Chapter Text
His hands tightened on the bow, the fingers of his other hand delicately weaving his arrow into position. He gripped the fletching, watching as the string of his bow drew back. Hanzo’s eyes focused on the target ahead; a still training bot roughly 60 meters in the distance. The light breeze tousled the man’s hair, Hanzo narrowing his eyes in thought.
He turned his body ever so slightly against the wind.
Breathe.
Blink.
Fire.
Hanzo followed his orders and inhaled, feeling the sea scented air in his nostrils. As he let the breath out, he blinked his eyes shut. Finally, he let go.
He watched as the arrow moved with the wind, curving down towards its target. A small, smug smirk graced his lips as the broad-headed tip of the arrow found itself inside the bot’s head. It sparked, as if saying its final goodbye, before falling to the ground.
“Damn, belvidere! That was one helluva shot!” Hanzo smirk grew at the sound of the voice. But, before he turned to face Jesse, he replaced it with his iconic scowl. He couldn’t have the cowboy’s ego growing anymore, could he? Hanzo certainly wasn’t going to let him see that he would smile just at the sound of his voice.
Jesse’s thumbs were holding his belt as he walked, his cigar poking its way out of his lips. Thanks to the man before him he would never be able to smell tobacco without thinking of a red poncho and some interesting nights.
“Think ya’ might wanna teach me how to do that, someday?” Jesse asked, bumping the archer’s shoulder as he stood by him. He took out his cigar with his left hand, blowing out a ring. He grinned, as if it was a talent only he possessed.
“Not a chance,” Hanzo replied, glancing down at the man’s belt. “Besides, I would think that you would never part with Peacekeeper.”
Jesse chuckled, wrapping his arm – the bionic one – around the man’s shoulders. Hanzo typically shied away from public displays of affection but allowed himself to enjoy the slight touch of his partner. If no one was nearby, what was the harm? Besides, Jesse seemed to be grinning at the fact that he hadn’t pulled away yet so perhaps it was worth it.
“Ya’ know me too well, mi Tesoro,” Jesse removed his cigar and tossed it to the ground, squashed it with his boot. “So what are ya’ doing up here anyway?”
Hanzo quirked an eyebrow and glanced between the destroyed bot and the man at his side. “I was practicing.” He thought that had been clear.
“At this hour? It’s nearly dinner time. Why don’t ya’ practice earlier with the rest of us?” Jesse asked.
“I prefer solitude. The others can be…disruptive.” Hanzo knew he was putting it nicely; it was hard to focus when Tracer was zipping around and Lúcio was playing his music and Hana was-
He supposed it was mainly the “kids” – as Morrison called them – who were distracting but it gave the man an excuse to have his time alone.
Jesse laughed at his remark. “Yeah, I see that.”
Hanzo didn’t have the heart to say that sometimes, even Jesse could be a distraction to him. He wasn’t in the same way as the others but Hanzo would rather be forced to train with Zarya than to admit that Jesse’s body lead his aim astray.
Someday he would be putting an arrow in his partner’s buttocks for being so…attractive. Even thinking of it now brought a delicate blush to his cheeks.
“Why are you up here?” Hanzo asked, forcing himself out of his thoughts. Luckily, Jesse had yet to notice the slight discoloration of his face.
“Not enjoyin’ my company?” The man asked, chuckling when Hanzo shot him a glare. Someday Jesse would succeed in seeing him fluster; Hanzo would forever fight so that day never came. “Naw, I was looking for ya’. I know ya’ like your time for brooding sessions-,” the man quietly scoffed at this. “-but I figured ya’ might be getting lonely. Couldn’t enjoy my dinner knowing you were out here by yourself.”
“I…appreciate that, Jesse.” Hanzo said, clearing his throat as he glanced away from the man’s eyes. Jesse could be awfully romantic and sometimes Hanzo had trouble accepting his kindness. His flirts were one thing; he could roll his eyes at those or blatantly ignore them. But when the two were alone he would show a softer side and he found himself struggling to let lose.
Jesse once commented on how tightly wound he seemed. “I know ya’ meditate, darlin’, but are ya’ sure ya’ can actually relax? Ya’ always seem strung up. Did ya’ lose one of your arrows up your ass? Would ya’ like me to check?”
The conversation had quickly come to an end when Hanzo’s elbow collided with the man’s gut. McCree now knew not to use innuendos when talking about more serious issues.
“It was nothing, honeycomb. Besides, it was Reinhardt’s time to cook and I ain’t one for German chow.” Jesse said. “But, if you’re hungry, I know where your brother keeps his hidden stash.”
Hanzo’s eyes widened. “You mean his-,”
“Yeah, that candy that you love.” Jesse grinned as Hanzo turned his head in shame. His love for Japanese sweets was a secret tightly kept; no one knew except his brother and Jesse. “I…perhaps I will come inside soon then.” The man said, slipping his way out of Jesse’s arm. “When the kitchen is free, of course.” The thought of the others catching him eating his own brother’s secret candy was perishable, perhaps even punishable by death. He knew Hana would never let him live it down.
Jesse chuckled. “Don’t worry, darlin’, I won’t let anyone know.”
Hanzo could help but smirk at the thought of stealing some of his brother’s candy, though. While he knew his colleagues all saw him as a serious man constantly feeling guilt over his past mistakes, he did know how to have some fun. Younger Hanzo was quite mischievous.
"What are ya’ grinning at?” Jesse asked.
“Just thinking of the past. This wouldn’t be the first time I have taken something from Genji.” Before Hanzo could dwell on his wordings, the man next to him intervened.
