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Wait For It

I just imagined how happy Reinhardt must have been when he realized that he’s old battle buddies are alive c’:

76: *injured in battle, laying beside a biofield* shit-

Reaper: *steps over him holding his guns to his head* too late boy-… *freezes feeling the biofield take effect restoring his body to its painless state before the explosion* what- *drops his guns and removes his gloves to see his scarred but healed hands* it was?… that easy?… *looks over at moira*

Moira: *shitting bricks realising her lies that she couldn’t heal Gabriel finally came to light* I-I- okay now listen I can explai-

Reaper: *pulls jack up giving him a kiss before dropping him and grabbing his guns* YOURE DEAD MOIRA!!

76: *laying there so confused* Ah-

“Wake up Gabriel!!”

Can you elaborate on that last one?

Okay what I’ve learned from my few hours on the beta tonight before I turn in for the night - Pears

Sigma is so lost and so broken and I just want PvE to come out yesterday for how they plan on saving him. He literally thinks just about everyone is nice to him even when Talon characters treat him like dirt, with the exception of Sombra who probably is his only ally in there and he doesn’t even see it. He’s just… so good.

Junkrat wants Ana to adopt him as a son and also just continues to be the funniest character.

Junkerqueen in ever battle I played: KNIFE KNIFE KNIFE KNIFE

Zarya and Sigma bond over gravity and it’s adorable.

Hanzo is becoming softer by the day. (See every interaction with Orisa, Dva, and Lucio).

Gabe get your life together.

Forgive me... (listen to "I'm still here" from treasure planet while you read)

Cole sat in a bar, alone with nothing but alcohol and his thoughts to keep him company, he pulled an old photograph out of his pocket and unfolded it to reveal the day of his high school graduation, all of his overwatch friends were there as he held his diploma proudly, Gabe was on the right next to him with a proud smile and a hand on young Cole’s shoulder, Jack was on Cole's left with his arms crossed and a proud smile on his face as well.

Cole would have smiled at the photo if he hadn’t just learned that those proud smiles on the faces of the two men he looked up to were lies...

Cole had run into Reaper not too long ago, he made a remark about the bounty talon had on him and how it was a bit lower than the other agents', "A proper amount for someone as worthless as you, ingrate. Looks like 20 years didn't change anything."

The cowboy felt his heart shatter when he heard that, he could usually take Reapers insults, but that one... It hit Cole hard, he had hoped the man he saw as a father figure and mentor would've still cared about him even a little... But those hopes were dashed when he heard that. Reaper suddenly found himself in a chokehold, he could feel Cassidy was trying to snap his neck... Usually the cowboy would hold back a little but his strength was demonic and he couldn't break free, he remembered his wraith ability at the right moment and escaped. Leaving Cole alone to sob his eyes out after hearing how his parental figure thought he had always been worthless.

Cole's eyes welled up as he continued to look at the picture, he thought Jack at least still loved him but that thought was gone as well after their last encounter. Cole had gotten injured in a fight and Soldier 76 was there, Cole looked at the man for help but he felt a coldness behind the visor... He then said that his opportunity to be in overwatch had been a waste... That was the last straw, Cole quickly pulled himself up and used deadeye, Jack said something to him but Cole had tuned him out and walked off to find Angela for help.

Cole crumpled the photo and threw it into the nearest trash can before walking out, he got on his bike and rode off, trying his hardest to not break down sobbing.

The team had noticed the change in Cassidy, he was colder, less bubbly and cocky, and every morning he was hungover, D.va approached the man and offered him a Nano Cola. "C'mon Mr. Cassidy, we're your friends, you can tell us what's on your mind." She said calmly.

Cole took the soda and took a long sip. "Hana... Have you ever had yer heart ripped out by people ya looked up to?..." He asked, Hana was caught off guard by this but so was everyone else, who hurt Cassidy so much that he was this depressed? Everyone sat down with Cassidy and listened as he told them everything, he was holding back tears but when Fareeha hugged him the floodgates opened.

