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[dadication]

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[dadication]

He would suffer for the sake of getting out of town and putting the miles behind them. Reyes knew what he was doing, and he bunkered down behind the other man, even if he had to keep a hand up to keep his hood from blowing off of his head as they traveled.

The pack on his back grew heavy over the journey, weighing on him and stiffening up his shoulders, but he never complained. As much as he would have wanted to, he didn't sleep either, didn't even so much as close his eyes for more than blinking. No he kept a weathered eye on the traffic following or passing them or even ones they passed.

He perked when Gabriel took them off the road, and he expected it was going to be a pee break. He was so stiff staying in the same position he struggled off of the bike and almost literally had to crawl out from under the weight of the pack.

"I'll be quick..." He tottered off to the bushes to relieve himself and thankfully it was something he could do on his own given he was wearing sweats. Ah yeah... still pissing some blood. He hissed and shook his head but finished up and shuffled back the way he had come. "Need me to take a turn?"

[gr1m]

Gabriel had propped the back up after making sure they had pulled away enough anyone just driving down the road -hardly anyone ever did. The area was abandoned, left to be taken back by nature- they wouldn't have a chance of being seen. Had the bag propped on the seat, digging through it while Jack took his time to relieve himself. Setting the bottles of pills down and pulling out another MRE and a couple of energy bars.

He glanced back when he heard movement, shoulders relaxing once Jack had popped in to sight. "Need to walk around a bit more. Take more pills, try and eat a little. Still got some good battery-life left, we can afford a break." From being on the road. Just for a little while longer.

"You up for trying to eat a little?"

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It was good to walk, he would admit. They had been riding long enough that the meager pain relief from the pills had already faded, and he moved gingerly. He wasn't as exhausted as he might have looked, tottering along on injuries just like Reyes was.

He nodded, tugging his hood up higher on his head as he approached the parked hoverbike and considered just sitting down in the dirt. He figured he would be back to sitting soon enough, so it would be better for his muscles to stand for longer. "We still have hours before dusk anyway."

He looked at the food and knew better than to refuse. He might not be hungry, but his body needed energy. He took a protein bar that was out of the bag and managed to open it with one hand and his teeth. He nibbled off small chucks and had to easy slowly. Why did everything have to hurt all over?

"The plan to wind the battery down, refuel it and then carry on or find camp for overnight? You holding up?"

[gr1m]

Picked some random MRE to tear open, getting the heat pouch going so that the part that would at least taste better warmed up would have the time to do so. Looking over the packet of M&Ms that had come with it and ripping that open, too. Pop a few of them in to his mouth, sitting against the side of the bike's seat to where he could stretch his legs out a bit.

"Yeah, can re-charge at the next place we fine since the battery won't run out on us overnight, find a place to camp." Get some sleep in the woods somewhere in some make-shift tent. Best either of them could do at the moment.

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God it took him awhile to eat, and he hated it. His teeth hurt, was pretty sure a few of them were loose from the impact and every motion of his face just set all the bruising aching and fire along the lacerating across his face. He still did it without complaint for once, gingerly nibbling like a scarred up princess. It was encouraging to have Gabriel eat as well, knowing both of them needed it.

"You want to actually stop and sleep a few hours?" He knew it would be better for them both to lay down and rest, but it went against the idea that he needed to get as far away as possible. "Guess we'll be better off starting fresh after a few hours of sleep..."

[gr1m]

All the more reason he chose some of the softer options to pick from randomly, because sure enough MRE tacos counted as soft since they went with mushed to fuck 'seasoned meat' and all that. Just leave out the 'tortilla' option for Jack. Try and go as easy with his face and mouth as possible.

"Once we're further away." Couldn't see the city now at least, but he wanted to be further out- but knew he couldn't drive through the night despite wanting to. Knew the shape he was in. "Figure we'll have out little picnic here, drive until we find a charge station, and then head out towards a place we can go camping."

Wording it so normally.

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He wasn't certain he was going to be able to get down more than what he was currently eating, though theoretically he could. It would depend on how much all the muscles of his face hurt by that point. He wasn't that far into his protein bar as it was, which was terribly sad given his old abilities to pack away calories quickly.

"If it would be easier on you, I can take a turn," he said as a way of offering. He didn't want Reyes to burn out in their escape. He also didn't want to push his bond to dangerous levels either. "Yeah, alright. If you think that's best. Weather will be cold overnight, but we have enough clothes to make it comfortable."

[gr1m]

"Here." He'd managed his way in front of Jack and was holding out that little packet of M&Ms- "They're soft, suck on them so they'll melt in your mouth. Rest your face from chewing for a little bit." Gabriel Reyes sharing his candy, the world was ending.

That or it was some little affectionate gesture all wrapped up in something for his bond.

"We'll be alright. Can curl up together for warmth under a few blankets I lifted from that donation bin."

