Chapter 7: It Hurts, But I Understand

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Maybe he did need it.

Genji's arm had only gotten worse since he'd left Angela's lab. It felt like a constant straining, and it was starting to hurt. He found himself alone in the training room late at night, like he'd find himself very often now that he was no longer required on missions, practicing his movements on a stupid training dummy. At least training made it feel like he wasn't quite useless, rather than just sitting around in his room all day except for the few times he was in the mess hall to eat something. (He tried not to think about never letting that training come into use).

He couldn't help but mutter a few swearwords when he realized that he'd have to stop training. His arm was hurting too much, and he could barely move it anymore without physically wincing in pain, let alone trying to throw his shuriken with it.

Reluctantly, he left the training room and started heading down the abandoned corridors, his light footsteps echoing through the barracks. He checked the time; 3 am. Everyone else was already asleep because there was an important mission tomorrow. One Genji wasn't a part of.

It was the first main mission in three years that he wouldn't join.

Genji considered turning right back around to train more. Screw the pain in his arm – at least it helped get his mind off the whole demotion thing.

He didn't actually turn around, though, because at this point his arm was throbbing in pain, the adrenaline of training having worn off. With each step, the pain coursed through it, so he slowly lifted his arm and cradled it like some pathetic newbie. It was like his first days in Blackwatch all over again. He hated it.

"Genji, you're awake at this time?"

Genji startled and let go of his arm instantly, wincing as it dropped limply at his side again. He hadn't heard Zenyatta approach at all although, even if the omnic floated, he did still make a whirring noise, so Genji should've sensed him.

Zenyatta had tilted his head, but didn't say anything, which made Genji hope he hadn't noticed he was in pain.

"I could ask you the same thing," Genji said, deciding to switch the question onto him. "Don't you have your first official training tomorrow?"

Zenyatta nodded. "I do, indeed. I've already recharged and was looking for a different place to meditate tonight."

Of course he meditated; that didn't surprise Genji at all, yet he was still annoyed by it. Meditating was such an odd thing for an omnic to do. Couldn't they just.. turn themselves off? Wouldn't that count as 'clearing your mind' or whatever?

"Now that I've answered your question, isn't it fair that you answer mine in return?" Zenyatta asked, Genji wondered how an omnic could make his voice sound amused, even if they didn't have real emotions.

Genji pointed in the direction of the training room. He was smart enough to use his uninjured arm. "I was training."

"In the middle of the night?"

Genji just nodded.

"Is there not a mission in the early morning?" Zenyatta asked. Genji cringed visibly.

"I'm not going," he said bitterly, his mood turning sour. Why did Zenyatta have to mention the damn mission? He was doing a great job ignoring it so far.

Zenyatta was clearly surprised, or at least, it looked like he was. His lights started flickering again, and Genji had noticed it was mostly a sign of confusion or wonder.

"You aren't?" he asked, the surprise showing in his voice, as well. "McCree told me you were the best in Blackwatch."

Genji scoffed, glaring at the omnic. "Yeah, were." He'd really preferred if he could stop asking questions. Zenyatta was getting on his nerves.

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