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Hunter knew the responsibilities eldest sons bore. He knew it from watching the other kids from where he grew up, in the program he was admitted to when he was young. The program that promised Hunter a full life, a happy life, so long as he followed through with everything he was asked to do. Hunter was always told, by either Cody or his brother, that as the oldest, he was responsible for his younger brothers, no matter what they might think. Being different was hard on Hunter, telling his brothers they shared that burden was even harder. That stayed true when Wrecker came around, happy and always running headfirst into trouble. Hunter swore he aged twice as fast when Wrecker learnt to walk- or rather, run.
Then Crosshair came along. Things started getting steadily worse, Hunter didn't understand why, the other two definitely didn't, either. Hunter kept his head high, like the older kids did, and held his brothers tight. Crosshair was different, the opposite of Wrecker. He didn't run around yelling and asking questions with pure intent, no- he was smarter than that, and Hunter didn't know how to answer his prodding and poking questions. Crosshair huffed and puffed his way up, stubborn and inquisitive in practice. Hunter didn't know what to make of it.
Then it plummeted to its worst, just as Tech happened by them. Tech was a very small child, similar to Crosshair. The only difference was he was as curious as Wrecker, with double the vocabulary. Hunter had his work cut out by age ten, keeping Crosshair from turning Wrecker into an unruly brute and getting them kicked out from the program entirely for causing war, and keeping Tech on track and away from things he didn't want to know about. Hunter loved his brothers, through sleepless nights and exhausting days, and he wished he could've done more for them everyday.
They were separated when Tech was barely five years old.
Hunter remembers it as if it was yesterday, waking up to the doors being slammed open and their caretaker, Nala Se, pointing to his brothers and men, grown men started to grab at his brothers. Hunter couldn't remember hearing anything above his and Tech's screaming. His was of anger, Tech's of fear. Hunter remembered vividly Crosshair reaching over and biting one of the men, hard enough to draw blood, and he was cut. Hunter still can't bear look at Crosshair's eye without wincing in guilt.
Hunter remembers them holding Wrecker down. The hands forcing his face into the floor when he wasn't doing anything wrong. Hunter had gripped Tech's hand so tight he was told it bruised for days. Hunter hadn't seen it, though. Tech was carried out first, screaming himself hoarse for Hunter, for Crosshair, Wrecker- even at one point, Nala Se. She didn't even look at them as they were dragged away, one by one. Hunter to this day never found out the real details of what happened to the others, only left with the hazy sting of his own experience.
Hunter found a means of reconnection through the very thing that separated them. The system they were forced into.
Hunter never thought he'd like the idea of war until Cody pulled some strings and got him a position of power. Hunter was able to find Wrecker, find Crosshair. Eventually, he was able to sneak Tech under the radar and into the picture, too. This was a decision Hunter knew was wrong. One of the worst he'd ever made, but to see his younger brother, ten years of disconnect having changed him wholly, Hunter couldn't think to care. Caution was thrown to the wind and he got Tech a spot in his squad.
Then came five years of service. Five years of war, fighting, torture, and Hunter finally pulled them out. Hunter knew he couldn't protect his brothers from the horrors of war, he knew they understood that, too. They signed up for this, they put themselves forward with Hunter. Yet watching Crosshair and Tech pull Wrecker out of the rubble, sobbing and yelling for him to wake up burned into his memory, so did Wrecker waking up, half blind. Hunter remembered the glazed look Tech had during the first few hours of waiting, the tremble in his jaw as he tried to tell Hunter he was alright.
Hunter took a shuttering breath when he remembered Echo. They had met him after a mission with Rex, a rescue mission. Tech and Rex working together to move the hospital bed and equipment was horrific to think about. Tech stayed awake for days, marvelling and worried about Echo, a man he didn't know. It was a painful reminder of how empathetic his youngest brother really was, even after all these years. Wrecker was the same, staying with Tech when he could, curious himself. Echo was lucky to wake up to them.
