He finally had her.
She was so careless this time, it was too simple. He just had to shoot the scatter arrow at her feet when she flashed before almost disappearing and - impeccable timing - one of the splinters got her and she cried out, discarding the camouflage and crouching down.
He ran up to her and violently pushed her against the nearest wall, holding his bow to her throat so she would have no means to escape.
'Finally' he said coldly, but those piercing eyes of hers were still smiling at him cheekily despite her position. Anger rose in him again as he recalled the time when she humiliated him. And here she was, trapped, him pushing the bow harder and harder against her, but she was still… smiling…
There was this urge, deep, sudden and strong; and the moment he bent down to her lips, he already hated himself for giving in to it.
'No' Hanzo grumbled annoyed, and let out a tired moan as he opened his eyes and a small, simple room swam into his vision.
He lay there for a few more moments, waking up and trying not to be so angry with himself as he was. This must have been the second or third time he dreamt with her like that and it was highly annoying. He thought all that training and meditation from young age helped him focus and calm his unconscious.
Of course, this incident was hard to forget; Sombra sent him random messages, making sure he did not forget about their meeting. Stupid little notes here and there, calling him 'loverboy' and acting as if they had anything going on. As if.
Though he knew he was mostly frustrated with himself. He shouldn't have trusted her, shouldn't have accepted that drink… To this day he was not sure why he did it, after avoiding assassins sent by his own family for years.
He abruptly sat up and started cracking his joints in his neck and arms. No use focusing on past mistakes too much - he reminded himself of the lesson his old teacher gave him - just do not make them again.
He got up and put on a more casual attire he wore to travel around. He still felt sleepy and disoriented, but given the 9 hours of difference between Gibraltar and Hanamura, this was expected.
The day before he turned up here in the mostly abandoned Overwatch HQ unannounced and unwanted. The ape - Winston was his name - was not so surprised to hear him want to talk about Genji.
'I haven't been talking to him lately' Winston admitted, taking off his glasses and carefully cleaning them with a small cloth. 'I will try to get in touch by tomorrow. You should rest until then, there are adequate sleeping accommodations.'
He did not like being stalled here, but still slept a good few hours before getting up. After getting dressed he walked around the premises and stopped at a cliff overlooking the ever unsettled sea thrusting huge waves at the rocks.
'Genji' he murmured to the faint blue aura in the distance, and closed his eyes to take a deep breath of salty air.
Ten-year-old wounds still hurt. How could he let all those things happen? Even though he promised…
'There you are' Winston stepped to him gingerly 'I was looking for you.'
'Do you have news?' Hanzo turned around, his look a bit less stern than usual.
'No… I'm sorry. I cannot get in contact with him at all.''
Hanzo let out a deep, disappointed sigh and looked away, his broad shoulders slightly slouching.
'Angela hasn't heard from him either in some time. Though Zenyatta told me he is on some kind of 'pilgrimage' … but unsure exactly where.' Winston went on matter-of-factly, pausing for a bit before he continued ' Why don't you wait out until he comes back? It's bound to happen somewhen. And maybe…'
'No' Hanzo cut him off, the coldness returning to his face 'Let's make it clear, I do not want to join you. Overwatch was a mistake, and I am not sure I want to be a part of something like that. I will go and find my brother myself.'
'Then lose the kimono!' Winston called after the Japanese man with a bit of annoyance in his voice as Hanzo trotted away,.
It was time to make amends, Hanzo thought, even if it meant following his brother to the ends of the world.
Months passed, but his determination stayed, even if that was almost the only thing unchanged about him.
As he was travelling he felt that simpler clothes - a black t-shirt and pants as well as a brownish jacket - aided him immensely when it came to blending in. Zenyatta helped him identify more or less the route of the pilgrimage - he did refer to it being a 'journey for the body, mind and the soul' and seemed rather pleased Hanzo wants to walk in his younger brother's footsteps.
'It will help you overstep these past years, and all the shackles you imposed upon yourself' Zenyatta's small hologram said to him the last time they spoke. Hanzo found it strange, but he had to admit to himself that the calm, levelled robotic voice made him feel at ease.
But he thought about this piece of advice from the omnic a lot. Will he finally feel redemption? Will this unimaginable rift be mended…? Can it even be mended…?
As he travelled and met several people, some on the same pilgrimage, some even knowing Genji, some of his usual stiffness did get chipped away, ever so slowly.
