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It took a concentrated effort to not choke on the blood flooding his mouth, which was now permanently pried open and gaping wide.
His grasp on his sword was weak at best. He blinked, and it was on the ground, no longer held in his hand.
Oh.
It was still held in his hand. His hand was on the floor. His whole arm was, in fact.
Another blink. He was on the floor next to it.
His legs were next to him as well. He had been taken apart, piece by piece. Like a jigsaw puzzle. Or an action figure. Oh, no, actually, one was still connected to him by some sinewy tissue. That was something, at least.
His jaw hung off his face in such a way that he could see it when he looked down. Or he could, if not for all the blood. There was so, so much blood. Would he ever be clean again?
Of course not, he realised. He would be dead. They could scrub his corpse clean all they wanted and it would still be as stained red as when they started.
He did not let his mutilated jaw stop him from saying his brother’s name, distorted as it sounded. His first ever word, about to be his last. Somewhere deep down he found that very funny.
“Hanzo…”
Hanzo’s sword joined his on the ground, this time without a hand still holding onto it.
His eyes would not focus. Neither would his ears, or his head. Hanzo was saying something, but it all sounded like gibberish to him.
“Hanzo…”
He could not help but say it again. Why not? Everything in his life always started and ended with either his brother or the clan, oftentimes both. Why not make his life as a whole the same? Not that there was any difference between the two anymore.
Something like hatred, rage, anger passed through him, but it passed just as quickly. Perhaps it had flown out through the blood pouring out of him. The blood that stained him red forever.
“Hanzo…”
It stained Hanzo too. There were arms around him. That he could, though little else made it through. He could see his brother now, though his eyes still would not focus.
Hanzo was soaked to the bone. None of it was his, of course. He had always been much better with the sword. Much better at everything. His father’s heir. His prodigal son - though not his favourite.
Hanzo held him. His lips against his head as he cried. It was strange to see Hanzo cry. It wasn’t right. None of this was. Everything was wrong. They were supposed to be brothers. How could you do this to your own brother? How, Hanzo? How could you hate him so much?
Not that it mattered, anymore. He rested his hand on Hanzo’s arm. It felt right.
His soul was draining out of him, forming a puddle on the floor. Oh, wait, that was the blood. Maybe his soul was in there too. Everything that connected him to the clan leaving drop by drop by drop by drop by drop by…
Maybe this was always how it was going to end.
His eyes slipped shut to the sound of begging and apologising. That wasn’t right, but he didn’t know why. Why would someone be begging? Why would…
When Genji’s eyes opened, he made sure to keep himself as still and quiet and as possible, even as his breath came in short gasps and his artificially modified heart threatened to burst out of his mostly metal chest.
Cassidy lay next to him, snoring faintly. He was a light sleeper, though he did not stir as Genji worked on calming himself down.
It was a habit he had drilled into himself back in Blackwatch. Waking up screaming meant people would come asking him questions. Stupid questions he did not want to hear when he could still his brother’s sword, stained with red, poised to-
Genji breathed out slowly. Embarrassment settled deep in his chest. It had taken years of learning inner peace under Zenyatta’s guidance for his nightmares to slowly dwindle, until even on the anniversary of his death they were gone.
Now they were back. It was the third night since Shion had forced him to watch that fucking video and the third time he had woken up to a memory of Hanzo standing over him, sword in hand. God, he would find some way to make that woman pay, he swore it.
He wondered if this was what life was like for Hanzo. Kiriko had told him that Hanzo had horrible nightmares almost every night.
Genji’s had been beaten back by the companionship he gained with the other members of Blackwatch and Overwatch, by the very annoying mandatory therapy, by the journey to self discovery he had undertaken with Zenyatta.
Hanzo had done none of that. He did not have others to turn to, and survival was a much more pressing goal than trying to come to peace with horrible things he had done.
Not that Hanzo had ever tried to heal, Genji assumed. He would rather live in his guilt forever than admit that he was not to blame for what happened.
That was… something else to unpack. He wished Zenyatta was here. He had always suspected that there was something he was missing.
Hanzo had always protected him from the worst of the abuse they faced, though Genji had taken that for granted.
He wanted to ask what the elders had done to him. Something in him ached at the thought of Hanzo suffering while Genji spent every night getting drunk and high. It pained him even more than the memories of his death did.
Belatedly, he realised he was crying. He choked back a sob. He had finally gotten his brother back, but was now faced with the reality that he had failed to protect his brother the same way Hanzo had always protected him from their father and the elders.
What they could have possibly done to him to convince him that killing Genji was his only option…
Genji needed to know. The answer would hurt. Of course it would. There was no guarantee he would get one, though.
Hanzo was…
He choked back another sob. He knew Hanzo’s mental state had to be poor, but to actually see how bad it was made him want to kill the elders all over again.
Hanzo had never been a very social person. A brilliant businessman, an unfaltering leader, a master debater and diplomat and whatever else he needed to be for the clan, but outside of that…
For whatever reason, Genji had never realised how isolated Hanzo had been. Genji and perhaps Kiriko and Asa were his only connections to the world outside of the clan. He wasn’t allowed to make friends and socialise like Genji had been, a privilege Genji had overlooked.
And after twelve years on his own, he had regressed even more. The Hanzo he knew was still there in some ways - stubborn, blunt, overly protective, and horrible at admitting when he needed help - but in others…
Genji knew he would never be the same after what happened, but he hadn’t ever really considered how different Hanzo could become. The ruthless, unfaltering Kumicho of the great Shimada clan was no longer. Perhaps he had never existed in the first place; maybe it was all just a mask that Hanzo had put in place to protect himself. A lie Genji had fallen for without a second thought.
He sobbed embarrassingly loudly and clapped a hand over his mouth. Hopefully, Cole did not hear that.
Cole grunted, stirring. “You good, baby?”
“I am fine. Go back to sleep.”
Cole did not. “I can hear you crying and trying to hide it. You have another nightmare? You wanna talk?”
“… You already know what it was about.”
They hadn’t really talked about Cole’s opinion on Hanzo being back in Genji’s life yet. It was obvious that Cole didn’t trust him, though. He hadn’t been overly rude or anything to Hanzo, besides from when they had apparently gotten into some sort of fight before the mission even started. After seeing the video, Cole had been standoffish, but nothing more.
This was something they needed to address sooner rather than later. Genji wanted nothing more than to keep putting it off. He didn’t want to choose a side. He loved Cole more than he loved any other romantic partner he had ever had by a wide margin, but this was his brother.
He had dumped previous partners for badmouthing his brother. The rest of his family he would happily join in slandering them freely, but Hanzo was different.
Cole was different too. He didn’t want this to end.
