They're not cuddling yet....but things are happening
Not having any armor left him feeling uneasy, but Crosshair stepped further into the cave, pulling at the hood of his poncho. He peeling it back so his vision wasn't obscured at the edges, and swung the gun up and around to check the walls.
Nothing.
He checked the scanner then, but it couldn't pick up everything. Some animals had almost no heat signatures, and people had tools to block them, though Crosshair doubted anything very sentient would be in here. Running his own boot over the ground again he checked for footprints deeper. Convinced there were none he moved forward, eyes tracking after the light.
No creatures hung from the top, there wasn't anything scuttling across the ground. Like he'd seen from the opening, there seemed to be no outward signs of it being occupied. The storm outside carried rumbling inward, but nothing made any sound from inside the cave itself.
He scanned again.
Nothing.
So he cleared straight to the back.
Empty.
Crosshair motioned that to Mayday and pointed two fingers to where the cave turned, he could clearly make out the clone's hesitation but watched him nod regardless. He understood. Mayday wouldn't be able to see much. And with the raging storm he probably couldn't hear much either. It left them both at a disadvantage if Crosshair was attacked.
His fingers trembled slightly on the grip of the gun and he let out a slow breath.
He had to be fine. They were counting on him.
With one heavy inhale he swung around the corner. The light bounced quickly off all the walls as Crosshair assessed it, straining his ears to listen for anything.
It was quiet.
Crosshair sighed, dropping his shoulders that had raised like the hackles of a dog. He blinked, looking down, there was a pocket of water. Cautious, Crosshair pocketed the scanner and looked closer.
It glowed sparkling blue.
And bubbled gently.
Crosshair edges towards it, sniffing. It didn't smell like anything, which honestly didn't mean much but glancing carefully down into it, it was clear. His foot caught on a clump of dirt and he kicked it into the pool, waiting.
The tension of the water broke and the dim light flickered around the cave walls as the water trembled. But there were no creatures to be disturbed, the dirt didn't sizzle, just sunk to the bottom.
Crosshair reached his hand into another pocket, pulling out another small device. Usually it was used to test if liquids were safe for consumption but they had plenty of good rain water stored from their trek here. Crosshair wanted to see if it was releasing any chemicals into the air. He clicked it and held it up to the light of his gun. It would explain why no animals were in the cave, their senses could pick up on much more than his own.
(The trailing thought of Hunter echoed in his head. But he wasn't here and Tech wasn't awake to ask )
The device clicked one, the light flickered green.
Safe.
He placed his hand in the air above it and it was warm. No wonder the cave felt nice. Crosshair wanted to slip into it so badly, the mud was drying and cakey all over his body but they needed to test it better first. They might even need more water to drink. So Crosshair placed the device back into his pocket and stood. Looking closer, the area ended fairly quickly, the corner was half the size of his room back on Kamino. Crosshair pounded lightly at the wall by him, nothing shifted. He could reach if he jumped, so he did, and again it seemed in-tact. No shifting dirt that could spell a cave in. Though the pool was underground somewhere. He gently kicked the area by it but that too was solid.
It felt too good to be true but here it was regardless.
A place to rest.
With one last glance Crosshair turned back, he stared hard as he turned the corner. Mayday's face relaxed as he stepped back towards them. It was flattering. And strange. After everything, it was hard to accept that anyone really was happy to see him.
Cared.
About him.
When he reached the entrance again Mayday's free hand patted at his shoulder, before gripping it firmly.
“Alright?” He asked. Crosshair nodded.
“It's empty. I think it's a good spot to stop.” He helped grab Tech again, “For a while at least.”
Mayday let out a soft sigh as they moved out of the rain, “Let's get Tech settled. Then we can come up with a plan for the night. I think it's going to get cold.” Crosshair sent him a tired look so Mayday amended, “ Well colder anyway.”
Crosshair hummed, “It's warm around the corner.”
As they turned Mayday let out a whistle, much softer this time.
“No wonder it's so warm in here.”
“It's safe. At least for us to be near. Still not sure about going in.”
