Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

R e y e s

The voices and sounds start getting louder as Gabriel walks towards the door and pushes it open with his hand, the back of it decorated with a sugar skull design. Once inside, he scans the bar looking for his targets in the crowded place. There are a few men together, some couples, and groups of younger people talking with each other. The bartenders are pouring drinks nonstop and showcasing tricks for the clients who’ve come in to hide from the heat of Nevada and satisfy their thirst with cold drinks. His head keeps moving around the place until his gaze falls on a guy with a green Mohawk and a girl with dark hair that falls loose around her shoulders, with some locks tied into tiny braids. Both are wearing dark clothing with some silver adornments like studs, spikes, and piercings. Some tattoos are also visible on their hands and necks.

Gabriel starts approaching the table without them realizing it. But, when he takes a quick glance around, he notices more people with the same look nearby. They might be in their own conversations, but they are still aware of their surroundings, unlike his targets. The girl looks up first and swallows her drink before nodding in Gabriel’s direction for the guy to look up as well.

Without asking, Gabriel pulls out the empty chair in front of them and sits down. “Shot of tequila with lemon.” He catches the waitress passing by and she nods with a smile before leaving. His eyes fall back on the pair in front of him. “It’s too early for Jägermeister.” His comment receives a smirk from both of them.

He takes out a folded piece of paper from his pocket and slides it across the table for them to take. The guy unfolds it and sees the completed puzzle. The flyer had a simple children’s story on it to “promote literature for kids.” But once Gabriel got his hands on it, read it over and over and then spotted the key letters from afar he figured this was nothing more than a puzzle. He found the words “SEARCHING” and “PARADISE” connecting across the story and the message was clearing up. A few hours of the night spent digging through the web led him to a website with just an ad for a bartending job. There was another puzzle which was harder to decipher, but by morning, he had a date, a time, a place to go, and two things to do when he got there: order a drink without speaking to the “interviewers” and say the password.

Twelve hours later, and here he sits. The flyer in the guy’s hand had most of the prose blacked out, leaving the letters that spelled “SEARCHING” and “PARADISE” in many directions.

“How did you come by this?” the guy asks.

“I was going through my roommate’s shit because I knew he had taken my cigars.” One of his hands goes over the top of his head, tousling a patch of curls. “Found this underneath them and kept it with me without noticing. Got myself involved in the story until I figured your puzzle out.” He shrugs, “Guess I beat the bastard for the job.”

“We believe it’s every man, or woman, for themselves,” the girl smiles as she plays with the cap of her beer bottle between her fingers. “Got an ID?”

Gabriel pulls his wallet out just as his drink arrives. He nods in acknowledgment to the waitress and places the laminated card in front of him. The girl takes the ID and examines both the picture and Javier Nieves. The man sitting in front of them with buzz cut hair, curls on top, green eyes, shaved face and both arms covered in tattoos. She shows it to her buddy who gives it a quick glance.

“Name’s Mal T.” The guy with the mohawk nods to the girl. “This is Lina.”

Gabriel nods without a word.

“Have you got any experience?” Mal asks before drinking from his glass.

“I’ve done a few jobs at bars, some parties.” Gabriel’s fingers slowly spin the glass shot on the spot before drinking it in one go. His face doesn’t flinch to the burn as he grabs the slice of lemon. “I’m currently not working.” He sucks on it and drops it in the empty glass.

“What can you do?” Lina asks and Gabriel takes a look at the bar and back at the pair in front of him.

“It’s a shame I can’t show you.” One corner of Gabriel’s mouth lifts in a smirk as he rolls up one of the sleeves of his shirt that had fallen past his elbow.

“We can arrange that.” Mal shrugs as he stands up, shoving back his chair with more force than needed. “I’m getting a bit bored and since you’re the only one that showed up, why not?”

Gabriel follows Mal with his eyes as he approaches the bar. Lina is smirking as she also stands up and Gabriel decides to follow her. Mal pulls out his gun behind his back and grabs one of the bartenders by his shirt over the counter, making him drop the glass and bottle he had been using. He presses the muzzle against the bartender’s chin. The people nearby stand from the stools and move back while some gasp and scream, calling the attention of the rest of the bar.

“My friend here is currently on an interview, and we want to see if he’s got what it takes.” He nods towards Gabriel. “You’re going to let him take your spot for us for a few minutes, or he will take it permanently.” The gun presses against the employee’s skin and he yelps at the cold sensation. His tongue is tied so he only nods in response.

Mal pushes him back and snaps his fingers at Gabriel who moves without hesitation. As Gabriel walks, he notices the other people in dark and silver clothing step closer and his interviewers take two stools in front of the bar; Gabriel no longer doubts the rest of them are with Mal and Lina.

Gabriel takes his time. He washes his hands and dries them with a hand towel before throwing it over his shoulder. He pushes his sleeves further up his elbows, revealing more tattoos, and gets to work. He grabs two shot glasses, a bottle of Jubilee, a bottle of Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge and a bottle of pineapple juice. He gets some crushed ice in one of the glasses before he starts.

He tosses the bottle of Grand Marnier in the air and pours a finger of Jubilee in the shot. Before the liqueur can hit the floor, he catches the bottle by the neck and adds it to the drink. Next, he grabs the bottle of pineapple juice and throws it up under his arm. It flips through the air as it falls, and Gabe bounces it off his elbow before catching it. He gets a few approving looks from the people in black, while the other customers are still frozen or afraid to move. The juice joins the other beverages in the shot and he places the glass in front of Mal.

“Brass Balls,” he recites before moving to the side to continue the show.

He catches Mal tasting and nodding in approval before he turns around. He faces the shelves with many bottles on them and grabs a clear one with a brown, almost gold, liquor inside. With his back still to the audience, he tosses the bottle behind him and grabs it with his other hand before turning around and placing it on the counter, letting them read the label: Johnnie Walker. He turns again to grab a bottle of Jose Cuervo and does the same trick in reverse. He leaves the station to look through the cabinets on his left while eyes are still on him.

“Excuse me,” he says to the next bartender.

He finds what he’s looking for and slides it over the counter to his workspace; it’s a container with salt. He walks back to his station with a small bottle of hot pepper sauce and keeps working. He grabs the whiskey and tequila bottles, one in each hand, and tosses them in the air. They cross paths as they fly over his head, switching places in midair before he catches them. Gabe pours them both into an empty glass and finishes off the drink with a dash of hot sauce and salt.

He places this shot in front of Lina. “Freddy Krueger,” he smiles at her and she quickly takes it to taste.

By the time he hands Mal a second shot, the man has placed his gun back in the waistline of his pants. The people around them relax as Gabriel goes on; even the bartender he took the place of is watching him. He does a few more tricks for the audience and pours a few more drinks before Mal is smiling and enjoying himself.

“Alright, alright, show-off.” He waves one hand and drinks his fifth shot. “Let’s go, we have some things to talk about.”

He leaves the stool in a smooth motion before ordering another round of beers for their table, while Lina spins on hers first and jumps off. Gabriel pats the bartender on the shoulder before leaving the bar. The clients that aren’t wearing dark clothing move slowly around them, testing if it’s safe to settle back in, though there’s still tension. The ones that do sport black and silver are quick to relax back into their spots.

Gabriel takes the same chair at the table they were sitting at before, and takes back his ID that had been abandoned while he had been showing off his skills.

“Well, Javier,” Mal starts as he rests back on the chair, “to be honest, I don’t feel like waiting any longer for idiots to respond, and I think you’re the kind of guy we need in our bar.”

“I don’t mean to start on the wrong foot, but aren’t you a little young to own a bar?” Gabriel asks, cocking an eyebrow.

“It’s a family business,” Mal answers, “we’re in charge of hiring.”

“And we’re in need of that entertainment you pulled there,” Lina adds, pointing at the bar.

“So, what I’m hearing is that I got the job?” Gabriel gives them half a smile.

Mal chuckles, “We need to think over a few things. We’ll be in touch.”

Gabriel shrugs. “It isn’t a no.”

Their beers arrive and Mal raises a toast. Gabriel gives in and the three bottles clink together. The door opens and Gabriel notices Mal’s attention on it, but he ignores the urge to look back, focusing on drinking. Once Mal’s attention returns to the bar, Gabriel decides to have a peek at the new clients—two men in gray suits and pants. One is an older man that holds years of experience in the lines of his face, and he’s calm even in the clamorous surroundings. His companion is younger and seems to mind the noise; he can’t help looking around while he clings tightly to a briefcase in his hand.

“What was your first drink?” Lina asks Gabriel.

“Casa Noble,” he responds. “I was 11 when my uncle passed me a shot under the table during Thanksgiving dinner.”

Lina lets out a laugh. “Sounds like my kind of family.”

Gabriel offers her a small smile and that’s when someone calls for Mal. Mal stands up without a word and goes over to another table. Gabriel watches him above his own shoulder as Mal joins more people in dark clothes and the men in suits. The briefcase sits open on the table. He sees a man with long braided hair mouth the words ‘we have a problem.’

Mal pulls the briefcase over to him and starts shaking with laughter. “Are you kidding me?” His voice rises as he looks at the men in suits.

He takes his gun out, grabs the younger man, and places the muzzle at his temple. Once again, the clientele begins to panic and people start edging towards the exit.  

“We were promised a bigger cut.”

“We’re only delivering—” the victim protests, only to get a hit to the head with the barrel of the gun, while Mal’s friends grab hold of the other man in a suit.

“Wrong answer,” Mal says, placing the muzzle of the gun under the guy’s chin.

The door slams open, hitting the wall and making a picture frame fall. Seven men and women in suits identical to the men come in, but unlike the other two, they wear black masks that cover their eyes. They point their weapons at Mal and the others.

“On the ground!” a man in a suit shouts. The customers panic even more, getting on their knees and hiding under the tables along with the waiters. Gabriel freezes at the sight. Shit.

“On the ground!” the man shouts again, stepping closer to the table where Mal and his company are standing their ground.

The others join Mal, pull out their weapons and start firing. One of the men in suits is shot, and he falls to the floor with a groan. Gabriel tackles Lina and flips their table to cover them both.

“What the fuck?!” She sounds upset which he understands. She’s used to this and her gun is already in her hand. He looks at her with shaking hands holding on to the legs of the table.

Both sides are firing at each other as they take cover and some of their members get caught in the crossfire. A man in a suit passes by them and Gabriel comes out of hiding. He grabs the gun and twists it to break the man’s grip. He elbows the man in the face and then punches him in the stomach to bring him down.

He takes cover again with the gun and Lina watches him. “Nice work,” she comments and he nods in acknowledgement.

Gabriel peeks out and shoots at one of the men in suits that is aiming at Mal, who notices and nods at him before firing at someone else.

“Door’s wide open,” Gabriel says to Lina.

“You’re free to run if you want,” she retorts as she fires, hitting someone in the leg.

Suddenly, Lina’s body is rocked back by a gunshot, and her gun clatters to the floor. When Gabriel turns to look at her she’s holding her arm against her chest.

“Should have run,” Gabriel sighs as he slides closer to check. “Put pressure on it.”

“I know what to do,” she mumbles as she breathes deeply, but she doesn’t do what he suggests. Instead, she searches in one of her pockets with her good hand and comes out with a grenade. Before Gabriel can stop her, she whistles, activates it, and throws it over the table.

“Shit,” he hisses before covering his head and watching Lina vanish from his sight. The people in suits call out a warning for the grenade and try to cover themselves.

There’s no explosion though, and Gabriel raises his head to find the bar filling with dark smoke. People are still screaming, someone is shouting orders, and bullets whiz through the air—some just missing Gabriel. He takes another shot and hears a scream.

He sees Mal and his friends leaving through a window while the smoke is still covering them. But one of their enemies makes a run for one of Mal’s accomplices and Gabriel tackles him before punching him in the jaw, knocking him out. Mal’s friend looks back and smirks at Gabriel before he leaves.

Gabriel is panting on top of his most recent target when the smoke clears. He’s moving to throw the stolen gun away when someone grabs his shoulder. He swings a fist at his assailant and only gets another in return. When he fights back, the butt of a rifle hits him on the side of his head and he is subdued.

--

He can’t make out anything in the room when he wakes up. His vision is blurring, and there’s a bright light shining over him. He tries to move his hands, only to find them bound by handcuffs. His vision clears enough for him to see a face, but before he can form words, a fist collides with his jaw. He’s stiff for a few seconds as the sting comes, but then he laughs.

“Payback.” He meets sky blue eyes before lowering his gaze, laughing with pride at the swollen lip on the Boy Scout’s face.

“I didn’t ruin your face before a big TV interview, did I, Jackie?” Gabriel says and shakes his hands, making sure the blond in front of him can hear the handcuffs. “I’m not worth more than a pair of handcuffs I can snap apart?”

Jack Morrison steps closer, still sporting the pants from his suit, but no tuxedo or mask. “I asked for chains, a cell—hell, even a strait jacket,” the man says raising his hands. “They suggested it wouldn’t be a good way to get on their new commander’s good side.”

“Well you know I like a challenge,” Gabriel smiles, pulling his hands apart and snapping the handcuffs. Now they look like ridiculous accessories those punks he’d just encountered would wear. With his hands free, he can push back the curls on top of his head; they had been bothering him since he woke up.

“We searched the bar, but they weren’t anywhere. Seems like you helped them escape, traitor.” Strike Commander Jack Morrison raises an eyebrow as he slides a key over the table for Gabriel to use. “At least you’re alive. Means they don’t think of you as a threat, in case you get caught.”

“For now,” Gabriel scoffs as he unlocks the silver rings around his wrist. “Let’s just hope they didn’t see me getting caught, or believe I did. It will raise some suspicion when they contact me again.” He sees a familiar gray beanie by his side and puts it on, slowly looking like the old Gabe Jack knows.

“What makes you so sure they will?” Jack crosses his arms.

“They seem to like me,” Gabriel says like it’s the most obvious thing as his hand goes to his chin out of habit. It stills surprises him to find smooth skin instead of the beard he used to have. He was starting to hate this undercover job. “I got through to Mal, I’m sure, and Lina seems to be a trusty ally to him.”

Jack raises an eyebrow as Gabriel stands up. “But you do know they aren’t the ones in charge, right?”

“Yes, Jack, I’m fully aware.”

Jack rolls his eyes and hums at Gabe’s mocking tone before reaching over to retrieve a folder from the edge of the table. He opens it to reveal photos and papers with information on their current target: the Deadlock gang.

“Who interviewed you?”

Gabriel looks through the photos and sees one that has a red X through it. “He was taken out before the smoke,” Jack comments when Gabriel examines the picture.

Gabriel looks up from the photos. “Any casualties from our side?”

“Laiko is in a critical state and Baez won’t be able to use her left arm for a few weeks,” Jack responds and Gabriel nods in understanding. “Kristoff said you did a great job knocking him out.”

Gabriel chuckles, “He did a good job playing the part.”

“He asks if that will give him bonus points when you start training your agents,” Jack laughs, already knowing the answer, and Gabriel joins in.

“Tell him to keep dreaming.” He pauses before his finger taps the photo of a guy with green mohawk.

“Mal T., real name: William Trend, 29.” A few pictures later, Lina’s face shows up. “Lina Faith, 27. Both have been recognized on missions that have to do with weapon trafficking, usually work a lot together.”

“Power couple,” Jack comments with his hand on his chin. “What’s next?”

“Lay low, live a normal life for a few days—” he pauses when Jack lets out a low laugh.

“Do we know how to do such a thing?”

Gabriel grins and snickers in response, “I think I can figure it out. I asked an agent of mine to search for an apartment not too close to where we met. Something I can get out of if they give me the job. I also grabbed one of the new recruits for Overwatch that I think could do better in Blackwatch, Giovanny Salvatore, to play the part of my roommate, just in case. Hope you don’t mind.”

Jack hums, “Wish I had been informed of this earlier.”

“Blackwatch business now, Jackie.” Gabriel gives a playful shrug, one that says ‘what can you do.’

“Right, it’ll take a while to get used to.”

“They will probably be tracking me down soon; I’ll go to sign the lease tomorrow.” Gabriel walks around the table to leave the room. “Since Blackwatch is new, I assume Overwatch will give us the funds we need?”

Jack curls his lips and sighs as he hears the door close behind him and he’s left with an echo of Gabriel’s laugh, a sound he knows too well.

Chapter Text

R e y e s

Gabriel goes with Giovanny the next day to sign the lease for their new apartment. It’s big enough for two, with their own rooms and a small balcony that provides an opportunity to be watched while they act like normal citizens. The apartment is not in the safest part of town, but a more secure location might make Deadlock too wary to approach him. They go to thrift shops and find a few pieces of clothing and miscellaneous things that will allow their apartment to pass as a place they’ve been living for months. Gabriel uses a nice new credit card under the name Javier Nieves, filled with Overwatch funds. Once back in their humble home they set everything up: throw clothes around, put a few dishes in the sink, and place food in the fridge and cabinets.

Giovanny slumps on the used couch in slacks and an oversized t-shirt, and starts browsing through the basic cable channels. Gabriel takes a cigar and a lighter, and heads out on the balcony in his pajamas. He looks like he’s had a restless sleep and tossed between the sheets until the morning light peeked through the blinds.

Deadlock doesn’t come near him that day, or that night. He had some agents access the security cameras on the street, but they hadn’t caught anything suspicious. Gabriel goes to bed on the squeaky mattress with a feeling of failure. He was sure the plan would work, but he sighs with doubt once he lies down, staring at the ceiling. He’s aware he has to take this easy. Deadlock has been running around for years and Overwatch has had no luck catching them, but this was no longer Overwatch’s mission. They had bigger things to take care of and cameras to look pretty for. That was why Blackwatch was here now and why Gabriel had been put in charge, to take care of business Overwatch had left unfinished.

“We can always call it off,” Jack suggests through his comm while Gabriel stands in front of the sink in his bathroom, shirt off and beanie already on.

“We gotta give it time,” Gabriel says as he removes one of his green contact lenses.

“I need you to do other things besides dealing with Deadlock. We can send someone else to finish this. Besides, the UN is demanding that you start recruiting more agents to help you. There’s no point in going through with this mission if at the end you don’t have enough agents to back you up.”

He pulls the second contact out and places it safely in a case. “I trust Ana with the recruitment. She knows what I’m looking for and what Blackwatch needs.”

“I also trust Ana, but they should get a feel of who they’ll be working for.”

Gabriel scoffs as he rolls down one of the fake tattoo sleeves. “They will end up under Ana’s guidance at least a day in their lives. They all do.”

Jack is silent for a second. “True, but you are still their commander.”

Gabriel looks down at the tablet leaning on the wall behind the faucet as he takes off the second sleeve. “I know you worry about me, Jackie, but I’ll be fine. By the time this mission is over Ana will roll in with my agents.”

“If it happens at all.” Jack rolls his shoulders to get comfortable in his own bed back at base. He’s already in his pajamas, ready to call it a night.

“One week. If they don’t show up again in one week, it’s over and we look for another way. I can’t have you playing at a bar while I’m busting my ass over here,” Jack says as he lifts a mug of hot chocolate to his lips, making him mumble his next words, “that’s just not fair.”

Gabriel snickers as the call ends and the tablet screen goes black. He splashes water against his face and finishes up his routine for the night.

--

Gabriel marks another day on his calendar with no results. Three days have passed and Deadlock hasn’t shown any interest in contacting him. Giovanny hasn’t been approached either, nor has he received any messages. The clock is ticking and he knows that the plan will be called off for sure if Jack doesn’t see results.

On the fourth day he tells Giovanny to head to the nearby community college and take advantage of his youthful face to blend in as a student. He instructs the other man to wait there until Gabriel texts him the phrase “I brought Chinese for dinner.”

Gabriel leaves the apartment with a list of errands to do, but not before placing a toothpick between one of the door hinges. He mixes in with the crowd and follows a routine he imagines he would have on a normal day. He stands in line to get coffee, stops for a few minutes to watch the news displayed on a hologram through a shop’s window, and goes to the market. He doesn’t have a problem with acting bored of his, supposedly, mundane life. While he browses through the produce aisle, his mind wanders through possible scenarios of his second encounter with Deadlock. He expects a bag to be shoved over his head at any moment, and, while he’s vision is impaired, he’s taken to a place to never be seen again. Or a simple blow to the head with a blunt object or a bullet from afar.

He seems calm, but looks over his shoulder when he can. He catches reflections of the civilians in glass windows or bottles he takes in his hands to read the labels. He reaches his apartment building alive and he’s relieved to have made it a little longer into this mission. His moment of comfort disappears once he moves to turn the key in the lock and sees the toothpick on the floor. He presses his ear to the door and hears some chatter along with laughter. He slowly puts down one of his grocery bags before pulling a gun out of the waistband of his pants.

Once inside he faces Mal, Lina, and three other Deadlock members, one of whom he recognizes as Sean Rider from Jack’s files. Lina’s left arm is covered in bandages, yet she stands like the gun wound never happened. He sighs as they look at him like he’s the one breaking into their home while they’re relaxing in the living room.

“Come here often?” Mal asks to make light of things. Gabriel knows this is meant to be a joke, but the younger man’s tone suggests he wants to intimidate him.

Gabriel steps inside and closes the door behind him in a hurry, leaving the bag behind. “What do you punks want?”

“Put the gun away.” Mal points at the weapon and scoffs. “We’re not going to kill you, yet.”

“Forgive me for being a little paranoid after the events of the other day.” Gabriel lowers the gun, but his grip remains tight.

Mal rises from the couch. “We were in quite a mess that day, and you helped us out.”

“Thought I wanted to score a few points for the job, but then I thought it wasn’t worth it,” Gabriel says, waving his hand.

Mal smiles. “That’s why we’re here, buddy, we decided we want you in our bar.” They step closer in unison and Gabriel’s body tenses, a fist already forming around his keys.

He sees movement coming from Lina’s location and focuses his attention on her. She pulls a bottle of tequila out of her bag. Casa Noble. “Drink’s on us.”

They move to the kitchen where Gabriel stands behind the counter and sets cups in front of him. He pours a shot of tequila for everyone, including himself. They drink, but he doesn’t. Mal cocks an eyebrow at him.

“Again, forgive me if I’m being paranoid.” He tilts his head and the younger man grins. He seems to be running things, at least for this little mission. “I’m not stupid, I know that if I accept this job there’s more to it than bartending.”

“For you? No,” Mal responds. “What we do outside the bar is our business alone. You just worry about your work, which you’ll be doing mostly alone since we don’t have anyone else on staff for now.”

Gabriel scoffs, “I’m supposed to do the job by myself?”

“Hey, we’re a small operation and we pay for our drinks,” Lina says. “So you’ll be making money. Unlike now, am I right?”

Gabriel curls his lips and looks down at his cup of tequila. He decides it’s a good time to drink it. It tastes just like it did when he was 11, and there’s pinch in his heart at the memory. That reminds him to never use facts, memories or stories from his real life.

Gabriel scoffs, “There’s still the chance of people coming after my ass. What about those dudes in suits?”

“You seem like a guy who has seen some shit,” Lina points out, gesturing to Gabriel’s broad shoulders and chest. “Built like a tank, scars, tattoos, hell, you’re a scary guy. You can handle it, and who knows, we could even use you in our business. Take you out of the bar, see places, and get anything you want.”

Gabriel thinks it over; it is a tempting offer.

“Again, it’s not like you’re doing much with your life these days,” Lina comments, tilting her head and pouting.

At least they are falling for his act of a man in need of a job.

“What if I refuse?”

Mal chuckles, “Well you’ve seen our faces, know our names, and know we aren’t the good guys.” He clasps his hands in front of his chest. “What do you think is gonna happen?”

Gabriel shrugs, “We pretend like nothing happened and I keep seeing shit.”

“This is big, Nieves. It’s not easy to get a second chance from us,” Lina adds.

Gabriel wants to laugh; it seems to be going pretty easy for him.

“We need an answer now,” Mal says as his smile fades.

Gabriel pretends to think it over again and ends up with a sigh. “I’ve got bills to pay and an abuelita to feed.”

Four smiles flash back at him, four little devils in the palm of his hand. “Welcome aboard, Nieves.”

Chapter Text

R e y e s

Giovanny helps Gabriel pack the few things he brought from the base that are truly his and a few others they bought from the thrift stores. Gabriel contemplates two open boxes, one with his belongings and the other with the decoys. He will have to use the recently bought clothes more often to help him pass as Javier. Any item that could lead Deadlock to Gabriel has to be taken out less.

He tapes the boxes closed and piles them up by the door, under his jacket hanging from a hook, ready to depart in the morning. He comms Jack when he’s almost done and sets the tablet on the coffee table while the call goes through. Once Jack answers he lets him know the details that were discussed in his meeting with Mal and the others.

“Where do they want you?” Jack asks.

“They want to meet at some old gas station in Santa Fe,” Gabriel responds, taping the last box shut and handing it to Giovanny. “I’ll leave around five in the morning.”

Jack hums and Gabriel rolls his eyes, knowing where this will go. “It’s a long way for a vague and suspicious meeting point. Is it safe to drive by yourself?” Gabriel recognizes the care in Jack’s voice too well.

“You have a tracker on me and I can call if anything goes sideways. Salvotore and the others will leave an hour after me and stay in route, just in case. But I have to be alone.”

Jack doesn’t respond quickly. “I take it Salvotore and the others are Blackwatch now?” There’s a smile in his voice.

“Don’t worry, Ana sent me the files of new recruits,” as he speaks, Gabriel swipes the window with Jack’s face to a corner, making it smaller. In the background, he opens a folder that contains many documents under names and numbers. “I’ll have Athena read them to me on the way there. I won’t be stealing your agents any longer.”

“Good. The last thing I need now is for mine to prefer working in Blackwatch.”

“Nah, yours get all the fun and glory, right?” Gabriel turns when he realizes he sounds bitter. “I’m sure they’ll still love our Strike Commander.”

“What? Not so sure about Blackwatch now, Reyes?” Jack jokes. “You seemed into it when you were decoding Deadlock’s ad.”

“I’m having fun, Morrison.” Gabriel faces him again with honesty. “And I can’t wait to finally put the Deadlock case away after your precious group of boy scouts couldn’t do it.” There’s a grin on Gabriel’s face and he bites his bottom lip to stop it from growing bigger.

Jack raises an eyebrow and also smiles, “Is that a bet?”

“Are you two playing nice?” A woman enters the room on Jack’s side and the blond looks over his tablet while he hands her a cup. Gabriel assumes it’s tea and he’s proven right when Ana Amari comes into view with the mug between her hands and the string of a tea bag hanging on the side. Her black hair is resting beautifully on her shoulders but it’s slightly frizzy after a day’s work. Her dark brown skin appears to be darker in some patches on her arms and Gabriel frowns in concern.

“Are you alright, Ana?”

Ana looks at her arms and scoffs, “Yeah, made some of the recruits do the course outside while the rain simulator was on.” She hides her smile behind her cup.

“And they say I’m the asshole,” Gabriel says as he lets out a laugh and Jack joins in. “See that, Jack? It’s a good idea I leave my recruitment to Ana. That way the new agents will be so pleased she is not who they’ll actually be working with that they will do anything I say.”

“That’s has been your plan all along, then?” Jack asks with glee in his eyes, and Gabriel nods in response.

“Salvotore, you’re dismissed for the night,” Gabriel calls to the agent.

“Yes, sir.” Giovanny nods and goes to his room to do his usual routine for the evening.

Gabriel stays on the comm with Jack and Ana while she spills stories about the training sessions she did over the day. As she does this, Gabriel goes through the files of the agents that Ana believes he would like. There are a few who specialize in stealth and intelligence, while one or two show more physical strength. They are respectful towards Ana and therefore he expects they will be respectful of him, or he will keep being known as the asshole commander.

They share a few laughs through the evening as all three of them keep talking and going over future missions. Jack confesses that it is no longer fun to go to meetings alone, and he isn’t fond of the idea of leaving the state while Gabriel is surrounded by Deadlock. But both Ana and Gabriel himself assure Jack that things will be fine and Gabriel hopes it’s enough to get the Strike Commander to sleep soundly through the night.

--

He leaves at six in the morning and drives until night when he decides to settle in a motel to rest. He lets Jack know where he stands and that he will shut down his comm. No one should try to contact him unless he does first or gives a safe signal. Jack doesn’t say anything but he sighs in disapproval. After that he makes sure the agents that were following him are still at a good distance. He wakes up at six and arrives at Santa Fe three hours later, at the old abandoned gas station they told him about.

The roof of the place still stands, though it’s rusty and moldy. There is no sign in sight and the deteriorated building has lost its color. Two gas pumps have been ripped from the ground, while another has fallen over. He parks the car and steps outside like he was told. Suddenly, the smell of fire and gas hits him and makes his nose wrinkle. He rests on the hood of the car as he pulls out a cigar and a lighter. The cigar rests between his lips and he’s about to light a flame, when he thinks about where he is. The smell of gas still lingers in the air. He’s pulling the cigar out of his mouth when another car arrives, and he puts both things away.

“Roommate gave you some as a going away present?” Mal asks when he gets out of the car with four more guys.

Gabriel scoffs. “Yeah, cheap bastard though.”

“I’m sure you’ll manage.” Mal nods to his companions as they start to circle Gabriel. He straightens his body away from the car and steadies his feet.

“Relax, Nieves,” Mal teases with a smile. “It’s a good surprise.”

A black bag covers Gabriel’s face and he tries to swing a fist back but misses, and gets a punch to his gut.

“Hey, hey,” Mal calls to his friends. “Don’t scare him. Just take him to the car. Barton, take his.”

--

Gabriel is pushed down on a chair and the bag quickly comes off. The lights are dim enough to not bother his eyes as he inspects the new room. It is a bar. It’s got an industrial look, like it stayed behind years ago. Brick and wooden walls along with barrels of beer stacked in a tower in a corner. The counter is neatly polished and organized. The stools don’t look new, but are still good to use, same as the rest of the chairs and tables around him. There’s an old couch against a wall that looks comfortable and like something these guys would steal just because they were bored. The shelves behind the bar are stocked with liquor and juices and he imagines there are glasses and other essentials. A few posters of pin-up girls, old cars, and bikes adorn the walls along with a long mirror behind the bar.

“Welcome to your new job, Nieves. The Bunker .” Mal stretches his arms to show the place off as he turns around and sits on one of the stools. “It calls for a celebration, right?”

Gabriel lets himself have a low laugh as he lowers his head and brushes his curls. “This is quite the probation.”

“Well, not yet.” Mal pulls something closer to him and stands up to bring it to Gabriel. Once the few sheets of papers are placed in front of him, he can see it’s a contract.

“Now you give me this? After I rode almost 20 hours to God knows where?” Gabriel pulls the contract closer.

“This way, if you have cold feet and back out after reading this, you won’t be able to…leave, in a way.” Mal shrugs and his hand rests calmly on the handle of his gun at his hip.

“Alright, hotshot. I already said yes.” Gabriel raises a hand and gives him a half a smile before he gets to reading.

The contract that states anything he hears and sees in ‘ The Bunker ’ will stay in it. He will be required to work from six in the morning to three in the morning. However he will choose when to take breaks and can leave someone in charge. He rolls his eyes to their consideration. By signing it, he’s also aware he’d be working on making drinks by himself for now. There’s a room upstairs that he will use to stay in, as long as he pays rent: first month’s required to start staying in it. He is not allowed to ask “too many questions” and as soon as someone tells him to stop, he has to. He has to ask permission to leave The Bunker and has to be accompanied by a Deadlock member. Any betrayal or breaking of the statements before shall be punished.

One of Mal’s accomplices gives him a pen and Javier Nieves signs his life away to Deadlock.

“I need to go to a bank, if you want that first month.” He pushes the contract and pen towards Mal who smiles and nods. He can’t trust them scanning his credit card so soon until he makes sure they can’t track him to Overwatch.

They don’t cover his face this time. He sees how the only door in and out of the bar works. They go up a flight of stairs and encounter another door. Barton opens it and pushes a third door. Once they come out, Gabriel sees the third door is made of wooden planks glued together. When it closes, it completes the rest of the wall blocking up the alley. There’s an old painted mural on it with a woman drinking from a smoothie, promoting a diner that probably isn’t in business anymore.

They reach the nearest bank and retrieve the money. Once back he hands the bills to Sal, who takes care of the cash. Mal takes Gabriel through another door in the back that leads to a flight of stairs. Up the steps they encounter another door that Mal unlocks and hands him the key to his new apartment. It’s smaller than the one he used with Giovanny. The living room, kitchen, and dining room are combined. Down the small hallway, he finds a door to the bathroom and another for his bedroom. The apartment is equipped with a cheap TV, a couch, a refrigerator, and a bed. He guesses if he needs anything else he would have to get it himself.

Mal leaves him to settle after Leo, Sal, and the other guy, Jay, get his boxes inside the bar. Gabriel is surprised, but figures it’s not out of hospitality, but to have him ready to serve alcohol sooner. He takes care of taking his own things upstairs and setting them as quick as possible. Without a closet or dresser, he arranges the boxes with clothes opened in a corner of the bedroom. He sets the food he had brought with himself to avoid going out of The Bunker , expecting it wouldn’t be easy.

Sal knocks on his door an hour later, telling him it is time to get to work.

He is surprised to find the bar already full instead of the members slowly coming by. The crowd doesn’t notice him until he gets behind the bar and orders start pouring in along with a few questions and ‘welcome aboard’s.

The bar starts getting louder as time passes and there’s black, silver, and bright colors popping out everywhere he looks. Tattoos and piercings decorate bodies like crazy. He wonders if he should add some piercings to his disguise, play the part. Or if they will make him at some point. It seems to be a part of the pledge or something. Other than orders, praises for his drinks, techniques, tricks, and himself come along. Apparently the tattoos and green eyes make him more desirable.

A guy and a girl sit in front of him and put the idea out of how open they are. Especially after coming from a successful mission. Gabriel feels flattered, but before he can say anything someone calls the girl’s attention.

“Where’s your brother with McCree?”

“He said they were running late.” The girl spins on the stool, but her partner keeps his eyes on Gabriel, who leads him on with a simple wink while he tries to listen. “Some guys from Devil’s Wings ambushed them on the way to Nevada.”

“We can’t wait much longer,” someone protests. “We’ve got mules to pick up at the airport.”

Gabriel makes note to tell Jack, see if they can do anything about that.

“Guess you’re gonna have to fill them in, sweetheart,” the man says before taking a seat.

Gabriel quickly attends to new orders to slip away from the couple and things start to slow down as the gang settles in. He realizes there’s a meeting starting soon and he steps back, pretending to organize stock while he goes through his options. He could pull out his phone to record the conversation at least, so he can focus on doing his job, but it might be spotted. He decides to try and attend the bar like normal but listen to as much as he can.

A guy dressed in leather with a bald head and a full beard stands, gaining Gabriel’s attention. Heavy boots stomp on the floor and the crowd falls almost silent. Devon Crail, the leader of Deadlock. Gabriel hasn’t met him personally, but knows about him. How easy would it be to have Ana snipe him from somewhere and end it. But Deadlock was no traditional association, who knows how much havoc would happen if their leader fell like that. They probably also have plans set in motion; killing Devon won’t do the trick.

“A month from now, Volskaya will be sending a bomb to California, transported by boat,” Devon starts to talk as he paces around. “It will quickly be hidden in an underground safe to have as a backup in case another omnic crisis rises. Well, I want that beauty.” He smiles and gets a few approving smiles.

“With that in our hands, we have power and we can study it and create our own, maybe stronger. Our task is to take it as soon as it touches land. We’ll infiltrate the payload and lose any followers. We’re gonna need every man and woman we’ve got if we want to pull this off. Once we enter Route 66, we will close the path to the gorge and lock it down until it’s clear for us to work on it.” He walks between tables and his eyes never fall on Gabriel, who’s acting busy with a new order and doing tricks.

“No one is allowed to touch that bomb before me!” One of his thick fingers goes up. “If you do, you will be made an example of. Now, I’m aware this will be heavily guarded, starting at the port. This is where our sharpshooter comes in.” There’s a moment of silence, and Gabriel waits for someone to stand up to receive the praise. “He does his trick from a high point a couple of times to clear the path and we hijack the payload. Once we’re on it, it’s all drive and drive until we’re clear.”

Gabriel’s ears pick up almost the entire meeting as he continues to serve. But he misses the end and starts noticing how they disperse, including Devon who leaves immediately with a group. No one mentions the big mission after. The gang spreads out, some to the airport, others to do something else, and a few stay in the bar. They remain loud and obnoxious, which sometimes makes it difficult for Gabriel to stay focused on every conversation he can hear. At least they pay for what they consume. But by doing this, they think they have the right to drive Reyes crazy and walk all over the place with orders. He lets a shaker fall and crouches to pick it up. On his quick trip he speed dials Jack’s number and as soon as Jack picks up, he says, “search airports, mules” and hangs up. He receives a text a few minutes later from Jack, “on it.” He quickly deletes it before Lina arrives.

“Martini. How’s the first day?” She takes the stool in front of him.

“Everyone’s over the place, to be honest.” Gabriel turns around to grab what he needs, then faces her again. “But it’s not as bad as I thought.”

“I can see.” She tilts her head towards a Mason jar that holds a few tips.

He starts to rattle the beverage in the cocktail shaker and feels the cold between his hands soothing him. He places the martini in front of her when it's done and she pays.

“You mentioned you had a grandma you take care of, right?” She suddenly asks when he’s about to turn.

“Yeah.” He crosses his arms.

“Where is she now?”

“Still in Nevada, with someone I trust.”

“Wouldn’t be best to have her move nearby?” She asks before taking a sip.

He shakes his head. “I just started, besides, I don’t think I would like you guys finding my abuelita , would I?”

She nods as she licks her lips. “It’ll stay between us.”

M c C r e e

The smell of gunpowder has turned into his cologne. His skin has become darker from the many kisses from the sun, and the layer of dust and dirt he carries no longer itches him like it did. The sound of guns around him has turned into a sweet melody and a way to know he’s still alive. No matter how loud the bangs are, his heartbeat always competes and ends up winning. He can feel it in his throat and hear it clearly in his ears.

His skinny knees burn under the rubble as he ducks for cover behind a rock. One hand holds on to the cowboy hat over his brown, messy hair, and another holds on to an old six shooter. He peeks behind the rock and ducks again when a bullet reaches for him. He pulls his hand out and shoots, knowing his target will fall down. His body is already covered in sweat under the sun of the Sonoran Desert. His tight black jeans cling to his legs and sweat is soaking through his gray shirt. His leather vest doesn’t help him stay hydrated at all, but he will be damned if he let that get in the way of looking cool. He’s calculating his next step when another body slams against him. He elbows the bigger guy in the ribs with a hiss and holds on to the cowboy hat.

“Hey!” He calls to his companion. “Almost made me lose an eye!”

The other man laughs, “I’d like to see that transition from cowboy to pirate.”

The young man fakes a laugh before peeking and shooting again at their ambushers. Four more shots and the path to their vehicle is clear. The older man pushes him out of the way as he makes the run for it, but he is faced with two men as he opens the door of the van. Just for thinking about leaving Jesse behind, he contemplates letting the man die. But he curses and reloads quickly before shooting two more bullets. Both men fall down and out of the van; he has saved the life of his accomplice.

Both get inside and drive away, lungs begging for air and hearts beating faster than the van can run. The highway is free of danger for now and McCree takes the chance to lay back and rest his poor heart. He leans down his hat before speaking.

“This work gives me a mighty thirst every time.”

“We’re actually heading for drinks now,” the man behind the wheel says.

“Thought we’re headin’ fer a meetin’ in Nevada,” McCree says under his hat.

“We were, but they couldn’t wait for us any longer. They’re already back at Santa Fe. They reopened an old hideout, The Bunker .” The guy smiles under his mustache. “It’s a damn bar underground and they even got a poor bastard to work in it. He helped their asses after a job went sideways if I recall.”

Jesse rests his head back with a smile as he thinks of the cold beer running down his throat and the numb mind that follows. “Bless that kind soul.”

R e y e s

Gabriel gets his first hour break and decides to spend it on his apartment while Lina takes over. He really doesn’t care who does the job, and looks like no one else does either, as long as there is someone giving out alcohol. He lays on his bed with an energy bar in one hand and his phone by his ear with Jack on the other line. He goes over the meeting as he devours his snack and closes his eyes for a few seconds in between. Jack isn’t convinced he should stay around long if they already have what they need.

“We can find the boat transporting the bomb and take over. We can go to the UN with this.”

“We need to make sure every member is there to take them down for good,” Gabriel responds in a low voice. “They have to know we’ve been under their noses.”

“And again, you need more agents for this.”

“I already sent Ana the ones I want and to keep a few others near just in case.” He takes a bite off his snack. “I’m asking you to let me do this, Jack. I don’t think I should go. We know they’re after this bomb, but they can do a lot in a month.”

Jack sighs. “You’re right. I apologize.”

Gabriel doesn’t know what to say to that, so he shifts the subject. “Did you find anything on what I said earlier?”

“Yes. Luckily we found the girls before they did, but they spotted us and made a run for it. We got them all and they even said more were being sent at dawn. We’ll be there.”

“Proves my point.”

“I realized that, Reyes.” Gabriel can feel Jack’s eyes rolling on the other side and it makes him smile. “Watch out, though, we made it look like we were coming from a trip, but who knows if they’ll believe it. They might start thinking badly of you. It was risky to let me know.”

Gabriel shrugs. “I expect their doubts, but who knows if we’ll get to end them or if they’ll end me first. What’s important is how many of their plans we can foil before one of those things happen.”

Chapter Text

R e y e s

The second day starts smoother than the first. The bar isn’t as full as it had been yesterday, yet the members that are hanging around cause as much noise as a full house. A few throw comments at Gabriel, trying to rile him up, but he knows better and continues handing out alcohol to get them off his case. He listens to some of the conversations while he’s behind the bar and when he walks around to pick up empty bottles and glasses from the tables. A few members talk about the meeting and the big mission. They recall this is the biggest one yet and could be known as the most dangerous gang in the world if they pull it off. Gabriel keeps his poker face on while he feels proud inside. It’s too early to call victory, but if someone from Overwatch managed to slip between them like he did, and word got out, people won’t think they are dangerous, but a bunch of punks.

He hears a conversation of a group heading out to a human auction. Gabriel stays still, but calculates what could be the chances of catching that auction. They are slim. It’ll take time to call Jack and by the time they locate the place, if they manage to, it’ll be over. Gabriel’s jaw clenches as he tells himself he can’t save everyone. This is something Jack and himself have been reciting since their days in the SEP program. Since they spent nights in sorrow after colleagues they grew fond of suddenly vanish overnight and they were told lies by the medics to cover up the deaths. They used to say it every time over bodies of children that never got to grow old. They reminded themselves they will save the next one every time they witnessed a civilian lost their lives. This mantra followed him up to the Omnic Crisis, when he was just too late to save men, women and children from drowning in the wreckage of the war.

Gabriel composes himself quickly enough to hear a trio talking about a successful gun exchange that happened last night with an officer. A couple of girls mock a guy they robbed before coming here and that’s how most of his morning sounds like; stories told by punks and how they ruin lives.

Noon rolls on the same way, with chatter and banter. Gabriel tries to keep an open eye on whoever enters the bar and it’s no different when the door slams open after having no one leaving or coming in for a while. A loud voice calls the names “Albert! McCree!” It’s only been twenty-four hours, but Gabriel’s already used to their loud behavior. The guests are new, but Gabriel isn’t surprised. He expects new faces in the upcoming weeks after the meeting held yesterday. Two men have entered, chatting up and calling out the names of the first people they see to bring more attention to themselves. Gabriel watches them approach the bar, one has a full head of hair and a mustache. He’s older than his companion, and meaner looking. Gabriel takes a second look at the other man—kid. He’s tall and skinny, with brown skin and darker hair under a cowboy hat. Gabriel’s eyes trail down to the boy’s cowboy boots, with spurs at the ankles ringing for attention. Looking him as a whole, the scene looks like the start of a bad ‘cowboy walks into a bar’ pun.

A member calls out to the new customers, “Drinks on me!”

Knowing that’s his call, Gabriel walks closer to the new customers and the kid’s brown eyes fall on Reyes as he tips the rim of his hat.

“Must be the new fella.” His accent sounds like something out of an old western movie.  But he also sounds tired, vulnerable, and Gabriel can’t help laughing when he  asks for a shot of whiskey.

“No way,” he says and he gets a few looks. “Where’s your ID, kid?”

The boy in front of him actually laughs back, “Good one, old man.”

“I ain’t joking.” Gabriel’s smile fades. “No ID, no drink.”

“Relax Nieves, he’s one of us.” One of the other members vouches for the kid.

“Nah, let him have his fun.” The kid pushes out his chest as he pulls out his wallet and picks out an ID. He slams it on the counter and Gabriel examines it.

“Twenty-one my ass.” Gabriel pushes the ID back. He knows he has a job to do, but for now he has to be a bartender first. Show no signs that lets them believe he has worked with an association before. As if this bar is all he knows. “There’s wine on those shelves older than him.”

“This kid has done some crazy shit, and you want to stop him from drinking whisky?” A woman points out and gains a few laughs.

“Like he can’t get it from anywhere else,” adds the man that arrived with the boy.

“I bet anythin’ I can steal from any crummy market’s better than the shit you serve here.” The kid takes his ID back with force. Gabriel stares him down while he bites his bottom lip.

He ends up nodding. “Alright, my mistake, tough guy.”

M c C r e e

Albert told him about Javier Nieves before they arrived at The Bunker. Some guy desperate for a job who accepted what Deadlock had for him. He didn’t know what to expect, and yet the image of the man in front of him was a surprise. He will fit in with Deadlock and that’s probably why Mal and Lina gave him a chance and didn’t put a bullet through his skull after he saw too much of the mission that went south.

Nieves places down the shot of whiskey in front of Jesse and a drop or two bounce over the rim due to the impact. Jesse isn’t afraid to lock eyes with the older man and knows Nieves is not afraid to stare back.

“Thank you kindly.” Jesse nods and raises the glass before drinking it in a gulp. “Another.”

Nieves stares at him as he pours another shot. Without hesitation, Jesse drinks it and shuts his eyes as it burns down his throat. “Keep ‘em comin, sweetheart.” That comment gets a few chuckles from his companions and Nieves’ nostrils flare as he pours another.

Javier sets the bottle down with a loud thud . “Keep the bottle, darlin’.” He mocks him with a smile and walks away while Jesse watches him. He knows he won’t be getting the bartender’s attention for the rest of the day.

“Who does he think he is?” Jesse asks no one in particular before drinking his third shot.

Felix, the tall skinny guy who’s buying his drinks elbows him. “Guy’s got skills, or so I’ve heard. And don’t tell me it surprises you when he looks like that.”

Jesse looks back at Nieves, who’s leaning over the counter further down, talking to other members. He examines the man as he pours more whisky into the glass. He looks over his broad shoulders, well made tattoos over his arms, and rock solid jaw. Nieves wouldn’t just beat someone up, he could take a beating.

“He solved some puzzle Lina put up to get the job. He also helped Mal, Lina, and the others about a week ago. That’s why they had to leave Nevada after the mishap with Iron Suits. They needed another place to go over things for the big mission—which you missed.”

Jesse looks away from Nieves. “Not my fault we got ambushed.” He drinks and leans back on the stool as he raises his legs on the bar. He lets the spurs of his boots click on the wood, wanting Nieves to know who caused the scratches. “Run it by me.”

Albert steps closer to hear about the meeting and mission; there is a plan. Devon will be looking through his members and make a more detailed list of who’s doing what, but so far Jesse has a special spot. He grins when Felix shakes his shoulders and calls him ‘our secret weapon.’

“You need to practice, kid,” Felix tells him. “We’re counting on you.”

“I know, I know.” Jesse waves him off. “I don’t need the practice, buddy. It’s natural talent.”

“What if your natural talent fails us, huh?” Albert crosses his meaty arms, the tattoos around them twisting with his movements. “Wouldn’t like to be you.”

Jesse leans his head back as he laughs and his hand falls on his chest. “So much pressure, it fuels me.” He almost growls the last three words as a joke and receives a chuckle from Felix. “Anyways, anything for me?”

“Not that I know of.” Felix shakes his head as he stands up. “I do have some pickups to do.”

Jesse lowers his legs from the counter. “Need the company?”

Felix’s mouth twists. “Nah, I’m good with the ones I have. See ya later.” He picks up his leather jacket, which is hanging from the stool he used, and looks over at a table. “Will, Risa, Morty, let’s get moving.”

Jesse watches the small group walking away with their matching leather jackets. The Deadlock logo, a skull with wings, two chains hanging down from its jaw, and a lock underneath it, decorate the back. All the jackets are the same, but each one has the member’s initials or nickname stitched in gold inside the collar to tell them which one belongs to whom. His scrawny arms feel naked when he looks at how almost everyone is sporting those jackets when they leave or enter the bar. He always gets the same feeling in any Deadlock hideout.

“Imma go trash the van somewhere.” Albert pats him on the shoulder. “Wanna come?” Jesse sees how tired Albert looks and guesses that the man probably wishes to have it done fast and alone.

“Nah, you do the work. I’ll tell the others how I saved yer ass.” Jesse flicks the rim of his hat and the man huffs before leaving as well.

He watches Albert leave. He’s not sporting a jacket because he left it in the van, but he’ll probably put it on as soon as he gets into it. Deadlock liked to announce who they were and those jackets were their name tags. Jesse’s still waiting for his. In the meantime, he faces the bottles of whisky and pours another shot.

R e y e s

Deadlock members start leaving as the hours tick by and only a few remain, including the McCree kid, who has been going around telling the story of his six shooter and him in the desert. Gabriel hears it and laughs derisively when their eyes meet, but he turns around before the kid gets a chance to defend himself. Now McCree’s passed out on the old couch. His cowboy hat covers his face while the empty bottle of whiskey rests between him and the sofa. Gabriel can’t help but feel sorry for the boy who’s in no shape for doing anything. He  wonders if he had even eaten before drinking. Someone new arrives and orders, bringing him back to his job and leaving the kid to intoxicate himself.

He notices when McCree leaves because the bottle of whisky falls to the floor and breaks. When Gabriel looks over, the kid winks with groggy eyes and slouching shoulders as he fixes his hat. McCree leaves without looking back and abandons the broken bottle for Gabriel to sweep up.

--

Gabriel makes it to the next morning without contacting anyone from Blackwatch or Overwatch. Though he heard about missions and tasks, by the time he got a chance to talk to someone, the damage Deadlock was going to do was already done. There is no point on bringing up what they could have salvage when there’s more at stake. He also has to keep his contact with Overwatch limited or it might be suspicious. Overwatch intervene with one of Deadlock’s assignment once and might have done it again in the morning. If they keep showing up where Deadlock is, things might shift against Gabriel.

He starts his day by showering and shaving, and then puts on the green contacts and fake tattoo sleeves before having breakfast. He opens the bar and starts removing the chairs from on top of the tables and wiping them clean from any dust that fell during the night.

The door opens after twenty minutes and Deadlock members start walking in. One of them already knows his name and calls him “J.” Gabriel grimaces at the nickname but continues without comment. Without realizing it, he’s deep in conversation with the group as they talk about their favorite beers and he recommends new ones depending on their tastes. He opens a few bottles and serves a little in shot glasses for them to try. A lot of the options are approved by the members and they end up ordering bottles for themselves. The sound of coins clicking in the Mason jar rings in his ears as he sees more tips piling up already.

It’s an hour into his shift when shots are fired outside the door and two or three bullets come through. The members in the bar duck for cover and Gabriel does the same behind the bar. A bottle of wine shatters above him and the liquor spills to the floor. The door slams open and six figures completely covered in combat gear from boots to ski masks enter with shotguns and rifles pointing ahead.

“On the ground!” One of them spits through the fabric of his mask.

Gabriel stays low and searches under the bar for anything he can use, but there are no weapons. He makes a mental note to tape a gun under the counter if he survives. He peeks over the bar to see one of the Deadlock members being kicked to the ground as another is pushed against a table.

“If anyone moves, I won’t hesitate!” Another one dressed in black says as he raises his gun. Gabriel immediately recognizes the voice and his mind starts working on faces he can connect it to.

“Come out, come out, wherever you are!” One of the intruders sneaks behind and grabs Gabriel’s shoulder to pull him to his feet. Gabriel is pushed around the bar to join the Deadlock members and onto his knees. A girl from Deadlock tries to act brave and stands up, pulling out her gun, but she gets hit in the jaw with the butt of a rifle and the gun clatters to the floor.

“We won’t be long,” a person in black starts pacing around them as they speak. “We’re looking for William Trend. We heard he was in the area and this was his new playground.” Gabriel can tell it’s a man under the mask, and he looks around the bar. “Give us his location and we might spare you.”

No one answers; no one moves.

“Touching,” the same guy says.

Gabriel feels a gloved hand grab the back of his head and slams him forward onto the floor. A knee is shoved between his shoulder blades and he groans in pain as it presses lower.

“Let’s try this another way.” The same guy keeps talking while his accomplice tightens their grip on Gabriel’s head.

Gabriel’s vision blurs for a second and refocuses on the black boots. He looks up at the people surrounding him, most of them are set on him while they’re ignoring the Deadlock members, who are surprisingly quiet.

“He’s not here!” One of the girls from Deadlock finally speaks up.

The guy in black who has spoken the most lands his attention on Gabriel and he snaps his fingers.

One of the cronies yanks Gabriel to his feet and shoves him into the nearest chair, pulling his arms behind his back and pinning them there. The criminals surround Reyes as the leader starts moving in front of him. His eyes move from Gabriel to the Deadlock members.

“You seem to be new,” he points out, and Gabriel knows the connection is easy to make. He’s in dark jeans and an olive green long sleeve shirt while the Deadlock members wear mostly black and many accessories. “Does it really seem worth it?”

Gabriel looks at the Deadlock crew for a few seconds. Their eyes are piercing and looking for a hint of weakness in him, but they keep coming up empty. He looks back at the intruders and shrugs.

“Tips are nice, I guess.”

His comment makes the man look over at the Mason jar. “Please. You know these guys have more in their pockets and they can only pull out a few bucks for you? What else would you be willing to do for a few coins?”

Gabriel smirks, “Tell your dog to let me go and I can show you.”

The leader doesn’t say anything, only nods towards another one of his partners. At the command, a fist clashes with Gabriel’s cheek. The impact causes his head to turn to the side and drop forward.

“You must believe you’re something special if you think we’ll let you run your mouth for long.” The room has fallen quiet again; he can’t see or hear Deadlock moving or doing anything to intervene. It’s not like he expected a savior, but he did expect them to save themselves. “Where’s Mal?”

“Doing a better job than you are at getting people to talk?” Gabriel responds and receives another punch to his cheek. This time, it’s accompanied by one to the stomach too.

“How about Lina?”

“Hitting harder than your friend he—”

The punch comes before he finishes his sentence.

“Maybe I was wrong.” The leader of the ambushers steps closer. “Maybe you aren’t new, but you are stupid.”

Gabriel spits blood onto the floor, and some drops fall on his shirt. “Oh, you wound me more with your words.”

Gabriel expects the punch this time; it lands on his stomach and he coughs as he leans forward. When he raises his head, he’s facing the end of a gun. The black hole promises an end, but it’s just an empty promise.

“One last chance,” the masked leader says, placing his finger on the trigger. “Where’s Mal?”

Gabriel breathes through his nose and his lungs burn. His mouth is on fire and he’s sure his bottom lip is swollen. He still gazes to the man and gives him half a smile as he remains quiet. It seems to take forever as they look at each other. The guy is also breathing heavily and his eyes look angry, burning holes in Gabriel’s skull, marking the places the bullet could go through.

“Dude,” the man pointing the gun at him hisses before he takes off his mask in a swift motion. “This is the part where you give me away!”

Gabriel’s eyes widen to the sight of Mal grinning at him. The gun lowers from his line of sight, yet his body stays tense under everyone’s stare.

“What’s wrong with you? I was looking forward to testing this little guy. Small but deadly, they say,” Mal says as he admires the small revolver in his hand and turns away from Gabriel.

Gabriel’s arms are set free and he turns his wrists to test his muscles, but really he’s testing if the fake tattoo sleeves could be felt through his shirt. Luckily, the man that was holding him is wearing thick gloves.

One by one they reveal their faces. Lina was also one of them, laughing along with the others, including the Deadlock members that had been “hostages.” He can’t recognize the other Deadlock members under the masks at the moment, but will make sure to save their faces in his mind for future references.

“What was all this about?” Gabriel asks, almost growling. He knew well what this had meant, yet it even amazed him to a point. They shot bullets through the door without taking in consideration the position he or the other Deadlock members inside. They could have known, yet Mal doesn’t look like the kind of guy to care. He would blame his own teammates if they got shot.

Mal pouts at him in mockery. “Are you mad? Did I hit you too hard?”

Gabriel relaxes his shoulders and shows him a trembling smirk as he scoffs and stands up. “Please, my abuelita used to hit me harder while I was growing up.”

“Really?” There’s delight in Lina’s tone as she approaches the bar and Gabriel walks around it. “We could use her on our side.”

Gabriel shakes his head as he reaches the sink. “You already have one Nieves, you couldn’t handle a second.” He gets water in his mouth to wash away the blood and spits it out. “Was this some kind of test?” He knows it is; he just hopes he passed.

He turns around to see everyone looking over at each until they end up on Mal, who’s curling his lips as he considers it. “You did okay.”

Gabriel leans back from the sink. “Really?”

“Yeah, don’t let your guard down, Nieves.”

Chapter Text

R e y e s

Gabriel has to work through the pain for the rest of the morning. His body aches and he can feel it recovering, but it wasn’t fast enough for his liking. He understood Mal’s plan; he had to see where Nieves’ loyalty stood. Yet, he didn’t expect this from these guys. He believed they wouldn’t think anything of him, and at the first sign of him acting strange bang! Javier would be gone. Guess it’s a good thing for Gabriel he’s alive and passed their test. He can also work with this, use it as an advantage since Mal will let his guard down around him for a while.

Even though it’s morning, he’s expected to serve beers or shots. But most of the members that arrive order cocktails and other drinks that force Gabriel to move around behind the bar to get the ingredients. Not to mention the tricks. He believes these guys just want to start the day with a big kick, start feeling the rush of dying and coming back to life before a heist, or whatever it is they have to do during the day. But soon Gabriel notices a few of them looking over his appearance and snickering. He should have known word of his initiation would have spread as soon as it happened.

“Heard you got the shit beat out of ya.”

Gabriel’s placing two liquor bottles back on the shelves when he hears the derisive tone from behind. A tone that makes his brow twitch. He turns and there’s the cowboy, resting one elbow on the bar.

Gabriel sees Jesse hissing as he looks at his swollen lip and then at the drops of blood on Gabriel’s shirt.

“I guess your welcome’s official.” Jesse sits on the stool in front of him looking very smug for someone who had nothing to do with how Gabriel looks.

“Yeah, signing a contract wasn’t homey enough. My jaw had to be punched out of place to really feel like part of the Deadlock family.”

“Hey now, they do it to a lot of us. I’m surprised they wasted time on you though,” Jesse huffs as his hand raises towards Gabriel.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Gabriel crosses his arms, not feeling the ‘friendly bartender talk’ right now.

“You might be the new meat, the new toy, but you wouldn’t last long out there, partner.” Jesse points his thumb to the entrance of the bar. “Yer pretty replaceable. If Mal’d shot you, I’d be talking to someone else right ‘bout now. So don’t think those fancy tricks will save ya if you’re ever in a real situation like that.”

Gabriel eyes the kid, from his worn hat to what he can see over the counter. “I’d believe that if I woke up every morning looking like you.”

Jesse blinks and leans back. “Hold up, now—”

“And this isn’t about your cowboy getup, but the sorry excuse you are for a boy playing at being a man.”

Jesse’s mouth slowly falls open.

Gabriel rests his hands on the bar. “I don’t know who you think you are, but if you’re gonna act like a whiny little shit who runs around playing with guns, then that’s how I’m gonna treat you.” His words might be harsh, but the kid hasn’t done anything to earn Gabriel’s respect. And he’s still a criminal that wants to install some kind of fear in Gabriel, as if he hasn’t lived through worse than a scrawny kid under a cowboy hat.

Jesse scoffs as he drops his gaze and mumbles, “Vete al carajo.”

Gabriel shrugs and curls his lips. “Después que no tenga que ver tu cara de pendejo, iré a donde sea.”

Jesse’s eyes widen when the words slowly register and he recognizes them. He looks back up at Gabriel and receives a smirk.

M c C r e e

Nieves smirks down at him, like Jesse’s something to prey on. Sure, he caught him off guard. Very few people in Deadlock speak Spanish. They mostly know the curse words and insults. Those that speak more of the language are usually doing jobs in Mexico or other places where they’re more useful. That’s one of Jesse’s goals: to prove he can roll with them and manage a mission with his ability to speak another language fluently.

Hearing someone speak a full sentence, feeling how it rolls so easily off their tongue, made his stomach flip over. It has been months since he had a conversation with someone that felt like a secret to just them. In Deadlock, whatever rumor got out, it spread like wildfire. But he knew those words he had shared with Nieves would be kept between them, even if they weren’t the best.

“Whatever, Viejo. Just get me a Flatliner.”

Jesse can hear a short laugh in Nieves’ throat before he turns around to prepare the drink. He tries to ignore the man at first, but once Nieves sets the glass in front of him and he sees the man’s hands working their magic, he’s hooked.

Nieves throws and catches the two bottles like they’re made of air. He’s confident they won’t slip through his fingers and he shows it as he looks at Jesse right in his eyes. Jesse starts feeling warmth in the pit of his stomach and that heat spreads to his cheeks. They were surrounded by people, in a loud place, yet the bartender made the moment feel intimate. Nieves gives him an honest smile, as if they hadn’t bickered a second ago. Jesse is just another face and another customer to satisfy. He can see that when Javier works, the bartender makes his best to keep the moment between him and the client. He demonstrates his devotion in the way he makes the drinks, the way he tosses the bottles in the air and catches them without missing a beat. And so far, Jesse has seen every cocktail come out stunning. Jesse’s eyes trail down to Nieves’ arms when he taps the Tabasco bottle against a spoon. His shirt tightens and Jesse can see his muscles bulge with the motion. He wonders if this is why a few of his accomplices had thrown themselves at Nieves. He has yet to hear of someone succeeding.

I like a challenge, he thinks to himself as he arches an eyebrow.

Nieves presents the drink to him and Jesse admires it. The bottom of the shot is clear, then there’s a flat red line that will set his tongue aflame. The gold tequila sets on top nicely and Jesse can see Nieves’ arm behind it. Some gold painted on the older man’s dark skin would make him look like a god.

“Enjoy, darlin’,” Nieves mocks his accent.

Jesse is so focused on the shot that he misses the man staring at him. He’s sad it will be gone once he drinks it. Before he does, he pulls out his money and pays the man, who takes it without hesitation. Jesse closes his eyes and gulps the shot. Now there’s more heat in his body, spreading in his mouth and down to his stomach. He feels the bar blazing and the air grows too thick to breathe. He needs fresh air and a break from this place.

R e y e s

Gabriel’s phone vibrates in his pocket when he’s tending the cash register. He checks the caller and the name shows ‘Anita.’ He puts on a fond smile and answers.

“¡Mijo!” A woman’s voice says on the line.

“Abuela, qué gusto oírte,” He says as he moves to the right where Lina is sitting. She turns towards him when she hears his voice getting louder. “Going on my break, can you take over for a bit?”

She sighs dramatically as she rolls her eyes. “Fine.”

He doesn’t wait for her to get behind the bar, instead leaving to go up to his apartment as he continues to speak. “¿Como estas? ¿Tienes suficientes pastillas todavía, verdad?”

There’s silence on the other end of the line until he closes the door and is safe in his apartment.

“I should learn a few more words other than ‘mijo,’ right?” Gabriel can tell Ana’s smiling.

“Nah, wouldn’t be fun if I couldn’t trash talk you and Jack by myself.”

“I guess that’s true.” She pauses. “Everything alright? We haven’t heard from you.”

“Had nothing to say, until now.” He slumps on the couch with a grunt. “They tested me this morning.”

“Tested you? In what way?” Ana sounds concerned and her smile is long gone.

“A few of them, including Mal, pretended to be some bad guys that wanted Mal. They asked me about him, but I made it through.” He stretches his free arm and folds it behind his head.

“Ah, that’s something to keep track of. Guess they trust you more.”

“I know I got in deeper with them, but I need more. Enough to let me in on their plans. I also would like to get out of this place once in a while. Preferably on my own or with someone who trusts me enough.”

“Feeling lonely?” He knows she’s pouting to mock him.

He laughs. “No, but it would help to get a better view of what surrounds this place.”

“We can always activate your tracker…” She drawls, and he can picture her using her free hand on her tablet, hovering over his profile.

“No, we can’t risk it. Unless it’s necessary, I want that off.”

She’s quiet, probably closing his profile. “As you wish, Gabriel.”

“Now, I gotta thank you for convincing me to bring that make-up kit with me.”

“Why is that?”

“They bruised me up a bit.” He runs his thumb over his bottom lip and lets out a small hiss. “But we both know by tomorrow it will look like nothing happened.”

“Yes, another thing to keep track of.”

Thanks to the SEP, his body recuperates faster than normal humans do. Though his lip still hurts if he touches it, the pain will be gone in about three hours and by morning he will look brand new. It will raise questions if Mal sees him.

Ana talks to him about his agents; the ones he asked for have already moved into base and settle into their schedule nicely. She took it upon herself the first day to fill them in on who they will be working with: Commander Reyes. Then she followed his list of drills and commands and has been recording it for him to watch at night. He can see his tablet blinking with new e-mails from Ana from where he left it on the kitchen counter, but he leaves it alone for now. He prepares a sandwich and continues to listen to her talk about what she’s been up to, and what she can tell him about Jack’s situation. He’s also managing things on his own, but she can tell it’s different for him.

“Be careful, Gabe,” she says after he says he has to go.

“Same to you, Ana.” In their line of work, this was something you should always say back, no matter if they were in danger at the moment or not. That’s what Gabriel believes.

--

Gabriel passes the remaining hours of the day working and doing his best to listen to the conversations he can catch. He tries to mingle with the clients, keeping the topics to alcohol or subjects he hears them talking about that aren’t work related. He knows better than to ask about missions or what the members are up to outside the bar.

At one point, a trio starts discussing basketball teams and he slips smoothly into the conversation. One favors the Lakers, while the other two don’t. Gabriel backs up his fellow fan and gets into a heated argument about it. It ends in laughs and they buy more beers to continue the night.

On his way back to the bar after more chatter, a couple of girls stop him by their table. One grabbed him by his bicep and started to feel it up, encircling it with both her hands. Gabriel’s nose wrinkled at the invasion of space, but decided to give her a few seconds before pulling away.

“Told you. Needs both my hands to measure it.” The girl pulls her hands away. “Pay up.”

The other girl rolls her eyes as she leans back in her chair.

“Did you bet on that just to have an excuse to feel them?”

“Wasn’t it obvious?” The girl with red hair that measured his bicep crosses her legs and smiles.

“I should make sure she’s right before I pay her, right?” the brunette says as she curls one finger, asking Gabriel to move closer.

He decides to comply and lets her touch. As long as they don’t linger on his naked arms long enough to feel the fake tattoo sleeves, he should be fine. The second girl takes longer, but hums her approval.

“Could you carry us?” The redhead asks, resting her chin on her hand as the other one laughs.

He smiles and allows himself to be cocky. He talks about his workout routine, the weight he can lift--that are up to Javier Nieves’ standards and not Gabriel Reyes’--and for how long, and how he used to beat his old coworkers in arm wrestling. The conversation ends quickly when someone calls for an order. He winks as he says his farewell before attending to the bar.

Around eleven at night, a group of Deadlock members start to stir themselves up around a table. Gabriel watches how two of them face each other, place their elbows on the table and grab hands in a tight grip. There’s an extra guy holding their fists above the table. Once he says ‘go!’ and releases them, the arm wrestling begins.

Gabriel takes a look around. He feels relief when the girls from earlier are gone. He has no doubt they would nominate him as a contender after his bragging. Which was all true, he knows he could beat them at it, but showing that super soldier strength might not be the best move.

Soon enough, people start making bets and the crowd thickens. It doesn’t surprise Gabriel that these kinds of games win over Deadlock’s attention. The customers that come in walk directly to the cheers and shouts. He sees Lina among them, calling for bets. He also spots McCree with a beer in hand. He doesn’t pay much attention to the game after it starts; there’s nothing worth listening to and as long as they keep buying drinks and not break anything, he’s fine with the tomfoolery.

He has just brought a third round of beers to the table when Lina grabs his arm after he steps away from the group.

“You wanna feel me too?” He asks her and she raises an eyebrow.

“I wouldn’t say no, but I don’t think this is the place.” She smiles before winking. “Why don’t you give it a try?”

“Ah,” Gabriel trails off as he looks at the table. The same guy that beat the last six contenders has just won his seventh round. “Nah.”

“Sounds like someone who wants to,” Lina says, nudging his arm. “Try your luck against Toby. Could get him to wash the dishes for a week.”

“Will he actually do it, though?” Gabriel asks.

“Nope.” She shrugs. “But it would be nice to beat him.”

“You just want to see me lose.”

“Are you kiddin’? I hate the guy.” She shrugs her arms. “But it’ll be funny if you lose. C’mon, seems like you can put up a fight.”

While they speak, Toby, a guy with dark skin and long hair, built almost like Reyes, beats his eighth opponent.

Gabriel curls his lips. “Alright.” He hands the tray to Lina, who passes it to a random member.

“Got another one, Toby!” Lina calls, shoving Gabriel closer to the table.

“Come on down!” Toby makes a show of it as he shouts and spreads his arms open to welcome the challenger.

Gabriel takes the empty chair in front of Toby and places his elbow on the table. When Toby’s hand wraps around his own it takes him back to his SEP days, when he would be the one challenging the other soldiers and winning.

He remembers beating Jack in his first week in the program. Morrison kept coming back every two weeks or so until he finally beat him. Gabriel never let it go that he needed a dozen injections before that happened. Jack doesn’t care; he can still rub it in Reyes’ face that he beat him. Gabriel believes that’s one of the reasons they were so compatible as operatives and became great partners. They helped each other grow stronger and witnessed their improvement.

“The hell does he think he’s doing?” Gabriel hears Jesse behind him as a tall skinny guy moves to hold his and Toby’s hands in place.

“Winning,” Gabriel responds without looking back at McCree. He can hear him scoff before the guy releases their fist.

Gabriel debates what to do as soon as he starts pushing against Toby’s hand. He plans on putting up a fight, letting Deadlock think he can beat Toby, and then giving up at the last minute. He wouldn’t be anything special, but he’d be remembered enough and it would stop people from trying to pick on him.

Besides the intense battle with their arms, they also share a fierce stare down. Gabriel can feel Toby’s arm trembling, sees his brow twitching and his lips going dry. The members around him start changing their bets to Gabriel as the seconds go by and he’s still in the fight. Toby’s cocky smile fades and his expression grows strained as he keeps pushing.

Toby pushes Gabriel’s arm down a fraction, and a few “no’s!” roar through the crowd. Gabriel smiles proudly as he pushes forward, gaining several “yes’s!”

Gabriel is about to let Toby win; he just wants to torture him a bit longer. But he yelps and pulls back, allowing Toby to slam his hand to the table, when ice-cold beer is poured down the back of his neck.

“Aha!” Toby cheers as he raises his arms in victory.

“McCree!” Someone shouts bitterly as they shove Jesse away.

“I had money on Nieves!” Lina says to the cowboy as she slaps his shoulder.

“And I had money on Toby!” Jesse shrugs, as if it was a good defense.

“So did I!” Another member says as he raises his hand with a bottle of beer

“Doesn’t count, a rematch!” A girl says, smacking the guy in the stomach.

“Yeah, c’mon, Nieves. Get me my money back.” Lina slaps his arm and Gabriel chuckles.

“He lost!” McCree says, pointing at Gabriel.

“Because of you,” Lina pokes Jesse’s chest.

“If Toby isn’t afraid I’ll beat him,” Gabriel says as he looks back at Toby..

Toby lets out a loud laugh, “More like if you don't mind being embarrassed when you lose.”

Gabriel laughs at that as he sits back down. He looks back and catches Lina pushing McCree away from Gabriel, which he appreciates. He shivers again when the cold fabric of his shirt gets too close to his skin.

The second round starts. Gabriel wants this one to be over quickly and he’s decided on what to do. Just for Jesse pulling that stunt, he’s going to make the kid lose his money. Let him know he will fuck with him if the cowboy wants to brawl.

The tension between him and Toby resumes as soon as they start. Gabriel pretends to struggle like he did before, and doesn’t take his eyes off Toby. The other man does the same. He’s smirking, as if he didn’t almost lose the first time. As if he didn’t need the help of a brat to win. But the first time Toby blinks, Gabriel snaps his arms forward and the table shakes.

Lina cheers first before the others follow, some out of happiness and others out of annoyance. He stands as he sees people passing money around. Lina gets a cut and makes finger guns at him. He grins and nods her way before walking towards the bar. Toby decides to leave after that and only a few other matches take place until they start leaving the Bunker.

Gabriel walks towards the empty tables to start putting the chairs away when he hears the cowboy’s spurs as he approaches him. Jesse pulls out an empty chair in front of the one Gabriel’s about to grab and sits on it.

“Let’s go. You and me.” Jesse places his elbow on the table and Gabriel stares down at him.

“Are you serious? You just saw me beat a guy almost two times your size, kid.”

“I ain’t no kid.”

Gabriel cocks his head. “That’s what a kid would say.”

“I know I can beat you.”

Gabriel chuckles as he shakes his head. He decides it’ll be a good laugh to end the night and sits down to accept the challenge.

M c C r e e

If Nieves had lost that match against Toby, Jesse would have had an easy night. But he was tired, and his companions shoving him around after he tried to help others keep their money had pushed him over the edge. Not to mention Nieves had snapped at him earlier in the day for no reason, thinking he had a right or that he was something special to talk to Jesse like that. Jesse had spent years building his reputation and he wasn’t going to let a nobody rip it away.

As soon as Nieves wraps his hand around Jesse’s, he starts doubting his decision. He feels small and fragile against Nieves’ palm. His gut clenches at the thought of Javier breaking his arm against the table. He still stares at the man in front of him. He’s a bit bigger than Toby, and he recently beat him at this game, but this is also a good way to study the bartender. Learn when he bluffs, if he shows signs of fear and doubt, and he can find out the older man’s weak spots.

The fight is over before it begins. Nieves almost pulls Jesse’s arm out of socket. His knuckles hurt from hitting the wood too harshly and his bones tremble inside of him. He stares at his weak arm laid out in front of Nieves as the older man gives it a gentle petting. Jesse flinches at the softness Nieves displays a second after being so rough.

Jesse chuckles in a weak attempt to brush off his loss, “I didn’t say when I’d beat ya.”

Nieves smiles at him and Jesse’s blood boils in his veins. Nieves mocks him by flicking the rim of his cowboy hat, pushing it backwards a bit.

“Better luck next time then, darlin’.”

Chapter Text

R e y e s

Gabriel starts seeing new faces as the first week rolls by. Some already know about him, others ask as if they had been living under a rock, and some just don’t care and order something to refresh themselves after their drive to the Bunker. There’s no sign of Mal, and he sees very little of Lina after the arm wrestling night. He expects it will be like this more often, since both seem to run their own small groups and are involved in a lot of Deadlock’s big jobs. He catches Sal in the background, watching over Gabriel like a hawk. He thinks Gabriel is too busy to notice.

He’s glad Toby hasn’t come around for a rematch, and that no one else is challenging him to test his strength. He would like to keep it secret as long as he can, and use it only when necessary. He also needs to focus on Mal’s whereabouts as much as he can in case the Deadlock member decides to throw another test at Gabriel. He overhears a girl asking about Mal, saying she got the cash he wanted. The guy she’s with tells her he’s in Portland, dealing with a guy that was too late on sending him his cut after a drug exchange. Gabriel believes he will know when Mal arrives. For now, he decides to lower his guard on Mal and focus on what he can learn from the members around him.

Even with his strength and flexibility, the criminals drive him up the wall by the end of the week. He’s going around the bar, taking beers and bringing back empty glasses back to the sink where they’ll wait to be washed until his next break. His arms start bothering him from time to time after working on a few cocktails in a row. He doesn’t expect sympathy from this group and he knows he has to power through even with sweat running down his brow.

“Something funny?” He mumbles at Lina who giggles as he grabs a moist hand towel to wipe his face with.

“Need help?” She asks, from her seat on the empty stool in front of him.

A corner of his mouth twitches up. “What makes you say that?”

She spins around on the stool, looking back at the room full of her accomplices. “Take your pick. As long as they’re wearing a red bandana I, or Mal, can get them to help you out.”

Gabriel takes a look around at the members, some have red bandanas around their necks, heads, or wrists.

“It means they’re of a lower status and have to answer to Mal, me, or someone higher until their probation is over or they earn a higher rank.”

“What about me?” He rests his hands on the counter.

She curls her lips as she turns back around to face him. “Technically you’re not part of Deadlock, more like…an add-on.”

He hums, “Well thanks.”

“But go ahead.” She spins again, this time doing a full circle. “Choose your slave for the day.”

Gabriel consider the help as he looks at the criminals again. He could have someone pour the beers from the taps or get him the things he needs that are too far away to save him time. Or wash the growing towers of glasses in the sink. He hears a laugh that makes his eyebrow twitch and he searches for the culprit until he finds McCree, sitting on the couch surrounded by a few girls that are too old for him.

“¡Vaquero!” He calls out, and Jesse looks at him with annoyance in his eyes and his brow furrows. “Come over here!”

Jesse laughs at his command. “What do you think you’re doing, ordering me around?”

Gabriel turns to look at Lina.

Jesse’s smile slowly drops as he looks at the girl as well, who’s shaking her head in feigned disappointment. “Need me to go get your ass myself, McCree?”

It takes him a few seconds, but McCree stands up and walks over to them. Gabriel notices how he snaps into full submissive mode as he approaches them. His eyes dart away from Lina’s and his hands slip into his pockets, probably to stop them from shaking or playing with the end of his shirt.

“Behind the bar,” Gabriel orders and Jesse follows with his shoulders slouching. “I need some help back here, think you can do it?”

Jesse shrugs as he looks at the beer taps and bottles. “Ain’t never done this before.”

“Have you washed dishes?”

Jesse nods, looking at the sink, and Gabriel pats him on the back. The bartender can feel how light Jesse is against his hand once more and how easy it would be to knock him down.

“Get to work then.”

M c C r e e

Jesse tries to stay out of Javier’s way, but the man moves pretty fast for his size. Especially when orders keep coming from all directions. Now that he’s on the other side, he can see how much it takes his brothers and sisters to start feeling tipsy or full on drunk. Eva is a strong drinker, she has drown shot after shot and takes Bethany’s money when she can still walk a straight line. Jonathan drank two beers and he’s eyelids start closing on him before his third. He should keep that fact in mind if he ever wants to pickpocket the guy. Now that he has been in the bar for a full hour and sober, he can tell Old Joe’s stories aren’t that funny while his drunken friends cackle around him.

Jesse moves from side to side, trying to not get scolded for being in Javier’s way. When he does cross paths with Nieves, the older man only pushes him out of the way in this gentle manner that makes McCree flinch when his hand touches his back. A spill happens behind the bar and he starts moping it before Nieves tells him to, he wants to get this over with and without Nieves thinking he can order him around whenever he wants. When he’s done mopping the sticky puddle and looks up to see what else Nieves has for him, he’s caught off guard by the flips and tricks he finds the bartender doing with the bottles. He’s tossing bottles over his shoulder and catching them without looking. He pours liquor from a tilted angle and doesn’t miss a drop into the glass. His eyes scan the tight shirt around his back, shoulders and chest and how it tightens more when Nieves moves faster. There’s something about his colossal hands that keep making Jesse look back at them. His fingers would brush over glass and remain firm on their grip. The veins on them were carved so perfectly, Jesse’s fingers twitch with a need to trace them.

He snaps back when a bottle is tossed to his face and those fingers he starting to become fond of grab it before it hits him, right in front of his eyes. When the bottle lowers, Javier’s smile comes into view, more like a teasing smirk.

“Don’t fall asleep on the job,” Nieves says before turning around to continue.

Jesse scoffs and the little admiration is forgotten as he leaves the mop on a corner. He scans the area to see what else he can do before Nieves orders him and the shiny Mason jar full of tips call his attention.

R e y e s

Gabriel knows money has been taken out of the jar and he is fully aware Jesse is the culprit. But what impresses him is that he didn’t notice right away. The scrawny kid got his dirty hands on his money and walked away after his chores without being spotted. Javier looks around and saw no one snickering or laughing behind his back with McCree. He figures no one had seen it at all.

He takes the chance that a midnight the bar usually stays empty until four in the morning. He sees the last few customers about to leave, Jesse included, and walks towards the door. When it’s just the cowboy, Gabriel slams the door in front of him.

“What the fuck?” Jesse hisses and his tired eyes frown at Gabriel.

The older man crosses his arms and stands taller, “You took something from me.”

“Yer charisma?” Jesse smiles.

“You’re a funny kid, should be dressed like a clown instead of a cowboy.” His eyes scan Jesse from the hat to the boots with the spurs. “On second thought, I bet you make a lot of people laugh with that getup.”

But Jesse ignores his comment as he grins, “Saw something you liked, Nieves?”

“Yeah, my money under your belt.”

“Or is that just an excuse to look under my belt?”

Gabriel frowns and pulls out his hand, “Give it.”

“I’ve nothin’.” Jesse crosses his arms and his brow twitches in anger.

“Okay, fine.” Gabriel turns and locks the door. He takes the key and buries it deep in his front pocket. “Have fun.” Gabriel walks past Jesse, pushing him out of the way more than necessary.

“Where’d you think yer going?”

“To make dinner.” Gabriel turns. “While you clean the tables and chairs or hand me back my money.”

“Yer crazy!” Jesse barks as Gabriel ignores him.

“And don’t think about lock picking that door, because I will go out there and find you.”

“No need.” Jesse slips his hands in his pockets and stomps to the couch where he slumps down and covers his head with his hat. “Someone will come back knocking when they realize I’m still here and that you locked me in.”

“If you’re so sure of it.” Gabriel continues his way up the stairs and also locks that door to keep the kid in the bar.

Gabriel preheats a piece of lasagna he had left over from a couple of days back and grabs a beer from the fridge before heading downstairs to watch over McCree. Once he takes the spot by one of the tables that still remains dirty, it only takes a few seconds for the kid to sniff and take his hat off his face. His tongue goes over his lips as he shifts in the couch.

“Don’t see you cleaning.” Gabriel takes a piece into his mouth and the aroma grows stronger. “You could just give me the money and be on your way.”

“I didn’t take anything.” Jesse stands up.

“I’m not an idiot, kid. So either you give it back or clean what your friends did.”

He catches Jesse licking his lips again as his eyes trace down to his meal and understands Jesse heard nothing of what he just said.

Gabriel licks his own lips as he savors the food and continues eating, ignoring the kicked puppy look Jesse wears. He hears a growl that knows its coming from Jesse’s stomach. He looks up to meet Jesse’s flushed face before the kid quickly disappears from his sight. He returns with a bucket and a cloth to start working. Seeing as Jesse stops talking and avoids eye contact, Gabriel decides to be kind enough to also ignore the growling.

Jesse is quick to wash the first few tables, but his stomach doesn’t stop making noises and it irritates Gabriel.

“Have you eaten?” He asks and Jesse yelps with his back towards him.

“Nun’ of your business,” Jesse mumbles with his hand moving in circles as he cleans the table.

Gabriel rest back as he watches Jesse without saying another word. The kid looks too skinny to be in this kind of job and too weak. He wonders how he has stayed alive all this time. There’s a pinch in his chest that only grows with every thought of Jesse and how this must not be the first night he would go to sleep without a decent meal. He stands up and takes his plate with him towards McCree.

Once he reaches the kid, he pulls him by his jean vest with his free hand and forces him to sit on the chair behind him. Before Jesse opens his big mouth, Gabriel places the plate with half a piece of lasagna in front of him.

“Eat it.” Gabriel walks towards the door as he takes out the key to the bar and unlocks it. “Go when you’re done.” He walks back to collect the beer he left behind and continues the path to his apartment.

M c C r e e

Jesse watches the older man go and then down at the plate in front of him. He wants to resist, to not give this asshole a reason to have something over him, but his stomach is growling so loud he swears Nieves can still hear it. Jesse leans back with his arms crossed as he groans. His brow twitches and his fingers tap against his arm. He can feel some heat coming from the plate and the smell is even more tasteful this close. He gives up and starts eating it so fast, as if someone will come and take it away. Like they’ve done before.

Once the plate is almost licked clean, he stands by the door and looks back at the empty bar, a place he admits he feels safe, surrounded by friends and a calm atmosphere. He contemplates staying on the old couch and how nice it would be to have Nieves be the first one he sees. He leaves with that thought and he hopes Nieves notices the money was returned to the tip jar.

Jesse walks through the door of the bar and up the stairs with the hands hiding in his pocket, and head hanging low. The day sets on his shoulders and his body feels heavy for his feet to carry. The little light that comes through ahead makes him look up. He moves three planks of wood from the facade that hides the entrance to the bar and lets them close behind him. He looks back at the old mural some Deadlocks members painted a year ago, a woman sipping on a smoothie to “promote” a dinner a few blocks down, but it’s just a way to divert the eyes of their secret hideout.

“About time, kid.” He looks forward to the guy with the soar voice in front of him, dangling a cigarette from his fingers. His shirt looks too tight for him and his jeans look like they’re about to pop out. “Been waiting for an hour.” He takes a drag from the smoke.

Jesse shrugs as he stops before getting too close. “Why didn’t you look for me?”

Cass laughs as the smoke comes out through his mouth and nose. “Thought you were giving the new guy a warm welcome.”

Jesse grimaces, “‘s’that why yer here? ’M not in the mood.”

The guy frowns at him and drops his cigar to the floor before his boot stomps on it. “The hell you are. It’s been a long day.”

“Yeah, well I ain’t yours to toss around!” Jesse barks as he moves forward with the intention to pass by Cass, but the man catches his arm with a tight grip that makes him wince.

“Still need to learn when to shut that trout of yours, eh?” Cass’ breath makes Jesse’s nose wrinkle with the smell of cigars, beer and chili cheese dogs.

Jesse struggles and uses his free hand to push the man away, but it feels like he’s doing little effort, like he’s pushing at a concrete wall. One of Cass’ big boots kicks his calve, making him tumble to his knees.

“I’ll find a way to shut it right up.” He captures Jesse’s jaw with one hand while he uses the other to unzip and unbutton his pants.

Jesse shakes his head and shuts his eyes. He knows this would be over soon if he cooperates, but he just doesn’t want to tonight. In the darkness, he hears a grunt and Cass’ hand slips from his face. His eyes snap open and falls back on his butt to the scene in front of him.

Nieves stands between Jesse and Cass, while the Deadlock member rests on one knee as he covers his mouth.

“The fuck?” Cass’ mumbles as he faces Nieves.

“Kid said no,” his voice is tormented and deep. “You can walk away, or I’ll find a way to shut you up.”

Cass gets back on his feet as he chuckles. “This isn’t your lane, Nieves. You don’t have the bite.”

Javier shrugs. “We can find out.”

Cass grins before he goes for a swing. Jesse flinches to the movement and shuts his eyes, waiting for Nieves’ cries. When they don’t come, he opens them again and sees Javier has caught Cass’ first in his hand. The bartender swings his other fist into the criminal’s jaw, causing him to tumble back.

“Fuck it!” Cass spits. “Boy ain’t worth it.”

Jesse watches in disbelief as Cass walks away, his shoulders slouching in defeat. The man turns the corner out of the alley quickly and disappears as the night becomes quiet to McCree’s ears. His eyes divert to Nieves’ back and can’t move for a second.

Javier turns to him and his green eyes are warm on Jesse. “You okay?” The bartender stretches his hand to help him up, but Jesse ignores it and gets up on his own.

“Shouldn’t’ve done that,” he mumbles as he swipes dirt from his pants. “No one has ever gotten in between for a reason.”

He walks pass Nieves, but the man won’t let it go.

“Ever?” His voice creates an invisible grip on Jesse as he stops. “How many times?”

Jesse shrugs and smiles as best as he can, “With Cass? A few.” Jesse can see Nieves making the connection, Cass hasn’t been the first, and neither will be last.

“McCree,” Javier says, as if he’s about to apologize for something he can’t control.

“Just oral,” Jesse quickly interrupts and chuckles. “Who would ever take a scum like me to bed, right?” He looks down and away from Nieves. He doesn’t need to show the man how his own words make him feel. He looks out of the alley. He wants to leave this night behind, but he’s afraid of what might wait for him out there.

“Ya probably made it worse,” Jesse whispers to himself and Gabriel stands by him.

“So,” Javier says and Jesse looks at the man who’s admiring the wooden boards covering the Bunker’s entrance. "This is what it looks like.”

“You’ve never seen it?” He can’t fake the surprise in his tone.

Nieves shakes his head and looks back at him. “Only been out here without my face covered once. Didn’t really see much.”

Jesse hisses and rubs the back of his head, lifting his head a bit. “Probably not a good idea yer out here then.”

Nieves looks away from him and shrugs, “You’re a Deadlock member, right? I’m fine.” Javier takes a deep breath. “Worth it, anyways.”

Jesse doesn’t know if it was meant for him to hear those last words, but he’s glad he did. The warmth in his stomach returns and he just wants to puke everything out until he passes out.

Nieves starts walking forward and leans from one of the walls of the alley, almost out of it. Jesse sees him scanning the street and what it contains.

“There’s a taco stand?” Jesse hears Nieves ask and he laughs.

“Yeah, pretty good.” Jesse approaches him until they’re side by side again.

“Mal’s such a bastard for keeping this from me.”

Jesse laughs again but it’s nervous and short. Mal will know Nieves left; Davon will probably be aware as well. There’s a pinch of guilt in him, it’s because of him Nieves is out.

“A bookstore?” Nieves hums.

“Too quiet for me,” Jesse comments and the older man laughs.

“That’s the point, kid. Now I know where to go if you ever bother me too much.”

Jesse huffs and rubs the back of his neck. “It won’t guarantee ya full safety, but I guess a couple mins’ head start is good.” They both remain silent for a few minutes and Jesse watches Nieves over the corner of his eye. He’s still looking at the stores and other buildings in the street, probably checking if there’s another bar with how his eyes grow smaller in concentration.

“I should, ah, get goin’,” Jesse finally says and Nieves looks back at him.

“Are you sure?” The concern in his voice makes Jesse shift on his feet.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine.” Jesse smiles and waves him off. “See ya tomorrow.” He tips the rim of his hat and doesn’t let Nieves say another word before he turns out of the alley and walks down the street.

He can feel Nieves’ eyes on him, watching over and it makes him walk faster. He appreciates the rescue, but who knows what tomorrow will bring him.

Chapter Text

R e y e s

Gabriel gets out of bed the next morning but doesn’t make it far before sitting on the edge of the mattress for a few minutes, going back to the event that took place before he locked up the Bunker for good; the moment he saw Jesse, in the dark, being handled like a toy. After Gabriel left Jesse to finish eating last night, there had been a tick in the back of his mind bothering him every second. When he heard Jesse leaving, he decided to look over the bar before calling it a night.

The bar looked fine, Jesse had even returned the money, but the feeling in the pit of his stomach still bothered him. After years of getting a feeling like this and it turning out to be correct most of the time, he knew it wasn’t for nothing. It was after a few minutes of weighing his options about whether or not to leave the bar to check it out that he decided to see if that tick had a source.

That’s when he saw the scene and his blood boiled.

He’s expecting something to happen because of his actions and just because he saved Jesse that one time, it didn’t mean he slept any better. He wondered if the boy had gotten safely to where he was staying the night, if he would see him at all today, with a smile on his face or a black eye. If not, he would probably see another kid taking his place in a week or two. This is how these things worked. He decides to try and forget about it until he opens the bar and gets up to start his routine.

Gabriel knew he would find out when Mal was back. As soon as he goes downstairs, Mal receives him, sitting on the couch like a king and five of his criminal knights surrounding him. All of their eyes set on Gabriel.

“Well, good morning,” Gabriel says. “What can I get you?”

Mal nods to a chair that stands in front of him. “Take a seat, Nieves.”

He ignores everything. He forgets who Gabriel Reyes is. That he’s working for Overwatch and is Blackwatch’s new Commander. He’s Javier Nieves and he knows what they’re going to talk about.

“I heard you left the Bunker,” Mal says and Gabriel can’t read his expression at the moment.

Gabriel nods. “I heard some things and acted too fast. There were two Deadlock members with me.”

Mal huffs. “But you didn’t leave with them. And you attacked one of ours.”

“He was attacking another one of yours.” Gabriel knows that was too bold, but it’s in the air now.

“McCree?” Mal smirks as he taps his foot and moves his knee sideways. “Look, you should not have been involved in that. Cass wasn’t going to harm him. It’s not your place and we all know the kid could use the discipline. He’s an important asset to us, but his behavior might cause us to lose a big objective in the next couple of weeks. He needs to learn who he really works for.”

Gabriel wonders if it’s smart to answer or not. “An important asset?” He wants to drive the subject away.

“Nothing that concerns you, Nieves. That’s what you need to know.” Mal stands up and starts approaching Gabriel. “What happens outside the Bunker isn’t your business. And it’s written in the contract you signed.”

Gabriel nods and tries his best to keep staring Mal right in the eyes, but he decides to look away. Portray fear and let Mal believe he’s really in charge of him. “I apologize.”

Mal bites his bottom lip and paces in front of Gabriel. “I probably shouldn’t tell you, but I do kinda like you, so here it goes: Devon, you know who he is right? The big, bad boss?”

Gabriel nods.

“He didn’t know you were alive, he just saw the alcohol coming like magic.” He opens his palms in the air to add flair. “Don’t take it personally—it was actually a good thing. But now, he does know you exist, and it’s not good.” Mal steps closer to Gabriel and pokes his chest. “So, be careful with your next move. Got it?”

Gabriel nods. “Got it. Won’t happen again.” He doesn’t say what, whether helping McCree, leaving the Bunker or minding his own business, and he hopes it passes under Mal’s radar.

“Good. Well, we’re off to do something, but we’ll be back for drinks later.” Mal pats his shoulder before turning around and walking towards the door and reminds him, “I have eyes everywhere, Nieves.” The five other guys follow his every step until they’re all out through the door.

Gabriel remains seated and allows himself to zone out. There was a part of him fighting away the good thoughts. Yeah, Jesse was a kid, but it was someone he wouldn’t see again. A kid who would surely go to jail with his record, if he doesn’t die by the time the mission comes. Yet, he couldn’t leave him on his own in a situation like that. There was something off about this. He was seeing the pattern. Very few Deadlock members cared for McCree, at least really cared, but they still hang onto him.

He’s an important asset to us. Mal’s words echo in his mind and the idea sets in his head.

He remembers the meeting, someone asked about McCree, Devon spoke about their sharpshooter and no one was there to receive the praise. He remembers hearing Felix go over the mission for McCree right after he arrived at the bar for the first time a week ago.

--

He hurries back to his apartment and grabs his tablet. He turns it on and sees Athena’s logo fading in.

“Welcome, Commander Reyes,” her voice says.

“Athena, I need you to run a search for me. I won’t see the results until tonight, alright?”

“Sure, Commander.”

“Give me anything you can find on Jesse McCree. Search everywhere and show me every detail you can get. Understood?”

“Yes, Commander Reyes. Jesse McCree.”

--

Mal does return for drinks. He acts like nothing happened, and talks to Gabriel like they’re buddies. Gabriel copies, knowing well it won’t help to show he’s holding a grudge. The better he does, the sooner Mal will forget. If it’s true what he said, about Devon being aware of Gabriel, he had to find a way to be invisible again, or do something good to make the man forget his act of rebellion.

The door opens while he cleans the counter of the bar after the last customer leaves the spot. Jesse walks in and quickly looks his way, at Gabriel. He smiles and Gabriel smiles back as he approaches and sits on the stool in front of him. He doesn’t see Jesse limping, or with a black eye or a broken nose. He seems to be in one piece.

“Hey,” his voice is low.

“Hey,” Gabriel says back as he rests one elbow on the counter. “Can I get you anything?”

“Just a beer.” Jesse shrugs and Gabriel nods before turning around.

He grabs a glass and starts serving from the tap. Before the foam reaches the top, he hears Jesse’s voice, just for him. “Nunca dije gracias.”

Gabriel turns around to face him and hands him the beer. He smiles to him as he lightly shakes his head and responds, “No importa.”

“Si importa,” Jesse says firmly. “Nadie nunca lo ha hecho y… gracias.”

“It's fine, kid,” Gabriel assures him. “Are you okay?”

Jesse nods as he lifts the glass to his lips. “Got to my motel room safely. Found out Cass left for a mission in California this morning.”

Gabriel nods and turns around to grab clean glasses to display nearby. “Si vuelve a pasar algo así…” There’s a voice in him that says ‘do not finish that’, but he also has to gain some trust in Deadlock, right? “No dudes en decirme o buscarme.”

Jesse has lowered his head, looking down to his beer.

“Lo que te hacen,” Gabriel keeps his voice low as he shakes his head softly. “No está bien.”

If Jesse’s about to say something back, he doesn’t get the chance before a girl calls him over.

“McCree!” The boy turns to the call of his name, from a group of four other members. “Up for a quick pick up?”

“Sure!” he answers and swallows down his beer as he pulls out his wallet. He drops the bills on the counter and leaves without looking at Gabriel.

Gabriel grabs the money and watches the door closing behind Jesse. He tried. And he actually wishes Jesse is going to do a real job and not get the shit beat out of him somewhere.

--

He doesn’t see the cowboy for the rest of the day nor night. He tries not to think about it. He wants to believe that if there were bad news, he would have heard it by now. But Deadlock isn’t Overwatch. He can imagine them executing one of their own without a moment of hesitation and keep going with their lives like that person never existed.

“Athena,” he calls after spitting the excess toothpaste in his mouth into the sink. “Any results?”

“Yes, I imported them into your files.” The screen of the tablet opens up a file with a mugshot of Jesse, looking a bit younger than he does now.

“Thank you. That will be all.”

He takes the tablet to his room and sits down on the edge of the bed to start reading. There a few results for the name, but he ignores the ones that don’t sound like the McCree he knows or don’t show a picture until he comes across the Deadlock member’s face. He comes across a profile with his background. Seventeen years of age, male, born in Santa Fe, New Mexico and known member of Deadlock. His father was a police officer that died in a hostage situation in 2039. His mother fell ill and passed away in 2044. He was eleven when he was placed in foster care and there always seemed to be something wrong. He ran away from it all just when he turned thirteen and spent half a year on his own. He got caught shoplifting a few times, but the charges were dropped shortly after. Gabriel figures it’s probably out of pity for a hungry looking kid. He’s spotted again, surrounded by Deadlock at fourteen. Gabriel has to read that line twice, this kid barely had a childhood and has spent years of his youth with a gang.

He moves over to articles about Deadlock that mention McCree. Most of them express how Deadlock keeps escaping and how many deaths fall on their hands. In an exchange of trafficked weapons, one of the members was caught and he gave a few names up, including Jesse McCree. A boy who can apparently land headshots without missing. If this kid really is their sharpshooter and one of the key elements to help Deadlock succeed in their plan to retrieve the bomb, Gabriel has to take him out of here soon or take him down. First, he needs to see the sharpshooter in action, to be right about this.

--

Gabriel decides to have a better breakfast and make use of the eggs he bought earlier in the week. He starts frying two and places two slices of bread on a plate. He makes a mental note to buy a toaster. He’s taking in the early breeze through his window and rubs his smooth chin. He’s already dressed for the day and though the sizzling of the eggs is near, he can hear a knock. He turns down the stove and looks at his door. It sounds too loud to be from the main door of the bar, but further from the door to his apartment.

There’s no one on the stairs when he opens the door, but there’s another knock on the second door. When he opens it, he almost gets hit by Jesse’s knuckles. The kid flinches his hand back at the last minute.

“Howdy!” Jesse smiles.

Gabriel frowns as he looks over Jesse’s shoulder at the Bunker’s door. “Did you pick the lock?”

“Well, yeah.” Jesse shifts his hat on his head.

“Why?” Gabriel places his hands on his hips as he steps forward. The kid looks a bit afraid as he steps back. His eyes darting down to his body and back up.

“Thought I’d come in early n’ help ya clean up.” Jesse rubs the back of his neck. “Had nothin’ better to do.”

Gabriel hums. “Makes it a bit hard to believe.”

“I swear, Nieves. Kinda owe ya.”

“You don’t. But I’ll take the help.” Gabriel’s arms drop to his side. “Have you eaten?”

“I’ll just grab something from the bar—”

“Don’t. I’ll be right back.” Gabriel turns to go back up the stairs.

Jesse steps forward. “Where you goin’?”

“You are not allowed to go up there.” Gabriel pushes Jesse back. “I’ll bring you something to eat.”

Jesse grins, “Sweetheart, telling me I ain’t allowed to do somethin’ will make me do it.”

“Don’t call me sweetheart. And you decide, either go up or eat.”

Jesse licks his lips and looks like he’s actually considering it. “How’d I know you won’t poison me?” He crosses his arms as he keeps smiling.

Gabriel huffs. “You don’t. Stay.” Gabriel closes the door and heads back up.

He serves the first plate and breaks two more eggs on the pan. He spreads butter on the four slices of bread and pours orange juice in two cups. When he returns downstairs, he expects Jesse to be gone and his bar ransacked. But Jesse is still here, boots over a table as he whistles.

“Choose your poison.” Gabriel says as he sets the two plates down in front of Jesse.

Jesse hums. “No toast, just bread?”

“Jodete, entonces.” Gabriel makes a show of picking up the plates, but Jesse grabs one quickly.

“It’s fine!” Jesse hurries to take a bite out of one of the slices while Gabriel pulls down a chair to sit by his side.

Jesse gulps from his drink like he walked through a desert to get here. He eats without manners and as if he’s running out of time. He’s desperate for his next bite and worried it won’t come.

“How come you have money to buy drinks, but not food?” Gabriel breaks the silence after a while.

Jesse wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. “I buy some snacks. But if I’m gun’ die, I prefer to go with a good drink.”

“You could afford a good meal once in a while. Leave this world on a full stomach. Sounds pretty nice too. Besides, how do you get the money?”

Jesse shrugs. “Pickpocket, small jobs, favors.” He mumbles the last word and lowers his gaze to keep eating. Gabriel won’t ask. “‘Sides, they think it’s funny to mess with my food. They’re like wolves here.”

Of course, Gabriel thinks. How can this be their secret weapon if they got him running on an empty stomach and alcohol alone? “Try to get more food instead of alcohol, kid. Understand?”

“Yeah, yeah.” Jesse waves him off and Gabriel is sure he will see more orders at the bar coming from Jesse after today.

Jesse finishes before him and Gabriel gives him his remaining slice of bread and juice. Once they’re done, he places the utensils they used in the sink to clean later.

M c C r e e

Javier gets the cleaning supplies from the closet in the back while Jesse starts pulling down the chairs from the tables and tucking them underneath. Nieves throws him a moist cloth as the man starts to clean. Jesse starts seconds later, moving his hand in circles to clean the wood. They fall silent again, but Jesse fills the calm with whistling. Javier doesn’t say anything, but doesn’t look like he’s enjoying it either. Jesse makes it his mission to get a word out of the man. But his whistling fades when he looks back at Javier.

He’s also washing over a table. The sleeve of his shirt clinging to his arm and wrinkling with every move. His attention falls on the tattoos decorating Javier’s skin, how inviting they look to trace a finger over every pigment. Over every line of his veins and curve of his muscles. His curls are also messy on top of his head and his piercing green eyes makes his knees tremble when Javier catches him looking.

“You’re staring, kid.”

Jesse chuckles as he straightens. “Can you blame me?”

To this Javier says nothing and turns around to walk towards another table. But Jesse doesn’t mind the view he has of the pair of black pants wrapping tightly around Nieves’ legs. His teeth catch his bottom lip before he continues his work. There’s a comfortable silence between them for a few minutes where Jesse cleans the tables and chairs while Nieves gets the bar set. Jesse manages a few more glances at the older man because he just can’t look away. The way that he stands, moves and speaks that has grabbed his attention.

“So, you speak Spanish?” Jesse asks with a smooth voice.

Javier laughs. “I might.”

Of course he had heard Nieves speak Spanish more than well, but he didn’t want to go silent again. “I caught your name, just didn’t put it together after I heard ya.”

“Remind me, do you know Spanish?” Nieves mocks and Jesse laughs.

Jesse laughs and tips his hat as he winks to play along. “Si, señor.” Javier scoffs and rolls his eyes as he towers some glasses. “Ma was from Mexico, she spoke a lot of it in the house and taught me some. Mostly bad words.” He laughs at the fond memories in his head. “Sadly, I lost some vocabulary through the years, but can still manage.”

“How much can you manage?”

“Mucho, querido.” Jesse tips his hat once more and Gabriel gives him no reaction.

“Basta, niño,” Javier says and Jesse’s nostrils flare to the word ‘kid’. It causes Nieves to smile when he realizes it. Both return to work with little conversation between them and Jesse starts whistling again. Javier doesn’t say anything or looks annoyed, causing the rhythm to become more cheerful and anxious enough for the older man to frown at him after half an hour later.

Chapter Text

R e y e s

Deadlock members star coming in after a while and Jesse wastes no time on getting lost in the crowd. Gabriel is glad about that, the kid wanting something puts him uneasy. He’s too young to make such approaches even with the kind of lifestyle he has had. He shakes Jesse away from his head and starts tending to the customers he has waiting in line. He loses himself in the conversations that come and go from the customers. He talks to someone, while listening to another beside him, paying extra attention for Devon’s name or Mal’s, even his own after what happened with Cass. Someone actually points it out, but on a bad way, saying he must have gotten Cass on a drunken night or he would have let Javier bleeding on the gutter. Gabriel doesn’t take offense to it, he knows he could have been the one to leave Cass lying somewhere, but he’s pleased enough to send him out. Someone makes a remark when Gabriel passes by, saying McCree probably had it coming and deserved it. Gabriel clenches his fist around the empty bottle of beer and keeps walking.

When Lina comes, he asks Sal if he can take care of the bar while he and Lina go out to get groceries. The other man agrees, but doesn’t promise he won’t hand out free drinks. Gabriel groans an ‘alright’ and leaves with Lina, who shouts, ‘save one for me!’

They go to the market down the street and gather the supplies he needs and wants. He lets Lina do all the talking, about missions, Mal, new members, old members and such. She tells him about executions she has witnessed and done to traitors. Gabriel watches her as she speaks. There’s no remorse in her, there’s even glee; a hint of power she enjoyed too much to not hide.

Gabriel looks away to grab a bottle of mustard, “What can get someone executed?”

She shrugs, “Typical stuff that shows treason: betraying us by going to another gang without doing it the right way, giving info on us to the police, sabotaging our jobs on purpose, keeping the goods we win, killing another without a valid reason; those things.”

“What is the right way to leave?” Gabriel asks as he looks over a jar of pickles.

“You go to Mal, or someone in his rank.” She says, eyeing the different kinds of pasta sauce. “They get the word to Devon and if you don’t owe him shit, or don’t seem to be a valuable enough for him to keep him around, then he’ll let you go.” She pokes his chest, “Just don’t expect his blessings.”

“Can’t you take the word to Devon?” Gabriel asks her and she scoffs.

“Devon still has in ass back in the old days, won’t take such suggestions from a woman. Even if said woman can cut him to pieces.” She says the last sentence through clenched teeth and Gabriel laughs.

“Have you tried challenging him?”

She curls her lips, “Someday, don’t wanna get ahead of myself yet. Best way is to start slow.”

“Cut the legs off.” He nods and she agrees with a ‘yep’.

They turn into another aisle full of candies, cookies and other sweet goods. Gabriel passes by fairly quick, just looking for something that catches his eye without a type in mind.

“I heard you punched Cass.” Lina smirks, possibly supporting the action. “Did you leave a mark?”

Gabriel chuckles, “Hope so. I haven’t seen him.”

“Nice. I was shocked when Mal told me.” She says and adds a pack of sweet candy to the cart.

Gabriel exchanges the bag for the same brand, but the sour kind, and she frowns. “I used to wrestle in high school and still remember a few moves.”

“What about all this?” Lina pokes his bicep.

“Work out, obviously. Nothing big.”

“Right,” Lina drawls.

She changes the subject without bringing Jesse into the conversation. He leaves the toaster for last and takes the one Lina dumps on the cart just so they can be done. A black, small one and not so expensive to go overboard. Besides, by the time he’s done, the toaster will probably stay behind and collect dust.

Both make their way back to the bar, with hands full of bags. Lina is whining, saying she’s carrying the heavier stuff when she only has two bags. Gabriel ignores her and throws a ‘we’re almost there’. They’re about to cross the street when the door of the mexican fast food restaurant opens harshly and someone rushes to them. Of course, it has to be the little devil, with horns poking out of his cowboy hat and spurs clicking on the concrete.

“Hey, need a hand?” He asks Gabriel.

“No, Lina and I—”

“I gotta run anyways.” Lina shoves the bags into Jesse’s hands. “You’re with Jesse, no rules breaking, I get to feel good for doing my good deed of the month.” She smiles and waves before walking away, back down the street.

“See ya!” Jesse waves as he watches her and Gabriel wishes she could have at least stayed.

Gabriel starts walking before McCree says anything. They go through the hidden passage once no one is nearby and into the bar. Gabriel walks through the customers, keeping his bags close and up the stairs to his apartment. He stops at the door and places half of the bags on one step to search for his keys.

“Leave them,” he says as he shuffles through the keys to find the right one. “I’ll come back for them.”

“Hold on, partner. I’ve got ya something.” Gabriel turns very suspiciously to Jesse as the younger man puts down the bags and takes off his hat.

A yellow and orange bag sits on top of his head. Gabriel recognizes the logo of the taco stand and stares at Jesse as he stretches his arm. “Got you a burrito, didn’t know what kind you’d prefer, so I went with the classic.”

Gabriel shakes his head. “You take it.”

“Nah, I ate already. Promise. Snuck it into the bookstore to have lunch. Then got yours.” Jesse shoves the bag into Gabriel’s hands and doesn’t let go until the bartender takes it. “Turns out, it’s a good place to hide if ya don’t want your food stolen or messed with. Enjoy.” He gives him a gun salute and hurries down the stairs.

Gabriel watches him go and closes the door at the end of the staircase behind him. He gazes over the colorful bag before holding it with his teeth to unlock his door. Once inside, he drops the bag on the counter while he organizes the groceries in their place. He sets the toaster quickly on a corner of the counter and grabs the burrito on his way down.

--

Gabriel calls Jack and Ana at night, when the bar’s closed and he’s sure no one has snuck in. He tells them an idea he had during the day: he will talk to Lina about asking for small tasks, but somehow others can’t take because they’re too busy. Nearby first, maybe even in the same bar. The point is to start gaining points on his favor, for Devon to forget what he did and that he can be trusted.

Ana hums, “Maybe it will get you too noticed.”

“She’s right,” Jack says through his line. “Maybe staying low, doing your job, will help you better than being out there.”

“Normally, I’d agree with you,” Gabriel says as he chews his dinner. “We don’t have time for me to play good bartender. That bomb will be here in weeks and if they don’t trust me enough to get me out of here, I feel like this will all be in vain.”

“That’s true,” Ana comments. “Maybe ask for them through someone small. If Devon doesn’t know this is suddenly happening, he won’t suspect it. Point is that when he does, he will be too impressed to notice.”

“Yeah, you have to walk on a thin line.” Jack adds.

They go back and forth on ideas. At the end of the call, they agree on doing drug deliveries. It’s the most discrete one, he can deal with just one Deadlock member and it’s small enough to go under Devon’s radar. Gabriel recalls Lina has been charged with drug dealing, he knows she’s still working on that on the side and so far, she seems to genuinely like him, not just says it to keep him on the palm of his hand like Mal.

“Let’s say I thought about your idea of doing jobs,” Gabriel talks to Lina the next afternoon. “Nothing serious, maybe things nearby. Who would I go to?”

Lina chuckles. “You already did, you interested?”

He shrugs before mixing two liquors in the shaker. “Could use the extra money. Would like to have at least two month’s rent ready and secure.”

“Aren’t you optimistic?” Lina shakes her shoulders. “Well, I have to drop of some drugs at the bookstore across the street and wait for the money. Think you can handle it, Nieves?”

“No, I didn’t comprehend any of those terms,” he says as he pours the drinks on the glass without even looking at the glass. Lina laughs as she pulls out a small bag from the pocket of her jacket and throws it over the counter at him.

“I can watch the bar over for you.”

Gabriel takes the packet of white powder and looks back at her. “I need someone to go with me.”

“I can do it.” Jesse appears without Gabriel even realizing he was close. The sound of spurs had ben drowned by the crowd around them. “Got nothing else to do.”

“There you go.” Lina points at Jesse before getting off the stool. “Drop them off on the health section.”

Gabriel chews on his bottom lip as he considers it. “Fine. Let me finish this order.” Gabriel motions to Jesse to sit and wait for him, while Lina goes around the counter.

When Gabriel finishes serving, he grabs a jacket he keeps under the bar for when he needs to go outside and walks out with McCree closely behind. Jesse tries to walk by his side, but Gabriel is always a step ahead, even crossing the street. They reach the library and Gabriel starts going through the books while Jesse browses on his own. Unknowingly, he finds the health section and picks up a book to flip through the pages. He puts it back and picks up another. This time, he pulls out the bag from his sleeve and brushes his fingers over the edge of the pages, as if it’s an unconscious habit while he looks at the other books on the shelves. When he places the book back in the gap, the bag rests on the edge, keeping it hidden from anyone’s eyes. He goes through another book, while he waits.

He hears books shuffling on the other side of the shelf and doesn’t bother looking. Someone walks away from the other aisle and Gabriel turns to check the book again. He pulls it back and finds a roll of cash instead of the packet. He pocket it quickly before heading for the door. Jesse rushes to meet him and Gabriel had forgotten he wasn’t alone.

“Where’re we goin’?” The boy asks, pacing faster to reach Gabriel as they head down the street instead of the Bunker.

“I don’t think it’s smart to do these kinds of deals so close to your hideout,” Gabriel says without adding much detail, not liking to speak about it in public.

“Ah,” Jesse says, getting the point.

Gabriel enters a clothing store and pretends to browse while Jesse stays with him this time. The kid even grabs a bright yellow crop top and places it over Gabriel’s chest to see how it would look on the man. Gabriel shoves the piece of clothing away as Jesse snickers. Gabriel waits seven minutes to leave the store, and head back to the Bunker. They pass by an alley that comes before the bookstore, when Jesse’s presence disappears from Gabriel’s senses.

M c C r e e

The back of Jesse’s head hits concrete and his hat falls over. His brain spins to the impact and his eyes shut for a second. When he opens them, is a guy he recalls seeing around the bookstore. The buyer. His forearm his pressuring Jesse’s neck and a pocket knife threatens his eye.

“Where’s Lina?! I paid for more than this shitty amount!”

“Woah, partner, don’t kill the messenger.” He hadn’t been the delivery boy, but there was no way he would rat Nieves out. Not yet, at least.

“I will do as I please if he delivers a crummy message—” The guy groans when he’s pulled away from Jesse.

He blinks and sees Javier with his arm around the guy’s neck and another over his head. Jesse doesn’t know if Javier Nieves is a blessing or a curse at this point.

“Choose your next word carefully, or I’ll snap your neck like a twig.” He hears Nieves growl into the guy’s ear. “If Lina shortened your amount, is because you’re a sleazy customer, first of all. Second, I don’t think it would go well if your dear wife finds out you're wasting money on drugs from a younger girl you met on the street. And third, I delivered them, do you still feel like messing up the messenger?”

The guy’s lips quiver and a drop of sweat rolls down his temple. Meanwhile, Javier is stoic, solid on his feet and in control of it. Jesse’s mouth goes dry before his tongue brushes his lips.

“C-can’t I just talk to Lina?” The guy asks.

Nieves chuckles and it makes Jesse’s skin crawl with thrill. “Not so tough now that I’m not a kid, huh? She’s out on a walk, covering your ass, making sure your wife doesn’t worry about you.”

“S-she wouldn’t—”

“Why don’t you run home and find out?” Gabriel pushes the guy away, almost making him trip out of the alley. He doesn’t stop, he runs away from the man.

Javier looks at Jesse and he feels frozen in place. There’s a moment of thrill where he doesn’t know if the man is going to check if he’s fine, or put him in a lock. He admits he’d prefer the second one. Nieves picks up the abandoned knife and Jesse’s hat.

R e y e s

“Are you okay?” Gabriel places the hat on Jesse’s head and he startles. The kid seemed to have been lost in thought.

Jesse chuckles nervously, “Gun’ need ya to stop savin’ me.”

Gabriel smiles and pockets the knife. “Fine then.”

“How’d you know he’s married?”

He raises his left hand. “Ring. Would’ve thrown in his kids, but who knows if he has any.” He does. He smells of baby powder and diapers. Maybe has more than one if he needs the drugs so badly. By his behavior, Gabriel could say he was a regular. He still asks. “Is he a regular?”

Jesse nods. “Seen him a few times now that I’ve got a good look at him. He’s seen me, too. Maybe that’s why he came after me.”

Gabriel hums as he starts walking out of the alley. He feels Jesse closer than before and hurries his steps, wanting to be back underground. As soon as Lina sees him, she grabs a glass of beer, raises it to Gabriel and walks out of the bar. Gabriel quickly takes the spot and starts serving the cocktails she had avoid doing. He starts talking of the exchange and what happened while he mixes the drinks and serves him. Meanwhile, Jesse exaggerates the events like seeing the guy wet his pants or Javier pushing him so hard out of the alley, he fell to the street and a car barely missed him.

“I think the guy’s shit slipped down to his shoes,” Jesse adds as he grins before drinking from a bottle of beer.

Lina laughs, but then looks at Gabriel. “Good job, Nieves, you lost me a customer.”

“You seem to be good at what you do, you’ll find another.” He waves her off before delivering the drink to a customer down a few stools.

She scoffs, “Of course I will. I have a whole list. But one bad review doesn’t help.”

“Did you really give him less than what he paid for?” Gabriel asks when he returns.

Lina looks at him again, as if she was searching through his thoughts. “Does it matter?”

Gabriel shrugs. “Guess it doesn’t.”

“Reminds me, where’s my money?” She stretches her hand and Gabriel hands over the roll of bills. Line counts them and makes sure they’re all there before she pulls a few out. “25% for today, not so bad.”

Gabriel scoffs, but still takes it.

“Where’s my cut?” Jesse asks.

“Let’s see, if I take away the ‘stopped you from getting your as beaten’ feed, you have…” Gabriel trails before he dips his hand in the tip jar and pulls out one dollar. “Don’t spend it all at once.”

Lina laughs before drinking while Jesse scoffs and snatches the dollar away before Gabriel takes it back.

M c C r e e

Nieves and Lina talk for a few more minutes, but he loses track of the conversation the more he stares at Javier. He tries to look away and finally does it, focusing on the half empty bottle of beer in his hand. He watches the drops slip down the glass and drip into his hand while he thinks. Lina leaves and Javier continues his job, leaving him alone without a second thought. Jesse believes Javier even forgot he was there, didn’t even ask if he wanted anything else.

Nieves has already helped him out in two occasions in the little time he has been here. There has been small jobs like the ones they just did where Jesse comes out with a black eye because his accomplices don’t like to ruin a good partnership. It also counts on big missions. They might give him medical care after, but he has to fend for himself. This is how it has always been. So having this guy coming in here and playing hero was messing with his thoughts.

It wasn’t like Jesse couldn’t take care of himself. He could. And he could prove it to Nieves.

“Hey,” he suddenly calls, too quickly, when Javier passes by. The bartender looks at him but keeps walking to hand in an order before returning. “I have something I have to do tomorrow night. Albert got called for a bigger task. Could you help me?”

Javier curls his lips and something tells Jesse he just doesn’t want to. “I’ve left the bar enough already.”

“We can do it after everyone has left,” Jesse suggests. “Besides, helping me out could give you credit.”

He can see Javier giving it another thought. “What’s the job?”

“Nah, nah.” Jesse shakes his head. “Gotta know if yer in before I tell ya. Can’t have others knowing about it.”

“Or I could not go at all.” Javier shrugs.

