"Thank you again for helping me clean up the lab," Angela said. Genji could hear her rifling through papers on the other side of the cabinet.

He carefully set the glass slides down before responding. "Of course. Did I not say that I would?"

"Ah, well, you know how it is. Things come up."

"Nothing can stand between you and me," he teased, knocking on the filing cabinet separating them.

She hummed noncommittally. Genji looked up and paused, hoping she was just thinking over a witty retort. The seconds trickled by with no reply. That… was not encouraging.

"Angela?" She didn't answer. Genji leaned back to see her already engrossed in a data read out. The sight of his studious girlfriend ensnared by yet another report made him smile, but the uneasy feeling in his stomach didn't fade completely.

Their relationship seemed to have these moments often. Genji leaning in, Angela leaning away. He'll step forwards, she'll step back. Every exchange felt one-sided, like Angela was holding back.

It scared him.

Quickly putting the measuring instruments in their proper places, Genji walked up behind Angela, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder. She patted his arm, but didn't otherwise acknowledge him. That was okay. This, at least, wasn't different from how they used to be. She'll address him once she's finished reading. The minutes seemed to flow slowly and Genji contented himself by matching his breathing to Angela's as he waited. Finally, Angela leaned her head against his.

"How are you feeling?" He asked.

"Fine." Her response made him frown. "Why do you ask?"

"I was just checking on you." Hoping there was a reason why things didn't feel right.

"Well, I am doing wonderful," she said, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek, sending a wave of warmth through his bones. "How are you, spätzli?"

"Perfect," He replied, burrowing his face in the crook of her neck.

And all considered, he really was. Nearly every waking moment was tinged with a nearly surreal quality and he reveled in the near miracle that his life had become. Living on an island in the Mediterranean with his mentor, his brother, his best friend, and the love of his life- he had come far from his Blackwatch days, when his greatest hope for happiness was dying. Now, heaven was in every heartbeat, paradise in every passing thought.

Perhaps the euphoria was what made it all feel so ephemeral.

As Angela pulled away from him, the anticipation of loss intensified. Nothing could last forever, but could this last at all? How long until Winston could no longer hold Overwatch together? How long until Hanzo's guilt pushed him to another self-imposed exile? Until Jesse's sense of self-preservation outweighed his loyalty?

...Until Angela found a new project?

"Have you seen my notebook?" She asked from across the lab, digging through the cabinets they had just finished organizing.

"Which one?"

"The one I was just using! I thought of an alternate method of application for the nanite-beam and I need to write it down before I forget." As Angela continued babbling about her most recent idea, Genji scooped her notebook from under the pile of paperwork she had just been reading. He didn't interrupt her, knowing that she was talking to keep the thoughts in her head rather than to explain said thoughts, and gently pressed the book into her hands. "Ah! Yes, exactly what I was looking for."

Genji leaned on the counter next to her, propping his chin in his hand, watching her etch out mad science in indecipherable scribbles. What could be holding her back from him? Was it something that he'd done? Something he hadn't done?

He huffed softly. It wasn't like him to be so self-doubting. It didn't matter if he'd done something to upset Angela, because he would never do such a thing on purpose. She would forgive him as long as he apologized, and he was very good at apologizing to Angela.

Glancing at the clock, Genji decided that a quarter past ten was as good a time as any to call it a night. He slid a hand down her arm and when he reached her hand he gripped it tightly.

Angela turned to him, an adorably confused look puckering her face. "Spätzli? Oh, no, don't tell me you're dragging me out of the lab already, it's barely-" Her voice cut off as she made a quick glance to the clock, and her lips twisted into a pout. A very kissable pout.

Genji grinned and moved in, cupping her face and drawing her closer before pressing his lips to hers. Her initial protest changed to a pleased hum as she pulled him closer. After a few breathless seconds they broke free. Genji gasped lightly, relishing the heat in his face and the tingle on his lips, fervently thanking every imaginable god that his face hadn't needed cybernetic "enhancements".

"Sorry," he whispered teasingly. "Let me make it up to you."

Angela smirked, running her nails through his hair. His eyes rolled back in his head at the sensation, but it was nothing compared to the electric sizzle that seized his spine when she whispered back, "You better."

/

Jesse burst into Winston's office, not bothering with formalities and getting right to the point: "Listen, Winston, I don't care if the next mission is to Mars, I've gotta get off this island."

