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( from here )
He shouldn't have been surprised that Stark knew who he was. Still, it had been a shock to see the man use his name so casually. A name he was supposed to have left behind. Perhaps it was a good thing he'd been in the neighborhood on other business, since the conversation he needed to have was best to handle immediately and not over a channel that kept such concise records.
Offering to assist the Avengers had been a decision he'd questioned for so long. It was a risk at the time, and it seemed history was doomed to repeat itself. He knew, after the fact, it had been some vestigial hope of sorts, seeing a group trying to achieve what he'd failed to do. It was in Rogers he'd seen his old self, in more ways than he cared to admit. For that reason, it was Stark he worked with most. Maybe he didn't want the young faced soldier to have such a long look at where his future could lead. Maybe he thought Stark's cynicism would be more beneficial. Whatever the reason, it hadn't stopped the inevitable. It was for the best, he'd told himself, that he'd only been loosely affiliated. It hadn't been his responsibility. This time.
After sending his message to the man, Soldier 76 tucked his phone away and took a running leap off the roof from where he'd been perched for some time. How he got up there is his own secret. He landed hard and loud, intentionally so, on the space Stark himself used as a landing pad. The glow of his visor shone bright against the black of the night sky as he approached the glass.
[ I've fallen behind on my Marvel movies, so I left it vague. But if I'm totally off-base, let me know. ]
He shouldn't have been surprised that Stark knew who he was. Still, it had been a shock to see the man use his name so casually. A name he was supposed to have left behind. Perhaps it was a good thing he'd been in the neighborhood on other business, since the conversation he needed to have was best to handle immediately and not over a channel that kept such concise records.
Offering to assist the Avengers had been a decision he'd questioned for so long. It was a risk at the time, and it seemed history was doomed to repeat itself. He knew, after the fact, it had been some vestigial hope of sorts, seeing a group trying to achieve what he'd failed to do. It was in Rogers he'd seen his old self, in more ways than he cared to admit. For that reason, it was Stark he worked with most. Maybe he didn't want the young faced soldier to have such a long look at where his future could lead. Maybe he thought Stark's cynicism would be more beneficial. Whatever the reason, it hadn't stopped the inevitable. It was for the best, he'd told himself, that he'd only been loosely affiliated. It hadn't been his responsibility. This time.
After sending his message to the man, Soldier 76 tucked his phone away and took a running leap off the roof from where he'd been perched for some time. How he got up there is his own secret. He landed hard and loud, intentionally so, on the space Stark himself used as a landing pad. The glow of his visor shone bright against the black of the night sky as he approached the glass.
[ I've fallen behind on my Marvel movies, so I left it vague. But if I'm totally off-base, let me know. ]
How the rest of the world hadn't put the pieces together and come to the obvious (and correct) conclusion stopped surprising Tony a long time ago. Too much misinformation, too many rumors, too little clearance- there were plenty of reasons and he had used them in his favor more often than not. Stirring up the rumor mill and giving Morrison a little more breathing room with a smokescreen wasn't helping, it's selfish. He couldn't call on a contractor if they're too damn paranoid to come out of hiding, right? It's pragmatic.
Appropriate detachment was something he'd had once upon a time. Reminding himself of those habits took work but it was kind of required. Couldn't function if he took every little jab personal, or the silence in the tower would well and truly drive him crazy.
Besides the inherent hypocrisy of working with someone unaffiliated with the accords to handle things when they couldn't, there wasn't so much as a twinge when he contacted Morrison deliberately. Tonight had been a deviation of the norm punctuated by an audible thwump of a body landing hard on the armor assembly pad among polite British conversation lilting through the room. Instinct had his arm up to call the armor in until the silhouette became familiar and-
How in the hell had Morrison gotten on top of his building in the first place? Sometimes he knew better than to ask and this would just have to remain one of those mysteries. FRIDAY cracked the door open with a hiss and Tony waved him in, shutting off the endless feed of less than important period drama in favor of pulling up the plotted data of Reaper and Talon's activities. "You know that line's secure, right?"
Not that he minded the visit but. Pride came first.
[ Vague works well! This is solid, thanks. ]
Appropriate detachment was something he'd had once upon a time. Reminding himself of those habits took work but it was kind of required. Couldn't function if he took every little jab personal, or the silence in the tower would well and truly drive him crazy.
