Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

I think there's a flaw in my code.

These voices won't leave me alone.

Well, my heart is gold,

And my hands are cold.

It was an unspoken rule in Overwatch that you never leave one of your own behind, whether they’re injured or dead. You don’t leave them behind because that’s your comrade, and because if you do then there’s a chance your enemy will raise you from the dead.

Genji was living proof that you can be saved, even from death. With Angela on the side of good and Moira on the side of evil, leaving one of your own behind was most certainly out of the question.

But shit happens sometimes.

Sometimes, the person you’re trying to rescue is a stubborn ninja who knows that if someone tries to save him then they’re both going to die. Sometimes, one person making it out alive and giving the team the other’s location is better than trying to do everything by yourself, especially when the device keeping you in this plane of existence is damaged.

Genji remembered before everything went wrong.

Members of Talon were wreaking havoc in a city, leaving Overwatch no choice but to respond to this threat. Genji was sitting in between Hanzo and Cole, but neither of them could bring him any comfort.

Genji had a bad feeling about this mission.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that Talon was purposely drawing them out like this, getting all of them in one location. Genji figured that Talon would try to take them out one by one, but he couldn’t help but think that wasn’t it.

He reached his hands out, one grabbing Hanzo’s and the other finding its place in Cole’s metal one. His upgraded sensory system allowed for him to feel his brother and his lover squeezing his hands, trying to provide a sense of peace.

The cyborg found no solace in their presence or their hands holding his. Not even two of his favorite people could give him the relief he was looking for. They couldn’t ease how his worried mind thought that Overwatch was falling right into one of Talon’s traps.

“It’s just another mission.” Cole brought the back of his hand to his lips, pressing a warm kiss to the cool metal. “You stay close to me and I won’t let nothin’ happen to you, darlin’.”

“I will be with you, otouto.” Hanzo placed his other hand on top of Genji’s. “There is no need to be afraid.”

“Yes, you are right… you both are.” Genji tried to chuckle, but it sounded sad. “Everything will be fine.”

How Genji wished that he believed his own words, and how he wished that Cole and Hanzo could see just how distressed he was under his faceplate.

Jack began shouting orders and teams at them shortly after. It didn’t come as a surprise to anyone when Hanzo was ordered to find a suitable location to snipe arrows at unsuspecting foes, and to take out Widowmaker before she was able to get any of them.

It wasn’t much of a surprise when Cole was assigned to work close to Angela, providing coverage for her whenever she was called in to heal someone. Cole grumbled that he would much rather be close to Genji when he was having doubts, but Jack paid him no mind.

Instead, Jack continued to shout out commands, such as Reinhardt and Winston were to take on Doomfist while Brigitte and Mei provide cover to Lucio when needed. Hana was relieved that she would be a floater in battle, finding it easier for her to launch attacks from the sky and then fly off to another battle before her MEKA could take damage.

Genji and Lena were partnered together to launch guerrilla warfare attacks on Talon members or any agents roaming around. With their speeds and their ability to get in and out of situations quickly, they were the ultimate dynamic duo for these kinds of strikes.

Cole and Hanzo found themselves breathing easier knowing that Genji would have a partner, and better yet he was with Lena. The two of them enjoyed working together and complemented each other well in battle.

The two males glanced towards Lena, who was already looking over her shoulder at them. She smiled as she gave them a thumbs up. She mouthed happily, I’ve got him.

Genji felt somewhat better knowing that Lena would be at his side in battle. He knew in his current state he wouldn’t be as successful on his own but with Lena there encouraging him to keep fighting he knew he would be fine.

Getting shot out of the sky wasn’t anything new for Overwatch, but that didn’t mean that it was welcomed. Lena did her best to give the team as soft as a landing as she could, but in the end they still crashed into the ground.

Overwatch was shaken by the crash but by no means were they ready to give up. Talon was destroying the city and they weren’t about to let them get away with that. They had their orders so now it was time to give Talon hell and protect the innocent.

The members of Overwatch ran out of their fallen plane and dashed into the city to find their targets or to support the offensive teams. Genji zipped out of the plane in a flash of green, his eyes quickly scanning the area beneath his visor.

He wished Cole could see his smile when he wrapped an arm around his waist. With one hand he held onto the cyborg and with the other he unleashed his gun. The cowboy placed a kiss on Genji’s metal helmet where his cheek would be before chasing after Angela. He began back pedaling, a grin plastered on his face.

“I’ll see you when all this is over, darlin’!”

“So long, cowboy!”

Genji wasn’t surprised when he felt a hand clasp his metal shoulder. He shifted his attention to his older brother and shot him a smile that he knew he wouldn’t see. Hanzo removed his hand and reached for his arrows.

“Be careful, otouto.”

“Aren’t I always, anija?”

Hanzo snorted, rolling his eyes for added measure. Genji’s eyes were trained on his brother as he sprinted into the city. He watched as the archer scaled a building and then disappeared from his sights.

Genji was grinning when he saw Lena appear in front of him and then dart off in a blue blur. He could hear her mischievous giggle, as if she was enticing him to follow her. Genji shook his head. He would hate to leave his best friend waiting.

He quickly followed Lena to the top of a nearby building. Side by side, they poked their heads up from the ledge and spotted a couple Talon agents making their way through an alley, most likely heading towards the battles happening deeper in the city. Having those agents arrive in the heat of the battle would surely ruin Overwatch’s chances at defeating Talon.

And they couldn’t have that.

“What do you say you and I greet our friends down there?” Lena whipped out her guns, smiling at her partner in crime.

“How thoughtful of you to want to roll out the welcome mat for them.” Shuriken slid up and parked themselves between Genji’s fingers. There was a wicked gleam in his eyes, Lena could tell. “I’m feeling a little shy, would you greet them first?”

“You? Shy?” Lena playfully nudged him, almost struggling to contain her fit of giggles. “You might be a little quiet sometimes, love, but you aren’t shy at all!”

“I guess we will have to greet them together then.” Genji hummed.

“Just the way we like it!”

The agents below never saw them coming. They weren’t prepared to be blasted by Lena’s guns from the front, nor were they ready to be impaled by shuriken from behind. They never stood a chance, not when the dynamic duo struck fast enough for them to be dead before their bodies hit the ground.

Lena and Genji sped off to engage in more guerrilla warfare attacks, always leaving behind a flash of blue and green in their wake. After each successful attack, the two friends made sure they high fived each other and complimented their teamwork.

As they continued assaulting Talon agents to keep them away from the battles going on in the city, Genji couldn’t shake the feeling that this was too easy. He and Lena usually had more trouble than this.

Sometimes, Widowmaker would be somewhere high on a building shooting at them, causing Lena to go after her and leaving Genji to finish what they started. Other times, Reaper would appear in a puff of black smoke and start firing at them and Genji would chase him, begging to speak with his old commander instead of the shadow he pretended he was in Talon.

“Looks like this is the last of their reinforcements!” Lena chirped, appearing beside Genji a second later. “What do you think, love?”

“I detect no other heat signatures close by.” Genji’s eyes looked over all the information his visor was computing, but nothing was indicating that there were any other Talon agents near them. “It would seem that our work here is done. Who would you like to help first?”

“How do you feel about having a little rematch with Doomfist?” Lena smirked, her guns drawn.

“My master taught me that vengeance will not fill the hole within.” Lena cocked an eyebrow, not believing his words for a minute. Genji shook his head, chuckling, “But I have to admit, returning the favor for last time is rather tempting.”

“Is that a yes?”

Genji nodded.

Before they headed off to find Doomfist to assist in taking him down, the two friends made sure they reloaded. Lena made short work of making sure her guns were ready to go while Genji ensured that he had more than enough shuriken. He silently hoped that one of them would find their home in Doomfist’s head.

It wasn’t until the duo began to run that they noticed something wasn’t right. Lena was always one step ahead of him when they ran due to the device on her chest allowing her to zip forward and then return to him, but that wasn’t the case this time.

Genji had a bad feeling going into battle, but now it had intensified when Lena didn’t seem to be in control of her device anymore. She would jump forward and then it was almost like she was being hurled backwards, causing her to yelp and stumble to catch her footing.

Genji skidded to a stop, hoping that they could figure out what was wrong with her device. Genji grit his teeth, growing frustrated with each failed attempt to grab her and keep her in this plane of existence long enough to help.

“I hope you are not trying to play some sort of game with me, Tracer!” Genji tried to come across as teasing, but he sounded far too worried to be making jokes. “You know we do not have time for tricks.”

“I’m not joshing you, love!” Lena’s hand seemed to phase through Genji’s when he reached out for her. “I think there’s something wrong with my device! I think its been hacked!”

“Hacked?” Genji’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped. There was only one person he knew who could cause this type of damage to technology. “Sombra must be close by.”

“Then you’ve got to get out of here!”

“No, I won’t leave you.” Genji shook his head. His eyes locked onto Lena and he raced forward, managing to hold onto her. “I need to get you back to Winston.”

He knew he had to get Lena far enough away from Sombra so that her hold on her would fade away. The more distance they had between them, the better. He dashed forward with Lena, surprised that he could still feel her in his arms.

He should’ve known that he had fallen for Sombra’s trap the moment he could touch Lena for more than five seconds, but he was more concerned about his best friend. He was rounding a corner when he and Lena were shot back by an all too familiar purple blaster.

Genji hissed, making sure that his metal body took the brunt of the fall so Lena would be unharmed. He looked up just in time to see a small metal ball rolling towards them. Genji scrambled to get them out of there but the device went off, sending an electromagnetic pulse throughout the alley.

“It’s an EMP!” Lena could hear the mechanics in her device whirring in an attempt to keep her in this plane. She shifted her attention to her friend, “Genji, are you alright? Can you move, love?”

Genji groaned as he staggered to his feet. His fingers were twitching and sparks were beginning to fly, a clear indication that his systems were struggling to combat the EMP. They both knew it would only be a matter of time before his body shut down completely and he would be rendered helpless.

“I’ve got to get you out of here!” Lena moved so that she was under his arm, muttering that he was heavy. She wobbled forward, practically dragging Genji and scraping his metal feet on the ground. “Come on, love! Can’t you help me out a little bit?”

“I cannot move my feet.” Genji’s voice was calm but Lena could tell he was starting to panic on the inside. He moved his head to look at his friend, “You must get reinforcements to my position.”

“I’ll do you one better.” The two of them disappeared in a blur of blue. They reappeared in another alley, crashing into the wall. “I’ll get you to the reinforcements… I’ll get you out of here, Genji.”

“Your device is malfunctioning.” He was just barely able to move his body to a sitting position. He rested his head against the wall, sighing, “One more jump like that and you’ll be lost.”

“You don’t know that!” She disagreed, refusing to believe the truth.

“We both know it.”

“Then I won’t use it!” Tears were stinging at her eyes as she ran to her friend, trying to lift him up so she could get him back to the others. “I’ll call for the others and-“

“With what comm link? The EMP took out our communication with them.” Genji’s spazzing limbs managed to gently shove her away. Lena could tell it was becoming a struggle for him to even shake his head, “You need to find the others… and bring them to my location.”

“I won’t leave you here all by yourself!” Lena objected.

“The longer we sit here arguing the closer my backup system gets to shutting down.” The ninja released a pained sigh. With the last of his strength, he reached a hand out for her to hold. “I know that you are worried but these arms function enough for me to defend myself until you come back with reinforcements.”

“Please, don’t make me leave you, Genji.” Finally, the tears streamed down her face. She was practically begging at this point, “I’ll find a way to bring you with me even if I have to drag you.”

“And have us left open to an attack?” Genji managed to squeeze her hand with his metal one. “You must leave me… if I am to have any hope of getting my systems online I need you to bring reinforcements to me.”

“Genji-“

“Go, Lena!” He tried his best to push her away, to urge her to get back on her feet. “I can feel my systems shutting down…”

She closed her eyes and nodded, “I’ll be back with the others as soon as I can.”

“I’ll be here waiting for you.”

“You better be.”

Lena reluctantly turned away from her friend and began running towards the battle in the city, hoping that she would find one of their teammates. Tears were blurring her vision but she continued to move onward, knowing that Genji didn’t have much time left and every second counted.

She didn’t understand why every step forward felt heavier than the last. She didn’t like the way her heart was telling her to go back to Genji, nor did she like the way her mind forced her to keep moving away from her friend and towards their team. She knew there was nothing more she could have done for Genji but that didn’t mean she had to like the situation, or the fact that she left him behind.

She sprang through the city, relieved to find that members of Talon were now retreating. She rushed to Angela and Cole, startling both of them and alerting others of her presence. Hanzo dropped down from a grappling hook arrow. She could see him looking around, as if he was searching for someone.

“Where is Genji?” Hanzo asked, straight to the point as always. “Why is he not with you?”

Cole’s eyes widened, realizing that his lover hadn’t come running in after Lena. He looked around, even twirling around in a circle and peering up at the buildings above in case Genji was perched on top of one like the sparrow he was. No matter where he looked, Genji was nowhere in sight.

“Lena, is Genji behind you or somethin’?” Cole placed a flesh finger to his ear, hoping to hear Genji over the comm link. Worry began to course through his veins as he asked, “How come I can’t hear him or nothin’?”

“Sombra… hacked my device…” Lena was grateful when Angela came to her side, holding her up as she panted. “EMP… comm link down… Genji needs us!”

There were so many things wrong with what Lena had told them. If Sombra and EMPs were involved then Genji would easily be rendered useless. Overwatch always tried to keep Genji as far away from Sombra in battle, knowing that she had a wicked side to her that found amusement in hacking his systems, not caring that toying with his body was like playing with life and death.

Now, it made sense why Lena was so out of breath. Her device had been hacked, damaged even. She must have been afraid to use it and had no choice but to run to them on foot to avoid breaking the only thing that kept her stable in this time.

“Can you take us to Genji?” Angela asked, trying to hide her concern but ultimately failing. “I’ll fly us there to get to him faster.”

“You’re brilliant, doctor.” She shot a tired smile to the medic and nodded. She looked over at the two males, “Follow us. Genji’s going to need someone to carry him out of there.”

“I got dibs on carrying Genji!” Cole shamelessly raised his hand.

“You are not seriously calling dibs on my little brother.” Hanzo scoffed. He paused for a moment before adding, “Besides, if anyone is going to carry him it’s me.”

“Enough!” Angela wacked both males with her staff, glaring at their childish behavior. She extended her wings and grabbed Lena from under her arms. “Argue later! Right now, Genji needs us!”

“I ain’t deserve to be smacked around like that.” Cole grumbled, earning a kick to the shin from Lena. “Alright, alright! I’m done!”

Without another word, Angela soared into the sky and took off in the direction Lena pointed. Cole and Hanzo followed them on foot, sometimes bumping into each other when a sharp turn was made. Hanzo would mutter curses in Japanese while Cole would openly swear about how messed up this situation was.

Hanzo had a bad feeling sitting like a rock in the pit of his stomach. Sombra and EMPs were a deadly combination when it came to Genji. One of them could easily hack into Genji’s systems and cause him to malfunction while the other would shut everything down, even life functions.

Hanzo couldn’t help but feel guilty. He was the one who had caused so much of Genji’s body to be metal and to rely on technology to function, to stay alive. If he hadn’t obeyed his clan that night then Genji would have been nearly unaffected by Sombra and EMPs.

If Genji was with him then he would’ve told him to get out of the past and to look towards the future. If Genji was here, he would say that if he remained in the past any longer then his life would go by without him. If Genji was here, Hanzo would have been able to rest easy.

Cole wished that he was as fast as Genji. He pushed his legs to move faster but it was like they were stuck in one speed. Genji needed him and right now he felt like both himself and time were moving as slow as molasses.

Cole knew the extent of the damage Sombra could cause, seeing as how he had far too many run ins with her in the past. He knew she was nothing but trouble and thought that everything was a joke. Messing with Genji would be like child’s play to her, and the thought of his lover in the palm of her hands made him sick to his stomach.

If Genji was with him then he would’ve joked around, telling him that he should’ve recruited her for Overwatch when he had the chance. If Genji was here, he would’ve eased the frown off his face by placing kisses all over his tanned skin. If Genji was here, Cole would’ve had a reason to smile.

“No!”

A fire was lit inside Cole and Hanzo when they heard Lena’s scream. They were expecting to see Genji missing a few limbs or leaking some artificial blood. They were expecting to see sparks or wires hanging out of Genji’s body, but what they saw was something far worse.

Genji was gone.

They would’ve much rather seen him in pain or missing arms and legs because at least then they’d know he was alive. Right now, there was no telling what could have happened to him. He could’ve had the willpower to fight off Talon or he could’ve been kidnapped by said organization.

“He was right here!” Lena cried. “He was in no shape to be moving around!”

“Lookie here.” Cole crouched down on the ground. He traced the pavement with his metal hand. “There’s grooves in the ground, the kind that can only be made by metal.”

“You’re right…”

“And look how they move out from the alley.” The cowboy rose to his feet and followed the tracks. “It looks like whoever found Genji dragged him… and struggled by the look of it.”

“Someone took Genji?” Lena’s eyes widened in horror. “Where’d they take him?”

“That’s the thing…” Cole froze, causing Lena to crash into his back. His eyes were locked onto a specific spot on the ground, “The tracks stop here.”

Cole sank to his knees, his flesh hand touching the last groove in the ground created by Genji’s metal feet. Cole didn’t know what to feel. There were emotions swirling around inside ranging from anger to sadness. It was far too overwhelming to make sense of these emotions, especially when he didn’t have Genji there to help him sort his feelings out.

“There must be some way to track him.” Hanzo refused to believe that Genji had been taken. His mind was running a mile a minute, trying to find some glimmer of hope. He turned to Angela, “You rebuilt my brother. You must have put some kind of tracker in his helmet or something!”

“There’s a built in tracker in his helmet.” She snapped her fingers, a smile gracing her face. She pulled out a device from the belt she wore. She pressed a few buttons before her brows knit together in confusion. “That’s impossible… it’s telling me that Genji’s tracker is offline.”

“Offline?” Hanzo gulped, fearful that she was telling him that his brother was dead. “What does that mean?”

She returned the device to her belt, sighing, “It means that whoever has Genji was able to deactivate the tracker. I don’t have a way of pin pointing his location.”

“Oh, quit beatin’ around the bush!” Cole’s voice was harsh, borderline yelling at this point. He hung his head and his shoulders sagged in defeat. His voice was barely above a whisper. “Talon’s got Genji now… they took everything from me.”

Lena would’ve fallen to the ground if Angela didn’t snatch her at the last second. Lena rested against Angela’s side, finding it far too difficult to stand on her own. Normally, Genji would be there to catch her when she fell, but he wasn’t there.

Angela held onto Lena like she was a body pillow, finding comfort in her small stature. If Angela closed her eyes, she could almost imagine that she was holding onto Genji. Yet, every time she opened her eyes and looked to her side she saw that he wasn’t there.

Cole slammed his metal fist against the ground, but he didn’t get any satisfaction from seeing the pavement crack beneath him. He would’ve smashed his flesh hand against the ground, but his mind tricked him into thinking Genji would scold him for hurting himself. Cole followed through with the action anyways, hoping that by some chance he’d hear Genji’s electronic voice, but he wasn’t there.

Hanzo felt his feet moving of their own accord. He found the nearby wall of a building and leaned his back against it, slinking to the ground. He dropped his bow at his side and his mind fooled him into thinking that his little brother was next to him. When he reached for Genji’s metal hand all he found was his bow because he wasn’t there.

No longer would Lena have her best friend to spar with when it came time to train. No longer would she have someone to joke around with when they were in the midst of battle. No longer would she have Genji to come running to when she was having any kind of issue. No longer would she feel deserving of being Genji’s best friend.

No longer would Angela have her favorite patient to keep her company in the late hours of the night. No longer would Angela have a guardian angel of her own watching her back in battle. No longer would she have her friend to support her when her responsibilities were becoming far too heavy for her shoulders. No longer could she feel like she saved Genji.

No longer would Hanzo have Genji pestering him at all hours of the day with a child-like innocence. No longer would Hanzo have his little brother slipping under his covers at night, begging to be held when he had a nightmare. No longer would he have Genji to whisper things to in Japanese, like they had their own secret club. No longer would Hanzo feel complete.

No longer would Cole feel Genji’s metal hand in his, squeezing it three times to silently tell him he loved him. No longer would he wake up to Genji’s beautifully scarred face every morning. No longer would he feel the warmth of their bodies as they became one. No longer would Cole feel like he had something to live for.

There was no Genji coming for any of them now, nor was there any way for them to go to him to seek his soothing presence. There was only one word to describe how each of them were feeling in that moment.

Numb.

Cole’s behavior was to be expected.

Everyone could do nothing more than watch as Cole tore the training room apart in a fit of rage. At first, he shot at targets until he ran out of bullets, constantly reloading until there was nothing more on his body. He had surprised everyone when he tore the bullets off his own hat just so he could have more ammunition, more ways to get his emotions out.

Once he was out of bullets, he turned to punching holes in walls. It broke Angela’s heart to see Cole’s knuckles bleeding on his flesh hand, no doubt trying to find some way to feel something other than his emotions. It made her sad to see that he would rather feel pain than feel heartache.

Cole moved on to flipping over the weights that were placed carefully in their designated spots. The dumbbells went flying all over the place, breaking other work out equipment but Cole didn’t give a damn. The damage didn’t ease the pain nor did it make him feel any better.

So he kept going.

The cowboy stormed on, throwing a punching bag across the room when his metal fist broke through the material after a hard strike. Nothing he did ever felt like enough. Nothing he did ever filled the growing hole in his chest.

The members of Overwatch didn’t know what to do in this situation, seeing as how Cole never exploded like this before. Any time he got remotely close to losing his cool he always had Genji there to calm him down and chase the demons away until his dazzling white smile returned to his face.

Jack wanted to step in, but he knew that he wasn’t the one Cole needed. He knew if he stepped in that his approach wouldn’t be the one that the cowboy would respond well to. Rather, they would butt heads until they were throwing fists at each other, which could then evolve into a shootout.

The only one who seemed to be handling Genji’s capture well was Hanzo, surprisingly. He was eerily calm as he walked into the kitchen, poured himself a glass of water, and then left after he placed his cup in the sink. They half expected him to throw the glass against the wall after, but he didn’t.

Hanzo didn’t say a word to his teammates when they came back. He remained silent and told no one where he was going when he disappeared down the hall. Figuring that he needed some time to himself, they didn’t question or follow him.

“That’s enough, love.”

Cole whipped around to find Lena with her newly fixed device stuck to her chest. She tried her best to give him a bright smile but it didn’t reach her eyes this time. Instead of commenting on her lack of energy, Cole narrowed his eyes at her.

“I ain’t nowhere near done.” Cole glared at the innocent bench next to them and kicked it over, not caring that it broke apart under his wrath. “Those sons a bitches took him! I should’ve been there! I could’ve done something!”

“Then be mad at me!” Lena cried, breaking through Cole’s tantrum. She lowered her head, whimpering, “I’m the one who left him behind so be mad at me…”

Cole’s eyes widened as Lena murmured just loud enough for him to hear, “If I had been stronger then I would’ve been able to carry Genji back with me… it’s all my fault.”

“Lena, it’s not your fault-“

“But it is!” She looked up at Cole with tears shining in her eyes. She blinked and the tears spilled down her face, “I’m the one who wasn’t strong enough to carry him back! I’m the one who abandoned him!”

“Now, wait just a second-“

“I’m the reason he’s gone!” She screamed, echoing through the training room, and haunting everyone. She repeated, softer this time, “I’m the reason he’s gone.”

Cole slowly felt all the anger within start to drain from his body, beginning with one drop at a time until it was finally rushing out of him like a river. Cole wished that he could allow himself to cry until his eyes became two waterfalls, but he only ever felt comfortable being vulnerable like that when he was with Genji.

Instead of choosing to cry to release all the heaviness that was crushing his chest, he chose to place his large hands on Lena’s shoulders. She nearly winced, almost as if she was waiting for Cole to pick her up and throw her across the room like she was a human javelin. She was half expecting him to start shouting at her, but she should’ve known to expect the unexpected when it came to Cole.

“You’re the only enemy you ever seem to lose to.” Cole shook his head and cocked an eyebrow. “Ain’t you, Lena?”

“What are you talking about, love?” She asked quietly.

“Why the hell should I be mad at you or take my anger out on you, huh?” He squeezed her shoulders in an attempt to ground her, to comfort her. “You seem to be beatin’ yourself up for the both of us.”

“It’s what I deserve for ditching Genji.” She sighed. “If I’d been a better friend… a better teammate, he’d be here with us.”

“Did you want to leave Genji behind?”

“What kind of a question is that?” Lena furrowed her brow in confusion.

“Did I damn near stutter, Lena?” He smirked, which surprised her. “I asked you if you wanted to leave Genji behind, now did you or did you not?”

“Of course I didn’t want to leave him behind!”

“Did you have a choice?” He questioned, pressing the smaller brunette. “Was the only choice you had at survivin’ and gettin’ reinforcements to his location to leave him behind?”

“I didn’t have to choose to do what I did…” Finally, she fell into Cole, allowing the taller male to engulf her in his embrace. “But I didn’t have much of a choice… if I phased out of this plane then no one would even know where Genji was.”

“Atta girl.” The cowboy patted her back and rubbed it, easing out all of her sobs in the process. “You did what you had to do in the moment to make sure we got to Genji… it ain’t your fault we fell for Talon’s trap from the jump.”

“I just… wish I could’ve done more.”

“Don’t we all, Lena?” Cole peered over Lena to see the rest of Overwatch watching them. Each of them looked worn, as if they had been crying or barely holding back tears. “I’ll tell you what.”

“What?”

“We ain’t the only ones missin’ Genji.”

Cole held Lena as long as she needed. It could’ve been minutes or hours, but none of that mattered to Cole. As much as Lena needed someone to comfort and hold her, Cole needed her just as much. He needed someone to hold onto and as much as he wished it was Genji, he was grateful to have Lena in that moment.

When they pulled apart, Cole used his serape to wipe the remaining tears from Lena’s face, causing her to give her famous sweet giggle. Cole felt his heart cracking, remembering how Genji’s laugh paired beautifully with Lena’s.

Cole felt his feet moving of their own accord. His teammates parted like the Red Sea and allowed for him to move past them. There was a blank look in his eyes, one that made even Jack worried for him.

As much as Jack wanted to grab onto him and talk about what was going on in his head, he knew it wouldn’t be wise. He was still trying to process his own emotions so he wouldn’t have been much help to Cole. Jack was wondering how he was going to move forward knowing Genji wasn’t going to be there to have his back in battle or give him a reason to smile every morning.

Jack could only watch as Cole moved farther away from his team and further into the darkness of the hallway, and the darkness in his own mind.

Cole kept his head down as his feet took him to his destination. He was half expecting to head back to his room to wallow in his sadness, but he couldn’t say that he was surprised that he had made his way to the roof of the watchpoint.

He was surprised to see Hanzo.

Hanzo was sitting on the edge of the roof with his feet dangling. He was as still as a statue as he stared out at the open water reflecting the stars from the night sky. Hanzo’s bow was resting beside him, as if it was trying to keep him company.

“You’re in his spot.”

“My apologies, cow man.” Hanzo didn’t sound very sorry, rather he sounded pained. “I know he comes out here at night sometimes. I was just… trying to feel close to him.”

Cole strolled over to the elder Shimada, the click of his spurs growing louder in Hanzo’s ears with each step. Cole plopped down next to Hanzo, less gracefully than the Shimada had, and let his legs hang, kicking them softly as a child would.

“You feel any closer to him?” Cole asked.

“It was foolish of me to think that this spot would make me feel closer to him.” Hanzo scoffed, putting himself down better than anyone Cole had ever seen. “If anything, I feel farther from him.”

“Ain’t nothin’ foolish about missing someone.” Cole’s eyes searched for the big dipper, his favorite constellation. “Especially someone you love.”

“Tell me, cow man, did you come out here to feel closer to Genji?” His eyes shifted to the corner, almost narrowing on his teammate. “Or have you come to bring your temper tantrum outside?”

“I ain’t throw a temper tantrum!” Cole’s head whipped to face Hanzo. He snapped, “I was just letting off some steam!”

“I could hear you from outside.”

“So I whipped shit around and got mad!” The cowboy shifted his attention back to the ocean of stars. He found himself calming down as he searched for Genji’s favorite constellation, “You’d be as pissed as I was if you cared about Genji like I do.”

“If I cared about Genji like you do it would be considered incest.” Hanzo shook his head.

“It’s okay to say you’re scared, you know.” Cole stated suddenly.

“It is bold of you to assume I am scared.” Hanzo scoffed. “And even bolder to assume I would admit such a thing to the likes of you.”

“I admit, I ain’t as good at talkin’ about feelings as Genji is.” Cole’s eyebrows knit together, frustrated that he couldn’t find the constellation he was desperately searching for. “But at least you ain’t alone.”

“I prefer to be alone.”

“Yeah, that’s why you joined Overwatch.” Sarcasm dripped with each of Cole’s words. “Face it, you ain’t wanna be alone anymore and you missed Genji so you jumped at the damn opportunity to be a part of a team, especially if it had him.”

“What is your point?” Hanzo grit his teeth. “Why do you insist on tormenting me?”

“Tormentin’ you? That’s what you think I’m doin’?” Cole released a heavy sigh. “Hanzo, I’m pushin’ your stubborn ass to open up to someone.”

Hanzo remained silent as Cole continued, exasperated, “You ain’t gotta open up to me but, shit, you can’t keep bottlin’ everything up!”

“You are wrong, cow man.”

“Huh?”

“I do have someone I open up to.” The older Shimada’s shoulders sagged, almost as if the weight was becoming too much to bear. “But, sadly, he was taken from me…”

“My someone was taken from me, too.” Cole’s gaze lowered, giving up when he couldn’t find what he was looking for. “Didn’t realize how much he kept me afloat till Talon done sunk my battleship.”

“It seems we are on the same sinking ship.”

“Booked ourselves a ticket aboard the Titanic, ain’t we?” Cole weakly joked.

“It seems we have.” A small smile etched itself onto Hanzo’s face. “I can see why Genji is so fond of you.”

“Really?” Cole perked up.

“Your idiocy is humorous, at times.” Cole shot a glare at the older Shimada, who smirked in return. Hanzo smiled, “And although I hate to admit it, your aura is quite calming.”

“That’s funny.” Cole chuckled, “I always thought Genji was the calm one out of the two of us.”

“You two are one half of a whole.”

“Nah, that ain’t it. Genji’s my whole heart.” The cowboy sent a warm smile to Hanzo, who pretended he couldn’t see it. “But you and me, we’re Genji’s whole heart.”

“I highly doubt it.” The raven-haired male rolled his eyes. He retorted, “You most definitely have claimed part of his heart, but I still have much work to do before I am worthy of touching something so pure.”

“Well, ain’t you bluer than the ocean down there.” Cole tilted his head, confused. “Genji’s already forgiven you, how come you reckon you can’t forgive yourself?”

“Tell me, have you ever slain your own brother?” There was a dangerous edge to Hanzo’s voice.

“I ain’t ever had a brother.”

