dadication | Open Post

"I don't have the stamina for a shower." Having been in the bathroom, he wasn't certain they wouldn't just contract a new and rare infection if they tried as well. Right now, he was willing to tolerate dried blood and some extra muck, though they likely couldn't stay on dirty sheets much longer. He wasn't looking to drag himself out of bed until he had slept a bit longer; he was so damn tired.

He curled a hand securely around Gabe's thigh, savouring the contact and the usual sensation of life from their bond. His eyes closed, he was perfectly willing to slip back into sleep while Gabe guarded them a little while. Instead, he made a sound and opened his eyes when a piece of protein bar was offered, obediently opening his mouth to eat the morsel. He chewed slowly and gingerly, feeling every little pull on the sutures holding his face together.

It tasted good. It made him realize that he was hungry. Slow and steady.

He sighed heavily after swallowing the bit of protein bar in his mouth. "Someone has put a lot of effort into killing us and eliminating Overwatch," he agreed. "All those colleagues..." he trailed off, the full impact of how many people had probably died in that collapse was staggering. His fingers tightened on Gabe's thigh, seeking what little comfort there was. "What if... " he trailed off, turning his head to glance up at Gabe. "What if whoever did this knew about what we are to each other, Gabe? It was too perfectly timed, both of us on the lowest level, disarmed and then snipers covering the rubble to pick us off?"

The more he thought about it, the more he was convinced. "They almost succeeded...."

"Can do washcloth baths at least," once either of them felt like they could move, but there was nothing urgent pushing Gabriel in to getting up just yet. "Even if it's just cleaning skin around stitches and shit, feel a little less grimy. Later, though." A good while later.

Didn't feel like moving, propped up in a sitting position so he was at least a little comfortable like that, had stolen the other pillow to prop against his back. A little relieved that Jack had taken that bit of food from him as well, taking a small piece for himself to at least get something himself. Easier to share one for the moment.

Give them a little more energy to heal, even if it wasn't a whole lot.

His tongue clicked after he swallowed his bit of energy bar, almost absently holding a second piece down for Jack as he spoke. "Someone really did, and it had to be someone who had access to that area to get that bomb down there," wasn't an all access area. "Overwatch has been compromised, and I'm afraid to think how deep that might run." How much had everything rotted? Glancing down at Jack then, "I don't know. We've done everything we could to keep that just between us. How the hell could they find out? What could we have missed, or let slip?" He wasn't expecting real answers.

A hand rested against Jack's head, fingers curled loosely in to hair, "But they didn't. We're alive."

"Later... just rest now," he requested, mostly because he didn't want to have to lift his head off of the comfort of Gabe's thigh. It was one of his favourite places to doze on, and if Reyes wasn't eager to get up, he was going to stay exactly where he had laid his head down here. "I'll wash you after a nap. Promise."

He stretched his legs down the bed, feeling the pull of the blankets on his wounds and bandages but more all the aches of his body awakened. He settled though, able to ignore most of it because he was safe and sound here. He could tell that Gabe was as comfortable as the older man was going to get as well, which allowed him time to stop fussing at the partner of his life.

"You've been warning me something hasn't been right," he murmured, eyes back to being closed. He took the second piece into his mouth and chewed carefully again, pausing in talking while he finished that next piece off. "How did we not see this coming? We've been hunting down rogue elements for years." But then Gerard. Then Ana. And then and then... the body count was growing. He sighed heavily. "We've had a few... you know, near death experiences apiece. Times when the doctors reasonably thought there was no way one of us would survive the damage, but we did." Was it someone in medical? Putting the pieces together?

They hadn't succeeded. It didn't stop the shock that they had tried very hard. "We need to stay that way. I won't lose you."

He snorted a bit, ruffling Jack's hair a little. "Want to save me the trouble of washing myself?" Just a light, light little sort of tease and a movement of fingertips against his scalp. Gabriel was more than content to rest, the pain easing a little as he didn't budge much after that. "Rest sounds good right now, all the same."

Take the day and then move out before the manager of the motel could come demanding more money again- or take that as their cue to move on. So much to worry about after that, clothing and cash, transportation and so many other things that was giving him a headache to think about.

The current subject was the one that had his heart sinking.

Gabriel hummed in reply at first, because he had been warning, even if he couldn't give any real concrete evidence- reason the warnings were not followed up on. "Been looking in the wrong direction," more outside than in among their own ranks. No telling just how deeply it could have gone. "At most medical would have seen our names on each other-" With how dark the letters became in those moments, they'd have been stripped completely after all. "-would know were were bonded." At the very least.

