#prefall!gabe

Gabriel Reyes x Reader

Whoops I forgot how much I actually adore Gabe and uhhhhhhh

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The dropship shuddered once before gliding smoothly out of the city, leaving behind you craters and columns of black smoke. It was getting harder and harder to call missions successful nowadays, and this one was no different.

You couldn’t even bring yourself to watch the lights of the city shrink away below you, too wrapped up in catching your breath on the row of seats that lined the cabin. Your eyes stayed glued to the floor as you fumbled with the Blackwatch-issue body armor that felt as though it was suffocating you. Your breathing remained even, but you could feel something rising in your chest; something between a sob and a… scream? You gave in to neither.

The frustration you were feeling must have manifested itself in your movements though, because next thing you knew, you were tugging more forcefully on the straps of your chest plate. Your brows furrowed as the material refused to slide through the buckles, and you ground your teeth together.

Get. This. Fucking. Thing. Off.

You hardly noticed as hot tears sprung up in your eyes, but scarce had they begun to fall when you felt a weight on your shoulders. There were two hands then, brushing your own aside and gently undoing the buckles themselves. You let your own hands fall limply into your lap, all your fire suddenly extinguished and replaced with something that wasn’t really embarrassment. You were too tired to feel embarrassed.

Pitiful.

Pitiful, but that didn’t stop your commander from quietly helping you out of the offending gear. A whispered “c’mon,” and you were prompted to hold your arms out, just enough to pull the chest piece away. Breathing came a little easier then.

Everything came a little easier with Gabe.

He crouched down in front of you, though he didn’t initiate eye contact, instead giving you just enough privacy to swipe at gathering tears while he undid the straps of your heavy shinguards.

“You didn’t have to…” Your voice comes out quiet and reserved, meant only for him.  You felt yourself slowly deflating, your mind going to the same place it always did after a bad job. Your shoulders dropped a little more.

Gabriel looked up at you, tucking the straps of the shinguards in place and setting them under the seat. You were thankful to have the weight off your legs.

“I know.” His voice is quiet too, but more tired, more comforting.

He seemed to catch the vacant look clouding your eyes then. So began the old ritual anew.

Gabe took his seat beside you on the bench, putting himself between you and the wandering eyes of the other recruits. An arm found its way across your shoulders, coaxing you closer, and only tugging when you leaned into it.

“Hey.” He scooted to the edge of his seat. “Wanna talk about it?” He knew you wouldn’t, not right now at least. But it felt right to ask.

You shook your head minutely, just like always.

He hated that this was your normal, but at least you were normal.

The mission was a bust, but that was nothing new. The war — everything — just felt like another entry in a long list of lost causes to people like you and Gabe, but that didn’t stop you from trying.

And that wore on you both sometimes.

Gabe nodded, knowing you weren’t looking at him, and gave your arm a light squeeze.

50 years later, hello yes I am alive.Kinda. Thank you for the request!

36. “Did I say that out loud?” (x)

Gabriel swore under his breath as he fiddles with thecufflinks. He had always found them unnecessary. Why not just have buttons,dammit?! The accessories should have been the least of his concerns. If thisundercover mission went to shit, a lot of people could die. But there was oneagent in particular that had a good portion of his concern. He knew it waswrong for a commander to fall for an agent, but he couldn’t help thesefeelings. Every time he saw you in training or in the field, he was mesmerised.Your mind was as sharp as your skills and you were beautiful to boot. You didn’tfear him, but then again, he never gave you reason to. He was always respectfulof you and, dare you say it, even kind? To a point it was infuriating. He hadheld you back from a number of dangerous missions. Ones you knew you were wellcapable of completing. But not this time. This time you had demanded to be backout in the field. Surprisingly, Gabriel agreed, albeit reluctantly.

He was too preoccupied adjusting his ear piece that he didn’thear you approach, getting stunned as you rested a hand on his shoulder. Hewhipped around, grabbing his gun and taking aim as he did. You held up yourhands, showing him you were unarmed, and flashed a small smile. As soon as herecognised you he immediately lowered the weapon and tucked it back into hisjacket.