“Then do not speak to me of forgiving oneself when you know nothing of what I am dealing with.” Hanzo snipped, trying to make sure Cole had no room to speak on the matter.

“Shoot, I know I ain’t ever killed my own kin.” The cowboy looked back to the stars, finding comfort in them. “But you ain’t the only one who’s betrayed loved ones and hurt others.”

“You-“

“Look, all I’m sayin’ is Genji loves you and you ain’t ever gonna have the relationship you want with him if you don’t forgive yourself.” The brunette squinted, sighing when he realized he lost the star he thought belonged to Genji’s constellation. “Maybe instead of beatin’ a dead horse you can follow Genji’s footsteps.”

“And meet a Shambali monk who will show me the way?” Hanzo sneered.

“Genji’s been where you are and he’s gone and made footsteps so you have a path to follow, if you so choose.” Hanzo’s eyes widened, not expecting such wisdom from a mere cowboy. “The choice is yours, Hanzo.”

“Genji is lucky to have you.” Hanzo smiled.

“Well, thank you kindly.” Cole tipped his hat and returned the smile. He furrowed his brow, “Now, let me ask you something since you know Genji so well.”

“What do you want to know?”

“He ever tell you his favorite constellation?” The gunslinger flopped onto his back, sighing in defeat. “I can’t make heads or tails of where it could be tonight.”

“You are looking for a constellation?”

“It ain’t just any ole constellation, Hanzo!” The cowboy threw his arms into the air, waving them around dramatically, “It’s Genji’s constellation! His favorite one!”

“Why are you so distraught over stars?” Hanzo knew the answer, but he wanted to hear Cole say it.

“Because I want to feel closer to him.”

“Very well, cow man.”

Hanzo joined Cole, feeling a chill run down his spine when his back made contact with the cold surface of the roof. He gazed up at the stars and for a brief moment, he allowed himself to pretend that he was back in Japan staring up at the stars with Genji at his side, pointing out all the constellations and telling the younger male the stories behind them.

When Hanzo came back to reality, he was lying beside a cowboy who squinted up at the stars, as if that would help. He shook his head, wishing that Cole was Genji. Yet, he would never say out loud how comforting it was to have company tonight. He knew tonight could’ve ended badly if he was left with just his thoughts.

“Genji’s favorite constellation is Orion, the hunter.” Hanzo lifted his hand, pointing to each star to help Cole find it. “See those three stars bunched together? They make up Orion’s belt.”

“Where are you seein’ them three stars?” Cole’s eyes nearly popped out of his head as he exclaimed, “Oh, there they are!”

The cowboy pointed at the stars with one hand while the other shook Hanzo, “There’s the constellation! Hanzo, I found it!”

“Quit shaking me, baka.” Hanzo growled. “Or you’ll soon have two metal arms.”

“Now, ain’t you meaner than a junkyard dog.” The brunette removed his arm from the other male. He muttered, “And I know what baka means, idiota.”

“You are smarter than you look, cow man.”

The two males laid together in a comfortable silence. Their eyes wandered aimlessly through the sea of stars but they always came home to Orion, to Genji. Sometimes, they wondered if they would ever be able to find Orion again, especially if they kept their eyes away from the constellation for too long.

Cole remembered nights like these when he was a part of Blackwatch. He recalled all the nights he spent learning about the stars and the constellations they made up from Genji. He remembered the night he finally got the courage to hold Genji’s hand, and he would never forget the relief and happiness that washed over him when the cyborg squeezed back.

The stars had been there to oversee Cole and Genji’s relationship blossoming like a flower in the spring. The stars had seen the first time that Genji took off his metal mask, revealing his gorgeous scarred face and his bright red eyes to the cowboy. The stars had witnessed their first kiss and the first time they admitted their love for one another. The stars had been there through their high points, and now they were here to watch Cole at his lowest without Genji.

Hanzo allowed himself to fall into the past, to relive the times he and Genji would sneak out past curfew just to star gaze on the roof of Shimada castle. He showed Genji the constellations just like he had when they were children, and the younger Shimada would always look at him like he was the one who hung the stars in the sky.

The stars were there for the Shimada brothers, whether they realized it or not. The stars were there the night an older brother cut down a younger sibling, as well as they bore witness to the two brothers finding each other in the same life, rather than wait for another. The stars were present when the brothers found one another and strengthened their bond, creating a new one, an unbreakable one.

“I’m missin’ Genji somethin’ fierce.” Cole’s voice cut through the night like a shooting star, making a wish Hanzo would support without batting an eye. “I wish he was here.”

“Yes… I miss him, too.”

“We’re gonna bring him home, Hanzo.”

“I know we will.” Hanzo released a sigh he didn’t know he was holding. “Because I don’t know what I will do if we don’t.”

“Me either.”

Gabriel normally took pride in the screams he could hear echoing down the hall from Moira’s laboratory, but this time he didn’t. This time, he knew it wasn’t some random Overwatch agent being tortured for information or for one of Moira’s cruel experiments. This time, he knew exactly who was screaming and he knew why they were screaming.

This time, it was personal.

It wasn’t a stranger on a medical table losing limbs or becoming a monster so that Talon could receive information, or in Moira’s case information on how to advance her research. It wasn’t some nobody pleading for their life, despite knowing Talon didn’t let anyone from Overwatch get out of their base alive.

This was Genji Shimada.

Gabriel would never dare to speak it out loud, but he never stopped caring about Genji. In every battle, he made sure that he kept his distance from him unless absolutely necessary to confront him. Truth be told, Genji was the only one who looked at him and didn’t see Reaper, but saw Commander Reyes. Gabriel knew that if they ever shared more than a brief moment to speak in the heat of battle, he would come running back to Genji.

The two never appeared close back in Blackwatch, and that’s how they liked it. They were strictly business in front of everyone but some nights they would meet up and Gabriel would drink as they told their life stories and chased away the monsters from their pasts.

Their bond was Blackwatch’s best kept secret.

Gabriel thought that he would be ready for the sight waiting for him, but he was wrong. Nothing could have prepared him to see Genji strapped to a medical table with the same equipment fastened on his head that brainwashed Amelie, turning her into Widowmaker.

If Gabriel didn’t have his mask on then everyone would’ve seen the horrified look plastered on his face. He never wanted Amelie to be forced into experiments and transformed into someone he didn’t know, and he certainly didn’t want that fate for Genji.

Genji had been through too much in his life. He was maimed by his own brother and brought back to life only to have to learn how to walk again on cybernetic legs. Genji had to learn how to exist as someone who was half man and half machine. It sickened Gabriel to know that after everything Genji had been through, and after all the progress he made, Talon was wiping it away like nothing he did mattered.

He felt like he could breathe easier when Genji stopped screaming. That was a sign that the brainwashing was taking effect, and ultimately pushing down any sliver of resistance in the cyborg.

“He has a fiery spirit, but everyone can be broken.” Akande’s voice broke Gabriel out of his thoughts. The two males had their eyes on the cyborg, watching through a window as he succumbed to the brainwashing. “He lasted far longer than Amelie.”

Gabriel was about to respond when Moira released Genji of all his bonds. She was saying something to the cyborg but no one could hear. Moira exited the room, barely acknowledging Gabriel’s presence.

“The procedure was a success.” A disgusting smirk etched itself onto her face. “I’ve informed him that he is an agent of Talon. He believes that Overwatch is the enemy, just as you wished.”

“You have done well, doctor.” Akande praised, which Moira all but glowed under. “Let us see how he performs against the new recruits.”

“You want to test him against the fresh blood?” Moira chuckled, a chilling sound that Gabriel hated even now. “How sadistic of you, but I shall see it to be done.”

“I look forward to seeing how obedient he is.”

“I assure you, you won’t be disappointed.”

Gabriel felt like a hand was grabbing at his throat, keeping him silent as Genji walked out of the room and followed Moira down the hall. While Gabriel couldn’t speak, that didn’t mean that his legs refused to function.

He and Akande strolled down the hall in silence. Akande was eager to see Genji in action and not holding back against his enemies. Gabriel was anxious to see what had become of the person he cherished.

The two males remained outside the training room, peeking in through the window to see how Genji functioned. Gabriel sighed as the new Talon recruits ran into the training room. None of them had any idea what they were up against, nor did they know they’d never live to be considered a veteran agent.

As soon as Moira raised her hand, Genji was off. He removed his sword and in the blink of an eye he was slicing through agents like their flesh was paper. He showed no remorse for the lives he was taking, and that’s how Gabriel knew he wasn’t Genji anymore.

Genji would’ve never agreed to participate in lethal training exercises, especially when he was given the okay to kill his own teammates. Genji didn’t kill for sport, he killed because he had no choice or because it was for a worthy cause. There was nothing positive coming out of killing these agents.

“I will have to make Moira change the colors he wears to best fit Talon.” Akande put his hands behind his back, intertwining his fingers. His smile was far too smug for Gabriel’s liking, “And maybe some more upgrades to make him even more of a weapon. What do you think?”

“What have you done to him?” Gabriel stared through the window, watching in disbelief as someone he once knew turned into a stranger. “Talk now.”

“Talon needed a ninja.” There was a sinister gleam in Akande’s eyes as he watched the cyborg go on a mindless killing spree in the training grounds. “And who better to corrupt than Overwatch’s ninja?”

“You caged the sparrow.”

“No, I clipped its wings.”

Gabriel shook his head, releasing a frustrated sigh. He was with Talon for various reasons, but this wasn’t one of them. Brainwashing Amelie was one thing that bothered him, but brainwashing Genji felt different.

It felt worse.

Genji was someone who he cared for deeply, despite never allowing anyone to know that information. Genji was someone who he had watched first hand climb up from rock bottom and thrive in the present. Genji was someone who was full of hope and life, and Gabriel had unknowingly been a part of the team that snuffed both.

Gabriel hadn’t been selected as the chosen few for the actual mission Talon needed to complete. He was a part of the team that distracted Overwatch and drew the heavy hitters to him, knowing that Genji and Tracer would be ordered to stop their agents from joining the battle. Talon knew that Overwatch would never suspect that Genji was their real target all along.

Blood dripping down Genji’s cybernetic body was something Gabriel hadn’t seen in a while, reminding him of their Blackwatch days when he had no remorse for the living. While it wasn’t an unfamiliar sight, it was an unwelcome one.

He was rendered speechless as Moira brought Genji out of the room, muttering that she had to run a few more tests. He knew what she was planning. He knew she was going to continue to drive a knife between Genji and Overwatch, cutting off any feelings that may be lingering for them and thus rewriting who he was.

Gabriel could do nothing more than trail after them like a lost puppy. He stared through the window of the medical laboratory, finding it hard to believe that the face he was looking at was the same Genji he once found comfort in.

When Gabriel looked at the cyborg on the medical table he didn’t feel a sense of calmness like he did recently. He looked at the cyborg and he felt sick when he couldn’t find the hot chocolate colored eyes that he had met years ago and found again later in life. Instead, he saw a ghost from his past when he looked into Genji’s cold eyes.

He saw red.

Chapter Text

And all the kids cried out,

"Please, stop, you're scaring me."

I can't help this awful energy.

God damn right,

You should be scared of me.

Who is in control?

“How are you feeling, Genji?”

“I don’t feel.” The cyborg placed the new black helmet on his head. The visor began glowing a vicious red when it was activated. “That is the point, isn’t it?”

“Your feelings matter to us.” Moira was lying through her teeth, but Genji didn’t know it. “Unlike those hooligans at Overwatch who did this to you.”

“What happened to me?” Genji looked down at his metal hands. “Why do I struggle to remember my past?”

Moira barely managed to hide her smirk, “You are suffering from amnesia. We had to run some rather painful treatment procedures on you to bring you back to us.”

“You are referring to that strange device you placed on my head?” Genji inquired.

“Precisely. Some of your memories were lost because of it.” Genji’s shoulders sagged at her words. She placed a cold hand on his shoulder, “But now that you are reunited with Talon we can create more memories.”

“And… Overwatch did this to me?”

“That’s correct.”

“Who in Overwatch made me this?” There was a dangerous edge to Genji’s voice that Moira relished. “Who do I have to kill for taking me apart just to have Talon put me back together?”

“Why, your older brother did this to you.” The sinister smirk finally slipped onto Moira’s face. “Don’t you remember him? I thought he would be someone you remembered vividly.”

“My own brother… hurt me?” Genji gasped, genuinely in disbelief.

“Yes, and after he ran from your bloody body Talon found you and tried to save you.” Moira released an exaggerated sigh, one she knew Genji would catch and probe for more information.

“Doctor, what happened after you saved me?”

“I tried my best to save you but Overwatch invaded our base and took you from us.” The researcher could hardly contain her glee when Genji’s fists clenched. “They wanted a weapon so their guardian angel made you one.”

“What monsters!” Genji smashed a hand on the medical table, denting it in the process. He hissed, “Who is this angel that you speak of?”

“Doctor Angela Ziegler, also known as Mercy.” Moira moved her hand to rest on top of Genji’s, providing comfort and taking advantage of his brainwash induced amnesia. “Yet, she showed you no mercy when she made you a cyborg.”

“Then I shall eliminate her.” Genji stated, fueling Moira’s sick fantasies. “And my brother, as well.”

“Why stop there, Genji?” Moira pressed, urging him to take from the people who had given him life. “Overwatch did this to you so what’s preventing you from taking out all of them?”

“I am afraid I cannot complete such a task on my own.” As if he was testing the waters, Genji slowly moved his hand so he could hold Moira’s. “I would need Talon’s assistance but I do not feel as though I can ask for something so great when I am already in your debt for many reasons.”

“Oh, but don’t you understand, Genji?” The doctor squeezed the metal hand, pushing down the urge to vomit at such a sweet gesture. “Talon is your family, and families support one another.”

“Talon would help me to take out Overwatch?”

“Of course, there isn’t anything we wouldn’t do for you, Genji.” Moira smiled, fooling Genji into thinking that he meant something when in reality he was nothing more to her than a tool to use to take out his family. “We are at your side if this is truly what you desire.”

“I want Overwatch to pay for what they’ve done to me.” Genji growled. “And I will make them pay with their lives.”

“Then I shall inform Akande of your plan so we can prepare for such a mission.” The cyborg seemed almost reluctant to let go of her hand. With some finesse, she managed to free her hand from his grip, “I will fetch Gabriel so he can keep you company until I return.”

“Gabriel?” If Moira could’ve seen his eyes she would’ve seen the faintest hint of recollection in his coffee colored orbs. “Why him?”

“You two used to be quite close.”

“We were?” Genji asked, almost hopeful.

“Indeed you were.” Moira slithered to the door, sending him a stern look over her shoulder. “You are to remain here for Gabriel, is that understood?”

“Yes, doctor.”

With one final nod, Moira escaped from the room and made her way down the hall to find Gabriel. She had created the foundation for Genji, making him believe that Talon was on the side of good while Overwatch was evil. She made it her mission to make him believe he could trust Talon and that they had saved his life, when that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Moira was as smug as the cat that caught the canary as she moved through the halls. She took pride in being the one who not only brainwashed Genji, but exploited his amnesia to transform him into a Talon agent bent on getting revenge on Overwatch. The end of Overwatch was just beyond the horizon and she was more than eager to bask in the glow of that view.

The doctor came to a halt outside of Gabriel’s quarters. She was about to make her presence known when the door opened, revealing none other than the grim reaper of Talon. She nodded, silently greeting her teammate.

“I need you to keep Genji company.”

“You want me to babysit?” Gabriel’s head raised, an attempt at showing the woman that he was rolling his eyes beneath the mask. “I didn’t join Talon to watch children. Find someone else to watch him.”

“He needs to be around people he feels a sense of familiarity with for the time being.” Moira cocked an eyebrow, smirking, “And if it’s not me then it has to be you.”

“I thought you wiped his mind clean.” The taller male folded his arms. He sneered, “Losing your touch already, doctor?”

“Worried he’ll remember Overwatch when he encounters them?” Moira asked, ignoring Gabriel’s insult.

“Aren’t you?” He countered.

“Not after the tale I’ve told him.” Gabriel felt his heart sink at her words. She continued, “He believes that Overwatch turned him into a cyborg and that Talon saved him. He’s in our debt now.”

“You intend to manipulate him to get what you want.” It was a statement rather than a question at this point. “And you want me to play your little game with him.”

“Don’t tell me you still care for the boy, Gabriel.” She laughed, waving a hand at him to disregard his feelings. “The Blackwatch days are long over for us, but they start again for Genji.”

Gabriel growled, sounding more like an animal than a man, “He was unstable in Blackwatch, what makes you think you can control him now?”

“Because I’ve rewritten his past, present, and gave him a chance at a new future.” She answered, as if everything was so simple.

“You’ve written him a horror story.”

“Why do you care so much about him?” Moira rolled her eyes. “He’s just a walking corpse.”

Gabriel was fuming inside, allowing for Moira to fill the silence, “Don’t let your feelings for the boy interfere with Talon’s plans. We have a job to do, you know.”

“Talon crushed any feelings I have for anyone.” Gabriel walked past her. He didn’t look over his shoulder as he added, “I have a job to do so make yourself useful and do yours.”

“Don’t disappoint me, Gabriel.”

“Worry about yourself, doctor.”

He could hear Moira scoffing behind him but he paid her no mind. He marched down the hall, growing satisfied when the click of Moira’s heels grew softer as they placed more distance between each other.

If Gabriel had it his way, he would’ve cussed Moira out for what she’s done to Genji. He would’ve told her that he was disgusted by her and how she found pleasure in the way she manipulated Genji, taking advantage of someone who had nothing to go off of. He hated the way she rewrote his life so it would best fit Talon’s schemes.

Moira had wiped nearly all of Genji’s memories clean from his mind, leaving him with enough to know he was an assassin and he was a cyborg. She only allowed him to keep enough of himself so that he would be of use to Talon. She only kept the parts of him that made it easy to use for Talon’s means.

Gabriel grit his teeth in frustration. He was furious that Moira had erased all the friendships he had made, the bond he mended with his brother, and the relationship he had been in with a cowboy for years. Everything Genji knew was gone and replaced with lies, and it pained Gabriel.

When Gabriel entered Genji’s room he was met with a crimson visor staring back at him. He had to take a moment to fully comprehend the changes in Genji’s appearance, feeling like he was looking at the night version of the cyborg.

The day time version of Genji with light colors and a bright green was replaced with the night time version, which consisted of dark grey synthetic skin and black armor. The design was the same as before, aside from the color changes and the beaming red lights coming from his visor and body.

He didn’t look like Genji anymore.

He looked like something out of a nightmare with his dark appearance. He looked like a demon that would grab someone and drag them down the hall, taking them with him to hell. He looked like the kind of monster that would snatch someone walking home alone, finding amusement in another’s screams and desperate attempts to stay alive.

“You are Gabriel, I presume?” Genji questioned, curious.

“Gabriel Reyes, codename Reaper.”

“You certainly look like the grim reaper.” Genji tried to joke, a weak attempt to find a shred of happiness in his current situation. “Would you care to sit down?”

Gabriel said nothing.

Instead, he padded over to the empty chair by Genji’s medical table. Gabriel tsked under his mask, irritated that they hadn’t bothered to give Genji a proper hospital bed so he could be comfortable in while he was cooped up like an animal. Yet, they only saw Genji as a weapon so it made sense why they denied him of any simple luxuries.

Genji moved to sit on the edge of the table, his legs dangling and occasionally kicking Gabriel’s knee, not that the older male minded much.

The two sat in a comfortable silence. He could tell that Genji was staring at him behind the visor but it seemed that he didn’t know what to say. Gabriel wondered if Genji was trying to remember who he was before Talon or if he wasn’t in the mood for conversation at the moment.

“You feel familiar for some reason.” Genji broke the silence. “Moira does, too.”

“Anyone else feel familiar to you?” He asked, trying to avoid talking about Genji’s past relationships to the ex-Blackwatch agents. He made an attempt to play Moira’s game, “You know everyone here.”

“Only you and Moira feel familiar.” The cyborg sighed, shaking his head. “Although, I admit I feel a stronger sense of familiarity with you.”

Gabriel nodded, trying his best to cut the conversation short before he was taken down memory lane. He tried not to think of his time in Blackwatch, especially his precious moments with Genji. He had hardened himself over the years and he’d be damned if that progress was ruined.

“Moira feels familiar. She has been very kind to me since I woke up.” Genji rested his hands on his lap, fighting the urge to twiddle his thumbs. “I am most grateful to her for filling in some of the blank spots in my mind.”

Gabriel wished he could grab Genji by the shoulders and shake him, telling him that Moira was deceiving him. He wanted to tell the cyborg that everything he currently thought about Moira and Talon was a lie, and that they were using him to get what they wanted.

“What else do you want to know, kid?” Gabriel hated how that pet name for Genji slipped out.

“I understand that Overwatch is Talon’s enemy.” He tilted his head in confusion. “But what I do not know is why.”

Gabriel hated the way the lies felt coming off his tongue, “Talon has a vision for a peaceful world but Overwatch stands in our way.”

“Why did Overwatch want me?”

“Because you’re the best of us.” Gabriel meant those words, he always did.

The older male had a feeling that Genji was smiling beneath his helmet. It was confirmed when Genji rubbed at the back of his neck sheepishly, as if he didn’t know how to respond to such words of praise.

“I admit some things are still hazy in my mind.” Genji’s hand moved down to unsheathe his sword on his lower back. He looked down at the blade, “But whenever I have my sword in my hand I feel like everything is crystal clear.”

“What becomes clear to you?” Gabriel questioned, amused.

“I must cut down whoever stands in mine and Talon’s way.” Genji’s words made Gabriel’s stomach churn. The cyborg didn’t know how wrong he was. “I owe my life to Talon and with this blade I can begin to repay my debt.”

“And when your debt’s been paid?”

Genji furrowed his brow as he returned, “What do you mean?”

“What will you do once your debt is repaid?” Gabriel stood up, causing Genji to look up at him. “Once you’ve taken down Overwatch and Talon has collected your debt, what will you do?”

Genji pondered for a moment. Gabriel asked him a question he hadn’t even thought about asking himself. Genji was getting revenge by wanting to take out Overwatch, but he understood that Talon wanted them eliminated, as well, which would mean once they were gone his debt would be paid.

He wondered what that meant for him afterwards. He wondered if Talon would have much use for him after their threat had been taken care of. He was still learning about himself and his place in Talon, and he was starting to think that there would be no room for an assassin in a peaceful organization.

“I… I don’t know.” Genji answered honestly. “I have only ever had Talon… I do not think I would belong anywhere else.”

“When you get the chance to leave, take it.” Gabriel placed his clawed hand on the cyborg’s shoulder, squeezing it. “You’re a sparrow and Talon will only cage you if you stay.”

“Sparrow?” Genji shook his head, trying to force out the fuzzy memories that tried to pry their way back into his mind. “Why does that feel familiar?”

“It was a childhood nickname of yours.” Gabriel replied, filling in one of the holes for the cyborg without malicious intent to use him. “Your father gave it to you as an insult but you grew to like it.”

“My father does not sound like a kind man.”

“He wasn’t.”

“I suppose I am not kind, either.” Genji lowered his head and sighed. “I killed all those agents earlier, didn’t I?”

“It was part of your training exercise.” Gabriel disagreed. He was starting to worry Genji was diving too deep into his emotions. “Stop thinking about-“

“They were innocent.”

“Those agents would lay down their lives for Talon’s cause.” The older male’s grip on Genji’s shoulder tightened, bringing him out of his head. “They made their choice.”

Gabriel moved his hand and grasped Genji’s chin, forcing their eyes to meet, “Your emotions are going to get you killed so keep them in check.”

“Hai, commander.”

Gabriel’s eyes widened behind his mask, which he was grateful to be wearing now. He tensed and he was sure that Genji had noticed. Genji must have been gaping behind his mask, wondering what had come over him to say that.

“I’m sorry.” A metal hand gripped at his head, rubbing up and down as if to try to soothe a headache. “I don’t know why I called you that.”

“Forget about it, kid.” The older male released his hold on Genji.

Truth be told, he didn’t want Genji to forget about it but he knew that for his sake he should. If he was starting to remember his Blackwatch days then his memories of Overwatch would surely come back soon, too.

Genji’s mind was much stronger than Amelie’s, Gabriel had to give credit where it was due. He assumed it must have been because of all that meditation with the Shambali monks. He must have strengthened his mind during that time and it was proving to be rather useful now.

Amelie didn’t have strength of mind like Genji did so brainwashing her was relatively easy. Genji was far stronger mentally, as well as spiritually, so the brainwashing couldn’t wipe everything completely clean.

Gabriel made the silent decision to keep that information to himself. If there was a chance that Genji would be able to remember his life then Gabriel would give him the time he needed. If Talon knew that he was starting to slowly piece things together then they’d subject him to more brainwashing, and this time the damage would be permanent.

It appeared that being around familiar faces made some of the clouds fade from his mind. Genji was starting to get glimpses with people he had made connections with, such as Moira and Gabriel. Yet, the older male wondered what would happen when he was faced with Overwatch.

Gabriel would get his answer sooner than expected.

True to her word, Moira came back to collect both Genji and Gabriel. The trio moved in silence down the halls, the only sounds that could be heard were from their feet on the floor and the whirring from Genji’s cybernetic body from time to time.

Moira led them into another room, one with a large oval table with chairs for six people. Akande was seated at one head of the table while Olivia and Amelie sat in the two chairs to his right. Gabriel took his place at the opposite head of the table while Genji took the seat closest to him, leaving Moira with the chair beside Akande.

“It is good to have you back at the table, Genji.” Akande greeted, falling into a role of a caring leader. “And it is much better to have you looking like you belong to Talon again.”

“It is good to be back, sir.” Genji nodded, fighting against the discomfort he felt under Akande’s gaze. “I am starting to feel like myself again thanks to the efforts of Talon and its members.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” Akande smirked.

Gabriel hated the way Akande was lying to Genji from the start, making the cyborg feel like he was a valued member of Talon when he was actually hated by the organization. He hated it, but he had to give it to Akande because he was playing his role beautifully, coming across as concerned and genuine when he was rather strict and unforgiving.

Gabriel didn’t care for the way Olivia looked like she was enjoying the show, as if it was humorous to see Genji falling for their act when in reality it was sickening. He folded his arms, only finding comfort in knowing that as long as Genji was allied with Talon that he was safe from being hacked.

Amelie was silent, as she often was unless someone spoke to her. The Amelie that Gabriel knew before her brainwashing and experiments had more life in her, and he feared that Genji would follow in her footsteps soon. Gabriel didn’t think he could bear to look into two pairs of lifeless and cold eyes.

“It is time for us to take a stand against Overwatch.” Akande’s booming voice broke Gabriel out of his thoughts. “We will be launching an attack on the city to draw them out tonight.”

“If I may speak for a moment.” Moira’s long nails were clattering on the table in a rhythmic pattern, one that the Talon members knew as her expressing her annoyance without the need to say it. “I have concerns regarding your plan.”

“You may speak.”

“We attacked the city earlier today, it would be best to wait out the rest of the day.” Moira’s eyes flickered to Genji in hopes that Akande would understand what she was getting at. “Don’t you believe that Talon should rest and recuperate before throwing ourselves into the city again?”

“You raise valid points, doctor.” Akande nodded, comprehending what Moira was implying. “However, I do not intend to wait much longer. Talon will strike tomorrow night.

“These types of situations are sensitive and-“

“You said Talon was ready.” Akande’s deep voice cut through Moira’s soft spoken one. Genji looked between the two, wondering how the situation was going to end. “We strike tomorrow night, is that clear, doctor?”

Moira’s hand balled into a fist but she made no effort to try to refute what her superior said. She had no choice but to sit straight in her chair and intertwine her fingers, nodding in response.

“Good. Then let us review our plan of attack.” The leader stood up and walked towards a map of the city. He pointed at a specific building located in the center of the city, “Overwatch has scientists conducting unethical experiments here and we cannot wait any longer to stop this.”

Genji leaned in, listening intently to the plan and how Akande wanted them to blow up the building to stop Overwatch’s devious plans. Gabriel hated the way Genji bought into the plan without as much of a second thought in the matter. Akande told him Overwatch was the enemy and Genji was too naïve to understand that he was being manipulated.

What Genji didn’t know was that the building they planned to destroy was actually one that housed some of the many scientists who worked alongside Overwatch. These people were helpful in making sure Overwatch had enough medical supplies and ways to combat various types of threats.

Genji would be helping to take out people who had helped Angela upgrade his cybernetic body, and he didn’t even know it. Gabriel knew he could say something, but he knew he shouldn’t. Or couldn’t.

“Take these pictures and commit them to memory.” Akande grabbed photographs from his coat pocket and tossed them down the table towards Genji. “These will be your targets tomorrow.”

Genji’s metal fingers slowly reached out and picked up each one. They were candid pictures taken in the midst of battle, no doubt Olivia’s doing when she scampered around undetected while they fought.

He laid each picture out in front of him and his eyes locked onto the one of Hanzo, who was pointing his bow at an enemy. He reached for the picture and held it in front of his chest with both hands.

“Who is this man?” Genji asked, a mixture of anger and happiness bubbling within him. Genji looked to Moira, “Tell me, who is he?”

“He looks familiar, doesn’t he?” Genji nodded. Moira leaned in and smirked, “Well he should, because that’s the man who murdered you.”

The red lights all over Genji’s body flared, and the members of Talon smiled. Genji’s hands shook as he stared at the picture. He wasn’t trembling with fear nor was he blasting his lights because he was scared.

Genji was enraged.

He tossed the picture into the air and in the blink of an eye he unsheathed his sword and sliced it into pieces. The bits of the photograph fluttered in the air like snowflakes, decorating the table and earning satisfied smirks from Talon.

“I request the honor of eliminating him tomorrow, sir.” Genji’s sword was returned to its rightful place on his back with a soft click. He shifted his attention to Akande. “With your approval, I can assure you Overwatch will have one less archer working for them.”

“Consider your request granted.” A grin stretched across Akande’s face, knowing that he had moved his chess piece closer to a check mate. “You are to eliminate those faces tomorrow, is that understood?”

“Understood, sir.” Genji bowed, a show of respect but Akande saw it as submission. “I will not let you down.”

“No, you won’t.” The leader chuckled darkly, enjoying the way Genji went back to studying the faces in the pictures. Akande looked towards the other members, “Are there any questions?”

“I request to speak with you in private after the briefing.” Moira’s tone was bored, but the look in her eyes was fierce. “I have an inquiry to make regarding my recent experiment.”

“Very well.” He nodded at the scientist. He gave the others another chance to speak, “Anyone else?”

Olivia shook her head, snickering that she was more than comfortable with the plan. Amelie shook her head. She had her mission and she knew how to get it done so there was nothing more to be said.

“I have one question, sir.” Genji held another picture in his hand but only Gabriel could see who it was. “May I request an additional briefing with Gabriel after this to learn more about my targets and their abilities?”

“Request granted.” Gabriel seemed to seethe in his seat as Akande smirked at him, “Gabriel, take him back to his medical room now. This briefing is over if no one has additional comments.”

Akande took the silence in the room as the confirmation needed to officially end the meeting. With a wave of his large hand, everyone stood up from their seats and made their way out on their own time, aside from Gabriel and Moira.

