Chapter Text
It was a game when you were little, everything was.
"I summon the dragons!" Hanzo said, but nothing happened.
Your father laughed. "It doesn't quite work like that. You have to give them a purpose, something to do. They're ancient spirits and they won't answer void calls."
"But last time I didn't do anything."
"Last time, you were hurt. Remember, the twins might be weapons, but you wield them, and without you, they are lost. Just as you are young and learning, they too need to get accustomed to your calls. Give them a purpose, and they will appear."
Hanzo pouted in his confusion, a cute face made cuter by the baby fat he was still in the process of losing. You mimicked the expression from your spot on the floor.
"Come on, now, think about it. What if I call you from another room, but don't tell you what I want you for? You wouldn't answer, would you? Give them something to do. Say, that man over there." Your father pointed at one of the guards, who obediently walked closer. "Tell them to tickle him."
Hanzo looked up. "I'll summon a pair of gods to tickle Mr. Guard?"
"It's a purpose. And they will be unleashed on someone else, like weapon might. Now take care of your wording, we don't want Mr. Guard getting actually hurt."
Hanzo thought for a long few seconds. Then, he raised his hands in a flashy manner, and shouted:
"O twin dragons, annoy my enemy!"
Still, nothing.
"Very good!" Your father said. "I think you can pull it off for real this time. All you need is a material weapon. Because...?"
"Because the twins are weapons", Hanzo said. "And if I try to pull them out of my skin, they'll hurt me. Like last time."
Your father nodded.
Hanzo picked up a rock from the ground. "O twin dragons, annoy my enemy!" He threw the rock.
The rock itself landed quite a ways from the guard. The dragons that spilled out of it rode up his form like neon blue ribbons, wild and laughing as they twisted around his head. They disappeared as soon as they left his body without any fanfare.
The man fell to his knees, coughed and coughed. He took a deep breath and gave a thumbs-up.
"See? No harm done."
Hanzo laughed as your father picked him up, headed inside.
"Genji! Come along, now!"
You took your eyes off the collapsed, heavy-lunged man on the ground and ran after your father and brother.
Hanzo had first summoned his dragons without words, just a kid's scream when he got bitten by a dog. The moment he saw the creatures, he forgot about the animal, and therefore so did the dragons. They turned on the only other thing related to them, Hanzo himself, and, as these things tend to go, nearly knocked him out.
You asked him time after time to retell the story, trying to imagine what your spirits might look like, feel like, but still you weren't prepared. Some two years after Hanzo's dragons appeared, your own decided to say hi.
You had climbed up a bookcase and, of course, fell to your doom, and screamed. You blinked and a glowing green rope held you up just long enough that you wouldn't break anything, but still bruise.
You looked at it, and it looked back. All you had time to think before it disappeared was, those are some long whiskers.
Father was delighted; you had summoned a whole year younger than Hanzo had. It was a record age in this bloodline, he said. You knew about that one aunt and her many kids who had all been born with a soft glow behind their eyes, but they were very far and their dragons couldn't be summoned.
Still - record! You boasted to your friends. Your mother and Hanzo were very proud of you.
You were twelve when you were first taught how to handle shuriken. You loved them. You even had a glove custom made for you so you could have faster access to them. Your dragon didn't like them much. It wouldn't go further than two arms' reach from you, and felt very cozy in your sword. It was fine, you figured, better keep the enemy at a distance. If there was really a situation where you had to draw your sword, then it would be dire enough that you'd need your dragon.
You were fifteen and truth-or-dare-ing at a party when you were asked, "if you could make out with anyone in this room, who would it be?" You said "everyone" without a moment's hesitation and laughed alongside them, then suggested a game of spin the bottle with a wink.
You were seventeen, hanging with your pack of friends at the arcade after school, and your tattoo was just healing. One of the girls kept poking at the bandages as if that'd make it heal faster. She didn't know you were supposed to take them off that day anyway.
Finally you said, "Will you stop if I take them off?"
And she just nodded with stars in her eyes.
You took them off. Your friends stared - at least, those who weren't occupied with the arcade's games. Then they all started speaking at the same time.
"Shut up!" someone yelled, and they all did. "Genji, that's beautiful!", she continued, walking closer so you could tell it was one of your two girlfriends. Her hair was bright pink. She, along with your other girlfriend, their mutual best friend and two of the guys playing racing games over there had all gone and dyed their hair colorful together like a silly band. It looked cute. You'd ask to tag along when they went back to touch up their roots.
The aforementioned best friend (purple hair, cute glasses, was probably going to start dating both girlfriends soon enough) finished her game just that moment, turned her head, and squealed.
"What the fuck! Genji that's gorgeous!" She took your hand and pulled it closer so she could take a look at the dragon's head resting just shy of your knuckles. "There's no way you did this in one session!"
"I did, though."
"Bullshit!" She grabbed your bicep, pulled that closer too. Her eyes flew back and forth over your forearm.
"Okay, that's enough", you laughed, taking your arm back. "It's not healed all the way yet."
