#maycrosstech

[letshareapapou]

Tech coming back alive and Crosshair forgetting he is no longer single.

Mayday just sees two boyfriends.

[letshareapapou]

Men in Love

Meanwhile:

[letshareapapou]

[letshareapapou]

In for a Credit

Warnings : SFW, maycrosstech, cloneshipping, a/b/o, omegaverse, discussions of polyamory, discussions of sex, graysexual/demisexual Tech

Wordcount : 1,234

Tech’s heat had rolled to a low simmer, it was the third day and with how he felt, it would probably end soon. Though the moment with Crosshair had been very nice, Tech felt no urge to repeat it. He still did crave touch, and Crosshair indulged him, content to lay within arms reach. Sometimes Tech would stroke up and down his back while he read on his data pad.

To be honest-though he'd never say it aloud- it wasn't dissimilar to what Tech imagined owning a Tooka was like.

At night it was much cooler and Crosshair curled behind him under Mayday's gifted blanket. They had lunch together, Mayday was gone on and off. He seemed to enjoy the outdoors. Sometimes he came home with dinner. Fresh fish and other seafood he’d made into something delicious. They'd had some clams in pasta the night before that Tech already wanted again. (Maybe he did enjoy certain foods if they were cooked correctly and not served on a plastic tray.) But mostly it was just himself and Crosshair. Tech had no urge to be close to anyone else. It was still strange to want touch from someone. To be close. Before he could have gone days without another person. Now Tech wondered, if when his heat ended, the feeling would too. It wouldn't have even been a thought but now….maybe it was the hormones.

He sat his datapad to the side and crawled on top of Crosshair, burying his face into Crosshair’s neck as he laid over him. The smell was still nice. Crosshair hummed but didn't do much else, just continued on with the book he was reading.

Tech thought of kissing him. But not because he wanted to. It was more because he felt….guilty? Did Crosshair feel disappointed there had been no more bouts of sex?

Was Mayday upset that Tech didn't want him much at all?

Well…if they were, they didn't show it. Their scents were pleasant, not the bitter and sour notes that usually accompanied the more negative emotions.

So Tech's conclusion from the perceived evidence: it was fine.

But what if it was not?

Tech wished he could speak to Echo. He was also an OmegA and since his retrieval from the Techno Union had had no urge for sex or even to have a partner. They had honestly barely discussed it, Echo had seemed uncomfortable. Tech couldn't come to one conclusion from the little data he had. Did he no longer enjoy it? Was he embarrassed about his new body parts with a potential partner? Maybe he had lost his mate and did not want another.

Anything would be helpful to Tech at this point. He inhaled Crosshair’s scent and tried to relax.

The relationship he wanted was nothing like the one Crosshair enjoyed with Mayday. But did that mean it was wrong? Could he have one with Crosshair and not with Mayday?

What was allowed?

What was overstepping?

Was asking rude?

Was not asking rude?

“Hey, is Tech okay?” Mayday's voice was puzzled as he paused in the doorway.

Under him Crosshair tensed, “Yes..?”

“His scent is…” Mayday's forehead wrinkled, “disjointed?”

“Tech-are you okay?” Tech listened to the question from between Crosshair's shoulder blades.

“I am…confused…possibly anxious.” He admitted.

“About what?”

Tech thought about it, “Where I belong in the equation. I do not think I am in the correct place.”

Crosshair scent soured but it was Mayday who asked.

“Why do you think that?”

“What I want is not what you have-” Crosshair's scent twisted from sour to bitter and the words tumbled out of Tech in a rush to dispell the reaction.

“I do not want to be woken up most mornings for long- or quick, bouts of sex. Or to start a holo only to be interrupted by it halfway through. Kissing seems- unnecessary and unsanitary. I also do not want Mayday to hold my penis.”

There was a long pause before Crosshair started to shake underneath him. He wheezed suddenly and Tech looked worriedly to Mayday only to see he was holding his fist over his mouth.

“I do not see what is so funny.” Tech stated, moving off Crosshair who had started to sit up on his elbows.

“Tech we don't have to have sex. Ever.” Mayday assured. “Crosshair is a special case-”

Crosshair huffed, “So I enjoy a good morning fuck. Sue me.”

“I do not understand. You enjoy it.”

