Reunion

Twelve years ago

"Knock-knock."

"Jesse! To what do I owe the pleasure?" Winston said as Jesse appeared in the doorway to his office. He'd become a member of Overwatch not too long ago and was in the highest of spirits. The group was filled with such good, intelligent beings, and even though his research was restricted, he was still able to find projects to work on to keep him busy, like the chronal accelerator he was currently working on for his good friend Lena.

"Hey, Winston," Jesse said, looking around to make sure no one was watching before stepping into his office. "Sorry t'bother ya. Mind if I close this?" He motioned at the door.

"Not at all," Winston knew Jesse was a member of Blackwatch and had just come back from a mission not long ago, but he didn't know anything about the work they did; it was all kept secret. It couldn't have been anything bad, so he left his curiosity at just that.

"I've got a huge favor to ask ya," Jesse swung the door shut and sat in front of his desk. "Yer pretty discreet, right?"

Winston was wary. He was new to the organization and didn't want to do anything wrong, but he and Jesse had become friends, and he didn't detect any ill intentions from him. He'd bite for now. "I know what and what not to keep to myself," he chuckled, pulling a banana out of his desk drawer and peeling it.

Jesse took his time figuring out exactly where to start, there was just so much! "I need yer help with some investigation."

"What are we investigating?"

"I need ya to look into the name Illari Ruiz, a little girl from Peru." It had been almost a week since they rescued that girl from certain death, and it was a big, but wholesome and well-needed change; both their hands and hearts were so full. She opened up to them little by little, learning she was five years old, and something called a 'sun child'. She didn't know, or maybe she wouldn't tell them anything more than that, so Jesse took it upon himself to get the information himself. "She says she's a 'child of the sun'. Know anything 'bout that?"

"Peru?" Winston heard about the explosion in Peru a week ago and wondered what the source was. He'd heard of the Inti Warriors while living on the moon and knew they resided somewhere on Earth, but this was the first he'd ever heard an Earthling talk about them. What was the connection between Jesse's request and the events that just transpired? Was it just a coincidence?

"Yeah, so," Jesse leaned in, putting an elbow on his desk and lowering his voice. "There was an explosion at an orphanage in Peru that wiped out the entire town, an' Blackwatch sent me to check out the site. When I got there, I didn't expect much with how bad it was…" he shook his head at the damage. Just how powerful was she? "But I found a little girl claimin' she lived at the orphanage," he explained.

"Jesse…" So, the Inti Warriors resided in South America, likely hidden away in the Andes. Winston was able to put the pieces together and understand what happened. He found it a bit odd since they were considered a peaceful bunch, but as interesting as this was, he didn't want to get involved and risk getting in trouble. "I don't think I can help you with this."

"C'mon, I wanna get it all figured out an' I know yer the best at figurin' things out," Jesse knew he'd be hesitant, but there was really no one else he could ask! He thought about asking Liv, but she was busy doing work somewhere in Rome. "I promise, I'll make it up to you."

"Get exactly what figured out?" Winston finished his banana, thinking about having another one, but it was his last one and he didn't feel like going out to get more. "It seems like you've already made the connection of what caused the explosion."

"So, yer familiar with the sun kids, or whatever?" Jesse perked up, happy to be getting somewhere. He'd never heard of them before, but he knew there was truth behind it.

"Growing up on the moon, we got to learn about all sorts of tribes and warriors that guarded the stars of space," Winston explained, going for his last banana. Should he dip it in peanut butter? "The Inti Warriors, or the Children of the Sun, were my favorite. Unfortunately, they're dying out, or for better terms, they're being hunted and killed. I heard a rumor a few years ago saying a woman and an infant got separated from the main group, but I wasn't sure how true that was."

"A woman an' infant…" Jesse thought to himself. The woman must have died when Illari was a baby. "I'm wonderin' if that was her mom, but she told us she didn't have any parents. Any parents she could remember, at least."

"Jesse," Winston was beginning to understand why he wanted to be discreet! But why would Jesse come to him for help? "Are you planning on adopting this little girl?"