“That don’t mean talking about it won’t help, darling.”
“I don’t want to hear what you have to say,” Genji muttered before instantly regretting it. He buried his face in the blanket to avoid looking at Cole.
Cole sat up in bed. “What do you mean?”
Genji peered at him. He didn’t look mad, just confused and worried. A new wave of tears appeared in his eyes. “I don’t want to have to choose between you and Hanzo. I know you hate him, but-“
“I don’t hate him.”
“You… what? I thought-“
“I don’t trust him, but… I don’t hate him either. Well, not much, anyway. I’ve been thinking about it a lot. I talked to Angie and Reeha when we rescued him and they gave me some things to think over. I don’t agree with everything she said, but I don’t think Hanzo’s the violent murderer I thought he was. Maybe it… maybe it wasn’t entirely his fault. He made a horrible choice and I don’t think you owe him anything, much less forgiveness, but maybe there were other factors at play, y’know?”
Genji blinked, trying to force his currently overly emotional brain to process the words being said. “What did Angela and Fareeha say?”
“That he was as much of a victim as you were. That he deserves a chance to heal. That he wasn’t in his right mind. That what we saw wasn’t an isolated incident… That having him here would help you. That I needed to trust your judgment.”
“To me it seems they were right on all accounts, then. They have always been smarter than the two of us. Maybe you should listen to them.”
Cole scoffed. “What, is that your way of saying you’re only dating me for my looks?”
Genji guffawed. “Oh, I am certainly not doing that!”
Cole swatted at him. “Alright, that’s enough out of you. Now, about your brother…”
Genji stopped laughing. “Yes?”
“I’m gonna be honest with you. I dunno if I’ll ever be able to look at him and say anything other than the man who almost killed my boyfriend. But, if you really want him here, and you really wanna try and rekindle your relationship with him, then I’ll support you.”
Genji sniffled. The tears in his eyes streaked down his cheeks.
“Aw, honey. C’mere, I gotcha.”
Cole wrapped his arms around him and held him close. Genji clung onto him just as hard as he buried his face in Cole’s neck. His shoulders shook as he cried, Cole gently petting up and down his back and shushing him.
“Thank you, Cole,” he said once he finally regained some of his composure. “I understand that we do not agree on everything surrounding this situation, but I am glad that you are here for me.”
“Of course, darl. I’m always gonna be here for you. I trust your judgment, and I’m sorry I’ve caused so many problems for you already. Has, uh, has anyone told you about the little spat me and Hanzo got into while we were planning the rescue?”
“I have heard of it many times by now,” Genji said with a chuckle, voice muffled by Cole’s shirt. “Hanzo can be… hard to get along with. Please try not to start anymore fights with him, even if he is being an asshole.”
“I’ll try. I won’t be making you any promises though.”
“I will take what I can get.” He sighed. “I’m sorry for waking you up.”
“Nah, don’t worry. I’d rather wake up and be there for you than sleep through everything and leave you to deal with your nightmares by yourself.”
“I’m annoyed that I’m even having them,” Genji grumbled. “It has been years since I last had one. And now I’m having them every night! I feel like I have abandoned all of Zenyatta’s teachings. I have healed from what happened.”
“Genji… what happened to you ain’t the kind of thing you can just heal from fully. It’s always gonna stick with you. Now, I’ve never been through something quite so traumatising as being almost murdered by my brother, but if someone forced me to watch a video recording of the most traumatic thing that’s ever happened I probably wouldn’t be handling it half as well as you are. I’d be more surprised if you weren’t having nightmares after that.”
“It just… it just feels like such a setback.”
“Maybe, but only a temporary one. It’ll get better. Just give it some time.”
“When did you get so wise, cowboy?”
“Maybe I’m just smarter than you thought.”
Genji grinned. “Maybe… and handsome, too.” He leaned up to kiss Cole, hands cradling his face. He pulled away and smirked at the blush on his face, still visible even at night. He had taken to sleeping without his visor for many reasons, but this was certainly one of them.
“Aw, you ain’t so bad yourself. You’re not in any pain, right honey?”
“No. Brigitte and Torbjörn did a good job of repairing my cybernetics.”
“Mhm, and those cuts aren’t causing you any issues?”
“I think they have all closed over by now.”
“Alright. You wanna get back to sleep, honey?”
“Yes. Thank you, Cole.”
“No worries. Don’t go hiding your nightmares from me, you hear? I want you to wake me up whenever you need me. I’ll always be right here for you.”
“I will.”
Genji settled down against Cole’s chest, revelling in the feeling of his arms around him.
Maybe the cowboy was right. This probably was all just a small, temporary setback that he would bounce back from in no time. Especially with Cole at his side to help him along the way.
Genji was much calmer when he woke up the next morning. The memory of the nightmare was still fresh, but it always was. He had replayed the memory of their fight so many times in his head that it now had little effect on him. Seeing it as a video had been… jarring, to say the least, but it was nothing that he had not overcome before. He would rise above this just as he had done previously.
Cole was snoring in the bed next to him. Genji decided to let him sleep as he climbed out of bed. Years of living at a monastery had made him accustomed to rising with the sun. Hanzo hadn’t believed him when he told him.
That reminded him that today was the day that Hanzo was officially moving into his new room. Up until this point, Angela had kept him in the makeshift infirmary she had set up. He had been in there perhaps longer than strictly necessary, considering his injuries had already mostly been healed and it was just the blood loss he was recovering from. It gave him an excuse to continue avoiding everyone until he felt just a little bit more comfortable around them.
It also gave them time to set up the attic for him, since before this it was not ready for someone to live in. There had been no more beds, so they moved a mattress up there. Thankfully there was lights and electricity, though a heater was also provided, along with copious blankets and pillows. Hanzo had apparently been living in a loft when he was with the Yokai, so this likely wouldn’t be too different.
He considered going to see Hanzo, but decided he wanted to do some investigating first. His teammates had been trying to dance around the topic, addressing it in parts and certainly not telling him their actual opinions on having Hanzo here. He wanted to figure out the truth before encouraging Hanzo to connect with the members of Overwatch. Particularly those who had watched the video.
After getting dressed, he went downstairs to the kitchen. It was early enough that most people would not yet be awake. Hopefully, Sojourn was still asleep, or otherwise not here. He had been successful in avoiding her so far and was hoping that the longer he put off the scolding she surely had in store for him, the less harsh it would be.
Baptiste and Fareeha were both in the kitchen, talking quietly. They looked up when he entered, and judging by the grimace that quickly passed over Baptiste’s face, Genji could guess what they had been talking about. Or, more accurately, who. Well, he had wanted to talk to Fareeha about Hanzo anyway. He just hadn’t been able to find time over the last couple of days.
