Chapter Text
Approaching footsteps along the Watchpoint walkway pull Cassidy from his thoughts, causing him to tip his hat back slightly so he can look at his visitor. “An’ to what do I owe the pleasure?” Cassidy asks, patting the spot next to him in invitation.
Genji sinks down beside his friend, looking out over the waves as they roll up onto shore, “I have a request for you, if you are not too busy.”
Cassidy can’t help the little laugh that spills out of him, “Oh, ‘m real busy these days. Plan to smoke the rest of my cigarillos and stare out at the waves ‘til sunset. Can’t have that interrupted, no sir, no how.”
Genji, polite to a fault these days since coming back from Nepal, tips his head to the side, “If you would like your evening to yourself-”
Snorting, Cassidy slings his arm around Genji’s shoulders, pulling him in close, “‘m jokin’, Genji. Always ready to help a friend. What’cha need?”
Genji huffs, leaning into the embrace, “If I told you there was someone I’d like you to meet, what would your answer be?”
“Now, now. Gettin’ too old for anythin’ like that, tho’ I appreciate the offer-”
“Shut up, you are only thirty-eight.” Genji laughs, shoving Cassidy playfully and rising to his feet, “I assure you, this is most certainly not a romantic prospect. It is a new member of Overwatch and I would like to introduce you to them myself. If you would be amenable.”
Getting to his own feet, Cassidy stretches his arms over his head until he hears a crack, “New member? Ain’t heard nothin’ ‘bout that.” Cassidy withholds the fact he hasn’t read his email in about two weeks and could be missing all sorts of information at this point.
“When Overwatch requested I return I asked that two people be allowed an invitation, along with myself.”
Cassidy raises one finger, “Zenyatta.” He raises a second - gives it a little wiggle - and waits for Genji to spill the beans. He can practically see Genji smirking behind his mask.
“You will have to come see for yourself… if you are not too busy.”
“Aw, hell. Now you got me curious.” Cassidy flaps a hand at Genji, “Go on, lead the way. Yeah, yeah, you should be real proud of yourself, temptin’ a poor old cowboy with ninja secrets.”
Laughing, Genji falls in step with Cassidy as they walk back inside, “If you are done making a fool of yourself cowboy, I must give a few words of warning before you meet my companion.”
“They’re another monk, ain’t they? Gonna keep spreadin’ the peace and transcendence until all’a Overwatch is meditating together like a big happy hippy commune. I see what’s happenin’, can’t fool me.”
“If peace can be achieved with this person I would be endlessly grateful, “ Genji removes his mask and smiles, bright and open, “I have told you of my journey with the Shambali, and the peace I was able to find toward the events of my life?”
“You have. Shit, the mask’s off, this is gettin’ real serious.”
“Quiet, I am telling a story. Through my struggles the one thing I fought to come to terms with was the relationship I had with my brother. As you know I was extremely angry with my brother when we had first met, and I realized that the anger was misplaced. The circumstances of our youth and upbringing did not foster healthy relationships and communication, but through all that Hanzo put me first. All the while continuing to be brainwashed by the power of our family.”
They stop walking, taking a moment in the halls of the Watchpoint to speak.
“I can not imagine the struggle that he was put through, that he did not let me see, as he shielded me from the family. I only saw a glimpse of it as he forced himself to kill me. It was a task not easily accomplished... Did you know he left the Shimada after my death?”
Cassidy shakes his head, dutifully staying silent, and Genji smiles,
“I found out he returns to Shimada castle on the anniversary of my death, every year. He pays his respects for his brother that he killed. He believes he cannot atone for what he has done, he believes-”
Clenching his fists against his side, unable to stay quiet and not refute Genji’s point, Cassidy growls, “He killed ya, Genji. Course he can’t atone for that. No one deserves that second chance.”
Genji catches Cassidy’s gaze and reminds with force, “You know I have forgiven him. I am telling you that I have.”
“Don’t see how.” Cassidy grunts, holding Genji’s gaze. They’ve been through this before and Cassidy can’t help the feeling roiling deep in his gut. Family killers should never be forgiven.
“My journey toward forgiveness does not need to be understood, but I hope it will be accepted. ” Genji states firmly.
“Hey, ‘m just’ lookin’ out for you so that son of a bitch can’t hurt ya again. You gotta know why I’d be worried, Genji… people like that-” Cassidy grasps at Genji’s hand, “People like that don’t deserve it, don’t deserve what yer offerin’.”
