Hey all! Welcome back to my Mercy library collection! This one comes as an idea I've had for a while, and wanted to do previously, but just couldn't seem to work out. Thankfully I was able to today, and so I have posted it here for you all! Now, this is going to contradict a bit with what Blizzard has already put out, so there's a disclaimer for you. They did it their way, I'm doing it mine. And I know one of these characters was featured last chapter, but that wasn't really a Mercy interaction with anyone, it was kind of an alternate reality type of deal.

Anyways, hope you like my interpretation of this important part of Overwatch history, I'm glad to be bringing this addition to light after so long in my head. As always, I cherish reviews and critiques, please leave me one on the way out. :D Enjoy!

It was raining that day, a rare occurrence in the long haul of dry heat they'd been having all the previous week. Having just gotten back to Gibraltar after a short time at Ecopoint Antarctica, she'd been looking forward to that sun. She'd had a minimal workload too, it was the perfect time to resume her tanning efforts.

After wrapping up the serious business in her office, Mercy left the rest to her aides and decided to attend to a few personal matters. Her journal had been getting fewer entries as of late, but twenty minutes took a step towards changing that. As always, it was good to vent. After tidying up her quarters, she grabbed an umbrella and chanced the rains outside.

Most personnel were enjoying the cold, crisp afternoon. The mess hall was lit up and noisy with folks enjoying coffee. Much as she would like to join in a bit later, the task at hand called for a bit of isolation. Some shelter was preferable, but she'd sooner sit alone on the hard rocks than go into her office. The closest of possible locations was the expansion to the training facility, perched up in the rocks over the bulk of the training center, and still under construction. There would be cover and quiet, and a nice view to boot. Even in the dreary mood of coming fall, Gibraltar was beautiful.

The climb up was manageable, but she'd be very grateful for a staircase when one was installed. It was very windy up here, and she was forced to fold up the umbrella or risk losing it. The frame of the expansion stood firm, just under the lowest of the dark clouds. Some of the roofing was installed already, and a small alcove in the rocks housed some of the machinery and equipment used for renovation. Some muffled sound was coming from the alcove, likely an animal exploring the man-made objects in its habitat. She decided it would be better to stick near the border of the frame and look out into the ocean as she sat down to begin writing.

Dear Adrian,

This will get to you later than I wish it had, I've just been so busy! In fact, I'm writing this all on your birthday. I just got back to my post in Gibraltar, supposedly to be remain here until the next phase of the campaign. As always I can't go into detail, but I might be heading south soon. I'll of course continue sending my letters to you and mother.

What's happening in your world? I sometimes see so much of the bigger picture that I really miss the simple things, the small details from family and home that get swept under the rug. Everything I seem to do I do for everyone, human and omnic, men and women beyond borders. How is our musician cousin? When was the last time the family went out to eat? (And where?) What shirt did you wear today? Tell me enough to write a book!

I don't know when the present will arrive, I shipped it out before leaving for Ecopoint base, I hope it arrives in conjunction with this letter. I think you'll really enjoy it ;D

I also wanted to ask you

The letter took a backseat when a voice startled her out of her seat against the rock.

"Incoming!"

She only just had time to leap forward as an arrow struck the rock where her arm had been a second ago. She breathed deeply and stood as the enigmatic newcomer named Hanzo ran towards her.

"My apologies, I would not have used my scatter arrow if I had known you were here," He said, bowing at her feet.

"Well, I suppose no harm was done. Thank you for the warning...I wouldn't have seen it in time."

He remained low and said nothing and she took a moment to look behind him. It seemed it was not an animal in the alcove after all, but an archer practicing his aim in the dark.

"I'm sorry for interrupting you, it seems we had the same idea," She told him, raising him from the ground with a smile.

"I often find comfort in the quiet above the base. Today was...a day for quiet."

"Something go wrong?" She offered.

"Yes. Something went terribly wrong, but it is a mistake we cannot fix."

"I-I'm sorry."

He moved to take his arrow from the rock, and she saw many of them landed in the stone or in small crags and crevices.

"Quite the smart weapon," She commended as she reached down to grab one.

"It has saved my life many times."

She decided to be bold, "I wager that means it has also taken many lives."

"Yes," He said gruffly as he yanked an arrow from a metal sheet.

He turned to her, "Have you ever taken a life, doctor?"

"Please, call me Angela, or Mercy at least. And….I have had to take a few, though I am in the business of saving lives, no matter their allegiance."

"A noble policy."

"A lot of our fellows would disagree with that," She replied with a proud smile.

"It seems to me that a lot of our fellows see only good and evil."

"I agree. Not everyone can see the grey in the world, only black and white. If I might ask, where did you learn to see beyond the two extremes?"

