An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Burn Notice (TV 2007)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Jesse Porter & Michael Westen
Characters: Michael Westen, Jesse Porter
Additional Tags: Conversations, Introspection, Missing Scene, Episode Related
Summary: After the long struggle to clear both his and Jesse's names, Michael wonders at Jesse's sudden resignation from the position he fought so hard to regain, and what it might mean for Michael's own goals.
Michael blinked and glanced up, realizing belatedly it wasn't the first time Jesse had said his name. He fixed a vague smile of acknowledgement in place, hands going still on the sooty rag.
"You good, man?" Jesse took a step forward, frowning.
Michael didn't respond for a minute, finally setting the rag aside with a sigh. "You quit," he replied, voice carefully controlled.
After everything they'd done, everything they'd all been through, Jesse's ruthless determination to clear his name and get his life back, he'd just quit.
After his own role in the path Jesse's life had taken, Michael hardly had any right to determine how Jesse should choose to live now. He had no right to be angry about this. It was Jesse's life, and it was good that he had the freedom to make whatever decision he chose, now.
It was just. . . confusing. And if Michael was honest with himself, he was a little angry about it, no matter how little right he had to feel that way. It had been no easy thing, getting Jesse back in.
Jesse let his arms swing down to his sides, heaving a sigh. "Yeah. Yeah, I did."