“We do. But that doesn't mean you have to.” Mayday said, “Have you heard of polyamory?”

“It is a relationship where someone typically has multiple partners.”

Mayday snapped his fingers, “Exactly. And typically each relationship is different to one another. It's about honestly and communication. Do you get jealous when Crosshair and I have sex?”

“No. You are together.” Tech said, that was obvious.

Mayday nodded, “See that's one step in the right direction. I definitely don't mind when you're with Crosshair.”

“But Crosshair is very jealous-”

“hey-” Crosshair said but there was no heat to it.

“Yeah he is. But that works here-”

Tech understood, it was like a lightbulb clicked on above his head as he stood “Because we both want something with him involved-"

“ Bingo. Crosshair gets us both. Spoiled little thing that he is. It fits right.” Mayday looked sheepish then, “We should have talked about it earlier but doing it during the height of your heat it felt a bit cruel. I didn't want to stress you out. ”

Tech paused then. It did fit neatly into their dynamic currently. But it felt too easy. He tossed out a hypothetical question then.

“What if I did want to engage in…sexual activities, with Crosshair- possibly. In the future. During heats I might be more…interested in the activity.” Tech wasn't sure he would be, honestly. He didn't even quite understand them himself but it was a query he wanted answered.

Mayday leant against the doorframe, casual, “I don't see it being a problem. I'm getting a bit old for that much sex anyway-”

Crosshair sat up with a gasp, growling as Mayday smiled.

“Don't even joke about that. We've barely just started. I have my list.”

Tech ears perked up at the word, “List?” He questioned.

Crosshair looked over his shoulder with a smirk, “Yep. Different positions. What feels the best. And I have toys we still haven't tried.”

“Do you calculate how fast you both come during each session?"

“Should I?”

“It is an important variable in any research equation.”

“He's a bit distracted.” Mayday chuckled.

Tech held his chin, rolling the thought over, before he said, “Mayday what do you think of being watched during intercourse?”

Mayday froze, “Now wait-”

Tech stepped closer, “I find the idea fascinating. I think it is because I would not have to involved in…. touching or the passage of bodily fluids. And I can see from another perspective if it is something I would enjoy, on occasion.”

Mayday pulled at it collar of his shirt. The idea was interesting to him. Mostly because he did like Tech and maybe he enjoyed showing off. Crosshair stared at him with wide pleading eyes. Oh yeah. That boy would love it.

Mayday shrugged, in for a credit and all that.

“You know. I don't see why not.”

He might be in for trouble but well- he'd faced worse.

[letshareapapou]

Quiet Satisfaction

Warnings : SFW, cloneshipping, maycrosstech, a/b/o, omegaverse, graysexual/demisexual omega Tech

Wordcount : 1,100

“Are you sure you do not want me to reciprocate?” Tech asked as Crosshair scrubbed at his hair, though they both knew he was not talking about conditioner.

“No, it's fine. I'm satisfied with this.”

Tech inhaled, sure enough Crosshair did smell…content? There were no sour notes that were normally associated with disappointment.

Fingers paused their work and Crosshair sighed, “No cheating. Take my word for it.”

Tech turned, “I cannot help it, the smell is new. And interesting.” Tech knew BetAs couldn't smell scents near as well as OmegAs and AlphAs so he didn't want to seem too invested. But he was.

Crosshair cocked his head, “Couldn't you smell me before?”

Tech hummed as Crosshair leaned him back into the spray, “The suppressants did as intended.” Tech thought of the mass of clones hitting puberty together and shoved into tiny rooms and wrinkled his nose, “Though I think that many smells would have been ...overwhelming. Our room was bad enough.”

He followed Crosshair's instructions to stand straight again. Crosshair reached around him to twist off the nozzle and Tech fought with himself not to lean into the brief touch. The teasing look Crosshair sent him told him he'd been less than successful.

He steps out first toweling himself off quickly and slapped lightly at Tech who tried to do the same.

Tech glared, “I do not need to be coddled.”

Crosshair brought the towel around him, and he didn't fight it, “I'm spoiling you. Mayday does the same to me. And I like it.”

“Yes you are the type.” Tech replied, smiling at Crosshair’s sniff in reply as he handed him his goggles.

