Recall Mechanic

Ten

"Twelve years ago, when I was still a simple mechanic in America, I was kidnapped and taken to a facility hidden beneath the rolling plains of Oklahoma. The lead scientist there was my own father, the one I had run away from when I was a child." Laina explained, her tail lazily flicking back and forth on the cushion of the couch.

"So, your dad did this to you?" Hana asked and Laina nodded.

"He kept me chained up for months, experimented on me to try and recreate the super-soldier serum injected into Jack. Unfortunately, the experiments didn't go as planned, but they were still a success. When my father realized what I had become, what I could do, he intended to experiment on other people. I put a stop to it. I changed to this form and I killed him inside his office, which was supposed to be the most secure room in the facility. This was enough to shut the experiments down, as the scientists now feared the Night Beast." She said and looked at her paws, which were as big as my face.

"I had become a monster to them, a creature of legend and myth, one they didn't wish to come across. When the facility shut down, there was a fire. Something fell on me, slicing down my back, and I would have died if not for my new healing abilities. So, after I was able, I left the country and went to Junkertown, that's where I met Mako and Jamie. I stayed with them, they knew everything about my past, until I met Jack. Part of the reason I waited to agree to leaving was because I didn't know if I could trust Jack, or if he was an assassin sent to kill the Night Beast. Once I knew he hadn't recognized me, I knew I could leave with him." She said and I licked my lips.

"And this... change-"

"The beast forced it's way out, I haven't exactly been letting this form show and the spirit of the beast wasn't happy. So, to finally show it's face, it forced my heart to slow to a near death stop and my breathing to do the same, mimicking death to you. I wasn't dead, just near dead." She said and I nodded.

"How long will this last?" Commander asked and Laina sighed.

"I don't know, until the spirit is content I suppose." She said and he huffed.

"So this is why Junkertown feared you-"

"I was the monster of the night, the one who would take your children if they misbehaved, I was the boogeyman." She said and laughed.

"Boogey-woman." She corrected and I eyed her.

"We thought you- Why didn't you tell us this before now?!" I growled and she looked at me then looked sad.

"Genji, I'm sorry-"

"We thought you were dead! Sorry can't fix that!" I snarled and stood, storming to my room.

Laina's POV
"He was really upset, Laina." Brigitte said and I sighed, standing and hopping off the couch.

"I'll talk to him." I said then walked out. Halfway to his room, I groaned as I hit the wall, my body slowly and painfully changing back to human form. Only problem was now I was naked. I took a deep breath then went to my room, getting clothes on. As I walked to Genji's room, I pushed my sleeves up and took a deep breath, knocking on the door.

"Genji?" I called, waiting for a response that never came.

"Please, open the door." I pleaded, hearing the door unlock. That was probably going to be all I got. I huffed then opened the door, seeing him sitting on his bed. I shut the door behind me then went towards him, kneeling down on the ground in front of him.

"Genji, I'm so sorry. I-I was afraid you would hate me or worse, fear me." I whispered and he looked at me incredulously.

"Winston is a gorilla that was experimented on, I am more metal and wires than human, Commander is a lab created soldier, Echo is a robot, my brother-"

"I know, I know! It was stupid of me to fear that, but I-" I stopped then grabbed his hands, running my thumbs over his synthetic knuckles.

"I was the Night Beast, the monster of the night, I was the one people feared and hated and-" I shook my head then looked at him.

"I was so scared to be cast out again, to be hated by those I finally considered my family." I breathed and he seemed to understand, because he immediately hugged my neck and I gripped the back of his shirt tightly.

"I was so afraid you would hate me!" I sobbed then felt his hand in my hair.

"We could never hate you." He whispered and I nodded against his shoulder, taking a moment to just cry before I sat back and wiped my cheeks as I looked at him.

"Please, please forgive me." I whispered and he held my cheeks, smiling at me.

"You're my blue eyed tiger, I'll always forgive you." He said and I laughed, holding his wrists as I felt my heart lift.

"Thank you, my green dragon." I whispered and reached up, grabbing his chin.

"Guess I better order your jaw piece, hmm?" I smirked and he nodded.

"I better get you to finish as well. Before the beast forces it's way out again." He said and I shook my head.

"I'll never fight it again." I said then he stood and offered me a hand, helping me to my feet.

"I thought I- I was afraid I had let you die, that I hadn't seen the signs of your illness." He said, looking sad, but I shook my head and held the back of his neck, pulling his forehead down to rest on my own.

"You didn't, Genji, I promise. You'll know if I die." I said and he nodded, holding my sides as we stood there, embracing the life we both still had inside us.