"An American cow hand? Has this dimension shifted timescales?" - Siebren 'Sigma' de Kuiper

...in which Overwatch set out to rescue Sigma, Hanzo is being a (sexy) menace to Cole, and Sombra hands Mercy valuable intel to be learned more about in the next chapter.

COLE

They had headed back to Gibraltar, and with a plane-ride having lasted about three hours, they had two days to prepare. It wasn't wise to head directly from one mission to another as they required rest to be in their best mental and physical state. Now, after those two days had passed, they were headed to the base Sigma was located. Nightfall. Alpha team - together with Hana and Zenyatta - was to create a distraction driving Talon forces away from his lab without him knowing. Charlie now consisting of Cole, Hanzo, Genji, and Mercy were in charge of the infiltration.

If Sombra was right, the security was relatively lax. All besides one. Gabe was there.

According to Sombra, Doomfist had specifically ordered him to keep an eye on her, so she had to be extra careful. They could deal with their goons just fine and that was the plan. With Gabe, it was different. A lot different. Not only because Overwatch didn't want him dead, but because they had no way to capture him. Not in his current state.

Frankly, it was a suicide mission. Everyone involved knew what the stakes where. The briefing had been more somber than usual knowing that. If they were lucky, the plan would go without a hitch.

If not?

Well, they might have a confused astrophysicist - who could control gravity - at their tail. Someone who could easily obliterate them all. Only Genji with his cyborg reflexes could deflect him and that was a lot of pressure on one man. He supposed Sombra could placate him, too. The two had to be close if she was willing to take this risk to see him safe.

They had faced what seemed like unbeatable odds before, but it could always go wrong. It was a thought that never left the back of Cole's mind. Oslo was bad enough and that was just a couple of bombs that most of his closest comrades lived through.

"Who is this 'Reaper'?"

He might not see more than Hanzo's legs in his peripheral as his focus was on reloading his revolver, but he felt his eyes on him.

Back at the base, they had referred to him as 'Gabe,' and he didn't exactly know the correlation.

Cole answered. "Gabriel Reyes. Old commander of an Overwatch splinter group. Went off the deep end," he replied, the cigar propped between his teeth. "You saw the guy months back when first taggin' along with us."

"Hmph. I fail to see why this would change the mission. He is clearly a traitor."

Part of him wanted to be angry - confrontational - as Hanzo didn't have a clue what Gabe was to Overwatch. To him. Nevertheless, the whole situation just left him tired. As cruel as it sounded, Hanzo wasn't wrong. Cole wasn't living in denial and he was well aware that Gabe had hurt a lot of people over the years. More so since joining up with Talon.

"Maybe... but a capable one. Can't just pop one between his eyes like those goddamn goons," he replied, keeping it short. There was no need to go into details. It wasn't necessary. "Besides, he ain't all there."

Confusion surely spread on Hanzo's face, but he didn't feel the need to elaborate.

Angie, on the other hand, did. "Gabriel is in a... unique... medical state. Although it appears as he has a physical manifestation, it is not always permanent, and so bullets would go through him was he made aware that he was being targeted. We do not know how it works just yet. What we do know, however, is that we cannot placate him in his current state."

"You... do not intend to kill him," Hanzo said, tone unreadable.

"There may be hope for him still."

A brief pause.

"Hm. Understood. I will ensure my arrows do not reach him."

Hanzo didn't ask any more questions. All he needed to know was not to shoot. That was enough. Nevertheless, that was when Cole's revolver clicked in place and he looked up. He still couldn't quite read the expression on Hanzo's face, but his clenched jaw and lowered gaze seemed to insinuate it resonated with him in some way.

When intense amber irises snapped to side-eye him - catching him looking - Hanzo's brows drew tight as he cocked his chin up. Offering his neck. Unwillingly, it had Cole's eyes briefly fall to the further exposed skin. The hooded gaze he met after held a heat challenging him, but he held his ground in return. Not backing off. Not appreciative of whatever game Hanzo was playing. Yet, somehow, that new look kept him pinned for other reasons. With that smug aura of his, Hanzo averted his attention.

