Gabe was right, of course. If there were moles in Overwatch, if someone had been waiting for the right time to drop the building on them, surely those same people would at least estimate there was a sliver of chance that they might survive and either dig out or be rescued from the debris. Someone somewhere could hurt them the moment they were found, could try to end what was started. Killing one of them was only effective enough to sometimes stun the other. Only a few seconds to finish the second of their pair, maybe. If they were so lucky.
"We'll steal an emergency vehicle then," he agreed as they climbed. He coughed as he shifted dust in his efforts up to the surface, following the flow of water, the occasional scent of fresh air.
The closer they came, the more difficult the climb was. There were times where only Gabe literally shouldering him up was the only reason he made it. He hauled the older man up after him, and the debris became slick. Occasionally, he could hear the faint cry of someone calling for help, announcing themselves, but he moved in opposite direction instead, letting their survival be priority for once in his life.
The rain also spattered on him, washing away some of the caked on blood, but it made him cold as well. He was shivering by the time he shouldered the last piece of wall out of the way and saw night sky above them. He blinked at it and then shoved other pieces of concrete out of the way so he could pull himself up to the top level of the ruined Watchpoint base, and the devastation was in all directions. The whole building had been brought down.
Slowly, he moved back to help pull Gabe out and the rain was pouring down on them. Maybe he had his first good look at the state of them both, their ruined torn up clothing, the blood spots that were being diluted with the rain and the haggard haunted looks on their faces. He took a brief second to press his forehead to Gabe's and then scrambled up to stand to locate the area that was quickest off the debris.
Flashing lights were to their left where the vehicle garage had once been, where the main road leading away was. He moved away from that direction, scattering debris as he stumbled and slipped to the torn up and twisted wooded area that happened to be closer. There were supply roads in that direction, but it would soon be bustling with emergency vehicles and personnel. Sirens rattled his head, fogged as it was already.
He stood higher and turned to regard Gabe, taking a moment for the older man to catch up from his scouting ahead. He figured a collapsed lung would make his partner slower. He offered over a weapon he found near his feet; it seemed in working order.
"We'll have to circle or wait," he muttered coughing out concrete dust. "Come on, Gabe."
The moment the name left his lips a shot rang out, slamming into his shoulder and twisting him around with the force of it. The shooter was in the treeline, clearly having been unable to determine their identity until he had spoken Reyes' first name. He hit the ground with a sharp breath, clasping desperately at the new wound as he thrashed about for a few seconds then stilled to not draw more attention to himself.
Felt like that part of whatever makeshift plan was settled, anything and nearly everything else would have to be come up with on the fly, ever changing just to help keep from going unfollowed. As undetected as possible. Be enough chaos going around to give them cover and get off the property at least.
Fresh air was a relief, as much as it burned, as hard as it was getting to breath the longer it all took. Had a coughing fit shortly after he was pulled out, hand over his mouth firmly to both muffle and try and contain what he knew had to be blood sputtering out with every harsh exhale. Hanging back in the hole before he was being pulled out.
Was holding on to Jack while looking him over, hand resting over one of the places a thick coil of rebar had gone through the other carefully. Both likely felt as bad as they looked, still scanning him over for anything missed in the dark. Taking that moment of touch after, before he was trying to follow after.
Shivering, trying to keep himself from coughing up whatever was left of a lung, scanning the area at the sort of forced slower pace. Already so many people around, hopefully occupied with finding others who survived, wouldn't see them making their way in the opposite direction. Damn well prayed that was so.
Weapon was taken, looked over just briefly to take note of the model and how to better hold it, "We can't afford to wait—"
He was on high alert the moment the shot rang out, snarling as he saw Jack go down, only seconds passing before he was bringing up the weapon and firing a few rounds towards the treeline were he thought the shot had come from. Didn't waste a second moving between where Jack had fallen and where the shooter had to be, keeping himself from running in the direction out of fear what leaving Jack there could mean.
Couldn't chance there being someone else waiting to swoop in if he went after a shooter.
Jack lay on the rubble, his head turned to regard Reyes as the older man fired in return, which was likely a terrible idea all around for everyone involved. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to roll from his back to his side to crowd in behind Reyes' legs, aware that they were the most protective aspect of this entire place. God, now his jacket was entirely destroyed!
He looked around Reyes' legs, trying to pick out any sign of the shooter. There was a single returned shot which ricochet off some of the debris nearby. There was a flash of the muzzle in the tree line, someone clearly trying to take a higher position to be able to see through the rain and line up a better shot. They also gave away their position.
"...you need to kill 'em, Gabe," he growled, as if it wasn't obvious already. "I'll follow you." Slower, dragging himself if he had to. They were getting out of here and if that involved shooting their way out, so be it. "Maybe also bring me that weapon as a souvenir, yeah?"
He spit blood on the ground, breathing hard and trying to apply pressure to his newest wound. The last thing that he needed right now was a new place to bleed from, but there was no helping that either. He was already exhausted, and both of them had suffered heavy blood loss. The sooner they got themselves out of here, the safer that they would likely be.
"Keep low," Nearly snarled in a mix of pain and anger, zeroing in on that flash of muzzle as his body tensed as if trying to decide between running in and leaving Jack to catch up or—
He knew he had to kill them! Didn't need anyone going to run off and tell people they were alive, especially if they were already trying to kill them after dragging themselves out of the debris. "Be careful, Jack. Going to bring you back a present," As if he needed to say it, because he was about to take away that cover and protection of his body as he took off through the field of debris between them and the shooter.
Far faster than a man with a collapsed lung had any right to, but all of that shit they went through during the SEP had to be good for something. Running on adrenaline now meant he'd have to heavily rely on Jack later, this was going to take a hell of a lot out of him. Launching himself upwards as he used some stacked debris as stepping stones even as he fired directly on the spot the shooter at to be in.
Trusting that Jack would still be there when he could turn back, rather than hunting down someone in the trees to kill them.
"Uh huh... better be shiny," he grunted back, aware that Gabe was going to have to leave him because a gunman was targeting them. He knew that he would be vulnerable, but he wouldn't consider himself entirely helpless either. So he had a new hole in his body... it was back to the Omnic Crisis all over again in that regard.
He twisted as Gabe took off, fast and swift over the rubble, far more sure-footed than anyone who had crawled their way out of a fallen building and with a collapsed lung had any right to. He knew the older man would pay for that push, but it was to survival now, so they were both going to have to give everything they could. The gunman shot and missed twice on Gabe's suicide run, and that's when Jack knew he had to act as well. As the distance closed, the shots would be easier.
Jack began to move, squirming his way over debris and performing the elaborate 'wounded bird' dance across the rubble. He crawled and rose up then fell down, rolling down the slopes of debris with grunts of pain.
The decision was probably interesting. Shoot Gabe who was like a furious charging bull, or shoot Jack who couldn't readily defend himself and if he died, caused a potential ripple effect stun on Gabe who could then be killed. It depended on how much the shooter was pissing their pants right about now, he figured. Fifty-fifty, but he made a good scene of it.
A single shot grazed his scalp as he slipped down the next hill of debris. He acted like he had been mortally wounded, twisting and writhing on the ground, keeping attention on him so Gabe could get in close, could find and kill the single shooter. Between them, their link burned with life.
Shiny, possibly covered in the blood of the previous owner. That would make a fine present once he made his way back, wouldn't it? Would also at least give Jack something to defend himself with if they came across someone else with a gun. Hell, some hope in the back of his head this was not drawing any attention their way with all the noise. Let it be drowned out by panic and rescue vehicles and the rain. His ears were still ringing but he hoped there was thunder roaring.
Anything to drown out all of this over a distance and keep this a three man battle with two against one. Anything to give them that edge of survival from any back-up coming to hunt them down just yet.
The only time Gabriel lowered the gun was to haul himself up in to a tree once he hit the tree line, practically vaulting up it as pain lanced through him from the movement. Compartmentalizing it all, every pain and weakness, so he could keep himself push forward. Only taking shots when he saw glances of the gunman in the trees.
