Genji looked at the clock again, for the nth time.

4.39 AM.

He sighed. The ninja hasn't managed to sleep since now, the thought of what happened on their last mission still on his mind. How he escaped death again. How if Mockingbird didn't think of checking on them they wouldn't have come off that easily.

He felt his phone make a quick buzz. He looked at it.

Speaking of which…

Mockingbird

you sleepin ?

Was he ? Did he want to pretend ? … Let's see what he wanted, first.

Genji

What do you want ?

Mockingbird

idk

im just bored, i guess

Genji

There's Cassidy for that.

Mockingbird

ye

but

he sleepin

i dun wanna wake him up

yknow

im a tease not cruel

The Shimada sighed. They were just bored… He didn't think he could be a good distraction. But at the same time, he didn't really want to sleep now, Genji was too awake to even attempt it.

Genji

I'm not sure I'll be a good disraction

Distracyion

Mockingbird

r u ok

Genji

Distraction

Mockingbird

there we go

u should go to sleep tbh

Genji

I'm too awake for that.

Mockingbird

ah

understandable

and dw

i dun mind tbh

Genji

If you say so.

Mockingbird

up for a call ?

The cyborg thought for a bit. Was he in the mood for it ? He honestly wanted to go train a bit, but his aching back prevented him from doing so. He could use a distraction, too, he realised. He shrugged. Reyes did tell all of them, in his own way, to try with King.

Genji

Why not.

And his phone was vibrating, the contact info of the Mockingbird appearing on his screen. He surprised himself by having a slight hesitation before answering.

He didn't say anything.

"Um. Hi ?" The bird asked, hesitant. His voice was still modified, Genji realised, but even still, he sounded sleepy. Like he didn't get much sleep the past few days.

"Hello." He simply answered.

"Ah, you're there. I was afraid I called the wrong number, somehow." A giggle could be heard. The person on the other side of the line seemed more… Relaxed. Or exhausted. Either way, he sure acted differently than what he saw during the meeting.

He didn't know how to answer, his own tired mind preventing him from giving a proper response. King didn't seem to mind.

"So… What time is it for you ?" The informant asked him, curious. The agent looked at the digital clock right next to his bed, it indicated 5:04 and ticking.

"5:04." He replied.

"Damn, we're in the same time zone." Oh. That was interesting. He was kinda happy about it. He didn't reply.

"Not much of the talkative type, eh ?" Was he… Teasing ?

"I told you I'm not very distracting."

"And I told you it was ok. I don't mind silence."

"You seem like you do…" He said out loud, without really thinking. He heard a distorted chuckle.

"I talk a lot, yes. That's because I have no filter~"

"You should have some." Another snicker, this one was more shocked. It was also louder, like a genuine laugh. His lips quirked upwards for a moment.

"Aaww," he whined softly after calming down, "what, you don't like people being brutally honest ?"

"You talk a lot and say nothing."

"It doesn't seem to bother you."

Genji… Couldn't find an answer to that. He surprised himself in the fact that he, too, had no filter, his sleepy brain too tired to give him one. Once upon a time, he was the one being the easygoing, talkative type. That person was long dead, though.

"Can't answer that, I see. I take your silence as an affirmation~" The modified voice cheered softly. It took him out of his dark thoughts. He shook his head.

"I zoned out. What were you saying ?" It was half a lie. He only heard an amused sigh.

There was a beat of silence. Genji didn't mind, and Mockingbird either.

They both enjoyed the silence, up until the Shimada surprised himself by breaking the silence.

"What were you up to ?"

"Hm ?"

"Before messaging me."

"Oh." A moment of pause, like he was thinking. "I was working." The short answer told him not to press the subject.

Silence again. He was slowly dozing off.

"How's your injury ?" the intel provider's voice was barely above a whisper. Genji almost missed it.

"It's alright."

"Where were you injured anyway ?" he questioned, sounding curious.

"My back, right down the middle." He heard some tamed down curses. Did he say "shucks" ? The thought made him internally snicker.

"I certainly hope you're taking the rest you deserve." He sounded… annoyed ? With a mix of worry.

He wasn't doing as much training, if that counted.

The silence was too long for the mockingbird's tastes.

"Genji…"

"I take breaks. I've barely done anything today."

"Good. Keep it that way. Or Imma find you." That made him softly chuckle.

"Your laugh is nice." That made the Shimada make a double take. A giggle, "C'mon, don't be shy. You should try smiling more, you sound like the type to not do that a lot. I'm sure it'll look good on you~"

"You don't even know what I look like," he mumbled.

"I do, but even if I didn't, everyone looks good with a smile."

Wait. He did ? Which… What photo did he see ? He was scared to ask. He hated how he looked, in a body that wasn't his, broken and inhumane. Artificial. Nothing in him was human anymore.

"Cat got your tongue ?"

He shook his head again, unclenching his fists.

"No, I simply didn't feel the need to answer."

"Wow, you're so cold, Genji~"

"You're used to it by now," He simply answered.

"Aww yeah, but I expected a bit of warmth. We've known each other for almost a month now."

"Is that so ?" Really that long ? He didn't see the time pass.

"Yuup !~ It flew by quickly, didn't it ?"

"... Yeah."

"Y'know," the informant started, in a tone that made him quirk up. "I'm quite enjoying my time." It seemed that he wanted to add something, but silence was the only thing that followed.

Genji wondered what was the thing he'll probably never get to hear.

"And you ?"

"What ?"

"Are you… Enjoying your time ?" There was a slight hesitation there. Like King was scared of the answer. There was a pause between them. He was feeling sleepy, ready to fall asleep and get a little bit of rest.

"I guess."

He was. Sometimes, on his bad days, Mockingbird was the one always bringing him back to reality without even realising. But these times, he only seemed to have bad days. It… Was hard to handle it alone. Maybe it was the pain of his wound that made him have bad days. Made him remember what happened.

"I'm glad."

Silence again. Genji wondered how they never were awkward. Maybe it was only him, though. The silence dragged on, and he almost dozed off. Maybe he did. The distorted voice of Mockingbird made him drowsily answer.

"Genji ?"

"Yeah ?"

"Why were you still up ?" At the silence, the informant quickly added. "You don't have to answer that."

"How do you have that much energy at 6 AM, is what I'm asking."

"... Fair." He heard a light chuckle, "I guess I'm just used to it."

"You don't sleep a lot ?"

"I have struggles falling asleep, yeah. I told you."

"Oh. Right." Another snicker. "Why ?"

"I have a lot of thoughts that run in my head. They keep me up at night."

"What sort of thoughts ?" He surprised himself in being the one asking questions. He could tell that the man on the other line was, too. He didn't answer, though. Not right away, at least.

"Mostly 'what-if's." At least he answered.

"I get that." And Genji did. His were never good, though. He wondered if it was the same for Mockingbird. Bad thoughts clogging his mind, turning his nights sleepless, exhausting him physically and emotionally. Draining the joy away from him.

The informant certainly was very joyful.

The man realised that maybe it was a facade.

"I'm sorry." He said without thinking.

"For what ?"

"Asking, I guess."

"I ask way harder questions to answer, don't you think ?" He didn't say anything at that. Couldn't.

"You should sleep. You sound exhausted."

"You do, too."

"Good night, Genji." He replied softly, maybe with a gentle smile.

"G'night." He mumbled in response.

"Sleep well~"

And with that, he fell into slumber.