Ah Yes, That Was A Good Day 🥹 Even With The Migraine.

Ah yes, that was a good day 🥹 even with the migraine.

Five + One Times Hunter Had a Migraine

Chapter Six: +1 - Everyone

Summary: After everyone is settled and happy on Pabu, Hunter feels better allowing his little family to take care of him during his headaches.

Notes: AHH and that's a wrap! I enjoyed writing this story so much, it was so much fun exploring the different personalities and how they would each react. This is the only chapter which isn't technically canon compliant, but it isn't not-canon compliant since season 3 hasn't aired yet. I really hope you enjoyed this story guys!!

The ao3 is posted and completed, and I'm about to reblog the master post of all the links. Thank you guys so much for reading!

WC: 3020

Omega grins and looks over at Hunter, waving happily. Hunter smiles fondly and waves back. He sighs happily, bringing his right knee up almost lazily, allowing it to lean away from his other leg a tad, while keeping his left leg stretched out in front of him. He leans back against the ship, his arms crossed very loosely over his stomach.  

It took a long time to get here, but gods Hunter couldn’t be happier. It had been a bumpy ride too. Losing Crosshair, then Tech, then Omega. But they’re all back, and Hunter is just so grateful his family is together and safe. And on Pabu, they’re always going to be together and safe and happy. 

His family is down by the pier, having set up a picnic for lunch some hours ago. Now Wrecker is in the water, up to his hips, kicking water away from the pier. 

Phee and Tech are at the end of the pier, feet hanging off the edge and dangling in the water. Tech has one arm leaned back to support himself, and Phee is very happily taking up the abandoned space, leaning into his side.  

Echo is still on the blanket further away, speaking with Crosshair who is sitting to the right of him, his own feet in the water. Echo is watching Omega while Crosshair is staring down at the water, making it move gently with his feet. 

Omega is standing beside Phee, and has turned back to look down at the water with the obvious decision of if she wants to join Wrecker on her mind. Phee turns to face her, waving one hand dramatically and gesturing towards the water. 

Hunter had walked back to the ship after he finished eating, and climbed onto the wing to just watch them. He’s had a growing headache since this morning, and thought that staying further away from the noise would help keep it at bay. So far it’s working; he gets to enjoy watching them have fun, and his head doesn’t hurt as bad. 

Wrecker’s booming laugh is almost soft, he's so far away, and it makes Hunter chuckle breathily as watches him pick Omega up and spin her. He ends up accidentally dunking her in the water a bit due to having grabbed her around the knees, but she only giggles and squirms when Wrecker readjusts his grip and holds her upright again. He’s so infatuated with the two of them that he doesn’t notice anyone else moving at first. 

A soft thud comes from beside him, and a warm body presses up next to his. Hunter hums, not turning to look at the newcomer, but slightly leans into the arm against his own. “Hey,” he greets softly. 

Crosshair hums, wrapping his own arms around his knees and leaning almost lazily against the ship. He doesn’t say anything out loud, content to just sit next to Hunter and enjoy the fact that he has his family back. 

Hunter has been nursing a migraine since this morning, but he doesn’t want to take care of it. He’s far too happy just watching his siblings enjoy themselves. He knows he promised Omega he would always tell her if his head started to hurt again, but he just doesn’t want to disturb such a happy and perfect scene. 

Omega manages to squirm her way out of Wrecker’s arms, landing in the water and falling over almost as soon as she lands. She squeals a peal of laughter, fighting her way to stand up, the water up to her shoulders. 

Tech’s body moves with his laughter, and Phee turns to stare at him with soft eyes and a warm smile. He says something to Omega, which causes the girl to gasp in offense and start splashing water up at Tech.

Echo shakes his head fondly from further up the dock, but Hunter just knows he’s smiling, even with his body turned out to the sea away from the ship. 

“Now hold on,” Phee calls, from where she just got splashed as well due to being so close to Tech. Her protests are met only with giggles, Tech turns his face to her, and the smile is so genuine and soft that it's contagious. 

