#13 original OW Gency
13. “Who sent this gift?”
—
Genji squinted at the needle before he stuck the thread through the eye of it. He gave a glance to the white beret in his lap, which he had managed to clean the dirt and smoke off of. He gave a glance to the two holes in the hat, the one in the back larger than the one in the front.
“…I’m gonna stop you right there,” Genji heard a voice behind him and he flinched hard, dropping the needle.
“Kuso…” muttered Genji, looking around for the needle. Gabriel Reyes stepped around him and picked up the needle.
“Thanks—” Genji reached for the needle and Gabriel Reyes pulled the needle back slightly.
“Question,” said Reyes, “Where’d you get that?” he pointed at the white beret in Genji’s lap with the needle.
“…it…got shot off back in the London Uprising…” said Genji, “She left it behind. Since it was a covert operation I thought it… would be prudent not to leave evidence Overwatch had been there.”
“Sure,” said Gabriel, sitting next to him, “But it’s clear you have no idea what you’re doing.” He grabbed the spool of thread from Genji’s hand, stuck the end of the thread between his lips, quickly and expertly threaded the needle, cut the string, tied knot at the opposite end of it, and then held his free hand out to Genji.
“Hat,” said Reyes.
“Oh–” Genji handed the hat over. Gabriel turned the hat inside out and set to work mending the first hole in the hat.
“So… Christmas gift then?” said Gabriel, quickly and easily closing the hole and cutting residual thread.
“…Is it really a gift if you’re just returning something they lost?” said Genji. Gabe shrugged then turned the hat over and set to work on the other hole.
“Depends on the intention,” said Gabe. He paused. “You and Doctor Ziegler…” he started.
“Our relationship is strictly professional,” said Genji, “But… I am… grateful to her. And her efforts. And support.”
“She cares a lot about you too,” said Gabe, cutting the thread on the second mended hole and holding the hat up to the light, “I mean, I assume she does, considering how much she yells at me and Jack about your prosthetics this and your psych eval that.”
Genji’s eyes widened. “I… I see,” he said.
“I’d tell you ‘Don’t shit where you eat’ but…” Gabriel shrugged and handed the hat over to Genji, “I have no intention of taking that advice myself anytime soon,” he smiled a little.
“…Sir?” said Genji.
Gabriel patted him on the shoulder and stood up. “Don’t worry about it,” he said, he motioned toward the hat and glanced at his watch. “Only three more hours to Christmas. Better get moving,” he said, walking away.
—–
Snow was falling on Zurich outside the windows as Mercy and Jack walked through the halls, Mercy scrolling through her tablet.
“You really shouldn’t spend Christmas Eve working,” said Jack. Mercy glanced over her shoulder at him with a half smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.
“My excuses are ‘I’m strike commander’ and ‘I already have plans so don’t worry,’ said Jack, putting his hands on his hips, “Please tell me you’ll at least make it to the party later.”
“I will, I just need to square some things away first,” said Mercy, putting her hand against the panel next to her office door. The door slid open and she walked in. “It shouldn’t take me more than a few…” she noticed something on her desk and walked over.
“Something wrong?” said Jack. Mercy picked up a white beret from the desk. It had one of those adhesive bows stuck to it, a green one at that. She saw the points where the hat had been mended and her eyes widened. It was her hat.
“…I thought I lost this…” she said quietly.
“…is there a card?” said Jack, stepping up alongside her. Mercy turned the hat over, then looked over her desk.
“I… I don’t think so,” she said.
“Huh,” said Jack, shrugging, “Well… Merry Christmas from your… mysterious stranger then?” he said. His comm beeped. “Ah gotta get going,” he said, glancing at a notification at his comm. He started walking off briskly. “And you’re going to that party!” he said as he headed out the door.
“Understood, Strike Commander,” said Mercy with a smile as Jack walked off. She glanced back down at the hat, “Merry Christmas…” she said softly to herself.