Gabriel looked to Genji and stated, “Go to the room and wait for me there.”

“You are not coming with me?” Genji questioned, almost sounding nervous.

“I have business to attend to with these two.” Gabriel’s voice was harsh, wanting to end the conversation so he could confront his teammates. “You have a task to do so get to it.”

Genji nodded and gathered the pictures into his hands before exiting the room. Gabriel didn’t like how he had to be so curt with Genji, but he needed him out of the room and he needed to maintain his heartless exterior in front of Akande and Moira so they wouldn’t become suspicious of their growing relationship.

Personally, Gabriel liked the way Genji seemed to gravitate towards him, but he couldn’t let the others know that. He liked the way that Genji allowed himself to show his emotions and be vulnerable with him, whereas when he was with the others in the meeting he was rough around the edges and determined to complete his mission.

Moira waited until the cyborg had slipped out of the room to voice her concern, “It is far too soon to be sending Genji into the field.”

“You said he was ready.” Akande placed his hands on the table, leaning towards the red head, “Or were you lying to me when you said that?”

“Physically, or rather cybernetically speaking, the cyborg is ready for a mission.” Moira shook her head. “But mentally, I fear that rushing him into taking out Overwatch could do more harm than good.”

“You said he believed he was an agent of Talon.” Akande pressed, his fingers clawing at the table.

“And that he does.” Moira pushed back, adding some bite to her words. “I personally saw to it or do you doubt my work ethic?”

Akande growled, “I’m starting to doubt whether the ninja is of use to me if you’re insisting I bench him.”

Gabriel was about to object when Moira beat him to it, “Oh, he’s useful, I can attest to that.”

“Talon can most definitely hurt Overwatch.” Moira smirked, her voice sounding vile and leaving a poisonous taste in Gabriel’s mouth, “But Genji… he can tear them apart from the inside.”

“And Gabriel can help with that.” Moira looked over her shoulder at the other male. “You know what you must do, don’t you?”

Gabriel knew what she was suggesting.

Moira was fully aware of how comfortable Genji was around him. She knew that out of all the members of Talon, Genji trusted Gabriel the most. She wanted Gabriel to use that trust and continue to divide the cyborg, to push him farther away from any memories that might resurface from his time in Overwatch.

“Leave it to me.” Gabriel nodded, playing the part perfectly to appease them.

“What do you mean?” Akande furrowed his brow and removed himself from the table. There was venom laced with each word he spoke, “I don’t like it when my members talk in code or keep secrets, you both are aware of this and the consequences that follow.”

“No codes or secrets here, I assure you.” The scientist promised.

“While there is a chance that Genji’s memories could reemerge since there hasn’t been enough time to create a solid foundation for his assumed life in Talon…” Moira’s eyes flashed back to the leader, “There is a way to ensure that doesn’t happen.”

“Enlighten me, doctor.”

“Isn’t it simple?” Moira chuckled. “The answer is standing at the opposite end of the table.”

“Reyes?” Akande cocked an eyebrow.

“Gabriel is the one Genji trusts and we can exploit that for Talon’s benefit.” Moira leaned back in her chair, smirking like she was the one holding all of the cards. “If Gabriel solidifies Talon’s peaceful endeavors then bit by bit any fragmented memories he has of the past will shatter.”

Akande thought for a moment before he stated, “With Reyes controlling the ninja Talon could be unstoppable.”

Gabriel now wished that he wasn’t in the room so he wouldn’t have gotten roped into this. He just wanted to make sure that Genji wasn’t going to get himself killed on the mission but he walked into something far worse.

He was being enlisted to not only manipulate Genji but to now become his puppet master. Talon was now expecting him to be the voice whispering in Genji’s ear, not only telling him who he was but instructing him on who to kill. Gabriel already knew he had Genji in the palms of his hands, but now Talon had figured it out and were taking advantage of it.

“Amelie needed a week before we sent her into the field.” Gabriel fought back a shudder when both of his teammates casted their eyes upon him. He snapped, “You must be idiots to want to send Genji out there one day after being brainwashed.”

“But we didn’t have someone like you for Amelie.” Gabriel grit his teeth as Moira continued, “She didn’t have someone she trusted with her life like Genji does with you. You’re the key, Gabriel.”

“And what if your plan fails?” He questioned, almost entertained by the proposal.

“If that’s the case, I think you know what’ll happen to the boy.” The red head was far too nonchalant about brainwashing Genji a second time for Gabriel’s liking. “So we must see to it that it doesn’t fail.”

“Do you understand your role, Reyes?” Akande’s eyes would’ve burned holes into him if they could.

“I do.”

“If there is nothing else to discuss the two of you are dismissed.” With nods from Moira and Gabriel, Akande released them.

Gabriel didn’t wait for Moira. He turned on his heel and exited the room before she could try to talk to him. He had nothing left to say to her, nor did he want to give her more ammunition. She knew he cared for Genji and the last thing he needed was her whispering around Talon that he was letting his feelings get in the way of mission success.

He made a bee line path to the medical room that Genji was in, hoping to leave Moira in the dust. He breathed a sigh of relief when he didn’t hear Moira following him, rather the clicking of her heels was almost inaudible, as if she hadn’t even bothered to catch him after the meeting.

Gabriel entered Genji’s room, making the silent note to request that he be given an actual room and not a medical room. If Genji was to be a member of Talon then he needed to be treated as such, and not as a laboratory experiment.

“Hung up on that picture?” Gabriel questioned, fascinated that Genji was still looking at the same photograph from the briefing. Genji lifted his head to acknowledge the older male, “I saw you staring at his picture during the briefing, Genji.”

“Why does he look like a cowboy?” Genji ignored Gabriel’s words, responding with questions of his own. “And why does he feel familiar?”

Gabriel sighed as he made his way towards the table and stood beside Genji. The cyborg had laid all the pictures out on the table but the one of Cole seemed to have caught his attention. Cole’s photograph was the only one that Genji held, as if he was too good to be among the others.

To Gabriel, this was the downside of brainwashing people. While you can wipe memories from the mind and make it possible that they never come back, you cannot erase the way the heart feels for people. Genji’s brain might not easily recognize Cole, but his heart did.

“You two…” Gabriel paused. His heart wanted him to tell the truth that Cole was his lover, but his brain urged him to follow his orders. “You two used to be close.”

“Was he a member of Talon?”

“He was recruited by Talon.” Gabriel was tip toeing a fine line between telling the truth and lying and he knew it. “But he chose to align with Overwatch instead.”

Well, it wasn’t a total lie nor was it the full truth. Cole had been recruited to join Talon after Blackwatch but he refused. Cole aligned himself with Overwatch so that he could have a future with Genji, and to do something good with his life for a change.

“So, he is a traitor?” Genji’s grip on the photograph tightened, crinkling it in the process. “And we let him live?”

Gabriel shook his head, more so to himself. He wasn’t trying to paint Cole out to be this traitor of Talon. He was trying to let Genji know that Cole was someone he was close to and had a history with, but all the cyborg could focus on was repaying his debt to Talon and eliminating anyone who didn’t support the organization.

“He loved you.” Gabriel blurted, surprising himself.

“What… what did you just say?” Genji loosened his hold on the photograph. He looked down at the man he didn’t realize he was in love with. “He… loved me?”

“He probably still does.” The older male hoped that this information could spare Cole in battle, or allow for the cowboy to get through to him somehow.

Genji’s voice was soft as he replied, “It is hard to believe that anyone could love someone who looks like me.”

“Genji-“

“Not remembering the cowboy will make it easier to kill him.” And just like that Talon’s claws sunk further into Genji. The cyborg placed a metal hand over where his heart would’ve been, “Why does it hurt to say that?”

Because you’re in love with him. How Gabriel wished that he could’ve uttered those words, and how he wished he could save Genji from the horror he was sure to commit on the mission.

“Can you tell me about the cowboy’s fighting style?”

“You don’t want to know his name?”

“No, his name does not matter.” Genji finally placed the picture on the table, making him no different from the other faces he was to kill tomorrow. “All that matters is taking him down.”

“Very well.” Gabriel stabbed Cole’s picture with his claw. “He’s got one gun that fires six bullets.”

“How primitive.”

“Says the cyborg with a sword.” Gabriel smiled under his mask when Genji chuckled. He carried on, “What you need to watch out for is his Deadeye.”

“Deadeye?” Genji tilted his head in confusion. “What is that?”

“It’s a unique ability he has where he can shoot six people with deadly accuracy.” Gabriel answered, waiting for Genji to remember Cole’s skill.

“Not as primitive as I thought.” Genji huffed. “I’ll have to be mindful of the cowboy.”

Gabriel spent hours reviewing the members of Overwatch, always telling enough about them to help Genji understand what he was up against but never how to kill them. If Gabriel exploited their weak spots then he knew Genji would use that intel to eliminate them, and he didn’t want that on the cyborg’s shoulders if his memories ever came back to him.

Gabriel made sure that Genji would be well prepared for the mission but he hoped he didn’t give enough to help him assassinate his friends. Gabriel wouldn’t feel anything if anyone from Overwatch died, but he knew Genji would.

Sometimes, when he was with Genji he saw bits and pieces of who he was before Talon brainwashed him, before they broke him. He was able to hear that electronic laugh and he was able to feel a cool metal hand holding his own, just like when they were drinking in alcohol and the night together.

“Thank you… for everything.” Genji squeezed the older male’s hand. His voice grew soft as he looked away, “I am still figuring out who I am… but I like who I am when I’m with you.”

“Be who you want to be, not what Talon wants.” Gabriel returned the squeeze.

“You have done a lot for me, but may I make one more request?” Genji slowly gazed up at the taller male.

“Fine.”

“Will you watch my back tomorrow in battle?” Gabriel was about to respond when the cyborg confessed, “You are the only one I truly trust here.”

Gabriel’s heart panged in his chest, aching for the young man. He desperately wanted to tell Genji who he was and what Talon was trying to turn him into. He wanted to spare Genji of the suffering that was sure to come, both emotionally and mentally.

Instead of doing anything he wanted to do, he chose to follow his orders. He chose to go along with Talon’s plan because it would mean that Genji would live. Some members of Overwatch might die tomorrow, but he would be damned if he didn’t get Genji out of there alive.

“I’ve got you, kid.”

“Talon’s been sighted in the city!”

Everyone’s coping with Genji’s kidnapping would have to be placed on pause for the moment. No one could find it in themselves to be sad when they had the opportunity to battle Talon and hopefully learn about what they did to Genji.

“Cole and Hanzo, you two are staying at the base.” Jack stood in front of the entrance of the plane, blocking the two males. “You’re both too emotional for the field.”

“You can’t bench me, Morrison!” Cole shouted. “Talon took my Genji and I ain’t missin’ the chance to put bullets in each of them!”

“Thanks for proving my point.” Jack rolled his eyes. The captain shifted his attention to the elder Shimada, cocking an eyebrow, “Got anything you want to say, too?”

“If you do not let me on this plane then I will simply steal another.” Hanzo stated matter-of-factly.

Jack facepalmed, groaning, “Of course you’d steal a plane… why would anyone listen to my orders on this God damned team?”

“Move, captain.”  Hanzo reached for an arrow, glaring daggers at the grey-haired male. “Or you will be moved.”

“Yeah, what he said!” Cole agreed and placed a hand on his gun.

Both of them were daring Jack to object, to opt to keep both of them sidelined while the rest of the team got the opportunity to confront Talon. If there was any hope of learning what had become of Genji then they wanted to be there to either interrogate Talon, or destroy them.

Jack could see this going either of two ways.

He could agree to allow the two males aboard the plane and he could monitor their behavior, thus adjusting them in battle if they got out of control. He could refuse to let them board the plane and then they would pop up on the battlefield and potentially ruin Overwatch’s plan of attack.

Jack could understand where both of them were coming from, he really could. They were both very protective of Genji since one was his older brother and the other was his lover. They wanted to be there if Genji was given back to them as a bargaining chip, or if Talon confessed to torturing and killing the cyborg.

The older male knew he was fighting a losing battle. No matter what he chose to do Hanzo and Cole would find their way to the battle. Instead of choosing to fight, Jack chose to raise a white flag in defeat.

“If you fuck up this mission I’ll have both of you in my sights.” Jack threatened, his eyes narrowing behind his visor.

Hanzo and Cole fought back smiles as Jack stepped to the side and granted them access to the plane. Hanzo bowed in respect to the captain while Cole shamelessly roped him into a bear hug before trotting after the Shimada.

It wasn’t until Cole was buckled into his seat and placed his metal hand on the gap between him and Hanzo that it hit him.

Genji wasn’t sitting beside him.

He was trying to place his metal hand on Genji’s thigh, knowing that it would lead to them holding hands. He let out a disappointed sigh when his hand had nothing to rest on, nor was there Genji glowing in the plane like his own personal nightlight.

Cole shook his head and chuckled when he saw Hanzo absentmindedly do the same. Hanzo stretched a hand out in hopes that Genji would be there but his eyes widened when he realized the cyborg wasn’t there.

The cowboy felt a sliver of satisfaction knowing that Hanzo wasn’t as rough around the edges as he made everyone think he was. Behind the stark exterior of the archer lied an older brother who cherished their little brother.

While the plane found itself getting lost in the clouds, the two males were losing themselves in their thoughts. They felt like they were on two separate boats sailing across the same ocean. The waves crashed against their ships, bringing with them new doubts about their abilities to save the one they loved and newfound feelings of rage towards Talon.

It was just when the two males thought that the waves were going to sink their ships that the plane landed and they were brought out of their thoughts. They would have to dock their boats for now because they had a criminal organization to seek revenge on.

Everyone gathered together outside the plane, their eyes locking on the building that was currently going up in flames. Each of them knew the building and they knew its importance to Overwatch, especially to Genji and his cybernetics.

They couldn’t help but wonder if this was Talon taunting them or purposefully preventing them from saving Genji if they had tortured him and were planning to give him back as a negotiation tactic.

“Look!” Mei cried, pointing to the front doors. “There’s someone coming out of the building!”

Overwatch could see a black figure walking out of the fire, kicking down the front doors and sending them flying towards the group. Everyone managed to avoid the projectiles and drew their weapons, ready to strike the unknown foe making its way out of the building.

As the figure stepped out of the building, each of the members of Overwatch felt their hearts plummet from their bodies and crash through the pavement they were standing on.

“It cannot be…” Reinhart gasped. “That can’t be-“

“Genji!”

Standing before them was none other than their beloved cyborg, yet he didn’t look like the Genji that they remembered. Instead of having a friendly silver and green look, he was all black and red, reminding a few members of Overwatch of Genji’s Blackwatch days.

Truth be told, Genji didn’t look approachable in the slightest with this new appearance. He looked deadly, as if he was waiting for his moment to become one with the shadows and then slash at them when they least expected it.

“Genji… darlin’, ain’t you a sight for sore eyes.” A smile tugged at Cole’s face. He stepped in front of his team and opened his arms, grinning, “What are you waitin’ for, sweetheart? Come to me!”

Genji remained still, making Cole wonder if the cyborg heard him. Cole chuckled nervously, wondering why Genji wasn’t jumping at the opportunity to pounce on him like he used to. Slowly, Cole dropped his hands and his smile followed suit.

“Ain’t you hear me, honey bee?” Cole asked, desperate to hear Genji’s voice again. The cowboy pressed, “Come on, Genji. This ain’t the time for playin’ around.”

All weapons were aimed at Doomfist when he landed beside Genji, his metal fist smashing the earth beneath him and causing the cyborg’s ribbon to fly around behind him.

“Genji, get out of there now!” Cole called.

“Now, why would he do such a thing, cowboy?” Doomfist stood up straight and smirked. “I have no reason to cause harm to one of Talon’s best agents.”

“What the hell are you talkin’ about?” The cowboy’s grip on his gun tightened. His eyes narrowed on the taller male, “You better start makin’ sense before I fill your body full of lead.”

“I’m hurt that you don’t remember my finest Talon agent.” Doomfist feigned like he had taken a bullet to the heart. Doomfist peered down at the ninja, “It seems they have forgotten what they’ve done to you, Genji… would you care to remind them?”

Genji’s visor seemed to glow brighter as he hissed, “Overwatch are the ones who took me from Talon and made me this.”

Overwatch gasped in shock, unable to believe that Genji sided with Doomfist. Not only that, but he was speaking with such venom in his voice that it didn’t sound like he was grateful to Overwatch for saving his life. Rather, it sounded like he was under the impression that Overwatch turned him into a cyborg against his will.

“You’ve got it all wrong, love!” Lena wanted to race towards her friend but her feet refused to move. “We’re the ones who saved you! Don’t you remember?”

Genji had no intention of answering her. Lena felt tears pricking at her eyes as she wondered what Talon had done to her best friend. Genji didn’t look like himself nor did he act or talk like himself, either.

Something was wrong, very wrong.

Hanzo stood beside Cole, questioning in Japanese, “Otouto, watashi o oboete imasen ka?*”

Genji’s head shifted, as if he was narrowing in on Hanzo. It was when Hanzo didn’t receive a response in Japanese that he realized something was truly off about his brother. Genji never hesitated to talk in Japanese, loving the way everyone would get envious of the way they were having their own secret conversation in the open.

“I remember you.” Hanzo sighed in relief, until Genji continued, “You’re the one who murdered me and left me for Talon to save.”

Oh shit.

It was starting to sink in that Genji’s mind had been tampered with. While he could remember that Hanzo was the one who killed him, he believed that Talon was the organization that saved him instead of Overwatch.

Jack pushed through his team and pointed his gun at Doomfist, “You’ve got ten seconds to tell me what the hell you’ve done to Genji before I blast a hole through your head!”

“The only thing I have done is bring my agent to the light.” Doomfist smiled at the way he was getting Overwatch riled up. “Isn’t that right, Genji?”

“Hai.”

“Overwatch seems eager to see you again.” Doomfist nodded at Overwatch. “Why don’t you greet them?”

“With pleasure, sir.”

It all happened so fast. One second they were staring at Genji and the next they were dodging an array of bullets. Reinhart and Brigette were quick to take action, interlocking their shields in front of them to block Genji’s attack.

“Genji can’t fire bullets!” Brigette couldn’t believe her eyes. Genji’s right hand had slid back into his arm and was replaced with a machine gun. “What did they do to him?!”

Angela covered her mouth, horrified, “They… they’ve turned Genji into a weapon.”

“Worse than that…” Jack ducked when a shot was fired from above, no doubt from Widowmaker. “They must have brainwashed him.”

“That would explain why he thinks he’s a Talon agent.” Lena added. She fired a few shots at Widowmaker, forcing the sniper to back off. “What are we going to do about this, Jack?”

“We need to take Genji out.” Jack rolled his eyes at everyone’s appalled gasps. “Don’t kill him, you dumb fucks! Just knock him out!”

“Shouldn’t we try to see if someone can get through to him first?” Winston suggested.

“He’s shooting at us.” Jack wished Winston could see the unamused look in his eyes. “He doesn’t want to talk to us, he wants to kill us.”

“Hanzo or Cole could possibly get through to him.” Winston encouraged. “Lena, too. Each of them has a strong bond with him. I’m sure he’ll remember one of them!”

“You don’t sound certain.”

“It’s a theory.”

They were running out of time, especially with Reinhart and Brigette’s shields malfunctioning. Sombra was closing in so it was only a matter of time before the rest of Talon surrounded them. If they were going to try to talk to Genji then now would be the only time.

“Time to test your theory then.” Jack shifted his attention to the three Overwatch agents Winston recommended. “You three, get close to him and try to jog his memory!”

The trio ran towards Genji, who was more than willing to meet them halfway. In order to prevent the rest of Overwatch from interfering with Genji’s battle, Doomfist launched himself at the others to keep them at bay until reinforcements from Talon arrived.

Genji retracted his gun and his hand came back to him. Shuriken slid up from his hand and found their home between his fingers. Genji’s left hand reached for his sword on his lower back, unsheathing it slowly, as if he was goading them.

“We don’t want to fight you, Genji.” Lena hated how she couldn’t lower her guns. She wanted to believe that she could trust Genji right now, but she could tell he wasn’t in the right mind anymore. “We just want to talk to you.”

“I have no words for the likes of you.” He hurled his shuriken at Lena, who was able to avoid them by phasing towards Hanzo.

“Genji, you’ve been brainwashed!” Lena cried, her guns shaking in her hands. “The Genji I know wouldn’t try to hurt the ones he loves!”

Genji’s response was more shuriken being thrown at Lena and Hanzo, which both were able to dodge just in time. Genji knew he was outnumbered with the three of them surrounding him, but that didn’t mean he was outmatched.

He threw another round of shuriken at Lena and Hanzo, successfully slicing the brunette’s arm when he tracked where she would appear next. While Hanzo was tending to Lena to make sure she was alright, Genji used this opportunity to strike Cole.

He darted towards the cowboy, who barely managed to avoid the swing of his blade. Cole jumped back and aimed his gun at the ninja. He knew he had a good shot and any other day he wouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger, but this time he did.

Cole couldn’t shoot Genji.

In all the years that Cole knew Genji, he could never fire his gun at him. He had joked that Genji wasn’t faster than a bullet and even when the ninja prompted him to test it, he refused. He would never shoot at Genji, even if the younger male was confident in his newfound agility. If there was any chance he could hurt Genji he didn’t want to take it, even if it meant dying at the hands of his lover.

Genji’s blade swiped at his gun, knocking it out of his hand easily. The ninja landed a swift kick to his armor covered chest and sent him flying into an alley. Genji was quick to follow, making sure he sent more shuriken at Hanzo and Lena to keep them away.

Genji dragged the tip of his sword against the ground, making a sound that sent shivers down Cole’s spine. Cole managed to push himself back onto his feet just in time for Genji to wrap a cold metal hand around his neck. Genji lifted the other male with ease, seeming to glow brighter when he could hear Cole’s feet kicking and searching for the ground.

“Genji… darlin’, don’t do this!” Cole rasped, clawing at Genji’s hands even though he knew it was futile. “Ain’t you… remember me, sweetheart?”

The ninja’s answer was a squeeze to his throat. Cole’s eyes widened as he saw Genji raise his hand, pointing his sword for his heart. Genji wasn’t going to take his time killing him, instead he was going for the quick and easy kill. Mission success was all that mattered to the ninja.

“Did you… have to look so pretty… even when you’re about to kill me?” Cole continued to thrash, despite knowing without the use of his gun he’d never get free. “You don’t want to do this, darlin’! I know you’ve gotta be in there somewhere!”

“So long, cowboy.”

Cole felt his heart drop for two reasons, one of which was because those were the last words he heard before Genji was kidnapped. The second reason was because Genji moved the sword back in one quick motion, knowing that he was mere moments away from stabbing him in the heart.

“I love you, Genji.”

The world felt like it was moving in slow motion for Genji as he shot the sword forward. He felt his vision blurring and his mind began pulling him back into it, showing him a memory that was found deep within the archives he had been forced to forget.

“Shoot, I ain’t expect Blackwatch’s new agent to be so damn pretty.” Genji rolled his eyes when the cowboy reached for his metal hand and placed a kiss to the back of it. The cowboy looked up with a charming smile, “They call me Jesse McCree but you can call me anytime.”

“I am Genji Shimada.” He swiped his hand back and rolled his eyes. “Your charm might work on the other agents but I am not so easy, cowboy.”

“You believe in love at first sight, darlin’?” The cowboy asked. When Genji shook his head he continued, “Because I’m startin’ to believe it when I look at you.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“Ridiculously in love with you, Genji.”

Cole held his breath and waited for the pain, but it never came. Instead, he heard the sound of the sword piercing through the wall he was pinned against. Cole looked down and felt relieved when he saw that Genji had moved at the last second and stabbed the narrow space between his side and his arm.

“I knew you were still in there, honey bee.” Cole sent a warm smile to the cyborg, which seemed to be the wrong thing to do.

Genji flared red and removed his sword from the wall. His grip on the cowboy’s neck tightened. It seemed that this time he wasn’t going to trust his sword to get the job done, rather he would strangle the gunslinger to death so he could personally watch as the light faded from his eyes.

Genji was angry for many reasons, but he was especially frustrated with the way he strayed from his path at the last second all because something hazy came to him. He didn’t want to believe it was a memory, instead he chose to convince himself that it was just a malfunction.

“Leave him alone, Genji!”

The cyborg dropped the cowboy when Lena fired her guns at him. He did a back hand spring to get some distance before he used his sword to deflect her attacks, sending them back twice as fast.

Genji remembered what Reaper told him about Lena. She was able to use her device to her advantage, flashing from one side of the battle to the other in the blink of an eye. He made it his mission to analyze her movements and find a pattern.

He turned around, knowing that Lena was set to appear behind him if he timed her right. His eyes narrowed behind his mask as he pin pointed the exact location she was supposed to turn up next.

He saw her pop up in a flash of blue and he aimed his shuriken at her. He was about to send his shuriken straight through her device when his vision started to blur again. He tried to shake it off but distant memories seemed to be adamant on him bearing witness to them.

“I have much hatred for this body of mine.” Genji looked down at his hands, one of flesh and one of metal. “How can you not look upon me with fear?”

“You think I’m going to be afraid of an angry little cyborg?” Lena giggled, filling Genji with happiness he hadn’t felt in a while. “Whether you’re made of flesh and bone, metal, or both I’ll always look at you the same.”

“What do you see when you look at me?”

“My best friend.”

The shuriken were released but instead of slashing through her body, their direction was altered so that she was trapped against the wall by her shirt. Lena looked down at her body, her eyes widening as she realized Genji was able to adjust his aim at the last second to save her life and to keep her out of the battle as long as possible.

“You remember me, don’t you?” She smiled, which she probably shouldn’t have done since it only seemed to enrage the cyborg.

Genji whipped around and locked onto the cowboy, who was rising back to his feet. In a flash of red, Genji was before him with his sword drawn, prepared to finish what he had started. Cole held his arms up to try to protect himself from the blade raining down on him.

“That’s enough, Genji!”

An arrow crashed into Genji’s blade, knocking it off course and ultimately saving Cole’s life. Genji glowered at the person who dared to prevent him from completing his mission. Genji could feel himself boiling on the inside, his vents releasing steam from his shoulders in the attempt to keep him cool.

“I know you.” Genji pointed his sword at Hanzo. “You had to kill me to maintain order… that was your duty.”

“It was my duty and my burden.” Hanzo grabbed another arrow, sighing. He remembered when Genji spoke those words to him and he hoped somewhere in there his little brother was fighting against the brainwashing. “But now it is only my regret.”

“The only regret you will have after today is wishing you had killed me that night.” Genji hissed.

Genji took off like a rocket for his brother. He couldn’t shake the familiar feeling when he smacked an arrow away with his sword, hearing it dig into the ground behind him. He got a sense of déjà vu when he made a clean slice through another arrow.

He could feel the haze starting to come over him once more but he fought it back, determined to finish his battle with his brother to settle the score. He and Hanzo clashed, sword against bow, but he couldn’t help but feel like they had done these same movements before, as if this battle had already taken place and was settled.

Genji hated the way he felt like being thrown to the ground by his brother’s bow wasn’t something new. Most of all, he hated the way he felt like he was reliving a memory when Hanzo snatched the arrow from the ground and aimed at him.

The blue tattoo of Hanzo’s arm seemed to come to life and form twin dragons, snapping their teeth and growling at Genji like he was their prey. If Genji peered into Hanzo’s eyes he would’ve seen sadness.

“Ryū ga waga teki wo kurau!”

When Hanzo released the arrow, the twin dragons grew in size and began to charge at Genji, swirling around one another as if to hypnotize him. Genji felt his body moving of its own accord when he reached for his long blade. He couldn’t stop himself from calling out-

“Ryūjin no ken wo kurae!”

Genji didn’t know how he did it, but he managed to summon a single green dragon that rivaled Hanzo’s in size. With his sword, he instructed his dragon to move forward and intertwine itself with Hanzo’s. Genji guided the dragon around his body and sent the two blue dragons back at their summoner, completing an action he had done in the past.

Hanzo braced himself as his dragons came back at him and flowed through his body, forcing him back a couple of steps in the process. When the damage was done, the dragons vanished from the battle field.

“That felt familiar to you, did it not?” Hanzo’s lips quirked up in a cocky smile as he dropped to his knees.

Genji sheathed his dragon blade in favor of dashing forward with his short blade. In mere seconds he was by Hanzo’s side with the cool feeling of the blade pressed against the older male’s throat.

“This feels familiar to you, does it not, anija?” Hanzo’s eyes widened when he heard Genji speak the final word in Japanese. “I wonder if killing you will also feel familiar.”

“Do it then.” Hanzo knew he was playing a dangerous game, but if there was a chance that Genji would remember him he would play all day. “Kill me.”

Genji didn’t understand why he was hesitating. He had Hanzo right where he wanted him. He had not only weakened his enemy with his own attack but he had his blade right against his skin, close enough to draw blood if he pressed any harder. He had Hanzo at his mercy, but he was suffering at the mercy of his own mind.

“No, I will not grant you the death you wish for.” Genji removed his sword from his brother’s neck. He stood up straight and looked off into the distance before returning to Hanzo, “You still have a purpose in this life, brother.”

“No, no… my brother is dead.” Hanzo slithered away from the cyborg, ready to fight again.

The cyborg faced his older brother and raised his hands to the back of his head. He pressed on the helmet and after some clicking and hissing from his armor, the visor portion was removed with careful hands. After ten years, Genji gazed at his brother with his own eyes.

“Genji…” Hanzo stood there in shock, unable to believe that the brother he thought he killed was now standing before him. Yet, Genji was standing before him as something different. “What… have you become?”

“I have accepted what I am.” Genji placed his visor back on, the green light flickering once more. “And I have forgiven you.”

Genji walked towards the older male and placed a hand on his shoulder. Hanzo couldn’t bear to bring his eyes to look upon his brother, not because he looked different, but because he had been the one to make Genji a cyborg.

Hanzo was broken out of his thoughts as Genji walked past him, his voice as light as air but his words weighed heavily on him like an anchor.

“Now you must forgive yourself.”

Genji dropped his sword and stumbled away from his brother. A shaky hand rested itself on his head, his fingers nearly digging into the metal. Genji hissed in pain, but it was from no physical injury he had obtained.

His mind felt like it was crumbling, piece by piece. Old memories were contrasting with the memories that he had obtained with Talon. He felt like he had one body but he was living two lives, both of which were vastly different from one another.

“Genji, what’s wrong?” Hanzo pushed himself onto his feet and rushed to his brother. He was surprised when he managed to hold onto his metal arms. “I am here for you, otouto.”

Genji hated the way he started to calm down in the other male’s care. He found it sickening how he found comfort in the embrace of the man who took his life away from him. He was disgusted in himself for the way he wanted to melt into Hanzo’s arms for reasons he did not understand.

“Die, die, die!”

Hanzo found himself shot back by a blast from Reaper, who appeared in a puff of black smoke behind Genji. Hanzo smashed against Lena, who wasn’t happy that she had been used to cushion his fall. Hanzo could see Cole moving to take on Reaper, giving him the opportunity to free Lena from the shuriken.

Reaper stood in front of Genji, blocking the cyborg from Cole’s line of sight. Cole retrieved his gun and directed it right at Reaper’s head.

