The Villain Wrangler | Overwatch

Chapter 13

Angelica was sitting in the common room, dealing with some paperwork, the dragons curled on her lap, when Jesse walked in.

"Ya know what? We ain't had a decent cookout or bonfire for ages," he announced to the room at large. "So, we got beer, brats, steaks are marinatin', dogs, burgers, and tunes. Let's do this."

Jack looked up from the disassembled biotic canister at that. Gabe glared at him.

"No. Absolutely not. You are not going to dig up that monstrosity. I will lock you out of the base naked if you bring that thing back to light."

Jack just grinned slowly and walked out, Gabe following, protesting loudly.

Angelica watched them leave, then turned to Jesse.

"What was that all about?"

Jesse chuckled as he chivvied her down the hall. "Jack enjoys grilling, and always used to wear an apron with a stupid pun on it." He considered. "And shorts, and socks and sandals. He seemed to enjoy himself, anyway. C'mon, lets go shake up the rest and get some stuff set up."

She followed his lead as he gathered the rest of the team, everyone lending a hand to haul a huge grill and chairs and umbrellas out of storage and to the beach. Jesse and Reinhardt headed off to see what driftwood they could find, while everyone else made themselves busy, setting up chairs and umbrellas, grabbing coolers for drinks and snacks. Sombra dragged Lúcio to the town to get sodas and the makings for s'mores.

Jack came out, carrying a tray of utensils. Angelica hid a smile. He had changed into a red and white Hawaiian shirt, cargo shorts, and Jesse's promised socks and sandals. The whole get-up was capped off with blue shades, and an equally blue apron emblazoned "Raise the Steaks". Angelica thought it was endearing, actually.

Gabe had changed too, wearing white linen pants, sandals, and an orange and white patterned shirt. He was glaring at Jack, carrying a pair of guitar cases over his shoulder. Angelica planted the last umbrella and approached him.

"It's cute. Why give him a hard time?" She took one of the guitar cases from him as he grinned.

"Honestly? Because it's fun. And it was less cute when he did it at twenty. But now, it's something I've always given him a hard time over. Why stop now?"

She laughed at that. "So, you both play?"

"Oh, God no. Jack does. The other one's Jesse's. I never had the patience or the time to learn. Not at the same time, anyway." He set the guitar down in an empty seat and watched Jack at the grill. "This was a good idea. Remind me to thank the ingrate later."

She swatted him lightly, placing her guitar next to his. He grinned at her as she walked back inside to change.

The rest of the day was spent on the beach, Angela hounding everyone to drink water, too, and making sure everyone was wearing sunscreen. Lúcio set up a sound system, which Sombra promptly hacked to play music from everyone's personal music collections. Genji managed to convince Hanzo to join in on an impromptu volleyball game against Lúcio and Lena. Shortly afterward, it was ruled that the brothers were no longer allowed to play on the same team. Zenyatta floated a short distance away, meditating and floating rocks and shells in complex patterns, while Winston built a sandcastle in the shape of the Watchpoint.

Angelica stayed near Jack, Gabe, and the grill, listening to them reminisce about earlier parties.

They were interrupted by Jesse, dripping and grinning.

"Ay, Reyes. We're about to play a few rounds of chicken fight. You want in, or do you yield the title?"

Gabe glared over the rim of his sunglasses. "You wish. Hey, Ange? Wanna be on the wining team?"