Jesse doesn't see Hanzo for a few days after they arrive back at the watchpoint. Frowning, he briefly wonders if the archer has settled back into his reclusive existence again. That would seriously be a shame, their earlier interactions had been so nice. Genji jogs past him in the hallway a bit later and Jesse yanks him back by the rather colourful hoodie he's wearing. Genji raises his brow in mild accusation but Jesse almost forgets what he was gonna ask, instead giving Genji a once over. His hoodie is bright green, and there's a pink bunny symbol on the front and Korean lett- ah of course. Genji's face morphs into a smile and he poses enthusiastically.
"I got it from Hana! She is releasing a new clothing line in a few days and I get to wear this before everyone else!" he exclaims and gesticulates to his hoodie. It even has bunny ears on the hood- and was that a fluffy tail on the backside?
Sometimes Jesse has troubles actually believing Genji is a whopping 35 years old, but for some people age is just a number, isn't it?
"Would you like one too, Jesse? I guess I can sweet-talk Hana into giving you one as well, I mean I am that awesome." Genji continues, pretending to scrutinize the nails he doesn't have.
"Thank you kindly, but no thank you. You look cute in it and I'm sure Hana does as well, but on me? Nah, it'd probably look very out of place." He's kinda mortified when the unbidden image of Hanzo in the same sweater drifts through his mind. Fuck, he'd look really cute. He shakes his head to clear the image, luckily Genji is busy preening from his compliment.
"Yes, yes I am!" he says, doing a few poses again. Genji's ego was very easy to stroke, it probably came from the fact that he was very outgoing and social. How did two brothers that grew up together turn out so different?
"Actually I was wondering if you know where Hanzo is at the moment?" he says after clearing his throat. "I recommended him a book on our flight home here from Lijiang and I was just thinking of casually asking him what he thought about it." A lie, but maybe not a lie? It could actually be interesting getting to know what Hanzo thought about Morgan Kane.
"Oh so you are the culprit responsible for Hanzo refusing to train with me for two days in a row?" Genji snorts playfully. "Rest assured he must have loved that book, because no amount of begging from my side could get him to even consider joining me." he huffs. A warm, peculiar feeling settles in Jesse's chest at the cyborg's words.
"But sorry, I digress. Hanzo left for a scouting mission a day ago together with the older Amari and Morrison. He won't be back for about 4 more days still, I think?" he says, poking his own chin thoughtfully.
Jesse's spirits dips down again at hearing that. He wasn't sure why exactly he wanted to seek out the archer (liar), but now he sorta did? 'Did you enjoy the first book?'
"Anyways Jesse, I have to run. Hana and Lúcio are waiting for me. Wanna hit a bar for a couple of beers on Friday if nothing comes up?" He gives Genji a 'yeah, sure!' before the cyborg zips off towards the commons room. With nothing else to do Jesse decides to hit the practice range for a few rounds of shooting before dinner.
Friday comes and Lena flies them over to the mainland for a run to the pub. Genji and Hana are wearing matching hoodies from Hana's collection, while Lúcio has a tank top version of the bright green garment on. All three of them look like excited teens about to go out to town on their own for the very first time.
"It's a shame you declined my offer for a free 'Love, D .va' hoodie, Jesse." Hana says, popping her gum as she poses for a selfie with Genji. "You look more like our chaperone than part of the gang."
"Hey!" he shouts indignantly, readjusting his red flannel shirt. "If you don't watch your tongue, missy, I'm gonna chaperone you guys for real! See where that gets ya!"
Genji laughs and apparently ruins the picture for Hana who slaps his arm before wincing in Jesse's direction.
"Duly noted." she pouts before she winks and they all laugh in unison. A warm feeling settles in Jesse's stomach. It has been a while since he has been out like this with a couple of friends. Overwatch was a mish-mash of different characters from all over, but despite it all they found common ground and solace in each other, even if their existence was a harshly debated one.
