nievia-writes

[nievia-writes]

Into the Fey

Title: Into the Fey

Chapter: Part 1 of ?

Description: Jensen is new in town, having left the hustle and bustle of the city to live comfortable (and more important, quietly) in a cabin in the woods. But between his weird neighbor and mysterious break-ins, he may have bitten off a little more than he could chew.

Pairing: M x M teratophilia (human x monster)

Word Count: 4,350

Rating: T (language/cursing)

Note: So this took me a LOT longer to revise than I thought. Mostly because right when I began writing (ie, just before I made the post saying I’d post something in 2 weeks) school really kicked into high gear. But hey, a little extra editing time isn’t bad. And I’m honestly pretty pleased with how this turned out. I hope you like it!

Jensen dusted off his hands on his pants, setting down the last box in the bare living room. He stood, his shoulders aching, and looked through the wide bay windows into the forest that surrounded his new home. 

Lush, green ferns blanketed the wet forest floor, shaded by tall birch trees stretching their green limbs ever upward to the blue sky above. It was this view, conjoined with the small gravel path winding its way up his overgrown yard, and the promise of a vegetable garden of his own, that caught Jensen’s eye in the first place.

And, of course, the lack of neighbors.

No more late nights working in a bland office; no more shouts, moans, or otherwise obscene noises to keep him up at night from the apartment across from him. To be loud without fear, to work at his own pace on his novel, to breathe fresh air untainted from city life. This is why he chose Fundly, a small town far out of reach from his old life in Lighton City and full of quiet promise.

But he had to unpack before he even thought of exploring the woodland areas he ached to see, and just the prospect of lugging around more heavy boxes and digging through his carefully packed belongings made his back hurt. Still, he needed somewhere to sleep before the movers brought the rest of his things the next day. Better to sleep on a cozy pallet of his favorite blankets than straight on the wood floor.

Jensen reached for the first box with a heavy sigh, already feeling the press of a headache behind his eyes when he read the bold-labelled side: BEDROOM STUFF. He was halfway through pulling a large comforter out of it when there was a knock on his front door. Frowning, he racked his brain. The movers weren’t due until tomorrow. His parents had seen him off back in Lighton. The nearest neighbor was a good five miles down the main road, and that’s not even counting the drive through the forest.

From the living room, Jensen could see the hem of a long black coat on his front stoop. Who in god’s name would be wearing a full jacket in mid-spring, and why would they bother to stop by in the first place? Jensen supposed small towns were a tight-knit community, but he’d never guessed anyone would take much of an interest in him. At least, not enough of one to actively seek him out rather than corner him in a grocery store and grill him over his personal life when all he wanted was a box of goddamn Froot Loops.

Another rap on the door, this one more insistent.

“I’m coming!” Jensen called.

Placing the blanket haphazardly back in the box, Jensen strode across the room.

Three more sharp knocks, distinct and echoing in the empty home.

He grumbled, pulling open the door to find an older woman standing on his porch, bundled up in an overlarge goosefeather jacket despite the nice weather. One hand was raised as if to continue knocking, the other clutching a cloth-wrapped parcel close to her chest. Her brown eyes pierced him, shadowed by a tendril of stringy white hair that had fallen loose from its tight ponytail. A stone dropped in Jensen’s stomach, weighing down his insides and stirring up the scant lunch he ate on the drive to his new home. Her eyes, even with the aged appearance and wrinkles lining her weather-worn face, felt much, much older.

She smiled, the wrinkles around her mouth and eyes deepening, and pushed the small bundle she held into Jensen’s hands. “You must be the new neighbor! Here, this is for you. May I come in?”

Jensen blinked, arms curling around the blanket-bound gift as he took her in. “Uh, sure.”

She stepped over the threshold, those ancient eyes scanning every inch of the place. “I’m Mirabelle. Or Mira. Or Belle. Whatever you prefer, really.”

��Mira, then. It’s nice to meet you, I’m--”

She glanced over his shoulder to peer out one of the windows, eyes narrowing, before her cheery smile beamed full-force into him. “Jensen, yes I know.”

He tipped his head to the side, resisted the urge to kick her out, and pursed his lips.

“Don’t look so dour, one of my oldest friends used to own this land so I keep an eye out for when it changes hands.”

“Sorry, it’s been a long day. I wasn’t really expecting any company.”

Mira waved her hand, “Oh, there’ll be plenty of company soon enough if you know where to look.”

Jensen frowned, “The nearest person isn’t for at least five miles.” Mira hummed, peered at one of the many boxes sitting in the middle of Jensen’s living room, then shrugged. “I wasn’t necessarily talking about people. You live in the woods, honey.”

Brightening, Jensen straightened his shoulders, “Oh, you mean animals, then! I’m fine with that. I even looked up the wildlife in the area. I’m writing a book about a place a lot like this so--.” He cut himself off, face flushing as Mira offered him a warm smile.

“A novelist, then? I’m sure you’ll have a lot to write about come winter. Fundly is full of surprises.” She said.

Jensen nodded, shifting from one foot to the other, glancing at the box full of his writing supplies that was still in the middle of the hallway. The box was full of journals from over the years, storyboards he’d drawn up for comics he’d never gotten published, his laptop, the drafts upon drafts he’d collected, printed, and stored since he began writing just five years ago.

Mira’s eyes followed his, surveying the sheer amount of boxes in the middle of an otherwise empty home. “You have a lot to do. I can’t help, myself -- this old back isn’t as strong as it looks -- but I can send a friend over on my way back home, if you’d like.”

Sighing, Jensen thought of having to deal with another stranger. But he was tired from driving all day and longed to get his hands on his laptop to at least jot down some ideas he’d had for his latest serial romance before bed. “That… that would be nice, thank you.”

Stepping towards the door and gathering her coat tight around her body, Mira’s eyes twinkled in the dimming light of the afternoon. “I’d better be off, then. Don’t forget the housewarming gift. And if anything happens, I’m right down the road.”

She was halfway out of the door when she turned around and nodded to the parcel in his hand, “And keep that book close, if only to ease an old woman’s mind.”

Jensen blinked, opening his mouth to say goodbye, but she was already out of the door, leaving him holding the gift and wondering if he should have asked her not to call that friend, after all. With a shake of his head, he looked down at the present. It was wrapped in an old afghan blanket with bright greens and earthy browns reminiscent of the very forest surrounding him. The pattern, itself, formed leaves falling and browning the further down the blanket they got. A beautiful piece -- one he would likely add to the nest of blankets he already owned.

He carefully unwrapped it, feeling a hard, rectangular shape beneath the plush surface, made sure the cloth didn’t touch the ground, and revealed a large, wood-bound book. There was no title, but it looked to be made out of the same bark of the trees around him, as well as being hand-bound. He carefully opened it, the spine creaking under his fingertips. Filigreed across the first page was “Fundly Myths and Folklore,” though attributed no author. He flipped to the next page, the paper thick and crisp, and grinned when he realized it was illustrated with whirling, bright colored ink, all hand-painted and written.

He traced the tips of his fingers across the near-glowing cursive, admiring the page on dryads while he thought. Had Mira done this, herself? It seemed expensive -- much too expensive for a new neighbor she barely knew. Then again… He thought of her ancient eyes, the sharp surveying of his home, that knowing, mischievous expression that she knew something he did not. She was strange, perhaps this was just her M.O. Still… Jensen closed the book and brushed his hand across the cover, feeling the grain of the wood hiding the illuminated pages within. He would return it next time he saw her, perhaps after reading a few of the stories, but kindly take the afghan. Something so precious had to be a family heirloom of some sort, and he couldn’t just let her give it away.

Tearing himself from the book, he placed it gently on top of one of the untouched boxes in his living room, and set himself to work, wondering when Mira’s friend would arrive.

The help Mira called for never arrived. In fact, Jensen had forgotten all about them in the flurry of setting up the little pallet in his bedroom, tucking away all of his various pots and pans in the kitchen, and making sure the bathroom plumbing worked effectively, reading the tome in between. At first, he figured it would be fairytales and legends -- the title certainly suggested as much -- but the more he read the more he found it was almost like a compendium of mystical beings, plants, and happenings in the area. Pixies, fairies, even a selkie. But the dryad had interested him the most -- people of the trees who guarded the forest and maintained the natural balance of things, even as humanity tore at nature’s very seams. 

The stories and the work were enough of a distraction to forget Mira’s promised aid, and Jensen was showered, in bed, and dozing by the time he recalled it, but he waved it off. He was new here, and likely whoever she called already had plans. Besides, no one liked moving -- especially not for a stranger.

It was only when he woke in the morning and padded out into the kitchen that he noticed something was off. He blinked blearily in the bright morning light, eyes squinting. Had he set up his toaster oven last night? Or his spice rack? Had he carefully folded the dish towels and hung them decoratively from the oven handle with care?

He had barely touched the kitchen boxes, last he recalled, only setting up his coffee maker and taking out some basic cooking tools and pots for later that day, hopefully after he went to the grocery store 30 minutes away. The base of his spine tingled, a shiver knotting its way up his back.

Maybe he had sleep-walked -- he had done that as a child, though the habit stopped when he entered his teen years. Perhaps it was a resurgence from the new move? He had always heard strange things can happen when you’re in a new place, and this was no different.

Jensen rubbed his eyes, pushing the thoughts back. It was probably all of those entries he’d read before falling asleep. Nothing he couldn’t figure it out after a hot cup of coffee and a scant breakfast of a protein bar, really. He reached for the coffee tin and filter, and stopped short.

There was a bouquet of fresh flowers sitting in a vase made of the very trees surrounding his house. Even as he stared, a leaf fell from one of the echinacea flowers and drifted to the counter.  But those flowers… they did not grow near his home. Nor did he own any vases remotely like the one sitting on his counter. 

As Jensen scrambled for his cellphone to call the police, he swore he saw the trees flash and sway, oddly humanlike, past one of his windows, and realized how ridiculous this all was. What would he tell them? That someone broke into his house and unpacked for him? Left him flowers?

No, it was probably Mira. She was weird enough, wasn’t she?

Jensen took a steady breath, closed his eyes, listened to the too-quick thumping of his heart. He would contact Mira, ask her about it. She had mentioned there were weird neighbors, and even besides that, she had this knowing look about her.

Opening his eyes, he reached for the coffee tin and filter and began his morning routine, ignoring the small bouquet on the counter near the sink. Munching on a protein bar, he waited for the movers to show up, and counted the minutes until he could seek out Mira.

Jensen and the movers did not finish their business until nightfall, wildly underestimating the time it took to move his entire life to a new home. He was much too tired to find Mira’s house in the darkness of Fundly’s forest, and while his stomach clenched at the thought of his house being broken into again, he decided it was best to stay in for the night.

