? ~PROJECT SAC-1~ ??

Chapter 7 - If Given a Second Chance- ??

"I know I could have prevented her death if I had just looked past my frustration, and for that I'm really, truly sorry, Tech." Hunter reiterated.

Instead of easing Tech's ire, his tone turned almost mocking, "That is a lot of sorry. Such a shame it will not bring her back."

Hunter's jaw would have dropped to the floor if he didn't have a reputation to maintain. "I... I don't know what else to do - what do you want me to do?"

And as Tech rambled, Hunter felt his heart break piece by piece for it was not his usual factual rambling, rather an angry rant where he barely drew a breath and ended with distraught shouting. "There is absolutely nothing you can do to make me recover from the tragic loss of the only person besides 99 who actually heeded my chattering with a willful listening ear and courteous words when it happened to become overwhelming, and she started doing this after only knowing me for a minute and a half. As I've explained numerous times before to my own brothers who should understand me more than anyone else in the whole galaxy, I cannot control my babbling because it's a side effect of my enhanced mind, just the same as your sensory overloads and more frequent migraines with the enhanced senses, or Crosshair's excruciating eyestrain and severe red eye that requires treatment because of his enhanced eyesight, or even Wrecker's fear of heights due to his hulky build and clumsy tendencies from his enhanced strength. But as you've all made abundantly clear none of you have even listened to my rebuttals after whatever scathing interjection you choose to impart on me when really, all that is needed for 'Tech to shut his trap' is a kind request which I will effectively and graciously shut up unless it's something life-threatening or life-altering!"

Under normal circumstances, a person wouldn't get upset over the death of a person they had only met two days ago, but Hunter now knew that it was deeper than that - his brothers didn't handle his rambling very well as time and the war dragged on, Tech was introduced to someone who did and actually understood the tendency, and then that little glimmer of joy in his life was brutally taken away from him. And to lose an actual squadron member, that only added to the distress. It had never happened to them before.

Needless to say, it took Hunter a bit to find his voice. "... I didn't know it bothered you so much when they -"

"Well, it does."

"... But I try to be -"

"You still rebuff me quite a bit," Tech lamented, not letting him finish for once, "Maybe not with cutting remarks but you still only half listen, and I have concrete proof because sometimes you leave when I am in the middle of a sentence, meaning you started letting your mind wander at some point during the conversation and eventually dissociate yourself completely."

Welp, if Hunter wasn't feeling crappy before, he certainly was now. He tried and thought he succeeded at be this fearless, selfless, honorable leader for his squad and family but in reality, he had screwed up on all fronts, now realizing he needed to also be encouraging and attentive, things he thought he was doing well as the oldest sibling but apparently his efforts were subpar, and that was putting it lightly. He needed to build up the soldiers entrusted in his authority off the battlefield and also... adopt a good bedside manner when it came to dealing with pet peeves.

Hunter could not bring SAC-1 back from the dead, but he could at least make sure Tech was clear about his deep remorse over what he had caused, and tentatively reached up to place a firm hand on his shoulder. Tech automatically tensed but to the Sergeant's relief didn't rebuff his lame attempt at physical reassurance.That was more Wrecker's territory. "I'm really, really sorry that because of my stupidity you lost a friend who was, truly, one in a million." With such sincerity and regret, Tech's ire was immediately replaced with sorrow, the pain of losing the Clone Agent taking control again, and he accepted the comfort he so desperately realized was needed with a slight lean into Hunter's grasp, who was very encouraged by this positive response. "I don't know yet how I'll make it right, Tech, and I know no matter what I do it won't bring her back, even though I wish it did so I could make things right with her too, but I don't want us to lose what we have over this, and I will do everything I can to fix our friendship, I promise."