p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-top: 0px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" "Oh, come on! I don't get to bring Bunny along, but the cowboy gets to bring Stripes over there?" one of the soldiers groused, making his squadmates roll their eyes. The kid was one of ten soldiers who would be accompanying them to Gibraltar; five soldiers each, the two squads were more outfitted for easy ground work, with one of the two more accustomed to it than more difficult missions. Jesse knew one of the squads personally, he'd worked with them in the past, and them being there concerned him a bit. Just what did Jack expect them to find in Gibraltar?/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" Jesse caught Briallen tensing up, bristling at the soldier's comment. This behaviour wasn't unknown to him; he'd noticed how her bearing changed drastically depending on the company she was in. Around him and Hanzo, there was no tension, her wings hung lightly and loose, shifting with her laughter and smiles at his teasing and shitty jokes, around friends, she was a little tighter, still relaxed, but alert and less likely to lean into acts of physical affection. But around the soldiers? Her wings clung tightly to her back, stiff and twitching, as if they were prepared to spring into action and she looked almost guarded. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" "Hold your tongue, cadet," she snapped back, glaring at the young man. Her fingers tightened around the handle of her bag, her wings angled almost threateningly. She looked like a puffed up cat. "You've not even arrived at your new location yet, you don't want to piss off your medic and a commanding officer so soon."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" The rest of the cadet's squad laughed as his commander smacked the back of his head. "Apologise," he growled./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" The cadet, suddenly looking sheepish and his eyes settling anywhere but on Briallen, shuffled his feet and cleared his throat. "I-I," he stuttered, busying himself with adjusting his gear. "Ma'am, I-"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" "The phrase you're looking for, rookie, is 'I'm sorry, ma'am'," Jesse provided, placing a calming hand on Briallen's lower back, careful not to brush against her wings. He gave her a gentle nudge towards the transport, giving the young man a knowing look as he escorted his still bristling girlfriend onto the ship./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" Due to the amount of staff being transported 1,484 miles away from base, the ship they were taking was less of a civilian aircraft and more of a cargo ship, which meant no comfy seats for them, unfortunately, but it would do for the trip ahead. Jesse helped Briallen tuck her bag in the compartment above her seat before hefting his up next to it, watching with an amused look as Briallen settled into her seat with a huff. "You've been spending too much time with Angie, darlin'," he said, a soft laugh etched in his timbre./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" Smouldering amber eyes turned up to level a thin glare at him, making him actually chuckle. Her frown deepened. "I don't like being called 'Stripes'. It makes me feel self-conscious about my scars," she murmured eventually, looking away to the transport doors as one of the soon to be on-site medics made his way onboard. She almost looked like a pouting child sitting there with her arms crossed angrily over her chest and foot tapping quickly against the metal paneling beneath her./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" His smile faded a bit as she said this, finally seeing the actual hurt in her eyes that she hid behind her anger. Letting out a soft sigh he crouched down in front of her, setting his hands lightly on her knees./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" Taking the hint, she lowered one arm, slipping the hand into one of his, still looking away. Her stripes faced him, reminding him of the disaster that was her first mission. He still felt guilty for letting her go by herself. He knew she hadn't been ready, but he let her go anyway. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" While he couldn't say anything about Briallen's emotional health, the scars themselves had healed pretty well, no longer a bright angry red and instead settled into a soft pink a multitude of shades darker than her skin. Her blush tended to mottle oddly around the scarring, remaining one of Jesse's favourite things about her./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" He leaned forward, pressing a kiss on an un-marred part of her cheek and running his thumb across her knuckles. "No matter what they, or yourself, say about you, I will always think you are the most beautiful woman in the world," he said quietly, trying not to draw too much attention to her./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" A small smile cracked her mask, her cheeks lighting up with that adorable mottled blush as she turned to face him, the fire in her eyes tamed. "You're just saying that," she sighed, successfully distracted from her thoughts./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" He chuckled, giving her hand a squeeze. "I mean it more every time I say it, gorgeous." He reached up brushing her wayward hair from her eyes, the palm of his non-metallic hand caressing her unmarred cheek. "You take my breath away every time I look at you, Bri. I still can't believe I'm lucky enough to have you by my side."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" She giggled softly, rolling her eyes as she playfully pushed his face back. "It is a miracle that you managed to ensnare both me and Hanzo, you dork." Her laugh grew louder when he captured her hand in his and he started pressing reverent kisses to her knuckles. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" "I count my blessings everyday, darl," he said, feeling triumphant now that she'd fully relaxed. "In fact, I count you and Han twice."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" She snorted softly, rolling her eyes again as she pulled her hand away. "Dork," she teased, watching him with a smile as he stood and settled into the seat next to her./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" "Gorgeous," he replied, tipping his hat./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" Briallen was quick to fall asleep once the carrier took off, the chill and vibrations a lullaby to her. But it also meant she was at ease, her mind no longer a slave to the notions that had plagued it recently. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" That was good, Jesse thought, to no longer be subject to torturously worry about something she had no way of figuring out. Now that he put his mind to it, Jesse realised he really knew little to nothing about who Morrigan had been outside of what he'd seen when she was with Gabriel. He had no idea what her family was like, save for the fact that she was Aderyn's child, or that's what they had presumed. Morrigan had referred to Aderyn as "Mother" on a multitude of occasions, but, then, so had plenty of the other mutants they had detained during the Crisis. Maybe it was a status thing? Religious? Had Aderyn been forming a cult with her creations as its members? /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" Whatever the case, this was something that was important to Briallen, so he was determined to help her find some answers. He and the rest of Blackwatch had spent some time in Gibraltar during the old days, maybe he could find some info on things. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" Briallen shifted in her sleep, her head lolling over onto his shoulder as she wrapped her arms around one of his. A small smile split her lips as she snuggled into him./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" Jesse smiled, gently smoothing down her hair. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted the cadet from earlier watching with slight interest. His smile widening, Jesse leaned back in his seat and tilted his head to face him. "This is why you should always be nice to your medics, kid," he said softly, chuckling as the cadet blushed and quickly looked away./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;" /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" "Is it true, sir?" a voice spoke up, breaking through the general din of the small talk on board./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" Jesse looked up to see a young man from the squad he wasn't yet acquainted with. He looked to be about twenty three, with blonde hair cut in the marine high and tight style. He looked too young to be a soldier, Jesse could see it in his eyes. But the fact that he made it into Overwatch meant there was something about him that made him stick out more than the rest. Jesse was eager to see was it was./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" "Excuse me?" he asked, closing the book he'd brought with him. "Is what true?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" "That she's one of those mutants funneling out of Ireland," the soldier explained, gesturing towards Briallen with a nod of his head. "The ones with some grudge against humanity."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" The chattering din of the ship died down a bit, ears perked at the sudden topic./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" Jesse glanced down at the sleeping woman still tucked up against his side, then back up at the man. "What's your name, soldier?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" "Lance Corporal Sean Goebel, sir," the soldier said, automatically stiffening into a salute. "I was transferred to Overwatch from the American Marine Corps. They said I was worth more here than out on some ship, sir."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" "Did they now?" Jesse chuckled, leaning back in his seat. He ached for a cigar, but he knew better than to pull one out onboard, especially with Briallen next to him. He'd cut down for her, only after months of her nagging him about the affects of nicotine and smoke on his lungs and whole body in general. Sometimes it sucked to have a medic as a girlfriend. "And why was that?" he asked, scratching at his beard instead./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" Goebel shook his head. "I'm not sure, sir. I suppose I stood out more. Gunny had a thing for picking on me, but I suppose it was his way of toughening me up. He said I was destined for greater things, then shipped me off to Overwatch."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" Jesse regarded the kid for a moment, setting his book down in his lap. "Said your name was Goebel? That German?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" Goebel nodded. "Yes, sir, on my mother's side."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" "Hmm." Jesse looked at him thoughtfully before nodding and picking up his book to resume reading./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" The kid cleared his throat. "With all due respect, sir, you didn't answer my question."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" "That I didn't," he responded, not looking up from the page. "And you'd best put it out of your mind. She's one of your medics and that's all you need to know." He turned the page. "If you've got any problems with that, you'll have to answer to me."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" "Yes, sir," Goebel replied, sounding more than a little dejected. