Y'all better buckle tf up, because this monster of a chapter came out to an ASTOUNDING 5240 words. It's intense, it's messy, and it's outright BRUTAL at times. One of the most intense fight scenes I've EVER written, fanfiction or original stories. But hey! Now y'all will know why I've been humming Duel of the Fates a lot while drafting lol.

Originally, I was going to skip a week after this chapter (mainly to recover because damn did these chapters take a lot out of me) but I'm going to go ahead and keep on pushing through until I finish Trust Restored Part 3. Soooo get ready for TR Part1 next week! If y'all think the angst is done, ahahahahahhaha y'all got two more painful chapters to go.

In the mean time, I'd love to hear which fight was your favorite! Crosshairs, Wreckers, or Hunters!
Poor Tech was just a punching bag, sorry little buddy.

CW: Near mutilation, intense action sequences, heavy violence, heavy angst, o66 level emotional turmoil.

His eyes.

They'd… they'd gone for his eyes.

When Shadow first started muttering and twitching, Hunter knew something was wrong. Very wrong. They'd done the exact same thing the night before when they had the nightmare with Crosshair.

But this time was… different.

Last night, Shadow seemed pained. Hurt. Agonized, even.

This time they seemed scared, fear contorting their face as they thrashed from side to side, legs kicking as if they were running from something.

Or someone.

Then came their screaming.

"Wake up. Wake up!"

Hunter had rushed to Wrecker and Tech to try and calm them down. See if soothing words could reach them in their sleep. Eventually, they had fallen still.

He thought their nightmare had ended.

It had only gotten worse.

"No!"

"Stop!"

Then, when they finally did wake up, they…

Hunter tried to force air back into his lungs as he looked around at the aftermath; Crosshair and Wrecker winded, Tech bleeding, and he himself replaying that scene in his head.

The look of terror, the baring of teeth, the hoarse snarl, the flash of claws…

Had years of training, years of intense, rigorous training, not sharpened his reflexes to match a Nexu's… Shadow would have blinded him.

Hunter could still recall in vivid detail Wrecker's panic when the man realized he could only see out of one eye after that explosion two months prior. Nothing scared the large clone… except heights and the thought of losing his sight completely.

Hunter had felt Wrecker's panic then as well, only for a different reason.

Decommissioning was not something you talked about. But every clone knew about it. Knew about the soldiers who, after something happened that affected their ability to fight, were sent back to Kamino and never seen again.

"Don't send me back, Sarge! I can still fight! I can!"

Hunter shook his head hard, trying to rid Wrecker's terrified yelling from his ears. That problem was over.

He had a new nightmare to deal with.

"We have to find 'em," he said, staggering to his feet. "Now."

Without Shadow, their mission was lost. But far more important… Shadow themselves may be lost to them.

To him.

He loved that fighter. Puppy love or not, Shadow meant far too much to him; the thought of losing them nearly tore his heart in two.

Tech's breaths came in sharp gasps. "They… they went for my throat." He touched his chest then stared at the blood on his shaky hands. "They were trying to…"

Hunter finished the sentence in his head.

They were trying to kill us.

"They couldn't have known who we were," Wrecker wheezed, but uncertainty laced his unsteady voice. "They… they didn't know."

Crosshair said nothing, but the horror in his eyes and tremble in his shoulders as he clutched his throat said more than words ever could.

Hunter tried to block it out, but the look in Shadow's eyes replayed in his mind.

Over and over and over again.

Fear. Hate. Recognition.

Their words to him.

"Traitor!"

To Wrecker.

"Liar!"

To Tech.

"You aren't trickin' me this time!"

The realization nearly knocked the wind from his lungs. "They dreamed we turned on them."

Just when he thought the night couldn't get any worse, Shadow now thought Hunter and his squad were after them with intent to kill.

Shadow, no! I'd never turn on you!

Wrecker stared at him in horror. "But… no! They know we'd never turn on 'em!"

But they did turn on Shadow. Or, at least, one of them did. And Hunter knew just how easily the mind could twist reality and plague you with your worst fears. With Shadow as imaginative as they were…

Oh Force.

