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[dadication]

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[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?"

[dadication]

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."

[dadication]

"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?"

[gr1m]

"Yeah." They'd manage, even if a good bit of that was because they had to. No other choice than to find some way to manage in what they were able to pull together and go with. Get to a place where they could pull together a bit more and... try to take care of themselves, of each other.

Gabriel did his best to stretch out his legs, even if he had to stop Jack a few times and physically get his legs bending with a pull of one wit his spare hand. Move to sit on the balls of his feet down low in a squat. Whatever he could do to feel less stiff. Still moving in that circle when he felt like he could walk in it again with the man.

"Hopefully- and if nothing else, should there be an ATM or something I can pull from a spare account."

[dadication]

Jack stayed with Gabriel the entire time, never leaving his side and never letting go of his hand unless it was absolutely required. He waited for the necessary stretching, just glad to be active. He eased into a crouch next to his bond, intent on keeping close. It was hard to rise again for him, struggling up from both fatigue and injuries to his legs.

"Pain medication is probably the priority," he said. They would run out sooner than later, and he didn't want Gabriel in more pain if they could prevent it from happening. Antibiotics were another can of worms they would have to deal with later. "Maybe grab a soda or something. Liquid calories might be better at this point."

[gr1m]

It was helping, Jack sticking close, even as Gabriel helped him stand back up each time, trying to take some of the pain off him if he could. His own legs ached, but he didn't doubt his bond's pain a bit. More mindful of it than his own; as usual.

Nodded a little. "Yeah, think we've got more antibiotics than pain, so we can coast a little on those," agreeing that pain meds needed to be the priority. Worst came to worst they'd just steal it. Needs must and all. "Just stay away from the energy drinks. Soda'll do, maybe some sports drinks." Electrolytes and everything.

[dadication]

Their walk around seemed to help when it came to some of the stiffness, but that came on the heels of being fatigued. He disliked that he tired out so quickly, but it was to be expected. The healing that they needed to do required energy and rest, neither of which they had too much time for right now.

"We're going to have to take like eight common pain killers at a time," he remarked distastefully. Never disliked their metabolism much, but it could be a nuisance sometimes. "Like I need that much caffeine. I'm looking for straight up fuel and easy sugar." Maybe a little something to keep him awake. "You want me to grab you a sport's drink when we get there?"

[gr1m]

Honestly, part of Gabriel hoped that Jack did somehow manage to doze off on the next stretch, at least get some needed rest even if not in the most comfortable of positions. Be able to keep an eye out for the both of them all the same, and make sure Jack was still against his back securely.

"Best make sure to stock up on a lot then," and hope he had the mind to have a lot of the stronger shit stockpiled in the bunker they were headed. Reyes was the type of man to prepare for the worst, and often time that included some side of medical. Just had to sort of rotate stock to make sure what was there wasn't expired to the point of being either useless or cause more harm than good. "They do canned chocolate drinks, could get you a few of those? But yeah, grab a sports drink or two."

[dadication]

Jack felt old as he tottered along beside Gabriel, circling their little resting spot to stretch out and warm hurt muscles. He was constantly lifting his head to look around at any strange sound, feeling an unfair amount of paranoia. They were out of the city; they were safe. Well, safe enough.

"I'll get enough to fill the limited space we have in the pack then," he agreed, thinking they were going to need it for their journey. The less they interacted with people until they healed up, the better. "We just need liquid calories. Something that will keep but give us energy to function."

[gr1m]

"We could do with rearranging what we've got in there before we start off again." Make room, better roll and fold what was already in the pack. Get things out like the tarp to tie to the bike itself, easier to have it out and ready to make camp down the way. Thinking ahead to make things as easy on them as possible? Yes.

Slowing to just a walk in that circling, hold on Jack still firm, not wanting to lose that contact. "The sports drinks will do us the most good, I think. Between them and the MREs we'll be alright until we can get to the bunker.'

[dadication]

"We could when we hit the rest stop and charge up the hoverbike," he agreed, aware it was the smart thing to do. The more they took with them and had set up, the better they would be in the long run. "I want you to rest though. You're doing all the driving, and I need you rested." Once the bike was charging, he could rearrange the pack while Gabe had a nap. He wasn't certain it would happen with both of them on high alert.

He leaned carefully on Gabriel before he was looking at his bond. "Alright, I'll grab what I can for our supplies. How are your legs doing? Need more time to stretch or should be get going?"

[gr1m]

A slight puff of air. "Will have a bit of time on our hands while it charges, just have to be mindful," of security cameras. Keep something just so conveniently placed over the plate and all. There was a lower face mask they could use for Jack, too. Just pass it off as him having a cold or something but them still needing to get somewhere. Easy enough? "Need you rested so one of us is awake when we can't afford to both be resting."

Gabriel took in a slow and deep breath, "They're doing as well as they can. We really should get going."

[dadication]

"We'll keep as much out of sight as possible," he agreed, knowing where Gabe was going with that. Two heavily wounded men leaving away from the site of a massive explosion was definitely going to draw some attention, off-hand though it may be. They had no idea who was tapping in and watching after all. "I'll try to doze on the trip to the charging station." He wasn't counting much hope in that though.

He nodded at the indication that they should leave, and he tugged them towards the hoverbike again, scrambling on the back and setting the back across his shoulders again. He adjusted his arm in the sling and looked at Gabriel. "I've got your back."

[gr1m]

"Just got to pass it off as easy carelessness." Could pull something over his lower face as well, could play it off as being sick, and around here it wasn't unusual for things like that to come to pass. People with facemasks or fabric over nose and mouth. They could blend in easily enough- "Hope you can do more than try." Needed the rest, hard as it might be to come by for either of them just yet.

Hauled himself up on to the seat of the bike, feet planted firmly on the ground after kicking back the stand, just letting them both get adjusted before he had to start back up and pull off. "I know you do, Jack. Glad for it." Once both were situated?

Reyes started up and pulled them back on to the road, back on route.

[dadication]

"Hopefully with my face being so damaged, I won't be easily recognized by any shopteller," he remarked, but there were ways to cover his face partially. He wasn't interested in scaring anyone making him look like a thug, since that would only draw more attention, but he'd find a way. "Trying is the best you get, sorry."

Once Gabriel was settled back onto the hoverbike, Jack moved in against his back and leaned on it, resting his cheek there. It ached, but he was as comfortable as he was going to get. He waited until they were up to speed on the highway before he ever bothered to try to close his eyes, good arm curling around Reyes' waist for a better grip on staying on.