Chapter Text
Jesse McCree shivered as he continued to march up the mountain towards the monastery looming far above him.
He had his eyes on the prize though, his first new mission. Overwatch was regrouping and Winston had enlisted McCree to try to convince Genji to come back. There were absolutely no links to the outside world up there, the gorilla had been completely unable to get a digital line to the cyborg.
Plus while Genji had been standoffish he’d always been on fairly close terms with McCree. If anyone had a chance to get him to come back it was him. Besides, It had gotten hard to deny McCree anything after Gabriel got him all shaped up and polite.
But it had always kind of seemed that Genji liked him, even before that. Gabriel had always been kind of worried that the ex-yakuza member would drag McCree back to his old Deadlock ways but if anything it was the opposite. The ninja'd dropped a lot of his dodgier habits after hanging out with McCree more. Plus while Genji was never close to calming down and accepting his new form he seemed to feel better when he lurked around the cowboy.
Right now that man was groaning as he continued stomping up the mountain. He didn’t consider himself a soft city slicker or nothing but he wasn’t exactly used to hoofin’ it like this.
Mei’s words clearly reverberated in his mind. It’s not like it was proper mountain climbing as he carefully trekked up this only somewhat steep slope but she’d still fretted about it and spewed tips at him when she’d heard he was heading up here. There had been some jokes about him seducing the ninja into coming back. Few people knew that side of Mei but damned if the girl didn’t have a bit of a saucy side. McCree was one of the few privy to that information.
Hell, the girly Chinese parka he was wrapped up in was hers. Didn’t think it was going to fit but it did. Granted it only came to his thighs whereas it had come to her ankles but it fit and damned if it wasn’t warm. Even if it was dusty pink with white rabbit fur.
Genji didn’t even know he was coming which admittedly made McCree feel weird. Kinda nervous. I mean, there was a full on possibility he’d get up there and the Omnics would send him right back down the mountain.
Goddamn he hoped he wouldn’t immediately have to make the trip back down. Might as well just roll back down if it comes to that.
Either way as the ornate gate grew into his sights it was time to learn his fate.
As he approached the completely empty courtyard he looked around, quickly worrying that he had climbed all the way up only to be at the incorrect monastery.
A lone Omnic wearing robes and carrying what looked like a big stack of meditation mats walked by and dispelled those concerns. They panicked and dropped their stuff as McCree called out to them, “Hey! Name’s Jesse McCree. I’m lookin’ for Genji Shimada.”
For a long while the Omnic just stared at him, absolutely dumbstruck at seeing an out-and-out human for the first time in many, many years. Given Mondatta’s recent death this was the most horrifying thing the poor Omnic could have come across while all alone. The handgun resting against McCree’s thigh really didn’t help.
They bolted back into the village without responding.
McCree sighed, “Goddammit…”
Before he could start walking in to try and find a hopefully less terrified Omnic one floated out of his own accord. Behind him cowered the Omnic from before, looking like a child hiding behind their mother.
“Welcome to the Shambali Monastery,” he droned in a nigh monotone voice, “Sorry for my brother’s reaction. He is a nervous one. But I must confess that I share his concerns, somewhat. What is your business here?”
Never was much of a fan of repeating himself but it’s not like he could refuse, “I’m looking for Genji Shimada. M’name’s Jesse McCree. We’re old friends.”
Despite his lack of facial expressions the levitating Omnic’s skepticism was evident.
Preparation is key though and damned if McCree isn't used to being questioned. Besides, a stranger showing up looking for an ex-yakuza? Could easily be looking to blow Genji’s head off. McCree reached into the frilly parka and clumsily rooted around until he pulled out his phone. He groaned as he had to remove a glove to use it.
He flipped through a few pictures he’d put on it for this occasion. A couple of him and Genji at the company picnic, hanging out before seeing a movie, chilling out post-mission, ect.
It was enough for the Omnic who gestured for the seemingly younger one to run off. The Omnic’s demeanor changed quickly. McCree hadn’t paid terribly close attention to the orbs gently oscillating around the Omnic’s neck but as they relaxed the spheres spread out. He had the oddest notion that had this gone south he would have found himself being beat to death by the dully shining balls.
Instead he just held out a hand which McCree firmly shook as the Omnic introduced himself, “I am Zenyatta. Genji is my student, he’s in the temple right now. If you want you can wait for him by his room. He won’t be long.”
He gestured for McCree to follow him. He looked around as he was led deeper into the village. More Omnics kept appearing and milling about, all obviously trying not to be freaked out by the sudden appearance of a human in their safe space. He greeted one that was a little bit closer with a cheery smile and a ‘howdy’ but that only seemed to alarm them more. From then on he opted to remain quiet and avoid eye contact.
It was only more awkward as Zenyatta left him there to lean against the wall and wait.
God, he hoped whatever Genji was doing wasn’t going to be long.
But it was.
Turns out essentially immortal Omnics have a very poor concept of what a long time is to a far too mortal human.
As the sun lowered so did McCree. He just kept sliding down the wall until he was sitting on the ground, hat over his eyes, completely asleep. Gabriel had always chided him for his bizarre ability to fall asleep literally anywhere, anytime but damned if it didn’t help sometimes.
Feet crunched in the snow, approaching the sleeping cowboy. Genji smiled behind the mask as he leaned over and lifted up the brim of the hat, “Jesse?”
McCree lazily opened an eye as if he hadn’t been out cold, “Well, my favorite lil’ ninja decides to show his face.”
“It’s more like a helmet, honestly.”
