dadication | Open Post

dadication

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From:

dadication

While the bond wasn't common, it wasn't an extreme rarity either. It was often celebrated quietly given how difficult it was for partners to find each other in the vastness of the world. For them, hiding their bond had been a matter of long-term survival. Omnic forces were smart, could learn and they certainly knew the kinds of people to target. After that, the political ring was no place for a tightly bonded pair, not when his position allowed him to cover Reyes, who could do the best work if out of the limelight. Sometimes he wished their friends knew. Other times, it was still best to keep it all so very private.

"I know. We just got lucky," he murmured, hand still stroking Gabe's skin. "I never thought I'd get over Vincent and then I met you," he added with a low hum that turned to a light cough. Damn cement dust. "I could make do without you, but I'd be terrible and horrible to be around." If Gabe was gone too long on missions, he was known to get taciturn and best to be avoided. "Fine craftmanship holding my face together according to the mirror I looked into."

He closed his eyes briefly, looking over at the water glasses. He nodded slowly, more tempted by a warm meal than water at this point. "Take it slow so you don't puke everywhere," he agreed, hand stroking up and down Gabe's arm. "I want a warm meal. I may as well get something pleasant out of having to eat them in a grungy hotel like this." He couldn't shake the idea he felt cold even if he was perfectly warm right now. "I hope that assassin at least had good flavours of MREs. Just our luck he can't even manage something tasty." Though no one ate MREs for their taste.

From:

gr1m

Was what it was, and they'd made the best out of having to keep it a secret, stealing time even while working. They made it work, best and worst of times they always came back together and pulled comfort from each other. Just as they fell back in to now, even if now it was something far more dire in a way than just one of them being away or getting injured during a mission.

Corner of his mouth twitched, "And to think I was going to get married once the war was over if things kept going like they were." That had worked out on both ends, honestly, even they had stumbled across their own while he was gone and didn't know how to break the news to him. Still kept that friendship, and he'd even told Jack about it of course. "Should heal well enough, we'll clean around the stitching after we eat, okay?" Just to maybe help reduce any itching.

Gabriel nodded, even if it was more a tilt of his head. "Start with water and nibble at things." All the better to lessen the risk of something coming back up. "Then we can take more meds while the MRE's heat up- and I pulled some choices." Leaning just enough, so he wasn't pulling away from that stroking hand, to present at least six different choices, letting Jack pick from them.

From:

dadication

When he was angry, he wanted to shout at the world that Reyes was his bond, and he'd tear the entire place down for the man. It had never come to fruition, but he had dreamed about it as the political roller coaster seemed to pull him in so many directions all at once. The family life had never been in the cards for him, even if he had had a pipe dream about it awhile back. Duty came first, and his position made even the idea of adoption impossible. He had his bond, and he was satisfied.

He hummed, aware of Gabe's plans after the war, of settling down, probably starting a real family, not living the circus he and Reyes did. She had bonded though, and Gabe had become his fully after that. Still, sometimes he thought of missed opportunities when he was in particularly quiet moods. "If she hadn't bonded off, I would have encouraged you to. A real family is not something to be taken for granted. Instead we have this secretive song and dance we do. Sometimes I think it would have been happier for you." It had never been anything they had pushed though, and each of them had been happy for the other. "You're assuming I make it ten days without popping a stitch. What kind of man do you take me for?" He would like it cleaned. Hell, he really wanted to be clean all over.

Agreeably, he hummed acknowledgement, looking over at the choices that he could pick through. He decided on a mac and cheese one, thinking it would be the easiest on his stomach. Go figure he would be the one to puke in all of this despite Gabe's nausea. "Let's hope these don't taste like boiled cardboard."

From:

gr1m

Sometimes he wondered if it would be easier on them to let it no longer be a secret, that they were bonded, rather than dancing around things. So many gossip articles and news spectating on their love lives at times, even wondering why Reyes was still around since he wasn't Strike Commander or second in command. Before the secret of Blackwatch's existence had come out, at least.

"I don't know if I'd be happier- I wouldn't have changed going on with Overwatch, taking on Blackwatch. Don't think she could have taken the strain or stress of if I'd come back from a mission or the secrecy of the work, she's better off. Her and her family- you remember she made me one of their god parents, and asked for you to be as well." Not just the two of them of course, those kids had at least four, along with the rest of their family. "I'm happy with us, and I love you that I can't see myself being happier without."

