Chapter Text
Wrecker shuffled nervously as he looked over the ledge to the water far below. In reality, it wasn’t that far, he knew that. That didn’t stop anxiety twisting in his stomach. Beside him, Crosshair moved closer to the edge to study the water.
The pair were just in their blacks. Another successful mission on a Republic planet meant the Bad Batch had time to relax planetside until their next one, lingering even after the main Republic force was called away. Wrecker was pretty sure Tech was having a nap on the Marauder while Hunter prepared for a supply run. He conspicuously listened out for the two youngest and their latest shenanigans. Shenanigans Wrecker had been very excited for until Crosshair dragged him up this cliff.
Crosshair smirked when he looked back at him. He purposefully turned his back to the water, crossing his arms without moving away from the edge. “Come on, Wrecker, it’s not that far.”
“I-I know!” He insisted. Because he did. He just didn’t like it. Couldn’t help the growing anxiety every moment Crosshair stayed near the edge. And his brother revelled in it.
Crosshair sighed dramatically, rolling his eyes as he walked along the edge, one misstep from falling. “I guess I’ll just go alone if I have to.” He turned to face the water again. “And here I thought we were a team.”
Before Wrecker could protest, Crosshair leapt from the ledge. He couldn’t hold back a startled shout as he watched his brother execute a perfect dive, disappearing into the water. He scooted as close as he dared to the edge, watching for any sign of Crosshair. Not even a bubble broke the surface for a long time.
His mind raced; what if he got caught on something they couldn’t see? No, Crosshair would have been able to see anything. What if it was too shallow and he hit the bottom? No, he would have seen that too. What if..? Wrecker didn’t know, but he was about ready to call for Hunter when a shape began to appear in the water a few meters back from where Crosshair had disappeared.
He sagged in relief when Crosshair’s head broke the surface. He smirked up at Wrecker as he treaded the water. He heard him laugh before he called up, “Would you look at that, still alive.”
Wrecker let out a relieved laugh. “Yeah, uh, how’s the water?”
“Find out for yourself.” Crosshair kicked back to float leisurely. Wrecker watched him. It did look nice, and it was a perfect day for it. As soon as the pair had spotted the lake, they’d pestered Hunter and Tech to stop there, making a beeline for it as soon as they landed. How often did they get to just have a day out on the water?
Crosshair seemed to get tired of his deliberation. He returned to treading the water, scowling up at Wrecker. “Don’t be a baby, Wrecker. If you need, I’ll catch you.” The smirk grew again as he held his arms wide. He laughed again at Wrecker’s indignation.
“Wha- No! I don’t need you to catch me! I’ll get down there.” He eyed the water way below him again, subconsciously shuffling backward. “Just give me a minute.”
“Any longer and it’ll be dark. Who knows what kind of monsters come out then.”
“There are monsters?”
Crosshair began to paddle in a lazy circle. “Guess we’ll find out. I’m not getting out until you jump.”
Wrecker’s stomach dropped a little, his feet refusing to move any closer to the edge as his brother disappeared briefly from view. “I dunno, Cross…”
Crosshair didn’t say anything as he swam back into view. Wrecker saw his mouth open for another taunt before it closed with a frown. He came to a sudden stop, lurching a little into treading again.
“You alright?” Wrecker called with worry.
For a moment, nothing happened. Until Crosshair’s eyes suddenly widened. He moved to begin swimming again, before he was seemingly tugged, head dipping underwater briefly. He resurfaced with a gasp, then disappeared again.
“Cross?” Wrecker called. If this was him teasing again, it was a little cruel even for Crosshair. He knew it was real when small bubbles surfaced with no sign of him. “Crosshair!”
His heart raced as he tried to force his body into action. He felt sick at the idea of falling. No matter what Crosshair said, it was still a decent drop. He tried to deepen his breathing. His brother needed him, and if he was going to help, he needed as much air as possible. He knew Crosshair hadn’t managed to get a full breath before he was pulled under. He had to be quick.
Forcing his petrified muscles to move, he backed away a couple steps, taking another deep breath. Without letting himself think twice, he bolted forwards, launching himself over the edge. He squeezed his eyes shut as the water enveloped him.
He opened his eyes, squinting against the water. He looked below him, spotting Crosshair’s pale hair disappearing into the depths.
He propelled himself down into the seemingly endless lake. As his brother came into clearer view, he saw that he was struggling against some sort of creature. A tendril wrapped around his ankle, larger ones around his torso and neck. One arm was pinned against his side while the other clawed at the tentacle around his neck. He kicked at the tendril around his ankle, which let go. His face was set in a strained grimace.
When Wrecker reached him, he began working on the tentacle around his body, hoping to at least free his other hand. Wrecker tugged hard at the tentacle, feeling it loosen slightly. He wished he had his vibroblade on him, but there was nowhere to keep it in just his blacks. And there was meant to be no reason to need it anyway.
He had to hold back a relieved smile when Crosshair was able to get his arm free. It was short lived, however, when he felt his brother suddenly tense, legs flailing. He looked up to see Crosshair’s eyes wide with panic, bubbles of air slipping past his lips as he fought even harder against the tentacle on his neck. Wrecker felt the tentacle under his own hands shift and coil tighter, forcing a stream of bubbles to escape Crosshair’s already barely filled lungs.
