Chapter Text
Chapter 2: Familiar Comforts
Childhood within a sprawling castle and surrounded by ninjas did not produce the many mundane memories other people enjoyed reminiscing. There were of course the moments of roughhousing with his younger brother, the occasional ramen eating contests, even watching cartoons in the early morning hours. But mostly Hanzo remembered the constant chorus of announcing the many entries into the family apartments after school with their distracted calls of welcoming that echoed back. Yelling out that he was leaving the apartments for school, training, and the few hours of play. His mother always wishing him well with a smile.
Those ritualistic phrases slowly disappeared from Hanzo’s life as he gained responsibilities. Before he became someone to be feared. At that point those pleasantries vanished. He heard them distantly from his subordinates to their peers. If someone welcomed him into their home, it was a formal occasion and almost never pleasant.
Memories long vanished once he abandoned his birthright and took work as a solitary mercenary. The isolation had been a choice. A self imposed punishment. Polite announcements and well-wishing had no place for a man on his own. Still those deeply familiar phrases peppered the soundscape of the cities he traveled through. Different languages, different cultures, different words. Hanzo translated them all the same way.
Ittekimasu. Be back soon. Itterasshai. Be safe.
Tadaima. I’m back. Okaeri. Welcome home.
Pieces of home now scattered to the winds. However appropriate he knew his isolation to be, Hanzo keenly missed those loving phrases.
He shuffled the grocery bag in his arm to fish for the key to his current apartment. Small but functional. He was only one person. Hanzo entered, expecting silence. The soft cursing from the kitchen halted him in the doorway. “Ah, Hanzo… I was hoping to get this done before you showed up.” Cole Cassidy grinned. A few quick steps brought the gregarious cowboy to the threshold where he took the groceries in one hand and dropped the other on Hanzo’s shoulder. “Welcome home. Hope you’re ready for dinner.”
“What are you doing here.” Hanzo struggled to comprehend the situation. Fought down the budding joy of an old familiar phrase begging to be used.
“Making dinner. Like I said.” Cole backed away to put the foodstuffs into the kitchen. “Wanted to surprise you. You know, like a housewarming party, but just the two of us.”
Suddenly everything made sense. “You never returned the key you borrowed.”
“Actually I did.” Cassidy pointed to the ceramic jar. “I just got one made for me.”
“That is technically a form a theft.”
Cole chuckled. “Are you really going to get into an argument about legalities?” He returned to plating something spicy smelling. “I came bearing gifts.”
Hanzo finally slipped off his shoes and fully entered his home. Even if it was occupied by his favorite trespasser. “I do believe there is a story about the need to be wary of those bearing unexpected gifts.”
“Not when it comes to Southern Hospitality. You just have to sit at the table and pretend this casserole is worth the company.” Cole displayed two plates. The squares of meat, cheese, and lettuce screamed an American food atrocity. “Taco casserole.”
Hanzo rolled his eyes. “I’m ordering takeaway.”
“Give it a chance!”
“Fine. Two bites. Then I’m getting curry from the shop downstairs.”
“Deal. Or we can just get dessert.” Cole arranged the plates and silverware. “It’s good to have you in a more permanent spot. Hope you stick around.”
“I might. It is good to be home.” Hanzo couldn’t stop the smile as he said those words.