Of course- "You pop a stitch and you know I'm going to make you let me redo all of it, right?" He would.

"Share it, or think you can take the whole thing on your own?" He worried that either of them attempting a full one just yet wouldn't do them any god, sharing could be their best bet. "One can only hope." Was already reaching for the mac and cheese one so he could open it and get it going either way. "Time for water and pills?"

From:

dadication

If the world had known, he knew they would have been in more danger than they were then. Their love lives were amusing speculation for some people, though he and Gabe were painfully private with it, never fielding questions about who they saw or their status. They had each other, and that's all that mattered to him. They always found the time for one another even under the mounting press of their duties.

"But even you could admit you'd be a good father," he reflected softly. They had, in their own way, wanted a family of their own, but the exposure would have been too much. Their lives weren't stable enough for a family, though god knew there were enough orphan children to have as their own. It just had never been in the cards. "You remember I refused, remember? I didn't know her enough for such an honour," he replied with a shake of his head. She had been Gabe's squeeze, not his. "As if you could get rid of me. You would never be without; you could have just friend-zoned me." Ha, like that would happen. They liked to pin each other to random places too much and that always got out of hand in the best possible way.

He stared at Gabe for a moment then slowly reached up to touched the lines of sutures in his face. There were many more across his body too, but these ones seemed most likely to go first. "You wouldn't. Popping one stitch isn't going to blow the whole thing open!" Just setting up for another one of their bickering matches.

He looked at the MRE, considered what he should do and what he could do and sighed. "Share one. I think I would be sick if I ate one by myself," he reflect. They should start slow and work their way up to full meals again. Being impaled on rebar meant they were continually fighting infection and that did a number on one's appetite. "Has it been eight hours already? I feel like a druggie at this rate."

From:

gr1m

All the reason that Gabriel had suggested they kept it secret all the same, and knew that Jack would agree with him; half suspected if he hadn't said it first Jack would have. Both of them knew how dangerous the information could be with their positions. All that mattered was that they had each other, be happy despite it all.

"So would you- kid'd be a little spoiled, but be raised right." Had been a topic of conversation, usually paired with 'what would you want to do if we ever got a chance to retire?' and all. Adopt a kid was high on the list for them both. "I remember, but she felt it'd be rude not to offer the same to my own bond," just how she'd been. "Could have, didn't want to," the pinning each other in and to random places was a part of it, way too much fun to miss out on. "How could I miss out on getting fucked in the back of your truck out on a field that one time I went back home with you?" Good times, clearly.

Honestly? The statement was good for that reaction alone. "And if others follow with it?" Need to be re-stitched anyway.

Gabriel nodded and tossed the others back where he'd gotten them for now, the chosen one propped up and the heating pack gotten going to warm up what needed the warmed up. Let the sit and go for a little while then- "Think it'd be for the best to share, too. Want the best chance of keeping everything down," for multiple reasons. "Think so? Close enough, and we need to keep up with the antibiotics at the very least."

From:

dadication

In the state they were in when they had met, Jack would have suggested that they keep it a secret. There was no telling if a bond would have automatically rejected him from the soldier enhancement program, since Gabe had already been through part of the questionable process when he had arrived. As selfish as it was, he wasn't going to risk this program for a bond where Reyes had already succeeded the program. It seemed justified that he too would make it, that Gabe would drag him through it for them to be bonded together. Their secret had been kept to limit the danger to them both in the end, and it had worked for well over twenty years.

"We would have had the kid raised by our families. War is no place for a child, and with our missions being a constant, it wasn't fair." Still, Jack had only admitted it to Gabe that he had wanted a family at some point. He had instead fatherly raised the ranks of Overwatch instead, his outlet for a family taken there when it was clear they would never have one of their own. It wasn't as retirement suited either of them. "She has a good heart; I can see why you cared for her." At the story of being fucked in the back of his truck, he had to laugh and that hurt but he was going to enjoy it anyway. "Weren't we out there to mend a fence? God, the sounds you made against that horse blanket..."

He looked uncomfortable, looking aside. He figured the others would hold; he was betting on them holding. "They won't? You're stitching was too good to just fall apart." That was a compliment. So Gabe would stop threatening to stitch him up again.

He hummed, turning his head to view the water now that their MRE was warming up and would be ready to eat in a few minutes. His palm stroked down one of Gabe's arms before leaving so he could reach out for a glass of water and pulled it to his chest, leaving the second one for Gabe. "You still look flushed with fever. As much as I hate antibiotics, we should keep up with them. How's your pain?"

