#I didn’t care about it until I wanted to read fics about clones and then suddenly that’s LITERALLY ALL I COULD FIND

[engagemythrusters]

Codywan (derogatory)

[dragonrider9905]

Infectious Love

Summery: After a failed, almost confession of love, you and Hunter's relationship is skating on thin ice...that is, until someone falls through (or gets stabbed in the gut), so to speak.

Warnings: Angst, lots of it, but comfort too. Lots of emotions. Mentions of blood and sickness.

Hellooooooooo @imaginesfordifferentfandoms tis I, your Secret Santa in the @cloneficgiftexchange!!!!! I really, really, hope you like it. I worked really hard on it ;D So I hope it turned out the way I imagined it in my head ;D Enjoy this kinda longish drabble XD Hehehehe now you understand all the questions I asked. I hope you don't mind I went with Hunter. You seemed to not mind any of them; he's my favorite so I know I can get carried away :D and I wanted to make sure the story was nice! Also, I gave Hunter's scarf a destiny. A fate. A sense of purpose. We now know what happened to it. I have spoken.

Furthermore, I'd like to throw a huge shout out to some people who deserve it. Firstly, @ghostofskywalker. Thank you so much for organizing this event and all the other ones like it. They are always so much fun and I enjoy them immensely. It is safe to say the others who join feel the same way. Thank you for all the hard work you put into it all! Also, thank you to @photogirl894 for being an awesome beta reader and supportive friend. I don't know if I would have finished this fic on time if she hadn't helped me through all the rough spots by her encouraging words. Bestie, you read everything but the ending...I hope you like it <3

The decree is written, now, let the story unfold.

“As a father, you couldn’t ask for a better place to raise a child.”

You’d heard Shep say these words to Hunter your first day on Pabu, and you had to admit, it made your heart flutter a little bit. You’d fallen hard for Hunter a long time ago but duty always got in the way. At first, you hadn’t realized just how much you cared for him during the Clone War, serving as their medic, until Hunter received a shot in the chest. It was then that you realized, or rather were honest with yourself, that your friendship was always more than just a friendship. Almost losing him gave you a clarity and an honesty with yourself that you needed, but that didn’t make things easy. In fact, they made them harder.

Because now you knew how YOU felt, but you had NO IDEA how he felt. Every day, you’d face a new challenge, a new battle, overcome insurmountable odds against the Separatists on top secret missions and won. Every night, you’d have a heart to heart with Hunter, talking about things that made him laugh, made you laugh, things that made you cry, or things that upset him. 

But never unburying that heavy secret locked away in your heart. 

You considered yourself brave in many aspects but not when it came to problems with the heart. You could tell Hunter anything and everything, except how you felt about him. Instead, you’d find little things every day to show him you loved him. You’d fix his caf the way he liked it, you’d make sure the others were considerate of his sense, you listened to him when he wanted to rant, you showed him you trusted him. You were his shoulder to lean on, his unofficial right hand man. Technically, Crosshair filled those shoes but not always. You tried to be the head of reason when the boys fought and patched them up when they were done arguing. 

Then the Clone War ended with fateful Order 66. Your world turned upside down and even though circumstances were different, your situation was the same. 

That secret would have to be pried out of your cold dead hands. 

You’d been on the run, constantly in fear for your lives and that of the child in your care. You’d started to love her as your own daughter, and you could see Hunter did too. You’d seen Hunter with Cut and Suu’s children before, but somehow, this was different. He’d cared for her as a father would. And that made your heart melt more than you ever thought it could. 

Now, here on Pabu, having something that resembled peace and a chance at a life, was it time? Could you actually have the dream you despaired of. The dream which was a nightly comfort but in the morning seemed unreachable as something you thought you couldn’t hope for? 

Shep’s words teased you. Taunted you. Pried at you. 

Perhaps, perhaps it was time to open your heart? 

“So have you reconsidered staying?”

“For soldiers, putting down roots is an occupational hazard.” 

“Is that all you are? Soldiers?”

You’d seen the thoughtful look on Hunter’s face. It was the one he made when he was considering something. There was no contention, just thoughtful pondering. 

Somehow, some way, that moment spurred you and you worked up the courage. 

Hunter sat in the cockpit, swirling his knife. You approached and leaned against the door. You’d love to sit there and watch that for hours. You smiled a little to yourself, waiting for him to recognize your presence so as to not scare him into a mistake (not that he’d ever but…better be safe than sorry.) 

“Echo said he’s on his way. Will be here in a few rotations.” he said without looking up. “Omega will be glad to see him.”

“Yeah, she misses him, the poor kid.”

Sheaving his knife, he turned to you. 

“So, what can I help you with?”

“Oh, you know, just checking in on my Sargeant. You’ve been in here all day.” You placed some fruit native to Pabu in front of him. You never could remember the name, but you’d noticed he liked them. 