"Not in a nightmare they wouldn't." Crosshair's voice was low. Hurt. "I did this… I triggered that nightmare." He buried his face in his hands. "Kark, what have I done?"

You absolutely did.

Yet Hunter couldn't bring himself to yell at Crosshair; the look on the sniper's face and tremor in his voice told him his brother had suffered enough.

"We gotta go after 'em!" Wrecker urged, staggering to his feet. "We gotta snap 'em outta it!"

How? How could they even approach Shadow with the Alphian as hostile and defensive as they were? And if they thought they were still asleep in the nightmare…

Regret stabbed Hunter's chest. "We may have to stun them." His words caught in his throat and he had to pause before continuing. "They're dangerous like this. If they charge up their elemental ability, they may kill us by accident. Their ability is powered by emotion."

"I can't shoot 'em, Sarge!" Wrecker protested.

"Shadow doesn't know it's us. They will do anything to defend themselves."

Even… try to kill us.

"But… Sarge." Wrecker shook his head, tears in his eyes. "I can't hurt 'em. I can't."

"Wrecker-"

"I can get through to 'em. I know I can!"

"And if you can't?" Hunter demanded. "What if they try to kill you?"

"I'll… I can…" Wrecker's lip quivered. "They'll know it's me. They will."

"What if… it doesn't work?" Tech murmured.

"They'll know-"

The engineer shook his head. "Not that. Stunnin' Shadow. They barely passed out from a lethal bullet." He swallowed hard. "What if the stun round doesn't… it will only prove we are still after them."

Hunter hadn't thought of that, but he cursed aloud when he realized Tech had a point. How ironic that Shadow's plot armor, once a blessing, was now the very thing that may damn them all to a tragic accident.

"We've got to try," he nevertheless said. Stunning Shadow was their only hope. "Crosshair, can you-"

Hunter stopped when he realized the sniper had vanished.

As had his rifle.

Fuck!

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Find them.

He had to find them first.

He caused this.

This was all his fault.

He had to fix this.

They couldn't have run too far. Running wasn't their strong suit. He still remembered how soon they collapsed during the first chase back at the Outpost. If able to switch between running and crawling, they could go for longer, but not running on two feet like this.

He just had to find them before the panic wore off, they regained their senses, and transformed into one of those beast forms.

Unable to hear his brothers any more, Crosshair slowed to a jog before stopping completely.

Hunter was the better tracker between them, but Crosshair was hardly helpless in that sector. Unknown to most, the Nexu in his DNA hadn't just advanced his eyes; to a lesser degree, his nose got better too. Usually a curse, here it would make all the difference.

Closing his eyes, Crosshair opened his mouth and inhaled deeply.

Rain. Trees. Leaf decay. Pine sap. Woodsmoke. Sweat.

Fear.

His eyes snapped open.

Shadow's been this way, recently too.

Crouching down, Crosshair investigated the scuffed leaves.

Stressed animals will run to ground they know. They're headin' the same way as last night.

Last night.

When Shadow's nightmare showed him dying because of them.

How bitterly, bitterly ironic that tonight they were the one dying because of him.

Could he snap them out of it? Probably not.

Did he stand a chance with no backup? Definitely not.

But he had to try.

He owed them that much.

The rifle weighed heavy in his hands as he picked up a steady jog once more.

Could he do it? Could he stare down the sights at Shadow and pull the trigger? Even with the rifle set to stun?

He paused, crouching down to investigate the trail.

But, if they tried to attack him…

He may have to.

Crack.

A twig snapped beneath a heavy foot to his left, and Crosshair looked up.

There, in their Kelusine form, crouched Shadow.

Fur bristling.

Teeth bared.

Claws out.

Muscles coiled.

They weren't cowering in fear; they were ready to pounce.

Attack.

Kill.

Crosshair didn't move. "Sweetheart?" he tried.

Ears twitched and Shadow's expression softened briefly before a snarl revealed those deadly teeth once more. "So, the grand architect of this nightmare has come to see the fruits of his labor?"

Careful. Watch your words. Don't mess this up.

There could be no failure here.

No mistakes.

Shadow wouldn't be nearly as forgiving as before.

