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Kaller might have been what formed the first cracks, but it was Kamino that shattered who they were, and it was Kamino that also cemented the truth that their squad would never be whole again. The wound torn there is one from which they can never heal. It’s a wound from which Hunter can never heal. Crosshair had a choice there, and he didn’t choose them. He didn’t choose Hunter.
The truth is a bitter thing that settles into Hunter’s chest and aches.
It’s been hurting for months, and Hunter doesn’t know that it ever can stop hurting. Crosshair meant the world to him – all his brothers do – and he threw it away as though it meant nothing. Maybe it didn’t. Maybe Crosshair stopped caring and started drifting away without Hunter even noticing it. Maybe he’s losing all of them, and he hasn’t realized it yet.
Sometimes, it feels as though his life is spinning out of his control, and there’s nothing – nothing he can do to slow it down. Hunter feels helpless in the face of it, and he doesn’t know what to do to fix it. If he can do anything to fix it. He can’t lose them. He can’t lose Tech or Wrecker. They’re all he has. They’re his. How is he supposed to watch them leave him, too – like Crosshair – without completely breaking?
It’s been two weeks since they left Cid. Two weeks since they turned to Phee for help. Two weeks since she started staying with them on the Marauder.
Two weeks since Hunter has been able to touch his brothers the way he wants, the way he needs.
Two weeks.
And now, Echo is gone, too. He’s gone to help Rex, and Hunter misses him. He knows Echo was growing increasingly restless, the hole where Crosshair used to be becoming increasingly pronounced, and he knows that Echo struggled to face it. He knows Echo wanted to join Rex so they could help the clones. And when Echo couldn’t face the grief any longer, when he couldn’t suppress his need to help all the clones for another day, he left. Hunter doesn’t blame him. He knows leaving is what Echo needed. Fighting is what will make Echo happy, and all Hunter wants is for his brothers to be happy.
Especially now.
He tries to keep himself together. He tries to stay strong for the others because they need him, but it’s so, so hard, and more often than not, he can feel himself drifting, getting lost in his own head, searching for something, anything that can dull the pain or take it away even if only for a moment.
It doesn’t help that Phee is here.
There’s nothing wrong with her, of course. She’s a friendly person, and she does care about them, but sometimes… well, sometimes, Hunter struggles to interact with her. She’s always there, always watching, and Hunter is tired of having to keep up his mask around her. Maybe she’s a friend, but that doesn’t mean he has to like her. He doesn’t like the way she’s always pulling Omega away from him. He doesn’t like the way she’s always flirting with Tech.
The Tech part is the worst.
Phee is everything he’s not. She’s attractive, and she’s new, and she’s not broken or damaged like he is. She’s interested in Tech, and they all know it. Tech can do so much better than tying himself down to Hunter. Crosshair left. Nothing is stopping Tech from doing the same, and Hunter couldn’t even blame him. He deserves someone like Phee, and she’s… special. She cares about them, and Hunter knows all too well how fascinated Tech always gets at the prospect of something new. They’ve only ever had each other. Women are… not something they have experience with.
Why wouldn’t Tech want her?
He kicks a stone at the bottom of the ramp with more force than is necessary, watching as Wrecker, Phee, and Omega disappear down the path toward the nearby town to get supplies. He volunteered to stay behind with Tech, who is doing a few minor repairs on the Marauder. Someone had to remain with him, and since the choice was between Hunter and Phee, he chose himself. There was no way he could leave Phee alone with Tech.
The mere thought makes something dark and ugly twist inside him, and he kicks the stone again, watching as it rolls away, settling in the dirt by a small flower.
He tries to pretend he didn’t hear the “why don’t you sort ‘im out while we’re gone?” that Phee murmured to Tech before they left. He scowls a little harder. He’s fine. He doesn’t need sorting out, thank you very much.
“What is your issue?” Tech asks sharply from behind him, and Hunter only doesn’t jump because he sensed him approaching.
He grunts, turning to eye Tech with both annoyance and disinterest, biting his tongue so he doesn’t snap at him. “M’fine.”
Tech crosses his arms, unimpressed. “Clearly. You have obviously not been brooding for days on end. I must have seen incorrectly.”
Hunter feels a flush crawl into his cheeks as he looks away, staring at the grass. It’s oddly blueish and it looks… crinkly. It’s disconcerting. “Go do your repairs, Tech.”
