A/N: I'm back! Sorry for the long wait! Big shout out to xoxo-40782 over on ao3 and tumblr who's wonderful modern au bad batch fics have inspired me to write more of my own! You should definitely check their's out! Written for day 7 of badbatchweek2021. Warnings as usual are that this chapter will contain references to past child abuse and drug addiction.
Omega's class were going on a trip to the Museum in the city and they needed parents to help chaperone that many kids. As predicted, not knowing the potential adults looking after Omega, had sent Hunter into an internal panic, so Tech had volunteered to be a chaperone. He had been meaning to see the new space exhibition anyway.
As soon as the morning bell rang, Mrs Organa ushered students and parents alike on board the coach. Tech was planning to sit near the front with the other adults as per social protocol which he remembered from the few trips they could afford to attend when his brothers were at school, when Omega grabbed his hand. Before he could ask what she was doing, she had dragged him further down the coach and pulled him into a seat next to her.
"I do not mind if you want to sit with your friends." He told her, pointing to where Hera and Numa were seated nearer the back.
"I'd rather sit next to you." She beamed at him, leaning her blonde curls against his shoulder. Tech couldn't help but smile back.
As the coach rolled out of the parking lot, he had to admit to himself that he had missed spending one-on-one time with his little sister. He had greatly enjoyed that fist month teaching her at home. To use his intelligence for something more than fixing ancient ovens; to talk about subjects he was actually passionate about to someone who not only listened but constantly asked for more. Although if he was honest with himself, their lunch breaks, curled up on the coach watching old sci-fi movies had been the part Tech had enjoyed the most. When the decision had been made that Omega would go to public school, logically he knew that it was more practical for their work schedule and more beneficial for not only Omega's educational development but also her social. Still, despite seeing Omega every day, he had missed her.
The drive was about an hour long. Tech spent most of it playing on his phone with Omega watching vine complications, completing sudokus and seeing who could get the highest score in candy crush. It reminded Tech of the first day they met, sitting in the waiting room of the police station. How things had changed since then.
Eventually they arrived at the museum. It was old, built in the early eighteen-hundreds out of stone with grand pillars lining the front entrance. Tech guessed that it was probably one of the oldest buildings in the city, if not the state and looked out of place next to the modern high rises on either side of it.
"Alright everyone!" Mrs Organa called out as everyone piled into the main entrance. "Remember that even though we are not on school grounds, we are still representing Alliance Ellemntary. So I want you all to be on your best behaviour, understood?"
"Yes Mrs Organa." Replied the chorus of school children, already distracted by the grand marble floors and gold covered statues of the entrance.
"Good. I want everyone back in the cafeteria by twelve. Until then, as long as you stay within your chaperones' eyesight, you can explore the museum as much as you want. Now go and have fun!"
The students didn't need anymore prompting and Tech had run to keep up with his group as they raced down the hallways.
In his group were Omega of course and his niece Numa, whom Tech had seen more of in the last few months than in the previous ten years of her life. He regretted not having spent more time with the inquisitive young girl. There was also Omega's best friend Hera, plus two boys Tech hadn't met before called Kanan and Cal.
The first exhibition they entered was on American history. Although, Tech thought that it would be been more accurate to have called it American history Post 1492.
A primary coloured display made of puppets, detailed the expedition that lead to America's 'discovery' by Christopher Columbus.
The children crowed around the display, as Numa read the information out loud.
"... and that was how Thanksgiving was created, as a way to give thanks to the Native Americans who gave them food to survive the Winter." She finished.
"Well that is partly true." Tech corrected.
"What do you mean?" Omega asked.
"Yeah that's what's we've been told since kindergarten." One of the boys, Kanan spoke up.
"I mean exactly what I said. That it is partly true. At one of the earliest harvest festival, the pilgrims did share food with the Native Americans in thanks for giving them food to survive the precious Winter. However, Thanksgiving was already a holiday celebrated by Puritans before this event and after it, the Puritans would later declare that Thanksgiving would be held in thanks for and I quote their 'bloody victory' thanking God that the battle had been won over the native pequot people being killing the ones that had helped them only a few years later."
