001

[need_healing]

[The alert had come on a quiet, snowy evening, on a channel that Genji barely remembered he even still had access to. It was little more than a ping, a simple query that required no immediate answer should he decide to ignore it; which, he thinks, would be a mistake. It had been years since Overwatch 'disbanded' in rather spectacular fashion and the remains of the once renowned organization left to the whims of a dispassionate bureaucracy. His memories of those times are... conflicted, tainted by a haze of self-loathing that had nearly consumed him, and even now he struggles to recall them with any real objectivity.

Zenyatta had, of course, so effortlessly sensed his troubled state, and they had talked into the evening on the matter. Afterwards, Genji himself had sat alone through the night reflecting on his course of action. The signal itself isn't what concerns him, but rather who else it would have reached. He finds his thoughts continually drifting to the letter he'd sent not more than a few days ago, addressed to a humanitarian aid outpost in the middle east: Dr. Ziegler would have received the call as well. Hers is one of the few memories he can recall with any amount of genuine fondness, part of the reason he'd made an effort to stay in touch with her even after the shutdown. But now...

He left the next day, with his master's blessing. Peace could not always be maintained by standing still and the omnic had understood Genji's decision to leave in pursuit of it. It was time to move forward and he knew where the first step would take him.

The heat of the Iranian desert is a far cry from the snow of the Tibetan mountains, and far more so the war torn streets that necessitated the need for aid workers like Angela. Genji suspects that this turmoil plays no small part in the recall request and he understands the need, but for the time being, his focus is.. slightly narrower.

She isn't difficult to find and he waits until her tent has emptied of both staff and patients before letting himself in: a corner that had previously been unoccupied quietly taken up now by a figure wrapped in an old nomad's cloak. He doesn't announce his presence immediately, taking a moment to watch her. It's been years since he'd seen her last and it almost doesn't feel real now.]

...Good evening, Dr. Ziegler. [He pushes back his hood and with any luck she won't immediately call security. Or attempt to put him down on her own.] I hope I'm not intruding.

Comments

[eidgenossen]

[Winston's message had reached Angela in the early hours of the morning, rousing her from her slumber in the battered office chair that had been provided for her. Her eyes strained against the bright glow of her laptop, blinking then widening as lucidity quickly returned to her. Before he could finish his spiel, however, she had abruptly slapped her laptop shut.

Cursing under her breath, she got up, stretched, fetched herself a watered down cup of coffee, and with extreme reluctance, made herself sit back down and watch the rest of it.

'Oh, Winston,' was all she could think as he looked back at her with hopeful determination. She had to wonder if he had even meant for her to see the video- had he forgotten the part she played in Overwatch's dissolution? It had broken her heart to do it but what Winston- and others- hadn't understood was that Overwatch was a shadow of what it once was. A beacon of hope and a brighter tomorrow dimmed by its own doing. Too many painful memories, too many friends lost for Angela to even think of going back just because Winston asked her to.

She closed her laptop with a sad sigh, but before she got up to begin her day she found her hand wandering to one of the desk's drawers. Several feathers rested on top of a small pile of letters- Angela withdrew the most recent one from a few weeks prior, idly reading over its contents. It was hard not to wonder what Genji would make of this, if Winston's message had somehow reached him. The doctor spent more time than was needed rereading the letter before she returned it to its spot in the drawer.

In the days that followed a visible change overcame Angela, one that her colleagues noticed. Distracted, weary, but nevertheless she didn't falter in her job- it was easy for Winston to dream, but her work here was very real.

It had been an easy day, thankfully. Angela saw everyone off with a happy if distracted wave, already at work at her desk as the last of the staff shuffled out of her tent. She grumbles, leaning in to tap at some data on her screen as if she could poke it into showing what she wants.]

Now, that's not right... [She almost doesn't hear it, the subtle sound of movement from behind her. Her finger freezes as she realizes she's not alone, but before she can move to grab the pistol at her side her surprise guest speaks- and almost immediately the tension dissolves.]

Genji? [The last time she had heard his voice years ago it had been darkened by hurt and anger, despite his best efforts to be cordial towards her. She spins around in her chair, blue eyes wide and disbelieving as they lock onto him.]

Genji! [She sounds happy, surprising herself.] Goodness, what are you- you nearly got yourself shot, I'll have you know!

[She stands and walks over to him, catching herself before she gets too close and instead thrusts out her hand for him to shake. Yes, that's ethical. Despite that, there's a bright smile on her face- she's not at all unhappy to see him.] What are you doing here?

[need_healing]

[Seeing her, hearing her, after so long, being on the receiving end of that gentle scolding, he almost laughs. Not at her of course- he's aware of how unexpected his arrival is and he had wondered, briefly, if he should have written her ahead of time. But to catch her by surprise like this, to see the look on her face and hear the impulsive happiness in her voice, he thinks taking a bullet might have been an acceptable price to pay. At least he wouldn't have had to go far to find a doctor.