"From that they'd damn well know we were involved with each other," which was a whole other can of worms, wasn't it?

Slowly he brushed fingers through Jack's hair, "Not loosing me anytime soon."

Jack growled from where he was positioned against Gabe's thigh, not exactly enjoying the teasing call out. "I know you're going to insist on washing me down, so fair's fair." Maybe he relaxed a bit more with the fingers against his scalp, humming low in his throat. "You want to lay down again? I can move." He didn't want to, but he would.

They were going to need today. Maybe in a little while, they could turn on the television and experience all new trauma by watching the rescue efforts and he wasn't certain he could take the idea of a freak gas leak or terrorist bombing or some other nonsense reason for the blast. He was going to have to prepare himself though, watch it all play out.

They had other things to worry about, keeping on the move, healing, tapping into funds that they had been squirreling away for years on Gabe's insistence. They could survive, but they would have to be careful and also would have to slip out of Switzerland with as little notice as possible. One day at a time he reasoned.

He had been running cover for Gabe to continue expanding the search, looking into Talon leads. God knows they hadn't been looking too deeply into their own people. Why would they? Now look where it had gotten them. "We both have been. We knew there had to be moles, but nothing high up enough to take us out, to pull the higher ups out of play." And Medical wasn't stupid; bonded pairs were very rare but they were known enough to be recognized; it was their bonding 'gift' that made them unique and promoted their survival. "Someone might have pieced it together, Gabe... or at least figured killing us both was the best way to eliminate a problem that would persist."

He curled his arm all the way around Gabe's leg carefully, not wanting to jar any wounds or bruises. "We spent enough time sleeping next to one another's bedside. Might have made it damn obvious that one time I climbed right in there with you and held your hand all night." Yeah, he hadn't always been smart when Gabe was clinging through the worst of it.

"Better not. I'll be mad at you," he rumbled, nuzzling Gabe's thigh carefully.

"True," So may as well take turns, be a little easier for each of them and Gabriel wasn't going to argue since Jack knew he was going to be returning that favor. Fingers careful around places where blood colored hair still, likely just little cuts since he did look him over for anything worse that night. "Nah, I'm good like this. Besides, you look awfully comfortable."

Gabriel already figured there was going to be a cover-up from the explosion, but there was the fact they couldn't say it wasn't one was.. something. Did they already have a story planned to feed the news media? There was only some small but growing feeling of dread.

Easy to push aside for the moment, keep his attention on Jack- even if a little more difficult due to their conversation at hand. Nothing sat right and he was too tired and mentally chase it down.

"Can hope they didn't piece it together. Maybe figured if they only killed one of us the other would rain some hellish retribution down upon the heads of anyone thought responsible?" More so if they did know they were a bonded pair, made enough sense knowing what both of them were like. Already knew Reyes would if they remembered the Venice incident; even if he killed Antonio due to realizing how much worse leaving him alive would have been for Jack and Overwatch. "I should've been looking closer within, rather than outward," of course he was going to blame himself a bit there now.

Fingers spread out through Jack's hair in a slow stroke through it. "I needed you," and they definitely did, "Still gotta hope they only figured it's because we're a bonded pair," let him hope.

"Can't have that, now can I?"

Taking turns when it came to minding one another's health was pretty accurate to how they operated. On a mission, they didn't fuss much at each other, but in downtime, all bets were off and it was just a new competition that they needed to engage it. He figured it was made worse right now because of what happened and that they were sore and exhausted still. "...not all about me, Reyes."

Jack was too tired and shocked to think too hard about the fact there was going to be a cover up. He left that kind of paranoia for Gabe, and right now, it was the least of his worries. Any cover-up felt like it was going to be blamed on Talon. Hell, it might have even been Talon. He had no idea. It hurt too much to think about.

"That figures," he agreed. "I'd tear the world down if someone killed your dumb ass off." He knew the reverse was true. Bonding pairs never did well if their other died, and they were known to go insane or die themselves within days or weeks of the other going. He could imagine it was hard to live with only half of oneself still on the planet. "Stop blaming yourself. You've been paranoid something is up for over a year now. It got worse when I had to bench you after the Venice incident. You knew something was coming. We'll find out who and avenge those killed."