Triple and quadruple-checking the locks on the doors and windows, Jensen gnawed his bottom lip practically raw while pacing in his freshly-organized living room. There were still a few boxes to unpack; non-essentials like winter coats and extra shoes he wouldn’t need until the change of the season, when the winter crept forward and frost nipped at the tips of his fingers.  There were boxes full of clutter though, small knick-knacks he’d picked up from friends, that Jensen thought he should get situated--if only to make this empty house feel more like his home.

He cluttered up the mantle, put some photographs up on the desk he’d put together in the afternoon. He was halfway through everything when he caught his attention drifting, and he pulled a notebook to him, sitting in the middle of the floor as his fingers traced over the surfaces of each one he had filled or was working on filling. 

Earlier, he had stacked in a neat pile atop his desk: one for writing, one for plotting out stories and determining deadlines, and one for storyboarding. Picking a pen was trickier; he didn’t know what color he was feeling for tonight’s writing session. Blue was either too deep and solemn or too light. Yellow was illegible, so he avoided those. He tapped his fingers against his desk, notebooks under one arm, eyes narrowed at his pen collection until a dark, red-purple caught his eye. He pushed away the thought that it perfectly matched the bouquet of flowers he had dumped off the edge of his porch and picked it up. Mysterious, nervous, but a welcome distraction -- all that he needed spoken in a single color.

He settled up on the couch in the living room and told himself it wasn’t to watch the windows for faces in the dark, but instead for a change of pace from his desk, where he so often set up shop. The wifi had yet to be arranged, so rather than turn on a live jazz playlist, he settled for the calming rain sounds he kept downloaded on his phone to help him sleep.

That was his first mistake.

His second was curling up under the softest blanket he could find (which happened to be the afghan Mira gave him the day before) and tucking into the corner of the couch, pulling a lap-desk over his thighs and wiggling down to get comfortable.

His third was slowly sinking down the couch until he was slumped haphazardly, eyelids fluttering as he tapped his pen against the paper and tried to push through the mush in his brain and force out ideas.

His eyelids drooped, his fingers went lax around the pen in his hand, and his head slumped against his shoulder as the sound of real rain pattering on the roof mixed with the pre-recorded track on his phone.

Waking up slowly without help from an alarm to soft, dewy light pressing up against the windows was one of the most pleasant experiences Jensen had the pleasure of living. He stretched, popping the ache out of his shoulders, rolling his neck, and groaning at the realization that he had slept out here rather than in the nice, cozy mattress delivered just yesterday.

Jensen shifted the lap-desk, askew and half-off of his legs, to the side, making sure not to lose his pen or notebooks in the couch cushions. Next to him, laid neatly on an extra folded blanket, was the book Mira gave him -- though he could have sworn he left it in his bedroom. He shrugged, and picked up his pen and paused. There, tied so neatly it looked like they had grown there, were tiny little echinacea flowers wreathed around the back end of the pen, perfectly complimenting the color he chose.

Without another thought, tossing the pen to clatter on the coffee table, he marched to his bedroom. His clean clothes were folded neatly and set atop his bed, though not by his own hands. He pulled on a pair of rain boots, grabbed his keys, and rushed out to find Mira and end this whole fiasco, or else get some form of comfort from the only person he had met so far.

Mira’s directions, when she gave them to Jensen, were vague at best, so it took a little time to find her home. It wasn’t too far off of the main road, tucked behind a small copse of trees in its own little enclave, but it was the only other building nearby, so he chose to at the very least try to knock on the door. Worst case scenario, he told himself as he stepped up the gravel path to the small wooden cottage, a stranger opened the door and he apologized and asked for directions, if they had any.

He knocked on the door, flinching at the echo of the sound against the otherwise quiet forest around the property. It was almost silent here, only the sway and whisper of the trees in the breeze to break it, so when the door opened and Mira’s short, crooked figure came into view he jumped. He hadn’t even heard her footsteps.

“If it isn’t the new neighbor! Come in, come in. I just put on some hot water for tea.” She waved him inside.

Jensen offered a wavery smile. “Thank you, but I’m actually here for--”

Mira already turned and walked inside, and Jensen winced as he stepped into the house.

It was warm inside, borderline boiling for springtime, and Jensen felt a bead of sweat drip down the back of his neck after closing the door behind him. Otherwise, the house was normal, if a little cluttered. She led him to the kitchen and poured them both some hot water.

“Do you like green tea?” She asked.

“I guess, but--”

She dropped a tea bag into a mug with swirls of colors slipping and sliding across the rim. “Good, it’s all I have right now.”

Jensen opened his mouth to speak but was once more interrupted by her shoving the mug into his hands. Water sloshed inside the mug, but he caught himself before spilling anything too seriously and burning himself. Mira pulled out a chair and gestured for him to take a seat as she settled herself across from him.

“Someone’s been breaking into my house,” Jensen blurted.

Cup halfway to her lips, Mira paused, gazing at him over the rim of the mug.

“I don’t know if--if it was that friend you called or if they’re a complete stranger but I…” He squeezed his hands around his mug, avoiding her eyes. “You’ve been nice. And you’re kind of the only person I know here so I figured…”

Mira placed her cup on the table, a frown turning her lips. “Why not go to the cops?” She asked.

“Well the intruder, they’ve kind of been helping me move in. And leaving flowers, and I thought it might sound kind of silly or, I don’t know, like a weird waste of time.”

Her eyes narrowed, lips pursed. “Did you happen to see what they looked like?”

Jensen blinked. “I--no, they’re always gone by the time I’m awake. They lock the doors behind them, too, so I don’t even know how they get in.” He blanched. “Do you think they somehow got a key?”

Folding her hands in her lap, Mira shook her head. “Doubt it. Norine, the previous owner, didn’t give out any spares.”

Jensen squirmed, took another sip of his tea.

“Did anyone show up to help you, otherwise? Announced, that is.” She asked.

“If you mean your friend, then no. I figured you forgot or got busy or something.” Jensen replied.

She sucked on her teeth, scowling, and picked up her cup once more. “I remembered. Just seems they got you mixed up with someone else.”

“You think they’re the one breaking in?”

She avoided his eyes, gazing instead over his shoulder as she took a deep drink. “Couldn’t say unless I asked. And he’s hard to get ahold of.” Her eyes flicked to his, saw the way his eyebrows were pinched together so tight, how his hands gripped the mug hard enough to nearly break it. “But I’ll ask him. For now, try and get a peek at who it is, and call me when you do.”

“That seems dangerous.” Jensen said.

“Lots of weirdos around here, honey. But lucky for you, I know all of them. So long as you keep that book I gave you nearby, they won’t do any harm.” She replied.

“The book?”

She smiled, “An old superstition of mine, but one of the few that holds some grain of truth. Now finish your tea -- I need to go track down my friend and give you some peace of mind.”

Jensen did as Mira suggested, and spent the rest of the day working in his garden. It looked cleaner than the day before, and the weeds gave little to no resistance as he yanked them out. He took this as a good omen -- one of the few since arriving and being harassed by a stranger in his own home. By the time he finished, the sun had begun to set and he was caked up to his elbows in dirt and grime, weary to his very bones. But a pleasant sort of weariness, the kind that comes from a day of hard, yet rewarding work. As he stood over the little plot that he would soon be planting flowers, vegetables, and herbs in he felt his chest swell.

Mira would help him figure things out, even if she was strange. She wasn’t the one breaking in, the hard expression on her face when he visited told him that for sure. So he decided to push worries from his mind, enjoy a microwaved dinner, a small mug cake to which he’d learned the recipe by heart, and a hot shower. He didn’t stay awake much longer after eating, eyelids continuously drooping and reminding him of the long days and nights he’d had, so he turned in early.

Around 4 in the morning he woke up with his bladder full to the point of bursting and his eyes bleary, unable to go back to bed until he relieved himself. He stumbled out from under the sheets and padded to the bathroom. It was only when he put his hand out and opened the bathroom door when he heard a soft, distinct thump from the other room.

Jensen’s entire body went rigid, freezing as he strained to listen for another sound to confirm his suspicions. The pressure in his bladder ceased abruptly, and all Jensen could feel was the pounding of his heart in his ears. Another thump, followed by a gentle scrape and an obvious grunt of annoyance. Heart pounding, bile rising, Jensen reached into the small cubby in the bathroom where he had just put away his cleaning supplies the day before and pulled out a mop.

Mira had said to get a look at the intruder, and had given him her number to call. But he wasn’t going out there completely defenseless, even if a mop wasn’t exactly the most frightening or effective weapon. The handle felt cold and comforting in his clammy hands.

Jensen’s fingers went white around the mop as he crept out of the bathroom to peer into the living room. The shuffling sound persisted, another low thump of something being placed on a counter, a rustling akin to leaves in the wind. He gritted his teeth, thought back to Mira’s gleaming eyes and the downward quirk of her mouth when he told her about the intruder. The little gifts -- the flowers and unpacking. Jensen hadn’t slept well in days, hadn’t written so much of a sentence for his novel -- all because one of Mira’s asshole friends couldn’t knock on his goddamn door. 

He took a step around the corner of the hallway, hands flexing around the mop handle as the intruder came into view. Jensen nearly dropped his impromptu weapon, eyes widening at the creature before him. They were tall, head almost reaching the ceiling, spindly appendages winding together like muscled vines, leaves dripping off of them like decorative jewelry. Jensen shrank back as they lifted one hand, bright echinacea flowers blooming between their fingers, which they plucked off and wove into whatever it was they were working on.

They tipped their head to the side, grasslike hair shifting gracefully over brown, bark skin, concentrating on the task before them.

Jensen shifted backwards, flinched when his foot landed on a creaky floorboard, and went stock-still. The creature tensed, pausing their work, squaring their shoulders. Slowly, their head twisted, and Jensen stifled a gasp when their eyes met. The creature had those same ancient eyes as Mira, but they had no pupils, no nose, no face and no skin, making this creature look like nothing poor, sweet, human Jensen had ever seen before.

He raised the mop and swung.

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Every little bit helps, and who knows. If enough of you guys enjoy my stuff I may even make a Patreon. But that is far in the future!

[nievia-writes]

Hooo-weee! It’s been a hot minute (about 4 years) since I actually posted on this account. College has been a lot, but now that I’m at the end of it I think I’ll start posting more regularly again.

Keep your eyes peeled in the next two weeks, I got a cute M/M exophilia story comin’ out! I hope the last few years (wild and hectic as they have been) have treated you all well, and that perhaps some of my stories can help you get through it.

[nievia-writes]

Art: Brewhay

Fic: The Lost Art of Romancing a Commander (AO3) - Nievia_writes

Word count: 7529

Rating: T

[nievia-writes]

hey look it’s my piece for the reaper76 reverse big bang!

forget about this tho check out the cuteass fic written for it by @nievia-writes! thanks for the opportunity to watch such a sweet fic unfold ;DDD

[nievia-writes]

1) Give me a pairing.