There’s a hesitation, and he can hear Tech’s footsteps as he walks down the ramp. “Your mood is illogical. We are not in danger. Omega is safe with Wrecker and Phee. We are in a better place than we were with Cid.”
Yeah, he really doesn’t want to be reminded about Phee right now.
“Hunter.”
Tech’s voice is gentler now, almost careful, and Hunter reluctantly looks back at him. It doesn’t feel right to ignore him, and the truth is, Hunter has missed being able to be close with him. With Wrecker. He feels like he’s losing them, and he doesn’t know how to handle it.
Tech steps closer, almost touching him, and Hunter has to tilt his head slightly to meet Tech’s eyes – it is so unfair that he’s the shortest of them. “Talk to me.”
His mouth is dry, and he doesn’t know what to say. He can’t say don’t leave me because for as close as he and his brothers are, that is a step too far. Too vulnerable. He tries, but words won’t come, and all he can think is don’t leave me. He watched Crosshair walk away, and it shattered him. He’s been picking up his broken pieces ever since.
“What is your issue with Phee?” Tech asks finally. “She has remarked to me on numerous occasions that you seem to dislike her.”
Hunter blanches. It’s too close. “I– I don’t,” he blurts out, nearly squirming. He can’t quite meet Tech’s gaze. “I don’t dislike her. I’m fine with her. She’s good. She–”
But as Tech’s eyes slowly narrow behind his goggles with each word Hunter says, his voice trails off into silence. “I have noticed as well that you are remarkably distant toward her,” Tech says. “It is clear you do not like her presence.”
The ground does not open to swallow Hunter whole. Unfortunately. And there is no other escape for him. He has to face this. Somehow. Tech won’t let it go. Hunter knows it. He knows it from the intensity of Tech’s gaze and the steady determination in his voice. He’s so screwed.
“I’m not– it’s just–” he starts, shrugging helplessly when words fail him. He doesn’t know how to explain.
Stay. Please.
But he doesn’t know how to say that aloud.
“You were short with her earlier,” Tech points out, and Hunter winces. Yes, he had been. Not enough to be rude but enough to raise eyebrows. She’d been flirting with Tech – excessively – and it had been getting on Hunter’s nerves.
“I have a headache,” he tries, though he doubts Tech will buy that excuse.
His brow furrows. “That cannot be it. You never asked me for pain meds, and you always do. You know we’re not out.”
He keeps his eyes focused on their surroundings. “It’s nothing, Tech. It doesn’t matter.”
Tech jumps on that immediately. “So something is going on.”
“Just– drop it.”
He doesn’t, of course. Tech is extremely stubborn when he wants to be, just like the rest of them are. “Hunter.”
Hunter doesn’t look at him, can’t look at him. He doesn’t know what to say. The bitter, tangled feelings inside him are his to deal with. He needs to sort it out on his own. Change is natural, as Tech always says, and yet, here Hunter is, lingering in the past, clinging to things that once were are now no longer are.
He misses Crosshair.
And Echo.
And stupidly, he misses Tech and Wrecker even though they’re right here.
Tech touches his shoulder and when that’s not enough to make him respond, he lightly grasps Hunter’s chin, turning his head toward him. His brown eyes are both worried and calculating, and Hunter feels guilty for troubling him. They each have their own shadows to face.
“Tell me,” Tech requests, and it’s a far cry from the authority he usually uses. Tech used to be a lot more demanding when forcing them to talk to him about something that troubled them. It didn’t happen often, but it happened. Sometimes. Since – since Kamino, since Crosshair left, Tech has changed. He’s a lot more careful, and the confidence he once had is almost absent. He’s quieter. All of them are.
They don’t have Crosshair, their youngest, so instead, they’ve turned that focus onto Omega. She’s not Crosshair and she never could be, but she’s – she’s someone. She’s their sister. She’s their kid, and if they have her to focus on, it makes it easier. There is no way for them to mourn for Crosshair, not properly. Facing the reality of him being… gone is more than any of them can handle.
With Omega there, they have someone, and her presence soothes that ache. She has become their purpose. For her, they keep moving. For her, they will do anything. She is all they have left.
Don’t leave.
“Phee likes you,” he says reluctantly. “You must have noticed that. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
He watches as understanding dawns in Tech’s eyes, and he tries to look away, uncomfortable.