That night felt like a fever dream of a sleep-induced haze. Cards on the table as he had answered a direct question instead of maneuvering around it. This was, if anything, a confirmation that it happened. In all honesty, Cole wasn't sure what he felt about that.

"All right, folks. One more time. Here's how it's gonna pan out," he said, going over the plan again to make sure everyone were aboard. "As this carrier ain't exactly equipped with a cloaking device or audio suppressors, we've gotta stop a few kilometers away from the base not to alert our approach. Horses are gonna take us the remaining distance. Now, it ain't that long of a distance to walk... but chances are we'll need an escape plan, and with Hana joining Alpha team, the carrier ain't an option. We need all hands aboard and Alpha all the help they can get."

Sombra having provided them with a map, they knew all the ins and outs of the base. It wasn't long before they touched down to where their further transport were located and split the team.

Hana winked. "See you at the finish line!"

After exchanging a few words with the contact who had provided them with the horses, they were ready to move out. In his peripheral, Genji mounted one, and Hanzo approached another stallion. What took him aback was the gentleness shown. How the older Shimada reached for his cheek - lids over usually intense eyes heavy - and held the creature with care.

Hell, that 'gentleness' wasn't something he had ever expected Hanzo to be capable of. Sure wasn't anything like that cold, stoic, and hardass exterior that permanently marred him.

"Ever ridden before?"

The look Hanzo gave him in return could only be described as mild offense. So when he thereafter mounted said horse with the same finesse he was known for - looking him in the eye as he did before averting his own and taking point - he had his answer. Hanzo stopped a few moments after to scout ahead. Surely having seen Cole's puzzled expression, Genji spoke up with amusement clear in his tone.

"I see you do not know much of early samurai culture," he said, shedding some light. "They were horse masters with bows being their primary weapon. My brother was always the better rider. Wounding his pride isn't the best way to get on his good side, Cassidy."

So Cole took it in humor. "Might as well buy himself a new one."

Genji snickered at that, but Cole not taking his eyes off of Hanzo with his back turned to them, he saw brows draw tight without comment revealing he had heard them. Served him right. It was good to be put in one's place once in a while, and from what he had seen, Hanzo wasn't used to it. Again going back to the 'royalty' thing.

"I wish it was that easy! Our fortune was seized when a rival clan rose to power. He is likely no better off than you are."

Sure didn't humble him, he thought, not saying it aloud.

Angie rolled her eyes as if she'd heard him. "Enough, now."

That said, he hadn't considered just how little was left of the Shimada Empire - what little Hanzo had left - until just now. He'd surely taken bounties to keep himself afloat or he wouldn't still look so damn rich. If circumstances were different, he might've been at Hanzo's mercy himself. Now, his own bounty might not be bigger than Ana's, but it wasn't something to scoff at.

HANZO

(Japanese) "Are you okay, brother?"

Genji's voice came as no surprise as he had sensed his approach. They had just dismounted, soon ready to walk the remaining distance on foot, and Genji had turned to him noticing he wasn't moving. Instead, Hanzo held the horse by his chin. His snout nuzzled into Hanzo's abdomen as if knowing he was in good hands. The guilt only ran deeper.

Hanzo's brows drew tighter together. (Japanese) "He looks a lot like Kage, does he not?"

(Japanese) "The resemblance didn't escape me, either. Yet he was not with you when you joined us. Did you leave him with Asa-sensei?" he asked, but the expression on Hanzo's face told otherwise. "I... didn't know. I'm sorry, Hanzo. What happened?"

(Japanese) "The clan elders had him killed ten years ago."

(Japanese) "To instill fear like they did with Nobu?"

That was different. Killing Genji's horse was an attempt to get him in line. It pushed him further away instead.

