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“Cross, catch!”
The sniper barely has time to react to the ration bar flying at him, snatching it a split second before it makes contact with his head. “You know you could just hand it to me like a normal person,” he grouses as he tears open the wrapping.
Hunter grins at him. “Where’s the fun in that?”
Crosshair glares at him. “I wish you’d stop trying to make this mission fun .”
“And I wish you’d stop whining.” Hunter throws another piece of wood into the fire.
“Why aren’t you upset about this?” Crosshair demands. “They separated us! They sent Wrecker and Tech with another squad; left us as lookouts .”
“Would you rather be here or with the regs?” Hunter asks dryly.
“I’d rather none of it.”
“Well, that wasn’t an option.” Hunter opens his own ration bar. “So if you’re done moping, maybe we can make the most of it.”
“And how do you suggest doing that?” Crosshair mutters, breaking off the end of his ration bar and rolling it between his fingers.
Hunter leans back, propping himself up on his elbows. “Remember our off world training exercises when we were cadets?”
Crosshair huffs. “Of course I remember.”
“We’d stay up all night watching the stars,” Hunter continues, “and wondering what we’d do if the war ever came along like the long necks said it would.”
“And Wrecker would try to tell ghost stories and scare himself,” Crosshair adds.
“And Tech would constantly interrupt him to explain how the story was completely illogical.” Hunter chuckles then sighs. “I miss those days. Things were simpler, weren’t they?”
“They’re simple now, you just overthink everything.”
Hunter rolls his eyes, but he doesn’t object. “All that to say, this reminds me of those days.”
“Want me to tell one of Wrecker’s ghost stories to make it authentic?”
That makes Hunter laugh. “Give it your best shot.”
**
Crosshair wakes, but he doesn’t open his eyes, clinging to the last dregs of the memory that found his unconscious thoughts. It slips through his fingers, and he is left with nothing but bitterness.
He finally opens his eyes to face the nightmare of his new reality.
Things could still be simple if Hunter hadn’t chosen to leave, to take their brothers with him.
But Hunter’s always had a bad habit of overthinking things.