This Is Absolutely My Head Canon.

This is absolutely my head canon.

We talk a lot about how traumatized Crosshair is, how much he has been through, what he's had to overcome, and how much our man needs ALL the TLC and hugs and comfort and therapy (and boy oh boy he does!)...

But Hunter strikes me as the kind of person who is equally traumatized and scarred for life (just in different ways) but keeps it buried deep because he's supposed to be the leader and he WILL stay strong, he is fully aware Wrecker spent months barely holding him back from careening off the edge of the cliff and so he's going to work even harder to hold himself together now because Wrecker shouldn't have borne that responsibility, he's going to be there to hug Omega when she sobs from the nightmares and comfort Crosshair when he wakes up in a cold sweat clutching at the hand that's no longer there and convince Wrecker to take a break when he starts to wheeze while walking up the path to the Archium or gets that far-off look in his eyes as he stares at the mangled breastplate hanging up in his room...

He's going to do all this, and he's going to stay acutely aware of all their struggles and will help them through all of it, and he might quietly admit to having a bad dream when Omega talks about it, but he's never, ever, EVER going to tell anyone that he quietly goes to his room to hide his panic attacks and how hard it is to let Omega out of his sight and how difficult it is for him to convince his brothers to go out and try some new hobbies because he is so afraid they're going to get hurt but he can't tell them that and how his throat still feels like it's closing up every time he looks at his siblings and notices the one who isn't there and never will be again...

And the thing is, Omega and Wrecker and Crosshair know how much Hunter is struggling, but they don't know exactly how to help him because he keeps saying he's fine, and he's going to keep saying it because he's the older brother and he's supposed to take care of them and he failed at it so many times and he's NOT going to fail now...

But they keep at it, Omega insists that they all have a "camp out" in the living room all together at least once a week (Hunter doesn't have nightmares then) and Wrecker makes Hunter come with him to try a bunch of new hobbies until Hunter's discovered six new interests and Crosshair who has finally forced himself to go to the memorial at the Archium now somehow manages to drag Hunter along with him every few days and they sit together and remember their brother (until said brother finally comes home, of course)...

And by the time Rex contacts Hunter to let him know the vault kids' families have been found and asks for help getting them all relocated to safety, Hunter watches his family gear up to go, and he realizes... not only are they okay, but he's okay, too.

1st trip to Galaxy’s edge meant special headgear. Wish there were more occasions when this sort of thing was appropriate 😜

I’m so obsessed with this!!

Cadets.

A short fic for @summer-of-bad-batch and @the501starchives !!

Prompt: Cadets/ Injured

Summary: Young Crosshair struggles with being “different”.

Note: This was inspired by a short comic I saw!! Credit goes to Shyranno for the idea !

“Hey, defect!” A snobby little reg called from across the corridor. Crosshair ignored the brat and kept walking down the shiny white hallway. He wanted to be strong, stoic, like Hunter always was. But those stupid little perfect-faced regs kept attacking him, and over time it had begun to take its toll.

“What’s your problem?” One of them called, their voice laced with mock sympathy. “Get you face squashed in a door?” 

Crosshair bent his head down, anger spreading over his face. Ignore them, he thought. Like Tech said. They can’t keep burning if you don’t give them fuel.

Although he had quickened his pace to escape them, he got the opposite results. The group of regs started following him. 

“Aw, what’s wrong, adiik?” One of them chided, now matching his pace with Crosshair’s. These regs couldn’t be more than an average year older than him, they shouldn’t be calling him a kid.

Crosshair stopped in his tracks, whipping his head up to scowl at the “leader” of this idiotic little squad. The reg just smirked at him.

“Shut you mouth,” Crosshair hissed. So much for not giving them fuel. The reg took a step back holding his hands up. “Oh, I’m so scared,” he said, voice dripping with sarcasm. Another one stepped up next to him, crossing his arms. “What’cha gonna do, defect?” They had officially crossed the line.

Before Crosshair even thought about it, he sucker-punched the leader kid square in the face. The reg stumbled back a bit, feeling at his nose. A thin stream of scarlet blood dripped down over his lips. The shock on his face was quickly replaced by fury, and Crosshair regretted throwing that punch.

“Oh, you’re gonna pay for that one,” he said through gritted teeth, shaking the blood off his fingers.

Crosshair knew he would.

Several of the regs leapt on him, grabbing his arms and holding them tight behind his back. Panic swept over him and he squirmed, trying to kick behind him at the regs holding him. But then they grabbed his legs too.

“Too bad you’re already as ugly as you’ll get,” the leader said. He then punched Crosshair in the nose. A snap of pain blossomed from his nose, and he felt something warm trickle down his face. Apparently that hadn’t been enough for the bully, and he punched him again. And again.

Soon the other kids joined him, kicking him in the gut or in the shins. Crosshair had quickly given up fighting. He was outnumbered and overpowered. He would just have to wait until someone came along and…

“Hey!” A gruff voice called. All of the regs froze, turning to look up at whoever had found them. Crosshair’s right eye was swollen to the point where it was almost shut, but he could still see who had come to his rescue.

“What are you doin’?” Ninety-nine cried. “What are you beating ‘im up for?” His lopsided face was creased with hurt. 

“Mind your own business, defect,” the leader spat. Ninety-nine didn’t. He pushed through the little crowd of regs and stopped at the one who was holding Crosshairs arms. 

“Come on kid,” Ninety-nine said softly. “Let ‘im go.” The reg did so quickly, apparently much more afraid of him than his sassy leader.

Ninety-nine grabbed Crosshair by the shoulders and started leading him away from the bullies, who had silently resigned. 

After the two had turned a corner, Ninety-nine tried to convince Crosshair to go see a medic, but he refused. He was strong enough by himself. He didn’t want help. So, bruised and bloody, he stumbled into the room he called home and collapsed on his bunk.

Why does it have to be this way? He thought. Why couldn’t he be like all the other clones? And why couldn’t he be strong? How did Hunter do it?

He then realized why it was so easy for Hunter to be brave. He was like all the others. Beside his heightened senses, he was a reg. He could fit in. Crosshair couldn’t. 

Crosshair didn’t know how long it was before someone entered the room. But he could tell by the way they crept across the room ever so quietly that it was Hunter. Of course it was him. And now Crosshair would get lectured by someone who had it easy. 

“Vod?” Hunter said, settling himself on the edge of the bed next to Crosshair. “Go away,” Crosshair said into his pillow. Hunter sighed, almost inaudibly. “I know-“ he began, but Crosshair didn’t let him finish.

“No, Hunter,” he said, sitting up to face his brother. “You don’t know. You never will, because you’re like them. You don’t get bullied.” 

Hunter couldn’t find the words to respond, so, silently, after Crosshair retreated to his pillow, he left. His response wasn’t with words, because actions always speak louder. From then on, Hunter let his hair grow long, and he kept it that way. For Crosshair’s sake, he wanted to be different.

Never getting over what could have been 😢

Late night doodle. Something sweet. Hope it brightens your day. These two love birds brighten each other's day. (I know it is a sketch but I want to fix it so badly, lol)

This is so insanely cool. How many times have I watched it? Yes!

audio seemed fitting

What a duo!

TBB doodle😁 Hunter and Crosshair on a mission 👊