"Genji wasn't your only family, Shimada." - Kiriko Kamori

...in which Hanzo reminiscence in Hanamura, Cole tries to set his dads (Gabe Jack) straight, and Gibraltar is attacked.

A/N: Jfc. I keep forgetting to update on this site. That's how little I use it. For the record, chapters 14/15/16 were written ages ago. I've set an alarm now every Friday to remember.

It always bothered me that Kiriko in her lore and in-game are essentially two different ppl. She has a great personality in the cinematic, but in-game with several of her voice lines/interactions, she's just... insufferable/rude. So this portrayal is Cinematic Kiriko™ bc that's the only one I like. Her comments to Hanzo in particular are so damn insensitive. Especially if she knows he tried to kill Genji (...and I imagine she does.)

HANZO

(Japanese) "Look out, Shimada!"

Arrow piercing the omnic's drive core - Kiriko's warning promptly acted upon - it fell to the floor allowing a brief moment of respite. Hanzo looked up to a higher roof proving a good vantage point. Yet the nearest climbable wall faced the cliff and the omnics were closing in. Fortunately, he knew his home well. Acted once again.

Hanzo informed his brother. (Japanese) "Genji!"

As he took to running, Genji immediately recognized his thought process. As did Kiriko. For a moment, it was as if they were back in their training. Effortlessly acting upon each other's honed skills.

(Japanese) "Let the kitsune guide you!"

The kitsune sprung forth, and his pace quickened with the power surge, Genji arching his back enough for Hanzo to step on it and leap into position. Genji lifted his body in the process giving momentum launching him up. Metallic greaves hitting the roof, Hanzo ducked just in time, a hail of bullets peppering the open air behind him as he drew his bow. Fired to hit repeated one-hit kills. Elevated now, he was provided with more cover, and with a better view of the battlefield in general. Shurikens and kunais. Bullets and arrows. With them were Cassidy, Augustin, and Winston.

As suspected, Talon had infiltrated the Hashimoto as well - some remaining Shimada joining them - their influence concerning. Names that Hanzo and Genji both recognized. Clan elders among them found out by intel retrieved.

It was one problem after another. Neither was it a war that would be over anytime soon. The Omnic War was bad enough all those years ago, and now, Overwatch was needed more than ever. Hanzo unwillingly found himself in the middle of it all. Yet there were far fewer Null Sector forces than expected. It was mostly Talon. Seemed as if this Ramattra had taken some liberties.

Putting an end to the current Null Sector attack, it wasn't long before they were to head back.

(Japanese) "Give my greetings to Asa-sensei."

Kiriko didn't look at him. (Japanese) "You can say 'hi' yourself."

He should, but Hanzo already knew what she would say. She would scold him. Express her disappointment. Their own mother Rumiko having abandoned her family, Asa was as close as he and Genji got, and so the guilt ran deeper. He couldn't face her. Seeing Asa's husband, Toshiro, was painful enough. Ashamed, Hanzo looked away. Genji walked up.

(Japanese) "Kiriko. Please. This is not necessary."

(Japanese) "I get why you abandoned us," she said, tone gentle. "That doesn't change that Kanezaka fell apart without you. How you helped destroy our chances to rebuild. I've lost friends since the Hashimoto took over and neither of you were anywhere to be seen." Her next comment was directed at Hanzo. "Genji wasn't your only family, Shimada."

As the pit in his abdomen grew deeper, Hanzo turned to walk, only to stop to give her a look over his shoulder.

(Japanese) "I am sorry."

She crossed her arms. (Japanese) "Took you a while to help, but at least you came back."

(Japanese) "He is trying."

His little brother's calm validation only made it worse. Hanzo directed his gaze back forward and left their space. Yet he couldn't tune out her last comment even if he wanted to.

(Japanese) "For your sake? I hope he does. He owes you that much."

Hanzo's silent agreement didn't make it any easier.