"I mean… I couldn't just leave her there!" Neither Jesse nor Han would have been able to forgive themselves if they left her to fend for herself. "An' the last thing I wanted to do was leave her at another orphanage."

"And you are aware she is no ordinary girl?" Winston asked as Jesse nodded. "Why not take this up with Jack?"

"He'd be against it an' send her somewhere to have a buncha tests run on her an' stuff," Jesse leaned back in his seat. I don't wanna subject her to that after what she just went through. She needs a much more comfortable environment."

Winston couldn't stop him from doing something so generous and wholesome, but he wasn't sure he had the connections he was looking for. He'd never even been to Peru, let alone anywhere outside of Gibraltar yet! "I can dig a little to see if I can find any pertinent information. Other than that, I don't think I'll be much assistance."

"Any help I can get is enough," Jesse thanked him, pulling a hand of bananas out of his bag and placing them on his desk. "For your troubles," he said, tipping his hat and heading out.

"Much appreciated!" Winston said right before he left. "Also, congratulations. I can't wait to meet her."

"She likes animals, so I'm sure she'll be just as excited to meet ya," Jesse smiled as he left his office, pulling out his phone and dialing a number. He really didn't want to bother her, but he saw no other option.

"Hola," Olivia answered.

"Liv! I hate to do this t'ya, but I need yer help." Jesse said into his phone, heading to the lift that took him to the bottom of the Rock of Gibraltar. It was so slow, he hated it!

"Anything for you, amigo."

"Jesse, I believe I found it."

As Jesse was tying up loose ends with Blackwatch, Hanzo stayed back with Illari and got to know her a bit. Her favorite color was purple, she loved llamas, and she liked to sing. She was so advanced for her age, he couldn't wait to watch her grow more intelligent. He wondered if she would be into poetry like he was. He found it a good escape from his burdensome thoughts and thought it might be helpful to her as well when she got older. He also wanted to teach her martial arts so she could defend herself without using her powers if she needed to.

While it was hard in the beginning, he began to get used to taking care of a little person. It required a great deal of patience and forgiveness, which he liked to think he mastered. It was amazing how adaptable children were; she fell into the routine he'd set for her easily! They got along so well; he knew he'd easily be the one she was closest to. 'No offense to Jesse!'

During the day, he took her shopping, and they went out for ice cream, doing all the things he wished he could have done when he was a child. Growing up, he was responsible for learning the ins and outs of the clan, mastering skills that no other normal kid would need. He never had the opportunity to experience a life with no burdens, he never got to spend "quality time" with his father. He felt like he'd been an adult from the moment he was born, and he always secretly wished he could be as carefree as his brother Genji… his late brother. 'Kuso,' he knew he could never undo what he'd done, but maybe he could atone through Illari. Giving her all the kindness and love she needed and raising her to be who she wanted, to be a genuine, good person, the complete opposite of who he had to be, perhaps that would be enough to compensate.

However, his daughter was an absolute godsend. Since they'd taken her in, he rarely had the chance to think about it. She was the escape he desperately needed, and he could never be more thankful to Jesse for suggesting they adopt her. And because their family just grew, he'd been tasked with looking for a house that suited their needs. Since they were currently living in the city, they agreed they wanted to move out of state and bring her up in a much more low-key area, so Jesse had given him a few states to look into and he believed he found the perfect area.

"Found us a house?"

Jesse was in high spirits! After he'd spoken with Winston, he gave his friend Olivia a call and told her about the situation, and as he expected, she had connections high enough to expedite the process. In only a week or two, they'd be her legal parents, and he couldn't have been more happy. Liv was a lot more excited than he felt like she should have been, going on about how sweet it was and how he'd turned over a new leaf, and honestly, she was right. He was already trying to be one of the good guys, adopting Illari only pushed him in the right direction. He didn't want her to know the Jesse he was before Blackwatch, he wanted her to know the good man he was turning into.

He'd gotten home to Han greeting him with news of finding a place, and he was excited to see what he'd found. He took his shoes and jacket off at the door, smiling warmly at the pair of tiny shoes lined up next to theirs. He looked at the clock, nine-fifteen. "She asleep?" He asked, heading down the hall to peek into their room. Something about seeing her sleep so peacefully made him feel like he'd done something right for the first time in a long time.

