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“What the…” Cole halts before he looks around the door hanger. Walks forward, backwards, searches on top of his drawer, on his bed, under his bed, on his desk, under his chair.
Gabriel’s startled when his office door is kicked open and an angry cowboy walks in, except it’s not really a cowboy when he’s missing his—
“I swear to christ-jiminy on a cross, where’d you put my fucking hat, boss?!”
Gabriel immediately stands from his desk, defensive. “Who’d wanna take your nasty ass hat? Now lemme do you one better, why’d you take my beanie?!”
Cole blinks and finally realizes why the commander looks so different; he’s lacking his beanie, shaved head all for show.
“First of all,” Cole sticks up his index finger, “my hat ain’t nasty! She’s a goddamn beauty and ya know it. Second.” The second finger comes up. “Who’d wanna steal your nasty ass beanie?”
“Quite fucking with me, kid. Hand it over.”
“I told ya, I ain’t got it! I don’t have any reason to.”
“I’m not falling for another one of your stupid pranks!”
“I ain’t done that in ages-“
“What’s all this ruckus about?” Moira comes in, clipboard in hand for the usual standard report; nothing unusual until both men lay their eyes on her bare red hair on full display. It’s almost uncanny… No, they all definitely look uncanny.
They glance at each other before looking back at her. She squints her eyes, not enjoying being looked at like this. But it immediately clicks in her head why everything’s off. “Ah, it appears we have a hat thief in our midst.”
“You take my hat you witch?” Cole swivels his accusing finger at her.
She lets out an exasperated sigh. “Now why would I want your disgusting, immature hat?”
“She doesn’t even have her own, for fuck’s sake. She couldn’t have stolen it,” the commander flops down ungracefully into his chair.
“Then who did?” Cole is startled at how fast they turn to him, both giving a look of irritation. He waits for them to reply but they don’t. “What?”
“We have a ninja on base, Cass. You tell me.”
Finally, it clicks. “Oh.”
───※ ·✮· ※───
“Genji?” Angela swivels around in her chair to face the cowboy. “No, I haven’t seen him, actually. I can send a message for you if he stops by.”
“Thanks doc, just say I’m looking for him, is all. When was the last time ya saw him?” Cole feels extremely uncomfortable as he stands under the air vent, cold air blasting onto his hair that would normally be protected by his hat.
The doctor leans back against her chair, hand to her chin as she thinks. “Hmm, last night at two in the morning... He was acting strange.”
He raises a brow. “Oh?”
“Like he was nervous but giddy at the same time. There was a twinkle in his eye I haven’t seen before. He mentioned he had something to take care of but didn’t tell me otherwise. Said it might ‘stir up unwanted trouble.’”
“‘Unwanted trouble,’ huh? What else did he say?”
“Oh, not much else besides the usual. Would you like some coffee, Cassidy?”
Cole instinctively recoils at the thought of that bitter-ass liquid, but immediately tries to act casual, “Ah, no thanks doc, that’ll just boost my sleep deprivation more than it needs to.”
Her expression shifts into concern. “I thought you said you'd gotten over that.”
“I-I better get going,” he flashes a sheepish smile. “Commander’s got me on a tight schedule, ya know how it is.”
Now she makes an amused face and crosses her arms. “Right, but he gives you enough time to visit and ask me about Genji though, hm?”
Cole only grins with a shrug before he slips away with a quick goodbye. He can hear her laughing as he goes down the hall.
───※ ·✮· ※───
Cole immediately waves to Captain Amari, causing her to stop on her path. As he sprints closer, his boots and spurs clink and splash against the puddles on the ground from last night’s rain. The wind in his hair is definitely not something he’s used to. The captain only raises her hand with a gentle smile.
“Now what brings you here all the way up to Overwatch’s space?” she questions when he approaches her.
He takes a moment to breathe from his sprint, hands on his knees. “Afternoon Captain. Just a quick question and I’ll leave ya be.”
“No ridiculous hat?”
“Hey, it ain’t no way ridiculous, it’s beautiful.” He straightens up and then immediately realizes why Ana looks different. “Where’s yours?”
She only shrugs and pats her black, luscious hair which would normally be covered by her blue cap, “Couldn’t find it this morning.”
“Tsk, looks like the thief got another victim, too. Anyhoo,” he rests his hands on his belt, looking around the open area, “have ya seen Genji at all this morning?”