No one was angrier with him than the reflection in the mirror.

COLE

Hanamura. Now, it was by no means his first time being there, but it seemed that every time he did he saw something new. Cole never really had the time to take in the sights as him traveling was rarely uneventful with that bounty on his head. Not only had Overwatch dismantled the Shimada clan at that very spot, but he could also recall stopping a robbery at the local ramen place. Rikimaru. That was before he answered Winston's recall. He had been there on missions a couple times with Genji, too. It had been a while since last time.

Like Hanzo had so observantly pointed out, the pink cherry blossoms were in full bloom. Spring. Yet the presence of the Hashimoto clan now being in charge left a bad taste in every decent person's mouth.

The Shimada clan was gone. Scattered to the wind. Yet he wouldn't put it past them if there were a few stragglers left trying to get back into power. Part of him knew he was responsible. It was the ugly truth. He could still recall getting the mission working alongside Genji, and with the vitriol the cyborg ninja had for the organization, he didn't think twice about what they were actually doing. Just do the job and get out alive. That was the plan. Then Cole had to grow a conscience.

Doing research in aftermath had him change his tune quite a bit. At some point, the Shimada clan had fallen from grace, but it had never become outright tyrannical. They were saints compared to those in charge now. More reserved. Controlled. At some point down the line, it changed, and he could put two-and-two together with the information he now knew.

After Shimada Sojiro's death.

Knowing he was the father of both Genji and Hanzo naturally made it all the more personal, too. The Hashimoto had been after him for years and finally succeeded their assassination. That right there was the start of their downfall. Then Overwatch came in. Weakened the Shimada clan even more to the point that they could no longer protect and sustain themselves. They were criminals - yes - but so were Overwatch. So was he.

Kiriko was the one to tell him that the Shimada protected their people while the Hashimoto preyed on them. Kanezaka was, after all, part of Hanamura's rule. Hearing that story took a long time, however.

When he first met her, she was distant. Sporting a reserved anger. Justifiably so. It took time for her to join Overwatch, but in the end, she relented. She did so with the promise that they would help her take out the Hashimoto. Groups had been deployed there - Cole and Genji being part of some of them - to do just that. Yet Null Sector's involvement put another wrench in the cog. Unfortunately, that made Hanamura second priority. Made her bitter. It was why she returned only relatively recently to stay in Kanezaka while Overwatch took care of Null Sector.

Bitterness aside, she wasn't stupid. Kiriko understood why and so she begrudgingly started to open up a bit. About the Shimada in particular. Clearly, it was her way of reminding them that they messed up and that Overwatch owed Kanezaka for what they did. Trying to convince them to make a better effort to atone. Cole had been at the mercy of it.

She had told him of a story were the Hashimoto gave the Shimada a choice between the profitable rice fields and their people. They, much to the surprise of the Hashimoto, chose their people. That in itself said enough. It was the moment Cole knew. Hearing it from Kiriko herself who had her boots to the ground was a wake-up call. Genji had been so clouded by anger that he didn't consider this outcome. It was why he was so willing to assist Overwatch in dismantling the Shimada in the first place.

That and the promise that he would be able to walk again.

Now, Cole had a lot of the puzzle pieces. Three different sides. Genji, Kiriko, and now Hanzo. Genji wanted the clan dismantled after what they did to him and his father. Kiriko wanted the clan preserved to protect Kanezaka. Hanzo was on the fence about it to the point that he almost killed his own brother only to leave out of shame in aftermath. Now? Hell, Cole didn't know what Hanzo wanted. If he still had any actual love left for the organization that raised him. He realized he could simply ask, but it seemed a tad bit too personal for his taste.

Cole had always been the one to try and leave his past behind. Not dig up old graves. Just accept the unchangeable past and move forward. Hanzo, on the other hand, seemed unable to let the past go.

