songerein | It's Like I'm Powerful With A Little Bit of Tender

Entry tags:

reaper,
soldier: 76

It's Like I'm Powerful With A Little Bit of Tender

Who: Reaper & Soldier: 76
Which: Closed Log
Where: Shared safehouse hidden out in the Wildlands
What: Two old men talk- Reaper definitely has something to say after all.
Warnings: Adult language, unhealthy coping mechanisms mentioned here and there, old men with long history, and things that may come up with old soldiers. Anything else will get added.

76 had pulled together a bench, chair pulled up to it, and had a few parts scattered out over the cloth covered surface. A quiet moment with a bit of natural lighting filtering in through boarded windows and some of the holes left intentionally in the ceiling, an ankle hooked behind a leg of the chair. Mostly he was cleaning gun parts, the side-arm already laid out in its various sections to the side all organized and simply waiting to be put back together.

Routine maintenance, something he found a bit soothing.

Pulse rifle was propped to the side, already taken care of; what was currently being taken apart for servicing was the hunting rifle he'd picked up. Making sure it was cleaned, no worry of it backfiring on him or anything. Almost done by the time he looked up, judging by the light to gauged how much time had passed already.

He glanced to the side then, setting the rifle part down as he pushed up to his feet to check on the cooking pot on the stove. Lifting up the lid and- okay, the stew was just about done. Could lower the temperature and let it just simmer without worry of anything sticking to the bottom and burning.

Ridiculously domestic. A passing thought as he put the lid back down, stretching a bit as he realized how long he must have been sitting there.

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At that kissy face? Gabriel really shouldn't have been surprised -or maybe a little- when Jack trusted the man to hold him up when two of Jack's hands lightly 'smooshed' the older man's cheeks. Was just a moment of that before hands were holding onto shoulder and arm once again. "I've adopted no kids-" Sure as hell not back in their world, and here?

Maybe some had adopted him, but Jack was very firmly of the mindset he was ensuring that the ones he ran into were well equipped to take care of themselves. Of each other. More so if they knew they couldn't trust much of the fae around these parts with food.

He straightened only briefly before Jack so very easily melted into that gentle kiss, arms around Gabriel's neck and holding himself that much closer. Returning that kiss so much more easily, kept it gentle but warm. Wanting. He wanted to be with Gabriel, and he wanted Jack in turn, this was... very real. "We can take what hasn't been eaten for breakfast, a midnight snack, or something. As much as I wouldn't mind sticking around- night's still young and we could use the rest of it pretty well, I think."

He should have expected it, and yet, no one had dared to even try in so many years that he was a bit surprised that Jack held his cheeks like that. It earned a snort out of him as he held the younger man. "You might not have signed any paperwork, but I've watched you. You're in full adoption mode and the kids are practically throwing themselves at you."

It was all the same to him. He knew that Jack was a good mentor and always brought out the best in people no matter how down in the dumps the younger man was. That was the power of Jack Morrison even before the SEP.

That kiss was proof that they were going to be doing this, that it wasn't a confused prank or a response to a prank from the other. He enjoyed it, the warmth of Jack's lips as his body naturally absorbed the heat there. His hands smoothed down until he was holding Jack's hips. "Agreed. Let's pack up and head back home. I think that hammock will be calling us tonight." After the bed of course. Hammock wasn't a great place for sex.

"There's only a handful I interact with on a daily basis- and most of that is because I feed them. No adoption here," dryly said because honestly? This could go back and fourth for a while if he wanted to argue the point, but he didn't. Oh no, there were other things moving into mind, and they were much more fun that arguing any sort of points.

Well, most of the thoughts were firmly planting it in his skull that none of this was a prank. They were really going to ty and make dating in this place work- Gabriel had honestly asked him out on a date and— It was a lot of that. It was still something to take in.

Jack did briefly turn that kiss slightly firmer, trailing to the corner of Gabriel's mouth, but he wasn't pulling away just yet. "I can takes us back the quick way as well, if you wanted," offering to use his abilities rather than the longer walk back once they did pack up to head out. He could get them that far at least. "I also think you're right in that," hammock calling them, "After we enjoy those black silks, of course."

"Oh so you're providing them comfort and food? You understand that's like eighty percent what it is to be a parent, right?" He was, of course, going to try to twist things to make his own point as valid as he could. That's just who he was as a person, and he liked to win debates as much as the next person. "Just say the word and I can find some paperwork for you. Make it all official."

His hands squeezed on Jack's hips as the kiss became firmer, and his eyes closed as he savoured the closeness. He never thought that he would have this with Jack for real. Sure, he had convinced himself they could make the fling thing work, but this kiss right there, the closeness, the wash of vulnerability between them made it clear that this was real for them both.

