Chapter Text
Genji was excited enough to vibrate out of his skin.
He bounced on the balls of his feet as him and Zenyatta stood in line for their tickets. They had been waiting for this for days-- no, weeks. The last either of them had enough time to go off base was almost two weeks ago, and even then it was not for leisure purposes. Genji supported Overwatch, believed in it more than ever now that he was in a better place than before, but it was starting to become a huge cockblock.
“You look really cute,” Genji blurted out when they moved closer to the counter.
It was true. Before Zenyatta, Genji had never known what it was like to be extremely excited whenever someone put clothes on instead of off. But there he was, smile big enough to split his face in half, staring at his boyfriend wearing clothes. Even worse, they were comfortable-looking clothes, so it made Genji want to run to the nearest hotel and get him into a bed so they could cuddle and nap.
Zenyatta looked at him and squeezed their entwined hands. “So you’ve said several times already.”
“I just wanna make sure that you know.”
“Thank you, Genji.”
“Hey, did I mention that you’re really cute today? Because you’re really cute today.”
Zenyatta chuckled. “I don’t think you’ve told me that. What a new and unexpected development.”
Genji snorted underneath his mask. “I guess I’ll have to work harder to remind you.”
“Genji.”
“Yeah?”
“You are also very cute today.”
Genji was glad his face plate covered the massive blush he was currently experiencing. He rubbed the back of neck with a hand. “Of course I am… I’m always cute.”
Zenyatta tipped his head slightly. “You are.”
Not being able to take it as much as he dished it out, Genji looked opted to look at the posters on the walls instead. There was another quiet chuckle beside him.
It was Genji’s turn to pick the movie this time and he had the perfect plan. When they finally arrived at the front of the line and bought their tickets, he couldn’t keep the mischievous grin from his face.
OPERATION: GOOD DAY
Step 1: Get off base vacation days - COMPLETE
Step 2: Buy movie tickets to the latest mushy rom-com - COMPLETE
Step 3: Zenyatta gets emotional from sappy plot
Step 4: Offer shoulder for boyfriend to cry on
Step 5: Cuddle in the theatre (maybe grope)
Step 6: ???
Step 7: Profit
It was the best plan, one that could never ever fail. Genji took his date’s arm in his and led them towards their theatre with an overthetop fancy walk (which made Zenyatta laugh, adding a year to his life). He was glad that Zenyatta had opted to forgo snacks because anything in their laps would just get in the way of potential cuddles (and groping maybe).
During the commercials, which lasted fifteen minutes, Zenyatta and Genji made a game of guessing what the name of the movie trailer was before seeing it. Genji would mimic the female lead with a high voice and dramatic swooning, while Zenyatta would turn his voice down an octave and mock the male lead’s writing.
Finally all of the lights in the theatre dimmed and the line of logos began. Genji was almost vibrating in his seat with anticipation. Weeks. He had waited weeks for this. At last he had his boyfriend all to himself in a dark and romantic movie theatre. He would rub his hands together like a house fly if it didn’t immediately give him away.
By the time ‘GONE WITH THE WIRES’ had appeared on the screen, Genji was already feeling happy and sufficiently content with his daily Zenyatta interaction needs. He looked over to Zenyatta and watched the colourful and bright reflections on his faceplate. He admired the subtle scratches on his pistons, the scuffs on his arms. It hit Genji (as it did every day) that he loved Zenyatta.
When he could tear himself away from his boyfriend’s appearance he finally paid attention to the film. It was corny as hell, just as planned. According to the online reviews, during the climax it would be almost impossible not to become emotionally compromised. Genji glanced between the movie and Zenyatta to watch for any clues to his state of mind.
But then the movie got… interesting. The leading lady found out that her love interest might actually be her long lost sister and the main rival finally had their tragic backstory revealed. Genji actually found himself paying attention to the ridiculous plot and the dramatic characters.
If he was being honest (which he would most likely not be until later), the plot was not that corny. There were subtle layers underneath it all, and several of the main characters’ goals ended up meeting in the middle. The actress was not bad either. He made a mental note to look her up on his phone later and check out her other films. The costumes were fantastical-- but not enough to be unbelieveable. He especially loved what the main character wore; her turtleneck and trench coat bringing the attention to her matte faceplate and intricate hands.
Genji had not noticed that he had been gripping his seat’s armrest until a warm, metal hand slid over his own. He jolted with surprise, having forgotten that he was in a theatre at all.
