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Welcome back, Sparrow
It had been years, maybe six, since the last time Dr Ziegler had seen Genji face to face. Their paths have long since parted, and even the doctor, despite having told him she would wait for him in Overwatch, ended up leaving the base after the explosion. Everyone was harmed by more than just physical injuries on that fateful day, but far from it, what hurt Angela the most was seeing all her technology stolen and used for a very different purpose than she would have wanted. By contrast, Genji, long before that event, had already left the base in order to find a path that would lead him to Nepal. Thus, he was finally able to obtain the inner peace he had been seeking for so long.
Despite everything that had happened, Angela was there again after reaching an agreement with Jack and Ana. The group had been reunited once more, but that didn't mean that the blonde didn't miss the Shimada she had spent so much effort and hours on. It had been weeks since she had received the last letter from him. And she had answered him, as she always did, but she wasn't sure whether the reply had reached him.
It was late in the night, and so as not to break her habits, she was strolling around with a steaming cup of coffee in her hands. She had been working for so many hours and had decided to take a break. Should she have opted to go to bed? Indeed, but she was used to this kind of overtime. She went outside and sat down in the small square inside the base. That night the sky was clear, allowing her blue eyes to be lost in the infinity of the firmament. Stars shone brightly, even though some of them had been extinct for millions of years. Those were the moments when she really felt at peace with herself. Even the temperature couldn`t be more ideal.
Oblivious to all this and believing herself to be the only one awake on the base at the time, she simply couldn't have been more wrong. Because if there was a day for a reunion with the person who had been in his thoughts hours before, it was that day.
After so many years away, the youngest Shimada didn't believe he was finally back. He didn't even know if he was ready to be reunited with the woman who saved his life. In many aspects. During his time in Nepal, he had been able to reflect deeply and feel truly sorry for all the suffering he caused the blonde-haired woman. He was ashamed of himself and with a heavy sorrow in his heart.
He entered the new base in absolute stealth, and though he had looked for the doctor in her office, he found that she wasn't there. Yet he kept looking and trying to figure out where she might be. Only a few minutes later, a distinctive aroma of coffee caught his attention; that aroma that brought back so many memories. He followed the smell until he got to the place where she was. He remained quiet for a few seconds, hesitant. Finally, after weighing it all, he decided that extending the moment was unnecessary. He wanted to speak with her so, step by step but without announcing that he was there, he approached her from behind as he removed the part of the mask that covered his eyes.
Meanwhile, Angela remained with her head slightly raised, still looking up at the sky. She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she wasn't even able to imagine that the night was about to change completely. She had imagined in her mind a thousand times the reunion she could have with the patient who had given her the greatest joy and sadness in all the years she had practiced her profession. But still, no matter how much she thought about it, she knew she wasn't ready for it. How would he return? Would he have changed? Would he see the world with the newfound peace he had longed for? The letters told her that he would return, yet her fear didn't go away. What if he... didn't?
The cup in her hands was still steaming, and the smell of coffee filled the air. There was nothing to be heard around her, not even the sound of a night bird hovering nearby. Her gaze was still lost in the constellations, trying to find out which ones they were. It was something very few people knew about, but Angela had always been fascinated by such things.
"I see you haven't lost the old ways, Angela."
Hearing a voice behind her back startled her completely. She hadn't heard anyone arrive, and before she could do anything, she noticed the cup slipping from her hands and clattering to the floor.
“¡ !”
She wanted to shout, but no sound came from her lips. She stood up and turned around instantly, heedless of the drink she had been enjoying a few minutes ago and now lay spilled on the floor. In that moment, the figure in front of her became the center of everything. One from whom she had been waiting a long time for a message to let her know of his return. She knew instantly from his tone of voice who he was, and it seemed he had achieved his goal. She didn't even pay attention to his appearance. Eyes flooded with tears; she threw herself into Genji's arms in an overwhelming embrace.
"A-Angela. I am here..."
Genji's first instinct on hearing the cup shatter was the desire to move quickly to see if she was all right or if she had cut herself. However, her footsteps had nipped any movement in the bud. Motionless, surprised and unsure of how to react, he moved his arms to reciprocate the embrace in which they finally merged.
