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mizunetzu · 4 years

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PART 3 OF ITS YOUR FAULT PLS !!!! I LOVE IT EKDBJSHD

Well since y’all asked so nicely-

——————

Kuroo x reader - it’s your fault (pt. 3) (final)

⚠️warnings - angst

Pronouns - male, he/him

part 1 can be found here!

part 2 can be found here!

——————

Sports sucks. That’s what Kuroo knew about (y/n), yet he still egged him on to play volleyball with him. He had a choice to say no, which was what younger him was hoping for, yet he still did it in hope of gaining his affection.

All his life he thought he was annoying. All his life he’d been in the mindset of how annoying he was, and how blissful it would’ve been for him to just disappear off the face of the earth.

So when (y/n) suddenly stopped showing up to practice, Kuroo didn’t expect himself to get worried.

He was starting to miss all the clingy touches, or the ‘good morning, Kuroo-kun!’ every single morning practice. He didn’t realize how quiet the walk was to his classes, or to and from home, when (y/n) wasn’t there to fill the noise on random things he found cool or how his day was. He didn’t know how expensive the drink (y/n) religiously bought him from the vending machine was, even though he bought him the drink with a smile plastered on his face like it was nothing.

“Oh, (y/n)? He quit the team.”

Kuroo dropped the volleyball he was holding. He’d gone up to coach nekomata to ask where (y/n) was, and why he wasn’t showing up to practice. But he was regretting asking in the first place. Nekomata gave him a sympathetic look.

Kuroo picked up his volleyball, gave him the best smile he could afford, and walked away. Why was he so devastated? Why did his heart feel like it sunk into his stomach? Why was his chest hurting like that? He should’ve been glad that (y/n) was finally gone.

So why does his heart hurt so much?

————

Kuroo figured he’d stop by his apartment to see what was going on. It’s been weeks, yet he couldn’t find him anywhere in his classrooms, and he nor Kenma could reach him on his phone.

When he walked up the stairs, looking for the ever familiar door to his apartment, he was nervous. For once in his life when going to talk to the boy, he was nervous. It wasn’t a good feeling, he never felt nervous to talk to him before.

When he noticed the door slightly ajar, he clutched the apology basket of sweets in his hand tighter. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to apologize for, though. Maybe for yelling at him, or maybe for something else.

“...hello? (Y-y/n)?” When he opened the door, he was met face to face with construction workers, and a blank apartment. Kuroos heart stopped beating. A man, who Kuroo believes was the apartment owner, looked at Kuroo, to his schools jacket, and down to his basket saying “I’m sorry (y/n) :(“

“Oh? Are you here for that (h/c)-haired kid?” Kuroo nodded vigorously.

“Sorry bud. He moved out a few days ago.” Kuroo couldn’t hide the devastated frown from tugging at his lips. He mumbled a small “sorry” and spedwalked out of the building.

He spammed (y/n’s) phone, probably texting more than he ever did his whole life combined, with “where are you’s” and “hey look I’m sorry, okay? Please answer me’s”

None of them were even read.

Kenma didn’t react well to knowing one of his best friends moved away so suddenly. Unlike Kuroo, (y/n) was good friends with him, practically attached to the hip. When Kuroo told him he couldn’t find (y/n) at his apartment, Kenma clutched his ds harder and glared at the screen like it was it’s fault for making him disappear.

But as much as Kenma blamed the ds, they both knew it was Kuroos fault.

———

Kuroo strived to be a better person. He came to terms with his feelings for (y/n), and how he could never repeat his mistake again.

He grew to love (y/n), and he messed it up so bad.

He’d be sure to never lead anyone on again, minus when he’d lead his team to victory as their new captain. He’d try and hold less grudges, tell someone when he doesn’t like them, as to let them down easy instead of blowing up in their face, and even bought his team snacks and filled up their water bottles during practice.

Kuroo walked around the unknown streets of miyagi, scanning his eyes for a mop of bleached hair. He knew Kenma got distracted on his phone, but this was excessive, even for him.

Eventually, his eyes landed on two bright figures. Kenmas usual bright blond hair, and a tuft of orange next to him.

“Kenma!”

Kenmas head whipped up, and he shut off his phone, but then a flash of (h/c) came into his peripherals. He looked a little further down and locked eyes with someone who made his throat close up.

(Y/n).

He looked older. Not in the way that he looks physically older, but he carried himself with a somewhat mature, grown stance that made Kuroo so a double take. His hair was slightly longer and he was wearing a black team jacket instead of the red Nekoma jacket he used to wear. Shocked (e/c) colored eyes morphed into an expression of pure resentment, making Kuroos shocked happiness short lived. Kenma walked up next to him, about to ask what happened when Kuroo turned his head away, walking with his head down.

Kenma waved bye to Hinata, when his eyes landed on (y/n). He was talking to a silver headed guy, with a distasteful frown directed at Kuroo. He didn’t say anything though, just ducked his head and walked beside his captain.

