he whispered into her ear, and it filled her body with adrenaline and joy. “I’ve made up my mind.”
I believe you have “made up your mind” a long time ago. You simply never recognized it, for one reason or another.
“That’s wonderful news,” Moira responded.How he was planning on removing himself discreetly from Blackwatch, she was not sure, but she felt this marked the beginning of the end. The organization will lose their commander, and her along with him.Gabe, after running his palms along her sides and hips and thighs, used his body to force her down onto the bed just as she lost herself in thought. They were laying in the wrong position. Her head was resting close to the foot of his bed rather than on her partner’s comfortable pillows.She was unsure as to why Gabriel decided to stay in this incorrect orientation as he kissed her temple and squished her to the bed with his immense weight.
And most of his body was muscle; he weighed quite a lot.
“Jack’s going to lose his mind when he figures out me and Ana gave up on this place,” he whispered in a hot breath against her neck.“And me, as well.”“Right, but he isn’t going to be surprised by that.”
You have a point.
He kissed Moira once more, eyes closed, large palms cradling the back of her head. She could not imagine how she would go about initiating moments such as this. She was not as forward as Gabe; it was not in her nature. She was not able to sort and identify her emotions quick enough to act on them so hastily and without thought.
But he could. He was so good at it.
It was that sort of emotional intelligence she envied. It was the kind that made her welcome his actions.It was the kind that made her enjoy his body’s pressure and heaviness and the way he touched her.It was all so new and different and strange. Moira never imagined herself enjoying another human in this way. She never could picture herself welcoming (beckoning) someone so close. But, here was Gabriel, smiling and kissing her in varying places and pricking the skin of her neck with his fuzzy beard.And telling her how beautiful she was—how much he adored her.   
No one had ever spoken to her in that way before.
 She felt so many things in this moment. She felt her affection for Gabe, and the mild frustration of attempting to keep her thoughts grounded in the present, and the yearning for his body that grew ever stronger.
That was what captured her attention in moments such as these. Feelings of need and want and desire, all brought forth by him.
Moira wanted to tell him at some point—make him aware that, before him, no other person could elicit emotional reactions from her such as the ones he managed. Perhaps he would find that romantic. She would only make him aware because of the uniqueness of their situation, however.She could tell him now, but Gabriel was not good at conversation in these moments. And, past a certain point, neither was she.But would their situation reach that point? Would he decide he wanted her without clothes? Or on her knees? Moira would not mind either.
In fact, she encouraged it.
If she were more familiar with intimate situations, she would urge him on through her actions and body language; however, everything was still new. She was still learning. It was better for them both if he guided their circumstances, much like he had every intimate instance before now.“Where are you wanting to take this, Gabriel?” Moira asked as he pressed his forehead to her temple. He only hummed a response, and she could not decipher what it meant.Perhaps, if they were going to do anything, they should switch to a more comfortable position. He did not seem keen on that idea, however. Perhaps he did not give it any thought at all.Gabe ran his fingers through her gelled hair without a word. She enjoyed it quite a bit, even if it took away from the excitement and burning emotions beginning to stir within.It was quiet. It was calm. He created a lovely pressure against her body.She watched his upper torso subtly expand with each breath and analyzed his frown through the corner of her eye.The only way her tiny moment of bliss could be made better is if she were positioned in the correct manner atop his mattress.For whatever reason, Gabriel suddenly smiled.“You’re awesome, Moira. I love you.”
I love you.

What made him think of that?

I love you, he said.
“Why is that?”She was smiling.“Why am I ‘awesome,’ I should specify.”“You understand, that’s why.”What was it that she understood? Him? She understood him quite well, as far as she was concerned.“And I want to do something for you,” he told her.Gabe, before Moira could voice her questions, placed a kiss on her neck and shifted his body downwards.Her thighs were hoisted onto his shoulders as he stuffed his head between her legs and ran his tongue along the fabric separating him from her vulva.“If you want it,” Gabriel said in a low voice.
I love you, he told her. I love you.

And I want to do something for you. If you want it.
He wanted to pleasure her, that’s what he wanted to do for her.
With his mouth. How strange.
 