"Uh," Winston started, peanut butter halfway to his open mouth. A chunk fell from his hand, landing back in the jar with a forlorn plop. "I, um, am not planning any interplanetary expeditions at the moment." He set the peanut butter down. "Why? What's going on?"

"Nothing," Jesse said quickly, a little high pitched, desperately trying to block images of Genji and Angela in the med bay— fuck, too late! God damn it, all he wanted was some pain meds for muscle soreness, he didn't deserve this!

"O-kay," Winston said, returning his attention to extracting peanut butter from the jar. "We don't really have any pending missions. Why don't you take some leave?"

Jesse snorted. "Where would I go on leave to? 60 mil on my head, remember?"

"I don't see your point." Winston said with his spoon in his mouth. "That bounty always exists when you leave this base, it doesn't matter if you're on mission or vacation."

"Well… s'pose you're right." Jesse scuffed his boot on the floor before throwing himself in a nearby chair- a clean one at that. Hanzo must still be helping Winston with chores... "At least I wouldn't be alone while dodgin' bounty hunters, though."

Winston shrugged. "Ask one of the other agents to go on vacation with you."

Unbidden, a mental image of vacationing in Hawaii with Genij and Doc being lovebirds popped into his mind.

"…I'm not going to ask what that grimace is for."

"It'd be best for your health," Jesse agreed. "C'mon, buddy, there's gotta be something. Data recovery, escort a politician, maybe protect some poor former Overwatch agent from getting a surprise lobotomy?"

"Um, still no."

Jesse groaned.

"Technically, this is a good thing," Winston reminded him. "It means Talon is keeping a low profile. I haven't discovered any suspicious deaths in the past month."

"What— really?"

"Of course," Winston added, waving his spoon in the air. "I don't think it's a coincidence that the deaths stopped at roughly the same time Ogundimu escaped from prison."

Jesse racked his brain for who Ogundimu might be, but came up empty. It sounded familiar, but he just couldn't place it. "Who?"

"Akande Ogundimu. You might know him as Doomfist?"

"Ah. That bastard." Still not ringing any bells, but he'd figure it out sooner or later.

"Quite." Winston stuck another spoonful of peanut butter in his mouth, talking around it. "I suspect he's wrested back control of Talon."

Interesting. "Why would that explain the lack of deaths?"

"Ogundimu is known for his..." He pulled his spoon out with a pop. "Unique perspective on the world. He has 'grander ambitions' than general unrest and profiting off others' misery."

"Like?"

Winston looked at him. "Like starting another war between omnics and humans."

Jesse scrunched his nose. Why the hell would anyone want another Omnic Crisis? "That's…"

"Disturbing?"

"Don't let anyone tell you that you have an art for overstatement. How d'you know all this?"

Rolling his eyes, Winston scraped the bottom of the jar. "He's a monologuing type and was very upset when I put him in prison."

Now he remembered! It had been five years ago when Doomfist was arrested. It was such big news that it even reached the rickety Alaskan workhouse Jesse'd been shacked up in. He didn't remember it ever mentioning who put Doomfist in prison. "Shit, that was you?"

"No," Winston chuckled. "It was the other gorilla who just happened to be in the area."

"Someone been teachin' you sass?" He rubbed a hand over his face. "Maybe we all need a vacation…"

Winston sighed. "If you're really that desperate for a mission, I can send a team to Dorado."

That perked him up. "Dorado?"

"Yes, it's a coastal city in Mexico—"

"I know where Dorado is," Jesse interrupted. "I'm wondering what kinda business we've got in a high-class resort town." He lifted his hat and scratched a hand through his hair, thinking. "I feel like we've talked about it before for some reason."

Winston hummed. "Lumerico is an energy company that has its regional headquarters there. I suspect that Talon is conducting some sort of deal with them." He looked up suddenly, a suspiciously guilty expression on his face. "Um, I might have mentioned them while talking about recovery from the first Omnic Crisis?" No, that wasn't it... "They're the ones that spearheaded the rebuilding of Mexican infrastructure post-Crisis-"

Jesse snapped his fingers. "That 76 guy!"

"Uhhh."

"Don't play dumb with me, Winston, I'm better at it. You want us to go check out Soldado: 76, don't you?"

"No!" Winston denied automatically, the way people did when they were caught red-handed. "There's legitimately Talon activity in the area! I mean… if you happened to run into him and ask if he's Morrison long-lost brother—"

Jesse shook his head. "Ain't happenin', bud."

"Well, then," Winston sniffed, "I guess there aren't any missions available."

