Chapter Text
Jack supposes it is a little stupid of him to be so nervous. He is too old to fret over something so…normal in life. Jack scoffs at himself, black wings twitching in agitation. “Normal” is a terrible choice of word. Absolutely inadequate. There is nothing normal about this, about them. Gabriel would have laughed at him, except the bastard already has, got punched in the guts in the process and still he wheezed out amused chuckles.
Jack’s scoff turns into a full-on scowl. The more aggressively Gabriel jokes and makes fun of him for this, the more both of them get antsier. Jack knows the idiot far too well at this point to fall for such trickery. A long, exasperated sigh escapes him as the soldier tries to smooth out his nerves. It’s not like he hasn’t met Gabriel’s family before. It’s just…he has never done so without Gabriel being there.
Mami Reyes is frail and wispy now. Years of mourning her sons have taken its toll on the bright woman, but she is strong, perhaps stronger than anyone they know, and she endures it all with her head held high. Her chocolate brown eyes are still warm despite the sheen of mist covering them, her blushing white wings still open wide to welcome them even though the feathers have lost their shine. Her smile is tooth-gapped and her body quivers even with support, but her love burns just as fiercely as the day Jack first met her.
Old and grizzled as he is, upon seeing her excited, shaky wings arching to greet him, Jack can’t help but feel like a blonde-haired, bumbling kid again. His nervousness must show, but it doesn’t stop him from hugging Ma back and chuckles when she ushers him inside, as if his bulk of muscles weighted next to nothing. Jack squeezes himself into one of those familiar, squeaky chairs at the kitchen counter, not at all surprised when he is presented with all manners of sweet pastry and an iced pitcher of lime juice. Unable to resist, Jack piles up a small plate for himself, much to Mami Reyes’ approval. If Gabriel was here, he would tease Jack endlessly for pigging out so close to the date, but Gabriel isn’t here now and that admittedly is the whole point of today.
“The day is nearing.” Ma settles down next to Jack, pouring him a glass of the beverage. Jack bites into a concha, feeling anxiety prickling at his skin that even the sweetness cookie-topped-bread can’t distract. Mindful to not choke himself to death, Jack chases the dessert down with a few sip of lime juice.
Ma’s smile is indulgent, offering a quiet, patient support that resonates gently by Jack’s side. None of Gabriel’s sisters is around today, no doubt busying themselves with the preparations. Which is just as good, because Jack wouldn’t know what to do with three excited chattering ladies when his nerves are all over the place.
They do say you only get married once, after all.
Neither Jack nor Gabriel is a blushing bride. Neither of them should be stressing so much. However, as soon as the thought occurs to Jack, he mentally berates himself for even thinking like that. While they shouldn’t be reduced to a putty mess over this affair, it is within reasons to worry. And yet, frankly, Jack doesn’t even know what he is actually worried about. They have been together for so long, they are practically married. Even through their unfortunate separation, neither took a different partner. They even have a nest now, for fuck’s sake. Based on the observation of people who have known them since the beginning, Jack and Gabriel only get worse after their reunion.
“Like a second honeymoon phase…that just doesn’t end.” Ana has said with a rather agonised expression and McCree agrees wholeheartedly with a mildly disgusted grin.
“Bloody adorable, but kinda gross at the same time.” Would be Lena’s words.
Jack isn’t so easily fooled. He knows those bastards are damn happy that everything turns out this way, if their enthusiasm about the wedding isn’t evident enough. Ana and, surprisingly, Angela have transformed into taskmasters, one threatening others with her rifle and the other having a worrisome Cheshire smile as they drive everyone nuts with their attention to details. Genji has procured a whole cask of expensive, aged wine that he absolutely refuses to let anyone near, especially his brother. Lena can often be seen with Gabriel’s sisters, freaking out over the flowers, the schedule and bickering with Torbjorn about table arrangements. Fareeha is a stickler for security, methodically scanning and keeping her hawk eyes on the designated destinations, ready to swoop down and dish out a barrage of rockets on suspicious figures at any given moment. Originally, Jesse wanted to be in charge of entertainment, but both Jack and Angela said no, while Gabriel and Ana were just a hair away from punching the kid, so Jesse is now given chauffer duty. As in driving the ladies places. There aren’t going to be many invitations to send out, just the team and Gabriel’s family. Tiny party, but it doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be a blast, out at least that’s how Lena put it. The only ones who seem able to maintain their calm are Reinhardt, Winston and Hanzo. The former two generally stay quiet, although Reinhardt does flash Jack and Gabriel extremely proud grins whenever he has the chance, while Hanzo generally tries to stay out of the way. And Mei is stuck with babysitting duty for Gabriel’s sisters, though the scientist doesn’t complain, she is actually quite fond of children much to everyone’s relief (because nobody else wants to do this.)
