“I Thought You Were Dead!” - Genji Shimada

FLORENCE CASTLE’S HEROES OF CYBERTRON - EP. 07: OPTIMUS PRIME (1)

Poiché il soggetto in questione è una vera e propria leggenda nella Hall of Fame dei Transformer, la puntata di oggi è particolarmente molto lunga, per cui la suddividerò in più parti.

NOTA: Alcune immagini non sono mie, ma vengono dal sito DeviantArt. Articolo scritto da me, con l'approvazione di @jazzluca.

***

PUNTATA 7: OPTIMUS PRIME, prima parte.

L’inizio: Commander e i suoi Autorobot

Ormai senza di lui non esisterebbero gli Autobot, come non esisterebbero gli Avengers senza Capitan America, la Justice League senza Superman... o Mass Effect senza il comandante Shepard. E poi, siamo onesti: come si fa a non resistere alla vista di quel bel camion rosso e blu col rimorchio bianco al seguito, che si trasforma in un colosso di dieci metri spesso armato di fucile a ioni e ascia energetica (o lame gemelle retrattili, fate voi), e col volto perennemente coperto da una maschera? In quante occasioni almeno una volta lo avete sentito pronunciare frasi memorabili quali l’immortale «La libertà è un diritto di ogni essere senziente» o la più moderna «Uno resterà in piedi, l’altro cadrà»? E c’è stata forse una volta in cui, prima di entrare in azione, non abbia mai ordinato ai suoi compagni: «Autobot, trasformatevi e in marcia!» con l’inconfondibile vocione americano di Peter Cullen o del nostro rispettabilissimo Diego Reggente? Ovviamente no! Sarebbe un sacrilegio per noi fan che in trentacinque anni abbiamo seguito le sue avventure sulla Terra (e non solo) in ogni media esistente!

Che abbiate esultato per ogni piano dei Decepticon che ha fermato insieme ai suoi Autobot, fatto il tifo per lui nei millemila scontri all’ultimo sangue contro Megatron, o addirittura versato fiumi di lacrime quando avete assistito alla sua morte nel film animato del 1986, il nome di OPTIMUS PRIME è e sarà sempre associato al coraggio, autosacrificio, e un indomabile spirito combattivo; un guerriero sempre pronto a dare la propria vita nel proteggere gli esseri senzienti, organici o sintetici che siano.

***

Adesso qualche ex bimbo italiano degli anni ‘80 starà sicuramente strabuzzando gli occhi e facendo spallucce mentre si chiede: «Optimus... chi?!?». Logico, visto che all’epoca in Italia era conosciuto come Commander e oggi quella fetta di fan lo ricorda ancora con quel nome. Curiosamente, però, quella parola all’apparenza scelta a caso dalla GIG potrebbe probabilmente derivare da uno dei tre moduli di cui è composto il personaggio: “Commander” è, infatti, il modulo centrale rappresentato dal robot stesso per cui, tutto sommato, non ha torto. E così, superata la barriera del nome, conosciamo meglio questo Bot a partire dalle sue origini narrative e non da quelle animate, perché ci sono pervenute la bellezza di ben dodici versioni diverse di Optimus nel corso della sua chilometrica carriera multimediale.

