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“Should you be asleep?” She asks quietly from the entrance of the terrace.
Hunter has heard and feel him the moment he gets out of his room, still his body tense at the question. He reminds himself that Shep is a friend. One that kindly offer to accommodate them until they find a place for themselves.
The other man must have understood that getting close a highly train commando that so clearly on edge, because he stays on his spot at the door.
“That the thing. I just can’t!” Hunter snaps and runs a hand in his long hair resisting the urge to pull them. “It’s like all the alarm him my mind are ringing, and I just can shut them up.”
Shep stays silent a moment. The silence only makes Hunter feel more uneasy,
“Come walk with me.” Shep says in a calm voice.
There’s no pressure, but Hunter feels like he can’t say no.
“I can’t. The other. I need.” He begins but Shep raise a hand.
“What you need is to relax. They are in no danger in my house.”
The sergeant—ex-sergeant—want to yell at him that he cannot know. What if some imperial escape Tantiss and want revenge? What if they came back for Omega? For them?
What if…
“Come Hunter.” Their friend says and walks away.
Hunter’s legs begin to follow without he realizes he is doing it. He only stops a moment to check on the others. They seem to all be peaceful as the sleep. Between the exhaustion of the battle on Tantiss and Their various injuries, it was a surprise. He can only see the top a blond head poking between Wrecker and Crosshair. Omega was in one of the safest spots in the universe, still his he can shake off that unease feeling.
At the end of their makeshift bed, Batcher makes a little sound as she raises her big head. That makes Crosshair open is eyes. He exchange a look with Hunter and only nods once.
Hunter nods back and follow Shep even if it is still so hard to leave his family.
Shep guides him in silence in the quiet street. There barely any lights but that didn’t bother him. He only takes a lamp as their descend to the beach. They walk some more before the mayor stop and sit down on a big rock.
“There. You can let it out.”
“What?” Hunter asks really to confuse.
“What stopping you from sleeping. That energy that feels like your whole skeleton is about to bust out of your body. It needs to get out.” Shep says softly.
“How…”
“However you feel like it. Go for a run, scream as loud as you can, talk to me … just let it out,” the man says gently.
Hunter hesitates before he takes his boots off, get his knife out and let his nod move. He begins with simple combat technique he had learned as a cadet, the one he didn’t even need to think about. Soon he is jumping, kicking and slashing the air as he attacks invisible enemies. The one that haunts his nightmare and mind until today.
Hunter has no idea how long he has been doing this, but when he lost his balance and fall in sand, the sun is poking at the horizon.
He lay there, looking at the sky as he catches his breath.
“How do you feel?” Shep asks as he appears in his line of sight.
“You still … here?” Hunter gasps.
The man offers him a kind smile. “I couldn’t leave you alone. Did it help?”
The clone nods. “My body hurt, I have sand in place I didn’t expect to get some … but I do feel more at peace.”
Shep smiles more and offer his hand. Hunter accepts the help and let the other man help him up. He forgot that Shep his nearly as big as Wrecker and can get him on his feet easy.
“Thank you. I didn’t know I need this.” The clone says a bit shyly.
He was supposed to have better control over his emotions.
“No need to thank me, Hunter. You aren’t the first and certainly not the last to feel like this. I would expect your brothers and young Omega to go through this at some point too.” Shep explains as they walk toward the water. “Pabu is a haven for refugees of the war. That leave scars on the body and the mind. After so long stuck in the war leave one always worries, something will happen. In your case it was a lifetime of battles, you expect things to go wrong at any time and when it doesn’t happen you only stress more.”
Hunter contemplates t his word as they stand with their feet in the water watching dawn broke over the ocean.
“So let me be the one to tell you this Hunter. You’re here. You’re safe.” Shep declares putting a hand on his shoulder and squeezes gently.
“We’re home.” Hunter breath out finally.
If the sunrise makes the tears on his cheek gleam, none of them say anything.