Work Text:
“Reinhardt?”
“Yes, Angela?”
“I think that’s enough coffee for me.”
Reinhardt looked down at the overflowing cup that was quickly flooding the drink stand. He put down the carafe quickly. “Sorry, Angela. I’ll get a napkin for that.”
Angela carefully picked up her precariously full cup. “Perhaps you should make that a towel.” She sipped it. “Something on your mind?”
Reinhardt coughed and sputtered. “Nothing much, just….thinking…about….things.”
Angela raised an eyebrow. “Clearly.”
Two blue flashes appeared over Angela’s shoulder and suddenly Tracer was standing next to her. “Angela! Wilhelm!"
Angela managed not to spill hot coffee all over her white coat. “Leina! I thought we discussed you not appearing in conversations like that!”
“Sorry! Oh, is there tea?” She bounced over to the drink station.
“Allow me!” Reinhardt boomed as he grabbed a mug in his huge hand.
“Thanks, Lieutenant.”
“I think we can drop the ranks, it’s not like they matter anymore.” Angela commented.
“Old habits.” Tracer shrugged. “Oh, speaking of which, the ship just landed.”
Reinhardt’s head snapped up. “They’re here?” He had been waiting all day, all week, five months for that news.
“The tea!” Tracer reminded him.
Reinhardt looked down at the overflowing cup. “Sorry, here. I have to….go and…..farewell!”
He shoved the sloshing cup towards Tracer and walked off with a speed that didn’t lend to dignity.
Angela and Tracer exchanged looks.
“Remember what terrible flirts they were back in the day?” Angela asked.
“They were so cute.”
Angela watched Reinhardt retreating back. “It’s a bit like watching a bear flirt with a cat.”
Tracer laughed. “Well, come on, we wouldn’t want to miss that!”
—--
Reinhardt was almost out of breath by the time he reached the Gibraltar landing pad, the setting sun casting a long shadow in front of the ship that rested there. Winston was already there, talking with the two newest people to answer his recall.
Jack looked wary, he shifted a bag over his leather jacket as he crossed his arms, the visor he wore over his eyes glinting in the sun. He had been reluctant to join, and he made that clear, but he had been convinced by his companion who stood next to him.
Ana stood with her hands clasped in front of her, smiling as she talked with Winston. She looked much like she had when she had appeared four months ago in Illios, long blue coat, comfortable pants and boots, white hair braided over her shoulder, and an eyepatch covering one eye.
Reinhardt had all the intentions of appearing with a calm and measured excitement that was befitting his age and station but then Ana turned and caught sight of him coming around the corner. She smiled widely and waved. Reinhard abandoned the plan immediately and ran full tilt into the group.
“Jack! Ana!” He grabbed each of them in one arm and embraced them both. “My old friends!” Jack was yelling some protests and Ana was laughing as he squeezed them both in a hug. “This is going to be delightful!”
“Wilhelm, put me down!”
“Reinhardt! Ribs!”
Reinhardt set both of them on the ground, beaming at both of them. “It is so very good to see you both.”
—----
More members of Overwatch had started to appear as news spread that the former commander of Overwatch and his right-hand woman were back. Hugs and handshakes were given out, greetings exchanged and introductions made as they all walked back through the base. Reinhardt tried not to loom over Ana as he walked behind her, but it was hard with the almost two foot difference. Every once in a while Ana would look back at him and smile, making his old heart jump.
“Reinhardt! Watch the-” Mei winced as Reinhardt, who’s attention was elsewhere, ran straight into a low beam, one specifically painted in red and yellow to catch the attention of the taller members.
Reinhardt grimaced and rubbed his forehead.
“Are you alright?” Ana asked, turning around and raising up on her tiptoes to examine his head.
“I am perfectly fine!” Reinhardt said, knowing he was talking about two decibels too loud. “I can take more than that!”
Ana gave him an amused smile. “Well, thankfully you are quite thick-headed.”
Winston chuckled. “Well, I think we all knew that the moment he showed up with a suit of armor and a hammer to fight the omnics.”
—-----
Dinner was a loud affair with everyone talking and catching up. Reinhardt wondered if he was going to be able to catch a moment with Ana with everyone crowding around her. He would swear that Tracer was starting up new conversations with Ana on purpose every time there was a lull. For the time being, he was content just to watch her talk and laugh. It was nice to see her back at the base, back within reach.
“Reinhardt!”
Reinhardt jumped and looked over at Brigette who was holding out a basket of bread, waiting for him to take it. “Ah, thank you.”
“What are you staring at?” Brigette asked.
By this time the other side of the table was listening, not that he ever cared if people knew what he was thinking or feeling. “Just admiring the most beautiful sight on base.”
Ana buried her smile in her tea cup and Brigette groaned.
Tracer leaned in closer to Ana. “Aw, thanks, Big Guy. I think you look beautiful too.”
Reinhardt frowned at her. “I was referring to our lovely second-in-command.”
“ Former second-in-command.” Ana corrected him but still blushed. “I see you are still as subtle as that hammer you carry.”