From:

gr1m

Mouths would have surely ran during SEP if the secret had gotten out, even when it likely wouldn't have been for malicious reasons for the most part. Fellow participants that either of them were close with would have likely celebrated best allowed- but it was for the best. Selfish as it could have seemed, it had worked out damned favorably for them both, which mattered most in the end.

"Kid would have damn well known they were loved- but I agree with you there, did back then, too." Gabriel had more or less don the same with Blackwatch, McCree damn well proof of that one with how he'd pulled the punk kid in and kept him from spending whatever life left serving out prison sentences and what could come after. "One of the few outside the family I could trust with our secret," still kept it, too. The corner of his mouth twitched, hand rested against Jack at all the laughter, "Yeah, think we were. Had a damn good time, can't forget how eager you were to get those sounds out of me."

His thumb brushed against Jack's jaw, hand moving down along the side of his neck. "Just worry about what could happen, you know? Still need to clean up around them..." He was concerned that it wasn't as good as it looked, fucked as they both had been at the time.

Gabriel's nose wrinkled a bit- "I still feel like I have a fever, but the pain's jut a dull throb for now. Figure we can both hold out on the pain, but we definitely need the antibiotics." Leaning over to grab that second glass of water, while also grabbing one bottle of pills. Still had enough.

From:

dadication

The discussion of family had gone on, but it would have been another chip to keeping their secret. They could claim to be dating, but that would have upset the lines of command and that was another matter that they couldn't risk. They had made decisions to make certain the war was won and that all levels of Overwatch were able to run smoothly. With how it had ended, Jack now had a brief moment of wondering if all of that personal sacrifice had been worth it.

"But it was never to be," he murmured softly, letting his head fall back against the wall. In some ways, the ache of his wounds seemed suddenly deeper and more difficult to bear with this topic of discussion. They had, after all, in their own way adopted members of Overwatch or Blackwatch for themselves, to fill the void they couldn't with their relationship restrictions. Maybe they had lived vicariously through Ana with her Fareeha. He was holding bruised ribs to try to keep any laughter from hurting quite as much. "I seem to remember you were just as eager to give them. That one cow coming over to investigate."

He nodded slightly at the concern, appreciating it. He was still grappling with all that had happened, all the wounds they bore to show it on each other. "We can try to clean up if we're still awake after we eat." He knew that their energy would likely flag quickly. "You did a good job, especially with the conditions we were working off of." Dying of exhaustion, cold and shock.

He reached up to set his hand to Gabe's forehead, feeling the warmth that still radiated off of the older man. "You probably do, so keep taking those antibiotics for as long as we have them." And maybe they would have to steal or buy more soon enough. He sipped his water a bit, letting to wet his throat.

From:

gr1m

Could only hope it was worth it all, because there were numerous people within the group that would have lost a lot if it hadn't been for Overwatch. Been a family for Winston, who had in turn pulled Lena from being trapped in whatever time slipsteam nonsense had gotten her. Had done a lot of good for the world, even if lately it had felt like a good bit of the world had turned on them.

"How it goes sometimes," good or bad. They still had their moments, and managed to have some fulfillment in their lives in one form or another. At least for the moment e'd gotten Jack to laugh despite all of the other talk, squeezing his hip just a little. "What can I say? You know where to press to get all sorts of noises out of me. Who could forget the cow."

Been a hell of a night, one that wouldn't soon be forgotten at that. "Count it a win if we both eat and it stays down," the cleaning could come soon. Help fight off infection if they could have done it sooner- but it was just the two of them. They could only manage so much with what they were working with. "Hopefully none of them will need to be redone."

Gabriel couldn't help it, his head tilted against that hand as his eyes slipped closed for just a moment. "Plan on it, rather not get taken out by an infection after all of that." Shaking a couple of them out n to a hand to take, downing them with water, before he was offering the bottle to Jack- "Means you need to be taking them, too. Might not be as bad as me there, but better safe than sorry."

From:

dadication

Not only had Overwatch been family for some, it had been a beacon of hope for others who weren't so lucky. Their reach had never extended into all the countries that had needed them, but he had made certain that it wasn't just monuments that they were deserving of. They wanted to illicit real societal change, wanted to help lift up those who couldn't do it for themselves. In the end, it seemed that not making everyone happy was inevitable and dangerous. Still, it had been a family away from their own ones.

