dadication | Open Post

Oh good, so he was probably going to be pulled apart one hair at a time. Or maybe just break every bone in his body, but one at a time. "Is she? Sounds like we should probably keep our first meeting - or seven meetings - to holovid only. I think I'd like to keep my arms and legs attached to my body." What if she gave the stern disappointed voice?

He figured he would run into active combat rather than be alone in the room with Gabe's twin sister until the shock of them mating was long over. A twin sister had to be protective, especially with her brother being in active war.

He tilted his head a little before nodding his head, accepting that it was best that they keep things on the down-low. Except it was the military and gossip was basically how some people survived. "I'm not sure... we can keep the secret, but we can mitigate it as much as possible, yeah?" He didn't want what they had to be pulled apart and aired out. "When... are you going to tell them, do you think?"

He smiled with that kiss, lifting a hand so he could stroked his fingers through Gabe's hair, giving it a playful ruffle. "I will be impressed."

Ariela took her role as the older of the two of them just seriously enough that she would use it to her advantage if she saw fit. Would likely want to have a private talk with Jack just to be sure he checked out. "I think you'll be fine, but holovid introduction may very well be for the best," and only option for a bit.

At worst? She'd pull in the other sisters right along with her and Jack would have to not only have his twin watching him, but every younger sibling that Gabriel had. It was cute, to him, in a way that they would possibly do such a thing. Knowing full well he could take care of himself, but they'd still want to see because they did worry.

His hand moved, thumb brushing along Jack's jawline slowly. "We can keep it on the down low at best, and if nothing else I can 'officially' go back on my suppressants, jut not actually take them. All that paperwork that they'll feel safer with." Seemed like a plan that could work to him, okay. "I... might tell them once we're stationed out of here. Less secure for personal business, you know?"

Pressed his head up against Jack's hand with a soft chuckle, eyes closed. "Good."

Jack could think of worse things, and the entirety of Gabe's siblings and possibly female cousins was definitely up there. He normally could win over most people with his boyish smile, fruitful optimism and infectious laugh, but in this instance, he knew he would face the firing squad of Reyes family members. He was going to have to mentally and physically prepare himself for the event before it was set to occur.

"I think she's going to be disapproving of me, especially if she finds out how we came together and started dating," he pointed out. It wasn't widely accepted that a dating relationship came out of a heat/rut combo, since there were hormones involved and a lack of choice. It wasn't the best showing of his wanting to date Gabe, but that's how it went down.

"I just... don't want you to be embarrassed or ashamed of me. I don't want our relationship built on having to hide everything we have or are trying to have," he murmured as he leaned into that touch to his jaw. He wanted them on equal footing, and if they had to hide it from the brass, that's fine. He was looking forward to being proud of Gabriel as his boyfriend and hoped it would go both ways. "You can tell anyone when you're comfortable to. I'm not going to stop you."

"Jack," soft and easy, call for his attention as that thumb still stroked along his jaw. "Were there feelings and even a want before whatever the hell the last injections were fucked up suppressants and sent me in to heat?" Because it had definitely not been time for it to occur, so he was fully going to lay the blame there. "You are also my best friend for so much longer than that, from day one almost when you became my roommate. She knows as well as anyone how hard it is to be even a slight friend to me."

What he was saying is that neither of them had to lead with the fact that they'd hooked up because of hormones. Sure it forced them together, but- "You also did try to leave." So there was points to him not taking advantage. Little details.

"If I were, I wouldn't be having this talk with you right now, we've just got to handle this carefully due to our positions here. Once we're out of the program and out in it all?" They'd have a little more freedom to do and say as they pleased, and the brass couldn't do shit about it because they'd be putting in work. "I want my family to know, I'd just rather it not be while we're in here."

