o' dragon weep

intrigue conveyed MARGINALLY, presented faintly by way of slight TILT his his head, the visor itself unforgiving in revealing much. however beneath it countenance itself remains stoic aside from subtle RAISE to his brows, & it could easily be said the soldier is surprised to find HIMSELF here as well — with a small shake of his head, 76 grants response :

                                                         “ that makes two of us. ”

though the soldier kept himself previously DISTANCED from overwatch in the wake of his EXPLOSIVE parting from the organization , he’d still kept up with the news on old operatives - knowledge provided necessary INSIGHT , & he was surprised at the paths that many old companions had chosen. 

                                                  “ —i’m only here on BUSINESS, ”

the new RESURGENCE of overwatch seemed to share many of the same goals that were now PERSONAL to the soldier - while he refused to sign aboard & list his name upon the roster ( still intent to keep prior identity more or less a SECRET ) , he could use the aide & the tools overwatch had plenty of — in return , he spared advice where winston may need it. …adamantly he rejected the idea that the revival was A GOOD PLAN , but for the time being it served USEFUL - & besides , it couldn’t end worse than LAST TIME .

                                                          “ what’s your excuse ?”

     a  hum  in  thought  as  he  considers  the  old  soldier’s  response.   truthfully,   there  are  many  factors  that  all  added  up.   like  one  plus  one  equals  two,   all  those  experiences  led  him  here.   he  use  to  not  care  much  for  the  world  or  people  that  lived  in  it.   why  would  he?

     ❝  i  traveled  many  years  after  i  left  in  search  of  myself.  ❞

     he’s  CHANGED,   though,   changed  for  the  better.   no  longer  is  he  a  young  and  spoiled  youth  whiling  away  his  afternoons  in  arcades  or  clubs.   nor  was  he  a  quiet  and  angry  and  HURT  man  wishing  for  nothing  but  the  blood  of  his  clan.   he  cares,   now.

     ❝  i  found  peace  with  myself,   and  i  wish  that  others  might  be  able  to  find  such  peace  as  well.   the  world  is  changing  once  again,   it  is  only  right  that  i  am  here.  ❞

“That depends.” That is Reaper’s lone reply before his form melts from the shadows and into sight.

Leave it to the ninja to call him out from hiding—Reyes may have been the commander of his secret stealth operation, but Genji was a weapon, an assassin honed into being from birth and enhanced through the miracles of Overwatch technology. So really, was there any genuine doubt that Gabriel would not leave this scouting mission without one confrontation with the cyborg?

“Are you under the impression that I fear you, Genji Shimada?”

     he  falls  into  a  defensive  stance  on  instinct,   watching  the  phantom  warily.   he’s  been  steadily  catching  up  with  all  that’s  happened  following  his  departure  from  overwatch  and  subsequent  self  isolation.   there  is  something .  .  .   familiar,   perhaps,   in  the  way  reaper  holds  himself,   but  he  supposes  that  might  happen  if  he  knows  his  name.