PoVs/Protagonists/Couples:
Hanzo (character belongs to Blizzard) x Ýri (OC)
Genji (character belongs to Blizzard) x Shizuka (OC)

WARNING: This story will be a very long one, full of dialogs, drama and violence as well as grammar mistakes because none of the authors is a native English speaker. And it is for mature audiences only!

Please R&R

SIDENOTE: For the ones primary interested in Hanzo's story parts: You will have to be patient a little longer, since in our storyline nothing really interesting will happen to him until after the fall of Overwatch.

Chapter 7: Mask (Genji x Shizuka)

Genji scowled at the mirror. Or more precisely at the large scar running across his once handsome face. It reminded him of that one night every time he saw his reflection. The night his brother betrayed him and ruined his life. He hated his face now, more than anything else. I don't want to see it ever again! The sound of shattering glass brought him out of his rage. The mirror had been broken. By his own cybernetic hand. And yet I haven't felt a thing. There had been no rush of wind as he moved the arm, no sharp bite of pain as the shards would have cut his skin. There is just nothing. The only good thing was that he could no longer see himself clearly enough in the fragments.
It had been weeks since his stunt with the river and just like everything in his fucked up life, he failed that as well. He hadn't managed to rid the world of that dangerous bastard Reyes and neither had he managed to end himself. Instead his suffering continued. Especially since the Hikari just wouldn't leave him alone. That annoying little woman was far too stubborn to be healthy. He wanted her gone, but at the same time he did not want her to stop caring. If she would be gone, he truly would have no one left.
A glance at the clock in the living room revealed that she would show up any minute now to drag him to the training grounds, where she was trying to get him used to the new body. Genji had been skeptical at first for a number of reasons. Shizuka was a Hikari, a priestess of a clan, who, according to their believes and traditions, refused any form of violence. But he didn't want to bring up that particular topic, so he complained about the next reason, which was her being a small girl and he being a trained assassin. Although he remembered that conversation having the opposite effect:

Genji stood in the middle of the room, his arms crossed and his face showing his reluctance to be there. »Excuse me, but you being my "sensei" (teacher) for this is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard«, he snapped at her.
Shizuka glared back at him. »And just because I'm a girl you believe I can't kick your ass?«, she threw back. A challenge was clearly readable in her body language.
He snorted. »A girl of your height wearing a Yukata against me, who has been trained in fighting since birth? I don't think so.«
A fierce stare was his answer. »I may be short, but I still can kick you wherever it hurts most!«, she promised him in a dark voice.
That got Genji to take a careful step back. »One of the only parts left intact, so back off!«, he shrieked at her, honestly worried about the fate of his most manly asset. He also thought it the wiser choice not to aggravate her further on that topic. Who knows, she could do something to him, while he slept.
Thankfully, Shizuka only gave him a smug look, knowing that she won this round. »Besides, I train with Gabriel on a regular basis, so I know how to handle myself«, she added confidently.
Genji hid the frown at the hated name and responded: »Pah. He just made it easy for you then.«
The little Hikari was not amused. »Oh really?«, she asked, then lifted her long sleeve and revealed a large bruise on her upper arm.
Genji's jaw dropped. How could someone she sees as her older brother be allowed to hurt her that bad? And she did not even seem to mind it! The Shimada immediately voiced his concern. »Was he trying to kill you?!«
She only shook her head, with the now familiar roll of eyes. »No. He is just teaching me martial arts.«
Genji wasn't really convinced. But since this was not as worse as what he had to go through as a child in his ninja training, he resolved to only keep an eye on things for now. In the end he couldn't do anything else, but give in to her idea and now she was spending almost every day working with him. Genji supposed he could have gotten off worse, so he grudgingly accepted it.

