A/N: This chapter is set directly after the previous one.

WARNING: This chapter will contain references to drug addiction, smoking and child abuse.

Crosshair was craving a cigarette.

He was standing on the front porch. It was late by now. More likely it was actually early. It had been a long twenty-four hours, between finding out they had a little sister and that Nala was her mother, to rescuing her from the same hell that they had once been brought up in. But despite being exhausted, Crosshair couldn't find himself settled enough to try to sleep.

He crossed his arms across his chest and tapped his foot to keep warm, but it did little to help in the cold night air. God did he want a cigarette. So that the hot embers could bring the feeling back to the tips of his fingers. To breath in the hot smoke as it blew warm air onto his face.

Crosshair hadn't smoked in years. One of his more stupid acts of teenage rebellion to cope with Nala's abuse and Jango's abandonment. Which of course had inevitably led to him coping with even more stupid and dangerous things.

It had taken a presentation from Tech, Wrecker ripping up his packets and Hunter crying to eventually get him to stop. Usually, Crosshair would stick a toothpick in his mouth whenever he had a craving. But right now, the toothpick wasn't doing enough to help.

Crosshair really wanted a fucking cigarette.

Or fuck, even something stronger.

"Hey."

Crosshair was startled by the voice. Which really showed how out of it he was if someone was able to sneak up on him. He glanced up to find Hunter standing beside him on the porch, a concerned look on his face. It had become his standard expression when looking at Crosshair these days. Honestly, Crosshair was surprised it had taken Hunter this long to come looking for him. As much as Crosshair sometimes hated it, he was aware that Hunter knew him better than anyone and how hard the past twenty-four hours had been on him in particular.

"Omega's gone to bed." Hunter told him, his worry over their sister still evident in his voice.

Crosshair hated himself for the jealously that flared in his stomach. It wasn't the girl's fault. She needed Hunter right now. A lot more than Crosshair did. His trauma had happened over a decade ago now, whilst hers had only just come to an end. Still, if it hadn't been for her, Hunter would have come to check on him sooner, so that he could stop the spiral he knew would be brewing in Crosshair's head before it had even started.

Meeting Omega, had pushed the memories Crosshair had once tried to escape his mind from, back to the forefront of his skull. His eyelids still held images of the white slab, his ears rung with the echoes of screams, the disinfectant still-

"Here."

Without thinking, Crosshair caught whatever Hunter had thrown at him. He glanced down to stare at the packet of blue-sterling's in his hands. They had been his favourite brand of cigarettes, once upon a time. The box was clearly old, battered and yellowing at the edges, yet the thin plastic covering had never been opened. He raised a brow at his older brother.

"I've had them for years. In case you ever needed them." Hunter said, answering his unasked question. "I never that thought you did until now."

And fuck, that hurt Crosshair more than anything Nala could put him through. That Hunter had carried these around for years just for his sake. Because, despite his doubts, Crosshair knew without the need of the simple gesture, that just because Hunter had a new sibling to love, didn't mean that he loved him any less.

Crosshair ran his cold fingers over the packets. There was nothing more he wanted than to rip the plastic off, to feel the bittersweet release of burning down his lungs and behind his eyes.

Instead, he tossed the packet back.

"I expected better from you Hunter." He sneered although there was no bite in his voice. "I thought you would want me to set a better example for the kid."

Crosshair stalked past his brother, heading back inside before he could see the inevitably proud smile on Hunter's face.

A/N: Thank you all so much for your positive responses. I am truly overwhelmed by the amount of understanding and supportive comments from you all! Like a lot of you, I am currently craving new content for the Bad Batch now that the first season has ended. So, as you can probably already tell, I will not be updating on a weekly schedule like I have been. However, whilst my update schedule might become more random, I will try to update as often as I can for as long as I have the motivation. Again, thank you all so much for your comments! Xxxxxxxx

To Camryn Kissel1: I'm so happy to hear that you're enjoying my story! I hope you like what I have in store!

To Shadowcat802: Thank you! Yes, that's one of my favourite things to write about!

To Anonymous: Thanks! I hope to update as regularly as I can!