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. Some parts are for mature audiences only.

Chapter 48: A new beginning

»She will survive«, Shizuka told Hanzo upon exiting Ýri's room in the med bay. But Hanzo didn't dare to smile just yet.

»And our daughter?«, he asked after a moment of silence.

»It was a close thing, but she pulled through as well«, the healer answered him.

Finally Hanzo allowed himself to let a relieved sigh to escape him.

»Thank you.«

She shook her head. »You should thank your brother. If it weren't for his quick thinking, I don't know if either of them would have made it.«

Hanzo nodded. »I will thank him as soon as I see him again.«

Shizuka hummed her agreement. »I hope they will find the assassin, who managed to sneak past Athena's defenses.«

»If someone can do it, it is my brother. Genji knows the Shimadas' ways better than anyone else in Overwatch.«

She gave him an even stare. »I know. But I can clearly see that you want to ask me something else instead of talking about my husband's past.«

He nodded. »May I see her?«

Shizuka sighed. »She is still out cold, but stable so far. So there is nothing that should prevent you from seeing her but your own guilty feelings.«

Hanzo raised his eyebrows. »Excuse me?«

She came closer. »I know too well how you feel. There is no need to deny it, so listen: You were in no way responsible for this attack.«

He jumped up from his seat. »But-«

She held up her hand to silence his protests. »Maybe you brought about the circumstances, but you are not responsible for other peoples' actions.«

He deflated, knowing that arguing with the priestess would be useless, so he just nodded.

She gave him a small smile. »Just go and see them. I am sure your presence will be beneficial for them.«

He nodded weakly. »Alright.«

She patted his arm when she passed him on his way to the door. »I will be close by in case you need me.«

»Thank you, Shizuka.«

With that Hanzo turned to the closed door and after a moment of stealing himself, he went inside.

Ýri looked frail, lying on the white hospital bed as she was. Her breaths were shallow as several medical devices Hanzo couldn't even begin to name monitored her vitals.

Hanzo seated himself on the chair next to her bed and stared at his love silently for what felt like forever.

With a shaking breath he reached out and carefully took her hand in his.

»I am so sorry, Ýri. So, so sorry … «

» … not … your fault … «, he heard her weak whisper and Hanzo looked up relieved.

»Oh, my love, I should have protected you better«, he hoarsely whispered holding her frail hand more tightly.

A small smile appeared on her lips. »You call me that a lot lately … «

»And why not?«, Hanzo replied hesitatingly. »You both are everything I want. Everything I need … everything I love. I can't lose you.«

»I … love you too«, she whispered before closing her eyes again. »Our daughter … ?«

»Is just fine as well«, Hanzo told her. »Rest. Just rest.«

Gently he caressed her forehead until he could tell from her breath, that she had fallen asleep again. Hanzo looked around the room, but couldn't find anything suspicious or any possible threat. Just his wolves gathered around her bedside sleeping calmly and one tiny yellow dragon cuddled into their thick fur.

When Hanzo excited the room, he was surprised to see his brother being fussed over by his wife.

The picture itself wasn't that surprising, since the Hikari constantly fussed over him. What did surprise him was that Genji grimly endured it. Hanzo approached them without a second thought, but when he saw the reason for his brother's presence in the med bay, he stopped dead in his tracks.

His eyes were glued to the sparking wound on Genjis chest. It looked like several wires had been slashed open. A mix between deep red blood and the green fluid of the cybernetics was an oddly sickening sight to him. And Hanzo had seen a lot of gruesome wounds in his days, most often even being the cause of them himself.

»What happened?!«, he barked out harsher than he intended to in his worry for his brother.

Both their heads snapped up at his demand. Shizuka only gave him a miffed stare before she returned to fixing her husband while Genji just smirked half-heartedly.

»I found the assassin«, he simply said.

»And?!«, Hanzo was still not satisfied. All his worry needed an outlet and his brother being foolish was the perfect one in his eyes.

Genji shrugged, but immediately winced in pain and got scolded by his healer for doing so.

»It didn't quite go as planned.«

Hanzo crossed his arms. »Obviously.«

Genji looked oddly defeated. It was not a look he thought he ever saw on his brother before. It was unsettling to witness it now.

»I tracked the bastard down and cornered him. Tried to get information out of him. You know, the usual?«

Hanzo nodded and gestured for him to continue.

»But instead of talking, the whoreson spouted insults at me«, a pause, »And then he called me by name.«

Hanzo cursed. »They know you survived.«

Genji nodded. »Yes. Although they only found out because they were tracking you and Ýri.« His eyes strayed to his busy wife and Hanzo could clearly see the worry in them. His guilt intensified tenfold. He knew what that meant. They were aware of Shizuka's survival too.

He not only got his own family in danger but also his brothers'.

»I am sorry«, Hanzo said hoarsely.

Genji tried to smile but it was more of a grimace than anything else. »Not your fault. It was bound to happen sooner or later with Overwatch back into business.«

»Still, I never wanted to bring you into their crossfire again.«

Genji nodded. »I know. But too late for that now.«

Hanzo balled his hands to fists, his familiar temper rearing its ugly head once more.

»Tell me you caught the bastard at least?«, he almost growled out the words.

Now his brother's expression almost matched Hanzo's. »That snake got himself before I could get to him.«

»What?!«

»Instead of answering any of my questions, he lashed out and with sheer luck slashed my chest open. Thankfully it's not that deep but it prevented me from stopping him.«

Hanzo suddenly knew what Genji meant. His blood went cold. »Suicide.«

His brother's nod confirmed his suspicion. »Yes. He had another poison with him. It killed him instantly.«

The older Shimada once again fell into a fit of curses.

»I should have expected it. It was a common tactic used by the Shimada assassins when their missions failed after all.« He could clearly hear the own guilt weighting down on his little brother in those words.

»True, but you haven't been a Shimada for a long time and you managed to stop him from reporting back to base. That counts for something.«

His brother hummed thoughtfully. »Actually I don't know if he managed to convey a message before his death. And I also don't know what the hypothetical message would have contained. Every single equipment he had with him which weren't weapons or poisons was destroyed.«

»That means … «

»We have no idea if he knows that his assassination has failed or who else knows about us now.«

Hanzo punched the wall. »Shit!«

»Yes«, Genji agreed with his own growl.

»So what now?«, Shizuka's voice broke the sudden silence in the room.

This question drained both brothers of their anger.

»I have no idea«, Hanzo spoke softly.

»Do you still want to go to Norway?«, Genji asked.

»I do. But with all that has happened now … I don't know if it is the right thing anymore.«

»I think it is«, Shizuka spoke up once more. With two pairs of Shimada eyes now upon her she elaborated.

»No matter if they know now or not, you cannot stay here. That would be too dangerous. They managed to sneak in here once so they no doubt can do it again.«

»You have a point«, Hanzo conceded.

»And also: Norway is far more secluded than Gibraltar. Finding you in a remote forest village will be harder than in a former Overwatch base by far«, Shizuka continued.

»She is right«, Genji added, »Either way they will try again. At the latest when they realize their lackey won't return from his mission. So it's best to stay out of the limelight as much as possible.«

Hanzo agreed. »And also the Vikings there are fiercely loyal to Ýri. No one would dare betray her there and all would be willing to defend her with their lives.«

»So it is agreed that everything shall continue as planned and we will accompany you of course. I don't want them to get any ideas about Shizuka«, Genji said.

»Hey!«, the little healer exclaimed indignantly. »I can protect myself just fine.«

Genji kissed her head and put one arm around her. »I know, my love, but it would make me worry less.«

»Fine«, she huffed, but leaned into her husband's touch.

Hanzo couldn't watch it any longer. »Very well. So we will depart in a few days. I will speak with Winston about covering our tracks.«

Without another look back he left the med bay.

When the day of departure came, Hanzo was clearly nervous. He still worried about Ýri's health even though she assured him countless times that she was fine. Genji watched with some amusement as Hanzo helped her into the shuttle, fussing over her all the while until she snapped at him and marched the ramp up all by herself.

As he watched them, he couldn't help but think about the leaps his brother has made in character. He grew up to be the perfect heir to the Shimada line. Ruthless, cruel and emotionless. Not even killing his own brother was of any concern to him.

And in a way, Genji was happy that it had happened. Because it had opened his own eyes on who he was and who he wanted to be.

For more than ten years, redemption was all that Hanzo had sought out. He wanted to alleviate his guilt not knowing that it was not what he needed. No, his redemption came in a rather unconventional sort. In the form of a stubborn fiery Viking woman, who gave him what he needed above all else: acceptance.

He doubted his brother really realized it. Let alone that his quest for redemption came to an end the moment he met his match. Genji was happy for him, nevertheless it wouldn't stop him from teasing his brother mercilessly when he finally reached the same conclusion.

His arm sneaked around Shizuka's waist as the two of them watched the other couple bickering right on top of the shuttle ramp.

He would never admit it out loud, but he was grateful for Hanzo's actions (well, minus the mutilating him part). Because through them he realized that there was another way to proclaim his difference without resulting to gambling and debauchery. It gave him the freedom to finally find out what kind of man he wanted to be. In master Zenyatta's teachings and Shizuka's love he had found the path to happiness. And that he wouldn't trade for anything, not even his intact body.

He was distracted from his thoughts by Shizuka taking his hand. She smiled up to him as their eyes met.

»So, shall we my love?«, she asked him.

He returned the smile. »Sure. Can't wait.«

They followed after Ýri and Hanzo, entering the shuttle which would bring them to Norway.

After all, he was eager to discover what would follow after redemption.

»Alright, brother, you shouldn't freak out now«, Genji tried to calm him.

Hanzo thought he did not hear right. »Not to freak out?! Not to- my mate lays there in obvious pain for hours now and there is nothing I can do!«

»Well, you should have kept your pants up and stayed away from her bed in that case.«

»Genji!«

»What? It is true. And if you stop ranting and nervously pacing around Shizuka may let you back in again.«

Despite the situation Genji could not help but to think it hilarious, how pale and nervous his brother was, pacing up and down the floor. Just Ýri's cries now and then were really horrifying.

»Ugh. Nature is a bad joke«, Genji said.

Hanzo sat down and buried his head in his hands several times, ruffling his now shorter hair again and again just to jump to his feet a few seconds after and start pacing again.

»I will go back in there«, he suddenly stated.

Genji sighed. »Just don't get into Shizuka's way, I warn you.«

Suddenly all was completely silent and both brothers stared at each other irritated. Even if Genji did not think it possible, Hanzo paled even more.

»Ýri!«

Before Genji could say anything, his older brother ran off already.

Dear gods or ancestors or whatever work is at force on these northern islands, please, we desperately need some good news, Genji thought before following him.

»Ýri!« He was by her side immediately and she looked even more exhausted than after the poison assault in Gibraltar. It wrenched Hanzo's heart to see her so weak, pale and drained. Her emerald eyes were reddened and tired and sweat hang in the waves of her golden hair. Horror and worry swept over him, when he saw the elder village woman Shizuka asked for help collecting the bloody sheets. Many bloody sheets. Hanzo frowned.

»Ýri. Ýri, talk to me.« He carefully took her hand into his and caressed her cheek with the other.

»Water,« she faintly whispered. »Water … «

»Of course.« With shaking hands Hanzo went to the table pouring some before he returned to her bedside. He gently helped her into a sitting position and set the cup to her lips.

»How are you feeling?«

»Tired … just so tired … «

»Hanzo«, he heard Shizuka calling his name, but he did not turn away from his love. She had been through so much …

»Hanzo«, Shizuka called for him again.

»No. No, I will not leave her!«

To his surprise the healer did not force him to do just that. Instead she rather forced a small bundle into his arms. Hanzo held it carefully and could not believe his eyes. The little thing in his arms wiggled around, watched him with piercing green eyes for a moment, just to cuddle close towards the warmth of his body again. Lost for words he gently caressed over the black fuzz of hair on her head. He raised his head to see Ýri and she gave him an exhausted smile. Hanzo leant towards her and kissed her tenderly.

»Thank you. For everything you have given to me.«