Chapter Text
Of all the days Hunter could decide to flake, this was one of the worst.
Crosshair walked down the stairs and saw Tech pacing. It was six in the morning, he could understand this kind of energy from someone Omega's size, but not Tech.
"What's got him all panicked?" He asked Echo, who sighed tiredly.
"Dentist." He responded. "Wrecker's appointment is tomorrow, but Tech's first on the roster this year."
"Ah," Crosshair went for the coffee machine. Omega kicked her feet watching Tech bound around their kitchen.
"Where's Hunter?" Crosshair couldn't help but ask. He was always around, especially– unbearingly, too, during these days.
Echo hesitated. "He's gone for work." He told him. "He was hoping you could bring Tech today."
Crosshair raised a brow. "Excuse me?" He snapped, turning to Echo. "He's aware I've got a nine to five, right? On top of night shifts?"
Echo nodded slowly. "I can't just–" Crosshair gestured. "I can't just call out. What is he expecting here?"
Echo shrugged. "He left the car?" Crosshair groaned, dragging a hand down his face.
Omega perked up. "Can I come?" She asked. Crosshair barely spared her a glance. "No."
"Please?" She begged, leaning forward. "I'll be really quiet!"
"I don't care." Crosshair rolled his eyes.
Echo sighed, watching Tech still pace around the kitchen. "Maybe she should go," He mentioned, nodding to Tech. "For a bit of noise."
Crosshair groaned again. "Fine." He bit out, grabbing his keys. "You have sixty seconds to get in the car, kid."
Omega hopped up, running for her shoes. Echo gave him a small nod, which was ignored.
He pat Tech's shoulder on the way past. "Come on," He grumbled, guiding Tech out the door. "Let's get this over with."
Tech followed, leaving Echo as he waved goodbye.
The drive was mostly quiet, filled with the occasional sound of Tech hissing through his teeth as he bit through a layer of skin in his mouth.
More than once, Crosshair reached over, slapping his hand away while his eyes were pinned to the road.
When they arrived, Tech dragged his feet. "It's a checkup." Crosshair reminded him, voice hard, though his hand was gentle as it took Tech's. "In and out, just like last time."
Omega watched Crosshair's eyes soften and felt herself smiling.
They made it to the waiting area, and when Tech was called in, Omega was almost certain he would be sick.
Crosshair bumped their shoulders, whispering something reassuring to him. Omega watched Tech relax, nod, and wander after the dentist.
She stared in awe. "What?" Crosshair huffed, folding his arms as he took his seat again.
"Nothing," Omega was quick to speak. "It's just– you're really nice."
Crosshair rolled his eyes. "Sure."
They sat in quiet, the atmosphere of the dentist filling the space.
Omega wrinkled her nose at the smell, trying to pay attention to the TV in the corner. It was playing some kids program she didn't recognise.
"Are you all scared of the dentist?" She asked. Crosshair huffed indignantly.
"I'm not scared of anything," He told her frankly. "The other's are just happen to be irrational."
Omega frowned. "Not all fears are irrational," She pointed out. "Echo says some stem from things that have happened to you."
"Sure." Crosshair's jaw locked.
Omega looked around. "Why is Tech scared of the dentist?" She asked.
Her mind briefly brought her back to Nala Se's home. To the 'reconditioning' room.
Crosshair seemed to be thinking the same thing. "Pretty sure you know that already."
Omega nodded. Still, she shuffled a bit, wanting to know more. About them, about their life.
About their mother.
Selfish as the idea was, Omega craved to know more about their shared mother. About who she was, what life had been like with her outside of testing.
How she cared, if she did.
"I can hear you thinking," Crosshair complained. "Spit it out."
Omega bit her lip, glancing to the unaware people around them. No one was close enough to really hear them, not unless they yelled.
So, she turned to Crosshair. "What was our mother like?"
He stilled. "That's your question? Seriously?" He sent her a small glare.
Omega jumped. "Well–" She fumbled. "I just- wanted to know. Seeing as, you know- you guys knew her for a while."
"For too long." Crosshair corrected with a huff. "She's not worth knowing."
She frowned. "You don't know that."
Crosshair raised a brow. "Trust me," He bit out. "I know."
Omega felt anger rising in her. "Can't you just tell me a little?" She pushed. "Just the good parts?"
Crosshair laughed, cruel and cold. "You think there were good parts?" He asked, sarcastic. "You're funny. She doesn't know how to care."
She froze.
That wasn't true, Omega knew that. She knew, because she was the one starving for days on end while Nala Se was off looking for them.