He sighed. (Japanese) "No. They took note of my hesitation, and even after I carried out their orders, they tasked an informant to keep an eye on me. An archer. I did not get further than the stables before my intentions became clear to them. The first arrow struck before I managed to mount him, and as others joined in the archer's pursuit, there is little I could have done," he replied, hand palming the affected area at the side of the stallion's back. "Two more pierced him before I was out of their range. Once I knew I had lost our pursuers, it was already too late."

(Japanese) "How long did you stay there?"

(Japanese) "Two days. Enough to prepare for leaving our home. My heart could take no longer."

Genji stilled for a moment. (Japanese) "I didn't know you left so soon."

...and of course his little brother believed that made him worthy, so with irritation emerging, Hanzo grunted.

(Japanese) "Perhaps I should not have. Kiriko has yet not forgiven me for Kanezaka falling into Hashimoto hands. I do not blame her."

(Japanese) "My master once told me that, to protect others, you must first protect yourself. That one must heal before healing others. Caring for something - or someone - is not easy. You need to leave some strength for yourself, brother," he replied, falling into a pause. "I understand her frustration... but she had no right to ask so of you."

Unable to confirm or deny that, Hanzo simply passed him. (Japanese) "The others await us."

Thankfully, Cassidy didn't waste another moment when they approached.

"Everyone ready?" he asked, nods being shared between them. Cassidy let the Strike Commander know. "In position."

Morrison answered. "This is it. You know your jobs. Now get out there and do them."

A few moments later did they hear an approaching carrier with accompanying gunfire off in the distance. From their vantage point, one of the Talon members touched his earpiece informing the others. Mere minutes later did a strike team of guards emerge from the base with hurried steps honed in towards the commotion. Filling two carriers. Hanzo briefly glimpsed the haze of smoke getting into one.

"He's headed your way," was reported, Hanzo not failing to see the clench in Cassidy's jaw. The gaze that Hanzo was pinned with after was hard. Unyielding. "You're with me, archer."

"Your weapon is not silent, and as far as I can tell, neither are you."

Cassidy squinted. "You really underestimatin' me? Got more up my sleeve than a goddamn gun. Here's your chance."

His chance to end the trial period.

There were two access points for infiltration. Cassidy and Hanzo would take one while Ziegler and Genji would take the other. Hanzo's first fired shot took out a sniper on the roof. Another - a sonic arrow - followed and alerted him of the remaining guards' positions. Cassidy took point after he informed him and only now could they move up. Their route consisted of hallways, and thus, their longer-ranger weapons were the best pick. Genji and Ziegler were headed in tighter quarters with shorter-range.

They walked up to a guard with his back turned against them. Steps light. He turned only for Cassidy to knock the guard out with a single punch without as much as slowing down his relaxed walk. Body dropping to the floor in a heavy thud as he stepped over him.

With an internal hum, Hanzo raised his chin and leveled him with an approving gaze.

Brute force. No finesse or flexibility. There was a power to the way Cassidy moved. Contrast to how soft-spoken he was. Hanzo had noticed how easily he could click from one mood to another in a heartbeat. Not surprising, however. Cassidy wasn't one to beat around the bush in any matters despite seeming to think everything through to the smallest detail.

They entered the facility. It was quiet. A pipe system up top to walk on where he could keep Cassidy in sight and provide backup. Scaling the wall, he took the high ground, Cassidy remaining on the floor.

There were a few pocket gaps on each side of the long hallway enough to fit a grown man. Two in a tight squeeze. At least the cowboy wouldn't obtain the pleasure of having Hanzo join him in one. If that night a few days ago was any indication, he would have to worry about more than getting detected. Among them being a certain body part pressed up against him after the reveal that Cassidy struggled with containing himself. It was ridiculous. Amusing, even. Yet he had to give it to him for managing to hold back.

Another sonic arrow revealed movement behind the wall at the far end as well as what was ahead.

"There is a guard up front. Take cover."

Cassidy pressed his back up against a nearby gap. "Got a clear shot?"

