Hanzo tried to keep his breathing steady, rage filling inside of him as he looked up at his last target, but he was almost at his breaking point. He had already killed the others, this was the oly one left.

He didn't expect they'd find Niran so soon, but it was their fault for roaming in public. Fortunately Hanzo was prepared, Niran was hiding in a safe place. Just until Hanzo had dealt with the hunters.

He picked up an arrow and drew out his bow, aiming it at the man. "I will not allow you to take him, nor will I allow you to harm him in any way." His grip on the bow tighten, watching the man's movements. Preparing for anything.

Hanzo shot the arrow through the man, but he suddenly vanished into a dust cloud. The rage inside of him was being replaced by confusion, he looked around wondering where he went. He still couldn't let his guard down now.

Hanzo started moving to where he last saw Niran, where he was suppose to hide. "Niran, come out. The threat is gone." He said, but there wasn't a response.

"Niran?" He said louder this time. Hanzo began to panic.

Why wasn't he answering to his calls? Hanzo searched and searched, "Niran! This isn't a funny joke." 

Suddenly, the night illuminated. Hanzo turned around and saw a small convenient store. He went inside, wondering if Niran was there. It was a normal convenient store, there just wasn't anyone inside. He walked towards the back/employee room, opening the closed door. 

Hanzo noticed the red writing on the wall reading; "YOU FAILED". It confused him but there was a trail of the red paint. Hanzo decided to follow that to a corner of the room. 

And then he realized it.

That wasn't paint.

Hanzo started horrified at the lifeless body on the ground, the body of Niran. The writing was right, he did fail. 

***

Hanzo's eyes shot open as he jolt up. He was sweating a bit and hyperventilating. He tried to slow his breathing and calm down, realizing he was currently in his room, in bed. He managed to calm down and looked around in his room before laying back down flat on his back. Hanzo stared at the ceiling.

"It was just a nightmare..." he assured himself, deeply sighing.

Even if it was a nightmare, he wanted to check on Niran regardless. He got up and left it room. He never realized how strangely quiet the night is on base. Despite spending the night doing some training since he couldn't sleep, it never came to mind to think about it.

Luckily Niran's room was right next to his, he assumed there would be no point in knocking since he could be asleep. But all he wanted to do was check to make sure he was alive. Hanzo pushed the buttons in the sequence of Niran's code, but it didn't work. Puzzled by this, he tried again thinking his tiredness made him mess up, but it failed again.

Hanzo tried again and again, the same code over and over again. He didn't know why it wasn't working and it bothered him heavily. He was about to enter the code again but the door opened.

"Hanzo? Don't you know how late it is?" A sleepy Niran said.

"Why wasn't the code working? I put it in and it didn't work." 

"I just wanted more privacy, Morrison allowed me to change my code." He yawned, "I want to go back to sleep, are you done?"

Hanzo just stared at Niran in disbelief, "What do you mean you changed it? What if something happens? I told you countlessly before why I know your code!" He whisper yelled, not wanting to wake anyone else up. 

"I do apologize for changing it, but I thought you didn't care too much about me."

"I do care about you, Niran. It's my duty to guard you, I will not fail at something again." Hanzo admitted.

Niran sighed, "Did something happen, Hanzo?" 

Something did happen, but Hanzo felt too prideful to admit he got a nightmare that scared him. He knew Niran was understanding and wouldn't tell anyone, but the worry was there. He could just lie and say he wanted to check up on him, that did show he cared. The nightmare fueled that even more. It was either lie or speak the truth.

So he went the more honorable route.

"I... had a nightmare, one where I wasn't able to protect you, and I failed. I failed at my only duty. After the nightmare I wanted to quickly check and make sure you were alive." Hanzo looked away, waiting for the shame that would soon come.

However, Niran was understanding. He listened to Hanzo admitting to a nightmare, trying to ignore the feeling of finding this a bit cute. "It's fine, Hanzo. We all have nightmares."

"Like the one you had a while ago when I woke you up?"

"Y-yeah... just like that one." Niran awkwardly smiled. "At least this means you tried sleeping for once."

"Is it obvious that I rarely do?"

"It is, yes."

"I see.."

The silence then grew, waiting for the other to say something. An already silent base made the silence worse and more awkward. But finally Niran broke the silence.

"Do you perhaps want to rest in my room? That way if something does happen you'll be able to protect me." Niran said, hoping this would work, and this time they're both sober.

Hanzo wanted to deny this, but he began to actually think about it. Sure, they've slept in the same bed before. What could be different this time? He was a bit hesitant but agreed.

"I accept. Just as long as we don't touch."

"I'll make sure that doesn't happen." He let Hanzo into his room and closed the door once Hanzo was inside. 

Hanzo walked towards the bed and Niran followed. "You can sleep on the right, I was already asleep on the left before you woke me."

"ah, my apologies." Hanzo went to the left side of the bed and laid down. Surprisingly, Niran's bed was quite comfortable. 

"It's fine, you're allowing me to fall asleep again." Niran joked and laid on the right, laying on his side as his back was towards Hanzo.

The room became silent, Hanzo tried to sleep but without the familiarity of the room. It felt odd to him. 

"Niran?" Hanzo whispered, wanting to see if he was awake. "Niran?" he repeated a bit louder, but nothing. 

He sighed knowing Niran had fallen asleep. Hanzo tried getting comfortable on his side, closing his eyes to fall asleep.

He wasn't sure how long it took up, but it was the first sleep in a while that he enjoyed.

***

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