Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The First Month:

Wrecker and Omega seem incapable of shutting up about her. That's how Crosshair learns her name.

Mana.

Wrecker raves about the pastries she makes. ‘The best in the galaxy!’. She likes cooking, watching sunsets, and helping with Mr. Eenta’s garden. Crosshair doesn’t know who the fuck that is.

Omega claims Mana is ‘the coolest surfer on Pabu’ and wants to learn from her. Mana goes surfing most mornings. She free-dives in the afternoons.

At first, he suffers their yapping with a roll of his eyes. He has never spoken to Mana, preferring to keep his distance. As the days pass, however, he finds himself mutely collecting these tidbits of information about her, unsure what to do with them all.

She likes long walks on the beach, yellow hibiscus flowers, noodles with a lot of broth, and mint-flavored tea. She leans down when she talks to Omega, always on the girl’s level. She seems a bit shy to Crosshair, but her smiles come quickly and linger in her dark eyes.

Sometimes a sea breeze blows in and lifts her curly hair in a wild haze, a sight best appreciated from afar.

The Second Month:

Crosshair has found a nook within a verdant hill that overlooks one of Pabu’s sand beaches. He likes to sit in the shade and listen to the waves.

He becomes a regular once he finds out this is where Mana surfs. She comes at dawn with her board and goes right in. She seems focused and attuned to the water. The one time she is seriously overtaken and knocked down by dangerous waves, Crosshair almost comes out of hiding.

When her head finally emerges, he breathes an unexpected sigh of relief.

She doesn’t know him. No point in getting worked up.

After surfing she sits on the beach with wet hair and glistening skin to watch the sunrise. One time she lingers for a while, wiping tears from her face. Crosshair wonders what is going through her mind.

She asks Hunter about him once. Crosshair overhears her saying she thought there was one more brother.

Crosshair thinks it’s best she doesn't inquire about him. He's not like the rest of the squad. Watching her from a distance is good enough for him, though he would love to see that surf suit up close.

The Third Month:

He is at a different beach early one morning hoping to be alone when he sees Mana's outline. Crosshair hides, which seems unnecessary when he could simply leave. But watching her surf isn't a bad way to start his day. He'll take the new vantage point. It's closer than the hills.

She’s a champion this morning, nearly flying in the way she glides, and she seems to be loving every moment.

Later, she stands on the beach with her board tucked under her arm and shields her eyes to have one final look at the morning sun. Crosshair can now confirm she’s got a great ass.

Hunter bashfully admits one time that Mana is easy on the eyes, much to Echo's teasing laughter. Crosshair is confused by the irritation such a statement brings up, especially since he agrees. There seems to be something in the water of Pabu, with so many beautiful folks on the island eating fruit and fish rolls.

Crosshair is not interested in getting involved with a woman. He’s still figuring things out, despite the time that stretches ahead of him. He'd like to have a better handle on his regrets.

His squad left him once. He’s not ready for another rejection, and the Empire fucked him up enough. Besides, Echo says Mana is out of Hunter's league, which begs the question of where that leaves Crosshair.

The Fourth Month:

Mana has a new surfboard. Bright yellow with a black triangular pattern on either end.

Crosshair eavesdrops as she explains the geometric motif to Omega. He gets lost watching the way she balances the surfboard on her head. The soft shade makes her dimples more prominent when she smiles. He thinks about going to introduce himself. He could make up some excuse for the kid.

“You should say hello,” Hunter says, making Crosshair start. “She’s been teaching Omega to surf.”

Crosshair hates that he was caught staring. He turns to leave, his fists clenched tightly. It won’t happen again.

The next few hours are spent as far away from the squad as possible. Crosshair comes back when he’s too hungry to keep sulking.

No one is home, so he eats in silence and then goes for a walk. The last thing he expects as he rounds a bend onto a square is the gathering of his squad at an outdoor bar. They have company.

Mana wears a pink floral shirt that exposes her shoulders, jeans, and sandals. Thin golden necklaces shimmer around her neck.

“Hey,” Hunter says, calling attention to Crosshair. “We were wondering where you went.”

Mana stops talking and she looks up at Crosshair, her bottomless eyes growing big.

