(I was originally going to do everyone in 1 post and keep it short. . . then I hit Hanzo's and it just kept going. So while I can't promise everyone will get their own post. Those are coming. Slowly.
-I imagine that Hanzo is no stranger to the slow creeping tightness that are anxiety attacks. Especially in his youth where they would just compound with all the stress he was under as heir to the Shimada Clan.
-So its no real surprise that he sees it in you quite quickly. The stress your under and the way you try so desperately to handle it all by yourself. The way it catches up to you over the matter of weeks.
-You start going out on little adventures less, even if its just to your local take-away place to grab lunch, it just stops. Suggestions to watch movies or tv shows he knows you will love are gently turned down. He simply nods and sits with you as you work at the kitchen table. Book perched on his lap, his gaze on you more often than not.
-He's there when it all breaks.
-When fear overtakes your heart in a vice grip, when the breath leaves your lungs and the only noises that your able to make are quick gasps. Your vision narrowing to a single point as your hearing starts sounding like everything is underwater, muffled.
-He's quick to guide you to a chair in the living room you both share and shoves your head between your knees, temporary relief as air floods your lungs again and you focus on your breathing. Missing that Hanzo requests that Athena bring either Angela or Zenyatta to your rooms.
-You try to straighten, to reassure only for him to press you firmly back down. His other hand reaching for yours, letting you cling tightly. He starts to in a 1,2 pattern squeeze your hand. It helps having a physical sensation to focus on and you cling to it like a lifeline.
-By the time your prefered medic arrives, you have a cold glass of water in one of your hands. The other still clinging to your partners' and your vision and hearing are back to normal.
-After a long checkup on your vitals, just to be sure, you are told to take it easy. Shove some of the work you've been given off to other people. And if anyone has anything to say about it, then you can direct them to the med-bay where they will be throughly dressed down for it.
-By Hanzo himself if the need arises.
-As the door shuts behind them, you turn to stare at your boyfriend who is watching you intently. Concern and Warmth in his brown eyes.
"I will make tea"
"Wait!" you squeeze his hand tightly, stopping him as he was about to move away "Stay? please"
"Whatever you need, I am here"
-The two of you end up cuddling on the couch, one of your comfort shows on the TV and while you are a touch warm in your blanket burrito, the gentle pressure on the otherside of your body helps. As well as the tight arms of your partner surronding you.
Genji’s tone was jovial, the excited grin on his face and sparkling eyes set on the large bowl of shoyu ramen in front of him. Giving a small ‘whoop’ of excitement as he pulled his chopsticks apart, he gave a quick, sympathetic glance to his older brother. Hanzo’s brow was furrowed, staring into his bowl of shio ramen with such a contemptuous look, Genji tempted to ask how the meal had offended him. Reluctantly, Hanzo finally picked up his own set of chopsticks, brusquely snapping them apart before murmuring a soft ‘itadakimasu’ and beginning to eat. Genji waited til he was a few bites in before goading him.
“Sooo…?”
Hanzo’s eyes cut towards him, his frown somehow deepening as he bit into the chashu, a brief uptick in the corners of his lips indicating that the food was chipping away at the annoyance. Now was as good a time as any to keep prying; Hanzo’s love of good food had always been the younger brother’s way of cheering his brother up, alcohol coming in as a close second. As Hanzo’s eyes drifted back to the bowl, he grunted as Genji nudged him, wearily turning his gaze towards his younger sibling. Genji had taken several bites out of the tender pork belly from his own bowl and held it up so it looked like a goofy pork-based smile, wriggling his eyebrows at his brother playfully. Hanzo couldn’t help the choked off snort he made, the ridiculousness of the image drawing a small half smile onto his lips as he placed his chopsticks down on the tiny stand beside his bowl. Releasing a low growling sigh, Hanzo knew that Genji would not cease in his attempts to cheer him up until he finally spilled the beans on what was wrong.
“Let’s finish our meal and then we can talk”, he sighed, picking up his chopsticks once more and beginning to scarf down the noodles.
Hanzo couldn’t deny the delicious saltiness of the broth and the chewiness of the noodles were having an effect on him, slowly pulling him out of his dour mood and gently nudging him towards simply being cross. As he drank the last of the broth and bits of bean sprouts and garlic down, Hanzo allowed the warmth to spread throughout his body, breathing in deep and letting out a quiet exasperated sigh. Glancing to the side, his brother had drained both his broth and the sickeningly sweet melon soda he chose to go with it, looking at his brother looking at him with expectant puppy dog eyes. Tapping down on the urge to chuckle, Hanzo gave an over exaggerated sigh as he began his story.
“I had a meeting with the board this morning…”
Genji gave a brief suck of his teeth, a scowl tugging at his lips briefly before his smile returned, smaller and sympathetic. Neither one of them were strangers to the board, better known to them as the elders, the near omnipresent, insufferable hivemind of the Shimada-gumi. Gently patting his older brother on the shoulder, he gave it a brief good natured squeeze before responding.