Besides the inherent hypocrisy of working with someone unaffiliated with the accords to handle things when they couldn't, there wasn't so much as a twinge when he contacted Morrison deliberately. Tonight had been a deviation of the norm punctuated by an audible thwump of a body landing hard on the armor assembly pad among polite British conversation lilting through the room. Instinct had his arm up to call the armor in until the silhouette became familiar and-
How in the hell had Morrison gotten on top of his building in the first place? Sometimes he knew better than to ask and this would just have to remain one of those mysteries. FRIDAY cracked the door open with a hiss and Tony waved him in, shutting off the endless feed of less than important period drama in favor of pulling up the plotted data of Reaper and Talon's activities. "You know that line's secure, right?"
Not that he minded the visit but. Pride came first.
[ Vague works well! This is solid, thanks. ]
He looked over the space as he walked in, as he always did. It was too open for his taste. Too many windows. It made him itch, like he could feel a laser sight focused between his shoulder blades. Too much time in the field, too much time deep in hiding. It made him more than a little paranoid.
"Not secure enough," he said. What he was about to explain was not something that should have a written record. It was something he shouldn't be explaining at all. But Stark had proved himself more than trustworthy, and had yet to show any signs of going all darkside on him. Then again, he'd missed the signs before until it was too late to see the knife before it went into his back.
As he approached Stark, looking as uncomfortable as always in such a casual setting, he did something he'd never done before. He reached up and pulled away the face plate of his mask. He'd aged much since his supposed death, and acquired a great many scars. He was a different man than the last images of the late Jack Morrison.
"Let's start with how much you actually know."
"Not secure enough," he said. What he was about to explain was not something that should have a written record. It was something he shouldn't be explaining at all. But Stark had proved himself more than trustworthy, and had yet to show any signs of going all darkside on him. Then again, he'd missed the signs before until it was too late to see the knife before it went into his back.
As he approached Stark, looking as uncomfortable as always in such a casual setting, he did something he'd never done before. He reached up and pulled away the face plate of his mask. He'd aged much since his supposed death, and acquired a great many scars. He was a different man than the last images of the late Jack Morrison.
"Let's start with how much you actually know."
"Noted." He had a new method of encryption on the massive list of projects that needed handling, bumping it up the priority list wouldn't be difficult, especially if this was going to go the way he thought it would. "FRIDAY, kill the view."
The windows went opaque in short order as the lights dimmed, the plotted data of Reaper sightings and inventory of what was taken, who was killed (sometimes there's collateral damage and sometimes it was possible to hide an assassination in collateral; he wasn't unfamiliar with the concept) and what was left behind if anything. More often than not? Not much was left as evidence, not even DNA which-
Weird. But he'd seen weirder.
"Do you want me to start with what's in your veins or the relevant details?" Super Soldier Serum replication was a longstanding project in the medical world and one Stark Industries kept an eye on due to dear old dad's involvement back in the day with Project Rebirth. But that was digging back a little far for the current concerning behavior of 'what the fuck was this cell even planning' he'd been pouring over.
The windows went opaque in short order as the lights dimmed, the plotted data of Reaper sightings and inventory of what was taken, who was killed (sometimes there's collateral damage and sometimes it was possible to hide an assassination in collateral; he wasn't unfamiliar with the concept) and what was left behind if anything. More often than not? Not much was left as evidence, not even DNA which-
Weird. But he'd seen weirder.
"Do you want me to start with what's in your veins or the relevant details?" Super Soldier Serum replication was a longstanding project in the medical world and one Stark Industries kept an eye on due to dear old dad's involvement back in the day with Project Rebirth. But that was digging back a little far for the current concerning behavior of 'what the fuck was this cell even planning' he'd been pouring over.
If Morrison was someone capable of relaxing, he might have when the windows went opaque. He did, at least, feel a sense of relief, less exposed in some regards. But Stark was a high profile person, and an easy target with the way he advertised his location. Especially when he seemed to have just so many enemies. It did say something that the man was still alive, at least.
It took a great deal to surprise the old soldier, even more to get him to show it. But his eyes went wide as the data appeared around him. He twisted around, taking it in, rather stunned. He'd known Stark was smart and resourceful. But this went beyond his expectations. Beyond what should have been possible. Then that simple question gave him the answer he needed.
