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.

INFORMATION:
This is a short 2 chapter interlude with Genji before we return to Hanzo's storyline.

It's hard to believe this story is already one year old. So we want to thank all those of you who reviewed, favored, followed and kept reading this little fanfiction. You guys are awesome! We wish all of you you a (very) late happy new year. :) And we hope you will enjoy the story this year as well.

Chapter 23: After all (Genji x Shizuka)

Genji was walking next Master Zenyatta through the dark streets of London. Little snowflakes fell silently on the ground between the people in thick clothes rushing along and throwing the pair suspicious looks. The Shimada didn't like it …

»This place … it is far from being at peace«, Master Zenyatta spoke up.

Genji nodded, spotting another graffiti sprayed square over a wall. »›Omnics stay underground‹ … very friendly indeed … «

»Now, which way were we supposed to take to the memorial sight for brother Mondatta?«, his master asked with his calm robotic voice, but Genji knew better by now. Even the tranquil and collected omnic was unsettled.

When he finally realized the question in the words, he had to stop. »I thought you knew the way … «, he answered sheepishly. Looks like we are quite lost in the middle of London. Great, just great. And I am starting to feel the cold too … Focused on his mental lament, Genji almost missed his mentor pointing in a certain direction.

»It seems your dragon friend knows where to go«, Zenyatta said and made him look up after his quickly disappearing spirit.

Genji gaped for a moment. »Eh?! Hey, wait!« He immediately went after his wayward dragon. That damn beast has been acting up ever since-… From behind him he heard the monk chuckle as he followed them in the mad dash through London's back alleys.

When they finally arrived at their destination, he froze. But not because of the cold. In front of him, Genji recognized two very familiar people. One girl with short brown hair, nosy and annoyingly cheerful and another girl on the ground with hair as white as the snow around them. It was this second person that made his blood ran cold with fear and made his pulse race in excitement at the same time. Shizuka … Could it really be? After all these years?

Thankfully they hadn't noticed him yet, because they were too occupied with his spirit, who was busy with cuddling the Hikari priestess.

»What the-?! Get off me!«, he heard the usually soft voice demand. »Where did you even come from?«

From the looks of it, she wasn't too happy by the dragon's advances. Something said dragon didn't care about at all in his mission to attach himself back to her.

»Woah, woah, woah! Don't go overboard. We have nothing to do with each other anymore.«

It hurt him incredibly to hear her say that, but it was the truth - one he had created deliberately. How can it still hurt that much? After all the time passed? And here of all places? Genji was unable to move, he could just stare openmouthed. Thankfully his mask hid his dumbfounded expression. A fact, he was especially grateful for when Lena Oxton, also known as Tracer, spotted him.

He saw his own shock reflected in her eyes, as she stiffened. »Uhm … Shizuka?«, she spoke with forced calmness, her stare fixed on him.

The Hikari hadn't spotted him just yet still struggling to keep the dragon from crawling back under her skin. »I know, I know. I am trying to get up, but he won't let me«, Shizuka said shoving the eager dragon away with little effect.

Tracer tried a couple more times. The whole scene was almost comical in a surreal way.

»Shizuka!« This time Tracer shouted.

»What?!«, came the annoyed reply.

Tracer wordlessly pointed in his direction. He unconsciously held his breath, when she finally realized him being there. It felt like endless hours had passed before a breathless »oh« escaped her as she stared at him like he was a ghost, which he guessed to her was as good as true. His dragon wasted no time though and used her distraction to his advantage. With a triumphant growl he sank back into her skin, causing the Hikari to startle out of her trance.

»Oh no, you will get back out here right now!«, she immediately demanded. But of course, the beast didn't even think about listening to her.

»Shizuka«, Genji called out weakly. He just didn't know what to do, since he never imagined them meeting again. At least not this way.

Instantly she rounded on him, glaring. »You! I don't know what kind of sick joke this is, but you will call back your dragon! Right! Now!«

He already had expected her to react with fury, but the sheer strength of it made him recoil. »You know that I cannot«, he finally spoke up.

»I don't care! He is yours, so take him back!«, she shouted.

»I … « He wanted, no, needed to say so much, but not one word left his lips.