Face, helmet, mask, whatever. McCree didn’t terribly care much as he pushed himself to his feet and quickly accosted Genji into a one armed hug. A few awkward pats on the back were given in return. Genji’d never been much of a hugger.
“How’ve ya been?” McCree said, practically right in the ninja’s ear as he continued to keep the man in what basically amounted to a headlock by this point.
“Better than before,” Genji managed to say beyond being muffled by McCree’s shoulder, “I don’t mean to sound harsh but… uhm… why are you here?”
“Take me somewhere where we can sit an’ we’ll talk about it.”
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McCree groaned as he crouched to sit on the thin mattress. It was almost insulting how elegantly Genji joined him, dropping like a ballerina with his legs crossed. Looking around the sparsely decorated room McCree spoke, “Didn’t give you a lot in the way of accommodations, did they?”
Not that he could see that well. It had long since grown dark, moonlight filtering in through the wide openings illuminating the few possessions Genji still had.
The only other source of light was Genji himself. Bright green rings of light emanated from his armored parts. It highlighted the fact that apparently the cyborg decided clothes just weren’t for him at some point. McCree tried to politely ignore that but it was a little weird that for all he knew the cyborg was completely naked.
“No. But monasteries aren’t meant to be comfy. Didn’t help that the Omnic monks got rid of a lot of things that they didn’t need. Chairs, beds, lights. They had to go into deep storage to find basic accommodations for me.”
“S’gotta be hard. ‘Specially considering yer rich boy upbringing.”
“I confess I still miss the comforts of my old life in Hanamura, sometimes. But I’ve come to a sort of peace that I don’t need it. Wants obscure needs a lot of the time. We are getting off topic though.”
“Right, right, sorry,” McCree nodded, “Jus’ been a long time since I saw you. We’ll have plenty to time to catch up iffin you don’t mind me stayin’ here with you.”
Genji laughed, “You’re only going to overstay your welcome if you don’t get to the point already.”
McCree burst out laughing, “What can I say? I’m easily distracted. You know that but still sorry. I’m jus’ playing ambassador right now. Winston’s tryin’ to bring Overwatch back. Well, not trying, is. Nearly everyone’s answered the recall, we’re all gatherin’ in Gibraltar over the next few months. You were the only one they couldn’t get ahold of. So they sent me.”
The small room went silent quickly. McCree scrutinized Genji’s movements but couldn’t make out what he was thinking. Didn’t look good though.
He spoke after a second, “I don’t… I don’t think I want to do that.”
McCree shuffled a little at that, not exactly being a salesman type. He immediately realized how stupid of a pick he was for this mission as he offered up nothing but, “Well… we miss you… or I do, at least.”
Another long silence. This one so long that McCree briefly contemplated getting up and leaving, despite how awful it would be to march down the mountain now that the sun was down. Maybe he’d freeze to death. Considering how embarrassed he was right now it didn’t sound like the worst possibility.
God, I mean, he’d chased down someone who had been a casual friend after all these years. Of course Genji didn’t want to leave his new life to return to Overwatch just because a lazy ol’ cowboy sauntered up a hill and asked him to.
Right as he went to push himself up again Genji spoke though, “I miss you too. But I’m happy here. Zenyatta has taught me to no longer feel shame for my current form or doubts about who I am.”
McCree just nodded in response, already ready to hear that answer even through his embarassment. Couldn’t fault the ninja for not wanting to return to a life of violence and uncertainty.
Silence fell again.
Once again Genji was the one to break it, “You can stay here for a while though, if you want. You and Angela were the closest things I had to friends while I was still in Overwatch. I always regretted not getting to know you two more. This is an opportunity to become closer to at least one of you. If you are interested.”
“I’d love to,” McCree smiled, “Gonna be hard sleepin’ on the ground though. Doubt your Omnic friends got any more mattresses lying around.”
Genji tilted his head, electronic voice regain its old playful tone, “Do not be silly, Jesse. You can sleep with me on mine. It’s small but I’ve never minded being the little spoon. You can’t tell but I’m winking.”
He managed to continue looking smug as McCree cuffed him on the arm, “Good to know yer still a lil’ shit.”
“A leopard can’t change its spots,” Genji replied, jabbing at McCree with his foot as he tried to spread out, “It’s late though, we really should get to that. There’s a blanket over there, although I doubt you’ll need much more than that parka if we’re going to be curled up together. I’m hot. Not just my looks.”
McCree was a bit confused by that until he followed up on Genji’s offer and started to lay down next to him. Even just lying side-by-side he could feel heat radiating off the cyborg like an overheating computer.
Genji carefully interlaced his fingers over the plates of his chest, “I’ll show you around tomorrow. I’d honestly like to talk more now but I have a feeling Zenyatta’s still going to want me to attend morning meditation. Might want you to come too.”
“I can live with that,” McCree replied, uncomfortably adjusting to sleeping on his back, “Might even be kinda fun. See what you’ve been up to.”
Genji nodded next to him, helmeted face leaning over to prod into McCree’s arm, “Even if I don’t want to go back, I’m glad you came to visit. It does get a little lonely up here. Most of the Omnics are very solitary.”
“I’d glad yer glad. Woulda felt mighty stupid if I’d climbed all the way up here for you to tell me to go away.”
“You’re welcome to stay as long as you’d like.”
McCree just nodded in reply, “Thanks.”
Both fell silent then as they started to drift off. The chill of the mountain air still bit at McCree a bit but he was starting to get used to it. He made a mental note to get a gift on the way back for Mei to thank her for the parka.
Winston told him that a lot of the others wouldn’t make it for a few months. He figured he could just stay here until then.
Hadn’t had a proper vacation in a long, long time.