Baptiste offered him a wave. “Morning, Genji.”
“Good morning. Were you talking about my brother?”
“Uh… yeah, we were. Are we that obvious?”
“You specifically were. Fareeha is better at hiding her expressions.”
Fareeha snorted into her mug.
“I have such an expressive soul, I can’t help it if it shows up on my face!”
“To be fair, I have always had a sixth sense for when people are talking about Hanzo.”
“Well, there you go,” Baptsite said, as if they explained everything.
“Though you are quite easy to read.”
“Hey! I am not!”
Fareeha shook her head, but there was a small smile on her face. “Would you like some coffee, Genji? Or tea?”
“Tea, please. Where is Angela? Normally the two of you are practically attached at the hip.”
Fareeha rolled her eyes as she went to go prepare his tea. “No, that’s you and Cole, who I am not going to ask about because I know that lug is still asleep. Angela is… attending to her patient. I’m surprised you’re not over there bothering them.”
“I do not bother them. They like my company,” Genji protested.
“Sure, but you tend to hover.”
“I do not hover!”
“You totally hover,” Baptiste added with a snicker. “It’s honestly kind of cute how protective of Hanzo you are.”
Genji was not sure what to say to that. He responded by taking a sip of the tea Fareeha had just handed him.
“To answer your question, I wanted to speak to you. About Hanzo.”
Baptiste frowned. “To both of us, or just Fareeha?”
“Both of you. Do you… what do you think of having Hanzo here?”
They looked at each other, then at him. He wondered what exactly they had been talking about before he entered.
“I think he deserves a chance to move on,” Baptiste said quietly. “You’ve forgiven him and you want him here. It didn’t seem like he was entirely willing when he, uh, when the two of you fought, just based on the aftermath. I think that’s enough for me. It’s… I can relate to that. I know I’ve been pretty secretive about myself, but-“
Fareeha signed. “We know, Baptiste.”
Baptiste went bug eyed. “You- what- what do you mean, ‘you know’? Know what, exactly? That- that I was-“
“That you used to work for Talon? Yes.”
She had lowered her voice significantly, but it still seemed to echo around the room.
Baptiste looked around nervously, as if expecting the rest of the team to jump out at him at any second. “Please, don’t say it so loudly. Or, uh, at all, preferably. So… you- you all know, or…”
“No,” Genji replied, “just a few of us. Myself, Cole, Fareeha, Angela, Vivian, and Winston. No one else knows, as far as I am aware.”
Baptiste let out a sigh of relief. “Ok. That’s… that isn’t so bad. How did you, uh, figure it out?”
Genji shrugged. “Like I said, you can be easy to read. I don’t think anyone else picked up on it, but you act a bit shifty whenever Talon is mentioned. I ended up asking Cole and he told me.”
“Huh. Well, thanks for telling me. I’ll try to keep that in check. What about you, Fareeha?”
“Pretty similar to Genji, actually. Angela told me. I also noticed you acting a bit odd, so I brought it up to Angela, and she mentioned meeting you before and having connected the dots on her own. She lobbied hard for you, just so you know.”
“I never wanted to cause harm,” Baptiste said. “I wanted to help others like me, and I was foolish enough to fall for Talon’s tricks. I know what it’s like to be manipulated and lied to. To feel like you have no other choice. I guess I relate to Hanzo in a way, though I understand it’s quite a different circumstance.”
It greatly relieved Genji to hear that. Not that Baptiste had been manipulated before, but that he held no grudge against his brother. “I’m worried that the others do not see Hanzo so charitably. I have heard their whispers, though they stop whenever they are aware that I am listening. Hanzo is already going to have a very hard time adjusting to everyone due to the heavy isolation he has experienced throughout his life. I do not want people making it harder for him. He just needs time to adjust.”
“To be honest, Genji, I think he needs more than just ‘time to adjust’,” Fareeha said.
“What does he need?”
“Oh, I don’t know, a therapist? Antidepressants? Some way to cope with the trauma he’s faced other than blaming himself? Significant help in easing back into being an actual member of society, to start.”
Genji paused as he thought back to how hard his adjustment to Overwatch had been, and he had been assisted by the best mental health professionals Overwatch had to offer. It had been a daunting, arduous task that took a lot of effort from everyone involved.
It had taken time to unlearn everything the clan had taught him, and he was sure they had never hammered anything into his head half as hard as they did to Hanzo.
Perhaps he had been so blinded by the joy of finally having his brother with him again - and the overwhelming worry over what had happened to lead to him being here in the first place - that he had not stopped to consider that this was only the very first steps of what was going to be a very difficult journey.
“I… I think you may right. I was not considering the long term difficulties that Hanzo may face. I am just so… so happy to finally have him here. I don’t want the others to hate him for what he did.”
It startled him to realise he was getting choked up. He turned his face to the side, embarrassed. He wished he had decided to wear his visor. It was one thing to cry in front of Cole, his boyfriend, but he had never been as close with Fareeha or Baptiste.
Fareeha set her mug down on the bench and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Once people get to know him a bit more, they’ll be able to look past what he did. It will be a hard adjustment at first, but here he can start recovering from the mental effects of what was done to him and what he was forced to do. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that it won’t be easy, but you’ll be there for him.”
It was surprising to hear her say that. Fareeha wasn’t usually known for comforting others.
“Thank you. It helps to hear that.”
“Not to offend,” Baptiste started, “but, uh, I’m a bit surprised that you’re so accepting of being here. I thought you might have a bit more of an issue with it.”
Fareeha shrugged. “Angela said the same thing, actually. I guess I’m more able to see why he did it rather than just focusing on what he did. A few years ago I may have thought more negatively of him, but over the years I have seen the horrible things people can do when they are backed into a corner and think they have no other choice. I also understand why you want him back despite what he did. Family can be hard, but based on what Angela has told me, he was kind of all you had, right?”
Genji wondered just how much Angela had told Fareeha about him. “That is true, yes. Ah, I imagine it is similar for you and your mother-“
“Oh, no, what happened between Mother and I is not the same at all as what happened between you and Hanzo,” Fareeha quickly said, shaking her head. “Angela said the same thing, but my mother faking her death was not the same at all.”
“But it’s similar in concept, isn’t it?” Baptiste asked. “I still don’t know the whole story, but didn’t she fake her death? At the end of the day, it was still a choice that harmed you.”
“Maybe, but there were differences. Firstly, Mum was in a coma for years after she was shot and the doctors treating her did not know her identity, so by the time she woke up she had already been presumed KIA and the funeral had already been done. Initially, it wasn’t her choice at all to fake her death, as there was literally nothing she could have done. Afterwards… it was a bit different. By the time she woke up, she could already see how Overwatch was failing. I think she figured that coming back would only make things worse, and I don’t entirely disagree.”
