#Hunter and echo are bros

[dragonrider9905]

In Defense of Hunter and Echo’s Disagreement

So I was doing some thinking…I really like how just like last season, this season has some complications and no simple answer to some things. I know lots of us like taking a side and we defend it passionately, such as the Hunter vs. Crosshair conflict from last season (I have lots of thoughts about that too but I’ll refrain from that for now) but I noticed a pattern happening again this season with Hunter Vs. Echo.

Before we get further, let’s take a Tech step and try to see why the characters are taking their positions. Personally I like that they’re making us think rather than always being like “oh so and so is so right”. Both are right and both are wrong in a way.

Hunter wants to give Omega a peaceful future. He wants her to have a good childhood. One that isn’t constantly in danger. Crosshair LIED and said they were dead….they were off the Empire’s radar. If they could lay low out of harms way, because he’s tired of living day by day not knowing if he or his family will get hurt or killed. He’s a leader so everything weighs on him. Also….as much as I would love to see in the show that the Batch knew 99….it’s not canon. At least not yet. Here’s hoping. Anyway….if they didn’t know 99… then that would mean the Batch has never known loss. Think about this for a moment. No bad missions. 100% success rate. No brother lost in the field. Losing Crosshair in Season 1 would have been their first tragedy. I imagine that would have scared Hunter. He’d realize they are breakable, they aren’t invincible, they can shatter and just think, he would do anything to keep them all safe.

Echo on the other hand….he wants a future for Omega too but he’s looking past the present moment. He’s an Arc and he and Tech are probably paying more attention to what is going on in the galaxy so he knows there is no way they can’t fight. He doesn’t want a temporary peace. He wants one that lasts. And he’s alway been one to do the right thing. The Empire is bad? Then by heaven he’ll bring it down. Echo’s been through hell and back. He lost his batch mates one by one…..not to mention his twin. Fives. His other half. He’s worked through grief. He’s familiar with it. He knows there is a cost to anything good but its worth it. He’s come out stronger because he didn’t let it conquer him. He’s ok questioning Hunter because again he’s an Arc. He was taught to question. Plus his comfortability with Rex (ie helping plan strategies etc.) shows he’s comfortable challenging people. He isn’t picking on Hunter. He’s just speaking his mind.

The Batch also have a brother centric ideology. I will have to talk about Crosshair in a different post because this theory is very consistent with him as well in a different way. They fought for the Republic …. They never were like the refs in their enthusiasm for the Republic. Brothers was their cause. Not the Republic. Sure they struggled with helping the Separatist Senator from S1, but Hunter and Tech put that away rather quickly. Echo was the one who was so strongly adamant against him. Crosshair makes a comment about what difference does it make if it is the Republic or Empire. They even were going to give the Empire a shot by going on the Onderon mission. When it became clear that it was wrong, they left. Their mottos were all brother centric. They were loyal to each other not anyone or anything else really.

Then you have Echo. He was a Reg. He fought for the Republic. A cause. (I’m not saying he’s not brother centric at all. What I’m saying is he shares the Batches sentiments but there’s more). He knows what it’s like to fight for a cause bigger than himself. To be willing to die or weep for his brothers who fall because they believe in a cause. He’s willing do devote himself to an ideal.

I guess all I’m asking is please before bashing one side or the other to be considerate of where they both come from. They have their own struggles, differences. But at the end of the day they love each other and would die for each other. At the end of the day the Empire is the main evil for setting two people with good intentions against each other because they are trying to find the best path in a confusing time. We have the gift of retrospect. This is new to them. Please be generous to both the characters as they go. They both will be right at times and both be wrong. It got heated between Hunter and Crosshair fans because people forgot that the Empire is forcing them into difficult situations and decisions. There isn’t always a clear answer in the time.

The Bad Batch is giving us some grey space and I love it because I love the complexity of it. But it can be frustrating especially when we want it to be simple so we can just take a side. But the conflict is good and healthy. It is good to have a challenge. Sometimes things come out stronger after being tested and I hope that’s the case for these two. The conflict is healthy to see because Echo and Hunter aren’t disrespectful to each other. They get frustrated, sure, but they don’t want to hurt each other. They want to be heard and valued. Watching them work through these difficulties should be good. But this really shows how our experiences shape us. The best of people may make wrong choices. The hero isn’t always right. And when heroes don’t agree? Makes things sticky. But intriguing. Even they have room to grow because they are only human.