“Thanks,” he gave half a smile while you took the seat next to him. “What kind of trouble are Wrecker and Omega getting into?”

“Ohhhh probably best not to know right now. Just enjoy the few moments of peace while you can.”

He chuckled and cut into the fruit.

“Soooooo” your heart pounded. You were actually going to do it. You got this…just had to breathe and remain steady, it’d be ok. 

Hunter gave you a side eye, silently offering you a piece of the fruit. Kriff, he can tell. You tried to slow your heart best you could. 

“So.” He prompted you.

You laughed. “I heard Shep the other day. Something about settling down…ever think about it?”

He sighed. “More than you know. I honestly don’t know what to do about it. I’d like to but… It’s … complicated.”

“Ever think about marrying a pretty woman and having a family? Raising Omega somewhere safe where she’d be happy…”

He huffed a little. 

“Who’d I marry? Please don’t suggest the woman Wrecker’s friend was trying to set me up with.” 

At the words, the muscles in your face felt heavy and turned sour. The twinkle in your eye went out and the joy in your demeanor dissolved. 

An empty smile remained on your face. No indication to the outsider that anything had changed. But Hunter wasn’t an outsider. He knew you inside and out. 

Who’d I marry? You weren’t even a consideration. You weren’t on the list. Of course you wouldn’t be. It’d be foolish for you to think that. Why’d you hope in the first place? You should have known better. 

Swallowing hard, you bit back tears and forced a laugh. 

You had Hunter’s full attention now. He sat up straight and leaned forward a bit. 

He immediately sensed the change of demeanor. Your heart rate plummeted but beat hard. Your focus was gone, staring into nothing. Even if it was just for a millisecond, he’d have noticed it, but it lasted longer than that. 

Your hollow laugh filled the cabin.   

He knew he messed up.

Hunter moved to speak again but it was too late. You’d gotten up and moved toward the door. 

“Well um, I should go check on Omega and Wrecker and see what they’re up to before they do too much damage. Yeah, yeah…”

The next moment you were out of the cabin and down the ramp without a second look behind you. 

Kriff. He had to fix this. 

He almost went after you. He almost made it out the ship, but an incoming transmission stopped him. This could be the one he was waiting for. He looked longingly out to where he saw you hugging yourself, making your way slowly across the shipyard, and went back inside the ship. 

Kark it all. This’d better be important, Echo.

Tech was gone. Omega was taken. Crosshair a prisoner. Echo abandoned them, again. It was just you, Wrecker and Hunter now. A ship once filled to bursting with life and light, warm with the love and laughter shared between its walls, was now cold with an emptiness, a magnanimous devoid maw that the ship had never known before. 

Tech was dead. Crosshair was gone. Omega was taken. 

He was lost. 

Hunter might as well have added you to the list of lost as well, because even though you were physically on the ship, you weren’t with him. You were distant. Gone. In every way possible other than physical. You’d done your best to keep Wrecker and himself together. You’d been the same insurmountable strength you’d always been for them to lean on. You were being the strong one for them because you knew they couldn’t right now. He was angry, frustrated, focused and lost all in one but didn’t know where to direct that energy. As always, you came through. You acted the same as how you did throughout the entire Clone War, except not. The actions were all there, but there was a lost life to it. 

A lost love. 

And it was his fault. 

Though you were strong, you weren’t invincible. 

During the day you’d serve them. Got them food, made sure they rested, used every resource imaginable to find the little lost loved one. You tried to make them laugh and smile if you could or focus on the task at hand. Completing small missions to get by was his bane, because all Hunter wanted to do was find Omega, but you brought him back to the present, reeled in his reckless side when it got to be too much. You kept track of the inventory and how and when to push on. 

But every night he’d hear you silently cry yourself to sleep. 

You’d go and comfort Wrecker, then you’d offer the best gesture you could to him to encourage him, then you’d retire to your bed, broken down by the day. Tired, exhausted, empty. 

He saw it. And he caused it. 

And he hated himself for it. 

He’d lost you in a hasty, foolish sentence. One he’d said without much forethought. One he said because he was afraid if he’d said too much, or given any indication of the deeper feelings he had for you, you’d have rejected him and he’d lose you entirely. He thought he could be your friend. You deserved so much more. So much more than himself and what he could offer. He’d wanted to stay your friend so that way, even though he couldn’t have you, you’d be happy. He’d make sure that whoever he was, the man you’d marry would give you all the love he couldn’t. 

Turns out he was wrong.  

You did return his feelings and he broke you.

He should have gone after you, but he didn’t. He thought he’d have time. He thought he could do it when you’d return to the ship and he could sit down with you uninterrupted but he was wrong, so wrong. Echo arrived and in moments, though he didn’t know it, his life turned upside down. When the mission was declared, his focus turned to that. 

He should have talked to you. He should have let you know how he felt. 

