Angelica walked down a rarely used back hallway, humming quietly as she flipped through another stack of paperwork. Jack and Winston had found the necessary forms to have Overwatch active as a mercenary company, but they wanted her to go over them to ensure there were no surprises.
"Angelica."
She jumped, startled, as Hanzo placed his hand on her shoulder. He seemed chagrined as she collected herself, but waited patiently for her to respond. "Sorry, I didn't see you. What can I do for you, Hanzo?"
"Do you recall the salon where Hana and Lena had their hair colored?" At her nod, he continued, "I would like to go there. Would you accompany me?"
"Sure, but why? I mean, why visit a hair salon?" she asked, as he led the way to the garage.
"I have been speaking with Genji's master. I would like to make a change I should have much earlier. It is easier to consider, now, but I would like company. And I trust your judgment," he replied without glancing at her.
She studied him as they walked, intrigued. He was more open than he had been, but was still difficult to read. He did seem a bit softer than her first meeting with him, she thought.
She directed Hanzo as he drove through the town, settling back as he pulled into a parking space. Hanzo stared at the salon, unmoving.
"Do you want me to go in with you, or no?" she asked.
He sighed. "Please. This will likely be harder than I thought."
She got out and walked with him to check in. On impulse, she got an appointment for herself as well. When Hanzo looked surprised, she shrugged.
"I missed the group dyeing event, and I kinda want a little color."
Angelica was called up first, and chatted a bit with her stylist, who wanted to practice her English. When she was seated at the station, she explained what she wanted. She smiled when she heard Hanzo huff a brief laugh from his station behind her. She closed her eyes as the stylist started fussing with her hair and tried to restrain herself from turning to check on Hanzo, though she did raise an eyebrow when she heard clippers starting up.
Hanzo finished before she did.
"I will come back when your hair is finished," he called from the door. She waved vaguely at him and dozed in her chair.
When her stylist was finished, she was mildly worried to not find Hanzo waiting for her.
"Your friend paid for you both. He hasn't been back in, though," the receptionist told her.
"Did he say where he went?"
"No, but he did go left. That's all I could tell you."
Angelica nodded and went looking for him. She knew that he could handle himself if something had happened, but she didn't want to walk back to the base again. So, she walked around doing a bit of window shopping and admiring the new purple streak in her hair as she headed in the direction she thought Hanzo had gone.
She was admiring a necklace in the window display of a jeweler when she heard someone walk up to her.
"I do not believe that one would suit you," Hanzo said.
"It wouldn't, but it's pretty to look at," she replied as she turned to face him.
She blinked at him, then grabbed his jaw so she could turn his head. He had gotten a wide mowhawk, keeping the remainder of his hair pulled up in a bun. And he had gotten some piercings, one in his right ear and one at the bridge of his nose.
"Huh. That is a change," she muttered, letting him go. "It looks really good, actually. Genji's going to flip."
He chuckled as he followed her to the car. "If he objects, I still have pictures of when he was younger. He dyed his hair green." He hummed thoughtfully. "He looked like a carrot."
She laughed. "Can I see them? I promise I won't spoil their use as sibling blackmail."
He smiled as he got into the car, but didn't reply. They drove back in silence, Angelica taking a moment to send a message to Jack and Gabe, forewarning them about the changes. Gabe sent back a picture of himself raising an eyebrow, which she ignored.
Hanzo paused on the threshold into the base, and Angelica poked him gently. "He'll be happy you're growing. Now go talk to him."
He didn't say anything, but squared his shoulders and walked in. Deciding to leave other people's drama to themselves, she went in search of lunch. Amélie waved her over as she walked into the kitchen. Angelica walked over, pleased to note that the sickly purple tinge was completely gone. Her eyes were still more yellow than brown, and her hair still kept its indigo tint, but she was looking more human than Angelica had ever seen her.
"I wanted to thank you. You helped me even though you had no reason to do so. That means a lot."
"I didn't really do that much, though. Zen did more," she replied, confused.
Amélie shrugged elegantly. "You started the process. Thank you."
The sniper rose and sashayed out of the kitchen. Angelica blinked after her, then decided to just move on. It seemed like Amélie was saying it for her own benefit, not Angelica's. She made herself a sandwich and went over her abandoned paperwork while she ate.