Hunter was beyond proud of them.
Echo was especially lucky to stay with them. Rex refused at first, but Echo insisted. Aside from his twin, Hunter and his brothers were the closest Echo had to blood relations. It was a stretch, but Echo was willing to make that stretch, and Hunter was willing to welcome him. His brothers were, too, if you ignored Crosshair's grumbling about it. It wasnt personal, they learnt. Crosshair was just no less cruel than before their separation, it seemed to double down, in fact.
Crosshair became bitter. Hunter couldn't blame him, he himself had succumbed occasionally to his anger. He tried to hide it, he smothered it to the best of his abilities, especially around his brothers. Hunter was a cool head, a calm leader. He couldn't afford to to lose his cool. Crosshair knew this, and poked at him anyway.
If anyone hated him more than himself, it was Crosshair. Crosshair's sour nature finally turned its attention to Hunter sometime towards the end of their service. Hunter didn't blame him. Sometimes, a part of him agreed with Crosshair on many fronts, but there was no point in holding on, not anymore. The future was ahead of them, the war was over. At least, for them. Crosshair was never going to accept that, and would always pick a fight. Hunter knew better than to stop him, and only fought to calm him.
The war had changed them. The system had changed them. Hunter was left to pick up the pieces, and try as he might, it was hard.
Wrecker still couldn't see out of one eye. Blind and deaf on his left side, it had taken him months to rebalance himself. Even now, if he were tipped, it was easier to just fall. Hunter could see it in his eyes, the regret he carried. Hunter knew Wrecker considered himself responsible, too, and it pained Hunter to know Wrecker shouldered a guilt that wasn't his. Wrecker was nothing but bright around his brothers, desperate to reconnect. He had only been seven when he lost his brothers, he was ecstatic at the opportunity to get to know them properly. Permanently.
Echo was excited, too. He was new, and older than Hunter, which threw a wrench in their little cogworks for longer than Hunter was willing to admit. Echo was content to cruise with them, to learn about them as they were comfortable to share, and Hunter couldn't be more greatful for him. Echo was a rock among harsh waters, always level headed, even when Hunter's sanity threatened to crumble.
Crosshair.. Hunter wasn't sure what to make of him, still. He was angry, he was hurt. They all were, yet Crosshair took it as a personal offence when no one seemed outwardly affected. Hunter wasn't sure still what the tipping point really was for him, but if Hunter had to guess, it was Tech's readmission to the program, court ordered by Nala Se herself. It was a miracle Hunter didn't go to jail for what he did to Tech and what he almost did to Crosshair afterwards. Hunter hadn't ever pushed as far as he did with Crosshair that day, simple venom filled words spat turned violent, and Echo with Wrecker needing to hold them back and separate them for weeks.
Crosshair hadn't forgiven him, and Hunter never wanted him to.
How Tech could still look at him, Hunter would never know. Hunter had tried apologising, tears threatened to spill and words shaky as he told Tech how sorry he was for losing him so many times, but all Tech did was shake his head, and tell him he didn't mind. Hunter couldn't comprehend it. Tech didn't seem to mind much of anything, when it came to these things. Hunter knew he really did, deep down, but Tech made a point to keep his head up, like Hunter had been taught and how he taught them when they were only small, sharing a room.
Hunter would never forgive the system for taking his brothers away. Though he would forever be greatful for the people in that system who brought them back to him.
"Hunter!!" Wrecker called, breaking Hunter out of his thoughts. "Crosshair ate all the pudding again! And he won't apologise!" Hunter held in his sigh.
"Crosshair!" Echo suddenly snapped. "Don't you dare spit it at him–!"
Hunter winced when Wrecker started squealing. Loudly. Followed by Echo's loud cursing.
"Gross!" Tech's voice rose up. "That's so disgusting, Crosshair!" Followed swiftly by Echo's panicked, "No no no– don't you dare‐!!"