Nala Se had spent every waking moment of Omega's time with her obsessing over her brothers, how could he think she didn't care?
"Nala Se abandoned me," Omega hissed, molten hot rage coursing through her as she gripped her seat. "Because she was too busy thinking about you."
"So, what?" Crosshair asked, suddenly equally as angry beside her. "You wanted to see what we had that you didn't? Wanted to know what was so special about us?"
He could feel disapproving stares from behind him at his volume and tone.
"So what if I did?!" Omega stood, yelling. The others in the waiting room startled at the venom in her tone. "Is it so bad that I want to know why I wasn't enough?"
"I'd consider myself lucky, in your shoes." Crosshair near snarled, leaning forward to meet her glare.
His voice was chillingly level as he spoke. "You have no idea what it's like to be on the receiving end of her 'affection'."
"Well I want to know!" Omega cried, throwing her arms up in frustration. "I want to know what it's like to have a mother that cares!"
"She didn't fucking care!" Crosshair snagged her arm, tugging her back into her seat as he gave the surrounding people apologetic looks for the disruption.
Omega opened her mouth to retort. "Shut up." Crosshair hissed, tapping her hard on the shoulder. "Just– stop. We're going back to the house soon."
She crossed her arms with a huff.
They didn't speak until Tech escaped the office. He waved goodbye to the dentist politely, despite trying to run. The door shut, and he turned back to his siblings.
He froze when he saw their faces.
"Oh." He blinked, wincing at the taste of metal in his mouth and the rage in their stances. "Did– I miss something?"
"No." Crosshair snapped, standing. "Let's just get out of here."
He turned and stalked off without another word. Tech waited for Omega to march after him to follow, glancing around to the others in the waiting area.
He swore he heard mumbles of pity as he rushed after them.
They got to the car, and awkwardly piled in. Tech looked at Omega, who curled up against the window seat as she glared outside.
Crosshair drove a bit faster than usual. Tech was only slightly glad, knowing the sooner he got home, the sooner he could get out of this car, and wash out his mouth.
He leaned his head on the window, watching rain begin to his the ground as they drove.
When they arrived home, Crosshair was first out. He slammed his door shut, shouldering past a confused Wrecker.
"Next time." Crosshair hissed to Hunter as he met him in the doorway. "You warn me. And she stays."
Hunter glanced over to an equally stompy Omega and nodded slowly. "Alright?"
Crosshair stalked up the stairs, and the door shut with a small slam.
Omega glared up the stairs after him, then turned and made her way to the living room. She planted herself on the couch firmly, turning her face into a pillow with her arms folded.
Hunter blinked in confusion. "Tech?" He tried to gauge anything from the youngest brother.
Tech just shrugged and made a break for the bathroom.
"What's up with them?" Wrecker asked, voice low. Hunter shrugged. "Beats me."
The rest of the day went on as if nothing had happened. A habit after anger in their house.
Omega looked up from the pillow when she smelt food being cooked. She turned over, glancing over the back of the couch towards the kitchen.
Hunter was stirring something in a pan, mumbling to himself as he prepped dinner.
Omega shuffled in after a moment, sitting up at the table. He regarded her with a small smile.
"Hey," He greeted calmly. Omega hummed in return.
"Wanna tell me why you were decompressing on the couch for two hours?" Hunter asked, tone light.
Omega shrugged. "Crosshair."
Hunter didn't outwardly react. "Why're you angry at him?" He asked, tucking a strand of stray hair back behind his ear.
His hair had been tied up to avoid getting it into the pan, but he winced as he put down the spoon to fix the poorly done hair tie.
"He was rude." Omega accused angrily. "He said that Nala Se didn't care about you guys."
Hunter froze. He slowly turned, hands still grabbing at his hair. Omega startled at the way his eyes were slightly widened.
He turned back to the cooker, and finished fixing his hair. "That's quite an accusation." He said simply.
"But that's what he said!" Omega said. "How could he think that?"
"Omega," Hunter started softly. He paused for a moment, in thought. "What do you remember most about Nala Se?"
She blinked, thinking it over. "She was always talking about you," She answered carefully. "About how she wanted you guys back."
Omega swore she saw him shiver. "Alright," He nodded. "And what about when she wasn't talking about us? When it was just you two."
She found she didn't like what she remembered. "It was–" She mumbled, rubbing her arm. "–bad."
Hunter nodded in understanding. "What you remember," He explained gently. "Is what the rest of us lived with. All the time."