The monks and religious people he met on his journey across several continents talked with him lengthily about losing and regaining trust and self-love. Most of the time he just ended up smiling at them with forbearing, as if they were children seeing the world much simpler than how it was actually working.
But after weeks of travel, he did feel… better. He moved easier, smiled a bit more, started to appreciate the small things. When, after the first time in an eternity he looked into a mirror he was happy to see some of his wrinkles softening - but also had to admit that his beard and hair were an overgrown mess. He had most of it cut then at the next resting point by some companions; the sides of his head were completely shaven, and most of the length of his hair cut, leaving only much enough so he could tie it in a small bun. Although the change was strange at first, he looked as if he lost ten years of his age and with a light sigh, he welcomed it into his life.
Not so much when these same companions got him drugged on some strange plant and pierced his ears, which hurt for weeks after, but he couldn't bring himself to throw away the titanium earrings, mementoes of this strange journey that changed him inside and outside.
He just arrived in Jordan, some distance from the next destination - a shrine built on ancient holy land. He was having constant coughing fits from being in the deserts of Middle-Asia and the Middle-East for too long and longed to go back to Japan by now. But no one else can walk this road of redemption for him, he told himself, even if it seems endless and futile most days.
He stopped in the town to stock up before heading out into yet another remote temple.
Thankfully his new look did convince people easily he was on a pilgrimage and they were usually ready to help with whatever they could. He was just getting a bag of dates from a man, when he felt his holoscreen communicator buzz through his pocket.
Instantly he thought that it must be either Zenyatta or… Genji…! He yanked it out, and opened it only to find something he was not at all expecting.
I know we hit it off really well but I'd still tap that even if you don't follow me to the ends of the world :* - S.
And below this short note, a small skull, and… that cursed picture from moths ago, where she is hugging and kissing him.
Hanzo looked around agitated. She was here… but how?
His pupils dilated as he saw something purple flash in the crowd, and started running in that direction, but in just a few seconds lost sight of the figure. He looked around bewildered and slightly flushed - was that just his mind playing tricks on him…?
'Wow. I have to say guapo, you really outdid yourself this time' he heard from behind him, and felt his eye twitch at the familiar sound and the light patting of a small hand on his back. He turned around and there she was, smirking at him from under a black hood.
Hanzo caught her wrist with a flash and twisted it. She hissed from the pain and he bent closer, whispering 'I could just finish you off right here.'
'Too bad that you wouldn't find your brother then anytime soon' Sombra groaned through gritted teeth, and he loosened his grip.
'Why should I believe you?' he growled, pulling on her wrist and guiding the two of them into a small side-street, where he shoved her against a wall 'Talk.'
'You know, you look really hot, 'specially when you're doing this BDSM-act' Sombra purred cheekily, but made a grimace when he yanked a small knife from his belt and held it to her throat 'Aw man, still as violent as ever. I wonder, is this a fetish? We should talk about that.'
'I will cut that insolent tongue right out of your mouth' Hanzo said in an ice-cold voice and the woman sighed wryly.
'OK, look. I know where your brother is. I mean, I don't know it exactly, but I know he is here at this shrine.'
'Everyone tells me this shrine was mostly destroyed by hostile omnics, and the rest buried by sand' Hanzo said, closely watching her expression.
'And still, here you are, hoping your brother stops by here as well… which he did' she added with a told-ya smile. To emphasize her point, she flexed her fingers, and four small images appeared, possibly taken by fly-by drones showing Genji in the desert, next to some ruins.
'So you are after him as well' Hanzo rather stated than asked as he glanced at the images.
'Just wanna talk. It's personal business, no Talon involved' she said with a serious expression.
'Why would I trust you?'
'Because if you don't help me get to him, our little secret will go viral' she said, raising an eyebrow, clearly indicating she wasn't kidding 'You were gone so long and nobody ever heard about you, do you think it would be hard for anyone to believe that you've been hanging out with Talon all this time? Try me, if you are so sure about their trust in you.'
He would have rather not. But Genji wouldn't… he wouldn't believe accusations like that… then again, they did not meet for ten years, and at that time he almost murdered him. Who is to say what Genji would or would not believe …?
He gritted his teeth because he despised the woman's insolence and how she could corner him time and time again.
'We leave in an hour' he said in a disdainful tone, stepping back from her 'And I swear, if you cross the line, I will kill you.'
'Charming as ever' Sombra smiled 'Already looking forward to our little road-trip.'