“Here and there,” Crosshair replies. He takes note of the drinks and snacks on the table. Enjoying an evening out. Good for them, he thinks. “I’ll be on my way-”

“Wait! Come hang out with us.” Mana springs to her feet but she trips in the process. Wrecker’s outstretched arm keeps her from falling, and they laugh as she steadies. She comes breathlessly over to Crosshair. “I-I’m Mana, by the way. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

Her lips quiver faintly, as does the hand she extends. He’s making her nervous. Most people find him unnerving so he should have seen this coming.

“Crosshair.” His hand encompasses hers and finds it cold. He could warm it up if he held it long enough.

“Yeah, I know. Pleasure.” Mana straightens her back. The overlapping chatter nearby seems to embolden her. She studies Crosshair’s frame for a moment. “We were just having a few drinks and we're going to play card games. Do you want to join us?”

“No. I’ll leave you to it.”

Anytime Hunter denies Omega a request, or so much as looks like he will say 'no', she makes a particular facial expression that never fails. For the first time, Crosshair understands why the sergeant bends to the will of the kid.

Mana goes from hopeful to devastated in a fraction of a second, with a subtlety that punches Crosshair in the chest. He has never regretted an answer so quickly in his life.

He walks off in a daze, the disappointment in her eyes too potent. He wasn't prepared for it.

He ought to have stayed for the stupid card game. He’s kicking himself about it into the next day as he ambles past a shop. Suddenly, he hears an impressive crash that makes him halt.

It appears a shelving unit came down. Several containers roll out into the street at his feet. Crosshair collects them with a sigh. He’ll return them and be on his way.

It's when he enters the shop that he sees her.

“Ahh, I’m so sorry,” Mana frets to the owner from where she stands by a low-step ladder. “I think I stacked them too high. It’s all my fault.”

“It was poorly installed in the first place, don’t worry!” the shop owner replies. Seeing Crosshair, he smiles gratefully. “Ah, thank you, kind sir, I expect you found these outside.”

“Yes.” Crosshair hands the items over and locks eyes with Mana.

“Hey! Hey Crosshair. Oh, crap-” Mana trips on the step ladder but catches herself this time and moves it out of the way. “How are you?”

“Better than that shelf,” he says, pointing at the mess. “What happened?”

“Ehh. I supposed I happened.” She picks up broken shelf pieces. “I think some screws came loose and couldn’t handle the weight. We’ll have to fix it I guess… Think you could lend us a hand?”

Although the shop owner interjects that it won’t be necessary, Crosshair goes to Mana’s side and studies the broken unit.

“I can drill higher so the mounts are stabler.” He smooths his fingers over the damaged remains. “Re-installing it shouldn't be a problem. Are there tools?”

“There should be, right?” Mana replies enthusiastically.

When the shop owner confirms, Mana begins to clear some of the mess. She seems excited and chipper.

This is his redemption, Crosshair thinks, for the previous night. He works with her in silence.

When the tools are supplied Mana offers her help again, so Crosshair lets her mark the mount positions he measured, while he holds them in place. He could do it all in ten minutes. Though when she lingers to watch him work, he figures fifteen minutes wouldn’t be the end of the world. Twenty, if one counts restocking the shelf.

“Do you like to fix things?” Mana asks.

“It's an acquired skill. Sometimes you’re on a broken ship without a spaceport in sight.” He looks at her, unsure she has been in such a situation before. “Repairs are unavoidable.”

“Hmm. Would you say you’re good at repairs?”

He would say Tech is better, but that’s not her question. “Will something you own happen to break if I say yes?”

Mana laughs brightly, a sound that makes him irrationally proud.

“The thought did cross my mind, but don’t worry, you’re safe from house repairs.”

The squad was right: she’s fucking charming. And she smells incredible, standing next to him.

His lips betray a smirk when she turns to chat with the shop owner. He watches her out of the corner of his eye.

“Thank you for helping,” she says once they’re all done restocking. “I’m a bit clumsy at times. If you hear a crashing sound I’m probably somewhere nearby. Always walking into things as you saw.”

Crosshair gets distracted by the adorable blush rising on her cheeks. He has been depriving himself of getting to know her and it turns out she doesn’t seem to hate talking to him.

“Then I suggest you watch your step.”

