Chronophobia

O

[THIRD POV]

~a few years later

"Genji! I'm home!" A crystal eyed woman yelled as she walked through the door, shutting the door with her foot as she fumbled with the keys, her hands full of groceries

"Genji!" She called again, sighing as the man still didn't reply. She blew a strand of hair in her eyes away and placed everything on the kitchen counter and ventured upstairs

She saw him sitting on their bed and staring blankly ahead, around his eyes was scarring she could never get used to, his former image burned into her memory. It shook her up every time.

"Umm.. Genji?" He slowly turned to her and sighed before looking away "what's wrong?" She asked, sitting next to him

"I'm afraid" he stated in but a whisper "Of what?" she was very concerned now
"Of what they'd think of me.. I got a message from Winston.. he's calling us back"
She jumped up from the bed, her eyes wide

"What?! When?!" She practically screeched
"A couple hours ago. You were at work" he answered, getting up and picking his special sword up and his secondary one as well

"...do you want to go?" She asked, hesitant
"Of course I want to!" His voice sounded strained, as if he was holding back tears

"Genji, they are our family. They'll accept you. You know that" she walked up to him, her soft hands cupping his cold metallic faceplate

"Are you sure?" He asked
He sounded so little and unsure of himself
He was rarely like this before, he was proud and different from anyone else and bold
But, after the Swiss base incident..
No one was the same.
At least not them.

"I have never been more sure" she said with a bright smile that hid her pain so well.
Even from Genji who has known her forever.

She didn't want to see everyone.. she was also scared. Of what they'd become.
Of what she'd become.

She looked away and walked towards the door "I'm making lunch" Genji nodded with a tell-tale hum of his smile and she walked away

Genji didn't necessarily need to eat, but he could still use his digestive system to some extent. They had been pretending this entire time. Pretending that they were okay.

Angela was pale and thin, her face had lost all brightness and she was always down. She thought she could get over everything, but she couldn't get over everyone's death or disappearance

She barely had any fat on her body, but she didn't care. And genji liked her any way. And she liked him just the way he was.

Robotic, metal, cold and all.
And she would be damned if she let anyone hurt his feelings by saying that he was omnic and not human anymore. Even if it were her family.

She sighed, brushing those thoughts aside and starting to prepare some lunch for them. Lunch they weren't going to actually eat.

They'd go to the old lady next door and tell her they made enough for three. It was always a joy helping that old woman out. She loved them both and never left a rude comment.

Never complained, she was always kind to them. Treated Genji like her own son, telling him stories and helping him clean his "armor"
Body, more like.
She taught him how to knit, taught Angela how to do her own damn hair without Pharah's help

That old lady was a blessing.
She put her hair in a bun and grabbed some ingredients, throwing what she bought that day in the fridge

Winston called everyone in hopes of putting OW back together. That didn't sound very good.
Well, yes it did, she missed her family, but that meant shit was going down

She heard a muffled scream and then a gunshot
She dropped her knife in shock before picking it back up quickly and running outside, seeing a man clad in black walking out of their neighbor's house

The old lady...

She ran quickly to the house, but the burglar had already ran off
She was laying on the ground, Angela dropped onto her knees next to her and Genji was immediately at their side "Get me my medical equipment and go get me the bastard!" She demanded and he gave a nod before dashing off again

"You're gonna be okay, auntie"
"Oh, Angie, darling, I'm fine" the old lady exclaimed, holding her leg in pain

"You're gonna be okay" she repeated as she dug through her stuff, Genji already going after whoever shot aunt May "you'll be fine"

TBC..