“So how did that go?”
Earlier that day
“Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today.”
Hanzo’s voice was warm, yet professional, the light of the holoscreen gently bouncing off of his skin in the dimmed room. His expression was neutral but not blank, the ghost of a simpering smile tugging at the corners of his lips but never rising into a true one. Shoulders back, posture straight but not stiff, his whiskey brown eyes giving the room a brief once over before continuing. Fake pleasantries and niceties were expected of anyone coming before the board and he was no different, even as the heir to the Shimada Conglomerate. Although, Hanzo wished he could have expected the same from the board. He could see several of the elders at the table flicking through the information transmitted to each of their datapads as they had entered the room, some actually reading the inscribed text while others stared at him, wrinkled faces set in a permanent frown. Years of training, school work and private lessons had led to this moment and he wasn’t going to let their lingering doubts of him deter him from victory.
Motioning at the screen, the beginning of his proposal popped up, simply titled ‘Partnership Program between Shimada Conglomerate and Caledonia, Co’. He heard the start of agitated murmurs begin around the table before motioning towards the screen once more and going to the next slide. It held images of both the Shimada Conglomerate’s main building in the heart of Hanamura and the shining new Ashe, Inc building located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The next motion he made zoomed in on the section for Ashe, Inc. as he began to go through the history and details of the company.
“Caledonia Co. was started five years ago and is a subsidiary of the larger Ashe Inc. located in Sante Fe”, Hanzo said simply, watching as the facts illuminated on the screen before disappearing and being replaced with information from the company’s annual financial report. “They are currently the quickest growing modular home providers within the American southwest with projected earnings for the year predicted to be just under one billion dollars. There also have been whispers of the company securing a US federal contract with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to create homes for those still impacted by the Omnic Crisis.”
Pausing briefly, Hanzo glanced over the crowd, a small root of uneasiness swiping at his heart as not one board member looked the least bit intrigued by the company. Still, Hanzo refused to succumb to this adversity, flicking to the next screen with bulleted and referential lines about the benefit of partnering with the North American company.
“The Shimada modular manufacturing subsidiary, Sparrow is both well-known and highly respected within the Japanese market”, Hanzo started, showing the earnings for the company in the last three years before swiping and overlapping that with predicted earnings that could happen if they expanded into other markets. “But we are lacking any power in markets outside of Eastern Asia, meaning we are not realizing Sparrow’s full potential. It is estimated that despite our current hold on the market we may begin to experience 2 to 3 percent profit declines regularly over the next decade due to field competitors and possible housing declines.”
“We do have the opportunity to turn that around”, Hanzo stated as he again showed prospective growth if they partnered up, the charts morphing to show off his estimations. “By supplying the North American company with our modular manufactured materials, we have the potential to grow both companies profits as well as have an established name in North America backing the growth of the Sparrow company into that region.”
The loss of profit statement had earned him a scoff or two, the older members stubbornly believing that the Shimada’s hold on the Japanese market was impervious to competition or outside influence. It had been the Shimada-gumi that had led the underground into helping Japan in its most dire hour during the war; providing housing, clothing, medicine, food and non-perishables as well as shelter across for their countrymen. Hanzo’s father and grandfather had spearheaded those projects almost twenty years ago, transforming the Shimada-gumi from small Yakuza-run businesses into the conglomerate powerhouse with hands in almost all facets of modern society. When the god program was eventually pushed back under sea, the Shimada’s and their supporters and allies were the one that rebuilt Japan and in turn had earned the idolatry of their countrymen. The Shimada name was looked at with adoration and reverence, the name conjuring up images of Japanese resilience and charity in the face of animosity.
And while all that was true, they forgot that a new generation of consumers was being born, ones that were not as indebted to the Shimada name as the prior generation. People born on the cusp of the war did grow up hearing of all of their good deeds, but their attentions were fickle and easily wavered to newer, bigger things. While they would have a market to sail on for some time, it was not enough to maintain the current state of affairs and so Hanzo would try and better them. Even if it meant further catering to their more immoral heartstrings.
“Caledonia is also the largest black market weapon supplier in the entirety of North America”, he stated pointedly, pressing another button to fully lock down any possible leaks in the room. “Caledonia is headed by Elizabeth Ashe, daughter of the heads of Ashe, Inc. Although expunged and sealed, my sources were able to find that she had a record of gang activity that was previously connected to the Deadlock Gang. It appears her tenure with the gang never ended and she instead looked for clearer avenues in which to support and conduct business.”
The surprised looks and murmurs that rippled through the room almost made Hanzo smile for real, the man relishing the ball of pride that fluttered in his chest as he went through the rest of the presentation showing the profits that could grow for both their legitimate and illegitimate markets. The final page was marked with a simple question mark, the lights in the room coming up as he looked over the faces of the elders before finally landing on his father’s. Sojiro was the expert at guarding his true emotions, his eyes locking with his son before snapping down to the datapad that was used for each board meeting. Encrypted and only accessible through both fingerprint and retinal scanning, a security measure that ensured if any information got out, it would have to have come from within.
