Mirror Prism

Chapter 6 - Cuz I'm Gonna

Author's Note: I know, I didn't really explain properly what the Batch's powers are. If anyone's caught it, their powers are loosely (Marvel) Infinity Stone inspired. Wrecker is realty, Omega is soul/life, Crosshair is mind, Tech is time, Hunter is space (Kahori vibes xD Except he doesn't glow blue like that), and Echo is power. Emerie is... a mix of all but different, I guess. Except they don't understand their powers enough to properly know this is what they are. ;__; And I know I should've edited more in about that, but I kinda ended up not having time. :(

~ Rivana Rita

When Crosshair opens his eyes, it's to the Marauder, though shaded and gray in a way entirely uncharacteristic. The others are gone, and he sees Hunter disappearing through the doorway. Feels a looping flicker, dark and empty.

He slides off his rack, following. This is empty. This is Hunter. It feels like Hunter. The walls. The ceiling. Floor.

He tiptoes for the door. Outside is different. Pabu, but empty. There are sounds, familiar but muffled through washing waves.

He sees Hunter with a brief flash, moving away.

He's running, then.

It looks as empty as Hunter feels. Crosshair feels it constantly. He should be calm and relaxed, but he's void. Empty. Lost under crushing waves of hurt and bitterness. This is his mind. It's not real.

He sees Hunter, gray wings spread from his back. He's gone in a fluttering flicker.

He's going somewhere to be alone, as if he hasn't been for so long already.

Crosshair's doing.

He needs to make it right.

He sees flickers, mostly impressions. An empty gunner's mount, the lights off where they used to be on. Tech's goggles, broken and shattered. His own armor crate, untouched and caked with dust. A forever untouched holo album, moments from their childhood to now, untouched, no additions – time after Crosshair left is different. Tech... got a different holoalbum after Kamino.

They separated him from their life entirely.

Hunter can't talk to him. Tech can't look at him. Wrecker's still recovering. Learning to trust again. The kid...

He misses home. He wants Hunter to hold him again, the way he always used to. Wants to rest in his arms and let him carry his pain the way they always would, but Hunter's the one drowning.

Crosshair sees a million flashes, through Hunter's eyes and his own. Wrecker's gasp as he hit the ground. Tech's yelp as the blaster shot threw him from the engine. The explosion. Flashes of a forest. Falling. Dark gray walls. Crosshair's grip on his arm as he yanked him upright.

"Aim for the kid."

"You never could see the bigger picture."

"Every choice you have made since Kaller has been wrong."

"Not the ones that matter."

The blaster muzzle pressed to Hunter's back. Ripples of gnawing panic. A fleeting determination, shattered by hopeless fear.

And then empty.

Always empty.

"I made my decision."

"That doesn't mean we have to be enemies."

Crosshair sits beside him, tensed and awkward. Hunter doesn't look at him. the quiet, flickered whispering in his mind doesn't stop. Nothing. Failure. Weak.