They had been called back to Overwatch, the world had fallen into chaos since the organization had been disbanded. They were needed in Paris and made it their new destination, Zenyatta was asking about their teammates back in Overwatch. Genji answered those questions because Nova simply couldn't, he always kept interactions outside of missions to the absolute minimum. "Nova are you afraid of other people?" "Yeah I am. It's one of my, what I call, learned fears. I was hurt by so many people, that it became an instinct to fear strangers." "I do not blame you. There are many humans who fear Omnics, or even hate us, at first sight because they have had a bad experience with them. My brothers rebelled, it's true. I believe that made it worse and will not aid us in overcoming our differences. Have you had experience with that, Nova?" "Sort of. The ignorant people I've met want us to sit still and let them beat and kill us without us saying anything, but I haven't been able to do that for years. I can't sit and take anymore beatings so I fight back, but I don't start any fights with them. Does that...answer your question?"

"It does." When they finally made it to Paris, Zenyatta hung back and Nova gasped at the size of the Omnic his friends were up against. "Genji..." "Let's do it, Nova! Now!" Genji jumped across the rooftops til he got close enough and he landed on the ground in front of Winston, Lena, and someone Nova didn't recognize, sending shuriken to direct the Omnic's blasts back up its arm to the head, and Nova dropped down beside him. "Nova, Genji!" Nova waved before running alongside Genji, cutting down the swarm of Omnics that gathered and started to circle around them. More agents showed up to help and Angela healed the stranger's injuries. "How are we supposed to take that thing down?" Something on the stranger's, Nova learned her name was Mei, back would freeze the Omnic and make it explode to a million frozen shards if it had a bomb on it. Winston took it once the bomb was attatched, and he threw it to Lena who blinked up to the sky to catch it and was almost caught in the Omnic's giant hand. "Ryūjin no ken wo kurae!" Genji sliced the hand in half and allowed Lena to get inside the bot and place the 'ice bomb' in before safely blinking back to the group.

Genji wrapped himself around Nova protectively and turned him away from the blast. When the iced parts stopped rolling down, Nova smiled up at Genji and nuzzled at him. "Thanks." "You're welcome." "Nova? Is that you? You look so different! Brigitte! You've grown so big!" Lena zapped over behind Mei and introduced her to the group, Reinhardt made a pun that more people groaned at than laughed, and Nova's heart sank as he looked around but didn't find the two he desperately wanted to see. "What's wrong?" Lena asked. "I just...I been missing Jesse and...Gabriel." He felt tears spring to his eyes and he groaned, rubbing at them. Lena put a hand on his shoulder. "I'm so sorry...Reyes is...not the man you knew and Jesse is nowhere to be found." He could feel his heart jump into his throat and his knees buckled, making him fall to the ground. "Dammit Genji I knew it! That dream...they're dead..." "Well dead's not the word- dream?" "Does this mean Overwatch is back?" A cop asked Winston. Genji helped Nova up and gently gripped his shoulders as Winston told them that they were indeed back.

"Nova...does the name Reaper mean anything to you?" He shook his head. "No I've been...out of the loop. And where's Morrison and Moira?" "We have a lot to talk about." Winston told the anxiety rattled young man. Once they got back to base that evening, Lena took Nova and Genji to a more isolated area to talk and the news hit Nova harder than he wanted to admit and he bit at his sleeve, trying desperately not to dig his nails into his skin and break almost half a decade of not self-harming. Genji pulled him onto his lap and ran his hands through his hair. His free hand held Nova's hand so he couldn't hurt himself and his arm shook as Nova trembled. "Oh honey...I'm so sorry." Lena held Nova's other hand as well. "At...at least they're not dead, right?" "That's the spirit, you can always look for Jesse but he's got a large bounty on his head and he won't be easy to find." "Bounty?! What the hell did he do?" "I don't really know, I just know it's a big enough sum of money to make him hide from the world." A bounty meant people were directly hunting Jesse to kill him and the thought made his stomach twist.

"Deep breath, in and out." Genji gently coaxed, moving his hand from Nova's hair to his back to rub at it. Nova tried to obey but the more he tried, the closer he got to crying his eyes out. "Nova, do not hold it in." "I'm scared, I wanna know if he's ok." He subconsciously squeezed the hands he held and hung his head, unable to hold back any longer. Lena hugged him from the front and Genji continued rubbing Nova's back. "It'll be alright, Love. You'll find him, I'm sure of it!" Even as she said it, Lena hoped it was true. She couldn't bear to see the pain on her friend's face. She had taken the two to a more secluded area to catch them up on what she knew of and was greatful she did so, knowing Nova would be safe to cry without fear or judgement. Genji and Lena spent a good chunk of time comforting their friend, even as he lost control of the sounds he made. "It hurts...I don't...I don't want him to die! I can't...I can't..." He broke and slumped down in Lena's grasp, begging nobody in particular to bring Jesse back to him safely.

