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[dadication]

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[gr1m]

Gotta keep them filled up with hope, too. Reason you're seeing the butterflies all over the place here- those are created from mine.

[So... in a sense Gabriel was acting as a battery to keep the entire property safe, even if the lantern was what utilized that to keep the protection up. Shit was weird and it was just something he was used to. Didn't like it, but it was what it was.

Emotions were power, ridiculous and unstable as it was.]

At least you know I'll be in the bakery and not out in the snow? [At least he was given a break by Bulat taking over and cooking stew around evening every day so Gabriel was mostly just handling morning and afternoon- with Lady Shelly and Miss Elenor pitching in with things here and there.

Hand reached out, resting on the handle for the greenhouse door-] Fifth day of last month. Full four years.

[dadication]

How do you keep it kept up like that?

[He had noticed the butterflies, and he had been suspicious of their source, but if he had known completely that Gabe was acting as a battery for the whole thing, he would have stepped in. After all, there went Gabriel doing it all alone again, and he couldn't have that while he was assisting on the property. No, while he was living on the property. It was his responsibility too.

He eyed Gabe for a moment.] That's because I show up to carry you out of that place. If I didn't, I'd be dragging you out of one. [He kept track of Gabriel, aware he had to or the guy would just go all the time.

He gave Gabe's shoulder a little shove.] You should have told me, you jerk. I could have... I don't know, made you celebratory flap jacks or grilled you the best steak of your life.

[gr1m]

[Shoulders shrugged slightly.] Doesn't have to be a whole lot, the butterflies just stick around because the lantern is taking in and extending it. Top it off every now and then.

[And with them able to flutter around they were extending the radius of protection, so really with just enough from him it was enough to keep the property safe. Still snow covered, but not in any way dangerous other than maybe too much getting and staying on the roof.]

You know you can sit around in there for a little while, enjoy some of the food provided. [Wasn't wrong thought.

Caught Jack by the wrist, pulling him on in to the greenhouse so the door could close behind them both. Was warmer in there at least.] Didn't know what to do about it.

[At a loss because of being in this place for so long.]

[dadication]

You mean that you top it off with emotions, right? [That's what that usually meant, especially in this place. He had felt the warmth and the chase of the cold despair that might otherwise take over. He sighed and shook his head. He needed to contribute.] I'll top it up too. It shouldn't be on you. We're pack.

[That was the wolf flu talking, but he also had begun to experience it again. Like they were slowly coming around to where they had once been many years ago. He supposed it was natural given they had no mission to entirely direct upon.]

Or I can stand around lurking like an anti-social jerk until you realize I come at certain times and you let someone take over. [He ate the food that Gabe made at home, and thus, there was no reason to take from the citizens of this place who might need it more.

He allowed himself to be pulled in without complaint, but he gave Reyes another light shove on the shoulder for that reply.] Stubborn old goat. A meal to celebrate you failing to get a life is something even I can do.

[He was teasing. Gabe had done well for himself, even if it was a limbo state.]

[gr1m]

With hope, yeah. Just feel a bit hopeful near it and that's all. [It was sort of funny, seeing the number of butterflies made of light fluttered at the edges of and around the property-] Doesn't take much, and it doesn't take it out of you at least.

[Was he reassuring Jack and encouraging it? Maybe. Bumped a shoulder against his a bit event.

Eyes did roll a little.] You could always have a bowl of stew before we head back here then- Bulat makes that, Kevin got himself a good husband out of that man. It's his plants that are insulting the outside of the bakery for extra protection.

[His tongue stuck out at Jack then before heading further in to the greenhouse, shedding the coat to hang by the door, ears perked up a bit as he looked around a little where he stood-] Not too late to do it if you think my being here four years warrants that.

[dadication]

Well, that's out then. When do I ever feel hopeful? [While it wasn't in him much anymore, he could do that. He actually enjoyed winter where others disliked it. Snow was fun, exciting and it was definitely a good place to throw Reyes who was from that nice warm South.

He shrugged his shoulders to the idea of eating while he was lurking there. He preferred to keep up the appearance of being aloof and grumpy. It seemed to keep Gabe's son from having another go at him, which was better for all of them. He only needed one nosy drama queen in his life and that slot was taken.]

Oh yeah, maybe you should get yourself a good husband too. Then they can cook you stew and drag you home. [Again, he was teasing. He appreciated Gabe's fierce independence and stubborn idiocy when it came to pushing the limits to everything. It shows how much the older man actually cared.

He slid out of his own jacket and left it by the door, giving his tail more room to move as he walked. He removed his gloves as well, stuffing them in those pockets before leaving them both. The green houses always smelled good. He followed as they made the rounds checking for damage to the place.] Apparently I'm a month late.

[gr1m]

Job's all on me then. [Snow was fine, Gabriel just didn't like the cold terribly much, especially now. It stuck with him more than it ever had before, created some ache with it that was a little too much at times. Still, he did like the snow.

