Chapter Text
“Jack, if you keep that up, we’re going to miss our flight.”
Gabriel didn’t need to lower the paper to know that Jack was still busy rifling through their suitcases. As it stood, the day’s headlines were more interesting than Jack’s inventory count. Mayhem in Madrid - Escaped Pigs Cause Traffic Nightmare. He finished off his coffee and set it down, a little loudly, hoping the noise would spark Jack’s attention.
He was still bowed over, tearing socks and shirts out of Gabriel’s suitcase. A rolled-up pair of boxers flew past his face and hit the refrigerator.
“Jack.” Gabriel set the paper down and lifted his wrist to check the time. They were cutting it awfully close. “I told you, no surprises this year. Consider it safe.”
Jack lifted his head from the suitcase with a huff, his mouth turned up in a pout. “That’s exactly what you told me last year. And the year before that. And—”
Gabriel rolled his eyes.
Jack bent to collect Gabriel’s things, tossing them over his shoulder into the ravaged suitcase. Gabriel caught him with an arm around his waist when he got close, and Jack responded with an indignant sigh. “Relax, Jack. We always have fun, don’t we?”
Jack twisted around in his arm, smiling a little, but he kept his eyes trained on the mess on their bed. “Yeah, we do,” he sighed. “Maybe we should stay this year. Ana’s not going to be back from China until the 17th. You really think Reinhardt and Torbjörn can handle command?”
“For a week? I’m not terribly concerned.” Gabriel tucked a hand under Jack’s chin and dragged him down for a soft kiss. Jack was stiff against him, which meant that he was still worrying about Gabriel’s usual birthday pranks. He chuckled against Jack’s lips. “Alright, you’ve got ten minutes to clean up this mess, and we’re leaving.”
He picked up the paper and finished off the article and a few other equally ridiculous titles before Jack dropped their suitcases down in the kitchen, panting hard like he’d run a marathon. “Okay,” he said, “I’m ready. You got your passport?”
“Of course.”
“Prescription?”
“Yup.”
“You got something good to read on the flight?”
Gabriel set the paper down. “C’mon, Jack.”
“I’m just checking,” Jack mumbled. He pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket and squinted at it. “Hey, have you seen my glasses?”
Gabriel hummed under his breath. “You should get contacts.”
“They itch.”
He lumbered to his feet to clean the dishes off the table while Jack roamed their room, muttering under his breath. It was the same song and dance year after year, and it was a little cute. Jack, always flustered, trying to plan their vacation like he tried to plan everything else: down to the letter. Gabriel never gave him any details, which annoyed him to no end. Everything was in place: the flight, security measures, accommodations. Gabriel had finished the paperwork two weeks ago. Jack’s last-minute panic was just like him.
He picked up their suitcases and gestured to Jack with a nod of his head. “You coming?”
“I can’t find them.”
“Come here, Sunshine”
Jack lifted his head from the kitchen drawers—why he was looking there was anyone’s guess—and leveled a full glare at Gabriel. “I can’t leave without them,” he said, “And no, I can’t just buy a pair of reading glasses at a pharmacy when we get there. They’re not strong enough.”
Gabriel leaned in close to Jack’s cheek and pressed a lingering kiss there. “I’m sure they’ll show up.”
“Don’t distract me, Gabriel.”
Gabriel chased Jack, peppering kisses down his jaw until he found his lips. Jack sighed into the kiss and relaxed against him, hands moving up to cup Gabriel’s jaw. Gabriel tipped his head to get a better angle, and Jack’s hands worked up towards his hair, then stopped cold.
Jack pulled away, squinting hard at Gabriel. Slowly, he tugged his glasses from Gabriel’s ears. “You asshole.”
He gave Jack another kiss for good measure. “Love you too.”
They gathered their suitcases and rushed down the hall, Jack yammering on about his goddamn list, until they were out on the street where Bachmann had the car parked.
“I hope I packed right,” Jack huffed, “Warm or cold?”