"That's meant to be classified," he said, sounding all too serious but raising an eyebrow. "Let's stick to what you know about Reaper. Specifically, before and how he became..." he gestured at the data vaguely. "...what he is." He didn't even know for sure what Reyes had become. Or just how much of the man actually remained.
It took a great deal to surprise the old soldier, even more to get him to show it. But his eyes went wide as the data appeared around him. He twisted around, taking it in, rather stunned. He'd known Stark was smart and resourceful. But this went beyond his expectations. Beyond what should have been possible. Then that simple question gave him the answer he needed.
"That's meant to be classified," he said, sounding all too serious but raising an eyebrow. "Let's stick to what you know about Reaper. Specifically, before and how he became..." he gestured at the data vaguely. "...what he is." He didn't even know for sure what Reyes had become. Or just how much of the man actually remained.
"Funny you should say that, it ties into the first bit. You have- and I'm not sure 'knockoff' is the appropriate term but it's damn close- a version of Erskine's serum in use. A point he made in his notes that went beyond 'enhanced reflexes, strength, and healing' was something he underlined and is probably relevant to your situation- and Reaper's. Good becomes great. Bad? Becomes worse. Not much to go off of from a scientific standpoint but." One of them was an old, determined soldier and one of them got blown up and became a wrathful murder cloud in a Halloween costume. "Reyes-"
Because that was the only other surviving member he could track down connected to Blackwatch or Overwatch on paper (and off, and off the record just to be safe) "Got the same brand. So it's either his sunny disposition or the serum mutating when exposed to a physical cascade of organ failure via the application of explosives. Wetwork's not my thing, I'd have to dig deeper into the original research to even begin hypothesizing how he is what he is or if it's reversible."
Because that was the only other surviving member he could track down connected to Blackwatch or Overwatch on paper (and off, and off the record just to be safe) "Got the same brand. So it's either his sunny disposition or the serum mutating when exposed to a physical cascade of organ failure via the application of explosives. Wetwork's not my thing, I'd have to dig deeper into the original research to even begin hypothesizing how he is what he is or if it's reversible."
Lowering his head, something that was almost a smile ghosted across his aged features. If this were almost anyone else, he would have been worried. He'd consider getting to word to Winston through anonymous channels to alert him to a data breach. He'd start searching for a means of destroying the data. Of keeping Stark quiet. But he'd seen how the man operated, and though trust wasn't exactly something Soldier held these days, it was close.
"This is one of those moments I'm glad you're not on their side," he mused as he lifted his head. "Not sure if the enhancement program had anything to do with it, but what Reyes became it's...something that I should have seen sooner. In the early days, we'd been good friends. Beyond brothers in arms. But when I was given the promotion to Strike Commander, he didn't take it well, despite being given a command of his own. With all I had on shoulders, I didn't see this until it was too late." Another ghost of a smile tugged onto his lips, sadder than before. "But given all you've shown me already, I'll bet you could tell me what I had for lunch the day of the explosion." It was strange talking this way, openly. He barely even spoke of these things with Ana.
"This is one of those moments I'm glad you're not on their side," he mused as he lifted his head. "Not sure if the enhancement program had anything to do with it, but what Reyes became it's...something that I should have seen sooner. In the early days, we'd been good friends. Beyond brothers in arms. But when I was given the promotion to Strike Commander, he didn't take it well, despite being given a command of his own. With all I had on shoulders, I didn't see this until it was too late." Another ghost of a smile tugged onto his lips, sadder than before. "But given all you've shown me already, I'll bet you could tell me what I had for lunch the day of the explosion." It was strange talking this way, openly. He barely even spoke of these things with Ana.
"Mysterious organizations using lethal means without regard to collateral damage aren't exactly my style. For one- black's not really my color. Or skullmasks, ruins my goatee." And he did work so hard to keep it well groomed. The rest of him might look like hell warmed over on occasion but the goatee? Was more or less a part of the Tony Stark Brand at this point. Keeping it tidy was a point of pride.
"Politics do bring out the worst in people." Tony was totally only commenting on the current subject, not the rubble of his own clusterfuck glimmering in the back of his eyes when he took too long to blink. This was enough of a project to keep his mind occupied and for that, and his mysterious (but not that mysterious at all, honestly Jack) guest he was somewhat grateful. Something that would keep his mind busy enough that he might actually get some real sleep when he exhausted himself. "Gotta know all the variables to see the result of the equation- even the boring ones. So that's Reaper. Then you've got the sniping spider which, well, purple catsuits aren't exactly what I'd call discreet but then again I run around in hotrod red armor."