"As soon as he enters," he replied. Hanzo let the man do so and lined up the arrow. The pipes kept him mostly hidden as he fired. Nevertheless, the guard was none the wiser. One wouldn't specifically look up unless they had any apt indication to. Another thud. "Clear."

"Much obliged."

They pushed on.

Reaching the door, Hanzo dropped down to ground level again. Together did they take out ten guards. Genji and Ziegler kept them updated on their progress having dealt with a similar amount.

None were sighted further in, and yet, they weren't alone. The way Cassidy's shoulders tensed seemed to suggest he also noticed. How he held his gun raised whilst chewing lightly on his cigar. Someone was in their general vicinity. For a moment, Hanzo listened. Faintly did he hear it. Spinning on his heel, he fired. A split second did she appear with a wide-eyed gaze only to teleport away. The arrow would've hit otherwise.

"Ey! Watch where you point that thing, a title="friend." rel="nofollow"

bamigo./b/a I just got this shirt."

Colomar. He grunted. Her nonchalant attitude wasn't comforting.

"My... apologies."

"Teleporter?" Cassidy asked, eyes narrowed.

a title="Just in case." rel="nofollow"

b"No vaya a ser que lo necesite./b/a Always plan an exit," she replied with a shrug, sauntering up to them. "It's good that I did. Your newest recruit and I aren't exactly acquainted."

"I am not a recruit."

She scoffed. "No wonder Talon wants you. So serious."

"As much as I'd love to grab a drink and introduce ya, we've got a job to do here. Don't know when they'll get back. Where is he?"

"So impatient, Cass," she said, tsking. "His lab's just down the hall. Don't believe me? Nock another one of your fancy arrows." Hanzo did so shortly to reveal that, in the near vicinity, it was indeed just one person. It also notified him that both Genji and Ziegler weren't far off. Colomar cocked her hip, elbow resting atop an arm kept crossed over her chest. She nonchalantly gestured with her hand. "Told you." Fist closing with a flourish as she did, she smirked as she sensed the other two approach. "Good, we're all here."

Ziegler was the first to speak up.

"Olivia," she said, suspicion marring her voice as Colomar turned. "I'm surprised Gabriel left you on your own after how strictly he has been attempting to monitor you."

"Don't you trust me? I'm wounded, a title="friend," rel="nofollow"

bamiga,"/b/a she teased, before explaining. "It was easy. Just had to mention that Morrison was there and he was the first out the door. Some real tension between those two. Could cut it with a knife... but that's not why you're here, no?" Her face turned serious then. "We're still agreed on the terms, yes?"

"Terms stay. 'Don't initialize him into Overwatch'," Cassidy replied, his tone genuine. "I'm a man of my word and so is Morrison."

For a moment, she just looked as if considering. "Hm. C'mon. Follow me," she said. Cassidy was the first to fall into her steps after giving them a look of 'be ready' if it was a setup. Colomar pushed the door open, and as they entered, they were presented with an older man writing on a whiteboard. "I'm back, a title="old man!" rel="nofollow"

bviejito!"/b/a

"Oh! Hello! I see you have brought friends!"

"That I have," she replied, approaching him. "Listen. Do you remember what we talked about?"

"Why, of course! These are them?"

"Mhm-hm. You know what that means. You won't have to fight anymore!"

"Truly?" he asked, glee in his eyes. "My, how wonderful! Exciting news, indeed. I'm glad to hear it." De Kuiper took a good look at Cassidy "...and among them - an American cow hand? Has this dimension shifted timescales?"

Cassidy puffed a laugh. "That's right, big man. It's the 1880's all over again."

"Remarkable! How far are we from Bonn? I'd like to meet Heinrich Hertz."

Before he could even respond, de Kuiper was busy with something else entirely. So Hanzo muttered his concern to Cassidy.

"It is not wise to... 'gaslight' him."

"Wouldn't worry too much 'bout it," he said, shrugging. Cassidy propped his cigar between his teeth and put his hands on his belt buckle. "Seems entirely in his own world. Give it a minute and he's all but forgotten it. Mark my words." De Kuiper was already deep in conversation with Ziegler and Genji. Cassidy gestured to them. "See?"