Anyway, thank you to those who took the time to read my rambling thoughts. Happy Bad Batch Eve!

[yunggoblin]

I’m at the gym right now and craving 5 Guys and I’m not talking about the restaurant. -👀

[omaano]

Hello! If you're still taking the polyam sketch prompts I'd love to see i2 for the bad batch? (i know the prompts only have three so if this doesn't work pls ignore) - i got a bad error last time sorry if the message sends twice

That icy creamy monstrosity in Crosshair's hand (as the only one who has one free) belongs to Echo. Allegedly.

I hope you are still around Anon, I got your message, and I'm real glad you sent it again, this was really fun to draw!

Polyamorous/platonic poses for sketching (I haven’t given up on these, I just needed a little break. I’ll try to get around to drawing all the requests before the end of summer!)

and the other drawings I’ve made for them

[archivewriter1ont]

[laughhardrunfastbekindsblog]

Style and Error

Summer of Bad Batch 2024 | Week 7 | Prompt: Getting a Haircut

Summary: Omega finally gets her first hairstyle change after leaving Kamino - and her brothers get a crash course in human adolescent female hairdos. POV: Hunter, Omega (Word Count: 2700)

Read on Ao3

Notes: This prompt finally convinced me to turn this headcanon into a proper fic! Also, my fic last week ended up being a LOT sadder than I had originally intended (sorry about that, all, the story just kept going that direction and I couldn't stop it), so just a heads up that this story is a lot more relaxed and fun!

            “We need to do something about your hair,” Hunter said.

            At this, Omega glanced up from the datapad from which she was dutifully studying the history of Coruscant.

            “Really, it’s fine, Hunter,” she said, absently removing her left hand from her hair to steady the datapad on her knee. Her bangs fell into her eyes, obstructing her view, and she automatically brought her hand back up to scoop the unruly hair off her forehead and hold it in place.

            Hunter shook his head even as his lips twitched into a smile. “Doesn’t your arm get tired holding your hair back all the time?”

            “Well…” Omega hesitated.

            “Hunter’s right, Omega. If nothing else, you need both hands and unobscured vision to handle your energy bow properly,” Echo said firmly as he entered the Marauder, having apparently heard the conversation from outside where he had been double checking the ship’s landing gear. “Besides, we don’t need a repeat of what’s happened on the past two missions.”

            Omega wasn’t nearly as successful as Hunter was in hiding a grimace at the reminder. Just a few days after escaping a destroyed Kamino, Hunter – his thoughts still full of Crosshair and wondering what he could have said differently to convince his estranged brother to rejoin the squad – had suddenly noticed that Omega was needing to brush her hair out of her face a lot more often than usual. After a few weeks of this, Hunter had finally suggested that she try wearing a headband.

            “Really?” Omega had said excitedly. “I get my own headband?”

            “It’s just to keep your hair out of your eyes,” Hunter had replied. If it worked for him, it would work for her.

            It had not, in fact, worked for her.

            If Hunter knew anything at all about different hairstyles, he might have conjectured that Omega’s unevenly grown out layers were one factor hindering the efficacy of using a headband at this time; but he did not know anything at all about different hairstyles. What he did know was that when Omega wore the headband farther back on her head in a way that actually kept the band secured, it didn’t help hold her bangs off her forehead; and when she wore it on her forehead as Hunter did… Well, even Tech was sensitive enough to not tell Omega that the layer of bangs sticking up in wild disarray behind the bandana made her bear a striking resemblance to a frilled zarco lizard, but Hunter had a feeling Cid would not be so kind if she ever saw it. And anyway, this style had ended up causing near-catastrophe when the headband had slipped down over Omega’s eyes at the precise moment she had been taking a shot at an errant masador chasing them down on one of their most recent missions.

            So the headband had been quickly abandoned; but given that Omega’s hair was growing ever longer and more uneven, the problem still remained, and had led to the second accident Echo had just referred to, when Omega’s bangs flying in her face meant she hadn’t seen the tree root as she was sprinting along with her brothers back to the Marauder. Here they were a week later, and her scraped hands and a bruised forehead had only barely healed.

            “I don’t know what to do about my hair, though,” Omega sighed now. “Nala Se made sure I got my hair cut every four standard weeks on Kamino, but I didn’t really pay attention to how they did it.” Suddenly she brightened. “Hunter, you cut your own hair. Maybe you can do mine the way the droids on Kamino did it?”

