*originals Below The Cut

*originals below the cut

**forgoing taglist for spoiler reasons

My favorite part of Episode 8: Wrecker getting snippy with Fennec Shand. 😂 Loved that he got more screen time and dialogue.

Rest

Relationships: Hunter & Wrecker

Content Warnings: None

Summary:

Wrecker reaches his limit after a difficult mission.

Written for @augustofwhump Day 1: overexertion

Word count: 997

Read on Ao3

The mission went so much longer than planed. Wrecker had been running on empty before they'd left, a couple of days of bad chronic pain draining him. Beside the exhaustion, it had been a good day before they set off, pain minimal for the first time in ages. But Cid hadn't been entirely honest yet again. They weren't the only ones trying to get a hold of the shipment she'd sent them after, landing the squad in fights they hadn't planned for. Next to the crates Wrecker had to move, their way got blocked multiple times by collapses and broken doors. Wrecker happily dealt with them, heavy lifting being what he was made for. But all of that strain, the running around, the unnecessary fights, Wrecker feels them now, badly. Soon as he got on the ship, Wrecker dropped the crates and himself to the floor. He's resting his head against the cool casing of the shipment, closing his eyes. His head throbs, his spine feeling like a line of fire down his back. He's pulled at least something. Rolling his shoulders, Wrecker groans. Waves of nausea have been hitting him for the last hour, and sitting down has done nothing to improve them. If things would be up to Wrecker, he wouldn't move from this spot, possibly ever. But he knows they have another mission lined up for tomorrow. Remembering that almost makes Wrecker want to cry, maybe crawl into a dark corner and hide like when they were cadets. He's too big to hide easily now, and his vode need him. Wrecker's not going to let them down by backing out last minute. Still, the thought of having to do something even half as bad as the last mission plagues Wrecker. There's no point worrying about it, it'll happen either way, but Wrecker's tired mind is set on terrorizing him. When they fought for the Republic, Wrecker would have took a stim. The price of them prevents stims from being stocked in their medkit now.

Wrecker will have to make due with the cheap caff they've got and will have to hope the caffeine will be enough for him to force his body through the day. "Wrecker?" Hunter speaks softly. It's almost like he's able to sense when a member of his squad has a headache. He's always been good at that. Wrecker groans in response. A hand on his shoulder makes him reluctantly lift his head off the crate. Hunter's extending an ice pack in Wrecker's direction. Wrecker smiles. He'd thought of getting one for himself, but as much as he longed for it, couldn't convince himself to move. "Don't tell the others," Wrecker mutters, grin on his lips, "but you're definitely my favorite brother right now." Shaking his head, Hunter laughs. Wrecker accepts the gift his brother brought him, removing only the armor strictly necessary to hold it flush to his back. Laying down with the ice pack on his back would be smarter, but Wrecker is scared to move. The headache and nausea are barely manageable now, there's no telling how much worse changing positions would make that.

So Wrecker resigns himself to sitting with his arm held at an awkward angle. It's a small price to pay for some relief for his sore back. Wordlessly Hunter sits down behind him, pushing Wreckers arm aside and moving close enough to be back to back with Wrecker. Like this, the ice pack held in place by both of them pressing against it. "Thank you." Wrecker mutters. They'd sat similarly in the past, though usually because they both needed the ice pack. "Sure you don't want to move to the rack?" Hunter suggests. "Don't wanna move at all." Wrecker groans. He can feel Hunter nod. "Then we're staying here." Leaning his head back on the crate, Wrecker sighs. The bone-deep exhaustion isn't going to let its self be shaken any time soon, but at least the ice pack is doing its job nicely. "About tomorrows mission..." Hunter starts. Wrecker can't help the way his shoulders slump. "I'll be good to go by then sarge." Wrecker says. "Promise." "We're not doing the mission, vod'ika." "What?" Wrecker almost moves upright in confusion. "We need the credits Hunter." "We need rest more." Wrecker's not stupid, he knows who's meant when Hunter says 'we'. "I won't be the reason we lose out on a job." Wrecker shakes his head, regretting the motion immediately when pain flares behind his eyes. "The whole squad will benefit from taking a break." Hunter's words do nothing to make Wrecker feel better, to feel less like a burden. "I'll be fine. I can keep going." He won't let his vode down, he'll keep going like he always does, he'll push through the exhaustion. A nights sleep will be more than enough, even if Wrecker's already dreading it. "You're clearly not fine!" Wrecker can feel Hunter moving, probably gesturing for emphasis. Wanting to protest further, Wrecker opens his mouth, only for Hunter to interrupt him. "Don't. We're not soldiers any more, we can rest when we need to." Wrecker sighs heavily. He's too tired to argue, not that Hunter would change his mind. He's surprisingly stubborn. "Cid's not going to be happy." "When is she ever happy?" Hunter replies, making Wrecker laugh quietly. It still doesn't sit well with Wrecker that he's making his brothers lose out of credits, especially since his abnormally high need for food is already a burden on the squad. They're constantly barely scraping by. "Tell me if you want to lay down." Wrecker clocks Hunters words as an offer of help, should he need it. Laying down sounds nice, but Wrecker can't bare to face moving his strained body right now.

In a few minutes, he'll take Hunter up on his offer, actually get some rest in whilst he can. But for now, he just enjoys the relative comfort of sitting still and having an ice pack against his back.

did somebody say old man wrecker!!!!!

Yeah, I always headcanoned Wrecker to be either pan or omni

I was writing a fic then got sidetracked

This one is for all my Wrecker simps