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[dadication]

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[gr1m]

He hummed, "Oh, I definitely have a few favorite inches of yours." That grin just came right back when he was swatted at, ducking just a little to the side as he moved to tie that second boot right up all the while. All the better to get them both done, even while playing with Jack like that. "That love just kept getting stronger, too. First your eyes, your personality, then everything else about you, sunshine." Felt more than just lucky, even if they met in a place like SEP.

Could have spent a lifetime otherwise and never met the other considering their lies before it all.

Gabriel placed his hand against the bed and stood himself up slowly once Jack had pulled his feet back to himself. "Going to be leaning on you, Jack. Might push myself a bit out of worry for you, but I'm hoping you'll call my attention if I'm pushing too far- just like I'm going to be doing for you." Had to gather up what was left of his own clothing, letting the towel drop.

Finally dressing himself in what was left- "Give me a bit, jut make sure we've gathered everything we need to burn, and keep a cigarette or two out along with that lighter we found." Taking the matches and all with them- "You'll also need to let me get that sling fixed for you, I found some cloth we can use to make one."

[dadication]

"Well, you can't get too close those inches until I heal up," he remarked dryly, not that either of them planned for anything but more physical closeness for the comfort of sleep and healing he knew. He growled to pretend to be affronted as his second boot was tied securely, but that noise died off at the compliments, and he shook his head. "Smooth bastard... love that about you too when you decide to make use of it."

He watched Gabriel, making certain with a look that the older man wasn't going to have trouble remaining on his feet. They were both slow moving, and he knew that wasn't going to change no matter how much they might like it too. "Alright, I'll call it to your attention if you're pushing it," he agreed because what else could he do? They were going to need to push a certain amount to leave town safely.

He hobbled over to the pack that had been put together, and he crouched to pull out the cigarette package with its lighter and tossed it on the bed, then zipped up the pack. He hefted it one handed with a grunt and slung it over his better shoulder. "Tucking it works okay? Don't you need that material to cover up?" Gabe's clothing was in tatters after all.

[gr1m]

Gabriel hummed a little, "Oh, I can certainly wait because of how much I enjoy them. Sure that you'll be glad when I can get close to them, too." Really, he was glad for just ow easy it was to tease like that, something solid they could fall back on. Corner of his mouth twitched up in to a brief sort of grin, "Only for you, Jack. Only ever for you."

Really was counting on Jack, because Gabriel knew himself, how he would push beyond his limits if he had a mission in mind and needed to get it seen through to the end. Reason he'd ended up in medical often enough as it had been. "You know I'm going to do the same for you- or call a rest if I feel like we need to stop," if he felt like Jack was struggling too much. Be good for himself in turn, too.

It was slow going pulling on clothing, what was left of his hoodie was going on last, before he'd be able to sit down an pull his own boots on. "No, it's something I found in the bag. It'll be easier in the long run, and keep your arm from tiring out. I'm going to get my boots n and then you're going to let me get that fixed, okay?"

[dadication]

He wanted to glare but it came out more as him squinting at Gabriel. He definitely would appreciate when they could be intimate again, but he had no idea when that would be. All the news, the injuries, the traumas... he was just so happy Gabe was alive and with him. "Do I ever actually say no to you when you're in the mood?" He leaned in to nuzzle Gabriel, needing that contact to go with the words, leaning their foreheads together too. "I know. You're my one and only."

He knew they would have to at least have the energy to call each other out and keep one another in line, and that was going to happen once they left this place. "I just want us out of the city and away from whatever's left of Overwatch before we take a break. I can't be near it." He needed the space to process, but he also needed to be away from the news media with all its speculating and rumours.

He looked at his arm tucked close to his chest and considered arguing but then thought better of it. He grunted and didn't lift the pack to his back just yet, would wait for that sling, he supposed. "I'll wait for you then before I get this pack up and settled on my back. Probably shouldn't let the strap hit my arm, so I might need your help settling it properly."

[gr1m]

"Not really, no. You tend to be as well." They'd be as far away as they could get at such short notice, with so little on their side. They'd gotten through a lot, even if this was far worse in some emotional toll on top of physical. Still figuratively pulling themselves out of the rubble after doing it in the literal sense. Cupping one side of Jack's face as he kept his forehead rested there for a moment, "Going to have me for a long time coming, too." Be sure of it.

Kept sat there just on the edge of the bed, making sure his boots were on securely. "We will be, away from a lot of things on top of that." He'd get them as close to the bunker as possible, and as far out of the city as possible before taking the break- if they could stand to push it that much at least.

That pack was taken from Jack and set down for a moment, Gabriel already carefully guiding the arm of his broken hand to start the loose wrap of fabric for it, enough length he'd be able to knot the thing at his opposite shoulder. "You know you'll have my help, just let me get this." Be comfortable enough for what it was, "Remember that a sling can at least help prevent your arm from getting tired, feels like it takes some of the pain away. Sort of."