            Hunter had no idea how to tell Omega that he cut his own hair only because he didn’t really care if his ends were even, but he did care if Omega’s were and he was not going to be responsible for whatever insult Cid would come up with to describe Hunter’s barbering skills in relation to Omega’s hair. Besides, he had no idea how to work with bangs, and he didn’t want to just chop hers off.

            Deciding to keep his explanation simple, he said, “I don’t know how to do whatever the Kaminoans did for your haircut, Omega.”

            Wrecker, his interest in the discussion having apparently reached a peak, suddenly set Gonky down and moved forward to the seat next to Omega.  “You could always try Tech’s hair gel,” he said with a shrug.

            Tech, perched in his usual spot in the pilot’s seat, was engrossed in his datapad and didn’t appear to hear Wrecker’s statement, nor notice the look of dismay that briefly passed over Omega’s face.

            “No need,” Hunter said quickly before Omega had to reply. “We’ll figure something else out.”

            Thing was, he and his brothers hadn’t even thought about visiting a barber ever since first being sent off Kamino – there had never been any time given how frequently they were sent out on missions during the war, so they had always just maintained their own hairstyles themselves. They had occasionally helped each other out with haircuts… but the best any of them knew how to do was shave to one length and cut a relatively straight line with standard clippers.

            “Do you know how to cut hair?” Hunter asked Echo now, looking hopefully at him.

            “If we had the tools, most I could do is a regulation haircut,” Echo said doubtfully, frowning in thought. “Wrecker has his standard shaver but I think we’d need more than that…”

            “I would assert that Omega may not actually want a regulation haircut, or any of our styles of haircuts, for that matter,” Tech interjected at this juncture, finally looking up from his datapad. Before anyone could say anything, he had made his way back to the others and connected his datapad to the console, displaying his research on the larger screen so the others could see. Hunter smiled a little at the sight; of course Tech had been paying attention to the entire conversation. “These are examples of current trends for human adolescent female hairstyles,” Tech continued. “Perhaps we can trial one of these.”

            “Oooh, I like that one,” Omega said, pointing to one of the images; the look of sheer relief on her face told Hunter that Tech had been right in his assertion. “That would keep my hair out of my face.”

            “An ‘overhand braid,’” Wrecker read out the description, glancing between the picture and Omega. “Uh… how do we do it?”

            “I’ll look up instructions,” Tech said promptly.

            Omega, face brightening even further, set aside her datapad and moved forward to look more closely over Tech’s shoulder, while Hunter and Echo exchanged glances.  

            “Worth a shot,” Echo shrugged, and Hunter nodded.

            Between the five of them and Tech’s unlimited information, how hard could this be?

******

            Four hours later, Hunter was slumped defeatedly in his chair, watching Tech and Wrecker as they doggedly pressed forward in trying to figure out variations of a ponytail. After the thirty minutes spent devising a reasonable substitute for standard hair ties, Hunter could understand why Tech was so determined to find a way to use them.

            He glanced over at Echo, who was currently standing a few feet away observing the proceedings, arms crossed and, Hunter was fairly certain, still muttering “Never again” under his breath. It had been almost two hours since they had finally given up on trying to figure out braids, and Hunter wasn’t sure if Echo was actually traumatized by the experience or just taking the failure personally.

            It was really saying something that Echo – with his one hand, scomp arm, and teeth – had come the closest to actually recreating a hairdo approximating an overhand braid, where Hunter and Wrecker and then Hunter and Tech with their combined four hands hadn’t even been able to make it past step two. But Echo had been rather put out when he somehow got his scomp entangled in the braid and almost took out a chunk of Omega’s hair when trying to extricate it. Omega, for all her patience during the proceedings, hadn’t been able to hold in a high-pitched yelp when Echo had finally managed to free himself, and Tech hadn’t needed any prompting to suggest turning their attention to other possible hairstyles that didn’t include braids.

            Wrecker had been very pleased with himself when he was able to put Omega’s hair into a low ponytail, but her bangs were not yet long enough to make this style very effective, and managing to get all of Omega’s hair into a high ponytail was beyond the current skills of Wrecker, Hunter, and Tech (Echo had declined making any attempt). Tech and Wrecker were currently discussing the feasibility of splitting Omega’s hair into high and low ponytails; and Omega, who had somehow been enthusiastic and happy throughout the entire ordeal, was starting to look exhausted.

