𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙶𝚁𝙸𝙼 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙿𝙴𝚁

𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴.
𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘔𝘦.

𝘔𝘶𝘯 / 𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘦 18+ --

[𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙶𝚁𝙸𝙼 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙿𝙴𝚁 @reapersitioning]

𝙳𝙴𝙰𝚃𝙷 𝙱𝙴𝙲𝙾𝙼𝙴𝚂 𝚈𝙾𝚄.

https://t.co/YlOa3XAxWN

[𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙶𝚁𝙸𝙼 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙿𝙴𝚁 @reapersitioning]

" One of us has to give up the title. "
He finally glances up again, taloned gloves tapping against his mug.

" Only way this ... -- "
Stops himself.
This? What, they were just going to makeup and act like they could go back to their old normal?

" Nevermind. "

[✩ ᅠᅠᅠ ꜀ 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐋𝐘 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 ꜆ ᅠᅠᅠ★ @RightHereJack]

“ Amari always did say that’d be our downfall. When it was aimed to someone else, we were golden. Once we turned our sights to each other… “

He took a slow sip of coffee. Memories of fights, screaming, Switzerland base— he sighed.

“ Room for only one stubborn dumbass. “

[𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙶𝚁𝙸𝙼 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙿𝙴𝚁 @reapersitioning]

" I'll say it again ; our stubbornness was the base for our friendship. We were both stubborn as hell. "

They fought harder than anyone, he knows. Against the Omnics, against each other.

" I can still appreciate the stubbornness --
until it's in the way. "

[✩ ᅠᅠᅠ ꜀ 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐋𝐘 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 ꜆ ᅠᅠᅠ★ @RightHereJack]

There’s a bitter laugh, though he doesn’t disagree.

It didn’t make the memories pleasant, but the growing list of everything that wasn’t was starting to shadow what was.

“ You weren’t too bad yourself. Sneaky bastard. “

[𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙶𝚁𝙸𝙼 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙿𝙴𝚁 @reapersitioning]

Teeth clench for a moment -- despite everything, talk of the war still ... brought conflicting feelings along with it.

" Yeah, they tend to do that.
They were as stubborn as you. "

Another sip of his coffee.

[✩ ᅠᅠᅠ ꜀ 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐋𝐘 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 ꜆ ᅠᅠᅠ★ @RightHereJack]

“ Bastions did the trick for me. “

It felt like toeing gallows humor, but really, when recalling firefight during the war, Jack remembered the times his legs worked faster than his brain waking up to gunfire.

“ They pack a punch. “

[𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙶𝚁𝙸𝙼 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙿𝙴𝚁 @reapersitioning]

" Wasn't that bad. "
But, sometimes he did overdo it to piss Jack off.
Right now he was too exhausted for bickering. He's running on no sleep.

" Guns wake you up faster than coffee does.
Read it in an article. "

[✩ ᅠᅠᅠ ꜀ 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐋𝐘 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 ꜆ ᅠᅠᅠ★ @RightHereJack]

“ Your black coffee is terrible, that’s why I’d bitch. “

Lighthearted banter, the man enjoyed the coffee in slow sips before yawning. In terms of mornings, this wasn’t the worst.

“ Better than waking up to a gun in your face. Dorado was full of surprises. “

[𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙶𝚁𝙸𝙼 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙿𝙴𝚁 @reapersitioning]

He doesn't respond to the appreciation at first, finally sitting down across from him and lifting his mask just enough to drink from his mug.

" You would have bitched at me if I gave you black coffee.
It's too early for that. "

[✩ ᅠᅠᅠ ꜀ 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐋𝐘 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 ꜆ ᅠᅠᅠ★ @RightHereJack]

“ They deflate so quickly, by the time I sleep and wake up I’ll be on the floor anyway. “

Skepticism aside, he takes his first swig of the coffee — pausing. Having expected the roasted taste of death, he was surprised.

“ You added sugar. Thank you. “

[𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙶𝚁𝙸𝙼 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙿𝙴𝚁 @reapersitioning]

" Almost ten. "
He stays in the crouched position , hand idly swishing the coffee around in his mug.

" Came to check on your progress ; found you passed put on the floor.
Speaking of which, why the floor?
You should just bring a blow-up mattress in at this rate. "

[✩ ᅠᅠᅠ ꜀ 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐋𝐘 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 ꜆ ᅠᅠᅠ★ @RightHereJack]

“ I won’t, “

And he didn’t. Taking the mug, he came to sit up fully ; muscles hardly creaking. Seems laying down here offered more support than that damned chair.

“ What time is it…. I crashed in the middle of reading files. “

[𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙶𝚁𝙸𝙼 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙿𝙴𝚁 @reapersitioning]

" Maybe so -- but I wanted to go this way. "

There's a hint of amusement in his voice now, crouching down beside Jack. One hand reaches out, offering a mug to him.

" Made you coffee. Don't question it too much. "

[✩ ᅠᅠᅠ ꜀ 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐋𝐘 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 ꜆ ᅠᅠᅠ★ @RightHereJack]

Sitting up, Jack looked around— an offended scowl creeping into his features.

