#thirsty work

“Thirsty Work”

Fantastic Four #4 (May 1962)

Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Sol Brodsky and Stan Goldberg

“True to your word, archer,” Jesse drawls, fingers circling the neck of the bottle. Their hands brush before Hanzo lets go, lingering; the corner of Hanzo’s lips quirk upward. “I admire that in a man.”

“You were right,” Hanzo replies, watching as Jesse brings the flask to his lips, tips his head so that the sake sluices into his mouth. “That was thirsty work.”

Jesse’s used to the sting of alcohol, so that’s familiar even if the taste is new: it’s dry and sharp, a bit more of a burn than he’s expecting, but he’s parched enough that it goes down just fine. It’s warming, what with the bite of the chill night air even more noticeable now that his sweat is cooling, that the heat of battle has been replaced with relief and calm.

Sake dribbles down the side of his mouth, stinging where it comes into contact with a cut on his lip. McCree licks what he can, probing at the cut with his tongue; it’s not bleeding, at least. He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand - only to look up at Hanzo halfway through the motion, catching the archer’s eyes riveted on his lips. Jesse’s heart trips over itself in his chest,