            “This isn’t working,” Hunter spoke up.

            “I would guess that the current length of Omega’s hair is simply not conducive to these various styles,” Tech said thoughtfully. “Perhaps when her hair grows longer…”

            “We can’t wait that long.”

            “There is a barbershop just down the street from here. Perhaps we can seek their expertise.”

            “You couldn’t have mentioned the barbershop four hours ago?” Echo said with no small amount of exasperation.

            Tech opened his mouth to respond, but Omega piped up. “I’m glad we tried the other styles. That was fun!”

            Her cheerful sincerity made Tech’s expression soften with a smile, and Echo gave a small sigh but said no more.  

            “Have you ever cut your hair short, Hunter?” Omega asked curiously as the squad, understanding the new plan, prepped to head out for the barbershop.

            “As cadets, we always had to have the regulation haircut,” Echo put in. “We didn’t get to choose a different style until after graduation.”

            “True,” Tech added, “but for us 99s, getting a regulation haircut was… tricky. We didn’t look like the regs anyway, and our hair was different in more ways than just color. For example, my hair grows slower than is typical for clones, so oftentimes I wasn’t scheduled for a cut for months at a time.”

            Hunter nodded as he looked at Omega to answer her original question. “My hair always grew faster than the regs’ did, so the droids would cut my hair shorter than standard. A lot shorter. I… didn’t like that, so several times I just didn’t go to the appointments.”

            “They let you do that?” Omega asked in awe.

            Hunter chuckled a little. “Let me? No. I got away with it a few times – Tech would go in my place, since the droids only kept track of the number of cadets scheduled for a cut. But the trainers soon caught on and insisted I keep my hair short. But once we graduated and I could choose my own hairstyle – well, by the time we shipped out for our first mission, my hair was already this long and I was never going to get a regulation cut ever again.”

            “Crosshair was the best at cutting Hunter’s hair until Hunter figured out how to do it himself,” Wrecker put in.

            Hunter nodded again, smiling a little as he thought about all the times Crosshair had threatened to shave a bald strip down the middle of Hunter’s head if he wouldn’t stop fidgeting while Crosshair was trying to cut his hair straight… then he grew somber as he always did when he thought of his brother.

            He hoped Crosshair had at least been recovered from Kamino by now.

            “Well,” Omega was saying with quiet enthusiasm, breaking through Hunter’s thoughts, “it’ll be nice to have something different, for a change.”

            Hunter reached down and brushed Omega’s bangs back, again – though it didn’t do any good, and Omega giggled as her hair flopped back into her eyes.

            “Yeah, kid, you definitely need something different,” he quipped as they followed Tech toward the barbershop.

******

            Omega took the seat next to Wrecker, holding back a sigh. She had just completed her seventh circuit of the barbershop; by now she had pretty much memorized the layout as she looked at the various products, equipment, strange décor, and caught a glimpse of other clients receiving services from the other barber.

            It had been almost an hour, and her brothers still hadn’t settled on a hairstyle for the barber to try on her. The first style the barber had recommended had been deemed by Hunter to be too complicated for him to help with upkeep, even when the barber had patiently explained she would be more than willing to show Hunter how to maintain the cut; an inquiry into current fashion trends for more active individuals had snowballed into a lengthy discussion with Tech about hair textures, growth rates and patterns, hair health, and the impact of these factors on transitional haircuts when one wanted to switch from one style to another; and even now that Tech was currently engrossed in examining more pictures of example haircuts, Hunter and Echo were still debating feasible styles with the barber, with Hunter seeming most concerned about the fact that their lifestyle didn’t lend to committing to a consistent schedule for professional haircuts.

            Omega had never really cared what her hair looked like – she had spent over ten years with the same routine hairstyle and had never even thought about changing it, it was just part of her life. Kaminoans didn’t have hair, and even as she had seen more of the galaxy the past months, she had never really paid much attention to others’ hairdos. But when Tech had shown her the varieties of hairstyles that other human girls were wearing, it had suddenly struck Omega that she could have a different hairstyle too.

            She sighed openly now. The excitement of trying a new hairstyle had ebbed away after hours of failure. She understood the point Hunter had first made to the barber that once Omega’s hair was cut, she’d be stuck with that style for several months, minimum; but at this point, it didn’t really matter. She just needed something to keep her bangs out of her eyes so she would stop being more of a liability for her brothers.

