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[dadication]

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[dadication]

They had been in an argument over eating before, petty and childish as it was. He knew that refusing the bread would make it that Gabe wouldn't eat, would wait him out to insist they do things together. "Yeah sure," he said grudgingly, not even certain he would keep anything down with the news flooding in as it was. He felt sick to his stomach, found it twisting up in knots of worry. Not eating wasn't an option. He took the packet now in his lap and turned it over in his hands. "If I puke on you... I'm sorry now because I won't be as much then."

Then he was back to resting his cheek on Gabe's shoulder, watching the television as his fingers fumbled with the packaging to get it open. His fingers were so damn sore after their escape and the injuries - though not major - made fine motor activities difficult.

"Surprised she allowed them to pull her away at all," he remarked. She was determined to do proper disaster response after all. He could hear the interviewer and Angela sounded haggard as she detailed the devastation and that they were still looking for victims. No she didn't know what caused the blast as her priority was getting people out.

[gr1m]

Break off little pieces and pretend it's a cracker, or even just break it apart as needed. At this point? He didn't care if the bread was actually eaten or not, it was an offer to try and provide some comfort for that nervous and stressed habit Jack had. Knew he had it, too, had seen all of those stashed crackers. "If you puke, aim more for the sheets or the floor, likely isn't something they've never seen before." It was going to be torched for the most part anyway.

Carefully, so carefully and affectionately, Gabriel had a hand rested on Jack's head again to brush fingers through his hair. Hoped it was soothing, even comforting. Picking a bit at the already open energy bar they had from the night before. Slipping little pieces in to his mouth to chew on slowly, sip some water as well.

"Judging from her expression? I don't think she let them, more that someone's forcing her to talk to them." But who? It was a look in her eyes, the way she seemed to be glancing at someone not in view of the camera. The reporter was asking where the Strike Commander was, since it didn't appear that he was helping with the efforts or was even around.

[dadication]

He had to get the packing open first without ripping and spilling bread all over the place, which he was slowly managing to do at least. Small victories was what they needed at this point. "Yeah, this place isn't even two star at this point," he agreed as he broke off a piece of bread to put it in his mouth, mostly sucking on it rather than trying to chew. It didn't take like much of anything. "Need to keep it down if I can." He was anxious and stressed, the news making his head spin.

He tipped his head towards Gabriel's fingers, closing his eyes as he slowly chewed the bread in his mouth but listening. He could hear the emergency sirens in the background, the soft call of people to each other, the crackle of flames. It was still a horrid sight, made worse by the state that Angela was in, forced away from where she was best for the whims of some leader who had managed to make it there and insert themselves. He knew the type.

Yet, his head shot up at the questions regarding him, wincing as it sent waves of pain through his back and shoulders. Right, still wounded. Angela seemed upset with the question, impatient as she said that Strike Commander was likely in the rubble, given that he had been suspected in the building at the time. They were searching for him like everyone else who had been there. Morrison wouldn't want special efforts looking specifically for him but for all of his people.

[gr1m]

Gabriel was fortunate tat the energy bar had been ripped open just last night, because he felt the clumsy digits himself this morning. Wear off soon enough he hoped, once things started healing better. For that they both needed to get food in them so that energy produced could go towards healing. "Little pieces. Can never forget how dense MRE bread is." Flavorless and dense as hell, it really was little better than a stale cracker texture wise.

Was still head spinning to remember that was what the both of them had crawled out of. Dug themselves out and then ran in to the night to steal an ambulance and then set the fucker aflame because someone had tried to shoot them shortly after crawling out. The only reason they couldn't be found.

Asking her if she had any ideas what could have caused the explosion, if she had any ideas that could confirm that Strike Commander Morrison was in the building. Was there anything going on within that could have given signs or clues of anything leading up to this. Typical nosy reporter that had something to aim for.

[dadication]

They were both struggling to eat, to break off pieces of their respective meal choices while they waited for the mac and cheese to heat fully. He chewed slowly, his face definitely hurting with every motion. Somehow, even his teeth hurt at this point, but that was probably because he had spent so much time clenching from pain. Still, he did slip small pieces of bread into his mouth and needed water to soften it down enough that he could chew wouldn't feeling like his face and mouth was on fire. "I know... just everything hurts when I chew." Sometimes when he talked too. "Need it, just... feel sick."