“C’mon, it’ll be fun. You might actually get to see someone beat the shit out of me.”

Javier rubs his chin and looks away from Jesse, as if he could think of an excuse if he didn’t look at him. “I’ll let you know tomorrow.”

“Suit yerself.” Jesse finishes the beer he took too long to drink and turns around on the stool. “I’ll be back.”

He walks away without looking back as he chews on his bottom lip. Now he needs to get to his motel room and think of a job fit for the two of them before tomorrow night.

Chapter Text

M c C r e e

Jesse goes to the bar the next night and waits for everyone else to leave. He mingles until he’s tired of walking from one corner to another and slumps on the couch as soon as he sees it empty. He watches Javier, making drinks. His movements are sharp, yet smooth. He’s precise on every drink he makes and doesn’t seem to make a mistake. Jesse sees Nieves’ hands working on the bottles, tossing them in the air and catching them. Watching these moments make him feel light as a feather and like Javier would also catch him. It’s comforting, yet terrifying to feel this kind of trust for, possibly, the first time.

When the last customer leaves, Javier cleans the counter, pretending Jesse isn’t there yet. Jesse doesn’t mind waiting for him a little longer. He only smiles as he watches the man at work until he finally acknowledges the cowboy and sighs. “Alright, I’ll help you.”

“Sweet!” Jesse jumps to his feet, holding on to his hat. “Let’s go, then.”

Jesse walks with his hands inside his pockets so they won’t shake. He only uses them to light a cigarette on the way and offers the box and lighter at the older man. Javier takes the offering and Jesse lets himself admire the flicker of the flame reflecting in Javier’s eyes until Nieves stares back at him. The emeralds in his gaze grow intense and tantalizing. Jesse takes back his cigarettes and lighter before turning away, pretending that gaze won’t be carved in his memories forever.

They walk far away from the Bunker, but Javier never asks where they’re going. Jesse can feel his eyes on him, trying to figure out what will happen, but Jesse doesn’t give details yet. He suddenly stops and feels a light bump from Javier. He remains staring at the bar across the street and waits for the man to speak.

“What are we doing here?” Nieves asks, also starring at the dark building with neon lights and people coming in and out.

Jesse turns to him, “There’s a guy in there that used to be our intel on other gangs. But the weasel turned on us.”

Javier scoffs, “Does it surprise you?”

Jesse shrugs before he answers, “Not me, and I don’t think Mal is disappointed in that, but the thing is the guy got a lot of good shit from another gang from spilling information about us.”

Nieves hums. “And what kind of information would a gang have that would get him, I quote, a lot of good shit?”

Jesse chuckles and pats Javier on the chest. “Nothing that concerns you.” He hopes Javier doesn’t ask again, because he doesn’t have an answer.

Luckily, Javier pushes his hand away and forgets the subject. Jesse answers with another laugh before saying, “Here’s the plan: we go in, I get the bastard’s keys, and we take his car and take everything of value. Then we take it to the nearest junkyard and get rid of it.”

“Do you know what he’ll have in there?”

“Money, drugs, weapons, who knows. Mal wants it.” Jesse starts crossing the street without looking sideways. It’s usually empty at this hour except for the cars coming in and out of the parking lot for the bar.

Both show their IDs and pass the entrance. The bar is too crowded to communicate with Nieves, but good enough to slip in and out without being noticed. Jesse turns around when he spots a group of people with blue and white jackets near the bar. He’s suddenly too close to Javier’s chest and his tongue goes numb. Javier leans in so he can say it to his ear and avoid shouting.

Jesse licks his lips before he says, “I’ll take care of getting the keys, you watch over and cause a distraction if needed.” Javier nods and Jesse turns back around to move between the customers.

R e y e s

Gabriel watches over Jesse, how he moves between the crowd, smiles and tips his hat at anyone who gives him flirty eyes. He says a few words to some, but doesn’t stay long. Gabriel takes a look around the place and doesn’t see anything out of the ordinary in a bar. People dance, a lot of couples trying to restrain themselves from ripping the other’s clothes off, strangers meeting and a few groups celebrating an occasion. When he looks back at Jesse, he sees the boy has found a spot between a group wearing similar blue and white jackets. Gabriel squints his eyes and catches the logo on their backs, two bones crossing and a skull on top. He’s aware it’s a gang, and the symbol seems familiar.

Jesse’s flirting with a girl, who looks like she wants to see how far he’ll go before she turns him down. But when she smirks at a guy approaching them behind Jesse, Gabriel understands she knew the boyfriend was coming. Gabriel makes a move to be ready, but when the guy says something to Jesse, trying to be intimidating, Jesse only turns around with a surprised smile and tips his hat at him. Jesse speaks nonchalantly, motioning to the girl and back at the guy. By the way the guy relaxes and smiles, Gabriel believes Jesse has charmed them both.

Before he knows it, the trio is laughing and Jesse is brushing his hand over the guy’s biceps and looking at the girl. Gabriel crosses his arms as he watches. Jesse then goes behind the guy and whispers something over his shoulder. The girl laughs and tries to hide away while the guy looks back at Jesse. His gaze is gentle, but at the same time predatory.

M c C r e e

Jesse has the girl in the palm of his hand. She’s pretty, but knows she’s feisty. When the boyfriend approaches him from behind, his target, he knows it’s going to be an easier job with her on his side. He turns around and sees him, short black hair with a shadow of beard and striking brown eyes. The guy is handsome, Jesse won’t have to pretend too far.

“Woah, you didn’t tell me your boyfriend was this handsome.” Jesse faces the guy as he returns from the bar. He can hear the girl giggling behind him. “We were just talking about you.”

More sweet words and the guy softens around him. He looks at him the way a lot of people look at Jesse when he lays his charm. He likes the power he has. It’s like when he’s holding Peacekeeper in the middle of war and comes out alive. He complements the guy’s physique, touches his biceps and even goes behind him to speak by his ear. “Between you and me, yer girl is an angel sent from heaven.” The girl hears, like he wants to, and laughs as she blushes.

If this were a regular night, Jesse wouldn’t mind spending it with these two fine specimens. But Javier is waiting, a man he’s more interested in seeing where the night goes by his side. After all, he’s going on rumors he heard, this tasks that wasn’t even given to him could go in so many ways, it’ll be a thrilling adventure. His hand slips inside the guy’s pocket without him noticing and the keys disappear into Jesse’s own pocket. He says a few words and looks over at Javier. The man is scoping the bar, but hardly moving.

“Why don’t you pretty faces excuse me for a moment? Don’t start anythin’ without me.” He winks and leaves the couple behind. He passes by Javier and bumps his arm as he says, “Got it.”

Jesse uses the keys to make the car beep, once they find it, it hurts Jesse to know it’ll be crushed into pieces by the time the sun rises. It’s slick and red like wine. The windows tinted and the insides leather dark gray. He sits comfortably in the driver seat, shimmies his butt to exaggerate the motion, while Javier just slouches on his side.

Jesse sighs, “Enjoy these moments, Nieves. I’m pretty sure this is the nicest thing your sweet ass will ever sit on.”

“Jesse—”

“Except my face,” Jesse mumbles and laughs at his own joke.

“McCree,” Javier says sharper.

“Or my dic—”

Javier grabs him by the jaw and Jesse expects his neck to snap. He expects to see darkness and leave this world, but no. Javier turns him to look out the window, at the Crossed Bones gang approaching them. The guy he stole the keys from leading the pack.

“Start it!” Javier hisses and Jesse fumbles to get the keys in.

The car feels smooth under him, driving over ground like a cloud. Until it bumps into another car and Jesse speeds up out of the parking lot. There’s a car in front of them, but he drives by it and almost crashes into an upcoming car. Javier is looking back and Jesse can see two other vehicles running behind them through the rear view mirror.

R e y e s

Gabriel holds on for dear life as McCree drives. They’re lucky the street is mostly empty by this time; once in a while another car passes by, making Jesse do sharp turns and barely miss them. By now Gabriel believes Jesse is doing all these dangerous turns on purpose, to give the man a scare. He starts thinking of ways out as it seems they won’t stop the chase. But before he can form a plan, Jesse does a sudden U turn and lowers his window. He pulls out a gun from his left side and fires as he turns. Gabriel looks back to catch the moment the vehicle loses control and the horn going off as the car crashes into a bus stop. The other three gang members in the car could’ve ended up hurt, but Gabriel doesn’t manage to look as Jesse speeds up.

They drive by the second car and Jesse fires again. This one has the windows down, ready to fire as well. But the bullet pierces the side of the guy’s skull before he has a chance. Jesse rolls up the window again and places his gun on the dashboard as he speeds up.

Gabriel can’t look away from the young man. He drives like he’s alone and fires like a demon on a mission to reclaim souls. This didn’t mean he was better than anyone on Deadlock, right?

The smug little shit smiles at Javier and winks, like he was reading his mind. Of course it does.

M c C r e e

They create some distance between the Crossed Bones members and them before Jesse parks deep in an alley and turns the car off. They wait in silence, but he can hear his own heartbeat loud enough, and swears he can hear Javier’s as well. When they look at each other again, they laugh and sit back almost in sync. Jesse takes his hat off and lets out a sigh.

“Close one,” he says, with sweat over his forehead.

“Yeah,” Javier scoffs as he brushes his curls.

Jesse almost flinches when Javier moves closer to him. His adrenaline is so high he doesn’t care what happens next and he kind of wishes Javier feels the same. He’s disappointed when Nieves only goes for his six shooter. There’s still an urge to spring forward and take it from the man’s hands, but Jesse gives it a second thought.

“Where did you get this?” Javier examines the gun.

Jesse smiles. “Stole it from a guy in Las Vegas two years ago. My trusty ol’ Peacekeeper.”

Javier laughs breathlessly. “Nice name. You seem to manage it pretty well. Just two bullets.”

“Two perfect bullets,” Jesse corrects.

“Alright, alright, two perfect shots.”

Javier hands Jesse the gun back, with the handle facing him. It’s a first for Jesse. Guns have always been pointing at him, even if they’re for him to carry. It’s a threat, to know who he serves. It’s also the first time Jesse realizes he lets someone hold Peacekeeper without fearing they will shoot him with it.

R e y e s

They find money under the seats, drugs and two guns. But the jackpot is in the trunk. There’s a duffle bag with more drugs, jewelry, money, a sniper rifle and shotguns. Gabriel picks up one of the shotguns, they don’t feel like he’s own, but the weight it’s enough to fill that emptiness in his hand. One of the last things he sees is a familiar black leather jacket. He pulls it out and Jesse’s eyes quickly look over at the familiar skull with wings stitched in the back. The jacket is ripped and stained with blood.

“Wait,” Jesse says as he takes it to examine it closer. He pulls out a wallet from one of the pockets and drops the jacket on the duffle bag. He pulls out an ID card and stares at it for a few minutes.

“Leroy,” he says low and looks at Gabriel. “This guy had a solo mission two weeks ago. He was supposed to come back with a big pay, like this one, maybe more. But he never came. And the job had been done. We thought he had split on us. But now we know.”

“Wasn’t this what you were after?” Gabriel asks when all of this seems new to Jesse.

“I mean,” Jesse’s lips quiver. “I knew they had something, but didn’t know what it was.”

“You said you were after someone who turned on you,” Gabriel reminds him and Jesse avoids looking at him in the eyes. “Did you even know they had something like this, or did you just go out and get lucky after dragging me here with a poor excuse?”

“Hey! I knew something was up. I heard some guys mentioning something off with the Crossed Bones. So I decided to check it out,” Jesse says defensibly as he slips the ID back in the wallet.

“And put me in danger?” Gabriel’s brow twitches and he steps forward.

“We were laughing just a minute ago, partner.” Jesse laughs nervously. “It’s all good.”

Gabriel sighs and closes his eyes. Even if they found something, it didn’t take away the fact that Jesse walked into this blindly and with luck on his sleeve. He resists the urge to tell Jesse what he did wrong and why it was reckless. This isn’t one of his agents and he can’t afford to waste any more time outside of the Bunker.

“I’ll drive back,” Gabriel says as he closes the trunk and Jesse flinches to the action. Gabriel thinks about saying something after the reaction, but he can’t create a sentence that will make the boy feel better at the moment; they would feel like empty words.

Jesse takes the passenger’s seat, almost curled up against the door. Every time Gabriel needs to slow down or stop, he makes sure the doors are locked, worried the kid might jump off. The drive is quiet and only when they pass by flashy lights does Jesse look up. Gabriel looks at the car around him, it feels smooth on the road, purrs beautifully and works perfectly under any command. The urge to pick up speed, take it for a few rounds or even out of town grows in his gut. When they reach the Bunker Gabriel takes everything they found inside, including the jacket, an important piece. Jesse takes the driver’s seat and Gabriel looks back at him.

“Keep them safe until tomorrow,” Jesse says through the open window.

“What are you gonna do with the car?”

Jesse smiles, “Last part of the plan. See ya later.”

Jesse departs carelessly, he’s out of the street in a blink and Gabriel wonders, like once before, if he’ll see the cowboy tomorrow at all or will he run into the horizon without looking back. For Jesse’s sake, Gabriel prefers he does the latter.

Chapter Text

R e y e s

Gabriel’s doing his job the next day. The regular Deadlock members drink and talk amongst each other. Some leave to do jobs and some return from them, sporting new scars and bandages around their arms. A few have holes in their clothing, but they forget about it as they take shots of vodka. From what he has heard, no one mentions his outing or knows he left the Bunker, which is good. They mention Crossed Bones lost one of their best, and a few are injured after an accident, but not many know details. Jesse walks in without looking at Gabriel and calls for a drink. Gabriel makes it without any small talk and moves on.

The bartender’s talking with two guys as he serves their drinks when Mal barges in with a three guys behind him. Gabriel is about to greet him when he sees the Deadlock member clenching his jaw as his gaze finds Jesse, sitting a few stools away from where Gabriel stands. The kid’s enjoying his drink and talking to a girl without knowing the storm approaching him.

Gabriel wants to call for Mal, say something. But Mal turns Jesse around and punches him in the jaw. McCree stumbles to the floor and the girl moves away, it’s not her mess to deal with.

“What the shit, McCree?!” Mal shouts, grabbing the remaining attention from the customers that weren’t looking already.

“How are ya, Mal?” McCree mumbles as he touches his jaw. His bottom lip starting to swell.

“I’ve got the Crossed Bones on my ass now! We were getting to an understanding and then I hear two of their members were shot dead in the morning and five other are injured after a car chase!” Mal paces around and snaps his fingers. Two of the guys that came with him pick Jesse up and hold him. “I know it was you! Xia gave me a clear description of you, you ass! And I asked around—you were the last person at the bar, wasn’t he?!” Mal turns to Gabriel.

Gabriel looks at Jesse, but he’s avoiding any eye contact. He wants to say no, but what will be the price.

“Yes,” Jesse answers before Gabriel. “It was me.”

Mal chuckles and sighs before he punches him in the stomach. “Did I gave you the job? Did I say you could do jobs on your own?!” Gabriel can see drops of spit falling from Mal’s mouth.

“No, boss,” Jesse coughs.

“Then why did you do it, huh? We don’t have many rules here, McCree, and yours is to follow what I, or Devon says!” Mal points to himself then pokes Jesse’s head, his hat had fallen to the floor after the first punch. “If you’re not going to get it through that head of yours, you’re just a casualty!”

The room goes quiet; everyone is still on their feet. They don’t feel sorry for Jesse, some are smiling, as if the kid had it coming. Gabriel feels his stomach twisting, this is the kind of people he’s learning to be like. He hears one of the three guys say, “Woah, Mal!” and his gaze snaps back at the scene.

Mal has pulled out his gun and aimed at Jesse’s head.

“What about the big mission?” The third guy that had walked in with Mal asks. His dark hair is tied in a messy braid that reaches below his neck and, out of the group of four, he actually looks worried.

“This is exactly why I’m doing this,” Mal says, tightening the grip around his gun. “If he won’t listen to us now, how do we know he will then?”

“I-I will, boss. Promise,” Jesse sounds broken and like he’s crying for help.

“Mal,” Gabriel calls, and he’s worried the bang will come right after. Mal slowly looks at him, but his gun remains aimed at Jesse. “Jesse brought this after,” he add before he pulls out the duffle back from behind the bar onto the counter and pulls out the leather jacket, along with the wallet.

Mal lower his gun then and inspects the items. He opens the wallet and turns to Jesse when he sees the ID. “Leroy?”

Jesse nods. “Ya thought he’d split, Bones killed him. They kept the rewards.”

“Jesse figured it out while you only had a feeling of something being off,” Gabriel says and Mal points the weapon at him.

“Don’t talk to me like that, Nieves.”

Gabriel lowers his head, setting into position of submission, letting Mal play boss.

“We didn’t know what was going on, Mal,” the same braided guy says. “Now we do and have proof. Devon would want to know he’s planning on working with snakes.”

“McCree found it out for you,” Gabriel dares to add.

“He did get Chase, he was an important piece,” the same guy says. Gabriel guesses Chase was the guy they stole the car from. The first shot Jesse fired. “And we already know Xia is not taking it lightly. She wants blood,” the guy adds and he looks at McCree, as a poor animal ready to be slaughtered.

Mal curls his lips and points his gun up. Gabriel doesn’t feel relief yet. Mal shoves the leather jacket and the wallet back into the duffle bag and takes it. He walks away without another world. His three friends look at each other, until the braided one says, “Leave him.”

They let Jesse fall and walk away, slamming the door almost as hard as Mal. Slowly, the rest of the Deadlock members go back to their business. They ignore Jesse standing up and brushing his stomach. They pretend a seventeen year old wasn’t going to be executed in front of them. Jesse also pretends it didn’t happen, tries to forget he’s hurting with another drink, even if he hisses when he sips. Gabriel recreates the same cocktail and takes it over to the cowboy.

“¿Necesitas algo?" ["Do you need anything?"] Gabriel asks him, just him. Jesse shakes his head, his eyes are glossy, and he seems to be trying hard to not let Gabriel see him cry. “Look, you’re fine, I don’t think they’ll do anything to you once Mal thinks its over—”

“I don’t need your help,” Jesse hisses and looks up at him. “Should’ve kept your mouth shut and let them shoot me. At least they were going to do it in my face and not by back like they might do now.” He stands up and storms out. A few look at him go and even snicker to his tantrum, but go back to pretending Jesse wasn’t there.

Gabriel shakes his head and tries to focus on work again. But Jesse is there, in the back of his mind. He sees the scene over and over. Mal knocking him to the floor and aiming at his head. Everyone watching like he’s nothing. It shouldn’t surprise Gabriel, they are a gang after all, one of the most notorious ones. But if they did that to one of his agents, to Jack, Ana, or any of the others, they wouldn’t even get a chance to pull out the gun.

--

Only a few customers are left when he decides to start cleaning the tables that aren’t being used. He’s tired from the night before and from the heavy day. He just wants to make dinner and go to bed. The last person leaves and then the door opens again a few minutes later. He looks over his shoulder and sees Jesse standing under the door frame.

Gabriel looks away. “I don’t feel like going on another car chase tonight.”

“I want you to teach me some moves,” Jesse blurs out.

Gabriel stops cleaning the table and straightens up to look at him. “Moves?”

“Y’know, to defend myself.”

“Ah, fighting moves.” Gabriel starts placing the chairs upside down on the table.

“Yes,” Jesse says and he feels him approaching. “Ya know stuff, and I could use them. I might be good at shooting, but I get my ass beaten more than I can count, n’ I ain’t talking about our enemies.”

“Didn’t notice.” Gabriel shakes his head in sarcasm.

“My point. I can’t pull the gun on any other members unless it’s for a real, good reason. But if I can kick back, I could get some days of peace plus a chance.” Jesse walks around the table so he’s in front of Gabriel now. “Will you?”

Gabriel sighs. Teaching him a few moves wouldn’t hurt. They could even end up helping him not getting shot, at least until the big mission comes.

“Come by in the morning, before 6.” He looks at him from head to toe. “You’re two skinny though, don’t expect it’ll be easy.”

Jesse scoffs, “I can take it.”

“Sure you can,” Gabriel says with a mocking smile.

Jesse licks his lips and places his elbow on the table. Gabriel looks at his hand in the air, waiting for him to grab it, and back at his fierce eyes.

“C’mon,” Jesse challenges and Gabriel sighs as he sets up his elbow.

Gabriel takes Jesse’s hand, which still feels small in his. Jesse counts to three and start pushing. At first, Gabriel doesn’t put much effort into it, but when his hand leans too far to his side, he pushes back and Jesse’s knuckles hit the table. Jesse sits back in defeat and Gabriel grins as he walks a few steps back and throws the wet cloth to Jesse. “Finish these up for me, I’ll be right back.”

It surprises him that Jesse doesn’t ask where he’s going or what he’s going to do. It surprises him more that he hears chairs shuffling as he goes up the stairs. Gabriel heats up two cans of beef soup and serves them in bowls to take down. When he gets there, most of the chairs are on the tables, while Jesse lays on the couch. The smell of hot beef and vegetables perks him right up.

“Gotta start fattening you up.” Gabriel sets one of the bowls on a table and takes a seat. Jesse quickly takes the one next to him and starts eating.

Neither bring up what happened. It’s best to leave it in the past and prepare so it doesn’t happen again.

“How’d you learn yer moves?” Jesse asks with a mouth full and lips covered in broth.

“I wrestled in high school and played football on my last two years there,” Gabriel answers before eating a spoonful of soup.

“Ah, that explains it.” Jesse eyes his arms and chest. “How long did it take to be like this?”

Javier shrugs, “Didn’t really noticed. It’s not like I had a goal in mind. Just wrestled and worked out for it.”

“I pity the bastards that went against you.”

Gabriel grins, “My coach said the same.”

Jesse laughs before taking more soup. “Won trophies or something?”

“Yeah, they’re somewhere in the garage of my grandma’s.”

“You lived with her?” Jesse asks curiously.

Gabriel does a mixture of a nod and shrug, “My mother and I used to live with her after my father left. I found my own place while my mother stayed with her, but passed away after falling ill. I still take care of grandma, of course.” Gabriel makes mental notes to remember all of this. He’s sure Deadlock hasn’t tried to search information on him, so he needs a back story just in case.

“Damn, sorry to hear that.”

Reyes waves him off, it has been a while ago, and it didn’t matter to dwell on it.

“My pa was a police officer, he died in a hostage situation.” Unlike him, those words still seem to wound Jesse. “Ma got sick a few years later and that was it for me. No grandparents left, no one.”

Gabriel nods and tries to look sympathetic, even if he knew this part of Jesse’s life.

Jesse chuckles weakly, “The gang found it funny: a criminal, son of a police officer. Say he didn’t raise me right, but he did.”

Gabriel nods again, softer. “Sorry about that.”

Jesse’s lips twitch into a small smile, “It's alright. Got Deadlock now, right? Better than nothing.”

Gabriel cocks his head, not knowing if he means it or not. He could have a better life, maybe if he had stuck around in the system. Gabriel is aware is not the best life, he knows all the kids left in foster care after their parents died during the crisis. How even before the crisis, a lot of kids were in it. But at least he would have a bed, three meals a day and wouldn’t resort to doing dirty jobs. He couldn’t blame Jesse for thinking this way either. Even if his time in Deadlock has been short compare to his life with his parents, that’s what he’s used to now. That’s what he expects the rest of his life will be. “Are you the youngest in your band of punks?”

Jesse shrugs, “A few have kids, but I’m the youngest official member that I know off.”

“So I could see a baby with tattoos and a gun any day?”

Jesse laughs, “That’ll be a regular Tuesday here. Most members range over twenty-two, so yeah, I’m the youngest if I recall right. When with and recently turned eighteen once…” He trails off and Gabriel takes a look at his expression. He seems to be going down memory lane, a dark path. “He told me it had been his birthday before a bullet went through his eye right in front of me.”

“Jesus,” Gabriel breathes out.

Jesse shrugs it off and continues shoving food into his mouth, “He wasn’t quick enough. That’s what happens here if ya slow down for a second.”

“Have you slowed down?”

“At first. Got some nasty scars because of it, but I learned from ‘em.” Jesse moves the left side of his hair, where it falls on his neck, and Gabriel notices a white scar that goes up his hair. “Some make you realize how much of a lucky son of a bitch you are.” He pulls down the neck of his shirt and there’s a nasty one over his chest, as if someone had pierce a knife across his heart. “And others, make you wish you had died.” He pulls his shirt up and stands up. There’s another one, this one is pinker and scarred, maybe a few months old, across his rib. “I was left behind on a cargo truck, had to fight off a few of the back then enemy gang and waited for hours until Deadlock came searching for any loot. It got infected and I spent days in bed.”

Gabriel grimaces and shakes his head, “You are lucky. Did they help you recover?”

Jesse nods, “A few did. Keith, who you saw today—the one with the braid. He visited me and made sure I drank water. Albert came by a few times, too. There are a few caring souls here and there, sadly they don’t last as much. And if they do, they turn sour.” He stops talking to eat more and Gabriel doesn’t have much to add, so he decides to fall quiet. It isn’t until two minutes that Jesse asks, “which one are you gun’ be, Nieves?”

Gabriel looks up at him and it almost feels like Jesse has hacked through his eyes and is seeing his entire life through them. But he knows that’s just a moment of panic. He shrugs it off and answers, “The lucky one.”

--

Jesse arrives at the bar early. And there’s an eggs, cheese and ham sandwich along with a glass of orange juice waiting for him on one of the tables. Gabriel moves a few away to make more room while the kid eats. Even when he’s done, he starts cleaning the counter to allow Jesse time to digest the food.

“Start stretching,” Gabriel orders while he starts towering glasses to use during the day.

He watches from the corner of his eye how Jesse stretches his back, his arms and neck. It’s not the kind of stretching Gabriel is used to, but it’ll do for this session.

“Let’s test your strength.” Gabriel stands in front of him. “Punch me.”

Jesse’s eyes widen. “Seriously?”

“Yeah.”

Jesse slowly smiles and cracks his knuckles. Gabriel smiles back and lets his arms drop to his side. He swings a punch and Gabriel can feel his skinny fingers against his cheek. It hurts, it might give him time to make a second time in a regular fight but not as much as it should if Jesse wants to face opponents bigger than him. He still rubs his cheek for show. Though it seems Jesse’s hand is hurting.

“Not bad, for a scrawny kid of your size. You probably hit better when you were a baby.”

Jesse frowns and swings another punch. There’s more sting on this one, but still not enough to face someone bigger than Jesse.

“Better,” Gabriel says as he rolls his shoulders. “Okay, a good move is to kick your attacker’s knee with the sole of your foot, not your toes.” Gabriel does the motion, driving the sole of his boot to touch Jesse’s knee. “You can unbalance them and, depending on your force, can even make them trip. It can help you run if you need to.”

“Or execute them?” Jesse asks and Gabriel wants to think it’s pure curiosity.

“Sure,” Gabriel responds. “If you get a chance to hit your opponent’s face, make it worth it. Hit their nose with the palm of your hand.” Gabriel does the movement too, Jesse leans a bit backwards. “It’s easier to break from the front. Same with their body, if you get the chance, hit them here,” Gabriel presses his fist under Jesse’s chest. “It can knock the air out of them.”

Jesse smirks, “can I try it?”

Gabriel cocks his head, unamused, “try the knee.”

Jesse steps back a bit and kicks Gabriel’s nee. It makes his leg wobble, but he feels the tip of the cowboy’s boot. “Again, you hit me with your toes.” He tries to sound as casual as he can. Jesse nods and tries again. He hits mostly with his sole, but Gabriel can still feel more pressure from his toes. “Too much pressure on your toes, still. But you’ll get it.” Gabriel pushes Jesse’s hat down until it falls off his head.

“What was that for?” Jesse asks.

“Pick it up,” Gabriel says clearly.

Jesse scoffs, but still bends down to get it. Gabriel, as soft as he can, wraps his arm around Jesse’s neck and locks his hands together. “The hell?!”

“This is always a good way to go if you catch them off guard. Put enough pressure and you can suffocate them. Feel how my arm is.” Gabriel applies a little more pressure, his forearm pressing lightly against Jesse’s Adam’s apple before he releases him. Jesse straightens and he looks fine, a little taken back as he rubs his neck, but he doesn’t show pain. “Try it.”

“Gladly, sweetheart,” Jesse says, placing and fixing his hat on his head. Jesse quickly moves and kicks Gabriel on the knee, like Reyes showed him, causing the bartender to lean forward as he almost trips. The cowboy takes the advantage and locks him under his armpit, like Reyes did before. “Like this.”

“That’s pretty good,” Gabriel says.

“I’ve locked people before, I just don’t have much of a mass to back it up.”

“I can see,” Gabriel says before he unlocks Jesse’s hands, turns him around and holds one wrist behind Jesse’s back, while his right arm wraps around his neck. He can feel the cowboy swallowing hard against him.

“Harder, sugar,” Jesse groans and laughs.

Gabriel releases him and pushes him lightly, “Wouldn’t want you break you, darlin’. Until we can get more fat and muscle in you, you might be better off using agility. You can slip through an opponent’s grasp. Moves like the hit to the knee or the nose would work best for you; they’re quick to execute and give you a chance to put distance.”

“To pull out my gun?”

“Or run. You can’t always rely on your gun. The time it takes you to pull it out and take the safety off, you could be grabbed in a lock.”

“I always have safety off.” Jesse smiles like that’s something to be proud of, but Gabriel doesn’t scold him, he can’t. This is something most Deadlock members must do, too. He would make his agents lock about a hundred guns if they always left it on and parade around with it.

“Still. Besides, it just means any other of these guys will pull their gun too if you’re against them. You said so yourself, it’ll make things worse. Let’s keep practicing a few locks and how to get out of them.”

“Yessir.”

Chapter Text

R e y e s

A day later Gabriel decides it’s time to install the small cameras and microphones he brought from the American base around the bar. He had waited sometime in case Mal was suspicious at the beginning. He stuck the small lenses between the bricks of the wall, between the barrels decorating the place. Another tucked between the armrest of the couch, one behind the bottles of display and on a corner of the ceiling. He checked the feeds after, making sure he got a good view of every part of the place. He also tucked a small device in his ear that would allow him to listen further away without being spotted. After everything was right, he went back up to start to make breakfast for him and Jesse, who came that morning and the morning after as well.

Gabriel doesn’t expect much on the third time they practice, but neither complete waste. Jesse still acts too quickly and on impulse. When Gabriel can get some real punches out of Jesse, is when he’s angry. It will come in handy when he faces a real opponent, but he also needs to learn how to control that strength. Gabriel tries not to see Jesse as an agent, he has to be careful not to slip Commander Reyes into their time together. Javier was never in the army, he isn’t enhanced to be some kind of super soldier, and he also doesn’t have his own agents. He does imagine how different it would be if he were at base, training his new Blackwatch recruits instead of a criminal. It will be different. He would have them running drills and sparring each other. They will be so far ahead of Jesse, which is why he has to take it slow.

The bar is quite empty this afternoon while Gabriel makes an order. A few people speak to him from across the bar and make jokes that genuinely make him laugh. He still doesn’t miss the bottles he throws or the liquor he pours. People watch him as he twirls a bottle from the pourer on the palm of his hand, flips it in the air before catching it and pouring into the shaker. The clients are enjoying the show until Mal walks in, pulling Jesse by the arm. Slowly, Gabriel stops shaking the metal container as he lowers it. Those in the room also stop smiling or laughing as Mal approaches Gabe.

“I’ve got a job for you two,” Mal smirks as he forces Jesse to sit down.

Jesse’s eyes show surprise as he looks at Gabriel. He can see the cowboy was expecting another beating instead.

“You seem to be rooting for the kid and pulling his ass out or into trouble—I can’t decide that yet. So, we’ll see.” Mal claps his hands together. “We’ve had Overwatch intersect our girls for a while now, we need to receive the next shipment or we’re screwed. You two will provide a distraction,” he says as each index finger point at Jesse and Gabriel.

“I don’t know what you expect me to do, Mal. Do tricks while people wait for their flight?” Gabriel scoffs.

“No, you will blow up the bathroom.” His eyes widen with wickedness. “It’ll be enough of a distraction to attract any snoopy cops or Overwatch agents lurking around, while my team and I pick up the girls.”

Gabriel looks at Jesse who’s using the saddest stare he can do to beg Gabriel to accept. “Why exactly do you want me to do it?”

“Look, we have a big mission and we could use all the help we can get. You seem like you could provide some, and if you can put some discipline onto him while you’re added,” Mal winks at him with a smirk and Gabriel’s stomach flips. “It’s a bonus. Prove yourself to Devon so he can get you off his list. A list you really wanna be off. What do you say?”

Gabriel takes a deep breath and looks at Jesse again. Doing this would score Javier some points from Mal and Devon. “Fine, I’ll do it.”

“Great. The Bunker won’t open tomorrow ‘til four. We’ll pick you both up at twelve, sharp.” He smiles and taps the counter before leaving.

Once Mal is out of the bar, the other members start drifting back into their conversations and drinks. Jesse slowly looks up at Gabriel. He looks tired and afraid. A bit relief that he won’t walk out with a bruised lip or a purple eye. Gabriel tries to give him a smile, but only comes half.

Suddenly, Jesse laughs. “Discipline me, dad—” Before he can finish, Gabriel tosses him ice cubes from the station below him and walks away to get a glass for the drink he was about to prepare.

--

When Gabriel gets up and ready for the day—adding the ear piece as a new accessory—he goes down to the bar. Jesse is already there, lying on the couch throwing an empty beer bottle in the air and catching it.

“Did you take that?” Gabriel’s voice causes Jesse to drop the bottle on his face.

“I left the money on the counter.” Jesse stands with a groan from the couch as Gabriel looks over and sees the money.

“Kind of you,” the bartender says before walking towards the bar to get the money in the register. “Want something to eat?”

“Nah, got a quick breakfast at the coffee shop around the corner. I knew I’d be more nervous as the clock ticked closer.” Jesse swipes his free hand on his jeans, probably getting rid of the sweat collecting on it.

“You always get nervous?” Gabriel asks.

“Not like this, to be honest.” Jesse walks towards the bar and sits on one of the stools. “Maybe because I feel like my days are counted now since the stunt I pulled.”

Gabriel nods, he also feels like the cowboy won’t show up one day and he’ll get the news from a random gang member like it’s nothing. He can feel the tension around Jesse, like everyone knows or expects to hear about Jesse being killed in an “accident”. “I’ll make sure you return in one piece,” Gabriel says to ease Jesse’s nerves and when Jesse slowly smiles at him and his eyes regain light, Gabriel feels it did the job.

Sal arrives at the bar twenty minutes later, exactly at twelve, to pick them up. They meet in a black car with Mal and drive away. The ride consists of Mal explaining the task to them; he hands Jesse a backpack that contains the bomb. Sal gives Gabriel a cell phone and they will have to wait for a call to activate the bomb. They have a minute to walk as far away as possible from the bathroom before the bomb goes off. Gabriel nods at certain points, letting Mal know he’s listening. Meanwhile, Jesse is tensed beside him, taping his right foot. Gabriel touches Jesse’s knee with his own and the tapping slowly stops.

They arrive at the airport and Mal drops them off and says, “Have a safe flight, my friends.”

Gabriel shakes his hand before turning to walk towards the airport with Jesse. He touches Jesse’s back so the kid can keep up.

“Is this your first time flying, mijo?” Gabriel asks to distract him.

“Yeah,” Jesse says and nods. “Have you traveled before?”

“Few times, you’ll be fine. Is much safer nowadays, trust me.”

Jesse smiles nervously at him but his walk becomes straighter, confident the more Gabriel talks to him. They reach the first bathroom, the one they need to be in. Is away from the gate the girls will be arriving at and will allow them space and time for Mal and the others to take them away through the emergency exit.

“Ve primero, esperare un minuto,” ["Go first, I'll wait a minute,"] Gabriel tells him and Jesse walks normally through the door.

Gabriel picks up the phone he was given and pretends to dial and make a call. He talks about the time he’ll be arriving and what he plans to do with his cousin when he gets there. Once he’s done, he walks into the bathroom. He can see Jesse’s boots from under one stall. There’s one guy on the urinals and Gabriel uses the one two spots away. Once the guy leaves, Gabriel washes his hands and checks the other stalls. Once he finds out they’re empty, he paces slowly as he waits. The phone suddenly rings and he picks it up. Jesse comes out of the stall in a heartbeat.

“Activate.” Gabriel is sure Sal is the one giving the order, but he hangs up without another world.

“Do it,” Gabriel tells Jesse and he nods before returning to the bomb that’s set on top of the toilet.

They walk out of the bathroom, side by side. Jesse bumps against him a few times, but Gabriel doesn’t say anything or pushes him away, he’s too busy pretending to browse on his phone. He shows the blank screen at Jesse, as if he found something funny on the internet. It takes Jesse a few seconds, but the younger man laughs.

Less than a minute passes when the bomb goes off. The floor quakes and a gush of wind blows behind them. Gabriel pulls Jesse closer to him and shields him from anything that might fly their way. Jesse clings tight to him as he keeps his head tucked under Gabriel’s chin.

Gabriel looks back and sees a few people on their knees and starting to freak out. In seconds, cops start to swarm past them where the explosion came from. Gabriel keeps a hold of Jesse as he pushes him back into a wall and pretends to check on him. Jesse seems to be doing a good job at acting shocked, which worries Gabriel.

“Jesse?” Gabriel asks him, while the cowboy’s brown eyes stare directly at him. “You’re fine, kid.” Gabriel softly pets his cheek and sees how Jesse start regaining life until he smiles.

“I’m fine.”

“You are,” Gabriel says as he looks back, still shielding Jesse. “Our gate was that way.” Gabriel comments and fake concerns.

“Does that mean our flight’s cancelled?” Jesse plays along.

“We’ll have to wait,” Gabriel answers as he steps back. “What could’ve happened?”

Both retrieved from the wall when a cop walks their way, escorting citizens down the hall, opposite to where the explosion took place. From their spot, Gabriel can see smoke and security huddled over people, checking on them.

His jaw clenches. That bomb went off sooner than it was meant to, he’s sure his counting was right. He looks at Jesse, who seems to just notice the people being attended and checked on. Gabriel doesn’t believe he did it on purpose. It wasn’t his job to set the timer, it was meant to be already when Jesse planted the bomb.

A long with the rest, they’re escorted out of the airport. People start crowding outside, waiting for answers. Gabriel keeps an eye on Jesse, making sure he’s near, but ever since the explosion, Gabriel notices Jesse is closer to him than before.

“Look,” Jesse pulls at his sleeve, thinking Gabriel isn’t looking at him.

When Gabriel looks at a group of people that have crowded around others in blue suits, he doesn’t have to think too much as to why when he recognizes the logo on their uniform. Overwatch. “They came after all,” Jesse says.

“Just hope our guys did their part,” Gabriel says as he looks at Jesse. “Let’s go back to the hotel,” he says louder. “We’ll have to wait until they make sure it’s safe.”

Jesse smirks at him, “I know how we can pass the time.”

Gabriel shoves him and starts walking towards the line of taxis. Even as he creates distance between him and Overwatch, he can still feel their presence, their glow and glory. It something familiar he wishes he could return to, but doesn’t look back.

--

Gabriel and Jesse go inside the Bunker as soon as the taxi drops them off. He could tell Jesse to go do his own thing, but also knows Mal should be arriving soon to report how it went and if they got the job done. He goes directly to the bar and uncaps two bottles of beer.

“Thanks,” Jesse says as he sits on a stool and both take a sip at the same time. “We did good, right?”

“I believe so,” Gabriel answers before licking his lips. “That caused as much as a distraction as it could.”

They aren’t alone for much longer. Mal comes in with Sal and the three guys he was with when he almost shot Jesse. It surprises him he hasn’t seen Lina in this since the assignment was given to them.

“You guys look alive,” Mal says and Gabriel’s gaze shift to the braided guy that had almost convinced Mal to not shoot Jesse. He’s giving a glance at the kid, checking if he’s okay.

“Won’t get rid of me that easy,” Jesse comments and Mal smirks and tilts his head.

“Don’t give me a reason to try, McCree.” Jesse looks back at his beer and drinks. “Anyways, we got the girls and they’re on their way to get the drugs out of them.”

Gabriel wants to say something, mention the bomb went off seconds too soon, ask about the girls, about Overwatch, but he doesn’t. He swallows his beer like McCree did, but Mal notices. “No questions, Nieves.”

Nieves shrugs casually, “Isn’t it in my contract not to ask too many questions?”

“Glad you’re still following it. Well, gentlemen, enjoy the rest of your day. Gotta get the Bunker open soon.” Mal turns and his guys follow him, the same guy gives a quick smile at Jesse before he follows last.

Gabriel also wants to ask about him, ask if he’s one of the few that treat Jesse like a person, but he also doesn’t ask that. Instead he locks the door so he can get the bar ready before opening it.

M c C r e e

Jesse takes the last few moments he has alone with Nieves to look at him, to forget the mission and just think of him. To remember how safe he felt close to the man’s chest, how his breath brushed his face and it was almost like when he stands on a rooftop of a building or billboard and he feels free. The explosion, and the chaos around them, how Javier pulled him close and shielded him from any harm was still fresh on his gut.

He wants to repay him, to be at Javier’s beck and call. To make him feel like Jesse felt: alive. When Nieves walks to the door of the bar, key in hand, Jesse hurries to his feet, and stands in his way. “Don’t you wanna rest before opening?” Jesse asks, as smooth as he can, causing Nieves to raise an eyebrow. “Get a load off.”

“No, I’ve lost enough time and money,” Javier answers quickly and pushes Jesse aside, but the cowboy steps back into his path.

“I wanna give you something.”

“You don’t have to—”

“I want to,” Jesse says as his hands brush Javier’s sides, feeling his muscles under the shirt. His mouth goes dry from just feeling how hard Javier’s body is under all that clothes. He finds the hem of the shirt and starts tugging it up but Javier grabs his wrists. Even if he’s restraining him, the grip is still gentle.

“What are you doing?” He can’t read Javier’s expression, but Jesse knows anger and Javier doesn’t look mad.

“I wanna repay you.”

“For what? We just did our job, McCree.” Javier steps back and lets Jesse’s hands fall to his side.

“And it was a success, don’t you wanna celebrate?” Jesse asks and Javier sighs.

“Not with you, kid,” he responds coldly and Jesse can feel his confidence fading. “I think you better leave and rest.” Javier walks past him and unlocks the door. He also opens it for Jesse. The cowboy turns and leaves without looking back.

He looks for Leo, the guy who didn’t want Mal to shoot him in the Bunker. Leo who’s a real friend to Jesse, one he can go for to eat in peace the few times he’s around or ask for extra money when he’s low. Leo who’s one of the few that treat him right when Jesse searches for affection, who actually gets Jesse to finish, and uses condoms and lube instead of saliva. Who prepares Jesse and ask if he’s ready before he penetrates him. Even someone who just lies with him when Jesse just wants a body to curl up to.

That’s what he wants. He wants Leo to feed him affection and attention, but he also wants to do it on his hands and knees today. To pretend it’s Javier taking him from behind. He knows he would be gentle, he just knows it.

Leo and Jesse hadn’t talk since the scene in the Bunker. He knows what Leo will say: he couldn’t intervene much, that’s how it is here. And Jesse is aware. Once both come, Leo lets Jesse stay in his apartment until his roommate comes, a normal citizen who knows nothing about Leo’s true identity.

R e y e s

Gabriel doesn’t see Jesse for the rest of the day or at night. He wonders if it was the rejection or the way he said it. Could’ve explained it better, but he thought Jesse would get why. It wasn’t because it was Jesse, as in the person. But because it wasn’t right.

He lets the thought go as soon as he sits down to check the footage the cameras caught during the day. Nothing big of interest, at least nothing he can or has to report to Jack with urgency. He listens and watches until he finds what he hopes: where are the girls they took from the airport. He comes across the scene of two girls and a guy talking about it. Apparently one of the girls had been involved in getting them.

“Horrible, one just lost it when she got into the van. I had to knock her out, at least made the others not try anything.” She has blonde short hair with green bangs, and looks proud.

“Was she the one that got killed?” The second girl with pink hair down to her waist asks.

The blonde shakes her head, “She got sold off to one of Devon’s contacts. The one that got killed tried to consume the drugs, so Anthony put her out of her misery.” The trio shares a laugh before the blonde continues, “They’re keeping them in Good Path Day Care until Mal thinks it’s clear to send them back for more. It’s obvious this group was the spare ones. One of them got a fever, probably won’t let her live if she becomes trouble.”

Gabriel calls Jack and goes through the events of the airport; lets him know he was the one to do it. Jack says nothing and Gabriel continues, telling him about where the girls are. “Good Path,” Gabriel repeats, reading a tab on his laptop. “It’s a daycare that closed a year ago.”

“What do you suggest we do? If we get them, they might know someone told us,” Jack says and Gabriel thinks.

“Obviously you can’t go as Overwatch or Blackwatch. We need to go as the people Mal expects.”

Jack sighs, “It won’t be easy. We don’t even know when Mal will give the signal.”

“I’ll see what I can find. I sent you the footage.” Excluding Jesse and Gabriel eating breakfast and sparring. He sees no point of making Jack look through those and waste time asking.

Jack hums and goes quiet. Gabriel believes he’s opening the e-mail and going through the clips. He can hear the trio talking about the girls in the background. “I can send someone to look at the place.”

“We can always do something that will cause them to leave. Get the girls while they move them,” Gabriel suggests.

“Better,” Jack responds and Gabriel hears the click stopping. “I think we can handle that over here. We can’t risk you losing track of the rest. I’ll let you know what comes up.”

“Agree, I’ll keep my communication to a minimum, but you can contact me if it’s an emergency.”

“Understood, are you alright? Do you need anything?” Jack asks, shifting to his friend persona.

“So far, I’m good, I’ll let you know, Jack.”

There’s a pause before Jack responds, “okay, then. Don’t become a stranger.”

“Don’t work too hard,” Gabriel adds and Jack laughs.

“I won’t make a promise I can’t keep.”

---

It doesn’t surprise Gabriel when Jesse doesn’t come by the next morning. He didn’t bother making him breakfast beforehand, having a hunch already that the kid will dismiss the training. Gabriel continues his morning routine, gets ready and sets the bar up before opening, and dives into work. Dealing with Jesse would have to wait.  Few Deadlock members congratulate him for what he did, two of them were a part of the group that were sent to pick up the girls. Gabriel now notices the girl with pink hair and the blonde with green bangs. He walks near them, see what he can pick up from their conversations, but nothing of interests reaches his ears.

Lina is there for a while before she leaves. And Jesse also comes around later in the day. He slips in without wanting to be seen by Gabriel, but he notices the kid camouflaging in the crowd and stepping into conversations. He doesn’t order anything nor approaches Gabriel the whole time he’s there. It’s like he wants to be there without being seen, or wants Gabriel to see him, to remind him of what he did. Gabriel doesn’t think much of it as he continues his job. He doesn’t notice if Jesse leaves or not, until Lina returns later at night before the bar closes. Jesse walks behind her, shoulders down and hat covering his face. His posture does surprise Gabriel, he thought the cowboy would be over his rejection by now.

“Two whiskeys,” Lina orders as she sits on a stool and Jesse beside her. He looks up at Gabriel and he can read the kid’s expression. He looks angry, but also confused.

Gabriel gets the drinks and hands them one each. Lina drinks quickly, while Jesse takes his time. “I need a favor,” Lina says after the first long gulp.

“You do?” Gabriel smirks.

“I need you to take us to where Chase died,” she blurts out without a joke or even a smirk.

“Why?”

“Xia will be there, mourning her Romeo’s death. She such a dramatic,” Lina explains as she rolls her eyes. “I spent the day with McCree getting us a car she won’t recognize as one of our own, just in case.”

Gabriel looks at McCree who lowers his gaze when they meet. “Why can’t he take you?”

“Of course she will recognize him, and me. Not you. McCree told me you didn’t even get close to her, and the window of Chase’s car were too dark to see you.”

Gabriel knew these answers, but Javier would be slower to figure it out. “Why not walk? It’ll surprise her.”

“We need a way out, Nieves, in case she’s not alone,” Lina sounds annoyed and Gabriel thinks it’s good, can’t have her always liking him.

“You wanna kill her?”

“Not really, just give her a message.”

“Why not take Mal or someone else?” Obvious answer, but Gabriel still asks.

She sighs, “She knows every fiber of Mal’s being by now and even if I take someone from Deadlock he won’t recognize, they will tell on me, thinking it’ll win them points with Mal if he finds out his girl is being naughty. You won’t.”

“What makes you think that?” Gabriel crosses his arms.

“You helped this one out, I’m sure you can do me this little favor since I got you the job,” Lina answers before she leans forward and smirks. “Or is he that good at keeping you quiet in the streets, but loud in the sheets?”

“Fuck off,” McCree mumbles as he looks away.

Lina sits back down with a proud smile, “Just teasing. You gonna help me or not?”

Gabriel diverts his eyes from Jesse to look at Lina. “What if Mal finds out?”

“He won’t. If he does, I’ll come up with something. Trust me, what I’m doing won’t be as bad as what McCree did.”

Gabriel looks back at McCree when he shifts uncomfortably on the stool. “Fine,” he says just to end it. He notices Jesse looks back at him with a bit more light in his eyes. He doesn’t know if it’s good or bad.

“Great, I’ll be back in an hour or so.” She pays for both drinks and hops off before turning her gaze at McCree. “Don’t go too far.”

“I’ll be right here, ma’am,” McCree says, cheerful compared to how he had sounded before, but still slouching.

Gabriel doesn’t get a chance to talk to him before someone calls for another drink. Then he continues to finish off the remaining customers. The bar becomes quiet enough that the jingle of Jesse’s spurs become clearer. The cowboy ticks them against one of the legs of the stool while he plays with a toothpick he must’ve grabbed during the hour. When Gabriel looks around, there’s the usual chores he needs to take care of, like cleaning the tables, putting the chairs up, and picking up a few empty bottles and glasses. He looks at Jesse’s back, shoulders hunched and head low. If the kid wants to be mad at him, fine, he shouldn’t care, really. Gabriel’s doing enough for him already, he wouldn’t be on his way out again, to deal with another gang, if it wasn’t for Jesse.

He decides to clean the bar instead. He doesn’t do much before Lina barges in. “Let’s go!”

He hears the stool grasping on the floor as Jesse gets off and bumps into Gabriel. They meet the other’s eyes before Jesse walks past him and Gabriel follows. The car Lina and Jesse got is nothing special, nor something that’s falling to pieces. It’s average with dark color and tinted windows, lighter than Chase’s. Gabriel gets in the wheel and Lina takes the back, probably to be seen less. Jesse hesitates, but also ends up going in the back. Gabriel thinks it’s probably the best. If both are recognized, Xia will bolt or call for backup.

They don’t speak, and Gabriel isn’t sure, but he does when they’re approaching the bus stop where Chase’s car crashed, “What’s the plan?”

“Just drop me off, I only wanna talk to her,” Lina answers and Gabriel hears shuffling. Gabriel looks to the rearview mirror and catches a blink of something silver and shiny before it disappears.

“I’ll leave the car running in case we need to get out of here,” Gabriel says as they turn to the street.

“I knew it,” Lina says as she leans over. Ahead, on the still broken bus stop, a girl sits with a flower in hand and her head low. “Like a cover for a sappy book, don’t you think?”

“Need me to go with you?” Jesse asks.

“No, I’ll signal you if I need help, doubt it though.” Gabriel stops the car a little closer, but Xia till doesn’t pay attention. Lina gets down and slams the door, getting the other girl’s attention.

Xia gets on her feet, the flower drops and she pulls out a gun, but Lina punches her in the face. Jesse lets out an ‘uh!’ while Gabriel watches Lina kick Xia on the side of the knee, getting her to kneel on it. Lina lowers and grabs at Xia’s hair as she says something to her. The light from the lamppost nearby allows Gabriel to see Xia’s eyes widening bigger the more Lina spoke.

“Is she cursing her to death or something?” Jesse mumbles, but Gabriel doesn’t answer, not sure if the kid really wants an answer.

Lina pushes Xia away to the floor and they look at each other very intensively before Xia gets on her feet. She nods to Lina to follow. Gabriel unlocks the car as the girls disappear into an alley a few feet ahead, but doesn’t move beyond that. He hears Jesse shifting on his seat and when he looks, the kid had moved closer. Their eyes met for a second before the bartender looks back at the alley. Something in the reviewer mirror catches his attention; two figures walking their way. They look like normal citizens, two guys walking during the night. When one pulls the other for a kiss, Gabe decides to look away. He hears Jesse moving again, probably to look back before the cowboy shouts, “Get down!” Jesse dives forward, across Gabriel’s lap and pulls him down. A bullet fires and brushes the headset of the seat and goes through the front window. Jesse slides into the passenger seat and Gabriel can’t tell when he pulled his gun out, but he’s already aiming at their attackers.

Gabriel stays low, without a weapon, he’s useless. Besides, it’s only two targets and he’s sure Jesse can take them. That is until a third guy breaks the window by Jesse’s side and wraps an arm around the kid’s neck. The guy’s around Gabriel’s size, and he doubt his hold on Jesse is gentle. The cowboy’s eyes look like they’re about to pop up as he claws at the guy’s arm with one hand, while the other still holds on to his gun.

“Jesse!” Gabriel calls, reaching his hand at the cowboy. Luckily, Jesse understands and gives him his gun. Gabe moves closer and shoots the guy’s head. He looks back and sees one guy, covering a gun wound on his shoulder, walking towards them. He assumes the other one’s either dead or in worse condition. Before they get too close, Xia whistle and the man stops. Gabriel looks back at the girls, Lina doesn’t look surprise, but her gun is aiming at the guy about to attack them.

“Let’s go!” Gabriel hears Xia call. The guy goes back to pick up his friend, who’s hand covers over one of his hips. Both, along with Xia, walk away.

Lina walks around the car and looks at the corpse, “Tsk, tsk. Believe it or not I wasn’t expecting someone to die, thanks, McCree.”

“It was me,” Gabriel waves the six-shooter in his hand before he gives it back to McCree. “He had McCree by the neck.”

Lina shrugs, “we heard the shots. Wouldn’t have gotten a chance to kill him.”

Gabriel frowns, “As far as we know, you could’ve been dead by then.”

“True,” Lina looks down at the body again. “Go on ahead. I’ll take care of this one.”

“We can wait for you,” Gabriel offers, mostly an empty gesture since he really wishes to leave the scene as quick as possible.

“Nah, go on. I have no doubt someone called the cops by now.” Lina slaps the car door two times before stepping back and Gabriel settles back. He thinks about asking what this whole thing was about, but decides to do it some other time. He puts the car in drive and starts slowly. When Lina doesn’t stop them, he drives faster.

The radio plays low in the background of the car noises. After a minute, Jesse decides to sit more comfortably and buckle up.

“Thanks,” Gabriel says after too much silence and knowing it needs to be said.

“No prob,” Jesse responds, looking away.

“Stop pouting, kid. Why do you think I turned you down?”

Jesse scoffs, “Because you see me as a kid.”

“You aren’t exactly one, you're a teen. Which is one of the reasons.”

“Yer aware I’ve done it already, with people probably older than you, Nieves.”

“I’m not gonna tell you who to do it with, that’s your life, but I’m not one of them.”

“Even if I want to?”

“You wanted to repay me—” Gabriel corrects but Jesse interrupts.

“I wanted.”

“Still, kid—”

“Don’t call me that,” Jesse says with clenched teeth.

“Point is I won’t. Get it through your head already.”

Jesse slouches back into the chair with his arms crossed and hat low. They fall back into silence and Gabriel picks up speed, needing to be alone again. Needing Jesse to be away for a while. He gets his wish when he stops at a red light and the kid decides to get off.

“The hell are you doing?” Gabriel calls after.

“Gettin’ it through my head,” Jesse answers, but doesn’t look back.

Gabriel can’t find it in himself to stop him. The light turns green and he sighs as he drives away. They aren’t that far from the Bunker, he’s sure Jesse can make it back to wherever he’s staying. Gabriel takes a detour as he parks on an empty street where there’s a 24 hours mini market around the corner. He buys cleaning wipes and goes back to the car. He cleans away any evidence they could’ve left in the car from the back seats to the front, and leaves it there as he walks to the Bunker.

M c C r e e

Jesse sits at the couch of the room he’s sharing with Angelica for the night. Albert, who he usually shares rooms with, is out of town for the night. Angelica is one of the few kind souls that offered to give him a couch to sleep in. He holds Peacekeeper in his hands, swears he can still feel Javier’s hold on it. Back in the car, it felt as if the man had been holding it over his own hand when he shot. He has never trusted anyone to hold Peacekeeper before, less to shoot with it. It felt right at the moment, he knew Javier wasn’t trying to grab him, but the gun. It was the best way to handle the situation. The guy that had attacked Jesse was twice his size, his grip was draining the life out of him in seconds and his vision was starting to darken. It all stopped so quickly once Nieves got a hold of Peacekeeper.

There’s something in the bartender that keeps Jesse’s attention on him. He’s aware it’s possible it’s a crush, something silly to pass time and have something interesting to follow. But the rejection bothered him way too much; he’s gotta be careful. It should be enough to make Jesse stop chasing after him, but it doesn’t. It only makes him crave more of the bartender’s attention. To win his praise, to keep him near in case another job goes south. If he stays by Javier’s side, he can probably make it out of here alive.

Chapter Text

R e y e s

Three days later, Gabriel finds himself in the same gas station he met Mal. Looks just as damaged as when they were last here. Sal passed by the Bunker to pick up McCree and him at five in the afternoon. The day before Mal had dragged McCree closer and given them another mission. He and Jesse had hardly shared words before that, and he didn’t try to reach out to him. It was best if Jesse kept his distance from now on. Better for everyone when Gabriel’s job was done with Deadlock.

After the little mishap in the airport, Gabriel can’t help wondering if this is Mal’s plan now. Send both of them on missions until they fail and he has an excuse to execute them in the middle of nowhere. Even if Jesse wasn’t speaking to Gabriel, that didn’t stop the cowboy from sitting close to him. Their knees touched most of the ride even if Gabriel tried to move it away. He could see Jesse from the corner of his eye, the cowboy would look at him too often. It made Gabriel unease. He seems to have become Jesse’s bodyguard. More like Jesse expects him to be his guardian angel, and he doesn’t know if he’ll always be able to fill that spot. Especially when the time comes and he has to part ways with the cowboy.

They wait with Sal by the car while Jesse busies himself kicking pebbles from the ground. He kicks a few to Gabriel’s direction until Gabriel finally decides to kick a couple back, allowing him a few seconds of fun before his nerves kick in. It doesn’t last long. He sees Jesse’s body tensing when another car stops near and Mal gets down.

“My new favorite duo,” Mal says too loud. Gabriel feels like is more of a mock than a praise. “Don’t look so scared, McCree. You’ll be shooting someone.”

Gabriel looks at Jesse, sees how the cowboy starts to relax and his hand ghosts over his six-shooter by his hip. “About time.”

Mal smirks and Gabriel feels the shift in the air. “Yeah, but not with that old thing.” Mal waves Jesse off as he walks towards the trunk of the car. Gabriel is the first one to follow and Jesse is shortly behind him. When Mal opens the trunk, Gabriel’s eyes widen to the black, slick and beautiful sniper rifle laid on an opened case. This one looks lighter than Ana’s, maybe faster and quieter. He can’t even imagine what she would be able to do with this baby in her hands. Even more, he can’t wait to find out how Deadlock got their hands on it.

“You want me to shoot with that?” Jesse’s trembling voice gets Gabriel’s attention on him. “I can’t. You know I’m not good with other weapons, especially in such short notice.”

Gabriel raises an eyebrow at him. “You shot well during the car chase.”

“Well?!” Mal scoffs as he walks towards McCree and pulls him closer, as if they were best buddies. “This kid here, Nieves, is our sharpshooter. Our secret weapon.” Mal shakes the scrawny cowboy by the shoulder.

“I’m not a kid,” Jesse says, eyebrows meeting in the center.

Gabriel lets out a snort, “How can he be your sharpshooter without knowing how to use other guns?”

“You saw him right? This guy can shot six people almost in one go. Never misses. We don’t know how he does it, but he just does. Six headshots, six bodies out of our way. But he’s right.” Mal’s glee disappears as he steps in front of Jesse like an angry wolf. “He’s too afraid to pull the trigger on anything else. Which makes me wonder why he’s still here in the first place.” Gabriel can hardly see Jesse when Mal steps closer.

That’s when he decides to intervene. Mal wants Jesse to fail while using the sniper. And Gabriel won’t allow it. “Impossible,” Gabriel says as he shakes his head and Mal turns towards him. “Where did you learn that lil’ trick?”

“Is not a trick, its a gift,” Jesse almost growls at him. “It just happens. When you grow up watching over your shoulder, you gotta be quick, act quicker. No time to hesitate or think.”

Gabriel chews on his bottom lip and shakes his head one more time. He needs Jesse to relax now. “This I gotta see.”

Mal curls his lips and nods as he walks around the gas station. Sal, Gabriel and Jesse look at him as the criminal starts collecting empty beer cans he finds around the abandoned station. Next thing he knows, they’re lined up on the road, facing Mal. This is like he has seen in movies, where empty cans are put on a fence and someone shoots them to prove their aim. Except this time, the empty beer can is on top of Mal’s head, who’s standing quite calm while Jesse prepares himself ten feet away. Gabriel is by his side.

Jesse stretches his hand, his gun on hold and shoots. The can flies out of Mal’s head, who doesn’t even flinch. Jesse looks over his shoulder at Gabriel, with a smirk on his lips as the rim of his hat shadowing his eyes.

“Seen better,” Gabriel shrugs.

Jesse laughs, “Of course, like you would actually admit when I do something cool.” Gabriel can feel Jesse’s eyes on him as he makes his way towards Mal. By his side, there’s a pile of empty beer cans. Gabriel picks up six and turns to Jesse. He’s not surprise to catch him staring below his waist.

“My eyes are up here, cowboy,” Gabriel calls and Jesse tenses.

“I wasn’t—”

Gabriel launches one can after the other. They go up in the air, high and Jesse steps back. There are five shots and while he tries to reload, the sixth can falls untouched.

“Missed one,” Gabriel smirks as he cocks his head and walks back towards Jesse.

“I had to reload!” Jesse tries to defend.

“The time it took for that can to touch the ground, you would be dead.” Gabe realizes too late the words that come out of his mouth belong to Commander Reyes, not Javier Nieves.

Jesse seems to be speechless and he wishes the kid would stop staring into his eyes like they hold holy light, especially when his life is at stake. Gabriel sighs when his phone vibrates in his pocket and he decides to take at least look at it. He reads ‘Jake’ on the screen. He thinks about answering, he told Jack and Ana to only reach him to this decoy phone if it was an emergency. He decides to take the call, it can also work as a distraction for the current situation.

“Mi amor,” he greets Morrison on the other line and is fully aware of how quickly Jesse snaps out of his trance.

Jack goes silent for a moment before he catches up, “I know you’re busy, but I really miss you and need you home.”

“I miss you too,” he smiles and turns around, knowing Jesse is listening. “But I can’t get away, the bar’s full. It might be a long shift today as well. We can video chat after or in the morning.”

Jack sighs and thinks his words over, probably thinking how he can say he needs Gabriel for a mission. “I’m looking forward to it, but I really need you back home. I some rats got away from me, and I need to find the nest. I need your help.”

“Aw, is my boy scare of a few rats?” Gabriel teases.

On the other line, Jack sighs again and Gabriel knows he rubs his face, but he can also hear him chuckling. “The nest might be big.”

“Just take Rein, I’m sure one of his growls will scare them off.”

Jack is quiet for a few seconds, “Fine. Take care. I’ll be waiting for our chat.”

“Wait up for me, cariño. It’ll be worth it.”

“Please,” Jack mumbles.

“Bye, mi amor.” Gabriel hangs up and faces Jesse and Mal.

“Loverboy, huh?” Mal speaks. “Looks like you gonna lose that bet, McCree.” Mal elbows Jesse and Gabriel’s brow furrows at the duo.

“Bet?”

“Nothing!” Jesse quickly says, his cheeks red in embarrassment.

“Don’t you have a bet with a few others to see who can get into his pants first?” Mal grins, knowing well this is a bad spot for McCree and he loves it.

 “It was a joke.” Jesse still laughs, but Gabriel can tell he’s nervous, which isn’t what Gabriel wanted.

“Who’s our target, Mal?” Gabriel asks, taking the heat off Jesse.

Mal snaps his fingers at Sal, who takes out his phone and starts searching through it. Then he shows the screen at Gabriel and Jesse.

“Milo Ecker,” Mal says.

The guy in the picture seems to be in his fifties, with streaks of white highlighting his hair and well dressed in a gray suit. “He’s the leader of Backbones, a gang in Cincinnati. They’re going to pick up weapons that were left for them in a warehouse. There’s a bounty for him and we’re gonna claim it. Along with his gang. Once he falls, they will follow us.” Mal approaches Jesse, with a finger in the air, ready to poke his chest. “Don’t fuck it up.”

M c C r e e

Jesse’s eyes have lost focus on everything that surround him. He can only look at the sniper rifle set on the ground, aiming at the warehouse below the hill he they had set up. He doesn’t notice the sky changing colors until a soft, heavy hand sets on his shoulder. He doesn’t flinch or startles. He knows who that hand belongs to and it’s the only person he’s happy to be with at the moment.

“Look,” Nieves says.

When Jesse looks at Javier, the older man is admiring the twinkling stars above them. Jesse looks up, starts counting and loses his way after ten from how many clog his view. He breathes in the fresh air and releases part of the stress away.

“I love the desert for this,” Jesse says. “The quiet.”

“Yet you never stop talking,” Nieves says and Jesse can’t help chuckling.

“I know, but once it’s just me and the stars, I’m alone in this world. There’s no one to impress. No one to bark orders at me. Sometime I vision myself shooting at the stars and watching the stardust raining down on me.” Jesse chuckles again and lowers his head, feeling embarrassed he said that to Nieves, of all people.

The quiet returns and he appreciates Nieves for it. He appreciates the older man for a lot of things. For the security he gives Jesse, for the steady ground and the guiding voice. These past 3 days have been slow for Jesse. There’s no thrill like it used to be. There’s something missing on his days. A color not settling right when it dawns. A voice missing from the melody of gunshots and chaos. He missed Javier. “I didn’t know you had a boyfriend,” he comments and Javier looks at him with an eyebrow raised. “At least, that’s what it sounded like.”

“It’s… it’s not complicated. We just don’t see ourselves often. We’re kinda on and off,” Javier explains. “Besides, no one has ever asked and I thought it was best to keep him quiet.”

“Shouldn’t’ve taken that call then,” Jesse shakes his head as he looks up again. “Mal won’t hesitate to find out more if you cross the line.”

“I only cross the line because you make me,” Javier answers as he laughs.

Jesse scoffs, “Is not like I put Peacekeeper against yer head.”

“No, but I don’t think it’s fair to leave you by yourself.”

Jesse lowers his head and doesn’t speak so soon. He lets the wind whisper in his ears. He kicks dirt away that creates a cloud. He wishes the ground would swallow him. He looks at the horizon, wishes he could run. Maybe he can. He’s sure Javier won’t do anything. Not even beg him to stay.

He looks at the man, who’s admiring the sky again. “It’s okay if I go tomorrow mornin’ and continue our lessons?”

Nieves looks directly at his eyes again, he can see half of the sky reflected in the green pearls as he answers, “Sure.”

Jesse gives him a smile and Javier returns it before both look back at the sky. He takes a deep breath and feels steady. Until he spots the sniper riffle and his hands start shaking again. He looks back at Javier and he doesn’t doubt the man will get him out of this alive. “It’s time, vaquero.”

Those words sooth Jesse more than he thought they would. Enough to get him to lie down on his stomach and hold on to the riffle. His lips go dry and he licks them before looking through the scope. He feels Nieves lying beside him and crawling closer, enough for the warmth radiating from his body to brush Jesse.

Jesse hands start shaking and he sees the red cross trembling away from Milo Ecker’s head as he stands almost still, inspecting the weapons that were left for him. Nieves’ hand softly covers his over the trigger and helps the riffle go steady.

“Breathe, Jesse,” Nieves says and McCree obeys.

He does it again but when he exhales, he turns his head to look at Nieves. The man’s face is too close to his and Jesse’s breath catches in his throat. The world is silent again, and it’s just the two of them under a rain of stardust.

“Don’t look at me,” Nieves growls and is not a good way to get the sharpshooter to focus.

Jesse takes another deep breath and tries his best to focus this time. He gets the red cross over Ecker’s head and he knows it’s a clear shot. He can already picture the man’s body collapsing and the blood painting the floor. He can picture Nieves’ proud smile and his eyes bright green under the night.

He’s about to pull the trigger when a foot kicks him on the side of his head. The sniper rifle stumbles forward and his body bumps with Nieves’. When Jesse opens his eyes, a man in a dark suit is looking down at both of them.

“Stay down,” Javier hisses before he gets on his feet and confronts the man. Jesse follows his order as he watches both fall into a brawl. The man swings a fist at Nieves, who dodges and punches the man into the chin before kicking his stomach. The man falls to the ground, but then Jesse hears footsteps and a second man lounges at Nieves. Jesse pulls out Peacekeeper and has a clear shot, but if he fires, they will be discovered.

He scrambles to his feet and decides to his gun as another type of weapon and hits one of the men on the face with the handle. The man growls at him and punches the cowboy two consecutive times before Nieves pushes Jesse out of the way and his fist connects with the man’s gut. Jesse watches, and even if Nieves seems on top of things, he wants to help. Nieves fights dirty, but there’s still calculations in it. He goes on like he holds the strength of twenty men and isn’t down for long.

But he gets caught by one of the men and he is displayed for the other to do as he pleases. It reminds Jesse of that time he was on display for Mal to shoot. And if it wasn’t for Javier, he probably would be dead. Jesse rushes and kicks the man holding Nieves between his legs. When the man lets the bartender go, Jesse jumps on him and bites his ear. The man barely screams, Jesse thinks he doesn’t want their dear boss to know something’s wrong, for him not to worry, which is good for them if no one else hears them.

While Jesse bites and chokes the man, Nieves manages to take down the second. Jesse tastes blood on his mouth and the man bumps his head against his, causing him to fall back. It isn’t long before Nieves is on him and Jesse watches through the pain in his head. Once the guy finally falls down, Nieves calls. “Jesse, Ecker is leaving!”

Jesse turns at the warehouse and sees the man surrounded by his guards walking towards his vehicle.

Both Jesse and Javier fall on their knees and grab the sniper rifle. Nieves hands it to Jesse, and then covers the younger man’s hands with his to help him aim. Jesse’s finger curls around the trigger while Javier’s hand wraps around his wrist, keeping his pulse steady.

“Breathe,” Nieves reminds him.

Jesse inhales the cold breeze, along with Nieves’ scent and pulls the trigger.

The vibration of the riffle crawls onto Jesse until it reaches his bones. He sees when Ecker’s eyes go blank and he falls to the ground after the bullet pierces his head. Jesse falls back and drops the weapon on his lap. Even if he was breathing, he truly feels like the air around him got cleaned after he took the shot.

Javier’s chest bumps against the back of Jesse’s head as he laughs. Jesse looks up, to the older man who practically held him through it all, and the bright smile on his face. Suddenly, Jesse thinks the bullet returned and hit him in the chest instead of Ecker’s head.

Javier looks down at him, still smiling, and messes his hair, “Good job, kid.”

--

As soon as Jesse leaves the motel he’s staying at with Felix these days early in the morning, Deadlock members congratulate him. Ecker fell, Deadlock takes the reward and recognition along with it, and new allies. Some tell him what all of them are thinking, they didn’t think he would do it, knowing how bad he is using a sniper rifle, but he did it. Jesse takes the whole credit, thinking Nieves won’t mind. A lot knew he was there, but when asked if he helped, Jesse says he didn’t. Just took watch. Jesse feels it in his gut, the appreciation and compliments stroke his ego and he reaches the Bunker with a wide grin.

When Javier sees him, he smiles back and asks, “Slept well?”

“No, but woke up feeling great.” Jesse smells the stack of pancakes in one of the tables along with a cup of butter and a bottle of syrup. His mouth starts drooling and he almost forgets his next words.

“Dig in,” Javier says as he sits down and takes pancakes from the stack to his plate. He takes four, while Jesse piles six. Still four remain.

The cowboy spills syrup all over and quickly cuts into them. He hums to the flavor, the softness and the stickiness of the maple. “People think I’m great today.”

“Yeah?” Javier asks before drinking from his orange juice.

Jesse nods and stuffs a big piece of pancake in his mouth. “With Ecker down, we practically have Backbones on our side plus the rewards.” He uses a finger to wipe syrup from the corner of his lips and licks it off it. “Hope you don’t mind I take the credit.”

Javier waves him off, “I want to stay off Devon’s radar.”

“Good, I get the glory.”

They finish with Jesse doing most of the talking and continue to do the usual sweep to the bar before starting their lessons. Since it’s only the second time Jesse does this, he’s still weak against Javier. But he knows he’ll be able to pin him down one day. For now he will enjoy the closeness, the time alone and the privilege of his attention.

Before Javier opens the bar, Jesse challenges him to an arm wrestling match. This time, the bartender doesn’t give him a chance. As soon as he says “three,” he pins his skinny arm to the table like he has done before. Even if they keep doing this and he keeps losing, the smirk on Javier’s lips works as a cancelation prize.

R e y e s

It seemed that Deadlock was indeed glad about taking down Ecker. More members than usual started coming as soon as he opened the bar, wanting to celebrate the occasion. A few complimented Nieves, since he was there when it happened. They asked if it had been his first time being a part of a man’s murder, and he said no—after all, no one seems to know he killed a Broken Bones member. Someone asked if he felt regret, and he said a little bit, but after knowing how much the kill meant, it all faded. They cheered or laughed at this as they clunk their glasses together and drank to Nieves and McCree, who had spent the whole day at the Bunker as well, being surrounded by more gang mates than usual. Even Devon was around, he approached the bar and Gabriel.

“Give me something good, Nieves,” his raspy voice demanded. “Surprise me.”

Gabriel saw it in his eyes, this was a test, a small one. He made him a drink and also bothered to do his tricks, better than ever, without breaking eye contact. Devon seemed amused at this and admired the colorful drink in front of him. When he tasted it, he nodded.

“Well, I can trust you with liquor,” he commented before standing up and taking his drink with him. Gabriel wasn’t going to bother asking for payment.

He looked over the crowd and saw Jesse, surrounded by other members, but his eyes were on him. Both nodded at each other and he saw the boy relax into the conversation again. 

Once Gabriel is up on his apartment, he access the video footage the cameras caught and makes dinner while all the files download. When he sits down to eat, he puts on headphones and starts going through them. He sees himself and Jesse eating breakfast and working on defense moves. He fast forwards until customers fill the place, including his encounter with Devon. He zooms in on a few acts he finds suspicious, one turns out a guy giving a girl money and the girl handing him a bottle of pills. Another is one girl teasing another girl under the table between her legs, which he zooms out of quickly. He captures the moment a guy finds out his girl is cheating on him and his friend says after he looks too worked up, “Aren’t you cheating on her with me?” It causes Gabriel to chuckle before continuing.

He changes to the camera on the couch, where Jesse was earlier in the day. A man sits by his side and talks to him about going somewhere else. Gabriel changes cameras and gets a better view. The man seems to be forcing something on Jesse, wanting to get closer. Jesse shifts uncomfortably and Gabe notices he’s looking at the bar, at him, but Gabriel was too busy working. In the end, the guy gets Jesse out of the bar and they return five minutes later. Jesse’s head bowed in shame. And Gabriel can’t even recall seeing him leave and return.

He ignores that, pretends it never happened since nothing can be done now, and trying to get Jesse to talk about it when the kid was sure Gabriel didn’t notice won’t go well. Another scene captures his attention. Two guys talk in a table in a corner, one of them holds a gold pin in his fist, for only the other guy to see. Gabriel pauses it and zooms in. The pin is a pitchfork in a golden circle. He plays the video again and listens to the conversation.

“Are you crazy?! Put that away!” The guy with red hair shoves the pin out of sight.

“No one is paying us attention, chill,” the other guy, long and black with red highlights, says as he admires the little thing.

After a few seconds, the redhead asks, “Are you going to?”

Black hair scoffs, “Of course. I already passed the training task. Got more than this lot ever gave me on my first mission.”

“You know they did it to win you over,” Redhead hisses. “Devil’s Scorn will do anything to leave Devon without members, especially now we got Backbones.”

“Doesn’t it sound crazy Devon just let these guys run with us?”

“You aren’t the first to think like that, but Albert said they already blew a guy’s brains out for getting on Devon’s face and slit a girl’s throat for trying to contact their allies for back-up. Devon will surely kill off those that he thinks aren’t trustworthy, or anyone he wants, more likely.”

“That will leave us with no Backbones at all, then. What was the point of killing Ecker?”

“It made a change, more people know us now. And how are you going to get rid of Devon and Deadlock?”

Black hair smirks and says nothing, Gabriel picks up before Redhead does.

“You’re going to spy on us?”

“Exactly.”

“W-why are you telling me then?”

“I had a task to recruit someone, it’ll give me advantage points if I do. I quickly thought of you. We’ve been through a lot together, I know I can count on you, Randy.”

Randy is quiet, “I don’t know.”

“I’ll give you until tomorrow, but if you answer now, you gotta swear you won’t say anything. Remember, I know where your brother lives.”

Randy frowns at him, “You bastard.”

Gabriel saves that clip, this could be useful information. At least he got out of it another gang’s name, one that looks like a threat to Deadlock. He saves a few other clips of members talking about missions, executions, news and even info of themselves. He feels his phone vibrating on the table and picks it up as he takes off one of the headphones.

“Hey, amor,” he teases and Jack laughs on the other side.

“My love,” Jack answers in a dreamy voice. “What are you wearing?”

“Nothing,” Gabriel says, knowing the question was asked to know if he’s alone or not.

“How big is that mirror behind the bar?” Jack asks.

Gabriel tries to recall the steps he gives while he sees himself in the mirror, “About nine feet long, maybe four or five tall. Still not big enough to see your big head.”

Jack hums in amusement before he says, “We got the prototype for a system that works as a mirror and it will scan and search all the people reflected on it through face recognition. The profiles will be sent right to a device of your choosing. Thought of it when I saw it in the clips you sent me.”

“Does it work?”

“So far, yes. We put it on the main door on Gibraltar and no one can tell what it is either. We just need to send it to you, but it won’t be easy. Are you sure the bar is completely empty at a certain hour? We could deliver it to you, but it might raise questioning as to why a new mirror.”

“I’ll take care of that and let you know. How soon can you send me one?”

“Three days, I can put the order as soon as I have the measurements.”

“I’ll send them to you,” Gabriel says as he stands up.

“Okay, talk later,” Jack says before he hangs up.

Gabriel heads down and measuring the mirror, it was close to what he had thought, and messages the measurements to Jack. It takes a few minutes for him to get a confirmation text along with a copy of the order. Jack adds that he’ll figure out what they’ll do later and that’s the last they speak. Gabriel looks at himself in the mirror as he wraps a hand towel around his knuckles, and breaks the glass himself.

M c C r e e

Once Jesse reaches the cheap motel room, he regrets leaving the bar. The soothing setting is gone and there is no warmth, only a stiff, cold couch for him to lay while Felix and a girl he picked up at the bar rock the only bed in the next room. He curls on his side with his face against the backrest of the couch and tries to mute the noise. His thoughts go to Javier and his voice; he finds it annoying how he thinks he can order Jesse to do anything, but at the same time it makes Jesse stand on his feet and actually want to do it. He also wishes to fight back against the man, not submit so easily. A smile forms on his lips when he remembers Nieves calling him ‘vaquero’, how the word sounds so smoothly on his tongue and it only makes him wonder many things about Nieves. How soft his tongue actually is, and how his lips would taste. He remembers his strong arms around Jesse when he shielded him from the bomb or when they killed Ecker. His voice saying things in his ear and his fingers tussling Jesse’s hair. He shivers and his stomach tickles, and he curses because it gets worse to sleep. Because he told himself he was gonna be careful.

He tries not to think of Edgar, a guy that went to Jesse today and took him to the taco shop to have a quick fuck in the bathroom. He gave his back to Edgar as well, thinking of Javier made it better, didn’t even want to finish himself, just wanted to return to the Bunker. He wants to be surrounded by Nieves and things that remind him of the bartender right now. Bottles of antique beer, beautiful cocktails, the smell of liquor and the color of mahogany. He wants to wake up and see him every morning, making him the delicious breakfast he makes for Jesse. He wants to look into his emerald eyes before facing the world and hear his name from Javier’s mouth. The cowboy has it bad.

It’s 3am when Jesse sneaks back into the bar. Unable to find sleep with the noises Felix and his one night stand are making. He lock picks the door and goes to the second one that leads to Javier’s apartment and knocks as loud as he can. He waits before trying again, but doesn’t hear anything. Nieves is probably asleep already, but Jesse still tries, louder. He’s not sure what he expects, maybe Javier will take pity on him and let him sleep on his couch. Tonight, it’s all Jesse wants. He thinks about pick locking this door too, but it’ll probably get Javier mad and kick him out. Instead he crawls into the couch and falls fast asleep, facing the door that leads to Nieves’ apartment.

“McCree,” a soft voice wakes him a few hours later with a hand shaking him lightly. “Kid.”

His eyelids flutter and his vision is blurry, but he can picture Javier over him clearly. “I ain’t a kid,” he mumbles.

“Did you ever leave?” Nieves asks, stepping back.

“Yeah,” Jesse yawns and stretches. “Couldn’t sleep, s’I came back. Thought botherin’ ya would help, but I didn’t realize how late it was.” He sits with a groggy look on his face and his locks of hair toss everywhere.

“Well, you’ll enjoy your scramble eggs with toast and bacon right out of the stove then.” The smell reaches Jesse’s nose before Javier finishes, and he’s up on his feet to where the plates are.

“You know, I think you just wanna fatten me up to use me on a cocktail or somethin’,” Jesse jokes as he sits.

“Am I that obvious?” Javier sits on the chair next to him and both start eating.

“Nah, I’m just smart. I figure out people’s true motives fairly quick.”

“Well, Sherlock, I assure you I am not feeding you human remains, nor to turn you into a cocktail.”

That’s when Jesse realizes the mirror behind the bar is shattered, seemed he didn’t noticed when it was darker. “What happened there?”

Javier looks back, “Oh, tried a new trick and threw the bottle harder than meant to.”

Jesse laughs, “Wish I had seen that.” He doesn’t mention he knocked almost ten times on the door, doesn’t mention he wanted to sleep on Javier’s couch—that he still wants to. Doesn’t say he’ll scrub every inch of the bar if it’ll earn Jesse a new place to sleep.

Chapter Text

R e y e s

Gabriel sees Randy and Bart, which he hears Randy call him, two days later. He slips into their conversation about weapons and asks them things that won’t qualify as too much, but also gets them distracted and comfortable enough to keep ordering drinks, and to think Gabriel is nothing but a clueless bartender. While Bart and Randy share a laugh over a joke Gabriel made, he sneaks his free hand into the pocket of Bart’s jacket and finds the pin they spoke about in the video. Once he’s back at the bar, he takes the opportunity of getting ice for another drink and sinks it deep under all the ice. At least while Bart is in the Bunker, he doesn’t notice.

Before he makes dinner, he looks over the pin. It has a number behind and he guesses is the number for Bart, like a code or something to keep track of him. He’s not sure what to do just yet, but a distant knocks interrupts his thoughts. He hides the pin on a box of energy bars in one of the cabinets and goes to answer it. He expects to see the cowboy at the other side and isn’t surprise that he’s right.

“Have you eaten?” Is the first thing Jesse asks with a smile and the smell of Chinese rice and spicy chicken reaches Gabriel’s nose.

Gabriel considers the offer. It smells delicious and his mouth starts watering, “I was about to.”

“Well, dinner’s on me.” Jesse lifts the bag and smiles wider.

Gabriel crosses his arms, “What’s the catch?”

Jesse shrugs, “I get to sleep in your couch?”

Remembering Jesse snuck in to sleep in the bar the night before makes him think he’s having problems. The image of him leaving with that guy from the video comes clearly to Gabriel’s mind. He doesn’t want to believe Jesse just wants to find ways into Gabriel’s life. “You can sleep downstairs again.”

“Better than nothing.”

“Have nowhere to sleep?”

“I do, but Albert’s job went on for longer and Felix is a jackass. Not many want to offer me a couch for too long.”

Gabriel hums, “Fine. But we’re eating downstairs.”

Jesse chuckles, “Got a meth lab or something?”

“Something,” Gabriel steps forward, and pushes Jesse softly so he can close the door behind him. “We’ll grab drinks from the bar, my treat.”

“I should get you food more often,” Jesse says as he walks down the stairs.

“Don’t get used to it,” Gabriel responds as he taps him on a shoulder.

Jesse places down two chairs and sets the containers down while Gabriel gets the beers. Jesse takes over the conversation as he talks about the small jobs he did over the day. It started an early morning for a package pick up, he didn’t know what it was, but he admitted the guy he picked it up from got him shaken after. He made sure to follow him for a while after to make sure he wasn’t a cop or anything. Then he had to drop off some drugs, run back to Lina to give her the cash and still make it in time for another pick up. That one included guns from a weasel in another gang that makes his own separate jobs and keeps all the profit. He did a few more jobs during the day, which is why he hadn’t been able to come around. And to be honest, Gabriel hadn’t quite noticed with being so interested in getting the pin.

“And I’m ready to drop dead, wherever you allow me.”

Gabriel points his fork to the couch as he chews, “You looked really comfortable in that one.”

Jesse laughs, “Alright, I won’t push. I really appreciate you letting me.”

“Yeah, because you won’t sneak in to do it again.”

“I felt bad,” Jesse lies.

“Sure you did,” Gabriel says before eating a piece of chicken and drinking. When Jesse lowers his head to eat, he notices a recent purple bruise on his neck, almost hidden by the collar of his shirt. “What ever happened to that big guy?”

Jesse swallows, “You’d have to be more specific.”

“Cass?” He never forgets the name, but he acts a little unsure. “Haven’t seen him around.”

“Oh, yeah, he just doesn’t come here.”

Gabriel scoffs, “Did I scare him?”

Jesse laughs, “I think so. He’s talked to me, but I always try to be with someone. Hardly takes ‘no’ for an answer.”

Gabriel nods and he wants to remind him he can come to him if things ever go bad, for anything. But his teeth bite his tongue, and he swallow the words. He shouldn’t be making those kinds of promises, even if he’ll be here for a couple of more weeks. He also doesn’t know how to bring what he saw last night. If Jesse noticed Gabriel hadn’t looked at the scene, he might wonder how Gabriel knew, and if he knew, why didn’t he stopped him. Gabriel could try to pretend that it wouldn’t hurt to see Jesse asking that, but how would he sleep at night?

If he wondered this, he also wonders why he has let himself go and care for someone he’s supposed to lock away. Because he’s barely an adult? Because he didn’t have much of a childhood? Some kids have it worse, but others happen to have it better, and he happens to have walked in on one of the bad ones. “I’ll let you sleep here, whenever you need it, okay?”

Jesse slowly smiles at him, “I appreciate that, dalrin’.”

“If you clean dishes for me.”

The cowboy’s smile drops, “‘Course there’s a catch. Do I at least get paid?”

Gabriel places his hands on the table and frowns at him, “Yes, with a place to sleep, and the meals I already give you.”

But Jesse snickers, seems he still likes to stir the older man, “Touché.”

Gabriel’s phone rings and he swallows before fishing it out of his pocket. Jack’s name is on the screen and hesitates on answering.

“If it’s the boyfriend, I can give you some space,” Jesse offers, but doesn’t look thrilled.

“Just give me a minute, but don’t touch my chicken,” Gabriel warns with a scowl as he stands up and walks through the door to his apartment. He goes through the second door to be sure and answers. “Yeah?”

“I got the mirror,” Jack answers. “I’m taking it to you.”

“You? Personally? I feel special.”

Jack chuckles, “You are. We were finally able to get to the girls.”

“Now?”

Jack sighs, “The daycare was empty when we sent a scout. We had to follow a trace one of the girls had left… on another girl’s body.”

“But you got the others?”

“Yeah, they’re on the base here. Can you take the mirror tonight?”

“Well I have a few customers left, might be suspicious to receive one at this hour, but as soon as I have an open space, I’ll let you know.”

“Got it,” Jack says before both hang up. Of course, the mirror arrives earlier, and though it’s technically good, the time isn’t. They had to set it up, and he had talked to Lina about it, saying he didn’t expect one until two or three days more. As for her or anyone seeing it in the morning, he could say it arrived before he opened the bar, except to Jesse.

His gaze drifts to the cabinet where he hid the pin and decides to take it before going downstairs. “McCree,” he calls and the cowboy’s face snaps up as the bartender walks closer. “I found this at a table. Does it mean anything?” He sits back by the cowboy’s side and shows him the pin.

Jesse’s eyes widen as he takes it and examines it, “Did you catch how they looked?”

Gabriel hums, pretending to think, “One was ginger, the other dark hair with red, I believe.”

“Bart? I saw him earlier,” Jesse says as he nods. “Ginger must be Randy.”

Gabriel nods, “I tried to call them back when I noticed, but I don’t think they knew I was talking to them.”

“Good thing ya grabbed it. This is the symbol of another gang, Devil’s Scorn. I bet they give these to their members.”

Gabriel hums sharply and opens his palm, Jesse places the pin back, “Do you think one of them is part of it?”

Jesse scoffs as he stands up, “Yeah. I know were Bart’s stayin’, I could check his room for anythin’ useful. And we can take this to Mal.”

“Are you sure you can do it without being seen?”

“I can, I’ll be back before you know it.” Gabriel huffs sharply, trying to sound unsure, knowing it will make Jesse run faster to do it. “Trust me, sugar.” He tips his hat before he leaves. As soon as the door closes, he texts Jack to hurry up.

Jack arrives about fifteen minutes later with the mirror, and accompanied by three other agents, and—to Gabriel’s surprise and joy—Ana. All five sporting a generic one piece suits as uniform so they can blend better in case someone sees. Gabriel helps them take down the broken mirror and put up the new one. As soon as it’s hanged, it flashes a light blue ring. Gabriel had looked for his tablet while waiting and left it with Ana to see the connection up. As soon as the bar recognized them, it showed every profile: Gabe’s, Jack’s, Ana’s and the three other Blackwatch agents that were familiar to Gabe from Overwatch, Rainer, Shannon and Kimura.

“We have access to many profiles around the world; it should be easy to find Deadlock members which already have criminal records,” Ana says, handing Gabriel his tablet back.

“Try to check it every night,” Jack starts. “If the mirror catches someone they already have info on, they will just display the name, and let you know if there’s new information like they got caught recently or show signs of being ill, even drugged.”

“That could be useful,” Gabriel says, looking at the mirror, at their clear images, before down at his tablet. “Will it display how many times a certain person comes in here?”

“Not exactly, it will just be a list of those that came in,” Jack answers.

Reyes nods as he reads a few facts from a file and widens his eyes before looking at Rainer, “I didn’t know your anniversary was last week.”

Rainer shrugs, “Kimura gets sappy when we don’t spend special dates with our loved ones.”

“It’s natural,” Kimura comments and Rainer elbows him softly.

“I could’ve given you the day off, at least,” Gabriel says.

“It’s okay, boss,” Rainer answers. “You need all of us in top shape when you return.”

“We need you, boss,” Shannon adds. “The rookies are dragging us down.”

Gabriel laughs, “I’ll do my best to finish up quick. The mission it’s only a couple of weeks away. I haven’t heard any changes.”

“Let us know if things change,” Ana says. “We have a team ready to head out if you need it.”

“Noted. You should get going now—”

“Yeah, before your date comes back,” Jack smirks as he nods towards the table, where Jesse and his own container are still set.

“I thought he hadn’t noticed,” Ana comments before laughing. He’s sure his three agents are grinning.

“It’s not that, just a kid I’m giving a place to sleep for the night.”

“A stray?” Jack asks with a raised eyebrow.

“Is he a member? Deadlock is the only one that’s supposed to know of this place,” Ana points out.

“He is, and he’ll be back soon.”

Jack’s face changes to one Gabriel doesn’t like, “Don’t get attached, Gabe.”

“I know, Jackie,” Gabriel smiles back and looks at his agents. “Dismissed.”

“Yes, sir,” they chorus and solute him before heading out, taking the broken mirror with them.

“I mean it, Gabe,” Jack continues as Gabriel starts pushing him out of the door.

“It’s just a couch to sleep the night, Jack.”

“Don’t mind Jack,” Ana starts. “He’s just jealous you got a son before him.”

“Right, he’s always been a sucker for the white picket fence-suburban home family goal.”

Jack frowns, “I’m also saying it because you don’t know what his real intentions are.”

Gabriel laughs and crosses his arms, “I know them plenty.”

Ana seems to catch on and laughs before saying, “Don’t blame him.” To which Gabriel shrugs.

After they leave, Gabriel leaves the key in the lock and hurries to look for two empty beer bottles in the trash. He turns off the lights and sits back down, with the bottles around him and messes up his hair before laying his head down. He waits patiently for Jesse, and almost snaps to his feet when he realizes he might not return. But he gives him a few more minutes. When fifteen more pass, the door opens and he closes his eyes.

“Nieves?” Jesse calls as the door closes. The cowboy finds his way to the table and his hands find Gabriel’s shoulders. “Javier?” He asks, with more worry.

Gabriel jolts up, purposely pushing one bottle to the floor. “What?”

“What happened?”

“Oh, I, um…” Gabriel trails and looks around, even if Jesse can’t see him right, nor he can see Jesse, he still acts tipsy. “Maybe drank too much.”

Jesse laughs, “Need help getting to yer room?”

Gabriel laughs too and stands up, leaning into Jesse as if he was about to trip over, “I-I’m not that drunk.” He starts pushing Jesse back, knowing it’s the way to the couch. “You stay right-right here!”

“Jeez, even drunk you turn me down.”

Gabriel shrugs in the dark. “Says something, doesn’t it? We’ll talk in the morning.” He pats the cowboy on the shoulder before turning around. He tumbles with a chair, by accident, but it works. Once he closes the door behind him, he waits, and doesn’t see a light coming from the gap. Once he’s sure Jesse won’t turn it on, he goes up and hopes he doesn’t notice the mirror until morning.

M c C r e e

Jesse wakes up to the smell of waffles and chicken strong in his nose. And he finds the meal on a table, where Javier had just started eating his. The man looks quiet, and he’s drinking a glass of water instead of juice like Jesse. The cowboy chuckles as he starts eating. He waits a while before asking, “What happened last night?”

Javier shrugs, “Felt like drinking a bit more than usual, but I’m find.”

“You are,” McCree winks at him, hoping he gets the pick-up line.

“Did you get anything?” Nieves asks instead responding to it.

Jesse nods as he stuffs his mouth with a piece of chicken, “Bart has another pin, which is not usual. Gangs only give one token of membership per person, example: the jackets here.” Jesse swallows, tries to forget the idea that, after everything, he doesn’t seem to belong here. “If he has another, it probably mean he’ll give it to someone.”

“What about the other guy he was with?” Javier asks.

 “Randy?” Jesse asks as he shakes his head, “Don’t think so, Randy’s pretty cautious. It doesn’t surprise me that Bart jumped into the opportunity to betray us, though.”

“Did you take the other pin?”

“No, thought it wouldn’t be smart since he’s already missing one. Misplacing one is one thing, but losing one that was kept on his room is another.”

Nieves nods in approval, “Good idea.”

“I did find something.” Jesse wipes his hands on his jeans before taking out his phone and searching through his gallery. Once he finds the picture he took of the map he saw, he shows it to Javier. “This is a map of their hideout, and I think it’s new. It’s about ten minutes from here.”

Javier looks over the map, guiding who ever sees it to the secret spot. “What do you suggest with do with all of this?”

“I thought about telling Leo. He’s close to Mal and will know what to do.”

Nieves nods in approval before drinking water, “When do you wanna do it?”

“I’ll go to him after I eat.” Part of Jesse wants to add he might take long, maybe make Nieves think he’ll be doing something else. But his other half wonders if Nieves’ reaction, or the lack of, hurt him more than actually please him.

He contacts Leo and asks if he can come over to the Bunker. The man’s there in a few minutes and, while Javier is behind the bar, attending to a few members, he goes through what they discovered with Leo. He also looks shocked to see the pin, but not completely surprised that it belongs to Bart. He also shows him the map and he watches while Leo examines it.

“I can show Mal this. He might not take it to Devon before we know exactly where this is, but we can get on it.” Leo says as he hands Jesse his phone back. “Send it to me, I’ll text him now.”

Jesse nods before he sends the picture to Leo. After that they sit and wait for Mal. Leo orders them beers and Nieves brings them pretty quickly. He doesn’t go too far before Mal walks in and sits by Jesse’s side.

“I got your message, and it better be worth my time,” Mal says.

“We have a traitor,” Leo knows how to answer, and one of Mal’s eyebrow quirks up. “This fell of Bart’s jacket on our last job.” Leo says as he shows Mal the pin and Jesse looks at him, but Leo keeps talking. “Devil’s Scorn give it to their members, right?”

“They do,” Mal answers as he looks at the pin. “When did you have a job?”

“Two days ago, but I wanted to have more proof,” Leo answers quickly again and Jesse doesn’t know what to add. “I sent McCree to search his room and he came back with this.” He shows Mal the picture Jesse just sent him. “Seems to be a new hideout, not too far from here.”

Mal grabs the phone and looks at it. He taps a few times on the screen, probably sending it to himself. “Nieves, shot of tequila.” He calls and Nieves hears. He doesn’t take long and brings the shot. “Close the bar after eleven.”

“Excuse me?” Javier asks with a raised eyebrow.

“You heard me. We might attack tonight. You two haven’t disappointed me yet, so you’re both coming along.” Mal gives Leo his phone back and stands up, pocketing the pin. “I’ll have a little chat with Bart. Come along, Leo.”

Leo nods and smiles at Jesse as Mal drowns his shot. The duo leaves and Jesse stays there, brows furrowed and Javier almost looks the same. “What happened?” He asks.

“Leo, he said he found the pin,” Jesse answers. “I should’ve told him you did.”

Javier shakes his head, “Doesn’t matter, McCree.”

“He said he sent me to search Bart’s room.”

“Hey,” Javier calls softly. “You still looked good, alright? If you had mentioned I sent you or let you go, we could be in trouble. I don’t mind, I prefer to stay out of this, to be honest.”

Jesse chuckles weakly, “Sorry I keep draggin’ ya down with me.”

Javier sighs as he leans from the counter and shakes his head softly. “As long as we both come back up, don’t apologize.”

When the words go through Jesse’s ears, he feels a lump in his throat. He decides to drown what remains of his beer before he speaks again. “Mind if I stay around while we wait?”

“Go ahead,” Nieves answers as he straightens up.

“Crazy thought, I saw a recipe for a shot I wanna try,” Jesse leans over with one elbow on the counter and raises an eyebrow as he grins. “Mind if I get behind the bar and give it a go?”

“Why not just tell me and I can make it?” The bartender says as he crosses his arms. “Probably know it by name.”

“Ya probably do, but I wanna make it, darlin’.”

Javier groans and Jesse bites his bottom lip to how tasty it sounds. “Fine.”

R e y e s

The day has been slow for business so far and, if they are going to attack the Devil’s Scorn hideout, Jesse’s gonna need the distraction. Gabriel allows him behind the bar, but remains close, and hopes he doesn’t regret it. While the cowboy looks for what he needs, Lina arrives and laughs when she sees Jesse by the bar.

“Be careful, Nieves. I heard McCree can burn ice.”

Jesse frowns at her and Gabriel laughs lightly. “I hope this place is ensured, then.”

Lina sits down in front of them and says, “I bumped into Mal, and he told me. Bart’s gonna get the shit beat out of him.”

“Can anything save him?” Gabriel asks, pretending to be oblivious.

Lina shrugs, “Only if he says he was undercover, but he needs to have proof to back it up. And really good proof.”

Gabriel nods before he rests from the counter with his elbows on top. “Tell me something, is Mal trying to screw us over?”

She laughs, “What makes you think that?”

“He has sent us on jobs together, recently,” Jesse answers. “When Nieves is not even apart of us, officially. And it’s jobs that question our safety.” The cowboy walks away to look for a bottle.

“That’s Mal. Don’t take it personally, though. He just hates when people go against his rules and he feels you have done it too much,” Lina responds.

“Why not end me then?” Gabriel asks, genuinely curious.

“Honestly, I think we should keep you, at least until the big mission. For reasons.” Her eyes dart to the side.

“You want back up?” Gabriel asks.

She curls her lips. “Not exactly.” Her eyes dart again and Jesse arrives to his side, with a bottle of Irish cream, and places it down by Butterscotch Schnapps he got before. Gabriel believes he gets the message, but they can’t really believe he’s enough to keep Jesse in place.

“Speaking of you going a lot on jobs; I’ve been thinking about getting you a jacket, Nieves. You’ve done well on the ones you’ve done.” Gabriel thinks he has done more than well while her gaze travels over his chest and arms. “You’d look good in one, too.”

Gabriel notices how Jesse snaps his head up. “What about mine? I’ve been here four years!”

“What are you cryin’ about?” Lina asks, not looking pleased.

“I’m just sayin’. I’ve worked my ass off and no jacket with my initials on it.”

“Aw, baby boy.” Lina pouts as she ruffles Jesse’s hair. “We’re just waiting for you to get some meat on your bones.”

Gabriel doesn’t believe that for a second. If that were true, they would allow Jesse to eat in the first place.

“I have gained some weight,” Jesse comments and Lina looks him over as she hums.

“You’re right. It wouldn’t be right getting you one now if you’re just gonna keep growing, right?” Gabriel wants the conversation to end. He can see Jesse’s mind working, trying to search for ways to get Lina to accept his request. For her to create one of those jackets out of thin air, but she doesn’t look like she will budge.

“Need shot glasses?” Gabriel interrupts.

“Yeah,” Jesse answers him.

“In the back closet, I need more anyways.” He makes sure to sound gentle enough, knowing it will convince Jesse to get them.

“Alright,” Jesse says before he leaves.

Gabriel looks back at Lina, who shrugs, knowing full well what’s on Gabriel’s mind. “Why not just get him one?” He asks and she tilts her head.

“There’s a pool to see when the kid will die,” she says with no guilt in sight. “So far, no one has won, even if they bet on mission after mission and he keeps walking.”

“Isn’t that enough to prove he’s worth being here?” Gabriel asks. “Besides, giving it to him will make him feel more part of you. He’ll be more ready for that mission you all keep mentioning.”

“That’s the thing. I don’t think he’ll be walking out of that one.”

Gabriel cocks his head in curiosity and wishes to ask, but Jesse returns.

“I’ll get back to you on the jackets, Nieves, and I’ll return tonight,” she says before hopping off the stool and leaving the Bunker.

“Is she getting’ one fer me?” Jesse asks and Gabriel looks at him. His gut clenches to the sight of Jesse’s hope twinkling in his eyes. Deadlock is all he knows of life, these people are the ones he sees as family, and it’s sad to see how they treat him.

“I tried, but can’t promise you anything, vaquero.”

Jesse shrugs, but his hope doesn’t fade. “You always try, it’s more than anyone else has done.”

Gabriel nods before Jesse starts working. He stands back and watches Jesse pour the liquor in the shot and is quickly done. He steps aside and presents the clear shot with a white cloud on top. The drink looks familiar, and by Jesse’s grin, he knows he’ll regret ever allowing him behind the bar.

“Try it,” Jesse says.

“Thought you wanted to try it.”

“Try making it,” Jesse corrects. “Go on.”

Gabriel sighs and accepts the shot. He gulps it down in one go and the sweet taste of the Irish cream remains on his tongue as the scotch burns down his throat. Jesse is still smirking at him, waiting for Gabriel to ask, “Alright, what is it?”

“Cowboy Cocksucker.” Jesse bites his bottom lip and Gabriel nods.

 “Where did you learn about it?”

“Online.”

“Did you just looked for the shots with the dirtiest names?”

“Nah, just cowboy.” Jesse tips his hat.

“Of course.” Gabriel places the used shot glass in the sink. “Bit too much Irish cream. Measure it better next time.”

“Wanna try it again?” Jesse smiles.

“No, don’t like drinking on the job.” Gabriel grabs the bottles of alcohol Jesse used and walks away to place them where they belong on the display. Once he returns where he was before, Jesse is already going around the bar to sit on a stool. “What can I expect from tonight? Have you attacked a hideout before?”

“Not really. Guess is similar to an ambush—it is kinda an ambush since they won’t know. At least we think they don’t. Stick with me, and I’ll take care of ya.” The cowboy winks before Gabriel rolls his eyes and continues with his work.

M c C r e  e

Mal returns to an empty bar, followed by Lina, Felix and Randy, along with a few other members. Bart’s amongst them, sporting a bloody nose and a black eye. Mal sits Bart down and tells him the plan will be to find the hideout and attack. They take what they can find and, if possible, destroy it. They hand Javier a gun, and Jesse grazes over the handle of his Peacekeeper, out of habit.

“There’s just one last thing I gotta know,” Mal says as he pulls his gun and aims at Randy. The ginger tenses and those beside him step aside. “Where you thinking about joining Devil’s Scorn?”

“He was!” Bart shouts from where he sits, being held by one of the big guys.

“Hush,” Lina says, slapping Bart in the back of the head.

“I wasn’t!” Randy answers. “I thought about telling you, I swear, Mal. But I wanted to see if I could get any info out of him.”

“Liar,” Bart hisses.

“I can bouche for Randy,” Felix speaks up. “He mentioned to Bart seemed strange and wanted my help to look more into it.”

Mal aims at Felix, “Did you know Bart was Devil’s?”

“No, Mal,” Felix quickly answers. Felix has always been honest when he’s life on the line, but he’s also a good liar.

“I just told him something was off about Bart,” Randy supports and Mal lowers his gun.

“That puts you in a tough spot, Bart.” His gaze goes back to Randy. “But I’ll get you out of it.”

“Fuck you!” Bart barks before Mal pulls the trigger. The guy holding Bart steps back and lets the body drop to the floor. “You’re on clean up duty, Randy. And it better be clean when we get back.”

“He better, I spend too much time cleaning this damn floor,” Javier murmurs to Jesse’s ear. It sends a chill down his spine, but it almost makes him laugh a bit. Jesse appreciates the comment, believing he did it to calm him down.

The group walks out and into a van. They’re all cramped in the back while Mal takes the wheel and Lina sits on the passenger’s seat. Jesse hurried so he could sit by Javier, but noticed the bartender had waited for him when their distance grew.

His hand itched the entire ride, wanting to reach for Nieves, have more comfort, but he knew better than to show that kind of affection in Deadlock. Less when he knew how Nieves felt about him. Jesse thinks he could leave with the kind of care the bartender feels for him, at least for now. Maybe when the big mission comes, and Deadlock success, he’ll show Nieves what he’s capable of, and the older man will change his view of him.

The building turns out to be a school. Which is good for them, no need to break in through security through the halls or for the police. There’s only one guard up front that Felix is quick to knock unconscious. They still search him, making sure he’s not a part of Devil’s Scorn. Once they find nothing, they move inside. They a hallway on the first floor and walk down the corridor full of clockers against the walls. Mal walks beside them, tapping his fingers as he counts the numbers on the top lockers.

The whole way, Jesse walks by Javier’s side, with their guns in hand. He looks over at the bartender a few times and receives a soft smile in return. He isn’t sure if it calms his nerves or makes it worse as butterflies flutter all over his stomach.

Mal lifts his hand and everyone behind him stops. Then he snaps his fingers and three more guys help him pull the lockers with the number 47 and 48. There’s a gap behind the locker, enough for a person to fit.

“McCree.” It doesn’t surprise Jesse Mal calls for him to go first. He listens though and enters the gap, sliding between the concrete of the walls until there’s a hole on the floor that opens to a tunnel. He drops to it and looks around, it seems to be empty so far. He startles when someone drops behind him, but relaxes when it’s Javier.

“Looks clear,” he tells the bartender.

“Clear,” Nieves almost whispers up the hole.

One by one, the Deadlock members start coming down. Mal takes the lead again as they walk down the tunnel. They come across a few cases full of weapons and explosives. Mal’s smirks slowly grows the more he sees. They reach two doors and there seems to be people on the other side, chattering and having fun, unaware their possible demise it’s outside the door. Mal moves his fingers, motioning for a member to give him the smoke bombs they had brought. The first line of Deadlock members step in front, bombs and guns in hands. Jesse and Javier, along with the remaining ones, their guns also raised.

They open the doors and throw the bombs in. Shouting erupts from the other side and the first line of Deadlock members fire ahead. Jesse’s hands shake a little and he eyes Javier quickly. The man looks steady, unafraid, and his voice brushes Jesse’s ears as he remembers that one word he told him when they killed Ecker, “breathe.”

When the smoke starts to fade, they can see a few bodies from Devil’s Scorn laid on the floor, either dead or severely injured. They start firing back and taking cover behind couches, tables they turn on the side on the floor. Deadlock barges in, taking cover where they can and even punching a few of the enemies. Jesse fires every head he sees that doesn’t recognize and moves as quick as he can.

He looks over at Javier, who seems to be managing himself fine, until someone from Devil’s sneaks behind him and aims at their head. Jesse fires and the man falls dead. Javier notices when the body hits the floor and nods his thanks.

A few shots later, Jesse gets slammed to the wall behind him and a strong arm to his neck. The hit to the back of his head almost blackens his vision. He kicks Peacekeeper, where it lies on the floor, to Javier, who had seen the attack. The bartender grabs the gun and shoots the guy holding Jesse. He feels he can breathe again and Nieves tosses him his gun back before he turns around and shoots someone else. The way his arms tense and his legs move are almost hypnotic, but Jesse manages to keep his focus.

“Deadlock, out!” Mall shouts and Jesse realizes he hadn’t seen him in a while. Lina is the first to come out and Jesse looks over at Leo and another gang member that had been working on a corner. When they pace away, he sees a bomb. His eyes widen before he makes his way to the door.

Then Jesse turns to look for Javier, and catches him falling on one knee and covering his side. Jesse feels his stomach dropping before he pulls the trigger and kills the Devil’s Scorn member that shot at Nieves. He hurries to Javier and the ticking of the bomb echoes in his brain.

“Jesse!” Leo calls and he sees almost all of them are already gone. Felix is also there, looking at the pair.

“Leave him, cowboy!” Felix says.

His body is telling him to sprint, to go to safety. But he can’t find it in himself to leave Javier. Even when the man shoves him away. “I’ll be fine.”

“The hell you’ll be!” Jesse says as he slumps one of the bartender’s arms over his shoulders. His weight almost makes him tumble to the side, but once Nieves steadies his feet, they manage to move. Felix is gone, but Leo holds the doors for them.

When they’re near the hole on the ceiling of the tunnel, most of the members have already gone through. Leo lifts Felix up and then he help him up. “Leo!” Jesse calls, but no one answers or pokes their hands out to help them. “Damn it!” Jesse hisses as he looks around.

“I can help you up,” Javier says.

“You need help getting up there,” Jesse still looks around, he’s not sure if he could lift up Nieves up and the man shouldn’t force his body with a wound like that. He sees a crate that looks sturdy enough and reaches for it. “Get on,” he tells Javier and helps him.

With that, he manages to reach the hole on his own, but Jesse still pushes his feet up a little. Then Jesse follows as quickly as he can. He goes back to helping the bartender, though it’s difficult to walk beside him as they make it through the concrete walls behind the lockers. But they manage and not a Deadlock members in sight.

The floor rumbles and it almost causes Jesse to trip, but somehow, Javier keeps him strong enough and his feet hurry. They feel the ground giving up underneath them as they walk faster, at some point, it almost feels like Javier is taking him. Must be a hit of adrenaline or something, Jesse thinks. Part of the building collapses when they make it out to the parking lot, where luckily, the van is still there.

“You made it,” Leo says, genuinely surprise and keeps the door open for them.

“No thanks to you,” Jesse bitterly says as he helps Javier in the vehicle and ignores Leo for the rest of the ride.

R e y e s

It hurts like hell when he moves. And every step he takes down the stairs to the Bunker send a shock of pain through his would. It’s like he can still feel the bullet vibrating inside of him, even if it was from a small gun. It doesn’t seem to have hit anything major, otherwise he’d be too weak to walk, or probably dead. But he has lost a lot of blood and his head feels dizzy. Jesse helps him the best that he can, and though he could probably do better without his scrawny body shaking under his arm, he keeps him there, knowing it helps the kid relax. Like Jesse’s afraid he’ll lose Gabriel if he lets him go.

Once inside the Bunker, Lina, who had come with them, along with Leo and Mal, recalls having placed a medical kit somewhere behind the counter, just in case.

“It’s under the ice,” Gabriel tells her, he had seen it a few times already. The first time when he was looking for a place to put his own medical kit. He sits down at one of the chairs that Jesse pulled up near and looks up at the cowboy. “I got it, Jesse,” he says as gentle as possible.

He watches Mal take a look around, seems Randy cleaned up the body and there’s no blood in sight. “No body. Devil’s Scorn lost a member. And we buried their hideout. I call it a successful night.”

Lina returns with the kit and Leo pulls a chair by Gabriel as he rolls his own shirt up so the Deadlock can see the wound. “You proved yourself very useful, Nieves,” Mal speaks again. “And you might survive, unlike Freddie and Joshua.” Gabriel believes those are two of Deadlock members that died tonight in the crossfire. “You two live to work another day.”

“Are you gonna let me rest or already have another stupid job for me and McCree?” Gabriel asks and Mal tilts his head, as the wicked glee disappears from his eyes.

“I’m gonna let that slide since you did good tonight, and because you’ve lost a lot of blood,” Mal says. “I’ll check in the morning if our dear friends of Devil’s Scorn received our message. I’ll like to know if it’s clear we don’t want them in our territory again.” He walks backwards to the door as he adds, “And I’ll check on you tomorrow, if you’re alive.” He turns around and leaves.

“My money’s on you making it,” Lina says before she follows out. When the room goes quiet, Gabriel notices the bullet is already out of him and Leo’s twitching up the wound.

“Should be good enough. It wasn’t a deadly wound,” Leo says.

“Thanks,” Gabriel responds as he rolls down his shirt. He looks back at Jesse, who seem to have been too lost on Gabriel’s bare stomach. He flinches back when he realizes he’s caught, but Gabriel just scoffs a laugh before he gets up softly.

He can feel the tingling sensation of the chemicals the SEP injected in him starting to work. It’ll take a while, but he knows he’ll be better in hours. If not, he’ll find a way to go to a doctor or contact Jack and Ana about it. He makes his way to the bar and hears the chair under Jesse move as he gets up, too. But then he hears Leo speaking, “I’m sorry about earlier.” Gabriel walks softer, since they’re the only ones in the bar, he can still hear their private conversation. “I had a lot of the other guys on me telling me to hurry up.”

“Sure ya did,” Jesse answers and Gabriel looks back, thinking he might need help.

“I am sorry, Jesse,” Leo says softly, and his hand pushes back a lock of the cowboy’s hair behind his ear. “I can make it up to you. It will all be about you tonight, I promise.”

Jesse’s gaze meets with Gabriel and the man looks away. It’s after a few seconds that Jesse says, “Let me check on him first.”

“I’ll meet you at my place then?” Leo says, a little more cheerful. Jesse probably nods since Gabriel doesn’t hear an answer, but hears the door close and when he looks back, Leo’s gone.

The cowboy’s getting closer. “How ya feelin’?”

“Good as new,” Gabriel responds and Jesse chuckles.

“Do you… do you need anythin’?”

Gabriel thinks it through as he looks back at Jesse. He knows the cowboy wants a reason to stay. “If you don’t wanna go with Leo, you don’t have to.” Jesse lowers his head and his mouth goes into a thin line. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. I could make you some dinner, plus a big breakfast tomorrow.”

Jesse huffs lightly and his mouth softens into a small smile. “Ya shouldn’t move much.”

“It’ll be an easy dinner.”

The cowboy bites his bottom lip as he think about it, “Did ya really think I was gun’ leave ya on your own?” He slowly smirks and fixes his cowboy hat. “Flattered ya tried to keep me here.”

Gabriel laughs lightly and shrugs, “At the end is up to you, but you should know that if you sleep with someone, they should always pay attention to your needs, not just theirs. And not just because they did something and they want you to forgive them.”

The smirks fades a little, but a shy smile stays as he nods, “Will keep it in mind.” Gabriel nods before he starts walking towards the stairs. There’s a pinch of pain on his side and he tries not to make any sounds. But Jesse must notice as he says, “Are you sure you can make it upstairs? I can help ya.”

“It’s okay. I’ll be back in a bit.”

He hears Jesse’s boots as he approaches him and steps in front, “Look I won’t try anything, okay? I get that’s yer space n’ that you have yer personal stuff, and that’s probably your safe space in all this crap, but I won’t touch anythin’ ya don’t want me too.” His smile is gone and it’s almost like he’s begging Gabriel to let him in. “Ya can’t say stuff like that to me and then keep me out.”

Gabriel tries not to quickly frown, to look as if an agent disrespected him, because that’s not the situation. “You’re right, that’s my place in all this crap. And I’d like to keep it mine. And you should respect that if I don’t let you up is for a reason, one you probably won’t understand.”

Jesse suddenly looks hurt, “Because I don’t have one, right?”

Gabriel’s lips shut, that’s not what he had meant, or realized Jesse would’ve taken it that way. “I didn’t mean it like that, Jesse.” Jesse shakes his head and walks past Gabriel. The man turns and says, “I’ll make soup tonight, if you still wanna stay.” Gabriel doesn’t wait, he leaves the cowboy standing there as he goes up the stairs and heats the chicken noodle soups.

When he comes down with two bowls, he can’t say he’s completely surprised Jesse’s gone. He still places them down on a table and begins to eat. A few minutes in, the Bunker’s door opens and the cowboy walks in with a bag in hand. He goes and sits by Gabriel’s side and softly places the bag between them, it seems to contain food.

“There’s a twenty-four hour dinner a street down,” Jesse says before he starts eating. “Got a crave for their New York Style cheesecake.” He doesn’t sound mad now, maybe the quick trip and fresh air helped him out. “Brought you one, too.”

Gabriel scoffs softly, “Thanks. Do you like to eat there?”

“When I can. They have so much food I never know what to get.”

“We could go there in the morning, my treat.”

Jesse looks up, a hint of joy flashes in his eyes, “Ya spoil me, Nieves.”

Chapter Text

R e y e s

After finishing his main meal, Gabriel grabs his pie and stands up, wincing a Little to the burn in his side. He only gives a steps before Jesse asks, “Where you goin’?”

Gabriel turns to him and says, “my room, obviously.”

“Not like that.” Jesse wipes his lips with the back of his hand before standing up. “What if ya fall or somethin’? Get worse?”

Gabriel huffs, “I’m not that old, kid. I can make it to my bed.” He gives a few steps, but Jesse’s in front of him, pushing the subject.

“What if ya don’t? I can help ya get in it,” Jesse says and then shrugs with a grin. He probably didn’t mean it to sound that way, but once he realizes his words’ double meaning, he goes with it.

“Thought we’d covered the whole not going to my place already,” Gabriel says as he cocks his head.

“Fine, fine, then stay here,” Jesse says as he grabs Gabriel’s pie from his hands and grabs his own before heading to the couch. “C’mon, or I’ll eat it.”

“McCree, I can make it upstairs fine,” Gabriel insists, because he can. But Jesse doesn’t look like he’ll let it go, or let him go with his pie.

“What if I want ya to stay?” The cowboy confesses, looking down as he plays with a chunk of his pie, moving it around in the container with his fork.

“That’s obvious,” Gabriel says with a scoffs. “But I’m tired, and I bet you are too.”

Jesse shrugs and looks up at Reyes, “Not really, and I know I won’t be able to sleep for a bit. So it’ll get mighty lonely. I can always go to Leo.”

Gabriel shrugs as well, “That’s your decision, can’t blackmail me with it.”

“That’s the thanks I get for bringing you pie?”

“Fine,” Gabriel accepts and walks to the couch. He sits on the empty end while Jesse turns his body and lifts one knee on the couch. Gabriel reaches for his pie and begins to eat.

Jesse quickly drifts into conversation, and Gabriel can see the cowboy looks pretty awake. If he leaves him like this, might snoop around the bar or drink too much. As expected, Jesse asks when they brought the new mirror, and Gabriel recalls it was the morning after he got drunk, but Jesse slept through the whole thing since it was a pretty quick and quiet exchange. Jesse laughs and says, “Seems like something I’d do.”