———

(Y/n) kept his eyes fixed on the ground, as Nekoma and Karasuno stood in a line, facing eachother. Kenma was practically standing in front of him, shocked to the core, but also averting his gaze. Not just because (y/n), but Hinata next to the boy was staring at him with his mouth agape.

Eventually everyone filed into the gym, Hinata stopping Kenma to talk, while taketora eyed him menacingly. (Y/n) side-eyed the little interaction with an unwanted jealousy. He wanted to talk to Kenma, he WAS his childhood and best friend. But it soon dissipated when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

That jealousy turned into hatred.

“Can we talk, (y/n)?”

(Y/n) slapped Kuroos hand away and stepped past him, pushing him back slightly with his shoulder.

“Don’t call me that. You have no right. It’s

(L/n).”

Kuroo watched as (y/n) stepped into the gym, his lips pressed into a fine line.

—————

(Y/n) sat on a bench in the corner with an obviously closed off aura, watching as people set up the net or the players from both schools talked to eachother. He walked as Kuroo shook hands with Daichi, not noticing the mop of bleached hair sit himself next to him. (Y/n) flinched when he felt something brush his shoulder.

He whipped his head around to find Kenma, sitting right next to him, but looking straight in front of him. He said nothing, and fiddled with his fingers. Guess he didn’t change, even after a new school year.

(Y/n) relaxed a bit and went back to stalking his team and old teammates with a somewhat less intimidating aura. They sat in heavy silence for what seemed like forever, until (y/n) coughed into his Karasuno jacket.

“S-so how you been Ke-“

“So you’re just not gonna tell me why you left?”

Kenma was looking straight at (y/n), with his normal, neutral gaze. It looked like his normal face, but (y/n) knew how hurt he was. He understood, though. He would be hurt too if his best friend moved without saying goodbye.

“I’m...I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

More silence consumed them. Sounds of sneakers squeaking and the rustle of the net being hung up seemed to vanish under the cloud of quiet sheltering them. Kenma stood up.

“I’m not mad. But I know why you left. And I’m not saying it’s a stupid reason, but you should talk to him.”

Kenma walked away without another word, leaving (y/n) to trail his eyes over to his old teammate, now captain. The frown that summoned up on his face came naturally, despite taking Kenmas words to heart.

He also stood up, brushing himself off and turning his cheery attitude back on. Why play a game with a frown when you’re about to destroy your old team?

—————

(Y/n) wasn’t mad he lost. He was actually quite satisfied with ticking off some of his old teammates by receiving spikes or feints no one saw coming. He sort of felt like an inside man. A spy even. It wasn’t enough to secure a win, but (y/n) never really cared for that.

Everyone was bidding their new friends goodbye, or just idly standing by. He promised Kenma to unblock his number, but only if they never talked about Kuroo again. (Y/n) knew he was being petty, but if it meant never talking to that piece of shit again, so be it-

“Stop ignoring me.”

Speak of the fucking devil. (Y/n) didn’t turn around, choosing to clutch the edge of his black jacket instead.

“Then stop trying to fix a friendship that never existed, Kuroo.”

“Oi!” Kuroo grabbed onto (y/n’s) shoulder harshly, pulling him back and making him stumble a little. (Y/n) pried and clawed at Kuroos iron hard grip. As much as he hated to admit it, he missed Kuroos touch, a lot.

“Can we please have a civilized fucking conversation? I’m fuckin begging you here!”

“Stop fucking cursing and let go of me you fuckass scheming bitch!”

(Y/n) swung at Kuroos head, but avertedly missed. He wasn’t sure if he missed on purpose, or if Kuroo ducked. Kuroo grabbed onto (y/n’s) waist, earning a choked squeak, and hauled him over his shoulder. Kuroo looked for a secluded area, ignoring the fists digging repeatedly into his back and the confused stares he got passing by his team and (y/n’s) teammates.

Kuroo practically threw (y/n) off his back, him stumbling down and hitting the back of a wall a bit harshly, and trapped him between his body and the wall. Both of his hands were on either side of (y/n’s) head, and his legs were long enough to trap him in if he tried to escape.

(Y/n) shrunk back into the wall ever so slightly, but kept the scowl present on his face. Kuroo pursed his lips and sighed.

“(Y/n)-“

“Let me go. I don’t wanna tal-“

“GODDAMNIT (Y/N) IM BUSTING MY BALLS HERE TO TELL YOU THAT IM SORRY!” Kuroo slammed his hands against the wall again, earning a surprised flinch from the smaller boy. “FUCKING LISTEN TO ME! PLEASE!”

Kuroos eyes softened a bit when he finally met eyes with (y/n’s) petrified form, cowering against the wall with his arms tucked in shakily. (Y/n) was quick to push past Kuroo though, diving past him and turning around, free from the wall.

“You see-this is what I fucking hate about you! You act so slick and perfect to the point where you lead people on to think they mean something important to you! I wanted to be a writer, Kuroo! I gave that up to spend my time bouncing a fucking volleyball around with you, and what did I get?! Nothing! I only did it for your stupid friendship, yet I didn’t even get that!”

(Y/n) practically had steam rolling out up his ears, and his words dripped with pure hatred with each retort. Kuroo opened his mouth to speak, but (y/n) beat him to it.