"There were," he admitted with a soft sigh. He hadn't been willing to risk their friendship as well as the fact that there was no guarantee that he would survive the SEP process. After all, it had been refined, but that didn't mean that there still weren't candidates that died or were unable to serve further because of the changes. "No matter what happens, I still want to be your best friend. No one has a right to take that away from us. I'll do what I can to win your family over."

He blinked at the argument that he had tried to leave, remembering that, but it felt so long ago as well. Weird how time flowed when it came to heats and ruts. "That's the gentlemanly thing to do. You could have wanted someone else."

He nodded his head, and knew that ranks would make it messy as well. Gabe could be seen as using his position to cause a conflict of interest. It might turn messy with the brass, and he still was working out how to tell his family, if he even would right now. "Well, we should all be transferred together to smaller groups, so we will be outside of the usual ranking system." He shrugged his shoulders a little, fingers stroking Gabe's side affectionately. "That's fine. I don't want you to think I'm putting pressure on you to tell anyone."

It was rather sweet in a way, how determined Jack was with this, and maybe he'd be in for a grand surprise when he was finally introduced to the Reyes family. He knew his twin only wanted him to be happy, but she had a right to at least make sure that this sudden Alpha in his life only wanted the best. Knew that Gabriel's own choices were his to make and that he wouldn't roll over for just anyone- or at all if he didn't want to. "I think you'll do better than you expect." A lot better.

"See? Right there is a good solid point in your favor over the whole taking advantage that some others here probably would." And hell, Gabriel had wanted him, even if now he was worried that it had just been all hormones talking and friendship would just go awkward until it was nonexistant.

Glad that it hadn't.

He tugged Jack's head closer for a moment, pulling him in to a deep and lingering kiss and leaving no doubt for the feelings there. "We'll get there." Him telling his family and everything, and whatever would come after- "Good talk?"

Jack felt like it he had to make a good impression, the best impression because if was going to work, he knew that family was very important to Gabe. He wanted to be able to hold up and make the older man proud, and more than that, he wanted their two families to potentially come together and make something amazing. Of course, that might not happen given the logistics of how they both grew up in completely different areas of the country and different cultures... whatever, if he and Gabe could make a friendship work, then maybe their families could come together.

"We'll see about that. I wonder how long until she stops giving me the stink eye," he murmured, his eyes shifting aside. He did then look affronted at the idea of someone - anyone - taking advantage of an omega in heat. "I think you're fluffing me up to be more honourable. If anyone would have touched you, they don't deserve to have a mate. Ever."

He shuddered as he leaned into that kiss, drawing his tongue across Gabe's lips. He rested their foreheads together, smiling. "I know. We're going to make it work."

The two families may find more in common than not, no matter the cultural differences. One could hope at least.

"We'll see when we get there," and because Ariela could enjoy drawing things out if it didn't seem too mean to do. He patted Jack's cheek gently. "You don't need any sort of fluffing up, but you and I both know it is a thing that happens far more often than it should," which was 'at all' basically. "I'm just pointing things out that there are a lot of reasons you are a good match for me, and you did try."

The corner of his mouth twitched up in to half a smile, forehead pressed against Jack's own. "We are, because we're a damn good team on top of it all."

He hoped so as well. This family was a salt-of-the-earth type, and they liked hard work but fun as well. They weren't much into big cities but understood their need and use as well as the appeal for a young son who spent days working the family farm. So their families would likely come together easily after the initial shock.

"I suppose that we will. Maybe I should send your twin flowers before you tell her." Think he was a secret admirer and then bam, dating your twin brother.

He had to nod his head because he heard stories and he knew that alphas took advantage of situations like that, even if some might not mean to. Hormones were a powerful motivator. "I am a good match for you. We get on like a house on fire, and we take care of each other." Again, it wasn't just hormones roles they played. He could take care of Gabe, and Gabe could take care of him. When he had been sick after his SEP treatments and the changes went into full swing, Gabe was there helping him.

He couldn't help how infectious that smile of Gabe's was and he responded in kind. "That we are."

