You ground the power button on the controller and took a moment to be angry at world. Eyes scanning your living room, you realized you had left you ready meal and it would be getting cold. You reached over and grabbed the lukewarm food. You ate spoonfuls slowly, staring at that stupid black card. You sat there for a while, in the dark silence eating. It didn't take your mind long to wander.
"That's why we're here, agent. To make the world a better place," Gabriel gleamed confidently. You chewed slowly. You jaw felt like it was locking up.
"But Overwatch can't do much with those dicks at the UN. So, I would like to formally welcome you to Blackwatch!" his excitement got the best of him. His recruits were his soft spot. You choked that spoonful down before getting another one. The food seared down you. Your hands were trembling. You opened your mouth, jaw burning. You gave up and dropped the spoon down again.
"Don't play with your food, stupid," he told you, a smile warning to peek through his face.
"What are you? My dad?" You recounted. The pain in your eyes was going to make you crazy. You head dropped down. You sat there, resenting the melancholy air around you
Eventually you were drowning in tears. You sniffed.
"Don't be a crybaby," Gabriel teased. You chuckled.
After dumping the container in the bin with half of the food still inside you remembered something. Mercy was due yesterday. You picked up the phone, kind of impressed at yourself to be the one trying in your relationship for once. She didn't answer the first time, so you called again. She picked up with a breathy tone.
"f/n! What do you want to tell me?" you were surprised at her forwardness. You heard chatter in the background.
"I was just wondering if you would want to come over some time?" a police siren chirped in the background. You listened closer.
"I'm only required to give you this because you're an Overwatch agent." some middle aged man spoke in a harsh tone. Mercy must have made some movement, because you heard ruffling.
"Who's that?" the ruffling stopped.
"Doesn't matter, I'll be over in a sec. Bye!" you couldn't answer in time before she hung up.
She was at your house as quick as she hung up. Stepping inside, she dropped her stuff off. You went through the usual 'Hi how are you? I'm good, you?' conversation. You offered Mercy a drink and you both sat down on the couch. You quickly hid the talon card under a coaster, and prayed she didn't see.
"Was there anything you needed to tell me?" her tone was anxious and she sat rigid like she had a pink in her back. You shook your head,
"Just felt like having some company," she sighed heavily, slumping down. Her gaze was soft, as usual.
"I see," she breathed. There was a gap in the conversations and you scanned the room. You felt like the room was dull so you switched the TV on again, muting it. That same obnoxious banner with text was scrolling across the screen again. Victory! You had found a new conversation topic.
"Have you heard about this 'reaper?' "Mercy sat up straight again, formal like. You noticed she was looking behind you so you took a quick look on the same direction. You saw the show cabinet by the door. Maybe she's looking at our photos? Our. You said that like he's still here. Turning back she stretched her shoulders back.
"Yes. Seems like a real nasty piece of work, right?" she groaned, obviously also angry at the world.
"He seems scary as is, giving him a recognizable name didn't help," she nodded. Her eyebrows creased. She kept glancing around the room making you more anxious as to what was so interesting. You fiddled around with your fingers. You noticed Mercy's back slouch slightly.
Her eyes abruptly snapped to the TV, your followed soon after. An alarmingly red background with the words 'News Flash' showed. You and Mercy shared a worried glance. Turning up the volume , you focused your attention on the news reporter, a grim expression on his face.
"Good night, I'm Kay Thompson bringing you news flash," you edged closer to the end of your seat, Mercy tucked her loose hair behind her ear. There were people running around in the background, we on phones, some holding mountains of folders and papers, and some shouting orders to others.
" A huge amount of evidence against Overwatch's legitimacy and trustworthiness was brought to the police's attention by an anonymous source about two and a half hours ago. This was brought straight to the UN, long time doubters of Overwatch. Though the files have not been released to the public, we have been told the files are incriminating. Apparently the huge amount of evidence was so alarming it induced an immediate response. The UN quickly held a meeting, which is still ongoing. We have been told this meeting is discussing the Petra's act, a clause that would shut down Overwatch if signed." Mercy took you hand.