Ana takes in their environment of Overwatch’s structure and almost wants to laugh at how Cole’s dark attire greatly contrasts with the upper base’s bright colors. It’s a shame their dark uniforms only blend in on the lower levels where Blackwatch’s corridors lay.
“Agent Shimada? No, I haven’t seen him. I don’t think he often visits this side of the base before.”
“Eh, worth a shot. He does visit, though. Likes to hide away on the rooftops when he’s havin’ a bad day.”
“Ah, so quite often then?”
Cole gives her a wry look. “Guess so.”
She gives him another content smile, until it fades away and concern lingers on her expression. Ana easily sees through the bright facade on his face and she places a hand on his shoulder. “What’s bothering you, Cassidy?”
His grin falters, the grip on his belt tightens. There’s a flash of dismay in his eyes before he shakes his head. “I’m doing mighty fine, Captain. Just worried about him is all.”
Ana exhales softly, understanding in the way she squeezes his shoulder. “You’ll find him soon enough.”
He shrugs like a lost kid not knowing what else to say. Never was good at accepting comfort from others. So she thankfully shifts the subject.
“You both should visit more frequently, Cassidy. You’re always welcomed to the upper floors. Little Fareeha does miss your company when she drops by.”
The cowboy shifts one foot to another, looking down with an almost forced smile. He stays honest, “Maybe I will, but uhm… I don’t quite like all the looks I get up here sometimes. Overwatch agents kinda resent us folk, no offense. Anyway, tell Fareeha I said hi, say I’m down for a game of basketball if she has the time.”
“If you have the time,” Ana clarifies with a smirk.
Cole can’t help but return it, “Ya know how it is. A’right, I’ll leave ya be. Have a good day, Captain.” He reaches up to tilt his hat until he realizes it’s still missing, so he awkwardly waves instead.
Ana lightly chuckles as she shakes her head. “Take care of yourself, Cassidy.”
───※ ·✮· ※───
Cole’s face immediately smashes into someone’s back right as he turns the corner. He scowls and he hears the obstacle grumble.
“The hell are- oh, it’s just you.”
The cowboy has to blink and readjust to the striking blue coat obliterating his eyes. “Morrison?”
“That’s Commander to you.” Jack’s in a nasty mood.
“Now what brings you here in these neck of the woods, boss? Did Gabe do somethin’ again?”
Jack’s face scowls in anger and dismay, especially at Cole’s lack of respect in terms of title usage. “That’s none of your business… Where’s your ugly hat?”
Cole throws his arms into the air. “Goddamnit, why does everyone keep insultin’ my hat?! Christ, whatever — Hey, have you seen Genji ‘round here?”
“The younger Shimada brother?”
“The one and only.”
“How would I know? Aren't you two always glued to the hip?”
“Haven’t seen him all day, boss.”
“It’s Commander ,” his eyes glower.
“Tsk, picky.”
“I don’t have time for this,” he mutters under his breath before he stands up tall. “You seen Reyes anywhere?”
“Hell I’d know, aren’t you two always glued to the hip?”
Jack groans and shoves his shoulder past the cowboy who only chuckles. He grumbles under his breath as he walks further down the hall, “I don’t know how the hell Gabe puts up with you.”
“Says the one with the ol’ 24/7 cranky ass attitude!” Cole cups his hands around his mouth and shouts so the commander hears. He laughs to himself when a glare is sent his way, then the blue uniform disappears around the corner.
He takes a couple steps back before he turns around on his heels — and nearly smashes into someone else. “What the fuck!”
“Watch it cowboy!” Fio gives him a light shove before crossing her arms. “Always causing trouble wherever you go.”
“Hey, that’s more of Genji’s style than me, give me some slack.”
“Yeah yeah… Where the hell’s your stupid hat?”
Cole stares at her blankly, before he grabs her shoulders, eyes wide with a vendetta. “I swear to boothill on a stick, you say one more awful thing ‘bout my hat and I’ll fan hammer ya all the way down to fucking Texas. ”
Fio stands there alarmed, then awkwardly takes his hands off, “You owe me ten bucks for that. Speaking of Shimada, where is he? He’s always following you around like a shadow.”
He clears his throat and looks around nervously. He’s getting worried he’ll receive more dead ends than he wishes for. “Was ‘boutta ask ya that. Haven’t seen him, you?”
“Last time I saw him was, eh, five minutes ago? He was sneaking off with a box in his hands.”
Cole immediately grabs onto her shoulders again. “Where?”
“That’s another ten bucks.”
“Give me a break, where’d you see him go?”
