Chapter Text
Hanzo slipped into the barn early in the morning to avoid any other contestant getting their horses ready for the day. He enjoyed the smell of the barn, the sweet bite of hay and the pleasant if not pungent scent of horse dung, along with the sharpness of salt and sweat. He clucked his tongue softly at the dark eyes that followed him curiously as he walked by, reaching out to pat a velvety nose as it pushed eagerly over the stall door to get a better look at him. He would have loved to just stand there and pet every horse all day long, but he had work to do.
Sakura whinnied shyly as he approached her stall. She had backed herself into the corner, dark eyes a little wide as her neighbours nosily blew their noses. He clicked his tongue as he opened the stall door, smiling as her chestnut ears perked towards him. The white snip on her nose twitched as she pulled her lip back to smell him, making sure it was actually him and not Genji come to visit her.
“Hello, my princess,” he crooned in Japanese. “How was your night? Benjamin and Lollipop didn’t keep you up, did they?”
Sakura stepped forward and eagerly nudged him, snorting as he rubbed between her ears. He pulled on the end of her lead rope and the knot unravelled with ease. He kissed her cheek, leading the fifteen-hand high mare out of the stall so he could clean her and the stall properly. He tied her to the door, patting her flank as she leaned over to say good morning to Lollipop.
The piebald gelding nickered softly at Sakura as Hanzo went to collect a pitchfork to muck out her stall. He hauled a wheelbarrow over full of the supplies he needed to make Sakura look her best and carefully set it up on the shelf by the stall door. He set to work cleaning the stall, filling the wheelbarrow up and hauling it outside to the pile that was slowly being hauled away. The farmhands on duty shouted polite good-mornings and he waved before heading inside again.
Sakura let out a frightened squeal and he almost dropped the wheelbarrow at the sight of another person touching his horse. “Back up,” he ordered as he stormed over. “Have you no manners?”
The man backed up with a sheepish grin on his face. “Sorry, pardner,” he said in the most laughably stereotypical drawl Hanzo had heard in his life. “Just wanted to say ‘hi’. Didn’t realize the sweet girl was skittish.”
Hanzo rested his hand on Sakura’s shoulder and gently soothed her. She tossed her head unhappily, looking from him to the new man before she sniffed in his direction. Benjamin; ever the protective old stallion; stuck his head over his stall and tried to nip at the blue flannel elbow.
“Hey now!” the man laughed as he jumped away from Benjamin’s big teeth. “Ain’t no reason for that, big guy!”
The massive drafthorse tossed his silver dappled head and snorted. Hanzo smirked as Beth Anne checked to see what her partner was doing, black eyes curiously regarding the stranger before she stepped back into her stall and lowered her head to sleep.
“They all yours?” the man asked, motioning from Sakura down to Beth-Anne.
“My family’s,” Hanzo corrected. “Sakura is mine.”
“Sakura,” the man mused as he looked at her in amusement. “She is a little pink in the fur, isn’t she?”
Hanzo snorted in agreement before he went to retrieve his wheelbarrow. The man stayed where he was, watching as Hanzo pushed the wheelbarrow into the stall and continued mucking it out.
“Need a hand?” the man asked, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his ratty jeans.
“If you could retrieve fresh bedding, I would appreciate it,” Hanzo replied.
He’d already forgiven the man for startling his horse. Sakura startled at many things, from a simple bird tweeting too loudly to a grasshopper jumping in front of her nose. She was a skittish little thing and it really was not the man’s fault for startling her. He could have simply walked past and she would have shied without Hanzo there to warn her.
The man returned shortly with several bales of straw in tow. He grinned widely as he broke them open, spreading the soft straw around the bottom of the stall. Hanzo went to dump the last of the soiled straw outside and when he returned, the man had his hand flat under Sakura’s nose as she mouthed at something in his palm.
“That better not be a sugar cube,” Hanzo warned as he walked past to put the wheelbarrow and pitchfork back.
“Apple,” the man called after him. “She’s sweet enough as it is.”
Hanzo shook his head in amusement as he put the wheelbarrow away. When he returned to Sakura’s stall, the man already had a hoof between his knees as he carefully cleaned Sakura’s frog. He was very careful with the pick, scraping away the muck that had accumulated while not putting too much pressure on the sensitive part of her hoof. Sakura was standing quietly, her eyes closed as she enjoyed the treatment.