He falls back to easy conversation and sharing simple, fun and sometimes funny stories of his time in Deadlock. Some actually make Gabriel laugh. And, to Reyes’ surprise, he doesn’t throw his pick-up lines or innuendos the whole time. But he does start getting sleepy as Gabriel starts seeing more yawns and his body slouches more into the couch. It isn’t long before Gabriel can keep his eyes open and it seems Jessen notices this as he grows quiet.

---

When Gabriel wakes up, his back hurts and his thighs feel numb. He rubs his eyes and opens them to see stars around the bar, still with the lights on and the dinner plates on the table. He stretches and when he pulls his thighs apart, he figures out why they fell asleep. It was due to the extra weight of a cowboy, resting his head and chest over his lap.

Gabriel wants to think McCree honestly and innocently moved in his sleep without realizing where he was. But part of him knows he did it on purpose once he caught Gabriel asleep. Right now, he can’t remember who did first.

His first idea is to stand up, but then he takes a good look at the cowboy’s messy hair and his lanky figure, which has gotten better since Gabriel met him. Still, the commander could easily push him off, let the hit to the ground be his wake up call. But instead, he places his hand on the boy’s head, and starts petting him softly. “Jesse,” he calls to wake him, but the kid doesn’t move. Gabriel makes sure he’s breathing before keeping the brush of his hand going.

He rethinks pushing Jesse off, but discards it once Jesse snuggles his face into his thigh. He doesn’t know what time it is, but it can’t be opening time. He’s sure he would have Deadlock members knocking on his door if it was passed it, too. He yawns and it makes him realize how tired he still is.

Five more minutes, he thinks. He can’t be a workaholic commander here, mind as well take advantage and sleep a little longer.

---

Gabriel goes upstairs to freshen up before they head out. His phone rings while he’s changing and raises an eyebrow at Jack’s name on the screen, but picks it up since he’s alone. “Yeah?”

“Are you alright?” Jack asks.

“Yeah,” Gabriel responds, no point in lying. “Why you ask?”

“Your tracker rang last night,” Jack explains. “Your body showed signs of distress and injury.”

“I thought that was off.”

“Not when it’s an emergency. What happened?” Jack insists.

“Deadlock ambushed another gang last night, and took me with them,” Gabriel begins as he holds the phone between his ear and shoulder to look for a shirt. “I got hit with a bullet, but it wasn’t anything big.”

“Are you sure?” Jack questions, too concerned.

Gabriel shrugs out of habit, “I’ve had worse. They got the bullet out and stitched me up. It doesn’t hurt much anymore.”

“Would you’d called if we hadn’t known?” Jack asks.

“We? So Ana knows?”

“I trust her to get my readings of both our trackers.”

“Its fine, it’s not like you wouldn’t have told her anyways.”

Jack chuckles, “Exactly. I wanted to call sooner, but she actually suggested not to. Whatever happened must’ve been around Deadlock.”

“So if I had been on my own I would’ve bleed to death?” Gabriel teases.

“They were only level 2,” Jack says, almost in a ‘no big’ tone and Gabriel laughs.

“Well then I’m fine, you can stop checking in on me.”

“Alright,” Jack says and the conversation should be over, but it still feels like Jack has more to add.

Gabriel takes the pause to put on the shirt and then asks, “Anything else?”

There’s silence and then, “About the boy…”

Gabriel raises an eyebrow as he sits on the bed. “What about him?”

“He seems… too fond of you.”

“Seems?” Gabriel closes his mouth once he realizes. “Were you watching through the mirror?”

“I got worried when you never called. Had to be sure you were alive, at least.”

“Jack—” Gabriel’s ready to protest, but Morrison interrupts.

“Don’t change the subject. I saw the way you talked and how he just laid close to you.”

“He has a bet with the other members to sleep with me that’s all,” Gabriel excuses, not knowing if that was true in the first place and if it’s still going. “He tries a lot.”

“I noticed,” Jack says, but he’s not seeing the fun of it right now. “And he will keep trying by the way you petted him like a cat.”

“Jesus, Jack, how much did you watch?”

“Until there. Didn’t want to be caught watching porn,” Jack pesters, causing Reyes to scoff.

“Please, nothing happened, and it won’t happen. I’m trying to get him through this,” Gabriel says and pauses. He recalls not mentioning who Jesse is exactly. “He’s the same kid I was giving food and shelter the night you came. And he seems to be a big part of the main mission.”

“That kid?” Jack sounds surprise. To be fair, so had Gabriel. “Don’t you think is more of a reason not to make it through?”

“What do you want me to do? Throw him off a cliff or something?”

Jack sighs, “That’s not what I meant. Why not catch him now? How is he a big part of it?”

“He’s a good shooter. Great, if you ask me.”

“He shot at you?”

“No, I’ve seen him, Jack.” Gabriel stretches out to grab his shoes from under the bed. “On his feet and during a car chase. I thought about trying to figure out how to pull him out of the plan, that’s one of the reasons why I’m getting closer to him.

“Too close,” Jack says low. “I don’t just say it in the sense of… the bet. But he could figure you out. Doesn’t seem he’s stupid if he has survived this long and Deadlock wants him in the main job.”

“He’s not. Just impulsive and reckless.” Reyes puts on one shoe and grabs the other. “I still keep my distance, Jack. He can’t go to my apartment, and he even leaves me alone most of the day. Now, will you stop looking through the mirror, Alice?”

“Yes, unless I get those readings again, I swear,” Jack answers honestly.

“Thanks. I have to go now, can’t keep the bar closed for longer.”

“Alright, take care, Gabe.”

“Same to you, Jackie.”

He pockets the phone and finish getting ready before heading down. Once Jesse sees him, he scrambles to his feet and says, “I can just pick our food. You shouldn’t be moving much.”

“It’ll be nice to go out to eat, besides, I wouldn’t know what to get.”

Jesse seems to think it over before he answers, “Fine, we’ll take it slow.”

Gabriel makes sure to lock the bar before they go out to the street. No one seems them coming from behind the planks and they hide smoothly into the morning crowd. The diner’s full at this hour, causing them to wait a few minutes for a table. Jesse knows what to order: French toast with eggs and bacon, and an apple cinnamon smoothie. Gabriel sticks with a classic: blueberry pancakes, bacon, eggs, sausage and coffee. But he admits everything else on the menu and the smell makes him wanna eat everything. He can see why McCree likes it; the food looks and smells tasty, the crowd seems happy, yet comforting and alive. Everyone in here has places to be, yet they still find time to settle down and have a nice plate of greasy, familiar and delicious food.

Jesse talks about the place and how he found it while hiding from some thugs he had stolen money from. He hid behind a menu and a waitress came to take his order, once he told her he didn’t have money and was just hiding from someone that had harmed him, she nodded and told him to hide as long as she wanted. And still gave him a bowl of oatmeal on the house.

The next time he came, he had saved some money to at least order a ham and cheese sandwich, and still give a proper tip. The waitress remembered him and took over his order. McCree points her out, a brunette with short hair and a crooked smile she throws at Jesse while passing by a few feet away, arms full of plates.

 The food arrives and Jesse waits for Gabriel to eat first. Once the man hums and gives his appreciation, the cowboy begins to eat. They’re quiet at first as they enjoy their meal. Only the clatter of silverware against plates, and the crowd around, keeps the awkwardness away from their silence. But Gabriel can see the gears in Jesse’s head turning, and the tapping of his hand over the table also tell him he has something to say. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” the cowboy smiles genuinely, but he continues. “Slept great.”

“Ah,” Gabriel says before he scoffs and shakes his head before drinking from his coffee. “Consider it a gift for watching over.”

“Well I should be the one sayin’ thank you. And, don’t take this the wrong way, but I hope you get hurt again.” The cowboy bites the straw of his smoothie before taking a sip.

“There’s no other way to take that,” Gabriel points out and the cowboy laughs.

“Obviously I don’t want ya to die! Just hurt enough for me to rest on that lovely lap of yers.” Jesse might think he’s voice coming out sensual, but not really. It’s only a boy trying.

“Not happening again. I’ll crawl up if I have to.”

Jesse scoffs, “Can’t you just play along for once?”

“Don’t want to,” Gabriel responds before shoving a piece of pancake in his mouth. “Shut up and eat before I take your plate. The food is great.”

“Told ya,” Jesse says with a proud smile before having a few more bites of his food. Then he requests, “Let me help you in the bar today.”

Gabriel stops cutting his pancake, “Why?”

“Why?!” Jesse looks at Gabriel like he’s crazy. “You’re hurt.”

Gabriel hesitates on arguing again. “I’ll take it easy.”

“I can help you with the beers and taking drinks around the bar.”

Gabriel sighs as he considers it. He knows Jesse won’t leave the bar today, and Gabriel can’t just walk around like nothing happened. Keeping Jesse busy, at least until he gets called for a job, would be better. “Fine. But you do as I say.”

Jesse smirks as he waves his fork with a piece of pancake in front of him. “I like it when you give me orders.”

---

Jesse leaves after making sure Gabriel made it safely down the stairs, to freshen up and get clean clothes, while Gabriel passes a quick wet towel over the bar before Jesse walks in, wearing another pair of faded, worn jeans, a jean vest and a dark red shirt that makes Gabriel looks twice. Especially when the cowboy pulls the vest wider, wanting Gabriel to look at the shirt. It also looks used, but the words are still white and clear enough: Save a horse. Ride a cowboy.

“You gotta be kidding me,” Gabriel says with a huffs, not able to stop the small smirk on his lips.

“Thought I’d play the part of a sleazy cocktail waiter,” Jesse answers, stepping closer to the bar.

“You’re close,” Gabriel comments as he tilts his head. “Just tie it in a knot to make it a crop top, and you’re set.”

“Let’s not show too much,” Jesse answers. “Don’t wanna give these folks the wrong idea. There’s only one person in here I’m interested.” He winks at Gabriel who rolls his eyes.

“You’re making me regret this.”

“Sorry, had to get it out of my system,” Jesse says, lifting his hands in surrender. “What do you need me to do?”

“Get me some glasses,” Gabriel orders after nodding towards the direction of the closet in the back. “The first row of each boxes. They’re all in the top shelf.”

“Yessir,” Jesse solutes before pacing to start his work.

“And two bags of ice from the freezer once you’re done!” Gabriel calls after him.

“Got it!”

While Jesse brings the things needed, Gabriel sets up the most used liquor bottles on the counter, and makes sure the rest on display still look good and clean. It takes McCree a few rounds, but eventually the glasses are towered on the counter, and the ice is set below. The bar opens and customers start arriving. The first few order beers, so Jesse takes care of those while Gabriel works on the cocktails. Once the orders are done, Jesse takes them to the customers that have retrieved to a table.

A group calls him over and they seem to share a joke with the cowboy that makes him laugh and he remains a few minutes with them until Gabriel whistles at him to deliver the next order.

“How am I doin, jefe?” Jesse asks after an hour.

Gabriel scoffs and answers, “pretty good.”

“Here.” The cowboy pulls out something from his pocket and opens his palm to show a few crumpled dollar bills. Gabriel realizes they're tips since most customers pay with him.

Reyes waves him off, “Keep it. They're tips, and you've earned them.”

The boy smiles, “Really? Thanks.” He pockets the money, makes sure its deep in. And picks up the new cocktails to take on a wooden tray Gabriel had found in the closet so it'd be easier to take them to customers.

M c C r e e

It might be Jesse's mind, trying to picture things that aren't there, but he believes he's good at working behind the bar with Javier. When a customer asks for a beer, or a simple shot of tequila, or whiskey, and the bartender’s busy, Jesse runs behind the bar to take care of it. They cross paths a few time, and Nieves even asks him to hand it over some bottles or glasses. They reach at each other almost in sync, like Jesse has worked with him before. It wasn't like this the first time Jesse was helping, probably because he had disliked the man, and his feelings towards Jesse were the same. That time, he was also here to clean the floor, now he was almost at Javier’s level. He wouldn't mind learning a few tricks, not just to spend time with the bartender, but also to learn new skills.

“Hey, McCree!” Someone calls behind him while he's handing over beers at another table. When he turns, he’s surprised to see Cass sitting by Felix, the guy that called him over. He still approaches the table, trying to keep his eyes on Felix.

“Fellas want anythin’?” He asks.

“Two beers,” Felix orders before he looks over at the bar and continues, “you working for Nieves now?”

“Just for today since he's injured,” Jesse says as he passes the wooden tray from one hand to another.

Cass hums, “You sure it's just for that? Or is he that good he made you his bitch?”

Jesse frowns, “it's not like that.”

“Speaking of-- don’t forget our little bet,” Felix smirks. “Keep pretending it's nothing and you’ll keep owing.”

“It’s just fifty bucks,” Jesse recalls.

Felix shakes his head and McCree catches the grin on Cass’ face. “Its up to $280”

Jesse widens his eyes, “How?”

Felix shrugs before he answers, “Few people wanted in on it and betted on him turning your ass down.”

“Make it $350,” Cass adds with a grin. “I want in.”

“It was just a game between us,” Jesse says.

“Two is boring. The more people the merrier.”

Jesse looks away from them to Javier, who’s making a drink but his gaze drifts to Jesse. It’s gentle until it catches Cass. “We can always stop here and you give us the money.” Felix brings his attention back.

Jesse scoffs, “It's alright, I’m sure I'm breakin’ through him.”

“Sure,” Felix drawls as he elbows Cass and both share a laugh.

Jesse laughs with them and says, “I'll even take a picture. I know Cass likes to see me in my back.” He winks before walking away. Javier doesn't say anything to him, but he does nod his way, as if asking if he’s okay. Jesse smiles at him before grabbing two beers and taking them to his teammates, but they don't say a word to him. It's like he wasn't there and the beers appeared magically at their table. Any other day he would be trying to enter the conversation, see what was happening around Deadlock in case he had missed something. But it seems his mind is in someone else these days.

When the bar clears and it's just him and Javier, cleaning and putting up the chairs--McCree does most of the lifting. Javier seems to be doing better, or pretends to. As long as Javier doesn't send him away, Jesse doesn't push. He’s not his mother after all, and that’s a role he’d like to stay far away from if he ever has a chance to take Javier to bed.

He wonders if the question will come, and it does once they sit to eat the quesadillas Nieves had left to make a half an hour after closing the Bunker. “Did Cass say anything to you?”

“Nothin’ to do with what happened. Don’t worry,” Jesse clears before taking a bite of the triangle piece.

“But something happened,” Nieves points out and Jesse laughs. He thinks about telling him, or he could go with his plan: lock pick the man’s door, sneak into his bed and take a quick picture. maybe Jesse won't live to tell the tale, but the picture will say more than he ever can.

He decides to tell him instead, “Remember Mal mentioned a bet when we went to kill Ecker?”

Javier purses his lips as he thinks and answers, “Yeah.”

“Well, I wasn't kiddin’. I had a bet with Felix--which started as a joke--but he kept botherin’ me about it and it kinda became real. “

Nieves raises an eyebrow, probably having an idea where this was going. “How real?”

“More people joined and now I have to pay $350 if i don’t prove I… did something with ya.”

Javier scoffs and shakes his head, “Sure, McCree.”

“I ain't lyin’! I was just wonderin’ if ya could help me.”

“By letting you in my bed?” Javier asks as he lets his hand down on the table.

Jesse smiles as he tries to play it off as a joke, “Wouldn't be so bad--”

“No,” Nieves quickly answers.

Jesse sighs and shoves a piece of quesadilla into his mouth. He knows pushing it will make it worse. He could always steal the money. He has a few savings, and having meals in the Bunker saves him a lot. He’s sure Nieves won’t let him go hungry if he decides to give the money he has to Felix.

The chair under Javier creaks against the floor as the man stands up. “Where’re you goin’?” Jesse asks when he realizes Javier’s plate is still half full.

“Don't touch my quesadilla,” the bartender responds. At least it's a sign that he'll return.

He disappears behind the door up to his apartment and Jesse continues eating by himself. It might be a little different after quickly getting used to Javier’s company, but it’s better than before he met the man. He’s not afraid his food will get stolen or messed with.

Nieves comes back, holding an empty bottle of water, a bedsheet and a pillow. Jesse watches as the bartender throws the sheet and pillow over the couch. “What's that for?” The cowboy asks as he stands up and moves closer.

“I could help you in a way that won't lead to us actually doing anything, since I’m guessing you need proof.”

“Yeah, they won't believe me if I just say I did,” the cowboy says as he stands up. “Though, I'd much rather be a man of my word end actually do it.”

“Or you can pay the money,” Nieves says as he cocks his head and raises an eyebrow, making Jesse’s heart flutter a little.

Jesse sighs and gives up on trying to actually getting the man to give in, “Fine, what do you have in mind?”

Javier steps closer to him as he squeezes the bottle. He holds Jesse with one hand on his shoulder while the mouth of the bottle presses against Jesse's neck. Javier loosens the grip and Jesse feels the suck on his skin, before it pops off. McCree realizes the plan. “Does it look real?” He asks, touching over the light burning spot that he hopes has some red and purple shading.

“I think I have to do another,” Javier says after examining the mark.

“Go ahead,” Jesse encourages.

Javier does it again around the same spot, then a quick press across.

“I think it’s enough for a picture,” Javier says.

“It won't be enough if it's just me in a picture,” Jesse points out, half hoping there's more to Nieves’ plan.

“That’s what the pillows for,” Javier points at the couch. “We just lie there and, hopefully, it'll be enough.” Nieves steps closer to the couch and Jesse follows. “Besides, I never gave you a proper pillow or sheet in case you wanted one.”

“S’long as I didn’t leave you in the cold,” Jesse scoffs.

“The pillow if one of the two I was using, but the shet is clean.” Jesse knows he’s sleep nose deep into that pillow tonight, and probably like a baby as well.

“How do you wanna…?” Jesse trails off, not really knowing how to ask.

Javier shrugs and suggests, “You lie there, where the bite is visible?”

“And you?” Jesse asks with a little grin, unable to hold it.

“Just lie there,” Nieves repeats and Jesse takes his hat off as well as his vest. The cowboy lies on the couch and pulls out his phone. His view is blocked by the screen at first, as he searches for the camera. But then the bulk figure of Nieves shadows him as he hovers over McCree. One hand going by Jesse’s sides and both thick thighs trapping Jesse’s between them. Jesse’s eyes widen and he chokes on the question.

“Don’t try anything funny,” Nieves says as he frowns and stops moving. “Or I’ll break your phone, deny anything and you’ll be force to pay your friends.”

“Got it,” Jesse says, voice breaking a little higher and clears his throat.

The man lowers, and Jesse knows he’s hesitating. He tries not to take it personally. He already said he wasn’t giving Jesse a chance because he was Jesse, but for other reasons. One of them being he has a boyfriend. And the fact that Nieves isn’t sure about this, but still goes with it to help Jesse says a lot, and doesn’t help control the butterflies in Jesse’s stomach. And the coiling in his gut going down to his groin.

He feels Javier’s breath on his neck and his own stops in his throat as he swallows hard. Next, he feels Nieves grabbing his left hand and slipping it under his shirt, rising the piece of clothing. To Jesse’s surprise, he’s soft over muscles, but he encounters a rough line by his side, like a scar. Must be another one since the wound from yesterday is on the other side. He wants to trace a finger over it and figure out the story of this one.

“Take the picture,” Javier almost growls by his ear, causing Jesse to almost drop his phone.

McCree stretches his arm as far as he can to make sure he can get his face and at least a little of Gabriel’s skin showing. He sees Javier’s left hand before he feels it as it sneaks under his red shirt. It makes the picture more authentic and his skin prickle. He snaps the photo.

“Got it?” Javier asks, the warmth of his breath against Jesse’s skin fogging. And he tries to convince himself not to get too excited.

“Another one to be sure,” Jesse says as he stretches his arm again and takes another one. Javier lifts himself a little to have a look and Jesse shows them to him.

“Should be enough for you to win some money,” Javier says with a small laugh before he messes Jesse’s hair.

The bartender gets off Jesse and goes on walking to the table, while Jesse remains behind, looking at the pictures, swiping from left to right. He prefers the second one, there’s a look of small surprise and pleasure in his eyes when Nieves placed his hand under his shirt. He locks his phone and pockets it, deciding on sending the picture in the morning. Once he’s sure his pants don’t look too tight, he stands up and joins Nieves to finish their dinner. The bartender doesn’t speak of it, and Jesse doesn’t see the point on bringing it up. He just hopes it works, and even if it doesn’t, it was worth the try for Jesse.

R e y e s

The next day, Jesse returns with 350 bucks and hands Gabriel 100 for the help. Reyes takes it without hesitation. It seemed the picture worked well by the mood the cowboy was in, and he hasn’t share any more events with Cass or other members of Deadlock. He spends most of his days after that in the Bunker, helping Gabriel however he can or just mingling around the bar.

The days continue with the usual routine: breakfast with Jesse, then some training before opening the bar, they close it and clean it together before dinner and it’s off to sleep. Jesse has respected Gabriel’s privacy more than before, and doesn’t try to go up to his apartment as before. He still throws his pick-up lines and innuendos around, but they’ve become part of the daily life of Javier Nieves by now. Gabriel thought that after the picture, after how close they were, it would fuel Jesse to try harder, but it seems it either terrified the cowboy or he thought Gabriel was too much for him to handle. Or he’s just waiting for another way to be in that position again.

The big mission is about two weeks away and he hadn’t seen Jesse the night before. After dinner, he said he had something to do and that he might miss breakfast. Gabriel didn’t ask nor told him he couldn’t go since he has no right over the boy. And he’s sure babying him would just make Jesse do whatever he wants, but more and worst.

He decides to eat breakfast by himself, up on his apartment, and doesn’t think much of it. Until he sets two plates, but only serves one. He leaves it there for now, but the empty space makes the table look too big. The room is too quiet and he starts missing the cowboy’s chatter. He has no one to blame but himself. He had told himself to not get attached, to let Jesse stay mad back when he had denied the cowboy’s repayment. But he allowed the boy to get close again. Even worse, he helped him more than he should have.

Doing what they did for the photo was crossing the line. He should’ve let Jesse pay the money or figure out what to do. It’s not like he really needed it. He was sure the cowboy didn’t pay rent or bills. And he was feeding him. All he had to do was get lunch and whatever else he wanted. And if kept helping Gabriel around, he would let him keep the tips. Okay, maybe giving the money to people like Cass wasn’t the best idea, but they could’ve done something else.

He wonders how it’ll all come crashing down. Will it be easy and quick? Will Blackwatch and Overwatch slip through the night and take down Deadlock before they even know it? Or will there be fire and blood? Will he click handcuffs around Jesse’s wrists? Or find his lifeless body in the debris?

He shakes those thoughts away. Whatever happens, will happen, no matter what he does. He believes some things are meant to be. If Jesse’s meant to live through his youth, he’ll make it somehow, whether is running for ever or locked in a cell. Reyes can’t lose sight of the bigger picture, of all the people in danger around Deadlock, for one cowboy.

Once he’s downstairs and getting the bar ready, someone knocks on the door. Is quick and with rhythm. He knows who he is and isn’t surprised to find Jesse on the other side.

“Sorry I’m late, had some stuff to do,” Jesse says as he tips his hat and enters. Gabriel quickly notices a bandage that takes about most of his forearm.

“Don’t need an explanation, kid,” Gabriel says as he closes the door.

The smile Jesse makes reaches from ear to ear. “You can’t be callin’ me that from now on.”

Gabriel raises an eyebrow, “and why not?”

“I turned 18 today,” Jesse responds as he bites his bottom lip and scans Gabriel from head to toe, as if he’s really seeing him from now on.

Gabriel crosses his arms and says, he recalls the profile he saw of Jesse after starting the mission had his birthday, but he hadn’t paid much mind. His mind makes sure to save the date: May 24. “You’re still way younger than me.”

“Okay, grandpa,” Jesse jokes as he also crosses his arms.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Gabriel asks out of curiosity.

Jesse shrugs and drops his arms to slip them in his pockets, “Birthdays aren’t a big deal around here, unless yer popular.” He scoffs and motions a hand to himself. “I ain’t as big a deal as Mal or Lina. I’m used to gettin’ nothin’.”

“Well, how’s this? Drinks free for you today? My gift.”

The cowboy’s eyes widen a little, “Well that’s quite the gift.”

“Limit to 7, and that’s because I’m in a good mood,” Gabriel adds as he starts walking to the bar. “And it’s just you, I don’t want you saying drinks are on you to anyone else or it’ll cost you.”

Jesse scoffs, “I ain’t wasting my free drinks.” Gabriel walks behind the bar and Jesse sits on a stool in front of him. “Is it limit to just beers as well or can I have other stuff?”

“Whatever you want from behind the bar,” Gabriel answers, but clears it up when Jesse opens his mouth. “Beverages only.”

Jesse clicks his tongue, “Damn. I already had my eyes on something.”

“Tough luck,” Gabriel says and nods to the bandage in Jesse’s arm. “What happened there?”

“Oh, just got a tattoo! I’ll show ya in a bit. Think I wanna get my arms all covered up like yers,” Jesse comments as he looks at Reyes’ arms, decorated completely, of course by fake sleeves.

Gabriel huffs, “Long way to go. What is it?”

“Just the Deadlock logo.”

Gabriel tilts his head and blinks, not sure if he heard right. “The gang’s logo? Why?”

“I think it’s cool, besides, most people here get it,” Jesse responds.

Gabriel places his hands on the bar and tries not to sound too serious, “Haven’t you told me what these people do to you? From not letting you eat to putting you in danger?”

“Yeah, but I know this is the life I chose. They still gave me a chance to survive. If they hadn’t picked me up I wouldn’t be celebrating 18 years.”

Gabriel doesn’t know how to go on about it. He thought, if given the chance, Jesse would run away from Deadlock, but it seems it’s not the case. If the cage door opens, Jesse might stay, because it’s what he knows. He’s not sure how to handle the real world outside the gang, even if it’s tough, he’s lived it only through a criminal’s point of view.

Gabriel doesn’t say anything else, though. Analyzing Jesse’s tattoo and bickering about it wouldn’t change anything now. “If you say so,” he says. “Plans for today?”

He watches how Jesse hesitates to answer, “Leo wants me to go to his place during lunch.”

“You’re going?” Gabriel asks.

The cowboy shrugs, “To be honest with ya, I’d like to get laid today. And Leo’s my best option.”

Gabriel nods, “If you want to, I can’t stop you, and I’ve told you that. As long as you want to.”

Jesse smiles and nods back, “I want to, thanks. Just don’t get jealous.”

Gabriel scoffs, “I’ll try not to.”

“Also, I saw another shot recipe I wanna try, can I tonight?”

“You still wanna have dinner with me?” Gabriel asks. “Thought you’d want to go out and celebrate.”

Jesse seems to think about it, before he shakes his head, “I don’t usually do much. Hanging with Leo and you will be fine. Does the shot count as one of the free seven drinks?”

“Of course.”

---

When Gabriel sees Lina enters the bar, he’s glad Jesse’s gone with Leo as soon as he notices the leather jacket in her arms, while she’s wearing one. He still smiles and shakes his head, as if he can’t believe it. She spreads the back of the jacket over the bar and shows him the stitched letters on the neck: JN.

“You shouldn’t have,” Gabriel says.

“I said I would. Try it on!” She encourages it, passing it over to Gabriel.

Gabriel looks at it, traces the logo with his gaze and focuses on his initials. He doesn’t think much about “betraying Overwatch” if he puts it on since this is just a character. Javier Nieves is not part of Blackwatch, and the most important people in his life—Jack and Ana—know that if they see them in this jacket, it means nothing.

He tries it on and it looks good, if he says so himself. He gets a nods of approval from a couple of member nearby and a thumbs up from Lina. “Hope to see you wearing it around. I knew you’d look good in leather,” she comments as she sits on a stool and rests her chin on her hand. “Plus Mal wasn’t sure about getting you one, but I made him give in. What do you think?”

“It fits nice,” Gabriel responds, looking over his shoulder at the reflection of his back. “It does suit me.”

“Just need a motorcycle—I can make it happen, Nieves.”

Gabriel laughs lightly, “No need. Wouldn’t be able to go far anyways.”

Lina scoffs, “Please, like you’ve followed that contract. I think even Mal’s aware he has broken some of the rules.”

“Yeah, because he keeps sending me on jobs. I’m with more member anyways,” Gabriel points out.

“Yeah, and as long as you don’t sell to other gangs or give out information on us, I’m good.”

“Glad to know I have people on my side. Anyways, thanks for this. Makes me feel more comfortable that you won’t shoot me in the back.”

Lina barks a laugh, “Don’t be so sure, but at least you’re safe for now.”

Gabriel hopes Lina leaves before Jesse arrives, but she stays talking with other members and drinking. Jesse comes back, with a glow on him and a pleased smile, along with a bite on his neck. But the joy leaves when he sees the jacket on Gabriel. The bartender sends him a ‘sorry’ look, but McCree still takes it up with Lina. “You got him a jacket?”

“Don’t start, McCree—Hey! How about I buy you a drink for your birthday?” Lina tries to drive the conversation away and pats him on the back.

“Why?”

“Because it’s your birthday?” Lina pretends to ignore what he’s really asking.

“That’s not what I meant,” Jesse says as he sits by her.

“Why do you need a jacket? I heard you did that,” she points at his arm and Gabriel sees the tattoo. It’s an outline of the Deadlock logo in black ink.

“Yeah, but it’s different.”

“If Nieves had gotten a tattoo, I wouldn’t gotten him the jacket,” Lina points at Gabriel. “If it really bothers you, just go back and have your initials by it.” Lina stands up. “Anyways, I gotta run. Order a drink on me, kiddo.” She taps him on the shoulder, but Jesse doesn’t look at her. “See ya later, Nieves.”

Gabriel nods her way and looks back at Jesse, who orders, “Give me the most expensive drink you can make.”

Reyes chuckles and nods. “If it makes you feel better, I won’t wear it that often.”

“Don’t have to think of my feelin’, darlin’,” Jesse insists.

“I wasn’t. It gets pretty hot in here,” Gabriel says as he flutters the jacket to circulate the air. “But I can handle it for a while longer.”

“Asshole,” Jesse comments and laughs.

---

When the bar closes, Gabriel lets Jesse behind the bar. He gathers two shot glasses, since his shift is over, and the ingredients Jesse needs: vodka, tequila, passion fruit liquor, lime juice and orange juice. He sits on one of the stools and watches as Jesse follows the short instructions from his phone and pours everything on a shaker with ice. He shakes it and then pours the yellow, almost gold liquid on each glass.

He moves one over to Gabriel and raises his to toast. “Till the angels come and ask me to fly, I’m gonna be eighteen till I die,” Jesse recites before their glasses click together and they drink. The taste is fruity and strong. Gabriel likes it and nods in approval.

“Good job,” he praises, earning a smile from Jesse. “Going after my job now?”

Jesse shrugs, “I might. Seems like you have fun.”

“The best,” Gabriel says sarcastically.

“Can’t say bartending’s the worst job you ever had,” Jesse leans over the counter. “What’s the worst job you’ve had?”

“Retail store cashier,” Gabriel lies. “Those customer think they’re always right, and that coupons never expire.”

“Yeah? Any horror stories?” The cowboy asks and walks over to the cooler where the beers are. He pulls out two and Gabriel says nothing, McCree still had one free drink for his birthday.

“Let’s see…” Reyes thinks of something while the cowboy joins him on the stool next to his and opens the bottles. He hands one to Gabriel and has a sip of his. “I was in charge of the changing rooms one time, and this kid comes in with like five pieces to try. After a while, I realize he’s taking too long and when I check on him, he comes out, says the clothes didn’t fit. I think nothing of it, until I go in to get the clothes he, rudely left, and find a women’s magazine with sticky pages.”

Jesse laughs before he drinks. And Gabriel continues, “A lady once came in while I was cashier and asked for the prices of a lot of things, and then said she didn’t want any of them. She just left. Then I got the message that she called the day before, saying she bought something, but she left it at the register, which was bullshit because she didn’t buy anything. She tried to convince my manager that she had the ticket, but left it at her sister’s car after she got him.”

Jesse laughs, “How long did you worked there?”

“About 5 years.”

Jesse huffs, “Yer tough. I would’ve been fired already.”

Gabriel chuckles, “I agree.”

Jesse rolls his eyes before both drink. When Jesse’s head lowers, Gabriel notices he’s looking at his naked arms. He had taken off his jacket a while ago and tucked in a shelf under the bar just to have it close when Lina’s around. “Do they have meanings?”

Gabriel looks down to his arms, he hadn’t thought about the tattoos on them. He hadn’t even noticed what most of them were. “Well this one,” he points at a rose. “Is for my abuela. The butterfly is for my mother.” He looks over to the other arm and finds a crux, “for my dad, and…” he trails off, looking at least something that could be part of the answer. He points at a sun on the side of his wrist, “my boyfriend.”

“Already have a tattoo for him?” Jesse asks.

“We’ve known each other for years. I still care for him when we’re off, and will always do.”

“Aw, that’s sweet,” Jesse says and Gabriel believes he means it.

---

He’s eating ham and cheese sandwiches with Jesse the next morning. The chatting is as usual, and they take quiet breaks to eat. He catches McCree looking at his tattoo more than once, but he can’t decide if he looks regretful or proud. It could be a mixture of both.

The cowboy’s phone rings and he looks at the screen. His face tenses and straightens his back before typing. Then he pocket the phone and continues eating. He falls too quiet and Gabriel starts wondering what could have gotten him like this.

“Devon wants me to kill six Devil’s Scorn members they caught snooping around his house,” Jesse says without Gabriel needing to ask.

“Why you?”

“So I can practice for the mission,” the cowboy responds. “I ask if you can come so you can see what I’m gonna do.”

Gabriel should go, but he still pretends to not be interested, “I should stay here in the bar.”

“C’mon! You’ve been tending it for a while, I think it’ll be fine,” Jesse insists. “It’s a pretty neat trick.”

“Oh, it’s that trick. Thought I had already seen it.”

“I won’t miss the sixth can this time,” Jesse assures as he winks.

Gabriel sighs and leans back, “Will it take long?”

“Nah, it’ll be a quick execution.”

This is where Gabriel’s mind gets difficult. Jesse’s about to murder six people, and he’s gonna witness it. There’s no way he can get in between this, and no time to warn Jack. Besides that, it’ll be very suspicious. Dealings like these between gangs get settle between gangs. If the police gets involved, it’s obvious one side talked.

Mal and two other guys pick them up and Gabriel expects Devon to be there when they arrive at the desert, but it turns out he will listen to Mal’s criticism if Jesse’s ready or not. Mal drives off the road and into the sand. The car tumbles below them as they go over rocks, piles of dirt and small hills. The car comes to a stop on top of a hill, the highest so far. When they step down, Mal guides them at the edge and bellow, way below, there’s a van with about six people, Gabriel believes they’re Deadlock by how they dress, and he’s sure he can spot Lina in there along with Leo. And six more others on their knees and hands tied behind their backs. They’re all scattered and Deadlock moves around the victims like wolves.

“Gun ready?” Mal asks, his eyes shadowed by the hood of his jacket. If Gabriel had known they were coming to such a hot place, he would’ve worn something to cover his face.

The cowboy nods under his hat and pulls his gun out as he walks a few steps ahead. Mal steps back, but Gabriel remains where he is and crosses his arms. “You want him to shot Devil’s Scorn from here?”

“Piece of cake,” Mal says as he shrugs.

“Just watch,” Jesse tells Gabriel over his shoulder before he looks back at his targets. He must feel powerful, being so high and mighty above the people below that might receive their end at his bullets.

Jesse’s right hand stretches and his fingers curl softly. Gabriel feels ignored and Mal might be as well. Jesse focuses on nothing but the scene below him. Like he’s counting the victims’ heartbeats and zooming in on them.

Then the gunslinger raises his gun and fires six shots. Gabriel steps closer to watch the results, and the six Devil’s Scorn members fall to the ground. The ones from Deadlock look up, still standing alive. From behind them, Mal laughs and claps. “Well done, McCree!” He pats the cowboy on the back, startling him and Jesse lowers his head. “Looks good from here, let’s see how it is down there.” The Deadlock members turn to walk back to the car, but Gabriel gets closer to Jesse.

“How did you do that?” Gabriel asks.

Jesse laughs lightly, “Told you it’s a gift.”

Gabriel huffs, “Yeah, who gave it to you?” Jesse shrugs as he lifts his head and Gabriel’s eyes widen. The pupil of the cowboy’s left eye is blown and it looks red against the sun’s light. He lifts the boy’s chin with his thumb, but Jesse shuts his eyes and looks away, as if looking at Gabriel blinds him. “You okay?”

Jesse nods, “Just takes ‘lot out of me.”

“You two coming?!” Mal calls before he gets in the car and Gabriel gives Jesse a look that tells him the conversation isn’t over.

---

Mal drops Gabriel off at the bar, but he tells Jesse to stay since they still have to go over some other stuff. The cowboy gives Gabriel a concerned look, but they have no chance to even say ‘see you later’ before Mal drives away.

Before opening the bar, he calls Jack and tells him what he saw, that he’s not even sure what he saw. “He didn’t miss, Jack. It’s different when it’s with beer cans, but this was twelve people in total, and it was like he handpicked them, and put the bullets in their skull by hand.”

“What a descriptive way to tell me,” Jack comments. “And this is what he has to do on the mission?”

“Yeah,” Gabriel responds as he sits on the small couch of the apartment’s living room. “If I’m not mistaken, he has to do it twice.”

“Where is he now?” Jack asks.

“Mal took him after they dropped me off to talk about the plan, or something.”

“Or something? Isn’t it your job to figure it out?” Jack asks, not upset, but curious and a little teasing.

“It was on the spot, I didn’t know what to do with Mal practically closing the door in my face to keep the kid inside. And I’m not sure if he’ll tell me what I want.”

“That you have to figure out,” Jack says and pauses.

“I really think this kid will be a big piece of it, he’s job is to clear the security from high ground, and he can do it,” Gabriel says. “And even if he can’t, I think they’re relying on him too much. They really want him there.”

More silence for a few seconds and then Jack says, “He can’t be there. We can’t risk it. Besides, you will reveal yourself there and we don’t know how he’ll react. Could be dangerous.”

“Are you afraid of an 18-year-old, Jackie?” Gabriel pesters.

“Well, you sounded amazed by his trick,” Jack points out and laughs. “Makes me think we should take some precaution.”

Gabriel hums as he thinks, “We have to make most of Deadlock leave McCree unattended the night before. If he stays with me, I can make sure he doesn’t leave.”

“Like bust one of their members? Cause a distraction,” Jack adds. “How will you keep the kid with you?”

Gabriel bites his bottom lip, already knowing what to do, but he says, “I’ll figure it out.”

M c C r e e

Mal took Jesse to where the big mission’s gonna take place, and the possible spot he’ll have to stand. It’s a water tower, higher than the cliff he practiced on and only one safe way down. As soon as he was spotted, he had to figure out a way down. Mal practically told him he’ll be on his own since the rest will be working on getting the bomb and dealing with the targets McCree might not get.

This puts pressure on him. The number of guards he manages to take down will determined the chances of Deadlock succeeding. Maybe, no one will pay attention to the kid that kills six people at the same time and focus on Deadlock and the bomb. Jesse can only hope.

When he steps back into the bar, it’s busy and he gets lost in the sea of people. Javier’s back it to the entrance and he enjoys the way his shoulder blades poke out of his shirt before walking towards the couch that has an empty spot. He looks towards the door to Javier’s apartment, the pillow and sheet he has been using should be on one of the steps, where Nieves always puts them on so they don’t get messed up. Jesse wants nothing more than to go grab them and curl on the couch. He’s starting to feel overprotective of the sofa, which has becomes his bed. Almost like the Bunker is his room and safe space. No one should be allowed here with such comfort, only him and Javier.

He sits quietly on the couch as he looks over at the bartender. He’s sure he won’t be able to go to the mission, unless Mal softens up and lets him. After all, he’s been going on jobs for some time now. If not, then he will really be on his own. No one else but his thoughts and the ghost of Nieves’ voice telling him to breath.

The moments look like out of a movie. Where the hero gets the guts to tell his love interest how much they want them, and kisses them like it’ll be their last kiss. The desire to do it is big in Jesse, but he knows that will only earn him a punch. And he should stay low for the next two weeks, which means no trouble or injuries, nothing that will cause him to miss or put himself in jeopardy for the mission.

At dinner, he waits for Nieves to talk first, “You only have to do that once?”

Jesse shrugs, “As many times as it takes.”

Javier frowns at him, “You can’t do that more than once. It’s not… is it even possible?”

“Did it once,” Jesse answers and takes a bite of his burger. “Almost passed out, and blood came out of my eye.”

“McCree,” Javier says and the way makes Jesse’s shin crawl. It’s a bit of thrill and fear. “It’s dangerous.”

“But I have to.”

The bartender rolls his eyes, “You’re willing to risk your health for them?”

If Jesse was being honest, he was starting to think it over. “I might not make it.”

Javier raises an eyebrow and asks, “What do you mean?”

“Mal said they can’t risk sending people to get me if I get ambushed.” Jesse leans back. “And there’s only one way out of where I’ll be standing.”

“You know?”

Jesse nods, “And it’s way higher and further than I thought it was…”

“You can back out,” Javier suggests, too naïve.

Jesse scoffs, “Sure, and have my head fed to Devon. Drop it, Nieves.”

The older man sighs and shakes his head lightly as he grabs his own burger. The motion and look of disappointment in his face makes Jesse want to keep talking about it. Find a middle ground, but all he wants to do now is enjoy the next few days in the Bunker, with Nieves. Eating the meals he makes and enjoy the view when he does his tricks.

He’ll use that as motivation to come back. Because Jesse McCree will return to Javier Nieves and keep being a pain in his ass.

---

Jesse’s lying on the dirty couch the next afternoon, on a slow day compared to the one before. There’s no pillow or sheet, but it’s close to comfort. Especially since he’s tucked in the leather jacket that’s too big for him with the initials JN stitched on the inside of the neck. The sleeves run over his knuckles and he likes the warmth it brings him. He’s wrapped in Javier’s smell and it feels like the home he hasn’t known in years. He turns to his side to have a better look at the bartender at work, serving drinks to Lina and the other members around her. Though Jesse had hardly seen Nieves wear the jacket before he snatched it away, it feels just as he imagines it would feel to be wrapped in his arms.

“Why haven’t you wore your jacket?” He refocuses on Lina as she talks to Javier about it. “I went out of my way to get it for you and you barely wear it.”

He gives her an apologetic smile, “Sorry, Lina, I’m not used to wearing jackets with this heat; especially leather. It’s safely upstairs, and I wear it when I get cold. Promise.”

Jesse sinks lower into the couch and pulls the neck of the jacket over his mouth as he closes his eyes and pretends to sleep.

R e y e s

“If you didn’t like it you could have said it,” Lina rolls her eyes at Gabriel and he laughs.

“I did, it was a nice gift. I’ll keep it under the counter from now on if it makes you feel better.”

“Whatever, as long as you didn’t throw it away on purpose.” Lina takes the drinks she had ordered and leaves as she fakes being upset about it.

Gabriel shakes his head as he chuckles and his eyes fall on Jesse, pretending to be asleep on the couch. He knows Jesse took his jacket and there’s a punch in his stomach when he realizes this could only fuel Jesse’s affections for him. Seeing him looking smaller than he is in the jacket only makes him wish he hadn’t seen it. He doesn’t have the heart to get it back now. He will just have to buy a similar one and keep it under the counter to get Lina off his back about it.

Chapter Text

R e y e s

A week before the big mission, the bar starts filling up more than usual. Those that were out of the state have to  come back for it and missions are lower in numbers since they want everyone on their best when it comes. Gabriel sees more of Devon, but he only orders drinks and doesn’t say another word. Because Deadlock is around a lot, Jesse also spends more time in the bar. The cowboy spends some time talking to Gabriel over the counter until he gets called by someone and leaves with a tip of his head and a smile. He returns again after a while and continues the conversation like they were never interrupted.

Gabriel won’t admit it to anyone, much less McCree, but he misses the kid helping him out at the bar, even if it only was for that day. It’s noticeable how much work he has by himself, especially on this busy week. Jesse proved himself very useful and followed Gabriel’s orders fine. Maybe it’s not that bad that the cowboy is so fond of Gabriel (in that case at least). As the clock ticks closer to the big day, Gabriel can’t help wondering what will become of McCree once he leaves him behind.

He tilts his head as Jesse rambles on about something another Deadlock member told him while his own mind works. Maybe he can help Jesse before he leaves. If he warns him in a way that won’t give his true identity away—Jesse might like him, but Gabriel’s not sure how he will react knowing Javier is nothing but a disguise. And, if he feels too overwhelmed or trapped, he might go running to Deadlock.

His thoughts are interrupted when Mal approaches them and claps a hand on Jesse’s back, “McCree, I need ya.”

Jesse shuts his lips mid-sentence to look at him, “What’d ya need?”

Mal looks over at Gabriel and he gets the hint. The bartender raises his hands and walks away in understanding, he has a drink he needs to get ready anyways. But that doesn’t mean he has to abandon the conversation. With the device in his ear, he can work and listen.

“One of our guys following the bomb trade contacted us,” Mal starts, “The boat they’re transporting it on is a cruise ship, can you believe that?”

Jesse scoffs, “It’s a good cover, I guess.”

“And dangerous, I like it. The cruise ship is gonna be in Long Beach tomorrow night for a fancy party before it departs for Russia the next morning.” Mal continues while Gabriel mixes the liquor and adds ice to the shaker, “The guy hosting it is someone we know, Mortimer Hicks.”

“Doesn’t ring a bell right now,” Jesse confesses.

“Not to you, but it does to Devon. They go way back…” Gabriel walks away. Even with the device, Mal and Jesse get lost with the other chatter, so he makes sure to come back quickly and start prepping another order. “You can get in without a problem, but no tampering with locks or anything. Use the vents to get around. There must be blueprints around the ship, and we might get a heads up of where the bomb will be.”

“And if I find it?” Jesse asks.

“Plant these around in the room...” Gabriel doesn’t turn to see what Mal’s handing to Jesse, but he has a feeling he’ll find out. “And around the ship. It’ll help us have a look on the inside.”

After a moment of silence, Jesse answers, “Alright.”

“Good boy.” Gabriel turns around to hand the drink to the customer and sees Mal grasping Jesse’s shoulder and getting up from the stool he had sat on at some point. “Cass will be waiting at six in the morning. Get ready, it’ll be a long ride. You can afford a train ticket right?”

Jesse hesitates, “I guess. But Cass?”

“We got two invitations to the party, and Cass works well in this kind of thing.”

“Why not Leo?” Jesse insists.

“He’s out of town to pick up some members from Florida,” Mal responds.

“Albert?”

Mal laughs, “That old man will stand out like a sore thumb.”

“Felix?”

“Stop, McCree, it’s Cass.” Mal sounds annoyed. “You better not let us down after waiting for this.”

“Got it,” Jesse answers with a tone of submission.

Gabriel waits a few minutes and serves a couple of beers before rejoining Jesse, who seems lost in thought. “Everything okay?”

Jesse chews on his bottom lip as he looks at Gabriel from head to stomach, as if he’s coming up with some scheme. “Kinda. I gotta run for a bit.” The cowboy stands up. “See ya later.”

Gabriel decides on not pushing, considering he shouldn’t look so interested in a conversation he wasn’t supposed to listen. He simply nods and says, “Okay.”

The cowboy sends him a wink and a smile before walking away.

---

Jesse doesn’t come back and when the clock hits ten that night, Gabriel doesn’t think he’ll see him at all. He keeps himself busy with more orders to run and a crowded bar. He doesn’t wanna think about Jesse, feeling trapped in a compartment with Cass for about ten hours. He doesn’t even want to think if he’ll see the cowboy again in one piece.

Lina is around and so is Felix. Lina orders something and says a few words to him, but after that she dives into the crowd. He wants to asks if she has seen McCree, the question hangs in his tongue, but he swallows it.

About half an hour later, Mal enters the Bunker with Jesse behind him, who looks smug. Mal doesn’t look happy, making his way to Lina while the cowboy walks straight to Gabriel. “Back so soon?” Gabriel jokes.

“Missed ya too,” Jesse responds as he sits on a stool.

“Want something?”

Jesse hums and looks back at Mal before answering, “I’ll let ya know.”

Mal comes over after a minute or two with Lina at his heel. “Lina will take over the bar tomorrow.”

Gabriel raises an eyebrow, “Why?”

“McCree has a job to do, but his partner is no show.”

Gabriel tilts his head at Jesse, who’s looking too pleased. “¿Qué hiciste?” [“What did you do?”]

Jesse shrugs and Mal looks between them before he says, “None of that shit while I’m around. I’m starting to think Nieves is also in in your games.”

“I swear I’m just as surprised as you are,” Gabriel says.

“Whatever. I’d go through every other member if I didn’t think he’d pull some shit on all of them. And we don’t have time for that. Maybe Cass’ clothes will fit you.” The criminal drops a bag he had walked in with on top of the counter before poking Jesse’s chest, “You better fill him in. I’ll go deal with Cass.”

Gabriel watches Mal walk away and then looks at Jesse. “How long am I supposed to be gone?”

Jesse purses his lips in thought, “At least 24 hours since we’re taking a ten hour ride from here to Long Beach.”

Reyes widens his eyes, “What? I can’t leave the bar unattended for a day.”

Lina shrugs, “I’ll see if I can get some help runnin’ it while you’re gone. I’ll open up late and close up early.”

Gabriel scoffs and shakes his head lightly, “What am I doing anyways?”

“A last minute job,” McCree responds, turning side to side on the stool

“By the way Mal reacted, it doesn’t look like a last minute thing.”

“It’s nothing big, no one is supposed to die,” Lina assures him. “You’re going to a party. I’m actually kinda jealous.”

“Then why don’t you go?” Gabriel asks.

“Mal chose Jesse and Cass, because Jesse can fit through vents and move quick.” Lina sits on the stool besides McCree and continues, “Cass because he can provide muscle, but you care for his scrawny ass. A bonus Cass didn’t have.”

“Aw, that’s sweet of ya,” Jesse says to Gabriel.

“Don’t care enough to leave just like that,” Gabriel persists, staying in character. Javier shouldn’t be that eager to go on jobs.

“We know Jesse did something to Cass—which I want details of later,” Lina looks at the cowboy in question. “And we don’t have time to look for someone just to have McCree do something to them again. Besides, he listens to you more.”

“I like it when he talks,” Jesse says nonchalantly.

Gabriel frowns at Jesse and says, “Me debes una.” [“You owe me one.”]

“Lo que quieras, cariño.” [“Whatever you want, Darling.”]

---

Jesse fills him in during dinner: Mortimer Hicks, a man Deadlock once crossed paths with, rented the cruise ship Volskaya is delivering the bomb in for one night to throw a party. The boat will depart back to Russia the next morning. The plan is to mingle for a while, and then McCree goes through the vents in search of what he needs and plants a few hidden cameras around. He dug through the bag Mal had brought and showed Gabriel the small devices. Gabriel has a hunch the cowboy isn’t telling him all the details, but he decides to distract him with conversation before learning more.

“Always wanted to go on a cruise,” he comments as he twirls his fork on his plate to roll up some of the spaghetti they’re having for dinner.

“Yeah? Never really thought much about ‘em,” McCree adds and shoves a bit of the pasta in his mouth. “To be honest, seems kinda scary. Who knows what’s under that ocean if the boat sinks.”

Gabriel scoffs, “Would you rather explore the ocean or space?”

Jesse licks his lips before answering, “Space.”

“Really?”

“You chose ocean?”

Gabriel shrugs, “Yeah. At least I know it ends somewhere, right? I could be floating for years in space and never find an end.”

“Exactly.” McCree points his fork at Gabriel, “There’s no limits in space.”

“You just said it’s scary not knowing what’s in the ocean,” Gabriel points out.

“Yeah, but I know half of the shit: sharks, piranhas, killer whales, and every other nasty lookin’ thing in between. I wanna find boundaries no one has before. Hear nothing instead of that muffled noise when yer under water. And see the stars fallin’ and catch the stardust.” Jesse’s eyes land on Gabriel and the boy looks like he’s about to recite a poem about his eyes.

“Don’t say it,” Gabriel tries to stop him, but a grin appears on his face.

“What? That I already feel like I’m soarin’ through space when I look at your gorgeous eyes?”

“I’m the kind of guy that wants people to see an abyss instead of stardust.”

“You’re gun’ cut me with that edge,” McCree laughs. “You’ll have to get used to me sayin’ these things to ya tomorrow.”

Gabriel’s grin fades, “Why?”

“We’re going under different names, and as a couple.”

“Ah, now I know why you threw Cass of a cliff,” Gabriel says as he pushes a meatball around his plate.

“I did no such thing. And it don’t matter what the job is; I don’t wanna spend so much time with him.”

Gabriel notices the way Jesse’s jaw clenches. “I understand, and if it makes you feel better that I take his place, then fine. But you can’t do it again without my permission.”

Jesse chuckles, “Permission?”

“Well, I need to know, Jesse. I’m gonna leave the bar unattended for a day.” He notices the way McCree smirks and bites his lips. “What?”

“I love it when you say my name.”

Gabriel rolls his eyes, “The job hasn’t started.”

“Like I have to be undercover to fake those words.”

---

Since they have to be at the station early, Gabriel makes them sandwiches for breakfast and takes extra money to buy them food on the train. He has to wake up Jesse and he realizes how hard it is without the smell of food to help. But he manages to drag him off the couch and into the taxi that takes him to the station.

The station looks fairly new, up to date with the latest tech, and the trains pull up with hardly any noise. They both buy their tickets from an omnic behind a window and wait for it to arrive. It’s early, but he thinks it’s a reasonable amount of people. Their train isn't packed, which helps them get their own compartment. As soon as Gabriel sits down on the booth, he decides to rest a few hours since it’s comfortable enough. Jesse collides on the one across from him and covers his face with his hat before dozing off.

Both forgot about the sandwiches when they settled in, but had them for lunch, still sitting from across each other. Once Jesse is done with his, he pulls out two envelopes from the bag and pulls out the cards inside. Gabriel assumes they are the invitations to the party.

“You’re Noah Keaton,” Jesse hands him his invitation, “I’m Jeremy Waltz. A couple that became rich after their amateur porn website took off, specializing in hidden camera videos.”

Gabriel raises an eyebrow as he looks at the invitation. It says the name and the place where it’ll be held. “Wouldn’t the guy know we aren’t these people?” he asks, waving his invitation.

“Nah, he just invites young, rich and popular people around the internet. But he has earned a reputation for his fancy parties.” Jesse leans back on the seat, dropping his invitation by his side.

“How did Mal manage to keep the real Keaton and Waltz from coming?”

The cowboy combs his hair with his fingers as he responds with, “they went to their usual dealer last night, which is an old friend of Mal’s.” Gabriel guesses where the story’s going. “The dealer gave them somethin’ new that made them pass out, so he’s keepin’ them locked for now.”

“What’ll happen when they wake up?” Gabriel questions.

Jesse shrugs, “Sometimes it’s natural that people pass out after tryin’ somethin’ new. But I guess it’s not natural that they wake up a day or two later...” He trails off, realizing his own words.

Gabriel wants to ask if Jesse trusts Keaton and Waltz will wake up unharmed, but that will either sour Jesse’s mood, or make him doubt too much. Or, Gabriel will receive the answer he should expect from a gang member: he doesn’t care.

“So, I should let you know I’m okay with any display.” McCree pulls his attention again.

“What?” Gabriel asks, a little distracted.

The cowboy smiles and says, “If ya wanna hold my hand, kiss me a little or get handsy, I don’t mind, sweetpea.”

Then Gabriel realizes he’s talking about their cover. “Thanks for letting me know. My boundaries are tight, so keep your hands to yourself.”

“Aw, c’mon, we gotta show somethin’,” Jesse presses.

“Fine. We can hold hands, then we’ll see if anything else is needed.”

“Hope so,” Jesse mumbles as he pulls something from the bag before standing up and moving over to Gabriel’s side. The man raises an eyebrow at him, but notices it’s just a deck of poker cards. “Wanna play?”

Gabriel scratches his chin as he thinks about it. They still have hours to go before they stop, so might as well actually do something. He doesn’t tell Jesse he has played before, so the look of surprise when he wins is priceless. But McCree takes the second round.

“Tell you what, since this will untie the record, why don’t we make it strip poker?” Jesse asks with a grin.

“I should say yes, it’ll be an easy win with you drooling over me,” Gabriel answers as he shuffles the cards.

“I’d say it’d be a win win, sugar.”

The strip doesn’t happen, and Gabriel wins. As a reward, Jesse suggests going to the bar a few carts away and buying him a drink. Reyes doesn’t deny it. Halfway through their chat, drinks and pretzels, Gabriel forgets they’re on their way to a mission.

When their stop comes close, they start changing clothes. Jesse pulls off his thin gray shirt and Gabriel looks away when the cowboy pulls down his pants. The cowboy notices this and laughs. “You can look if you want, sweetheart. I ain’t shy.”

Gabriel ignores him as he pulls his own shirt off over his head and quickly buttons up the red velvet one set aside for him. He can feel Jesse’s hungry gaze on him, but he doesn’t bother telling him to look away until he unzips his pants. “Look away, vaquero.”

Jesse groans and hesitates to do so until Gabriel glares at him. Jesse chuckles as he turns around and covers his face with his hat. He finishes the outfit with a black vest decorated with a pattern. The shirt runs a little tight, but he can handle it for the night. Jesse’s outfit is similar but his shirt is midnight blue.

They get down at the station and follows McCree out of the building. The streets is jammed with taxis picking up and dropping off people. Jesse tries catching one, but someone else beats him to it. After ten minutes, Gabriel gives up and checks the cheapest car they can rent for the night. He drives while Jesse sits in the passenger seat, and takes the time to put the small cameras inside the sole of his boots.

After that, he sits back and admires the scenery around him. When Gabriel looks at him, he looks like a child admiring a new world for the first time. It takes Gabriel back to the car chase and how he wanted to keep driving and let the cowboy explore. That was a childish thought and one that can never happen. McCree is not seen as a kid anymore, and when the time comes, he will be judged like an adult. Gabriel isn’t sure if he’s ready to let the cowboy lose the rest of his youth.

M c C r e e

When they get there, the cruise ship is decorated in black and silver with a few red accents. There’s a red carpet that leads up the stairs and into the ship, and a lot of young, beautiful people in fancy clothing. Expensive cars drive by and the guests get out before making their way over the carpet. The stairs that lead up to the cruise are guarded with men and two metal detectors.

They show their invitations and Jesse goes first to get inspected. He pulls out his phone and wallet to hand to one of the guards before they search him. The detector goes off at his feet and the guards stand straighter. McCree takes his boots off and a guard looks them over. He spins the metal spurs around and nods at his partner to search him again. Once Jesse’s clear, he’s allowed to go through. Javier goes next and he goes through quicker, having nothing but his wallet and phone on him. When they reach the top of the stairs, a guy in a tux hands them two simple black masks to cover their eyes. Jesse didn’t know this was part of it, but must just be a detail to the party.

Javier looks at him questionably as the cowboy puts his on. He nudges Nieves to do the same until he does and both walk in, close. Jesse wants to slip his arm around Nieves’, to start their act and to also keep him near him, but he wonders if the bartender will be up for it already. And if he isn’t, his reaction might bring attention.

They follow the fancy red carpet through a hall and a waiter offers them  each a glass of white wine. Javier hesitates while Jesse gulps his own before they walk into the main hall. The room is a little foggy, with the smell of tobacco mixing with alcohol. There are dancers in fancy lingerie as well as waiters and waitresses. The guests aren’t shy to pull the dancers close and touch them. Everyone’s wearing the same black mask, drinking and laughing and having a good time.

“Did Mal say what kind of party this was?” Javier asks in Jesse’s ear.

“Fancy,” Jesse answers.

Javier hums as he looks around. Jesse’s pretty sure they’re noticing the same things. There’s a few velvet couches in corners where people sit close enough they could be in each other’s laps. By the way they smile and the look in their eyes through the masks, Jesse knows they’re flirting. Not only are there couples that look like they’re about to fuck in front of the crowd, but there are also men on the couches being given a show from the dancers.

“Everyone seems mighty comfortable,” Jesse comments.

“Too comfortable,” Javier adds before he drinks from his glass. The way his eyes widen and his tongue slips between his lips after having a taste tell Jesse he likes it. But also give the cowboy a sinful image. The tight shirt over the older man’s chest and arms doesn’t help one bit.

Jesse looks at a dessert table and decides to go there. Javier’s close by, which he likes. He doesn’t wanna lose him in this crowd, even if at some point he will have to leave him for a while. For now he wants to enjoy his company and keep him as close as possible in case someone gets the idea of stealing him away.

He grabs a small plate with a few cakes and chocolate truffles and Javier does the same. They turn around to look over the hall as they munch on their treats. Nieves moves first, looking around the room at the people and decorations. It’s elegant and classy, a little of art deco and a romantic aura. He spots an arch way that leads to a hall, and two guards stand by it. Once in a while, a couple passes by, two love birds that are too drunk on lust. Jesse’s guess is that hall leads to a few rooms where couples are allowed to do whatever they desire. That’s his best bet to get into the vents without being seen.

When Jesse’s done eating and puts down the plate, he dares to test the waters and curls his pinky around Nieves’. He eyes the older man who looks unbothered by it. “I wonder if we could go somewhere more private.” Jesse thinks out loud and Nieves looks in the direction of the hall, just in time to catch another couple locking arms and looking at each other intensely as they walk in.

“I hope so,” Nieves says as he looks down at Jesse, eyes going too soft and catch the cowboy off guard.

Nieves pulls his hand away before Jesse can strengthen his finger around it. He’s about to come up with an excuse as to why they should show more closeness, but the man is ahead of him and he circles his arm around Jesse’s.

“Can’t let you on the loose too much or you might want to explore other options,” Nieves says like a normal conversation.

“You know me so well, sugar,” Jesse follows. “But I’ll always come back. Your body drives me crazy.” Jesse tries to keep his southern drawl out of his voice, making it harder to decipher who he truly is.

“Promise to show me how crazy if we get that alone time?” If this is a good way to get lost in the crowd, Jesse can’t tell. The way Javier is looking at him is too real to think straight. He should’ve thought this through before drugging Cass in the motel room he invited him into before leaving.

“Promise,” Jesse says with parched lips.

“Welcome, gentlemen!” A guy stops in front of them, with black ink hair and a thin moustache to match. He’s wearing a fancy suit and holding a glass of wine. “I’m your host, Mortimer Hicks. I’m glad you could attend.”

“The pleasure’s ours,” Jesse answers. “I’m Jeremy Keaton, and this is my partner.”

Javier laughs low against his ear and Jesse almost yelps when the older man’s arm snakes around his waist. “So eager to take my name, you don’t even wait for a ring.” Jesse tenses besides Javier when he realizes his mistake. The man’s mouth comes close to Jesse’s forehead, freezing him in place. He’s sure Javier’s about to kiss him, but turns away at the last second. “I’m Keaton, Noah Keaton.”

“My partner,” Jesse repeats as he clears his throat.

“Waltz and Keaton, yes! From Kinkennel.com! Once I learned most of my toys are seen on your website, I knew I had to invite you.”

“How can they not be? They please the most,” Jesse plays along.

“But I must say, you are younger than I thought,” Mortimer’s sleazy gaze travels over Jesse’s body.

The cowboy’s not sure if he imagines Javier’s arm tightening around his waist in a possessive way or if it’s entirely real. A grin grows on his lips and nods. “Happens a lot when I shave.”

Hicks’ gaze spots Javier’s muscular arm before moving over the man’s equally impressive body. The host chuckles, “Now I understand why your second most popular category is twinks and bears!”

Jesse huffs, “I love what I love.” He wraps his own arm around Nieves and feels his hard hips. His throat tightens and his palms starting to sweat. “He gets the job done.”

“And he’s easy to manhandle,” Nieves adds.

“Oh, I like your way of thinking,” Hicks points at Javier. “Please, down the hall there are some rooms with my newest collection. Feel free to use them while you’re here, and have fun! My men always replace them with new ones after a couple leaves the room.”

“In that case, we’ll take a look. It has been a while since we made our own video.”

“You’ve posted before? Maybe I’ve seen you.”

“We have our own private collection,” Nieves answers. “I don’t like sharing him in the open too much or he gets cocky.”

“Everything I do, I do with a purpose,” Jesse adds and winks at Hicks, who laughs.

“It was nice meeting you gentlemen,” the man says. “Let me know how you enjoy my new collection. Perhaps after, we can discuss business. Enjoy yourselves!”

“Thanks for havin’ us,” Jesse finishes before Mortimer walks away to greet more guests.

Jesse barely moves, afraid to break contact with Nieves, but the man shifts and his arm slips off Jesse’s hips. He misses it quickly, but then Nieves moves his hand to lift Jesse’ chin with his thumb. “What do you wanna do, mi sol?” The bartender’s doing this too well, and playing too dirty.

“I need to sit down,” Jesse says and licks his lips. He doesn’t miss the quick flicker of Nieves’ eyes on his mouth. "We can talk about what to do.” Jesse guides Javier onto an empty couch, surprised when the man allows him to hold his hand as they walk. Once they sit, Javier sits closer, body turned to Jesse and his elbow resting on the backrest while he looks at the cowboy. While the couch is fairly private, they still remain in character in case of nosey guests. People are watching others just as much as they are lost in their own words.

Jesse recognizes these kinds of people; they like the types of shows where people get lost in the essence of sex, drugs and alcohol. Not everyone might know who Javier and Jesse are portraying exactly due to the masks, but he’s guess is that everyone in here is involved with at least one of those three themes. And if they acted too proper, that might call more attention.

“If I had known you weren’t afraid of making such moves in public, I would’ve done it sooner.”

“I’m doing what I think you like,” Nieves says and Jesse believes he means for the mission. “Do you think we’ll find the perfect toy for our collection in that room?”

“We’ll have to try. ¿Y tu novio? [“And your boyfriend?”]” Jesse uses Spanish as their own code, though he’s also being polite about Nieves’ boyfriend. He’s sure Javier has never done anything like this, he doesn’t know the lengths he’ll be willing to go.

Javier leans closer and rests a hand on Jesse’s thigh. It sends a wave of heat over his body, making it too hot to be wearing clothes. Then he whispers, “I wanna finish this as soon as possible. Solo la piel que vez, menos los labios. [“Only the skin you see, minus the lips.”]” That’s the permission Jesse needs, but his hands can’t seem to move. His brain isn’t working correctly and all he can focus on is Nieves’ hazel eyes that look like they’re undressing him in a more intimate way than sexual.

He looks predatory, and it feels like he’s sinking Jesse’s body to the couch even if they haven’t moved. And Jesse wishes it were true. Nieves rolls his eyes before he looks around, reconsidering what he said. McCree believes he lost his chance, until Javier moves forward again and his lips make contact with the cowboy’s exposed neck.

Jesse yelps and his skins crawls. His senses sharpen and he can feel every cell running through his heating blood. The fever spreads to his bones. His core lights up with a flame that sets fireworks against his lungs. Javier’s warm mouth leaves burn marks over his skin, yet he shivers to the touch. His hands grab Jesse’s hips and pulls him closer.

“Nieves,” Jesse gasps in the older man’s ear.

“Jeremy,” Javier corrects, whispering back, and agony pinches his chest because this is all fake. Once they get back to the Bunker, Javier will be back to being him, he will talk to his sweet boyfriend, and won’t want to be this close to Jesse again. He’s still grateful Nieves has run along with this plan, and has been there to help Jesse through many things for the past month. That alone should be enough. Nieves has given him the time and attention no one has in years. And maybe that’s why he has stuck deeper under Jesse’s skin.

The more Javier’s lips move over his neck, the harder it is for the cowboy to keep his grip. His fingers claw at Javier’s shirt, wanting to tear it apart and feel the rest. His pants feel too tight as his dick starts to wake to the contact. He bites his lips; there’s no way he can call Javier by his fake name. He wants to remain in the fantasy. Even if it’ll hurt when he falls from this high.

He wasn’t ready for the touch to be this intense. It’s a cold tidal wave and a wildfire fighting in him at once. The man has him trembling when his hands move away from a spot, but it’s scorching when his breath brushes Jesse’ skin. His bravado falters against Javier’s power and the sense of dominance he implies just by holding Jesse’s hips close to him. He’s too far gone that he misses when Javier’s knee brushes his bulge and moves away after feeling it hard.

“That’s what the rooms are for,” a guest comments and giggles as they walk away with their partner in hand.

“Move,” Nieves growls in Jesse’s ear, maybe annoyed, but Jesse wants to pretend its passion.

Jesse smiles at Nieves as he gets up and pulls him by his hand to guide him to the rooms. Nieves follows like he’s actually mesmerized by McCree. The guards don’t question them as they walk into the hall and they search for an empty room. When they hear noises coming from behind doors with a red ribbon around the knob, they can tell which ones are empty.

Jesse pulls Nieves into one and shuts the door behind them. He lets go of Javier’s hand as soon as it locks and his eyes scan the walls for a vent and there’s one perfect for him to fit. He looks around the room again and notices the big bed with fancy sheets and a dresser with different toys on top. There’s simple dildos, up to more elaborate ones that are designed to represent creatures like monsters, werewolves and tongues. There’s also a few plugs, anal beads and bottles of lube, along with condoms. Nearby is a coffee table with marijuana sitting uncovered in a fancy glass container, pipes and papers available next to it. Next to that is a pastry display with small cakes and candy, and two bottles of wine with up to six glasses to drink from.

“Well, seems like you’ll be taken care of while I’m gone,” Jesse says as he takes off his vest and rolls up the sleeves of his shirt.

“You didn’t bring your gun, did you?’ Javier asks, turning away from the coffee table.

“Didn’t think I’d need it, to be honest. Plus I knew they would find it.” Javier looks concerned, but Jesse smiles back at him. “I’ll be in an’ out.”

“Alright, I could use a little rest,” Nieves says before he collapses back on the bed. His body bounces and the crimson covers shape his body neatly. It’s too tempting of an image to not want to lie next to him. Jesse looks away and works the vent open, using the dresser for support. He crawls inside and doesn’t look back.

R e y e s

Gabriel closes his eyes for a few minutes, letting his brain relax. He doesn’t want to think about the thrill of feeling Jesse’s younger skin against his lips. He took this scene too far, believing it was an actual mission of his, were he had to act completely like someone new. Hell, being Javier Nieves was his mission, he shouldn’t bother pretending to be someone else on top of the bartender.

By how easy it was to get in, and how laid back everyone seems to be in the party, he’s not worried that many guards are around. He’s sure this boat has to do with the bomb from Russia, and Hicks probably knows nothing of it. He’s just throwing a party to have a good time.

Gabriel stands from the bed after a while and grabs a velvet little cake while he looks over the toys on the dresser. He grabs a curvy green and purple dildo that seems to mimic an alien’s member, at least it looks like it to Gabe. He considers having some fun while he’s on his own, might as well actually use the room. But he doesn’t know when Jesse will return, and he doesn’t wanna risk being in an awkward spot.

Instead he opens a bottle of lube and spreads some on his hand and coats the dildo with it, as well as the beads and a normal vibrator. It’ll help their cover. Then he sits back by the coffee table and serves himself a glass of wine. It’s been so long since he felt this relaxed and he knows he’s gonna miss it dearly when it’s over.

---

“Enjoyin’ yerself?” The cowboy crawls out of the vent after half an hour, finding Gabriel sprawled over the bed, one of the bottles of wine half empty and display of sweet treats almost gone.

“You told me to,” Gabriel responds and shoves a piece of brownie into his mouth.

The cowboy huffs as he grabs the second bottle of wine and breaks the seal. “This one’s fer me, I guess.” Jesse flops by Gabriel’s side, tipping the pastry display a little with his weight on the mattress. His hand  hovers over the remaining sweets as he decides on what to grab.

He waits for the cowboy to sip some wine and eat a treat before asking, “Run into any trouble?”

Jesse shakes his head, “Nah, place was pretty empty.”

“Good,” Gabriel responds and shoves a chocolate truffle into his mouth as Jesse takes another sip. “And got what you wanted?”

“Yeah, now we’ll have the visuals to most hallways and the room we need.”

“For what?” Gabriel raises his eyebrow and Jesse hesitates. McCree looks at him, debating if he should tell him, but at the end he talks.

“This is the boat they’ll carry the bomb in.”

“Bomb?”

“Yeah, from Volskaya. A bomb they want to keep here in case another omnic crisis happens. Devon wants it.”

“Oh, I think I remember something,” Gabriel pretends to think. “On my first day, Devon called for a meeting and talked about it, but I didn’t pay much attention to it. I miss that day, before I met you and didn’t give a crap about anyone in this gang.”

Jesse laughs, “Well, I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Gabriel scoffs and shakes his head before grabbing the bottle and having a sip.

“That’s damn good,” Jesse comments.

“I know,” Gabriel adds, looking at the label. “Think we can sneak a bottle out of here?”

“We can try. I’ll make your deepest desires come true, darlin’.”

Gabriel elbows him and passes the bottle over. Jesse finishes off and the pastry display. The cowboy groans and stretches onto the bed. “Wow! This bed demands to have sex on it!”

“They’re bouncy,” Gabriel says.

“Did you try it out without me?”

“I’m not that fast. I like to take my time.”

“Oh?” Jesse sits back up with a smirk. “Tell me more about that.”

“So you can get another boner? I don’t need to feel it again, vaquero.”

“Hey, can you blame me? Your mouth on me was just… hot.”

“You could’ve told me to stop.”

“Are you kiddin’?!” Jesse chuckles, “You know I’ve been wantin’ you for awhile. Don’t know why my dick surprised ya. Was it because it’s bigger than you thought?”

“Yeah, because I waste my time imagining what your body parts look like.” Gabriel rolls his eyes and stands up. “We should get going.”

“Aw, we have to? It’s cozy here.”

Gabriel considers it, but he’s not too sure about spending time with Jesse in a room that screams sex. “I’m old, I need rest.”

“You age like fine wine then,” Jesse winks as he stands up and places his mask back on. Gabriel does the same and both walk out of the room.

They remain in the hall for a few more minutes, strategically avoiding the host. McCree excused himself to the bathroom, and after that they decided to call it a night. Once inside the car, Gabriel takes off his mask and unbuttons his vest. Jesse leans back to unbutton his pants and that’s when Gabriel notices a bulge from the cowboy’s crotch to his stomach. He raises an eyebrow in question while Jesse pulls out whatever he hid. It ends up being a bottle of the wine and the kid tosses it in his hand as he smiles.

“For you,” Jesse hands it over and Gabriel takes it.

“A nice addition to my private collection,” Gabriel comments as he looks at the unopened bottle.

“Private collection, huh? Mind sharing?” The cowboy asks.

“Wouldn’t be private if I did,” Reyes leans against the seat and places the bottle between them.

“Could I at least get a sip of this one? Can be after you, I don’t mind.”

“Now you’re just being creepy.”

M c C r e e

Jesse sends the pictures of the cruise blueprints he took to Mal as soon as they’re back in the Bunker around nine in the morning, along with confirming the cameras are in place. After a few minutes, Mal responds with a confirmation that the camera feeds are working. He pockets his phone in his faded jeans as he lies on his side on the couch. He looks at Nieves, still in his dark red button up shirt, with the sleeves rolled to the elbows, and looking fine in it. He came back to a messy bar and quickly started cleaning it up while Jesse changed first, then he helped him out for a while before there was just the counter left to clean.

Javier seems tired, and McCree told him not to open the bar at all, but the bartender insisted on doing so, just at noon so he can catch some rest. Jesse hates that the man’s so proper sometimes, so responsible. But he’s also drawn to it. He seems like a man that wouldn’t forget certain details about their partner, and would really commit to a relationship. Which makes him wonder why he’s on and off with his boyfriend. Who knows, the problem might be with the other guy.

His breath hitches when the ghost of Javier’s lips on his neck grazes his skin. He bites his bottom lip to stifle a sound as his pants start feeling tight again. Javier looks his way and Jesse freezes, thinking he’s caught, but the man just says, “I’m gonna change and make something to eat. Something quick.”

Jesse nods, “A sandwich is fine.”

“Any kind in mind?”

Jesse eyes Javier for a bit, suddenly hungry for something else. “Surprise me.”

Javier gives him a small smile before he grabs his clothes from under the counter and goes up the stairs. Jesse turns over onto his front as excitement coils in his stomach and runs down to his groin. He jerks his hips down, pressing his hardening bulge into the couch. He wants to feel restrained first, like he did when Javier had him in his hold. Like it’ll be so easy to get off, but also impossible. He wants to feel Nieves’ hold around his wrists, he could probably do it with one hand, while the other presses his hip down.

He groans against the cushion under him while buckling his groin down. His cock is as trapped as it can be against his jeans and the stiff surface of the couch. “Javier,” he mumbles, almost louder than intended, glad for the floor between the bar and Nieves’ apartment.

His fingers twitch and curl; he wants to wrap them around his throbbing cock. Instead they grab on to the crusty cushion of the couch to resist. He doesn’t want another hand around him, not even his own. He only wants Javier’s, even if he has to imagine it, let his mind work wonders and come untouched by no one but the mirage of the bartender around him.

“Nieves,” Jesse gasps, pressing his hips deeper into the couch and rolling into it. They become jerky and desperate for release until he comes, for the first time, untouched by anyone or himself. “Fuck, Nieves…” He sighs and his eyelids flutter until they close.

He zones out in the bliss and breathes softly, the spot under his mouth moist from his panting and the times his tongue came out to wet his lips. He feels light and starts dozing off while Nieves prepares lunch. He doesn’t know how much times passes before the smell of pulled pork BBQ sandwiches wakes him up, along with Nieves’ call.

They don’t talk about what happened and Jesse isn’t sure if it’s good or bad. He doesn’t wanna go through the same thing: “I can’t go beyond that because it isn’t right, McCree” or “I have a boyfriend”. He understands Nieves being faithful, which is one of the things that attracts him to the man; if they ever become a thing, his attention will be completely on Jesse.

If Javier and his boyfriend ever break up again, he could have a bigger chance. Nieves wouldn’t have done what he did today if he didn’t at least had some desire for Jesse, even if it’s just sexual. McCree still has a chance in the future to sleep in Javier’s bed, to wake up with his strong arms around him, to have an actual home in someone, not just a place.

R e y e s

Usually, Gabriel goes through the camera footage every night, from start to finish. But since he was gone for a day he doesn’t wanna wait, so he sits behind his laptop after lunch to have a look. He pays extra attention this time, but through the time he wasn’t in, nothing important seems to be talked about. He gets a few more stories from members of what they did that day, bets going on, and other things that don’t require his attention.

He sees himself arriving with Jesse and cleaning before the cowboy crashes on the couch. Then Gabriel goes up to change and make lunch, leaving Jesse on his own. The cowboy turns on the couch and it looks like he’s twisting. Gabriel frowns, worrying he wasn’t feeling well. He changes to the camera on the couch and he hears the cowboy whimpering. It doesn’t dawn on him until Jesse moans the bartender’s name. His eyes widen and he changes camera, but the next has a view at Jesse’s face as he bites his bottom lip and parts his mouth after to moan. He changes camera again and still sees the cowboy, jerking his hips down to the couch.

“Nieves,” McCree cries on the video and Gabriel shuts it off, staring at the files from other videos.

He should have stopped it sooner. He shouldn’t have done what he did with Jesse at the party. It might not be much, but he felt Jesse’s body squirming against his, and the way he called for Javier. It was like Jesse was a flame, scorching against his own skin, leaving marks that he won’t forget. He had been the drop of gasoline to light Jesse’s match.

He couldn’t think of that anymore. Of what Javier meant to Jesse. It was only days away from the mission, and the longer the cowboy lingered in his mind, the more Gabriel thought about kicking his ass into a plane and getting him out of here before the storm came.

His phone rings and it actually startles him. It’s no surprise that he sees Jack’s calling, since he texted the blonde to call when he wasn’t busy. “Yeah?”

“Hey,” Jack responds and Gabriel hears the smile. “Everything alright?”

“Yeah, I wanted to start planning.”

“Oh, yeah! We should! Anything new?”

Gabriel leans back on his couch, “I was at the boat they’re gonna transport the bomb in.”

“How?”

“Some guy that has crossed paths with Deadlock before hosted a party on the cruise ship and they sent me in.”

“Wait, a cruise ship? Are you sure?”

Gabriel shrugs, “That’s what everyone here believes. I’m guessing it’ll be to not attract attention.”

“Maybe. But it’s dangerous,” Jack points out. “One thing is to send it on a military ship, with people trained to deal with things like this. Another is to do it in cruise ship, with civilians.”

“Not the smartest idea, I agree—”

“We have to stop this,” Jack interrupts.

“Not now,” Gabriel quickly says, “We have Deadlock.”

Jack’s quiet at first, then says with some tension, “What do you suggest?”

Gabriel scratches his chin, still missing his beard, then answers, “The UN will want us to intervene with Deadlock now, but we can’t. It’ll be better in a week, when most of them will be in one place. And we can’t catch them in the port, we know they’re heading to Route 66. But we can warn Volskaya.”

“If we send over proof of Deadlock’s plans—”

“They won’t transport the bomb,” Gabriel finishes for Jack. “I know it’s a long trip, but if we can get some of Overwatch in the boat before it departs Russia, Blackwatch can wait in California. We can ambush them there.”

“That’s not bad. We can have people in Route 66 as well,” Jack adds.

“Yeah, Deadlock will have some set up there since they’re planning on closing up the gorge after they enter with the bomb. Send Rein there, along with Torb. He can use the rocks pillars and caves as advantage for his turrets, build traps even.”

“I’ll talk to them and Ana,” Jack pauses and Gabriel hears papers shuffling. “We can find her a spot there to snipe from.”

“Agreed.”

“I’m gonna need you to send in everything you have on Deadlock that has to do with the mission,” Jack requests.

“I still have the recording of the first meeting when they talked about it. It’s not the best quality, but it’ll help.” Gabriel stands up and paces around the room. “Have a few clips of other members talking about it, too. They’re better since they’re recorded with the hidden cameras.”

“Good. Did you get any information from the cruise ship?”

“Not me, but I think McCree may have something. He was sent to set up cameras.”

“Hm, that might be a problem. If they don’t see the bomb on the ship, then…” Jack trails off and Gabriel nods, understanding.

“We can let them send it. Besides, they won’t have time to even get near it once we attack.”

“Yeah, but it still puts people in jeopardy, Gabe,” Jack sighs. “Not to mention those that get off the cruise.”

“We can always hold them back. Pass messages to every civilian to stay inside for some reason.”

“I don’t like this,” Jack states.

“What other choices do we have?” Gabriel pauses. “I can figure out when they’re setting up and we can attack before the ship even arrives.”

“I like that better; no civilians in danger and no bomb nearby,” Jack says.

“They might still make a run for 66, so we’ll keep our guys there.”

“Perfect. I’ll send Volskaya what you have. Maybe I can make them rethink sending the bomb on a vacation cruise.”

“I’ll send what I have tonight.”

“Alright,” Jack follows, but after a few seconds of silence he asks, “What are you gonna do about the McCree kid?”

Gabriel hesitates, “I know how to keep him here during the heist. Think he still might be a big asset to Deadlock.”

Jack hums, “What do you have in mind?”

Gabriel rubs the back of his neck as he continues walking. “Gonna use that fondness he has for me on him.”

“Oh? Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“I think it’s the best I got, Jack. I can try to convince him not to go, but he’ll want to anyways.”

“Think keeping him in your bed is the best option?”

Gabriel grimaces, “I didn’t say that.”

“That’s what it sounded like.”

“I’ll take care of that, Jack. Besides him helping, I want him to stay safe. Once our guys close in on Deadlock, they won’t hesitate to shoot any of them. And we can’t have all of them on the lookout for a cowboy.”

Gabriel is sure Jack’s shaking his head before he says, “I told you to be careful.”

“What’re you talking about?”

“You care for him, and he’s a criminal.”

“He’s a kid. He deserves to at least come out alive,” Gabriel points out.

“We can’t guarantee his safety, Gabe. Even if he doesn’t end up getting shot, he will go to jail. He’s of age and a gang member who has done horrible things.” Jack pauses. “I understand he didn’t have an easy life, but you can’t change that.”

But maybe Gabriel can change his future. Yet he only says, “You’re right. We’re still better off keeping him away from that.”

Jack sighs, “Agreed. He’s still human and in danger.”

“We’ll keep in touch. I’ll let you know when they’re gonna set up as soon as I know. Good night, Jack,” Gabriel concludes.

“Good night, Gabe.”

Gabriel hangs up and taps his phone against his palm as he looks at it. He’s sure Jesse’s phone can have some information. Conversations between him and Mal, and other members. If he took pictures of the ship blueprints and other events that could relate to the bomb mission, they could work as evidence.

Gabriel walks down to the bar and faces a sleeping McCree. He’s on his stomach and Gabriel halts, remembering the position he saw McCree in the video. But when he’s sure Jesse’s asleep, he approaches. Luckily, he doesn’t have to look too much. He can see the cowboy’s phone peeking out of one of his back pocket.

He crouches down and pulls the device out, and quickly hiding it in his own pocket. He takes the moment to have a quick glance at the cowboy. If he wants his idea to work, he’s gotta start buttering McCree up more, if that’s even possible. He knows that with a snap of his fingers, Jesse would probably run to his bed. But he doesn’t want it to be a sudden change of attitude. McCree isn’t stupid, he can figure out something’s up if Gabriel changes his mind the night before.

Without too much thought, he caresses the younger man’s hair, even if McCree doesn’t wake up, it might do something. But he does; Jesse stirs awake and his eyelids flutter.

“Nieves?” He asks, voice low and gaze groggy.

Gabriel smiles at him, “Hey, vaquero. Just wanted to check on you.”

McCree smiles and leans his head up to the touch. “Ya shouldn’t have.”

Gabriel shrugs, “Couldn’t sleep anyways.”

“There’s plenty of room here,” Jesse offers.

Gabriel scoffs, “I don’t see it.”

“Well, I’m sure you have a comfy bed for the both of us.” A wicked gleam shines in his tired eyes.

Gabriel shakes his head softly, but keep his tender smile. “Not tonight. I want you to be fully awake.”

Jesse makes a noise between a groan and a whine. “You can’t say things like that to me… You’re too good, and caring of me… it just ain’t fair.”

Gabriel keeps brushing the cowboy’s hair as he whispers, “Go back to sleep, okay? I’ll still be here in the morning.”

“Like you always are… too good to me…” Jesse mumbles and trails off, eyes slowly closing as he drifts asleep. Gabriel pets him a few more times before standing straight and walking away without looking back.

Once in his room, he goes through Jesse’s phone. He looks through his conversation with Mal and screen captures the important bits to send to Jack. He goes through his pictures and finds the ship’s blueprints as well as a few where the hidden cameras are placed. He even comes across a picture taken from a water tower that overlooks the port, probably where Jesse’s expected to stand to kill people. The idea of McCree having to do that from such distance and at least two times makes Gabriel’s head hurt and his eyes sting. Deadlock is gonna break him, and leave him up there to fend for himself if someone goes after him. And after that, they won’t even care for Jesse. And even if the cowboy is aware that not everyone is good to him, he still wants to be a part of it, a part of something that feels like it matters.

Gabriel has to give him something that matches that importance to him, something to make him rethink it. Something that will shut down his senses and guard enough to go lax under Reyes. Gabriel’s plan sounds cruel, and Jesse won’t be happy once it’s done, but at least he’ll be safe.

Gabriel keeps scrolling through pictures until he comes across a couple of himself. They’re taken a few feet away from the bar as he works flipping bottles and pouring drinks. Gabriel sighs before he shuts off the phone’s screen and stands up to deliver the phone back. The cowboy seems fully asleep again and barely stirs when Reyes slips the phone back in his pocket. He goes back up as quietly as possible and sits down on the couch for a few minutes. If he keeps thinking about McCree, the plan will crumble and the cowboy might escape his grasp easily to go and help Deadlock. Only a few days and this all be over.

---

The next day it’s just as loud and packed as the one before they left for the job. This causes a more cheerful crowd, especially since everyone’s getting hyped for the big mission. There are a variety of bets and games going on between the members like arm wrestling and thumb wrestling, card games and other games in hand consoles they bring. As well as beer pong. They asked Gabriel for cups and use two tables aligned together as surface for the game.

Gabriel doesn’t complain, they buy full bottles to pour on each cup and so far they haven’t made a mess. Slowly, more people gather around the table and it becomes the center of attention. They challenge each other and have a good time as they see each opponent getting drunk. Gabriel keeps doing his job, only glancing over once in a while, until a challenge is opened.

McCree challenges him, and Gabriel rolls his eyes at first, but accepts. The cups are refilled and put back in triangles. Gabriel stands on one end of a table as Jesse stands on the other side, wearing a confident smirk on his lips as he winks.

Gabriel doesn’t go easy. He scores cup after cup and Jesse drinks. McCree scores as well, but misses a couple, causing Reyes to clean his side first. Even if his body can tolerate alcohol more than a normal human body, he’s starting to feel the effects. Jesse, on the other hand, is laughing louder and swaying from side to side when he’s done.

When Gabriel scores the last cup, the crowd cheers and those close to Jesse pat his back. One pushes him harder than intended, causing him to tip forward.

“I want a rematch!” Jesse drawls, but Gabriel pays him no mind as he walks towards the cowboy and helps him walk away, allowing the next round of competitors to set up. He takes Jesse to the bar and lets him sit on one of the stools. Jesse lays his head on the counter, soon dozing off the effects.

M c C r e e

The bar starts dying down as the hours go by; Nieves even has to kick out a few lingering drunks out of it. The fun is over, but the mess remains, like the cups used for beer pong. Since he was part of it, he helps out with picking those up and throwing them away. When he turns around, Javier shoves a broom in his hands and keeps walking. Jesse groans at the bartender, and starts sweeping lazily, while Nieves picks up the used cups and glasses from the tables.

The Bunker’s pretty much clean, they just have to pick up the chairs and Jesse usually does it while Javier’s making dinner. He joins the bartender at the bar while Nieves works behind it, stacking glasses and the bottles he used.

“When did ya know ya wanted to be a bartender?” McCree asks as he sits on a stool.

“Since college,” Javier answers and takes one stacks of glasses to the other side of the bar. “I was studying law and it bored me.”

“What got you in bartendin’, then?”

“I took a mixology class in the summer between my junior and senior year and took it from there.” Nieves walks back to Jesse and places his hands on the counter. “After the retail store, went to work at my first bar. Wasn’t the best, but the experience helped me move up.”

Jesse hums and nods as he turns side to side on the stool, “Do ya ever wanna own yer own bar?”

Javier sighs and Jesse suddenly thinks he’s bothering him, but the man answers, “I did once. Found this small, cozy place at the corner of the street I grew up with. Needed a lot of love, but I worked two jobs, plus did some dog sitting in my free time, and bought it.” The image of Nieves being tugged by dogs all over town makes McCree smile. “And a few friends helped me put it together. It did well.”

“Would’ve liked to see it,” Jesse comments and leans forward with his arms crossed. “What happened?”

Nieves lifts one hand in the air as his lips open and close, like the answer will hurt him. “The omnic crisis destroyed it.”

“Oh,” Jesse expresses and lowers his head. “Sorry about that, cariño.”

Nieves sighs again, “Yeah, loved that place, but I couldn’t start all over, you know? Sold the spot to the bank, didn’t give me much, but it was enough to take care of my mother and grandma.”

“Well, I’m sorry you have to settle for this,” Jesse offers. “Who knows? Maybe this will end up being your dream bar.”

Javier laughs and throws a hand towel over his shoulder, “Unlikely, vaquero.”

“Promise to take me if you manage to find a better bar to run?” Jesse asks without much thought.

“Sure.” He can’t say if Javier’s lying, playing along or truly means it, but the latter is too exhilarating a thought for him to care.

McCree stands up and tucks his shirt down as he asks, “Mind showing me a few tricks?”

“With the bottles?” Nieves asks with a raised eyebrow.

“Yeah.”

The man hesitates, but waves him to come with him. McCree meets him behind the bar and Nieves holds an empty bottle by the neck. “This was the first I learned,” he starts, swinging the bottle lightly. “It helped me loosen my wrists.” He flips the bottle behind his palm and it goes in the air before it falls on his opened palm, ready to pour. He does it again and it comes perfectly again, then he tosses the bottle to his right hand. “It’s in the wrists; twist your hand down then up and open your palm.” As he explains the motion, he does it, keeping Jesse’s eyes busy in his thick fingers and dark skin. Nieves does the trick again with the bottle before tossing it to McCree.

The cowboy stands up straight and swings the bottle by the neck like Javier was doing before. He flicks the bottle to the side, but his elbow goes along. The bottle doesn’t go high enough and bumps with his arm. He manages to grab it clumsily before it falls. The cowboy clears his throat and tries again, but fails.

His body tenses when Javier’s arm goes behind his back and holds his elbows. “Just your wrist, McCree.”

Jesse nods and tests moving his wrist without releasing the bottle, getting use to the weight of it. Nieves lets go of his elbows and McCree tries again. This time, the bottle flips too fast in the air, making the mouth hit Jesse’s palm and falling to his right. Javier grabs the bottle before McCree can reach for it.

The bartender huffs a laugh and tosses the bottle to his other hand without looking. A simple move, but he makes it look more graceful than it should. “Maybe we should try another one.”

“Nah, nah, I can do it,” Jesse insist and snatches the bottle from Javier’s hand.

“It’ll take all night,” the man teases.

“I don’t care, at least it’ll keep ya with me.”

Javier scoffs, “I’ll let you practice on your own; I already did my part and showed you how.”

The cowboy keeps trying, and after a few more attempts (and a broken bottle), he catches the bottle correctly. Javier moves on to the next move, which also looks simple. He grabs a bottle by the body and tosses it high over his right shoulder. Then he turns his upper body to the left to catch it on his left side.

“Should’ve started with that one,” Jesse comments once he manages to do it after a few tries.

“Let’s call it a night, I’m starving,” Javier says as he places the bottle down and pushes Jesse lightly to walk out of the bar counter.

“What’re ya makin’?” The cowboy asks as Nieves follows.

The man thinks about it and answers, “Let’s go to the diner. Too late to cook anything, plus I don’t feel like it.”

---

Jesse wasn’t gonna say no to a late night visit to the diner. It wasn’t as full as their first visit, but at least Mandy, the waitress that had helped him when he first came here, was able to serve them. Javier went with a Philly Cheesesteak and a soda, while Jesse orders a double bacon cheeseburger with fries and the same apple cinnamon smoothie.

They slip into conversation again when Jesse asks more about his bartending career. Javier says the easiest cocktails to make, to him, is the martini, the negroni, and the blushing betty. He adds that he loves the frozen version of the negroni, as well as the fact that he finds blushing betties very refreshing.

“And what’s the hardest?” McCree asks as their food reaches their table. “Thanks, Mandy.” He winks at the waitress, who leaves with an ‘enjoy!’

“The hardest, and stupidest, thing, I ever tried to do was copy a cocktail I saw someone made decades ago: The Commonwealth. Very few people have done it.”

“Why is that?” McCree asks and shoves a fry into his mouth.

“It has 71 ingredients,” Nieves says and the cowboy’s eyes widen. “It was the second week in my bar and we were doing well for a small business, so I thought I’d give it a try. I put it as a one night special, ‘One Night Stand’ I had called it.” Jesse laughs at the name and Nieves continues, “Of course people ordered it since it was rare, and I failed every order, I know I did. I did about eleven that night, all of them with about fifty ingredients, and none of the drinks were the same because I kept forgetting ingredients.”

“Ballsy,” McCree comments and grabs his burger.

Javier nods as he takes a bite of his sandwich and continues, “People paid for them since they’ve never tried it, but it was still dumb of me to do something like that. If someone knew what it was supposed to taste like I would have been screwed.”

Jesse smirks, “What did it have in it?”

Javier scoffs, “If I didn’t remember then, what makes you think I will now?”

“Give it a shot, sugar,” Jesse encourages with a nod of his head.

Javier hums as he looks up, trying to remember, “Chives, honey, cacao, eggplant, wild raspberry, papaya, cloves, coffee beans, sugar cane, saffron, jackfruit, mango, cherry, basil, apple, blueberry, potatoes, pumpkin seeds, avocado—more shit like that.”

Jesse grimaces and chuckles, “That all sounds disgusting. And that wasn’t even close to 71.”

“Cut me some slack, you won’t even remember those by morning.” Jesse saw it as a challenge. There was something about Javier’s voice that caused words to be engraved in his brain. Besides, it was also nice to talk about something else that didn’t involve Deadlock, jobs, or the big mission. It’s quite entertaining and Jesse wants to hear all about who Nieves was before, what’s on his mind, and who he aspires to be. The bartender continues, “It was a made in Glasgow for some games back then, of course now there’s a simple version with just three ingredients—lemon juice, Canadian whisky and Grand Marnier—that one I can make blindfolded.”

“You with a blindfold on?” McCree comments, “I’d love to see that.”

The man doesn’t answer with words, but he stretches his hand and grabs one of Jesse’s fries and dips it in the smoothie. The action leaves McCree’s mouth opened as Nieves dunks the fry in his mouth and smiles as he savors it.

---

McCree can’t remember falling asleep, but he recalls the pie they took back to the Bunker and shared on the couch. He also remembers convincing Nieves to stay after they finished to keep talking. The man didn’t put up much of a fight, which is an improvement. Javier was tired last night, and McCree noticed. Part of him wanted the man to go upstairs and sleep, but the selfish part wanted to keep him down in the bar. To hear his stories and imagine a younger Nieves exploring the world and discovering towns. Struggling to get by and becoming stronger.

He can’t say who felt asleep first. Both went quiet with full stomachs and then it was black.

Jesse wakes on a surface unlike the couch. It’s firm, but comfortable. His body minutely moves up and down as soft puffs of air brush his hair. He can also hear a soft heartbeat under his ear, and feel it pulse against his palm.

His eyelids flutter as he comes to and looks up. He sees Nieves, looking at the ceiling and his own heart stops. He wants to recall the moment Nieves lied down and the cowboy crawled on top of his body. He wants to remember the sweet moment of Javier allowing him this kind of intimacy. Did he pulled Jesse onto himself, or was it Jesse’s unconscious mind that initiated?

He can’t help smiling when Nieves looks down at him, realizing he’s awake. He looks lost in thought, too far gone to even realize Jesse’s staring right into his eyes. Jesse looks down at his lips, so close and inviting to taste. They make Jesse realized he’s too thirsty, and his own lips to parched. He licks them as he leans closer and the bartender doesn’t move, only keeps his hand on top of Jesse’s back. He seems to be taking too long on deciding if he should make a move or not.

R e y e s

“Chives, honey, cacao, eggplant, wild raspberry…” the groggy cowboy starts to whisper and Gabriel blinks.

“What?”

Jesse smiles, “Papaya, cloves, coffee beans, sugar cane, saffron, jackfruit, mango, cherry, basil, apple, blueberry, potatoes, pumpkin seeds, avocado… I remembered.”

McCree slept too comfortably on him, and it was Gabriel’s own fault for allowing it. He had woken up in the middle of the night and decided to lie down. When he noticed that Jesse would be too uncomfortable he pulled the cowboy on top of him and fallen asleep again. In the moment he didn’t think much of it, only an hour or two of sleep and then he would go up to his apartment, but that didn’t happen.

Now the cowboy’s leaning closer, maybe not even thinking. But Gabriel is, and holds McCree back by his shoulder. “What are you doing?”

Jesse raises an eyebrow, “it’s fine, Nieves.”

“Jesse—”

The cowboy sits up, straddling the bartender’s hips and looks down in disbelief. “After what you did in the mission… you’re just gonna push me off like that?”

Gabriel lifts his hand from where it had slipped to Jesse’s hip, “I was doing what I thought was right. I even think I overdid it.”

McCree groans in frustration, and places his hands on Reyes’ shoulders. “Will you stop being so proper? I’ll tell you if you cross the line—which you haven’t. I was fine with what you did.”

Gabriel grabs the cowboy’s wrists to pull them away. “But I’m not.” He sits up, pushing Jesse off as lightly as he can, and sighs. “It’s complicated.”

“It’s not,” Jesse insists. “I’m letting you have me.”

“No, not that,” Gabriel responds, shaking his head. “Things are kind of rough with me and my boyfriend. It’s not easy staying together with distance and work between us.” Gabriel goes with the thought. “I don’t want you to be some rebound or anything. I just need some time to think about what’s going on.”

“Or I can help you decide,” Jesse looks hopeful, as if he thinks he’s the reason Javier broke up with his boyfriend.

“I care about you, Jesse, I do, but it’s not happening today,” Gabriel says softly and stands up. Looking down on McCree makes the cowboy seem smaller. “I’d like to keep you around while I think about it, I would. But I can’t promise you anything.”

Jesse scoffs, defeated, “Had to try. But know that I mean it.” McCree stands up, “If yer worried about me goin’ with anyone else, I won’t. If it’s you, it’s only you.”

“Why?” Gabriel asks, not because he’s actually curious, but because he feels like Javier would.

“Because you’re so good to me, and a great person. Hardass sometimes, and a dick, but it would be boring if ya weren’t. I feel protected with you. You make me wanna be better.”

“Funny you say that now when you used to hate me saving you.”

Jesse shrugs, “Things change.”

Gabriel sighs and looks away. “You have a big week, from what I’ve seen; it’s best if you focus on it. That way, I’ll get my time to think.”

A light twinkles in Jesse’s eyes, “Then we’ll see.”

“Then we’ll see.”

---

It’s the day before the big mission. Gabriel only has a couple of hours before meeting with Jack and Blackwatch to set up. Part of him is giddy; if everything goes as planned, which it looks like it will, his own division will be responsible for taking down Deadlock, one of the most notorious famous gangs in the states. The other part of him feels remorse when he looks at the cowboy, spending the day at the bar and talking to Gabriel as much as possible. He tells him how nervous he is, but also excited. He wants to show the rest of Deadlock his trick. Some have only heard it and don’t believe it, but once they see him, he thinks he will be considered useful and maybe even respected.

Gabriel acts happy for him and McCree doesn’t hide the fact that spending the day with Gabe is helping ease his nerves. Around seven in the at night, Mal calls everyone in the Bunker to Route 66 to start getting ready in there and to go over the escape plan. Jesse looks at Gabriel and finger guns him as he picks up a messenger bag he had bought with him. Reyes actually feels like reaching out for the cowboy, believing he had more time to keep him safe, to get him out of it.

But Mal stops Jesse at the door. “You stay.” Gabriel arches his eyebrows, not expecting that, and by the look on his face, neither was McCree. “We received some news of lurkers in the gorge and we want to clear it out before getting ready.” Gabriel quickly thinks of Ana, Rein and Torb, but it’s still early. They aren’t supposed to be set up yet. Unless… “We don’t want anything to happen to you,” Mal lies, because there’s nothing wrong. They’re supposed to go to 66 after getting the bomb, he doesn’t expect McCree to be there. “I’m sure you’d prefer to spend it here, resting with Nieves.”

McCree looks back at Gabriel then back at Mal, “Sounds nice n’ all, but I wanna know what’s goin’ on, too.”

Mal places a hand on Jesse’s shoulder, Gabriel notices his grip tightening. “Don’t worry, Albert will pick you up in two hours. We need you up on the tower early, so you wouldn’t even have time to come with us, and set up.”

Jesse shrugs, but Gabriel can’t tell if it’s as an answer or to get Mal’s hand off. “Guess yer right.”

Mal smirks and starts walking backwards and says, “it’s your big night, McCree.” And he walks out of the bar.

McCree turns back to the counter. He slumps on a stool and drops his bag on another. “He’s right though.”

“About?” Gabriel asks, grabbing two copper mugs from under the counter.

McCree smiles softly, “I prefer to spend time with ya than in the desert.”

Gabriel scoffs, “I don’t know, I can be quite the prick.” Jesse laughs and Gabriel turns away to make their drinks. He grabs a bottle of vodka and ginger beer. He takes them where the ice is, away from McCree, and gets them filled with it. He adds the vodka and ginger beer, but adds a special something from a small bottle Ana sent him to one of the mugs. He makes sure to remember which one is which. He squeezes half a lime on each one and then cuts a ring from a new one to garnish each mug.

He walks around the bar and sits on the empty stool by Jesse’s left side. He hands him the special drink and the cowboy whistles. “For the special occasion?”

Gabriel raises his drink and McCree taps them together. “It’s my favorite drink to have when I’m nervous.” He takes a sip and watches as McCree does too and nods in approval. “What’s in the bag?” Gabriel points at the object.

Jesse grabs the bag and places it in front of him on the counter before opening it. He pulls out some cartons full of bullets and a couple of bags of chips and a protein bar. “Bullets, snacks. I’d like to take a beer with me, if that’s okay.”

Gabriel shrugs, “If you pay for it.”

“You give me this for free but ask money for a beer?!”

“I didn’t say this was free,” Gabriel says, lifting his mug before drinking.

Jesse scoffs and shakes his head before putting everything back. “And my lucky charm,” he adds before pulling out something that Gabriel definitely wasn’t expecting. It’s his Deadlock jacket, the one he hasn’t seen since Jesse slept in it on the couch. “If ya don’t mind.”

“Go ahead,” Gabriel responds and McCree looks relieved that he actually gets to keep it.

They enjoy their drink with minimal chatter and Gabriel looks at Jesse most of the time, hoping he’ll notice. Hoping he’ll realize something’s off. Gabriel stands up and goes back behind the bar to clean both mugs. When he turns around Jesse’s looking at him, like he’s studying Gabriel.

“What?” Reyes questions.

“Nothin’, nothin’, just that you look like ya wanna tell me somethin’.”

Gabriel rubs the back of his neck and looks down as he says, “Just hope that you come back.”

“Aw, gonna miss me?”

Gabriel looks around, “Since there’s no one around to hear us… Yes, I’m gonna miss you. And I hope you do great and come back to me.”

It seems the words take a while to process in the cowboy’s mind, and when they do, he relaxes and it’s like a galaxy forms in his eyes. It tugs a little at Gabriel’s heartstrings, but the words are in the air now. There’s no turning back.

“How about I show you my room? Like a second good luck charm?” Gabriel offers.

McCree smirks at that. “What about that whole ‘didn’t want to distract me’?”

“I think it’ll keep your nerves away,” Gabriel responds.

“What about that time you needed?”

Gabriel hesitates and licks his lips. “We thought it would be better to stay friends.”

“Aw, sorry to hear that,” McCree says, looking the opposite of sorry.

“Sure you are. And just in case anything happens, well…” Gabriel doesn’t finish the sentence, acts like it’ll hurt too much to think about. “I wanna make you feel good before you leave, like you deserve to feel.”

Jesse swallows and doesn’t say anything for a bit, “Well, damn, this is quite the moment.”

Gabriel chuckles. “Don’t get too excited now, or I’ll change my mind.”

“I mean, if you really want me to.” Jesse tries to sound calmer about it.

“If you want to,” Gabriel adds before walking around the bar, but he passes by Jesse as they lock eyes. He makes his way to the stairs. Jesse grabs his bag, but he stops, blinking sharply and shaking his head a little. “You okay?”

“Yeah!” Jesse quickly says, probably not wanting to ruin the moment. He hurries behind Gabriel and the older man smiles the way Jesse wants him to. It’s alluring enough to make Jesse follow him through fire.

Once they reach upstairs, Jesse takes a look around. Even if it’s a small and simple space, Jesse seems interested on every nook and cranny.  But he’s most focused on the hallway that leads to Gabriel’s bedroom. Gabriel says nothing, and only walks down the hall. Jesse’s hesitant footsteps follow.

Once inside, Gabriel waits for Jesse to walk in before closing the door behind him. Jesse yelps nervously to the sound of the door, looking at the bed with wide eyes. Gabriel notices the jittery behavior, making him stay in place. “We don’t have to do anything, if you don’t want to.”

Jesse turns to him. “No! I want to, darlin’.”

“If something bothers you—”

“I’ll let you know,” Jesse interrupts and smiles. He blinks again as his eyes start looking tired and like they will close on their own. “Wish we had more time though.”

Gabriel smiles as he steps closer, closing the space around Jesse until the cowboy’s legs make contact with the bed. “Well, let me give you a taste. Give you something to return to.”

M c C r e e

Javier tilts his head and his green eyes hide behind his eyelids as he dives to taste Jesse. McCree’s frozen where he stands, taken by the moment, soaring through high clouds and running out of air even before he gives it to Nieves. He leans his head the opposite way, his breath shudders and his heart skips a beat in anticipation.

The older man’s lips ghost over Jesse’s. It’s a tease, a promise, and a reward all in one. The man plants a chaste kiss to his jaw and down his neck. Jesse’s knees turn to jelly and Nieves holds him at the ribs. He’s sure the bartender can feel the cowboy’s rapid heartbeat between his fingers. Knows what he’s doing to him and how McCree’s melting to his touch.

His mind starts spiraling into a dark hole. His body’s going numb and his senses are shutting down. His body’s giving in to Nieves’ touch. He wants to be alert, to pay attention to every detail Javier does to his body. Even if they don’t go far, this is enough for Jesse to take on the whole world, to go through hell and return to his king.

He moves his chin down, desperate to taste the lime on Javier’s tongue, but the man moves fast and picks him up, making Jesse gasp and wrap his arms and legs around him tight. Nieves puts him down softly on the bed. It’s stiff, but more comfortable than the couch. And Javier’s weight on him makes it better. The bartender’s hands sneak under his shirt, leaving lightning where he touches. Thunder echoes in Jesse’s ears as blood rushes in his veins.

If he’s gonna die tonight, this is how he wants to go. Not by the ocean, with the breeze against his face and making him feel younger than he is. Not in the desert, a place he’s grown and adapted to. Where he learned how to survive. He wants to perish against Javier’s heart, feeling it thump against his chest and the graze of his teeth where his pulse throbs in his neck.

He starts feeling tired. Like his body has been satisfied enough and might actually die on the spot. Until he realizes it isn’t because of Javier, but something’s just not right. His eyelids are too heavy to keep open, and his body goes limp under Javier.

No. He doesn’t want it like this.

R e y e s

Jesse’s body suddenly tense underneath Gabriel and he pulls back a little when he realizes Jesse’s expression has changed. His fingers wrap around Gabriel’s shirt at his chest, not knowing well if he should push or pull, as his lust dies down in his glossy eyes.

“N-not like this,” Jesse whines as his eyelids go heavy. The effects are starting to hit him.

“Just relax,” Gabriel whispers to him as his hand caresses through brown locks under his head to cradle it.

“I thought,” Jesse’s voice is growing softer and his eyes, though are tired, also show darkness and fear. “I thought you were different.”

Gabriel suddenly stops moving when it feels like a punch goes to his gut as Jesse slowly fades and the grip on his shirt loosens until his hands fall to the mattress. His hand slowly lets Jesse’s head rest on the pillow and he slithers away from McCree. He grabs the cowboy’s hat and sets it down by Jesse’s side before walks to the door. He gives his bed one last look, not being able to ignore the way Jesse looked and spoke to him. But it’s for his own good. If everything goes according to plan, Jesse will be safe, and when he wakes up Deadlock will be gone. He makes a quick stop at his dresser and pulls out his beanie to put it on as he heads down the stairs.

He calls Jack and calls for pick up before walking out of the bar. When he reaches the planks, he nods at the two agents waiting for him and walks out of the alley.

M c C r e e

He hears a voice that’s familiar, but at the same time can’t recognize because there’s something new about it. A new edge, a new posture when the person talks. Something he’s not used to. But he is used to the handcuffs around his wrists.

“McCree,” the voice calls again.

His eyelids flutter open and as his vision clears, he can pay attention to what surrounds him. He’s in a simple room, with gray walls, a window, a door, a table and the chair he’s in. There’s also a man on the other side of the table. He’s tall with broad shoulders, and a solid narrow waist.

“Nieves?” He lifts his head and finds him. The man of his dreams, but it starts to feel like a nightmare. He’s wearing dark pants and a tight black shirt. Not the clothes he had last seen him in, before Jesse spiraled into what felt like an endless sleep. McCree moves his hands from the table, and the chain keeping them to the table reminds him he’s trapped. “What happened?”

Nieves has his arms crossed and his posture is straighter. Jesse looks at the window and figures it’s a mirror. A one-way mirror to be precise. The realization hits him all at once. “You aren’t…”

“What do you last remember?” the man asks.

Jesse lowers his head again, trying to piece the last thing he saw. “You drugging me.”

The man licks his lips and swallows before responding, “It was a sleep serum, nothing that would have put you at risk.”

“Maybe the serum wasn’t dangerous, but the person who gave it to me sure is,” Jesse says through clenched teeth, frowning.

“I apologize, McCree,” the man says firmly. “I knew luring you upstairs would keep you away from harm.”

It dawns on him as his eyes widen that he has a place to be. He pulls his arms back again, trying to be set free. “I gotta go!”

“It’s too late,” the man points out.

“What did you do?! Who are you?!” Jesse demands to know.

“Deadlock’s done.” Two words Jesse didn’t think he would hear. Enough to make his body give up trying to run back, but for his mind to start planning where to escape to. “We caught them in California, attempting to steal a bomb. Those that didn’t surrender and fired back died in the fight, a few were captured, less managed to escape.”

Jesse’s jaw clenches as he looks at this person that looks like Javier, but he knows he’s about to receive the biggest ache in his chest.

“I’m Gabriel Reyes, commander of Blackwatch. A new special ops division in Overwatch.”

“Fuck,” Jesse sighs. “That’s how they knew… you lied to me.”

“I had a job, kid—”

“Don’t you dare!” Jesse snaps.

Reyes frowns down at him. “It was my job to take down Deadlock, and I did just that. Be thankful you weren’t there, or I’d be putting your body in a bag right now instead of talking.”

“You might as well be doing that now,” Jesse says as he goes numb. His chest feels hollow and something in that void sucks all the life out of him. “Who did you kill?” Reyes looks away for a second and Jesse asks again. “Who?!”

“Albert, Felix, Lina, Leo—”

Jesse chokes when he hears Leo’s on the list. “You knew them!”

“I know a lot of people, that doesn’t mean I’m gonna care for every single one.”

That’s the last bullet that shatters Jesse. “Finish yer damn job then and kill me or throw me in a cell.”

Reyes stays quiet for a moment before he says. “You’re different. I knew them, but I really got to know you, and you know this—”

“Don’t go there. You just said you didn’t care for us—”

“Deadlock, I didn’t care for Deadlock,” Reyes corrects, “but I kept you away from that job for a reason, McCree.” His name sounds vile on Reyes’ tongue. It’s like a stranger saying it, wanting to slip under Jesse’s skin. “They were going to leave you there to your own luck. You were going to be weak, and weren’t going be able to defend yourself if anyone attacked you.” Jesse shakes his head, just wanting Reyes to shut up. “They knew what they were doing, they knew doing that trick of yours more than once was going to leave you vulnerable.”

“I could’ve made it, and you just made me look like a traitor after I spent years trying to prove I could do better. You just came in and ruined everythin’!”

“That was my job.”

“And my job was to be there,” Jesse follows.

“You’d be dead,” Reyes points out.

“Like this will be different. Yer just gonna put me in a damn cell and leave me to rot.”

Reyes hesitates and looks down at his tattooed arms. He clears his throat and starts pulling at his skin there. He shreds the tattoos and they come off as sleeves. Jesse scoffs and shakes his head away in disbelief. He knows the commander’s just doing it to rub salt on a wound; he wouldn’t have forgotten to take them off until now.

“I can give you a chance to continue living outside of a cell.”

“Please,” Jesse chuckles. “I don’t want your charity or mercy.”

“I’m serious, McCree.” Reyes leans over the table. “I saw what you did, how you shot and how you work. You’re a smart kid who learned how to survive. I could use you on my team.”

Jesse laughs mockingly, “All that desert air and sun must’ve fried up your fuckin’ brain if ya think I’ll join ya after what happened.”

“I knew it wasn’t gonna be easy, but I had to try. Please, reconsider. You’ll have more training, you’ll be doing good with people that actually care about you.”

“The only two people I knew that really gave a damn about me are dead,” Jesse says and doesn’t explain; let Reyes figure it out if he really cares.

“I can give you a few hours to think about. I’ll send in some food and water—”

“Don’t. Bother,” Jesse interrupts, “Just get me out of here.”

Reyes’ eyebrows raise in surprise. Maybe he was ready for Jesse to deny him, but he at least thought he would get more time to come up with a plan to convince Jesse just like Javier did. “Jesse, I’m offering you something very few would do.”

“Yer so kind, an angel sent from heaven.” Jesse fakes a smile. “More like kicked down. Take me away and end this, Nieves.” He says the name as bitter as he can.

Reyes sighs, “If that’s what you really want, I can’t force it then. And people here are eager to send the lot of you to prison once I’m finished talking to you. I went out of my way to give you a chance.”

“Aren’t you their commander?” Jesse questions with a raised eyebrow.

“There’s still people I need to consult, including Overwatch’s strike commander.”

Jesse has seen the strike commander. Handsome features, blonde hair and blue eyes all over posters. “Actin’ so tough and you still need to ask permission.”

Reyes frowns at him. “To recruit a gang member, yes.”

“Save it for someone else, then. I ain’t interested,” Jesse confirms and looks away from Reyes, finishing the conversation.

Reyes doesn’t say anything, he only waits, maybe to see if McCree changes his mind. When he doesn’t say anything else, the commander leaves. The door slamming echoes in the room and rattles his bones. He bites his tongue as his eyes sting, threatening to tear up. But he won’t let any of them see him this weak. He’s going to jail and can’t afford vulnerability.

R e y e s

He joins Jack on the other side on the mirror. The blonde watches the cowboy with arms behind his back and eyes Gabriel when he stands by his side. “You tried.”

“Not enough,” Gabriel says.

“You did. If he doesn’t want to accept the help, that’s his own decision.”

Gabriel shakes his head, “I should’ve known he wouldn’t take it after what I did.”

“If he can’t see the opportunity, there’s nothing more you can do,” Jack comforts and places a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “We’ve divided them by records. Those with less offenses, including McCree, will be taken to the state penitentiary without trial. The leaders and those with bigger offenses, like Mal, will remain with us until we’re told what to do. He can at least be treated better than Mal, Gabe.”

Gabe scoffs, “Will he? It’s still a jail, Jack. There will be worse people there that will prey on him.”

“We send people to jail almost every day, why is he different?”

Gabriel looks at him, Jack seems like he knows the answer, but wants to hear it. “He’s young, and has a lot of potential, I saw it. He could do many great things with his skills, even more if he improves them and takes control of his own mind.” Gabriel looks back at McCree, defeated in the other room. “That potential will rot with him. I wanted to give him a better future.”

“I understand, but if he doesn’t want it, it’ll just be wasted. You tried, Gabe, and that matters. Maybe that will be enough someday.”

“Might be too late.”

---

Gabriel watches as they load Deadlock into a van to take to be processed into the state prison system. His eyes remain on his tablet as he goes through the files of those being taken. His finger stops hovering over the screen when McCree’s files come into view. And when he looks at the van, the cowboy’s being guided inside. But he doesn’t look at Reyes. He walks by like he’s alone, like he still has Deadlock around him and he’s just going on another job to prove himself.

When the few ex-members are inside, he catches a familiar face he thought that had vanished in the desert: Cass. The doors close as he looks through the files, but he doesn’t sees his. He walks back inside and meets Ana. “Do you have the files of Cass Santino? He’s one of Deadlock going to jail right now.”

Ana, who also has her tablet out, goes through them quickly. She had been in charge to find the files and of the division. “That name doesn’t come up in that batch.” Her eyebrow arches in concentration. “He’s supposed to be on the second batch going out later.”

Gabriel’s brows meet in the center, “Call that van to turn around as soon as you can.”

Ana nods, “Understood. And the prisoner you wanted to question is ready.” Gabriel returns the nod before he walks past her, but she asks, “How did it go with our recruitment?”

Gabriel sighs, “He declined.”

“Really?” Ana genuinely looks surprised. “I really thought he would accept. Even betted Jack,” she chuckles.

Gabriel huffs, “Maybe that’s why he didn’t convince me to keep trying. He wasn’t on board with the idea to begin with.”

“I understand; hiring a criminal wouldn’t look good to the UN.” Ana lowers her tablet.

“Yeah, but this is my division. No one is supposed to know about Blackwatch and who’s involved. McCree would fit perfectly.”

“Maybe there’s still a chance,” Ana offers but Gabriel shakes his head.