Tech was quick to put clothes on when they were back in the room, it felt better now. A loose white shirt and some black sleep pants. They were soft instead of scratchy. Nothing had changed- he turned to see Crosshair watching him, laid back in a towel on the bed, though maybe some things had.

“I dont-” Tech paused, his hands twisting into one another before turning back to move some papers around on his desk instead.

“I don't know …what this is.” Tech admitted.

“Tech - look at me.”

Tech sighed but turned back reluctantly. Crosshair looked serious now.

“We'll figure it out as we go. I know whatever is happening is…new to you.”

Tech glanced away, annoyance surging up in him.

“I'm not saying that there's anything to be embarrassed about Tech.” Crosshair sat up, “I didn't think I'd ever meet someone like Mayday. I'm difficult-”

“An understatement.”

“Shut up. I'm trying to talk about feelings. It sucks.” Crosshair stood up, moving closer to Tech, “I'm difficult. I'm rude and I don't warm up to people that easily-and my status as a BetA has always made me feel…. unworthy. But Mayday saw me anyway. He wanted me. And he lets me know that everyday.”

“You are very lucky.” Tech agreed. Mayday was a wonderful person. And a caring AlphA.

Tech put his head in his hands as if just realizing “We have had sex.”

Crosshair chuckled, “No shit.”

“Mayday-”

“Is fine with it.” Crosshair ran a hand up Tech’s chin and pulled it up , “We discussed it. Honestly we'd thought you wouldn't want either of us.Since you never really showed much interest in intimate relationships. And then. IF, it came to it. An AlphA. BetAs-”

“Are perfectly acceptable.” Tech interrupted. “Perfect even.”

Crosshair fingers tightened on his chin, eyes shifted to his lips, “Yeah?”

Tech did not want a kiss then and said as much, “You have not brushed your teeth.”

The lingering taste of salt had him making a face Crosshair seemed amused by.

“Okay I'll brush my teeth if you eat something. It's been almost a day.”

Tech agreed.

×××××

So now they were both in the kitchen, Crosshair dressed in a sleeveless black tee and black shorts, leaning against the forest green counter over a copper sink. Plants would fit nicely into the space, Tech thought to himself.

“Eat.” Crosshair broke his musings, pointing with his toothbrush at Tech’s plate.

Pretty as it was, it was mostly fruits, Tech wasn't in the mood for anything heavy, the butterflies had been replaced with bees.

Two bites into a peach the door clicked open, Mayday appeared laden with bags. Crosshair watched him struggle to the kitchen island with a raised eyebrow.

“Tech said you were going to the market. I assumed it was for a few things not...this.” He waved his toothbrush as he spoke, specks of paste flying off it. To his amusement both Tech and Mayday gave him the same look.

“I got some stuff for Tech.”

Tech blinked, surprised “For me?”

Mayday nodded and began to name things as he pulled them from the baskets, “So they had heading pads, they don't need any plugs- you crack whatever's inside and it stays hot for a bit. You can even curl it around your neck, it helps with gland sensitivity. Then there's some food. Yogurt- easy on your stomach. And some chocolate. Cravings yeah? Oh-” He paused and pulled out a thick soft looking quilted blanket looking nervous “And this. Something new to…uh celebrate your heat.”

Tech was stunned, he pulled the blanket closer and ran a thumb over it, it was patches of pale yellow and oranges with earthy browns. A few spots had swatches of green. Not unlike a sunset over a forest of falling leaves. It was customary to receive something from family or a partner during your first cycle together. Clones didn't really ever get the privilege.

It smelled a bit like Mayday. Smoky and woodsy but besides that it was neutral. Which was what Tech wanted if he was honest.

“Thank you. This is very thoughtful.”

“I didn't get anything.” Crosshair teased, breaking up the awkward quiet that had descended after. Mayday slid over to him, leaning in close. Tech watched his nostrils widen in mortified dread.

“Oh I definitely think you did.” They shared a look before Mayday turned to set his elbows on the island across from Tech.

“How are you feeling now?” He asked. Tech sniffed. Mayday sent him a playful look Tech ignored. He could only smell hints of genuine concern. No muted jealousy or quiet anger. Over his shoulder Crosshair continued to brush his teeth, sending him a smug stare that could only say ‘I told you so.’

“Much better. Thank you for your concern.” Tech bit into the peach again, Mayday's eyes followed the movement. His scent spiked in satisfaction. Tech’s own scent fluttered in reply.