“If you would like a more detailed breakdown”, he began, reaching at the front of the long boardroom table and pulling up his own datapad. “Please take a look through these pages. I am happy to answer any questions.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
Hanzo’s hands tightened around his datapad, lips ticking downward ever so slightly as his eyes pulled to Shoto Yamamoto. He was a portly balding older man seated near his father, his official title being Shimada’s general counsel. Unofficially, he was one of the saiko-komon of the Shimada-gumi, his father’s most trusted advisor and provider of counsel to the entire clan. The Yamamoto family’s allegiance went all the way back to the start of the 20th century, the two families intertwined by blood spilt and fraternity. With the exception of his father, Yamamoto held the biggest sway over the counsel and what they approved or rejected. One by one, Hanzo watched as the members turned their datapad’s off, eyes glancing at Hanzo before sliding back to Yamamoto.
“The board appreciates the time you took to present this”, Yamamoto began, the condescending intonation on ‘appreciates’ making the back of Hanzo neck burn with annoyance. “But the Shimada Conglomerate doesn’t need foreigners interfering with their affairs. Quite frankly, it’s disheartening to think your confidence, not only in the company, but also in our loyal consumers and stockholders, is so low.”
“My confidence in the company has never waivered”, Hanzo snipped back, tone tight as he placed the datapad down. Yamamoto had swiped at the lowest hanging fruit; doubt for the company, and by extension the clan, was an offense that could be punishable by death or expulsion. The accusation was weak, at best, but it shined an ambivalent light on Hanzo’s intention with the project. “My family toiled for generations to build this business into the pinnacle that it is today. I do not want to see it diminish due to the inability to adapt. The risk we face if we do not acclimate to changing times is much higher than the loss we would suffer if we do not. As I stated, the numbers--”
“And as I said we do not need any interference from some ridiculous American company”, Yamamoto snipped before leaning as far forward as his stomach would allow. He steepled his fingers briefly as he looked around at other heads of the family, inclining his head as he looked at Sojiro. “I think I can speak for all of us when I say that while...ambitious, your presentation was wholly unnecessary. When and if we begin to lose profits, we will handle it as we always have. Internally. Is there anyone that objects to this?”
Hanzo listened to the murmurs that rose up from other members, eyes darting over to the future CEO nervously before looking back to Sojiro and then Yamamoto. It felt clear who they felt they were loyal to, his allegiance, ideas and future position not yet strong enough to sway those who sat on the fence to his side. Hanzo’s lips pursed together tightly, the entire back of his neck flushing in anger. Hanzo intended for this project to be his magnum opus, an idea that would show that he was not only deserving but ready to take over the role of CEO when his father finally abdicated the position.
Hanzo had worked tirelessly to prove that he was the heir the company deserved. He had gained his Masters in Business Administration by the time he was twenty-three, but the young scion had been interning and shadowing his father since the young age of sixteen. His father had made sure he had experienced every aspect of working for the conglomerate; Hanzo shadowing mail clerks, administrative assistance, accountants, marketing assistants and even human resources. All this while still maintaining his grades in school, practicing several sports and martial arts with his brother and taking care of any jobs that the clan required. This wasn’t the first time that he had come to them with proposals; his partnership with several of the nation’s biggest trade schools providing their prefabrication and metal fabrication warehouses with a constant stream of skilled workers. It would seem, however, that he still had not earned the respect that he was owed.
Taking in a slow breath, Hanzo gave a short, stiff bow as members of the board began to stand, the dozen men filtering out of the room slowly. Some stopped and gave Hanzo an apologetic pat on the shoulders, others shaking their head in unspoken disappointment. The chagrin he felt was sickening; head racing as he tried to figure out a way to amend his blunder, to find the mistake or shortfalling he had made so he could correct it. Failure was not an option. He had worked too hard, done too much. His stomach tightened into a ball, the creep of anxiousness in his chest slowly squeezing at his lungs as he drew in a shuddering breath. His eyes narrowed on the black marble floors, the swirling white in them blurring then vaguely coming back into focus.
“Hanzo.”
Hanzo’s eyes darted from the floor to his father, the breath caught in his throat coming out as a half-cough. Sojiro’s brow was minutely pinched, the concern he held for his son barely contained by the professionalism his position required. Standing straighter, Sojiro approached his son, gently placing a hand on his shoulder before motioning towards the door, clearly meaning to escort his son back to his office. A ghost of a smile touched Hanzo’s lips as he nodded, gathering his materials before starting towards the door, his father following close behind.