Because look at what they had managed to survive. It was a miracle. Even as a bonded pair, both of them had been caught in it. If one of them had 'died', the other might have given up or been unable to survive the escape, which would have ended them both. He slipped an arm around Gabe's waist to hug the older man carefully, needing that contact.

Angela, bless her, was no-nonsense, saying she had work to do and that if Strike Commander was in the rubble, she needed to get back to work to find him. She had no other confirmation to him or any of the other members of high command but that every life was important. Then the reporter asked that damning question: could Reyes be involved in any of this?

[gr1m]

"I'd say let me kiss it and make it feel better but I'm worried you'll puke on me." It was as light and teasing as he could make it, but he couldn't help it. There would always be that little need to try and help lighten Jack's mood no matter the situation. Both of them needed something at the moment and just... this was all they had. They could work with it at least.

Likely had been close to one of them 'dying' with how some of the rebar had impaled, along with just those concrete slabs, the concussive force of the blast- there was so, so much that could have done it. They had been very fortunate that they'd had each other to help push forwards. That need to get the other out safely to keep going and everything. The continued contact beneficial to them both even now.

His eyes narrowed a bit at the question, could see the way Angela's mouth pressed in to a line and focused at something beyond the camera. She wouldn't say, but mentioned that it appeared the two of them had been arguing more often. Could barely get along. From an outsider's view sure but- "... they're playing at something." He could feel it.

[dadication]

"I would be certain to puke right in your face," he replied dryly, shaking his head because really Gabe? He appreciated the attempt to keep the mood light, better than he would doing. Normally he was the optimistic one, pushing the good moods and pep talks, but right now? He felt so worn down from his old position, of the devastation that he couldn't muster. He was burnt out.

He knew that it was a miracle they survived and probably only did because they were close together. The sheer number of wounds that they walked away with was indication enough of their hard time, but it seemed that they would heal. It would take time, rest and calories, but they could do it. Maybe they hadn't been through worse yet, but they hadn't died yet.

He stopped chewing the bite in his mouth and stared at the screen, feeling his stomach flip flop. He knew that kind of questioning well. His arm tightened around Gabe's waist protectively. Angela couldn't entirely deny the tension but made it clear they were under a lot of pressure. She pointedly did not mention Ana's passing. "There's no way they can blame you. We've been investigating Talon for years...."

[gr1m]

"You're just you like that." He tried, that could at least be said, and Gabriel had his moments where and when he could. Only ever tried for Jack simply because he knew the man knew him inside and out like that. Would see the attempt for what it was outside of anything else. Tired and worn as they both were. Weary from so damn much happening in such a short amount of time, being hit all over again with just what they'd survived.

His attention was focusing on the television, the energy bar forgotten for a moment, only held in place by that arm around his waist. There was a sinking feeling in his gut, enough to like turn it if he'd had something more solid in his stomach.

This was- "They're trying to lead her on, and the only reason she's still there is because some suit pulled her in." She was someone the word would trust, a good one to go to without Jack there. Always seemed to be the blonds who were dedicated to their work the media ate up. "Jack, if Talon managed to get this far, do you think they wouldn't have someone damn high up in their pocket for afterwards?" She looked like she wanted to leave, uncomfortable about speaking of how frayed and distant they seemed to be from each other.

Arguing a lot lately, strained and unfriendly.

[dadication]

"Apparently you wouldn't change me either," he replied but couldn't smirk because he knew it would hurt and pull his sutures. Damn things! Better than busting his lip open at every expression and bleeding all over the place. He knew that Gabe was putting on such a brave face for him, to keep him focused forward rather than sink into a combination of exhaustion, hurt and shock from the event they had survived.

He too stopped eating entirely, staring at the holovid, at how Angela was put in position to start a narrative she likely had no idea was happening. She was honest but also could be naive when it came to the strings being pulled. She meant no harm, but she was opening a door that Jack, even in his tired mental state, could see building thanks to spending so much time with Reyes.