But how exciting.
 Images of when she decided to learn how to please him orally flashed through her brain. Picture-perfect scenes of the muscles in her partner’s hair-covered thighs flexing and relaxing, his smirk fading the closer he approached orgasm, and his exposed belly as she gently pushed his shirt away from his manhood.
And every physical sensation she experienced became real again.
His hand in her hair, pulling painfully (and pleasantly) tight. Him in her mouth and down her throat, making it difficult to breathe. The smell of her saliva. The dull, distant burn in her tired arm as she stroked him. The taste of his climax: horribly bitter, musky, and metallic.Warm. Thick. An unpleasant experience in her mouth and esophagus.The encounter was so filthy, so disgusting. Nothing about it was beautiful. Nothing about any of the times they pleasured each other was beautiful.But sex was not meant to be beautiful. And yet, with each encounter, Gabe voiced to her how beautiful she was in those moments; Moira could not help but agree after hearing it so many times.Admittedly, he was quite beautiful in those instances, as well, in an odd way. He was sweaty, spent, and full of more desires than thoughts. His brow would tighten as his thrusts would hasten, and it seemed his gaze could not focus on any one part of her body.But it was always on her. It was always on her face, her breasts, her stomach, her neck.And now was no different, as Gabriel waited for her reply. He was beautiful now, too. While he was not pushing himself inside her and making all sorts of faces and perspiring excessively, he was focusing on her body and resting on his belly calmly.
Truly, quite a handsome individual.
Moira thought over her response, propping herself up on her elbows to observe his face.“I want it,” she told him, “but I do not know what I should expect.”He smiled and pushed her legs from his shoulders.“Just relax. I’ll show you.” What other sort of answer were you expecting? Moira questioned herself as she assisted Gabe in removing her pants.
I’m not sure.
Her head was still resting at the end of his mattress. It was becoming increasingly irritating.The air of his bedroom crept across her groin as her undergarments were removed and thrown to the side by Gabriel.“Should we reposition ourselves?” she offered, resting her head once again on the softness of his bed.“No, you’re perfect like this,” was his response.
Why was that the case?
How odd it was for him to prefer to have her lay backwards.He truly seemed content, however, stripping her of the rest of her clothing without hesitation and placing kisses along her sternum.He enjoyed kissing her body very much. She received countless chaste pecks and erotic licks during their most intimate moments, the memories of which made Moira smile.
He adored her. He saw her as beautiful.

He loved her.
Gabe, after offering her breasts a few endearing gropes, repositioned his head between her legs.The lust deep within her belly grew strong enough to enter the forefront of her mind. She was not able to observe what he was doing to her without craning her head awkwardly; Moira decided to only focus on the sensations he brought about to paint a picture.He began with one finger. Slowly, she felt him trace from the prepuce to the vaginal opening, shuddering as he made brief contact with her clitoris.
Too sensitive for direct touch.
It was strange to feel his breathing against her inner thigh. It was strange to feel his facial hair brush against her groin as he placed kisses in unusual places.And he needed to hurry up. She wanted to know how it felt to be pleasured orally. It had to be as odd of an experience as she assumed it would be. It had to.Two fingers being pushed inside broke Moira from her thoughts. It was a pleasant sensation, but not enough to deeply stimulate her arousal.But Gabriel knew this.With a large hand on her thigh, he decided to run his tongue along her clitoris, slowly and methodically.It was…smooth. Hot. Accompanied by his mustache.
It was indeed strange.
He repeated this action a few more times. She lamented the few short moments he would completely remove his tongue from her body. She was beginning to need the pressure he created.Gabe began to move the fingers he had placed within her and…well, did something with his tongue. It felt like methodical motions with continuous contact. It was pleasant.
Moira felt him exhale. She felt his nose graze her pubis. She felt him lick her.

Because he loved her. He loved her so much.