“I’ll try my best! I’m just much better in water,” she says, shifting weights on her legs. "I feel like I have two left feet on land. I go surfing every other day, and I dive the rest of the time. You should come sometime if you’re into that… I-If you have time, I mean.”

Crosshair's eyebrows rise and it seems to leave Mana at a loss, searching the space between them.

“Anyway,” she resumes, “I was just thinking of heading to see your squad. You wouldn’t be walking that way, would you?”

“No... I have somewhere to be.”

“Oh, of course. No worries.”

So much for his triumphant redemption. He opens his mouth to amend his answer.

“It’s fine. I’m sure you have other things to do,” Mana says before he can speak. It’s his cue to leave. He starts to walk off, but he can hear the pitch in her voice as she calls after him. “Maybe I’ll see you around later tonight? Or another day.”

Crosshair stops at the shop entrance, hand on the doorway. A confusing flutter blooms in his chest.

“Do you want to?” he asks over his shoulder.

Crosshair turns to face Mana. Her throat quivers subtly. The shop owner pretends to clean the same spot on the counter.

Mana steps tentatively forward. “Yeah, I... don't see you around much. We could take a walk by the beach sometime? If you're not into group hangs...”

“That would be nice,” Crosshair says.

“Really?! I-I mean, yes, that sounds great. Wow, okay, awesome. Perfect.”

She seems not to know what to do with herself now. The shop owner is smirking, wiping vigorously now.

Crosshair huffs softly and pivots back to the exit. “See you around.”

The Fifth Month:

She is on Crosshair’s mind as he makes his way to the landing zone the next day. The squad is going scouting across the planet. He thinks of going to find Mana once they’re done and seeing about taking that walk.

She might be busy. Maybe they can settle on a day. It all makes him a bit nervous and he hasn’t slept properly for thinking of it.

As he gets to the landing zone, free-flowing laughter catches his attention. Crosshair feels a smile come to his face. He would recognize Mana’s laugh anywhere.

His smile falls when he sees her talking to Hunter. That’s one problem: his brother might like her. Hunter has the advantage of having gotten to know Mana much earlier.

Crosshair is competitive but he’d rather not make a fool of himself.

“Ah, looks like I caught the whole squad!” Shep Hazard happens by the landing station at the same time as Crosshair. “My famous dinner at my home tomorrow and you’re all invited.”

“That sounds great,” Hunter says. “I’m sure Wrecker will bring his appetite.”

“Hi Crosshair,” Mana wiggles her fingers as she waves at him. Her smile makes him a little less annoyed at Hunter. “Heard you’re all going for a ride and I thought I’d stop by. Are you coming to Shep’s dinner tomorrow?”

“He better,” Shep says before Crosshair can answer. “He missed the last two.”

“I lost track of time,” Crosshair replies truthfully. Both times his head had been killing him.

“Then try not to miss it tomorrow,” Shep says.

Crosshair nods with a frown. He doesn’t care for a social gathering but Mana seems to enjoy them.

“Maybe I’ll make something too,” Mana says. She drifts closer to Crosshair while Shep and Hunter exchange words. “Shep always serves a feast so I probably won’t have to do much. Should be fun though.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” Crosshair replies.

Mana appears to be in a good mood until she says, “Oh, now I have to find something to wear…”

Crosshair wants to tell her she would look good in anything. She hasn’t got a clue how much he wants to sit next to her at dinner and monopolize her attention. He’d like to hold her cold hand while walking down a beach.

“Crosshair,” Hunter calls, running up the ramp of the Marauder. “You coming?”

He looks at his brother and nods. “See you tomorrow,” he tells Mana.

She steps back and waves at him.

Crosshair slips on his helmet. As the ramp goes up with the ship, he looks back at Mana who watches them soar.

Chapter Text

He is sweating bullets by the time he gets up to her place. Like many homes on Pabu, her little unit is up a hill, behind a low fence and a gate that always seems unlocked. The glare of the sun makes Crosshair squint, his frown deepening as heat prickles his skin. He’ll have to take his shirt off. Good thing he packed a nicer one in his bag.