“They already took him.” He starts walking and Ana follows by his side. “I’ll take care of the other one. Maybe it’ll go better. We need to know the other hideouts and take away from them as much as we can.”

“Those that managed to run away won’t hesitate to attack back. Might not be directly at us, but they can harm others in the process.”

“Agreed, I’ll see you in a bit.”

Ana nods before parting and Gabriel enters another room. It’s smaller than the one he interrogated McCree in. And Mal’s the one handcuffed to the table, as well as shackles around his ankles.

“Oh, will you look at that,” Mal says. His bottom lip is bruised, his right eye purple and swollen and his shirt is covered in blood, not his. “I heard the rumors, but had to see it up close.”

Gabriel crosses his arms, “It was so easy to infiltrate your gang. Why did you even have me sign a contract?”

Mal shrugs, “Devon’s idea.”

“Of course, blame it on others. It’s not because you failed as a leader.”

“Sorry, commander. Guess I failed my training.”

“The moment you shot your first victim fifteen years ago,” Gabriel recalls from Mal’s file.

The criminal laughs, “He had it coming for trying to steal my car.”

Gabriel frowns at the excuse of a man in front of him, examining the crazy look in his eyes and the grin that tells him he’s willing to sell souls the devil. He smiles like he deserves the world while others that are twice his worth don’t make it. “I’d prefer to be interrogating Lina.” It’s not like Gabe would forgive her, she was also a criminal. He still prefers her to Mal.

“Sure, she would’ve done anything to be set free,” Mal grins.

“No matter what she did, she had more integrity than you,” Gabriel says as he pokes down at the table with one finger. “My sniper saw you using her as a damn shield, and you sent everyone to cover for you while you tried to run like a coward through caves and holes.”

“We aren't like your team of friends. We move together to survive, but when it comes down to it, it’s every man for himself.”

“And look where that got you. “

Mal scoffs, “At least you made the smart move to send me off later. Unlike McCree. “

Gabriel crosses his arms, “He got off easy, because he isn’t like you.”

Now Mal laughs as he rolls his head back. “You really think so? Word spreads, Nieves. He didn’t show up when he needed to, where was he instead? With you, an Overwatch agent—no, no, not just an agent, but Commander Reyes.”

Gabriel leans over the table, glaring at the criminal. “What are you planning?”

Mal shrugs, “I just sent someone. Luckily Cass knows how to hide in plain sight without being recognized.” He tilts his head and looks more smug than before, even if his gang has fallen. “He’ll make sure the kid doesn’t make it to jail.”

M c C r e e

Jesse's sure that if it weren't for the Blackwatch agents—which he can recognize by their black uniform— that he would be dead meat by now. The other Deadlock members in the van glare at him as if he was the one that turned everyone in, eyes sharp enough to cut through his skin. Jesse doesn’t say anything; doesn’t have the energy to fight back. One of them calls him names, things he has heard before, but an agent from Blackwatch keeps telling him to shut up. The fourth comment the criminal makes earns him a hit from the stock of the agent’s rifle. Jesse can’t help the smirk on his face, which only causes him more glares and frowns.

He doesn’t dare to look at anyone directly in the eyes, not even Blackwatch. They aren’t there to save him, and he doesn’t want to be safe. He just wants to get this over with. Reach the building, be searched, receive the orange jumpsuit and be told what to expect. Then to wait in his cell, probably be made fun by his cell mates about having a bedtime. Then at night try to sleep and ignore the horror stories he has heard of the place to wake up to a tasteless breakfast and a beat down, probably. He wants the worst out of the way already, starting with spending the hours thinking about Javier. Of his voice against his ear when he told him to breathe, of the food and drinks he made Jesse, of the way his muscles tensed when he flipped bottles and his dangerous, gorgeous smile.

He was a fool to have fallen for such a lie. It was too pretty to be true, and yet he let himself drift into the older man’s strong arms. He threw caution to the wind and allowed Nieves to kiss his skin, to somehow make it new again after unwanted touches and toxic mouths. Javier made him feel cared for, safe, and running with Deadlock should have taught him that there is no such thing.

His thoughts are interrupted when the van quakes and the Blackwatch agents hold their weapons steady. Something hits the van again and they seem to be driving off the road until it crashes. Jesse hears screams from civilians.

“We’ve been hit!” The driver calls and the agents stand up to open the door. They hop down with their weapons raised and Jesse, like the rest of Deadlock, lean forward to have a better look of what’s going on. There’s another Blackwatch van slowing down to a stop behind and agents get down, guns ready as well. Jesse hears shots and the agents take cover behind the other van while two remain with Deadlock.

His teammates—or former—look at each other before they stand up. The first two Deadlock members hit the backs of the Blackwatch agents with all their strength and kick them to the ground. Even with handcuffs, they grab the weapons and make a run for it, but Jesse watches as one Blackwatch agent quickly aims at one and fires without hesitation. McCree hears a groan and a gun clattering to the ground.

Blackwatch keeps firing at whoever hit them, Jesse guesses was a couple from Deadlock that managed to escape. McCree can’t say if he’s thankful or finds the action stupid. But seeing as it worked, he might as well not comment at all.

Cass is at the van’s door, the last one to leave before Jesse. He looks at the cowboy over his shoulder with eyes that tell him not to follow. Jesse glares back before the man sprints away. McCree has no intention of following, but he still runs away.

He takes a turn around the van, to take a different direction than the other members, but he comes face to face with the barrel end of a gun. He freezes and the Blackwatch agent takes a good look at him before he clenches his teeth.  Bullets ricochet off the van and he curses before pulling Jesse forward and away from the upcoming fire. But Jesse doesn’t bother sticking around and runs.

He finds a market a few blocks away. He’s aware the handcuffs might draw attention, but he hopes the ruckus from the shooting causes enough distraction for him to slip by. Even when the enters the market, he gets looks and a woman pulls his child back. He runs to the back and finds a bathroom to hide. He scurries into a cubicle and sits on the toilet to catch his breath and come up with a plan.

It’s not the best hiding spot, but it’s enough to give him some space and advantage if he needs to run. Blackwatch will be busy for a bit while they try to shoot and hunt down the Deadlock members they saw. Besides, one of them had Jesse in front of him and he let him run. Seems Blackwatch doesn’t see him as a threat. Normally, he’d be offended, but for now, he’s glad they were stupid enough to believe that.

He lowers his head between his knees, while his hands slide down to reach the floor. He just needs to think what to do. First, get rid off the restraints. Then steal food since his wallet was taken by Reyes’ men. He saw a diner across the market before running in here, maybe he can retell the story he told Mandy and win at least a bowl of cereal. And then…

The cowboy sighs and straightens up as his shoulders slack. He has no idea where to go. If Deadlock truly see him as a traitor, they aren’t a good way to run to. He can’t pretend like it doesn’t bother him that the only family he used to know will kick him to the curb, or leave him to rot in a gutter. He thought he’d make it with the big dogs, run towns to the ground and travel the world as he learned new ways to get around.

He’d slither his way to the top and one day take Mal’s spot. He was meant to have his own crew, his own cronies doing the dirty work for him—No, that’s what Mal did. Jesse would have run by their side, shooting like a mad man and hitting every target. He was meant to have his own nasty little kingdom until it was time to dethrone Devon, or whoever stood in his way.

The door of the stall opens and Jesse looks at Cass, standing high and mighty with his hands free.

“No bartender to save you now,” Cass says with blood lust in his eyes and a vicious smirk on his lips.

“Took ya long enough,” Jesse tries to joke. “Thought ya were goin’ soft. What happened? Felt lost without Mal tellin’ ya where to go?” He’s about to laugh, but Cass grabs him by the hair and pulls him up to his feet.

“This was my own idea,” Cass hisses. “If you thought I would let you walk away, you were mistaken.”

“And if ya think me not showin’ up was what got us caught, then yer stupider than I thought,” Jesse says as he winces through the burn in his scalp, and wiggles his arms, doing a pathetic attempt at getting free.

“I’m gonna have a good time finally shuttin’ that mouth of yours.” He sees a smirk on the bigger man’s face as he pulls the cowboy out of the stall and throws him across the floor.

McCree collapses to the dirty tiles and tries to get up quick, but a kick sends him on his back. Then it stomps on his stomach, enough to feel his lungs burning and ribs on the edge of snapping. “You gave him a clear way to our plans.”

“He already knew!” Jesse snaps, “On his first day, Devon had the brilliant idea to talk about the big mission in front of him!”

Cass knows this wasn’t McCree’s fault, but he won’t admit it. Instead he leans down and punches Jesse two times consecutively, drawing blood. He grabs the cowboy’s hair again and it feels like he’ll slam his head against the floor. It crosses Jesse’s mind to call for help, but he falls silent, and he’s sure no one will hear anyways, or care.

The door to the bathroom slams against the wall and someone grabs Cass too quickly. Someone with that kind of strength and agility, and trained for it. But Jesse doesn’t believe it until he sees Nieves—Reyes holding Cass and punching him across the face like Cass had just been doing to him. Two agents follow and put Cass on handcuffs to take him away, while Reyes looks down at Jesse and crouches down to offer his hand without hesitation or worry the criminal will bite.

Jesse clenches his jaw, wondering what right this man has to come and save him again. To remind him why he let Javier in that easy. To torture him with the image of a guardian angel that turned out to be a demon in disguise. It’s hard to call Reyes by anything evil when he stands over Jesse like this, with an offering hand and a promise no one was ever able to complete.

“You need to stop savin’ me,” Jesse mumbles, looking away from Reyes’ hand.

“As long as I can reach you, I can’t make that promise.”

Jesse wants to mock him, to remind him he didn’t really protect him. Instead, he looks away in defeat, allowing Reyes to grab him by the arm and pull him on his feet, it a gentler manner than Cass did.

---

They’re back in the interrogation room, but Reyes asks for Jesse’s handcuffs to be removed and for him to be treated before they start. Once Jesse’s bruised lip and swollen cheek are taken care of, they sit in silence, with a table between them. Reyes doesn’t hurry him, doesn’t even look at him impatiently, just waits for Jesse to speak.

“How’d ya know I was there?” Jesse asks in almost a murmur.

Reyes takes a few seconds before answering, “I tried the diner across the street first. Thought you might have shown a waitress a picture of me and told her you were hiding from me.”

By reflex, Jesse wants to answer, “I’ll never hide from ya”, but he bites his tongue and looks away. Instead he says, “You didn’t have to come after me; I’m gonna have to get used to being on my own.”

“It wasn’t fair,” Reyes responds, “Cass wasn’t supposed to be in that group anyways. His record is worse than yours. He was meant to be transported to a more strict facility.”

“What about the ones that belong in jail?” Jesse points out. “Are ya gonna work there now to keep me safe? Boy, that will get people to like me.”

“I just wanted to get Cass where he belongs. Especially after I knew he was gonna go after you,” Reyes says. “I know you can take care of yourself. You’re a tough cowboy.”

“Good,” Jesse responds sharply as he crosses his arms. “You can put me in handcuffs again.”

Reyes taps his fingers on the table and Jesse takes a good look at him now. He’s wearing a beanie, a hoodie and a tactical vest, as well as gloves. Javier’s emerald green eyes are gone. If only his real ones were hideous to look at it would make it easier, but they’re just as gorgeous and mesmerizing. A rich chocolate that with the right light Jesse knows they would shift to a decadent brandy.

Jesse has to look away, there’s still that lingering pain in his chest when he looks at him. After a minute of more silence, the commander sighs and stands up. He requests, “Would you please reconsider my offer?”

Jesse scoffs but still doesn’t look at him, “Blackwatch commander, beggin’ a criminal.”

“This is the last time I’ll ask. I’m not gonna get on my knees and keep coming back.”

“I didn’t ask, you showed up. You always did.” And maybe part of Jesse will always keep hoping he does.

“If you accept, I won’t have to. You will be the one showing up to save others,” Gabriel points out and Jesse scoffs. As if he could help people. “You can wipe away those red marks on your file with time, McCree. And you’ll have a profile to be proud of.”

“You ain’t better than Devon,” Jesse looks at Reyes. “You just wanna use me like they did.”

“You have talent. And you can reach your full potential with my help.” Reyes leans over the table; one hand placed on top while the other moves as he speaks. “You will learn so much and discover skills you didn’t know you had. You will learn other cultures, explore the world and meet new people. It won’t be easy, I admit it. But you will have moments when you will know it’s worth it.”

Jesse shakes his head softly, “I already lived with people that told me what to do, even if it didn’t feel like it at first. I don’t need you controlling me like I have a leash around my neck.”

“We can’t set you free, and you know this. Even if you deny my offer, you’ll go to prison and live the rest of your youth behind bars, while your talent wastes away.”

Jesse shrugs, trying to remain unimpressed, but the more Reyes talks, the more his voice baits him to sign the deal. “You’ll find someone else. Some poor bastard to seduce into your arms just to stomp on his chest.”

Reyes steps back, like Jesse’s words created a wall of fire. “In time, you will understand why I did it.”

“You know, if you just had come to me I would have stuck by your side, because I was a damn fool head over heels for ya.”

“Would you?” Reyes looks doubtful. “When? When we met? You would’ve turned me in. The night before the big mission? It would’ve been the same as what I did: you would’ve ended up hurt. And don’t tell me I could’ve told you. We can’t change that now, but we can change what’s gonna happen.”

Jesse itches to mock him, to keep him here, but also wants to know nothing more of the man. But he starts considering the offer. It honestly sounds like he will still be in jail, except with a little more freedom and the price of going out there and risking his life for others. He can’t look at Reyes while he thinks, or he’ll end up saying yes just thinking he’ll get to see his face every day. “If I accept, what then?”

“You’ll be on probation for a year, at least, in which you will train and can’t leave base unsupervised,” Reyes starts as he sits down. “First you will train on your own until we see you fit to join the others. Could take the whole year or months, it depends on you. You won’t have a gun on you unless I think it’s necessary, and to be honest with you, I won’t.”

“Why the hell you want me for then?”

“It’s protocol. You’re not an ordinary recruit, McCree, you’re a criminal. That year of probation will determine if you can, in fact, be an agent.”

“So even if I accept, it means nothin’?”

Gabriel shakes his head, “It means a second chance. You say no now, you won’t see me again. If you say yes, you can prove who you truly are and find a place in this world. Once it’s over and you prove worthy—which I know you will—you can go on missions. They will start small: stakeouts, pick-ups, deliveries, simple stuff you can handle with eyes closed. As you progress, so will the types of missions I send you on.”

McCree purses his lips and looks around. It doesn’t sound exactly like jail, at least it’ll only be a year in probation instead of the many he’ll get in jail. He takes a quick look at Reyes and the man’s looking at him, a little surer Jesse will accept.

“Will I get my uniform faster than the Deadlock jacket?” The words come smoother than Jesse thought, along with a small smile.

A bigger smile appears on Reyes lips before he stands up and extends his hand to Jesse. “Welcome to Blackwatch, vaquero.”

The name stings a little, it’ll be a while to get used to not coming from Javier, but Jesse stands up and shakes his hand.

“One thing,” Reyes says as they break contact and his face darkens. “Whatever you feel for me has to stop. It was wrong of me to take advantage of that, I admit it. But nothing can happen now.”

Jesse scoffs as he shakes his head and walks around the table, staring at his new commander right into his brown eyes as he says, “Don’t worry. Anythin’ I felt for you died with Javier Nieves.”

Chapter Text

M c C r e e

No rest for the wicked. The alarm—which Jesse didn’t set—goes off as the sun starts peaking at the horizon. He groans and turns over to shut it before covering his head with his new pillow. In less than five seconds, he’s fast asleep. The bed he was given isn’t the best quality, but it’s still better than the couches he had to take in motels when the beds were won over by the Deadlock member he was sharing a room with. Though there’s still something this bed won’t beat: the couch at the Bunker. It was old and used many times. Yet there was a home in it. Jesse had made it his own the nights he slept there, with Nieves resting above in his own apartment. And the time both fell asleep on it made the place special as well.

Jesse groans again as Javier’s ghost hunts him. The door whooshes open and he lifts the pillow to see the man that killed Nieves. “I had a feeling you would need someone to wake you up.”

McCree frowns at him and sits up, “Jesus, my alarm just rang. Gimme a break.” He stands as he rubs his eye.

“You have a busy day,” Reyes starts as he steps into the room. Jesse can already tell the difference between Gabriel and Javier: he wears a beanie instead of displaying his soft short curls, his eyes are darker and made of glass, and there’s already the shadow of a beard around his mouth. “Get some breakfast, and I will look for you after. It’s required you go to the infirmary to get tested and open up a file. Then take a tour of the facility; you need to learn the exits as soon as possible in case an emergency occurs. Get your ID and train at a simulation to see where you need work.”

Jesse scoffs, “You know the day only has 24 hours, right?”

Gabriel crosses his arms, “And you’re wasting them.”

McCree’s jaw clenches as he stands from the bed, scratching his lower back, “Hold yer horses, I’ll go eat in a bit.”

Reyes doesn’t seem to like what he hears, “Now. I don’t have all day to wait for you.”

“Too bad,” Jesse comments before turning to his dresser to change into the standard Blackwatch outfit.

“What was that?” Reyes asks and his heavy footsteps echo as he walks deeper in Jesse’s simple room, where the only thing that really belongs to Jesse is the bag he had the night before Deadlock was ambushed, minus his revolver.

Jesse smirks and turns around, “Too bad, sir.”

“Watch it,” Reyes warns as he lifts a finger at McCree.

“Or what?” Jesse turns completely to him. “Yer not gonna kick me out so soon. After all the trouble ya went through? And begged yer superiors to let me in?”

“I didn’t beg,” Gabriel clears up.

“Sounded like beggin’ t’me.” McCree turns around again and takes off his pajama shirt. “You were just crazy fer me to join.”

“And I would not hesitate to kick you out if you step out of line,” Reyes says and his voice is strict, no bluff or doubt of himself. “Be careful, McCree. This isn’t Deadlock, and I’m not Mal. You won’t be able to put any shit by me. You’re on probation, which means my eyes won’t be the only ones on you.”

“If this had been a week ago, I’d say yer eyes are the only ones I want on me.” Jesse turns to Gabriel and tilts his head. “Now they just disgust me.”

Gabriel frowns and his eyes squint, “Good.” The commander turns and stops at the door. “Five minutes, or I’ll drag you all over base, clothes on or off.” The door closes just as Jesse throws his shirt at Reyes, blocking the hit for the commander.

This is like when he met Javier; he disliked the man for how he treated him. No. This has to be worst. He can’t see Javier in Nieves, he just can’t. That man protected him, cared for him, and talked to him almost like equals until Deadlock’s final days. Reyes looks down on Jesse, like a broken dog he came across on a gutter. He thinks himself all high and mighty, like he can break Jesse into the perfect soldier for him. McCree won’t allow that. He will make Reyes regret giving him a chance.

He gets dressed, but lies on his bed, with his legs crossed at the ankles and arms under his head as he stares at the blank ceiling. It was only a few hours ago when he was led to the room by Reyes after catching a plane to Gibraltar, where the main Overwatch base is located. Jesse had been transported like a criminal with his wrists cuffed and pulled by a Blackwatch agent until they landed. Then Reyes took over, he had told Jesse he was lucky he got a room for himself while he’s in probation. McCree knows he doesn’t trust him with other agents, and it’s good. For one, it is a sweet perk to have a solo room. Two, Blackwatch agents should be worried about rooming with an ex-Deadlock member. Jesse hopes they know who he was and what he can do.

He didn’t even have the chance to admire the new scenery. The base was by the ocean in a mountain of rocks with a perfect breeze to make him feel free and on the run. The sound of waves below should calm him down from the day before, and he should imagine himself down by the beach on his days off. Once he knew they were traveling, he should’ve been excited to visit a new land. But McCree found it difficult with handcuffs at his wrists and Gabriel’s glare pinning him in place. It wasn’t until Gabriel closed the door of Jesse’s new room, with him outside, that McCree felt he could breathe again.

He hums softly as the seconds tick by, and minutes pass. The door opens again and in comes Reyes, frowning and prepared to drag McCree out. When he sees the cowboy, ready and lying on his bed, his nostrils flare.

“Don’t you knock?” McCree asks.

“The only thing I need to knock is some sense into you, kid.” Jesse’s teeth clench as he sits up. “If you don’t wanna eat, suit yourself, we can start with the rest of your day.”

His stomach growls and Jesse stands up to cover it with the sounds of his boots hitting the floor. “What did you cook fer me today?” The cowboy teases as he puts on his cowboy hat and walks towards his commander, who doesn’t answer.

Reyes takes him to the cafeteria where he leaves him there to his own luck. Jesse gets in line and picks up waffles, eggs, sausages with an apple and orange juice. He looks over the sea of blue uniforms and spots a few black, with the sigil he will be wearing soon. They chat and eat naturally, while Jesse is out of place in gray sweats.

This what must be to go to high school. The new kid wandering in on his own, looking for a place to fit in amongst the crowd. A few look his way, as if he had ‘new recruit’ written on his face. Jesse tries to ignore them as he walks between the tables and spots an empty chair. He doesn’t ask if it’s taken, but notices the pause in the conversation from the others on the table and the glance they shoot his way before continuing as if he suddenly disappeared.

He spends half of the meal time looking over his shoulder, waiting for greedy hands to pull the tray away and mock him. He’s ready to snap and growl, defend what’s his before it’s taken away. As he shoves the food down his throat, he tries to ignore the uncomfortable feeling in his gut. He tries not to think who might be staring and talking about him. How many know where he comes from? How many know Reyes played him like a puppet? Who thinks Jesse can do great things? And who really knows he can’t do anything but be made a fool?

Jesse startles when a hand falls on his shoulder, heavy but gentle. He looks up to see Reyes, staring down at him in a softer way than earlier. “Take your time, vaquero. The food won’t go anywhere.”

Jesse shrugs off the hand and takes the last sip of his juice, “I’m done.” He pushes the tray away and stands up, ready to move on with the day, but Gabriel is like a brick wall blocking him. “What? Do I have to solute every time I see you?”

“Well, yes,” Gabriel nods with a small grin. “I’ll let it pass today since it’s your first day. But the tray—”

“What about it?” Jesse interrupts, already impatient.

“Put the dishes away, McCree,” Gabriel points at a line where agents throw napkins and any other type of trash in a bin, place the dishes and silverware on plastic box and stack the trays.

“I was gonna,” Jesse lies as he picks up the tray and moves as quickly as possible to get away from Reyes. Thankfully, he stays behind. Still, McCree can feel the commander’s eyes on the back of his skull, criticizing his posture, the way he walks and how he doesn’t make conversation with those around him, especially ignoring the cheerful Overwatch agent that nods his way with a “Good morning!”

McCree returns to Gabriel once he’s taken care of the tedious task, and solutes the commander, “What’s my next really important mission, boss? Hope is as dangerous as the last one.”

Gabriel seems unaffected by this as he turns around and Jesse hesitates to follow, “Infirmary first. Remember to keep an eye out for the exits.”

Jesse hurries up the pace when Gabriel looks over his shoulder. “What kind of emergencies are we talking about, boss? An ambush? Thought we were the toughest association on the planet and we’re gonna run off?”

“Emergencies where we need to evacuate,” Gabriel answers. “If you want to fight a fire, be my guest, but my money will be on the flames.”

“Got it,” Jesse mumbles, heat spreading over his cheeks at how stupid that might have sound. He thinks it’s best to stop thinking what Gabriel will think. He isn’t the same man he knew, no matter how he still wishes it would be, deep down. At least he notices an exit on the far end of the hallway out of the cafeteria.

Jesse gets tested and also checked for any traces of drugs in his system. He doesn’t worry about it since he hasn’t gotten into that. It would have been easy to get them in Deadlock, but they never appealed to him when he saw not all sellers were like Lina, still with meat on her bones, color on her skin and shine in her eyes. Thinking about her makes his chest go heavy. They might not have been the best friends, or closest, but she was still part of all he knew. He doesn’t think of Mal, there are better people to think about like Albert, who mostly brought him along on tasks as company. And Leo, the most tender lover Jesse had. He hurts the most to remember, especially when Jesse starts to believe that’s the best he’ll get for the rest of his life. He won’t get to feel a softer touch, a better kiss or a warm hug. He used to think Javier would be that better. He’s another name Jesse mourns. How could he had been so stupid to think Gabriel Reyes would want to lie with a kid like him? Dirty and wild.

Jesse misses Leo and Albert, he misses the familiarity of the Bunker and the filthy motel rooms. He looks around the medical room he’s in, nothing he would’ve been taken before. Everything is clean, safe, pure white. Gabriel sits across from him, watching the cowboy doesn’t go anywhere, but his gaze is puzzling, like he’s trying to sway his way back under Jesse’s skin. Jesse looks away, scare the man will get what he wants again.

A few more tests are done and Jesse answers questions about his medical history, which is practically nonexistent since it has been a long while he visited a doctor or got checked for anything. To his surprised, he doesn’t get anything life threatening. Gets a few missing shots, a pill for vitamin C—which the doc said he needs—and sent away. He catches another exit down the hall.

“Any questions?” Gabriel suddenly asks as they step into an elevator. Jesse shakes his head even before thinking. “Don’t be afraid to find me if you have them once we’re done.”

“I’m not afraid,” Jesse stares at him, taking offense to the statement; as if Jesse was in fact a lost child.

“Or any other Blackwatch agent,” Gabriel continues, “They’re your roommates now, and soon your teammates. You need to start building the bond.”

“So in a month or two I can drug ya and say how Deadlock is still up and runnin’ and I’ve been undercover this whole time?” The comments comes with a bite, one that makes Gabriel go stiff. “Did Morrison gave you that same line before ya went to Deadlock?”

“McCree, if you’re going to bring that up every time—”

“Not every time, just when I know it’ll bother ya,” Jesse grins.

Gabriel huffs and blinks slowly, “You’ll get tired first, trust me.”

“We’ll see,” Jesse adds, looking at the commander one last time before facing the opening doors of the elevator. They don’t make it far before Gabriel’s phone rings and he checks on it, frowning lightly.

He types a few times before speaking, “I’m have to go.”

“How convenient,” Jesse comments.

“Something came up I have to take care of. I’ll have someone guide you through the rest of the tour.”

“No need, boss, I can manage just fine.”

“Can you make it back to the cafeteria?” Gabriel asks with a knowing gaze that Jesse will get lost in five minutes.

Jesse shrugs and looks away, “I’ll find a way.”

“Come, we’ll meet up with your new guide.” Gabriel turns back to the elevator, Jesse groans before following and endures an awkward silence as they both stand on different corners, trying to avoid making eye contact.

They reach the first floor, where a woman with dark skin and curly hair greets them as soon as the doors open. She smiles at Jesse and salutes at Reyes, “Commander.”

Gabriel huffs, impressed with the woman’s timing as they step out of the elevator, “Agent McCree, this is Agent Rainer, she’ll be in charge of you for a few days.” For Jesse, it’s a bit surreal to be directed like that; too formal to him.

Jesse tilts his head as he looks at Rainer, “This my new nanny?”

“Wouldn’t have bothered if something important hadn’t come up,” Gabriel answers quickly, like he was just waiting to tell Jesse he was nothing now that he’s back to his busy, heroic life, and that there are better things to attend to than him. “He needs a tour of the base; infirmary and cafeteria are covered. He also needs to get his ID and run rounds on the shooting simulation.”

“Yes, sir,” Rainer answers.

“Don’t break anything,” Reyes says to McCree before leaving them. Jesse watches him go, he wants Reyes to feel his stare on him, feel his presence even when he’s not looking.

“If I were you, I wouldn’t be caught staring at the commander too much,” Rainer gets his attention as he turns to look at her. She’s smirking and crossing her arms, “You aren’t the first to look at Commander Reyes, and if the others notice the newbie’s crush on him—”

“I ain’t crushin’,” McCree mumbles as he looks away and the woman laughs.

“Just teasing, I know how the commander got you here.”

Jesse’s eyes widen slightly as he looks back at her, “Ya do?”

She nods, “Blackwatch knew about his undercover mission. You must be pissed someone from the inside took your gang down, I understand.”

Jesse chews on the inside of his cheek thinking if they know more. If the newbie did in fact got here because he let a stupid crush get the best of him, allowing said undercover agent to slip deeper into Deadlock.

“I’m Mitzy, by the way,” the woman introduces as she extends her hand.

Jesse looks at it as he thinks, would it be worth it to know a few people here? He needs someone to show him around, especially to learn the important exits Reyes is so keen on. “Jesse,” he shakes her hand.

“We should get started,” she says as she gives the first steps and McCree joins by her side. “You already saw the cafeteria, open for main meals, but each fraction has a kitchen they can go to for snacks and whatever we desire.” Jesse nods, he had seen Blackwatch’s on his way out of the special op’s wing, along with the rec room. “Let’s start with the gyms, you need to know the way with your eyes closed if you’re not a morning person.”

Jesse chuckles, “Almost got dragged out of my room this mornin’.”

Rainer takes him to the first gym, where some Overwatch agents are doing their training. Yet there’s still plenty of space for another group to come and do their own thing. The second gym is smaller and contains more equipment like a sparring mats on the floor, punching bags, weights and other exercise machines.

McCree can’t avoid the posters all over both gyms, big vertical banners with the faces of Jack Morrison, Gabriel Reyes and the others that had to do with ending the omnic crisis. They’re like propaganda to join Overwatch. Reyes looks difference in his, a little younger; sides of his hair shorter than the top—like Javier’s hair. The goatee and his skin look smoother. Seeing him, watching Jesse wherever he goes makes his skin crawl. His body remains tense until they’re out of the gym. But before they do, he catches a door with the ‘Emergency Exit’ sign on top.

Mitzy then takes him to get his ID. She hands the man in charge a permission slip signed by Gabriel and then Jesse’s stepping in front of a white wall for his picture. The guy hands it to him as he types away on the computer. The card is warm and sharp against his fingertips. Jesse looks older by the look in his eyes. Tired of being dragged around, of trusting people just to have them turning on him or being taken. Rainer pulls him out of his thoughts so they can head to the shooting range.

There he sees more agents training against bots or other agents behind walls of glass. They wield guns, shields and even swords and maces to practice. As well as bows and throwing knives. Each simulation cast a light red light, warning outsiders they can’t enter or come out during the simulation.

“Enjoy, we’ll have to wait for a bit before one frees up for us,” Mitzy says as she starts watching two Blackwatch agents fighting back to back to the wave of bots coming in on them.

Jesse watches too. They move quickly, block coming fires and spin around when needed. They fight in sync, like they’re one. The bots don’t stand a chance. Jesse continues on to another range to see a woman throwing knives at another who’s using a shield to move from cover to cover and fires from a gun. Then there’s a guy shooting at bots. He works fast, reloads almost in a blink of an eye, and doesn’t miss. Jesse gets lost in the action and curious at the weapon, until a shot from the robot hits the glass in front of him and he yelps back. The guy finishes the remaining bots and the red tint turns to green.

“One just opened up,” Mitzy says, opening the glass door and entering. Jesse follows as the guy laughs.

“I’m not done, I’m about to beat my own high score,” he protests to Mitzy who waves him off.

“You always say that,” she responds before looking at Jesse and pointing at a wall outside the simulation, where equipment and other tools are shelved. “Tactical equipment is over there. Find what fits.” Jesse looks over at the shelves with a nod, retrieves to get a vest.

“You babysitting for someone?” Jesse hears the guy tease.

“No, he’s new.”

He laughs, loud enough for McCree to hear, “You gotta be kidding me? If I’d known I would’ve brought my niece. She turned ten last month.”

“Step off, Lance,” Jesse looks over his shoulder, a little annoyed, and catches Mitzy shoving the agent. “He was that Deadlock member.”

“Oh! I didn’t know,” Lance says, but it still sounds mocking. “Should we even trust him with guns?”

“Don’t be that guy, hating on the new kid, really?” Jesse knows Mitzy said it to keep Lance off his back, but could’ve done it without the ‘kid’. He has enough of that with Reyes.

“Alright, alright. I’ll wait to see his scores before I start making ‘toy gun’ jokes.”

Once Jesse is done, he waits for Mitzy who brings a simple pistol. Jesse knows what to do from here, so he walks towards the range Lance had been while the older agents close the door and step behind the panel outside. Jesse steadies his feet for the wave of bots to come when the red light turns on. Instead, only one bot comes, moving side to side and shooting so sparsely and slow Jesse can simply dodge by stepping out of the way. McCree raises an eyebrow as the bullets fly by him and shoots. The bot shots off and another joins in before it starts moving again. They move around him, similar patterns, but Jesse catches them.

“What’s this crap?” he looks at Mitzy, with Lance watching along.

“Level two,” Mitzy informs. “Everyone has to go through every level the first time to see how far they can go.”

“What was he workin’ on?” Jesse points at Lance, who smirks.

“Thirty-five.”

“Give me thirty,” Jesse smirks back. “It’ll be a nice warm up.”

“That’s not how it works, McCree,” Mitzy says, voice stricter than he has heard.

“I can do what he did,” the cowboy insists.

“McCree—”

“No, give it to him.” Lance says as he twigs something in the panel. “Let’s see the gang member fend for himself now.”

“Thank you,” Jesse steadies again when he hears movement around him. About the same amount of bots Lance faced off against come and Jesse’s ready for them. Until they start shooting. Jesse hits one, but two aim. He rolls into cover, barely missing a hit, and fires, taking the arm off one, but the other continues to shoot.

Their pattern is unpredictable, and one sneaks up behind him as it takes a swing with his robotic arm. Jesse isn’t prepared for it. He shoots it down and hisses when the hit of one catches his side. It doesn’t hurt, but he feels the burn against his vest. Jesse jumps out of his way and shoots, but the bot dodges it.

“Pause it!” Jesse calls, rubbing at the burn of the hit. Another hits his arm, making him scream, “Stop!”

“I can’t!” Mitzy says, her hands moving over the panel. “Levels twenty and up won’t stop until you critically hit five bots.”

McCree curses as he goes for another cover and tries to aim, but the bot shoots at his hand, barely missing him. The cowboy quickly hides away. He’s ready to peak again, but the light goes green and Lance is by his side, shooting the bot. Then one more and the simulation ends.

Jesse breathes heavily as he looks up at the agent, who offers him a hand. Jesse hesitates on taking it, but goes with it at the end. “Easy, it’ll stop in a bit, trust me.” Lance’s tone is gentler than before.

“It doesn’t hurt,” Jesse says, but the wince he makes doesn’t help.

Lance scoffs, “No, it burns.”

“McCree, Taylor,” Reyes’ voice rings in Jesse’s ears like a buzz alarm, and he turns back to see his new commander, arms crossed and frown on his face as he stands by the door, a straightened Mitzy behind him. “Mind anyone explain to me why my new recruit is on level thirty?” He looks back at Mitzy since she’s supposed to be in charge of Jesse.

“I gave the access, sir,” Lance says, approaching Gabriel with his back narrowed and eyes on him. “It was my doing.”

Gabriel looks at McCree, “He wanted it, right?”

Lance hesitates, “Yes, sir, but I shouldn’t have done it. That’s on me.”

Gabriel looks back at Lance, “Glad we agree on that. In the future, don’t be in charge of my rookies’ training. I need them alive, agent.”

“Yes, sir,” Lance quickly answers.

Gabriel walks past Lance and directs to Jesse. He looks at him over, but McCree looks away. “There’s ointment by the equipment for that. It’ll stop it in a few minutes.” Jesse still doesn’t look at him. “I’m talking to you, kid.” Jesse clenches his jaw and looks at the commander. “Put it on and restart your training. You’ll do levels 1 and 2, twenty times each. Then continue.”

“A child can do those,” McCree protests.

“And pass to 3, which you didn’t do,” Gabriel responds. “I already know you need to learn patience. Let’s start with that today.” Gabriel turns and walks away, missing the way Jesse’ hands tighten around the gun. Mitzy gives him time, while Lance rubs the back of his neck and walks away.

Once the ointment works on him, and he returns to the range, Mitzy begins, giving him a confident smile. He does level 1 twenty times, then goes on to level 2. It helps his pride a little when Mitzy tells him his shooting became quicker halfway through the repetition of level 2. They have a quick break when his stomach growls after noon, and Mitzy throws a granola bar his way with a second one between her teeth. Jesse moves on to level 3, and reaches thirteen when the bots come from a distant pattern that Jesse doesn’t seem to learn.

“Not bad, kid,” Mitzy says and Jesse grimaces. “One of the highest scores I’ve seen from a new recruit. I was with those when I came here. I’ll send them to the commander right away.”

“Thought I could go further,” Jesse says, tapping the barrel of the empty gun against his palm.

Mitzy does what she said and shuts off the panel, “These aren’t design to beat them, they are to learn. Reyes made every one run through them even if we were in Overwatch already. Which is why Lance is at Thirty-five,” she chuckles lightly as whispers like Lance will hear, “He’s been at it for weeks.” Jesse laughs weakly and hands her the pistol, barrel first, “The levels get harder, but they also change without you realizing it. It’s to keep us focus and remind us nothing is ever the same in the field. And after level thirty, the simulation knows you. It studies your records and already knows your every move. But we’ll talk more about that when you beat Lance.” She punches him lightly on his shoulder, and he smiles with a little sigh of relief.

“Am I free for the rest of the evening?”

“Sure, it’s almost five already, better get some real food in you. I’ll talk to Reyes about continuing the tour tomorrow.” Waves him off before crouching to the ground and grabbing her hoodie she had taken off at some point. “Besides, you don’t need to know every room on base, as long as you got the route to the wing, cafeteria, infirmary and medbay, you’re set.”

“Sounds easy,” Jesse tips the rim of his hat. “Well I’m off now, see ya around.”

Mitzy throws him a finger gun salute, “Later, cowboy.”

Jesse decides to do a little touring of his own and inspect if there are any other exits he needs to know about. He wants to have them memorize, see if there are any vents near he can take advantage of. There’s nothing set in stone, but if things get too bad, it doesn’t hurt to have an escape plan. Maybe he’ll end up using it sooner than later.

He turns into a corner and halts when he sees Gabriel coming his way, eyes on his tablet. The cowboy believes he has time to turn, but the commander calls for him. Jesse straightens and turns back around to face him, actually smiles at Jesse. “Got your scores, you did good.”

Jesse can’t help how his eyes widen slightly and he pinches the rim of his hat, “Well, what’d you expect?”

“Better than that,” Gabriel doesn’t hesitate to say and Jesse’s grin falters. “You would’ve done better if you hadn’t been so worked up after doing 20 extra rounds of levels 1 and 2.”

“And I wouldn’t have done those extra levels if I had been patient,” Jesse finishes for him, already knowing it would lead there.

“Glad you’re catching how things work around here.” Gabriel pockets the tablet into his hoodie. “You missed lunch?”

“Mitzy gave me a bar,” Jesse shrugs off.

“Go eat something better,” Gabriel suggest, a tender look in his eyes that’s very familiar to Jesse.

“Not that hungry,” Jesse lies, looking away from Gabriel which reveals his lie.

“Eat something, McCree. There will always be food available for you.” Jesse rolls his eyes, trying to pass it as nothing, but his gut flips and his chest tightens. There’s that hint of Javier who fed him. “Continue the tour tomorrow, but please, spend the rest of the evening wisely.”

“What’d you suggests I do?” Jesse asks, though he doesn’t really care.

“I think it's best I say what I suggest you don’t do: pick a fight,” the commander starts, lifting a finger as he list, “leave base, vandalize equipment, steal from others, go to the armory, bother the Strike Commander, and skip a meal. Think you can follow that for the rest of the day?”

Jesse scoffs, “Maybe. Dismissed, boss.”

Gabriel frowns, “Don’t make me have to put a leash on you.”

“Not my thing,” Jesse turns around. “I’ll head out to the cafeteria now, then, and won’t waste anymore of yer time.”

He disappears around the corner before Gabriel says anything else and speeds up in case the commander decides to follow. He ends up going to the Blackwatch wing to grab a piece of the lasagna that seemed to have been made recently. It has no name, so Jesse assume it’s safe to take. He eats it in his room, and as the warm meal settles in his stomach, he starts feeling tired. Once he’s done, he lies back on his bed and lets the little ounce of energy he has left disappear completely as he closes his eyes.

There’s a weight on his chest, a weight hot yet comfortable. It’s home; a fantasy. A pair of lips run down his fevered skin, marking down to his bones. A tongue comes out and writes his name on his skin, leaving it in carved, burning scars. He doesn’t know what to do with his hands, he just holds on to the man’s shoulders and nails into the skin. The man’s also hot, scorching against his fingertips, and sweaty. McCree jerks his hips up, wanting more friction where his bulge grows with each passing of the man’s knee and thigh. Jesse slides up and down on his bed, wanting to ride the strong thigh between his legs, needing something to feel in between.

A gasps escapes his lips as he wraps his arms around the man’s thick neck. He can feel the man’s pulse, and his own young heart pumping heavily. He’s suffocating and begs to kiss the man for air. He wants to so badly. Taste the forbidden fruit and burn with sin.

Jesse opens his eyes and sees Gabriel—no, Javier, looking down at him. No facial hair, his eyes emerald green and a few curls on his forehead. The man’s breaths collide with his own and their mouths are less than an inch away. Jesse shivers with anticipation. He calls for Javier, for the poison the man carries on his tongue.

Jesse remembers the last time he saw Javier, it was like this. The bartender on top after he had claimed him in his arms and laid Jesse on the bed. McCree was ready to be taken by him, ready to belong to something concrete. He had been so naïve. Crazy even. Part of him wishes Javier had just put him to sleep. It’s sick to think that way, but at least he would’ve woken up with the man by his side. Something tells Jesse if Javier truly had been him, he would’ve just let Jesse rest to get rid of the nerves for the mission. And woken him up by kissing his eyelids and murmuring his name.

But Jesse wakes up with a start and gasping. A hole in his chest that hurts when he breathes and a lonely bed. His member tents his sweats and he groans as he slides his feet on the floor, not really wanting to take care of a hard-on for once in his life. If he does he will think of Javier, of his soft voice whispering sweet nothings to relax him. Or he’ll think of Gabriel, the rough twin pinning him to the mattress and toying with Jesse until he gets what he wants. Or he’ll think of Leo, sweet and tender, letting Jesse choose the pace, and his heart will shatter.

He checks his clock and see its past ten. Dinner’s over and he’s craving something besides food. Something that will take his mind off Reyes, but at the same time make Reyes pay attention to him. It's only been a day but it’s safe to say Jesse doesn’t like it here and it’s starting to regret joining. Why did he really do it? To be safe from Cass? Overwatch had caught him, he’s probably in a different prison than Jesse would’ve been in. Hell, no one from Deadlock would be on a Swiss prison, it’s like Jesse would be nobody to anyone and start from zero. Food? He would get that there as well. Same as a bed, shower and cellmates that don’t really care for him. But at least prison doesn’t have the ghost of Jesse’s mistake.

---

The gym is empty except for the wandering cowboy carrying a few tomatoes on a bag. He munches off a microwave burrito he grabbed from the Blackwatch kitchen, ignoring the name on the wrapper. McCree knew he was gonna have trouble going back to bed, and wasn’t fond of the idea of tossing and turning until sleep took over. That’s why he stands under one of the posters, the Reyes one to be exact, and holds the burrito between his teeth. Sure, this will obviously be tracked down to him, he wants Reyes to know. Gabriel wanted him to learn patience. Jesse believes he’ll be glad to know he was patient enough to not throw the tomatoes to the commander’s real face.

The first one hits between the eyes. “Bullseye,” Jesse says, grabbing another tomato and holding the burrito with the other. The second lands over his mouth, hiding away those lips Jesse had been aching to kiss once. Or might still want to. The third lands on one of Gabriel’s eyes and the cowboy chuckles. “Ahoy, matey!”

Jesse pulls his arm back to throw the fourth, but his wrists his caught in something big enough to cover his whole face. He turns to look and his eyes widen to the image of a man, way taller than him. His hair is light blonde and he bears a scar across his eye. “That is just a waste, my boy.” His tone is lightly and laughs, but then hums as he looks at Jesse’s work. “You might’ve done the commander a favor, he hates these posters. Still, I have to report you.”

“Or we can pretend this never happened,” Jesse suggest with a smile. “Wouldn’t wanna bother the commander.”

The man laughs again as he picks up the bag of tomatoes and pushes Jesse lightly to start walking, “I don’t, but technically it won’t me be that’s directly bothering him, son.”

“’Course, blame it on the new guy,” Jesse mumbles.

“You’re the new kid, right?” The guy’s voice rises to the realization. “Ana told me about you; couldn’t believe Jack gave the ‘okay’ in the end!” He laughs lightly. “How was your first day?”

Jesse shrugs, slipping his hands in his pockets as they leave the gym. The guy seems friendly enough, maybe some chatter will make him reconsider, “Was fine ‘til I was caught.”

“You wouldn’t have been caught, if you wouldn’t have done something wrong.”

“Who goes to the gym at this hour, anyways?” McCree complains mostly, not asks, still the giant answers.

“Lots of us, you’ll see.”

“There are more of you?” McCree eyes the man’s full body.

“No, I’m one of a kind!” The man turns to him and extends his big hand, big enough to crush Jesse’s skull, but also thick enough to rest on it. “Reinhardt Wilhelm.”

Jesse raises an eyebrow and shakes the man’s hand, feeling even smaller when it wraps around his. “Jesse McCree. Now I know why yer familiar: saw ya in one of the posters.”

“Yes, thanks for not messing up my hair,” Rein jokes.

“Didn’t give me the chance,” Jesse follows and Rein pats him on the back, a little too harsh. “So yer Overwatch?”

“Since the beginning,” Rein adds as his chest swells in pride. “I hope you end up liking it here, at least enough to stop launching tomatoes at our faces.”

Jesse huffs, “Don’t hold yer breath on it.”

Rein takes him down a hall Jesse hasn’t been before, and once they stop in front of a door, he knows why. It’s Reyes’ office. Rein knocks, the sound weak compared to the size of his knuckles and after some seconds, the door opens. Reyes isn’t the one to answer, but Morrison. He’s surprised to see them there. “Rein, and McCree? What can I do for you?”

“You aren’t Reyes,” Jesse says, more venomous than he meant, earning a frown from Morrison.

“Reyes is on an important call at the moment, best not to disturb him.”

“Bet he is,” Jesse mumbles.

“What brings him here?” Morrison asks Rein, as if Jesse wasn’t with him.

“He vandalized one of the posters at the gym.” Rein holds the bag with his hand and Jack scoffs.

“Can’t imagine whose,” the strike commander takes it and continues, “I’ll tell Gabriel tomorrow. He shouldn’t be bothered with this right now, but thank you for reporting Rein.”

Rein bows his head, “No problem, commander. Goodnight.”

“Good night, Rein,” Jack smiles at Rein, but it fades when he looks at Jesse. McCree can’t help the little hint of jealousy at how comfortable Jack looks in a simple shirt and sweats—out of uniform—and in Gabriel’s office, who must be in the same state. He shakes away those thoughts that shouldn’t even be in his mind anymore.

“You are dismissed,” Rein says, “I don’t think you need me to escort you to your room.”

“I know the way,” Jesse says, already turning around. He does get lost getting out of those halls he hasn’t been around, but at least he ends up in his room, slumping on the bed and ignoring what will come tomorrow.

---

He gets his punishment in the morning, three extra laps around the track while the other agents rest and wait for him by the bleachers. Gabe stands by the finish line, timing him and his tablet in hand to save the records. Each lap he’s slower; the commander lets him know. By the last one, he collapses on the track, drenched in sweat and lungs burning. He can feel his ribs under his skin as he heaves and his mouth dried. The shadow of Gabriel stepping closer to him blocks the morning sun, which he kind of appreciates, but he’s scared to open his eyes.

“Here,” Gabriel says, making Jesse peak and sees the commander handing him a bottle of water. Jesse quickly sits up and uncaps it, letting the cap fall to the ground and drinks like he hasn’t in weeks. “A small thank you, they took down the poster.”

Jesse frowns and pulls the bottle away from his mouth, “That wasn’t my intention.”

“I know, must suck you helped me instead of making me mad. Still disappointed.” Jesse raises an eyebrow at him and Gabriel shakes his head lightly. “Tomatoes? Couldn’t have been more creative? Draw horns, a mustache, cow suit on me. At least put some effort and creativity on it.”

Jesse huffs, “I didn’t wanna, that’s the point.”

“Sure, it was,” Gabriel adds and grabs Jesse by the arm to get him on his feet without a warning or permission. “Back to the gym; take five while the others settle into partners.”

Jesse watches as the agents take partners except for Mitzy, who kindly chooses him and sits by his side—or smart enough to gain those five extra minutes of rest. Still, Gabriel doesn’t say anything as he instructs them on what to do: they’ll be working on locks and how to get away. He reminds them they aren’t supposed to harm each other and gives the signal to start.

Once Jesse’s time is up, Gabriel stands by the empty mat left over for McCree and Rainer. Once the two are set, Gabriel instructs Mitzy to do a simple lock on Jesse, he wants to see how Jesse can get away. The cowboy manages, but it’s a little reckless in the way he twists his neck to try and hit Mitzy with his head. Gabriel shows him a different approach and McCree gets it soon enough, even when Mitzy applies more pressure. The rest of training goes surprisingly well, even if McCree is tired halfway through.

Before dinner, Blackwatch is called to the conference room in their wing for a last minute debriefing on an emergency mission. They don’t get details, but Jesse expects that’s what the debriefing is for. Still, it doesn’t surprised him when he follows the other agents into the room and Gabriel pulls him aside. “You know you aren’t going on this mission, right?”

Jesse clears his throat, “Kinda hopin’ ya wouldn’t see me.”

“I was expecting you here,” Gabriel points out, “I still want you in the debriefing so you know how they usually go.”

McCree shifts on his feet, “Why should I bother? It’s not like it’ll be the last one.”

Gabriel frowns, “No, but I’m telling you to come inside. You shouldn’t question your commander, agent. Especially when it’s you are on probation.”

Jesse rolls his eyes and looks away from him, Gabriel sighs and seems to be about to say more when someone else calls him. Jesse looks over and it’s a woman with black hair, one he saw on the posters with a sniper rifle over her shoulder. Gabriel looks back at Jesse as if he was reading his memories; that time both on a hill of the desert, a sniper in Jesse’s hands and Javier’s arms around him, shielding him. Javier’s breath hot against Jesse’s skin in the windy night as he said, “Breathe.”

A chill runs down Jesse’s body when Gabriel walks away to talk to the woman, and Jesse watches them by the door. He ponders over the idea of walking in, wasting time on a mission he won’t go on, feeling like an intruder, a kid that isn’t smart enough to understand what’s going on. He decides to walk away as fast as he can and turn the corner before Gabriel notices. He’s sure the man would run down to grab him.

He makes his way to the cafeteria and enjoys a nice plate of spaghetti with meatballs before Lance sits by his side, with a tray of his own and a sigh. “Reyes is not happy with you.”

Jesse scoffs, “He should’ve seen it comin’.”

“I think he hoped you would still show up. You should’ve, there are times we don’t get a chance to have a debrief before a mission, we only get ‘do this and that without causing this’ because there’s no time or something happens,” Lance starts to explain, “Or you just got back from another mission that went on for a little longer than expected. It used to happen in Overwatch, I’m sure it’ll happen a lot more in Blackwatch.” Lance takes a forkful of spaghetti while Jesse crosses his arms over the table. “By the way, you’re in charge of getting all of the agents’ bags into the shuttle before they leave in ten minutes.”

“That’s ain’t fair!”

Lance shrugs, “Reyes’ punishment, or first part of it, he looked really mad.”

“Are you goin’?”

“Nope, got assigned to stay and make sure you don’t run away before the commander can get his hands on you.” Lance eats like he just didn’t pass on a threat. While Jesse’s hunger gets spoiled with the thought of Gabriel storming into the cafeteria, boots stomping as he cracks the floor, and wrapping one hand around Jesse’s neck.

---

Jesse hears the news of the Blackwatch’s agents return during breakfast, and makes a run for it before Lance can reach across the table and keep him in place. He’s not sure where to go, but the fear gets to him when he hears heavy boots against the tiled floor in every hallway he walks into. In the end, he thinks Gabriel won’t expect him near the landing platform and diverts towards it, avoiding being seen by anyone with the Blackwatch logo.

He finds an opened door with ‘WORKSHOP II’ on it runs inside to shut it behind him. The smell of oil and metal quickly hits him, as well as heat. “Get that open!” He turns to see a small, blond man working by a table set with tools, gears and blueprints. “Or I’ll scorch in here!”

Jesse decides to do so when the heat rises, but quickly steps away from door and finds shelter under a clothed table, barricaded by crates. “What’d you think you’re doing?” The man questions, Swedish accent thick on his tongue.

“Ya never saw me for twenty bucks,” Jesse puts on the empty offer as he crawls under the table.

“Sounds like a fine deal,” the man comments before he continues his work. The place is noisy as he works, better to hide. Sweat rolls down Jesse’s temple with time, but not enough.

He yelps when there’s a moment of silence and Reyes’ voice appears, “Have you seen an agent of mine?”

“He’s under the table,” the man answers without missing a beat. Jesse curses before Gabriel’s hand grabs him by the collar of his shirt and pulls him out and into his feet. The blond laughs and shrugs, “Sorry, boy, ranks mean something here.”

“Thanks,” Gabriel and Jesse say at the same time, but Gabriel means it, while Jesse’s voice is full of sarcasm.

Gabriel drags him out of there and takes him to the cliff, close to the rocks that lead to the ocean. It’s quite a peaceful scenery, or the perfect way to kill someone. Gabriel lets go of Jesse, who steps back a few feet, “Before you kill me, let me just say you should’ve expected me leavin’.”

Gabriel’s brows furrow and his mouth thins in a line, “I did. Still, I believed you would’ve stayed. And I’m not going to kill you, not today. The fresh air will actually help you by helping my nose with some relief from the gunpowder and smoke I’ve been inhaling for the past twelve hours.”

“That bad, huh?” Jesse tries to converse with his commander, drive him away from the point. “Well glad I’m on probation, or I would’ve made the mission worse.”

“You’re right, because you missed the damn debriefing.”

Jesse scoffs, “I’m not allowed to go—”

“Doesn’t matter. I told you why you had to go: to know how it goes and what to expect from a mission. What if we would’ve needed back up? What if my team had to contact base to get some information we missed and you would’ve been the one around to answer? It would have been worse.” Gabriel steps closer and lifts a finger to Jesse. “My agents and I trust you will be ready by the time you’re put out there with us; to guard our backs like we will do yours. That’s not a trust that happens one day to another, McCree, they need to see it now. Rainer and Taylor already got a warning thanks to your lack of patience, think they would’ve trusted you out there if you had been a part of the mission? I don’t think I would have.”

Jesse’s mouth opens and closes in a thin line before he says, “Then don’t. I didn’t ask to join, you offered.”

“And you accepted.”

“It was this or prison. Not much of a difference if you ask me though.”

“What did you expect? That I would break those handcuffs and set you free? That’s not how it works, kid.”

“Don’t call me that,” Jesse warns with clenched teeth.

“Look, you wanna hate me, fine, I understand. But don’t hate on the division. Don’t throw away this chance many wished they had.” Gabriel crosses his arms, “Give yourself the chance to do better and have a group that really cares about you.”

Jesse scoffs as he shakes his head to have a small glance at the ocean before looking back at Reyes, “Don’t give me that bullshit. I see the way they look at me, how they call me ‘kid’ and ‘boy’; they don’t take me seriously.”

“Because you’re not taking this seriously,” Gabriel reminds him pointing at the ground.

“Because I don’t want to.”

“You really wanna quit already? After three days?”

Jesse bites his lip and answers, “I do. I just don’t care.”

Gabriel stays quiet and the look on his eyes tell Jesse he still believed in him until his answer. “Fine.”

He turns to leave and Jesse, for some reason, doesn’t want him to go yet, “Fine?”

Gabriel looks back at him, “Be awake by five, I’ll come by your room and we’ll pretend this last few days didn’t happen.” Jesse’s eyes widen, but before he can asks, Gabriel continues, “You’ll be back in the states and cellmate with your Deadlock buddies by tomorrow night.”

Chapter Text

R e y e s

Gabriel watches as the pitch black of the night sky lightens with the threat of the sun at the horizon. The cool breeze that comes with it enters his lungs, along with the smell of blooming flowers that surround him. For a moment, he’s at peace. He almost forgets why he’s here.

The garden around him looks to be from another world, not a hidden place on a base Ana Amari had made to bring more life into their work. It’s a small garden in a balcony of the second floor near Blackwatch wing. It’s right outside one of the emergency exits. Gabriel sits on the lonely bench, admiring the roses, lilies, sunflowers, and tulips. They sway with the wind and he can feel his heartbeat soothing as he watches them. Sometimes he wonders what would happen if he lets go. If he had let go of Jesse sooner, allowed the kid to run with Deadlock into that ship, and get ambushed. He wouldn’t be sitting on the bench if he had.

He wouldn’t have taken time off from paperwork and planning the next mission to smell the roses. He would’ve miss the first falling star he has seen in years; always been too busy looking over his shoulder to look up at the sky. If he had let go, he would also be letting go of things that remind him how human he is, even with chemicals running through his veins.

The doorknob rattles a few feet away and he holds his breath. When it opens, he sees a hat peak first before the door widens. McCree steps out of the building, and in the dim light, Gabriel can tell he stops to look around. He stops running to look at what surrounds him, at the beauty a simple patch of nature can bring. A surprised he didn’t expect.

“Going somewhere?” Gabriel asks and Jesse jumps out of his skin, dropping the same bag he was brought into base with. The commander can’t help laughing, leaning back into the bench a little.

“Ain’t funny,” Jesse mumbles as he picks his little belongings back. Gabriel is sure he will find a few snacks from the Blackwatch kitchen if he searches through it.

“I see you kept an eye out for those exits,” Gabriel points out, Jesse doesn’t answer, only looks away as he holds the bag with one hand, and the other slips into the pocket of the pants he wears, clearly not his as they sag low.

“How’d you know I’d choose this one?”

“It’s closer to your room,” Gabriel looks across from the garden, where they can see another building. “It’s also near the armory, where you think your gun is.”

Jesse frowns, “Where is it then?”

“I’m not gonna tell you,” Gabriel responds before he pats the empty spot by his side, sliding to give Jesse more space.

McCree hesitates, he even looks at the stairs that lead down. Gabriel doesn’t reach for him, he can catch him if he runs. But he really wants McCree to choose to sit.

Jesse decides to stay for a while longer, and slouches down, close to the armrest of the bench to still leave enough of a gap between the two. “Ya knew I was runnin’, why didn’t ya grabbed me sooner?”

“I didn’t want to.”

“Why aren’t ya yellin’ at me, then?”

“I don’t want to,” Gabriel pauses, outlining the cowboy’s profile, “yet.”

“Whaddaya want, then?” Jesse looks at him, angry, like Gabriel should be the one in his position.

“For you to get your act together.”

Jesse scoffs and leans back, putting his elbow on the armrest and resting his cheek on his hand, “That ain’t happenin’. Lock me away already.”

“Is that what you want?”

Jesse looks at Gabriel like he’s crazy, “Course not, but ya already made yer mind.”

“Does this look like I made my mind?” Gabriel opens a hand to point at the garden. “If it does, tell me why. Because I’m not sure what I’m doing out here, trying to convince a criminal to stay in my division.”

Jesse shakes his head, looking away again. “I should’ve never met ya.”

“I tried to get you off my back. Don’t pretend I tied you to my wrist, or something like that.”

Jesse grimaces, and Gabriel can see that’s the look and feeling Jesse gets now when he remembers them. Gabriel remembers too, like his memories will pass on to Jesse for him to realize how it was the kid who seek him out a few times, who wanted to tag along on certain things, and even asked Gabriel to help him with that hunch he had about Broken Bones. Jesse chose him.

“Ya weren’t easy to back away from,” Jesse mumbles. “Ya were different, or so I thought.”

Gabriel stays quiet, thinking how to word his thoughts, how to move on from here without taking Jesse to jail. “You have to realize that’s why you became fond of me, McCree.”

“So is bad if I like someone who treats me right?”

“No,” Gabriel quickly responds, but keeps his tone soft. “I was one of the few that cared for you, it’s understandable for you to chase after that. But we are not in Deadlock anymore.”

Jesse swallows like it’s the hardest truth to take.

“You will find people that care for you here, even if it takes time. We’re a team; you will grow to like these people, and see you are worth being treated like I treated you—no, better. But that trust doesn’t come from nowhere.”

“I know it doesn’t. But it’s harder when ya once trusted someone n’they broke ya,” Jesse’s eyes are glossy, with the force of lightning that strikes Gabriel when he looks at him. The cowboy stands up, like he’s ready to bolt, “I trusted ya with my life, Nieves. Now when I look at ya, I wonder if one day I’ll be out there, sure y'all be watchin’ my back, just to turn n’face yer gun.”

“I’m not Nieves,” Reyes stands.

“I tell myself that, because he was too damn good to be true. Yet, no matter how much I don’t wanna, I see him. I wondered a few times what would ya have done if I asked ya to run away with me. Now that I know who you are, I can’t help but think ya would’ve left me in the desert, waitin’ fer ya to never show.”

“McCree—”

“Don’t expect me to act like nothin’ ever happen.”

“I’m not asking you to,” Gabriel says low and soft. “Am I the trouble? If I were not the commander, would it be easier for you to stay?”

Jesse looks at him puzzled, “Ya quittin’?”

“No,” Gabriel responds, almost with a scoff. “But if it becomes too much, you could…” Gabriel trails off as the idea plays in his mind.

“I could what?”

“Do your probation with Overwatch, under Jack’s command.” Jesse raises an eyebrow, Gabriel can’t tell if he’s surprised, thinks the idea is crazy or simply hates it. “It’s on the table, I can talk to Jack.”

“I won’t have t’see ya,” Jesse says and his gaze turns blank, contemplating the thought.

“That’s the idea,” Gabriel smiles, thinking it will help Jesse decide. If seeing Gabriel really hurts him and makes it difficult to trust Blackwatch, then it would be the best for him. “Can I go back inside and talk to Jack? Or am I gonna have to run after you?”

Jesse hesitates, but shakes his head, “I’ll think about it.”

---

“Now you want him with me?” Jack asks in disbelief that his friend would ask such a thing. “A week ago you were begging me to let you keep in on your team, now you’re handing him over?”

“Just for his probation. Once it’s over, he returns to me.” Gabriel makes it clear, he knows that if this comes through, once Jack realizes the potential Gabriel sees in Jesse, he will have a tough time letting go.

Jack chuckles, “I’m not handling your mistakes, if you regret singing him over—”

“I don’t. He’s just having a tough time settling in and trusting me.”

Jack frowns at him, “That’s his problem, Gabe. You can’t babysit him through it all. Let’s say he goes with me, then back to you. He gets thrown into a mission, that doesn’t mean he will trust his teammates or you in a heartbeat.”

“I know that. I won’t put him on a mission straight away. Why not give him a testing period for his probation?”

Jack looks at him with thought, then says, “Call him in.”

M c C r e e

When Jesse got the call to Morrison’s office, he knew what it was for. Yet the nerves waved through him as he made his way to the door. He had been thinking about it since the counter with Reyes this morning. Changing the dark sweats for blue would be different, even if he has only been here for a few days. He’s sure the treatment will also be different with Morrison, starting with the fact he doesn’t seem to like Jesse that much. But it should be better than seeing Gabriel every morning, 24/7, right?

When he enters the office, chewing on his bottom lip, both commanders wait for him, standing side by side, too close for Jesse’s liking, and he hates himself for envying their closeness. Jack is quick to get to the point, he lays his option on the table: Jesse will run errands for him, and Captain Amari, and basically anyone else who’s above Jesse’s rank. He won’t attend debriefings since he will never go on a Overwatch mission and their layout is different than Blackwatch’s. He will help with filing reports and other tasks Jack sees fit and needs attending to when another agent is busy.

Is halfway that Jack stops, frowns at him and says, “Stand straight and look me in the eyes when I’m talking to you.”

Jesse’s eyebrows arch.

Jack says nothing, he waits for Jesse to follow his simple order. When the cowboy doesn’t budge, he speaks again, “You’re in the presence of your commanding officers, show respect.” Jack pauses and adds, “You owe me.”

“Let it go, Jack,” Gabriel says.

Jesse huffs, “Owe ya?”

“Did you think our agents didn’t hurt you when Deadlock attacked the van just because they didn’t want to?” There’s a gleam of superiority in Morrison’s gaze. “The least you could do is give me respect.”

Jesse recalls when Deadlock ambushed the van he was being taken on. An agent saw him, and instead of handcuffing him, or shooting at him like he was doing with the other Deadlock members, he moved Jesse out of the way.

Jesse’s nostrils flare as he stands straighter. Now he owes Morrison nothing.

Jack smiles, but not proudly; there’s greed behind it.

“If you agree, McCree,” Gabriel says, trying to move on from the heated moment, “You will be moved from your dorm. You will start working with Jack right away for the time of your probation. Then you will come back to Blackwatch. If you decide that way.”

Jesse looks away from both commanders. This is what he wanted, to not see Reyes. To not think of Javier.

He looks at Reyes without a thought, looking for a reason to stay. The commander’s face softens, as if he’s saying a hundred things. Jesse won’t have anyone telling him to eat, remind him there’s plenty of food. He won’t have someone tell him when training is too much and he needs rest. He won’t see Reyes every morning, with the sun raising behind him like a halo. The thought of going through days of boring paperwork without the commander’s brown eyes seems worthless to McCree.

“I…” Jesse trails off, and he expects Morrison to interrupt him or something, but he’s allowed to continue. “I don’t think the transfer is good fer me.”

Gabriel looks surprised, but not upset about Jesse denying.

“I already met people in Blackwatch, I’d miss ‘em.” Jess shrugs like is no big deal, and notices the soft smile on Reyes’ face. He has to look away, focuses on Morrison instead.

“Are you sure?” Morrison questions, not convinced.

“Sorry t’disappoint ya, Morrison.”

Morrison huffs, “Not at all. But this is the only time I will offer. You decline, you stay with Blackwatch, kid.”

Jesse’s jaw clenches, “Got it.”

“Dismissed,” Morrison says.

Jesse can’t help smirking, “With all due respect, I’m under Reyes’ command.” He looks at Reyes’ notices the corners of his lips twitching.

“Dismissed.”

“Yessir,” Jesse walks towards the door without giving a second glance at Morrison.

Before the door slides close behind McCree, he hears Morrison say to Reyes, “Be careful with him.”

McCree halts, wondering what the words mean. Does Morrison believe him to be a mole? Or someone that will stab Reyes in the back once he earns his trust? Throwing tomatoes at Reyes’ poster is one thing, but actually betraying him… McCree isn’t sure if he’ll do such a thing.

Jesse leans by the door, decides to wait for his commander. His decision sinks in; he’s staying with Blackwatch. There’s a small part that regrets it; he can’t forgive Reyes in the moment. You need time, the voice says. But spending his whole probation away from Reyes might be too much time. If he ever wants to escape the commander’s grasp, he has to think like him, learn from him, and then he might be able to slip away.

The door slides open and McCree looks as Reyes comes out, “Was that a test?”

“No,” Gabriel points with his thumb back at the office. “I was really gonna assign you to Jack.” McCree can’t help the way his jaw clenches by how soft Reyes calls Morrison’s name.

“No, I mean with the exits,” McCree stands straight, away from the wall. “Did you know I was runnin’ when ya told me t’keep an eye out for them?”

“No,” Gabriel repeats his answer. “Jack and I tell our agents that. We never know what could happen. When you missed the debriefing, I thought you might have ran by then. After I told you I was sending you back to jail, I knew you weren’t staying long.”

“Oh,” Jesse looks away and kicks at nothing, not really knowing what to do.

“I’m sorry for that.”

“What?” Jesse blinks at him.

“I shouldn’t have threatened you with that. The words came out of my mouth in the moment. I wasn’t really going to send you back there.” He doesn’t call the place by its name, by the way he says it, it’s more of a feeling. Of a horror story with Deadlock members praying on Jesse, taking their frustrations on the kid in worse ways than once they did in the deserts and dark parts of the city.

“I understand,” Jesse says with a shrug.

The silence is awkward, and Jesse’s ready to turn around and leave without even a salute, but Reyes speaks again. “Come with me. You actually need to do some work to pass your probation.”

Gabriel walks past him and McCree turns on his heels, “Y’know what? It’s been an emotional day for me, I could use the rest—”

Reyes looks over his shoulder, “That’s an order, agent.”

McCree frowns and pockets his hands, passing by Reyes and purposely pushing him with his elbow, of course, Reyes didn’t move an inch. The older man even scoffs to the attempt, finding it cute. McCree doesn’t know where they’re heading, but his pride won’t let him stop. It’s only about twenty steps after that Reyes calls up.

“It’s over here, vaquero.”

McCree turns to see he had stopped a few steps before, in front of the door of his office. The one McCree had come with the big guy and Reyes had been too busy with whatever that Morrison had to answer them. The memory alone makes Jesse hesitate of following when Reyes walks in. McCree can imagine he will see Morrison and Reyes on every corner of that space now. Their faces laughing together, little space between them, and the soft sound of their voices as they say each other’s name.

“You coming or do you need me to drag you in here?” Reyes says from inside and Jesse doesn’t give him the pleasure to carry him like a ragdoll.

He walks in and the door slides closed behind him. Gabriel walks towards a filing cabinet and searches through the files he need before pulling out a stack. On his desk, there’s already a small pile of papers that he puts the stack of files by.

“These are reports from agents on the last mission,” Gabriel points at the papers. “I need you to file them in by the agents’ names. You can do it here, or on the couch,” Gabriel nods towards the couch and coffee table across the room, while he sits down behind his desk. Jesse ponders over the space, the desk isn’t big enough to keep away Reyes’ space from McCree. With such little distance between the two, Jesse would still be able to lose himself in the brown shade of his eyes, searching for the forest green he once soared through.

The cowboy picks up both piles and places them on the coffee table instead, if Gabriel has anything to say about it, he keeps it to himself as he starts working between his computer and notepad in front of him. Jesse picks up the first report by Agent Wilton and searches for the file to slide it inside, alone with other reports.

“Ya keep all report on these files?” Jesse asks, mostly to fill the silence.

“Those are copies,” Gabriel answers without looking away from the screen. “I already filed away the originals in the mission’s folder, plus scanned them in here.” He points his pinky to his computer, enough for McCree to understand.

McCree picks up the next report and reads the name, but the word ‘Portugal’ catches his attention. “Ya went to Portugal?”

Gabriel looks at him now, “Would’ve known if you had gone to the debriefing.”

“I get the feelin’ you’ll keep remind me even when I’m employee of the month in three years.”

Gabriel doesn’t even try to hold back his laughter, “Bold of you to make such promise in little time.” The commander licks his thumb and passes the next page of the notepad, an act that gets Jesse’s attention to quickly. “Besides, there is no such thing in here, if there were I would deserve it every month.”

“That wouldn’t be fair,” Jesse mumbles.

“It’s fair if I say so, I’m the commander. I make the rules here.”

The words get lost in McCree’s ears as he reads another sentence on the report. “You took down The Blue Bat?”

Gabriel halts what he’s writing and looks at Jesse. “You know of him?”

“Only things I heard in Deadlock,” McCree’s eyes return to the report in his hand. “He was the longest runnin’ drug lord in Portugal since there were multiple. It’s like a family thing to carry out the name and legacy.”

“That’s right, we took out the current one,” Gabriel adds, returning to his work while McCree continues reading the report.

“Ya don’t know who’s next?”

“This was one the youngest in the dynasty so far,” Gabriel responds, looking back at Jesse while his hand moves with a pen between his fingers. “But we are certain he left a kid somewhere.”

“And you think some baby will lead the legacy?” McCree asks with amusement.

“Give it a few years,” Gabriel answers, “I wouldn’t take too long filing those, they’re only the beginning.”

“Yeah, in a minute,” McCree says, attention back on the report.

“And they’re supposed to be for my eyes only,” Gabriel states, voice going firmer.

McCree swallows to the next sentence he reads, the agent speaks about finding a man who had been a captive for a year in The Blue Bat’s mansion. While he could hear them feasting and laughing, he hungered and cry over the scraps they gave him. When they remembered he was there, they would return to torture him, get information he didn’t know and use the name of his children to put fear inside of him. The man lost an eye as half of his face was burnt six months before, a leg and his fingers broken. And will live with the scar of the Blue Bat’s brand on his scalp. The agent writes about the horrors the man went through as he spoke them on the way from Portugal; sleepless nights shivering in fear, force to test drugs he now craves.

“McCree,” Gabriel warns.

“I’m done,” McCree files the report, feeling his stomach has held on enough for the time being. He had seen Deadlock’s own brand of torture, but theirs was more merciful, to say the least. They would end it quick.

McCree looks over to Reyes when a phone goes off. The commander picks it up quickly once he reads who it is. “Hola, ¿cómo está todo?” [“Hello, how’s everything?”]

McCree knows it’s personal just by the tone the commander takes, softer, precocious. And the Spanish lets him know it isn’t Morrison, or probably none of the important people Overwatch works for. McCree continues to work, but his curiosity keeps him alerted of the call. If it was something truly important or secret, Reyes could have ordered McCree to step out for a few minutes, Jesse is sure the commander would’ve done it as soon as he heard the ringtone.

Whatever is about, Gabriel sighs in relief once, mentions he is glad things seem to be going back to normal. He asks to be called if anything changes, anyways, he loves to hear from them, whoever ‘them’ is. Must be family, McCree notes; Reyes is in a better mood, he speaks comfortably, without being restrained, even laughs and leans back, work forgotten for the time being.

When he hangs up, he says nothing of it, and McCree is itching to ask. “Good news?”

“Yeah”

“Work related?” Jesse continues to nudge.

“Personal,” Gabriel looks at Jesse without lifting his head, telling him enough.

The cowboy clicks his tongue and returns to his task, “Of course.”

McCree pretends to read the next name while his mind can’t help the thought Javier would’ve told him. In the confines of the Bunker, a mirage in the middle of the desert of his past by now, as they sat on the old couch, beer running warm in their hands as their words became about something, and then about nothing. McCree’s body tenses when he feels like he’s not in Reyes’ office anymore, but back at the underground bar. He’s sitting on the couch, Nieves close as their bodies are turn to each other. One of McCree’s hand hold a beer between his legs, while the other rest on the back rest of the sofa. Nieves is almost the same, but his free hand brushes over the hairs in Jesse’s arms as they talk of Nieves’ family, of what’s home like. It’s tender, it’s intimate, and natural. It’s all an illusion that McCree dreams of.

“Any questions about the reports, McCree?” McCree returns to the reality of his present, not realizing he had been staring at Reyes until the commander calls him.

“No,” McCree shakes his head and forgets of what just happened. He ignores the fact that they almost reached a solid middle to meet when they spoke about the reports. He remembers that’s how it’s supposed to be: commander and agent relationship; they talk about these sort of stuff, not of what Jesse and Javier might have back in the Bunker.

It’s a few minutes of silence later that McCree picks up the files and walks to Reyes’ desk to announce he’s done. Reyes orders for him to put the folders in the cabinet by order and once that’s done, he hands McCree a yellow paper slip and tells him to go to the basement, where they keep evidence locked up, and get what’s on the form to the research lab C3, then to report back to Reyes.

McCree takes a stethoscope in a plastic bag to the lab, not what he was expecting, and returns to Reyes.

“Go to the shooting range,” Reyes says, nonchalantly, and McCree isn’t sure he heard right.

“What?”

“Go to the shooting range,” Reyes repeats, slower, “You are allowed to hold a gun and practice, just not your gun.”

“Why not? Afraid I’ll turn into some kind of demon when I hold it?”

“Something like that,” Reyes shrugs, half lying, half being honest.

McCree scoffs, “It’s mine, y’know. I need it back someday.”

“Not while on probation,” Reyes reminds him. “Get going before I change my mind.”

The gun on McCree’s hand feels unwelcome, strange just like the one he used on the simulation not long ago. His mind is not really set on the activity either, he prefers to redo level one of that stupid simulation all over again; gives him more of a challenge than the unmoving poster of a silhouette a few feet in front of him.

When the round is done, he presses the button for the target to move forward so he can have a closer look at his shot, all in critical spots in the head and chest.

“Nice work.” The voice of a woman comes through the protective headphones.

“Thanks,” McCree responds as he takes off the headphones along with protective glasses, and looks at her. He recalls she was the one talking to Gabriel before the debriefing, she’s also on a poster in the gyms and Morrison mentioned her in the morning, Captain Amari.

“Bad positioning,” she adds and McCree tilts his head.

“You don’t care what happens to your body as long as you have a good shot.”

“No time to think ‘bout that when yer out there,” McCree remarks.

“When you’re out there, the way you take care of your body might save you, you know,” Amari points out. “Gabriel showed me your simulation scores; good points, but he noted you were too in the open.”

“They weren’t at all challenging,” McCree says with a roll of his shoulders.

“And that’s how real fights can go: they can go easy, or difficult. In both cases you have to watch over how you hold yourself. When you shoot, you are ready to run after—which is good.”

McCree smiles, “Where I come from, whoever stuck around in a fight was a fool.”

“But you stand too much on the back of your feet.” Amari taps McCree’s heels with her foot. “Put pressure forward, McCree, it will give you a better start if you need to run.”

McCree does as she suggest, tests out the weight on the balls of his feet. He hadn’t quite put much thought how forward or backwards his body is, now that he does it’s something new to get used to. “I’ll remember that.”

“It will also come in handy when you handle bigger guns. I hope by then your body will also have more meat on its bones.” She smiles, more teasing than nothing to ease the mood.

She takes the spot on the empty station by McCree and puts on her own protective gear. The cowboy watches, putting on his glasses as well. Amari pulls out a gun, and McCree makes a double take when he notices the familiar revolver in her hand. His Peacekeeper. She aims and fires three times, perfect shots.

“I can see why you’re fond of this one,” she says, admiring the gun in her hand. She hoisters it by her hip and extends her hand. “Captain Amari.”

“McCree,” the cowboy puts his gun away as well and shakes her hand lightly.

“Gabriel believes it is best if I watch over your shooting, and lend you a hand,” she gets to the point as she crosses her arms.

“That just might be a waste of time,” Jesse comments. “I ain’t goin’ anywhere near the field soon.”

“The more reason to start now; no rush and we can take our time. He also told me you are shit as a sniper.”

“Oh, hey! Did he really?” McCree winces. “I recall doin’ alright.”

“But he had to hold the riffle,” she says, obviously teasing by her smile and gaze. “Don’t take it the wrong way, Jesse. I am, after all, the best sniper Overwatch has to offer.”

McCree barks a laugh, not because he believes this to be fake—if the woman has earn her spot on the top ranks she must have what it takes to back it up—but because he likes her confidence.

“If Gabriel assigned me as your mentor, it’s to better what you already have to offer.”

“Think ya can make a miracle happen and turn me into a sniper as good as you?”

“Close enough, I won’t give all of my secrets.”

R e y e s

Gabriel leans from the railings of Jack’s balcony and witnesses the changing colors of the sun as the morning comes. The wind brushes his face, his chest swells with a breath. The salty hair enters into his lungs, and he can taste the ocean in the back of his throat. It’s been too long since he has gone swimming. Sometimes is not even about staying in shape and the exercise, but about floating. Letting his body drift on the surface as the water outlines his profile. Ignoring the shadowing rocks that hold the base, his work and home.

The door to Jack’s room opens and Gabriel smiles as Ana walks in.

“You’re late,” Jack announces from the kitchen as he pulls out their usual mugs.

“I apologize, sir, my child was being a handful all the way from Cairo.” Ana starts walking to join Jack, “Not only do I get the free pass since I’m a mother, I also deserve the biggest mug.” She grabs the dark blue one from Jack’s hand, his mug, and fills it herself. “What’s your reason for coffee this morning?”

“We stayed up all night trying to fix and move around the budget they gave us for Blackwatch,” Jack responds and fills the other two mugs. “We’re simply gonna have to request more.” The two of them join Gabriel at the balcony, their usual spot for calming mornings before the storms that follow their days.

Jack hands Gabriel his mug as he asks, “How’s Fareeha?”

Ana rolled her eyes, “She woke me up with a video call again, begging to come see her uncles, but I could see right through her little eyes her true master plan.”

Both men share a laugh. Ana’s daughter grew an interest in her mother’s job the past two years. She wants to come in every week, get on the shuttles, learn how they work. Check the weapons, and even test them, something Ana is highly against. In fact, Ana is against Fareeha being in base at all. But she is her daughter, if it weren’t for the fact Ana loves her and wants to spend time with her, Fareeha would be banned.

“Poor Sam, I swear I saw more gray on his hair than last week, she must be driving him crazy.” She smiles behind her mug since she’s not the one dealing with it.

“She’ll be coming by soon, right?” Gabriel asks. “I haven’t seen her in so long.”

“And the base is too quiet without her,” Jack adds, winking at the other commander.

“Of course you two would drag her all over here. You spoil her too much. Let’s see if you’re the same when you have kids of your own.”

“That’s why we try everything with Fareeha, she’s our free trial,” Gabriel jokes before taking a sip.

“You want a real trial? How about she stays in one of your rooms during her visit?”

Gabriel shrugs with a smirk, “I can handle it.”

“Do we bet on that?” Jack asks, leaning on sliding door of the balcony.

“Really think about it,” Ana suggests, with a smile that’s dangerous and youthful. “Wouldn’t want you to lose something you love.”

“I’ll consider it,” Gabriel sits on one of the two chairs by the railings. “Speaking of something I love:  Marisol called me yesterday.”

“Good news?” Jack asks, straightening and hopeful.

“Yes, my grandma is back at home, she’s stable, and they believe to be a smooth recovery from now on.”

Ana’s hand falls on his shoulder, a gentle grip of support, “That’s really good to hear, Gabe.”

“It is,” Jack adds with a genuine smile and caring gaze.

“She’s crazy over the flower arrangements you sent. Thank you by the way,” he says to both.

“Flowers ease the heart,” Ana comments, sitting on the other chair. “And so the people with love behind it.”

“She should take it easy from now on,” Jack advice. “She can’t do as much as she used to before the heart attack.”

Gabriel scoffs, “You telling me. She has my sisters crazy, she wants to go back to work already. The neighbors need help rebuilding their backyard shed; grandma arrived from the hospital and was about to look for her hammer and nails if Amanda hadn’t stopped her.”

Jack and Ana share a laugh as Gabriel takes a sip from his drink and looks at the horizon. The conversation drifts from there to other topics, especially about the work that needs to be started soon. Gabriel will join his division to do drills, then plan an upcoming mission. Jack will be off to do his thing with Overwatch and Ana will follow as his second in command.

Half an hour later, the mugs are piled in Jack’s sink to clean when he comes at night, with either Gabriel or Ana behind to continue the work that’s never done.

---

“The guys and gals are goin’ out tonight,” McCree informs Gabriel when after they’ve been in silence, working on paperwork. Gabriel types and writes, while Jesse classifies.

“Yeah, they tend to do that,” Gabriel answers without looking away from his work.

“Do ya ever leave?” McCree asks with amusement. “Besides for missions n’ work.”

“I got out,” Gabriel looks at him, unamused.

“Sure, old man,” McCree stands from the couch where he had been slouching to stretch. “May I be excused?”

Gabriel raises an eyebrow, “For what?”

“To go with them,” McCree answers like it’s the most obvious thing. “Lance invited me.”

Gabriel scoffs and looks back at his work, “You aren’t allowed yet.”

There’s a pause, “Why?”

“Probation regulations, you need permission.”

“Then give it to me”

Gabriel looks back at McCree, any teasing that could have built up gone. “I won’t give it to you just because you ask, kid. It’s your first month here, you need to prove you can be trusted, just two days ago I caught you about to run off.”

“Because ya told me ya’d sent me to jail,” McCree’s nostrils flare. “I’ll be with the others, ya said it yerself: I need to start trusting them.”

“Of course, you trust them to go get beers, not while they hold guns.”

McCree opens and closes his mouth; he wants to protest, but realizes he won’t get what he wants.

Gabriel leans back on his chair and places his hands on his stomach. Just when he thought things would go easier with the kid. “Not this month.” The commander’s tone is softer. “There’ll be other outings with them, and if you start putting effort on your work, it won’t just be agent Taylor inviting you, trust me.”

McCree looks away and nods, but something tells Gabriel that went right through one ear and out the other. The commander sighs and straightens again, continuing his work. He was going to send Jesse off for the night, but now Gabriel isn’t sure he can trust the cowboy to go straight to his room. “Go to Ana’s office, tell her to give you the catalogs for gear and weapons, I need to order some more for the team.”

Without any sign that McCree heard, the cowboy turns to leave. To Gabriel’s surprise, he returns with the catalogs, and Gabriel gives him more tasks to busy him with while it gets late enough. Their time together passes slowly, and quiet, even if Gabriel tries to start up conversation, McCree’s practically ignoring him. By eleven at night Gabriel believes to be enough, for the both of them, and dismisses the agent who mumbles a ‘yessir’, and disappears behind the door.

Gabriel leaves his office fifteen minutes later, to move his work over to his room after a needed warm shower. A quick thought passes through him: check on McCree. But he decides otherwise, knowing it’ll be a bad move if he checks his room and the agent is present. It’ll look bad, and the kid might not be in a good mood yet from earlier.

But just to check on his division as a whole, he passes by Blackwatch’s wing, get a feel of how the night is. The hallway that leads to it is empty and quiet, as expected. The rec room is also vacant, TV’s off and it doesn’t seem like there was any recent activity in the kitchen. Gabriel watches at the frame that leads to the rooms. Is only a few steps away, he could always just knock around the other rooms of the agents so McCree doesn’t know it was just to check on him. The commander turns, forgetting the idea and about to call it a night, when a scent of fresh cologne calls his attention. It’s new, recently applied. Even if it’s not McCree, agents aren’t allowed to leave base at this hour.

Gabriel walks back, following the scent, and, how he suspected it, leads him to McCree’s room. He knocks but waits little time before barging into the empty room.

“Shit,” he hisses before closing the door and letting his nose lead him where the smell goes.

He sees a vent at the end of the hall, screws loose, and quickly opens it to find the cowboy hat, the distraction.

Gabriel clenches his jaw and grabs it before he heads back to his office, “Athena, search through base for agent Jesse McCree.”

The AI wakes through his computer and scans through the building for the familiar face. “Agent found.” Gabriel walks around his desk to face the screen and sees McCree, on one of the roofs, smoking a cigarette and stargazing. “Should I call him in?”

“No,” Gabriel answers quickly, as if McCree himself could hear them or would run away. “That’ll be all.”

“As you say, commander,” the AI is off again.

Gabriel watches the agent for a while, looking peaceful, and too young with that poison in his mouth. Gabriel is back to the desert, surrounded by sand, the night breeze and opened sky, with a sniper rifle between the two.

Gabriel watches for too long, longer than he would admit. But he tells himself is to make sure his agent is well, and won’t run off. He isn’t sure himself why he lingers watching, maybe the peace McCree brings, the desire to be there and breathe in the fresh air while Gabriel suffocates inside.

He isn’t sure how long he watches, but McCree is done counting stars and heads inside. Gabriel shuts off his monitor and takes the cowboy hat to his room.

Neither say a thing during drills in the morning, and neither during the sparring session. McCree has to know someone took his hat if he went looking for it afterwards. Probably knows it was Gabriel if he wanted to fool the commander. But Gabriel says nothing yet, he waits for the right moment. And that moment surely isn’t when the cowboy takes the open challenge to be Gabriel’s sparring partner.

A few other agents snicker in line and Gabriel himself smiles. “You sure about that, kid?”

If McCree was joking before, he isn’t once he hears the name, “I’m sure.”

Gabriel scratches his beard, almost back to the fullness he had before going undercover, “Alright then. The others, go to your mats.”

They do as they are told, but Rainer elbows McCree before following her partner. Gabriel makes his way to an empty mat and faces McCree once they reach it. Both stand in position, ready to attack. McCree goes to his waits and Gabriel dodges left, hooking his arm on the agent’s stomach and pulling him down.

“I wasn’t ready,” McCree excuses and Gabriel rolls his eyes before standing up.

Three tries later, the cowboy ends up on his back again, groaning and pushing upwards in a weak attempt to push the commander off him. Gabriel smirks in victory as the agent squirms beneath him; he shouldn’t be enjoying torturing the cowboy like this, and getting him riled up by the way he pushes his hips up to meet Gabriel’s.

The commander grabs McCree by his side and keeps him still, "Don't use your hips to push me off, you're still too weak to do that and gain anything from it."

The noise that comes from McCree isn’t of pain, and it takes Gabriel a moment to realize this. Is between a heavy breath and a shuttered sigh that McCree speaks, “Christ.”

M c C r e e

Jesse knows Reyes can feel him, provoked and aroused, clear and vividly through his pants. This was supposed to be a show in the other direction. He had trained with Reyes already, knew his moves, or so Jesse thought. Even then, Reyes was Nieves, not really himself. Of course the commander wouldn’t give all of his secrets, just like Amari, to a gang member. It all went south the first time McCree was pinned, worse when he started really feeling the commander over and all around him, how he moves and that memory of Javier, of both of them alone in the Bunker.

Reyes is off him the seconds he feels him, like Jesse is some kind of animal. At least he has the decency to remain quiet. McCree turns to his side and bends a knee to blend the tent on his crotch while he looks around, luckily, no one seems to have noticed why Gabriel stood up.

Jesse decides sitting up is the best thing right now, lying down could give the impression that he’s hurt, or too weak to continue, might call attention. He bends his knees and crosses his arms over them, pretending to just be taking a casual break.

“You didn’t leave base last night,” Reyes says, and McCree has to admit he’s relieved he doesn’t mention the incident, not yet at least. “Why?”

McCree scoffs, “Ya have lil’ faith in me, I wasn’t gun’ leave.” Jesse smirks and looks up at the commander, who tilts his head and raises a questioning eyebrow, knowing what McCree’s thinking. “I was, at first,” McCree mumbles before his voice becomes clear again. “But then I thought it would be funny to pull at yer leg in case ya suspected something.”

“Where did you go?” Reyes asks, but McCree is sure the commander knows. Can’t say how, but he does.

“Somewhere, not too far.”

Gabriel nods, as if that answer is enough. “I left your hat in your room this morning while you were at breakfast.”

Their gazes meet and McCree can feel the embarrassment still traveling through him. He’s the first to look away.

“Hit the showers,” the commander calls. “I’m cutting today short.”

The agents answer with a clear: “Yes, sir” and start moving.

McCree looks up just as Reyes looks down at him, and catches Reyes’ mouth open the slightest as he licks the inside of his lip, before turning. Jesse’s body trembles, taking the gesture as an invitation, but he stops himself, realizing it’s probably a reflex, or a motion done without thinking. Whatever it was, his cock jerks, still needing attention.

There’s no way he’s showering this way, surrounded by his teammates. He takes the quickest path to his room and slumps into his bed, where he takes a few minutes to take care of himself. He bites his knuckle as he curses the devil with an angel’s name, brown eyes and a voice that melts his core. McCree’s body shivers with pleasure, finally released, and his eyelids softly blink before they fully close, and he sees Reyes’ eyes again in the darkness behind his eyelids.

Chapter Text

Chapter 18

M c C r e e

McCree holds the pistol to his chest, finger off the trigger, three bullets left, only one grenade by his hip in case it needs to come to it. He waits behind the crates, holding his breath, as a man in black passes by the other side. He flinches, his instincts tell him to engage, but another one rounds the corner, rifle in his hand, with a full magazine most like it, and eyes scanning the area, he would see Jesse in a second. McCree continues to wait, the first guy is out of sight, but the second remains. When the man passes by the crates again, Jesse takes the grenade in his hand, without activating it, and throws it in the air. He hears the man mumble a ‘huh?’ and a ‘shit!’ when he realizes what it is. Then Jesse hears the thud, and looks over to see Lance placing down the unconscious body of the guard, and Jesse’s grenade in hand.

“A little too risky,” Lance comments, handing it back to McCree.

“Ya needed the distraction,” McCree recalls, and Lance remains quiet. “There’s two more around the corner.”

“We can move,” Lance nods towards the steel storage containers lined up and stacked across the warehouse.

McCree agrees and Lance moves in first. After a quick but secured scope of the area, he signals for Jesse to come along. The cowboy joins him, both have their backs against the metal and silently begin to form a plan. Jesse looks to his side and notices a gap between the container they’re against and the next one. “I can get through here.”

“You can’t go too far,” Lance warns. Since they entered the warehouse, it has only been Jesse and Lance, and the little ammunition they’ve got, with no communication to the outside world. The only other human contact they have is with the hostiles guarding the place, but they have to be careful and keep it to a minimum, unless they want to be surrounded.

“I’ll just check ahead,” Jesse says, already moving towards the gap. It’s a tight fit, but that’s what he was good for in Deadlock.

Deadlock, the gang he served only two months ago, but feels much further away. It’s a faint memory of what he has learned and what he has to endure on this new life. When it comes to moments like this, he can tell both lives aren’t so different.

He makes it to the other side of the containers and spots a guy walking down the aisle. He stays pinned, waiting for more distance. Across from him, there’s two stack of boxes covered by a sheet, leaving space between them and under the cover. Jesse sprints and slides underneath, managing to hide as he takes a sharp breath and waits to see if he was spotted. Nothing comes from the guards. He smiles when he looks at his feet and sees a rifle. It’s something he hasn’t seen before, less used, not even in Deadlock. Still, he takes it, and holsters his pistol for now. McCree lowers his body and checks if the second man is nearby. When he doesn’t seem to be, he returns to Lance’s position.

“Anything?” Lance whispers.

“Found this,” Jesse says, handing the weapon over to Lance.

Lance beams at it and sheathes his own gun in exchange for the new one. “I can cover you from there.” He points at a stacks of containers, where two leave enough space at the top for Lance to stand and watch over Jesse, thanks to the new weapon, they can use the high point while the other agent retrieves the device.

McCree nods once and they have an understanding. Lance sprints quietly, taking calculated steps and hides when needed until he can climb the tower and positions himself. Jesse returns to the same routine he took, ending up where he found the gun. From there he runs towards metal barrels across the aisle and jumps over them to take cover. A drop of sweat rolls down his temple, and his heart thumps against the pistol, once again, ready at his chest. It takes more maneuvering around the warehouse, avoiding the guards, and using the grenade trick on his own, but he manages not to blow himself up. He can see the bag, the objective of the mission, hanging from a wall, and only one guard walking by. Jesse almost rushes to it, but manages to hold himself back, if the guy sees him, it’ll blow all the hard work put up until now. Luckily, Lance hasn’t had to use the weapon, and McCree would like to keep it that way.

When the guard walks away, Jesse signals to Lance quickly, he can get the bag. Lance raises his hand and aims forward, giving him the ‘okay’ to move. Jesse nods to let him know he got it, and prepares to sprint. He takes one quick glance at his teammate to catch him signaling him to stop, but Jesse sees no one around, and they’ve spent too much time surrounded by hostiles, they need to end this now, and return to their team.

McCree runs towards the bag, he stretches out his hand to grab it, prepared to slide behind the boxes nearby, but he feels something thin and burning against his calf. A grip on the back of his vest pulls him back and he falls.

“Boom,” Reyes says, monotone and unimpressed in front of his agent. “You’ve detonated a bomb and killed your whole team.”

Jesse drawls a laugh and starts, “I don’t think someone would put a tripwire just for a bag, Reyes.”

The commander shrugs as Lance jumps from one of the containers and the guards uncover their masks to reveal familiar faces of Blackwatch. “They can use whatever they want, and anything can happen. Rainer and Kimura ran into a stray dog in their training.” More agents pile up, coming from where they had been watching a top of a tower. “Rundown, what did Taylor and McCree do right?”

“Besides not getting caught before the bomb detonation, sir?” Rainer grins at McCree with her arms crossed. “Waited to take high ground.”

“Right. Their weapons were lousy at that range. If someone would’ve attacked McCree, they would’ve been dead by the time Lance could put some real damage into them,” Gabriel explains before stretching his hand to help McCree up his feet. “Good work on giving Lance the rifle, McCree.”

McCree feels a heat creep up on his neck when a smile flashes on Reyes’ lips. It’s so instant, he wonder if he imagined it.

“You didn’t know how to use it, could’ve gone wrong if you took his place.”

“Figured as much,” McCree says and rubs his neck, trying to spread out the heat.

The commander directs to his agents again. “Now, what did they do wrong?”

“Too much distance with no communication, sir,” one agent replies.

“That’s true,” Reyes agrees and adds, “you had no way to communicate besides signals, and McCree was out of Taylor’s sight for a while back there. If either of them had needed back-up or needed to retreat, the other wouldn’t have known.”

“He did come back to me,” Lance points out.

“Which was good, but something could’ve gone wrong on his way back as well,” Reyes points out, his arms are crossed but his eyes aren’t narrowed. He’s teaching, not scolding McCree. “This scenario required you both to stay together, no real thread was at stake until you reached the objective, which could’ve been avoided if you had better communication.”

“Yes, sir,” Lance says and McCree nods.

“Overall, it was a good execution, but bad ending. You always have to be prepared for anything, McCree.” Even if the room is full, Reyes makes McCree feel they are on their own when the words are directed at him. It makes the cowboy shift on his feet and he wants to look away, but his eyes are locked on Reyes’. “And good use of the place around you.” With one last soft smile, he looks at Lance to give his own feedback, but his words are a mumble to Jesse as he can only focus on the man’s mouth before he manages to look away.

“Let’s head out,” Gabriel calls after he’s done with their evaluation. Lance and McCree had been the last team to train in the Overwatch storage unit. McCree stays back, a habit he has grown into for the last two months. Even if he knows Taylor and Rainer, they still seem to orbit around other people after training. They got their own groups to go to, while McCree still has no one.

“McCree.” Reyes walks beside him; usually he’s at the front. “Amari told me you cancelled your training session with her yesterday.”

“Sorry, boss, seemed the tuna casserole I ate hit me bad,” McCree lies as he rubs his stomach.

“You cut last week’s short as well,” Reyes points out, narrowing his gaze on him and McCree suddenly feels exposed. “Is there a problem?”

Jesse scoffs and tries to avoid the commander’s eyes. “No, ‘course not.”

“Then you will meet with her tonight?”

McCree chews on his bottom lip before he says, “Yes, sir.”

They’re quiet as they make it out of the room, but Reyes won’t let it go as he holds the agent back from the rest. “Why did you cancel?”

“I told ya—”

“No excuses, McCree. If something is going on, I need to know, as your commander, especially if it involves Amari.”

McCree’s eyes widen and then he smirks. “Well, boss, I didn’t pick ya for the type to gossip about affairs.”

Reyes doesn’t seem to catch on after a second. “She’s out of your league by a few years.” The man smirks briefly before he states, “But don’t go around joking about something like that around Overwatch, kid. Less around the second in command of the strike commander.”

“Hell, I’m sorry, jefe.” McCree slips his hands in the pockets of his pants, and curiosity gets the best of him. “Why? Is it against the rules, or something?”

Reyes raises an eyebrow. “For Captain Amari to date an agent? Not exactly, just difficult. Same with any other person in a rank like hers with any agent.”

“Does that count for Blackwatch, too?”

Reyes opens his mouth to answer and McCree sees when he catches on. “What does this have to do with your shooting lesson?”

McCree shrugs. “You brought up I was into the captain.”

“I didn't mean it that way. More of if you two got along or not. I can assign someone else, if that’s the case.”

McCree shakes his head. “Nah, we get along fine.”

“Then something else is the problem?”

“What makes you think there is one?”

Reyes tilts his head and raises an eyebrow. Once again, McCree is an open book to him. “She’s great at shootin’. Perfect, even.”

“That’s why I assigned you to her.”

“Am I supposed to be flattered?”

“It’s a big opportunity to learn, so yes,” Reyes answers quickly, not seeing the problem.

“She’s too good,” McCree mumbles. “With a sniper rifle, with Peacekeeper…”

Reyes hums and when McCree looks at him, he’s calm, understanding. “I see. McCree, I didn’t do this to make you feel bad, it was to better what you’re already good at.”

“Maybe I’m not cut out—”

“You are,” Reyes cuts McCree off before he can continue. “You hit perfect shots with your revolver, and if you could apply that same talent as a sniper, you would be great. That’s where Amari comes in, to expand your arsenal.”

McCree scoffs to the memory of the desert, it’s one that’s always fresh in his mind. Nieves close up behind him, breathing over his shoulder, whispering to breathe—

McCree swallows when he realizes too much time has passed and neither had said anything. “I’ll go tonight.”

“Good.” Reyes nods and begins to walk. “I’ll be asking her about you.”

“Ya could just ask me, y‘know? Don’t be shy, sugar, I won’t bite.”

“Yeah, but I do, chiquito,” Reyes smiles his way and it makes Jesse choke, either was an innocent remark, or Reyes was simply teasing him back, either way it wasn’t expected. The name, ‘little boy’, would bother him if it hadn’t come with that undertone that sounded so dirty it made his blood rush to his face.

McCree laughs and looks away, he goes to push back his hat, but realizes he isn’t wearing it so goes to scratch the back of his head. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say yer inviting me to test ya, darlin’.”

“Yeah, test my patience. Let’s see how many drills you can handle in the morning then,” Reyes says and his wicked tone is gone, a relief for McCree, because this should not be happening, yet he’s left with the echo of Reyes when the commander leaves.

R e y e s

“Did the kid show up?” Gabriel asks, looking in the mirror, as he rolls the sleeves of his dark gray shirt to his elbows.

“You mean McCree?” Ana responds from the video call on his tablet sitting on his dresser. “He did, he was as good as the last time, as if we’ve been practicing every night.”

Gabriel watches his own reflection smiling back at him.

“I was thinking of letting him use his revolver next time, I believe he has earned it.”

“Are you really running it by me first, or did you just let him use it and now you’re asking for permission?” Gabriel says, looking at Ana’s feed.

The woman laughs. “I would never do that. I am genuinely asking you first.”

Gabriel ponders it. Though McCree has been doing better, he still missed the last lesson and cut one short. “Wait two more sessions, if he goes then he can use it.”

Ana sighs. “Fine, you’re the boss.”

“We can’t reward him for missing your lessons,” Gabriel explains, picking up the tablet.

“I’m not saying we do, but it was only one, and I understand his reason, many are threatened by my talent.”

Gabriel huffs. “That’s one way to put it.”

“Still, I get what you mean. I will wait to reward him.” She’s smiling, until it shifts to something serious.

“What?”

It seems she takes a second to think about whatever she wants to say. “I’m only asking because I’m concerned for him, but did you two talk about the involvement with agents?”

Gabriel recalls the encounter, after training earlier in the day. “Briefly. He joked about you and him as an item. Did he do anything to you?”

“No, no, just asked. He was curious, and I know he was not referring to me, Gabe.”

Gabriel sighs. “I’ll…” But he doesn’t know what he’ll do.

“He just needs time, he’s young and comes from a place that didn’t see many people like you.”

“The more I think about it, the more I wished I had been more Gabriel Reyes than anything,” Gabriel comments. If he had been more of himself, if he had been the hardass commander he knows his agents complain about sometimes, he wouldn’t have trouble with McCree.

“I think that was the problem, you were too much you, you were Gabe.” She says ‘Gabe’ like there’s a difference between that and ‘Gabriel’.  “Give him time. You’re also the only person he knows in Blackwatch well enough to pay attention to. Once he gets more friends, he’ll see the mean boss you truly are.”

“That’s all I want,” Gabriel jokes when he notices the glint of teasing in Ana’s eyes. “I better get going.”

“You better not be too hungover for morning coffee,” Ana warns. “I’ll have no trouble dragging you to Jack’s room.”

“I don’t doubt it,” Gabriel says with a huff. “I’ll see you then.”

The call ends and Gabriel places the tablet down to pick up his phone and slip it in the back pocket of his jeans. That’s when he gets the idea to visit McCree’s room. He knocks and McCree answers, already in sweats for a night in. He raises an eyebrow at the surprise visit and eyes Gabriel from head to toe.

“Fancy seein’ you here, am I in trouble?”

“No,” Gabriel responds and shuts his mouth, hoping he won’t make McCree feel bad if he asks.  “Do you know about Kimura’s birthday?”

“Oh, yeah.” McCree looks down and leans from the door frame. “Mitzy invited me, but y’know, had to turn it down.”

Gabriel nods, understanding why. “Come with me.”

McCree raises an eyebrow and straightens. “Are you inviting me on a date, commander?”

“The friendly kind.”

“Well, I didn’t pick ya for the rough kind.” He grins and winks.

Gabriel can’t help the scoff that comes out of him and shakes his head. “You need to be with the rest of the team off base. Do you wanna go?”

“Sure,” McCree beams at the question. “Give me a minute.”

“I’ll wait in the rec room,” Gabriel informs him, before Jesse solutes him and closes the door.

There are a few agents mingling in the rec room, but some like Kimura, Taylor or Rainer aren’t present, probably at the bar where they’re going to meet up already. Gabriel had told himself that if he got invited to celebrations like these from his agents, he would attend if he felt like it, at least for a while. He’s arriving later than the rest, and might stick around until it’s over, or return early. If the latter is the case, he might allow Jesse to arrive with someone else. He has to see how the cowboy will behave first.

“Ready, jefe.” McCree arrives, wearing a green shirt and a leather jacket that Gabriel recognizes too well.

“You can’t wear that, McCree,” Gabriel says calmly.

“I changed the logo.” McCree turns around to show him the Deadlock symbol is covered by a new patch, a skull with a star in one eye. “Mitzy got it for me on the last mission she went on and patched it for me.”

“Thought the logo was what mattered,” Gabriel says, maybe without thinking as he regrets it.

“It was at first, but now I just like wearing this one.” McCree shrugs and doesn’t meet Gabriel’s eyes as he fixes his hat. “Shall we go?”

Gabriel swallows his words, he doesn’t need to ask why. If he doesn’t wear the jacket for Deadlock anymore, there can only be another reason. Or maybe McCree only misses the old days when he longed for the piece of clothing, but not the gang itself. Somehow it returns to Javier in Gabriel’s mind, so he nods and lets it go for now. The car ride is pretty quiet, McCree mainly stays put and only asks about the car, small chatter to fill the silence. Gabriel finds himself enjoying it more than he thought, it also goes for the quiet moments, there’s no pressure to look for a subject to talk about, or questions to make.

The bar is pretty quiet, and it’s not far from base. They meet the rest of the group at a table big and comfortable enough for the expected guests. Gabriel is relieved when McCree is received with excitement and joy from Taylor and Rainer, and even comment on him sitting by the two. McCree exchanges a look with Gabriel, as if asking permission and Gabriel excuses himself saying he’ll get a beer. When he returns, McCree is in conversation with Taylor and another agent, Stones. Gabriel takes one of the remaining chairs at the end of the table and gives Kimura his wishes before the agents dive into the latest basketball game that Reyes, sadly, had to watch recorded. Kimura teased about how lucky he was he got injured in the mission before that, nothing life threatening, but enough to get him bed rest through it.

“If I would’ve known, I would’ve jumped before you,” Gabriel jokes too before their beer bottles click together and they drink.

The night rolls on nice, easy and, to his surprise, fun. He doesn’t notice the time, nor wonders when it’ll be appropriate to leave. He does keep count of the beers his agents have for, one, he knows they’ll take cabs, and two, he’ll make a mental note to who he will order to do more drills in the morning. The most he keeps an eye on is on McCree, who has had a couple sneaked to him from Stones, Gabriel thinks maybe saying he’s had too many, but he’s not driving, and the kid had more than his fair amount back in Deadlock, maybe cutting him tonight won’t do anything. Besides, he’s doing good with the others, making them laugh and getting to know them as people, not teammates, maybe friends. Gabriel decides for this time, to cut him a little break, he can trust McCree won’t intoxicate himself to death.

As everything, the evening ends, everyone separates into groups and pile up into taxis. McCree is long gone, he drifted away with his head on the table while the rest paid (Gabriel took care of his side this time). Though Taylor insisted he could squeeze into their cab, Gabriel felt responsible for the kid. He wakes Jesse up and helps him towards the car, even with two months in Blackwatch, and the previous help from Gabriel in Deadlock, he’s still light on his weight. Gabriel could easily carry him to the car, but he saves them both the embarrassment.

“I had a good time, honey,” McCree mumbles, face close to Gabriel as he has an arm slumped around the commander’s shoulder.

“Glad to hear it,” Gabriel answers. “Did you make friends?”

“Sure! Alice seems to like me, Luca was fine too; he reminds me of Valles.”

Gabriel scoffs. “That’s because he is Valles.”

McCree is quiet for a second, “Shoo, was I calling him Valles all this time? I was off.”

“It’ll be clearer in the morning.” He opens the car door and allows McCree to sit inside by himself. “Buckle up.”

“Si, si,” McCree waves him off before Gabriel shuts the door.

The ride back is chattier, McCree mumbles about the evening, talking to Gabriel as if he hadn’t been there. “The look on Kimura’s face when Reyes pulled out his high school album from his phone, god, I wondered what did he ever do to the commander to earn that.”

Gabriel doesn’t correct him, he only nods and chuckles.

When Gabriel’s about to cross a green light, a car rushes by, honking. Gabriel only gets to look at Jesse for a second when he realizes he doesn’t have his seat belt. Gabriel buries his toes on the brake and moves his arm in front of Jesse to shield him. Luckily it wasn’t much of a sudden stop, the other car curved around to give them space, but still ran by.

“Mierda,” Gabriel hisses when he can feel Jesse’s heart against his arm and the cowboy’s holding on to it like a cat, nails dug in and grip tight.

“That was scary,” McCree says and Gabriel nods. His hold becomes gentle, but he doesn’t let go. “Ya saved me.”

“It’s nothing,” Gabriel says and looks the way the car went off.

“Ya always will, won’t you?” McCree’s tone is vulnerable, almost too low compared to his usual volume. Gabriel doesn’t look at him, even if he’s drunk. He pulls away and, surprisingly, Jesse lets go. “Is it getting’ hot in here, or is it just you, honeybee?”

Gabriel squints his eyes at McCree as he starts taking off his jacket before laying his head back, hat to the front to cover his eyes and falls asleep. Gabriel wakes him up again when they arrive at base, and helps him inside, carrying Jesse’s jacket in the other hand. They bump into Taylor and his group on the way, as if they were arriving at the same time.

“What took you so long?” Gabriel asks, partly teasing, partly curious.

“Mitzy wanted fries,” Taylor rolls his eyes and Gabriel catches Rainer and Stones sharing fries as they walk towards the elevator. “I’ll take him from here.”

“Thank you.” Gabriel grabs Jesse’s arm and passes him over to Taylor, who seems to still hold more energy than Gabriel. The commander watches as a part of him tells him to follow, make sure McCree gets to bed safe. The other part reminds him it’s Taylor, an agent he can trust. It’s after the elevator doors close that he notices he’s still holding the leather jacket. He decides to take it with him, and give it to McCree in the morning.

---

It’s around five that Gabriel receives the call from Athena, a warning of agent McCree in the parking lot. Gabriel sits right up and watches the camera feed on his tablet. The cowboy looks lost as he searches over the cars until he finds Gabriel’s and goes to it. Gabriel sighs and puts on a shirt and slippers on his way out as well as grabbing the leather jacket.

When he reaches his car, McCree is leaning from it, looking down and mumbling curses like ‘shit’ and ‘I’m an idiot’.

“McCree,” Gabriel calls softly, but he still startles him. “What are you doing here?”

“My jacket,” Jesse answers, hugging himself when a cold breeze brushes by. “I left it at the bar, I need to go get it.”

“I have it,” Gabriel shows him the jacket, folded in his hand as he approaches the agent. “It’s fine.”

“Oh.” McCree looks relieved in a second. “Shit, I really thought I had lost it.” He laughs lightly as he takes it. “Thanks.”

“You should be in bed, I don’t know how you are standing after last night.”

“Me neither,” he laughs again. “I just… needed to see if it was here or not.”

Gabriel says nothing, he only points his thumb towards the door. “Let’s head back inside.”

McCree nods and follows. Once they’re inside, he says, “Sorry I woke ya up.”

“You could’ve waited until morning and ask me.”

“Ha! I wasn’t thinking straight. I will next time, I mean the wait until morning, ‘cause I’ll never think straight.” He laughs at his own joke while Gabriel only huffs.

“Think you can make it to your room without tumbling down? You at least have one more hour of rest, or you can head over to the gym and we can put your moves to the test already.”

“Or ya can escort me to my room, and I’ll show you some moves there.”

Gabriel chuckles and shakes his head. “I’ll see you after breakfast. Make sure you to get pills for your headache, no excuses to miss drills.”

“Maybe I will stumble on my way to my room,” McCree says but begins walking, Gabriel doesn’t watch him go, he follows his own path and starts getting ready for his day, not tired anymore.

M c C r e e

Alice Stones is the kind of name that belongs to girls that smell like flowers, but their hands are calloused from playing with guns. Is the kind of girl that laughs like she’s falling in love, but looks at you with caution. Jesse is starting to like Alice since Kimura’s birthday two weeks ago. She’s fun and bubbly, but she’s ready for anything when drills come, and no doubt she’s more than a pretty face when it comes to the battlefield. Her blonde hair is usually in a braid, and her blue eyes are the type to be called sapphires in every cheesy poem. She treats McCree like a teammate, and hasn’t spoken the ‘k’ word since they met, not even as a joke.

Alice joined Jesse, Lance and Mitzy during lunch, and McCree doesn’t know how, but he becomes the butt of a game called ‘Trying out the Cowboy Hat’. They pass it around and when it reaches Alice’s head, Jesse doesn’t know why, but his hand shakes to take it away, so he decides to leave it there. The rest of the meal is as entertaining, enough for McCree to forget about the hat until Alice decides to go and places it besides Jesse.

When the trio is done, Jesse reaches to grab his hat, but finds nothing. He looks under the table, to check if it had fallen, but it’s nowhere near him. When he laughs and asks Mitzy and Lance to hand it over, they say they don’t have it, and hadn’t seen it being taken either. Jesse would ask Alice, but he was sure she didn’t have it when she left.

Even if it remains in the back of his mind, he can’t do much about it while they’re running another mission simulator. He asks Reyes if he had seen it by any chance, but the commander hadn’t. But he reminds him he has paperwork to help Reyes with.

He arrives to Reyes’ office after dinner, like he has before, and there’s a pile of folders waiting for him on the coffee table. His commander gives him the task to search in them for a report from Russia he needed and put them in another pile. Jesse sits down with a sigh, tired from a long day, his bones bothering him from the exercises and still adjusting to the routine, as well as the fact that he hadn’t found his hat. He was getting annoyed by it, if it was a prank to him, it had gone long enough.

“Hands up, partner!” He’s startled by a new voice from behind, and something that pokes the back of his head. “This town ain’t big enough for the both of us.”

He hears Reyes laughing as he leans back on his chair. Jesse suddenly turns around, and is surprised to find a girl, maybe a little over ten years old, holding a toy gun and wearing his hat. Her hair is short and black as onyx, and her brown eyes pierce through Jesse’s. “I said put your hands up!”

“Are you gonna disrespect the sheriff like that, McCree?”

McCree scoffs. “My apologies, li’l missy, but what are my crimes?”

“I have a list,” Reyes responds and Jesse glares at him for a second.

“Don’t move, punk,” the girl orders as she climbs over the couch to sit next to Jesse, still threatening him with her toy gun. “You’re guilty of stealing the sheriff’s hat.”

“But it’s mine”

“No, I am the sheriff, and a sheriff doesn’t lie.”

“I see no badge on ya,” McCree remarks.

“I have something better.” The girl pulls out a card with Reyes’ face on it.

“When did you get that?” Reyes asks as he gets on his feet. He grabs his ID card back as the girl and McCree share a laugh.

“Are you gonna disrespect the sheriff like that, Reyes?”

“I will when said sheriff steals from me.”

“Oh, so it’s okay if it’s from someone else?” McCree smirks. “Ya said ya didn’t know where my hat was.”

“I knew she had it, but I didn’t know where she was,” Reyes clarifies as he pulls out his wallet to put his ID in it. “Thanks to you, she’s now going through a cowboy phase, five years ago she wanted to be a bird.”

“A hawk,” the girl corrects.

“Cowboys are cooler than hawks.”

“I’m not saying they are, but they are okay for now.” The girl sits cross legged and puts down the gun. “I’m Fareeha.”

“Captain Amari’s daughter,” Reyes adds.

“Oh, nice to meet ya, I’m Jesse McCree.”

“You can have your hat back,” Fareeha says as he hands it back. “You have the sheriff’s permission.”

“Thanks for returning my hat to me,” Jesse teases as he puts it on. “So, why aren’t ya with your mother?”

“I like hanging out with Uncle Gabe.”

“Really? This Gabriel?” McCree points at the commander. “Are ya sure ya aren’t mistaken him for another Uncle Gabriel?”

She laughs. “I’m sure. At least while mom’s working.”

“Ana’s out for the night,” Gabriel explains. “She was sent on a mission to watch over a target.”

“I see.” Jesse nods. Fareeha looks fine, but he wonders if she thinks about her mother out there, while she has to sit and wait, not knowing anything. “Is she gonna help with this?”

“I’m not the one on probation!”

“You told her? Thought that was meant to stay in base.”

Reyes shrugged. “She wanted to know who the cowboy was and threatened me with her gun. She got it out of me.”

“If a little girl with a toy got that out of ya, I don’t wanna see what you’ll spill during an interrogation.”

“I’m not just a little girl, I’m an Amari.”

“Good point.”

Though McCree starts doing the work, he gets distracted by Fareeha’s stories when she visited base before. From the first time to the one before McCree joined. She even whispers into Jesse’s ear the big secret of how she caught Morrison kissing another guy, and apparently Gabriel didn’t know about and teased him about it during dinner. Fareeha recalls Jack’s face being as red as the tomatoes in her salad. McCree beamed when he heard Reyes laughing at the memory as if it happened the night before. She also recalls a moment when she came to base and her mom wasn’t present. She had gone a mission that ran too long and Gabriel cleared his day to be with her while Jack was always giving them updates on Ana. Jesse didn’t know what made Fareeha open up to him and talk so much on the first meeting, but he wasn’t complaining.

Both stop the conversation when Reyes’ phone rings. He smiles fondly at the screen and answers before he gets up. “¿Marisol, como estas?”

Jesse raises an eyebrow and asks, “Who’s Marisol?”

“One of his sisters.”

“One? How many does he have?”

“Three: Marisol, Amanda, and Lucia. Gabe’s the oldest.”

Jesse says nothing as he looks back at Reyes. His back was to them as he hunched over, as if it was a secret meeting he was having with his sister. McCree can’t remember if Nieves—Reyes ever mentioned a sister. There was a grandma, and a mom, but no sisters. And it has been two months since he met Reyes, and hadn’t known. If it would’ve been Nieves, maybe the man would’ve mentioned them already.

“Where do they live?”

“In America, California, I think.”

McCree nods and he’s about to ask something else, but Reyes clears his throat. When Jesse looks at him, he straightens, alarmed at the commander’s low gaze.

“You’re done for tonight, McCree.” Their eyes meet, and it’s not the same man he was before he answered the phone. The call came with bad news.

“Sir?” Jesse stands.

“Dismissed.” Reyes looks down at his phone again as he types something with his thumb.

McCree swallows the urge to insist, and nods before passing by Reyes. His steps are slow, hoping Reyes will stop him. Jesse wants to stay, but Reyes doesn’t stop him. Jesse’s about to leave when he looks over his shoulder and catches Fareeha hugging Gabriel with such strength, Jesse himself can feel it, then the man lowers his head and wraps an arm around her.

It’s outside in the hall that he bumps into Morrison, rushing in and breaths when he sees him. “I’m here, how’s Reyes?”

McCree raises an eyebrow. “What d’you mean?”

Morrison’s eyes trace his face and he seems to realize Jesse doesn’t know what he’s talking about. “I thought you had been sent to look for me since I didn’t answer.”

“Answer what?”

“Never mind.” Jack gives him a weak smile that’s supposed to be enough before the strike commander continues his way. Jesse watches as he steps in front of Reyes’ room, scans his ID and he’s allowed in.

Jesse had hoped Reyes had stopped him before, but it seems Reyes didn’t chose him.

R e y e s

Gabriel sat on the couch, his elbows on his knees as his hands covered his mouth. He could feel the sorrow swallowing his bones, and an ache in his chest he hadn’t felt in a long time. Fareeha sat by his right, she hadn’t let go of her hug since he was on his feet. Jack sat on his left, a warm hand on Gabriel’s back to comfort him, and his eyes told he wished he could do more.

