He nodded his head, understanding and certainly willing to have that conversation. He would do what was necessary to take some of the pressure off of Gabe's plate, aware of the difficulties up ahead. There was no point delaying if it was going to be a concern for the older man. They should come to terms with what labels they wanted to apply to themselves and their relationship given that it had been turned on its head within a few sniffs a week ago.
And the quiet bonding bites were heat of the moment things, so they needed to be affirmed with words.
He was allowed to be sappy during such a serious question. "You clearly haven't met enough alphas, since we can be quite a sappy bunch. My pa gives my ma a single rose the first of every month, just because he wants her to know how much he loves her." He grinned. Yeah, that might be where he had gotten his sappiness.
He leaned in properly to kiss Gabe on the lips, soft and sweet. "My handsome boyfriend. We're a real couple now, and I've got your back. You can call me in at any time to help out."
Sturdy ground for the both of them to stand up on in the following days, months, and even years. Better to know than not know on both sides of it.
"The ones I've met either weren't interested in me," he had some great friends out of that back home either way, "Or those that were and were also hellbent on making me submit." The whole showing him his place bullshit that some were unfortunately still raised on. That was dying out very quickly at least, but it still held strong in some. "But it sounds like this brand of sap runs in the family," a light nudge, the tease clear.
Gabriel did make a soft sound against the kiss, finally relaxing completely under it as his eyes closed. "Might need to."
He could imagine that kind of attitude would be frustrating, but it was an old way of thinking in his mind. Omegas didn't have to submit and Alphas didn't have to dominate. It was how they built their relationship to make it work that mattered and anyone that felt like those old roles had to be in place were missing out.
Gabe had clearly had trouble with Alphas being bone-headed, and Jack had had so many opportunities slip through his fingers because he was Alpha looking for another man. Both of them were oddities in their own rights, and maybe that's why they worked so well. Neither of them cared for their roles and both of them was looking for something beyond hormone-deep.
"Well, all of those Alphas, Betas and Omegas are going to miss out. It was similar for me in that I never found a right fit before you. Omegas tend to be female, and girls do love the way I look, but... er, that's not for me," he remarked with a shrug of his shoulders. He couldn't change how he felt or what he wanted when it came to a partner. He was more than happy to be friends with females, but the attraction wasn't there.
"Sap does run in my family, yeah," he agreed with a smile. He leaned their foreheads together. "I'm here for you, anything you need."
Tired and old and wasn't how his family worked either, roles meant little and it was more the person that always mattered. Been raised on that all his life, an he knew how his parents and grandparents were in hos they loved each other. There was a lot of love that he grew up around and didn't expect much of it his way, so he didn't actively look for it. Fooling around here and there was one thing.
This? Well, it was a welcome sort of surprise even if it started in a way that he wouldn't have wanted. Still turned out for the better-
"My twin's the Alpha between she and I," and it was sometimes funny, whenever they were out playing together once older, being mistaken for the other. Unexpected but still loved as they grew. "Guess you'll be meeting her sooner or later, even if it's over some holovid call," because this was going to be... something.
Gabriel lifted a hand, all so he could comb fingers through Jack's hair, holding him close that way without worry of the food tray on the bed with them. "Look forward to see that sap in action."
Jack's family was small and close-knit for the most part. They all valued each other, even the oddities of their families. He being the only child of his parents was cherished and his decisions about his preferences were difficult but accepted with love. In the end, his happiness mattered more than the family name. So when they found out he had a boyfriend, they would be pleased.
He snorted softly at the fact that Gabe's sibling and him had managed to switch the usual roles on their heads. That sounded just like what he knew about Reyes. "I bet she's a bad ass and will drag me over the coals for having at her baby brother. Is she as good of an interrogator as you are?" He hoped that him being a white guy wouldn't be a problem for a big Latino family.
"Do you... want me to meet her? If it would be easier, you can hide me from your family for awhile." He would accept that need until life settled down.
He hummed and leaned their foreheads together, smile on his lips. "Just you wait. Pa taught me all sorts of sappy things."
"She's better at it than me, and it's likely fortunate she didn't go military like I did." She was a swim coach on the side, and was currently taking a woman wrestler who could actually keep up with her. It was nice, actually. Mellowed her out just a little bit. "She helps run one of the youth centers back home in LA," but traveled a bit when her girlfriend did.
There was a lot of 'oddness' in his family perhaps, but from within none of it mattered as far as he was concerned. It was a family so full of love that accepted it all—
He cupped Jack's cheek gently. "Yeah, I want you to meet her. The rest of them, too." His family that was- "We may have to keep it a secret here, but I want them to know." Hell, they might be getting a little time before all of them were going to be shipped out, maybe he could get Jack to come with him- visit his parents too if he wanted. Talk about it all later, though.
Head tipped, all the better to steal a little bit of a kiss wit a brush of his lips. "I'll be waiting."
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.
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.
"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-
"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?"
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."
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?"