Tech froze then, feeling off kilter at the interaction.

He needed to talk to Echo.

[letshareapapou]

Tick Tock

Direct sequel to Down the Rabbithole

Warnings : Sfw, Cloneshipping, MayCrossTech, A/B/O (omegaverse ),

Wordcount - 1,038

Tech closed his eyes against the spray of lukewarm water. Thankfully the house had two bathrooms available( though the one he was in was standing room only)- it would have been awkward to bump into Crosshair or Mayday trying to clean off his morning activities. Though the scent lingering on him would be obvious to any AlphA, and with the timing off it…

Tech resolved to stay in his room for as long as possible. He had water and a restroom. Thoughts of something greasy made his mouth water a bit and he frowned. Usually he wasn't ever hungry and he hardly had food he particularly ‘craved’.

But heats always carried such different reactions from him.

They were a hassle. Suppressants themselves weren't very healthy taken in such repeating cycles. But being a soldier no one batted an eye at it. Back to back missions left little time for days in bed. It was even better because heats only induced an AlphA’s runt so all the more reason to cut them off.

The first few he'd missed left Tech unsteady, like his body was telling him it was wrong. But any thoughts of changing back fled at the realization he was fully in control of himself. No aches, no heat fevers. Emotional highs and lows had all but vanished.

It was as freeing as it was terrifying.

A strong cramping sensation in his midsection left him wincing. Another thing he hadn't missed. He cracked the tiny square window to let out the build up of steam and leaned back against the tiles. He ran his fingers over the swirling squares of turquoise and dark blues.

They would find out. Tech was unsure if it was better to return to Hunter and Wrecker or stay here. It felt unfair to be so close to a newly mated pair. The idea that AlphA’s had no control at the scent of an OmegA’s heat was laughable but it was rude to be so close to a bonded pair during your heat. Crosshair's lingering unease at his BetA status only made the situation worse.

But the thought of being around Hunter and Wrecker was unbearable. They wouldn't ever hurt him. They’d just feel sorry for him.

The look of pity on Hunter's face when he asked to share Tech's first heat still made Tech flinch. It was one of those things that only experience could help you understand.

Tech clicked off the shower and stepped out, the plush towel felt itchy as he dried off.

Another side effect. Joy.

He leaned naked against the edge of his dresser and eyed his clothes, rubbing the fabric of it between his fingers.

His sheets were clean but he's start to slick tomorrow. Regretfully he pulled on a thicker pair of bottoms and immediately crawled into bed. His heat wouldn't begin at least for another day so he’d dealt with it then. He was back asleep before he had another thought.

××××

Tech wasn't sure the smell of something frying or the pounding on his door woke him first.

He blinked awake, groaning. Then closed his eyes. He was warm and comfortable.

“Tech get up. Mayday made everyone breakfast.” Crosshair's voice said, very close. Too close.

Tech whined, he'd forgotten to lock the door. How could he have forgotten to lock the door?

He was hot now, too hot.

“Tech.” A hand shook his shoulder, it felt good to be touched. Tech flinched away from the feeling.

“Fuck you're warm- are you sick?” Crosshair palm ran over his damp forehead. Tech made a weak sound but didn't pull away this time.

It was nice.

“Mayday-something’s wrong.”

The scent of an AlphA in his space had Tech reaching out before he knew what he was doing. He grabbed weakly at the AlphA, gripping onto only fabric with a frustrated sound.

“Crosshair he's in heat. “

“Wha- he hasn't had a heat since we were shinies-”

“That doesn't mean anything-”

The repeating word brought Tech back and he apologized.

“Hey Tech. No. it's okay.” A hand touched his cheek- not an AlphA but still good. He leaned hard into the touch. Curled around it.

“Why is he so out of it -”

“If it really has been that long- probably heatsickness-”

“Heatsickness?”

“It is a buildup of hormones from suppressants.” Tech muttered, cracking his eyes open to see Crosshair’s badly masked look of relief.

“Of course you come to just to explain it.” Crosshair teased, his free hand pushed the sweaty strands of Tech's hair back off his flushed face.

Mayday leaned over Crosshair's shoulder, looking worried, “If you know about it, you know how dangerous it can be.”