He was a lot more reserved than Kiriko was. At least up until a couple nights ago when he gave Cole some insight. How Hanzo thought everything that happened to him and Genji was necessary. The way he was raised to protect them both. He could see all three perspectives clearly now. If Gabe wasn't a hardass, Cole would still be the high-up-on-his horse teenager believing he knew better than everyone.

Maybe part of why he clashed so bad with Hanzo was that he reminded him of himself.

Cole stepped across the threshold of the great hall. His eyes landed on the lone dark silhouette before a light-colored banner. Hanzo stared up at it while the bow hung loosely in his hand. Three arrows left in his quiver.

"Wondered if you'd ran off without them parting words," he teased, although his lazy smirk shortly faded when he took in the scene. A sort of weapon stand. Empty. There was a banner above, red-dotted, a sharp object having cut through its left bottom edge and upwards towards its center. Dried blood. "Looks like the scene of one ugly fight." / "A village high up the hill. There are cherry blossoms in the spring. I miss it dearly." / Then Cole put two-and-two together. "Just occurred to me what this is. Pardon me, Han. I didn't realize."

This was where he nearly killed Genji. That dried blood was his. Still there having stained the cloth.

Above the banner, there was a mural depicting two dragons. One blue and one green. Cole and Genji had been working together for a while now, so he had seen him summon it, green and silver being prominent colors in his arsenal. Hanzo's most prominent colors were blue and gold. Amber eyes were narrowed, brows tight as always, as he stood there.

"I swore to never wield a blade again."

There was the truth. Why he used the bow. Cole would never have imagined it ran that deep. Hanzo sported a regal, albeit exhausted, look. The same look he had seen in the cafeteria way back.

Nevertheless, the amber-eyed gaze shifted to Hanzo's own left arm. Held it halfway outreached. Expression softening, his eyes darted, and it was as if he was listening. Then lips pressed into a thin line. The tattoo took the same blue glow as Kiriko's kitsune, and with stunned silence, Cole watched the two dragons emerge to circle Hanzo's wrist before disappearing. He supposed the spirits could feel as they had a mournful gaze.

"Reckon it's tough to be back here."

Hanzo didn't answer immediately. "It has not been long since my last visit. Merely a few months before I joined Overwatch. I came here every year on the same day to pay my respects."

"With the place teeming with the Hashimoto?"

"Yes," he replied. It was all the more proof that Hanzo, deep down, was a good man. One willing to put his life at risk to honor his brother. The fact that he snuck in - or fought himself in, for that matter - to do that was admirable. "I was never fully truthful as to why I joined your organization. Genji was not the only factor in my decision." Cole just let him speak. "Our father. His spirit guided me onto this path. I have yet to learn why." Hanzo fell into a pause. "I infer this is... strange to you."

"I'd be lyin' if I said 'no,' but... I've seen my fair share. Nothin' much can surprise me no more," he said, thinking it over. "Mission's over, so feel free to stay. Rest o'us gotta find a hotel anyway. Not getting' back to Gibraltar until mornin'."

Briefly, Hanzo hesitated. "There is no need, but your concern... flatters me."

"Any chance you'd show me around?" he asked, giving him a lazy smirk. Hanzo's expression softened just a tad. "This is where you Shimadas were raised, right? Genji never really talked 'bout it." Icy grey eyes searched the room. "I can see why you'd miss this place. Got a certain... I dunno... 'peacefulness' to it. Can't recall last time I felt anythin' like that."

"I suppose it does have a certain aptitude for peace despite the pain that occurred here," he replied, pausing. "Of course."

It never failed to stun him how open Hanzo was to talk about his past in detail. It was nothing like Cole's take on it all. The past is the past. Let it stay there, he had repeatedly told himself, and yet, part of him couldn't help but admire his viewpoint.