“I’ll handle the cowboy.” Reaper didn’t look back at Genji as he ordered. “You need to get out of here, Genji.”

“But my mission-“

“Get out, now.” Reaper snarled, hating how he had to sound like an animal.

Cole couldn’t see it, but he could hear Genji’s soft footsteps leaving the area. The ninja hadn’t even bothered to go back for his sword. Cole didn’t know what was going on but he was hoping to find out when he took on Reaper.

“What’d you do to him, Reyes?” Cole hissed, clicking the safety off of his gun.

“I did nothing.”

“You’re a part of Talon so you let them brainwash him!” Cole shouted, nearly letting his anger consume him. “Look at him! That ain’t Genji anymore!”

“Talon wanted a weapon and he became it.” There was a bite to Reaper’s words. “I had no say in the matter.”

“I hope you’re happy with yourself.” The gunslinger fired but his bullets went right through him. Yet, it seemed that his words didn’t go through Reaper. “I hope you feel real good about what you did to Genji… should’ve known you’ve always been heartless.”

Reaper’s hands shook and he hoped Cole didn’t catch it, but he did. Cole was satisfied knowing that his words had gotten through to his old commander, but it wasn’t enough to make him put the guns down.

Reaper’s voice was soft, causing Cole to strain to hear it, “I never wanted any of this for him…”

The older male didn’t give Cole the chance to say anything else to him. Rather, he wanted their guns to do the talking for them.

While Reaper and Cole got lost in a shootout of their own, Genji was losing himself in his mind. He had ran out of the alley and straight into the line of fire. With his mind in such a vulnerable place, it was far too easy for familiar faces to pull out vague memories.

Genji narrowly avoided a large hammer being slammed at him. As the hammer came down a second time, he jumped at it and used all his power to kick it back at the wielder. As Reinhardt was sent flying back into a building, Genji was sent back into his mind.

“How would I say, ‘hammer down’ in Japanese?” Reinhardt asked the Blackwatch agent in an attempt to make small talk.

“What need would you have to know Japanese?” Genji cocked an eyebrow. He scoffed, “It’s not like they’d send you to Japan. You would stick out too much.”

“You are right about that!” Reinhardt slapped Genji on the back as he laughed. Genji flew forward but managed to stay on his feet. He glared at Reinhardt, earning him another laugh, “Relax, Genji, I’m only trying to be your friend.”

“Why would you want to be friends with me?” The cyborg asked, his glare fading away. “We are not even on the same team.”

“We don’t have to be on the same team to be friends. I’d lay down my life for my friends in Overwatch.” Reinhardt placed a hand on Genji’s shoulder, nearly engulfing it. “And my new friend in Blackwatch.”

“Hanmādaun.”

“What was that?” The taller male asked.

“Hanmādaun is ‘hammer down’ in Japanese.”

Genji shook his head in an attempt to rid himself of the memory. He brought a hand to his head, as if he was trying to keep his brain in his skull. He could feel a pulsing in his head that went beyond any headache pain. It felt like he was coming undone and that was a pain Genji didn’t want to experience again.

He made an attempt to fight through the pain, but it only led him into a battle with Brigitte. She flung her rocket flail at him but wasn’t expecting him to snatch it from the air and use it to wrap around her, thus immobilizing her. He didn’t understand why he chose to kick her into a building rather than cut her down with his blade.

“I still feel that final blow from yesterday’s training.” Genji commented as he found his place at Brigitte’s side and behind her shield.

“Aw, come on!” Brigitte playfully shoved Genji with her free hand. “I didn’t hit you that hard!”

“If that is the case, our enemies have much to fear.” Genji smiled beneath his metal mask.

“Our enemies should be scared when they see us together.” She looked over at him and grinned. “We’ve got enemies from the high ground. How about we try that combo we’ve been working on?”

“I’m with you.” Genji grabbed onto the end of her flail and nodded. “I am ready.”

“Let’s do this!”

Genji held on tight as Brigitte lowered her shield in favor of swinging her flail around to build up speed until she finally got it high enough for the cyborg to release. He zipped through the air and slashed straight through a Bastion that was making Brigitte’s life hard on the ground.

The teammates made quick work of eliminating the remaining enemies. Genji hopped down and took his place beside Brigitte, chuckling when the taller female slung her arm around his shoulders.

“I always love working with you, Genji.”

“Being your friend is an even greater honor, Brigitte.”

Genji couldn’t get away from that memory fast enough. He tried to force the fog in his mind to disappear, but it refused to leave him alone. With each person he came into contact with in Overwatch, the more the haze lingered and even intensified.

He had no issue catching up to Lucio as he tried to skate towards anyone who needed healing. The only time he had an issue was when it came time to finishing Lucio off but he found himself punching him into the armored warrior he had already taken down.

“Hey, Genji!” Lucio skated over to the cyborg, who stopped throwing shuriken at a target. “How about I hook up your lights to my music?”

“That is not what they are for.” Genji shook his head, a smile plastered on his face.

“I know, I know!” The healer skated around Genji, less like a shark and more like an excited puppy. “But your lights and my music could make one cool combination, don’t you think?”

“I think they would.” Genji hummed.

“So, what do you say we give it a try?” Lucio paused in front of Genji. There was a mischievous grin plastered on Lucio’s face, “I’ll even take the heat from Angela if a light breaks!”

Genji’s shoulders sagged as he let out an exaggerated sigh. As much as he knew he should deny Lucio of this act, there was a part of him that thought it would be a lot of fun to give it a try, especially when if something went wrong Lucio would be on the receiving end of Angela’s wrath.

“Just this one time.”

The pain he was feeling was only getting worse. He wanted to stop but he had a mission to complete so he willed himself to keep going. He forced himself to cut through Mei’s backpack and watched as she became a snowwoman.

“Mei, do you want to build a snowman?” Genji snickered as the scientist made snow fall around them. “Come on, let us go and play.”

“How’d you know Frozen is my favorite movie?” Mei giggled and threw a snowball at the cyborg. “But I’d build a snowman with you any day, Genji.”

Together, the two friends gathered up the snow and rolled each body part of the snowman. Once they placed them on top of each other Mei swiped a scarf from her room and Genji stole a carrot from the kitchen.

They were laughing as they dressed their snowman and gave him a happy face and a carrot nose. Genji made a comment that they should’ve stolen Cole’s hat to make a Western snowman, which succeeded in making Mei giggle.

“You know he’ll melt tomorrow, Genji.”

“I guess we’ll just have to make another then.”

Genji didn’t know how much more of this he could take, but he forced himself to battle through more when Hana dropped down from the sky with her MEKA. Genji deflected her projectiles and made quick work of slicing through the legs, thus rendering Hana useless.

“Genji, lets go to the arcade after this!” Hana chirped, despite flying through the air with Genji perched on top of her MEKA.

Genji cut through one of their airborne enemies, “A battle’s end calls for meditation, not games.”

“I get it.” She shrugged as she blasted through an enemy. She had a shit eating grin on her face as she taunted her friend, “Everyone’s scared to take on the best player in the world.”

She smirked when she heard him sigh in defeat, “Fine, I’ll go.”

“I hope you like losing!”

“You certainly must, seeing as how I have eliminated more of our enemies than you have.” Hana gawked, unable to believe that Genji had been keeping score in the midst of battle. What was more was that he was now teasing her, “I hope you will be able to keep up with me at the arcade.”

“Oh, you’re so on, Genji!”

The only thing that seemed to distract Genji from the mental anguish was the fact that he was now face to face with a space gorilla. Genji disregarded the surprise he was feeling in favor of cutting through Winston’s weapon and sending him flying back towards the plane.

Genji didn’t understand why he caught Winston’s glasses before they shattered on the pavement, nor did he understand why he placed them carefully on the ground away from the battle.

“Anyone want to hear my favorite joke about the periodic table?” Winston plopped down on the couch in the common room of the watchpoint.

“I do not.” Genji replied, unamused.

Genji could hear other members responding to the scientist and it seemed as though no one else in the watchpoint wanted to hear his joke. Genji saw the way Winston was so excited to share his joke and now that no one wanted to hear it he began to deflate like a balloon.

Feeling bad that not a single soul in the room wanted to hear his joke, Genji decided that he would humor him. The cyborg moved to sit down beside Winston.

“Alright, let me hear it.” Genji smiled, loving the way Winston seemed to light up.

“I’ve been trying to tell jokes about the periodic table.” Genji leaned in when Winston started chuckling at his own joke before he finished. “But I don’t think I’m in my element!”

Winston immediately started laughing, and while Genji didn’t think it was very funny he decided to join in. The remaining members in the room whispered to each other that Genji deserved an Oscar for his performance, considering Winston went along with it.

“A scientist and a comedian.” Genji hoped Winston could tell he was smiling. “What a treasure you are, Winston.”

“As are you, Genji.”

If Genji’s brain was made of metal and wires he was sure it would’ve short circuited by now. At this point, he was trying to escape the battlefield when he ran into Jack. He didn’t want to fight anymore but once Jack said he had him in his sights he knew he had no choice.

He was able to evade each of Jack’s shots but the older male wasn’t able to avoid the uppercut he received. Genji had to combat the urge to not run to Jack and help him to his feet. He hated how that thought even crossed his mind.

“Why would you want me to join Overwatch?” Genji folded his arms as he sat down on the bench beside Jack. “I know what the agents say about me. I am unstable and nothing but trouble.”

“Blackwatch wanted trouble so that’s what you became.” The blonde turned to look at the cyborg. “Overwatch needs a team and you could be a part of it.”

“I am on Blackwatch’s team.” Genji tilted his head, curious. “What makes Overwatch any different?”

“Because we have morals on Overwatch and we look out for our own.” Jack answered.

“Are you implying Blackwatch does neither?” Genji countered, yet there was no malice in his voice.

“What I’m saying is you have a chance to be a part of something bigger than Blackwatch.” Jack huffed, a small smile on his face. “Hell, you can be a part of something bigger than yourself in Overwatch… but the choice is yours.”

Neither of them spoke for a while. They sat in a comfortable silence and watched the sun setting before their eyes.

Jack was only thinking about the view in front of him, but Genji was thinking about what lied beyond what was in front of him. Jack was looking towards the present but Genji sought the future.

“Hai, I will join Overwatch.”

“You didn’t just join a team…” Jack clasped Genji’s shoulder, pleased to find that he didn’t stiffen or wince this time. “You just joined a family.”

Genji was on his last legs by the time he saw Angela flying overhead. He could easily let her fly to her fallen teammates and get out before his mind tortured him anymore. He could take the easy way out, but Genji didn’t think he would be able to rest if he let the woman who turned him into a cyborg fly free.

With some of the last remaining strength he had, he fired shuriken at her wings. He thought he would feel pride when he sent Overwatch’s guardian angel falling to the ground. Yet, he didn’t feel any happiness in what he had done.

“Take it easy, Genji.” Angela raced to Genji and picked him off the floor. She sent him a worried look, “I know learning how to walk again is upsetting but you can’t rush this.”

“But I know how to walk.” Genji weakly argued.

“Not on cybernetic legs you don’t.” She felt relieved when he put his metal arm around her shoulders, allowing her to assist him. “I know you want to do the things you used to but this is going to take time so, please, try your best to be patient.”

“Life never used to be this hard.” Genji slumped against Angela, feeling small under the weight of his emotions. “I know it might not seem like it, but I am thankful for what you have done for me, Dr. Ziegler.”

“Angela.”

“Huh?” Genji slowly turned his head to look at the blonde. “What did you say?”

“My patients call me Dr. Ziegler.” A warm smile etched itself onto Angela’s face as she pulled Genji closer to her. “But my friends call me Angela.”

“You consider me a friend?” Genji questioned in disbelief.

“I’d do anything for my friends.” She helped Genji sit down on top of the medical table. She held his scarred face in her untouched hands like he was made of glass. “And that means you, Genji.”

“Arigatō, Angela.”

Genji staggered backwards before he collapsed onto the ground. He was sobbing at this point, unable to bear the pain that he was in. He felt like he was being prodded and stabbed by eleven relentless spears.

“Reaper…” Genji cried into his comm link, making sure it was only between him and Gabriel. “Please… Gabriel, I need you.”

He felt reassured by the cloud of black that came to life in front of him. He found solace in being held in the arms of Reaper. He buried his face in the crook of Reaper’s neck and wailed about the pain he was in, despite there being no physical wounds.

“I’ve got you, kid.” Genji gripped the black cloak and whimpered. Reaper addressed the rest of Talon on the comm link, “Genji’s down. We need to fall back.”

Genji could hear Doomfist’s response and it instilled fear within him. The leader of Talon was disappointed in him, especially when they were so close to eliminating Overwatch. As much as Doomfist wanted to continue the battle, he knew he shouldn’t with two men being taken out.

Despite Doomfist’s reluctance, he ordered Talon to retreat from the battle. Genji could hear members of Overwatch calling for him as Reaper began to surround them in black smoke. He didn’t understand why their voices brought him comfort.

Or why they caused him pain.

“Gomen'nasai, I-“

“Useless!” Akande backhanded Genji with his armor hand, sending the cyborg crashing into the wall. Genji’s body sparked as he tried to move to a sitting position, but Akande didn’t care. “You failed your mission, sparrow. Get on your feet.”

“H-Hai, sir.”

Gabriel clenched his fists at his sides as he watched Genji’s body struggle to get him on his feet. Akande should’ve known better than to strike Genji with the gauntlet on, knowing that it caused severe damage to his internal system.

Not only was Gabriel furious that Akande used his gauntlet covered hand, but he was also pissed that the leader of Talon would dare to hit one of their own.

In all his time in Talon, Gabriel had never witnessed Akande hitting one of its members. Gabriel couldn’t help but feel like Akande made an exception for Genji, seeing as how he was a part of Overwatch before he was forced into Talon.

Either way, no one hit his Genji.

Genji’s body was whirring loudly, letting everyone in the room know that he had taken a considerable amount of damage from that backhand. Moira quirked an eyebrow, almost as if she was starting to grow concerned that he could shut down if he took another hit.

“You talked big at the table but when it came time for action there was nothing.” Akande slammed his hands on the table, snapping it into pieces. He growled, “You caused our mission to fail. What do you have to say for yourself?”

“I am sorry for my inability to complete the mission, but I-“

“I don’t want to hear excuses!” Akande picked up a piece of the table and threw it in Genji’s direction. The cyborg managed to avoid the projectile, though it was with difficulty. “I expected better from the likes of you, ninja.”

“I’m sorry that I let you down, sir.” Genji bowed his head.

“You have let me down for the last time.” The leader’s voice took a grave turn as he hissed, “Clearly, you are not ready for the field so I want you to report to the med bay immediately.”

“But, sir, I am ready for-“

“You are ready for nothing! You hesitated!” Akande shouted, his voice echoing throughout the room. He shook his head, “You are to undergo treatment. I don’t want to see you until the doctor has cleared you.”

“I… I understand, sir.” Genji kept his head down as he staggered past everyone. Before he exited, he looked back at Akande. “I will not fail you again.”

“No, you won’t.” A devious smirk stretched across his face, one that made Gabriel’s skin crawl. “I’ll make sure of it.”

With Akande’s final words, Genji departed and began to make his trek to the medical room, leaving his leader, Gabriel, and Moira behind.

Moira didn’t hesitate to sneer, “I told you that he wasn’t ready to see the field, but why would anyone ever listen to their doctor?”

“You have made your point, doctor.” Akande glared at the red head. “What I want to know is if the effects will be permanent a second time around.”

“If you give me the time I need to work with him then yes.” Moira paused, thinking for a moment before continuing, “The boy’s mind is strong but this time I’m sure we will break him.”

“What happened to him out there?” The leader questioned.

“He didn’t have enough time to grow accustomed to his assumed life in Talon.” Moira explained. “Forcing him to face Overwatch so soon triggered memories the brainwashing might not have been able to erase.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“His mind is tearing himself apart.” Akande pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. Moira stepped towards her leader, “The only way to save his mind is to wipe out everything.”

“And start from scratch again?” Akande scoffed. “I am starting to doubt whether the ninja is worth the trouble.”

“Did you not see the effect his presence had on Overwatch?” Moira questioned, but Gabriel could tell she was more so questioning Akande’s intelligence. “Didn’t you see how none of them could bear to land an attack on their precious Genji?”

Akande sighed in defeat, “If you can guarantee his episode won’t happen again then I will let you proceed with the final treatment.”

Gabriel hated the way they referred to the brainwashing procedure as treatment. He wondered if they used that word instead of brainwashing so it would make them feel like they weren’t monsters for what they were doing to Genji. Yet, he wondered if they even gave a damn about Genji because their words and actions right now proved otherwise.

Akande and Moira didn’t give a damn about Genji or his mental health. Akande wasn’t worried about Genji, rather he was more concerned with mission success and ensuring that the ninja he kidnapped was going to prove his usefulness to Talon. Akande was more than willing to dispose of Genji if the second procedure didn’t work, and a person who can carelessly throw away another’s life was a monster in Gabriel’s book.

Moira was irritated at best. She was annoyed that not only did Akande not listen to her when she advised him not to put Genji in the field, but she was infuriated that her own brainwashing procedure wasn’t as effective as she thought. Her experiment was a failure and she refused to allow that to continue.

“You have my word that-“

“You’re not going to run the procedure.” Gabriel interrupted, cutting through Moira like paper. “If anyone is going to do it, it’s going to be me.”

“Why you?” Moira dared to laugh at him.

“I was there for Amelie’s procedure.” Gabriel raised a hand and flipped her off, “And last I checked there weren’t any issues with her and how she operates in Talon.”

“What are you trying to say, Gabriel?” The doctor hissed, a dangerous edge to her voice.

“I’m saying you already fucked up with Genji once.” Gabriel lowered his arm and shifted his attention to Akande, “Are you willing to let her ruin this again?”

“You raise a valid point.” Akande nodded.

“You can’t seriously-“

“You are responsible for the ninja’s failure in the field today, doctor.” Moira’s jaw dropped and Gabriel wished she could’ve seen the shit eating grin on his face. Akande reprimanded, “While you did inform me of the risks, you were the one who said he was ready.”

“Physically he was ready but-“

“Spare me your words, they are as useful to me now as that boy.” Moira’s mouth clamped shut. The leader addressed Gabriel, “I will allow for you to run the procedure, Reyes.”

“You won’t be disappointed.” Gabriel promised.

“I better not be.”

Without another word, Gabriel turned to take his leave. He was about to open the door when he felt a cold hand on his shoulder. This hand was slender with sharp nails that seemed to sink into his flesh more than necessary.

“What do you want, doctor?” Gabriel didn’t bother to turn around.

“If this fails, you know what he’ll do to you.” There was a smile on her face, Gabriel could tell. “Not even I’ll be able to save you then.”

“I have no issue throwing you under a damn train if this fails.” Gabriel looked over his shoulder and smirked. “If you did your job right like you told me to then we wouldn’t be in this situation now would we, witch?”

Gabriel felt satisfied when Moira removed her hand from him with a scowl. If he was on better terms with Cole, he would’ve told the cowboy that he used his Blackwatch nickname for Moira and received a slap on the back and a boat load of praise.

“The boy won’t remember anything this time.” Moira stated. “He won’t have any recollection of you. Are you ready to rewrite his life?”

Well, that was a loaded question if Gabriel ever heard one.

Gabriel wondered if he was ready for what he was about to do. He didn’t know if he was ready to hear Genji screaming in pain because of what he was subjecting him to. He didn’t know if he was ready for Genji to look at him and not remember how close they once were, especially when there was no hope at having that same bond again.

He began convincing himself that it was better this way. It was better that someone who cared about Genji was wiping his mind clean and then being there when he came to. It was better that someone who knew him would be there to piece together who he was and who Talon wanted him to be.

He sighed, coming to terms that it didn’t matter if he was ready or not because he had orders to follow. If Talon wanted Genji to undergo another brainwashing procedure then he had to see it through. He knew he was going to be breaking his own heart by being responsible for Genji’s demise, but he would rather be the one to do it than one of his coldhearted teammates.

“I am.”

Chapter Text

I'm floating away just like a balloon.

I'm fit to burst,

But they can't see that it's you.

They say they'll hold on tight,

But is that really the truth?

If I'm let go now I'll just fade to blue.

“You should be asleep.”

“As should you, commander.”

Genji’s red eyes locked onto Gabriel, who was seated at a table in the cafeteria nursing a bottle of whiskey. Genji was amused, but he didn’t dare to release the chuckle that was welling in his throat. Ever since he became a cyborg he learned to hate the way his laughter sounded being filtered through synthetic material and metal.

Genji wordlessly entered the cafeteria and sat down across from the older male. Gabriel was drinking straight out of the bottle, chucking back shot after shot without a care in the world or who could walk in seeing him in the action.

“You want a drink, kid?” Gabriel paused. “Better yet, can you drink?”

Genji took off his face plate and snatched the bottle. He was thankful for the poor lighting and the darkness that followed the night, allowing for Gabriel’s view of his face to be skewed.

The cyborg threw his head back and swallowed gulp after gulp, taking shots like he used to when he was bar hopping or clubbing in his hometown. Genji smashed the half empty bottle on the table and stared back at Gabriel, who was looking back with wide eyes.

“Damn, kid, who hurt you?” Gabriel weakly joked.

“Who hasn’t at this point?”

“Well, I haven’t.” Gabriel shrugged. “So can we drink to that?”

Gabriel grabbed the bottle and took a shot before handing it off for Genji to do the same. Genji placed the bottle on the table gently this time, as if he didn’t have someone to impress this time around.

“You sure you should be drinking?” Gabriel cocked an eyebrow, curious.

“Probably not.” Genji could already feel his body rejecting the alcohol, but he didn’t feel the need to share that information with the commander. “But I needed to drink.”

“Alcohol’s a depressant, you know.” The older male reached for the bottle, only for Genji to move it away from him. “It’s an unhealthy coping mechanism.”

“Then what are you trying to cope with, commander?” Genji took another shot before handing the bottle to his superior.

“You’re rather talkative tonight, Genji.” Gabriel hummed, hoping to avoid the question. “Normally we can’t get you to say shit.”

“Are you trying to cope or are you trying to forget?” The cyborg asked, refusing to fall for Gabriel’s trick. “We are all running from something in Blackwatch, so what are you running from?”

“You’d be trying to forget what I saw if you were me, kid.” Gabriel took an extra-long sip, hoping that he would blackout soon. “I’m running from shit I’ve done and shit I know I’m going to do.”

Genji attempted to grab the bottle, only for Gabriel to yank it back, “And what about you, Genji?”

“What about me?”

“Are you drinking to cope or to forget?” Gabriel put the bottle to his lips but ended up spilling it onto his shirt. He shook his head and debated passing the bottle to the cyborg, “Forget you saw that.”

Genji couldn’t stop the soft chuckle that slipped past his lips, surprising both himself and his commander. Gabriel was so shocked that he didn’t stop Genji when he removed the bottle from his grasp.

“Forget you heard that.” Genji chucked a shot back, despite his body whirring and begging him not to. “And to answer your question, I am drinking to do both.”

“What are you coping with?”

“This body… I cannot stand it.” Genji hissed and tightened his grip on the bottle.

“I get that you’re not used to your body just yet but you’re still alive.” Gabriel rested his arms on the table in an attempt to stabilize himself. “Would rather have you as a cyborg than not have you at all.”

“You are drunk, commander.”

“Drunk words are sober thoughts.” Gabriel smirked, and Genji rolled his eyes. The older male’s smile softened, “You should laugh more. It sounds nice.”

“It surely must be time for you to go to bed if you are saying something like that.” Genji moved to stand but the commander grabbed his metal wrist to keep him still. “Commander?”

“I’m serious.” Gabriel’s tone was stern, causing Genji to remain seated. “I’m serious about everything. I’m glad you’re alive and you should laugh more.”

“Commander, I…” Genji wiggled his wrist around so that he was now holding Gabriel’s hand, a metal one in a flesh one. Genji finally smiled, “Thank you… I will try to laugh more.”

“Good.” Gabriel squeezed Genji’s hand, smiling when the cyborg returned the gesture. Gabriel groaned, feeling like the room was spinning, “Now carry my drunk ass back to my room. That’s an order.”

“Hai, commander.”

Gabriel smashed his clawed hand on the wall, but he wasn’t satisfied with the damage he caused. He punched another wall in hopes that the memories that were coming back to him would leave so that the pain could have its time to shine, but it didn’t work no matter how many times he repeated the action.

Gabriel felt his feet growing heavier with each step forward, knowing what was sure to come. With each step, he was drawing closer to the med bay where a naïve Genji sat there waiting for a treatment procedure that was never coming. He wasn’t receiving treatment, he was going to be tortured and forced to forget everything.

Genji was going to become a blank canvas that Talon was more than excited to paint on. They were going to use dark shades of red, but most of all they were going to cover the white, his innocence, with black in order to taint him and make an agent in Talon’s image.

The former commander nearly screamed as he assaulted the wall in front of him with a fist, but none of his anger dissolved. Instead, he punched his way back into another one of his memories, but they only seemed to be haunting him now.

Gabriel couldn’t remember a time he felt this scared, and he worked in a profession where he looked death in the eyes each day. Gabriel could count on one hand the people in his life who scared him, and Genji was one of them.

He wasn’t afraid of Genji, rather he feared for him. Genji was unstable, which he thought would be perfect for Blackwatch’s darker missions but he didn’t think about how the cyborg would behave outside of his objectives.

Gabriel had Moira and Cole searching for Genji but neither of them could find him. If Gabriel had to be honest, Moira didn’t give two fucks if they found Genji so he could barely count on her in the moment.

Cole was frantically searching the base for his crush. He desperately wanted to find Genji so that he could comfort him and show him that he wanted all of him, the good or the bad and for better or for worse.

Gabriel was the one who found Genji.

Genji was holed up in Gabriel’s room, specifically his closet. Gabriel had a heart attack when he found him, not because he was hiding in his closet, but because he had torn off the metal armor on his right arm and was pulling wires out with his flesh hand. There was a blank look in his eyes, as if he was in a trance.

“Genji, you need to stop that.” Gabriel reached for Genji’s left hand and tried to pull it away from the wires. “You’re going to hurt yourself if you keep-“

“I cannot feel it.” Genji murmured, but Gabriel didn’t think he was talking to him. “The only way that I know I am alive is because it hurts… but I can’t feel it.”

Gabriel hesitated, allowing Genji to break free from his grasp. Genji began rubbing his right arm and that’s when Gabriel realized what was going on. Genji was having an episode, one where he was searching for the rest of his skin and limbs, only to find metal and wires keeping him together, and keeping him alive.

Genji was trying to find pieces of himself that no longer existed and he was going to tear through the metal and the armor to find it. Gabriel felt like he had been stabbed in the heart and he hated himself for not keeping a better eye on Genji and for not offering more support.

“It’s going to be okay. Come here… come to papi.” Gabriel opened his arms. He wasn’t expecting Genji to break out of his thoughts and dive into him, but he was more than happy to welcome him home. “That’s it… let it all out. You’re safe with me.”

“I can’t feel them anymore! I can’t feel anything!” Genji sobbed, not paying attention to how his metal face plate was stabbing Gabriel’s neck. “I don’t want this body! I don’t want it, I don’t want it!”

Gabriel’s hands slowly raised to the back of Genji’s head, carefully clicking the switches that would remove his metal helmet. Genji stiffened but allowed the older male to remove it. Genji quickly buried his scarred face into the crook of Gabriel’s neck, smearing tears all over the tan skin.

“I know you don’t want this body, I know.” Gabriel pulled Genji close so that their bodies had no space between them. His voice was hushed, “I know this must be hard for you. I’m sorry this happened to you.”

“I don’t know what I am anymore!” The cyborg gripped Gabriel’s shirt with his flesh hand. The metal hand made an attempt to move but sparked instead. Genji looked up with teary eyes, “What am I? Man or machine?”

“Don’t think of it as what are you… think of it as who are you?” Gabriel suggested, trying to guide Genji down a lighter path.

“I do not know who I am anymore.”

“I think I do.”

Genji sniffled, “I would very much like to know who you think I am.”

“To me, you’re Genji Shimada.” Gabriel peered down at the broken man in his arms and tried his best to put him back together. “You’re a ninja and a spy for Blackwatch. You can throw a shuriken faster than our cowboy can shoot a bullet and you can make a new agent cry with just a glance in their direction.”

“Should I be proud of that last one?” Genji joked, his voice sounding wet.

“I’m impressed by it. Intimidation comes naturally to you and we need that in Blackwatch.” The commander smiled when he felt Genji nuzzling his neck, seeming to come down to earth. Gabriel’s smile softened, “You’re the best of us here, and not just because of your skills but because of who you are.”

“Even with this metal body?”

“Don’t let your body define who you are.” He surprised himself when he planted a kiss to the top of Genji’s messy green locks. He whispered into the grass colored hair, “You are who you choose to be.”

“I am who I choose to be?” Genji parroted quietly.

“Yeah, and who do you choose to be?”

Gabriel didn’t know how long he stayed there on the ground in his closet holding a crying cyborg. He didn’t give a damn if he had to wait the rest of his life to hear Genji’s answer, all that mattered to him was being there for his teammate, for his friend.

Genji moved around in Gabriel’s arms, alerting the older male. He gazed down to find bright red eyes and a warm smile looking back at him.

“I choose to be someone happier.”

“I’ll help you be that someone.” Gabriel promised. “I’ll make sure you get there one day.”

The tears that poured down Genji’s face weren’t ones of sadness, but ones of happiness. It had been some time since someone saw through his short tempered façade and saw someone who was begging for help, and for the chance to be someone he liked better than who he was now.

Gabriel gathered Genji in his arms and carried him over to his bed. Gabriel laid on his back and smiled when he felt Genji’s head on his chest. His right arm was slung around Gabriel’s middle, gripping him like one would with a body pillow.

Gabriel was surprised when he found that he didn’t mind lying with Genji, nor did he mind the metal arm holding him tight. It had been far too long since anyone wanted to be this close to him without the intention of killing him. He had to admit, it felt nice to be close to someone again, and it was even better that he was sharing this moment with Genji.

The two males laid together, whispering to one another like they were passing notes in secrecy. Sometimes, Gabriel would say something that made Genji laugh, and the cyborg wouldn’t try to hide it. Instead, he let his laughter come freely and flow out of him like a waterfall. Gabriel had heard many songs in his lifetime but none gave him happiness like Genji’s laugh did.

Eventually, Gabriel voice had lulled Genji to sleep. It was like he could see the years of pain and agony wash away from Genji’s face when he was sleeping, and he felt a sense of pride in being able to see the cyborg in such a vulnerable state.

It had been some time since Gabriel had fallen asleep in the warm embrace of another, let alone someone he loved, and he couldn’t deny that it felt nice. With a gentle press of his lips to Genji’s head, he allowed himself to greet the darkness he called sleep like an old friend.

“I’ve got you, kid.”

Gabriel glared at the doorknob to Genji’s medical room like it was his worst enemy. He wished that Moira had given him heat vision so he could burn the doorknob and melt it. He wished there was any way he could make it so he never had to enter the room.

