It Takes Time / Reaper x fem!OC

25. A Little Gift

That week, Sienna died.

Well, not literally.
But I'd argue that I'm damn close.

Sprawled out on the courtyard grass in the setting sunlight, battered and bruised and aching all over, Sienna couldn't bring herself to move.
Why, oh why, did I ask Jack Morrison... the 'infamous' Soldier 76....to train me...
The warmth of the day was fading now, but she was too physically exhausted to bring herself to get up and head to her next training session.

Behind her closed lids, the orange backlight suddenly disappeared as a shadow was cast over her. Raising a week arm and reluctantly opening her eyes, the half-man half-omnic stood over her, a faint green glow illuminating him.

'Hey Genji.' Sienna said, her voice sounding just as dead as she felt. Closing her eyes again for just a moment, she felt him sit quietly down next to her.
'Sorry. Am I late? I'll be ready in a moment, I just need to take a slight break for a few minutes'

The ninja chuckled and turned to look at Sienna lying on the ground next to him, waving a dismissing hand. 'You're not late, I just thought you looked comfy down here.'
He paused, stretching his legs on the grass, and the clicking of metal resounded in the air.
'So, Jack's training was that hard today was it?'

Unable to turn more than just her head to face him, Sienna looked up with her dark eyes.
'Jack's training is this hard every day. It's just finally caught up with me'

At first, her words sounded just depressing, but as she tilted her head back up to the sky, she couldn't help but grin, feeling Genji laughing beside her.

Deciding it would be rude to keep her swordmaster sensei waiting, she dragged her arms behind her and pushed her weight up - only to find Genji pushing her back down again with two fingers against her chest.

'No training today, I am cancelling today's session.'
Looking out over the courtyard walls, the sun had already disappeared behind the cityscape, the light turning his armour a soft shade of pink.  Settling comfortably down, the half-omnic took in the gorgeous view, ignoring the shocked look on Sienna's face. 'There is only so much you can learn over such a short period of time, Sienna.'

Utterly surprised at his words, Sienna fought against his hand and sat up immediately, facing him.

'Genji, wait, please! I'm okay. I can train. I promise I'm fine.' she pleaded, terrified of losing her new teacher - hating the thought that she had just blown everything.

Soldier 76 had done a fine job of teaching her the basics of dual blade weilding, but had suggested that Sienna sought out Genji for more advanced technique. He was, after all, a master swordsman.
And so, every day, after her crossbow and close combat training with Jack, she would meet Genji to spar if he was free - something that he seemed genuinely happy to oblige her with.

But this time, he refused, looking away from her to the soft sunset.

'Sienna, you are only human. Although I am not completely any more, I remember what it was like to be that exhausted. You will learn nothing like this.'

'But Genji-'

'Tomorrow, Sienna. You must be healed, first.' He interrupted, his robotic voice managing to convey both firmness and kindness at the same time - and Sienna couldn't help but be reminded of his own master, Zenyatta.

Leaning back on the grass, she let her eyes close again, annoyed but understanding his decision. Frustration coursed through her, and her fingernails subconsciously ripped out chunks of the grass beside them.

'I can't afford to waste time like this...' Sienna mumbled into the ground, quiet enough that she expected her sensei not to hear - but at the same time forgetting his robotically enhanced senses.