“But you felt betrayed when she told you, didn’t you?” Genji asked.
“At first, but not in the same way you were. I was angry that she wasn’t coming back into my life, of the life of our friends and family. I understood that at first it wasn’t her choice, but not why she kept playing dead. I wanted her back, and I felt burdened with the knowledge that she was alive, but that she didn’t want me to tell anyone. I understand it a bit better now, even if I think I would not have done the same, and still think she could have at least told those she was closest too. I do think it has given me a better perspective of why you want your brother back in your life so badly.”
“I see… Have things been working out better for the two of you?”
“They have, yes. Now that she is here, I can actually talk to her. I am still annoyed that she spent so long running around as a vigilante even after the recall, but things have been better between us lately. It seems everyone else has gotten over their anger for the most part and are just glad that she’s joined us.
Genji hadn’t been as close to Ana as some of the others had been. He was still shocked when it was revealed that she was still alive, but his reaction was not as intense as those who had known her better. Anger and betrayal combined with relief and confusion. Fareeha, standing guiltily off to the side, admitting that she had known for years. Genji had tried to stay out of the arguments that sparked, but had still made sure to be there for Cole.
Perhaps the anger and betrayal, the relief and confusion, that was what Hanzo felt when Genji told him he was still alive. Their first meeting hadn’t quite gone as he had hoped.
“Thank you. I hope the others come to accept Hanzo’s presence as they have Ana’s return.”
“It definitely won’t be easy,” Baptiste warned him. “Not after that video. That… that was horrifying to watch, to be honest with you.”
Genji grimaced. “Yes, I can imagine that it was, ah, not pleasant to watch for them.”
“I can’t imagine how it was for you,” Baptiste said, a pitying look in his eyes.
“Well, horrifying is a good word for it.”
“Yeah, that’s probably the worst thing some of them have seen,” Fareeha said.
Genji frowned. Most people here had seen innocent people die at one point or another. Was this really so different just because it was him? “Really? Because it was someone they knew who was almost killed?”
Fareeha shook her head. “The younger agents probably haven’t seen violence quite like… that.”
“But they have seen violence before,” Genji protested. “I know that most of them have seen horrible things, things people their age should not have seen. Hana has fought in a war and seen both innocent people and her fellow teammates fall. Lúcio has seen and even led revolutions throughout Brazil where I am sure there were violent conflicts. How is this different?”
“It’s more… purposeful, I guess,” Baptiste answered. “The kind of violence you were describing is more impersonal. You don’t know the people you’re fighting. It’s not this one versus one like between you and Hanzo.”
“Those fights are also happening a lot quicker,” Fareeha added. “It’s usually a bullet or an explosive that kills. A one on one sword fight is different. It’s drawn out and a lot more personal. Especially when it’s someone you know who’s getting cut to pieces.” She winced. “Sorry, that was too far.”
“No, no it is alright. I suppose I haven’t considered that. To me, there is little difference. I suppose it is just how I grew up.”
“Well… after seeing that fight, I’m not surprised,” Baptiste said with an awkward chuckle.
Violence had always been a part of his life. As a child he was trained to kill using a variety of weapons. Bows, guns, poison, explosives, shuriken, knives. The sword has been his primary weapon though. The traditional weapon of the Shimada clan. That was what made Hanzo’s abandonment of it so surprising. Both of them had been amazing swordsmen, though the effort Hanzo put into his training meant he was better. With everything, not just the sword.
Genji had not wanted to further inflict the violence of his family. He had not wanted to be made into a weapon, some tool to be used and abused. Like his brother. Then he made a deal with Overwatch to be remade, and ended up as Blackwatch’s weapon, where he killed whoever he was told to.
Life with Zenyatta had been the first time he had experienced true peace without the looming feeling that something was wrong. No clan hovering over him, no Blackwatch or Overwatch watching his every move. It was only there that he had begun to truly understand how horrible his life with the clan had been for both him and his brother.
“It is better here. I do not have to live like that anymore. Vivian is a good leader.”
She did not make him feel like a weapon. Even when she tried to stop him from running off to Tokyo, it was not the same as when Reyes or Morrison tried to give him commands.
“She is also very, very mad at you,” Fareeha said with a grin. “I spoke with her yesterday. She seems to think that you are avoiding her.”
“Hnn. Well, you can tell her that I am not doing that. I have just been very busy lately.”
“Mhm. I’m sure she’ll understand.”
“Of course.”
Ah, well. He couldn’t avoid her forever, but he could try.
“I’m going to go see Hanzo. Thank you both for your help. I appreciate your perspectives on this matter.”
Baptiste smiled. “No worries! You need anything, don’t feel afraid to come to me, yeah? Tell Hanzo it’s the same for him, though I know we haven’t actually met yet.”
“Have you not?” Genji asked. “I would have thought that you would have stopped by the infirmary at some point over the last couple of days.”
“I have been, but he was asleep the last time I visited. The time before that Angela said that he ‘wasn’t up for visitors’. I’m surprised that she’s letting him hide out in there. Usually she kicks people out a bit quicker.”
“He didn’t really have anywhere he could go until last night,” Fareeha pointed out. “I think she’s going easy on Hanzo because she knows how hard all of this must be on him. Also, it looks like her soft spot for Genji extends to him.”
“Angela does not have a soft spot for me.”
“You’re hilarious, Genji. Now, go see your brother. You can come to me with anything as well. I get the feeling Hanzo trusts me a bit more than the other agents because I helped Angela find him, so let him know he can come to me if he needs anything as well.”
“Thank you again.” He went to put away his mug before pausing. “Has Angela had any coffee yet?”
“Yes, but I’m sure she’d love another one. You know how she is,” Fareeha said with a laugh.
“I know. I’ve never met someone who drank as much coffee as her.”
“Considering what she has to put up with, I’m not surprised she needs the extra energy!” Baptiste said.
“Is Hanzo really being that difficult of a patient?” Genji asked. “I warned her that he was even more stubborn than me, but it didn’t seem like she believed me at first. She appears to have changed her mind since then.”
“I meant in general, but yes, he isn’t the easiest patient. I don’t think he’s doing it on purpose though. He kind of seems a bit… bewildered by everything.”
“That doesn’t surprise me, considering how new this all is for him. I’ll bring him some tea, maybe that will help calm his mind. I will see you two later.”
“Oh, I think Ingrid and some of the others were planning on making a nice breakfast for everyone later. Are you going to be there?” Fareeha asked.
“That would be nice. I will see if I can make it.”
