Work Text:
Angela sipped on her morning espresso; humming quietly between sips. The latest news article about Overwatch's efforts auto-scrolling on the tablet in her hand. The public seemed pleased this time. But…
"Tomorrow they'll hate us." Moira voiced Angela's thoughts, joining her in her office, a drink carrier and tablet in hand. She sat down in the chair across Angela's with a subdued grace.
"How did you know what I was reading? Surely your experiments haven't given you mind reading abilities." Angela said, scrunching her nose.
"Nothing quite so mystical. I happen to know you catch up on news reports relating to Overwatch while you sip your first espresso. Followed by reading data reports from the latest research experiment, angel." Moira placed another tablet on the table, presumably filled with the reports, "and while drinking a double shot of espresso with steamed oatmilk plus a green smoothie to help cool you down." And Moira produced both as well, placing them on the table in front of Angela.
"My, have I become so predictable?" Angela blushed, finishing her first coffee and reaching across for her double and green smoothie. She took small sips of each, pleased to see both were to her liking. The right amount of foam for the coffee and just enough sweetness in her smoothie, not to mention the thickness as well. Moira knew her well.
"I am merely observant." Moira's eyes sparkled, a crooked grin plastered on her face. Angela rolled her eyes dramatically and sipped on her coffee, flicking through the datasets Moira provided. Moira herself was dressed rather casually for a day of work, wearing a t-shirt of some old anime and joggers.
"You're dressed rather casually. Is this your lab's new dress code?"
"Now who is the observant one, angel?" Moira leaned back in the chair, flicking through her own tablet. "No, I woke up early for my workout. Physical fitness is paramount for field operatives, as you very well know we are called upon from time to time." Moira said. Her tone, amused, grated on Angela. Blackwatch. Right, Moira was far more often in the field than Angela was. Not that Angela was briefed on Blackwatch's activities or even supposed to know who was on it but as the one who patched up the team more often than not. Moira could only do so much. Especially when it came to Genji's physiology.
"Of course." Angela said, ending the conversation, her tone still friendly. She fidn't agree with Blackwatch's existence but understood its necessity.
"Will you be dining in the mess hall or shall I fetch you something for lunch?" Moira offered. She had taken to ensuring Angela ate a midday meal and even dinner or a snack. It was rather kind, though, it appeared to be more in line with an accountability buddy since Moira often joined her. Not that Angela minded, once she got to know Moira she quite enjoyed their conversations. What started as comparing their work lead to comparing tastes in music, art, and whatever mundane topics came to mind. Angela thought it unusual but ever since Dr. O’Deorain had asked to share meals with her, the unusual had become the usual.
"I'll be in the mess hall today. Usual seat?" Angela asked. Moira shot her a lopsided grin and ran her hands through her messy, sweat-soaked hair.
"It's a date." Moira said. Angela smiled politely, never a fan of the colloquial.
Angela's alarm went off, telling her lunch time had arrived. She wasn't hungry but she knew if she didn't show up for lunch with Moira, she would get an earful. How the tables have turned. When the two started working together, it was Angela who would remind Moira to eat and would bring meals to her colleague at odd hours in the morning.
Angela quickly put away her lab coat and washed her hands before heading to the mess hall. She looked around but didn't see Moira yet. The tall, lanky redhead was hard to miss.
Who she did see was a buff new recruit swaggering towards her. Angela couldn't remember her name. Ally? Bailey? She affixed a polite smile on her face. New recruits were often their best recruiting tool, no need to alienate when she could use that desire to help to drive more recruits their way. Capture more flies with honey.
"Hey, doc!" The woman greeted. Her uniform's name tag indicated her last name was Bridges.
"Nice to see you settling in, Ms. Bridges." Angela greeted her.
"You can call me Janice, doc." Angela barely held back a snort of amusement. She was way off. "Yeah, I'm settling okay. Would be a smoother transition if I had someone like you to help." Angela frowned. They did have personnel who helped with the transition from one's previous life to Overwatch life. She would have to look up Janice's advisor to make sure they were doing their job. In the mean time…
"How can I help, Janice?" Angela asked.
"I'm sure you can do a whole lot." Janice smirked, "but how about we talk it over dinner?"
"I believe that can be arranged. Tonight, 1900?" Angela suggested. In the meantime, she could find out who Janice's advisor was and scold them at the very least, if not reassigned. Janice smiled and reached towards Angela's face, tucking a piece of blonde hair that had fallen out of place behind her ear. How kind, if not a little bizarre. Americans.
A harsh grip startled Angela, she turned and saw Moira looming over them. She looked dashing as ever in her signature black button up and purple tie. She always cut quite the figure.
"Dr. Zeigler, I didn't expect you to be entertaining our new recruits." Moira said. Angela winced; the hand on her shoulder tightened.
"Dr. O’Deorain." Janice said, her eyes widened. She took a couple steps back.