“So if you really want to apologize, give me back the blood sweat and tears I wasted on this stupid volleyball shit!”

(Y/n) punched at Kuroos chest with trembling hands. He kept punching and hitting Kuroo until Kuroo gently grabbed his wrists and pulled him into a hug. Kuroo felt him balling his fists into his back, trying to push him away, but he knew he was stronger. (Y/n’s) mouth was muffled by the cloth of Kuroos shirt, yet he still kicked and screamed at the top of his lungs.

“LET ME GO! I WANT MY CHILDHOOD BACK! I WANT ALL THE YEARS I COULD’VE BEEN WRITING OR LITERALLY BE DOING SOMETHING I ACTUALLY FUCKING LIKE BACK! ITS YOUR FAULT! ITS YOUR FAULT THAT MY ARMS HURT EVERYDAY! ITS YOUR FAULT I GAVE UP ON WRITING! ITS YOUR FAULT! I HATE YOU! I HATE VOLLEYBALL! I FUCKING HATE YOU! I hate you! I-I hate...I....”

Yelling turned into incoherent sobs as (y/n’s) punches died out into love taps. Kuroo said nothing, rubbing circles onto (y/n’s) back, who finally gave up and weakly wrapped his arms around Kuroos waist. He stained Kuroo with his salty tears, choking out half assed “let me go”s in between hics and sobs like a broken record.

They stood like that in comfortable silence, Kuroo combing fingers through (y/n’s) hair while the smaller boys sobs turned into occasional sniffles. Kuroo rocked gently from side to side, attempting to calm him down until he was ready to talk.

“I just wanted to be your friend, stupid Kuroo...” his words were barely understandable through the cracks and sniffles of his voice-also being muffled by Kuroos chest-but the taller boy heard every word as clear as day. He rested his chin on top of (y/n’s) head, looking off to the side.

“Sorry. If it means anything, I was stupid enough to hold a childhood grudge against you. You did nothing wrong. I just...i was dumb and disliked you because I thought you were lazy and annoying even though you were anything but that and...yeah. Sorry.”

Kuroo pulled away from the hug, the cold air hitting (y/n) like a truck. He silently whined at the loss of contact, wiping away stray tears with his team jacket. Kuroo awkwardly held his hands behind his back, his tongue suddenly feeling too big to fit comfortably in his mouth.

“...I’m sorry too.”

(Y/n) averted his gaze, his eyes half lidded and puffy from crying. Kuroo looked at (y/n) with a blank expression.

“Why?”

“For um...being annoying or something. And like...bitching a lot. I’m sorr-.”

Kuroo grabbed hold of (y/n’s) shoulders and shook him violently. “Don’t apologize! You don’t have anything to be sorry for! It’s my fault! Let me take the blame!”

“God shut up you’re gonna make me cry again.”

“...sorry.”

Kuroo looked like a kicked puppy, which made (y/n) burst into a fit of laughter. Kuroos ears perked up as he was graced with the sight of (y/n) wiping happy tears off his face and clutching his stomach. It was a beautiful sight, so beautiful that it made Kuroos chest tighten.

Chuckles died out into snickers as (y/n) huffed and leaned against the wall.

“So-what are we? Friends?”

Kuroo hesitantly nodded, watching (y/n’s) face intently for any sign of protest. When (y/n) broke out into a smile, Kuroo felt like he was on cloud nine. Like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders after so long. He felt like he was flying.

“We should probably head back. I gotta go back to my schoo-“

“Yeah. Yeah that’s probably..smart...”

It was kind of bittersweet knowing you had to say goodbye to someone you just got your hands back on, but after (y/n) unblocked his number right infront of him before enveloping him in a hug, he supposed it was alright.

“Bye~! call me~” (y/n) mouthed out, stepping onto the bus. People started asking him if he was crying, or what that meltdown was about, but he just shrugged and put some earbuds in with a reserved smile.

Sports sucks. That’s the mindset (y/n) has, and probably will have forever.

But not when I’m with you.

——————

Epilogue:

“(Y/n)!” Kuroo ran up behind the boy and picked him up, twirling him around before setting him down. Tsukishima visibly gagged while Yamaguchi snickered behind him, stepping off the bus and preparing for the training camp.

“Yo! What’s up! God I missed you and your stupid hair.”

“I missed you too~”

...

“So...are we-“

“Yeah, that’s what we said on video chat right? I mean-if you meant it and all.”

“I DID!” Kuroo picked his new boyfriend up, this time placing a chaste kiss on the bridge of his nose.

“And god I love you so much.”

——————

And that’s it!! I hope you enjoyed this series!! Also thank you for 100 followers!! I’m so thankful!!