[dadication]

That was one of the perks of their bond, especially how strong it was. It was very, very easy to feed into Gabe's emotions, wants and desires when he opened up to it. Their bouts of intimacy was stronger than he had had with any other man for that reason. So yeah, he wasn't hard to get into the mood when Gabe was, and vice versa. "Not hard to get into it when you're hanging around," he replied dryly but in a teasing way. "That better be true, or I'll find your ghost and make it haunt me."

All these risks and pushing themselves, but it was necessary at this point. Too little information, no one to actually trust, and people who clearly wanted them dead. He shook his head as he thought about it, but he also didn't fight as Gabe forced him to put the pack back down so that his broken arm could be wrapped into a sling. He helped where he could as it was tied and secured, allowing his arm support without his body having to expressly use energy to keep it up. "It adds pressure to other areas but... off my wrist and hand at least."

He shifted once it was finished, carefully rolling his shoulders so the sling settled and he was able to reach down and pick up the pack again. He slung it across his back, needing Gabriel to be free to start the fire, to jump in whatever donation bin they come across and to drive. "Let's be off. I'm getting antsy in this place and I don't know how long my energy will hold out."

[gr1m]

There was still a little kiss planted at the corner of Jack' mouth even with that little dry teasing, "Then I think we'll do just fine when the time comes, huh?" Corner of his mouth twitching, and he couldn't help that fond look that crossed his expression at the comment, "Better make that a promise, and you know I'll be keeping your ghost with me just to torment you if you ever break it."

They had to do what they had to do, even with them both knocked so low. Nodding a bit, adjusting what he could of that make-shift sling to still try and make it as comfortable as possible. Just had to support his arm, keep the broken wrist and hand stable; not cut off circulation. "Say something if we need to adjust it further down the road, okay?" Had better.

Gabriel did one last look over before he was taking that lighter and one of the cigarettes, one last look to make sure they weren't forgetting anything. "Alright." Lighting the cigarette and taking a pull to get it going, nose wrinkled, blowing out that smoke and tossing it on the bed along with the still lit lighter. Was tugging Jack with him and making sure that door locked behind them; all the better to make sure it had time to catch and burn. "Keep close."

They were out of there.

[dadication]

Jack nodded his head about the sling that was supporting his arm, aware he would have to admit if it was giving him trouble. They were going to be on the move too much not to have good communication about what was going down around them. He waited, watched as Gabriel set the scene of their escape and had the door open a sliver so they could slip out quickly.

He pulled up the hood on his stolen jacket, and he made no effort to stop Reyes from tugging him out of the room that was a mess of their DNA and signs that they had survived. He followed Reyes away from the hotel, keeping to the shadows, and they made a quick escape down the street and deeper into the slums where it was much easier to hide.

People would take one look at their hooded heads and leave them well alone. It took twenty minutes to find a clothing donation bin, and it was actually a relief to stop hurrying along actually. There were a couple of bags that hadn't made it in the bin itself, but all the clothing was children's or women's. Nothing that would fit them.

"...seems like you're going in. Should we risk it here or keep moving?"

[gr1m]

"Just keep watch for me, knock on the side if something seems off. Okay?"

With that Gabriel was moving closer, catching the lip of the bin to push it open and, well. Hauled himself up and in, vanishing in to the clothing donation bin with a muffled sort of thud in there. A bit dark, but he had a clip on flashlight he'd dug out of one of the bags clipped to the collar of the jacket flicked on. All the better to find things that fit them, collecting anything and everything he could grab.

Mostly things they could pull on and things they could easily cram in to the bag they were carrying. Just enough room left to put some things in, mostly for added warmth in case they ran in to some severely cold nights while out on the road.

A few things he was pushing out through the top wit a knock from the inside to catch Jack's attention. Things for him to catch a hold of that wouldn't give him any trouble.

[dadication]

"Alright. In you go."

He waited in the shadow of the bin, keeping a weathered eye out. His hearing was still buggered from the blast, but he was keen to look while Gabriel did the hard work of sifting through the clothing that was inside. He stayed close enough to be able to see the bin donation slot but far enough away that it wasn't as if he were waiting for anything more than maybe a drug deal.

He moved in to take the clothing that was shoved out, not bothering with looking at it but immediately trying to stuff it in their pack to fill it out more. It was difficult with one arm and some of it he just ended up throwing over his shoulder as he waited for more. All the while, he was on look out but so far, they were safe.

[gr1m]

It was mostly items that would be easy to fit, and only a couple pairs of jeans he figured would easily fit Jack. That was all he dared outside of stretch fabric when it came to pants. Socks and shirts and only grabbed unopened packs of underwear for both their sakes. Was rushing himself all the same, keeping a time limit in his head as he sifted and sorted.