Hell, as soon as he was close enough Reyes was bodily launching himself at them, using the weapon as a blunt instrument rather than wasting anymore ammunition. Couldn't afford to look back, just relying on that link to know Jack was still alive no matter the distraction he was putting on.
Gabriel Reyes was going to cave a goddamn skull in with everything he was riding on to keep him going.
"Sonuvabi...!" Their shooter tried to scramble away from the rampaging super soldier, but ended up taking a few point blank shots that could be little more than grazes or limb shots. The man in question nearly fell out of the tree he was using to assess the rubble, but ended up taking the weapon in Gabe's hands to the head. There was a sickening crack at the impact, and the gunman gave a few twitches and body slumped backwards to fall out of the tree.
There were no insignia to announce his association, just black combat gear. He carried no identification, and he had an older style walkie-talkie rather than an integrated comm unit. He was clearly outfitted to wait as long as he needed to, a pack of supplies at the bottom of the tree hidden in bushes, and he knew his business with plenty of extra ammo.
Jack had no idea that the fight had come to an end, crawling his way towards the treeline and listening for signs that others were in the area lining up shots on them. He expected the cover would be good, but then again, what was really the point with the sound of gunfire ceased. Instead, the rain took the opportunity to pick up the pace and soak everything within minutes.
He crested a larger mound of rubble and slid the long way to the bottom into a few crumpled trees. There was supposed to be a nice walking trail around here, but it was buried. However, the distant sound of sirens was starting on their side of the building. He moved to pick himself up, dazed and weak but heading into the treeline.
Reyes came tumbling down out of the tree with him, half to make damn sure he was dead, and the rest was momentum and the fading ability to keep up in the tree himself. Landed hard, winded himself for a moment, but he was damn sure the man was dead, wheezing as he tried to catch his breath. All it earned him with coughing up a lot of blood, barely sitting on his knees as he spit out a few mouthfuls of it.
Fuck. If he were a normal man all of this would have been fatal for the both of them, but thank the good old US Government for pumping him full of who the hell knew what. Meant he could bleed out longer and still have a chance to survive.
"Fuck," spitting out blood, glancing over and noticing the supplies. Forcing himself up enough to get in a quick investigation while shouldering the weapon he'd had along with pulling the weapon off the shooter. Shivering as he moved—
He went still and quiet at the sound of movement, relaxing only once he heard Jack despite the sound of sirens, "Over here."
Was trying his best to meet Jack half-way at most, even if he was staggering as adrenaline faded in his system, the cold and pain making itself present. Had the pack hauled up with him, because this was going to be one Hell of a 'present' wasn't it? "Got something for you, Jack."
Jack paused to listen beyond the rain falling and the distant sirens, and there was relief as Reyes called back to him. He knew logically that Gabe wasn't dead, as it would come immediately through their bond, but the fear was there. The sheer notion of losing the partner of his life was just a black hole of madness, so he just plain avoided thinking about it as much as possible. Only shit situations like these made him clam up with panic, even if logically nothing had defeated them yet.
He was slow to drag himself to his feet, but he managed it now that the direct threat to them was over. He hobbled his way over to where Gabe was, and his arms immediately curled around the other man's waist, holding Reyes against him and resting his bloody forehead and cheek against the other man. Just... taking a moment to exist in the sphere of one another.
His eyes flicked to the pack, and he let out a low chuckle that hurt way too much. "Look at you getting all fancy on me. You always bring me the best gifts," he remarked before he was tucking his arm more tightly and hauling Reyes up. "We're going to have to hit the service road, hope we can get transport there."
He shuffled, staggered and half-carried Reyes with him through the woods. It was damn slow, the two of them flagging their energy, weak from blood loss and also the new rising cold of being wet. "You half dead or three-quarters at this point, Reyes?"
Took that moment to try and once more pull whatever was left of him enough to... try and draw something from the warmth Jack provided with his presence. An arm wrapped around him loosely, head rested against his as he took in a pained breath. Just glad he was up still, even if Gabriel damn well would try and carry Jack along with everything else if he had to.
No matter how his strength was fading the longer they were out in this rain. Would do whatever the hell he had to, make sure they both got out of here.
"Of course, for you after all." Biting back the noise as he was pulled, because he needed to keep standing yes. "Hopefully, didn't look through the pack much but there's extra ammo for the gun. Good for you?" Because Gabe was going to be handing it over to him, even if his own weapon was going to be running low if there was another gun fight soon.
He glanced up ahead of them before working with Morrison to keep walking, one hand gripping hold of him tightly. "I don't know at this point, check again later and I might have something more accurate." Damn well hoped they'd still be able to snatch a rescue vehicle, hopefully one packed with the right medical supplies.
Who else might they have to shoot- or at least threaten to shoot?
Slowly his hands rose, stroking along that broad back, aware of the pain in those lungs by how Gabe breathed. He knew that Reyes would be paying for rushing out and killing the sniper, that all things such as that came with a cost. For now, their safety was assured, but despite all of his pain and aches, he felt most for the agony that Reyes was in. They just happened to be used to swallowing down their pain and forcing their way through it. Quiet moments like these allowed him cope with Gabe's pain in his own way, provide a care he otherwise couldn't in warzones.
He withdrew enough to take the rifle from Gabe's hands, checking it over and then he reached out to take the pack. It would be his turn to carry it first as far as he was concerned. They could switch when his energy flagged completely. He shouldered it with a grunt of pain, one arm moving back around Gabe's waist as they helped each other along in the rain.
At this point, he decided to take it slow now that they were in the safety of the underbrush, aware that no one would be looking for survivors here. He paused so they could step over flatten trees or move around rocks, leaning on each other. "Next time it's my turn to save you. Or I'll drive us out of here so you could suck back some oxygen from a tank."
As they moved, he kept an ear open for sounds of people, but sirens were just filling his head with a more aggressive headache. He moved them to the service road, keeping to the shadows because there were not fire trucks showing up and also ambulances.
He still tugged Gabe along, keeping as much to the shadows as he headed for the mouth of the service road to where the last ambulance was being parked. "That's our ride," he murmured with a slow flick of his chin. He waited, swaying against Reyes as he watched the paramedics talking among each other, confirming the situation and them grabbing supplies to head further down the road with other emergency personnel.
"...you ready? I'm throwing you in the back. You get patched up and I'll drive." Try to drive. He might be wet, but damn he still had blood flowing down his face with it.
If his lung hadn't collapsed before, it had certainly now after all o that and he was feeling it. Paying for the stunt he felt was needed, but Hell if he wasn't going to survive. So long as either of them was alive the other would remain so as well. Had to push and make it until they could rest. Damn well would swallow his own pain and worry more for Jack, even as he held on to him, took some look at the shoulder where he was shot. Where he'd been grazed at the head as well.
Gabriel let him take the rifle and the pack, some bit of relief at having that bit of extra weight taken from him before they started. Did worry about what it might do to Jack's own injuries, but they could look over each other better later.
Now was just getting further away from ground zero, put as much distance between them and the remains of the HQ as possible. Watching their feet as he let Jack lead, just making sure neither of them tripped or stumbled over anything there, let alone their own or each other's feet.
"You can drive us out and save me next time, how's that sound?" Half in some jest and the other sort of letting it be said without exactly saying how tired he was getting. How much he was starting to feel every bit of pain.
He finally glanced up when they came to a stop, examining the area along with estimating just how much time they could have. Hopefully no one would be around and watching. Hopefully they could pull this off without any more trouble- "Good, was hoping we'd catch one." Because they couldn't walk out of here.
Gabriel took a deep and painful breath but nodded— "Let me clean up your face real quick before you head to the driver's seat. Better chance you'll be able to see where you're driving."