“I never took you for the hopeless romantic type,” Crosshair sneers, and Hunter turns to see that the sniper is only staring at Hunter, not out at their family. 

Hunter smirks, bringing his right hand up to rest the wrist on the bent knee, and leaving his left to stay resting on his stomach as he lazily cocks his head to the left and looks at Crosshair. “Me either,” he says simply. 

Crosshair’s eyes go soft, and his scowl melts into his familiar resting line. He turns back to the sea, watching with that same expression. “I’m glad he’s happy,” he finally says, after several minutes. 

Hunter hums in agreement, turning his gaze back to the pier. “This is all I’ve ever wanted,” Hunter admits after several more minutes. “Was for you all to be happy. Safe. Even before I knew I was allowed to want that, back when I thought we’d never see the end of the war.”

Crosshair turns to look at him again, and nudges Hunter gently with his shoulder. “You’ve gone soft,” he accuses. 

Hunter chuckles, stretching out both of his legs and moving his arms behind his head. “I can afford to be.”

They sit there like that, in companionable silence, just watching their little family enjoy playing on the piers of Pabu. Crosshair eventually drops his right leg so it’s beside Hunter’s left, arms wrapping around just the left knee now. He playfully knocks their ankles together, aiming for being annoying. Hunter only rolls his eyes, gently kicking Crosshair’s foot in lazy retaliation.

“Maybe Echo won’t be so pale after a day in the sun,” Crosshair says, voice rumbling with amusement. He keeps his face turned towards the pier, but his eyes shift to the right to watch Hunter’s reaction. 

Hunter snorts, looking over at Crosshair and smiling. “Cross,” he chides, scandalized. “You can’t say that.” 

Crosshair smirks, taking a small box out of his pocket and shaking out a toothpick before placing it in one corner of his mouth. “Am I wrong, though?” he asks, pocketing the box again.

Hunter chuckles and shakes his head, allowing Crosshair to press closer into his side with his arms back around his knee. They turn back to the pier, watching as Omega attempts to climb Wrecker’s back. 

Phee shoots Tech a playful look before she pushes off the pier into the water, pulling Tech in after her by the hand. Tech almost falls over with the sudden movement, but Phee is there to catch him, head tilted back in laughter. In retaliation, Tech gently splashes her, which starts a small splashing war between the couple and Wrecker. 

Wrecker’s movements accidentally knock Omega off, and she squeals as she lands on her back, dipping beneath the water for just a few seconds before standing again, hair a wet mess. 

Wrecker looks at her sheepishly, most likely mumbling an apology before helping her up. 

Omega only giggles loudly, attempting to climb Tech’s back now. Phee smirks and decides to help, supporting Omega’s back for balance. 

Echo laughs as well, calling “Careful, don’t hurt him!” 

Hunter sighs in content, and he and Crosshair just watch. 

They watch for so long, in fact, that the sun sinks towards the water and the glare is directly in Hunter’s eyes. 

Hunter squints, trying to ignore the growing tension behind his eyes. Even with the increasing pain, he’s reluctant to let go of the happy view. 

Crosshair shifts, looking over at Hunter with a small frown on his face. He rolls the toothpick from one corner of his mouth to the other before speaking. “Your head hurts,” Crosshair announces. 

Hunter can’t help but breathe a laugh. “Thanks for letting me know,” he jokes. 

Crosshair huffs in annoyance, but he scoots even closer, hip to hip now. “Are you in a good enough mood to let me take care of you?”

“It isn’t that bad,” Hunter says softly, but it isn’t a no. But as the moments pass, and the brightness only seems to intensify, it starts sounding more and more like a good idea. 

Crosshair is still staring at Hunter, studying his face. He takes the toothpick out, flicking it over the edge of the wing. “You can trust me, you know,” he whispers, almost to himself. 

Hunter turns his gaze to Crosshair, smiling fondly. “I do,” he declares, not even having to think about it. “It was never you, Cross. The chip was controlling you. Now that it’s out, I trust you just as much as I did during the war.” With my life. With our lives. He doesn’t need to say that part, not out loud. Crosshair knows. 