“ You could have gone around- There were twelve ways you could have entered the room, but you made a point of choosing this one. “

He doesn’t /sound/ mad, at least.

[𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙶𝚁𝙸𝙼 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙿𝙴𝚁 @reapersitioning]

" Get up.
You're in the way. "

His tone is as dry as ever, hands carrying two mugs of coffee.

[✩ ᅠᅠᅠ ꜀ 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐋𝐘 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 ꜆ ᅠᅠᅠ★ @RightHereJack]

“ O O F. “

… he barely moves. Though he does lift his head in a judgmental stare.

[𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙶𝚁𝙸𝙼 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙿𝙴𝚁 @reapersitioning]

Nudges ( read: kicks ) him in the side.

[✩ ᅠᅠᅠ ꜀ 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐋𝐘 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 ꜆ ᅠᅠᅠ★ @RightHereJack]

He’s no longer sleeping in an old man chair.

He’s moved on to bigger and better things ; like sleeping on the floor.

[𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙶𝚁𝙸𝙼 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙿𝙴𝚁 @reapersitioning]

Shut up.

[𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙶𝚁𝙸𝙼 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙿𝙴𝚁 @reapersitioning]

Annoying.

[✩ ᅠᅠᅠ ꜀ 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐋𝐘 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 ꜆ ᅠᅠᅠ★ @RightHereJack]

https://t.co/YIKUkXMk9F

[𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙶𝚁𝙸𝙼 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙿𝙴𝚁 @reapersitioning]

-- putting it lightly.
But ... it's all we've known for so long. "
The dry laugh returns, taking a long drink of the beer. If he was one to dream, he would let himself distract himself with the past. Of the better days.

" I don't think you could run away if you wanted. "

[𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙶𝚁𝙸𝙼 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙿𝙴𝚁 @reapersitioning]

Family was such a loaded term now. One that was so fleeting -- and this case, felt like a scorched mark on them both.
The friendship that once got them through anything had been like the very thorns on their heads, cutting into them.

" Getting too old for this? That's --

[✩ ᅠᅠᅠ ꜀ 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐋𝐘 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 ꜆ ᅠᅠᅠ★ @RightHereJack]

The soldier paused, if but for a second, before a tired chuckle passed his lips.
It wasn’t a surprise Gabriel could tell. They’d been like family , nothing could escape his notice.
“ Think it’s all starting to take a toll. Getting too old for this. “ +

[𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙶𝚁𝙸𝙼 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙿𝙴𝚁 @reapersitioning]

(( there's some songs where certain lyrics just Scream Gabe to me and uh

[𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙶𝚁𝙸𝙼 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙿𝙴𝚁 @reapersitioning]

-- of the desk.

" What's wrong with you now? "

[𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙶𝚁𝙸𝙼 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙿𝙴𝚁 @reapersitioning]

It wasn't hard to miss. Gabe knew his former best friend too well -- knew when things were distracting him, knew when he was exhausted even when he tried hiding it.
The strange behavior is enough to make Gabe turn fully, resting the side of one of his legs against the top --

[✩ ᅠᅠᅠ ꜀ 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐋𝐘 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 ꜆ ᅠᅠᅠ★ @RightHereJack]

“ you didn’t come here looking for a fight… that’s progression. Could almost say I’m proud. “

Something felt off about Jack’s demeanor, like he’d resorted to accepting the company without a fight. Too tired, probably. The missions had been taking a toll.

“ Almost. “

[𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙶𝚁𝙸𝙼 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙿𝙴𝚁 @reapersitioning]

" Good. I don't have the energy for anything else. "

[𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙶𝚁𝙸𝙼 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙿𝙴𝚁 @reapersitioning]

Right. Can't be bad, he chose to work with them now. Doesn't make working with most of them less infuriating.
But this would bring change.

He takes a moment to spare a glance to Jack. It's not like he hasn't seen him without the mask, but he's still careful -- secretive.

[✩ ᅠᅠᅠ ꜀ 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐋𝐘 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 ꜆ ᅠᅠᅠ★ @RightHereJack]

“ Can’t be that bad, “ he’d made his thoughts on Gabriel shifting organizations clear. But for tonight, he wouldn’t pick a fight.

Taking a drink of his own, he hummed.

“ no show tonight. Tired and in good spirits. “

[𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙶𝚁𝙸𝙼 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙿𝙴𝚁 @reapersitioning]

" Trust me, I would rather sleep than deal with Talon, " he chuckles dryly, finally opening his can. He takes a few careful drinks -- always that voice in his head -- before he holds it against his thigh.

" At least here I get emotional telenovella-esque conversations. "

[✩ ᅠᅠᅠ ꜀ 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐋𝐘 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 ꜆ ᅠᅠᅠ★ @RightHereJack]

" Feelings mutual. Somebody has to keep your brooding ass stimulated.
Pretty sure you'd hibernate like a bear if I let you. "

The visual was interesting, but the jeer more so. If one of them had to be haunted, it seemed fitting they both receive the same punishment.