Chapter 2 - Rewakening
Author's Note: Non-consensual biting happens, but you should have already guessed that. xD
~ Amina Gila
He didn't realize anything was actually wrong – should've – until the moment he realized he can't hear Hunter's heartbeat anymore. It's... nothing. Quiet. And so, so wrong.
He should've been more careful.
The hunger, the need, is still burning inside him, demanding more but it's dwindled somewhat now. It's still present, but not maddening like it was earlier. And Crosshair still has no idea what happened to him, why... any of this is happening.
He might think about it more, if he could think about anything at all, aside from the fact that Hunter is...
Crosshair had been able to hear his heartbeat – never mind how impossible that is – ever since getting near him, but he can't anymore. The... his blood isn't really flowing anymore, either.
Is that why he was panicking?
It shouldn't even matter because Crosshair was sent here to kill him. It just – he didn't expect it to happen. Didn't really expect to succeed. Didn't mean for it to happen like this.
He slides off Hunter, kneeling next to him, just sitting there.
He's pale and he looks awful and no, he's not breathing. (There are bruises on his neck, and Crosshair's first assumption is that it's from the bite, if he hit a vein or something, but it looks too... hand-shaped for that. Wrecker hand-shaped, actually, and Crosshair doesn't want to think about that.)
Crosshair does not want to think about what that means.
"Hunter," he calls, panicking, shaking his shoulder. It's pointless and he knows that because he can't answer if he's dead, but he can't be. This wasn't supposed to happen. They were supposed to stay with him, not leave, and there are so many things Crosshair wanted to say to him, and they can't...
If it was in action, he might be able to let it go, because that's why Crosshair was sent here anyway, but not like this. Not after being so close to him again for so long.
He feels a flicker of something before he hears it. It's some sort of sixth sense almost, something in his mind. Something that sort of feels like Hunter somehow. He knows what it is, even if it shouldn't be there.
And it's hurting.
Burning.
The same way Crosshair felt when he woke up earlier after the ion engine. It had hurt so much then, past just his injuries. They aren't there anymore though. He doesn't know what to think about that, or the fact that he has fangs now, or that Hunter's blood still smells very appealing.
He reaches out to touch his brother's shoulder, just feeling. Watching. Because he doesn't know what else to do.
And then, finally, he sees him start breathing again. Hears it, too, and the faint beating of his heart. It's slower than it ought to be right now. He died. He shouldn't be... But he is. He is, and that's all that matters.
(Why there's a part of Crosshair suddenly fiercely insisting that Hunter is his brother above all else, he has no idea, but that's more important to him than anything. More than the fact that he was sent here to kill him. Hunter will be loyal to him now, and he doesn't know how he knows that, but he does. He's as certain of that as he is that they're both breathing right now.)
Stop panicking.
He needs to think, and this reminds him so much of when Wrecker got blown up and he was so terrified he just froze up. Hunter is still bleeding, and through the sheer fear of losing him again, Crosshair tamps down on the desperate urge to keep feeding on it, leaning forwards to press his hand to the bite.
There were... three of them? Or something. And they were bleeding badly. He doesn't know what else he was expecting to happen. In hindsight, that was so, so stupid.
"Hunter," he calls again, a little desperately, needing to see him again, the assurance that he's still here. His brother's eyes blink open, hazy and unfocused, but there.
He sags a little with relief, but they're not safe yet.
"I'm sorry," he blurts out in a panicked rush, because he needs to say this and probably, he won't be of the mind to do so when Hunter is stable and capable of talking. He's way too terrified to be angry right now. "I didn't – realize what was happening, that you..."
He doesn't see any sort of comprehension in Hunter's face. All he sees is a very familiar burning hunger.
That's the same thing that happened to him.
He looks calculating, assessing – Crosshair has seen that look on his face so many times.
Crosshair's hand is wet, the blood soaking through his glove. His own hunger is still burning, never mind how impossible that should be.