Fio shrugs his hands off. “Elevator, maybe to the upper floors. Man, did you two get into another fight or something?”
Cole’s already booking off down the corridor before she can say another word. He aggressively clicks against the elevator buttons, cursing under his breath when other agents shove their way in. When the elevator dings, he bolts out and quickly heads for the usual spot Genji always hides in: the highest rooftop on base.
It takes a while but he gets there, struggling up the steep ladders and flight of stairs. What he doesn’t expect when he finally stands up at the top is to see Genji crouching next to a big cardboard box. Cole tilts his head curiously as he catches his breath, a small “huh” escaping his lips.
Normally, the keen cyborg would have sensed his presence by now, but it seems he’s entranced by the box. Shoulders relaxed, breathing steady. It’s the sudden splash from Cole’s boots in a puddle that alerts the cyborg.
Genji swivels around, standing and ready. But his eyes soften when he realizes it’s just Cole approaching him with the usual southern greeting. “Howdy.”
Right away, the greeting’s stiff; Genji immediately knows something’s off with the cowboy. His red eyes analyze the situation, realizes Cole’s frustrated about something, understands he’s irritated. So he remains quiet to not trigger the tension further. But stillness doesn’t appease anything when Cole can tell he’s hiding something in that box -- presumably the thing he desperately wants back.
“A’right darlin,’ hand ‘em over,” he holds his hand out and waits for his hat to be given back.
Genji doesn’t move.
Tsk. It seems it’s one of those days. “You got me running forward and back all around base to find ya, the least you could do is cooperate.”
Genji standing in front of the box hides Cole’s view from seeing into it. When he steps to the right for a better look, Genji takes a step to counter.
“Now you quit this, I’m still sore from last mission to be playin’ with your shenanigans.”
“I won’t let you take it.”
Cole furrows his brow; damn he didn’t think Genji would want to wear his hat this bad. But stealing hats and hiding them away for a full day seems extreme.
“Look, if you wanted ‘em from the start, ya coulda just asked and I’d happily let you borrow ‘em. But just snatchin’ ‘em ain’t how things work.”
“I didn’t…” Genji starts, tightening his fist. “You wouldn’t have let me take it anyway.”
Cole lets out a sigh and gestures his hand out again. “Gen, it’s really not that serious. Now kindly return my hat so we can head back inside.”
Genji’s brows furrow in confusion, then morph into a look of realization. He only moves when Cole takes a step closer. “Cassidy, this isn’t what it looks like.”
“Oh, just quit, hun! This will end a whole lot more peacefully if ya do.”
Genji swallows and his eyes dart around, looking for an excuse. “I can’t do that.”
“Don’t make me-“
A sudden meow slips into the air, crystal clear. They both stop in their tracks.
Genji’s eyes are anywhere but his, while Cole’s mouth hangs slightly agape.
After another meow, Cole starts charging over.
“Cassidy, just- just wait—“
It doesn’t matter that Genji stands firmly between him and the box, the cowboy gets real close and all he has to do is peer past the shorter man’s height to see-
“Is that a cat?”
A black, little kitten with a bandage around one of its legs just sitting there in the box, pleasantly cuddled into one of Cole’s jackets he lent to Genji long ago.
Genji faces away, embarrassed. “…Yes.”
Cole hastily crouches down before the box, a surge of excitement pouring in. He can’t help the grin on his face as he takes in the cat staring at him curiously with those big, blue eyes. “Now where’d you find a cute lil’ thing like her?”
The cyborg’s still standing stock still. When Cole turns to him with a curious stare, he sees Genji’s expression of disbelief. “What, cat got your tongue?”
“I thought you would report me.”
Cole’s face immediately furrows in confusion. “Now why would I do somethin’ like that?”
Genji shrugs helplessly. “It’s against the rules to keep animals on base…”
“Well, sometimes ya oughta make exceptions, especially for a beauty like this one, aren’t ya a pretty lil fella, huh?” the cowboy coos as he scratches the kitten chin with his large gloved finger.
Tension exhales out of Genji’s body, taking in the odd scene before him. It’s hard to imagine seeing a man of Cole’s tall and muscular stature bend for a creature so small and fragile. The sight kind of brings him joy.
“Ya didn’t answer my question,” Cole kindly reminds him, attention still glued to the kitten that’s now playfully biting with his gloved hands.
“Ah, I found her before we returned to base last mission.”
“Oh, that was three days ago.” Cole now vividly remembers Genji discreetly holding something under his hoodie on the airship home. He was too tired to question it then. “So ya been keeping her here all this time?”