The entire team was pissed, Ana and Angela refused to help Jack with his Biotic field, Reinhardt gave him a cold glare, Fareeha wouldn't even respond to his jabs anymore. They all made him know why he was now despised. "You hurt your son." Was their answer, Jack knew what they were referring to, at first he denied it, saying he didn't regret what he said, but that opinion changed after his next encounter with Reyes.

Reaper was standing on the roof of a building, looking at a piece of paper. Jack approached him from behind ready to shoot when Reaper spoke. "We hurt him... He trusted us... And we hurt him..." He said quietly, Jack looked confused, Reaper turned to him and took off his mask to reveal his face, it was a look of shame, guilt, and heartbreak, he offered the paper to Jack who snatched it and looked at it, he felt his own heart break when he saw what it was. It was the photo Cole had crumpled up and thrown away. "Sombra shoved it into my hands telling me he threw it away... She said I was clearly beyond saving if I was willing to abandon the man I had cared for..." Gabe said quietly, Jack took off his visor and looked at his former friend. "What have we done?... He trusted us and we broke his heart..." He replied, finally breaking and crying. "Ana showed me surveillance footage... He was at our graves screaming and crying... he shot them until his gun was empty... he still kept pulling the trigger..."

There was no coming back from this... Jack and Gabe would never be able to make up for what they had done... faking their death was bad but destroying their son was worse... They had given him hope, a purpose in life, a family... and they took that from him all because of their own self hatred and anger...

Cole was sitting in his room on base when he got a message on his phone, it was from an unknown number, asking him to come outside. He walked out and saw them, Jack and Gabe standing there, no weapons, no masks. "What do you want? I thought I was worthless to ya both..." He spat, looking away from them.

"Mijo... We're so so sorry..." Gabe started. "We have been angry with ourselves for so long and we ended up letting that hurt you... You're our son and we hurt you..." Jack added, Cole tensed up and still didn't look at them. "Was it all a lie?... Was I just a burden this whole damn time?... You said those things with no hesitation... You must’ve meant it..." He asked.

"No! It wasn't true at all! Cole, we're so proud of you, you have become a better man than either of us... Ever since the explosion we've been trying to find out how everything went wrong... We became angry and bitter... I personally am jealous of how great you are and how much you've grown..." Jack replied.

Cole finally looked at them, tears flowing down his cheeks. "I thought you guys were dead... When I heard you guys were alive I was so happy, pissed off but happy... And then you both insult me... callin' me ingrate, a waste... I let you guys arrest me, I coulda fought back and escaped durin' that sting but I didn't... Because I thought that if I left Deadlock, I could become a better person... I left behind friends that cared about me and had my back t' join you guys... I left behind Ashe... I took all yer advice, I trained hard, I finished school, I followed yer orders... All t' do the right thing, all because I thought I found somethin' better... And look what that got me..." He said. "I don't wanna be hurt again... Just leave me alone..."

Cole was about to walk inside when Gabe wraithed in front of him and hugged him tightly, the cowboy tried to pull away but he started crying in his dad's arms. "Mijo I am so sorry... I should have never said you were stupid, you're the smartest guy I know, you always have a plan and you're such a good leader." Gabe said softly, Jack walked over and hugged Cole as well. "You're not a waste either, you're one of the best agents Overwatch could ask for, I couldn't be more proud of you than I am right now." He added.

Cole just continued to cry and crumbled into his fathers' arms as they apologized over and over, telling him how proud they were and how grateful they were to have him as their son. The cowboy ended up crying himself to sleep and Gabe picked him up, Jack allowed him inside and they took Cole to his room. "This is familiar, isn't it?" Gabe commented, Jack nodded and chuckled.

They tucked Cole into bed and after exiting the room, they saw the entire team looking at them, the old soldiers looked away awkwardly, Ana approached them and slapped them. "Don't ever do that to Cole again you got that?" She threatened, the two nodded in understanding. "Good, now Gabriel are you gonna come to your senses and come home?" She asked, Gabe smiled. "If you'll let me, I got a lot of apologies to make." He joked.

