This idea came about when my sister accidentally posted a Bad Batch Tik Tok in the family's grandkids group chat. We joked that we would just add Omega. So the idea of a Bad Batch group chat for pictures of Omega was born. And then I just busted about half of this out at like 11 last night and finished it up today.
As stated on the tin, this is a Modern AU, a bit different from the one I've written for before. Nothing too complex and pretty aligned to the show up to season 3. Nala Se is married to Hemlock and they got custody of Omega for a while, where Hemlock was abusive and Nala Se was neglectful. The Batch lost custody after Tech went missing while they were investigating Hemlock's suspicious medical experiments. But eventually Omega escapes with Crosshair's help and go to the police, and Nala Se and Hemlock lose custody.
"We're home!"
Crosshair was still astounded that Omega could still call out with such brightness after everything. Yet- he hadn't seen her much before her ordeal, but he could tell she didn't walk with as much of a spring in her step as she used to.
Still Crosshair watched her rush into the house. Wrecker got up from the battered kitchen table and scooped her up.
"How was your trip?" He boomed as Omega laughed.
"Wrecker- I'm getting too big for this!" Omega said through giggles.
"How come I can still do it, then?" Wrecker asked and dangled Omega by her legs.
Crosshair shook his head and placed the grocery bags on the table.
"It was just the store, anyway." Omega said when Wrecker put her down.
"I bet it felt like a trip." Wrecker said, tousling her hair.
He wasn't wrong. Crosshair knew for a fact that Nala Se and her bastard husband Hemlock hadn't even let Omega outside during the months they'd had custody of her. He'd been able to tell that she'd been ecstatic to get back into the world, even if it was just the grocery store.
Hunter thudded down the stairs.
"You're back." He said. "It went okay?"
"We weren't ambushed in the frozen pizza aisle." Crosshair said. "Like you thought we would be."
Hunter shot Crosshair an annoyed look.
"Aw man, you should have gotten frozen pizza!" Wrecker said with a sigh.
Hunter and Wrecker's phones dinged. Crosshair's stayed silent.
"Echo's on his way." Hunter said when he checked.
Omega gasped and darted into the front room to stare out the window.
"I said on his way, not almost here." Hunter called. "It'll be another twenty minutes."
Omega seemed to ignore him. Crosshair smiled to himself as he started unbagging the groceries. Wrecker and Hunter silently joined him.
It felt- good to do this again. A simple chore with his brothers, something lost to him ever since Omega had come into their lives and Crosshair had decided to be very, very stupid.
Of course back then, they'd had Tech.
"You kept his pantry system." Crosshair said aloud.
He almost regretted saying it, seeing the way both Wrecker and Hunter's shoulders dropped.
"Yeah." Hunter said. "It's a good system."
It was. Even after all this time, Crosshair knew where everything went.
"Oh!" Wrecker said. "Hunter, invite Crosshair to the picture group chat, so he can see all the pictures of Omega and send the ones he took."
"Who said I've taken any pictures?" Crosshair asked.
He had, of course.
Hunter hesitated for just a moment and Crosshair's heart sank.
"You're right." Hunter said. "He'll have taken better pictures than the rest of us."
Crosshair felt his cheeks warm ever so slightly as Hunter took out his phone and tapped at it. Crosshair finished putting away the pasta before pulling his own device out. He had indeed been added to a group chat named 'our girl 3.'
He'd been allowed access to the chat history. The last picture sent was one from Wrecker, of Omega dozing with Batcher on their living room floor. It had been liked by Echo.
Crosshair scrolled up. The chat was saturated with pictures, mostly from Wrecker, of Omega living life back with them. Of Omega and Batcher, of Omega and Lyana, even a few of Omega and Crosshair. Echo had liked practically all of them.
Crosshair slowed as he got close to the date when he and Omega had come home. On that day, there was just one picture. One of Omega getting crushed to Wrecker's side, tears streaming down their beaming faces. It had a text sent with it:
'guess who just got custodyyyyyyy'
Echo had replied seconds after.