“In my room, yes. Though, I decided to take her out tonight… Let her have some fresh air.”
“Yeah, she’s been stuck in your room for a while now, huh.”
Genji hums to affirm.
“Nice ya lettin’ her breathe a bit.” He chuckles as the kitten crouches, wiggles her behind, before jumping into his hand. Cole laughs at that, grinning wide on his lips. But then it soon falters. “I was worried, you know.”
Cole can feel Genji’s gaze enhance on him.
“You didn’t come out of your room for a long while… Then today, here I was, thinkin' it was you who pulled this large prank for some kinda weird revenge.” The cat jumps off his hand and shuffles around in the jacket. "Thought it was ‘cause you were mad at me, again."
Genji tilts his head forward to get a better look at him. “Why would I be mad at you?”
He merely shrugs. “I always do somethin’ stupid when it comes to you.”
The cyborg scrunches his nose. “Is that an insult?”
“Nah, just means I go crazy for ya.”
Cole’s met with Genji’s all-too familiar response of skepticism, standing there silently like he’s lost. Maybe it’s because he is, confused as to how anyone could ever be attracted to him when his body is mostly machine. Cole gives him mercy and changes the subject.
“Hey, how long you thinkin’ of keepin’ this lil pumpkin here?” He pets the kitten’s who purrs in delight.
“That… I do not know.”
“Maybe we can sneak her off to a vet clinic nearby.”
“Yes,” Genji’s tone is hesitant. He falls silent for a moment, thinking, contemplating.
“Certainly doesn’t belong here. Ain’t a good place to keep an innocent thing like her around, especially not near the witch.”
“Mm.”
“She’ll have better chances of finding a good home out there than here.”
A beat.
“You alright, doll?”
“I wish I could come along.”
“Oh, of course you would. Wouldn’t be a proper send off if you’re not there to say goodbye.”
“No.” Genji’s eyes are dull. “I mean, I want to go where she goes… Find a better home than this.” His hand briefly gestures to the base around them, then falls limp by his side.
Cole certainly didn’t expect this depressing turn in conversation, but when it comes to the cyborg, he isn’t surprised.
He bites the inside of his cheek; it’s strange hearing Genji echo the words he’s been thinking for some time now. No, he’s been thinking about leaving for a while ever since he was captured and brought into Overwatch, maybe even before that when he was stuck in Deadlocke, begging to leave. No place ever feels like home, no place ever feels like it’s enough. However, when he occupies a life of uncertainty and debt, it’s to be expected.
But he can’t help but try to reach for the brighter future he finds himself wanting to share with the youngest Shimada. “Maybe we can run away.”
“You know that’s impossible,” Genji deadpans.
“Doesn’t hurt to try.”
“Cameras are all over the place.”
“But not up here.” Cole’s right, there’s no cameras up on the highest point of base because the ones who built this place didn’t expect they’d be recruiting a ninja who could climb walls. Let alone a stubborn cowboy willing to climb up the old rusty ladders that haven’t been used for a while now. There’s nothing up here, which is why Genji comes to this place every time he doesn’t want Overwatch breathing down his neck.
“So we’re just going to parachute and glide our way down from this spot? Escape by flying?”
“Again, doesn’t hurt to try.”
Genji scoffs. “Cassidy…”
“I’m serious,” Cole smirks. Another meow breaks into the conservation, so he brings the little kitten up to his face so their noses can nuzzle. “Look, she agrees with me.”
They fall into silence as Cole continues playing with the kitten. Soon enough, he’s thinking back on the words they’ve shared. Sure, he wants to leave this place at some point in his life. But would he want to leave now? There’s so much unfinished business, and he isn’t even sure if he finished serving his time yet. He also still owes a lot to the organization, especially towards Gabriel… Would he want to leave Gabriel? He settles the cat back down into his lap and looks over at the Blackwatch-issued jacket sitting in the box.
“Blackwatch hasn’t been all that bad, right?” He hears no response, so he continues. “I mean, we’ve got a lot of comrades here who support us. Have our back, you know? There’s Gabe, Captain Amari, Angie, heck maybe even Fio. If we leave, we won’t have that.”
“Those are your friends.”
“Ain’t Angie one of yours?”
The silence admits he’s right.
“See. It ain’t all that bad.”
“Hernadez died last mission,” Genji harshly reminds him, tone sharp and merciless. “Carol, too, in London. Smith in France. This is anything but a place safe enough to be called home.”