“It’s no fun if I tell you. Besides, we don’t have time to repack. Guess you’ll just have to trust me.”
Gabriel threw their cases in the back. Jack couldn’t help himself from unzipping his and checking to make sure—for the third time—that his favorite sweater was packed. Gabriel put his hands around Jack’s waist and walked him to the back door of the car. “Ready?”
“I guess,” Jack sighed.
Gabriel opened the door.
“Howdy!”
Jack pushed it shut right in Jesse’s face and spun on Gabriel so fast that he had to take a step back. “I’m sorry, I must have heard you wrong earlier. No surprises this year!”
Gabriel leveled his best smile at Jack, which only made his boyfriend’s frown deepen.
“I kinda figured the whole point of leaving was to get away? Just the two of us?” Jack glanced back at the car. Jesse had his nose squished up against the window, cheeks blown out and pressed against the glass. Twenty-one years old and still the same ham he’d picked up in New Mexico. “He’s making a mess.”
“Family never gets left behind, Jack.” Gabriel opened the door. Jesse almost tumbled out face-first. “Hey, Jesse, didn’t see your suitcase in the back.”
“I’ve got everythin’ I need right here,” Jesse said, patting a bag sitting on the back seat. He poked his head out the door and let out a low whistle. Scout returned with a bark, bounding across the grounds.
Jack’s mood brightened whenever there was a dog in the picture. He bent down to give Scout a good scratch behind the ears. “You, uh, caught me a little off guard, Jesse,” he mumbled, “Is, uh—Scout coming?”
“Yessir.”
“Where’s Angela?” Gabriel folded his arm over the back of the car.
“Angela?” Jack repeated.
As if on cue, Angela barreled out of the doors, one arm laden with suitcases, the other lifted to flag them down. She was flushed red, like she’d sprinted down the hall. “Oh! Forgive me, I’m late!” she called out. Angela nearly tripped over her own feet, and Fareeha appeared out of nowhere to grab her by the back of her shirt.
“Hey, Uncles!” Fareeha called out, “Let’s hit the road!”
Gabriel felt Jack tug at his sleeve. “Gabriel Reyes, what is the meaning of this?”
“Didn’t you hear me? Family never gets left behind.”
-
Gabriel never particularly cared for flying. There was never enough room to stretch out, and nowhere to go when a particular Strike Commander wouldn’t stop fidgeting in his seat, throwing elbows into Gabriel’s ribs.
Jack was rifling through his carry-on, his glasses slipping down his nose. Cute as hell. Gabriel grinned at him, and across the aisle Fareeha made a face of disgust. He stuck out his tongue at her, and her scowl turned into a smile.
She’d just turned sixteen, and was itching to see the world. How could he have said no?
Maybe the idea had snowballed out of control. He was so used to having Jesse at his side that a week away would feel like an eternity. Who else would sass him? And Angela—the poor girl was always locked in her office, running on energy drinks and not much else. She needed a break, too.
It would be fun. The three of them were certainly capable of entertaining themselves, if Jack was concerned about spending time alone. Gabriel smiled at the idea. It was tough for Jack to relax on a good day. Time away would be good for him.
For them.
Jack had his phone out, tapping rapidly at the keys. Gabriel reached over to take his hand. “Don’t bother Ana. She’ll be sleeping.”
“But—”
“Tell Jack not to bother your mother,” he said, winking at Fareeha.
Fareeha gave a solid, solemn nod. “Bother Uncle Rein instead. He’s probably more worried than she is.”
Gabriel let his eyes swing away. It sounded vile, mean, but Gabriel knew that it was true—Reinhardt loved the kid like she was his, and worried about her like she was still ten years old, while Ana trusted her to take care of herself. Jack started swiping through his contacts, following the command like a robot.
Gabriel closed his fingers around the phone and Jack’s hand. “I thought we agreed you’d leave work behind?”
“We haven’t landed yet.”
“But we’ve left.”
