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Mikree wasn't supposed to know where Reyes kept his stash. Mikree also wasn't supposed to know Reyes' schedule well enough to sneak into said stash to haul a few gourds full of fermented fruits to the top of the rock that served as the Watchpoint. But here he was, paws curled protectively around the gourds he had hauled up to the viewpoint he had once found Reyes in a drunken stupor on. Now it was his turn to drink and forget.

Unfortunately, it only seemed to bring about more questions, more memories, and more of that twisting guilt in his stomach. He never really had a choice in life as to what he did or where he went and that didn't sit well with him. As much as he was loyal to Reyes, he was a free spirit that loathed being told what to do. His commander knew that well enough considering how much he mouthed off and teased or complained about smaller tasks. When it came down to it he listened, but for small things he liked to see how far he could toe the line, how much Reyes would push back.

But now, with the drink in his system, he was starting to see just how pathetic his life had turned out to be. Always at someone's beck and call, always shown down a road, never given a chance to just...be. Letting out a slow, shuddering sigh, Mikree lowered his head to his paws and glanced out over the open savanna.

Mikree finished another gourd full of the alcohol and pushed the empty shell aside, but not too far. He knew Reyes reused the gourds and losing one would definitely get him in more trouble than just drinking the contents. He had taken the stash fully aware he'd probably end up doing laps for the next month after dinner and before breakfast, but it was worth it in his eyes.

By the time the familiar voice sounded behind him Mikree was too drunk to worry about consequences. He laughed - a harsh, almost barking sound rather than his usual easy chuckle - and didn't bother to look over his shoulder as he spoke.

"Nope. Sssssorry, boss," he said, voice thick and slightly slurred. He closed his eyes and rubbed his cheek against his paw, the slow friction warming both parts of his body. It tingled a bit in his nose from the drinking and the movement felt nice, a good distraction from the thoughts clouding his mind.

"Oh wait. I thought'a one," he said suddenly, lifting his head to turn and look at Reyes. The movement made him wobble even though he was laying down and he spread his front legs to balance himself a bit better. "Good reason. Right here. Drink to forget, right, Reyes? S'what you do. Ain't workin' too good for me, though...rememberin' stuff instead. Ain't that my luck?"

Mikree struggled to focus on Reyes as the other male came closer. At times he saw double, but once Reyes had settled down beside him the world was back to the proper number of Blackwatch Commanders. He curled his paws around the gourds protectively, his mind telling him to make sure Reyes didn't steal them because he had to bring them back to Reyes' den. That made a bunch of sense.

He gave a little huff as Reyes spoke, rolling his eyes so hard he did tip over. He resigned himself to his fate and flopped onto his side, looking out at the dry grass blowing in the wind. What was eating him...what wasn't?

"Jus' thinkin' 'bout everythin'," he said, waving a paw now that he didn't have to worry about falling over. "How ******** up my life is. Has been. Did you know," he said, struggling to lift his head at least a bit so he could look at Reyes. "Did you know I can remember Deadlock draggin' my ma outta the den by her tail so hard it ripped off? Just, shwoop! Like a lizard!"

Reyes' silence led Mikree to more talking. It always worked that way - if someone else didn't say anything he'd just keep going. He knew it was the commander's way of saying 'go on' or something similar to that. When he wanted him to shut up, he'd tell him.

"Don't remember much elsea that whole ordeal. Remember before and after, but not during. Took a smack to the head early on tryin' to stop 'em, knocked out cold. Woke up, told me they liked my fight 'n I was parta them now. Parta the gang that killed my whole family. That was messed up."

He nudged a gourd, one he hadn't touched, and was pleased it find it still full of the booze. He knocked the top off and lapped up a bit more, finding it easier to pause than to just spill his thoughts. The liquid hung from his chin, the dark fur nearly black thanks to the wetness left behind.

