Chapter Text
Nepal's first weeks of Spring were as finicky and indecisive as a young child. The weather ticked from severe to mild in a seemingly erratic fashion. Still, Genji was glad for the seasonal transition and travelled further from his temporary residence, staying out as long as the recess between rain showers would allow. Some early mornings, before the rest of his small world woke, he would venture out to let the first rays of sunlight warm his scales.
As the dawn waxed into the full morning, the dragon shook the dew from his hide and crept back to his cove to shift into a more… presentable form -just on the off chance that some hiker came across his path. As rough skin replaced rougher scales, Genji shivered. Okay, it was colder in this form than he’d initially gauged; why did humans have to be so bare?
“Put some clothes on! Have some shame!” Even now, he could still hear his elder brother’s haughty voice in his head. With chattering teeth he donned his thick pants, shirt, and coif. These garments were soon accompanied by a pair of sturdy boots and a russack pulled around his shoulders. A cloth tied to his head concealed the thick web of scar tissue that weaved from his top lip down until it was lost under his emerald scarf.
With inhuman agility, he picked his way through the brush that was starting to grow in and found the narrow path that wound down near the village. He kept his focus sharp, ready to retreat in the event that someone was coming up the trail. Thus far, Genji had managed to remain undetected by the humans and omnics living below, but it wasn’t guaranteed to stay that way forever. It wasn’t like the more populated cities where he could slip into the crowd unnoticed - everyone in small towns like this knew one another and would certainly notice a stranger.
Still, Genji was almost content with this odd arrangement. It was quiet, peaceful, in Nepal. In this place, tucked away far from the masses, he could take a reprieve. The cold mountain air could almost soothe the burning in his chest and mind. From a distance, the young man could watch the lives of the villagers, see the ceremonies at the monastery, and even sometimes hear the happy songs they sang jubilantly on their holidays. This was a life he could lead for a little while longer, standing at the edge but never quite crossing the threshold, outcasted as he’d been for years.
From his shadowed perch, Genji watched the Shambali slowly wake and come to life. Children burst from their homes, met each other on the main road, and travelled in clusters to the monastery for their morning lessons. Laundry was strung on lines, left to dry as the sun climbed into the sky. As much as he didn’t want to admit it to himself, Genji knew he would miss the village whenever he finally moved on. He’d leave their lives silently, and they would be unaware of his absence. The thought made him sigh softly. But it didn’t matter - he didn’t belong here, didn’t belong anywhere. Exiled by his clansmen, and not truly of mankind-or even omnic-kind- he had no niche to fill.
In the early afternoon, Genji retreated back into the forest to find something to sate his hunger until he could properly hunt at night. With the plant life renewed after the receding frost animals were coming out of their furrows to scavenge, and finding a small meal was a relatively easy task for him. With his catch in one hand, he returned to the privacy of his cove to eat.
When the moon, a small sliver on this night, had risen well into the sky Genji ventured out once more. The temperature had dropped once again in a matter of hours, and he could almost envy the villagers tucked safely away in their warm homes. No other soul besides himself seemed to be out to indulge the chill of the wind. This knowledge spurred something inside the outcasted warrior, and he felt curiosity tickling him. Remaining in his more inconspicuous form as a safety precaution, Genji set his sights on the monastery, glimmering white even without the aid of a fuller moon. It was as if the buildings themselves gave off their own ethereal glow.
Yellow tapestries rustled gently in the breeze, blowing slightly inward as if to invite the man inside. With careful steps, Genji approached those magical, towering walls. He had to take a breath to steel himself - this was the closest he’d ever gone to the monastery. Still, his desire to see the inside overpowered his anxiety. Feeling like an invader, he skulked past the massive pillars and statues until he was within the center building’s shelter, protected from the bite of windchill.
The chamber he found himself in was almost cavernous, and his footsteps, though tread lightly, echoed. In the dark, Genji couldn’t quite see the ceiling. Somewhat wanderstruck, he wandered into a broad corridor, admiring the intricate carvings that morphed out of nearly every surface. Man, beast, omnic - stories of every walk of life were etched into pristine marble. As he entered a room where the ceiling was lower, he noticed there was more light streaming in than before. Peering up, he gasped quietly at a skylight that perfectly framed the crisp moon and stars. Painted glass ornamented the edges of the massive window, each pane a colorful compliment to the night sky.