Many people tried to make meals so they could eat together, particularly dinner, but it was rare for even most of the group to eat at the same time. A team breakfast almost meant that he wouldn’t have to cook or prepare food for himself, which was not. Genji did have to admit that his cooking was not exactly one of his strongest qualities.
“Alright, see you soon, Genji,” Fareeha said, waving him off as he grabbed the tea and coffee.
“See you later, Genji!” Baptiste said.
Genji reached the door of the makeshift infirmary - really just a large rooms where all of the medical supplies were being stored with a couple spare mattresses for anyone who was injured - and realised that his hands were full.
“Angela?” He knocked his metal foot against the door a couple times as he called out.
She opened it a moment later, beaming at him. There were dark circles under her eyes. She stepped out and closed the door behind her.
“Good morning, Genji! Are those for you and your brother?”
“Ah, no, the coffee is for you,” Genji said, handing it to her. “The tea is for Hanzo. I had some before I came here. How has he been?”
“Thank you. Physically, he is doing a little better. He is still experiencing some weakness and tiredness from the blood loss, but is otherwise in good health. I’m happy to let him move into his new room as long as he takes it easy."
Genji couldn’t stop himself from laughing. “He will not do that. You and I both know that.”
Angela groaned. “I was hoping you were joking when you said he was more stubborn than you.”
“I was not.”
“I know that now,” she said with a sigh. “It… I understand why. He’s been on the run for so long that it makes he is unused to actually being able to rest when recovering from an injury.”
“He was also rarely allowed to rest while he lived with the clan,” Genji added. “They only provided medical care for severe injuries, and expected him to walk off anything minor.”
Angela sighed again. “It sounds like we will have our hands full with him. It’s going to be a very hard adjustment for him if he stays here.”
“It is better than being on his own.”
“That it is. I wanted to ask you something privately. Would you like to go to my room? Or yours? I miss having an actual office next to the infirmary…”
That made Genji worry. Was something wrong? What did she want to ask? Was it to do with Hanzo? “What is it? Is it really so sensitive that we cannot talk here?”
“I just wanted to ask if you were doing alright. I know how hard all of this must be on you, Genji. Don’t tell me that the video didn’t affect you at all.”
Ah. Genji felt relieved. This, he could handle. “I am fine, Angela.”
She gave him a deadpan stare. “The truth, if you don’t mind, Genji.”
“Really, I am!”
“So no nightmares? No flashbacks? Perhaps I should ask Cassidy, maybe he will tell me the truth…”
“He won’t tell you anything. He is too loyal.”
“Not if I tell him that I’m worried about your health,” Angela countered. She had a point there. That was likely the only thing that would make Cole fold and reveal Genji’s secrets.
“Ugh, fine. Yes, I have been having nightmares. Nothing too bad. I've been able to calm myself down with Cole’s help, and I haven’t had any flashbacks or panic attacks or anything. I am a bit… rattled by what I saw, equally by having to relive what happened to me from another perspective and by the revelation of what Hanzo was going through, but really, Angela, I am fine. I am more worried about Hanzo than anything else.”
Angela watched him critically for a moment before sighing. “Alright, I’ll take your word for it. Please know you can come to me for any reason, ok? If you need help, I will do anything I can to provide it.”
Genji chuckled. “I already knew that, Angela. You have already helped me so much, and I would hate to be a burden, but I know you will be there for me.”
Her gaze softened. “You are not a burden, Genji. You have never been one.” She looked at the mug he was holding. “You should give that to him before it goes cold.”
Genji followed her into the room, immediately spotting Hanzo laying on one of the mattresses. Gibraltar had not had the best medical facilities, but they were leagues better than this. At least there had been actual beds, and as Angela said, a proper office, rather than just a desk in the corner with scattered papers covering it. Though, that part was similar.
Hanzo looked up as he entered. He still looked quite tired and pale, but much better than he had before.
“Good morning. I brought you tea.”
“What kind?” Hanzo asked, taking the cup when offered.
Genji shrugged. He hadn’t recognised the brand and hadn’t looked too closely at the label. “Tea.”
Hanzo scoffed and took a sip. “It will do. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. How have you been doing? Angela says you have been recovering well.”
Angela had moved over to her desk, seemingly trying to organise the scattered papers covering it.
“I am feeling much better. I’ve been told I can move into my new room today?”
“Yes. We have gotten it all ready for you.”
“Thank you. I will be glad to be out of here.”
“Sick of me already?” Angela asked with a laugh.
Hanzo grimaced. “Ah, I apologise, I just wish to be somewhere more… private.”
“Oh, I was only joking! I understand completely. This room is… less than ideal.”
“Ah. Right.”
Kiriko was not joking about the lack of social skills. Hanzo shifted awkwardly. They would definitely have to work on that if Hanzo was going to stay here. Some of the people here could be a bit… overly friendly. Genji had gotten so used to the serene lifestyle offered by the Shambali that it took him some adjusting to stop feeling overwhelmed by everyone. Thankfully, they had all been understanding. Even worse for Hanzo, though, was that there the amount of people had increased by a lot since Genji had rejoined.
“I can show you after breakfast. Ah!” He snapped his fingers, catching both Hanzo and Angela’s attention. “Breakfast! Apparently some of the others are putting together a group breakfast for us all. Would the two of you like to join?”
“Oh, that sounds wonderful, Genji! It would be nice to have a meal as a whole team again. We haven’t had one since you ran off by yourself. Vivian still wants to have a word with you about that, by the way.”
“Ah… I am aware.” He had not considered that a team breakfast meant that he and Sojourn would be in the same room. It would be hard to keep avoiding her then. Sensing an approaching lecture from Angela, he quickly kept the conversation going. “How about you, Hanzo? You’ll join us, right?”
Hanzo hesitated for a moment too long. “Er…”
“You don’t have to,” Genji said, unable to keep a downtrodden tone from entering his voice. “If you want me to bring you something, I really don’t mind. I could eat in here with you if you wish.”
Hanzo shook his head. “No, no, I wouldn’t want to keep you away from your friends.”
Angela shot him a concerned look. “You don’t have to come if you don’t want to, Hanzo. No one will be offended.”
“I suppose I shall come,” Hanzo muttered.
Maybe it would be good for him to be around the others when they were hopefully too busy eating to bombard him with questions.
“You can always leave if you start to feel uncomfortable or overwhelmed, Anija.”
“I will be fine, thank you,” Hanzo said, sounding prickly at the suggestion.
Genji shrugged. “Whatever you wish.”
“Do you know when it will be?” Angela asked.
“No idea. A bit later, I imagine. No one was cooking when I was in the kitchen. I actually don’t know who’s cooking other than Ingrid.”