On the other hand, and even though she knew she wasn't going to make it no matter how hard she tried, the doctor had promised herself not to cry when the reunion happened. Apart from her age and her profession, there was no woman like her when it came to keeping a cool head. She knew how to remain cool-blooded and impassive when necessary. But in that moment, the one she had been waiting for so long and which was finally within her grasp, she couldn't help but let her feelings overflow as a mixture of relief and joy arose when she realized that one of her greatest fears hadn't come true.
"Genji. Genji... It's so good to see you...”
She was with him; the Shimada she saved right in front of her. She had thoughtlessly reacted and thrown herself into his arms before even giving him the option to do or say anything. In the past, Genji was reluctant to accept such gestures, yet some time before leaving, he seemed more receptive. And now, besides speaking with an unrecognisable calmness, he also returned the gesture. She felt his hands close around her waist and this caused her to hug him tighter.
It took a few seconds before she finally broke away. His gaze wandered up and down the other' s curious attire. A kerchief and various fabrics covered his body, which, it was fair to say, gave him a most exotic appearance. Nothing to do with how he left. And his face. His expression. His surprised gesture meant the world to her.
"I can say the same, Angela. I'm back. As promised." He muttered once he felt able to speak again. Or more likely, when he found the willpower to do so. The lump in his throat was strong, and he couldn't say anything for the last few minutes.
A huge cluster of emotions spread through Genji's whole being. The surprise of the welcoming, the joy of seeing her again, the confusion of not knowing how to react, the worry about the possible damage she might have suffered due to the broken cup, the fear of being rejected once the situation calmed down... Nothing guaranteed that she' d have forgiven him, and that, along with the rest, provoked a myriad of feelings that overwhelmed him. His master had never prepared him for this, he was totally paralysed. On the other hand, small details didn't go unnoticed by him. The fresh air surrounding them, drowned by the warmth their bodies now gave off in the embrace; the sweet and pleasant fragrance of the other' s perfume, the one he had imagined in his dreams and had missed so much. She hadn't even changed it; the slim body made it possible for him to embrace her completely with his arms... And that embrace said it all by itself. Words would have been superfluous. When he looked into her eyes, he lost himself in that blue ocean. Were they always so beautiful? Yes, but his hatred was such that he had never been able to appreciate them properly. He could never be aware of how he really felt about her.
Meanwhile, the doctor's hands moved before she could do anything to control them, leading them to the scarred face. She slid them incredibly gently over the once-bleeding wounds, with nothing more than an intention to observe their healing. His hair, jet-black and messy, was now falling over the Japanese' forehead. And his eyes had lost that characteristic reddish glow he had had for a long time due to the invasive treatments he hopelessly had to undergo until Angela managed to eliminate all toxicity from his body.
The silence after their words grew more than palpable as they remained lost in each other's gaze. At last tears had stopped leaking from her eyes, but that only brought shame and embarrassment into play. She was first aware of their embrace. And then of her own weeping. And finally, of the fact that her cup had fallen on the floor because of the sudden fright she felt when she heard the Japanese' voice behind her.
"A-ah, sorry!" She broke away instantly, excusing herself from the embrace which, just seconds before, hadn't seemed to bother either of them. Her face was flushed red as she turned her neck to look at the debris that minutes before constituted one of her many cups. So much for their moment. She whimpered slightly, ending with a sigh. "What a disaster, you gave me such a fright..."
"N-no, don't worry. I'm sorry I scared you." That was all he could utter after being completely paralysed as the other woman decided to run her soft fingers over his face. He could only stare at her as his cheeks grew hotter and redder. How could she treat him so carefully after all? Clearly, there was no one as kind as she was; nor as gentle.
Within seconds, he returned to reality as well and was stricken with embarrassment, just as the other one was. At least he wasn't the only one blushing and nervous; it was a small solace. He carefully approached her and bent down to help her pick up the pieces of the cup.