Hunter whines faintly, turning his head closer to Crosshair's hand. Uncomfortable anxiety is twisting inside him. Crosshair has been there, felt the hunger and desperation, and he doesn't know what he did, why Hunter is feeling it too, now. He can't let him feel that, too.
If Hunter needs... the same thing he did, Crosshair is the only person around to give it to him. He's... not entirely comfortable with it, not after he already drained Hunter. He doesn't know how he didn't notice, but it happened. He should've noticed, and maybe that's a little bit why he's willing to give it to him.
Crosshair pulls his hand back, pulling off his vambrace and setting it next to them, pulling off his glove and rolling up his sleeve. The first time he bit Hunter, it was admittedly messy. His fangs didn't come in until after, and if the same thing is happening to Hunter, he doesn't care to get that, too.
It's not something he's used to, but it's a part of their existence now, part of what he is even if he's not sure he likes it.
He digs his fangs into his wrist, sharply enough to break skin, though not too deep. He isn't about to let Hunter make the same mistake he did. Hunter is staring at him, a sort of desperation in his eyes. It's so weird to see on Hunter – with Tech or Wrecker, it wouldn't be so jarring, but Hunter is always level-headed. He's reasonable where they are not.
"Here," Crosshair grumbles, offering Hunter his wrist.
Hunter reaches up, tugging his arm closer. The stinging in his wrist decreases, oddly enough, when he feels Hunter start feeding on him. It doesn't hurt, like he'd been somewhat afraid of. Doesn't entirely know why he thought it would. Hunter was panicking because Crosshair was killing him, and he can't believe he didn't notice, or thought anything else. He kept trying to tell him, and Crosshair just... ignored that.
He's not exactly proud of that.
It sends a strangely soothing warmth skittering through him, and he wants to curl closer. He doesn't know what's happening exactly, but he isn't panicking like Hunter was, because he's been there before.
Though he doesn't have any idea what to do now. He was able to hide what was happening from the others, because even in his mostly out-of-it state, Crosshair knew that it would be bad if someone realized what he was doing. He has no idea what's happening to them exactly. The ion engine hurt him, but this doesn't seem normal.
And it's happening to Hunter now, too.
Hunter whines again, faintly, letting go of Crosshair's hand to push himself upright. He looks... well, probably about as feral as Crosshair did earlier. His hands are still cuffed, and Crosshair feels slightly bad about that.
He's still a prisoner, though. Even if every last one of Crosshair's instincts are demanding that he trust him, protect him.
Hunter practically jumps him, and Crosshair yelps when he hits the floor. He already let Hunter start feeding on him, and it's ridiculous.
...
Okay. Well, he did the same thing to Hunter when they got interrupted when it wasn't bleeding quite as fast anymore.
Crosshair reaches up, trying to slow him down at least, because he really, really does not want to nearly die the way he just about killed Hunter minutes ago. He stills when Crosshair's hands touch his shoulders, half of the mind to just shove him off and yell at him, but he doesn't. He's not sure if it's the desperation on his brother's face, or the way he sort of just slumps against him, hands dropping to Crosshair's chest.
He can't fight back now any more than Crosshair could properly earlier.
Crosshair can't hurt him like that, even if he probably ought to. Crosshair huffs out a defeated sigh, lowering his hands. Hunter freezes, meeting his gaze for the first time. "Just be careful," he requests grumpily, and Hunter instantly ducks down against him, hands on Crosshair's shoulder.
He shivers slightly when Hunter presses closer, fangs grazing against his skin, though it's stupid because Crosshair was doing the same thing to him earlier.
He is also going to ignore the very bizarre part of his mind insisting that Hunter's barely growing fangs are kind of adorable. They are small, though. Crosshair's are... bigger, anyway. He's still somewhat weirded out about the fact that they exist.
Everything is... different to him now. His senses are different, and now is the first time he's really conscious enough to realize it.
