[center][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dK2tDK9grQ][img]http://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjEwNi5DNTRDMkEuU21WemMyVWdUV05EY21WbC4wAAAAAA,,/rm-serifancy.regular.png[/img][/url] [color=#C54C2A]͏͏— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —[/color] [color=#C54C2A]͏͏— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —[/color] [b]𝙻𝙾𝙲𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽:[/b] 𝙲𝚊𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝙲𝚒𝚝𝚢, 𝙽𝚎𝚟𝚊𝚍𝚊 [b]𝙸𝙽𝚃𝙴𝚁𝙰𝙲𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝚆𝙸𝚃𝙷:[/b] 𝙰𝚗𝚐𝚛𝚢 𝙼𝚎𝚛𝚌 [𝚂𝚑𝚛𝚒𝚔𝚎 + 𝚂𝚘𝚕𝚍𝚒𝚎𝚛 𝙼𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗] [[@Jacobite]] [color=#C54C2A]͏͏— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —[/color] [color=#C54C2A]͏͏— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —[/color][/center] Everyone had connections these days, aside from Jesse McCree. The cowboy fancied himself a drifter these past few years, even Ana's teachings couldn't break through his own mentality. Friends dropped like flies or turned against him. The sooner he dropped them, the less likely they'd find a way to drop him - permanently. People outside of his personal bubble, however, liked to take more risks than he did. At least, the trusted a lot easier and it seemed to pay off for them in some form or fashion. Three mercenaries jumped him on his switch from Phoenix to Carson City. Jesse immediately regretted not simply taking that all the way to Los Angeles. Both bullets ended up in Seattle. Dumb. Now he sat in one of the empty storage compartments, his pants hiked up to the knee to allow his hands to roam his calf freely. A fresh wound, a deep slash from a knife that caught him on his jump from cart to cart. [color=#D78869]"Shoulda seen the other guy,"[/color] he muttered to himself, hissing at the sting of alcohol lathering his leg. If it were for anything else, Jesse'd have qualms with wasting a good bottle of Jack Daniels. He hiked his leg up to get a better glimpse at the wound, snatching the needle and thread he'd picked from two different suitcases. With how he looked these days, no one really bothered to actually pay him any attention. Funny how people were quick to ignore anything that shattered their perfect lives. [color=#D78869]"N'ah,"[/color] Jesse grunted, pausing to take a few gulps of air. His eyes shot up, staring at the stark white of the fluorescent lighting above him. Biting down on his lower lip, Jesse turned back to the wound, taking care to suture it with a slow and steady hand. The thread was stronger than he'd expected, but it was still flimsier and would likely tear later that night. It'd work as something temporary, just to stop the bleeding. Just to stop the bleeding. Just to stop the bleeding. Agony blazed through him, though Jesse tore through it to finish the job. He tied the thread off before his fingers could start shaking, slamming his mechanical hand into the side of the small compartment. [color=#D78869]"Goddammit,"[/color] he bit off the curse, letting his head rest against the cool metal, sweat damped and pale. One more hour. [i][color=8a83ce]"Count with me, Jesse: one, two, three,"[/color] her voice soothed his burning ears, a hand running through the sweat that matted his hair - he barely felt anything, much less the numbness in his left arm. [color=8a83ce]"I've got you,"[/color] her accent was heavy, but he understood every single word that left her mouth, [color=8a83ce]"You're safe now, حبيبتي"[/color][/i] [center][color=#C54C2A]͏͏ - - - [/color][/center] They're waiting for him. A number of men scattered across the loading dock; Jesse'd spotted them while hopping from cart door to cart door. The stitching held, but it wouldn't for much longer and with his visible limp, he wouldn't get two paces before they gunned him down. Jesse gritted his teeth, staring at the train monitor try to discern whether he wanted to confront Jesse or not. The man thought better, turning a blind eye while the cowboy took his limped strides down the walkway. How many times had he found himself stuck in this situation? What'd Gabe tell him to do? Jesse growled, frustration seeping into the crease between his brows. Don't be stupid, dumbass. Don't be stupid, dumbass. [i]Don't be stupid, dumbass.[/i] Jesse snatched the nearest suitcase, running through junction between carts. The contents fell between the tracks as he jumped, and he took that moment to slide his hat and serape in. He threw on the jacket that at his feet, a flat cap with it. For a few moments, Jesse contemplated whether or not to dump his gun and belt in too. Biting off a curse, he threw them inside the suitcase, closed it, and moved into the next train compartment. Walking idly, he undid his chaps and tossed them onto an empty seat before bending low to snatch a few misplaced shoes - he could find another pair of boots in Seattle. Plenty of hipster shops selling antiques. The shade hid the number of bruises on his face, and the crowd hid the blood that caked his trousers. With everything set into place, Jesse