"...they are building the narrative with her to have you the scapegoat. If you're dead and I'm dead, there's no one to contest that you..." blew the whole damn building up. A fight that went too far with a fit of rage, a yelling match that escalated to violence. "...they're going to try to blame you and Blackwatch for this."

Jack had previously been pleasantly warm again, but he felt heat blast through him as what limited blood he had rose to his skin in an angry flush. They wouldn't. No, if they would sacrifice hundreds of innocent lives, they would certainly move to pin the whole thing on Reyes who has the intelligence, resources and potential motive to do so.

"No."

[gr1m]

"You don't mess with near perfection," okay so there were still attempts, even if he honestly wouldn't change a thing about Jack. Loved him the way he was because of it. Even with all of this now it was- they were still them, and together.

A hand rested on Jack when he moved, fingers twitching a bit despite the little grip remain loose. Just that little extra bit of contact as he focused on expressions. She did look trapped somewhere amongst the exhaustion, likely didn't have any idea where they were going with the questioning. Hell, knowing her she likely was focused on getting back to the rubble, helping whoever and however she could.

"This was planned- this was planned."

Far higher and deeper than they imagined.

[dadication]

The idea that anyone - anyone - would think to bring Overwatch down on Gabriel Reyes over some disagreements that they had been having proved that either people didn't know they were bonded or they just plain didn't care. Reyes had given everything to Overwatch, slipping into the shadows to see that the organization had the information that they needed. The sheer idea that anyone would put the fall of it down on a man who had dedicated his life to making it work was the ultimate insult.

Maybe it didn't help that Jack was bonded tightly to Gabriel, so anyone taking a shot at his bond like this set-up seemed to be happening raised his temperature and boiled his blood as his normally level-headed temper broke almost instantly. No, there was no way that he would stand for this.

Gabriel Reyes was a patriot and a hero!

Wounded or not, Jack was angry enough to lose reason. He pulled back from Gabe, fueled by his anger as he tore himself from the bed and leaving behind his packet of MRE bread to search around for any clothing that had basically survived so he could pull it on. Almost everything was ruined, but he was tearing around looking for tattered pants to pull them on and yeah, he'd be using one of the EMT jackets since his own was thrashed.

"I won't stand for it!" He grabbed up the sniper rifle that Gabe had stolen, ignoring the pain of his injuries as he checked the ammunition. "They can't do this! I won't let them!"

[gr1m]

"Jack!"

Of course he was stunned at first, Gabriel having watched him suddenly get up after pulling away, head snapping in his direction and hissing with the pain, stuck there on the bed for a moment. Caught between what was dawning on him, what was going to happen, and then Morrison launching himself in to it like this.

Within seconds he was scrambling off the bed himself after Jack, catching him by the arm, well away from the end of that sniper. "You can't go out there! We can't go out there! They're still likely going to be on the lookout! Especially if they find that dead sniper!" He hoped it was because they didn't know about the bond, really, really hoped.

[dadication]

While they had the discussion not even an hour ago about how it wasn't safe, how they would be targeted, Jack had hit the point in his anger that was all welcome them to try mode because he was going through anyone that stopped him from putting an end to this conspiracy before it managed to get off the ground. He'd kill snipers and military personnel that tried to stop him too. Wouldn't even hesitate.

He twisted his arm in Gabriel's hold, jerking himself free hard enough to set his teeth on edge in pain. He tucked the rifle under his arm safely and turned on Reyes. "I don't care! They can't get away with this! No one blames you for this mess!"

He would find whoever had put Angela up to such an interview and punch them. He staggered to pull on the jacket, to set himself to just going. "You stay here. You're lung needs to heal, and if I do get shot again, you're going to need to be safe to keep me alive while I rip them limb from limb!"

[gr1m]

Fuck.

He winced himself when Jack jerked free, but that didn't stop him. Gripping the back by the back of that EMT jacket he'd worked himself in to. "I do! You can't go out there while it's still so dangerous! You won't get near the place without getting shot! They'll be all over you within seconds!" Didn't doubt it for a second either. Then where would he be? Stuck on his own somewhere without his bond? What the fuck was he supposed to do?