"You shouldn't touch things that don't belong to you." Moira growled. Angela frowned. The implications was Janice touched something that had belonged to Moira but Angela was unsure what Janice could have touched.
"Let's go, Angela." Moira pulled Angela along, she struggled to keep up with Moira's long strides. Moira shoved Angela into Moira's office and locked the door with her passcode.
Moira paced angrily, cursing in Gaelic, words Angela didn't know the meaning of spilled from Moira's mouth. But their tone indicated Moira was angry.
"Moira, what's wrong?" Angela asked. Moira took a deep, shuddering breath.
"You are." Moira straightened, loosening her tie and poured herself some whiskey, shooting it back.
"I don't understand" Angela admitted. It was the truth. She replayed the incident in her mind. How did she offend Moira?
"Angela, you can't accept another woman's dinner invitation!" Moira ran her hand through her hair, mussing the perfectly coiffed strands.
"Moira, she was being friendly."
"She was trying to sleep with you! All the recruits have been betting who can have sex with you first!" Moira exclaimed. Angela widened her eyes, she hadn't read it as Janice asking her on a date with the intention of sleeping with her. Then again, she never had much luck with dating. Too absorbed into her work. The closest to a relationship she had was Moira and her colleague had never showed any interest in her. Her minds eye conjured up a different image, Moira's tie undone and her shirt unbuttoned, a thick strap jutting out from her pants zipper as she fucked Angela in this very office.
"Well, then, thank you for telling me. I had no intention of sleeping with her." Angela chewed on her bottom lip. She felt hot. She wasn't against sleeping with Moira, but the thought had never occurred to her.
"I was worried." Moira settled into the worn armchair in her office. The very one Angela had found her napping in on more than one occasion.
"Why were you worried?" Angela frowned, leaning against the arm of the chair. Moira sighed and gently stroked Angela's outer thigh. Angela leaned into the touch, it felt nice.
"Ever since we started dating, I've been afraid of someone swooping in and snatching you away." Moira said, leaning her head against Angela's torso.
Angela froze. Dating?! Since when!? Last she checked, she was still very single.
"Moira?"
"Yes, angel?" Angela froze, the pet name making far more, and somehow less, sense. Her heart dropped. She couldn't pretend like this, she had to tell Moira the truth.
"I didn't know we were dating." There, band-aid off.
"What do you mean?" Moira shot up, towering over Angela.
"I-I mean it, Moira," Angela stammered, "I'm sorry, I didn't know we were dating."
"What in God's name did you think we were, then?" Moira's voice was strained, desperate.
"C-close colleagues?" Angela stammered. Everything was falling into place. How sweet Moira had been. How she took care of Angela. How she was attentive. Her heart swelled. They were dating. She felt angry at herself for not realizing. "We never even had sex or kissed." Angela swallowed hard. This was confusing.
"We were taking it slow. We had talked about how much experience you had when we first started dating." Moira dropped back into her armchair.
"When did we start dating?" Angela had to know.
Moira ripped off her tie, tossing it to the side. "Three months ago, give or take." Moira pinched the bridge of her nose. "I'm sorry for the misunderstanding, Dr. Ziegler."
Angela's heart broke. Moira was always there for her. If she had any indication Moira was into her, at least an indication Angela's oblivious ass could read, she would have happily dated Moira. "I want to." Angela hurriedly said. Moira frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
"I want to date you."
Moira was silent. Her body bowed, her head resting in her hands. Angela knelt beside her, taking one of Moira's hands in hers.
"I'm a genius doctor. Brilliant. I have several doctorates in different fields of study. And I can speak my fair share of languages." Angela said.
"Don't forget humble." Moira deadpanned. Angela chuckled.
"What I mean to say is I am book smart. But people? I am a buffoon. A moron. Idiotic. I couldn't tell that this incredible, sexy, smart woman was courting me." Angela said. Moira smiled tightly, leaned back, and deflated in her chair.
"I might have to study if emotional whiplash can induce physical whiplash." Moira groaned, forearm covering her eyes. A boldness overtook Angela; she sat in Moira's lap sideways, her legs draped over the chair's arm. Moira's other arm came up as if automatically to pull Angela closer. "You sure are something, angel."
Angela rolled her eyes but settled closer, enjoying their shared warmth. They were dating. Maybe? She had to be certain.
"Will you date me?" Angela asked, "I don't want any misunderstandings. I want to date you, kiss you, and bed you should we get to that point."
Moira chuckled, putting her arm down to also wrap around Angela's waist. "You're something else, angel. But yes, I wish to date you. Continue dating you."
Angela smiled, cupping Moira's face in her hands. No more waiting. She leaned forward, meeting Moira's eyes with her own, waiting for permission. Moira closed the distance, lips pressing together. Moira's fingers dance across Angela's ribcage, stroking her with brilliant fingers. Angela's heart fluttered, this was what she wanted.