A knock made him look up and realize that the mess from the broken mirror was still there in all its sharp glory. He knew Shizuka would immediately want to drag him into the med-bay to check for cuts. So, in a panic, Genji hastily closed the bathroom door and rushed for the door, giving the little healer no time to come into the room. He hoped McCree wouldn't be too miffed with him later that night. The cowboy really loved watching his reflection.
»Are you alright?«, Shizuka asked him, puzzled by his behavior.
»Just peachy«, he said while already on his way to the training grounds and leaving her no choice but to follow.
Yet no matter what they tried in training today, the cybernetics on his right arm and shoulder wouldn't work properly. It was so bad that Shizuka even stopped the training to ask him about it. »You barely use your right arm. Is something wrong with it?«
He wished she would have ignored it, but that of course was not the case. »To be honest, I can barely move it«, he reluctantly told her.
Instantly, she stepped closer to take a look at it and making the Shimada a little uncomfortable. »Hm … I can't tell either what the problem is. Best we let Torbjörn check it out.«
Genji looked at her clueless, never having heard such a strange name. »Who?«
»Torbjörn. He's one of the original Overwatch gang and the go-to man for everything concerning metal«, she explained. »He was the one responsible for designing and building your cybernetics.«
Genji wasn't looking forward to meet another one of these people, but he knew his shoulder couldn't stay this way. So, he just nodded and followed her yet again. He seemed to be doing that a lot lately, he noticed with a small frown. Not used to running after a woman … that's not the kind of guy I am … or was. Even though, looking at the back of a woman is having its advantages too … Genji shook his head. Now is not the time thinking about women.
After walking through what felt like the whole base, they finally stopped at a place that was filled to the brim with all kinds of metal. It looked like a scrapyard and a smithy mixed together. Genji was wary when they entered the place. He imagined a bulky giant dressed like a mechanic to come and greet them with a rough attitude. What he got instead, was as far from his imagination as it could get.
»Ah, lass. Good to see you. What can I do for you today?«, a croaky voice echoed from a big pile of metal, startling Genji even though he would never admit it. But what shocked him the most was the dwarf, who emerged from the scrap metal. He was not even half of Genjis size! And he looked like he came directly from a certain fairytale, only with much more beard and metal involved.
Shizuka didn't seem to mind the strange midget and greeted him warmly. »Hello, Torbjörn. We could really use your help.«
»We?«, he asked, narrowing his eyes. Then he spotted the by now very uncomfortable Genji next to her. »Who's the lad?«
The Shimada didn't like being called a lad, but offending the person responsible for his ability to move would not be a smart idea.
»This is Genji. I told you about him, remember?«, Shizuka answered before he could even open his mouth. »He has problems with moving his right shoulder and arm and I hope you could fix that for us, please?«
Torbjörn mustered him intensely as if he could determine the problem with his stare alone. Genji stared right back. After a while of staring at each other without blinking the dwarf suddenly grabbed a hammer from out of nowhere and nodded. »Sure, lass. I'll gladly help you.«
Genji didn't miss that he spoke solely to Shizuka, even though he was the one having the problem. His mood even more down than it was in the morning, he couldn't keep the snide comment to himself. »Probably the fault of sluggish work anyway … «, he muttered.
Too bad for him, the dwarf seemed to have very good hearing. »What are you talking about, boy?! You dare doubt my work?!«, he ranted. »My works are all flawless masterpieces! What could you possibly find wrong with them?!«
Genji instinctively leaned back, if only to reduce the volume of the shouts a little. Note to self: Never make the midget angry, his lungs are in no comparison to his body size.
»Nevertheless, my shoulder is not working«, he said wryly.
»What?! Let me see at once!«, Torbjörn shouted in the same volume.
The next second, Genji got grabbed much too low for his liking and dragged down on a chair. Of course he couldn't just let that happen without protest. »Woah! Slow down dwarf!«, he told him firmly.
It didn't have the desired effect, because the other took his words as a personal insult. »Dwarf?! Who're you calling dwarf?!«, he yelled, now even closer to the Shimadas already abused ears.
He tried to get some safe distance between them again, but to no avail. Torbjörn held onto him to keep him on the chair at any costs and judging by the slapping sound coming from Shizukas direction they looked ridiculous enough to warrant a facepalm. In the end, Genji just let him, hoping it would speed the whole thing up. Thankfully, as soon as he saw that the Shimada would stay put, the Scandinavian looking man went right to work.
