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That was the kind of weeknight Omega liked. She would be sitting at the table, finishing her homework, with Tech looking it over afterward. Hunter and Wrecker were doing the dishes, since Crosshair and Echo had taken care of dinner. Those two were still hanging around the kitchen, Crosshair slowly getting ready for his night shift. Omega’s feet rested on Batcher’s back as the dog napped under the table. Gonky was snoring by the window.
Her whole family, simply living together in the same room.
It might have seemed ordinary, even boring, to most. But Omega could never have imagined this kind of life for herself, not even two years ago.
The sweet moment was broken by one simple question.
“What is this?” Tech asked as he picked up a sheet of paper from the floor beside her chair.
The teenager looked up and winced. She hadn’t planned for her brother to see that.
“It’s not much. Just some dance…” she answered, hoping he’d drop the subject. But she knew it was futile. Tech’s curiosity was unstoppable.
“A parent–child dance, it seems. I must commend them; they’ve evolved in their way of thinking and made it more inclusive,” Tech commented, adjusting his glasses.
The kitchen froze.
Omega sighed softly as she caught the worried glances the older men exchanged. Parents was always a touchy subject in their family.
Being the children of a serial sperm donor with a complicated life was already a rough start. But Omega knew her brothers — Hunter, Wrecker, Tech, and Crosshair — carried grief over how their mother had treated them: as science experiments rather than as children. Echo, one of their many stepbrothers, had mostly bonded with his own brother losing their mother early in life.
So it was no surprise they worried Omega avoided these events because of trauma.
“They accept any adult like grandparent, uncle, aunt, older sibling… I didn’t tell you guys because I wasn’t planning to go anyway,” she explained, trying to ease their concern.
Hunter set down the plate he was drying and focused on her. “And why not? You usually love school dances.”
“I do, but…” Omega pouted. “I can’t choose only one of you to come with me. That wouldn’t be fair.”
That finally broke the tension. Wrecker finished the dishes and ruffled her hair, leaving a bit of foam in her blond curls. “You’re too sweet, kiddo.”
Echo rolled his wheelchair to her side. “Omega, you know none of us would be jealous. We all know you love us. A dance won’t change that.”
“It still feels wrong. You’ve all done so much for me.” She looked up, meeting Crosshair’s sharp gaze.
“If we take the choosing part out… would you want to go?” he asked.
Omega set her pen down and thought carefully. She did love events like this. She’d been stuck at home for so long before Hunter got guardianship. Now she embraced every chance to be out in the world. And she loved dancing.
“I would like to,” she finally admitted.
“Then to make your choice easier: I’d rather not be trapped in a room with hundreds of judgmental parents and teenagers,” Crosshair said, sipping his coffee.
“You’ll still help me find something to wear?” she asked, giving him her best puppy eyes. Crosshair always made her feel pretty.
“Of course. No sister of mine is going out looking a mess. I already have to deal with these four.” He gestured toward the rest of their family.
The indignant noises that followed made Omega chuckle.
Tech cleared his throat. “As much as I appreciate accompanying you to your many extracurricular activities, a school dance is not one I’d feel comfortable attending.”
Omega expected that. Like Crosshair, Tech wasn’t fond of crowds or forced socializing.
“I always like having you there, Tech. And I think Miss Phee would be upset if I didn’t bring you to the next museum trip.” She smiled as her brother blushed.
“Well, see? It’s not too hard,” Echo said, steering the conversation back before the teasing grew. “That leaves Hunter and Wrecker.”
Omega blinked. “What about you? We dance all the time.”
Echo had been the one to teach her so much about dancing and music. They would sway in the living room, and when she grew tired, she’d curl up in his lap while he rocked them slowly. He had told her countless stories of going to clubs with his twin brother, Fives. Happy memories, before the war.
“I’m missing two important parts for this kind of event,” Echo said looking briefly at his laps. “And space to dance with you and no risk of rolling over someone’s toes. If it were next month, I could take my new prosthetic legs for a spin.”
After years in a wheelchair, Echo had finally saved enough for the prosthetics he truly wanted. He could’ve had them sooner, but he had spent much of his savings helping cover the legal fees that allowed Omega to live with them. She had felt guilty at first, but Echo always told her it was the best decision he’d ever made.
“Maybe next time then?” she said gently.
“Anytime, Starburst.”
Omega turned to the last two brothers.
“I wouldn’t mind going, Omega,” Hunter said, “but the noise might get too much. We’d have to leave early. I think Wrecker would be a better choice.”
That wasn’t a surprise neither. Hunter was more comfortable outdoors than in crowded gyms.
Omega got up and walked to her giant brother. “Would you come with me to the dance, Wrecker?”
“It would be my pleasure, little lady,” Wrecker replied with an exaggerated bow before scooping her up.
Omega laughed, glancing around at her family. She still wished she could bring them all.
________________________________________
Later that week, Omega smoothed her sleeveless light blue-and-black plaid dress, waiting for Wrecker.
The dance had just begun. Her friend Lyana and her father, Shep, had given her a ride. She wasn’t worried about Wrecker being late .He’d gone with Echo to Tapioca City for the final fitting of Echo’s prosthetics, and traffic on the way back could be awful. She kept herself busy helping around the gym.
She was glad her brothers had convinced her to come. The place was decorated beautifully, and it warmed her heart to see classmates dancing with the people they trusted most. Some seemed to bloom right before her eyes.
“Excuse me, Miss Omega ; may I have this dance?”
The familiar voice behind her was not Wrecker’s.
Omega turned and froze.
It was Echo.
Standing.
His straight black dress pants covered most of the prosthetic legs, but she could still see the gleam of metal at the ankles.
“Surprise,” he said with a soft chuckle.
Behind him, Wrecker stood grinning, phone in hand, recording the moment.
Then it clicked. Her brothers had planned this. That was why Crosshair had insisted on changing her outfit last minute. Why they’d all acted so secretive.
“Echo!” She hugged him carefully, not wanting to knock him off balance. “I thought you still had to wait for those!”
He hugged her back and grinned. “I may have called in a few favors to get them early. And Wrecker was kind enough to let me take this one. He’ll get the next.”
Omega glanced at her tall brother and smiled. “I’ll make sure to bring you dessert,” she promised.
“All right! Come here, you two, I need a picture before I let you enjoy your evening,” Wrecker said.
Echo offered his prosthetic arm and Omega lock her elbow with him. They posed for the photo under the best light, then exchanged one more big hug with Wrecker before he left, promising someone would pick them up later.
Omega and Echo walked to the dance floor. They stayed off to the side, in case he needed to sit down. He was stiffer, clumsier, and more limited than with chair, but neither of them cared. With practice, he would only get better.
When a slow song began, Omega wrapped her arms around Echo’s waist and rested her head against his soft blue shirt. She was so proud of him.
“Thank you for this, Starburst,” Echo murmured, running his hand through her hair as he held her close.
“You’re welcome… but why are you thanking me?” she asked, looking up at him.
“I missed nights like this with Fives. And now, I’m glad I get to share something just as special with my little sister.” His smile was tender.
Omega’s heart swelled. “I’m glad too.”
Echo pressed a kiss to the top of her head, rocking her slowly, just as he used to in their living room.