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 the 2nd chapter from the interlude with Genji before we return to Hanzo's storyline. And a special thank you to the two of our wonderful readers, who reviewed. You guys honestly made our day. :)

Chapter 24: Broken heart (Genji x Shizuka)

»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 … «

That mumbled sentence only increased his worry for her. »Change what?«, he asked, almost instinctively moving closer.

Now she was fumbling and stuttering excuses, so Genji got confirmed that something was definitely wrong here.

»Eh … change the … eh … it's nothing you need to bother with«, she finally managed to get out.

Genji was far from convinced though he also knew that he couldn't force her to tell him. »If you say so … « He was so disappointed, yet she looked so relieved.

A high pitched noise wailed through the room all of a sudden. Immediately thinking of danger, Genji was on his feet looking for potential danger and how he could best protect her.

»Goddammit Mercy! You told me you deactivated it!« Shizuka groaned behind him, making him turn around again, confused. That's when he realized the sound coming from Shizuka herself.

»What is going on?«, he demanded to know.

»Just Mercy being her usual overprotective self«, Shizuka answered dryly, as she turned off the alarm on the metal covering her hand.

Genji couldn't help it. »With your knack of downplaying your conditions I am not surprised«, he drawled sarcastically.

The only thing that earned him was another glare. »Just shut up and turn around, will you?«, she snapped at him.

»Eh?! Why?!«, he just couldn't understand her abrupt change in mood. When her face went beet red in response, Genji almost regretted asking.

Well, almost …

»You have seen enough of me already, so you don't need to see more. Don't turn around and don't look until I tell you to«, she insisted.

And although Genji wanted to remind her that he had already seen all of her and ask what the big deal was, he wouldn't risk any slim chance he may had with her. »Fine.«

It took all his willpower not to turn around though, when he heard a bunch of strange noises. There was clicking, hissing and a sort of low hum that only made him more curious. Finally, Shizuka told him he could turn back around again. When he did so, it shocked the living daylights out of him.

Her chest is wide open! Right over her heart, there was a diamond shaped hole that glowed bright blue. While he gawked at the obvious cybernetic, Shizuka calmly closed the metal cover again. It didn't extinguish the unearthly glow, but dimmed it a great deal.

No wonder I couldn't pinpoint it before. A small round object, which glowed in the same bright, almost white color, drew his attention to her hand. Although, he only managed to move again, after she disposed of it. Is that a biohazard box?! »W-what is that?«, he finally stammered out, shell shocked.

Shizuka didn't look at him. »Something that keeps my heart beating.«, she spoke with a hushed voice.

»What?! Why?!«, he desperately demanded to know.

She came closer, finally allowing him a good look at the cybernetic. From the centerpiece triangle-shaped forms extended over her chest. The sleek design actually reminded him of a star someone had stretched out into something with much thinner, sharper edges.

»Without that installed in my chest, I would die in about 5 to 10 minutes.«, Shizuka told him.

Genji couldn't take his eyes of it. It hypnotized him, drove the shock and the implications that came with it deeper into his mind. »What happened?«, he managed to choke out, to which she only shrugged. He had trouble comprehending her obvious lack of concern about the freaking cybernetic in her chest!

»During the fall of Overwatch, when the HQ went up in flames, I didn't make it out in time«, she simply said.

It was obvious she had left a lot unsaid, but he was still to frozen with shock to point it out to her. Hell, he wasn't even able to look at her anymore, so big was his guilt. If I just had stayed, if just had protected her, this wouldn't have happened!

»I was lucky that day … Many good people didn't make it out in time«, she whispered almost to herself.

Genji wanted to say something, anything, but his tongue felt like it was glued to the roof of his mouth.

After a pressing silence, Shizuka crossed her arms and spoke in clipped tones. »So, now you know all there is to know.«

It felt so final, Genji could only nod. Should I stay, should I go?

»What now?«, it seemed the little Hikari was just as stuck as he felt.

»Whatever you want me to«, Genji told her. The decision where they would go from here was entirely up to her and whatever she chose, he would respect it.

Surprisingly an angry expression crossed her face. »I am not spreading my legs and let you have your fun with me, if that is what you're after!«, she snapped.

»Of course not! What are you even thinking?!«, he shot back. She must have misunderstood his intensions. Or does she really think that badly of me? Forcing himself onto a woman when she didn't want it was something he would never do. Especially if it is her. Genji refused to hurt her any more than he already had. Although from the looks of it, she didn't believe him.

»Oh please, I know your reputation with women! You can't tell me you didn't have lots of other women warm your bed in all those years! And I refuse to be a name on that list again!«

So that's what's really upsetting her …

But why couldn't she see how special she was – still is? To him she never was just another fling and it was time she realized that. So, he took a deep breath and replied calmly, yet with an underline of steel. »No. I hadn't.«

That stunned her for a moment, before she regained her composure.

»But only because your master wouldn't approve«, she argued.

Genji shook his head. »Only because I wasn't interested.«

Even though she had lost most of her arguments, she was determined to grasp at every straw.

»Sorry, but I don't believe that. You said it yourself, women are your only stress-relief.«

Genji rolled his eyes, this was getting ridiculous. »Yes! But you changed my view on that!«

That finally did it. Her angry expression turned into a flabbergasted one. »What?«, she asked almost timidly.

When their eyes met, he couldn't help but bare his soul to her.

»You changed that, changed me. You were the only one I ever cared about, aside from my mother and brother.«

She didn't move. »Really?«

He nodded. »Believe me, I never wanted to hurt you the way I did. I just wanted to see you and tell you that I am sorry«, he said, already picking up the mask he had laid onto the bed. »Well, whatever, I should get going now.«

Don't lose it now, you can break down later. He just couldn't show her how much this truly affected him, so he turned away.

»Wait!«

A delicate hand grasped his own, before he could take another step. Hope welled up within him, he tried to squash it down mercilessly though. »Shizuka, it is okay, really. I understand that I total messed it and that- … «, he began, but she interrupted him.

»Then let's try again. On a clean slate«, she declared and turned the little flame of hope into a roaring bonfire.

»I would like that«, he softly whispered.

A small smile graced her lips. I had wanted to see that smile again for so long now.

»It's a deal«, she said and that was it. He couldn't believe himself first! He had another chance! And I sure as hell won't mess this one up, he swore.

»I should get back nevertheless«, he admitted reluctantly. »Don't want to leave Zenyatta alone for too long. Omnics and everything alike aren't quite welcome here.«

She sighed sadly. »True. So you should be careful as well.«

He smiled reassuringly at her and nodded. »C-can I come back here tomorrow evening?«, he shyly asked. That would be the final confirmation he needed. Besides, he couldn't wait to see her again anyway. She had no idea how much he missed her in all those years they spent apart.

The priestess in question blushed. »S-sure. Just don't break in without a warning again.«, she said with an embarrassed voice.

Now he felt awkward. »Right, sorry. I can try.«

His eyes wandered through the room in an effort to escape his embarrassment somehow, when he remembered the dragon.

»What about that guy hiding beneath your bed?«, he questioned. Just because she accepted his apology did not mean she was comfortable around him and his overly cuddly dragon just yet.

At his words Shizuka also turned her attention towards the bed. »C'mon, you can't stay under there forever«, she told the dragon.

But judging from the soft growl, said dragon refused to come out anytime soon. Genji could understand the desire to stay with her all too well.

»Stubborn dragon.« Shizuka mumbled, before turning to him. »Any ideas?«

Genji only shrugged. »Leave him there.« At least that way, she would have someone there to protect her …

»I can't leave him there«, she responded and without warning, pulled down the collar of her black suit.

Genji almost choked on his breath, staring at the exposed patch of skin. His dragon faired similar, judging from the sudden tension he felt from him. It was a really tempting bait – for them both. Get your thoughts together, Shimada! Now is not the time!

Shizuka was unaware of his inner lament. »That way you are less likely to cause trouble. So hurry up, before I change my mind«, she said.

Faster than either of them could blink, the dragon shot out from under the bed and towards the Hikari.

»Woah!«, she shouted out, his dragons enthusiastic reaction making her stumble. Thankfully Genji was able to catch her before she hit the ground.

»Don't be mad at him, he is just overjoyed«, he tried to explain.

A small smile appeared on her lips. »I noticed.«

As for the dragon, he was curled snugly around her shoulders, sinking in seconds later with a satisfied purr. A shiver raced down Shizukas body at the action.

»That still feels weird«, she said, rubbing her arms.

»Can't say I feel the same«, he said, barely resisting to stroke over the mark with his thumb. Fortunately, Shizuka fixed up her suit again, hiding the mark in the process.

Reluctantly Genji realized that he would need to go soon. His master would surely be waiting for him at their hotel. Awkwardly he turned back to Shizuka. »See you tomorrow then?«

She blushed a little, making him suppress a smile. That still looked too cute to be fair. »S-sure. Tomorrow it is.«

He smiled at her, while he picked up the mask from her bed. »Sleep well, Shizuka«, he spoke softly.

»You too, Genji.«, she responded in the same soft tone.

After he made sure the mask was put on securely, he turned to the window. With one last look back, Genji Shimada disappeared into the snowy London night.

He had been right. As soon as he touched the ground in their hotel room, his master came floating towards him. »You have been gone for a while, my student«, the calm robotic voice of the monk flowed reached his ears.

Dammit. Looks like I made him wait for hours. »I am sorry, master«, he said.

»I did not mean it as an accusation«, the omnic replied, stunning him yet again with his patient demeanor.

»Now, perhaps you would like to share what has kept you?«, he continued right after, causing Genji to blush beet red underneath his mask.

»Well … «, he choked out. It didn't look like his master would drop the topic any time soon either. »Shizuka«, he finally stuttered out.

»So you were able to talk to her?«, from the happy undertone, Genji could tell that the monk already knew the outcome had been positive. So, he only nodded, unable to stop the smile that took over his lips.

»You finally made peace with your past. I am proud of you, Genji.«

Genji felt pride dwell in his chest. An open praise like that was rare from Zenyatta. Although he couldn't completely agree to the statement … »Well, partly«, he admitted.

»Partly?«

Genji sat down on the bed, head in hands, his mood dropping again. »If only I could make up with my brother as well. I do not even know, if he is still alive«, he reluctantly shared his worries. If it hadn't been for Zenyattas teachings, I would still wander the world thirsting for a pointless revenge. I owe him so much …

»Be patient. If it is meant to be, it will happen«, his masters calm voice made it through his troubled thoughts easily. Just like it had been from the day he met him.

I acted like a total asshole and still he didn't give up on me. His master truly was an amazing being. And wise beyond his years.

He gave a weak nod. »We will see … «

»Indeed«, the monk agreed, before he floated a little closer to him, obviously curious. »Say, would it be possible for me to meet your Hikari someday? I would love to talk to her«, he asked.

Genji smiled again. »Why don't you join us tomorrow evening?«, he asked, already imagining how much mayhem this would cause. Still, just seeing her again will be worth it.

»I cannot wait for it«, his master told him.

Genji couldn't have said it better himself.