"Interesting choice. Why purple?"
She jumped, startled, when she heard Gabe speak. "I like purple. And you kinda have the black and red color scheme going on, and Jack has white and blue, and this is a good compromise."
Gabe huffed a small laugh as he sat next to her. "Why do I get the feeling you pulled that second part out of your ass?"
She grinned cheekily at him. "Because I did. But it does sound plausible, don'tcha think?"
"You've been spending too much time with Jesse. His accent is rubbing off," he grumbled.
She laughed. "Anyway, from what I've seen on this, we're good."
He nodded and collected the papers. She waited while he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Jack and I are planning on dumping everything that happened at the next press conference. Including that we're still alive. We need to get the people on our side. And figure out where Ana went."
"Ana left? When?"
He sighed. "Shortly after Fareeha arrived. They met, Fareeha yelled, Ana stormed off. We don't know if she's figured out we know yet, or if she just wanted to get away from Fareeha."
"Damn. Think she's going to be trouble?"
He pinched the bridge of his nose. "No idea. If she's willingly with them. Probably, since we took their dedicated sniper. If she's being controlled somehow, I have no idea." He sighed heavily. "I don't know if Moira's involved, which colors a lot of this. I don't know, kitten."
She rested her hand over his, smiling a bit when he turned his hand to hold hers. "So, we know that Talon's planning something big. They have a sniper who may or may not be willingly working with them." She sighed. "Well, we'll deal with everything as it comes. Sombra can start looking for Moira and Ana, and maybe poke around Talon's network, see if we can get any answers."
He kissed her knuckles softly. "You're right. I'm just- Jack and I started talking. Apparently, a lot of our fights were because of her meddling. Maybe we'd have noticed...," he kissed her knuckles again. "She was our best man."
"I'm sorry, Gabe." She blinked. "Wait, you two got married?"
He laughed. "Shortly before the war ended, yeah. It was never filed legally, though, but we had the ceremony. That change things?"
She stroked a thumb over the back of his hand. "Not really. It just... surprised me, is all. And maybe I had a thought, but it's stupid." Gabe stayed silent, and she continued, "what if Ana thought she'd be where I am?"
He considered that, slowly getting up. "I need to go over some things. Love you, kitten."
—
Angelica waved at Jesse and Genji when they disembarked from the Orca. The pair had been out on a mission, one that was more Blackwatch than Overwatch, and she didn't know the details. But they didn't look hurt, so she considered that a victory.
Jesse whistled when he saw her. "Lovin' the new hair, darlin'. What's the occasion?"
"Hanzo wanted a buddy to get his hair done, so I went along," she replied, guiding the two towards the common room.
"Wait. Hanzo? My brother, Hanzo? The guy who looks like an extra from a samurai movie? He colored his hair?" Genji asked, incredulous.
"Cut, not colored," she corrected. "And he got some new jewelry, too. I think it suits him."
"Jewelry? We're talking about the same guy, right?"
Jesse shook his head, chuckling as he nudged Genji forward. "It's about time he loosened up a bit. Ah'm sure it's still gonna suit 'im, all sedate 'n all."
"Well...," Angelica started, then stopped when the man in question walked around a corner.
He was dressed casually, in worn jeans and a neat t-shirt. He had traded the stud in his ear out for a small hoop, and one of his dragons was perched on his shoulder, batting at it. He froze when he saw them, and Angelica continued forward until she could loop an arm around his shoulder, lightly squeezing in mute support.
"See? I told you it-"
She broke off as Genji let out a loud whoop and rushed over to his brother.
"Look at this! Look at you! Ha! No one back home would recognize you! And I told you your hair would look great like that! This-" he turned, draping his arm across Hanzo's shoulder, calling to Jesse. "Look at this! I've been trying to get him to do this for years!"
Angelica eased away from them as Genji hauled Hanzo off, presumably to show him off to the others, and studied Jesse. He had frozen when he saw Hanzo, and hadn't said anything. She didn't think Hanzo had noticed, given Genji's excitement, but she was a bit concerned. She'd never known the cowboy to be silent often.
"Jesse?"
He jumped as if he'd forgotten she was there.
"Oh, hey, Ange. Hanzo's new look is... sure somethin', ain't it?" he asked, staring off in the direction the brothers had gone.
