[ It's like a kick to the head. No, to the chest. The air is knocked out of him for a different reason and he nearly wheezes. There's the beginnings of a warning sound in his ears before he sucks in air again.

How did he not notice? Maybe he was too hopeful, too... happy to have his brother at this side again. But no, the man had always been stubborn. It was naïve to think he would believe him after one single conversation.

Yet.

Genji slowly stands up and meets his eyes. There's a lump in his throat and he swallows around it. ] There is no charade, brother. I meant what I said. [ He takes another steadying breath and closes his eyes. Best to get it out of the way, to hear it from him. ] Back in Blackwatch? I did. I would have slain you the second I saw you. I was furious for years. [ He opens his eyes. ] But I mean it when I say that I am a different man now. If I killed you... what would that do?

[ He shakes his head. ] We are only victims of birth and circumstance, brother. These are not things we had any control over.