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It was a real testament to how sad and pathetic he must have looked if Gabriel was going to share candy with him. Even as a bonded pair, they tended only to share candy when each of them had some of a different type. Reyes was notoriously guarded with his sweets, and that his bond shared them softened him to the man immediately. "That sorry looking, am I?"

He offered the protein bar in exchange. It definitely wasn't as good as M&Ms, but it had calories they both would need. He put two of the small candies in his mouth and just sucked on them, letting them melt in his mouth.

"I know. If we haven't died yet... we probably aren't going to in a sleep over in the woods," he remarked. It would likely do them both good to sleep cuddled up together as usual.

[gr1m]

Bumped an arm carefully against the side of Jack's uninjured one and sort of situated himself beside the man. "Figured you could do with something good and sweet," twitch at the corner of his mouth, taking that protein bar. Even if he was going to pick small bites off of it, was still more than he'd managed to eat earlier.

Hopefully they would both manage to get more food in them this time, rather than the disaster that the attempt back in the motel room had turned in to.

"We'll camouflage where we bunk down, lay branches and whatever over the tarp thrown over the hoverbike. We'll manage a safe spot." They'd do okay.

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He actually stepped closer to press his good arm to Gabe's wanting that physical contact. "if I needed something good and sweet, I'd just go for a kiss on your lips," he pointed out, even if he added two more M&Ms to his mouth and let them melt. It felt good, gave him a boost to energy too.

Already, both of them had seemingly managed to eat more now without a fight than they had ever attempted in the motel. In some ways, being out of that stuffy place was the best thing for them, able to totter off on their own and take the risk rather than waiting for any sound to indicate someone might be coming to kick their door down.

"As long as we both feel safe, that's what matters." He was willing to do it if it meant rest but also safety.

[gr1m]

Was content to keep up that bit of contact, letting his arm loop with Jack's good arm, still able to eat the bar easily. "Well, for now the chocolate will do. Would hate to hurt you face trying to kiss it," A light and affectionately teasing tone to his voice.

The room likely played a major part in that fight, feeling stuck there, trapped in a small room they'd dropped in out of desperation. The news, how it felt just that much more suffocating in a way because of it. They were well far away now. Fresh air, miles and miles away already.

Nodding slowly, "Yeah. I know how to make a tent like that, too. We'll be warm and dry, and safe."

[dadication]

He leaned just slightly in on Gabriel, appreciating the closeness that didn't come with being crammed for long hours on a hoverbike. His hand was back to the usual amount of aching rather than the stiff one at being trapped against Gabe's back. "My face is already hurt. I don't think you can make it hurt any more with a kiss." But he'd take chocolate. It was a sweet gesture.

He had no doubt their injuries, exhaustion, the paranoia and the news had all contributed them their surly moods and snappy tempers. He always felt better breathing clean open air and despite being on the run, it felt safer out here in the woods.

"I do too, and I'll help where I can." Needed to feel like he had some uses still.

[gr1m]

Gabriel tilted his head, and did press a soft kiss against Jack's lips, tender and affectionate without apply that much pressure at all. "Know how I am, worry about making it hurt worse than it already does no matter." Loved him.

Clicked his tongue a little against the roof of his mouth- "Can get some stones or something- will need something to weight down the tarp on the ground, unless we tuck it under ourselves or something. Worry about that one when we start setting it up further down the road." They'd manage something good, together.

"You want to see if you can eat some 'taco meat' from the MRE?"

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Despite their efforts, the kiss does hurt, but he wanted it anyway. He needed it. "I know... but I'm going to heal sooner or later. I always love kissing you and being kissed by you," he affirmed, not caring if it caused a bit of pain on his end.

He figured they were going to need some stones to hold down the corners of the tarp. He hoped it wasn't going to rain tonight, not so much for them as the rescue efforts that were going by at the collapsed Watchpoint. "We'll come up with a plan when we are charging the bike up at a station."

He looked at the heating MRE and knew he probably needed protein. "I can try. You didn't make it for yourself?"

[gr1m]

"How'd I end up with such a sappy bond-mate?" It was a soft tease, that smile clear that he was only saying it in jest. Jack knew how much he loved it, because sometimes those little reminders helped a whole hell of a lot. Especially in times just in the shallow end of bad; this was the deep end right here.

They would come up with something, hell snag something from the station if they needed to. But for now? Well.

His head tipped a bit. "I made it for the both of us, since I doubt either of us could eat a whole one right now. So, sharing." Again.

[dadication]

"Lord only knows. You're never sappy about anything," he replied with a slow shake of his head as he eyed Gabriel. They were a good match and no one could tell him otherwise. And this teasing was so much better than their previous hair-trigger tempering at each other. He definitely sidled in a bit more to cuddle Gabe's side.

They were going to have time at the station, and there may be opportunities for the pair of them as well. They had some funds, but they needed to be careful with it now. Had to make it last for them both.