But the manner of your hurt shifted. You were no longer hurt, but cold. 

Perhaps you didn’t want him to love you anymore. He didn’t know what to do. So much was wrong. So much that shouldn’t have been, was now his reality. 

In truth, you DID deserve more than him. Perhaps this was for the best. This hurt would pass and you’d meet the one you were supposed to be with. You could get over this fancy for him and live an actual life with someone else. 

The thought made his stomach churn and threatened to vomit, but perhaps, that’s what was meant to be. 

After all, sometimes to love someone you had to let them go. And Omega, she needed him right now, fully focused on nothing else but finding her. 

It was late in the night watch, Hunter sat alone staring at the broken pair of goggles and a plush toy that belonged to the child of the ship. His child, not by blood but by choice. 

Taken from him in a cruel twist of fate. 

He closed his eyes and leaned back in the chair. Hunter wasn’t normally one for crying but he felt close to it now. He didn’t know what to do, but he knew Omega took priority over himself. He HAD to find her. Bring her home. Oh Force, what was Hemlock doing to her?

He felt his head start to pound and his brow furrowed. 

It hurt so much to love. This was love, wasn’t it? After all, what would he know? All he knew of it was what was in the novels and holofilms…

Something cold touched his head and he jumped in surprise. Opening his eyes, he found you had taken a few steps back surprised, with a blanket and an ice pack in hand. 

It didn’t go unnoticed you’d had the scent of fresh tears on your hands. 

“I’m sorry, I thought you were in one of your uncomfortable sleep cycles.” You offered gently. “You looked like you had a headache so I brought you this.” You shook the ice pack. 

Hunter sat up and rubbed his head. “I…can’t sleep.”

He looked down. It was so hard to keep your gaze. His throat tightened and tears sprung against his will. All he could do was sigh, long and heavy. 

Hunter was silent, not knowing what to say. He tried opening his mouth a few times but closed it at every attempt, frustrated. 

You slowly drew near him, considerate as you always were. Giving him a chance to stop you if he wanted or needed, but he didn’t. You crouched down in front of him and took his hands. 

A shock of surprise sprung his head up immediately and sent a shiver through his body. His brain registered your hands were cold and instinctively he moved to warm them, covering them completely with his own. But his mind was fully focused on your face. 

Your eyes glittered with unshed tears and your mouth had a half, crooked smile. A ghost of the one you’d had before. But there was something in your gaze he’d missed, he’d longed for. 

It was ‘that’ look. 

You hadn't looked at him like that in a long time. 

There was a warmth and a love aflame. A gentleness that hadn’t been there these long past few weeks.  

If eyes were truly the window to the soul, he’d seen that the embers were dying, but not gone. 

You squeezed his hand. 

“We’ll find her. I promise.” 

There was such a conviction in your voice, determination. A rawness that almost freighted him. A testament to the power you had. The power of your will and spirit. The power of your determination. One of the reasons he loved you so much. One of the elements in your looks that he yearned to see again after missing it for so long. 

He squeezed your hands. 

“Thank you for everything.” He swallowed hard, voice now scratchy and sore. 

You nodded and stood, pulling your hands from his. You placed the pack on his forehead and placed the blanket on him in two swift motions and made to go. You were fast, but not too fast for him. You’d tried to retreat, but Hunter jumped and grabbed your arms, centering you to himself. 

A surprised look crossed your face and he saw you searching him, wondering. 

“We need to talk.”

You looked away, tears starting to gather again, a breath catching in your throat wanting to break free. 

Hunter cupped your face with his hand and slowly, softly turned your gaze back to him. 

“Please.”

You nodded, but then looked away again. 

“Ok, but not now.” Your voice was heavy and empty. That void look entered your eyes, extinguishing the flame that was there before. 

“No, you should get some sleep, you look exhausted. You’re always looking after us. Tonight, take care of yourself, yeah?” He rubbed his thumb against your cheek, whipping away a tear that escaped. “Tomorrow.”

You nodded. “Tomorrow.”  

Lifting the blanket you’d brought for him, Hunter placed it over your shoulders with a reassuring squeeze then turned back to his chair, cradling the ice pack to his forehead. 

Tomorrow came, but started off all wrong. Emergency lights flashed and sirens blared. The Marauder made an emergency landing on the treacherous mountainous planet below. The hyperdrive malfunctioned and threw you out of hyperspace. It was a tumultuous, uncontrolled landing but Hunter managed with minimal damage to the exterior of the ship. The haul was a little banged up, but other than that, the smoking hyperdrive was the focus of your concern.

There was no Tech to fix the ship now. You were on your own.

“Do you think you can fix it?” Hunter looked at you worriedly. You’d helped Tech plenty of times in the past. You considered yourself pretty capable with all the training you received from him. 

Taking a look around, you carefully considered. 