"This isn't a nightmare, Shadow." He swallowed hard and slowly stood, keeping the rifle pointed away and his other hand raised. "You're awake."

"Oh, dear sniper. You know that old saying, yes?"

The sickly sweet tone, offset by the unsheathed claws and bared teeth, sent a chill down Crosshair's spine as the conversation from the cafeteria that first night echoed in his ears.

"Always play with your food?"

"I am half cat. And don't you dare pretend you don't play with your targets before you take them down. I know a fellow sadist when I see one."

Of course they would turn cruel when wronged; he did the same thing.

"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." A lash of their tail. "Well, I'm done playin' the part of a lovestruck fool."

"You're awake. This isn't a nightmare," Crosshair tried, taking a step back as his heart hammered against his ribs with painful force. "I promise."

"Since when has the sniper kept his promises? Certainly didn't earlier when you set me loose and chased me down like an animal."

What? He never did that. He would never do that!

Shadow slowly stalked forward, tail slowly swishing side to side. "You led the first chase."

They weren't waking up.

"But now?"

This wasn't working.

"It's my turn to be the hunter and you the prey."

This wasn't working!

"I make the rules here."

What could he do?!

"This is my head!"

Spikes of adrenaline racing down his legs as he continued backwards, Crosshair gripped the rifle tighter. "Stop!"

"Why? You didn't."A twisted grin. "Now you're going to know exactly how it feels to be torn apart by someone you thought you could trust."

"This isn't you! I know this isn't you!" he yelled, horrified at the monster in front of him.

A monster of his own making.

"And what makes you think you know me?" they snarled. "This your pathetic attempt to make me drop my guard? Here I was thinking my own brain was smarter than this, even in sleep!"

How could he make them realize this wasn't their head?

How?

He no longer had their trust.

Their affection.

He wasn't a friend.

An ally.

All he was now…

Was an enemy.

"Shadow-"

"This is my nightmare, and I'm taking back control." Closer and closer they came, pupils narrowed to slits as those wickedly sharp claws tore into the leaf litter between immense paws. "Better run, Crosshair."

They were going to kill him.

"Run run run, here I come!"

They were going to kill him!

"Claws and teeth, razor sharp."

He had to shoot.

"All primed and ready…"

He had to shoot!

"To rip you apart!"

A roar.

A leap.

The rifle snapping into place.

The kickback against his shoulder.

The bright blue ring slamming into Shadow.

Arching across their body.

Halting them mid-jump.

Sending them to the ground.

Gasping for air, rifle nearly slipping from numb, trembling fingers, Crosshair edged forward. "Sh… Shadow?"

No response.

"Furball?"

Nothing.

He hadn't… oh gods he hadn't killed them had he?

He risked another step forward, nudging them with the rifle.

An explosion of leaves.

A flash of claws.

A savage snarl.

A heavy tail slamming into him as Shadow spun around.

Flying through the air and crashing down into the leaves, Crosshair coughed and frantically scrambled to locate his rifle.

There!

Beneath…

Shadow's paw.

Claws curling over the barrel, Shadow bared their teeth at him. "And so, the truth is revealed."

"No," Crosshair croaked, shifting back on his hands and feet.

"Just as I thought."

"Shadow I didn't mean-"

"And now, the hunter…"

"Wait!"

"Kills their prey!"

Crosshair brought his hands up with a scream, trying in vain to protect himself from the onslaught. As if that would do any good. Here he would die…

At the claws of the person he came to care for more than he'd ever imagined.

"NO!"

Claws slammed down an inch from his feet and Crosshair's eyes snapped open to see Wrecker, in full armor minus his helmet, holding the tip of Shadow's tail.

"Shadow, stop!"

Shaking off the impact from their chin hitting the ground, Shadow whipped their head around and snarled at Wrecker. "Traitor!"

"Squeaky, snap out of it!" the man begged.

No such luck.

Claws digging deep into the earth, Shadow turned and lunged at Crosshair's batchmate with teeth bared. Surging forward to meet Shadow's charge, Wrecker drove his shoulder into their chest and sent them staggering back. But Shadow used the man's momentum to their advantage and kicked him over their head. Landing hard, Wrecker nevertheless jumped to his feet and dodge to the side as Shadow passed, grabbing their mane and swinging onto their back. Unbalanced, Shadow crashed onto their side but rolled over Wrecker, forcing the air from the man's lungs.