He needs to find the others, but even if he did, what would he do? They – his mission was to kill them. He has to. But he can't kill Hunter. Can't fathom a reality where Hunter is dead, not now.
He kind of just wants to cry, actually, but Hunter is here, and he'll – he'll figure it out, like he always does.
He slides an arm around Hunter's waist, clinging to him.
From the moment Crosshair went to their barracks again, to see it empty, he knew he missed them. Didn't want to think about it, but he did. Always has. Now that Hunter is here, Crosshair doesn't want to let him go. Doesn't think he could even if he tried, though he doesn't know what that will mean.
His own hunger is burning again, though, stronger now. It's fading back in, and he wants to bite Hunter again, never mind what happened the last time he did that. It's stupid, and Crosshair fights it off in favor of letting Hunter feed for a little while. He's not used to giving him anything, because Hunter has never asked anything of them – it's always been Hunter who took care of them, who took the fall for whatever crazy antics with them.
He isn't fully sure he likes it, not now, but he doesn't want to stop him, either.
And Echo, Tech, Wrecker, and... the kid are still out there. Still being searched for, and Crosshair should be out there trying to find them. He needs to –
Hunter's comm beeps again.
Hunter doesn't even react to it. Crosshair had hardly registered it in that state. All he could think about was – okay. Probably, he should start by figuring out what happened to him, and that's something Tech should know. Even if Crosshair doesn't want to ask him anything right now. He doesn't really want to talk to them, but he somehow doesn't mind being this close with Hunter either. It's weird.
Crosshair takes Hunter's comm, flicking it on. "Hunter is presently unavailable," he offers.
There's a heartbeat of silence. "Crosshair?" Wrecker asks, half freaked out, half angry. "What did you do to him? Did –"
"He's out of order," Crosshair deadpans, ignoring his brother's quiet, grumpy growl – obviously, he's still somewhat present, then. "I think I broke him. He should be dead, but he's not."
Hunter shifts a little, and the weight shifting annoys him an unreasonable amount. Crosshair misses his warmth instantly, and he has a split second of warning before Hunter bites him. Again.
"Stop biting me!" Crosshair hisses at him, irritated. He doesn't try to shove him off, even if it's tempting, because with how fast his hunger is growing again, he'll probably be doing it soon unwillingly. Hunter's presence is somehow soothing it a little, making the burning a little less. It's calming, too, though that doesn't really make sense.
Hunter growls back at him, something entirely unintelligible and inhumane. It's disturbing. Now that Crosshair is present enough to think again, he's present enough to freak out about what's happening to them.
"Tech?" he calls into the comm, which has been basically entirely quiet this whole time.
"What did you do to Hunter?" Tech demands, and there's an uncharacteristic edge on his voice.
Crosshair hisses out an irritated breath. Him? That wasn't his fault. Right? He doesn't know. "Do you know anything about ion engines causing a craving for blood?"
There's a heartbeat of silence on the other end, followed by a terrified squeak of "what?" from the kid.
... yeah. Probably, they don't even believe him, and if Hunter wasn't currently curled half on top of him, sucking blood out of him, he'd be convinced the previous series of events was a very bizarre nightmare. But it happened, is still happening, and he doesn't understand what's happening.
"You may want to come here," he offers dryly.
"So you can kill us?" Echo demands icily.
He should. Ought to – that's why he's here, but he needs to figure out what this is, too. He doesn't know what to do. Everything seemed so clear and simple before he saw Hunter die. Did he die? He should have. He wasn't breathing.
Crosshair didn't realize how fast it could get taxing until now that he's feeling a nagging exhaustion coupled with his own growing hunger – for some reason, that's coming back instead of just feeling tired, which is what should be happening. Not... whatever this is.
"Hunter," Crosshair says, sliding his hand to his brother's shoulder and shaking him, "Slow down." It's getting worse and he needs – Force. This is not good. He can't bite Hunter again, when he's still recovering.
