Christmas had arrived once more, and the base was now covered in a thick layer of snow. Some of it had been shoveled, melted or otherwise dealt with, but this year had seen a few more blizards than usual, so the agents had given up on keeping it looking 'professional' and settling for 'safe enough to walk between buildings outside, mostly'. Not everyone had been able to attend the holiday gathering at the Watchpoint, but those who had were keeping things lively and going strong well into the night. Eggnog, hot chocolate, tea, coffee, and of course, booze had flowed throughout the night, and those in attendance had been mingling about, some listening to the music being played, a few joining in the karaoke, and other content to just enjoy the feeling of the gathering. Knocking back another mug of McCree's 'Southern Coco' Solider: 76 sighed as he watched from the side of the gathering. Sure, he understood the importance of these gatherings. Heck, he enjoyed them quite a bit! But… that wasn't to say they couldn't go on a bit long sometimes. Shrugging, he took another sip and wandered onto the dance floor, where some of the agents were trying (and mostly failing) to show their moves and style. Laughing to himself, he made his way outside and onto one of the balconies. Despite the howling wind he could hear off in the distance, there was nothing but a gentle breeze outside, blowing a bit of the cool December air his way. Setting the mug down, the old hero leaned on the railing and simply looked out over the dark night sky.
In the illumination of the base's outdoor lighting, and the moon above in the sky, he was able to look out over the cliffs and valleys that the base had been built into. Perhaps due to the unchanging nature of it, or simply nostalgia for better times, something about looking out over this all was always able to calm the old soldier's mind. He thought back on all the conversations he had been through out here, the different people he'd had in his life. Those he still had, those he lost, and those that were somewhere in-between. Ana, Lena, Winston, Gabriel, Angela, Mako, Echo, Sojourn…
"Did you need a break as well?"
76 didn't need to look over his shoulder as Hanzo approached the railing and leaned against it as well, donned in a black and blue hoodie and track pants. It was an oddly causal outfit for the Shimada archer, but he pulled it off. Nodding his head, 76 took another sip of his hot drink, unsure if there was much to say right now.
"Yeah, the music was getting a bit loud." He chuckled. To his annoyance, Hanzo had a reply ready to fire like he was quick-drawing with his bow.
"You sure you're not getting old?"
"Watch it, I'm not too old that I can't throw you over this railing." Solider: 76 warned in a mocking-serious tone. Hanzo chuckled at the threat and nodded conceding the point. "But also, maybe."
"I don't know who thought it was a good idea to let Junkrat on karaoke, again, but he's on his… I think this is his seventh song?" Hanzo muttered, rubbing his temples as the Junker continued serenading the heroes with his ballads.
"Is he drunk, or just trying to annoy people?" Solider: 76 asked.
"Do I need to answer that?"
"No, that was a stupid question. My mistake."
The two looked out over the night for a few moments before Hanzo laughed again. "Although, I will say, it wasn't as bad as when he and Mad Dawg took the stage." Jack froze for a moment. First, he remembered that was who he had forgotten, he and Mad Dawg had talked here multiple times, and second, that blasted song Jamison had made. It had driven him INSANE. "What was the song Junkrat wrote? Mad Dawg the Mexican Mutant?"
"Oh… stop. Please." 76 groaned, all but slamming his face into the metal railing as another memory he'd fought to repress tearing its way up to the forefront of his mind. Despite his best efforts, it clearly wasn't going anywhere. Hanzo blinked and laughed harder now. He hadn't intended to cause Morrison a headache, but it seemed like he'd succeeded.
"How did it go?"
"Hanzo, I will throw you off this balcony."
"I mean, I could always ask Jamison, I'm sure he'd be happy to-"
"Rgh… Mad Dawg, the Mexican Mutant, had a very sharp chainsaw. And if you ever saw it, you would say it cleaves through bone." Morrison begrudgingly recounted the song, and Hanzo nodded, remembering it fully now. He chuckled, and mercifully let the old Solider stop. The two remained there, again, letting the silence hang over them.
"I know I've said it before, but… I'm sorry. About your Grandfather." Morrison finally spoke again. Hanzo let out a slight sigh, and nodded.
"Yes, it is… a true loss, yet, one I'm surprised I felt as much sorrow over as I did…" Hanzo mused. Jack was a bit surprised by that remark, but thankfully Hanzo continued with his explanation. "My Ojiisan was in some part responsible for what happened to Genji, even f his disfiguring was by my hands, the order had come from him. After I left, I resented them all for what they had made us into, and then… when Mad Dawg showed up, and had befriended him, I felt resentful, honestly."
"I understand that, Dawg and Don seemed close…"
"Indeed, closer than he had been with Genji or myself…" Hanzo admitted. "But, from when we met again, he was so much kinder. Dawg had changed him, one way or another. While on some level I didn't understand why he'd have such a bond with a gaijin, I realized in part, he wanted to make amends for what he had done. Maybe by helping Dawg, he could absolve himself. Regardless, when he opened himself up to us again, Genji and I were distrustful. But he had changed, and he wanted to prove that to us."
"Dawg and Don had that in common. They were stubborn to the bitter end, and yet, they wanted to do right." Jack commented with a nod, one Hanzo returned.