When the hell did Winston grow a spine? Building character was bullshit. Jesse stared at him, hoping to unnerve him. When it didn't work, he sat back with a huff. "…I'm not going out of my way to look for him, but if I do happen to see him, I'll tell him hello for you."

"Excellent!" Winston exclaimed, looking unbearably smug. "We can begin planning at the next meeting. Or rather, you'll brief your plan at the meeting."

"Come again?"

"As the team lead, you will select your teammates and plan the mission to Dorado," Winston said. "I'll prep a dossier for you so you can have background information."

"Hey now, I didn't sign up for-"

"You declined to go on leave, you asked for a mission. Now you have a mission. That makes you mission lead, Jesse."

Jesse squinted at Winston, thinking. "Was it Genji?" He asked aloud. "Nah, couldn't be. Genji's all about peace and harmony now. It was Doc wasn't it?"

Winston gave him a side-eye. "What are you talking about?"

"Someone's been teachin' you sass and I wanna know who it is!"

Winston laughed. "I suppose you could say I learned from the best."

Who would Winston consider the best at sass? If it wasn't Genji or Angela, that only left a few people who both spent time with Winston and had a sarcasm streak a mile wide-ah, he knows exactly who had been in here recently!

"...Hanzo. I knew he was up to no good, that sneaky-"

Winston rolled his eyes. "You, Jesse. I've been learning from you."

"What?" Jesse gasped. "Sass from me?" He scoffed and shoved his hat back on his head. "I am the very picture of sincerity. You know what this is? Character assassination! You hear me? Character. Assassination. Why, I have half a mind to quit-"

"I can still cancel the mission."

"Right, it's been a pleasure doing business with you, Winston, have a blessed evenin'." Jesse quickly ducked out of the lab before Winston made good on his word to cancel his vacation.

/

Breathe in. Take in the world, its darkness, its grime. Its hate.

Hold. Hold it in and squeeze it. Pressurize. Transform. Be the conduit which reforms the darkness to light.

Breathe out. Release the love and kindness. Visualize it taking form, returning the compassion to the world. See it spread warmth and joy, reaching out, touching his face, kissing his lips…

⟪You are unfocused.⟫

Genji flinched to awareness. Master Zenyatta was looking at him, amused, if his dancing orbs were anything to go by.

⟪Thinking of Angela again?⟫

Blushing, Genji wished for the thousandth time that week that Master allowed him to wear his mask during meditation. The transition from Nepal to the outside world had been hard enough. Before, there was no pressure, no rush. Outside, there was never enough. A task could always be performed harder, done better, faster. Not to mention, there had been few distractions at the monastery, but there was no shortage of them here. Now that he was with Overwatch again… with Angela again, it was so much worse.

He was transfixed. He couldn't focus on his thoughts because his thoughts were of her. He couldn't focus on his heartbeat because it skipped at any reminder of her. He couldn't seem to focus on anything that wasn't Angela.

And Master Zenyatta never missed a single slip.

⟪It seems that you have been more distracted as of late.⟫

Genji sighed and slouched from the proper sitting form. ⟪It is frustrating, Master. All these years training with you and I feel like I am further behind than when we started. I cannot focus.⟫

⟪You have not been tested in this manner before, my student.⟫ Master chuckled. ⟪One cannot expect to fly in hurricanes as well as one can fly in clear skies.⟫

But these are clear skies, Genji thought as he shifted into a more comfortable position. Everything was going well, the unease he felt had no basis in reality. Even when he got swept up in the honeymoon phase with Angela, there was an undercurrent of worry and he couldn't understand why-

⟪Perhaps there is a reason,⟫ Master began, ⟪that your thoughts are drawn to this particular topic. Instead of forcing yourself to focus on other things, why not let your thoughts run their course? Discover what it is about these thoughts that draw you to them.⟫

⟪Yes, Master.⟫ Genji closed his eyes and recentered himself.

Honestly, the answer seemed pretty obvious. It was like the prayer flags at the monastery. They pleased every sense Genji had access to- the crisp fluttering sounds as the wind breathed through them, their bright colors against the monotone mountain. He could easily imagine how the fabric would feel against his skin, each weave infused with the compassion and hope of its creator.

When he first started meditating outside, the flags would catch his attention at every teasing snap and flirtatious wave. By the end, though, he could focus on them at will. Well, usually. When the winds were particularly strong, he would find himself looking at them more often, worried that the mountain gales would carry them away to- oh.