"Why a dragon, man? Your family that obsessed?" someone said.
"No. Well, yeah, but this'll help me summon mine, you know?"
"No?"
"Yeah, buddy it's either tattoo or weapon, and swords aren't exactly allowed everywhere."
"Dude show us!"
You frowned. "I'm not summoning an ancient spirit of protection in a goddamn arcade."
"Let's go back at my place!" Your other girlfriend (teal hair, cheeky grin) said. "There's enough room for everyone!"
Some of the pack complained that they had evening classes, or homework, or some other teenager thing to occupy their time. You weren't any better - Hanzo'd be pissed if he had to cover your ass at a meeting four times in a row. You shot him a text.
>ay bro what time is the meet 2day???
<It's seven o'clock. Do not be late, they're going to take it out on me again.
>yeah soz for last time ;p ill be there on time
"I can come over, but we gotta be quick. I've got a family thing today."
"Aww, Genji", your girlfriend pouted, "Can't you skip it?"
"Oh no way, Hanzo's gonna have my head if I do."
"Oh yeah, is your brother single lately or?"
You couldn't tell who said that last one, but given your pack, they spoke for everyone.
As soon as you got in your girlfriend's house you sat in a corner, knit your hands and concentrated. Seeing it was funny, but it made the others shush.
You try to remember how Hanzo taught you to do it. No words - just thoughts, he said. Otherwise the dragon'll come out guns-a-blazing.
You take a deep breath. You open your eyes and your skin glows.
Your forearm tickles as the dragon climbs out of it. You bring your right hand on your left shoulder so you can wear the spirit like a scarf, maybe. It goes, for a little bit, circles around your neck until its face is back on your left shoulder.
(You called me for a show), it says. It accuses.
"Say hi?" you say with the smile of a man who knows he's fucked up.
(I am not a toy for entertainment, mortal. Certainly not for your feeble friends.)
"Well, sorry! They were just curious."
(It may mean their demise one day. Do not toy with me.)
It bites your cheek and dissipates.
You blink for a moment. Your friends stare at you as you bleed. Your girlfriend and host shrieks and goes running for a med kit. She covers your cheek with a messy bandage.
You've never excused yourself so fast in your life.
You take a shower and give your wound a proper dressing when you get home, and that's all you have time to do before Hanzo finds you.
"There you are! I've been- what happened to your face?"
"I fell."
Hanzo rolls his eyes. "Sure you did. Get dressed, we have to be there in half an hour. Do you even know what the subject is?"
"What does it matter? I'm not gonna speak anyway. You're better at talking and they never listen to me, ever."
"That's not true."
"Isn't it?"
Hanzo frowns. He starts analyzing the subject instead of answering, so you tune him out. Your dragon rattles in your lungs.
You're twenty-two and you think you must be in love again, only this one creeped up on you. You were asked, at a party (of course), on truth-or-dare (of fucking course), who could you see yourself marrying. Your brain got stuck on three different people, so you said those three, but it bothered you for the rest of the game that you blue screened over it. All three of those people are at the party - hell, you're dating one of them - and looking at each of them in turn doesn't help in picking just one.
What the hell. Hanzo would laugh in your face if he could see you, at a party, in your boyfriend's lap with a shot glass in hand, looking around like a confused animal.
It's a funny thought. You text him to share it. You reread the text the next morning and all it says is 'hanzo dont laugh at me looking for my spouses'. Hanzo's response was nothing but the eyes emoji. You never explain the joke, but sometimes you look at the text and laugh to yourself.
You're twenty-four and you have to untangle yourself from three sets of naked limbs before you can leave the bed to answer your phone.
"Yes?"
"Genji Shimada where have you been- you are in a world of trouble, brother, do you have any excuse at all?"
"Uh, repeat that slower please? I'm kinda still asleep."
"Asleep? It's six in the evening."
"I was gonna sleep until morning like a normal person but you woke me up."
"Why would - forget it. We had a meeting all morning and you didn't even show up."
"Oh come on, Hanzo, what's one more?"
"It was the biannual one! You can't miss these! And I couldn't cover you no matter what I said!"
You rub your eye. "I'm sorry, okay? I just - they don't care about me, I don't care about them, why bother pretending at all?"
"We have a reputation to up hold."
"I don't think the public cares about me much, brother."
"But I do", he says and you feel very awake right now, "and I hate watching the elders frowning at the mention of your name."
"I'm sorry", you say, again. "When's the next meeting?"
"We have a small one at eight if you can make it."
"I'll be there, I promise."
You're twenty-five and you keep your head down. The elders babble on and you just stare at the dark wood of the table. You honestly couldn't care less about anything any of them had to say. The least they could do was not have a meeting on the day of the funeral, and they fucking do. Fuck them. They don't deserve your attention. They don't even deserve your presence but you'll be damned to high hell if you let Hanzo deal with them on his own.
All on his own.