Hanzo didn't share the sentiment.

Honesty was important. The same could be said for his view on anesthesia and dementia patients. De Kuiper had the power to harm them all, and since Overwatch weren't in the wrong as long as they hadn't lied, they didn't need to be concerned for him turning on them. Talon were in the wrong, not them. Telling him the truth would build trust. Not destroy it. He was worried that, if he one day did find out on his own, they would have to deal with his troubled mental state in full likely to kill them all. Seemed like Cassidy didn't think that far ahead.

"It does not change that he is dangerous. More so, in fact."

"That's the kinda thinkin' that got him here in the first place. He was just a puppet for Talon," he replied, his brows tight. Hanzo regarded him with a critical eye. "Pretty obvious he doesn't wanna hurt anyone. He's capable to do so, sure, but... just needs to be around the right people, is all. You seem to be doing fine. Placated."

Hanzo scowled. "I am not unstable. We cannot be compared," he said, tone holding a warning. Cassidy gave him an unimpressed look. The audacity of this man. "What are you implying?"

"Anger issues, for once. Ever tried smilin'? Laughed even once in your life?"

"Cease your inaccurate assumptions and I might forgive your ignorance."

Not standing for this slander, Hanzo left the room.

COLE

Sombra turned her attention to the astrophysicist. "I can't come with you right now, a title="old man." rel="nofollow"

bviejito./b/a I have some things to take care of and so I leave you to my friends. We'll stay in touch."

"Oh! What a shame. Will you arrive later?"

"Of course! I'll visit soon! Promise!"

After that, she approached Angie as she stood with her arms across her chest. Sombra reached for a pocket and pulled out a memory stick that she held out to her. Confused, the latter looked at it before meeting her gaze.

Angie's eyes narrowed. "What is this?"

"Consider it a gift. Payment, if you will," she said, holding said gaze with a smug smirk. Her next words came out almost a whisper. "Thank me later, a title="friend" rel="nofollow"bamiga/b/a." Angie gave her a critical side-eye, but accepted it nonetheless, and only then did Sombra take a step back. She turned to Cole with a dark look and lowered her voice. "No fighting. Remember... one word from me is all it takes. a title="Understood" rel="nofollow"bComprendido/b/a?"

"Loud and clear."

Pleased, she hummed. "Pleasure working with you, Cassidy... if that is your real name."

"Don't know what you heard, but my name's not 'Joel.' Best remember that."

To most likely everyone's surprise, the retrieval went off without a hitch. They hadn't had many of those missions up throughout the years in Cole's experience. Fortunately, Sombra had everything figured out. Sigma even knew that they were Overwatch and she hadn't lied in any way, shape, or form. They were in the clear.

She had told him how Talon was falling apart from the inside, and it being Sombra instead of anyone else, Sigma had believed her. The truth. Now, she hadn't mentioned how said organization had been using him. Simply hinted to it with questions of, 'Let me know if they try anything,' and that was enough. If Morrison for some reason or another was to go back on his word, Cole wouldn't let him. Overwatch might be falling apart, too. Yet they at least had integrity these days unlike when they took advantage of Genji's situation.

Soon after were they outside, and again, gunfire was issued from where Alpha was located.

It wasn't like Gabe to slip up like this. The scars between him and Jack ran deeper than he thought. That said, Cole simply couldn't help but be grateful that - for once - things were going in their favor.

Genji hesitated. "I... have a bad feeling. This is too easy."

"I'll take it," he said, touching his earpiece. "Target acqui -" His body went rigid as an explosion was heard - and seen - off in the distance. Grey eyes wide. No response. Static. "Morrison?" Still no response, and snapping his attention to the others only to see the alarm on Angie's face, he knew it wasn't just his. Then Cole could taste blood. "Goddammit!" Two fingers between his lips, he whistled, and his mare came running. Stepping on a footrest, he mounted her. "Stay with the horses. Make sure they don't run off. If I'm not back in ten, call for backup."