Honestly, Jack is happy that they are so hell-bent over helping, otherwise he wouldn’t have a clue at where to start. This, this is the family that he needs, that he deserves. So he smiles at Mami Reyes, just because he can, and there is a twinkle in her eyes as she gives his hand a firm squeeze.
“Ah, before I forgot.” She slides off her chair with some efforts, wings fluttering to right herself before Jack had a chance to reach out and help, “Come, there’s something I have to show you.”
Her mysterious with a hint of mischievous joy perks his curiosity, subsiding the anxiety for the moment as he follows Ma upstairs, one wing stretches out to support her. Ma’s room is small and sparsely decorated, yet filled to the brim with pictures of the whole family. After Pa passed away a year ago, she has moved into Gabriel’s old room, as the master bedroom feels too empty for her. Jack helps her sit down on the soft, creaking armchair, and pulls out a dusty, ancient suitcase under the bed as instructed. The key Ma fetches from around her neck, small and darkened with age, takes a few turns before it clicks, revealing a stack of more photos, some yellowed documents, a couple of CDs and a few paper boxes.
“There’s an album at the bottom. Oh, that’s the one, my boy.” Her smile is gentle when he hands her it. The leather covers are hardened, cracked some around the edges and some pages don’t seem to fit with the others. He remembers this one. It is full of baby pictures, Ma’s hand-scribed notes, a few pressed flowers and even more photos of the family. She has shown him once, when time was happier and their hair wasn’t frosted with age. They laughed together, cooing over Gabriel’s first baby shower until the actual grown man stormed in and dragged Jack away, yelling. It is one of Jack’s fondest memories, hysterically laughing at Gabriel’s strangely flustered face, and it brings a smile to his present self, feeling warmth replacing uneasiness from the tip of his fingers. Here, sitting cross-legged at Ma’s feet in a room that smells faintly of roses and lavender, Jack’s nerves are lured to the soft rhythm of flicking pages and contently let his mind wander.
“Ah, this is it!” Ma beckons at Jack. Obediently, he rises to his knees and scoots over to peer at the open page.
Jack’s heart stops.
Ma’s smile doesn’t waver, but there is moisture in her eyes, gnarled finger brushing over the single gold-specked white feather tenderly, before handing it to Jack. His lips are a thin line now and he holds the single feather gingerly, as if it would disappear right before his eyes.
“Gabi’s first moult.” Ma says, her smile watery, but glad nonetheless as she places a hand on Jack’s shoulder, “I know you boys don’t have much anymore, and I know you’re both torn over the ceremony. But, with this, it will be complete.”
There isn’t a word Jack could say that wouldn’t render him choked or crying, so he stands and winds his arms around Ma’s shoulders instead, his whole body shaking.
Neither of them is walked down the aisle, neither of them wears uniform. But they put on the fancy pressed tuxes Angela picks out for them, Jack with a red tie and Gabriel with blue. Sunflowers and lilies adorn every corner of Gibraltar base, streaming with red and blue ribbons, matching the beads on their mating necklaces. The sky is high and clear and the gentle, lapping waves fade into soft instrumental music. There are barely more than two dozen guests, seated in industrial chairs that somehow Lena and Gabriel’s sisters manage to turn into elegant works of art.
They walk down towards a waiting Zenyatta together, hand-in-hand and both sets of wings unfurl, one black as the night and the other strewing with smoke in all the excitement going on. Jack isn’t sure if it is his hand or Gabriel’s that is shaking, but their entangling fingers tighten with every step they take and, despite the jumbling knots in his heart, Jack can’t quite keep his dopey grin off his face, wing brushing against Gabriel’s smooth bones at every shift of the way.
The vows are simple and yet not quite so. There isn’t any promise of eternal love, but their hands are trapped between their chests, foreheads press together as they lock eyes.
“I am glad to be born. I am glad I could meet you. Throughout this journey with you, I have felt nothing but the utmost happiness. If it is possible, can you greet me with a smile every time we wake?”
“Words will never be capable to deliver my love and gratitude. Your laughter, your tears, your kindness. The arms that hold me tight. The voice that calls my name. That warmth you so generously have given in my darkest days. My heart beats for you and you alone.”
Rings are exchanged and Jack graciously accepts his mating necklace back, now spotting his own inky feather next to Gabriel’s white one. But Gabriel’s reaction when his own is returned, black nestling against a perfectly pristine gold-freckled white, knocks the breath out of Jack. There is confusion, then a sharp shock and lastly a glance towards the audience where Ma is crying silently, yet still beaming at them with so much pride. Gabriel looks back at Jack, blue eyes are red-rimmed, and his own lips tremble.
A choked laughter escapes him and Gabriel smashes their mouths together, crashing Jack so impossibly close to him, melding their bodies together in a way that makes Jack’s heart soar. The crowd’s cheering is lost to them and they only pull back once their lungs are absolutely empty. Their grins are wet and perhaps a little mad, and they lean in once more for another peck.
Jack feels silly for having been so nervous. Because this is all is right in the world, where they belong and a happiness well-deserved.