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" As if struck by the sudden silence, the chatter resumed and the attention swiveled away from the three of them./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" Jesse turned another page./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" Jesse caught Briallen tensing up, bristling at the soldier's comment. This behaviour wasn't unknown to him; he'd noticed how her bearing changed drastically depending on the company she was in. Around him and Hanzo, there was no tension, her wings hung lightly and loose, shifting with her laughter and smiles at his teasing and shitty jokes, around friends, she was a little tighter, still relaxed, but alert and less likely to lean into acts of physical affection. But around the soldiers? Her wings clung tightly to her back, stiff and twitching, as if they were prepared to spring into action and she looked almost guarded. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" "Hold your tongue, cadet," she snapped back, glaring at the young man. Her fingers tightened around the handle of her bag, her wings angled almost threateningly. She looked like a puffed up cat. "You've not even arrived at your new location yet, you don't want to piss off your medic and a commanding officer so soon."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" The rest of the cadet's squad laughed as his commander smacked the back of his head. "Apologise," he growled./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" The cadet, suddenly looking sheepish and his eyes settling anywhere but on Briallen, shuffled his feet and cleared his throat. "I-I," he stuttered, busying himself with adjusting his gear. "Ma'am, I-"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" "The phrase you're looking for, rookie, is 'I'm sorry, ma'am'," Jesse provided, placing a calming hand on Briallen's lower back, careful not to brush against her wings. He gave her a gentle nudge towards the transport, giving the young man a knowing look as he escorted his still bristling girlfriend onto the ship./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" Due to the amount of staff being transported 1,484 miles away from base, the ship they were taking was less of a civilian aircraft and more of a cargo ship, which meant no comfy seats for them, unfortunately, but it would do for the trip ahead. Jesse helped Briallen tuck her bag in the compartment above her seat before hefting his up next to it, watching with an amused look as Briallen settled into her seat with a huff. "You've been spending too much time with Angie, darlin'," he said, a soft laugh etched in his timbre./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" Smouldering amber eyes turned up to level a thin glare at him, making him actually chuckle. Her frown deepened. "I don't like being called 'Stripes'. It makes me feel self-conscious about my scars," she murmured eventually, looking away to the transport doors as one of the soon to be on-site medics made his way onboard. She almost looked like a pouting child sitting there with her arms crossed angrily over her chest and foot tapping quickly against the metal paneling beneath her./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" His smile faded a bit as she said this, finally seeing the actual hurt in her eyes that she hid behind her anger. Letting out a soft sigh he crouched down in front of her, setting his hands lightly on her knees./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" Taking the hint, she lowered one arm, slipping the hand into one of his, still looking away. Her stripes faced him, reminding him of the disaster that was her first mission. He still felt guilty for letting her go by herself. He knew she hadn't been ready, but he let her go anyway. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" While he couldn't say anything about Briallen's emotional health, the scars themselves had healed pretty well, no longer a bright angry red and instead settled into a soft pink a multitude of shades darker than her skin. Her blush tended to mottle oddly around the scarring, remaining one of Jesse's favourite things about her./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" He leaned forward, pressing a kiss on an un-marred part of her cheek and running his thumb across her knuckles. "No matter what they, or yourself, say about you, I will always think you are the most beautiful woman in the world," he said quietly, trying not to draw too much attention to her./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" A small smile cracked her mask, her cheeks lighting up with that adorable mottled blush as she turned to face him, the fire in her eyes tamed. "You're just saying that," she sighed, successfully distracted from her thoughts./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" He chuckled, giving her hand a squeeze. "I mean it more every time I say it, gorgeous." He reached up brushing her wayward hair from her eyes, the palm of his non-metallic hand caressing her unmarred cheek. "You take my breath away every time I look at you, Bri. I still can't believe I'm lucky enough to have you by my side."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" She giggled softly, rolling her eyes as she playfully pushed his face back. "It is a miracle that you managed to ensnare both me and Hanzo, you dork." Her laugh grew louder when he captured her hand in his and he started pressing reverent kisses to her knuckles. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" "I count my blessings everyday, darl," he said, feeling triumphant now that she'd fully relaxed. "In fact, I count you and Han twice."