welcome

Genji hadn't joined Blackwatch to make friends. He'd joined to live, to get his revenge on the Shimada Clan for what they had done to him, to satiate the anger that burned within him. Yet he finds himself standing in front of a door that leads to someone else's room, debating whether he should knock on it to check on its occupant.

There is something about his winged mission partner that draws him closer than he likes. Maybe it's the haunted look in their eyes that reflect his, or the times he's caught glimpses of their back, riddled with scars where metal meets skin — just like his. He isn't sure what it is, but he doesn't mind. He remembers the way their wings fluttered in surprise when he'd looked up at them during one of his checkups with Dr Ziegler, mechanical parts laid bare and then them promptly turning around to leave when the doctor ordered them to stay.

"I'm almost done here, Onyx. Give me a few more moments."

He'd felt their gaze on him as they found the nearest chair to sit on but unlike with the others, he didn't feel uncomfortable about it. Their gaze wasn't judgemental — it was soft, understanding, empathetic. He'd stared at them until he felt someone pat his arm, snapping him back to reality.

"All done, you're good to go!" Dr Ziegler had smiled softly at him. "Be careful out there."

He'd nodded, taking his leave but not before glancing back at his winged mission partner. They'd removed their shirt, exposing the maze of scars that littered their back where their wings were connected to their body, and it'd hit him. They understood what it's like, to have mechanical limbs, to have metal connect to flesh. Was that why Commander Reyes had assigned them to each other? Had he hoped that the two would bond over this commonality?

A pair of heterochromatic eyes had flicked over, staring straight at him and he'd quickly turned away, shutting the door behind him.

That was the first time he'd truly seen their wings.

After that, Dr Ziegler scheduled their checkups to sync up with one another's. Sometimes it was him who went first, sometimes it was them who went first, but they always saw each other laid bare — scars, metal, and flesh. A mutual bond did form between them shortly after, with them silently doing the heavy lifting when his joints didn't work properly on a mission, him 'knocking' the jar of vaseline towards them whenever they fluttered their wings more than usual. He'd come to learn that such action meant that their wings were causing the scarred skin to itch.

He also learned that his mission partner thoroughly lacked any concept of self-care. They never liked to say when they were feeling tired, when they were thirsty, hungry, anything really. Genji understood why, even if they never said it. A weapon had no weaknesses, no feelings, no needs or wants. The only thing a weapon had was its purpose, and their purpose was whatever mission Blackwatch gave them. He had no qualms about Blackwatch treating him like a weapon. After all, that was the sole reason they had kept him alive. But for some reason, he despised the very thought of Onyx being treated like one.

Onyx was…intriguing. When they had first met, they had been standoffish, wanting nothing to do with him but Reyes had made them mission partners, so there was no running from each other. Neither had liked the new arrangement at first, but Genji soon developed a respect for their skill with the blade and they begrudgingly did the same. Then they had asked him to spar, and it became a habit to step into the training room with them every few days. Rumours started to spread amongst Blackwatch that there was something going on between the two of them, although no one could prove anything. That didn't stop Cassidy from trying, however, much to Onyx's chagrin.

Genji found himself staring at them more often, taking note of the small things they did allow others to know — such as their favourite food, their preference for warmer climates, and their distaste for fizzy drinks. He liked the way their wings reflected the light, the edges of each feather glinting. It was a beautiful yet deadly sight, he knew how sharp each one was, he'd seen the way they sliced through flesh and steel alike. He liked the uniqueness of their eyes, even if they hated it. One blue, one red, ice and fire. It represented them well, their cold exterior contrasted by their inner warmth, the fire that burned within them which drove each swing of their blades.

It was only because he paid so much attention to them that he'd realised something was off this evening. They hadn't eaten as much as they usually did, spending more time poking the plate with their fork than actually eating what was on it. Dinner hadn't been anything they disliked either, so there was no reason for them to be picky. They also didn't say a word before leaving the table, ignoring Cassidy's jab at her silence throughout the dinner and headed to their room, where they had been seen last. Genji had eaten his dinner in his own room as per usual before the group dinner, he still wasn't comfortable being unmasked around anyone who wasn't Dr Ziegler — not even the members of Blackwatch, then joined the group but didn't eat with them. Once the dinner was over, he'd gone to check on Onyx.