"I need you with me! Not out there going on some one man army stunt out of anger!" Gabriel wasn't about to let him go without a fight, no matter his own condition. "What do you think will happen once they have you? They'll figure I have to be out there somewhere, too!

"They'll start hunting me down with you!"

[dadication]

He was stopped from forcing his feet back into dirty boots when he felt the grip to the back of the jacket that he had zipped himself into, the only clothing he had that wasn't a completely loss. He twisted to look at Gabe, his expression raw with anger. "I can take care of myself and you know it! I'm a soldier just like you, and I will not stand for them to pain you with the brush of treason, Reyes! Your name will be turned to mud; your family will be left wondering...!" He couldn't do that to the Reyes family.

His nostrils were flared with anger, his eyes a stormy blue as he stared at Reyes and moved to jerk the jacket out of the other man's grip. He needed to go. That interview was live, and if he could leg it hard, he could make it back within an hour.

"I'm telling the truth! I can't let them do this to you. You're my bond, and I promised when we first met that I'd defend your honour!" And he hadn't had to much previously, but he did when Reyes landed himself in political hot water. Not just his job but because he wanted to protect Reyes as much as possible. "Overwatch will believe me. Our allies will believe me!"

He felt a shock at the idea of them using him to find Reyes. It wasn't unheard of. The bond between pairs living as close as they had for years meant that they could use methods to force Reyes in or force him to find Reyes.

"... I won't betray you. I won't let them take me! I just need to tell them to truth!"

[gr1m]

"My family knows the both of us better than this!" Knew him better than that. Had it really been that long ago since the both of them had spoken with any of his family? Any of the Morrisons? The two groups of people that knew their secret, knew the two of them as well as they knew each other. "You're not at your best- neither of us are! You're not thinking straight either." Not hurt and angry like this, it was the most reckless and foolish thing that could be done when they needed to lay low.

Gabriel wasn't letting go, if anything he was holding tighter, getting a grip on Jack himself again. Not just the jacket. A part of him struck ice cold with fear and worry of what could happen if he let the man out that door.

Horrible what ifs. "There's nothing to believe if they take you out the moment you're spotted, and then keep you held when they notice you don't stay dead no matter what they do!" Because of their bond, "They'll figure it out then, anyone could figure it out then—"

With Talon involved, and who knew who else, they'd resort to anything to get what they wanted. He was sure of that much.

"We're both vulnerable like this, Jack. Please," and he so rarely begged for anything.

[dadication]

"But don't you think all their friends will ask questions? Even a shadow of doubt and it will be undone and you'll be slandered!" He couldn't allow the world at large to think of Reyes that way as the man had sacrificed so much for the Omnic Crisis, had worked hard to save everyone and then keep them safe. His anger burned like an inferno in him as him being able to see the writing on the wall. "I don't need to be at my best to smash some heads together and stand in front of a camera! I can do all of that half-dead and half asleep!"

He struggled against the grip that Gabe managed to slip around him, twisting and jerking to try to get himself free. He was still careful, aware that his bond was injured and wasn't looking to aggravate those wounds more than he had to. "Let me go!" A part of him knew Reyes wouldn't without a real fight.

He instead decided to step on Gabe's foot hard to see if the older man would relent in grip as he struggled at the same time. "I know how to keep a low profile! Stop thinking I can't make this happen!" It would be very bad if anyone learned the truth, could test it and draw Reyes in to come protect him and drag him out of there. "I won't let them take me! I'll come back to you when I say my truth, Gabriel!"

He was yelling at this point, his voice cracking and hoarse, trying to express his anguish that any narrative would go this way. He had to stop it! He had to! He promised that he would protect Gabe no matter what, and if he didn't stop this, he would be failing.

At the actual begging, he made a broken noise and made one last effort to rip his way out of Reyes' grip before faltering and falling to his knees. "Fuck you... you need to let me do this. I have to protect you..."