2) Give me an AU setting.

3) I will write you a three-sentence fic.

[nievia-writes]

This has probably been done but...

Imagine Soldier: 76 wanting to comfort someone but not knowing how so he just opens his arms and goes “Get over here and heal up!” and then cuddles and warm hugs happen and it’s perfect.

I think i just need a hug, haha. Maybe I should write something for this?

[nievia-writes]

You guys think I should go for it..?

[nievia-writes]

Lube: Chapter 9 - Final Chapter (Reaper76 Grease AU)

Title: New Beginnings Chapter: 9/9 (final chapter) Description:  It's the final day of school before Gabriel and Jack graduate and summer begins again. Will they finally confess their true feelings? Will their friends accept the relationship? Is Jesse okay? Pairing: Jack Morrison x Gabriel Reyes.  Reaper x Soldier: 76.  Jesse McCree x Hanzo Shimada.  Ana Amari x Reinhardt Wilhelm. Word Count: 2,297 Rating: Mature

It was the last day of school, and no one in GCHS could get anything done. Not even Dr. Winston was able to get his students in line for a short lab that he promised was fun. Sombra was the loudest of them all, cheering and hollering and ignoring every teacher and student she didn’t  like or want to associate with. She had learned her stubbornness through three years of practice, but she was very near to being free for the summer and fast approaching becoming a senior.

Hanzo, too, celebrated, but he was much more subdued about the ordeal than his close friend. While she yelled, he sat back and watched, a smile on his face. The gears in his brain turned like clockwork, thinking up one last prank to pull with Jaime.  Cling wrap over the toilet seats, tampering with the locks on the principal’s door, dropping a stink bomb in Dr. Winston’s lab. The endless possibilities thumped around in his head until Sombra interrupted his train of thought by dropping down on his desk.

She crossed her legs and grinned down at him, purple eyes flashing with excitement.  “Can you believe it? The last day of school!”

Hanzo smiled back at her, one pierced eyebrow raised, “What is there to not believe? Besides, school isn’t over for you yet. You failed P.E. and have to take it over the summer and you have another year,”

Sombra waves him off, dismissive, “Psh, all I gotta do is run a little in the mornings. What really matters is that I’m almost outta here.”

Hanzo shook his head, “Only for the summer.”

“Oh, that’s right, you’re graduating. Gonna be Mr. Big-Shot once you leave all your friends behind?” She teased.

“As if I could get rid of you in the first place.”

Sombra punched him on the arm, grinning.

“What will you do when I’m gone?”

“Join track and field, follow in Reyes’ footsteps, kick his ass, y’know, as one does.”

“Hopefully you’ll last longer,”

Sombra paused at that, “Perdón? What do you mean?”

“He didn’t tell you? He left the team,” Hanzo replied, shrugging his shoulders.

She frowned, eyebrows knitting together, “Why the hell did he do that?”

“Ask him yourself, he’s headed our way,” he said, tipping his head in Gabriel’s direction as he strode confidently towards the pair.

He wore his typical leather T-Bird jacket with a pair of torn jeans and comfortable (though well-worn) boots. He looked as confident as always, though his eyes were hidden behind sunglasses so one couldn’t really tell. Giving a slight wave to his friends, he arrived, taking a seat in one of the desks next to Hanzo and smiling at them.

“Hey, guys,”

Gabriel was happier than normal, that could be told just by the way he smiled and the light color to his cheeks. Both Sombra and Hanzo knew that could only mean one thing… he had started dating again. Gabriel, while a rebel at heart, grew soft when it came to romance, and the T-Birds often took advantage of the opportunity to tease him about it. Maybe it was jealousy, or maybe they just enjoyed the look on his face when he was mad, but nonetheless it made Gabriel self-conscious.

Dating was his business, and he didn’t like sharing his business with anyone. Except Jack, he thought, causing his cheeks to flush further. Jack was quick to become the exception to every dating rule that Gabriel had set in place. After summer ended, he had even taped the list to his mirror to remind himself.

No long-term relationships.

No lovey nicknames.

No late-night calls.

No ditching the T-Birds.

No falling in love.

He knew it was ridiculous, that even creating such a list was just asking for it to be balled up and in the trash within a few weeks, but he couldn’t help it. Jack was a distraction, but now, with the list tossed to the side and Gabriel allowing his very-real emotions to blossom in his chest, he found he didn’t care.

Hanzo and Sombra seemed to already know what was up with him, and he didn’t further extrapolate. Dating, after all, was still his (and Jack’s) business.

Sombra swiped the sunglasses from his face, “You look like an asshole wearing these inside,”

Gabriel smiled, shrugged, and let his chin rest on the palm of his hand. “You two look ready for summer,”

“I’m always ready to ditch this shit-show,” Sombra grumbled, placing the sunglasses on top of her head and facing her phone towards her to use as an impromptu mirror. “Looks like the same goes for you,” she said, eyeing him.

Gabriel raised his eyebrows, “You must be referencing how I left the track team,”

Hanzo snickered, “What a turn of phrase, looks like someone does pay attention in English class,”

Sombra, however, was not as amused as her friend, and crossed her arms over her chest, “You didn’t even tell us,”

Ah, Gabe thought, So that’s why she’s upset with me. “I meant to, I’ve just been a bit… busy is all.”

“Too busy to hang out with your closest friends,” Hanzo said, sobering up.

“Yeah, I know you have a boyfriend now--”

Gabriel tried to interrupt, to protest, but Sombra just continued to talk over him.

“But that doesn’t mean you can just avoid us, jefe,”

He recognized the looks on their faces, the mixture of hurt and worry. It was almost summer, and he was graduating. He could put the pieces together. Gabriel’s shoulders slumped.

“I didn’t mean to avoid you guys, honest.” He muttered.

Hanzo nudged his arm, “Then explain, what have you been doing?”

The two T-Birds watched their leader, Hanzo’s eyes unyielding and Sombra’s legs and arms crossed. Both had all the time in the world. Gabriel felt his face burning, but for once he wasn’t thinking of Jack. The blonde was, in fact, as far away from his mind as possible.

“I want to go to college next year, and I haven’t been doing well in my classes so I was trying to… y’know… salvage whatever I could,”

Hanzo, who had perfect grades despite his fooling around, scoffed, “You could have asked for help,” he grunted.

Sombra had yet to let him off the hook, however, and continued to stare him down.

“And,” Gabriel continued, meeting her eyes, “I’ve been trying to be a good boyfriend. For once.”

Sombra burst out into laughter, the borrowed sunglasses on her head nearly falling off as she leaned over. “Oh man, that’s rich! You’ve gotten so boring, jefe,” she said, though she smiled to disarm the hurtful words.

Gabriel smiled back, “I’m just trying to grow up a little bit before I get out into the world. You got me?”

“Of course I get you, but I still have at least one more year of foolin’ around, so I’m still gonna make fun of you for it.” She uncrossed her legs and hopped to the floor to hug Gabriel. “They grow up so fast,” she sighed, pressing Gabriel’s face against her collarbone and pretending to cry.

Hanzo shook his head at the two of them, “I think it is rather honorable, if I’m honest,”

Sombra continued to pretend to sob, almost smothering Gabriel until he pushed her off. “Alright, alright,” he said, smiling. “I get it, love and acceptance and all that shit,”

Sombra scoffed, “And don’t forget the endless teasing, Reyes. I’m not letting you off that easy,”

Just then, the doors behind them opened, and in stepped Jack, wearing an outfit Gabriel had never expected to see him in. He stood up, eyes wide, “Jack?!”

Ana stood Jack up in front of the mirror, her hands on his shoulders to keep him from turning away. Jack wasn’t sure about this, he had never mixed such different styles up before. But he had to admit, after hanging out with both the T-Birds and the Pink Ladies and not being apart of either officially, that he would take a small part of both groups and incorporate it into his own style.

It had been his idea, after learning that Jesse had tested negative for HIV/AIDS, to sort of bring the two groups together. It was true, he was an outsider, but both groups had seemed to like him well enough (he was dating the leader of the T-Birds and best friends with a Pink Lady). Jesse had become a bit kinder to him after everything, and had even offered to help him by bringing his own collection of clothing over.

Soon, all the Pink Ladies were in on it and Jack’s house was full of people and his room ruined with clothes. His parents were good hosts, providing snacks and space and drinks when needed. Jack was grateful that his father didn’t mind him having other guys in the house and trusted him enough to leave him alone in a room with a few of them (namely, Jesse and Reinhardt).

Reinhardt, having told his friends he had dropped out of beauty school and would be enrolling for his last year in GCHS, felt a weight lift off of his chest. Even better, he was provided with the excuse to practice on Jack’s hair and makeup when the Pink Ladies gathered for their “secret mission.”

Jesse, who was sitting on Jack’s bed, examining his outfit while Ana kept him still and facing the mirror. The southerner spun his finger around, “Spin around, darlin’, lemme see you better,”

Jack kept his eyes down at his socked feet, wiggling his toes with impatience as the group of Pink Ladies looked him up and down.

“He could use a jacket,” Lena piped up.

“And those cute combat boots, the pink ones,” Ana added.

Jesse narrowed his eyes, making Jack more uncomfortable.

“Maybe this was a bad idea…” Jack mumbled.

Jesse stood up, cupped Jack’s face in his hands, and made him look in his eyes. “It’s a fuckin’ great idea, Jackie. You aren’t changin’ for Reyes, you’re changin’ for yourself and if that ain’t admirable I don’t know what is.”

Jack flushed, blinking at the southerner in surprise. “I thought you didn’t like me?”

“I don’t. Now shut up and put this on,” he said, shoving a leather jacket in his hands.

Jack ran his fingers over the cool material, admiring the scent of it wafting up into his nose. It was familiar, the same smell that hung over Gabriel, and that in itself was enough for him to put it on.

But moreso was the change. He wanted to be different, he wanted to be a Jack he felt comfortable with, confident in, a Jack that could step into university without worrying about who he was. And he had the T-Birds and the Pink Ladies to thank.

Jack slid on the jacket and took the pink boots from Lena’s waiting hands. They were shiny and stiff, but comfortable when he put them on his feet. When he stood up and smiled at the Ladies around him, he felt like a new man.

Jack had one hand on his hip and was backed by the Pink Ladies, making him look like he was the leader of the group rather than Jesse. Gabriel choked at the sight of him in a pink half-shirt with the number 76 on the breast, boots to match, and a black leather jacket slung over his broad shoulders. His jeans were rolled up, exposing a slight bit of skin on his ankles where the boots didn’t quite reach.

“Like the new look? I wanted to try something new before school officially ended,”

Gabriel stuttered, tried to say anything to compliment Jack. He was the same as he was at the beach, and yet so vastly different. More sure of himself, more Jack than he had ever been. “Holy shit,” Gabe breathed.

