The entire set of procedures and incorporated recovery time took about a month and a half. Nearly daily surgeries saw different wires, cables, enhancements and modifications incorporated into the Shimada's broken body. Complications led to a significant rework or two of the original schematic that had been designed, and still the Shimada was kept heavily sedated for the duration.
The wounds inflicted by Hanzo left dark jagged scars despite the stitching and biotic fields that had been put into place, granting tiger like stripes across the Shimada's pale complexion. The ongoing prototype armour and enhancements were primarily focused on one side, with the required changes made to the other so as to ensure full restoration of Genjis full body functions. After all, there was no use if he could only use one arm.
Jesse had returned from the field a few days before Angela planned to wake the Shimada from his slumber. His skin darkened by time in the sun, a small sunburn etched across his nose he stood still in Genji's hospital room staring horrified at the mess of metal and wires that covered the right-hand side of the man's body.
"What the bloody heck did y'all do to him while I was gone?!" he barked, the toothpick that he had been casually rolling about his mouth on arrival having fallen from his lips in shock.
"We are administering enhancements in order to repair his body" Angela explained.
"Y'all are turnin' him into a dam robot. He's more machine than metal Doc." He shook his head in disbelief, unable to take his gaze away from the man. He had rescued the Shimada for this to be his fate? Maybe he should have just ended the poor fella's life that day.
"Genji agreed to the enhancements, he is going to assist with the disassembly of the Shimada Clan"
Jesse frowned, folding his arms across his chest "Ye' Reyes told me 'bout that. You sure he agreed to this though? Seems a little, extreme" he said, rubbing at his jaw.
"It will restore a quality of life, allow him to be fully independent." Angela explained sternly, examining the rather bizarre trinket Jesse had brought back for her with a furrowed brow "What did you say this was again?" she asked, wincing briefly as her fingers caught on the rough edges of the wooden trinket. Its ugly misshapen appearance resembled some sort of bear with a snake as a tail and horse's teeth.
Jesse exhaled slowly "If you say so" he murmured, too tired to bother resuming the arugment any further. Licking his lips briefly he smiled at her question "Oh that? It's a lemur"
"A …lemur?" Angela enquired, holding the trinket at arm's length, squinting at it as though it would help her decipher the creature.
"Yeah, the fella who sold it t'me said it was." He flashed her a charming smile "Cool eh?" he asked, shoving his hands into his pockets.
"Not exactly the word I would use for it…but thank you" Angela responded, setting the ugly trinket on the side, brushing some loose bangs from her face. "I will be waking Genji up in the next few days if you wanted to stop by and see him" she said softly, looking towards the developing cyborg.
Jesse followed her gaze, nodding once "O'course, jus' tell me when to show up" he said, scratching the back of his neck unable to shake the niggling feeling in the back of his mind that he had made the wrong decision in saving Genji that day.
O O O O
Waking up after such a long time asleep was strange, the younger Shimada had expected to feel alert and refreshed but instead he felt sluggish, exhausted and actually debated closing his eyes again to sleep some more. It was the pure curiosity and need to see what Angela had done that forced him to keep his heavy eyes open, red hues drifting down and widening at the sight of the polished metal that encased the right side of his body. The red accents glowed vibrantly, various wires leading to all manner of places, some even poking through his flesh, intricately woven under his skin to be one with his organs and muscles. He felt a breath hitch in his throat as he slow raised his right hand, watching the metal limb rise from the bed, the joints slowly creaking as he rotated the limb. He curled his fingers, spotting flesh beneath the metal overlay and taking solace that he still had his fingertips, despite the metal woven between the joints. Cold nipped at his left side, his head slowly rolling to look at the exposed side, the skin scarred beyond recognition and still the occasional pipe poking up through his skin and back in somewhere else, it's purpose unknown and no doubt awaiting the inevitable cover of the metal overlay.
"Genji? I didn't expect you awake so soon" Angela said softly, entering the room with a cup of coffee in her grip. She set it on the side, approaching him and plucking a torch from her belt, shining it in his eyes and watching his pupils react appropriately. "How are you feeling?" she asked with a smile.
Genji blinked, looking back down to his metal body and taking a shuddered breath "I- I do not know" he responded, surprised by the gentle metallic undertone, his left hand touching his throat in alarm.