Jesse and Angela were watching them like hawks. Jesse knew all too well. Angela couldn’t, but seemed ready to get down to the edge of their exchange. Clearing his throat, lowering his voice to a whisper, he said, “We talked about this.”
Jack returned with that look. Gabriel crossed his arms over his chest and decided to mind his own business, ignoring Jack as he typed out message after message.
-
They arrived in Key West around noon, local time. The long flight had all but sapped the energy out of Gabriel, but Jesse and Fareeha were alive and bright-eyed the second they stepped off the plane.
There wasn’t much to the airport. Gabriel helped the crew with the baggage. Their guards had landed a few hours before to sweep for explosives and terrorists—routine stuff, really—and gave them the all-clear. Angela trailed behind them to the car, her nose stuck in a portfolio, Scout dutifully watching her six.
“Florida?” Jack glanced around them, at the lush palms and ferns, the endless blue sky, the green-tinted ocean. “It’s hurricane season, Gabriel.”
“We’ve been here five minutes and you’re already complaining?” Gabriel couldn’t keep the edge out of his voice. All the trouble he’d gone to—on his own, very rare, free time—and Jack was upset with him before they’d even arrived. Thank God he’d brought the crew along, otherwise—
Gabriel swallowed his anger like a pill and leveled a smooth smile at Jack, who looked disgusted and shamed by his outburst. “I rented a nice cottage on the beach. You’ll love it.”
Jack jerked his chin away, eyes cast out over the ocean.
The ride was long, but not awkward, thanks to the jubilation shared between Jesse and Fareeha. Angela still had her nose in that portfolio. Probably working. Gabriel leaned over to her seat and hooked a finger over the book. “Earth to Angela,” he said, “Check out the ocean, kiddo.”
She blinked hard, like she hadn’t heard him at all, before glancing out the window. “Oh! It’s quite lovely,” she said, “You know, I’ve read so much about the wildlife here. It all sounds quite outlandish.” She covered her mouth with a hand. “Have you ever seen a manatee?”
“Can’t say I have.”
Angela took that as an invitation to give them all a lesson. Gabriel zoned out and focused on the rolling scenery. It was quite a beautiful place, despite it being October, but then again, seasons didn’t really touch the state. He couldn’t wait to get his ass into a pair of swim trunks and a fruity drink into his hands. Jack could stick to being grouchy if he wanted, Gabriel was going to have fun.
-
The cabin was smaller than he’d imagined, but it was painted a lively yellow. Jesse ran up the steps with Scout on his heel, leaving Fareeha and Angela to help him carry in luggage. Jack leaned against the hood of the car, swiping through his phone, talking in low tones to one of the bodyguards.
Gabriel stepped over the threshold. It was decorated in a typical cottage style, a few decades out of date, but fresh and clean. More than enough space for the five of them. The view from the living room was breathtaking. Fareeha popped up at his side.
“This place is sweet,” she said, “Where’s my room?”
Gabriel gestured for her and Angela to follow him. Angela was struggling with her array of suitcases, so he took them on his arm. “I think you two are upstairs,” he said. “Don’t worry, that room’s got a double vanity.”
“Wait.” Fareeha darted in front of him, eyes sliding between him and Angela. “We have to share a room?”
Angela scoffed. “Would you rather share a room with Scout?”
“Yes!” Fareeha whined.
Gabriel dumped their suitcases in the room and bailed out on that conversation before he got dragged into a fight. He could hear them from the kitchen, where Jesse was searching through empty cabinets.
“Ah, don’t mind me, Pops,” Jesse said, “I’m just starvin’.”
“We’ll go for lunch, as soon as—where the hell is Jack?” Gabriel craned his neck to glance at the front door. Sure enough, there he was, talking to someone on his phone.
Jesse hopped onto the kitchen island, one foot kicking out to toe Gabriel in the ribs. “Want me to get rid of it?”
“What?”
“The phone, Pops.”
Gabriel sighed. “The phone isn’t the problem, Jesse.”