He loved her.
She remembered telling him something similar: she loved him.It felt…strange. It was accompanied by stress—by cognitive dissonance and some sort of emotional shutdown. It made her briefly contemplate the emotions she felt for him.But Moira recalled landing on a single thought, over and over again: he brought her true joy. True joy, and unabashed delight.But arriving at that was not easy. How she felt was never easy. Whether that be a result of an autistic brain, or a psychotic one, she was not sure, but there was something inherently different about her that prevented a deeper understanding of connection.This became frustrating, especially when she had little to no experience with intimate relationships.When she told him she loved him, something was there within her. Something. It was strange and unfamiliar, as it usually was, she had come to learn. A faint happiness. A dull pleasantness. All mixed with uneasiness and uncertainty. But it was always strong enough to capture her attention and quicken her heart. And when she smiled then, during her admittance of love, she could feel her emotion in her lips. Again, it was buried underneath decades of inexperience with affection and her newfound almost-shyness, but it was there. Moments such as that one gave rise to the greatest surges of oxytocin and dopamine. Moments akin to that brief hour spent on her couch are when her emotions were strongest. Moments like watching him sleep at night, and smile whenever she did, and yawn as he read whatever caught his attention on his coverless black smartphone. She felt, then. Truly, she did. She felt many good things. 
Because if she felt nothing good at all, she would have told him so all those months ago.
 But…why? Why did everything have to be so frustrating? Why did everything have to be so confusing?
Because everything is so new.

Right. That’s right.
Moira’s feelings were new. And because they were new, they must be mulled over and contemplated and analyzed before they begin to make any ounce of sense.But, despite her confusion and weariness, she found herself smiling at him, and returning his kisses, and letting him play with her hair and rub her back and make love to her, even after all this time has passed. Moira finds herself wanting to return to his bedroom every night, and take in the smell of his clothing, and analyze his wonderful features, and hear him speak her name in his accent.She had never wanted those things from someone else before him. She had never felt these feelings of relaxation and familiarity and…well, affection.Well, not in a very long time, anyways.
Your emotions were frustrating then, as well.
Right. When she was younger, in her twenties or so—her inward pleasant emotions were so strange then, too.It had always been that way, had it not? Towards her siblings, her parents, her long-ago love interests: this was how the strength of her passions left her: lost and confused.But now, she was beginning to realize things about herself. She was recognizing that certain habits she exhibited could only be brought on by her endearment for her partner. She was paying mind to the way she treated him, and how it differed from the way she interacted with everyone else. Her relationship with him was unique long before they became a couple.Moira noticed the way she yearned for him, noticed how only he could bring about these pleasant-yet-perplexing emotions that racked her brain in a number of ways.This, all of this, was one ginormous sign of the pinnacle of her love. And everything was discovered by Gabe Reyes and his awkward hug after they had returned from dinner that day. 
There was a snap next to her ear.
 Moira blinked. Gabriel was…sitting next to her. Near her chest. His erection was prominently displayed through his sweatpants.She sat up to match him. He was looking at her with a raised brow.
Why did he stop?
“Not into it?” he asked.Try as she might, she could not recall him moving from his position between her legs.No. No, Moira never zoned out this atrociously. Never.
Oh, but you did.
“I was thinking,” she told him, low and hushed.“I thought so.”Her heart was racing. She did not know why.“I’m sorry,” Gabriel laughed oddly, “I’ll try and do better next time.”“Were you not doing something right?”“Well, clearly, because you spaced out on me pretty quick.”
You did not cause me to do that.
“That wasn’t your fault.”Another chuckle. “If you say so.”Even now, as she studied him, those feelings were there. Complex and mildly unfamiliar, but certainly present. They coerced her to look upon his smile and fuzzy hair and the creases in his forehead and the scar denting his bottom lip with what she can only conclude was sincere affection.That is what it had to be, she concluded so long ago. Yet everything still felt fresh, as if she had not experienced enough of her relationship with him to comfortably identify pleasant emotions.Moira mentally returned to her situation. Gabe was sitting before her, saying not a word, with his eyes traveling her body.Perhaps he wanted to continue.After another moment of studying him (chest rising and falling, neatly trimmed toenails, and thick fingers), she decided to offer, “Shall we continue?”She wanted to. Perhaps he did, as well.But his face showed no visible excitement.“Are you sure?” he asked, and she nodded.Why would she not be?His smile returned, the one she adored gazing upon.He shifted in his place. “Lay down.”And she obeyed, positioning herself the correct way this time.With her head resting comfortably amongst his pillows, Gabe picked up where he apparently left off, shoving her legs out of his way and placing a kiss atop her labia.Again, it was an unusual sensation.Instead of beginning with his tongue, Gabriel decided to circle her clitoris using a finger. He loved her, Moira thought. And that played through her mind over and over and over. There were so many things to love about her. She could not blame him for his feelings.And he had always loved her—in many different ways throughout their relationship. In the beginning, he had loved her work, her intellect, her moral code. Then, as Gabe had explained in the past, he began to love her company.Then it was her personality. Yes, that was right. And her physical attributes: her hair, smile, body. And now, it was a combination of all those things.It was a similar situation for her, as well, she realized.
Focus.
Focus on him. On his actions.
Yes. Focus on Gabriel, as he delicately pulled her clitoris between his lips and sucked and licked and did wonderful things.