Taken by some whimsical compulsion, the traveller lay down, sprawling across the cold stone, and gazed skyward. It had been a long time since he’d felt this kind of peace - a peace that allowed him to simply slow down, view the world, admire what precious beauty could be found. True to his dragon nature, Genji had a profound desire to pluck the moon and stars and stash them away, save them in his treasure hoard forever.
Startled by the sound of his own chuckle bouncing off the walls, Genji sat up abruptly, quickly scanning his surroundings. He sniffed the air, but didn’t detect anything amid the scent of new plant shoots. Just as he thought he was in the clear, a voice spoke, “What is it that you find so humorous, my guest?”
Genji nearly jolted out of his human skin at the sound of another’s voice. He scrambled to his feet and -on complete instinct- leapt for the nearest wall to scale it like the panicked lizard he truly was, only stopping when his head bumped the ceiling. “Fuck.” He nearly barked aloud.
Risking a look to the floor, he saw nine glowing lights first, then the softly gleaming faceplate of the omnic who had spoken. He flinched when said omnic released a chuckle of his own, and then teased, “A flighty one, are we?” Genji said nothing in response and reached for his shuriken, eyes narrowing defensively.
“I can assure you that you will be met with no harm. Please come down - I’d like to hear what you thought so funny.” The synthesized voice pleaded gently, head angled toward the corner where the man hid.
“It’s none of your business!” Genji spat back.
“Oh? A stranger creeps into my monastery and his antics are none of my business?” The monk didn’t sound angry, rather it was inquisitive as if he expected a genuine answer. Having no words for a sharp retort, the man continued to glare from his perch.
“What would it take for you to come down? A hot cup of tea, perhaps?”
At this, Genji snapped back incredulously, “You think you can bribe me with tea?!”
“I thought it was at least worth the try.” The monk’s voice carried an unassuming shrug within it.
This was too good; Genji just had to get a better look at this wise-ass. He crept down a few feet, trying to get a better gauge of the omnic.
“Oh? Do you want the tea after all?” His voice sounded almost hopeful.
From his new position, Genji could more accurately assess the features of the Shambali member. A simple, ochre robe adorned the monk's slender, robotic frame. Though he was composed of well-crafted metal, he looked more fragile than some of the other omnics Genji had encountered - he didn't think the stranger was capable of giving him a fight.
Gathering himself, the outcast sprang from his perch and landed neatly in front of the omnic. “It would be wise of you to let me leave quietly, and speak to no one of this.” He told the other, a vague threat slipping past his lips.
“Hmmm.” Was the only response Genji received.
“I will take my leave now.” The traveller spoke firmly, turning his feet toward where he had entered.
“You will not stay for tea after all?”
Was this omnic still on about that? “Hah.” Genji laughed shortly. “What is your name?” He inquired abruptly.
“I am Tekartha Zenyatta. It is a pleasure to meet you, though admittedly the circumstance is odd.” Zenyatta never strayed from his calm, polite inflection. “And who, may I ask, are you?”
“You may not ask. I am no one to you.” Genji replied coolly.
“It is nice to meet you nonetheless, No One.”
His mouth opened to respond, then closed again. Was this monk sassing him? He didn't know whether to be angry or amused. An outcasted dragon warrior being sassed by a monk of the Shambali - what a world to live in.
“What kind of tea do you take?” Zenyatta intoned.
Yet again, Genji was baffled by his persistence. “Are you still trying to persuade me with a drink? I will not play your games, monk.”
“More for me, I suppose.” Zenyatta replied, unaffected.
Genji nearly asked incredulously if the robot could even drink, but clamped down on the words as he realized Zenyatta was still trying to ring him in.
“Good night.” The man said curtly before darting past the entrance and letting the night swallow his shadow.
“Good night!” Zenyatta called after him.