It didn't matter what damage was exacerbated by taking on more weight, but he figured that any supplies in that bag were going to come in handy when they went into hiding. That's exactly what he knew they were doing without even having to discuss it, that they would do whatever was necessary for each other but survival was paramount more than anything. So he would accept whatever damage he had to in order to allow them to more easily disappear for a time.
"Isn't that what I'm doing already, Reyes," he asked as he watched the coming and going of personnel. He was waiting for the right opportunity, for when the radios weren't going off or when they were making calls about bodies that were found. He strained his hearing to listen in on that, easing them slowly closer to making a run for one of the ambulances.
They were removing a gurney and hauling it off down the road. Firemen were grabbing more tools for unburying people and also heading away into the inky dark. The lights flashing were dizzying.
He leaned into Gabe cleaning his face, but any rubbing just dislodged dirt and blood clots, causing more blood to flow down his face. He shrugged it off, seeing an opportunity and grunting softly. "Now," he rumbled and dragged Reyes with him as he legged it to the back of the ambulance.
He swung off the pack as he waited for Reyes to open the bay doors and then threw it in and headed for the cab. His gun was tucked under his arm as he slipped into the driver's seat and found the keys in the ignition. He blinked blood and water from his eyes, put the vehicle into drive and glanced back to check on Gabe before he drove them off. He kept the lights on so it wouldn't look odd, didn't bother with the sirens because he might die of a headache at that rate.
"Load a bag with any all supplies you think we'll need. We'll dump this rig on the side of the road. We'll have to light it up or all our DNA will be evidence that we survived." But they would take what they needed and they would make do with it. "Where is somewhere that they won't ask questions?"
"Rub it in why don't you," even if there was nothing much to the words other than trying to keep the mood light enough. Focused on watching and waiting, moving with Jack as needed to remain unseen.
Honestly? He'd done his best, frustrating as it was that even the slightest pull of flesh started Jack's face bleeding again. Looked bad from what he could make out under the blood and dirt as well, could scar and that was just if they managed to get it cleaned and sutured up soon enough. Would need something to keep the flesh together once he could help get him cleaned up properly.
They were moving then, and Gabriel was as quick as he could be in opening the bay doors, hauling himself in after the pack and closing them behind him just as quickly, securing it all back up as he took a moment to try and catch his breath. Fuck.
"Got it, got it. Can use one of the oxygen tanks back here to get it to blow and burn quicker." Already looking around and grabbing a big enough bag to start loading it down with whatever supplies he could gets his hands on back there. Careful to keep anything from damaging anything else, stubbornly not doing anything for himself until he had a full bag he could zip up.
"Slum area- you know where that is?" Shitty motels, housing complexes, you name it.
Once in motion, he felt a prickle of paranoia. He kept the radio on to hear the calls, waiting for when they would be called out for stealing. Off of the service road and winding through a few back roads with the lights off first, Jack knew the territory around the Watchpoint very well. He and Reyes would often run in the woods, on the old logging roads because it was quieter than the highway. The radios calls were less about a stolen vehicle and all about to send the numbers of critically injured.
There was no report on the number of dead. He knew it would be terrible. He also knew that they would find it out on the news, if they lived long enough to get to that point.
Continually, he looked back at Gabe, assuring himself that the partner of his life was moving and resting as well. They were both drenched to the bone. He realized this was the first time that they had seen one another with any sort of lights on, and god they looked terrible. Matted blood and dirt clung to them, their clothing in tatters, open wounds visible and where there wasn't a wound, it was bruised, dirty or bleed-stained.
"You look like a building fell on you," he called back, issued a low sound at his own terrible joke. Trying to keep things light as he drove them. "Just want you need... more scars. I hear chicks dig scars. Is that true?"
He made the mistake of looking at himself in the review mirror and winced. At least he wouldn't be recognized anymore at this rate. He shook his head, taking them onto the highway to enter the city limits. He flicked the lights back on, made certain to turn the sirens on too, increasing their speed as they seemed to fall into line with many other ambulances leaving the scene.
"About where, yeah." He took them into the city, wiping blood and rain out of his eyes. Forced to concentrate on the road might have been the only reason he stayed awake at all. However, sitting down made him achy. "...don't forget to grab some pain drugs. We're going to need them."
He pulled off to head to a slum area, flipping the sirens and lights off. He was shivering by this point, looking for a safe place to dump the vehicle.
"...we should dump this around here, yeah?" Gabe would know the slimy underbelly better than he would. Knew where it was safest, if that existed.
It was only after a moment that Gabriel had to grab one of the tanks and pulls a breathing mask on over his face, turning the nuzzle just enough until he could breathe easier. Only bit of weakness he'd let show, "Funny, I feel like one did, too." Couldn't help but be thankful that whatever had punctured through his chest had missed his spine.
"Scars look good," glancing up briefly, catching Jack's reflection and the wince wasn't just out of sympathy. "Girls think it means you're a bad boy, some fantasize about taming that." Others asked awkward or stupid questions, some didn't even give a damn one way or another so long as they liked the person with said scars.
Was sitting down on the little bench back there, finally stopping and leaning back, pressing that breathing mask over his face and... letting his eyes close. First time he allowed himself this much- "Yeah, grabbed as many of those as I could already. Among a lot of other stuff you're going to thank me for later."
He fell silent as he thought about it, having just a little trouble remembering any places—
"Head for the docks, there's a turn off just before you hit them that heads to one of those concrete industrial ditches," deep, usually saved for run-off and the like. "Can set it to blow and then push it in and get going before it blows and burns."
"I wouldn't know much about that," he reasoned as he drove them. He had been very open with his sexuality when it came to Gabriel, aware it could create issues. He was certain that he had a few female followings, but he had always politely declined. They had certainly never had an opportunity to consider his scars as something that made him look tough and 'wild'. To be fair, most of his scars were on his body, but if the mess his face was happened to be any indication, that was definitely changing.
He continually glanced into the rearview mirror to check on Reyes as he took them deeper into the darker areas of town. The bond between them had grown subtle with their exhaustion and it was by no means difficult to find, but he was concerned at how it seemed Gabe was struggling. Being concerned about Reyes meant he was far more awake and less in danger of running them right off of the road. So there were benefits.
Jack took them to the to the industrial area where plenty of sleazy activities would be performed. There was less security down there and also less police presence for the most part. No one would see an ambulance as anything entirely odd either, given how some violence seemed to be present at all times of night in certain areas.
He found one of the ditches and eased the ambulance into park, twisting around to ease his way into the back with it idling. He reached out to assure himself of Gabe, touching having always been big when there was a real danger between the two of them. "Set the explosion up, Gabe. I'll haul out supplies out and clear."
He reached out to grab the two packs in question, one with mysterious supplies and the other full of medical supplies. He grunted and groaned as he loaded both, one on each other before he grabbed his rifle and slung that over his less injured shoulder. He leaned down before Gabe could start and pressed a kiss to the older man's forehead, yet another assurance before he was grunting and shuffling his way out the back of the ambulance.
Jack nearly collapsed under the weight and the fatigue, but he righted himself long enough to slip into the shadow of a building. It seemed that sitting down and then having to be in motion again had done him no favours.
He made a soft sound in his throat- "Your scars have always looked good to me," which likely was far more preferable considering a few things. A few new ones from this wouldn't change a damn thing in his eyes, and hell. Gabriel went both ways when it came to sexuality, even if he didn't talk about much, figured it didn't matter since he was pretty happy with who his bond ended up being.
Remained still during most of the ride, quiet unless spoken to as he tried to stay awake. Keep breathing. Angry at the fact he felt if his damn lung hadn't taken such a hit he'd be better off than he felt and would only have to worry more about Jack than keeping himself going.
Glanced out the back windows, fingers tightening on the supply bag he'd packed up just out of some twitch of muscles, eyes narrowing for a moment. At least going here would give them plenty of time, and no one would really connect this thing to what had just occurred.
Couldn't help some little regret that he didn't do anything with the body of the shooter, but maybe they'd have some dumb luck if anyone ran across the guy.