Hunter pulls back, dropping his head onto Crosshair's shoulder and letting out a desperate whimper-whine that makes him want to take it back, but he...the hunger is getting worse, and it's taking everything he has not to try tackling Hunter again. Even if it's not nearly as bad as it was earlier yet.
The others are still there, waiting. Crosshair needs to say something to them, but he doesn't know what. "And if you don't?" he asks, because he already knows the answer, but he needs to make them admit that and come here. He can go after them himself, but he doesn't want to leave Hunter here. Doesn't think he should. "You'll leave without him?"
"We have to go back for him," Omega says, her voice a little distant, filtering in over someone else's comm from a distance instead of her own. The connection cuts off there, and he can only hope they'll come.
He didn't even realize she had one. The only one they had was his – unless they got another one. It's stupid how the thought of her having his former one hurts. He used to be their youngest, but now they have her, and it's... They left him. They walked away from him, from the Empire, and it hurts.
He doesn't know why it surprises him. Of course, they went all out with it.
Hunter shifts a little, shifting to move off him, and Crosshair instinctively reaches out to stop him, to keep him here, because his warmth is somehow soothing and if he's free to move, he won't have a guarantee that he won't hurt Hunter again by accident – even if there's still a part of him that wants, now isn't the time to worry about it.
He saw Hunter die, and he's more afraid of it happening again than anything else.
Hunter stills again, whining faintly. When he's not speaking in audible, human terms, Crosshair has no idea what he's trying to say. "Stay," Crosshair requests, not of the mind to try explaining more right now. He probably should though.
There's a connection, something binding them together now. Crosshair feels a mingled mess of fear and hunger and a multitude of other things burning in his mind that he can't make sense of.
He takes a few shaky breaths of his own, trying to calm himself and think, desperately fighting off his very real need to feed on Hunter again. He needs –
This is bad.
He clenches his hands, letting out a faint whine of his own. They need to get here soon.
He can't hurt Hunter again.
He can feel the way the wounds on his neck are bleeding still, feels it collecting on his skin. It's close enough to Hunter that it must be driving him crazy, but Crosshair can't just let him go either.
He flinches slightly when Hunter moves again, licking the blood off his neck. He's being gentle, despite how hungry he must be right now. But – That's making his hunger worse. He doesn't know what to do.
Hunter nuzzles against him, and it's – it's comfortable, a welcoming distraction from his hunger. He doesn't want to hurt his brother again. To watch as he dies. For as angry at Crosshair is at him, he could never – never want him gone. He can't imagine living without Hunter, without... any of them. They made their choice, though.
Hunter isn't actively feeding on him like he was earlier anymore – he's more trying to keep the blood flow down, and Crosshair doesn't have the qualms he once would've about that. It's weird. Everything about this is weird.
He hears someone's approach from a distance, which is what finally prompts him to shove Hunter off him. He doesn't know what would happen if the Empire found out, but he doesn't – it's not supposed to happen, and he doesn't much care for the thought of getting stuck in a lab the rest of his life. Which, probably, is what the Kaminoans would do if they knew.
He really wishes he had his helmet, but he lost that by the ion engine.
"Someone's coming," he says, pushing himself to his feet, the momentary worry overriding everything else. It happened earlier, too, when his squad found them. He'd hardly been capable of rational thought, but he knew he couldn't let anyone know.
He turns to pull his vambrace back on, because that is definitely something that would raise questions. All of this would, actually, and he –
He hears some blaster shots. Definitely Wrecker, from the rapidness.
His half-present mind was going to use Hunter to lure out the others. If he'd been as angry after as he was before, he would've – still is, but he doesn't know what now. It should be obvious. He should've killed Hunter already, but he – he can't. The thought makes him sick.