"Cole!" Angie warned, her brows tight.

"Scold me later, ma'am," he replied with a wink, kicking the spurs. "Hiya!"

He set a straight course. Commotion still heard. His heart was beating at a record pace.

Not again, goddammit, he internally cursed to himself, the sound of blood pulsing in his veins the only thing heard. Ana. Morrison. Gabe. Not again. It was repeated as a mantra as flashbacks to Oslo clouded his vision. Another explosion tore through the air. Even from where he was could he smell the smoke, and frankly, he wasn't sure what triggered it. The present or the past.

Things never went in their favor.

When he finally heard another pair of galloping hooves close behind him - tearing him out of his mind space - he was only to see none other than Hanzo riding up next to him. His horse being a stallion allowed him to catch up and yet it was obvious he had called him shortly after Cole took off. He realized the shock must've shown on his face, but Hanzo didn't look his way as he took the lead only barely before letting the horse gallop at a more comfortable pace. Cole shaking his head, a steely attention was back on their goal, and yet he had his answer.

They were partners on this mission. He knew that. It didn't change that Hanzo had disobeyed yet another direct order. Figures. Right now, he let it slide. Soon did they reach the commotion.

Hanzo effortlessly drew his bow on horseback as Cole put his Peacekeeper to use. Talon was now between both teams - he could see a few of Alpha off in the distance - and he could only hope they had all made it. They took out three each before dismounting at a safe distance without stopping. In doing so, the horses had the momentum to keep running. Safer that way.

There were more guards than they thought. A miscalculation. Either that, or Talon managed to pull some move that had Alpha in a tough spot. He shortly found out that his suspicion was correct.

A Null Sector team was there, too. One that had arrived by carrier while they were inside the base. Cole saw that much.

He glimpsed everyone but Jack.

Gabe was nowhere to be found, either.

Talon and Null Sector were pinned between them. Cole and Hanzo still keeping their flanking position forcing them to take cover. Orders were barked, and for how long the fight went on, he wasn't sure. It seemed as it had no end. At some point, he finally glimpsed him. Jack. Yet it wasn't a sight he appreciated to see as he had lost his weapon. He fell to his back with the 76 symbol on his jacket pressed to the ground, and over him, Gabe apparated. For a split second, Cole paled.

Was this it?

Then Hanzo's booming voice called out. "Move!" he demanded, his order directed at Jack. Hanzo did the exact thing he was told not to. He fired. Nevertheless, Cole soon realized it was a calculated shot. One that was supposed to miss. As Jack slid out of range and Hanzo readied his next, his tattoo took a blue glow. "Ryū ga waga teki wo kurau!"

Grey eyes went wide as two dragons - swirling as if two ends of a rope were attempting to bind - headed for the group and obliterated everyone in their wake. The Null Sector forces were gone and the remaining Talon guards retreated to a yet functioning carrier. Naturally, Alpha team had blown up the other one. Explained one of the explosions seen before. With an inhuman growl, Gabe dissipated out of view to do the same. He was in the carrier now, and thus, shots fired their way were calculated to not do any real damage.

Anything for Talon not to pick up on their plans for Gabe. As the carrier took off, the situation calmed enough to asses whatever was happening. Cole touched his earpiece to inform the others.

"Genji. Angela. Backup not necessary. We took care of it."

Genji chuckled. "At the 8-minute-mark, no less!"

"Good to hear. I assume everyone are all right?"

"A couple scrapes and burns, but... sure looks that way. Be there in a few. We'll talk once we're back in town."

With a pained grunt, Jack walked up to them with his rifle back in hand. "Thanks. Needed that. Got our communications all scrambled in the explosions. I take it everything went well on your end, Cole?"

"Sure did. Sombra wasn't lyin'. Looked pretty bad for you folks a moment there."