“That...that’s the fastest she’s ever taken to a new person,” Hanzo stated in amazement.
Normally it took hours before she accepted anyone. She wasn’t a violent startled horse, but she was known to snap at men that didn’t back off right away. For her to accept this stranger so quickly was both a miracle and really, really good sign of his personality. Hanzo was intrigued.
“I have a way with horses,” the man grinned as he set Sakura’s hoof back down. “Jesse McCree,” he added as he held a gloved hand out to Hanzo.
“Hanzo Shimada-Morrison,” he nodded as he shook Jesse’s hand. “I usually go by Morrison in shows; it’s easier for the announcers to pronounce.”
“Morrison,” Jesse frowned before he snapped his fingers. “Oh! You’re the kid that won the national barrel race a few years ago! What was that beauty’s name again?”
“Star-spangle,” Hanzo groaned. “My dad’s horse.”
“Not riding ‘im this year?” Jesse asked.
“He’s retired; enjoying his golden years out in the field,” Hanzo smiled.
“Lucky ol’ stud,” Jesse grinned as he looped his fingers around his belt.
Hanzo’s eyes flicked to the massive belt buckle and he had to fight against his instinct to laugh. Of all the things that it could have had, he was not expecting something like that. He slipped past Jesse into the stall and grabbed the rough brush to start grooming Sakura’s coat. He couldn’t resist teasing the man for long though and smirked as he walked past Jesse.
“So is it true?” he asked.
“Is what true?” Jesse asked in return as he ran his hand down Sakura’s hind leg and started lifting her hoof up.
“Are you a badass motherfucker?” Hanzo asked.
Jesse whipped around with the biggest grin on his face and laughed. “You bet your sweet ass I am! Yer lookin’ at a third-generation bronco-rider. My Pa and his Pa won almost every contest they entered.”
“Really?” Hanzo smirked. “I don’t remember seeing you around before and I’ve been to my fair share of rodeos throughout the south.”
Jesse turned a beautiful shade of pink and rubbed at his neck. “Well, technically this is my first official entry,” he mumbled. “Just turned nineteen in February. They don’t like letting anyone under legal age to enter. Insurance and all that shit.”
“Well, I’ll make sure I’m there to watch you get thrown,” Hanzo teased.
“Mighty kind of ya, you asshole,” Jesse laughed.
Hanzo joined in with the infectious laughter, resting his shoulder on Sakura’s. Jesse’s laugh was beautiful and deep, coming straight from the belly and shaking his whole body. It was contagious as all hell; Hanzo didn’t think anyone could resist laughing with him. Part of him hoped to hear it a few more times before the rodeo was over.
“Holy shit; I must be hearing things,” a familiar voice called. “Is Hanzo actually laughing and not sounding like he’s about to murder someone?”
“Fuck you,” Hanzo snorted as he turned to glare at his older brother.
Jack Shimada-Morrison grinned as he walked over, hands in the pockets of his sun-bleached blue jeans. His golden hair was as spiky and unruly as ever in spite of the product he put in to try to make it behave. His sky-blue eyes sparkled with mirth as he pulled Hanzo into a tight hug, ruffling his hair in spite of Hanzo’s protest.
“You know I’m just pulling your leg,” Jack teased before he looked at Jesse and held his hand out. “Jack Shimada-Morrison.”
“Jesse McCree,” Jesse smiled as he shook his hand. “That yer natural hair colour?”
Jack laughed as he ran a hand through his locks. “Yah; same colour as the corn we grow in Indiana,” he grinned. “Least, that’s what my Dad likes to say.”
Jesse grinned and glanced at the stalls. “So, which one’s yours?” he asked.
“These two,” Jack sighed happily as he thumped his hands on Benjamin and Beth Anne’s stalls. “My prize babies.”
“Who haven’t won a single contest they’ve entered,” Hanzo smirked.
“They’re having fun; that’s all I care about,” Jack snorted as he happily scratched over Benjamin’s nose. “Eh, Benny? You don’t need a pretty ribbon to know you’re the best plough-horse ever.”
Hanzo rolled his eyes playfully behind his brother’s back before he returned to brushing Sakura down. Jack whistled as he brought Benjamin out of his stall and started cleaning him. The huge silver-dappled Belgian stood without needing to be tied off, lifting his hooves with only a firm touch to his knee. Hanzo watched as his brother got the gentle giant to do everything he asked without uttering a word. It always amazed him how well-trained Benjamin was; he was like an oversized dog rather than a several hundred pound draft horse.