“When are they burying her?” Jack asks after the office had been quiet for some time.

“In two days.” Gabriel’s voice came weaker than he thought, he had to clear his throat, but there was no pressure to fake his strength between Jack and Fareeha.

“I’ll clear you off, alright? Be with your family until you need to.”

Gabriel sniffed and dropped his arms. “It’s not necessary, Jack.”

“It is.” Jack moved closer. “I know how much your grandmother meant to you. Be with your family, they also need you there. Ana can handle Blackwatch while you’re gone.”

Gabriel ponders the idea, even if he would normally argue, he doesn’t have the energy to do so. He nods and closes his eyes.

“Speaking of Ana, want me to tell her, or would you like to?”

“You can do it.”

Jack nods before he looks at Fareeha. “It’s time you go to bed.”

“Uncle Gabe?” Fareeha asks him, as if for permission, but more like if he’s sure he wants to be alone.

“Go ahead, I’ll be fine.” He smiles at her, but he knows she’s not convinced. Still, she kisses his cheek and Jack escorts her to the door.

“I’ll take her to Ana’s room, and I’ll be back, alright?”

Gabriel can only nod before they both disappear behind the door.

He takes the few minutes alone to turn his computer off, but leaves the rest of his desk a mess. He doesn’t wait for Jack to return, but meets him halfway to his room. He showers and changes while Jack prepares them some tea. The rest of the evening is spent on his room, talking about soothing memories and comforting words, along with Ana through a video call.

At dawn, Gabriel goes for a jog on the track. He cleared his agents for the day since he was leaving, and saw no need to prepare anything on the last minute, but he’s sure Ana would come up with a schedule by tomorrow. For now, he needs to breathe. He knew his grandmother’s health had to be taken lightly, but he hoped he hope he would get to spend more time with them. He never even managed to visit her after the operation. She saw her grandson through a video call for the last time. Might seem little, but it’s a big regret Gabriel will carry for a while.

He hears footsteps behind him, too light to be Jack’s, but not silent enough to be Ana’s. He looks to his side when McCree catches up to him in his training gear. The agent smiles to him before he continues jogging like there’s no problem.

“Training was cancelled,” Gabriel recalls.

“I know, just thought ya wanted the company.”

“If I did, I would not have cancelled it.”

“That’s true, or you would’ve called Morrison, I guess,” McCree mumbles the last bit and Gabriel looks at him.

“What does he have to do with—”

“What happened last night? I bumped into him when I left, he seemed serious.”

“That’s his natural state,” Gabriel comments, half joking.

Jesse huffs a short laugh and Gabriel picks up the pace, wanting some distance, but the cowboy keeps up. “Ya don’t have to give me details, I just wanna know if yer okay, boss?”

“Didn’t think you would care.” The words are out of Gabriel’s mouth before he can think clearly.

He notices Jesse looks down and his steps falter.

“I just need to be alone.”

“I can be quiet”

“Can you?” Gabriel slows down until he comes to a stop and realizes he’s almost out of breath. He checks his watch and notices he’s been jogging for more than he thought.

“Was that supposed to mean?”

“Kid—” Gabriel shuts himself and raises his hands when Jesse glares at him.

“Don’t call me that.”

“I know, I know. Look, I need space, I gave you the day off, what more do you want from me?”

“To know yer fine.”

“Does this look fine?” Gabriel points at himself. “Of course I’m not, I can see you’re not very perceptive. Stick to shooting.”

Jesse looks away again, and Gabriel can still see the kid he met in Deadlock, defiant, stubborn, and caged. His hair flows with the wind and Gabriel realizes it looks softer than when he arrived. It was mostly grease and sweat Jesse carried when he was in the gang, now his hair has gained some life and is even a shade of brown lighter than Gabriel thought.

“Want me to call Morrison?”

“Why does it go back to him? We are friends, I’ve known Jack since you were a child. Though the way you’re acting doesn’t make it seem any different.”

“What d’you mean?” Jesse crosses his arms.

“A kid, jealous of what someone else had.”

“I was worried fer ya, that’s all.”

“Yet you keep asking about Jack.”

“Because ya weren’t answering. Now I knew yer not fine.”

“And you wanna know why?” Gabriel guesses and gets a nod from McCree in response.

Gabriel sighs and brushes his hand over his eyes. “I just need time. Yes, Jack knew because we are friends. You are my agent.”

Jesse scratches the back of his head, at least his glare is gone. “I just thought since I used to talk to Nieves ‘bout this kind of things—”

“Nieves is gone, McCree, I thought you had gotten that by now.”

“No, I just thought…” Jesse trails off, shaking his head lightly.

“I’m getting breakfast,” Gabriel announces because McCree says nothing, and it seems the conversation is over. “You should too.” Gabriel thinks Jesse might see is as an invitation, but he’s a little relieved Jesse stays behind when Gabriel walks away. He ignores the clench in his chest when he looks over his shoulder and sees the cowboy standing by himself in the empty track.

M c C r e e

Jesse can hardly make it through breakfast after his encounter with Reyes. He was only meaning to ask if the commander was alright. He had surprised himself that he was willing to be up early in hopes of bumping into the commander before he got surrounded by other agents, or swallowed by work. He checked Reyes’ office first, but no answer. McCree got a feeling the man might want solitude, or fresh air, and that’s when he found him jogging. The conversation when the other way, and now Jesse could not even manage to eat his scrambled eggs.

Not even Alice’s laugh made him cheer up, or Mitzy’s teasing or Lance’s lame puns. But he was sure Gabriel needed his space now than before. Something bad happened, and it had to involve his family. After breakfast, he realized Fareeha was nowhere around, of course, leading by how she stole his hat, she could be right behind him without him noticing. Though it wouldn’t surprise Jesse if she was with her mother, who’s supposed to be back, or hidden away with Gabriel.

After hanging out with Lance, Mitzy and Alice for some time in the rec room, he decides to check the commander’s office again before lunch. He shifts in front of the door, pondering on what to say. After what felt like five minutes, he knocks. He doesn’t expect Ana to come out, she carries a folder and seems surprised to see Jesse.

“Is there something I can help you with, Jesse?” She asks, closing the door behind her.

Jesse looks over her shoulder, hoping to catch sight of Reyes, but the room is dark. “Is the commander here?”

“No, it was just me. I was picking up some plans he left me for the week. I’ll be taking over Blackwatch while he’s away.”

Jesse raises an eyebrow. “Away? Is it that bad?”

Ana’s expression saddens. “I don’t know what you know, but he suffered a family loss. He was allowed to be with them.”

Jesse nods and his mouth goes into a thin line. “I get it. He’ll be back in a week?”

“Yes. Our shooting lessons will also continue, even if I’ll be with Blackwatch.”

“Understood, ma’am.”

Ana smiles softly and begins to walk. “Fareeha told me she met a cowboy.”

Jesse scoffs. “I wonder who she’s talkin’ about.”

“I’m glad she likes you, she could use more people to be with when I’m not around. Most agents try avoiding her, afraid they will feel the wrath of the second in command.”

Jesse laughs. “To be fair, I didn’t know she was yours when we met. Did she tell ya what she did?”

“Held you at gunpoint. She’s learning.”

“Of course.”

“You still have today free, better enjoy it while you can.” Ana grins and raises the folder. “It’s up and early tomorrow, again.”

“Yessir.” Jesse salutes her before she walks away.

McCree doesn’t linger in the hall for long. He hates the solitude and the cold air around him, when he was just yesterday inside Gabriel’s office, warm and talking to the commander. It seems stupid to still hang around him like he knows the man, when he’s aware that’s not true anymore. The event of today proves it. Jesse should’ve known to stay away, to ask the right question, but the jealousy towards Reyes’ relationship with Morrison comes without him knowing.

McCree returns to the rec room, and sees Alice is at one of the tables playing a card game with other agents, but he doesn’t bother going to her. He settles on one of the couches and grabs a magazine from the coffee table. He doesn’t spend much time alone before Alice joins him.

“How’s it going, cowboy?”

“Hey,” McCree manages with half a smile.

“There’s going to be a shooting simulation tomorrow, wanna be my partner?”

“Me?” McCree can’t hide the surprise in the question.

“Yeah, I heard you’re the new up and coming sharpshooter. Besides, I’ve seen what you can do with my own eyes.” She slaps him lightly on his shoulder with the back of her hand. “I can’t let Lance hog you all to himself.”

McCree scoffs, and he realizes he does end up with Lance most of the time. At first he thought Lance was asking to be partners just because he felt sorry, but after some time, Lance still chooses him. Jesse can’t help smiling at that, neither to the fact that now Alice wants to be his partner.

“I’d have to break the news gently to Lance, but sure.”

“I also heard you’re training with Captain Amari as well.” She leans back, shaking her head lightly. “She’s my hero.”

“I can get you an autograph,” he teases as he also leans back, after dropping the magazine on the coffee table.

“Shut up!” She shakes her head and looks away briefly. “I wish I could handle a sniper like she does, but Reyes always says I’m better in the field.”

“You are,” McCree agrees. “I’ve seen ya takin’ down targets like they weigh nothing.”

She barks a laugh. “Thanks, these guns aren’t just for show.” She flexes one of her arms, and Jesse’s eyes trace over the bicep as the sleeve of the shirt tightens around it. “That’s why we’ll make a great couple, I can handle them on the ground while you watch my back from high up.”

“Guess yer right.” Other than the chatter from the other agents, there’s a moment of silence between them. “I was ‘bout to shoot some rounds in the range, wanna come?” It wasn’t an entire lie, he hadn’t planned on it, but seeing as she’s with him, and he had nothing better to do, mind as well keep his mind busy.

“Sounds like a good idea.”

Being with Alice is different than with Amari, of course it’s not a lesson, they’re hanging out, keeping scores and trying to win over the other. Jesse notes her face changes completely when she shoots, she’s in the field for an instant, focused on the target, crafting a story as to why she’s aiming at it. Her eyes pierce the cut out before the bullets hit it, and then she smiles and her eyes gleam behind the safety goggles again.

It’s not until dinner than Jesse remembers Reyes isn’t on base, still his gaze roams over the cafeteria, hoping to catch a glimpse of him. He’s thankful for Mitzy who suggests watching a movie in the rec room after the meal. McCree’s not surprised to see Lance, and he’s happy Alice had joined in. They’re also accompanied by two agents Jesse hasn’t gotten the chance to know yet—Shannon and Kristoff—but he does during said movie that works better as background noise.

“Do you miss Uncle Gabe?” Fareeha asks one morning of the week, when she joined her mother to supervised Blackwatch’s training.

They were on a break after a run on the track, and Jesse, like a few others, had laid on the grass. Fareeha took the spot next to him, but he can’t figure out when their talk about the shape of the clouds turned to him.

“Yer mother is more gentle durin’ training, I’d tell you that,” he decides to answer.

“I do,” she replies to her own question with a sigh. “I’ll be leaving in a week by the time he comes back, we probably won’t get to do the things we planned since he’ll be too busy.”

“Well, it’s not his fault. I’m sure he’d love to be here with ya, doin’ those things instead of... y’know, losing someone.” The wording feels awkward, but he hopes she can understand what he meant.

The look Reyes bared after the call, it would haunt Jesse for a while. Maybe that’s why he couldn’t let go of the fact that Reyes left like that, without some comfort, without knowing things would be alright after, because it seemed like he had lost hope in something. If only Jesse could’ve said that instead of what he said before Reyes left.

“I can help you with some of the stuff ya’ll were gonna do,” he offers, because he can at least try and make someone feel better.

“Really?” Fareeha looks at him with a smile.

“Sure.” He shrugs. “After trainin’s done, I’m free.”

“Sweet! We’ll meet in the cafeteria.”

They get on their feet to the sound of Ana’s call, Fareeha joins her, while the team runs a few more laps before they head inside.

Jesse meets with Fareeha in the cafeteria, she’s jumpy and excited for what they’ll do, which Jesse has no idea yet, but lets himself be dragged by the girl. She takes him to a storage where they pick up a few boxes and head out again. It isn’t until he recognizes the hallway and Morrison’s office that he halts.

“Where are we goin’ exactly?”

“Uncle Jack’s office.”

Jesse raises an eyebrow. “Why?”

“It’s something I do with Uncle Gabriel.”

“So ya just hang out at Morrison’s office?” Jesse shifts on his feet. “Isn’t he always there?”

“Nope, out, but I don’t know for how long, so we need to hurry.” She nods towards the office before they continue.

Fareeha pulls out a card and the scanner allows her access. When they’re inside, Fareeha places her box down and opens it to reveal the same picture of Morrison that’s on the posters at the gyms, printed in colorful paper. He assumes that in all the boxes.

“Did Morrison ask for these?”

“Nope.” Fareeha pulls out tape and a pair of scissors from a small bag she had been carrying. “This is what Uncle Gabe and I do, we pull pranks.”

“Pranks?” Jesse asks, finding it a little hard to believe Reyes would spend his time running around with a little girl, pulling pranks on his comrades. “What’d ya have planned?”

“Gabe says how sometimes it feels Jack is watching his every move, so,” Fareeha trails off, pulling out one of the picture. “We’ll see how Jack feels about that.” She smiles, not evil, but genuinely wicked.

“I’m in.”

Feels like hours later when the office is covered in that same picture of Jack. Jesse has grown sick of his hopeful gaze and righteous smile, luring him into becoming a hero. His desk looks neatly wrapped as well as his chair, his supplies also received the same treatment, as well as his computer and tablet on the coffee table—which is also covered in paper. Even the walls were newly renovated with Fareeha’s decorating plan. Halfway through they had to go and pick up extra boxes Fareeha had, knowing it wouldn’t be enough.

“When you’re done here, meet me in the fourth floor of building C.” Fareeha says while Jesse wraps the remaining papers in nooks they left. “I need to check on phase 2.”

“Phase 2?” Jesse scoffs.

“It’s less exhausting that this one, promise.”

“I’m not sure I believe ya, but go ahead.”

She skips out of the office while McCree finishes up. He makes sure not to leave any trail behind that traces it back at him, and leaves the office, but encounter the same face that has been staring at him for an hour.

“Agent McCree,” Morrison greets him with his hands behind his back.

“Howdy,” Jesse says the first thing that comes to his mind.

“What are you doing here?”

“Looking for Fareeha.”

Morrison raises an eyebrow. “You’ve met her?”

“Yes, pure sunshine that one.” Jesse fixes his hat before slipping his hands in the pockets of his jeans.

Morrison’s expression is unreadable, maybe upset, unimpressed or bothered. “I’m not sure I like you being around her.”

Jesse straightens and his brow furrows. “What does that mean?”

“Exactly what you think.” Morrison has no trouble hiding from Jesse that he still does not trust him.

“Well, you should know, we met because she stole my hat. So whatever bad influence ya think I’d have on her, it’s already there.”

“Watch what you say, she’s nothing like you.”

“N’ I’m glad fer that, don’t think I’d try to damage her, or anythin’ like that. But I will keep her from turnin’ into someone like ya.”

Morrison actually scoffs. “What? A big bad monster? Don’t think you gained the role of a brother or someone in her life now. She has plenty of people to fill those.”

“If that were true, she wouldn’t had reached out to me.” Jesse shrugs. “While yer too busy to pay attention to her.”

“She understands perfectly fine, don’t try to make me feel guilty about things you don’t understand.”

“I understand plenty. Now, if yer done, I’ll be going now. Don’t wanna keep Fareeha waiting.”

Morrison frowns at him but continues the path to his office. McCree knows he should move, but he stays, grinning over his shoulder when he hears the beeping of the ID scanner, and then—

“Agent McCree!”

“Aw, I missed it!” Fareeha complains when Jesse meets her in the floor she told him to.

“Well, ya could’ve seen it if ya hadn’t ran off.” Jesse looks around, this is a floor he hadn’t been in before; he has never needed to be. He also notices she’s carrying an empty jug. “What are we doin’ here?”

“Rein is our next target.”

Jesse recalls Reinhardt, the big German guy. He hasn’t seen much of him since he’s Overwatch, but at least he doesn’t dislike him like Morrison. Still, these were harmless pranks they were pulling.

“What do you have in mind?”

“Cheese dust.” She pulls out a packet from her bag and hides it again to scan her ID.

“Are you allowed everywhere?” Jesse asks as they enter the room. His eyes widen to how it looks. There’s a German flag in the small living room, faux bear carpet under the coffee table, a case with medals on a wall as well as pictures. There’s also a shelf with different German beer bottles on display.

“Only in places mom thinks I should go in case of emergencies.”

“Does she know ya use this power fer evil?”

“Probably, but I like to think she looks the other way as long as I don’t prank her.” She makes her way to the kitchenette to open the fridge and takes out a similar jug with orange juice in it. “Rein loves his natural juice.” She pours it into the empty jug and closes the lid to hide it in one of the cabinets. Then she moves to fill the other one with water.

Jesse watches as she tears the packet of chest dust and sprinkles it in the water before stirring it until it’s an identical shade of yellow, passing for the drink.

“Now what? How’ll we know he tasted it?”

“We wait, this is the time I planned to visit him, but we should go outside.”

They do as she says and they wait until the big guy arrives.

“Hello, Fareeha!” He greets with a light pet on her head.

“Hello! I invited my friend, Jesse, is that okay?”

“Agent McCree, it has been a while. How have you been?”

“Good, ya seem well too.”

“Good workouts would do that to you. Come in, both of you!” He opens the door for them and Jesse pretends to have seen the room for the first time.

“I know Ana is taking over Blackwatch for a few days, McCree.” Rein comments, heading to the kitchen. “How is that going?”

“Good, she’s a good commander. Givin’ Reyes a run for his money.”

Rein laughs. “It doesn’t surprise me. You know she handled the first days of Blackwatch while Reyes was dealing with Deadlock?”

“I heard somethin’ like that. Reyes trusts her greatly.”

“Lot of us do. Would you like something to drink?”

“I’m fi—”

“Sure,” Fareeha answers, interrupting Jesse.

Rein pulls out three glasses from a different cabinet as well as the orange juice. He notices nothing wrong while pouring it for them, not even when they sit in the living room.

“So what do you usually do together?”

“Rein tells me stories the others don’t like him telling,” Fareeha replied.

“Well, mainly your mother, and Jack,” Rein clarifies. “Torb just doesn’t like my stories in general.”

“What about Reyes?” Jesse asks without thought.

Rein huffs. “He tells some too, but doesn’t go into much detail, and he doesn’t add flair.”

“What kind of flair, do you add?” Jesse goes to reach the glass, but remembers what it really contains, so he only holds it. “Dragons? Castles in the skies?”

“Well there was a castle in one, Eichenwald. My old battle ground.”

“It’s beautiful,” Fareeha comments. “Or it was.”

“Indeed,” Rein agrees with a little sorrow in his words before his positive tone returns. “Did I ever tell you about Torb’s ball turrets?”

“No!” Fareeha says, excited for a new story. Like Jesse, she has a hand around the glass, but hadn’t made any movement to drink it.

“He once invented these torrents that appeared to be like a sphere, but once they touched ground, they would pull out legs and would work like his usual style. We were in Budapest when he told me to throw one at a roof, and I did, and he got mad.”

“How did you throw it?” Fareeha questions with a grin.

“I might have used my hammer.”

The girl laughs. “No wonder, I bet it broke to pieces.”

“Well, maybe he should’ve thought of that before making them. We fight in battles, not pillow fights.” He laughs before taking a sip from his glass.

Jesse and Fareeha shut their lips and try not to grin, but they break into a laughter when Rein coughs and spits it back in the glass.

“Fareeha, what have you done this time?” Rein asks with a playful look as he wipes his lips with the back of his hand.

“Trying to better your diet, you need to cheddar a few pounds!” Fareeha laughs as she leans back and Rein joins while Jesse snorts genuinely.

Next on the list is Torb. He’s at his workshop, hammering at something he’s fixing when Jesse walks in and starts asking questions. They’re about engineering at first, but then it’s random thoughts, all to get him distracted as Fareeha sneaks in and replaces a very similar toy replica that squeaks when it hits something. From behind Torb, she gives Jesse a thumbs up before hiding under the table.

“So, how fast can you hammer?” Jesse asks.

“Quite fast,” Torb’s voice sounds annoyed, but he still answers.

“Faster than Rein?”

Torb laughs mockingly. “He might wield a big hammer, but he cannot swing it as fast as me. It is not possible.”

“Could I do it faster?”

Torb scoffs. “Are you challenging me, boy?”

“Could be.”

“I’ll show ya, then we’ll see if you still think you can take me.”

“Give me what you’ve got,” Jesse challenges, hoping to get the best results.

Torb settles in front of his table and project and grabs one of the hammers. He begins to thump it fast, causing a loud and fast rhythm of squeaks to ring in the shop. Jesse can’t help his laughter and neither can Fareeha.

“What the—?” Torb frowns and looks under the table.

He hurries them both out of the workshop, but Jesse believes he enjoyed the prank at least a bit as he swore he saw a small smirk under the blonde mustache.

---

“Not sure ‘bout this one,” Jesse mumbles, rubbing the back of his neck as he stands in front of the door to Gabriel’s room.

A week has passed since the commander’s departure, and Fareeha had told Jesse he would be returning either today or tomorrow. Jesse couldn’t say his stomach didn’t flip to the news, or that he had to bite the inside of his cheek to prevent his smile from widening too much. Of course he would give the man his space, there was work that he needed to return to, plus who knows how he still feels about the loss of his family member. Jesse hasn’t asked Fareeha, feeling it could be a little inappropriate. If Ana didn’t tell him a week ago, maybe it’s for the best.

“Trust me, he knows I do this kind of stuff—he helps me!” Fareeha clarifies as he goes around the cart she was pulling, covered with a blanket. Jesse had also pulled at a cart, but he hadn’t looked under the cover nor asked.

“He’s returning from a funeral, from a loss, do you think it’s the best idea to pull a prank on him?” Jesse tries to convince Fareeha, but the girl is set.

“All the more reason.” She scans her ID and the door opens. She pushes the cart inside, smiling at Jesse, but he remains outside.

He didn’t think twice about entering Morrison’s office without him present, but maybe it was because he was about to pull a prank on him. The same went for Rein, he went into the big man’s room without even realizing how private that is. But this was Reyes’ room. And he was about to pull a prank on his commander, who might have left hating Jesse.

Fareeha appears at the door frame again and smiles. “It’ll be fine, promise. Plus, he won’t know you helped.”

“Not sure I can trust the lady that stole my hat,” Jesse says, but he’s standing behind the cart again to push it inside.

“I returned it.”

Jesse scoffs and his gaze can’t help but to roam around. The room is simpler, little to no decorations compared to Rein’s. It’s organized, kept cool and with sunlight coming through the windows. There are family pictures hanged on the walls around a TV, which Jesse steps closer to have a look. He assumes the three girls he sees along with Gabriel in different ages are his sisters. There’s a solo portrait of a woman, modeling at the steps of a gazebo. She’s pretty, with dark brown skin like Reyes’ and a gorgeous smile. She must either be his mother or grandmother. A brief thought passes by that says she could be his wife, but Reyes has never worn a ring. Still the idea makes Jesse look away from the wall.

Rein had the beer display, Reyes has wine. Bottles piled up in a pyramid with the mouths sticking forward. It takes Jesse back to the Bunker. He wonders how the place must be. Would the bottles displayed be covered in dust? Had they raided the place and taken them? Or did the few Deadlock members go back to it? He can’t say he wouldn’t like to visit it one day, but he knows that’s out of the question, for now.

“Help me put these around?” Fareeha asks from behind.

“What do you have in mind? Sticky notes? Bubble wrap?” He turns and his smirk drops as Fareeha unveils what’s on the cart. Each row is full of sunflowers in pots. “What are these for?”

“You know how we covered Uncle Jack’s office in his photos?” Fareeha explains as she picks up one of the potted flowers. “Well, we’re gonna use flowers this time.”

A side lopped smile fades into Jesse’s face. “He likes flowers?”

Fareeha nods. “Loves them, especially sunflowers.”

McCree makes his way to the cart and grabs two on each hand. “How are we gonna wrap these around a TV thought?” He mostly jokes.

“Just the floor will do.” Fareeha makes it to the farthest corner of the room and places down the flower. “He’s gonna love it.”

The dark gray carpet is barely visible through the sea of yellow when Fareeha and Jesse are done. The air is flowery and the room looks brighter than before. Jesse hadn’t stopped smiling to it since they reached halfway. They only did the living room and kitchenette, leaving the small hallway that leads to the bedroom clear. Only Fareeha went in there to put an extra flower on Reyes’ nightstand. Jesse was curious, he wanted to peek inside, but went against it. Being this far into Reyes’ apartment was enough.

Jesse hears of Reyes’ return when he wakes up. Lance gives him the news along with the fact that there will be a briefing after lunch for their next mission. Jesse hears nothing more, he can only focus on the fact that Reyes is back.

He gets dressed, and only grabs a bottle of orange juice from the cafeteria before he sets off to find Reyes. The first spot he checks it is office, but nobody answers when he knocks. He doesn’t bump into Morrison nor Ana either, so he can’t ask. The idea to visit Reyes’ room briefly crosses his mind, that’s obviously where he might be, but Jesse decides against it. He would have to wait.

He goes to wait in the rooftop he found two months ago, with a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. But the smell of smoke touches his nose when he opens the door. A figure he knows well enough stands by the railings, and smokes floats from his face. Reyes turns to look at him, with a cigar between his lips and the fire of the embers reflecting in his eyes. Jesse is lost for words. He was looking for the commander, but realizes now he is not prepared.

“McCree,” Reyes acknowledges him before looking back at the sky.

“Sir.” The door creaks behind him as he shifts on his feet. “I didn’t know ya were up here.”

“Needed some air,” Reyes replies, pulling the cigar away, “everyone was getting too close for me downstairs.” He huffs lightly, trying to make a joke out of it. “I mean I appreciate the concern, but I think I’ve had enough for a while.”

“I’m…” Jesse chews on his bottom lip. “I’m sorry, sir.”

Reyes looks at him again. “For what?”

“Ev’rythin’.” Jesse walks to join him at his side. “How we left it off, I didn’t mean anythin’ bad by it, I swear. It all came out wrong. And I’m sorry fer yer loss.”

“You know about my grandmother?”

Jesse’s eyes widen the slightest. “I knew ya lost someone, but not who. I’m sorry.”

“Stop apologizing, McCree,” Reyes says, but not in anger. “I should have tried to listen to you more.”

“No, it’s fine. I understand you were grievin’, I should had given ya space.”

“Let’s just,” Reyes sighs and blinks softly, “accept each other’s apologies and move on.”

Jesse smiles. “Would like that.”

Reyes nods and puts back the cigar between his lips. Jesse swallows as he traces the shape of them around the brown object. And the smoke that swirls up until it vanishes in the air. He also looks over Reyes’ exposed neck as his Adam’s apple bobs softly when he sucks in a breath.

To distract himself, Jesse pulls out a cigarette and lights it up.

“Fareeha told me you helped her with my prank.”

Jesse chuckles nervously and clears his throat. “She said she wouldn’t talk.”

Reyes chuckles too, but softer. “Thank you.”

Jesse’s chest swells, not expecting such words. He expected more of a scolding for entering Reyes’ apartment without his permission, or even being on base. He expected more yelling from their conversation before this, but instead Jesse got an apology, his own accepted, and a ‘thank you’.

“Yer welcome, it was Fareeha’s idea anyways, but I’m glad I helped.”

Reyes turns to lean from the railings on his back. “She told me you covered Jack’s office with his own picture?”

Jesse nods. “He caught me comin’ out too. Can’t say I’ll forget how he yelled my name.”

“Probably as same as the first time he yelled at me.”

“What did you do?”

“We drew whiskers and a cat nose on him while he napped before a debriefing.”

Jesse laughs, smoke slipping through his lips. “Must’ve been adorable.”

“Fareeha’s an evil genius,” Reyes comments and takes a drag from his cigar. “I know you’ve been hanging out with her too, keeping her company.”

“It’s nothin’,” Jesse shrugs. “She’s delightful.”

“I feel it’s my fault she couldn’t spend much time with Ana since she was busy taking over Blackwatch.”

“With all due respect, sir, yer wrong.”

The commander raises an eyebrow at his agent.

“Things happen, and I’m sure Ana was glad to help you out, and you wouldn’t have trusted anyone else to do the job. And Fareeha, well, she understands. She was still with her mother, she had Morrison, Rein and Torbjorn, amongst other people. She missed ya, of course, but she doesn’t resent ya.”

Reyes sighs and his eyes remain closed for longer in a blink. But he nods when he opens them and continues his smoke. So does McCree, in the silence that is left between them, more words are spoken in a way Jesse can’t explain.

It isn’t until Reyes is almost done with his cigar that Jesse asks about it, “can I try?”

“Get your own, and you can.”

Chapter Text

M c C r e e

As Reyes scrolls through his tablet in the empty briefing room, McCree whistles while he sits beside him. His arm slouches over the backrest of the chair, and he looks at the room for the fifth time out of boredom. He had been helping the commander in his office before Reyes called for the briefing. In a few minutes agents will start coming, but in the meantime, McCree finds himself with nothing to do. Except maybe stare at Reyes, and wonder what the ache in his chest he still gets when he looks at Reyes even after what has happened between them. Sure they were on the roof just yesterday, apologizing and Reyes thanked him for the sunflowers, but balancing it all with the rest makes Jesse’s head spin.

The thought does bring something else, and Jesse knocks his elbow on the table to get Reyes’ attention. His gaze looks up at McCree, questioning the noise.

“C’mon,” Jesse calls, flexing his opened palm in the air, calling for the challenge they’ve done before.

“Again?” Reyes questions with a tone of mockery. “Haven’t you learned from the times I slam your hand through the surface?”

McCree rolls his eyes. “Don’t flatter yourself, you’re not that strong.”

“Because I hold back,” Reyes explains as he places down his tablet, “for your own safety of course.”

“Then stop,” McCree says and wiggles his fingers.

Reyes sighs and looks away with a light shake of his head. But when he looks back at Jesse, he grabs a hold of the agent’s hand. It’s been a while since Jesse last asked for the challenge, but he hasn’t forgotten the man’s warmth and calloused fingers. He’s sure the ghost of them over McCree’s skin will haunt him until he’s nothing but bones.

McCree begins to wonder if this is really about proving to Reyes his growth, or an excuse to hold the man’s hand.

“Second thoughts?” Reyes snaps his attention to the challenge.

“Nah,” Jesse replies as he tightens the grip and steadies his elbow.

“One,” Reyes begins to count, “two… three.”

Jesse starts to pressure, and though he manages to move Reyes’ arm the slightest, the commander retaliates by slamming his against the tablet.

Jesse looks away, lips tight in a line. He won’t let Reyes know this one hurt. And he’s sure they’ll be a crack on the table.

“Did I hurt you?” Reyes asks, turning Jesse’s hand around. Now Jesse didn’t want to look because he was sure he was blushing.

“‘m fine,” Jesse half lies.

“At least there’s no blood or bruise.” Reyes makes it worse by brushing his fingers over Jesse’s knuckles before he puts down the hand softly on the table when the door opens.

Agents start walking in and Reyes stands up as Jesse pulls his hand away, as if they’ve been caught doing something they weren’t meant to. As they settle, Jesse looks down at the spot that hurts, but his knuckles are only reddened from the impact, nothing to worry about. Yet almost through the briefing, all Jesse can feel is Reyes hand all around his. An empty grip that gives him false hope of something that once could have been, or maybe not.

He finally manages to get it together and actually pay attention to it. On the wall behind Reyes, there’s a picture of a bank in Cincinnati, Ohio, where hostages had been taken by a local gang that had grown in numbers over the months. They had been terrorizing towns, one after the other, raiding banks and museums, killing cops and civilians, as well as burning buildings.

The police are meant to bargain with the gang, while Blackwatch has been asked to sneak into the bank and get the hostages out, as well as take down the gang if needed. The problem was how do they go in without putting innocents at risk. Barging in through the only known entrance will surely cause a few deaths. Bursting down the glass ceiling, as cool as it might be, will also cost the lives of the hostages.

The location looks familiar to Jesse, so he leans forward, trying to figure out why. Then he sees the pharmacy across the street, and the antique store on the right. In between, a tight alley, and it comes back to him.

He hesitates, but raises his hand, not sure how these things are done.

Reyes spots him quickly and nods his way.

“Can ya zoom in on the pharmacy and antique store, sir?”

Reyes looks back down at his tablet, and taps it. The projection on the wall zooms in, and Jesse speaks again, “That gap, there’s a way to the bank through there.”

“Are you sure?” Reyes questions, standing closer to the table, and almost every pair of eyes in the room are on Jesse.

Jesse swallows nervously. “Deadlock blew it up to make it happen durin’ a hurricane six years ago. Underground, there’s a spot they settled in n’carved way up to one of the bathrooms in the bank.” Jesse feels he is rambling on for too long, but he doesn’t know what could be useful and what not. How much he should say, or how little. He gives Reyes all the info he has of that day that he heard from Deadlock tales at gatherings. “With one of our own as an undercover guard, he helped from the inside n’carved out the tiles so they would look intact. As far as I know, they never figured out how the bank was robbed. They just thought it happened durin’ the hurricane when a window broke n’the power shut down.”

Reyes nods and says, “Overwatch already had agents over there, I will send the order for them to check it out,” Gabriel informs as he types on his tablet. “If it’s true, we will depart as soon as I get the response.” Reyes calls a list of names of the agents he’ll be taking, Rainer, Taylor, and Stones fall under it. Mccree looks over at the faces that nod and reply with a ‘yes, sir’, and meets Alice’s gaze. She smiles at Jesse in return and he receives it as a prize for his information.

“It’s the best we’ve got.” Reyes smiles at McCree too, but briefly. “Well done, agent. If it’s still the same, we can break through those bars. I can talk to the police, let them know we’ll be coming in. They might be able to keep the gang distracted and away from the hostages. The goal is to make sure no harm comes to any innocent that’s inside. You’ve got your orders, I will call if I need you again. Dismissed.”

The room is filled by ruffling of chairs and footsteps as Jesse sits straight and wipes his sweaty hands on his lap. He can hardly stay still. There’s a tickle in his gut, along with a heat that won’t cease. When McCree looks around for Reyes, he’s already gone.

After an hour, McCree is intercepted by Reyes in a hall. He’s greeted by a warm smile and the bright color of a potted sunflower in the commander’s hands. “I’ve been looking for you, McCree.”

Jesse tries to collect his thoughts and straightens to send a finger gun salute. “You’ve found me. We should play this game more often, I wouldn’t mind bein’ hunted by you.”

Reyes hums. “Might be a good exercise, if I catch you, you have to run ten extra laps every morning.”

“Maybe I can catch you,” McCree suggests.

The commander chuckles. “Sure, but I wanted to let you know you were right about the passage.”

“I was?” The question comes out more surprised than Jesse thought.

Reyes nods. “The Overwatch soldiers found the spot you said, and the trail to the bathroom is still open. We’ll be departing in ten.”

Jesse brightens up to the words.

“I’ll give you the night off from helping out with paperwork, but be ready once I return.”

McCree’s smile falters. “I’m not going?” He knew Gabriel had already called for the team B, but Jesse hoped he had come to allow him to be a part of the team. He hadn’t been assigned to any yet, after all.

Reyes’ expression also changes, he’s confused. “You know you can’t yet.”

“But I helped,” Jesse points out careful so his voice doesn’t rises. He’s not angry, but disappointed, he didn’t even think of the possibility that he wouldn’t go. He thought since he had given a vital piece of information, he would get the chance to assist this time at least.

Reyes places a hand on McCree’s shoulder and squeezes. “I know, and it was brilliant. But I can’t allow you yet. It’s protocol.”

Jesse scoffs and looks away. “Thanks for tellin’ me, then. Good luck.” Jesse walks past him, and his chest tightens when he feels Reyes’ hand slipping away.

“I wanted to give you this.”

McCree stops at the commander’s words, and turns around. He sees him passing the sunflower from one hand to the other.

“As much as I love them, I had to give a few away,” Reyes says and laughs lightly. “They don’t all fit in my window garden. Even if I planted a few in the garden by the exit, I was still left with some.”

“Oh.” Jesse’s eyes widen, as if he was seeing the beauty of the flower for the first time. Yellow as a pretty canary, bright as the sun in the morning, and as valuable as a golden treasure. “Thank you, sir.” He accepts the gift, and his fingertips brush Reyes’. McCree pulls away quickly, afraid he’ll drop the flower. He tells himself this is nothing. Reyes made it clear he gave others away, he wouldn’t be surprised if he saw Fareeha walking around with one, or Jack, or Ana, or one of his agents.

“I understand you’re disappointed about the mission, but maybe you can watch as it happens,” Reyes offers and Jesse looks at him.

“How?”

“You can be the communication room,” Reyes starts to explain, “You can listen in on all of our coms, have view of the cameras the Overwatch agents put on the tunnels, and the security cameras from the bank. But you won’t be able to talk with us directly, that’s left for the agents in charge of that.”

Jesse curls his lips as he thinks about it.

“I know it’s not the same, but you should still go through that so you can learn. Might be your job one day to talk directly at me, or another agent. You can, however, give advice if you have any more information that might help. Bring it up with one of the agents, and they’ll pass it along. Wanna give it a try?”

Jesse continues to think about it. It’s not exactly being there with Reyes and the others, but it’s still closer than roaming around base doing nothing. “I’ll try it.”

Reyes smiles and turns to the side. “Come with me, then. I’ll show you where it is.”

On the way, Jesse can’t stop looking down at the sunflower. Even if he’s not the only one that got one, he realized he doesn’t care. He was still in Reyes’ thoughts, and he praised him over the briefing as well. When they reach the room, it’s cool, and with a lot of monitors on the wall, over a desk with a computer and a few files, as well as four chairs.

“Depending on the mission, there can be three or more agents here,” Reyes begins to explain as he approaches the desk and turn to McCree. “They have their own tasks, one watches the feeds, making sure we’re not missing anything and that is all running smoothly. It will be agent Balor for this one. Another focuses on listening and communicating with us. It’ll be Kristoff today, so he’ll be the one you talk to if you need to. Then sometimes we have another writing down conversations we come across, but that won’t be needed on this mission. Feel free to sit or stand where you want, just stay clear of the desk, unless you need to talk to Kristoff, or us.”

Jesse nods. “Understood.”

“That’s all to it, at least until it’s your turn to do something.” Reyes returns to stand by his side. “They’ll be setting up before we leave, but you can grab something to eat first if you haven’t. It’s alright if you get here a few minutes late, this time.” Reyes warns with a lifted finger.

“Yessir”

“I need to go and get ready, hopefully, we’ll be back by tomorrow.”

McCree had the question ‘hopefully?’ in the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed it down. He’s no stranger to the dangers of going on tasks, much less jobs that involve guns and secret tunnels. Whether its in Deadlock or Blackwatch, is always a game of chance. Yet, there’s something about thinking he will part from Reyes with just a “hopefully, I’ll see you tomorrow” leaves a sour taste in his mouth.

In the end, he salutes his commander when he’s dismissed, and walks away like it doesn’t bother him at all.

Jesse returns to the communication room ten minutes later, not being able to stay far for long. Kristoff, an agent with no hair on his head or face and a scar across his mouth, greets him and goes over the same thing Reyes said earlier in case Jesse has any questions. Though he listens, he can keep his eyes away from the landing dock for too long. Reyes and the rest of the team are loading into a shuttle. By how Reyes moves his hands and shows agents something on his tablet, they seem to be going over the mission one more time. The last to get on board with him are Alice and Lance. Stones already looks different than when Jesse saw her at the briefing. Her luscious long hair is pulled tightly in a bun, she wears no make-up, and her gaze is ready for the field. Jesse’s lips twitch in a smile before his attention is back on the commander.

Jesse hasn’t been much of a religious person for a long time, but in the moment he can’t help whisper under his breath, “traimelo de vuelta, virgensita.”

The shuttle closes and it parts after a minute or so. The camera feed changes to on in the shuttle, where Reyes retrieves to the cock pit and the agents talk amongst themselves. Jesse sits back and enjoys the sound of Alice’s laugh while he waits for the action to begin.

Jesse is on the edge of his seat as the team makes their way through the sewers. He doesn’t know how, but he’s manage to keep his chatting to a minimal with Kristoff and has remained completely quiet since Blackwatch went underground. The agents that had scouted the sewers manage to plant a few cameras to make sure the path would be clear when they returned. It gives McCree, Kristoff and Balor the ability to have a visual on the team on various spots as they make their way through the tunnel. As expected, Reyes takes the lead, with his shotguns in hand, and footsteps steady. Lance is close by, rifle aimed, ready to shoot at the sight of any hostile targets. As the line of agents makes it through the current feed, his gaze moves over every head until he sees Alice last, keeping an eye for any attack that could come from behind.

The last camera in the sewers is the small room Deadlock must have made, or found. It seems to be well built to be done in a quick heist, even if it shows signs of abandonment. As for the hostages, they’re placed in a vault while two gang members wait outside. The rest patrol around the empty bank, and one member, the one calling the shots, sits by a desk, talking on a phone.

“Kristoff, any movement from the targets?” Reyes asks through the comms, causing Jesse to open his mouth, ready to answer for the other agent.

“Target’s still over ground, sir,” Kristoff beats him to it. “The rest of the passage remains clear, over.”

“Copy,” Reyes finishes off before the comms fall silent again.

Jesse is startled by the slam of the phone on the desk. The head of the operation picks up his gun and calls for two other gang members. He sends the rest to watch over the hostages.

“They’ve cleared the bathroom area, sir,” Kristoff announces, watching the door the Blackwatch squad should come out of.

“Roger,” Reyes responds.

Underground, they see the line of Blackwatch agents disappearing into another smaller tunnel before Reyes announces, “We’re going in.”

“Copy that,” Kristoff replies quickly.

Jesse holds his breath in the dead silence, until Reyes peeks his head out of the bathroom door. He leans back on the chair and counts the agents that follow until Alice comes out last.

There’s a small explosion, the camera loses image, but they can still hear shouting and gunshots. A few agents come into the feed of two more security cameras, but none Jesse recognizes at the moment. Or cares for to be honest, at least not deeply. It’s not long before things settle down, and most of Blackwatch come to view, but Reyes is still not showing up in the feed.

“Commander Reyes to agent Kristoff.”

Jesse sighs to his voice without realizing it.

“Agent Kristoff reporting”

“We got the hostages, we’re on a good track so far.” Reyes steps at the door of the safe where the hostages are and Jesse is glad to see his broad back. In this moment, he lets himself admire how good he looks on his full tactical gear.

“Copy that,” Kristoff replies to Reyes.

“We’ll leave the same way we came, so the police can handle the hostages.” McCree wonders why they simply don’t walk out the main entrance, but he decides to ask the commander some other time. “We’ll make sure to take down the cameras on the way.”

“Roger.”

The way back is more relaxing. Jesse leans on his chair, watching the last images of the team leave the sewers before the cameras are taken down by Mitzy and another agent. It all seems to be going smoothly, until an agent from the back calls, “commander!”

There’s gunshots, orders from Reyes and the remaining camera goes offline. Jesse gets on his feet as Kristoff and Balor try to get an image back, but they get no results.

“What’s goin’ on?” McCree asks.

“Must have been ambushed,” Kristoff responds.

“Is there anything we can do?”

Balor sighs and Kristoff stops trying to get the feed back. “Wait.”

Jesse hears the commander shouting and shots. Then he hears a grunt and more gunfire. McCree’s heart beats hard against his chest. He feels helpless. Gabriel feels a world away, his teammates need help, and Jesse can’t do anything but wait and listen as an explosion goes off, and then the comms go dead.

As Jesse watches the stars through the window of Captain Amari’s room, he can’t help but notice she also has a window garden, but no sunflower in sight. His chest hurts to think such a selfish thought in the moment, but it also swells him with pride.

“Jesse,” the woman says softly and he looks back at her, offering a cup of steaming tea.

“Thanks, ma’am,” Jesse mumbles.

McCree holds the cup between his hands as he sits on the small dining table. Fareeha sits beside him, with a mug of hot chocolate and small marshmallows floating on top. Though it looked delicious, Jesse didn’t think he could stomach that. Ana suggested tea instead, to calm his nerves, but he was sure nothing could calm the thumping of his heart.

“Are ya sure there’s nothin’ we can do?” Jesse looks at Ana, pleading that there is.

Ana shakes her head lightly. “Not for now. If they don’t get back online in five hours, then we sent a team. That’s how it works.”

“But what if they don’t…”

“This is a risk your team knows well, Jesse.” Ana takes the seat on his other side, and her gentle hand falls on his arm. “Especially Gabriel, but he’s come out from worse. We’ll get news soon. Jack is doing his best to get in contact with them.”

Normally it would throw Jesse off to hear Jack’s name in a matter that involves Reyes, but for now he’s glad to know that. If in such little time he’s seen a special bond between both men, Jesse has no doubt Jack is really trying.

“I’ll take some tea to him too,” Ana says before she stands up and kisses Fareeha’s head. “Watch over him while I’m gone.”

“Like a hawk,” Fareeha says and Jesse huffs.

When Ana leaves, there’s silence at first, except for the sipping of their drinks. After a while, they move to the couch in the living room, where Fareeha reads out loud a book she was halfway through after giving Jesse a brief summary. McCree doesn’t catch much except it’s about a girl that finds an underground city and she seems to be the key to unlocking another one in the sky. He pretends to pay attention though, for Fareeha’s sake, until Ana returns with no news.

Even if Ana offers her couch for him to stay, he refuses, thinking it would be best to be in his room. He tells himself that way he’ll be close by when the team arrives, safe and sound. But he regrets leaving Fareeha’s storytelling when he’s unable to sleep, and only tosses and turns. In the darkness of the room, he catches the bright spot of the sunflower by the window. He count its petals over and over. He tells himself a mantra with each one. “He’ll be back.” “He’s fine.” “They’re all fine.” “He’ll return,” until sleep takes him.

R e y e s

Gabriel has had worst, certainly. The pain in his bones will heal by lunch, and the gunshot wound on his left bicep will be another scar by the end of the month. For the moment, the doctors insisted he put on a sling and shoulder brace for at least a week. That still left one arm to sort out the reports and file them away. Gabriel stood in front of his desk, looking at the received reports from his agents. He finds himself going through each name, not to see they all handed them in, but to make sure all agents came back alive. It was quite a scare, but their numbers were still up after a few of the targets had managed to stay hidden and ambush the team underground. The gang had no back-up to call, but did cause a few injuries for Blackwatch. Then again, Reyes has had worse, and his team will need more than some desperate bullets to keep them down.

The door of his office opens after he gives the permission, believing it to be Jack since he messaged a while ago he’d be passing by. But instead of a pat in the back, Gabriel is hit by another body, and a pair of arms around him. His eyes widen to the impact and his free hand grabs a hold of one of the wrists and he won’t admit it, but he recognizes the skin and still too skinny arm. He can also feel McCree’s heart racing against his back.

“Santo cielo, kid,” Reyes says as he turns around and McCree pulls away.

“Sorry, sir, I didn’t mean to do that. I don’t—” Jesse stops himself and lowers his gaze. “I just saw you were here, and…”

“Apology accepted,” Reyes says to ease him. “I’m okay, Jesse.”

The agent smiles at him, gaze on him again, and says, “Good to know. And I’m sorry—”

“Tienes que dejar de pedir perdon, vaquero [You’ve gotta stop saying sorry, cowboy.]” Gabriel scolds as gently as possible. It’s not something to argue about, but Jesse shouldn’t carry the blame of bumps they countered on a mission.

“I gotta. I caused the mission to fail.”

Gabriel stays quiet for a few seconds and steps closer. “You didn’t, Jesse. The mission was a success.” Jesse is actually surprised as his eyes and mouth widen. “We got out, the hostages are safe, and we busted the gang. Everything’s fine.”

“But all the gunshot, and the explosion—”

“It seems they had a plan in case someone did come in. But we managed, only two injured.”

“Alice,” Jesse finishes with a nod. “I visited her already.”

Gabriel smiles at him, and he hopes it comes out genuine. Besides Stones, another agent was injured, but they, as well as the rest of Blackwatch, are tough. “She’ll pull through.”

Jesse scoffs. “She will.”

“You should send her flowers,” Gabriel suggests when he sees the blush on Jesse’s cheeks.

“I should? Where would I get ‘em?”

Gabriel shrugs. “Doesn’t have to be anything fancy. One or two from the garden will be enough to let her know you care.”

Jesse rubs the back of his neck and laughs awkwardly, lowering his gaze. “I think I will.”

Gabriel nods before he turns to look at the papers on his desk.

“Let me help,” Jesse offers.

“You’ve got training to go to, agent,” Gabriel reminds him.

“I can help after then.”

Gabriel considers it, he was going to take the next few days easy, not do much paperwork just for his sanity. But if Jesse wanted to help, there was no trouble in getting ahead on some filing and other miscellaneous things that didn’t require much work from the commander’s part. “Alright, I’ll wait for you here after lunch.”

Gabriel finally sees muscle on Jesse’s bicep after six months of training under his command. He’s also gained more weight and a few inches. And it’s safe to say his days in Deadlock are going further from his memory. Their relationship has gotten some distance, but for the better. Jesse found friends he can spend time with, and they hadn’t butted heads in a while about who Javier Nieves was. Though Gabriel has felt that distance deeper than he thought he would, he knows it’s best for Jesse.

Both are in Morrison’s office after being called, Gabriel’s behind the desk, Jesse’s in front, smirk on his lips, hat low to give his gaze a captivating shadow, while Gabriel rolls his eyes before resting his elbow on the desk. Their hands connect, and he can also tell the difference from now to four months ago. He also questions why he pays extra attention to this now, when their hands had come together like this before over those four months.

Jesse catches him off guard as he begins to push without warning, but Gabriel manages to hold on. Reyes doesn’t push, only holds as he watches and tests Jesse’s limit. Their hands move in Jesse’s favor, but it isn’t much. When the door opens, Gabriel snaps his hand, pinning Jesse’s.

“Mierda,” Jesse hisses and slouches on one of the two chairs in front of Jack’s desk.

“Keep trying,” Gabriel says, amused before Jack shoves him to get out of his side of the desk so he can join Jesse’s side.

“¿Sabes por qué el rubito nos llamó? [Do you know why blondie called for us?]” Jesse asks Gabriel.

“Ni idea [No idea],” Reyese replies.

“Al fin me va a alagar [He’s finally gonna praise me],” Jesse guesses and Gabriel chuckles.

“Keep dreaming.”

“Can you both stop it?” Jack asks, and Gabriel grins as he notices the shells of Jack’s ears going red.

“Do you think we’re plotting against you?” Gabriel teases.

Jack exhales. “No, but it doesn’t show respect.”

“To him, yeah.” Jesse nods Gabriel’s way.

“Alright, Jackie, we’ll behave,” Gabriel says as he waves Jesse off. “Why are we here?”

Jack takes a breath and grabs the tablet from his desk as he taps it a few times. “Do you remember the mirror we installed in the Bunker?”

It takes a few seconds, but Gabriel remembers. “What about it?”

“What mirror?” Jesse questions.

“It never stopped recording, we just abandoned it.” Jack gives Gabriel the tablet and Jesse leans closer so both can watch.

The frozen image is already enough. There’s someone in the Bunker. When the video plays he can see the man walking around as he types on his phone, then sits to continue working on a laptop. The scanner works like it used to, and identifies the person.

“Leo?” Jesse asks.

“I’m pretty sure he was dead.” Gabriel looks at Jack.

“We checked his file again, the body found was of a Michael Sullen, his twin.”

“Twin?” Jesse voices. “He never mentioned—since when?”

Gabriel asks in a way that could get Jesse the answers he needs, “How long can you retrace the mirror’s recordings?”

“Since it was installed,” Jack answers. “Luckily it activates with movement, and he moved in a week ago. Nothing had happened before that.”

“Can you send me the recording?” Gabriel asks, returning the tablet to Jack.

“Will do,” Jack answers and taps on the device. In seconds, Gabriel receives a ping on his. “We have to find out why he’s there, and if anyone else will join.”

“He probably took down the cameras.”

“Cameras?” Jesse asks, and Gabriel can’t tell if it’s disgust or worry in his tone.

Jack nods before he asks, “Are you sure you cleared everything you left?”

“I did. Burned clothes, sheets, cleaned everything I used, and brought back every piece of technology with me.”

“Except this mirror,” Jesse points out.

“I think Mal would’ve figured out something was off if he saw me coming out of the Bunker, carrying a big mirror by myself.”

Jesse raises both eyebrows and asks, “Could you do that?”

“Some other time.”

Jack cleared his throat. “Due to our knowledge of what happened in Deadlock, Agent McCree, we know you and this person were close.”

“No,” Gabriel quickly says, frowning at Jack. “Besides, he’s still on probation.”

“It’s only one guy, we can see what he’s been up to,” Jack tries to convince Gabriel.

“Why are you set on sending him? You made the rules yourself.”

Jack sighs, as if it pains him to say the next words. “I know, but he might be in contact with others. If we send a raid, he could call them in, somehow. We can’t risk being ambushed in a place like that.”

Gabriel shrugs. “Been ambushed in tighter places.”

“Ya want me to go, is that it?” Jesse speaks up. “Like bait?”

“You won’t.”

“It was a suggestion,” Jack clears as he leans back on his chair.

“And I’m not accepting it,” Gabriel responds, crossing his arms, and putting an ankle over his other knee.

“Why not?” Jesse mumbles, and both commanders look at him. “Odio admitirlo, pero el rubito tiene razón. [I hate to admit it, but the blondie is right.] I hope he still has some trust in me. If he wasn’t around during the raid, he might not know exactly what happened to me.”

“I’m not sending you down there again,” Gabriel says, cold and firmly. He notices Jesse shrinking a little into the chair. “It wouldn’t be fair to you.”

Jesse’s puts on half a smile. “I can handle it boss.”

“He won’t be doing much, just show up, and get information. If he helps catch Leo, better,” Jack explains.

“I’m not sending him down there unarmed,” Gabriel says.

“You want to give him a gun? And set him off on a solo scouting?” Jack asks as he unites his hands under his chin.

“It was your idea, wasn’t it?” Gabriel points out in return.

“I didn’t picture a weapon in this.”

“Leo wouldn’t hurt me,” Jesse says, confident in his words.

“We don’t know if this is the Leo you knew,” Gabriel tells him, “For all we know, he could have always been his brother until he was killed.”

“Which is why you two need to see the footage from the mirror and check if he was Leo or not,” Jack adds, cocking his head. “Will you do that, and then decide?”

“Of course,” Gabriel says.

Jack gives him a look, he’s not convinced, but he knows he can’t force Gabriel to send an agent into a mission, especially one on probation. “Dismissed.”

Gabriel sits on the couch in his office, with his tablet on his hand as he watches the recording. Jesse is close, leaning in to watch as well. They rewind back to when the mirror was installed while Gabriel explains Jesse what it does, but he guesses the cowboy figures it out soon enough when he sees the analysis on the screen and profiles. Gabriel plays the video faster, enough that they can read the names, but not too slow to prolong the task. He sees when he was shot. He sees how Jesse hurried to take care of him, and how close they were. Back then it didn’t feel that close. He swallows, and hopes this doesn’t affect Jesse.

“Can you stop?” Jesse asks low, as if he was afraid Gabriel wouldn’t.

When Gabriel does, he sees the picture, two agents taking Jesse, one by his shoulders, the other by his legs. Jesse doesn’t speak, so Gabriel speeds up the feed again, but he lets it play normally shortly after, when Deadlock members enter the Bunker. They’re bloody, and angry, insulting and cursing at Overwatch, and demanding to know where McCree is. They go up to Nieves’ room, and also curse his name before they leave.

There’s a jump, and then Leo appears on the screen, already inside the Bunker. The analysis come up, confirming he is Leo. He settles his laptop on a table and starts typing before his phone rings and he gets a call. He says where he is and that he has had no word from Devon or Mal, so he assumes they’re either dead or in prison. There isn’t much to go by, he speaks short words, ‘yes’ and ‘no’. From what Gabriel gathers, someone else will be coming, most likely from Deadlock. They make a meeting in less than two weeks from when the video was recorded, just five days from now.

“He was Leo all along,” Jesse says as he meets his gaze when the video stops. “It was up to the day before the heist.”

Gabriel nods because he had also read it. It never seemed to have changed, not even the day before the heist.

“I think he’s plannin’ to get the band back together, what was left of it.”

Gabriel stands as he types on his tablet. “I’ll get a team ready to go.”

“Am I on that team?” Jesse asks, getting to his feet.

“McCree, I can’t send you yet.”

“Morrison was right,” Jesse starts as he shakes his head lightly, as if he wasn’t believing it himself he said it. “You can’t send a team down there, especially when we know more Deadlock will come by. If I go in alone—”

“No chance.”

“What? Nieves is coming with me?” Jesse joked. “Deadlock knows what ya did, commander. They won’t hesitate shootin’ ya at the first chance they get. And me neither if they see us together.”

Gabriel swallows. Jesse looks ready to go back down there and face the old days of his life, and what kind of commander would Reyes be if he didn’t let his agents grow? If Morrison gave the okay to send him, he had no other excuse. “Alright. We’ll be leaving tonight.”

Jesse nodded and a smile twitched up on his lips.

M c C r e e

The plan wasn’t that complicated. McCree’s job was to go in the Bunker, talk to Leo, and that’ll be the end of his part. Leo’s reaction would determine if Blackwatch intervenes sooner, or later. Meanwhile, the team would position themselves around the Bunker. Reyes would talk with McCree through it all in case he needed a guide, but McCree reassured him he knew how to handle Leo.

As for the cowboy, he was dressed as casually as he could. A leather jacket a size bigger to hide the muscles, and ripped jeans. His story was that Nieves had kept him locked in his apartment during the day of the big heist, and he was caught, but fled when a few Deadlock members ambushed them on the van on their way to prison. Since then he has roamed around the city, and checked on the Bunker a few times.

“Alright, McCree,” Gabriel says through the comm in Jesse’s ear four days later, when Jesse is back on Alta Vista Street, where a city in Santa Fe resided and hid the Bunker underneath. “Leo is inside already, no one else has come so far.”

“Got it,” McCree replies, entering the alley, and facing the wall of wood planks with the same faded painting of the woman with the smoothie.

“Our goal is to get information, and hopefully, catch some of these guys today.”

McCree swallowed his words. He would not ask about Leo. After all, Leo also ran that day and allowed his brother to die instead. Before that, he had done his fair share of crimes, and instead of walking away, he came back. He had a second chance and didn’t even use it. Gabriel wouldn’t look kindly into that.

McCree passed through the broken plank and made it down the stairs. His skin prickled with memories that feel happened years ago, but less than a year ago he went down this same path, right into Reyes arms, and came out into a different world.

He shakes his head, shaking away anything that might give away his cover. He smiles and tries the door, but it’s locked. He gives it a knock and waits. Leo opens and peaks through a gap before the door widens. “Jesse?”

“Leo?” McCree asks, pretending he’s seeing his old friend, and lover, for the first time. “You’re okay?”

“So are you.” It’s more of an observation that doesn’t come with happiness. “Heard you fled.”

McCree shakes his head, a little saddened. “I screwed up, I won’t lie. Nieves played me like a fiddle.”

“He fooled all of us,” Leo says, looking at McCree from head to toe. McCree is suddenly aware of his physique, and wonders if Leo notices something too different. But he steps aside and allows him in.

“He locked me in here,” McCree said and turned around to face Leo. He had to act like he had seen the Bunker during the last eight months. Like he didn’t notice half the bottles of liquor were gone, and there were some broken glasses on the floor. “We had some beers n’then he took me up to his apartment. When I woke up, I was taken by Overwatch to be interrogated.”

“You ran after the van was intercepted,” Leo finishes for McCree. “Martin said you had abandoned us for Nieves.”

Jesse chuckles. “And where did that get me? On the same van he was, on our way to prison.”

“You were lucky,” Leo comments, before biting a nail.

“So are ya. I knew they had taken some of us, n’few escaped.” Jesse shakes his head and blows air out of his mouth. “I imagined the worst for the rest.”

Leo nods and steps closer. “They slaughtered them.”

McCree closes his eyes and looks away. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there. I should’ve known better.”

Leo laughs as he walks behind the bar. Though McCree knows he should look at him, he really trusts Leo won’t do anything to him, at least not now. After the shuffling of ice, Leo returns with two beers and hands one to McCree.

“What have you been up to?” Leo asks, sitting behind his laptop. From what McCree can see, he only carries a back-pack, but no visible weapon.

“Mostly stayed around.” McCree uncaps the bottle and takes the first sip. “Came in here a few times, hopin’ someone would show up, but never stayed long.”

“I’ve been coming here for a week or so,” Leo responds. “But also don’t stay for long.”

“Do you know about Devon? Mal?”

“Last I’ve heard Devon was dead,” Leo replies and shuts the laptop. “Mal is in prison.”

“Can’t say I’m sad ‘bout that,” McCree says honestly, while Leo tilts his head at him, a gaze that scolds him, but he ends up laughing.

“I’m glad t’see ya. I was missin’ yer face, to be honest. N’like I said, I imagined the worst, even fer ya.”

Leo licks his lips before he rushes to his feet and, before Jesse can react, he kisses the cowboy. When Leo pulls away, he has a grin on his lips. “Can’t say I haven’t thought of you too.”

McCree looks away, though he is flattered for real, he exaggerates the embarrassment.

“There are a few of us meeting here, but feel free to stick around. I could use the company.”

“Really?” McCree questions as he stands. “What for?”

“For whatever you want, cowboy.”

McCree chuckles. “Wouldn’t say no to that, but I meant about the others comin’ here.”

“Yeah, I managed to get in contact with them.”

“To celebrate bein’ alive or somethin’?” McCree drank from his beer and he saw how Leo ponders telling him. He recognizes the look when Leo used to go on big runs after using McCree for a few moments of pleasure. When Jesse asked to go along, Leo tried to hide as much as he could from him.

“We gonna bust Mal out.”

McCree can’t help scoffing. “Why?”

“He’s the only one in a high rank that we know where he is.”

“So? He wasn’t much of a leader type, to be honest.”

“Oh, and you are?”

“Easy, McCree,” Gabriel says in his ear.

“No, but do you think he won’t sell us out now that Deadlock is smaller?” Jesse asks Leo, pointing his hand at the door. “Or run at the first sign of trouble?”

Leo brushes a hand over his face. “Look, I know you and he didn’t get along, but he’s the best we’ve got.”

“Why don’t ya just start over? Put new people in the lead.”

“Do you know how hard that will be? Everyone’s gonna fight to be that person, we’ll end up being enemies more than allies. Trust me, it will be better if someone who already knows how to handle things takes over.”

McCree thinks about it and shrugs. “Yer right.” After another thought, McCree continues, “Have you heard from Crossed Bones?”

Leo nods and answers, “Bigger numbers nowadays.”

“They still want Mal’s head?”

Leo’s gaze shifts to cold, a stern look that Jesse hasn’t seen in a long time. “You’re saying to give them Mal?”

“Bargaining chip,” McCree corrects. “It can be a peace offering, or somethi’ like that. Do you know how much Deadlock would look up to ya if ya finally get our biggest competition out of the way?”

“They won’t stay away for long, McCree, and you know that.”

“But it’ll be enough time to gather forces.” McCree placed a hand on Leo’s shoulder. “They must know we’re weak, we can’t fully recover with enemies like Crossed Bones looming over us. We need a head start, n’when the time comes, let us be the first to stab Crossed Bones.”

Leo scoffs. ““We”? “Us”? Are you saying you wanna be a part of this again?”

McCree tells himself he does. “I do, if ya let me.”

“Are you asking me for permission, cowboy?”

“If things go right, I might have to answer to ya, won’t I?” McCree cocks his head and smile slyly. He looks at Leo like nothing had changed, as if they were about to fall into bed like they did many times before.

“It’ll be different this time, McCree, I promise.” Leo is serious, placing a hand on McCree’s neck and the cowboy’s chest sinks with pressure.  “You’ll be beside me in rank, and once they hear you help me, they’ll have no choice but to listen to you.”

McCree smiles back, if he were the younger, more naive McCree, he would have been thrilled. And he would believe Leo.

“We got a few minutes to spare before the others come,” Leo says as he looks at his watch. “Wanna rekindle the old flame?”

McCree bites his lips, Leo is still handsome, and he’s sure he still knows how to treat McCree. “As long as yer ready for round two once everybody leaves.” McCree trembles when Leo’s hands find his skin under the jacket and loose shirt. “Because I’ve missed ya.”

McCree tries not to think of his commander listening to the smack of their lips. But it doesn’t help when the thought of him listening gets a moan out of his mouth.

“McCree, this doesn’t need to go for long,” Gabriel says, jolting Jesse at his voice. “Taylor and Rainer spotted members at the end of the street.”

“Wanna take this upstairs?” Leo asks.

“Sure, pumpkin,” McCree responds, both to Leo and Reyes.

The couple kisses up the stairs and while Leo’s eyes are closed, McCree can’t help but look at the hallway. He had pictured this differently, even the last time he went up with Nieves leading the way. The apartment is almost the same, but they don’t linger for much since their goal is the bed. McCree falls on it first, and Leo crowds him with more kisses as his hands already work on Jesse’s pants.

“We got two,” Gabriel says.

McCree hums in appreciation as Leo palms at his hardening groin. “Shit.”

McCree tries to stall, he keeps Leo’s hands from going further than that, and even fidgets with Leo’s zipper. This wasn’t part of the plan, and last thing he needs is getting a scolding for going off script.

“Leo?” A call from downstairs stops them.

“They’re here,” Leo hisses and curses. “We’ll continue after, alright?”

McCree grins. “Better not keep them waitin’ then.”

“Stay here, I don’t know how they’ll react at seeing you.”

McCree nods and they part with one last kiss.

Leo fixes himself and heads downstairs while McCree also makes himself look decent and calms himself to cease his aroused dick. He hears footsteps after a moment, and makes his way to the living room.

“Getting lucky on the job, huh?” Lance teases and nods back at the door. “It’s done.”

And McCree actually smiles back.

Even if Jesse’s glad he did well on his first mission, even if it was nothing of high risk, he can’t take the look of Leo’s betrayal out of his mind. The other members spat and called him names as they were cuffed and held by Blackwatch agents. But at the end of the lane, Reyes waited for him. At first, McCree couldn’t look at him in the eyes until Reyes patted his shoulder and said how well of a job he had done. The embarrassment and doubts were lifted.

Even so, McCree found himself in the depths of the pool from the hotel they were staying. It was late, and he was thankful for the solitude, it made the experience even better. Under the water, he heard nothing, and saw nothing but the luminescence of the pool lights and the blue of the walls. Every sound around him is muted, more like muffled. His body feels numb, even if he can control it. And he loves the thrill and burning in his lungs before he swims up the surface in a gasp for air.

“You alright, vaquero?”

McCree pushes his hair away from his face and sees Gabriel standing by the edge, still in his pants and usual hoodie, opened and almost off his shoulders.

“Yeah,” McCree responds and stays swimming on the spot, not knowing what to do.

“Had me worried for a second,” Gabriel says as he pulls his hoodie up again. “Almost jumped in to save your ass.”

McCree laughs low. “I wouldn’t mind swallowing some water if it meant receiving mouth to mouth from ya, boss.”

Gabriel doesn’t answer, only rolls his eyes, but bears a smile. “You sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah,” McCree says, and he believes it’s true. “For the most part. I mean, my first mission went well, right?”

Gabriel nods. “It did. Reported to Jack as well.”

“Is he amazed?”

“He is.”

“That makes it all better.” McCree swims back. “Why don’t you join in? Water’s mighty fine.”

“Some other time,” Gabriel replies. “Just came out for a smoke and saw you getting in, and not out.”

“Sorry ‘bout that. I just like it down there.”

“As long as you come back up safe.”

“Always,” McCree assures him and swims a lap, when he stops, Gabriel is sitting in one of the beach chairs, smoking. The embers at the end reflect on his eyes in the dim lighting of the night. Images like these make it harder for Jesse to ignore Reyes’ beauty.

“We gotta talk about what you did, McCree.”

McCree freezes, and doesn’t meet his eyes.

“It wasn’t bad, but you did went off the plan.”

“I know.” McCree swims to the edge. “But I knew that would distract him. It’s like what we did at the cruise party, remember?”

Reyes looks back at him from his cigar. “I do, but we aren’t Deadlock. We keep our agents safe, and comfortable.”

“I was comfortable,” Jesse says, crossing his arms at the edge. “I had to do what I had to do, but I’m sorry I went off.”

“I’m not saying things will always go smoothly on missions. There are time we have to improvise, but don’t take as big a risk as what you did. Leo could have harmed you if he found out what we were up to.”

“I understand, sir. I’ll be more careful next time.”

Reyes nods and taps the cigar to get rid of the ashes. “Speaking of next time, Jack gave you the clear. Probation’s over, vaquero.”

McCree’s mouth falls open, and remains speechless.

“I pointed out pinning you between Deadlock and Blackwatch was good enough of a test, and he agreed. I know you could have come up with a way to run or tell Leo, but you remained with us, Jesse. Besides that, I saw you have way more talent in you than just shooting. You belong in the field, by my side, and with the rest of Blackwatch.”

“Sir…” McCree trails off, not sure how to follow.

“The decision is yours, of course. You choose to stay on probation for the remaining months, or join us now as an official Blackwatch agent.”

“Are ya kiddin’? Of course I’ll accept!”

The smile Gabriel gives him is so warm, Jesse is sure he’s melting his chest.

“Glad to hear it.” Reyes stands. “Don’t stay up to late, we’ll be leaving at five.”

“Yessir,” McCree salutes before Reyes nods and walks away. He hears him say “Agent Stones,” and Jesse perks up.

Sure enough, Alice is walking to Jesse after saluting the commander. Jesse pushes himself out of the pool and sits at the edge of the pool. Alice laughs at his wet jeans, the same he wore to meet Leo. She took off her shoes and sat by his side to stick her bare legs in the water. “You did good, rookie.” She elbows him and he elbows back.

“More than ya did, if I recall.” Stones had been ordered to go undercover as a civilian with another agent as they walked around the bookstore near the Bunker. Not much was required from them when the rest of the team managed to find the gang members before it got too violent. “Yer ass must hurt from sittin’ around all day.”

“Keep going like that and yours will hurt too.”

“Is that a promise?” Jesse says with a provocative tone as he grinned.

“If you let me buy you dinner first,” Alice counters with a wink.

“What kind of gentleman would I be if I let ya pay?” Jesse teases, because he doesn’t know if it’s a joke, or if she is in fact asking him out.

“The kind that doesn’t put women into a stereotype.”

“Fair enough.” He nods and lets out an awkward laugh.

“But what do you say?” She asks, chewing on her lip and Jesse can tell she’s letting her guard down. She’s just as unsure as he is.

“Sure,” he finally says. “Where to, m’lady?”

“Saturday. There’s a restaurant in town I like to go, and I think you’ll like too.”

“I’ll take yer word for it.”

“Have I ever lead you wrong?” Alice asks, cocking her head and half a smile on her lips.

“Not yet,” he admits and notices they’re closer than before. Yet, they don’t move and the silence that follows is quite comfortable. It’s nice to sit there by the pool and swing their legs in the water. Like teenagers on a river, after a long day at a park or someplace nice together. Jesse gets a feeling in his gut that’s different than before. Different than when he’s with Reyes. And for now, he decides it is best to forget that feeling and focus in the one new one.

Chapter Text

M c C r e e

Jesse scopes in with the sniper rifle again and scouts the planes of the Ilios ruins. No trouble yet. Even in the night, the little breeze that blows is warm as summer comes to an end, and Jesse can taste the salty sea in the back of his throat. The waves crash into the rocks below from where he’s set up, making the only sound in the area.

“Anything?” Alice asks, hiding behind the broken wall by his side. They’re located on the roof, or what could be the second floor of a building, destroyed long ago, with broken walls and pillars.

“Not yet,” Jesse replies, pulling away from the riffle. After a year under Ana’s wing, the weapon no longer feels like it will turn on him. His grip is steady and his aim is good. Good enough for him to be the only sniper Gabriel sent on this team of four. Lance is also present, but Gabriel still gave it to Jesse, knowing he could do it. “Sorry I had to cancel our date.”

“No worries, I got plans too,” Alice says with a smile and Jesse chuckles.

“South’s clear.”

“Jesus, Nina!” Jesse says, hand on his chest when Gabriel’s second in command and head of this team, Nina Baez, appears from the shadows.

Her specialty is stealth, and she’s damn good at it.

Dressed in all black, with her brown hair braided, she sits by Alice. They hear groaning and look at Lance, who comes up with difficulty compared to Nina.

“West cleared,” he says once he’s on one knee in front of Nina.

“We keep waiting,” Nina says, shifting to one knee as well, having a good posture to run if needed.

“I spy with my little eye—”

“Is it the ocean?” Lance interrupts Jesse.

“Ruins?” Alice suggests.

“We should keep quiet,” Nina says, and points at Jesse, “Ropes?”

“Yes,” Jesse says because he’s afraid of Baez when she’s in her gear.

“Dang,” Alice complains and half of it is drowned by a helicopter.

“They’re here,” Nina points out and pulls up the hood of her jacket. “Let’s get into position.”

Alice nods and Nina jumps off their spot. “Good luck.”

“Thanks, you too,” Jesse replies and watches her go.

“You know, it’s kinda like we’re in a double date.”

Jesse scoffs, positioning his rifle on the part of a wall he had it propped on before. “You and Nina? Please.”

“Are you saying she’s too good for me?”

Jesse raises an eyebrow when Lance’s tone is too defensive. “Nah, it’s just rank and all. I don’t know what she thinks about that when it comes to dating an agent.”

“Well,” Lance pauses, “It could happen.”

Jesse looks at the helicopter landing, blowing leaves, ripping vines that had grown from ruin to ruin and causing smoke from the dust. “I don’t think this is the right time—”

“Forget about it,” Lance says and hurries out of Jesse’s spot to take his own, a little closer to Alice and Nina.

Jesse knows it’s best to leave it for later and scopes into the rifle, keeping an eye on the four gang members that get off the helicopter. Only the pilot the remains inside, who is sitting almost still, ready for the hit and run. The other members will set up bombs on parts of the ruins, and be off. That was the plan Blackwatch intercepted. It’s all to terrorize Ilios, and damage a historical landscape.

Jesse sees Lance, already up on another broken building, aiming his weapon. He also spots Nina because she wants Jesse to see her. She snuck up on a pillar, out of view from the gang members. Alice isn’t in his line of sight, which is good. If he can see her, it means the enemies will as well.

The rifle’s sights point at the pilot’s head and Jesse lowers it to his neck, a more difficult spot to hit, but it’s under Gabriel’s orders. They will only tranquilize him, shortening the window of escape for the others. If they put up a fight, then Blackwatch is allowed to answer.

Jesse inhales and exhales.

“Breath,” he says as he hears Gabriel’s voice in the wind telling him the same.

He shoots, the glass breaks and the pilot’s head falls on the dashboard.

The other members are alerted by the hit and raise their weapons. Nina drops on one as Alice comes behind another and holds him by the neck. Jesse turns on the laser on his rifle and aims it at the head of  one of the two, and he imagines Lance does the same to the other since the target stays in place. After some arguing from the gang, they get on their knees, except for one.

Through his comm, Jesse hears one screaming “it’s not worth it!” as the one still standing searches through his bag. Jesse shoots him before he can get too deep, and the mission is a success.

They return to the city of Ilios, and to the motel they’re staying at. Baez calls Reyes and gets the okay to enjoy the rest of the night until they’re picked up in the morning. A lightbulb goes off in Jesse’s head when the girls leave for their room.

“Got any fancy clothes?”

Lance looks at him, puzzled. “You do know what Reyes means when he says ‘if it’s necessary, take them out,’ right?”

“Not them, Baez! Let’s do a real double date.”

Lance shakes his head. “Not happening.”

“You heard her, she and Alice are probably gonna get some room service and watch movies. She’s wide awake, and we’re in Ilios, one of the most beautiful places on earth.” Jesse walks to the window, placing his hands on his hips as he admires the view of the ocean and the lighthouse’s beacon passing over it.

“You said it yourself, what if rank bothers her?” Lance asks. “Besides, she’s a few years older.”

“And?” Jesse asks, nonchalantly. “Didn’t stop yer crush.”

Lance crosses his arms and curls his lips.

“It’s one date, I’m not sayin’ ya’ll should marry. But trust me, I have a feelin’ she won’t say no.”

“Why?”

Jesse shrugs. He doesn’t know if he actually feels it, or it’s just really high hopes for his friend. Either way, he doesn’t say it’s the latter. “I just know. Like I said, Ilios, beautiful place, and there are two beautiful, lovely n’ deadly ladies on the next room. What do you say?”

Lance still doesn’t answer, he scratches his head and sighs. Someone knocks on the door and Jesse goes to answer. Lance is close behind when he opens the door and reveals Alice and Nina, already in casual clothes.

“Would you two beautiful guys be interested in explorin’ the most beautiful place in the world?” Alice says, mocking Jesse’s accent.

Jesse looks from her to Nina.

“Your comm’s on,” Nina says, arms crossed and half a smirk on her lips.

Jesse looks back at Lance as he takes off his ear piece and laughs. “Turns out for the better.”

Lance’s cheeks are flushed, and he says nothing as he turns towards the bathroom to get ready, at least that’s what Jesse thinks. It’s that or to bash his head against the door and damn Jesse to hell.

At least the date goes smoothly, for Jesse. Alice and McCree are past that awkward stage, and they’re comfortable holding hands. Meanwhile, Nina and Lance are like a train wreck he can’t look away from. Lance stumbles on his words more than Jesse has heard him since they met. And Nina seems to forget how to walk as she trips on smooth floors. When it comes to more intimate or romantic approaches, she’s more defensive about it. Lance tries to put his arm around her, and she steps aside. Another time he offers to share a milkshake, and she says she simply doesn’t want one, even though she expressed desire for the dessert before.

At the end of the night, Alice and Jesse share a kiss at the door frame of her room and part ways.

“You’re sleeping on the couch,” Lance says as soon as Jesse enters their room.

“There’re two beds,” Jesse points out.

“I’m using yours for my luggage. You’re not getting anywhere near me tonight.”

“C’mon now!” Jesse walks towards the beds, and Lance throws his backpack on Jesse’s bed. “It wasn’t that bad.”

“It’s obvious she’s not interested.”

“It doesn’t mean it was a complete failure,” Jesse says and sits on the edge of the bed. “You got to know her more. And we got to see Ilios. Or would you have rather stayed in this room?” There’s nothing from Lance as Jesse changes his shirt. “She could have said no. We didn’t have to know they listened. But she came along. That’s a good sign.”

Lance looks out the window. “Maybe.”

“It’s not as bad as ya think, trust me.” Jesse stands and starts unbuttoning his plaid shirt. “Ya just need sleep. You’ll see it in a better light in the mornin’.”

McCree walks towards the bathroom, and stops with his hand on the doorknob when Lance says, “Thanks.”

“No problem.”

Jesse sits on the shuttle, ready for liftoff, with Alice on his left, and Lance on his right. They’re laughing over one of Lance’s puns when Nina comes over, back in Blackwatch gear like them, and hair in a bun. “Strap in, agents. We’re ready for take-off.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the three of them say and pull the seat belts on.

“Agent Taylor.” Though she calls for Lance, Jesse can’t help being nosey and looks as well. “Is this spot taken?”

Jesse looks at Alice who’s holding on a laugh.

“Go ahead, ma’am,” Lance says, nervous as his fingers fumble with the belt.

Baez sits down like a robot, like she’s programmed or had rehearsed sitting down all morning. Once they’re all buckled up, the shuttle starts taking flight, and Lance and Nina talk all the way back to base.

When they arrive, Jesse takes his time showering, eating a snack and writing his report before he goes on his way to Gabriel’s office. He raises his hand to knock, but the door slides open before he gets the chance.

“Baez,” Jesse greets.

“Agent McCree,” she says, quite serious, before she walks away.

“Come in, Jesse,” Gabriel calls from inside and Jesse enters.

“Everythin’ alright?” Jesse asks, standing in front of Gabriel’s desk.

“Yeah, Baez was just dropping off her report.” A huff comes out of him. “She was also telling me of your night out.”

“Did she now?” Jesse asks, shifting on his feet. “We behaved.”

“Surprisingly, you did.”

“Hey!”

Gabriel chuckles and extends his hand. “Your report?”

“Yessir.” Jesse hands in the sheet of paper. “So, did she say anythin’ else?”

“Yes, she says Taylor has dreamy eyes and a smile that melts her heart.”

Jesse scoffs. “She did not.”

“Of course not.” Gabriel stands to look for something in the cabinets behind.

“They could be together, right?” The commander turns back to Jesse’s question. “If they wanted.”

“Why are you asking for them?” Gabriel sits back down with a folder in hand. “She already did.”

“She did?”

Gabriel nods. “Ask for permission. It’s fine if both become something, as long as they fill out the paperwork for the higher ups. As far as I know, she’s not helping him in any special way to get him a higher rank and he’s not using it as an opportunity for that, even if their thing is new.”

“So it’s fine?”

“Yeah.” Gabriel raises an eyebrow. “Don’t worry, Stones won’t be promoted any time soon.”

Jesse laughs and leans back. “Was just curious, that’s all. I remembered I asked a while back.”

Gabriel doesn’t say anything at first, just shuffles through the papers on his desk. “I remember now.”

There’s silence after that, and Jesse wonders if he should have mentioned it at all. It was obvious back then he was asking for that little side of him that had any hope Gabriel would see him as something more than an agent. And asking now seems kind of unfair to Alice. Jesse has been with her for six months, there shouldn’t be any lingering thoughts about Gabriel, and yet—

“Up for a quick job in town?”

“What?” Jesse asks and sees Gabriel typing something on his phone.

“I could use your new sniping skills. I have an old friend of mine who’s being blackmailed, and he’s paying a ransom for the evidence. The blackmailer moved the meeting to today.”

“What did he do that’s worth blackmailing?”

“He was a different man in the past, so he did some stupid stuff. Nothing more than human mistakes; nothing illegal. But the blackmailer caught him in pictures and videos and now he’s threatening to release them to my friend’s colleagues. I’ll need Kimura as well. He can hack into the man’s phone and make sure all evidence is gone.”

“How do we know he won’t lie or have it anywhere else?”

“That’s where you come in.” Gabriel stands and pockets his phone. “Think you can handle it?”

“If ya say I can, I can.”

“Good answer.”

R e y e s

Gabriel, Kimura and Jesse arrive at a park in town. All three are dressed in casual clothes, and Kimura holds a messenger bag with what he needs to hack into the blackmailer’s computer. He and Jesse sit on a bench with a guitar case, while Gabriel keeps an eye out for his friend. Once he sees him, he waves.

A handsome man with brown hair, also in casual clothes, reaches them. They shake hands as Kimura and McCree stand.

“This is Vincent,” Gabriel introduces him to his agents. “Agents Kimura and McCree.”

“Nice to meet you,” Vincent says and shakes both of his hands.

“It’s a pleasure,” Kimura says. “I thought you were still in the states.”

“Sadly no, they want to keep me there for another two months. But I have a week off--a miracle, if you ask me.”

“Do you work for Blackwatch?” McCree asks.

“Overwatch,” Vincent replies.

“And how do you know the commander?”

“He’s a friend,” Vincent says, but his smile says something more, and Gabriel can’t help laughing. “Thanks for helping me out.”

“I feel like I’m missin’ somethin’. Were you two friends?”

“No, Jesse,” Gabriel says.

“But I’m friends with Jack.”

“Oh,” Jesse says, “Oh!”

Gabriel rolls his eyes as Vincent laughs lightly.

“El rubito tiene buen gusto, [blondie has good tastes]” Jesse says as he looks at Vincent from head to toe.

“Gracias, pienso que yo también escogí bien, ¿no? [Thank you, I think I chose well too, no?]” Vincent says, more with a Spanish accent as he strongly pronounces the S’s.

Jesse’s mouth goes into a thin line.

“He was living in Madrid for a few years before he was recruited,” Gabriel explains. “But we’re not here for that. So listen,” Gabriel says to Kimura and McCree, and they step closer to him. “Vincent is going to give the money to the blackmailers. Once he goes back to his hotel room, I will intervene. Jesse, you will be on the building across from the hotel, ready to aim at him. Just let the target know you’re watching.”

“Got it.”

“And Kimura, as soon as you can, get into his devices and make sure all evidence involving Vincent is gone.”

“Understood. Permission to set up now? It might take some time,” Kimura suggests.

“Permission granted.”

Kimura nods at the commander before walking away, knowing already which hotel the target is in since they had gone through it on the way to the park.

“Need me to do anything?”

“Act normal. You give him the money, and take a drive. That’s it. I know you can keep calm in situations like this.”

“If he’s dating Jack, he must be the most patient person in the world,” Jesse jokes.

“McCree,” Gabriel says, partly a warning.

Vincent huffs. “Jack has mentioned you.”

“Aw, that’s sweet of him.”

“Trust me, you’re as much of a pain in his ass as he is in yours.”

McCree frowns. “It’s all in good fun, though, right?”

Vincent looks at Gabriel with a smirk and winks before he leaves. Jesse looks at Gabriel for an answer, and Gabriel only shakes his head before passing by him to set up.

Gabriel looks through their target’s belongings and gets a real name: Steven Harrison. Through the comms, Kimura let’s Gabriel know he has hacked into Harrison’s files and finds a copy of the evidence on Vincent that was supposed to be deleted. Gabriel’s jaw tenses as he hears it and tells Kimura to delete all of it.

“Target’s goin’ up,” McCree says in Gabriel’s earpiece.

“Copy.”

The door opens a minute later and Steven enters the room. He drops his key card on the dining table and rushes into the bedroom to count the bills in the paper bag Vincent gave him.

“That’s a lot of cash.”

Harrison is startled as he turns and fidgets into his back pocket.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Gabriel says and looks at Harrison’s chest. A red dot is placed there, and when he looks, it goes up to his forehead.

“What do you want?”

“The money you took from my friend.”

“That has nothing to do with you.”

“I don’t care about the past you two have,” Gabriel says, standing up. “But this is the present, and I do care for his safety. Someone who’s willing to blackmail him, ask for money, and still have a copy of those files gives me bad vibes, you get me?”

“I told him I deleted it all,” Steve lies. His right eye twitches twice.

“I have reason to believe that’s bullshit.”

“Would you really kill someone for that?” Steve asks, trying to smirk. “You’d take that risk? Go to jail over nothing, or walk away.”

“The only one that could go to jail, is you.” Gabriel gives a few steps closer and Steve flinches. His eyes look up to his forehead, trying to spot the red dot. “Unless you delete everything and give me the money.”

“I told you, there’s nothing left on him!” Steve insists.

“All files are clear, sir,” Kimura says. “I also found some… inappropriate photos belonging to a girl that looks way too young.” Gabriel grimaces as he looks back at Steve.

“I changed my mind. You won’t leave this hotel room unless it’s in handcuffs.”

“What?! Are you a cop or something? I already did my part. Your friend won’t be bothered any longer.”

“Like I would believe you.”

Steve opens his mouth to protest, but it seems he decides on another method. Gabriel counts the seconds it takes him to raise his gun. But it takes a millisecond for him to hit the ground.

Gabriel crouches down and checks Steve’s neck. A small dart sits right under the edge of his hair and over the collar of his jacket.

“Good shot, McCree.”

“Thanks,” McCree says, serious.

“Kimura, send an anonymous tip to the police.”

“Already did, sir.”

“Good job, both of you. Is Vincent with you?”

“Yes, sir,” Kimura replies.

Gabriel stands and looks down at Steve, lightly snoring on the floor. “ … we’re done here.”

The sun is setting as Gabriel sits on the same park bench he met Vincent at. He takes a moment to breath in the fresh air along with the delicious smells coming from the restaurant across the street. A cozy spot for lovers to meet in dim lighting, with glasses of wine and adventures to share or promises to make.

“Gabe?” Gabriel smiles to the concerned voice of Jack approaching him. “Are you alright?”

“Yes,” Gabriel says and frowns at Jack’s outfit. He’s just wearing a polo and dark jeans. “That’s how you’re dressing up for your date?”

Jack looks puzzled and a little upset. “You told me there was an emergency.”

“Oh,” Gabriel says, as if he forgot. He had called Jack to ask for his help on a secret emergency mission both needed to be undercover for. “No, I’m fine.”

“I have a speech to prepare,” Jack reminds him.

Gabriel shrugs and looks at the restaurant. “Practice on him.” Gabriel points at the lonely guy sitting by the window with his arms folded over the table and a gentle smile as he looks at him. “Though I think he’s already miserable enough.”

“Gabe,” Jack sighs. “He didn’t tell me he was back, and I—” He stops, looking down at his light blue polo and dark jeans. “I look—”

“Fine,” Gabriel stands. “You look fine. And do you think he cares?”

Jack shoves him lightly. “Why didn’t you just say it was a date?”

“In my defense I did say we needed to be fancy civilians.”

Jack looks away, and he can’t contain his smile. “I was worried. I didn’t think it was about Vincent. We just talked last night. He didn’t mention anything about coming over here.”

“Surprise,” Gabriel says, crossing his arms. “Why are you wasting time with me? He’s waiting for you, blondie.”

Jack huffs and looks at Vincent then back at Gabriel. “Thank you.”

“Any time,” Gabriel smiles and steps out of the way.

Jack fixes his shirt and dusts off his shoulder to which Gabriel rolls his eyes. “Need me to take your hand, princess?”

“Shut up,” Jack mumbles as he smiles and finally moves to cross the street.

Gabriel sits back down to witness the show of Jack entering the restaurant and embracing Vincent. Though Gabriel smiles, and is happy for Jack, as well as for Vincent for dealing with his problem, he can’t help feeling empty as he watches them sit together. Jack talks with his hands, moving them and fixing the table cloth even though it is neatly flat. Vincent watches him as he goes on and on, probably telling him a million things. Gabriel is sure one of them is, “I can’t believe Gabriel didn’t tell me.”

“That was sweet,” Gabriel looks over his shoulder at Jesse. He follows him with his gaze as he sits beside him, with a cigar between his lips.

“Thought you were back at base,” Gabriel recalls. He had sent him and Kimura back a while ago.

“Yeah, but I had nothing else to do,” Jesse says, looking at the couple as he blows smoke into the air. “Así que el rubito tiene corazón?” [So blondie has a heart?]

“Y esta tomado por un buen hombre,” [And it’s taken by a great man] Gabriel adds.

“Y bonito,” [and pretty] Jesse sucks on the cigar and releases more smoke. “So he’s away a lot?”

“Quite so,” Gabriel replies. “Vincent has qualities that the UN likes to see on the move a lot. And he and Jack aren’t exactly public, at least to the UN. I didn’t even know they became official until six months after it happened, when Fareeha saw them kiss and told me. Even after I set them up a few times.” Gabriel scoffs, shaking his head. “Very few know now, and we keep it quiet.”

“How come? We were just talking ‘bout relationships at base,” Jesse points out, placing one leg over the other knee. “Shouldn’t they be fine as long as the paperwork is done?”

“Is not that easy for the Strike Commander,” Gabriel replies. “People talk, not just agents. He’s the UN’s pretty, poster boy. They…” Gabriel trails off. “They want to sell a certain fantasy, too.”

“Ah,” Jesse says and shakes his head. “That’s messed up.”

“It is,” Gabriel agrees, frowning as he looks away from Jack and Vincent. “Jack thinks is better to keep them a secret for now. And sadly, he’s with someone as good as his job as he is. Vincent is a great agent. That is why Jack can’t deny Petras when he orders for Vincent to go somewhere. He did, at first, but ran out of excuses when things started to settle down.”

“But with some time now as a couple, they could at least let the UN know, right?”

“It’s up to them, and how they think Petras will take it.”

“What do you think?”

Gabriel thinks about it for a moment. “I think they should say something. Jack could use that worry off his shoulders. He might not get to see him often still, but he won’t have to act like they don’t share a bed whenever Vincent comes over.”

“Yeah, must be hard for them,” Jesse starts as he throws the cigar to the floor and stamps it with his boot. “The rare times they can be together, they have to pretend they don’t love each other. Can’t imagine what that’s like.”

“Does this mean you’ll take it easy on Jack?”

Jesse chuckles. “Hell no.”

Gabriel also laughs softly. “Didn’t think so. I’d miss the fun.”

“Me too,” Jesse says and Gabriel waits for something, but he doesn’t know what it is.

They continue looking at Jack and Vincent, who are currently ordering. Jack catches them looking and both wave to him. In return, Jack flips them off.

Gabriel huffs. “The thanks I get for reuniting him with his boyfriend.” He taps Jesse’s shoulder and gets up. “Let’s get out of here.”

“After you, boss.” Gabriel walks first, but Jesse must have stayed admiring the restaurant a while longer as Gabriel hears him say, a little further back, “Seems like a good place to bring Alice.”

Gabriel doesn’t know why, but something bothers him when he talks to Jesse over the following weeks. Is not him, is not that Jesse is being disrespectful or turning into the worst agent ever. It’s just something that is missing when he and Jesse are alone in his office with work or between missions and briefings. Even with comms it feels like Jesse will continue, but he doesn’t. He shuts up after a “yessir,” “got it,” “copy,” and the other usual communication codes.

It comes to Gabriel when he’s on the spot of the roof he had been with Jesse before. He leans on the railings, with one hand pinching the bridge of his nose while the other holds a cigar. All this time and he couldn’t figure out it was the stupid pet names.

He had grown accustomed to hearing them after certain comments and teasing. And Jesse had stopped using them on him. Why? Because he had someone else to say them to. Gabriel never thought he would miss such small things like a pet name given to him by one of his agents. Nevermind one he had picked up from a band of criminals, when he was a bratty smartass.

“Found ya.” The said agent startles Gabriel as he appears from behind. “I was lookin’ fer ya.”

“Must be really bored.”

“Won’t lie, kinda am.” Jesse joins him by the railings, almost in the same positions as Gabriel. “Lance and Nina are together, Mitzy and Alice are away on a mission. Took the chance to come ask ya somethin’.”

“Ask away.” Gabriel straightens.

“Got any more work left fer me tomorrow?”

Gabriel raises an eyebrow as he pulls out his mental calendar, but can’t recall having any missions or events Jesse would like to hide away in Gabriel’s office from. “Can’t say right now, why?”

Jesse shrugs, straightening instead and crossing his arms. “Just realized, I made it through a year here.”

Gabriel takes a moment to recall, and he’s right. October of the year before Jesse was only two months in his probation, learning to work in a team with Lance, and getting better with Ana, as well as getting to know the rest of the team.

“I know it’s weird, but I realized these months have felt like two years. Today I sat back ‘n’ realized it’s only been one. Kinda wanna slow down for a bit, return to where I was at the start.”

“Doing paper work for me?” Gabriel asks and sucks on his cigar.

Jesse nods and chuckles. “Stupid, I know.”

Gabriel blows the smoke out, shaking his head lightly. “There’s nothing wrong with wanting to take it slow every once in a while. And making it a year in a place like this is reason enough. I’m proud of you, Jesse.”

Jesse looks down and nods, then looks back at the horizon. Gabriel does the same, unsure of what to say to that. Going back to his previous thoughts, he should tell him no. He shouldn’t spend time alone with Jesse. A year ago he was pushing McCree into getting to know his agents and getting him out of the base to do so. Now, he’s complaining because he misses the pet names. He isn’t missing Jesse. He couldn’t.

“I’ll see what I can find.”

“Appreciate it. That also reminds me…” Jesse looks at Gabriel and when their eyes meet, he puts his right elbow on the railing, palm opened in the air.

Gabriel laughs, shaking his head. “Really?”

“Yeah, really,” Jesse says, and motions him to get closer.

Gabriel accepts the challenge. Jesse’s grip is stronger, firmer even on the thin surface. Gabriel has to put up some fight, Jesse manages to push him for a bit, but it’s not enough to win. Still, Gabriel plays with him for a while, lets him think he’s close, but then pushes him back before releasing some strength. Gabriel takes a look at Jesse’s concentrated glare, his pursed lips and the bulk of his bicep.

He stares at Jesse’s bicep for too long, so he pushes for the win.

“Shit,” Jesse curses, pushing his hat back.

“Next time, chiquito.” His eyes widen to the realization of the pet name that slipped too easily in the heat of the friendly competition.

“Well, haven’t heard that one in a while. Happy anniversary t’me.”

Gabriel laughs as naturally as he can. Makes it’s seem like it was part of a joke, like it was on purpose, but meant nothing. “Don’t get used to it.” Gabriel decides it’s best to leave. He goes to the door and opens it. “Are you staying?”

Jesse seems to think about it as he looks at the ocean. “Think I will.”

Gabriel nods even if Jesse doesn’t see him. He has one more look at Jesse. He’s hair is shorter than it was when he joined, yet it doesn’t stop a few locks from falling out of his hat to flow with the wind. His body was slimmer, shorter, and he had less facial hair back then. The small patch on his chin was accompanied by some stubble around his mouth. The sunlight is hitting him beautifully, coloring his eyes to gold.

If Jesse notices him staring, he doesn’t say anything about it. Gabriel leaves before he does.

M c C r e e

The next morning starts on a high note for Jesse. Alice is away on a mission for the week, but that doesn’t stop their communication, nor fun times. He wakes up with a message from her, asking if he can call her as soon as he wakes up. At first, panic rises from him, believing it’s something bad. But when they talk, it’s only to let him know they made a breakthrough and can return sooner than later. All his worry goes away. It gets better when she starts a video call and she’s alone in a bathroom. Jesse’s body wakes up with interest as she starts undressing slowly. Next thing he knows, he’s biting his fist as he jerks off watching Alice do the same, trying to be quiet while their teammates are in the next room.

He has to admit he misses her deeply. Besides her laugh, her voice and just her, he misses her body. Soft skin and firm muscles on him, pinning him down and taking what she wants. He loves the view from below. The sensation of being trapped or helpless.

After that display, they end the call to fix themselves and talk for a little longer. He spends breakfast with Lance and Nina, like he had done the previous days while Alice and Mitzy were away. And though they aren’t very affectionate in public, how they sit so close to each other, elbow to elbow, makes Jesse crave something he knows he has. He tries to focus away from it, especially when the first thought he gets is to look around for Reyes, who isn’t in the cafeteria. And maybe it’s for the better.

After lunch the day starts slowing down. At first he joins Nina and Lance for a movie in the rec room, but he feels like such a third wheel even when they’re not doing couple things. He goes for a game of poker with Balor and Kristoff, who informs him that is his youngest kid’s birthday. After a few games, Jesse calls it quits and goes exploring the base.

He bumps into Ana as he wanders around base, too close to Gabriel’s office. “Jesse, just the person I wanted to see.”

“What can I do for ya, ma’am?”

“Call Fareeha and tell her that if she doesn’t behave these next two weeks, she won’t come to visit.” She crosses her arms and exhales, making a lock of hair in her face rise. “Maybe she’ll listen to you this time.”

“Aw, what has the little angel gotten herself into?”

“She has been acting up, and hasn’t turned in her last few assignments. I keep telling Sam she just needs an after school activity so she can find something she’s passionate about instead of wasting time thinking she’s punishing me.”

“She’s passionate about birds,” Jesse notes.

“And my job.”

“That’s cute,” he says, pushing his hat.

She raises a sharp eyebrow and smirks. “Cute if I worked with kittens and puppies.”

“Yeah, but she wants to be like ya,” Jesse motions to Ana. “That’s adorable.”

“Oh, you probably can call her adorable. I do it, it’s the end of the world.”

Jesse laughs and jokes, “I was in her position a few years ago.”

“If you tell that to Gabriel he would say you still are.”

Jesse hums. Though he knows it’s joking, part of him wonders if Gabriel still sees “the kid” sometimes.

“Are you busy right now?”

“No, why?”

“I thought you could use some extra practice,” Ana offers.

“Ah, well,” he rubs the back of his neck. “I think I’m pretty good for now.”

“You can never be too good,” Ana says and walks past him. “Unless there’s somewhere else you would rather be.” She looks at him over her shoulder as if she knows something he doesn’t. She’s kind of right, he would rather go somewhere else, but he doesn’t know where. He thought of checking on Gabriel and see if he had any work since he hadn’t heard from him on that.

“Alright,” he gives in, walking towards her. “I can go for a few rounds.”

A few rounds go for an hour. He works with the generic gun, a revolver, a sniper and another type of rifle. At first he’s rusty, but with Ana’s help, he’s back at it and hitting his long range shots.

“Very good,” Ana praises, placing a hand on his shoulder. Her protective headphones are around her neck, and she takes off her protective glasses. “I think that’s enough for today.”

“Always a pleasure,” he says, and goes to hide away the rifle back in its case.

“I have a present for you.”

“What for?” he asks, returning to her.

“It was Gabriel’s idea since you made it through your first year.”

“Reyes?”

She goes to where the guns are stored and returns with a wooden case. Jesse gets a giddy feeling, but doesn’t get his hopes up too soon. When Ana hands it to him, he already recognizes the weight, and when he opens it, he smiles to see his revolver. His Peacekeeper.

“Gabriel decided it was time,” Ana says. “The barrel has been changed so your bullets won’t be linked to any past crimes.”

“Thank you,” he says, tipping the rim of his hat. “Why didn’t Reyes gave it to me if it was his idea?”

“He thought it would be more fitting if I did since I had been teaching you.”

“Makes sense,” Jesse says, but in his gut he knows there’s another reason. Gabriel has never even hinted at returning Jesse’s revolver. And after a while Jesse believed he would have to keep using the one they had given him.

“Of course, the same rules still apply,” Ana reminds him.

“No weapons on base, I know.”

“And it depends on Gabriel which one you use,” she adds, placing her hands behind her back. “The revolver Gabriel gave you can be customized and upgraded with whatever Blackwatch needs, but this one can’t.”

“Guess I can handle that,” Jesse says with a shrug.

“That will be all for today then.” Ana opens her hands, asking for the case back. Jesse closes it sadly, and hands it to her.

When Ana walks away towards the door he says after her, “I already miss it!”

After Ana, Jesse decides to visit Torb, who he had gone to quite a lot over the year. Though his workshop is always hot, there is something about the smell of iron and the things he crafts that always makes Jesse stick around. He also thinks Torb is fond of him, though he won’t admit it. He finds him and Rein bantering about a new invention. Torb doesn’t give details since it’s a secret, but Rein hints at it having to do with a shield. Hence why he is there. They ask who he sides with. Jesse randomly chooses Rein knowing it’s all in good fun since neither tell him what each one stands for.

“I can see why you like spending time with the cowboy,” Rein says and laughs.

“Just for that, I won’t use you to test my inventions anymore,” Torb barks at Jesse.

Jesse chuckles. “Good luck findin’ another sucker to be your guinea pig.”

It’s dinner time when Jesse sets out to look for Gabriel. He thinks about bringing some dinner and settles for turkey sandwiches. He’s allowed access to Gabriel’s office when he knocks on the door.

“I come bearin’ food,” he says, placing one foam container on Gabriel’s desk, who looks at it and then at Jesse. “And sodas.”

“You act like I haven’t left my office since lunch.”

“Have you?”

“Yes,” Gabriel replies too firmly.

“If ya say so.” Jesse sits across from the desk and opens his container.

“Having a fun day?” Gabriel says, moving his dinner out of the way.

“Yeah,” Jesse answers and takes a bite of his sandwich. “Thanks for returnin’ Peacekeeper. I had given up on seeing it again.”

“I figured you deserve it.” Gabriel’s attention is back on his computer screen, reading over something since he leans back and doesn’t type.

“Need help with somethin’?”

“No, I actually have nothing. At least that you can look at.”

“Really top secret UN kinda stuff?” Jesse asks, leaning back on the chair.

“Kind of,” Gabriel replies. “Feel free to stay if you really are desperate for company.”

“Aren’t ya gonna eat?” Jesse says.

“I’m fine for now.” Gabriel doesn’t look away from the screen as he reaches for the can of soda and snaps it open. Then he reaches for the container and gives it to Jesse. “Knock yourself out.”

Jesse lets out a short laugh. “Good ol’ times.”

Gabriel says nothing, just types something and then takes a sip. It’s a while after that that he asks, “Do anything special today?”

“Not really. Talked to Alice, spent some time with Lance and Nina, then Kristoff and Balor. Ana next, passed by Torb’s workshop, now I’m here.”

Gabriel turns on his chair to be face to face to Jesse. He props one elbow on the desk and raises an eyebrow at him.

“What?”

“Is there something you want?”

Jesse hesitates because the way Gabriel looks at him makes him think there’s something he knows that Jesse doesn’t. “No, why?”

“Nothing, just seems you’re looking for something to do or want something.”

Jesse scratches his chin and takes a bit of his sandwich. “Maybe. But whatever it is, I have no idea.”

Gabriel looks at him for a few more seconds. It makes Jesse self-conscience and his gaze makes him feel things. Uneasy, warm and like he’s being pushed into confessing something.

“I should g—”

“Meet me in the garden by the exit,” Gabriel suggests as he turns off his computer and stands. “If you still want to do something.”

Jesse’s body perks up. “Sure.”

Gabriel smiles softly, but it’s gone just as quickly. Jesse takes both containers and leaves first. He assumes Gabriel will do something before going to the garden, but Jesse heads to it first. He finishes his dinner there, and puts both empty containers and soda can under the bench. The garden only has a few floor lamps on. The rest is left to the moon to shine on to.

The white flowers have a tint of blue, and the red ones look like tasty and fancy wine swirls in the air. The blue ones look brighter, and beautiful. He stares at them the most. His chest swells when he inhales the breeze and for a second forgets why he’s there until Gabriel comes, holding two beers.

“This is unexpected.” Jesse sits straighter and takes his hat off.

“Don’t get used to it,” Gabriel says, handing him one bottle and sitting by his side.

“But why are we here?”

“Just needed a break from work,” Gabriel replies, uncapping his beer. “And since it seemed you didn’t know what you want, this might help.” He motions to the garden and drinks.

They sit in silence for a while, and drink without hurry.

“Are yer sisters okay?” Jesse asks, looking briefly at Gabriel.

He nods. “They’re fine. Lucia started a new job as a nurse. Marisol’s oldest daughter graduated elementary, with good grades.” Jesse’s eyes widen as he looks at Gabriel, but the commander doesn’t notice. “And Amanda’s youngest started pre-school.”

“Yer an uncle?”

“Yeah,” Gabriel says as if it should be obvious.

“I didn’t know.”

Gabriel chuckles and waves him off. “I prefer to keep those things separate. Not many in Blackwatch know. Strangely only Kristoff figured it out. Something about me giving off some kind of vibe.”

Jesse bites his tongue and swallows the joke he thinks of. Gabriel had given him a vibe, but it wasn’t that of an uncle.

“It’s like I learn something new from ya almost every day.” Jesse turns his body towards Gabriel. “Did you really study bartending?”

“Yeah, before joining the army.”

“So that was what ya really wanted t’ do?”

Gabriel hesitates, staring at the half empty bottle. “At some point.”

“What changed?”

Gabriel scoffs and looks at Jesse, the moonlight hitting him beautifully, striking Jesse more than it should. “With the omnic war and all, I didn’t think I would live through it, whether I was in the army or not.”

“What did your mom think? I mean, if she is still around,” Jesse asks, recalling Nieves had a mother, but he didn’t know if Reyes did.

“She and I…” Gabriel trails, looking down at his beer. “She’s not happy with how I ended up.”

“As in…?”

“In the army, and now here.”

“Oh”

“We talk, but she can’t go one conversation without telling me I wasted my life away, like I don’t know that already.” Gabriel laughs forcedly and chugs down a big portion of his beer.

Jesse can only focus on his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows. Then he looks away when Gabriel stops drinking.

“She’ll come around,” Jesse says.

Gabriel shrugs and looks around at the flowers. “I hope so. Even during my abuela’s funeral, she managed to make me feel guilty.”

“Ya know she ain’t right.”

“I know,” Gabriel says softly, and Jesse can’t tell if Gabriel wants to stop talking about it or not.

Jesse looks down at his beer and taps the rim with his thumb a few times. “It’s a cool skill to have. Bartendin’. Maybe I’ll pick it up.”

“You could. You showed promise when you helped me out. Not surprised, now that I know you better.”

“What’d ya mean?” Jesse glares at him.

“That you were a little shit before.”

“And you were a prick,” Jesse argues, and leans his head back as he takes another gulp. “Does your family ever come to base?”

Gabriel shakes his head in answer. “I prefer to go to them. My mom doesn’t like coming here, and my sisters have kids so it’s very hectic.”

“Ya should go to them more often then,” Jesse says, and wonders if it was a good idea. The last time Gabriel went to visit was for his grandmother’s funeral.

Luckily, Gabriel laughs. “If it were up to me, I would work from home.”

“Yeah, I guess it’s easier said than done.”

“Hopefully I’ll go to them this Christmas. It’s my favorite time to spend with them.”

“Yeah?” Jesse rests one elbow on the back rest of the bench. “What’s that like?”

“Oh,” Gabriel says in adoration. “Lots of food, music, friends and family. Sometimes even neighbors. It’s just a warm and joyful thing to see. There are all these smells from food and desserts. Last year was my first time missing it since I joined Overwatch. Hoping this year is different.”

“I have no problem smuggling ya out of here, sir. Just say the word.”

Gabriel laughs and shakes his head. “I’ll remember that. If there’s anyone I can count on for something like that, it’s someone from my own division.” Gabriel finishes up his drink in the period of silence that follows and then stretches. Jesse’s eyes trail down to the small gap between his jacket and jeans, exposing some skin. He looks away quickly and hopes Gabriel didn’t notice.

“Well, time to face my computer again,” Gabriel says and stands.

“Need any help?” Jesse offers, leaning forward with his elbows on his thighs.

“I’ll be fine. It’s not much, it’s just,” Gabriel twirls his hand, thinking of a word.

“Boring?”

“Tedious.”

“Then I’m good.”

“See you in the morning,” Gabriel says with a light wave and turns to leave.

Jesse doesn’t look at him leave. He decides to focus back on the flowers and breathing to ease an emptiness in him that suddenly feels cold. He pulls out his phone and notices a message from Alice not sent too long ago. The team is done with the mission so they should be returning by morning. That puts a smile on Jesse’s face that he holds on to until it’s time for bed.

Chapter Text

R e y e s

Gabriel can feel Jesse’s pulse in his hand. How it picks up, like the back legs of a rabbit sprinting away from a predator. Such a tender spot Gabriel can easily play with. It’s like he’s holding Jesse’s heart in his palm. Sweat slips between his fingers, coming from Jesse’s pores. McCree’s arms twitch, each one trapped under Reyes’ thighs and knee. 

McCree’s is so vulnerable. So open, and even if his heart is skyrocketing, he remains still.

“Your victim can’t do anything,” Reyes says and licks his lips when he feels Jesse yelp at the touch of the dull dagger across his cheek. “They are at your mercy.”

“Boss,” Jesse tries to chuckle, maybe make a joke, but he swallows instead. His Adam’s apple bobbing so close to Gabriel’s fingertips. 

“If they have a weapon, they will have no option but to drop it. And if the mission requires us to bring them in, it allows them to yield.”

Finally, because it felt like he had been holding McCree down for an eternity, McCree taps Gabriel’s knee.

Gabriel makes sure to untangle gently from his agent and gets on his feet. The rest of Blackwatch stand around them, gaze pensively and nodding.

“Pair up, and practice.”

He gets a choir of ‘yes, sir!’ and the team begins to disperse onto mats to rehearse the move. Since he had asked for McCree to be his assistant to show the move, they stay together.

“You do it to me now, McCree,” Gabriel says, and hides the dagger. It was only needed to show his division where they could hide the weapon in case it came to hand to hand combat and to point at places where they could aim it at  their opponent’s body. 

“Gladly,” McCree snickers as they circle each other. 

McCree launches at him, but Gabriel manages to get him off. They go back and forth for a minute.

“No te canses, vaquero,” [“don’t tire yourself, cowboy”] Gabriel says with a smile. “You still have that mission next week.”

“Do you think I’d miss going to Portugal?” Jesse chuckles. “Just a pity ya won’t be there after I put ya down.”

Jesse attacks Gabriel again, trying to get him on the ground, but Gabriel fights back. His body feels bulkier after his time with Blackwatch. Gabriel now has to actually defend himself instead of just standing like a solid rock. 

McCree goes for a sneaky blow to the ribs, and Gabriel holds his wrist. Gabriel smirks and says, “Remember, I taught you everything you know.”

“Good thing I’ve got a few tricks of my own.”

Reyes doesn’t know why, but the moment Jesse smiles something tells him he’s in trouble. Jesse pulls him by the same hand that’s holding his wrist and places a quick peck on the tip of Gabriel’s nose. His body goes soft for a second, the perfect opening for Jesse to go down, drag him along and turn them over. When Gabriel’s head stops spinning, he’s already under Jesse’s hold, as perfect as Gabriel had thought him. He even had slipped the dagger from Gabriel’s pocket and placed it on his cheek.

“What the hell was that?!” Gabriel barks in confusion.

“Ya didn’t teach me that, did ya?”

“I didn’t think you would like to kiss your opponent.”

“Nah, just wanted to wipe that cocky smile off yer face. And you also taught me to always take your opponent by surprise.”

Gabriel rolls his eyes and his next words turn into a knot in his throat when he feels Jesse’s bulge rubbing at his back.

“Am I doin’ okay?” Jesse asks, too low for Gabriel think straight.

“What?”

“The hold,” Jesse specifies.

“Yeah!” Gabriel responds quickly. “You can let go now.”

“I don’t see ya yieldin’.”

Gabriel rolls his eyes again and taps.

“There we go.” Jesse steps off Gabriel, and when both are face to face, Jesse hands back the dagger.

Jesse smiles at Gabriel again like he did before his trick, and Gabriel wants to tell him not to do that again. But he can’t speak. They continue to work on the move, and Gabriel makes sure to not give Jesse an opening where he can ‘ take him by surprise ’ again. Still, the cowboy manages to capture Gabriel in the hold one more time before the session is over. At least it didn’t take Jesse’s mouth to be anywhere near Gabriel’s face to do so.

The mission in Portugal goes south rather quickly. They got reports of a new drug lord coming to the scene, just to discover it was a member of the Blue Bat legacy. A hidden brother that was reached out after Blackwatch took down the former Blue Bat. The first clue that set Gabriel off was the location. The lead they had told them it would be a secluded cabin, a small hideout where the target meets with the rest of his allies and his lab. Instead they find a mansion, causing Gabriel to improvise and leave a few of his agents outside to scout and stand watch. Once inside he discovers the connection to the former Blue Bat. It had been a setup. 

Hostiles come from corners and windows, and the mansion turns into a battlefield. When it becomes too much, Gabriel gives the order to retreat, and he covers for as many of his agents as he can. In the end, Blackwatch separates into duos and trios and get the hell out of the mansion. Gabriel grabs onto McCree who had become a wild man at some point. He is spitting curses and blood. Yet his aim doesn’t falter. If anything, it becomes better. But Gabriel wasn’t liking it. All the training and growth he had seen in Jesse has been thrown out the window. He needs to get him out of there before he gets himself killed.

They reach the city as rain pours down. Jesse’s weight leans on Gabriel as he hisses to the pain in his shoulder, where most of the blood is coming from. Gabriel finds a building with a low window to the basement and both manage to squeeze inside.

Once he sets Jesse down, he snaps open a biotic field and places it in front of Jesse. Jesse sighs to the relief as his shoulders drop. Gabriel feels he can breathe again and sits by his side to use some of the healing as well. He feels the warmth running into his body and veins, curing his aching muscles.

“Vaquero?” He asks low, and looks at Jesse. He’s awake, head low, eyes covered by his wet hair.

“They killed Kristoff.”

Gabriel knows they lost at least three. But had no time to focus on names. He was concentrating on the ones he could get out alive.

“He had two kids, boss.”

“Jesse,” Gabriel sighs. “Don’t.”

“Baez”

“McCree,” Gabriel says sharply. 

Jesse gasps and sits straighter, as if he’s about to get up. “Baez! Lance! I need to find him!”

Jesse tries to get up, but Gabriel holds him down. “We can’t go to anyone right now. If those guys are looking for us, we can’t risk our position nor other teammates.”

“But Lance saw Nina—” Jesse chokes. “He needs us!”

“And he will see us again. You will be there for him, but not now.” Gabriel’s hold goes gentler and Jesse slumps against the wall again. “It hurts, it all hurts, I know it does. But we can’t dwell on it. We need to find a way to get us both out of this, and meet with the rest that made it.”

McCree scoffs, as if there was no point in even trying, and Gabriel’s mouth stays slightly opened.

“Jesse…” Gabriel trails off, not knowing how to follow. But he still says his name, because somehow, it’s helping McCree by the way his breathing evens and he rests back. If he could, if it were in another situation, if Gabriel were allowed, he would say Jesse’s name over and over until the rain stopped.

Jesse’s head starts falling to the side, against Gabriel’s shoulder. He’s drifting away into sleep after running low on adrenaline.

“Stay with me,” Gabriel lifts McCree’s head, and takes off his black wet hat. “Once you’re healed up a bit, we’ll go to the rendezvous point.”

McCree nods and straightens up his back against the gray, dusty wall.

“You did well, McCree,” Gabriel praises. Even if he doesn’t like what he saw in the end, Jesse held his ground at the start and was always attentive of his teammates to help them out.

“You too,” Jesse mumbles with a soft smile as he leans his head back. 

Gabriel’s gaze quickly flickers to a drop that rolls down Jesse’s neck. He swallows and looks away.

“How are things with Alice?” He asks to keep Jesse distracted, to bring life into him.

Jesse’s smile grows bigger, and Gabriel can’t help the way his jaw clenches and the sour taste in his mouth.

“’S goin’ good. I’m glad as hell she wasn’t in this mission.”

Gabriel hums. “She would have pulled through.”

“Probably would’ve carried me,” Jesse laughs weakly and winces to the pain.

“Don’t expect me to do that.”

Jesse laughs again, but louder until he goes quiet. 

“The new Blue Bat wasn’t working on his own, was he?”

Gabriel takes a moment to shake his head in response.

“He went from a high school janitor to leading the most powerful legacy in Portugal,” Jesse mentions, “after the family didn’t even want him. How?”

“He got himself some friends,” Gabriel replies.

“Those soldiers, they didn’t carry the Blue Bat logo,” Jesse points out, but Gabriel doesn’t look at him. “Who were they?”

“I don’t know,” Gabriel lies.

“You must think of someone—anyone in Blackwatch’s radar that could—”

“McCree,” Gabriel looks at him, and though he knows McCree asks because he wants to be alerted, to be ready, that’s just something he doesn’t need to worry with at the moment. “Knowing who they are won’t get you any medical help. Once we’re safe, we can talk.”

Jesse’s gaze is stickling beautiful. Even with pain, he looks at Gabriel with devotion, with a thirst for more knowledge. His eyes shimmer and the strands of his dark hair in between only make them stand out even more. Gabriel looks away when it becomes too much, when he starts wondering how he can help Jesse feel better.

McCree shifts and says, “fair enough.”

Gabriel sits and waits as he watches Jesse on the hospital bed. He has gained some color back into his sun kissed skin, and his hair is dry again, back to his chestnut color. The room is all white and light blue, and the image makes Gabriel a little sick to think about. Jesse will be fine, he had been told. He lost a lot of blood and needs rest, but it’s not a life threatening situation. He’s out of danger. He’s home.

Gabriel steps forward when Jesse stirs.

“Gabe,” Jesse says, still asleep, and Gabriel tells himself it’s nothing.

McCree’s eyelashes flutter as he opens his eyes and Gabriel is by his side. He smiles and says, “my sins must’ve been forgiven, ‘cause I’m seein’ an angel.”

Gabriel swallows his words, realizing how foreign the pick-up line feels. He picks back up his regal pose and stare as he says, “Sweet talk isn’t gonna get you out of drills once you’re on your feet again, cariño.”

Jesse laughs and looks away from Gabriel.

The commander’s body twitches forward, like a force moved him in on Jesse to hug him. But he stops himself and scratches the back of his head.  “How are you feeling?”

“Li’l light-headed,” Jesse replies and moves back to sit higher. “Kinda nauseous too.”

“Think you can eat something?”

Jesse seems to think about it as he looks at the ceiling and shrugs. “Maybe.”

“I’ll see what they can bring you. In the meantime, stay put.”

“Darn, I was about to go to a rodeo,” Jesse jokes. “Any neighbors from our mission?”

Gabriel nods. “Balor has a broken leg, Kimura has a concussion, and Shannon got shot, as well as others. None in any lethal state, I assure you.”