But he wasn't a sniper. Images came up with fluid gestures, info on Widowmaker, Doomfist- "The man with the fist the size of his head and that's got to play merry hell on his spine, who designed that thing, it's beautiful and painful to look at- and the thorn in my side more often than not-"
No photo, but a symbol. A little holographic skull. "This sneaky little thing's been trying to poke into my systems for the past few years. Not sure how they're connected to the other three but I figure they've got to be."
"Politics do bring out the worst in people." Tony was totally only commenting on the current subject, not the rubble of his own clusterfuck glimmering in the back of his eyes when he took too long to blink. This was enough of a project to keep his mind occupied and for that, and his mysterious (but not that mysterious at all, honestly Jack) guest he was somewhat grateful. Something that would keep his mind busy enough that he might actually get some real sleep when he exhausted himself. "Gotta know all the variables to see the result of the equation- even the boring ones. So that's Reaper. Then you've got the sniping spider which, well, purple catsuits aren't exactly what I'd call discreet but then again I run around in hotrod red armor."
But he wasn't a sniper. Images came up with fluid gestures, info on Widowmaker, Doomfist- "The man with the fist the size of his head and that's got to play merry hell on his spine, who designed that thing, it's beautiful and painful to look at- and the thorn in my side more often than not-"
No photo, but a symbol. A little holographic skull. "This sneaky little thing's been trying to poke into my systems for the past few years. Not sure how they're connected to the other three but I figure they've got to be."
Through most of this, Soldier's face had been just shy of stony. Stoic and serious, generally unphased by it, beyond the mild surprise at how much Stark actually knew. But that one symbol, combined with the news that it had been in Stark's systems, got a reaction.
The moment the little, stylized skull appeared, he jerked back as if he'd been slapped. His gaze swept across the information and the room around them, as if he expected to see that girl lurking in the shadows. When the seriousness slammed down over the surprise, there was a frantic edge to it. An urgency.
"You need to erase all of this data. Immediately. If she hasn't taken your systems down, there's a reason." Stark was good, but Sombra was better. And someone as dependent on technology as Stark was, he was at more risk than anyone. One encounter with her in person was all he'd needed to know that. She'd barely touched him and took his equipment offline. He hadn't even known is visor could be hacked until then.
"She's not poking. She's WATCHING." His gaze swept the room again. Security cameras. Every system automated. This wasn't good.
The moment the little, stylized skull appeared, he jerked back as if he'd been slapped. His gaze swept across the information and the room around them, as if he expected to see that girl lurking in the shadows. When the seriousness slammed down over the surprise, there was a frantic edge to it. An urgency.
"You need to erase all of this data. Immediately. If she hasn't taken your systems down, there's a reason." Stark was good, but Sombra was better. And someone as dependent on technology as Stark was, he was at more risk than anyone. One encounter with her in person was all he'd needed to know that. She'd barely touched him and took his equipment offline. He hadn't even known is visor could be hacked until then.
"She's not poking. She's WATCHING." His gaze swept the room again. Security cameras. Every system automated. This wasn't good.
Edited 2017-10-13 18:56 (UTC)
"Because she can't get through? Give me some credit, Morrison, I'm not the one watching the network all the time, I've got a million other items on the docket and making sure one hacker, scarily skilled as she might be, stays out of SI's system and my personal network isn't something I can devote all day to. FRIDAY's on it." Like JARVIS before her, FRIDAY kept a tight reign on SI's data and defenses. There was too much that was sensitive to risk on any given day and habits born from working on defense contracts didn't just vanish because he's not making weapons for the military anymore. Also: Ultron. That had been...a thing and Tony did try to make a point to learn from his mistakes.
They had it covered.
"The tower might seem like a wireless model but to get access she'd have get access. Physically." Not often one built a damn server farm in the basement but it was only efficient, and as an engineer Tony delighted in efficient building practices. "I've been doing this for awhile. I know what I'm doing."
They had it covered.
"The tower might seem like a wireless model but to get access she'd have get access. Physically." Not often one built a damn server farm in the basement but it was only efficient, and as an engineer Tony delighted in efficient building practices. "I've been doing this for awhile. I know what I'm doing."