“Nah, the problem is that I’m hungry. Can we find a crab shack?” He made a show of licking his lips. “Hey, you think restaurants ‘round here are pet friendly?” He whistled for Scout. The dog came down the stairs with a clatter of nails and parked herself on Gabriel’s feet.
He patted her behind the ears. Scout angled her head, clearly enjoying the attention. “You need help setting her stuff up?”
“Sure, Pops.”
As it turned out, Jesse’s backpack was filled with Scout’s things, and he’d only packed a pair of pajamas. Gabriel chided him as they set out her blanket in the kitchen—pointless, she always slept on Jesse’s bed—filled her dishes, and hung up her leash by the back door. Angela and Fareeha came down the stairs before Jack finally came in the door, staring at his phone like it had offended him. Angela had her portfolio spread out between her hands.
“I was thinking we could kick off our trip with something light,” she said, flipping through pages, “This restaurant has a four-star rating and has—”
“Crab shack!” Jesse hooted.
“Yeah!” Fareeha smacked the portfolio out of Angela’s hands. “Crab shack!”
Gabriel rescued Angela’s portfolio—it wasn’t work at all, but what looked like a day planner—and calmed the three of them. “Fine. You guys get ready and be back in five, okay?”
They scrambled for their rooms, Fareeha and Angela colliding and hurling insults at each other as they thundered up the stairs.
Jack leaned against the counter. He glanced around the kitchen, eyes narrow behind his glasses. “This is, uh, a nice place.”
“Yeah, figured you’d like it.”
Jack lowered his chin to stare at the floor. Gabriel could practically see the gears in his head turning, and stepped close enough to reach for Jack’s hand. He flinched away, and Gabriel let his hand fall back to his side. Jack clearly wasn’t in the mood.
“You got a migraine?”
“Starting,” Jack ground out. “Called back to base—”
“Jack.”
Jack huffed, arms sliding to cross over his chest. “—I called and Reinhardt sounded…suspicious.”
“We’ve been gone for a few hours, Jack. The world isn’t gonna fall apart without you. Let me get you an aspirin.”
-
Jesse’s suggestion for lunch was a goddamn mess if Gabriel had ever seen one. He was inclined to take Angela’s side on that one—copious amounts of seafood probably wouldn’t mix well with jet lag—and watching Jesse attempt to crack crab legs was, frankly, disgusting. Fareeha mimicked his movements, which Ana would have found delightful, were she present. Gabriel snuck out his phone to record a clip of the two of them.
After lunch they went back to the cottage to fetch Scout and went for a walk down the beach. It was relatively quiet, probably thanks to it being October, but the sun was pleasant and the sand felt good under his feet. Angela had a big, wide-brimmed straw hat on, and Jesse was making good on his promise to steal it from her. Jack wandered ahead with the dog on his heel, phone still in his hand like it was a permanent feature.
Fareeha bounded through the sand at his side, grinning from ear to ear, black hair shining under the sun. He showed her the clip on his phone, and she laughed brightly, pulling at his arm.
“Mom’s gonna love that,” she said, “Hey, Uncle Gabo, while we’re stateside—”
“Don’t get any ideas. Jack’s the fun uncle.”
Fareeha snorted. “Very funny. Jesse had this idea that we could—oh, no.”
Angela ran across the beach toward them. She had carried that goddamn portfolio with her to the restaurant, and spread it out between her hands, losing sheets of paper on the wind. “Commander Reyes,” she huffed, “We absolutely must book a cruise to see the sunset!”
“No way,” Fareeha whined, “I wanna go to the arcade.”
“The arcade? But you can play games anywhere,” Angela argued, “I’ve seen pictures, and the sunsets here on the ocean are simply divine!”
“Jesse wants to go to the arcade too, so you’re outvoted.” Fareeha stuck out her tongue. Angela was starting to turn pink. Gabriel tried to hold back on a laugh. “Wouldn’t you rather play games, Uncle Gabo?”
He lifted his hands in surrender. “Hey, leave me out of this.”
