pullmeoutalive | Ramey

[ Oh, but he is enjoying this. Sweet, sweet payback. ]

Ain’t it? I’m surprised at all the trouble ya went through- gettin’ stuck on the roof and all- just for a little ol’ kiss.

I didn't! That was not -

[And there he goes, rambling in Japanese. This is the worst. McCree is the worst.]

[ The way Genji lapses back into Japanese has McCree laughing outright, even if he's only picked up enough Japanese to know one word here and there. ]

Lord, help me. I think I broke him.

[Depending on what those words are, McCree may be able to pick out the very colorful curses Genji throws in there. Soon enough he regains his grasp on the English language, and huffs as he gives McCree's shoulder a light shove.]

You are a terrible man, Jesse McCree.

[ If anything, you know McCree learned how to swear in multiple languages while traveling around the globe.

He flashes Genji his most winning smile. ]

It's part a' my charm.

To be part of your charm, you would have to be charming.

[ELIMINATED MCCREE 100🔥

Or Genji wishes, anyway. Being petulant makes him less than convincing, nevermind the fact that he kissed McCree not long ago.]

[ He laughs again, the sound bright and amused. ]

Whatever I'm doin', it seems to have worked for you.

[U g h.]

I don't like you when you are smug.

[But he seems to have given up hope of coming back around, with the way he leans into McCree again.]

Maybe we oughta pick this conversation back up when you ain't likely to fall right over.

[ Because he would very much like to pick this conversation back up, with or without the teasing, but definitely without the impaired judgement. He loops his arms around Genji's shoulders and starts guiding him back inside. ]

[He's not impaired enough to miss the implications of that. He's quiet as he walks with McCree, taking in the easy contact, before he manages to find his tongue.]

You're... actually interested?

[ If not for the fact that Genji was still walking, he'd have thought the ninja fell asleep with how quiet he got. Or maybe that's normal. Ninjas, man.

That was not a question he expected. He thought he was being fairly obvious about it, but maybe not. ]

'Course I am.

[It has less to do with McCree and more to do with Genji. Case in point:]

You haven't even seen my face.

[ To be honest, it's sometimes hard not to think of the visor as Genji's face. The fact that Genji would have hangups about what was underneath it hadn't even occurred to him. ]

You're a good guy, Genji. [ Genji, not "Shimada", not "kid" or any one of a dozen other stupid nicknames. ] We get along in a way that I sure as hell never expected. You can give a ribbin' just as good as ya get, and you make me laugh. I wasn't aware I needed more than that.

[The easy way McCree says all of it gets to Genji more than he expected. It drives him quiet once more as he presses himself further into McCree's side, touched by the casual honesty.]

... we will talk later, then. When I'm sober. [Softer:] Thank you... Jesse.

[ McCree holds him close, and finds that he likes the contact. Genji is warm, not all cold, lifeless metal.

He smiles, something fond in his expression. ]

All I did was bring ya a ladder.

[The reminder gets a laugh out of him, a lighter sound than his usual ones.]

Well, I would have been stranded on the roof all night if you hadn't.

At least it ain't rainin'.

[ It's actually a rather nice night, but by this point they're probably back indoors, well on their way to wherever Genji is bunking. ]

That would have been awful. My rescue, delayed by rain.

[Is he grateful for the save? Yes. Will it stop him from teasing? Absolutely not.]

[ As though he expected anything differently. ]

You know me 'n rain don't always get along.

[ And here we are, the room of one Genji Shimada. ] You gonna let go or am I goin' in there with you?

[Tempting though the latter choice may be at the moment, Genji has the sense to peel himself from McCree's side, if with some reluctance.]

Not tonight. [A pause, before:] But we shall see about the future.

[He slides into the room, but not without stopping to say,] Good night, McCree. I shall see you tomorrow.

Don't go gettin' my hopes up, Shimada.

[ He takes a step back from the door, tipping his hat at Genji. ] Sleep tight.

Also, drink some water or you're gonna hate everything in the mornin'.

[Genji wakes the next day and pieces the memories of the night together as he goes through his daily morning routine. Needless to say, he is rather embarrassed by his behavior last night, but less so than he would have been if McCree hadn't expressed mutual interest. Meditation is somewhat more difficult than usual as Genji keeps turning the conversation over in his mind.

More of his day is taken up by training and making checks around the base, but soon enough he's seeking McCree out. Once he locates the gunman he makes a direct line toward him, forcing his steps to make noise so he doesn't take McCree by surprise. Genji would be lying if he said he didn't feel some flutters of nervousness over what comes next.]

Are you free to talk?

[Might as well get straight to the point. Anything less would be dancing around the issue at this point.]

[ There’s a part of him that expects Genji to seek him out immediately, and he surprises himself when he finds he’s a little disappointed when that doesn’t happen. Maybe he was right in thinking that Genji would be mortified by his behavior the night before, which is the only reason that McCree doesn’t go looking for the ninja on his own.

That, and actively looking for a ninja is not likely to yield results. Ninjas.

When Genji finally appears and doesn’t seem to shy away at the mere sight of him, it lifts some of the tension that’s been gathering in his shoulders all morning. ]

You don’t waste a second, do ya? I’m free.

I may have wasted some time.

[With that confession out of the way, Genji settles himself near McCree, lacing his fingers together as he considers how to start.]

I would... I would like to try being with you. But.

[That is a hell of a cliffhanger to leave off on and Genji realizes, quick to continue, hands reaching for his faceplate. There's a soft hiss of seals releasing as he speaks.]

I would not feel right initiating something like this without you... without you even knowing what my face looks like.

[He keeps his head turned away from McCree until he's set aside the faceplate and the piece that covers his nose and mouth beneath. A breath to steady himself, and then he looks at McCree without the protection of cover.

Dark eyes, uncertain, and heavy scarring across his skin. Remnants of the attack he barely survived.]

[ Genji really doesn’t waste a second. Given the ninja’s apparent issues with his appearance, he expected them to dance around this one for a bit. That he just up and takes the faceplate off is a surprise, though not an unwelcome one. He’d heard stories, of course, rumors that started flying around when Genji was under Doc Ziegler’s care about the state he was in. How much work the doc had to put in to put him back together. McCree would admit that he had been curious, but only idly so. Even that stopped after a while as they got to know each other. Genji was just Genji, and the mask and the metal and the little glowy bits were a part of that.

He doesn’t recognize the feeling coiling in his gut as anxiousness until Genji looks at him. He’d been bracing himself, keeping his expression carefully neutral out of fear of scaring the ninja away. Genji is scarred, yes, and for a second it strikes him just how much he must have been through, but McCree finds his gaze drawn to Genji’s eyes, dark and lovely and full of uncertainty.

His expression gentles and the corners of his mouth curve upward in a small smile. ]

You never mentioned you were hidin’ such pretty eyes under that visor all this time.

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