“I am more than capable of making decisions for myself. Cole-” Genji squeezes Cole’s hand back in an attempt to reassure, “- I want you to not hold any animosity toward my brother for events already forgiven.”
That’s when it clicks for Cassidy, his mouth falling open and face contorting in anger, “It’s yer fuckin’ brother. You brought that piece of shit-”
“Cole-” Genji warns.
“Why!? He killed ya, Genji! He don’t deserve you, ya shouldn’t forgive him!” Cassidy insists, eyes going wild until Genji’s grip on his hand tightens dangerously and the cowboy whimpers.
“Do not project your own self-loathing onto my journey of forgiveness.” Genji hisses, “I understand where you are coming from, Cole. I understand the pain and the hatred - but now is not the time for it. It is not the feelings I hold in my heart… you, above anyone else, can understand how Hanzo feels, even if you cannot understand how he is to be forgiven.”
Cassidy’s shoulders sag and he breathes in through his nose, “‘m sorry, Genji. Didn’ mean to pick a fight… I just don’t understand it. Certainly don’t like it neither.”
Genji rubs Cassidy’s hand soothingly, apologetically, “I know you do not. All is forgiven, friend. You may understand, in due time.” Genji promises, looking over Cassidy’s shoulder down the hallway. His face lights up as someone approaches.
“Am I interrupting something?” A voice asks.
“Never, brother. Come meet my dear friend.”
Cassidy turns on his heel and watches as a man approaches them. He straightens himself to his full height, knowing he makes an imposing figure with arms crossed over his chest.
Hanzo Shimada walks with complete confidence and surety. Cassidy has met many men in his life and it is simple to tell when one is a killer. He sees it in his own reflection every day. Gritting his teeth, he tries to hide his disgust.
“Hanzo, this is Cole Cassidy. We were partners in Blackwatch. He is my very best friend, we have been through much together. I’m glad to finally introduce him to you.”
Hanzo bows his head slightly, eyes not leaving Cassidy’s, “Greetings. I am pleased to meet a friend of Genji’s.”
“I’ve heard plenty ‘bout you.” Cassidy says, watching Hanzo grit his teeth ever so slightly. Cassidy jumps when Genji elbows him and clears his throat, “Well, if yer anythin’ like Genji ‘m sure we’ll get on just fine.” It was a hollow statement and Cole knew everyone could hear that. “Welcome to Overwatch, an’ all that.” He coughs, pulling a cigarillo out of his pocket and sticking it between his lips, hoping it’ll keep his sharp tongue from lashing out. Or keep his hands busy enough not to pull his gun.
“... Thank you.” Hanzo narrows his eyes and puts his gaze back on Genji. He seems to take in Genji’s uncovered face for a moment before speaking again, “Could you please show me to my room again? I am afraid I have yet to remember the way.”
“Certainly. Cole-” Genji smiles softly, “- I will see you soon? Tomorrow?”
“ Yeah, yeah, of course, Genji.” Cassidy murmurs, giving the two a tilt of his hat as he watches them walk away together. Fists clenched, Cassidy leaves in the other direction, a foul taste settling in his mouth. There’s no chance this ends peacefully and Cassidy knows he’ll likely be the cause of that.
----
Cassidy barely sees Hanzo over the following weeks, but to be fair no one sees much of the man at all. If he isn’t talking - sometimes arguing - with Genji, or sneaking meals in solitude, he is hidden away in his room without much interest in anyone else. It was clear he was only there for Genji and would not have made an appearance otherwise.
At the moment, Overwatch is not a well-oiled machine. There is no training schedule, missions, or expectations. They are considering themselves in the recruitment stage, so it comes as a shock to everyone when the alarms in the base go off and there are orders for everyone to suit up.
Winston had received word that Omnics were attacking the coast just across the sea in Morocco. He believed that it would be a simple mission that would allow the team to stretch their legs and he was right.
The Omnics unleashed on the town, while many, were obsolete models that lent themselves to being wonderful target practice for the cooped up members of Overwatch. Cassidy was in his absolute glory, standing up on high ground and landing headshot after headshot on the approaching bots. There’s a chance he was working through some pent up frustrations of the murderous intent variety.
“Thirty-two! Thirty-three! Thirty- Hey! Genji! That was mine .”
Genji chuckles, pausing in front of Cassidy for a moment, “Be faster, then, and maybe you would have gotten it first.” He advises before zipping off again.
“Jackass.” Cassidy grunts. He’ll give Genji credit, the ninja was doing quite a job with his sword, chopping down the bots in large numbers. He isn’t the only Shimada doing one hell of a job.
