The Villain Wrangler | Overwatch

Chapter 29

Angelica had just finished arranging for Overwatch to deal with a minor issue in the Australian Outback, when the leftover Overwatch communications center chimed, signaling an incoming call.

She jumped and studied the terminal, then connected the call. "Overwatch, Gibraltar base."

She felt her eyebrows raise as a gorilla moved into view on the screen. "Human," he inclined his head in greeting.

"Hello," she said awkwardly, signaling to Athena. "I'm Angelica, the director of Overwatch. How can I help you?"

"I am Simon, the silverback here. My troop needs more supplies and food is getting scarce. We require your assistance." He seemed angry at the admission.

She blinked. "Alright. So, food will be the biggest problem, then supplies...," she muttered. "I'm pretty sure it'll take a while to build something to get supplies up there, I'd have to ask Torbjörn and Winston...." She faced the screen abruptly. "How much longer can you last?"

He seemed a little taken aback. "We have a few months of food stored, but very little fresh."

Angelica turned to her computer, pulling up a search engine as she talked. "But you currently have the ability to grow fresh?" At his confirmation, she continued, "Alright, it looks like it might be easier to switch to hydroponics to increase yield, and if we can send up some more soil and a composting bin, you should be able to keep that going." She moved the schematics for a hydroponic garden and a composting bin to his screen. "I'd need to talk to some people here to see about getting supplies and food up to you, but this might be able to help short-term."

He studied the schematics. "I thank you for this, human. I did not think your kind would be inclined to help mine."

Angelica shrugged. "Winston's a friend. He's from Horizon."

The silverback's nostrils flared. "He survived?"

"Will that be a problem?" she asked archly.

The silverback narrowed his eyes, then shook his head. "No. We will work with him. We have no choice."

Angelica nodded. "Good. You have the plans, and I will get things started down here."

The silverback ended the call and she sagged into her chair. "Athena? Tell Winston and Torbjörn I need to see them. Now."

She had gone through every file she could think of when Winston knuckled his way to her office, Torbjörn close behind.

"Right," she started, running a hand through her hair, "I just got a call from Horizon." She gave a weak grin when Winston jerked. "Yeah, surprised the hell outta me, too. They need supplies, and food, and don't seem inclined to come down here."

Torbjörn nodded, and immediately began listing everyone he could pester for both the needed supplies, and the means to get them up there. He led a slightly dazed Winston out of the office, laying plans as the gorilla nodded.

She sighed and rose. "Hey Athena?"

"Yes, Director?"

She smiled a bit at that. "Are Jack and Gabe free?"

There was a brief pause. "Yes, Director. They both say they will meet you here, if you wish."

"Thanks."

She finished filing some paperwork as she waited. She grinned when she looked up to see Jack leaning against the door frame.

"If I looked like that while I was in that seat, I'm not surprised people were afraid of me."

Gabe huffed a laugh and leaned against him. "Nah. You looked worse. What did you want, angel?"

She rolled her eyes and walked over. "Horizon Lunar Colony called for help. Winston and Torb are working out some logistics."

They widened their eyes at that.

"That's..." Jack whistled softly.

"You're gonna have to come up with a hell of a song and dance routine for this," Gabe added.

She groaned and let her head drop against Jack's chest. "And Talon is a thing, and Vishkar is up to something, and I'm starting to think that press conferences should be banned as inhumane," she whined as Jack stroked her hair in sympathy.

"Wanna watch a crappy movie, just us?"

She looked up at Gabe, pleading. "Please? Especially if I can get a backrub, too."

"The backrub will cost you," Gabe said as he herded them toward his and Jack's room.

She dropped onto the couch as Gabe continued into the kitchen. Jack chuckled and sat next to her, gently rubbing a hand along her back. He shifted, and started lightly massaging her shoulders. She moaned as he ran his hands along her spine, pulling up her shirt as he rubbed back up.

"Wait," she said, sitting up.

"What's wrong?" Jack asked, startled.

"Nothing," she said, pulling her shirt off and settling back down, resting her head on her crossed arms.

Jack hummed appreciatively, and resumed lightly kneading along her spine. She let herself drift, enjoying the off-key humming from Jack, and the sounds of Gabe in the kitchen. She could tell he was dancing along to Jack's tune and she smiled to herself.

"What?" Jack laughed.

"I love you idiots, you know that, right?" she replied without opening her eyes.

Later, after they had eaten and cleaned up, they lay piled on the couch watching a movie. They were mostly ignoring it, due to it's cookie-cutter characters and forgettable plot, and were discussing the situation with Horizon.

"I'm thinking, send Winston, Torb, maybe Lena, and someone else. Hana or Genji, maybe. Lena for piloting, and the spare for manual labor," she said, carding her fingers through Gabe's hair.

"Politically, sending you would be best. Shows we mean no harm. I just..." he trailed off, brow furrowed.

"I can think of a few dozen things that could go wrong, even without knowing the details," Jack added.

She tugged lightly on Gabe's hair, and he glared up at her. "Up. I'm gonna go."

"You could stay," he grumbled, sitting up and helping her extricate herself.

"I know. It's just... Kinda a huge step." She kissed the top of Jack's head as she passed.

"Hey," she stopped when he grabbed her arm. "You know we'd catch you, right?"

She smiled sadly. "I know. But..."

"Baggage is a bitch to put down." Gabe leaned up, patting her shoulder as Jack released her. "Whenever you're ready, kitten. Doors open if you want to stay, or steal a shirt, or whatever."

Her eyes lit up at that. "The Strike Commander coat still around?"

Gabe glared at her. "No. I can do much better. A more flattering cut, maybe a deeper blue, or emerald..."

He rose and marched to the second bedroom. Jack watched him go.

"Yeah. We lost him." At her look, he grinned. "He's going to design you a coat. And then he'll make it. You won't get much conversation out of him until he's done."

She laughed and left them to it.