            Wrecker apparently had noticed her mood, for he now leaned over and whispered conspiratorially, “You could just be bald, like me. If we leave now, I bet I could have your head shaved before Echo notices we’re gone.”

            Omega giggled - she could only imagine the look on Hunter’s face if she took Wrecker up on his offer. It almost sounded like a good idea, even though she knew Wrecker was joking.

            The barber continued talking through all the other options, at Hunter’s and Echo’s behest. “As I said before, keeping length allows for more versatility with specific hairstyles, including braids…”

            “Never again,” Echo interjected adamantly, earning a startled look from the stylist.

            Omega almost groaned – this had gone on long enough.

            Getting up and crossing the shop with Wrecker following suit, Omega tugged gently on Hunter’s hand. “Hunter, I don’t need all this. I just need a way to hold my hair back.”

            Up close, Omega could tell the barber was reaching the end of her rope. “Have you tried hair clips?” the stylist said in near desperation.

            Echo furrowed his brows. “What are…”

            “This one will do nicely,” Tech said suddenly, gesturing for Omega to come over to give her final opinion as the other brothers looked over curiously at the sample image Tech had pulled up.

            Omega took one look at the style and grinned. It was perfect.

            “That one,” she said; and when she looked back at the others, she knew a unanimous decision had finally been made.

            She couldn’t stop grinning until long after the barber had completed her work and the team had returned to the Marauder. Her bangs were now out of her eyes, her hair felt more manageable, and – well, once or twice before she had heard other people say that they felt “pretty,” and now she knew what that meant. She felt pretty.

            Who knew it could be so exciting to get a haircut?

@summer-of-bad-batch

[questforgalas]

Passing the Time

Notes: a quick little diddy I wrote inspired by this art created by @zaana that I couldn't get out of my head and I also need pre-order 66 moments with the Batch like I need air. Just Crosshair and Hunter being soft bros and reminiscing

WC: 900

Tay's Masterlist

Read on AO3

Staring up at the night sky, Crosshair counts 7 different constellations laying within his vision. The midnight air still carried the day’s humidity, causing a thin layer of sweat to coat his skin underneath his armor even as he relaxes against the boulder he settled against at the beginning of his watch shift. A breeze rustles the palm fronds hanging above them, softly grazing his face, and in the distance, waves are heard softly rolling onto the beach on the other side of the grove.

Hard to believe just hours ago they were knee deep in Separatist territory doing what they do best. Especially what Wrecker does best with explosives. 

Checking his vambrace’s chrono, they aren’t due to leave for Kamino for another 5 hours. Finally returning home after nearly 5 months of missions. Giving a content hum, he crosses his legs in front of him, leaning further into the boulder and settling in for the remainder of the night. The only noise disturbing the soft jungle symphony coming from the GNK droid keeping him company. 

A thud from behind catches his attention, causing him to glance over his shoulder back at the Marauder. The gate was left open, letting the soft interior light spill onto the jungle floor and illuminate the figure walking towards him. Turning back to the jungle, Crosshair reaches into his belt taking out a toothpick to place between his lips as he waits for his sergeant to join him. 

“Can’t sleep?” he asks when Hunter settles in next to him, using the GNK as an improvised chair. 

“Can’t shut it down tonight,” Hunter replies. Crosshair gives a hum, understanding. As they grew older, the nights Hunter couldn’t shut his senses down became more rare, but occasionally, after a string of tiring missions, they could prove too much for his exhausted mind. 

“Echo and Wrecker out?”

“Like lights.” 

“Tech?”

“Doing something to the Marauder. As always.”

Crosshair huffs a sigh. “He’s going to work himself to death.” 

“When did you become a mother hen?” Hunter jokes, playfully jabbing an elbow into the sniper’s arm. That earns him a grumble that loses its bite when Crosshair can’t help the smile tugging on his lips. 

“Simply keeping the efficiency of the squad in mind,” Crosshair counters. 

“Uh huh. Don’t worry, Cross. Your secret’s safe with me. Can’t let anyone think you’re not a prickly asshole,” Hunter teases. 

The sniper rolls his eyes and flicks the toothpick to the other side of his mouth as he looks back up to the sky, letting the comfortable silence between him and Hunter settle around them. Mind on the brother likely buried in wires, he smiles up at the stars as his thoughts bring up memories previously forgotten. 