"Yes, I put her down not too long ago." Hanzo noticed how happy Jesse had been lately, and he shared the sentiment. "I read her one of her favorite books until she fell asleep."

"Good sleeper," Jesse said, closing the bedroom door and heading into the kitchen to pour a couple of glasses of celebratory whiskey.

"I imagine that is what having your own room and a quiet space to sleep will do after experiencing the opposite." On the first day, she'd told them that she'd been sharing a room with three other kids and they felt so bad, they didn't want her to wait until they moved for her to experience comfort, so they bought new sheets and pillows and had her sleep in their bed at night. It worked out because Hanzo didn't want to impose when he moved in a few years ago, so he insisted on buying a nice futon couch and sleeping there. Of course, that only lasted half a night, but it served its purpose as a normal couch and they weren't materialistic, so there was no need to get rid of it. "I suppose you are suddenly glad I bought the futon."

"It did come in handy in a pinch," Jesse brought the glasses over and handed him one before sitting next to him on the couch. "Never thought we'd be usin' it ourselves!"

"It is worth it, is it not?" Hanzo drank with him, happy he was home for now until his next mission.

"We're dads now, Han," Jesse put an arm around him and pulled him in. "Can ya believe it?"

"It is surreal," Hanzo kissed him lightly. "But it feels good. As if I can forget about the pain."

"Yer not the only one who feels that way," Jesse knew the three of them were healing one another in their own way, and it was just what they all needed. "It'll all be finalized in a couple of weeks, so I'm thinkin' we should go on a little vacation after it's all settled."

"She mentioned wanting to go to the beach since she has never been," Hanzo too wouldn't mind a week of sunbathing on the sand. Living leisurely like this was far nicer than he imagined.

"I could use a tan," Jesse looked at his arms with a laugh.

"Jesse, look," Hanzo passed him the laptop to show him the house he found and wanted his opinion. "Three bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, a two-car garage, finished basement, and a big backyard. What do you think?"

Jesse liked what he saw, from the multiple, full-grown trees in the front yard to offer them privacy to the photos of the interior. Not to mention the mountains that were literally just a stone's throw from the backyard. He quickly imagined a home life, a new future as he clicked through the photos. He saw a fire pit in the backyard and a family room in the basement, he saw the room they would make hers and all the ways she could decorate. It was perfect. He zoomed out to see the surrounding neighborhood and address information. "Ogden? That's surprising."

"I know," Hanzo saw the look of satisfaction on Jesse's face and knew he'd done well. He wasn't expecting him to go for the very first one he showed him, but he was glad he did since the other three homes he found didn't speak to him like this one did. "While I saw myself living in the States, I did not expect Utah to be the one. It is very random."

"Might be random for you, but this just feels like home to me," Jesse smiled, nodding at the listing. It was affordable and it checked all their boxes. "She'll love it."

"I even looked into the corresponding school district and was pleased with my findings," Hanzo always thought education was key, and with how smart she was, he saw many advanced courses in her future.

"Good. Let's give 'em a call in the morning an' set up a viewing, We can catch a flight an' go sightseeing," Jesse said, looking more into the mountains. "Looks like there are some cabins for sale too, so we can make it a weekend thing. Maybe teach her how to hunt."

"Jesse, she is only five. It is too early to have her around dangerous weapons," Hanzo said sternly.

"Han, she herself is a weapon!" Jesse laughed, finishing his glass. "I think she can handle a bow and arrow. Besides, how old were you when you learned?"

"That is beside the point!" Hanzo huffed, turning his nose up. "I was forced to carry the weight of my family at a young age, she is not suffering that same fate. Let her be young and do childish things first, then we can teach her those skills."

Jesse told him what he learned from Winston, and they spent the rest of the evening snuggled together on the futon and researching more about the Inti Warriors, discovering there was a high possibility that she was the last one alive and figured she'd been given up to save her life. They talked about how they would help her learn to control her abilities over time and how to work through her grief. They talked about all the things they wanted to do once they moved and things she said she was interested in. They talked about everything under the sun until they dozed off in each other's arms, waking up the next morning to find her curled up next to them.