"Got it, and be careful Jack." Be a shit time to get mugged, on the move in the back as he had packed a couple oxygen tanks in to the bag and was leaving the rest to use to help fan the fire once it got going. Careful with how he did it, shivering as he moved and not just from the cold.
Wasn't too long until he was hoping out of the ambulance and getting it rolling more in to the ditch, trying to time it so he was making his way -with a few missteps- towards the shadows and away from the soon to be explosion. Had grabbed a couple jackets from the back, pulled one on to at least give himself to cover the shreds of his own clothing and was keeping hold of the other for Jack.
Wasn't much, but it was better than nothing as something to go unnoticed, right? Maybe. Fuck it.
"You're just saying that to be nice," he replied, though a smirk formed as he shuffled off. Yes, he knew Gabe liked his scars, had even helped him get a few of them and had been a man who had been there to help mend them as well. "Don't take long."
He hobbled off into the alley, the rain still pouring down as he shuffled away. He knew better than to even be seen in the area, so he headed down to the next alley, crossing the street on determination alone. He leaned against a wall of the apartment building that shadowed the alley he took refuge in, breathing hard despite a lack of physical effort. He was just... so tired. His limbs felt heavy, but he wanted to wait for Gabe.
He rearranged the two massive packs of supplies more evenly, pausing at the sound of shuffling feet down the other end of the alley. This had better not turn out the way that Gabe warned him, but it wasn't until he heard the cock of a sidearm that he sighed heavily. Of course.
"Son, just don't," he growled, in no mood to deal with a would-be thief. It was only keen hearing that allowed him to pinpoint where it was happening from, and he twisted and ducked as the weapon discharged. As much as he wanted to shoot the little bastard, he knew better than to do that with a dead man's gun where there would be an investigation on homicide.
No, Jack moved fast on adrenaline only, closing the distance as his mugger inhaled sharply. That was the only sound that the man made before he managed to get a hand on his head and smashed it into the concrete wall of the building. There was a sickening crunch of bone giving way, and the new dead body slumped to the ground into a heaping pile of trash.
He wavered on his feet and considered just laying down next to the corpse. He was spent. Maybe it was the first time he actually cataloged their situation, that they were dead men in the slums and might not even survive the night, but they had lost everything but each other.
He made a soft broken sound, a quiet hiccup of a sob even if there were no tears. He didn't even have it in him to produce them. His throat felt tight, and he resisted the urge to punch the wall. No, his shoulders somehow managed to tremble as he made soft hiccuping sounds and waited for the only person he had left.
Wouldn't take long, just the amount of time he needed to rig up and explosion in an ambulance with only what was left in the vehicle itself to do it. Of course Gabriel managed, wasn't the first time he'd had to do something like this, even if he hadn't expected to do so in a situation like this. Difficult as it was with a collapsed lung and his energy literally bleeding out of him slowly, but he got it done.
The sound of his success couldn't and wouldn't go unmissed by the sound of the explosion in the industrial ditch. But at least considering the area and the fact most were heading towards the exploded Overwatch HQ? Be a while before anyone went to investigate.
So that just left Gabriel making his way towards where he hoped Jack had headed, but couldn't help but tense and try to hurry when he heard tat gun shot.
All he found was Jack standing there trembling and hiccuping and a dead body slouched among the trash— "Jack?" Got, his voice sounded like shit, barely managed the breath needed to make out just his name, leaning against a wall of the building, a spare jacket in hand and shivering. Barely on his feet but trying to keep his eyes on the other.
Only reason he had to keep pushing on, and he was just so fucking exhausted. They needed to get out of here, find somewhere to hunker down. They couldn't stop yet, even if no doubt both of them wanted to.
Despite himself, the explosion was so easily heard, what with the dogs that started barking and how a few lights went on. People were notoriously nosy even if they also didn't want to know. It was a fact of life down in the poverty-stricken areas, so he knew that at least the ambulance was going to be burnt out by the time anyone actually spared people to come and take a look. After all, the rain would contain the blaze from spreading.
He didn't need to look to know that quiet footfalls belonged the Reyes. He had learned a long time ago how to use their link as a measurement of how close they were, a skill that had become more important as he was stuck behind a desk and Reyes went on missions and covered more ground. He had a lot of time on his hands during paperwork and frustration to chew on, so he taught himself how to fine-tune knowing where Gabe was at all times, though he knew if Reyes wanted to, the older man could shut him out so he would only be aware of the fact his bond was alive.
He shook his head at the call of his name, trying and failing to bottle up his emotions. This wasn't the time or the place, and yet, he just kept at it, sagging under the weight of their supplies and wiping at his face as if the rain that poured down it were actual tears that needed to be wiped. He only succeeded in reopening the injuries on his face, but at this point, the bright spots of pain were needed to focus on anything but the crushing weight of everything that they had lost.
"...we need... to keep going," he managed to get out, forcing himself to straighten his spine and set his shoulders even if they continued to tremble. He knew Reyes was not in a state to stay out in the rain, not with a collapsed lung and god knew what other injuries. His priority was Gabe's safety, always had to be. God knew Gabe didn't take care of himself sometimes. "...I'm not dying in a pile of trash..."
He forced himself to reach out, grab Gabe's wrist and pull the older man along as he convinced himself into motion. He took them through several alleys, leaving behind the corpse, the ambulance, the life they had built. He walked until he knew he was about to actually collapse and looked at the seedy motel that was clearly 'charge by the hour' and looked at Reyes. "It's going to be here or in the streets. I can't go much further and neither can you."
Now the bigger question. "Who goes to get a room?" They were both disasters after all.
"We do," needed to, had to. So long as they were both alive and breathing, they could both push each other to keep moving. Had to get Jack somewhere safe, somewhere dry, get him tended to even if it would be Gabriel stitching and patching him up. Wouldn't be the first time, but like hell e ever expected the time to come again like this. Watching him carefully, even as Reyes' vision was swimming in and out a bit. Figured it had something to do with his lack of getting enough oxygen. "We didn't die in the rubble.
"We sure as fuck aren't going to die out here." Reassuring the both of them of that one, maybe. Needed to keep pushing.
When he was grabbed Gabriel draped that extra jacket across shoulders and a bit over Jack' head. Just to try and give him that much from the rain, material waterproofed enough and giving just a little warmth. Wasn't much, but it was something else he could recover before torching the vehicle.
There was so much left behind, but if they wanted to survive they had to walk away from it, leave it all to burn. So much that they'd built together, fought for, gave up so much to keep going. To have it all dropped on top of them it was... Something was rotten, and he'd missed it, and this was the damn price being paid. He pushed Jack forwards as much as he was being pulled, trying to keep some comfort in their bond. To help them have the needed strength to take every step through the dark and dirty passages.
Gabe glanced up, thinking and quiet for a moment. "I can. Just keep my face hidden enough, this jacket I 'borrowed' has a hood. I damn well don't sound like myself." His voice was raspy, breathless. He wasn't actively bleeding from the face.
Jack hiccuped another sound when Gabe slipped the jacket over his shoulders and was caring enough to make certain the hood slipped over his head. He had to keep moving forward or else he probably would have turned and buried his face into Reyes' neck and just stayed there. Now was not the time to come apart, and they had priorities that required them to keep it together.
He stared at the motel, not liking the look of it but accepting that it was going to be the least likely place anyone might look for them. He was back to shivering near violently by this point, nodding his head at the idea of Gabe going in. He knew that he would loiter nearby, make it seem as if they were going to have a homosexual encounter rather than having to sew each other back together. No one would question it.
"We need to figure out your voice. Probably damage from cement dust and the explosion," he said, always more concerned for Reyes than himself. That was the way of their bond, always looking out more for the other than themselves. They made it work well.