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" She snorted softly, rolling her eyes again as she pulled her hand away. "Dork," she teased, watching him with a smile as he stood and settled into the seat next to her./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" "Gorgeous," he replied, tipping his hat./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" Briallen was quick to fall asleep once the carrier took off, the chill and vibrations a lullaby to her. But it also meant she was at ease, her mind no longer a slave to the notions that had plagued it recently. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" That was good, Jesse thought, to no longer be subject to torturously worry about something she had no way of figuring out. Now that he put his mind to it, Jesse realised he really knew little to nothing about who Morrigan had been outside of what he'd seen when she was with Gabriel. He had no idea what her family was like, save for the fact that she was Aderyn's child, or that's what they had presumed. Morrigan had referred to Aderyn as "Mother" on a multitude of occasions, but, then, so had plenty of the other mutants they had detained during the Crisis. Maybe it was a status thing? Religious? Had Aderyn been forming a cult with her creations as its members? /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" Whatever the case, this was something that was important to Briallen, so he was determined to help her find some answers. He and the rest of Blackwatch had spent some time in Gibraltar during the old days, maybe he could find some info on things. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" Briallen shifted in her sleep, her head lolling over onto his shoulder as she wrapped her arms around one of his. A small smile split her lips as she snuggled into him./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" Jesse smiled, gently smoothing down her hair. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted the cadet from earlier watching with slight interest. His smile widening, Jesse leaned back in his seat and tilted his head to face him. "This is why you should always be nice to your medics, kid," he said softly, chuckling as the cadet blushed and quickly looked away./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; clear: none !important;" /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" "Is it true, sir?" a voice spoke up, breaking through the general din of the small talk on board./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" Jesse looked up to see a young man from the squad he wasn't yet acquainted with. He looked to be about twenty three, with blonde hair cut in the marine high and tight style. He looked too young to be a soldier, Jesse could see it in his eyes. But the fact that he made it into Overwatch meant there was something about him that made him stick out more than the rest. Jesse was eager to see was it was./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" "Excuse me?" he asked, closing the book he'd brought with him. "Is what true?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" "That she's one of those mutants funneling out of Ireland," the soldier explained, gesturing towards Briallen with a nod of his head. "The ones with some grudge against humanity."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" The chattering din of the ship died down a bit, ears perked at the sudden topic./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" Jesse glanced down at the sleeping woman still tucked up against his side, then back up at the man. "What's your name, soldier?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" "Lance Corporal Sean Goebel, sir," the soldier said, automatically stiffening into a salute. "I was transferred to Overwatch from the American Marine Corps. They said I was worth more here than out on some ship, sir."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" "Did they now?" Jesse chuckled, leaning back in his seat. He ached for a cigar, but he knew better than to pull one out onboard, especially with Briallen next to him. He'd cut down for her, only after months of her nagging him about the affects of nicotine and smoke on his lungs and whole body in general. Sometimes it sucked to have a medic as a girlfriend. "And why was that?" he asked, scratching at his beard instead./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" Goebel shook his head. "I'm not sure, sir. I suppose I stood out more. Gunny had a thing for picking on me, but I suppose it was his way of toughening me up. He said I was destined for greater things, then shipped me off to Overwatch."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" Jesse regarded the kid for a moment, setting his book down in his lap. "Said your name was Goebel? That German?"/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" Goebel nodded. "Yes, sir, on my mother's side."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" "Hmm." Jesse looked at him thoughtfully before nodding and picking up his book to resume reading./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" The kid cleared his throat. "With all due respect, sir, you didn't answer my question."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" "That I didn't," he responded, not looking up from the page. "And you'd best put it out of your mind. She's one of your medics and that's all you need to know." He turned the page. "If you've got any problems with that, you'll have to answer to me."/p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" "Yes, sir," Goebel replied, sounding more than a little dejected. /p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" As if struck by the sudden silence, the chatter resumed and the attention swiveled away from the three of them./p
p style="line-height: 1.7em; color: #222222; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; background-color: #fefefe; margin-left: 6px; clear: none !important;" Jesse turned another page./p