Present day

As they neared the end of their journey, Hanzo prepped his bow and arrow for combat while Jesse reminisced on fond memories of her adoption and how quickly she grew attached to them. He remembered the conversation he had with Winston and when he got home to Han showing him the house they'd call their forever home, he remembered the big move-in day and how excited she was to have her own space. He remembered signing the paperwork and changing her last name and how happy she was to have a family to call her own. He remembered teaching her how to hunt and shoot when she turned ten—with much protest from Han, only to realize she was a natural! It was then they made it a weekend thing to go to his brand-new cabin in the mountains and practice hitting targets.

He had many memories to keep him occupied for a long time, and he wanted to make many more. First, he had to rescue her from doing something irreversible!

"That child," Hanzo ranted, putting his arrows into his quiver as their ship landed. He tried calling her a handful of times, but her phone was still turned off. "She is something else. I thought she was back home, ordering in for breakfast like she tends to do, but instead, she's in Rome, gallivanting with the enemy! How absurd is that?!"

"We can at least be thankful that she ain't too far away," Jesse said as he made sure his revolver was fully loaded and ready to go. He didn't think they'd need to even use their weapons, but messing with Talon, they could never be too careful.

"I do not understand you," Hanzo turned to him. "How can you remain so calm while our daughter is on the brink of mental destruction?"

"'Cause," Jesse tossed his serape around his shoulders, wearing the same one Han wrapped her in when they found her. It held great value, so he limited how much he wore it, only wearing it on missions when he was away from her for a while. "She's our kid, Han. We know her like the backs of our hands. As long as we get her before anything crazy happens, she'll be just fine. She always finds the right way in the end."

"How on earth did she find out about Talon to begin with?" Hanzo continued grumbling. "I regret not being honest with her about them."

"That is true, darlin'," Jesse also felt bad about keeping her in the dark, but they swore they only did it to keep her safe! "We shoulda told her a long time ago."

"Probably when we were ambushed in Egypt," Bap joked, talking about the time they met. He was on the run from the very organization they were currently sneaking into, and they'd been tracking him when he ran into Jesse. They ended up fighting them off together but not without getting banged up a bit.

"Ha! She was still only a kid then," Jesse remembered that day. Han wasn't very pleased with the state he was in when he got home. "She wouldn't have understood."

"Are you speaking about the time we had to lie to her and tell her that you had 'tripped and fallen'?" Hanzo frowned, motioning air quotes. Jesse had come back home all bandaged up, and he hated it! "I still cannot believe she fell for that foolishness."

"Yeah, I still feel bad 'bout that," Jesse said sheepishly. "This time, we'll be honest an' upfront."

"I do not believe there is any other option," Hanzo said, following Jesse and Baptiste off the ship while Niran stayed back to keep an eye on them and survey the surrounding area. "She is in the belly of the beast right now. It is only a matter of time before their actions come to light. Only then will she make the right decision."

"Maybe her opinions on Overwatch will change after this," Bap said, checking out his surroundings. He didn't like being back in Talon's territory, as it only brought up harsh and unpleasant memories. However, they were the same thing that fueled him. Hell would freeze over before he allowed his goddaughter to go through what he did. "Alright, enough chit-chat. Time to get moving," he instantly went into serious mode, pressing the button on his earpiece. "Bua, keep us updated on anything you see."

"You're clear to proceed north to the entrance," Niran said, going over the map Olivia gave them.

"Okay," Bap motioned for them to continue, following the path against the back side of the building. "It seems like she was brought to this building first, which is a good thing because it's where all the scientists do their work. It's not as heavily guarded as their headquarters, and Olivia was nice enough to point us in the direction of the entrance with the least resistance. From there, we knock out anyone who gets in our way, and then on, Bua will guide us to Doctor O'Deorain's office."

"Got it, chief!" Jesse nodded, pulling out his revolver and following Baptiste. He worked with the doctor briefly when she worked for Blackwatch under the table. He didn't really converse with her often and always thought she was super sketchy. Knowing she'd stealthily recruited his daughter only solidified her sketchiness and raised the question, did she know just whose daughter she had a hold of?

