( it was just the two of them. the rest of their squad were below at camp, with ana taking higher ground to keep watch, and jack joining her later. they weren't on watch but sleep would come to them later.
they'd talked about many things, with every so often ana checking her scope to keep tabs on the soldier's below. updates on the mission, what they would do after the mission. it was warm for a december night but for ana that was normal. it hadn't been until she'd been on her first mission out of egypt that she'd experienced a cold winter, and snow at christmas. not that there was any here )
[Jack doesn't think he could get to sleep even if he tried--that sort of thing has become increasingly commonplace since SEP, and he doubts it's ever going to get any easier. That's the nature of the war they're in, so the most he can do is be glad he has good company. Jack climbs up to her sniper nest with just enough noise to let her know she's there, then he settles down quietly beside her, looking out over the landscape.
He remembers, as a child, learning about the story of the Christmas truce. He thinks about scared kids in trenches spending the holidays away from home, fighting a war that wasn't theirs, not really. He remembers being fascinated that such a moment could happen, and how different things are now that he's in the thick of it. It seems more and more like a story, like it couldn't possibly have occurred. He's only vaguely thinking about what day it is when Ana announces that it's midnight.]
Is it?
[The Omnics certainly aren't going to offer them any kind of reprieve. And this is different, anyway. They're fighting to save the human race, this time.]
( there's a small nod before ana leans closer, pressing a brief kiss to his cheek )
عيد ميلاد سعي, Jack.
( even if they didn't have a christmas truce, because the omnics certainly wouldn't offer them that reprieve, they could at least have a few moments in the quiet of the night for a personal moment. to remind themselves of the smaller things, of reasons why they're fighting. the people, and everything people enjoy )
[He frowns, more a reflex reaction than anything--mostly he's concentrating on the fact that the immediate translation doesn't make sense. It takes him a moment to remember some of the lessons she's given him, and when he realizes the date, it's obvious what she's talking about.]
I didn't think you celebrated.
[Of course, that assumes she isn't just voicing the sentiment for his benefit. Jack leans into her, showing his appreciation for her thoughtfulness in his own, nonverbal way.]
( especially with fareeha. she couldn't have kept her daughter from christmas if she'd tried, and after her few years with overwatch, and around the celebrations, she'd learned to take and enjoy parts of it.
she kisses him again, taking one of his hands in hers )
[That's the point of them, Jack is pretty sure. As long as you share them with someone else--or hell, maybe it doesn't even have to be that. This time when she kisses him, he leans into it, catching her lips. Jack knows that they can only do this because they're alone--and that as soon as they're back with the others, they have to pretend like it never happens at all. Gabriel must know, but as long as Jack doesn't let it affect his performance, they can get away with it.
Still, he knows it won't last. It might only last as long as the war, even if they manage to live through it.]
I'd say this could be one, but...I don't really want to spend another Christmas fighting robots.
( even if it only lasts through the war it's moments that are well spent. just them, and no thoughts of what is around them. it's a nice reprieve, as brief as it may be )
The rest of it could be.
( she wouldn't be against making kissing him at christmas a tradition. preferably just for fun, no robots in mind. ana shifts, turning to him, hand keeping his face close to hers )
[Jack isn't going to budge on that. They're at the point in this war where he's not sure there ever will be an end, much less an end by next Christmas. All he can really envision is the struggle going on indefinitely, or until their rag tag strike team is dead.
Not things to think about on Christmas, but it's difficult for Jack to pull himself out of his own head, at times. Leaning against Ana helps, if only a little.]
Makes you wonder what might be on the other side of all this.
( she could kiss him again, shut him up that way, but ana knows that if he's talking it's because he needs to. jack pondering and wishing aloud doesn't happen that often, and she's not going to stop him just because she wants to do something else, not if he needs to think, or talk )
Hopefully somewhere you can be alone.
( because they've definitely not had any time for just being alone and quiet during the crisis. there was always something that had to be done, and no time for luxury )
[If we survive is something he doesn't say--he doens't need to. Ana understands it as well as he does. They just have to keep in mind what they're fighting for, and press onward, even if the face of adversity. It's all they have.
That, and impossible thoughts of what might be waiting for them on the other side. He tries to smile a little.]
That sounds nice.
[Some peace and quiet. A long vacation. They both know that's not in the cards for either of them, and Jack doesn't do so well by himself anyway.]
( she's pretty certain that once this is done he would be able to go wherever, and with whoever he wanted to. if he chose to. he didn't even have to go anywhere, just hole up somewhere comfortable with no one else )
What would you want to do?
( it's an idle thought, curious as to what he misses most with everything that's happened around them )
[She's done no such thing, and his extrapolation is likely more telling than anything else, that he'd think of her first when it comes to people he'd travel with. Jack tries to downplay it, even though he knows there isn't any hiding from Ana.
That, and he finds the idea of taking a vacation with her to be a particularly pleasant one. Something to hold onto during the worst days of the Crisis. He leans in, giving her a nudge.]
( ana didn't comment on his question, though she would certainly go with him if he wanted him to. it would be nice to have a vacation but at the same time it would be nicer to see him have one, and help him relax.
there's a nod at his suggestion and ana turns a little, leaning into him )
It would be nice to see it and see if it's as nice as I keep saying.
( because when has she had time to go? )
There are a few places I've wanted to visit.
( seeing parts while saving the world doesn't count )
[Jack says that with some measure of surprise. She's older than him by a few years, and had already made a well-established name for herself by the time they'd met. Of course he'd been under the assumption that she's been places and done things that he hasn't, yet.
How else was he supposed to take her comments about Hawaii?]
I've seen places on missions, but I've never gone simply because I'd wanted to.