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Soldier took a slow breath, his eyes squeezed shut. It wasn't often he ran up against situations he couldn't solve by hitting them. Not these days, anyway. It was supposed to be better this way. He could do the work that needed to be done, no one needed to be convinced. But here he was back in the same situation that had driven him to this. Dealing with egos.
When he spoke again, there was tension in his voice, the strain of holding himself back. The pressure of trying to pick the right words, without yelling. That sort of charisma used to be second nature to him, but it was just one of many things he'd lost in that explosion.
"She already has access. This--" he jabbed his finger the logo. "--Isn't her showing off. She doesn't sign her work. She's a ghost. She's taunting you, Stark. She's...you've never seen anything like her."
When he spoke again, there was tension in his voice, the strain of holding himself back. The pressure of trying to pick the right words, without yelling. That sort of charisma used to be second nature to him, but it was just one of many things he'd lost in that explosion.
"She already has access. This--" he jabbed his finger the logo. "--Isn't her showing off. She doesn't sign her work. She's a ghost. She's taunting you, Stark. She's...you've never seen anything like her."
"Considering a distinct lack of incriminating files, blackmail attempts, or replicas of my work wandering around the world- if she has access and is just sitting on it? She might be unlike anything I've seen but she's an idiot." Or playing a long game, which- well. He could give her props to that. FRIDAY started the obligatory comb of the servers all the same; the sooner they found the breach? The better. "So either she's in and I'm fucked-"
Which he doubted but hell, he'd been wrong before.
"Or she's attempting to goad me into reacting. Not a dumb call but dumping this data leaves us with nothing but what's on hardcopy." And that was a bitch and a half to dig through.
Which he doubted but hell, he'd been wrong before.
"Or she's attempting to goad me into reacting. Not a dumb call but dumping this data leaves us with nothing but what's on hardcopy." And that was a bitch and a half to dig through.
A low sound erupted from Soldier's throat, somewhere between a growl and a grunt, frustrated that Tony refused to see the threat. She had allies. She could snatch up his schematics and sell them to the highest bidder. She could dismantle his company one piece at a time. She could be feeding his tracking data to Reaper direction, to throw things off and make him harder to find. And that was just the easy to see options.
With a huff, he unclipped his mask from where he'd stuck it on his belt. "She hacked this," he jabbed the edge of it against Tony's chest then dropped it on the table between them. "It took her a fraction of a second." He planted both hands on the table, leaning toward him. "Prove to me you're better than she is. Disable it without shutting it down. Without touching it."
With a huff, he unclipped his mask from where he'd stuck it on his belt. "She hacked this," he jabbed the edge of it against Tony's chest then dropped it on the table between them. "It took her a fraction of a second." He planted both hands on the table, leaning toward him. "Prove to me you're better than she is. Disable it without shutting it down. Without touching it."
( from here. )
Staying put never sat well with Soldier, no matter the scale. It was one of the many areas he and Ana differed, it seemed. In the days he didn't have a mission or plan to focus on he felt unsettled. Waiting for things to happen was not his strong suit. It's why he was out when he received Ana's rather personal message. He called it patrolling, it was better than saying he needed to get out. They'd picked the building for its security, for the low threat of the area. But he still swept the area on a regular basis. Paranoid? Probably. But the longer they stayed, the more often he felt the need to do it.
Tonight he'd wandered further than usual. Part of him had been hoping to find something he could call a threat. Places like this always had at least some small band of thugs causing trouble. If he had some problem to tackle, he could put off considering something bigger. He'd received the call to reform Overwatch, which was something he neither wanted to consider nor respond to. He had a different mission now. Nevermind the fact that he shouldn't have received it in the first place, being considered dead and all. The reason for that was another thing he didn't want to consider.
But even as stubborn as he was, he could read between the lines of Ana's request. It wasn't about the tea, it was what people did over tea. And talking was something he'd been avidly avoiding since the call went out, but he couldn't put it off forever. He might be lucky and she'd want to discuss something else, but he doubted it. So he headed back to the building they were using these days.
"Alright, I'm humoring you," he said as he stepped into the kitchen, slipping off the front of his mask. He found his way to the small table, sitting down as he worked on removing his gloves and the rest of the mask.