Crosshair sets down the load he carries: wood planks, bags of soil, and other supplies. Mana has mentioned wanting a garden, claiming it's ironic that she helps people tend to theirs and doesn't have one of her own. She dreams of two raised garden beds that will fit in her small yard and she doesn't want them too deep. As far as Crosshair can tell, it's the execution of setting up the garden beds that leaves her stumped.

He knocks on her door then takes a step back, wiping his brow to prevent sweat from trickling down his face as he reflects that enlisting some help to bring the frames over wouldn't have been a terrible idea.

“Crosshair!” Mana’s dark brown eyes widen when she sees him. She wears an apron over what appears to be a frayed old t-shirt and shorts. Her brows scrunch worriedly together as she begins to smooth the frizz from her hair. “Oh, you’re early… I haven't started on lunch.”

“It’s fine.” Crosshair thumbs her cheek, cleaning off a white powdery smear. “I brought a few things.”

"For lunch?"

“For your garden to be.” He gestures toward the supplies. "Know where you want it?"

Mana's jaw drops as she steps out and stares in wonder. “You brought all this? For me?" she asks, and then a slight alarm sets in. "I-I don't know how to assemble this."

"Relax." Crosshair wipes the sweat collecting above his lip with his collar. He should have chosen a different time of day for manual labor. "I've got this. Just show me where—" Mana drifts to his chest before he can finish. He hesitates for a self-conscious second, but her softness wins and he places his arms around her. She smells of sugary affection. And peaches.

“How! How did you know? Do you have any idea how long I've wanted to start a garden?!" She amends her answer when she sees the look on his face. "Ah, well, I suppose I must have said something about it."

"Once or twice," Crosshair indulges. Daily, more like. "I brought tools."

"Tools!” Mana seems impressed. "That's very thoughtful of you... I think my heart just melted. Is there nothing you can't do?"

Crosshair is adept at ignoring his squad's teasing remarks, though when he is with Mana, he is as crazy for her as they say. More, if that's possible. He likes to see her happy.

“I’m sure there is something.” Crosshair seizes her waist. "But this shouldn't take long."

Mana stands on her toes, her hands linking at the back of his neck. There is no hint of sugar on her lips but they are sweet, parting willingly. Crosshair would kiss her all day if she let him. She blushes brightly by the time her soles find the ground, so Crosshair decides to steal a few more pecks.

Mana shows him to a spot in the yard. She unfurls the shade panel to block the sun as Crosshair gets to work. A few minutes later an artificial breeze wafts over from a fan she brings out, and the steady air is incredible when it reaches him.

Crosshair hears music coming from inside while he measures, marks, and drills.

Mana emerges a short while later holding a pitcher and cups. Crosshair notices she changed into a flowy little red dress and in his distraction, he almost fails to see the comically tiny steps she takes toward him, no doubt trying not to trip until reaching the small table at his side. “I made you something.”

Crosshair dusts his hands together and straightens up. “Perfect.” He can see green leaves and ice cubes dancing within the pitcher, the drink itself a light peach color. "One of those teas?"

“Yep, the one you like with added mint.”

He takes a long pull from his glass, draining it quickly before exhaling. “I could finish the pitcher.”

“There's more inside," Mana encourages. "Can I help with anything?"

"Actually, yes." He picks up a board, lines it up with another, and then has her hold it up. "Keep this straight in place. I need to mark where to attach it."

"You got it, sweetheart."

Crosshair likes it when she calls him that. It's not a word he would use to describe himself, yet he would do anything to hear it from Mana. Completing the raised bed corners is speedier with her help. "That's all. I can manage from here."

Mana kisses him on the cheek, saying, “I’ll leave you to it then. I'm making chilled ramen and rice rolls. Peach mochi for dessert.”

"My favorite." Crosshair's mood improves tenfold. He isn't fond of fish and Mana always remembers. After she goes back inside, he touches where she kissed his cheek. He can almost feel the trace of her lips.

When the build is complete Crosshair fills in the first few layers. Mana requested he hold off on adding soil, so Crosshair packs away his tools. He enters the house and beelines for the bathroom, where he towels down and changes shirts.

His stomach gurgles at the sight of lunch in the kitchen. Mana stands at the counter, adding the fillings for the rice rolls onto a thin sheet that rests on a wooden mat.