In all honesty, he wasn't sure what to say. Not even now, when he's standing in front of their room's door. He hadn't thought this through, he hadn't even realised that he'd gone to find them until he arrived at their room, recognising the scratches on the door from the times they had smacked into it with their wings. Still, he's here now. He can't turn around, so he knocks.

"Onyx? May I come in?"

No response.

He knocks again, slightly concerned. He knows they have good hearing, there's no way they didn't hear his knocking or his voice.

"Onyx? Are you there?"

Still no response.

"I'm coming in!" He announces, opening the door.

It's not locked. That's not a good sign.

His gaze flicks around, a hand resting on his wakizashi just in case but there's nothing. In fact, their room is rather bare. Genji has never been inside their room before, it's minimally decorated, with only the bare necessities strewn about and a picture of two people he doesn't recognise. It looks similar to his room, weapons have no need for much decoration it seems. There's a bookshelf, filled with books, and next to the shelf is a sofa. Next to the sofa is the person he's been looking for, lying facedown, with blood staining the floor.

"Onyx?" The concern turns into panic. "Onyx!"

He rushes over, mind racing for the fastest way to contact Dr Ziegler and kneels next to their body.

"Do not die on me." He whispers, searching for the wound and checking their pulse. Then it hits him. They have accelerated healing. There would be no wound.

Then metal feathers flash and he jumps away just in time, gripping the hilt of his wakizashi. He deflects a knife thrown his way, and then another before a mass lunges at him, teeth bared.

"Onyx! It's me! Genji!" He forces down the instinct to fight back, knowing it will only make things worse. He lets them grab his wrists, dropping his wakizashi and lets himself be pinned against the wall. Yellow eyes glow beneath the moonlight that streams through the window and Genji can feel his heart pounding in his chest. His throat tightens as the Beast looms closer and for a moment, he wonders if this was the wrong choice, but then yellow gives way to red and blue, the pressure on his wrists lessens, and a soft voice greets his ears.

"Genji?" Onyx's eyes widen. "Shit! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! Did I hurt you?"

"I'm alright." He exhales a little shakily. "Are you…?"

Onyx turns around to look at the ground, noticing the bloodstain. "Oh, that."

They let out a yawn, shaking their head. "Must've happened when I hit the ground."

"You…hit the ground?"

"I think I passed out on the floor and hit my head." They frown, picking up their knives as if passing out is the most normal thing in the world.

"You've been sleep deprived?!" Genji demands. "Why? Did you not tell anyone?"

"Don't need to. I'll just take some naps in between if I can, and worse comes to worst, I'll just pass out like that." They gesture at the bloodstain on the floor. "Although I suppose I'll need to clean that up. Such a hassle."

Genji doesn't know what takes over him, all he knows is that suddenly, he's grabbing Onyx by the arm and dragging them towards their bed.

"Wha —?"

He knows they could easily slip out of his grip but they don't. They let him push them onto the bed, silently watch him climb in next to them and stare as he lies down.

"You need to sleep, don't you? Then sleep on a bed not on the floor." He meets their stare. "I'm here to make sure my partner gets the sleep they need and doesn't suddenly pass out in the middle of a mission."

"Hmph." Onyx turns around so that their back faces him. "Just don't disturb me."

Silence falls over the both of them, and soon the room is filled only with the occasional breaths from its two occupants that have synced up. Genji is still wide awake, looking up at the ceiling but Onyx has rolled over from their side to their front. Both arms have found their way underneath the pillow, probably to keep the knife Genji knows is there within arm's reach. Then the wing closest to him opens, resting lightly on him. He stares at the metal appendage on him, thankful that it's nowhere near his neck and wonders if he can sleep with the possibility of getting cut by metal feathers. Onyx shifts, inching closer to him.

Genji closes his eyes, feeling Onyx's warmth radiating off them. The weight on his chest feels comforting, if he can ignore the sharp edges of the metal feathers. Maybe it wasn't a bad decision to knock on their door, he's never seen this side of Onyx before. It's so different from their usual behaviour — less hostile, more…quiet. His heart flutters in his chest when he feels their arm brush against him, a hand resting on his collarbone.