#symgenji

“Satya,” Genji said.

“Whatever it is,” Satya said more than slightly irritably, without looking up from the panel she was working on cracking, “can it wait?”

“Not really,” Genji said, and for the first time Satya heard the strain in his voice. She turned, and a tiny gasp of horror passed her lips.

Genji had been modified with robotic parts, she knew that. But moreso she knew that much of him was still flesh, and the side that he had a hand pressed to, as if it would stop the blood slowly leaking from under his fingers, was...most definitely flesh enough.

“When did that happen?” she demanded, stepping away from the panel to help steady him.

“In the initial confrontation with that Talon squadron,” he replied. Satya frowned, and calculated. That had been almost twenty minutes previous, when they had first infiltrated. She had seen the strike, had been just barely too slow to throw up a shield, but... “I thought it would be fine, as I told you,” he said, and he winced as he pulled his hand away, palm covered in blood, “but I was obviously wrong.”

She watched his legs wobble slightly, and moved to help him lean on her, barely sparing a thought for her clothes, which would undoubtedly be unsalvageably stained.

“Lean on me,” she offered, half-carrying him back to the panel so she could resume breaking into the system, with quite a bit more urgency now.

“The blood trail will not be subtle,” Genji warned.

“I am aware,” Satya said, and she glanced back briefly. In the distance, she could hear shouting and footsteps.

“Satya,” Genji said, very seriously, “I may not make it back to Gibraltar. If I do not-”

“You will,” Satya said, firmly, and Genji let out an almost breathless laugh.

“I do not mean to discount your abilities,” Genji said, “but I may not make it though this door. There is something I wish to tell you.”

“Then hold on to it, and tell me when we have survived this,” Satya said, almost pleadingly.

“I have waited long enough,” Genji said firmly. “Satya, I...” He inhaled sharply, and she felt him wince. “I love you,” he said, between gritted teeth, and then she felt him go limp in her arms.

“Shimada-san,” she shook him, gently, and there was no response, and she felt her heart sink. “Genji, please, wake up,” she begged, as if that would actually help.

Why now? Why here? She had suspected--hoped, really--for quite some time, but she had expected some sort of silly, grand, romantic gesture, not whispered, agonized last words, when she might never have a chance to reply.

“You idiot,” she whispered. “You coward, leaving me like this.”

She heard footsteps coming around the corner, and glanced back to see a squad of Talon soldiers.

Satya threw up a barrier, gritting her teeth.