Crosshair swallows thickly, an audible click coming from his throat. He has to look away, back out to where Omega is now trying to balance on Wrecker’s shoulders. 

Phee starts to yell and whoop, encouraging Omega. Tech has his arms around her, his chest to her back, watching them over her head. 

Hunter leans forward, rubbing at his temples as he squints against the sun. “Okay. You can help me.”

Crosshair looks back at him, a bittersweet expression twisting his lips. But he nods once, standing and offering his hand. Hunter takes it, and the slightly taller clone leads them off the wing. Hunter looks over his shoulder once he’s on the ground, looking at his siblings once more before following Crosshair into the ship. 

Crosshair leads him to the bunks, and Hunter lays down on his own without prompting. Crosshair tsks softly, hands on his hips. “What, has no one at all taken care of you since the war?” he asks sarcastically. 

Hunter frowns, slightly confused. “Huh?”

Crosshair rolls his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest. “You didn’t leave me any room.”

Hunter grins, realization dawning on him. He sits up, allowing Crosshair to move his pillow and sit where his head once was. He rests his neck on Crosshair’s thigh, and lets his brother remove the bandana. 

Crosshair makes a noise of approval, before starting to carefully work his fingers through Hunter’s sun warmed hair. 

Even though it’s been over a year since Crosshair has done this, it feels so familiar and right to Hunter. He feels himself relax almost immediately, humming once in content. He allows himself to just feel the weight of Crosshair’s fingers through his hair, and listen to the soft scratching noises. It feels just like before, like when they were still cadets. 

Hunter doesn’t know how much time passes, but eventually the ship fills with laughter and the sound of slightly wet feet clambering onto the ship. “Hunter?” Omega calls loudly, her high-pitched voice sounding a bit tired. It sounds like a mid-afternoon nap is in order.

Crosshair growls softly in annoyance at the yelling, making Hunter chuckle. “In here,” he calls, not bothering to open his eyes. Omega’s lighter footsteps bound towards him, quickly followed by Wrecker’s booming ones, and then the other three’s normal paced footsteps follow, just a beat later. 

Omega’s footfalls end with an abrupt stop, and Wrecker almost knocks into her since he hadn’t known she would stop there. “Oh,” Omega whispers, and Hunter is sure that if he opened his eyes, hers would be wide and her mouth would be slightly ajar with surprise. 

Wrecker shuffles a bit, and lets out a quiet laugh. “Your head hurting?” he asks in his usual whisper-yell he uses when Hunter has a migraine. 

“Obviously,” Crosshair hisses, still annoyed by the earlier yelling, but he hasn’t paused his hand even once. 

Omega hesitates for just a few seconds before she walks over and lays half on top of him and half beside him, her body still damp from the sea and getting the front of his own shirt wet. “I wanna help,” she whispers. 

Hunter can’t help but peek one eye open and look at her with a huge smile on his face. He has one arm move up to hug her close, and the other rests on her arm. “You help just by being here,” he tells her. “You’re magic, remember?”

She giggles softly, hugging him around his chest. Crosshair makes a disgusted noise, which they both choose to ignore. 

Wrecker walks over to his own bunk before he gently puts Lula on Hunter’s chest next to Omega’s head, who grabs her absently and hugs her between the two of them. “Here ya go,” he whisper-yells. He waits for Hunter to smile at him in thanks, before he goes back to his bunk and sits heavily on it. 

“I will make some tea,” Tech announces, his hand intertwined with Phee’s. He looks down at her, and his lips twitch into an almost-smile; and for Tech, he’s practically beaming. Hunter has never seen Tech smile as much as he has now that he and Phee are together. 

“I’ll help,” she says, tearing her eyes away from Hunter’s bunk to smile happily up at Tech. She squeezes his hand, and allows Tech to take the lead. The couple disappears into the back of the ship, towards the makeshift kitchen. Hunter can hear them talking softly to each other, but he’s able to tune them out into background noise.  

Echo grins at them, before heading towards the fresher. “I’ll get the towel,” he calls over his shoulder. 

Crosshair shakes his head, but when Hunter looks up at him, he has a small smile on his face. “Some things never change,” Crosshair murmurs. 