Unfortunately, he didn't do it quietly. »What the heck have you done?! There are pieces of glass stuck between the joints!«, he shouted.
Genji froze. Guess the mirror incident backfired as well.
»And there are signs of rust all over the place! Oh my beautiful work, besmirched!«, Torbjörn ranted on.
A stern glare from his female companion told him that she was on to him. The Shimada only shrank further into himself. After all, he hadn't been careful with the cybernetics at all. First the river dive and then the mirror, but he really didn't need being yelled at by the pint-sized Viking because of it.
To escape this situation as soon as possible, he turned back to the other man. »Never mind how it got like that. Can you fix it or not?«
»Who do you think I am? Of course I can!«, Torbjörn almost yelled, »There is nothing in this world I can't fix!«
»Good to know … «, he muttered listlessly.
»What? Something else wrong?«, he asked, but Genji only shook his head.
Suddenly an encouraging smile was thrown his way by the shorter guy. »If there's anything wrong with your new limbs just stop by and I'll fix you right up.«
He answered with a nod for the small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
They left the smithy-scrapyard not long after. Although Genji had to promise Torbjörn to come back later that day, so he could exchange the parts beyond saving. Since he still needed time to build the required ones first, Genji had nothing else to do then hang out with the Hikari. Oh joy …
They walked around aimlessly and ended up in some kind of forest close to the base. It was so quiet and peaceful here, he kind of liked it.
»At least your shoulder is going to be fine now.« It was painfully obvious that Shizuka just spoke up to escape the awkwardness, which lately developed so easily between. Genji just didn't know how to act around her ever since her origins had been revealed and it was obvious she was in a similar boat.
»We will see«, he answered softly.
They decided to sit down on an empty bench, since Genji still had trouble coordinating his new limbs to walk around for long.
»Are you always so pessimistic?«, she wanted to know as they sat down.
He shrugged. »Maybe. Have nothing else to look forward to besides revenge.« The cybernetics clanked as he sat down. Genji tried to ignore it.
»That can change. At one point I also thought there was nothing else for me despite revenge«, she told him in that lecturing tone.
He was less than impressed. »But I am a Shimada. Things like redemption or second chances don't happen to us«, he told her harshly.
Nevertheless, she wasn't deterred. »Shimada is just a name. It's your actions, which decide what kind of person you are.«
»Spare me the lecture! Even if I decide to become one of the "good guys" it will never change what I am! I will always be a traitor to my clan and an enemy to yours. There is nothing waiting for me besides revenge and death«, he ranted.
»What about a home?«
Genji stared at her as if she had lost her mind. »A home? Don't be ridiculous!«
»I am not ridiculous. No matter who you are or have been, you can still find a home with people who care about you … and a family.«
He snorted. »A family. Keep on dreaming, little Hikari. Both our families are gone and they won't come back.« He knew, he was lashing out needlessly, but she was the only one close enough to direct his anger to.
»You are right. They won't, but that doesn't mean you have to be alone for the rest of your life. There are still people, who care«, Shizuka said calmly.
Genji jumped up from the bench, glaring at her with all his might. »Who would bother loving a machine?! Just stop it already!«, he shouted at her, »I never asked for your opinion! I never asked for you to save me! All I want is for you to stop pestering me!« Deep down, he knew he was going too far, but he couldn't keep the anger bottled up any longer. »I will do my job in Hanamura and that's all you will care about! And if I decide to throw myself in the river afterwards, you will accept it! Because it is not your fucking decision! Do you understand me?!«
He panted heavily, his glare still in place, until he saw the tears in the corners of her eyes. She refused to let them fall though and instead jumped up as well. »Fine! Do whatever you want! Throw yourself into a river!«, she yelled, »But don't you dare tell me that isn't the coward's way out!«
By now, Genji was looming over her, fueled by his own raging emotions. »I don't have to take this from you! So do us both a favor and stop talking!«
Shizuka didn't back off. »Maybe I should, because you won't listen to a word I say anyway!«, she shouted back at him.
»No, because you are my enemy!«, he screamed. Genji had enough of this. Without another word, he turned on his heels and stormed away.
Still he wasn't far enough away yet to miss her last words. »But you aren't mine … not anymore.«
Guilt immediately started to set in, but Genji suppressed it and continued walking. He needed to be alone for now.