"Understood." Hanzo slipped on a black mask and followed behind, keeping an eye on their six like he always did on his and Jesse's missions. He was hoping this would be as easy as Baptiste said it would be. Get in, get Illari, get out, go home. None of them planned on taking any lives, but they would if anyone stood in their way.

"Be mindful of the two cameras to the east and west of you," Niran said as he watched them walk through a small courtyard. "The cloaking devices Winston gave you guys seem to be working; they haven't detected you yet. Olivia says they don't record sound, so you've got a little leeway."

Bap looked to his left and right, spotting the oscillating cameras. He paused, nudging Jesse and pointing at the cameras. "We're undetected, but we need to get a move on," he whispered, picking up his pace. "We still have a ways to go."

Jesse and Hanzo followed suit, speeding through the courtyard as the cameras panned around. They were both glad the sun hadn't completely risen yet, so even if the cloaking devices failed, they could move behind the bushes… which Hanzo felt they should have been doing to begin with.

As Baptiste led them around the building, he became sad again that the doctor was luring her in, using her wish to help people against her. No doubt about it, she was excited to upgrade her pylon and her solar rifle with top-of-the-line equipment, but at what cost? They were lying to her, telling her that what they were doing was good, and she was young and naïve… just like he was. His sadness then turned into anger. Talon was always like this! Preying on the weak and snatching them up when they were vulnerable. Jesse and Hanzo may not have wanted blood, but he did.

"Heads up," Niran spotted a guard at the door they were approaching who wasn't there before. He also noticed a missing Hanzo, but the probability of him getting picked off was very low. He was probably just going to find his own way to the entrance somehow. He'd always been like that! "You're coming up on your entrance, but there's an armed guard there. Just one."

Bap stopped at the corner, peeking around to see the guard Bua just warned them about. He turned around, his blood running cold when Hanzo wasn't with them. "Where's Hanzo?" He whispered frantically. "Bua, do you have eyes on Hanzo?"

Niran panned around with the small camera that each ship was equipped with. "Um…"

Jesse whipped his head around, Han nowhere to be found. "Aw, hell!" Jesse grit his teeth, knowing he probably took matters into his own hands.

"There's a guard at the door," Bap advised, peering around for Hanzo. He didn't get lost, did he? "But we can't go on without him! Bua, update?"

Jesse looked around the corner, shaking his head. "I don't think we'll have to worry 'bout that."

Hanzo was sick of the lollygagging. He looked that map over; they could have made it to the entrance minutes ago! So, right after they made it through the courtyard, he used his wall-climbing skills to scale the rugged brick wall, dart weightlessly across the roof, avoid the two or three cameras, and jump to the ground at the opposite end of the building where he noticed the armed guard in the distance. "Simple work," he said to himself, stealthily creeping up to the guard and easily disarming him before holding his wrists behind his back and squeezing a pressure point on the man's neck. "Cooperate silently, and you will live," he said into his ear as he slowly slid to the ground. He dropped the man and glanced at Jesse and Baptiste, who were just watching from the other corner. "Well?"

"Looks like Hanzo took care of it for you," Niran giggled, just as he suspected! He was probably going on in his head about how he should have done it alone! "Heat sensors don't detect anyone on the other side of the door, so you're clear to enter."

"Yeah… thanks, Bua," Bap said, walking up to the door. He should have known Hanzo would figure out a way to speed things up! "Did you climb the wall?" He asked knowingly.

"Darlin', what did we say about goin' off on yer own?" Jesse smirked, wishing he could light up a cigar. "Yer lucky there was only one guard."

Hanzo scoffed. It was true he had a habit of jumping the gun, but "Even if there were ten guards, I can handle myself," he declared. "You two fools took the long way, while I handled the problem swiftly. I should have done this alone."

"C'mon, Han. Don't be like that," Jesse knew he was just agitated and worked up, but he didn't want him to do something that would get them caught. "I know ya want her back, we all do. But we need to work together."

"Fine. We should continue," Hanzo grunted out, picking up the unconscious man and using his hand to scan themselves in as Baptiste stayed back to keep an eye on the door.