His own family believed in hard work, every Reyes had gotten to where they were in life through it, and there were so many family ties from California all throughout Mexico and further on. From farm life to city life, and love was family and the times filled with food to get so many of them together whenever an excuse could be made. Honoring traditions passed through generations, even if some spins taken to be done wherever they may be.

Didn't matter where you were from, just mattered who you showed yourself to be as a person.

Gabriel laughed, ruffled up Jack's hair a bit, "Then you might have her girlfriend thinking she has to kick someone's ass." A clear tease, but still. "Might not hurt to send her a postcard."

They got on like a house on fire nearly the very moment Jack Morrison stepped in to the room with Gabriel Reyes, and that was a good thing. "Always going to take care of each other, because there's going to be a long road ahead of us," and going to travel it together, too, if he had any say in it.

"Think this was a good talk then, huh."

Well, he definitely didn't need anyone's girlfriend gunning for trying to kick his ass, as he was obligated to not reply in kind with any manner of violence. Perhaps he would have to think of something else, since a postcard just didn't seem like it would be enough to cut through the suspicion. "So... were you giving her girlfriend the third-degree and had to check her out when she arrived on scene?"

It had been nice to make a friend as soon as he had arrived here in the SEP compound. He had been nervous coming here, understanding the risks and willing to take them. Gabe had smoothed out his concerns, allowed him to face them head on and get on with it a little easier. So really, this was still the best thing to happen as far as he was concerned.

"A very long road ahead of us, but we're in this together, right?" He smiled brightly, relaxing as he lay on the bed facing Gabe. "We're going to make it work, and no one can take that away from us unless we let them." Which he wouldn't.

"As long as some of your concerns are allayed."

"Yeah, and I was nice about it- I took her out to lunch and we spent a day together." Got to know her a lot, and honestly the fact she made his sister smile as she did? Scored a lot of points. He was more observant than anything, it was how he worked; watching people. Could tell a lot from tone and body language. "Was a fun day, really, and it could have gone any way but she really is a cool one, "Em's been a good friend after that."

He did nudge Jack a bit. "I'm serious about sending her a postcard or something, and the best thing you could do is also send a gift card with it- can give you a few places to choose from," a little bribery? Not really, he just knew how his sister worked and she'd see it more as an olive branch of good intentions.

"We're in this together," and had been since they fell in to step with each other. Reaching so he could brush fingers through Jack's hair a little easier. "Think we can be something unstoppable together, no matter what we're facing." Nothing could take it away from them-

"Yeah, some of them have been."

"Most people just get to know their siblings' significant others by meeting them over family dinners or friend gatherings," he remarked, not that he would actually know that from more than what he had seen. He didn't have a sibling to share those experiences with, which was why he tended to live vicariously through other people's family dynamic. "Sometimes wish I wasn't an only child for stuff like that."

He raised an eyebrow about the idea of a postcard. "Don't you think that's kind of campy, since she doesn't know me at all?" Postcards were for people who traveled and wanted to share that. What was he supposed to do? Take a photo with him and Gabe in uniform and write 'banged your brother. He's great and so am I'? He wanted to make a good impression, just hadn't come up with what that might be.

He tipped his head forward into Gabe's fingers, humming softly as his eyes momentarily fell closed. "I think so too. We are doing well with training, so the real thing will be the test. We'll handle it."

"This isn't some family feel good movie, boy scout." People did things their own way, just as families did things their own ways. There was never any one way, just different. "There's no right or wrong way to do any of this, you know that right." Just ways that could leave good or bad first impressions- "Besides, I've talked about you often enough with all of them."

Eyes rolled a little- "I can always just leave you to figure this out on your own, since none of my input here matters apparently. The guy who grew up with said sister and known her his entire life and all." Ruffling Jack's hair and just sitting up so he could push himself up off the bed and on to his feet with a stretch.