"Overwatch has been a huge part in many people's lives, symbolising or just being hope. Many of us, including myself, changed for the better with it." She was right, you were just a average office worker with a history in the army when Overwatch was founded. At the time you hadn't cared for the politics, shamefully you hadn't even cared for the oppression omnics were getting. But when Overwatch started fighting for them, and people all around you supported you took notice. You couldn't even express how much hope it gave you to see people rejoicing instead of dividing. Overwatch was a symbol of hope and change. You joined without second thought and you had never regretted it.
You anxiety was kicking in. Overwatch had been your everything. You had dedicated yourself to it for years and had worked hard for the entirety of that time. If the Petra's Act away signed, you wouldn't be part of that symbol anymore, just a 'former agent of that one closed organization'. But that wasn't all of it. Even if it was selfish, your brain lingered on it. If Overwatch disappeared, so would Blackwatch. And with that, the last thriving piece, memory, and reminder of Gabriel. You were pulled out of worries by Mercy tightening her hold on your hand. You look at the TV and squeezed her hand back. You weren't sure if it was to comfort her too or to ground yourself before the fog surrounded your head again.
"Please bare with us," the reporter frowned, concentrating on someone talking to her behind the camera. Her eyes widened slightly before returning to her professional neutralism. Voice darker than before, she spoke
"Two minutes ago final decision was made and all influential members of the UN have signed the Petra's act. All procedures take effect immediately, and Overwatch funding has been cut off. Not only that, but with Overwatch leader Jack Morrison, Gerard Lacroix, and Ana Amari's recent deaths, there is no-one to oppose or answer questions on the decision," You were pulled out of staring at the TV by Mercy ripping her hand out of your unconsciously iron grip. You apologized but stopped midway at the sight of tears in her eyes. Tears just seemed to be following you around lately. She put her hand on top of yours again, squeezing your hand. She turned her head away at the sight of their faces on the screen, almost in disgust. Her other hand slammed into the couch, knuckles white from pressing her fingernails into her palm. She almost seemed angry, jaw locked, brows knitted together.
"The Petra's act will not take long to be set in place and all Overwatch activity will . This entails that all Overwatch agent that are stationed abroad from their original countries will be given a few weeks to arrange themselves for relocation." It hit you like a bat to your empty head. Large eyes and pulse racing, you rested your elbows on you lap and buried you face in your hands. That meant you would have to leave Switzerland. You would have to leave home. Your mind repeated that thought over and over. You saw the words in your mind's eye. You saw the sharp edges on them. They morphed into the agonizing picture of Gabe resting his hands on your shoulders.
"I need you to go home and stay there until tomorrow, you need to promise me you'll be at home," her gripped you just a bit harder, voice becoming strained, desperate, hurt. You heard that scarring sound of Jack cracking his nose again. You nodded again. He smiled again. He pulled you close and kissed you again.
"Te amo mucho," he whispered, and eyelash away from your lips once more.
The static followed the pain and you could hardly hear anything again. You barely felt Mercy losely resting her hand on you arm, who was sitting in her own shock-induced world too. The news reporter had just become slight whispering in the corner of your head. You guessed it was the same for Mercy by the way she looking at her other hands palm. Everyone had been feeling it, even you…
Your last day at work was spent crying goodbyes to everyone and hugging Mercy and Genji. So now you were mourning and unemployed. Told to 'pack up your shit' so you could leave everything that was important to you behind. Work was the only reason you got up up in the morning. Genji was the only reason you trained anymore. Mercy was the only reason you were mentally on this plane of existence. Work gave you an alarm. Genji forced you to keep in shape, physically and skill wise. Mercy gave you some comfort with her usual visits and obvious concern. Jesse had give your dull life some humor. Without all that, you were going waste away at a faster rate than ever before.