“Smells great. Need a hand?” he asks as he stops at her back.

“I'm just rolling this up. Do you want to try?”

Crosshair reaches around her to place his hands at the edge of the rolling mat. “Show me.”

Mana guides his hand for a moment, then lets him finish rolling. "That's it," she says. "Now we just slice."

Crosshair doesn't need help with cutting, though he keeps his position and Mana leans against him.

"Perfect! That was the last one." She tilts her head at an angle and Crosshair leans down to kiss her. "Let's eat."

“Let me show you something first.” He covers her eyes and leads her out by the small of her back. “Are your eyes closed?”

"Hardly! You know how I am even with my eyes open."

He can't help but chuckle at the careful steps she takes. "I've got you," Crosshair assures. "Trust me and follow my lead."

Mana complies with a whine and a great deal of pouting until they stand outside before his finished work. Crosshair removes his hand from her face.

"Ah, finally... OH! Sweetheart." Mana gasps, walking over to admire her shiny new garden beds. "They're perfect! I'm so happy I could cry..."

"So, you like them?"

"Love! Love them, Crosshair. Thank you."

She rushes back to him and Crosshair lifts her. He thinks he might love her.

They retreat for lunch, swapping kisses and touches as they set the table. The colorful food makes this day even better.

"How does it taste?" Mana asks when Crosshair takes his first bite of noodles.

He chews thoughtfully and then says, "Like happiness."

Chapter Text

Once Crosshair learns Mana likes to be surprised, he regularly plans spontaneous activities for them to enjoy. She is always happy to be whisked away someplace new, ready for an adventure, and he, in turn, spends a great deal of time planning their little outings.

So it comes as a surprise when she doesn’t meet him today at the landing zone like they agreed a few days ago. Crosshair checks the time, getting restless once he's been waiting more than twenty minutes. The last time Mana was late to meet him for a night picnic at the beach, she'd been dealing with a small kitchen fire and hadn’t been able to alert him.

Ignoring the restlessness in his chest, he makes his way to her unit, telling himself it's probably nothing. She likely got caught up assisting one of the elderly around town. He imagines he will run into her and she'll explain what happened as they hold hands to be on their way. That thought sustains him until he gets to her front door and finds it slightly ajar. Crosshair tenses, listening for sounds within. By and large, Pabu is a safe place to live for all, but Crosshair would still prefer it if Mana locked her doors.

He sees no signs of a struggle within. Still, he moves carefully, searching for her.

“Mana?” Crosshair can’t see her anywhere within the house. “Are you here?”

He finds her out back, lying in the sun. Crosshair had the hammock in which she rests adjusted for her after noticing how it drooped if both of them sat in it. She is sprawled on her side with her eyes closed.

“There you are.” Crosshair bends, touching her arm gently. “Are you all right?”

Mana’s dark eyes peel apart and she blinks blearily at him. “Crosshair… Ohh, I’m sorry,” she says, her voice rough with sleep. “I got ready to go meet you but then I just… I got so tired.”

Something is wrong. Her words are too slow, almost slurred, as if her tongue is too heavy for her mouth.

“We won't go if you’re unwell. Shall I take you inside?”

“No. I’m really cold.” She turns her face more toward the sun. “It’s so cold today.”

Crosshair palms her forehead and his heartbeat cuts anxiously. “You’re burning up. How long has it been?”

Mana hums a soft ‘I don’t know’, her face scrunching together.

“What changed since I last saw you? Where have you been?” Crosshair probes.

“Surfin’,” she mumbles, closing and opening her eyes. “Nothing changed, everything is the same as usual. Oh, but... I think somethin’ bit me earlier.”

“You think?” Crosshair once more checks her febrile brow. The way Mana shivers makes his chest constrict in worry. “I’m taking you inside.”

It’s when he scoops her in his arms that she hisses in pain. His hand on her thigh is the culprit. He can’t see while he carries her but the moment he sets her down and turns her, he sees a large welt just below the curve of her bottom. It is a disquieting purplish color.

“What did this?” Crosshair asks.

Mana does not answer him. She seems to have drifted back to that heavy sleep and he can’t wake up her. Crosshair checks her for other injuries, finding none. He checks the pulse at her neck. It’s there but it is alarmingly feeble.