“Remember when we were younglings,” Crosshair starts, “and he was determined to build his own battle droid? Wanted it to go on missions with us.” 

Hunter groans, “Convinced Wrecker to break into the training lab with him to scrap and carry parts back to our barracks. Was set on having it ready for our next simulator. Stayed awake for days to finish it. He was so tired, he accidentally mis-wired the activation so it came alive in the barracks. Started firing everywhere.” 

“A bolt went right by my head! Hit my favorite target card!” Crosshair exclaims as he pushes himself off of the boulder, turning his body towards Hunter. 

“I’ve never seen Wrecker move so quickly when he flipped the table and took cover,” Hunter continues. “I had to tackle Tech down since he was still in a stupor, just staring at the droid wildly firing. It finally ran out of juice after a minute, but the damage to the barracks…” 

“Can’t believe Nala Se’s check up was scheduled for that day. Remember the look on her face when she opened the door?” Crosshair says with a laugh. 

“Still not as good as Lama Su’s when I had to explain to him what happened after being called to his office,” Hunter snickers. “Only the second time that week too. Pretty sure that was a record for us.” 

“What was the most?” 

“In one week? Nine. Became more frequent after Echo joined. Who knew an ARC would be such a troublemaker,” Hunter chuckled. 

“He’s not so bad. For a reg.” 

Hunter flicked his gaze up to Crosshair and smiled at the fondness he found in his eyes. No one was more protective of their squad than the ARC, and no one was more protective of the ARC than their sniper. 

Turns out, Echo has as much patience for bullies as he does for Separatists, and the Batch learned quickly that something as small as a snide look sent their way resulted in it being punched off the reg’s face by a scomp. Naturally, Echo’s fierce loyalty and no hesitation to knock down regs earned him a high spot in Crosshair’s regard. 

“Pretty sure he gets it from that Fives he’s always talking about,” Crosshair says. 

“Can’t really picture Rex having a bunch of rowdy ARCs,” Hunter mutters. 

“I think Skywalker required all of his attention. Let the others get away with it,” Crosshair chuckles.

Hunter matches his chuckle with his own. “Remember when…”

Surrounded by the quiet of the jungle, the brothers swap stories until the dark hours of night soften with the first rays of the sun crawling up to the horizon. The quiet is interrupted by Wrecker’s laugh inside the ship, and the sergeant and the sniper join their squad as they prepare to return home.

[purpleexplosive]

So basically what episode 12 is gonna be like:

[tending-the-hearth]

i love you reunion scenes in movies and books and tv shows i love you fix-it reunion scenes in fanfictions i love you reunion scenes where the entire world falls away from the person realizing the person/people they love most in the entire world is still alive i love you reunion scenes that have little inside jokes mixed in i love you reunion scenes with crushing hugs and sobs of relief i love you reunion scenes with joyful laughter and hugs that lift people off the ground i love you reunion scenes where you can see the person melting into the hug i love you reunion scenes that heal the bad that's happened during the time of absence i love you reunion scenes that show just how much people mean to each other

[acryliccassetteart]

finished my farewell piece two hours before the finale, based on a picture of me and my friends

i’m going to miss this show so much, and i honestly can’t say how long i’ll be in the fandom afterwards, but it will always hold a special place in my heart <3

background is a screenshot of upper pabu, i did not draw that and am not claiming to

masterlist

[abigfanofstarwars]

listen the only things im pumped about is seeing our grumpy lil wolffe again bc i MISS HIM SM

but like also not excited to see him mourning his dad general or any O66 aftermath for the wolffe-pack :(

[tazelll]

THE BAD BATCH S2 E14 SPOILERS (kinda)

Tech in the recent the bad batch episode was just acting like every mom when their kid drives and absolutely GRIPPING the side handle of the car door LMAO

[archivewriter1ont]

Just wanted to share this story! I wish we had gotten more onscreen, pre-Order 66 stuff with the Batch and Echo but fanfic writers are filling the gap! ❤️

[heyclickadee]

Okay, but what if there’s some small aspect of the collective consciousness of the force that took one look at Crosshair and decided he was such a miserable wet cat of a man that he wasn’t allowed to die? Not as a reward, and not as a punishment, but simply because they decided that he’s their blorbo and he’s so pathetic they want to see if he can ever turn things around.