Jesse’s gaze lowers. “The lethal ones were left behind.”

Gabriel doesn’t say anything at first, the words caught him off guard. “We couldn’t risk it.”

“I know, I ain’t mad at you, jefe,” Jesse says but Gabriel isn’t sure he believes it. “Mad at that bastard that believes he can do anythin’ and get away with it.”

“Don’t waste your energy on him. At least not now,” Gabriel suggests. “You need rest and to regain strength. Once we’re all grouped up again, we can form a better plan. We were deceived and lied to. But next time, we’ll get him.”

Gabriel feels like what he said went into one of Jesse’s ears and out the other. McCree’s vacant eyes are set on the monitor by his side, following the green line of his heartbeat.

The door opens and Gabriel turns to see Stones, saluting him. “Commander.”

“At ease,” he says and she relaxes as she hurries to McCree’s side. Gabriel steps back, glad for the interruption.

“Seems you’re in good hands now,” Gabriel comments and both agents look at him. “I want to check on the others and start on reports.”

“’Course,” Jesse says before he looks at Alice, as if the world around them suddenly disappeared.

Gabriel leaves with no other word, but does what he said. Though there were other agents in the medical wing from the mission, awake, he didn’t wait by neither of their beds until they opened their eyes. A good commander would’ve gone to the first agent that had been awake, or waited in his office until he got news. Instead he sat and paced close to Jesse because he needed to see for himself he would wake up. He asks himself ‘why?’ Nothing changed when Jesse opened his eyes. He saw his commander, the man responsible for him. Then he saw his girlfriend, the person that holds his heart and attention. Once she entered the room, Gabriel knew he would just make the reunion awkward and be a third wheel. He wasn’t even going to try and be a part of them, he had work to do and stupid feelings to bury under paperwork.

McCree is left in the hospital for two days. And even then Gabriel wonders if it's enough. That’s why he’s on his way to check on Jesse, but is received by an empty bed. It’s uncovered, and by the smell of bleach and warm water around, Gabriel could tell it was recently cleaned. The space is ready to receive a new patient, not Jesse.

“Where’s agent McCree?” Gabriel asks the first nurse he sees once he steps out of the room.

The nurse looks into his pad and replies, “He was released in the morning, sir.”

“Who granted it?” Gabriel questions with a raised eyebrow and a strict tone. “And why wasn’t I notified?”

“Captain Amari, sir,” the nurse quickly says, standing straight and lips sucked in. “She came by and signed for him. She said she would tell you.”

Gabriel huffs and walks out of the medical wing, pacing towards Jesse’s room, but also finds it empty. Gabriel groans before he hurries out again. Just to be sure, Gabriel checks his office, hoping maybe Jesse went looking for him, either for work related or simply to let him know he was alright. Gabriel feels the coldness of the empty and dark room, and left just as quickly.

In the anger and rush of it all, he remembers asking Athena when he’s on his way to his bedroom. He bumps into Ana on the hallways and asks, “Mind telling me when you decided to take charge of my agents?”

Ana rolls her eyes. “The doctor said Jesse was all right to leave. And he was bored of being there.”

“Bored doesn’t mean he gets to,” Gabriel crosses his arms. “And now I can’t find him anywhere.”

“Well, don’t look at me like that,” she argues as she places a hand on her hip. “I don’t know where he is. That’s your job.”

“But it’s yours to sign them out of the medical wing?”

“Only when I think it’s truly safe to do so.”

Gabriel waves her off and turns around, deciding there’s no way he will find Jesse in his room. Ana would tell him if Jesse was in hers. And Gabriel’s certain Jack’s room is the last place on base Jesse would like to be in.

“Think of where he would go,” Ana suggests as Gabriel walks slower. “What would cause him to be there?”

M c C r e e

The two bots in front of McCree aren’t simply wires and metal for the moment. They have flesh to tear open, bones to break and nerves to twist until they feel pain so unbearable they scream for McCree to give them the sweet relief of death. Jesse sees the cronies of the Blue Bat. He puts names on them, gives them a story, a reason to be on the side they are. McCree admits he would probably be in their shoes if he had stayed, and survived, in Deadlock. But as he stands now, he’s sure no one could ever catch him lifting a gun at an innocent man or woman.

He remembers Kristoff. He was mean looking, but a real ray of sunshine. He cherished his kids above everything else. Just a month ago he was talking about getting permission to leave base so he could surprise his daughter for her tenth birthday. Instead, she was probably being told the news as Jesse raises the generic gun and fires at the bots.

His body is not a hundred percent ready to get into a fight, and Jesse knows that. Still, the lower levels of the simulator are enough to serve as a way to blow some steam. He made sure to lock the door so no one could interrupt him. If he needs to shoot at fifty bots, he will do it. If he needs to scream, he will do it. He just needs to block out thoughts that might become reality.

It was Kristoff this time. What if it had been Alice? Mitzy? Lance?

Gabriel?

“Damn you!” Jesse hisses when a shot from the bot breezes by his neck. 

He shoots the damn thing and then the next.

Out of the corner of his eye, he sees a figure, and he knows he shouldn’t look. But there’s something in his chest that makes him ache to see. A calling to find another way to cope.

Reyes is there, arms crossed, and not happy, but he is still quiet and outside the simulator range.

“Shit!” The next fire from the bot hits Jesse’s hand, making him drop the gun. He picks it back up with his other one, but before he can shoot, the bots shut down.

“That’s enough.”

Jesse slowly lowers his arm and turns. He should have known Reyes would find him and come in using his ID sooner or later. He doesn’t look at his commander until he goes for his injured hand. His knuckles have gone red. It takes Jesse back to the first time he tried the simulator. The burning is bearable at the level he had the bots in. If it had been any higher, he would be shaking with pain.

Reyes pours some gel on Jesse’s knuckles and massages it with his other hand as Jesse lowers his gaze, feeling hot in other places.

“You shouldn’t be here,” Reyes says after a few seconds. “Less on your own.”

“No one wanted to help me,” Jesse lies, but Gabriel doesn’t give any sign that he can tell.

“Why did you leave the infirmary?” Gabriel asks and gently releases Jesse’s hand.

“I got bored.”

“You need rest.” Gabriel reaches out and takes the gun from Jesse’s hand. And the cowboy lets it go so willingly as their fingers brush.

“I can rest in my room.”

“But you’re not,” Gabriel points out. “You can come back in a few days.”

“Is there a way I can get rid of all these rules and monitoring?” Jesse half jokes, and knows he will regret the words once he is calm.

“Quit.”

When Jesse meets Reyes’ eyes, he knows he’s serious. 

“What’s going on, vaquero?”

“I’m just missin’ them,” Jesse says and walks past him. “I should have killed more of them.”

“Would that make you feel better?”

“Yes.”

“Answer me again once you’re done mourning.”

“Someone has to.” Jesse looks at him and Gabriel looks offended. Eyes widened and mouth slightly parted.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Jesse looks away because he quickly realizes his words were stupid and hurtful. Of course a war veteran knows loss and mourning. And a great commander wouldn’t let his team see him like that. He has a job to fill, and a division to keep together.

“I’m sorry, boss,” Jesse says and rubs his nose. “I really am. Of course ya mourn, of course ya know how it feels. I’m just…”

“I understand.”

There’s a pause from both of them and Reyes’ shoulders sag as he looks away.

“If I see you around base, I will send you back to the med bay. Get some rest, vaquero. It’s and order.”

Jesse nods, mainly to get the conversation over with. Now that he isn’t doing anything, he can feel his body is still exhausted. 

He walks to his room alone and he raises his head when a door slams, followed by Alice’s voice, “You bastard!” He smiles weakly, trying to start up his charm as Alice storms to him. “You asked me to get you breakfast and when I come back, you’re gone.”

“It wasn’t my plan when you left,” Jesse says, hands raised in surrender.

“Commander Reyes signed for you?” She asks.

“No, it was Amari.”

She laughs, “Reyes won’t be happy about that.”

Jesse only shakes his head.

“Where were you then?”

“Went for a walk,” he lies because he doesn’t want to hear the same thing Gabriel said to him from her. “But I’m here now, I can eat the breakfast you brought me.”

“Too late, I ate it waiting for you.”

“What else you’ve got, then?” Jesse winks and she shoves him lightly.

“A bed for you to rest, cowboy.” She steps aside so he can start walking, and he knows that if he doesn’t, she will have no problem carrying him to it. 

He gives one step when he sees Lance coming their way. He’s limping and his right arm is in a sling. When Lance lifts his head and notices Alice and Jesse, he turns around. “Lance!” McCree calls and hurries to him. Alice is right behind. “Hey! Where are you headin’?”

“No where that concerns you,” Lance says coldly, turning around and briefly looking at Jesse. 

“It does concern me,” Jesse says and looks at Alice, who nods in agreement.

“You can talk to us,” Alice adds, “or we can just be with you, no need to talk.”

Lance grimaces at Alice and Jesse frowns at him in return. “Why would I want to be near you two right now?”

“Wow, it’s not like we’re gonna hurt you or anythin’ like that. We just wanna be here for you.”

“No thanks.”

“We all lost Nina,” Alice reminds him. “And Kristoff and Baldwin, we understand.”

“Yeah,” Jesse agrees. Of course Nina’s and Gale Kristoff’s death had hurt him more since he hadn’t been close to Baldwin. He was still a teammate; all of blackwatch was in mourning. “She was important to us too.”

Lance scoffs. “Don’t give me that shit now. You’re like the rest telling me how great she was and how she will be missed now that she’s gone.”

“It doesn’t mean they don’t care,” Alice points out. “You know we do. We got to know her more once you two started dating.”

“Yeah, and the reason was because she was scary to approach before that,” Jesse says, kind of wanting to break the tension but doesn’t know if the words come out of bad taste when Lance looks at him sternly.

Lance’s gaze diverts from Jesse to Alice briefly before it goes back to McCree. He shakes his head and points at her. “You better cherish her before your time’s up, pal.”

Jesse tilts his head and steps forward. Lance sounds like he’s threatening Jesse more than giving him advice. “Watch how you talk.”

Lance scoffs. “Or what? You’re gonna tell your boyfriend on me?”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Jesse feels Alice’s hand on his arm. “You’re over here threatening us when we haven't done shit.”

“If you heard it like that, you do have something to hide.”

“I’m gonna let it slide because it’s obviously the pain medication they gave you is messin’ with your head, partner.”

“Nuthin’s messin’ with mah head,” Lance badly mimics Jesse’s accent. “I’m just saying. I heard Reyes waited all night until you woke up. Why? It’s not like you lost anyone on the mission.”

“We all did,” Jesse says, trying to divert the subject from Gabriel.

“What’s going on?” Mitzy comes from behind Jesse.

“You take Lance to his room, I’ll take Jesse,” Alice says.

“I don’t need anyone to coddle me like a child,” Lance complains. “Or are you like Jesse and trying to set me up with someone new already?”

Mitzy looks disgusted. “I’m married!”

“From Jesse? It wouldn’t surprise me. It seems one person isn’t enough for him.”

Jesse lifts a finger in front of Lance’s face and Alice grabs him again. “I told you to watch your mouth.”

“Or what?”

“You’re not well, Lance,” Mitzy observes and stands by his side to get a hold of him. “Have you eaten?”

“I said I’m not a child!” Lance snaps, pulling his arm away from Mitzy so roughly that Jesse notices her flinching.

“We’re only tryin’ to help, but we’re not gonna stand here while you insult us.”

“What I need is all of you to leave me alone. Like you did to Nina in the mansion.”

“It wasn’t our call,” Mitzy reminds Lance. Of course they all wish they could go back and get the bodies, but they were left for gone once Blackwatch had to evacuate the mansion. “And it’s not Reyes’ fault either. He needed to get us out alive.”

“He would have gone back for McCree,” Lance mumbles, hallowed gaze on Jesse.

“If he could have, he would have gone back,” Jesse says. “I could see it in his eyes when we split up.”

Lance chuckles, but a way that’s targeted at Jesse. Mocking him as he clarified Lance’s suspicion. “‘ I could see it in his eyes ’. How romantic.”

“Do not joke like that,” Mitzy says and pulls Lance back.

“Let’s just all go our separate ways for now,” Alice advices and Jesse doesn’t even dare to look at her, which is probably the worst thing he could do in that situation.

“Be careful with leaving Jesse too long on his own, Stones. He has a habit of running off to Re--”

Jesse shoves Lance, not with the intention to seriously harm, but to shut him up. When he turns around to leave, taking Alice’s hand in the process, he’s tackled by Lance.

“Lance!” Mitzy calls when both hit the ground and start rolling and grabbing at each other.

Lance lets out an ‘oof’ as he’s lifted off Jesse and slammed back on the floor. When Jesse props on his elbows, he sees Alice holding on to Lance by his waist. Two agents have come out of their rooms and help Jesse to his feet.

“Get off me!” Lance says and Alice releases him but stand between him and Jesse.

“That was out of line,” Mitzy tells Lance. “You say you’re not a child but act like one.”

“He started it.”

“You provoked him,” Alice argues.

“Because he knows it’s the truth.”

“We’re done here,” Jesse says. “You believe what you want. Once you’re done with this bullshit, we can talk again.”

Jesse doesn’t wait for Mitzy or Nina, or cares for the two other agents. He walks away to his room and slams the door to hide from everyone, including the lingering thoughts left behind by Lance’s words.

So it wasn’t a dream. Jesse had woken up once while he was in the med bay. It was briefly, before his exhausted body pulled him back into sleep. He thought he had seen Reyes by his side, chair close to the bed and head resting on it by Jesse’s hand. He had been so close Jesse reached out and brushed a trembling finger over the man’s cheek. Gabriel had breathed deeply before Jesse fell unconscious again.

It’s at least an hour later that someone knocks at his door. “It’s Alice.”

“Come in, cupcake,” Jesse says, genuinely happy that it’s her, even if the guilt of abandoning her with Lance eats at him. And maybe another kind of guilt isn’t helping. 

When Alice opens the door, he sits up groaning and touching his shoulder. The little brawl hadn’t been good for his wounds.

“You should get checked,” Alice suggests, sitting by his side.

“Checked ‘em myself, I’m fine. It just hurts.” He grabs her hand and kisses it as they stay quiet for a few seconds. “I’m sorry I left ya like that and how I acted. I’ll apologize to Lance once we’ve cooled off.”

Alice nods. “He better do it, too. I understand he’s sad, but that isn’t an excuse to take it out on you like that.”

Jesse nods and looks down at her hand. “Stay with me?”

“Yeah.”

Jesse lays down and settles on his bed and she lies beside him, resting her head on his chest.

“Mitzy went with him,” ALice says after a moment. “She can calm him down for a bit. Amar wants to tell Reyes, though.”

Amar must have been one of the agents that got involved. He groans. “Did he do it already?”

“I don’t know.”

“I will check later.”

Alice says nothing at first, then she lifts her head and looks at him. “I could go.”

Jesse thinks about telling her it should be him so he can apologize from the beginning, and even take the heat from Lance and say Jesse started it. But he knows that sounds bad, especially after the things Lance said. “If you want. Mitzy or you shouldn’t get involved.”

She shrugs. “I don’t mind. I can explain the situation better.”

“All right, but don’t go just yet. This is what I’ve been waiting for since I left the med bay.”

She laughed softly. “If it did you would have come to me and not wherever you went.”

“The shooting range,” he confesses.

She raises a trimmed eyebrow. “The shooting range? Why?”

“Needed to let out some steam, and I didn’t want it you to witness that.” He grabs her chin. “But I’m better now, promise.”

Alice looks into his eyes, looking for the truth behind them. She smiles and nods. “I believe you.”

She rests her head back on his chest and he starts caressing her hair. “I won’t push you, Jesse, but it’s okay if you need to talk. I’ll be here.”

Jesse tenses for a moment. He doesn’t know if she means about the mission, about the losses, or about Reyes. He looks at her again and response as if she means the mission. “I know, sweetheart. Let’s rest now, you have that scouting mission to Numbani in the morning, right?”

“Yeah,” she replies and settles besides him instead as they hold hands.

“I’m glad ya weren’t there,” Jesse says.

She smiles, but it doesn’t convince Jesse. She wants to say something more, her gaze is vibrant, too loud. Instead she kisses his hand and both stay looking at each other until his eyelids become too heavy to keep open.

R e y e s

Gabriel’s going through reports of the mission and he rubs his temple when he reads about the tragedy of losing a teammate one more time. But sadly, he doesn’t get to pass. He needs to make sure the reports are good enough for Jack, and Petras, before they are filed. 

He needs a break when he goes through Agent Taylor and how he barely showed emotion in his compared to other reports. He only mentions Baez was ‘lost’ to them, and her body left behind before he moves on to what happened next. In such simple words Gabriel can feel the pain. He sighs and leans back. He feels what Jesse felt in the basement, that protectiveness of wanting to find Taylor, make sure he was all right. To tell him things will be better even if it’ll be a really rough time before they do. 

He knows he’ll need to talk to Taylor sooner or later. When he visited him in the medical room, he barely said a word. If Taylor wouldn’t talk to him, he needed to find someone to vent, to express how he feels and to heal. Baez wasn’t an easy woman to forget. Gabriel himself couldn’t believe it himself he would have to look for someone to fill his spot in the morning, because the UN required it from him. When he choose Baez, he wanted to believe he would never have to find a second in command again, but that was an impossible dream and he should have known better.

Jesse will mourn for a friend, all of Blackwatch will. And yet Gabriel can only think of Jesse in the moment. How he is, if he’s sleeping, eating or looking for help. He has no doubt Jesse will go to Stones, and that’s a good thing. Gabriel got fond of the talks they used to have in the Bunker, and even after Deadlock, that he expects Jesse to simply go to him for everything. He misses those days. He misses the winks, the cheesy pick-up lines and the pet names. The simple one Jesse used earlier was enough to remind Gabriel how much of a void they filled. Those stupid pet names that made Gabriel feel warm when the day was bleak. It gave him the attention he needed. And he hadn’t realized that until Jesse’s names and words were no longer for Gabriel.

“Gabriel!”

Gabriel snaps his attention to the man standing in front of him, wearing a suit and weary frown. Gabriel didn’t even realized he had come in.

“Are you all right?” His French accent is smooth and his tone concerning.

“I’m fine,” Gabriel straightens. “Jack told me you’d come by. Sorry about that, I was distracted.”

“I understand, my friend,” Gerard Lacroix says as he sits in front of Gabriel’s desk. “He filled me in on the mission. You really believe it was Talon?”

“I know it is,” Gabriel says, placing his hands under his chin. “The guy was nothing, and suddenly he went through the family that didn’t want him and claimed the name and Blue Bat’s legacy.”

Gerard nods. “It does seem like something Talon would do. Anything else?”

“The men in the mansion, they had weapons like the ones you last described in the Paris attack. Their uniforms were also similar. They wanted us to know both events were connected.”

Gerard nods again as he looks away. The fingers on his right hand rubbing together on top of the desk.

Talon was a rising force, a terrorist group more like it. At first they were involved in small robberies, and Overwatch caught a few of them, but before they could even interrogate them, the bodies would drop dead. Then they attacked Paris six months ago, close to where Gerard was at the time with his wife. To this day, they don’t know if it was pure coincidence or a warning. Gerard worked with Blackwatch, but he had stayed away from the field for a wild. Talon has brought him back.

“Are you planning on returning to Portugal?” Gerard asks.

“I am, but not right away, even if I know we have to take the Blue Bat down, or in. I can’t guide my team into another slaughter like that. We need time to recover and prepare.”

“I understand. I am sorry for your losses,” Gerard says sadly, hiding one hand in a pocket of his pants. “It is Blackwatch’s first big loss since it started.”

Gabriel tries to scoff, laugh a little, as he says, “We lasted long enough.”

Gerard doesn’t seem to find it funny, or simply knows Gabriel doesn’t either. It was just a pitiful attempt at making light of things. “I know how these things go. Do you need any help? Do you have anyone in mind to take Baez’s spot?”

Gabriel sighs and rubs his face. “Kristoff was always my second choice, and he’s gone too.” Gabriel looks to the side, at the distant horizon through his window. “I have to tell their families.”

“Let me, Gabriel. You’ve done enough, and you also need rest.”

Gabriel shakes his head. What kind of commander would he be if he ran from one of the worst parts of being in said position? “It’s better if they hear it from me.”

Gerard sighs. “Very well. I’ll be around if you need anything. And I will look into our target. Davi Tiago.”

Gabriel gives him a nod. “Be careful, he will be ready for us next.”

In return, Gerard smiles and tilts his head. “Don’t worry, I’m sure I can count on you if I run into trouble—”

Reyes raises a hand. “Don’t mention Carpe Town.”

“I was going to mention Canada, but Carpe Town works too.”

Gabriel huffs. “I can help you seek information. I will need it anyways to plan our next move more efficiently.”

“Of course,” Gerard stands and fix his suit. “As soon as I know anything. I will inform you.” He turns to leave, but looks back and says. “And rest, my friend. It seems whatever has you distracted has been there for a while.”

Gabriel leans back and crosses his arms. “I like it better when you rub Carpe Town in my face. But thanks for the advice.”

“One I know you won’t listen. Take care, Gabriel.”

“You too,” Gabriel replies before Gerard is out of the office. 

Gabriel is glad he didn’t cancel the Halloween party when two weeks pass and Blackwatch is in a better spirit. He should have known better than to expect his team not wanting to celebrate, when Baez, Kristoff and Baldwin would have wanted the contrary. It’s obvious who is still affected by it and who wasn’t present in Portugal by the costumes, or lack of. Some come dressed head to toe. Then there are those who don’t show the same excitement or are fully healed, like Taylor who’s dressed casually, but still drinks and laughs with the rest, including Jesse. It seems the cleaning duty Gabriel had paired them up together to do after Collins and Stones gave him details about their argument fixed the problem. Gabriel knew it would, it was just grief talking from Taylor's end.

McCree is in a full-on Van Helsing costume and Gabriel has to look away, realizing they accidentally match since Reyes came as a vampire. Besides that, Gabriel also notices Jesse came alone. Stones arrived before McCree, dressed as a Star Wars character Gabriel couldn’t name, but Jack would gasp to his lack of knowledge. Sci-fi has never been Gabriel’s cup of tea. He suspects maybe something’s up, but Jesse meets up with Stones and they greet each other with a peck on the lips that’s too personal for Gabriel to witness as he looks away again.

Though Gabriel stays for a while with Blackwatch, it’s about nine when he leaves for Overwatch’s get together. A small celebration Ana likes to throw mostly for Fareeha. He leaves the Blackwatch wing and heads to an elevator.

“Hold it for me, Dracula!” Jesse calls and Gabriel huffs as McCree paces towards him when the elevator doors open.

Both step together inside and Jesse presses the button for the same floor Gabriel is heading.

“Let me guess, Fareeha invited you?”

Jesse laughs. “How’d you know?” Jesse takes a good look at Gabriel, and his smile widens. “We look good together.”

Gabriel stiffens and says nothing.

“Did you picked the costume at random?”

Gabriel shrugs. “I put it together at the last minute. What could be simpler than a vampire?”

“Not your kind,” Jesse says as he turns Gabriel around to look at the details of his coat and everything else. Gabriel feels warm and embarrassed as he starts to second guess his whole attire. “You really went all out. You made it?”

Gabriel nods, leaning back.

“Should have come to you for mine.”

“It looks good,” Gabriel says at the simple black and brown outfit to which he mentally makes changes to. “I could add some stuff for next year, if you still want it.”

“I would love that.”

“Though I’m surprised, thought you would come as a full on cowboy, you know, your usual self.”

Jesse huffs and shakes his head as he also leans into the elevator wall. “That’s exactly why I chose this. People didn’t expect it. I didn’t expect this either.” Jesse points at Gabriel and gives him another glance.

A few pair of eyes fall on them as they enter the room. Gabriel catches the small grin on Ana’s face before he looks away and goes for the tables with food and drinks so he can drown himself in some virgin punch. It doesn’t help that Jesse follows to do the same.

“Cute couple costumes,” Jack says as he joins them.

“Thanks,” Jesse replies without allowing Gabriel and takes in Jack’s costume. “What are you supposed to be?”

“Undead husbands,” Jack says and Gabriel can see it. He’s wearing a groom kind of tuxedo, ripped and bloody on some parts. His skin is pale and there’s black and dark purple around his eyes. Gabriel looks around the room and sure enough he sees Vincent in a similar costume.

“Cool costumes, Gabe.” Gabriel looks down to see Fareeha in her costume, gaze devious as ever at fifteen-years-old as she looks at Gabriel and Jesse behind the blue mask that covers the area of her eyes.

“It’s like Ms. Marvel stepped right out of the page,” Gabriel says.

“Thanks to you,” Fareeha says.

“It was nothing.” Gabriel had done Fareeha’s costume in advanced a few months before so it would be ready when she came. “Eaten lots of candy?”

Fareeha rolls her eyes and puts her hands on her hips. “You know mom puts me on a limit tonight.”

“And you passed it already?” Jesse asks, amazed.

Gabriel looks around and sees Ana in conversation with Rein, her back towards them. Gabriel slips out a small pouch, black and orange. It’s full of candy and Fareeha snickers as he dangles it from the string in front of her. “Go nuts.”

“That’s why you’re my favorite,” Fareeha says, snatching the pouch and quickly hiding it away. “You are signing up for the costume contest, right?”

Gabriel shrugs. “I don’t know, this was such a last minute thing.”

“Shut up, show-off, it looks great,” Jesse says, elbowing him before he nods to Fareeha. “Sign me up, too.”

“Got it!” Fareeha walks away to sign them up. Gabriel watches her with a fond smile until his view is blocked by Jesse with crossed arms.

“Where’s my candy?”

Gabriel huffs and looks away, but then he digs his hand into his coat and pulls out an extra pouch. He had planned on giving it to Ana or Jack, but they were suddenly nobodies in his mind as Jesse’s smile brightens and takes the pouch.

“You’re the best, boss,” Jesse says and opens the bag to pull out a cherry round candy and unwrap it before shoving it in his mouth.

The rest of the evening goes as well as the years before, with the addition of Jesse mostly being by Gabriel’s side. Part of Gabriel wants to indulge himself, see if he feels anything while they’re close and casually talking amongst others. The other part can’t stop thinking about how handsome Jesse looks and how he is such a joy to be around. He makes everybody laugh, even Jack. He’s a sweetheart to Fareeha as Gabriel watches them exchange candy from the pouch he gave them. The whole time his stomach was fluttering, his cheeks were warm and all he wanted to do was sit by Jesse’s side and look into those beautiful brown irises like they were the most unique thing in the world.

He doesn’t pay much attention to the last hour of the celebration until the winner of the costume contest is announced. It’s Rein for his orc costume. His skin had been painted green and made himself some tusk with some makeup and props. He’s rewarded with a basket with candy, Halloween candles and a few other knick knacks Ana puts together, mostly for a joke like a coupon at Torbjorn’s workshop and a commander for a day token.

“And finally,” Ana continues after announcing Rein, “after years of us being reminded how lonely we are, the champions have been dethroned in the couple’s costume category.”

Jack laughs. “It’s not our fault none of you can hold down a partner.”

“Speak for the rest,” Torb also laughs.

It dawns on Gabriel when Ana looks at him.

“No, this wasn’t—”

“Congratulations, Jesse and Gabriel!” Fareeha walks to them with a similar basket in hand.

“Oh, chucks! I didn’t even know this was a thing.” Jesse takes the basket, not taking what Ana implied seriously. “Mind if I take the blueberry ones?”

Gabriel wants to protest, but it’s just a silly game, right? Everyone knows they are nothing. That is not that easy. That they shouldn’t even encourage it. “Leave me the cherry ones.”

“Deal,” Jesse says as he finger guns at Gabriel.

It’s past midnight when the party ends. Ana, Jack and Vincent are cleaning up while Fareeha and Jesse talk on two chairs by a wall. Fareeha obviously tired compared to Jesse as he rambles on and moves his hands around. Gabriel’s picking up the used cups left on one table and he slowly stops as he looks at Jesse and Fareeha.

“Fun night, huh?” Jack asks behind him and starts helping out.

“Yeah,” Gabriel looks away from Jesse and picks up the trash faster.

“So, guess Vince and I are gonna have to step our game for next year.” Jack uses a tone that Gabriel can tell he’s half joking, but also wants Gabriel to confirm something without him asking. “If I had known you would be competing, I would have tried harder.”

Gabriel scoffs. “It was an accident. Fareeha must have signed us up for that one.”

“Wouldn’t be surprised.”

Gabriel says nothing in return and dumps the trash into a bag before closing it.

“Agent McCree has a partner, right?”

“Yeah…” Gabriel drawls, looking at Jack. “What about it?”

“Just asking, I wasn’t sure.”

“And there’s nothing to ask about,” Gabriel assures him, crossing his arms. “We won’t steal your thunder next year.”

“Gabe,”

“ What? ”

Jack stays looking at him as he closes his eyes and then sighs. “I won’t meddle in your life, but just be careful.”

“You’re looking too much into a silly competition,” Gabriel says, picking up the bag of trash to take it to the door.

“No, I’m looking beyond it,” Jack says low, following Gabriel.

“At nothing.”

“Are you sure? Just now you were looking at him.”

“And? It’s nice how he and Fareeha get along.”

“You can lie to yourself, but not to me.”

Gabriel huffs. “Go be with Vincent. See if he can get that costume off you, it seems it has been a while since you had any action.”

Jack genuinely laughs and Gabriel diverts his eyes to Jesse, who looks at them and smiles at Gabriel before paying attention to Fareeha again.

“Look who’s talking. How long has it been?”

Gabriel wants to say a few months, but counting back it has actually been more than a year since he last had been with anyone. Not to mention that the closest he was to something had been when he was undercover with Jesse at that ship party, and then the day he tricked Jesse. He groans and walks past Jack, pushing him away.

“Nothing to be ashamed of,” Jack says, but Gabriel finds cover with Ana and it works as Jack seems to drop the subject.

But that doesn’t mean it is out of Gabriel’s mind as they finish cleaning and head out. Gabriel is the last as he and Jesse take the tables to a storage room so Ana and Freeha can go to bed. As for Jack, he has other things to do as he leaves with a smug smile, pulling Vincent away.

“Do you want some?” Jesse asks when they’re in the elevator, pushing the basket to Gabriel.

Gabriel’s eyes land on Jesse’s red lips. Gabriel licks his own and says, “You ate the cherry ones, didn’t you?”

“Noooo!”

Gabriel tilts his head and frowns at him.

“Some. The sour ones.”

“Did you leave me one at least?”

Jesse doesn’t answer, but looks away guilty.

“Then I’m taking this,” Gabriel says, snatching the basket from Jesse’s hand.

McCree laughs and says, “Wanna have a taste of ‘em, darlin’?”

Gabriel looks at him, his gaze drifting to Jesse’s lips again, how red they are. How the cherry flavor might still linger on them. He looks away, knowing he shouldn’t think such things, or fall for Jesse’s teases.

Jesse clears his throat. “Fareeha has some left, I think. That’s what I meant, of course.”

Gabriel nods. “I’ll steal some of hers tomorrow, and blame it on you.”

M c C r e e

The sour taste in Jesse’s mouth wasn’t the only thing making him crave a bottle of cold water. It had been the implication he had given Gabriel in the elevator after he had seen him staring at his mouth, coated with the cherry flavor. Maybe Jesse read it wrong, but he wants to think Gabriel was tempted to kiss him, that it wasn’t just the candy. And Jesse, the bold part of him, had wanted to say ‘fuck it’ and find out by pinning Gabriel to the wall and see what he did. Instead they stayed on each corner of the square space until they had to part. 

Jesse stops halfway to his room and takes a turn to Alice’s. Ever since Lance and Jesse’s argument, Jesse has seen doubt in Alice. She wants to ask, but sometimes he doesn’t even let her by changing the subject quickly when it gets too quiet, or avoid mentioning Reyes at all unless is necessary. He hadn’t gone to visit Gabriel at his office since then either. And the fact that he was treasuring such a simply night with Gabriel says many things that he should confess to her.

Though he liked Alice as more than a friend, it was obvious his feelings for Gabriel weren’t gone. It wasn’t fair to her if he dragged her along as he waited for those feelings to vanish. She wasn’t here to do that, it was up to him to decide what to do with them and how to deal with them.

He knocks and waits. Then knocks again, quicker and louder. If he gives up and goes to sleep, his courage to talk about it will be gone by morning. The door opens and it’s Alice.

“Can we talk?”

Chapter Text

R e y e s

Gabriel usually doesn’t allow himself to be in situations like this one. He willingly ran into the woods with nothing but his shotguns. No medical kit, no more than two rounds of ammunition, nor water or food. He only has his feet and training to fall back on. When he knows he’s got enough distance, he slows down so the mushy sound of wet leaves don’t alert his followers. The rain had ceased, but the forest is moist and the weather temperate as winter comes to an end. He uses the trees to his advantage, and thanks the dim lighting of the morning that doesn’t cast shadows.

He uses bushes as cover, and holds his breath when the first follower reaches his area. Gabriel waits, and moves silently around the bush, watching between the leaves as the person in black gear scouts the area. He leaves to the sound of something else, believing to be done by Gabriel.

Next, Gabriel climbs up a tree and waits, knowing if one person reached him, more aren’t that far behind. And in a minute, two more appear, discussing strategies to find the commander. One is close below Gabriel, and he remains still. Luckily the branch doesn’t creak to his weight, and the gush of wind that comes causes the leaves to ruffle, hiding the sound of his breathing.

Gabriel turns to the howl of a wolf in the distance.

“Shit,” one opponent curses. “How far can that be?”

After a pause, the other answers, “Not that far. Are there even wolves here?”

Another pause. “Let’s keep moving just in case. We already have something wild on the loose, we don’t need another.”

Gabriel frowns and huffs when the two guys are far enough. He climbs down and hurries up to hide behind a fallen tree trunk when he hears more voices getting closer.

“I swear I saw something,” a woman says.

“We’ve got you now,” a man follows with a sinister tone.

Something slithers behind Gabriel, and by the gasp of one of the followers, he can tell they turned to have a look.

“Those weren’t footsteps,” another woman notes.

“Probably a snake,” the man suggests.                                 

The trio keeps moving and Gabriel first paces carefully in the other direction, before he breaks into a run. He slows down when the howl of another wolf, or the same one, cries out closer. He considers stopping, if the zone is more dangerous than he thought, he should return. But no flares had been lit, no screams and, most importantly, no bullet has been fired. Wherever his team is, they can fend from one lone wolf.

He finds a river with a waterfall, and the rush of the water gives him the perfect cover for any noise he could make. He sees movement on the other side and hurries to hide behind the cascade, where there’s barely any space. He’s practically on the edge of a rock, back pressed against another so he doesn’t fall. Through the waving glass, he sees a distorted image of two more chasers examining the water and even aiming a rifle at the river. Gabriel swallows, but nothing fires. When he’s alone again he risks a peak. And once he’s sure no one else is coming, he runs back into the woods.

It’s suddenly too quiet, and Gabriel’s skin crawls. He takes careful steps as he looks around, making sure no one pops up from a bush or behind a tree to attack him. Another howl stops him and then there’s another slithering sound around him. Gabriel decides to run instead of waiting around for someone, or something, to catch him.

He reaches a dead end, the rise of a cliff only allows him to follow it or climb up the rocks. There hasn’t been another howl, but he knows someone is playing him. He can feel a presence around him, hunting him down, closing in on him. And he won’t let it win.

Gabriel runs alongside the rocky wall, at least he has one side covered. He only needs to worry about his left. No matter if he runs faster, he can’t shake his new follower. He smiles a little, because if it ends up being someone from his team, he’s damn proud.

He thinks he’s lost whoever it is when he reaches a smaller pond and he crouches down by a ramp of dirt so he can wash the sweat from his face.

A rookie move. Or a very expert move from who he thought had stopped following him. He doesn’t hear the attacker coming until it ambushes his back, and both fall into the pond, which is only a few inches deep. Gabriel faces the assaulter as he’s pinned.

“Gotchu,” McCree bares his teeth in a grin.

Gabriel’s a little taken aback by the position. Jesse’s so close, so smug and so big compared to how he was three years ago. He looks and fights like a soldier on the field, but moves like an assassin when needs to. Jesse is the first agent to find and catch Gabriel after six rounds of teams failing. The closest ones had been Rainer and Kimura even closer. He’s not the new second in command for nothing.

The water profiles Gabriel’s silhouette as he stays still, swallowing and drinking in Jesse’s devilish smile.

“Did the big bad wolf scare ya?”

Gabriel huffs. “Not me, but it got Ali and McMillan running.”

“I’ll be sure to howl in the hallways tonight.”

“No jodas,” Gabriel barks a laugh. “Was that really you?”

Jesse winks as an answer, and Gabriel’s heart skips a beat.

Jesse leans forward, and Gabriel bites his tongue when he notices their hips are pressed together.

Jesse shows him a tennis ball that had been dyed dark green and brown. “This was a fine distraction too.”

The slithering sounds.

“Cheeky bastard.”

“Hey, the only rule was no shooting. Ya said nothin’ ‘bout bringing extra props.”

“I didn’t think my agents would be werewolves with a knack for tennis balls.”

“That was nothin’,” Jesse says and pockets the ball. “The real werewolf comes out in bed, sweetheart.”

Gabriel tries to not think of those words as their hips rub together again.

“Speakin’ of bed, do I get to keep my catch?”

Gabriel grins and shoves McCree off so he can sit up. “Cool off, then we can talk about prizes.”

“I actually get somethin’?” Jesse ask, putting his hat back on, drenched and bending at the edges as water drips.

“Yeah, a spot in the Dorado mission,” Gabriel replies and gets up. Gabriel pulls out a whistle and blows it two times. The signal to meet up at the rendezvous point.

“I’m already in that mission,” Jesse whines.

“Oh, look at that. It seems it was written in the stars.” Gabriel says, walking away from Jesse.

“Shit, McCree!” Agent Stones says when she sees Gabriel and Jesse coming up to the safe house. “I knew something was up when I didn’t see you for a long time.” She had been in the same group as McCree, and Gabriel thought they would had gone as a pair, being exes and still good friends. But it seems McCree wanted the glory for himself.

They broke up before Christmas, and Gabriel had to wonder if one of them had planned it that way since Stones wouldn’t be around for the holidays. Gabriel’s own holidays had been spoiled, causing him to stay in base for another year instead of visiting his family. Besides the meetings he had to attend and the missions he had to take on during winter, he had nothing else to do but to wander around. That’s how he found Jesse in the garden at the beginning of December, with a cigar between his lips and a sad smile. Gabriel didn’t even have to ask, Jesse had needed someone to talk to and Gabriel listened. Though Jesse had said the break-up had been mutual, Reyes couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to it than “We both agreed we’re better off as friends.”

When the New Year began, Gabriel was expecting to witness awkward moments between McCree and Stones. Instead it truly was as if they never dated, in the sense that their friendship was intact. There were some details Gabriel noticed though. Like how Stones and Jesse didn’t sit on the same side of the table during meals or how they didn’t pick each other as partners when it came to physical training, but still did when it came to shooting practice. The gap between both agents was noticeable when Gabriel caught them sitting on each end of the sofa in the rec room until Rainer and Taylor filled it.

Gabriel made sure to check up on Jesse from afar, watching for any fake smiles or laughter, for any sign of loneliness. Instead, he was the same vaquero he has been. And Gabriel was glad for that. Jesse’s first real relationship had come and left smoothly. After the disappointments and heartache—caused by Gabriel himself—Stones had been good for Jesse.

And it is still good for him along with Rainer and Taylor who had his own struggles during the holidays, but was back to himself. Gabriel has a bittersweet feeling that if Jesse was asked who Javier Nieves was, he would shrug it off as nothing. Though Gabriel can’t lie, not even to himself while his stomach is still full of molten heat from Jesse’s body on top of his, he doesn’t mind having the pet names or flirting back. But he has to wonder, will it be worth it to have those little things until Jesse finds someone else again?

M c C r e e

There was a price for whoever caught Gabriel after all besides a spot in the mission: their own room. They headed to Dorado for an exhibit at a museum after a band of criminals had been going around Mexico, stealing valuable pieces from museums and galleries. And they are damn good at exchanging them with a copy. The head of the operation is, or suspected to be, Cesar Amias, an expert at transforming himself with the help or make-up and special effects. He was locked up three years ago due to similar crimes involving art, but he escaped prison with his own talent. It isn’t sure he is the one responsible for the recent robberies, but he is a close suspect. And the fact that no one has found a connection with the crimes says something. It wasn’t going to be easy. Finding an art enthusiast at an art exhibit was going to be like finding a needle in a hay stack.  

Blackwatch arrived in the afternoon of the day before the exhibit, and with not much to do, it was up to the agents to rest. McCree spread over his king size bed as his body dipped in the soft mattress. The fancy sheets felt silky and cool against his fingers. It had to be the fanciest hotel McCree has ever stayed at, and it was simply because the owner was an ally with Overwatch after they saved his business, and had offered them a low price when they needed a place to stay.

McCree admires the view of his room, it goes out to the colorful plaza with a fountain in the center. The moon had taken over the sky a while ago, and the street has died down. Only a few vendors keep their carts open while others are closing down. Jesse smiles to the little kids running around as their parents follow, comfortable that no harm will come to them. There are also couples strolling at their own pace, not wanting the night to end. The scene makes Jesse ache for something he had, something he misses and something he wants. Just not with the person he used to have it with.

Alice was great. They became friends first, and even after their first date, it took them a while for either of them to pop the question and make them official. After almost a year, it became clear the time wasn’t right. Or at least that’s what Jesse told himself. There was something in Jesse that didn’t allow him to see a future with Alice. Luckily it had ended mutually and in good terms. Of course, Jesse has no doubt if he asked her out again, she would give it a second chance. But something in Jesse told him he would be wasting both of their time.

Jesse perks up when he sees Gabriel walking from under his nose and into view. He stops by an open cart with flowers to have a quick sniff at the sunflowers. The image alone makes Jesse feel warm and gooey inside, a feeling he thought had been shaken away. But it seems old crushes stay under his skin.

Still, it triggers Jesse’s curiosity when Reyes pockets his hands in the hoodie he’s wearing, and walks with his head low. Jesse doesn’t think before he moves to catch up with him. Even if it is suspicious, Gabriel doesn’t seem to mind being followed. He takes his time admiring the sights around him as he heads down the open street. Just to be sure, Jesse remains behind walls and in the spots the moonlight doesn’t shine.

He follows Reyes into an alley that leads to a small spot with a bench and a flight of stairs behind. Gabriel turns the corner and steps down into a shorter set of stairs. He enters the building by its side that was on the edge of Dorado before a wall and rocks that separated the town from the beach. Jesse peaks in front of the place to see what it is. Panaderia Las Tinieblas, a bakery. Through the glass window he can see into the bright place and even smell the sweets they make. Besides Reyes ordering, there’s a couple at a table by the window sharing a piece of cake, and a guy browsing on his phone while a cup of coffee and churros are set on his table.

He watches as Gabriel waits for what he ordered and when he pays, Jesse hurries up the stairs to start putting some distance between them. He hears the door opening and closing and then soft steps that stop bluntly.

Jesse waits a few seconds before he decides to peak his head.

“Shit!” He gasps when Reyes is standing right around the corner with half a smile on his face before he laughs and walks over to the bench by the flight of stairs.

“You think I’m the bad guy?” Gabriel asks as he opens a white carton box.

“Nah, I was just worried,” Jesse replies. “I’m surprised ya just walked out on yer own.”

“I’m a grown man, vaquero. I can handle a few punks.”

Jesse chuckles and brushes his hair, realizing he had left his hat in the rush. “I’ll leave ya to it.”

“No, stay,” Gabriel says softly. “Wouldn’t want you to get lost.”

“I can handle a few punks,” Jesse throws back the commander’s line. “What’cha got?”

“Pan de elote,” Gabriel responds. “One of their specialties. I always try to get some when I’m in town.”

Gabriel nods Jesse over to join him and Jesse accepts rather quickly.

Gabriel picks up something that is called bread though it looks more like a yellow round piece of cake with white sugar sprinkled on top. He passes the box to Jesse with a remaining piece inside.

“Nah, ya bought them for you,” Jesse says, even if it looks tasty.

“Do you really think I didn’t know you were following me?” Gabriel asks with a smug smile and a raised eyebrow before he takes the first bite of the pastry.

Jesse’s eyes briefly catch his chewing mouth, now powdered with some sugar, before he looks down at the offered treat.

Jesse takes it on the parchment paper it was on top of, and put the box by his other side. When he took a bite, it ended up being softer than he expected. It was sweet and moist. And surprised to know it was made with corn.

He hums. “I’ve never had one of these before. They’re good!”

Gabriel hums too, agreeing with the statement. “My mother used to make them when I was sad. It was like I could taste her smile in them,” Gabriel tells as he admires the yellow almost gold bitten pan. “It was contagious.”

“When was the first time?”

“I scrapped my knee jumping a fence to see my best friend who had been grounded.”

“Commander! Ya broke rules?”

Gabriel laughs and shakes his head. “It was my fault. His parents didn’t really… believe I was the right friend for him.”

“What made them think that?”

Gabriel shrugs. “Maybe it was the fact I got him in trouble. We snuck into movies, stole some candy bar, y’know? Kids’ stuff.”

Jesse laughs as well and takes a bite. “Were ya really sad for the scrap? Or for the fact that you might not see him again?”

Gabriel doesn’t reply for a moment. “I think I found out after it was the latter. And I really didn’t see him for a month or so. We didn’t go to the same school and our parents weren’t close.” After a pause, he asks, “Do you remember anything from your parents, Jesse?”

Jesse lowers his hand with the pastry, and picks at it with the other. “Something like ya had? No.”

Gabriel nods and finishes up his pan while Jesse takes longer with his. Mostly to keep the company and the scenery. Sitting by Reyes, with the moon on them, and the colorful wall shielding them from any pair of eyes that might judge or want them apart, it was their own little spot. Hidden away from the chatter of the town and the mission at hand.

Either Reyes didn’t notice when Jesse finished his pan, or he didn’t want to leave too, because they stayed long after both had nothing to eat. They bathed in moonlight, and in the cozy and vivid atmosphere. Jesse inhaled deeply a few times as his mouth drooled to the sweet scent coming from the bakery.

It isn’t until ten minutes or so that Gabriel speaks again, “I got Jack and Vincent alone for the first time in that bakery.”

“Another one of your wingman missions?”

“Yeah, a hard task. He was so oblivious to Vincent’s flirting, I could feel it from a mile away. And it pained me.”

Jesse chuckles and turns his body to face Gabriel as he rests his elbow on the backrest of the bench.

“I let Vincent know of the bakery when Overwatch came by one time, when I was Jack’s second in command and didn’t have Blackwatch. I knew he would come, and I took Jack with me after. We’re in line and after paying and buying our pastries, I get a text.”

“Sure ya did.”

“The timing, I know!” Gabriel says as he lifts one hand. “As I tell Jack, Rein needs me for something back at the hotel, Vincent so happens to offer us the two empty seats in front of him.”

“Life is full of coincidence,” Jesse comments, resting his cheek on his hand.

“Jack offers to come with me, but I insisted on taking Vincent’s kind invitation. There was only one spot available for an asshole, and it was taken by me. So he stays with Vincent until the bakery closes and I, worried for my friend, catch him sitting in the fountain of the plaza with Vincent and more treats from the bakery in hand. The bastard didn’t even give me a doughnut. Then he has the nerve to ask Vincent to be his boyfriend without consulting me and I have to find out through Fareeha!”

Jesse laughs, remembering Fareeha had told him about it the first time they met. “The nerve. He has you to thank for playin’ cupid.”

“I know. That’s why I don’t do nice things.”

“Didn’t ya get them to see each other at that restaurant?” Jesse recalls, shaking one finger. “Oh, and in Italy where you took Jack’s spot at a meeting while they surely did not fuck like the world was gonna end.” Jesse still remembers hearing such noises when he walked by Morrison’s room to look for Gabriel.

Gabriel rolls his eyes as he scoffs.

The stories keep coming, from Gabriel and Jesse too. He tries to keep them happy when they’re from Deadlock, and realizes they are all happy once he reaches Blackwatch. Happy small moments Gabriel wasn’t around to witness like when Lance, Mitzy, Alice and Jesse rented jet skis during their mission in Bora Bora, and a dolphin jumped in Lance’s way, causing him to sharply turn and fall off. Once the trio found out he was fine, they couldn’t stop laughing at the scream Lance had let out.

Then came a story from his first date with Alice. Both were really nervous and wouldn’t shut up. They always spoke at the same time, and when they gave the other permission to speak it was left with an awkward silence that made both laugh. Though Jesse laughed as he told it, as well as Gabriel, there was that hollow ache in his chest again. And it grew as he saw Gabriel. His skin tinted with blue from the night light, and his smile wide from all the laughing.

It was more than an hour later that he noticed the bakery lights went off.

“Seems it’s gettin’ rather late,” Jesse points out and Gabriel looks at the bakery.

“You’re right.”

Jesse regrets saying anything when Reyes stands. He had pointed it out, maybe a little too giddy, to connect it to that story of Morrison and Vincent. But as Gabriel stood like it was nothing, and picked up the box to throw it in a nearby trash can, Jesse realizes there’s nothing to connect them to.

“Ready to go, vaquero?”

“Sure,” Jesse says, because whether they are something or not, he will follow Gabriel to the edge of the world.

The night of the exhibit comes and so far it’s running smoothly. Jesse mingles and views pieces of art, and makes small talk about them with nearby guests that want to share their thoughts. He spots Gabriel mainly observing the pieces, detecting if any of them had been exchanged for a fake. If not then it means it will happen once the gala is over. Everybody’s exhausted, tipsy on champagne and in the high of an evening full of art and romance.

He also catches Lance in his waiter outfit and McCree approaches him to grab the remaining glass of champagne he’s holding on a tray. They only exchanged a formal nod. Nothing from either of them yet. Jesse steps in front of an abstract painting with orange, yellow and brown. There’s some green thrown in there, reminding him of the plants in the desert he drove by during Deadlock heists. It was mostly blurs like the painting itself. He gives a few steps away to admire a sculpture behind him.

“At least we have something in our advantage,” Jesse says for the rest of the team in the comms to hear. “He can’t be shorter than 5’3’’.”

“But he can be taller,” Alice points out.

“Too tall would attract attention,” Mitzy replies.

“He also has a birthmark shaped like the guy on The Scream painting on his right thigh,” Gabriel says and Jesse snickers. “During his trial he used it to explain how he was meant to live and breathe art.”

“Too bad he’s not a nudist,” Jesse jokes.

“I see it as a good thing,” Mitzy says, and Jesse can hear her grimacing.

Jesse stops walking and scouts the few masterpieces around him as he takes a sip. He halts when he sees a guy taking a selfie in front of an art piece. McCree approaches him as easy as he would a small kitten on the streets.

“Please, do not take pictures of the works of art, sir,” Jesse tells the obviously older man with dark red hair and brown eyes. “Nor the paintings.”

The man cocks his head and opens his mouth to protest, but he licks his lips instead.

“I’m Connor,” McCree introduces, “I’d shake your hand, but it’s also not allowed to touch any work of art.”

The man huffs and pockets his phone. “You kind of used the same type of pick-up line two times.”

“Oh, picky,” Jesse comments, in all good fun. “I apologize. But I have to let someone know when they have my attention, clearly. Hope I’m not being disrespectful.”

“You’re not,” he replies, glancing over Jesse’ body. “I’m Daniel.”

“Nice to meet you.” Jesse drinks and observes the man over the thin glass. “Don’t let me stop you from modeling for pictures.” He winks.

“I’m done anyways. I needed to actually look at something interesting in this place after my sister dragged me along.” Daniel briefly points at a group across from them, Jesse doesn’t get a chance to actually know who Daniel meant, but he assumes it’s a redheaded woman in an olive green dress.

“Now you can look at two,” Jesse tells him. “And I was also dragged here.”

“Annoying sibling?”

“Annoying boss. I work at a magazine and he wants a piece on tonight.”

“What magazine?” Daniel asks, picking up a glass from a passing waiter.

“Por las Calles, I write under a pen-name: Santiago Villa.” McCree takes a sip of his drink during the pause and watches as Daniel does the same. “Mind telling me what you do, handsome?”

“I work at a bank.”

“Here in Dorado?”

“No, we’re from another city. But you, I’m surprise someone like you has stuck around in this small town.”

“Me?” Jesse chuckles. “I take life easy.”

“Isn’t that boring?”

Jesse shrugs. “Depends on exactly what I take easy in life.”

“I figured as much from when you approached me,” Daniel smiles knowingly. “Stick around? If I get bored again, I’ll make sure to find you.”

“I’ll be here for a while.” Jesse nods and turns around first as he looks at another painting.

“I’ll be near the sister,” Alice is the only one to say something, either the others don’t see him as a suspect, or they have their own ideas. For Jesse, it’s worth the try.

He talks to others and even ends up in a small group Mitzy is also in. Is nothing important for him and when he gets a nod from Mitzy he knows she also sees it as clear. He excuses himself to get another drink when he hears Gabriel talking into the comms. He’s complaining about the price of a painting going up when he doesn’t think it’s worth it. Another commentator nearby tells him it is the most expensive piece in the exhibit. Gabriel scoffs, “I taped something similar to the fridge done by my three-year-old last week.”

A third voice comes in, it sounds offended and appalled. He mocks Gabriel for his lack of knowledge and explains how the painting was done years ago and how it’s one of a kind. The voice laughs and says it’s worth more than it was sold for. Gabriel jokes back at the guy and exits the conversation.

“He didn’t sound bored to me,” Gabriel says in the comms.

“Daniel?” Jesse asks. The voice was familiar, but it had been too soon to recognize it as Daniel’s.

“The woman is definitely not his sister,” Alice chines in. “She’s Irish.”

“We’ve got him.”

“Not yet,” Gabriel halts Jesse from moving forward. “We have to be sure. Remember: he’s a master at disguise.”

“The only confirmation we need is the birthmark,” Mitzy says. “I doubt he’s covering that if he knows he’s gonna have his clothes on for the evening.”

“We just have to take them off,” Jesse suggests.

“No,” Gabriel replies in a heartbeat. “We follow him back to his hotel room, and we can get him alone.”

“What if he doesn’t go there?” Lance asks. “Once the exhibit ends, he and his crew will move in to steal the painting.”

“We gotta close the exhibit before he expects it,” Gabriel says.

“Think the painting you saw will be his target, jefe?”

“Highly likely, it’s the most expensive one. Give me a few minutes to figure something out. In the meantime, no moving in without my command.”

“Yes, sir,” everyone but McCree says.

“Are we clear, Jesse?”

“Yessir.”

Gabriel had said no moving in, but he didn’t say anything about the target moving in on them. So what if Jesse made sure to be around Daniel more. Or sent him a subtle wink and a smile once or twice. It was enough to have the man stand by Jesse’s side as he looks at a painting of a woman in a garden, naked as vines cover her breasts and around her waist.

“Love the composition,” Jesse says the first thing he can think of. Daniel doesn’t correct him or says anything about it, either way. “The red on her lips go well with the roses in the back.”

“It’s pretty,” Daniel says, monotone and head tilted. “Anything else that catches your eye?”

Jesse looks at Daniel from head to toe and smiles. “You know there is.”

Daniel pulls out a card from his jacket and hands it to Jesse. Upon close inspection, Jesse can see it’s a hotel keycard with the name and room number. “My hotel room. Meet me there in an hour? I’ll make sure my sister won’t bother us.”

“Right to the point.” Jesse pockets the card. “Let’s just hope you’re not this quick in bed.”

“Guess you’ll find out. I’ll see you then.” Daniel winks and turns to leave as he quickly glances at the works of art he passes by.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Gabriel asks, pronouncing each word sharply.

“He moved in on me, boss.”

“I’m sure you had nothing to do with it,” Mitzy comments.

“I can head out there now,” Jesse quickly says. “I might find somethin’.”

“Like your death,” Lance adds.

“Trust me, boss,” Jesse ignores lance, but he isn’t sure the silence is any better.

“All right,” Gabriel finally says. “Wait the hour and go. I’ll follow ten minutes behind. The rest stay near the museum. If Daniel shows up in the hotel room, he might not be the guy. We still need to make sure to capture the thief.”

He gets a choir of confirmation from his team and then there’s a pause. “There’s no need for you to go there alone,” Gabriel insists. “We can handle him another way.”

Jesse huffs and hopes he hears him. “Where’s the fun in that?”

When the hour passes, the exhibit is about to end. Other people leave and Jesse slips amongst them. He finds the hotel by the beach and is surprised when he reaches the penthouse. He calls for Daniel, but he’s not present. Jesse takes the chance to look around, but besides the furniture and decorations provided by the hotel, it doesn’t seem like someone is staying in it. There’s not even clothes or a bag.

“Daniel’s going up,” Gabriel informs him.

Jesse takes his shoes off and lays on the bed as relaxed as he can. Daniel isn’t surprised to find Jesse there as he smiles at him and pockets the second cardkey. Jesse raises his head when he notices Daniel is carrying a painting.

“For you,” Daniel turns it around to reveal the painting of the woman in the garden.

“You shouldn’t have,” Jesse says and sits up. “I hadn’t implied anything—”

“I know, but I wanted to. Take something to remember me by.” Daniel’s phone rings and he pulls it out of his pocket before he excuses himself and goes to the bathroom. Jesse quickly grabs the painting and lifts it against the moonlight.

“Son of a bitch. He got the painting,” he says in the comms as he can see something else behind the woman, which is a copy.

“How?” Lance asks.

“Guess we’ll see once we capture him,” Alice says. “Orders, sir?”

Silence.

“Boss?” Jesse asks, putting the painting leaning from the wall where Daniel had left it.

“I know where he last was, I can check on him,” Mitzy says.

Daniel returns to Jesse. “Shall we get started?”

Jesse huffs. “You say when.”

He doesn’t expect Daniel to kiss him there, and the impact makes him lean back. Jesse takes too long to respond, and Daniel trails down his neck. Jesse starts to follow, brushing his hands over the man’s hair and pulling at his clothes as he moans softly. Their jackets and shirts fall to the floor first and Jesse holds on to Daniel’s wrist when he goes to his pants.

“Slow down, tiger,” Jesse says and pulls him along as he walks back to the bed. “Let’s settle here first.”

Daniel crawls on top of him and they continue to kiss. Jesse can feel Daniel’s arousal while his is not as high, and he’s glad for it. Still he tries to get in the mood to play along. He just needs Daniel’s pants to be off and he can see the mark.

Daniel’s phone rings but he ignores it, preferring to unbutton and unzip Jesse’s pants. Jesse doesn’t get to stop him, his phone rings again.

Daniel answers with a hiss, “what?” His expression softens as he stands up. “Where?” He turns around to the balcony of his room then back at Jesse. “I just need to take care of something. You stay there and take those off.”

Daniel slides the door to the balcony and steps outside. Meanwhile, Jesse does what he was asked, not to continue the evening, but to pull at the gun strapped to his thigh. He stands up and walks towards Daniel. His feet come to a stop when he hears Daniela say, “Gabriel Reyes, huh?”

Jesse looks at the shore, where Daniel is looking at and he holds a gasp. There’s six men standing and a seventh kneeling as they stand around him.

“I’ve got no use for him.”

That’s enough of a signal for Jesse to use the barrel of his gun and hit Daniel behind the head. He sees movement below, five of the six men pull out their guns and aim at Reyes. Jesse stands still as time comes to a stop. He can only hear the waves. He doesn’t even feel the wind, just his heartbeat hitting his chest, wanting to run and reach Gabriel before the bullets do.

Jesse shoots six times and all bullets find a head to go through. The bodies fall around Gabriel and Jesse relaxses.

“You all right, jefe?”

“Better now.” Gabriel breathes and Jesse watches him stand up. “Thanks, Jesse.”

R e y e s

Jesse opens the door to the hotel room in his underwear, and Gabriel tries not to look as he hurries to Daniel’s body on the balcony. Jesse follows and both take Daniel’s pants off to reveal the birthmark.

“Bingo!” Jesse says.

“What about the painting?”

Jesse brings it to him, along with a knife from the kitchenette and scratches at the woman. Beneath it is the abstract work Gabriel had seen and commented on, earning a reaction from Daniel.

“I’ve asked the team to search the museum and look through the security cameras while we deal with him. Somehow he got through us.”

“What if the painting was already stolen before the exhibit? With all the preparations, once the works are set up, why would someone bother checking them again?”

“That’s a point to look into. But it risks someone with a good knowledge of art figuring it out during the exhibit.”

Jesse scoffs. “Were you listening to all those people? They were more interested in sounding smart about art than actually looking at it.”

Gabriel laughs as he walks over to the bed. “Another good point.”

 “I checked the room, but it’s clear.”

“He wasn’t using it for the heist, but for entertainment,” Gabriel points out.

“All this for little ol’ me?” Jesse looks around. “I’m flattered.”

Both turn to the door when they hear fast banging.

“Cesar?” It’s a man who asks.

“Put him in the bathroom,” Jesse whispers and Gabriel carries Daniel, confirmed Cesar, to the bathroom and closes the door.

The banging grows louder. “Cesar! We saw our man at the beach!”

Gabriel is grabbed by his shirt and pushed to the bed before Jesse crawls on top, still half naked.

“Jess—” Jesse’s palm covers his mouth.

Gabriel swallows when their hips press together. He can feel Jesse’s half hard member pulsing and threatening to awaken Gabriel’s.

Jesse’s hand slide off Gabriel’s mouth as he starts leaning in, but there’s hesitation. Or just a stall while they are interrupted. Still, Gabriel doesn’t push him away. The door slams open, but Jesse doesn’t move.

“Who are you?!” The man barks at both of them, pulling out a gun.

“It’s me, you idiot!” Jesse says, looking over his shoulder.

“Cesar?”

“Who else?”

Gabriel notices the man’s gun lowering but he tenses again. “That’s not how you left us.”

“Like I’m gonna stay the same during a heist.”

“What about the rest of the team? They were shot.”

Jesse shrugs. “I was busy.”

Gabriel’s body jerks when he feels Jesse’s hands under his shirt, searching for the gun he has on his side. By reaction, he grabs on to Jesse’s hips and he feels Jesse tensing up.

“Nice try. Whoever you are, I assure you, you’re not leaving this room alive.”

“Worth the shot.” Jesse pulls Gabriel’s gun and shoots the man. The sight shouldn’t have piqued Gabriel’s interest, but it does. Jesse still saddled on his hips, gun raise after a clean shot, and his bulky chest heaving softly to his breathing.

Gabriel’s hands have suddenly turned to stone as he can’t pull them away from Jesse’s hips. They are solid as rock under Gabriel’s fingers and getting warmer the longer he keeps them there.

“Are we gun’ bait the rest of his men here with a show before I shoot them, darlin’? Or are you gun’ let me go? Not that I’m complaining.”

Gabriel, against his will, let’s him go, but let’s Jesse stand on his own. McCree gets dressed and then both take Cesar and the painting back to the museum, where the rest of the team wait for them.

Blackwatch will be leaving in the morning, and Gabriel thanks God and all the saints that the bakery remains open until late. He was on his way to pick up something sweet for himself to take back to his room before enjoying what he knew would be a good sleep. There were no casualties, no problems and the other guests barely paid attention to what went on in the kitchen. They didn’t even know. Jack was satisfied with the mission, which meant Gabriel had earned a night off.

He took the same route as the night before, entering the short alley with archways and plants into the flights of stairs. And he stopped when he saw Jesse, sitting where they had the night before. While Gabriel had gone to his room and changed, McCree still bared his tuxedo, but the jacket laid under a familiar white box.

“Thought I’d catch ya here at some point.”

“And I thought you’d be taking a dip in the pool like you wanted.”

“Later,” Jesse replies and pats the empty spot on his other side.

Gabriel takes it and the box is placed on his lap. When he opens it, there’s two pan de elote, four churros and a piece of flan.

“Flan is mine,” Jesse warns as he reaches for the slice on a small cardboard plate and a spoon that was on the side. “Knock yourself out with the rest.”

Gabriel reaches for one of the churros this time, and hums to the realization he had gone for the cream filled ones. “Thanks.”

“Any time.” Jesse leans back on the bench and starts munching on his piece.

This time there are no stories nor joke, just the silence of the night. And in time Gabriel misses them because without a solid distraction, he’s left to wonder about the moans he heard from Jesse while Gabriel was sneaking around the hotel. Besides that, his focus shifts to how Jesse pushed him to the bed and got on top. Gabriel tells himself he should not think too much about it. Moments before Jesse did that, he had done something similar with Cesar. McCree had been so willing to be used as a distraction that Gabriel can only imagine there might be a reason for that.

“Jesse,” he says softly and waits for the cowboy to look at him. “What you said earlier, when I told you that you didn’t have to do… that to get the target.”

Jesse waves him off. “I was only jokin’.”

“I don’t think I believe you.”

Jesse’s eyebrows softly move up, and his eyes widen as his mouth goes into a thin line. “I have never asked you to do anything like that, and yet you launch yourself into it when you see the opportunity. Even when you were with Stones.”

Jesse shrugs and snatches a churro before looking away. “I’ve got a weapon, sometimes a mission goes easier when I use it.”

“But is it easier to you?”

He gets no answer, Jesse decides to eat the sweet instead. Gabriel allows him his time and finishes his without saying a word.

“I couldn’t control it in Deadlock,” Jesse says after a while. “At least it felt like I couldn’t. Not until ya came along. I finally felt I had some strength ‘n’ control. And now, well, it’s fun knowing I can charm many people. Sometimes people I’m even scared of. But it still feels like I have control, y’know?”

Gabriel nods, because he can kind of get it. “If you ever feel you need to talk to someone, professionally, we have people for that. And I won’t even know about it.”

Jesse nods and looks at him again. There’s some of that glee back in his eyes and a little smile. “And if it’s not professionally? Like a friend?”

“Well…” Gabriel trails off. He ponders on what to say. He feels he’s dangling on a thin line between a professional relationship between a commander and his agent, and one that he shouldn’t cross. “You have friends to talk to. And me. You know where I spend most of my time.”

“In that damn office,” Jesse scoffs and shakes his head as he glares at Gabriel. The right corner of his mouth lifts in a teasing smirk.

“If you want to take my spot, go right ahead. I could use the vacation.”

“I’d drive the team to the ground in a week. I couldn’t handle it as much as ya do, jefe. Really.”

“I appreciate it,” Gabriel says and then feels awkward because he knows he could have said something better. Something that will show Jesse he couldn’t do it alone.

“I think I’m headin’ back now.” Jesse stands and stretches. “I’m beat, ‘n’ would still like to take a dip in the pool. Want to walk back together?”

“Sure.” Gabriel stands as well, taking the box with him as Jesse grabs his jacket.

They don’t talk much since the walk is pretty short, but Jesse still manages to comment on how lovely Dorado is. The colorful walls that stand out in the night. The smell of delicious food and flowers.

“I wouldn’t mind settling down here, or nearby. I heard Castillo is pretty nice as well.”

“Yeah, the sunsets there are something out of this world,” Gabriel adds.

They reach their floor and once Gabriel’s in front of his door he reminds Jesse, “We leave at o’six hundred hours.”

“Wanna join me?”

Gabriel stops turning the knob and looks at Jesse.

“At the pool? Might be lonely.”

Gabriel dangles in that thread again. He thinks about plummeting into the abyss and accepting Jesse closer. He kind of already did by telling him he will be there for McCree if he ever needed him. But then again, he has been there for Jesse since they met in Deadlock.

“I’ll pass,” he ends up saying. “I still need to do some things before bed.” He lies, because all he has to do is pack the little belongings he took out and sleep.

“Alright. Offer will be open until I come up,” Jesse says as he walks to his room.

Gabriel hurries inside because if he stayed there and watched Jesse go, looking handsome in his tucked out button shirt and fitted pants, and remembers how his body felt pressed against Gabriel’s, he would probably jump into that side of the line without a second thought.

Chapter Text

R e y e s

For Gabriel, the present feels like forever until a year passes. As he looks back on it, he can’t believe it has been that long. Blackwatch was able to return to Portugal with a bigger team, a new plan and new faces. While Gerard took care of putting the pieces together and finding new leads for Talon, Blackwatch was able to corner Davi Tiago. Unfortunately his capture lead nowhere since Tiago was shot right as they were escorting him into the shuttle on top of a rooftop. In the chaos of Blackwatch trying to locate the sniper and taking cover, Gabriel had only been able to focus on Jesse pulling out his revolver, and shooting. When Gabriel looked where he had aimed, across the street to another rooftop, he saw someone scrambling away, obviously hurt. Even if half of the team went to the building and tried their best, the sniper wasn’t found.

A small squad had been sent to Portugal after that, along with Gerard. It was after two months that they declared Talon had been chased away. Where were they exactly after that? Blackwatch has no idea, but that is what Gerard is looking into. With no concrete leads to follow, Blackwatch returns to other matters like the usual missions, stopping criminals, gangs and taking care of other bad guys. The work didn’t stop just because Talon wasn’t causing any visible trouble.

One thing was certain and it was that Gabriel didn’t expect to return to where he started. It feels weird to sport the blue uniform again. And even if it should fit nicely, it feels tighter. Ana assures Gabriel everything looks fine, but he can’t take it seriously when she’s trying not to laugh. He can’t say he missed Overwatch’s armor.

Gabriel woke up to an emergency call from Jack. Petras had declared a red alert after tourists wandering around the Black Forest in Germany were assaulted by Bastion units. Once Jack broke the news to Gabriel, Ana, Rein and Torb, all of them wondered how. They were left broken in pieces. Petras wanted the original strike team to attend the fight, and prevent the units from making it through the fields and into civilization. 

Though Gabriel leads his own division now, Petras was clear he should participate. For the majority of the world, Gabriel Reyes retired, but he could show up once in a while, he just had to make sure he was wearing blue instead of the white, red and black logo.

The original strike team, along with Vincent who was back on base until Petras ordered otherwise, and other agents were boarding a shuttle. Gabriel fidgets with his vest when harsh footsteps come from behind.

“Agent McCree, reportin’ for duty, sir!”

Gabriel turns and sees his agent, the only Blackwatch agent in the sea of Overwatch, also wearing the blue uniform.

“No,” Gabriel says, and if he could shove Jesse off and lift off the shuttle himself, he would.

“I called him,” Jack says, stepping beside Gabriel. “We could use his good eyesight and fast shooting.”

“Overwatch doesn’t have good shooters?”

“Not to Ana’s standard for this type of mission,” Jack says, and it seems he’s taken offense to it that Ana believes the agents Jack has trained aren’t as good as the one pupil she has had to herself.

“He will be fine,” Ana also steps in.

“He’s my agent.”

“Both of you work under Overwatch, and they need us, Gabe,” Jack says softly, placing a hand on Gabriel’s shoulder. “I wouldn’t have trusted him in this before, but I do now. And we need all the people we can get.”

“Then get more from Overwatch,” Gabriel insists. “You have about four times the agents than me.”

“He’s coming,” Jack says, jaw tensing. “That’s an order.”

Gabriel looks at him in disbelief that he said that. 

“Ready for takeoff!” Jack calls and the shuttle’s doors close behind McCree, who is too excited to be a part of this.

“McCree, just the person I wanted to see!” Torb calls him over and Jesse salutes Gabriel before joining the engineer across the ship. 

“Do you not believe he’s ready?” Ana asks, concern in her voice.

Gabriel looks at her, then at Jack who has already moved to talk to Vincent. He takes a look at Vincent too, then at Rein talking to two agents. He looks around the other seven agents, plus Torbjorn who’s strapping a bracer in Jesse’s arm. All of them veterans against omnics. All of them have stories of facing the raging Bastion units and barely coming out alive. It’s not that he doesn’t think Jesse is not ready for this type of mission, but that Gabriel might not be.

“This is not his place, Ana.”

“Sooner or later, it will be. And that’s the sad truth. We will make sure he comes back alive, or Fareeha will never forgive us.”

Gabriel can’t even laugh. He just smiles at the thought of angry Fareeha screaming at three grown adults. When he looks back at Jesse, he’s already buckled between Torb and Rein, by the serious expressions on their faces he knows they’re going over strategies, and Jesse is so focused he blends right in. But he’s not Overwatch, and that still doesn’t settle well with Gabriel.

“I could have put a smaller Blackwatch team,” Gabriel keeps talking. “A few that were in Overwatch, they know the danger that caused fear all over the world. Enough to create Overwatch.”

“But Jack wanted Jesse.”

“So my voice as Jesse’s commander doesn’t matter?” Gabriel raises his voice a little, earning a glance from Jack and Vincent, yet they remain distant. “Does Morrison want Blackwatch as well?”

“Don’t you see, Gabriel?” Ana grabs his arm so he can look at her instead of obviously looking around, trying to distract himself. “Two years ago Jack wouldn’t have even given Jesse a second chance. And today he sees him enough to want him at his side. Yes, it is a dangerous position, and I was the one to suggest it, but Jack would not have agreed if he didn’t see Jesse as enough. And that’s because he’s under your command.”

“Yes, because Jack wants Jesse for his amazing skills with shotguns.”

“Well, I helped as well, of course. But the rest, that all comes from you. And I don’t know what has gone into your head that I have to remind you. The Gabriel I know wouldn’t have hesitated on having one of his agents be a part of us.”

Gabriel sighs and his eyes trail back to Jesse. He catches him looking too, a little nervous, but smiles when they meet. Jesse turns his attention back to Rein as they keep talking. Gabriel wonders where that Gabriel went too. Since when did he care so much for an agent that he would prefer him to miss an opportunity to be recognized for his greatness?

As soon as they step foot into the Black Forest, it’s like Gabriel never left the battlefield during the omnic crisis. There might be way less than back then, but they are still as violent as ever. Some have missing parts, but can still shoot. Over the flight they discussed what could have activated them all at once. Who could have fixed them was also a very important question. But they all guessed they would find out once they were done.

“Stay by my side,” Gabriel tells Jesse as he steps by his agent.

“Yessir,” Jesse says, making sure the chamber of his revolver is full before holstering it. He’s also handed other types of weapons, devices that could deactivate one unit if he can get close enough and flashbangs. Lastly, he’s given a few biotic fields by Jack himself.

Rein is first, giving the team full cover with his shield as they move in unison. Gabriel uses another gun while they’re still far from the first units they come across. 

“Taking position on the tower,” Ana calls and starts moving.

“I’ll escort you,” Jesse offers and before Gabriel can say anything, Jack is giving the ‘okay’ and telling the rest to rotate to give them cover. Gabriel looks over his shoulder, watching as Jesse helps Ana up a fallen tree and into the abandoned wooden building with a tower half missing. There seems to be a porch Ana can stay put and aid the team from.

Even if Gabriel wishes he could watch until Jesse comes down, he knows he can’t. Bastion units have spotted them and are attacking back, some stay in their feet, others turn into torrents. 

“We need to move away from the torrents!” Rein called. “They will melt my shield if we don’t take a solid cover.”

“Unless we can take those down first,” Torb suggest. “My own turrets won’t live long against those.”

“Agent McCree, shoot at the Bastion units set up if you can,” Gabriel hears Jack through the open comms. “If they haven’t spotted you yet, you have a clear range.”

“Roger!”

Gabriel catches Bastion units coming from behind, underneath the same building Jesse and Ana entered. “Give me cover,” Gabriel says to three agents by his side as he pulls out his two shotguns. “I’m going in.”

“Yes, sir!” The three agents answer and follow him into the dungeons. His boots stick to the mud and he almost tripped on a piece of bark, but he gets to the units and manages to clear the area with the help of the agents. They continue to the other side of the Black Forest.

“Watch it, sir!” Jesse calls as bullets fly over Gabriel, shutting down a Bastion as it transforms to torrent form. 

Gabriel quickly nods towards Jesse and hurries to fight the next units before they can turn into the deadlier form. Torb manages to position a few torrents around, and it helps as the Bastion units aim at them instead at the strike team. 

Gabriel has no time to worry about Jesse, which is what he was afraid off. Time melts when they fight omnics, no matter the number of them. It’s all smoke, wires and dirt. 

“We need one of them working,” Torb says through the comms.

“Are you crazy?!” Rein responds.

“I might be able to see what woke the tin cans up!”

“The EMP’s will shut them down, right?” Jesse asks, “but not damage them?”

“We need to get close enough to attach it to one,” Gabriel points out.

“I’m on it,” Jesse says.

“Wait—”

“Give cover to the kid!” Rein drowns Gabriel’s protest.

It’s after two minutes that Gabriel catches Jesse, already down from the tower and sneaking over a stoned path behind a Bastion in torrent form. Gabriel curses, he had to go for that one.

“Shit, it’s not working, Torb!” Jesse calls, and Gabriel can see him fidgeting with the bracers.

“Don’t shake it too much!”

“Torb!” Gabriel snaps.

When Gabriel looks at Jesse again, a blue shield appears in front of him. Like Rein’s, but built for one person. “Got it!” 

“Be careful! They don’t hold that much power,” Torb informs Jesse.

“Move in closer, Rein,” Jack orders.

“I can’t hold on much longer,” Rein warns, but moves anyways. Gabriel can see his shield cracking.

The Bastion shoots mainly at them, which is a relief as it keeps its attention away from Jesse. As it focuses on Rein, Gabriel moves around it, clearing the path of other units with the rest of the agents. 

“Behind you, kid!” Gabriel hears Vincent and snaps his attention back to Jesse. From behind him, through a wide crack on a wall, a Bastion appears. But thankfully, Vincent is right there. He stays with Jesse, covering his back as they move closer. Their target still focused on Rein.

“A little more,” Jesse says.

“Shield’s down!” Rein announces.

Gabriel watches as the Bastion unit reloads and when Jesse is too close, but still too far to place the EMP, the omnic’s attention falls on him.

“Do not go for it!” Jack calls.

“I can do it!” Jesse insist.

“Retreat, agent!” Gabriel says, running towards the Bastion, with no plan, but he just needs to reach Jesse.

Jack’s closer and he runs towards the Bastion. Gabriel watches as Vincent grabs one of the EMP’s and throws it at Jack. Jack catches it and jams it on the Bastion. It shuts off quickly.

“Good work,” Jack says, panting as he stops.

“East side clear!” An agent calls through the comms.

“Nothing from my view,” Ana adds.

Gabriel paces towards Jesse, who meets him halfway. “You alright?”

“Yeah,” Jesse assures him, he’s also panting. His hair a mess and his armor’s already dirty. He looks right at home with the rest of them.

When they get to the shuttle, after Rein loading in the Bastion unit. Jack doesn’t order for takeoff quickly as he looks over something on his tablet. “We can’t celebrate yet.” He walks to the center of the shuttle. “A few more woke up in Eichenwalde. They are less, but they’re active.”

“Might as well finish the job,” Ana says.

“Torb, you stay here and start working on the Bastion. The better we can get through it, the sooner we can get rid of it.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Torb says, taking a seat.

Eichewalde is calmer. Even from the air they can see way less units, and all of them walking to the castle. When they land, it’s easier to fight them off. Once the main path is clear, they split to make sure no more are coming. Gabriel makes sure to call Jesse to join them, as they take the lower part of the castle’s fort. 

They make it to the village, past a clock tower that miraculously still stands. Gabriel walks down an old bakery, destroyed with nothing left except a few bugs flying in his face.

“Jesse?” Gabriel calls when he realizes Jesse isn’t nearby.

“I found one,” Jesse says through the comm and Gabriel moves.

“Where are you?”

“Yellow building across from ya,” Jesse replies. “He’s not attacking me.”

Gabriel hurries across the street to the yellow house. As soon as he enters, he pulls Jesse back as a Bastion stands in front of them, looking at them with its light bulb blue, zooming in on them.

The Bastion looks back and starts moving.

“Let’s follow it,” Jesse suggests. 

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

But Jesse does it anyways, putting his shield up. They go up a flight of stairs and Gabriel wonders how the old boards didn’t break to the Bastion’s weight. 

Gabriel holds Jesse back so he can go first, stepping between the omnic and his agent. The Bastion has stopped in front of a single working TV screen on a wall. It flashes a T symbol. Talon’s symbol.

“Talon,” Gabriel says, stepping closer.

“What was that?” Jack asks.

“Talon is behind this.” Gabriel pulls out his tablet and takes pictures of the Bastion and at the TV.

The bastion screeches in a terrifying way, one that makes Gabriel’s body tremble in the worst way. It starts to shift and Gabriel barely has any time to think. “Shield!”

Jesse puts it up again, but Gabriel still launches at Jesse, turning them around before they hit the window. The remaining glass and wood break against Gabriel’s back at the same time a canon goes off. 

Gabriel’s back hits the brick streets and he groans, with Jesse on top of him.

“Reyes!” Jesse calls.

“Keep your shield up,” Gabriel orders through the pain as he tries to sit up. 

Jesse helps him with one arm as the other holds the shield. Another canon goes off, hitting the ground close to them. The impact is enough to push them back to the ground.

When Gabriel opens his eyes, Rein is charging towards them, Jack, Vincent and two agents close behind. Rein covers them all while the others give everything they’ve got to the Bastion until it collapses to pieces from the hole he created.

Jack helps Gabriel up, and drapes an arm over his shoulder. “Everything else seems to be clear.”

“It was a trap,” Gabriel says as hisses to the pain in his back. “Those fuckers went through all this trouble to mess with us.”

“There has to be another motive,” Vincent says.

“Maybe, but for now, that’s all I know, and I’m sticking to it.”

“Typical,” Jack scoffs, shaking his head. “Rendezvous to the ship. Mission over.”

Behind the red curtain of the auditorium, Gabriel can hear and recite Jack’s speech about protecting the world and how Overwatch is just a small portion of what everyone is capable off. “Because anyone can be a hero in their own way,” Gabriel mouths along before he looks down at his blue suit, with medals shining and he dusts them off. It indeed feels like a long time since he wore his formal attire. Maybe longer than his Overwatch uniform. 

Ana, Rein and Torb are also wearing it as they talk together. And besides them, the group of agents that aided them in the mission are dressed the same, but with less medals. Then there’s Jesse, in the back, shifting on his feet as he tries to fix his crooked tie, yet he makes it worse. His blue suit is completely bare of gold and silver.

“Need a hand, vaquero?” Gabriel offers.

“From you, always, darlin’.” Jesse stands straight, hands behind his back and allows Gabriel to actually fix his tie.

“Nervous?”

“What makes you say that?”

Gabriel only huffs as he works. His concentrated gaze softens when he looks at Jesse’s face though. The beard he had grown out is trimmed, his eyes are still young and his hair is brushed for the first time, with no hat on top.

“You deserve this,” Gabriel states. “You did some risky and stupid shit, but you deserve it.”

“Must be a job requirement,” Jesse says, grinning, and Gabriel raises an eyebrow. “Ana told me you opened the doors to a shuttle once during the crisis while it was in the air. Said you had the devil’s luck and jumped off, swinging your shotguns like a mad man.”

Gabriel lets out a laugh and then clears his throat. “Yeah, well, I was stupid. Thought nothing in the world could hurt me while the adrenaline was rushing through me. Almost gave Jack a heart attack.”

“I can imagine.”

“Don’t do what I did,” Gabriel suggests, finishing up with Jesse’s tie. “Ready to receive your first medal?”

Jesse takes a deep breath and releases it. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

Gabriel and Ana head out first when Jack introduces them as his two soulmates when it comes to fighting on the field. Then it’s Rein and Torb, the rest of his strike team and two men he would trust with his life. And though Vincent is named in the group of agents as nothing more, the way he says his name would be clear to anyone that knows that Vincent means something to Jack. But for the crowd, it’s just another name. 

Jesse is mentioned last and Gabriel feels his face hurt from smiling so wide. He doesn’t care if his claps are louder than the others, he can’t stand there and pretend he isn’t happy that Jesse made it through his first war against the same omnics that almost tore the world down. 

Gabriel gets out of his formal uniform as soon as he gets back to the hotel after the ceremony. He showers and stays under the spray as he ponders in thoughts until they get too dark and the water too cold. When he’s out, he puts on jeans, a simple black shirt and hoodie before he faces the champagne bottle on the nightstand that he bought on his way back. He thought about it many times before buying it, until he realized it didn’t have to mean anything. He simply wants to celebrate with Jesse that both made it, and that McCree got his first medal, even if it wasn’t under Blackwatch. 

Gabriel sighs and grabs the bottle by the neck to head to the door. When he opens it, he bumps into Jack holding a bottle of tequila. “Oh, I didn’t know you were heading out.” Jack notices the champagne and smiles. “Are you gonna celebrate with someone, too?”

“No, I was just heading to the pool to drink this by myself,” Gabriel says sarcastically.

“Wear floaters in case you fall in,” Jack suggests and raises the bottle. “For you.”

“You didn’t have to.”

“I did. Besides a gift it's part of the apology I haven’t had the chance to make.” Jack’s gaze softens as he looks at Gabriel. It’s the look Gabriel knows well, a genuine apology, not like the ones Jack has given Petras when he “accidentally” doesn’t follow an order. “I shouldn’t have spoken to you like I did before the mission, and even if it was a red alert, I should have run it by you.”

Gabriel looks down at the tequila, then at Jack before he grabs the bottle and walks deeper into the room. “Come in.”

“I don’t want to keep you from your celebration,” Jack says, joking. 

“I should be the one not keeping you from yours. Or is Vincent not in the mood?”

“He’s showering, plus we’re waiting on dinner before anything.”

“Always good to get some energy in you before you start,” Gabriel says, placing the champagne down on the counter of the kitchenette and looking for a glass to pour some of the tequila before he chugs it. “Want a glass?”

“No, I’m good.”

Gabriel serves himself another portion for a shot and drinks it.

“McCree did well tonight.”

Gabriel swallows and is ready to pour a third glass, preferring to feel the fire down his throat than talk about Jesse with Jack.

“And in the mission, I haven’t told you, or him.”

“Feel free to do so now.”

“I don’t wanna delay your celebration. I know you were not heading to the pool by yourself.”

“You got me.” Gabriel decides to close the bottle. If he ends up visiting Jesse, he doesn’t want to be down a full bottle of tequila. He can handle alcohol, but something tells him that with Jesse on the side it wouldn’t do Gabriel any good.

“If that is what you want, Gabe, I support you. I just wanna make sure it is what you want, and need.”

“What does that mean?”

“Remember what I said at the Halloween party? Admit it, it has been a while for you. And I know you and McCree were close during your mission in Deadlock. More than anything, he wanted you. And might still do.”

“He doesn’t.”

“How are you so sure?”

“He didn’t stop back then, why would he stop now?”

“That doesn’t mean anything. People change and grow. He can understand boundaries now. Besides, he had a girlfriend for a while as well.”

“Exactly. Jesse would not be with a person unless he liked them.”

“He can still like someone else, too. The thing is his ex liked him back and told him.”

Gabriel frowns and looks away from Jack. 

“It’s alright to be scared.”

Gabriel faces him again. “I’m not.”

Jack huffs and crosses his arms. “Okay.”

“Weren’t you telling me to be careful?” Gabriel uses a raspier and deeper voice, trying to mimic Jack’s.

“Yes, but not to sit back and stay single forever.”

“Jesse and I can’t work.”

“Why not?”

Gabriel doesn’t have an exact answer, which irritates him because it leads to Jack believe he’s right. That Gabriel’s scared. “I told myself I wouldn’t date someone at work. Specially someone in my own division. It’s too close, and who knows what will happen.”

“You are scared. Don’t you think I was with Vincent? I still am, but would I change anything from these past years? No. I prefer to face that fear every time I am with him than face it alone. Like you with your champagne.”

“Then why are you here talking to me and not with him?” Gabriel says to see if that gets Jack to leave.

“You helped me. Let me help you back.”

“I don’t need it. Soon you’ll realize whatever you think you’re seeing is nothing.”

Jack sighs and seems to leave it at that when he turns to leave, but he stops at the door and says, “I know you. And I’ve never seen you look at anyone the way you’ve looked at McCree.”

M c C r e e

Jesse stands on the balcony of his hotel room, hands over the railings. His outfit is not as neat as before the ceremony anymore. The tie Gabriel so gently helped him with is somewhere on the floor, his nice shoes were left at the door, his button shirt is tucked out and the jacket is unbutton. The only thing still intact is the shiny gold medal with a red ribbon pinned to the breast of his jacket. Jesse looks down to his shaking hands. The people walking on the sidewalk below double and even triple. He shuts his eyes, trying to get his focus back, but it only makes it worse as he sees stars now. Constellations connection each head to another. 

There’s a sound in his head and Jesse looks up at the sky, as if that would help him see where it comes from. The knock hits again, louder. Jesse turns around to look at the door of his bedroom. He gives the first step towards it, but the door distance itself from him. He gives it another try and the room spins.

“Come in,” he says and slowly makes it to the bed. 

Jesse realizes how fucked he is when he sees a celestial light behind Gabriel when he enters the room. He’s smiling, already changed into casual clothes. Jesse can’t say what he likes better, the formal, tight fitted uniform on Gabriel, or the comfy hoodies that make Jesse want to crawl underneath it for warmth and shelter.

Gabriel lifts his hand to show Jesse a bottle of something. Must be champagne or wine. “Thought you might want to celebrate.”

“Ah,” Jesse drawls and regrets drinking a whole bottle of wine by himself before Gabriel showed up. “I might have…”

Gabriel frowns as he looks at the empty bottle on the nightstand. “Where did you get that?”

“The mini market down the street,” Jesse replies and rubs his face.

“Jesse,” Gabriel says too sweetly and suddenly he’s besides McCree. “Are you okay?”

Jesse nods and opens his mouth to say he is. Instead he says, “I almost died.”

Gabriel’s eyes widen and it’s like Jesse sees his glossy eyes shattering. Instead of seeing such expression, McCree lies back on the bed, preferring to look at the boring ceiling.

“If it hadn’t been for Torb’s shield ‘n’ you takin’ me in yer arms like a goddamn superhero, I wouldn’t be here, accepting the only medal I’ll possibly ever get.”

“If you don’t earn medals, it’s because Blackwatch isn’t supposed to, not because of you. You deserved this, as well as to be here.”

“It’s not about deservin’ it or not, it’s that it happened.” Jesse looks at Gabriel. “I didn’t realize how damn lucky I was until it all hit me. Once the spotlights dimmed and the crowd quieted down.”

Gabriel looks away and so does Jesse. Then the commander sighs. “I shouldn’t have left you alone.”

Jesse sits up quickly. “I’m not a kid anymore, Reyes. I don’t need you to let me sleep on your couch and watch over me.”

“That’s not—”

“Is that how you still see me?”

Jesse focuses on Gabriel’s eyes moving all over McCree’s features. Probably comparing him to when they met, to see if he indeed notices a difference.

“Whatever,” Jesse mumbles, and stands up. “I’m gonna take a shower.” McCree slides off the jacket and places it on the bed. The rest of the clothes fall on his way to the bathroom, not caring if Gabriel sees him naked or not. Maybe because part of McCree hopes they will be like breadcrumbs that Reyes will follow.

He showers alone. And laughs at himself for expecting more. Gabriel never took advantage of Jesse before, not even in Deadlock, why would he do it now? Still, he doesn’t expect the man to still be in the room when Jesse returns with just a towel around his waist.

“Stayed for the show, cupcake?”

“I’m not going to leave you like this”

“There you go, watching over me again.”

“Yes, but it’s not because I see you incapable of doing it for yourself. It’s because I care, Jesse. You know I do. And I know better than to remind your drunk self.”

Jesse says nothing. His words are a mess on his tongue. He decides to look into his bag for a pair of boxers to put them on, again, uncaring. But when he turns around, Gabriel is turned away.

“I’m here if you need to talk, Jesse,” Gabriel says, back still towards McCree. If the soft and sweet way Gabriel called his name was a drink, Jesse wouldn’t mind dying of intoxication by it.

“Fine, let’s talk of how I want ya to stay, ‘n’ look at me.”

“Are you naked?”

“No.”

Gabriel trusts Jesse even drunk. He turns around right after Jesse answers, eyes on McCree’s to avoid looking down. “I felt like you do now, when I joined the army. After my first time on the field, I couldn’t sleep and kept relieving the moment I stared Death in the face and lived.”

“It’s not that it was the first time either,” Jesse says, sitting on the edge of the bed. “I remember Death by another name: Mal.” Jesse scoffs. “Bastard almost killed me in front of everyone and it wasn’t this scary.”

“Maybe because it wasn’t a prick playing with guns this time. This was a bastion unit. Many of them have killed and destroyed.”

“I was too trusting.”

“Maybe,” Gabriel half agrees as he sits beside Jesse. “We wouldn’t have known it was Talon if we hadn’t followed it.”

“And if you hadn’t been there, I would have been blown to pieces.”

“Just a moment ago you were complaining about me watching over you,” Gabriel teases with half a smile and lifting his chin.

Jesse rubs the back of his neck. His mind and heart battle hard at the moment. “Yeah, well, I’m drunk.”

“Nice excuse.”

There’s a pause, and Jesse can’t tell if it’s just because he’s drunk, or if it’s really an awkward silence. Gabriel moves beside him and when Jesse looks, his heart stops for a moment as he watches Reyes taking his jacket off. He has a V-neck shirt underneath and drapes the jacket on Jesse’s shoulders. “I’ll be right back.”

“Where you goin’?” Jesse quickly asks.

“I’m taking this back to my room,” Gabriel replies, grabbing the bottle he had brought and had set down on the nightstand. 

“Will you come back?” Jesse knows he sounds pathetic, but he doesn’t care. All he wants is to be close to Gabriel. To feel safe.

Gabriel nods before he leaves.

Jesse busies himself with putting on Gabriel’s hoodie while he’s alone. He takes his time feeling the soft fabric over his arms and zipping it up. He also takes the opportunity to sniff at the sleeves where Gabriel’s wrists would be. It’s like he’s back in The Bunker, three years younger and curled up as he wears the leather jacket meant for Javier.

He should have grown from that, instead he’s repeating the same thing, falling for the same man he did back then. And maybe that is why the day at Eichenwalde hit him so hard. Because where Jess thought Javier had failed him, Gabriel had redeemed it.

He sits up when Gabriel returns. He didn’t look for a new jacket, but brought a bottle of aspirin he sets on the nightstand. “You’ll thank me in the morning.”

“Or I could thank you now,” Jesse says out of habit, to tease Gabriel.

“I want you to remember who keeps saving your life,” Gabriel responds, crossing his arms and a smile on his lips.

“It’s not my first hangover.”

“You did eat before drinking, right?”

“Yes, da—”

“Then you should sleep.”

“What’s the point if I’ll miss your pretty face?”

“You’ll see me tomorrow. I’m your boss after all.”

The line causes a pinch in Jesse’s chest. Like Gabriel is reminding him for a specific reason. “We’re not in base.”

“And?”

“What if I wanted to thank you for ev’rythin’ you’ve done?”

“I accept gift cards.”

“All right, rhetorical question. If I were to thank you like I once wanted, would you let me now?”

“That’s a dangerous rhetorical question,” Gabriel says, but he’s not upset, nor warning Jesse.

“Cause I really want to.”

“Jesse”

“Like really want to,” Jesse keeps confessing drunkenly. “Since the first time ya helped me back in Deadlock.”

Gabriel looks away and Jesse can’t keep his eyes off his sharp jaw as it tenses. Then lower to his Adam’s apple as it bobs. Jesse stands on wobbly knees and steps closer to Gabriel, who has space to move, but doesn’t.

“In Dorado, I thought of you, y’know? You had to know.”

“You’re drunk.”

“I wasn’t back then. And even if I imagined Daniel was you, I knew that dick couldn’t be nearly half as good as you.”

Gabriel avoids Jesse’s gaze, and it frustrates Jesse because it means there’s something he’s hiding. A desire he wants, most likely.

“I’m telling you to take me, Reyes, and you keep me away even now.”

“It’s not right.”

“It is!” Jesse says, sounding like the seventeen year old he was. “I’m saying it’s okay, then it is. And I know part of you at least wants me in some way or you would have left.”

Jesse yelps when Gabriel crowds him and their mouths are close. They say nothing for moment that draws on for an hour. Jesse wants to lean close to feel Gabriel’s lips on his, to drink his breath and burn in his heat. Jesse moves in for a kiss, but his plan is cut short when Gabriel pushes him onto the bed and he crawls on top, holding himself up by his hands on each side of Jesse’s head, and his thighs trapping Jesse’s hip. 

Gabriel just stares down at him, his eyes moving from Jesse’s, to his lips, his neck and chest and back up. Jesse uses his hands to touch Reyes’ stomach and sides, to feel the thin layer of his shirt over his hard muscles. When Gabriel pushes himself up to leave, Jesse grabs on to the shirt and whimpers. He will fall asleep again, this time by the wine running in him and wake up alone again. He will wake up in longing for Gabriel, a man that will never see him as more than the flirtatious brat he made a fool of in Deadlock.

And in the moment Gabriel can feel no embarrassment as he says, “please, stay this time.” 

Gabriel stays quiet, but his expression softens.

“I don’t want to be alone tonight. I don’t want to feel like this by myself, Reyes.”

“All right, vaquero,” Gabriel whispers and Jesse can breathe once more as Gabriel gets off him. The last thing Jesse sees and feels is Gabriel sitting by his side and Jesse laying his head on Reyes’ lap. There’s a ghostly touch between on his hair, a gentle petting on his head that tingles down to his skull and eases him into sleep.

Jesse wakes up with his head throbbing and the room spinning. It took him a while but he was able to get off the bed and take one of the aspirins he can’t remember getting. As he’s filling a glass with water from the sink, he looks down at the hoodie he’s wearing. He knows it belongs to Gabriel, but he can’t recall the moment it was given to him. It must have been after Jesse showered and before Gabriel left. When he checks his messages, he has nothing from Gabriel, but he does from Ana, reminding him check-out is in half an hour.

Jesse sucks it up and gets ready, not wanting to be late and make the rest of the team delay their flight. He’s dressed and looking down at the bed, where Gabriel’s hoodie lays folded. Next to it is the leather jacket, what he calls his lucky charm. One belonged to a man Jesse knew, and might have even loved for the first time. It has gotten cold with time and bares no scent from Gabriel anymore. The other is newly gifted—or so he hopes. It’s warm and still smells like oatmeal and cinnamon from Gabriel’s soap, just a layer above the commander’s natural musk. 

He grabs both and shoves the hoodie in his bag. When he passes by the trashcan of the room, he throws the leather jacket in it and parts from the room.

Chapter Text

M c C r e e

Jesse aims down at the terrorized face of Miko Tamaki, he hadn’t heard the cowboy coming through his window as he sat in his living room wearing his comfy sleeping wear, in the safety of his mansion in La Rochelle, France. Jesse tilts his head, pondering about shooting and putting the man out of his misery. The ad did say dead or alive. As long as he has a body, the reward will fall into Jesse’s pocket.

Jesse hears the murmur of a bow string being pulled and he smiles.

“Who are you?” A rough voice asks behind McCree.

“Who are you?” Jesse asks, eyeing the two new guests. They are as different as the sun and moon standing by each other. One with black long hair and a tempest in his sharp gaze while the other has spiky green hair and grins to the scene.

“We are here for a friend,” the same young man known as Hanzo says. Though Jesse is aware Miko is more of an enemy to the Shimada than anything these days.

“Well, sugar, your friend here has a bounty on his head, and I’m here to collect it.”

“You don’t say,” the other young man, Genji, says, touching his chin. “How much could he be worth?”

“He must not be that much of a good friend if you’re asking about it,” Jesse says, gun still aiming at the target, and eyes on the Shimada brothers, who he knows are more dangerous than the mole that tried to double cross their clan.

“He owes us money, this way he can pay it back,” the youngest and vibrant Shimada crosses his arms.

“We will take him off your hands now,” Hanzo says, the arrow knocked on his bow aiming at Jesse.

“Finders keepers, darlings. How about we get drinks after? I’m buying.”

“Trust us, darling, the money you will get for him is not worth the chase you will get from us,” Genji warns Jesse, lifting a sharp trimmed eyebrow.

“I like a good chase.” Jesse pulls Miko to his feet with his free hand. “Weasels like this one cannot be left running around for too long.”

“And what would you know about him?” Hanzo questions.

“Accept my invitation, I might tell you.” Jesse turns around and pushes Miko towards the door. An arrow wisps by his ear and pins to the wood of the frame.

“Not one more step,” Hanzo says.

“Now I’m curious.” Jesse turns back to the brothers. “What could this guy have done to you that you’re willing to go through all this trouble?”

“Like you said, he’s a weasel,” Genji replies.

“Hand him over, and I will allow you to live.”                      

“Look, I’ve got a friend that got screwed by him.” Jesse points his gun at Miko for emphasis. “The money comes next.”

“Do tell,” Genji steps closer, slipping his hands in his pockets. Jesse can see the handle of a sword sticking over his shoulder. No surprised since he already knows the Shimadas have an old-school way of dealing with business. “We’re well acquainted with that kind of friendship from Tamaki.”

Miko says something in Japanese, he also mentions ‘Shimada’. It makes Hanzo grimace as he squints his eyes at Miko. Hanzo sharply says something back, short yet powerful since it shuts Miko up.

“He said he has never seen you,” Genji translates half of it, Jesse guesses.

“Does the name Marissa ring a bell?” Jesse asks Miko directly and his eyes widen. “That’s what I thought. He’s coming with me. You guys are just gonna have to deal with your matters another way.”

“Fine. Another way it is,” Hanzo says and knocks an arrow on his bow, aiming at Jesse as he pulls at the string.

Jesse quickly pulls out a flashbang and throws it at the brothers, but Genji is swift with a sword as he uses it to bounce the device back at Jesse. McCree uses Miko to take the hit and he’s the one that gets stunned. The arrow flies by Jesse’s head and Jesse looks back when he hears a gurgling sound. A bigger man falls to the ground with Hanzo’s arrow in his throat.

“Thanks, sweetheart.”

Hanzo frowns at him. “We are not done after this.”

Men in dark clothing flood through the door, shouting and lifting their weapons. Jesse launches Miko at one and shoots the guard in the head. Another arrow flies beside Jesse to hit another and Genji dashes by his left to slice at the ribs of the next. Then he jumps off the wall and throws three shurikens at another guard. Jesse finishes him off with a bullet to his spine.

More men break through a window and Jesse rolls over to dodge bullets while Hanzo jumps over him and shoot three consecutive arrows, all end up in three heads.

“Hunter, throw me another!” Genji calls and Jesse understands what he means. He throws a flashbang at Genji who reflects it to a guard to stun him while Genji can get a better position to attack.

Jesse sees when a man rolls something at Hanzo’s feet, who is too busy shooting to notice in time. Jesse wraps an arm around Hanzo’s waist and carries him over behind a wall into a hallway. Hanzo manages to fire another arrow before Jesse pushes him against the wall and a small explosion shakes them.

“Be careful, sugar,” Jesse tells him and winks.

Hanzo huffs and shoves Jesse off so he can take care of a guard heading their way.

At some point Hanzo and Jesse work back to back, covering each other and taking care of the surrounding men while Genji attacks them from behind. When there’s only one man still alive, and Hanzo pulls at the string of his bow, Jesse releases a smoke bomb just as the arrow flies. The destroyed living room is covered in dark clouds and Jesse finds Miko and runs from the scene. The fact that no arrows fly after him tells him the Shimadas either didn’t notice, or they have decided to let him live for one more night.

Blocks away from Miko’s mansion, Jesse knocks him out and puts him in the trunk of a car. Jesse sits in the front and starts it before driving away as fast as possible.

“You muted me,” Gabriel says after a while of being quiet and Jesse sees him in the back seat through the rearview mirror.

Jesse chuckles. “Sorry. Didn’t want you distracting me.”

“Distracting was the ambush you didn’t hear me calling.”

“Hanzo warned me.”

Gabriel hums. “At least he let you live tonight.”

“So, what now?”

“You sit and wait in your room. That’s all we can do. You saw all the emails, videos and photos. They won’t rest until they have Tamaki in their hands.”

“I wouldn’t either,” Jesse adds. After months of Kimura and other agents hacking their way through the Shimadas, they were finally able to find an enemy they could exploit. Tamaki hadn’t only been a great ally to Sojiro, Hanzo and Genji’s father, but was also considered to help lead the Shimada clan if anything happened to Sojiro and Hanzo wasn’t ready.

In return for Sojiro’s undying loyalty to Miko, the weasel turned on him. On the night they would sign a contract that would give Miko half the power over the clan, he paid an assassin to kill Sojiro and injure Miko so it wouldn’t raise suspicion. A silver lining for the clan, the assassin attacked a moment too soon before Sojiro signed it. While Miko made it out with minor injuries, Sojiro didn’t.

Hanzo and Genji had collected evidence months after their father’s death, not knowing it had been Miko, who stood by them during their grief. Finally, when they broke through who it had been, Blackwatch had also broken through their security and discovered Hanzo and Genji would deal with Miko during his time away in France.

“I went through your room a third time today. It’s soundproof, no one else has been in it, the lock I installed is still there and working. There’s also an alarm on the balcony. You should be secured if they find you, and you can communicate with us as well without them hearing. For now, it’s just you and me. Kimura and the others are set at the outskirts of town. If the mission goes smoothly, we won’t need back-up.”

“That makes me feel a little better,” Jesse says. “I was too close to those arrows tonight.”

“Then be careful. They won’t miss if he finds out who you are.”

“Thanks for the confidence booster.”

“Just being honest. And Jesse?”

“Yeah?”

“For the love of God, do not fuck either of them.”

Jesse can’t help the laugh that escapes him. “I know I can be charming, but there’s no passing through Hanzo’s cold walls. And I would rather live, thank you.”

“Then don’t mute me again.”

Jesse gets bored of waiting in his hotel room, so he moves to the balcony to smoke a cigar and watch as the smoke fades into the night. It’s the weekend, so the city is a little louder than during the week he arrived. And the smells of food are stronger, making his mouth water. He ponders over getting some food. If Hanzo and Genji find him in public, they might not do anything rash. Then again, they might deal with him swiftly and quietly without a trace.

Jesse yelps and holds to his chest when Genji appears upside down, hanging from the balcony above.

“You left so quickly, I didn’t get your name.”

“You found me, is figuring out my name so hard?”

Genji tilts his head. “Don’t tell me it’s Hawke? I read it in the registry.”

“Guilty.”

“Hawke the Bounty Hunter.” Genji hangs from one hand and sits on the railings in front of Jesse.

“And you are?”

“Genji.” Genji looks over Jesse’s shoulder. “And my brother, Hanzo.”

When Jesse turns around, Hanzo’s already there, bow in hand and an arrow knocked on it, though not aiming at Jesse at least. Should talk to Gabe about those locks, Jesse thinks.

“Quite the security you have,” Hanzo notes.

“With this kind of work, I can never be too careful. You must know.”

Hanzo frowns. “Why would we know?”

“Aren’t you bounty hunters, too?” Jesse asks, looking at Genji.

“Something like that,” Genji replies, twirling his hand in the air.

“Mercenaries, fancier title.”

“Where is Tamaki?” Hanzo asks, jaw tensing as he runs out of patience.

Jesse tilts his head as he looks at Hanzo. If there’s a time to start gaining their attention, in a good way, it is now. “Follow me.”

Jesse walks past the brothers and turns at the door when he realizes they aren’t following. “Not interested in him anymore?”

“What makes you think we will follow you?” Hanzo asks, lowering his bow.

“As far as I know, you have no bounties on you. I would have remembered such pretty faces from the posters,” Jesse says, smiling and winking.

Genji hums and gives the first time. “Lead the way.”

Jesse thinks he’s gonna drive the whole way to Tamaki with Hanzo aiming an arrow to his head, but luckily, both brothers sit in the back and no weapons were pulled out. Jesse takes them to a closed factory and lights up a storage unit to unveil Tamaki, tied from his feet to a machine that lifts him up, pulling his head from a fish tank filled with water. He gasps heavily and starts yelling at Jesse who approaches the machine so it would stop the next dip in two minutes.

“How long has he been in here?” Genji asks, also approaching Tamaki.

“Two hours.” Jesse rests his elbow on the machine. “I’m waiting for my friend to see what she wants to be done with him. If she says to collect the bounty, that’s where I’m heading.”

“You will be going nowhere with him,” Hanzo says, walking towards them. “He will come with us and receive the punishment he deserves.”

Jesse laughs. “I know you’re two and I’m one, but I ran away from you once, I can do it again.”

“You ran because I allowed it,” Hanzo clarifies. “It will not happen again.”

“I will remind you, Hawke, the money you get from him, won’t be worth the run we’ll give you.” Genji scoffs and crosses his arms. “Who am I kidding? You won’t get out of here. I can try to convince my brother to let you go, but Tamaki has to stay.”

Jesse chews on his bottom lip and stares at Genji in the eyes. Though he’s wearing a grin, his eyes tell a different story. His, like Hanzo, seek revenge. Once Jesse walks away, Tamaki will probably be torn to pieces. Gabriel had told him there was a low chance they could get Tamaki alive, and he didn’t care. As an arms and drug dealer, it would be one less problem for Blackwatch to deal with in the future. A step closer to dealing with the biggest clan in Japan.

“All right,” Jesse says and hides his hands in his pockets. “He’s all yours.”

Jesse catches the surprise in Hanzo’s gaze before it hardens again. McCree walks away, doesn’t look back or says another word to the Shimadas. He ignores Tamaki’s cries for help as they fade the further Jesse walks. When he gets in his car he is in complete silence and drives away.

The next time Jesse meets with the Shimadas is after they save him from a beating. He was returning to his hotel room after scouting the area and received word from Gabriel that there were suspicious men around the hotel, and probably inside. Jesse continued up to the roof of the hotel and a man followed. But Jesse pulled no gun, or tried to defend himself too much. That’s what led him to the ground, and blood dripping from his nose.

“McCree!” Gabriel hisses in the comm. “I’m going up!”

“No,” Jesse said in a cough. He had denied help once already.

“What are you doing?!” Gabriel asks.

“Waitin’,” Jesse mumbles.

“Thought we wouldn’t find you?” the man with a russian accent says. “Tamaki might have deserved what he got, but that doesn’t mean you won’t get your share.”

“Hey, I didn’t kill him.”

“It was either you, or those Shimadas. But I’m not touching them, yet. Their time will come. Those brats like to pretend they are Sojiro, well,” the man scoffs a laugh, “they have a lot to learn.”

An arrow pierces the man’s eye and he screams as he grips to it. Another thrust into his opened mouth to shut him up and a third in his chest, causing him to collapse. Jesse laughs lightly and groans in pain when he sits up, a hand pressed to his ribs where the man had kicked him.

“You saved my life,” Hanzo’s firm voice says behind him. “I owe you nothing now.”

Just like I thought, Jesse thinks, but says, “I have never been happier to be so close to one of your arrows again. Mighty fine aim you’ve got.”

Genji steps in front of Jesse and helps him up. “We knew Tamaki had allies that would go after the people who killed him. We just wanted to make sure you were safe before we left France.”

“Well thanks for worrying about little old me, but what about you?”

Genji waves Jesse off. “He didn’t go after us first because he can’t.”

“They are afraid,” Hanzo adds, standing by Genji. “And they should be.”

“But not you. Not for now at least,” Genji points out.

“That makes me feel better,” Jesse says sarcastically. “Came to say goodbye as well? Since you’re leaving. Let me buy you those drinks, promise not to ask what you did to Tamaki.”

“You would not get answers even if you did,” Hanzo says.

“That’s a yes from him.” Genji drapes an arm over Jesse’s shoulder.

“It is not.”

“Well that’s a yes from me. I do not turn down free drinks.”

“Glad to hear it. Let me get cleaned up and we’ll head out. You’re free to join us whenever, Han.”

Hanzo frowns at the nickname and looks away before he walks towards the door and heads downstairs, followed by Genji and Jesse. They agree to meet up at a bar and the brothers leave the hotel. When Jesse reaches his room, Gabriel is there, arms crossed and a stern look on his face.

Jesse shuts the door quickly. “What if they came in?”

Gabriel raises an eyebrow. “Would there be a reason they would?”

Jesse chuckles. “No need to get jealous.”

Gabriel rolls his eyes and takes Jesse’s face in one hand to examine his wound. “Brought you a med kit.”

“Thanks, darlin’.”

Gabriel lets go of him. “I heard you got them to meet with you. At least one of them.”

“I have a feeling Hanzo will show up.”

“What makes you so sure?”

“He likes me.”

Gabriel snorts.

“He pretends he doesn’t, but trust me, one minute alone with him and I’ll find out his secrets with the touch of my hand.”

“I think you’ve misread him.”

“Nah, nah. He acts all tough and serious, but I know he likes me. Wanna bet?”

“This is not that kind of mission, McCree. We just need a way into the clan. Figure out what exactly they’re doing after Sojiro’s death. More importantly if Hanzo is leading it already and who is he allying with.”

“How do you expect me to get all that in one night without sleeping with him?”

“Talk to Genji then. He seems more trusting and his interest doesn’t lie on the business of the clan. He only wanted to find Tamaki because of what he did to their father. Besides, Hanzo wouldn’t sleep with you.”

Jesse scoffs and walks towards the bed, where the med kit laid. “I’m tellin’ ya, he likes me.”

“In your dreams, maybe.” Gabriel turns towards the door but looks back at Jesse. “Be careful out there. Not only for the Shimadas, but for Tamaki’s allies. If one found you, more might. I’ll be listening in case you need anything.”

“My angel from above. I’ll be alright, don’t you worry yer pretty little head.”

“Why do I get the feeling I have to more than usual today?”

Jesse shrugs. “Because ya know Hanzo likes me.”

“Right,” Gabriel drawls with a grin. “Then have fun on your date, if he even shows up.”

Though Jesse sits by himself at the bar, he has no doubt the Shimadas are already there, maybe even before him. Watching if he came alone, who he talks to, what he orders and every little detail in between. Since Jesse met them, he can’t shake the feeling that he’s being watched. His theory was proven right when Hanzo saved him earlier. Jesse had figured out part of Hanzo. He had a debt when Jesse saved him from that explosion in the mansion, and he didn’t want it hanging on the back of his brain for long. He paid the favor, from now on, Jesse doesn’t have the archer’s impeccable aim on his side. For now, he’ll see what the evening brings.

“You gotta stop sneaking around, people might think that’s creepy,” Jesse says.

“You knew we were coming,” Genji says, and sits on the stool by Jesse’s left. “So we’re not sneaking around.”

“I knew one of you was coming.” Jesse looks at Hanzo who sits on his right. Perfect.

“I am here for Genji,” Hanzo clarifies. “Once he passes his sixth drink, he cannot walk straight.”

“I must have been drunk since I was ten,” Jesse jokes and gets Genji to laugh, though he hears a groan from Gabriel and he can picture his commander pinching the bridge of his nose or rubbing his eyelids.

“And where are those drinks you promise you’d buy?” Genji asks, raising an eyebrow.

“Bartender’s right there, go ahead, darlings.”

While Genji orders a shot, Hanzo has no shame in ordering a cocktail. One leaning on the more expensive side than Jesse expected, but he says nothing. At least he makes it last, Genji keeps ordering shot after shot and then a cocktail. Jesse sticks with beer and also draws it out like Hanzo. He should not be drunk during the evening. He doesn’t get anything from their family, in fact they stay far from the subject, and hardly touch work as well. Jesse expected as much. There’s still plenty of time in the evening to get to the core of it all. He won’t rush it.

At least the outing goes smoothly and he notices Hanzo starts to relax more and even laugh at one of Jesse’s stupid jokes. They move on to a second bar, it’s quieter than the first, but the drinks are delicious. Hanzo is the one to pay this time since it was his suggestion. Yet, Jesse doesn’t dare to go too high even if Hanzo insists. Not only because of the alcohol, but because he does not want to owe Hanzo an amount he would want to collect at some point. After the first, and only round so far, Jesse notices Hanzo begins to look behind Jesse at something. It’s subtle and soft, not alarming nor threatening. Jesse doesn’t look, he doesn’t want to pry on Hanzo’s thoughts or let him know he’s paying this much attention to his expressions.

Genji elbows his brother and says. “He has been staring at you too, brother, and yet you sit there and do nothing.”

“Genji,” Hanzo whispers harshly, and his cheeks dust with pink.

“Who?” Jesse’s about to look when Genji stops him.

“Don’t look, Hawke. We can’t let him know we’re talking about him. But trust me, he’s handsome. I approve.”

“Drop it,” Hanzo says, obviously looking away to pretend he’s not interested in whoever he was looking.

“For once I catch you staring at someone more than three times and you want me to drop it? My brother actually has taste.”

“You’re making it seem like Han is only attracted to gods or something,” Jesse says.

“With this one, he might as well be.”

“I will leave you to walk back to the hotel,” Hanzo threatens Genji, but the younger Shimada is too interested in the guy to care.

Hanzo’s stool stumbles back, catching him off guard as he holds on to the table. He frowns at Genji who, Jesse guesses, kicked it.

“Either you go, or I push you to him. At least talk to him. Do, as the Americans say and throw him a bone.”

“And you know which bone we’re talking about,” Jesse teases with a wink.

“You two meeting was the worst thing that could happen to this world,” Hanzo says and his eyes trail back to the stranger that holds his attention. He shyly looks away.

“Go on, sweetheart. You’re handsome and young. Live a little.”

“Couldn’t have said it better myself, Hawke.”

“Worst. Thing.” Hanzo repeats through gritted teeth and sighs softly after a while. He stands and walks past Jesse.

“Time to enjoy the marvelous play that’s about to happen, or the shit show that will go down,” Genji says as he leans back in his chair and drinks what remained of Hanzo’s glass.

Jesse laughs and decides it’s the obvious reaction to look and see which bastard beat him to it.

“Oh”

“I know. Believe it or not, Hanzo likes them older,” Genji adds when he hears Jesse’s reaction. “Strange he didn’t go for me. Must be drunk.”

Jesse tries to laugh it off, but he can’t. Not only is the guy Hanzo is walking to older, but it’s Gabriel. His commander wearing a green V-neck shirt, a beanie and a leather cuff around his wrist. Gabriel notices Hanzo approaching, and instead of acting surprised or even upset, he smiles at Hanzo and invites him to sit with him.

“Be right back, bathroom calls.” Genji walks a little funny, but Jesse can’t find it enough in him to watch over for long as his gaze falls back on Gabriel and Hanzo. Then he realizes he can hear what they’re saying through the comm.

“Can I buy you a drink, corazón?” Gabriel asks, and time melts around them as Jesse begins to listen and hardly pays attention to Genji when he returns.

McCree finds out Gabriel is actually smooth and charming when he wants to. He asks Hanzo questions about himself, but it’s nothing that pries into his personal life. He compliments Hanzo too many to count and Jesse wonders when did Gabriel achieved that level of charisma. He probably didn’t use it before because it’s too damn dangerous.

It’s not just the sweet words he uses with respect and fondness, but the way his voice turns like melted chocolate and almost whispers them to Hanzo, causing the archer to fall for the act deeper and deeper until they look like two lovebirds on their anniversary. 

“Oh, he did the hair thing,” Genji points out, looking a little sleepy.

“Hair thing?” Jesse looks at the couple again, feeling his neck is about to cramp.

“When Hanzo brushes his hair behind his ear it means he likes him. That’s my signal to get my ass out of here.” Genji stands and stretches. “You should as well, trust me, he won’t come back.”

“Are you sure he’s gonna be alright?”

“Are you a virgin?”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“You’re acting like one-night-stands are foreign to you. Do you not have them in America?”

Jesse huffs. “I’ve had them plenty.”

“Then trust me, my big brother will be fine.” Genji pulls out some money from his wallet and chugs the glass of water he had ordered last. “Seems I’ll still be walking to the hotel.”

“I can drive you,” Jesse offers.

“Thank you, ‘cause I really didn’t want to.”

Hesitantly, Jesse stands and glances one last time at Gabriel, who pays no attention to him and only laughs softly at something Hanzo said, who is also laughing gently. As Jesse leaves the bar he can’t recall a more painful feeling in his chest since that day in Deadlock happened.

R e y e s

It didn’t hit Gabriel why exactly Hanzo was looking at him at first. Maybe Gabriel had been looking at him too much because he thought two sets of eyes were better on Hanzo than one. Maybe he shouldn’t have smiled a few times he was caught, much less wink, but he was running out of ideas on what to do whenever Hanzo unexpectedly met his eyes.

“Hanzo likes them older.”

Oh.

When Hanzo approaches Gabriel, Reyes has no other option than to welcome him at his table and offer him a seat, and a drink. He has the target where he didn’t expect, but needed. That it turned into flirting was another thing, one he hadn’t planned. If he had known that detail about Hanzo, Gabriel wouldn’t have sent Jesse in the first place. This was all just to earn some points with Shimada, it would lead to nothing after all.

