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The faintest sound of cybernetic footsteps over tiled flooring rung out in the silence of the Gibraltar base, all sound wiped away as night claimed the headquarters of the new Overwatch. Even those who stayed up late had retired to their quarters for the evening, thus leaving the hallways barren and dull until morning.
When the sun would rise the halls would be filled with life as members of this new era, forming a different tune to that of the old age of Overwatch (and subsequently, Blackwatch), awoke to begin their day anew and get set to work. Whether it be working on repairing parts of the previously abandoned base or putting together a group to go shopping for essentials— clothing, food, etc. or planning what their course of action should be.
Everyone has their purpose here, however small it may seem.
This thought alone tickled a memory in the back of Genjis mind as he walked, his body modifications illuminating the dimly lit hallway he travelled. It was at this time of night that the young Shimada took to taking strolls through the lengthy halls, preferring the quiet hum of Athena's presence to that of the other individuals on base, as close as he could get to solitude outside of his bedroom anymore.
It wasn't as if he disliked them, but it was hard to gather your thoughts with constant noise— arguing, music, everything just made it difficult. In another lifetime, he would have thrived joyfully in such an environment. But now, it left him disjointed from the rest of the group more than he already was. He'd tried meditating as he normally would countless times, but something left him simply feeling restless and uneasy during such attempts thus leaving much to be desired. Even in times of silence he had begun to struggle and it left him purely frustrated, reminding him of when he was still at the Monastery.
"Think deeply of what bothers you in the pools of your mind. Let it come to the surface when it is ready and flow out naturally." The omnic monk spoke as he sat beside Genji, motioning with a mechanical hand towards the flowing water before them.
There was a moment of silence between the two as Genji had shut his eyes, attempting to meditate once more— and once more failing. It led to a frustrated groan from the young cyborg.
"But what if there is a dam?" He inquired after gathering his thoughts, daring to open an eye, quickly shutting it once more as if looking at Zenyatta would get him in trouble. Instead, it only earned a small chuckle out of the robotic monk.
"There is only a dam because you allow there to be one." Said Zenyatta, an air of gentleness and certainty to his words. A spike of irritation crossed Genji's mind briefly at the accusational observation, but he said nothing, only closing his eyes once more.
"Let it flow freely and see where it will take you, my student."
Genji sucked in the equivalent of a breath, releasing the pressure of his systems in an almost sigh-like movement as the pistons in his shoulders spit out a quiet hiss of pressurized steam, beginning their cycle of the nightly cooling process as he mindlessly travelled in the direction of his own quarters.
Thinking of Zenyatta wasn't necessarily a painful memory, not like thinking of his own brother. No, thinking of the omnic monk left a sensation akin to a broken heart, something he hadn't experienced in years. There was a dull ache in his chest that was nothing physical, but a distant sensation of a wish unfulfilled instead.
Creeping into his own living space void of many personal belongings, it replayed a distant memory of when he first joined Blackwatch and treated his own room like a prison, giving himself nothing. It was a barren living space. He hadn't seen himself as deserving of things after being mangled , nor did he find it necessary. He was a tool, not a man.
Genji tensed at the memory of how he previously treated himself, wishing he could somehow go back and comfort the younger version of himself, tell him that he is a person just like everyone else.
But would I have listened?
With a shake of his head he let the memory fade away like whispers whisked away in the wind, recalling what his master had said once before in order to cleanse his thoughts.
It was better not to dwell on the past, for everything happens for a reason.
Sitting upon his messy bed, the cyborg peeled the hoodie he slept in off of his pillow, making a mental note to wash it sometime soon. Squeezing it over his mechanical figure, it brought a sense of comfort. The hoodie was something Cassidy had given him back in Blackwatch to borrow for "casual wear" and at the time he had thought nothing of it, throwing it into a closet to be long forgotten about.
And yet, he had kept it throughout the years. In another lifetime, there was a chance that maybe him and Cassidy could've had a future of some kind together. The thought of it tickled his brain, nearly making him laugh aloud at the idea of dating the rambunctious and flirtatious cowboy. As if Cole could settle down. Their paths had taken a twist, and that future was nowhere in sight. Again, something Genji had come to terms with years ago. Now, he looked at his memories of the cowboy with the fondness of a close friend.
Removing his faceplate, Genji set it on his nightstand. It laid next to a few photographs he'd put in frames for safe keeping, though it was extremely old school of him. One of them was of him and Hanzo when they were young, when they still got along and the only thing they'd fight over was who would be doing the dishes. Another was of the Blackwatch group, though it was blurry, taken as if it was in a rush. The image made Genji chuckle, knowing it was because Cassidy had done it on a whim, surprising everyone in the photo, as a hand reached out in the corner of the image to try and stop him— given the nails, it was clearly Moira.
The last image was far more recent, a photo of him and Zenyatta. Genji reached out to the picture, holding the frame as he leaned back in the bed, staring up at the image before him. His faceplate was missing in the picture, his eyebrows drawn up into the equivalent of a smile, while Zenyatta merely gave a little peace sign with his fingers. The omnic was unreadable, but from the memories that danced in Genji's head, he knew that the monk had enjoyed taking the picture.
It was the same day they had parted ways, Genji joining this new Overwatch while Zenyatta travelled the world, though Zenyatta had seemed certain it was only temporary and that their paths would cross again.
"Will you be alright on your own, master?" Genji had inquired, an odd anxiety tugging at his gut as he prepared to leave.
"Do not fret, my pupil. All will be well." The omnic said this with his usual air of certainty, unwavering in his decision to continue his travels alone while Genji assisted the new Overwatch. If Genji wasn't mistaken, he could almost sense an aura of sadness coming from the omnic, as if bidding farewell to his pupil wasn't something he wanted to do.
But the omnic was insistent that Genji follow his heart and do what was necessary, even if a part of him ached to remain here, stagnant and content with travelling the world with his master.
The younger Shimada sighed as he rested the frame down with the others, pausing to look at it once more from where he rested his head upon his pillow.
I hope you're doing well, master. Goodnight.
Shutting off the light beside his bed with a click of a button, he closed his eyes and let his body relax to the sound of his own internal mechanisms. His mind wandered towards the dark abyss of his dreams, the only place for him to see Zenyatta until their paths would meet again.