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Crosshair frowned in concentration as he sliced into the ray shield controls. Wrecker was talking to the clones behind the shield as he worked. The Bad Batch had gotten a call from Echo to help free some clones in an Imperial holding facility on a planet relatively close to Pabu. Rex was busy leading a team following some signal from an old Separatist ship on the other side of the Outer Rim.
The holding facility was split into two sections. Echo, Hunter and Omega were freeing the clones on the lower levels while Wrecker and Crosshair covered the upper levels. They hadn’t faced more resistance than they could handle. The place seemed pretty poorly guarded in Crosshair’s opinion, especially for prisoners of the Empire. It set him on edge, waiting for the rug pull.
“All clear on our levels, heading back to the ship.” Hunter reported over the comm.
“Just getting the last cell open now. Meet you down there soon.” Wrecker commed back as the ray shield lowered and Crosshair straightened. He gestured down the hall towards the elevator. “Alright, let’s move it!”
The clones filed out past them, Wrecker and Crosshair taking the rear as they ran. Crosshair’s brow furrowed as they ran free, no guards or security measures stopping their leaving, not even an alarm. The unauthorised opening of so many cells would have surely caught the attention of the main control room. His grip tightened on his blaster.
“Something’s wrong. There-”
They all staggered as the building shook, alarms and emergency lights blaring. There it is. The elevator was just ahead of them and as soon as they regained their balance, they herded the clones inside. When the last one got in, the building shook violently, throwing Crosshair into a wall.
“Cross!” Wrecker called, running back to help him.
Crosshair swore as the facility began to crumble around them. Wrecker caught him by the arm right as the floor gave way beneath them, sending them crashing down through the building. They curled around each other, protecting their heads and tucking their limbs close as they fell. Debris bounced off their armour, and they knew more than a few would bruise.
Crosshair gasped when they slammed into a ledge, forcing the air from his lungs and sending pain shooting up his side. Darkness met him when they finally hit the ground.
Crosshair woke with a groan. Pain throbbed along his side, and he blinked his eyes open to darkness. It’s only because of his enhancements that he was able to make out how small the pocket he lay in was. He blinked up to see Wrecker hovering over him and scowled, sitting up. Pain shot through his side and his leg protested the movement, but he ignored it.
“I’m fine, Wrecker.” He sneered before his brother could speak. “You should be more worried about getting us out of here.”
Wrecker huffed. “Yeah, uh, it’s only just all settled, you weren’t out long. And I can’t exactly move right now unless you want to be buried.”
At that, Crosshair took a closer look at Wrecker. He hadn’t moved a muscle despite Crosshair’s shifting, and now that he was paying attention, he could see that he was hunched over, bracing his hands above him, knelt in a stable crouch. He scanned the rubble around them.
“You’re the only thing holding this all up.”
“Yep. I’ll be alright though, don’t worry. The others should be here soon.” Wrecker was hiding the strain in his voice well, but Crosshair still caught it on the tail end of the reassurance.
“You’ve commed the others?”
“Ah, no. Can’t use my comm with no hands.”
Crosshair sighed, activating his own comm. “Hunter, Echo, Omega. Where are you?”
“Cross!” The relief in Hunter’s voice was clear even through the crackle of the comm. The rubble must have been interfering with them just a little. “Where’s Wrecker? Are you guys okay?”
He rolled his eyes. “Yes, we’re fine. Though, Wrecker’s holding up an entire building right now, so I’d suggest you get your shebs here.” He hesitated for a moment. “Did the regs make it?”
“They were all in the elevator, right?” Crosshair hummed an affirmative. “Yeah, they all made it. Elevator lost control halfway down, but no major injuries on our end. Echo’s scanning for you guys now, we’ll get you out as soon as possible.”
He lowered his hand from the comm, and he and Wrecker just sat there in the silence together. Eventually, he caved. “Are you okay?”
Wrecker shifted uncomfortably, freezing when loose dirt was knocked free by the movement. “Yeah, just a few bruises. Muscles are gonna be a little sore after this.” He replied with a strained laugh. “What about you?”
Crosshair gave himself a quick once over. His side still hurt, but as long as he stayed still, it was fine. Now that he was settled, his leg had begun to echo the dull throb of his side. He wasn’t sure what was wrong with them, though he thought maybe his knee was dislocated. “I’m fine, just bruises and scrapes.”
Silence hung heavy in their small pocket once again. When Wrecker groaned for the third time, Crosshair broke it again.
“Echo’s going to have to do a lot to pay us back for this.”
Wrecker chuckled. “Yeah. Always happy to help, but at least warn us before a building gets dropped on us.”
“Technically, we fell with it.”
“Tell that to the building I’m holding up.” They both laughed a little uneasily at that, the rubble groaning around them. “You think Shep’ll make us those rolls when we get back?”
Crosshair huffed. “If Echo gets them for us, it might even go towards repaying his debt for this. As long as Batcher doesn’t steal them all again.” Last time Shep had made the fish rolls that they all loved, Batcher had gotten into the kitchen and eaten them all right off the tray when no one was looking. That hound was a menace.
