here's a part 2! i feel like based on what i detailed in the last chapter, this would be a pretty logical flow of events. enjoy! :D

slight tw: talking about and at symptoms of severe depression.

***

It was silly, really, for her to have even hoped that they could pick up right from where they left off. As the adrenaline of finally seeing her brothers again faded, the final shards of the rose-coloured lenses over her eyes fell away too.

Tantiss had all but destroyed whatever was left of Omega's naive optimism and now, she was noticing details she would've otherwise overlooked.

Like, for example, the silent cries for help hidden in Hunter's every movement.

He's thin, almost dangerously so, and a dull ache throbs in Omega's chest every time she hugs him. She can feel his bones so much more prominently than she remembered, and it's more than enough to break her heart.

Inky crescent moons have also tattooed themselves beneath his eyes, the bags the darkest she'd ever seen them; his cheeks have hollowed out, too, and his skin had taken on a concerning pallor.

His movements, once bound with so much energy, have become slow and sluggish. Even the simplest of tasks exhausted him, and he seemed to carry the weight of galaxies on his shoulders.

His eyes, once alight and oh-so-expressive, had lost their usual sparkle.

And the way his hands sometimes trembled uncontrollably in addition to his apparent newfound tendency to drift off, gaze dull and faraway as he fades into himself doesn't escape her watchful eye, either.

Back on Kamino, Omega had been Nala Se's personal medical assistant, which meant she knew the ins, outs, and crevices of the human body like the back of her hand. If this was what she suspected it was, she didn't think she could forgive herself for all the pain she'd caused Hunter — her rock, protector, and closest confidante.

Knowing that she could neither help carry nor alleviate some of the burdens he carried troubled the young girl immensely, so she swore to do everything in her power to help mend the fractures in his heart.

And so, her new routine was born.

***

It wasn't hard to deduce the source of his distress.

They had been apart for nearly six months, with no way of knowing if the other was even still alive. For someone as instinctively protective and loving as Hunter, believing that his failed leadership was the reason for her capture would have been crushing, so it wasn't at all far-fetched for Omega to assume that in the torturously long months that followed, guilt, helplessness, and self-hatred had slowly eaten away at him until there was hardly anything left. His enhanced senses, once his biggest pride and asset, had failed, betrayed him when he'd needed them the most.

He'd given everything he had, but the galaxy had ripped it all away without a second thought.

So at night, Omega made a point to abandon her usual spot in the gunner's mount, choosing instead to curl up beside Hunter in his bunk. He never said much, but the way he would press tender kisses to her head while his arms snaked around her protectively spoke volumes. With her head resting on his chest, she focused on the steady, if not somewhat erratic staccato of his heart. The rhythm grounded her, and served as a firm reminder that this wasn't a dream; she no longer had to worry that she would drift off and wake up in her cold and lonely little cell back on Tantiss. The heartbeat was real, Hunter was real, and she was back with her brothers, where she belonged.

She helped with meal prep whenever she could, too. After months of barely eating, it was imperative that he had nutritious and easy-to-digest foods to ease his body into a gradual recovery, so Omega always made sure there was something delicious and easy on his stomach on the table. Today, she settled for chicken noodle soup. She'd encourage him to eat but never overstepped, and when he preferred to eat away from the others, she'd follow, figuring that constant companionship would help reduce the paranoia and anxiety to help with the mental healing process.

As the days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months, Omega was overjoyed to see small improvements in both Hunter's physical and mental health. He's gained back some of the weight he'd lost, the bags under his eyes have lightened considerably, and interest in his favourite pastimes was returning. And best of all? A twinkle was beginning to slowly but surely reappear in his warm brown eyes.

But while things were definitely looking up, it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows.

One night, Omega jolted awake once it sunk in just how cold she was. She wasn't pressed against that familiar brother-turned-father-figure anymore. Hunter was gone, and his absence was as clear as the Marauder's headlights against a clear night sky.

She found him in the fresher, gripping the sink so tightly his knuckles were turning white. As much as he tried to keep his breathing steady, it came out stuttering and uneven, and his shoulders shook under the weight of the silent sobs wracking his entire body.

Omega felt her heart splinter. Hunter — their kind, brave and fiercely loyal sergeant — was crumbling right before her eyes.

Crosshair's betrayal, Tech's sacrifice, her disappearance, and the forced separation, coupled with poor hydration and a continuous lack of both food and sleep, had broken past his final defence. It was enough to make even the strongest of people come apart at the seams, because despite all his enhancements, he was still human, and nobody was designed to be able to withstand so much grief.

As she set a hand on his forearm, her hatred for the Empire only deepened.

Puffy, red-rimmed eyes met hers, and for a moment, she swore all the oxygen in the room had been sucked out. She found herself fumbling for the right words, and in the time it took her to find them, Hunter had beat her to it. "Omega," he breathed. "What... what do you need?"

"I wanted to talk to you. Is that alright?"

The conflict in his gaze couldn't be more clear. Concern and the slightest smudge of curiosity clashed viciously against his reluctance and hesitation, each fighting to take control. Based on the faint flashes she saw in his irises, the battle was incredibly evenly-matched. Neither side remained in control for long before the other managed to topple it, and Omega waited with bated breath for what seemed like forever, praying that Hunter would let her in.

Thankfully, he did; she could've danced with relief right then and there. "What is it?"

Here goes.

"Are you okay?"

It felt pointless to even ask, because he clearly wasn't and hadn't been for a long time, but she had to start the conversation somehow.

Immediately, Hunter's shoulders tensed, and the vulnerability she'd seen his in eyes seconds prior was replaced by a guarded expression in a blink. "I'm fine."

It was a blatant lie, and they both knew it.

"But I don't think you are."

His gaze, alongside his head, dropped, and flickers of what looked like guilt and shame swirled in his eyes. How could he counter that?

"You know, there's nothing wrong with talking about what's bothering you," Omega said gently. "Bottling it up will only make it worse. And even though I think you already know, I wanted to reassure you that I'm here for you no matter what, and I always will be."

His other hand came to rest atop hers, a humourless chuckle escaping his lips. "You shouldn't have to worry so much, kid. That's my job."

"Worrying about us comes second. You should make sure you're doing okay first." Sensing that he was about to protest, she continued, not giving him the chance. "Hunter. You've done so much for me, for all of us, so let me take care of you, now. It's the least I could do."

This time, though no less exhausted, his smile was genuine. "Thanks, ner ad'ika."

She threw her arms around his waist in response.

Later, back in Hunter's bunk, Omega tucked him in and climbed under the blanket beside him. She could still feel the tremors in his body, the evidence of sleepless nights and the weight of unspoken fears, but as he wrapped his arms around her once more and planted that routine kiss on her temple, she knew that eventually, they would be okay.

As time went on, Omega continued to watch over Hunter, her love and care slowly helping put the pieces of his heart back together. It wasn't easy, but just as she'd promised, she was there, beside him, every step of the way. After all, Hunter had been her protector, her rock. Now, it was her turn to be his.

***

bro im actually so freaking proud of this. and let me tell you- that is very rare. i seldom finish something and genuinely feel proud of it with no second-guessing. this is the perfect blend of angst and fluff and im LIVING for it.

also if there are any mistakes, i apologize haha. it's getting late, im getting tired, and i didn't beta-read this (we die like tech), mostly bc i was just so excited to get this out to yall and the idea has been bouncing around in my head for so darn long.

OKAY GOING NOW!!
- jazzy