He nudged their noses together lightly before he was easing away back to their seats. A quick date. Best not to push it, right? They were rusty at this. He finished off the little liquid in his cup and began to pack up pizza boxes. "If you're so eager, the quicker the better. I don't mind being slower out of town, but the fastest way out would be best." He was still a painfully private person after all. "Mmm, those silk sheets need to be properly broken in. They are still fairly new."

Of course there finally came that huff of his; more exasperated with a touch more amusement than anything else, "You're just making a game out of switching around whatever I say, huh?" Of course Gabriel was, he usually did when it came to him wanting to make a point to be right; even in something more joking it was easy to spot. At least he wasn't making a Daddy joke out of it this time.

Even as the one who had turned that gentle kiss into something more, Jack couldn't help how he sunk against Gabriel at the squeeze to his hips. Hands lingering in his grasp at arms, solid there underneath them. Would probably hit harder in the morning, but the reality was already well there in mind at least. Could make this work.

"Kinda doubt I'm the only eager party, Gabe." His head had tipped as Jack returned that nose nudging in kind before they parted, picking up his own drink to kill it. Not a drop left as it was set down and he left the pizza to Gabriel, his own mask picked up along with gloves. Clicked his tongue as he drew up shadows around his feet, a hand held out to be taken and invite the older man in close again- "Then let's go break them in. Can set those boxes on the counter," because all it would take was a step through Jack's shadows and they'd be in their shared safehouse again.

Jack knew the way, where it was, by heart. The easiest shadow-walk he could made now.

"I would never do that," he replied with a tone that clearly stated that it was exactly what he would do and was doing. "You're Daddy in everything but name, Jack," he added as they parted ways physically to finish gathering up their date items.

It had been a nice evening, perhaps a bit shorter than anyone would expect but they were not much of the publicly affectionate sort. That's what living far too many secret lives would do to a person or people, especially if public appearances could be harmful to reputations or being spotted might bring about a danger. Besides, he and Jack were still sorting out the whole date thing, the whole reality of it.

"You aren't," he agreed, for once taking the path of seriousness. He was eager to see if there was a difference, and also, he was unlikely to deny how much he had grown to enjoy their time together even if it was doing nothing more than checking in on each other. The sex was good, and Jack was one of the few he could unleash on fully. So of course he was eager.

All their items except the chairs - he'd return those later - were in hand and he approached the shadows that Jack created. His were still limited by line of sight, but he had other abilities. He stepped into the shadows and felt the shift in their positions, and he smoothly moved once they were back in the safehouse, dropping off the pizza and fuzzy juice containers on the counter.

He stretched his arms above his head, and for once, his armour melted off of him like smoke until he was standing in nothing more than a black compression shirt and trousers. His hair still remained in the last braid that Jack had weaved for him. This was the second stage of their good and long evening.

There it was. "Don't think that you're more Daddy than me?" Added just as dryly rather than give it further sort of serious talk or thought. All the reply that was deserved to that line.

Next date could be longer, if they so chose to have another one- would likely have another one. Something just as good as far as either of them went when it came to things, the sort of habit that grew from not wanting to be exposed for too long. No matter how short of a date this could have been, it felt perfect in enough ways that the time spent out on it didn't matter- technically it wouldn't quite be ending even once they stepped back into the safehouse, "Good, would hope not."

There was one last look cast across the rooftop before Jack was following after, the shadows closing up behind him. It was just a step through a warm sort of darkness, not sense of being lost, knowing exactly where was needed to go in order to step out on the other side and into the safehouse.

For a moment Jack simply watched Gabriel, even as he let his jacket drop to hang on the back of a chair and was toing off his boots. They'd grown closer, hadn't they? Couldn't really deny it anymore, given the talk on the roof and what led to it. Had fallen into something routine in a way, and it was... good. Not what they'd started out as here at all.

Jack moved closer then, fingers curling around the end of that braid once he was dressed down to just about the same articles of clothing; blackened thumb brushing over the end of it. No tug, no pull, but he did come around so claws could drag a little over that cloth covered chest of Gabriel's. "Better?"

"I'm not in the adoption centre with every young person I meet," he reminded dryly. "Besides, I'm not old enough to be called Daddy by you." He might have been older but only by a few years, and that just wasn't fun. He and Jack were far more on par with one another, unless Reaper decided he needed to act very immature.

He watched Jack right back, red eyes with a faint glow to them. The removal of clothing was such a casual gesture, yet it spoke of a level of comfort with each other that they had developed over the last few months since finding and investing time and effort into this little safe house. Now, it was practically routine to devest themselves of the heaviest and most intense part of their outfits and exist in the same space together companionably.

