Chapter Text
“Ah, I wondered at where you might have gotten to, my student,” Zenyatta says before gently floating towards Genji, “shall we meditate?”
A human no-more and yet Genji still sometimes moves as one, telegraphing his emotions widely to anyone who might give him a second glance. Luckily in this case the one who most often does so is Zenyatta himself.
“I stepped within my old room and it was as if it welcomed me, Master,” he glances back in the direction of the Shimada’s stronghold as he says it, his hands curled into loose fists. His visor glows brighter in the steadily dimming light of sunset, both of their metal bodies now blending more easily into the surroundings without the bright rays of the midday sun.
“It is no great mystery why you feel a kinship with that place, my student, a leaf may gaze fondly upon the very tree from which it fell no matter what the circumstances of its leaving.”
Genji tilts his head, “its leaving, Master?”
“Ah,” Zenyatta chuckles, “I mean only that it is not unusual that an attachment remains. Do you require anything further here?”
“No, Master. I will show you another place, where we can be in the quiet,” his shoulders drop from their tense position as they leave the area, but his hands remain closed and Zenyatta does not ask just yet what might be the cause. Genji hides nothing from him, and will speak of his troubles in time so long as Zenyatta remains patient.
--
The small park does indeed boast a heaping portion of quiet. With the trees blocking out the view of the sidewalk the impeccable stone pathway through them appears to exist within its own world wherein the fragrance of wisteria flourishes, the blooms of the trees hanging low enough for a careful hand to caress them. He does so, hovering only a few paces off of the path, and letting the flowers find their own way into his open palm.
“I used to bring all of my dates here,” Genji says from beside Zenyatta, himself refraining from touching anything and his hands still clenched as he stares at the maze of branches above them, “they were planted by my great-great-grandfather as a gift.”
“I can see why it is so popular, they must have been easily wooed while here.”
“Master.”
“I mean only that it is a beautiful place, and one cannot help but be overcome by the feeling of romance when they visit such places,” he carefully lets the cluster of flowers fall back to their previous position, “shall we walk the path?”
“It is not a long one, Master, but I will walk it with you.”
Here amongst the wisteria trees and lush, green grass they would make an odd pair to outsiders; two souls encased in metal, delighting in the natural world. Despite their surroundings though, no others walkers are in sight-human or Omnic.
“There is a pond beyond that path,” Genji points to the left fork in the path, “and that is the exit.”
“A pond, I would like to see that if you have no other plans for me, my student.”
“Plans-Master, you are teasing me.”
“I am,” he nods, his orbs dancing in delight, “I apologize.”
“Perhaps I do have other plans for you, Master.”
“Oh? I find myself quite agreeable.”
Genji laughs, unrestrained in a way he rarely shows as they turn down the path towards the pond. The sound mingles perfectly with the flowers and the soft singing of birds somewhere in the trees, “I have something for you.”
“A gift, I am quite wooed.”
“Master...” a hiss precludes a short burst of steam from his shoulders. He stops and opens his hands, revealing two egg shaped devices-one green and transparent and the other opaque white with pink buttons. His sensors tell him they lack viable batteries currently, but they still emit a field. “They are Tamagotchi-virtual pets. I used to keep them when I was a child, I thought you might enjoy them, though they will need new batteries.”
“Virtual pets-how interesting. Thank you, what a thoughtful gift,” he picks them up from Genji’s hands by the metallic keychains, both dangling from his fingertips as he regards them. The small screen shows nothing, of course, but he imagines what might be held there upon the application of the correct power source. They continue walking as he asks, “What shall I name them, or do they already have names?”
“Ah, well, their appearance differs depending on how well you care for them,” Genji looks at the Tamagotchi, “but I admit in my youth I often named the less attractive ones after my brother.”
“Ah, then I should wait to name them.”
“They belong to you, Master, whatever you wish.”
“I will wait. They may be upset if their name does not suit them.”
--
After replacing the batteries the Tamagotchi come to life with twin beeps. Zenyatta lets out a delighted sound in response, and Genji smiles beneath his faceplate. They had been a chance find, and his hands had curled around them before he thought of doing otherwise.
“Welcome back to life, little ones. Have no fear, I will care for you now.”
Red text in the left of his vision warns him of the danger of overheating; his body a mess of flesh and metal still not entirely used to one another’s quirks though he has of late been seeing that warning more often. Typically where Zenyatta is involved. He vents some of the steam quietly, but his Master’s attention remains on the Tamagotchi thankfully.
“The green one is a newer model; it may have more features than the white one.”
“That is alright, a life’s worth is not determined by such things,” Zenyatta holds them both up; his expression is perpetually pleased looking but more so at this moment. Or maybe Genji projects his own desires onto him-either way, he keeps the thought to himself.
--
Their stay in Hanamura completed the pair continue their pilgrimage. He doesn’t pretend to know where it might lead, and Zenyatta tells him they will know when they reach their destination. The message from Winston sits opened, read, and unanswered in his database and thoughts. The memories of Overwatch remain ever present in his mind since the Recall, but the idea of returning leaves him cold no matter who else makes up the team. His body is a weapon as much as his blades now, but only if he chooses; re-joining Overwatch guarantees the need to unsheathe both.
“You are deep in thought, my student.”
“Yes, Master.”
The calmness of mind he seeks retreats even further at the attention of his teacher. He sighs loudly, discontent despite the sparkling sea stretching out in all directions beyond the railings of the ferry. Before, he got seasick; now his stomach remains settled as though to mock his mind for its frenzied movements.
Zenyatta softly sets his Tamagotchi down into the folds of his pants, “what burdens you?”
He reads over the text transcript of the message again, takes in Winston’s hopeful face as he asks them to come out of hiding, “Overwatch. I should return, and join my friends, and yet my mind is plagued with doubt. I am not the same man I was back then.”
“You have changed much from the man I met, yes. Does this question require an answer right away?”
“I do not know. Talon is a problem, and they are responsible for the death of Brother Mondatta. I should leap to prevent further trouble. But to get involved in this means becoming involved in another conflict.”
“You put unneeded pressure upon yourself, my student. If it does not require an answer at this moment then let it remain unanswered,” his hand comes to rest upon Genji’s shoulder, “not all conflicts are our own.”
“The honourable thing to do would be to join them.”
“Is it honour which motivates your decision, or justice?”
Anger rises within him like the dragon in his blood, but he allows the fire to spark and then burn out before he replies, “Should I ignore Talon, then, Master?”
“You may do as you like; not as you should. The choice is yours, whenever you choose to make it.”
He sighs and leans against the railing, “thank you, Master.”
One of the Tamagotchi beeps plaintively from its spot in Zenyatta’s pants and he picks it up, “ah, again.”
He glances over at the white toy. The pixelated creature dances in celebration in front of what is unmistakeably a pile of its own poop, “it poops a lot.”
“It poops as much as it needs to, and no more.”
“It celebrates it.”
“It delights in all experiences,” Zenyatta cradles it, turning away slightly as though protecting it from Genji’s criticism, “worry not, young one, my pupil merely teases.”
A smile pushes through his gloomy thoughts at the sight, “Have you decided its name?”
“Not yet, there is no need to rush such things.”
“You should name it Unchi.”
Zenyatta laughs, “I am not calling either of them ‘Poop’.”
“It is only a suggestion, Master.”
“Yes, of course, my student. Now, I believe we will be reaching our destination soon.”