Staying put never sat well with Soldier, no matter the scale. It was one of the many areas he and Ana differed, it seemed. In the days he didn't have a mission or plan to focus on he felt unsettled. Waiting for things to happen was not his strong suit. It's why he was out when he received Ana's rather personal message. He called it patrolling, it was better than saying he needed to get out. They'd picked the building for its security, for the low threat of the area. But he still swept the area on a regular basis. Paranoid? Probably. But the longer they stayed, the more often he felt the need to do it.
Tonight he'd wandered further than usual. Part of him had been hoping to find something he could call a threat. Places like this always had at least some small band of thugs causing trouble. If he had some problem to tackle, he could put off considering something bigger. He'd received the call to reform Overwatch, which was something he neither wanted to consider nor respond to. He had a different mission now. Nevermind the fact that he shouldn't have received it in the first place, being considered dead and all. The reason for that was another thing he didn't want to consider.
But even as stubborn as he was, he could read between the lines of Ana's request. It wasn't about the tea, it was what people did over tea. And talking was something he'd been avidly avoiding since the call went out, but he couldn't put it off forever. He might be lucky and she'd want to discuss something else, but he doubted it. So he headed back to the building they were using these days.
"Alright, I'm humoring you," he said as he stepped into the kitchen, slipping off the front of his mask. He found his way to the small table, sitting down as he worked on removing his gloves and the rest of the mask.
Edited 2017-10-15 07:47 (UTC)
The apartment was certainly not the worst she'd seen in all her years as a ghost. Old water stains on the walls and a kitchen stove that ran on gas -- a relic from the last century, to be sure. But it worked well enough, the water beginning to hiss in the battered tin kettle she'd scrounged from somewhere. She set out two mugs, her tea strainer propped on the chipped rim of one of them. Even in all the varying situations of scarcity she'd lived though, she'd always made a point to acquire tea leaves rather than bags.
How strange, Ana reflected, that she and Jack should have ended up here together. Slumming it on the edges of a city only half-rebuilt after the Crisis. The Crisis which had made them heroes, household names the world over. Who would have imagined them decades later, worn out in some places, hardened in others?
She glanced over her shoulder at the scrape of chair legs.
"Kind of you," she said, her voice dry. "A deed of true heroism."
How strange, Ana reflected, that she and Jack should have ended up here together. Slumming it on the edges of a city only half-rebuilt after the Crisis. The Crisis which had made them heroes, household names the world over. Who would have imagined them decades later, worn out in some places, hardened in others?
She glanced over her shoulder at the scrape of chair legs.
"Kind of you," she said, her voice dry. "A deed of true heroism."
He looked up at her, just raising one dark eyebrow. Very funny, Ana.
The comparison between what they had, the way the world thought of them, and where they were now was just yet another thing he intentionally didn't think about. What did all of that visibility get them, in the end? The world may have seen them as grand heroes, beacons of hope, but in the end what could they really do? For all the scrounging and squatting they had to do, it was easier this way. For the most part. Or so he'd convinced himself.
Peeling the head piece free at last, he set it on top of his gloves beside him at the table. Having decided to face the decision, he saw no reason to drag it out further.
"Been hearing rumors of Talon activity in Los Angeles. I think maybe we should head that way, check it out."
Okay, not really. And those "rumors" were still unconfirmed.
The comparison between what they had, the way the world thought of them, and where they were now was just yet another thing he intentionally didn't think about. What did all of that visibility get them, in the end? The world may have seen them as grand heroes, beacons of hope, but in the end what could they really do? For all the scrounging and squatting they had to do, it was easier this way. For the most part. Or so he'd convinced himself.
Peeling the head piece free at last, he set it on top of his gloves beside him at the table. Having decided to face the decision, he saw no reason to drag it out further.
"Been hearing rumors of Talon activity in Los Angeles. I think maybe we should head that way, check it out."
Okay, not really. And those "rumors" were still unconfirmed.
Without turning around, Ana raised one finger.
"Tea first."
Her tone was mild, but something under it said don't argue with me. Whatever it was they needed to get out between them, Ana would not be ready for it until she had a hot drink cupped in her hands. She'd talked Jack down enough times over the years that she knew she needed all the sustenance she could get.
The water finally boiled, the kettle letting out a long, forlorn whistle. She flicked off the gas and poured the tea. Steam rose from the cups, the chilly air coaxing it into long curling wisps.
She set one mug in front of Jack, then took a seat across him with the other.
"So. Talk to me. Los Angeles."
"Tea first."