He wasn't in the mood to have Gabe blame himself. It might have been unrelated to them, but he figured it wasn't. Killing off the Overwatch brass seemed to be the new sport of the day.

He hummed at the stroking through his hair, which felt stiff and matted with blood and who knew what else. "I needed to be with you," he remarked softly. "Maybe they didn't sell off the information about us surviving anything if one is alive." God, he hoped not, but it might explain a few things.

"You never like it when I'm mad at you unless you're being a prick and looking for a fight," he murmured. Those arguments always seemed to end the same: lots of bruises, damaged walls and a pleasant hum to the flesh after wards.

"It isn't, no, but right now I'm comfortable and I kinda like you right there." He could lean back against the wall, had stole Jack's pillow to prop behind himself along with his own, Gabriel was fine. Besides, sitting up felt a little better than laying down after he'd woken up; that and he didn't really... feel like moving again, which laying down would need.

Cover up was likely if anyone with high enough clearance to get a bomb down there was cause of it. Otherwise it would likely just be given as an attack of unknown origin perhaps, and many would likely think it had to be Talon. Wouldn't be the first or last time- but all the same, how had it—

"I'm hoping if they'd known they'd have tried something before now," not tat he hoped it happened at all, "Like take either of us out while the other was away. Something like that, not just..." What had just happened. This was more encompassing and as if some message was being sent, rather than just wiping either or both of them out. "We're going to have to figure out how to get what we need- a lot later. Right now we both need to focus on healing and just.. getting the fuck away."

Stiff hair or not, it wasn't stopping Gabriel from moving fingers through it, or over Jack's scalp in a meant to be soothing sort of way. Give some bit of comfort to the both of them.

Eyes closed, taking a slow but deep breath. "Could have been put off as dumb luck, or us fighting hard when our other half was that close." He just didn't want to think of anyone figuring it out with how long they did their damnedest to keep so much of it between them, for a few reasons.

"Would you like it if I was mad at you outside of those times?" The other arguments ended in better ways for both of them, getting shit out and coming back together.

He made a sound to acknowledge Gabe's words, and he wouldn't deny that probably sitting up was easier on Reyes' ability to breathe with those damaged lungs. The older man would be as sore as he was, but the added pressure of a collapsed lung would likely make Gabe's life far more miserable than his own. "Fine, I'll stay, just shove me if you want me to move and I've fallen asleep again."

It would have been easier to take Gabe out in the field, distance separating them and Jack going mad when concern as he coveted the life line that anchored Gabe to existing even through horrible trauma. Maybe what happened to them and Overwatch had been a statement to the world? Maybe taking out all the top brass plus hundreds of other lives was a means to block the organization from easily recovering. Many of them who had been there from the beginning were difficult, if not impossible, to replace.

"You've been wounded in the field without me," he pointed out. It was one of their 'fights', Gabe running off to be in the field and Jack left behind in command and siphoning through layers of information but safe and sound. In the end, he was still a soldier and his bond with Gabe was strong enough that he wanted to be with his bonded rather than left in safe keeping somewhere. Oh he understood that he could never be part of Blackwatch, but it prickled him all the same to not be entering the field anymore. So there were opportunities to take Gabe out. Hell, there were opportunities to take him out in whatever Watchpoint he was operating out of. "Where do you suggest we go? Europe is vast. Do you suggest we get back to the United States?" Gabe would know where was safest.

It was a comfort, soothing some of his aches away even if Reyes' fingers found nicks and bruises up there too. It allowed his mind to drift, to nearly fall asleep again.

"Depends what you're mad at me about," he replied. "Sometimes you're adorable when you're mad." Other times... no so much.

At the very least the lung hadn't re-collapsed in the night, helped the healing process, but it didn't make his breathing feel like less of a struggle at times just yet. A couple more days of being allowed to heal possibly would. "Alright, alright. Just can't get mad at me since you've given me permission and all." That was a light bit of a tease, a ruffle of Jack's hair before going back to the more slow and soothing motions.

Would have been easy, take him out and then just wait for Jack to be somewhere alone and sick with his worry before taking him out as well. All the more reason to keep their gift as much of a secret as possible, try and make it difficult to piece together. Some of their survivals could just be put up to whatever SEP had done to them both, a couple of successes compared to the others that hadn't survived the treatments.

This was a moment that Gabriel hoped it had been a statement to the world, rather than their secret being out.