Tech eyes drooped, “I merely need to stay hydrated and possibly have a few orgasms.”

Crosshair choked. On what Tech didn't know. Mayday's voice was not amused.

“It's more than that. You need to eat something, probably have someone nearby to regulate your hormone imbalance.”

Crosshair’s voice was hard, “He doesn't want anyone for sex.”

Tech forced his eyes open at the tone, watching as Mayday held up his hands.

“Now I didn't say sex. It's more about comfort. Safety.” He pulled at his beard, “It's like in a pack where you protect each other. Say if you're ill. You heal better when you're not stressed.”

He pointed to where Tech's hand held onto Crosshair's own. It had slid down to his neck and had begun to rub over Tech's sensitive mating glands.

“Like touch. Doesn't have to have any sexual implications. And if he didn't trust you he wouldn't have let you anywhere near those.”

Tech was flushed already but if he could have gotten any redder he might have. Crosshair just looked fond.

“You still trust me?”

Tech was annoyed then and said, “Why would I not?”

Mayday's hands clapping together had them both jumping.

“That settles it. Get into bed.” He shoved at Crosshair, pulling at the sheets. “I'll bring breakfast to you.”

Tech started to protest but Crosshair's bare chest pressed against his naked back had him sighing and slumping into it instead. He felt Crosshair’s chuckle more than he heard it.

“Don’t worry Tech.”

And Tech didn't. He always felt comfortable when Crosshair was watching him.

[letshareapapou]

99x0

Part |V

Warnings: MayCrossTech, sfw, cuddling for warmth, they talk...a bit

Wordcount: 1,017

“You should sleep-while he's…down.” Crosshair said, brushing a stray curl off Tech's forehead.

Mayday sighed, adjusting the gun in his lap, “My adrenaline is still racing, I couldn't even if I wanted to.”

Crosshair grit has teeth. He understood but the situation had gone from bad to worse, they both needed to be aware-for whenever Tech woke up again.

“It’ll be okay Crosshair.” Mayday's voice, usually calming, did nothing to soothe him.

“I thought-” Crosshair licked his lips, “ I thought that Tech would be able to do something, after he’d rested. Fix the ship, even just enough to send a transmission. But now he's-”

Gone.

“We’ll figure something out.”

“What is there to figure out? This planet doesn't even seem to have animals. I doubt there's even a civilization nearby. We have ration bars” Crosshair gestured with one hand to the pouring rain, “it's only because of that we have water and haven't been found. Probably. And Tech-” Crosshair felt his voice catch and he turned his face away, embarrassed.

“I don't need platitudes. I need plans.” Crosshair bit out, thinking of Tech. A handful of numbers ran through Crosshair’s head, plans the genius had made for if they'd been captured or lost. He'd wondered why the rest of the batch hadn't gotten to Tech. Even with Tantiss's high security Tech would have found a way to get a message out. Now Crosshair understood why he hadn't. Crosshair had had….hope, after they'd found Tech. Mayday had held him together but Tech was the missing piece that built him back up.

He doesn't even remember you.

Mayday let him stew and it was quiet for a long while. Crosshair looked up at a jerk of movement and Mayday cleared his throat.

“Did you fall asleep?”

“...yeah maybe.” He looked sheepish but the dark shadows under his eyes only made Crosshair worried.

Crosshair sighed, “I don't-

Tech groaned softly and Mayday shot to his feet, gun pointed at them.

Crosshair froze as pale-bright green eyes opened to meet his own.

Tech looked confused, then surprised.

“Crosshair?”

“You have got to be shitting me.” Crosshair heard Mayday mutter but he couldn't bring himself to look away as Tech sat up on his elbows, glancing around weakly.

“Wha-where are we?”

“Crosshair -” Mayday's voice was careful, a warning- Crosshair held up a hand.

“Tech, what's the last thing you remember?” He asked.

Tech's brows furrowed, “We were attempting to retrieve information about where to find you - I fell..?” He grabbed at his head. Crosshair reached out and Mayday took a step closer, Crosshair sent him an annoyed look that Mayday only returned.

“I fell…but then I woke up? There was a man-but I cannot remember who….after that I cannot recall much.”

Tech paused, finally focusing on Mayday, then on the gun he had in his hands.

“Ah.”

“It's not what you think.” Crosshair said with a wince, “He's a…friend.”

