Blackwatch Week? Hell Yeah: Day 6!
Soooo I figured I’d crank something out for Blackwatch week – Lets focus on Day 6: Pain/Pleasure, shall we?
Edit: I totally misread the days because it was late when I started this sooo....my bad for being a day ahead? *Gabe Shrug*
(I will warn you...I am a bit rusty!)
“Aircraft BW0012 to ground crew. Dropship in inbound. ETA 10 minutes, just hold tight! Fio Out”
Gabriel grunted and turned around to fire a round from his shotgun into another Talon soldier, the force yanking the armoured attacker clean off his feet like a puppet having his strings pulled taut, back slapping hard against the concrete floor of the warehouse and stillness washing over them. Raising his finger to his earpiece Gabriel cast his dark hues towards the exit his team were currently trying to obtain access to. The duo had just finished fighting off their approaching soldiers and were now frantically working to hook up Athena so that she could hack the door code allowing their escape into the open for the dropship. Everything was under control but it was taking too long. Much too long.
“Aircraft BW0012 I hear you, be aware a flyby may be required-“
“-A flyby?! Are you serious Gabri-“
“We’re having issues with the door, be on standby to initiate a flyby if necessary.” The stern tone of the Blackwatch commander was enough to silence any counter argument from the pilot, Fio sighing audibly before confirming she understood and exiting the channel. Gabriel immediately turned his attention to a service lift that had arrived, the flashing red light signalling the arrival of more Talon Soldiers. Dark eyes narrowing in preparation, he raised his shotguns ready to meet those unfortunate enough to have chosen to ride the elevator.
The metal doors slid apart with a brief groan of protest, the six soldiers immediately raising their weapons in response to the Blackwatch commander and taking a synchronised step out of the elevator, the coordinated click of safety’s being flipped on the assault rifles they held drawing a frown to the commander’s face.
A flash of metal signified the first attack, the sound of a sword cutting through the air immediately had the group of Talon soldiers turn inwards to fire at the attacker that had seemingly materialised in the centre of their group. One by one, they fell like bowling pins, the only sounds the panicked rabble of soldiers trying to retaliate and the swish of a sword cutting through the air and necks. As the last body hit the floor the perpetrator slowly rose from a crouched position, spinning the sword once and gently placing it back in it’s sheath on his back.
“Well you certainly took your time” Gabriel smirked at the Shimada brother and lowered his shotguns gently, allowing the ninja to approach him.
“I did what was asked of me” the synthetic voice still held a sting to it, a bitter undertone comparable to a grumpy teenager at times. Considering everything the young heir had endured however, Gabriel had a tendency to let it slide at times. McCree had exhibited similar behaviour when he joined Blackwatch all those years ago, the rebellious teen not afraid to try and lash out at times only to be put firmly back in his place until he settled. Learned to trust. Learned how to respect those in command. Speaking of which-
“Where’s McCree?” turning on his heels, dark hues glared at the back of the cyborgs head, tracing the various cables and wires that gently swayed with every step and brushed against a metallic spine. “Genji!” the tone was stern, authoritative, more than enough to stop the cyborg walking away and make him glance over his shoulder.
“Arriving shortly providing he has not done something stupid. We were forced to part ways shortly after extracting the data you tasked us with acquiring”
“So, who has the Data drive?”
“McCree has the drive, as I said he should be arriving shortly if he has not-“
“-not done anything stupid and gotten himself killed. Helpful as always Genji. Go help with the door, looks like we’re alone down here for now while Talon regroup” shaking his head a large hand moved to adjust the beanie on his head, scratching the top to soothe a tickle that would develop into an irritating itch if left unattended.
“Goddam, you’d reck’n Talon would be a little more generous we showed ‘em flaws in their security eh boss?” Jesse burst into the room through a side door with a cocky smirk on his face. Closing the door behind him the cowboy took a moment to lock and barricade the entrance before wiping his brow and approaching the commander, adjusting his hat slightly as he did so and flashing a smile. “Howdy boss, everythin’ alright here?”
Gabriel folded his arms and shifted his weight to one side, glancing past the cowboy to ensure the door was properly barricaded “That's commander Reyes to you when we're on mission. Genji says you separated, that was not part of the plan McCree-“
“-I know that, but desperate times an’ all that. If the Ninja an’ I had stuck together we’d have both wound up dead, partin’ ways was the best plan and besides-“ he took a moment to pluck the data drive into view with a smile “I got whatcha asked for” the cowboy huffed and rolled his eyes when Gabriel plucked it from him and walked away without another word “Yer welcome?” Jesse muttered before approaching the door to check what was happening with their escape.
Gabriel watched the group converge, Jesse in his element with conversation, chatting up a storm and reaching past the pair to assist with the door hack. Genji was perched off to the side, listening in but not contributing, slowly running his hand over his sword to check it hadn’t been damaged or blunted.