Or it wasn’t before Hanzo and Gabriel were suddenly sitting closer, talking quieter in the cozy bar with a soft tune in the background. Hanzo admired his leather cuff and Gabriel turned his arm around so he could see it completely. Hanzo took advantage of the gap where leather ends and a string ties it together to lightly brush his finger over Gabriel’s pulse. That slight touch sparked his body up in an interesting shock.

It had been a while after all.

“I can tell you don’t do this often,” Hanzo says, retracting his hand.

“Ah, no,” Gabriel says, and acts embarrassed as he looks down at Hanzo’s hand.

“That is fine. I like to break new things.”

This kid, Gabriel thought as he chuckled. “You’re killing me.”

Hanzo huffs and blinks softly and looks away, suddenly timid.

“I might not do this often, but don’t expect me to go easy.”

Hanzo’s gaze shifts. He’s not shy anymore. “I would not want anything less.”

“You told me to not fuck ‘em, ‘n’ here ya are, drivin’ that horny thing to a motel,” Jesse rambles through the comm while Gabriel drives. Hanzo sits at the passenger seat, back to being quiet and shy. If it’s an act than it’s working on Gabriel. “Reyes, ya can’t go off on yer own like that.”

Gabriel turns up the radio and says to Hanzo when their eyes meet, “I like this song.”

Hanzo nods once and looks back at the road.

“Ya can’t tune me out like that!”

Gabriel rolls his eyes as he comes to a stop at a motel parking lot. “I’ll check in.”

Hanzo nods again and Gabriel gets down by himself.

“Reyes!”

“Nothing will happen,” Gabriel says to calm Jesse down. The truth is he doesn’t know what will happen. He could end up dead, or Hanzo could. Or he could capture Hanzo, interrogate him. Or he could get laid. Gabriel can’t say he has a plan at the moment because it has all been improvised. “If I get him alone, maybe, just maybe, I can find out something. Or captured him.”

“I could have done that.”

“He doesn’t like you.”

A pause. “He was warming up to me until ya showed up.”

Gabriel laughs as he approaches the counter. “Jealous, vaquero? If it makes you feel better, Genji was looking at you a lot.”

“I like Genji too much to hit it and quit it. Especially while he’s drunk.”

Gabriel bites his tongue about Jesse understanding why Gabriel didn’t want to do anything with Jesse two months ago. But it hasn’t been talked about since. Jesse has no memory of it, at least not all of it. Gabriel gets them a room and when he walks out of the lobby, Hanzo is waiting for him, leaning from the car. Gabriel nods him to follow and both go up the room.

“Ya didn’t give me yer location,” Jesse says as Gabriel slides the key card. “How am I supposed to know where to go if anythin’ happens?”

Gabriel doesn’t answer. When the door closes, Hanzo leans from it, waiting for Gabriel to pin him, to pull him, to do anything that will initiate something. It’s cheesy, yet Gabriel steps closer. His body acts on its free will, following the trail of lust and lonely nights he has had for too many years.

“What is so special about him?” Jesse mumbles, maybe not meant for Gabriel to hear.

What is so special? Gabriel wonders.

If Hanzo were Jesse, would Gabriel had been so bold? Would they be standing on the spot, about to kiss and fall into bed and ignore the world? Would Gabriel be this gentle and take his sweet time? Or devour Jesse on the spot?

It’s not that Hanzo was special compared to Jesse. Is that he wasn’t Jesse. It wasn’t special, it was easy. A one-time thing to release the tension and need his body craves. To pretend Hanzo’s touch is Jesse’s and fool himself into allowing to feel.

He moves and Hanzo’s mouth meets him halfway. It’s deep right off the bat. Hanzo doesn’t hold back as he wraps his arms around Gabriel’s neck and Gabriel holds his waist. Hanzo feels lighter than Gabriel expected compared to the muscles on his arms and chest. His hands are rough enough to pretend they are Jesse’s and that has Gabriel pulling Hanzo into the bed.

They kiss for the longest time Gabriel has ever kissed somebody. The moans Hanzo releases sound close enough to belong to someone else if Gabriel keeps his eyes closed. He can feel it escalating the way Hanzo grinds down as he saddles Gabriel’s hips and the way he holds Gabriel’s face as the kiss goes unbreakable. Gabriel nips at his bottom lip and pulls gently. The growl he receives has his spine tingling.

“Gabe?” Jesse asks, maybe for the first time or fifth, Gabriel had muted it all out.

Gabriel can feel Hanzo pushing him down. Their lips have not parted and Gabriel can feel both of their hard members through the clothes, brushing one another and the heat spreading up their bodies.

When they finally break away Gabriel has a dagger to his throat.

Hanzo pants above him, lips swollen and eyes just as sharp as the blade. “Gabriel Reyes.”

Gabriel licks his lips and pants a little himself. He sees no point in hiding it anymore. “Hanzo Shimada.”

“What’s happenin’?” Jesse asks.

“I thought you had retired. I should have known better a man like you cannot stay away from action too long.”

“I do different kinds of work these days,” Gabriel says calmly, keeping Jesse from panicking.

“And you think you fooled me?”

“I’ve got you here, didn’t I?” Gabriel says, leaving his hands by both sides of his head as a sign of peace.

“I wasn’t going to let you be near my brother any longer.”

“Ah, the big brother role. I get it. But that isn’t the only role you’ve taken, is it?”

The dagger briefly touches Gabriel’s skin. “Is that why you’re here? To get to my family?”

“No. I listened to a bombing thread sent to a police station here. Wasn’t being taken seriously so I decided to look into it. Once I saw you, I knew it couldn’t be a coincidence.” Gabriel lies with that first thing he can think off that he knows would appalled Hanzo.

Hanzo grimaces down at him. “My family is above taking innocent lives.”

“Your history says different.”

“My father’s history, and he never did such things.”

“So yours will be different?”

“Mine is not any of your business.” Hanzo pauses and tilts his head. “But another might be.”

Gabriel raises an eyebrow in question.

“You must have heard of Talon.”

“Maybe.”

“They reached out to my father once, but he turned them down.” As Hanzo says the tale, he can’t seem to hide the sadness he still feels for his loss. “As soon as he died, I believed they had been involved, and even searched for one of them. They found me at my weakest point, luckily, Genji had left Hanamura for some time off after the funeral.”

Gabriel remains quiet because he doesn’t know what to say that will keep that dagger from tearing his skin.

“They were direct. They wanted the Shimada name by their side. I still refused.”

“How did they take it?”

“Not lightly. Like everyone else, I might be the clan’s leader, but they do not see me as it. That so that people within the clan were not happy to my refusal of allying with Talon.”

“If it makes you feel better, I think that was a good option.”

“Because they are horrible?”

“No, because you can’t trust Talon. Why would you rely your clan on them?”

“Exactly. But they did not see it that way. Yet, I do not regret my decision. I do want to better the clan, but...” Hanzo trails off, yet the hold on the dagger doesn’t falter. “It is not easy.”

“And Talon after you makes it harder,” Gabriel adds.

Hanzo only nods.

“If we can cut them out of the picture--”

Hanzo chuckles. “You are not asking for an alliance, are you?”

“Guess not,” Gabriel half jokes. 

“We would simply not work, trust me. I do not need any more reason for my clan to think I am not worthy of guiding them. Bringing you in would only make things worse.”

“Then help me get Talon off your back, and on mine. I need to get to them, somehow.”

Hanzo tilts his head softly. “Anthony Baltimore. He invited me to his club even after I refused. He said he didn’t care whether I joined Talon or not, just that we remained friends. It’s in his own private island near Bora Bora, hard to miss. Rich men get together to disgust their affairs, gamble, trade weapons, try drugs and who knows what else. Do what you can with this information.”

“I’ll have Kimura look him up right away,” Jesse says to Gabriel.

“That should do.”

“Can I ask for a favor?”

“No,” Jesse says.

Gabriel shrugs. “You’re holding the knife.”

“If anything were to happen to my brother, if you knew of danger to him, try to reach him before it does.”

“You trust me with him?”

Hanzo sighs and smiles sadly. “I am running low on who I can trust.”

Gabriel nods. “I’ll keep an eye out as much as I can.”

Hanzo raised a warning eyebrow. “But not too much.”

Gabriel laughs then looks down at the dagger and at Hanzo. “Is this what you kids do on pillow talks nowadays?”

Hanzo humms. “Want me to show you what we do before, old man?”

Gabriel bites his lip, though his member had softened a little bit to all the talk about the clan and a terrorist group, he can’t say it will take long for him to be interested again.

Hanzo smiles. “You must be very good at lying. Back at the bar, I almost forgot who you were by the way you spoke to me.”

“Wasn’t hard, to be honest. I just have to look at you and poetry spills out of me.”

Hanzo snorts and grabs Gabriel’s left hand to have a look at his fingers. “With that charm, I would expect a ring.”

“Never had one.”

“So there’s no one waiting for you at home?”

“It’s over, Reyes,” Jesse says.

“No”

“Then shall we continue? It is obvious it has been a while for you, commander. I have no problem with moving forward and act like nothing happened in the morning.”

Gabriel bites the inside of his cheek as he thinks. Meanwhile Jesse continues to tell him how he should stop. How it’s not necessary anymore, and how it could be a trap.

“If anyone is stopping you, trust me, they aren’t worth you waiting around for them if you are here with me—”

Gabriel sits up and pulls Hanzo’s hand down, keeping the dagger far away from Gabriel’s neck. His free hand covers Hanzo’s mouth as he says, “Don’t you dare say that.”

Hanzo’s gaze turns wicked. He has found a weakness in Gabriel.

Gabriel slowly drops his hand from Hanzo’s mouth, leaving his lips parted and near Gabriel’s. Once again, Gabriel closes his eyes.

“I know you are not working alone.” Hanzo passes Gabriel’s lips and says to his ear. “Unless you want to give your partner a show, I would turn off any hearing device you might have on you.”

“Hell no! Reyes, you’ve crossed the line. And that’s comin’ from the guy that crosses it every other week, you say it yourself.”

Hanzo leans back and looks at Gabriel, smiling. Did he hear Jesse? Does he know who Hawke is?

He has to protect Jesse, so he does what Hanzo says. But it’s not like is some kind of black mail. Gabriel can protect Jesse any other way, no archer would stop that. Is that his body as awaken to the young and foreign touch of another and Gabriel needs to release the lust he has been having. Whether is with Jesse or not.

And that’s the thing again. It’s not Jesse, so it’ll be easier to wake up in the morning and leave instead of daydreaming of a life together that cannot happen.

“Reyes? Reyes! Don’t you dare mute me!”

Gabriel presses his fingers into the small device and, by the small censor detecting a portion of his finger print, it goes off.

M c C r e e

Jesse paces from one side of the room in the shadiest motel Reyes could find in the area. The bed squeaks too much, the floorboard creaks to almost every step and there’s a stench Jesse can’t say if it’s blood or something else. The smell of Tobacco hides it for now as he sucks on a cigar, pushing the smoke through is nose as he checks his phone, nothing from Gabriel yet at four in the morning.

The door opens and Jesse halts, crossing his arms and taps his foot as Gabriel appears, surprised to see him there.

“What the hell was that, Reyes?”

“Watch how you talk to me,” Gabriel says, beanie off and the neck of his shirt stretched out more than before. “You’re out of position.”

“I’m out of position?!” Jesse points at himself. “Ya told me not to fuck ‘em, ‘n’ then ya go right on ahead ‘n’ do it.”

“It was for the mission,” Gabriel says, and Jesse smells through Shimada’s cologne into his lie. “You were willing to do it.”

“Exactly, but you were against it. And then ya mute me?”

“Now you know how it feels.” Gabriel begins to pull his shirt up as he walks to a thin and wobbly dining table.

Jesse’s mouth parts and closes in a thin line at the crimson marks on Gabriel’s back that look like nail tracks. “Did you torture him or did he torture you?”

Gabriel turns around and actually has a shit eating grin. “You could say I did the torturing by the way he was screaming.”

Jesse sucks hard on his cigar and coughs. “Don’t need to hear the details.” He doesn’t need to know the man he has had feelings for, the god amongst man, also fucks good enough to break someone as stoic as Hanzo Shimada.

Gabriel walks around the bed and sits on the edge of it. The moonlight shines on him, leaving his back to the shadow, good to hide those marks. Jesse still looks away, unable to say much else. He doesn’t want to talk about it, besides all he heard before Gabriel muted him was enough. Seems Hanzo is not up to anything bad, and he’s very protective of his brother even if both are on different sides when it comes to the clan.

Gabriel groans softly, earning his attention again. Jesse sees him circling his head and rubbing the back of his neck.

“You hurt?”

“No, just neck pains.” Gabriel laughs tiredly. “I’m too old to be picking up young men at bars. Especially once with such stamina.”

“I don’t wanna hear it,” Jesse says and Gabriel snorts, but his hand continues to rub at a spot on his neck. Jesse steps closer and it’s relieved to see no bruise or teeth marks. “Let me help ya out.”

Jesse crawls and kneels behind Gabriel who stiffens when the cowboy places his hands on his shoulders.

“What are you doing?”

“Massage. It helps,” Jesse says and starts moving his thumbs softly. Jesse whistles when he feels the tight muscles under Gabriel’s clothes. “Ya got some knots.”

“I call them agents,” Gabriel says and Jesse can hear the sarcasm, the perk on his voice that make him huff.

Jesse starts pressuring in after Gabriel doesn’t say anything or pushes him away. He guesses is because the commander is too tired and stressed to actually do anything. And it’s not like they’ve got better things to do. The Shimadas will be leaving France soon, then it’s back to base to figure out their next move. Jesse knows Gabriel won’t be satisfied with Hanzo’s word and he will still keep an eye on them. As for Jesse, he won’t stop wondering if Reyes will meet with Hanzo again. If this will become an affair that will tear the division apart. The Shimadas are dangerous, and, though Hanzo thinks Reyes is not directly involved with Overwatch anymore, that doesn’t mean he trusts him enough to also keep his attention away from Gabriel. If Hanzo ever finds out Gabriel lied to him that might be a problem Blackwatch won’t be able to run away from.

“Is that better?” Jesse asks after a while of feeling Gabriel’s body relaxed.

“It is,” Gabriel says and looks over his shoulder at Jesse. “Thanks, vaquero.”

His words certainly make Jesse feel better. He smiles at him and dares to wink. Mostly out of habit. Then his gaze wonders to Gabriel’s lips and all he wants is to cover Hanzo’s taste with his own. For Gabriel to drink Jesse down like a strong shot and forget the night that shouldn’t have happened. McCree has a chance to erase all of it. To explain why he hated the situation and what Gabriel did. But he had no right to do so, did he? Gabriel does not belong to Jesse. Yet, somehow, Gabriel has found a way to trap Jesse’s heart around his finger and root himself in his core until that is all Jesse thinks about.

“Gabe…” Jesse trails off. He did not plan a confession; his words beat him to his thoughts.

Jesse hears the shattering of a glass too late, but Gabriel moves quicker than whatever it is that crashes through the window. He pushes Jesse down, covering him with his body. McCree remains pinned between the mattress and Reyes as his heart quickens, and he can feel Gabriel’s is just the same.

“You alright?” Gabriel asks, coming face to face with McCree.

Jesse can just lift an inch and steal what he has wanted for years. He could say all he has felt without a single word. Instead he swallows the desire and nods.

Both look at the wall across the room, at a lower angle than where the window shattered, there’s a bullet hole.

“Slide off, I’ll cover you,” Gabriel says. “The angel is too low to be—” He chokes when a second shot comes.

“Gabriel!” Jesse’s hand searches over Gabriel’s back at any sign of the wound. Gabriel lowers, pressing Jesse’s body against his own and quickly rolls them off the bed, out of sight from the window.

“You all right?”

“Me? Yer the one that got shot!” Jesse scrambles to his knees and gently leans Gabriel off the wall so he can have a look at the wound. It hit his shoulder.

“We have to get out of here,” Gabriel says, trembling and wincing.

Jesse looks at the door. “We’ll get shot on our way out. And the window is no used. We have to take out the sniper.”

“Think you can do it, vaquero?”

Jesse huffs and pulls out his revolver and winks. “With one eye closed.”

He has less than a second to find the sniper before he shoots first. By the angle of the hole in the wall, Jesse can take a good guess of where the target is. He takes a deep breath, peaks with his gun and fires at the same time the sniper fires back. The bullet being aimed hire than Jesse tells him he hit his mark.

Both wait and Jesse can’t take the groans and wincing of pain coming from Gabriel. “Think he’s gone. We have to move. Get someone from the team to help ya.”

Gabriel nods.

Jesse helps Gabriel up, making sure to stay behind cover. They hurry as fast as they can to the door and no bullet comes after them. They get to the gloomy street in the morning light, hiding in the shadows they can. Gabriel has one arm draped over Jesse as McCree holds him so Gabriel can support his weight on him.

“I knew I had to keep a closer eye on you.”

They halt to the teasing voice, and Jesse pulls out his gun in the blink of an eye. If anyone else wanted to take a shot at Gabriel, they are gonna have to be faster than him.

Genji pouted as he looked at the revolver. “I thought we were friends, Hawke.”

“Do friends send snipers after each other?”

Genji frowns. “Of course not. Who did you pissed off? Another one of Tamaki’s friends?”

“Doubt it.” Jesse holsters his gun. “They went after Reyes. Did your brother not like that Gabriel didn’t stay the whole night?”

“If Hanzo were mad at Reyes he would deal with him face to face, believe me.” Genji crossed his arms. “Though, me on the other hand, I’m not my brother.”

“So it was you?” Gabriel asked, groaning.

“I should have sent it, shouldn’t I. You lied to me, Hawke.” Genji presses his hand to his chest and feigns hurt. “I should have known better than to trust a handsome American.”

“Sorry, darlin’, it’s my job,” Jesse says, sounding as easy going as he can. He’s not sure where the conversation is going, and if Genji can be trusted at all.

Genji turns, slipping one hand into the pocket of his shorts and the other signals them to follow. “Come with me.” He starts walking, expecting them to follow.

“Follow him,” Gabriel orders.

“You need help,” Jesse hisses.

“If he wanted us dead, he would have done it by now. Besides, I don’t want to risk the position of the other agents.”

Jesse remains looking at Gabriel. He starts wondering if his commander will make it. He tells himself ‘sure he will, it’s Reyes’, but as the spark of Gabriel’s eyes dim, doubt clouds Jesse’s thoughts. He follows Genji, who had waited a few steps ahead.

Jesse shifts on his feet as he watches very carefully at Hanzo taking care of Gabriel’s wound. A doctor Shimada had called already took the bullet out and dealt with the most dangerous part. Hanzo said he wanted to seal the wound and take care of the rest. Jesse has no doubt he just wanted to touch Gabriel again, or maybe it was just jealousy talking. Still he didn’t miss the way Hanzo’s hand trailed over Gabriel’s wound and shoulder when he was done.

“You should feel better soon, if what I know about you is correct.”

Jesse bites his tongue to keep the words ‘you know nothing about him’ from being said. Instead he thanks Hanzo. “We’ll get out of yer hair now.”

“Why did you help me?” Gabriel asks Genji, who’s lounging on one of the couches of their expensive hotel suite. “Why were you there in the first place?”

“Do you think I’m not going to make sure my brother’s hot lover isn’t a bad guy?” Genji points at Hanzo. “He might be smart, but a good dick can cloud his judgment.”

“May I remind you I knew who he was before you did?” Hanzo says, folding his arms and looking at Genji like someone that’s about to break their brother’s gaming console in revenge.

“Ya recovered pretty well from our outin’,” Jesse points out.

“Trust me, I still feel like puking what I ate all day yesterday, but I know how to handle it.” He grabs something from his side and throws it at Gabriel. “Runs big on me so it might fit you.”

When Gabriel lifts the piece of clothing both he and Jesse see it’s a bright green jersey jacket.

“Thanks,” Gabriel mumbles bitterly while Jesse snickers.

“Cover yourself already, will you? Hanzo’s drooling is making me sicker.”

Hanzo spats something in Japanese, but Genji laughs back at him, unbothered by it.

“He’ll stop soon. We appreciate your hospitality, but we should get going.” Jesse’s glad when Gabriel stands up, already wearing the very colorful jacket.

“Do you have any idea who was the attacker?” Hanzo asks Gabriel.

“If it wasn’t coming from Tamaki, Talon is the obvious answer.”

Hanzo touches his chin with his fingers in thought. “Do they know you and I met? They might think we have an alliance.”

“Which is bad for them since they want the Shimada, badly from what you told me.”

“I have received no other contact from them since after the funeral, besides Anthony’s invitation, but this tells me they have been keeping an eye on me. On us.”

“Is there anything you’ve done that might have called their attention again?” Gabriel and Hanzo talk as if they’re the only ones in the room. It reminds Jesse of the times he and Gabriel discuss missions quickly after or before briefings. He frowns and can’t help but think he’s acting like a child when his lips trembles in a small pout.

“Killing Tamaki is the only thing we’ve done that would get their attention. And I doubt they would care for someone like him.”

“Have you been savin’ cats on trees and kissin’ babies besides that?” Jesse asks.

Hanzo only glances at Jesse before setting his attention back on Gabriel.

“Tamaki is someone they would like to meet,” Gabriel continues the subject.

“Yeah,” Jesse cuts in, walking closer to the two. “He managed to fool you for a long time after betraying your father. Talon wants people like that.”

“And yet, if they are watching me, they didn’t save him,” Hanzo says, not looking happy at all that Jesse was talking.

“They want you more,” Gabriel adds. “I suggest you leave already.”

“We were, but then my brother disappeared, making me delay our flight back,” Hanzo glares at Genji.

“I was only watching over you, dear brother.”

“I also advise you to do the same. With us gone, you have no business left in France.”

Gabriel smirks. “How are you sure?”

Hanzo reflects the same smirk that hides an inner joke between both. One Jesse wants to be a part of, but at the same time not. “Now that I know Hawke works for you, I am sure we were your target all along. I will let this one slide.”

“This one?”

Hanzo nods once, firmly. “But if you ever step one foot in Hanamura, and I see your agent near my brother, I’ll make sure it’ll be a visit you won’t forget.”

Jesse’s eyes widen surprisingly at the threat coated with a sweet promise. The way Gabriel’s smile turns into a thin line lets him know Reyes spotted the warning as well.

Jesse sits on Gabriel’s office two days after their return from France. He hadn’t written his report yet, for some reason it had been hard to write it. He was stuck on the part where Gabriel met Hanzo. He couldn’t get past the period of the last sentence that had blackened by the many times he pressed his pen to it. Gabriel had told him, since they are the only once that know what happened, to keep the motel part out of it. Gabriel didn’t need any scolding or talk from Morrison, or any of the higher-ups. So this left Jesse wondering what he should write. That they just talked at the bar? It sounds simple, but Jesse can’t even believe it himself knowing the truth.

“Why do we have to do these by hand again?” Jesse asks, already knowing the answer as authentication and making sure no one can access them before they are saved in Overwatch’s data. At this point he’s procrastinating. “I don’t remember having to write this much since I was in school.” He looks at Gabriel, sitting on his desk, the end of a pen pressed to his lips as he looks at something on his tablet.

“Jefe?”

“What?” Gabriel says, oblivious to what Jesse had said before.

“You’ve been distracted since we got back.” Jesse puts together the three of four sheets of paper he had in front of him and neatly lines them up by tapping the bottom edge on the coffee table. He has dreaded asking, but can no longer contain it. “Could it be that yer missin’ a certain archer?”

“No,” Gabriel answers too cold and soon to be a lie, but it is Gabriel.

Jesse looks at him, wondering if it’s true. Finally, for the first time in the last two days, Gabriel meets Jesse’s eyes.

“I don’t, Jesse.”

“Is it Talon?” Jesse stands and sits in front of Gabriel’s desk.

Gabriel nods. “It makes my skin crawl knowing they were watching us. Knowing what I did, maybe.”

“I didn’t picture you as someone that shies easily.”

“It’s not about being shy about something like that, but you don’t want to give someone like Talon something they can use as a weakness.”

“Ya said ya weren’t missin’ him.”

“And I don’t. But I’m not about to let them kill Hanzo or Genji for that.”

“They would have done it already, wouldn’t they? ‘N’ they went after you. It’s obvious they want the Shimadas alive for somethin’.”

Gabriel nods, but he doesn’t look convinced. His gaze goes distant again. Before he gets too distracted by his own thoughts, Jesse asks, “Do you regret what you did? With Hanzo?” He doesn’t know what answer he wants to hear.

“It was fun.”

Jesse smiles weakly. Maybe if it had been a yes it would have been good for Jesse’s ego. But he can’t say he would be happy hearing Gabriel regrets something he did. “Then don’t feel bad about it. Ya lived. Hanzo’s alive, sadly.”

Gabriel barks a laugh. “I thought you said he liked you.”

Jesse waves him off. “Not my type.”

“Who is then?”

“My type?” The question gets Jesse off guard.

“Yeah,” Gabriel replies, nonchalantly.

Jesse shrugs and leans back in his chair. “I go with how I feel, y’know? I ain’t picky.”

“Well, that I’ve noticed. Didn’t even know why I asked.”

“Because ya wanted to avoid talkin’ about what you did.”

Gabriel huffs and looks away.

“Don’t feel bad, boss. If ya liked it, then it’s all good. It’s nice to feel wanted once in a while, even if it is by an heir to a yakuza clan.”

Gabriel laughs and it feels too honest and contagious for Jesse to not follow. The fiery orange from the sunset sky reflected on Gabriel’s skin, he was glowing with energy from the sun itself. It makes Jesse happy, but also ache since he is not the reason he put such a star in Gabriel.

Still, Jesse smiles because as long as he can see Gabriel this bright, it should be enough for now. Shouldn’t it?

They get a weird warning months after. The signal comes from the Shimada palace, urging them to come. Jesse is with Gabriel in his office after both had passed out from exhaustion caused by an all night steak-out mission that led nowhere. Jesse had to pretend waking up on top of Gabriel meant nothing when they got the call because there had been no time to dwell on it.

When they reached the palace it wasn’t as nice inside as Jesse had expected. There were arrows and broken pillars as well as slashes and holes on the wall. A banner set on the entrance of the main building had been stained with blood and who belonged to was left below it.

Gabriel and Jesse couldn’t believe they were taking Genji Shimada back to base. Not because of who he was, but in the state he was left. His green hair was covered in dried blood. Half of his body was burnt and he had one arm and leg missing. Yet he showed signs of life.

Back at base, Jesse joins Gabriel in his office after another all-nighter of them watching the doctors operate on Genji behind a glass window. By the end of it, he had to offer the doctor, Angela Zieggler, Overwatch’s newest best doctor and who would not give up on Genji, a cup of warm tea and pills for her to sleep, which she took gratefully.

“Who would do such a thing?” Jesse asks, taking his hat off and pushing his hair back.

“Who is the one that wasn’t there? Who said he would harm us if he saw you near Genji again?”

“Hanzo?” The thought was crazy, even for Jesse. “He couldn’t.”

“Though parts of the palace were damaged, the wreck was too neat to have been an ambush.”

“He… he destroyed his brother.”

“I could be wrong.” Gabriel presses his fingers to his closed eyes. “Could be Talon for all I know, but why wasn’t Hanzo present?”

“They took him? I’m not saying Hanzo is the most innocent guy, but he couldn’t have done this.”

“It wouldn’t surprise me. We don’t hear of them for months and now this happens?” Gabriel sits on the couch. “Something must have happened in the clan itself.”

“Besides Hanzo, there was no track of anyone. It was like it was expected a battle would happen.” Jesse sits beside him. “Not even a sign of the elders.”

“The elders?”

Jesse looks at Gabriel. “I thought ya knew. They have these council made of other members of the clan. I dug up some information on that after our meeting in France. But that’s all I could find from the clan.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Thought ya knew.”

Gabriel’s gaze darts from side to side and he softly says, “He mentioned other people in the clan weren’t happy about him as a leader. This makes more sense.” Gabriel stands. “If no one was there, like you pointed it out, this was planned. And if those elders advised Hanzo, they must have had issues with Genji.”

“And they really had such control to make Hanzo kill his brother?”

“If this is all true, then yes.”

“Shit,” Jesse leans back.

Gabriel rubs the back of his neck as he stretches it and sighs. “It has been a long day. Not use thinking about it now or trying to find a solution. Get some sleep, vaquero. We have more long days and questions ahead of us.”

Jesse nods. “Mind if I sleep here again? Mighty comfy,” he half jokes, ready to be kicked out.

“The one in my room’s comfier,” Gabriel smiles and nods for Jesse to follow. “I’m not going to bed anytime soon, could use a hand with some paperwork I need finished for tomorrow.”

“I see,” Jesse says, standing up. “Well, yer finally allowin’ me close to yer bed, how can I say no?”

Chapter Text

R e y e s

Death is said to be cloaked, and a hood shadows it’s face so mortals can look into an abyss before they die. Many depictions show it with a scythe. But this death wasn’t bones and smoke or any cloak, it was metal and wires, with red eyes that stared down into Reyes as he pinned the commander to a wall. Instead of a scythe he had a pen Gabriel had carelessly left on his desk. Gabriel should have known better he wasn’t dealing with an ordinary person, but with a Shimada. Someone who probably knows at least twenty ways of killing him with such an item.

Even so, Gabriel stares back at Genji with no fear or sins to confess to.

“I can tolerate the name calling,” Gabriel says, too calmly for the situation, “but I draw the line at being threatened with a pen, Shimada.”

The point of the pen pokes at Gabriel’s neck. “You promised me I would be the one to do it.”

“Yes, when you were ready. This doesn’t look ready to me.”

“You lying bastard!”

“You are in no condition of storming in there. Besides, Talon stopped being our issue.”

“Since when?”

Gabriel scoffs. “Since your former clan decided to be their ally.”

The red in Genji’s eyes grew wider and turned to the color of blood. Of vengeance.

“Look, I get it. You want them dead, but Overwatch is taking care of it, mostly.” Gabriel adds remembering Gerard is still involved in the Talon problem. “We have other fish to fry. And you are far from ready to step into the field.”

Half of Genji’s mouth lifts up in a smirk. His gaze is still dangerous, but there’s a hint of that mischievous young man Gabriel met almost a year ago. “Does this not look ready to you?”

Gabriel shrugs and looks away, playing defeated. It manages to fool Genji enough for Gabriel to get him off him and to pin him, head against the desk. The pen clatters to the floor, away from the ninja’s grasp as well as anything else he could use. Not that he could use his hands, his wrists are both bound by one of Gabriel’s hands.

“It doesn’t.”

The door slides open and McCree steps inside. His eyes widen to the scene and he asks, “Am I interrupting somethin’?”

“Get out of here, Jesse,” Gabriel tells him. He can handle Genji, but if Genji decides it’s one of those days were he doesn’t like McCree then Gabriel isn’t sure the cowboy can hold him off.

“Genji has a soft spot for me,” Jesse teases, folding his arms. “Ain’t that right, pumpkin’?”

“Fuck off.”

“That’s his way of sayin’ he loves me.”

“Not helping,” Gabriel says when Genji struggles. He lets Genji go and steps aside, hands in the air. “Do you still want to kill me?”

Genji is quiet for a few seconds, then he says hoarsely. “There is only one person I have thought of killing, and yet...” He trails off.

“Go to the range, Genji. Blow off that steam running through your circuits. Once you’ve cooled down, we can keep talking about the clan.”

Genji says nothing but he leaves calmly. Once the door closes behind him, Jesse walks towards the desk.

“You all right, jefe?”

“Fought off worse,” Gabriel sighs. “I don’t know how are you still alive.” Jesse was the first to talk to Genji when Zieggler allowed it. Genji remembered him, and he also remembered Gabriel, but that did nothing but receive a killer glare. Gabriel was sure why, but he didn't dare to voice it. Hanzo.

“What has him riled up?”

“A former Shimada clan member was spotted dealing with Talon. He wants to start his revenge journey and go after them. I cannot allow it.”

“What about the brother?” Jesse takes one of the chairs in front of the desk. “Any sign of him?”

Gabriel shakes his head. “Four months after Genji’s accident, it was reported Hanzo disappeared, but the palace remained secured and even showed activity.”

“We’ve ran through the possibility of it being a setup or distraction. Makin’ people think the clan has no leader.”

“But it leaves them vulnerable to attacks from enemies.”

“Enough to maybe lure them in with a false sense of security.” Jesse raises an eyebrow, and smiles.

“Fair point, smart ass. But there’s no proof of it. No one has attacked or tried to enter.”

“Seems he’ll be a mystery,” Jesse say, short and simple, a way to drop the topic. Gabriel doesn’t say anything else about Hanzo. Is actually good for them that the clan isn’t active, but it can also be dangerous in the long run. “Are we really not going after Talon?”

Gabriel shakes his head. “As long as Gerard doesn’t need us. He prefers to take care of it on the down low. He searches for secrets, leads, hideouts, then Overwatch forms an attack. An organization like Talon needs someone like Overwatch to take it down.”

“So they get the credit.”

“So the world knows they are safe thanks to Overwatch.” Gabriel picks up a stack of papers that spread during his hold on Genji and taps them against the desk. “I know it’s not always fun to be in the shadows, but trust me, it’s better.” Gabriel can only think of Jack when he says such words. His hair graying sooner than it should. The years catching up to him in the form of worry lines and bags under his eyes. Gabriel might have his rough days, but at least he can sort of keep a personal life. Jack, well, him and Vincent have been on a rocky path lately and Gabriel isn’t sure he can even fix it with one of his wingman missions.

Then again, Gabriel’s personal life is not in shambles because he doesn’t have someone to turn to once the commander title comes off. It’s just him.

He looks at Jesse and his heart shrinks when the cowboy is already looking at him with his soft smile, like he’s reading all of Gabriel’s thoughts. Reyes wants to look away, but McCree will be parting after dinner for a quick mission in Tampa and Gabriel just wants a few more minutes. A few more hours or days, or months. A lifetime.

“Gun’ miss me, sugar?”

Gabriel chuckles and turns on his chair. “Won’t even notice when you leave. Better yet, why are you waiting until tonight? Shuttle’s all ready to go.”

Jesse laughs softly, looking away from Gabriel. “Got a few more stuff to do before leavin’. Besides, drills are in a bit, gotta warm up.”

“That’s true,” Gabriel says and checks his clock. It’s just after breakfast and he should be heading down to join his division, but the warm and cozy feeling of being in his office with Jesse has put him in a lazy mood. A mood that he craves when he goes to bed after work and wants someone to hold, or to hold him.

Gabriel clears his throat and stands. “If you’re plan is to ramble on about random things so I miss drills, you’ve failed. Come.”

“I will anytime, anyplace you ask, sir.”

Gabriel smacks him with the rolled up papers he took with himself on his way to the door, not daring to even speak while the filthy image of Jesse coming at his order plays in his head. It has gotten to the point where Jesse can say any stupid shit like that, like he always has, and gets a reaction from Gabriel. The simplest things can either lead to longing and intimate thoughts to Gabriel, or sinful images that he keeps for later.

That’s why Gabriel makes sure he picks Kimura as his own volunteer and partner to show what the team will be working on.

M c C r e e

McCree sits at the driver's seat of a nice car. It’s worth more than what he makes a year. Once he saw it, he knew he had fallen in love twice during his lifetime. But like the first, he knew it would not be possible. Once the mission was over he would have to part with such beauty.

His job is to escort Doctor Cloven to a private airport and they would go to Australia from there. The surgeon had received a heads up that he would be dead by the end of the week after he helped a woman escape a gang she didn’t want to be a part of anymore by giving her a new face. The poor man had already been tortured one night, but he never gave up information on the woman. They gave him a second chance, but if he didn’t talk then that would be his last.

Jesse’s task had been to go Doctor Cloven’s home and grabbed the already packed suitcases hidden behind a hollowed bookcase. They had very little inside since the doctor would be leaving everything behind to start new. Not the easiest move or the best, but at least he had no close family he cared about. He had no strings on America or on his life for him to risk it.

Doctor Cloven would meet Jesse at the parking lot of a supermarket after going around town for a while, making sure to lose anyone who was following. That’s where Jesse waits, under a lamppost, parked on a spot that’s crowded to blend in, even if the expensive car stands out. Against Jesse’s suggestions to not take the vehicle since it would be recognizable, but it was the doctor’s wish to drive his baby one last time 

Jesse stares at the window when someone knocks, and his eyes widen when he sees Genji. In nothing but a hoodie covering his upper body and head. The cyborg goes around the car and opens the door to sit on the passenger sit.

“There are two inside the market. One on the sidewalk across the street, and another in the parlor,” Genji informs.

“What are you doin’ here?” Jesse is sure Gabriel has not given him the green light to take Genji anywhere.

“Reyes wants to know if I’m ready.” Genji’s eyes narrow. “This will show him.”

“Gen, this is the wrong way to go.”

“Trust me.” Genji looks at Jesse like he has a secret. “It is the right way. You better pick the doctor right beside his car when he gets down. Those guys won’t hesitate to call for backup.”

Jesse looks out at the parking lot and sees a gray small car. He starts his and quickly crosses the doctor as he’s about to park the decoy vehicle. Jesse signals him to hurry up. The doctor turns off the car and rushes to the one Jesse’s driving. He’s carrying a messenger bag probably filled with last minute things.

The doctor opens the door and Genji dashes to the back seat as the sound of a bullet rings. Jesse looks over his shoulder, too late to pull out his revolver, but there’s no need. Genji has reflected the bullet meant for Cloven and hits the gang member instead. Genji pulls Cloven into the car and shuts the door. Jesse drives away quickly before another shot fires.

“They know?” Doctor Cloven asks, panic in his voice.

“Don’t worry, we’ll get ya out of here in no time,” Jesse promises.

“Left,” Genji says and Jesse doesn’t have time to hesitate. A car is coming up on their lane. Jesse makes a sharp turn into a one way street and out to another.

“Right.”

“This isn’t the way,” Jesse says, still takes the turn.

“I scouted a different route for this scenario. Left.”

Jesse decides to listen to him. After a few turns, they don’t have anyone on their tail and Jesse can ease back into the civilians driving at normal speed. Still he keeps a clear eye around, and he’s sure Genji has even better sight on it.

It’s a smooth ride after that. They get the doctor into the shuttle after a teary goodbye to the car, and it’s off to Australia. Jesse has enough time to come up with what he’s going to tell Reyes once they land back at base.

Gabriel has his arms crossed in front of Jesse and Genji. It’s been around forty-eight hours since they last saw him. And Jesse’s sure Gabriel had known about Genji’s plan since the second the shuttle left base.

“Well?” Gabriel asks.

“I let him on, jefe,” Jesse finally says.

“It’s true,” Genji adds and half of Jesse wants to hit him.

“I felt bad, y’know how I was when ya didn’t let me go on missions. I wanted to help him. And he helped a lot back there. If we would have gone the route you and I went through, the doctor might not have made it.”

“Maybe neither had Jesse.”

“He would have,” Gabriel assure Genji, but it’s not with pride, more with guilt of what would have happened if Jesse didn’t. As if he was telling that to himself. Gabriel looks back at Jesse and says, “you both disobeyed orders. Do you think this will get me to trust Shimada?”

“I behaved,” Genji says.

“He only killed one person and that was because they shot first.”

“How impressive. Why don’t I give him my spot?”

“Am I just a joke to you?” Genji asks, anger rising.

“No, you’re a child, just like this one was when he joined in.”

“Hey!”

“You might have behaved, but you disobeyed me. I know when you, my team, is ready to go. I knew Jesse could handle that by himself. And I definitely know you are not ready to face your clan.”

There’s a silence that sends Jesse on edge. He fears Genji would jump over the desk and slice Gabriel’s throat.

“You must see the difference, Genji. I know you do,” Gabriel says, calmer than before. Talking to Genji as someone trying to help instead of a commander. A voice that still butters Jesse and would make him bend at Gabriel’s will. “Yes, you might be ready for small jobs like this one. But I will not put you at risk by throwing you back to those wolves. Not for now.” Another pause, but Jesse feels the tension easing. “When the time comes, you will be the one to decide what will be done with them.”

It seems to suffice Genji as he nods once.

“Dismissed.”

Genji stands and leaves quietly. Jesse sighs and looks at Gabriel, a chill goes down he’s spine when he meets Gabriel scolding gaze.

“I know he sneaked on the shuttle. And you probably didn’t know until you landed.”

“Until I picked up the doctor, actually. The sneaky bastard roamed the city, scouting.”

“Better than leaving. I had a back-up team ready as I followed his tracker, making sure he wouldn’t go too far. Then again he could have taken it out of him and strapped it to a stray dog for all I know.”

“Be careful, he might still hear you. But I have a feeling he’s not the runaway type.”

“Not when he’s closer to the clan with us than on his own. But don’t think you’ll be let off that easy. I missed doing paperwork because of you two. Had me worried.”

“I knew you would miss me.”

Gabriel huffs. “I can order take-out food. Beers are in the fridge and my comfy sofa awaits. What do you say?”

“Sounds like a date more than a punishment.” Jesse stands up quickly. “I’m in. Let me refresh first.”

“Of course. I’ll meet you in my room.”

Jesse winks and finger guns him before leaving. Once in the hallway he hurries his steps, feeling giddy at the sudden plans with Gabriel. Paperwork never sounded so delightful. When he turns the corner, he’s met with Genji. But instead of the death glare, he has that young smirk Jesse hadn’t seen in months.

“I knew that if I did it with you, Gabriel would go easy on us.”

“Do what? Your li’l scheme?” Jesse places his hand on one hip. “Don’t think you’ll be let off that easy.”

“I do not wish for easy, McCree. Though in this case it helped. If I had sneaked off with another agent, I wouldn’t have heard the end of it. But with you? It felt like a pat on the back of my hand. I see how you get missions for yourself.”

“What does that mean?”

“You know exactly what it means,” Genji teases, but Jesse has the feeling is not meant to be all friendly. “Being the commander’s pet has his perks.”

Jesse suddenly has a feeling of déjà vu. “Have you been talking to Lance?”

“I don’t have to talk to anyone to know. It annoyed the hell out of you when Reyes fucked my brother.”

“Oh, right, that happened,” Jesse pretends like it didn’t. “Reyes does who he wants.”

“Doesn’t mean it didn’t kill you. I bet you heard it, too, huh?”

“I didn’t care enough to.”

“You should have. From what I remember my brother telling me, you would have gotten a pretty good picture of your commander fucking your brains out.”

“What do you get with this, Gen? If this is how you repay me for taking the heat off ya, I would have thrown you under the bus.”

“That’s my point, isn’t? When it comes to you, Gabriel is soft.”

“Enough. You think you know what you’re talkin’ about, but you’re like the rest.”

“Oh?” Genji cocks his head. “There are others who say these things? Maybe I should get to know Blackwatch a little more. Please, McCree, I am not trying to be mean. I simply find it fascinating how you both have managed to keep each other apart all this time. You might be a great agent on the field, but when it comes to Reyes, you are your worst enemy.” Genji turns. “Have fun on your date.”

“It isn’t…” Jesse trails off, deciding it’s best to ignore Genji and not even try to argue.

Jesse said it himself, didn’t he? Sounds like a date more than a punishment. It’s one thing when he says it, is another when someone else points it out. So what if Gabriel is soft on him? They have history. How they met is different than how the rest did. They didn’t get to meet Gabriel just to think they had lost him and then meet him all over again. Hey didn’t experience what Jesse did, how Gabriel treated him when no one was looking and when it felt like the world was as shitty as Deadlock. A name that is so deep in Jesse’s past, only one person can connect it to him. Reyes. But it’s not in a bad way. Not anymore. Instead of feeling like someone who messed up, Jesse sees it a growth. As rekindling what he once felt for a man he thought he knew, but got to meet at a better time and even deeper.

They don’t know what they’re talking about, Jesse tells himself as he takes a quick shower, changes and heads to Gabriel’s room. It’s not what they think.

And when Gabriel opens the door to Jesse, comfy in his pajama pants, a sweater and a smile, Jesse can’t help but be utterly smitten by the man all over again.

He has the same feeling in the morning, when Gabriel wakes him up, petting his hair. Jesse thinks he has caught Gabriel off guard since his eyes widen slightly, and he’s sure Gabriel blushes before he looks away. His face very close to Jesse allows him to dive into the pools of his eyes.

“Do you want coffee?”

“Sounds nice,” Jesse mumbles before a yawn.

Gabriel walks over to the kitchenette in his apartment and Jesse observes him. He already had two mugs out and coffee was almost done. After serving it, he joined Jesse on the couch and both sat to drink the first few sips in silence.

“I appreciate your help, vaquero.”

“It’s my pleasure, jefe.”

“But don’t worry, I won’t keep you here during our day off.”

“I slept so good, I might stay here willingly.”

“Or you can exchange your bed for a couch, you seem to be fond of those,” Gabriel says before he takes a sip.

“I think it’s the company around it I’m fonder of.”

Gabriel doesn’t say anything to that, but Jesse can still make up some pink on his cheeks. Maybe it's just the heat from the coffee mug.

Jesse can’t help but wonder about Genji. It goes back to what Lance said some time ago during an argument when he wasn’t himself. He has to know. “About Genji…”

Gabriel raises an eyebrow. “What about him?”

“If he had sneaked out with any other agent, would you have treated them the same?”

“What do you mean? Same as Genji?”

“No, as me, Gabriel.”

Jesse can see Gabriel’s tongue curling through his parted lips. Like he was about to answer, but took a few more seconds to think about it. “I knew you meant well, Jesse. You wanted to take the fall for him, but I knew you didn’t know about his plan.”

“Still, I could have contacted you. I allowed him with me all the way to Australia where he could have left, or done something bad. You didn’t even point that out.”

“You probably didn’t know what to do or how to act. I already had him tracked and was ready for anything. Maybe I was worried at first, but if anyone is to blame for it, is Genji. He knew he would be getting you in trouble.”

“No, that’s why he did it with me.”

Gabriel says nothing, maybe he doesn’t understand.

“He said he did it with me because you would go soft. And you did.”

“You want me to punish you, Jesse?”

“When you ask like that, what can a guy say?”

“I’m being serious.”

“So am I. Could you have been harder on me?”

“There was nothing to punish you for. It was his idea. He did it all by himself, somehow.”

“You didn’t even called to scold me about not calling you once I knew,” Jesse insists because he has to look for every detail about the mission. To know if he’s missing something. To see if he catches Gabriel faltering or messing up.

“You were on a mission. I would not compromise your safety for something I was aware of.”

“So you won’t admit it?” Jesse almost laughs.

“Admit what? You wanna know if I’m being soft on your for what? To be disappointed? We’re not in Deadlock, Jesse.”

“You don’t have to remind me.”

“And I don’t do it to hurt you, just to ground you.”

Jesse looks into Gabriel’s eyes and there’s where he catches him. They divert slightly for a second. “You know how I feel about ya. You’ve always known.”

“How you felt.”

“Don’t pretend now,” Jesse says and stands up. “I know you came to me the night after I won my medal. I was drunk. I must have said or done something.”

Gabriel places his half empty mug on the coffee table and also stands. “You were just upset.”

“Would you have gone to anyone else? Besides Jack or Ana, would you have?”

He catches Gabriel again in his hesitation to answer.

“If you’re being soft on me because you pity me and my feelings, then don’t.” Jesse brushes his hair back and laughs weakly at himself. “I don’t need you to baby me. Like you said, we’re not in Deadlock.”

“Jesse—” Gabriel’s phone rings over on the kitchen counter. The ringtone must be specific to someone since Gabriel’s expression changes to serious and he goes to it. Jesse doesn’t even hear when he answers or what he talks about.

“I have to go,” Gabriel says. “Gerard found one of Talon’s hideouts, Jack called me to be on his team and go check it out.”

“I’m comin’ with you,” Jesse says without a second thought.

“No. This is not a ride you can tag along, vaquero. And I’m ordering you. This time, there will be punishment if you disobey me, Jesse.” Gabriel sounds like a cold stranger compared to how he was a few seconds ago. Vulnerable and calm. Jesse, though worry about the news, knows he should not cross the line when it comes to Talon. And if Gabriel doesn’t want him to go is for a good reason.

Gabriel gets ready in his bedroom and when he comes out, ready to go, he doesn’t push Jesse out. He only says goodbye and that he will send reports and schedules depending on his time away. Jesse doesn’t waste time asking when he’ll return since it seems it will at least be a few days.

After Gabriel parts, Jesse stays in the apartment. He washes the mugs and the coffee pot. He cleans up the empty beer bottles and the mess of papers. He slouches back on the couch and drifts to sleep.

When he wakes up, he makes it back to his own room to get clean clothes and some food. It’s lunch when he reaches the cafeteria and finds Mitzy, Lance and Alice on a table.

“There you are!” Mitzy calls to him. “We went looking for you for breakfast. I wanted to try out the new café in town, but you didn’t answer.”

“Sorry, late night.”

“Were you even in your room?” Lance asks as Jesse takes the spot next to him.

“After you came back from your mission no one had seen you,” Alice points out. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, just long trip,” Jesse answers.

“Where did you rest?” Lance asks.

“My room, of course.”

“Kimura went looking for you earlier, after the commander left, but you weren’t in it.” Lance grins after he says it, enjoying the light gasps from Mitzy and Alice’s curious expression. He was waiting for the right moment to strike Jesse with that information.

“He went inside?”

“Since Reyes is off base, Kimura has access to all rooms as his second in command,” Mitzy tells him. “So you weren’t resting?”

“Well I was. Then I went for a jog to stretch my legs and get fresh air.”

“You don’t touch training grounds on days off,” Alice points out.

“First Shimada goes after me, now you? What have I done to you, people?” Jesse says, a little irritated.

“Wow, I’m just teasing,” Lance says.

Alice stretches out her hand to touch Jesse’s and get his attention. “We were worried we haven’t seen you in days, especially with what Shimada pulled.”

“You know?”

Mitzy nods. “Did he do something to you?”

“Nah, he’s actually harmless,” Jesse jokes. “I’m fine.”

“Then ignore Lance,” Mitzy says, rolling her eyes.

“He’s just upset the waitress at the café didn’t react to his flirting,” Alice says. “He will try to get a rise out of everyone that gets laid for the rest of the day.”

“Or that he thinks is getting laid,” Mitzy adds.

“You said it, not me,” Lance quickly says.

Jesse laughs. “Well I wasn’t. So don’t go after me.”

“Though he wishes he had,” Mitzy says and elbows Alice as both laugh.

Jesse points at them. “That I won’t deny. Can we drop it now? I’m starvin’.”

Luckily they do listen and Lance stops asking Jesse about his morning. They do ask about the mission and Jesse tells them about it, except the part where Gabriel “punished” him and how Genji pointed out Gabriel was soft on Jesse. After lunch they moved to the rec room to play some card games and watch a movie, but Jesse was too distracted as he looked at his tablet, checking if he had any messages from Gabriel. So far nothing, not even from Ana.

Halfway through the movie he decides to excuse himself and goes back to Gabriel’s apartment. Maybe he came back without telling them. But Jesse finds it all the way he left it. Gabriel’s office is also empty. The rest of the day goes by without news.

Jesse finds out Rein and Torb are also on the mission in the second day. Jesse goes to Torb’s workshop but finds it locked. When he asks a passing agent he has seen before around the area, the agent informs him about it. Jesse takes the chance and asks if he knows anything about it, but the agent shakes his head.

Jesse asks Kimura, who doesn’t give him any comfort. “No updates from anyone. No camera feed or comms. Reyes hasn’t even sent me any schedules for tomorrow.”

“Can we take this as a good sign?” Jesse asks, hopefully.

Kimura sighs. “I don’t know.”

On the third day, Kimura informs Blackwatch they received a quick update from Morrison. A message with the words ‘Ambush. Surrounded.’

Jesse can feel his heart sinking. Kimura also tells them Gerard left with a back-up team to the spot before dawn, but there hasn’t been any update on that. When someone asked the location, Kimura said it hadn’t been given to him or anyone in Blackwatch. Only Gerard knows it, as far as Kimura knows.

Fareeha is flown to base on the fourth day. Her gaze is distant and she only sticks with Jesse. Kimura gave McCree the day off understanding she might be lonely. Jess asks for updates, nothing.

He takes Fareeha to Ana’s room where they eat quietly and watch TV, but he’s aware neither of them is paying attention. Fareeha practically flies to the door when someone knocks, but then she stands stiff. Jesse goes over and sees is Genji.

“What’s going on? Any news?”

Genji shakes his head. “But I found something you might want to hear.” Genji raises his tablet. “It’s voice recording sent to Kimura.”

“And how did you “find” it?” Jesse asks.

“Kimura left his room easily unlockable.”

“Let’s hear it then!” Fareeha says.

Genji looks at her, then back at Jesse. “I don’t think she should.”

“Play it!” Fareeha, taller than she used to be and with the firmness of Ana’s voice tells Genji.

Genji looks at Jesse again.

“Do it.”

Genji nods and walk into the room, allowing the door to close. He plays the recording, but keep the tablet in his hand.

“This is Commander Reyes!” Jesse’s heart stops beating. He can hear Gabriel almost too far from the comm and the sound of shots in the background. “We’ve been surrounded and trapped underground for the past seventy-two hours. We have agents of our own down. We’re separated. Talon has us surrounded. It was a set-up. We don’t know where our back-up team or Gerard are.” Fareeha wraps her arms around Jesse as his skin perks in goosebumps. “If you can hear me, Kimura, if anyone can get our location through Gerard’s computer, is you! Prepare a team, if I contact you again, part base as soon as possible. Hopefully, I won’t need you.”

A shot is heard closer, then Morrison’s heartbreaking voice. “Ana!”

“Over the pillar! Get that bastard!” Gabriel calls and the recording goes dead.

Fareeha gasps and holds on to Jesse tighter.

“We have to go to them!”

“I am not a hacker. If Kimura got the location, I would not be able to find it.”

“Then I’ll ask him. I’m going whether Gabriel contacts me or not.” Jesse moves forward, but Fareeha’s solid grasp surprisingly keeps him in place.

“We cannot be rash,” Genji says.

Jesse huffs. “You’re telling me.”

“Did Gabe say anything else?” Fareeha asks softly.

“I am sorry, but that was all,” Genji replies.

Fareeha sobs and buries her face in Jesse’s chest.

“She should not have listened to that,” Jesse murmurs as regret fills him.

“Stay with her. I will let you know if there are any news.” Genji presses a hand to his chest. “You have my word.”

“Thank you.”

Genji nods and leaves them be. Jesse takes Fareeha back to the couch and tries distracting her with another movie, but if her memory is tainted with Jack’s cry for Ana, he knows the attempt is in vain.

Jesse doesn’t want to wake up to a fifth day without Gabriel. Fareeha and him had moved from Ana’s apartment to Jack where they had dinner and tried to pass the time by watching old movies he had. Then it was Gabriel’s room when it came time for bed. Jesse didn’t want to, but Fareeha insisted saying Gabriel had the comfiest sheets.

Lying on Gabriel’s bed turned out to be easier than Jesse thought, maybe it was because he was emotionally exhausted from the past few days, or because his sheets were actually damn comfortable. Fareeha cried a little and Jesse cooed her to sleep before he slowly drifted even with his chest feeling hallowed.

Genji had not come with news, and, surprisingly, the night had been quiet. When Jesse wakes up on the fifth day, he does it at three in the afternoon, and it is by a hand on his hair. He opens his eyes and it’s a blurred painting of browns, white and gray. When he shuts them and opens them back, Gabriel is there, smiling at him, not shying away from the intimacy.

“Gabe?” Jesse whispers.

“Missed me, vaquero.”

“Shit,” Jesse slowly sits up and grabs Gabriel’s arm. “It’s really you.”

“Who else would I be?”

“Gabe…” Jesse’s hand goes to Gabriel’s shirt and he curls his fingers into a fist to hold on, as if Gabriel would turn to smoke.

“We’re back, Jesse.”

“I was so worried…” Jesse’s tongue feels heavy and his mouth feels dry as cotton. He pulls Gabriel closer by his shirt. “We heard you and Ana.”

“She’s alive.”

Jesse pulls more. “And you.”

Gabriel shifts his weight on the bed as he sits, allowing Jesse to guide him. “As you can see.”

“You bastard.” Jesse’s eyes trail from Gabriel’s mouth to his eyes. “I’m gun’ kill you.”

Gabriel also looks at Jesse’s lip and then back at his eyes before he says. “I believe you’ve had.”

“Shut up,” Jesse says lastly and his eyes start to close. He’s sure Gabriel’s do the same and he feels he’s controlling Reyes. Gabriel’s so pliant, letting Jesse do what he wants. Giving him a chance. Giving him a moment to tell him how much he missed him and how his heart felt while Gabriel was trapped in chaos.

“Uncle Gabe!” Fareeha pulls Jesse and she jumps on Gabriel, causing him to almost tumble off the mattress but he manages to stay on and hugs her back. “I was so worried!”

“I’m here, little bird,” Gabriel says, softly and dearly as his eyes close over Fareeha’s shoulder. He press as if he’s trying to hold back tears.

Fareeha pulls away. “And Jack? Mom?!”

“She’s in the infirmary,” Gabriel replies. “She was one of the first ones to be sent back over night for emergency care, but she’s stable now.”

“Can I see her?!”

“Of course.”

“What about Jack, Rein and Torb?” Jesse asks.

“I’m fine, thanks for asking,” Jack says from the door frame of the bedroom and Fareeha is on her feet in a second to go to him.

Gabriel chuckles and says to Jesse. “They’re fine, nothing to worry about, thank God.”

“I wanna see them, but mom first!” Fareeha says, looking up at Jack as she hugs him.

Jack smiles and brushes her hair. “We’ll go right now.”

Though Jesse also goes to the infirmary, they only allow Fareeha inside, which he’s fine with. Jack left to make the rounds and check up on his agents. And as much as Jesse wants to see Ana too, who he truly waited and would have gone through hell to find was right beside him.

“Whenever you wanna talk, jefe, I’ll be listening,” Jesse says as they wait outside of Ana’s room. In the white lights of the hospital wing, Jesse can see Gabriel’s broken nose, the bandage that goes under his beanie, the one on the crook of his neck and under his shirt and also notices he his forearms are wrapped as well. There’s probably new wounds and damages muscles under his clothes as well.

“We’re not allowed to say much yet, not until out debriefing with Gerard and Petras. After, we will see what awaits us.”

Jesse nods. He wants to ask so much. To know who was lost, how they got out, how many Talon agents they took down, but all he manages to do is stare at Gabriel’s profile, still perfect to Jesse even with the new scars, flaws and broken bones. He feels breathless for a moment, remembering he thought he would not see Gabriel again. How he lived for a few days without knowing about him. Without a sign of life besides the recording, which was awful to listen. Jesse had felt helpless. He still does. But as Reyes’ agent, he waits.

“Can you wait for Fareeha?” Gabriel asks, voice hoarser than Jesse remembers hearing earlier. “I need a good rest.”

“Sure, boss.” Jesse doesn’t push, doesn’t stall for Gabriel to stay because he understands. He’ll have time to be with Gabriel after he’s well rested, or close to.

There’s a moment where they look at each other, like life pauses, giving them another shot to pick up where they left off. But Gabriel only smiles and stands up. Jesse doesn’t keep his smile.

R e y e s

Gabriel feels his back aches in five different places when he lies down on his bed. Still warm from Jesse’s body being on it not too long ago. He sinks into it, feels the young man’s heat surround him and luring him to sleep. He can smell a bit of the young man’s sweat and smoke from probably smoking before he fell asleep. Gabriel’s chest tightens to the thought of Fareeha and Jesse holding each other in sorrow so they can rest. Both believing Jack, Ana and Gabriel might not return. But Gabriel would not change what happened. If he hadn’t gone, Jack would have been overwhelmed. If he had stayed, he would be tossing and turning, unable to do anything but wait. And if Jesse had gone one of them wouldn’t have made it.

“Why do you keep torturing yourself?” Jack asks beside him.

“How much did you see?” Gabriel asks, eyes closed.

Gabriel can feel Jack smiling before he says, “Enough.  If it hadn’t been for Fareeha—”

“She snapped me out of it.”

“Or gave you a chance to coward away.”

“Shut up, and sleep.” Gabriel turns on his side, giving Jack his back, the way Jesse had been when Gabriel found him, curled up in deep sleep.

Gabriel grabs the corner of a pillow into a fist and gets it close to his nose as he inhales deeply, allowing himself a chance to use Jesse’s scent to sleep. Giving himself the indulgence of thinking about his agent’s dry lips and warm mouth on his so the nightmare of the battle he went through can be forgotten, at least for a few hours.

Is morning and Gabriel has two papers already filled with his report of what happened the past few days. He relieves the nightmare in great detail since Petras asked. But he knows it won’t be just in writing, but he, like Jack, will have to orally say what happened for the UN. The world’s heroes were captured and battle for five days. Questions will come, answers will be given, but not enough.

Is Overwatch really ready to face something this big? Have our funding gone to waste? Have we given the job to the wrong person?

Gabriel places down his pen and presses the heels of his palms to his eyes. He simply cannot go on without a break. He needs more water, more food, more sleep. Jack and him are the lucky ones from the event with their enhancement, but that doesn’t make it any easier. Ana’s body wasn’t just shot, she was already suffering from dehydration and bad nutrition like the rest of the team. They had only eaten protein bars and military meals. Gabriel and Jack had skipped a few and given them to other agents during the few minutes they had before the next wave of Talon agents came.

His door opens and Gabriel groans, expecting Jack, also tired and irritated, to come and urge him to finish before their meeting.

“Are we gonna talk about what happened?” Gabriel snaps his head up to Jesse.

The almost-kiss. Or was that it at all? Did Gabriel imagined it?

“About what?”

Jesse blinks. “What happened to you guys? You look terrible and Ana was in critical state!”

“That.” Gabriel leans back into his chair, passing a hand over his face, trying to wash away the exhaustion.

“You don’t have to if ya don’t want.” Jesse rubs the back of his neck, embarrassed of his boldness. “I was worried. And I haven't seen you since yesterday I just… I didn’t want to go another day without knowing how ya were, boss.”

Gabriel can’t help smiling. “Thank you, vaquero, but I am as I look. Maybe worse.”

“Then rest!” Jesse gets closer to the desk. “Why are you up to early? I’m guessing Jack’s the same.”

“We have to report.”

“And after?”

Gabriel laugh shortly and lightly. Who knows when the meeting will end? Could be nightfall. “We were in a war for four days, Jesse. That is not something to just breeze over. Not with the UN.”

“To hell with ‘em!”

Gabriel frowns. “I have a job. I don’t like parts like these, but it has to be done. They have to know what we’re up against.”

“But to not let you recover? That’s insane.”

“We have the day off tomorrow, everyone that was involved who is not in the infirmary, of course.”

Jesse scoffs. “You should get the whole week to make up for it.”

Gabriel shrugs. “I can handle it, Jesse. A few hours of sleep, and I’ll be new.”

“Need help with anythin’?” Jesse offers.

Gabriel shakes his head and pulls the chair closer to the desk to continue his writing. “I have to do this.”

“Your report, huh?” Jesse sits in front of Gabriel. “Wanna tell me what happened?”

Gabriel ponders it. It’s not the first time he has told someone what happened—he already ran it by Kimura when he woke up and Petras before he asked for a full report—and Jesse won’t be the last.

“We found a hideout in a desert in Egypt, a spot we would not have thought of it hadn’t been for some agent deployed there for another mission. It was underground, but not the kind you saw during Deadlock, no. These were full warehouses, probably left there from years before and now taken by Talon.”

“What were they doing there?”

“It seems they use it to train soldiers and prepare armor and weapons. We planned an attack to get them out since there were few Talon members during the night. Sadly, that wasn’t the case. Somehow they expected us and we were surrounded.” Gabriel’s temple twitches to the memory of the first bullet flying pass him. “They came in waves. After the first one, we thought we were safe, but no. A second one came with the survivors of the first and more. And so it went on. The time between waves varied between twenty minutes to two hours, keeping us on edge, planning and wondering when they will attack.”

“Jesus Christ”.

“In those in-betweens we ate and drank what we had and took care of our wounded to give them a chance.” Gabriel swallows around the lump in his throat. Some of those they tried to heal didn’t make it. He’s thankful none were Blackwatch, but it doesn’t make it better.

“I get the picture,” Jesse says and nods softly. “You don’t need to continue.”

And Gabriel thanks him with silence as he picks up his pen.

“Think you’ll be out by lunch?”

Gabriel chuckles and shakes his head. “Unlikely.”

“Dinner?”

“Maybe.”

Jesse smiles and Gabriel can see a scheme forming in his brain through his gaze.

The meeting ended right before dinner. And it went as awful as Gabriel expected in the sense that it was tiresome and tedious. At least they hadn’t lost fate in Overwatch, more like they put on more pressure on Jack to make it better. To reach the expectations they knew Jack could achieve. Gabriel’s stomach is growling and his eyelids can barely stay awake. He pities the poor agents that were forced to join the meeting at the last minute with no preparations.

Gabriel practically drags his feet to his room and takes off his hoodie even before the door opens, staying on the stretched out muscle shirt he had underneath. When he lights up the room, he’s stunned to see Jesse sitting on the dining table and two plates full of greasy but delicious looking double meat burgers, fries and salads on the side as well as bottles of water, beer and juice for the choosing.

“Not bad,” Jesse says as his eyes roam over Gabriel’s clothes. “I would have worn something comfier if I had known.” The young man points down to his jeans and the hoodie he’s wearing, which was Gabriel’s.

“What’s this?” Gabriel asks.

“I wanted to make sure you had a good meal. There’s an extra pasta on the fridge in case you’re not full when we’re done.”

“You didn’t have to,” Gabriel says, draping his jacket on the back rest of the chair he’s about to sit on.

“I wanted. Ya need it, and more. Sit, enjoy, darlin’.”

Gabriel does just that without a second thought, hunger and exhaustion taking over. He chooses the water and hums when it falls very cold down his throat before he starts eating. Though he thinks Jesse might bring up what happened yesterday morning, he doesn’t. The meal goes quietly, maybe because Jesse knows Gabriel has done enough talking for the day, maybe a week.

“I have another surprise,” Jesse says when they’re almost done and grabs a white carbon box that he been hidden under the table on another chair. “There’s a new café in town and, turns out, they’re owned by a Mexican family, so…” Jesse drawls as he pushes the box to Gabriel and Gabriel can already smell the puffy cake. When he opens the box there’s four piece of pan de elote and he’s drooling.

“You spoil me.”

Jesse shrugs, hanging one arm off the backrest of his chair. “Someone has to. And they’re all for you, don’t even try to offer me one.”

“Wasn’t gonna,” Gabriel says before he pulls a piece off the bread and shoves it in his mouth. Jesse laughs before grabbing the remaining of his burger.

The evening moves over to the couch were Gabriel finishes off his pastries and Jesse drowns his first beer of the night. They don’t touch the subject of the mission, its set in the back of Gabriel’s mind as they talk about Genji’s process, an upcoming mission to a resort near Fiji, and the hottest movies neither had gotten a chance to see.

In some moment, both fell asleep. In some moment during their sleep, Gabriel moved to lay on top of Jesse and rest his head on the cowboy’s chest. Somehow they made it through the night like that and Gabriel slept better than he ever did.

He wakes up to the soothing motion of Jesse’s chest going up and down in sound sleep. He looks at Jesse, slightly parted lips, tempting him pick up where they had left off. There’s no Fareeha to stop them, no Jack to push them together either. It’s up to Gabriel if he wants to take the plunge or not.

He decides not to and gets up as smooth as he can to not wake up Jesse. McCree stirs to get on his side and continues his sleep. Gabriel stretches his hand to brush the loose locks of hair on his face, but he pulls back just an inch away. If Jesse wakes up, he might leave. And Gabriel wants to at least savior the cowboy’s presence for a little longer before their day pulls them apart. 

Chapter Text

R e y e s

Gabriel pretends to read the pamphlet of the resort as he stands by the coast of the beach. The waves brush his toes when they sway in before slipping back into the ocean. He wears sandals, blue and white swim trunks and a light blue button shirt. A backpack hangs over one of his shoulders with more summer outfits and essentials. The sunglasses allow him to look into the horizon as the early afternoon sun is already too hot against his oily skin. He surely needs to apply more sunscreen if they don't enter the resort soon. He pulls out the bottle from his bag just as an irritated woman who had been arguing with her husband a few feet away passes behind him.

"Excuse me," Gabriel calls, as kindly as he can to the husband that goes after her.

"Yes?" The man with short brown hair, but shaved face compared to the photos Gabriel had on file, turns to Gabriel.

"I'm sorry for overhearing, but if your wife needs some sunscreen, she can borrow mine."

"That's nice of you," the man smiles but drops it right after. "Sadly, she needs a special one for her sensitive skin."

"Then you're in luck, I have the skin of a newborn baby." Gabriel tosses the bottle to the man who catches it neatly.

He beams when he reads the label. "This is perfect—sweetheart!" He turns and waves at the woman who has taken shelter from the sun under the shade of a palm tree. "I found sunscreen for you."

The blonde, older woman comes over, snapping her hand fan. Even if she wears big, round sunglasses, Gabriel can see she’s already bored and done with the trip before it even started. When her husband shows her the lotion, she hums.

"This is a good brand," she comments and looks at Gabriel. "It will do."

"You can keep it," Gabriel says and waves his hand, not that he expected her to do it from the start. "I brought a spare."

The woman, Fleur Colette, makes a sound between a hum and a scoff. Then she smiles tightly. "Your wife is lucky, you don't forget something as important as a sunscreen to an island."

Her husband, Jacques, rolls his eyes, and Gabriel quickly replies to her before they start arguing. "Husband, actually."

"Oh," her eyebrows arc so high Gabriel can see them over the frame of her fancy sunglasses. "I apologize."

"He's around, I assume," Jacques says.

"He's over there," Gabriel points out at Balor standing on the wooden deck where the yacht had delivered half of the guests. Rainer is by Balor’s side and McCree stands in front. McCree and Rainer will serve as their second undercover couple for the next few days.

"Already making friends," Fleur comments, her smile seems more genuine.

"He's the talker of the two," Gabriel says, shrugging.

"You seem to be doing fine," Jacques points out before he extends his hand. "Jacques Colette, and my wife, Fleur."

Gabriel accepts the handshake as he responds, "Martin Diaz."

"Couples!" A woman with shorts and a light blue polo comes out from the lobby of the resort. "Welcome to Royal Davui! Please, move over to the front desk where you will register and pick up your keys. From there you may settle in to your villas and the romantic weekend will begin!"

"Guess we better get this over with," Fleur pulls off her beach hat and shoves it in her canvas bag. 

Gabriel is the first to start walking towards the main entrance, with the couple behind.

"If you don't mind me asking, Martin, where are you from?" Jacques asks to continue their conversation.

"California," Gabriel replies looking over his shoulder.

"No wonder you're all ready for the beach, you live in it," Fleur comments. "I'm more of a villa on a field kind of woman." Fleur slides her arm over her husband's. "But we all do crazy things for the people we love, right?"

Gabriel's laugh is cut short when the impact of a body hits him, taking him down to the sand. When he opens his eyes, McCree's on top of him. Gabriel frowns at first, but then Jesse smiles and tips the rim of his straw hat. Gabriel's speechless, and the sun has a competitor.

"Sorry, darlin'," Jesse says.

"Save it for the room, you two," Jacques says and he helps McCree to his feet.

"This must be your other half," Fleur assumes.

McCree pulls Gabriel to his feet with the help of his left hand. His Deadlock tattoo is hidden behind a big bandage that matches his skin tone, which will remain on for the next few days. Gabriel is about to set it clear because that is not how the plan is supposed to go. But McCree beats his tongue, and grabs Balor's undercover name. "Chris Diaz." Gabriel catches Rainer wrapping her arms around Balor, and him slipping his left hand on the pocket of his shorts, hiding his wedding band since McCree and Rainer aren’t supposed to have them; Balor and Gabriel are.

"Do you know each other?" McCree asks the targeted couple.

"We just met," Jacques replies.

Rainer and Balor move first and Gabriel suddenly feels lost as Jesse continues to talk to the Colettes. The plan was for him and Balor to be the couple that would get close to the targets. Rainer and McCree were back up since they were so isolated. And now he is supposed to pretend to be completely and stupidly in love with McCree. It was easier with Balor because Gabriel knew how to act when the feelings were fake. How is he supposed to act when his feelings are real as he pretends them?

The two couples move to the lobby where they register. Once they are handed their keycards, the couples go their separate ways and settle on their villas before reuniting again to begin the four-day couples retreat.

McCree whistles when they enter their villa. They knew the Colettes had reserved the most expensive one—in a resort that doesn’t even have rooms but villas—and, to be at least near their level of interest, Gabriel had to reserve the closest to that one. In price and distance. Another reason why they limited the agents to two couples. The resort itself was pricey enough. Rainer, and now Balor, had been sent to the cheapest villa, which still wasn’t cheaper.

Gabriel's, and now Jesse's, villa had a beautiful view of the ocean, and half of it was open. It had a deck with a round beach sofa that could easily fit both of them. It also had a lower deck with two beach chairs. The deck continued on to the left where it led to a small pool, more chairs and a dining table for two. The deck connected the bedroom with a living room. The bathroom is closed off behind. They have a king size bed with curtains and rose petals placed in the shape of a heart and the word 'welcome!’ underneath.

"I will give away the rest of my paychecks if it meant I could rent this place forever," Jesse says and slumped on the bed by the heart, the petals fluttering away to the impact.

"This wasn't the plan," Gabriel points out, dropping his bag in a corner of the room. "If it weren't for your pet names and two feet, we wouldn't be in this mess."

"Mess?" Jesse sits up. "Trust me, Queen B out there considers you a very lucky man. She saw you with a younger man, do you think she doesn't admire that?" Gabriel rolls his eyes and crosses his arms, looking out to the ocean. He hears as McCree gets off the bed and makes his way to him. "Besides, they saw us together, it was easier to roll with it." Jesse rests his chin on Gabriel's shoulder and the commander leans his head away, mostly because his stupid straw hat tickles his face. "Do you really find me that disgusting?"

Gabriel sighs and turns, lifting a finger. "Rules."

"Of course," Jesse smirks and steps away, hiding his hands in his pockets. "Lay 'em on me."

"Hand holding is fine, but keep pet names to a minimum. No kissing unless it’s extremely necessary." Gabriel has to pause because he really hopes it never comes to it, for his own sake. "Hugging, also fine. No cuddling on the bed, and no making up stories unless we talk about them first. You can follow those, right?"

"Sheesh, did you have them for Balor?"

Gabriel doesn't answer. The rules for Balor were kind of the same. But he added the no pet names one because he knew McCree could get very creative with that and Gabriel's knees would be too weak and his mind too foggy to work.

Something slipped under their door and drags against the wood. Gabriel signals Jesse to stay put as he checks it out. He meets the cold ring Balor was supposed to wear at his feet. He grabs it and quickly throws it at McCree without thinking too much about it.

"I'm so clumsy, must've dropped it on the beach," Jesse says as he puts it on, also telling Gabriel that will be his story if the Colettes caught the detail. 

Gabriel walks over to the deck and his steps slows to the breathtaking view and the wind that almost knocks him off his feet. For the first time since they sailed from Fiji he feels like he can truly breathe. He inhales the salty wind as he closes his eyes and releases his worries away.

"Truly somethin', huh?" Jesse joins him, leaning from the wood railings. He's already so close to Gabriel, clogging his lungs, leaving him breathless again. "We could just let Mitzy and Loue deal with them, y'know?"

Gabriel scoffs. "I can trust them not to run to Jack to tell on me."

"Exactly! If he were here, he would say the same. This place is just," McCree whistles again, "can't even describe it."

"Too beautiful for words," Gabriel says before his elbow pokes at McCree and walks away towards the next room.

"Ya said it," McCree says low, getting lost on the view again.

Gabriel makes sure the room isn't bugged, and also goes ahead and plants a few cameras he brought himself. They'll be able to keep an eye on the room even when they're not in it. One can't be too safe even when they are in the room. If something happens and they miss it, they will surely catch it later. When he comes out of the living room, he finds McCree in the Jacuzzi, shirt opened and out of the water, sunglasses on and straw hat by his side so the breeze blows on his hair.

"Having fun, vaquero?"

"Would ya like to find out?"

Gabriel is cut from responding when the phone of the room rings. He leaves McCree on his own and answers with caution, but it's only the host of the retreat, letting them know they'll be starting the first activity in ten minutes. He returns to Jesse and pushes his arm with his foot. With some complaints, the cowboy comes out of the Jacuzzi and quickly changes into dry shorts. When both come out of the room, Jesse's hand smoothly tucks into Gabriel's. The commander says nothing. Might as well get used to it; he can't be startled every time his husband does something as simple as holding his hand.

They meet with the rest of the couples on a gazebo by the pool. Gabriel is distracted at first by the scenery, it truly is beautiful, and it's not every day he gets to stay at a place like this. While the host explains the first activity--the newlywed game--Gabriel pays more attention to the Colettes. While Fleur fans herself, obviously disinterested in the gathering, Jacques listens to every word the woman says, ready to get started. 

From the information Blackwatch had fished out of the Colettes, a couple who run a chain of casinos in Monaco, are also linked to an underground drug world. Blackwatch was sent to deal with them since they always slip by authorities by using their wealth and connections. When they get sent in for questioning or searched their mansion, they manage to pass with clear colors. While going through their bank account, Blackwatch found a large sum being sent to a name not registered anywhere. With time and some puzzles being put together, the suspect could be a lead detective in Monaco under an alias. That could explain how they get away from justice. Besides that, the Collettes have been spotted at parties of other wealthy people in France or even on vacation with them, proving their connections are strong. Of course many wealthy people in Monaco do not wish for the Collette’s downfall since their casinos bring quite the fortune.

Blackwatch needs to collect proof or catch them, without any bias or being bought. From some digging and weeks of research, Reyes found out through Jaques internet history that he seems to be more interested in the relationship than Fleur. He’s always ordering flowers, chocolates, wines and all kinds of romantic gifts to her. Meanwhile Fleur is all about the casino business, building her empire and making sure people know she leads it. Looking at their history, its understandable why Jaques is the more romantic one. It was her who started the business, and met Jacques along the way. It seems they had been growing apart from calls Blackwatch had intercepted between the two while Jacques was in Vegas and Fleur in Monaco. The idea of the retreat had been his, and just by looking at them, Gabriel didn't need any background check to figure it out.

For the first activity, the couples were separated into two groups, and were asked questions about themselves and the idea was that their partner had to get it right. Gabriel was a little nervous at first, but it turns out to be simple questions and nothing that would involve them telling a marriage story or first dates. But it reminds Gabriel they really have to go through them since he did it with Balor, not Jesse.

When the couples were reunited, Gabriel's group had to read the answers and see what they got right. So far three couples had compared answers and one of them had been the Colettes. To Fleur's obvious surprise and joy, Jacques had gotten all of them right.

Jesse came first, and the host started to read the questions again. "Martin, you were asked what you thought was the quality your partner loved more about you, and you said...?"

Gabriel recalled how much thought he had put into it. Wondering what could Jesse find in him attractive? He went back to when he met Jesse, how caring Javier had been to him, so he went to that.

"Caring," Gabriel says out loud.

"Honey, he cared for me like no one did," Jesse says, flipping an index card with the same answer. 

Gabriel allows himself to smile and his cheeks go warm when Jesse winks at him.

"What color is your partner's favorite piece of clothing?" The hosts asks.

"Brown," Gabriel replies, thinking on the cowboy hat.

"My old brown cowboy chaps," Jesse shows his answer, and though it’s not what Gabriel was thinking, he knows it was to keep some truth hidden. He got a few laughs from the other couples, including Gabriel.

"Where was your first date?" The host was excited, as she had been with the rest.

That was the toughest for Gabriel. It involved some kind of make believe, but in the end he had said, "A diner."

Jesse's smile goes into a thin line, and Gabriel actually feels his heart thumb strong because he might have gotten it wrong. And what does it matter? These strangers didn't know them. Couples get a few things wrong. As long as it doesn't damage their cover, they should be fine.

Jesse smiles again and turns the index card. "My favorite diner back then."

Gabriel laughs along with a few of the group that witness the teasing from Jesse.

Though they become close to winning, they get a few answers wrong, but not that far off. When asked about Gabriel's favorite candy, Jesse wrote churros, but added it was sweet, just not candy. And Gabriel had said lemon drops. The Colettes ended up winning a bottle of wine to enjoy for the rest of the day. The host gives them three hours to settle again and do whatever they want before their next activity. The couples disperse, including Balor and Rainer, while McCree goes to congratulate the Colettes.

"Thank you, Chris," Fleur says, placing the bottle of wine down on a table. "You two prove to be worthy competitors, I dare say."

"Even if this is not a competition," Jacques clears, but Fleur pays him no mind.

"Well, we'll catch you later," Gabriel cuts in. "Want to take this one around the beach."

"I'm all yours, darlin'," Jesse replies with a smirk and taps Gabriel's chin with his thumb.

They leave holding hands, Gabriel pulling at Jesse more than he would, crazy to have him all for himself.

M c C r e e

Jesse would be lying if he said his heart wasn't racing as Gabriel guides him to the beach, in a rush to isolate them from the world. Once they were far enough, the silliness faded from Gabriel's smile, and he was his commander. But their hands remained together.

"We have to talk about certain things, the kind I talked with Balor," Gabriel says and Jesse starts swinging their hands.

"At least we got the date thing."

Gabriel chuckles. "I knew you would say the diner."

"Ya know me so well, honey. Ya bet my young-ass-self saw it as one back then."

"Then we can say the dinner at a food truck park was our second," Gabriel suggests. "That was my first with Balor. I swore I made reservations for a restaurant, but there was a mix-up and he took me there."

"Seems likely to happen," Jesse comments. "Our third can be a premier to a movie you wanted to see, but I wasn't caught up in the series, and still went."

"That's good!" Gabriel says, surprisingly very into the idea. "It was sci-fi."

"Not my type," Jesse adds, their hands continue to swing softly on their own momentum, as their steps become lazier, walking without an exact way to go. "How many years have we been married?"

"Just one, after being together for four."

"Feels like it was just yesterday," McCree jokes, and wonders if he can get Gabriel to say more, because there is no way he would have waited so long to ask Gabriel to marry him. Then he quickly shakes that thought away. "We live in California, right?"

Gabriel nods.

"Dogs?"

Gabriel looks at him with a raised eyebrow. "Do you want dogs?"

"Three, at least."

"At least?!" Gabriel stops and laughs.

"I'm being reasonable, it also depends where exactly we live."

"House, remember that. We are almost as wealthy as the Colettes."

Jesse looks over Gabriel, imagining a big house with a big backyard. "I can have six dogs."

Gabriel laughs again as he shakes his head and continues walking. "Want a horse?"

"Of course, he's at our private farm."

"Of course," Gabriel echoes.

The next activity before dinner is a couple’s bingo. Each person gets a bingo sheet with the squares filled up by cute or romantic things couples do. When the host calls out something, they cover what they have done or are with heart shaped chips until they get a row. Looking at each other's sheets, Gabriel tells him there's no point in completely agreeing since they don't have all the squares. Jesse can mark one that isn't in Gabriel's sheet, and they should be fine.

At first, Jesse takes it easy, not paying much attention unless the hosts calls one that he and Gabriel have. He starts marking a few true ones like 'being caring', 'knowing little details about you', 'gifts flowers', 'enjoys talking about their family', and so on. Jesse can't help smiling when he has to mark one. The game ends when another couple calls bingo.

"We need to be more romantic," Jesse says over Gabriel's shoulder. "Enough to fill a whole row next time. How did you do?"

Jesse catches a few squares that are marked before Gabriel messes them up. "It was best if we didn't win."

"Yer right," Jesse says, head low, as he begins to pick up the chips and they stand up. "Where are we havin' dinner?"

Gabriel's hand goes to Jesse's hip, pulling him closer. "In our room, I wanna enjoy our first night here, all by ourselves."

"Won't disagree with that," Jesse smiles and notices the Colettes passing by. Fleur, not happy they didn't win.

Gabriel and Jesse retreat to their villa for dinner where they have cape grim sirloin smeared in salsa verde with roasted potato gems and bele spinach in coconut milk. They remain quiet and let nature speak for them. The wind blows soothingly, but not too annoying. The ocean has risen, so the waves are stronger, hitting the wood of the deck and a few drops spray into them. Jesse looks at Gabriel's hand, resting on the table as he looks at the horizon. Jesse is so tempted to entwine his fingers with Gabriel's, feel his clammy and warm palm. They didn’t have to say much after, just enjoy the moment. Jesse wants to indulge himself, fall into the role of Chris Diaz, husband to Martin. Jesse looks at his left hand, and spins the gold band around his finger. He has never thought about marriage, and he thought nothing of it when he accepted the role of Martin's husband. But here he was, daydreaming about marrying his commander, who sees him as nothing but his agent. An ex-criminal, a pain in the ass.

"You done?" Gabriel asks.

"Yeah," Jesse replies, pushing his empty plate away.

"Feel free to order dessert."

"Nah, I'm good."

"Good, more for me," Gabriel says and stands up as he goes to the phone to order something, leaving Jesse as he barks a laugh.

Jesse comes out of the bathroom, with his pajama pants on, and a towel over his shoulders that he uses to dry his hair. Gabriel's on the bed with the files on the Colettes spread in front of him as he listens from an earpiece. Balor and Rainer had been able to plant some microphones into the Colette’s room while they were out in the pool. Gabriel didn't want to risk with cameras at first. Jesse sees another earpiece in front of Gabriel, and picks it up as he sits by the commander's side. There's nothing important at first, Fleur complains about the sheets being too itchy and orders another set, while Jacques sounds pleased with everything. They argue for a while about the retreat in the sense that while he thought it was a good idea to reconnect, she believed it would have been better to go on a regular vacation instead.

When Jacques seems to be about to explain why that wouldn't have worked, she gets a call and orders him to be quiet. Jacques seems to leave the space after that since only Fleur is heard as she talks on the phone. Gabriel pays close attention and grabs a pen he had set aside and is ready to write on a notepad. She sets up a meeting for her assistant with someone who she promises will do well as partners. The meeting will happen in two days at one of their casinos. Gabriel writes it down as well as the time. She hangs up, but Gabriel says nothing as they continue to listen. The targets settle to bed once the new sheets arrive and that's when Gabriel takes off his earpiece.

"I’ll tell Kimura about the meeting. I'll let him send someone from Blackwatch if he wants."

"Genji could work," Jesse suggests. "He's great at stealth, and has gotten better with his temper."

Gabriel begins to collect the files and replies, "Sending him with a team is one thing, alone is another.”

Jesse decides not to argue and leaves it at that. Once the bed is clear, he throws the towel to a corner and lays on the bed. When Gabriel comes back, he's carrying another sheet that he uses, so both are under the covers of different ones. Jesse tries not to take offense to it. He knows Gabriel is just being precautious about the mission. It would have been the same with Loue as his partner. 

Jesse doesn't realize he has been looking at Gabriel's profile until the commander asks, "Something on your mind?"

Jesse swallows and comes up with something, "What's for tomorrow?"

"They are scheduled for snorkeling after breakfast, so I signed us up for paddle boarding. Rainer and Balor will be by the beach relaxing before the first activity."

"Any idea what that could be?" 

"Probably some couples Pictionary,"

"Would they do a pie eating contest?"

Gabriel looks at him with a raised eyebrow. "Be careful, that might mean something different in a couple's retreat."

Jesse laughs. "Nah, something like one partner holds the other's hands back while one eats the pie."

"You want pie?"

"Maybe."

"You could have ordered one."

"I didn't want it then. Think I can still order one?"

"Beats me."

Jesse turns on his back and puts one arm under his head. "I don't wanna bother."

"Then don't get it."

There's a pause as both stay still, looking up at the ceiling.

"I'll check," Jesse gives in and stands off the bed to order whatever kind of pie they have. It ends up being pineapple and Gabriel also asks for a slice.

"Room's already paid, might as well go all out."

There's isn't anything to pick up from the snorkeling class, so the morning is uneventful. They get some small interactions with Fleur and Jacques, but nothing big to dwell on. At least they keep them interested in Gabriel and Jesse. They also make small talk with Mitzy and Loue, keeping it about the retreat. 

The first activity as a group is a race where couples have to work together to jump on a sack. 

"This is stupid," Gabriel mumbles as he dips his legs into the sack that Jesse's holding out for him, already inside.

"Where's your spirit, sugarplum?" Jesse teases. "It's about teamwork and relying on each other. Makes perfect sense."

Gabriel huffs, but still settles in. Jesse realizes the sack is way smaller now with both of their bodies in it. It might be difficult, but they can at least make it halfway. He looks at Mitzy, who's holding her laugher as she looks at him. The host, who was more energetic than the day before, blows the whistle and the couples begin. In sync, Jesse and Gabriel jump at the same time and pick up a quick rhythm. Most of the couple are head to head, there's laughter and some banter between them, but Jesse and Gabriel pick up speed as well as two more couples. 

"On your left, cowboy!" Mitzy calls as she and Loue are passing by Jesse.

"Hey!" Jesse says, almost laughing and starts moving towards them, pulling Gabriel with him.

"Saboteur!" Mitzy says as her and Loue move away.

"Chris!" Gabriel calls and Jesse trips, falling to the sand and Gabriel on top.

"We keep endin' up here," Jesse says with a wink. "Can't wait until we're alone, huh?"

Gabriel's frown ceases, relaxing into something that isn't a smile, but at least close to. They manage to get back up and finish the race. Mitzy is jumping on Loue, celebrating their first place, while the other couples get out of the sacks or clap. Fleur doesn't seem happy as she fans herself, but at least Jacques looks like he’s having fun. 

After the morning race, they were allowed time to relax and have lunch. The Colettes were lost from their sight, and were not in their rooms either since Gabriel went to theirs, pretending he left his phone, and saw the Colette’s villa empty from his. They decide it’s best to continue their time without trying too hard to find the targets or it might be suspicious. They have lunch at a nice spot at the beach and plan out their stories a little more and their positioning for after the next activity. After, when they’re walking through a path of wood, between the palm trees and stones to reach the pool, they hear and see the plants native to the land moving. Gabriel steps in front of Jesse when Jacques and Fleur come out. His button shirt opened and shorts too low. Her hat is skewed and her hair a little tussled. 

"Martin," Jacques greets and jumps the railings before helping his wife. "Chris. Nice to see you enjoying the island."

"It's a beauty, why waste it?" Jesse says with a smirk. "Having some fun?"

"Like you said, it's beautiful out here, why waste away opportunities?" Jacques leans from the railings while Fleur fixes her hat and then slaps him playfully.

"I will be in the pool, would you bring me something to drink?"

"Sure." Jacques grabs her hand and kisses her knuckles.

"Why don't you join me while our husbands get us cocktails?" She asks Gabriel.

"Why not?" Gabriel replies and looks at Jesse. "Surprise me."

"My specialty," Jesse says, tipping his straw hat.

Fleur is the first to walk away, and Gabriel follows, but Jesse holds on to his hand until they're too far.

"You two are cute," Jacques comments. "Been married for long?"

"Just a year," Jesse replies. "A year that flew in a blink by his side."

"A year?" Jacques seems surprised as he dips his hands in the pockets of his trunks. "I would think you would still be in the honeymoon stage."

"Of course we are, have you seen my husband?" Jesse points his thumb back at where Gabriel had gone. "Can barely keep my hands off him. Seems you can't either. Can't blame you, your wife is beautiful."

"She is. Seems you and I have a type."

"Gorgeous?" Jesse asks.

"Besides that." Jacques shrugs and then winks. Jesse gets exactly what he meant.

"Ah, yeah, a few years older." Jesse chuckles and also leans from the railings, it seems Jacques is more interesting in boosting about his sex life than getting cocktails. "But I'm sure I would still feel the same if he was younger. And years don’t affect his stamina, if you know what I mean.” Jesse winks.

“He looks like he’s in great shape,” Jacques compliments with a tilt of his head. “Does he go to the gym regularly?”

“Yeah, plus he was an athlete in high school and college.”

“I see,” Jacques says, disinterested as he looks away to a bird that flies by. "So..." He trails and licks the inside of his cheek. "Are you into public or more reserve and boring?"

Jesse straightens, "Beg your pardon?"

"I meant no offense by it. There's nothing wrong with being quiet and... vanilla."

"Vanilla?" Jesse laughs. "I'll have you know, we have the wildest sex."

"Yeah? Tell me about it." Jacques perks up, more interested than before.

Jesse halts and swallows as his mind works. Then he smirks and looks back, acting like he's just making sure no one is around to hear, but he is mainly looking for Gabriel. If he heard him, who knows how he would react?

"We were in Brazil, climbing mountains, the sun was rising, so everything's calm and silent, y'know? It's like there was no one else in the world. And what does Martin wanna do? Take me right there. Surrounded by nature and the birds singing. God, we were both sweaty, but he was still gorgeous."

Jacques curls his lips. "Not bad. We did it in a cave once, left the tour go ahead, and just went at it."

"New Year's Eve of last year," Jesse quickly starts, "we went to watch the ball drop, but I had other plans. I took him to the nearest rooftop, and made him scream so much I was afraid people would hear us over the fireworks and music. The night freezing my toes wasn’t enough for the fire he was causing inside me." Both share a laugh, and Jesse really needed a cigar or something to do with his hands, as well as set him at ease because the fantasies he was coming up with were making his clothes feel too tight, and the tropical climate wasn't helping as he started to sweat. Since he saw the nail marks Shimada left on Gabriel, he could only imagine how good Gabriel was to make Hanzo do them.

"Christmas Eve, two years ago, at a friend's party while people were downstairs. Fleur dragged me up to a balcony and begged me to please her on the railings."

"Hope you held on to her tight, or that would've been an awful Christmas Eve," Jesse scoffs, then he counters, "I graduated college the first year we met. He saw me in my gown, said I looked nice, but was missing something. He hands me a vibrator, and that day I found out how much of a tease he is."

"Let me guess, he put it on high when you went to get your diploma?"

"Hit me like a truck. I didn't even know it could go that high. But I got a nice reward for handling it. He fucked me nice and slow on stage as soon as the last person in the auditorium left, with the lights dimmed and the flower arrangement of the ceremony around us like a bed."

"For Fleur's birthday three years ago, she wanted a new car. We went looking at some in a dealership, and while the salesmen went to get the papers ready, we tested the backseats." 

"I'm thinking about getting a new car, might steal that one," Jesse says, pointing at him. "On the week before graduation, I was studying for my final test, I was even late for a date, but he understood and offered to help me study instead. So he came to me, but he helped me in another way." Jesse crossed his arms and looked at the plants and purple flowers around them. "He guided me to an aisle, pressed me against a bookshelf and kissed me until I felt I was passing out. Then he got on his knees, but damn, I was the one praying and falling to pieces."

"Hotel sauna, she locked it up after she entered, and rode on top of me until I almost blacked out."

Jesse huffs, "cute."

"Cute is you talking about making love to your husband."

Jesse raised an eyebrow, "Isn't that the point?"

"I mean, of course that's important, but I'm talking about the thrills of it."

"Well let me tell ya," Jesse steps closer to him, deciding to get the cocktails already, "there's nothing more thrilling than falling in love with Martin Diaz." Jesse walks away, but knows Jacques is behind by his laugh and the sound of his leather sandals against the wood.

"Okay, okay, you win this one."

"And the next."

"So you switch?"

"Pardon?" Jesse asks as Jacques catches up to him.

"Bottom, top?"

"Ah, yeah, we switch."

"Same with us, though I love it when she's the one to take charge, and she's good at it."

Jesse wanted to make a comment on how obvious it is by the way they act in public, but that might be pushing it. He decides to say nothing as they get drinks for their partners. Jesse's gaze falls on a woman leaving the bar with a bronze mug that's very familiar. He asks the bartender and he calls it a Moscow Mule. Jesse is certain that was the drink Gabriel gave him before the mission in Deadlock. Though it should bring bad memories and a rough moment between the two, he realizes it doesn't. Only a desire to change it for a better one. He orders two, but a bottle of water ahead so he can cool down after imagining Gabriel pinning him against a bookshelf, leaving him breathless. Of them making love on the edge of a cliff with the morning breeze cooling them off, but it's still no match for the fire in them. Then he recalls the story of the vibrator, and Jesse wonders if Gabriel would be like that. The man can be evil when it comes to drills and punishments for his agents, but what would he be with a lover? Would he tease the vibrator into Jesse? Slow and agonizing. And then play with him while they're on an event or just out on a date? Would Jesse get to see those hungry eyes from across the room, and the dark pink tip of his tongue licking his lips? Would he satisfy Jesse after a long night of playtime or leave him weeping on his own?

Jesse gulps down the remaining half of his bottle of water and is glad to have his drink. Once he tastes it, he can tell it was the same drink Gabriel made. He's thankful for the ice and mint to finish the job the water couldn't. And even then it isn't enough when Jacques asks for another story on the way to the pool.

“It surprises me you haven't done anything here," Jacques comments as they walk by the same wooden path as before.

"Who said?"

"In the bedroom, yeah, but outside?"

"Haven't had the time. We were exhausted yesterday from all the flying." They reached the pool, where Fleur and Gabriel are sitting on the underwater stairs. Fleur is higher, while Gabriel is a case lower, half of his lower body under the pool, and he's leaning back a bit on his hands. Abs exposed and glistening with sunscreen.

"Well," Jacques got Jesse's attention as he raised his drink. "Here's to a weekend full of possibilities." Their glasses click together. "I wanna hear some stories before this is over."

Jacques calls for Fleur and helps her to her feet. 

"We'll finish the conversation later," she says to Gabriel before putting her sunglasses on, but not before Jesse sees a wicked glint in her gaze. 

Gabriel laughs and responds, "I'll look forward to it."

"Talk about what?" Jesse asks, handing Gabriel his drink as he sits on the higher staircase.

"Our dear husbands, what else," Gabriel says with a smile that Jesse can't read, but he follows his character.

"Good things, I hope. Or I will look like a fool after I've said great things about you."

Gabriel hums and looks at his drink strangely. "This is..."

"The drink we had when we stayed up all night talking at that bar? Yeah, I remembered." Fleur and Jacques are too far away to hear them at their normal volume, but Jesse still plays along just in case.

Gabriel smiles. "How thoughtful of you. You always know how to surprise me."

Jesse's smile drops. Maybe he screwed it up. The last thing he wanted was to bring up their rough past. "Do you like it?"

Gabriel shrugs one shoulder, "I make them better."

Jesse quickly glances at the targets, and when he sees they are too distracted with their own conversation, he sinks a case lower to be by Gabriel's side. "I didn't mean anythin' by it." He knows that by using his own voice and accent, Gabriel will pick up they're not in character. "I saw it 'n' remembered. I was goin' for the opposite, actually." He continues when Gabriel raises an eyebrow. "This is nice. This place. And I've come a long damn way in a few years. Just thought I'd change that memory with another one."

Gabriel nods softly and smiles just as gentle. "I get it."

Jesse smiles as he leans back and returns to being Chris as he says, "but of course yours is better. Everything you do is better."

Gabriel waves him off and continues drinking. Jesse raises his glass to his lips and looks at the targets. Drinks are forgotten on a table, and Fleur saddles Jacques lap as they kiss. Jesse is about to look away, and think nothing of it until Jacques opens his eyes to look at Jesse over Fleur and winks. At this point, Gabriel notices he was looking and also sees the couple.

"There was nothing in the files of them being horny bastards," Gabriel mumbles for Jesse to hear, but before he looks back at him, Jesse's moving without much thought.

"Je—" The commander says and stops himself as Jesse sits on top of him, eyes wide and they grow even wider when Gabriel's free hand goes to his hip. "You almost spilled my drink, dear," Gabriel plays along, but his jaw clenches at the end. Jesse believes to be anger.

"Why drink that when there's other ways to satisfy your thirst?"

Gabriel sucks his lips in and then snorts.

"I know, I heard it," Jesse says, looking down.

"Anything on your mind, cariño?" Gabriel continues. "Are you jealous of them?"

"Maybe."

"Did he say something to you?" Gabriel's hand moves to Jesse's chin. He asks with concern, to know if Jacques did something to Jesse, or if their covers were in danger.

"Nothing bad, honeybun," Jesse assures him, daring to turn his head and kiss Gabriel's palm. "Follow my lead, I'll do all the paperwork and drills you want me to do once we go back."

"Hm, tempting." Gabriel pauses to think it over. "Go ahead, just leave my mouth free to keep drinking."

"My loving husband," Jesse jokes behind clenched teeth and a tight smile as Gabriel shrugs again and continues drinking. Jesse's own is still in his hand over Gabriel's right shoulder.

Jesse sits there, frozen to the realization Gabriel's is his to do what he wants. With limits, of course. Yet, he doesn't know what to do, or how to start.

"Any day now, vaquero," Gabriel whispers, so nonchalantly that he even leans back to put his empty glass on the edge of the pool and takes Jesse's to drink. It irritates Jesse and makes him start his performance out of spite. Gabriel isn't the only one that can act. 

Jesse kisses his fake husband's forehead, then down his temple. Then he continues down to his sharp cheekbones, over the scar that Jesse is glad he didn't cover because he can still see Gabe, even with the summer clothes, sunglasses and the different scenery. He hesitates, but kisses Reyes' jaw, and when Gabriel says nothing, he continues. There's a spot in his neck that triggers some reaction that causes Gabriel's hand to grip tight at Jesse's hip. And Jesse likes it. He roams over Gabriel's neck and chest, but returns to the area, and receives a sigh instead. 

"Jess," Gabriel whispers and Jesse stops to look at him, grinning, but can't help the jerk his hips make.

They're close, so close. It would be only natural to kiss. A normal couple would do it after a show like that. They would end with a bang, finally reaching what both want. And as Jesse lowers his face and Gabriel says nothing or moves, he believes he can do it. He believes Gabriel will let it slide this time for the sake of the mission. It would mean nothing.

A sharp whistle startles Jesse to straighten, and Gabriel to cough. "Alright, couples! Is time for our second activity of the day! It's also going to be a physical one, but not as much as the first. Follow me!" The hosts says and couples around Gabriel and Jesse start moving to join her. Jacques and Fleur pass by, holding hands. 

"Need us to stall for you while you finish up?" Jacques asks. "I see you're taking the reins this time, Chris," he adds, putting on sunglasses as he's led by his wife.

"What did he mean?" Gabriel asks and their eyes meet again, but Jesse can barely hold on and looks away.

"Just somethin' we talked 'bout," Jesse rambles, slipping into his southern accent. "He might not be as competitive as Fleur on these games, but he is somewhere else."

"Ah," Gabriel says. "What did you say then?"

"Nothin' important," Jesse replies quickly and moves, but Gabriel's grip grows stronger, and a part of Jesse hopes he leaves some kind of mark. "He asked if I was top or bottom, I say we switched."

Gabriel hums and looks away, Jesse thinks, prays that's the last of it. And believes so when Gabriel moves his hand. But when he's about to get off, Reyes holds to his chin.

"I'd dominate the shit out of you, vaquero."

Jesse swallows and suddenly feels threatened, and aroused. He knows that if there was no rank between them, if they had talked about it before and there were no limits to their characters, Gabriel would take him right there. 

Jesse's chokes as he says, "sir." A habit he learned from the times Gabriel held him in locks and Jesse asked for mercy, even when he knew Gabriel would be gentle and let him go at the end. This time, he didn't know if he was pleading to be released, or for a tighter grip.

R e y e s

Gabriel welcomes the activity following Jesse and his display. He needed a distraction, but was also thankful it didn't involve any physical touching between the couple or answering questions that would only confuse Gabriel or make him think too much. The game was called Ribbon Hunt, and it involved the couples holding onto a red ribbon with velcro on one end. It started by the pool, and each couple had to find pieces of ribbon to connect. When it was long enough, their area of search extended. 

Jesse's keen eye was a gift in this situation, together, Gabriel had no doubt they could have won it. But when they saw Fleur and Jacques struggling, both looked at each other and thought the same. When the targets passed them by, Jesse handed them the ribbons they had found. With that help, and Jesse and Gabriel keeping just a few pieces from their finds, the Colettes won. Jesse and Gabriel smiled and clapped for them, acting like they were actually happy for the couple's victory. For Fleur and Jacques, the Diaz didn't care about winning these games, only for the love of one another. But in reality, the goal for them was getting close to the winning couple.

Even with that distraction, Gabriel had to race to their room before dinner and stand under the cold spray of water. Jesse, saying 'sir' in such a vulnerable way keeps repeating in Gabriel's head. Plump lips from kissing Gabriel where he had allowed, pretending it was nothing while Jesse squirmed on top of him. Jesse’s breath is close to his, his body flushed against Gabriel. Gabriel had used all of his will power and mind control to not get hard. If he had lost just an ounce of sanity, there would have been no way to hide it from Jesse. And now that he was alone, he could let it all out. He moaned and groaned under the pitter-patter of the shower against the tiles. He hissed and whispered Jesse's name, and curses his damn heart for playing such a bad game on him. 

If Jesse was his, he would have followed a page out of the Colettes' handbook, and made love to him between the palm trees and tropical flowers. Jesse would have looked gorgeous, with a bed of extravagant purple passion plants and soft white gardenias surrounding his frame as he moaned and took Gabriel. Or, if Jesse would have wanted, he could have taken Gabriel. Gabriel is willing to compromise when is with someone he cares for deeper than a one night stand. But if that were the case, he would drill Jesse into the soil until both were buried into the land and came up, glowing and flourishing with passion.

Gabriel comes harder than he has in a long time. A white strip hits the tiled wall in front of him as he pants and watches it slip slowly. 

"Shit," he says and starts cleaning himself with weak knees and also washes any evidence of his time spent by himself.

He comes out and dinner's already on the table, set by Jesse. Grilled mahi-mahi with some lemon beurre sauce, spring pea risotto and chorizo. When Jesse asked if Gabriel would want to eat at the restaurant or in their room, or in one of the resort’s private and romantic gazebos (as a joke) Gabriel opte for room again. He feels is better, less pressure to act as a couple and cut the cute, romantic atmosphere, which is not what Gabriel needs.

Gabriel breaks the silence first, "Fleur asked me to do business with her."

Jesse stops chewing and raises an eyebrow.

"She asked what I do for a living. She was very curious after she found out what room we're staying in and that we make this trip yearly since we met."

"Ah, makes sense." Jesse leans back, drinking from his mojito.

"She even figured out the name of the business before I told her." Gabriel was under the name Martin Diaz, but he also had used a business name. Zaid Architecture. A company ran by a well-known architecture in California, and has designed a few buildings around the world. "I said I was an architect, and she asked if I ran Zaid since she had seen a few of my designs and thought I would be a good candidate to work with her."

"What happened next?" Jesse asks, and continues eating his meal.

"Fake business. She told me her plan to open a casino in Los Angeles. She obviously talked about her casinos."

Jesse chuckles. "Would be too damn easy if she said she was a drug lord."

"I wish it was that easy," Gabriel says and drinks. "She didn’t give away. I asked if she had someone to get in touch with my assistant for a quick meeting, but she said her assistant was busy working to get another partnership. I just joked about not being her first choice, but she played along."

"She didn't take the bait," Jesse says, expecting the same Gabriel expected.

She could have implied or said it was another type of business, or given more details about it. But it was obvious she wanted to divert the subject.

"We're planning to set up an official meeting once the weekend is over."

"Oh, she'll have her meetin', alright." 

Gabriel huffs a laugh and reaches for his drink. There's quiet again and Gabriel catches Jesse looking at him, he smiles when their eyes meet.

"What?" Gabriel asks.

"Got something on ya." Jesse points to the corner of Gabriel's mouth, and for a second, the commander freezes. He believed he had cleaned it all.

He feels worse when Jesse leans forward and rubs whatever it is away. And dips the finger in his mouth.

"That fancy sauce," Jesse says and Gabriel eases.

"I could have wiped it off."

Jesse shrugs before he grabs his drink. "That's what a partner's for, right?"

Gabriel says nothing more and it seems Jesse has no words either as he finishes up his dinner. Once they're done, it's time to go to bed to listen in on a conversation between Fleur and Jacques, but nothing seems of worth. There's some relationship drama before the voices turn to lip smacking and moaning. Gabriel decides to shut it then, and Jesse doesn't complain.

Gabriel wakes up with a warm breeze against his neck, and he shifts, wanting it closer. It soothes him. It's not too hot to be unbearable, and it eases his own breathing as he follows it. Inhale and exhale, keeping his mind hazy and clear. It isn't until a hand grips across his stomach at his left hit that his eyes snap open.

Jesse has him trapped. Besides the arm over Gabriel, Jesse has one leg over Gabriel's right thigh. His nose is an inch away from Gabriel's neck, making his skin crawl with every breath. He wants to move. Gabriel has to. But he doesn't want to. He wants to indulge himself in the moment for a bit longer. Maybe give Jesse some time to wake up on his own and not make the situation awkward.

Gabriel holds his breath as Jesse cuddles closer, rubbing his nose into the crook of Gabriel's neck. His whole body goes stiff, hoping McCree doesn't realize he's grinding against his awake commander. When it's safe to say Jesse won't wake up any time soon, Gabriel decides to let it slide this time. To calm his own body into the embrace and not think too much about the heat between their bodies, or remember their display on the pool. Instead he thinks about Jesse' laugh, his velvety voice when he draws, his accent that Gabriel has grown fond off and misses when he goes undercover. He remembers the scrappy criminal he met, his sharp wit and even sharper aim. He recalls the man that kid grew up to be, and how Jesse is where he is thanks to Gabriel. 

And that's why he should move. Instead, he settles back to sleep, his head leaning against Jesse's forehead and one arm over Jesse's. But his eyes don't remain closed for more than a minute when a knock makes him sit right up, waking up Jesse. The knock turns to a bang and both are on their feet. Rainer or Balor would have messaged Gabriel, even called. If it were any back-up, they would have done the same. And the host or any staff member from the resort wouldn't be so aggressive. Gabriel goes to the door first and hears a sigh followed by Fleur's voice, "Are you balls deep in your husband or what, Diaz? Let me in."

Gabriel looks at Jesse with a raised eyebrow, and the cowboy shares his same confusion. Gabriel opens up and Fleur takes off her sunglasses. "Good morning, Martin."

"Good morning," Gabriel says, precocious. "Do what do we owe this visit?"

"Breakfast, I'm inviting you and your husband." She leans to the side to have a better view at Jesse and waves. Gabriel catches Jesse waving back as he smiles.

"We were planning on staying here," Gabriel begins.

"I could eat out," Jesse follows, coming to his side. "Restaurant?"

"Jaques rented a private gazebo, and we do not take no for an answer." She grins before putting her sunglasses back on. "We'll meet you by the restaurant in twenty and we'll walk from there." Another small wave and she's gone. Gabriel closes the door behind her and glares at Jesse.

"That was nice of her. And it's about time you took me out of this villa, not that I'm complainin', sugar, but I need to socialize even in paradise."

"It's risky," Gabriel says low, placing a thumb and a finger on his chin. "They might want something?"

"A foursome?"

Gabriel huffs. "Wouldn't be surprised by how openly you talked to Jaques about our sex life."

Jesse shrugs. "Can't let people think I'm boring in bed, sweetheart. Reminds me," Jesse turns around. "Scratch me."

"Does it itch?" Gabriel asks, stepping closer to help Jesse out.

"No, scratch me long and deep, leave marks."

"What?"

"You saw her neck? She has a new bite mark and bruise. And I'm sure they aren't the only couple having some actual fun on this retreat. Besides Mitzy and Loue, of course."

"We don't need to prove such things, Jesse." Gabriel crosses his arms.

"But it helps."

"I won't do it." Gabriel walks past him to for his clothes. "Get dressed. Let's get this over with."

"Romantic," Jesse mumbles and Gabriel ignores him as he searches for an outfit in his bag.

Jesse and Gabriel sit on one side of the table under the gazebo while Jaques and Fleur sit on the other. It was Jesse that started the conversation about such intriguing foods and Fleur was more than happy to indulge him on the topic. She has a wide taste for food and drink, especially on the ones that come in small portions. Between that Jaques asks Gabriel what kind of vehicle he has and Gabriel answers with a model that is similar to Jaques', knowing from his research. Jaques tells him that it’s a beauty of a car, but not like his, and shows Gabriel some pictures. Gabriel compliments on the care of the car as well as the collection he can see in the background and other pictures. 

Gabriel catches little things the couple does and tries to mimic them in another way. When Fleur circles her finger over Jaques knuckles, Gabriel stretches his arm over Jesse's shoulder, and he moves closer before looking at him, smiling. When Jaques kisses Fleur's hand, Gabriel holds Jesse's. He tells himself it'll be for a minute or two, but time passes and they don't unlink. He stops when Fleur and Jaques kiss quickly after he makes her laugh. Gabriel doesn't even look at Jesse, feeling it might be awkward. He doesn't just want to copy the couple, just mirror some details to make him and Jesse look more married. 

There's a moment no one talks and Gabriel is taken aback by the sight of Jesse looking at the ocean and the wind blowing back his hair. There's no hat to hold it back and he simply wants to tangle his fingers through it. That's normal, right? For couples to do that sort of thing at random. It wouldn't be completely weird.

"You guys are cute," Fleur comments, making Gabriel and Jesse look at her. "He looks at you like it is the first time he's falling in love."

"You're making me blush, honeybun," Jesse says to Gabriel who can feel the heat rising on his cheeks.

"How can I not look at you like that?" Gabriel manages to follow smoothly. "It feels like I'm doing that every day I wake up next to you."

"When was the first time you realized you were in love?" Fleur asks, resting her chin on her hand, suddenly interested in such stories.

"The moment I saw him flexing and his sleeves fell off," Jesse jokes and receives a laugh from Fleur. "But for real? It was his mother's birthday and they weren't on the best of terms, but he still took the day off work and went to a flower shop while we were out for coffee. He managed himself through those flowers and took his time and dedication until the perfect bouquet was made for her." Jesse looks at Gabriel and Reyes can feel his chest swelling and his heart stopping. "There was something about him putting such effort, the smell and colorful background of the flowers that made me realize I loved this man."

Gabriel looks away, embarrassed.

"Then I received an even more beautiful arrangement."

"What about you?" Jaques questions Gabriel, tilting his head.

Gabriel rubs the back of his neck. "Well, it's not as deep as that."

"It doesn't matter how it happened, but that it did," Jaques comments and kisses Fleur's hand again. 

"We were having a late dinner at his favorite diner and he was still going over his review of a big test he had the next day. Yet he took the time to see me."

"I always will, pumpkin."

Gabriel hums happily and continues, "I saw him, focused and determined to do his best. He smelled and tasted like coffee and sweat, but." Gabriel pauses to laugh softly. "I still fell in love with him."

Jesse leans in quick and kisses Gabriel's cheek, a little lower towards his jaw, tingling his skin down to his neck. Gabriel clears his throat and quickly asks the Collettes the same. Jaques is very simple and cliche: he fell in love with her at first sight. On the other hand, it took her some time to say those words and admit it to herself, but it happened on Valentine's Day after an argument of her forgetting what day it was.

"Something else we wanted to ask: why did you help us with the game?" Jaques asks.

"The ribbon hunt?" Jesse waves him off. "It was nothing for us, honestly."

"And you guys seemed more into it," Gabriel adds. 

"I love a good competition," Fleur says.

"Then you're perfect for each other," Jesse comments, raising an eyebrow at Jaques and Gabriel knows what he means.

"Yes, Jaques told me about your moments." She winks at him. "I'll make sure to write some down."

"Have you done more exciting things on the island?" Jaques asks.

"N—"

"The spot you showed us was very nice last night," Jesse cuts Gabriel off.

"Martin, don't be shy to share," Fleur tries to encourage Gabriel. She had noticed he was about to deny it.

"We took the back of the restaurant last night," Jaques says. "My hand under the table and her skirt, the waiter didn't notice at all."

"We should—"

"No," Gabriel quickly says. He doesn't think encouraging such friendly competition is a good idea. Even if it's fake.

"I noticed how you looked at my cars, Martin. Maybe a good old fashion bet?"

"I'm listening," Jesse replies.

"Mi amor," Gabriel says, soft, but also a warning. "It's not needed. We're here to enjoy the beauty of the island."

"But why the retreat?" Fleur asks. "You two seem perfectly fine and know each other well."

Gabriel shrugs. "I've never been to one and this is the only time I had a full week clear from work."

"And I thought couples didn't exactly need a reason to come to these things," Jesse follows.

"Please!" Fleur leans closer as if she's about to reveal a big secret. "The couple that sat beside us at the bingo had serious trust issues. In the first game, it was obvious the Turners did not listen to each other. The couple that won the race have no chemistry, it's like they're trying to fool themselves into thinking they're in love, and the Carters are total opposites trying to be the same."

Gabriel nods, truly finding her observations interesting. She saw through Rainer and Balor's play, but hasn't caught on to Jesse and him, yet. 

"If there is something wrong with you two, I'm willing to find out."

"He's a prude sometimes," Jesse says, shrugging.

Gabriel smirks, "We’ve done our fair share of public sex, even if I’m not a hormonal teenarge."

"Wish we had met when we both were then, maybe I'd be picking out leaves and twigs from my hair right now."

“Teenage me could not have afforded this place. You got me at my prime." Gabriel brushes a lock of Jesse's hair behind his ear, causing Jesse to lean into it. 

"Some men age like fine wine, and you're lucky you got one of them, Chris." Fleur leans back on her chair and tangles her arm around Jaques'. "I can say I'm lucky too."

"This is ridiculous," Gabriel mumbles with his jaw tight. Jesse laughs in front of him as a coconut is trapped between their foreheads.

"Alright!" The perky hosts says, looking over every couple. "Now that everyone has their coconut, the challenge can begin!"

Gabriel rolls his eyes and looks over at their targets. Fleur looks determined, ready to listen and do whatever it takes to win while Jacques looks infatuated with her.

"I'll give you a command, and your task is to do it without dropping the coconut. Whoever drops it, gets eliminated until only one remains. Let's begin!" The host starts walking between couples, keeping a clear eye to see who breaks first. "Spin around."

"Counter clockwise?" Jesse asks.

"Yeah."

They spin without a fault and no one gets eliminated.

"Jump two times."

"One, two, three," Gabriel says, and both jump in sync. Another command that gets passed by everyone.

"Hold to one leg while jumping three times!"

Gabriel and Jesse pass the command as well.

Two more orders are given, and Jesse snickers when the first couple to be eliminated is Rainer and Balor. Gabriel notices how Rainer slaps Jesse on the arm as they pass behind and seat on the couches of the activity room, waiting for the game to be over.

"Kiss your partner!" the host calls.

Gabriel looks away from Jesse for a second, wondering if he heard right or not. When his eyes set on Jesse again, he's smiling devilishly and moves his jaw forward for a kiss.

Gabriel wimps out and leans his head too much on the opposite way. The coconut clacks down to the floor and they're the second couple to be eliminated.

"Was it my breath, sweetheart?" Jesse asks as they sit beside Rainer and Balor.

Gabriel doesn't answer, and Jesse doesn't wait for one as he slips into conversation with Rainer and Balor about the resort and their desire to stay. Gabriel scoffs at one point, knowing they're telling their dear boss to get them more vacation days, or a raise.

They’ve had lunch and Gabriel, to please Jesse, had it at the beach with him. He isn’t fond of having food where sand can get everywhere, but Jesse has been doing such a good job that when he asked Gabriel to accompany him, he couldn’t say no. Because it would be weird for one half of the couple to be eating on their own, right? Especially on a romantic spot like the beach. At least there was nothing about the Martins and felt more like Jesse and Gabriel. Since it was pretty vacant on the spot they were, they weren’t afraid to talk about their real lives. Gabriel had shown Jesse some pictures of his nephews at a talent show and spoke more about them. Jesse seemed to enjoy it, as he kept listening to Reyes and didn’t change the topic.  

After a while though, they decided to set back into their roles and check on the Collettes. They separated to see who could find them and even try to start a conversation. Gabriel is close to the jacuzzi area and has sight of Fleur quickly. He sees her white hat poking out of it and then her big round sunglasses underneath as her gaze lands on him.

"Martin!" Fleur calls, waves him over. She's sitting alone, while the Jacuzzi beside it is occupied by Balor and Rainer as well as another couple, and though they're holding their own conversation, Gabriel knows his agents are capable of listening in on his with Fleur.

"Join me, won't you?"

Gabriel does, setting his sandals and folded shirt beside the tub before dipping in. He doesn't fake the pleasing hum that comes out when his body is swallowed by the hot water. He feels it down to his bones, like a miracle mending it back to what they used to be in his youth.

