This story is the continuation of Behind closed doors so if you haven't read that one I suggest to start there. This novel is more storydriven than BCD and also involves more focus on the other characters in the Overwatch family.
The story picks up...
Mood: Legends never die - League of Legends, Against the current
Jesse woke up with a yawn and a stretch.
Confused, he looked around before remembering where he was.
He was drenched in sweat from being tucked tightly under the covers and the fever having clung off. He coughed a few times but other than that he was feeling a lot better.
He found the note that Ana had left next to him, telling him not to go after them and that they would be back later. He glanced over at a clock on the wall that said 15:07, so it shouldn't be too long before they returned.
He was still a bit bummed out by not being able to join Ana and Jack for Genji's rescue and couldn't help but worry about their safety. Even though he believed in their abilities to take care of themselves, a pair of extra hands would always come in handy when going into a dangerous place such as the Talon base. Deep down, he wished that they would have waited. As he had told them, he was feeling better now just a few hours later.
He undid himself from the covers and jumped in the shower. It felt amazing to rinse off the sweat and freshen up.
Last night had been quite rough on him emotionally and the prior physical altercation he had with Jack still had him feel drained. His talk with Jack had been long overdue and it finally enabled Jesse to face the nightmares that haunted him throughout all these years, his heart finally felt lighter again.
Even though he still deeply despised Jack for all he had done to him, he still respected the explanation he had gotten, as well as Jack for at the very least trying to heal Jesse's wounds. Of course Ana had forced them both to talk in the first place but Jack just could have dismissed or outright refused Jesse's feelings. Jack's visible honesty and remorse had managed to bring some semblance of peace to Jesse's burdened mind.
Had he forgiven him? Not at all. What Jack and Gabriel had done behind his back would never stop stinging. That and the fact that Gabriel had willingly gone back into a full-on relationship with Jack after they were presumed dead, after knowing what Jack had done to Jesse... but feelings... they are complicated, Jesse knew that better than most. If Jack and Gabriel truly wanted to be together, for whatever godforsaken reason, Jesse was not going to stop them.
For now, Jesse just wanted to get his best friend back and move on. The oldtimers could go back to doing whatever they felt like and Jesse could build himself a brand new, healthy...ier path in life for his own sake. After all these years, he finally felt ready. Ready to let go of both Gabriel and Hanzo to perhaps someday find someone that would actually be the right one. No complicated business about the past, mixed emotions, 'honor' or 'duties'. All of that stuff was only good for heartbreaks and movies.
Jesse finished up, went down to the hotel lobby and then outside. He lit a cigar, took a few drags and enjoyed the afternoon sun. The air was crispy cold with some snow still covering the ground.
He realized as his stomach was grumbling away that he should probably eat something. He took a walk to a nearby restaurant with a convenient view at the hotel entrance and ordered some food. It was the best meal he had since he stayed with Ana. Food tasted a lot better when body and mind weren't consumed by anxiety and anger.
As he finished his meal the evening sun was slowly drifting away so he went back to the hotel, treated himself to a cigar and then slumped down on a couch in the hotel lobby to wait for Jack and Ana. 'Waiting' here would ensure that they would find him once they came back.
He pulled his hat over his face and drifted off.
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