Summary: Omega gets ready for the weekly family dinner. All of her brothers have paired off with partners over the years, except Hunter. Omega worries he'll be lonely if she eventually fulfills her desire to join the Rebellion. Only Crosshair can give her insight into Hunter's indifference.
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Omega sighed as she rearranged the plates on the table for the fourth time. It was hard to squeeze them all around the table. A warm breeze swept over the patio, sending a cascade of blossom from the weeping mya tree swirling and skittering across the stone tiles. It seemed to catch on the wind and always wound up in piles outside their front door. Batcher would chase after it normally, but she was curled up under the table, sleeping in the shade.
She adjusted the last plate one more time and went back into the kitchen, grabbing a chair from the kitchen table and walking awkwardly outside with it, trying to avoid knocking her shins against it.
Family dinners had become a tradition quickly after they settled on Pabu and had only grown over the years. Of course it was always the four of them, her, Hunter, Crosshair and Wrecker. Sometimes Shep and Lyana would join and Phee if she wasn’t off treasure hunting.
Soon, Wrecker started bringing Ilana. He had met her at the docks and quickly fell for her. She was tall and tan, her long blonde hair falling down her back in a tangle of curls. She would stand on her tip toes to kiss him, and he would blush brightly afterwards.
They had been married for a couple of years now, moving into her home in lower Pabu, closer to the water and the boat they used for their fishing business.
Crosshair had been much more secretive in his relationship. He refused to acknowledge his crush on Cal, a man who ran the bakery in upper Pabu. He would frequent his shop multiple times a week, ostensibly to get the fresh treats he made for pets but would always find an excuse to stay for hours at a time and come home laden with baked goods.
He had finally confessed that he and Cal were an item and reluctantly invited him to his first family dinner.
Cal was short and stocky, his ginger hair cropped short, a sandy beard covering his face. He was perpetually flushed in his face and would rest his hand lovingly on Crosshair’s prosthetic when he leaned back in his chair after a good meal.
Omega delighted in the little rounded belly Crosshair had developed. She wasn’t sure she’d ever seen him eat a full meal before the settled on Pabu. His frame had finally filled out, giving him a much healthier look and rounding the sharpness of his features.
Even Echo brought the occasional date when he returned to Pabu. Most recently a mechanic who worked for the rebellion, Myna. She had wild, black curly hair that seemed to hover around her head like a halo. She had bright green eyes and orange skin. Omega wasn’t sure what species she was and thought it rude to ask. She was beautiful, and she noticed Echo struggled to take his eyes off her when they were in the same room.
She placed the final chair around the table on the patio and looked into the house. She heard the tickle of plates in the kitchen and knew Hunter must have somehow snuck in from his hike on the other side of the island.
She leaned in the doorway, watching him work methodically as he washed a few dishes in the sink. His bandana lay discarded on the table; his long hair was wet and falling in his face.
He smiled. He had obviously heard her long before she spoke. She could never get away with anything stealthy in his presence.
“Yeah, pretty good.” He said in his gravelly voice.
“Why are you wet?” she asked.
He chuckled, “found a small waterfall, went for a swim.”
“You fell over the falls?”
Hunter laughed, “yes, but deliberately.” He turned to look at her, his brown eyes seemingly changing color in the light, “I’m fine, Omega.” He said with a reassuring smile.
“Like when you fell off that retaining wall you were trying to fix?”
Hunter had the decency to look guilty. “It was a sprained ankle, kid, I was fine.”
Omega shook her head and laughed, “you’re going to be the death of me, old man.” She said walking over to the sink and grabbing a cloth to help dry the dishes.
He chuckled, “well, wouldn’t that be a change.” He said fondly.
She nudged him playfully and they settled into a familiar and warm silence.
