Chapter Text
Omega knew it was only a matter of time, once things calmed down, that the fighting would begin again.
Still, it shocked her to see.
The shatter startled her and Echo on the couch, Crosshair's followed curse was expected.
"It was just a cup, Cross, no big deal–" Wrecker's soothing voice joined the spew of curses.
"Shut up!" Crosshair snapped. "Don't move, Tech, you don't have socks on."
"Hey!" Hunter had just walked in, missing the end of Crosshair's sentence. "Watch your tone."
"Fuck off." Crosshair shot back. "Don't come in the kitchen."
Hunter rose to argue, already stalking into the kitchen. "It's just a cup." Wrecker repeated. "It was an accident-"
"You broke a mug?" Hunter asked.
Whatever mood seemed to have a grip on Crosshair, whatever tone had been taken, had been taken wrong.
"Oh, I'm so sorry I made one fucking mistake!" Crosshair yelled. "Excuse me, mister fucking perfect!"
Hunter balked. "He was just asking-" Echo spoke up now, turning to look. "You don't have to be rude-"
"What part of 'fuck off' do none of you people understand?!" Crosshair snapped. "I swear– Tech, stop moving!"
Tech didn't answer, but Crosshair also didn't yell at him again. Hunter took a steeling breath.
"Did you hurt yourself?" Hunter asked.
"Like you give a fuck." Crosshair huffed.
Hunter rolled his eyes. "Can you just answer me?" He said, arms folded. "No one's mad at you over a cup–"
"Then get out of my face!" Crosshair snarled. "I'm cleaning it, leave me alone."
"Cross," Wrecker spoke up. "You're bleedin'-"
There was the sound of someone being hit. "Fuck off!"
Now several voices rose, each yelling out in unison. A mixture of, "Crosshair!" and "Don't hit him-!" Being among the most clear.
Omega couldn't see much of Tech, but watched as Hunter and Crosshair argued over Wrecker and Echo's calmer tones.
She sighed heavily, trying to tune it out. Small mistakes happen, why were they screaming about it?
She heard the clinking of glass as it was tidied up. Crosshair turned, and Omega finally caught the still growing tuffs of Tech's hair as he held the glass shards.
"Put that down!" Crosshair and Hunter yelled in unison.
Tech ignored them both, putting the glass into a bin as Echo snapped at the pair of them. Wrecker sighed heavily, tired. Tech washed his hands, face painfully blank while the shouting began to peak.
They were close to screaming when Echo finally had enough, reaching across the cough to yank himself to his feet.
"Get out!" He shouted over them. "Both of you, get out!"
Echo's declaration called for pause. No matter how bad an argument had gotten before, no one had ever been kicked out. Not once.
Hearing Echo so bluntly demand it created an even more tense environment. Hunter and Crosshair both levelled Echo with glares.
Omega watched Wrecker shuffle until he stood in front of Tech, gesturing for her to get down.
She only heard the next round of shouting. She only knew it resulted in a slamming door, and the yelling muffled.
She peeked. It was just her, Tech and Wrecker now.
Wrecker had turned to Tech, speaking lowly to him, and the youngest brother nodded along, though from the light of the overhead lamp, Omega could see something wet on his cheek.
She stared at Wrecker, unsure. He cleared his throat. "'Mega? Can you go grab some plasters and the antiseptic wipes for me?" He asked softly.
Omega nodded, quickly jumping to her feet and rushing off. She reached the medical cabinet now, barely needing to stretch as she reached for the plasters.
She hesitated, debating on picking the plan plasters over the bright, decorated plasters Hunter insisted were just for her. She grabbed both and rushed back downstairs.
Omega paused at the stairs, hearing voices.
"...sorry, again," Tech's voice was quiet, strained as he sniffed. "I'm not sure why I reacted like that."
"S'been a while since you've been 'ere to hear them scream." Wrecker responded softly. "Takes gettin' used to."
There was a pause. Then, Tech's voice rose again, a whisper. "I'm still used to screaming. Just not... just not them."
Wrecker didn't respond, so Omega took the opportunity to make her entrance. "I got the stuff!" She said, a put on enthusiasm.
Wrecker's smile was too wide to be fake. "Thanks, 'Mega!" He ushered her closer, and took the wipes.
She turned to Tech while Wrecker cleaned his hands. "I wasn't sure which kind you'd like," She explained, sheepishly showing him the plasters. "You can pick which ones you want."
Tech stared at them for a moment, eyes wide. It took a long moment for Tech to breathe again, let alone answer. He seemed completely surprised by the concept of a decision.
He blew out a long, pained breath as Wrecker cautiously reached for the spare inhaler he had learnt to keep on him.
"The.. those ones, please." Tech mumbled quietly, taking the decorated ones from her hand. Omega smiled up at him, nodding before her expression turned serious.
He paused for a minute. "Now," She said, a smile growing. "Do you want the dinosaurs or the pink ones?"
Wrecker laughed loudly.
Hours later, Omega heard the door open. She looked up from the couch, staring over the edge of her seat as Crosshair walked inside.
Echo had come in a while ago, telling them he had dropped the two off about an hours walk away. Punishment for ruining his lazy Sunday, he called it. They would either work it out or walk in silence.
It appeared that they walked in silence.
Crosshair tossed a bag of sweets at Omega, patting her head with a quick "Sorry," before he turned to the kitchen, cautiously approaching Wrecker and Tech.
They shared some quiet apologies, and Tech was happy to lean into his brothers embrace, while Wrecker chided him lightly. Crosshair snuck off upstairs after that.
Hunter had waited until Crosshair disappeared to walk in next. "C'mon." He said softly. "It's time for bed, Omega."
She sighed, but followed, walking up the stairs after calling her goodnights. Something told her Echo wanted to talk to the other two.
They got upstairs, and Omega turned to Hunter. Without looking up, he hummed for her to speak.
"Why do you and Crosshair fight all the time?" She asked with a tilt of her head. Hunter sighed heavily.
"It's complicated." He said shortly. Omega frowned, following him to his room, sitting up in his bed.
"How?" She asked. Hunter sighed again. "You guys were screaming at each other." She hesitated, but pushed. "You made Tech cry- and Wrecker was scared."
Hunter's head snapped over. "I was scared, too." She said. "It can't be so complicated that you can't explain at least a bit of it to me."
Hunter hesitated, then shut the door. He sat down beside Omega, looking tired, before he spoke to his clenched hands.
"Crosshair and I haven't always disagreed." He started. "We used to be close. We still are, sometimes."
Omega tilted her head. "But- there was an incident, during the war." Hunter's eyes grew distant. "It broke the camels back. I messed up, and I ruined everything. He's right to be angry at me."
"What did you do?" She asked, frowning. Hunter looked ghostly, but drew a long breath.
"It.. happened during the war."
Omega listened as Hunter told her of the worst mistake of his life coming back to haunt him.