[gr1m]

"Do you doubt your own family like you want to start doubting mine?" A low and dirty pull maybe, but he felt it was necessary at this point, no real offense taken at what was aimed at his own. He knew it was all anger and fear, worry about what this story the news was seemingly aiming towards would do to his name. He didn't care about what the world thought of him though, hardly ever did. There was only some small part of the world that mattered to him.

A large part of it was struggling against him and trying to break free, act like a foolhardy reckless idiot to defend his honor. "I can't, Jack." Not without fear of losing him if he did let go.

Even as he cried out at the step on his foot, only had him holding on tighter. Refused to let go, couldn't let go, not if he wanted to keep him- "We're out numbered, Jack. This is worse than a suicide mission. Please, you need to stop!" Taking the pain, even if he could feel something hurt, some searing pain somewhere at his side that he bit down.

Sinking right down with Jack and holding him all the more tighter. "The protect me, here. I need you with me, Jack. I need you with me." Those were tears welling up again, all of this just too damn much.

[dadication]

"My family is small, and my parents would shut down any inquiries," he replied carefully, not about to put any blame on the Reyes family. However, Gabe's extended family was massive and some where likely not going to understand the implications of asking about if the news was true. Gabe and Jack kept their bond very close-lipped to their direct family only. "People will talk. Friends of our families will talk. You're well-known... and I can't let them do this to your good name." He cared because Gabe was his bond and he needed to protect Reyes as part of his investment into their deep bond.

It was fruitless, and he knew it. If he tried to leave, he'd literally be dragging Reyes with him. It wasn't a risk he would take. He would willingly throw himself into the fire to stop this from happening, but he wasn't about to risk putting his bond out there as well. The two of them might be strongest when together, but even he knew they were a mess and not a functioning team.

"Numbers don't matter to me... I'll fight, and I'll show them that you had nothing to do with this," he murmured, having to bite his lower lip to not hiccup a dry sob. "It's not a suicide mission. I need to do this... I can't let them get away with this." He tried to jerk from Gabe's arms now that he had sunk to the floor, to crawl away even if a burning in his side already meant he had probably popped at least one stitch.

"How can I be a good bond to you if I let you be thrown under the bus like this? How can I protect you here if I can't even stand up for you out there? It's not fair." He punched the floor once, twice and a third time.

[gr1m]

"Size doesn't matter- I trust those who matter not to believe any of it, they know us and they know me—" That was the point he was trying to get in there firmly, without a single bit of doubt. He knew his family, knew the ones who would fight and argue if any blood or not so much as tried to come at them with any sort of accusation or belief of any lies. "Let them talk if they talk, none of them matter." Not to him, he didn't care about others' opinions of himself.

Wouldn't do half of the things he'd ever done if he did care.

At least one stitch had indeed popped, but it wasn't stopping Gabriel from holding on desperately. He was desperate, didn't want Jack to leave, panic pumping through his system, helped ignore his own pain and keep that tight hold. Didn't want Jack to risk himself for anything, not for this- "It is a suicide mission, no matter how strong or capable you are." There was too much stacked against them.

Neither of them were fit for any of this shit right now, let alone either of them doing anything Jack had the idea of alone.

"Jack," A whine to his voice, a silent plea as a hand went around Jack's wrist, pulling his fist up and away from the floor after that third punch. Wanting to cradle it and Jack to himself. "I couldn't ask for a better bond- none of this means you aren't. I need you with me more than ever because of this."

[dadication]

"They'll make you a wanted man!" If the narrative was going to spin as it seemed to be, Gabriel would be a traitor and there was no way that if he appeared again in the public eye that he would be given a fair trial, least of all in the face of public opinion. He could not stand for Reyes being painted as a traitor and a terrorist when the man had spent his entire life fighting against that very idea. "It will if they label you a traitor! Our government executes traitors!"

Of course his righteous anger, once stoked, would cause them both harm. He was too pumped on emotion and adrenaline to notice much at this point, and the weight of Gabe's arms around him kept him from really making a fight of it. He was so damn upset, even tuning out the holovid as he stared at the door as if opening it would burst open and he could run out without having to hurt Gabriel.