Angela lit up. “Maybe she will make some of her apple pie!”
“For… breakfast?”
“That pie is so good it could be for any meal.”
Well, Genji couldn’t really argue against that. It really was that good. “You are not wrong.”
“I am not. Hopefully it won’t be too long.”
“Hopefully not, but it can’t be too soon, or all of those who like to sleep in will miss out.” Genji’s phone pinged and he grinned when he saw the message. “Speaking of those who like to sleep in…”
cowboy: morning honey saw you werent in bed when I woke up. you visiting your brother?
Green Cyborg Ninja Dude: Yes. Good morning to you as well Cole :)
cowboy: im downstairs right now making some coffee. did you hear about breakfast today? i heard ingrids making pancakes
Green Cyborg Ninja Dude: Angela is going to love to hear that
Green Cyborg Ninja Dude: Will you let me know when it is ready? Hanzo will be joining us as well
cowboy: yeah ill let you know. and dont worry ill be on my best behaviour. see you soon sweetheart
cowboy: love you honey!
Green Cyborg Ninja Dude: Love you too <3
Genji knew he was grinning like a fool but he couldn’t help himself.
“Judging by your expression, I imagine you are talking to Cassidy?” Angela asked, sounding amused.
“Yes,” Genji replied, trying to reign in the lovestruck expression on his face. Judging by Angela’s growing grin, he was not succeeding.
“You and Cole are adorable. You both get these head over heels expressions on your faces when texting one another.”
Genji flushed red. “Angela…”
Hanzo looked less amused. “Cassidy… he is the cowman, correct?”
Angela giggled. “I think you mean cowboy, but yes, that is him.”
Hanzo scoffed. “He did not look like much of a boy to me.”
Genji snorted as Angela slapped a hand over her mouth as her shoulders shook with laughter. He was… fairly sure Hanzo was joking. He had to know what a cowboy was, right? He had to. Genji was sure of it. That was a joke.
“You are not wrong about that. He is far too… hairy.”
Hanzo looked disgusted. “I know about your terrible taste in partners. You do not have to remind me.”
Sure, some of the people he had slept with and dated had not been the best. Ok, maybe most of them had been complete assholes that he would never associate with now. But Cole wasn’t like that. It was different with him.
“It has gotten better! I swear! I know some of my partners were dicks, but Cole is-“
“You do know that two of his first words towards me were 'Fratricidal maniac’, correct?”
Genji paused. He was aware that Cole and Hanzo had gotten into a bit of a spat when they were organising the rescue mission, but no one had told him the exact words that were used.
“I know that he was rude to you when he first met you, and I apologise for his behaviour. We have talked, and he has been able to better understand why you did what you did. He has promised to try and get along better with you in the future.”
Hanzo looked at him critically. “As long as he treats you better than he treats me. I do not care about his opinion.”
Oh. Hanzo was worried about him. Genji supposed that made sense, but he hadn't really expected it. None of his previous partners had been abusive towards him, but a couple hadn’t been particularly nice to him either. A number had either been terrified of Hanzo or had hated him, often both. Genji had tolerated it to some degree, but he also wouldn’t hesitate to end a relationship if they insulted his brother too much.
“I promise you, my taste has vastly improved since we were younger. Cole and I have known each other for years, and I trust him with my life. He has always been there for me. I would not let someone who would harm me like that into my life, I promise you.”
Judging by the sudden spasm of Hanzo’s expression and Angela’s sharp inhale, that had not been the right thing to say. Genji realised a moment later, just barely too late to keep himself from saying it.
“That is clearly not true,” Hanzo growled.
“That is different. Why don't you understand? What you did to me was not your one choice.” He was getting frustrated at having to repeat this over and over again, though deep down he knew that it was the conditioning from the clan that made Hanzo unable to accept the truth.
“That was not the only time I hurt you. Whenever we argued, whenever I yelled at you, whenever I dismissed you without a second thought. I may not have physically harmed you, but that is not the only form of harm. I am not this innocent man you seem to think I am.”
As time went on, their relationship had degraded more and more. They argued and yelled at each other and while they never hurt one another, they sometimes got pretty close. It had hurt him whenever Hanzo insulted him or put him down.
“I harmed you as well, by doing the same thing. Yes, perhaps you should have listened to me and not been so cruel. I agree. Your actions did hurt, but I have moved on and forgiven you for them. I know you are not that man anymore, and that you do not wish to hurt me.”
Hanzo was silent for a long moment.
“I see.”
Genji shifted uncomfortably. He could feel Angela’s eyes on him. “Is that all you have to say?”
Hanzo sighed, and damn did he look tired. “I don't know what you want me to say. I think you are too forgiving towards me. What I did to you was the worst thing I have ever done, but it was not the only horrible act I performed.”
Anglea finally spoke up. “These horrible acts you’re talking about, you wouldn’t do them now, would you?”
Hanzo looked incredulous. “Of course not! At the time, they were what was best for the clan, even if I did not like it. I supposed Genji is right in that I am no longer the same man I used to be.”
“I would agree. It sounds like you have changed and grown as a person, and that you are not the monster you seem to think you are.”
Hanzo shook his head. “I don’t think so, I-“
“Anija, listen. Almost everyone here has done bad things that they regret. And every one of them has chosen to be a hero, to improve themselves and to help others instead of harm them.”
“I am no hero, Genji.”
“You could at least give it a try.”
He steered the conversation to safer territories. It pained him that Hanzo did not approve of his partner, but he couldn’t blame his brother either. Genji had historically chosen terrible people to date and Hanzo’s intersections with Hanzo so far had been poor. He hoped that, with time, Hanzo would come around.
He almost wanted to groan. It seemed like everything so far with Hanzo was going to be a waiting game. Zenyatta had taught him patience in a way the Shimada clan had failed to, but he wanted all of this to go just a little bit quicker.
Genji sat on the mattress next to Hanzo as his brother finished his tea. They spoke aimlessly for a while about whatever came to mind. Before his phone dinged again.
cowboy: grubs served! better get down here quick before rein inhales every pancake in the kitchen. theres a shit ton of everything down here but it sure as shit wont last
cowboy: viv and reeha told everyone to try and not freak hanzo out btw
Green Cyborg Ninja Dude: Thanks we will be there in a moment
“Breakfast is ready. Do you still want to come with us, Anija? They have pancakes.”
“Pancakes!” Angela exclaimed. “Not as good as apple pie, but close!
Hanzo sighed before nodding and rising to his feet. “I suppose I will come.”
“I knew pancakes would convince you. You have always had such a sweet tooth.”
Hanzo scoffed, walking past him towards the door. He was no longer unsteady on his feet, thankfully.
