dadication | Open Post

He chuckled a little, the noise muffled by how Gabriel turned his head. "That's a new one," and it was so fucking awful it was sort of cute. Hopefully not something he'd stick with, really.

Very willing, whatever it took for Jack to get some fucking sleep, he needed it as badly as Gabriel had. Reason that he snuck a nap while the man had gone out to get them food, petting a little at the protesting whine to soothe him all the same. "And you're perfect," for him, to him, whatever it was.

He did finally sleep soundly, curled up together in that nest of pillows and sheets, under that blanket. Warm and secure.

It didn't take him that long with the safe warm scent of his mate with him, knowing that he had made all the checks and balances with keeping them safe and now full of a meal and rehydrated, he was ready to just rest. It had been an eventful blur of three days, and he had definitely had less will to sleep when there was a mate to care for.

So soothed as he was, Jack went to sleep. Practically plummeted into it like a stone. He breathed slow and deep, relaxed and comfortable as he was and he dreamed of home, his family, a potential of an expanding family with Gabe and all the simple joys of life. Not of war or death or duty, just the warm sun on his face in the fields and family.

In that nest, he rested deeply.

They both rested deeply, and for a good many hours that was sorely needed. A break that was well welcomed for it- and hell, even managed to get through another meal of what was left on that tray and all before Gabriel's heat had risen it's head and slammed back in to him- and for both their sakes a snuggle-fuck had been gone for.

For the rest of the week that was how things went for them, able to actually take a few breaks in between, and get more food and rest in the both of them. More heat and rut talking for them still, but it waned the closer to the end that they got, and after a while- well. W e l l.

Gabriel's heat broke, and it was a relief to finally have his head back about him, laying there in that nest still with Jack. Quiet and thinking while the other man slept, nudging him awake late in to the morning and suggesting he gets a shower before going out to hunt breakfast for the both of them. Give him time to get a shower himself, and prepare a load of things to get laundered. Dressed and sitting on a stripped bed, clean sheets and all replaced on it, drinking down some water from bottles still stashed there.

Huh. What a week.

It had been quite the week, one that would remain fresh in his mind for a good long time. It felt like he had graduated to another complete level of adulthood after this week, what with the bonding bite he had set into Gabe's thigh and had one returned in kind. A pledge in the heat of the moment that he didn't regret even as the fog of heat and rut cleared out permanently for a time.

When he was nudged awake, it was with a clear head and a room that was still heavily smelling of sex. He was convinced to the shower, washing himself thoroughly and working strained tired muscles in the hot water. After that, it was actually into clothing, which felt strange after nearly a full week of being nude. It was a sense of normal that snapped reality back into place for him as he headed out after a kiss to Gabe's forehead to go in search of food.

It would probably be the last meal they would have to eat in their room anyway.

Mess hall was just a cafeteria, and it was filled with the rest of the SEP soldiers still on base. Most turned to look at him as he strode in with his head held high, though he smiled at those he was close to and waved greetings to everyone else. There were more than a fair share of knowing looks and buddy's glancing between each other. He grabbed a full tray of food for two and actually stopped at the table to chat with the other soldiers.

Most conversation was cordial, catching him up to speed on the plan. A few asked how Reyes was and one asked how Reyes was in bed. Jack ignored the over the top question the first time, but when it was asked a second, he glared at the rough-around-the-edges soldier in question. Someone else slapped him for Jack and that was enough.

He headed back to the room, aware that there would be more of such antics once he and Gabriel emerged from their previous solitude. He returned to the room with a tray and a clear head, smiling warming at the omega sitting dressed and styled up normally. "Burgers, potato salad and corn on the cob today. I grabbed the chocolate cake too."

He'd lingered a bit over the bonding mark there on his thigh while in the shower, and there still wasn't any regret there he could think of. At least they had their heads enough to not put it in the more obvious spot but- well. This was something.