A siren soon rang out in the room, a shrill piercing noise causing a few of the agents to flinch with a wince before Gabriel gestured for them to stay put “It’s the warning alarm, they’ll be regrouping and sending reinforcements. Athena, do us a favour and hijack those elevators for a while”
“Affirmative Commander Reyes, although I should inform you I will only be able to retain control for approximately 4 minutes and 32seconds”
“And how long till you have that door unlocked for us?” Gabriel rubbed at his jaw, eyes fixed on the room before him, analysing points of entry, cover and more.
“I should have the door open in approximately 5minutes and 56 seconds”
“Guess that’ll do, lets hope those elevators take a while to load up. McCree, Genji and Felps I want you ready to buy Monroe some time so he can get the door open. For now, check the room, barricade other exits and be aware of any weak points”
Now it was just a waiting game.
“You had better get that door open soon! We have company!”
Behind him two of the group made a break for the door, furiously trying get Athena to key in the code. The sound of the elevators arriving signalled more reinforcements, Gabriel huffing in irritation and drawing his shotguns ready to fight. He was immediately aware of two shadows at his flanks, McCree on his left smirking and chewing a lit cigar, the shadow of his hat darkening his features as the gunslinger checked the peacekeeper in his hand to ensure It was fully loaded. On his right Genji flexed his fingers impatiently, his body tensed, coiled to spring into action, three shurikens already slotted between his fingers. Reassured to have his two best agents at his side Gabriel cracked his neck to the side “We buy enough time to get the door open, then we head straight for the exit. Understood?”
“Understood Commander”
“Sure thing, partner”
Gabriel bit down on an amused smirk and licked at his bottom lip as the elevators arrived with a melodic ting, the doors sliding open and a moments silent enveloping the room before chaos descended.
The trio worked like clockwork, Genji diving in and out of combat with his swords, sniping at further enemies with his shuriken’s and seeming to appear at just the right moment to deflect fire at crucial moments. McCree’s peacekeeper barked loudly in rapid succession as the sharpshooter proceeded to land shot after shot with astounding precision, rolling out of the way to reload he was soon back on his feet, three loud barks of the gun signalling another three casualties.
Gabriel was working as he always did, navigating the battlefield, relying on Genji and McCree to take out anyone who got too close for comfort while he introduced others to the business end of his shotguns. Every synchronised shot of his guns spelt devastation for the victim, bodies dropping quicker than Talon could replenish. Nameless soldiers lost to the cause, Gabriel began to take some joy from his work, turning in place to fire a shot at a solider who had tried to sneak up behind him. The blast kicked back their head before the body toppled over, dark hues drifting across to see McCree had alrey been lined up to take the shot. The cowboy huffed a smile and tipped his hat before turning on his heels and firing at another target without a moment’s hesitation.
“Doors open! Commander! Fio is outside!”
Gabriel nodded at the call from Agent Monroe, his back to his team as he slowly began to retreat. “Everyone out, straight to the dropship! Go!”
Soldiers were still trying their luck and trying to stop the agents escaping. Agents Monroe and Felps were quick to scramble the kit together and haul the door open for the group, Genji, McCree and Reyes slowly backtracking while fighting to make their own escape shortly afterwards.
Gabriel allowed an all too familiar frown to crease his brow as he fired another two shots and took another few steps backwards towards the door. The others had left, now he just needed to dash for the door, the soldiers were still regrouping from his last two shots it was an easy feat.
He hadn’t accounted for a sniper.
The bright red dot settled quickly on his chest, the commander’s eyes widening and settling on the sniper on the backline. Seconds to make a life or death decision. Running would be too slow, firing back a worthless feat. The third option? Was something new.
Dark hues squeezed shut as he heard the shot, instantly he felt his body fade away, becoming nothing but smoke at his whim. The metal shell of the bullet tore through his smoking form where his heart would have been and straight through the other side, leaving nothing but a brief sting and a sensation comparable to the tug of loose flesh on a small cut.
“ARRGHH!”
The cry of pain was not his own. It was familiar. Too familiar. As was the second shot that rang out.
Heavy boots once again solid, thudded against the floor, the reformed commander whirling around to look behind him, eyes widening at the sight that met him.
McCree was grasping at the right side of his ribcage, dark crimson blood coating his gloves quickly and drenching his black shirt despite his best effort. Hazel hues lifted from the wound to meet the gaze of his commander, confusion, shock and fear etched on his paling features as he gasped for air, peacekeeper dropping from his other hand to clatter loudly against the floor. The cowboy staggered on his feet, legs buckling and sending him on his ass, his other hand moving to press against the wound.
He had come back. Despite direct orders, McCree had come back for him. The gunslinger was following a standard strategy, using the distraction to appear from behind and line up a single headshot on the most prominent threat. The sniper.
Every time they had executed that plan it required the other to leap out of the way or cause a larger distraction. Create the perfect opportunity. Trust your partner. However, by ‘going ghost’ as he called it, the bullet had passed straight through him and torn directly into McCree’s exposed side as he’d lined up the shot. The second shot he’d heard caused Gabriel to turn his head stiffly laying eyes on the sniper now slumped over the balcony. Perfect execution. Except for-
The rage that consumed him was blinding, he felt his body fade away, shotguns ripped free of their holsters and thrown into action. Yells of panic and fear, the sound of his shotguns roaring through the room became deafening before the last body fell and with a click the shotguns were empty, forcing Gabriel to jolt back into reality and once more, resume a solid state of being. Sweat glistened on his face, his breathing laboured as he looked around at the carnage, the small army he had taken on nearly single-handed. All because…because…McCree.