He nodded his head and then gestured with it too. "Alright, we can share. You might have to feed me like an infant though since I don't have two working hands."

[gr1m]

"Not. Even. Once." The driest of dry tones for that one, elbow bumping against Jack's with just that bit of affectionate sort of pressure. It felt good to have this, something that little bit normal for the both of them. Holding on to it for a little while longer, an arm gone around Jack to help him tuck against his side.

They would figure it out, could play some of it by ear while other parts were better planned out. Get that happy middle-ground of it to survive.

"I can do that just fine, so long as you don't mind it."

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"Never in all the times I've known you," he agreed with a slight upturn of his lips, the most he could manage with the sutures in place. He sighed at the affection, drinking it in and even tipping his head to rest it briefly against Gabe's shoulder and then pressing forward to rest against his neck.

He shifted his weight, needing to get some blood flowing through his legs, working out some of the stiffness and muscle kinks. They had come this far, they would survive the rest of the way to the safe house. They had to.

"It's the only way I'm going to be able to eat, so we'll make do, won't we?" He wasn't someone that would ever really enjoy being fed, but he understood he had to eat. This way a bite could go to him and the one to Gabe. Sharing.

[gr1m]

"No sappiness ever in my entire life." Gabriel only shifted enough to make Jack comfortable, so he could rest his head against his shoulder, or his neck. Held him like that while stretching his legs. Whatever he could do to help, give him that comfort and affection that the both of them needed. Maybe now more than ever. Even more in the days to come, no doubt.

So long as they stuck together, they'd make it. Gather themselves and go from there, but at least the safe house would be a place they could safely rest and recover. Pull together whatever they could and go from there.

Make sure they both ate. "We'll make do. Also have something in our stomachs before having to take more of those pills."

[dadication]

He shifted in but also used the new position to stretch one leg out at a time, rolling his foot and his ankle and then raising his foot towards his ass to stretch out his knee. All the while, he leaned in on Gabe, letting the link between them be warm and needy. They definitely both needed this.

Jack made certain not to complain as he and Gabe ate, taking what was given until he had to shake his head in that he couldn't eat more. "Yeah, almost surprised our stomachs have surprised all the pills we've put into it empty."

That might explain Gabe's nausea from before. He shifted around so he was facing the older man and then stepped in to rest on him bodily. "Pills, water and then hit the road, or should we wait longer?"

[gr1m]

Pit stop not just because they needed a little time off the road and the bike, but just to be. Keeping hold of Jack while he stretched just so there was absolutely no worry of him falling, letting him get out all he needed with his legs. Soothing over that link, let his own need be known and soothed with that closeness.

More food in their stomachs than for a while, and at least Gabe took a few more bites of food, what he could take and hey, they nearly finished off the packet the 'taco meat' had been in. Good for them? "Bit of luck on our side," and the fact their bodies were fucked up to the point there likely was no energy left to rebel. Yet.

Definitely explained his nausea however, yeah. "Let's wait a little longer. Walk around a little more before we're back on the road for a few more hours. Our next stop will be at a service station after all."

[dadication]

He needed Gabe's support in more ways than the obvious. He kept close, even if it wasn't necessary once he was done stretching, but there felt like comfort and safety sticking against Reyes' side as they ate what they could. He even took the antibiotics and pain medication obediently, knowing it was definitely necessary.

"Let's hope our luck holds across the board." They were going to need it to get out safely and with detection. He also didn't want either of them to have to scuttle to the woods for sudden bathroom breaks while on the road.

Now that the food was done, he reached out and took Gabe's hand in his own and tugged the older man along so they could walk together around the small open area to stretch their legs and work out the kinks of their bodies. "Next stop, we should see about getting some necessary supplies."

[gr1m]

"And try not to jinx ourselves in the meantime." There was a lot ahead of them, and not just between where they were now and the bunker. A lot of time ducking in to the woods to camp for a night- or maybe they should camp during the day and move at night. Hell, either way they would have to take time for the both of them to rest.

To do what they were doing now, too. Stretch legs and soak up comfort while changing the time to be still.

He followed with that tug, keeping hold of Jack's hand even if his steps were still a little stiff at first. Had to get that blood pumping through his legs again. "Can see what they've got in whatever convenience store might be attached to the service station."

[dadication]

"We've been lucky so far. Let's hope it holds," he agreed. He knew they would need to rest, especially with his plan of dozing against Gabe's back for the ride and then keeping watch at rest stops was not going to work out. He wouldn't be able to sleep, so they were going to need to rest together, even if it came with watches. Just being close and quiet together would be enough for him.

Sometimes it was a curse being such a light sleeper.

He turned his head to watch Gabe walk, making certain his bond was alright with a little stretching. They must have looked like two very old men tottering along as they were, making circles in the limited space that they had in the break of the forest. "Going to be expensive there. Do we have the funds?"