He hesitated as she handed him a quarter-quiver's worth of arrows. She showed him a smile, and a warm look, but he turned aside and sighed. She moved to pick up her letter.

"You know, before coming up here I chose to vent my feelings into a journal. It seems like its been awhile since you did the same, maybe you'd like to vent to me? I'm a trained professional, by the way."

"Perhaps some other time," He said at last, his arrows all gathered and his bow in hand, "please excuse me, I-"

"No, no, don't leave. I'll just keep on writing, by all means, don't go. I won't pry, so long as you come to me when you need to talk. I'm always listening."

"I...Thank you. That would be fine."

He looked over to the alcove as she retook her seat, but by the time she had her pen on the paper again, he was on his knees, basking in the gray glow of the afternoon.

He sat in silence for a moment, but then spoke, perhaps because of her rapid pen movements.

"To whom do you write?"

"My younger brother, Adrian. Today is his birthday."

His eyes shot towards her, his mouth slightly agape.

"What?" She inquired.

"Nothing...just...curious. Today would be my younger brother's birthday as well."

The words stuck out so plainly. Would be, he said. It was time to be bold again, since the chance had presented itself.

"I'm sorry to hear that….what happened?"

He sighed again, and she worried that he might get angry and try to leave, but he calmed himself and resumed his meditating position, speaking to her at rest.

"My brother learned many things from me, though diligence and responsibility were not among those things...so I was confronted with a choice, and in my confrontation he was killed."

She set her letter aside and shifted, afraid to embrace him and disturb his chance to process this, but uncomfortable with leaving him without a human touch in such a bad recollection. But she let him explain.

…

"Genji!"

"What?" The young sparrow asked hotly, spinning in place to meet his brother's gaze.

"You must accept this! You have to grow up. Come with me to the meeting."

Genji chuckled, and walked on.

"Genji! I won't ask again."

A trio of shuriken was his answer, each one dodged expertly and gracefully, but Hanzo's face was now contorted in anger.

"You do not decide my destiny!" Genji warned.

Lightning and thunder clashed in the sky, and as the rains came pouring down in the cement dojo yard, Hanzo drew his sword, and Genji his.

"I decide the destiny of our clan. Last I looked, you were a part of the Shimada clan."

"Then maybe I will forsake my clan."

"You don't mean that!"

"I do!"

Wordlessly they leapt at each other, steel ringing against steel, wooden dummies all around them being cut to shreds. Like animals they growled, trading swords and fists and feet, thrashing against each other. Hanzo was the first to land a decisive blow.

His sword hilt smashed into the side of his brother's face, and Genji tumbled down and skidded away.

"I am not playing! Submit to your authorities!"

Genji shot back up and twirled his blade in his hand, shaking his head.

Through gritted teeth, Hanzo charged again.

An overhead strike unbalanced Genji, and a following low sweep put him on his back legs. Genji gave a great jump backwards and let three more shuriken fly to give himself space. Hanzo dodged the ninja stars while Genji cut down a wooden dummy and threw it. Again, Hanzo dodged.

Two more sets of three shuriken came towards him, the first trio in a straight line, the following ones in a wider arc. Not as skilled in the art of deflection as his brother, but still capable, Hanzo blocked them all with only the faintest, single tear to his orange shirt. Hanzo shot forward to close distance while Genji threw down a smoke bomb.

Regaining a defensive stance in the midst of the mist, Hanzo waited, but even still did not anticipate the swift strike that tore the screen of smoke in two and broke his stance. He was still on his feet until the following kick from Genji landed across the back of his leg.

Genji brought his sword hilt down over his brother's face this time, but Hanzo put up his free hand and grabbed on, keeping the hilt at bay over his face. Both brothers vied for dominance, and breathed in and out deeply as they summoned their inner strengths.

"How dare you disrespect the clan? The Empire!?"

"Family is supposed to give you wings!" Genji accused, "My family chains me down!"

They went silent for a time as the hilt wavered, going down farther and then raising up slightly, and then back down and so on and so forth. Just as Genji groaned deeply and began to push the hilt dangerously close, Hanzo's hilt struck again, in the stomach this time, breaking their lock.

A swift punch put Genji on his back and Hanzo leapt on top of his brother, holding his sword against Genji's throat.

"Submit! Put your life in order!"

"No.." Genji refused with shortness of breath.

"We cannot have this!" Hanzo shouted, removing the blade and grabbing his brother by the hem of his shirt, slamming him back down several times. When Genji's blade swung from the side, Hanzo's beat it back down.

Hanzo rolled forward, still keeping a hold of Genji, and raised him forcefully, only to kick him in the back of the leg as had been done to him and put him in a choke hold. Genji began to limpen and cease to struggle, and Hanzo loosed the hold.

That instant, Genji's arm snapped back and a shuriken stuck into the top of Hanzo's shoulder, and the younger brother fought his way out, retaking his breath and position as Hanzo removed the ninja star.