"Really?" Omega wondered out loud, turning back to the display. For a moment, Tech was worried he'd encouraged Omega's the distrust in authority that Hunter was so afraid off, but in her eyes he found only curiosity. Unlike the other children, she hadn't been indoctrinated into this misinformation for their whole lives, and as such was less likely to believe it. Perhaps the only positive of Nala Se's upbringing.
"And why should we believe you instead?" Kanan argued.
Before Tech could speak, Cal piped up.
"Actually I think he's right." He said, fiddling with the ends of his brown coat. "My Foster Dad is pequot. He says the same thing. That's why we don't celebrate Thanksgiving in our house."
Tech nodded in encouragement.
"Thank you Cal. As I was about to say, first hand accounts are more likely to be true. Especially when you can find a different source that confirms the other."
He was worried he might have upset the boys but Kanan appeared to be taking his words to heart.
"Why wouldn't the museum just say that?" Kanan grumbled.
"For numerous reasons. They might deliberately be omitting the misdeeds of their own history or they might not think that children like yourself would not be enough to understand."
"We're not stupid! We can understand it fine!" Omega protested and her friends nodded.
"Yeah!" They cheered un agreement.
Tech smiled. He did not doubt that they could.
The tour through the rest of the history exhibit went much like with the children reading the plaques, debating amongst themselves when the facts didn't quite match up then asking Tech for clarification. Tech was more than happy to expand on the stuff that had been simplified, and in some cases left out altogether. The children listened intently to his words and he couldn't help but feel a swell of pride, when they're eyes lit up in new understanding.
Finally, they made it to the Space exhibit, what Tech had claimed was the reason he'd come in this trip in the first place.
Tech felt like a child himself, staring up at the ceiling of lights resembling the current night sky. Constellations were linked with fairy lights, the galaxy beyond swirling behind them and a projection of shooting stars.
"It's beautiful." Hera said in awe, gazing up at the sight.
"Yeah." Kanan sighed, though Tech noticed that he wasn't looking at the ceiling.
Displays lined the walls, revealing information about the sky above. One discussed the possibility of life on other planets.
"Do you think aliens are real?" Numa wondered aloud.
"No way!" Kanan snorted.
"I do," Hera disagreed. "I'll find them one day when I become an astronaut."
"I mean yeah way actually!" Kanan said, quickly changed his mind.
"What do you think Tech?" Omega asked.
"Studies have already found evidence of bacteria on other planets. I see no reason other that organic lifeforms such as pants and animals shouldn't exist too. Whether any of those lifeforms are intelligent is less likely. Although it can be hard to define if a life is intelligent or not." Tech said with a pointed look at Kanan who was about to climb up the railings to grab at one of the display rocks. The boy smiled sheepishly, stepping away.
After they'd explored the space exhibit which was the only place Tech didn't have to correct any of its information, it was time to find the cafeteria for lunch.
They sat at one of the long designated tables with another group of children and their chaperone. Some of the children bought hot food from the cafeteria, but Tech pulled out the packed lunch Echo had made for him and Omega.
Tech listened with a small smile, as his charges, told the others all that they had seen today. His smile growing bigger when Omega said that she'd learned more from him than the museum.
He left them in the care of the other group's chaperone, who was dressed in an oddly accurate eighteenth century pirate costume for some reason, to treat himself to a coffee. Looking after the kids had been more draining than he thought it would be even if he had quite enjoyed it.
As he waited in the line, Mrs Organa joined the queue behind him.
"I saw you with the kid's earlier. You were a natural with them." She said. "Are you a teacher?"
Tech shook his head.
"I'm a handyman."
"Really?" Mrs Organa exclaimed sounding genuinely surprised. "Have you ever thought about going into teaching?"
"You're a natural with them." Mrs Organa said. "Have you ever thought about going into teaching?"
"No." Tech replied because that was in impossible so there was no point in thinking about it.
"You should."