(I don’t think that’s a thing—there’s theories I take as fact (Tech’s alive), theories I think are likely but not certain, theories that could be true but probably aren’t, crack theories, and then this, which falls into the category of “shit I made up for fun and jokey things”)

[missfrieden]

Tech as a father Chapter 22

Now that one is a tad bit longer, but it is meant to tug on your hearts.

Masterelist

Chapter 22: Trying to be strong

Frustration washed over Tech as he tried everything to calm Orion's fussiness. He'd checked the diaper multiple times, ensured the room was at the right temperature, and attempted various soothing techniques, but nothing seemed to work. Orion's cries pierced the air, and Tech's parental instincts went into overdrive. Desperate to bring some relief to his son, Tech decided to try one last thing. He reached for his datapad and quickly pulled up a colourful and engaging cartoon meant for infants. Holding it within Orion's line of sight, he pressed play, and the screen filled with vibrant animations and gentle melodies.

To Tech's immense relief, Orion's cries began to subside. The infant's eyes widened in fascination as he watched the animated characters dance and sing on the screen. His little hands reached out, as if trying to touch the moving images. Tech, while still concerned about relying on screens too much, given how attached he is to them, felt a sense of relief wash over him. If this was what brought his son comfort, he was willing to use it sparingly. As Orion became engrossed in the cartoon, his cries were replaced by soft coos of delight. Tech watched his son with a mixture of gratitude and curiosity, wondering what it was about the animation that captured Orion's attention so effectively. Though he knew that real world experiences and interactions were crucial for Orion's development, sometimes a little help from technology could provide a moment of respite for both father and son.

Orion seemed completely captivated by the colourful animations on the datapad screen. As he snuggled closer to Tech's chest, his tiny fingers instinctively reached for the nearest thing, his own foot. With a contented sigh, Orion began to chew on his little toes while still keeping his eyes locked on the screen. Tech couldn't help but smile at the adorable sight. His son's curiosity and ability to multitask, even at this young age, never ceased to amaze him. That Orion shows similar traits than him, he even is a bit further in a few developmental stages than noted in many articles. He carefully adjusted the angle of the datapad to ensure Orion's view remained unobstructed, all the while making sure his little foot-chewing session was safe.

As Orion happily munched on his foot, Tech marvelled at the innocence and wonder of infancy. He cherished these moments with his son, knowing they were building the foundation of their bond. Tech was determined to provide Orion with the best possible upbringing and was grateful for the chance to experience parenthood in its purest form. Tech carefully placed Orion down to prepare his bottle. As he returned with the bottle and settled back into his bunk, he pulled one leg up to prop his datapad, which was playing the animated show to entertain Orion. Cradling his son in one arm, Tech offered him the bottle, and Orion eagerly began to suck on it. He dozed off intermittently, only to wake up and continue drinking from the bottle before dozing off again. It was a soothing rhythm that they had both grown accustomed to, a routine that brought them closer with each passing day.

As Orion lay in Tech's arms, his eyes fixed on the animated show playing on the datapad, Tech began to softly whisper stories about Amanda to his infant son. He recounted tales of her bravery and fearlessness, describing how she often went against orders to do what she believed was right. Much like the Bad Batch. He spoke of her determination and unwavering loyalty to her comrades, emphasizing how she had always been there to protect and support those she cared about.

Orion might not have understood the words, but he could feel the warmth and love in his father's voice. The stories were a way for Tech to keep Amanda's memory present and to let Orion know about the remarkable woman who was his mother. It was a way for them to connect, even across the vastness of space and time, as father and son shared these precious moments together. Tech carefully turned off the animated show on the datapad, redirecting Orion's attention to a series of pictures. He scrolled through the images, each one capturing different moments with Amanda. There were pictures of her in her fearless moments on the battlefield, leading her former squad, and even one from the day they had found her on Callo.

But the one that Tech lingered on was the one taken inside the ruined temple. Amanda was holding Orion in her arms, their faces close together, their eyes locked in a tender gaze. It was the first time she had been able to hold their son after months of separation, and the joy and love in her eyes were palpable. Tech softly traced his finger over the image as he narrated the story to Orion, describing the moment when mother and son had been reunited, the overwhelming emotions they had all felt, and the unbreakable bond between them. Orion listened, his tiny fingers reaching out as if trying to touch the image of his mother. Even if Orion may not understand.