Of course, his master Zenyatta chose this moment to appear on the scene. The cheerful greeting he gave the women almost caused him to jump in shock. It is hard hearing someone, who floats, approach. Even for a trained assassin …

»Oh my! Could you be a Hikari?«, he asked, seemingly ignoring the tense atmosphere. And Genji became witness to Shizukas demeanor doing a complete one-eighty.

»A Shimbali monk? It is an honor to meet you, master«, she said, bowing.

A bow his master eagerly returned. »To me as well. I noticed you seem acquainted with my student already?«

Goddammit, master, you know very well, who she is! I told you about her! Please, just stop making it worse!

But true to Genjis incredible bad luck, that didn't happen at all. Shizuka threw him a scorching look, making him feel even more miserable.

»Your student? Him?«, a weary sigh left her lips. »I knew him, but that was a long time ago, so please don't bother.«

Something in him cracked at her words. All those years a small part of him had held onto the hope that he could still fix things between them somehow.

»Oh, I would think this a rather interesting story«, the monk answered in the same pleasant tone. Genji knew he meant well, but he was sure at this point, that Zenyatta was only making things worse.

»Master … please … «, he urged.

Shizuka looked away. »Believe me, it is not.« It was clear to everyone that she didn't want to talk about it.

»So why would a honorable master from the Shimbali be here after all that happened recently?«, she asked instead in an obvious topic switch trying to ignore him somehow.

But Genji couldn't stop himself. »To honor master Mondatta of course.«

Zenyatta nodded along. »He deserves it.«

From the corner of his eye he saw Tracer stiffen. Now that I think about it, she was quiet the whole time. That's not like I remember her …

»I see … « It looked like he wasn't the only one to notice Lena's sudden uncomfortable shifting. Shizuka sent a concerned look towards her friend before she turned back to them. »You will find it at the end of this alley. Excuse us, but my friend and I have to go now. Good evening.«

Before he could even speak up, she had already turned her back to him and made for Tracer.

»Sh-Shizuka! Wait!«, he called after her desperately.

»I will send you back your dragon as soon as I get him off my skin again.« With a last respectful bow, the Hikari took Tracers hand and all but fled the scene.

»Shizuka, please!«, Genji shouted after them. He couldn't help reaching out to her, his body already moving to follow, but a calm but firm hand on his shoulder stopped him.

»Genji … don't«, Zenyatta said in a tone he knew all too well. It was final. At that, he sunk into himself, hopeless.

»I messed it completely … «, he muttered to himself.

»If you messed it, as you say, why not try to fix it again?«, Zenyatta asked.

Genji looked up to his master and gestured into the direction the two women disappeared. »Did she look like she would let me?«, he countered.

»So just because it seems complicated, you want to give up? That does not sound like you, my student«, his master pointed out with that annoyingly sound logic of his.

»I think this is over. I do not want to rip her healed wounds open again«, Genji answered.

But his master was relentless. »Can you say for sure that her old wounds have healed? Because judging from your behavior, yours have not … «

He shook his head. »I do not care about my wounds, as long as she is fine … «

»I do believe neither of your will truly find peace without talking to each other for at least one more time«, the monk told him with a patient voice. But Genji wasn't yet convinced.

»If she does not want to talk to me, I cannot force her.« Even to his own ears he sounded devastated. It was obvious he was desperate to talk to her to make amends somehow.

»The decision lies with you«, his master said, »But for now let us pay our respects to Mondatta.«

Genji nodded. »Yes master.«

This is so wrong. Genji thought to himself, as he knelt motionlessly on the floor. But this may be the only chance I will ever get. He looked up when he heard the door open. From his position he wasn't able to see anything, but he could still hear her voice.

»Little guy, I know you like it there, but you will have to go«, she whispered, talking to his dragon. The one that was still attached to her, now that he thought about it. Genji almost laughed. Nothing would get that stubborn dragon to move from his newly reclaimed spot.

»Sorry, but you don't get to decide that«, now she sounded annoyed. And judging from the angry hissing noises the spirit had been forced to relocate after all. Sounds of a struggle reached his sensitive ears.

»Woah! No, no, no! You can't come back to me!«, she all but shouted.

Genji couldn't suppress the wince. Does that mean there really is no hope left for us?

His dragon must have thought the same, for he saw the green glowing form disappear under the bed. Probably to pout.

A few moments later Shizuka fell onto the same bed with an exhausted sigh. »Goddammit.«

And true to his rotten luck, he shifted his weight in just that moment, causing the floorboard to creak. Immediately she was tensed and ready for a possible fight.