#hq x male reader #hq fics #haikyuu kuroo tetsuro #haikyuu kuroo #kuroo x male reader #kuroo x reader #kuroo tetsuro imagine #kuroo testuro #kuroo tetsuro x reader #haikyuu x reader #haikyuu x male reader #hq kuroo #kuroo x y/n #kuroo x you #kuroo angst

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bilbao-song · 3 years

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heres an ask because i too am desperate to engage with people. i know u dont care about roxy music but you did say you would accept something as incoherent as a keysmash so here is an equivalent: admittedly i find the dynamics between ANY band and their fans very interesting, but roxy music in particular. there is a peculiar divide between those who are staunch bryan ferry fans (these people typically dont give half of a shit about anyone else in the band), those who are fans of the group as a whole and dont particularly care about individual members at all, and those who are most interested in phil manzanera and andy mackay and sometimes the other guys, who generally quite dislike bryan (i being the latter)- and often there is resentment between the groups. i think its so interesting that a group of people can be presented with the same exact material, love it and enjoy it for years, and yet latch onto different parts of it and make it such a part of their identity that should you confuse one with the other they become insulted, or if nothing else will tell you "no no, i like roxy music but i REALLY like bryan, i think hes the best", or "no no, i love roxy music and im a fan of andy and phil in particular but i dont care for byran much at all, dont get it twisted", etc. are there bands you're more familiar with who have this sort of divide amongst the fanbase? do tell me about them, if you like :>

first of all i absolutely love that u sent this ksdhgkshg this is like. exactly the kind of thing i wanted

sorry for taking 39485949 years to post this lmao. i wrote like FIVE entire paragraphs and then had to edit it but it was getting super late and anyway it’s still absurdly long (as in, i can say whatever i want in the below text bc no one is going to want to read it) and definitely devolved into a huge general rant about the annoying and creepy behaviors of some people within band fanbases (specifically ELO-related bc of course) as well as vagueing about my own controversial opinions but......nonetheless.

anyway!!! i find this kind of thing really interesting too!! and i know EXACTLY what you’re talking about. there are just sooo many facets to this, and i guess it’s different for every band. on the one hand i do think it’s kind of an interesting phenomenon bc if you think about it, they’re basically enjoying the same thing but taking wildly different/opposing stances on it. as a whole i would find it a lot more interesting/amusing and less frustrating if people could like...manage these kinds of differences without turning it into some kind of overly vitriolic/super hostile opposition that you would think is about politics or something and not a band we r supposed to be listening to for entertainment purposes. i mean, i 100% get that things don’t have to be Extremely Important to be worth discussing, but it just seems wild the way some people get SO intensely angry about these things, sometimes to the point of being kind of inappropriate. i have a lot of issues with the way some people within band fanbases tend to behave lol

.......anyway the Full Rant is below here (idk why i wrote this bc it’s long enough to be turned in for a grade and it’s only partially relevant. read at ur own risk):

so!! thankfully with most bands i enjoy i just kind of watch the fanbase from the sidelines and don't get too involved in or even aware of all the drama. like...i know about the band and enjoy the music but just manage to not get involved in whatever the community happens to be collectively freaking out about at any given moment. i feel like the kind of divide you mentioned is actually pretty common within band fanbases (i think there are things like this with like...styx and three dog night? among others? but i don't know all the details 👀) but like, FORTUNATELY with most of them i just would not know. that's very nice because i unfortunately do not always have that kind of luxury with the ELO fanbase...idk i have a lot of very strong ELO-related opinions that i usually don't like to discuss in great detail bc i get disproportionately frustrated but yeah basically what you described does kind of happen among ELO fans, although thankfully i'd say it's to a somewhat lesser extent? people are commonly at each other's throats about a variety of topics including (but not limited to) who they support or don't support, but there are still plenty of people who (thankfully) are not so aggressive lmao. there is sort of a divide within the fanbase but i feel like it's probably not so 50/50 as what you're talking about...maybe more like 85/15

THAT SAID, i have frequently commented on the fact that the ELO fanbase is largely a dumpster fire and there is a whole entire sector of the fanbase that is comprised of people who i absolutely cannot stand, and most of them do fight a lot lmao. this is only partially related to the subject at hand, but a good portion of the bickering is relevant to The Divide. like, i'm 100% okay with having a different opinion than someone else as long as they aren't acting like a complete freak about it, but idk, aside from the fact that most of these people are like?? needlessly aggressive?? there are certain opinions held by certain members of the Greater ELO Community that just give me that vibe of like...hmmmm this is a person i probably would not want to associate with at all, even in matters completely unrelated to this. Unsavory Person Vibes. i mean like, “opinions” that just boil down to "i am very very entitled and also incapable of seeing anyone else's perspective on literally anything ever BUT that isn't going to stop me from openly whining about this absolutely whenever possible." like!! it's one thing to have some kind of legitimate, reasonable criticism of an individual or band but some, if not most, of the things i've seen people losing their minds over within this fanbase have been so hilariously trivial that i just CANNOT understand how these people actually managed to get to be (presumably) functional adults who are probably like 50+ years old. i mean like, full-blown tantrums and calling someone all sorts of nasty things over something that shouldn't even be an issue because without exaggerating i cannot fathom how anyone could even be majorly upset about it in the first place. to give an example: someone once had a whole entire little strongly-worded, excessively presumptuous freakout because a guitar was no longer on loan to the rock and roll hall of fame. like...it was there for quite awhile and two out of four inductees loaned absolutely nothing but you're whining because one who DID loan something eventually took it back? do we not know what the word "loan" means? anyway the best part is that basically every time something like this happens, if someone tries to point out that the person is overreacting or perhaps just needs to look at a situation another way, they will then go off on that person bc god forbid we try to be level-headed about things. everything has to be Very Horrible All The Time or we’re doing something wrong or being stupid or something. idk i'm convinced that some people just want to be angry

