Summary: Wrecker's in distress; where could Lula possibly be?

Warnings: nothing for once

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It was really late for the Bad Batch, they were in hyperspace and that didn't really have times, but it was late in their schedule; around the time they would go to sleep. Of course, Tech would be sat out in the cockpit, watching the ship in hyperspace and working on whatever he wanted to work on throughout most of the resting period, but that was just Tech.

Crosshair stifled a yawn and Echo who was talking to him yawned in response. There was a sleepy aura in the ship, surrounding all of them in just a feeling of exhaustion. The mission had been hard, the GAR usually assigned hard missions when it came to Clone Force 99 so it was no surprise at all that you were all off your buzz now. Hunter had heavy purple bags under his eyes as he tried to occupy himself with his knife - but to no avail. Tech was, well he was taking early watch in the cockpit already, a bit annoyed as he listened to his large brother pace the Havoc.

Crosshair groaned after his attempt at suppressing the yawn that he kept behind a close fist. Listening to his brother's steps wasn't as annoying as it used to be, but this had been for a straight 10 minutes at this point. It was getting old and most importantly, it was making Crosshair irritated.

"What could you possibly be looking for, Wrecker?" Crosshair asked, voice raspy and rugged from the day's rounds. He was slowly taking apart his rifle, setting pieces into the rifle's box. They all sunk into the thick foam at the bottom of the case. There was no need to take it apart every night, but when he did, he felt like he knew his weapon a little better than just keeping it in one piece.

Wrecker didn't respond for a moment, looking under the table and in the cushions of the chairs. He was frantic, each time he passed through he searched the room with more tension in his muscles than before. Crosshair clicked the rifle box closed, slipping it on top of a weapons crate and watching his brother with dull eyes. He had checked that cushion three times now.

"Wrecker."

Wrecker turned to him, eyes glossy and a focused face on. His lip had a slight quiver in it that only Crosshair would ever notice, his scars shifted as his nostrils flared and his eyebrows were pointed down. Needless to say, the big guy was upset. And there was nothing to be upset about that the boys could see.

Crosshair softened a tiny bit. Echo hadn't ever really been able to witness something less than stone in Crosshair, Tech was always met with a hissing snake that was barring it's fangs and Hunter, well Hunter knew that he had a soft spot, just didn't know how deep in his heart you'd have to travel to get there. Y/n, well Y/n was the same case as Tech and Echo combined. Wrecker though, Wrecker was loving and he was emotional and he had moments where he needed support, everyone ignored him though, like a lost child in a public venue. Crosshair noticed though, sometimes he also played the ignorant part, but other times, times like this where he was between annoyed and concerned, he would act.

"It's- mm, Lula's gone!" Wrecker said, voice deep and sad, bellowing deep down in his chest. He'd basically tore apart the whole ship, he didn't know what he would do if he just lost her forever. He was scared of the nightmares, of being alone like that, his strength being useless. He didn't wanna go back to that.

Crosshair didn't give any indication of what he had on his mind; he begun his own search. And he had a feeling Wrecker was missing it somewhere that it was directly in front of his face. With his head pointed down, he entered the bunks. It was dim in here, accompanying the sleeping loth-cat that was Y/n. Wrecker's big time crush and the second (or third) technician of the team. They didn't need you, but the one mission they had to spend without you made then feel incomplete. Crosshair hated the way you stared at Wrecker and treated him so sweetly because Wrecker didn't understand that you were giving him the fuck-me eyes everytime you spoke. I mean, nobody really saw, but Crosshair did.

He leaned over you, your back turned to the bunks as you lay, curled like a fetus on your side. With the help of your strung-up lights next to the wall, he saw your arms pressed tightly into the plush stomach of Lula. You had mentioned having nightmares as well, a while back. That night, Wrecker had offered you Lula to sleep with. Wrecker also had woken up to a cold sweat, but he didn't mind faking it for one day to make you happier from the good sleep you received.

"Wrecker, have you thought about investing in a new cuddle buddy?" Crosshair asked, smirking with venom as his brother came up behind him.

Slotting himself in line with Crosshair, he leaned over you. His heart leapt, seeing Lula snug in your arms. Your hair was a elegant mess, sprawled across your cheek and the pillow, your lips were parted with a fluffy look to them. It was like they were bigger while you were swept away by sleep. Or because your cheeks were cutely pressed into your face from the pillow. And your eyes lashes rested curled against those adorable cheeks. You were so peaceful, only in an oversized shirt and shorts, yet you resembled goddesses, ones only in holomovies and distant planets.