La mia origin story preferita – nonché quella che personalmente reputo la più coerente – è la versione della Continuità Allineata, raccontata persino da Ratchet nella serie TRANSFORMERS: Prime del 2010. Esattamente come ci viene narrato nell’episodio L’Alba della Guerra della Stagione 2 G1, Optimus Prime da ragazzo si chiamava Orion Pax, un timidissimo e umile Bot che lavorava non come un operaio navale come nella G1 ma come archivista e allievo di Alpha Trion. Lo stesso robot decano che, nella puntata di cui sopra, ripara i feriti Orion Pax e la sua fidanzatina Ariel (vittime di un’imboscata di Megatron) riconvertendoli nelle rispettive versioni “adulte” che conosciamo. Tutto ciò accadde nei – per così dire – “secoli bui” di Cybertron, una sorta di Medioevo in cui politiche inefficaci e una corruzione sempre più soffocante avevano creato enormi diseguaglianze sociali. Un giorno, ispirato dalle parole di un ex gladiatore di nome Megatron, Orion Pax pose un freno all’oppressivo sistema a caste che schiacciava la libertà di ogni essere senziente. I due erano fratelli come gli dei Zeus e Ade, così uguali ma così diversi – al punto di dividersi tragicamente una volta che Megatron rivelò le sue vere intenzioni all’Alto Consiglio, cioè usare la forza per rovesciare i leader del pianeta. Questo, in soldoni, è il germe della leggendaria Guerra per Cybertron, immortalata nei videogiochi del dinamico duo Activision/High Moon Studios e nella recente serie animata Netflix omonima.

Un background decisamente più elaborato, crudo e oscuro e meno tagliato con l’accetta del triplice episodio pilota della G1 Molto più di quel che appare, in cui comunque apprendiamo che è stato lo stesso Optimus Prime a deviare la traiettoria dell’Arca mentre precipita sulla Terra e si schianta sul monte St. Hilary. E, prima di questo, è stata sua la dolorosa scelta di accettare il fardello della Matrice del Comando (diventando così “l’ultimo dei Prime”) e di abbandonare l’ormai inabitabile Cybertron: «La guerra è perduta. – dice Optimus a Bumblebee all’inizio di La Caduta di Cybertron – Lasciare la nostra casa è stata la decisione più sofferta che io abbia mai preso». E del “come” il nostro Commander abbia impedito a Megatron di vincere la guerra civile sulla Terra e di sprofondare l’universo nel caos esistono diverse versioni, dalla più pragmatica a quella più macabra... ma andiamo con ordine.

Essendo amante delle trame più votate a esplorare la psicologia dei personaggi, ho deciso di selezionare alcune puntate G1 in cui Optimus Prime è il fulcro della storia: ricordo ad esempio La Città d’Acciaio, in cui il poveretto viene catturato e letteralmente smembrato dai Constructicon e i pezzi vengono riciclati come armi per difendere la nuova torre Decepticon a New York. In seguito diventa la preda ambita da un losco signorotto in Bersaglio: Optimus Prime ed è persino costretto a confrontarsi con un suo clone in Un Problema per Optimus Prime. A parte queste prove fisiche, ci sono state puntate in cui il nostro ha dimostrato una sensibilità e un amore umani verso i suoi cari che mi ha davvero commosso... e non c’è da stupirsi che i fan lo osannino spesso come la figura paterna perfetta!

In La pazzia degli Autobot Optimus e altri suoi compagni vengono alterati da un dispositivo “distorci-personalità” di Megatron, e quando Bumblebee riesce con successo a rinsavire il comandante, questi lo ringrazia con un caloroso abbraccio. Alla ricerca di Alpha Trion invece segna l’esordio delle Fembot e la loro capitana Elita One rischia la Scintilla dopo aver salvato Optimus Prime da un tragico destino; proprio lui si dispera per le condizioni della collega, lasciando intendere un implicito interesse amoroso per lei.

Il suo canto del cigno avviene nel film del 1986, in cui assistiamo all’ultimo duello tra i capi delle rispettive fazioni, alla fine del quale escono entrambi distrutti... in tutti i sensi. Mentre un gravemente danneggiato Megatron sarà riconvertito in Galvatron per mano di Unicron, Optimus Prime (come ho detto all’inizio) spira davanti agli occhi degli sconvolti amici Autobot e degli altrettanto sconvolti spettatori: il suo corpo si ingrigisce, gli occhi si spengono, e la sua Scintilla si estingue un attimo dopo aver sussurrato una frase che in futuro diverrà un celebre marchio di fabbrica soprattutto degli Autobot: «Finché tutti sono uno». Per quanto all’epoca per gli addetti ai lavori fosse stata solo una mera scelta di marketing per promuovere la nuova linea di giocattoli in imminente uscita, per noi fan la morte di Optimus fu come se una parte di noi fosse morta con lui. E fu un vero shock rivederlo come zombi in quella che considero la puntata più struggente e inquietante di tutta la Stagione 3 G1, la cui trama avrebbe dato i natali a un certo personaggio del Bayverso: Risveglio Oscuro, nel quale il cadavere dell’ex Comandante Autobot viene addirittura corrotto dai Quintesson per farne una pedina in un piano per attirare gli Autobot di Rodimus Prime in una trappola mortale.

***

Continua...

Ok consider this... Hazard gets sick and refuses to admit he needs to be cared for until he all but passes out from fever and then gets all flustered and sappy when his S/O starts doting on him and forcing him to lay down and rest.

Fever

Hazard x Reader

A/N: Writing this as I have a cold is great therapy ngl anon, nice ol’ blanket and some soup.

Summary: some of the phreaks have been noticing that hazard hasn’t been taking care of himself lately…even when he’s sick

Hazard was as stubborn as a mule—and twice as proud. You’d noticed something was off for days now. His usual sharp movements had grown sluggish, his voice rougher, and his face was a permanent shade of red. But every time you tried to confront him, he’d brush it off with some gruff excuse.

It wasn’t until Boomslang, ever the watchful eye, cornered you in the hallway that you realized just how bad it had gotten.

“Hey” she called, her voice calm but firm. She crossed her arms, leaning against the wall. “I think you need to check on Hazard.”

You blinked at her, confused. “Why? What happened?”

“He’s been sick for days” she said, her expression unreadable. “I told him to rest, but of course, he blew me off. I saw him nearly fall earlier. He’s too stubborn to admit he needs help.”

“That does sound like him” you muttered, already heading toward where you’d last seen him.

Boomslang called after you, her tone dry. “Good luck. He’s impossible.”

When you found Hazard, he was exactly where you expected—still working, hunched over a desk with sweat dripping from his temple. His movements were jerky, and his shoulders sagged under what seemed like the weight of the world.

“Hazard” you said, stepping into the room.

“I’m busy” he snapped, not even looking up.

“You’re sick” you countered, your voice firm.

“I’m fine” he barked, his thick Scottish brogue rougher than usual. His accent always deepened when he was agitated, and now it rolled off him in waves. “I’ve nae got time fer this. There’s work tae be done.”

“You can’t even stand straight” you said, moving closer. “Boomslang told me you nearly fell earlier.”

His glare could’ve melted steel. “That wee tattletale’s got nae business stickin’ her nose in! I told her I dinnae need help, an’ I dinnae need yours either.”

You didn’t argue with him. Not yet. You just stood there, arms crossed, watching him sway on his feet like a leaf in the wind. His pride was his worst enemy, and you knew the only way to break through it was to let him run himself into the ground—literally.

It didn’t take long. Not five minutes later he stumbled mid-step, his knees buckling as his body gave out. You darted forward, catching him before he hit the ground.

“Jesus, Hazard!” you snapped, lowering him onto the couch. “What did I told you?”

His eyelids fluttered open, his gaze unfocused but still defiant. “Ach, dinnae fuss over me” he muttered weakly. “It’s just a wee fever.”

“A ‘wee fever’ doesn’t make people pass out” you shot back, pressing a cool cloth to his forehead.

He flinched at the touch, his face flushing even more. “I’m nae some bairn who needs coddlin’” he grumbled, though his voice lacked any real bite.

“Well, you’re acting like one” you said, dabbing at his sweat-soaked skin. “You should’ve come to me, Boomslang or hell even Susie the moment you started feeling like this. But no, you had to be all macho man about it.”

Hazard groaned, his arm draping over his eyes as though to block out your scolding. “Yer nae gonna let this go, are ye?”

“Not a chance” you said, your tone softening. “You scared me, Hazard. You can’t keep pushing yourself like this.”

For once, he didn’t argue. Instead, he let out a resigned sigh, his brogue softer now. “Yer too good tae me, love. I dinnae deserve it.”

“You deserve to be cared for” you said firmly, brushing a strand of damp hair from his face.

His cheeks darkened, though whether it was from the fever or embarrassment, you couldn’t tell. “Ye’ve got a way of makin’ a man feel like a right fool, ye know that?”

“Good” you replied with a smirk. “Now, shut up and rest you big baby.”

He huffed, muttering something under his breath in Gaelic, but he didn’t fight you. As the fever began to break, he mumbled a quiet, “Thank ye” before drifting off to sleep.

Boomslang was right—he was handy work. But he was your handy, and you weren’t going to let him go through this alone.

References and turnarounds of all the satbk knights + chroma + weapons! (requested by @catiecat1320) (as usual, click for better quality)

full-res images: Excalibur Sonic (alt link) Sir Lancelot (alt link) Dragon Hunter Lancelot (alt link) Dragon Hunter Lancelot (Slayer Green) (alt link) Dragon Hunter Lancelot (Royal Black) (alt link) Sir Gawain (alt link) Sir Percival (alt link) Sir Galahad (alt link) Sir Galahad (Heroic Blue) (alt link) Sir Galahad (Justice Teal) (alt link) Sir Lamorak (alt link) Weapons (alt link)

Nobody knows what I see

Hazard x Reader [FLUFF VERY FLUFF]

A/N: I was working on a doodle page of hazard and this song started to play and HOW CAN I NOT WRITE SOMETHING WITHOUT IT????

Summary: “you can see the value your friendship where others might not”

The diner wasn’t much to look at. Cracked linoleum floors, buzzing neon lights, and coffee that could strip paint off a wall. Most people wouldn’t give it a second glance, but for you and Hazard, it was something else. A place where the world slowed down, where the weight of life felt just a little lighter.

When you walked in, the familiar jingle of the bell overhead greeted you. Hazard was already in his usual spot, sprawled in the corner booth like he owned the place. His blonde hair was tousled like he’d been caught in the wind, his leather jacket half-slipped off his shoulders. He was flicking a sugar packet between his fingers, his gaze far away until he spotted you.

“Finally” he said, his Scottish burr rich and teasing. “Thought ye’d got lost or somethin’. No like ye to keep me waitin’, eh?”

“I had stuff to do” you replied, sliding into the booth across from him.

“Aye, stuff” he echoed, smirking. “Ye mean procrastinatin’ like always?”

You rolled your eyes, but his grin was infectious, tugging at the corner of your lips. “You’re impossible.”

“And yet” he said, leaning back with a mock-dramatic sigh, “here ye are. Back again. Glutton for punishment, are ye?”

The waitress arrived with your usual orders—a mug of coffee for you, a plate of fries for him. You both murmured your thanks, the easy silence between you settling in as comfortably as a favorite song.

It was Hazard who broke it, as he always did. “Ye ever think folk look at this place an’ just see a shitehole?”

You raised an eyebrow. “I mean... they’re not wrong. But it’s got character.”

“Character” he repeated, his smirk softening. “That what ye tell yerself aboot me, too?”

You snorted, taking a sip of your coffee. “Oh, absolutely. ‘Character’ is my very first thought when I think of you.”

He laughed, his voice low and warm. “Ah, go on then, make me blush. But ye dinnae need tae lie, love. I know I’m a handful.”

“You’re more than a handful, Hazard” you said with a grin. “But maybe I don’t mind that.”

His laughter faded into a softer smile, his eyes lingering on you. Most people wouldn’t understand why you stuck around Hazard—he was trouble, plain and simple. But you saw more in him than that. Where others might see recklessness, you saw loyalty. Where they might see a mess, you saw someone who’d always be there when it counted.

And maybe that’s why you kept coming back.

“Why d’ye keep showin’ up here wi’ me, eh?” he asked suddenly, breaking into your thoughts.

You blinked, caught off guard by the question. “Why not?”

“Nah, I mean it.” He leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table. “Most folk’d take one look at me an’ bolt, but you... you’re still here.”

“Maybe I just like the coffee” you teased.

He snorted. “Aye, sure. We both know it tastes like piss.”

You laughed, shaking your head. “Alright, fine. Maybe it’s because I know you’re more than what you let people see.”

His smirk faltered, replaced by something softer. “Ye really believe that?”

“I do” you said firmly.

Hazard looked down at the table, his thumb brushing over a scratch in the wood. “Most folk don’t, ye know. They look at me like I’m a bloody trainwreck, waitin’ tae happen.”

“Well” you said, leaning forward, “they’re idiots.”

He glanced up, meeting your gaze, and for a moment, the usual teasing in his expression was gone. “Ye’re somethin’ else, ye know that? Always seein’ the best in me, even when I dinnae see it maself.”

The jukebox hummed on, the soft melody of Harvey filling the air. Hazard reached across the table, his rough fingers brushing yours. “Ye ever think about leavin’ this place?”

“Sometimes” you admitted. “But I can’t imagine going without you.”

His lips quirked up, but the grin was softer, more sincere. “Good. ‘Cause if ye’re leavin’, I’m comin’ wi’ ye.”

“Is that right?”

“Aye” he said, his voice low and certain. “Ye’re stuck wi’ me, love. That’s just how it is.”

Your heart twisted at his words, the warmth in his gaze grounding you. “I think I can live with that.”

“Good.” He grinned, squeezing your hand gently. “Now, where d’ye think we’ll end up, eh? Some big city? Or maybe a wee cottage somewhere wi’ nae one tae bother us?”

You laughed softly, shaking your head. “As long as you’re there, I don’t care.”

Hazard’s smile widened, and in that moment, you knew you weren’t just someone who saw the good in him—you were his anchor, his safe place, just as much as he was yours.

“Alright then” he said, leaning back with that boyish grin you couldn’t resist. “Just us, aye? Against the world.”

“Just us” you agreed, your hand still warm in his.

As the diner lights buzzed softly above you, the rest of the world faded away. And for once, it felt like enough.

I felt like writing something for Genji. I went with Blackwatch Genji for this one. It’s not much but eh, I like this idea. -Knight

Genji Shimada

He scared you when you first met. All fury, pain, and intense sadness. Genji was a complicated man with a past so horrific you cried the first time you heard about it.

Genji always kept to himself but you were drawn to him. You couldn’t understand why you always seemed to gravitate to him, you just always found yourself seeking his company. Genji wasn’t exactly friendly though, he wouldn’t even glance your way but you sat there and spoke to him anyways day after day. You would talk about stupid things like how Tracer had gotten stuck in a tree during your last mission or how you wanted to steal McCree’s hat just to see if he was hiding a bald spot, just casual one sided conversations. Genji would never interrupt you or tell you to stop, he would sit there unfazed, like you didn’t exist, but you knew he was listening.

You were late seeing Genji today, detained by the medical staff, but you plopped down on the bench next to him as usual. You had just launched yourself into a story about Reinhardt when Genji interrupted you.

“Why are you injured?” Genji’s voice surprised you. You hadn’t expected him to speak so it took you a moment to get the answer out of your mouth.

“Huh? Oh! I got captured during my last mission. I made a stupid mistake and ended up being taken hostage and interrogated. It’s not nearly as bad as it looks.” Both arms were wrapped in bandages, bandaids covering all the gashes on your face and hands, and a black eye to top it off, you looked a mess but it truly wasn’t as bad as it seemed. “Soon as Angela is back, I won’t look like a half-wrapped mummy.” You said looking Genji in the face. You were suddenly taken aback. Genji looked absolutely furious.

“You should quit Overwatch.” Genji hissed out before standing up and marching off soundlessly leaving you to absorb his words and the anger he’d directed at you.

Sitting alone in your usual spot, you pressed your injured hands to your face and cried.

You didn’t know what to do now. You’d pissed off Genji and felt the best course of action was to just leave him alone. You quit looking for him when you went to report to Commander Reyes, you didn’t visit the spot Genji always rested at, and you didn’t dare look his direction during work. It hurt, to you, he was a friend and the brightest part of your day. Adjusting was hard.

Angela arrived back on base a few days later and got you healed up. You felt a ton better physically but emotionally you felt awful and Angela could tell. You told her about your interaction with Genji when she asked.

“It sounds like he’s just worried about you.” Angela said wisely.

“If you could’ve seen the anger in his eyes, I don’t think you’d say that.” You sighed. “He was probably extremely angry because I was captured, I could have given critical information to our enemies and he more than likely sees that as a huge issue.”

“I suppose. Either way, try not to let it bother you too much. And get some rest, no offense, but you look pretty terrible.” Angela said noticing how exhausted you looked.

“Sure thing, doc.” You said with a smile.

Taking Angela’s advice you headed off to your quarters. The only issue was you had to pass Genji’s usual hang out. This area was always deserted during the day which is why he always hung out there. Your only hope was to pray he wasn’t there just this once.

Turning the corner your fears were realized as Genji sat on the same bench as always staring out the window. You knew he was aware you were there. He didn’t have to look at you to know.

Gathering yourself up you pushed on down the hall, acting as if Genji himself didn’t exist. You were half a step past him when his hand shot out and stopped you. You slowly turned to look at him. He didn’t seem angry or if he was he was hiding it well.

“D-did you need something?” You asked, tripping over your words slightly.

“You look better.” His words were clipped but polite, his hand letting go of your arm.

“Ah, thanks. Angela really is a miracle worker.” You replied. Genji’s eyes slid from you back out the window. You took this as an end to your conversation and turned to leave.

“Tell me something stupid.” Genji’s voice was soft, the softest you’d ever heard it and for some reason it made your heart squeeze slightly. With a small smile, you sat lightly on the bench beside Genji and launched into another dumb story.

BRIEF TED TALK - OPTIMUS PRIME CHARACTERIZATION 

Despite my obvious preference for the character design in Age of Extinction/The Last Knight ; I really do not like the movies nor am I overly fond of Optimus’ characterization. I enjoy him displaying his emotions more, understanding his anger, but the entire hopelessness and thirst for vengeance we see in AOE? That is something wholly NOT Optimus.

After millennia of fighting, it never crippled his belief in good and the capacity for change. This core belief was the reason he was chosen to be a Prime. He has the right to be enraged at the treatment of his brethren but it doesn’t negate the fact that, really, the Cybertronian war has cost thousands of innocent people on Earth their lives.

Transformers Prime Optimus is more understanding in the sense that he knows Earth didn’t want to be thrown into this centuries long combat. He never lost sight of the fact that rage & revenge have no place in a JUST society. Of course, there were times he was frustrated, believing killing Megatron to be the only solution at one point, but his innate sense of justice never faded ; his belief that ‘every sentient being possesses the capacity for change’ never left him. 

TFP!Optimus is the superior one, to be perfectly honest. 

So yeah, the anger is warranted but Optimus is not a character driven by a need for revenge ; Bay’s movies kind of diminished his entire stance on wishing to protect the innocent & his ultimate goal of ending the war so Earth and the remaining Cybertronians can live in peace.