"Don't you wish it was different sometimes?" Deep waxy conversations had never been their strong suit, too objective and tactical for the what ifs and what would bes, but he could dream sometimes. Laughing had felt good even if it hurt. Freeing, that's what it was. "I think she was as in love with you by the end of the night as I was. Kept licking you and followed you right to the fence hoping for some attention."

He sighed heavily and with a nod. It would be a win if both of them managed to eat and keep it down. They had managed with the little bits of protein bar that they had consumed, but this meal would be heavier and fuller. They needed the energy though. "We'll take it slow." God, it would feel nice to be clean, to scrub away the evidence of the trauma they had been through. "I just want to be clean someday." To erase blood and dirt from his skin for a little while, even if he would likely never fully unsee it from himself from now on.

He hummed in agreement, taking the bottle of antibiotics when they were passed over and shaking out some pills for himself. He set the bottle back on the bedside table and then downed the pills in hand with some water. "Considering that rebar turned me into a pin cushion as much as you, I think I need them just as much." It was amazing they had survived. "It was probably dumb luck we survived that. I don't think I could have made it out without you helping me from being pinned as I was."

From:

gr1m

Done a lot of good, in a variety of ways.

His head tipped slightly, "Sometimes- think it'd be great having a family with you, couple of kids. Whole works." But the thoughts always involved Jack and no one else, "As long as I have you? I'm happy, no matter what or how things turn out." Family in the 'traditional' sense of the words or not. Gabriel did snort a bit, "She was a sweet thing, always give her that, even if she got curious at the wrong time." Cow had gotten some attention, too.

"Slow is probably for the best," for a little while at least. Even if it felt like they were dragging through waist deep mud as it was anyway. Ugh. "You will be, and hopefully it's not going to have to wait until we hit the bunker. Working showers or not I'd rather not have to wait much longer for that," just a light little tease there, okay.

Sipping from that cup in hand still, slowly. Didn't want to overdo water of all things. "Not disagreeing there, be a hell of a thing to get out of that and get taken out by infection," made it trough a sniper for fuck's sake. "Don't think I'd have made it out without you," or wouldn't have wanted to, but not the point then and there.

From:

dadication

He sighed softly, fingers massaging at Gabe's arm before offering a small pat. It would have been nice, house of their own, couple of kids, maybe a pet or two... but it wasn't a life they could have, was it? Too committed to duty and now... he suspected they were supposed to be dead, so no ability to risk it. "Would have been a nice thing, that. Just a dream though. People like us never seem to have that sort of thing." He forced himself to move, to lean in so he could rest against Gabe's broad back. "Always say the sweetest things, Reyes. You should have become a poet." He snorted softly, remembering that night fondly, how a single cow had nearly given them away. They probably weren't as sneaky as they thought they were either. "Loved to see you every time you came home with me."

Some of it was going to have to wait he knew. This clean up job was going to take more time then they actually had, so he knew for the first while, their faces and any exposed skin would be priority to keep down suspicions. "Feel like it might. We're both a mess." He shook his head slightly. "As long as I feel like my face is clean, I guess I'll be content." He tutted softly. "Don't get your incisions wet, isn't that what Angela says?"

He grunted and could only imagine the news on that. They make it out, dodge snipers and enemies and then succumb to infection like any other man. What a way to go. Too bad that wasn't going to happen on his watch. "You're too stubborn to die of infection, and I'm too stupid to." Blond moments and all that which he could yell out when he wanted to. "But we did make it, and we're going to survive. There's a whole mess to get to the bottom of. Talon is to blame for them. We both know it, and we'll emerge to lay out what evidence we have on their activities." Oh how wrong he would be.

From:

gr1m

It was a dream, a very nice and comforting one that neither of them were really cut out for when the job always came first. Whatever mission. They at times had enough difficulty hanging on to each other through it all, and as much as it could have hurt it was no place to put a child amongst it all out of... worry, fear. Even if they talked about it, if they ever retired- that too was a dream of sorts. "It's still a good dream, among every other dream we've fought for and worked toward." He relaxed a little with that added weight against his back, "Could and maybe should have become a lot of things, but they'd not be as good without you."

He did chuckle, and hell he was glad it didn't hurt to do that anymore, "Always a bright spot in visiting your folks with you. Smart thing," knowing it was him and all that.