"Are you enjoying your time here?" Fleur asks with a big smile on her face.

"Yes, surprisingly more than I thought. How about you?"

She rolls her head and Gabriel can tell she also rolled her eyes. "Don't tell Jacques, but it's not bad."

Gabriel laughs, leaning his head back. "Your secret is safe with me."

"How about you share yours with me?" She asks, with a flirtatious smile and a gaze to match when she takes off her glasses.

"Which one?" Gabriel asks with a teasing grin.

"How you got Chris."

"Ah," Gabriel says and shrugs. "I'm not bad to look at."

"Oh, I can see that." She winks. "But between you and me, it is obvious we have a bigger age gap between partners. I was just wondering how you did it. From what you’ve told us, he seemed to have been in college when you met.” Gabriel nods to confirm. “And I know your business has been around for years."

"What are you implying?" 

"Nothing bad," Fleur clarifies. "Look at me. I know my money is one of the reasons Jacques was attracted to me." Gabriel doesn't know what to say at first, and she adds. "I just want to know the origin of your relationship. How you met."

Gabriel continues to think about it. Jesse came up with some backstory for them with Jacques, it's only fair Gabriel does it too.

"He was a struggling student, and he worked at maintenance at a gym I went to while my regular one was being remodeled."

"He cleaned floors, and managed to catch your eye?" She asks, and Gabriel can hear her surprise.

"It was his charm that drew me to him, and his hard work. So we talked once, then twice, and next thing I know I'm inviting him to coffee after work. And yes, I may have gifted him some stuff for college when he told me he was running low on money."

"Sugar daddy," Fleur says and moves closer. "Tasty."

Gabriel laughs and tries not to come out as awkward. "I did it with the most honest and innocent intentions, but things took a turn, and the next thing I know, he's sleeping over in my apartment."

"To tell you the truth, I had a feeling it had been like that."

"You did?"

She nods. "Even on vacation, you're so poise, and classy. Chris, on the other hand, is like Jacques. He's almost the opposite of you and completes you. He matches you in ways you miss."

"I believe so," Gabriel plays along.

"And screw what others say about your age and his." She puts her sunglasses back. "We're the ones that go back to a young man in our bed and too much wealth in our hands."

Gabriel smiles to be polite, to follow. "That's true. He's carefree, and he has helped me to break loose. From the moment I realized Chris was more than a friend, I knew I had to forget about the world if I wanted to have him, but I didn’t act like it at first. At the start of our relationship, I barely held his hand in public, and I knew it hurt him."

"Exactly. He is what you need, and you are what he needs."

"You said it was the same with Jacques and you?" Gabriel asks to divert the subject a little bit.

"Our start wasn't like yours. He was a smartass that wanted my attention and worked at one of my casinos." She rolls her eyes again. "Finally got it when he made one of the biggest deals in my life happen."

"Oh? That must have been very important. You saw a partner, not only romantically."

"I guess. It wasn't easy, I used to work double what I do now. A relationship was the farthest thing from my mind, until he changed that and helped me."

"He helped you run your casinos?"

"No, but he put me on the right track. He has such ways of making friends and connections, having him with me in meetings have helped open doors for me into new lands.”

“You shouldn’t sell yourself short. You manage to pull me into your business as I am interested in designing one for you and help you get a spot in California.”

“I did not say I was bad at making my own connections.” She twirls a finger on the surface of the water. “He just makes me better. Again, do not tell him I said that.”

Gabriel chuckles and leans back. “We all have little secrets from our spouses.”

“Can I know one of yours? Is only fair.”

“Maybe when I’ve had a few shots.”

Fleur raises a hand, as if to call a waiter or bartender on the mini bar. “That can be arranged.”

Gabriel stands up. “Not today. I already have plans with Chris and I don’t like to keep him waiting. Unless it’s tied up.”

“Say no more,” Fleur says with a smirk. “Next time we talk it’ll be about architecture and bondage.”

“It’s a date,” Gabriel finishes off as he steps out of the jacuzzi and puts on his sandals and dry shirt. 

On his way to the villa, he gets a text from Jesse saying he found Jaques by himself on the beach and that he wanted to talk to Jesse. Gabriel frowns at his phone at this and hurries up to meet with Jesse. When they’re reunited, Jesse pulls Gabriel by his hand and quickly presses a peck on Gabriel’s cheek. He keeps their hands together as he begins to walk and Gabriel lets himself be pulled. 

“I saw him walking down the shore,” Jesse tells him. “He was on the phone but said he wanted to talk to me once he was done.”

“Good thing you told me,” Gabriel starts and goes over his conversation with Fleur. Jesse gets a good laugh out of the sugar daddy comment, while Gabriel breezes over it. He points out Jaques, besides being interested in their relationship, also likes to make connections.

“He has such ways of making friends and connections,” Gabriel quotes Fleur and huffs. His and Jesse’s hand swing back and forth. “I think I know who might be the head of their other business.”

“Think she knows?” Jesse asks, briefly looking at Gabriel before enjoying the view of the beach ahead. Gabriel notices the area Jaques as walk off to is very isolated.

“She has to; she seemed too proud of it.” Gabriel flinches when Jesse’s thumb circles the back of his hand, but he continues, “besides they have always arrested or interrogated both, she would be suspicious of something being wrong if she doesn’t know.”

“Yeah, but these connections, Jaques is the one saving their asses then.” Jesse pulls Gabriel closer until he has an arm wrapped around Reyes’ waist. “He’s up ahead, still on the phone.”

Gabriel sees Jaques, he’s at the edge of the beach, the water covering his feet while he looks away from them. His body is straight and his free arm relaxed at his side, giving away nothing of how the conversation might be going. 

Jesse turns to Gabriel, placing his arms over Gabriel’s shoulder. Gabriel puts his hands on Jesse’s waist, to keep him at bay or in place, he doesn’t know yet. But he likes the closeness, especially with the beach surrounding them. It’s cliche and cheesy, something Gabriel would never have thought of doing, but here he is. With his fake husband.

“Wonder what he’s talking about.”

Gabriel diverts his gaze from Jesse’s. “Wondering who he is talking to.”

“Surprise he’s on his own and not with his honey.”

“She was by herself,” Gabriel informs him, brave enough to stare back at Jesse’s eyes again.

“That doesn’t surprise me. But y’know he’s the one that wanted them here.” Jesse looks in Jaques’ direction. “Whatever he’s talkin’ about or to who, he doesn’t want her around.”

“Or anyone.”

“Good! Martin is with you!”

They look at Jaques who has finished his phone call, but is still where he stands. He pockest his phone and begins to walk towards them. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Sorry if we interrupted,” Gabriel begins, and Jesse turns towards Jaques, but his hand returns to Gabriel’s. “I have a surprise for Chris and wouldn’t like to delay it.”

“Then I’ll make it quick: come to our Villa tonight.”

“What’s the occasion?” Jesse asks what Gabriel was about to.

Jacques shrugs. “We like you. We can have dinner together and wine.”

“Wine?” Jesse huffs. “Is this gonna end up in some fantasy you and Fleur have?”

Jaques laughs. “I can’t say it’ll be an innocent evening, but that’s not our intention.”

“What do you say, sugar?” Jesse asks Gabriel.

“Would be nice,” Gabriel says.

“Fleur told me you and her have talked about doing business together.” Jacques points at Gabriel.

“Yeah, but we haven’t done much beyond that.”

“I’d love to talk about it more.”

“He’s being quiet about it, but he actually made some sketches,” Jesse says, walling his mouth with one hand for the last half as if to keep Gabriel from listening. 

Gabriel follows, “they’re nothing.”

“So you have ideas?” Jacques beams at the thought of it. “She would love to see them."

Gabriel brightens his smile and moves his hand as he describes the model. "Yeah, and I think she'll love it. Spacious, but cozy. Can have an underground bar or maybe a VIP room, where luck will determine if you get in."

"The highest bidders and winners can get it," Jesse adds.

Jaques rubs his chin. "Sounds like a good idea. Do you have a spot for it?"

"Not at the moment."

"I heard there's a closed down brewery in California, always thought that would be a nice spot."

"A brewery themed casino?" Jesse asks Gabriel. "Have you seen something like it?"

"At least I haven't made it yet."

Jacques shakes his finger. “I’ll talk to her about it and we'll go over it tonight. We might have a real reason to celebrate.” Jacques begins to walk and Gabriel starts following him a few steps behind, pulling Jesse along. “Ready for another game?”

“I hope they finally pull out the pie eating contest.”

Gabriel and Jacques share a small laugh. 

“I don’t know what that has to do with romance.”

Jesse smirks. “If you’re as adventurous as you say, you’d know.”

Unfortunately for Jesse, but fortunate for Gabriel’s sanity, it does not end up being a pie eating contest. Though once they’re sitting on the wooden floor of a deck looking into each other’s eyes, Gabriel might have preferred the pie. The game is a simple staring contest, whoever partner looks away first loses it for the pair but also gets punished by their partner. 

At first, Gabriel didn’t think it would be bad. You just stare into someone’s eyes and win. He has done it before at interrogations and when facing a death in the face. He can do it while looking at his agent.

The longer they sit cross legged, in front of each other, it proves to be more difficult. He can feel Jesse reading all of his thoughts. Searching deep in him through his soul and finding out his secrets. The memories he cannot get rid off that involve Jesse. The sunflower, the churros, the night of the gallery mission, Christmas, the training at the forest and all in betweens. When he first met the cowboy at the Bunker. That didn’t used to be an important event until Jesse started to matter more than an agent. Those times that Jesse threw himself at him, and Gabriel now wonders what would have happened if he accepted them. The animal Jesse has gotten out of him now wishes he had claimed him sooner.

That’s when he blinks and looks away, too much of a coward to realise Jesse cannot know what he’s thinking. Yet it feels like that by how Jesse looks at him. He makes it look too easy. He has a lazy smile on, like he left the earth the second he was asked to look at Gabriel’s eyes. Maybe that would have been a good idea: think of nothing. But Gabriel had been too in his own head and did not want his feelings to be figured out.

“You can say your punishment out loud or…” the host trails and lowers her voice. “Keep it in the bedroom.”

“I think I’ll do the latter,” Jesse says as he grins and Gabriel can feel his whole body blushing and vibrating to the idea of what Jesse could do to him if he put thought into it.

Gabriel focuses on Jacques to keep his mind off those thoughts. Fleur and him are still in the game and so are two more couples. Since they have the attention of the rest of the group, Gabriel starring should not be out of the ordinary. Gabriel remains neutral, but he scans Jacque’s body. He can see sweat pooling in the back of his neck, over the collar of his shirt. His left foot taps over his right knee, and he places his hand over it as to keep it calm. Meanwhile Fleur is like a statue, smiling and looking at Jacques more lovingly as the minutes pass by. While she is falling in love with him again, he is as worried as Gabriel was of their partners finding out their secrets.

Jacques looks away first, clearing his throat and Fleur pouts before crossing her arms. A minute later, the next couple loses, declaring the last pair the winners. 

Gabriel doesn’t mention what he noticed in Jacques to Jesse. It’s best if at dinner, McCree is the one who focuses on making conversation while Gabriel observes. Not that McCree can’t do both, but there’s some kind of comfort in having sort of different tasks. A cheap excuse for Gabriel to do something without consulting Jesse about it.

The Collette’s villa is about the same as theirs, maybe a little bigger. They are greeted by glasses already filled with wine and a cheese and fruit platter while their dinner arrives. Gabriel quickly takes a sniff of the wine, but he worries Jesse barely even looked at it before drinking it. He takes less sips than McCree, and makes sure to keep the food coming. He also feeds Jesse a few cheese cubes and grapes, a romantic gesture but also a strategy to keep the cowboy on the same path.

“Do you have the sketches you told me about?” Jacques asks.

“I do,” Gabriel says, grabbing his phone from his pocket and searches in his gallery a few images of blueprints Jesse had told Lance to make for him a day before. Gabriel couldn't hide his surprise when Jesse had told him before they came over. He hands over his phone to Jacques and he and Fleur look at the image.

Fleur humms lightly. “Promising.”

“And it would fit great on the spot I told you,” Jacques says.

Fleur grimaces this time. “I do not think that brewery is the right one.”

Jacques rolls his eyes and gives Gabriel back his phone. “It’d be unique.”

“I do not like the location, the area is too lonely.”

“It’ll bring more people in, give them a sense of privacy.”

“A fantasy away from the real world,” Jesse tries to help sell it.

“But I get what she means,” Gabriel says, simply to keep the conversation on a neutral level. “And casinos are not an easy thing to pull off, especially when they come from another country.”

“Exactly,” she says, sitting up straight in the couches of their living room. “This is our chance to bring our name to the states. If we fail, we might not get it again.”

“Knowing you, you won’t give up that easy,” he compliments, brushing a finger on her cheek as a way to persuade her.

“It’s not cheap, Jacques. If I fail, it means we lose a big amount.”

He shrugs. “And? It’s not all about money. And you say it like we’d be on the streets. We can manage.”

“I do not like the spot,” she says plainly. “Besides, an old closed down brewery?” She shivers visibly. “The smell of old beer, moldy wood and who knows what else.”

“It’s American beer, so piss,” Gabriel adds, popping a grape in his mouth.

“Of course, the idea of Martin working with you is starting from scratch,” Jesse intervenes. “So the whole place would be renovated, taken down to nothing to start over.”

“You two disagree?” Fleur asks, pointing from Gabriel to Jesse while she holds her glass.

“Sometimes,” Gabriel answers.

“It keeps the marriage interesting.”

“You two do not seem like the type—”

“All couples argue,” Jacques cuts her off and one of her eyebrows raises as she looks at him.

“But it’s not necessary,” Gabriel points out.

Jacques huffs. “If a marriage is perfect, it’d be boring.”

“Boring?” Jesse repeats. “Disagreeing on a thing like this is nothing. But arguing on everything to the point we go to bed mad every night is certainly not healthy.”

“If you do that, get a divorce,” Gabriel advises. “That’s not marriage.”

“What are we supposed to do if we don’t vent?” Fleur asks, leaning back and taking a sip.

“Exactly. That’s what the other person is there for, to listen.”

“Yes, but also to talk things out.” Gabriel places his hand on Jesse’s knee. “That’s marriage.”

“I can’t even remember what we disagree on,” Jesse says, wrapping his hand around Gabriel’s.

Fleur looks at Jesse with narrow eyes, and Gabriel goes through their conversation again, but nothing they said could have given them away. Still she looks at him like she’s waiting for more. For him to defend their statements. 

Their dinner arrives. It’s a salad with cranberries and some seeds as well as whole wheat bread. They move over to the outside table. It’s quiet at first and Jesse makes small talk about the weather and meal. 

When Fleur pours more wine for herself and Jacques, she begins, “So you do not argue or keep secrets?”

“Why would we?” Gabriel questions and looks at Jesse. “We’re comfortable sharing everything.”

She hums sharply and nabs at the corners of her mouth with a napkin. 

“Anything you’d like to share?” Jesse asks, trying not to sound irritated.

“I do not mean to intrude—though you two do seem to be soulmates, I couldn’t help but be curious as to what Jaques told me earlier.”

“Dear,” Jacques says.

“Let me guess, another sex story?” Gabriel guesses with a smirk.

“Sadly no.” Fleur pokes her salad with her fork and looks at Jesse. “Your husband is a bit of a flirt, isn’t he?”

“I’ve been called charming,” Jesse says, unbothered.

“Including with women?” She raises a questioning eyebrow.

“I swing both ways.”

She nods and looks at Gabriel. “Interesting.”

“What is?” Reyes asks.

“If I had known—well this changes what I said before!”

Gabriel doesn’t speak. He’s a little irritated she’s dancing around whatever she clearly wants to say to keep him hanging, but he won’t give her the satisfaction. Jesse shifts on his chair and Gabriel starts to wonder if there is something he’s hiding.

“Does it not bother you that he can change from you to a woman?”

“Excuse me?” Both Gabriel and Jesse asks.

“He was very friendly with this one. It’s the woman that won the sack race. Obviously her husband was boring her to have been on her own. And maybe you—”

“He went to ask for towels,” Gabriel quickly says. He knows who Jesse was talking to and why. Rainer. And even if it was a stranger, Gabriel should not find any jealousy in him towards that.

“Either way, how you talked to her, if Jaques noticed they were being very friendly, then they must have been very obvious.”

“I’m not as oblivious as you think,” Jacques clarifies.

“I know how he is. He always charms his way into people’s lives, but returns to mine.” Gabriel holds Jesse’s hand over the table, and Jesse nods proudly.

“What if it has all been a game? To get your money and business.”

“Listen--”

“You just think he pretends to like men and me so he can get my money?” Gabriel cuts Jesse off as he asks in a tone that he hopes she realizes how stupid it sounds.

“I do not believe one person can like men and women.”

“Why not?” Jesse asks sternly.

“They are different. Not to mention it opens the pool for cheating.”

“You obviously think you know my husband better than I do. Him being bisexual doesn’t mean he will cheat. That’s something my grandma used to hear in her time.”

“If you still hear it, it must have some truth behind it.”

“No, simply ignorance.” Jesse says, raising his voice and Fleur raises her hand at Gabriel, as if he’s the one that needs to be calmed down.

“I am only trying to keep your future safe, Diaz. From a business woman to a business man. I see how head over heels you are over him. A blow like this could harm you.”

“So what do you suggest?” Gabriel leans back, but he doesn’t let go of Jesse’s hand. “Since you seem to be great at romance and marriage.”

“I don’t need advice from anyone,” Jesse swipes his hand away.

Jacques tilts his glass towards Jesse. “If you want to keep your luxurious life, I’d listen to her.”

“You need to do whatever you can to keep him. I heard the stories he told Jaques, but the more I see you surrounded by paradise and with your clothes on the more I think they are just that: tales.”

“He likes to boast about that stuff. I don’t. And when other people talk about our sex life, I tend to keep it more private.”

“That’s how he is, and I love him that way.” Gabriel would be lying if he said his heart didn’t skip a beat to Jesse’s words. But just like the stories he has told Jacques, this is also a part of one.  

“Convince me.”

Jesse scoffs. “I don’t have to prove anything to you.”

“Drink with us,” Fleur says, pushing the bottle of wine towards Jesse. “Prove to me you love him as much as you say and he is the one. Loosen your tongue. And, in return, I’ll agree to do business with Martin, and accept the brewery.”

Jacques perks up to the challenge.

Jesse takes the bottle and fills his glass.

“Mi corazón,” Gabriel coos but Jesse is already gulping it down.

“And we have more, not just wine.” Fleur twirls her glass and smiles behind it. “It’s gonna be a fun night.”

Jesse chuckles and leans towards Gabriel. His fruity breath and low voice cause him to straight it as a shiver runs down his spine. “Told you they had a fantasy to fulfill.” Jesse drinks, leaning his head back and Gabriel watches his exposed neck and bobbing Adam’s apple. A drip of wine slips from the corner of his mouth, and it’s tempting Gabriel to kiss and drink it.

Of course, his glass doesn’t remain empty. Jacques looks for another bottle and fills Gabriel as well as his own before crossing arms with Fleur to drink together. As Gabriel drinks, he keeps an eye on Jesse, who is done with his glass. The crimson liquid appears once more and he doesn’t say no. 

Gabriel looks down at Jesse’s bare back as he saddles the cowboy’s hips. His hands are on Jesse’s side and McCree is giggling as he lies on the deck. Gabriel is doing everything in his power to not think too much about the position. On how he can feel Jesse’s muscles if he just touched. 

Fleur crouches down beside him with a bottle of tequila in hand. “Ready, Chris?”

“I’m always ready for him.”

Before them, Fleur and Jacques had had their turn taking body shots off each other. While Gabriel mostly watched and felt very uncomfortable, Jesse cheered them on and poured the alcohol like Fleur was about to do.

She trailed the bottle over Jesse’s bare back, from down to up. And Gabriel took a deep breath before he tipped down and licked up the liquid stripe. Jesse arched up and the noise he made had Gabriel’s blood boiling.

Fleur poured more over Jesse’s shoulder, and Gabriel kissed and licked away all he could catch. His hips jerk against Jesse’s and tightens his fist, it isn’t until Jesse moans that Gabriel realizes he had done it around Jesse’s biceps, trapping him for this game, without mercy and underneath him. 

He did not want to do this, but Jesse had accepted all the drinks from the Collettes, proving to them he can love Gab--Martin. And though Gabriel had drank too, he was the most sober of the four. Fleur stumbles when she walks, and Jacques mumbles a lot, barely making full sentences. Jesse gets very into their roles and calls him many sweet names along with some filthy ones Gabriel can’t unhear. He’s also very handsy, which is why Gabriel decided it was best if he did the drinking from Jesse.

Even with all the alcohol in his system, Jesse manages to keep their cover under Fleur’s questioning. Though he stutters or trails off when he loses his thought, he doesn’t reveal their true identities and Gabriel has to wonder if he’s faking it. 

The Collettes slowly start to forget they invited them to dinner when Jacques begins to kiss Fleur’s exposed shoulders and neck. Her words turn to pleasing purrs and moans before they kiss and he carries her to the jacuzzi.

“It’s time we go,” Gabriel says to Jesse softly. The cowboy has his shirt back on again as well as the strawhat.

“Feel free to take the bed!” Fleur shouts and then giggles when Jacques nibbles on her earlobe.

“How come you don’t carry me like that?” Jesse wines, pointing at the couple.

“I do every time, but you’re forgetting it,” Gabriel says, teasing.

“I have not closed any deals yet,” Fleur says, gaze narrowing on Jesse and Gabriel. “I could change my mind.”

“And you will regret it,” Jacques says, also looking at Gabriel, but his gaze is menacing, or trying to. 

Gabriel frowns but once the Collettes are set in the jacuzzi, he can tell they forgot about them after a few minutes. He gets an idea. He looks at Jesse, looking at Gabriel lazily and dreamy behind the messy bangs that have fallen over his eyes, and he winces. He’s about to recreate a memory that damaged Jesse’s trust in him.

Gabriel pulls Jesse to his feet and picks him up. Jesse gasps and the way he quickly wraps his legs around Gabriel makes the commander forget how to function for a moment. Without breaking eye contact with Jesse, he walks over to the bed, but one hand quickly snatches Jacques phone, which he had left on the coffee table. 

He drops Jesse on the bed and crawls on top as he loosens the curtains of the bed around them to give them privacy. Jesse looks like a dream; glossy eyes, swollen lips and chest heaving as he breathes. Gabriel begins to caress his hands up Jesse’s body starting from the sides, making McCree raise his arms above his head. Gabriel continues the path up Jesse’s biceps until he has lowered, face to face with Jesse.

“Do you trust me?” Gabriel asks low.

“More than ever,” Jesse says and Gabriel nods. 

He takes his own phone from his pocket and unlocks both. Luckily Jacques doesn't have it password protected, making this too easy for Gabriel to wonder if it’ll be worth it at all. He works on the phones, side to side as he connects them through Bluetooth and begins a program he has on his to transfer basically a copy of everything that is on Jacque’s. 

He looks down at Jesse as the process is going through and he looks disappointed. Taken back by the lack of action and a little lost.

“I—” Gabriel begins but his words die in his mouth when Jesse lifts his face to kiss Gabriel’s neck. He’s doing it rough and desperate, seeking Gabriel’s attention. 

“Vaquero,” Gabriel says softly, putting down the phones and pinning one of Jesse’s shoulders down.

Jesse shoves Gabriel aside. At first Gabriel is ready to sprint after him, but Jesse is not going anywhere. He pushes Gabriel to lie down as he gets on his hips to start taking his shirt off. Gabriel’s throat goes dry and his eyes widen. Jesse’s toned stomach sways and bends as he works his way out of the piece of clothing. The smooth transition is stopped when the collar gets caught on the stupid straw hat. Gabriel sits up and helps him take off both pieces. Jesse comes out of the shirt with his eyes closed as he laughs and his hair is a mess.

“What are you doing?” Gabriel asks, brushing a lock of hair away from his eyes.

When McCree opens them again, he smiles and pushes Gabriel back down. “I can’t resist you any longer, sweetheart.”

“I…” Gabriel trails off. Is Jesse making a move on him? His predatory smile and tantalizing gaze are too profound to be fake. The way his body moves and tightens around Gabriel speaks of lust that he has been pushing down for some time. His knees are locked in place by Gabriel’s hips and Reyes is more than happy where he lies. Jesse stares down at Gabriel with a passion worthy of burning down a whole world in search of Gabriel.

Gabriel’s hands go to Jesse’s hips in a battle to push away and pull him closer. If Jesse closes the deal, if he simply leans down his head and meets Gabriel’s lips with his, then Gabriel will let it happen.

A cry from Fleur causes Gabriel to sit up and wrap his arms around Jesse, as if they would dare to take him from Gabriel. But by the other sounds, it's obvious the Collettes are still doing their own thing on the other side of the villa. Jesse laughs and it feels like a velvety brush against Gabriel’s ear before Jesse hides his face in Reyes’ neck.

Gabriel swallows when he feels Jesse’s lips caressing his neck once more. Soft peppering that feels like the many dreams he has had. McCree’s hands do not stay still as they explore the path behind and ahead of where Jesse lips have and will touch. From his neck, they travel down to Gabriel’s shoulders and arms, feeling the forbidden muscles Gabriel has denied to many.

Gabriel focuses on the phones and the transfer that’s barely forty percent. Gabriel’s eyelids flutter when Jesse kisses under his earlobe. His skin tingles and goes hotter the longer Jesse plays with him. Gabriel’s fingers grip on to Jesse and he prays his half hard member does not grow any harder.

“Gabe,” Jesse purrs and Gabriel shivers.

Gabriel quickly carries Jesse with one arm and turns them over so he ends up on top again. He’s faced with a shocked Jesse when their eyes meet. He’s got McCree on the spot, all for him, yet he doesn’t know what to do next. Does he do what Jesse did? Tease him with kisses and teeth, maybe tongue. 

Jesse grins. “Didn’t you say you would dominate the shit out of me?”

Gabriel smiles back at him. “I’m just getting warmed up.” Gabriel looks over at the phones; they’re over sixty, giving him a bit of relief, but feeling there’s still much to go.

Jesse begins to unbutton Gabriel’s shirt and his hands slip even if it’s not fully open. Gabriel sighs as Jesse feels under his breasts and rubs up his nipples, making the nubs perky and his back to arc. Jesse stops for a moment and Gabriel is embarrassed at how he’s acting. How he’s letting lust take over him and acting on impulse when he should have some control.

His head spins when Jesse turns them around once more and Gabriel ends up on top of the phones. Jesse presses his hips forward and Gabriel lies down willingly. Instead of their lips leaning to taste some more, Jesse keeps some distance. His hands do not stay idle as they begin to brush Gabriel’s curls down his sharp cheekbones and bottom lip. Gabriel doesn’t know what to focus on. His gaze darts from Jesse’ eyes, to his lips, to his jaw and neck. But he stays still, fearing that if he touches Jesse it will unleash something they cannot tame. 

“Hey,” Gabriel jerks and Jesse sits up looking at Jacques, who had interrupted them very lightly. “If I were you, I wouldn’t waste more time on foreplay and get to the show already since you don’t have much time left.”

Gabriel sits up as well and his jaw tenses.

“Kicking us out already?” Jesse asks, laughing.

“By all means, stay and get laid since it seems you both need it. I’m just saying you should hurry up before you bleed out.” He smiles villainously, looking from Gabriel to Jesse. “Unless you finally tell me who you are, then I might go easy on you and give you an antidote.”

“To what?” Gabriel says, softly pushing Jesse aside to stand up.

“Your partner should do better than accept free alcohol.”

“What have we done to you?” Gabriel asks, still playing the role of Martin.

“I don’t know who you are, but you are definitely not Martin Diaz. And I already gave you a warning. Walk away, enjoy the rest of the retreat and I will provide the antidote when it’s all over.”

Gabriel looks down at Jesse who has lost focus on both men, he looks delirious, drunk, but is it only alcohol making him this way?

“Give it to him,” Gabriel demands.

Jacques looks at Gabriel from head to toe. “You should be in the same state. What are you?”

Gabriel walks forward and Jacques walks back until both are in the open. “Your worst nightmare if you don’t give me the damn antidote.”

“And I’ll be yours if you take one more step.” Gabriel looks at his side, Fleur aiming a gun at him. 

Jesse coughs and he turns on his side, pulling at the sheets.

“Mi sol,” Gabriel says, worried and not willing to reveal Jesse’s name.

“At least the love for him is something you didn’t have to fake,” Fleur says, walking closer to the bed. “Those sex stories were too passionate to be fake.”

Jesse chuckles and winces. “You’ll be surprised.”

“Please, stay quiet, or you’ll die sooner and I’m quite enjoying this.”

“Then we can finally drop acts,” Gabriel faces Jacques, stepping between his view and Jesse. He looks at Fleur. “You both don’t just work in casinos. But I thought he was the one working on the side.”

“No, he just takes the bigger load and I pretend I don’t know what’s going on. A rich woman wiping her tears in nerves while being interrogated. That’s not something authorities have trouble believing.”

“But I don’t think you need to know more. I suggest it if you want him alive,” Jacques warns, looking at Jesse.

“We’ll go,” McCree crooks and Gabriel cannot fight the urge to stand tall in front of the Collettes. He needs to find some help for McCree, and then deal with them.

Gabriel helps McCree up by draping one Jesse’s arms over his shoulders. Jacques has stepped back, but he’s smiling triumphantly. When Gabriel looks at the bed to reach for his phone, it’s gone along with Jacques’. When Gabriel looks at Fleur, who is also smiling and confident in her grip on the gun, he notices a shadow getting close. But he doesn’t look directly at it because he just knows it’ll benefit him.

Rainer kicks Fleur in the back of the knee and grabs her by the neck to swing her over her body and land her on the floor. Balor comes sprinting after, jumps over both women and takes down Jacques.

“Knew we could count on ya,” McCree says and hands Gabriel his phone. 

Gabriel huffs and lets Jesse sit on the bed when he feels his body dropping. Rainer has confiscated Fleur’s gun and has her wrist on a zip tie behind her back. Balor does the same to Jacques. Gabriel can clearly see now they have the wetsuits the guest of the resort used for scuba diving. When both are sat side by side, Gabriel gets down on one knee in front of Jacques and grabs his face.

“Did you really do something to us?”

Jacques chuckles. “Wanna find out?”

“Let me at him,” Rainer says, cracking her knuckles. “I can make him talk.”

“Check the villa,” Gabriel tells Balor who nods and gets to work. Gabriel stands and looks back at Jesse, lying on his side and though he is smiling, he looks away. Rainer also looks at him and glares at the Collettes.

“I swear you won’t make it out of this island alive if you don’t help him.”

“Why would we? There’s nothing in it for us.”

Rainer huffs and raises a hand. “Now you want to be let free? When he is healthy, we can talk.”

Gabriel crosses his arms. “You heard her.”

“Boss,” Balor calls and Gabriel watches as he brings out two more guns and a folder. He puts them on the bed by Jesse. “These seem important.”

Gabriel nods.

“Do I need to ask again? Help him, or…” Rainer trails off, fishing her phone from a secure pocket n the wetsuit. “Your casinos will pay for it.”

Fleur scoffs. “That’s a threat I’ve never heard before.”

“But unlike the others, I mean it.” Rainer shows Fleur her phone and whatever she sees each time Rainer swipes to another photo scares her more.

Jacques, who has been looking over her shoulder, says, “They’re bluffing, dear. Trust me. They wouldn’t do it when it’s full of innocent people.”

“But this casino is closed, right?” Rainer shows Jacques her phone. “For remodeling. Imagine losing double the money, maybe more.”

Fleur flinches forward, as if she could do anything to Rainer.

“And that would be just the first. All casinos close for reasons whether it’s because they fail health or safety inspections. They will all close. And be blown to pieces.” Rainer’s tone is very monotone as she stares at Fleur dead in the eyes. Gabriel has seen her bluff, and this isn’t it. She will activate the bomb herself if it got her what she wants, and that is McCree to be safe. At least she’s giving them a chance. Gabriel would have destroyed the casino with his bare hands already.

“You build up from nothing, we can do it again,” Jacques reminds her.

“I will not be able to from jail,” Fleur counters.

Gabriel grins, if she thinks she’s not going to jail even after giving them the antidote, then she’s in for a big surprise.

“Gabe,” Jesse calls and Gabriel is right by his side. He’s got his hand pressed to his stomach as he winces. And Gabriel doesn’t know if it’s because he’s looking at Jesse, but he gets a tingling sensation in his belly. Not the good kind, more like an acid burn that wasn’t there before. The poison might have been too weak to pass through the SEP enhancements, but it seems to be trickling in with time.

“It’s in the mini fridge on the other side,” Fleur says and Gabriel quickly nods at Balor who’s gone in less than a second.

He returns with two cans of some kind of peach soda. When he pulls at the openings, the top part comes off completely, revealing a hallowed can and a small bottle in each one. Both dark brown, but one had black cap and the other dark red. Balor hands them to Gabriel, and he shows them to Jacques. “Which one?”

“I don’t give a shit about those casinos.”

“Jacques!”

“And I’m starting to give a shit about you,” He hisses at her.

Her chest swells and she looks at Gabriel. “Black cap.”

“How do we know she’s being honest?” Balor asks what Gabriel wondered.

“One way to find out,” Gabriel says, uncapping the bottle before he takes a sip. Even if the poison hasn’t hit him at its fullest, it can still cure whatever he’s feeling.

“Whatever kind of freak you are, you might not even feel it. But it’s that one, I swear.”

“Just give it,” Jesse says, stretching out his hand. “If I get any worse then I’ll just drink the other one.”

Gabriel hesitates. The burning in his stomach continues, but it hasn’t worsened. His gut tells him to trust Jesse, and Jesse is trusting Fleur. Gabriel sighs and gives it to him. McCree takes it all in one go and Gabriel catches the slight shake of Jacques head, in defeat. Whatever leash he had around Jesse and Gabriel is gone.

M c C r e e

Even with the curtains of the bed in their own villa covering the morning light, Jesse’s eyes cannot face the clarity of a new day at first. He has to blink a few times and keep his head on the pillow in case the room starts spinning. He groans as he looks to the side where Gabriel isn’t, but the sheets undone tell him he was.

Jesse can recall almost dying the night before. But he’s better, his hangover is not that bad either. After he drank the antidote, Gabriel took him back to their villa where he showered and went to bed. Once Gabriel saw he wasn’t dying anymore, he left his side to finish with the Collettes. Where that ended on, Jesse doesn’t know yet. What he mostly cares about is that he is alive and knows Gabriel, Mitzy and Loue are more than capable of finishing the job. 

Jesse rubs his face as a dream floods his foggy mind. He battles with himself to believe it was true. Those things did not happen between Jesse and Gabriel, but between Chris and Martin. It’s agonizing how the ghost of Gabriel’s touch keeps those moments alive even under intoxication. He wants to reach out to Reyes, pull him back to bed and do nothing but stare at each other until their clothing disappears and they explore the hidden corners of their bodies that not many have reached. 

Jerking off with a hangover cannot be the best idea, but his dick is already tenting his pajama bottoms and he cannot pass on the opportunity of using fresh scenes. The memory of Gabriel below him and on top, fueling his hardening cock. Jesse turns around and buries his face on the pillow as his hips jerk against the mattress. He touches his sides, feeling Gabriel’s skin against his as he moans. The other hand sneaks between the bed and his body as he lifts himself to allow access to his cock by pulling down his pants below his balls. Once it touches, and probably smears pre on the sheets, another moan comes from his lungs. He opens his eyes and picture Gabriel by his side, just watching. His beautiful skin glowing after a soak under the sun. He tells Jesse he’s doing so well and that he will get to touch Gabriel again. He promises him it’ll be something unforgettable.

Jesse calls for his name as his hips lose control and become pathetic jerks to get himself off. He doesn’t have all the time in the world, but he also wants to take his sweet time. Let Gabriel catch him like this. See the mess he has made of him over the years. Meanwhile Gabriel is so composed and under control while Jesse throws himself on him. It irritates Jesse that he can’t break him that easily. A sign Gabriel will never see him differently. Maybe Jesse needs to do more. 

He comes to the ideas of what Gabriel could have done to him behind the curtains of the bed. How the frame would creak to their passion. How the sheets would tear under their nails and the whole island would hear Jesse scream for his lover. 

Jesse comes down from the high just in time. He keeps his body as stiff as he can even through the waves of orgasm when Gabriel pulls apart the curtains, his hair pushed back by water and a few drops on his naked chest. “How are you feeling?”

“Like shit,” Jesse half smiles, still upside down. “But way better.”

“I got you some water and aspirins,” Gabriel says, nodding back. 

“I’ll take them in a bit,” Jesse says, looking away from Gabriel for a second before meeting his eyes again. “What about the Colletes?”

Gabriel’s smile eases him. “Mission over. They’re out of the island and on the way to receive a real sentence. There’s more than enough evidence on Jacques phone to keep them in jail for a long time.”

“What did you find?” Jesse moves his arms under his chin and prays to any celestial being he does not have any sort of evidence on them.

Gabriel nods. “Jacques has an order for an agent in Monaco to be executed in front of his family this week.” Gabriel sits at the edge of the bed and Jesse shimmies away. “The officer had helped him in the past, but he wants out after helping the Collettes get away in their last interrogation for a good sum of money.”

“And Jacques didn’t like that.”

Gabriel shakes his head. “If it were just giving the money back, but even if the guy swears he won’t tell anyone, Jacques doesn’t believe him.”

“Honestly, I wouldn’t either.”

“That’s not all, Jacques has almost has a deal with Arturo Muniz, someone who’s very familiar with human trafficking.” Gabriel raises one finger then lifts another as he says, “We got Jacques, now Muniz.”

“How are we getting Muniz?” Jesse asks.

“We’ll deal with him later, if we’re taking him down, we’re taking down the business. For today we rest and celebrate a successful mission with our last day in paradise” Gabriel stands up.

“There should be one activity left, right?” Jesse asks.

When Gabriel turns to him, he’s grimacing. “Don’t make me do anything stupid, vaquero.”

Jesse can’t help the smile that forms on his face when he hears that. “They teased a big reward yesterday, and since I almost died, I think I deserve it.”

Gabriel huffs.

“Please, boss?”

Gabriel rolls his eyes. “If it’s anything stupid, I’m leaving you.”

“Got it.”

“Get dressed. If you’re feeling up to eating anything, I promised Rainer and Balor breakfast together.”

Jesse beams but waits for Gabriel to be completely turned and out of the drapes so he can pull his pants up. He takes the aspirins and drinks under Gabriel’s watchful eyes before showering. On his way out, he tells him he’s happy they’re going to the restaurant since he had wanted to experience the full dining experience at the resort as well as those free drinks. But he promises he won’t act so lovey-dovey since the Collettes are no longer around.

Mitzy and Loue are already there when Jesse and Gabriel arrive. They greet like they’re just good company, not four agents who just took down one of the most wealthy and powerful couple in Monaco.

“Does this mean we have to head back?” Mitzy asks.

“We get the rest of the day off, but of course we have to return,” Gabriel replies.

“We deserve a day off,” Loue follows, raising his glass.

“Or more,” Mitzy adds, clicking her glass with Loue’s.

“I mean, Reyes and I did most of the work, but I guess ya helped,” Jesse teases.

“You stole my spot in the first place,” Balor points an accusative finger at Jesse and the others laughed. “That view of your villa is to die for.”

“Ours wasn’t bad. I sent pictures to my husband and he’s willing to give out our son’s college fund for a stay here,” Rainer jokes.

“I’m thinking about spending my retirement here,” Gabriel begins. “I wonder if they have any heroes or veterans discount.”

“Just remember who your first husband was.”

Gabriel scoffs as the agents laugh at Jesse’s remark. Jesse tries not to dwell on the thought of gabriel and him retiring into an island, away from the UN’s grasp and of dangerous people that will hold grudges forever. They don’t even have to wait to be old and retired, they could do it now. Quit, live off whatever they can find and do, and be happy.

He snaps out of his thoughts when the others call for a toast celebrating the great retreat and the friendships made.

R e y e s

Gabriel stands in line with the rest of the couple of the retreat. Arms crossed, bored and tired. But he’s doing it for Jesse, he reminds himself.

“All right! Since this will be our last activity, this one will have the grand prize!” The perky host says and raises what looks like a postcard of the resort. “Forty percent off on your next stay with us!”

That gets a lot of approving nods and smiles since it had been the biggest reward. Most had consisted of wine bottles, chocolate gift baskets and other romantic things.

“Oh, we’re winning this one,” Jesse says, leaning over to Gabriel.

Gabriel only rolls his eyes, but smiles. With the targets down, there’s nothing wrong with actually trying to win.

“This game is called kiss off!” The woman sharply takes out something from a box and Gabriel realizes it's lipstick, and with a name like that, Gabriel starts rethinking the idea of even getting out of bed. “One person from each couple will wear lipstick, and kiss their partner as much as they can! But try to avoid the lips, or you’re disqualified!”

“Shouldn’t that count for extra points?” A woman asks.

“You’d be surprised how many couples get caught up in the heat of it and don’t stop,” the host says, playfully and shrugging. “Also, nothing below the chest. When the time is up, the couple with most marks wins the discount! If you need to apply more lipstick during the game, feel free to do so, but make it quick!”

The host starts walking in front of the couples with the opened box and allows the guests to pick up the one they want. Gabriel shifts on his feet and rubs the back of his neck. He’s about to ask Jesse if he really wants the reward that bad, but McCree cuts him off.

“I’ll be the one doin’ the kissin’,” Jesse says, not looking at Gabriel. “If we win, that reward is mine, pumpkin.”

Gabriel only huffs and feels sweat starting to pool in the creases of his hands as the woman gets closer to them.

“Perfect!” Jesse says and uncaps the lipstick he choose. It’s dark red, and he starts applying it like the other couples before he turns to Gabriel, who can’t help but stare down at the painted lips.

“I know ya said no kissing, but if it ain’t the lips, its okay, right?”

And Gabriel can’t say no. Not only because he desires to feel the cowboy’s lips on his skin, but because Jesse wants the reward badly and to at least try. McCree deserves to at least have a chance at it after the night he had and the great work he has done. Without him, Rainer and Balor wouldn’t have made it to them at all.

“Now, get ready,” the host calls as couples face each other. Gabriel eyes Rainer and Balor, maybe for some help, but they are also ready. Rainer’s wearing bright blue lipstick and Balor as a tight mouth trying not to laugh.

“One…”

Gabriel’s heart stops.

“Two…”

It thumps once, strong enough to feel as if he would be knocked off his feet as Jesse winks at him and rolls his shoulders, ready to give Gabriel the kiss of a lifetime.

“Three!”

Jesse attacks. He grabs Gabriel’s face and the first kiss is quick, but very sticky as the pigments glued to Gabriel’s cheek, over his scar. The next few come even quicker. Jesse seems to want to paint every inch of Gabriel’s face. It starts to tickle Gabriel on some spots and he can’t help laughing. Jesse doesn’t stop or slows down, like a dog that’s seeing his owner for the first time in months, kissing and showering him with affection.

Jesse stops and quickly uncaps the lipstick again. He’s in such a hurry that the cap tumbles out of his hands.

“Jesse,” Gabriel says in laughter as he brushes his short curls back. He must look like a mess already with his face covered in lip marks.

Jesse ambushes Gabriel again, but this time where he had left up, kissing at the edge of Gabriel’s jaw. Gabriel’s laughter starts dying down the farther down Jesse goes. His body trembles when Jesse kisses over his neck, making sure to kiss every nook and cranny. He lingers too much on certain spots so the lipstick can really mark. Gabriel wants those spots, the sensitive ones that make his knees weak, to remain permanent like tattoos that paint down to his bones.

Gabriel clears his throat when he feels a moan building up on his tongue. Gabriel fears Jesse could feel his skin heating up. His Adam’s apple bobbing too many times and the instant he purrs when Jesse travels lower to his chest. Gabriel can’t look down to witness Jesse fidgeting with the buttons of Gabriel’s shirt to get them open enough to continue. Gabriel tries to focus on something else, on how Rainer isn’t even trying to win as she has only kissed Balor a few times and it’s only on the cheeks. How a woman is frustrated that she doesn’t seem to move fast enough while her wife giggles behind her hand. He tries to focus on the pretty flower arrangements around them and breaths when they sway to the breeze entering through the windows. He looks at every detail of the resort to avoid looking at Jesse pressing his plump, red wine colored lips to his scarred skin.

But not looking turns out to be in vain as his body continues to react to every press of Jesse’s mouth. Months, even a few years he wondered what it would feel like. The kisses are quick, some wetter than others, but also sloppy since Jesse’s trying to get as many as he can to win a contest.

“Stop!” The host calls and Gabriel feels dizzy when Jesse plants the last kiss very close to the corner of his lips.

They look at each other and time stops. The world collapses around them and Gabriel can only focus on Jesse’s parted lips as he pants and his smile fades, realizing something. The voice of the hosts is muffled by the thumping of Gabriel’s heart. He feels it knocking against Jesse’s chest, asking to let him in, to run alongside his that Gabriel can also feel the brush off.

Gabriel swallows and Jesse sucks his messy painted lips in, savoring the aftertaste of Gabriel skin with sunscreen. Gabriel doesn’t miss the little bite Jesse does, calling out to the beast in Gabriel to be finally let out. Crimson, and a little swollen bottom lip, tempting Gabriel to nibble off of.

The host announces them as the winners and Jesse takes the certificate as he jokes about there not being any other place he would rather return to with his honeybun. Gabriel flushes under the tracks left behind by Jesse’s lips, by his devotion to accomplish something.

But Gabriel knows it’s not just that. Jesse felt comfortable enough in Reyes to do such things. To explore every part of his face, including his closed eyelids, down to his neck and chest, two vulnerable spots for Gabriel. Not just for the contest, but for the evening before when they were in the Collette’s villa. Areas that are too intimate Jesse didn’t think enough to cross and Gabriel didn’t think twice about giving him access to.

Gabriel has to leave the resort. He would have to come up with an excuse, whether it’s with his team or alone. But Jesse deserves to stay at least for the rest of the day. Besides, it was better if Gabriel left alone. He would start putting distance between them again to recover the rules. If there are any left. Gabriel is aware he broke any regulation that should keep them apart since he invited Jesse to stay in his apartment. But when Jesse looks at him again as the crowd disperses after a quick speech from the host that goes unheard by Gabriel, and bites his bottom lip again, looking at Gabriel’s, Reyes knows he’s not going anywhere.

M  c C r e e

Jesse McCree was once a foolish young man that was head over heels for a man named Javier. He, drunkenly, followed said man up a flight of stairs and into a room that was unknown to him. It could have been dangerous, he could have never come out in the worst case scenario. Yet, he walked into it, blindly, eyes set on the beautiful and caring man life had put in front of him.

This time, there is no man named Javier, but just as caring as he was, Gabriel Reyes is the one that follows Jesse back to their villa. Once inside, even with half of the room opened to the wild life, Jesse feels they’re private enough. Besides, it’s only the sea that gets to witness the moment both collide on a bed showered by rose petals that must have been placed by the staff as a goodbye sign. Jesse has no time to dwell on it as Gabriel’s lips hover over his own, teasing a kiss, laying breadcrumbs for Jesse to follow as he raises his head to catch them, but Gabriel moves away with a smile. Jesse bites softly at the commander’s jaw and then pecks a kiss where a mark had been placed from the kiss off game.

“I need to wash this all off first,” Gabriel says, straightening up.

“So I can leave new marks,” Jesse says, prompting himself up with his elbows. Before Gabriel can leave, he grabs him by the shirt and pulls him back down. He’s afraid once Gabriel leaves his line of sight, the spell will be broken. That whatever toxins Gabriel smelled in the tropical plants will wear off and he’s back to crossing his arms and putting a bed sheet between them.

The kiss is pure fire from the start, burning to Jesse’s chest and firing up his nerves like the sky on New Year’s Eve. Sparks go down through his veins, making his blood boil and rush through. His fingers twitch as he holds on to Gabriel’s shirt tighter and drags him down, turning them around so Gabriel ends up pinned to the bed. More petals flutter to the impact and Gabriel smiles in the kiss, but lets Jesse continue.

Jesse saddles Gabriel’s hips and grinds down, his hips moving on their own even if he wants to take it slow and makes this lasts as long as he can before their fantasy breaks and they have to go back to base. Gabriel lifts a hand to cradle Jesse’s neck and Jesse shivers when he feels the brush of a petal too. He bites Gabriel’s lip and tugs lightly before kissing deeper. A fever begins on the spot and down to his toes. He’s aware of every finger Gabriel has on him. One hand on his neck and the other creeping under his shirt by his side.

Calling back to that day in Deadlock, Jesse can see the difference clearly. Javier was luring him, he didn’t dare to touch Jesse’s lips, and his touch was nowhere near as genuine as this one. Jesse already felt it once, but now it feels like the first time he’s feeling Gabriel all over him. The skin of that young McCree was shredded away. This one is pure, only for Gabriel to mark with his own tracks, visible or not.

“I really need to get this off,” Gabriel says, resting his head back and it’s the first time Jesse has seen Gabriel’s lip so swollen and wearing a satisfied smile. “I can feel it drying on me.”

“Fine,” Jesse allows and kisses him one more time before he goes.

Gabriel returns with a clean face and Jesse can see him glowing, with some pink dusted on it. Jesse crawls on the bed and pulls Gabriel on him again until they fall on the bed and he locks his legs around Gabriel’s hips.

“Jesse,” Gabriel whispers oh so dearly it makes Jesse’s toes curl and his lips move faster as they kiss. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Can never be too sure, darlin’,” Jesse says and uses one hand behind Gabriel’s head to push him against his lips again. Then he slides it up to the curls that he has let grow. He tugs and earns a moan from Gabriel. He makes sure to remember that detail later.

Jesse parts from Gabriel and he catches how the commander moves lower, wanting more but restraining himself. Jesse caresses Gabriel’s jaw and cheek as he looks deeply into his eyes. They have always been gorgeous, no matter how many times Jesse has seen that shade of brown, they can never compare to anyone else’s. And their full attention is on Jesse.

McCree chokes as he feels a knot in his throat. He can taste the memory of Moscow mule, smell cigars, taste the churros and pan de elote. He can hear gunshots and Gabriel’s calls. He feels sunflowers blooming out of his skin and their petals fighting in his lungs, waiting to be coughed out.

“You okay, vaquero?” Gabriel asks sweetly, brushing his thumb over Jesse’s bottom lip.

“Never better, sugar.”

“Let me change that for even better,” Gabriel requests, leaning down to continue what they were up to before Jesse felt like he was about to weep.

It takes them long before the first item of clothing goes off, and it’s Gabriel’s colorful shirt. Jesse’s fingers tremble as he tries to undo every button. And also gets distracted by the sculpted stomach he begins to reveal, having to kiss every new exposed inch he sees. While he does that sitting up, Gabriel is kneeled in front of him, brushing his fingers through Jesse’s hair and praising him with sweet words.

“I have never felt fire burning this high until you kissed me,” Gabriel says, tugging slightly at Jesse’s hair.

“Wait until I kiss something else,” Jesse smirks up at Gabriel, and receives half a smile before Gabriel pushed him down.

“Not until I go first,” Gabriel growls and kisses him. He parts just as quickly, leaving Jesse to trail behind, but lays back when Gabriel begins to kiss his jaw, neck and down to his chest. He starts unbuttoning Jesse’s shirt and does the same, kissing every bit of skin and muscles he meets.

Jesse’s shirt lays opened on his sides, like wings wanting to curl up around him and hide himself, ashamed of how such a thing can lay with a god bearing an immortal’s name like Gabriel. Something in him tells him Gabriel would not let him shy away. He was a captive in Gabriel’s chambers now until he was done. And Jesse has never been happier.

Gabriel pulls Jesse’s cock from his shorts and presses the crook between his thumb and fingers under McCree’s balls as he licks up a stripe on Jesse’s shaft. McCree sees stars when he shuts his eyes and his mouth opens for a gasp that has been building up since Gabriel kissed his neck.

Gabriel sure takes his sweet time preparing Jesse’s cock in his mouth, as if Jesse wasn’t leaking enough already and twitching to be taken. He only licks at first, up the length and then at the head. Then come the kisses in quick pecks. It’s like Gabriel must praise, pray and give offerings to Jesse before he can damage him.

When Gabriel finally takes him in, Jesse sees a full universe. A nebula of purple for the passion plants he has seen on the island and wanted to place on Gabriel’s head like a crown. Purple for the bruises Gabriel has healed from missions and the longing he has felt for the man. There’s blue like the many skies they have witnessed over the years while at base and away. The different shades of the days gone by that turned to years. There’s a few threads of yellow, like the sunflowers that sadly died in Jesse’s room no matter how much he hoped it wouldn’t. Like the yellow that has burned into Jesse’s memory and will always be their color. The color that fills him with warmth and happiness and with hope for a better life.

His fingers find Gabriel’s curls and he pulls as his hips move upwards. Gabriel purrs a moan and continues to work his wonderful mouth around Jesse’s member. Jesse’s stomach starts to flex and his gut is set on fire from inside. He doesn’t know what to grab so he can hold on. Too afraid he might hurt Gabriel, he opts for the sheets and petals get caught between his fingers.

“Do it again,” Gabriel orders, mouthing against Jesse’s hips as he goes down again.

Jesse listens quickly, and grabs his hair, tugging as much as he feels is right. Gabriel continues to moan and goes feral. He holds Jesse’s hips down, stopping him from moving any deeper into Gabriel’s throat. Jesse whimpers and his waist jerks slightly, testing the limits and he finds out they are short. He can barely move under Gabriel’s stone grip.

“I won’t hold on, sunshine,” Jesse warns.

A sinful and wet slurp sound rings in Jesse’s ears when Gabriel pulls away. He wraps his hand around Jesse’s cock and begins to stroke. “Who says I want you to, chiquito.”

Shit, that name. That stupid, silly name that came out once long ago, but remained deep in Jesse’s filthy mind when he needed a boost to send him over the edge.

While Gabriel’s hand continues the movement, he kisses the crown and sucks on it. Jesse presses his body to the mattress as if it will make his orgasm return or reset. Gabriel is too powerful, too unbelievably gorgeous and feels divine. Jesse comes in his mouth, gasping and moaning, his fingers digging into the sheets as he feels the bed rocking to the climax. Gabriel drinks all of it, and whatever he didn’t get first he licks off Jesse’s sensitive member.

“Need to rest?” Gabriel asks.

“No, oh no, no,” Jesse didn’t want to risk it. Didn’t want either of them to be interrupted or worse regret what they had done. “Do whatever you want with me.”

Gabriel hums and kisses Jesse's body until their lips meet. Jesse reaches out for him, tasting himself and the vibrating moan from Gabriel. “I might take you up on that offer.”

And he does. Gabriel opens Jesse up like it’s a ritual. He does it slow, with lube provided by the resort that had been hidden in a drawer. He uses his finger like a sculptor working on details of a masterpiece. He curves them right and hits the right spots to make Jesse work the way Gabriel wants him to. The stretch is welcoming, though it burns at the start. Gabriel makes it worth it by how he coos Jesse into relaxing. He looks down at Jesse as he knees between his spread and quivering thighs. He believes he is what Jesse has known all along, immortal, untouchable, unbreakable. And Jesse wants to try to show him he is definitely not the last two. He wants to touch every spot on Gabriel’s body, learn things he hadn’t that have been hidden by clothes. He wants to shatter Gabriel into a weeping mess that begs Jesse for more.

For now he will settle for him being the one that gets screwed and back together just to be taken again.

“Are you ready for me, mi sol?” Gabriel murmurs.

“All my life.”

Gabriel smiles as he settles closer. Jesse’s member is wide awake again after Gabriel’s toying, and rubs against Gabriel’s. Jesse jerks up, needing and wanting more friction but also restraining himself or he will be done too soon again. He thinks that if anyone can get him ready a third time is Gabriel with his miracle hands. They begin to kiss and Jesse melts enough for Gabriel to start poking in. The head enough feels bigger than Jesse expected and he realizes he hadn’t had a good look at Gabriel’s cock. He thinks this might be better as he experienced it by touch for the first time than by sight. When the crown makes it past Jesse’s entrance, the young man wraps his arms around Gabriel’s neck, feeling the stretch again.

Gabriel keeps him relaxed and doesn’t move, only kisses his closed eyelids and temples. Before he knows it, Jesse’s muscles are loose, allowing Gabriel to go on. His eyes snap open to the girth of the rest, it’s thick and already throbbing inside Jesse. Gabriel moans long and drops his head on Jesse’s neck.

“You feel amazing, mi cielo.”

Jesse has no words to respond as Gabriel pushes deeper. When he moans Gabriel captures his mouth, muffling his sounds.

“Wonderful,” Gabriel says against him, breath hot and lingering around Jesse, turning his body a darker shade as their bodies rock together.

Gabriel might have showed him mercy before, but that was just the beginning. Now he seeks the pleasure he seems to have denied himself for too long. He buries Jesse in the mattress, their bodies barely coming apart for an inch as he pushes back and forth. His hips move perfectly, pushing Jesse’s body back and forth, and the bed hitting the wall behind them. Jesse stopped caring a while back, so he lets his mouth hang open. From moans, gasps, to curses, to pet names; everything comes, loud and clear.

One of Gabriel’s hands goes up Jesse’s heaving and tensed stomach to his chest, where it stops to play with a hard nipple, making Jesse squirm. The other grabs both of Jesse’s wrists and pins them above Jesse’s head. McCree is done for. He doesn’t think of fighting his own pleasure to hold or even trying to say coherent things. He’s a bumbling mess the more Gabriel fucks him.

Gabriel’s thrusts become slower and with more distance in between. He pulls out agonizingly slow and then back in again. He slips once and his cock brushes Jesse’s balls, leaving behind a trail of pre-come. When he goes back inside is deeper than before. Jesse yelps up, howling as Gabriel has found the right spot to make him lose it.

Gabriel begins the real abuse. His pace goes faster, an in between the painfully slow thrust and the jackarabbiting start. Jesse feels him jerking and twitching, on the edge just as he is. Jesse curls a hand behind Gabriel’s neck and pulls him down for a kiss as his legs lock around Gabriel. That is a clear sign of what Jesse wants Gabriel to do and he does it. He thrust faster and deeper as their kiss is lazy and sloppy. The world is spinning as Jesse runs out of air, but he’s willing to die right there as his vision goes white and his heart stops working for a second.

Gabriel’s gasp is drawn and his eyes shut before they open. They look hazy and sparkly, touched by the same stars Jesse is seeing around him. When Jesse feels Gabriel is about to move away, he kisses him and turns them on their side.

“Yer not going anywhere,” Jesse commands.

Gabriel stays, enjoying the after-glow and the sensitive way his skin prickles to the slightest touch from Jesse. His thump lazily plays with Jesse’s nipple and he bits his lip. They enjoy some after play to come down from their high until Gabriel pulls out, but doesn’t go anywhere.

Sleep starts taking over and Jesse welcomes it, happy and satisfied. He sleeps on Gabriel’s chest, aware that when he wakes up he will still see Gabriel.

He does see him, but not on the bed. Gabriel is out on the deck, admiring the sun. It cannot be that much later since it’s not yet setting, but the light is dim and some streaks of orange are starting to fade in the distance. Gabriel wears boxer briefs, tight and white, perfect for Jesse to enjoy the view from the bed. Meanwhile, Jesse gets up with wobbly knees and he thinks he might not make it. Yet, it’s the best feeling in the world.

When he reaches Gabriel he kisses the man’s shoulder and passes him to lean from the railings, facing Gabriel. He can see clearer the commander has his phone in one hand. Gabriel has one look at him, huffs and says to a naked Jesse. “You’re shameless.”

“Says the man that fucked me so hard made the whole island know.”

Gabriel only smirks and Jesse steps closer to kiss him. He’s shy. They haven’t talked about anything. There were no plans, no guide book on what to do. Jesse breathes once Gabriel kisses him back.

“I don’t want this to end,” Jesse says, eyes half lidded and mouth brushing Gabriel’s.

Gabriel sighs and leans his forehead against Jesse’s. “Me neither, vaquero.”

“We’re comin’ back, right? And we won’t leave the villa.”

“Keep walking around like that and I won’t leave it now.”

“It’s working then.” Jesse kisses him longer than before. “I bet you still fit like a glove, sugar.”

“Is that an invitation for me to test?”

“Want me to be clearer?”

Gabriel shrugs and looks around them, at the open sea. The closest villa to hers should be vacant since it was the Colette’s, and even they didn’t have a clear vision to the room with all the plants and palms giving each villa privacy. “Yes.”

“Fuck me again, Gabriel Reyes.”

A growl bubbles in Gabriel’s chest as he kisses Jesse and grabs one of the younger man’s butt cheeks. He turns him around and against the railings and places his phone on them before he gets on his knees and dives to taste what he didn’t earlier and whatever is left from Gabriel’s spent.

Jesse holds on to the wooden poles as his hole receives some tender care after the rough, but equally amazing treatment. If his future with Gabriel meant breathtaking kisses, gentle cuddling and sex by the beach, he might never let this man go.

“I’m ready,” Jesse mumbles, wanting Gabriel to get on with it.

“I’ll be the judge of that,” Gabriel says before pressing two fingers to Jesse’s mouth for him to suck on. After they come out shiny with spit, he pushes them inside of Jesse. McCree sighs in pleasure, feeling as loose as earlier, maybe more after Gabriel’s cock entered. He might as well be forever shaped to fit Gabriel.

Gabriel takes him on the spot, thrusting in and out and Jesse swears he hears the railings creak to the impact. He changes his pace between slow and fast, deep and barely inside at all, teasing at Jesse’s hole with just the head. The only thing that pains Jesse now is that Gabriel feels so far away to kiss.

Jesse can feel Gabriel’s hold on his hips down to his bones. And Jesse didn’t know if to scream by the waves of pleasure coursing through him, or cry to the thought that Gabriel doesn’t want to let him go. He bites down on his bottom lip and looks over his shoulder. Gabriel’s eyes are crystalized by pleasure, and when they look at Jesse is like he’s watching something beautiful instead of a toy like they used to do in Deadlock. He sees Jesse as someone he can live by, someone to care for—and he already does.

Unable to help it, McCree turns his upper body and reaches with one hand at the same time Gabriel leans over. He cradles one of Gabriel’s cheeks when they kiss. It’s very desperate, lips are barely connecting as neither can contain their moans and gasps and it’s mostly tongue and teeth coming together. But it is also all Jesse wants in the moment.

Gabriel’s phone rings and the commander groans, still he picks it up from the railings and answers, placing it between his ear and shoulder.

“Yeah?” He, so calmly, lifts one of Jesse’s knees to hook it on the railings. Jesse whines as his lips are forgotten and the sensation in him becomes almost unbearable. “Yeah, I got his message.”

“Reyes,” Jesse complains when Gabriel’s movement softens. He receives a sharp, deep thrust in response that makes his toes curl.

“Jesse being his annoying self,” Gabriel says to whoever is on the other line, must be someone like Jack or Ana by how easy he says it. “Anyways, about what he asked…” Jesse can’t focus on the rest of the conversation, and maybe that’s Gabriel’s plan. His hips pick up pace, yet his voice doesn’t crack once. Meanwhile Jesse’s shaking and his legs are about to give up. It’s a miracle he can keep his voice quiet. The call must have been very important for Gabriel to pick it up, and he seems to have been expecting it too. That or the call is meaningless and Gabriel is just a vicious bastard that simply wants to torture Jesse. Besides, Jesse doesn’t want to ruin what they have before it even begins; he doesn’t want anyone else to know yet, until it’s fine with Gabriel.

“I can send Rainer and Balor separately. Jesse next. I’ll be the last.” Jesse gets to hear that, which means they will leave sooner than later. And that something bad is about to happen. “I don’t care, I won’t let them be caught in the crossfire. Besides, it was me who got close to them.”

“Gabe?” Jesse asks and Gabriel thrust forward, almost sending Jesse over the railings and hitting the right spot. How can he even focus on what Gabriel is talking about when the same man is breaking him in half and overwhelming him with pleasure?

“No.” Gabriel says firmly and cold, but his free hand brushes down Jesse’s arching back very gently, like he’s petting a bunny he wants to keep safe. 

Next thing Jesse knows, Gabriel hangs up and he’s pulling Jesse by his hair to straighten him. His hips jerk quicker and barely separate from Jesse. He’s moaning into McCree’s ear, saying his name along with ‘vaquero’, ‘mi cielo’ and other sweet names. Jesse can no longer hold back and a white ribbon shoots out from his throbbing member. Gabriel groans and bites down on his shoulder as he also comes. Jesse can feel him pulsing and his warm come filling him up again. That’s something Jesse will never get tired of.

“Gabe…” Jesse says between heavy breaths as Reyes kisses his shoulders and back of his neck.

“You have to go.” One kiss between his shoulder blades, a send off. “Somehow the Collettes got a signal out and Jack suspects someone is coming here.”

“But yer stayin’,” Jesse guesses, not looking at Gabriel.

“I am.”

Jesse turns around quickly and places a hand on Gabriel’s neck to cradle it. “I am not leavin’ you here alone. Send Mitzy and Loue, but I’m not goin’ anywhere.”

Gabriel breathes in and looks away.

“We caught them. They will have us together, or not at all.”

Gabriel nods softly. “I will send Rainer and Balor ahead, along with all the evidence we got from the mission. They will take out belongings as well, and we’ll stay behind to make sure if anyone shows up, they don’t hurt the other guests. If everything is fine, we’ll be home by tomorrow.”

“We will be home by tomorrow,” Jesse assures him, and just in case Gabriel isn’t convinced, he kisses him. He says more words in the kiss, how they can take on the world together. That they are a force to be reckoned with and no fire or storm can keep them down. 

To their relief, no one comes. They spent the day walking around the resort, sometimes separated, sometimes hand by hand. No boats or helicopters passed by, nor any suspicious activity was reported. When it’s time for their last night, when the sky is pitch black and dotted with too many silver lights to count, Jesse rests easy on their bed, looking at Gabriel read on his tablet before he sets it aside and lays facing Jesse. He kisses his forehead and they continue to stare at each other. 

Jesse’s chest swells as his emotions build up. He has never felt more loved than he does now, more cherished and cared for. He can see his whole world staring at him in Gabriel’s eyes, and he cannot get enough. 

Jesse rides Gabriel a while after they spend time kissing each other and opening Jesse up. He moves slow, up and down as Gabriel brushes his hands all over his stomach, chest and sides, lingering there more when he wants to take charge of the pace. Still, Jesse feels in control, he feels amazing in his own skin by the way Gabriel looks up at him, glossy eyes and parted mouth as he sings his praises to a mere mortal. 

The dance lasts as long as both can hold, but in the end, the heat between them, the lust and the passion cannot make it bearable to keep it up all night. Both fall apart together; Jesse’s spent decorating Gabriel’s chest and Gabriel’s filling McCree until he can feel his insides hotter than before. Jesse lowers to kiss him as they ride off the hide together. The moonlight and glow from the stars only feed to their own radiance from the climax. They bathe together until their skin prickles and are too sensitive to stay linked to one another. That still doesn’t keep them fully apart as they hold each other and kiss until their lips feel numb.

At one point, all the emotions building up in Jesse finally come out in a tear on the corner of his eyes when he closes it and Gabriel kisses the spot and all over his face, lulling him to rest at ease.

Chapter Text

M c C r e e

Touching base after the most amazing week Jesse has had might have been the worst. It’s not that he doesn’t see Gabriel, the routine is the same: breakfast, training and mission briefings. But outside of that, it’s like they work at different time zones. As soon as they landed, Gabriel was taken by Jack to discuss the full mission, and Jesse was ordered to write his report. Jesse couldn’t even reach for his hand because nothing should have changed between them. Gabriel is back to being his commander and Jesse his agent. 

And it kind of hurts even if he knew things would be like this. If they had gotten a chance to at least talk about it, then it would be better, to see where they stand. But without it, what happened in the resort might as well have been a simple fling. A moment of nothing but heat and lust.

One night during the week, he passed by Gabriel’s office, but he was occupied with Jack. Jesse tried not to feel jealous. Those days are over. Their relationship is strictly business. And yet he frowns when Jack is the one to answer and ask Jesse if whatever he came to ask Gabriel can wait.

They came back from the Fiji Islands two weeks ago, and each day that passes makes the distance between them grow wider. Jesse won’t let it get any further, and though he knows he will feel incredibly pathetic if he’s turned back again, he goes to Gabriel’s office.

He’s about to knock when he gets a text from Gabriel, asking him to come over. Jesse smiles and knocks. The door opens and Gabriel is surprised to see him there. “You were on your way?”

Jesse nods. 

“Jesse,” Gabriel says, pulling him into the office. When the door closes, he kisses him like they haven’t done in ages. Jesse responds easily, missing those lips and the taste that keeps him wanting more. The taste that intoxicates him until his head is spinning and his heart is on edge of an attack.

“I’m so sorry, vaquero,” Gabriel says when they pull apart. “I wanted to come to you many times, but work has been hectic. I swear it’s all work.”

“It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not.” His jaw tenses and then he rubs his eyes. “This is not how I wanted us to start and this is exactly what I feared.”

“There’s an us?”

Gabriel is taken back by Jesse’s question. “Do you want it to be?”

Jesse swallows and his mouth twitches into a smile. “Darlin’ I’ve been waitin’ for a long time for an ‘us’. But what did you fear?”

Gabriel sighs. “Work getting in the way. It’s always been work.” Gabriel brushes his hair back and rubs down to his neck as he turns around in the direction of his desk. “I pushed you aside so many times because of work. It will either keep us apart like now or…”

“Do not think like that,” Jesse says, stepping in front of him. For now, he ignores the bouquet of colorful flowers on Gabriel’s desk. “Do you think I haven’t considered the latter? Yeah, things can happen. But they also could have in Deadlock, and there will always be a possibility, but sugar, I don’t want to think of the what if and about the good things we could miss. I want to experience them.” He kisses Gabriel again, stealing his breath. “We’ll have weeks like this one, but we’ll have better ones. And, yeah I was upset, but it’s because we didn’t get to talk. It’s not that I didn’t love the sex, but if that’s all this is gonna be, I need to know.” His voice quivers and tries to smile. “I need to prepare my li’l ol’ heart if that’s all ya want from me.”

Gabriel shakes his head. “I want everything from you, and give you my all.”

“Then, Gabriel Reyes, will you give me the honor of being my sweetheart?”

Gabriel chuckles. “Why do you have to ask like that?”

“I like to make things official. And if yer gonna say yes, then,” Jesse points back at the flowers. “Those better be for me or from your sisters.”

Gabriel laughs louder and walks past Jesse to pick them up. He gives them to Jesse and he instantly loves the colors. Yellow, blue and red. “For being a dick.”

“For being my dick,” Jesse accepts them and steps closer to kiss him.

“There’s something we need to talk about, besides us, but we don’t have much time.”

Jesse’s smile drops. “What’s goin’ on?”

Gabriel walks over to the couch and Jesse follows until they sit down. “We’ve been keeping a close eye on the Collettes and it seems their deal with Muniz runs deeper than that. Muniz married into Jacques family through his sister, so he’s not happy that they got caught. Therefore we need to stop him since he is finishing up on the Collettes’ plans.”

“The man they wanted executed?” Jesse asks.

“He and his family are safe, we got them out of Monaco and are also in contact. But we could not save another one of Jacques targets. And more will fall if we don’t catch Muniz.”

“All right, so what’s next?”

“In two days, Muniz will meet with someone who will bring him a new connection, this one works with Talon. You will be the connection.”

“Me?” Jesse sets the flowers on the coffee table.

“I didn’t want it to be you. You’ll be in Muniz’s house, who knows what can happen. But Jack and even Gerard think you’re fit. With some make-up help we can make you look like the guy. Plus...” Gabriel trails off, looking away from Jesse. “He has a southern accent.”

“My time to shine,” Jesse says, leaning back.

Gabriel laughs lightly, but it doesn’t hide his concern. “I’ll be close. We’ll have a team surrounding the mansion, and at the first sign of trouble, I’ll get you out.”

“I have no doubt about that, honeybun.”

Gabriel hums in reassurance and kisses Jesse. 

“Anythin’ else ya wanna talk about? Because I’m ready to get out of here.”

“Me too. And I’ve been holding on for two weeks.”

“Do you mean…?” Jesse trails off and Gabriel eats his words when he kisses him again.

After two days, they leave for Madrid, and Jesse leaves base looking like a different person. His hair is a darker shade of red, and they’ve attached a mustache to him as well as given him a fancy outfit equipped with a dark red coat, a blue vest and even a golden pocket watch. He drives alone, but Gabriel is with a whole squad not that far behind. Halfway he changes cars into a fancier one and that’s how he arrives at Muniz’s home.

A maid leads him inside into a room with a bar, a big TV mounted on the wall, comfortable leather couches, a pool table and a target for darts on another wall. He makes himself at home like the guy, Venicio Cullen, would be. He takes a glass of whiskey and admires the different bottles of alcohol on display. Being here gives him strange vibes back at Deadlock. 

“Got eyes and ears on you,” Gabriel says through the small earpiece. There’s a miniature camera and microphone placed on Jesse’s coat where Gabriel and the others can keep watch through.

“Delicious,” Jesse replies after taking a sip from his glass.

The doors behind Jesse open and he halts his next sip to the sight of a ghost from his past.

“My boss apologizes for the delay,” Mal says as he walks like he used to, clashing with the style of the mansion around him. The only exception is that he’s wearing nicer clothes. He’s older, got some facial hair and as a faded cut on his right eyebrow, but it’s definitely him. “His early meeting ran late, but he’ll be with you in a moment.”

“How?” Gabriel simply says.

“No worries,” Jesse says, deepening his voice as Mal discards him quickly, choosing the bar.

Jesse keeps his distance, circling his glass in his hand, but he listens to the conversation between Mal and the bartender.

“Was he any trouble?” The bartender asks.

“You know that’s what Muniz keeps me around for,” Mal replies, “I deal when they’re trouble.”

“Which means he’s no longer with us,” the bartender says and chuckles.

“Correct. Give me the usual.”

“And is that guy,” the bartender says and Jesse feels him nodding his way. “Anything I should look out for?”

“Nah, if anything he should look out for us, like always,” Mal answers, his eyes burning in the back of Jesse’s head. “But the meeting should go smoothly, deal’s almost done. He just needs to give the boss the right place to meet with the right people.”

And Jesse’s plan is to lead Muniz to the wrong people, Blackwatch.

“Venicio,” Mal calls and Jesse turns quickly.

“You’re from around here, right?” Mal questions.

“Yes ‘n’ no,” Jesse starts, walking towards him. “I was born here, but my ma and pa took me to the states to meet my father’s side. Then I returned here in my teenage years.”

Mal nods. “And what can you tell me about your associates?”

Jesse holds one side of the collar of his coat. “None, not without your boss around.” 

“It was through me that he found you.” Mal stands and he already looks irritated.

“It was yer boss that ordered me to not discuss it with anyone,” Jesse says, standing tall. “He didn’t specify I had to answer to his dog.”

The bartender snorts and walks away, ignoring Mal’s glare. But Mal regains his cool as he fixes his jacket. He scans the room until he falls on the target. Then he smiles. “Tell you what, if you win, you can keep what you know. But if I win, you have to spill.”

“Listen, kid, I ain’t gonna risk a deal over your silly game. And I don’t think Muniz will take it kindly to ya tryin’ to get information from his allies.”

“That’s what I’m here for.” Mal walks towards the dart target and pulls them out.

“Interrogatin’ for your boss when they don’t have the information is one thing. But when yer doin’ the interrogatin’ fer yerself, that’s somethin’ different.”

“I change my mind, if I win, you get to shut up.” 

“Not gonna happen either.” Jesse finishes his drink.

“It’s okay if you can’t beat me. No one can.”

By how mal avoids his eyes, Jesse can tell that’s a bluff. “Nice t’meet ya, I’m No one.”

Mal barks out a laugh. “Then you wanna take the bet?”

“Let’s do it, I ain’t spilliin’ a word either way, so ya still get yer wish.”

Mal hands Jesse three darts and stands behind the line to go first. Mal does decently, he gets a high score and is close to a bullseye. When it’s McCree’s turn, he has to be careful. Hitting all good shots will raise suspicion, but he has to score more than Mal. First shot, a low score, and Mal cackles. Second shot makes up for the points he needs to get him close to Mal. And the last is bullseye. 

“Bullseye,” Jesse purrs and turns around to grab the empty glass from the table he had left it and get a refill. 

“Fine. It’s not like I won’t find out anyways,” Mal mumbles behind Jesse.

“Then why are you so keen on gettin’ it out of me? Just wanted to show off, then.”

Jesse turns back at Mal when a phone goes off. Mal gets out his and reads whatever was sent to him. “My boss is ready for you. Follow me, Mr. Cullen.”

Jesse follows Mal out of the room and up a flight of stairs until they reach Muniz’s office. He’s a small man but that doesn’t make him any less confident. He smiles at Jesse and greets him like an old friend. They start with small talk as Jesse sits down in front of Muniz’s desk and Mal stays behind, probably at the door. Then the subject is brought up.

“Time for what we came here for,” Muniz starts, “I was promised something from your associates.”

“Yes,” Jesse replies, lifting one leg over his other knee. “And I’m here to bring them t’ya. Might want to write them down since I was specifically told to say it verbally. I cannot carry any evidence of it with me.”

“Understandable.” Muñiz says and takes out a notepad from a drawer.

“You have to get to Rosario’s, it’s a private little bar in Salamanca, close to Museo de los Mil Años. Once you’re there, ask to be seated under the name Canarios. You will wait and a man will ask for the code. He will take you to my associates.”

“What’s the code?”

“You will say ‘traigame una Ladrón de Naranjas’, it’s a beer brand, but he will know.”

Muniz writes the code down. “Seems simple enough.”

“Too simple,” Mal walks over to them. “This organization seems to be so high and mighty, growing by numbers, but yet is that simple to contact them.”

“Because Muniz already went through the trouble of findin’ me. By association, he gets easy access.” Jesse shrugs. “Simple.”

“We had more difficult access when I had my gang.”

“Please, no more of those days. That’s one of our conditions.”

“Ya hirin’ gang rats?” Jesse teases. “Didn’t pick ya as the type.”

“The boy has a good head on his shoulders, even if sometimes it’s a little too big.”

“And watch who you’re calling gang rat,” Mal warns.

“No disrespect. We could use more of yer kind with us.”

“If this deal happens, he might join us, along with the rest of my business.”

“Exactly, so keep talkin’ ‘bout the good ol’ days, might get ya somewhere,” Jesse advises Mal, as if Mal was younger than him by decades.

Muniz laughs. “Don’t encourage him.” Muniz waves him off and leans back on his chair. “Tell me, what can I expect from Talon? What would they ask of me?”

“Your loyalty,” Jesse replies quickly. “Yer business will stay the same, maybe with some interest goin’ their way.” He rubs his thumb and finger together. “But in return ya’ll get extra security, ya’ll travel more to expand not only yer horizons but Talon’s. If Talon allowed this meetin’ ‘n’ to meet ‘em, then they see somethin’ in ya they can’t find anywhere else.”

“Will you be present on the day of the meeting?” Mal asks Jesse.

“I have yet to receive an answer. The chances are high, so if we meet again, it’ll be then.”

“Then we are done for today.” Muniz stands and extends his hand. “I’ll be looking forward to this.”

“Me too.” Jesse shakes it and lowers the rim of his hat as his own way of goodbye before turning around. 

He holds his breath the rest of the way until he’s out and in his car. And even then he has trouble breathing right.

Mal. Somehow the bastard got out and found his way back into Jesse’s life. Luckily it won’t be for long. If Mal did escape indeed, that’s enough to put him back behind bars. Jesse only hopes he gets to be the one to do it.

When Jesse gets to base, and his awful costume off, Gabriel calls him into his office. They meet as the door closes behind him with a gentle kiss and Gabriel holding his chin.

“Are you all right?”

Jesse nods. “I am, pumpkin.”

“If I had know—”

“But ya didn’t. And either way, I would have gone in.” Jesse shrugs and lifts his hands before dropping them down. “Ya can’t keep me out like I’m some kind of defenseless thing.”

“I know, but Mal is different.”

“Because of my past?”

Gabriel nods.

“I’ve made some peace with it. If anythin’ I just want him behind bars again.”

“And we’ll get him. But first, dinner.”

Jesse raises an eyebrow. “Like a date?”

Gabriel nods and smiles shyly. “What do you say?”

Jesse smiles wide. “I’ll meet ya here in fifteen.” He kisses Gabriel’s cheek before heading out, almost sprinting to his room to change.

To Jesse’s surprise, it’s not dinner on base, but to an actual restaurant. Gabriel looks handsome as always and smells divine, too good for Jesse to keep his hands off him. They hold hands on the drive there, and don’t stop talking about things they hadn’t gotten the chance to yet. Gabriel has the most to share. His niece got into an advanced math class and his nephew got the lead role in a play. He laughs when he says he will put gum in his sister's hair like he used to do when they were kids if she doesn’t record it for him.

Jesse’s usually the most talkative person in a group. But when it comes to Gabriel and what he enjoys to talk about, he lets him be under the spotlight. He doesn’t mind watching him express his feelings and emotions not only with words but with his hands and expressions. And that damn, sweet laugh that rumbles in his chest. 

Jesse also likes to imagine that one day he’ll get to experience all of that family activities with Gabriel’s while they made one of their own. Who knows, maybe Gabriel will get a holiday break and both will go together. He can meet the famous sisters and his nephews. That sets his nerves on edge, but also excites him to be able to experience such a thing. 

“Are you okay, vaquero?” Gabriel asks sweetly when Jesse has been staring at him for too long. “You’re quiet.”

“I love listening to ya.”

Gabriel smiles and returns his eyes on the road. Jesse extends a hand and brushes his curls. “Don’t you dare cut them again.”

“They are a hassle.”

“But I love them, plus more to pull at.”

“Tempting. They can stay for a while, then.”

The restaurant they go to is not very fancy, nor cheap. It’s what Jesse would expect from Gabriel, quiet, cozy and comfortable enough to talk, but not loud. When he asks for his reservation, they are taken to a booth. Gabriel sits on one side and Jesse ends up sitting beside him, not wanting to be apart.

“This is nice,” Jesse comments and goes through the menu. It has a variety of burgers, pastas and soups. “Have you come here before?”

Gabriel seems to hesitate. “Once, a few years ago when I tried dating again.”

“Tried”

“Yeah and it was a disaster.” Gabriel laughs and Jesse follows. “He kept calling me by my middle name and was saying it wrong. And kept commenting on how I could smile more because I looked scary.”

“That just made you look scarier, right?”

“So terrifying I sent him running.”

“So why are we here?” Jesse asks, looking around.

“The food is delicious,” Gabriel answers and their eyes meet again. “And if I can change that memory with one of you, looking gorgeous under the dim lights then, it was worth going through it.”

“Sheesh, Reyes,” Jesse chuckles, looking away again as he feels his cheeks blushing. Gabriel makes him look at him again, turning his chen, so they can kiss. His hand trails down to cradle Jesse’s neck where his skin prickles. Jesse’s own hand covers Gabriel, wanting to hold it, but also keep it there. He moves closer and can feel Gabriel’s radiant smile in the kiss. 

“Sorry we’re late.” They pull apart, like two kids getting caught doing what they aren’t supposed to when Ana’s voice rings in their ears.

She stands by the table in a simple black dress and Jack is beside her, in a dark blue sweater and black pants. He motions to Ana to sit first and then he sits beside her. 

“Have you ordered drinks?” Jack asks, nonchalantly as he opens the menu.

“What are you doing?” Gabriel asks, with gritted teeth.

“Meeting your date,” Ana says. “I cannot believe you didn’t tell us how handsome he is.”

Jesse laughs and coughs when Gabriel looks at him.

“Or told us at all,” Jack adds.

“It’s pretty new,” Jesse says.

“Good evening, what can I get you?” The waitress comes.

“Seperate checks please,” Gabriel quickly says, “and they’ll be paying the twenty percent tip.”

“All right,” the waitress says and draws a line on her notepad. Once they’ve ordered their drink she jots them down and retreats for a while.

“Jokes aside, how dare you two not tell us?” Ana scolds them.

“It is new,” Gabriel reminds them. “Two weeks new.”

“Did it happen in Fiji?” Jack asks.

Jesse nods. “In paradise.”

“How romantic,” Ana comments. “That’s a good sign.”

“You and Sam met at New Year’s eve and look how that turned out,” Gabriel points out.

She waves him off. “Sam and I are one thing, but you two are something else.”

“Finally, I can tell Jesse all the bullshit I noticed,” Jack beams.

“Like what?”

“Francis”

“At the Halloween party? He looked like he was ready to jump on you if you stuck around any longer,” Jack ignored Gabriel’s warning. “But it was also sad.”

“He was in denial of his feelings for you.”

“Wait!” Jesse cuts Ana off. “Since that halloween party we went together? When I was with Alice?”

Gabriel doesn’t answer, he pretends to read the menu.

“Ya had feelin’s for me since then?” Jesse asks, and there’s hope in him, like this is the confession.

“Can we not talk about the past?” Gabriel asks. “That’s why we’re here for.”

“And when you got your medal, did he ever celebrate with you?” Jack asks Jesse.

“Well he…” Jesse trails off, trying to remember what exactly happened. “What happened that night?”

“Nothing important.”

“Gabe”

“I’m serious, Jesse, don’t let this asshole ruin our time.”

“He’s not,” Jesse says. “I know they’re just teasin’ and mean well.”

“We’ll tone it down,” Ana says, lightly hitting Jack in the chest. “Now, what do you recommend?”

“Take out,” Gabriel says.

“The spinach and mozzarella pasta is good,” Jack replies. Then he looks at Jesse. “Gabriel got me and Vincent here after our first fight.”

Jesse bites his bottom lip and looks at Gabriel, who doesn’t look back, still too focused on the menu. 

But it’s still hard to process. Gabriel had feelings for Jesse for a while now. And who knows since when really. That’s probably when Jack and Ana found out, but when did Gabriel realize it himself? he wants to know, and even if it takes years for Gabriel to tell him, he will wait.

The ride back is quieter. Jesse does most of the talking and it’s small talk about the meal and ambience of the restaurant. Gabriel doesn’t seem mad, but it's obvious the evening didn’t go as he had hoped. Jesse tries to cheer him up by holding and kissing his hand as he drives. At one point, when he gives up, Gabriel pulls Jesse’s hand and kisses it.

“Stay the night with me?” Gabriel asks, rubbing a circle on the back of Jesse’s hand.

“Of course.”

Jesse follows Gabriel to his apartment. When the door closes, the lights turn up a little, keeping the mood going. They reach Gabriel’s room and he gives Jesse a pair of pajama pants, but Jesse drops them on the bed, knowing they will go unused. He watches Gabriel get himself out of his shirt and pants until he’s in boxer briefs.

Jesse breathes in. “Y’know I love you, right?”

Gabriel freezes and looks at him.

Jesse chuckles and rubs the back of his neck as he approaches Gabriel. “Might be too soon, but just like you have had feelings fer me, I’ve had them fer you. No matter how much ya tried to avoid them or think otherwise.”

Gabriel nods. “There were times when I wondered if I was imagining things. Or if that was just you being you.”

“It may appear to be me with everyone, but it’s only with you that I’ve felt like me from the start. Not just that but I’ve grown to be better. And that’s why I love you, Gabriel. And ya don’t have t’say it back now. That you know is enough fer me.”

Gabriel licks his lips and his mouth opens, but he says nothing. Jesse is neither surprised or upset. He really means he’s fine with it. He knows there will be a time when Gabriel will say those words. Jesse has waited this long to be with Gabriel, he can wait a little longer for the phrase.

Or maybe Gabriel has other ways of saying it because the way he holds Jesse as they kiss talk about love in different ways. 

He undresses Jesse piece by piece, unraveling him into his most vulnerable state before Gabriel stands completely naked as well in front of him. Both move to the bed, no pushing or shoving, even if that’s hot when Gabriel does it. It’s all gentle, a whisper of sweet nothings as Gabriel caresses Jesse’s body with his hands and lips.

Jesse lays on his stomach and Gabriel kisses his back as well as massages it. “You did so well today, Jesse.”

Jesse moans to the praise and the actions. How his name sounds like a whisp in Gabriel’s tongue, a quick thing that enchants him every time he hears it. He continues to say words that are rich with love and affection as he follows them up with a kiss wherever he is at reach. When Jesse has enough, he pulls Gabriel to meet his lips so they fall down into that ocean once more, embraced in each other’s arms as the numbness of passion swallows them and time means nothing to them.

Jesse is the one that moves faster and he’s kissing and lapping at Gabriel’s girthy member before Reyes has a say in it. He savors him inch by inch, taking it slow and stretching his throat at his own pace. Gabriel’s hands play with Jesse’s hair and he’s a moaning mess. Such a god who spoke smoothly as the world hanged on his every world is now nothing but incoherent names and shaking limbs. And Jesse is the cause of his weakness.

He can feel Gabriel on the edge and holding himself. His cock twitches and leaks pre in Jesse’s mouth as the cowboy’s eyes roll to the back of his head. It’s a rush like no other knowing he can put Gabriel in such a spot, but he also wants to drink all he has to offer.

Gabriel pulls him up and they kiss before he finishes. Jesse whines in the kiss and Gabriel laughs, but turns them around. Jesse knows what’s coming, so he lays on his stomach and enjoys as Gabriel kisses a path down his spin to start working on his hole. 

Gabriel’s magical fingers open him with no problem. It’s like they’ve been lovers for years and know each other’s bodies better than anyone. Gabriel doesn’t push more than three fingers and knows exactly how deep to go with them. He also knows which ways to curl him and twist them. An artist working on a new piece inspired by the muse he follows blindly and recklessly. 

When Jesse begs him for more, when he cries that he’s ready and about to burst, Gabriel lies behind him and kisses his neck and shoulder. Jesse parts his own butt cheeks and Gabriel rubs the head of his cock against the gaping hole. 

“Fuck, Gabe, please!” Jesse complains, pushing his hips back and Gabriel bites his shoulder lightly. He goes up his jaw and Jesse turns his head so they can kiss. Gabriel drinks the long and sweet moan that comes when he enters Jesse. It’s drawn out by the stretch and the heat that comes with Gabriel once Jesse’s insides shape to fit Gabriel perfectly. 

Gabriel stays still for a moment, just kissing Jesse and making himself at home. Jesse squirms to the sensitivity, to the need of friction. Gabriel gives one thrust, sharp but not too deep. Jesse gasps in his mouth and Gabriel bites his bottom lip before he gives him another.

They move together, a new dance they’ve learned and perfected together. A collusion that can only happen between both of them or the world would lose its balance. Jesse can hardly keep kissing Gabriel as the pleasure causes him to moan and gasp. On the other hand Gabriel can’t seem to get enough of Jesse’s lips. He reaches out to kiss him and he can’t, he’ll settle for Jesse’s neck and shoulders. His hand wraps around Jesse and plays with his nipples, intensifying the pleasure that’s driving Jesse crazy.

“Oh, take me, Gabriel,” Jesse gasps. “I’m so close.”

Gabriel hurries his ending. He takes Jesse’s bouncing member in his hand and begins to stroke in sync with his hips. Jesse moves one arm behind to keep Gabriel’s head over his shoulder and Gabriel begins to moan deeper and growl in his ear. 

“Yes!” Jesse says over and over. His body becomes numb as Gabriel uses it to reach their climax.

Jesse comes in spurs and he hardly has time to process it as Gabriel turns him on his stomach and covers him up with his body. His thrust became merciless. He’s the animal Jesse has always wanted to feel since he was younger. The type of man he needed to breed the brat out of him. Even if Jesse’s body has grown, Jesse feels smaller underneath Gabriel’s weight. And the thought of him being skinnier and slimmer under Gabriel a few years back has him seeing stars and his cock weeping in a second weak orgasm.

Gabriel is still moaning, gasping and growling near Jesse’s ear. He wants the poor cowboy to be tortured and come until he’s dry. Jesse is trembling and barely making a sound. His eyes cannot stay open for long as the high wears off. With a deep thrust and a long moan, Gabriel fills him with his come. He stays inside until he can’t take it any longer or has anything else to offer Jesse. 

When he pulls out, Jesse’s hips lift, going after Gabriel’s softening cock. Gabriel pushes them down and kisses his lower back and up to his neck. “You okay?”

“Great,” Jesse replies, smiling.

Jesse thinks they showered at some point, they must have, but he can’t recall as he begins to feel sleepy and all he wants to do is fall asleep in Gabriel’s arms. No sheets in between or clothing. Gabriel listens to his wishes without Jesse saying a word as he wraps his arms around Jesse and covers their body with cool and soft sheets.

Gabriel kisses the shell of Jesse’s ear and both let their bodies, and minds, rest for what remains of the night.

A day later Jesse’s back in his costume again, waiting for Muniz, and probably Mal, outside a small town in Salamanca. He’s by himself for now, but not for long. Once Loue comes with Muniz and Mal, they will hit the road and another car filled with Blackwatch agents will follow them into a secluded area.

Jesse checks his phone, the last he heard from Gabriel was a message saying their car’s battery had died, they had recharged it but it put them a little behind schedule. Something in Jesse ticked. Things like that unbalanced missions. It also puts him uneasy when Balor arrives with Muniz. Mal is the first to get out of the car, a smirk on his face that brings back bad memories. Jesse tries to keep in character as he straightens and fixes his coat, this time is dark green.

“Ya’ll ready to head out?”

“Yeah, Muniz would just like a moment to stretch his legs.” Mal points back as Balor opens the door for Muniz. “Give us five?”

“Sure”

Mal walks back to meet with his boss while Loue joins Jesse. McCree checks his phone again, nothing from Gabriel so far, but he texts him that Muniz is with him.

“How was the ride?” Jesse asks Loue.

“Quiet,” Loue replies with a shrug.

“Any trouble?”

“They hardly noticed I was driving.”

Jesse raises an eyebrow. “They let you drive them?”

“I was surprised too, but it seems they don’t doubt this meeting.”

Jesse huffs and looks at Mal and Muniz, talking by the vehicle. “They’re about to be surprised. The others are runnin’ a li’l late, but I think we can go first slowly, they will catch up.”

Loue nods. “Except they won’t.”

Loue punches Jesse in the stomach and then the face, taking him down on the ground. Jesse blinks rapidly and flash by flash he sees Mal walking towards him. He pulls at Jesse’s fake mustache and takes his hat off.

“Nice to see you again, McCree.” Mal smiles and punches him.

“Loue,” Jesse croaks.

“Get him in the car,” Mal orders Loue and the agent listens as he picks Jesse up and shoves him into the car they drove to meet with him.

They drive away fast, not wanting Gabriel and the others to catch up.

“My brother-in-law said something to me from prison two weeks ago,” Muniz begins, “he wanted to take away what the man that put him there loved the most. And I swore to him I would take on the task. When he described the man to me I had no doubt it was none other than Gabriel Reyes.”

“And when he told me what had happened, I knew the chances of who had been his partner was you. If you were still alive, and then you walk right through our door.” Mal pulls at Jesse’s hair so he looks at him. “All these years and you’re still following that man like a bitch in heat. Well, we’ll finally put you out of your misery.”

“Why am I still here then?” Jesse laughs. “If you’re going after what he loves the most, you’ve got it.”

Muniz smiles. “He was a fool to let you out of his sights after what you two did. Luckily for us, your dear friend heard us coincidentally mentioning this and he wondered what I would do for information on the couple that took Jacques and Fleur.”

Jesse kicks the back of the front seat. And Balor looks at the rearview mirror directly at Jesse. “Son of a bitch!”

“You get what you deserve, McCree,” Mal says and pulls out a gun which he aims at his temple. “And that is to die on your own like the mutt you’ve always been.”

“Trust me, what I’ve got plan will be better.” Muniz says, sitting on McCree’s other side. “And your Romeo will see you again right before you pull the trigger.”

R e y e s

Gabriel searches the entire car left unlocked and abandoned where Jesse was supposed to meet with Muniz. He calls for Jesse, the rest of the squad covers the area. He checks his phone and nothing besides the last message Jesse sent.

“Sir,” Agent Stones says and he turns around. She walks closer as she shows him something in her hand. Jesse’s fake mustache.

Gabriel’s eyes widen and he gets his tablet out. Since it’s an emergency, he follows Jesse by the tracker they had him installed when he joined. He also checks on Balor’s, but his is back at Rosario’s.

“This can’t be,” Gabriel says.

“What, sir?” Stone asks.

“Jesse told me Balor had arrived with Muniz, but Balor appears back at Rosario’s.”

“He couldn’t…” Stones trails off.

“We’ll deal with him later, right now Jesse’s moving and I need to get to him.”

Stones nods and puts a hand on Gabriel’s shoulder. “We will. And I’m sure you’re with me when I say, we’ll make them pay.”

Gabriel nods in return. Whoever took Jesse, whoever even dares to harm him will feel the full strength those chemicals gave him. They will feel his own hands picking his eyes from their sockets and his teeth tearing at their skin. They picked the wrong man to mess with.

M c c r e e

Jesse doesn’t know where exactly he is, just that he is in some kind of church or cathedral. He was brought in blindfolded, but once the black piece of fabric was pulled from his eyes, he was able to center himself. The room’s walls were old by the cracks and uneven paint. What made his skin crawl was the coffin centered in the room, closed off by an iron cell. The coffin is made of stone and had a statue of a man lying on top. It had a plaque on it, but from the distance of the entrance, Jesse couldn’t read it clearly. The fact that Balor had betrayed Blackwatch and he was under Mal’s hand had him more worried than some dead guy. He notices Balor isn’t with them. Must have stayed outside to keep watch or ran away like a coward.

“You will wait here,” Muniz tells him as Mal pulls Jesse and pushes him to the ground by the cell.

“For what?”

“Someone will come and pick you up.”

“Who?”

Muniz frowns at him. “Aren’t you a curious man.”

“I think I’m as curious as any person would be when they’re kidnapped.”

“You don’t need to know much,” Mal adds. “Just that you will finally be put to rest.” Mal shrugs and twirls his wrist. “In a way.”

“Are you burying me in there?!” McCree points behind, at the coffin.

Mal scoffs. “You wished. Once they’re done with you, there will be no Jesse McCree left.”

“Who is they?” Jesse asks, but he has a feeling.

“Those associates you were so eager to introduce me to,” Muniz replies, holding to one side of his fancy jacket. “On the ride here, your friend gave us an important contact. My new associates are more than happy to take you in.”

Jesse’s eyes widened. By the way Muniz says that word can only mean one thing. But if it is true, Balor is with Talon? Jesse’s mind races to many questions, doubts and suspicions. Is he the only one? Has Talon found a way to taint Blackwatch, and therefore, Overwatch?

“What do they want from me?” Jesse asks, but he suspects he won’t get a straight answer.

“What do they want with the man that Gabriel Reyes cares for?” Muniz asks, rhetorically. 

“Balor told us how he treated you before and after he thought you were a goner in Fiji,” Mal adds, smirking. “Looks like you got him after all.”

Jesse huffs. “We’re just friends.” He doesn’t even believe that himself. “Anyways, that doesn’t exactly answer my question. What are they gonna do to me?”

“Where’s the fun in telling you?” Muniz asks. “Now, start behaving, it’ll go easier once you’re in their hands.”

Jesse’s jaw clenches and he moves to stand up, but Mal points his gun at him, keeping him down. Muniz seems to love McCree’s reaction as he smiles and leans over to Mal’s ear. “Si es tan bueno como me dijistes, sera imparable.”

“Don’t say much,” Mal says, lifting his hand to quiet Muniz. “He understands Spanish.”

“Maybe he should know what they’ll do to him, prepare him. He might even like the idea.”

Jesse doesn’t ask. He doesn’t think he’ll like whatever Muniz is implying at all. He talks too cryptically to say Talon is just going to kill him. It seems what they have planned is worse.

“You’ll be a walking weapon,” Muniz begins, walking away from Jesse as he admires the architecture around them. “Mal once told me about a kid in his gang that could shoot six heads with one round. Never missed. He would bleed from his eye if he did it too much, and Mal could taste blood in his mouth when he was around the gunslinger.”

“Mal! You romantic,” Jesse teases with a grin and Mal straightens his gun.

“Think of you doing that same thing, but no harm will come to you. It’ll be better. Your eyes would see beyond what you’re used to. You will be faster, more agile.”

“I’ll be a superhero?” 

“A weapon,” Muniz corrects.

Jesse pouts. “I like superheroes better. But no, thank you.”

“You don’t have a choice anymore.”

But Jesse didn’t believe that. He felt Gabriel near. He knew he would be out. He would be back with Gabriel and they would take down Mal once again, this time together. 

“Who’s coming for him?” Mal asks Muniz without taking his eyes off Jesse.

“Antonio, a man that’s going up in ranks as we speak. He has gained quite the reputation in Talon. He wants to see his new weapon for himself.”

Jesse grimaces. “Can he at least buy me dinner first?”

“I won’t miss your mouth,” Mal says. 

Jesse looks up to the sound of a helicopter. Both men in front of him smile.

“He’s here,” Muniz says and walks behind Mal to the door. “Keep him under your watch.”

Mal only nods, his attention back on Jesse. Muniz leaves the room and Jesse looks away from Mal. Even after years, he still feels like Mal is trying to figure him out. To foil his plan to escape even before he can come up with one. 

Muniz returns and he’s followed by two men in black and red armor, a very familiar look to Jesse.

“They will take him to a more secluded area,” Muniz informs Mal. “Antonio doesn’t trust to be this close to Reyes.”

“And with good reason,” Jesse mumbles before he’s snatched to his feet by the Talon soldiers. 

At least they leave the heat behind and it gets cooler the higher they go. When they leave, Jesse can see the cathedral around him. It has a beautiful mural on the ceiling that he wishes to stay and admire, but the men push him and pull at him to move. 

The helicopter has landed on the back of the cathedral, on an opened plaza. It’s blades are still spinning and he can see a pilot waiting as well as two more agents with guns at the ready. Those two approach Jesse, as if he’s already this weapon Muniz speaks of that he needs extra surveillance. They are three steps away from Jesse when the helicopter blows up, sending them forward. Jesse lifts a knee, hitting one on the head before he gets pulled back.

Out of the smoke and the broken helicopter, Gabriel comes, a shadow, a mist that’s part of the smoke, firing a round to the soldier Jesse kicked.

Alice is right behind him, choking the next soldier before he shoots at Gabriel. The soldier holding Jesse chokes and falls down. There’s a bullet wound on his back and Jesse looks back at the direction it came from. Lance solutes him from the roof of the cathedral. 

The remaining Talon soldier gets taken down by Mitzy and she hands Jesse his revolver which he spins around and faces Mal, both aiming at each other. 

Muniz had fallen back and was holding his chest, his heart must be beating a hundred miles for hours as he looks fatigued and shocked. His whole plan, his in-card for getting into Talon is crumbling in front of him. 

“You are not in Deadlock anymore,” Jesse smiles. “No one will follow you this time. No one wants to save ya.”

“If I can get one bullet in you, that’ll be enough.”

Gabriel lifts one of his shotguns at Mal. “You’ll be dead before you pull the trigger.”

“Unless,” Jesse says and Mal raises an eyebrow. “Share what you know of Talon.”

Mal tilts his head and smirks. “What will that get me?”

“A second chance, like the one I’ve got.” Jesse can feel Gabriel looking at him, but he says nothing. “I can make it happen. Maybe not exactly the same one, but some actual freedom.”

“Is Talon worth that much?”

“Way more than you can imagine, trust me. If we kill ya ‘n’ ya have the slightest information that can help us take them down, we might as well be doin’ nothin’ to stop ‘em.”

Mal looks back at Muniz, still too horrified to even realize what they’re asking of Mal.

“If you get him to talk, even better,” McCree adds. 

“After all I did to you, do you think I will trust you to let me off that easy?”

“Talon is more than you, Mal. I ain’t about to throw this opportunity away for some ol’ grudge.”

Mal lifts his chin and he looks at Gabriel. He also looks at Alice by Jesse’s side, aiming another gun at him. Mitzy is beside Mal, ready to strike first. 

Mal opens his mouth and Jesse is ready for a denial or some sort of remark, but a shot cuts him off and his hand starts to shake. Mitzy kicks his hand down as it fires, shooting the ground instead of Jesse or anyone else. Once his body falls, they see Balor, a few feet away, dropping his rifle.

“He had nothing,” Balor says.

“How would you know?” Mitzy asks, stepping in front of Jesse.

“Ya lead them right to our plan,” Jesse recalls.

“Once I heard them talking about you, I saw an opportunity.” Balor gives a step forward, but no one from Blackwatch is lowering their weapons. 

“To get me captured!”

“If that's what it took, I knew Reyes would get you right out.” 

“They didn’t know Talon before you introduced them,” Gabriel reminds him. “How did the Talon soldiers get here if it really wasn’t you?”

“I’ll give you a hint.” Balor pulls at a sniper rifle that was hanging on his back. He aims and shoots. The team follows the bullet and watches as Lance falls back from where he was positioned.

“Lance!” Mitzy screams.

When Jesse looks back at Balor, he’s gone. “Damn it!”

“Got to him!” Gabriel says to Alice while Mitzy is already sprinting away.

Alice runs as fast as she can, leaving Gabriel and Jesse with Muniz, but Jesse isn’t at all worried about the bastard. Gabriel goes to Muniz and hits him with the end of one of his shotguns to knock him out. Jesse checks on Mal, who is already gone. “Shit.”

“You do know we weren’t gonna do anything for him, right?”

“He didn’t know.” Jesse straightens up. “But I believed he could give us somethin’. What about Balor?”

Gabriel looks in the direction his former agent ran off. “I started suspecting when you told me he was with you, but his tracker showed him in Rosario’s. He must have pried it out of him.”

“Or had it out already,” Jesse suggests. Jesse looks back, he can’t see Mitzy or Alice, or Lance. “That son of a bitch.”

Gabriel grabs Jesse’s hand, his weapons already sheathed. “What did they do to you?”

Jesse smiles softly. “Nothin’, darlin’. But they were ready to hand me to Talon.”

Gabriel’s eyebrows furrow. “Tell me on the way back. We need to get Taylor out of here.”

Jesse nods and both run towards the cathedral. Jesse’s heart is pounding. The whole way up to the roof, he can’t keep the image of cocky, smiling Lance out of his head. How proud he was when they first met, how that pride hadn’t changed, but he wasn’t full of himself either. He wasn’t Mal. He didn’t see himself above others or put them down even if he did have great aim. Jesse just prays they get to him in time.

Mitzy and Alice already have him. They have opened a biotic field and placed it in his pocket, hoping it works. Luckily, Balor was never great at shooting, so he missed Lance’s vital spots and hit his shoulder. Still, that didn’t always mean good news.

Jesse visits Lance as soon as he can. Angela worked on him for hours, once they touched base. She was as close to looking as exhausted as she was after operating on Genji. Must not be easy bringing people back from the edge of death.

Gabriel goes with him the first time, two days after the operation and Lance is clear from a critical state. He remains asleep, and looks too peaceful for Jesse’s liking. After a few minutes of being obvious he wont’ wake up, he suggests they leave. He cannot keep looking at Lance without that smile or hearing his voice. 

Sadly, once they settle back at base, it’s like those days after Fiji. Gabriel is called to a meeting after they leave the hospital wing, but he offers Jesse his apartment for the rest of the day. Jesse takes it. It’s a comforting feeling to get there and see it as his space too. He stops himself from going too far. They just got together, even if they have known each other for years and he would be completely comfortable giving that step, Jesse is sure there must be some rules against it or in between. Some paperwork they have to fill out or someone to talk to before they make the move. Of course, Jack already knows and he hasn’t said anything. Maybe he has to ask Gabriel, but they haven’t had any time to sit down and talk more about it before their date. Maybe it’ll happen tonight. Jesse doesn’t know if he’s in the right headset yet after what happened with Lance and the whole mission, but he can try. 

A future with Gabriel is always worth talking about.

Jesse is watching TV when Gabriel comes before dinner. He watches as the man slips off his shoes at the door, sighs and takes off his hoodie. He isn’t surprised to still find Jesse there. His smile is more calming and relieved than anything.

“Hey,” he says softly.

“Hey,” Jesse replies, feeling giddy as Gabriel approaches him and they kiss before he sits beside him.

“You didn’t change?” Gabriel asks, noticing Jesse is still in his standard Blackwatch uniform.

“Ah, no, I was so distracted I came here directly.”

Gabriel shrugs. “I’m sure you can find something in here to wear.”

The corner of Jesse’s lips twitch into a bigger smile. Gabriel kisses the left one and asks, “did you eat?”

“Waitin’ for you. What do you feel like?”

“Sandwiches?”

Jesse nods. “I could go for that. The cafeteria’s meatball subs are delicious.”

“Get change, I’ll go get them,” Gabriel kisses him again before standing up and putting his shoes back on to get their food. 

Jesse scavenges through the drawers, not too deep to keep some of Gabriel’s privacy away from his eyes, until he finds a pair of sweats and a blue t-shirt. He throws his uniform in the hamper before he goes back to the couch. He channel surfs and stops on an action movie that looks too cheesy, but can work as background noise.

Gabriel returns with two warm and chunky meatball subs and gets them sodas from his fridge. He notices the one Gabriel gives him is the meatiest and he feels he’s falling in love with the man all over again. 

For once it’s nice to sit in the quiet, his legs on top of Gabriel’s lap as they eat and get lost in the predictable plot of the movie. They already went through what Muniz had said to Jesse about Talon making him a weapon, no need to bring it up again for now. Gabriel gave the word to Gerard who is also working on what could that mean. Gabriel did point out that maybe they want to do something to what Blackwatch did to Genji, but more on the aggressive side. A more rogue way and not as a method of salvation. 

The subject of Lance also doesn’t come up. There’s nothing left to do but wait and Jesse has spent too much time worrying about him. He doesn’t want to rain on his moments with Gabriel seeing as they have been little. As for Balor, Gabriel is doing what he can to find him. Something is for certain, Overwatch is going through their agents carefully and even interrogating whoever they find suspicious. Gabriel warned Jesse they might call him in at some point, but he knows they have nothing to worry about from him. 

Once the subs are gone and the cans are empty, Jesse moves to lie on Gabriel and finish the movie. The sequel comes up, and it's worse than the first but they can’t look away. Once that one is over, Jesse stands up, worried a third one might come.

“I think that’s all I can handle.”

Gabriel laughs and also stands up. “Are you staying the night?”

Jesse raises his eyebrows. “Can I?”

“Do you want to?”

“Yes,” Jesse clears his throat after his answer came out too soon. “I’d like to.”

Gabriel nods and turns off the TV before turning off the lamp light and heading to the room. They fall into bed, Gabriel hugging Jesse from behind and Jesse kissing him over his shoulder. Sleep comes easy enough, even with all the worries in Jesse’s mind.

Lance wakes the next day and he’s visited by Jesse, Mitzy and Alice. He remembers what happened, he just doesn’t know exactly what. He remembers shooting the Talon agent, then he sees them all talking with Balor before he shot him. 

“He was trying to frame you as the real traitor,” Mitzy explains. “He was just distracting us by pretending to be a double agent.”

“And we fell for it,” Jesse follows. 

“We should have been quicker,” Alice says.

“I’m alive, aren’t I?” Lance says, patting Alice’s knee as she sits beside him on the bed. “Anyone else injured or gone?”

“Thankfully, no,” Mitzy answers. 

“And Balor?”

“He ran, but Reyes is doing what he can to find him,” Jesse says, 

“I don’t doubt that.”

The conversation continues about their upcoming missions. Small things compared to Fiji and Salamanca. But Jesse finds a common detail in all of them, Gabriel is not involved. He’s sending squads on their own with someone in charge. He doesn’t voice this as it might draw attention to why he noticed. He doesn’t feel comfortable telling them about him and Gabriel yet. Though Jack and Ana know that’s because they were nosey and followed them on their date. Jesse wants to make sure they do things right. Lance and Jesse fought about a rumor once. Jesse can’t imagine things being completely peachy once all of Blackwatch knows he slept with their commander.  

He doesn’t see Gabriel the rest of the day. He starts feeling unsure about everything. Like something happened and he doesn’t know it yet. He texts Gabriel, but gets no answer. He even tries to find Ana, but she’s busy training some Overwatch agents because Jack is unavailable. So whatever is going on, it involves both Gabriel and Jack. 

There’s that little jealous monster creeping on him as he walks to Jack’s office. They weren’t in Gabriel’s so that’s another good spot to check, right? He raises his fist but doesn’t knock. He trusts Gabriel. Jack is with Vincent. There’s no reason for Jesse to still feel like this whenever the idea of Jack and Gabriel are together.

No. He tells himself. It’s professional, so get over it. 

He doesn’t knock. He walks away instead and goes to the shooting range to waste time until Gabriel appears. He bumps into Genji there and they do some friendly competition. He asks about Lance and Jesse fills him in on it. When Jesse asks what he has been up to, Genji informs him how Gabriel sent him on a mission the day they left for Salamanca. He took down one of the elders from the clan, and in a way that even Gabriel approved. It was private, quick and swift. No tracks that led him to Blackwatch, but it did lead him to another elder. However, Genji did not follow. He returned to base and was waiting for Reyes’ instructions, or even help since this one had seeked out Talon after he left the clan. Gabriel will be more than happy to help Genji with that one.

The day has ended and Jesse is ready for bed. He returned to his room, which already feels small compared to Gabriel’s. And very cold. He sits on the edge of his bed, already in pajamas, texting in a group chat with Lance, Alice and Mitzy. He’s content with the conversation, but he lights up when he receives a message from Gabriel.

‘Sorry, had a very long and tedious meeting. Are you okay?’

Jesse types quickly, ‘yeah, just missed u’.

‘Me too. I’m almost at the apartment.’

Jesse feels guilty. Does Gabriel expect him to be there?

‘Ready for another marathon of bad movies?’

He does.

‘Oh, I’m in my room.’

‘I see’

‘But I’ll be there in a minute’

‘You don’t have to’

‘I want to’, Jesse is on his feet before he finishes typing, puts on shoes and hurries out of the room.

When Gabriel opens the door, Jesse jumps on him, kissing him and saying how sorry he is.

Gabriel laughs against his mouth. “What for?”

“If I had known ya wanted me here--”

“It’s okay, vaquero. But I’m tired of talking.” Gabriel kisses him deeper, leaning forward and making Jesse arche back as he laughs this time. 

“Do I need to worry?”

Gabriel doesn’t answer, but his hands tighten on Jesse’s waist. 

“Gabe”

“Later,” Gabriel sighs. “I promise.”

Jesse nods and lets himself be turned around before Gabriel pins him to the door and begins kissing his neck. His hands become crazy, frantically caressing all of Jesse’s body as if he hadn’t touched him in months. Jesse pushes his hips back, rubbing Gabriel’s half hard member hidden in his jeans. Gabriel moans in Jesse’s ear before he pulls him back and along to the bedroom, where they fall into bed together, kissing and Jesse holding on to Gabriel. 

They undress each other slowly, like each piece of clothing reveals a whispering secret from the other that they want to remember and keep between them. Gabriel can’t stop grabbing Jesse in places like his strong biceps, the skin over his hips and his butt cheeks that roll on top of Gabriel. They haven’t touched their members, both slick and dripping as they rub together, and yet Jesse is high on the night clouds, ready to burst if Gabriel simply opens his eyes and looks at him with his glossy gaze.

He avoids eye contact for that reason, but somehow it feels like Gabriel is doing it too. He focuses on kissing Jesse, every inch of skin like he’s recording the process and saving it for later. Jesse’s stomach twist with nerves, but he knows it can’t be something so awful that will change things drastically or Gabriel would have told him. 

“Gabe,” Jesse tries again, but Gabriel kisses his lips and drinks his words away. 

He melts all of Jesse’s thoughts once Gabriel’s inside of him. McCree can’t say more as his mouth hangs open in moans and gasps. He still calls for Gabriel’s name, but for mercy as Gabriel controls his hips, pushing and pulling. Up and down; back and ford. After a while it feels like torture. He can feel the skin where Gabriel is holding him raw and bruised, burning sweetly. Every Time he’s close, when his cock starts to throb, Gabriel stops and sits up to kiss him, changing the mood from completely seeking a release to finding love. 

Jesse can’t help whining into Gabriel’s mouth by the fifth time. He wants to be in this man’s arms forever, but this is a dirty game and he’s losing. 

“Please, Gabe,” Jesse says, trembling as his orgasm approaches.

Gabriel growls and thrusts upwards as he pushes Jesse down. Both collide, coming together in a mess of limbs, sweat and kisses. Gabriel spins them around, keeping Jesse below him as he pulls out slowly. He kisses all of Jesse’s sweaty and sticky face while McCree lays there, mouth dry and tasting nothing but Gabriel.

“Gabriel,” Jesse tries yet again.

“Jesse,” Gabriel calls in response but it isn’t for the same thing. It’s because of passion. Because the only thing he wants to say is Jesse’s name and McCree understands. He tells himself he can wait, and Gabriel’s mouth convinces him of that as it trails down his body until it cleans the mess he left between Jesse’s legs. 

When their lungs are full of air again and their hearts are calm, they can sleep, still in a mess of arms and legs, but content for the warmth and the chance to have what they have. What Jesse has wanted and believed didn’t deserve. 

Jesse wakes up to the sound of Gabriel’s phone ringing. Both groan together and Gabriel must decline the call as it goes quiet and his hand slips back around Jesse’s waist.

“What time’s it?” Jesse asks, groggy and rubbing his eyes.

“Too early.”

Jesse looks at the window and can tell it’s past eight by the sun. “Don’t we have jobs to do?”

“Day off,” Gabriel says without explanation, and Jesse doesn’t question it. He shrugs and turns around to kiss Gabriel. Gabriel’s smile appears, warming him up and making the bed look more tempting than before.

The phone rings again, and Gabriel declines again. Jesse can tell he set it to vibrate mode as the next time it rings he can only hear the phone shivering against the wood of the nightstand. It doesn’t ring a fourth time, but Athena’s voice breaks the sound of their lips softly brushing each other. “Commander Reyes?”

Gabriel growls. “What?”

“Commander Morrison wishes to speak with you. He says it’s important and that they wish to talk more about the matter.”

“Tell him to tell them to bite me. They gave me the day off for a reason.”

Jesse laughs softly, but he stops kissing Gabriel and they end up looking at each other.

“Tell him to tell them I’m still thinking about it and don’t want any more distractions or talk of the matter until then. And that if they insist, it’ll be a solid ‘no’.”

“Yes, commander.”

The silence that follows tells Jesse it’s their time to talk.

Gabriel sits up sighing. “The UN gave me a mission, one they insist is of high importance and an opportunity I shouldn’t pass on.”

“What is it?” Jesse sits up, and when Gabriel looks at him, he fears the worse.

“The lead Shimada found has a new guard that resembles me, very much. And they have joined Talon, along with this elder.”

Jesse blinks and looks away. Deadlock was one thing, but Talon...

“They want me to go undercover for Talon.”

“It isn’t possible,” Jesse hisses, sharply looking back at Gabriel.

“I said the same thing. But they are confident on it. Once we get the guard, we can make all the arrangements to make me pass as him.”

“They must have fingerprints, eye detection, something that can get you caught,” Jesse points out, and also wishes for. 

“Of course it would take long to start,” Gabriel says calmly. “The UN will extend Blackwatch’s funds to get us whatever we need to get me through any type of security. I will be prepared and will always have eyes and ears with me.”

Jesse shakes his head. “Gabe, I don’t…”

“I want to know what you think, Jess. It’s only your opinion that matters to me in this.”

“But do you want to go?” Jesse’s voice quivers.

“As a soldier, I agree, this is a great opportunity, even if it’s risky.”

“But?”

Gabriel looks at Jesse, into his eyes, at his lips, his hair, his everything. He leans forward and kisses him. “As someone incredibly, deeply and utterly in love with you, I can’t bring myself to think of anything else but that I will be pulled from you.”

“You’d be gone for weeks.”

“Maybe months, if everything goes right.”

“Knowing you, it’ll be a year before I see you again,” Jesse tries to be supportive, but he can’t be honest. “I don’t want you to go.”

Gabriel nods. 

“There must be another way.”

“Keep doing what we’re doing,” Jesse suggests. “Cut down the legs until it brings it all down.”

“Which will also take months,” Gabriel points out. “You might get bored.” The half-smile he gives Jesse tells him differently.

“Ya won’t get rid of me that easy.”

“Good, ‘cause I’m gonna need you, Jesse.”

THE END