"So...the two dragons cannot find middle ground...then let us let our abilities decide which of us will determine our destinies!" Hanzo shouted.

Damn you, brother. Why must it come to this?

Genji lowered his center of gravity, Hanzo did the same, but Genji's speed was still greater, and the power he put behind it was great. Hanzo's sword took the attack, but received a crack along the edge and flew from its master, who himself skidded backwards on the soles of his feet.

Genji turned in the distance and reared the blade again, as Hanzo drew his bow and reached into his quiver. The arrows flew like whispers, but each one was deflected or evaded in turn, until Genji was in just the right spot.

Hanzo jumped high and blocked blade with bow, trading fists once more with Genji, and doing a decent job of it. As they landed, Hanzo stepped back and to the side, swinging his bow to incapacitate, but Genji ducked and went into a flurry of strikes, each one capable of taking his older brother down. The last one locked him with Hanzo's bow, and as Genji used both hands to drive the sword further, Hanzo used one of his to grab an arrow from the quiver.

They continued in their next struggle, all the while the arrow was notched and ready to be released, moving slowly towards Genji. They kept on until Genji decided to break away and charge again, at which time Hanzo summoned his greatest strength without fully intending to. The arrow slid back a bit farther and he took the quick aim he was regarded for.

What am I doing?

"Ryuu ga waga teki wo kurau!"

Why did I..?

The blue dragons flowed like rushing water from Hanzo's tattoo, lit ablaze with power and aimed at his charging brother; even at high a speed as Genji was running he could not escape it. So he leapt, and then leapt again in the air, high as he had ever leapt. His own green power came to life along the edge of his blade as the blue spirit dragons flew below him.

One shot. I cannot miss...but if I don't...

Running on instinct, Hanzo drew the final arrow as Genji shouted with wide eyes.

"Ryujin no ken wo kurae-argh!"

It was as though his eyes saw for the first time in the battle, and Hanzo dropped the bow as he saw the scatter of arrows fly into his brother's open mouth and burst through his neck and chest and head. Hanzo ran to his fallen brother's body as it fell to the ground, red and wet and broken like so many of the arrows sticking out of him. The younger's sword fell like thunder and was as forgotten as the bow as Hanzo gently lifted Genji's head up.

His face was blank and bloodied.

"Genji….no!...Genji…."

…

"I stayed with him for hours afterwards, cradling his body and begging to undo what I had done," Hanzo said at last, still at rest.

After another, briefer, pause, he went on, "I was not right to kill my brother. Nor was he right to shirk his duties. But at the end of it all, I killed him, and I lost myself for years. I abandoned my duty, as I accused him of doing, and wandered the world for years. An outcast. A lone wolf. A failure."

Now Mercy could not keep herself at bay, and moved to him, but he stood up suddenly and turned to her, his bow in hand and his eyes intent.

"His name was Genji."

Genji!? She might have known...

"I honor him every year on that anniversary. I will go home to do so in just four days time.

"Hanzo…."

Should she tell him? Was it her place to let him know? Perhaps Genji had not forgiven his brother. Perhaps he had truly died since she had found him and given him his life back - at a cost. Perhaps it was her duty to tell him, and she would be spiting him by not revealing what she knew.

"Yes?"

"I...I am so very sorry," She said, embracing him a tight hug and wondering how she could get out of the corner she was in.

"The world is not full of black and white...Genji taught me that when I killed him. I tell myself that with every death comes honor, and with honor comes redemption...but it may be that I am only running from the truth...even now."

"No."

What was she doing? He was giving her a puzzled look, and she knew she had to say something.

"No...you can't keep this hanging over you. I don't know if killing anyone brings honor, but I know that redemption doesn't come from honor, but in how you adjust to the shame...how you make yourself better."

He seemed to be considering her seriously, so she went on.

"It's unfortunate than violence is the solution for so much of the problems in the world...but so it must be for now. You killed your brother in the wrong, but here, with us, you are making a difference. It may be grim work, but you have a talent for knowing when grim work is undeserved. You have killed wrongly, and rightly if there is such a thing…"

She was rambling now, and knew it.

"I...I think that if Genji had lived...and he was the free spirit I think he is, he would want you to forgive yourself for something that happened so long ago."

He gave her another odd stare, and then turned his head towards the pouring rain.

"It just may be...that you are right."

His words have hope, his tone and his face less so. But Mercy was satisfied for the moment.

"I meant it...if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here. I'm always here."

"Thank you…"

He had a decision to make now, the most important one since that rainy day so long ago. She prayed he would make the right one. He was powerful and skilled, but he was still hurting himself after all this time. Understandable, but unfortunate, and something that needed fixing.

And then there was Genji? Where was he, and what would he do?