Wrecker was momentarily torn between which tentacle to focus on before continuing his assault on the same one. Keeping in mind that they were still being steadily dragged deeper into the impossible depths, Crosshair needed air to stay in his lungs more than anything.
Ignoring how Crosshair’s struggling faltered, Wrecker pulled hard on the tentacle. It was difficult to grip, and he couldn’t get it to move more than a few centimetres. But he could get it to move. He dug his fingers into the soft flesh of the tentacle, feeling it flinch when he pulled again. This time it loosened enough for him to adjust his grip once more, taking a page out of its book and squeezing painfully tight.
There was no time to celebrate as it loosened. Another tendril appeared to lash at Wrecker and pull him away. He twisted in the water with an agility he didn’t know was possible for him. As he moved, he grabbed Crosshair’s arm and pulled him free of the tentacle. His brother was barely responsive by then. The hands working at the last tentacle maintained just a loose grip on it and his eyes drifted half closed.
Mindful of the tentacles still hovering nearby, Wrecker got his fingers around the remaining tentacle. As careful as he could be with his brother’s likely damaged throat, he wriggled his fingers underneath and pulled. He grit his teeth when the tentacle tightened against the assault. Another launched an attack, but he was able to kick it away. One hand managed to find the end of the tentacle, and gripping it tight, he began uncoiling it. It thrashed and squirmed, but he was able to loosen it enough to pull over Crosshair’s head. He tossed it down towards the others.
Crosshair was unmoving when Wrecker hooked his arms under his shoulders and began to kick towards the distant surface. His own lungs were burning by then, small bubbles escaping him as he fought the impulse to inhale. He tightened his grip on Crosshair when he felt him tense and convulse. A glance down revealed his lax face; mouth open slightly, eyes closed.
Panic twisted in Wrecker. He looked back to the surface, still too far away. How deep did this kriffing lake go?
Lungs screaming, legs burning, hands cramping, Wrecker stayed focused on the light at the surface. Following small bubbles that teased him as they rose quicker than he ever could.
Finally, finally, he broke the surface. He gasped, blinking water out of his eyes. He coughed and shivered against the cool air that filled his lungs with a different kind of burn. He held Crosshair close. Crosshair who remained silent and still as they floated.
Wrecker’s attention snapped to the shore when he heard his name shouted. His vision cleared enough to see Hunter, Tech not far behind him. Holding Crosshair secure, he paddled over. Hunter waded in to meet him partway, helping pull the pair onto solid ground.
Hunter caught Crosshair when Wrecker collapsed to his knees. As he caught his breath, he was unable to tear his eyes away from Crosshair as he was lowered to the ground, Tech kneeling on his other side. Tech felt for a pulse as Hunter paused to listen. At Tech’s headshake, Hunter jumped into action. He folded his hands over Crosshair’s sternum and began pumping. As he did, Tech tilted Crosshair’s head back, opening his airway.
Crosshair was too still. Where Wrecker was coughing and shivering against the intrusive water and chill afternoon air, Hunter’s compressions were the only thing about Crosshair that seemed at all alive. His lips were blue and his skin was pale. Lax as he was, Wrecker couldn’t help worrying that he was too late. That his moment of hesitation before he jumped was what killed their little brother.
Hunter paused after the first set of 30 to let Tech give two rescue breaths. Crosshair’s chest barely rose with them, air competing for space against the water in his lungs. Or even just to get past the swelling in his neck, dark bruises forming where the tentacle had tightened.
Tech dug in the pack he’d brought with him as Hunter returned to his compressions. Wrecker blinked when a towel was shoved into his hands. He caught the look sent his way before he wiped away some of the water and tears still dripping down his face and wrapped the towel around himself. He grimaced when his hand cramped again.
Hunter paused once more to let Tech give recovery breaths. His chest was beginning to heave with exertion, but he dutifully began another set as soon as Tech pulled back.
Wrecker wished he could do something to help. He felt more useless than he had looking down from the cliff. At least then Crosshair had more air than water in his lungs. At least then he was alive and moving. At least then Wrecker hadn’t let-
His train of thought was cut off by choking coughs. Crosshair’s chest seized with them as Hunter and Tech rolled him onto his side. Water spilled from his mouth as he coughed and heaved his way into recovery position. Hunter kept a hand on his shoulder, murmuring quietly to their brother. Wrecker felt almost lightheaded at the sight. Crosshair was breathing, he was alive. The strained wheezing that accompanied each breath didn’t matter. The trembling through his entire body didn’t matter. He was alive and breathing and he’d get better. That’s what mattered.
Crosshair’s shoulders tensed and he heaved, bile joining the puddle of water at his side. Hunter remained steady beside him, occasionally thumping his back to help. Eventually, he slumped with a long wheeze. His eyes fluttered open, bleary and dazed. They wandered aimlessly for a moment before rolling back and sliding closed.
