Chapter Text
Thunder rolled softly, rain pattering against the roof.
Wrecker curled up in his bed, turning around every so often. He couldn’t sleep, no matter how hard he tried. It wasn’t the storm keeping him up, he found thunder kinda nice honestly. It was comforting, hearing the rumbling echo around him.
No, it was something else. It was Crosshair.
He hadn’t been the same since, well a while ago, but this was different. He was sadder, barely talked and seemed detached in a way. He didn’t smile, or scowl. Just stared. And it worried him.
He thought about how Crosshair didn’t call them for help. It wasn’t because he thought he didn’t need it, they all knew that. But he still didn’t tell them, just said it was fine when it clearly wasn’t. He was shaking when they found him for storms sake.
Wrecker didn’t want to upset him though so he just…didn’t ask. He still talked to him of course, he was his brother after all. But he still felt hurt that his little brother didn’t ask for help.
Maybe it was because they left him behind. He winced as he felt a pang of guilt. He really didn’t want to leave him behind on that platform, but it seemed like what he wanted. He still missed him regardless.
Thunder boomed suddenly, causing him to jump. This one was louder than the others, the rumbling lasting longer. He reached for Lula, only to find that she’d fallen to the floor.
“Sorry!” He whispered, bending down to pick her up. As he did, he noticed a shadow pass his door. It was only a second, barely there. He stiffened, slowly getting to his feet. He gently placed Lula on his pillow with a soft, wait here, and made his way to the door. He pressed his ear to it, hearing distant mumbling for a second before it went silent. Then feet shuffling.
He gently pushed the door, it creaked as it opened despite his best efforts, but he couldn’t see anyone. He heard another door open, stepping out to follow the sound. He made it just in time to see someone noiselessly slip out the front door.
Crosshair. He’d know those silver curls anywhere. But what was he doing up this late? If he couldn’t sleep, then why was he going outside? Something about that question made his stomach turn. Crosshair didn’t do things without reason. When he made a choice, he was dead set on sticking to it.
Which is why Wrecker opened the door and stepped outside as the rain began to pick up.
-
Wrecker stumbled as he walked, he could barely see! It was so dark out, if it hadn’t been for the few lights dangling from some houses he wouldn’t have made it past the front door.
“Crosshair!” He called, only for it to be drowned out by another clap of thunder. He frowned. It was starting to get on his nerves. He was going around in circles; Crosshair obviously wasn’t down here. Which left only one option.
Wrecker glanced up, catching the gentle slope of Pabu’s mountain. He followed it up, swallowing nervously as it loomed over him, made all the more menacing as lightning flashed and his eyes caught the top of it. It’s ok, he could do this. For Crosshair.
He shakily made his way up, keeping away from the ledge. Ok, he was doing good, great even! Just keep going, that’s all he had to do. Just keep going up and up and- As he made his way around a corner, he froze.
Crosshair was there. Standing.
On the ledge.
“Crosshair?” He whispered. He flinched, looking back in surprise.
“Wrecker.” He said softly, relaxing as he saw him. Wrecker couldn’t get a good enough look at him, but something was off. He stepped forward to see better. He looked…weird. His eyes seemed empty almost.
“Cross. Hey.” Wrecker said. “What are you doing?”
Crosshair shrugged. “Nothing.” It didn’t look like nothing.
“Hey um…is it alright if you come down? Just off the ledge please?”
Crosshair blinked. He didn’t reply, just turned to look up at the black sky.
“It’s a nice night.” He murmured. His lips turned up in a smile that never reached his eyes. Only serving to make that emptiness deeper. It sent shivers down his spine.
“Cmon Cross.” He asked, fighting a little to keep his voice from shaking. He really needed him to come down, he was so close to the edge, just one step and he’d-
Crosshair closed his eyes, tilting his head back to let the rain hit his face.
His feet shifted.
Wrecker’s heart stopped.
Instinctively, he lurched forward, plucking him off the ledge and wrapping him in a tight embrace. Crosshair was still for a moment, then started to kick and squirm. Wrecker didn’t care, just turned around and raced back down the slope.
“Wrecker put me down!” He snarled, but he didn’t listen. He just held him to his chest, pinning his arms to his side as he ran.