Cassidy’s eyes drift up to one of the buildings where Hanzo was perched, releasing a volley of arrows on the bots below. Cassidy’s gotta admit, the man is a master of his weapon and he’s awfully impressed. Not that he would admit it to anyone.
Cassidy stands by his gut feeling, even if he keeps that to himself. Genji should have never forgiven Hanzo and let him this close. It just doesn’t sit right .
A stream of bots pour into the street in front of them and Cassidy lifts his revolver, ready to show off with a pretty little Deadeye - show Hanzo just what he’s dealing with if he tries anything funny - until he hears the shout above him.
“ Ryuu ga waga teki wo kurau!”
The dragons spiral through the air and Cassidy is filled with the same fear and wonder as he had been the first time he’d seen Genji’s dragon, all those years ago. “ Awesome.” He breathes, taking it in simply as a spectator - until he sees who is in the dragon’s path.
Genji is still chopping down bots with vigor, right in the path of the dragons. Cassidy doesn’t even think, he rolls off his perch and sprints to where Genji is fighting. The deafening roar is catching up with them and he only has a moment. He catches the cyborg by the shoulders and throws him out of the path of the beasts.
“Cassidy!”
“Cole!?”
The roar of the beasts and sound of battle falls into silence as Cassidy is overcome by the dragons. He can feel them watching him, judging him, their power running through every inch of his body. Everything is blue, electric, a current pushing through every cell of his body.
They could kill him if they wanted to.
As quickly as they had overcome him, they dissipate, curling into the air until Cassidy can no longer see them. He falls to his knees, looking up at the sky.
There’s hands on his shoulders and Cassidy’s gaze comes back to Earth, “Cole, breathe for me, I know it is a shock, experiencing the typhoon of the dragons.” Genji soothes, fixing Cassidy’s hat on his head with gentle hands, sliding down over his shoulders and adjusting his serape.
Cassidy swallows, searching for his voice. He finds it when Hanzo comes into view, face troubled.
“It was not my intention to-”
“ You- You were shootin’ those things right at Genji!”
The two brothers look perplexed before realization dawns on Genji’s face, “Cassidy. The Dragons will not kill another Shimada, I was very safe. You did not need to risk yourself… you jumped in thinking you would die , Cassie.” Genji huffs and smacks the cowboy in the shoulder for being so selfless. Then rubs the spot where he hit with a hand, still ever so gentle with his friend, “What have I told you about taking bullets for me and acting reckless?!”
“Well, I thought he was gonna-!” Cassidy holds his tongue and Hanzo grunts.
“Say it. You believed I was going to kill him again. Like I would ever.” Hanzo spits, eyes like fire on Cassidy.
“Well how am I supposed to know that!?” Cassidy gets to his feet, unfortunately a little shaky after the embrace of the dragons. He leans against Genji’s right side for support, feeling the cyborg’s hand on his back.
“Then I will make it clear for you.” Hanzo snaps, getting into Cassidy’s space, forcing the man to take a step back.
“Brother-”
“No, let me say this, Genji. I have not been in Overwatch long, I have not spoken to many of you more than once, if at all. Perhaps I do not deserve to be given the benefit of the doubt, but know this-” Hanzo pokes his finger into Cassidy’s chest armor and the cowboy snarls.
“Get yer hand off’a me.” He warns, yet Hanzo stands his ground.
“- Do you really think, after making a mistake so severe, I would ever venture to do it again? How dare you think that of me. I have faltered, yes, but I will not fall that far again. Would you repeat a mistake so grievous twice?”
Cassidy grabs Hanzo’s arm by the wrist and is certain he feels the dragons burning underneath Hanzo’s skin. He pushes the hand away from his chest and steps back, releasing Hanzo and moving away from Genji’s touch, “This ain’t about me! I don’t know what kinda man ya are but anyone who would kill their siblin’ is a real bad one.” Cole grunts, voice dripping in thick layers of malice.
“Then cease making it about yourself. I am a man who is seeking redemption, I do not need validation from you. Even if you were spared by my dragons, even if they have deemed you a good man, you have not shown me as much.”
“I don’t care ‘bout the opinion of a couple’a snakes.”
If it wasn’t for Genji pulling on the back of Hanzo’s kyudo-gi the elder Shimada would have drove Cassidy into the ground.
“ Enough! You are both children .” Genji hisses, putting himself in between the two, “There are still Omnics attacking, or have you forgotten?”
Both men stare each other down before turning their backs and adjusting the grip on their weapons. Their shots would be for Omnics and not each other. This time.