"That's a side effect, once we have the full suit modelled there will be a better way of conveying your voice. I must say you've made marvellous progress" she said, gently taking his right arm and stretching it out to the side, rotating it slightly to examine the workings, ensuring nothing was loose or in danger of breaking.
"This is not what I expected…" Genji said, meeting the medics blue hues with a gentle frown of confusion.
"There were…complications. Your injuries were more severe than initially anticipated so the design had to be reworked. Everything works though, and now that you're awake I would like to get you up on your feet as soon as you feel able" she said, noting the hallowed expression in Genji's eyes.
"I am a machine now…" he murmured.
"No, you're not Genji. Your heart still beats, your lungs still breath and your emotions are still there. The only thing that is different is now technology Is a part of you, a small part. You are still you" she said her smile fading as she saw her words had little impact.
"I wish to see what I have become Doctor Ziegler" he asked, gaze not shifting from the bed.
"I don't think that would be such a good idea right now considering-"
"Doctor Ziegler" his voice was strained, her name delivered with such force that it caused Angela to step back, biting on her lip. The desperation in his eyes unsettled her before he finally met her gaze "Please doctor…" He asked, Angela sighing in defeat and moving to unhook a number of the IV drips.
O O O O
Metallic feet touched the floor with a gentle clink, Genji easing himself towards the edge of the bed, hands gripping the mattress before Angela moved to his side, looping an arm around him and gently helping him to his feet. His legs shook, buckling briefly and sending him into the doctors arms. Angela grabbed at him, glad Genji was trying to support his weight and waited for him to regain his balance, the cyborg straightening up allowing her hands to move to support him better.
The walk towards the bathroom was slow, Genji dragging his feet slightly as he grew accustomed to how the metal encasing his legs and the cables entwined with his knees felt. Every joint felt stiff, muscles and tendons tight as a result of his bed rest. Slowly his movements began to warm up and loosen the joints, the enhancements working in harmony alongside his flesh and bone to help every step, his hand reaching for the doorframe of the bathroom.
"I would like to proceed alone" he explained, Angela frowning at him uncertain whether to allow him to.
"It may be a shock Genji, are you sure you want to face this alone?" Angela asked, her hands still supporting him, the nod of confirmation a signal for her to step backwards, biting on her lip nervously. "Call if you need anything" she said, watching him shuffle into the bathroom, the door closing behind him.
The bathroom light spluttered and flickered a few times before turning on, illuminating the room and casting a few shadows across the floor. Genji drew a slow breath, hearing a gentle hissing from the metal parts on his body as he shuffled towards the narrow full length mirrow, stumbling briefly and grabbing at the wall to steady himself. He took some slow breaths before finally lifting his gaze and staring at the stranger in the mirror.
His legs and entire left side was a complicated array of metal, fabric, wires and some unknown materials Genji didn't even want to know the name of. Silver plates of metal reflected the light slightly, the red accents moulded around his muscles or some indication of power perhaps. There suit was skin tight, leaving little to the imagination, looking as though it had been painted onto his skin. His left hand gently touched some of the tubes that protruded from his body, tracing along the cool edge and back again, his mind hardly able to constrew that they were a part of him now. His eyes shone a vibrant red, such anger and rage in them he had never seen and yet he did not fear it, he accepted it. His face was heavily scarred as a result of his injuries, puckered skin mottled with darker and lighter patches of skin, distorting the face he once recognised. Even his hair, typically a bright green was gone, his defining feature now a jet back mess with green ends.
Genji squeezed his eyes shut, looking away and breathing heavily, unable to believe the monster that stared back from the mirror was his own reflection. His eyes opened briefly, robotic fingers gently wiggling on his command and rage consuming him. This body was no longer his own, he was a creature that did not deserve to see the light of day. A monstrosity of a man made of metal. A furious yell escaped his lips as he drew back his left hand and drove it into the mirror with a crunch. Cracks splintered across the mirrors surface, distorting his reflection further and only enraging him more. Again, his fist pulled back, slamming hard into the mirror, shards breaking free and littering the floor before the cyborg let a sob escape him, slowly sinking to his knees. His hand dragged down the wall before he wrapped his arms around himself tightly, choked angry sobs escaping him.
"Genji? Is everything alright in there?" Angela knocked on the door in concern, having heard the shattering of glass. She chewed on her lip, hearing the angry sobs and knocked again. "Genji?" she called.
"悪魔から離れて。私を離れる!"
