Chapter Text
Chapter Seven: … To say the word.
Late in to the night when the glowing pearl of the moon hung high in the star lit sky, Jesse set the warm sake set on the wooden planks next to the man who set his life on a different path. Not once in his violent life had he ever expected the sense peace enveloping him in moments like this. The pale blue porcelain glimmered in the warm lantern light reflecting the deep changes within both men’s hearts.
Hanzo wore a black overcoat embroidered with blue silk dragons across the back. The man set aside the holographic e-reader to pour the alcohol. “It’s a beautiful night. Though why are you still up?” With the two tiny cups filled and Jesse folded his oversized frame to sit on the steps beside his partner.
“You never came to bed. Rough night?” Jesse watched the steam rise from the alcohol. It was an acquired taste, one he had grown to enjoy over the years.
Beside him the archer heaved a sigh, tilted his head towards the sky. A contemplated gaze filled those deep brown eyes. “An anniversary.”
“Should I be upset for missing this date?” Jesse did not forget things easily. More likely Hanzo never told him, but he still could have fail to recall an event.
“No. This wasn’t a day that held any significance to anyone but myself.” Sipping the sake paused the conversation. Jesse knew better than to push the conversation now. Their arguments over that had created little catastrophes lasting days. Reconciling those events usually involved long nights, tough apologies and a brand new bottle of alcohol. Tonight the sake warmed their bellies and cooled in the carafe before the archer continued. “Today… Before… Tonight I am remembering the my choice to leave the Shimada Clan.”
“Ah.” Jesse leaned in to pluck the empty cup from his partner’s hand. “Regrets?”
Hanzo glanced over with a snort. “Regrets? I have plenty of regrets.” The smirk acknowledged the feeling of rocks plummeting to the pits of Jesse’s stomach. Relief coursing through him with the next smile took away the shock of that statement. “But I do not have any regrets about us.”
With a soft chuckle, Jesse draped his arm around the archer. “You almost had me there.” Brushing back the graying hair in a fond gesture, the gunslinger kissed the Hanzo’s cheek. “Need anything?”
“Nothing specific.” Hanzo rested his weight against Jesse’s chest in response. “Have you ever thought about how life would be…?” His words trailed off incomplete into the night.
“If we hadn’t made the choices we did?” Jesse hugged his partner. The idea of loosing this man shredded his very soul. “If I were to believe Reyes, I’d be in prison.”
“You in prison? I can see that. I can also believe you would have escaped. Eventually.” Hanzo was laughing at him silently with those words.
Still Jesse smiled. “Still don’t trust me. After all this time?”
“I don’t trust you to look after yourself, considering your self-sacrificing behavior.”
“That was learned behavior. I was much more self serving back then.”
“But probably just as careless.” Hanzo’s indulgent smile warmed Jesse’s soul. With the compact muscle snug within Jesse’s arms, he couldn’t fault the archer for these observations. “I would be ruling the criminal world of Asia by now. But without my brother all that felt hollow.” Again Jesse knew an interruption would derail this fragile confession of a time before he had known either Shimada brother. They just sat together and enjoyed the cool night air. If the story came to light, it wouldn’t change anything they had. And their rocky history had given them a resilient relationship. “I still miss Hanamura. The gardens still chill from winter, the cherry blossoms still pale pink buds on the trees. Now that I have spent decades away from the family, I cannot imagine continuing that life.”
“Because bounty hunting is so reliable and safe.”
“Believe me, you do not want me in the business world. Ruthless won’t begin to describe it.” Just watching the archer’s face explode into joyful amusement while Jesse’s gruff laugh filled the starry sky.
“Then the world is saved.” The gunslinger dropped his chin onto Hanzo’s shoulder. “Well the sake’s gone and the wind’s picking up. What do you say we continue this in the house?”
“I say you are nothing without your sarape. Alright. Let’s go and save you from the cold. This anniversary is one event I’m glad is behind me. And I would not change a single moment of it.” Hanzo twisted in Jesse’s arms to gaze up into his eyes. Those dark brown eyes caught the glittering moon and stole Jesse’s heart and soul yet again. Two thieves holding each other’s prized possessions as marvelous trophies neither expected to obtain. If this wasn’t love, there needed to be a new definition.