“It is very important to eat enough after blood loss!” Angela said. “Usually healthier foods would be preferred, but I think we can make an exception for pancakes just this once.”
Genji scoffed. “Hanzo would always make an exception for pancakes. I’ve seen him eat an entire cake in one sitting before. I don't understand how you eat like such a glutton and still look the way you do. Can you still eat six bowls of ramen in one sitting?”
Hanzo chuckled. “Jealous, brother? And my record is eight now. Kiriko is just as bad - she would eat donuts for every meal if she could.”
“Glad to see some things haven’t changed at least.”
They had made it to the entrance to the dining room when Hanzo paused. The sound of many people talking and laughing could be heard from within. Hanzo shifted on his feet, frowning.
Ah. Genji remembered Kiriko telling them how Hanzo could get quite overwhelmed around lots of people. Perhaps Genji had overlooked just how avoidant of people Hanzo had become.
Surely this was easier than what he had to do as Kumicho, right? Any of the representatives of other clans, major businesses, and whoever else went to those parties and events and meetings could have been planning to kill or overthrow Hanzo. One social faux pas could lead to an amazing deal becoming worthless.
Hanzo had excelled in such situations. Surely he would be fine. Especially since Fareeha and Sojourn had told everyone to take it easy on Hanzo. Anyway, he could not hide away forever. Getting pushed out of his comfort zone was what helped Genji in the end, so maybe it would also help Hanzo.
“Are you sure you’re feeling up to this, Hanzo?” Angela asked, also picking up on Hanzo’s obvious hesitancy. “It’s alright if you’re not.”
Hanzo straightened. “I will be fine.”
Genji placed a hand on his shoulder. “I will stay with you. The people here are very friendly, Anija. No one will speak out against you being here.”
They may think as such, but they would not say anything. Not to their faces, at least. He would make sure of that.
After giving Hanzo another minute to steady himself, Genji pushed open the door. The conversations within didn’t stop, but a few eyes went their way. Cole beamed at them and waved them over.
“Morning, baby.”
“Good morning, Cole.”
Genji let Cole pull him in and place a chaste kiss on his lips. He had become much more self conscious about public affection since he became a cyborg, but this was something he had eventually come to allow.
Angela and Fareeha were doing the same thing, while Hanzo was looking dubiously around the room.
It was then Genji noticed that the three empty seats were between Cole and Fareeha, so both of them could sit with their partners and Hanzo could sit in the middle.
“Thank you,” he whispered to Cole, who winked at him. Embarrassingly, Genji did blush at that, causing Cole to grin wider. Another con of going without the visor.
Genji sat down and began filling his plate, keeping an eye on Hanzo. He had sat down but was still incredibly tense, eyes darting between everyone else in the room. His plate remained unfilled.
Genji heard Hana and Lúcio begin whispering to each other and glared at them. They shrunk under his gaze, looking guilty. Juno stared at Hanzo with wide eyes. It was harder to be mad at; due to her upbringing she struggled to understand social cues. Brigitte placed a hand on her arm and started talking to her about something to do with cats, easily distracting her.
Ana was giving them a curious look. He wouldn’t be able to simply glare her into submission like he did to the others. Hopefully she would not cause a scene.
“Would you like me to grab you something?” he asked Hanzo.
“Uh…”
Anran was glaring at him and whispering to Wuyang, who was looking between the two of them with an odd expression on his face. Genji stared them down. Wuyang looked away with a wince, but Anran just glared harder.
Genji could hear her whispering. “Did you hear what he did? He-“
“Here.” Fareeha had reached over and placed a couple of pancakes on Hanzo’s plate. “Do you want some bacon, too?”
Hanzo stared blankly at the plate for a moment.
“I’ll getcha some,” Cole said, grabbing a plate of bacon and a pair of tongs.
“Uh. Thank you,” Hanzo muttered, taking a hold of the cutlery. He made no move to start eating. Genji wondered if perhaps this wasn’t the best idea.
Sojourn entered the room, her eyes immediately locking onto the two of them.
“Hey! Good to see you up and about it.”
Reinhardt chuckled. “Yes, it seems Angela has finally let you out of the infirmary!” he boomed, causing Hanzo to wince.
“I’d like to speak to you after breakfast, Genji,” Sojourn said, suddenly sounding a lot less cheerful.
“Ohhh, someone’s in trouble,” Baptiste said with a smirk.
“Of course, Vivian,” Genji replied. Damn it.
She got a drink before approaching the two of them from behind. She clapped a hand on Hanzo’s shoulder and opened her mouth to speak, but he flinched hard enough to make her shut her mouth and stumble back.
Genji saw a flash of fear in Hanzo’s wide eyes as he turned and stared at her. The noise in the room dimmed as most people stared at Hanzo. He looked around at them with a wild look in his eye as he hunched over.
“I, er, I apologise, I did not- I think- I would like to-“
He suddenly stood up, sending the chair scraping against the floor in a way that made them all wince, Hanzo most of all. Genji barely had time to blink before Hanzo darted out of the room.
The room was tense and silent, the joyful atmosphere suddenly gone.
“I had worried this was too much for him…” Angela murmured, and Genji instantly felt guilty. He shouldn’t have pressured Hanzo into this. He clearly wasn’t ready.
He swallowed and rose to his feet. Everyone was watching him. “I’ll, ah, I’ll go make sure he’s alright,” he said, before making a quick escape.
He shut the door behind him and realised he had no idea where Hanzo had gone. Somewhere high up, Kiriko had said, right? The roof, maybe? Genji hoped not. It was freezing cold outside even if it wasn’t actively snowing.
Ah, the attic, possibly? It was worth a try, though Genji wasn’t sure anyone had actually shown Hanzo where it was yet.
He climbed the stairs to the attic quickly, practically sprinted as he approached the door at the top. It took significant effort to not just barge in once he reached it.
He knocked instead. “Hanzo?”
“Please leave me, Genji.”
Relief flooded through him. This reminded him too much of what happened only a few nights ago, watching Hanzo run off when he was powerless to chase after him. At least this time he could be the one to find his brother.
He pulled out his phone and saw multiple messages in the Overwatch group chat asking if Hanzo was ok and if Genji had found him. There were also a few apologising for their behaviour, which Genji appreciated. He typed one of his own.
Genji Shimada: found him
Genji Shimada: in attic
He put his phone away and opened the door, thankful it wasn’t locked.
The room was dark. Hanzo was sitting on the mattress that had been made up for him, head in his hands.
Genji was hit with the sudden realisation that he had no idea what to say.
He thought this would help. He thought introducing Hanzo to the team in a safe, friendly environment would help ease the effects of isolation. It seemed like he had underestimated just how poorly Hanzo reacted to crowds. Especially when they were all staring at him and whispering about him.