"This is a wondrous piece of technology," Moira said, handling her solar rifle carefully. It was rather large, but she understood why it needed to be; it harnessed pure energy from the sun! How much damage could it do? "Exactly how long did it take to build this?"

"It took a couple years with the help from my uncles," Illari boasted. She saw how pleased she was and wanted to have her look over her pylon, but that took some time to put together. Her rifle was only in three pieces, and she had a special case she kept it in. She was glad she brought it with her! "We actually perfected it not too long ago."

"Oh, this is far from perfected, my dear," Moira activated it, marveling at the miniature sun that grew in the core. This was… nearly at Doctor De Kuiper's level! No wonder he'd taken such an interest in her.

"But I spent so much time on it!" Illari whined. What did she mean it wasn't perfect?

"Yes, but with my help, we can turn this into something better," Moira wanted desperately to get her hands on this weapon. Maybe they didn't even need the girl to carry out their mission! But it was clear she was very attached to her creation as one normally would be. Would she be willing to let her… 'borrow' it?

"Better?"

"Security breach. Security breach. Security breach."

"Damn!" Moira went over to her monitors and looked them over, seeing the last thing she wanted to see. What a thorn in her side. She'd been hassling Akande about getting more security for the research building, but he apparently never saw a need. Now, as she feared, the girl's parents had come to her rescue, putting her in a pickle. She didn't want to get on the girl's bad side and risk her losing control of her powers again, but she also didn't want to give up so easily. Perhaps she could persuade her to stay on her own volition.

"Security breach?" Illari perked up, wondering if she should prepare to fight. Maybe this would earn her some brownie points. "What do we do? Are we fighting someone?"

Moira sat in her chair and crossed her legs. She was incredibly irritated. They somehow knew the least secure entrance to get into, and it was a straight shot to her office. It was only a matter of time. "I suppose we wait for them to come to us."

"What?" Illari was floored. There was an obvious threat approaching, and her plan was to wait? "We're waiting? We need to fight!"

"I appreciate your enthusiasm," Moira rolled her eyes. Would she keep that same energy and pep fifteen seconds down the line?

Illari was about to protest when the metal door was suddenly punched in, falling to the ground with a loud bang. She jumped up with her eyes wide. "Dad! W-What are you doing here?!"

"Get yer things," Jesse said with a frown, looking around and seeing her solar rifle on the doctor's table. He glared at Moira, wanting to threaten her in the most horrible way, but biting his tongue to save his daughter's ears.

"Jesse McCree," Moira said with an insincere smile. "How nice to see you again after all these years."

"I suggest you not say another goddamn word to me," Jesse growled, hand on his gun as he fought to keep his cool.

"Did you not hear your father?" Hanzo entered the room swiftly, scowling at the sight of her belongings scattered all over the place like she was comfortable. She wasn't moving fast enough for his liking.

"Otōsan!" Illari panicked, rushing to the table, She knew this was a bad idea! She should have just stayed home! They were so angry; she'd be grounded forever!

"Hurry up and pack your things. We are leaving this place," he demanded, watching her scurry and put her rifle away.

"Before you leave so hastily," Moira stood, taking her chances and walking over to Illari. "Why don't we let her make the decision? After all, she's almost an adult, and will have access to all the resources and aid from the world's greatest—"

Hanzo cut her off by drawing his bow and aiming it at the doctor's head. "If I were not a changed man, I would end you right here. My daughter comes with me."

"A changed man, you say," Moira faced the tip of his arrow, knowing he wouldn't shoot in the presence of his daughter. "Passing your family's burden on to an innocent child by giving her your last name?" She crossed her arms. "And I use the term 'innocent' lightly."

Illari's mouth dropped, why would she say it like that?! Suddenly, she got the worst vibe from the doctor and began to think that maybe Talon wasn't such a great place. Especially if her dads tracked her down in Rome to drag her home! "But… I didn't mean to! That's why I'm trying to give back!"

"And you think you will be 'giving back' by joining Talon?!" Hanzo shouted, keeping his bow drawn. "She is only using you! Have you asked her what your role in their upcoming mission was? Surely, she told you about the goal to use you to destroy the watchpoint base in Gibraltar!"

