mom and dad to the rescue

[highapetitude]

[ Continued from here. ]

[ Jack had been right about at least one thing. Winston's decision to reboot Overwatch and take up that mantle was the same as painting a target on his own head, and it was only a matter of time before someone came to call. Given that Talon had already come after him once, he really should have been prepared for a second attempt. Winston may have been able to scare them off the first time, but he had information and resources that apparently meant something to them, and they wouldn't give in so easily.

They'd at least been smart enough not to come to Gibraltar again. It wasn't a stronghold, exactly, but with more and more members of the new Overwatch spending their time there, it wouldn't have been wise to make another try at breaching their defenses.

No, it was only when Winston finally made that big step and ventured off the island for the first time in years that Talon took its chance and ambushed him. Even with Lena at his side, they'd been overwhelmed by sheer numbers, and Winston still remembers her calling after him as they dragged his tranquilized body away.

They've kept him under sedation ever since he got here, which means that there's no ability to unleash that inner rage and tear the place apart on his way out. Lena will come after him ("You saved me once. Only right I return the favor, isn't it?"), but who knows how long it will take her to penetrate Talon's HQ. Until then, all he can do is endure, even as they poke and prod and sometimes cut into him, aiming to figure out how he works and what makes him so different from the rest of his kind.

He's put through the wringer, and while his body can take the punishment, even it can only handle so much. When he isn't being worked on, he does what he can to rest and conserve his energy. He knows he'll need it when the eventual rescue effort comes through.

It's the sound of gunshots and yelling that yanks Winston out of a deep, sedated rest. His body thrums with pain, but that's become a near constant since his capture, and he can ignore it. He fights against the heavy restraints holding him down as he strains to hear more of what's going on outside of his cell. Could this be what he's been waiting for? ]

Comments

[mylawn]

[Jack blames himself anyway, because that’s all he really knows how to do. How can he not? Overwatch had been his full responsibility, and he’d let everyone down. He should have known, somehow, that this was happening. That Gabriel Reyes wasn’t the man he thought he was. That he could have noticed all the signs and put a stop to things before they spiraled out of control.

Winston’s proposal makes sense, and there’s a part of him that wants to accept it, not only because he’s right, but because Jack has carried around a hole in himself where Overwatch used to be. Some part of him wants that feeling again. His cause. His family. Jack has to almost physically shake it off, reminding himself that even if it was safe for him to return, he has nothing left to give.]

I don’t think that’s a good idea.

[He collects the medical supplies into the bin and stands, using the motion as an excuse to extricate himself from the conversation. He’s stopped in the doorway, however, by Ana’s return, and she’s looking at him like she knows exactly what he and Winston were talking about. She keeps him from leaving and he sighs, moving out of the door and putting the tray down on one of the counters instead.

Ana enters, shrugging off her hood, mask pulling back into the headpiece.]

I hope he wasn’t too mean to you while I was gone.

[highapetitude]

[ No matter what Winston suggests or how he phrases it, Morrison turns him down. It's beginning to feel a little bit like a lost cause, but he doubts that this will be the last time that their paths cross. In the end, their goals are the same. Jack just wants to go about it in a different way.

Before Winston can make any sort of argument, Jack's making a quick retreat. Winston's going to call out after him to at least ask when he'll be able to return to Gilbraltar, but then they're interrupted by the return of Jack's masked friend.

Ana. Winston had known it was her, but seeing her face, weathered by a few more years yet hers all the same, is something else entirely.

He stands like he doesn't have a line of stitches across his back, clambering toward her with wide eyes. He shakes his head in reply to her question without really thinking about it. Jack hadn't been mean so much as difficult, but... oh, that was a joke, wasn't it? ]

Captain Amari, it's... it's good to see you again. [ Of course he has questions. But right now, he'd rather savor the relief of seeing her alive. He bows his head, something respectful and maybe even a little shy. ] Thank you for getting me out of there.

[mylawn]

No, don't get up on my account.

