Ryuji's lookin' for you- and Ann and Akira. They are like me. They don't think that you did this. And I promised them I'd tell you. I doubt you get these at all now, but in case you do, know that there are children that care for you and are worried about you. Don't let them down.
[ It's only after Jack escaped his cage that he'd been able to make the trip back up to Thesa Station, at which point he'd been issued a new phone. He still his his concerns about being tracked, but given that during the terms of his capture a different sort of tracking method was mentioned, he has to rely on the Olympians not knowing enough about technology to hack into his phone.
His same username is loaded up into it, and so all of the messages he missed come through, including Reinhardt's long string of them. He'd done his best for them, put his own freedom on the line to prove their innocence, and at first Jack wants to be angry. He never asked for Reinhardt's help. He never asked for him to endanger himself on his behalf. This is why he'd wanted all of them to just forget about him.
Now that they're in Wyver and he's a free man, though (to some extent, anyway), he can't just ignore it. It takes him some time to figure out what he wants to say and how, but he sends Reinhardt a very delayed text back. ]
Ana's told our side of the story now, but I couldn't agree to the terms the Olympians were offering. I know you tried your best for us, but you shouldn't have put yourself at risk, Reinhardt. You know we're all used to this kind of thing by now.
[ Jack, Ana, and McCree all had prices on their heads back home. It may as well be a way of life at this point. ]
[ Somewhere, some poor NPC is seeing a grown ass man crying over a text message. He's so relieved. Yes, he's a little mad that Jack decided to be a fugitive, but that's fine. Reinhardt will still do what he can for his old friend. Just like he had tried to do during this all.
Jack's just going to have to learn that Reinhardt's loyalty is absolute when it comes to his friends.]
Oh. Thank god! Thank god you're safe. I was worried for you, you know. I still am. But I know you're safe now and that's what matters.
And you know that I'll do anything for you. You're my friend, Jack. I made you a promise years ago and I plan on keeping it. No risk is too much if it means helping you. And it doesn't matter if you're used to this or not. You don't have to do things alone anymore. Remember that, all right. Remember that I've got your back. Now and always.
[ Yes, Jack may have noticed the worry. This is why he'd never revealed himself to Reinhardt back home. That sort of worry would have led him to doing even more reckless things, when he would have been better off living his own life.
Everything that Reinhardt is telling him, even if it's over text, is one hundred percent genuine. Jack would never question that. It's the sort of thing that would warm anyone's heart, to have that kind of unwavering support, but he can't kick the feeling that it's misplaced, and that Reinhardt would be better off giving that devotion to someone else. ]
I'm pretty sure that promise hit its expiration date when Overwatch was disbanded. You don't owe me anything.
[ He's done so much wrong by you, Reinhardt!! Just hate him already!!! ]
[ Jack should just know by now that Reinhardt will always give him that support. Because honestly, that promise should have ended the second that Morrison had signed off on his retirement papers and told him to get his things and go. But even that, Reinhardt can forgive. Jack's hands had been tied. Neither of them had had a choice once the UN had passed that decision down. ]
My promises aren't like milk, Jack. They do not spoil and they do not age and they certainly do not expire. While you are right that I owe you nothing, I did not owe you when I made that promise either. It's not about owing anyone anything. It's about standing by a friend in need. You are a friend. You were in need. That's all I needed to know and I will continue for as long as I draw breath.
[ It hadn't seemed fair to make Reinhardt retire when Jack, Ana, and Gabriel had stayed on, but it's true that his hands had been tied. Just as they had so many times over his long career, to the point that he sometimes questions if he really accomplished anything with Overwatch. A new Crisis has started, Omnic relations are as tense as ever, and --
Well, that world is gone. Why is he still dwelling on it? ]
I guess my first mistake was thinking that I would be able to convince you of something after you made your mind up.
[ All he can do is try to take strength from Reinhardt, as he had back during the Crisis, during Overwatch. But it's like trying to wake up a sleeping limb, or to exercise an atrophied muscle. He doesn't remember how. ]
A lot of the pressure is off now that we're here, but I don't think I can return to Olympia any time soon.
This is indeed your first mistake. I will forgive you though. It's been a while for us. Longer for you than for me, I think. But I've not changed much. I'm still as stubborn as ever. I won't give up on you, no matter what. That's my decision.
[ He means it too. He'll be patient with Jack until he's used to him again. ]
I understand. I don't know yet where I will end up being once this all blows over. I might just stick with Ana or Lena for a bit, to keep them safe, but you do know I will come running if you call me.