also just...some of these people do some really shady things that i personally feel are morally questionable but there's nothing i can do about it so i try to just kind of avoid dwelling on it lmfao. like, it's not okay to violate people's privacy just because they're famous and you're overly entitled/nosy/desperate for clout/blatantly trying to profit off of them? i know in the Sane World that's a completely non-controversial idea but band fanbases apparently often aren't based on sanity skhglkshgks idk i could probably write a small novel on this and make a specific list of all the things they do that are just like...bafflingly tone deaf and kind of appalling but i digress. idk the worst part to me is the way they'll be like, saying/doing something that's just awful or like, maybe even totally factually wrong while acting like they're in the right. absolutely wild

to at least somewhat bring this back to what we were ATTEMPTING to talk about!!! personally i've reached a point where i pretty much no longer care about like 90% of anyone who has ever been in ELO (jeffrey/richard/roy/mike de albuquerque supremacy) but i'm not like, actively a Hater of the others lmao. i appreciate that they were there and enjoy the nostalgia(? i wasn’t alive) of it and i’m glad they’re out there existing but i just...don’t really care about anything they do at this point?? a good portion of it is a result of me taking issue with certain things some of them have done, which has impacted the way i feel about them, but MOST of it is really not that deep and it’s just that some of them just don't particularly interest me on that kind of level/i don't feel the need to get that invested in like 927509257 different people (fun fact: during the 1970s every third person in existence on earth was, at least briefly, a member of ELO). there's really only one ELO-adjacent person who i actually very strongly dislike and a) luckily i feel like they barely even count as a member b) the reasoning is kind of its own Thing and has very very very little to do with anything related to the band so it's kind of another subject entirely. anyway that’s as close as i’ll ever get to actually getting involved with any of the Drama sgsdgsdgfhdh. my primary beef is with the fanbase anyway because, as previously mentioned, there are too many insane people. i guess what i’m getting at here is that yeah there’s a divide and it does affect me BUT i also don’t really get why people allow this to make them act in a way that goes beyond just having a difference in opinion and is so overly hostile towards each other as well as the people they’re discussing. like...if anyone involved is a serial killer or something even remotely similar then yeah, being outraged on an extreme level and absolutely hating them even as an outsider makes sense. otherwise? calm down!!!!!

anyway. to wrap up this mostly incoherent rant that i hope no one read: i have always suspected that band fandoms kind of attract certain kinds of very distressingly weird people and i just think it's funny how there's always like, a little cluster of people within the fanbase who basically seem like they actually hate the band (those are almost always the Weird Ones bc i can’t tell you how many times i’ve witnessed a person who is like, into a band to a CREEPY extent and then one day they just flip and become a hater). at that point i'm just like, okay? so why are you still here lmfao. i guess that's the Main Idea of all of this lol. i just don't get why these people stick around when 98% of all they ever do is complain and act overly judgy? i just feel like if my so-called favorite band was making me that miserable i would try to find another band to like instead of becoming a menace to society. that’s just me tho

to bring all of this together i guess i just assume that some kind of phenomenon like this occurs within basically every band fanbase. idk it just seems pretty universal for some reason. certain kinds of people just love drama i guess and will turn any difference of opinion into some kind of shitshow

tl;dr: yes

#every time i talk about this sort of thing i think about how my mom joined some of the elo facebook groups #and after a few weeks she was like omg!!! you were right!!! they're crazy!!! they're FIGHTING with each other!!!#sadly the facebook ppl are actually pretty tame compared to what can be found lurking in other corners of the internet #anyway this mostly just turned into me vagueing about my beef with the elo fanbase again but it's hard not to go there sdhglkhsdgl #also i feel like with a lot of things that cause Controversy within band fandoms it's just like #people getting so angry over things that don't affect them and that the actual people involved aren't even that concerned about anymore #AND ppl assuming they have the whole story on a particular issue when oftentimes it's likely that they don't #whether it's bc the information just isn't out there or because certain sources are obviously going to slant things in their favor #which is not inherently a problem bc of course people have different perspectives but you just can't forget that that's a thing #idk i have.....so many very strong opinions but the idea of being specific about it in a conversation gives me hives #metaphorical hives #anyway thank you for sending this bc i am literally always waiting to rant about weird ppl within band fandoms #eddie-riff

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overwatchworks · 6 years

Text

Blackwatch Week: Extraction

Jesse ran onto the drop ship, still firing off Peacekeeper as he went and downing a few Talon soldiers. Moira followed after him, and Reyes had been the first one to board the ship. Jesse heard the Blackwatch pilot over his comm, though the Talon heavy that had been sent in let off another round half way through her sentence.