The space she keeps between them with her hand is strangely disappointing, but not at all unexpected. Despite the letters, it had still been years since they had seen each other in person and the last time they had spoken, he hadn't exactly been polite. But her smile is enough to dismiss any uncertainties that she might not have welcomed his arrival, and he can feel his heart skip a beat for it despite himself. Foolish boy.

He takes her hand in both of his and lowers his head respectively. The green band of his visor might not betray his expression, but his voice is far from dispassionate, warmed by a happiness to match hers.]

I am overdue for my annual appointment, of course. [The joke feels good to make, releasing a bit of tension he hadn't realized he'd been holding on to. He lifts his head and releases her hand, although not without a fair bit of reluctance. Levity aside, she still deserves the truth.] Have you heard from Winston?

[If she had, then she would know well enough why he was here. If not... well, he'd concern himself with that as needed.]

[eidgenossen]

[The laughter in her throat dies and the smile on her face falters, just enough to answer Genji's question... though to Angela's surprise, she finds herself feeling somewhat disappointed. Of course he didn't come all this way just to see her, and his previous letter hadn't expressed any interest in a reunion.

But that still didn't mean it wasn't good to see him, so different from when they last saw each other. His letters, of course, had spoken of a changed man, but to actually see him and, somehow, feel the way he had changed... it made something flutter from beneath her chest. Whenever he left, she would have to make sure to send a care package for this Zenyatta with him.]

Mm, yes. A few days ago. [She realizes their hands are still grasped together and she pulls back to gesture to the only other chair in the tent besides hers.] Are you hungry? Thirsty? The mess hall should still be open...

[need_healing]

[It breaks his heart to watch her expression fall as it does, but it tells him all he needs to know. The answer is a pall over their reunion, one he wishes desperately wasn't the impetus behind his arrival, but fate never promised kindness in her machinations. Would he be here otherwise? It's difficult to say.

He does feel as if he owes her some sort of apology for cutting so sharply to the literal and proverbial gorilla in the room, however. After all, if all he wanted to do was discuss the recall, he could have written, or called. Instead, he left behind the place he had learned to call home to seek her out in person. And all he could do within the first few moments of laying eyes on her again was to scratch at old wounds.]

I would not say no to a drink. [This time, it's his turn to hold his hand out, although clearly not to be shook.] But only if you'll join me.

[eidgenossen]

[Angela pauses, the warmth creeping back into her smile as she reaches to take his hand... but links their arms together instead. The contact is intimate enough to make her skin grow warm- he's only been here a few minutes and so many old feelings are being stirred up.]

How was the trip from Tibet? I hope you didn't have much trouble finding this place... [She keeps conversation light as she guides him through the camp- they can talk about the recall and anything else once they were alone.

At this time of night the mess hall is practically empty, save for one or two medics slumped over in corners and a bored looking kitchen worker milling about who does a double-take at the sight of Genji. Angela shoots them a silent look as she gets her cup of coffee and they quickly find something else to distract them.

She finds a corner not inhabited by someone trying to catch up on their sleep and sits at the small table, looking down at her coffee in quiet contemplating before Genji joins her.]

So... [There's a lot of other things she wants to talk to him about, but it's best they get the pressing issue out of the way.] I suppose I should have seen this coming. Winston never could let Overwatch go.

[need_healing]

[She takes his arm instead and almost immediately he feels himself straight up a little further without thinking. It still doesn't make him any taller than she is, but he feels just a bit more important this way and it's hard to be too disappointed at the diversion. As they walk, he tells her that he misses the mountains already, and that Zenyatta sends his regards on behalf of the Shambali; he tells her that he appreciates her work here and her refusal to recluse herself, which, happily, made it all the easier to keep in touch. It's comfortable, idle chitchat and he finds that it comes easier than expected.

When they reach the mess hall, he finds himself instinctively sweeping the open floor of the tent, taking mental stock of the few persons lingering about. There were still one or two old habits he hadn't completely shed. While Angela fixes her coffee, Genji inspects the selection of teas, expecting standard issue UN or military stock, but in a pleasant surprise, it seems someone had managed to procure at least one local brew.

He seats himself across from Angela and sets his drink down to steep.]

His ideals are noble, but I hope they are not misplaced. When he sent the message, I worried- [No, stop, start over.] I wasn't certain if you would answer. I know you did not always approve, but... you did good work.

[eidgenossen]

[There's a lot in Genji's response that stands out to Angela, and she can't help but arch a brow at him as she takes a sip of her coffee.]