“You’re jealous of her,” Tech realizes, and Hunter pulls away from him, crossing his arms, defensiveness rising.
“No, I’m not,” he denies instantly, and the flush on his face deepens. “M’just– worried.”
“You think I want her?” Tech asks curiously. “Or that I might choose her?”
Hunter takes another step back, bitterness drowning him. “Why wouldn’t you?”
Tech studies him, gaze searching. “Yes,” he says at last, “she is indeed intriguing, and if I told her I was interested, she would be happy to explore with me. But you know, as I do, that the squad always comes first.” Tech touches Hunter’s arm. “You know that don’t you? Phee is just a friend. She is not a part of the squad.”
He doesn’t say you come first, but he doesn’t need to, even if Hunter would like to hear the words. Tech’s expression says it all, and their eyes meet. They don’t always need words to communicate, and slowly, Hunter moves his arm, resting his hand on Tech’s.
“I know,” Hunter answers and then hesitates as Tech threads their fingers together, stepping closer to him. “I just– we haven’t– I miss you,” he blurts out. The redness in his cheeks doesn’t seem to be planning to go away anytime soon, but this is Tech, and Hunter knows that Tech won’t exploit any weaknesses he shows. He never has.
(He once thought the same about Crosshair.)
Tech’s brow furrows. “I am right here. I believed you were not in the mood for anything. You have not attempted to initiate anything with either Wrecker or myself.”
Hunter looks away. “The kid is always there… and if she’s not, then Phee is. There’s never been time.”
And instead, he’s had to watch helplessly as Phee gets closer to Tech, his fears of losing someone else only growing stronger.
Tech hums. “We are alone now.”
It’s pointed, and Hunter’s eyes dart to his, startled. He hadn’t expected the comment. He hadn’t expected Tech to…
It’s stupid. Just because Phee likes Tech, doesn’t mean he likes her, and even if he does, that doesn’t mean he’s stopped being attracted to Hunter and Wrecker. Being surprised that Tech is offering – that he wants –
He’s being stupid, and he knows it, but the relief that bubbles up can’t be denied.
Please don’t leave me.
And Tech is still studying him, assessing him with the same narrowed eyes that he has. It’s almost enough to make him squirm, no matter that Tech’s gaze has never been able to make him feel seen in the way Crosshair’s could. Sometimes, being seen isn’t what he wants. Sometimes, he just wants to hide. He doesn’t know which of the two it is this time.
“Don’t you have repairs to do?” Hunter asks weakly. He wants Tech. Of course, he does, but he also doesn’t know what to do with the offer he never thought he would get. There is also the question of the others getting back unexpectedly. They should be back in a couple of hours, but there will be questions if the repairs aren’t done – or even started – when they return. Fuck. It’s always like this. He hates it.
For a moment, he yearns for the war, for when he and his brothers would be free to do whatever they wanted with whoever they wanted when they were in the privacy of their own quarters. But those times are gone, and they have a child to care for. It’s not Omega that’s the problem – of course not; she could never be a problem. She’s their gift. Phee is the problem. She’s far more watchful and observant than their kid is.
Tech smiles. “We will complete them together, and once our work is complete, we will have plenty of free time to engage in whatever activities that we desire.”
Something skitters down Hunter’s spine. It could be excitement, but he hasn’t felt anything other than depression in so long that it takes a moment to confirm that’s what it is. Hunter exhales a shuddering breath. “Sounds good,” he murmurs.
The tension that Hunter hadn’t realized was there disappears from Tech’s shoulders, and Tech squeezes his hand. “I have missed your company,” he says, letting go and turning back to the Marauder. Hunter follows him, and Tech collects the tools they need before they move to do the repairs that are needed.
The warmth of Tech’s words – I have missed your company – settles inside him, burning contentedly. It doesn’t quite wipe away the worry, the fear, but it’s enough that he’s able to focus on Tech’s presence while they work. It’s mostly quiet but companionable, and Hunter tries not to think about that quiet. Tech always used to chatter incessantly while working, while doing anything. He’d sometimes even talk about things entirely unrelated to the project at hand, but now, he’s… quieter. He is not fully silent, of course, but he does not speak nearly as much as he did in the past.
Losing Crosshair changed all of them, and Tech has never gotten his confidence in himself back. Hunter misses it. He misses when they were… different. Better. More whole. They’ve become shadows of who they used to be.