Sombra wolf-whistled, a grin on her face. “Quite the boyfriend you got there, Reyes,”

Gabriel elbowed her, face flushing, “S-shut up,”

Jack laughed, looking shy until Jesse nudged him forward.

“We should get out of here,” Hanzo mumbled to Sombra as Jack and Gabriel approached each other, both unsure of how to continue.

And then they were alone in an abandoned classroom, the T-Birds and Pink Ladies leaving the two to sort out their relationship. Gabriel touched Jack’s elbow and smiled. “You look great,”

“You aren’t so bad, yourself,”

They shared a laugh. Gabriel pressed his forehead against the blonde’s and closed his eyes. “You didn’t have to change your outfit for me to like you, Jackie,”

Jack shifted to press his lips against Gabe’s cheek, “That’s good, because I didn’t do it for you, anyways.”

“Good, because I couldn’t care less what you wear as long as you’re you,”

Jack laughed, “That’s gay, Reyes,”

“I would hope so, considering we’re dating.”

Their lips met in a kiss, Jack cupping Gabriel’s chin in both of his hands, pressing their chests together. The bell rang behind them, but neither seemed to hear. Their tongues met, making the kiss sloppier but nonetheless precious to look back on in the years to come. The roar of students talking and rushing down the hallway was muffled through the classroom doors, the clock ticked patiently on the wall behind them.

Gabriel pulled away, lips swollen, cheeks rosy, “I love you, Jack,”

Jack pecked him on the lips once more, his features soft in the poor lighting of the classroom. “I love you too.”

And with that, summer began anew.

WOO! It’s finally finished, you guys. I haven’t actually finished a fanfiction probably ever so... this is an achievement (and I plan on writing a McHanzo one next, so stay tuned if you like that ship!).

Thank you for staying with me this long (I know my updating habits are terrible) and thank you for reading! If you wanna ask me something or send me something you think I’d like writing, feel free!

Thanks so much for reading!

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Chapters: 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  Current

[nievia-writes]

Frankenstein Pizza (Reaper76)

Title: Frankenstein Pizza Chapter: Oneshot Description:  Jack and Gabe aren’t the best chefs… but that doesn’t stop them from trying to bake a pizza after watching a cooking show. Pairing: Gabriel Reyes x Jack Morrison.  Reaper x Soldier: 76.  Reaper76. Word Count: 1,004 Rating: Teen and up Note: @rustedrobonerd holy crap it took me so long to do this ask I’m so sorry. I had to write and rewrite it like ten times but I finally GOT IT and I really hope you like it. 

Keep reading

[nievia-writes]

Ok that was an actual story that happen when me and my girlfriend tried to cook something homemade but I can see jack and Gabe doing something stupid like this too p.s. ended up cleaning up all the mess T-T

Oh man, so I know it took me like 10 calendar years to get to this ask but I actually did see this and I just wanted to get back to you and say that I posted a fic based on this! I really enjoyed writing it once I actually got in the groove of things. <3 I’ll put the link here for you.

[nievia-writes]

Frankenstein Pizza (Reaper76)

Title: Frankenstein Pizza Chapter: Oneshot Description:  Jack and Gabe aren't the best chefs... but that doesn't stop them from trying to bake a pizza after watching a cooking show. Pairing: Gabriel Reyes x Jack Morrison.  Reaper x Soldier: 76.  Reaper76. Word Count: 1,004 Rating: Teen and up Note: @rustedrobonerd holy crap it took me so long to do this ask I’m so sorry. I had to write and rewrite it like ten times but I finally GOT IT and I really hope you like it. 

It all started because of a video Gabriel found online. While on break from missions, Gabe often entertained himself by surfing the various video feeds online to get his mind off of things. That included anything from video-game walkthroughs to dog videos. Sometime through his recent binge, Jack joined him, cuddling up close on the couch and tucking his head under Gabriel’s chin to watch. They laughed at dumb pranks, scowled at rude comments, and even teared up at some shitty gum commercial until they stumbled across a cooking channel.

“Gabe, we don’t need to know how to make pizza, that’s what the cafeteria is for.”

“Screw the cafeteria. Imagine homemade pizza, fresh out of the oven when one of us comes home from a hard mission,”

Jack fell quiet, pursed his lips, and then, once realizing there was no valid way to talk himself out of such a good idea, grumbled for his husband to press play.

Neither Gabriel nor Jack were good cooks, but while watching a step-by-step video, they felt they could conquer anything the cooking world could throw at them. By the end of it, both were drooling, stomachs rumbling with desire, and the two men rushed to the store to buy the ingredients they needed.

“Did you bring the list?” Gabriel asked, rolling the grocery cart next to Jack and resisting the urge to ride on the back of it to return a few precious memories of childhood.

“What list?”

“The grocery list, honey,”

Jack looked up at him, blue eyes large and innocent, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Gabriel groaned and dropped his head to rest on the plastic of the grocery cart. “Neither of us wrote a list,” he stated.

“Don’t be such a baby, I can just look it up on my phone,”

Gabriel knew that, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t moan and groan about it the whole time just to irritate his husband, but Jack was used to it by then and simply shut him up with a quick peck on the lips. Gabe blushed, and lowered his head back to the grocery cart, this time from embarrassment rather than frustration.

“Found one,” Jack said.

They sped through the aisles, teasing each other and tossing things in the grocery cart for points. Sometimes Gabriel jerked the cart backwards just to watch whatever Jack threw fall to the ground and grin at the annoyance on Jack’s face. They were more careful, however, when it came to produce, placing a green pepper, an onion, and olives with all the gentleness of a parent caring for their child into the cart.

They irritated the clerk, Jack by giving him outdated coupons and Gabriel insuring that the coupons were not, in fact, outdated until the clerk called for the manager. Overall, not a bad shopping trip considering the shenanigans that occurred in the past (let’s just say sometimes super soldiers don’t know their own strength).

When they returned home and set the groceries out on the counter, they got to work. Gabriel turned on the video to rewatch so they could cook along with it and Jack began to cut up vegetables.

If they were honest, they would admit that they hadn’t really been paying attention to the video and that’s why their pizza came out so… monstrous. But the likelihood of that happening was slim to none, as both men were infamous for their stubborn personalities.

They used the recipe more as an outline than anything finite. “Oh, you know what would taste good?” Jack would say, and then promptly add something disgusting to the sauce.

“I don’t think we’re supposed to use the whole onion,” Gabe would grumble, but comply anyways because why the hell not? All pizza was good pizza, after all.

It wasn’t until they finished rolling the dough (uneven and still a bit lumpy) that they realized they may have made more than a few mistakes.

“Well,” Jack said, wiping some flour off of his face, “We might as well put it in the oven.”

They cooked it well enough, the crust not too soft nor too hard, but when it got out of the oven it didn’t look… right. Both men, covered in flour and spices and little bits of dough clumped on their clothing, stared at their creation in wonder.

“It looks like Frankenstein. Y’know, the monster from that old horror film?” Gabriel asked, not really expecting an answer.

Jack didn’t take his eyes away from the pizza. The cheese was sprinkled unevenly and there were too many onions and green peppers and not enough crumbles of bacon and certainly not enough pineapple. The crust on one side was noticeably thicker than on the other. “Do you think it’s edible?”

Gabriel shrugged, grabbed two plates from the cupboard next to the fridge, and loaded up both plates with slices of pizza. “We’ll just have to find out.”

The first bite was unexpectedly tasty, though both men decided that there were way too many onions to be healthy (or to taste good), and soon the two of them stood over the trashcan, picking off onions and taking large bites out of their Frankenstein pizza.

Soon enough, the whole pizza was gone and both men were left lounging on the couch with full stomachs and a wave of laziness rolling over them. “We need to clean the kitchen,” Gabriel sighed.

Jack only groaned in reply, letting his head fall back against Gabriel’s thigh and his eyes close. “Can’t we do it tomorrow? I’m beat from all that cooking,”

Gabe smiled, ran one of his hands through Jack’s blonde hair (which caused flour to dust his pants -- both of them could use a shower), and shook his head. “It’ll be worse if we leave it overnight.”

Jack groaned his assent and got to his feet, giving the kitchen the evil-eye from the doorway.

Gabe nudged him on his way in, “Many hands make light work, Jackie,”

“And really ugly pizza, apparently.”

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[nievia-writes]

Lube: Chapter 8 (Reaper76 Grease AU)

Title: McCree

Chapter: 8/9

Description: Jesse feels vulnerable, but his friends (and Hanzo) are all there to support him -- even Jack.

Pairing: Gabriel Reyes x Jack Morrison.  Reaper x Soldier: 76.  Jesse McCree x Hanzo Shimada

Word Count: 1,759

Rating: Mature

Sitting in Hanzo’s garage with everyone gathered together made Jack more than a little nervous, but Ana sitting at his side made things a little manageable. Jesse was who he was mainly worried about bothering him, but he supposed he should be used to the scalding comments and sneers that were often directed his way from the younger man. Ana pushed herself away from the small workbench she had been leaning on, swaying and humming as the song on Jack’s CD player faded. Before Sombra could subject anyone to her poor music taste, Ana carefully popped the top of the CD player open and took the CD out, placing it back in its case and replacing it with a new one. Lena began dancing when the music started up again, Sombra pouted and went back to texting.

Jack smiled, “Don’t put something too good on, you know I have to leave in a few minutes,”

Hanzo groaned, “Already? Do not tell me you will be taking the CD player with you so soon, the party has barely started,”

Jesse rolled his eyes and took a slow sip out of the glass of soda he held, “Please,” he said, “He ain’t gonna stay when Reyes ain’t here to give ‘im bedroom eyes,”

Jack scowled. He had expected Jesse to speak up sooner or later, as he had been relatively quiet for most of the night, but it was no more welcomed than usual. He tried not to think about the blush forming on his face and push all thoughts of Gabriel (and the kisses he had stolen at the drive-in) out of his head. “Not true, I didn’t come for him,”

“What did you come for, then? Friends?”

Ana gave him a scathing look for that one, but Jesse shrugged it off, as per usual.

“I came because I was invited, not because of Gabriel.”

“Yeah? Well, we were only lookin’ for the CD player, not company,”

Jack sighed, “Tomorrow is the last day of school, Jesse. Who knows when we’ll see each other again?”

“Hopefully never,”

Lena- rolled her eyes, “Don’t mind him, Jackie,”

Jack shrugged, “I’m gonna grab another drink from the house. Is that okay, Hanzo?”

“I will go with you. Would you like anything, Jesse?”

Jesse shook his head, “Nah, I’m fine,”

As soon as Jack and Hanzo disappeared into the house, Jesse put his glass down, leaning over. “Hey, Lena and Ana,” he mumbled, “Before they get back, I uh… I need to talk to y’all.” He was having trouble meeting Lena’s eyes, and for the first time that night, she noticed how sleep deprived he looked.