Oh.
She stared at Hunter. "How she treated us was not the same as caring." He told her.
"Never, even for a second, think that it was."
Omega nodded slowly. Hunter sighed, a little tired, as he turned back to the food.
"That being said," He continued. "How was Crosshair being 'rude'?"
"He said that I was only here to find out why you were so special." Omega muttered. "And he called me lucky, even though you guys always say what I went through was bad. How is that lucky?"
Hunter stared quiet for a while. He was gathering his thoughts, shoulders tensing.
"I think," He hesitated. "I think Crosshair's just a bit jealous you were ignored."
Omega stared at him.
"That's an oversimplification," Hunter waved his hand. "But you know that saying, 'the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence'? That's what this is. Crosshair didn't want her attention, you did. It's not a bad thing."
She nodded slowly. "It's easy to forget there were only ever short straws with Nala Se." Hunter said bitterly. "But Crosshair didn't mean anything bad, not really. It's okay to want to know things about her."
Omega hesitated. "Were there ever any good times?" She asked. She need to know. Needed to know that her curiosity wouldn't get her anymore hurt today.
Hunter's face fell. He took a long moment to answer.
"No." He admitted, soft. "I'm sorry, Omega."
She sighed, sad, but nodded. "It's okay," She mumbled. "At least I know."
Hunter smiled tiredly at her before turning away again. "Why don't you go get the others?" He suggested. "This is just about ready."
Omega nodded, perking up a little before hopping off her seat and rushing off.
"Hunter says its dinner time!" She called into the living room. She heard Wrecker's enthusiastic response and Echo grumbled complaints of moving.
She made her way into the extention, where the van was parked. She saw a familiar pair of socks poking out from under the van.
"Tech!" She called. "Hunter says it's time for food!"
"One minute." Tech answered from under the van. Omega rolled her eyes with a laugh.
"Double time, Tech!" Hunter yelled from the kitchen. "Don't make me drag you again."
Tech's response was lost as Omega swung around the door to stomp upstairs.
She stopped outside of Tech and Crosshair's room, hesitating. She took a deep breath, and knocked on the door.
"Crosshair?" She called into the door. "Hunter says to come down."
"Go away." Is the immediate response.
Omega huffed, glancing down the hall before pushing the door open. "Cross–"
Crosshair hopped, spinning around to face her quickly. He was holding their cat, Gonky, and they both jumped.
"Don't just barge in-!" He hissed. Gonky's complaints were also well known as he hissed and struggled out of Crosshair's arms.
"Sorry!" Omega moved to let Gonky out.
They stood awkwardly for a moment. "Move." He said simply, stepping around her as he trudged down the stairs.
Omega frowned, following him.
When she got there, everyone had already sat down. Tech was in his usual spot, next to Crosshair tonight as the two spoke quietly.
Hunter was dishing out the food, moving to sit at the head of the table. Echo smiled at her, offering the spot beside him.
She sat up, across from Crosshair.
Wrecker came in behind her, sitting down and sighing contently. "Thanks Hun'er." He grinned across the table.
Hunter nodded his acknowledgement and Wrecker dug in. Omega watched the others carefully, and the silence got awkward quickly.
"So," Echo cleared his throat, obviously feeling the same tension she did. "Tech, how'd it go today?"
Tech startled, looking up as he was addressed. "Fine." He answered shortly. "She was expecting Wrecker, but overall my oral hygiene is as it needs to be."
Echo hummed. Wrecker tilted his head. "Those are this week?" He asked. At Echo's nod, he groaned. "Man, I thought I had another week for mental prep. When's it my turn?"
"Tomorrow." Tech told him. Another groan followed.
Hunter shot him a sympathetic look from across the table. "Don't worry, Wreck," He soothed with a small grin. "I'll hold your hand."
Wrecker glared from across the table. "Don't baby me, sarge." He grumbled.
Crosshair rolled his eyes. "You wouldn't be allowed in anyway, Hunter." Tech spoke around a mouthful, missing the joke. "The dentist said herself that you were a distraction."
Echo snorted, sharing a look with Crosshair. Hunter had the decency to look offended.
"I am not a distraction." He argued immediately.
Tech shrugged. "She seemed to think so," He said simply. "She was quite glad you weren't there today."
Crosshair huffed a laugh. "No hard feelings, Hunter." He shrugged. "It's not your fault no one told you what a waiting room was."
Wrecker and Tech shared a laugh as Hunter scowled.
Omega watched them with a small smile. Crosshair caught her eye, and his grin dropped before he returned to his food.