How could he have been so stupid? He knew that something was wrong, he should have done something. Should have asked him what was wrong, even if it made him upset. Why didn’t he say something?
He kept running, not stopping until the house was in sight. He slowed to a stop, panting hard. Crosshair still thrashed in his grip, but he didn’t let go.
“Wrecker.” He growled. “I’m fine. You can put me down now.”
“No.”
“It’s fine. I’m fine, now put me the fuck down.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m scared.” He whispered, nuzzling his head against his shoulder.
“Scared you’re gonna go back to jump off that ledge.”
Crosshair stilled, words failing him. Silence stretched between the two. Wrecker still held onto him, his feet inches from the ground.
“I’m..I’m not going to do that Wrecker.” He said finally.
“Are you?” Wrecker asked. “Or are you just gonna wait till I’m gone?”
Crosshair didn’t reply.
“Why?” Wrecker whispered.
“I…don’t know.”
“What’s wrong Cross?”
Wrecker slowly put him down, pulling back but keeping his hands on his shoulders. “It’s ok. You can tell me.”
Crosshair looked at him, then sighed deeply, unable to deny his pleading eyes.
“It’s just…I’ve done some things Wrecker. Things I can’t take back and I can’t forget them. I’ve hurt others, I’ve hurt you. And I hate myself for it. I can’t help but feel like I deserve something for what I did, that Tantiss wasn’t enough.”
“Is that why you didn’t call us?” Wrecker asked softly. Crosshair looked away. Oh. Now it made sense.
“I did some bad things too.” He whispered. Crosshair scoffed.
“I did. I hurt Tech. And Hunter, and Echo and Rex. I almost hurt Omega too.” He felt tears well up in his eyes.
He remembered those horrible moments; screaming at himself to stop as he fought and threw his brothers around like ragdolls. The terror he felt as he approached Omega, begging for someone, anyone to stop him.
Crosshair looked up at him, confused.
“But it wasn’t my fault.” He spoke. “I couldn’t control it.”
The confusion turned to shock, then horror.
“Your chip.” He whispered. “It…” Wrecker nodded.
Crosshair looked down, silent for a moment. Clenching his fists, he spoke.
“Mine did too.” He confessed.
Oh. Now things made even more sense. Wrecker felt his heart break, a few tears slipped down his cheeks.
“Cross..” he whispered. All that time, and they didn’t even know it.
“I’m sorry.” He said.
“No don’t blame yourself.” Crosshair said. “I’m the one who lied to you.”
“I’m still sorry. We shouldn’t have done that to you.”
“You didn’t deserve that.” He said quietly. “Any of that.”
Crosshair turned his head away, not wanting to believe him. But his chest hitched, he began to sniffle.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. Especially in front of you.”
“It’s alright Crossy. I’m not mad.”
Crosshair kept his head turned, unable to meet his gaze.
Wrecker pulled him close, wrapping his arms in a loose embrace.
“I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”
It was all he needed.
Crosshair wrapped his arms around Wrecker, buried his face in chest, and began to cry. Quietly at first, then louder and louder. Wrecker let him, resting his head on top of his wet hair as the storm rumbled around them.
-
Wrecker carried Crosshair all the way back to the house. He didn’t complain, didn’t want to.
They slipped inside, hastily stopping inside the bathroom to dry off. As he was helping him get out of his soaked shirt, Wrecker stopped cold at the streaks of red on his sleeves.
“Did I- “he began.
“No.” Crosshair assured him. “They’re old. Ish. Just...haven’t healed yet.”
Wrecker held back a whine as he looked him over, two long and ugly red lines stretching down his arms. He wrapped them up as best he could, Crosshair apologizing again.
They made it back to Wrecker’s room. He pulled back the covers, pulling Crosshair with him as he climbed in. He plucked Lula off his pillow and handed her to him. Crosshair gently took her, eyes trailing over her worn stitches and rubbing the soft fabric. He cuddled her, eyes growing wet. Wrecker bent over, his large form enveloping his youngest brother.
His mind wandered a bit. He should tell the others about this. But they were so comfortable, and warm, and he really didn’t want to let go of him. He felt Crosshair shift, burrowing closer.
“Thank you.” Crosshair sniffled. Wrecker planted a kiss on his head in response.
“Always here for yah Cross’ika.” He whispered. “And I always will be.”