The next morning, Cole woke up and found himself tucked into bed just like how Gabe did it when he cried himself to sleep, he sat up and his bedroom door opened, Gabe walked in carrying a tray of Cole's favourite breakfast. "Hey, how are you feeling?" He asked, placing down the tray, Cole stared at his dad for a moment before hugging him tightly. "Please... Don't leave me again... And don't say those things again..." He pleaded quietly, Gabe hugged him back. "I promise I'll stay, and I swear to God I will never ever say those things again." He replied softly.

Cole smiled a little as tears welled up in his eyes again. "I missed you dad..."

Gabe teared up a little as well. "I missed you too mijo..."

YO, JACK IS WHAT??

NEW OW2 LORE BITS!

Cole has asked Torbjorn for a Robo horse before

Hanzo is unsure whether or not Sojiro was proud of him

Gabe still keeps tabs on his ex-wife

Fareeha really wants Ana to come home

Zenyatta can breathe (?)

Zenyatta wants to try and help Hanzo heal

Reinhardt is happy Jack and Ana are alive

Junkrat has a prosthetic finger

Jack is trying to talk Sigma and Gabe out of Talon

Cole thinks Hanzo isn't wearing shoes???

Hanzo wants to ride on Orisa

Lucio and Baptiste like Hanzo's hair

Hanzo used to write poetry

Genji felt like he was always in Hanzo's shadow

Hanzo had it rough being the oldest

Hanzo wanted him and Genji to be equals

Genji wants to help Hanzo heal

Sigma is ADD

Hanzo was apparently a BEAST with a sword

Baptiste wants Hanzo's bow

Gabe is still bullying Cole (He said cole has no friends)

Junkrat wants to write a novel

Cole wants to do target practice with Ana

Angela fed sojourns dog table scraps

That's all of the more interesting tidbits I heard from the voicelines people posted on twitter, I'll keep an eye out for others!

Cole: Hey... Weird question but... Do y'all consider me a friend?... Genji: Yeah! Lena: Totes! Fareeha: Of course! Reinhardt: YES! Brigitte: Affirmative! D.va: Sure! Zarya: We are indeed comrades! Baptiste: Yeah dude! Echo: Absolutely! Mei: Mhm! Winston: Why of course! Angela: Of course you're our friend Cole! But why do you ask? Is something wrong? Cole: *sighs* Gabe made a jab durin' our last encounter that I don't have any friends... Got me overthinkin'... *Suddenly everyone in the room looks ready to kill* D.va: Mr. Cassidy, I haven't known you long but I think you're an awesome guy and I'm happy to be on this awesome team with you! Even if you could be much better looking. Baptiste: Same here, even if you punched me in the face, you have a good heart, fighting by your side is an honor. Fareeha: Cole I practically grew up with you! You're more of a brother to me than anything! Zarya: Anyone who helps to protect the ones I love is a friend in my book! Cole: *smiles and tips his hat down to hide his tears* Thanks y'all, it really means a lot t' hear that... --- *Later, during a mission that is a fight against talon, almost everyone goes after Reaper* Moira: They're quite upset with you. What did you do? Gabe: *covered in bruises and cuts* I said Cassidy was friendless...

(Inspired by that rude ass interaction between cass and reaper!)

An au where Gabe happened to find himself in the right place at the right time, enjoy ~Bambi

———

Gabe: *quietly stalking the streets of Houston texas, eyes peeled for any signs of null sector activity* …

Ana: *over the com* area cleared. Threat neutralised. Any activity on your end Gabriel?

Gabe: nothing here, seems the attack was localised to the cbd-

*CRASH!*

Gabe: *immediately readys his weapon and aims for an alleyway* hold that note captain- *slowly begins approaching the source of the sound* …

*rustling and another clang of a trash can lid*

Gabe: *curiously lowers his guns and unclips the flashlight from his belt pointing it into the dark thinking it might be an animal only for it to land on a very startled 5 to 6yr old boy* what the?