[*Akuma kara hanarete. Watashi o hanareru! = Fuck off devil! Leave me be!]
The Japanese words that erupted from behind the closed door were spoke with such menace and anger that Angela didn't even need to translate to know they were an insult or curse of some sort. She stepped backwards slightly, a saddened expression crossing her features as she realised she didn't know how she could help him come to terms with his new body right now. A soft sigh escaped her as she stepped forwards, placing her hand against the bathroom door "Genji, I am out here if you need me" she said softly before taking a seat on the bed, idly twirling the ugly trinket Jesse had given her the other day.
O O O O
The cyborg left the bathroom well over an hour later without so much as a word. His breathing was laboured, his teeth gritted as he trudged towards his bed again, every step still uneasy. His gaze settled on the mask that had been left on the side, the metal frame would cover all but his eyes and he imagined the loose black and red wires at some point would be connected to various parts of his body. Gently picking it up he placed it on his face, eager to hide the monster he had become from himself and others. His head turned to the side, his voice emotionless "I wish to begin my task as soon as possible" he said. Angela nodded "I'll let Reyes know then" she said quietly, watching the Cyborg sit on his bed, repeatedly curling and uncurling his fingers, watching the joints work in silence. What had she done to this poor soul? The next day Gabriel and Jack had both visited Genji, complimenting Angela's work and asking the cyborg how he felt. Genji's answers were curt, somewhat rude and yet both Commanders seemed to understand the inner turmoil the human turned cyborg was going through. As a result, their visits were formal, to the point and left little to be interpreted. Morrison was content that the enhancements were a success and Genji could sit under Blackwatch, and Reyes was more than happy to have the cyborg in training first thing the following morning to analyse his skills properly. Angela quite liked the idea of getting to see the cyborg in action, wanting to see how all aspects of his kit functioned as one. Should there be any necessary modifications she would rather make them sooner rather than later, and currently she felt if she dwelled on the disheartened Shimada's reaction she feared she would regret all the work she had done. Currently she found herself constantly reminding herself that the Shimada had agreed and that the enhancements were for the best. She just had to hope that he would eventually come to see the same point of view.
O O O O
McCree had turned up the next day, Angela having deliberately deterred him from visiting prior to their first training session to give Genji some space. The expression that crossed Genji's face however when the cowboy strolled into his room that morning made her worry slightly.
"Cowboy" Genji gasped, his hands grasping at the mattress as he recognised the hat wearing ruffian who had saved his life.
Jesse flashed one of his charming smiles in response "Well howdy!" he said smoothly, thumbing his left hand through his belt and leaning heavily on that side while tipping his hat in greeting "Must say it's real nice to see ya' awake fer once partner" his hand ran over his jawline, the coarse hair of his beard scratching against his gloved hand. "Reyes sent me to escort ya' to yer first trainin' session." he said, watching the cyborg get to his feet and nod once.
"Genji Shimada" he responded, red hues glowing between the gap in his visor, the cyborg caught off guard when Jesse extended a hand for the cyborg to shake. Reluctantly he took the gunslingers hand, startled by the firm grip Jesse had and the strong shake he initiated "Jesse McCree" he said, the handshake ending rather abruptly after the introductions were complete, an awkward silence falling in the roomn.
Jesse cleared his throat before speaking in his standard southern drawl "We'd best hit the road then" he said, thumbing over his shoulder before turning and opening the door for him. "Comin' doc?" Jesse asked, watching Angela gather her papers and coffee cup before following. The trio walked down the hall together, Jesse glancing back towards the Shimada at times.
"You keep looking at me cowboy" Genji growled, catching McCree look at him for the 5th time "Do you wish to say something?" he added, his gaze narrowing.
"Who me? Nah, I'm just admirin' Angie's work" he lied with a smile "Must say the red is a nice touch Doc'" Angela simply nodded, not responding and quickly diverting off towards the viewing room without so much as a goodbye, the action drawing a thoughtful hum from the cowboy as he adjusted his hat and continued to walk with Genji towards the training room, explaining what would be required of him upon arrival.
O O O O
"I fail to see what could be achieved by fighting a worthless training dummy" The synthetic voice of the Cyborg echoed around the training room as he stood before the armless dummy, red eyes shifting to look at the cowboy who was leaning up against the wall and lighting a smoke.