He knelt down in front of Hanzo and tried to come up with something to say, but a million different thoughts flashed through his head, and he was unable to focus on a single one.
“I apologise for the outburst. It will not happen again.” There was something… wrong about his voice. It reminded him eerily of how he sounded in that video after the elders came to drag him away. Spacey, like he wasn’t fully there.
“What? No, I’m sorry for making you come with us.”
Hanzo didn’t look up at him. “You didn’t make me do anything. I came willingly.”
“I know, but that’s because I pressured you into coming. I should’ve known you weren’t ready to meet everyone just yet. I also wasn’t expecting everyone to behave so poorly towards you. I heard them whispering as well. Can you look at me, Anija?” he tacked on desperately when he received no obvious response.
Hanzo stared blankly at him. Well, near him. His eyes were glazed over, and were seemingly aimed at the wall next to his head rather than actually at him.
It clicked in Genji’s mind. The spaced out look reminded him of himself back in Blackwatch. He often had periods of derealisation and disassociation, both due to an inability to cope with the immense trauma he had faced and a feeling of disconnection with his new body.
He felt sick. Was this how Hanzo had been coping with what the elders did to him and what he was forced to do? Had he been doing this for twelve whole years? No. It was longer. There was no way that what he saw in the video was the first time Hanzo had been in a state like this. This had been happening while they lived together, and he never noticed.
And now he had triggered this state in Hanzo by coercing him into doing something he didn’t want to do. Was what he did similar to what the clan did? Had he reminded Hanzo of them when he-
No, no, he had to calm himself down. Genji took a deep breath to steady himself. It wouldn’t help anyone if he started freaking out. He could talk to Angela or Cole or even Zenyatta about this later and cry and freak out all he wanted, but for now he needed to stay calm and help his brother.
Genji moved so that he was sitting next to Hanzo.
He reached out to grab Hanzo’s hands before remembering how he had jolted from Sojourn’s touch earlier.
“Hanzo? Uh, can I touch you?”
Hanzo nodded. Genji took each of Hanzo’s hands in his own and encouraged him to turn so they were facing each other.
“Why are you here, Genji?”
Genji couldn’t help the strange look he gave his brother. “Because you ran off in a panic in the middle of breakfast and I’m worried about you? Anyway, this gives me a pretty good excuse to avoid Sojourn for a little while longer.”
“I was not panicking, I just-“ Hanzo huffed, looking away. “I am not used to being around so many people while being the centre of attention.”
“You looked pretty panicked when Vivian touched your shoulder.”
“I do not like to be touched, especially not when I am not expecting it.”
“That’s alright, I’ll let the others know so this doesn’t happen again. I am sorry that they were being disrespectful. I think most of them are simply curious rather than against you being here.”
Hanzo scoffed. “I do not need you to… handle me.”
Genji raised an eyebrow. “Handle you?”
“Coddle me.”
“I am not coddling you, I just want to make sure that you feel comfortable and welcome here.”
“They do not want someone like me here. I told you before. I am not a good person. I am no hero.”
Genji sighed, frustrated. “Can you not even give it a try? The Hanzo I know was never so quick to quit at anything.”
“The Hanzo you know killed his own brother.”
“No, the Hanzo I know did anything he could to protect his brother, even at the cost of his own wellbeing and safety. The Hanzo I know was forced to do something horrible due to the worsening abuse and manipulation he was faced with. I will not judge you from only your worst moment - if that was all anyone was judged by, we would all seem like monsters.”
“I am a monster. Even- even if you… ignore… what I did to you,” he said it like the suggestion physically pained him to say, “I am still a monster. You do not know all of what I did as heir to the clan, as the Kumicho. Even what you do know should be enough to know there is no redemption for me.”
Genji knew he did not know the full extent of what Hanzo had done. His privilege as the second son meant he had been sheltered from the worst of it when he was younger. He was able to distance himself from it when he got a bit older, to a degree, though the elders obviously disagreed with how easy his father went on him.
Assassinations made up the worst of it, but there were other crimes too. Organising and overseeing drug and weapons trafficking, fraud, extortion, and more. Even then, whatever Hanzo was doing was surely worse.
“Then is the same not true for me?” Genji countered. “I may not have been doing the same extent of things as you, but I was still used as a weapon by the clan. I did horrible things for them.”
“And you hated it!” Hanzo cried. “You did everything you could to not live that life. And if it were not for me-“
“I know that you did not like what you had to do either, Anija.”
“I did not fight it like you did. I chose to do those things for the good of the clan.”
“You could not, and I see that now. For years I did not understand the differences in our lives but Zenyatta’s teachings allowed me to become more aware of them. You chose to do horrible things, but I can now see that you did not have another choice.”
“I did. I don’t understand why you are trying to make me look so… innocent. I did terrible things, and I chose to do them.”
“But did you like doing them? Did you enjoy it?”
Hanzo glared at him. “Of course not!”
“Then I do not think you were as bad as you think you were. You have left that life behind. That was a choice you made as well, remember.”
“I made it too late. It was only after- after I-“
“I… have thought long and hard about our life. To be honest, brother, I don’t think I would have made it out there alive. If you didn’t try to kill, the elders would have done something else. Probably put something in my drink or get someone to run me off the road into a ditch.”
Hanzo shook his head, suddenly pale. “I don’t… Genji, can we-“
Genji realised that probably wasn’t the best thing to say when he was trying to help Hanzo. This was a conversation he thought they needed to have, but it could wait for another time.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to go so off track. Anyway, like I was saying, I think you should give Overwatch a try. You are not the only one with a dark past. Cole was part of a gang before being made to choose between Blackwatch and prison. We did terrible things in Blackwatch, but have since put that behind us as all.”
“This is not making me approve of your relationship with him.”
Genji snorted. “You’ll come around eventually.”
“We will see.” Hanzo sighed. “Do you really think I could belong here? There is still so much to do at home, in Hanamura.”
“After all these years, you still consider Hanamura your home?”
“Yes. Do you not?”
“Well… I do,” Genji replied, “but Overwatch is also my home. Where you are is my home. I would love for those to be the same place, but I will understand if that does not work out. I will never force you to join me here. If you want to leave, I will insist that we stay in touch, but I will not make you stay. But I would like you to try. Please, just for a little while, Hanzo.”
Hanzo was looking at his lap. “Genji…” He exhaled harshly. “Alright. I will stay and see if being here works for me. Just for a little while.
He sounded choked up, his voice half way to a growl. Genji didn’t say anything as Hanzo wiped his eyes.
“I just want to be at your side once more, Anija.”
“And I yours, sparrow.”