???: *immediately drops the scraps he’d been holding and climbs out of the trash can only to fall flat onto the ground* OW!! *lays there for a second and starts to cry as he crawls out*

Gabe: *quickly hurries over* ey, hold on hold on shhh shhh shhh you’re okay mijo calm down. *carefully picks him up and feels his heart shatter feeling all his little ribs even though his gloves*

???: *now bawling his eyes out and kicking his little legs* d-Dont t-take m-me back m-mr!

Gabe: shhh shhh It’s alright, take you back where? I promise I won’t.

???: *hiccups rubbing his eyes and face with his very dirty sleeves* t-to the mean p-people- I don’t wanna go back!

Gabe: *carefully adjusts his hold on the boy and sits him on his hip* okay, okay, I won’t take you back to the mean people…

Ana: *over the com* commander?

Gabe: unattended child, considering abandoned. Have medics on site to access him when we arrive, heading back now.

Ana: copy that.

Gabe: *turns off the com and looks at the boy clinging to his bullet proof vest and literally shaking in his arms* what’s your name mijo?…

???: m-mama called me Cole.

Gabe: like a coal train?? Choo Choo~ *mimics the movement of pulling the cord to make the sound*

Cole: *giggles a little and nods* m-mmhmm!

Gabe: Well then it’s nice to meet you Cole, I’m commander reyes… *quietly looks at the scrawny child and immediately makes up his mind* I’m gonna be taking care of you from now on.

*a few hours later*

Cole: *all clean and warm, belly full after a huge meal, and tucked in safe and sound in gabes hotel bed*

Gabe: *sitting at a table looking through files with ana* so you found his foster home?

Ana: Mhm, he ran away 4 weeks ago, they never reported him missing and continued collecting the government funding. The place was filled with equally abused kids…

Gabe: and they’re?

Ana: safe, we’ve had them moved to the Overwatch orphanage society. They’re getting proper care and treatment as we speak.

Gabe: good…

Ana: are you sure about this Gabriel?

Gabe: I already got a son, he’s been wanting a brother too. *smiles and finishes signing the adoption papers* besides, it’s not like Martina and I are together anymore… now I just have Jack to deal with heh…

Ana: *looks at him then at the little boy sleeping so soundly just a few feet from them* …Personally, I think this is the best decision you’ve ever made, Gabriel.

Gabe: wasn’t really much of a decision to be made. *looks at Cole and smiles* Hed already made my mind up for me.

Longstanding HC pt. 3

Gabriel visited Dorado after the war shortly before Jack became strike commander and noticed a little girl trailing him where he went, he jokingly called her "mi pequeña sombra"

After finding out she was orphaned form the war he tried to adopt her but his application was denied after he was moved to Blackwatch

Sombra swears the man she remembers briefly form her childhood was just a coping mechanism she came up with after loosing her parents but she was never able to let go of the pet name

OW/Talon Chat Fics...

Maybe it’s just me, but almost every Overwatch chat fic I have EVER come across starts more or less the same way. 

Winston starts it and says “It’s for emergencies only”

And then, predictably, it all goes to shit. 

I’d really like to see a Talon chat fic where they knew better than to even pretend that it wasn’t for shitposting. 

Moira talks only in anime memes. She has a folder of 50 Gig’s worth so she has the perfect pic/gif for almost everything. 

Sombra has made herself both admin and mod (either by hacking, or they gave up and just let her be it from the beginning because she was going to do it anyway). She abuses those powers on a daily basis. 

Widow low-key roasts everyone (fashion choices, life choices, everything really). she also sends pictures of whatever she’s eating (with three million filters on it and arranged artfully on a plate).

Reaper has set his text to be blood red and sends random pics to the chat. He sends everything from cute selfies to the sewing projects he’s working on to his latest kill. He will also copy paste parts of “My Immortal” or other really shitty fanfics just to annoy people sometimes. 