Slowly, he reached for the doorknob and opened the door. He entered the room without a word and closed the door behind him. He remained by the door and stared at the cyborg before him.

Genji was sitting on the edge of the table with his head down and his fingers intertwined on his lap. Genji looked more like a child who had their parent called to the principal’s office than the brainwashed killer that Talon wanted him to be.

“I’m sorry that I failed Talon today.” Genji sighed, his shoulders sagging in the process. “I do not know what happened.”

“I know, kid.” Gabriel nodded. He stepped towards Genji until he was standing in front of him. “Your mind is tearing itself apart so I need to administer the treatment procedure.”

“You mean that headset the doctor put on me?” Genji asked, still not looking at him.

“Yes.”

“I was in pain when I woke up.” Finally, Genji raised his head so he was staring at the older male. “Will it hurt again?”

“I’m going to be running the procedure. I’ll make sure it doesn’t hurt.” Gabriel felt his heart breaking at that promise.

“Thank you.” Genji sighed in relief. “I am glad that your face will be the first one I see when I wake from the treatment procedure.”

“Any face is better than waking up to the witch’s.” Gabriel huffed.

Genji’s shoulders shook as he chuckled, “You must not be fond of Moira if you would call her a witch.”

“You could say we don’t see eye to eye these days.”

“I am glad that we do.” The cyborg reached out and smiled under his helmet when Gabriel permitted him to hold his clawed hand. Genji squeezed the larger hand, “I cherish our friendship, Gabriel.”

“You think we’re friends?” Gabriel teased.

“We are… I can feel it.”

Gabriel returned the squeeze instead of responding. Genji could feel that they were friends and Gabriel knew that it extended beyond their brief time in Talon and back into their days together in Blackwatch.

Genji’s heart was remembering the bonds he had with others, and the more time he spent with Gabriel the more his mind was starting to catch up. It wouldn’t take long before his brain caught up to his heart and he remembered everything about their relationship, thus helping him understand who he was.

The older male removed his hand from Genji’s, which earned a playful whine from the cyborg. Gabriel’s hands moved to the back of Genji’s head and slowly worked the helmet off of him. He knew Genji felt safe revealing his face because he didn’t object, nor did he make any movement to stop him.

He looked at that beautifully scarred face and found solace. He blinked and it was like he was ten years younger with fresh scars and a burning desire for revenge. Ten years later and both the scars and the anger had faded, and Gabriel had to admit that happiness looked better on Genji than any other emotion.

He sighed as his hand slipped down to cup Genji’s face, holding him as though he would break if he put any more pressure on him. His brain begged him to photograph how Genji looked now because after he was brainwashed he wouldn’t be smiling anymore. His heart ached, knowing that it had to say goodbye to Genji again.

“Blackwatch is dead and Overwatch is falling apart.” Gabriel took a shot of whiskey straight from the bottle before he passed it along to Genji. “What are you going to do when everything goes to shit?”

“I have not given it much thought.” Genji answered honestly. “It is hard to believe everything is coming to an end.”

“Cole’s leaving.” The older male stated. “You know that, don’t you?”

“Why are you mentioning this to me?” Genji avoided the other male’s gaze, finding the bottle more interesting.

“Because you love him.” Gabriel pulled the bottle out of Genji’s grasp, much like how Cole was breaking away from him. “And I don’t want to see you let go of the only person whose ever made you happy.”

“You are wrong about that.”

“What?” Gabriel furrowed his brow.

“Cole is not the only one who makes me happy here.” Genji placed his hand on top of the free hand Gabriel had resting on the table. “You make me happy, as well.”

“Nothing makes me happy these days.” The older male shifted his hand around so that he was gripping four of Genji’s metal fingers. He smiled at the younger male, “But you do.”

“What will become of you when Overwatch falls, commander?” Genji questioned, worry swimming in his once crimson eyes.

Gabriel shook his head and sighed, “Who knows. I’m surprised they haven’t told me to leave after what happened in Venice.”

“You found an expedient solution to our problem.” Genji tried to provide support.

The older male chuckled, “You’re about the only one who thinks that.”

“We do what we must, even if it sometimes doesn’t make sense.” The cyborg gave another squeeze to Gabriel’s hand, trying to pull him out of his head. “You did what needed to be done.”

“Thanks, kid.” Gabriel smiled, appreciative of Genji’s words. “Blackwatch was doomed from the start but at least it gave me you.”

“I am grateful to Blackwatch for giving me you, as well.” Gabriel cocked an eyebrow, waiting for Genji to continue. “And I am thankful that the organization brought Cole into my life.”

“You really love him, don’t you?”

A light pink blush dusted across his face as he answered bashfully, “He is probably the only man I have ever loved.”

“If you love him then leave with him.”

“I can’t just…” Genji paused, becoming both frustrated and flustered. “I can’t just leave with him.”

“Can’t or won’t?” Gabriel pressed. “You know Cole would let you go with him if you asked.”

Genji’s eyes wandered from the older male’s face and down to their hands. He enjoyed the way Gabriel’s hand nearly swallowed his metal one whole, giving him a feeling of safety that only he and Cole could give the cyborg.

“But what about you?”

Genji’s question caught him off guard, “What about me?”

“I do not want to leave you behind.” Genji’s wide doe eyes met Gabriel’s gaze, unknowingly making the older male’s heart melt. “You have done so much for me. You gave me a home and you gave me love I never felt growing up.”

“Genji-“

“I cannot leave you, papi.” Genji pleaded.

“Listen to me, kid, and you better listen good.” Genji nodded, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. Gabriel squeezed the metal hand, “If you sit around waiting for me to get my shit together then you’re going to watch your whole life go by without you.”

“But-“

“I have unfinished business with Overwatch, but you don’t.” Gabriel released Genji’s hand and the bottle of whiskey in favor of walking around the table so he could sit beside his beloved cyborg. Genji quickly found his place in Gabriel’s arms like they were puzzle pieces. “I need you to go with Cole. I need to make sure you’re going to make something of the life you’ve got.”

“You’ll find me when this is all over.” Genji nuzzled his face in the crook of Gabriel’s neck. “Won’t you, papi?”

Gabriel felt his heart swelling in his chest, as it always did when Genji called him papi. The only people who called him that were Genji and Cole, and each time he heard it he felt like his life mattered, like he had a reason to keep pushing through everything life threw at him.

He knew that this was probably going to be the last night they could spend together. Overwatch’s days were numbered and he needed to make sure that Genji would be okay in the end, and the only person who could get him out of there was Cole.

Cole and Genji’s relationship was new, but they loved each other like they were soulmates, like they were always meant to find each other in every life they lived. With Cole, Gabriel was sure that Genji could learn to let go of all his anger, as well as he could learn to love himself.

With one last kiss to the top of Genji’s raven locks, Gabriel sealed this moment as their last night together, the last night they could forget about the world and just focus on the person they were holding onto.

“Yeah, I’ll find you, kid.”

Gabriel grit his teeth as he fought back another memory. He didn’t realize that he had tightened his grip on Genji’s face until the cyborg placed his smaller hands on his and gently pried them off.

“It’s okay, Gabriel.” Genji flashed him a soft smile. “I know the procedure is going to hurt but it will hurt less knowing you will be there when I wake.”

Gabriel couldn’t help but latch his hands onto Genji’s face, as if the cyborg had his own gravitational pull. He could feel Genji’s face moving, forming the only smile that made Gabriel light up on the inside. Genji’s tender laughter followed after, making what always sounded like a symphony to Gabriel.

Gabriel tried to force himself to remember the way Genji’s scarred lips made his favorite smile. He tried to burn the sound of Genji’s carefree laughter into his brain so that he could play it back when he was having a bad day, or when he was missing the cyborg who made him feel like his life was worth living.

He wanted to be able to comb through his memories and remember how it felt to hold Genji’s metal hand, and how it felt to receive a squeeze from the younger male. He wanted to search through the archives in his mind and find the memory of how it felt to gather Genji into his arms and melt into each other.

These memories would be all he has after the procedure. After he brainwashed Genji, there would be none of these precious moments so he tried his best to soak everything about the cyborg while he still could.

“Sit still while I put everything on you.” Gabriel felt heavy the moment he released Genji’s face from his grasp, as if a demon was never meant to touch an angel. “It won’t take long this time.”

“Gabriel, can you fix me?” Genji asked quietly.

“I’m not fixing you.” Gabriel grabbed the helmet used for the brainwashing procedure and walked over to Genji, standing behind him. “Because you’re not broken.”

“Thank you… for everything.” Genji nodded, more so to himself. “I am ready whenever you are.”

“Do you trust me?” Gabriel asked.

“I do not understand why you would ask such a thing.” Genji chuckled. He looked over his shoulder and smiled. “You should already know I trust you with my life.”

Gabriel’s heart constricted in his chest at the sheer integrity of those words. Genji meant those words with his whole heart, and now Gabriel would have to be the one to break it with his own hands.

Gabriel took a deep breath and moved to continue with the brainwashing process. He had made his choice and he was going to have to live with it now. He held Genji’s life in the palms of his hands, which he felt undeserving of because he knew he could never hold a perfect thing and not demolish it.

Genji tried his best to remain calm as Gabriel put the helmet on his head. He knew that this procedure was for the benefit of not only himself, but for Talon.

After being hit by Akande he was having doubts about the organization he was working for, but if Talon didn’t care about him then they wouldn’t want him to undergo such intense treatment. He didn’t understand why everything he was trying to convince himself of never sat right in his very soul.

Genji was expecting Gabriel to give him a countdown or something to warn him when the procedure was underway, but he wasn’t so lucky. Instead, all Genji felt was pain spreading across his head.

And then everything went black.

Chapter Text

Get a load of this monster,

He doesn’t know how to communicate.

His mind is in a different place.

Will everybody please give him a little bit of space?

“And what do you lot think you’re doing?”

Lena had a smile on her face but there was a worried look in her eyes. She watched as Cole hopped on a bike while Hanzo was examining the matching one beside the cowboy.

“What’s it look like we’re doing, Lena?” Cole called over his shoulder. “We’re goin’ out to look for Genji.”

Hanzo walked towards the control panel and opened the garage door for them to make their escape. Hanzo squinted, blinded by the sunlight that greeted him. He felt his skin warming under the sun’s rays but appreciating the sunrise didn’t feel the same because Genji wasn’t at his side enjoying the view.

“Do Jack and Winston know of your little plan here?” Lena asked, despite already knowing the answer.

“We ain’t got time to wait for them to make a plan or for Talon to strike again.” Cole shook his head. “Sittin’ around and twiddlin’ our thumbs ain’t gonna get Genji back.”

“Where are you going to start your search then?” Lena questioned.

“I reckon we should start with the building they burned down. What do you think, Hanzo?” Cole shifted his attention to the archer.

Hanzo nodded, confirming, “It pains me to say I agree with you.”

“You’re a pain in my ass, Hanzo.”

“And you are not one to me?” Hanzo shot back, no malice in his tone.

“So, you two are going into the city and looking for clues around the building?” Lena asked, attempting to grasp the half assed plan they were making.

“Well, we gotta start our search somewhere.”

“I’m coming with you.” In the blink of an eye Lena was sitting behind Cole on the bike, her small arms wrapping around his middle. Cole could tell she was smiling as she stated, “If you’re going to look for Genji then I’m in.”

Cole’s eyes widened for a second, but it was long enough for Hanzo to catch it. Hanzo shook his head but if Cole looked long enough then he would’ve seen the faintest of smiles gracing his face.

“Morrison ain’t gonna be happy when he finds out about what we did.” Cole looked over his shoulder, mischief laced in every word. “You sure you want to be caught in his sights with us?”

“You’re wasting time the more we sit here talking about it.” Lena giggled, tightening her grip on her friend.

“Alright, then let’s be-“

Cole was rudely interrupted by an alarm ringing throughout the base. The siren was blaring and red lights were flashing obnoxiously, alerting everyone in the building and forcing them to their feet.

“A perimeter breach?” Cole furrowed his brow. “Ain’t heard a plane or nothin’ like that.”

Lena jumped off the bike and zipped out of the garage to get a better look around. Cole and Hanzo were standing beside her shortly after, each of them scanning the area to try to find what had triggered the alarm.

Each of them drew their weapons, ready to attack who or whatever had dared to approach their base. They were expecting to battle against Bastions or anyone that had slipped past their security and made it their mission to ambush their base. They were expecting a battle for their home.

They weren’t expecting to see Gabriel.

Dawned in his Reaper uniform was Gabriel, appearing in a cloud of black smoke. Seeing Gabriel was quite the shock, but nothing surprised them more than seeing a motionless Genji in his arms.

Genji’s head was carefully resting against Gabriel’s strong chest while his hands were placed on his stomach. Everything about Genji’s positioning in Gabriel’s arms screamed staged, as if the Talon agent had made sure the cyborg was as comfortable as possible in his arms.

Hanzo had to hold his arm out in front of Cole to prevent him from rushing towards the two of them. They didn’t know if Gabriel had come to their base with Genji to use him as a way to bargain or if this was Talon’s way of teasing them, bringing the cyborg close enough for them to see him but not close enough to touch him.

“You got some nerve showin’ up to the base lookin’ like the damn cat that caught the canary.” Cole pushed Hanzo’s arm aside so he could aim his gun at Gabriel’s head. “How’d you find our base, Reyes?”

“I know all of Overwatch’s bases. I was a part of the organization, you idiot.” Gabriel wished Cole could’ve seen how he was rolling his eyes.

“What is it that you want?” Hanzo’s eyes narrowed on Gabriel. “If Genji is your bargaining chip then get to the point.”

“Just as straight forward as Genji.” Gabriel mumbled.

He looked past the trio to see the rest of Overwatch running towards them. He was hoping to speak with Jack when he arrived, seeing as how they had the longest history together, but it seemed that nothing ever went his way in life.

Jack held up his hand when the rest of Overwatch whipped out their weapons of choice. The team stayed still behind him as he walked towards the trio.

Jack pushed through the trio and growled, “You have ten seconds to state your business here before I blast a hole in your mother fucking head.”

“As if you’d be quick enough to do that.” Gabriel sneered.

“Ten seconds, Reyes.” Jack pressed, loading his gun to make sure his words hit home. “Start talking.”

“I didn’t come here for a brawl, Jack.” Gabriel looked down at the unconscious body in his arms. “I came to give Genji back.”

“What’s the catch?” Jack’s eyes narrowed behind his vision, suspicious. “What do you want in return?”

“I don’t want anything.”

“I find that hard to believe coming from you, Reyes.” Jack lowered the gun but he didn’t dare to put it away. “You’ve always been greedy, always wanting more.”

“I don’t have time to argue with you, Jack. He needs medical attention.” Gabriel’s eyes moved from Jack to Angela. “And you’re going to want to do that before he wakes up.”

Angela moved towards Jack and placed a hand on his shoulder, “If he needs treatment we need to let them into the base, Jack.”

“This could all be a trap.” Jack hissed.

“It very well could be.” Angela stated. “But this is the closest we’ve gotten to getting Genji back and I don’t intend on wasting this opportunity, especially when he needs my help.”

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

“And you think the rest of us don’t?” Angela countered.

After a moment of silence, Jack reluctantly switched his gun off and motioned for Gabriel to follow him into the base. Overwatch stared in disbelief as Gabriel trailed after Jack, just like the old days.

The only ones from the team that were allowed to be in the med bay were Jack and the trio that encountered Gabriel. The Talon agent gently placed Genji on the medical table and watched as Angela did a scan of his body, trying to pin point where he was having complications.

“His internal system has been damaged but it should be a relatively easy fix.” Angela placed a hand on Genji’s face, caressing the smooth metal visor. “Where did he obtain these injuries?”

“Akande struck him with the gauntlet.” Gabriel answered in an even tone, which contrasted with how that sentence made him enraged on the inside. “He was punished for his failure on the mission.”

“That bastard hit Genji?!” Cole snarled, punching a hole into the wall with his metal hand. “Ain’t no way in hell I’m lettin’ him live if we see him again!”

“As if I would let you have the honor of terminating the man who hurt my little brother.” Hanzo crossed his arms, his dangerous tone betraying his calm stature.

“Take it easy, boys! We’ll all have our chance to even the score.” Lena mediated. She shifted her attention to the cyborg, “Let’s just focus on helping Genji get better now.”

Everyone watched Angela work, allowing her the silence that she didn’t think they would give her in their current state. She not only managed to repair his internal system but she removed all the ammunition in his metal arms, both the bullets and shuriken.

Angela felt her heart aching as she stared at her friend. Genji had been through more than anyone in Overwatch. He had been maimed by his brother, brought back to life only to become a cyborg, struggled with his dual humanity, and then just when he had everything together he was kidnapped and brainwashed by Talon.

She blinked back the tears that pricked at her eyes. Tears wouldn’t help Genji right now so she put on a brave face and finished her checkup.

“You can’t leave him in here like this.” Gabriel’s voice broke everyone out of their thoughts. “He’ll kill all of you if he’s not put in a holding cell.”

“He’s not a prisoner.” Angela argued.

“He’s going to think he’s a prisoner no matter what you do with him.” Gabriel stepped towards Genji and gathered him into his arms, which earned glares and weapons drawn. “Either he stays in the med bay’s holding cell or I take him away.”

“Reyes-“

“Take your pick.”

Cole wished that he could pull the trigger, to put a bullet right through Gabriel’s head. Hanzo was waiting for the chance to shoot an arrow into Gabriel and Lena was more than eager to back him up with her guns. All they needed was Jack giving them the green light to fire.

“Put him in the holding cell.” Jack sighed in defeat. “You get your way just like you always do, Reyes.”

Gabriel’s grip on Genji tightened as he snarled, “If I had things my way you’d all be dead and the only reason you’re not is because of Genji.”

Gabriel didn’t wait for a response from Jack. Instead, he moved through the people and rested Genji on the bed in the holding cell. It didn’t have much aside from the bed, but Genji didn’t need a whole lot to sustain himself anymore.

He stepped out of the holding cell and closed it with the touch of a button on the screen. A blue holographic-looking wall stretched from the floor to the ceiling, locking Genji inside like he was a criminal.

“My work here is done.” Gabriel didn’t bother facing the others. “I leave the rest to you.”

“Wait!”

Gabriel made a displeased noise before asking, “What do you want, Angela?”

“Talon brainwashed Genji.” He nodded but didn’t dare to turn around. She pressed, “And you’ve become the only person he trusts.”

“You haven’t answered my question, doctor.”

“You need to stay.” She stated, almost pleading at this point. “You’re the only one who can get through to him.”

“He doesn’t need me.” Gabriel finally turned around. “You need me.”

“And you need a place to lay low.” Jack smirked. “Talon’s probably hunting you down as we speak so let’s make a deal.”

“You think I can’t evade Talon?”

“You can run but you can’t hide from Talon, and trust me, bein’ on the run ain’t no way to live.” Cole replied, speaking from experience.

Gabriel groaned, “What’s your deal, Jack?”

“You stay here and not only help in Genji’s recovery but you explain everything Talon did to him, too.” Jack answered.

“And in return you let me stay here at the base?” Gabriel shook his head. “I’m not joining Overwatch, if that’s where you’re hoping this will lead.”

“You help Genji recover and you’ve got yourself somewhere to lay low.” Jack stretched out his hand for Gabriel to shake.

“You could let me stay so easily?”

“If this is all a trap then you can bet I’ll be the one to finish you off.” Jack declared. He moved his hand impatiently, “Do we have a deal, Reyes?”

Gabriel stared at the hand like it was his worst enemy. He knew he fucked himself over the moment he smacked Genji on the back of his head with the butt of his shotgun. He knew he was screwed for life when he escaped from Talon’s base with Genji and traveled all the way to Overwatch.

He knew there was no going back.

“Fine, it’s a deal, Jack.” Gabriel grabbed the hand and shook it, squeezing it as a silent way of threatening Jack not to push him. “But we do things my way.”

“Like we’d let you-“

“Jack, stop.” Angela’s soft voice cut through Jack’s words with little difficulty. She sighed, “We need to work together if we’re going to have any hope at having our Genji back. Just hear him out.”

Jack removed his hand from Gabriel like he had been burned, hissing, “Fine, but don’t think I won’t shoot you if you do something to hurt Genji.”

“I just saved his life.” Gabriel stepped towards Jack, snarling, “If it wasn’t for me you’d never see him again so be grateful, Jack.”

“Boys, please!” Lena appeared between the two males, pushing them apart. She cried, “All this fighting isn’t going to help Genji so just suck it up for him!”

Gabriel and Jack were seething with rage but they seemed to agree with Lena. They didn’t have much time before Genji woke up and they needed to get as close to being on the same page as possible now.

Gabriel and Jack were blinded by the scars of their past to understand that they were hurting Genji by arguing instead of working together. Despite their strong dislike for one another, one thing they could both agree on was that they cared for Genji, but it was hard for them to see that after so many years of resentment for one another.

“Fine, give us a run-down of Genji’s state.” Jack ordered.

“Genji has been subjected to the same brainwashing as Amelie under Moira’s supervision.” He could hear Angela cursing in her native tongue at the mention of the witch. Gabriel continued, “Since his mind was stronger than Amelie’s some of his memories remained intact.”

“The meltdown he had last night…” Angela began piecing the puzzle together. “His memories were coming back to him, weren’t they?”

Gabriel nodded, “The more time he spends with people who feel familiar the more the memories start to come back.”

“So, what you’re sayin’ is we can get our Genji back?” Cole asked, hopeful.

“There’s a chance at that happening but the kid’s mind is fragmented.” Gabriel turned around to face Genji, who was beginning to show signs of stirring awake soon. “He needs to be weaned into seeing all of you.”

“Shouldn’t he see one of us waking up then if he is to regain his memories?” Hanzo questioned.

“Talon’s brainwashed him so his first thought when he sees you isn’t to talk to you.” Gabriel chuckled. “It’ll be to kill you.”

Hanzo lowered his gaze, frustrated that he couldn’t be the one to greet his little brother when he woke. He wanted nothing more than to comfort Genji and remind him of their childhood and how they found each other later in life. He wished that he was the one who Genji needed, but he knew he wasn’t right now.

He knew that Talon had rewrote their history and only told Genji about the atrocities he had committed. Talon pit Genji against his brother and it would take time to undo that type of damage, if the cyborg even wanted to undo it.

Hanzo was broken out of his thoughts when Cole clasped his shoulder. Lena was at his other side resting her head against his arm. Both of them were sending smiles his way, an attempt to provide comfort.

“It’ll be alright, Hanzo.” Cole reassured. “We’ll get you two back to how you were.”

“And what about you and Genji?” Hanzo cocked an eyebrow. “He won’t remember that he’s in love with you.”

“It’ll be just like Blackwatch.” Cole was smiling but there were tears in his eyes. “He ain’t let me get close at first but after some time he let me in. I just… just gotta do it again.”

No one dared to speak about the tears threatening to spill down Cole’s cheeks. Each of them could understand how hard this was for him. Genji had no recollection of who he was or the love that they grew together. Cole would have to win Genji’s affection just like he did back in Blackwatch.

Cole would have to sit through Genji’s weak threats but this time he knew better. This time he knew that Genji’s threats were just a defense mechanism, an attempt to push away anyone who tried to get close to him because he was afraid.

While it helped that he knew more now than he knew then, it didn’t mean Genji would fall in love with him. There was a chance that Genji’s memories could come back to him but there also stood the chance that he wouldn’t remember Cole or their relationship.

That stood for everyone.

There was hope that Genji could restore his memories by spending time with everyone, but that didn’t mean it would happen. There stood the chance that Genji’s mind was far too shattered to be put back together and they would have to accept that this was their new cyborg.

“The kid’s going to wake up so leave.” Gabriel watched as Genji started to shake his head, growing closer to regaining consciousness. “You should look into calling the monk that helped him. He could prove useful to his recovery.”

“Ordering me around again, Reyes?” There was a hint of mischief in Jack’s voice that no one dared to comment on.

“Just get it done, Jack.”

Jack led the rest of his team out of the med bay like soldiers into battle. When the door closed behind Lena he finally let out the sigh that he had been holding since Gabriel showed up at their base with Genji.

He was relieved that Genji had been returned to them. His mind had started convincing him that he would never have Genji at his side again, but hope had been restored to him in the shape of a former friend.

The last thing Jack was expecting that day was for Gabriel to show up with an arm full of unconscious cyborg, but he wasn’t about to deny himself of the opportunity to bring his soldier, his friend, back home.

“Are we sure we can trust him with Genji all by himself?” Hanzo’s question broke Jack out of his thoughts. “This could all be a trap.”

“But what if it’s not?” Lena retorted, optimistic as always. “We all saw the way he was with Genji! I’ve never seen him like that before.”

“And your point is?” Hanzo quirked an eyebrow.

“I think Reyes deserves the benefit of the doubt.” Lena stated, standing her ground on the matter. “Without Reyes we probably never would’ve brought him home.”

Lena shifted her attention to Cole, “You’re awfully quiet, love. Care to add how you’re feeling?”

Cole didn’t know what to think or even how to feel. This was one of those moments where he wished he had Genji to help him sort everything out. He had Genji again, but the cyborg they had locked in a cell wasn’t his Genji.

This Genji was more like the Blackwatch one he remembered, except he had no memory of their history or their present. This Genji was fueled by anger and had an almost insatiable bloodlust for Overwatch, for him.

Cole’s mind was all over the place but the one emotion he felt like a ton of bricks was sadness. He knew he should be happy that Genji had been returned to him, but he didn’t understand how he could be happy when he would have to stand before his lover and see nothing but hatred in those eyes.

“Cole?” Lena placed a hand on his metal arm. “Is everything alright, love?”

“Yeah… yeah, I’m alright.” Cole was lying through his teeth but he was grateful no one called him out on it. He slipped out of Lena’s grasp, muttering, “I need a minute to myself, if you don’t mind.”

Lena was about to chase after Cole when he walked down the hall, but Hanzo rested his hand on her shoulder to keep her in place. She reached up and grabbed his hand, moving it so that their fingers could intertwine.

She watched the cowboy until he turned down the hallway and disappeared. She squeezed Hanzo’s hand once she couldn’t see Cole anymore, letting the archer know she was worried about him.

“This is a lot to process, especially for the cow man.” Hanzo sighed heavily, his shoulders sagging in the process.

“And what about you?” Lena asked.

“Genji made the first move to reestablish our relationship. He was the bridge before.” Hanzo returned the squeeze to Lena’s hand, letting her know he was concerned for all of them. “It is my turn to be the bridge and repair what I broke years ago.”

“Are you ready to do that?”

“Are you?” Hanzo countered. “Each of us will have to mend the bridges between ourselves and Genji.”

Hanzo had a fair point. Everyone could be concerned about Hanzo and Cole’s journey to return to how they were with Genji before the incident, but everyone in Overwatch was in the same boat as them. Each of them would have to build their friendship with Genji from the ground up.

The road ahead for each of them was going to be a bumpy one with many road blocks and obstacles in the way, but it would be worth it in the end to see Genji look at them and smile, remembering all the good times instead of following orders to kill them.

Lena found herself smiling, “Yeah, I think I’m ready to find my best friend again, especially when I know I’m not going to be alone.”

Hanzo squeezed her hand, agreeing whole heartedly.

Genji groaned as he regained consciousness, rubbing at the back of his helmet covered head in a poor attempt to relieve the dull pain he was feeling. He knew the procedure was going to hurt but he didn’t remember the pain feeling so blunt.

It wasn’t until he shifted his legs over the bed that he realized something was wrong. The last thing he remembered was that he was on a medical table, not a bed. He snapped his head up and looked around, noticing that he was locked in a holding cell.

“You’re awake.”

Genji gasped when he heard Gabriel’s voice. He rushed towards the holographic-looking wall and placed his hands on it, wishing that he could run into Gabriel’s arms.

“Gabriel, what’s going on? Why have I been locked up?” Genji’s hands pounded on the wall as he began to panic. “This didn’t happen after the last procedure!”

“Take some deep breaths for me, kid, or you’re going to hyperventilate.” Gabriel moved towards the wall and fought back the urge to place his clawed hands against the wall where Genji’s rested. “Just stay calm and I’ll explain everything.”

Genji was grateful that he had Gabriel there to ground him, otherwise he was sure he would’ve panicked until he made himself faint. Gabriel was there to breathe with him until he was sure that he could do it on his own. Gabriel was there to not only pull him out of his thoughts, but to also answer all the questions that were burning like a wildfire in his head.

Despite Gabriel’s mask looking like a bloodthirsty grim reaper, Genji found comfort in it. He didn’t see a monster when he saw Gabriel, instead he saw someone who brought him peace and a sense of belonging, as if he could travel the world and it wouldn’t feel like home until he saw Gabriel.

“Better now?” Gabriel asked, almost hesitant.

Genji took another deep breath before he nodded, “Yes, I believe I am better now. Thank you for taking care of me.”

“I bet you’ve got questions.”

“Why am I being contained in a holding cell?” Genji looked around, furrowing his brow underneath his mask. “This place does not look like Talon’s base.”

“That’s because it’s not Talon’s base, it’s Overwatch’s.” Gabriel wasn’t surprised when Genji gasped, shocked that he was being held in his assumed enemy’s base.

“Then what are you waiting for, Gabriel?” Genji slammed his hands on the wall, almost franticly. “Get me out of here!”

Gabriel released a heavy sigh and shook his head. He felt a pang of guilt in his chest when Genji made a confused noise in return. If Genji had all his memories then he would’ve been happy to be in Overwatch’s base, but he didn’t so being in this location didn’t bring him any peace.

“Gabriel, what’s going on?” Genji’s breathing began to quicken, inching closer to a panic attack. “How come you’re not letting me out?”

“I asked you if you trusted me and you said you trusted me with your life.” Gabriel watched as Genji tilted his head, uncertain as to where he was going with this. “Do you remember that?”

“Yes.” Genji replied, puzzled. “What are you trying to say?”

“I haven’t been entirely honest with you.”

“Gabriel… you are beginning to scare me.” Genji bit his lip to stifle a whimper.

“You were never an agent for Talon and Overwatch never turned you into a cyborg against your will.” Gabriel tried to swallow the lump that was caught in his throat. “Talon fed you lies after they brainwashed you to make you their weapon.”

Genji shook his head and cried, “That is not true! Talon has cared for me since I woke up from-“

“From the initial brainwashing procedure.” Gabriel interrupted, his voice becoming harsh. “What you know as the treatment procedure was the brainwashing process.”

“The equipment for my head was-“

“Was to erase your memories.” Gabriel cut through Genji like a knife, hating how he had to be the one to reveal the truth because he knew he wasn’t good at these types of situations or conversations.

Gabriel didn’t dare to say more for the moment. He wanted to make sure that he was giving Genji some time to think everything over, to potentially process all the information that was overloading his brain.

Slowly, Genji sank to his knees with his hands gliding down the holographic-looking wall. Genji casted his eyes downwards, finding Gabriel’s black shoes far more interesting than anything else in the room.

If Genji wasn’t wearing his helmet then Gabriel would’ve seen the blank look in his eyes. Genji didn’t know what to think at this point. He trusted Gabriel with his life but everything he had been told sounded too farfetched to be real.

But Gabriel wouldn’t lie to him, would he?