Wrecker looked to Tech with concern, but he just held his medscanner out at Crosshair. “He is fine. He’s going to be tired and disoriented after going so long without oxygen.” He frowned at the results on the scanner before tucking it away and rising to his feet. “We need to get him on the ship.”
Hunter carefully picked up Crosshair’s limp body. Wrecker scrambled to his feet to help, only to be caught by Tech when he almost fell again. His legs felt weak beneath him. He begrudgingly let Tech wrap his arm around his shoulders and followed Hunter to the Marauder.
Tech sat Wrecker on his bunk while Hunter lay Crosshair on the other, quickly turning him onto his side when he began to cough again. Each cough sounded breathless and painful, and the fit left him gasping for breath. Hunter supported him through it as Tech pulled out the medkit. The big proper one with the more intense equipment they rarely had to use. He scanned Crosshair again, frowning again at the warning signs flashing across the screen.
He pulled out equipment as he spoke. “The damage to his neck and chest is preventing him from getting enough oxygen. I will need to intubate.”
Hunter’s brow furrowed. “Why not just a mask? That seems a little intense.”
Tech shook his head. “The oxygen provided will be no good if he cannot get it into his lungs. Intubation is the best way to ensure he gets enough, at least until the swelling goes down. I just hope that it won’t have to be performed nasally.”
Wrecker wrinkled his nose at the phantom feeling that suggestion gave him. “You know what you’re doing, right, Tech?” He asked as his brother injected a hypo into Crosshair’s neck and pulled out a tube and some kind of rounded blade with a handle.
“While I have never performed one myself on an actual person, it is a simple procedure.”
Wrecker watched as Hunter rolled Crosshair onto his back. Crosshair’s breathing stuttered, but he stayed still. Tech tilted his head back once again and held the blade in their brother’s mouth. Wrecker shivered in sympathetic discomfort, but couldn’t tear his eyes away as Tech used the blade to guide the tube into Crosshair’s damaged throat. Tech’s brow furrowed and he seemed to struggle with it for a moment before seeming satisfied with the placement and removing the blade. He taped the tube in place and attached a bag to the end of it. After giving precise instructions and demonstration, he handed the bag to Hunter. Crosshair’s chest rose and fell with each even squeeze of the bag.
“The bag will do for now until his injuries have been assessed and treated.”
Tech moved swiftly on. He soaked a bandage in bacta before wrapping it loosely around Crosshair’s bruised neck. After rummaging in the medkit, he began cutting away at Crosshair’s blacks, mindful of how he shivered against the cool air. Blue and purple bruising covered his chest and Wrecker would be shocked if a few ribs weren’t broken. That creature had kept a tight grasp on him, and he was sure he heard a crack or two during Hunter’s compressions.
His attention was drawn away from Tech and Crosshair when Hunter called his name. He looked over to see his oldest brother watching him closely from where he sat by the bunk.
“You should get out of those wet clothes. We’ve got him.”
Wrecker only then realised how much he was still shivering, the air inside the Marauder not much warmer than outside, especially with the ramp open. He was still soaked and he felt a little bad for getting the bunk wet as he stood. He still felt unsteady, but was able to find some fresh blacks and make it into the fresher to warm up and change.
One lightning fast, fantastically hot shower later, and he returned to the bunks with another set of fresh blacks in hand. He still shivered a little when he left the sauna he’d turned the fresher into. Tech was applying the last of the bacta to Crosshair’s injuries when Wrecker offered him the blacks. He glanced up at him and nodded in thanks. Wrecker left them on the end of the bunk before returning to sit on his own. As much as he wanted to help, all that moving around had also made it clear how much his body still hurt. His legs felt like he’d just done a week’s worth of leg days, and his chest still ached with every breath. At least his hands had stopped cramping since he’d warmed up.
With one last scan, Tech drew back from Crosshair. He was still pale and tremors wracked his body from the cold. He didn’t stir, and his chest maintained a steady rhythm thanks to Hunter’s bagging.
“He is stable. Once we get him changed and dry, it will simply be a matter of waiting. I have given him sedatives and antibiotics, and his ribs are stable.”
Hunter gave Tech a nod once he was done with his checklist. “Thank you, Tech.”
Tech nodded back. Together, the pair got Crosshair dried and into the fresh set of blacks. Tech replaced the bag with a machine he set beside the bunk and pulled a blanket up over him before beginning to clean up. Hunter stayed seated by Crosshair’s side. He glanced over and met Wrecker’s anxious gaze.
“He’ll be fine, Wrecker. You did great getting him out of there. Without you, he’d be dead.”
Wrecker frowned. “He almost was anyway, Sarge. Had to force myself off that cliff to get him. I almost couldn’t do it.”
Hunter reached over to pat Wrecker’s knee. “But you did. You overcame that fear and you saved Crosshair’s life. You should be proud.”
Wrecker glanced from Crosshair back to Hunter. He gave him a watery smile. Letting out a shaky breath, he finally leaned back to lie properly on the bunk. He patted his hand along to find Lula and pull her into his arms. Lying on his side, never letting Crosshair out of his sight, he did his best to relax into the uneasy sleep his body was begging for.