“Christ, (Y/N), I could have shot you, you need to be morecareful,” he grumbled.

“Says the guy not paying attention. We’re on stage in five,better get ready to work for that Oscar, sir.”

He merely grunted in response, looking back down at hiswrists as he tried to fix the cufflinks. You found yourself grabbing his wristsand doing it for him. Your hand moved to fix his bowtie before it even dawnedon you how inappropriate this was. He was your commanding officer, not justsome friend. As soon as it was fixed you took a step back, blushing slightly.

“Excuse me, sir. I know you had that, I just… Never mind,”you murmured, looking at the ground and hoping it would just swallow you up.

Gabriel was thankful you stepped away when you did becausehe was pretty sure that his heart was pounding so hard you could hear it. But alarge part of him felt disappointed with the distance. He cleared his throat,flustered as the head rose in his cheeks.

“Thank you agent. I have full confidence this mission willbe a success. After all, we have our best agent on it,” he told you. Despiteall the missions he had been on, all the interrogations he had conducted, thiswas by far the hardest time he had keeping a poker face.

“Thank you, commander,” you beamed, “With you watching myback, no way we’re failing.”

You gave him a salute and walked past him, leading the wayto the gala entrance. Once you knew he couldn’t see your face, your smilewidened and you chewed your lip. You told yourself to ignore the butterflies inyour stomach, you had a mission to focus on. But focusing became a lot harderwhen Gabriel spoke again.

“Beautiful.”

You spun around, shock and confusion painted on your face.His eyes widened as it dawned on him what he had just said. He let out anervous laugh and scratched the back of his head.

“Did I say that out loud?”

You turned to face him fully, taking his hand and leadinghim to stand beside you where you could link your arms with his.

“You know… We are dressed awful fancy,” you began, “Once wehave these a-holes busted, maybe we could get a drink, sir? I don’t know whatrules are in place for this sort of thing-“

Who is even awake at this time? Gabriel Reyes, that’s who.Of all the people, why did it have to be your damn boss?

You were a Blackwatch agent so the things you liked includedsecrecy and privacy. Which is why you liked having the gym to yourself and sowent at this ungodly hour. However that beanie wearing fucker had the sameidea. Bopping along to the music blearing out of your headphones you came to anabrupt halt as soon as you turned the corner into the gym. Your eyes widened asyou saw the commander squatting while lifting a ridiculous amount of weight. Heseemed too caught up in that to have spotted you entering. You quickly backedaround the corner, heart thumping. Did he spot you when turning that corner?You had to check.

Peeking your head back around you saw that he was stillfixated on his training. You should leave. Not press your luck. But you couldn’tjust leave this glorious sight. Sweat made his body glisten and stained thegrey vest he wore. His hair clung to his face and you realised this is thefirst time that you had seen him without the hat. You were so caught up in staringyou didn’t feel the earbud slip from your ear until it fell out, filling thesilence with muffled music. Gabriel’s head snapped over to where you were andthere was a brief moment of eye contact before you tore out of there. It wasn’tuntil you were in your room that your heart finally restarted.

The next group training session was unbearable. Reyes didn’teven acknowledge your existence, let alone what happened last night. Maybe hedidn’t know it was you? Those hopes were well and truly dashed when herequested you hang back. You held your breath as the others filed out, mumblingguessing about what you had done to earn a talking to from the commanderhimself. You kept your head down as you stood before him, waiting to get chewedup and spit out. But Gabriel said nothing. The awkward silence was worse. So itwas up to you to break it.

“Commander Reyes, I am so sorry for interrupting yourtraining session, I-“

“Y’know,” he interrupted, “You could have just joined me. I needall my agents in peak physical condition. So if you need any private training,you know where and when to find me agent. But keep it between us. I don’t wantany of those kiss-asses bothering me for validation. You’re dismissed agent.”