These moments of sharing Amanda's memory were important to Tech. They were a way to keep her presence alive for Orion, even though she couldn't be with them physically. It was a way to ensure that their son would always know the love and strength that defined his mother. As Orion peacefully drifted into slumber, Tech gently placed him down on the makeshift crib formed by the breastfeeding pillow. The room was quiet, the soft hum of the ship's systems providing a backdrop to the emotional moment that followed.

Tech's expression shifted from the tender look he had while talking to Orion to one of deep introspection. He reached up and pulled down his goggles, his gloved hand rubbing over his face in a tired, pensive manner. In the quiet of the room, with his infant son asleep beside him, the weight of his feelings resurfaced. He missed Amanda more than words could express, and seeing Orion grow up without her was a constant reminder of that loss. The pictures he had just shown his son had brought forth emotions that he usually kept under control. The ache of her absence was always there, lurking in the background, and sometimes, like now, it surged to the forefront.

Tech knew he had to be strong for Orion. He had to be both mother and father to their son, but that didn't mean he couldn't allow himself moments like this, where he let the grief and longing wash over him. With a deep, shaky breath, Tech wiped away a stray tear that had escaped his eye. He knew he had to stay strong for Orion. He had to be there for their son, just as Amanda would have wanted. But in the quiet of the bunk area, with the sleeping infant beside him, Tech allowed himself to mourn their separation, if only for a few precious moments.

Hunter's keen instincts had alerted him to the unusual emotional state of his usually composed brother. “Tech? Are you okay?” When Tech shook his head and Hunter caught sight of the picture of Amanda holding Orion, he understood the source of Tech's turmoil. Without hesitation, he sat down beside Tech and gently pulled him into a comforting embrace. Tech leaned into his brother's embrace, finding solace in the simple act of being held. He knew that Hunter, more than anyone else, more than even he himself, understood the complexity of his feelings. The comfort and understanding in Hunter's arms allowed Tech to let his guard down, just for a moment.

“You are a great father Tech. You and Amanda did what was right, to keep Orion as safe as possible. And maybe one day you can be a family. Just like Cut and Suu.” Hunter's words were both reassuring and understanding. He reminded Tech of the difficult choice that Amanda had made, a choice driven by her love for their son and the necessity of keeping his true heritage a secret. The reminder that there might be a chance for them in the future, though distant, brought a glimmer of hope. As they sat there in silence, Tech held onto that hope, knowing that his squad and especially his brother would always be there to support him, whether it was in facing danger or dealing with the emotional weight of their past.

Chapter 23

Reblogs are very welcome and I am open for feedback, as english is not my first language, so maybe my sentences may be weird sometimes, or I write a word wrong even with google, or I use a wrong word for an item.

Tag: @spectacular-skywalker @aalizazareth @neyswxrld @clonethirstingisreal

[din-miller]

Clone’s karaoke go to songs?

Best time to ask me this because I’m choosing songs from my Spotify Wrapped.

Tech - Falling Slowly (From Once)

Echo - SOS (Brian David Gilbert)

Wrecker - Hit Me With Your Best Shot

Crosshair - Dancing Queen

Hunter - Yellow

Jesse - Never Gonna Give You Up

Fox - Bitch

Bly - Jesse’s Girl (right after hearing Aayla saying one nice thing to Jesse)

Cody - I Think I love You (only when Obi is there)

Fives - Secret (The Pierces)

99 - Wimoweh

Hardcase - Paradise City

Gregor - Champagne problems

Waxer - Mr. Brightside

Boil - Somebody Told Me

Omega - Part of Your World

Toast - Peanut Butter and Jelly Time

Kix - A Little Bit Alexis

Cut - I’m a Believer

Wolffe - Here’s to Us

Tup - I Was Here

Fives’ actual song - Peaches

[hootydoot]

THE BAD BATCH

Kind of

So, I was planning on drawing something for the return of the bad batch, but I have been massively uninspired for about 5 months now, and didn't do it.

My little brother, being the absolute gem that he is, quickly drew a horrifying yet beautiful rendition of clone force 99 to make up for my lack.

When I say that this drawing made me laugh to tears, it is an understatement. After whipping this masterpiece out in about 7 minutes, WITHOUT REFERENCES mind you, my brother made me promise to post it on here, and I was more than happy to oblige.

I hope you all get even a fraction of the joy this disturbing art has brought me ❤️