"A mess is putting it nicely, and fuck first chance we get I would love to soak in a warm tub of water," after a shower. Tub was for soaking and relaxing after all, not just getting clean. "Yeah, and hell if we usually listened. Think it's about time we try." What they could remember, and what both of them had learned with the basics course.

The water felt cool in his throat, and at least wasn't upsetting his stomach. "All the more reason we got the fuck out of there was our stubbornness." To survive, to get each other out. "Just got to get our hands on some solid proof. Trails that lead right to them."

From:

dadication

Dreams would always remain that way, something to talk about but never have. Maybe now he was regretting it somewhat, having realized that he had lost everything with the collapse of Overwatch. After all, what sort of Overwatch would be left when they would send snipers to take out the Commander and Strike Commander if they managed to make it out of the rubble? There had been no other bodies but enough people that could have made it out. No, he and Reyes had just lost everything except for each other. "And now it's all gone. All the dreams, all the aspirations, all the hopes we could make it work. Talon took us apart," he remarked glumly, resting his cheek on Gabe's shoulder and closing his eyes. "I would have supported you being a poet. Probably would have been safer than Overwatch anyway."

He nodded his head, missing home suddenly. The family farm. The simplicity of working the land honestly. He could only take it here and there for a few weeks and then he'd go mad with how limiting that life was, how little information came, how people were stuck in the old ways. He still missed it now, feeling quiet and alone aside from Gabriel.

"You get first dibs on the tub then," he agreed because he wasn't so certain that he would be able to settle quite so quickly. A quick wipe down to remove the horrifying experience of crawling out of a collapsed building, over the bodies of comrades and then being shot in the shoulder... he was going to need to watch a couple of sunrises at this point. "Maybe it's time we took her advice. After all of this, it would be pathetic to die from infection and our wounds coming open."

Talon suddenly seemed a whole lot bigger from the bottom where they were currently sitting, not resources to back them up. He figured that once they healed up a bit, he would reach out to his contacts, get a lay of the land and come out of hiding. He assumed that option would still be available to him, and with his position, he could protect Reyes, let him have room to maneuver in the quiet shadows and look for weaknesses in Talon. "I'll reach out to some friends when we are more on our feet. We'll get to the bottom of Talon."

From:

gr1m

"It wasn't just Talon if they got in that deep," had been the constant thought in his mind; there was someone -or a group of them- that had made this happen. From the inside. That damn deep, and which of them had the time to keep looking deeper and deeper in to their own for that clawed in rot? "All of that shouldn't die with us, or with Overwatch." They'd fought for that too, hadn't they? Make others capable of defending themselves, even if on a smaller scale.

Keep that hope and dream alive, inspired in all minds.

His head tilted, nuzzling Jack again without really thinking about it, letting eyes drift closed again. "Mm, when I feel like I can take a good soak- after getting clean. Want this grime off the both of us as soon as possible, maybe get a clean bed eventually." Once the pain medications ran out, he doubted he'd be able to sleep as well as they had these past several hours. "Maybe, we know the basics at the very least. Keep our asses going."

They'd both have to step carefully, analyze just who they could actually trust and who might sent another assassin down on their heads. "See what I can get off the Blackwatch databases- some of them I should still have access to. Scrounge up anything and everything we can and compile it together." Conspiracy wall?

From:

dadication

"That's not better," he replied, shaking his head where it rested on Gabe's shoulder. He knew there were plenty of small-scale organization and big corporations that benefited from Overwatch falling. They were an international powerhouse, but they also supported industry across the globe as well. He had always thought that they were important to find a balance, but all along, people had been eroding it all for one reason or another. "We can't come out to salvage things until we know it's safe. I won't risk you."

He hummed in agreement, figuring that Reyes would be the first in the shower as well, washing away the grime of their escape. Somehow, Gabe had always been able to shed the traumas of that kind of harsh business better than he could, which made sense given the somewhat dirty operations that Blackwatch had to endure. "Maybe you should grab a shower after we eat?" The clean bed might be harder to achieve until they made their way to the safe house. "We are going to need to. Can't disappoint everyone. And we'll need to steal more pain medication after tomorrow. I don't want you uncomfortable."

Sleeping was hugely important to them healing. The less active they were, the faster they healed but if they were grossly uncomfortable, that wasn't going to happen.

He nodded, aware that the Blackwatch database was important in this process. Then again, who could they actually trust? He liked to think the people he would reach out to, but who knew? Everyone was probably going to be out to save their own skin. "...I need to know who is dead and alive too. Who we can reach out to."