Her mouth fell open again as she looked at Moira. She was being used? Not only that, but to destroy an Overwatch base that her dads and uncles were stationed at?! "…is it true?"

Moira was at a crossroads. There were three angry and dangerous individuals in her space that could easily end her life, but she was just so damn proud and stubborn, she really didn't want to just give up. "I don't know where they came up with such an asinine assumption…"

"Tell the truth!" The markings on Illari's face began to glow brighter the angrier she got. This wasn't good, she could feel her control slipping from her, but she was so pissed off! There was a reason why she didn't want her to tell her parents about the recruitment! She already knew who they were and was busy trying to get them killed! She stood in Moira's face. "You were trying to use me to kill my family?! How dare you!" She went to use a little bit of the martial arts her dad taught her to put her out when her wrist was caught. "Let me go!" She yanked on her arm, annoyed when it wouldn't budge. That damn prosthetic! "Dad!"

"Let's go, Illari," Jesse said, pulling her out of the room before she blew the place up. She was getting angry and unstable, and she was about to take it out on Moira, and as much as that bitch deserved it, he wanted to stop her from doing something she couldn't take back.

"If anyone gets to bear the weight of killing you, it will be me," Hanzo said, putting his bow down and grabbing the rest of her belongings. As badly as he wanted to end the doctor right then and there, he couldn't afford to start a war with Talon. Instead, he shot her one final glare before taking his leave.

"Dad, I'm so sorry—"

"I do not want to hear it!" Hanzo stomped ahead of them, heading down the corridor and through the same door they entered. Once they got outside, he spun on his feet, pointing a finger at her. "You left without our knowledge to go join an unknown organization and expect an apology to fix things?!"

"Dad…" she teared up. She knew there was nothing she could say to get out of this one! She looked at Tio, who was quietly walking behind them with a disappointed look on his face. Was everyone upset with her choices? She didn't even know it was bad!

"Do you realize the trouble that would arise if you had taken part in that mission?! The lives you would have taken?!" Hanzo couldn't keep the angry words from leaving his mouth. "Do you not carry enough of that burden?!"

"Dad, I didn't know!" She held her hands out in despair, looking to her other dad for reassurance. "I didn't even know they existed! I thought I was doing something good!"

"There ain't nothin' good 'bout lyin' t'yer parents," Jesse spoke up, walking her to the ship. "Ya lied to us, hun. We thought you were back home, but instead, you thought you were mature enough to make a big decision."

"If you truly thought this choice was a good one, why did you not bring it up to us first?" Hanzo continued. "How did you even learn about them in the first place?"

"Last time you guys left, I went to the library and the doctor approached me," Illari explained, knowing they'd be mad she didn't tell them about it. "She gave me her card and told me to think about it."

"Son of a…!" Jesse exclaimed. Moira had been watching her this entire time?! "An' ya didn't think we'd wanna know about this?"

"I wasn't even sure I'd go!" She tried to defend herself but for naught.

"Yet, you still did," Hanzo said. "And when were you planning on telling us?"

"Well…" she hesitated.

"Go on, ko. Spit it out!"

"She wanted me to go on a tester mission first before telling anyone anything," she realized now how crazy that sounded. How embarrassing!

"And it did not occur a bit strange to you in the least?" Hanzo didn't understand this girl sometimes!

"A little, but… she seemed genuine at first!"

"Ain't nothin' genuine 'bout her," Jesse said as they approached the ship. "She worked for Blackwatch before we found ya, an' I always got a weird vibe from her. Didn't talk to her much." He just wondered how long she'd been watching her.

Baptiste walked behind them and listened to them scold her a little more. He felt they were being a bit harsh, but it wasn't his place to say anything. Maybe if they had spent some time in her shoes, they'd understand how easy it was to fall victim to their schemes. They boarded the ship, and he thanked his lotus for guiding them safely before settling in his seat. After this blew over, he and Bua would invite her to their place for a little breather if Jesse and Hanzo allowed it. He wanted to talk to her and tell her he understood and was sorry she was preyed on, and that while disappointed, he was glad it didn't go any further.