They continued talking as they waited. It seemed to help distract Wrecker from the rubble he was holding up, and gave Crosshair something to do other than stew in the dark. Despite the circumstances, he was glad he was able to just talk to his brother like this again. No tension, no mistrust, just two brothers talking and laughing. He’d missed it for so long.
He jolted, hissing as it sent pain shooting through his side, when Hunter’s voice called his name through the comm. He scowled, holding his side. “What?”
“I said, we’ve found your location and are digging you out now. Sit tight.” There was a pause. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
Crosshair rolled his eyes. “Yes, we’re fine. The comm connection is patchy on this end.”
“Alright, keep us updated if anything changes.” Hunter sounded unconvinced, but the call ended.
“You sure you’re alright, Cross? You zoned out a little there.”
Crosshair rolled his eyes again with a sigh. “Yes, I’m fine, Wrecker. Just sore and tired.”
Now that he said it, he did feel heavier than normal. Exhaustion was beginning to pull at him, leaving him feeling a little disconnected. He chalked it up to the mission, he hadn’t been sleeping well in the lead up to it. He let his hand slide down from his side as the throbbing slowed to a manageable pulse, if a little more insistent than before.
He was talking again before Wrecker could say anything, asking him about how his work was going on Pabu. Wrecker had been helping rebuild much of Lower Pabu after a recent storm. That got him talking, and soon he got swept up in a story.
Crosshair knew the houses he was talking about. He always walked past them with Batcher on the way to the beach. She always had to go say hello to the old couple who lived in one of them and had tea on their front porch every morning.
He frowned when he noticed how tight Wrecker’s voice sounded, the minute trembles starting through his body, especially his arms. His head was slowly beginning to hang lower and lower. “How much longer can you keep this up?”
Wrecker huffed. “As long as I need to, don’t worry about me.”
Crosshair was concerned about all the strain he was putting his muscles through, he wouldn’t be surprised if he tore a good number of them by the end of this. Muscle pain was no stranger to Wrecker with the strain his enhancements often put on his body, but this had to be intense compared to that. He would likely be stuck in bed for a couple of weeks after this, if they’d be able to keep him there. If they had to, they could always sic Omega and Batcher on him, he could never bring himself to disturb either of them once they were comfortable, a fatal flaw.
“Cross!” His head shot up at Wrecker’s not quite shout. An actual shout would have just left both their ears ringing in the small space. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothin’.”
Crosshair couldn’t see Wrecker’s face behind his helmet, but he could imagine the look of concern, was all too familiar with it. He sighed heavily. They had no idea how much longer the others would be, and he supposed he felt a little off.
“I landed hard on m’ side on the way down ‘n m’ knee feels dislocated.”
“How bad’s your side?”
Crosshair’s gaze drifted down to his side. He couldn’t see anything wrong, but of course, even with his enhanced vision, he couldn’t see everything. There was nothing sticking out of it, at least. He was pretty sure there was no blood, but even he couldn’t see colour in the dark, so against the dark armour it was hard to tell just by looking. It didn’t feel wet when he put his hand to it.
He jolted when Wrecker raised his voice again, a pained hiss escaping him. “Cross! I can’t see you, so I need you to tell me how it looks.”
“Loo’s fine.” He muttered. He was really starting to feel the exhaustion now. He really should have tried to sleep more before the mission, but the Imperial holding facility reminded him too much of-
“Alright.” Wrecker sounded worried. He frowned.
“Don’ worry ‘bout me. You’re the one holdin’ up a buildin’.”
Wrecker huffed at that. “Yeah, that’s true. But no good holding it up if you’re just gonna go conking out on me.”
Crosshair’s brow furrowed. “‘m awake.”
“Yeah, and let’s keep it that way. Uh, how about you tell me about that fishing trip you took Omega on.”
He scowled. “Were doin’ fine ‘til Batcher decided to ‘help.’”
Wrecker let out a breathy laugh. “Yeah, not a great idea to bring her on a small boat.”
Crosshair scoffed. “‘s hard when she doesn’ give you a choice.”
Batcher had been Crosshair’s shadow since Omega got them both out of Tantiss. He found quickly that he didn’t mind, the hound was good company and had learned quickly how to tell when he got stuck in his head and get him back out again. She wasn’t exactly built for stealthy prison breaks, so she was still on Pabu. When they got back, he was going to find her (she would greet them at the ship), and they would have a long nap.
He blinked his eyes open when he heard a staticky voice in his ear. He found that when he raised his heavy head, he couldn’t quite focus on Wrecker, but at least his side wasn’t hurting as much anymore. The staticky voice started again, but he couldn’t make out what it was saying.
He groaned when dust and small pieces of debris showered him, squinting when light suddenly filled the small pocket that had been his and Wrecker’s world for who knew how long. He heard Wrecker groan and felt him sag to the ground beside him. There wasn’t enough room for him to not end up half on top of Crosshair.
Light and sounds and movement swirled around him. He closed his eyes to it and let his head drop again with another low groan. He heard shouting and felt hands on him, pressing into his side. He gasped when that made the pain spike again. He didn’t know it could do that anymore. He felt a hand on his shoulder and heard a voice trying to rouse him, but he just sagged in response.