( she'd never had the opportunity to enjoy the parts that seemed to make it. everything that ana knew had come from reading or talking to people that she'd helped. perhaps she'd embellished a little )
[Jack, too, is seeing most of the world, especially considering the place he grew up. He can't say that he's really been able to enjoy many of them, not when he's been fighting a war for humanity's survival. It makes sense that Ana would feel the same.
Still, if she's actually set foot on the Hawaiian islands, she's got him beat.
He's not so dense that he doesn't understand the sentiment.]
( it isn't just optimism but true belief. whether it was through sheer determination or good tactical planning ana believed that they would make it back.
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no subject
they'd talked about many things, with every so often ana checking her scope to keep tabs on the soldier's below. updates on the mission, what they would do after the mission. it was warm for a december night but for ana that was normal. it hadn't been until she'd been on her first mission out of egypt that she'd experienced a cold winter, and snow at christmas. not that there was any here )
It's past midnight.
( happy christmas, jack )
no subject
He remembers, as a child, learning about the story of the Christmas truce. He thinks about scared kids in trenches spending the holidays away from home, fighting a war that wasn't theirs, not really. He remembers being fascinated that such a moment could happen, and how different things are now that he's in the thick of it. It seems more and more like a story, like it couldn't possibly have occurred. He's only vaguely thinking about what day it is when Ana announces that it's midnight.]
Is it?
[The Omnics certainly aren't going to offer them any kind of reprieve. And this is different, anyway. They're fighting to save the human race, this time.]
I didn't realize.
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عيد ميلاد سعي, Jack.
( even if they didn't have a christmas truce, because the omnics certainly wouldn't offer them that reprieve, they could at least have a few moments in the quiet of the night for a personal moment. to remind themselves of the smaller things, of reasons why they're fighting. the people, and everything people enjoy )
no subject
I didn't think you celebrated.
[Of course, that assumes she isn't just voicing the sentiment for his benefit. Jack leans into her, showing his appreciation for her thoughtfulness in his own, nonverbal way.]
no subject
( especially with fareeha. she couldn't have kept her daughter from christmas if she'd tried, and after her few years with overwatch, and around the celebrations, she'd learned to take and enjoy parts of it.
she kisses him again, taking one of his hands in hers )
Though my traditions may be wrong.
no subject
[That's the point of them, Jack is pretty sure. As long as you share them with someone else--or hell, maybe it doesn't even have to be that. This time when she kisses him, he leans into it, catching her lips. Jack knows that they can only do this because they're alone--and that as soon as they're back with the others, they have to pretend like it never happens at all. Gabriel must know, but as long as Jack doesn't let it affect his performance, they can get away with it.
Still, he knows it won't last. It might only last as long as the war, even if they manage to live through it.]
I'd say this could be one, but...I don't really want to spend another Christmas fighting robots.
no subject
The rest of it could be.
( she wouldn't be against making kissing him at christmas a tradition. preferably just for fun, no robots in mind. ana shifts, turning to him, hand keeping his face close to hers )
It would be one of my more favourable ones.
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[Jack isn't going to budge on that. They're at the point in this war where he's not sure there ever will be an end, much less an end by next Christmas. All he can really envision is the struggle going on indefinitely, or until their rag tag strike team is dead.
Not things to think about on Christmas, but it's difficult for Jack to pull himself out of his own head, at times. Leaning against Ana helps, if only a little.]
Makes you wonder what might be on the other side of all this.
[For them, maybe.]
no subject
( she could kiss him again, shut him up that way, but ana knows that if he's talking it's because he needs to. jack pondering and wishing aloud doesn't happen that often, and she's not going to stop him just because she wants to do something else, not if he needs to think, or talk )
Hopefully somewhere you can be alone.
( because they've definitely not had any time for just being alone and quiet during the crisis. there was always something that had to be done, and no time for luxury )
no subject
That, and impossible thoughts of what might be waiting for them on the other side. He tries to smile a little.]
That sounds nice.
[Some peace and quiet. A long vacation. They both know that's not in the cards for either of them, and Jack doesn't do so well by himself anyway.]
I don't know if I'd want to be alone.
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( she's pretty certain that once this is done he would be able to go wherever, and with whoever he wanted to. if he chose to. he didn't even have to go anywhere, just hole up somewhere comfortable with no one else )
What would you want to do?
( it's an idle thought, curious as to what he misses most with everything that's happened around them )
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[She's done no such thing, and his extrapolation is likely more telling than anything else, that he'd think of her first when it comes to people he'd travel with. Jack tries to downplay it, even though he knows there isn't any hiding from Ana.
That, and he finds the idea of taking a vacation with her to be a particularly pleasant one. Something to hold onto during the worst days of the Crisis. He leans in, giving her a nudge.]
You keep telling me how nice Hawaii is.
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there's a nod at his suggestion and ana turns a little, leaning into him )
It would be nice to see it and see if it's as nice as I keep saying.
( because when has she had time to go? )
There are a few places I've wanted to visit.
( seeing parts while saving the world doesn't count )
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[Jack says that with some measure of surprise. She's older than him by a few years, and had already made a well-established name for herself by the time they'd met. Of course he'd been under the assumption that she's been places and done things that he hasn't, yet.
How else was he supposed to take her comments about Hawaii?]
From the way you talk about it.
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( she'd never had the opportunity to enjoy the parts that seemed to make it. everything that ana knew had come from reading or talking to people that she'd helped. perhaps she'd embellished a little )
Besides I've never had anyone to go with.
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Still, if she's actually set foot on the Hawaiian islands, she's got him beat.
He's not so dense that he doesn't understand the sentiment.]
Then let's hope we survive this.
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( it isn't just optimism but true belief. whether it was through sheer determination or good tactical planning ana believed that they would make it back.
she turns her head, kissing his cheek again )
You'll get us through it.