He propelled himself into motion towards the motel, staggering and shuffling like he was drunk. It wasn't even an act because he was honestly on his last legs here He stopped in the partial shadows of a vehicle, using it to rest against so that Reyes could go in. Nevermind the fact that he raised the rifle he had been given and lined up a shot in case things inside went south. If it was between them and the clerk, he was choosing them.
Could and would be time for that later, hold Jack as long as he wanted and likely longer out of Gabriel's own need and want to keep him close. Hold him close, just sit with him and take whatever comfort could be taken while giving every bit in return that he could. Needed Jack, needed to be sure he was safe and taken care of first. His priority for himself was just keeping himself moving until he could be sure of that much.
"I wouldn't be surprised, throat feels raw," and all he could taste was blood. Most of that was likely due to the fact he was still spitting out blood, but at least it wasn't filling his mouth as much as before. Wasn't sure if that was a good or bad sign, and right now he'd take whatever he could get.
Kept a hand on Jack as they walked, supporting him as well as himself, only letting go once he had to walk towards the door to go in. Having to part and taking strength to at least come off as drunk rather than injured. Jacket zipped up and hood pulled up enough to shadow his face, enough dust and dirt washed off his face from the rain to look like it wasn't out of the ordinary.
Got the clerk's attention, only spoke enough to give the appearance he was possibly drunk off his ass, but there was some money to flash. Paying for a few hours up front, saying what he needed and how, putting up a damn act and sinking in to some quick role. Drunk trying to get a hotel for a fuck, and probably to sleep it off after along with that.
Things went well enough, no questions asked and some exchange of payment -only remembered grabbing a wallet from inside the ambulance to get money- and got himself a set of keys and room number. Staggering his way out and catching Jack's attention to get him to follow along, a flash of a keycard and hell if he didn't unlock that sleazy motel door quicker than he'd ever done before, dragging Jack inside and locking it behind him.
Pulling whatever curtains and shutters he needed, locking down and shutting out the world while he was still on his feet.
Jack waited, breathing hard and suffering under the weight of their supplies, but he knew this was the end of their difficult journey. He watched Reyes through his scope, keeping the clerk in his line of sight as the exchange happened beyond him. He could tell that Gabe was acting drunk, which likely wasn't difficult given the sheer amount of blood loss the older man was suffering under. His finger remained next to the trigger, waiting and watching and trying not to allow his eyes to close.
When it became clear money was being exchanged and there would be no issues, he eased the rifle from the vehicle and packed it up so that it wouldn't appear quite so obviously as a rifle. Maybe it wouldn't matter, but he wasn't about to draw any new attention to them as Gabe stepped out and showed him keys. He was so damned relieved.
He shuffled off after Reyes, a surge of energy pushing him to catch up and set a hand on Gabe's ass as if that was required to show just what they were doing. He kept a weathered eye out for people watching before he was hauled inside and he finally - finally - collapsed to the grimy carpeted floor. He made a lame effort to shove one pack off of him, but he was laying on the other and that was as far as he was going to manage right now.
Jack knew he should help secure the room, but all he could manage was lay there on the floor and shivering. He made a small effort to shift himself to no be in the way, but otherwise, he had nothing left in him. He was defeated; he was broken; he just wanted to sleep and didn't particularly care if he woke up again.
"...oxygenate yourself..." he muttered softly. Gabe was going to need to breathe more than anything, but they needed to re-inflate that lung.
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Date: 2019-05-01 01:32 am (UTC)"We'll steal an emergency vehicle then," he agreed as they climbed. He coughed as he shifted dust in his efforts up to the surface, following the flow of water, the occasional scent of fresh air.
The closer they came, the more difficult the climb was. There were times where only Gabe literally shouldering him up was the only reason he made it. He hauled the older man up after him, and the debris became slick. Occasionally, he could hear the faint cry of someone calling for help, announcing themselves, but he moved in opposite direction instead, letting their survival be priority for once in his life.
The rain also spattered on him, washing away some of the caked on blood, but it made him cold as well. He was shivering by the time he shouldered the last piece of wall out of the way and saw night sky above them. He blinked at it and then shoved other pieces of concrete out of the way so he could pull himself up to the top level of the ruined Watchpoint base, and the devastation was in all directions. The whole building had been brought down.
Slowly, he moved back to help pull Gabe out and the rain was pouring down on them. Maybe he had his first good look at the state of them both, their ruined torn up clothing, the blood spots that were being diluted with the rain and the haggard haunted looks on their faces. He took a brief second to press his forehead to Gabe's and then scrambled up to stand to locate the area that was quickest off the debris.
Flashing lights were to their left where the vehicle garage had once been, where the main road leading away was. He moved away from that direction, scattering debris as he stumbled and slipped to the torn up and twisted wooded area that happened to be closer. There were supply roads in that direction, but it would soon be bustling with emergency vehicles and personnel. Sirens rattled his head, fogged as it was already.
He stood higher and turned to regard Gabe, taking a moment for the older man to catch up from his scouting ahead. He figured a collapsed lung would make his partner slower. He offered over a weapon he found near his feet; it seemed in working order.
"We'll have to circle or wait," he muttered coughing out concrete dust. "Come on, Gabe."
The moment the name left his lips a shot rang out, slamming into his shoulder and twisting him around with the force of it. The shooter was in the treeline, clearly having been unable to determine their identity until he had spoken Reyes' first name. He hit the ground with a sharp breath, clasping desperately at the new wound as he thrashed about for a few seconds then stilled to not draw more attention to himself.
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Date: 2019-05-01 01:53 am (UTC)Fresh air was a relief, as much as it burned, as hard as it was getting to breath the longer it all took. Had a coughing fit shortly after he was pulled out, hand over his mouth firmly to both muffle and try and contain what he knew had to be blood sputtering out with every harsh exhale. Hanging back in the hole before he was being pulled out.
Was holding on to Jack while looking him over, hand resting over one of the places a thick coil of rebar had gone through the other carefully. Both likely felt as bad as they looked, still scanning him over for anything missed in the dark. Taking that moment of touch after, before he was trying to follow after.
Shivering, trying to keep himself from coughing up whatever was left of a lung, scanning the area at the sort of forced slower pace. Already so many people around, hopefully occupied with finding others who survived, wouldn't see them making their way in the opposite direction. Damn well prayed that was so.
Weapon was taken, looked over just briefly to take note of the model and how to better hold it, "We can't afford to wait—"
He was on high alert the moment the shot rang out, snarling as he saw Jack go down, only seconds passing before he was bringing up the weapon and firing a few rounds towards the treeline were he thought the shot had come from. Didn't waste a second moving between where Jack had fallen and where the shooter had to be, keeping himself from running in the direction out of fear what leaving Jack there could mean.
Couldn't chance there being someone else waiting to swoop in if he went after a shooter.
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Date: 2019-05-01 04:26 am (UTC)He looked around Reyes' legs, trying to pick out any sign of the shooter. There was a single returned shot which ricochet off some of the debris nearby. There was a flash of the muzzle in the tree line, someone clearly trying to take a higher position to be able to see through the rain and line up a better shot. They also gave away their position.
"...you need to kill 'em, Gabe," he growled, as if it wasn't obvious already. "I'll follow you." Slower, dragging himself if he had to. They were getting out of here and if that involved shooting their way out, so be it. "Maybe also bring me that weapon as a souvenir, yeah?"
He spit blood on the ground, breathing hard and trying to apply pressure to his newest wound. The last thing that he needed right now was a new place to bleed from, but there was no helping that either. He was already exhausted, and both of them had suffered heavy blood loss. The sooner they got themselves out of here, the safer that they would likely be.
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Date: 2019-05-01 05:04 am (UTC)He knew he had to kill them! Didn't need anyone going to run off and tell people they were alive, especially if they were already trying to kill them after dragging themselves out of the debris. "Be careful, Jack. Going to bring you back a present," As if he needed to say it, because he was about to take away that cover and protection of his body as he took off through the field of debris between them and the shooter.