Sojiro had grown softer in his older years, his wife’s brush with death completely transforming him into a man that actually cared about his sons’ well-beings and not just the future they could provide. Yua Shimada had been a safe space for both of the Shimada sons’, each finding brief reprieve in her presence before they were thrown back into training or schooling or dueling. She emphasized how she cared for their mental well-being first and foremost, that she would love them despite what they did for the clan. Often Genji took advantage of this unwavering love, hiding behind their mother when punishment was to be enforced, Hanzo not wanting to burden his mother with any wrath incurred from his father, trainers or tutors. Hanzo often took the brunt of the anger for not ‘keeping his brother in line’, their younger years filled with quiet resentment and constant bickering.
It took their mother falling ill and entering the hospital during Hanzo Masters program for the family to mend, the men of the family rushing to be at Yua’s side as she was diagnosed with stage two COPD. Her lung function had fallen to 60 percent, a respiratory infection combined with years of smoking leaving her lungs extremely vulnerable. While they wasted no expense in her care, the situation remained extremely precarious for an entire month, both Hanzo, Genji and their father all taking a leave of absence from school and employment so that they could be at her side. Each night when they left their mother’s side, Hanzo and Genji would seek one another's company; drinking, dueling, gaming, anything to get their minds off of her frail body laying in that bed. Their father would even occasionally join them, silent and watching but with no malice in his gaze. Reconciliation was slow but solidified the healthier Yua got, the trials of almost losing their matriarch creating a strong bond amongst them all.
“So Hanzo…”
Hanzo gave a small sigh as he came to a stop, his father taking a few more steps before turning to look at his son. Sojiro’s dark eyes were calm yet prying as he looked his son over, gently rubbing at his goatee as he studied the boy, Hanzo suddenly feeling like he was under a magnifying glass. Clearing his throat, Sojiro tilted his head towards the datapad that Hanzo held in his hand, Hanzo glancing downward before his brow furrowed as he looked up.
“What do you plan to do with that proposition of yours?”
Hanzo blinked once then twice before his incredulity wrinkled his brow even more, shaking his head and staring at his father in confusion.
“What do you mean”, Hanzo inquired, tone bordering exasperation and his eyes bore into his father’s. “The board has rejected it, there is nothing I can do.”
“Disappointing”, Sojiro sighed as he turned on his heel and began his walk back towards the offices. “I expected more from you…”
In The Present
Hanzo’s face burned with quiet shame, staring down hard at the black iced coffee Genji had ordered for him as he divulged the tale, the same uneasiness at failure creeping into his stomach.
“Well”, Genji questioned, stretching out the word and looking at his brother excitedly, the younger Shimada practically bouncing in his seat.
“Well what”, Hanzo asked, brow furrowing deeper as his brother looked at him with wide, enthusiastic eyes. “The board shot down all my plans and father is disappointed in me, what else is there?”
The words left an acrid taste in his mouth, lips ticking down even more as Genji rolled his eyes and grabbed his brother by the shoulders.
“For someone so smart you can be so blind”, Genji sighed, rolling his eyes dramatically as Hanzo glared at him. He was unsure if his brother was trying to earn his ire but if he was, he was doing a good job at it. Forcing Hanzo to turn and look him directly in the eyes, Genji’s gaze grew slightly serious. “Didn’t you get what father was trying to tell you? Do it anyway! Fuck what the board says!”
Hanzo’s jaw dropped, mouth opening and closing several times before he found the words, confusion and disbelief fighting in equal measure.
“What do you mean fuck the board”, Hanzo hissed out, hands closing then opening as if they held the words themselves. “I can’t just dismiss what the board says. And how?! You expect me to just ignore the elders like y--”
Hanzo bit back his words but Genji rolled his eyes as he stared down his older sibling.
“Like me”, Genji finished for him, cutting Hanzo off before he could interfect or apologize. “Actually yeah, stop letting them make every single decision for you, aniki! Aht aht, don’t interrupt! Brother, you always followed what the elders said but has any of that ever made you the least bit happy?”
“Well…”
“That’s not a yes Hanzo”, Genji muttered deadpan before releasing his brother. “Think of this like Go, Han. Go has fortresses and if you play smart, what seems like an impenetrable fortress can easily be flipped or wiped out. If you do this brother and plan it out and succeed? They won’t have any choice BUT to listen to you.”
Hanzo mulled over this for several pregnant moments, lips pursed together as his mind raced over the audacious idea, warmth beginning to bloom in his chest as excitement trickled in. He may be able to pull this off. He would have no team or project manager, he wouldn’t be able to rely on the marketing department to make materials nor assistance to work alongside him. But if he took his time, he knew he could pull this off. Fate had been on Hanzo’s side when his father had him trained in every single aspect of the business, the man no expert but far from a greenhorn if the situation demanded it. If he could not only put together a business plan but also convince Ashe to meet with him in Japan, he could taste the sweet sweet flavor of not only success but he could begin to refute and rebuke the elders when the changes brought in profit. The only thing wrong…
“As much as I would like that”, Hanzo began, his Genji’s eyes growing suspicious on him. “I cannot. There is no place I can go where Shimada eyes do not follow.”