"I never understood it neither, but Reyes want's te' see how ya handle yerself now you've got yer-" he faltered for a word, rotating his hand as he tried to pluck something from the air "-Upgrades" he decided, placing the cigarillo between his lips and lighting it. Inhaling slowly, he let the smoke escape his lips "Jus' think of it as a big old punchin' bag. Good way of workin' out some frustrations, especially if yer mad at someone" he smiled.
Genji sighed, scowling at the training dummy and flexing his fingers at his side, trying to get a feel for the cables and metal that were now a part of his body. His left side coated in the trial suit Doctor Ziegler had been working on with some Gorilla, the enhancements making that side of him feel stronger physically and yet he could not understand why he still felt so weak.
Training Protocol initiated. Recording and analysis in progress.
"When yer ready partner" Jesse folded his arms, chewing on his cigarillo and letting his hat sink over his eyes slightly, gentle plumes of smoke escaping him as he continued to smoke. The cyborg remained still, loose cables gently brushing over his spine before he lifted his gaze and approached the training dummy. Best to get it out of the way sooner rather than later. He retrieved the sword that had been crafted for him from the training bot that had scurried over to hand it to him before disappearing. The blade glinted in the light before he swung, watching it easily carve through the fabric of the dummy, his eyes widening before he swung again.
Immediately his mind cast back to that moment. Dark eyes filled with such disgust and hatred had stared down on him, lips curled into a cruel smile as though his assailant actually enjoyed the torture he was inflicting. The sound of the sword cutting through the air had sent blinding pain through his body, every strike severing nerves, chipping bones and splattering the ground with thick crimson blood.
"Brother! Please!" Genji had feebly raised his own sword, the face of his brother shadowed by the hatred and anger that consumed him. He couldn't understand why this was happening. Another cut and red consumed his vision. Was it anger or blood?
"You dishonour the clan!"
Why? The betrayal had crushed his heart in a vice, tore it from his chest and unceremoniously thrown it on the ground before stamping on it. Struck down by his own brother, and to see the glee in his dark features while he, did it? Was nothing sacred?
O O O O
Reyes and Angela were watching the session from the viewing room, the Blackwatch commander casually propping his feet up on the desk, resting his hands across his chest and leaning back in the chair.
"Reyes, why is McCree down there with him?" Angela asked, gently tapping her pen against her cheek thoughtfully as she watched the cowboy leaning against the wall and Genji begin to make short work of the training dummy.
"Moral support? Hell, if I know."
Angela pondered her own question out loud for a moment "Maybe he feels a sense of responsibility towards Genji's recovery?" she mused, her gaze not shifting from the cyborg as he continued to fight the training dummy.
"Responsibility? McCree?" Reyes laughed at the idea, swinging his boots off the desk and planting them firmly on the ground again "Only thing he's ever been responsible for is that dam hat of his" he scratched his head, ruffling his dark curly hair that had been set free of the usual beanie due to the summer weather that had descended on the area lately. "Speaking of which, how'd our resident cyborg react to seeing McCree since the incident?"
Angela mindlessly scribbled down some notes, her gaze not shifting from the paper on her clipboard "He seemed, surprised. I guess he wasn't sure what parts of the rescue he remembered were fragmented delusions? A little bit of hostility from him on the way over though-"
"What do you mean by hostility?"
"He didn't appreciate Jesse looking at him. He was rather confrontational about it" she said, tapping the end of her pencil against the clipboard.
"Don't blame him personally. Kid's has a knack of rubbing people the wrong way, although he calls it southern hospitality" he said with an amused smile.
Angela rolled her eyes, getting back to work. She was analysing every aspect of his enhancements and his general form, watching for weaknesses and seeing if any injuries were still giving him trouble. She scribbled down a note on her clipboard having noticed he was leaning more towards his left, signifying a potential weakness in an injury on his right ankle.
Reyes watched in silence as well, frowning as the training dummy fragmented under Genji's continued assault. "He keeps that up and we're going to need to order more dummy's, you got what you need?" he asked, Angela nodding and jotting down a few more notes.
"Alright, I'll call it quits there then" he said, pressing a button on the control panel to signal the end of the session, standing up and stretching as he saw Jesse acknowledge the light and move to inform Genji the session was over.