Angela snapped the portfolio to her chest, rocked back on her heels, and inhaled sharply, like she was ready to dish out a lecture. “I spent the last week finding all the fun and educational things to do here and we can’t fit everything in unless we start right now! Commander Reyes, surely you agree.”
“You can call me Gabriel, or Reyes,” he chuckled, “Let me see your book, Angela.”
“What? Why?” Angela lowered her chin, glaring up at him. “If we’re going to take a sunset cruise we have to book now, or we’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”
He smiled, and Angela slowly handed the binder over, before ducking her head down so he couldn’t see her face under the brim of her hat.
Angela could have put a professional scrapbooker to shame. “You put this together in a week?”
“Yes,” Angela puffed, “And—”
“You’ve—you’ve booked something for…” Gabriel flipped through the pages. They were blocked solid, every precious hour accounted for, from dusk until dawn. “Angela, this was very sweet of you, really, but not everything in life can be planned down to the letter.”
“What do you mean? Of course it can.” Angela snatched the book back with a huff. Jesse came running down the beach, snatched Angela’s hat, and ran off with a hoot toward the ocean. Angela stood stock still, her face slowly turning red.
“Oh, it’s on!” Fareeha screeched, “Get him, Ang!”
“Jesse, you get back here this instant!” Angela took off like a rocket, her portfolio landing softly in the sand by Gabriel’s feet.
Jesse waded into the water to escape, fully clothed. Gabriel raked a hand down his face.
“What is it, Uncle Gabo?”
“Jesse only brought one pair of clothes,” he grunted, “Guess we’re going shopping sooner rather than later.”
Fareeha took off down the beach to kick sand at Angela and Jesse. Angela was trying to swipe the hat from Jesse without stepping foot in the ocean, and Fareeha was doing her best to distract and annoy both of them. Gabriel caught Jack’s silhouette down the beach, dog still faithfully at his heels.
-
It was all very loud. Gabriel sat at the kitchen island, entertaining Angela's further requests for feedback on her plans, while she and Fareeha squalled over their sleeping arrangements. Jesse, bless his heart, offered to solve the problem by switching rooms with Angela, but Jack intercepted by whispering in his ear they'd be up all night watching movies and making noise. Gabriel knew for a fact that they'd be up watching movies and making noise regardless of where they slept, but in the end it was decided that Jesse and Angela would share the room. The whole thing was giving him a headache. He could only imagine how Jack felt.
Gabriel took Jesse and Fareeha down to the closest department store. Exhaustion dragged at his limbs as he pulled himself through the aisles, leaning hard on a cart, as Jesse made a mess of the men's section.
"Ain't enough plaid," he complained, "And where the hell do you think I could find a serape around here?"
"When in Rome." Gabriel lifted a tacky, pastel bowler shirt decorated with a motif of fishing boats from the rack and held it up to his shoulders. "Hm? What do you think? Suits me, no?"
Fareeha hid a laugh behind her hand. "Uncle Gabo, I envy your fashion sense.”
Jesse wandered off through the aisles, chucking clothes left and right and making a complete embarrassment of himself.
"Check these out!" Fareeha swished a pair of ugly, brown leather sandals off a rack. She tossed them right into the cart. Gabriel checked the size before giving his approval. "Now. Shades!" She stuck a pair of big pink sunglasses onto his nose. Standing back, she thumbed at her chin. "I think Uncle Jack needs a matching pair."
"You know he won't wear them," Gabriel countered.
"That's because he's a grumpy old man," Fareeha snorted. "But I'll find him something cool anyway, because I happen to like him all the same."
Gabriel patted her on the head and ruffled her hair. She was far too old for the gesture, but grinned all the same. "You're a good egg, Fareeha."
Jesse stuck his head out from behind a rack of terrible floral shirts. "What do ya think?"
He stepped out, arms spread wide, revealing the most...normal outfit Gabriel had ever seen him in. Pressed chinos, a white t-shirt, a long-sleeved blue sweater.