...Thank you. [It's... relieving to hear that from Genji. She had always felt she could do more to help him, even though she was not the kind of the healer he needed- bandages could only heal so much. When he left Overwatch there were things left unspoken between them, and until she received his first letter she had thought maybe that was intentional on his part.]

But, I do good work here, too. [She lifts her cup for another sip and pauses, shooting him a look.] Legal work. Winston can't keep his plan secret for long.

...And what about you? [There's so much about Genji she didn't know and still doesn't- the man sitting in front of her may as well be a different person altogether from the Genji she knew.] You were with Blackwatch, Genji. You would know as well as I do that good intentions aren't always enough.

[need_healing]

[One of the many hard lessons Genji had learned under Zenyatta's care had been that his pain was, ultimately, of his own doing. It had never been Angela's responsibility to care for him beyond what she had done to save his life and any anger he blamed her for while he'd been adrift within himself was sorely misplaced. It was a slight he'd apologized for in his letters and one he hopes she understands was sincere.

The look she gives him along with the stress on the legality of her work is met with a tilt of his head. He hadn't meant to imply that he thought she would go back; if anything, he worried that she might have been scrutinized by association, regardless of her plans. If they thought she was a liability, would they remove her? He had to know for himself that she was safe.]

The only good intentions Blackwatch had were fronts to absolve the ones writing the reports at the end of the day. [There's no small amount of wryness in his voice as he reaches up and carefully unclips his mask, setting it aside on the table. In the past, he'd seen himself as a frightening creature, a ruined man. Now, his scars were simply a part of him that he'd had to learn to accept, reminders of his past. He might have been self-conscious in front of Angela, but there's a comfort in knowing that she'd seen him in a far worse condition.

He takes a sip of his tea and draws in a slow breath, pausing to appreciate the warmth that seeps through what's left of his body.]

I haven't decided what to do. I wanted to see you first.

[He looks at her when he says it, her face all the more lovely without the visor's filter.]

[eidgenossen]

[There where very few times where Genji's anger and frustration had been directly aimed at Angela, and even when it wasn't she had taken his outbursts with composure. Maybe he really did blame her, maybe he didn't- in the end she could only do what she could.

She doesn't so much as blink when Genji removes his mask, instead feeling almost relieved. She had sensed it back in the tent when he first spoke, but seeing his face now she could truly see that a happier Genji was sitting in front of her. A warm feeling rises in her chest and she finds herself smiling again- though what he says next takes her by surprise.

There were lines that she had crossed when Genji had been under her care, she can't deny that. When Morrison had told her that Reyes was interested in having Genji in Blackwatch, she had fought against the idea. Ultimately it was Genji's choice to make, but she made that clear whenever the opportunity arose- that he didn't need to become something he didn't want to be.

It's not as if they stopped seeing each other once he was transferred to Blackwatch, and maybe that's why the rumors started. Angela had been baffled, but maybe the idea of a forbidden romance was more exciting than the thought of her having basic empathy. And she did see Genji a lot- why wouldn't she? It was easier for the medical staff if she remained his primary doctor.]

Genji, I helped in the investigation that ended Overwatch. [She has to laugh, looking almost sheepish. Genji had left before then, but now that they're sitting here talking about it it feels a little awkward.] I don't know if Winston even intended for me to receive his message.

[need_healing]

[In those days, particularly after his transfer, Genji had been too self-absorbed in his own turmoil to properly comprehend what he'd felt for Angela. All he'd known was that regardless of how hard he'd raged at the world around him, she remained a constant, a rudimentary anchor that he gravitated to whether he realized it or not. Whatever he true nature of his feelings then, he has no doubt now that they must have been dangerously selfish at least in part.

Blackwatch had been an excuse for his poor behavior and he has no doubt that if Reyes hadn't actively participated in encouraging it, then he at least hadn't made any efforts to dissuade him. No one else had seemed to care. Except for Angela.

He doesn't miss the way her expression changes now that his face is bare and he feels some of the dour mood starting to lift. And when she laughs, he can't help the way his cracked lips split into a grin.]

Maybe he thinks you have some good ideas. [He takes another drink before reaching out with one hand for hers, tentatively sliding their fingers together.] I didn't come here to convince you of anything, Angela.

[eidgenossen]

All of my good ideas involve obeying the law, I'm afraid. [The grin on his face makes her blush, which she tries to hide behind her cup. When she feels his hand on hers she freezes, her blue eyes widening as she looks from their hands and back to him.

Maybe there was an unspoken attraction between them. A really unspoken attraction that, thankfully, neither of them had felt pursuing at the time. When Genji left Angela had undergone a brief period of pining for what could have been, but in the end accepted that it had been for the best. Genji would be happier away from Overwatch, and she... well, despite the storm clouds on the horizon, she was content to settle back into her work.

