Chapter Text
Awkwardly Crosshair feelings the coarse end of the lighter run against his finger as he repeatedly strikes it.
His eyes watching carefully as sparks come and go as they wished, while he was stuck desperately trying to force it to do as he wills.
He needed this damnit!
Hell or high water he was going to get this stupid lighter to work, though preferably that would be now.
This was all he had.
One measly stick of freedom from this prison he had to call home.
There was always the promise of eventually getting out, when their purpose was fulfilled or whatever, but that was enough to keep a Reg going.
Not him.
He needed something more.
But more didn’t exist here or anywhere.
So he lit up and sighed away his problems.
That is except for now, of course, because this stupid kriffing lighter wouldn’t-
“Cross?” A voice asks from the door.
Flinching at the sudden noise he curses himself for being so consumed by his want for this to not even hear the door open.
And now someone knew.
Turning towards the door with a tentativeness that was largely foreign to him, he was confronted with the sadly concerned expression of Wrecker. His shadow falling across the supply closet he’d turned into his sanctuary like an intruding monster.
Wrecker may have been his vod, but this was his.
So how did he find him?
He wasn’t bright enough to figure something like this out on his own.
This confused expression amplified by soft shadowed light making easy for Wrecker to reply, “99 said you’d be in here.”
It came out barely above a whisper, but for Cross it felt as if he’d gotten struck in the face by one of the older cadets.
Head carinning onto the hard cold metallic floor and world splitting apart around him he has to swallow down his fear at what those words implied.
Sure he could handle Wrecker, that would just take a little convincing to keep him quiet, but 99?
That brought in a whole host of other problems. Problems he hadn’t even thought he’d have to consider. Though there was something else, something new, that began to simmer under his skin.
Guilt.
This strange sensation ran through his whole body and coiled itself around his brain. He could handle a lecture from Hunter, he expected to come sooner or later, but 99 wasn’t Hunter.
He was older, wiser, and one of the few people in this godforsaken place that cared about them.
And he knew his dirty little secret now.
Racing for some way to stop this incessant downward spiral he’d caught himself in he spits out, “What do you want Wrecker?”
“I just wanted to know where you were.” He mutters apologetically, stepping into the closet finally allowing the door behind him to slide shut.
The light slipping away behind him until they’re both consumed by total darkness. The small sparks made by the lighter being the way for either of them to know where the other is.
Glaring at him, or more accurately his general area, before going back to looking at the lighter. “Well you found me, no need to stick around.” He hisses, ensuring that even Wrecker could pick up on his disdain for him at the moment.
“How long have you-”
“That is between me and me alone, Wrecker.” He snaps, turning his head towards his brother as he does only for a stable flame to finally appear.
Their heads turn in unison as they both stare at the tiny flickering flame in shock. Such a small thing held with in it unimaginable promise.
Eagerly Cross snatches up the cigarette he’d set aside in his struggle to get the damnedable lighter to work. Placing it over the flame it properly begins to let out small sparks and smoke, a grin appearing on his face as his mission is now complete.
As Wrecker watches this uncomfortable display he wrinkles his nows, while Crosshair brings the cigarette to his lips and takes a deep breath.
As Cross visibly relaxes Wrecker cringes at what he preserves to be his vod having fallen from grace.
“Are you just going to stand there and judge me?” Crosshair pointedly asks, smoke freely flowing from his mouth and blowing it in Wrecker’s direction. His hand starting to fidget with the lighter while he does, opening and closing it absentmindedly.
“I don’t really know what else to do.” Wrecker nervously admits, preparing for the backlash that he would so inevitably receive for it.
With a heavy sigh, and letting out another plume of smoke, he states, “I stole them from one of the older cadets. He got it off an instruct I think, but it doesn’t matter anymore.”
“It will when you run out!” Wrecker nervously points out, coming out almost like a squeak despite he’s oddly deep sounding voice as he imagines what his younger brother will succumb to to get more of his prized possessions.
“Who says I haven’t already?” He grins in response while Wrecker’s face drops into a visceral state of shock.
Groaning at Crosshair’s cockyness he goes and sits down next to his vod with a defeated disposition. “You got a plan when Hunter catches you?”
“No, I’ll deal with it when I deal with it.” He mutters harshley, turning his body away from his vod despite the darkness.
Wrecker nudging his shoulder in response Cross looks at him and through the haze he sees his brother’s usual bright smile beaming back at him. “Then I’ll back you up when that times comes!”
“Why? You clearly think its a poor choice of a past time.”
“It helps you relax, right?”
Crosshair nods his head slowly running his finger along the cog in the machine that is the lighter that strikes the flame. Its off putting texture feeling nice in the face of the unknowns of his future.
Because he may have an idea of it, but the possibilities therein is still largely in the dark.
Anything and everything could happen to him and his vods, and they’d never see it coming.
With these ideas filling his head he acknowledges Wrecker’s statement with a mutter, “Yes.”
“Then I’m with you.” Wrecker assures.
Regarding Wrecker with suspicion he could guess what he really wanted him to do.
He wanted him to take care of himself and the rest of the Batch. If there was one thing he had over Hunter it was his willingness to get into more emotional topics.
“I’ll hold you to that.” He shot back with a creaky grin, shaking Wrecker slightly with his hand he can’t help but let himself feel reassured by this all.
Maybe, just maybe, this could end up going in his favor.