"It isn't a suicide mission if I can't die while you're alive," he snarled, curling his lip and not caring how much it flared pain through his wounds that were pulled. "I'll take them down with me and still end up walking away."

His hand flexed when Gabe managed to get a hold of his wrist, knuckles already bruising but the floor had suffered just as much. "Can't let them get away with this. I'm still Strike Commander," he hissed vehemently, flexing his fingers. "What kind of bond am I if I can't even protect you anymore? It was my entire job."

[gr1m]

"It won't matter, because it's not like I'll be showing my face in the public eye again with all of this! They just tried to kill us both!" Whoever all 'they' consisted of, it was hard to tell where the group started and where it ended. "It's not safe for either of us, Jack." Wasn't like he could just pop up somewhere, couldn't be sure he wouldn't be gunned down just as readily.

Couldn't feel anything but the searing pain up along his side, any bleeding caught by the bandaging wrapped around him. Likely be soaked through at some point during all of this, with how he twisted himself to make sure he had a good solid hold on Jack. Refusing to let up or let go, afraid of what could happen if he did.

"And if they decide to paint you a traitor as well because of you going out there and killing people? What good will that do either of us, if they're willing to do it to me." Please just listen—

Holding Jack that much closer to himself. "It still is your job, and I need you right here with me, not running off out there."

[dadication]

"That's a problem!" If they could put the word out there, then any appearances and attempts on them would be assassination. "You can't have all of your freedoms taken away if it goes down like we both think it might!" He was riling up all over again thinking about how Gabe would be forced to go off the grid, into hiding even if they planned a short-term dive into that. They could contact those that knew them and now... maybe not.

His own bandages were reflecting the difficulties of their struggle against each other, but he ignored it, pointedly wouldn't look down at them right now. He pushed at the arms around him, trying to pry them off even if meant dropping the sniper rifle and ended up with him leaning more on Reyes than away.

"I'll only take out anyone that stands in my way." It might not even involve killing, though he was feeling like he could definitely be in that mode. "I'm their golden boy and the public will be less willing to think of me as a traitor." It might still work, but he wasn't thinking clearly either, too angry, to hurt.

He finally looked at the hand that he had beaten the floor with and recognized a broken knuckle with how displaced it was. He shook his head, a dry choked sound leaving him. "I damn well broke my hand. What sort of asshole does that?" He shook his head at the same time he shook his head as if that would correct the problem. "I can't protect you from this..."

[gr1m]

"I know." He knew full well what a story like that would mean for him, do for hi chances of just going out anywhere in public. He'd already decided against showing his face anywhere the moment he had dropped in to this sort of survival mode however. Fully prepared for the consequences it meant. "I know."

Took advantage of that leaning in to him, get that much more of a secure grip around Jack. Doing his best to avoid tearing open any stitching anywhere, but it couldn't be helped, had felt like a couple of his own had popped. That searing pain along his side, under the bandaging, was all the proof he needed.

His head shook. "The public was calling for your head this week as it was, Jack." Turned against him so easily.

"The type of asshole you are," as if they needed more aches and pains from this entire experience. Coaxing Jack's head to rest against his chest, keeping the man held so close against him. "Please."

[dadication]

If anyone knew the implications as well as or better than he did, it was Reyes. This would make any sightings of them even more precarious, made them have to get to that safe house even more imperative because they couldn't be seen. No bodies meant no proof of death, but it also meant the public might be on the look out for their very public faces. "This can't happen... you're a patriot."

He was stunned by the implications of the narrative, horrified how it might play out, imagining a worst case scenario. It allowed him to be tucked more securely into Gabe's grip, which he had sort of stopped fighting again, but he was tense as if he might take flight at any moment. His nostrils were flared, eyes fixed and staring at nothing in particular, and he made a soft whining sound of pure pain and not all of it physical.

"...are we both going to be traitors?" Would the UN stoop so low? He'd never considered the possibility before.

He resisted his head settling on Gabe's chest at first but then gave in if it was pushed over and over. He ran his fingers over his busted knuckles and forced them back into position with a hiss of pain and a trembling. "...they taken everything from us. There's no... media interview I can give to make any of this better, to make up for the people we lost..."