Yay!

coolyo294:

theweirdwideweb:

Minnesota has the longest unbroken streak voting Democrat of any state (since 1976)—-but I particularly appreciate this electoral map from 84′:

(via whoareyall)

overdrabble:

Heavy boots crunched the white wasteland, pulse rifle in hand, and visor active. Solider: 76 - Jack Morrison was a man on a mission. He traveled to the snowy region from Dorado after receiving a transition from Winston about Mercy’s disappearance amidst a Talon invasion. Agents McCree and Genji had insisted they join in recovering the stolen angel, but 76 said this was a one man job.

Reaper - Gabriel as he knew him, was a predictable enemy. As 76 hitched a ride on a passing truck bed he tenderly rubbed the bullet hole that had scarred over by now.

“Winston reporting.” The Gorilla snorted from a communicator.

76 clicked the button, “76 enroute to the med facility. Eta, 03:00.”

“Athena managed to obtain the security footage from the facility…”

“And?”

“It's…she put up a good fight.”

“Have Athena send it. Might help me find the bastard.”

A mechanical voice broadcasted over the com, “Transition percentage: 50 percent…80 percent…100 percent.”

The video had no sound but he didn’t need it to put two and two together. Reaper slithered through the halls killing any and all in his path. 76 watched Angela run into the camera view, horror masked her face and she slammed her staff down. He watched the video till the very end, where Reaper shot the camera.

His transportation came to a halt signaling the old dog to leap from the truck and sprint into the shelter of the trees. He continued to run with Angela on his mind and in his heart. He would find her and save her even if it killed him.

-

Angela didn’t know what time it was but something inside her told her it was five or six. She’d stayed up all night trying to figure out a way to reverse or stabilize Gabriel’s condition. She was certain there was a way, there had to be.

Loneliness nipped at her heels the more she ignored it, Gabriel had gone out saying something about a target. He’d left everything in their shared space unlocked, he’d even given her the key code to the front door. Before she knew who he was Angela might have left, but she didn’t want to lose Gabriel when she just got him back.

As she worked Angela thought about when they had first started courting each other, even back then Gabriel had always been a reckless fighter. He’d gotten injured on a mission and refused to go to the med bay, Angela had found him in the training room trying to stitch his abdomen. She remembered how close he watched her and how he said “You’re pretty good kid”. From then on anytime he’d ever gotten injured he went straight to Angela.

When they’re relationship started Gabriel was convinced to make sure every single person knew that Angela was his, but they’d decided to keep work and pleasure separate. So they’d exchange occasional winks or hold each others hand under tables. Gabriel was the riskier one since he used to slap her ass when they passed each other in the halls.

Despite the warm memories a surge of cold still stabbed her heart, she remembered the first time she woke up without him, when she wandered the base wondering where he was, and when she kept having to remind herself that he was dead.

Angela took a step back from her work and walked to her room, she needed to rest. When her head hit the pillow a loud crash shook the room, Angela’s breath hitched in her throat and fear slipped into her veins like a drug. Had someone found her? Were they going to take her away? Angela reached for her pistol, which Gabriel had given back along with her staff, and carefully stepped out of the room.

“Gabriel!” He sat hunched against the dented door clutching his side, panting heavily.

“Damn boy scout.” Gabriel growled.

Angela didn’t focus on the nickname instead she focused on his wound, he’d been hit with a helix rocket. She shot up and turned away, “Stay here, I’ll get my-”

“Don’t,” He locked his hand around her wrist. “Don’t worry about…about it nng.” She pulled him up. “Morrison’s here, I’ll fight him off you stay and hide.”

Angela narrowed her eyes, “I’m not going to hide while you put yourself at risk Gabriel! I’m going to fight with you!”

He snorted, “Get your staff then and keep me healed.”

“Right.” Angela retrieved her staff just as Jack busted in.

“Step away from him Angela.” He ordered.

Gabriel stepped in front of her shotgun shells littered the floor, 76 was hit in the leg but managed to evade the other bullets. 76 kept his gun aimed at Reaper but his eyes on Mercy.

A chuckle tickled Gabriel’s throat, “What’s wrong boy scout? Cat got your tongue?”

“I’m not going to waste my breath on you.” 76 grumbled.

“Keep your eyes on me then.” Reaper hissed.

The two tossed away their guns and lunged. They rolled, elbowed, and kneed each other.

“Stop it!” Angela shouted.

To her surprise they both did, their eyes on her.

Tears slipped down her face, “Stop it…stop the bloodshed.” Her head hung and she covered her ears.

Reaper glanced at Morrison and rammed his elbow into his forehead. His form dissipated till it formed smoke, he materialized in front of her and wrapped his arms around her.

“Shh Carino shh.” He murmured.

Solider 76 huffed, “Hmph, you’ve never stopped a fight before. And here I thought you showed no mercy.”

Gabriel smirked beneath his mask, “I don’t.” He pulled the trigger of his shotgun. “She’s mine.”

76 growled and held his shoulder, blood seeped through his fingers.