“Oh yeah? And what kind of things did young Hanzo steal?”
“Hm,” he ran his thumb along his chin. “My brother used to watch old anime from years ago. I used to tease him for it, steal his Naruto DVDs.” He chuckled. “He was a tad obsessed with it.”
“Is that the show with the run?” Jesse asked. Before Hanzo could stop him, the man stuck his arms out and leaned forward, going into the pose Hanzo was all too familiar with. All emotion drained from his face as Jesse gave him a grin. “I think your brother and I will get along mighty fine!”
“Please don’t tell me you used to watch it,” Hanzo’s voice wavered into a plead. He pinched the bridge of his nose.
Jesse straightened himself, going into his normal stance. He chuckled, “Naw, but I did watch old westerns back in the orphanage. I used to sneak off onto the Vazquez’s farm to ride their horses.”
“And how would that go?” Hanzo asked with a raised eyebrow.
The man rubbed the back of his neck. “Took some time to get ole’ Relámpago comfortable with me. She sent me on my back more than once.” He laughed sheepishly. “Those aren’t my proudest moments.”
“Now that I do not find surprising.” Jesse wasn’t the most delicate or graceful man on the planet. He had seen countless scars across his body; he had figured most were from his Deadlock days or missions with Blackwatch. It was humorous to think some of them might have been from a horse.
“Now, now, I can’t have ya’ thinking I’m some fool. I tamed Relámpago real good. Senor Vazquez even offered me a job on his farm.” Jesse concluded his tale. “Point is, while you and your brother were watching anime, I was busy being a badass.” He grinned and gestured to his belt.
The emblazoned “BAMF” made Hanzo roll his eyes. He glanced at the rest of his partner’s attire. It was very rare he saw him without his favorite Stetson and poncho on; the only times were when Jesse had nothing on.
“Well I do make a damn good cowboy, if I do say so myself,” He gripped his belt and stuck his boot out, jangling the spurs along the floor. Hanzo was inclined to agree. “And I’d say I’d make a damn good husb’nd, as well.” Both of their cheeks were dusted by a slight blush. They did not usually discuss such topics.
“Jesse-,”
The man lifted his hands up in defense. “I know, I know. Just a small comment, you can ignore it if ya’ want to.”
"I never said I wouldn’t be fond of the idea,” Hanzo said, instead of the silent nod the other man was expected. “But I-,”
“You’re not ready,” Jesse finished. “I understand. Just don’t keep a man waiting too long, will ya’?” His tone suggested this question wasn’t rhetorical.
Hanzo placed a hand on his shoulder and drew close to him. He placed a kiss on Jesse’s lips, feeling his skin brush against the man’s scratchy beard. He tasted like the tobacco of his last cigar, as usual. Hanzo smiled as he pulled back; reveling in the look Jesse was giving him.
“Is that answer satisfactory?”
Jesse grinned. “I could use a few more.”
Zenyatta could hear the slightest sound of footsteps approaching.
“Ah, Genji, wonderful to see you again.” He turned to face his pupil, who was standing at the doorway of his room.
Genji bowed to the omnic. “It is good to see you again, too, master. May I come in?”
Zenyatta nodded, allowing the man to enter his room. He closed the door behind him, taking in his master’s room. It wasn’t quite as colorfully decorated as some of others. There weren’t posters like in Lúcio’s or Tracer’s. There wasn’t training equipment like in Zarya’s. And there certainly wasn’t a massive setup of technology for streaming like in Hana’s.
Instead, the only thing Zenyatta had added to his personal quarters was candles gathered around a photo of Mondatta. He knew his master had taken his former leader’s death to heart.
“Is there anything you require, Genji?” Zenyatta asked. “We do not have our meditation until tomorrow morning; but I could not turn you down if you wish to have one now.”
“Actually, I’m here about your…plan, master.” Genji informed. Zenyatta lifted his head and made a noise of acknowledgement. “I saw my brother and Jesse out by the training equipment, moments ago.”
“Oh? And what did you see, my student?”
“You were right. They are most certainly together. It seems like my brother is the one keeping it hidden, like we thought.” Genji said.
"Do you think there’s anything I can do to help them? Perhaps I could see your brother about such issues.” Zenyatta suggested. Genji knew he was still hoping to help Hanzo cope.
He shook his head. “I don’t think it would be best to see them about it when they think they’re still a secret. But if you were to catch them together, maybe you could go from there.”
“And how would I ‘catch them together’, my pupil?”
“They don’t seem to be romantic in public but you could catch them when they think they’re alone.” Zenyatta nodded at his words, taking them in. “I could see Jesse asking Hanzo for a picnic. They could be around the base having lunch sometime.”
“How would I approach them?” The omnic asked. “You would know better than I about what would be appropriate for me to ask.”
Genji touched the chin of his faceplate. “You’re very wise, master. I would say that you wouldn’t overstep any boundaries. But, please do keep one thing in mind.”
“And what would that be, Genji?”
The man felt heat in his cheeks. “If my brother and Jesse seem to be…intimate, do not interrupt them; for the sake of their honor and your own.”
Zenyatta let out a small laugh. “I may not understand all of human socialization, my pupil, but I am aware of what you’re referring to. I do not think your brother would accept my teachings if I did interrupt such a thing.”
Genji chuckled. “I think you’re right about that.”
“And did you learn anything knew?” Zenyatta asked. “Any information that may help me help them?”
Genji shook his head. “No, but I learned that my candy stash is in danger.”