"So I said to myself Mikree, they gonna do the same thing t' you if y'don't buck up 'n make the besta it. Ma wouldn't'a wanted me layin' down 'n givin' up. So I did. Started fittin' right in with 'em. And then you-"

He paused here, turning his glassy gaze to Reyes. His expression, while drunk, was hard to read. It was a strange emotion to feel as well. Gratitude because he knew how it all turned out but regret at the same time. "You n' Morrison showed up. Killed my family. Picked me up 'cause y'liked my fight. Just a big...big fancy Deadlock, ain't ya?"

Mikree let out another harsh laugh as Reyes chimed in. "That's true. Never said you were assholes like them," he added thoughtfully, his drunk voice wavering a bit as his tone changed. "Can be, but different breed'a a*****e. Carin' kind. You care. Morrison cares. Still big, fancy Deadlock."

He couldn't elaborate more than that thanks to the state of his mind, but to him it was clear what he meant. Both organizations had taken him in under their wing to train and teach. He was expected to obey, to do as he was told, to put his life on the line for them. With Deadlock he had done so because he feared being killed. With Overwatch and Blackwatch he did so because he had come to find it was a family here. Merci, Amari, Reyes, Morrison, Reinhardt, Torbjorn, little Fareeha...they were his friends and his kin. And yet there was still that bad taste in his mouth. The knowledge that he was still their soldier, their pawn bit at him like a mosquito that wouldn't leave him alone.

He glanced down at the gourd and shrugged slightly. "One more won't kill me," he said as he licked his muzzle, glancing at Reyes with tired eyes. "I'm sick, darlin'. Sick'a bein' told what to do all the gods damn time. Ma didn't raise me that way, y'know? And here I am, my whole damn life followin' orders."

Reyes' words hurt more than Mikree cared to admit, but he replied by sticking his nose into the gourd to drink more. No, she hadn't raised him to run with a gang, especially not one that had killed her and his siblings. She had raised him to be a fighter, though, and to not lay down and take anything from anyone. She hadn't been in his life long, but he clung to her lessons like a lifeline.

What came next surprised him. He lifted his head to look at Reyes squarely, or as square as he could given his current state. Leave? He'd be lying if he said the thought hadn't crossed his mind, but it hadn't been for a long, long time. He had been thinking of ways to leave when he was younger, still growing into his mane when Reyes' training made him want to throw up from exhaustion. At that point he would have taken death over more brutal workouts. But now...now he had that bond with his fellow agents, with his commanders. Leaving now would be like leaving his mother just before Deadlock had pounced.

"Just because I don't like it don't mean I'm high-tailin' it outta here," he muttered. "Y'all've been as close to a family as I can get." He remained silent at the promotion comment, unsure of how to reply. A promotion would mean more freedom, but he'd still answer to Reyes and Morrison as he did now. It wasn't an offer he was chomping at the bit for.

"Nah. I don't need none a' that."

Mikree glanced back at the gourd, but as he leaned in to drink more his stomach finally said to stop. He felt incredibly ill very suddenly so rather than drinking the rest, he pushed it aside so he wouldn't be tempted later. Ugh...that had come on fast.

Reyes' words made him glance over at the other male with a confused expression. "The rest? What...we got...some sorta Blackwatch within Blackwatch?" he asked, not understanding at all. He was down for meeting new agents, of course. He was a social lion that thrived off being around others.

"Not 'til I sober up," he added, resting his head on his paws again. "Don't need t' give 'em a great first impression 'a me."

Mikree stared at Reyes as he processed what he had said. His family. Reyes' family. It occurred to him he had never really thought about his commander's parents or siblings, probably because Reyes had been an adult when they had first met. To him, he had just always been there. Now he knew it was an idiotic thing to think, but still. It came as a surprise.

"Everyone lo~ves me," he returned as he chuckled quietly, the noise making his own head hurt. He'd regret drinking as much as he had in the morning, he could tell. Ah well...that's what he got, he supposed.

"Yessir," he added, giving the gourds a glance. He had been very protective of them thus far, keeping them close as he had emptied them. "They'll be cleaned 'n put back once I can see straight."