Far faster than a man with a collapsed lung had any right to, but all of that shit they went through during the SEP had to be good for something. Running on adrenaline now meant he'd have to heavily rely on Jack later, this was going to take a hell of a lot out of him. Launching himself upwards as he used some stacked debris as stepping stones even as he fired directly on the spot the shooter at to be in.
Trusting that Jack would still be there when he could turn back, rather than hunting down someone in the trees to kill them.
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Date: 2019-05-01 01:34 pm (UTC)He twisted as Gabe took off, fast and swift over the rubble, far more sure-footed than anyone who had crawled their way out of a fallen building and with a collapsed lung had any right to. He knew the older man would pay for that push, but it was to survival now, so they were both going to have to give everything they could. The gunman shot and missed twice on Gabe's suicide run, and that's when Jack knew he had to act as well. As the distance closed, the shots would be easier.
Jack began to move, squirming his way over debris and performing the elaborate 'wounded bird' dance across the rubble. He crawled and rose up then fell down, rolling down the slopes of debris with grunts of pain.
The decision was probably interesting. Shoot Gabe who was like a furious charging bull, or shoot Jack who couldn't readily defend himself and if he died, caused a potential ripple effect stun on Gabe who could then be killed. It depended on how much the shooter was pissing their pants right about now, he figured. Fifty-fifty, but he made a good scene of it.
A single shot grazed his scalp as he slipped down the next hill of debris. He acted like he had been mortally wounded, twisting and writhing on the ground, keeping attention on him so Gabe could get in close, could find and kill the single shooter. Between them, their link burned with life.
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Date: 2019-05-01 01:43 pm (UTC)Anything to drown out all of this over a distance and keep this a three man battle with two against one. Anything to give them that edge of survival from any back-up coming to hunt them down just yet.
The only time Gabriel lowered the gun was to haul himself up in to a tree once he hit the tree line, practically vaulting up it as pain lanced through him from the movement. Compartmentalizing it all, every pain and weakness, so he could keep himself push forward. Only taking shots when he saw glances of the gunman in the trees.
Hell, as soon as he was close enough Reyes was bodily launching himself at them, using the weapon as a blunt instrument rather than wasting anymore ammunition. Couldn't afford to look back, just relying on that link to know Jack was still alive no matter the distraction he was putting on.
Gabriel Reyes was going to cave a goddamn skull in with everything he was riding on to keep him going.
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Date: 2019-05-01 03:02 pm (UTC)There were no insignia to announce his association, just black combat gear. He carried no identification, and he had an older style walkie-talkie rather than an integrated comm unit. He was clearly outfitted to wait as long as he needed to, a pack of supplies at the bottom of the tree hidden in bushes, and he knew his business with plenty of extra ammo.
Jack had no idea that the fight had come to an end, crawling his way towards the treeline and listening for signs that others were in the area lining up shots on them. He expected the cover would be good, but then again, what was really the point with the sound of gunfire ceased. Instead, the rain took the opportunity to pick up the pace and soak everything within minutes.
He crested a larger mound of rubble and slid the long way to the bottom into a few crumpled trees. There was supposed to be a nice walking trail around here, but it was buried. However, the distant sound of sirens was starting on their side of the building. He moved to pick himself up, dazed and weak but heading into the treeline.
"...Gabe...?"
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Date: 2019-05-01 03:17 pm (UTC)Fuck. If he were a normal man all of this would have been fatal for the both of them, but thank the good old US Government for pumping him full of who the hell knew what. Meant he could bleed out longer and still have a chance to survive.
"Fuck," spitting out blood, glancing over and noticing the supplies. Forcing himself up enough to get in a quick investigation while shouldering the weapon he'd had along with pulling the weapon off the shooter. Shivering as he moved—
He went still and quiet at the sound of movement, relaxing only once he heard Jack despite the sound of sirens, "Over here."
Was trying his best to meet Jack half-way at most, even if he was staggering as adrenaline faded in his system, the cold and pain making itself present. Had the pack hauled up with him, because this was going to be one Hell of a 'present' wasn't it? "Got something for you, Jack."
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Date: 2019-05-01 04:00 pm (UTC)He was slow to drag himself to his feet, but he managed it now that the direct threat to them was over. He hobbled his way over to where Gabe was, and his arms immediately curled around the other man's waist, holding Reyes against him and resting his bloody forehead and cheek against the other man. Just... taking a moment to exist in the sphere of one another.
His eyes flicked to the pack, and he let out a low chuckle that hurt way too much. "Look at you getting all fancy on me. You always bring me the best gifts," he remarked before he was tucking his arm more tightly and hauling Reyes up. "We're going to have to hit the service road, hope we can get transport there."
He shuffled, staggered and half-carried Reyes with him through the woods. It was damn slow, the two of them flagging their energy, weak from blood loss and also the new rising cold of being wet. "You half dead or three-quarters at this point, Reyes?"
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Date: 2019-05-01 04:20 pm (UTC)No matter how his strength was fading the longer they were out in this rain. Would do whatever the hell he had to, make sure they both got out of here.
"Of course, for you after all." Biting back the noise as he was pulled, because he needed to keep standing yes. "Hopefully, didn't look through the pack much but there's extra ammo for the gun. Good for you?" Because Gabe was going to be handing it over to him, even if his own weapon was going to be running low if there was another gun fight soon.
He glanced up ahead of them before working with Morrison to keep walking, one hand gripping hold of him tightly. "I don't know at this point, check again later and I might have something more accurate." Damn well hoped they'd still be able to snatch a rescue vehicle, hopefully one packed with the right medical supplies.
Who else might they have to shoot- or at least threaten to shoot?
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Date: 2019-05-02 10:17 pm (UTC)He withdrew enough to take the rifle from Gabe's hands, checking it over and then he reached out to take the pack. It would be his turn to carry it first as far as he was concerned. They could switch when his energy flagged completely. He shouldered it with a grunt of pain, one arm moving back around Gabe's waist as they helped each other along in the rain.
At this point, he decided to take it slow now that they were in the safety of the underbrush, aware that no one would be looking for survivors here. He paused so they could step over flatten trees or move around rocks, leaning on each other. "Next time it's my turn to save you. Or I'll drive us out of here so you could suck back some oxygen from a tank."
As they moved, he kept an ear open for sounds of people, but sirens were just filling his head with a more aggressive headache. He moved them to the service road, keeping to the shadows because there were not fire trucks showing up and also ambulances.
He still tugged Gabe along, keeping as much to the shadows as he headed for the mouth of the service road to where the last ambulance was being parked. "That's our ride," he murmured with a slow flick of his chin. He waited, swaying against Reyes as he watched the paramedics talking among each other, confirming the situation and them grabbing supplies to head further down the road with other emergency personnel.
"...you ready? I'm throwing you in the back. You get patched up and I'll drive." Try to drive. He might be wet, but damn he still had blood flowing down his face with it.
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Date: 2019-05-02 10:33 pm (UTC)Gabriel let him take the rifle and the pack, some bit of relief at having that bit of extra weight taken from him before they started. Did worry about what it might do to Jack's own injuries, but they could look over each other better later.
Now was just getting further away from ground zero, put as much distance between them and the remains of the HQ as possible. Watching their feet as he let Jack lead, just making sure neither of them tripped or stumbled over anything there, let alone their own or each other's feet.
"You can drive us out and save me next time, how's that sound?" Half in some jest and the other sort of letting it be said without exactly saying how tired he was getting. How much he was starting to feel every bit of pain.
He finally glanced up when they came to a stop, examining the area along with estimating just how much time they could have. Hopefully no one would be around and watching. Hopefully they could pull this off without any more trouble- "Good, was hoping we'd catch one." Because they couldn't walk out of here.
Gabriel took a deep and painful breath but nodded— "Let me clean up your face real quick before you head to the driver's seat. Better chance you'll be able to see where you're driving."