“Now that’s mighty impressive,” Jesse whistled as he pulled his hat off his head and wiped sweat off of his brow.
“Been working with Benny since he was a foal,” Jack smiled as he made Benjamin lie down so he could comb his mane. “Big lug is a people-pleaser. Should see him with the kids back home; they love it when I bring him around at their birthday parties and they get to ride up on his shoulders.”
Jesse laughed as he helped lead Sakura back into her stall. Hanzo saw no sign of Genji, so he stepped into Lollipop’s stall and gave the straw a few kicks to see if it needed to be replaced. It still looked fairly fresh, so he left it for Genji to clean. He led Lollipop out of the stall, nodding to the man that walked past to check up on his horses.
As he was tying Lollipop’s lead rope to the stall, he caught the sharp tang of cigar smoke and swallowed. He glanced towards Jack and did his best not to bristle at the man leaning against Beth Anne’s stall door. The dark-skinned man was absolutely massive; Hanzo was convinced he abused steroids because there was no way someone could be that size naturally. It would certainly explain his piss-poor attitude as well. His muscles were straining to get loose from the tight, button-up black shirt and dark jeans he was wearing, leaving no room for the imagination as to what was hiding behind his jeans. His close-cropped black curls were hidden under a gray beanie and the beginnings of an impressive goatee were neatly trimmed. He would have been handsome if he wasn’t grinning cruelly down at Jack.
“Heya, Boy Scout,” Gabriel Reyes growled. “Figured I’d find you out here.”
“Imagine that,” Jack mused as he tapped Benjamin’s shoulder and moved to let the massive horse stand up, “I’m looking after my horses.” He turned and gave Reyes his stunning smile; Hanzo didn’t think the other man deserved any of Jack’s kindness. “What can I do for you, Reyes?”
Reyes’ eyes narrowed before he spat on the ground. “Don’t look so damn chipper, for one,” he sneered.
“Sorry, the smile is permanently stamped on my face,” Jack smiled before he guided Benjamin back into his stall. “Please move your posterior so I can get Beth Anne out.”
“Could you get anymore white, Boy Scout?” Reyes sneered as he moved aside.
“I could,” Jack shrugged as he led Beth Anne out and patted her dappled shoulder. “But it’d just piss you off more than my gorgeous face already does.”
Reyes rolled his eyes before he gave Jack’s shoulder a rough shove. “See you around, Boy Scout,” he growled before he turned and walked off.
Hanzo waited for him to leave the barn before he snorted. “That was unusually pleasant of him,” he commented dryly. “He didn’t even call you ‘puto’.”
Jack smiled and shrugged as he started brushing Beth Anne down. “He’s grown up a lot; had to happen at some point,” he teased. “Couldn’t stay a little shit forever.”
They fell into a comfortable silence as they cleaned the horses. Lollipop nipped at Jesse a few times, tossing his head proudly with each indignant yip. Hanzo was quick to correct the behaviour, apologizing the first time it happened and then expecting Jesse to learn after that. Hanzo could feel his brother’s eyes on him, judging and gauging how he was interacting with Jesse.
He would readily admit that Jesse was attractive. He was still gangly, but his smile was infectious and the little soul-patch he had growing under his bottom lip was strangely adorable. He’d be a handsome man once he grew into himself a little more.
“Hey, Jesse; you have a horse?” Jack asked as he led Beth Anne back into her stall.
“Sure do,” Jesse grinned as he walked across the aisle and leaned on the stall door of a particularly haughty-looking black stallion. “This here’s my Bullet.”
He ran his hand fondly over Bullet’s nose and the horse seemed to melt under the touch. He pressed his head against Jesse’s chest, blowing air happily through his nostrils. Hanzo smiled at the sight, catching Jack’s nod out of the corner of his eye. What were you planning, big brother?
“Well, why don’t you and Hanzo go for a little trail ride?” Jack grinned. “Day’s young and there’s no competitions today. Best to get the horses out to stretch their legs while they can.”
Jesse turned with a grin. “Well, shoot, I’d love ta!” he laughed. “What’ya say, Hanzo?”