“Come on everyone, get in! I can’t take fire from those heavies like this!” She shouted.

Genji was the last one on board, cutting down as many Talon forces as he could as he went. He obviously wasn’t too happy about leaving, but Jesse had learned that he didn’t really have anything quite...Normal that made him happy anymore. At least, not much. Genji expressed a liking for ‘striking down’ his enemies, and more often than not, Jesse could have sworn he heard a soft, suppressed chuckle from the ninja’s comm on missions like these. Jesse had gotten used to it, hell, he too found satisfaction in shooting an enemy, and he wasn’t afraid to say it.

The cyborg slowed just before hitting the side of the ship from his pace, straightening his posture and leaning against the wall heavily. Jesse was panting as well, all that running around and, well, fighting for his life--Jesse sent a glare towards the commander at that--had exhausted him.

Moira had locked her eyes on Genji as soon as he’d boarded, and she had that unsettling little smirk on her face that Jesse had seen her look at her less alive specimens with. The same way she had looked at Reyes when he’d killed Antonio. Jesse licked his lips and narrowed his eyes when hers finally slipped off of Genji and went to him, but they passed right over his form to land on Reyes.

Good, she knew not to even bother him past keeping him alive during missions. And she just barely managed that.

“Commander. How are you feeling?” She asked quietly, not kind or caring, but unsettlingly eager. Reyes scoffed and caught his breath, and Jesse noticed that Moira was the only one who seemed unaffected by all that running. Must have been that weird purple shit she used as a weapon; Jesse always heard her murmuring about “your strength is mine” and whatnot when it latched onto an enemy. He still thought hiring her for Blackwatch was a mistake, but he wasn’t about to deny that having a healer like her was a blessing for missions.

“Same as always. You can get a more detailed report when we get back.” Reyes replied with a heavy sigh, though Jesse watched him sit down and suppress a wince. He didn’t know what exactly Moira had been doing to him besides the more obvious--Jesse just called it ‘shadow man’--additions to his commander, but it seemed to be taking a toll on Reyes. It had also been changing him more than just physically. Reyes was more reserved and honestly, in Jesse’s humble opinion, now more prone to random acts of violence or anger.

Reyes was a pretty mellow guy, but Jesse had been seeing a marked difference in his behaviour that just wasn’t a coincidence with his more frequent visits to Moira’s lab. Jesse sighed and shook his head, taking off his hat and sitting down as well, Moira producing a yellow orb and holding it out towards Reyes. Genji was next to him, characteristically quiet, but too quiet for those who knew him well. And Jesse probably knew Genji the best. He turned to look at the ninja, Genji staring at the floor and still breathing just as heavily as he had been when he ran onto the ship.

“Ya alright?” Jesse asked quietly, not wanting to alert Moira just yet. Genji didn’t look up or say anything, but he nodded warily, a deep but hurried breath shuddering through his chest. Jesse frowned, not convinced, and Moira just so happened to look over right as he did so.

“Is something the matter, McCree?” She always refused to call him anything but that. He was kind of glad about that, because hearing ‘Jesse’ roll off of her tongue might be just a little too weird for his tastes.

“‘M fine.” Jesse muttered, but Moira had followed his previous gaze and took two strides to get to Genji’s side.

“Having troubles with your systems again?”

Genji glared up at her, though, he glared at everyone, so this was nothing special, and straightened.

“I am fine.”

“You should have been able to recover your normal breathing rate by now. So one of us is wrong in our assumptions, and I know it’s not me.” She scoffed, Genji huffing as she gathered another one of those healing orbs of hers. Moira attached it to the ninja unhurriedly, tipping her head to the side as she observed the effects.

It relaxed Genji a bit, just a bit, and he leaned back in his seat with a sigh. Jesse eyed her carefully, but she didn’t even spare him a glance. Instead, she frowned and leaned down to inspect something on the ninja’s chest. Genji curled his arms over himself tighter at that, shaking his head before Moira could say anything.

“I’m fine.”

“Obviously not. Looks like that assassin did more of a number on you than I thought.” Moira murmured, Jesse’s brow furrowing as he turned in his seat.

“What’s wrong with ‘im?”

“It seems the assassin’s blade forced a piece of armour down and it’s putting too much pressure on his respiratory system. Such a flawed creation...”

“It is nothing to worry about. I will have Dr. Ziegler check it when we get back.” Genji muttered darkly, brows lowering over his eyes even more, if possible. She hit a nerve. Jesse then saw that smirk rise on Moira’s features again.

“Zürich is quite a ways off. I am not sure how long you will be stable.”

“I will take my chances.” Genji hissed, cutting off the conversation and glaring at the floor. Jesse grinned at Moira pleasantly when he saw her features turn down in distaste, but she sat down without another word. Jesse waited a few moments to let the silence settle before he leaned towards Genji.

“You alright?” He murmured, Genji shooting him a glare this time.

“I said I’m fine.”

Jesse merely raised his brows, and the hard expression Genji was sporting faltered.