Gabriel had been someone in Talon who looked out for him and cared for him more than anyone else. He took the time to listen to Genji and reassure him when he was having doubts. He went the extra mile and touched him like he was something to be cherished whereas no one else dared to come close to him unless for training or medical procedures.

Genji had thoughts conflicting in his head, creating something like a warzone rather than a safe place to think. There were thoughts screaming that Gabriel was telling the truth and that he should learn more but there were other thoughts growling that he had been deceived and manipulated by someone he had grown to love.

Genji needed answers and clarity, and there was only one person that could push the storm away and bring out the sun.

“Why did you say nothing?” Genji asked quietly. “If what you say is true then why did you stay silent?”

“I was following orders.”

“That is not good enough, Gabriel.” The cyborg looked up, the red light of his visor flaring as his anger rose. “If you are telling the truth then why did you let me believe I was a Talon agent? Why did you continue the lies?”

“Kid, calm down and-“

“And you’ll do what? String me along on another lie?” Genji hissed. “If this is some kind of game to you, Gabriel, I do not wish to play with you. Just let me out of here so I can return to Talon.”

“Return to Talon? Are you serious?” Gabriel chuckled, bitter. “You’d go back to Akande after he hit you across the room?”

“He was merely punishing me for my failure. I deserved it.” Genji answered simply, seeing nothing wrong with his response.

Gabriel shook his head, sighing, “You’d believe you deserve to get hit before you believe you’ve been brainwashed. Something’s not right with you, kid, and you’re a fool for not seeing it.”

“Talon saved me-“

“Overwatch saved you!” Gabriel yelled, feeling his patience slipping away the more Genji resisted. “You owe your life to Overwatch, not Talon!”

“Then why did you keep the lies going?!” Genji shouted back, smashing a metal hand against the wall. “If you are telling the truth then why did you say nothing in the first place?!”

Gabriel could feel his blood pressure rising. He was nearly shaking with rage at this point, trying his best to stay calm so he could help Genji understand what was going on, but he was never very good at being patient.

Gabriel could hear Genji shouting at him, desperate to understand why he would string him along if he knew the truth from the beginning. Genji wanted to know why Gabriel would earn his trust just to manipulate him into being what Talon wanted him to be.

His hands balled into fists, shaking like two angry little wrecking balls. Gabriel knew that he had a short fuse but what made him the most frustrated was that he was trying to right his wrongs and help Genji, but the cyborg couldn’t get past his deception to see that.

“I kept quiet to keep you alive!”

Gabriel’s words echoed throughout the room, causing Genji to still his movements. Genji lowered his hand and let it fall to the floor. He pressed his hands in front of his body, allowing them to carry a majority of his weight. His feet slid to his sides as he sighed in defeat.

“I did it…” Gabriel paused, focusing on regaining control of both his body and the situation. He said in a hushed tone, “I did it to keep you alive. I knew they would kill you if you failed so I made sure you didn’t.”

Genji didn’t know what to say or what to believe anymore. One second he was told he was an agent of Talon and the next thing he knew he was being told that everything he thought he knew was a lie. He didn’t know if he was supposed to believe what Moira told him or what Gabriel said.

Moira had been so kind to him when he woke up, attempting to fill in the gaps in his mind by telling him of his history and his present. Gabriel had protected and guided him, making him feel like he had a place in not only Talon but in the world.

Genji felt his head pulsing, as if his brain had a heartbeat and it was trying to burst through his skull. Nothing was making sense anymore and he was desperately trying to grab onto something, but he didn’t feel like he could hold onto Gabriel, not when he made him believe what Moira said just to take it all back.

Yet, he couldn’t deny that some of what Gabriel said made sense. He had flashes that came to mind of the people in Overwatch, and every time he saw them he felt happiness bubbling within him.

Not only did he wonder about Overwatch, but he had second thoughts about Talon and the way he was treated within the organization.

Akande had dared to strike him, to hurt him, all because he failed his mission. Genji might not have known Akande well but he knew enough to know that Gabriel was right, that he didn’t deserve to be hit for a mistake.

Sensing that Genji was losing himself in his thoughts, Gabriel sighed. He knew that Genji needed to hear what he said but he didn’t like the way it all came out. He tried to talk to Genji as a friend, as someone who cared about him, but everything came out like an enraged animal, like a pack of wolves chomping at their weak prey.

“I’ll… I’ll give you some time to think about everything. It’s your choice whether you believe me or not.” Gabriel turned to make his exit, blinking back the tears that threatened to spill for the first time in years.

“Gabriel… please…” Genji’s shoulders shook, a sign that he was mere moments away from crying. “You are all that I have… do not leave me alone.”

How Gabriel wished he could open the holding cell so he could bring Genji into his arms. How he wished that he could be the one that Genji needed, the one who could make the pain disappear.

“I’ll come back for you, kid.” Gabriel promised. “I told you before… I’ll find you.”

“Gabriel…”

It broke Gabriel’s heart to leave Genji while he was in his current state, but he knew that the cyborg needed some time to himself to process everything. He needed to be the one to find himself and to decide whether or not Overwatch was his family or Talon. As much as Gabriel wanted to rewrite everything Talon tried to instill in him, he knew this was Genji’s path to walk and his decision to make.

“When images of people come to you, let them.” Gabriel looked over his shoulder, trying to give a piece of advice to his beloved Genji. “You’ll only hurt yourself if you fight it so let it all come back to you.”

“Gabriel-“

“Play nice with whoever comes in.”

Gabriel had done many things in his life that he considered hard, but leaving Genji alone with his thoughts was especially difficult. He wanted nothing more than to tell Genji his life story but he knew he couldn’t do that.

He needed Genji to rediscover himself on his own with the guidance of himself and the members of Overwatch. If he or the others told Genji who he was then there was the possibility that he would be trying to act the part to try to become who they wanted him to be. If Genji was going to return to the friendly cyborg they all knew then he had to be the one to step back into those shoes of his own free will.

Gabriel was losing himself in his thoughts, but it felt more like a ship sinking in rough waters than anything else. He knew that things could never go back to how they were after he knocked Genji unconscious and returned him to Overwatch. He would be labeled a traitor to Talon and there were sure to be orders to kill him on sight for his actions and for aligning himself with Overwatch.

Truth be told, Gabriel didn’t see himself joining Overwatch again. All he saw himself doing was making sure Genji got the help he needed and was given the chance to be who he wanted to be, whether he found his way back to who he was or grew into someone new.

Gabriel’s feet were moving of their accord, taking him down a series of hallways and ignoring anyone from Overwatch who asked him where he was going. He could faintly hear voices calling after him but he had no intention of stopping for them or answering them.

He was broken out of his thoughts when he heard the sound of waves crashing against rocks, roaring until he had no choice but to pay attention to his surroundings. His feet brought him to the roof of the watchpoint, where he realized he wasn’t alone.

“You ain’t welcome up here, Reyes.”

Gabriel watched as Cole’s hand slide down his side and rested on top of his gun, as if he was daring him to stay and see how many bullets he could pierce through his body. He could tell that Cole wanted to be left alone as he sat on the roof, but he also knew the cowboy better than that.

And he knew Cole shouldn’t be alone right now.

Gabriel moved towards the cowboy, his shoes sounding more like nails on a chalkboard to Cole than anything else. Cole used to love the sound of his shoes smacking against the ground because that meant his papi was coming towards him, but now he hated it because that wasn’t his papi approaching him, it was Reaper.

“Ain’t you hear me, Reyes?” Cole looked over his shoulder, his right eye seeming to gleam. “I knew you were gettin’ old but you ain’t deaf.”

Gabriel ignored Cole in favor of sitting next to him, keeping a foot of space in between them to try to satisfy the cowboy. He knew Cole would rather have him anywhere else but here, but in the depths of his heart he knew he didn’t really want to be alone, either, and figured they could be alone together.

“Alright, you asked for-“

“I told you I never wanted any of this for him.” Gabriel’s raspy voice nearly startled Cole, especially since there was sincerity present. “I meant that.”

Cole sighed and moved his hands so that they were resting against his thighs. He looked down at his large hands and wished that there were smaller metal ones in them to soothe his worried thoughts.

“You ain’t stop what happened to him neither.” Cole huffed, making sure he got all his jabs out now.

“I was too late. I couldn’t stop them from brainwashing him.” Gabriel’s shoulders sagged in defeat. “At that point all I could do was try to keep him alive.”

“You lied to him, though.” Cole shook his head. “You might not have brainwashed him but it ain’t exactly like you tried to help him remember who he was.”

“I-“

“If you’re lookin’ for sympathy look elsewhere ‘cause I ain’t got none for you, Reyes.” Cole snapped.

Cole reached for a cigarillo and lit it. He placed it in his mouth and inhaled deeply, savoring the feeling of the burning sensation on the back of his throat. He exhaled, blowing smoke out into the open air.

“I don’t want your sympathy, you idiot.” Gabriel growled. “I didn’t want your dumbass to be alone right now.”

Cole’s eyes slid dangerously to the side, locking onto the other male, “I’d rather be alone than be with you. You ain’t exactly my favorite person these days.”

“And you think you’re mine?”

“Shoot, I know Genji’s your favorite person.” Cole couldn’t help but chuckle, even though it sounded sad. “I’ve always known he was your favorite.”

“Commanders don’t pick favorites.”

“Now that’s a bold faced lie if I ever did hear one.” Cole threw his head back and laughed. “Genji’s been your favorite since the day he threatened to cut off your limbs and stick them on his sword like a kabob.”

“I liked how he threatened me.” Gabriel smiled, sounding smug.

“One time he told me he’d slit my throat and smoke weed with my windpipe.” Cole released a love filled sigh. “I knew he was the one after that.”

“You’ve got issues, mijo.”

Cole’s breath hitched and Gabriel stiffened when his mind finally caught up to what had just slipped from his lips. It had been years since Gabriel called Cole mijo and he was certain that the cowboy felt like he could go the rest of his life not being called that. All it took was one moment together that they had been deprived of for Gabriel to fall back into his old ways.

Gabriel shook his head, realizing that he had been falling back into his old ways ever since Genji was forced back into his life. Whether he knew it or not, Genji had been slowly breaking down his walls, brick by brick with careful metal hands. It seemed that Genji had torn down enough of his walls for a cherished name for Cole to slide through.

“Forget I-“

“Ain’t been called that in a while.” Cole took another drag from his cigarillo. He held it tightly between his fingers as he exhaled. “Can’t tell if I should punch you or hug you for callin’ me that.”

“I’ll punch you if you try to hug me.” Gabriel picked his answer for him.

“Fair enough.”

The two males remained in a surprisingly comfortable silence as Cole finished off his cigarillo. Gabriel found himself relaxing as he sat on the edge of the roof with Cole, enjoying both the presence of the cowboy and the combined sound of waves and deep inhales and exhales.

While Cole’s smoking and the crashing waves didn’t make a symphony like Genji could, the combination made a lovely melody, one that he hadn’t heard in years and never thought he’d be blessed with again.

He could see the tension in Cole’s shoulders start to ease, as if he was starting to feel safe around him. Gabriel couldn’t help but smile under his mask at the sight, at Cole inadvertently letting him know he felt secure with him there.

Gabriel wondered if Cole had been up here working on calming down and he had ruined that. He knew that Cole shouldn’t have been alone with his thoughts but he believed he had done his time. He gave Cole someone to talk to, and maybe someone to get his anger out on. He had done his part and he believed that maybe it was time to leave him alone now.

Gabriel broke the silence, “I need to report back to Jack about my time with Genji.”

He made an attempt to get up but he stopped when he felt a large hand grab his wrist, preventing him from making his escape. Gabriel said nothing but allowed Cole to keep him sitting beside him.

“How was he?” Cole didn’t look at him, nor did he loosen his grip.

Gabriel released a heavy sigh, “Not good but not bad either. I messed up.”

“What do you mean?”

“I snapped at him and that was something I promised I’d never do with him.” Gabriel shook his head, disappointed in himself for the way he handled things with Genji. “I’m not the one he needs.”

Cole let go of Gabriel as he chuckled, amused, “You’re the one he needs right now, whether I like it or not.”

“He needs someone who’s patient and that’s not me.” Gabriel stated. “He’s lost and confused right now but he needs Overwatch, whether he wants to believe it or not.”

Cole put out his cigarillo on the roof, twisting it around as he replied, “Bet he wasn’t too pleased you been lyin’ to him.”

“He wasn’t.” Gabriel muttered. “I’m surprised he didn’t threaten to use my intestines as a jump rope.”

“Then maybe he ain’t as lost as you say he is.” Cole hummed, a smile gracing his face.

“He needs someone patient to guide him.” Gabriel looked at the other male, referencing to him. “Someone who can take his threats and laugh them off.”

“Where do you reckon we’ll find someone like that?” Cole asked, honestly.

Gabriel silently resisted the urge to wrap his hands around Cole’s neck and strangle him for his comment. For as smart as Cole was, Gabriel thought he could be an oblivious fuck sometimes.

“I was talking about you, idiot.”

“I was hopin’ you’d sweet talk me some more.” Cole snickered, earning a smack to the back of the head. Cole glared at Gabriel and fixed his hat. “Hurts more now than it did in Blackwatch.”

“Good.”

Cole’s smile faded from his face, becoming serious, “Do you think we’re gonna get our Genji back?”

Gabriel bit his tongue when it wanted to immediately say that they’re definitely going to get their Genji back. There was no telling if they’d ever get their Genji back because there was no way of knowing if all his memories were going to return.

Gabriel wanted more than anything to believe that the Genji he knew would be returned to him but he couldn’t, not when he was locked in a holding cell like a beast waiting for Overwatch to enter so he could spit insults and threats at them.

“I don’t know.” Gabriel answered. “But he’s strong, always has been. If anyone can come back from something like this it’s him.”

“You’re sayin’ you’ve got hope?”

“It’s all I’ve got.” Gabriel shrugged. “It’ll have to be enough for now.”

“I hope we can bring him back.” Cole looked down at his hands. Tears stung at his eyes but he blinked them away. “Because without him my life means nothing.”

Gabriel nodded in agreement, “I can only see the world and its beauty when I’m with him.”

“The world’s beautiful because he’s in it.”

“You were always a hopeless romantic.” Gabriel shook his head, his chest rumbling as he attempted to chuckle.

“I’m soft down on him, commander.” Cole let the past Blackwatch title slip with a smile on his face. “That ain’t ever gonna change.”

Gabriel wasn’t being called papi but he had to admit that hearing commander from Cole’s lips felt pretty damn good. He felt like he was reconnecting with Cole and that was the one silver lining in this whole shit show that everyone was in.

Gabriel groaned to himself, hating to admit that this entire mess also brought Genji back into his life. The peaceful Genji must have rubbed off on him before the brainwashing procedure because he was starting to find the positives in the worst of situations.

“You should talk to him.”

“When?” Cole furrowed his brow. “You mean now?”

“No, tomorrow.” Gabriel replied, sarcasm dripping in each word. Gabriel rolled his eyes, “Yes, now, dumbass!”

Cole bit his lip, feeling small, “What if he ain’t want to see me? I mean, I’m the bad guy in his mind.”

“Then prove that you’re not.”

“How do you reckon I do that?” Cole asked.

“Just be yourself, mijo, and he’ll come back to you in time.” Gabriel clasped his shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

Gabriel was half expecting Cole to shake his hand off his shoulder, but he didn’t. Instead, Cole seemed to release a content sigh, as if this was a moment he had been waiting years for. Gabriel smiled, maybe he had also been waiting a long time for a moment like this, the moment they started to find their way back to each other.

Cole nodded, more so to himself, before he broke out of Gabriel’s touch so he could push himself onto his feet. He gazed upon the view in front of him, silently making it a goal to stare at the setting sun of Gibraltar with Genji again.

“Got any tips for me, boss?” Cole turned to head back inside, knowing Gabriel could tell he was grinning.

“Get him to trust you.” There was the hint of a smile in Gabriel’s voice. “When he takes his helmet off around you that’s when you’ll know he trusts you.”

“Thank you kindly.”

Cole left Gabriel on the roof, allowing the older male to have a moment with his thoughts. Cole was surprised when he felt a sense of giddiness wash over him. With each step he took he was moving closer to seeing Genji again.

Even if Genji didn’t remember him or the love they shared, Cole couldn’t deny that it felt good knowing that he’d be able to be in his presence again. While it hurt to know Genji would be searching for ways to start fights, it didn’t faze him as much as he thought it would.

At the end of the day, any conversation with Genji would make him happy after going days with only his thoughts to keep him company. He’d rather stare lovingly at a red visor than stare at a picture of him on their nightstand. He’d rather know Genji was alive in front of him than go another day wondering if he was dead.

Cole took a deep breath to calm himself as he stood before the doors to the med bay. He tried to give himself a pep talk, reminding him that if he could make Blackwatch Genji fall in love with him then he could do the same with brainwashed Talon Genji.

Cole nodded and opened the door, making sure he greeted Genji with a warm smile and a tip of his hat like a true Southern gentleman. He took note of the way Genji was sitting on the ground with his back against the wall and his arms wrapped around his knees.

“Howdy, honey bee.”

“They sent in the cowboy.” Genji looked up, glaring at the other male under his visor. “I know who you are.”

“Oh yeah?” Cole chuckled, pulling a cigarillo out of a compartment on his belt. He whipped out a lighter and ignited the cigarillo, bringing it to his lips. “What’s my name then, sweet thing?”

“Jesse McCree.”

Cole took a deep drag on the cigarillo, mimicking a heavy sigh. He slowly blew the smoke out of his mouth, some of it managing to collide with the blue holographic-looking wall.

“That ain’t my name anymore, sweetheart.” Cole shook his head. “Guess you don’t know me like you thought you did, huh?”

Genji’s fingers tightened on his arms as he hissed, “All that mattered to me was knowing how to kill you.”

“Killed me real good, didn’t you, sugar?” Cole found himself laughing again, despite feeling the venom in Genji’s words. “Been so long I almost forgot how pretty you are, even when you’re threatenin’ me.”

“What…” Genji felt all the anger leaving his body, which confused him yet he realized nothing was more puzzling than the cowboy before him. “Are you mocking me, cowboy?”

Cole held his hands up as if to say don’t shoot, “I’m just sayin’, did you have to be so beautiful all the time, angel?”

Genji seemed to cave in on himself, struggling to bite back, “How unfortunate that my supposed beauty cannot kill you.”

“You wound me, darlin’.”

“A pity.” Genji huffed, not feeling sorry for Cole at all. He looked away from the cowboy, “If your name is not Jesse McCree then what is it?”

“Curious about this Southern gentleman now, are we?” Cole bit down on the cigarillo and grinned.

Genji scoffed, “I merely wish to know the name of the cowboy whom I will terminate once I find a way out of here.”

“That’s the thing, sweetheart.” Cole inhaled and blew smoke out once more. He smirked, “You already know my name.”

“I do not-“

“Yeah, you do. You remember me, don’t you?” The cowboy stood up from his seat and padded over to the wall, his spurs clicking along the way. “That’s why you didn’t kill me the other day, isn’t it?”

“That was a malfunction.” Genji returned defensively. “Let me out and you will see that it will not happen again.”

“You know that ain’t gonna happen.” Cole chided, wagging a finger at Genji. “At least, not until you agree to dance with me.”

Genji shifted his attention to the cowboy, asking in disbelief, “You would let me out if I agreed to dance with you?”

Cole crossed an X over his chest, “I’m a man of my word, darlin’, and if you dance with me I’ll let you out.”

“You are joking.” Genji cocked an eyebrow, unamused. “I would rather remain in this cell than dance with the likes of you.”

“What? You think I can’t dance?” Cole grinned, a challenge.

“With big feet like yours I doubt you could.” Genji teased, attempting to clip the wings of the butterflies trying to fly around in his stomach. “Especially when you wear those… monstrosities on your feet.”

“Monstrosities? You mean my spurs?” Cole lifted a foot up and inspected the shoe. “I think they’re real darlin’, don’t you?”

“Darlin’?” Genji repeated slowly, uncertain. He shook his head, shuddering, “I thought that was a term of endearment. How can a shoe be darlin’? Especially those.”

Cole’s foot stomped on the floor as he laughed, “It’s still funnier than all get out when you try to use my words, sugar!”

“You are an unusual jailor.”

Cole’s laughter died down so he could question, “Jailor? Who said I was your jailor?”

“Is that not why you are here?” Genji tilted his head in confusion. “What other reason could you have to be here?”

“I was just thinkin’ you’d want some company.” Cole replied, honestly. “But if you’d rather be alone I’ll mosey on out of here.”

“You would leave if I asked you to?” Genji asked, genuinely shocked to know he had the tiniest bit of power in his current situation.

“Well, sure.”

“Why?”

“Why do you think?” Cole scratched his head with his free hand, puzzled by Genji’s questions. He answered as if it was so simple, “Because I respect you.”

“Even after I attempted to kill you?” Genji crawled over to the wall and sat cross legged in front of it. “And after I ridiculed your lack of fashion sense?”

“Couldn’t kill me even if you tried.” Cole smiled yet Genji could tell it wasn’t smug, rather it was honest and soft.

Cole tipped his hat, grinning, “And everyone’s entitled to their own opinions about my fashion sense, even though their opinion’s dead wrong.”

Genji couldn’t help but chuckle, “You are in denial, cowboy.”

“And you’re dead wrong.” Cole felt his heart melting at the way they seemed to fall so easily into playful banter like they did in Blackwatch. Cole winked, “But I can ignore that because you’re pretty.”

Genji snorted, “You would not compliment me if you knew what I looked like beneath my face plate.”

“I bet you I would.”

“You look like the kind of man to lose bets.” Genji retorted playfully. “Gambling, much like subtly, does not suit you.”

“And how would you know?” Cole cocked an eyebrow.

Genji moved his head down, casting his eyes on his metal hands. In all honesty, he didn’t know how he knew but he did. He didn’t know the cowboy in front of him but for some reason he didn’t feel like a stranger or his enemy. He didn’t understand why the cowboy felt like a home he had never been to yet somehow never left.

“I do not have to explain myself to the likes of you.” Genji folded his arms in front of his chest in an effort to create a barrier meant to keep Cole out.

“You know what I think, darlin’?” Cole let his cigarillo burn out before he flicked it into the trash.

“I did not ask you what you think.”

“I think you ain’t as mean as you’re tryin’ to come off.” Cole leaned in and smiled, getting closer to Genji’s eye level.

Genji huffed, seeming to pout like a child, “Gabriel insisted that I play nice with whoever comes in.”

“You think you’re playin’ nice with me?” Cole quirked an eyebrow, amused.

“I am engaging you in conversation.” Genji’s pout seemed to intensify, causing Cole to chuckle. “I am playing nice, am I not?”

“You threatened to kill me earlier and made fun of my spurs.” Cole shook his head, his smile still plastered on his face. “Now that don’t seem very nice now does it, sweetheart?”

“But I didn’t kill you.” Genji stated, as if he was proving a point.

Cole couldn’t help but laugh, “That’s because you can’t kill me while you’re holed up in that little ole cell, sweet thing!”

Genji threw himself backwards, releasing an exaggerated groan, “You are an insufferable cowboy.”

The cyborg looked up at Cole and asked, “If you are meant to keep me company then make yourself useful and appease me.”

“Make myself useful and appease you?” Cole parroted before he barked another laugh. “You’re a bossy little thing, ain’t you?”

“I’m waiting.”

“Ain’t my presence entertainin’ enough?” Cole grinned. “If you wanted me gone you would’ve told me to hit the road by now.”

Genji let his head fall back against the floor in defeat, missing how Cole fist pumped into the air to celebrate his victory. Cole wished he had a notepad on hand so he could keep track of his wins with Genji but he knew if he did that then he’d earn another smack to the back of the head from Gabriel.

Truth be told, Genji didn’t understand why he hadn’t told Cole to leave by now. He admitted that the man was insufferable, but there was something oddly charming about him. He had a warm and calming aura, one that he did not expect to find in someone from the traitorous organization Overwatch.

Genji wanted to believe that Cole had come in to torment him or interrogate him, but he couldn’t, especially not when the cowboy didn’t try to intimidate him or get information. True to his word, Cole was merely here to keep him company and that contradicted with Overwatch being evil like he had been taught in Talon.

“How do you want me to entertain you, sweetheart?” Cole’s Southern drawl broke Genji out of his thoughts.

“Tell me a story, cowboy.”

“Tell you a story?” Cole chuckled in disbelief. He shook his head and gave in, “Alright then, I’ll tell you a story. Once upon a time-“

“No.”

“No? What do you mean no?” Cole found himself laughing again.

It was Genji’s turn to shake his head, “All stories that have a happy ending start with once upon a time. I do not wish to be told such an unrealistic story.”

“Darlin’, are you tellin’ me you don’t believe in happy endings?” Cole asked, curious.

“I believe in happy endings but they do not always come to everyone.” Genji moved his hands so he could intertwine his fingers in his lap. “Look at me. Do you think I am going to have a happy ending looking like Frankenstein’s monster?”

“Well, not if you keep that negative view of yourself.” Cole returned as quick as his draw. Cole sighed, his voice softening, “You’re just as capable of havin’ a happy endin’ as anyone else.”

“You really believe that.” It was a statement, not a question.

“I sure do, angel.”

“You are full of surprises, cowboy.” Cole could picture the gentle smile gracing Genji’s features behind his helmet. “Now, surprise me with a realistic story.”

“Still so damn bossy!”

Cole thought for a moment, considering his options of what stories he could tell Genji that were realistic. He hated to admit that Genji had a point that most stories that began with once upon a time had a happy ending, but the story itself was not always realistic or gave hope that the same could happen to other people.

Cole couldn’t see something like Cinderella having a fairy godmother, meeting a prince at a ball, and finding true love by fitting a foot into a glass slipper happening to Genji. He couldn’t see something like Belle with meeting a beast and falling in love with him only to have him become a man happening to Genji.

Genji didn’t need to be told a fairytale to know some stories were just genuinely unrealistic. He wasn’t like Moana sailing across those dangerous waters to save her home and to urge her people to take to the seas together. He wasn’t like Mirabel trying to save a family miracle and bring magic back into the lives of her loved ones.

That’s when it hit him.

If Genji was searching for a story that was realistic and personal to him then Cole should tell him about a mission they both went on. A mission was a like a story to Cole in the sense that there were characters going on an adventure. The interesting thing about missions were that you didn’t always get a happy ending, and that’s what Genji was looking for.

“I’ve got a story for you. It’s a real good one, too!” A smile stretched across Cole’s face. “It’s more like a memory of mine but it makes a good story. You wanna hear it, sugar?”

“Does this memory have a happy ending?”

“Well, no… not really.” Cole answered.

“Then I would very much like to hear it.”

Cole’s smile widened as he watched Genji lean in, letting him know that he was interested in hearing what he had to say. Cole grabbed a chair and brought it close to the wall. He parked himself in the chair and made sure he was comfortable.

He began, “Years ago, I did some bad things and got roped into workin’ for a black ops team called Blackwatch. You ever heard of it, sweet thing?”

Genji shook his head. Cole continued to smile, not letting it phase him that Genji didn’t recall the team that he had been a part of before he joined Overwatch.

Cole continued, not missing a beat, “Blackwatch played by its own rules, often times doin’ the dirty work that people don’t like to speak on like huntin’ down a man named Antonio for crimes he committed.”

The cyborg listened intently as Cole carried on, “We all knew he was responsible for attackin’ good people and rumor had it he’d be well protected.”

“What was your mission, cowboy?”

“Our mission was to drop in and get him out so he could face the music.” Cole sighed, shaking his head. “At least that’s how it was supposed to go.”

“Our mission? Who was on this team of yours?” Genji questioned, and Cole could’ve sworn he saw the gears working in the cyborg’s mind.

“We had a few members including myself, Reyes, and Moira.” Cole left out the part that Genji was part of the team, hoping that as he told their story his memories would come back.

“You worked with Gabriel and Moira?” Genji sounded surprised.

Cole nodded, “That I did, though workin’ with the witch always made me sick.”

Genji’s shoulders shook as he chuckled, “Gabriel referred to her as the witch to me, as well. You two are much alike, it seems.”

“Yeah, I guess we are.” Cole smiled at the thought.

He returned to his story, telling Genji all about how he and his team fought their way through the building, taking out as many guards as they could. He told Genji about how Gabriel had his back and how Moira would heal them on the spot if they ever took a hit that they couldn’t walk off.

He was using explosive hand gestures and even creating sound effects to make the story livelier, trying to make Genji feel like he was there because he was. He even went the extra mile to change his voice for Gabriel and Moira when he remembered conversations that the three of them shared.

He hoped that making a fool out of himself like this was helping Genji to remember their failed Blackwatch mission. He couldn’t help but feel like he was doing something right every time he saw Genji nodding his head in encouragement or gasping at the animated way he moved and told the story.

Cole was easing into the team’s descent into Antonio’s office. He remembered the conversation Gabriel had with Antonio like the mission happened yesterday. He recalled how they made it all the way to Antonio just to find out that taking him in wouldn’t do any good, seeing as how he had friends in high and low places who could get him out that week.

“Then what did you do?”

“I did nothin’ but Reyes on the other hand…” Cole huffed, still harboring resentment for how the mission was handled after all these years. “Well, he-“

“He shot Antonio.”

Cole paused, feeling both shocked and elated that Genji seemed to remember what happened next. Cole watched as Genji raised one of his hands to rub at the left side of his head, an attempt to numb the pain that was seeping all over.

“Yeah, Reyes shot him.” Cole had to resist the urge to smile or shoot his gun to celebrate another victory. Instead, he remained calm and asked, “How’d you know that?”

Genji brought his other hand to his head, holding it firm. Cole waited patiently for Genji to gather his thoughts, understanding how painful it must be to try to claw a memory back. He understood how hard it must have been for Genji to make sense of the images flashing across his mind.

“I do not understand…” Genji whimpered, his voice sounding like he was in agony. “Why do I feel like I was there?”

“Do you think you were there?”

Genji looked up at the cowboy, “Everything you said sounded so familiar and then… I thought I saw something.”

Cole gently encouraged, “You can talk to me, darlin’. What do you think you saw?”

“I saw you.”

“Saw me lookin’ handsome?” Cole wiggled his eyebrows, grinning.

“Insufferable cowboy.” Genji shook his head, his voice sounding fond. Genji released one of his hands from his head, sighing, “I saw you but you did not look as old as you do now.”

“Hey! I’ve aged like fine wine!”

“You had less facial hair back then.” Genji hummed, causing Cole to smile. He continued, “I saw you fighting these strange guards… Gabriel and Moira were there dressed in attire similar to you.”

“What do you make of that?” Cole questioned, encouraging Genji to make sense of what he saw.

“It… it feels familiar… I feel like I was there with you that night.” Genji brought his hands to his face and shook his head. “It feels like a memory but that does not make sense considering you are supposed to be the enemy.”

“Then maybe I’m not your enemy.”

Genji said nothing in return. Instead, they sat in a comfortable silence together. Genji was thinking over everything and trying to make sense of the memory that came back and the thoughts that tried to tell him that Cole was right.

Cole wasn’t his enemy like Talon said he was.