Had he ever called her by her first name before? No, she doesn't think so- protocol and all that. Hearing him say it makes her skin grow warm. She steals a glance out of the corner of her eye- silly, really. Genji hadn't been her patient in years.]

Genji... [She gingerly pushes her hand into his, squeezing cool metal.] It's... good to see you so happy.

[need_healing]

[There's a split second, as he watches her eyes flick between their hands and his face, that he wonders if he had overstepped. Had he misread something? Or assumed too much of himself? But he doesn't pull away, his gaze holding steady on her, secure in the faith that whatever will be, will be. He'd learned many things in the snowy Tibetan mountains, patience being one of them.

It wasn't a virtue he had possessed much of in his younger days and its lacking had only made him all the more insufferable after his reconstruction. Perhaps it's part of what had both attracted and terrified him about Angela, that she seemed abundant in all the the things he was devoid of. Such a concept would have been impossible for him to gasp then, so it's little surprise that whatever he'd felt for her had gone unspoken and unacknowledged. It had indeed been for the best, he'd decided; had he acted, he might have irreparably damaged the already strained companionship between them. And of course to say nothing of the professional ramifications. Rumors were rumors, but facts got soldiers dishonorably discharged.

She squeezes his hand and he smiles, his heart leaping in his chest.]

Much has changed. I have changed. I can see clearly now the things I had squandered before. The moments I overlooked. [He rubs his thumb against the side of her hand. It's a muted feeling from his cybernetic hand, but the warm softness of her skin is still there, a reminder that he is the sum of his parts and not what had been removed.] Those who I cared about that I mistreated.

[eidgenossen]

You were hurting then, Genji, and I couldn't give you the help you needed. It was... okay to be angry. [To an extent, obviously- it's not something she ever would've told him back then out of fear she would be playing a role she wasn't properly suited for, and to not betray her own feelings about Genji... in retrospect, perhaps she hadn't done as well of a job as she had thought.

She sighs and rakes her free hand through her bangs. It was a hard thing to talk about, even if Genji himself had seemingly made peace with what his own family put him through.] I never held it against you.

[They had already gone over this in their letters, but there was something more fulfilling about being able to talk to him directly about it.

The gangling teenager shoots them another curious look and Angela coughs, pulling back- she hadn't realized how she had begun to lean towards him.]

Maybe we should continue this conversation elsewhere.

[need_healing]

[It feels good to look her in the eyes and speak the words, to admit his faults in person. Not to excuse them, but to lay the path for forgiveness. It was all he would ever ask of her and he would place no blame at her feet. She had saved his life and he'd been too much of a little shit to thank her for it. It was his responsibility, not hers.

It feels even better to hear her reassurance that she hadn't begrudged him his actions, even if the sentiment was already on paper. But then she's leaning away and Genji already knows what she's going to say before it comes out. He glances at the lone kitchen staff--were they even allowed to employ children this late in the day?--then back to Angela, leaning in to whisper conspiratorially.]

No witnesses. [He holds her gaze with a dire seriousness for a moment, which is just about as long as he can manage to keep a straight face before he breaks back into a grin.] I'm kidding. Let's go.

[He's testing his luck, but maybe he feels a little reckless tonight, pecking her cheek in a quick kiss as he stands up. Innocent enough and easy to hide as little more than a friendly gesture save for the look he gives her afterward.]

[eidgenossen]

[Angela laughs, her cheeks turning pink as she links her arm with his.]

Oh, he's not so bad. His sister is a nurse here. [She contemplates just heading back to her tent, but even there they wouldn't have complete privacy. Privacy for... well, they hadn't exactly finished their conversation about the recall, though Angela suspects Genji hadn't yet made his decision either.]

Torbjörn actually called me, not long after I received Winston's message. He had some... interesting things to say about it. [She steers Genji out of the camp and towards the banks of a nearby river flanking one side of the encampment. They seem to actually be alone now, the only sound coming from the gentle lap of the water against the shore. Angela sighs quietly, studying the way the moonlight illuminates the water's surface with a contemplative look.]

You know... your first letter surprised me so much. I didn't know what to think. But I was... happy, to hear from you again. [The darkness hides the red on her face as she just barely leans into him.] And I was happy to know you hadn't forgotten me.

[She laughs, finding it silly- she imagines even if Genji did want to forget her, it would be rather difficult to do.]

[need_healing]

[It's true that she'd left her mark in every piece of technology grafted to his body and that he would carry her work with him for the rest of his life... but he knows that's not what she would have implied. There are less tangible memories, ones that, while painful, still held a flicker of light in the darkness. He couldn't so easily discard them, or her.

Standing on the riverbank with her, he feels a peace he hadn't expected to find outside of the monastery: a stillness of the spirit found in the flicker of moonlight on the water and the gentle soul at his side. He frees an arm from the folds of his cloak and slides it around her shoulders.]