“I would ask why he is holding us at gunpoint but it would not surprise me that you would have a friend who would do so.”

Mayday smirked, “Well he knows you now, that's for sure.”

Crosshair sent him a glare, then turned to Tech, looking serious, “Tech…Something happened when you woke up earlier.”

“You tried to kill Crosshair.”

Tech and Crosshair's gaze shot to Mayday, both with varying degrees of disbelief.

Crosshair put a hand on Tech’s shoulder, “You got taken to Tantiss, like us. A scientist called Hemlock-” Visions of the man standing above him as he writhed in pain, with that empty look of satisfaction on his face, had Crosshair faltering before he let out a breath, saying quietly, “He likes to experiment…clones are especially expendable. Whatever he did- you didn't remember me. And then you just...”

The words trickled off and Tech's face twisted but he raised his hand to cover his brother's.

“I am sorry Crosshair.”

Crosshair smirked, “Well it's only fair. Turnabout yeah?”

“Technically-” Tech’s hand went instinctively to push at his goggles as he spoke but blinked when he found nothing but scarring. He ran over the beginnings of it but pulled away with a grimace.

Crosshair winced, “We have no clue where your goggles are Tech- we had to escape and they weren't anywhere nearby.”

“I-” Tech looked around the cave, licking at his lips, “I can see perfectly without them.”

His glowing green eyes found Crosshair's. It wouldn't make sense for a soldier to not be able to see. They had worried about it as shinies, when the Kaminoians couldn't correct the oversight. Crosshair remembered how Tech crawled into his bunk at night, clutching at him like it was the last time he'd be able to. And when he started to ask questions like he only had so much time to hear the answers.

Then came the goggles.

Tech had made them on his own. They fit his face perfectly, barely shifting during combat, even designing his bucket around them.

He showed he wouldn't falter.

Part of Crosshair missed the contact after. Tech no longer came to him for comfort but he flourished. He was confident and became wholly his own person. In a wave of clones it was a good thing. But even though they were a defective batch to other clones, Crosshair selfishly wanted Tech to still be his twin.

It was too complicated of a feeling to really put into words.

But seeing Tech now, without his goggles, made Crosshair feel like a shiny all over again.

He was so tired of it.

Tech cocked his head and that, at least, was familiar, Crosshair's hand tightened over Tech's.

“Well honestly that helps one glaring issue.” Mayday's voice broke up the stale air between them.

“What issue?” Tech questioned, like Mayday wasn't holding him at blaster point.

“We need to contact someone to get us off-planet-”

Because now, even without his goggles, Tech's gaze was sharp.

Tech stood, Crosshair let his hand slip off Tech's shoulder. Mayday's aim followed but he ignored the weapon and ran his hand along the wall of the cave, looking for a minute at the pouring rain, before turning back.

Now instead of feeling left behind Crosshair felt...hopeful.

“What is the situation, exactly?”

[letshareapapou]

99×0

Part |||

Tags: Cloneshipping, MayCrossTech, cuddling for warmt-

Wordcount: 990 :P

Crosshair practically crawled out of the water to where Tech was laying on the blanket-the heat from the pool and the exhaustion had him half-aware and quickly drifting towards sleep. 

“I need to patch up your side so don't get under yet.” Mayday said from the pool, rubbing the cloth down the sides of his neck. 

Crosshair laid down gingerly, “You're so hairy.”

He blinked.

 Mayday blinked back-before biting his lip. 

Crosshair scowled. “That was a thought.” 

Mayday eyes crinkled as he pulled himself from the pool, sounding amused, “Was it now?” He pushed his wet hair back from his forehead, pulled a bandage out from the safety kit and moved to Crosshair's side, “You and your brother are pretty hairless. Is your whole batch that way? Some extra genetic thing?”

Crosshair eyes were slumping as Mayday fitted the plaster on his hip, but he still managed to roll them, “No. Hunter is….almost as furry as you. Wrecker is a little less. Tech never grew much of anything.”

Mayday chuckled, “Stop bullying him when he can't fight back.” He gently finished his work, his fingers paused on Crosshair's batch tattoo- palm-sized 99 low on his hip. “Do you all have these?” 