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2020-06-04 01:44 am (UTC)And the quiet bonding bites were heat of the moment things, so they needed to be affirmed with words.
He was allowed to be sappy during such a serious question. "You clearly haven't met enough alphas, since we can be quite a sappy bunch. My pa gives my ma a single rose the first of every month, just because he wants her to know how much he loves her." He grinned. Yeah, that might be where he had gotten his sappiness.
He leaned in properly to kiss Gabe on the lips, soft and sweet. "My handsome boyfriend. We're a real couple now, and I've got your back. You can call me in at any time to help out."
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Date: 2020-06-04 01:53 am (UTC)"The ones I've met either weren't interested in me," he had some great friends out of that back home either way, "Or those that were and were also hellbent on making me submit." The whole showing him his place bullshit that some were unfortunately still raised on. That was dying out very quickly at least, but it still held strong in some. "But it sounds like this brand of sap runs in the family," a light nudge, the tease clear.
Gabriel did make a soft sound against the kiss, finally relaxing completely under it as his eyes closed. "Might need to."
no subject
Date: 2020-06-04 02:12 am (UTC)Gabe had clearly had trouble with Alphas being bone-headed, and Jack had had so many opportunities slip through his fingers because he was Alpha looking for another man. Both of them were oddities in their own rights, and maybe that's why they worked so well. Neither of them cared for their roles and both of them was looking for something beyond hormone-deep.
"Well, all of those Alphas, Betas and Omegas are going to miss out. It was similar for me in that I never found a right fit before you. Omegas tend to be female, and girls do love the way I look, but... er, that's not for me," he remarked with a shrug of his shoulders. He couldn't change how he felt or what he wanted when it came to a partner. He was more than happy to be friends with females, but the attraction wasn't there.
"Sap does run in my family, yeah," he agreed with a smile. He leaned their foreheads together. "I'm here for you, anything you need."
no subject
Date: 2020-06-04 02:23 am (UTC)This? Well, it was a welcome sort of surprise even if it started in a way that he wouldn't have wanted. Still turned out for the better-
"My twin's the Alpha between she and I," and it was sometimes funny, whenever they were out playing together once older, being mistaken for the other. Unexpected but still loved as they grew. "Guess you'll be meeting her sooner or later, even if it's over some holovid call," because this was going to be... something.
Gabriel lifted a hand, all so he could comb fingers through Jack's hair, holding him close that way without worry of the food tray on the bed with them. "Look forward to see that sap in action."
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Date: 2020-06-04 02:50 am (UTC)He snorted softly at the fact that Gabe's sibling and him had managed to switch the usual roles on their heads. That sounded just like what he knew about Reyes. "I bet she's a bad ass and will drag me over the coals for having at her baby brother. Is she as good of an interrogator as you are?" He hoped that him being a white guy wouldn't be a problem for a big Latino family.
"Do you... want me to meet her? If it would be easier, you can hide me from your family for awhile." He would accept that need until life settled down.
He hummed and leaned their foreheads together, smile on his lips. "Just you wait. Pa taught me all sorts of sappy things."
no subject
Date: 2020-06-04 03:11 am (UTC)There was a lot of 'oddness' in his family perhaps, but from within none of it mattered as far as he was concerned. It was a family so full of love that accepted it all—
He cupped Jack's cheek gently. "Yeah, I want you to meet her. The rest of them, too." His family that was- "We may have to keep it a secret here, but I want them to know." Hell, they might be getting a little time before all of them were going to be shipped out, maybe he could get Jack to come with him- visit his parents too if he wanted. Talk about it all later, though.
Head tipped, all the better to steal a little bit of a kiss wit a brush of his lips. "I'll be waiting."
no subject
Date: 2020-06-04 04:46 am (UTC)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."
no subject
Date: 2020-06-04 04:58 am (UTC)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."
no subject
Date: 2020-06-04 01:34 pm (UTC)"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."
no subject
Date: 2020-06-04 09:45 pm (UTC)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."
no subject
Date: 2020-06-05 01:30 am (UTC)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."
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Date: 2020-06-05 01:53 am (UTC)"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?"
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Date: 2020-06-05 03:18 am (UTC)"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."
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Date: 2020-06-05 03:28 am (UTC)"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."
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Date: 2020-06-05 01:58 pm (UTC)"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."
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Date: 2020-06-05 11:25 pm (UTC)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."
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Date: 2020-06-06 01:38 am (UTC)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."
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Date: 2020-06-06 02:49 am (UTC)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."
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Date: 2020-06-06 03:36 am (UTC)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."
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Date: 2020-06-06 03:50 am (UTC)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.
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Date: 2020-06-06 04:03 am (UTC)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?"
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Date: 2020-06-06 04:15 am (UTC)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?"
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Date: 2020-06-06 04:24 am (UTC)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."
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Date: 2020-06-06 04:34 am (UTC)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."
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Date: 2020-06-06 05:27 am (UTC)"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?"
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