“I think so, but it’s going to take time. This superficial stuff I’m not too worried about. We’ll have to make port somewhere soon anyway for supplies. We’re low on everything.” You’d been looking at the inventory the last few days and the lists were concerning. “I think we have enough credits to get by until we can do a job and earn more.” You rubbed your forehead. “I’ve been running numbers on how to keep ourselves sustained without needing to distract ourselves from our mission with a whole bunch of side missions anymore. I think it’ll work but you’re going to have to trust me. But I digress. I’ll patch up the hyperdrive which seems to be the main problem. I’ve got a weird feeling about this place, I don’t want to be here too long. Weather might not hold out for extensive repairs either.”

“Alright, we’ll discuss this when I get back. I’ll scout the area and see what we’re dealing with.” Hunter turned to leave, then paused. Half looking back he spoke: “And, I do. Trust you, I mean.” 

With that he put his helmet on and shouted to Wrecker. 

“Keep her safe. I’ll be right back.”

It’d been an hour. And Hunter wasn’t back. 

Whipping the sweat from your forehead you heaved a big breath.

“I think that’ll do it Wreck. Where’s Hunt?” 

Wrecker looked nervous. “Not back yet.” 

You looked at your wrist chrono and raised your eyebrows in surprise. Highly unusual.

“Ok, I’ll go look for him. Protect the ship.” 

“We should stay together.” Wrecker added quickly, “I’ll come with you.”

“I would like that too but at this moment that’s a luxury we can’t afford. We have to split up.”

Wrecker groaned. “Bad things ALWAYS happen when we split up.”

You softened and patted his shoulder comfortingly. 

“I know, big guy, I know. But the less we argue, the sooner we get Hunt back.”

Wrecker paused and nodded. “Ok.” He sighed and took his place by the ramp of the ship. “And…..it’s good to hear you call Hunter, Hunt again…”he trailed off uncertainly, “but it’s kinda making me scared. You think he’s….?” 

Your heart clenched in realization. You didn’t think how your hurt would shed and affect others. “Oh Wrecker….” You started but he stopped you. 

“Aw Doc, I am just worried about ya. You two always meshed together, you know? So when you didn’t, and now get soft again…” He shook his head. “Get Hunter back, and everything will be ok, yeah?”

“Yeah, it will. I promise.” You started off your sentence quaking but with every word you found your conviction. It was time to go. 

“I hope you two can work things out. I always liked it that way, ya know?”

You smiled, “Yeah I do actually, and I did too.”

“Well, do you think that … whatever happened…you two can fix it?”

Your smile faltered a little bit but Wrecker didn’t see that. Really, only Hunter would have been the one to notice.

“I’ll do my best.”

With one last nod to Wrecker, you set out.

You weren’t exceptional at tracking but Hunter taught you a thing or two. 

It was time to bring Hunter home.

Hunter skirted the edge of the cliff carefully. His foot set a few loose rocks tumbling into the unknown. Knife unsheathed and corned against the endless void beneath him, he glared at his enemy. Hunter met these villains almost as soon as he left the ship. It didn’t take him long to realize their harmful intentions and led them away from the ship, hoping to buy you as much time as he could to fix the ship. He’d taken out ten of these bandits already, but this one was of a higher status, he could tell by the large hat he wore and more expensive weapons he possessed. He’d be more of a challenge but that would only make it more fun. 

Hunter growled and lifted his knife in the ready. Blood and sweat dripped from his face from the few scratches and scrapes he had. 

He was prepared for anything.

“Get away from him!” An agonized voice filled with terror screamed. 

Your voice. 

Hunter’s heart dropped to his stomach and for the first time since the crash, terror entered his veins. He was prepared for everything, except that.

Garnishing your blade, you swiped the air to show the mysterious stranger you were serious. “Leave him alone!”

Hunter’s throat closed up. You didn’t have your blaster, and while still decent with the blade, you weren’t ready for this yet. He hadn’t finished your training. 

“Meshla, no!” 

Hunter reached out, distracted only for a moment but a moment is all it took. In the second he tried to get in between you and the enemy, a kick to his stomach sent Hunter over the side

“Hunter!” You screamed after him in terror. 

What you didn’t see was the flip he made or how he grappled onto the rock. If only you had the enhanced senses he did, you might have heard his hard breathing, the uneven sob, and the continuous prayer that somehow you could live long enough for him to get to you. 

His heart pounded. He wanted to call for you but that’d only make things worse for you. He grunted as silently as he could. He had to get to you. 

He heard your angry grunts, the slices of knives through the air, missing their marks. He heard you yelling unintelligibly and savagely. The man’s gleeful laughter. 

Your painful cry.

No

Those were some of the longest seconds of his life. What happened? He tried to climb faster but the rock was so slippery.

Watching Hunter get shot. Finding him shot again in the same place all this time later by Cad Bane, and now seeing Hunter tumble over the edge was more than you could handle. Anger like you’d never felt it bubbling all over you, tingling your fingers and guiding your blade’s every movement with hardened focus.