Genji didn’t want to believe that Gabriel was right about Talon brainwashing and deceiving him, making him out to be someone he was never destined to be. He didn’t want to believe Gabriel but he was finding it difficult to hold onto his resolve, especially when his fragmented mind collected missing pieces.

Cole gave Genji the time he needed and he didn’t know just how much the cyborg appreciated that. When Genji felt like Cole deserved it, he would have to tell the cowboy he appreciated his patience.

“Gabriel…” Genji started, pausing to collect his thoughts.

“Yeah?”

“He… he told me that you loved me.” Genji could not meet Cole’s gaze, feeling a shyness he hadn’t experienced before. “Is that true?”

“Loved you?” Cole chuckled, fondly. “Honey bee, I ain’t ever stopped loving you. I’ve been in love with you since I first laid eyes on you.”

“Even now do you love me?”

“You say that like who you are now ain’t someone worthy of bein’ loved.” Cole could only shake his head, feeling sorry for the cyborg.

Not wanting to overstay his welcome or push Genji too far, Cole tipped his hat to the cyborg and stated that it was time for him to get some training done. He stood up from his chair and smiled at the other male.

Genji’s shoulders seemed to sag at the news but Cole just figured it was from being tired, not because he was going to miss his presence.

“Oh, and for the record…” Genji’s head lifted and his entire body seemed to perk up at the sound of the cowboy’s voice. “I love you now, too… bossiness and all!”

“Insufferable cowboy.” Genji laughed.

“There are not many who can sneak up on me.”

Hanzo emerged from the darkness and turned on the light, making the quiet request to Athena to keep them dimmed. He grabbed a chair and brought it towards the holding cell so he could sit in front of his brother.

Genji sat up from his bed and threw himself out of it, marching over to the wall so he could look at the archer. Genji grit his teeth, hating the way he felt at ease being in Hanzo’s presence despite knowing he was in the same room as the man who murdered him in cold blood.

“Why have you come here?” Genji hissed, his red lights shining bright in the darkness. “Have you come to finish what you started all those years ago?”

“No, I have no intention of causing you any harm.” Hanzo’s eyes lowered to his feet. He sighed, “I merely came to ensure that if you woke up in the night that you would not be alone.”

“And you thought if I woke up in the night I would want to see your face?” Genji sneered. “How could I find comfort in looking at the brother who killed me?”

Genji clawed at the wall, glaring daggers beneath his face plate, “Even now you torture me without the need for your blade.”

Hanzo remained silent, soaking in Genji’s anger like a sponge, like he deserved it. He missed seeing the consequences his actions had on Genji. He missed the years of Genji’s life where he was furious with him for following the elders blindly and cutting down his little brother.

He missed the years of Genji living in agony, knowing that his beloved older brother had taken his life and given him an entirely new one, one that he didn’t ask for.

Hanzo missed the years of Genji getting through life because he was fueled by vengeance. He missed feeling the hell bound fury that seemed to radiate off of Genji, making everyone around him shiver at the mere sensation of his negative energy.

He couldn’t help but feel like he deserved this, that he deserved to feel this hatred that Genji had for him. He missed out on feeling this hatred years ago when Genji was in Blackwatch. He missed out on experiencing the anger and jumped right into the peace Genji found, but now he was getting the chance to witness his brother at his lowest.

“Do you wish to mock me by using your bow and arrows?” Genji asked, venom laced with each word. He hit a metal fist against the wall, “You do not think that I am worth your blade anymore?”

“No, that is not it.” Hanzo shook his head.

Genji’s hands balled into fists, ready to smash against the wall again, “You were formidable with a sword, I will give you that. I am disappointed to see that I will not be able to cut you down in a fair fight now.”

Hanzo’s eyes widened, but he was certain that Genji didn’t catch it. Genji called him formidable with a sword, despite never mentioning that he used to be an experienced swordsman. That could only mean that a memory had come back to Genji. He had remembered Hanzo fought valiantly with a sword, but what he didn’t understand was why he stopped using that weapon.

“You wish to know why I stopped using my blades.” It was a statement rather than a question, and they both knew it.

“You limit yourself with a bow and arrow.”

“I swore never to wield a blade again.” Hanzo stared directly at Genji, specifically where he assumed his eyes were behind the visor. “Not after what I did to you.”

Genji had the audacity to laugh, “Do not tell me that you feel bad about what you have done to me, anija!”

“Genji-“

“You looked into my eyes as you cut my right arm from my body.” Genji’s right fist crashed against the wall. He growled, “And you felt no remorse when you sliced my legs off of my body as I laid in a pool of my own blood!”

As much as it pained Hanzo to hear about his actions from Genji’s point of view, he had to appreciate that his little brother’s memories were coming back to him. He didn’t know if Genji’s memory of that night had already returned to him or if he was reliving it again right now as he stared at the man who slayed him.

Genji’s helmet was pressed against the wall as he snarled, “And then you left me there for dead!”

“Tell me, who came for you when I retreated?” Hanzo asked, testing how much of the memory came back.

“Why do you ask such a question?” Genji retorted, irritated.

Hanzo cocked an eyebrow, taunting, “Why can you not answer such a question?”

“You were never this playful when we were boys.” Genji huffed, feeling some of his anger beginning to fade.

“You remember when we were boys?” Hanzo let a small smile slide onto his face.

“I wish I didn’t.”

And just like that Genji had jabbed at Hanzo, his words feeling sharper than any blade that cut through the elder Shimada. Yet, Hanzo was pleased to know that some of their childhood memories refused to disappear without a fight.

“Who came for you when I left?” Hanzo pried, hoping to hear that Overwatch rescued him.

Genji hissed, but Hanzo could tell that it wasn’t at him. It sounded more like a hiss in pain, as if he was straining to remember who came for him but only wound up hurting himself because he was trying to force the memory to come back rather than allowing it to come back naturally.

As much as it hurt Hanzo to see Genji struggling like this, he found a sliver of positivity in this moment. If Genji truly believed that Talon had saved him that night then he would’ve said it, but instead he tried to recall the memory.

Genji could’ve been trying to access the memory so he could answer with confidence that Talon saved him. Yet, he could have also been trying to comb through his memories until he found that night so he could discover the truth, to know if what Gabriel had told him was accurate.

Hanzo instantly rose to his feet the second he saw Genji fall backwards, both hands clutching his head. Hanzo placed his hands on the wall as he gazed upon his little brother. He wished that he could enter the holding cell so he could gather Genji into his arms, but he knew he’d be dead if he did that.

Deciding that he would rather have death come for him later, he remained outside the holding cell. As much as Genji felt like Hanzo being there with him was torture, the elder Shimada felt like it was torture to see his little brother suffering and to want to help but knowing it would do more harm than good.

“Otouto, are you alright?” Hanzo asked, his eyes wide with concern. “Genji, what is happening?”

“Do not… do not act like you care, anija.” Genji winced but Hanzo didn’t know if it was from the pain or from the Japanese that fell off his tongue so easily. “I do not want your pity.”

“I do not pity you, you stubborn dragon.” Genji froze as his brother reprimanded him like when they were boys. Hanzo’s voice was stern, “I am worried about you so tell me what is wrong.”

Genji didn’t speak, nor did he move. Hanzo wondered if he had been too harsh with Genji, or that maybe he overstepped his boundary with the cyborg.

“I do not remember.” Genji whispered, defeated.

“What are you-“

“I do not remember who saved me that night.”

Hanzo took a deep breath to steady himself. He hoped that he hadn’t pushed Genji too far tonight, as that was not his intention. All he wanted was to have a moment with his brother and to support him if he needed someone during the night.

Hanzo felt tears prick at his eyes as he thought about how Genji was there, a crumpled mess on the floor of a holding cell, but he wasn’t the Genji he knew anymore. This Genji reminded him of himself before he earned his brother’s forgiveness. It was like he was staring in a mirror when he looked at Genji and that broke his heart.

Unable to bear seeing his past self when he looked at Genji, he silently tried to make his leave. He wished he could be the one that Genji needed right now but maybe what he really needed was to be alone to think things over. Hanzo tried to convince himself that it was better for Genji for him to leave, but he knew he was being selfish.

“Hanzo.”

“Yes?” Hanzo froze in his tracks. He fought with himself to turn around to look at Genji. “What is it?”

“Let me ask you something.” Genji’s head slowly rose, locking eyes with Hanzo without the older male realizing it. He asked softly, “Do you hate me?”

“I should be the one asking you that, otouto.” Hanzo found himself smiling but it soon washed away from his face. “You are the one who has not forgiven me for what I have done to you.”

He knew that Genji had forgiven him a while ago, but this Genji didn’t forgive him. This Genji would have to choose whether he walked down a lighter path towards healing or a darker one that led to the same despair that Hanzo felt. This Genji could choose to heal and forgive like he had before or he could pick the more self-destructive road.

It wasn’t up to Hanzo to push Genji down either of the paths. Whatever road he went down was because it was his own choice, not someone else’s.

“But do you hate me?”

“I hate what I did to you when I was blinded by my loyalty to our elders.” Hanzo felt a heaviness in his chest as he shifted his attention to the door to leave. “But I could never hate you, otouto.”

“If you do not hate me…” Genji paused, placing his little metal hands on the wall as if he didn’t want Hanzo to leave. His voice was small, almost desperate to understand their current relationship, “What is it that you feel for me?”

The door slid open and Hanzo knew he could take the easy way out by leaving Genji hanging, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to rest if he did that, especially when Genji was trying to hold onto him for reasons he did not understand.

Instead of choosing the easier path, Hanzo chose the one that would make him look over his shoulder and give his brother the last answer he was expecting in his current state.

“I love you more than anything in this life.”

Chapter Text

Get a load of this trainwreck,

His hair's a mess and he doesn't know who he is yet.

But little do we know,

The stars welcome him with open arms.

One month.

That was how long Genji remained in his holding cell in Overwatch’s base. That was how long members of Overwatch came to the med bay to keep him company, to help him remember his life before Talon corrupted him.

Everyone was pleased with the progress Genji had made, but they couldn’t help but feel like he would’ve been back to how they remembered him if they had Zenyatta’s help.

After contacting Zenyatta they found that he wouldn’t be able to come to the watchpoint for a little while due to being on a spiritual journey with his brother in an attempt to save humanity. Overwatch found that they would rather have Zenyatta try to work with Ramattra first and then come to Genji after.

One month had gone by and none of the members of Overwatch were able to get Genji to remove his helmet. They were hopeful that within a month he would start to trust them but Genji seemed to still be cautious around them, despite none of them ever threatening harm on him in any way.

Gabriel was the only person Genji would remove his helmet for but even that took time after revealing Talon’s deception, as well as his own lies. Yet, it seemed that Genji had a soft spot for Gabriel, one that existed before their time in Talon.

Lucio spent his time with Genji either listening to music or making new beats to his songs together. At first, Genji thought Lucio’s music was far too loud and he wasn’t afraid to say that, but over time he began feeling comfortable enough to recommend more bass or a twelfth electric guitar because eleven weren’t enough.

Genji would never say it out loud, but he loved the times when he and Lucio would sit back to back against the holographic-looking wall and listen to acoustic songs. Neither of them would say anything, but they didn’t seem to mind if the humming that echoed in the room from both males said anything.

Reinhardt was someone Genji had difficulty warming up to because he seemed to shout instead of speak, but he soon learned it was because he was easily excited like a puppy. Genji found himself slowly enjoying the times Reinhardt told his war stories and when the older male would ask to learn Japanese.

Genji had only recently opened up to Reinhardt but the older male was simply happy that the cyborg’s red lights didn’t flare as soon as he entered the room anymore. Now, Genji looked up at him and gave a meek wave with the request to hear something new from his glory days.

Hana was immediately intimidated by Genji, which surprised her since she was usually able to combat insults with pettiness. She found that she struggled to clap back when she knew Genji would be able to back up his threats, he would be able to kill her if he got out.

It took time but eventually she built up the confidence to ignore his hostility with the help of her games. She focused on her games and less on his words and over time Genji became interested in what she was playing. She felt a sense of pride when Genji was able to play some of the games without her having to explain them, proving that his memories were coming back.

Brigitte was someone Genji didn’t mind from the start. She had a confident yet cheerful aura surrounding her that Genji couldn’t help but admire in someone so young. She wasn’t afraid to sit down on the floor and talk to Genji like they were old friends reuniting after years of being apart.

Genji enjoyed hearing about her training routine and even gave advice on how to improve her technique and to get the most out of her workouts. Each time she implemented his changes she was eager to report back to him and how she felt like she was getting stronger. Genji would smile under his face plate every time and he had a feeling she knew.

Winston was either unphased or oblivious to Genji’s anger towards him because no matter what the cyborg said to him he just carried on with talking about the latest research he was doing or a book he started reading.

Eventually, Genji relented and even requested that Winston bring in his book so he could read it aloud to him. Over the month, Genji had even opened up to Winston about some recipes that involved peanut butter. Winston had heard about these recipes before from Genji but he still accepted them like it was the first time he heard about them.

Jack was the most uncomfortable for Genji to be around for some time. Jack made Genji feel like he was a disappointed father, and it brought back memories of Sojiro expressing displeasure with him. Genji would attempt to be aggressive when speaking to Jack to try to make him leave, but it always made him feel a heaviness in his chest for reasons he did not understand.

When the heaviness became too much to bear, he tried to remain silent. It wasn’t until Jack broke down and started crying that Genji realized that maybe he wasn’t the only one experiencing the same heaviness. Genji surprised himself when he comforted Jack, and he was amazed when it led to both of them opening up to each other, reminding him of the bond he shared with Gabriel.

Angela was heartbroken when the first thing Genji said to her when she entered the med bay was you did this to me. Genji might have been angry with his cybernetics in the beginning but he never directed that rage at her. Instead, he was frustrated but always grateful to her because he knew that the cybernetics meant he was alive.

Angela always needed a pep talk from her teammates before she went in to see Genji. She needed to be supported and to be reminded that Genji was going to try to say anything to hurt her but deep down he’s scared and he needs her. She would sit at her computer and tell Genji all about her studies and over time she learned to accept that any conversation they had was going to be started by him.

Lena had no idea how much her presence effected Genji for the better. Lena had a way of lighting up a room just by stepping into it and Genji had fallen victim to the sunshine and rainbows that seemed to follow her where ever she went. Genji fought against the happiness that Lena brought with her, but he was easily defeated.

When Lena came in, his body language immediately went from slumped and closed off to relaxed and eager. Lena was one of the only ones who made Genji feel like he had known her his entire life and that was extremely helpful when it came to recalling his memories, especially the ones they shared together.

It was no surprise to anyone when Genji threatened Hanzo’s life on the daily, even a month later. Genji always greeted Hanzo with a death threat but after a few weeks he eased into small talk and now they were beginning to test the waters of deep conversations of their past and present, as well as the cyborg saying anija with intent instead of it slipping out and regretting it after.

Hanzo was making baby steps and while it was hard to appreciate the improvement when he was by himself, it was easier to see it when he had Overwatch reminding him that any movement forward was still progress and deserved to be celebrated.

Cole was proud of his current relationship with Genji. He felt like they cruised through being strangers, strolled through friendship, and they were now tip toeing that line of becoming more than friends. Genji soon realized that there was no way to defend himself against Cole’s quick wit, his playful personality, or his endless pet names he used on him. Instead of trying to keep fighting a losing battle, Genji raised his white flag and surrendered to the cowboy.

The gunslinger knew that he was making headway with Genji when he would ask him to dance every day. He would greet Genji and then move into asking him to dance, which always resulted in a decline of the offer. He noticed improvements when Genji went from saying kindly fuck off to hard pass to not a chance to no, thank you to not really until finally he received  not today, cowboy.

Cole’s only issues were that Genji still didn’t have any recollection of his name or their relationship. Genji was remembering their days together in Blackwatch, but there were always holes in his memories, and the holes were always in their relationship.

Genji had to admit that the people of Overwatch were starting to grow on him. He started off hating their existence with his entire being because of what Talon had drilled into him, but over time he was starting to see them in a different light.

Without Talon there to constantly pit him against Overwatch, he was able to think freely and to make his own conclusions about Overwatch and its members. He had seen them rush to go on missions and then Lucio or Angela would tend to anyone who got hurt, often forgetting Genji was there and openly discussing the damage Talon caused to one of Overwatch’s members.

Genji’s heart ached when Talon was mentioned. From what he could overhear, Talon was continuing with attacks on Overwatch’s other bases or buildings that aided them. Despite Talon being active, their intentions never made Genji feel like they were attacking Overwatch in order to find him.

Talon’s missions were more like strikes on Overwatch in order to make sure they didn’t have the means to fight back or help themselves medically. Never once did Genji feel like Talon was looking for him, and that hurt to know he didn’t mean as much to them as he thought he did.

Genji was broken out of his thoughts when Lena zipped into the room. He was about to greet her with an enthusiastic wave but he stopped when he saw tears pouring down her face.

“Lena?” Genji tried to get her attention but he felt conflicted. He had never seen her distraught like this and he wondered if he was the right one for her to run to. “I… what is going on?”

“Oh, Genji… I’m sorry I just…” Lena chuckled, wet and coated with sadness. She wore a sad smile, one that Genji didn’t think belonged on her face. “I’m so used to running to you when things get a little dicey… I didn’t mean to intrude on your alone time, love. I’ll just-“

“I can… I can help.” Genji sounded unsure but Lena decided to leave it be. The cyborg approached the holographic-looking wall and placed a metal hand against it. “I would like to help, if you feel comfortable sharing your burden with me.”

“You… you want to help?” Lena asked in disbelief.

“If you would let me.”

Lena felt fresh tears streaming down her face, but this time they were because she was elated. She used to go to Genji whenever she needed someone to talk to and her feet moved of their own accord, finding the cyborg like he was the finish line in a race. She was happy to know that even in Genji’s current state he wanted to support her, to be her best friend.

“I’d really like that, love.”

Genji sat down and motioned for Lena to do the same, “I… good, I am glad that I can lend a hand… or, well, an ear in this case.”

This Genji was shaky, almost like he was walking on eggshells because he was worried about saying the wrong thing. This Genji didn’t have the confidence that the one Lena knew had, but this Genji was trying his best and that’s all she could ever ask for.

She followed Genji’s silent instruction and grabbed a chair. She brought it over to the wall and sat down in front of Genji. Lena was a little higher than Genji but neither of them seemed to mind the height difference much.

“What is troubling you, Lena?”

“It’s relationship stuff…” Lena sniffed. “Things are a bit complicated between Emily and I these days.”

“Was today the tipping point?” He asked.

“Yeah, you could say that, love. I guess my job’s finally pushed her too far.” Lena sagged back in the chair, sighing.

“She worries about you.” Genji stated softly, causing Lena’s eyebrows to raise. “She has always worried for your safety.”

Lena’s smile widened as another memory seemed to come back to Genji. She remembered how Emily seemed to gravitate towards Genji whenever she was granted access to the base. Lena never knew the conversations they had in private, but it seemed that they had discussed her and their relationship.

Lena decided to go with it, “I wish she wouldn’t worry so much. I’ve told her plenty of times that I’ve got everything under control.”

“If she did not worry then that would mean she does not care for you.” Genji tilted his head. “Would you prefer she not care?”

“Well, I didn’t say that, love!” Lena shook her head, chuckling.

“I’m just saying.” Genji shrugged, a playfulness in his tone that Lena loved. He grew more serious as he questioned, “How did your conversation with her end?”

“She said…” Lena choked back a sob. “She thinks we’d be better off taking a break for the time being.”

Genji sighed, asking “Do you think you two would be better off as strangers who pass on the streets?”

Lena vigorously shook her head, “Of course not! We’re better together than we are apart!”

“Have you shown her that lately?”

“Shown her?” Lena furrowed her brow. “What do you mean?”

Genji twiddled his thumbs in his lap, his voice soft, “Have you flown out to King’s Row to visit her as of late? Have you mailed her chocolates or a card to let her know you are thinking of her?”

Lena wanted to be happy that Genji knew the details of her relationship with Emily. She wanted to be happy that Genji remembered that Emily resided in King’s Row for the time being and that there was nothing she loved more than little acts of love like a card to let her know she’s being thought of.

She wanted to be happy for Genji, but all she could think about was how she had forgotten to do such simple acts to make Emily feel appreciated. She had put work ahead of her relationship and that was something she promised herself she wouldn’t do.

“I…” Lena bit her lip. “I haven’t done much of that lately.”

“She is not only worried about you but she is concerned that there is no place for her in your life as long as work remains your priority.” Genji determined, wishing that he could hold Lena’s hand to provide comfort.

“I knew she was scared that she could lose me…” Lena felt tears pricking at her eyes once more. She whimpered, “But I never thought that I could lose her.”

“It is not too late to change your course.” Genji pressed his hands on the wall, leaning in. “Changing the past will not help you now so focus on changing your future with Emily.”

“What do I do, Genji?”

“Go to her.” He smiled under his face plate as she nodded along with his words. “You are wasting time right now that could be spent showing her you love her.”

“Right!”

Genji chuckled as Lena bolted out of the room in a flash of blue. He felt light, as if being there for Lena was something he had always done and always took pride in doing. He had to admit that it felt good to make Lena smile again and to provide support in the form of a friend instead of a prisoner.

His hands slid from the wall and fell back into his lap. He looked down at his hands and sighed, a feeling of loneliness washing over him like waves crashing against the shore. He realized he never felt so alone until one of the members of Overwatch left him.

“One more thing!”

Genji would’ve flinched in surprise if he was a poor ninja. He looked up to see Lena smiling brightly at him.

She hugged the wall, whispering, “Thank you for being my best friend, Genji. I’d be lost without you.”

“Lena…” Genji couldn’t find it in him to feel stupid for returning the embrace against the wall. He smiled, “Your existence is a gift.”

“Thank you, love.” She pulled away with a smile.

Genji slipped back into his seated position on the floor. He shook his head at her but she could tell it was a motion of endearment.

“Fly safely, Lena.” Genji hummed. “I’ll be here waiting for you.”

Lena had heard those words before. The last time Genji said that to her he wasn’t there waiting for her. A stray tear made its journey down her face as she smiled at him, hoping that this time he’d be there when she came back for him.

“You better be.”

“Good morning, Genji.”

“Hello, Doctor Ziegler.”

This was the first time Genji returned her greeting so Angela couldn’t help but smile. Genji had been with them for almost two months at this point, confined within the holding cell. One time Angela had asked Genji if he would like to get out and move around but he refused.

She wondered if he felt more comfortable in his holding cell, knowing that he would always have a space for himself to have peace and quiet. She considered asking him about his choice to isolate himself when given the opportunity to move and grow accustomed to life in Overwatch, but she decided against it because she knew she wasn’t the one who could have conversations like that with him.

That was a conversation for someone like Lena or Cole, not her. Lena and Cole had by far the best relationships with Genji and she knew that she was at the lower end of the totem pole with Hanzo.

She couldn’t blame him for not trusting her, considering the web of lies Talon had tossed his way. She knew that Talon painted her out to be the bad guy, the one who turned Genji into a cyborg against his will.

Angela didn’t know what else she could do to make Genji believe that she wasn’t the person that Talon made her out to be. She could say she’s the one who saved him until she was blue in the face but it wouldn’t mean anything if Genji didn’t believe her.

“Doctor Ziegler.” Genji’s voice brought Angela out of her thoughts. She pulled herself out of her computer so she could face him as he spoke, “You are a very experienced doctor, are you not?”

Not sensing any malice in his voice, she answered with a smile, “Yes, I have much experience as a doctor.”

He nodded before asking another question, “And you are quite knowledgeable in cybernetics and designing them, correct?”

“That is correct.” She knit her eyebrows together in confusion, struggling to grasp what he was trying to get at. “Is there an issue with your cybernetics that you would like me to take a look at? With your permission I would like to help.”

“No, there is no issue.”

She nodded in return. She figured he must have been asking those questions to learn more about her and her knowledge as a doctor. The two of them sat in a slightly uncomfortable silence for a few minutes before Angela decided that if he had nothing else to say then she should continue with her studies.

Just as she was going to resume her work Genji questioned, “You are quite familiar with my cybernetic body, right?”

“I would say so, yes.” She tilted her head in confusion. “Is there something you’d like me to do for you, Genji?”

“You would do something for me?” Genji shook his head, chuckling softly. “Even though I have not been kind to you?”

“I understand why you’re wary of me, Genji, and I don’t hold that against you.” She wore a gentle smile on her face, one that Genji felt undeserving of. “I’d feel the same way about me if I were you.”

“You would?” Genji sounded genuinely surprised.

“I would, and I think anyone else would if they were in your shoes.” She stood up from her chair and walked over to the holding cell. “I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you, Genji. I hope you know that.”

Genji avoided her kind eyes.

In these past two months Angela never came across as the unethical doctor that Moira made her out to be. Angela never tried to experiment on him when she came to him at night nor did she ever force him into conversations whether they were about how he was doing or how his cybernetics worked.

Angela gave him the respect and compassion he never thought he would see from her. Two months of analyzing Angela and recalling memories with her was all he needed to see to know that everything Talon tried to convince him of didn’t add up. This could only mean one thing.

Talon and Moira lied to him.

If Talon and Moira lied to him about Angela then maybe everything else Gabriel had told him was true. If his memories were anything to go by then he had his answer, Gabriel was telling the truth.

Angela’s eyes widened when she saw Genji reach his hands to the back of his head, pressing on the parts that would remove his helmet. He took a deep breath as he dragged his face plate away and held it in his hands.

Angela never thought that she would be the first one to see Genji without his helmet on but she wasn’t complaining. She felt tears stinging at her eyes as Genji’s coffee brown orbs stared back into hers. She had seen Genji’s scarred face many times before but after two long months of going without it she had almost forgotten how happy and carefree he looked when he smiled.

“I know that you would not do anything to hurt me, Angela.” Genji closed his eyes, smiling brighter than the sun. “You saved my life, after all.”

She couldn’t help but sink to her knees, clasping her hand over her mouth to muffle her sobs. Genji’s eyes were as wide as saucers, genuinely concerned for Angela. He dropped his helmet in favor of falling to his knees and placing his hands against the wall, desperately trying to be as close to her as he could.

“Angela? Are you alright?” His worried tone only made her sob louder. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing… nothing’s wrong, Genji.” Slowly, she averted her gaze from the ground and found Genji’s eyes. Despite tears streaming down her face, she was smiling. “I’m just… so happy.”

“You… you are sure you’re happy?” Genji sounded cautious.

“I’m happy because you remember me…” She crawled closer to the wall and placed her hands where his resided. “Don’t you?”

“I remember a kind smile, gentle hands, and your voice promising to save me.” He leaned in, placing his forehead against the wall. “I wish I could remember more but I am grateful for what has come back to me.”

“Me too, Genji.”

Finally, the silence they sat in was a comfortable one. They stayed there, pressed against the wall in an attempt to be as close to each other as possible. This still wasn’t the Genji that Angela remembered but he was pretty damn close to it.

Eventually, Angela quietly complained about her body not being comfortable on the ground for too long, which provoked a laugh from the cyborg.

“Are you ever going to tell me what you’d like me to do for you?” Angela crossed her arms, an all-knowing smile on her face.

“If it is not too much to ask…” Genji seemed to gulp, nervousness radiating off of him without his knowing. “Would you… would you be able to change the colors of my synthetic skin and armor?”

“You don’t like the black, grey, and red?”

“Those colors were never my choice nor do they feel like me.” Genji confessed.

“How about light brown for your synthetic skin, silver for your armor, and green for the lights?” She suggested, seeing if he would remember his previous appearance.

“No, that does not feel like me, either.”

“That’s alright.” She unfolded her arms and sent him a reassuring smile. “I’d be happy to change the colors of everything so that you feel like yourself again.”

“Will… will the cowboy still like me if I changed my colors?” There was a deep blush spreading across Genji’s face, as if he was a combination of anxious and embarrassed.

She was surprised by such a question. She knew that Cole was madly in love with Genji, even now, but what she didn’t know was that the cyborg was harboring a deep crush on the cowboy.

She knew that they were flirting with each other, but they had been like that even before their Blackwatch relationship. She had no idea that Genji was reciprocating Cole’s feelings and that he was starting to fall for him.

Angela smiled, thinking that it was absolutely precious that Genji was acting shy when it came to Cole. Genji was typically quite bashful when it came to their relationship but he was never nervous or worried about what Cole would think or say of him. The Genji she knew was confident in Cole’s feelings for him, but this one was a little apprehensive.

“I know that cowboy very well and I know that he doesn’t care about what color your synthetic skin or armor is.” She hummed. She poked at the wall right above Genji’s chest, “He just wants you to be happy.”

“Really?”

“Hasn’t he told you that happiness looks good on you?” She groaned when Genji giggled and shook his head. She huffed, playfully, “I’m going to have to teach that man how to treat you right!”

“Show him no mercy.”

She covered her mouth with her hand to try to stifle her laughter, but it flowed out of her far too fast and far too easily. Genji’s laughter was softer than hers, but she had always loved the sound of their laughter together, making one unique melody that no one could ever replicate.

Angela never thought that she would have a moment like this, nor did she think she would ever have her Genji back. She still didn’t have her Genji, but it felt good as hell to see his face and to laugh with him again.

“Now, what colors do you want?”

“Genji would like to see you, Cole.”

“Oh, he would, would he?” Cole had a shit eating grin on his face, one that provoked Angela to playfully swat at him. “You been hoardin’ him all day, Angie! You two must be finally gettin’ along.”

“We are.” A smile tugged at her face but then dwindled into a softer one. “He was with me for so long because he asked for me to perform a procedure on him.”

“Procedure?” Cole’s eyes widened, worry swimming in those whiskey colored eyes. “Is everythin’ alright? Is he hurt or-“

She placed a hand on his arm to calm him, “Genji is fine. The procedure was nothing life threatening, it was more so… cosmetic updates, I suppose.”

“Cosmetic updates?”

It was safe to say that Cole had no idea what she was referring to. Immediately, Cole thought about makeup when she mentioned cosmetics but he knew that wasn’t right. Cole shoved the thought of Angela giving Genji’s face plate a makeover out of his head.

“It’s getting late.” She looked out the window to watch the setting sun. “If you’re going to see him then you should do it now.”

“Will do, Angie.”

With a tip of his hat to thank Angela, he made his way to the med bay to see Genji. Cole never really felt like his days began until he saw Genji and today was no different.

He wondered what this cosmetic update Angela performed on Genji was. Endless possibilities floated around in Cole’s head from Genji requesting treatment to the scars on his face or to having Angela completely remove and repair both arms so that they could no longer turn into machine guns.

Cole nearly bumped into the door to the med bay, considering he was so lost in his thoughts. He shook his head and chuckled, leave it to Genji to make him overthink and almost walk into a door.

Cole could have never been prepared for what he saw when he opened the door. First of all, Genji wasn’t in his holding cell anymore. Instead, he was standing a few feet away from the door with his right hand nervously rubbing up and down his left elbow.

Second of all, Genji didn’t look like he did yesterday. Today, Genji’s synthetic skin was a light grey, his armor was white, and his lights were blue. He didn’t look like the Genji he saw yesterday, nor did he look like the Genji he used to know.

“So, what do you think, cowboy?”