Only once that run out, if Jack didn't knock on the bin himself, was he then making the effort to climb back up and haul himself out. A bag over his own shoulder stuffed with other clothing, something he'd found in there.

"Watch out."

Only warning before he was dropping down with a sight wince at impact, straightening himself up- "Ready?" He'd help get things in the bag Jack was carrying himself if he needed to.

[dadication]

There was no reason to knock, though he could tell that some drapes shifted to indicate people were peeking out. No one passed by in the street this early, but in the distance, he could hear the sound of sirens. Maybe their room had been discovered smoldering. Maybe it was completely unreleated.

He eased out of Gabriel's way, noting the bag and nodding his head. It would suit them just fine it would seem. Thankfully new clothing would actually cover them and give them some anonymity.

"Let's get out of here and figure stuff out a couple of blocks from here," he murmured, not wanting to hang around. He knew they would fatigue quickly, and he felt a prickle of paranoia to be away from this place. He nodded head and led them away down some darkened alleyways.

He only stopped when they could hide behind a dumpster where it was particularly dark. "We should change. We'll look less suspicious with clothing that isn't blown out."

[gr1m]

No more having to wear the hooded EMT jacket and draw attention that way either, there had been plenty of hoodies, amongst other jackets.

"Following your lead, sunshine." Because he'd climbed around in the bin, willing to let Jack take lead in getting them somewhere darker and private after that. Give and take, because he sure as Hell didn't want him feeling useless already. This was good, him wanting to take some lead where he could.

Rested his hand against the back of Jack's head then, just to press his forehead against his briefly. "Yeah, want me to help you? Then you can keep watch while I change." Because of Jack's hand and wrist. Be faster to let Gabriel help him get dressed.

[dadication]

It was a boost to him that he could ease them away and find a safe place to settle for a change of clothing. While he was perfectly capable of following, it wasn't a position that he had been forced to take in almost thirty years. Reyes was one of the few people he would follow without question, but the give and take was appreciated. He hated feeling like he had nothing to contribute.

Once in relative safety, he ease the pack from his shoulders and set it on the ground and then dropped the excess clothing he hadn't been able to fit in there on top. He looked at the clothing and then at Reyes with his garbage bag of clothing and then nodded his head. Time was of the essence here, and there was no need to fumble around for pride's sake.

"Yeah, could you pick me out some clothing and help me get it on?" He shifted his arm in the sling, wincing slightly. It had previously been quite comfortable. "Should we burn our old clothes or just dumpster it?"

[gr1m]

"Let's keep a hold of them until we're at the bunker, then we can burn them. Won't take up much room if we just roll together what's left," and they didn't need to set a second fire in one day. Something taking up room yes, but it was better keeping that much with them for a least a bit longer. "On it, however."

Letting Jack get the sling off himself while rummaging through what was gotten, just picking something that would be comfortable and easy for the man to move in. Normal pants, shirt, and warm enough hooded jacket. Going with the hood for easy disguise options, because the wonders of pulling up a hood and people not looking twice. "Can use a pair of socks to pad your sling a bit if wanted, when I get that situated back on you again, too."

May as well try and make that situation as comfortable as possible in easy ways, too.

[dadication]

"We probably shouldn't leave too many more fires, you're right," he agreed. First the ambulance and now the hotel room... they would have to be more careful now that they were on the run and it was easier to trace their movements based on destruction.

He slipped the sling while Gabriel picked out easy and comfortable clothing for them to deal with for travel. He picked a bit at the tatters that were his current clothing, some of it just peeling away. Otherwise, he required Gabe's help with his shirt and his boots again but more so needed assistance to actually get dressed again. "Sling seems to be working out just fine for now. Might need to pad for the road."

He also doesn't put up a fuss for Gabe literally having to dress him. That may be a first.

[gr1m]

At the very least with just the two instances it would be difficult to find a connection between the ambulance fire and the hotel room fire. Best to keep it that way, honestly. They would be safer in the end, and it might not hurt to keep the tatters on had for extra fabric in case of some emergency.

"Like I said, we can use some of the socks I grabbed for padding," some thinking in grabbing a few extra pairs. They seemed soft enough it could work. Still careful as he helped Jack get undressed and then after that in cleaner and warmer clothes. More covering, so they wouldn't look like they'd just crawled out of some bombing zone and hijacked an emergency vehicle.

Stood straight once he had gotten Jack's boots tied again, checking him over before guiding him so Gabriel could help get his arm back in that sling. "After this is secure again, I'm gonna need to you keep a watch out so I can get dressed."

[dadication]

He shifted and grunted and groaned as he was helped out of his current mess of clothing, but he was relieved to be out of them for good and allowing Gabriel to usher him into clean, dry and whole clothing. They felt warm and soft on his damaged skin, but more than that, they didn't smell anything like his own clothing.