No, you couldn’t lose him like this. You wouldn’t. The man was quick, practiced. But you’d had a good teacher. Now wasn’t the time to doubt. Sure, you wished your blaster had survived the raid on Ord Mantel but there was nothing you could do about that except replace it when you made port.

You tumbled, dived, parried. This demon wouldn’t win. He made a hit on your arm and you cried out. The evil, smug smile he had was enough to refocus you instantly. Jumping for him unexpectedly, you caught him by surprise. You pushed your entire body against his in a close roll.

And your blade found a home in his heart. 

Breathing hard, it took you a moment to realize…you’d won. You defeated him! Hunter would be so proud.

Hunter!

Diving for the cliff, you slid toward the edge. 

“Hunter? Hunter!”

Hunter looked up at you, face hidden behind his visor but all the emotions were spilling from his mouth. “Are you ok? Mesh’la, what the karking hells?”

“Grab my hand!” Ignoring him, you reached down. “I’ll pull you up.” 

Hunter clasped your hand but you let out a cry of agony. Collapsing in a heaping pile. You were shaking but your grip held firm.

“Mesh’la…” 

“Don’t you dare let go. Don’t you dare.” Your demand was dry and forceful, but fear spilled from every word. “Please.” Your plea was soft, broken.

“Alright.” He tightened his grip.

Tears streamed down your face as you panted, hulling him up. Hunter seemed so heavy. You’d done exercises like this before and it was a lot easier. Hunter seemed to notice your lack of strength too.

You pulled and heaved and scooted and rolled until you managed to get his body over the lump. Immediately, Hunter started his barrage on you in between heaving breaths of his own.

“What were you thinking? Don’t you know you could have gotten yourself killed?”

You got to your feet and brushed yourself off, head dizzy with emotion and adrenaline.

“Do you,” you panted, “have any idea what you did to me? Don’t start with me…”

“Oh honey, just wait until I get started—“ 

You turned to look at Hunter who also had gotten to his feet, the words registering, but sounding quite distant. Was he yelling? You weren't sure. Suddenly, your breath was knocked from your lungs and a sharp pain invaded your entire body. 

Falling to your knees, you clutched your side to find it wet and sticky, and warm. You didn't need to pull your hand away to look at it to know there was blood, yet that's what you did, and you were shocked nevertheless to find the red, sticky substance on your hands. Gasping with wide eyes, you missed Hunter’s cry of alarm.  

“You’re bleeding!”

Hunter ran over to you and caught you as you crumpled to the ground in pain. Gathering you to himself, he rested your body against his.

Tearing off his scarf from around his neck, Hunter pressed it to your wound.

“You’re losing so much blood.”

“Nah, I know exactly where it is. Here, there, and a little over there.”

“Not funny.”

“I thought it was.” you faintly chuckled. 

With a dark look, he cut the red fabric into strips and bound your abdomen tightly. 

“I’ll get you back to the ship as soon as I can, just hold on for me ok?” 

You nodded but your eyes now felt so heavy. You just wanted to sleep. 

Scooping you up, Hunter started at a full run. 

The bouncing hurt. Every pounding bounce sent fire mixed with ice through your body. Your head rolled back and your eyes shut.

“Hey, hey, cyare, look at me. Look at me! Don’t give up on me yet, please.” 

Hunter came in running. 

“Wrecker! Wrecker! Get the ship started, we’re leaving NOW!”

Wrecker didn’t miss a beat. He saw you dangling limpless in Hunter’s arms and dashed up the walkway. Wrecker tore through the room, doing the start up sequences as fast as he could then meeting Hunter in the gangway, he threw the med kit at him. 

Back in the cockpit, Wrecker took the controls. 

Placing you in his bed, Hunter slapped your face.

“I know you’re in there, wake up! Wake up! Don’t leave me now, I need you. I can’t do this without you. Omega is depending on you. You’re stronger than this, come on!”

Injecting you quickly with a stim and re-wrapping your wounds, Hunter frantically chaffed your wrists until your eyes fluttered open. 

“Hunter?” You were looking around, trying to sit up. 

“Hey, hey don’t get up.” He placed a hand on your forehead, then your pulse points. He felt you slowly but surely starting to equalize. “Just rest for a bit, ok? I’m going to stay right here if you need anything.” He pulled up a chair next to you. 

“I’m ok,” you smiled weakly, “I was so scared when I saw those tracks. I thought I’d lost you again. But you’re ok, and that’s all that matters to me.” You squeezed his hand, then let the darkness take you.

All was still and dark. The Marauder gently rocked in what would pass for the early hours of the morning, if there really could be a morning or night in space. 

All was still and quiet inside the Marauder. Wrecker was by the controls watching the ship’s course and motion beacons, Hunter was fast asleep, leaned over the bed and holding your hand. 