I didn't know if you would write back, but I had hoped. I missed you.

[eidgenossen]

I missed you, too. [There's a tease in her voice as she gently elbows him in the side.] And the way you'd sulk into a room and immediately find an excuse to leave when you saw I was in it.

[Back then, she could often force herself into believing he only interacted with her out of necessity. Maybe that's still true, she realizes, but for a different reason.]

Things weren't quite the same after you left. [Of course he had nothing to do with Overwatch's collapse, but that was around the time when its image began to crumble. If Jesse was any indication, maybe that played a part in why Genji left.] I thought about trying to find you after... after everything that happened. To see how you were doing, of course. I didn't...

[She hums, and then decides to be honest:] I didn't think you'd be interested in being more open. But Overwatch was dealing with enough scandals at the time.

[Ah, she's never been good at this- a sad result of joining medical school when she was only a teenager. She snorts:] I can't believe I just told you that.

[need_healing]

[He laughs and takes the elbow to his ribs.] I lived in mortal fear of your kindness.

[Which is more of a truth than a joke. He falls silent after, giving her the moment to speak and listening. Once he'd left Overwatch, he hadn't wanted to be found for so long, wandering in search of something he's not sure ever really existed. It hadn't been until he'd stumbled across the Shambali monks and Zenyatta that he'd been able to start healing the wounds that couldn't be mended with stitches or bandages. Only then, when the storm clouds of his soul had cleared had he been able to look back and see what he had missed.]

You were not wrong. I needed time and... Overwatch needed to be put to rest.

[A small chorus of frogs starts croaking somewhere further down the bank and he slides his hand down to the small of her back, coaxing her closer with a small tug as he turns towards her. A small, amused smile tugs at the corners of her mouth.]

We are both unburdened now, doctor. Is there anything else you'd like to tell me?

[eidgenossen]

[It's less telling and more showing- Angela takes the opportunity to close what little distance there is between them, hesitating for only a second before she presses her lips against his in a kiss. It's not a bold one and she pulls away after only a few seconds, her face hot. This Genji was new to her, and there's a part of her that's afraid she could still cross a line.

Her hands rest against his chest and she presses her forehead against his, her eyes closing as the contact makes her shiver.]

I don't know where this could go, Genji. [One of her hands fumbles for his in the dark, lacing their fingers together.] But I'd like for us to find out, together. I think we have enough time for that.

[need_healing]

[Oh, it's telling in all the ways that matter and Genji is not at all disappointed by the lack of words. The kiss is so fleeting and he has to stop himself from retaking it immediately after it ends. It's been so long- there was a time when he would have freely given kisses to any who took his fancy, but they were empty little things, devoid of any real meaning. Angela did not deserve such cheap pleasantries.

He squeezes her hand and rubs their noses together, his mouth just barely teasing at hers.]

It will go where ever we please, my dear Angela. You gave me this time and I would offer it back to you gladly.

[By contrast, his kiss his bolder, pressing and holding their lips together with a self-sure persistence, nibbling playfully on her lower lip. He feels light in ways beyond just the freedom of spirit he finds in her presence, a boyish giddiness tempered by strife and time and age. He is not who he once was- a fool who would have squandered her tender heart; he is more and he has her in part to thank for it.]

[eidgenossen]

[Her lingering doubts put to rest, Angela responds to the kiss with an eager embrace, nearly throwing the two of them off balance with the way she throws her arms around him. Things had never felt right since they parted ways years ago, but Angela had done her best to not let the 'what if's haunt her- if fate decreed that they never meet again, perhaps there was a good reason.

But Genji was here and real and answering her lingering questions and then some- Angela is all too content to soak it all in, the way his lips felt against hers, just his presence. Ever since Overwatch's shut down, something was finally beginning to make sense again.]

Verdammt... [She's breathless and laughing when she pulls away.] This... is certainly time well spent, no?

[Her lips press against the corner of his mouth and over his cheek, leaving a faint smear of pink lipstick against his skin.]

[need_healing]

[The sound he makes when she nearly topples them is muffled into the press of their lips but he's swift to respond in kind, practically scooping her up into both arms and holding her close. It feels like regaining a part of himself that he'd been missing- but then, Zenyatta had warned him that if he insisted on sending pieces of his heart out with each of his letters, eventually he would need to go recollect them. The recall message wasn't exactly the way he'd planned to go about it, but he's not complaining now.]

Not if you send us into the water. [He couldn't wipe the grin off his face if he wanted to, laughing with her and chasing after her lips, the lipstick on his cheek completely unnoticed. He turns his head and reclaims her mouth, kissing her again as if he could somehow make up for all the times they've missed, all the things that had been left unsaid until now.]