His head lifted when Jack came back, patting the spot on the bed next to him. "Come on over here, can place the tray on the bed. Don't worry, everything is clean and I made up both beds just to help." Make the air less heavy of sex and heat mixed with rut, let in a little fresh air and all. "I'm probably going to stay in here for the day, just to be safe," and make sure is heat was completely at an end.

"How're you feeling, Jack?"

It didn't matter that he wasn't in rut, wasn't possessive by protectiveness anymore, but damn he just couldn't help but feel happy to be back with Gabriel again. As gorgeous as he was naked and sex drunk, he was just as attractive clothed and put back in order like when they had first met.

Yeah, it wasn't as intense, but Jack fully admitted that he had feelings for the older man, though if it was unwanted, he wouldn't let it interfere with their work and friendship. They had been through a lot together, and they would be through a lot more in the coming days and weeks as they returned to the war effort in small teams that would either work independently or with other military units.

He brought the tray of food over and settled himself on the bed near Gabe, leaving room between them for the tray so they both had even access to it. "From what I learned today, that shouldn't cause an issue. They are doing weapons training and getting debriefs on the hotspots most likely to receive us in the coming weeks."

He cracked open a bottle of apple juice and took a drag from it, shrugging a little. "Bit sore and groggy, but otherwise, I feel good. How about you?"

He leaned over, fingers curled in to Jack's air easily with a slight ruffling tug, the touch laced easily with affection. More worried about what could happen if it looked like it wasn't more than them falling together for a week- hell, worried what it could mean for Jack. Was watching him closely, that smile of his-

"Good to hear. I'll be making my walk tomorrow. Touch base and check in where I need to," and make sure he was caught up, and there was no set backs with his own position. The usual that would need to be done if he'd been taken out by injury rather than his own hormones. Picking up a burger and checking what was in it while he spoke, "Sounds like we've gotten approval to start heading out in the thick of it."

Taking a bite, humming a little at the answer. "Around the same, yeah."

His head tipped towards Gabe's fingers, and even if it messed up the light gel job on his hair, he didn't even care. His hand rose to stroke the inside of Gabe's wrist in reply, little bits of affection that he did hope both of them would make an effort to upkeep here and there when time and opportunity allowed. Even if they were nothing more than friends except in heat or rut, he was satisfied.

After all, this experience was bound to be harder on Gabriel than him. He was the alpha, so it was a testament of his potency and manhood to be locked in with an omega for a full week. For Gabe who was in a position of power, it was going to be harder. There would be judgment, questions and more than a few comments slung his way. He had no doubt Gabe could handle it, but he also wasn't about to step on toes either. For now, his mate seemed reserve and pensive.

"Do you want me to grab you any debriefs or files to review before tomorrow?" He knew much of it would be accessed through holovid, but he wanted to be helpful, wanted Gabe to step back into his role as seamlessly as possible. "From what little I heard, sending out that team earlier in the week had good results and the government is eager to get us out there to bolster the public and shut down hotspots. I heard they were waiting on you to make the teams." Gabe knew the personalities and training of every soldier best after all.

He opened the bun on his burger and added ketchup and extra pickles. "Been a tough week. Don't think either of us have had that kind of reaction for that long."

Gabriel's hair still fell in to slight curls, having yet to gel it to lay back in his usual style. Made him look a little softer, and far more casual than he normally let himself be like that. Let that touch to his wrist linger as well, looking over Jack's face a little.

There was a lot he would be walking in to tomorrow, and there was no doubt he was going to end up turning a spar in to a show of nothing changed. That even if he'd fallen in to heat, that he was undeniably an omega and to some that would make them see him as suddenly weak -which was stupid as hell- he'd have to show how wrong it was. On top of proving that it didn't make him less of who he was in his position.

Some old mindsets were hard to put to rest, while others this wouldn't change a thing. Just joke about him getting laid and how it should have loosened him up and other more playful jabs. Just had to pry them apart.

