Scars - A McHanzo Fic

Part 1

Hanzo couldn't pick one thing he particularly liked about Jesse. If he had to, and he often did have to answer to Genji, he would choose something vague and broad.

"He makes me happy," he'd say.

Genji's voice would darken with disapproval. "He is a fool. I don't understand what you see in him."

At that point Hanzo would shut down. There wasn't any use in arguing the point; Genji's mind had been made up for him from a young age. Sojiro thoroughly instilled his values in his children. Normally, Genji would have ignored him and Hanzo would have obeyed. Here was the one exception.

Genji resented Jesse for winning over his brother. When Genji first found out - despite Hanzo's efforts to keep the relationship a secret - he became angry. It had been years since Hanzo had seen true anger from his brother. The outburst was almost frightening.

"You betray our heritage!" Genji shouted. Hanzo tried to pry the fingers from his kimono, but Genji's grip was strong. "Have you no shame? You defile our father's memory."

Hanzo's nostrils flared. "You still live by his rules? We are not children anymore, Genji."

Genji hissed, and let go with an angry shove that almost sent Hanzo stumbling.

Since then, the two had barely talked. That was how it always was, but something about this time made Hanzo uneasy. Would Genji try to stop the relationship by force? He was angrier than Hanzo had seen him since they were teenagers. Since Hanzo tried to kill him.

"Darlin'? Can you hear me?"

Hanzo blinked, and shook his head, trying to reorient himself. "Oh - I... no," he said.

Jesse smirked. "Did you catch anything I just told you?"

Hanzo grimaced and reached for his fork. "Sorry."

Jesse reached across and took his hand before Hanzo could stab at his steak. "Look," he said. "I know something's wrong, pumpkin. You've been distant all week."

"It's nothing," Hanzo said. A smile slipped out at the look of concern of Jesse's face. "Really."

"Well," Jesse said, "if you're sure." He gave Hanzo's hand one last pat, then took a swig from his beer and wiped his mouth. "I was sayin' how I ain't dated no one in a long while. Nigh on five years, I think."

"Mm." Hanzo nodded around his mouthful of food. "Neither I. I don't imagine they allow you much free time."

"You're right, they don't." Jesse smirked again, holding Hanzo's gaze. "I shouldn't be talkin' about that though."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Jesse drained the last of the beer. "You driving home?

Hanzo nodded, and Jesse beckoned for another drink.

~

Jesse's voice wavered up and down as he sang along to the radio in their truck. The windows were down, the cool night air whipping his face. One hand on the wheel, Hanzo pulled his hair into a quick bun, and spat a strand of hair out of his mouth.

"My night sky don't look the same, no, not without you...!" Jesse ended on a high note that eventually cracked, and he broke down into laughter.

Hanzo smiled automatically, more to keep up the show than out of amusement. Jesse didn't notice; he was already belting out the lyrics to the next song.

It made Hanzo uncomfortable whenever the man drank like this. A little bit of beer and all the quiet, reserved humor was gone, replaced by noisy raucous laughter. He didn't know if Jesse did it to impress him or not; either way, he just didn't like it.