O O O O
McCree gently lifted his hat up, hearing Genji angrily yelling and giving the training dummy what for. The speed in which the cyborg delivered his blows was impressive, the cowboy smiling in gentle approval. The poor training dummy didn't stand a chance, the sword slicing through, severing parts with precision. Every swing was forcefully delivered, a burning hatred behind every strike which actually unsettled the cowboy. He saw the red-light flash above the viewing pane, a sign to end the session from the commander and tipped his hat towards the viewing room in acknowledgement.
He plucked his cigarillo from his lips, stubbing it out against the wall he was leaning against "I said use it as a punchin' bag partner, not dismember it. You wreck it anymore and Reyes'll have both our heads" he smiled, pushing his back off the wall and slowly approaching the Shimada who was still intent on beating the daylights out of the practice dummy. So much for it not being worthwhile, seemed the Cyborg was right at home. "Hey! C'mon that'll do fer now, you've shown it what for. Why don't we go and-" he froze as the sword swung again, the blade snapping in half with the force of the blow. Jesse ducked as the shard flew past his shoulder, clattering melodically against the floor. "Dam…"
Pursing his lips the cowboy let out a low impressed whistle before clearing his throat "Alrighty then…" he said, his gaze not leaving the broken sword in the corner of the room as he approached Genji. The cyborg was stood rigid, staring down at the broken sword in his grip, his hand shaking against his will and his breathing heavy. "I reck'n that's more than we need lets-" Jesse spoke gently, placing a hand on the cyborgs shoulder to grab his attention, the furious red gaze that met his brown hues actually startled the cowboy into taking a step back before the Shimada lunged at him.
O O O O
Genji was lost in his thoughts, focused exacting his revenge. Anger had consumed him, a wave of hatred contorting his soul and distorting his view on the world. Hanzo was stood before him, arms folded and a smug grin on his face. The man deserved death, pain, suffering and this time, Genji was the one with the sword. Every swing of the blade gave him satisfaction as he watched it carve into Hanzos skin. Red was filling his vision again as he shoved the blade through his brother's side, tearing it free with ease and delivering another blow which sent thick red liquid spraying into the air. The taste of blood on his tongue was no deterrent, Genji wanted to hear him scream in pain until his throat was raw, he needed to listen to him beg for forgiveness as he had that day. Instead Hanzo remained silent, infuriating him further and causing him to strike harder blows. He wanted to tear his brother limb from limb for betraying him, wanted to see the sword cut through bone. Despite this, Genji was still surprised when the sword shattered after another heavy strike into his brother's leg, the cyborg staring at the remains of the sword in his grip, his breathing heavy.
"Pathetic, you are not worthy to control the dragon." Hanzo's voice hissed in his ear, causing him to grit his teeth, his body shaking with anger. "You bring shame upon the Shimada clan, dishonour on yourself and our family-" a hand placed itself on his shoulder, Hanzo's hand.
"沈黙"
[ * Chinmoku= Silence!]
The sword was tossed aside violently, the cyborg lashing out at his brother. His metal and flesh fingers clasped firmly around Hanzos thick neck, shoving his brother backwards until his back met the wall. "You will suffer for what you've done!" Genji hissed, digging his fingers into the man's flesh. The garbled noises from his brother trying to draw a breath gave him a sick satisfaction, the chokes of pain and rasping helping satiate his need for vengeance. His grip tightened further, feeling every frantic pump of his heart forcing blood through the veins on his neck.
"Genji…" the voice was garbled, rasping as air failed to fill his brother's lungs. Hanzo's hand feebly clawed at the cyborgs fingers, his eyes bulging in fear and panic, beginning to roll into the back of his head, his lips starting to turn blue and his complexion paling. Still Genji maintained his grip, ignoring the fingers that clawed at his hands and arms frantically.
O O O O
Jesse hadn't even had a chance to defend himself, caught off guard by the Shimadas actions. His back slammed hard against the wall of the training room, sending a shockwave through his body. The grunt of pain that escaped him was quickly cut off as Genji fastened his hands around his neck, squeezing tightly, severing his airflow immediately and sending a wave of panic tingling through his body. His hands raised, trying to pry the cyborg off him, gloved hands prying at metal fingers with little avail. "Genji!" he rasped, feeling the man's grip tighten further, fingers cementing themselves into the flesh around his neck. He was thankful to be taller than the Shimada, else he imagined that his feet would have been well and truly off the floor. He threw his arm over, trying to push Genji backwards, plastering one hand against the cyborgs face and the other against his chest. "Stop…it…" he rasped only to wheeze as Genji used his body weight to press harder against his oesophagus.