"You're shitting me," you laughed in disbelief, "Stop joking."
Gabriel smiled, Jesse too.
"I'm not lying," Gabriel chuckled. Jesse nodded to you
"He's not." Your mouth dropped open.
"You're… you are forty three?" you almost shouted. Gabe laughed again, hints of anxiety in there. Feeling bad you added,
"You don't look a fucking second over twenty goddamn five!" Gabriel beamed at you and Jesse cocked an eyebrow.
"Wow, thank you," Gabriel rested a hand on his heart dramatically. You realized what you just let slip and blushed. Gabe was smiling a wonky smile. Jesse was looking between you two, seeing the chemistry and wagging eyebrows at you. You swore you would wring him after this. Jesse had a devilish idea and cleared his throat to get both your attentions,
"Ain't it good for you, f/n? Now the age gap between the two o' ya is five small years?" Your face darkened a few shades, but you giggled. He elbowed Gabriel and continued,
"Puts Reyes here back on the option list, eh?" Gabriel replied with a growl, but you just laughed. Gabriel gave you a surprised look.
"I guess you're right, cowboy." you said, eyes meeting Gabes. Gabriel's face was priceless.
You scratched the wood of your bar bench, check resting on it. No alcohol this time, just sober, sad, alone time. You were living in the past, you could recognize that, but the past was so nice you didn't even want to live now. You closed your eyes again.
You took a deep breathe and hooked your arm around Gabe's big one. He took lead and walked forwards. Entering the Blackwatch cafeteria, you continued towards Genji, Jessee, and Moira's table. Your eyes danced around the room. People who noticed you were staring. You would have been really anxious but you were just so happy to be holding his arm. You looked at Gabe's face he wasn't panicked either. You gave his arm a squeeze and his eyes met yours, grins breaking out on your faces. Your arms untangled to only have your hand intertwine instead. You reached the table to a raised eyebrow of Genji. Moira looked unfazed, as usual. Jesse was just smiling. You and Gabe sat down.
"Were dating now!" you celebrated, Gabe was happy with your excitement. To your dismay, Genji huffed angrily. You smile dropped and Gabe faced Genji. Before you could ask anything, you jumped at a sudden 'Yes!' from mcree. Genji dug out his wallet from his bag.
You sniffed, wiping more tears from your eyes. You smiled at the memory, remembering just how angry Gabe got with the two after finding out they bet on whether you two would end up together. They had a bad set of training lessons that week. Good times, your mind was signing to you. Your heart was dancing happily, as your mind played it's song. Happy memories made you happy. They were addicting to indulge in, like dropping everything and taking a break from life. They always tasted sweet and gave you that certain high.
But everything had an aftertaste. The sweetness would fade fast and leave behind salty tears. And when the aftertaste comes you wonder if the short, sweet high was worth it. The song slowed and darkened. Fog building up, static humming too. 'Gone times. Dead times. Never to return times.' You couldn't see anything anymore, just dark, grey mist. The pressure of the buzzing sounds building gradually. The volume turning up inch by inch. Overwatch was gone. Blackwatch was gone. Jesse, Genji, and Mercy was gone. The sound was piercing, like digging toothpicks under your nails and kicking a wall. Like using a cheese grater in place of a foot sander. Gerard is gone. Ana is gone. Gabriel is dead. Gone. Never. To. Return. You were on your knees, holding you ears. Trying to do something to stop the static. The panic of being trapped in your own personalized prison was eating you alive. Jack Morrison lives. You let out a scream, desperate and loud.
Your sight returned and you were on the floor, sitting inside pool of your own tears. In a haze you stood up. You had found something in yourself. You nabbed a whisky bottle and took a big gulp.
Morrison lives.
You strode to your coffee he dining room, throwing the coaster out of the way you held the card to the light.
He...lives.
"What gives him the right? How dare he?"
You turned it over.