He hummed lightly, "I know. You stuck behind a desk and me out there taking care of something you couldn't with Overwatch." A way Gabriel had his back, and of course he went out at times for other reasons, but wasn't that what Blackwatch was for? As much as he knew Jack was likely stressing as much being behind a desk unable to go as he was having to deal with all of the politics. They did so much better when they could have each other's backs- "We're going to have to hop through Europe a bit, but I think heading back to the US might be our safest bet for at least a little while." Disappear as soon as possible.

Gabriel snorted, "Of course you'd find some of it adorable while others tried to avoid it completely." There was a difference between him just being Mad and then him being Angry.

Jack knew that despite all their intentions to be up and moving on that they would be slow at it. Not only the injuries that they suffered from, but also the paranoia of not being caught by anyone that might be looking for them. Someone had to have realized that sniper was dead or at least missing. He wasn't certain he had it in him to slip off quickly anywhere, much less out of country. "I can get mad at you whenever I want, but you just won't care."

Thank God they had found each other in the SEP, had developed a bond together in some of the worst of circumstances and survived to see the other side of it. Everything was just plain better when they were doing it all together, even if it was impossible to have happen. In the early days, missions they could be together were many. Then the promotions happened and... not so much.

"I should have been out there with you," he groused, which was typical and something he could easily fall back on. His arm curled protectively around the thigh his cheek rested upon as if that might prove his point further. "Where is the US are you thinking would be best? Can't go home for either of us. Maybe mid-West?" He just wanted somewhere to rest, but that didn't sound like it was going to be happening much.

He didn't even want to think about all the funerals he would feel the pull of obligation to go to. Those had been their people crushed in the fallen building, and they deserved to be acknowledged by their superior officers. He wasn't about to make the suggestion now. It felt too much, too soon. He didn't want to brave and put together right now.

"People didn't know how to soothe you like I do," he reminded. He knew when Gabe was putting up a front, how to circumvent that anger and settle the older man. The opposite held true. Sometimes, it was just nice for them to fight, to get it all out, to release all the emotions and then settle into that calm that only the two of them could find together. "I guess I had a bit of an advantage. Besides, you could never stay mad at me long. I'm too handsome... well, I was."

"I could always tell you it was either shoving you off or adding some new stains to the bed and you," spoken in that dry tone of his as he gave Jack the sweetest sort of expression even with the oxygen mask on. Even batted his lashes a bit to add to the entire picture and tone of it all.

Hell, they were the only reason that each of them did so well getting through SEP, not just because of the bond gift either. The other always there when a treatment was bad for one or both of them, clinging to each other, what comfort could be given during it all. Pushing each other to do better, little challenges to make them want to be better. Continued on in to the Crisis, watching each other's backs and pulling the other somewhere to rest. Give and take comfort when they could steal away moments.

"I wish you could have been, but we both had our own roles in keeping things running," even if it was Gabe out there risking his life while Jack had to smile for the cameras. Deal with suits and the UN, be the public face. Then Blackwatch came in to the public eye and Reyes was benched and restless, still pushing here and there to try and help. "That or we hit up some popular tourist port to try and get some easy to grab supplies and then head for the mid-West." While taking the time to rest and finish recovering.

They'd have to miss funerals, keep their distance and just get out. Get out and stay away at least until they ere more on their feet and prepared for any of it. Have to leave those who cared for them with the belief they were dead, too.

Just how well they knew each other- "We both had a bit of an advantage when it came to soothing each other." Even if it sometimes involved a spar or just screaming it all out, let it flow rather than dam it up to get that much worse. A thumb brushed against Jack's cheek lightly, "You're still handsome, but it wasn't your looks that I love. Always just the extra bonus."

"Ugh, shove me off! I already have more stains than I should," he remarked, trying and failing to wrinkle his nose in disgust. He shifted, nestling closer to Gabe's leg and reaching down to tug up the excess blankets over his shoulder. It wasn't that he was cold, but more he wanted to be even more comfortable. "Don't you bat your eyelashes at me. I know your games, Reyes."

Their bond wasn't all about comfort, had never been that way. It was about supporting and pushing each other, finding the best way to better their situation and each other. Give and take, push and pull. He doubted he would have made through the SEP without Gabe challenging and pushing him when he was at his worst. Reyes was half his life, and he could never forget that.