Shotguns thrown aside carelessly, the commander turned tail and crossed the room in record time to find the cowboy slumped up with against the back wall. Head lulled forward so his chin rested on his chest, the hat hid his face from the world, the pool of crimson that had formed beneath him panicking the commander as he knelt roughly beside the gunslinger and yanked his own gloves off to feel for a pulse. “McCree?!” Fingers prodded desperately around the males neck, feeling for any sign of life, a relieved exhale escaping him when he felt a weak heartbeat beneath his index finger and swiftly got to work.
Carefully plucking the hat from the cowboys head he set it aside, easing the male onto his opposite side and easing his limp hands away from the wound, cussing at the clean entry between his chest plate. The bullet had struck a bit further down from his armpit on the side of his shooting arm, no doubt tearing through his ribcage and probably striking directly into a lung if the now rasping breathing was anything to go by. The shot would have connected before Jesse fired, despite the pain the cowboy still fired, still landed his shot to defend his commander. A gasped wheeze drew Gabriel from his thoughts, dark hues widening as Jesse came to under his care, his face contorting and twisting in pain immediately.
“Fuck..hold on kid, I’m going to get you out of here” Gabriel bit hard on his lip, gently pressing his own hand against the wound and pressing his other to his earpiece “Reyes here, we have wounded. Requesting medical evac, I repeat, Agent McCree is down. Immediate Evac required”
“Roger that, sending medical team with Ground troop escort on arrival. Sit tight, they’ll be right with you”
Jesse sucked in a pained breath, the notion more of a wheeze before he tried to move, Gabriel quick to plant his firm hands on the gunslinger. “Don’t move Niño, you’ll just make it worse…” still the gunslinger tried to form words, guttural moans escaping him with the occasional whimper of pain.
“Fuck-ing…’ell…sti-ngs” he wheezed, hazel orbs lined with water and growing bloodshot as they looked up at Gabriel. “Thou-ght I…had it….m’sorry…ain’t ev-er missed….b’fore” teeth ground together shortly after, a cry of pain muffled by the action, veins popping on his temples as his arms tried to wrap around his torso only for Gabriel to stop the motion with a gently touch.
Glancing towards the door, the sound of the dropship rumbling in the distance was music his ears, Gabriel letting his hand gently rub the gunslingers arm as he kept him lying on his good side. “You got her kiddo, you landed the shot…just stay awake for me until the med team arrives ok?”
Jesse managed a weak smile “Shit…I got’er?” a pause to draw in a struggled breath punctuated his sentence “I don’t…unders- how'd she-“he wheezed weakly, grunting and grimacing again in discomfort “It…Hurts…” he rasped, tired hues glancing up to his commander briefly.
Gabe watched the male before him, observed his pain, his suffering. The very kid he had plucked from within Deadlock and promised to show a better life, the same teen he’d promised to protect, and the young adult he had formed a level of trust with that allowed them to fight alongside each other without so much as a word being spoken was now bleeding out on the floor of a Talon base because he’d trusted him. Believed they had each other’s back. Gabe’s expression saddened briefly at the thought “I didn’t know you were behind me, if I had I wouldn’t have-“glancing down a spike of fear clutched at his heart at the sight of McCree passed out cold. “McCree?” a gentle shake drew nothing from the cowboy. A cold shiver took over his body as he shook him harder “McCree! Wake up! Don’t you fucking dare give up right now…. you hear me?! That’s an Order McCree! McCree!?” he had the unconscious agent gripped by the shoulders, the cowboys head lulling back, mouth agape “Jesse?” Gabe swallowed hard before gently lying the cowboy on his back as the sound of the dropship and approaching medical team hit his ears.
The lack of pain etched on Jesse’s features was a comfort, Gabriel feeling tears line his eyes before he reached to brush loose strands of unruly brown hair away from the gunslinger’s pale face, pausing as he felt the faintest of breaths against his hand, anxiety punching a nauseating feeling into his gut as he felt desperately for a pulse again, pressing hard against chilling skin before feeling a very faint beat. A flutter as feeble as a beat of a butterfly’s wings but it was something. Dark hues darted to the door as it opened and the medical team arrived, Gabriel getting to his feet and out of the way “Quickly! Get him aboard the ship. We’re getting the fuck out of here. Fio, route us to the nearest Overwatch Medbay.”
“But commander we won’t have clearance for-“
“-Just do it Fio! That’s a direct order”
“Yes sir”
Watching with folded arms as they loaded Jesse onto a stretcher and hurried him out towards the dropship Gabriel moved to follow only to pause and take a moment to scoop the cowboys hat from the floor and pluck the peacekeeper from the ground, the silver body spattered with its owner’s blood. It would clean up like new, show no signs of the day’s events. As for its owner, time would tell if he would even have the chance to see the day through.