Hanzo’s shoulders began to hunch, his head drooping before he felt Genji began to shake him, elation and mischief tainting his tone as Genji force his brother to look up.
This wretched place. This cursed castle. Two years of rich, livid history lived within these walls, the history of the Shimada clan.
The battle that changed everything emptied this place. The two brothers - Genji and Hanzo Shimada - It shook the entire district of Hanamura, and ended in one of the brothers, Genji’s demise.
So today, you had come here to pay your respects to him. A worthy friend. Your eyes gazed before the mural that centred the courtyard of the castle. A corner had been cut, saturated in dried blood, the legendary blood of Genji.
As you walk closer to the mural, you hear something… Soft, quiet footsteps, trying to mask themselves. Someone else was here. No, someone was creeping up behind you. You look behind you, but nothing was there. ‘’What was that?"’ You think to yourself, pondering who it could possibly have been. No-one should have returned here, not ever. This horrid place should have been rid of any living creature, not even the omnics dare to go near it - thinking the battle that went on still curses everything that goes near. It should have been burnt to a crisp years ago.
You walk into the courtyard, warm, salty tears trailing down your face because of what had happened. You peacefully sit down against a wall, you grab a canvas and a paint brush and start painting in the castle. Another annual tribute to Genji. You thought everything was fine, and that everything is safe.. Until another sound gets made… It sounds like.. Human footsteps? They really do not want to be noticed, weird. You brush it off as the wind, thinking it was too quiet.. But oh boy, you were wrong. You feel as if someone was watching you. And that’s when it happened - An arrow, it flew right besides your head, gracing your hair. You quickly try to get up, but something stops you. The intruder had grabbed you firmly by the shoulder.
You turn your head and then it happened. You were face to face with the legendary (not) brother, Hanzo. He had grown from his past image. He had a beard now, well kept, and he had a small put atop his head, a ribbon laced around it. You muster up the courage ask him, ‘’Wh-what do you want from me?’’ In a shaky voice, fear betraying your tone.
‘’Why are you here?’’ He asks, sternly. You’re absolutely terrified, shaken up by fear, too much to answer him, and try to run away, but it doesn’t work. His grip tightens, his voice gets more serious, his face angry. His gaze burns deeply into your eyes, wanting a direct and honest answer. He wasn’t going to let you go easily. You weren’t stupid. You finally replied with ‘’Why would you care..? You killed your own brother! Forsaken him, brought immense dishonour to your family, Hanzo. Do you feel no remorse? Why would you protect this place?’’ He sighs deeply. Not answering your question, not saying anything at all. He looks at you, deeply, trying to figure out your intent. ‘’Well? Tell me!’’ You shout. ‘Fuck, why did I say that?’ You thought to yourself.
Quite suddenly, his demeanour changes. His look changes to that of sorrow, his grip on you weakening. He let go of you, taking a moment to sit at the mural. You joined him, still cautious. “I come here annually to grieve the death of my brother. To reflect on the damage and dishonour I have brought. I did not expect to see anyone else here. Especially for the same reason as I. I will ask you again. Why are you here?”
You swallowed your bated breath, finally deciding to give an honest answer. He seemed genuine with you. You threw your head down, exhaling deeply. “I come here whenever I can to pay my respects to your brother, Genji. He was a dear friend to me. He was there for me when no-one else was. When I needed someone the most. That is why I can never let go of this place. You may see him as a playboy or a laid back fool, Hanzo, but he was far from that. He just didn’t want anything to do with the clan. Is that so wrong?” You say longingly, patiently waiting for an answer. “Answer me, Hanzo. Is that so wrong?” You say, raising your voice once more. You wanted to know so desperately why this man had killed your only and dearest friend.
Hanzo looked at you. With tears in his eyes and remorse in his voice, he spoke, voice barely above a whisper. He couldn’t control his sobs. ‘’I can only apologise, even though it may never change the past.. Killing my brother was my biggest mistake, my biggest regret, my biggest pain. It should have been me who passed away that night. It should have been me, it should have been me! I’m a mistake, I’m a disgrace, I’m a cold hearted murderer. Just because my brother wanted to live his own life away from our misdeeds.. Genji, forgive me..’’ Ending that sentence in tears all over.
You look at him, angrily, but forgivingly. You realise he truly regrets his misdeed. So you decide to comfort him. You hesitantly wrap your arms around him, gently squeezing, as he relaxes into you, tears staining your skin, saying, ‘’Hanzo, I know you regret your past. And what you did was truly unforgivable. But you have to accept what happened to truly accept yourself and make it onto the path of redemption. The bittersweet release of death will never make up for Genji’s passing. But you can make up by doing good, helping the ones who need help.’’
It was then, that everything started to make sense to Hanzo. He needed you, he could not bear to feel this emptying loneliness any longer. He had to forbid you from leaving him.This feeling was foreign to him. Hanzo did not confess, people confessed to him. It was a new feeling, one he could not cope with. He was too stubborn to admit this feeling would defeat him. You part ways before he could say anything else.