Her tone was mild, but something under it said don't argue with me. Whatever it was they needed to get out between them, Ana would not be ready for it until she had a hot drink cupped in her hands. She'd talked Jack down enough times over the years that she knew she needed all the sustenance she could get.
The water finally boiled, the kettle letting out a long, forlorn whistle. She flicked off the gas and poured the tea. Steam rose from the cups, the chilly air coaxing it into long curling wisps.
She set one mug in front of Jack, then took a seat across him with the other.
"So. Talk to me. Los Angeles."
He started to protest, the first syllable already on his lips as she spoke. He knew that tone a little too well. Even as stubborn as he was, he knew well enough to wait. It gave him a chance to gather his thoughts further. Chase them around. Debate himself. As she worked with the tea, he worked on shedding more of his gear. The vials strapped to his arm, armor under his jacket, items from his belt. By the time she brought the tea it was laid out across half the small table, ready to be inspected.
Muttering his thanks, he wrapped his hands around the mug. He wasn't much of a tea person, but even he had to admit the warmth felt good. Sometimes, small comforts mattered even to a calloused husk like him.
"Rumors," he repeated. "High profile targets turning up dead. Sightings of a black cloud. Sounds worth checking out." It was Los Angeles, though. That was hardly enough to go on. But he'd rather chase ghosts than answer the call.
Muttering his thanks, he wrapped his hands around the mug. He wasn't much of a tea person, but even he had to admit the warmth felt good. Sometimes, small comforts mattered even to a calloused husk like him.
"Rumors," he repeated. "High profile targets turning up dead. Sightings of a black cloud. Sounds worth checking out." It was Los Angeles, though. That was hardly enough to go on. But he'd rather chase ghosts than answer the call.
Ana did not reply immediately. She took a sip of her tea. The tannin in it was a hint of bitterness against her tongue.
"Los Angeles is an eighteen-hour flight away." Her voice was carefully neutral. She fixed him with a stare from her good eye. "And I've heard the rumours too. We've been hearing them for months. Why are they suddenly so important?"
"Los Angeles is an eighteen-hour flight away." Her voice was carefully neutral. She fixed him with a stare from her good eye. "And I've heard the rumours too. We've been hearing them for months. Why are they suddenly so important?"
Gaze lowering to the mug in his hands, he didn't answer right away. There wasn't anything in Los Angeles. He'd been tracking those rumors, and they were little more than wisps. Unrelated events, corrupted through various channels of communication, degraded and warped. It wasn't the location, but the distance.
"Better than staying put," he offered. The did need to relocate soon. That much was true.
"Better than staying put," he offered. The did need to relocate soon. That much was true.
He was so transparent sometimes.
Maybe only to her, Ana thought. But they had lived through the years before the fall of Overwatch together, so perhaps that was why she saw it. All the time he'd spent taking the fall, hounded by reporters and ambassadors, by activists and presidents. She'd been at his right hand through each grueling meeting and painful press conference, until she'd run from it all.
Another thing they had in common.
"There are other places we could go," she offered. Pointedly. Then, tired of the ever-growing elephant in the room: "You saw the message too."
Maybe only to her, Ana thought. But they had lived through the years before the fall of Overwatch together, so perhaps that was why she saw it. All the time he'd spent taking the fall, hounded by reporters and ambassadors, by activists and presidents. She'd been at his right hand through each grueling meeting and painful press conference, until she'd run from it all.
Another thing they had in common.
"There are other places we could go," she offered. Pointedly. Then, tired of the ever-growing elephant in the room: "You saw the message too."
It hadn't seemed so difficult back then. Taking that burden had been necessary to allow his team to operate. He may have shouldered the burden himself, but he had support. He had Ana, and Reyes, and all that he believed in about doing the right thing. About protecting people. When they thought Ana had died, it had been a devastating blow, but they managed to recover. But then came the double hit of his beliefs being ripped out from under him by his superiors and what Reyes did...he'd collapsed under the weight. If Ana had been there for the London events, maybe it wouldn't have hit so hard. Maybe.
To the untrained eye, he seemed to grow more serious at her words. But to someone like her, who knew him a little too well, the truth was all too obvious. The sternness of his face wasn't contemplation, but a grinding of teeth. He wasn't just holding the mug, he was clutching it. Hard. A faint tremor seemed to have found his way into his fingers. He'd resolved to be firm. To reject it outright. That wasn't where he belonged anymore. And still, he found the worst sticking in his throat.
