Authors Note:
Thank you all who've reviewed and favored the story so far, also on the D. Va advice I got from an anon user. I'm glad to be writing this story with the new twist and turns to the story line. Just be forewarned for this chapter, it does contain dark themes to explain the rescue of the twin brothers. But I hope you enjoy ready and continue to follow the journey.
Chapter 3:
The fears we keep, the lies we show
Everything seemed to happen all at once, the memories flowed together as if a never-ending stream of pain and nightmares intertwined to create a maelstrom of damage. He remembered it all too well, the house of the Shimada's was all he knew, all he ever grew up with as a child. Running, laughing, playing, learning. These were common every day growing norms children did with their families, with themselves to grow into the product of their upbringing. Genji, the youngest of the Shimada bloodline, was everything and more. Adventurous and courageous, shy yet presentable, but never without a smile on his small face. He believed his brother was partly to accredit to his outgoing nature. Genji loved his brother Hanzo, who was more reserved and well-spoken than himself. He was the more adult of the two; always at father's side when he had meetings, training extra hard with his swordsmanship, and bow techniques, which he was improving increasingly each day. When others would come to discuss business with their father; Hanzo would be prepared to greet the visitors and tend to their needs before sitting silently like a guard dog next to his father. Genji marveled at his diligence and patience, to the youngest child, all these meetings seemed boring. Nothing but talk and more talk, sometimes emotions ran high with the attendee's, but nothing their father couldn't handle with sharp words and soft explanations. Yet Hanzo never flinched, never let the emotions get to him, he was as stern as the mountain and calm like the rivers stream.
Once during a meeting mere weeks ago, emotions ran high once again, the attendee's all in black suits sat around their business table, drinking their brews or teas as normal, it became intense once more. Genji was becoming better and better at his ninja training, remaining silent as he climbed the rafters of their home without making a squeak. Staying in the shadows, he peered down with an inquisitive look on his face, wondering what the bickering was about this time. Though they spoke, Genji never really understood the terms that were mentioned. Whenever he would question his brother Hanzo on, "Omnic Manufacturing", "Opium merchandise and inventory", or even "terminate the target", Hanzo would merely steer the conversation to something more light-hearted. It always worked, but more of these terms and more were being mentioned today. Their father seed as calm and collective as before, speaking with authority, however, their guests were less than impressed. Never moving his head, Hanzo merely averted his eyes too look above, giving a small smirk as he saw Genji's orange scarf dimly in the rafters. His brother needed to wear more appropriate camouflage to blend in better.
That evening, everything Genji came to know until now, would be shattered. The Shimada family sat comfortably for another quiet dinner with one another. It was eerily silent between their father and mother, but Hanzo and Genji simply fussed at one another as siblings often do. Their mother looked at her children, a smile crooked on her lips, even though it seemed sadder than usual. Their father noticed her worry and sighed, however, his sharp tuned skills alerted his senses as he quickly leaps and tackled his wife to the floor, taking an arrow to his shoulder. Genji stopped stuffing rice into his mouth after seeing his father, but his own world was turned upside down when he felt a force collide onto him to pin him on the floor. Looking to his side, he noticed Hanzo looking down and covering his smaller frame.
"Genji, stay down!" The elder sibling hissed, screams and loud pops could be heard all throughout their complex. Some of the staff ran around frantically as others were mowed down by sword wielding men or gunned down by others right alongside of them.
"Anata ni kyōdai o tsurete Hanzo o hashira sete kudasai! Watashi ga anata ni shiji shita yō ni." ("Take you brother and run Hanzo! Do as I've instructed you!" Their father shouted through his pain, a bright explosion could be seen from the walls corner, until the audio boom echoed everywhere. Genji shook in slight fear, finally sitting up to see his father's blood soaked garment as their mother held him close, using her Obi to wrap around the arrow and leaking wound. Hanzo merely nodded in response, taking his brothers hand as they fled. In such events, the eldest knew where to take them both for safety, Hanzo and his father practiced for years on this route, but the boy never would have thought he would need to take such actions. More gunfire echoed as the boys made it outside, it was sheer carnage. Body guards of their family were combating the intruders who dared bring violence onto the Shimada lands. A lone intruder with a long sword spotted the two instantly as he shouted towards his allies.
"The boys, grab them now." The intruder in his expensive looking black suit, now stained with blood dashed to apprehend the two children. Hanzo reacted with no resistance as he reached into his own obi band and flung his arm forward, launching two shuriken stars at the man's knee. They connected hard, sending the man bowling over as the boys moved out of the way and to their destination. Their presence however sparked a hunt as more footsteps echoed behind the two boys.