"You're interested in him, aren't you?"
Jesse stiffened. "Don't much matter if he won't give me the time of day." He tipped his hat and walked off, turning away toward his room.
She felt one of the dragons land on her shoulder while another wrapped around her waist.
They each think the other is indifferent, because they both hide their true selves, one said, sounding mournful.
She side-eyed them. "You know, you could try talking to Jesse. Ramen talks to Zen just fine."
But it's fun to watch you yell, the first complained as she shooed them after Jesse.
"Remind Jesse that Hanzo's picking the movie tonight," she called after them. She shook her head, amused, and went to join the others in the common room to help set up.
The movie night had become a weekly tradition of sorts, and everyone had their own setup. Hana and Lúcio had built a pillow fort in one corner, and had been gleefully joined by Sombra, Jamie, and Genji. After the fort's first appearance, nerf guns had been banned from movie night. Mako was very thorough in catching smuggled guns, to Hana and Jamie's annoyance. Zarya, Reinhardt, and Mako took over the over-stuffed couch opposite the fort. A ratty, but surprisingly comfortable couch was claimed by Gérard and Amélie. Lena tended to flop on the floor with a large cushion, while Hanzo had acquired a papasan chair by the fort. Jesse claimed the recliner that anchored a corner of the fort, while Angela, Zenyatta, and Torbjörn claimed a couch in the back. They mostly worked on small projects, and tried to keep out of the way. Winston tended to sit with Lena, and the love seat in the middle was perpetually reserved for what the younger agents had taken to referring to as the "commander cuddle pile", Angelica, Jack, and Gabe.
Angelica watched as everyone went back to setting up the room. There was some light-hearted teasing about Hanzo's new 'look', but he was smiling faintly as he helped with the blankets for the fort.
"Hey, did you ever say what we were going to see tonight?" Sombra asked suddenly.
"I had not. I wish it to be a surprise," Hanzo replied smoothly.
Sombra pouted, then noticed Angelica in the door. "Ey, chica! Trying to rip off my style?" she tugged on her own hair, laughing as Angelica shook her head.
"Looking for my own. I probably won't keep it purple."
Sombra nodded, and she and Angelica moved out of the way of a moving couch for the new arrivals. Angelica left for the kitchen to help bring out the snacks, grabbing Jesse on the way.
"I thought you were going to avoid everyone for a while," she commented, loading the trolley with the various hot snacks and dips.
He paused, then shrugged. "Figger Ah'd be missed, an' Ah kinda want to see what movie he's got planned."
"Uh huh. Care to come clean? I won't tell anyone, promise."
He flushed and looked away. "His dragons followed me. An' they lectured me. Seem to think Hanzo'd be upset if Ah didn't come."
She nodded. "I think he would. And I think you should let him know how you feel. Repression won't help either of you."
Jesse snorted and pushed the cart toward the common room, leaving her to follow. She huffed in annoyance, but followed, grabbing the chips on her way out. She dropped them on the snack table and settled between Jack and Gabe.
"Oh? And what has you in a huff?" Jack murmured into her hair.
"Later."
Hanzo looked over the room, making sure everyone was settled.
"So, aniki, please tell me we're not going to sit through one of your old classic movies," Genji called from the fort.
Hanzo hummed, considering. "It came out in the late '90's. The special effects didn't age well, but the story does. It's called Dragonheart."
Reinhardt perked up at that. "Good! A wonderful movie!"
The dragons appeared, Ramen and Somen coiling on Zenyatta's lap, Soba coiling around Jesse's neck, and Udon draped across his shoulders.
I didn't think you would enjoy this one. Isn't it about a dragon hunter? she thought at them.
No. The dragon is a hero in this, Ramen replied.
She settled back against Jack, Gabe leaning into her. The group watched mostly in silence, occasionally pointing out a continuity problem, but mostly enthralled by the story.
At the end, there almost wasn't a dry eye in the room.
"No fair picking one with that kinda mood whiplash at the end. I have a stream after this," Hana complained as she crawled out of the fort.
Hanzo merely gazed at the room at large, expressionless, as several others agreed with Hana.
"Am I the only one who thought that it had a happy ending?" Angelica asked as everyone began the cleanup.
"Probably," Jack commented as he gathered the scattered plates.