Ana, as motherly as always, gave him a concerned look and crouched next to him, placing a gentle hand on his leg. Though sometimes they rubbed each other the wrong way, they had been friends for a very long time and cared for each other no less than they had before Jack had entered the mix.

Lena took a seat next to him on the floor of the garage as well, eyebrows knitting together in concern. “What’s wrong, love?”

Jesse took a deep breath, squeezing his hands into fists. “I think… I think I might have AIDS,”

Ana’s eyes widened, her hand pressing against his leg as if that would comfort him or change what he had just said.

“AIDS?!” Lena squeaked, rather loud for the small space they were in.

Both Ana and Jesse shushed her, Jesse looking more tired than angry. “I know, it’s… it’s a mess. But I looked up all these symptoms and I think I…” he cut himself off and put his head in his hands.

“You didn’t get it from Hanzo, did you?” Ana asked.

“Who the hell else would I have gotten it from?” Jesse groaned.

Lena exchanged a look with Ana, both of them frowning. “Did you get checked?” She questioned.

“No. I don’t have the money to go to any of the doctor’s around here and my parents… I don’t want them to find out,”

“Jesse, you need to get checked out,” Ana said, her voice firm.

“Just… please don’t tell anyone, alright?”

“What about Hanzo?”

“I’ll figure it out,”

“Look,” Lena said, “If you need help paying, I have a steady job and I know my parents would--”

“No, don’t bring anyone’s parents into this,” Jesse snapped. “I just don’t want anyone to think that… that I’m…”

Ana rubbed his back, “We just want you to be safe,”

There was a long silence as the three of them sat there, crowded on the floor together, until Jesse realized the music had stopped. “What happened to the music? Play another tune for me, somebody,” he said, giving Ana’s hand a squeeze.

Sombra, who had been sitting in the back, not paying much attention to anything other than her cell phone, jumped at the opportunity to play some of her music. “Oh, I have a great one!” She shoved her phone in her sweatshirt pocket and switched out the CD (which, upon examination, had too many scratches on it to play properly) for one from her own personal collection.

Sad music began to play through the speakers, and Sombra turned up the volume, swaying her hips and smiling. She was oblivious to Jesse struggling to hold himself together in the corner and Lena’s scathing glare as she danced.

“I’m so in love with you, but there isn’t a damn thing I can do…” she sang along.

Jesse groaned and put his head in his hands, rubbing his eyes until he saw bright patterns form behind the lids. Guilt weighed heavy in his chest. He knew he should tell Hanzo, but he also knew he would rather keep the scare to himself until he figured out for sure that he had it. He felt his heart rate pick up. He couldn’t afford to go to a place and get checked out, he couldn’t let his parents figure out he even liked men. Jesse felt bile rise up in his throat and turned his head so as to not ruin his clothes if he did, in fact, throw up.

Sombra frowned, noticing Jesse hunched over and the two women next to him. She lowered the volume and moved to sit in front of him. “Hey, you don’t look so good, big guy. What’s up?”

Jesse shook his head, “I don’t wanna have to say it again, thanks. Ask one of them,”

Lena patted Jesse’s thigh and then leaned closer to whisper the situation in Sombra’s ear. The woman’s eyes widened, purple contacts luminous in the dim lighting. Her hands were gentle when she cupped Jesse’s chin and lifted his head to look at her, a tender gesture that no one had seen from her before.

“Oh, Jesse,” she sighed, embracing him.

He tensed, eyes shooting up to look at Ana. Have you ever seen her like this?

Ana shrugged as if to say no.

Sombra pulled back, “Look, I know a guy who could help you out. I can lend you some money to see him and he’ll keep it real quiet for you.”

Jesse stared at her for a long moment, “Why the hell would you help me?”

Sombra shrugged, “Does that matter? You’re Hanzo’s boy, and that makes you my boy by association. Besides, I ah… knew someone in a similar situation.”

It was then that Jack and Hanzo stepped back into the room. Jesse’s face hardened, and he scoffed, “I don’t take handouts, sweetpea,”

Jack winced when he saw the hurt look on Sombra’s face. The small group around Jesse scattered, and Jack couldn’t help but feel responsible. He scratched at the back of his neck, not wanting to interrupt further, and sat back down next to his CD player.

Lena, the only one still sitting next to Jesse, touched his shoulder to grab his attention, “Want to stay at my place tonight, love?”

He nudged her hand off, avoiding eye-contact, “Y’all should just leave me alone and get out of here,”

Hanzo frowned, but didn’t say anything.

Clearing his throat, Jack spoke up. “It is pretty late, guys. We should probably head out, give Jesse some air, like he wants.”

Sombra shot Jesse a look, “I need to get a move on anyways. Remember what I said, Jesse. Later, guys.” And with a wave she was gone, stepping out of the garage and into the cool night air.

Lena and Ana exchanged a knowing look, and Jack wondered just what he had missed while getting a drink from the kitchen. Hanzo seemed as out of the loop as he was, but Lena and Ana… he would have to ask one of them later. Jesse looked like shit, and while Jack didn’t particularly like the other man, he didn’t harbor any ill-will against him. I just hope he’s ok.

But as Jack went to exit with Lena and Ana, he couldn’t help but pause to overhear the hushed whispers shared between Jesse and Hanzo.

“I know what is going on, Jesse, you do not have to hide it,”

“Oh yeah? Then what’s goin’ on, Mr. Know-It-All,”

“Something big enough to make your insults less stinging, obviously.”

Jack felt guilty, but continued to listen, lingering outside of the garage in the shadows. He was curious (and perhaps a little worried) about someone he didn’t even care for.

“I set up a doctor’s appointment. For both of us.”

“Hanz…”

“It’s tomorrow at two.”

“You didn’t have to--”

“I did. No one should have to face something like this alone.”

Jack felt his chest constrict. Whatever it was, it was serious, but he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy. I want Gabriel to care for me like that, followed by, Stop being so selfish. Jesse is sick.

With a shake of his head, Jack started to walk home, phone in his hand in consideration of calling the T-Bird that hadn’t been able to make it to the party that night. But Gabriel was likely asleep, and Jack felt too embarrassed to tell him what he was feeling. Not quite loneliness or affection, but some strange mixture of the two with a hint of longing.

He wished he could climb in through Gabriel’s window and curl up in bed with him, run his hands through his curly hair and fall asleep there, in his arms. However, he wouldn’t do that. His parents would kill him if he did that. Instead, he continued his trek home, moonbeams and streetlamps lighting his way.

Hoo boy. I was super nervous to post this chapter, but am nonetheless excited to have it finally out there! I’m very nearly done with this fic (I think I should have only a few chapters left, actually) and I’m so pumped to see how this will come to a close!

Thanks so much for reading!

Like my work? Buy me a coffee!

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Chapters: 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  Current  9

[nievia-writes]

Shore Leave (McHanzo)

Title: Shore Leave

Chapter: Oneshot

Description: Hanzo is always restless when he gets time off. Jesse enjoys helping him calm down.

Pairing: Jesse McCree x Hanzo Shimada.  McCree x Hanzo.  McHanzo.

Word Count: 918

Rating: Teen

Note: Inspired by this fan art by @crotah <3

Shore leave, Jesse learned, was Hanzo’s least favorite thing in the world. He grew anxious and bored within the first hour of being in their shared apartment. Often, Jesse woke to find his boyfriend either cleaning with obsessive urgency or baking. A lot of baking. This shore leave, unsurprisingly, was no different, save for the fact that Jesse was determined to get Hanzo to relax.

“Mornin’ darlin,’” he grumbled, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. Hanzo hummed a reply, sliding a batch of muffins into the oven and wiping his hands off on his apron. Jesse took time to wrap his arms around him and rest his chin on the top of his head.

Hanzo’s breath puffed against his collarbone when he laughed, pressing further into the embrace. However, it didn’t last long and soon the archer pulled away, patted McCree’s hairy chest and began to clean the mess he made in the kitchen.

Jesse pouted, “Hanz,” he nudged his face against the archer’s shoulder in an attempt to get his attention. A low hum was his only reply until Jesse latched his arms around Hanzo’s middle.

“Jesse,” he sighed, “I am trying to clean the kitchen,”

“C’mon, Hanzy, relax a ‘lil.”

“I--”

“I’ll make you the tea you like and we can sit up on the stairs like we used to,”

Hanzo paused. He had been stressed and anxious over the last few times they had shore leave and, through attempts to relieve the discomfort he felt by cooking and cleaning, ignored Jesse. He frowned. When was the last time we sat on the stairs and just talked? He couldn’t remember.

Hanzo placed the rag he had been using to clean on the counter and let his hands rest on Jesse’s clasped at his midsection. “Okay,” he said.

Jesse squeezed him, “Yeah?”

Hanzo laughed, breathless when Jesse squeezed the air out of his lungs. “Yes! Now get off of me, cowman. I will make you your coffee,”

Jesse grinned the entire time he brewed Hanzo’s favorite green tea. He was scolded when he got distracted and burned himself on the kettle, but he liked the calm attention Hanzo gave him when examining the small burn on his fingers.

The two men went through the quiet motions of making each other’s drinks. Hanzo knew McCree liked one sugar and no cream, and in turn McCree knew to make the tea extra strong and add nothing at all.

When they were finished, they handed each other their drinks and made their way to the stairs leading to the second floor of the apartment. Jesse, in the midst of brewing, had stolen Hanzo’s sweatshirt (previously draped over a kitchen chair) and shrugged it on. The archer protested with no real conviction that he would stretch it, but otherwise let him keep it on after his whining about being cold.

They sat on the same step and turned to face each other, legs tangling in the once-empty space between them. Jesse settled back against the railing and Hanzo sank onto the wall. He felt the anxiety thrumming and thumping its way into his chest, but a nudge of Jesse’s foot broke the feeling apart, scattering the prickling beneath his skin. Jesse winked, though his smile told that he knew of Hanzo’s emotions, and he took a long sip of coffee. Hanzo watched his boyfriend’s eyes half-close, the wrinkles on his face softening and his legs further pressing into his.

A sliver of sleepy brown eyes and a slow smile, halfway hidden behind a coffee cup. “Y’make a damn good cup o’ joe, baby,”

Hanzo felt his face flush and blamed it on the steam rising from his tea. He took a sip, if only to give himself more time to come up with something to quip back at him, but was distracted by the soothing taste of hot tea on his tongue. He hummed, held the liquid in his mouth for a precious moment before swallowing. “You are very talented,” he said.

Jesse chuckled, taking another sip, “I try,”

They let the quiet of morning wash over them, listening to the birds outside and counting each other’s breaths. Hanzo, at one point, was so entranced watching the little triangle of bare skin peeping out of the sweatshirt Jesse wore that he forgot about his tea altogether. It wasn’t until Jesse told him not to let it get cold that he even remembered it was clasped between his hands.