"I know you are scared, but you should have faith in McCree. Give him a chance to return before you worry." Nova knew that, but he couldn't seem to calm down. He felt Zenyatta come in, and the lack of negative emotions started to calm him. "Nova, you are not weak for worrying or fearing for your friend's life." "Ma-make it stop. Please, I don't want to cry anymore!" The monk put a hand on Nova's head and the young adult went unconscious, slumping into Lena's arms. "Master, what happened?" "Do not worry, he is unharmed, merely unconscious. I simply pushed him to feel tired enough to fall asleep." "Good thing, too. The poor thing would have lost his marbles if he'd have kept on cryin' like that. Thank you, but will he be ok?" Lena's grip tightened on Nova and she tried to roll him off Genji but he was heavier than she remembered. "Yes, he will be alright. I suggest he get some sleep." Genji stood, holding Nova against him, and Lena questioned him on the actions. "I am used to it now, as far as he has come on his journey to becoming stronger, he still needs someone to help him. When he cries like this, he needs someone familiar to remain by his side."

"You've grown quite attatched to him, haven't you?" Lena teased the ninja. "I have. You would be proud of him, Lena. As would McCree." Genji took Nova to a room and gently set him on the bed, before tucking him in. He hesitated to move his hand away from Nova's hair and his master suggested he stay by Nova's side to ease his worries. "I cannot do that, I still have things to do." "He is your priority, my student. You made him your priority years ago, when you brought him with you on your travels." He couldn't argue with that logic and he pulled a chair by the bed, removing his visor, then his head gear and the rest of the suit. "Would you like some tea, Genji?" "No, thank you. I think...I think I will sleep as well." "Very well. Pleasant dreams." The monk left the two alone and Genji remained in the chair, guarding his friend from any potential danger. "Athena?" He spoke quietly, but loud enough for the system to hear him. "Yes, Genji?" "Are there any sharp objects in here?" "Not to my knowledge."

"Can you look up information on someone?" "Who would you like to look up?" He thought for a minute. "Nova's family. I am curious to know what they have been doing in Nova's absence." "Let me search." Athena pulled up all the information she had on Nova before expanding her search to his immediate family and he learned how cruel and violent his friend's family truly was. It was worse than Nova had let on and he wasn't surprised that Nova was as messed up as he was, which made him all the more proud of his friend. Family had a history of drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, animal cruelty, visits from the Department of Human Services to investigate a suspicion of abuse toward Nova's sister. The incident in question left a physical mark on Nova that confirmed what his friend had said about being ignored and people twisting the situation to make Nova seem like the abuser. Nova grunted and shrunk deeper into the blanket. "Thank you, Athena. I believe I have what I need. Oh, I don't suppose there is a way for you to look for any pets his family may have?"

"There was a mention of a dog years ago, and a cat about five months ago." "Show me both incidents please." A picture of a white dog and a news article with it, then a picture of a cat and another article. The white dog was the same one Nova had a picture of in his locket and the article talked about it being poisoned, the one of the cat implied Nova's mother had not treated an infection on its neck and it got so bad, the cat died as a result. Genji sighed and rubbed his face, already dreading the inevitable conversation he needed to have. "Was there anything else, Genji?" "Do you know anything at all about McCree? Why there is a bounty on his head, or if you know his last known whereabouts?" "The bounty is a result of things he has been blamed for during his time in Blackwatch. He never stays in one place for more than a few days, the last known place was North of Nevada." "That gives us a place to start with. Thank you." "You're welcome." Genji got sick of the chair after a while, and he crawled in next to Nova.

He draped his arm over Nova's stomach and Nova's hand searched for something to grab, climbing up Genji's arm to grip at his shoulder. Once he found what he was looking for, he relaxed once again with a smile on his face. Genji tried to wrap his mind around Nova and his future. Genji found his brother in Hanamura and told him he had forgiven him, and that Hanzo had to forgive himself. His situation and Nova's were different. Hanzo had no choice, well very little choice, in his actions against Genji, but Nova's family willingly hurt him and ignored the real danger of it. He didn't know if Nova would even want to forgive something like that, but he'd never asked his friend his true thoughts on his life, he felt that seeing him so panicky was more than enough reason Nova had to stay away from the ones who hurt him. He was proud of his friend for sure, and the more he learned, the more proud he became. Knowing more about his deeply disturbing childhood, Genji was amazed Nova wasn't more mentally twisted.