He sat in the bar, drowning his feelings in sake. It wasn’t strong enough to mute everything in his mind. But he could not stop thinking about you. No matter what he did, who he talked to. All that was on his mind was you. He had never felt like this ever before, so he had no idea what the hell to do or how to express these feelings. He’d see you around Hanamura, but did not know how to approach or strike up conversation. So, all he could think of... was going to the castle. Hoping and praying he would see you there again, so he could talk to you. But his attempt was hopeless. You never came, not a single time for 2 months. But he would not give up, he never would, remaining steadfast. Even after these 2 months it was only you that was in this mind. Despite all that, life still went on.
Another month passed.
Another two.
A year had gone by.
The day of Genji’s death had come once again, and he had firm hope you’d be at the castle to pay your respects to the younger Shimada. And there you were, finally after a year. He’d see you again. Except, you weren’t alone. You were with someone. You were holding hands. You embraced that person when you couldn’t hold back tears. He had almost given up completely… Until they left. You were all alone again, so you went back to the courtyard. Back to the exact spot where you met Hanzo. Back to the arrow that was still in the wall. You once again grabbed your unfinished painting from last year and your brushes.
As you sat down, you started painting the castle once again.. But something was different. There was no sound, not even the sound of wind. Nothing. You sighed very deeply, disappointed that you did not see him.. The one person you wanted to see all this time. When you finished the painting, you heard a voice. The voice said, ’’You have mastered a skillful art. Where did you learn to paint like that?’’ You recognise that voice. With a smile on your face you turn around to see him. He was standing right there. He hadn’t changed a bit. Like he hadn’t aged at all. ‘’I hoped I would see you here.’’ Hanzo said longingly, hoping for a reaction back. ‘’I… I waited a year for you, why did you never come…?’’ You say.
With a frown on his face he sat down next to you. As he explained everything to you, you got closer to him. To the point you were basically touching each other… Without thinking twice you wrap your arms around him once again, saying, ‘’I’m so sorry. I never knew you didn’t know how to tell me… I should have come to you, Hanzo. I saw you all over Hanamura, yet never thought once to approach, thinking you had better things to do. I regret my hesitation greatly. It’s all okay now, you’ve told me everything.’’
‘’Hanzo.. I know we don’t know each other at all. But I genuinely feel like… Like we have known each other for years.. And I just don’t want to leave you again. It hurt so much last time.. So, promise me.. You won’t leave me this time? Stay by my side, be happy with me…’’ You say with a concerned voice.
Would you be willing to do a few HCs for how the Shimadas (separate) treat a kidnapped s/o?
this was not supposed to be LONG >:v
(i have no one to blame but myself)
: : : HANZO:
+ Keeps you on a very tight leash- and not just to begin with.
+ Hell hath no fury like a disobeyed Hanzo, and the second you put a toe out of line, his ire will come crashing down around you.
+ Although he’s an easy master to displease, his anger is cold and calculated. There are no threats, no yelling, no raised fists. No desperate last struggle of cornered prey.
+ There is only the hard, steely set of his jaw, and the cruel flash of resolve in his eyes. Frigid terror has its claws around your throat long before you feel the brush of soft leather clamping down on your windpipe.
+ With the expectation of absolute obedience, defying him is no easy task.
+ He is clinical in giving punishment; an unyielding wall of authority, unmoved by begging, sobbing, and pleading. And yet, he hates to see his property damaged or marred.
+ Even at his most infuriated, he’ll never leave a mark on you. Ice baths, figging, menthol oil, being bound in stress positions- anything that will deliver a strong, lasting lesson without the gruesome evidence on your skin. Rest assured, you won’t need bruises or welts to remind you of the consequences that come with disobedience.
+ But, like all else in the universe, everything must have balance - even Hanzo. Wrathful when provoked, Hanzo can also be an extremely rewarding master to please. His praise is hard-won, and his affections warm and generous. He is the Occam’s Razor of strict discipline and gentle doting.
+ Isolated and at his whim, Hanzo will become the be-all && end-all of your world.
+ No matter how rebellious, how headstrong or determined you are…
+ Hanzo will bring you to heel.
: : : GENJI:
+ The second he has you in his clutches, you’ll be sweaty and panting face-down on the floorboards with his knee in your spine and his voice in your ear. An impassive stranger sits with a buzzing needle against your skin, stamping you irrevocably as his property.
+ You sob and shake as he violates your very being and removes your personhood, fingernails clawing up the worn finish of the wood and trying so hard to make yourself be anywhere but here, in this awful, humiliating room where time has abandoned you- but his hands soothe your sweaty hair and along your ribs like he’s calming a wild-eyed, frothing animal, and he tells you you’re doing so well. That it will be over soon, and you’ll be his forever. Just a little longer. You’re so close.
