@sightlines

[mylawn]

[All in all, things could have gone much worse.

Null Sector was stopped. The hostages are safe and King's Row is liberated. Things are back in the hands of the British government, and their little four-person team has returned to headquarters. They've been debriefed, and the mission was, arguably, a success. Despite that apparent fact, Jack has been fielding phone calls from Petras and the Prime Minister and all manner of people who are now extremely angry with him. He expects to be brought up on charges sooner rather than later, but right now it's late, and the calls have all fallen silent.

Jack is going to take advantage of the precious few hours of peace while he can--there will be meetings and interviews and press conferences in the morning, but for now he has a six pack and he's on his way to Ana's office, because after today they probably deserve a break.

He knows she's up, because the two of them hardly ever sleep, to say nothing of trying to rest after a day like today. Still, he's not rude about it, knocking on her door and waiting for the answer before holding up the beer, shrugging a little.]

Thought we could use this.

[A sort of modest congratulations, maybe, while they have the opportunity. Before all of the nitty-gritty of the mission comes out. Despite what the worlds' governments will say tomorrow, they can't deny that Overwatch saved lives today. That's something to celebrate.]

Comments

[sightlines]

[ It's so many kinds of inappropriate. But appropriate means nothing more than reserved friendship, and cold nights alone in their offices or quarters, and figureheads of a failing organization frozen into images of themselves. She's tired of it. And after their years of struggle, don't they deserve to be a little inappropriate, if they want?

She takes her time with the kiss till she's satisfied, luxuriating in the way he lets her lead. Pulling away, she catches his hands in her own -- smaller, but equally calloused -- and looks him up and down, a long purposeful glance. ]

I'm thinking about how I want you tonight. [ she breathes, then makes a considering noise in her throat. ]

Shall I let you come? Or leave you wanting? Let you have the use of your voice, or order you to be quiet? You've been doing an awful lot of talking lately.

[mylawn]

[Even though he knows it's coming, Jack can't help the way his breath hitches a little in his throat as they move from business to something a little less so. He spends all of his time making decisions and being the go-to for an immeasurable number of choices that the prospect of having someone call the shots excites him more than it should, he thinks--doubly so when that person is Ana. It's a dynamic they've settled into as their incredibly irresponsible activities have evolved, and in a way it makes him feel a little better about engaging with his second in such a way. She gets to call the shots.

He lets her take his hands, raising an eyebrow at the way she gives him an obvious once-over. He'd come here pretending like this wasn't his intent, but of course he can't hide anything from her for too long.]

Had a lot to say.

[Jack gives her a crooked little smile, more in anticipation of what's to come than anything else. He knows full well that she'll wipe it off his face if she so chooses, so he's going to take advantage of being cheeky for as long as he can, leaning in a little to try and press his lips to her neck.]

Saved the world again today, you know.

[sightlines]

Someone's full of himself.

[ Ana's tone is teasing despite the reprimand: she's feeling indulgent. The kiss is permitted; she even tilts her head to allow access, her long unbraided dark hair falling over one shoulder. She wraps fingers around his wrist, trails her other hand up an arm, tracing the lines of corded muscle, her thumb brushing the crook of his elbow. Then she switches direction, her fingers creeping lower till she's toying with his belt buckle. ]

How about this. Ask me for something, and I'll decide if you deserve it.

[ She deliberately leaves the question wide open, almost threateningly vague. A challenge he can put his brilliant tactical mind to. Or perhaps he'll flounder, the Strike Commander thrown off his game. Either way could be fun for both of them. ]

[mylawn]

I think you like it.

[If only because they both know that Jack would much prefer not being paraded around as some kind of paragon--that he hates the statue outside with every fiber of his being, and would rather do good on his own terms than receive medals and accolades. Not that people stop giving him medals and accolades. At the very least, he can hope that this is just joking, that securing peace is its own reward, that it hasn't gone to his head. Another reason he's glad to have Ana. She grounds him in more ways than she knows.

Or maybe she does know it--very little actually gets past her, no matter how hard Jack tries.

Even now, he can tell that this is a test, that she's waiting for him to give a good answer or for him to fumble entirely, though he's not sure how she could possibly blame him if it ends up being the latter. Ana does things to him that he can barely describe, and already he's set to be done talking. He tells himself it wouldn't be as fun without the challenge, and that helps temper his impatience, if only a little.

Jack talks between kisses, running his mouth up the line of her neck as she exposes it to him. He decides to start small--get her yes-es and no-s incrementally, and his hands run up to the collar of her shirt.]

Let me take this off.