He turned subtly to face Jack when the younger man approached him, and he stilled once the braid was taken in hand. One of his arms reached out to loosely curl around Jack's waist as he slowly pulled the younger man against his side and pressed his face forward until he could nestle his nose into the longer hair at the top of Jack's head. "Mmm, it's fine." He was, of course, as cold as a corpse again, which was very normal for him. "Shed the weight of the world for a few hours, have you?"

"And yet," just some little pause, as if this wasn't anything much. A hum, a breath- "You have taken such good care of me," and that easy implication that tore it away from anything to do with young people. One way to get out of that subject, right? Maybe. Wasn't really his thing, but didn't stop Jack from using it to rib at Gabriel.

The two of them had started making quite a few routines -without thought, it starting to hit him now- around basically living with each other. An ease, a sort of comfort, that both was and wasn't like how it used to be. Something a bit... more? Had they really been walking the edge of a few things without- realizing wasn't the right word. Some line that hadn't wanted to be crossed simply out of not wanting to think about it.

Something that sat heavy, but not really unpleasant. Ignored, mostly.

Clawed fingers caught at the bottom of Gabriel's shirt, idly moving under so warm fingertips could move against cold skin; palm soon joining that press. Hand slipped under fabric to move along and slowly spread some head along stomach and side almost idly. "For a few hours, at least," leaning against Gabriel's side, letting his eyes close. "Maybe a bit longer than that, depending."

"Are you counting the fact that I shot you with a bullet that debilitated you and created an unhealing wound?" He was certain that would count as some kind of abusive relationship if that was the case, not that he planned on doing it again. He had needed to to slow 76 down at the time, to finish up his business in the area and leave before the new alliance of two could muster themselves again.

Reaper had not yet admitted to himself that they were living together, mostly because he purposefully kept himself from thinking on the subject. All he cared about was that this was a secure location and it would serve them even better now than it had before they started to date one another.

He made a noise in his throat as he felt warm fingers on his cold skin. Only his hands had some warmth to them, thanks to holding Jack's when they had been dancing. He pressed into that hand that slipped up his shirt, his eyes half closing in pleasure even as his arm tightened around the small of Jack's back to pull the younger man against his side fully. "Maybe even all night. Small miracles might happen in that regard. Maybe I'll even let you sleep a few hours."

"Counting a bit more of the here and now, rather than back home, jackass." Gabriel being contrary and himself, a roll of eyes and really all he was going to get for that comment. Jack could bring up the time Gabriel had kept him from dying after all- and the fact he'd gone out of his way a few times, but perhaps it was better not to. Yet. Keep a different mood going.

Hard for him not to realize that in all technicality and definition that he and Gabriel were living together. Around each other. Coexisting.

Jack kept his hand moving, fingers spread apart and palm flat as he moved it across Gabriel's stomach, even moved up along his chest. Trying to help generate warmth a little there and the noise was certainly encouraging. "We're going to see one way or another," a curl of fingers, letting claws scratch a little before moving back to just the pads of fingers rather than claws, "Let me sleep, and you can keep pressed good and close."

"It all adds up together, you know. And we've punched each other into submission on more than one occasion here," he reminded. He could keep pushing to 'win' the argument, but he was aware of the fact that it didn't actually matter and his competitive self didn't need to be quite so vicious with Jack. Least of all right now.

Reaper slept no where else but here. There were actually many 'normal' activities that he did only in this single space, and he suspected there were some activities that Jack only did here as well.

His breath caught a bit at the difference between his skin temperature and Jack's, but his body greedily drank in any source of warmth. He was well aware at this point of the state of their stamina. "You're not working tomorrow, are you?" Not that it mattered because even if they went with very little sleep, they were functional, but work meant that Reaper might be following Jack around there.

Least of all right now. "Mhm," less and less interested in the argument that Gabriel was putting some fight into, head tipping a bit so that Jack could give his jaw something of a sharp nip. More a draw of attention and the fact that was not what they were there for at the moment- which he was a bit exasperated with himself over but.

Jack was still riding on that thought of the date, short but sweet and time to do something longer another day. Not to waste a moment no matter- a lot. A lot of reasons this could be a goddamn awful idea to attempt but Fuck it.

"Usual taking stock, noting what we're running low on or not," nothing too big. They were down a waitress and so there was just keeping that much more of an eye on how things felt. "Can sleep in a bit for that if I had a reason to," and he was sure Gabriel could give him reason. Might've wanted to be given a reason. Both hands were under that shirt then soon enough, palms running flat as fingers spread. Dragging over whatever part of Gabriel he could reach to warm up skin and keep it warmed.

He could tell when Jack was moving on from bickering with him, and for once, he let the issue drop. He'd just count it as a personal victory even if it was nothing like that, and it was more important that he hold Jack against him.