They continued eating in a much more comfortable silence.
Omega excused herself once she had finished, and watched her brother's move onto their usual evening activities.
Tech and Wrecker tackled clean-up. They spoke quietly, occasionally breaking out into shared laughter or slight debate as they washed the dishes and wiped down the table.
They were happy, Omega could see it on their faces.
Hunter had joined Omega in the living room, sighing as he sank into the chair. From the haggard look on his face, she knew he would be asleep by the end of the hour.
He had already tilted his head back and shut his eyes.
She stifled her laugh and turned around again. Echo was on his wheelchair tonight, going through their pantry for desert while Tech and Wrecker moved around him.
He swatted Wrecker's wandering hand as it neared his snack in warning.
Omega spied Crosshair slipping outside after everyone had finally settled, going about their individual tasks.
It was dark, and cold, so she found herself shuffling past the others to follow him.
She opened the door and froze.
Crosshair was smoking. He stilled when their eyes met, and she fought the urge to gag at the smell that floated around them.
She opened her mouth. "Do not." Crosshair warned, low and dangerous.
Her mouth shut. "Not one word." He hissed, but didn't send her away. Instead, he grumbled about "a wasted cigarette" as he put it out on the porch, stepping on it.
Omega watched him clean up the evidence. "I didn't know you did that." Was all she managed to say.
"I don't." Crosshair lied immediately. "I quit around six months ago."
She tilted her head. "That doesn't look like quitting to me." She mumbled.
He rolled his eyes, sitting down. Omega joined him, much to his annoyance.
"Why aren't you inside with the others?" He asked, bitterness obvious as he fished through his pockets.
She shrugged as he pulled out mints. "I was wondering why you came out here." She told him. "Because it's pretty late to be out here."
Crosshair hummed, chewing the mint gum.
Omega fidgeted with the hem of her shirt. "I'm sorry," She said eventually. "For yelling at you, earlier."
Another hum.
"I just–" She took a deep breath. "–I just wish I knew her."
"I'm glad you didn't." Crosshair said simply. "She's a horrible person who'd only hurt you."
Omega blinked, looking up to her brother. "She may have been our mother on paper," He muttered. "But that doesn't mean she was in any way good. I'm glad she–"
He fell quiet. Omega leaned in to catch the end of his sentence.
"–I'm.. glad she didn't hurt you the way she hurt us."
She jumped. Crosshair wouldn't look at her, blowing a rather large bubble with the gum before popping it, the sound echoing for just a moment.
Omega looked at the grass. "She wanted you guys to come home," She said after a few minutes. "She checked the house phone everyday for a phone call."
"I'd rather get hit by a bus than go back." Crosshair told her. "She only wanted us so she could hurt us."
"She loves you." Omega said, a bit desperately. She wanted him to understand. She needed him to know.
Nala Se said so herself.
"It wasn't real." Crosshair muttered. Omega felt herself choke on air.
"How do you know?" She asked, anger rising just as quickly as before. "She said it. Everyday– about you and Hunter and Tec—"
"Omega!" Crosshair's voice rose. She jumped, looking to him.
He took a moment to gather himself. When he was calmed, he turned to her.
"It doesn't matter if it was real or not, at the end of the day." Crosshair began.
"If she had really 'loved' us," He snapped, gripping his knees. "Then she never would have hurt us in the first place. Going through what we went through—"
Crosshair looked into the window, catching a glimpse of his brothers in the window. The were happy, grinning wide in the kitchen light.
He almost smiled, sighing softly as he turned back. His anger faded into something sadder.
"—what we went through," He continued quietly. "Is something I'm glad you only heard about in stories."
Omega watched him carefully. He took a shaky breath, hitching slightly.
"I'm not- negating that she wanted to care." Crosshair said softly. "I just don't think she's capable of it. Not really."
Omega opened her mouth to speak. "I don't care what she said." He interrupted. "I don't believe it. Not after what she put us through. Even if she meant it, I'm never going to forgive her for what she did to us."
She drew her knees to her chest. She nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt a soft hand card through her hair.
"That includes you." Crosshair whispered softly.
Omega relaxed into his side with a small smile.
"Thank you, Crosshair." She mumbled.
If he smiled in return, he would never admit it. "Come on," He muttered, pushing her off him. "Let's go inside. It's cold."
She smiled wider, hopping up and following him inside. "Does this mean you forgive me?" She asked as she pulled open the door.
Crosshair rolled his eyes. "You never needed to apologise." He responded.