"Hanzo!" Genji shouted with fright. Both boys made a sliding stop to see their pathway had been blocked as more men in black came from around the corner. Hanzo looked puzzled at this trap, scanning for a way out, but his thoughts escaped him as a small dark pinched his neck, sending his world into a spiraling oblivion as his body hit the floor. Genji felt the same sensation on his neck before joining his brother. What felt like seconds turned into hours as Genji slowly came to his senses. His wrists burned and he could barely move them, touching one another behind his back, he had been bound as the boy opened his eyes to see the men from those meetings standing over their father. It was a shell of their father from the sight he saw, bloodied, and beaten within an inch of his life as all the men in black held onto very elaborate and decorated katanas. Muffling was the next noise Genji heard as he looked to his side to see Hanzo trying to break free of his bonds like a caged animal, tears falling freely as he growled past his gag. There was a sickening sound of sword on flesh, then another, and another. Genji turned once again to his father, now impaled at the heart with several katana blades inserted into his chest. It was almost too real to believe, even for his eyes to see what was happening in front of the boy. Then, more swords were inserted into the back of their father's neck, effectively slaying the once powerful Shimada Lord. Their mother screamed, however, she was not present in the room. Her wails echoed over and over and muffled grunts and groans mixed with her voice.
"Mother?!..." Genji finally spoke, Hanzo quickly looked over to his brother, finally realizing he was awake before staring back at the men in black, who turned as well to the younger Shimada dragon. Her screams increased at a steady pace, more and more until a single gunshot made itself known into the night's sky. Then, there was silence. Genji's heart pattered quickly just to prepare himself for another scream from their mother, but nothing came. Hanzo's muffled intensified as Genji looked forward once more, seeing now a man in black kneeling in front of the smaller Shimada child. A meaty hand grasped the boys chin, turning his head from side to side as the bright hazel eyes examined the boy's face. His grip was painful, and the man was too close for his comfort, the boy's wrists twisted and turned with all his might to loosen the bindings, but nothing happened.
"The little one shall do, take the eldest elsewhere for now. I plan to stake my claim." The man reached into his pocket and pilled a small syringe, the yellow liquid content already filling its encasing. Hanzo now tried to jump at the man as if he were a true caged wolf, knowing this man's intentions by his father's hidden records of his former associate. "If you don't play nice, he dies tonight like the others." The man in black simply picked up the youngest boy and tucked his bound body under his arm. "Take the eldest to another room and beat some discipline into him, this one is mine." Their subordinates simply moved like lightning as Hanzo was scooped up and taken away.
"Hanzo!" Genji screamed over and over, there was another prick on his neck, jammed hard onto his tender side as the burning liquid entered his system. From there, the pain and torture began and continued for several months. Genji was kept like a personal pet, his body bruised and violated over and over, fighting back only caused him more pain. The youngest dragon lost what respect he had for himself as nightly he was taken; the limited times he was permitted to see his brother Hanzo was a godsend. His elder brother trying to comfort Genji, only to give space when Genji would jump at the touch and sob to himself. Hanzo sobbed as well, the whip marks on his back and bruised arms and legs show he had not had it easy, but he sobbed for what they've been doing to his brother. The last line of family he knows and swore to protect, he couldn't protect against such a devious foe. He felt shame and dishonor on his slain family, when they would separate the two, Genji clammed up knowing what would come next, and Hanzo never stopped fighting. Every time.
One night, Genji once again rocked himself in the corner, months after the whole ordeal and months after their nightly tortures, another explosion rocked the Shimada household. Genji simple took to himself, lightly covered in a thin sheet from tonight's violation, his body bled and pulsed with pain. Gunshots echoed once more, memories of before coming back to haunt his vision.
"Genji? Genji!" Hanzo shouted as he opened the sliding door to their parent's old room where the youngest sibling had been held captive. Hanzo dragged his bow onto the ground, bruised and battered, but still alive. The youngest turned to his eldest, trying to focus the night's environment until he saw his brother. Hanzo's once shinny raven hair now dulled and dried, his skin showing every bruise and scrape he had been given. The elder sibling extending his hand, knowing his brother would flinch, but it needed to be done. "Genji, the home is under attack again…we have to leave brother." It took a moment for the younger Shimada to register, he simply picked himself up and covered himself the best he could before taking his brothers hand and fleeing with him. Once again, the house was in chaos, men dying left and right, but this time there was something different, it was as if this was meant to happen. Once again, the boys were spotted when they made their way to the courtyard of Hanamura at their sand temple where the bell shrine resided. Bullets soared through the air to target the two, but they were too short and knew better than to simply run in a straight line. The tall gate that lead to a mini shopping area of town was boarded off on the other side. Preventing their escape. Hanzo turned and shoved his brother behind his body, ready to strike their followers as he drew his bow. Once again, men in black suits turned the corner, armed and ready for fire. Hanzo launched an arrow, nailing one in the eye. Another was hit in the throat, before he could draw once more, a bullet pierced his shoulder causing Hanzo to drop his arrow and kneel, clutching his wound. Genji tore a piece of his sheeted cover and pressed it onto his brothers bleeding wound, causing Hanzo to yell in pain. The man too aim once more at the children, until a massive 'thud' sound slammed in front of the children. The man in the suit stepped back but fired his rounds, each bullet deflecting as the debris smoke cleared and a radiant blue shield projected firmly. A large man in shiny silver armor was crouching in front of the two dragons, his helmet turned to meet their shocked gaze.