"Are you...are you wearing a cardigan?" Gabriel clapped a hand over his mouth to keep from laughing. "Oh my God, Jesse, you look like you came right out of the suburbs."
"Yeah!" Fareeha chirped, "You look like some rich kid in a made-for-TV movie. Oh, woe is me, this small town cannot hold me!" She pressed a hand to her forehead, as dramatic as ever, then broke down in a fit of giggles. “Oh my God, I can’t even look at you.”
Jesse paled, his grin fading. "Aw, come on, don't laugh. There ain't nothin' else here."
Fareeha wrinkled her nose. "You two have fun playing dress-up. I'm gonna see what kind of weird American candy they have."
Jesse wilted in his get-up, lip jutting out in a pout. "Come on, Pops, do I really look that bad?"
"You don't look like you. Come on, it's close to Halloween, surely we can find something more suitable."
"I have half a mind to be offended."
"You're the one who dresses like a cowboy."
-
Gabriel adjusted his straw hat—whether it was a trilby or a fedora was up for debate, but he looked equally ridiculous either way— and smoothed hands down his floral shirt. Jack and Angela were supposed to meet them at the arcade after sundown, but only one showed up, much to Fareeha's disappointment. Gabriel clapped a hand down on Angela's shoulder and guided her into the arcade, despite her protests and ramblings about the local history she was missing out on.
"Come on, Angela," he said, "Didn't you ever play games when you were a kid?"
She stiffened under his hand and shook her head rigidly. Jesse and Fareeha ran through the loud, flashing room, already over-excited and screaming about the prospect of winning the terrible, tacky toys in glass cases.
"No," Angela said, "I didn't have time outside of school, dance lessons, swimming lessons, piano lessons, volunteer work..."
Gabriel zoned out as Angela rambled on. Yikes.
"Hey, Uncle," Fareeha called out, "Come play skee ball with us!"
Angela huffed. "What is that?"
"Come on, you'll love it."
The noise and flash of the games dragged him right back into his childhood, when he and the neighborhood kids would hop on their bikes and coast down to the nearest arcade, their pockets full of change. Jesse was terrible at skee ball, but Fareeha was excellent, and her machine kept spitting out tickets until they were making a mess on the floor. Angela studied Fareeha and tried to copy her, and leapt into the air when she finally got points.
Gabriel wandered back to lean against an unloved Street Fighter station and snapped a few pictures to send to Ana, who'd be up and busy working in China.
They look like they're having fun, she replied, Where's that cute husband of yours?
Migraine.
Ana sent back a picture of her rolling her eyes. Gabriel snorted and snapped a picture of himself, tacky sunglasses and terrible hat.
That's a good look on you!
Jesse ambled over, a handful of tickets squished in his hand. "Hey, Pops, wanna shoot some ducks?"
"Get over here."
Gabriel dragged Jesse into his armpit and snapped another pic of the two of them. Jesse's eyes were half-closed, his mouth open a little with surprise. They looked ridiculous.
"Aww, man, you could have warned me."
"Ana will love it. Now scram." Gabriel tucked his phone away and leaned back against the game machine.
Jesse rocked back and forth on his heels, staring at him expectantly.
"What?"
"I'm all out of money."
"You forget your wallet?"
Jesse scratched at the back of his head. "Might've."
Gabriel reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. "You remembered your passport and your dog's things, but forgot everything else? Jesse McCree, you're a mess."
Jesse scowled at him, but he couldn't keep the expression steady, and cracked a grin. "I sure am, Pops."
"Geez, how could I say no to that face?" Gabriel forked over a few crisp green bills. "Make it last, okay?"
"Would you look at that." Jesse snatched for Gabriel's wallet. "You keep pictures in this thing?"
"Don't start with me."
"Nah, I ain't startin' nothin'. I think it's cute." Jesse flipped the pictures down. They fell out, accordion style. "These are old as hell. Look how scrawny I am." Jesse slipped out a photograph from their first Christmas party. He had his arm around Jesse's shoulders. "You carry this ‘round with you?"