[eidgenossen]

[Angela's laugh is cutoff by the kiss- she takes Genji's face in her hands, her thumb brushing over faded scars. It's easy to forget that they were standing on the muddy banks of a river, caught up in making "reparations".

A cold gust of air snaps Angela out of it, followed by a muffled beeping from her coat's pocket.]

Sheisse-[The noise she makes when she pulls back from Genji is most un-Angela like, fishing the beeper out of her pocket. Her face is red as she squints down at the code, her other arm still around Genji's neck.]

I- ah- [She huffs and takes a reluctant step back from him, looking sheepish.] I need to go take care of this, I shouldn't be long... can you find your way back to my tent?

[Her blush deepens- well, it's not like she can ask him to sleep in a tree, or something. Thankfully the dark hides it.]

i lied im tagging. my long repressed inner weeb screeched while writing this

[need_healing]

[Genji is sorely tempted to snatch the beeper before Angela can get to it and toss it in the river, but if she's getting an alarm at this hour of the evening, it was likely something important. He quirks an eyebrow at her cursing, feeling strangely satisfied that the interruption warranted such a reaction. He'd been having a pretty good time, too.

She looks down at the thing and he takes the opportunity to lean and suck on the side of her neck, more as a distraction than anything he puts actual effort into. The moment was coming to an end and all that was left was the formalities of parting. The taste of her skin lingers on his lips after she steps away, her warmth missed in the cool evening air. The offer of her tent is mildly unexpected- over the years he'd grown accustomed to resting in unconventional places out of necessity, so he hadn't been terribly concerned about where he would spend the night. But a warm tent in the company of a woman he enjoys very much is a far better offer than a rooftop somewhere else.]

Go. I will do my best not to get lost. [He steals a final kiss before he too steps back, retrieving his mask from inside his cloak and clipping it back into place.] Jaa ne, doctor. See you soon.

[He pulls his hood back up and starts off, following the bank of the river. Finding his way back won't be a problem and if Angela bothers to look back for him, she'll find him already disappeared into the night.]

[eidgenossen]

[Angela makes her way to the other end of the camp, a smile on her face, gingerly rubbing the faint mark Genji left behind on her throat.

The camp was mostly composed of doctors and other caretakers, so it's not much of a surprise that the officer in charge had decided to share the scouting reports; an enemy force had been behaving unusually, suddenly breaking off from the main conflict and straying close to the camp's location. The officer didn't seem particularly concerned, promising they'd be taken care of if they got too close, but warned them to be prepared to pack up and move the camp elsewhere if it came to that.

She returns to her tent, her brow furrowed as she pondered what she'd been told. Quite a damper on the mood.]

Genji? [She calls his name from outside the tent, pausing the smooth her hair back into place before poking her head in.]

[need_healing]

[He hadn't been long back at the tent by the time her voice drifts in from outside, having taken a more roundabout route to scout the rest of the camp. Something he should have rightfully done before going to see her the first time, but his eagerness had gotten the better of him.

His dusty cloak is draped over the back of the free chair, swords laid carefully across the seat. Genji himself is lingering near the corner of Angela's desk, turning a small feather around between his fingers. At the sound of his name, he looks up and smiles behind his mask, holding out the little trinket for her.]

You kept these?

[eidgenossen]

[She blinks then smiles shyly when she recognizes the feather, stepping into the tent and closing the flap behind her. She had forgotten she had been looking at the letters earlier that day.]

Ah, well... [Pink spreads across her cheeks as she walks over to him, reaching out to take the feather.] It made me happy, hearing from you after all this time and learning you were doing well. And... I liked having a piece of you with me.

[Her fingers run along the feather's soft edge before she puts it back on her desk. The top drawer is opened and she retrieves her collection of his letters, several other feathers tied to the top of the pile.]

I hadn't realized how aimless I had felt until I received your first letter. [The string is untied and she gently sifts through the pile until she reaches the bottom, holding up a faded piece of paper.] Sometimes I'd reread them whenever I felt lost.

[need_healing]

[It's humbling to realize that she'd kept them all, considering the spartan necessities of living and working in unstable regions. Of all the things she could have saved each time they moved, she chose his letters. Maybe he should have worked a little harder on his penmanship. Or found better looking feathers.

He takes the paper from her hand and sets it down on the desk with the others before brushing aside her bangs and cupping her cheek in his palm.]

Master would say we are all connected, a single thread of existence that binds us together on this world. When we feel lonely, we have forgotten our relationship to that oneness. [He slides his mask off with his free hand and leans in to press a soft kiss to her forehead.] I would say some oneness prefers a more direct connection.