Doomfist sends those fake inspirational posters and some really shitty dank memes when he’s bored at Talon meetings. Otherwise he just lurks and says nothing. 

Maximilien lurks and waits for the right opportunity for puns and jokes. He especially loves math, number and gambling related ones the best. 

(I don’t have anything for Sanjay, sorry) :|

After Jack basically kidnaps Gabriel (and by proxy Sombra and Widowmaker) back from Talon, Gabriel is shocked to see everyone get together for knitting/crocheting parties in the lounge after missions

Angela works on undoing his reaper state so he can focus and get back to knitting again

Amelie takes up crocheting for therapy after she’s unbrainwashed and becomes very good at lace crocheting

I wonder how people feel when their content is reblogged here.

Hopefully they are cringe and free.

I am cringe and chained.

Jack: *standing in front of a room full of lgbtqia agents, all of them looking nervous and confused* I’m sure you’re all wondering why you’ve been called here and I assure you, none of you have done anything wrong. Except you Harrison stop stealing pop tarts from the vending machine the repair mans getting annoyed. *points at the agent in question making everyone laugh breaking the tension* No, you’re all here because as I’m sure you know. It’s pride month. And you don’t have to celebrate it, you don’t have to be out loud and proud and the complete opposite is also allowed… just please for the cleaners sake keep the glitter to a minimum we don’t want a repeat of last years cafeteria yassification, we’re still finding glitter in the meatloaf.

Everyone: *laughs and nods all feeling much more at ease*

Jack: I just want everyone in this room to know they are safe here, they are loved here, and their sexuality and existence is valid, and wanted. I understand a lot of you have had unfortunate home lives before coming here, many of you have even been homeless, and I think it’s important I make it clear that I know exactly what you’ve been through. I joined the millitary after coming out because my dad couldn’t stand the idea of living with his ‘mistake’ of a son… and the alternative was sleeping rough. But now, here I am, I get to help people, just like all of you do too. So if you ever need somebody to talk to our therapists are available day and night, or, if I’m not busy, just come and find me. Consider me your gay dad. *smiles* and with that, you’re all dismissed, enjoy your day off agents.

Everyone: *erupts with cheers as they get up from their chairs*

Jack: *waves as a few start to leave before locking eyes with a 15 year old recruit sitting in the front row with sparkly eyes*

Tracer: *staring up at him in awe*

Jack: *smiles and nods at her before walking off*

*A few years later*

Tracer: *standing in front of a room full of lgbtqia agents as they file in, all of them looking nervous and confused* … *looks to the side lines behind the curtain to see 76 there*

76: *gives her a thumbs up*

Tracer: *smiles before looking at her audience* Hiya everyone! I’m sure you’re all wondering why I called you here-

December Twenty One

If Mercy wrote Moira a Christmas card.

The card is dark blue with silver and white snowflakes. The letter itself is scribbled down in a barely readable way... almost like a doctor's note?

Dear Moira,

I keep talking myself out of writing this letter. Yet here I sit again, pen in hand..

I hope this letter finds you in good health. You have been in my thoughts a lot lately. I wonder how you spend the holidays... how... Talon spends the holiday.

You are probably working. I might be too. I did last year... but Overwatch, mainly Lena and Winston, might plan something.

I'm sorry, I'm rambling.

I wish you a merry Christmas.

And I hope we won't have to fight next year. There, I said it. I don't like the thought of meeting you on the field. Hopefully you'll stay safe...

I don't know which I fear more. Seeing you hurt or seeing you hurt us.

That's not true. I know which one I fear most. I'm just too aware that it should have been the latter.

I think I've had one too many... I should put the pen down. Another unsent letter? There's something so melancholy about unsent letters...

I wish you a long and healthy life

- Angela

The twenty-second of December

If Moira replied to Angelas Christmas card

Moira’s Christmas card is portraying a night sky speckled with stars and adorned with the words “Merry Christmas” in golden letters. The writing is neat and readable.  