"Just another day in the office. If I'm still standing, I'm still fighting," he replied, rolling his shoulders. "That said... we appreciate the assist. Not sure how we'd manage without another medic, so it's a good thing Zenyatta was with us on this one. Not to mention Hana sure pulled us outta a tight spot a couple times. I'd say this mission was a success."

Few people could keep their head about them against such a large number. The old man still got it. Cole wasn't surprised, though. Jack Morrison had been one hell of a soldier for several decades.

As the rest of the team got ready to head back to the carrier, he, Hanzo, Genji, and Angie had to take the horses back to town as they wouldn't fit. Hana would pick them up after - in about an hour when - they reached the town. Before heading out, he had one more problem to deal with. Hanzo might've come in clutch right there, but it didn't help the trial period situation.

The whole point of it was to prove that he was reliable. That he could follow orders. At this rate, it was never going to end.

Cole put his hands on his own hips. "Never were one to follow orders, were ya?" he asked, question rhetorical. He watched Hanzo retrieve a functional arrow and sheathe it. "Told you to stay back with the others. You ain't makin' this easy. I can only do so much."

"You also told me Overwatch agents do not work alone. Make up your mind, cowboy. One cannot expect to follow orders when their consistency is fleeting," he said with a scowl over his shoulder, Cole realizing his mistake as his eyes fell to the floor only to close tightly shut under tight brows. Hanzo, yet again, wasn't wrong. He had indeed told him just that. "Or does such rules only apply to the others?"

It would be fair, but Cole had always been the self-sacrificing type. The one to put himself in harm's way to help others.

Frankly, not applying those same rules to himself was somewhat abusing the power he had. He knew that there were people out there who would mourn him, and yet, he would always put them first. His reasoning for doing so was very simple. Most Overwatch agents had families. Partners. Cole, one the other hand, had neither. He was among the ones with the least to lose.

Prying his eyes back open with a sigh and tilting up his chin, he watched him turn around with fists knitted at his sides. That same intensity in his gaze. It was impossible to look away once he leveled him with that one.

"Suppose I can't fault you for that."

"No. You cannot."

So Cole took a step forward and reached out his hand. "Welcome to Overwatch, Shimada Hanzo."

After a brief hesitation, Hanzo took the final step toward him, and a firm grip of his gloved wrist followed. Unusual in the West, but the Japanese weren't exactly the touchy-feely types.

"As for your earlier question... You asked if I had ever ridden before. Do not let my previous display fool you," he said, his amber eyes somehow ten times darker as he kept him pinned. How that gaze looked him over - top to bottom as if measuring him nearly forcing him to straighten his back - didn't help. Then back to his with a squint as he released his wrist. "I am not the one doing the riding."

Cole did nothing but stare with an awestruck look as Hanzo pushed past him - unwillingly following him with his eyes - jaw having dropped just enough to keep the cigar in place.

"So that's how it's gonna be," he murmured, his brows tight. "Fair enough, Shimada."

A/N: Shout-out to 'StarAnise7' in the AO3 comments on Chapter 1: Prologue for giving the description of Hanzo's dragons appearing to attempt 'weaving' themselves together. It's such a nice way to visualize how said dragons move in words. I'm absolutely stealing that description from here on out with credit to this individual ofc, lol.

I like to think that the Shimada Bros had a horse each growing up considering how rooted horses are in samurai culture. Hanzo's more specifically as Genji is more of a ninja than a samurai, but hey, let Genji also have a goddamn horse. It would be sibling favoritism otherwise.

...and now I headcanon (young) Genji putting triceratops horns on his horse bc it's his favorite animal in canon.

The name 'Kage' means 'Shadow.' Genji's horse I named 'Nobu' meaning 'Trust.' Yes I stole both from the Ghost of Tsushima video game. Sue me. The name Nobu (Trust) is supposed to symbolize how Genji trusted Hanzo, and yet, Hanzo struck him down. I also thought it was pretty poetic to have Kage (Shadow) die when Hanzo was trying to escape the shadow of the clan after 'killing' Genji. The thought made me really upset and now you have to suffer it, too. You're welcome (: