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“Tech? Are you okay?” Omega was staring intently at him, having asked yet another question and apparently not receiving a prompt enough reply.
“Yes, Omega, I am fine.” He sighed, adjusting his goggles as an excuse to massage the bridge of his nose, “And in answer to your question, the Marauder has a maximum atmospheric speed of 850 km/h, though we will never attain that speed in full due to extraneous forces.”
Omega scrunched her lip, deep in thought, “Like friction?” she inquired
“Yes.” Tech answered plainly
Just then Echo and Wrecker joined them in the cockpit.
“Are we there yet?” Wrecker bellowed, “I’m bored. There’s nothing to do out here!”
Tech grimaced at the noise and moved a hand to rest on his stomach as it twisted ominously.
“Thus why space is called ‘space’ and not ‘stuff’” Echo quipped, and Wrecker smacked him with his Lula.
The two were going back and forth when Hunter took his seat behind Tech and noticed his uncharacteristic silence at their squabble.
“Tech?” Hunter furrowed his brow, “what’s going on?”
“I- have a headache.” He admitted, fairly abashed. He shifted his gaze downward and continued to count his breaths- in for four, hold for four, out -
The ship fell silent at the candor of his concession. Echo turned over his shoulder, “Migraine?”
Tech swallowed hard and didn’t say anything, nodding his head with minimal movement
“Aw, Tech, why didn’tcha say something?” Wrecker boomed with his usual enthusiasm, earning him a glare from both Echo and Hunter.
“Oh, ah-“ he started in (at least Wrecker’s version) of a whisper, “Tech, why didn’t ya say something?”
“I’ve taken my medications,” was the only answer he offered
“And you still feel bad?” Asked Omega in earnest concern
“It is just a headache.”
Echo and Hunter shared a look, “ just a headache ” never led to anything good-
Hunter stood and put a hand on Tech’s shoulder, “Why don’t we sit in the back for a bit? Echo can handle the helm here.”
Echo offered a thin smile and nodded at Tech when he raised his head.
“I am going to assume that is not merely a suggestion.” Tech mused, secretly grateful for the reprieve and massaging his temple as Hunter followed him out.
…
“When did this one start?”
“About an hour ago.”
Hunter approached him with the ice pack, wrapping it in a clean bandana, “Can you show me where?”
He watched as Tech slowly traced from the left of his temple, to the base of his neck, down to his shoulder blade. Hunter raised his eyebrows at the span of pain, but said nothing. Chastising his brother would help neither of them now, they just need to head off this migraine.
“And you’re nauseous?” Hunter asked, standing in front of him and holding the ice pack to his head. Tech replaced Hunter’s hands with his own and nodded.
“More so, now.” He admitted, closing his eyes to help with the overstimulation. “Moving was-” he started, but trailed off shaking his head, ‘not optimal’ he thought to himself to finish the sentiment.
Tech heard muffled shuffling while Hunter moved about the cabin, then felt him settle beside himself on the bunk and place his own hand on the ice pack to hold it up.
Tech sighed and let his hand fall to cradle his stomach, both of them shifting so that his head was resting on Hunter’s shoulder.
The serenity didn’t last though, as Tech’s stomach twisted and he sat up straight in a panic, his eyes shooting open.
“Sorry-” he clasped a hand over his mouth and hurried to the refresher.
Collapsing to his knees, Tech’s face contorted and he hugged his stomach, gagging painfully. Hunter maneuvered himself in the scarce space available so that he was as close as possible, clasping a hand on the back of his neck to help ground him. Tech would have been embarrassed of the whimpering moan that managed to escape his lips if his head weren’t pounding so fiercely.
“I know. I’m here.” Hunter said, in what felt like a pitiful attempt at comfort, “Try and relax.”
“I-“ Tech started to speak but was cut off by another gag, this one proving more productive. He ducked his head as he vomited, clenching his eyes shut as every slight movement sent a shock of pain through his skull.
“Breathe, vod.” He consoled. Hunter produced the ice pack and held it to his temple once more as Tech continued to retch pitifully.
He then coughed, spat, and leaned into Hunter’s shoulder when he was done.