[eidgenossen]

[Angela can't help but quirk a brow; judging from the closeness she thinks Genji's idea of a connection is just a little bit different from his master's... but not one she necessarily disagrees with.]

Hmm... [She tilts her head to capture his lips in a brief kiss.] This is a little more satisfying than just writing letters...

[Her hands cup his face to draw him into another kiss, but she stops, remembering why they had been interrupted in the first place.] Ah, you should know, we might be relocating the camp soon. They think the conflict is starting to grow too close to us.

[need_healing]

[He slides his arms around her waist and steps in closer, content to continue kissing her, when she abruptly stops halfway. The face he makes clearly speaks to how he feels about the second interruption.]

I noticed. [He finishes the distance between them in a kiss that lingers just long enough to tide him over as he mumbles against her mouth.] When I arrived. [Another kiss and he starts shuffling them in the direction of her cot.] Your perimeter is secure for the time being. [He drags his teeth over her lower lip this time.] I checked.

[He sweeps her up and onto the cot with him, unwilling to stray far from her lips. It's not the largest bed, but he suspect it's a far cry better than whatever it is they cram the poor infantrymen into.]

[eidgenossen]

[She can't help but laugh, finding his impatience endearing, returning his kisses with just as much eagerness. There's barely enough room for the two of them but they manage- she drapes herself over him and looks down at him with a coy expression.]

And I am on call... [It's more of a tease than a threat and she leans down to reclaim his lips with a teasing nip. She makes sure to draw the next kiss out to make up for all of the interruptions- the awareness of their surroundings is the only thing that makes her pull back.] Hmm, I'm sorry the mood isn't more romantic.

[She moves her mouth down to his jaw, experimentally brushing her lips against the metal there. They had, of course, done everything they could to give Genji something resembling his old body as closely as they could, but a gentle touch like this wasn't something so easily tested. A part of her is curious, ready to back off if he wasn't comfortable with this.]

[need_healing]

[He shows up without warning to a makeshift aid compound in the middle of a crisis zone and she's apologizing that the mood wasn't romantic?]

Chocolates and rose petals next time, I promise. [He just barely feels the whisper of lips along his jaw and the noise he makes is.. frustrated.] Candlelight under the stars.

[He nudges her away from his chin with a gentle hand, tipping her head back to bare her throat to him. It isn't that he can't feel it or that he doesn't want to, but he'd rather focus on her. Her technology was and continues to be a marvel of science, well ahead of its time, but she is no miracle worker; tactile sensation from the.. parts of him they had needed (or wanted) to replace entirely is a fraction of what he'd once had, just enough to feel and orientate himself. Everything else was supplemented by the suite of augmentations to his other senses. He understands now that it was probably just more efficient this way, or perhaps even Zeigler's prowess was not enough to exactly replicate the intricacies of the nervous system. Whatever the reason, he feels her weight on him, the warmth of her body, but her kiss is a mere ghost of a sensation.

The mark he'd left on her neck earlier is almost faded, so he mouths at the spot just above it, pressing his tongue against her skin and sucking with a bit more effort than before.]

[eidgenossen]

[Whatever disappointment she felt is forgotten when she feels his mouth on her neck, answered with a quiet and sharp gasp. Her eyes close and she cradles the back of his head encouragingly:]

Genji- right here. [She guides him further up to a spot just beneath her ear, her other hand slowly clenching the blankets beneath him. There's a part of her that knows they need to watch what they're doing- particularly when she suddenly straddles him- but it was easy to let the way he soothed her aching and loneliness through his touches and kisses draw her in.]

Mmph- my work visa... does expire soon. And Prague is lovely this time of year. [She talks to keep herself distracted, not really expecting an answer from him. The pale skin of her throat is offered up with another tilt of her head, a hot blush spreading down her cheeks and jaw. Her breathing is growing heavier- she knows one of them has to draw a line somewhere, but neither of them seem interested in doing that.]

[need_healing]

[Her legs slide down on either side of his waist and he tightens his arm around her back, holding her there in silent agreement to the change in position. He remembers, vaguely, wondering what it would feel like to be this close to her, back before he'd left; flights of fancy he knew he would never pursue. There is no imagining now, as he props himself up on his elbow to reach that spot under her ear, breath hot and tongue lapping eagerly against her skin.

He can tell she's rambling and all he offers is an equally distracted hum against her throat just before he starts nibbling on the edge of her ear. It feels like slipping back into old habits the further he goes, leaning up into her and relishing in the way her soft curves press into the harder planes of his body.

In a moment of impulsiveness, he abruptly turns them over, rolling Angela onto her back as he pushes himself up over top of her, dark eyes fixed on her from under the sharp edge of his upper visor-- and the moment their weight shifts, the cot lets out a loud creak that sounds shockingly loud in the silence.