"But it could be," he pointed out. "Like the Brady Bunch or Full House." Thoser were feel good family things, right? Of course none of their lives followed that at all, but it was entertaining to think about all that old stuff as relevant now. "I don't want to get it wrong or make a bad impression. She's your twin, and she gets to have the harshest judgment about me out of anyone. You two shared womb space," he remarked dryly.

Look, he just wasn't so certain about the postcard, but it was true that Gabe knew his sister best. "You've at least said good things about me, right? I'm your bro and such." Nothing of the sort, Morrison. He sat up himself, grabbing the tray so Gabe wasn't impeded in standing. "An unwarranted dick pic would be a bad impression, right?"

"But it's not."

It was easy to see Jack was really starting to over think and worry, and he could honestly understand. Hoping that pointing out a little bit of the ridiculousness of arguing certain points would help. "She does, and even if she reaches my shoulder in height these days I know how intimidating she can be," even if part of it was an act. A good way to get reactions. "I just don't think it will go badly if you just be yourself.

"I've said good things about you, for a white bread farm boy," teasing, very teasing. "Yes, and she'd also judge it and rate it without mercy," and she wasn't in to men, but details. "Burger still warm on that tray?"

"War kind of takes my argument out," he agreed with a shrug of his shoulders.

For him, Gabe was super important and this was all a very big step for them. While Gabe had to worry about the command, Jack felt he had to worry a lot about Gabe's family because, as the omega put it, he was white bread farm boy. He wanted desperately to make a good impression on the whole family, but he covered it more with focusing on Gabe's twin. What if they resented him and what they had done together? He'd bonded their son and brother. "I don't want them to hate me... or hate what we're committed to doing."

He rubbed the back of his neck with one hand as he set the tray back on the bed and flopped onto his back again, pulling a pillow over his face. "You're making me fear my whiteness will turn your family off." It happened after all. "Yeah, burger is still warm. Better eat up."

So that was it.

Gabriel rolled his shoulders, getting a good stretch in as he moved back on to the bed so he could just- shift Jack's head right in to his lap. Head on things and all, but letting him keep that pillow over hi face if he wanted. "My mother thinks you sound like a genuine and wonderful young man that she'd love to meet one day," softly spoken, that tray well set on the bedside desk for the moment, "and Ari has been teasing me, asking if I've had a crush on you for months now because of how I speak about you whenever she asks how you're doing." Yes, his twin asked how Jack was doing.

He spoke about him that much to his family, "My father asks if I'd ever bring you home with me whenever we got the chance to have any sort of time off. His grandfather was a farmer before he passed, and he knows how to butcher animals because he grew up with it there."

He made a noise in his throat when his head was moved so that it was in Gabe's lap, and he didn't resist. He kept the pillow over his face for a few more seconds before allowing it to slide off so he could peer up at Gabe above him. Was his jawline always so strong and handsome? It had to be the angle. He couldn't remember looking up quite at this angle, but damn that jaw was amazing.

"Did you tell your family that I was a white guy?" Because as nice as he might sound, he still might not be wanted in such a capacity. Like as Gabriel's mate. "I mean, it seems like we crushed on each other the moment we laid eyes on each other." Though it was news to him that Gabe's twin asked after how he was doing. "Does... she ask about me by name?"

He reached up to grasp Gabe's cheeks, stroking with his thumbs. "You don't actually intend on taking me to L.A, do you?"

"They've seen how you look- remember the call I took in our room?" He'd walked by at least before he went somewhere a little more private. Before things locked down that much more once testing had buckled down on them a bit harder anyway. "She does ask about you by name, yeah," even if she only learned it once she listened to Gabriel talk about his roommate to the extent that he wouldn't be going anywhere.

She'd gotten an idea how things could be during all of this.

His head tilted, all the better to lean against those hands. "Only if you wanted to come with me for a visit."