Genji opened his eyes. ⟪I am worried about losing her.⟫ He spoke the words slowly, discovering their truth as he said them.

⟪Oh? In what way?⟫

Isn't there only one interpretation of the phrase? Master would not ask without reason though. Genji thought of the silences, the stilted conversations, the way she never leaned into him first. ⟪Angela is with me physically, but will not stand by me emotionally. I... do not know why.⟫

⟪Do you really not know why?⟫ Master asked skeptically.

⟪I know why it used to be like this,⟫ Genji defended. ⟪It took time for us to rebuild our friendship after the Fall.⟫

⟪After the Fall?⟫ Again, an edge of doubt.

⟪After I… left.⟫ He admitted.

Master hummed approvingly. ⟪And how long did it take to rebuild your friendship?⟫

Genji side-eyed Master. Master simply sat, watching him placidly. He knew Genji didn't want to answer this question. ⟪One could say we're still rebuilding,⟫ he eventually said. He looked away from Master and shifted in place again, trying to find an outlet for his frustration. ⟪So you believe that I am moving too fast?⟫

⟪The speed at which a team of horses moves does not matter, so long as they move at the same pace.⟫

⟪So I am getting ahead of Angela,⟫ he concluded. ⟪I have not healed our relationship from when I left. She expects me to leave.⟫

Always, these expectations. From everyone. Forever. Even after extricating himself from the Shimada-gumi, even after he was free from Blackwatch and Overwatch, he still had to struggle with expectations. He was an entirely different man than even five years ago, why did Jesse expect him to be the same as he was in Blackwatch? Why did Hanzo expect him to be as reckless as he was in his youth? Why did Angela expect him to abandon her in the same way he did at one of the weakest moments in his life? Only Master ever seemed to have no expectations.

⟪You are brooding, Genji.⟫

Fine, those things weren't fair to say. The seeds he had planted years ago had grown to bear poisonous fruit. He had abandoned Angela, how could he expect her to immediately forgive him for that? Even if she forgave him in her mind, her heart would still remember the wound. How it must have felt to wake up one morning and find your trusted companion, your confidant, your best friend simply gone.

...He knew exactly what that felt like. Iris, she was the one who supported him after Jesse disappeared. And he still did it to her in return.

Genji leaned forward, digging his elbows into his knees and holding his face in his hands.

⟪How can I earn her trust back?⟫ He asked aloud.

⟪How did I earn your trust?⟫ Master countered.

It is true that Genji had been very… cautious, when he first arrived at the Shambali. Though he craved the peace and healing he suspected he would find within the monastery's walls, it was difficult to believe that they wouldn't take advantage of his state. His family had manipulated him, Blackwatch had given him a one-sided ultimatum, and even Overwatch had used him to promote a new pro-omnic message against his will. What would make the Shambali any different?

His suspicion and anger had made his placement difficult. While other students found masters within their first few days of arrival, Genji was without a master for three weeks. His relief at becoming Master Zenyatta's disciple was outweighed only by his rampant distrust.

⟪You were patient,⟫ Genji finally said. ⟪But you were also firm.⟫

⟪I was, but how did I communicate that to you? What did I do?⟫

⟪You kept to your word. You were always honest.⟫

Master nodded approvingly. ⟪I used words and acts of affirmation to reassure you that I would neither abandon nor betray you. What do you think you could say or do for Angela that would affirm your relationship? You do not have to tell me, but I encourage you to consider it for the rest of our session today.⟫

Genji nodded. By the time he unfolded his legs and bowed to Master, he knew exactly what he needed to do.

/

⟪Brother, I need your help.⟫ Genji said as he burst into the kitchen.

Hanzo sipped his tea, observing the eager, almost frantic bent to his spine. Whatever trouble Genji had found himself in, it was causing him an unusual amount of distress. ⟪In what way can I provide assistance?⟫

To Hanzo's surprise, Genji removed his mask before beginning his rant. ⟪Master Zenyatta said that in order to regain Angela's affections I must do acts of affirmation and the best way I know how to do that is to take her on a date but I am worried that I won't get it right and I realized if there's anyone that's overly stuffy and formal and could help me sweep her off her feet again it'd be you-⟫

Hanzo held up a hand, relieved when Genji's rapid-fire speech stopped. ⟪Genji,⟫ he said slowly. ⟪Did you just ask me for dating advice?⟫

⟪Isn't that what an older brother is for?⟫ Hanzo leveled a Look in his direction. Genji pouted. ⟪It's not like I'm asking for romantic advice, I just need help coming up with ideas of what to do for our date.⟫

⟪Be that as it may, I am sure that any of the other agents on base would be able to provide you with better advice than I can.⟫

A glint entered Genji's eye and Hanzo reflexively pulled his bowl of food closer to his chest. ⟪Is that so, brother? Any agent would be better than you for this?⟫

Hanzo only stared suspiciously, not liking the expression on Genji's face at all.