Another squeal. Tech's mixed with Wrecker's, this time. Someone started running. Hunter stood, reaching for his hair brush as he quickly got his hair out of his face, wandering outside. He could smell the pudding before he saw it, mixed with saliva, and tried not to gag as he took the steps two at a time. Wrecker had positioned himself on the couch, Tech hiding behind him but peeking around to tell Crosshair how unsanitary he was being. Crosshair was advancing, grinning with a spoonful of what Hunter hoped was fresh, unchewed pudding.
"Crosshair." Hunter said from the stairs, folding his arms and trying to appear more unbothered by the possibility of a ruined couch than he was. "If you get that on my couch, you're dealing with the cleaning charge." Crosshair rolled his eyes, his grin dropping as he turned to flip Hunter off. "Ha!" Wrecker cheered, pointing at Crosshair. "Loser! Now you can't get it on us—"
A well aimed spoonful of pudding landed right between Wrecker's eyes. Tech shrieked and ducked away, completely disappearing as Wrecker flailed, trying to scrub it off. Echo groaned. "That's so gross." He complained, and Crosshair shrugged, his grin returning. "It was deserved." Crosshair told Echo, slinging an arm around his shoulder and pressing close. "I paid for the pudding, it's only fair I get the last of it." Echo rolled his eyes, pulling away. "You ate all of it, dude."
Crosshair shrugged. "That's not my problem." Echo gasped sharply when Crosshair smudged his pudding covered hand on Echo's face. It was Echo's turn to scream and Crosshair laughed, short and cruel and he walked away, still chuckling to himself. Hunter rolled his eyes with a sigh, and made to walk away, too. Echo caught Wrecker's eye, and he gestured forward. Echo took a breath and dared ask. "So, is everyone staying for dinner today?"
It got awkwardly quiet. Crosshair paused, and stopped laughing. Hunter also seemed to freeze mid step, and they both turned to face Echo. He stood awkwardly, and looked for Wrecker to help back him up. "Just 'cause- y'know." Wrecker fumbled, and Echo held in his sigh. "Cody was asking, is all." Echo blinked, and Hunter seemed to drop his argument and hesitance. "He was?" Hunter asked, and Crosshair crossed his arms. "Yeah." Wrecker lied, painful obvious. "He said its been ages since he's seen us all together, and wanted to know if we were- uh, all free at some point?"
Crosshair huffed. "Last time that happened, it didn't end so well." Crosshair stared at Hunter as he spoke. Hunter waved him off. "Did he mention a day?" Hunter asked Wrecker, who shrugged lamely and lied through his teeth again. "Saturday evening." Wrecker's good eye lit up suddenly. "At that new place!" Echo winced internally. Wrecker had been obsessed with trying out the newest restaurant in the area, though it was far too expensive to go on a random Tuesday.
Echo watched Hunter's face shift as he thought. "Sure." Hunter shrugged, and Echo sighed in relief. "We're all free this Saturday, aren't we?" Hunter got muttered agreements, but Crosshair said nothing. "I'll have to check." Crosshair said sharply, and Echo saw Wrecker deflate. Crosshair would use any excuse in the book to get out of "family outings" as he called them. Hunter sighed loudly, about to complain. Tech spoke up from his spot behind the couch. "We'd appreciate it a lot if you could join." He said, looking at Crosshair, his tone recognisable. Tech's convincing tone.
Echo watched Crosshair's resolve shatter instantly and tried holding in his grin. Wrecker tried the same, but catching Echo's eyes had him ducking. Tech didn't often involve himself with discussions like this, mostly because he was nervous of overstepping the other's boundaries. However, Tech was known in their youths, when they were allowed be in each others company, to occasionally open himself up to the conversation and pick a side. The side he chose rarely lost.
Crosshair really was soft, sighing as he lost the battle of wills he seemed to be having with himself and muttering. "I'll see what I can do."