"I know," he grumped, pulling the blankets up to half cover his face for a moment then dropping them down on his neck. He sighed. They had their roles, and they had their needs. Now everything was turned on its head, and it was much easier to think about what had been rather than what was in their future. "We're going to need disguises, assuming anyone would even recognize us anymore." They should find a way to cover their faces until they knew they were safe and could regroup. "You still have all those off-shore accounts? We should have enjoy funds assuming they aren't compromised, right?"

He didn't want to think about funerals. He also didn't want to miss them. How long before their families were forced to believe they were dead?

He hummed in agreement, body growing heavy again despite his discomfort. "You know my secrets more than I do sometimes." He opened his eyes at the brush to his cheek, turning his head enough to peer up at Gabe. "Don't get too sentimental on me, Reyes. You start pulling out the l-word again and I might cry."

He laughed, even if it wasn't for long since doing so really made him feel how much more his lung needed to recover from the trauma that had it collapsing in the first place. "That's what I thought." Later, right now there was nothing urgent and he sort of... wanted to be like this for a while longer, enjoy it while they could before having to start moving again. "You also like playing along on occasion, but at least for now you know I'm not up to trying to get something."

They made each other better, pushed and challenged for it, and occasionally had to pull the other back from the edge as well. Try to keep the other from getting to in over their head if it could be helped. If they hadn't been fated like they were, they'd have likely ended up good friends.

A hand smoothed down along Jack's hair slowly, "You'll be easier to disguise, maybe get a little hair-dye or something- can always get some cheap make-up," what? He had some skills there, helped him during undercover jobs. "Little things that can help us go without attracting any second looks." Better safe than sorry. "I do, and none of them are linked to me in a way they could be compromised or linked to me," they'd have a bit to be comfortable for a bit; still keep some tucked away for extra emergency past this emergency.

Didn't want to think about any of that at all, honestly. Be a lot of grieving, and he didn't know if it would be safe to even come out alive to their families. Would it be better to let them be, keep them that much safer?

His head tilted to a side, watching Jack and looking back down at him when he peered up, fingers curled loosely in to his hair. "I think we can stand to be sentimental after surviving a possible assassination attempt on us both," if not just the building falling on top of them, but the sniper. "You know I do, right?"

Despite everything that happened and the shock of it all, it was so damn good to hear Gabe laugh. It seemed to briefly reset everything to a sense of right again, and he sighed as he listened. He had a feeling they were going to have less and less to laugh about in the coming days and weeks, and even if the sound was cut off early because Gabe couldn't breathe without pain, it made him feel momentarily good. "You can't play the innocent card with me in this instance. If you have to use the bathroom, shove me off."

That was the best part of their bonding. Even if it hadn't been a truth of one another, they still would have been friends. The moment he had laid eyes on Gabriel Reyes, he knew he would be friends with that man and that no better friend would be his in that moment. The fact that they were bonded made their meeting all the sweeter.

He made a growling sound of displeasure, but Gabe's hand also soothed him from deciding to lift his head too. "I don't want to dye my hair," he complained, even if it would be so much easier. He had no problem with make-up; Gabe had done his for a few photo-ops because Reyes was the only one capable of making him sit still long enough for such treatment. "So we're safe... I have my accounts, but there's probably less in it for us to tap into." They were going to be surviving on very little for the time being, keeping their funds hidden and safe.

Jack was, of course, more concerned about Gabe's family. He was always more concerned with anything Gabe related, even if he was certain the opposite would be true. It seemed too weighed and depressing to make a decision until they had been updated on the news. Who knew? They could be pronounced on the run.

Their eyes met, and he knew what Reyes was going to say, and at first, he managed a small tight smile. Then the assurance of the depth of Gabe's feelings was made very clear and he had to blink back actual tears. What he hadn't managed last night threatened him now, and he hastily turned his face away, burying it into the blanket over Gabe's thigh. He then shoved his hands down into the mattress to push himself up so he could hastily and recklessly press his lips to Gabe's. "Shut up. If I cry, I'm going to dehydrate more than I already am."

"I will, if you're asleep and I need to go," because in all honesty he would rather do that than make more of a mess out of the both of them, thanks. "You've nothing to worry about there."

Gabriel couldn't see himself with anyone else, a better best friend or someone he cared for like that. It was so easy to fall in to place at each other's backs and sides; one of the few good things that came out of being part of the SEP in the first place.