Hunter wants to bring it up to Tech, but Tech is…
He’s become so volatile after Echo left. He handles grief by lashing out, and Hunter could never fault him for it, but right now, he doesn’t want to fight with Tech. He wants him. He wants the comfort of his presence. He wants to feel close to him, wants to know that Tech is still here, still his, wants to know that Tech will choose him.
Don’t leave me.
Mentioning how different Tech has become is a guaranteed way of making him tense and start a fight, and that’s the last thing Hunter wants. He can’t argue with his brothers anymore, and he’s always so careful to avoid it, no matter the cost. He can’t– he just – after Crosshair, not knowing why he left, why he chose the Empire, not knowing what could have pushed him to make those choices, Hunter is terrified to fight with his brothers. He doesn’t want to push them away, too.
“You are brooding again,” Tech states, nudging his shoulder after he slides out from under the dashboard, closing it up, and beginning to pick up his tools.
“I…” Hunter falters and then winces. He should have guessed Tech would sense it. Even after all this time, even after all the things that have happened, he and his brothers are still very attuned to each other. In some ways, they are even more in sync than they used to be, though he knows it’s because of what they’ve lost. The grief and guilt and pain have brought them closer and forced them to depend on each other more than they did before.
“I am not criticizing you,” Tech says before Hunter can come up with something. “I am merely pointing it out. Would you like to discuss it?”
No. No, he would not.
Stay with me. Please.
“Not especially,” Hunter replies. His hand curls on Tech’s shoulder, pulling him closer. Desperation and anticipation mingle and send a shiver through his body. He wants – he needs –
Tech touches his jaw, leaning in, and their lips meet. The familiarity of it and the connection he feels with Tech make his heart flutter. Hunter tilts his head, deepening the kiss, his hand sliding to grip the back of Tech’s neck. Tech is here, and this is real, and nothing else matters. Tech wraps an arm around his waist, nipping Hunter’s lower lip as he licks into his mouth. Hunter lets him, lets Tech take because giving himself to his brothers is the only thing he knows how to do anymore. Surrendering without a fight is not something he ever used to do, but Hunter wants them with him more than he wants to keep his pride.
Tech doesn’t push back, either, not like he used to. Bickering with each other was what they all did, but since they lost Crosshair, that has changed. Everything has changed.
Tech’s hand moves to the back of Hunter’s head, stroking through his hair. He welcomes the touch eagerly, greedily. They’re so close, pressed together, but it’s not close enough. Hunter yearns to feel the warmth of Tech’s body against his. He wants to touch. Their armor – and body gloves – keep them too far apart.
“What do you want to do?” Tech rasps as he breaks away from the kiss. His eyes are dark with both intentness and arousal, and Hunter stares at him, taking him in. He’s seen Tech’s face his entire life, but he never tires of looking at him.
“Anything,” Hunter whispers. “Whatever you want. I just–” He hesitates. “I want to feel you.”
Tech pauses at that, studying him. Hunter doesn’t know what he sees, but he accepts the words with a nod. “Very well. We should go to our racks.”
They head toward the back of the ship, but Hunter stops abruptly, remembering that the ramp is down. “I’ll just–” he starts, turning back.
“No,” Tech interrupts, catching his arm to stop him. “Leave it.”
Hunter goes still. “But the others could get back, and…” He trails off, shifting uncomfortably. Even if he sensed them before they got onboard and even if they were able to conceal the evidence of their activities from Omega, he suspects Phee might figure it out. He doesn’t know how she’d react if she knew how close the Batch is. Natborns get weird about clones having relationships with each other – and more than that, given her feelings for Tech, he worries that she might react badly just because of that. Phee’s a friend, and he doesn’t want to hurt her. They need her, too. He doesn’t know what they’ll do if she ditches them.
“Hunter.” Tech’s voice is firm, and Hunter glances at him. Their eyes meet, and he sees the steadfast calm on Tech’s face. “We’ll be fine.”
“But–” He can’t help but glance anxiously toward the open ramp again, though he lets Tech pull him to the back of their ship. There is always a certain thrill to doing something when they could be caught in the act. The riskier the better. Or that used to be true. Now, the stakes of being discovered are so much higher, and he can’t let himself welcome the excitement of knowing they could be seen the way he did in the past.