Reunited: Gabriel Reyes (Reaper) x Fem!Reader (NSFW)

I got you anon

Includes: Soft sex

Song Recommendation: I’d Do Anything For Love - Meatloaf

Continua a leggere

Ok ok, I was the one who just sent in the genji appreciation thingy and I have to request something but you can change it idc I love everything like I really do love everything and anything but pleasseee pleaaasee pre!fall genji with a female reader where he gets proposed to? like, like, flowers! romantic setting! just super corny, reader even got him a expensivs ring! but like, they don't know each other that well and reader just really really likes him even with his whole bad reputation aaaaaa BARK BARK ARF ARFF AWOOOOO

Holy shit this one took a while to come out, but here we are. I will get another one done this weekend if everything goes to plan- I will finish these requests, I promise you!

Thank you for requesting! Was a pleasure to write the soft boy!

Genji x Fem!Reader

Word count: 1061

Genji Shimada. The younger brother to Hanzo, a boy with no head, some would say. One could say he’s mischievous although fun, while one could say he’s immature, not suitable for leading or being within the Shimada Clan. 

You, however, didn’t see that. You didn’t see the playboy everyone called him, you saw someone having fun, someone enjoying their life as best they can considering the circumstances he was under. He was a boy you had your eyes on ever since you first saw him. Sure, the looks played a part in it, but his personality and fun nature drew you in further. You were lucky to get close to him one night, hands brushing against each other and you swore a spark was felt. 

Once he touched your hand, it was like a switch had been flicked. He practically dropped everything to get closer to you. There were no more drunken sex-crazed nights, no more playing around with other people. His focus was all on you. 

From then on, you and the boy would meet more often, slowly turning it into a daily thing. You would talk for hours on end, getting to know each other better. Your favourite places to go were the coffee shop and the park, spending hours upon hours within each others bubble. You would sit for hours, talking and laughing and it wasn't long after the frequent meetings that you became official partners. It was an afternoon you were going to remember for years to come; the sweet and rowdy boy was timid, fumbling over his words.

He was nervous and rightfully so when he asked you. He wasn’t entirely sure you felt the same way, but when you had exclaimed a loud ‘yes’, his ears perked up and a smile filled his entire face. His arms enveloped you in a tight, yet gentle embrace, hands stroking the small of your back as his face nuzzled into the side of your neck. 

From there on, date nights happened more frequently. Movie and takeout, Genji trying to beat you at any game whether that was in the arcade or at home, sometimes you’d just go for a simple walk around the parks, taking in the scenery. Genji would always look over at you, candid images of you saved within his memory, something he would always look back on. You were perfect for him. 

Everything was perfect.

You would always shower him in love and affection. From the small things such as gentle touching, kisses on the cheek or forehead when he wasn’t paying much attention. You’d find little gifts that you thought he’d like whenever you were out shopping, small gadgets, fidget toys that he could keep in his pocket, to the latest game he was raving about. 

He would thank you profusely, wondering what brought all this on. He had never felt this kind of love before, it was all new to him but he enjoyed it. Genji loved the affection, he loved the gifts, small and big and he felt as if he could never return that favour. Despite your protests, you never wanted anything in return and anything he did return was cherished just as much as he was. 

But then things changed for awhile and he got concerned, you became somewhat distant, conversations shortened and he panicked. He thought things were going south, but what brought it on he couldn’t figure out. 

Only when he came home from a family gathering did it all make sense. 

The living room lights were dimmed, candles were lit and there was a bouquet of roses on the table. Beside the flowers was a small note, one that he hesitantly picked up. Did I miss our anniversary? Is this the calm before the storm?

The look on his face when you entered the room was enough to make anxiety rise. You saw the panic within his eyes, but that quickly diminished the moment he looked you up and down. 

While wearing a more casual yet formal attire, you looked gorgeous. Genji felt his mouth open slightly as you approached him before his hands made their way to your hips, pulling you suddenly into a kiss.

Words were exchanged, ones of “I love you,” and “I need you,” passing between the pair of you as you seated on the sofa. Something is going on…

The ninja saw the hesitation, the way your cheeks flushed, eyes averting his and your hands staying behind your back. He was about to speak when you cut him off, hand holding his before sliding off the sofa, kneeling in front of him. 

