Overwatch ? Reader Insert Oneshots

Reaper // Ranks and Romances

     You scowled. "Doctor Ziegler is a brilliant mind, and she manages to make her medical discoveries without accumulating a body count."

     "To each his own, I guess." He shrugged. You detested how casual he was about such important topics. "Should we talk about the real issue you have with Moira, though?"

     "We are talking about my real issue with her! She's only here out of interest in her own work. She's leeching off of our funding and is conducting her research unethically. If word gets out about her human experimentation projects gone wrong, how do you think it'll make us look? We're already under political fire from the U.N.! All it'll take for our organization to be ripped from under us is a scandal like Moira's."  Your fists were curled into balls as you ranted on. "After SEP, I thought you would at the very least have some hesitation about getting your body altered again."

     "If I wasn't one of her tests subjects," Gabriel started evenly, a small smile playing at his lips, "would you be this opposed to her work?"

     "Don't even try playing that card,"' you hissed. "This is strictly business. It has nothing to do with you."

     "Interesting how you waited to bring this 'business' to my desk only after I started seeing Doctor O'Deorain." He was standing up now, leaning across his desk with a flippant grin. "And if you want this to be about business, agent, we can apply our ranks accordingly." 

     With Gabriel, the lines sometimes got a bit blurred between personal feelings and work. You couldn't openly get upset with him when he started acting like this, because this was how he was supposed to act as your commander. Right now, though, you were a few snide comments away from seething. "You know what? Keep calling me agent. I don't want to hear my name coming from the same mouth that gave Moira the consent to screw around with your biological makeup, anyway. You barely even deserve my concern, Commander Reyes."

     Even with your cold response, his expression didn't shift. He made his way around the desk painstakingly slowly before backing you up against the edge of it. "We were in a similar position just a few months ago, weren't we?"

     You stayed silent, all too aware of how near the two of you were. You could feel the heat coming off of him as he leaned in closer still. You graced him with a glare. "Interesting. I was under the impression that it didn't actually happen. That's the way you've been acting, at least."

     He ignored your bitter comment. "I remember how responsive you were, the way you seemed to shudder against me when I kissed you. I've thought about it a few times since then." He glanced away for a moment, subtle sheepishness flickering across his features.

     He was just derailing the conversation at this point. You hated that he was using your kiss as a means of doing it; that the only acknowledgement he was giving to it was this. You pushed him out of the way, stepping to the side to put some distance between you. "Gabriel, I can't let myself fall for you. Not when you're making decisions like this."

     "Then don't." Finally, his smile had dispersed. He watched you sharply. "If you don't want that kind of relationship with me, don't call me by my first name. Don't come into my office uninvited. Stop looking at me like I'm something better than I am. More importantly, though, don't offer your unwanted opinion on what parts of me I'm willing to let Moira alter!"

     You jumped a bit as he slammed his hand down on his desk. He wasn't usually like this. Even when it came to business, he never once raised his voice at you or treated you insensitively. You guessed things were different now. "I'll just see my way out," you told him pointedly, your voice dripping with venom.

     "Not," he practically growled as he moved to stand between you and the door, "without asking your commander's permission."

     "May I please be dismissed, sir," you fumed. 

     "No." He looked down at you, and you could tell he was trying to keep his temper in check, remorseful about his outburst. "Now go sit down so we can talk about this like adults."

     You begrudgingly obliged, face red with frustration. "What else is there to talk about?" you questioned impatiently as he took his seat across from you.

     "Listen," he sighed. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pulled rank like that. I shouldn't have raised my voice at you. Things have just been . . . stressful lately."

     You relaxed a bit, partially appeased by the apology. "I suppose I shouldn't have been so assertive about my opinion on Moira. You're going down a dangerous path, Gabriel. Its worrying me. And I lied; some of my reaction is because I found out you were one of her test subjects. There's nothing wrong with that, though, right?"

     "I'd be lying if I said all of Moira's methods were ethical." He cast a sidelong glance towards the stack of papers on his desk. "But we need her on our side. I need her on mine."

     "Why does it have to be you?"

     "Not enough people have clearance to even enter Moira's lab. Those of us who do aren't in any rush to let her alter our bodies. Poster boys like Morrison can't take the fall if something goes wrong." Gabriel met your gaze. "I can."

     You stood again, walking around Gabriel's desk and pulling him out of the chair, wrapping your arms around him. "I don't agree with any of this."

     He returned your embrace. As his warm body enveloped you, you burrowed your face into his chest. Even if you were mad at him, you wanted more than anything to be held by him like this. His arms were firm around you as he spoke. "Not many people do. I don't expect you to. Just remember there's more to the story than you could ever know. I have my reasons for doing this."

     "God," you muttered, "I just hope they're the right ones."