And yet, a guilty sort of anticipation darts through him, tugging on his senses.
“We can start with something simple,” Tech says, sitting down on the lower rack. “How about you come here and start sucking me off?”
Hunter pauses. “Only start?”
“Yes. With the mindset you are currently in, it would be advantageous for me to penetrate you. I am not going anywhere, Hunter.”
A flush crawls through his body, and it’s equal parts embarrassment and need. “Y-yeah,” he replies. “Okay.” He comes closer, trying to push away his worry over the others returning unexpectedly as he kneels in front of Tech between his legs.
“Do you have an objection to that?” Tech asks, and his voice is soft. His hand is gentle on Hunter’s head as he strokes through his hair, and Hunter leans into the touch, letting Tech untie his bandana and set it aside.
“No,” he whispers. Except for the ramp being left open. He can hear the chirping of a nearby bird, or maybe an insect. He can hear the buzzing and movements of creatures going about their day-to-day life. He knows he’ll sense it when the others come back, but sometimes, when he’s having sex, it takes longer for him to register what his senses are telling him. “… Are you sure we shouldn’t close the ramp first?”
Tech regards him. “You fear us being caught,” he responds, “and your fear would not disappear even if we did seal the ship. Nothing will happen. We will be fine.”
Hunter leans a little more into the touch, soaking in the comfort despite the little kernel of guilt deep inside of him which says he doesn’t deserve it. It tells him he’s being weak by seeking this out, by letting Tech’s touch soothe him. But this isn’t just about what he wants. Tech wouldn’t be here with him if he didn’t want it, too. If he didn’t need it, too. And Hunter holds onto that, trying to let it settle him.
Tech is his. He isn’t going to lose him, can’t lose him and survive it.
Slowly, Hunter slides his hands up Tech’s thighs, feeling the tremble in his brother’s body as he does so. An answering shudder ripples through him, and he aches for Tech’s touch, aches for all of him, for everything. Tech doesn’t stop him, so he reaches up to unfasten his codpiece, setting it aside and freeing his cock. He’s half hard, and Hunter strokes his length, leaning forward to drag his tongue across the head.
Tech lets out a shaky breath, his fingers tightening in Hunter’s hair as Hunter lets the tip slide into his mouth. He lowers his head further, taking Tech deeper, and this is familiar. The scent of him and the taste of him take his mind back to a place where he’s safe, where all of them are safe, and he isn’t afraid. Tech’s hand is on his head, pushing him down, and Hunter lets him. He takes Tech as deep as he’s able, suppressing his gag reflex. He holds it for a few seconds before drawing back, wrapping fingers around the base of Tech’s cock as he starts moving.
For a few minutes, Tech lets him control the pace and speed. He lets him lick and suck and tease. And then, unexpectedly, his hand tightens, holding Hunter still for a moment, silently asking permission. Hunter nods – as much as he’s able to with Tech’s erection in his mouth – and Tech pushes his head down, shifting so he can move his hips to thrust into Hunter’s mouth. Hunter can’t hold back a moan at the treatment, and Tech shudders in response, forcing him to move faster. Tech doesn’t stop until he’s trembling, close to coming, but his willpower is impressive, and he pulls Hunter off.
Hunter sits back, looking at Tech’s flushed face and feeling the desperate throbbing of his own cock. He wipes his mouth, panting as he tries to recover himself. He’s shaking, too, and slowly, he curls closer to Tech, dropping his forehead to rest against his thigh. He feels close to him, finally, and he nearly whines when Tech touches his head, stroking his hair.
“Are you alright?” Tech asks, and when Hunter doesn’t respond, he tugs his hair lightly, pulling his head up. “Hunter?”
He feels strangely exposed in a way he doesn’t like or understand, but he still steadies himself as he meets Tech’s eyes, giving him a shaky smile. “Yeah,” he breathes, pushing up to his knees and wrapping an arm around Tech to pull him into a deep and passionate kiss that’s tinged with an edge of desperation he can’t hide. “I’m fine.”
I need you, he doesn’t add. I can’t lose you. You’re mine.
With Crosshair having chosen the Empire over them, and with Echo having left to help Rex, Hunter knows he’s leaning on Tech more than he ever has before. And in many ways, the same is true in the reverse. Before, Tech would go to Echo, and Hunter would turn to Crosshair. Now, they only have each other. They cling in a way they never did before.