Even the cat goes still in Cole’s lap. Fallen soldier after fallen soldier, such a grief that’s been repeated so many times, Cole simply got used to it. The numbness he feels whenever another comrade is lost suddenly haunts him now.
He can see despair fill Genji’s eyes, expression contorting into frustration, and then anger -- his irritated temper easily triggered by the daunting circumstances of their lives, “It’s not fair,” Genji spits.
“Never is,” he easily agrees.
“It’s suffocating here. Like I’m drowning…” The cyborg clenches and releases his fists, seeming like he’s ready to punch his anger out against the wall, but he restrains himself. Holds with self-dignity, tries to ground himself by staring deep into Cole’s eyes, the only place he finds security in. “I can’t seem to breathe…. And no one sees me.”
Sees that he’s suffering. Nobody knows that they exist. There’s zero awareness of the comrades they’ve lost; only Overwatch agents have their names memorialized onto walls. Funerals for the veterans, but never for Blackwatch agents. They cry, they bleed, they do the dirty work, and yet no one pays attention. They’re not aware of what happens on the lower levels of the base, they only know that shadows lay there awake with debts to pay.
Cole understands this, he lives with it… and yet, he still clings to whatever peace Captain Amari tries to make in the small comfort of their lives.
“I see you,” he says carefully, calmly. Then he adds, “And you're right, this isn’t home, but it’s the only place we got.”
The truth stings, but Genji stays, endures, slowly breaks apart because knows there’s always Cole or Angela who’ll try to put him back together. There’s no one else but here, no one else but them.
It takes a moment before he finally kneels down beside the cowboy, leans forward and touches the cat for the first time since Cole got here. He scoops her up into his hands and holds her close. “You are right… She deserves a better life than this.”
The cat’s blue eyes gleam up to him as she purrs, paws kneading against his chest. Her presence seems to gradually soothe the tension in the cyborg’s shoulders, letting him return to that relaxed state. Lulling into a daze, a short distraction from the complex world around them. As the cat brushes her fur against his skin, he reaches and decides to take off his mask. Immediately the wind blows against his face; he breathes and for just that moment, feels alive.
“You name her yet?” Cole’s voice brings him back, grounds him.
Genji only shakes his head and appreciates the way Cole keeps his gaze averted away from his face.
“Guess that’s for the best. Names will only make ya attached to her.”
A huff escapes Genji’s lips and he shakes his head again, but this time with a small smile as the cat continues to purr contently in his hands. “Unfortunately, it seems I already have.”
He glances over at Cole to really get a look at him, appreciating the way the sun — which now beams through the parting clouds — makes his tan skin and brown locks glow. The smile that stretches upon his freckles, the large and secure hand that reaches over to pat the kitten on its head.
Wait, the glowing effect the sun has on Cole’s hair reminds him of the bare fact that…
“Cassidy.”
“Yeah?”
“Has Dr. Zeigler not returned your hat, yet?”
Cole freezes. He reaches to pat his head, suddenly reminded of why he’s been feeling so empty when it comes to attire, and abruptly stands. “What do you mean?”
“Zeigler has your hat,” Genji confirms.
He dumbly repeats, “What do you mean?”
“She asked me last night to retrieve everyone’s hats to wash them. She was getting fed up that none of you were cleaning them, and decided to do it herself.”
Now that Cole thinks about it, Angela was the only one who had her white hat on, pristine and clean. She’s also the only one with a knack of sanitization, and she does have a close connection to a sneaky ninja who can steal things unseen and undetected. He starts fuming. “She coulda just asked me to do it myself!”
Genji bites his lip to keep himself from laughing. “She said she was tired of everyone brushing off her wishes.”
The cat meows brightly as she watches Cole throw his hands into the air and groan in despair. “She was the culprit the entire time?! What a goddamn devil!”
Laughter escapes Genji’s hold, laughing so loud it has Cole grinning mad. Red, smiling eyes watch the cowboy make his way down the ladder, rambling and ranting about consent and how washing his hat might ruin its symbolic history.
The cyborg takes a breath, closing his eyes to feel and embrace the outside world one last time before he descends back to the shadows. He carries the box with the kitten inside and climbs down the ladder, telling himself he’s willing to endure this place just a little longer if it means seeing Cole smile like that. See him laugh, see him frustrated, hold him close when he’s fatigued in despair.
This place he occupies certainly isn’t home, but as he cherishes the black cat meowing and hears Cole cursing with joking ease, he knows it’s all he needs — at least for now.