Very wonderful things.

Things that brought forth warmth and excitement and pleasant muscular contractions that caused her to swallow dryly.
She could watch him comfortably now, in her new position. She could observe his cheeks and his head and the top of his face. She could analyze the tense muscles of his shoulders and the way his fingers grazed her hips and the movements of his pelvis as he rubbed himself against the mattress to moderate his own arousal. All of it.
All of Gabe.
And what he was doing to her was so filthy, Moira pointed out to herself. So primal, so instinctual, so need-driven. She never pictured herself on the receiving end of such an act, and she certainly never imagined her complex emotions would somehow coerce her into providing this type of service to another individual.She remembered that day so clearly—remembered the thoughts that ran through her brain leading up to their act. She recalled… 
Oh…
 Moira inhaled as her mind relaxed and focused on the sensations her partner carefully crafted for her.They were growing stronger, taking hold, melting away brewing thoughts and memories.She enjoyed when Gabriel provided suction against her clitoris. It caused her to shut off completely, with the only thought inside her brain being don’t stop. Perhaps she should vocalize this inner self that screamed at him, directed him in ways he could not hear.They were blips in her mind, too ephemeral to contemplate. Words of her own combined with those Gabe has spoken to her and her only—save for his previous wife, of course. Words such as that’s it and yes and fuck and good boy, in her own voice and his.Moira did not speak at all, however. That was too much for the moment, she decided.She did not want to disrupt his rhythm—his wonderful rhythm that anchored her to the moment and to him. And a glance to the side and a view of the dog tags that hung on the edge of an empty picture frame caused her focus to rapidly dissipate. She paid mind to its surface, imagined the textures she may experience were she to touch it. None, it read. No religion. He never spoke of any sort of god. AB negative. She was aware of that. It was one of the first things she learned about him.
Morrison is Catholic.

Don’t think of him right now.