You on the other hand were restless. Buckets of sweat fell from your forehead. Dizzy and disoriented, even laying down, a nauseous feeling crept up your stomach into your throat. 

You wormed your hand out of Hunters, not wanting to wake him. It’d been too long since he’d gotten any sleep at all and at last the complete and utter exhaustion took him over. You pushed on the bed, attempting and failing to drag yourself up. 

You glanced at Hunter, considering only for a moment, then resurfaced your determination. No, you’d let him rest. You could do this. Grasping the blanket’s cocooning you, you attempted to untangle the heavy sheet entwining you. It was so heavy, suffocating. 

With a heaving breath, you pushed your feet off the bed and lunged your body forward.

You were standing. 

But as soon as you got up, you realized your mistake. The ship spun and the dull aches over your body were awakened. Your stomach’s pain blew its trumpet and your ears felt like balloons that were going to pop. You must have swallowed marbles because there was barely any room in your throat. 

Oh well, you could only push forward. 

Stumbling into the bathroom, you turned on the cold water. Perhaps that would help. 

The first thing Hunter noticed was his hand was cold and clammy. The lack of warmth left a devoid and empty feeling embedded with a nervous foreboding. 

Next came the darkness, which became a haze, and that haze turned into a bubble as he fought he was to consciousness. The bed in front of him was empty and Hunter could vaguely make out the things around him, noises indecipherable. He thought he heard trudging of feet scraping against the floor, the turning of a facet with the gush of water, then a loud crash, and thud with a BAM!

Instantly his body was alert. Dashing toward the source of the sound, he knew subconsciously what he’d find. Your body on the floor, sprawled out and drained. Your face was pale as death, eyes hollow. You didn’t look like this a few hours ago? 

“Mesh’la? mesh’la! what happened? Did you hit your head? Why are you up?” A thousand questions spilled from his mouth in worry. 

Worming his body behind yours, he gathered you up gently. You mumbled something that was lost even to his hearing. 

Concerned, Hunter removed his gloves, and placed them on your face. 

You leaned into his warmth, shivering, unable to get warm, yet your skin felt like fire to him. You were burning. Beads of sweat danced on your forehead as large as the tears that fell from your eyes.

“Why didn’t you wake me?” Cradling you now, he carefully wrapped himself around your body. This allowed you to curl in on yourself and tuck yourself in further to his chest.

“‘M sry.”

Kriff, you could barely speak. 

“Don’t be sorry. I got you now.”

“Hunter, I-I can’t hear you too well.”

A wall of realization hit him hard. Kark it, he knew what happened. 

The fever, the swelling, the loss of balance and your voice, not to mention your hearing? 

You had an infection. 

Fear invaded Hunter’s senses. He’d never been sick like this, having super immune genetics (one thing to thank the long necks for he supposed). But now, how could he help if he didn’t know what you were going through exactly? 

This wasn’t the first time you were sick like this. He remembered the story you told of your childhood, and how one winter, you fell through the ice which resulted in something like this. The incident left you vulnerable and weakened, and he worried about you. 

You were tough and fought it out. But what if you couldn’t fight this one off? Would your second brush with death be enough to claim you?

Tears swelled your eyes and poured onto your cheeks. Small sobs started to wrack your body as emotion overtook you.

“I…sorry…don’t burnden…’Mega, gotta find…” 

“Hey, hey, it’s ok, I got you, I got you. You’re not a burden. We’ll get you better then we’ll find her. Hey, I got you, it’s ok.” Hunter had no idea how he managed to sound so calm. He’d never seen you like this before and it terrified him. Your small sniffles and hiccups reminded him of a small child. Every nerve and essence of his being screamed at him to protect you. 

“I’ll get you some water, I’ll be back. You have to stay hydrated.”

“Stay, I’ll get it.”

Hunter looked up to find Wrecker looking down at the two of you with a sad look in his eyes. “You should be with her.” He disappeared then returned a few minutes later with a full flask of cold water. 

Hunter brought it to your lips, but you barely swallowed any before relinquishing your strength to an empty sleep, exhausted by the struggle. 

Silence bore down on the three of you as Hunter and Wrecker looked on while you slept an uncomfortable sleep.

“I knew we should have stuck together.” Wrecker said sadly at last, not looking at Hunter. “I told her I’d come with her…”

“It’s not your fault, Wreck.”

“Bad things happen when we split up, I told her that….”

“This is all my fault.” Hunter hung his head. “I—”

“That kind of talk isn’t going to help her, Hunt. Don’t even think that. She made up her own mind. She was scared for ya, Hunt. She even started calling you ‘Hunt’ again.”

Hunter looked up surprised, then back down towards you. You’d stopped that since that morning on Pabu. You’d been formal with him afterward. It was either Sargeant or Hunter. 

