McHanzo Week 2017 - Day One
Jesse McCree believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that 4am didn’t actually exist. Sure, time really wanted you to believe that there was an hour between three and five in the morning, but Jesse had caught onto that deception long ago. Instead there was this grey haze of ‘too awake to go to bed’ and ‘too sleepy to wake up’ that ate away at all who found themselves trapped within it. At least this time Jesse had company.
“What is this?” Hanzo said as he gazed down at the mug in his hands. By Jesse’s estimation Hanzo should have been asleep almost six hours ago. Instead he found the archer in the rec room, watching old children’s programming and singing along. If that wasn’t a sign that he needed help sleeping then nothing was.
“Chamomile. Gabe used to drink it all of the time to help fall asleep. I know, I know, it smells weird. But I swear it doesn’t taste half as bad. I added a little honey to help it go down, anyway.”
Hanzo took a long gulp, made a face, and went for a second swig. “It tastes like dusty flowers.”
“That’s pretty much what it is.” Jesse kept an eye on Hanzo as he cleaned up his tea-making mess. The poor guy looked like he was going to fall over asleep at any moment. Yet he was obviously forcing himself to stay awake. And he had a good idea why. “You know, I get them sometimes. Nightmares.”
Hanzo nodded before sipping at his tea. “Yes. They are…difficult. Sometimes.”
An understatement, knowing Hanzo’s life. Then again it wasn’t like Jesse’s was any prettier. He had woken up too many times after seeing the people he killed, the friends he couldn’t save, ghosts from the past literally stalking him in the shadows. But before Jesse could breathe of word of any of this Hanzo spoke once again.
“Goblins turned the world’s population into dogs.” Hanzo stared down into his tea. “It was far more terrifying in the dream.”
Jesse leaned against the kitchen counter. “Including Winston?”
“He was a very large dog with glasses.”
“Robot dogs. Bastion resembled a toaster.”
Jesse grinned. “What about lil’ old me?”
Hanzo returned the grin with a smile of his own. “A mutt in dire need of a bath.”
Jesse pressed a hand against his heart. “You wound me, darlin’! What were you? I’m thinking a mighty white wolf.”
“Not as much.” Hanzo quickly gulped down the last of his tea. “I was a pomeranian. Stop laughing.”
“I’m not laughing!” Jesse said while clearly laughing. “Bet you’d make the cutest little pom-pom.”
“This is why I never talk about my dreams,” Hanzo muttered as he placed his empty mug in the sink. “Thank you for the tea, Jesse. I believe I am ready to face sleep once more.”
Perhaps it was the late hour, or the fact that he also should have been asleep hours ago, but Jesse risked stepping into Hanzo’s personal bubble to whisper into the man’s ear. “You know, I hear havin’ a nice warm body next to you helps chase off nightmares, too.”
“Hmph.” Hanzo leaned up just enough to brush his lips against Jesse’s cheek. “Perhaps next time, cowboy.”
With that Hanzo exited the kitchen, leaving a slightly-stunned Jesse behind.
Jesse didn’t have any more bad dreams that night. Although the ones he did have involved a lot of dogs.
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