Focus.
Moira was an expert of focus, but not during these sorts of situations. That was another aspect of Gabriel she admired: his ability to stay so grounded in moments of intimacy.Perhaps men were simply better at that?Gabe’s sudden movement was what caused her to snap back so quickly.He was on top of her once more, his weight and presence feeling heavy above her thinner self, as usual. It was an interesting sort of suffocating, much different from the kind she felt in a crowd of people or in a room that was much too noisy. Yes, the sort of suffocating Gabe brought on was abnormally pleasant and stimulating in a variety of ways.His breath was marvelously hot and moist as he licked her ear and the sweat off of the head of her mandible.“I want to be inside you so fucking bad. I can’t take it,” he said at an octave only she could hear. It caused memories of their past intimate encounters to fill her brain.They were such pleasant, arousing thoughts. He always made sure she was receiving the stimulation she needed.Moira found herself focusing more easily on the situation as her own need grew too strong to push aside or be distracted from.She took hold of his jaw and guided him to her lips. She reveled in the way he kissed her whenever primal yearning squeezed all thought out of his mind. It was so devilishly needy, as if there were something behind her teeth that he could not live without. And Moira did not care about what his mouth was doing moments prior. Her vulva was not unclean. Gabriel huffed into her face as they broke apart. He was not gazing at anything in particular.“Hurry up, then, Gabe,” she told him, though his sweatpants and boxers were already halfway down his muscular thighs before her sentence concluded.She admired the thick, dark hair covering his chest, back, and abdomen and running down to his genitals as he reached for a condom. She admired how the muscles of his thighs and arms and pecs flexed underneath his mocha skin.He was a strikingly beautiful man; Moira did not understand how she did not see it sooner.Or perhaps she had recognized it, but there were no emotions urging her to mentally comment or dwell on it.But, indeed, she was a lucky woman. A very lucky woman. To have someone as driven and sensible and intelligent as Gabe by her side was a gift. And to have said someone rest between her legs and drip pre-ejaculate fluid onto her pubic hair and below her navel before slipping a condom over his penis was the icing on the cake.Moira had never been involved romantically with anyone before Gabriel. There was never a man in her life telling her to get on her hands and knees and stick her arse in the air like there was presently.She had offered others her romantic interest in the past. There were classmates during her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate that were able to spark delight within her. They were far and few in between, but certainly present.Her friendly and romantic advances were never appreciated, however. She never once had a partner to call her own, unlike her siblings.Her parents were not happy with this. They were not happy that she was becoming older and not working towards rectifying this issue.Your womb isn’t going to last forever, you know, her mother would tell her in their native language. It’ll dry up, and you will have wasted it. That does not bother you? Does the thought of dying and going to Heaven alone not bother you?She would usually reply with something along the lines of Not in the slightest or Heaven is nothing more than a fairytale, much to her mother’s dismay.But Moira could not change how her colleagues and classmates felt about her. She could not force anyone to love her. Try as she might, her interactions with others never led to her face being smushed into the mattress because Gabriel decided he would like to blow her back out without so much as a warning.  
And their fucking was so loud, Moira noticed. The smacking of moist skin and the creaking of the bed frame and Gabe’s grunting and panting and her own gasps created quite the cacophony. While she was fully conscious of their volume, the tightness in her spine as it strained in her awkward position and the energy it took to finger her clitoris kept her worries at the sidelines. She was more concerned with using her one free arm to brace herself against the pillow, desperately attempting to avoid being shoved away from his body and into the bed’s steel frame with each thrust.
 No, those tense interactions she partook in when she was younger never amounted to this. No amount of kind greetings and friendly gestures and admittances of romantic interest ever led her to such an intimate act. All it did was cause her to lose someone she had considered a friend.It never hurt her much. The feeling of disappointment was so ephemeral that she questioned if it had ever existed at all. She never felt upset or lonely as a result of her experiences with rejection. In hindsight, those individuals, if kept around, would only be good for eating up her valuable time. They had nothing to contribute to her life. They never had anything to add. They could not and would not work alongside her in her quest for progress. 
But Gabriel was different.
 Gabe endorsed her work. He saw her vision and empathized with it.Moira was able to engage in substantial, intelligent conversation with him regarding the status of Overwatch and the rest of humanity. He voiced that he wants change, and he will make it happen.Gabriel impressed her with his determination, his ambition, his fearlessness. And he was so friendly, kind, and enthusiastic. 
And she felt him run his hands along her rear and thighs and lower back. She felt him lean over her and wrapped his arm around her hip to reach her clitoris, shooing her hand away once achieving his goal. The way he rested a fraction of his weight onto her body caused her already-exhausted legs to burn horribly. His thrusts became mildly inconsistent and the circles he created against her prepuce were slower than her own, and she suspected he was tiring himself out too quickly.