"I'll make it up to you, I'll gift you another one. Are you hurt? Are you okay?" He asked her somewhat concerned and gave her a look up and down that could be described as cheeky. Indeed, as soon as he realised this, he looked away even more embarrassed. He was definitely an idiot.
She was beautiful and always had been. Why? Why was the sensation he felt as he woke up overtaken by hatred? He could perfectly remember the darkness prior to death and after that a light, but not the light he had always been told he would see when he was really dead, but the halo of light surrounding the figure of an angel. A blond-haired, blue-eyed angel who was looking at him with infinite concern. His guardian angel, the one who had saved his life when no one else could have done so, especially with such a slim chance of survival. But she did it. And what did he give her in return? An endless disdain. How had she tolerated him? Why had she treated him? He didn't deserve anything from her and yet she still gave her all... He was such a fool. He didn't know if it would be too late to redeem himself, but he would try with all his heart. He didn't want to see her cry again; he didn't want to see her grieving, but to give her back the joy he took from her in those days. That was why he was there.
The doctor sighed. There was nothing to do with the spilled coffee. She remained crouched, placing each fragment in the palm of her hand. Although she had observed him in detail before, she was now unable to look at him despite her desire to do it again. However, she didn't miss how the ninja also decided to observe her for a few seconds with all the attention in the world. She shook her head at his apology, laughing lightly. One of his favourite pastimes was to scare her, and that, coupled with his role as a ninja, had made Genji consciously or unconsciously totally and utterly silent. Perhaps those scares to death were one of the few things the doctor didn't really miss.
"Don't worry about the mug, I have a good collection," she let out an amused laugh, making light of it. "I'm fine, better than fine. How did it go? Did you find what you were looking for?"
And there it was, the radiant smile that so many knew and associated with the Swiss doctor. They both stood up and the blonde walked a few steps to throw the porcelain pieces into a nearby bin.
"Yes... It took me a long time to find it, but yes. Now I know who I really am and... I won't cause you any more trouble... I'm really sorry for everything I did to you, Angela," he replied as he followed her steps to also throw away the pieces he had picked up. After that, they faced each other again.
In that moment, his thoughts connected with the other' thoughts as to how the encounter had occurred: a scare. Indeed, scaring her was once one of Genji's hobbies. Since he didn't want to hurt her, no matter how much he insisted on it verbally, he gave her "little" scares by taking advantage of his stealth and the lighting that was part of his new body. He even took advantage of those reddish eyes that now finally had their natural colour: brown. This didn't mean they weren't sometimes unintentional. Now he greatly regretted it, and the thought of it made him feel infinite shame. He acted like an enraged child. The only thing he was glad of was that he was able to say goodbye to her in a more decent and calm manner. His last months in Overwatch weren't that horrible and those same months were the ones that showed him that he needed to change, to find a way to accept himself and who he was. And so he did.
After a few seconds that seemed like an eternity for him, and during which the other woman could probably see how he was perplexed/amused by her smile, the conversation continued. Of course, Genji was still flushed and thankful that the scarf he wore on his head covered it, even if only minimally. He couldn't even look her straight for more than three seconds.
"I'm so glad to hear that... And you don't have to apologise for something that's so distant; it's already forgotten. But it's a relief to know that I may get smiles instead of bad faces. You look better when you do it, for sure."
"E-Em ... Yes, thank you. It was a long journey, but it was worth it. Or at least... I think so. And I can' t help it, Angela. I caused you many, many problems and I am truly sorry for that. I promise I won't put you through anything like that again. I have changed and I hope you can forgive me."
As well as possible, and as best he could within the embarrassment he felt, he bowed to her for the first time in years with sincerity and regret. Together with it came the promise that they could make a fresh start and be true friends.
This time, Angela decided not to reject such apologies despite believing that they were not necessary at all. That bow was sincere, and from the little she knew about Japanese culture, it was an act performed by asians when they were truly remorseful. And that depending on the inclination it was one level of apology or another. And he was at an almost perfect ninety-degree angle. Genji didn't know how long he was holding that posture. Probably a few seconds, but the lack of response meant an eternal moment for him.