This was what they’d been waiting for. Their brothers had found them, they weren’t crushed under tonnes of concrete and durasteel, they were alive. He let out a long sigh as he relaxed into the exhaustion pulling at him, finally getting some kriffing sleep.
He woke slowly. He heard the waves of the distant beach and felt the warm tropical air filter into the room. A warm body was pressed against him. A dull pain throbbed in his side and leg.
He reached his hand up to stroke Batcher’s side. In response she whined and snuggled closer, licking his face. He huffed, holding her back with his arm as his hand continued to pat her. He opened his eyes to see her face right in front of his own, her tongue lolling. She rested her head on his stomach and got comfortable again as he took in the room. He was in his bedroom on Pabu. He vaguely remembered his brothers finding them, but nothing of the return trip. He must have been hurt worse than he thought.
Lifting the blanket to revealed a large bacta patch on his side. He recognised the pull of stitches as he moved. He could feel that his knee was tightly wrapped, held firmly in place now that his kneecap was where it should be.
He considered going back to sleep, but instead sighed and carefully sat up with a wince. Batcher quickly hopped off the bed, looking up at him as he prepared to stand. He patted her head and kept a steadying hand on her back as he stood and limped out of the room.
“Good to see you up and about.” Echo had been walking past his room when they emerged, and now leaned against the wall to talk to him, arms crossed casually.
Crosshair scoffed. “Next time, warn us when there’s a chance a building will fall on us. Wrecker and I have already discussed how you’ll be paying us back.”
Echo laughed. “Yeah, so he told me. Where are you headed?”
“Where is he?”
Echo nodded back the way he came. “In his room. Damaged a lot of his muscles so he’s not allowed to move for a while.” Crosshair huffed at that. “Speaking of paying back, you owe him just as much as I do. Checking out on him like that had him worried, then when we found you and he could see all the blood…” Echo sighed. “Yeah, you owe him.”
Crosshair frowned. He hadn’t felt any blood, but he did have stitches in his side. He scowled when he realised he’d forgotten at the time that he was wearing a glove, of course he couldn’t feel if anything was wet.
He continued down the hall past Echo and marched right into Wrecker’s room. Well, hobbled slowly but with a mission into Wrecker’s room. Wrecker grinned when he saw who was visiting him. Omega was pressed into his side, asleep. Cold packs rested on his aching body.
“Hey, Cross!” He whispered loudly. “You’re alive!”
Crosshair sat heavily in a chair, stretching out his leg as his knee protested his impromptu adventure. Batcher lay in front of him, letting him rest it on her back, keeping it elevated. He crossed his arms as he leaned back.
“How’re the muscles?”
Wrecker groaned. “I’m never moving again.”
Crosshair smirked at his brother’s dramatics. “That’s a shame. Who am I supposed to top each week now?”
Wrecker went to shout indignantly when Omega shifted in her sleep against him, making him freeze and drop to a whisper shout. “I beat you last week! Crabs don’t count!”
Crosshair had accidentally caught about a dozen crabs in his net when he went out on the boat the week before. Shep had made fantastic crab cakes with them.
“Yes they do, Hunter said so.”
“Hunter just said that to get us to leave him alone.”
“He still said so.”
“Since when does what he say go?”
“Since it helps me win.”
Wrecker huffed petulantly as Crosshair’s smirk grew smug.
Silence stretched as Crosshair thought through what he had to say. Wrecker waited patiently for his brother to get his words together.
“I’m, sorry, that you had to see that. I had no idea it was that bad. I should have noticed.” He finally said.
Wrecker smiled warmly. “It’s fine, Cross. Neither of us knew. I kind of figured out something was wrong pretty quick, and I had a feeling you really had no idea. I just wasn’t prepared for how bad it would look. And I was hurting and tired too, so that probably didn’t help. I got over it after a nap and some ice.”
“Fine then, I take that apology back.”
Wrecker laughed. “We all know you only have so many in you, save it for someone who needs it.”
Crosshair stifled a groan aa he shifted in the chair, trying to get comfortable. Wrecker motioned for him to come over.
“C’mere. You need to lay down too, and AZI said you shouldn’t be walking.”
Crosshair eyed the bed. Wrecker’s was bigger than the rest of theirs, resulting in most vod piles happening in there, which Wrecker was always more than happy to host. He was lying in the middle with plenty of room on either side, but it felt a little wrong to impose himself on him and Omega, who was still sound asleep at Wrecker’s side.
Wrecker gestured again, and Batcher took the invitation, leaping up onto the bed and settling at the foot of it.
“Traitorous hound.” Crosshair grumbled, pushing himself to his feet. He shuffled over and sat heavily on the bed. He shuffled carefully and settled at Wecker’s side, opposite Omega. Batcher wormed her way up between them, laying half squished between and half on top of Wrecker and Crosshair’s legs.
He let out a long sigh as they settled there. He lay his head on Wrecker’s shoulder and felt his brother’s hand gingerly curl around him, hugging him lightly against him. He let his eyes slip closed as they relaxed and dozed off in a comfortable pile, the sound of the waves crashing in the distance and the warm tropical breeze filling the room.