"Get them on to my holovid for me? Rather walk in to it like I didn't miss a week because I was getting fucked hard in to the bed," and other places. "Going to have a long day tomorrow," and he could feel it now. At least he'd actually gotten some good sleep the last few days.

"My suppressants failed," and that tone was... heavy.

The casual look was good, as was the sleep that they had managed to catch up on when the worst of their rut and heat had gone. Later in the week, it had been about snuggling, bonding and looking after one another. He was now used to the less styled casual Gabe, just as the omega would be used to his cowlicked hair and bangs falling against his forehead.

He nodded his head at the request, and he would definitely get all the debriefs for the older man to read and prepare himself with. It wasn't just his job as his alpha but as his subordinate. A commander who was best prepared with the most up-to-date information would put all those under his command in the best standing that information and the ever changing landscape of battle would allow. And Gabriel was an excellent battlefield commander.

"I will. I'll take the tray and plates back to the cafeteria and head to your office to pick up your informational packages," he murmured with a nod of his head. Morning debrief and sparring session late morning would be interesting. He knew he had nothing to worry about, and Gabe could handle himself just fine. Jack would still back him up if it was wanted. "Yeah, lots of catch up, but you've handled worse before. You always show your best and people respond to that." Forever the optimist at this point in his life.

He was quiet though at the obvious statement, shifting a little on the bed. He took a bite from his burger to buy himself a moment to formulate a response. "Do you think they'll put you back on them after this or experiment on new ones?" He asked that quietly.

"Appreciate that a lot, thanks." And he did, and better to send Jack to do it rather than risk some alpha roaming the halls and catching any lingering whiffs of heat off of himself. Better to be cautious than not still, even if he was sure it was over. "Should be able to find them easily, and can just review it all in here," with Jack there of course, important for him to know some of it at this point, too.

He'd handled worse, but this was a sight delicate situation on some sides. Still, he'd manage, always had.

Was a damned heavy statement, having yet to take a bite of his own burger, but he was at least drinking some of that juice Jack had brought back. His appetite was a little shot right then. "I don't know. What I was taking clearly won't work anymore if that happened and I... I do need to be on them, I'd be a liability otherwise."

He nodded his head. "Anything else you want or need while I'm out getting that for you?" He was here to assist where he could, and it wasn't just because he knew the day was going to be a long and difficult one tomorrow. "Yeah, and if I have any trouble, I can call it in." He hoped that things wouldn't be awkward between them once all the hormones ran out completely.

Gabriel was good at handling adversity. And if Jack had to punch some alphas out then he would.

He watched Gabe out of the corner of his eye, taking another bite out of his burger and chewing slowly. This was a lot, and this might have been the first time that they had any time to process. "Do you need them...?" He looked at Gabe a bit more at the older man and chewed on his lower lip. "I... uh. The bonding bite might mean that... you and I are only receptive to each other..."

He huffed, the sound a little more tired than anything. "Only if you can grab me two dozen chocolate chip cookies while out there." Setting the burger back down on the tray, and he'd probably get to it in a moment. Just didn't really feel that hungry anymore now that things were sinking in.

At the very least? Gabriel did look back up at Jack, even if he sounded as tired as he suddenly looked. Maybe today should be a day to rest while reviewing.

"We bonded." They did, fingers brushing over the spot on his inner thigh that he knew the mark would be on, some little breathless noise escaping him. "I- " He'd still have his heats, but they'd supposedly be more controllable so long as, "-You'd have to be there the moment it started for me to still be able to do what I need to do," rather than be taken out of commission completely.

He couldn't entirely imagine the weight that was settling in across Gabe's shoulders, the pressures of being an omega in high command having to deal with the meat heads some of the others could be. "Uh... yeah, sure, I can do that." He assumed Gabe wasn't joking about that. However, when the burger was set down, he reached out to stroke a hand between the older man's shoulder blades. "Hey... come on, you need to eat. Big day tomorrow."

He had no issue of leaving the room to Gabe to sort himself out. Jack could do that on the exercise floor, punching bags and lifting weights to blow off steam. That was how he normally forced his way through difficult subject matter.