Tech glanced over to Omega, to find the girl already looking at him. With a beaming smile she sent him one of her signature little waves. Tech waved back. He watched with a soft smile as she returned to chatting with her friends.
"Thank you. But I am happy here."
Following his gaze, Mrs Organa nodded in understanding.
Tech paid for his coffee and bought a hot chocolate for Omega as well.
He later wiped her mouth free of whipped cream when she got it all over face, ignoring her half hearted protests of embarrassment.
After lunch it was time to head back to school. Once again Omega insisted on Tech sitting besides her and the spent the journey much the same way they had on the way there.
Hunter was waiting for them when they stepped of the coach. Tech watched as Omega ran into their brother's arms, Hunter subtly checking her over to make sure she was okay. Tech listened contently as she repeated all she had learnt that day in the car ride home.
They were the only ones in the house when they got home so Tech took the opportunity to have a long shower.
With nothing to distracted him, his mind couldn't help but over think Mrs Organa's word.
Perhaps sometimes he did want more than what life had given him. But that didn't mean he wasn't happy. He loved his brothers. He loved being able to work with them. And whilst working as a handyman for Cid was not his ideal career, he still liked it.
Ninety-Nine had given the four of them more than they could ever repay him for; a childhood, a home and a family.
After spending what little money he had saved on therapy, toys and everything else that not just one, but four growing kids needed, plus part of Echo's medical bills after he moved in with them, Ninety-Nine barely had enough to pay the mortgage let alone college.
Besides, school had never been their forte. Nala Se had taught them the biology of how to clone flies and space faring maths but very little else. The school system never suited them. Hunter did not do well in exams, overwhelmed by his sensory issues that were heightened by his stress. Despite being the moat emotionally intelligent out of all of them, traditionally academically gifted Wrecker was not. And ever the rebel, Crosshair would turn up to half of his exams out of his mind with whatever substance he was currently hooked on then fail the rest on purpose. Of all of them, Tech was the only one who finished school with good grades. Good enough that he could have gone to college, but without the funds necessary to do so and without the desire to leave his brothers even if he did.
Tech shook his head, trying to dispel his thoughts along with the water in his hair. He reminded himself that there was no point thinking about things that didn't happen. As Ninety-Nine had once told him, the best way to love was to simply keep moving forwards.
Done with his shower, he headed downstairs to make a start on dinner, to find Hunter waiting at the kitchen table. Tech immediately knew that he woild be forced to have a talk.
"Omega over heard what Mrs Omega said to you." Hunter said in a way of greeting.
Despite knowing it was a futile effort, Tech still tried to end the conversation by putting a pot of coffee on.
"I meant it." Tech said, busying himself with the kettle so he wouldn't have to look Hunter in the eye. "I'm happy where I am."
"I know. But you could be happier. If you wanted to go to college and become a teacher, you know we would support you."
For the first time, Tech allowed himself to think about what being a teacher would actually be like. A teacher's salary wouldn't be a lot but it would be more than what he earned from Cid. It could be enough to buy Echo a new prosthetic, a bed big enough to fit Wrecker, Omega wouldn't have to worry about not being to afford college herself and-
Hunter's hand on his arm startled him from his thoughts. He hadn't even noticed that his brother had gotten up from the table. Hunter shifted his grip on his arm, this time forcing Tech to look his brother in the eye.
"I wouldn't want you to do this for us." Hunter said, knowing exactly where his mind had gone. "I would want you to do this for you."
So Tech did what he did best. He let himself think. He thought about what it would be like, to teach children like Omega every day. To tach what he was passionate about to those who felt the same. And to help the children like his brothers who never got the support that truly needed from their own teachers. In fact, Tech realised that this was all he ever wanted. That didn't change one thing though.
"How would you get the money?" He asked.
Hunter's gaze drifted for a moment, before his grip on Tech arm tightened with determination.
"I'm going to sue Jango's ass for child support."
A/N: I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! I've finally done one centring on each of the boys with Omega! Keep an eye out because I've got more planned for this au very soon! Xxxxxxxx