A squeak escaped his lips, hands reverting back to try and prying the fingers away from his neck. His lungs were on fire, his brain screaming for air and a wave of heat washing over his body, sweat soaking his back. Red eyes stared into his brown hues, no recognition on the Shimada's face as McCree continued to try and free himself, trying to ignore the sound of blood roaring in his ears and the dark tendrils and spots that were rapidly swarming his vision. "Genji…" he rasped again, the name cut off as the grip tightened even more, Jesse fearing the Shimada would squeeze hard enough to sever his head from his neck. The world was drifting in and out of focus quickly, his limbs failing to react how he needed to try and pull the hands away from his neck. Dam enhancements had signed his death notice, if he got out of this he would need to speak to Angela about installing some sort of off switch.
The humour wasn't appropriate, but his consciousness was fading fast. Choked noises barely passing his lips, his lungs feeling like they were shrivelling up in his chest and turning to dust. "Stop…" he rasped, his eyes rolling into the back of his head just as Angela and Reyes burst into view, having seen the scuffle from the observation room.
Reyes immediately had his gun drawn, Angela diving in between them and trying to get through to the Shimada.
"Genji! Genji stop!" She pleaded, trying to pull the cyborg away, well aware of the gun aimed on the man's head.
Still the cyborg kept his grip around Hanzo's throat, his breathing heavy and his teeth gritted so hard he could feel a headache spiking behind his eyes. Gentle hands were tugging at his shoulders desperately.
Angela was frantically trying to divert the cyborgs attention, concern and panic in her blue hues as she saw the colour draining from Jesse's face.
"Angela move aside!" Reyes barked, gun levelled perfectly with the Shimada's head.
"No!" She barked back, turning her focus back to Genji, grabbing at his face "Genji stop…you're killing him!" she pleaded, his red eyes staring straight past her. He was lost to his memories, but if he didn't snap out of it soon a bullet to the brain would take care of the issue.
"Step aside!" Reyes commanded, scowling as the medic refused to move away "Angela!" he snapped. He wasn't going to stand back and watch one of his best Agents die like this, he wasn't going to allow Jesse to be choked out on the training room floor by some human Omnic hybrid. "Last chance Angela!" he snapped, his thumb resting on the gun's safety.
Genji tightened his grip more, watching his brother start to lose consciousness in his grip, feeling the pulse beneath his fingers fading. He would choke the very life from him if it was the last thing he-
"-Genji stop! You are killing Jesse!"
Genji felt the world snap back into focus. He was suddenly back in the training room. The white walls a stark contrast to the Hanamura palace he had known. His gaze shifted to the figure he held within his grip, eyes widening as he saw his fingers were instead wrapped tight around the cowboy's neck. Immediately he released his grip, backing up in panic and turning to see Reyes with a gun pointed at him and a dark glint in his eyes.
Jesse fell onto all fours the second he was released; his arms shaking violently to try and support his weight as he gasped frantically for air, wheezing and feeling his lungs inflate. The lack of oxygen had sent his adrenaline levels into overdrive, sending a flood of warmth through his body. Resting his forehead against the floor of the training room for a moment he took comfort from it cool surface against his hot skin. He coughed and spluttered, retching occasionally, as a cold sweat washed over his body before Angela crouched by his side and rubbing at his back, murmuring words of reassurance in his ears.
His neck felt swollen, his throat raw and his chest aching. Every gasp of air felt like it was being sucked through a straw, the slightest speck of dust causing him to cough and retch violently before his vision slowly returned, speckles of black dissipating and allowing the room and its occupants to blur back into focus, his senses slowly returning back to normal as opposed to the roaring he had in his ears moments before.
"McCree! I am sorry I-" Genji took a step towards the cowboy, freezing when Reyes removed the safety from the gun, firmly shaking his head at the cyborg. Swallowing hard, Genji took a step away from Angela and Jesse, backing up slowly until Reyes placed the safety back on the gun.
"Stay put Shimada" he growled before looking to Angela "He guna be alright?" He asked, concern flickering across his stern expression, the gun not wavering from the cyborg.
