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!

SIDENOTE: This will be the last chapter from Genji for a while, because next chapter Hanzos storyline finally beginns.

Sorry this took so long, this chapter was more trouble than it should have been. As always, thanks to all of you, who enjoy reading this story!

Chapter 15: Inevitable (Genji x Shizuka)

»ARGH!« The punching bag swung wildly when Genji's fist first made contact. Again and again. He could not stop hitting it.
He wasn't there! Why wasn't he there?!
Overwatch had laid waste to large parts of the once so proud Shimada Empire. All went according to Morrison's plan. But when Genji had stormed the castle, his brother was nowhere to be found. He turned the whole place upside-down. Absolutely nothing! Hanzo had obviously disappeared, leaving him bereft of his chance for revenge!
With a feral roar, he punched the bag so hard, it flew off the hinges and against the wall behind. Genji panted heavily, those cursed metal hands clenched to fists. He had no idea what he was supposed to do now. His sole purpose of living had been to eliminate the one who almost murdered him in cold blood. Without it, nothing was left for him anymore
»Have you finally calmed down now?«, an annoyed voice made him turn around to see Shizuka leaning against the door frame.
He hissed at her. »Don't. I don't need another one of your damn lectures right now!« He was on edge already, he didn't need more reasons to be irritated.
The glare she shot back at him was deadly. »Sorry to disappoint«, she snarled, »that's not gonna happen after you tore down the whole base in your fit! What were you thinking?!«
Genji growled at her, a clear warning to back off. »I don't care about your stupid base!«
She strode over and repeatedly jabbed his chest. »Don't you dare shrug this off! Jesse got hurt because you had to act like an out of control maniac!«
Oh, this little girl is asking for it! He slapped her hand away and got dangerously close.
»It's his own fault he got in the way!«, he hissed. That fool had tried to stop him from working out his frustration on the medical equipment. So, he used him instead, he deserved it. Too bad it didn't help me anyway. Nothing does …
»What?!«, she froze for a moment, before her voice rose to a scream. »What in the name of the spirits is wrong with you?!«
At this moment, his patience finally snapped.
»How about everything?!«, he roared, and shoved her away, making her crash to the ground. For a moment he was shocked by his own action, but it was short-lived. His desire to lash out, to hurt someone just as strongly as he has been hurt, was just too great. And right now, he didn't care who that someone was.
»You made a monster of me for ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!«
She looked up at him in shocked surprise and for the first time he could see fear enter her eyes. It was only for a second, but it was there and a darker part Genji felt so good putting it there. This is wrong, I shouldn't be doing this. But why is this the only thing helping me breathe easier? Now that he started this madness, he felt himself unable to stop. It was not enough. He watched her getting back on her feet, her feistiness gone.
»What are you talking about?«, her voice was subdued and sounded almost earie in comparison to her earlier high pitched screaming.
Genji stared down at her mockingly. »Don't act so innocent now. You all knew exactly what you were doing!«
Hanzo being gone is not her fault, some inner voice said, yet it was almost immediately silenced by the part thirsty for revenge and blood. But she was the one, who dragged me back from the dead! It's because of her I have to exist like this!
They both did not move for a while until she finally shook her head. »Genji, you are not making sense.«
How can she not see it?! The proof is right in front of her! Genji gestured wildly down his metal body.
»Don't tell me this is not your fault!«, he growled at her.
She and her Overwatch friends probably enjoyed doing this to him. He was nothing but a dirty Shimada after all, nothing but their secret weapon. You don't know that. Think about the friends you made here, the voice was back again. He silenced it immediately, because he knew very well that it wasn't true. It never was before.
The glare she shot him at his accusation was fierce, but had lost its cutting edge. It was a clear sign he was getting to her, which should have been enough to make him stop, but all the feelings, the anger, the hurt and the pain, he had suppressed for so long had broken free and were destroying everything in their path.
»We only did this to save your life!«, she defended herself, but it only made him fume.
How dare she! Trying to make it sound like she did me a favor! Who said he even wanted to live in the first place?
»And for what?!«, he exploded. »There is nothing left for me besides revenge and even that I got denied! And here you are nagging me about proper behavior?« He stalked closer, making her back up until she hit a wall. »But you know what? I don't fucking care about what you think! I don't care what anyone thinks! And I am sure as hell not obeying your every order like a good little weapon!«
He punched the wall right next to her face, leaving a sizable dent in the material. She froze, probably because she had never thought him capable of such and neither had he. Goddammit, why am I doing this? But she has to understand, has to stop expecting me to behave like she wants me to …
His common sense was screaming at him to stop and to save what he could, but that cursed darker part of him was screaming louder. A cruel smirk played across his lips.
»No counter this time? I am surprised and here I thought you would never stop talking.«
At that she pushed herself forward, trying to get him to move out of her way, he wasn't budging though since her strength couldn't be compared to his.
»Goddammit, what is your problem?! There is more to life than just revenge!«
Was she really starting one of her goody-two-shoes-speeches? He really had no patience for those now. Right now his whole world was moments from breaking apart completely.
»Oh, and what would that be?«, he mocked her. There was nothing more important than revenge, because if he couldn't have revenge, he would have nothing. So Genji waited for her answer and when she looked back at him with a hopeful gaze, he couldn't help it, he laughed. It was a cold sound, devoid of any humor.
»You? My life's purpose? Don't make me laugh.«
