Work Text:
“Tech, I need cigarettes. Can you drive me to the 22/7?”
“I am busy at the moment,” Tech didn’t look up from his notes. He was trying to learn how Omega’s school wanted her to do math in their special way–common core they called it—some bullshit. As stubborn as he was in his ways, Tech decided he must play the game if he wanted to help the girl score properly on her exams.
“Fine,” Crosshair sneered. “I’ll just drive myself.” He moved towards the door, waiting for his brother to call his bluff. His license was suspended until he finished his community service.
“You have two functioning legs.” Tech still did not look up, he knew his brother couldn’t drive if he wanted to, he didn’t have gas in his sedan. They all made sure of it last time he decided to drive with an invalid license. “Walk.”
“It’s raining.” The rain didn’t necessarily stop him, but he needed to pull at Tech’s leg before providing a logical explanation. “And the 22/7 is cheaper than the corner store.”
Tech grumbled something, placing the pencil down flat on the table. Something that Cross ignored.
“So will you take me or not?”
“I can not leave Omega here unattended.” Tech argued.
“She can get candy or some shit.” The man scoffed. “Family bonding time or whatever Hunter’s been begging us for.” He added as further incentive.
“Fine”
“Can I pick the music?” Omega asked.
“No.” Crosshair said pointedly, plugging his phone into the aux before he could get any pushback.
“Cross…is having a bad day…” Tech huffed, not ready for a potential argument. “Will it be okay if he chooses the playlist?”
“Really?” The girl whined, pleading with Tech. All it took was one look in the rearview mirror for her to back down. “Fine.” She crossed her arms and slumped down in the seat with a huff.
A song appeared on the dash screen: Apocalypse. Cigarettes After Sex.
Tech knew this one. Good song. Not inappropriate, despite the name of the band. Omega could not read it from the backseat anyway. It should be fine.
They drove in silence for a bit.
“I like this song.” Omega did not look up from staring out the window, watching the city pass. “What’s it called?”
“Uh.” Crosshair looked anxiously to his older brother, who nodded in response. “Apocalypse.”
“Cool.” She replied. “I like the way it sounds.”
“Me too.”
Another silence followed and the song ended. A new song started, also by Cigarettes After Sex: Young and Dumb.
Now Tech didn’t know this one, but assumed it should be fine. While a lot of the songs by this band had unsavory themes, they were hidden under innuendo and not easily picked up on anyway.
Wearing black lipstick, bleaching your hair…
Put on your socks,
Cut-offs…jean shorts, vampire fangs & your 'I Love New York' shirt.
Well I know full well-
That you are-
The patron saint-
Of sucking cock.
Señorita, you’re a Cheater–
Suddenly comprehending the lyrics, Tech immediately turned off the radio.
“Why’d you turn the music off?” Omega responded, seemingly (hopefully) oblivious to the lyrics.
“I have a headache from reviewing your math assignment.” Tech side-eyed his brother. “Would it be already if we went the rest of the way without music? We can play your music on the way back.”
“Alright.” Omega replied, obviously disappointed. She watched the streetlights as he continued to drive in silence. “But ‘cheater’ really isn’t that bad of a word.”
With that, Crosshair felt his brother’s eyes on him again. He stiffened in his seat as he continued to look out the window, away from his older brother’s glare. Shit. He could already hear Tech scolding him the second they were out of earshot from the girl.
“Can I look at the holiday stuff while we’re here?” Omega asked, unbuckling her seatbelt as they parked in the drugstore’s parking lot.
“Of course. You can head inside, Cross will be right behind you.” Tech told Omega and she immediately bounded into the store.
Silence.
“Now what were you thinking,” Tech started with a breath, “playing a song like that in front of your 10 year old sister.”
“I forgot it was bad.” Crosshair defended himself. “It was just on my playlist. And she’s not my fucking sister.”
“I don’t care, you can be her uncle when you start acting like an adult.” Tech looked his brother in the eye. “And you need to be extremely careful with what you do around her. Omega certainly should not be hearing songs about women who are known for their vulgar sex acts.”
Now, the song certainly got worse: discussing “young and dumb” women who are “hot as fuck” and known for going out with “nothing on,” but Tech didn’t need to know that. It really was the last song a 10 year old girl should be listening to. Cross couldn’t stand having to play big brother to a girl that shouldn’t even be in his life, but his careless actions were really starting to sink in.
“I’m sorry,” He crossed his arms and turned towards the window. Cross didn’t like to admit when he was in the wrong. “I’ll make new playlists, it won’t happen again.”
“Well I’m still sick of your shit, Crosshair.” The younger man’s eyes went wide with that. His brother rarely expressed disappointment in him or swore. “I love you, but you need to start acting like an adult. No more getting in trouble with the law, be a good brother–uncle–to your niece…”
Tech took a breath, “and you don’t even need to get a full time job with your community work right now, but at least get something part time. You’re 21, you need to focus on your future...I am just worried about you, Cross.”
“I,” Crosshair took a breath of his own. “I understand.”
“If you need help with a resume, I am willing to help.” Tech smiled at his brother. “But I think I'll stay in the car for now, I need to calm myself. Please do not take too long, I need to check Omega’s homework with her when we get home.”
“Alright.” And Crosshair stepped out of the car.
“Can I get something for my mom for Valentine's day?” Omega asked shyly. She always had a problem asking for things. It seemed Nala Se never let her get things unless it was a holiday. She might resent her mother for that later, among other things...but right now, all she focused on is that she was now allowed to get little trinkets or candies from the store on occasion.
“You can get whatever you want.” Crosshair tried to smile at the girl. “Within reason.”
Cross watched as she pulled a small box of candies off the shelf, and eyed a squishmallow with those message heart candies printed on it. He genuinely could not tell what kind of animal it was, but she seemed to like it.
“If you need help with a resume, I am willing to help.” Tech smiled at his brother. “But I think I'll stay in the car for now, I need to calm myself. Please do not take too long, I need to check Omega’s homework with her when we get home.”
“You can get that too.” He offered.
“No, it’s okay,” the girl started, “I don’t need it.”
Cross rolled his eyes before grabbing it off the shelf and walking towards the register. “Come on.”
He could hear Omega skipping behind him, probably with some goofy smile on her face. He couldn’t help but smile at the girl sometimes, even though the addition of her into his life was beyond normal. She was just a kid, and he needed to remember that. None of this was her fault. Hell, none of this was Hunter’s fault either. His brother was just trying to be a good dad to the girl, despite the circumstances of her conception. He needed to be better at not taking these things out on them.
“Can I uh,” Cross thought for a second, looking at the blonde head below him as she put her stuff on the counter. “Can I get some nicotine patches–the 7mg ones?”
“Sure thing.” The cashier chimed. “Would that be all?”
“Uh, yeah,” he replied.
“Your total is 23 even, would that be cash or card?”
Omega skipped ahead into the car, which was just starting up again.
“Look what Cross got me!” Omega exclaimed as she hopped into her seat. “He even let me get this for my mom.” She held up the small box of candies with pride.
“Very nice. I can help you mail that out this weekend.” Tech looked at the girl through the rearview mirror before eyeing the box in his brother’s hand. “Good choice.”
“Uh,” Cross huffed. “Yeah.”
“I’m proud of you.”
“Whatever.” The younger man rolled his eyes.
“Can I listen to my music on the ride home?” Omega only had one more request that night. Something that Crosshair could grant.
“Sure.” Crosshair buckled his seat and looked out the window with a smile. The rain had stopped and the air smelled fresh. Maybe things would be alright.