+ Genji doesn’t tie you to the bedpost, doesn’t rule you with an iron first the way his brother might. He thrives on the chase, loves it when you fight tooth and nail- he’ll let you taste the hope of freedom, let you almost, almost make it- then swoop in for the kill.
+ He’ll wrap an arm around your shoulders, holding you close like a lover, laugh like you’re sharing a private, intimate joke. He’ll steer you home, somehow effortless even as you kick and scream and feel the light of day slipping through your fingers again.
+ “Where were you going? There’s nothing out there, babe- not for you, not anymore.”
+ He doesn’t strive to force you into obedience or teach you your place like Hanzo would- complacency is boring and predictable. Genji keeps you just barely contained, something truly wild and bright and desperate that he can catch over and over, savoring each time he reigns you back in and your fight is renewed. This way, the light never really goes out in your eyes, but he’s still trapped you; a captive, untamed thrill.
+ Genji is the more emotionally attached of the two Shimada brothers, as well. By nature, he’s more volatile, but you’re something precious and vulnerable that can never escape him, and in this way you’re the only thing he can invest all of his thoughts, affections, and hopes into. He can be raw and exposed, because you’re his.
+ He loves you sincerely, and the more time you spend in his clutches the more tame he becomes. Because he’s decided this is a relationship, and even if you’re shackled to him, wings clipped and claws trimmed, he loves you and eventually you’ll have to love him back, anyways, right? It’s the only choice you have.
Ficlet of mermaid Hanzo being flirted with by a pirate captain reader? Since you know, MERMAIDS AND PIRATES ARE FRIGGIN LIT FAM.
I love you and I love pirates and mermaids so thank you for this! Hope you enjoy! Also, I imagine Hanzo as a Japanese dragonet in case your wondering what his tail looks like.
The slight spray of salt water was still simply amazing to you, you’ve been sailing for years now and just couldn’t get over it. You made a good living doing what you did, was it ethical? Nat exactly, but what did it matter; as long as no one got in your way they were fine. “Oi, Captain!” One of your crew called out from the crow’s nest.“What is it you yelled up at him, looking up and squinting your eyes from the sun.“Land!” They replied, excitement clear in their voice. You couldn’t keep the grin off your face, you’ve been sailing for months now determined to make it to Japan for a big trade deal and couldn’t afford to be late to it. You and your crew couldn’t wait to step foot on land, as much as you love the sea there was something really great about not being stuck with the same 50 people who didn’t understand what hygiene was. When you docked you still had a few days until you had to meet for the deal, so you helped your crew unload other goods off your ship to try and sell. When that was done you were exhausted and decided to go out for a walk along the shore.
There was a sheen of sweat across your forehead from working all day and were happy to have some time to yourself. It was nearing the end of the day and the view you had of the sunset was beautiful; like the sea, you saw it every day but could never get enough of it. You then laid back on the sand and closed your eyes, enjoying being able to relax for the first time in months. You heard a loud splash and weren’t surprised by it at first. But when you sat back up to see what kind of fish it as you were shocked to see a huge dorsal fin sticking out of the water before quickly sinking back in.
At first, you thought it could be a trick your eyes were playing on you, an indication that you needed some sleep. You started to head back to town before you felt… something, you didn’t know what but it was pulling you back towards the shore, the into the ocean. Before you realized what was going on you were knee deep in the water. It was then you saw a face further into the depths; you couldn’t make out the exact details, but you were drawn to it and began walking further into the ocean once more. As you got closer you could begin to make out the details in the face and upper body. They seemed to be male and had an intricate tattoo starting on their shoulder and traveling down the left arm. He had black hair that was let down and reached his shoulders. “Hello?” you called out, trying to get him to talk to you. “Hey… sir” you said after a small pause realizing you had no idea who exactly this person was. “Did you see a large fish in here with a large dorsal fin? It was spiny an-” you cut yourself off when the man turned around and swam away, it was then you saw the fin and his back and were awestruck. After that, you decided it would be best to head back into town and get some sleep.
The next day you had nothing planned and decided to return to the beach, you had convinced yourself what you saw last night was a fever dream and nothing more. But that didn’t change the fact that you wanted to stay by the shore, just to relax and for no reason other than that. Absolutely not, relaxation and that was it. After about five minutes sitting on the sand, you walked up to the water’s edge. Luckily no one else was on this area of the beach so you were able to do this without everyone, including your crew, thinking you were crazy. “Hey so uhm, I know this is weird but are you real?” you said to the open ocean before you “I saw you last night, but I don’t know if I actually saw you?”. “Holy shit I’m fucking insane,” you murmured to yourself after a few minutes of silence. After the sudden realization, you heard a quiet laugh from behind you. You whipped around and saw the man?creature? from last night “Wait you’re real? Holy shit you’re real!” You exclaimed in excitement, but you calmed down a few seconds later not wanting to scare them off.