“Boy howdy, you sure are gorgeous, darlin’.” Cole whistled, causing Genji to become a flustered mess in front of him. Cole couldn’t stop himself from gushing, “Damn, you sure are as pretty as a peach, pretty as a picture, the prettiest damn thing I ever did see.”

“You are too sweet, cowboy.” Genji avoided his gaze at all costs, a sign that he was far too flustered at Cole’s compliments. “And far too honest for your own good.”

“Honestly, I ain’t ever seen anyone as beautiful as you.”

“You must stop saying such things.” Genji squeaked.

“Ain’t no way in hell I could stop, not when you look that good all the time.” Cole resisted the urge to walk forward and run his hands all over his newly colored body. “Jeez, you’re somethin’ to see, angel.”

“I was nervous, at first.”

“Huh?” Cole scratched his head, visibly confused.

Genji finally found the courage to look at Cole, “I did not know if you would still be interested in me if I changed my colors.”

“You could be all the colors of the rainbow and I’d still think you’re breathtakin’, sweetheart.” Cole stated as if it was so simple, because it was.

Genji hummed, making a mental note to tell Angela that she was right. It seemed that she really did know Cole well, considering she knew that he wouldn’t give a damn what colors he wore because the cowboy would always find him attractive. It wasn’t about the colors, it was just about him and who he was.

“Don’t you have something to ask me, cowboy?” Genji asked, impatient yet playful.

“Somethin’ to ask you?” Cole squinted, as if he was trying to find the answer on Genji’s face plate. His eyes widened, like a lightbulb went off above his head. “I sure do have somethin’ to ask you, honey bee.”

Cole stepped forward and bowed, holding out his hand with a wide grin, “Genji… darlin’, would you do this cowboy the honor of dancin’ with me tonight?”

Cole had done this same song and dance with Genji for the past two months so he already knew the answer. Even with Genji’s new colors and his freedom from the holding cell he knew that there was no way in hell that he would say-

“Yes.”

“I know you ain’t wanna dance with me but-wait…” Cole’s eyes widened, realization dawning upon him. He felt Genji take his hand, bringing him back down to earth like he was the gravity that kept his feet on the ground. “What did you just say, sweet thing?”

“Yes, I will dance with you, cowboy.”

“You ain’t pullin’ my leg, are you?” A smile slowly etched itself onto Cole’s face. “You really wanna dance with this Southern gentleman tonight?”

“Is this not what you wanted?” Genji tilted his head, playfully taunting the older male. “You have me right where you want me yet you are in disbelief?”

Cole chuckled, “Darlin’ you’ve turned me down for two months so pardon me if I need a moment to grasp that you want to dance with me now.”

“Perhaps I should have taken Jack up on his offer to dance if you are going to keep me waiting.” Genji snickered.

“Morrison asked you to dance?!” Cole gawked. “That no good, lyin’, two faced son of a-“

“Insufferable cowboy.” Genji laughed, and it sounded so light and airy, so happy. Cole found himself swooning, falling for Genji all over again. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Ridiculously in love with you, Genji.”

Genji gasped, remembering a time when they said those same words to each other. He squeezed Cole’s hand, hoping that the cowboy understood the silent message he was trying to convey. Cole returned the gesture, letting Genji know that he understood.

“Shall we be off, cowboy?”

“We shall.”

Cole paraded Genji through the halls like they were on a runway and his best side was whichever side the cyborg was on. He would tip his hat to agents who passed them by, a cocky grin on his face when he saw some of them look Genji over once or twice but sigh when they realized he was spoken for by a smooth talking cowboy.

Genji released Cole’s hand in favor of clinging onto his arm, attempting to melt into his side. He couldn’t help but feel like this was natural, like this was where he was meant to be. He let out a love-filled sigh, staring at Cole like he was the one who didn’t just put the stars in the sky but hung the entire galaxy.

Genji was far too focused on Cole to notice the members of Overwatch making cat calls at him or suggestive comments at both of them. He tuned out the members who cheered for Cole or threatened him to be good to him. All that mattered to him was Cole and spending this perfect evening with him.

“After you, sweetheart.”

“Truly you are a Southern gentleman.” Genji hummed, patting Cole’s scruffy cheek before entering the aerobics room.

Genji was pleased to find the aerobics room empty. He admired the setting sun in the floor to ceiling windows. He walked towards the windows, his eyes watering at the sight of the colors of orange and pink shining and dancing on the crashing waves below. He had been in that holding cell so long he had almost forgotten how beautiful the world outside those four walls was.

He could hear Cole’s shuffling feet behind him, causing him to turn around. He looked around, noticing that the room had light colored hardwood floors and a wall of mirrors. He could see yoga mats organized on a rack near the door but he knew that they wouldn’t be using those tonight.

Cole was fiddling with his phone, cursing at it when it didn’t connect to the Bluetooth speakers in the room. Genji giggled, finding it rather endearing how perfect Cole was trying to make everything for their evening together.

It seemed like Cole had figured out the music situation, if his fist pump into the air and his whoop were anything to say about it. Genji shook his head with a smile, unable to stop himself from falling deeper for the cowboy.

Cole tucked his phone into his pocket and made his way over to Genji. He was about to ask if he could touch the cyborg when Genji surprised him.

“Please, give me a moment before we begin.”

“What are you…”

Cole’s words died down in his throat as he watched Genji raise his hands to the back of his head to remove his helmet. Cole could hear the familiar sound of hissing as air pressure was reduced and the clicking of soft spots that only he, Angela, and Genji knew about.

“Now, you ain’t gotta do all that for-“

“I want to.” Genji interrupted with a soft voice, like a delicate finger being placed on Cole’s lips to politely silence him.

It had been two long months since Cole had been blessed with the sight of Genji’s face. He felt his heart thumping in his chest, reminding him of how enamored he was when he first saw Genji.

His eyes followed each scar like a treasure map until he found the diamonds that he called Genji’s eyes. Genji’s warm chocolate eyes seemed to sparkle and shine like stars in the night sky, nearly making Cole have to catch his breath.

Cole smiled as he reached his hands to carefully cradle Genji’s face. Genji seemed to lean into the touch, closing his eyes and melting into the flesh and metal hands that held him like he was something precious. Cole had almost forgotten how smooth Genji’s porcelain skin was, despite the scars adding a few grooves here and there depending on how deep they were.

He traced a few scars with his flesh hand, chasing one that cut through Genji’s left eyebrow. He smoothed his thumb over the broken eyebrow, smiling at how Genji seemed to giggle at the action. Cole moved his hands back to Genji’s cheeks and resisted the urge to kiss him senseless.

“You’re beautiful, Genji… so damn beautiful.”

“Thank you, cowboy.” Genji was glowing, making the sunset pale in comparison to him. “Now, shall we dance?”

“Follow my lead until you remember the steps.”

Genji was going to ask what Cole meant by that but he was rendered speechless by the cowboy taking his face plate and tossing it to the side so he could place a hand on his hip. Genji blushed at the large metal hand on his hip and it only intensified when Cole’s flesh hand found his left one.

With an encouraging smile from the cowboy, Genji raised his free hand to rest on Cole’s shoulder. Cole seemed to beam at the action, making Genji feel like that was the right thing to do.

“Athena, play our song, will you?”

Genji was about to ask what their song was but a guitar began to echo through the room. He didn’t understand why that song felt so familiar to him nor did he understand why his body began to move in time with Cole, swaying back and forth together in perfect sync.

Georgia…

Genji felt like something out of a fifties movie with the way they swayed together slowly, like he was the one that Cole bravely walked across the ballroom for just to ask him to dance. Genji felt secure with Cole’s metal hand on his hip and he felt at ease with a flesh hand warming up his.

He didn’t understand how he knew where to move. He had heard of something like this happening before to people who lost their memories or hadn’t done something in a while. Their mind might be foggy on if or when they did something but their body remembered for them without missing a beat, muscle memory.

If this was muscle memory then Genji wondered just how many times he and Cole had listened to this same song and repeated the same dance. Genji didn’t have the answer, but he wouldn’t mind dancing to their song many more times in the future.

Genji made a surprised noise when the chorus came on and their movements picked up the pace. They weren’t moving inherently fast, but it was enough for Genji to realize that swaying wasn’t going to cut it.

Instead, they both fell into a rhythm of moving once to the right and once to the left, reciting the movements until they were dancing around the room. Genji found himself smiling when Cole twirled him around as the chorus neared its end.

Cole spun Genji towards him and dipped him low, fighting the urge to place a kiss to his neck like he had done so many times before. He wanted to kiss Genji with every fiber of his being but he knew that he couldn’t.

If they were to ever kiss it was going to be because Genji wanted it, not him. This had to be Genji’s choice and he didn’t want to deter him from whatever path he was walking.

Cole easily lifted Genji back up and they resumed their swaying, their bodies pressed against each other closer than before. Cole smiled down at Genji, his heart pounding at the sight of pure adoration swimming in those chocolate orbs.

Feeling courageous, Genji dared to lean his head against Cole’s chest, smiling when he heard the wild heart beating in his chest. While Genji thought that the woman singing right now was lovely, she couldn’t compare to the sound of Cole’s heartbeat.

Genji felt tears stinging at his eyes when Cole whispered lyrics of the song into his hair, “I would rather die than let you go.”

“Juliet to your Romeo.” The lyrics slipped past Genji’s lips before he could stop them, causing Cole to gasp.

They stumbled into the chorus, both of them laughing as they attempted to move in time with the music again. Their eyes were locked as they danced, refusing to tear themselves away from one another, just as inseparable as they’ve always been.

As the music played and they continued to dance, Genji couldn’t help but feel like he was falling hard for the cowboy. He didn’t even know this man’s name and here he was falling for him like he would do it again in every life after this one no matter who they were. If he could fall for a man whose name he didn’t know then he felt like what they had was true love, something that fairytales only dreamed of capturing.

As the chorus returned to them, Cole began to sing the lyrics under his breath while Genji hummed along. Cole had to blink tears back at the thought of Genji remembering their song and their dance. He couldn’t help but feel like he was one step closer towards Genji remembering him.

“Are you ready, darlin’?”

“Ready for-“

Genji yelped in surprise when Cole moved his hands so he was carrying the cyborg bridal style. Genji’s hands moved on their own, one wrapping around Cole’s shoulders and the other gracefully extended while the cowboy spun them around. Genji threw his head back and kicked out one of his legs, and that must have been the right thing to do because it made Cole’s smile widen.

Carefully, always carefully when it came to Genji, Cole placed him back on his feet. As the guitar played the last few notes, Cole’s hands found their home on Genji’s hips and cool metal hands moved with purpose, finding the cowboy’s sun kissed cheeks and some of his beard.

The song was done but neither of them commented on the matter. Instead, they were far too concerned with staring into each other’s eyes, chocolate colored ones gazing lovingly into whiskey orbs.

Cole was fighting back every instinct that was screaming at him to kiss Genji. Instead, he focused on the way Genji’s eyes seemed to be glistening with unshed tears. He was about to ask what was wrong until he felt a pair of warm lips on his own, ones that he hadn’t felt in two months.

Genji had kissed him.

Their lips slotted together like puzzle pieces, moving to a different kind of dance. Cole immediately shut his eyes, contently sighing into the kiss. Genji’s eyes slowly fluttered until they closed, feeling an overwhelming wave of love washing over him and bringing him back home.

Love wasn’t the only thing that came to him, as his memories seemed to flash before his eyes like an old timey movie. These memories came back to him slowly and then all at once.

He remembered his childhood with Hanzo, always chasing after him and wanting to walk by his side forever. He could remember how Hanzo was forced to kill him, and how he let his brother win so he wouldn’t dishonor the clan.

Genji recalled how Overwatch came to his aid and how he had allowed Angela do whatever she needed to in order to save his life. He remembered those exhausting and frustrating months he spent with Angela learning how to walk and adjust to his life as a cyborg.

He remembered how angry he was when he joined Blackwatch and how he would snap at the first person who looked at him too long. He recalled the blood that covered his metal body after each mission, some of which belonged to him and some was from his enemies that he cut down.

He reminisced on the late nights he shared with Gabriel and their trusty bottle of whiskey. He could feel the love in those memories, the ones where they held each other and expressed how much they meant to one another.

Genji remembered all the times he pushed Cole away, only for the cowboy to bounce right back to him. He recalled how much he made Cole chase him and how it felt amazing that night he finally let go and shared a kiss with the cowboy underneath a sea of stars.

Genji remembered how Blackwatch fell and how he went with Overwatch to try to make something of his new life. He remembered the upgrades to his body, ones that led to his remaining flesh arm to be removed and replaced because he had been too careless on a mission.

He was reminded of Gabriel encouraging him to leave with Cole when Overwatch fell apart, and he remembered the way he listened. Cole stole him away and the two of them travelled all around the world together.

He remembered how their travels led them to the Shambali monastery where he encountered Zenyatta. It was there that he found peace with his body and with his past. It was once he healed that he made the decision to find Hanzo, thus allowing Cole to have the time to tighten any loose ends with the Deadlock gang.

Genji was reminded of his meeting with Hanzo and how they battled one another just like they had ten years ago. He recalled how he had the opportunity to kill Hanzo but instead he chose peace. He chose to forgive Hanzo and to offer him the chance of a lifetime at a new life, one that included his little brother.

Genji remembered accepting the recall and journeying across the world to Gibraltar with Hanzo at his side. It was there that he was reunited with not only Cole, but with everyone he couldn’t appreciate when he was in Blackwatch because he was far too angry.

An almost unbearable amount of love was consuming him as he remembered the way it felt to be in Cole’s arms after being apart for so long. He felt his heart pounding as he remembered how it felt to be loved by Cole, by the one person who never stopped looking at him like he was someone special, like he was someone worthy of being loved.

Slowly they pulled away, but it was Cole’s voice that brought him out of his thoughts, “Genji… darlin’, is everything alright?”

Genji hadn’t realized that he was crying until he blinked a few times like he was coming out of a trance. He could feel the tears all over his face, often not knowing where to travel once they reached a harsh scar so they dispersed and went everywhere.

Genji didn’t know where to begin. He had so much he wanted to say but there were only two words he could utter.

“Cole Cassidy.”

Cole’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped. Cole wasn’t a man one could typically render speechless but he couldn’t find the words after Genji said his name. He went two months thinking he’d never hear his name falling from Genji’s lips but now that moment happened and he didn’t know what to do with this information.

“That’s me.” Was Cole’s intelligent response.

“My Cole Cassidy.” Genji smiled, one that was fond and too pretty for words in the cowboy’s opinion. “I have been gone a long time but thank you for not giving up on me.”

“Darlin’… do you remember me?” Cole asked carefully, trying not to get his hopes up in case only his name returned to him.

“I was lost for two months but you helped me find my way back.” Genji’s thumbs were smoothing circles on Cole’s cheeks. “You found me, Cole.”

Cole couldn’t help himself.

He wrapped his arms around Genji’s waist and held him as close as possible, savoring the feeling of having his lover this close to him. He felt hot tears streaming down his face as he peppered kisses all over Genji’s face, muttering sweet nothings and pet names in between each kiss.

Genji found himself laughing through his tears, soaking in all the love that Cole had to give him like they were rays of sunshine. Genji had felt so alone for so long but he didn’t feel that way now, not when he had a lovesick cowboy showering him in more love and affection than he felt like he deserved.

Eventually, Cole rested Genji back on his feet, giving his lover a sheepish smile for his actions. Genji shook his head with a smile as both of them fretted over the other and wiped their tears away with their thumbs.

“I’ve missed you somethin’ fierce, sweet thing.” Cole held Genji’s face in his large hands like he was glass, like he could forget him in the blink of an eye.

“I have missed you.” Genji felt like he could’ve melted under Cole’s gaze, and it just made him smile wider. “Do you know what the best part of this mess was?”

“I’d like to hear what you think was good about all this.” Cole huffed, a mixture of playful and curious.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Genji closed his eyes and smiled. “I got to fall in love with you all over again.”

And just like that Cole was crying again. He was smiling, nodding his head because he hadn’t truly grasped that he was making Genji fall for him all over again. He knew that’s what he was doing, but it hit different when Genji said it.

Once Genji kissed the tears away, Cole was able to find his words, “Is it just me you remember?”

“I remember everything and everyone.” Genji answered. He thought for a moment, his eyes nearly bulging out of his head, “Hanzo! I need to find him and let him know that I harbor no feelings of hatred for him and-“

“Woah! Hold your horses, darlin’!” Cole placed a finger on Genji’s lips to silence him. Genji’s mind was moving a mile a minute and Cole needed him to relax. “Take a deep breath with me, okay? We’ll get you to your brother, don’t you worry.”

“And papi! I have to-“

“You still call him papi?”

“Cole, he has done so much for me these past two months.” Genji’s eyes began to water at the thought of the sacrifices Gabriel made for him, as well as the love he gave to him. “I think he has earned the right to be papi again.”

“Well-“

“I need to find him!”

Cole cursed under his breath when Genji bolted out of his arms in a flash of blue, leaving his face plate behind. Cole snatched the face plate and began running out of the room to try to catch up to Genji.

Genji was running through the halls searching for familiar faces but all he found were agents who were far too new to even know who he was. None of these faces were ones that he was looking for.

“Papi!”

As if all it took was a yell of that name, Gabriel appeared behind Genji in a puff of black smoke. Genji skidded to a halt and slowly turned around, an attempt at calming his nerves so he could speak to the other male.

“Genji, what’s wrong?” Gabriel quickly began closing the distance, worry present in his tone that made Genji’s heart swell. “Where’s your face plate? What are you doing running-“

“I have missed you, papi.”

Gabriel froze in his tracks, whispering in disbelief, “Mijo? Is that you?”

Genji smiled and nodded, tears falling down his face once more. Gabriel barely had time to steady himself as Genji raced towards him and jumped into his arms. Genji draped his arms around Gabriel’s shoulders and gripped the black clothing tight while his legs wrapped around his middle.

Gabriel quickly grabbed a hold of Genji, securing the bundle in his arms. Genji buried his face in the crook of Gabriel’s neck and nuzzled him, dampening his clothes and whatever skin was there.

Gabriel squeezed the cyborg, his voice wet, “It’s good to have you back, mijo.”

“You stayed.”

“Only for you.” Gabriel chuckled, ignoring the tears pouring down his face. He repeated, softer, “Only for you.”

Genji slowly removed himself from Gabriel’s neck, asking, “Will you stay with me forever, papi? I cannot lose you again.”

“I’m not joining Overwatch.” Gabriel rolled his eyes. He sighed, a smile present in his voice, “But I’ll stay for you if you need me, kid.”

“I will always need you, papi.” Genji pressed his forehead against Gabriel’s mask, attempting to look into his eyes the best he could. “Thank you for caring for me… you have saved my life once again.”

“I’ve got you, kid.”

They would’ve stayed in their moment forever if they could, but the sound of footsteps coming towards them broke them out of it. Gabriel reluctantly released Genji from his arms but kept a hand firmly on his hip, ready to keep him safe if the situation called for it.

Gabriel’s grip loosened when he saw that Cole brought Hanzo with him, only telling the elder Shimada that Genji needed him and nothing more. Genji would have to tell Cole not to be so vague later.

Hanzo was genuinely shocked when he looked at Genji and could not only he see his little brother’s face, but there was no hatred in his eyes. Genji didn’t look at him and see the man who murdered him years ago. Instead, Genji looked at him and saw his beloved anija, his favorite person.

“Kon'nichiwa, anija.” Gabriel patted Genji’s hip, urging him to go to his brother. Genji’s smile was nearly blinding, and it was directed at his brother, “Watashi wa ima hontōni hōyō o tsukau koto ga dekimashita.*”

Hanzo’s arms spread out wide, “Anata wa sudeni watashi no ude ga anata no tame ni aiteiru koto o shitte imasu.*”

Genji was beaming as he sprinted to his brother. Before Genji launched himself at his brother, he could see a smile tugging at Hanzo’s face. Hanzo caught him without a problem, quickly encasing Genji in his arms like he was trying to become a cocoon of safety and love.

Hanzo shoved his face in the crook of Genji’s neck, pressing kiss upon kiss to each cable he could find and any metal he could get his lips on. He never thought he would be able to be this close to Genji again so he made sure he was making the most of this moment in case this was his mind playing a dirty trick on him.

Genji moved his head back to give his brother more access, knowing that Hanzo needed this physical affirmation more than him. Hanzo’s affection was frantic yet sincere, as if he was worried that this moment and Genji could be taken from him in seconds.

“I am not going anywhere, anija.” Genji chuckled, nuzzling his face against Hanzo’s cheek.

“I thought I lost you again.” Hanzo lamented. “I just got you back and then-“

“It is okay, anija, I came back to you again.” Genji placed a gentle kiss to Hanzo’s forehead. Their foreheads clicked together like magnets. “I’m sorry you experienced much hatred from me. Even in the state I was in, I would have forgiven you eventually.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because I had you this time.” Genji answered, as if it was so simple. “The peace I needed to achieve could not be done without you.”

Genji giggled, making a sound Hanzo hadn’t heard in months, “And couldn’t you tell I was being nicer to you lately?”

“Yesterday you told me you were going to pull out my small intestine and strangle me with it.” Hanzo deadpanned, utterly unamused.

“I didn’t say I would use my sword, though.” Genji pointed at him, an eyebrow raised as if he was trying to prove his point. “That was rather nice of me.”

“How is pulling out my intestines any better?” Hanzo furrowed his brow. “If anything, you have made my death more personal by ripping out my intestines and strangling me with them.”

“You should be grateful I never followed through on my threats.” Genji huffed, a playful look in his eyes.

“You were in a holding cell!”

Hanzo and Genji locked eyes, and for a moment Gabriel and Cole thought that they were going to brawl and they were going to see the cyborg’s threats come to life. Gabriel and Cole reached for their guns, waiting to see which Shimada would make the first move.

Instead of a battle ensuing, Hanzo and Genji burst into laughter. Genji’s laugh was loud and carefree while Hanzo’s was subtle and low, as if he was providing backing vocals to his little brother.

Gabriel smiled under his mask at the sight, feeling like everything was finally falling back into place in not only Genji’s life, but his own, as well.

Gabriel felt a hand on his shoulder and he fought back the urge to point his shotgun at them. This hand was small and didn’t apply too much pressure, leading him to believe that this was Lena.

“Genji?” Lena’s voice sounded wet, as if she was on the verge of crying. She sounded hopeful, “Have you come back to me, love?”

Hanzo gently placed Genji back on his feet, smiling freely as his little brother turned to face his best friend. Genji’s smile was a mile wide when he looked at Lena, at one of the first people to look at him and just see him.

In the blink of an eye, the two friends dashed towards each other in a flash of blue on both sides. Genji’s arms were wrapped around Lena’s shoulders while she stuffed her face into his chest and snaked her arms around his waist.

She was sobbing at this point, finally letting the tears fall after two months of trying to be strong for Genji. She had cried for Emily but she hadn’t cried for Genji yet, and she had to admit it felt good to get all of these heavy emotions out.

Genji began humming and stroking the back of Lena’s head, his fingers carding through luscious brunette locks. Genji might need his cybernetics to function and Lena might need her device on her chest to stay in this plane, but they would always need each other in a way that was deeper, more intimate.

“Next time, I’m bringing you with me.” Lena laughed, her voice sounding watery. “I don’t care if we both go down. You can’t leave me like that again.”

“I won’t. I will be at your side, always.” He moved Lena so he could hold her face, swiping away the tears that fell.

“You better be.”

Gabriel and Cole stood beside each other as the rest of Overwatch flooded to their location, each of them just as shocked as the last to see Genji without his face plate and with a dazzling smile etched onto his face.

Their eyes softened at the sight of Genji and Angela embracing, savoring the feeling of being in each other’s arms. Jack had sprinted towards them and picked Genji up, lifting him off the floor and nearly crushing him in a hug. Gabriel’s heart warmed at the sight of Jack holding Genji, a protectiveness and possessiveness that he hadn’t seen from the other male in some time.

They smiled as Reinhardt nearly squeezed the life out of Genji, causing Brigette to come to the cyborg’s aid, only for him to be wrapped in her equally as overwhelming embrace. Genji could only laugh, feeling more like he was at home the more his family came to him.

Lucio skated towards Genji and quickly scooped him up, spinning him around at speeds that were dizzying for anyone watching, making them wonder how it was for the cyborg. When Genji was released from Lucio’s embrace he nearly fell to the ground, but Hana was there to not only save him but to welcome him into her arms.

Gabriel and Cole felt their hearts thumping at the sight of Hana crying in Genji’s chest, no doubt whimpering about how scared she was that she was never going to see him again. Genji placed a kiss on her head and whispered a promise to never leave her without her player two ever again.

Winston was there to place a large hand on his shoulder. Winston seemed hesitant until Genji turned around and fell into him. Genji shook his head at Winston’s awkwardness, insisting that he would have to tell a periodic table joke if he didn’t return the hug. With a delightful laugh, Winston finally draped his arms around Genji and drew him in.

It was while Genji was reuniting with his family that Cole heard Athena giving a notification overhead. He couldn’t hear what she said since everyone was laughing and crying but he figured it wasn’t an emergency, otherwise the alarm would’ve been going off.

“You said Genji needed my assistance.”

Cole nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard a metallic sounding voice coming from beside him. Gabriel shook his head, muttering that Cole would’ve made a shitty ninja.

“You’re late, monk.” Gabriel commented, a smirk in his voice. “Could’ve used your help these past two months.”

“I have settled things with my brother and came to the base as soon as possible to aid one of my brightest pupils.” Zenyatta stated. He hummed, wishing he could smile at the sight before him, “But I see that he no longer requires my aid.”

Zenyatta placed a cool hand on Cole’s arm, “He is fortunate to have such compassionate and persistent friends.”

“No, it’s not friends.” Cole grinned, knowing that Zenyatta had tilted his head in confusion, interested in knowing more. “Friends care about you, but a family takes care of you.”

“I have heard of a phenomenon called the red string of fate where certain people are connected to each other, destined to find each other in life.” Zenyatta hummed happily.

“You tryin’ to say we’re all connected?” Cole asked. “Like we were all supposed to find each other or somethin’?”

Zenyatta shifted his attention to the mess of limbs that surrounded Genji, each of them trying to hold him and playfully fighting over him when someone had the cyborg for too long. Genji was laughing through the tears, trying to tell them that everyone would have their time with him now that he was back.

It did Zenyatta some good to see Genji smiling so easily, like a smile was always meant to be on his face. He was worried about his pupil when he received the message about his mental state, but he could see now that he had nothing to be concerned about, not when Genji had a family like this to put him back together.

“Yes, that is exactly what I’m saying.”

“You’re a lying piece of shit!”

All eyes were on Gabriel as he abruptly stood up from the table and slammed both hands on the table, growling at Jack like an animal. Gabriel paid no mind to the way everyone at the table seemed to tense up, some of them even gulping.

“Oh, yeah? Well, you’re the one who seems to think you can get anything you want!” Jack copied Gabriel and repeated his actions, startling everyone at the table. He glared at Gabriel, “Welcome to the real world, jackass!”

“How about we take a break and cool off?” Lucio’s smile wavered as he attempted to deescalate the situation. “I’ve got some calming music we can-“

“Zip it, jailbird!” Gabriel and Jack hissed in unison.

“But I-“

Gabriel leaned in, glaring daggers at Lucio behind his mask, “You think we’re going to listen to some little shit that’s been to jail three times?!”

“Knock it off, guys! You’re being so petty!” Hana chimed in to defend Lucio.

“Look, Reyes, his partner in crime is stepping in.” Jack rolled his eyes. “She acts like she hasn’t been to jail twice.”

“It’s not that deep-“

“That’s enough out of you, Song!” Jack pointed a finger at Hana, effectively silencing her. He shifted his attention to Gabriel, “Now, you want to call me a liar again, you son of a bitch?!”

Genji shook his head as Gabriel and Jack went back and forth like children. Lucio was confiding in Hana about if going to jail three times made him a bad person. Everyone else at the table continued to keep quiet out of fear that they were going to find themselves under Gabriel and Jack’s fire.

“And that’s enough Monopoly for today.” Genji sighed and began picking up his money and cards. “Good effort today, team.”

It had been a week since Genji’s memory came back to him and the team asked him how he wanted to celebrate. Genji didn’t need a party or anything big, instead all he wanted was to enjoy a friendly game night with his family.

Genji was pleasantly surprised they made it to Monopoly, seeing as how things started heating up when they played Twister. Gabriel had accused Jack of stepping on his hand and causing him to fall.

Genji was smiling, despite Gabriel and Jack yelling about complete and utter nonsense. He went through hell for two months with his memories clawing their way back to him but it was all worth it in the end if he could have Overwatch and Gabriel in his life again.

Better yet, Zenyatta had decided to stay for a while. Genji didn’t know how he had gotten so lucky to have these people in his life, people who would take care of him in an unstable state and guide him back home, back to someone he wanted to be.

Someone happier.

“Have I told you how much I like your new colors, my friend?” Reinhardt asked, a bright grin plastered on his face.

“You have many times, thank you.”

“Tell me, why did you choose the color white for your armor?” Reinhardt handed his money to Genji, who quickly gathered it and organized it with the rest. “You will not be able to hide from our enemies with such a vivid color.”

“That is the point.” Genji’s smile faded and his tone became more serious. “I want Talon to know I am coming when I face them again.”

“Genji, revenge is not the answer.” Zenyatta placed a hand on his shoulder.

“You are right, master… it is the question.” Everyone gasped in surprise at Genji’s response. He added, his eyes narrow, “And the answer is yes.”

“Genji, no-“

“I’m kidding!” Genji’s shoulders shook as he laughed. He continued to smile as he stated, “However, I hope Talon knows I cannot be so easily hacked or taken down by an EMP, thanks to Angela.”

Angela nodded her head in thanks, chuckling, “I look forward to seeing the look on Sombra’s face when she can’t hack you this time!”

“Sounds like you’ve outdone yourself with this upgrade, Angie.” Cole grinned, slinging an arm around Genji’s shoulders. “Ain’t nobody gonna mess with our ninja after this!”

“And if they do they will find an arrow lodged in each eye.” Hanzo said easily, causing a shiver to run down everyone’s spine.

Everyone cried out when Gabriel dove at Jack from across the table, sending them both tumbling to the ground. The two males began fighting like children, one of them pinning the other to the floor and then shaking them back and forth until the other took control.

Cole and Genji stood by and watched as most of the team tried to pull the two dramatic males off one another. Hanzo and Lucio were attempting to hold Gabriel back while Winston and Lena were trying to cool Jack down. Angela and Brigitte were in between the two males disciplining them like the children they were.

Meanwhile, Hana was recording everything on her phone with a shit eating grin on her face and Reinhardt was the only one cleaning up the mess of the board game pieces that fell to the floor when Gabriel leapt over it.

Instead of choosing to bring peace and tranquility to the situation, Zenyatta chose to make popcorn and pressed it to his face, despite knowing that he couldn’t consume food.

Cole threw his head back and laughed at the sight, at their dysfunctional family. Genji knew that his family wasn’t picture perfect and they made mistakes, but no one loved harder than these people, and his incident with Talon proved that.

“Just like the good ole days, right, darlin’?”

“Like the good old days, but better.”