"She better pray I never see her face again," Hanzo said through gritted teeth. He was filled with so much anger. If he had told her about them sooner, they wouldn't be in this mess! How was he supposed to approach this? He looked at Jesse, hoping he'd get the hint.

Jesse nodded and turned in his seat, facing her. He hated how sad she looked, but who could blame her? "Listen, hun," he said, taking her hand. "Yer not entirely at fault, here. It was our duty to protect ya, and we thought we were doin' it by not tellin' ya about Talon."

"So… you do know about them," if Dad said he used to work with the doctor, there was a good chance he knew more than she thought. And when they all scoffed, they confirmed her assumption.

"We have all had our fair share of run-ins with Talon," Hanzo explained. "Their main goal is to wipe the entirety of Overwatch and all its members off the map."

"Not to mention, I actually used to work for them," Bap confessed to her. "They tricked me into thinking what they were doing was good, but in reality, I only became a mercenary, killing innocent people at their will. We couldn't let that happen to you."

Illari couldn't believe her ears! She felt so foolish for almost becoming one of their pawns! She hung her head, more ashamed than she'd ever been. "I'm so sorry. I had no idea."

"We know," Jesse said. "An' that's our fault. There were opportunities to tell ya 'bout 'em, but we didn't think you needed to know."

"No teenager should have to worry about things of that nature," Hanzo still felt that way, but perhaps it really depended on their maturity. She was more than mature enough to know of Talon's existence and their true nature. They were just… scared. "However, you would have never gone to these lengths if you had known the truth, and for that, we apologize."

"No! I'm sorry!" She got up sobbing and hugged him tightly. "I shouldn't have left the house! I should have just stayed home! To know she was trying to use me against you! I wouldn't have been able to live with myself!"

Hanzo cried with her, hugging her as tightly as he could without hurting her. "I know. That is why we had to save you. We love you so much, Illari, and we only want what's best for you."

"Can ya tell us why?" Jesse asked as they hugged it out. "What sounded so good that made you wanna join them?"

"I guess…" she sniffled, sitting next to Otōsan. "I just wanted to feel accepted." She looked up and saw them looking at her in shock, realizing how her words came out. She waved her hands frantically. "No! I didn't mean it that way, I just… I don't know how to explain it! I just wanted to go to a place where everyone is kind of like me, y'know? I thought that's what Talon was. I saw myself creating amazing things next to brilliant minds alike. But it was all fake."

"I wouldn't necessarily say it's fake," Jesse said. What she said had some truth to it. There were brilliant scientists who worked for Talon, but they were on the wrong side of justice. "They're just not the typa people you'd wanna surround yourself with."

"I know that now," she said sadly.

"Well," Jesse looked between her and Han. "I think I know a place you'll fit in just fine."

"Dad, I don't want to join Overwatch!" She slumped back in her seat. She just knew they were going to try and pull something like this! "Esto es tonto!"

"Don't sass me," Jesse said firmly. He didn't speak Spanish fluently, but he knew she was getting smart! "Just think about it," he painted her a picture. "A bunch of us, all dealin' with our own problems. All the support you'd need. Plus, you'll get to make a few friends." He already had an idea of a few she'd get along with.

"Your safety is now threatened," Hanzo said. "It would benefit you if you joined. Talon has taken a special interest in you, so you need to have as many safety nets as possible."

"Otōsan!" This blows! She'd rather be grounded than sit around and make friends with a bunch of old people! What did they even do on their missions anyway? Stop threats at a bingo hall?

"Enough!" Hanzo knew she would protest, but his word was final. "You will join Overwatch if it means keeping you safe. I will not take no for an answer!"

"Ugh!" She turned away in her seat, pulling out her phone and scrolling through social media. She understood she made a mistake, but for them to be this lame?

"It's not nearly as bad as you think," Niran was excited she'd be joining them! It wasn't often that three medics were needed on a mission, but maybe she could tag along with them for training purposes! How fun! "You'll see once we get there."

"We're going now?!" She complained. She was hoping to be back in the comfort of her home, not surrounded by old strangers!

"You'll thank us later."