Summary: "Normal aging or not, she looked incredibly younger than she was." Tech catches Omega having a nightmare. One-shot.

A/N: Based on a headcanon that Tech's goggles actually help him to see, and that he's basically/almost blind without them.

In Arms Against The Night

The rest of Clone Force 99 had already gone to bed, but Tech was just now putting his tools away, perhaps a couple of hours after the others had called it a night. He closed up the panel he'd been working on, closed his tool kit, and carried it back up to where he kept it.

After double checking that everything was in order, he was just sitting down and removing his goggles, the inside of the Havoc Marauder turning into one large blur of color, when the soft whimper reached his ears. He frowned.

"Omega?" He called, voice soft.

No response.

Tech pulled one of the lenses back over an eye to return some of his vision, the goggles crooked on his face. He got back to his feet, carefully stepping over the slumbering form of Wrecker, who lay in the middle of the floor- he really wished the demolition enthusiast wouldn't do that.

He found Omega sitting in the chair in the so-called room that Wrecker had made for her. Her eyes were closed, but her face was twisted in fear. Ah.

He stood at her side, silently listening for any more sounds of distress. When she eventually gasped, whimpering again, he gently shook her shoulder to rouse her.

She awoke with a jolt, and he reeled back slightly to dodge a flying limb. Her eyes were moist, wide with terror.

"Are you alright?" Tech asked quietly.

She sniffled as she settled down, wiping at her nose and averting her gaze. "It was just a nightmare."

"I can see that." He remarked, looking her over. "What was this nightmare about?"

"I don't want to talk about it." She muttered.

"That's understandable." He gently encouraged. "But, it is usually easier to get over if you share it with someone."

"It wasn't real. It's...stupid."

"There's no such thing as stupid, especially not from a dream, Omega." Tech assured her, pulling the other side of his goggles down so that it was more comfortable.

"Do you ever get them?" Omega asked, finally looking at him.

He blinked, almost surprised. "We all do at times."

"Even Hunter?" Normal aging or not, she looked incredibly younger than she was.

"Yes, even Hunter." He nodded.

Tech stood there for a long time, letting his presence sooth his sister. When she finally appeared to have calmed down enough to try to sleep again, he made for the ladder.

"Tech?" She called, halting him in his tracks.

"Hmm?" He inquired.

"Could you...could you stay?" Omega asked, clearly unsure about asking anyone other than Hunter to comfort her.

"Of course." He agreed, settling himself on the floor against the wall beside her, his legs stretching across the small space.

She climbed from her seat, grabbing the doll that Wrecker had given her. She sat down on the floor beside him, holding the item close as she leaned against his arm, which he quickly moved to wrap around her. She seemed to relax into him, sighing.

He watched her for a moment, relieved that she seemed to be feeling a little safer.

She perked up suddenly, as if remembering something, and looked up at him. He frowned, not comprehending what was on her mind. He blinked in surprise when she reached up and pushed his goggles from over his eyes, throwing the room into a giant blur of color again.

"Oh." He managed.

Omega laughed quietly at his dumbfounded expression, settling back into his side. "Goodnight, Tech."

"Goodnight, Omega."


Hunter found them like that in the morning.