“Not to be rude or anything but what are you?” you asked when he didn’t immediately swim off.“I’m Hanzo,” was his simple reply“No, no like what-” you cut yourself off when you saw him raise an eyebrow quizzically. “Nevermind, so Hanzo,” you started the name sounding pleasant to your eyes when you thought about it, after a few moments of silence you began again “I’m y/n, Captain of The Morrigan,” you announced, puffing out your chest with pride.“The what?” your posture returned to normal when he didn’t recognize your or the ship’s name“The Morrigan, it’s the name of my ship,” you replied waving your hand in the vague direction of where it was docked. He seemed confused and even tilted his head slightly. “Listen, Hanzo I’m a pirate, a pirate captain as a matter of fact. I sail the seas taking who and what I please,” your pride returned as you remembered your numerous plunders.
He smiled as he looked at you. “Sounds interesting,” he eventually said “Care to tell me more?” you sat with him the rest of the day telling him of many of your escapades, your countless treasures, and your numerous enemies.
big brother ! hanzo x little sibling ! reader, where the reader is trying to summon a dragon and hanzo is teaching them
So first off, this is called “Our Distance” cause I like that title and it goes with the story and thanks for the ask! Also there is some background Tracer/Reader at the end.
There were soft footsteps and giggling as the youngest childof the Shimada clan, moved down the hallway towards her big brothers room. Theday before Hanzo, the eldest of the three children, had promised his sisterthat he would teach her how to summon the Shimada clan dragon/s.
So having woken up at around six am that morning, the littlegirl went to wake up her brother to start with their training. Getting to the room where her brother slept, she moved inside and crawled overto the futon in the middle of the room and gently began to shake the darkhaired boy.“Han-o…! Han-o!” (Y/N) whined at her brother before he began to stir.Hanzo had always been a light sleeper so waking him was never an extreme issue,which was more than she could say for Genji her other brother. He hated gettingup and was an extremely deep sleeper.
“(Y/N)…?” The young male’s voice was groggy and he sat up,moving a hand to rub one of his eyes. “What is the time…?”“About six.” The little girl hummed, before Hanzo began to get up with a sigh. “Brotheryou promised to teach me how to summon my dwagon today…!”“That’s why you woke me…?” Hanzo moved a hand over his face, grabbing theribbon for his hair and began to put his hair up. “That could have waited untilafter we eat.”“But but…” there was a whimper. “I-I wanna be grown up like you and Gen-Gen! Iwanna summon my dwagon too.”“I know.” Hanzo looked back, giving her a small smile. “How about I get dressedand we meet in the dojo young sister?”There was an enthusiastic look on the girls face as she nodded and scamperedoff to the dojo, moving past people as they worked and giggled as she wavedhello to a few of the people she knew.
It didn’t take long for the older warrior to get dressed andmake his way to the dojo, bow and arrow on his back and as he moved he noddedrespectfully to certain members of his father’s clan. The door opened quietly and slowly and he noticed his sister by herself in thecentre training with her blade. Hanzo could recall that blade as well, he had been there when their father hadfirst given it to her. It was a Samurai’s sword a lot like Genji’s, howeverthere was one difference. It was made for her, the blade was different andacross the handle under her hands there was a drawing made for her.It was a dragon, not green nor blue but yellow and it was drawn all the way upand around the blade’s handle. The young master can remember how excited (Y/N) had been about it, but now wasn’ttime for memories.“(Y/N).” He called out, voice sharp and the young girl turned and for a momentit was his young sister standing there.It was a taller woman. A warrior, sword in hand and (e/c) eyes blazing at him.It startled him enough to refocus his attention until she disappeared. “Han-o?” He heard the small chirp after a moment, shook his head and lookedback at her with a smile. “You alright big bwother?”
“Yes (Y/N) I am fine.” He moved towards her, taking thesharp blade from her hands. “We will not need this. Not yet. A dragon’s first instinct,should not be of war.”Moving to the rack where the three children kept their weapons normally, heplaced it down before bowing. He stayed like that for a moment and turned,pulling his bow off his back and placing it on the rack as well.“Now, you must remember, A dragon is a being that differs from us.” Hanzo toldher, guiding her over to the edge of the dojo were he sat down. “However, theseare part of us.”“Part of us…?” The girl asked him, moving to sit as well and looked at him. “I-Ifthey are different from us h-how can they be part of us?”“Our clan. Has the ability to ask these dragons to help us as they were bornwith us (Y/N).” He told her, focusing and after a moment two dragons appearedfrom his body and began to fly around the young girl. One moved off to hang around his master while the other curled up on her armwhich made the girl giggle.“For this to work (Y/N), you must look inside yourself for the dragon.”
Even after all these years the girl recalls his words andsmiled before opening her (e/c) eyes. “You were right brother.” She looked out when she heard a name, a girl withbrown hair in a pilot outfit waving at her. “I wish however you knew aboutyourself.”With that final word she took off, towards the girl who embraced her, while herwords carried on the wind, the girl hoping it would reach her brother.
