The Bad Batch: One Shot Collection

Twin Week Day Three

Author's Note: This is for Twin Week Day 3. :)

~ Amina Gila

The first night of returning to Pabu, Wrecker and Crosshair talk and have an attempt at a heart-to-heart.

Wrecker's mind is still spinning with disbelief when they settle in for the night. He can't believe his little brother is finally back, and it's completely surreal. He doesn't know what to think about it, or if he can really think about it at all. It's so... strange. He always wanted Crosshair back, but he never thought it would happen. He never....

Wrecker has never been one to give up hope, but after Tech, he did. After Tech, he gave up everything.

After being imprisoned so long, they didn't even know if Crosshair was still alive.

Trying to sleep near Crosshair is strange. They haven't since before Kamino, and that was so far over a year ago.

Crosshair curls up in a far corner, quiet and motionless.

It feels wrong to see him there, but Wrecker lets it be – he doesn't know how to act towards him. Omega trusts him, and he trusts her, but Crosshair still... he still hurt them. He still left them. How is he supposed to act towards Crosshair now? He doesn't know what to do.

They are glad to have him back, and that he helped the kid, even if it's jarring that he was able to help her when Hunter and Wrecker couldn't do anything. They owe him the kid, and that means a lot, but...

Why did he have to do this?

"Crosshair is severe and yielding. It is his nature. You cannot change that. He cannot change that."

"I'm not sure what to think about this," Hunter admits quietly.

"Me either," Wrecker agrees, "But... he did help Omega escape. That's what counts, isn't it?" He's still angry. Still hurt. Crosshair still fought them. He tried to kill all of them.

"This is who I am."

Hunter sighs. "I don't know, Wrecker. I hope so, but I don't know."

Wrecker wants to hope, too, but he's scared.

Hunter and Wrecker settle down on the racks by Omega. Wrecker's out instantly, no matter how tense he is, though he hears Hunter still shifting. He alternates wildly between falling asleep constantly and being entirely unable to rest. Tonight must be one of the bad ones.

Wrecker wakes a short time later. He can't say what it is that woke him, but Hunter's motionless across from him. He's finally sleeping.

The shuffling is Crosshair.

Wrecker props himself up on one arm, scanning the ship. Crosshair's sitting on the floor, leaned against Gonky.

Wrecker looks at Hunter again – he's sleeping for the first time in what feels like weeks, and he is not disturbing his older brother right now. He climbs down from the rack and tiptoes across the room to his little brother.

Crosshair. His twin brother. A part of himself. The one who turned on him.

"Nightmares?" Wrecker asks quietly, hesitantly, crouching beside him.

He sighs, forehead on his arms crossed over his knees. He's shaking a little. His breathing is off. Is he crying? "Yeah," he mutters.

Tantiss hurt him. And other things.

"We all get 'em," Wrecker tells him quietly. He doesn't know if it's safe to touch Crosshair or not. He hasn't since he carried him on Kamino. Wrecker grasps Crosshair's shoulder. He feels so thin and bony.