They moved in sync, until Tech was sat down gingerly against the side wall. Crosshair detached the light from his gun and placed it pointing upwards, illuminating the space the rest of the way. He put the gun back to stun before putting it to the side, turning as Mayday pulled off his poncho and dug around in the bag that had been on his back. The other clone pulled out a thermal blanket and shook it out.
“Here. I think we get out of these clothes and you two get under this-”
“So you're taking first watch?” Crosshair interrupted. Mayday crouched, laying the blanket down.
“ I think Tech is more aware, it would be better if he woke up to a familiar face.” They both ignored the shaking. It was obvious they were exhausted.
Crosshair wanted to say he wasn't sure if Tech wanted to see him but the words wouldn't come out so he hummed and started to undress. His clothes were. Disgusting. Pulling off his shirt he heard Mayday let out a punched out sound.
“Crosshair. You're bleeding- and the mud.” Mayday leaned over and dug into Crosshair's pocket, who jumped.
“Mayday- wha-”
Mayday held up the tester with a triumphant sound. “We need to get it cleaned. With the crash, Tech might even have something we missed. With the rain and the dirt-”
Crosshair moved to Tech. He hadn't even thought about it. Tech couldn't respond. They checked surface level but what if there was something they missed, his head ached. What if he'd missed something vital-
“The water is clear. Let's get him in. ” Mayday's hands appeared to help and together they got Tech down to his underwear. He was covered in mud but nothing seemed to be actively bleeding. Crosshair followed suit and together they pulled Tech to the edge, Crosshair slid into the water first.
It was heaven, perfectly warm. His feet hit the floor, the water stopping at his chest, he could feel a soft pull so the pool was moving somewhere, slowly. Hopefully that meant the water would stay relatively clean. He ignored the urge to dive under the surface but gave his hands a quick scrub before motioning for Tech.
Mayday deposited him into Crosshair's arms.
Tech groaned softly and Crosshair's heart leapt. He was there. Somewhere.
“It's okay Tech. It’s just to get you clean.” He murmured, watching as Mayday returned with a small towel from the pack, he too was down to almost nothing as he followed them into the water. Crosshair accepted Mayday's help and together they wiped Tech down.
He was thin. Not near as thin as Crosshair was but he definitely lost weight. He had bruises near his hip and along one shoulder but it was light and didn't seem to be all that serious. Crosshair ran the towel down his arms gently but again, nothing seemed injured.
“I knew you were gentle.” Mayday said, chuckling at Crosshair's pointed look before turning back to Tech. “He seems okay though.
Crosshair ran a thumb under Tech's left eye. There was unfamiliar scarring over that side of his face, up into his forehead, cutting into the bridge of his nose and his lip, though the last two were barely touched. It had healed but Crosshair wondered what had happened. Was it Hemlock? Was it because of him-
What he had missed.
“That new? You're looking at him like you did it yourself.”
Crosshair scoffed, pushing the whole palm of his hand and his fingers into Tech's hair, “He had the hairline but-”
Everything else is from someone I don't recognize.
He could feel Mayday's watching him but they finished in silence, quickly carrying Tech to place him on top of the blanket. He remained quiet as Crosshair covered him. He wished they had dry clothes, at least the cave allowed for them to hang. With the heat maybe they'd be less damp in the morning. Maybe.
“Your turn.” Mayday pulled Crosshair back into the water, pushing him into a position so he could move to his side and inspect the wounds up his leg to his ribs. Crosshair braced both palms flat on the rocks, arms straight and hung his head. He was too tired to argue. The crash had sent something alight in the small pilots chair, it had burned then but now everything ached so he couldn't tell. He grunted as roughen palms gently ran over his skin. Mayday hummed.
It felt nice, but Crosshair blamed the flush on the heat of the pool and closed his eyes. He could sleep.
A hand curled up over his shoulder from behind, fingers brushing his collar bone. Mayday's forehead was almost pressed to his temple, Crosshair wanted to lean into it.
“You okay?” His breath was cool over Crosshair's warm cheeks.
“Define ‘okay’.” Crosshair breathed, Mayday's thumb stroked up his neck, patient.
Crosshair watched the lights and the shadows play over Mayday's face from the shifting water. He looked soft.
Too soft.
Too vulnerable.
Crosshair turned away and the moment broke.
He didn't know if Mayday was kind or cruel to let it.