As Wrecker dodged again to avoid Shadow's heavy paws slamming down on his chest, Crosshair jumped to his feet and dove for his rifle.

Wrecker was strong, very strong, but in this form so was Shadow. While the sniper doubted Shadow weighed more than a gunship, there was no telling who would outmuscle who in this fight. Shadow had size on their side, while Wrecker had his mutation. But Shadow had the advantage of claws and teeth, as well as intent to kill.

Snapping his rifle into place, Crosshair stared down the sights and tried to get a lock on Shadow as they and Wrecker stayed locked in that deadly dance.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Steady.

Steady…

Ready…

Aim…

Fire!

The blue shock raced across Shadow's body but other than a snarl of pain the fighter did not react. If anything, it only made them angrier.

Not working.

This wasn't working!

But even as the odds of a stun round working grew less and less… Crosshair still couldn't bring himself to switch to kill.

Shadow gave up a life for him…

He just couldn't do it.

Wrestling with Wrecker once more, trying to get their jaws around his throat as the commando gripped their teeth to keep them from reaching his neck, Shadow suddenly reared back and jerked Wrecker off balance. Swinging their head to the side, taking Wrecker with them as he clung on, Shadow then snapped their head towards Crosshair. Unable to hold on, Wrecker's hands slipped and Crosshair had to dive to the side to avoid getting crushed.

"Shadow!"

Tech!

"Shorty, stay back!" Crosshair screamed, forcing his shaky limbs to obey as he stumbled to his feet. Wrecker stayed down, winded from the fall.

"Shadow, it's us!" Tech yelled, ignoring Crosshair as he continued to Shadow.

Focus now on the engineer, the fur along Shadow's spine bristled as their tail lashed. "You." They crouched down. "Another traitor."

Tech slid to a stop. "We're trying to help you!" he shouted.

"Like you helped me earlier?" A harsh laugh. "Fool me once, Tech." A savage snarl. "Fool me once!"

Tech dodged to the side as Shadow lunged for him. But the purpose of their immense tail became horrifyingly clear as they abruptly changed direction and sent Tech flying with a swipe of that massive paw. The engineer screamed as he hit a tree, bleeding from a deep gash in his leg.

Crosshair's blood ran cold when, as the engineer staggered to his feet, his right arm hung limp.

Shadow broke it.

"Since when do you monsters feel pain?" Shadow spat, still lashing their tail. "Drop the act, you won't trick me this time!"

"It's… no trick!" Tech gasped, tears streaming down his face. Leaning back against the tree, he clenched his teeth as he held his arm close. "You're awake!"

Ears twitching rapidly, Shadow hesitated and shifted their weight as they stared at Tech.

Now.

While they were distracted.

He had to get them now!

Aiming the rifle once more, Crosshair's finger twitched against the trigger.

"No!"

The yell came from Wrecker as he jumped forward and smacked the rifle, sending the shot into the tree next to Shadow.

The fighter jumped, a shocked yowl echoing through the trees, before they turned and stared at him. Panic and hatred renewed, they hissed and began backing away.

"Wait! Squeaky, no!" Wrecker gasped, stumbling forward. "Don't run!"

Snarling, Shadow slammed their paw into the ground and a stoney barrier erupted between them. Crosshair only caught a glimpse of the Alphian as they fled into the trees again, long tail streaming behind them.

"Cross!" Wrecker yelled. "They were snappin' out of it!"

"They were going to attack Tech again!" Crosshair argued.

"They… they were calming down. There's hope," Tech panted, limping over to them with sweat beginning to drip down his face. His arm was definitely broken, and the gash on his leg didn't look too good either.

Yet all Crosshair could feel towards Shadow was regret and agony. He had only himself to blame.

"Not if we keep shootin' 'em!" Wrecker said, glaring at Crosshair again.

Regret and agony aside, Crosshair wasn't stupid. "What was I supposed to do? They were tryin' to kill us!"