Angela nodded "Yes, he'll be fine" she murmured, easing the cowboy on his side, putting him in the recovery position and watching as he rested his eyes weakly, every breath rattling from his chest. She could already see the bruising forming around the gunslinger's neck, angry red marks turning purple and outlining the intricate details of the Cyborgs fingers. He would be alright, probably a little hoarse for the next few days and sore but they had gotten to him in time. Fortunately.
Genji watched in silence, a heavy sensation of guilt washing over him. It was as though someone was pulling him down by his shoulders. He had let his emotions get in the way, lost control and as a result nearly killed the very individual who had ensured his survival. The click of the safety being removed from the gun drew his attention back to Reyes, the Blackwatch commander aiming the pistol straight between the cyborgs eyes. He resigned himself to his fate, turning to face Gabriel "Do as you must Commander" he murmured, waiting for the inevitable end and closing his eyes.
Reyes scowled, spotting Angela peering up at him and shaking her head slowly. Her blue eyes shone in a sense of urgency, begging him not to take the easier approach as she gently rubbed at McCrees arm. His finger tightened slightly around the trigger at the sight of McCree lying beside her, each breath he took a strangled wheeze as a result of the Shimada's actions.
Genji stood still, waiting for the shot and was surprised to hear the gun being holstered instead. His eyes opened to meet Gabriel's stern gaze in surprise. "If it were me, I would have left you there that day in Hanamura." His words were harsh, arms folding as he continued speaking "Jesse disobeyed orders that day and risked a lot to save your ass. I hope this isn't how you intend on repaying the favour" he said before stepping forward, his voice becoming a low growl "We may have invested a lot of time and effort in you, but if you ever, pull a stunt like this again I will not hesitate next time. Understand?"
Genji nodded in understanding, keeping rigid before Reyes stepped backwards and looked towards Angela and McCree his boots heavy against the floor as he crouched down beside the Blackwatch Agent, muttering to Angela about getting the cowboy to the infirmary so she could assess him better. She nodded, standing up and watching as Reyes easily hauled the barely conscious gunslinger over his shoulder, trudging heavily towards the infirmary. About to follow she paused, glancing back at Genji with a soft expression.
"He will be fine, I've seen him bounce back from much worse" she reassured him, noting how the cyborg wouldn't meet her gaze.
"I could have killed him" he murmured, his synthetic voice softened and filled with sorrow.
"But you didn't. You stopped, that is what's important" she approached him, smiling at him and taking his hands in hers "What happened that day hurt you physically and mentally" she ran a thumb over the metal workings on his hand "Now we have made progress with your physical injuries, we can begin to repair the emotional ones" she met his gaze, blue eyes reflecting his red ones "I will not give up on you Genji." She said, noting the corners of his eyes creasing slightly as he smiled beneath the mask.
"Thank you, Doctor Ziegler" he murmured, watching her hands pull away from his before she left the room to catch up to Gabriel. He stood in silence, turning to look at the destroyed training dummy before noticing Jesses hat on the floor. Silently approaching it, he plucked the headpiece from the floor, turning it over in his hands, the fabric course in his grip before he sighed and turned to leave the room.
O O O O
Genji decided to keep out of the way for the rest of that day. Reyes was the warpath as a result of the mornings training session, the cyborg thinking it better to remain out of sight until the Blackwatch commander had calmed down. As for Jesse, all he knew was the Blackwatch agent had been sleeping off the event in the infirmary, under the careful watch of Angela. This made the sound of his spurs approaching him late that evening suprising, but not as much as the fact the cowboy had managed to locate him on the roof of the cargo bay.
The gentle jingling of the spurs accompanied the soft thud of his boots on the roof, Genji moved to stand, eager to avoid the confrontation but stopped as Jesse grabbed his shoulder. "Now hold on a sec" his southern drawl was almost unrecognisable, distorted by the scratchy overtone caused by the injuries. Genji turned to meet his gaze, the cowboy without his hat allowing his unruly chestnut hair to fly about in the night breeze, a red neckerchief loosely tied around his neck. He had expected anger in the cowboy's brown hues, but instead that gentle look and cocky smile that usually graced his features was firmly in place. "I'm not havin' you fly off on me Sparrow. Sit a spell?" Jesse gestured for the cyborg to sit down before slowly easing himself to sit beside him, resting his arms across his knees and exhaling slowly.
"McCree, I am sorry for what happened. I should have been in control of my actions, I-" The apology blurted past Genji's lips before he could even consider the words he wanted to say but the cowboy waved off his words nonchalantly, scratching at his jaw, a tired look on his face.