"But in time, I saw that Don had changed, and I wanted to build something with him, yet I found myself always held back. The past still hunted me, and that wasn't something I could change." Hanzo nodded. "Something, again, I think Kace could relate to."
"Mm."
"But when our oji attacked our family, tortured one of our own for his sadistic plans, I saw our Ojiisan choose to be who he wanted to be. His sacrifice, in my eyes at least, proved he was a changed man. It's a tragedy I hadn't seen it sooner."
Something about the wording gave Jack pause, but then, he realized what it was, and simply nodded.
"I miss them both, but in different ways. I guess this time of year, I miss the younger one more." Hanzo concluded. The wounds from that last battle scarred over, but never fully faded.
"We all do." Was all Jack needed to say. Angela clearly was hit the hardest this time of year, from November to December it was the worst, both due to Dawg's 'birthday' and it being around the time he had died. Still, she had people in her life to help her, and vice-versa.
"Call me crazy, but some days I believe Mad Dawg's still out there." Jack commented, looking up at the stars. "In one way or another, he's out there, causing trouble, blowing stuff up and generally being a pain in the ass."
"Well, he hasn't come after me yet for the book I wrote." Hanzo reasoned, thinking about the book he'd written based on Dawg's run-in with Ashe. And how it had made him stupid amounts of money.
"I still can't believe you did that." Jack genuinely laughed.
"And I can't believe how much money I've made off of it!" Hanzo laughed as well.
"Admittedly, Genji claimed he had never seen you laughing so hard."
"You had to be there. You just had to."
"I wish I was…"
By this point, Lúcio took the mic again and got everyone's attention. His voice carrying the energy and commanding presence it always did.
"Ayo everyone! It's nearly Christmas! And it ain't right to celebrate without an old friend!" He laughed, as a video was thrown up on the screens around the room. As the music began to play, Morrison froze, realizing what it was. "If you know the words, sing along!"
On the video, Mad Dawg and Junkrat were onstage, 'Feliz Navidad' beginning to play…
"Feliz Navi-" Junkrat had begun.
"Apple Bottom Jeans!" Mad Dawg had cut in. Junkrat seemed baffled, and tried to continue.
"Feliz Nav-"
"Boots With The Fur!" Mad Dawg, however, was having NONE of it.
"Feli-"
"Shawty had the whole damn club, lookin' straight at her!" Mad Dawg continued, while the others were laughing hysterically, staring in horror, or both.
Junkrat, being an honest bloke who would never miss out on a chance to cause mischief, mayhem, or be a general nuisance, didn't need to be told a word and jumped onboard with their 'remix'.
"Baggy sweatpants! Reeboks with the strap~! Then she turned around and gave that big booty a slap~!" This was not helped by Junkrat turning and dancing seductively… only to be slapped on the rear by Mad Dawg. "She hit the floor and next thing you kno- ho! She hit the floor and next thing you kno- ho! She hit the floor and next thing you kno- ho!
"Shawty got low~!" Mad Dawg was now throwing money at Junkrat, and to the horror and annoyance of most of the women present, most of the guys had all joined in on the song. Heck, even Zenyatta, Bastion and Hanzo were joining in.
"I hate it here." Solider: 76 groaned, rubbing his face. Hanzo laughed and turned to walk back inside.
"Merry Christmas, Morrison." He waved.
Somewhere Across Dimensions… Christmas Eve, 11:56 PM
"Feliz Navidad, Feliz Navidad, Feliz Navidad, Próspero año y Felicidad…"
"…and the next thing ya know, Shawty got low…"Mad Dawg quietly sang.
Pulling over at the cliffside stop, Mad Dawg put Tombstone into park and killed the engine as the familiar song ended. Climbing out, he sighed and walked around the car, his boots crunching the dirt underneath him. Hopping onto the hood of the car, he lay with his back on the windshield and looked up with a smile at the stars and lights of the city off in the distance. Cracking open a cider, Mad Dawg took a sip, listening to the cricket's chirp and the wind softly blowing around him. For a few moments, Mad Dawg just breathed in the sights and sounds, then took out his phone and turned on his car radio.
"…I'll be home for Christmas… You can plan on me. Please have some snow and hot coco, and presents by the tree. I'll be home for Christmas… If only in my dreams…"
Growling in frustration, Mad Dawg killed the radio before grabbing his Walkman. He didn't know what tape was in it, but he didn't care. Hitting play, he lay back and smiled as the soft, calm low-fi music began to play. He took another sip from his cider, swirling the can as he did so before leaning up to look out at the city below. Things… had been hectic, to say the least. And yet, he'd survived. Somehow.
As a shooting star flew above, Mad Dawg wondered, what should he wish for? More cider? More shotgun shells? Not to be shot as often?
"I wish… I wish my family knows I love them." He thought with a sad smile. "And I wish, that by this time next year, I'm back with them."
Nodding in resolution, Mad Dawg had made up his mind. One way or another, by next Christmas, he was gonna be home! Did he think he'd succeed? Not really, but hey, he had to have a goal to work towards. With another sip, he chuckled, noticing the clock roll past midnight.
"Merry Christmas, everyone." He smiled.