"If." Tech swallowed hard, wiping sweat off his face with his good arm. "If I'm… correct. That nightmare must have been… us killing them." Panting, screwing his eyes shut as he clenched his teeth, he gasped out, "But at least we know stun rounds, clearly, don't work."

"We need to get you to safety," Crosshair said, concern for his brother surging through him as he cast another glance in the direction Shadow had gone.

They couldn't risk another attack from Shadow. Wrecker barely managed to face off against them, and neither Tech nor himself could hope to withstand Shadow's claws, teeth, or even their tail.

They hadn't even gone for their sabers yet.

"I'll take you both back," Wrecker said, scooping them up easily. "Then I'm goin' back after Shadow! Cross, you stay with Tech!"

Crosshair stared at the earthen barrier as Wrecker ran past, stomach twisted into knots.

Hopefully Hunter, wherever he was, would have better luck than them.

If he didn't get himself killed first.

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Hunter's armor weighed heavy on his shoulders as he jogged through the trees.

Maybe he should have stayed with the others.

Maybe he shouldn't have got off on his own to track Shadow down.

But if there was one thing he'd learned about Shadow during the course of this mission, it was that the fighter was far more open when he talked one on one with them.

The tunnel.

The mound.

The barn.

The breakfast table.

The top of the mountain.

The riverside.

The barn loft.

The cove halfway up the hill after their fight.

The boar cleaning.

The first kiss.

The tunnels.

The fallout.

All those times he'd been alone with them. All those times they'd opened up. All those times they'd confided in him. Relied on him.

Trusted him.

He could only hope that foundation would be strong enough to keep him alive.

Casting his senses out, Hunter caught Shadow near the outer edge and his squadmates near the other end. Turning after Shadow, he jogged into the trees towards that signature.

Please, Ice. Please listen to me.

They had to.

He… he couldn't shoot them.

It would break his heart to even aim at them.

He may have suggested it but…

What about his squad? His brothers? Shadow could have killed them all at the trail shelter.

He cared deeply for Shadow, loved them even, but his brothers came first. They always would. If he had to take Shadow down to keep them safe, he would do so in a heartbeat.

But Shadow didn't know it was actually them. Force, they even proved willing to lay their own life down to save Crosshair earlier.

Yet the fact remained that Shadow was on the defensive.

Ready to fight.

To kill.

There was no easy way out.

Around in circles his thoughts spun as he ran through the dark, foreboding woods.

"That's their preferred method." Sarah's words echoed in his ears. "Analyze and deal with somethin' at a distance."

Ambush.

An ambush hunter.

He could be running straight into a deathtrap.

Stopping to catch his breath, Hunter cast his senses out once more.

Close.

They were close.

Jogged forward, following the now still signature, Hunter braced himself for one hell of a fight.

There! They were there, up on that boulder!

"Shadow! There you…" Hunter trailed off at the snarl on Shadow's face and their markings flickering to life. A stone dropped in the pit of his stomach and he stepped back. "Ice?"

Eyes narrowed, they jumped off the boulder and landed in a crouch before standing tall. Shadow raised their hands, the two sabers flying from their belt to their palms. A fierce growl sent a chill through him, only to be replaced by horror as they ignited their blades.

Red.

They were red!

The glow of the sabers cast a menacing light on Shadow, giving them the appearance of some savage killer from a horror holo as they growled low at him

"Shadow! Snap out of it!" Hunter yelled, backing up faster now.

If they attacked, he wouldn't stand a chance in a fight. His armor wasn't beskar and his vibroblade couldn't hope to match the sabers. There was only one way to survive; duck and dodge until he could get a saber of his own.

The ground quivered beneath his feet. "Traitor," they hissed, before roaring, "Traitor!"

Reeling back as they stomped hard, he barely avoided the large earthen spike erupting from the ground. Regaining his balance as Shadow leapt over the rocks, Hunter dove to the side as the crimson blades plunged towards his chest. The hum of their sabers rose the hair on the back of his neck as he scrambled to put distance between them.

One well placed swing and it was all over.

Get one.

That was his only chance.

He had to knock one of the sabers from their hands.

Easier said than done.