His own fingers found the mark on his inner thigh. It was mostly bruising and scabbing right now. His ruts would be the same as Gabe's heats, more controllable but would require his mate to be near for it to be anything but unproductive. "I guess you'll have to put me on your team when you form them then."

He was used to it, dealing with his fellow soldier had always been a breeze in a way. Had no problem stepping in and showing just who was the one in charge and exactly why it was him. Hard but well earned because he was incredibly capable; strong soldier, could think on the spot, and had a mind for tactics. "I'll eat in a minute," he just needed his stomach to settle, first.

What he was dreading was dealing with those who held power, that could have any reason to strip him of everything he earned if they saw this blip on the radar as something unwanted. Something he had no control over- Reyes hated having to kiss ass, but if he had to....

"I was planning on it anyway, wouldn't trust anyone else to fill up your position in how we've already been working together," before this week. "Will you be able to handle this, Jack? Some may think it'll be for other reasons, and you'll be having to deal with me far more." The last bit was meant to be a little bit of a light ribbing, but there was something missing from his tone.

Gabriel was worried.

There wasn't anything he could do by remain at Gabe's elbow as they emerged from their little sequestration. The older man had been fighting idiots about his hormones for longer than Jack had been born, but he could be there as a support this time around. He could stand with Gabe and make it clear that alpha, beta, omega didn't matter, least of all in wartimes when human fear, bigotry and dislike had landed them in this mess in the first place.

"Alright," he murmured and set down his own burger so he could wait for Gabe. He could already think of how the powers that be might be looking for excuses, but the fact of the matter was that they were soldiers and in combat, it was leaders and their fellows that had their respect. It wasn't the politicians laying down their lives on the line. There would be some ribbing, a little push back from other soldiers, but in the end, they would easily accept Gabe because he had proven himself over and over in the field.

He nodded his head, trying and failing to hide how pleased he was. They would remain together. "We make a good team." He was almost Gabe's second. "It won't be a problem. I won't let it be a problem for me or for you. We have a track record that will speak for us." And both of them were soldiers of excellent reputation. This would be like fighting the battle of when he had come out to his family and friends.

He'd have a plan, how to best maneuver his way through this minefield and come out on top. Arguments that couldn't be slapped down by some politician worried of what would happen with him in charge; every single one of his records, so much proof that Reyes had that he was more effective as a leader than anyone else here in this time of crisis. Already even had names for the various teams, including those that would need to go back to old units.

How they could best spread themselves out and where once they could go out in to the rest of the world, and even a team out there not just made out of all the men and women in this program. That nothing has changed at all about who or what he was; a damn good soldier that would fight as hard as he could.

Nodding, and at the very least he was still slowly sipping at that apple juice. Better than not eating at all for the moment? "What do you want to do about us?" A gesture between them then, "Because we do make a great team, I know you've got my back as much as I've got yours."

If there was a plan, Gabe was probably the one behind it. Jack had his ways of getting on with most people, bringing out the best in those around him, but it was Gabe who master-minded the operations successfully. That's why he was looking forward for the SEP soldiers get out there to do what they had been modified to do. With his optimism and friendly nature and Gabe's no-nonsense tactical mind, they would be a power house.

They just had to navigate the rocky waters of political pitfalls, but he knew Gabe would just tell them off. The omega had no time for such nonsense.

He was still waiting and watching, his scent a touch concerned but also warm and affectionate as well. "What do you mean? We're a team, of course," he replied as if that explained everything and not his swing-and-miss on a potential relationship talk.

Figure something out, and he had this day to do it.

That? That was when Gabriel made a noise n his throat caught between a laugh and something else, letting himself fall backwards on the bed, hands over is face- "What do I mean." What was he going to do with this man? Really? Maybe that was all there was to it, just some week of it and just... little more, use what was made in the heat of the moment to their advantages and keep moving.

"Yeah," or maybe he was just clueless, "we're a team."