"I...can't." There was a fierceness to his voice, but it wasn't from his old conviction. There was no fire in his eyes as he said it.
To the untrained eye, he seemed to grow more serious at her words. But to someone like her, who knew him a little too well, the truth was all too obvious. The sternness of his face wasn't contemplation, but a grinding of teeth. He wasn't just holding the mug, he was clutching it. Hard. A faint tremor seemed to have found his way into his fingers. He'd resolved to be firm. To reject it outright. That wasn't where he belonged anymore. And still, he found the worst sticking in his throat.
"I...can't." There was a fierceness to his voice, but it wasn't from his old conviction. There was no fire in his eyes as he said it.
Ana watched him, her own fingers curled around the handle of her mug. To an untrained observer she was infinitely more relaxed than he, but the cant of her head and the slight narrowing of her eye betrayed her alertness.
"Tell me why."
Too often Jack left things unsaid, bottled them up until they spilled over in unintended ways. Perhaps a leftover from the old days when he'd had to keep himself carefully in check, the commander perfectly groomed for the public eye. But if anyone could coax him into talking, it was her. After everything...they owed each other no less than full honesty.
"Tell me why."
Too often Jack left things unsaid, bottled them up until they spilled over in unintended ways. Perhaps a leftover from the old days when he'd had to keep himself carefully in check, the commander perfectly groomed for the public eye. But if anyone could coax him into talking, it was her. After everything...they owed each other no less than full honesty.
For too long, he didn't move. He sat, watching the steam curl up from his mug. Too long to be merely gathering his thoughts in order to respond. This was not something he could speak so freely. It was one thing to go over it himself, but speaking it, even to Ana, made it seem suddenly too heavy to bear. He'd been prepared to make his stance, to argue against going back. But the way she asked why, his prepared reasons would not suffice.
"Because I can't, Ana." He wasn't just repeating himself. He took a slow breath and pushed on. "After all that happened, after all that I didn't do, after so many people died because..." the strength left his voice suddenly and he set his mug down. "...I was too blind to see it, all of it, coming." It wasn't just about what Reyes had done, but that was certainly a bulk of it. He couldn't face the oversight, the answering to governments, the waiting for approval, the sheer weight of decisions of the magnitude. At least now he didn't need to explain his actions to anyone, and he wasn't getting anyone else hurt. At least not anyone he cared about.
"Because I can't, Ana." He wasn't just repeating himself. He took a slow breath and pushed on. "After all that happened, after all that I didn't do, after so many people died because..." the strength left his voice suddenly and he set his mug down. "...I was too blind to see it, all of it, coming." It wasn't just about what Reyes had done, but that was certainly a bulk of it. He couldn't face the oversight, the answering to governments, the waiting for approval, the sheer weight of decisions of the magnitude. At least now he didn't need to explain his actions to anyone, and he wasn't getting anyone else hurt. At least not anyone he cared about.
She listened silently, giving him the space to finish. Even after he trailed off she took her time in answering, letting the tea warm her.
"I can't say we were always in agreement, toward the end. But I don't know if you -- if we -- could have done any more, Jack." Overwatch by then had grown into a bloated, overburdened organization, slowly and surely strangled by its own bureaucratic processes and conflicting alliances. She understood. She had run from it too, after all.
"You take too much on your shoulders."
He'd been the face of Overwatch, the hero. At times she'd looked at him and seen selfless responsibility; at other times, a hubris that she saw too often in powerful men who thought they were the center of the universe. Atlas with his endless burden.
"Even now. Who's to say that this new Overwatch won't be completely different? We couldn't return to being who we once were, even if we wanted to."
"I can't say we were always in agreement, toward the end. But I don't know if you -- if we -- could have done any more, Jack." Overwatch by then had grown into a bloated, overburdened organization, slowly and surely strangled by its own bureaucratic processes and conflicting alliances. She understood. She had run from it too, after all.
"You take too much on your shoulders."
He'd been the face of Overwatch, the hero. At times she'd looked at him and seen selfless responsibility; at other times, a hubris that she saw too often in powerful men who thought they were the center of the universe. Atlas with his endless burden.
"Even now. Who's to say that this new Overwatch won't be completely different? We couldn't return to being who we once were, even if we wanted to."
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