Gabriel plucked it from Jesse's fingers. "Need a photo of you to show people when you go missing."
"Yeah, sure." Jesse rifled through the rest, humming under his breath.
He had pictures of his family, of course, a picture of him and his childhood friends at the boardwalk, and a picture of him, Jack, and Ana, looking stern and solemn for a joke. It managed to crack him up every time. More recent additions included a blurry photograph of Fareeha drenching Jesse with a hose at Reinhardt's summer-end barbeque, and a snapshot of him and Jack dancing that Ana had caught on her phone.
Jesse slid the photos back into their places one by one. "You're old as hell, Pops."
"Yeah, yeah." He pulled Jesse's hat down over his eyes and gave him a light push on the shoulder. "Go have fun, kid. I'll shoot ducks with you in a minute, okay?"
"Sure."
He pulled out his favorite photo. They were so young, fresh-faced and bright-eyed, Jack towering over him, a goofy, shy smile on his face.
He tucked the photo back into his wallet and wound through the arcade. Jesse was easy to find; he was bargaining at the counter for a prize next to Fareeha, who dumped an armload of tickets down and pointed at a massive stuffed flamingo. Jesse stole it from her a second later, and they were off on a chase, Fareeha throwing insults and Jesse hooting with laughter.
He snapped a picture of that, too. It would go in his wallet.
-
Jack was asleep when he got back, even though it wasn’t long after sundown. He was sprawled out on his back, his glasses halfway down his nose, his hand loosely clutching his phone to his chest. Gabriel let out a little sigh as he rounded the bed. Scout was curled up by his side, and got up to give him a nuzzle before taking off down the hall.
More and more often, Jack only looked peaceful when he was asleep. Gabriel gently pulled the phone from his hand—he had been composing a very long message to Torbjörn—and set it on the nightstand. The glasses came next. He folded them down beside Jack’s prescription, where he always left them.
He pulled up the blankets, grazed fingers over Jack’s chest, hummed under his breath.
Thirty-eight, and it was starting to show. Gray edged at his temples. Jack was sure his hairline was receding, but Gabriel couldn’t see the difference. He lightly traced the worry lines on Jack’s brow, before leaning in to press a kiss there. Turning off the light, he left Jack in the dark. He needed the rest.
Downstairs, Angela was surfing through channels, ignoring Jesse and Fareeha’s suggestions. Gabriel grabbed two cigars from where he’d stuffed them in the kitchen and motioned to Jesse before walking out onto the patio.
The moon was bright and silvery against a dark sky. The shadowed silhouettes of palm trees rustled in the wind. He sat down in a chair by the pool and waited, a cigar held out, until Jesse came through the back door and settled next to him.
They weren’t supposed to smoke, and Angela would give them a lecture for it, but Gabriel couldn’t care as he lit his and puffed smoke out into the cool, salty air.
“No scotch?”
“Forgot,” Gabriel said.
Jesse puffed rings of smoke into the air. “Guess this’ll do. Y’know, I’ve been thinking.”
“Yeah?”
“Probably a good club on this island.”
Gabriel laughed around his cigar, choked on the smoke, and coughed. “No way, Jesse,” he wheezed, “I’m not picking you up drunk from a bar.”
“You could come.”
“I’m too old for that.”
“Nah.” Jesse kicked his feet up and lounged back, puffing out smoke. “Come on, don’t tell me you didn’t do that when you were younger.”
“When I was your age I was fighting a war,” Gabriel snorted. “Why don’t you take Angela?”
Jesse stiffened. “I don’t think she’d be interested.”
“Ask.”
“Aww, come on, Pops.”
Gabriel settled back, arms folded behind his head, and stared out past the fence and the low, rustling ferns to the ocean. The water shone under the moon. Breathtaking, really.
“How long’s it been?”
“Hm?”