looked like another meandering business man down on his luck. Or a commuter. Either way, he blended in, slipped right passed the crows eyes and the snake in the grass. Jesse held off a chuckle for the moment he rounded the corner, the noon sun already beating down on him. After a few blocks had passed, Jesse slid into an empty alleyway to discard the stolen goods and redress with what he'd kept. He frowned at the black soot of the shoes that replaced his boots. He looked odd, but he supposed that wasn't an issue. He looked odd everyday. Washington was just around the corner now. And with it, access to Overwatch supplies and even more ridiculous cowboy wear to flood his closet. Maybe. Jesse scrunched his nose at the thought of permanence. Sadly, that thought couldn't have spared another moment. A bullet whizzed past his head, knicking his ear before lodging itself into the brick behind him. [color=#D78869]"Ah, shit,"[/color] Jesse growled, diving back into the alleyway and behind cover. He hissed, clenching his leg. The stitches wouldn't hold with how much he'd been moving; in fact, he could feel the thread come apart with each flex of his leg. Another hiss broke from Jesse's lips as he peered from his hiding spot. [color=e0e0e0]"You know,"[/color] a booming voice snatched Jesse's attention and he peered closer at the shadow nearing, [color=e0e0e0]"Sixty mill is quite a nice reward for a deadbeat, wannabe cowboy. Come on, Eastwood, you really think I'm gonna pass that up?"[/color] [color=#D78869]"Dunno who the hell you are, but I assure you, no crackpot shot like you's gonna collect my bounty,"[/color] Jesse spat. The man only cackled before piling his entire clip into the side of the dumpster. [color=e0e0e0]"You're absolutely right, McCree, I'm not collecting that bounty. Nah, I just want see you riddled with my bullets,"[/color] he ended his words with the click of another magazine in place. Jesse flinched, shoving himself into the corner as bullet after bullet shredded through the pavement and the metal of his lone hiding spot. [color=e0e0e0]"Come on, babe, you don't remember me?"[/color] he growled, slamming the butt of his rifle into the opposite end of the dumpster. He punctuated every word with a slam, [color=e0e0e0]"You don't. Remember. The man. You half. Blinded. You [i]fucking[/i]. Prick."[/color] The second the last slam rang out, Jesse dove from his corner with a flash bang tossed overhead. It detonated with an ear piercing ring and Jesse took that chance to jump out of his roll. He hissed at the pain jolting up from his calf, but his hands barely shook as they slammed the hammer down on his pistol. No sound echoed beyond the first shot, aside from the bullet pinging against the wall and the swish of wind against his ears. The rifle the man had been holding found its target against the side of Jesse's face, smacking him into the pavement. He grunted, losing grip of Peacekeeper as he hit the dirt. A sharp, curt laugh echoed above him; he just wanted to smother his face against the pavement. Jesse didn't get the chance. The merc slammed his foot against Jesse's shin, grounding his cut wound into the pavement below. Jesse howled, curling into himself only to find his breath knocked out as that same foot collided with his chest. Everything in his body screamed and hissed at him, at every subtle movement he made. The man above him noticed, saw the shaking in his Jesse's limbs and the paleness that struck his features. He bent low, grabbing Jesse by his scruff and lifting him. A hand clamped around his throat, quick and like a vice as it shoved him into the wall. [color=e0e0e0]"Look at me,"[/color] the man gritted, spitting his words into Jesse's face, [color=e0e0e0]"I want you to recognize me."[/color] [color=#D78869]"Sorry,"[/color] Jesse huffed, [color=#D78869]"pardner. You ain't got the best luck with a face like that."[/color] The man slugged him, grinning at the sudden red blooming against Jesse's cheek. [color=e0e0e0]"Smart mouth."[/color] [color=#D78869]"Pretty too,"[/color] Jesse spat, lobbing blood onto the man's cheeks, [color=#D78869]"how's it feel to look like all the chums that frequent the shittiest dive bars in Mexico?"[/color] That ignited something, and the man tossed him by the neck into the deserted sidewalk. He loomed over Jesse, imposing as he huffed deep breath after deep breath. Good, he wouldn't take his time finishing him off. Jesse propped himself on his elbows, stretching a bloody smile. [color=#D78869]"You wanted a fight, darlin', well I'm your goddamn huckleberry."[/color] The man roared in indignation, rearing up for a straight dive on top of Jesse. He didn't get far before that roar turned into a muddled cry of confusion. Jesse blinked, the man lumbering for a moment as he wobbled on his feet. He looked almost out of it for a moment, his hands grabbing and tossing something at his neck before turning his rage back onto Jesse. The only thing he heard thereafter was the sound of steady pulse firing that lit up the dark alley behind them. God, his day just got better in the worst damn way.