Gabriel chuckled, “What’s wrong Jackie? Plans not quite working for ya huh?” Reaper shook his head. “Always trying to play the hero, did you really think you could save the damsel all on your own?”

“She doesn’t belong with you Gabe.” 76 spat.

“So she does with you? Is that it Jack? I’m willing to bet she doesn’t even know about the little crush you had on her back in the day.” Gabriel tossed the gun aside and scooped Angela into his arms. “This is how it should have been.”

As they passed the wounded solider Gabriel kicked his pulse rifle out of reach. He held Mercy tight and walked into the hall. Mercy peaked over his shoulder to look at Solider, she couldn’t leave him wounded like that bit if she didn’t he would come after them and take Gabriel away. Her eye widened when she saw him pull McCree’s revolver from his jacket pocket, there wasn’t enough time for her to warn Gabriel. Blood splattered against her face and Gabriel’s mask.

Six bullets dug into his chest, one dangerously close to his heart. Mercy couldn’t tell if it had indeed pierced his heart but she knew Gabriel was dying again. He fell forward, his mask clattered and slid across the floor. He laid eerily still though he twitched and fought to keep his life force from draining.Angela scrambled to grab her staff but Solider 76 snaked his arms around her waist and limped towards the stairs.

“Let go of me Jack! Let go!” She demanded, reaching for Reaper. “Gabriel!”

He tried to push himself up, the minute he got a foot off the ground black blood pooled beneath him. He collapsed, hand outstretched to her. “A-Angie…”

Angela kicked and struggled until Solider finally lost his hold on her, she dropped to her knees in front of him and held his hand tight. He weakly reached up and wiped tears that fell from her eyes, her other hand held his against her cheek.

Her eyes shut tight and her grip on his hand tightened, “Heroes never die…heroes never die! Heroes never die!”

Just like before, Just like in the hospital.

Nothing happened.

Angela screamed in agony as Reaper’s hand fell from her cheek, she held it there begging for him to hold on.

Solider sighed from his place on the stairs, he rubbed his neck. “Somebody had to do it Angel, it wasn’t right having him like that.”

Angela’s shoulders shook, she grit her teeth and glared daggers at Solider. “But it was right for you to come after him?! I didn’t need saving Jack I didn’t WANT to be saved!”

She looked back at the dead man sprawled on the floor. She kissed Gabriel’s cheek and closed his eyes, her hand reached for his mask and held it tight to her chest.. “He was right, you always try to play the hero.”

—————————– 3 weeks later ——————————–

Angela stared out the window of her lab absent mindedly tracing the mask that sat in her lap as rain fell outside. Genji, McCree, Torbjorn, and Reinhardt visited her regularly to check her progress. To do whatever they could to get the old Angela back. But the truth was a part of her died with the man she loved.

There was a knock at the entry way, Mercy looked up and saw McCree leaning against the doorframe. He tipped his hat to her, “How ya holdin’ up doc?”

Angela stood and walked over to one of the many medicine cabinets. “Are you here for your pain medication, Jesse?”

Jesse shook his head and entered the lab, “Came ta check up on ya darlin’. Ya chased everybody else off, but I’m stubborn as a mule.”

Angela said nothing, instead she wrote his prescription and slid him the bottle. “Take one for minor pain, take two for major. No more than two doses in twenty four hours.”

A heavy silence hung in the air, Jesse looked passed the doctor and set his eyes on Reaper’s mask. He looked back at her and nodded slipping the pills in hid pocket. “Try an’ get some rest doc. Ya know where ta find me if ya need me.”

Angela lingered by the medicine cabinet for a while longer, she sighed and decided rest might not be such a bad idea. She took Reaper’s mask and ventured to her room. Angela glared at her bed, the piece of furniture betrayed her and stirred memories of the nights where Reaper had slipped into her room and of the days where Gabriel would pull her into supply closets. Bitterly she lied down, held the mask to her chest, and cried herself to sleep.

Moonlight slipped through Angela’s window and woke her in the night, the healer stared into the silver light and felt oddly at ease. She sighed and closed her eyes hoping to fall back asleep.

Sudden movement in her room sent Mercy into protective mode, she grabbed her pistol and aimed it into the darkness. A clawed, gloved hand wrapped around the shafts of the pistol.

“I’d ask if you’d really shoot me, but you’ve done that already Carino~.”

Angela’s eyes widened as Gabriel’s face was illuminated in the moonlight, she burst into tears and threw her arms around his neck.

“But you- how?” She croaked.

He smirked, “Heroes never die.”

They shared a passionate kiss and Angela felt more alive than she had in the past three weeks. She held Gabriel close and pinched herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming.

“You can’t stay here Gabriel, they’ll find you and…” She couldn’t bear to finish.

“I’m not staying, I came to get you.” He kissed her forehead. “Ditch anything that can be tracked, we’ll leave when you’re ready.”

Angela nodded, feeling no regret as she packed a small bag and left nearly all of her technology behind. She took her lover’s hand and disappeared with him into the night.