The Bad Batch: One Shot Collection

In which Hunter and Wrecker talk about their mission to find Omega.

"Echo said he and Rex need two rotations before they can meet us at the coordinates," Wrecker says, appearing at Hunter's side. He looks tired, the same way he has for a long time now. He's carried nothing but a bone-deep exhaustion since they lost Omega.

"That's not good enough," Hunter mutters, rubbing his throbbing head and standing. "We're going now."

Wrecker grabs his shoulder, turning him back around. His little brother has a wild desperation in his eyes so uncharacteristic of him. He's always tired where he once used to be constantly vibrant with energy. He's scared. Hunter smells it on him, no matter how exhausted he is, or how sluggish his mind is now. All his senses feel heightened and worn at once. He's exhausted, but their kid's out there, and they need to get her back.

"Hunter," his little brother protests – Wrecker, the only one he has left in this entire kriffin' galaxy. "The last time we stormed an Imperial base without backup... not all of us made it out."

He looks so vulnerable. So scared.

I don't care, Hunter wants to say. It should've been me. It should have been me instead of Tech. It should've been me instead of Omega. We never should've gone after Crosshair. I should've been the one to take the fall.

The kid's being hurt because of me.

It should've been him. It was always meant to be.

Tech should be here instead. He would've already figured it out. The kid wouldn't stop be imprisoned if – if –

But Wrecker's not wrong either of them could die. That – Hunter doesn't care if something happens to him. It wouldn't matter, anyway. They'd pick up and they know where to go, as long as they all make it out safely. They won't need him after they're safe.

Wrecker and Omega know to go back to Pabu.

But Hunter is the only brother Wrecker has left now. Crosshair left them, and Tech is gone forever. Wrecker might make it, but even if he did, it would destroy the empty shell that's left of his little brother entirely.

And Hunter can't imagine a life without Wrecker. He's the only one he's always had now, who's never left his side, and he can't fathom it – Wrecker is the only reason he's still alive. He's saved him so many times.

But the kid's out there, and Hunter can't be rational anymore. He abandoned rationality, anyway, when they went after Crosshair. When Tech demanded they go after their little brother, Wrecker tried again to get his twin back and Omega got the chance to – to find the baby brother she always wanted and never got.

The kid deserves so much more than that. Omega never – she's their kid.

Wrecker's looking at him, begging for some sort of reassurance, something Hunter long lost the ability to grant. He's still his brother, and Hunter can't deny him what he needs – not that he has what he or what anyone needs anymore.

"Omega's been waiting for us a long time, Wrecker. I'm not making her wait another day." Every minute could mean more pain to her, being hurt more and – Hemlock captured her. He's a mad scientist, and that could mean anything.

The kid they get back might not be the same one they lost. Every day carries them farther. He knows Wrecker must understand that.

"But, Hunter –"

"Every day we wait, we're leaving her in Hemlock's hands. We don't know what they're doing to her, what –" He cuts off, voice shaking. He's shaking. He feels weak. Thoroughly worn, but they have to find the kid and no, it won't help if he passes out from exhaustion, but it won't help if they don't make it to finding her, either. "This isn't a mission we can fail."

"An' we won't," Wrecker sighs, "But we gotta be alive to be there." He looks like he wants to cry, and Hunter's almost amazed he still has a heart enough for it to ache. The need to find the kid, but he still has Wrecker to care for in between it all – somehow, no matter how impossible it might be.

"We will be," Hunter says, touching Wrecker's shoulder, and prays it's not a lie, not this time. The gesture still feels fake, unreal – like a shifting emptiness in the heart he hasn't felt anything in so long. "Stay focused. What matters is finding Omega."

When he moves for the cockpit, Wrecker shuffling after him, it feels like Tech's goggles are staring accusingly at his back.

Hunter tries not to think about it.

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