He shifted then lifted you in his arms, bringing you back to the bed. He set you down then ran his fingers through your damp hair, worry evident in his eyes. 

“We need to get her to a hospital, Wreck. I don’t know what to do…Without Tech…I’m really scared right now.”

Wrecker placed a large, comforting hand on Hunter’s shoulder. “Then we go. We’ll get her better, Hunt. Don’t worry. I think we have a few of those fake IDs left Tech made. We’ll make something work.”

Swallowing hard, Hunter nodded.

Instead of letting go, Wrecker’s grip tightened. In one swift motion, Hunter was enveloped in a hug. If he was being honest, he didn’t mind in the least. 

Hunter sat by you in silence as the ship flew through hyperspace toward the hospital, watching your fitful sleep. Your forehead was creased in pain and your mouth turned into a pout. One hand carefully stroked your sweat soaked hair, the other intertwined with yours.

The waiting was the worst part. Not being able to do anything to help or accept, fate could only take its course and he could only stand by and watch. The worst enemies were the ones he couldn’t protect you from and he hated that. He couldn’t fight the infection with his blade, or take away your pain by shooting the cause with a blaster bolt. 

He leaned his forehead against yours and swallowed a sigh. Was this agony what you'd felt when he'd been shot? He remembered what delicate care you took of him. You'd been more than thoughtful, and tried not to show your concerns but he saw them anyway; just as he could always see you. But there was something else there that at the time he hadn't realized. And now he hoped he hadn't realized it too late. 

“You asked me before if I’d settle down like Shep asked……………and in my dreams, yes. I always wanted to, even before he asked, with you. It was you, it was always and only you.”

Silence was your response. 

 “Please, don’t leave me now. I already lost the others, I can’t lose you too.”

The steady rhythm of your heart was promise enough for him right now, he had to hold onto hope. 

“We can take it slow. Take our time. We don’t have to rush into anything but please, please stay with me and I’ll be yours for the rest of our lives. That’s my promise to you. I–I love you. Always have, always will.”

Perhaps if he’d hadn’t been so tired, he would have noticed the slight squeeze of his hand you have him. 

Hunter walked into the hospital carrying you wearing civilian clothing hoping he looked more inconspicuous than he felt. He approached the nurse at the front desk. 

“Excuse me, my wife needs help. She had an accident…”

“Chain codes.” the nurse said flatly without looking up but holding out her hand. 

Hunter fished them out and gave them to her. 

“It’s urgent, she needs to see a doctor ri–”

“Just sit down over there and the nurse will be with you shortly.”

“But she needs a doctor NOW!”

The nurse glanced up annoyed. 

“Keep that up and she’ll have to wait a full rotation, buddy.”

Hunter glared but didn’t say a word. Normally he would have fought back harder but with your life on the line, he couldn’t find it in himself to do it. So he did as he was bid, and took a seat in the waiting area. 

You blinked your eyes open with a smile. 

“Hey Handsome.” 

You reached up for his face, and he took your hand in his and gave it a quick kiss. 

“Hey,” Hunter kept his voice low, giving you a quick smile before making a quick survey of the area, “to catch you up real quick, we’re married. You’re my wife and we took you here after an accident on our farm. You’re going to be ok, ok?” 

His eyes darted across your face, looking, searching, for any indication that his words would come true. Even here and now on the brink of being saved, he felt like you’d suddenly vanish and be taken from him. 

He didn’t know what he expected from you, a nod of recognition maybe? But he didn’t get that. Instead, you chuckled. 

“Married? Already? So much for wanting to take it slow, Hunter.” 

To his surprise, a laugh burst from his lips, a smile replacing the worry for a second. He shook his head. Even now, you were trying to look out for him, making him laugh while you were the one who needed help. 

“Always looking out for me, aren’t you?” His voice was warm and full. The deepness of his voice like chocolate on your sore ears, not that he’d know that of course. All he could hope for was that you could hear the depth of love and gratitude he had in such a few words. 

You smiled, “always have, always will, I promise you that.” 

Hunter heard the nurse approach and looked up, only to be faced with a jaw dropping phenomenon. 

“How can I help you today? Wait…Hunter?”

It was Nala, your old classmate.

“Nala?” Hunter repeated, stunned. “You work here?”

“Yes…” her eyes drifted down to you. 

An unsettled feeling came over Hunter. You hadn’t been in touch with anyone since Order 66. Whose side was Nala on?

He didn’t have to wonder long when her face went white and she dropped down on one knee to be at your level. 

“What do you need? Let me assess her and see what I can do.”

Nala came running up carrying various vials and all but shoved them in Hunter’s pockets. 

“Give her this as soon as possible. It’s safer for all of you if you just take it and administer it on your ship. I got word of Imperials coming here shortly. I’ve listed instructions on how to give it to her safely. You should go before someone recognizes you and hands you over. Goodbye, and good luck. Take good care of my friend. When she gets better, tell her to give me a call!”