Jesse and Lúcio go straight for the beer, clinking their glasses together as they wait for Genji and Hana to get whatever fizzy and colourful drinks they've ordered to get made.
"I think I'm going to have my own drink made next." Hana says as she joins the table. "I'mma call it; Bunny Hop!"
"I actually had my own drink back in the day in Hanamura." Genji says, taking an elegant sip from his neon green beverage.
"And what was it called? 'Green-haired Playboy Ninja'?" Hana throws back laughing.
Jesse swears these kind of things only happens in the movies but Genji's face goes from smug to shocked then amused before he bursts out laughing.
"How the actual fuck!" he yells excitedly. Hana takes a dainty sip from her drink then twirls her hair.
"Internet." she says then laughs as Genji slaps his hand over his eyes mumbling 'Of course, I'm stupid!'.
As the evening ebbs out, it leaves Jesse with a warm and fuzzy feeling of contentment. Warm because of his comrades, fuzzy from the beers he's had. Hana and Genji are pouring over the pictures they've racked up throughout the night, Hana squealing in delight over the amount of Like's the first picture they took has accumulated. The one she thought got ruined because Genji started laughing. Lúcio is bopping his head to some tune only he can hear and when Jesse asks, he excitedly reveals that he's got an idea for a new song.
Lena joins them a with a pint herself at one point and when Hana raises her eyebrow in question she pats her Chronal Accelerator and grins. What Jesse wouldn't give for that. Shitfaced one moment, sober the next.
They get burgers before they leave for the base, huddling together in the back of the small plane eating while Lúcio plays some of his new tunes for them. A perfect note to end a delightful evening on.
...except, the note is about to be soured.
They've barely landed when the sounds of one of Overwatchs mission jets rattles through the air.
Jesse looks to Genji who smiles in return, thinking the same thing; Hanzo and the rest of the scouting crew has returned early. Lúcio and Hana trickle inside the base while Jesse and Genji waits for the jet to land. Jesse has to tame his silly grin, not wanting to seem too excited. Genji narrows his eyes suddenly and Jesse's follow his line of sight. The jet seems to be in somewhat of a bad shape. An unsettling feeling blooms in his stomach and he puts a hand on Genji's shoulder.
"Get Angela. Something's not right." he murmurs. Genji zips away almost before Jesse has finished his sentence, heading straight for the good doctor's lab. Jesse's never one for ignoring his instincts. Just as Genji is out of sight the jet opens and Ana Amari jumps out, biotic dart poised readily in her hand. Jack Morrison follows right after, carrying what looks to be an unconscious and beaten Hanzo in his arms. Jesse's blood goes cold. Morrison lays the archer gently down on the concrete and Ana follows up by jamming her biotic dart in Hanzo's thigh, prompting a loud gasp from him. Morrison throws off his visor and sets his eyes on Jesse.
"Angela." he commands.
"Already on her way." Jesse replies short and concise as he rushes forwards to meet them.
Hanzo is in an even worse state than he looked to be from afar. Hair loose and matted, clothes filthy and there's so much blood.
"He got careless." Ana murmurs, applying pressure to Hanzo's right side.
"I told him not to-" Morrison starts, but one stern look from Ana has him shutting his mouth.
"They jammed our coms, that's why we couldn't get in touch. I've done what I can, now it's up to Angela to do the rest." Ana says sternly, motioning to Morrison to take over for her. She wipes her bloodied hands on her trousers and gently strokes Hanzo's forehead.
"Fever." she states grimly. "But he's conscious, this is good."
Angela arrives with Genji whose visor is in place again so Jesse can't read his face. She connects her Caduceus immediately and orders for Hanzo to be moved to her lab. Jesse barely knows what to do with himself. He's not squeamish, he's seen wounded comrades before, he's seen dead comrades before, but now he is truly shaken, for the first time in a long while.
He finds Morrison outside of the lab, leaning against the wall. Other than a thin red line on his cheek, (stray bullet probably), he seems unharmed, as had Ana.