Hanzo wanted to kick his brother. Why the hell would he invite Jesse to go for a trail ride for him?! He could do that just fine on his own, thank you!
“Sure,” he managed to grit out. “I just have to get Sakura’s gear.”
“Awesome,” Jesse grinned before he hurried towards the tack room. “I’ll get it!”
Hanzo waited until Jesse vanished into the tack room before he sprang at his brother and beat him across his wide shoulders. “What. The. Hell?!” he hissed.
“Oh come on,” Jack laughed as he shifted to grab his brother’s hands, “I could see you wishing you could spend more time with him. You’re so transparent, otouto.”
“You didn’t have to interfere!” Hanzo hissed as he tried to hit Jack one more time. “I could have easily asked him to lunch.”
“Uh huh; like that time you asked that pretty boy from ride club to lunch?”
Hanzo felt heat spread across his face and jabbed a finger into Jack’s chest. “Not a word about that ever again,” he hissed. “You do not need to remind me of my failures to make yourself feel better, you asshole.”
“Brotherly bonding?” Jesse asked as he came trotting back with a saddle thrown over each shoulder.
“Let’s call it that,” Hanzo growled before he accepted Sakura’s saddle from Jesse.
Sakura eagerly followed him out of the stall and stood still as he got the saddle situated properly on her back over the blanket. Jesse had gone back for the rest of the tack, leaving Bullet’s saddle hanging over his stall door. He was a little surprised by Jesse’s eagerness to get Sakura saddled up first, happily gushing about what a good girl she was and feeding her little pieces of dried apple that he had in a pouch on his hip.
“You’re going to spoil my horse,” Hanzo shook his head as he led her around in a circle so that Jesse could tighten her saddle.
“Oh, like you don’t baby-talk her to death,” Jack laughed as he ran his hand lovingly over Benjamin’s nose. “You just do it in Japanese.”
Hanzo huffed as he stroked over Sakura’s nose. “Do you need help saddling Bullet?” he asked.
“I would happily accept the hand,” Jesse grinned as he opened the door to Bullet’s stall.
Jack took Sakura’s reins and held her still as the haughty stallion stepped out of his stall. His dark eyes regarded Hanzo carefully before he tossed his head. He stayed perfectly still as Hanzo and Jesse got him saddled up, not even flinching when Hanzo accidentally caught some flesh between the cinch of the saddle.
They led their horses out of the barn, little Sakura walking skittishly around the much larger Bullet. A few people waved as they walked by, pausing to praise both horses. Sakura tried to pull her head away from Hanzo, not enjoying the new voices, but he held her firmly and stroked over her nose. She calmed a little under his touch and followed him through the fairgrounds without too much fuss.
“She really doesn’t like people,” Jesse mused as they mounted up.
“Not crowds,” Hanzo agreed as he pushed his hair out of his face.
“HANZO!” a voice shouted behind him. “WAIT!”
Hanzo lifted an eyebrow as he twisted in the saddle. Lollipop and Genji came trotting up to them, Lollipop tossing his head and Genji grinning ear to ear. He held up Hanzo’s black cowboy hat and offered it to him as he sidled Lollipop over.
“You forgot your hat,” he teased before he looked at Jesse. “Mind if I tag along?”
Hanzo could have kissed his little brother in that moment. He was going to be teased incessantly, but at least he wasn’t going to be alone with Jesse where things could get awkward. Things always got awkward; Hanzo was terrible with people and especially the people that he had any sort of interest in. Praise Genji and his habit of showing up at just the right moment.
“Of course,” Jesse laughed. “The more the merrier; you Hanzo’s brother?”
“Younger,” Genji puffed his chest out proudly. “Genji Shimada-Morrison; I’m competing in the barrel races with Lollipop.”
Jesse let out a snort of laughter. “Lollipop?” he asked.
“Don’t you be insulting my baby!” Genji gasped and flung his arms around Lollipop’s neck. “He’s a sensitive soul!”
Jesse covered his face. “You named a male horse ‘Lollipop’,” he cackled. “That is the best thing I’ve heard all day!”
Hanzo rolled his eyes before he nudged Sakura forward. She happily trotted ahead, much more confident now that Hanzo was on her back. She happily led the way onto the trail that looped around the fairgrounds and up into the adjoining fields. Bullet and Lollipop followed behind them, Genji huffing as Jesse continued to laugh.