[ "Thanks" doesn't seem like the right thing to say, not when Jack still isn't entirely comfortable with this sort of ironclad support. Then again, if Reinhardt was going to be disappointed or angry with him, the time for that has already passed and he's made his decision on how to feel about it. The least Jack can do is try to respect that. ]
I get the feeling Ana will be sticking around here too, but we'll see. If Lena does end up going back, I'd appreciate it if you could keep an eye on her.
[ It takes a moment for him to type. There's likely a lot he wants to say, but in the end, he decided to just go with the most simplified version of it. ]
I will do that for you, Jack. I'll be there for Lena. Just remember that I can be there for you as well.
....
Just promise me you'll look after Ana. I know she doesn't really need it, but I would feel better knowing that she's safe. That the both of you are safe. I just got you two back. I don't want to lose you again.
[ No matter what Jack might say or do, Reinhardt will always want to shield the rest of them from harm, whatever form that might come in. He won't let Jack get away with anything, that's for sure. It's hard to know how to feel about it, but it leaves him with a familiar kind of ache. ]
I know. I'll do everything in my power to keep her safe.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
slightly backdated
much, much later--
His same username is loaded up into it, and so all of the messages he missed come through, including Reinhardt's long string of them. He'd done his best for them, put his own freedom on the line to prove their innocence, and at first Jack wants to be angry. He never asked for Reinhardt's help. He never asked for him to endanger himself on his behalf. This is why he'd wanted all of them to just forget about him.
Now that they're in Wyver and he's a free man, though (to some extent, anyway), he can't just ignore it. It takes him some time to figure out what he wants to say and how, but he sends Reinhardt a very delayed text back. ]
Ana's told our side of the story now, but I couldn't agree to the terms the Olympians were offering. I know you tried your best for us, but you shouldn't have put yourself at risk, Reinhardt. You know we're all used to this kind of thing by now.
[ Jack, Ana, and McCree all had prices on their heads back home. It may as well be a way of life at this point. ]
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Jack's just going to have to learn that Reinhardt's loyalty is absolute when it comes to his friends.]
Oh. Thank god! Thank god you're safe. I was worried for you, you know. I still am. But I know you're safe now and that's what matters.
And you know that I'll do anything for you. You're my friend, Jack. I made you a promise years ago and I plan on keeping it. No risk is too much if it means helping you. And it doesn't matter if you're used to this or not. You don't have to do things alone anymore. Remember that, all right. Remember that I've got your back. Now and always.
no subject
Everything that Reinhardt is telling him, even if it's over text, is one hundred percent genuine. Jack would never question that. It's the sort of thing that would warm anyone's heart, to have that kind of unwavering support, but he can't kick the feeling that it's misplaced, and that Reinhardt would be better off giving that devotion to someone else. ]
I'm pretty sure that promise hit its expiration date when Overwatch was disbanded. You don't owe me anything.
[ He's done so much wrong by you, Reinhardt!! Just hate him already!!! ]
no subject
My promises aren't like milk, Jack. They do not spoil and they do not age and they certainly do not expire. While you are right that I owe you nothing, I did not owe you when I made that promise either. It's not about owing anyone anything. It's about standing by a friend in need. You are a friend. You were in need. That's all I needed to know and I will continue for as long as I draw breath.
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Well, that world is gone. Why is he still dwelling on it? ]
I guess my first mistake was thinking that I would be able to convince you of something after you made your mind up.
[ All he can do is try to take strength from Reinhardt, as he had back during the Crisis, during Overwatch. But it's like trying to wake up a sleeping limb, or to exercise an atrophied muscle. He doesn't remember how. ]
A lot of the pressure is off now that we're here, but I don't think I can return to Olympia any time soon.
[ You know, fair warning. ]
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[ He means it too. He'll be patient with Jack until he's used to him again. ]
I understand. I don't know yet where I will end up being once this all blows over. I might just stick with Ana or Lena for a bit, to keep them safe, but you do know I will come running if you call me.
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[ "Thanks" doesn't seem like the right thing to say, not when Jack still isn't entirely comfortable with this sort of ironclad support. Then again, if Reinhardt was going to be disappointed or angry with him, the time for that has already passed and he's made his decision on how to feel about it. The least Jack can do is try to respect that. ]
I get the feeling Ana will be sticking around here too, but we'll see. If Lena does end up going back, I'd appreciate it if you could keep an eye on her.
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I will do that for you, Jack. I'll be there for Lena. Just remember that I can be there for you as well.
....
Just promise me you'll look after Ana. I know she doesn't really need it, but I would feel better knowing that she's safe. That the both of you are safe. I just got you two back. I don't want to lose you again.
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I know. I'll do everything in my power to keep her safe.
[ He can promise that much. ]
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Thank you for that, Jack. I appreciate it. More than you know.