Moira did not mind, however. She enjoyed experiencing him hungrily pleasure himself with her body. And after a few loud, forceful exhales, he straightened his back and resumed his usual cadence, herself quickly replacing the fingers he removed from her vulva with those of her left hand.
 Eventually, over many months, her admiration for his leadership and ideologies turned into adoration for him as a whole. She began to smile when he would approach her, and enjoy his small touches and brief hugs, and appreciate when he visited her down in the laboratory simply to chat and share her coffee.She enjoyed feeling his presence, hearing his voice, and experiencing his touch. 
And, for the first time in her life, Moira began to care about someone other than herself.
 Eventually, despite her arm being quite tired, she quickened the movements of her fingers and brought herself (with the incredible assistance of Gabe, of course) to orgasm.She did not have it in her to make the moment last, not tonight. Not after he fired her up with his mouth before flipping her onto her knees and having his way. Moira suspected Gabriel was failing to hold out, as well, if the way he fucked her so relentlessly and without pause was anything to tell by.But she knew he was not finished yet. He enjoyed feeling her from the inside as she surrendered to her needs and pushed her body to its limit, and she wanted to give him that experience.Orgasming with him inside of her was an incredible sensation. The feeling of her insides contracting around his taut flesh accentuated the high taking hold of her vulva and her mind. And she had much better climaxes with him than she would pleasuring herself late at night while alone.During those times, she would do whatever it took to get it over with as fast as possible because there was no moment to savor. There was no bulky, muscular, middle-aged Hispanic man whispering sweet nothings in her ear. He was not there massaging her breasts and sucking on her clavicle and sticking his fingers into her vagina. No, it was her and her only, alone on her couch, overcome with basal desires.But there were also instances where their sex was not as sensual and drawn out, and, instead, mirrored her masturbation sessions: quick, rough, driven by need more than soft love. This was one of those occurrences, truthfully, but Gabe still managed to make it so wonderful and fulfilling. When her muscles relaxed and she was able to adequately control her breathing, Moira brought her left arm down and had it take up the task of keeping her in one spot as her partner worked himself to orgasm.She felt pleasantly delighted and almost euphoric as he continued. It nearly drowned out the aches in her spine and legs.And, soon after her body calmed down, Gabriel’s thrusts became as jerky and inconsistent as his breaths, and she no longer felt the need to dig her forearms into the mattress to keep herself from toppling over.He let out small groans of exhaustion and pleasure that were a tad too loud to be contained within the walls of his bedroom, and when he finally ceased all noise and movement, Moira brought a finger to her lips and quietly sounded, “Shh.” You are being loud, was what she thought, despite knowing full well that their entire act was rather loud. But he was excellent at picking up on her dry sarcasm.Gabe, amidst his forceful panting, managed to tell her, “After all that, you shush me.”
That’s right.
She found herself smirking as he lovingly massaged her arse for a minute or so.Once he was finished, she slowly moved her body a centimeter or so away from his, hinting that he should pull out so she may sit up. Gabriel obliged, his manhood twitching as he exited her vagina, and she was finally able to stretch her now-aching body. Oh, her back and neck had it the worst.Slowly, she rolled her head and shoulders, stretching out her trapezius muscles as her partner shuffled behind her. There were delightful, though ephemeral, cracks and pops in her neck as she did so.Her thighs felt weak. Her face was hot. She was in pain. Because of him. And she knew her soreness would only continue into the next day.“Are you heading back to sleep anytime soon?” Gabe asked her, appearing at her side and sitting himself down near his pillows. He was covered in perspiration; liquid trickled down his temples and underarms and gathered in his body hair. The condom had disappeared from his body, and his erection was dissipating.Moira could not give a straight answer to that. She was not sure of the time, nor of anything that required her attention before the morrow. She had already wasted time by accidentally napping and becoming engulfed in her sexual desires.“I’m not sure,” was her response. She may see herself to her laboratory or to Doctor Ziegler’s trauma bay and make herself useful somehow. Gabriel was welcome, if he would like to join her.“Are you needed somewhere?” she asked, and angled her body towards his.A lame shrug was his reply, followed by the statement, “If you’re hungry now, I can make you something.”At that, she recalled his earlier offer.“What can you make?” Moira pushed.Gabe was smiling, and it caused a pleasant heat to pool within her chest cavity. She never tired of seeing him smile so casually.“Anything you want! Within reason.”“Define ‘within reason.’”“Well, uh, I can’t even name an Irish dish. So if you ask for something like, uh…what do you guys even eat—lamb stew? Don’t expect it to be very good.”Moira laughed at his statement. She laughed at the uncertainty in his voice and the few moments he took to think of a food item from her country.“I’m just being honest!” Gabriel defended himself. “I’m aware,” she replied through lingering chuckles.
Another reason why your statement was so humorous.
“I’ll be sure not to request any lamb stew, then.”“Much appreciated!”He moved his body closer to hers and pecked her cheek. “I’m going to hop in the shower. How about you think of something?”Moira had not eaten today. And his offer was tantalizing, she decided.“I shall,” was her confirmation.“Awesome.”He gave her left upper arm a light squeeze and hopped off of the mattress.Gabe did not bother shutting the bathroom door as he turned on the water; thus, she watched him move about for a minute or so before glancing back to the nightstand located on his side of the bed.There was his alarm clock. 2037 it read on the holoscreen.Everyone was still awake.Everyone most certainly heard their act of love. Or, perhaps, all of Blackwatch was too busy getting into verbal and physical altercations with Overwatch to even notice.