Crosshair nudged him, the question still lingering in the room like a fly's distant hum. Wrecker looked away before looking at his brother, "But, I don't want to give up Lula. Can't we just get Y/n a stuffed tooka?"

Crosshair's eyes rolled so hard he swore Hunter felt his agitation. He never found his brother stupid, but sometimes he wanted to punch him in his thick skull. He would have never known that his brother liked her if it wasn't for him openly telling Echo about it. Which led to Echo telling his best friend in the universe Tech. And when that conversation happened, of course Crosshair was lingering and Hunter knew from the moment that Y/n first joined the squad. His brother was so oblivious to her returned feeling that he refused to make a move.

"I meant her!" Crosshair seethed quietly as to not wake her, "Wake her up and ask. Either you'll get the tooka doll back or you'll get a girl in your bunk."

Crosshair didn't wait for the "but" that Wrecker would've said. If you leave someone with thoughts before they can ask for an explanation, they'll either figure it out or overthink it. Hopefully Wrecker didn't do the latter.

When the metal door to the bunks mechanically shut behind the sniper, Wrecker was left with a blush on his face, still looking where his brother was before trailing his eyes to you. A beautiful star in the night, you looked so soft. If he didn't know any better, he would touch you to confirm if you felt as you looked.

Well, he technically did touch to you confirm, but it was a shake to the shoulder. Wrecker's head swirled with thoughts of if he would shake you too hard and make you mad, if you wouldn't want to give him Lula back or yourself. What was he even supposed to say?

Wrecker's head went blank, a white room, walls and floor and ceiling bright, lights from every angle to showcase no thoughts at all. Or at least that was a closest description to his mind in that moment. You rolled slightly over with a mmph, licking you lips and looking up at him with soft eyes. Everything that made noise in the Marauder suddenly didn't, he was staring down at an angel, freshly awoken from what must've been a nice dream - he noticed the curl of your lips at the creases.

"Hi Wreck," you said with a groggy tone. His heart wanted to stop. Your tongue pressed to your front teeth, showing slightly as he paid attention to the gap of your lips. You looked tired, so sleepy and ready to fall asleep in mere moments.

He finally found the words, and the breath as he inhaled, "You.. you have Lula. I, well I was looking for her to sleep with."

You were waiting for something else, he knew it at this point. The smile on your face, the way you didn't even put thought into replying. Lula was still tucked into your arm. She didn't even look promising anymore, you did.

"I was thinking that we could, umm, we could share her for tonight.."

You smiled wide, fully showing the way your tongue rested against your teeth. Your eyes were still half-closed, eyelashes fluttering whenever you slowly blinked.

"D'you mean that I can have her and you can have me?" you asked, one of the shorter pieces of your hair falling into your face. You brushed it off with the hand that was attached to the arm cuddling Lula, pressing her up against your side.

What once was Wrecker tuning out everything turned into all his senses powering on and going into over-drive. His face flushed red, looking down at you with promise in his eyes. He nodded, and you opened your free arm.

Tucking his fingers underneath you, his palms pressed flat to your back and picked you up. For a moment, you were like jello, only your back arching with the help of his hands. The sight made his heart drop, do a kick flip, and then beat against his chest wildly. You stiffened then, holding onto him tightly.

Lula pressed against his shoulder, giving him a sense of relief. This might be the first night without Lula that he escaped the nightmares. Because he had an even softer cuddling buddy, one that's weight could comfort him as he carried you to his bunk.

He turned around, laying on his back as he sat you down on his lap. You moved off with the most bewitching squeak he'd ever hear from someone, keeping a tight grip on the tooka while tucking yourself into his side. His strong arm wrapped around you, the other resting above to prop up his head.

He had stopped wanting to sleep period that night. All he wanted to do was stare at you now, watch you rise and fall against his chest. The ship was quiet again, he felt like this hum of peace took over him. Your cheek smooshed against his chest, you hair all mess and tangle behind you. Your leg now rested on his lower stomach, clinging you to him while you quickly passed back out. He couldn't help himself as he reached down to brush his thumb against you cheek. He was more correct than he even previously thought, you were so delicate. As he pressed his thumb down once, it sank on your cheek like he was pressing a fluffy blanket. He wasn't taking his thumb off of you at any point tonight.

What reassured him the most was the smile you gave in your slumber, one you would see someone give if they were drunk off a few drinks, one that was almost clumsy in a way. But this one was more than that. It was loving.

He let out a hushed yawn, begging himself not to be loud at any point. Because he had an angel laying against him, not from the moons of lego, but one that's beauty could surpass all the others.

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