"What happened?" The words are out before he can mull further upon them. Morrison snorts, clearly not impressed with whatever has happened.
"Just as Ana said; he got reckless. Bit over more than he could chew, thought he could take on the whole world apparently."
It really doesn't answer Jesse's question. But he doesn't get to inquire further as Morrison leaves with a 'Gonna be a lot of paperwork for this one.' He spends a few moments, staring solemnly at the door and the sign saying 'surgery in progress' before he decides to leave and go to bed. He knows Hanzo is in capable hands, Angela is the best of the best. But as he lies in bed, staring at the ceiling, he can't for the life of himself get rid of the lump in his throat.
He's not sure when he actually fell asleep, but he wakes in a pool of sweat, heart hammering loudly in his chest as twisted pictures of his comrades bloodied and the sounds of gunshots fades back into the void. It's somewhat early still, the digital clock on his nightstand shines crisp, red 08:09 in his face. He rubs his eyes tiredly. 'When was the last time he had a nightmare as horrible as this one?'
Then he remembers Hanzo.
10 minutes is all it takes for him to be showered, dressed and on his way to the Med Bay with two coffees and a bagel in hand. The sign isn't lit anymore and he all but storms Angela's lab, startling the doctor where she sits by her desk, filling out paperwork.
"Jesse!" she scolds, but her face softens as a large coffee and the bagel is shoved in her face. She points to her patient's room, mouth already on the rim of the coffee cup. Jesse forces himself to calm down, Hanzo is alive and well. He enters the room with soft steps, noticing Genji by Hanzo's bed. The archer is asleep, hooked up to iv drips, a strip of bandage woven around his head. Even though he's hurt, he looks peaceful for once. Genji looks up when he enters, his face a grim expression Jesse hasn't seen on him in years. He wants to ask, but Genji is as always faster than him.
"He'll live. No lasting damage."
Jesse lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding in. He joins the cyborg by the bed, taking notice of the Storm Bow neatly stacked up against the wall. Genji speaks after a few moments of silence.
"My brother still hasn't forgiven himself for what he did." he starts, voice steely.
"I've told him that I have forgiven him and that we need to let the past be the past and work together towards a shared goal, but he keeps insisting on putting his life on the line with his reckless behaviour and for what? A shot at something as elusive as redemption?" he says the last part through gritted teeth.
"'With every death comes honour, and with honour, redemption.' Quote Hanzo. To risk your life for gaining honour, in hopes of that honour leading you to redemption, is nothing short of idiotic." Genji has gotten visibly upset and Jesse longs for patting his back in comfort, but he knows from experience Genji doesn't want comfort when he's like this.
"You'd almost think he has a death wish." he whispers. Jesse's heart twists in his chest.
'McCree-san, do you ever see the faces of those you have killed in your dreams?'
He knew Hanzo was a complex person, but he's come to see the man in a new light, and Genji sharing tidbits and observations on his own has made him able to put a few more pieces together for the puzzle.
"I don't know, Genji." he says softly. "There's ah, probably more to it than you think."
Genji sighs defeatedly in response.
"Not going easy on you when you wake up, anija." the cyborg murmurs before he heads out to see Angela.
The room becomes silent with Genji's departure, the only sounds present being Hanzo's soft breathing. Jesse feels as if their little heart-to-heart in Lijiang was a lifetime ago.
"I meant what I said back there." he starts, eyeing the sleeping archer. "That you're not alone, that you can depend on us. Especially Genji, and… me. You should know you can depend on me, if you ever need anything. I uh, know a thing or two about regret and redemption."
He feels vulnerable, having said something so exposing of himself, but what better time to be honest than when your recipient cannot hear you? He shakes his head, laughing silently at his own train of thought. He pulls out a small pocket book from his jeans and puts it on the table by Hanzo's bed.
"Get well soon, archer. I'll lend ya book two in the series cause I suspect you finished the first one already. Please tell me what you think later." he says fondly before he goes to join Genji and Angela in her office.