It was just one more way since a not-blond with a scarred face would definitely not be suspected of being Jack Morrison. "Last resort if nothing else works, but you better keep in mind a color you could deal with just in case," at least he wasn't talking about touching up the grey like that one person has the moment Jack had started going grey? "Better than nothing, but it at least we have a little breathing room when it comes to cash," and not relying on whatever might be in a stolen wallet.

The opposite was true, even if it was the last thing he wanted to be thinking about. As if it was just one more thing hammering their reality that made so much of it hurt that much more.

A hand rested on the side of Jack's face when Gabriel could manage it, thumb brushing carefully just under an eye. Returning that hurried and reckless kiss without a bit of hesitation, because there was no reason not to. Let them have and keep this after so much in that night and now morning that had happened. "Wouldn't want that. Just glad you know I do." A lot.

Their rough edges complimented each other, and their soft sides were always protected by the other. It was how the ideal bond worked, and they fit together on all levels better than anyone else that he knew. Better than any friends, any lovers, any marriages, any business partners. Once he had met Gabe, there hadn't been any doubt in his mind about the results of the SEP, and maybe he had been more enthusiastic about it compared to everyone else, pulling not just Gabe but other candidates into his vortex of positivity.

He didn't want to change his hair, but these were desperate times and those required desperate measures. He reached up and touched his hair lightly, fingers brushing against Gabriel's in the process. He knew there was gray up there, practically white, but everyone thought it was his exposure to the sun rather than him getting old. The fact of the matter was that Jack was getting on in years, nearly fifty. "...what colour would look good on me?" He trusted Gabe's taste. As long as they had resources and a means, they would be fine.

Well, now he was up. Jack hated how weak he felt balancing like that on his arms, and he eased away from the kiss once it was clear he had made his point. Instead of laying back down, he practically collapsed gently against Gabe's shoulder, resting his cheek there as his body lay against the older man's side and he snaked an arm around Gabe's waist. He was blinking back a little wetness from his eyes, feeling safe because of the man beside him. "I know," he agreed. "You know..." he paused, mastering himself, "you're my most important person, right? I would do anything for you." Since they were have a sentimental moment.

Before Gabe had met Jack, he'd been ready to keep more to himself or others at a distance through the entire program. Not out of want to get close to others, but because he already knew the slim chances that could be had in some experimental program like that. Some were lucky enough that they'd only been sent home rather than suffering a death from whatever round. He'd let himself make a few friends, yet never changed himself to do it, just didn't close off completely.

Had no better person at his side than Jack himself.

He'd enjoyed how the touch of gray looked on Jack, but Gabriel also worried if it was due to how much stress the man was under as well. He was the older between the two of them after all, and he was hardly graying that noticeably. "Depends on if you wanted to go a bit darker or a bit lighter, doesn't need to be a drastic dye-job either way. Subtle always works best." Reason why Gabriel trimmed his facial hair a little differently when he knew he could get away with it on a mission where he had to go undercover, rather than a complete shave when he could help it.

An arm wrapped around Jack after he collapsed, helping to keep him supported like that as well as to just... hold him. Keep him close, even with an arm around his own waist in turn. This was just as nice, lightly brushing the back of a knuckle under Jack's eyes. "I know, Jack, just like you know the same from me," and they'd proven it quite a few times. Didn't think it hurt to just... reassure each other, after all of that. Felt needed in a way, almost.

To say it out loud.

Gabe had always been a different kind of leader, willing to take the hit before anyone else did, willing to sacrifice where others might hesitate. Reyes played by a rule book that he wasn't generally willing to share with anyone else, and that had led to some of the greatest successes of the Omnic Crisis. No one played the war lines like Gabe did, and Jack was right here alongside him, using his confidence, his recklessness, and his speeches to pull all the men and women in after them. Gabe went in first; Jack jumped in right after with a pip-pip to their army and everyone else followed in their wake.

It was odd to think that they were on their own, no platoons to pull in after them. They were at war, but suddenly they were an army of two. There was no other person that he would want to be in any army with. Gabe was his everything.

Jack had been tired even before the building blew up, the gray at his temples and scattered throughout his blond hair was easier to disguise given how fair he was. Now he wondered how long it would take for his hair to silver out completely, but if they dyed it, maybe he could avoid that for awhile longer. "If I go any lighter, I'll be silver. It should be darker, don't you think?" Though, lighter would be easier to maintain.

