Summary: "He rubs at his eyes to no end, sitting up with a harsh jerk of his torso. But his vision doesn't clear." Tech doesn't always remember where he is when he wakes up. But he has Hunter to remind him of that. One-shot.
Everything Is Wrong, Everything Is Fine
Something's wrong.
He can't see. Why can't he see?
The ceiling above him should be clear, the details of his room familiar.
Nothing is familiar.
He rubs at his eyes to no end, sitting up with a harsh jerk of his torso.
But his vision doesn't clear.
And this is not his room.
"Nala Se?" He chokes out through fearful gasps, unable to get a grip at what's happened. He doesn't feel the burning of his eyes, the wet trails streaming down his cheeks. "Nala Se!"
He slides from his bunk, but his legs don't even try to support him. He collapses in a heap on the floor, unable to see, uncertain of where he is.
Nala Se does not calmly flow into the room to assess the situation.
But the lights do flick on, dimly.
It's a distantly familiar voice that calls out to him, youthfully strong, but nervous. "Tech? What's wrong?"
The name feels foreign, but it feels like it's his. But he's not sure- he doesn't know where he is or who's with him. He's staring at the floor, because it's the only thing this strange room has in common with his own. "W-where is Nala Se?"
"You don't like the Kaminoans, remember?" Gentle, firm hands grab at his shoulders.
He frantically shakes his head, tries to pull away. "Where am I?"
"It's me- it's Hunter." The other boy's arms wrap around him, pull him back into a warm chest in a gesture of comfort. "You're in our barracks. You're safe, you hear me?"
...Hunter.
Hunter.
Hunter!
Tech remembers now. The Kaminoans took the best of his eyesight, Hunter filled the void left behind.
His face is hot, he realizes, though that's only after the shame courses through him. He scarcely feels the tears, now of relief rather than fear, his face pressed into the crook of his brother's neck as he realizes that he's safe. That not being able to see is his normal. That he's not alone.
"I've got you." Hunter promises. "I'm not leaving."
Hunter's his brother. He always will be.