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Date: 2019-05-02 11:14 pm (UTC)"Isn't that what I'm doing already, Reyes," he asked as he watched the coming and going of personnel. He was waiting for the right opportunity, for when the radios weren't going off or when they were making calls about bodies that were found. He strained his hearing to listen in on that, easing them slowly closer to making a run for one of the ambulances.
They were removing a gurney and hauling it off down the road. Firemen were grabbing more tools for unburying people and also heading away into the inky dark. The lights flashing were dizzying.
He leaned into Gabe cleaning his face, but any rubbing just dislodged dirt and blood clots, causing more blood to flow down his face. He shrugged it off, seeing an opportunity and grunting softly. "Now," he rumbled and dragged Reyes with him as he legged it to the back of the ambulance.
He swung off the pack as he waited for Reyes to open the bay doors and then threw it in and headed for the cab. His gun was tucked under his arm as he slipped into the driver's seat and found the keys in the ignition. He blinked blood and water from his eyes, put the vehicle into drive and glanced back to check on Gabe before he drove them off. He kept the lights on so it wouldn't look odd, didn't bother with the sirens because he might die of a headache at that rate.
"Load a bag with any all supplies you think we'll need. We'll dump this rig on the side of the road. We'll have to light it up or all our DNA will be evidence that we survived." But they would take what they needed and they would make do with it. "Where is somewhere that they won't ask questions?"
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Date: 2019-05-02 11:34 pm (UTC)Honestly? He'd done his best, frustrating as it was that even the slightest pull of flesh started Jack's face bleeding again. Looked bad from what he could make out under the blood and dirt as well, could scar and that was just if they managed to get it cleaned and sutured up soon enough. Would need something to keep the flesh together once he could help get him cleaned up properly.
They were moving then, and Gabriel was as quick as he could be in opening the bay doors, hauling himself in after the pack and closing them behind him just as quickly, securing it all back up as he took a moment to try and catch his breath. Fuck.
"Got it, got it. Can use one of the oxygen tanks back here to get it to blow and burn quicker." Already looking around and grabbing a big enough bag to start loading it down with whatever supplies he could gets his hands on back there. Careful to keep anything from damaging anything else, stubbornly not doing anything for himself until he had a full bag he could zip up.
"Slum area- you know where that is?" Shitty motels, housing complexes, you name it.
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Date: 2019-05-03 12:03 am (UTC)There was no report on the number of dead. He knew it would be terrible. He also knew that they would find it out on the news, if they lived long enough to get to that point.
Continually, he looked back at Gabe, assuring himself that the partner of his life was moving and resting as well. They were both drenched to the bone. He realized this was the first time that they had seen one another with any sort of lights on, and god they looked terrible. Matted blood and dirt clung to them, their clothing in tatters, open wounds visible and where there wasn't a wound, it was bruised, dirty or bleed-stained.
"You look like a building fell on you," he called back, issued a low sound at his own terrible joke. Trying to keep things light as he drove them. "Just want you need... more scars. I hear chicks dig scars. Is that true?"
He made the mistake of looking at himself in the review mirror and winced. At least he wouldn't be recognized anymore at this rate. He shook his head, taking them onto the highway to enter the city limits. He flicked the lights back on, made certain to turn the sirens on too, increasing their speed as they seemed to fall into line with many other ambulances leaving the scene.
"About where, yeah." He took them into the city, wiping blood and rain out of his eyes. Forced to concentrate on the road might have been the only reason he stayed awake at all. However, sitting down made him achy. "...don't forget to grab some pain drugs. We're going to need them."
He pulled off to head to a slum area, flipping the sirens and lights off. He was shivering by this point, looking for a safe place to dump the vehicle.
"...we should dump this around here, yeah?" Gabe would know the slimy underbelly better than he would. Knew where it was safest, if that existed.
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Date: 2019-05-03 12:19 am (UTC)"Scars look good," glancing up briefly, catching Jack's reflection and the wince wasn't just out of sympathy. "Girls think it means you're a bad boy, some fantasize about taming that." Others asked awkward or stupid questions, some didn't even give a damn one way or another so long as they liked the person with said scars.
Was sitting down on the little bench back there, finally stopping and leaning back, pressing that breathing mask over his face and... letting his eyes close. First time he allowed himself this much- "Yeah, grabbed as many of those as I could already. Among a lot of other stuff you're going to thank me for later."
He fell silent as he thought about it, having just a little trouble remembering any places—
"Head for the docks, there's a turn off just before you hit them that heads to one of those concrete industrial ditches," deep, usually saved for run-off and the like. "Can set it to blow and then push it in and get going before it blows and burns."
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Date: 2019-05-03 03:56 am (UTC)He continually glanced into the rearview mirror to check on Reyes as he took them deeper into the darker areas of town. The bond between them had grown subtle with their exhaustion and it was by no means difficult to find, but he was concerned at how it seemed Gabe was struggling. Being concerned about Reyes meant he was far more awake and less in danger of running them right off of the road. So there were benefits.
Jack took them to the to the industrial area where plenty of sleazy activities would be performed. There was less security down there and also less police presence for the most part. No one would see an ambulance as anything entirely odd either, given how some violence seemed to be present at all times of night in certain areas.
He found one of the ditches and eased the ambulance into park, twisting around to ease his way into the back with it idling. He reached out to assure himself of Gabe, touching having always been big when there was a real danger between the two of them. "Set the explosion up, Gabe. I'll haul out supplies out and clear."
He reached out to grab the two packs in question, one with mysterious supplies and the other full of medical supplies. He grunted and groaned as he loaded both, one on each other before he grabbed his rifle and slung that over his less injured shoulder. He leaned down before Gabe could start and pressed a kiss to the older man's forehead, yet another assurance before he was grunting and shuffling his way out the back of the ambulance.
Jack nearly collapsed under the weight and the fatigue, but he righted himself long enough to slip into the shadow of a building. It seemed that sitting down and then having to be in motion again had done him no favours.
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Date: 2019-05-03 04:11 am (UTC)Remained still during most of the ride, quiet unless spoken to as he tried to stay awake. Keep breathing. Angry at the fact he felt if his damn lung hadn't taken such a hit he'd be better off than he felt and would only have to worry more about Jack than keeping himself going.
Glanced out the back windows, fingers tightening on the supply bag he'd packed up just out of some twitch of muscles, eyes narrowing for a moment. At least going here would give them plenty of time, and no one would really connect this thing to what had just occurred.
Couldn't help some little regret that he didn't do anything with the body of the shooter, but maybe they'd have some dumb luck if anyone ran across the guy.
"Got it, and be careful Jack." Be a shit time to get mugged, on the move in the back as he had packed a couple oxygen tanks in to the bag and was leaving the rest to use to help fan the fire once it got going. Careful with how he did it, shivering as he moved and not just from the cold.
Wasn't too long until he was hoping out of the ambulance and getting it rolling more in to the ditch, trying to time it so he was making his way -with a few missteps- towards the shadows and away from the soon to be explosion. Had grabbed a couple jackets from the back, pulled one on to at least give himself to cover the shreds of his own clothing and was keeping hold of the other for Jack.
Wasn't much, but it was better than nothing as something to go unnoticed, right? Maybe. Fuck it.
no subject
Date: 2019-05-04 04:06 pm (UTC)He hobbled off into the alley, the rain still pouring down as he shuffled away. He knew better than to even be seen in the area, so he headed down to the next alley, crossing the street on determination alone. He leaned against a wall of the apartment building that shadowed the alley he took refuge in, breathing hard despite a lack of physical effort. He was just... so tired. His limbs felt heavy, but he wanted to wait for Gabe.
He rearranged the two massive packs of supplies more evenly, pausing at the sound of shuffling feet down the other end of the alley. This had better not turn out the way that Gabe warned him, but it wasn't until he heard the cock of a sidearm that he sighed heavily. Of course.
"Son, just don't," he growled, in no mood to deal with a would-be thief. It was only keen hearing that allowed him to pinpoint where it was happening from, and he twisted and ducked as the weapon discharged. As much as he wanted to shoot the little bastard, he knew better than to do that with a dead man's gun where there would be an investigation on homicide.