Since I got caught anyway, might as well just make it worse.

So he moved out of the dark hiding him. »I know it is nothing more than phantom pain, but this floor is terribly uncomfortable to kneel on for hours.«

When hearing his voice, Shizuka jumped in shock.

»Oh my spirits, Genji?!«, she all but screamed, her blue eyes impossibly wide. For the first time, he realized how his presence here might have appeared to her.

»Sorry, did not mean to upset you«, he told her honestly.

Before he knew what had happened, his head hurt from the strong whack she gave him with her staff. For a moment he wondered where she got it from, considering she was only wearing what appeared to be her underwear and … and better stop that train of thought right there, before she actually kills you.

»What are you doing in my bedroom?!«, the little Hikari screeched.

He glared up at her, rubbing the abused spot.

»Ouch! Was that really necessary?!«, he complained to which she only glared back and told him »Yes.« in the most dry tone she could muster.

»Fine«, Genji gave in. And after all that happened, I guess I deserved it.

»Now what were you thinking, breaking in here?!« Shizuka had not relaxed one bit from her attack position making him regret his decision to try and make amends this way. But …

»What choice did I have after you just run off?«, he asked instead. At her blank stare, he added a little embarrassed: »Besides, master Zenyatta recommended it.«

One elegant eyebrow rose into a look he had been subjugated to far too often. »A Shimbali monk recommended you breaking into Lena's and Emily's apartment? This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.«

Genji rubbed his neck. »Not that exactly, but he advised me to try and fix things between us«, he said.

That made her finally stop glaring at him. »Oh.«

Genji took this moment of silence to finally get a good look at her. She did look older, more mature, but she was the same beautiful woman he had come to care so deeply about. Her white hair had grown even longer, making him wish to run his fingers through it. Her deep blue eyes held the same sharp gaze as when they had first met. Furthermore, they seemed to glow in the darkness. Wait, there really is something glowing! Although before he could identify the source, Shizuka spoke up again.

»So you only came here, because your master wanted it.«

»Of course not!«, Genji responded angrily, but she wasn't convinced.

»Then it's because you want your dragon back. He went under the bed.«

Exasperated he shook his head. My stubborn dragon is the least of my problems now.

»Let him stay there, if he wants«, he said nonchalantly. As silence stretched once again between them, Genji was at a loss. He had spent hours trying to come up with the right words, but now when it was time to say them, they all had disappeared into thin air.

So, it was Shizuka, who finally spoke first.

»Good to see you have finally found your place in the world«, she said with such a calm tone, he almost believed it. Her stiff expression betrayed her apprehension nevertheless.

»Yes … Nepal is the first place I do not feel like an outcast«, he said solemnly.

»I see. Good for you. The Shimbali are great people.«

This whole conversation felt so awkward, but at least she wasn't screaming at him or worse, hitting him with her staff again.

»Indeed they are. It makes what happened to Mondatta even worse.«

She nodded. »Lena tried hard to protect him, but Widowmaker was always one step ahead of her. She was lucky to escape with her bare life.«

Genji jerked up, worried for the cheery girl, who had declared him her friend despite everything he stood for.

»Kuso. We heard Talon was behind it … Is she okay?«

Shizuka turned her head to the door, where he knew Lena would be somewhere in the apartment.

»It was mostly her chronal accelerator that got damaged. I managed to get it working again thanks to Winstons instructions. Lena is fine, but still feels guilty.«, she said almost tonelessly.

He nodded, relieved that at least she survived the terrorist attack. »Thank goodness. But it's alarming nevertheless. Talon's actions grow bolder everyday … «, he said, worry for her also influencing his thoughts.

»That is true, but there is nothing former Overwatch members can do without getting arrested as criminals«, she countered, shrugging.

The worst part was, that he knew she was right, but that wouldn't stop her from helping. For that he knew her too well, even after all the years that had passed.

»It wasn't your fault, Shizuka«, he finally said to which she just sighed dismissively.

»You don't have to lie to make me feel better, you know. It has been years already«, she said with a coldness that almost completely froze his remaining hope. Almost.