“I have half a mind to keep you hostage here all day,” Jesse said upon finishing his coffee and placing the mug on the step above them.

Hanzo scoffed, but otherwise didn’t protest, especially when Jesse tugged his legs forward so his feet settled on either side of his hips. He was practically in the cowboy’s lap at that point, but he found that he didn’t mind -- especially when Jesse pressed his warm hands against his calves and left a lingering kiss on one of his knees.

“Or maybe drag you back to bed with me,” he said, eyebrows waggling with suggestion.

Hanzo laughed, nudging Jesse’s side with his foot, “You are silly,” he said, the edges of his eyes wrinkling when he smiled.

Jesse hummed, giving an affectionate squeeze to Hanzo’s leg, “You know I ain’t kiddin’ with ya, Hanzy.” He paused, “So you wanna go upstairs or not?”

Hanzo shook his head, cupping the mug of tea between his hands, “Let me finish my tea, first,”

I hope you liked this fanfic, even if it was short. I’ve had this one for a while but didn’t get around to editing it until recently. I think people could really use some soft, happy McHanzo in their lives (I know I do!) so I decided going with something more domestic was good.

Plus I saw some great art that kind of sparked an idea!

Anyways, thank you for reading!

Like my work? Buy me a coffee!

Want to support your local fanfic author? Go to my AO3 and check me out! <3

[nievia-writes]

Lube: Chapter 7 (Reaper76 Grease AU)

Title: Guardian Angels and Drive-In Movies Chapter: 7/? Description: Reinhardt drops out of beauty school and struggles with the idea of telling his friends. Meanwhile, Jack and Gabriel try to smooth things over with a movie date. Pairing: Gabriel Reyes x Jack Morrison. Reaper x Soldier:76. Word Count: 2799 Rating: Mature Note: WARNING! This has some very slight non-con at the very end (it is remedied I promise you and it is pretty much barely there).

The night was clear and cool, the stars shining overhead and accenting the fingernail moon. Jack sat on a nearby bench, watching the sky and twisting the edge of his coat between his fingers. Oh Gabe, he thought, sighing. Why can’t I just stay away from you? It would certainly be easier that way… He watched cars drive by every now and then – likely students leaving early to have some “alone time” in a motel or some remote, beautiful place where teen romance could come to a head. A part of Jack envied them, but he was unsure if he would ever be ready to let anyone his age get that close to him.

Maybe Jesse is right; I am a prude. Jack mussed his hair, leaned over – knees to his chest – and blinked away the blurs forming in his eyes. “I’m such a fool,” he gasped, wincing at the tightness in his throat. I can’t just let this go, can I? Not after summer, not after–

“Jack! Thank God, I’ve been looking for you everywhere,”

Jack jolted, head snapping up to stare at Gabriel, who looked handsome and surprisingly soft in the dim starlight.

Jack wiped his eyes, pulling a scowl on his face, “What do you want? Just… go dance with that French chick,”

“I’m not going to, I don’t even like her,” Gabriel replied, closing the distance between himself and Jack.

“Then why dance with her?”

Gabe sighed, sitting down on the bench next to him, “She came with Hanzo, who ditched her for Jesse–”

Jack scoffed at that.

“And she just kinda forced me to do the contest with her,” Gabriel finished.

The blonde tipped his head back to watch the clouds pass over the stars above, letting the quiet sink in his bones after Gabriel’s words. “I… didn’t imagine at all that this would be how tonight played out,”

Gabriel rubbed his beard, “Me either.” He paused, glancing over to see Jack’s eyes reflect the moon. “I’m sorry, Jack.”

“I don’t know if an apology is gonna fix this, Gabe.”

Both fell quiet. Gabriel folded his hands on his lap and listened to the dull beats thumping from within the gym. He shoved one hand in his pocket and took out the tickets he won in the contest, “How about I take you to the drive-in? I ah… have some tickets here.”

Jack glared at him.

Frowning, Gabriel tucked the tickets back in his pocket, “Guess that’s a no…”

Jack didn’t reply, instead keeping his head back to look further into the night sky.

“Look, I have a lot of friends that expect me to act a certain way,” Gabriel said.

“You mean like an asshole?” Jack quipped.

“Jack–”

“Why don’t you just go with them, then? You obviously want to be like them, be with them.” He stood up, crossing his arms, and prepared to go home to put the whole night behind him.

“What about you?” Gabriel asked, standing up after him.

“What about me?”

Rubbing the back of his head, Gabe met the blonde’s eyes, “What do you expect from me?”

“For you to be yourself,” he said, eyes searching Gabriel’s.

That’s a fair thing to ask, Gabriel thought, watching the rise and fall of Jack’s chest, the slow-moving sorrow in his eyes. Jack shook his head, not wanting to wait any longer for a reply, and turned once more to leave.

“Wait,” Gabe called.

He stopped, turning to look at Gabriel over his shoulder.

“Can I call you tomorrow?”

A moment passed where Gabe thought his summer lover would reply, but Jack, instead, continued on his way. However, Jack, when he knew Gabriel couldn’t see it, let a small smile grow on his face.

Reinhardt sat alone in front of the town’s favorite local burger joint, twirling a straw among the contents of his milkshake. His shoulders rose and fell with a sigh, one of his huge palms held his chin up as he stared down at the cold treat, a short frown on his face. Wind blew, tousling his hair, but he didn’t make an attempt to fix it. Only the arrival of Sombra and Hanzo – she with nerf gun, he with a nerf bow miming a shootout and Sombra’s subsequent death – broke the German’s chain of melancholic thought . He shook his head at their antics, forcing a smile on his lips.

“Will you ever grow up, my friends?” He asked, voice unusually quiet and only partially teasing.

Sombra pouted, crossing her arms over her chest, nerf gun still clutched in one hand. It was only when she noticed the uncharacteristic slump of Reinhardt’s shoulders that she paused, “Hey, why so blue, pequiñito?” She took a seat across from him, placing the gun on the table between them as Hanzo moved to stand next to the table.

“Did you get kicked out of beauty school?” He asked.

Reinhardt looked between the two T-Birds before shrugging, “Oh, not at all, everything is going just fine!”

Sombra and Hanzo shared a glance, not believing him, but he grinned and motioned to their makeshift weapons before they could ask anything more.

“So, what is the arsenal for, then? Does a glorious battle stand before you?”

Sombra smirked, puffing out her chest, “We have a fight later with those um… ah, shit, what’re they called again?”

Hanzo rolled his eyes, “They call themselves the Flaming Talons,”

Reinhardt’s eyebrows shot up, “And what do they have against you?”

Hanzo deflated, looking away from the large German man, almost sheepish, “If you remember, I brought Amélie to the dance,”

“And then Jesse finally pulled your head outta your ass and Frenchie ended up dancing with our lovely jefe. They even won the contest!” Sombra said, a mischievous smile on her face, “But this isn’t even the best part, is it, dragón?”

Hanzo sighed and rubbed his forehead like he had a headache, “Turns out Amélie is already involved with someone,”

Sombra nudged Reinhardt, grinning at Hanzo and motioning for him to go on.

Hanzo glared at her, “And he just so happens to be the leader of the Talons… she told him everything,”

Reinhardt laughed at that with Sombra, both enjoying amusement at Hanzo’s expense until Gabriel jogged past. He had his head down, focused on his running shoes and pretending he didn’t see his friends, half-hoping they wouldn’t notice him. He needed to continue training, if only because he wanted to prove a point to Jack. But he had no such luck.

Sombra wolf-whistled at him, not doubt because of the short shorts and sweat-dampened t-shirt he was sporting, “Hey, Gabi, lookin’ good!”

Hanzo scoffed, “I see you’re still bent on training. That Jack really does have you by the b–”

Gabriel glared at him, coming to a stop next to the group, “I wouldn’t finish that sentence if I were you,” he grumbled with no real conviction.

Hanzo chuckled and raised his hands in defense, smiling.

Sombra leaned closer to Gabe, eyebrows waggling, “It’s actually a good thing you showed up, jefe. We’re gonna have a showdown with the Talons tonight,”

Gabriel’s eyes flicked to the nerf weapons, cracking a smile, “Oh, yeah? What time?”

“Nine o’clock, sharp,” Hanzo cut in.

Wincing, Gabe thought of his plans for that night. He couldn’t bail on Jack, not again, not when he was so close. But the T-Birds… they wouldn’t look at him the same way if they knew. He shuffled his feet, turning his eyes to the entrance of the burger joint, trying to come up with an excuse.

“Oh, I can’t. I got training until ah… nine-thirty,”

“Then sneak away,” Hanzo said.

Gabe grunted, “No way, the couch will kick my ass out if I do that,”

Sombra sputtered out a laugh like it was the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard. “The coach!”

Gabriel scowled, crossing his arms over his chest, “Yes, Sombra, the coach. What would I do, anyways? Kick someone’s face in with my running shoes?”

Sombra pouted, “Reyes, c’mon,”

“Look, I gotta go. I’m kinda in a hurry – y’know, training and all that. I’ll see you around,”

“Reyes, there is no way we’ll win without you,” Hanzo said, a hard frown on his face.

Gabe shook his head, “The Talons are whackjobs, I’d back off,”

“You want us to surrender?! Are you sick or something?” Sombra exclaimed.

Gabe groaned inwardly, rubbing his forehead, “I’m just saying it isn’t worth it. I’ll see if I can meet up with you later, now I really gotta run.” Without waiting for a reply, Gabriel jogged away, ignoring the sinking feeling in his stomach.

Sombra rested her chin on her fist, watching Gabe’s back with a slight frown, “What’s up his ass? All he does now is run and bail out on us,”

Hanzo sighed, “The Flaming Talons versus the two of us… great fight. Let’s just go grab something to eat,”

Sombra tipped her head to look at him, “What about our big showdown?”

Hanzo shook his head, standing up and retrieving his nerf bow, “We will discuss it later.” He patted her shoulder and nodded to Reinhardt, who had long since gone back to staring into his milkshake in silence.

Sombra gave a half-hearted wave as Hanzo left. She sighed, drumming her fingers on the table, watching Reinhardt mope.

“Hey, Rein,” she said, catching his attention. He raised his eyebrows at her, blinking like she pulled him out of a dream. “You mind if I visit you at beauty school this week? We could grab a soda,”

Reinhardt smiled, but it didn’t meet his eyes, usually full of life and a gentle sort of kindness, “Sure, perhaps… later in the week, my friend,”

Sombra smiled, nudged his shoulder with a fist, and winked. “Alright! I’ll see you around, pequiñito.” And with that, she was gone, flouncing away with her nerf gun loose in one hand. As soon as she was out of sight, Reinhardt groaned letting his head drop to the table.

