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Cub is so useless.
He couldn't save Impulse, despite being right nearby. He tried, but if he failed, does it matter? He wasn't there when Zed or Tango had needed his help to save him.
Maybe he shouldn't be beating himself up over this, but he can't help it. Surely, he could have done more.
He couldn't help Impulse—the man died, right under his care! He couldn't help Zed—the sheep hybrid went running to Doc, because Cub simply wasn't good enough, he isn't able to empathetically connect like that. He couldn't help Tango—he only could get burned and send in Scar and Mumbo instead.
He couldn't even answer Joe's simple question, he only snapped.
He's supposed to be the smart one. The leader. The one who can help.
But he couldn't.
They all know. Surely, they all can tell just how useless he is.
Cub takes a deep breath, putting his head in his hands. His knees are pulled against his chest, and his blankets are pooled around him. He can't sleep. His wings flutter behind him.
"Cub?"
Cub jerks up, looking to his side. Scar is blinking at him sleepily, tangled up in his blankets, Katy Bee, Finney, and Jellie all snuggled around him. Such peace beside Cub's wreck.
"Yeah?" Cub whispers back, hugging his legs instead. His wings fold in his back, trying to hide.
"Wha's wrong?" Scar mumbles, rolling in his bed to lay on his side so he can look at Cub better. It takes him a few moments, because Scar doesn't want to disturb his cats.
"Nothing, go back to sleep, Scar."
Scar shakes his head slowly, glaring at him. Cub sighs and puts his head down on his knees. His wings pull back out, fanning around him and basking in the moonlight coming from the large window that Joel made—one of the reasons Cub and Scar chose this building to house.
"Is it about... Impy?" Scar prods, reaching an arm out over the gap in between their beds. Cub shakes his head and smiles.
"That's part of it. I'll be fine," he stretches his tail out in turn, letting Scar get a grip on the thin appendage.
Scar hums, squeezing Cub's tail, so obviously fighting to keep his eyes open. His fingers drum on Cub's tail, urging him to continue. Katy Bee yawns, and Scar's other hand goes to shush her and pet her gently back into deep slumber.
Cub watches carefully, marvelling at his friend's gentleness. At Scar's love.
Scar has always been so kind, and so easy to hurt—physically and mentally. Of course, Scar is covered in scars. And he wears them like badges of honour, dramatically retelling stories of explosions he was caught up in, fights he's won, and bites and scratches he's received from numerous animals and people. He's good at hiding the mentally damaged parts of him, but Cub always knows. He knows the other too well.
Scar is afraid of losing his animals. Scar doesn't like loud noises. Scar hates the days when he can't walk without help. Scar doesn't always love his scars. Scar has issues with abandonment.
Cub thinks he knows Scar better than he knows himself, and he's glad that Scar in return is the same.
"Is it... because you couldn't... save him?" Scar smiles sadly, grip loosening a bit on Cub's tail.
"Maybe," Cub whispers back.
Scar sighs and closes his eyes, "It's okay... You can't save everyone. I just... hope we get him back... soon. Yeah, soon..."
"Soon," Cub agrees.
Scar's hand drops, and his chest is back to moving up and down at a leisure pace. He's back asleep.
Cub retracts his tail and watches Scar for a moment.
He hopes he can at least save Scar, this time around.