»That wasn't a lie. Or did Jesse didn't give you- … ?«, he asked, referring to the present he had gotten for her birthday, despite leaving before the day had come. Instead of answering, Shizuka reached out towards her nightstand and picked up the hairpin in question. It's sleek silver design and the detailed metal work of a blue Japanese wisteria blossom hanging from one end told of extraordinary craftsmanship. While the overall design was rather innocent looking, he knew that the needle point was sharp and from his expert look, coated in poison as well.

So, she took up on my advice …

»He did.«

Her hands fiddled with the small petals, causing chinking sounds to reach his ears now and then.

»You remembered«, she whispered as an afterthought.

Genji nodded. The Japanese wisteria had been growing all around her home village before it was destroyed in the massacre, which also took his mother from him. He could never forget, because the tender woman had loved it as well.

»It really wasn't your fault … «, he choked out. Dammit, why is my voice trembling so much?!

Shizuka only shook her head.

»I must have done something«, she said, laying the hairpin back on her nightstand. »Or I simply wasn't a good enough partner to you … «, she added quietly. Thankfully his cyborg ears picked it up.

»Don't think that for even one second!«, he declared and without thinking took her hand in his. She stared back, the hurt clearly there for him to see.

»Then why?!«, she hissed.

»It was me … «, he tried to explain, but from her reaction that one sentence wasn't enough. »Guess you can call it some worse kind of identity crisis. I was made weapon with the only purpose to destroy the Shimada. And after we did … I lost this purpose. I couldn't even get the revenge on my brother, which I so craved. With nothing to distract me, the full amount of my metal body hit home. In the end I didn't even know if I was a man or a machine anymore. I just didn't know how to handle it … «, Genji told her sinking his head in shame and guilt.

When she finally responded, Shizukas words were a mere whisper. »Why didn't you talk to me? I could have helped you … «

He shook his head, wanting so desperately to pull her into his arms again. »And hurt you even more? No, I couldn't do it«, his voice was heavy with self-loathing, »I didn't treat you even half as good as you deserve.«

The Hikari stared down at their still joined hands. »You left without a word or even a means to contact you … you left me with a broken heart.«

Genji winced. If only I could turn back time …

He tightened his hold on her small hand. »I am sorry. … But you would have tried to hold me back. I had to go … I wanted to sort myself out first, so that I could become worthy of you once day.«

Genji hoped he could make her see just how sincere he was. Tears shone in her eyes, as she spoke again with a strained voice.

»Worthy of me? I already loved y-«, she slapped a hand over her mouth, shocked over what she had accidentally revealed to him. Genji couldn't help it. He put off his mask, smiling. Maybe there is hope after all …

»Me too … «, he whispered. At her incredulous stare he felt himself blushing and frantically searching for a distraction.

»N-Never mind. I know that I was wrong in how I did it, but at that time, I did not see any other solution but to leave.«

Shizuka sighed, her body losing some of her tension.

»I cannot say I understand, but it was the choice you thought was best for you. I should not fault you for that.«

Genji was relieved at the apparent forgiveness. As his fingers absentmindedly stroked over her hand, he was distracted to feel metal instead of soft skin. He stared down to find her hand encased in protective armor that glowed softly in the darkness of the room. So that's what has been nagging at me all the time!

»W-what is that?«, he asked already fearing the worst. As the war went on, he had seen countless men and women wearing prosthetics made of cybernetics. His heart ran cold. Please don't let her be one of them!

Shizuka withdrew her hand from his grip as if it had been burned and hid it out of his sight.

»N-Nothing important. Don't bother.«

To him, it was all the confirmation he needed. She didn't even trust him enough to tell him. Disappointed he pulled back his hand as well.

The following awkward atmosphere was broken when Shizuka stood up from where she sat on the bed. Confused, he watched as she knelt on the floor.

»I just want to get you back your dragon«, she spoke as if she had read the question in his mind.

He shrugged. »Leave him be. He seems happy with you.«

In fact, he could feel the excitement from the spirit mixed with fear of not being able to stay with her. Genji knew that plight all too well.

Shizuka shook her head, while trying to get a good look at the curled up dragon. »He can't stay under there forever.«

As he leaned over the edge of the bed to get a better look himself, he caught her wincing. It was only for a moment, but it was long enough to ignite new concerns within him.

»Shizuka? What is wrong?«, he asked.

She froze for a moment, before she schooled her features back into a neutral expression. Genji wasn't fooled though.

»Nothing«, she spoke firmly and then added, »Have to change it soon … «