He stuck his feet out one at a time for his laces to be tied, and he gritted his teeth as his arm was helped back into the sling. He leaned in on Gabe for a moment, needing that closeness for a moment as he gathered his breath again. "Yeah, I'll keep watch. You'll be safe with me."

After being close for a few moments, he eased around Gabriel to keep watch at the mouth of the alley. "All clear."

[gr1m]

Gabriel just held Jack for a moment once he was fully dressed, letting him have that moment. To deal with all of the pain that came back from having to move that injured wrist and hand. Gave him that moment without hesitation or though. Brushed lips against his forehead, because that part was at least done and over with. "I know I am, safer with no one else than you."

"Thanks, babe."

So he started his own process of shedding ruined clothing, going through the little pile he'd chosen for himself to pull on. The softness was welcomed against skin that felt so raw still, something better to rub against stitches if they had to at all. The longest he took was getting his own boots on, breathing just a little shallowly, but pushing through it. A little worn down, but he'd be fine. Just had to bundle up their ripped clothing in to both of those EMT jackets and cram them in to a bag, small as possible to take up as little room in what they had to carry.

[dadication]

He needed that more than he would like to admit, that chaste kiss to the forehead. It warmed him as much as the new clothing, cutting through the cold of his body struggling to find a good temperature. He stood guard without making it seem like that was what he was doing, pretending to be looking at an object which could be mistaken for a mobile.

His eyes were constantly on the move, looking above to the windows to out the alley to back towards Gabriel as the older man changed. He could tell the moment that Reyes had to crouch for the sake of boots, could hear the change in the way he breathed. The benefit of this time of morning was very few people were out and about. No one looked down the alley either.

Once Gabe was packed up and seemingly ready to go, he shifted to pull the pack back on across his shoulders. They might not look like bombing victims, but they still needed to get out of town. "Where do you want to snatch a bike? Closer to the edge of town, or anywhere we can find one?"

[gr1m]

His breathing evened out a bit once he was up on his feet standing, the bit of pressure put on his chest from bending down in such a way had been a little hard for his lung. At least it was normalizing? Something.

Gabriel let out a huffed breath, looking out past Jack for just a moment- "I'd prefer closer to the edge of tow, but it might be more in out favor if we just snatch from anywhere we can find." No promises they'd even be able to find one on the edge of town. "The sooner we find one, the faster we can get the hell out of this town."

Could only hope it'd be in their favor anyway. Already moving to Jack's side so they could head out of the alley and get started on the next part o their running.

[dadication]

They no longer have the benefits of an oxygen tank to allow Gabriel to catch his breath again, and he was eager to keep the older man healthy when it came to breathing. It would heal in time, but it was still a rough go until then. They didn't have the time right now to just let Gabe rest.

"Let's at least make some progress away from this part of town and if an opportunity presents itself, we take it, okay? The less time we stay in one place like this, the better." That was true that the faster they were on the road, the better it would be. They just had to be smart about it.

He headed out with Gabe, but he allowed the older man to have the lead when it came to choosing the path that they would be traveling. Instead, he focused more of his attention behind them, covering their six. It was early enough that the morning rush wasn't in effect yet, but they might be cutting that short soon enough.

[gr1m]

"Alright." Could compromise to that, so long they were going to take a bike the moment they saw a chance to; the faster they were out of here the better, but there was still the need to keep moving even before that. Bike was going to be better than a car was the only point he was going to be stick with.

For the most part Gabriel kept a hand on Jack, wanting to make sure he was close, and all the better to just seem like two people out early as hell. Hand held tight, and maneuvering through back streets and alleyways as needed. Safer for the both of them.

It was only when they got closer to the better part of town they'd not be so easy to sneak about- "You doing okay still?"

[dadication]

Jack kept an even unhurried pace, not wanting to draw attention to them. In this part of town, it was easy to blend in, just seem like they were going from point a to point b without looking for trouble. Maybe it helped a bit that they did look like they had already been beaten to hell and back, limiting the threat people might think they were.

He absolutely stayed close to Gabriel, walking at his elbow and keeping his head down even if he was listening to sounds and people going about their early morning lives. He made no dispute on their path, and by the time they had walked to 'nicer' areas of town, his energy was definitely starting to flag.

"I'm hanging in there. No time for a rest just yet," he murmured, looking over at Gabe to assess him. "You're doing alright?"

[gr1m]

Starting to near the time of 'now or never' if they were going to have the energy of going through with stealing a bike and getting out, still needed to get to a less crowded area. Still early enough, the time frame was just... shrinking.

"Yeah, doing fine. We're going to have to make a move soon or we might not be able to." Too many people, whatever they could snatch just not somewhere they could get it and go. Too many factors added together that just meant more trouble for them than it might be worse- "Parking garage a block or two from here.

"We may have to take a look in there and see if we can get out what we need and go."