Genji immediately freezes.] Kuso-- [He draws in a steadying breath, but doesn't make any effort to otherwise remove himself from his current position.] My apologies, Angela.

[eidgenossen]

[When he rolls them over she instinctively grabs onto him, ready to pull him down into another heated kiss- but it's how unexpectedly dirty the sound of the cot groaning beneath that makes her realize how close they were to losing control. She practically sinks down into the pillow, hands flying up.]

Oh! Oh, no, there's no need to apologize, Genji. [She tries to play it off as nothing, smoothing down the front of her top and pushing a stray bang back into place, conveniently ignoring that he's still on top of her. The smile on her face is genuine, if flustered, as she shyly looks him in the eye.] But I think we can both agree the atmosphere needs some more work, ja?

[With a gentle hand she pushes him over onto his side and she throws an arm around him, curling up and bumping her nose into his.]

Are you planning on staying long? I'll be here for another month at least... [Her cheek rubs against his, savoring the contact.] I was planning on staying, but I've accumulated quite a bit of vacation days.

[She wouldn't be able to stay away forever, she knows, but a medical camp is hardly the place to explore a newfound relationship. Maybe they could go to Tibet and she could finally meet this Zenyatta...]

[need_healing]

[It's painfully ridiculous how quickly everything comes to a halt, watching Angela try and put herself back into order as if they hadn't both been ready to lose themselves in each other just a moment earlier. All Genji can do is drop his head and laugh in exasperation, complying without protest to the pressure of her hand.]

Or you need a new bed.

[He wraps her in his arms and sighs, closing his eyes for a moment when she nuzzles in against his face. The gentle, almost innocent affection means just as much as the kisses and grasping hands earlier, if not more so, and in a way he might be glad that this is how it turned out. He reaches a hand behind her and sneaks loose her ponytail so he can card his fingers back through her hair, deftly working free the little tangles in the way.]

I don't know. [There was still the matter of the recall, and it's the last thing he wants to think about right now. It also happens to be the thorn around which everything else revolves.] I doubt your superiors will take kindly to my presence here with you, once word reaches them of the recall. Staying could jeopardize your status.

You mentioned Prague?

[eidgenossen]

[Angela snorts:] Ah, yes, I'm sure they'll be so understanding of my reasons for requesting a new cot.

[His fingers through her hair is soothing, her eyes falling close as he lulls her into a lazy, content feeling. Her fingers idly run along the back of his neck, her eyebrows furrowing as vivid images of their history together in Overwatch play in her mind. She can remember making these specific parts for him- did that speak to how much she cares for him?]

Mm, that's true... I doubt that they will care that I have little interest in responding. Sheisse, the last thing this place needs is the United Nations showing up. [She huffs, mentally chiding Winston for his naivety.] I suppose I'll be leaving whether I like it or not.

[She kisses his cheek and gets settled in for sleep, one blue eye opening when he mentions Prague.]

Oh, yes, I visited Reinhardt and his squire there one year- it's a beautiful city. And I do have a place in Zürich... Or-[There's a teasing, deviant look on her face.] -we could go visit Torbjörn. I'm sure he'll be so pleased to see you.

[need_healing]

[Squire? Reinhardt has a squire? Genji isn't terribly surprised that Angela had kept in contact with others from Overwatch, but he wonders now what that will mean if any of them choose to answer the call. It's difficult to predict, but he doesn't think it would really be Angela if she had left them behind.

His fingers continue their idle motions, finding an almost meditative peace in each steady stroke of his hand through her hair.]

Torbjörn? [He chuckles.] How many children is that old man up to now?

[eidgenossen]

He has grandchildren now. [Torbjörn wasn't always the easiest person to be around, but it had touched Angela that he- in his own way- had reached out to her after Overwatch shut down. Winston had been right, in a way, when he said their family had been torn apart.] Reinhardt visits often, too- I know he would definitely be happy to see you.

[It's strange to think about about the possibility of all of them reconnecting- she thinks about Jesse, and Lena (who no doubt had already answered Winston), and wonders what they're up to.]

Mm, but I think I'd like some time for just the two of us. [She pulls back enough to brush their lips together, a tender look in her eyes.] It's only a matter of time until the recall becomes public knowledge.

[need_healing]

No way! Now I feel old. [He never really considered any of the other Overwatch members as 'family', having had little luck with such notions in the past, but maybe he'd been mistaken. It wouldn't be the first time.

He returns Angela's kiss and settles himself into a more comfortable position. 'Just the two of them' sounds... good. Enough to put off his final decision about the recall for a bit longer anyway. He couldn't ignore it entirely, or the ramifications that came with it, but Zenyatta had tried to teach him to spend more time appreciating what was right in front of him.]

Then I will stay, at least for a little while. Rest, Angela. We can talk more in the morning.