A/N: Sorry it's been so long since I last posted here! I've been REALLY focused on my Gencio fic (which will be getting published very soon if all goes to plan) that I haven't published anything in this book. To make amends, here's the sequel to "Happiness". Meaning it's angsty. Enjoy!
~FB667

•~•

It's been three months since Hanzo disappeared and three months since Genji and I started dating. I can't help but think these events correlate - Genji swears they don't, and that Hanzo was supportive of the relationship. "He gave you the letter for me, after all."

"Yeah, but he also went on a training bot killing spree when I read it," I thought sadly. Sighing, I took my boyfriend's hand. "He'll be back, darlin', I'm sure of it."

That's when we got the alert. A Talon operation was going down at a government building, and we had to be there asap. Lena, Genji, and I were chosen to go. "Take care of them quickly, we have other matters to attend to," Winston told us as we left.

We got on a chopper and started heading towards the site. I remember Lena on the intercom, asking how many were there. The answer was two, maybe three.

Half an hour later, we arrived. The white marble building below us looked as peaceful as ever, but the crowd outside said otherwise. We were let off near the back of the building so that we could sneak in. The other two dashed straight in, causing me to shake my head. "Careful now, we don't know where they are."

At this, Lena recalled so she was by my side. "Lead the way then, love."

We snuck around some hallways, trying to find the main room. On the way, we caught Sombra hacking into an office computer. Genji managed to knock her out quickly and quietly. I couldn't help but flash him a prideful smile.

The room wasn't hard to find. Government officials were passed out on the floor, and files were everywhere. We approached cautiously, but soon realized the room was empty. Relaxed, we started to investigate.

"Any sign of 'em?" I asked, kneeling over some files. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lena shake her head.

"Not a trace. Just some... Oh..."

I watched in horror as she fell to the floor, a tranquilizer dart in her neck. Not a dart, I realized - an arrow. I quickly stood up, a hand on my holster. "Who's there?"

The sound of metal hitting the ground made me spin around. I audibly gasped when I saw Doom fist holding my lover in a chokehold, shurikens on the ground and sword out of reach. My eyes widened. "Genji..."

"What? Worried about your boyfriend?"

The voice was dripping with hostility, so much that it made me shiver. I turned around slowly and was stunned into silence at what I saw.

There stood Hanzo, looking so dark it was terrifying. He had a dark blue armored bodysuit on, and his bow was in his hand. I couldn't help but notice the quiver strapped to his back was full of multicolor arrows, each one probably doing a different thing to their targets. I locked eyes with him, wary. "Hanzo... What're you doin' here?"

He shrugged, and I realized how dull and lifeless his eyes were. "Tsk, tsk, you'll have to pick up on that yourself."

Suddenly, his gaze hardened. "And my name's not Hanzo. It's Hebi."

"Hebi?" I heard Genji snicker. "That's just serpent in Japanese-" He starts coughing, as if he wind was knocked out of him. Instinctively, I turn around, peacekeeper cocked and ready. "Don't you hurt him!"

"Oh, it's too late for that, cowboy." The other Shimada's voice is ice. Before I can turn around, I receive a sharp kick to the side. I go down, and before I know it he's on top of me. My gun has skidded it's way over to Genji's shurikens, out of my reach.

"Didn't anyone ever tell you not to turn your back on the enemy?" Hanzo whispered. The irony of that statement doesn't hit me until later. Right now, I was focused on getting the three of us out alive. I lick my lips, choosing my words carefully. "Hanzo-"

"Hebi."

"Right, Hebi. Why... Why did ya disappear?"

He stays quiet for a bit, probably also choosing his words carefully. Finally, he says, "I chose to. It was... For a worthy cause."

I bite my lip. "What kinda worthy cause?"

He laughs, a dark, sinister laugh. His eyes meet mine, and the emptiness in them sends a tremor up my spine. "One you, coincidentally, are unworthy of hearing."

Before I can process what he's said, I hear something zip behind me and my wrists are squeezed together. Panicked, I try to kick at him, but he simply catches my foot and shoves it back down, zip-tying my ankles together. Forcefully, I'm tossed into a corner beside my now unconscious lover. I can feel the panic rising in my chest, and I struggle to keep calm.