From:

gr1m

"No, it's not better, it's worse," so much fucking worse, "but you know it's a reality we have to keep in mind." Gut wrenching as the thought was, laced with something bitter and just... numb? He had suspected it for so long, and he knew Jack had to as well after some of their talks and arguments. Frustration of being unable to do a thing because only traces could be sniffed out rather than anything solid that a search could be launched from. "Won't risk you either."

Troubled him at night while he slept, but he could compartmentalize it all to help keep pushing forward; for better or worse. It wore at him, always did and always would, but he had to keep moving forward. Cling to what wasn't lost. "What's the point when the bed isn't that clean?" Maybe wash his face and hair at least- "Think we both should at least get hair and face. Better to not attract looks when we move," had to get more clothing. Fingers lightly brushing through Jack's air-

"We will, hit up a drugstore and get in and out as quick as possible. Whatever we need to do, for us both."

Didn't doubt there'd be days after this where they did nothing but eat and sleep, needed it. Take a while to feel it do any good, but at least they could have that peace in one of the unlisted bunkers. Give them a chance, take up stock with what was there.

Gabriel was quiet for a moment, not looking at Jack even as fingers still curled through his hair- "... we need to turn on the tv and look at what news is hitting."

From:

dadication

"I know." If anything, he and Gabriel would understand the implications better than anyone else because they had always been in the thick of it. If more than Talon was involved, then they would be fighting an uphill battle, but fight they would. They had been born to fight, and they did it well. He liked to think that he was prepared.

He looked at the bed where they were sitting, seeing how filthy it was. Blood, grime, dirt and god knew what else was staining the sheets. They would be gone by tomorrow and he knew that they would at least burn the sheets so evidence of their stay here would not be obvious. They had to cover their tracks until they knew who their enemies were. "We can sleep on top of the comforter?" He reached up to run his fingers over the line of sutures on his face and then touched his hair that was grey and black with debris. "I don't think there's hope for my face. I'm pretty recognizable no matter what I do. I should hide it completely." A man with his face held together with sutures would leave quite the impression and draw attention.

He hummed in agreement. They were going to need to find a way to be comfortable, even if they were choking down eight pills of common pain killers. "I know. We're in this together as we always have been. We'll steal what we need to for now." Pay it back later, if there was opportunity.

He was safe enough now, resting here on Gabe's back while they waited for their meal to heat up in its packaging. Yet, he couldn't help but stiffen at the comment, even if he knew it was true. He swallowed hard and slowly nodded his head. "...yeah, we do. The preliminary reports will be false because of the confusion."

From:

gr1m

There was a lot they'd be battling against, once they were able to pick up and fight again; no question in if, it was more so a when than anything else. How could they stop now? After fighting so damn long, neither of them could just sit back after everything. Especially after what was damn well obvious an attempt on their lives with who knew how many casualties at this point.

"There's showers at where we're headed. If you can wait until then? So can I." Along with not questionably clean beds. Could at least drag Jack to his room, always had his room at these places along with bunks others could sleep. Small handful, not made for a lot of people, but it would do the two of them well enough. He rested a hand against the side of Jack's face gently- "With a pair of sunglasses, and something to cover your lower face? We can manage. Can think of something, don't you worry about dragging attention." This was something he excelled at after all- even if there'd be very little to work with.

They'd steal only what they needed and could get some other way, because it was the only way for what was needed. Wasn't like either of them could walk in somewhere and buy it in their condition- more so if there were people out there waiting for them to pop up. He agreed there.

Gabriel felt him stiffen up, staring towards the remote that either worked or didn't even as he spoke- "We've slept long enough more accurate reports are probably coming in. Want me to...?" Turn it on.

From:

dadication

"I can wait, yeah," he remarked because he was in no hurry to expose how damaged he was, how much they had survived. Yes, he wanted the memories that were associated with their filth off of him, but he knew it would reveal a whole other set of troubling indication of their struggles. "I figure sunglasses and a hoodie, I can keep a low profile enough for us to get out of town." He knew that Gabriel was a master of disguises, even if it felt kind of wrong that it would be him wearing one. He was so used to being the in the public's eye. "All I care about is making it out safe with you; I don't care what I look like to do that."