He doesn't want to kill him. Isn't even certain he wants to hurt him anymore. He just wants... to keep him. Somehow. Which isn't really feasible. (He wants to bite him again, actually, which is stupid, but Crosshair misses him desperately, misses the closeness and contact that they used to have. It was only in the last minutes that he felt calm again, more like himself, and then Hunter had...)
There's a quiet snarl behind him as Hunter stumbles to his feet, somehow managing to stand despite his obvious exhaustion. Uh oh. The door hisses open, finally, and Wrecker and Tech stand in the doorway, weapons raised.
Crosshair has many things to say to them all, now that all four of them are here together again – even if they're down Echo – but they all fade from his mind the moment he sees them. And smells them, which is weird, because he should not be able to do that, either. He should say something, but all he can focus on is how they're here and the way his hunger is burning stronger. The pull to the other two is even stronger than it is to Hunter, and he can't –
Hunter jumps Tech. He moved fast enough that Crosshair didn't even register him moving, and he just stares, because that is just another thing that shouldn't be happening.
"Hunter, what are you doing?" Tech yelps as they hit the floor very ungracefully.
He's far beyond the point of words though, just growling as he tries to keep him still enough to bite. Wrecker twists around to watch, his blaster finally being aimed away from Crosshair, and all he can think about is how desperately he wants – needs – to jump Wrecker, to sink his fangs into his neck and be close to him.
"I warned you," Crosshair grumbles, more irritated than anything else. He needs – but he already drained Hunter and made him lose his mind, too.
"What'd you do to him?" Wrecker demands, a mix of hurt, anger, and fear in his voice as he steps forwards, ready to pull Hunter off Tech, which is probably for the best until they figure out what's happening.
And that is the point where Hunter finally successfully bites him. Crosshair knows it, because he can smell it, and the scent of blood zaps away whatever remaining shred of self-restraint he has.
Wrecker yelps, stumbling back when Crosshair bites him, fangs sinking through his skin and drawing blood. Crosshair winds his arms around Wrecker's neck, clinging to him stubbornly, hard as Wrecker is attempting to pry him off. He shouldn't even be having a hard time, either, because none of them can compare to Wrecker's level of strength. Unless he really is that desperate.
Crosshair growls at him, stubbornly refusing to let go. His blood is warm, warmer than Hunter's was, and it tastes like Wrecker in a way that he didn't know was possible, and it's the first time he realized that Hunter's had its own very distinctive flavor, too. He nuzzles closer, trying to feed.
Wrecker finally successfully pries him off, holding him at arm's length and ignoring his flailed attempts at getting closer. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, what are you doing?" he yelps, shaking him as if that has some potential to retransform this entire situation into normalcy.
Crosshair thinks about trying to explain what happened, trying to put to words the desperate hunger burning him inside out, but he has no idea how. A faint whine escapes him instead as he slumps a little in his brother's grip. "I need –" He squirms a little, knowing there's no way out, but he needs – Wrecker normally would do it, even without understanding, but things have changed, and it's exhausting. (Crosshair shot him. He hates himself for doing it, and he's just as angry at himself for regretting it.)
Wrecker looks helplessly at Tech, who looks even less comfortable than Wrecker himself probably is. Hunter's stronger than him, and that seems even truer now for some reason. Tech is awkwardly trying to pry him off, but it's not really working.
"I see you were not lying about craving for blood," Tech grumbles, shoving at Hunter's shoulder again.
Crosshair whines faintly, reaching for Wrecker again. He can't do anything short of flailing uselessly, though. Wrecker shoves him back, hard enough that he stumbles at the sudden movement and loss of contact. It hurts a ridiculous amount, too, and he twists around, half of the mind to jump him again, but Wrecker's already picked up his blaster again.
His gut plummets. "Wrecker –"
He fires, and the stun shot hits him. The electric field jolts through him, sending him to his knees, vision blurring over. Distantly, Crosshair thinks it's weird he wasn't taken out right off, but Wrecker fires again, and everything goes dark.
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