No, Jack moved fast on adrenaline only, closing the distance as his mugger inhaled sharply. That was the only sound that the man made before he managed to get a hand on his head and smashed it into the concrete wall of the building. There was a sickening crunch of bone giving way, and the new dead body slumped to the ground into a heaping pile of trash.
He wavered on his feet and considered just laying down next to the corpse. He was spent. Maybe it was the first time he actually cataloged their situation, that they were dead men in the slums and might not even survive the night, but they had lost everything but each other.
He made a soft broken sound, a quiet hiccup of a sob even if there were no tears. He didn't even have it in him to produce them. His throat felt tight, and he resisted the urge to punch the wall. No, his shoulders somehow managed to tremble as he made soft hiccuping sounds and waited for the only person he had left.
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Date: 2019-05-04 04:25 pm (UTC)The sound of his success couldn't and wouldn't go unmissed by the sound of the explosion in the industrial ditch. But at least considering the area and the fact most were heading towards the exploded Overwatch HQ? Be a while before anyone went to investigate.
So that just left Gabriel making his way towards where he hoped Jack had headed, but couldn't help but tense and try to hurry when he heard tat gun shot.
All he found was Jack standing there trembling and hiccuping and a dead body slouched among the trash— "Jack?" Got, his voice sounded like shit, barely managed the breath needed to make out just his name, leaning against a wall of the building, a spare jacket in hand and shivering. Barely on his feet but trying to keep his eyes on the other.
Only reason he had to keep pushing on, and he was just so fucking exhausted. They needed to get out of here, find somewhere to hunker down. They couldn't stop yet, even if no doubt both of them wanted to.
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Date: 2019-05-04 04:41 pm (UTC)He didn't need to look to know that quiet footfalls belonged the Reyes. He had learned a long time ago how to use their link as a measurement of how close they were, a skill that had become more important as he was stuck behind a desk and Reyes went on missions and covered more ground. He had a lot of time on his hands during paperwork and frustration to chew on, so he taught himself how to fine-tune knowing where Gabe was at all times, though he knew if Reyes wanted to, the older man could shut him out so he would only be aware of the fact his bond was alive.
He shook his head at the call of his name, trying and failing to bottle up his emotions. This wasn't the time or the place, and yet, he just kept at it, sagging under the weight of their supplies and wiping at his face as if the rain that poured down it were actual tears that needed to be wiped. He only succeeded in reopening the injuries on his face, but at this point, the bright spots of pain were needed to focus on anything but the crushing weight of everything that they had lost.
"...we need... to keep going," he managed to get out, forcing himself to straighten his spine and set his shoulders even if they continued to tremble. He knew Reyes was not in a state to stay out in the rain, not with a collapsed lung and god knew what other injuries. His priority was Gabe's safety, always had to be. God knew Gabe didn't take care of himself sometimes. "...I'm not dying in a pile of trash..."
He forced himself to reach out, grab Gabe's wrist and pull the older man along as he convinced himself into motion. He took them through several alleys, leaving behind the corpse, the ambulance, the life they had built. He walked until he knew he was about to actually collapse and looked at the seedy motel that was clearly 'charge by the hour' and looked at Reyes. "It's going to be here or in the streets. I can't go much further and neither can you."
Now the bigger question. "Who goes to get a room?" They were both disasters after all.
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Date: 2019-05-04 05:08 pm (UTC)"We sure as fuck aren't going to die out here." Reassuring the both of them of that one, maybe. Needed to keep pushing.
When he was grabbed Gabriel draped that extra jacket across shoulders and a bit over Jack' head. Just to try and give him that much from the rain, material waterproofed enough and giving just a little warmth. Wasn't much, but it was something else he could recover before torching the vehicle.
There was so much left behind, but if they wanted to survive they had to walk away from it, leave it all to burn. So much that they'd built together, fought for, gave up so much to keep going. To have it all dropped on top of them it was... Something was rotten, and he'd missed it, and this was the damn price being paid. He pushed Jack forwards as much as he was being pulled, trying to keep some comfort in their bond. To help them have the needed strength to take every step through the dark and dirty passages.
Gabe glanced up, thinking and quiet for a moment. "I can. Just keep my face hidden enough, this jacket I 'borrowed' has a hood. I damn well don't sound like myself." His voice was raspy, breathless. He wasn't actively bleeding from the face.
"Won't ask shit, not here at this time of night."
no subject
Date: 2019-05-04 11:34 pm (UTC)He stared at the motel, not liking the look of it but accepting that it was going to be the least likely place anyone might look for them. He was back to shivering near violently by this point, nodding his head at the idea of Gabe going in. He knew that he would loiter nearby, make it seem as if they were going to have a homosexual encounter rather than having to sew each other back together. No one would question it.
"We need to figure out your voice. Probably damage from cement dust and the explosion," he said, always more concerned for Reyes than himself. That was the way of their bond, always looking out more for the other than themselves. They made it work well.
He propelled himself into motion towards the motel, staggering and shuffling like he was drunk. It wasn't even an act because he was honestly on his last legs here He stopped in the partial shadows of a vehicle, using it to rest against so that Reyes could go in. Nevermind the fact that he raised the rifle he had been given and lined up a shot in case things inside went south. If it was between them and the clerk, he was choosing them.
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Date: 2019-05-05 01:13 am (UTC)"I wouldn't be surprised, throat feels raw," and all he could taste was blood. Most of that was likely due to the fact he was still spitting out blood, but at least it wasn't filling his mouth as much as before. Wasn't sure if that was a good or bad sign, and right now he'd take whatever he could get.
Kept a hand on Jack as they walked, supporting him as well as himself, only letting go once he had to walk towards the door to go in. Having to part and taking strength to at least come off as drunk rather than injured. Jacket zipped up and hood pulled up enough to shadow his face, enough dust and dirt washed off his face from the rain to look like it wasn't out of the ordinary.
Got the clerk's attention, only spoke enough to give the appearance he was possibly drunk off his ass, but there was some money to flash. Paying for a few hours up front, saying what he needed and how, putting up a damn act and sinking in to some quick role. Drunk trying to get a hotel for a fuck, and probably to sleep it off after along with that.
Things went well enough, no questions asked and some exchange of payment -only remembered grabbing a wallet from inside the ambulance to get money- and got himself a set of keys and room number. Staggering his way out and catching Jack's attention to get him to follow along, a flash of a keycard and hell if he didn't unlock that sleazy motel door quicker than he'd ever done before, dragging Jack inside and locking it behind him.
Pulling whatever curtains and shutters he needed, locking down and shutting out the world while he was still on his feet.
no subject
Date: 2019-05-05 01:35 am (UTC)When it became clear money was being exchanged and there would be no issues, he eased the rifle from the vehicle and packed it up so that it wouldn't appear quite so obviously as a rifle. Maybe it wouldn't matter, but he wasn't about to draw any new attention to them as Gabe stepped out and showed him keys. He was so damned relieved.
He shuffled off after Reyes, a surge of energy pushing him to catch up and set a hand on Gabe's ass as if that was required to show just what they were doing. He kept a weathered eye out for people watching before he was hauled inside and he finally - finally - collapsed to the grimy carpeted floor. He made a lame effort to shove one pack off of him, but he was laying on the other and that was as far as he was going to manage right now.
Jack knew he should help secure the room, but all he could manage was lay there on the floor and shivering. He made a small effort to shift himself to no be in the way, but otherwise, he had nothing left in him. He was defeated; he was broken; he just wanted to sleep and didn't particularly care if he woke up again.
"...oxygenate yourself..." he muttered softly. Gabe was going to need to breathe more than anything, but they needed to re-inflate that lung.
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From:only these idiots would pinky promise to eat
From:even they cannot break a pinky promise despite stubbornness, stupidly cute tho
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From:200 comments already. gj team
From:we did it
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