He'd seen all of the scars on Nova's arms and wondered why many of them weren't stitched up. His head felt fuzzy with all the questions he head, so he leaned down and did something that might scare Nova if he were awake; he gently pressed his lips to his friend's temple and got no reaction. He laid his head on his outstretched arm and closed his eyes. Not meaning to fall asleep, he woke up almost with a start when he felt something on top of his torso. His eyes flicked up to his friend's face, and found the cutest thing he'd seen Nova do. Nova decided to use Genji's body as a pillow at some point and curled up on him like a cat would, his arms were crossed over each other at the wrist and his lips were slightly parted, eyes gently closed and head resting on his wrist. "Nova?" He whispered. Nova only groaned and nuzzled against the cyborg, so Genji tried again, a little louder. "Nova, wake up." "Hm?" Nova curled into himself and Genji briefly thought he was having a nightmare, but then his friend relaxed and opened his eyes. Blinking around, quite confused, he went beet red when he found out where he was and rolled off of Genji, spewing apologies with tears in his eyes.

Genji moved to sit by him on the floor and covered Nova's mouth to keep him from rambling more, a tear rolled down onto his hand. "It's alright, Nova. I am not mad, I think it was cute." Nova shook, panic and worry clear in his eyes. "I promise, it's ok." "I'm sorry." "It's ok, really. You should have seen the look on your face, like a cat that found a sunny spot to nap in. I wouldn't mind if you did it again." All Nova could do was blink and try to calm down, knowing if he were in Genji's place, he would have freaked out at a human being on top of him. "Do you want me to make you coffee?" "Y-you'd still do that?" His voice cracked. "Of course. You didn't do anything wrong, Nova." He eventually nodded and held Genji's hand as he was liftes to his feet. "Genji I...I'm sor-" Genji leaned down to test something out, and kissed Nova's temple again. Mauve eyes blinked in confusion and Nova's belly turned to goo at the touch.

It made him stop talking though, and Genji took him by the hand to lead him to the mess hall. Winston had taken the role of leader in Morrison's absence and Nova had to admit, he missed the scary aura of the blonde but was happy to follow someone who wouldn't push him over his limits all the time. Genji sat Nova in a chair and got the coffee started. Lena was the first person Nova saw come in, and she made a beeline for her friend. "Morning, Love! Feeling any better?" Nova went red again and Genji could tell, it made him laugh. "He is adorable when he curls up like a cat. Have you seen it?" As the coffee brewed, Genji turned around and leaned against the counter. "No I haven't. You curl up like a cat?" Lena gently poked at Nova, trying to imagine him all curled up. "I uh...I, Genji stop laughing! Cyber brat..." Genji mock laughed at him just to tease him more. "I had Athena take a picture of it before he woke up." That made Nova's jaw drop in horror. "You what?!" That made the ninja laugh harder. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding."

Nova leaned forward and let his head hit the table. "You're terrible." Lena smiled at the interaction between her quietest friends. "You've come quite a bit out of your shells, haven't you?" Nova peeked up at her. "One of us has." "You have come a long way as well, Puppy. Tell Lena what you have accomplished." Nova kept his mouth shut as he thought about what Genji could be talking about. "Um it's easier to use my empathy now." He offered. Genji rolled his eyes and got to work mixing up the now brewed coffee. "He is able to be in large groups of people now, he has had less panic attacks, no nightmares and he did not hurt himself once while we were gone." Lena gasped and Nova felt distinctly put on the spot as more agents filed in to start their morning routine. Genji had just set the coffee in front of Nova when Mei walked in, a little unsure of her place. Nova took a sip of his drink and moaned, slumping against the chair. "Holy moly how do you make coffee so good?" "I am happy to be of service, puppy."

"Why do you call him puppy?" Lena asked, now hearing it for the second time. "He has a dangerous bark and a wicked bite. However...kitty cat is a more appropriate name, don't you think?" Nova hid his face in the steaming up, but he took a chance and turned to face Mei. He meowed at the girl, it was high pitched and pleading for attention. Lena and Brigitte squealed at the sound, Reinhardt wasn't sure how to process it and Genji laughed against the table as he face-planted on it. "Yes, kitty cat is a much better nickname!" Mei just blinked at Nova, confused. "Is that Nova meowing again?" Zenyatta asked as he entered the slowly crowding room. "Yes!" Genji was laughing so hard he couldn't breathe and the others soon joined in. "Nova you are the cutest thing I've ever seen in my life!" Lena laughed against Nova's shoulder. "I have no doubt that you sleep curled up like a cat. Especially after that adorable sound." Nova hurried to finish his drink and got up to put the empty cup in the sink after rinsing it out. "Mew." He squeaked at Mei who spluttered and blushed, the others couldn't help but laugh at him again.