Shadow followed him forward relentlessly, teeth bared as they swung for his head, his arm, his leg. There was hatred there, yes, yet the panic and fear rolling off them in waves only solidified his theory; Shadow was only trying to kill him because they thought he would kill them first.

He couldn't hurt them.

He just had to get through to them.

"Ice, listen to me!" He dove away from one strike and backflipped over another. "I'm not tryin' to hurt you!"

"Liar!"

He avoided another strike, but he felt the heat of that plasma pass with barely an inch to spare.

"I'm not!" He ducked and rolled before jumping back up again. "I would never raise my hand against you!"

Panting as they briefly paused, Shadow staggered and coughed before shaking their head hard and bringing their sabers up again.

They couldn't keep this up much longer.

It was only a matter of time before they got desperate.

And a desperate fighter was a deadly fighter.

"You've trusted me before, and I'm asking you to trust me now!"

"Not again, Hunter. I won't let you cut me again!" Shadow spat, but the fire was dying, hate giving way to exhaustion.

"I've never cut you!"

Doubt flickered in their gaze once more as they struggled to stay on their feet. Wheezing now, shifting their weight from foot to foot as their tail weakly swung side to side, Shadow's ears twitched and they looked him up and down with uncertainty.

He risked a step forward, but immediately regretted it as Shadow's defensiveness flared to life once more and their grip tightened on their blades.

"Almost," they laughed bitterly. "Almost had me goin'."

So close.

He'd been so close!

But Shadow was indeed tiring, muscling trembling as they struggled to stay on their feet.

He just…

He just had to get them down. If he could get a saber, knock theirs away, and wrestle them to the ground, he could prove he didn't mean them harm.

Teeth baring in a snarl, Shadow shifted their weight and prepared to spring.

Wait. Wait. They'll swing with the right… now!

Ducking under a wild, desperate right hand slash, Hunter rammed his shoulder into their chest and drove the fighter back. Not enough to knock them off their feet, but enough to put distance between them and make Shadow lose their grip on one of the sabers.

Jerking to the side to avoid the falling saber, the loose blade cleaving through his pack before deactivating, Hunter snatched it off the ground. A snarl erupting behind him, he swung it around and blocked an incoming strike.

The harsh crackle pained his ears but he shoved upwards, forcing Shadow's arms up. Ducking and spinning, Hunter slammed his foot into their stomach.

Damnit, he was supposed to be comforting them, not making it worse!

Shadow slid back with a cough, but recovered and held their remaining blade behind them in a reverse grip as another hand extended out towards him.

Held in a telekinetic full body lock, Hunter struggled to bring his own blade up. "Shadow!" he gasped, "Listen to me! You have to listen to me!"

Their only response was a growl as they crouched in readiness to spring.

"Ice!" Hunter yelled in desperation. They were going to kill him! "Please! I'll prove it!"

"How?!" they spat. "By tearing into my belly once again with that damn blade?"

"Check for scars!"

Why couldn't they just look and see they weren't hurt? Why couldn't they just trust him!?

"And let you take advantage of me while distracted? Never!" Jumping up, dropping their hold on him, Shadow crashed back down with their blade aimed for his neck.

Freed from the telekinetic lock, Hunter dove out of the way.

Losing his saber in the process.

Jumping back up, pistol in hand, Hunter aimed at Shadow as they spun to face him with the dropped saber halfway between them both. "Shadow, please! I won't fight you!"

"Ha! Now that you're losing, you think I'll grant you mercy?" Shadow sneered, staggering as they gasped for air. Eyes wild, they held their saber behind their back in a defensive stance. "After what you did to me?"

"I didn't! Shadow, you have to believe me!"

"And why should I do that?!"

Why?

How?

How could he prove his genuineness? Prove that it really was him, not some twisted nightmare version?

Hunter looked from his gun to them then back to his gun.

There was one way, one sure fire way to prove he didn't want to hurt them. One sure fire way… that would leave him completely weaponless.

Trevor's words echoed in his head.

"You have to show them."

Show them…

Yes, he would show them.

Taking a deep breath, praying to whatever force governed this realm that he wasn't signing his death warrant, he straightened and cast his gun away before standing with his arms spread open.