Dear Angela,

To say I was surprised upon reading your letter would be an understatement. But it does not follow that the surprise is unwelcome. I was very touched by your words and have read them many times. Perhaps I have also had one too many, but I found I needed courage to write this.

Now that you so bravely admit it, I can do the same. You have often been in my thoughts. Far too often I find myself wondering what you are doing. Are you working? What are you working on? I hope you do not mean to leave science behind, now that you have joined with Overwatch, that would be a great loss. For all of us.

I do indeed plan on working Christmas eve. I am however worried Sombra does not intend to let me work. I fear I might have to join in their festivities. 

No. The thought of meeting you in battle is not a pleasant one. I do not cherish it. So perhaps we could meet somewhere else? Perhaps some agreement could be reached. If you wish we could discuss it over a bottle of wine. Perhaps at New Years eve? I have no other engagements that day. 

I wish you a pleasant Christmas and I dare hope to hear from you again.

Yours,

Moira  

Gabe made Cole’a cowboy outfit cont.

So it’s just a few weeks after Cole had agreed to join OW and he’s not adjusting very well. He threw a fit over getting one of his confiscated items back, an old ratty knit blanket that was half falling apart and Gabriel pulled some strings to get it out of evidence for him

Realizing the thing probably wouldn’t last and feeling antsy, Gabriel printed off all the evidence photos and set to work

Jack came home to Gabriel sitting in the middle of the living room floor all of his yarn stuff drug out with all the printed off pictures of Cole’s blanket and seraph patterns scattered around, attempting to reverse engineer a pattern out of the pictures

Jack just sighs, knowing his husband already has his heart set on this and turns on one of Gabriel’s favorite telenovelas for background noise, sitting down next to Gabriel and begins to help color match yarn

It takes Gabriel a about four months for him to finish the serape to his own satisfaction. Jack allow him to present it to Cole alone and privately

Cole is so touched by it that he starts crying because the blanket was actually knit by his grandma when he was a baby and was nearly worn out beyond repair and he’s glad to have something close but not the same to replace it with

Yes, I'm making an OC that's the adopted child of R76. No, you can't stop me.

Sombra: *going through old Overwatch files* ohhh this is Gabes old number~? I wonder what secrets he’s got tied to this baby *taps it into her system and pauses seeing hundreds of missed calls and voicemails from the same number* OooOohohoooo it’s the old mans number! What’s he- *goes quiet seeing the dates beside each call, the last one being only a day before reapers first attempt to kill 76* … *taps it and hits play*

76: “hey Gabriel, it’s me again… just calling to hear your voice again… to say I’m sorry… I miss you so much…”

Sombra: Ouch… poor guy… *taps another one*

76: happy birthday Gabe… youd be 57 this year right? Just wanted to hear you again, I’m opening one for you tonight…

Sombra: *tearing up, quietly looks at the very first missed call* … *taps it and hits play*

76: *voice especially horse and gravelly as if he’d been crying and inhaling smoke* Gabe! Gabe please answer! Please answer me- I know you’re not dead! Please pick up- *cough!! cough!!* please Gabriel-

Ana: *in the background* Jack we have to go!

76: no I’m not leaving him here! I’m not- Gabriel I’m sorry! I’m so sorr- *beep, beep, beep*

Sombra: *quietly drops the screen and dials 76’s number*

76: Sombra? What do you wa-

Sombra: *literally weeping* W-WERE GETTING DRINKS IN AN HOUR AND IM GONNA G-GIVE YOU A HUG OLD MAN!!

76: are you drunk right now?!

“somewhere in these eyes, im on your side”

“why do you like this character you do know that if they existed they’d just try to kill you right” actually no they’d fall madly in love with me

yamato week, day seven

characters: yamato and ken

summary: when ken and yamato are sent to méxico, ken doesn't expect to break down in the middle of the Mayan Temple. luckily (or not), yamato is there.