“Y’know. Since—” Jesse shrugged loosely, pulling the cigar from his mouth. “—you and Commander Baby Blues—”
“Stop right there.” Gabriel ran his thumb along the brim of his straw hat and gave Jesse the finger.
Jesse was quiet for a long moment. From inside Gabriel could hear the holoscreen, Angela cursing, and Fareeha laughing. Jack would be able to sleep through it.
“I’m real sorry about your luck.” Jesse finally managed.
“My romantic life isn’t any of your business, Jesse.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” Jesse snuffed out the stub of his cigar on the patio stones. “I was just wonderin’.”
“Take your wonder elsewhere.”
Jesse laughed low under his breath. Gabriel finished his cigar and followed Jesse’s example, rubbing it out on the ground.
It felt nice to get away from Switzerland, from Europe, to stand in his home country and feel at place walking down the streets, familiar with every model of car and the different brand-name stores. It felt good to hear casual Spanish in the crowds. It wasn't Los Angeles, but it was nice. Gabriel laid back in the chair, the earthy taste of the cigar on his tongue, staring up at the shaking palm trees.
“Y’know,” Jesse said, “I ain’t never been on a vacation before.”
“What, our trips around the world don’t count?”
He shook his head. “This means a lot to me, Pops.”
“Don’t get sappy on me.”
Jesse fidgeted in his seat. “Well, maybe I ought to say it,” he muttered, “Seein’ as no one else would have done what you did for me.”
“You don’t know that,” Gabriel deflected.
“I sure as hell do,” Jesse growled. “I hope I’m half the man you are, someday.”
Gabriel pulled his hat low over his eyes. His heart gave a quick, hard squeeze. “Come on, Jesse.”
Jesse sighed. “This is a real nice place. Quiet.”
“Thought you didn’t like the quiet?”
“It’s somethin’ different. Sometimes that’s nice.”
The wind gave a gentle sigh, and Gabriel realized that it had grown quiet inside the house. He glanced over his shoulder. Fareeha and Angela were on the couch, sharing a bowl of popcorn, managing not to sass each other. At least for the moment.
“Can I ask you a question, Pops?”
“When have you ever needed permission?”
“Why’d you and Jack never get hitched?”
Gabriel blinked away his surprise. Tilting his head, he stared hard into Jesse’s eyes. The wind sighed against the gate, and the latch creaked. Gabriel’s mind was clean. Clear. An answer danced away from the tip of his tongue, lost with the lull of the night air.
“It’s been a long day.” Gabriel hauled himself to his feet, patted a hand down on Jesse’s hat, and made a beeline for the back door. “See you in the morning, kid. I’m making waffles.”
“Sure, Pops.”
He said goodnight to Fareeha and Angela, begging them to keep it down—Angela made a sincere promise, but Fareeha just stuck her tongue out at him—and wandered up the stairs.
He worked open the windows before moving to change into his pajamas. The sheets were cool against his skin. Gabriel fell back on the pillow, his head churning with things that were better left alone. He let his head roll toward Jack, and watched his chest rise and fall with slow, sound breaths.
Still his Jack. Still the bright-eyed Farm Boy he’d met two decades ago, with a slow, awkward smile and a laugh that sounded like sunshine, if it ever had a sound. Still the only person he wanted to wake up next to, even if they fought more often than they kissed, even if their time together was always cut short or interrupted. Still his Jack, just the circumstances had changed.
The sheets rustled. Gabriel felt a hand nudge against his arm, and opened his eyes. Jack squinted back at him, half-asleep, blinking slowly.
Jack pulled himself across the bed, and Gabriel opened his arms to let him in. Jack pressed his head into his chest, inhaling deeply. Warm hands curled around Gabriel’s back. “You smell good.”
"You missed out on a great Cuban cigar."
Jack laughed softly against his chest. "I'm not supposed to smoke."
“Feeling better, Sunshine?”
He felt Jack nod.
Gabriel pulled him tighter, running his hand into soft hair before settling with his palm spread out against Jack’s bicep.
Still his Jack.