He turned a little on the bed to peer down at Gabe who had decided to lay about and laugh. Okay, he had to rewind that conversation a little to think about what he had said. He meant they were a team for sure but... oh.

Oh shit.

"Ah, that came out wrong," he said suddenly, waving a hand in the air and then rubbing the back of his head. Of course, now he was on the spot and that meant he had to think and fast. This wasn't like combat where he could make split decisions to push the mission forward. This was life stuff.

"I mean... what are you thinking? I want you, have since we met... but that just sounds cheesy given everything."

Clueless and blond, there were several different types of jokes in that one.

"Don't worry about it." Rubbing a hand over his face, letting his eyes keep closed just because it was far better than trying to decide what he wanted to be looking at right then. No diverting eyes away from Jack or anything like that. They were a team. "Take your time, not like I'm going anywhere for the moment, right." Breathe and think and gather those thoughts together.

No right right now- "Was asking if you wanted to keep it strictly friends-with-benefits or got for something more." Cracking an eye open after a moment, "Sounds just a little cheesy, but cheesy isn't always bad."

He was still running on little sleep, so sometimes his blond moments were more than usual. At least Gabe was willing to put up with him, not just because they happened to be roommates.

He shifted their tray a bit more between them so it wouldn't tip as he lay down to one elbow, settling on the bed closer to Gabe where he could continue to watch the omega. "You said you're staying in today, but that doesn't mean we can't talk about it." He reached out to touch Gabe, stroking his fingers the older man's arm.

He leaned closer so their noses were only a few inches apart. "I don't... really do friends with benefits, personally. I would prefer if you were agreeable that we try something more permanent."

Maybe he could be convinced to eat after this little talk, if he had the stomach for it back.

Shoulders shrugged, letting out a huff of hair before arms sort of fell on to the bed as well, easier for that reached out touch to find. "It doesn't, no, but it sounded like this conversation blindsided you a bit," blond moment or not. Wasn't going to push if he wasn't ready to deal with this on top of everything else going on outside of this room of theirs.

Eyes opened then, fingers twitching a bit where they rested against the bed. "I am, just couldn't know if you were or not. Shit said during heats or ruts when it's a first hit like that don't..." Always mean anything, or was just babble while baser instincts took hold. "Going to ask me to officially date you?"

Jack would wait, no pressure from him. It was more important to him that they spent time together and found their ground before leaving this room for something normal tomorrow.

He smiled and leaned his head on an arm. It shouldn't have blindsided him, really he had been prepared, but it had been a leap he hadn't thought would come in the middle of discussing Gabe planning how he would stand up to anyone and everyone. "It didn't seem like where the conversation was going, but that's perfectly fine. We can talk about it now."

And the shit they had said... yeah, that was pretty intense and a lot of hormones. It didn't mean some of the basis hadn't been there for him at least. His hand stroking Gabe's arm moved to find his hand to pull it to his lips for a kiss. "We said a lot of things, stuff we know can't or won't come to pass, but mating with you, being with you comes without question from me." Another kiss to those knuckles. You asked for it, and he was pulling out romantic stops. "Gabriel Reyes, my mate, my omega, my commander, and my friend, will you date me?"

"To me it's something just as important that needs to be discussed, rather than waiting for some other time." He needed to know, fell in to place right alongside just how he needed to plan for tomorrow and whatever many days followed after. Just how much he could fall back on to Jack if he... needed to. Sure, he could just bury it all like he had been for years whenever anything of the like came up, but knowing if he had the option or not was important.

All the more reason it seemed like the natural sort of progression to him.

Gabriel let Jack take his hand, fingers curled a bit to hold it in turn, letting out a slow breath and just- well, there was a lightly huffed soft sort of chuckle just under his breath. "You are the sappiest Alpha I've ever met," and there was a warmth there in his voice, thumb rubbing the side of Jack's hand- "But I like that in you, along with all sorts of other things that make you, you. Yeah, I'll date you."

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