Crosshair hastily presses the comm strapped on his forearm. “Tech, come in.”

“This is a surprise,” Tech answers. “Go ahead, Crosshair.”

“I need your help. It’s Mana. She’s burning up from some animal bite. Her pulse… It’s weak.”

“Take her vitals immediately,” Tech says seriously. “There will be a sensor on your comm. Hold it to the back of her ear and send me results.”

Crosshair moves quickly, albeit with shaking hands. Mana’s temperature seems to continue rising, and it makes Crosshair feel sick.

“You’ll need to regulate her, quickly,” Tech says when he receives the transmission. “Are you in her home?”

“I am.”

“Find where she keeps ice and make a compress. You will apply it to her brow and her neck. Keep the air within a comfortable temperature.”

“What about the injury?” Crosshair says.

“Leave that to me. I’m on my way.”

Crosshair hastens to do as Tech instructed. He tries talking to Mana but she remains unresponsive. Her pulse keeps slowing dangerously low, and it's like the floors are falling from beneath Crosshair. At one point, he can't feel anything at all and it only furthers his panic until a flutter returns beneath his fingers. Mana's eyes tremble subtly but she does not wake.

Tech finds him at Mana’s bedside and asks to see the injury.

“On her leg.” Crosshair turns Mana over with a frown, covering her with a sheet without obstructing Tech.

Tech analyzes the injury. He has brought a medical kit and works as he talks. “She appears to have been poisoned as I suspected. I have seen something of this sort before. An antidote should slow the process.”

“Slow?”

“The fever indicates she is already fighting the toxin. I can give her a better chance at winning.” Tech injects Mana not too far from the site of the welt. He treats and dresses the infected area and places several sensor patches at her pulse points that return information to his data pad. “And now we wait.”

Crosshair sighs. “I should have taken her to the infirmary…”

“That would have taken too long. You did the right thing in calling me,” Tech replies. “She will be fine but it may be a difficult recovery. An increase in her fluid intake will help speed her along. She is very dehydrated and will lose more from the fever.”

“Look at her,” Crosshair says. “How can I get her to take any fluids like this?”

“Wake her up. That is what they would do at the infirmary. And provide her with a different set of clothes.”

Crosshair was under the impression the infirmary had better equipment. He looks at the pretty little dress Mana dons. It’s yellow and flares out, otherwise hugging her tightly -- a great choice for an outing together, not so much for being sick in bed. When Tech leaves the room Crosshair shuts the door and searches Mana’s closet, pulling out a set she wears to sleep.

“Darling?” He smooths a hand on her forehead, which is temporarily cool from the compress. “I’m going to change your clothes…”

His hands are unsteady as he pulls her up and slides down her zipper, too-big fingers fumbling with a stubborn little button. Crosshair has half a mind to tear it off, but it eventually slips undone. He can hardly believe the juvenile blush prickling his cheeks when he slides off Mana’s bra but at least he's the only one aware of it.

He dresses Mana swiftly, easing her back down and touching her cheek. He resumes keeping her cool with the compress for a few minutes before standing. “I’m going to bring you something to drink.”

Crosshair stops at the sight of Tech’s frame hunched over the kitchen table. “You’re still here.”

“Of course I am. I will remain until Mana is stable.”

Crosshair is grateful. “We were supposed to meet but she didn’t show. I should have come looking for her sooner.” He fills a glass with juice and returns to Mana’s bedside.

Her fever seems to have gotten worse. Crosshair does what he can to temper it. After several attempts, he manages to wake her, though she is bleary-eyed and hardly coherent.

“You need to drink something. This is the fruit you like…” Crosshair can't remember the name of it. He helps her to sit up and brings the cup to her lips. “Here, just a bit.”

“Nooo,” Mana says weakly. “Can’t.”

“You can. I'll help you.”

He can’t get her to take more than a sip at a time. She falls unconscious before long. When next she rouses, Crosshair manages to get her to finish the drink. They talk for a short while. She drinks something else, but it takes a great deal of effort. When she eases back down Crosshair goes to change the compress and ice, now water, he has been using.

As he lifts his eyes from the ground he finds several pairs of feet in the living room.

