Chapter Text
"Is that a kid in our interrogation room?"
"No, couldn't be. What would a kid be doing with Deadlock?"
"What age is he? 12?"
"I have no idea."
Jack Morrison and Gabriel Reyes silently conversed as they watched the frail child on the other side of the glass fidget recklessly. He was obviously nervous. His soft brown eyes were darting from corner to corner, his red serape not doing anything to hide his shivers. He was clearly beaten up; by his soldiers or Deadlock members, Jack wasn't sure.
Jack couldn't help but feel bad. He wasn't the one to put the kid in the interrogation room, but he couldn't help but feel guilty. The child had tear tracks on his face and he was shaking.
"I want all information on who the kid is and who put him in there. Alone. Without food."
Gabriel had clearly taken charge, not pleased with the arrangements either. Jack couldn't blame him. Putting someone into the interrogation room with no supervision or food was one thing. But a child? Unacceptable.
It took a few moments, which Jack and Gabriel spent conversing about the child, for the information to come through. Gabriel held the file in his hands as he read aloud.
"Jesse McCree, age 11. Says here he was picked up by Deadlock last year, he's a good shot, but still a rookie. He lost his mama and papa, and no known next of kin. Kid's been alone for two years, I would hardly call Deadlock company."
Jack felt his heart melt. What can he say? He had a soft spot for people who had been led astray. He had a even softer spot for children.
"Jack, no."
"What?"
"I know that look. We are not adopting a kid."
"But Gabriel..."
"Without talking to him first."
Jack's mouth nearly fell open in shock. Well, that was certainly easier than he thought. Gabriel was usually so assertive and stubborn; it was difficult to get him to do something. Maybe Gabriel actually liked children?
Well, that's something Jack has never, ever considered before.
Jack entered the code into the keypad silently. He put a smile on his face as entered the dark room, however it faltered a bit when red rimmed eyes shot up to him. Jesse was hostile, his attempts to look strong failed; he just looked like a deer caught in the head lights. Gabriel stayed off to the side, he was still in sight, but he preferred not talking. That was Jack's job.
Jack unlocked the cuffs on Jesse's slim wrists, smiling sorrowfully at the child's confused look. He placed biscuits and some water in front of him to eat and drink, then sat across from him.
"Hey, Jesse McCree, right?"
".... Yeah... What's it matter to you?"
Jesse had a southern drawl, that wasn't exactly fully developed since he was still a kid. He was clearly from the south. What state, Jack didn't know. Jesse was eyeing the food in front of him carefully, Jack didn't force him to eat. The kid already felt like a caged animal.
"Well, Jesse, you have got caught in some pretty terrible things."
"I know."
That was something Jack was not expecting.
Usually, kids were dumb and didn't realise when they did something wrong. A parent would always have to tell and correct them. It was a rarity that a kid admitted it outright without being told.
"You know?"
"Yeah. Shootin' at people ain't exactly gold star behaviour."
Jesse's voice was shaky, even if he was trying to leak confidence. Jack would have found it endearing if the situation was different.
"Then you understand why you're here."
"Yeah. I'm goin' ta jail, aren't I?"
"Well, maybe not."
"But... Bad guys go ta jail..."
And if Jack's heart didn't break at that. Jesse knows he's done wrong and thinks he deserves to rot in jail for it. Damn it, a kid shouldn't feel that way. They should be carefree, no worries tying them down, they should feel free in a child's sense. They shouldn't feel like they need to go to jail because they messed up.
"Yes, they do. But, you know what Jesse, you aren't a bad guy."
"But... I killed all those people..."
"You didn't kill them, son. You injured them badly, but no charges are being pressed and no one died."
Okay, maybe the charges part was a lie. But Gabriel would take care of that.
"Then... What's gonna 'appen ta me?"
"That's up to you. We have an offer, if you would like to hear it."
"Sure. Not like I actually have a choice."
"We would like to adopt you."
"No."
Jack did a double take.
"What?"
"No."
"But why?"
"Why would I? You haven't even told me your name, what you do or anything."
"I'm Jack Morrison and I'm from America. I'm strike commander of Overwatch. My age is classified. I'm happily married to Mr Shadows over there and always wanted a kid."
"And what about you?"
"Gab-"
"I asked him. Not you."
Jesse cut Jack off, looking almost guilty about it. Jack shut his mouth and motioned for Gabriel to introduce himself.
"I'm Gabriel Reyes. Age is also classified. I'm Latino, my mama died at a young age. I found out who put you in here without food and water and they are being dealt with."
Jesse was silent. He moved his gaze to the table in front of him, his fingers tapped against the surface.
"Listen, Jesse, you have no where else to go. Gabriel and I are willing to let you into our little family. We promise, we will treat you with the upmost respect, we will love you, we will make sure nothing, I mean nothing, bad ever happens to you. We will protect you like you are our biological son."
"You shouldn't make promises you can't keep. Bad things happen to everyone. Seems hardly fair you're trying to make me an exception."
Jesse paused before raising his gaze to Jack. He smiled a little, and the small action made Jack smile a little too.
"But, you seem nice enough."
"So...? Do you want to be part of our little family?"
"Yeah."
Jack turned around to face Gabriel with the biggest grin in the world. Gabriel smirked a little at his happiness.
Gabriel may have lost the opportunity to have a family as a child, but as a grown up, he may have a chance.