He rolled his eyes and leaned in so he could press his lips in a sloppier than necessary kiss to Jack's cheek just above the beard line. "You're such a workaholic," he groused without heat. "I think I can give you reason to stay in the bed or hammock for longer if you'd be open to it."

He moved around to stand in front of Jack at this point, letting those hands raise his shirt even as his own grasped the edge of the younger man's shirt and began to lift it up under Jack's arms only. He didn't want to disturb the moment as he nudged their noses together. "Speaking of the bed... should we be closer for when we inevitably decide to throw one another down?"

Some habits died a hell of a lot harder than others.

"Had no reason not to be one," to keep himself busy, couldn't sit idle for too long, and having some sort of work helped with that. His head had tilted to that messy thing of a kiss, and in turn was catching the corner of that mouth with his own with a motion. Maybe now he had some reason to take some time to himself- "For you? I'm very open to it," to linger, rather than heading off right away.

Was happy to let that shirt creep up as his hands moved, baring more skin to the air, but also meant his hands had easier access to it as well. Dragging fingertips, leaving lines of hit across Gabriel's skin- letting him lift Jack's own shirt as well. Nose nudged, lips brushing as he spoke, "Probably should, yeah. More comfortable than hitting the floor or something."

"Yes you did, but you never took those opportunities," he replied with a shake of his head. It was hard because so many of them had been workaholics, yet some managed their personal lives better than Jack had. Actually, most of them had managed their personal lives better than Jack who carried the weight of the world on those broad enhanced shoulders. "See, you're already building a better personal life for yourself than ever before."

His hands set flat on Jack's skin, feeling the gentle expansion and contraction of ribs with each inhale and exhale. Even in the simple act of breathing, Jack was a powerful being and oh so handsome. A shiver ran down his body at the trail of fingers, nudging them both over towards the bed by crowding and pressing with his hands until they could be where they needed to be.

"It won't be the first time we hit the floor." But he preferred the bed. It was there and comfortable.

"With a face plastered over nearly anything someone could plaster it? Not all of those so-called opportunities were... what they seemed," no genuine connection trying to be made, just wanting what they saw him to be; not who he was. He couldn't drag someone into that life with him either, had already known it wasn't something Vincent wanted, let alone bargained for. Had talked about a more peaceful life that wasn't going to come with him.

There was something warm and amused to his tone briefly- "Because I'm willing to sleep in with you?"

He moved backwards with that nudging, crowding, and pressing that Gabriel was going to urge him there towards where the bed was. Those silk sheets and pillows there and welcoming for the moment they did go down. Jack pulling the other right back along with him which each surprisingly stead step backwards, not wanting any distance between them - which was probably obvious with how fingertips dragged and Jack let claws graze over the tops of Gabriel's hips to the small of his back.

Let his fingers move up along Gabriel's spine, palms running along either side of the man's back with that warmth his skin could bring with the touch.

"It won't, but the bed's better for this."

"Don't I know it. The number of people I vetted and found tattoos of your face somewhere on their body. It was pathetic and sad. Some of those tattoos were even permanent." He shook his head, and he wasn't exactly telling an untruth there. Plenty of people wanted to get close to Jack Morrison for their own curiosity, interest or fantasies. Of course, most had no idea that the Strike Commander was gay either. "It also seemed to me that you weren't interested in a partner back then."

He snorted, giving Jack a little shove for being cheeky even as they moved to the edge of the mattress. "I wasn't pushing that, but the sex has been making you less cagey and even pleasant to be around."

They moved together and he even draped both of his arms around Jack's shoulders once they arrived at their destination. "Mmmm, these old bones don't quite enjoy falling down on the floor as much as they used to," he agreed before leaning his face in to steal a lingering kiss. One arm dropped from Jack's shoulders to work on the younger man's pants, figuring they were both hungry enough for this to get the ball really rolling.

A snort, because some people could have gone that far, but he doubted they were ever at the galas and most other things he had to attend. "I wasn't interested in a partner that only wanted the image I was forced into more often than not, and the chances of bumping into someone that wasn't were slim to none," or thought they could use that to gain something. A personal greed where he was more or less just some sort of trophy. More reason to just commit himself to the job, and what he wanted to push despite everything.

His tongue stuck out just briefly, and went so far as he let his hips roll with a bit of a buck at the little shove. "Could say the same about you- but I am very willing to sleep in with you, Gabe."

Jack practically melted further against that lingering kiss, claws digging briefly before he was returning it to make it linger that much more. Words forgotten just for a moment before they were being murmured against Gabriel's mouth, "These old bones would have to agree there." Hips shifted enough to make things a bit easier for Reyes, and in turn Jack was more than happy to return the favor. Belts or no belts, it was all going to be undone to be pushed down.

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It's Like I'm Powerful With A Little Bit of Tender

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