/ "I never had the chance to make peace with him. Do not make the same mistake I did." /

Those words kept playing back in his head until it became too much. Torturous. Cole had always been comfortable in his own head and yet he did seem to have somewhat of a blind spot for family. That meant Gabe, Bars, B.O.B., even Ashe and more. Yet it wasn't as easy as it might seem at first glance. Yes, Gabe had always been a hardass, but the guy had become almost sadistic. Jack was usually the calm one among the two. Now? Hell, it was as if their roles had been swapped. Jack was a blown fuse while Gabe came off as a silent psychopath.

At some point did he down a glass of whiskey and set course for the Gibraltar cell. Nevertheless, he got an eye on the camera feed first. What greeted him was the sight of Jack and Gabe in the middle of some heated argument. No audio. It was on a timer. Frowning, he at first grew suspicious. They might've been hacked again.

He was about to draw Peacekeeper before Jack ended the conversation and took his leave. Just in time for the audio to kick back in. It was enough for Cole to know that he was the one that had turned it off.

Huh, he mused, but didn't find himself all that surprised. Jack was a private guy. Pushing away from the control panel - about to take his leave - his gaze turned back to the screens as he heard yet another one of those inhuman growls after Gabe paced the cell. Appearing and dissipating. This time did it sound different. More animalistic. Pained. Gabe held the clawed talons before him, studying his hands, before balling them into fists. Meanwhile, Cole's features smoothed out ever so slightly as a light went up for him. It's hurtin' him.

No wonder he was always so damn angry.

Moira O'Deorain really was a piece of work. Cole already knew that, but Christ, he hadn't considered this. His blood boiled at his mind's mention. If he got his hands on her, he'd wring her neck. He'd take some pleasure in that as it was long overdue. Had a bullet with her name metaphorically carved into it. Cole never liked her, but making Gabe suffer as he did, this added to yet another layer of spite.

With that did he set course for the cell. Spurs jingling as he did. Cole ran into the Strike Commander himself on the way.

"Ho, now," he said, recoiling briefly. Preventing the collision. Not bothering to apologize, Jack just barged past, muttering what sounded like a bunch of curses. Annoyed, Cole repositioned his hat. "You okay there?"

"Outta my way."

He would usually throw in a smartass remark, but he was too tired.

Sighing, Cole just rolled his eyes. He couldn't exactly blame him.

Cole crossed the threshold. "Sometimes I wonder how the hell you two are my damn senior when this is how y'all act. Fumin' and cursin' up a storm. Surprised the place hasn't blown up yet."

"Watch your tone, ingrate."

"Not exactly in a position to make demands," he replied, turning his gaze to him to see Gabe standing there. Back turned. A low growl was his response. Hands moving to his belt buckle, his hip cocked to the side. "What kinda lover's spat is it this time? Can't imagine what warranted this kinda feud. Not like you ever fully saw eye-to-eye, but... this is a whole other level."

"None of your damn business."

"Well, I'm makin' it my business," he said, not backing down. "Back in the Overwatch days? Morrison was your rock. Then he was the one goin' off the deep end chasin' ghosts. You think gettin' him back to Gibraltar was easy?" Cole paused. "He needs ya, Gabe. After all those years coverin' for ya? You owe him. Hell, you owe me... and even after all this shit you've pulled? We've yet to put a bullet in your goddamn head." With a sigh, Cole averted his eyes, jaw locked tight. "Angie's working on that cure o'yours. She's gettin' close. We can help ya."

Shoulders tensed before him then. Fists knitted at sides. Those talons would've punctured his gloves had it not been of as hard a fabric. A long, drawn-out grumble followed before Gabe finally used his words.

"I don't want your help."

"Want, no. Need? Now, that's different. 'Cause I can't imagine this disappearing act o'yours is particularly pleasant. I've seen the papers."

Stepping forward, Gabe voiced his thoughts. "You left me to die!"

"We thought you were dead, Reyes. All o'us that were present," he rebuked, taking a step forward himself with gritted teeth. Steel-grey eyes unyielding. Whatever reaction Gabe had was hidden behind that mask. "I reckon Moira scooped ya up before we even had the chance to do another recon." Only then did his own features soften as realization dawned. "Now, hold up. That's not what they told ya, is it?"

