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

[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.