Sadly, his alone-time was interrupted sooner than he had hoped. Why can't that girl just leave me be?!
He watched her approaching with a mix of annoyance and guilt, but he knew, his pride would never allow him to apologize. So as she sat down next to him he only said: »Not you again.«
»Yes, me again«, she said and extended her hand with a cup. »Here.«
Genji stared at it confused. »What is that?«, he wanted to know.
»It's Gyokuro. (kind of Japanese green tea) I thought you could use some after … well … «, she told him softly.
Hesitantly he took the offered tea. »Thank you.« After taking a sip he looked incredulously down into his cup. »It really is Gyokuro. Unbelievable. I haven't had it in forever.«
A small smile lit up her face and she took a sip from her own cup. »I'm glad you like it«, she paused for a moment, then turned back to him with a serious expression, »I wanted to apologize for earlier. I shouldn't have yelled at you like that.«
Genji was startled. It was him, who started the whole thing after all. She had every reason to be mad at him and yet here she was, apologizing and even going so far as to bring him tea. But he still couldn't bring himself to apologize as well. He tried to open his mouth, to tell her he was sorry, but all that left his lips was: »Never mind, it's not important … « Cursing himself, he took another gulp of the delicious tea.
Shizuka shook her head. »If it affects you so much, it is very important. Of course, you have a hard time adjusting to all this and I shouldn't have been so insensitive about it.«
Genji wanted to say something, wanted to tell her that he was falling apart inside, but he couldn't, he just couldn't. How can she throw me off balance with just a few words?
»Are you alright?«, Shizuka asked with a concerned look.
Genji didn't know what to do. How should he act towards someone, who cared about him so honestly? »I don't know … «, he finally choked out.
Suddenly two slender arms wound around him and pulled him into a hug. Shocked, he stared at her small form so close to his and although he could see her touching him, he was not able to feel a single thing. There was only nothing, as if she was never there in the first place. Depressed at the blunt reminder of the mess his life had become, he pulled out of it.
Shizuka let him, but she couldn't hide the sad expression on her face. »Sorry, I crossed a line«, she whispered.
Genji wanted to make her feel better for some reason. It's not her fault I can't feel anything anymore. »No, it is just … unfamiliar«, he told her.
Confusion was written all over the little Hikari's face. »Unfamiliar?«, she asked.
The Shimada tried to explain as best as he could. »Being hugged like that … never mind, it doesn't matter now.«
But of course she couldn't leave it. »Why doesn't it matter?«
Genji shrugged half-heartedly. »I can't feel it anymore, so there is no point in doing it.«
»Not all of you is metal«, she stated and then, much to his surprise, reached out and touched his cheek. »You can still feel this, right?«
His whole body trembled. »Y-yes.« Her hand was warm and soft and he hadn't felt the touch of another being in months. Genji didn't want it to end.
Shizuka smiled at him, not realizing the effect her simple gesture had on him. »See, so it does matter.«
Genji wasn't really listening. Instead he was focusing on being able to finally feel something again.
He didn't know how long they sat like this, but when Shizuka asked with a blushing face, if she should remove her hand, he shook his head. Something his loudly purring dragons were more than happy with.

Later that evening Genji stopped by Torbjörns place as he had been told to. He was still mulling over the strange happenings from the afternoon and barely paid attention to the dwarf fixing his cybernetics. Had I really been so vulnerable from just a simple touch? Genji knew he couldn't risk showing even a single weakness. It was best, if something like that wouldn't happen again.
In that moment, he spotted his reflection in one of the larger metal pieces laying around. The scar caught his eye immediately. Just like it had that morning in the mirror. He scowled. Why can't it just disappear? Genji didn't want to have to see this reminder of his past anymore.
»Hey Torbjörn? You in? I need my helmet fixed!«, a loud voice suddenly shouted from the entrance. Genji remembered him to be Reinhardt, the tall armored giant.
»Just leave it at the entrance! I will take care of it later!«, Torbjörn shouted back.
»Wunderbar, danke! (Wonderful, thanks!)« Some clanking and metal hitting the ground echoed around the room before footsteps indicated the other leaving again.
Genji was struck with a sudden thought. Maybe there was a way for him to get that scar out of his line of sight and it would also solve the problem of his vulnerability. Eager he turned to the short smith. »Hey Torbjörn, you can build masks too, right?«