"Stay behind me!" His booming voice vibrated their cores as their attacker began to reload his weapon. Before firing off another set, a single bullet pierced his skull and sent the man to the ground. On the rooftop of the bell temple, A woman in blue military garb with raven hair looked down her scope at the scene. She smiled as she began to advance once more to give her friends cover. The massive titan of a man dismissed his blue shield and turned to the children. "Hanzo and Genji Shimada of the Shimada Clan? Is that you two?" He asked. Hanzo growled as he brothers Genji cowered slightly behind his elder sibling, but keeping one eye on the armored tank of a man.
"What is it that you want with us?" Hanzo growled.
"I am Reinhardt, I'm here to take you away from all of this. You'll be coming with me to Overwatch where you'll be protected. We must move quickly children." The armored tank swiftly scooped the two, trying his hardest to watch for their wounds and failing miserably, but his mission needed to be evacuated. Reinhardt started to make his way back to their extraction point, covering the two smaller children in his grasp as more bullets were fired, bouncing off his armor. Opposite of the bullet barrage, a small turret began firing at the enemy forces, taking them out in one smooth motion. "Ah, Torbjorn! You have my thank my friend!" Reinhardt boomed with laughter as he made it to the extraction point where a transport ship awaited him. A very large bodied Gorilla wearing what seemed to be a space suit and glasses turned to aim his rifle at the moving shadow. The same for the large body building, pink haired woman that accompanied him, both lowered their weapons as they saw the shine in Reinhardt's armor.
"How are the children?" The woman asked in her thick Russian accent. Reinhardt presented the two to them, the woman instantly dropped her own heavy weapon to the side and picked up the smallest of the two dragons. Noticing their wounds, she frowned with a growl. "Taking over should not have brought this!" The gorilla adjusted his glasses and peered down at the eldest Shimada who tried his best to remain conscious.
"We'll take them to Gibralta immediately. Load them up Zarya!"
"Da Winston!" The woman replied.
"I'll stay and cover the others. Best of luck my friends!" Reinhardt grabbed his hammer and turned to make his way back to battle with a mighty laugh once more.
Mercy was sitting at the dining room table holding onto Jack's bleeding hand, wrapping it after washing and applying medical cream. Their emotions ran high after hearing the recounting of the rescue operation that took place months ago; Jack broke his coffee mug in his hand after hearing what the boys went through. The boys were brought back to Gibralta to receive medical treatment, and tend to their struggles with becoming orphans and overcoming the ordeal done unto them both. Hanzo was lashed and beaten to be made "stronger", and Genji, they took all of his innocence and safety away. Once the adrenalin finally settled, he only wanted Hanzo around him, only letting the doctors do their work if Hanzo was in the room as well. Both spent time healing, but their emotional and mental scars were set in stone. Now learning that the boys were on the bounty list, and that Overwatch interfered with crime boss matters, the boys would not be safe for long in Gibralta if their enemies caught wind of their current location. It was suggested that they stay with Angela and Jack, until they could return to their family home, but the thought of returning would seem fruitless now.
"You see, even the youngest is still getting over all the narcotics they pumped into him to make him…submit to their will. They used this news to torture Hanzo into obeying and maintaining the property, only to beat him senseless later in the evenings. He has confessed all his father's dealings, and we can confirm he's telling the truth. He has no reason to lie at this point. The two months they were at Gibralta, they were nothing but the talk of the base, how they survived all of that and still stay close to one another." Ana had grabbed another beer after Jack injured his hand, she looked at her sleeping daughter reclining on Reinhardt's chest and frowned.
"Those two will grow strong together, and I suggested you two because you've already done fine with the other's the past 5 years. I'm sorry this is sudden my friends, but we had to wait until they were cleared by the mental doctors." Reinhardt inserted his explanation.
"No, that's quite all right. They will be protected here, no matter what." Angela said with a stern look, Jack only nodded as he squeezed his injured hand to hold his wife's. Those two will have all the protection in the world and then some, anyone who would date come after them would regret the mere thought itself. Around the corner of the living room, Jesse, and D. Va were both eavesdropping since the story began, they heard it all. D. Va clasped her hands over her mouth as tears fell past. Jesse's eyes watered more than he wanted, he was thankful that his hat fell to his eyes this time, seeing his sister close behind, he lightly cupped her chin to have her look up. He hated seeing his family members cry, reaching into his pocket, Jesse brought out a bandana and wiped her face for her.
"Come on Hana, let's get out of here before they hear us." Jesse whispered, the two children tip-toed as carefully as they could past the living room furniture and up to their rooms.