There was definite safety in the new position, holding on to each other and cuddling against the headboard as they were. He used Gabe as a pillow rather than trying to steal his back; it was his preference that Reyes was a better pillow anyway. His fingers stroked in lines and circles across Gabe's skin. He winced a little as Reyes' knuckle came a bit close to the long suture line that spanned most of his face but ended up snuggling in even more aggressively.

"I know," he agreed. It wasn't often they had to reassure one another like this. They were always comfortable with each other and what the bond meant to them both. "And I love you too. You're my other half, my person. You've never let me down."

Had felt almost unbeatable when he had Jack at his side, man was his second during it all, and there was no one better to act or be such a thing during it all. Even during the moment that recklessness had him dragging a severely wounded Jack behind cover, had done it nearly as much as he'd needed to do the same with Gabriel. Turned out well because as much as he trusted Jack without a thought he'd almost had confidence in those men and women he led. Bled in to how he ran Blackwatch as well, talking to Jack before he made a complete decision when it was something he knew could blow back.

They could pull each other through this new war, but they needed to get their feet under them and get in to a place where they could both stand firm. Needed that time.

"I'm giving you that choice, since whichever you pick I can make it look natural so it won't bother you too much," Because it was Jack's hair. Head tilted as he pressed a kiss so very carefully against the top of his head. "Lighter is easier to maintain because the roots won't be as noticeable, but I've got a few tricks if you go darker to help there, too. You wouldn't look bad as a silver fox, by the way." Let him lighten the mood, even if only a little.

That arm around Jack tightened just a little in some show of a hug when he snuggled in tat much more, some quiet little apology for getting too close to the healing wounds on his face.

"Never want to let you down, and not once have you ever let me down," even when they fought, disagreements in things going on, stresses- He was proud of the man for holding up against it all. Even if he broke at times, Gabriel tried to be there to catch him when it was wanted or needed. Knew Jack was there the same for him when it came down to it. "I love you, more than anything."

Jack had to wonder if they were falling back on old times together, when it was them against the entire Omnic Assault Forces. They had been an army of two, and while it hadn't actually solved the issue until Overwatch had been forced, they had done good work; they had saved lives; they had pushed back the enemy. Now they might be back to that, an army of two, but the war that they were playing at was vastly different and the rules had changed.

A part of him didn't want time; that meant having to think, and he didn't want to consider what had just happened. He wanted to act, wanted to move, wanted to fight... but that was so ill-advised even he knew it. That didn't mean he wouldn't try.

He sighed out a frustrated sound, but Gabe was right. It might be his choice, but he knew where they would have to go in order to seem more legit. "Fine, we'll go lighter." At this point, he suspected it was going to happen on its own anyway. "I'll be silver by the time the week is out at this rate. Stress always does that to me." He did appreciate the kiss and the compliment, but he was honestly grappling with the sheer amount of wounds he had suffered from and how noticeable the scars on his face were going to be. He was going to be easily reported based on that alone. "Don't think we'll be setting up on dates anytime soon even if I am a silver fox."

He didn't mind Gabe pressing on healing wounds. God knew they both had enough of them that it was bound to happen, and he was comfortable melting against the older man's side, fingers stroking lightly up and down Gabe's bruised ribs.

"We've got each other's back, always have." It was easy to remind one another all that they had been through, all the fights, the disagreements but in the end, all the care and dedication that they had for one another. He kissed the side of Gabe's neck then rested his forehead there, feeling the gentle throb of Reyes' pulse point. "More than anything," he agreed.

Wouldn't be Omnics they were faced off against this time either, but something far more dangerous in other senses of the word. Robots were predictable no matter how much damage they could deal out. This time they were going against a life they'd fought to protect in a way, running and hiding and dealing with people. Talon was one thing, but Gabriel couldn't believe that even they could get someone that close without having a hand from the inside.

That almost made this something so much worse.

"Honestly? You would look good silver, since you don't look bad at all with the grays you already have." Still, like Gabriel had said, hadn't been the man's looks he'd fallen in love with when they started getting to know each other. A clear bonus yes, but not the reason. "If nothing else we can crash on some couch and eat shitty popcorn or snag some take out if we feel so bold." Still trying to keep things light, because Hell if some darker thoughts weren't creeping in.

Trying not to think about why they were here and so injured in the first place. Instead focused on Jack's weight and warmth against him, keeping close with those light affectionate touches no matter the physical pain there as well.