[Ana holds her hands up placatingly, hoping that Winston has the sense to sit back down--his injuries aren't minor, and though the two of them have patched him up, he's going to need some time to rest and recuperate. It's possible they won't know the extent of what Talon did to him for some time, so the least they can do is not exacerbate the injuries they can see. She tries to make quick work of walking to Winston, before he can go too far across the room. A gentle hand on his shoulder tries to drive the point home.

Sit down, friend.]

And there's no need to thank us, either.

[She says that with a glance to Jack, who huffs a little and starts organizing medical supplies on the worktable.]

It's what anyone would have done. Let me make you some tea.

[highapetitude]

[ It's too late, Winston is already up, though Ana's attempt to close the distance between them at least means that he doesn't push himself too hard. He realizes that she's worried for him, but he can bounce back from injuries much more easily than a normal human. He will need to take it easy for a while, but there's no doubt in his mind that he'll be back to normal soon enough.

The warm pressure of her hand on his shoulder is more effective than her words, and Winston settles back down. Even as she moves around him, though, he turns his head (and body, as needed) to keep his eyes on her. Finding out that Morrison was alive had been shocking enough. To see both of them here now is enough to make his head spin.

Tea does sound good, so he won't stop her, but he can't stop himself from asking questions either. He's nervously quiet for a few moments as he tries to find the right words, his large hands balled in his lap as he fidgets. ]

Ana, can I ask... what happened?

[ He could have asked Jack, but they'd had other things to discuss, and it seems more appropriate to hear the story from her. Chances are that Jack would have brushed off his questions anyway. ]

[mylawn]

[Ana looks apologetic, trying to hide it by buying herself with making the tea, but she’s never been as stone-faced as Jack. It doesn’t work, and her remorse is evident. There's no good way to begin the story, and explaining how she felt in the aftermath of that failed mission doesn't come easily, for a variety of reasons.]

I lived, obviously.

[She’s never been as good at the dry tone of voice as Jack either.]

I could not face the rest of you after I failed so thoroughly. It seemed better to disappear.

[Jack won't look at this conversation in a way that indicates he's been over this before, and lines of tension run down his arms as he pretends to busy himself with their inventory. Ana offers him a glance that more or less says it all--it seems the two of them haven't quite sorted through this issue. She tries to keep all her attention on Winston, instead.]

I know it was foolish. It's difficult to explain.

[highapetitude]

[ Ana's explanation doesn't sound so different from the small bits of information that Winston has managed to pry out of Jack. Both of them felt that they'd failed Overwatch, that they'd done more harm than good, and so they'd decided to stay in the shadows.

It's difficult to know how to comment on any of it, especially with the awkwardness so palpable in the air. Winston had been fairly new to Overwatch when it fell, so it doesn't feel like his place to speak for everyone else. ]

It's all right. [ That seems the most important thing to say. Ana is obviously guilty about this and still struggling with it, so Winston won't make it worse. ] It's just good to know that you're alive after all.

[ He glances from Ana to Jack. Both of them are doing a very good job of avoiding his gaze. ] Both of you.

[mylawn]

[Neither of them expect forgiveness, and that much is written on their faces--Ana's a little moreso than Jack's. It's not a stark contrast, but it does highlight the way Jack feels all of this is necessary, perhaps in comparison to Ana's more open remorse. Addressing the fact that Winston is glad they're alive is a little much for both f them, it seems.]

You should get some rest.

[Her hand is on his shoulder, and she sets a mug of tea down in front of him. Jack seems to take this as his cue to leave, at least for now, slinking out one of the stone entrances and off into a deeper part of the tomb.]

You can contact Gibraltar in the morning.

[Speak to Lena himself. She imagines Winston might find that a relief.]

[highapetitude]

[ The topic is shut down just as quickly as it was brought up, but Winston can't hold that against them. The wounds are still fresh, even now that they're at least six years old.

Rest does sound good, real rest that isn't brought on by a sedative, and so Winston nods, reaching out to carefully pick up the small mug and take a sip. ]

I will. Good night, Ana.

[ He didn't even get the chance to say as much to Jack, but Winston tries not to dwell on that. There's not much in the way of places to sleep here, but there's a small pile of blankets in the corner that will do well enough. He moves over to settle onto them, doing what he can to get comfortable despite his collection of wounds. ]