You want to cry. You know you shouldn't, not in front of them, but you just want to find a dark corner somewhere and grieve your father. But no, you're stuck here choking back sobs while the clan elders yap incessantly about leadership.
Your dragon coils in your gut. It's a comforting support and you accept it whole-heartedly.
It's not two weeks later that they start screaming at you for missing meetings. It hasn't even been a month! When are you supposed to grieve?
(They're fools), the dragon offers. It's scared too, but it's a protection spirit and it feels the need to give you comfort. (Pay them no mind.)
(How can I? They control everything), you shoot back with nerves working their way up your spine.
(They don't control me.)
You blink.
The dragon is ashamed to have suggested it, and you're terrified because it could think it.
You promise your dragon you'll never summon it against your family, and it promises never to answer if you do.
Three hours later your brother finds you hidden between two roofs. He's fuming.
"Where were you? I swear, Genji, we've had this conversation thousands of times."
"Why do you keep asking? The answer is always the same. I wasn't there, and that's all that matters, isn't it?" You climb down the building. He follows.
"Yes! This was the one meeting you shouldn't have missed for your life!"
"You just talked about how you'll definitely inherit the leadership like always, what was I supposed to do there?"
"Be present. You are a Shimada leader son as well, you must say your word at the trial-"
"Look, Hanzo", you put up a hand, "I don't care. We all knew it'd be you, why would I go?" You start down the empty street. "I'm tired. Of all of this. Our father is dead and none of you ever let me mourn him. It's not even been a month."
Hanzo hurries after you, voice raising in pitch and volume. "The elders have asked of me-"
"I don't care what they want, Hanzo. Let me be clear with this." You turn around. "I hate the clan and the elders with a burning passion. Whatever they asked you, doesn't concern me."
"They want you to help lead the clan."
You blink. You take a step back. You shake your head. "No, I- Why did they think that was a good idea? I don't want to have anything to do with any of the clan's activities."
He steps closer. "Genji, listen. We could change it."
"We can't. Are you hearing yourself? You can't even tell them to leave me alone, but you think you can change centuries' worth of illegality?"
"Not by myself! If I have you with me-"
"I don't want them! They'll twist anything we try to do to their wishes, you know they will!"
"You can't just give up without trying", he pleads, grabbing your arm.
"I've tried too long. I just want to stop, Hanzo, please."
"You can't stop when we're this close!" he pulls you by the elbow.
Your dragon gives a flick of its tail, just to let you know that it is, indeed, just under your skin.
"This close to what? So you became leader", you pull your arm back. "What next?"
"Next we shut them up and do things our way." He grabs your shoulders, this time.
"Do it yourself then!" you push his hands away. "I don't want to be with the clan!"
"What about me?" he shouts. "Do you not want to be with me, either? Will you leave me by myself?" He grabs your shirt.
Your dragon hisses.
"It's not about you being by yourself", you push him hard, "it's about you leaving me alone."
"Why would you want to be alone? What's wrong with you? We can be powerful, everything we've worked for so far-"
"I never wanted this. You're the only one who worked for it."
He punches you in the gut. You trip his legs and go running to the house.
You barely make it past the gates before he tackles you to the ground. You hear a crack and pray it was the floor instead of your bones. Your rib hurts.
"Why won't you just work with me?" he yells. "What else is there to do with your life?"
"That's not you talking!", you yell back, struggling to throw him off. "It's them, Hanzo, do you hear what you're saying?"
He pins your right arm down. You bite your tongue and pull out the sword on your hip with your free hand, watch him slide away.
"Leave me alone!" You make sure to keep the sword pointing to the side or back so he knows you won't use it on him. "Just leave me alone, all of you! Come back when you can speak for yourself!"
Hanzo dives around you and goes for your right side. "I am speaking for myself! I only want what's best for you, and us, and the clan!"
He snaps your wrist and takes your sword, and you really, really want to say that your own brother wouldn't stab you, but he does. Multiple times.
You spit at him, slip out of his attack and dive in the side room. "Do you even want anything at this point, or have they possessed you?"
"You're talking nonsense!"
You run up the stairs. Whatever's broken hurts you at the hip joint and the ankle. "Am I? Am I, Hanzo?"
You see it a moment too late. Hanzo's bow is in the corner of the room, and he only spares you a glance before he snatches it up.
"You wouldn't-" is all you have time to say before he shoots at you. You dive around the corner to the balcony, but he's still too close, too close for you to dodge anything. He shoots another in a curved path, hits you at the thigh.
He comes at the doorway.
"Genji, please. Just come with me."
He looks haunted. Your dragon weeps and burns at your wrist.
"No."
He nocks, he draws, he fires, but it happens so fast you never even see it. You only hear,
"Let the dragon consume you!"
as you reach for the sword over your shoulder. You can deflect the twins, you know you can, except-
The arrow Hanzo summoned through lodges itself in your shoulder.
Your dragon gets stuck somewhere between your blade and your wrist.
The twins come at you with utter horror in their eyes.
It all goes bright blue, and then very, very dark.