(a different take on the world tour arc, ken and yamato edition) ((also on ao3!))

The Mayan Temple air was stale, heavy with their breath and perspiration. It was well past Ken’s bedtime, but adrenaline invigorated his bloodstream.

Beside him, Yamato was staring at his cell phone, aggravation prickling on his brow. 

“Why aren’t they answering?” He nearly growled. Though he had tried to whisper, Yamato’s voice echoed off the Temple walls. 

Ken sucked in his breath, straining his ears for the sound of the guard’s footsteps. Rosa was too entranced in a staring match with Wormmon to translate for them if the group were to be interrogated. Once it became apparent that the guards hadn’t heard them, the tension in Ken’s shoulders melted. 

Yamato muttered a few obscenities under his breath. “I can’t tell if the others have arrived safely, finished their assignments, or are already home. How much time do we have?”

His cerulean eyes focused on Ken’s, so intense and narrow that beads of sweat began to roll down the younger boy’s neck.

Heart thrumming in his ears, Ken’s mouth ran dry. Those eyes, so commanding, so blue , froze him to the spot. He was hardly aware of Rosa pulling on his sleeve or Yamato’s questioning tilt of the head. 

In his mind’s eye, the Mayan hallway grew darker, elongating itself, the smell of sea salt and mildew nauseating him. Instead of Yamato, Takeru was standing in his way, blue eyes full of contempt and fury. His cheek was bleeding, Ken’s jaw on fire. What was happening? Where was Wormmon?

“Ken.” Loathing dripped from the single syllable, Takeru advancing on him slowly. “Ken?”

He tried to back up, to run away, but his elbows were pressed against the wall. Panicked breaths slipped from Ken’s lips, chest heaving. 

“Ichijouji?” Blonde hair moved even closer, a weird underlying note of tenderness making Ken’s palms sweat. 

Something tugged at his sleeve urgently, but the raven-haired boy couldn’t look away from those angry, blue eyes. 

A pair of clammy hands gripped at his shoulders, knuckles stained white. 

Ken’s vision blurred; when had he started crying?

Those hands pulled him in. Ken was far too weak to resist, instead succumbing to the strong pull of Takeru’s grasp.

“Ken, what’s the matter?” A deep voice asked. Pressed against this person’s chest, it became abundantly clear that this voice did not belong to Takeru.

“Yamato?” Ken’s voice cracked. 

His chest was broad, shirt growing dark with Ken’s stray tears. Ken could hear Yamato’s steady heartbeat in his chest, calm and even and steady. 

A low rumble echoed in his ears, but the younger boy couldn’t focus on the words. Wormmon’s small body wedged between the pair, his antennas tucked neatly beneath Ken’s chin.

“I’m sorry,” he sobbed, body trembling in Yamato’s grip. 

“No, don’t apologize.” His voice was firm.  “Everyone gets overwhelmed. I promise we will be out of the Temple in no time.” Yamato rubbed his arm absent-mindedly against the cotton of Ken’s shirt, desperately trying to calm his whimpers. 

For a moment, the only sound in the Temple’s walkway was the echo of irregular breathing, a soft hum of encouraging words too low to be discernible. 

Rosa watched on, concern etched across her small brow. Slowly, Ken’s sobs quieted. His shoulders stilled, a small breath of relief slipping from Yamato’s lips.

“Ken,” Yamato ventured, voice soft, “What’s the matter?”

His question shook Ken from his momentary stupor.

Though his arms were still trembling, the younger boy managed not to drop his Digimon partner, instead pulling Wormmon closer. A few deep, steadying breaths grounded Ken. 

Yamato’s gaze never left his face, but it no longer felt as oppressive. Yamato wasn’t angry; Yamato wasn’t Takeru . 

“Has anyone ever told you,” Ken began, voice shaking, “That you look just like your brother?”

The question hung in the air for a moment. Rosa feigned interest in a whispered conversation with her own partner, as if she hadn’t even noticed Ken’s breakdown just a moment before.