"No hard feelin's partner. Angela explained what happened" he said with a small shrug "Don't blame ya personally, what yer brother did was beyond fucked up." He exhaled slowly, still a wheeze to his breathing as he ran a hand over his neck painfully. The neckerchief, Genji noticed, was designed to cover the angry bruising that littered his skin. The cyborg could see the hand prints, how every finger had wrapped around his friends throat desperate to choke the very life from him. He paused at the thought, did he consider Jesse McCree a friend? Did he have the right to consider the cowboy a friend?
When he snapped back from his thoughts the cowboy was leaned forward, frowning at him with an amused smile "Ya'll guna make day dreamin' a habit?" he asked. Leaning back again his deep chuckle was caught short as it irritated his windpipe, drawing a rasping cough from him. Genji tensed, ready to spring into action and fetch help, only relaxing when the gunslinger waved away his concerns before tugging a bag into view and rummaging around, the plastic rustling before he tugged an off-white bottle into view.
"Figured ya could use a drink. Not sure if getting' ya sumin' from home was such a good idea considerin' what happened today but here, I picked it up while you were recoverin'" he handed the bottle to Genji, the cyborgs metal fingers clinking against the glass as he took it, turning it and reading the Japanese writing on the label.
"Sake?" Genji smiled beneath his mask, looking to the cowboy gratefully.
Jesse nodded "Ye' , figured' it'd help take yer mind off things." He winced, rubbing at his neck again and taking a few slow breaths.
Genji turned the bottle over in his hands, licking his lips before he unscrewed the top. Removing his mask, he brought the bottle to his lips allowing the warm liquid to quench his thirst. The dry taste had a slightly fruity undertone which reminded him of home. As he pulled the bottle away he looked to McCree before offering the cowboy some, genuinely surprised when the offer was turned down.
"Doc's orders. Can't even smoke at the moment." he said with a gentle shrug "Besides, I prefer a bit more bite to my liquor" he said, trying to clear his throat and only grunting in pain.
Genji nodded, resting the bottle in his lap as the cowboy fought to catch his breath briefly beside him "I am sorry..." he said gently.
"Nah, I reck'n this makes us about even partner" his rough drawl confused Genji for a moment before Jesse elaborated "Y'all didn't take too kindly to me savin' ya back in Hanamura" he mused.
"I'm afraid I don't quite follow" Genji set the bottle beside him, drawing his legs up and resting his arms across his knees.
Jesse rested his eyes, smirking "Welp, if memory serves ya threw out a whole bunch'a swear words when we got yer here." He scratched the underside of his jaw with an amused look on his face "Athena took the liberty of translatin' some of em for me. Must say, you have a way with words"
"My apologies McCree, I was not in the correct frame of mind back then"
Jesse chuckled again "You need to stop apologisin' fer shit that aint yer fault, and start callin' me Jesse. Besides, I preferred to think of it as learnin' curve. Japanese ain't sumin' I'm too familiar with, now I got a whole buncha' curse words" he said, the corner of his lip curling into a smile "Y'all ask nicely enough and maybe I'll teach ya some Spanish"
"You speak Spanish?" Genji enquired, surprised by the fact the cowboy knew a second language.
Jesse nodded leaning back and admiring the night sky, the chill of the night air slowly nipping at him, drawing a thoughtful frown from him "S'pose I'd best head back inside. Last thing I need is fer Angie to find me on a roof of all places when I should be restin' up" he said taking a moment to adjust his neckerchief before slowly pushing himself to his feet.
"It would be very unwise to go against Angela's orders" Genji concurred, watching Jesse stand.
"That It would. Don't stay out here too late, Reyes wants us back in training tomorrow. No exceptions"
Genji stared at him, astonished that Reyes would want him in training after what had occurred that day.
"I don't make the rules, I jus' follow em" he said, plunging his hands into his pockets and turning to leave Genji with his thoughts.
"Jesse" Genji was on his feet, the bottle of Sake in his hand "Thank you. For the sake" he said gently.
"Don't mention it" Jesse responded, his voice still roughened and hoarse before he gave a two-finger salute, disappearing from sight and leaving Genji alone. The cyborg had a long journey ahead of him, a promise to fulfil and yet the road ahead suddenly didn't feel so long.