“Hey. How bad is it?” Hunter asks.

Crosshair is stunned to see the three of them. Wrecker is silent. Omega comes up to hold his hand.

“Some critter poisoned her. Tech gave her something.” Crosshair sighs. “I take it he called you.”

“He did. We’ll stay until she starts to feel better-”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Yes, we do,” Omega cuts in. “We’re a family. Let us help you.”

After seeing the conviction in their eyes, he nods. Omega follows him while he makes a fresh compress. She is with him when he returns to Mana’s side and she offers to help. Upon seeing she is perfectly capable of the job he gets to his feet.

“She’ll need more fluids.”

“I won’t leave her side,” Omega replies.

On his way out of the bedroom, Crosshair sees his reflection, hardly recognizing the lean, sad face staring back at him. But the truth is, seeing Mana like this troubles him. Hunter and Wrecker look up expectantly when they see him, and Tech goes to check on Mana while Crosshair figures out what he’s going to get her to eat.

He digs through her fridge for something broth-like and warms up a helping. Omega and Tech give them some privacy. Again Crosshair struggles to wake Mana, sorry to have to do so when she needs her rest. She doesn’t want even a spoon of the broth.

“You have to try,” Crosshair insists sharply when he can't take it anymore. “It’s all I can do to help.”

Mana’s haze seems to clear when she hears the desperation in his tone. With a subtle nod, she accepts the spoons fed to her, eating until she can't anymore. More than half the portion is gone. It’s good enough for Crosshair.

“I’m sorry,” Mana whispers as she lies back down, her feverish eyes bright and large. “This is not how I wanted today to go.”

“At least one of us surprised the other.” Crosshair sets aside the bowl and kisses her forehead. "Sleep. I'm not going anywhere."

Mana hums softly, turning to lie away from her injured side. She reaches out for Crosshair’s hand and squeezes.

According to Tech, the antidote is working as intended. Mana’s fever doesn’t break until the middle of the night. By then Crosshair can hear his brothers snoring in the other room. Mana, too, seems to be resting finally.

Crosshair rechecks her temperature for the next two hours. When it holds steady, only slightly warmer than normal, he finally allows himself a break. He lies on his back next to Mana, hands folded over his abdomen, intending to only close his eyes for a few minutes while remaining alert.

Suddenly, the bright intrusion of sunlight snaps Crosshair awake. It's already morning.

“Shhhh… It’s all right, sweetheart.” Mana gently pats his chest. She looks tired but far more alert than the previous day. “Go back to sleep. You slumbered so deeply.”

But Crosshair can't go back. He wasn't supposed to fall asleep! “How are you feeling?”

“Woozy but okay. I think I know what stung me. Should have been more careful out there.”

Crosshair touches her forehead, sighing in relief. The effects of the fever have gone. Tech’s antidote worked after all.

“You couldn't speak to me. I didn't know what to do.” He pulls her in his arms and as she rests against him, he remembers his panic the previous day. “What if I hadn’t found you?”

“But you did, my love. That is what matters. Thank you for looking after me.”

"I had help." Crosshair kisses the top of her head. Her dark curls are greasy from sweat yet he snuggles into her regardless. "I'm staying until you are better."

“Crosshair?” Mana says against him. “Where’s my yellow dress? I was excited to wear it out with you.”

“Ah. That... I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“It must be in the bin.”

“Well, who changed my outfit? I seem to recall wearing a very cute bra. Another thing I couldn’t wait to show you.” Crosshair pinches between his eyes as Mana goes on. “What did you think of it?”

“It didn’t disappoint.” He finds himself flushing all over again. “It... complemented the girls.”

Laughter bursts from Mana's lips, no doubt from his tone. “Complemented the girls?”

"You should wear it again."

He laughs with her and they kiss and lie there for a short while. He thinks Mana should eat something now that she is strong enough. Crosshair sees his squad on his way to figure out breakfast, and they remark on his changed expression.

“She’s awake,” he tells them. “She will be all right.”

“Phew! I’m glad to hear that,” Wrecker says. “We’ll go see her then.”

Before Crosshair can protest Hunter claps him on the arm with a smile, and they all file into Mana's bedroom. Crosshair turns back to look at them, his family, and he smiles back.