However, Angela finally reached out a hand gently and stroked one of the few strands of hair that peeked out from the scarf the ninja was wearing. Then she slid it down his cheek, cupping it so that he could raise his head and look at her. Silently, she nodded slightly, because it seemed that until she said nothing, Genji would not be satisfied.
The ninja had nearly sighed in defeat when he felt her touch once more. He knew those hands well, which, despite having suffered so many cuts and injuries in his profession, were still soft and delicate. He slowly opened his eyes and simply let himself be carried away by the other' actions until his eyes were once again fixed on the blue ones, he had dreamed of so many times.
"Okay, okay, I forgive you. Also, I'm glad you're back and calling me Angela and not Dr. Ziegler. I missed someone calling me by my name. But I will only fully accept your apology if you do not deny me your company on some night when you and I are awake. I have missed it a lot."
"Thank you… Really, thank you…" Gradually he regained his upright posture and sighed in relief. And I remember reading in your letters that you were called again doctor, so I thought maybe you would like to---.
But he couldn't finish the sentence. Just as she had stopped his footsteps before, now Angela stopped his words with a gesture that again caught him off guard: A hug She waited for him to stand up straight to initiate it But this time, the gesture conveyed absolute calm. It was laden with affection and he could feel how she was trying to somehow reassure him. To tell him that everything was fine. Truly fine. It was not desperate like the first one they shared, but seemed to be a peace agreement. That everything was forgotten. The blonde had closed her eyes, taking refuge in the warmth she felt, in the pleasant aroma of the other, which she had barely managed to remember. And for Genji, it was confirming the second chance he had longed for. This time he wouldn't waste it for the world. Of course not. Making his angel happy was what he wanted most.
He gently returned the embrace, wrapping his arms around Ziegler's slim body, and simply enjoyed the contact and the warmth they now shared in a calmer way.
"I'll be with you as many nights as you want, Angela. It will be a pleasure to tell you again that you should sleep and not work so hard." "Deal." "Thank you for welcoming me."
Angela listened as Genji quietly replied and soon found herself laughing again at his response. They eventually pulled apart, but when they did, the doctor's expression, instead of having the smile on her lips, showed a frown. A gesture that only caused him to laugh along with her.
"If you're going to scold me for working and not sleeping, I think I'm going to think about having your company. I only want it if you are going to treat me well and wipe away my tears caused by the stress I may be under."
"I'll have to think about it." He replied, following the teasing tone she had used. "They will have to be real tears so that I won't be too hard on you."
"You're so bad."
Angela had never allowed herself to cry in front of any of her colleagues because of an overwork or hard time at work. From the beginning and as a professional, her feelings were hidden under an impenetrable wall in front of others. However, it was in moments of loneliness that it could collapse. But her voice, still gentle, had concealed a warning that Genji had surely perceived. Angela had a strong personality, so it wouldn't take long for her to dismiss the ninja if he was going to scold her for not getting enough sleep.
The night had certainly done a 360-degree turn, and although the doctor had originally hoped to continue with her work after the break, she knew that this was no longer her priority. Genji was not going to let her finish it. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and decided to go to sleep. It was very late and tomorrow she wanted to spend more time with him so that he could tell her about the adventures he had experienced while he was away.
"I think it's time to rest. Tomorrow we could meet for a while so you can tell me about your trip," once again the gentleness could be heard in her tone of voice. "I'd love to hear where you've been and what you've done. I'm sure it's very interesting."
"Yes, it's quite late. I'll pick up my stuff tomorrow, I think I deserve a good rest. " Genji nodded. Thinking about having to keep what he had brought with him made the world come crashing down on him. He'll leave it for the next day. "Of course. Let me know when you have some time in the consultation and I will come over."
They both agreed to leave and soon found themselves walking down the corridors of the base towards their dormitories. Ironically, they weren't far from each other, so they shared a little talk until they had to separate. During those minutes that it took Angela to get into her pyjamas and lie down on the bed, she felt that something she had been missing had finally returned to her. Similarly, Genji lay with his thoughts fully focused on the doctor. Both of them wished with all their might that their paths never part again. Never again.