“Are you alright?” Zenyatta whispered. “You look tense.”
When Genji loosened his death grip, he realized that he had been at the brink of cracking the cheap plastic. He took a deep breath and sighed, letting all of the stiffness out of his shoulders and back.
“I’m fine…” Genji said. “How about you? You’re not going to cry, are you?”
A quiet snort came from Zenyatta and he shook his head as his answer before turning back to the big screen. Genji went through his mental checklist again and tried to sort himself out.
Three quarters of the way into the movie and Genji was having a hard time keeping his fat tears from spilling. His eyes prickled and burned and he blinked in an attempt to restore his vision, not wanting to miss the part when the heroine rescued the villain. His breath shook when he tried to inhale and hot shame made his cheeks break out in a blush. He wasn’t supposed to be the one that got emotional and weepy.
An arm slipped behind Genji’s back and he automatically relaxed into it. To his right sat Zenyatta, who was gazing at him with concern and affection. Immediately the shame that had filled Genji was chased away and he felt relief wash over him. Zenyatta’s hand rubbed comforting circles into his shoulder and bit by bit eased Genji into warmth.
Like this, he felt no problem with how he was reacting to a movie. Zenyatta would not care if he cried because of a story. In fact, Genji remembered several times where Zenyatta had encouraged him to cry and let out his sadness. Though perhaps a sappy movie was a tad different than those times.
With a sight, Genji tipped over and let his head rest on Zenyatta’s shoulder. The large hand holding him squeezed his arm and pulled him closer. He could feel his boyfriend shake lightly with repressed chuckles, he could hear his internal processors humming, and took comfort in the tiny things that made Zenyatta... Zenyatta.
Thirty more minutes, two plot twists, and a tied up ending later, they exited the movie theatre hand in hand. Genji still sniffled occasionally, wiping his nose and blinking his puffy eyes. Though he could not physically smile, Genji could feel the warm grin radiating from his boyfriend.
“Am I right to assume that you enjoyed yourself?” Zenyatta asked cheekily.
“Only a little bit,” Genji sniffed and smiled.
“Enough for it to be worth the wait?”
“You’re always worth the wait.”
“Such a romantic.”
“That’s me; ‘Genji Shimada: Romance Expert’.”
“I cannot say whether or not that is a positive trait.”
“Yeah well, you chose me.”
“That I did.”
“And I chose you.”
“That you did.”
“I’m feeling kind of drained after that movie,” Genji said casually.
“Oh? Is there anything I can do to help?”
“A kiss would help.”
“You only need ask.”
Zenyatta leaned forwards, close enough for their to be almost no visible space between their metal faces, and let a small discharge jump from him to Genji. Genji shivered slightly and squeezed the hand in his.
“Better?”
“I dunno, I think I may need more to make sure.”
Zenyatta chuckled and entertained his boyfriend, giggling when Genji sighed and hummed. There they stood and wasted the time away, kissing, pressing closer and closer as if they could climb into one another.
When they finally parted it was only because their PDA was beginning to reach the point of making bystanders uncomfortable. They squeezed each other’s hands (who squeezed who was impossible to tell, their mind too drunk off of affection and each other).
“We should head back to the base soon,” Zenyatta said.
“Mmn,” Genji unenthusiastically agreed.
“I’m sure there will be snacks there,” Zenyatta hummed.
“Let’s go,” Genji tugged his boyfriend along and made him laugh out loud, the sound bouncing off of the walls like windchimes.
“By the way,” Genji said. “Did you enjoy the movie? I didn’t see you react at all.”
“Ah, I did enjoy it,” Zenyatta admitted. “But I’ve seen the main actress in other films and I confess, it’s a tad difficult to separate her from her previous role as a comedian.”
It was Genji’s turn to laugh. The sound filled Zenyatta’s chassis with warmth and happiness and he could not help but join in. There was something so infectious, so addictive about Genji’s loud and lively laughter.
Genji went over his mental checklist for the last time before crumpling it up and tossing it away. The night may not have gone according to plan, but he could not say that he did not enjoy resting his head on Zenyatta’s shoulder. Maybe when they got home (and yoinked some snacks from the mess), they could finish what they started in the theatre and lay together on the rec room’s couch. All in all, it had been a good evening.
A good evening, but not quite good enough to pull out the small box in his pocket.