"Don't let them know you're afraid," I hear Ana's words playing in my head. "That's how they want you to react. And we never give Talon what they want."

Hanzo had started pacing back and forth, not sparing me a glance. He looks over to Doomfist. "Where's Sombra? She's supposed to be back with information now."

The African shrugs, simply muttering, "She betta not have crossed us again."

I don't tell them we're she actually is - unconscious in a broom closet - but I allude to it. This, of course, prompts Doomfist to go look for her. That leaves me alone with two Shimadas - one that I love and is unconscious, and one that's working for Talon now and I thought I could trust. The latter is messing with an arrow, pricking his finger with its tip and watching as his blood oozes out, turning a dark, unruly purple. He notices me staring and glowers, slipping the arrow back into his quiver.

"Love is remarkable, isn't it, McCree?" He says my name as if it leaves a foul taste in his mouth. I try not to shudder and answer, "Depends on the context."

"Look at it this way," the ravenet says, crossing his arms. I can't help but noticed that not a hair on his head is out of place - all of it is tucked into a neat bun.

"I came to Talon out of love," he says, not looking my way. "A love I wish I never had. It blinded and pained me. But look at me now!" He spreads his arms out, a sick grin on his face. I can't help but notice something like sadness flickers in the back of his eyes. "Love brought me to Talon, and love is keeping me here. My Empire is being restored all in the name of love. Can you believe love can do all that, and more?"

I ignore the question. "Who're you tellin' me all this?"

He laughs drily and runs a hand through his hair. His once neat bun has now let a few strands free. "Why?" He says, still laughing some. My eyes widen when I see tears spilling down his cheeks. "Because you're not going to live through this."

I gulp, but keep my composure. "How does love drive ya to this... This insanity?"

He shakes his head, still grinning. His face is shining with tears. "You really don't get it, do you?" He walks to the other side of the room, and I can't help but glance over at my gun a foot away. I look back over to see he's picked up my abandoned cowboy hat. He puts on his head and smirks. "You're the reason. You, and that wonderful, shouldn't-even-be-alive-anymore, idiot brother of mine."

The words hit me like a train - suddenly, terrifyingly, and releasing a lot of steam. Hanzo looked calmer now, surprisingly, as if a burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

"I am - or was - in love with you. So much that it hurt." He still looks a little crazy, but he sounded so sure of himself. "But Genji fell for you first, and he's been through enough hardships." He looked up at me with sad eyes. "He's the one who deserved you, not me."

I blinked, thoroughly confused. "But... What does that have t' do with Talon?"

"Oh, they came to kidnap you when Genji confessed," he answered nonchalantly. He didn't notice my eyes widen in shock. "But Amélie struck a deal with me. It was either take you-" he pointed at me, "take you away from your new boyfriend and me. Or..." He pointed at himself. "Take me, and spare you all the pain. Besides, you didn't love me anyway."

It felt as if I had been struck. I had liked him - both of the Shimadas, actually. But I figured I'd date whichever one returned my feelings. I didn't think they'd both like me back.

Three months of dating Genji. Three months of worrying about Hanzo. Three months into a new chapter of my life, and Hanzo happens to turn up as a Talon agent solely to protect us. In the meantime, he's went mad with grief and has lost a part of himself the process. I feel something twist inside my chest.

Dear God, what have our lives become?

Hanzo's back is towards me now, and he's talking into an earpiece I didn't know he had. There's an open filing cabinet next to me with sharp edges. I do what any good solider would.

The zip ties break off my wrists, falling into the open draw. I scramble onto my feet just as Hanzo turns around. I grab his arms and a noise of surprise escapes him. "What are you-?"

"Didn't anyone ever tell you not to turn your back on the enemy?" I growl into his ear - the one with the earpiece. Then, I tug the earpiece out and crush it under my foot. The Shimada watches me in both surprise and confusion. He looks up, mouth open, ready to say something, but I cover his hand with my mouth. Silently, I mouth, "I'm gettin' us the hell outta here."

Something flashes in his eyes - relief, maybe? - and he sags against me. Just then, the window shattered, and Overwatch reinforcements pour in. Although they're loud and swarming around us, I only hear one thing repeating over and over in my mind.

"Besides, you didn't love me anyway."

Oh, Hanzo, you were so, so wrong.