Wrecker cheered. "No promises!" Crosshair snapped, turning his attention back to Tech and softening for the smallest moment. "I mean it." He wobbled, and Tech nodded, smiling a tad bit. Crosshair walked off, grumbling about something, and Hunter turned back upstairs, reminding Wrecker of their shift soon. Echo rounded on Tech and Wrecker as soon as the trio were alone. "What was that?" Echo asked Wrecker, who shrugged and shook his head wildly. "I didn't mean to!!" Wrecker said, looking between Echo and Tech. "Honest!!"
"What if Cody can't come?" Tech whispers, too aware of Hunter's excellent hearing. "I didn't think it through!!" Wrecker groaned into his hands. Echo bit back a sigh. "We'll just-" Echo pulled out his phone, showing them the messages between him and Cody briefly. "We'll just ask now, see if we can reschedule if he can't." Wrecker sighed, leaning on Echo. "Crosshair won't come if we do reschedule." Tech reminded him, and Echo grumbled. "Then we make it lunch." Tech shook his head but didn't fight it any further. Echo frantically typed.
Are you free on Saturday evening?
They waited anxiously. The response came in a few minutes later. It felt like an eternity.
I should be.
The group shared a sigh of relief, until another text popped up.
Why?
That was never good. "What do we tell him?" Wrecker asked, looking at Echo. "You know he's worried about them, too." Echo shrugged, glancing at Tech. "He'll understand." Echo told him, and went back to typing. Tech watched quietly as Wrecker mumbled his doubts.
We've got Hunter and Crosshair free for the evening. Was wondering if you wanted to join us for dinner at a restaurant?
Echo waited again for a response. A bubble appeared, disappeared, then reappeared. Echo knew this wasn't going to be the response he wanted before the text came through.
Last time they had a meal together, I had to taser them. Are we sure this is a good idea?
Echo winced. That was painfully true. Wrecker looked at them, but gave Echo no opinion. Tech seemed to be thinking about it, and after a moment of silence, he spoke up. "They won't willingly spend time together alone." Tech's eyes were pinned to Echo's phone. "They need a push, this might be good." Echo nodded, smiling a bit. "Yeah, besides, Cody tasered them once, he'll do it again." Wrecker laughed too loudly for Echo's joke to have landed properly. Echo focused on typing.
Sure we're sure.
Echo gave it some thought and kept typing.
They need this. Bad. We're thinking the new place that just opened, you in or out?
"If he isn't," Wrecker said, tapping Echo's shoulder. "What do we do?" Echo looked at Tech, who glanced at Echo before he looked away, eyes returning to his hands. "We'll figure it out." Echo assured him. "They're brothers, they live together, they have to get along at some point. Forced or not." Wrecker nodded, seeming more assured now. Cody's answer appeared on the screen.
Why not? I'm bringing Rex, though. He misses you guys.
Echo smiled, and hurried to answer over Wrecker's celebrations.
Tell him he's welcome. Let us know if anyone else is coming. :)
Echo put his phone away and turned to Wrecker and Tech. "Make sure your calenders are cleared, boys." Echo told them, a grin on his face. "We're forcing this brotherly rivalry to end, and hopefully the foods good, too." Wrecker laughed, clapping Tech on the back. "This'll be easy!" Wrecker said, walking off. "They'll be best friends in no time!"
Wrecker disappeared, and Echo watched Tech twitch. "Hey," Echo said softly, bumping his shoulder against Tech's. "It'll be alright. They'll keep it together for an evening, you watch." Tech nodded, though he didn't look convinced. Echo's smile faded a bit, but he shrugged it off. "Even if they don't," Echo tried instead, nudging Tech again. "At least we'll get a nice meal out of it, right?" Tech paused before snorting, nodding again and looking brighter than before. "Guess so." He mumbled, and Echo smiled wider. "We'll see." Tech said, turning to leave. Once he did, Echo deflated.
"Yeah," Echo sighed, a deep part of him deeply regretting this already. "Guess we will."