“Good,” Tech murmurs near his ear, nipping his neck. “Undress for me.”
Hunter twitches, almost startled, the contented haze lifting as nervousness skitters through him. The ramp –
The others could –
He tells himself that he’s being ridiculous, and he can feel Tech’s gaze on him, boring into him as he waits. The protest is right there on the tip of his tongue, but he lets it wither and die and decides to trust. He can trust Tech. Tech must know – just as he does – what the risks of exposure are, but if Tech believes this is safe, Hunter will trust him.
He slips free from Tech’s grip and reaches to unfasten his chest plate. The rest of his armor is next, and he lays it on the floor off to the side where it won’t get in the way. They’re really doing this. It’s been so long, too long, and Hunter is unable to name the emotions that wash over him. They’re too strong and intense for him to be able to name, and he swallows them down – or tries to – as he reaches his body glove. That goes, too, and it doesn’t take long before he has removed all his clothing and is standing naked in front of Tech.
Tech stands, removing his gloves and tossing them aside before he strokes a hand down Hunter’s chest, circling him. Hunter can feel Tech’s breath on his neck, and it makes him shiver, hands clenching as he waits. Tech is assessing him, he thinks, and fingertips slide down his spine, a palm settling on his ass. “Bend over.” His voice is quiet, and he presses a gentle kiss to Hunter’s shoulder blade.
It is always easier when he doesn’t have to be the one to give orders, and the weight of being in command is drowning him. Tech understands it, and right here and now, Hunter is grateful to him for helping to ease that burden. He obeys, spreading his legs further apart as he rests his hands on the rack, waiting.
Tech doesn’t make him wait long, but Hunter still fidgets, glancing back as Tech briskly removes his own armor and the clothing beneath. Sometimes, he doesn’t mind being naked while the other – or others – is in armor, but today, he needs the contact. He craves the closeness, needs it more than he needs to breathe.
Tech approaches, and Hunter can feel the heat of his body as fingers probe his entrance. He shivers, heart pounding faster as he lowers his head and waits, hair falling into his face. A finger presses into him, and he instinctively clenches down on it before taking a deep breath and forcing himself to relax. Relaxing becomes easier when Tech’s hand slides across his hip before dropping to stroke over his aching erection. He can’t hold back the groan, caught between the sensations of Tech’s hand on him, and the fingers slowly working him open.
“Tech.” The moan is pleading, and he hears Tech’s shaky exhale in response. He doesn’t care if it hurts. He only wants Tech. He needs him.
Stay. Please.
He thinks Tech must feel the same urgency and desperation that he does from the speed with which he pulls his fingers out. It’s only moments before he feels the tip of Tech’s cock nudging against his entrance. The stretch burns when it presses in, and he feels the shockwave of sensation sweeping through him. His fingers clench on the rack as Tech works himself in. The intensity takes his breath away, the pain and pleasure blurring together, wiping away his ability to think entirely. This. This. This is what he wanted. What he needed.
Tech tugs him closer, bending to nuzzle his neck, and Hunter’s legs threaten to give out from under him. Tech’s body is firm and warm and real, and he lets out a shuddering breath, trembling. He feels… so much. Everything. And he loves Tech so, so deeply. Tech can’t replace Crosshair, but he would never want to. Crosshair is – he ruined them, and they can only hold each other through the storm of grief. Like what Tech is doing for him now.
He stays still for a moment, letting Hunter adjust.
“M’ready,” Hunter croaks, nudging back against him. Tech kisses his neck, hands sliding over his skin, and it’s ridiculous that he’s already so affected by Tech’s touch alone when they haven’t even started the fucking. Well, for the most part.
Tech adjusts his position, arm around Hunter’s waist to keep him close, and after two short, careful thrusts, he starts moving hard and fast. Hunter can’t breathe through the onslaught of sensations. Fuck, fuck –
And when Tech starts stroking him in time with his thrusts, Hunter is lost. Nothing matters but them and the fear he felt at the thought of being caught is a far-off, distant thing. Irrelevant. Meaningless. Tech’s length is sliding into him over and over, his hand sliding over Hunter’s cock. He can hear Tech’s panted breaths in his ear, his soft grunts and moans mingling with Hunter’s. Hunter’s fingers tighten on the rack as he forces his trembling body to meet Tech’s thrusts, again and again, until it takes all his willpower to stay on his feet.