'what? how? did something happen to Nala Se?'
Wrecker's only response had been,
'Nala Se more like Not a say in Omega's life anymore!'
Hunter had given a proper explanation afterward.
Crosshair looked up.
"Did you seriously tell Echo like that?" He asked.
Wrecker shrugged with a grin.
"I thought it would be funny."
"Yes, a great way to end months of worry and stress." Crosshair said.
He put his phone away. He'd look at the other pictures later.
Echo arrived soon after. Crosshair watched, pleased but a little bit jealous, as Echo hugged Omega tightly. A part of him wished he had been welcomed like she had.
"How on earth did you get a dog?" Echo asked when Batcher made herself known to him. "Nala Se hates animals."
"It was Hemlock." Omega said, scratching the dog's ears. "He- breeds pit bulls as guard dogs. He treats them terribly and they're really vicious. But I made friends with Batcher."
"Have you gotten her spayed?" Echo asked. "Taken her to the vet?"
He sighed at their silence.
"Maybe we can get that done during my visit."
He paused and looked at Hunter and Wrecker.
"Thanks for the pictures." He said. "I can't be here all the time, but it's nice to see what's going on."
Wrecker beamed and Hunter nodded. Once again, Crosshair felt like an interloper.
Later, when everyone had gone to bed, Crosshair sat on the living room couch where he was sleeping. The others had given Omega his room during his absence, but he didn't begrudge them that.
Crosshair opened his phone and went to the photos app. He had a few pictures of Omega, taken on their shopping trip that day. All were candids. He hated telling people to smile. And they were all out of focus. Blurry. His hand began to shake even as he thought of it.
In an effort to get his mind off of it, Crosshair switched to the group chat. It was still on the picture of Wrecker and Omega.
Crosshair scrolled up. The time between that picture and the one before was almost five months. It was Omega at the wheel of the Marauder, grinning at the taker.
It was sent by Tech.
Crosshair's hand began to shake so badly that he nearly dropped his phone. He nearly wanted to. He wanted to close the phone and never look at the text thread again.
He didn't.
He scrolled up.
There were dozens, if not hundreds of pictures. A few were taken by Hunter's inexperienced hand. A couple were by Echo, usually a group shot of the others. Many were selfies of Wrecker and Omega in various situations, including one that seemed to be at an illegal street race.
But by far, the most pictures were by Tech. He had documented everything. Omega skipping down the sidewalk. Omega laughing with her friends. Omega hanging from a tree while Hunter stood anxiously under her with arms raised. Hunter bandaging Omega's elbow under the same tree. Even Omega half asleep, eating cereal at the table.
Finally he reached the end. The very first picture sent, from Hunter, was obviously of Cut's dusty yard. Omega was hesitantly holding a basketball while Sheeah and Jek explained something. She was so small.
Crosshair closed his eyes. He had missed so much. And he'd never be able to make some of that up.
He turned and looked at Tech's cracked glasses on one of the end tables: the only thing they had found of their brother.
This chat probably contained the only pictures of Omega taken by people who loved her. Crosshair knew that Nala Se wasn't one to take photos. Tech had done his best to document Omega's life. Wrecker was making an admirable attempt to continue his work. But he'd need help. Omega deserved to have her life chronicled. The good and the bad.
Crosshair sent his photos.
Within minutes, the other three had liked them.
Maybe the blurry deserved it too.
Not too many notes here, just a straightforward story about Crosshair learning to take his place with the Batch and how he can help fill the hole Tech's left. As usual, I am obliged to say that Tech is alive, but just not with them.
Wrecker's texts to Echo is probably my favorite part.
I think Tech's recording of everything would translate into extreme picture taking in the modern world.
I am adamant that Hunter takes pictures like an old person. He is very bad. Crosshair is the best at it, at least before his hand started shaking.
That should be everything!
Stay safe, remember to review, and enjoy that last few episodes of the Bad Batch!