Hunter smiles up at him, his free hand starting to absentmindedly rub soothing circles into Omega’s arm. He opens his mouth to say something, but Crosshair uses his free hand to gently close Hunter’s eyes. 

“Brushing helps too,” Omega whispers, matter-of-factly, some time later. She had moved her head so her chin rests on top of Lula, so she can look up at Crosshair. 

Crosshair hums noncommittally, using his free hand to ruffle her damp and tangled hair fondly. “I never tried that before,” he tells her. 

Omega beams with pride, chin lifting from Lula’s chest. “It was my idea,” she informs Crosshair, pride evident in her voice. 

“Well,” Crosshair says softly, and he doesn’t even try to keep up his pretend annoyance. Omega makes everyone happy, it seems like. “Go get me the brush then.”

Omega squeals happily, sliding off the bunk and carefully leaving Lula on Hunter’s chest. Crosshair opens his mouth, likely to tell her off for being loud, but Hunter shakes his head at him. Instead he huffs in annoyance, but continues brushing his fingers through Hunter’s hair. 

Echo comes back in with the towel, gently resting it over Hunter’s eyes. “There,” he says softly. He moves to sit next to Wrecker, who shifts to make more room. 

“Thanks,” Hunter murmurs, sighing happily. The cool and dark afforded by the wet towel is already having a wonderful effect on Hunter. 

Crosshair continues running his fingers through Hunter’s hair, his other hand adjusting the towel just slightly. “Think you could fall asleep?” he asks softly. 

“Mmm,” Hunter hums, thinking about it. It wasn’t that bad of a headache to begin with, but they’re pulling all the stops already. He definitely thinks he could fall asleep like this. 

Tech and Phee return, placing the tea on the floor next to Hunter’s bunk before moving to Tech’s bunk and cuddling up on it, looking out at the rest of them. 

“Thank you,” Hunter murmurs, and hears Tech softly acknowledge it. 

Omega comes back in, and Crosshair stops petting Hunter to reach for the brush. Omega climbs back on top of Hunter, using Lula’s stomach as a pillow on top of Hunter’s chest. 

Hunter lifts his neck slightly so Crosshair can move his hair over his lap more evenly, and brings one arm up to support Omega and keep her from falling again. 

Crosshair uses his left hand to rest gently on Hunter’s shoulder to keep him still, and the right starts to move the brush through Hunter’s hair carefully. 

Hunter makes an appreciative noise, melting into the bunk and Crosshair’s thigh beneath him. “That feels nice, Cross,” he mumbles his thanks.

Omega starts to hum softly, having to stop every once and while to yawn. But her voice is so beautiful and soft and soothing, it’s working wonders. Hunter wishes he knew the song; he thinks it must be something she picked up from the people of Pabu. 

Wrecker sighs happily, shifting his weight to lean back against the wall behind his bunk. “I love when she sings,” he whispers to Echo. 

Echo makes a noise of agreement, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees and his chin on his flesh hand. 

At some point, Hunter consciously realizes that Phee is also humming the song, her deeper voice continuing the song whenever Omega yawns. It’s slightly muffled, and Hunter is pretty sure she must have her face turned at least partially into Tech’s body. 

Hunter is fighting back his own yawns, and tightens his grip on Omega just a tad. The girl mimics him, tightening her hold on Lula, but continues to hum. 

Crosshair sighs above Hunter, but doesn’t stop his fingers. “Feeling better yet?” he asks softly. 

Hunter smiles, taking a deep breath through his nose. Crosshair right next to him, acting as his pillow, brushing his hair. Omega half on top of him, falling asleep herself even though she tries to stay awake and hum for Hunter. Tech on his bunk, cuddling Phee. Wrecker leaning back in his bunk as he watches them, Echo right beside them and leaned forward to watch. His family. All of them feeling content in the knowledge that they are together and safe and happy. 

Hunter hums once to voice his agreement, letting out a deep sigh. 

Yeah. Yeah, he feels better. He doesn’t think he could ever feel better than he does right now.