“How will I tell them I dropped out of beauty school?” He mumbled, stretching his arms out across the table. “‘Reinhardt the quitter’ they will call me! The loser, the weak link…” He sighed, the breath sitting heavy in his chest. “If only I had someone to watch my back,” he muttered into the table, beginning to doze with the sun shining so warm on his back. “Like a guardian angel…”

He slipped into a dream, after that, and was greeted by a beautiful angel with stark blonde hair. She smiled at him when he looked at her.

“Who are you?” He asked.

Her laugh was like soft church bells in the distance, the kind you wake up to on lazy Sunday mornings. She took his hand, guiding him to stand up, “I’m your guardian angel,” she cooed, her voice gentle and accented. She touched his cheek, “Your story is very sad to tell,”

Reinhardt tried to look away, shame coiled tight in his gut, but her hand on his cheek stopped him.

“Beauty school dropout,” she sighed, “You missed all your midterms,”

“And flunked shampoo,” he added, not meeting her eyes.

She squeezed his hand, “You could always turn in your teasing comb and go back to high school,”

“But I–”

The angel interrupted him by leaving a light kiss on his cheek, “Don’t blow it, beauty school dropout,” she whispered before Reinhardt woke up with a jolt. Confusion bloomed further in his chest, and after leaving a tip on the table he strode off to think more on his guardian angel’s advice.

Jack took a sip of his soda, eyes never leaving the screen of the drive-in theater. It was, in all honesty, a terrible movie and Jack hated how weak they portrayed the female lead. However, he wasn’t there to play movie critic. Gabe’s casual stretch and the solid weight of his arm over Jack’s shoulder reminded him of that. I’m not doing a very good job of staying angry, he thought.

Gabriel leaned over to murmur in his ear, “You can come closer, if you want,”

Jack forced himself not to smile and relaxed, tucking his head under Gabriel’s chin. “This okay?”

Gabriel hummed his assent.

The two paused, staring at the screen but not really watching the movie.

“Are you still mad at me?” Gabe asked.

“I…”

“Because I told you all that stuff with Amèlie wasn’t really a date or anything, and I meant it when I said sorry over the phone earlier.”

Jack met his eyes, worrying at his bottom lip and running his index finger through the condensation forming on the side of the soda can in his hand. He thought for a moment about his response, until finally landing on a simple: “I know,”

“Do you believe me? When I tell you I’m sorry?”

Now that’s the question of the night, isn’t it?

While Jack wanted to tell him all was forgiven, that he believed him and definitely still had feelings for him, he knew he couldn’t let someone walk all over him. Gabriel hadn’t been kind since Jack’s arrival at GCHS, and he had to understand that that wasn’t ok.

“I guess,” Jack said, “Just… if I’m going to forgive you, you have to respect me, or just not talk to me.” He took a deep breath, “Look, I really like you, Gabriel, but all this pressure isn’t healthy for either of us,”

Taking a short breath through his nose, Gabe squeezed Jack’s shoulder, considering his words. “Everything is so much easier when it’s just the two of us,” he said.

Jack laughed, resting his head against Gabriel’s shoulder, watching the female lead nearly get torn apart by a poorly rendered monster. “Isn’t that just life?” He teased.

A comfortable quiet fell over the two of them, even as many of the characters in the movie were killed in brutal fashion right before their eyes. Gabriel slid his arm off of Jack’s shoulders and fiddled with his class ring. It was gold with a large black stone in the middle and his initials carved on the inside. He twisted it on his finger before sliding it off.

“Hey, Jack?”

The tenderness in his voice was a welcome change, something reminiscent of ocean waves and clear night skies. Jack turned his attention to his date, curiosity piqued. Gabriel looked down at the ring and then held it out between them, eyes lowered and pink dusting his cheeks.

“I wanted to ask if you’d ah… take my ring,”

For a long time, Jack was unable to find words enough to express that feeling blooming in his chest. “I… I don’t know what to say,” he breathed.

Gabriel smiled, pressing the ring into Jack’s palm, “Then don’t say anything,”

Jack’s heart ached, and he was moving before his brain could fully comprehend what was going on. His lips met Gabriel’s, soft and gentle as Gabe reached out to cup his face and hold him closer.

Just like summer, they thought.

When they pulled apart, Jack giving a shy smile, Gabe still holding his face in his hands, it was like nothing bad had ever happened between them.

“I really like you, Jack,” he whispered, leaning in for another kiss. Jack gripped the lapels on Gabe’s shirt while Gabe curled his fingers into his hair. The kiss was messy, borderline wanton but Jack jumped when Gabriel’s hand brushed against the growing bulge in his pants.

“G-Gabe,” he gasped, pulling away.

Gabriel was too distracted marking his neck and gently stroking him through his pants to hear the quiet call. Jack felt his heart rate pick up and discomfort twist in his stomach. He wasn’t ready for that yet.

“Gabriel,”

He was quick to stop at the sound of Jack’s voice this time, eyes wide, face still flushed, but his hands kept to themselves. Gabriel felt guilt shudder across him in a viscous wave, “I’m so sorry, I should’ve asked first,” he said.

Jack relaxed at the worried look in Gabriel’s eyes, at the space he gave him. “I’m just not ready, not yet, at least. It’s okay, you stopped.”

Gabriel nodded in understanding, “I won’t push you, I’ll even take you home if you want me to,”

“Could we maybe finish the movie first?” Jack asked.

That seemed to soothe the frazzled expression on the T-Bird’s face, and soon the two men were cuddled together again, both ignoring the low ache forming in their chests.

Hello! Thank you so much for reading, as always. I had a terrible time writing this one but editing was a dream, for once. Usually it’s the opposite! But I hope you enjoyed this and continue to as I continue to write.

Like my work? Buy me a coffee!

Want to support your local fanfic author? Go to my AO3 and check me out!

Chapters: 1  2  3  4  5  6  Current

[nievia-writes]

Lube: Chapter 7 (Reaper76 Grease AU)

Title: Guardian Angels and Drive-In Movies Chapter: 7/9 Description: Reinhardt drops out of beauty school and struggles with the idea of telling his friends. Meanwhile, Jack and Gabriel try to smooth things over with a movie date. Pairing: Gabriel Reyes x Jack Morrison. Reaper x Soldier:76. Word Count: 2,799 Rating: Mature Note: WARNING! This has some very slight non-con at the very end (it is remedied I promise you and it is pretty much barely there).

The night was clear and cool, the stars shining overhead and accenting the fingernail moon. Jack sat on a nearby bench, watching the sky and twisting the edge of his coat between his fingers. Oh Gabe, he thought, sighing. Why can’t I just stay away from you? It would certainly be easier that way… He watched cars drive by every now and then -- likely students leaving early to have some “alone time” in a motel or some remote, beautiful place where teen romance could come to a head. A part of Jack envied them, but he was unsure if he would ever be ready to let anyone his age get that close to him.

Maybe Jesse is right; I am a prude. Jack mussed his hair, leaned over -- knees to his chest -- and blinked away the blurs forming in his eyes. “I’m such a fool,” he gasped, wincing at the tightness in his throat. I can’t just let this go, can I? Not after summer, not after--

“Jack! Thank God, I’ve been looking for you everywhere,”

Jack jolted, head snapping up to stare at Gabriel, who looked handsome and surprisingly soft in the dim starlight.

Jack wiped his eyes, pulling a scowl on his face, “What do you want? Just… go dance with that French chick,”

“I’m not going to, I don’t even like her,” Gabriel replied, closing the distance between himself and Jack.

“Then why dance with her?”

Gabe sighed, sitting down on the bench next to him, “She came with Hanzo, who ditched her for Jesse--”

Jack scoffed at that.

“And she just kinda forced me to do the contest with her,” Gabriel finished.

The blonde tipped his head back to watch the clouds pass over the stars above, letting the quiet sink in his bones after Gabriel’s words. “I… didn’t imagine at all that this would be how tonight played out,”

Gabriel rubbed his beard, “Me either.” He paused, glancing over to see Jack’s eyes reflect the moon. “I’m sorry, Jack.”

“I don’t know if an apology is gonna fix this, Gabe.”

Both fell quiet. Gabriel folded his hands on his lap and listened to the dull beats thumping from within the gym. He shoved one hand in his pocket and took out the tickets he won in the contest, “How about I take you to the drive-in? I ah… have some tickets here.”

Jack glared at him.

Frowning, Gabriel tucked the tickets back in his pocket, “Guess that’s a no…”

Jack didn’t reply, instead keeping his head back to look further into the night sky.

“Look, I have a lot of friends that expect me to act a certain way,” Gabriel said.

“You mean like an asshole?” Jack quipped.

“Jack--”

“Why don’t you just go with them, then? You obviously want to be like them, be with them.” He stood up, crossing his arms, and prepared to go home to put the whole night behind him.

“What about you?” Gabriel asked, standing up after him.

“What about me?”

Rubbing the back of his head, Gabe met the blonde’s eyes, “What do you expect from me?”

“For you to be yourself,” he said, eyes searching Gabriel’s.

That’s a fair thing to ask, Gabriel thought, watching the rise and fall of Jack’s chest, the slow-moving sorrow in his eyes. Jack shook his head, not wanting to wait any longer for a reply, and turned once more to leave.

“Wait,” Gabe called.

He stopped, turning to look at Gabriel over his shoulder.

“Can I call you tomorrow?”

A moment passed where Gabe thought his summer lover would reply, but Jack, instead, continued on his way. However, Jack, when he knew Gabriel couldn’t see it, let a small smile grow on his face.

Reinhardt sat alone in front of the town’s favorite local burger joint, twirling a straw among the contents of his milkshake. His shoulders rose and fell with a sigh, one of his huge palms held his chin up as he stared down at the cold treat, a short frown on his face. Wind blew, tousling his hair, but he didn’t make an attempt to fix it. Only the arrival of Sombra and Hanzo -- she with nerf gun, he with a nerf bow miming a shootout and Sombra’s subsequent death -- broke the German’s chain of melancholic thought . He shook his head at their antics, forcing a smile on his lips.

“Will you ever grow up, my friends?” He asked, voice unusually quiet and only partially teasing.

Sombra pouted, crossing her arms over her chest, nerf gun still clutched in one hand. It was only when she noticed the uncharacteristic slump of Reinhardt’s shoulders that she paused, “Hey, why so blue, pequiñito?” She took a seat across from him, placing the gun on the table between them as Hanzo moved to stand next to the table.

“Did you get kicked out of beauty school?” He asked.

Reinhardt looked between the two T-Birds before shrugging, “Oh, not at all, everything is going just fine!”

Sombra and Hanzo shared a glance, not believing him, but he grinned and motioned to their makeshift weapons before they could ask anything more.

“So, what is the arsenal for, then? Does a glorious battle stand before you?”

Sombra smirked, puffing out her chest, “We have a fight later with those um… ah, shit, what’re they called again?”