They still had each other. "Always will." Easy and sometimes needed no matter how sure they were in it all, sometimes reminding could help soothe over certain aches and pains. Head rested carefully against Jack's, wanting to keep them both there for the moment, "So much more."

As the assaults against Overwatch had begun to escalate and the war on specific agents tasked with removing Talon insurgents had begun, Jack had quietly began to wonder how many of the UN ambassadors were being paid off to alter and tie up Overwatch with political red tape when they had had so much more freedom to operate during the Crisis. Their entire operation was to keep the world safe, to be instrumental in peace and how to keep it while also respecting sovereign border lines.

Now they were going to be running from the very people that had once instructed them for peace or stood opposite to their mandate of protect on a world scale. Was it really going to be the two of them versus the world?

He made a sound of disgust that Gabe was pointing out that he was already going silver naturally. It was meant to be a compliment, but he just felt old and worn out that way. "You're making a horrible case, you know that right? I thought you were supposed to be nice to me when I'm banged up and burnt out?" He knew that he would be going silver one way or another, so he may as well just get on with it at this point. He kissed Gabe's neck again for all the effort the older man was making in keeping the conversation light, aware that it wouldn't last. "Okay, but if we're getting pizza, I still want pineapple. I don't care what McCree had to say about it. I'm Strike Commander and I saw pineapple is fine on pizza."

So he might have found Gabe's thighs one of the best places to sleep, but he wasn't at all opposed to lining up their bodies to rest against each other. With his cheek pillowed carefully on Reyes' shoulder and arm around him, he felt more secure now than he had when they had first stumbled into this place. His touches continued but slowed as his body was insisting that he should sleep if he wasn't going to eat.

And sometimes just assuring each other of the bond was enough to make all the outside stresses easier to take and roll with. "As long as I have you, we'll make it."

Antonio had made it extremely clear he had friends in high places, along with so many other implications that had set Gabriel to worry about the safety of not only their own people, but Jack as well. They already knew he had suit and money power, but the threat of blow-back had made so many fears that much more real, and taking him in would have done nothing. Egos and red-tape had been a new battle, and all the more reason he didn't play by the rules with Blackwatch.

They had already been fighting an uphill battle, so many turned against them out of some idea that they would overthrow power. Someone had to have been whispering in their ears with the sort of ties a dead man implied Talon had. Now they were just knocked to the bottom of the hill.

Gabriel snorted a bit, "Isn't the only that that should matter that I find you unbelievably attractive still?" A little tease at that, because really Jack. "No one else you have to look good for but me, and I've been enjoying it," while also worried about stress turning him gray early but beside the point at the moment. "You know I'm right there with you when it comes to pineapple on pizza, and I'll also have you know I got him to actually try it and he nearly ate half a damn pizza." Been a sight.

This was comfortable, no matter their aches and pains, and that arm was securely around Jack and just... taking all of this in. Letting himself relax there and at least for a little while hope that things would really be okay, no matter what they were going to be up against once they left this motel room. Could finish off that energy bar later.

Lips brushed carefully against Jack's hairline, "Then we're going to make it for a long damn time."

They had made it work for a long time, Jack running the political and social interference while Gabe worked the messier and more difficult scene of information gathering and underhanded dealings. He used his outright status and appearances to shield Reyes, and he knew that his soul bond protected his back from the shadows. It was a give and take that had worked for so long... and now it was all gone. They didn't have the same platform to operate anymore.

His appearance shouldn't matter, but it had been a sort of point of pride the last few years. His appearance also made him very recognizable, which was something they were going to do away with. He hadn't even looked in a mirror to see his face, wasn't up to it just yet. "I could point out that you're obligated to feel attracted to me; it's in your soul to do so." He tried to smile, but it only made it to the corner of his lips. Still better effort than no effort. "So I don't have to look good for myself? Gosh, if only I'd known all these years." Now he was being a dramatic jerk because he could. Reyes was rubbing off on him. "I knew he would like it, but he made such a fuss, I nearly ordered you to keep him off a mission in revenge."

He knew that they should probably dose up on antibiotics and pain medication again, but that involved moving. He was as comfortable as he could be right here, the warmth of Gabe soaking into him, the steady pulse of life against his forehead where it rested on Reyes' neck, and damaged and undamaged skin settled on his own.

He made a noise of agreement. "We'll figure out who did this," he murmured softly, his voice trailing off as he slipped off to doze again. Only Gabe could make him comfortable and safe to sleep so easily.

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