“I will be fine.” He amended in a whisper, shifting in his seat to sink down in it more. Jesse didn’t miss the way his eyes danced in pain from just that simple movement.

“I’ll take ya ta the med bay when we get back.” Jesse told him softly, Genji nodding.

“Thank you.”

The gunslinger leaned back in his seat, eyeing Moira distrustfully as she observed Reyes. They were talking quietly with one another, and Jesse glanced away when mismatched eyes slid to meet his.

Moira knew he didn’t trust her, though Jesse hadn’t quite made it a secret. She knew and yet she never made any steps to change it. In fact, Jesse thought she had been stepping even more out of line lately. The cowboy kept his mouth shut about it for once, however, because he knew that Reyes wouldn’t listen to him. He’d already tried talking to him about Moira, but he had shut down the conversation before it had even started, voice rough and eyes like steel. That alone sent the first warning bells off in his head, but he hadn’t pushed it. Reyes wouldn’t have allowed it anyways. So the cowboy kept his distance, made sure Moira knew he’d put up with none of her shit, and she’d left him alone.

Genji made a strange wheezing sound next to him an hour or so into the flight, some mix between a suppressed cough and a shuddering breath. It startled Jesse awake, and he looked over at the ninja. His eyes were narrowed in pain, one hand fumbling with the side of his faceplate while the other held his side. Genji’s chest rose and fell quickly, shallow breaths leaving him in little huffs.

“Hey, ya alright?” Jesse asked softly, hand reaching out to settle on the cyborg’s bicep. Genji glanced down at it, then shook his head.

“No...?”

Genji pulled off the bottom of his faceplate, setting it in his lap and closing his eyes. His face was flushed, a sheen of sweat on his brow.

“It’s...Just hard to—“

Another cough cut him short, body seizing up as he curled over slightly. The gunslinger frowned, worry spreading over his features when the fit didn’t stop, instead getting worse. Moria was at Genji’s side in an instant, her long fingers gripping the ninja’s chin and forcing him to raise his head.

“Let me have a look.” She ordered. Genji took a pained breath, a drop of almost black blood sliding down from his bottom lip. Moria kneeled in front of him, right hand splayed and forming a golden-yellow orb. The cyborg’s breathing evened out as a trail from the orb attached to his chest, and he glanced over at Jesse warily.

“Now listen, if yer doin’ somethin’ funky to ‘im—“

“Yes, because healing his collapsing lung certainly isn’t helping him in the slightest, McCree. Now, would you please let the doctor do her work without further interruption?” Moira sighed in annoyed exasperation, her frown deepening as she glared at the cowboy. Jesse forced himself to keep his snarky comment to himself, knowing it would only cause more trouble and possibly detract the help and attention from Genji that he needed. He watched as some of the colour returned to the ninja’s face, and he reluctantly sat back to let Moria do what she needed.

They made it back to Zürich without too much trouble. Moira would have to recharge her healing abilities every now and then, and each time the orb left Genji, he looked even worse. Jesse was worried, but he knew that Dr. Ziegler would be able to fix him right up, properly.

“Your systems are fascinating, even in their primitive state. If you will come with me to the medical wing, I assure you I will make sure something like this never happens again.” Moira suddenly spoke up, the offer catching Jesse’s attention immediately, and he turned on her.

“You ain’t gonna lay a finger on him, ya hear me? He’ll go to Ziegler.” The gunslinger growled, rounding on Moira. She raised a brow unhurriedly, a mocking smile creeping up on her face.

“Oh? And what makes you think this is your decision to make?”

Genji spoke up before Jesse was able to, one hand wrapped firmly around his ribs, his stance slightly hunched over.

“He is right. I will go see Dr. Ziegler now, and I would rather McCree escort me.”

Jesse gave Moira a smug little smirk, but it faded when he saw Commander Morrison and Captain Amari striding towards them, anger radiating off of them.

“Gabe, what in the hell did you do?!” Morrison hissed, getting right up in Reyes’ face and glaring vehemently. Amari stood back, arms crossed and disapproval written all over her face.

“You do understand the seriousness of what you did, right Gabriel?” She demanded. Reyes sighed and shook his head, eyes cast aside in resigned disinterest.

“You guys can berate me all you want, but not out here if you want it to stay under the radar for now.” He told them simply, and that seemed to set off the Overwatch commander even more.

“Stay under the radar?! Gabriel, that is what you were supposed to do! This was a simple mission, not an execution! The whole world knows about Blackwatch now because of the shit you pulled! Have you seen the news?!”

Jesse internally agreed with Morrison at that, but the harsh words did nothing to change Reyes’ demeanor or expression.

“Jack. Let’s take this to an interrogation room.” Amari murmured, placing a hand on the commander’s shoulder. Morrison growled out a curse under his breath and nodded, the three of them leaving without a backward glance to the rest of the Blackwatch operatives.

“How irritating. So much could be accomplished if only they knew how to let go of some of their oh so righteous morale...” Moira hummed quietly, sneering the last bit of her sentence, head held high.

