Chapter Text
The line is quiet for a long time, the sound of Hanzo’s breathing being the only thing that reassures Genji he hasn’t hung up on him.
“I’ve missed the sound of your voice too, brother,” he finally replies, smile evident in his voice. Genji answers with a muted hum, feeling the muscle in his shoulders relax, a calming warmth spreading all the way to his fingertips. He wipes tears from his cheeks with the back of his hand and lifts his head, looking up at the night sky. It looks like it’s going rain again, clouds heavy in the horizon, illuminated from bellow by the glow of synthetic light. His mind wanders, thinking about his brother’s smile, the one only he gets to see. Always soft and welcoming, mirrored in Hanzo’s eyes. He thinks of the way it turns into a chuckle whenever he’d run his fingers across the dragon tattoo on his brother’s arm, tickling him lightly, before pushing him backwards on their bed, his soft hair fanning out around him.
”Can we meet?” Genji hears himself say, instantly regretting it, clasping his hand over his mouth, shoulders tensing up again. It’s too much, too soon, but he misses him so much his chest is burning. Surely Hanzo will say no. It’s late, or too early. He can feel the buzz of alcohol and pills wear off, leaving him much too self-aware for his liking, a growing feeling of panic spreading throughout his body. There’s a sound of footsteps from Hanzo’s end of the line, echoing in a hallway.
“Where are you now?” Hanzo asks, voice neutral, unaware of the wave of regret that hits Genji as he realizes Hanzo is on his way. It’s too late now, there’s no taking back his words.
“I …” he tries, but his voice fades. Hanzo’s coming, there’s no mistaking the rustle of keys and the faint ding of an elevator coming through the phone. Tears burn in his eyes again and he takes in a deep breath, trying to strangle a sob in his throat as he grabs on to the rail of the balcony. He needs to stay grounded, needs to make it through the now slowly approaching panic attack.
“Genji!” Hanzo’s voice is suddenly loud in his ear, aggressive, demanding his attention.
“I’m sorry brother, I was-“
“Where are you?” Hanzo asks again, cutting him off, “You need to tell me where you are, please.”
“I’m … I’m at the hotel.”
Genji can hear Hanzo stop dead in his tracks, can hear his breath get stuck in his throat, and his heart aches as he vividly imagines his brothers face now, pained, surprised that Genji had been so close all this time, well within his reach. Hadn’t Hanzo looked for him? Genji tries to remember if he used a false name when checking in almost a month ago.
“Our room?” Hanzo finally asks, voice almost a whisper, barely audible. He must be outside by now Genji gathers, faint noises of traffic in the background.
Genji shakes his head, feels fresh warm tears on his cheeks. It’s right across the hall, their room. He had rented it, that much he remembered, but hadn’t set foot in it. It was theirs, something they shared. Together.
“No I couldn’t, I … not without you,” he mutters, looking down at his naked feet, wiggling his toes in the puddle he’s standing in. The chipped glitter nail polish coloring his toenails twinkle in the light. When was the last time he put on a fresh layer? And was this even his nail polish? He didn’t remember owning this shade.
“Fifteen minutes,” Hanzo says, sounding slightly out of breath, “I’ll be there in fift-”
The line goes dead. Genji holds his breath, as if refraining from breathing will keep the new surge of panic at bay. Slowly he takes the phone from his ear, letting out a sigh of relief as he sees the black screen staring back at him. Out of battery. He pushes a button, just to be sure, and the screen remains the same.
Exhaustion overcomes him, legs trembling until they give way. Slowly he sits on the wet stone, paying no mind to the water that seeps through his clothing. He leans his head against the railing of the balcony, clinging to his dead phone. Fifteen minutes. He’ll see Hanzo in fifteen minutes.