"Jesse!" Genji shouted. "Over here!"

Looking over his shoulder, Hanzo bit back a sigh. McCree did not usually take his dinner so early, so it was a surprise that he stood at the far counter, the meal Hanzo made for him in hand. Of course, was it not his luck that Genji would demand advice the one night all their schedules aligned?

McCree strode over to their table, sitting next to Genji, barely giving Hanzo a glance. "'Sup, Genji?"

"I need your help-"

McCree interrupted with loud slurp of coffee, eyeing Genji with a shrewd look. "Yeah. I'mma stop you right there. See, the last time you asked for my help, we ended up kidnapping an ex-Yakuza leader, who once-upon-a-time sliced 'n' diced you worse than a chainsaw artist hopped up on heroin, and has since been a quintessential dick." Hanzo rolled his eyes. "So I'm gonna go with 'no'."

Genji snorted. "Your creatively phrased maybe would be more convincing if you were not eating my brother's cooking."

"He's a good cook," McCree grumbled, pulling his bowl of fish and rice closer to his corner of the table without looking at either of them. Hanzo felt no urge to preen at the compliment, aware that McCree considered grease to be an essential ingredient in burgers.

"I want to take Angela on a date," Genji continued, "and it has to be perfect."

"And you think I'm the guy who could help you?" McCree gestured up and down at himself, though one hand still clutched his bowl.

Hanzo frowned. He was usually the first to point out flaws, but outside of McCree's… exuberant style of dress, he was attractive, friendly to those not named Hanzo, and loose with compliments. Hanzo would have certainly thought he'd be better equipped to dispense dating advice.

"Of course, you'd be a great help!" Genji said. "Anything you say I will simply do the opposite."

"Well in that case," McCree said with a deadpan drawl. "Treat her with the respect she deserves and be open with your obvious love and affection."

"I knew the strip club was a good idea."

"You still frequent those establishments?" Hanzo asked, appalled.

"It was a joke, anija!"

"Was it, though?" McCree asked with a sly grin. Genji flicked a piece of rice in his face.

Atrocious manners. Hanzo cleared his throat. "What do you have planned so far?"

"Absolutely nothing," Genji said cheerfully, though his anxious body language betrayed him.

"Well, when are you takin' Doc out on the town?" McCree asked between bites.

"Tomorrow."

Hanzo pinched the bridge of his nose while McCree pulled his hat over his face.

"What?" Genji asked.

Hanzo took a deep breath. "You cannot possibly expect to plan a 'perfect' date in twenty-four hours."

Genji ducked his chin. "Yes I can."

Shaking his head, McCree sighed. "Well, at least tomorrow's a weekday. You might be able to pull off some dinner reservations."

"I've always thought home-cooked meals were considered more intimate," Hanzo said, not quite managing the inflection of a question.

"Maybe if Genji was capable of usin' the kitchen without startin' a fire," McCree countered.

"...Fires are romantic." Genji grumbled.

"So," McCree said, ignoring Genji. "Is dinner enough, or are you lookin' to make this an all-day thing?"

"All day! Angela deserves the best."

Jesse snorted. "If that was true, she wouldn't be datin' you."

Hanzo felt his lips twitch with amusement. "What we choose for ourselves is not always what is best for ourselves."

Genji narrowed his eyes. "I cannot tell if you are insulting me or defending me, anija."

"I have not yet decided," Hanzo teased.

"Alright, so we've got dinner," McCree said, bringing the conversation back to the topic at hand. "You should probably do breakfast in bed- a breakfast that doesn't involve cooking, mind. What do you want to do between that?"

"Well, there is not much to do on Gibraltar," Genji said contemplatively. "And I do not want to spend too much time traveling. With the way she has been working, I am worried she will fall asleep before we reach any destination."

Hanzo hummed thoughtfully. "If you want her to relax, why not a spa day?"

Genji seemed nonplussed. "I'd rather do an activity we can both participate in."

"There are couple's spa packages," Hanzo said dismissively. "Just do one of those."

"And then what?" Genji gestured up and down at his body. "There is little they can do for me."

Hanzo flinched, shame overcoming him. He looked down, not wanting to see whatever expression of outage or anger might be on Genji and McCree's faces. He sensed McCree shift in the seat across from him and braced himself for the biting insults.

"You might be mostly metal, but you're not all metal." McCree tapped on his own prosthetic arm. Cautiously, Hanzo glanced up at McCree, listening as he addressed Genji. "It feels real nice to have the transition areas massaged. Plus, there's face massages, acupuncture, waxing, brows, steam rooms, mud baths, aromatherapy, overpriced smoothie bars- and those are just the things you can do with your human bits. There's spas that cater to our kind, that'll do maintenance on your mechanics." McCree made a face. "Not sure if you'd be into that though, it feels really… exposed."

Genji shuddered lightly.

As McCree spoke, Hanzo allowed himself to gradually relax. He had made a severe error, yes, but neither Genji nor McCree had brought it to bear. If they did not want to bring attention to it, perhaps… Perhaps he should let it go.

"You seem to know quite a bit about spas," Hanzo said tentatively.

McCree shrugged. "Things you pick up when your old gang's boss loves the luxuries in life."

Gang leader? He had not heard them refer to their former commander as such before. "...Your Commander Reyes?"

Genji and Jesse both burst out laughing. "No! Lord, I can't imagine him sittin' still long enough to make it through the waitin' room, let alone a decent massage."

"You are not much better, Jesse," Genji pointed out.

"At least I wouldn't threaten the receptionist while I fidgeted!" McCree coughed, still smiling. "But yeah, before, uh, Overwatch, I was in a gang in the States. Boss was a woman named Ashe. That's who I meant by 'old gang'."

"I am still not sold on a spa day," Genji announced, propping his chin on his hand. "I could take her to the arcade instead, it would be just like old times!"

"And that is a good thing?" Hanzo asked skeptically, recalling Genji's many conquests in Hanamura.

"Of course it is," Genji said, though a hint of doubt tinged his words.

"How's an escape room sound?" Jesse asked. "Heard Brigitte and Reinhardt talkin' about one that's decent in town. Not as loud or as crowded as arcades, but still fun."

Genji hummed contemplatively. "That might work."

"What is an escape room?" Hanzo asked curiously.

McCree shrugged and took another bite of his dinner. "It's this sorta themed-out room or series of rooms that you get locked in and the goal is to get back out."

"You pay to get locked in a room?"

Genji laughed. "You can still leave whenever you would like, anija, but the goal is to finish the series of puzzles quickly. The door 'unlocking' is just how the game ends."

"And Doctor Zeigler enjoys such puzzles?"

"Ah," Genji began, looking worried. "I am not sure. Maybe?"

McCree slapped Genji's back. "Don't overthink this, bud. It's not like you're on a thirty day trial. You and Angela have all the time in the world to go on dates and the like. There ain't nothin' to be anxious about."

"Anxious?" Genji asked, giggling nervously. Hanzo frowned, surprised Genji was even capable of an emotion that wasn't 'obnoxiously confident and outgoing'. "I am not anxious. What makes you think I'm anxious?" He stood abruptly. "Right, spa day! Escape room! It will go great, thanks for all your advice but look at the time I got to go bye!" Then he all but sprinted out of the kitchen, leaving Hanzo and McCree alone.

They looked at each other.

Hanzo quickly ate the last of his dinner and stood.

"Wait, Hanzo."

He looked down at McCree, wary. McCree scratched at his beard.

"There's a mission coming up and Winston's tagged me as the lead. You want in?"

"That is what we agreed on, is it not? I am unsure why you phrased it as a question."

"Cause I'm polite? How'd you rather I do it? 'Mission in a week, be there'?"

"That would have been acceptable, yes."

McCree mumbled something that sounded like 'lost cause'. "Look, Winston's bein' a little more hands-off with the new missions. He wants me to pick all our teammates and brief the mission before we go."

"Yes?" Where was McCree going with this?

"Well, you wanna help me out?"

"That is outside the parameters of our agreement."

"I know," McCree gritted out. "How'd you like to help out anyway?"

Hanzo considered for a moment. It did not make sense that McCree was asking for assistance. His background in both covert and traditional paramilitary operations indicated that he should have no issue coordinating the mission himself. McCree did not strike him as particularly lazy, so he did not think his aim was to avoid work.

Perhaps… it was a peace offering?

Hanzo reseated himself. "How can I assist?"