“I dunno what kinda morals you have, but either way, they’re there fer a reason. I don’t disagree with ol’ Jackie fer once.” Jesse muttered as he walked after the commanders to get inside and take Genji to the med bay. Moira stayed in step with them until she got to her office, and she went inside without another word to Jesse or Genji. The gunslinger ignored her exit and went to Dr. Ziegler’s division of the med bay, Genji leaning against him as they went down the hall.

“Doc’ll patch ya up, don’t worry.” Jesse whispered, pressing a quick and soft kiss to Genji’s temple. The cyborg didn’t even have the energy to reprimand him, he just nodded and squeezed Jesse’s hand lightly.

Dr. Ziegler was already in a medical room waiting, having been notified earlier that they were on the way back and ready for post-mission diagnostics. She gave them a little frown when she noticed the way Genji was holding himself, then sighed and motioned for the ninja to sit on the examination table she had set up.

“Jesse, I’m going to have to take care of Genji first, so if you don’t mind waiting outside...”

“Sure thin’ Angie. I’m alright though, so don’t worry ‘bout it.” Jesse dismissed absently, wanting to go see what was happening with Reyes now that he knew Genji was in good hands.

“No, you make sure you come back here in an hour, do you understand me? I have to put this in the records and make sure you haven’t been hurt.” Angela told him, her voice holding a tone he knew not to argue with.

“Yes ma’am...”

“Alright. Now go on.”

Jesse tipped his hat to her, glancing at Genji as he left. The ninja was laying back on the table, staring up at the ceiling blankly, resigned. Jesse sighed, but did as the doctor ordered.

Jesse had gone to the interrogation room that Reyes had been taken to, watching him get chewed out by Morrison and Amari alike with a pensive look on his face the whole time. The Overwatch commander would gesture as he yelled, his voice muffled from where Jesse was standing behind the two way mirror. Reyes had glanced up at him at last, murmuring something to Morrison and effectively making him quiet down. He was either too angry to yell anymore, or Reyes had struck a nerve.

The gunslinger sighed and readjusted his hat, chewing on the end of his cigar as he walked back to the medical bay. The whole situation was shitty, and it didn’t sit well with him at all. Jesse stubbed out the cigar before entering Dr. Ziegler’s section of the medical ward. She always got on to him about his smoking habits.

“Ah, Jesse, come on in. I’ll make it quick so you can go get some rest.” Angela called. The cowboy obeyed without a word, mind too preoccupied for idle chatter, which was rare. Ziegler hadn’t asked, and Jesse didn’t offer any sort of explanation. When she was through, she bid him a pleasant goodbye, already going off to check on some things on her tablet. Jesse went back to his room, chewing on his bottom lip in thought. He absently typed in the code to his room, immediately sensing another presence there with him.

“Didn’t know doc had let’cha out so soon.” Jesse said by ways of greeting, taking off his hat and glancing towards the bed. Genji was curled up on it, the TV playing something softly in the background and washing his face in shades of blue and white.

“I’m only discharged for the night.” Genji responded, his voice even more altered and metallic than usual. He had some sort of respirator covering his nose and the bottom half of his face, his eyes sunk in with dark smudges beneath them. Jesse gave him a worried look, sitting down on the bed next to him and lacing their fingers together.

“Dr. Ziegler gave me some medicines that slow my breathing down and keep me calm so I don’t overexert my respiratory system. I feel like shit.” Genji muttered, answering Jesse’s unspoken question.

“Ah, so not the good drugs, huh?”

That dragged a soft chuckle from the ninja. Jesse leaned in and pressed a kiss to his forehead, then stood.

“I’m gonna shower real quick. Try not ta bust anythin’ else while I do.”

“Ha ha, you’re hilarious.” Genji deadpanned as he leaned his head back against the pillows and closed his eyes. The gunslinger smirked, then left to wash up. When he came back, Genji hadn’t moved much, and he seemed to have fallen asleep. Jesse smiled softly and settled down next to him, pulling a blanket over them both.

“Took you long enough...” Genji mumbled after a moment. He opened his eyes slowly, arm shifting to drape over Jesse’s waist lethargically.

“Figured I’d let ya have some alone time.” Jesse whispered, rolling over to face the ninja.

“I don’t like alone time away from you.” Genji sighed as the cowboy’s hand came up to trace over Genji’s features, gently mapping out the familiar face. He rubbed over a scar that cut through just the tip of Genji’s left eyebrow, then slowly dragged his finger down to the edge of the respirator, leaving light touches on his cheekbone and nose as he went. Jesse kissed where Genji’s lips were under the mask, feeling the cyborg push up into the motion ever so slightly.

“Get some rest, darlin’. I’ll be right here if ya need me.”

“Mkay...” Genji whispered. He leaned into Jesse’s chest, the gunslinger hugging him close and running a hand through his hair. Genji relaxed completely, drifting off quickly in Jesse’s arms. It didn’t take long for the gunslinger to follow in suit.

#blackwatch week #jesse mccree #genji shimada #gabriel reyes #moira o'deorain #angela ziegler #mcgenji #blackwatch retribution #WhiskeyWrites #fanfic #day 2 #sfw

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