He snorted a bit then, and maybe played up the dramatics just a bit when he spoke-]

No one would have me.

[The fact it was still warm was a good sign at least, sticking close to Jack's side enough that shoulders brushed a bit, tail even knocking against him as it moved.]

Better late than never?

[dadication]

Isn't it always these days? I'm more trouble than help. [Not true, and he was nudging lightly at Gabe's side. Of course, his version of light nudging was still designed to see if he could off set Gabe's balance as they walked.

Well, he only had himself to blame for the dramatics. Gabe was known for them after all.]

Too much of fine wine for most, I imagine. He who cannot be tamed.

[It was companionable, wolves as they were, and he sniffed the air and turned his head to look around. It felt... a little colder to their left than to the right, as if there was a little draft in the place.]

Fine, what protein do you want me to make you? I'll keep it cajun style... think there also may be a hole in the wall somewhere. Feel that small draft?

[gr1m]

Who knows why I keep you around. [Nudging right back with the same amount of force in turn, corner of his mouth twitching a bit. Clear it was playing around in a tease, far from true at all.

Jack was encouraging, all his fault clearly.]

None able to handle me. Forever alone and unloved.

[His nose did twitch, straying a little from Jack's side and more towards the scent of cold air, felt it a bit as well-]

Beef? Still have cuts to choose from. I feel it yeah, give me a second here.

[Had something broken? How? Also just what amount of work would be needed to repair some damage...]

[dadication]

It has to be my shining personality. [Now they were nudging at each other, the hidden warmth of the greenhouse allowing them those moments of being young men at each other. Just brief, then they would be back to their usual serious selves. These moments tided them over as far as he was concerned, since things were not always happiness and roses.

He rolled his eyes dramatically and gave Gabe's tail and playful pull.]

Too hot to handle. Maybe you should turn down the heat a little, Reyes.

[There was no particular sound coming from that area, and he knew with the snow and such that things would break down. Sometimes little wild animals broke in for warmth and to snack on the plants growing safely here.]

I checked the place for vermin a few days ago.

[gr1m]

[A ruffle at Jack's hair and a tug at one of his ears-] My grumpy old fart.

[Sickly sweet and teasing all the way, some noise at his tail being pulled and swatting at Jack for it before just bumping a hip against his.]

Not a chance, Morrison.

[Then he was out of reach, could feel the colder breeze and reached out to move a hanging plant- yeah, there was a break there. Ears pricked forward and brow drawn a bit as he huffed-]

Got a hole here we're going to need to block up. What do you recommend?

[Of course he wouldn't notice something creeping near his paws in the shadows there, blending in with the rest of the plant-life too well.]

[dadication]

Takes an old fart to be an old fart, and you've got a few years on me.

[He smirked at the swat, following in Gabe's wake but not crowding the older man either. He was looking for a possible source for the break in, something like mouse scat or wood shavings or out of place dirt. Their little invader may have come and gone, and the plants all seemed intact.

His ears were swiveling in search of sound, but nothing jumped out at him.]

We should block it up with a brick or a piece of wood temporarily, and I can go to the shed and repair it completely tomorrow. We should do a full walk through to check for other holes. [He didn't want any of the plants to freeze.]

You see any sign of our little critter?

[gr1m]

You're still an old fart, not any fresher.

[Gabriel was checking for any other breaks, but for the moment there only seemed to be one in the place. Could have been worse-]

Go grab one, should be something like that near the door to the place. I'll stay here and check to make sure it's just this one here. Okay?

[Sitting on his paws then, more eye level with the break, nose wrinkled a bit. Was definitely colder there, shifting some of the plants away to clear the space.]

I don't.

[dadication]

At least I don't smell as bad, old goat.

[He was also looking around for more breaks, but it seemed like everything on this part of the wall was intact. He was moving around the plants to be certain until Gabe mentioned grabbing a brick.]

I'll grab two just in case.

[He headed back to the door of the greenhouse, but he took the long way, circling the outside of the greenhouse to check the other walls. So it took him extra time to grab the bricks in question and head back to where Gabe was probably looking for their lost little critter.]

[gr1m]

If you were beaten with a stick you'd turn in to dry shit.

[... Another saying he may have either picked up from Jack himself or McCree, honestly. Teasing at it was in the same line they had been going in.

Gabriel nodded as he kept searching for any little cracks or breaks, moving down to his knees as Jack went off. It wasn't until the other man was out of sight that the cause of the break made itself known. Eyes widening as a vine of something wrapped around his wrist—

He was back on his feet by the time Jack would return, area cleared and the single break in the wall visible.]

Only found the one.

[Nothing noticeably wrong at all, just that tail of his wagging behind him, eyes on Jack. Let him patch it first.]