"Save it."

"The hell have they been fillin' your head with, Gabe?" he asked, another growl emerging as Gabe turned into yet another cloud of smoke pacing the cell. "You think we'd just leave you like that? For god's sake, you're family, however goddamn deranged you've gotten. Don't know if you remember, but Overwatch disbanded. Any activity we do now is still illegal and there's no goddamn overhead makin' our decisions anymore. I imagine that's why you squared up to Morrison in Switzerland, right? Because the higher-ups weren't doin' enough to help?"

"If you were finally doing your damn job, I would be dead."

Jack hadn't spoken about what happened before their Switzerland HQ blew up, but now he had a confirmation. Cole had been right. It was indeed about Overwatch 'not doing enough' to help with the higher-ups making their decisions. That sounded like the Gabe he knew.

...and somehow, someway, Doomfist had convinced Gabe that Talon had stepped up. Most likely at the lowest point in Gabe's life making him easier to manipulate. Truth be told, Doomfist sure was persuasive, and it wasn't like his code of violence flew past Cole's head. He understood why he thought that way. There were a lot of scums in the world. In Doomfist's eyes, he wanted to cleanse it, and violence was a way to do it. Reset said world. Cole would be all about giving irredeemable criminals the what-for, but innocents were caught in the crossfire. That was different. Very different.

Now Doomfist had convinced Gabe, too.

"We've all got blood on our hands. Ain't no use denying that. Truth is, you and Morrison need each other. Two sides of the same damn coin. This shit right here - none of you capable of puttin' your damn pride aside - is why everything's fallin' apart -"

The explosion cut him off - debris beginning to crumble as he stood there wide-eyed - and it was nearly Switzerland all over again.

Null Sector.

They were coming to retrieve Gabe.

Dust and debris were all around them now. More steadily emerging. Static crackled in Cole's ear as someone was trying to get in contact. Almost built like a bunker, only the direct hit of an explosion could even dent the cell Gabe was in, and the roof falling atop it would bury him alive with no means of retrieval. The debris would prevent access.

Setting off one direct explosion just to clear said debris would dent it and the next explosion would possibly kill him. Cole knew this. Gabe knew this. He didn't have any magnetic grenades on him to crack the glass beforehand.

So Cole voiced it. "The hell are they thinkin' blowin' up the place?! You're in here!"

"Null Sector doesn't care."

"Why else they'd be here for -?!" he tried. Unable to react in time, Cole felt the weight of a larger piece of debris dislocating his right shoulder knocking it down. With a pained grunt, he was nearly forced to his knee, the pain seeping up his entire arm excruciating when he grabbed it. As if fearing his flesh limb would fall off. "Goddammit!"

More debris pummeled to the floor. This time blocking access to the console as Cole jumped back not to get hit again. Eyes wide under tight brows, his fight or flight response kicking in, his attention snapped to Gabe still pacing the cell. That was when Cole sprung into action. He drove his healthy shoulder into the blockade as he, with all his strength, began to push. The way Gabe nearly snapped his neck turning, Cole watched his body go rigid in his peripheral as he kept pushing. Then he heard the pure rage in Gabe's voice.

"What the hell are you doing, cabrón?" (dumbass)

Cole huffed with the effort. "What's it look like?"

In response, Gabe just growled again, his pacing like a caged animal resumed.

He might not see his face - being bad enough - but his ears worked perfectly. Enough to take note of the mild panic. He felt it budge. Groaning, Cole gave it another push with all he had and the concrete smashed to the ground making him lose his balance. Near enough to fall. Barely managing to dodge the following fall of concrete, his arm shot out, and the console was released.

At the instant the cell hissed from its locked state, Gabe was a cloud of smoke pressing through the cracks. The next thing Cole knew, there was a pressure on his head, and it all went black.