There.

Hesitation.

Eyes darting back and forth between him and the gun, Shadow's ferocity faltered. The snarl slowly faded, confusion steadily replacing the anger.

"Shadow... it's me. Please, you..." He swallowed. "You need to come back to us."

Shadow looked back and forth again, blade slowly lowering.

Hopeful he'd begun to break through, Hunter risked a step closer. The fighter shifted, but didn't bolt. Encouraged, he took another step. "Shadow, you're safe. You're awake." He extended a hand, palm up. "It's ok."

Shadow stared at his hand, hope crossing their face, before their gaze shifted and the snarl returned.

Hunter looked back to see Wrecker. "Stop! You'll spook them!" he gasped, frantically waving his hands for the man to stop.

Wrecker slid to a halt beside Hunter. "Squeak, it's us!" He raised his hands. "We want to help!"

Shadow hissed at them. "Liars!"

"Squeaky… please! I'd…" A sob interrupted his words. "I'd never lie to ya."

The pain in Wrecker's voice nearly broke Hunter's heart.

Out of them all, Wrecker was probably the closest to Shadow. Their favorite. The first one they'd really made friends with, the one they were most comfortable with, the first they confessed to, the first to claim a true kiss, and the one they always ran to when hurting. In turn, Wrecker had been the first to fall for them. The first to grow attached. The first to befriend them. The first to admit feelings. The first to suggest bringing Shadow along after the mission.

Shadow and Wrecker were the first to share a connection.

If the demolition expert couldn't get through to them, none of them could.

That confusion, mingled with hope, flickered across Shadow's face once more. Only to vanish as they shook their head violently and snarled, "You're just trying to make me drop my guard so you can take me down!"

"No! Squeaky, I'd never hurt ya. Never." Wrecker sounded moments away from crying. "I promised ya, Squeaky. I promised."

The crimson blade lowered, purple flickering within the plasma.

He was breaking through!

Wrecker reached out towards them as he continued to inch closer. "Slice me if I'm wrong. Tear me apart if I'm wrong. Kill me a million times over if I'm wrong. Just… please. You're awake, Squeaky."

The snarl broke again, and Hunter's gut wrenched at the pain and hope in Shadow's eyes.

"Wrecker…"

"Yeah, Squeaky. It's me!" Wrecker said, edging closer still. "I promised."

"You turned. You tried to kill me-"

"Shadow, I love you. I'd rather die than hurt you."

Shadow's eyes went wide, their half purple-half crimson saber almost held loose at their side.

"Please," Wrecker tried. "Trust me. You… You have to trust me."

"Trust…" Shadow slowly repeated. Their eyes shifted to Hunter before, without breaking eye contact, they reached down and brushed a hand under their shirt.

Horror filled their gaze and they looked down as they raised their shirt to reveal unmarked skin aside from the two old scars.

"N-No…" Saber falling from their grip, Shadow began to tremble as they hugged themselves and backed away, holding their head in their hand. "Oh… oh gods. I'm… you… Tech… I tried…"

"Easy, Ice," Hunter said, voice gentle as he took a tentative step forward.

"S-Stay back!" they screamed, voice breaking and eyes wide with horror and fear. "I don't… keep away from me!"

Wrecker, however, stepped closer. "Squeak, it's ok. It's ok. I know you'd never hurt me."

"But I- you… I tri-... you… your throat…"

"I'm comin' closer, alright?"

Their body rigid as Wrecker's hand drew close, they nevertheless allowed Wrecker to place his hand on their cheek. "W-Wreck..."

"I'm here, Squeaky. I'm here," Wrecker assured them, stepping closer and reaching to pull them into a hug. "You're here too. You're awake, Squeaky." His arm encircled their back. You're safe."

Finally, the Alphian broke and surged forward, throwing their arms around Wrecker as loud sobs escaped their lips. The man immediately dropped to his knees, enveloping them in a tight hug as he whispered gentle reassurances.

Hunter breathed a sigh of relief, tension fading from his shoulders as tears slipped from his eyes and he too fell to his knees.

Wrecker did it.

He'd broken through.

The nightmare was finally over.