A singular eyebrow rose in question, Yamato’s  silence unnerving Ken further. Wormmon looked up from his perch in Ken’s hold, a small smile of reassurance urging him to continue. Ken hugged him tighter, doing his best to gather his courage. 

“It’s your eyes, really. While you both share blue eyes, Takeru’s hold a lot of resentment . Even if he's smiling or laughing, his eyes always have an edge .”

The ground shook, interrupting his train of thought. Deep within the maze of the Temple, a low grumble reverberating through the floor. 

Wormmon squirmed, slipping onto the floor. “Ken-chan, I’ll go with Rosa and see what that noise was. Stay here and finish your talk.” His tone was unusually serious, but before Ken could object, his partner was gone, running through the hallways with Rosa and her partner. 

Yamato must have read the fear on his face, his fist lightly bumping with Ken’s shoulder.

“They’ll be fine for a moment. Not to pressure you, but the sooner you finish your thoughts, the sooner we can help them.” Yamato was steadfast in his confidence, Gabumon at ease beside him. Casually leaning against the crumbling Temple walls, the rockstar looked almost at ease amidst the chaos. 

Strands of dark hair obscured Ken’s eyes, his bottom lips caught between his teeth. 

Swallowing the lump in his throat, the younger boy felt the words slipping from his lips, falling clumsily into the tense silence. 

“When Takeru punched me, I deserved it.” Ken anxiously glanced at the older boy, preparing to be punched in the gut. If Yamato was anything like Taichi, then disrespecting his younger sibling would be motive for war. When it became apparent that Yamato wasn’t going to attack him, Ken continued.

 “I deserved worse . As the Kaiser,” his voice broke, “I hurt him, Yamato. At the height of our battle, I knew that the others would be too strong, I knew that I would need a defensive trump card. So, I created Kimeramon .”

It was difficult to ignore the way Yamato twitched, or the tension that clenched his jaw together. 

Ken persisted, the sounds of a miniscule battle urging him to force the words from his throat. “It was awful, Yamato. Takeru was so, so mad, taunting me and mocking me. I hit him. I hit him with my riding crop, straight across the face. His cheek bled . Blood trickled down his cheek; when he punched me, his blood splattered on my hands.” 

Stingmon’s attack rumbled against the walls. They didn’t have much time left. 

Tears continued to trickle down his cheeks, the salt water stinging his chapped lips. “Yamato, his blood is on my hands . His eyes will never stop being angry.” 

Ken’s words muddied the air between them. Without Wormmon, his arms wrapped around himself, sobs wracking his frail frame. Shame burned at the edge of his stomach.

Yamato’s stony expression gazed at him through his tears.

Above the noise of the growing battle, approaching footsteps spurred the boys into action. Without a word, Yamato and Ken ran, Gabumon leading them towards the others.

Together, they flew through the corridors, following the sound of Stingmon’s voice. Even as the guards closed in, Yamato was fearless. 

“¡Detente ahí!” one of the men yelled. Though he could hear his heart pounding in his ears, Ken was sure that it had stopped beating. With a tug, Yamato pulled him into a small alcove, their forms pressed too close for comfort. Gabumon stood in front of them, fur standing on edge. 

“Ken,” Yamato managed, the sounds of the guards growing closer, “Whatever happened between you and Takeru is in the past.” It was too dark for Ken to discern the look on Yamato’s face. He opened his mouth to apologize, but a hand squeezed his wrist, cutting him off. 

“If it helps, there are bigger things to focus on. Let’s figure out a way out of this Temple first, then I’ll help you sort through the bigger stuff. “

Once the coast was clear, he flashed Ken a quick smile, radiant despite the circumstances.  The anxiety that had knotted itself in the pit of Ken’s stomach began to unravel. Before he could thank Yamato, the ground rumbled once more. From somewhere deep within the Temple, Rosa screamed. 

Digivice in hand, the pair took off, footsteps echoing down the hall.

Sad old men.