"I remember, but when I looked you were leaving the room," he pointed out. He hadn't realized that he had been seen passing by on his way to his bed to grab some items. His thumbs continued to stroke Gabe's cheeks affectionately. So they knew he was painfully white. It shouldn't feel troubling, but Gabe was so important to him and he knew that Latino families tended to be large and very dedicated to the well-being of each other. "I suppose I should call her by her full name, yeah?"

He hadn't been to L.A. before. The biggest city he had been to when he was young was New York and that had been quite the experience. He had liked the museum and all the action that seemed to happen there. Never a dull moment.

"I wouldn't mind knowing where you live and seeing that city." A small pause. "You could... come to Indiana with me at some point, if you wanted."

He shrugged a little but still, he'd been seen. Gabriel's family knew what Jack looked like, and clearly they didn't have a single issue with it. He still leaned in to that touch, gaze never leaving Jack's face when they were open. "Ariela will do fine there, yeah."

"I'd take you on a tour, show you some of the best local spots and all," Just a nice little personal tour, hang out, hit up the quieter places that did exist around and in LA. "Might enjoy some of the street food, too."

Thought about it for a moment, Gabriel nodding slowly, "Yeah, yeah. That could be really nice."

He still wasn't entirely convinced, since being a friend was one thing but an interracial couple could still be frowned upon. He would definitely be waiting with some trepidation when Gabe's family was told. His family he was less worried about because he knew them and figured he could guess their reactions. "Ariela..." he murmured, practicing the name as Gabe said it. "I can do that then."

He had to smile at the idea of getting a tour. He'd hit tour-worthy, huh? That was always a great sign. "How many dance clubs, bars and tall buildings will that be? Or do I get to see the beach?" He raised his eyebrows at street food notion. "I haven't had much street food before." You know, war and before that small town.

He could only offer a crooked smile. "I can show you our like... one grocery store, the bowling alley and the many parks." Then his smile faded. "Though, pa will probably put us both to work. Always something to do on the farm."

Two little angels when only one child had been expected, figured it was funny himself to name himself and his sister after archangels but hey. "Stuck by me through thick and thing while we were growing up. Can trust me when I say she say look intimidating, but if you don't let that spook you she's a softy with a sharp sense of humor." Reason to be afraid, and not be afraid at the same time?

He'd hit tour-worthy. "Just a handful- not that many dance clubs I care to hit up, but I know a lot of nice beach spots that don't get crowded by tourists." Handful of locals and all, and some signs were misleading, but there were places to get a spot of peaceful beach even there. "I have a lot to show you when it comes to street food- and food trucks." Had a few favorites he new were still around.

His forehead bumped a little against Jack's. "I like parks, be nice to get out in to any of those- and hit up the grocery store beforehand." Grab a few things to make a quick lunch of sandwiches or something. Couldn't help the snort. "Not surprising, but some farm work'll probably be fun compared to what we're doing here."

It did amuse him that the twins had been named after angels, but the names probably suited as much as his did to him. Though his naming scheme was rather different, based on an old family tradition that went back generations. He made a sound in his throat, having always heard that twins tended to be very close. "So she looks like you then. You have that same reputation, you know." Though one had to work to get Gabe to be a softy, given he was high ranked so had to be a hard ass.

Jack would prefer beaches to clubs anyway, but he figured at their age that it was expected they would do those anyway. He was curious to meet Gabe's friends as well as family, see the kinds of places he grew up. "So do I get to see the private beaches of L.A.? I hear there are some. And will your ma pull out baby photos if we visit?" His only did that when she thought that he and a boyfriend were serious about each other. "You know that I like to eat." So he was a-okay with being fed constantly.

He chuckled and smoothed a thumb over Gabe's cheek. "We have nice parks, and we'll have a barbecue if the weather is good. Not much to do activity wise, but we have a good time." It was a good place to go for jogs, dirt bike and hunt. "I'll show you how amazing the stars look on the barn roof."

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject