Hand holding
"You look happy." Genji looked up, and smiled under his mask at McCree.
"How can you tell?"
"Your ear widgets give it away," Jesse snickered, coming over to sit with him. The German Overwatch base of operations' canteen was stark white with orange strip lights. It was warm despite the appearance, and swam with smells of delicious, rich food.
Genji clicked his tongue. "These are not ears," he corrected him, twitching his antenna for emphasis.
"The heck are they for then?," Jesse chuckled, leaning forward with his mug of coffee.
"... I admit, I do not know," he replied, clearing his throat awkwardly. "Doctor Mercy never told me."
"Hrm..." Jesse gave the antennae a scrutinising look, then shrugged and sipped his coffee. "Doesn't matter, they lemme know what you're feeling when I can't read your body language." Genji made a breathy chuckle.
"I suppose that is an advantage."
Quiet fell between them, comfortable, companionable. Genji fiddled with his hands idly, occasionally glancing up to look around. "So what's got you in a good mood?" He looked back at the outlaw, still sipping his coffee contentedly.
"Oh, yes," he chirped. "Hanzo and I have taken out first steps towards reconciling."
"That's great," McCree grunted softly. "Magic monk tea does the trick, huh?"
"It does. You should drink it more regularly," Genji smiled. "You might actually learn to appreciate something other than your Starbucks."
"Your monk mojo juice can't make me tolerate mornin's half as much as my Starbucks does, partner." The cyborg laughed softly, and McCree gave him a toothy grin. "But I'm happy for you. You're handlin' this your way and it's workin'."
"I'm trying to follow master Zenyatta's methods... but with my own twist." Genji looked down. "I think even Zenyatta would get frustrated with Hanzo's thick headedness."
"Mm. You put up with me, so you've gotta have endless patience." Genji laughed softly.
"You aren't nearly as stubborn as Hanzo, believe me."
"That's impressive." Genji forced a chuckle, staring at his hands.
"When he sets his mind on something, it's near impossible to make him let it go. Stubbornness combined with that temper of his..." He sighed heavily. "... he's a very passionate person."
"Are you scared of him?" Genji looked up to see a serious, firm expression on Jesse's face.
"Why would I be?"
"Hate to bring up the past... But from what you just told me, seems like you know the exact state of mind he was in when he tried to kill you." Genji's hands flinched, and McCree tilted his hat up. "Sorry for bein' so blunt."
"No, you're right..." Genji stared back down into his hands, laying them palm up on the table. "The moment that fight started, I remember... I remember thinking, 'He's not going to stop. Hanzo can never stop himself. I'm...'" He trailed off, bowing his head and closing his eyes. "... 'I'm going to die.'"
Jesse's thick eyebrow twitched, and without really thinking about it he reached over the table to grasp one of Genji's hands. "I think you might be the closest I've seen to being a goddamn saint."
"What makes you say that?"
"You knew what he was trying to do. He did... this to you, he tries to avoid you, and you still forgave him." Jesse gave the cyborg a warm, sympathetic smile. "I guarantee you an average man couldn't manage the things you do."
Genji stared at McCree for a long moment, then smiled under the mask, helm finials perking. "That's very flattering, Jesse. Thank you." The outlaw nodded firmly.
"But just so you know... I'll kick his keister all the way back to the streets if he hurts you again."
Genji laughed. "I am not a rambunctious teen anymore. Though I pray it never comes to that, Hanzo would not know what hit him." Jesse grinned at him, and they continued conversing. Whether they or anyone else in the room noticed or not, the two of them didn't seem to realise they'd ended up holding hands.
