Chapter Text
“Who is that?”
Fareeha looks over her shoulder at Jesse’s words, easily spotting the newcomer in question. Dark hair pulled tight atop his head, odd dated clothes, a tattoo spiraling down one arm that she hates to admit is rather impressive. He stands close to their resident ninja, trying his best to look stoic while he is introduced to the gathered agents.
“Must be Genji’s brother,” she responds, voice flat with annoyance. Of all the new recruits, this is the one she is least enthusiastic to meet. For her, no amount of skill should excuse his past deeds. Genji’s insistence on forgiveness is beyond her. But she is not the Commander and Winston is willing to give him a shot. “An archer. How quaint. Next recruit will have a sack of pebbles and a slingshot--Jesse?”
She knows that look. Jesse’s eyes are doing a slow once-over of Genji’s brother, lingering on the parts he likes.
His eyes are doing a lot of lingering.
“Oh. Oh no.” Fareeha side-steps and breaks his line of sight. “Jesse, no, don’t do this.”
“Do what?” he asks, frowning at her in confusion.
“You know exactly what.”
Jesse seems to be ignoring her, more interested in checking his teeth in the reflection of her armor. He sweeps his hat off to pat down his hair, then thinks better of it, messes it up again and replaces the hat. “Ain’t nothin’ wrong with giving a good first impression.”
“We have to work with him.”
“Hopefully one-on-one.”
“Genji will kill you,” Fareeha states. “You remember him, right? Cyborg ninja? Prone to stabbing?”
“Always wanted a brother-in-law.”
“They are both trained assassins. If they take offense--”
“You’re over-reacting. ‘Sides, Genji said we should try and make nice, right?” He tips his hat down an inch purely for effect and shoots her a wild grin. “Watch and learn.”
“It’s your funeral,” she mutters and moves to follow.
Lena is just finishing up her welcome spiel, bouncing from one foot to the other while raving about how great it is to have a sniper on the team. A little too enthusiastic in Fareeha’s opinion; judging from the way his eyes keep seeking out the exits she doubts this guy will still be around by the end of the month. The sound of Fareeha’s armor and Jesse’s spurs as they approach draws the attention of the little group and Lena steps aside, gesturing to the two of them. “Here’s more of the team! This here is Fareeha Amari, call sign Pharah. And this is--”
“The name’s McCree,” Jesse says, a touch too eager for simple introductions. He offers a hand out to shake. “But you can call me Jesse. You must be Genji’s brother?”
The man hardly gives Fareeha a glance before settling on Jesse, taking Jesse’s hand with his own. “Yes. Shimada Hanzo.”
“Hanzo,” Jesse repeats, savoring the name on his tongue. He nods his head at the weapon slung across Hanzo’s back. “Genji never mentioned you were an archer.”
Next to Hanzo, Genji quirks his head. “Yes I did--”
“Bet you’re pretty handy with that bow. That kind of skill, you have to be real good with your hands. Ain’t that right?”
The line is subtle but the tone is not, and Fareeha briefly imagines Jesse with shovel in hand digging his own grave. But, much to everyone’s mutual shock, he is not immediately struck down by sharp words or an arrow to the throat. No, Hanzo tilts his head just slightly and a ghost of a smile plays along his lips. “I am handy with a lot of things,” Hanzo replies.
Jesse’s brows shoot up his forehead in surprise. “Is that right?” he asks.
“That is right.” Hanzo looks up at the hat on top of Jesse’s head then his eyes do a slow pan down to Jesse’s belt buckle. They stay there a second too long to be appropriate. “And what are you? Some sort of cowboy?”
“Sure am, darlin’. Fastest draw in the West.”
Hanzo outright smirks, gaze locked with Jesse’s. “Is that the sort of thing you should be bragging about?”
A sly grin stretches across Jesse’s face and he drawls, “Is your aim as good as that silver tongue of yours?”
“Perhaps I could show you just how good I am,” Hanzo murmurs back.
They are still clasping hands. Fareeha thinks they might have forgotten there are other people in the room. She clears her throat and interjects forcefully, “Good to have you on the team, Shimada.”
Hanzo and Jesse let go simultaneously and straighten, having been leaning toward each other subconsciously. “Thank you, Miss Amari,” Hanzo says, inclining his head politely toward her. “I look forward to working with all of you.”
“The Watchpoint’s rather big,” Jesse says, sweeping his hat off his head and holding it over his chest. “Reckon it’d be easy to lose your way. Allow me to give you the grand tour?”
Genji shakes his head. “I was going to show him later--”
“Yes, that would be most appreciated,” Hanzo blurts, cutting his brother off. They somehow share silent communication through Genji’s visor and Hanzo flushes pink. “As you say, the Watchpoint is expansive. It would be wise to know the layout thoroughly. If it is not too much trouble?”
“Ain’t no trouble at all.” Jesse sweeps his arm out and steps aside so Hanzo can join him. “Maybe after we can discuss the finer points of marksmanship. I know a quiet little spot.”
“I can bring a bottle of sake.”
They leave without so much as a backwards glance, Jesse flipping his hat back in place, hand hovering at the small of Hanzo’s back.
“That was unexpected,” Lena says, Genji chuckling beside her.
Fareeha watches them go with a sigh. Leave it to McCree to find a kindred spirit in a man like that. It is a dangerous game to start with another agent. Still, there is no denying the matching spark she saw in Hanzo’s eyes. She smirks. “I think things just got interesting.”