He felt the weight of reservation to what would be on the television, but he knew better than to go outside blind in the morning. They had to know somewhat what they were dealing with. His concern was that he would already be overwhelmed with the images of their life's work shown as rubble, aware of the numbers of people that were in that Watchpoint. It was better to get it over with.

He slowly nodded, lifting his head up Gabe's shoulder enough to be able to look at the dark television on the dresser for a moment then glanced at the remote. He reached out beyond Reyes to pick it up from the nightstand and turn the television on. "Maybe we should wait to eat first..."

It turned out that it wouldn't matter. The limited channels were all covering the disaster at Overwatch Watchpoint and the static-y images painted the screen. Flames, rubble, emergency crews digging through it all in search of people. Media commentating on the disaster that all political countries were calling a terrorist attack from within.

From:

gr1m

"Got a hot and clean shower to look forward to, along with actual soap and not the nothing we've got in that bathroom." Not even any of those tiny cheap motel soaps were in that bathroom several feet away, okay. "We may really have to steal some clothes, because it isn't like we got much going for us right now." Hit up a clothes donation box maybe? Ugh, only thing they had were the jackets and what barely survived the explosion. "We're going to get out safe. Both of us."

They hadn't stopped to look while getting out of it and running, didn't have the time or the want. Only thinking about escape once that shot had been fired at them. Thinking only of getting the other out alive. Running. Surviving. Gabriel wasn't looking forward to any look at what they'd just crawled out of.

Make it that much more of a reality, maybe. Hit all over again— "I don't think either of us has a good chance of keeping food down..." If they ate first. Even if it wasn't from anything more than seeing it that much more.

He tensed when the images hit the staticked screen, a hand reached back a gripping whatever part of Jack he could reach. Couldn't hear any of what was being said, gaze stuck on the pictures coming through. Actually seeing what they had crawled out of.

From:

dadication

Somehow, the idea of a hot shower and cleanliness faded quickly for them both as they had their first look at the devastation that they had crawled out of. The Watchpoint was almost completely leveled, collapsed in on itself with only a few standing pillars that supported the structure like claws reaching for the sky. There were flames that were being fought, there were search crews with hard hats digging and coordinating over the rubble. Dogs were being used to look for survivors near the surface.

He could see people - Overwatch people - being pulled out, blooded and frightened but also relieved to be free. It had been a massive explosion, well planned and well coordinated. It was amazing anyone near the bottom of it all would survive, and yet they had by some miracle. They had crawled their way out of it.

Gabriel was right though. Any even consideration of consuming food was like ash in his mouth, and he felt a lurch of nausea seeing the destruction. He had been part of the war, had seen towns leveled in the war, but this was so close to home. That was home, and the reasons for it were beyond his comprehension.

"...it's gone." Watchpoint. Maybe Overwatch. Their life's work. He gripped the wrist of the hand settled on his thigh, needing to give and receive the support.

From:

gr1m

The war had been one thing, this... this was something else in a way. An attack from within that had caused such devastation. How many had they passed on their own climb that were likely dead now? Those that had already been dead, that both of them had to pull themselves over for their bid of freedom.

"We weren't the only ones high up there command wise, were we?" Were they? He didn't even remember now. Even if he was benched, they had made Jack the heart of it all as Strike Commander. One Watchpoint out of many, but it was still a big hit for them alone, wasn't it?

Fuck.

Even the tall statue of Morrison was fallen amid the rubble, broken as if it was some foreboding sign of what might ripple down the chain of Overwatch.

Turning his hand to grip at the other's wrist in turn, some fain tremble to his hand. "Shit, Jack."

From:

dadication

Jack knew they had passed over bodies while they made their escape, but at the time, he was so disoriented, so desperate to get out that he hadn't given much thought to those they left behind. From their path, they had no run across anyone alive that they could have pulled out and taken with them. Unfortunately, they had been in a less populated area of the Watchpoint, but this absolute devastation...

"No... Jayme, Hiroko, and Bast was there too," he murmured, able to recall the members that normally ran that Watchpoint while he and Gabe and Ana were elsewhere. There were so many others that weren't high command but still held important strategic positions. He made certain never to keep all of command in one place, wanting them spread out to be able to compensate if anything like... this happened.

His mouth worked as if he wanted to say more, but his eyes were glued to the screen as they cycled through the images, the videos while reporters and politicians offered condolences and a call for aide.

"...I should be there..." he murmured softly, voice cracking with emotion. "I should be there helping them pull people out. They're our people... what if I can save some, Gabe...?"