Reinhardt leaned his elbows on the table and rested his head in his hands. “Much like my rocket hammer, I like to get straight to the point.” He said with a winning smile.
Ana snorted into her cup and Brigette groaned louder, smacking her head onto the table.
“You do make a pair, and by pair I mean between the two of you, you have one pair of eyes.” Angela commented with a grin.
“One eye is enough to see how well our lieutenant has aged.” Ana said with a sparkle in her one eye.
“Not you too!” Brigette moaned. “He doesn’t need any encouragement!”
Reinhardt winked at Ana. “But it is always welcome.”
Brigette slumped out of her seat. “Angela, I think I’m going to be sick.”
“You get used to it.” Angela said with a shrug.
“I never did.” Torbjorn muttered from his seat next to Reinhardt.
Reinhardt snorted, “That’s because despite being married and having…an impressive number of children, you are embarrassed by anything that resembles romance.”
“You two make it embarrassing!”
—----
Reinhardt gave up on trying to get his moment with Ana. He knew everyone else was eager to talk with her and hear her stories and now that she was back, he had all the time in the world to wait. He now sat on one of the chairs on the roof of the communications building, looking out over the sea that reflected the night sky in its choppy waves. The night air was making him feel older these days.
“There you are.” Ana appeared as she came up the stairs to the roof. “Barely two hours back and Angela and Jack are already starting up the bionic rifle debate again.” She sighed. “I only barely managed to stop them before blood was shed by asking how Cole was these days. A topic that Angela seemed much more happy to talk about.” Ana chuckled. “Glad to see he finally made something of all those love-lorn stares he kept throwing at her back then. I swear his aim got ten times worse when she was in view.”
Reinhardt stood and offered her a hand into the chair next to hers. “Yes, gives one hope that other such things can work out.” He squeezed her hand gently, always surprised how such small hands could handle a sniper rifle with such accuracy.
Ana smiled warmly at him. “I like the new look.”
Reinhart laughed and ran a hand over his half pulled up hair. “Yes, much more like my old style, a little grayer these days.” He sat down with a slight groan.
“This is new.” Ana tugged playfully on his long beard.
“Something more befitting my long wise years.”
Ana watched him thoughtfully “I’m still surprised you answered Winston’s recall. Even after all you went through….”
Reinhardt’s cheerful demeanor dimmed as he thought back on his forced retirement and the years after trying to find purpose again. He sighed as he leaned back in this chair. “If I am called and I do not answer…” He looked down at his hands covered in scars and calluses. “...what is left, Ana?”
Ana’s small brown hand slipped into his. “You are left, Reinhardt.” She lifted his hand to her and rested her cheek on it. “And that is nothing to scoff at.”
Reinhardt smiled at her, her words warming his old heart. “Thank you, Ana.” he pulled her hand over to him and kissed it.
They sat for a while watching the ocean, sometimes talking, sometimes just enjoying the company of an old friend and the warmth of a held hand.
After a while Ana squeezed his hand and then let go. “Well, I don’t know about you, but these days I need more sleep.”
Reinhardt stood and helped her up. “May I escort you to your room?”
Ana laughed. “I was hoping you would.”
Reinhardt tucked her hand into his elbow, stooping slightly to make the heights work. “It would be an honor.”
They walked in contented silence for a while through the base lit with dimmed lights, the occupants mostly asleep or in their offices working overtime.
“This place has changed.” Ana said softly, her eyes looking over the refurbished buildings and the ones still abandoned and empty. “Gibraltar, where has the time gone?”
Reinhardt chuckled. “Do you remember that night? Dancing in the command center all night long?”
Ana threw back her head and laughed. “Oh my. We were foolish, weren’t we?”
“Perhaps we still are.”
“What? Reinhardt!”
Reinhardt picked her up with a twirl and spun her around in a few waltz steps, Ana protesting and laughing, helplessly clasped in his strong arms. “Wil, put me down! You’re going to fall over and both of us are going to end up in the medical room.’
Reinhardt paused, blinking at her in surprise, she had never called him anything except Reinhardt or Lieutenant.
Ana tilted her head, brushing a stray strand of his hair behind his ear. “What? Should I stick with Reinhardt ?”
“No, no! I like it.” He said quickly. “I just..I never thought you would be back and…May I kiss you?”
Ana grinned and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I was hoping you would.”
Reinhardt pulled the slight woman closer to him and, after forty years of thinking about it, wishing for it, thinking he had lost his chance for it, kissed Ana.
“Oh for the love of gears!”
They both pulled back and looked over at a very flushed Torbjorn half way out of the security room door.
“Can you at least wait until my watch shift is over before doing that!?”
Reinhardt leaned back in and stole another kiss. “I am sorry, my friend, but I have waited for this long enough.”
“First those two engineers then Angela and that stray Gabrial brought in and now you two. I’m starting to think there’s something in the water here.” Torbjorn walked away muttering under his breath, leaving Ana and Reinhardt to make up for lost time.