His climax hits him hard, stealing his breath and strength, and Tech has to hold him, so he doesn’t collapse in a sweaty, exhausted heap on the floor. Tech groans his name when he comes deep in Hunter’s body, and they slide to the floor together. His body aches and tingles, and he curls a little closer to Tech, tilting his head instinctively to give him access to his neck. Tech nuzzles against him, sucking a mark on the underside of his jaw, still holding him tightly.
Hunter twists a bit to capture his mouth, and they kiss, long and slow, reaffirming their unity, their togetherness. His ass throbs appreciatively, and Tech’s fingers dig into his skin, telling him silently what he doesn’t know how to say aloud. I’m staying. I’ll always stay.
And Hunter kisses him a little harder at that, lowering his head to nip at Tech’s neck. He drags his teeth over skin, finally biting down hard enough to leave a bruise and licking the spot, tasting his sweat.
Tech makes a quiet noise, almost a groan, fingers tangling in Hunter’s hair and yanking his head back and all but attacking him. Hunter knows he’ll have the marks on his throat for a while, and something inside him purrs at that knowledge. Slowly, reality settles back in, and he pulls back from Tech, kissing him lightly and resting their foreheads together. They probably don’t have much time to clean up and dress before the others get back.
Hunter fingers the marks on his neck and winces. “M’not gonna be able to hide these.”
Something ferally possessive flashes through Tech’s brown eyes, but he’s quick to hide it again. “Omega will not notice, and if she does, she will not ask. She never has.”
“Not– not her,” Hunter says, shaking his head, “but Phee might.”
Tech studies his face, and unexpectedly, a smile quirks up one corner of his mouth. “Phee already knows about us.”
Hunter jolts. “What?!”
“Phee knows we all have a romantic and sexual relationship with each other,” Tech repeats.
Hunter gapes at him, but the words don’t change. “Since– since when?”
Tech pauses. “I believe she may have figured it out after I went racing. She saw how you and Echo were worrying over me. I am uncertain if she observed us kissing.”
“You– you never said anything.”
“Well, I thought it was obvious,” Tech replies. “Cid figured it out on her own, and we have not been especially careful to keep our relationship secret. It has never been necessary.” Yes, that, and because they don’t want to. They don’t want to be careful. They don’t want to act as though what they do is a crime. Sure, they’re all brothers, but that – there’s nothing wrong with what they do. It’s their business and no one else’s.
But still, Hunter can feel the blush on his face. “I didn’t realize,” he admits. “I wasn’t sure how she would react if…”
And Tech understands because they have encountered hate from natborns. They were still young, and they didn’t realize that relationships between clones were something that some natborns looked down on. It… had been unpleasant, to say the least, but it’s all in the past now. They learned to be more cautious.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Hunter asks, curiously, and now, Phee’s why don’t you sort ‘im out while we’re gone has a totally different meaning.
Tech adjusts his goggles. “I was testing you,” he replies. “I was pushing you to trust me when I said we would be fine because I knew you needed that. I am not blind to the stress you are under.” He doesn’t add with Crosshair and Echo gone, but then, he doesn’t need to. “Do you feel better now?”
Hunter pauses, assessing. “I actually do,” he answers, surprised. “I– Tech, thank you.”
Brown eyes study him before Tech pulls him in for a brief kiss. “You are welcome.”
“And I– if– if you are interested in Phee, I won’t mind,” Hunter adds, almost shyly. The fear that Tech might not choose him has faded, just like Tech predicted it would. “I don’t think Wrecker will, either.”
Tech hums. “We’ll see.” It’s not a confirmation, but it’s not a denial, either. It’s a possibility, and Hunter realizes that he isn’t afraid of Phee pulling Tech away from them. She would never do that. She knows how much they need each other, and she respects that. Now that he’s confronted his own fears of Tech walking away, it’s not as hard. He doesn’t know that those fears will ever go away, not when Crosshair left, but… perhaps it will be easier.
He wraps a hand around the back of Tech’s neck, capturing his lips in a kiss that leaves them both breathless. They ought to get up, but… knowing that Phee knows means they don’t need to be careful. As long as they keep things out of the kid’s sight, that’s what matters.
Hunter doesn’t know that he’ll ever be okay again, not after Crosshair, but he can, perhaps, learn how to heal. He is, after all, not alone.