[dadication]

[That was definitely one of his saying from youth, picked up from his uncles when he was trying for too elaborate of a lie. But hey, he had learned to lie well because of that!

He returned with the bricks in question, noting Gabe and not seeing any signs of a struggle or tomfoolery as he approached. He moved around the the older man's side of the greenhouse wall and noted the hole. It definitely would only need one brick.]

That's not too bad. I'll fix it in the morning, alright?

[Bending, he set the brick so that it blocked the draft, using a foot to press it more firmly into place. At least none of the plants would freeze overnight.]

That should do it. I checked the other walls and nothing there, but we should probably keep an eye out in case our critter appears and makes another mess of a wall.

[gr1m]

Yeah, alright. Did look for more but I didn't find anything, so things should be good for the night.

[Kept his eyes on Jack the entire time, shifting from one paw to another almost as he waited for him-

The moment he was away from the wall and plants? Gabriel was suddenly closer, catching Jack around the waist and leaned in awfully close. Tail wagging away all that much more.]

Don't think we've got to worry much about a critter at least, no signs of an animal.

[dadication]

It's getting dark soon, so we'll be alright.

[He was in agreement there, but then Gabriel was covering the distance between them fast. It was unexpected, but he thought it was some kind of retake on the game that they had been playing earlier when all the teasing was happening.

He couldn't help but smile, his tail wagging in reply and his ears prick forward. He was expecting a little shoving match, maybe a close-quarter spar. The whole waist thing was... well, different, but he would roll with it.]

So you want to shove me around, is that it?

[gr1m]

[Oh, they would be alright.

His forehead bumped against Jack's, nose brushing even with a low noise just in the back of his throat that Gabriel couldn't really help but make, fingers squeezing against his hip in that hold.]

There's something I want to do.

[Wasn't a shoving match, wasn't much of a spar either, but that was a hand catching Jack's jaw to tip his head quickly as lips pressed firmly against his. That tail wagging away even as ears flicked back just to get out of the way. Sweeping him right up in to a kiss.

That vine of mistletoe wrapped snugly around his wrist. Found what had broken in, and it wasn't exactly a critter, no.]

[dadication]

[Jack started to suspect something was different when Gabe's forehead pressed to his in a way that wasn't their usual sort of bumping friendliness. There was heat to it, especially paired with that noise the older man was making.]

Gabe...

[That's all he managed to get out before his jaw was seized, and yes, things were wrong, though the details of it weren't readily apparent until he was swept up into that kiss. It was hot and demanding and determined, and he made a sound of surprise as his eyes widened and his tail came to an abrupt stop.

His hands moved towards Gabe's chest to push at the older man, wanting an explanation to the sudden intimacy. He pulled his head back with a jerk.]

Whoa, what did I do to deserve that kind of reception? It's just a brick, Reyes.

[gr1m]

Not about the brick-

[-Even if you can be as thick as one.

There was a whine in Gabriel's throat when Jack moved his head back, and he couldn't help but continue to lean forward. Trying to keep that closeness, because it wasn't difficult for Jack to push him away if he really wanted to.] Just you.

[dadication]

[The problem was that Jack was conflicted. They had done this song and dance before with the pollen, and it wasn't something that he could forget. There were times he could distinctly remember the feel and taste of Gabe's lips, the feel of the older man's body stretching and curving against his own. It was an attraction and a love they had admitted to under the pollen.

This was more primal, what with the way Gabe was kissing him. It was a show, a rekindling of those old feelings that usually danced around. His problem was he wasn't certain if Gabe was under the influence of something... he knew he wasn't, which made this more difficult on him.

But he didn't push the older man away either. He might be shifting and dodging a bit of Gabe's lips, but his fingers were curling in Gabe's shirt, refusing to let him go.]

Gabe... are you alright?

[gr1m]

[Ears were pinned back and his tail was still but low, curled against the back of a leg as claws were caught in the back of Jack's shirt.]

I'll be fine.

[As if saying he was fine would be a lie with the fact his head was suddenly ducking to the side, away. Like he was trying to hide something despite body language giving away clear hurt.]

[dadication]

[His ears were swiveling, uncertain and when Gabe's hurt became clear, his tail tucked down between his legs. He lifted a hand from the older man's shirt to catch Gabe's jaw as had been done to him only moments before.]

Talk to me. Why the sudden kissing?

[Was this some kind of proposal? He had noted the greenery on Gabe's arm, but they were in a greenhouse. He assumed it was picked from the floor.]

[gr1m]

[Ears kept pinned back, even if his head tilted against that hand on his jaw, eyes looking anywhere else. Some war of emotions going on; usually he'd already be pushing away, but something was keeping him locked right where he was.

What was there to even say?]

Thought that was clear enough.

[Just forget it. Why did he even think he could be wanted in turn. Already made clear it wasn't on the table weeks ago.

Yet something still kept that part of him quiet.]

You don't want to?