Hanzo rolled his eyes, “They call themselves the Flaming Talons,”

Reinhardt’s eyebrows shot up, “And what do they have against you?”

Hanzo deflated, looking away from the large German man, almost sheepish, “If you remember, I brought Amélie to the dance,”

“And then Jesse finally pulled your head outta your ass and Frenchie ended up dancing with our lovely jefe. They even won the contest!” Sombra said, a mischievous smile on her face, “But this isn’t even the best part, is it, dragón?”

Hanzo sighed and rubbed his forehead like he had a headache, “Turns out Amélie is already involved with someone,”

Sombra nudged Reinhardt, grinning at Hanzo and motioning for him to go on.

Hanzo glared at her, “And he just so happens to be the leader of the Talons… she told him everything,”

Reinhardt laughed at that with Sombra, both enjoying amusement at Hanzo’s expense until Gabriel jogged past. He had his head down, focused on his running shoes and pretending he didn’t see his friends, half-hoping they wouldn’t notice him. He needed to continue training, if only because he wanted to prove a point to Jack. But he had no such luck.

Sombra wolf-whistled at him, not doubt because of the short shorts and sweat-dampened t-shirt he was sporting, “Hey, Gabi, lookin’ good!”

Hanzo scoffed, “I see you’re still bent on training. That Jack really does have you by the b--”

Gabriel glared at him, coming to a stop next to the group, “I wouldn’t finish that sentence if I were you,” he grumbled with no real conviction.

Hanzo chuckled and raised his hands in defense, smiling.

Sombra leaned closer to Gabe, eyebrows waggling, “It’s actually a good thing you showed up, jefe. We’re gonna have a showdown with the Talons tonight,”

Gabriel’s eyes flicked to the nerf weapons, cracking a smile, “Oh, yeah? What time?”

“Nine o’clock, sharp,” Hanzo cut in.

Wincing, Gabe thought of his plans for that night. He couldn’t bail on Jack, not again, not when he was so close. But the T-Birds… they wouldn’t look at him the same way if they knew. He shuffled his feet, turning his eyes to the entrance of the burger joint, trying to come up with an excuse.

“Oh, I can’t. I got training until ah… nine-thirty,”

“Then sneak away,” Hanzo said.

Gabe grunted, “No way, the couch will kick my ass out if I do that,”

Sombra sputtered out a laugh like it was the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard. “The coach!”

Gabriel scowled, crossing his arms over his chest, “Yes, Sombra, the coach. What would I do, anyways? Kick someone’s face in with my running shoes?”

Sombra pouted, “Reyes, c’mon,”

“Look, I gotta go. I’m kinda in a hurry -- y’know, training and all that. I’ll see you around,”

“Reyes, there is no way we’ll win without you,” Hanzo said, a hard frown on his face.

Gabe shook his head, “The Talons are whackjobs, I’d back off,”

“You want us to surrender?! Are you sick or something?” Sombra exclaimed.

Gabe groaned inwardly, rubbing his forehead, “I’m just saying it isn’t worth it. I’ll see if I can meet up with you later, now I really gotta run.” Without waiting for a reply, Gabriel jogged away, ignoring the sinking feeling in his stomach.

Sombra rested her chin on her fist, watching Gabe’s back with a slight frown, “What’s up his ass? All he does now is run and bail out on us,”

Hanzo sighed, “The Flaming Talons versus the two of us… great fight. Let’s just go grab something to eat,”

Sombra tipped her head to look at him, “What about our big showdown?”

Hanzo shook his head, standing up and retrieving his nerf bow, “We will discuss it later.” He patted her shoulder and nodded to Reinhardt, who had long since gone back to staring into his milkshake in silence.

Sombra gave a half-hearted wave as Hanzo left. She sighed, drumming her fingers on the table, watching Reinhardt mope.

“Hey, Rein,” she said, catching his attention. He raised his eyebrows at her, blinking like she pulled him out of a dream. “You mind if I visit you at beauty school this week? We could grab a soda,”

Reinhardt smiled, but it didn’t meet his eyes, usually full of life and a gentle sort of kindness, “Sure, perhaps… later in the week, my friend,”

Sombra smiled, nudged his shoulder with a fist, and winked. “Alright! I’ll see you around, pequiñito.” And with that, she was gone, flouncing away with her nerf gun loose in one hand. As soon as she was out of sight, Reinhardt groaned letting his head drop to the table.

“How will I tell them I dropped out of beauty school?” He mumbled, stretching his arms out across the table. “‘Reinhardt the quitter’ they will call me! The loser, the weak link…” He sighed, the breath sitting heavy in his chest. “If only I had someone to watch my back,” he muttered into the table, beginning to doze with the sun shining so warm on his back. “Like a guardian angel…”

He slipped into a dream, after that, and was greeted by a beautiful angel with stark blonde hair. She smiled at him when he looked at her.

“Who are you?” He asked.

Her laugh was like soft church bells in the distance, the kind you wake up to on lazy Sunday mornings. She took his hand, guiding him to stand up, “I’m your guardian angel,” she cooed, her voice gentle and accented. She touched his cheek, “Your story is very sad to tell,”

Reinhardt tried to look away, shame coiled tight in his gut, but her hand on his cheek stopped him.

“Beauty school dropout,” she sighed, “You missed all your midterms,”

“And flunked shampoo,” he added, not meeting her eyes.

She squeezed his hand, “You could always turn in your teasing comb and go back to high school,”

“But I--”

The angel interrupted him by leaving a light kiss on his cheek, “Don’t blow it, beauty school dropout,” she whispered before Reinhardt woke up with a jolt. Confusion bloomed further in his chest, and after leaving a tip on the table he strode off to think more on his guardian angel’s advice.

Jack took a sip of his soda, eyes never leaving the screen of the drive-in theater. It was, in all honesty, a terrible movie and Jack hated how weak they portrayed the female lead. However, he wasn’t there to play movie critic. Gabe’s casual stretch and the solid weight of his arm over Jack’s shoulder reminded him of that. I’m not doing a very good job of staying angry, he thought.

Gabriel leaned over to murmur in his ear, “You can come closer, if you want,”

Jack forced himself not to smile and relaxed, tucking his head under Gabriel’s chin. “This okay?”

Gabriel hummed his assent.

The two paused, staring at the screen but not really watching the movie.

“Are you still mad at me?” Gabe asked.

“I…”

“Because I told you all that stuff with Amèlie wasn’t really a date or anything, and I meant it when I said sorry over the phone earlier.”

Jack met his eyes, worrying at his bottom lip and running his index finger through the condensation forming on the side of the soda can in his hand. He thought for a moment about his response, until finally landing on a simple: “I know,”

“Do you believe me? When I tell you I’m sorry?”

Now that’s the question of the night, isn’t it?

While Jack wanted to tell him all was forgiven, that he believed him and definitely still had feelings for him, he knew he couldn’t let someone walk all over him. Gabriel hadn’t been kind since Jack’s arrival at GCHS, and he had to understand that that wasn’t ok.

“I guess,” Jack said, “Just… if I’m going to forgive you, you have to respect me, or just not talk to me.” He took a deep breath, “Look, I really like you, Gabriel, but all this pressure isn’t healthy for either of us,”

Taking a short breath through his nose, Gabe squeezed Jack’s shoulder, considering his words. “Everything is so much easier when it’s just the two of us,” he said.

Jack laughed, resting his head against Gabriel’s shoulder, watching the female lead nearly get torn apart by a poorly rendered monster. “Isn’t that just life?” He teased.

A comfortable quiet fell over the two of them, even as many of the characters in the movie were killed in brutal fashion right before their eyes. Gabriel slid his arm off of Jack’s shoulders and fiddled with his class ring. It was gold with a large black stone in the middle and his initials carved on the inside. He twisted it on his finger before sliding it off.

“Hey, Jack?”

The tenderness in his voice was a welcome change, something reminiscent of ocean waves and clear night skies. Jack turned his attention to his date, curiosity piqued. Gabriel looked down at the ring and then held it out between them, eyes lowered and pink dusting his cheeks.

“I wanted to ask if you’d ah… take my ring,”

For a long time, Jack was unable to find words enough to express that feeling blooming in his chest. “I… I don’t know what to say,” he breathed.

Gabriel smiled, pressing the ring into Jack’s palm, “Then don’t say anything,”

Jack’s heart ached, and he was moving before his brain could fully comprehend what was going on. His lips met Gabriel’s, soft and gentle as Gabe reached out to cup his face and hold him closer.

Just like summer, they thought.

When they pulled apart, Jack giving a shy smile, Gabe still holding his face in his hands, it was like nothing bad had ever happened between them.

“I really like you, Jack,” he whispered, leaning in for another kiss. Jack gripped the lapels on Gabe’s shirt while Gabe curled his fingers into his hair. The kiss was messy, borderline wanton but Jack jumped when Gabriel’s hand brushed against the growing bulge in his pants.

“G-Gabe,” he gasped, pulling away.

Gabriel was too distracted marking his neck and gently stroking him through his pants to hear the quiet call. Jack felt his heart rate pick up and discomfort twist in his stomach. He wasn’t ready for that yet.

“Gabriel,”

He was quick to stop at the sound of Jack’s voice this time, eyes wide, face still flushed, but his hands kept to themselves. Gabriel felt guilt shudder across him in a viscous wave, “I’m so sorry, I should’ve asked first,” he said.

Jack relaxed at the worried look in Gabriel’s eyes, at the space he gave him. “I’m just not ready, not yet, at least. It’s okay, you stopped.”

Gabriel nodded in understanding, “I won’t push you, I’ll even take you home if you want me to,”

“Could we maybe finish the movie first?” Jack asked.

That seemed to soothe the frazzled expression on the T-Bird’s face, and soon the two men were cuddled together again, both ignoring the low ache forming in their chests.

Hello! Thank you so much for reading, as always. I had a terrible time writing this one but editing was a dream, for once. Usually it’s the opposite! But I hope you enjoyed this and continue to as I continue to write.

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Chapters: 1  2  3  4  5  6  Current  8  9

[nievia-writes]

Quick Update...

Jesus it feels like it’s been forever since I’ve posted something! I’m sorry, you guys. I had a lot going on (personal family stuff, college stuff, etc.) but the next chapter of Lube is SO CLOSE to being done.

I’m in the editing phase and I had to rewrite a scene a couple of times but... I hope it’s good anyways!

I will be answering asks and posting a couple finished fics that I’ve been sitting on for a while, so stay tuned for that as well. Expect some McHanzo and some soft Reaper76 coming up!

Also... I decided to get a ko-fi account so... if you wanna buy me a coffee just click HERE. I’ll make a less informal post about it shortly after posting chapter 7 of Lube.

[nievia-writes]

Damn I need some soft, sweet Gabriel Reyes... perhaps I'll write some Reaper76 fluff to break up all the sad dad shit I've been doing? Ideas, anyone?