His heaving chest gradually slowed, “…Sorry-” he breathed, “that was… unexpected.”
“When are you going to stop apologizing for this?” Hunter responded, not unkindly, “Do you think you’re done?”
“I…” he started, then seemed to consider the question, “ I am not certain.”
“Are you ready to try lying down? Or do you want to sit up for a bit longer?”
“I am not sure I should leave-“
“I’ll grab you a bin,” Hunter started, “don’t worry about that. Do you want to lie down?”
Tech closed his eyes and nodded slowly, though he very much did not want to move again. Hunter slipped an arm under Tech’s and all but pulled him to his feet. Tech swayed, groaned, and pressed the top of his head into Hunter’s chest as he held onto him.
“Take your time,” Hunter said softly
They eventually made their way back to Hunter’s bunk, his being on the bottom level while Tech’s was up top
“Do you want a hypo?”
“We should not waste-“
“Tech, it’s not wasting,” Hunter said firmly, “it’s using. This is what they’re made for and why we have them.”
Tech still shook his head as he laid down, almost immediately turning on his side and scrunching in on himself.
“Alright. But if you puke again, you’re getting the hypo.” Hunter threatened under his breath, gently pushing Tech’s knees down from his chest to make enough room for him to sit.
Tech mumbled indistinguishably and pressed his head into Hunter’s thigh, the pressure alleviating some of the discomfort he felt.
“Tech?” Omega’s voice poked in from the cockpit, concerned and uncertain. Echo was not far behind, “C’mon, Omega.” He coaxed, gently grabbing her wrist and trying to steer her back to the front room.
“I’m just-“ she started, twisting out of Echo’s grip and running up to where the two were sitting, “he needs a friend.” She stressed, laying Lula beside him on the bunk
Tech raised his head to look at her, smiling weakly, “Thank you, Omega.”
She returned his smile as Echo grabbed her hand again, gently pulling her out of the room and mouthing “sorry” to Hunter.
When the pair was alone again, Tech let his head sink back in place and Hunter gently massaged small circles on his temple.
…
Tech was only aware that he had fallen asleep from the fact that he was now being softly roused from it. He felt a strong hand on his shoulder, shaking him slightly and his head pulsed in objection to sudden consciousness.
“Tech,” Hunter’s voice broke through the haze, “It’s been an hour; time for your meds.”
Tech tried to shake his head, but the moment proved too much and he twisted over the side of the bunk, gagging harshly but unproductively.
He hadn’t even caught his breath before he felt a pinch on his neck and heard the hiss of a hypo spray.
“I warned you.” Hunter said in a weak attempt at humor.
“That you did.” Tech managed to croak out between gasps, “It hurts.”
“I know,” Hunter empathized “this’ll help. We just got to give it a minute.”
Ten minutes in, Tech released the tension he was holding in his shoulders. With each minute he continued to relax, gradually unscrunching himself with every exhale.
“Is it helping?” Hunter asked, already well aware of the answer
Tech sighed and nodded, slowly blinking his eyes open as a test. When it didn’t result in a stab of pain, he gingerly turned so he was laying on his back.
“You don’t have to try just yet, but I got you some water.”
“Thank you.” Tech sighed, pushing himself up to a sitting position and taking the canteen, though not drinking from it just yet.
“Of course.” Hunter wanted to say more, but he wasn’t exactly sure what more.
Luckily Tech broke the silence,
“I do suppose it would have been less hassle to do that from the start.” He bemused, seemingly trying to make light of the situation.
That in itself irritated Hunter, though he wasn’t exactly sure why, “You know, the next time your rescue meds don’t work, I-“ he started, about to launch into a disorganized rant about taking care of himself, when Tech cut him off,
“You will hear about it.” He stated plainly, “From me.”
Hunter paused; that was… not the rebuttal he was anticipating.
“Good.” was all he managed in response at first, then he finally figured out what it was he had been wanting to say earlier, “You know none of us like to see you hurting, Tech.”
“Yes, Sarge.”
“Hey- I’m not speaking as your CO right now.” He faltered, again finding himself searching for the right words, “I- we -“
Tech turned his head to look him in the eyes, “I understand, Hunter.”