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Cid’s parlour was loud and crowded. There was some kind of event happening today that Tech didn’t care to look into. But the radio in the center of the room roared with commentary and the customers around it whooped and hollered in turn.
All he knew was that he and his brothers and sister had been hard at work all day and needed to relax.
They’d just returned from a cold wet planet with frosty wind that bit through their blacks to Ord Mantel in the heat of Summer.
He’d had to repair the Marauder on the go while outmanoeuvring Empire forces.
The mission took about 12 hours of nearly nonstop action and by this point everyone was exhausted.
Wrecker led the way through the bar, using his size and unapologetic presence to push people out the way and lead them to a booth somewhere near the back.
Hunter veered off, carrying the case of stolen droid parts that Cid had requested to her office.
Echo went and got drinks while the rest of them waited in the booth. A pint for Wrecker and himself, a cocktail for Hunter and juice for Tech and Omega.
Tech drank occasionally, but he preferred not to have anything that would alter his state of mind. And of course Omega, while older than them, was biologically a child.
It didn’t take long for Hunter to return and he thanked Echo for the drink.
Next to them the crowd roared again and both Tech and Hunter winced at the noise.
“What’s happening?” Omega asked, shifting to look at the crowd.
Hunter sunk in his seat, sipping his drink. “Some kind of sporting event. I’m not familiar with the sport but it’s popular here apparently.”
“It sounds fun! I wish we could all see it in person!” Wrecker laughed. Out of all of them he was the only one keeping up with the action.
Echo and Hunter smiled at his enthusiasm. Tech swallowed hard at the thought of standing in an even larger louder crowd wherever the event was being held.
Even in the confines of the booth, it felt like he was being smothered. Parts of his blacks were wet still and the warm dry air of the room made his skin prickle.
The group tried to talk over their drinks for a while, sharing stories and looking back over their last few adventures, but soon even the drone of his family’s voices felt oppressive to Tech.
Abruptly he stood and shuffled out of the booth.
‘I have to go. I have to go. It’s too much’ he thought loudly in his mind.
“I’ll be on the ship.” He managed to say as he stumbled into the crowd towards to exit. He didn’t hear the call of his name.
Determined to get out of the parlour, Tech tried to dodge the people of the crowd, but despite his best efforts he couldn’t get through without being pushed and pulled.
Each touch felt like a punch. Each sound of voices and shuffling feet boomed in his ears.
By the time he got through he could barely breathe and the tension in his shoulders and limbs made him feel like he was about to shatter.
The door swung open with a shove and the blast of hot air made him feel sick.
Now out of the crowd, Tech straightened and tried half heartedly to compose himself as he sped on autopilot towards the ship.
He was almost there. He wove around crates and mechanical equipment and laid eyes on the Marauder. So close.
Clumsily tapping at his vambrace he pinged the doors of the ship to open and rushed inside.
Not bothering to close it behind him he gasped and stumbled into the cabin and sat heavily on the floor, shuffling back against the wall.
He was out of the crowd and out of the heat and noise but the tension didn’t leave. He felt like he was drowning.
Each and every piece of his armour felt like a clasp and he struggled to pull it off. He was hyperventilating by this point but he barely noticed. All he could think was ‘stop stop stop.’
With the armour off, the pressure eased but his body still buzzed with energy. His vision swam and sounds were no longer identifiable, it was just a swarm of white noise.
Tech rocked back and forth and waved his fists against his chest, gasping for breath. The buzzing continued to build until he finally cried out and hammered his fists against his head.
Something shifted beside him and he jerked away from it. His goggles were removed from his head.
A gentle hand settled on his head as a buffer to his hitting while another loosely held his other hand, allowing him to wave his fist without causing harm.
At that point Tech opened his eyes, he didn’t remember closing them, and he squinted up at Hunter who was mouthing words at him. On his right sat Echo, holding his goggles.
Tech startled. Hunter was here. And Echo. They could see him. What was he doing? He was rocking and hitting and gasping and crying. They could see him. He had to stop.
He jerked back and hit the wall, pulling his knees to his chest. He took a deep shuddering breath and held it for a second before breathing out.
He tried to breathe again but it stuttered. Tech waved a hand and brought another up to his face.
‘I have to stop.’
And sometimes the quickest way to do that was to bite his knuckle and focus on the pain. He put a curled finger into his mouth and bit down but it was quickly pulled away.
“Hey, no it’s ok. You don’t need to do that. Just breathe.”
Hunter gently held his hands again.
“Breathe Tech.”
Tech gasped again, but held it longer and exhaled slower.
“Good. You’re doing good.”
Slowly but surely his breath evened out and his rocking slowed.
He flapped his hands out a little more for good measure. Exhaustion washed over him and he slumped against Hunter’s chest as Hunter wrapped his arms around him.
A quiet moment passed before Echo held out a canteen of water. It took a moment for Tech’s tired mind to process the gesture but he took it and sipped at it gratefully.
“Are you ok?” Echo asked, crouched nearby with crowding him.
Tech nodded and pulled out of Hunter’s hold.
Sorry. He signed.
Hunter shook his head.
“You don’t have to be sorry. Today’s been a lot, I get it. Can I get you anything?”
Tech thought for a moment and shook his head. Suddenly he looked up and around the ship cabin.
Where is Wrecker and Omega? He asked.
Echo huffed, but his eyes smiled.
“They’re at Cid’s listening to the game. Wrecker offered to keep an eye on Omega while we came and checked on you.”
At that, Omega peeked her head into the cabin and gave them a wave.
“Hey. Are you ok Tech?”
Tech nodded and offered her a light smile, welcoming her to come in.
She smiled and walked in with Wrecker close behind her.
“She wanted to check on you too.” Wrecker told him, hoping that he’d had enough space to calm down and didn’t mind the extra company.
Tech understood the meaning behind the words and gave him a nod.
Seeing that Tech wasn’t in any immediate discomfort, Wrecker lightened up and he ducked past them to the bunk room. He came back with a collection of blankets and pillows.
“What d’ya think? Cuddle pile time?” He asked hopefully.
Tech nodded once more, feeling a little lighter.
-
And so he found himself, and his brothers and sister, bundled together in a pile of arms and pillows and soft blankets and even softer words and finally, he felt like he could breathe clearly.