Why not?, that little voice asked. Because it would never work. Just look at her … The pain-filled expression on her face satisfied him and despaired him at the same time. Finally, she understood that he could never be the one she wanted him to be. That he was nothing but a broken, angry mess and tired of it all.
»B-but … why? Why did you start dating me?«, she asked, seemingly afraid of the answer.
Genji shrugged, fighting to keep his face distant. »Because there wasn't anything else to do?«
It wasn't true, but it was too late to save anything now, so he might as well end it, before he would hurt her even more in the long run. Tears started to fill her eyes.
»I can't believe this! I thought you were serious with me!« And he had been, but at a time where he was sure his revenge would be fulfilled in a few months. He had thought there was still hope for him, a purpose. But now? Who knew when he would be able to drive his sword through his brother's traitorous heart? It could be years or even decades. It probably wouldn't turn out well for himself either and he didn't want that for her. She deserved better, but he knew she would never let him go alone to do what he had to do. There was nothing left but for him to make her despise him. Anger was better than heartbroken despair. So, he took a deep breath, steeled himself and opened his mouth.
»You have no idea how often I have heard those words before. They never change anything though«, he said with an empty chuckle, although inside he was screaming in despair. »And you are no different.« Yet you are ….
Thwhack.
Before he knew it, she had slapped him. The gentle little Hikari had slapped him. It shocked him deeply and made him feel even more guilty, yet he forced himself to look at the damage he had done. Tears were flowing freely down her face and her whole body shook, but her eyes were burning with a new fire. That's what I wanted to see … even though I never wished for it to come this far.
»Fine. Do what you want, for all I care! Go on your mad quest for revenge, get yourself killed, whatever! But don't you dare ever come to me ever again!«, Shizuka screamed, her voice cracking at the end.
He had achieved what he needed, but it didn't made him feel proud, only empty. All his anger had vanished.
»As you wish«, he almost whispered it, sounding more broken than before.
The moment he stepped away from her, she stormed past him and out of the door. Genji was left alone in the training area. A roar filled with anguish and agony ripped from his throat. Before he knew it, he had completely trashed the whole place as well. And as he stood in the middle of the damage, a soft whine made him look up. His dragon, the one who took up residence with Shizuka, was hovering in front of him, looking the saddest he had ever seen him.
»I hoped she would at least keep you to protect her in my stead … «, he sighed, knowing his appearance here was the final break. It was over.
They stared at each other in depressed silence. Slowly he realized the extent of what he had done and that his time here had come to an end. With a melancholic smile Genji offered his arm to the spirit.
»It's for the best.« He clearly saw the reluctance emitting from the dragon. »She deserves someone better than me«, he muttered and it was a clear statement that it disappeared back under his skin without further protest.
The situation is truly hopeless.
With a heavy sigh, Genji returned to his room. There he began packing the few belongings he had. With things as they were, there was no reason to remain in Zurich any longer than he had to.
»Wow, you really messed up this time.« Genji jerked around to find McCree casually leaning over his shoulder.
»Just leave me alone«, he replied, tired. »Or I might end up hurting you again.«
Jesse ignored him. »I am not worried about that. Everyone has their bad days. Want to tell me what happened? I have never seen you so ruthless before … «
Genji winced, already knowing he broke far worse than just some equipment tonight. »I don't want to talk about it«, he halfheartedly snapped.
The cowboy shrugged. »Alright, alright. But just ignoring it will not make your problem disappear.«
He knew the other was right, but he couldn't bring himself to accept it just yet though. It would never work out with him like this. He would never be able to feel truly free until he got his revenge and he would only get it by finding Hanzo and ending him.
Genji nodded curtly. »I have to go.«
The cowboy stared at him like he lost his mind. »Eh? How'd you come up with that?«
Genji gestured to all of him. »I cannot stay here, because I will never be able to find peace from my past, if I don't find my revenge.«
He could see that his friend couldn't follow his logic, but to his surprise Jesse only shrugged.
»Suit yourself. If you think that is what you need to do, I won't stop you.«
»Thank you.«
A small smirk lifted the corner of Jesse's mouth. »Can't believe I'm saying this: I'm gonna miss you, mate.«
His smile, hidden under the mask, was rather sad. »Likewise.«
Genji turned to leave, but stopped at the door. »Will you tell her I am sorry? And maybe keep an eye on her while you're at it?«
He didn't need to say more for McCree to understand. »Of course.«
He went over to his drawer, took out a small package and held it out to the cowboy. »Would you mind giving it to her on her birthday?«, he asked, trying to keep his voice neutral. »It is something I got from our stay in Hanamura.«
»Sure, will do«, Jesse took it without questioning him.
»Farewell, my friend«, Genji said, turning towards the door.
McCrees words followed him. »Just don't get yourself killed.«

So, in the dead of the night, Genji Shimada left the Overwatch headquarters in Zurich, never once looking back.

A few months later …

Genji started his search for Hanzo somewhere in the US, when he saw the news.
Overwatch got shut down. Normally that was no big deal. He had seen it coming for a long time, since the public wanted Overwatch gone. But what made him stare at the holovid in shock were the images of the destroyed headquarters in Switzerland, where only smoking ruins were left of the once grant building.
His first impulse had been to fly over immediately and check if everyone made it out alive, but in the next moment he calmed down. There was no reason for him to return, because there was nothing he could do anyway. His time with Overwatch was past already and he doubted they even wanted him back now. So, he remained where he was.
Although that didn't stop him from listening to every news broadcast feverishly hoping one name wouldn't turn up on the list of casualties.