His eyes widened slightly before he realised what was going on. You could feel his hand shake in your grasp as you removed your other hand from behind your back, showing him the ring seated in the leather box. A small, yet expensive silver ring seated between the padding sparkled under the candlelight.

“Genji Shimada-” you smile, “will you be my husband?” 

It’s like the temperature in the room heightened, a warmth spreading through both bodies before the ninja nodded his head, accepting the proposal. 

Sliding the ring onto his finger, he admired the metal before he pulls you up from the ground, arms wrapped tight around you as the box falls to the floor. He was gentle, yet his kisses were rough, hands roaming your back as he pulls you even closer to his body. He wasn’t wasting anytime as he picked you up, almost throwing you back down onto the sofa.

Hands tangled in hair, both his and yours, kisses shared between lips, tongues playing and exploring. Soft gasps and whimpers filled the room, and and exploration of each others bodies ensued. 

One night led to two, then to three… You and Genji were practically inseparable, more so now than ever; hands holding each others, fingers interlocking even within the warm weather of Hanamura. You didn’t want to leave his side, and he wasn’t ready to part from you either. 

Despite his family’s objection, he didn’t care. He was all for getting married with you. A partner in crime, he would say, kissing your forehead to dispel any worries or concerns. 

He was excited for what the future holds, and if it was anything like it was before, he was ready to love every single moment of it.

HERE IS MY TAKE ON GENJI because no one asked:

Genji was once a man with nothing but anger in his heart. When he was deployed in Blackwatch, it had blinded him to their clandestine operations. Much more than that, it had blinded him from reality. Genji’s own brother, the one person he had trusted the most, was willing to sacrifice him for no other means than to uphold the very legacy Genji had been born into. In his youth, he felt blessed to be a Shimada. But after that day, he realized his name was nothing more than a curse.

But he had grown wiser, saw the error of his ways once he had trained under Zenyatta. His mind was no longer fogged with turmoil. Rather, he had come to peace with the events of his past. He had considered himself a different man, then. Forged himself anew, approached life with a different perspective. And when he met you, he felt his life changing for the better. Butterflies arose in his chest, his heart fluttered, and he cherished every moment the two of you shared.

He knew it was wrong. He knew he was feeding the dragon inside him he never wanted to awaken. But he couldn’t deny who he was, a Shimada. It was in his blood to fight for what he wanted, to possess you in anyway he could. All his efforts to suppress his desires had no effect. No amount of excess training nor meditation could stop him from thinking of you. In fact, his deepest fears were only beginning to fester further the more he tried to neglect them. Impulses and compulsions began to manifest. He followed you. Learned your routine and centered his life around it, sneaking long walks to trace your every move. You were none the wiser, thinking every meeting was nothing more than a coincidence. He endeared your naivety and your innocence that allowed him to remain in the shadows of your life.

The anger that had once consumed him before had begun to turn into something far more dangerous. Love. Because he wanted it. He didn’t want to dispel it like a plague, he wanted to nurture it, allow it to blossom into the most beautiful flower. Loving you from afar made him feel whole. Tore him apart from what ailed him, soothed his aching soul that hadn’t felt so light as when he was with you.

When Genji’s father passed, there was no room for love in his life. His father kept their family pure. He and Hanzo were unadulterated by the thirst for power, he had hardly understood it then. All he knew was the freedom to frolick in his family’s luxuries and his own youthful innocence.

Though now he had liberated himself from his former trauma, he enjoyed your company because it reminded him of those simpler times. You were kind to him, just as he remember his mother’s kindness before she too tragically passed. But he could feel the love he was yearning for in you, and he would to anything to take it.

bob is the babiest of babies, leave him out of this

Bob: “I AM TOO BIG. BABIES ARE SMALL.”