Crosshair hummed, rolling towards Tech then, “Yeah. We got them after our first mission. Hunter and I did our faces first though.” He folded an arm over Tech, looking fond as Tech curled closer to him in response, “Tech was so mad we did it ourselves. We didn't take the right safety precautions. Hunter’s lining was shit. But it felt…right.”  Wrecker hated needles and Tech wasn’t fond of ‘voluntary self-mutilation’  but they both agreed. Crosshair wasn't sure if they'd gotten anything since. Even if Clone Force 99 existed after him, he felt secure knowing they hadn't covered the tattoo up. 

They hadn't erased him completely. 

Mayday stood suddenly, folding the blanket over both of them, and pulled on just a poncho.  Grabbing the gun he waved the scanner, saying, “It disrupted this outside, so they shouldn't be able to scan us while it's storming-but I'll keep checking anyway.”  

“Don’t go far.” A yawn broke the words, “and wake me up in a few hours.” Crosshair watched as Mayday nodded before turning the corner and disappearing out of sight. He folded more into Tech. He shouldn't feel peaceful but he was. It was warm here, the storm felt oddly calming as it continued steadily outside. Crosshair could even hear the water bubbling quietly behind them as it flowed onward. He firmly ignored the warmth feeling that rose up in him knowing Mayday was nearby and buried his nose into Tech's hair. He didn't quite smell the same, no familiar plastoid armor, none of Tech's overused hairgel. The strange staleness of wiring and electrical work had been replaced by the sterile hallways and chemical smell of Tantiss. But Tech still felt the same. Crosshair thumbed over the spot where Tech's own 99 sat, directly on the inside of his wrist and smiled into Tech's loose curls. Tech claimed to feel things differently but he really did wear his heart on his sleeve.

+++++++ 

“Crosshair.” A voice called-light but insistent. Then more firmly. “Crosshair.” 

Crosshair was still tired but the tone and training pulled him up swiftly to his knees. He realized quickly that:

Tech was gone. 

But  he had not gone very far. 

Mayday held his hands behind his head. It would have been comical, with him only in his boxers and a poncho while Tech had on even less, if Tech's face wasn't tight in pain and confusion, gun pointed at Mayday's back. 

“One move and it is over, clone.” Tech’s voice was off, stiff in the wrong way. 

Mayday sighed, “Like I said. It's ‘Mayday’.” 

Crosshair tried to stand and two things happened in rapid succession, Tech kicked the back of Mayday's knees so he fell onto them and swung the gun up to Crosshair's head. 

“Do not. Move.” Tech hissed, “I will not repeat myself.” 

Now that Mayday was out of the way Crosshair could see his brother clearly. Tech glared, face tight, his eyes flashed green in the shifting light of the waters. 

“Tech-” 

“That is not my name. My designation is CX-2.” The gun clicked as it was switched on. “And I have found my target.”

Crosshair could only stare as Tech moved to fire when Mayday suddenly flew upwards, twisting to pull the gun from Tech’s hands as he moved behind him and swung the butt of it to swiftly land it on Tech's skull. 

Crosshair heard himself make a wounded sound as Tech crumbled. He was moving before he realized it. 

“What are you doing?” He yelled, crouching down to Tech. 

“Saving your life.”

“You didn't have to hit him so hard-” Crosshair spat, pulling Tech's hair away to look at the wound before glaring  up at Mayday. 

Mayday sent him an incredulous look, “He was going to kill you.” His fingers clicked on the gun, “It wasn't set to ‘stun’.” 

Crosshair’s face went cold, he grit his teeth and looked back to Tech's lax face, but he wasn't even bleeding. 

Mayday sighed roughly, “I’m sorry Crosshair, I regret having to do it but it had to be done.” He held up the scanner and pointed it at Tech, looking hurt when Crosshair curled over him. “I'm just checking to see if there's any internal damage. Nothing else.” Crosshair's stare softened and Mayday moved closer. 

It was quiet until the scanner beeped. Mayday held it up to Crosshair, “He's okay-” Crosshair scoffed and Mayday sent him a look. “Well he's not injured. We'll just have to wait for him to wake up.” 

Mayday sank down against the wall, gun pointed away but held tight in his grip. Crosshair moved Tech's head to his lap, brushing the hair off his face gently. 

Suddenly he understood. 

Maybe he didn't know this Tech at all.  

Part I

Part II