With that, Nala turned and left, trying her hardest not to give an impression of concern. 

Back on the ship, Hunter did as instructed. After making sure you were carefully placed in bed and made as comfortable as possible, he enlisted Wrecker’s help as soon as they’d jumped to hyperspace. Hunter knew Wrecker wasn’t going to like it, but there wasn’t another way. 

You’ll want to give this one to her first. It’ll regulate her body so she can take the following medications. It’ll help her breathe easier and adjust to what’s coming…it won’t appear so right away so don’t worry. You’re going to need to give this to her in quick succession so don’t wait to see the effects.

Hunter injected the hypo into your arm. 

This one is the IV with the antibiotics. Get her hooked up quickly and make sure the bag is drained before you take it out. 

He rubbed your arm and inserted the needle.

This one, inject into her chest near her heart. This one will hurt the most. 

This one, he couldn’t do. 

“This…is going to hurt.”

“I know.” You stared at the ceiling, trying to catch your breath and collect your courage. “It’s ok.”

Of course you knew, you were a medic. He would have cringed at his own words, but he couldn’t help it. His own fear mocked him and he wasn’t ashamed of it. Pain was pain, and nothing could make him like it or want that for you. All he could do was prepare you in any way he could. 

Your breathing was labored, huffing your breaths, greedy for air, gluttonously swallowing in as much as your lungs would let you. 

“Tell me.” You looked into his eyes, trying to focus, “tell me about it? I can’t seem to remember anything from our big day. What happened? Who was there? How did it go….How did I look?” You huffed a little laugh at the last question, “nevermind, don’t answer that.” Your laugh caused a coughing fit to follow. 

Hunter gripped you firmer as your body racked, fear unmasked in his eyes. 

Shutting your own, you tried to center yourself. 

“Crosshair probably made trouble, didn't he. He and Wreck competed to see who could eat the most cake and got sick, right?” Your voice was nothing other than a whisper, but Hunter could still pick up the dream-like tilt in your voice. The little smile as if it was a real memory, breaking across your lips. 

“Of course, would you expect anything less?”

Another chuckle turned into a gasp of air. 

Hunter kept his gaze on you as he spoke, his hand on your cheek facing him so you wouldn’t have to see what was to come. Rubbing gentle circles in your cheek and wiping away tears, he tried to speak without a shake in his voice. He didn’t know if he succeeded, but ever after that, he’d remember the images burned in his mind both, of the story he was telling and the raw reality of your pain. 

“Tech filmed the entire thing; we’ll have to rewatch it; would you believe Echo had more champagne to drink than anyone? He was so happy the entire night. He was also the only one next to Wrecker to cry.”

You smiled through gritted teeth.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. You looked beautiful all dressed in white…” he stumbled over his words now as Wrecker garnished the needle, “your dress dazzled with little jewel thingies and you liked spinning in it because it reminded you of a waterfall or a butterfly’s wing. I couldn’t keep my eyes off you. And when you walked toward me, I was a mess, because I knew I was the luckiest man in the world, and I couldn’t ever have imagined you more beautiful.”

You swallowed hard. 

“Omega couldn’t stop smiling or singing; and when the music at the Pabu sunsets starts and the orange sun starts setting in the sky, it hit you just right and…”

You screamed as muffled of a scream as you could, but it rang in Hunter’s head so loud it bounced around until he felt like he was going to be sick.  

“Aaand, and, when the sun set, we resaid our vows under the stars, just you and me. Always, just you and me. I’ve got you, it’s ok.”

Your eyes rolled back and all went dark.

Breathing never felt so sweet. You smiled, feeling like you could laugh and cry at the same time. The pain was gone and you felt great! Energy was surging, and life felt beautiful again. Despite the illness, you remembered everything that happened with vivid accuracy. Though your eyes were closed, your mind was very awake and registered everything in perfect memory.

Not just the pain, but the sweet moments too. Hunter taking such good care of you, his poor fear and concern, the thoughts he confessed because he thought you couldn't hear.

You felt the urge to stretch but couldn't move. Opening your eyes and looking around, the sight made your heart melt. Hunter was curled up half beside and half behind you. His body was curled in around yours, holding you as if he feared when he woke, you wouldn't be there. 

Your heart was gripped by the softness of the gesture and you didn't want it to end.

You reached your hand up, running your fingers down his face and neck. The touch was enough to wake him. He stirred, then jolted with realization.

“You're awake!!!” Tears gathered in his eyes as he cupped your face with both his hands. “You're ok.” He smiled and swallowed so hard you could hear it. You embraced him, burying your face in his neck.

“I love you.” 

You froze. You didn't expect him to actually confess to you while you were awake. Hunter sensed your hesitancy and started to pull away, but before he could move an inch, you were grabbing him toward yourself again. 

“I love you, too. So much.”

“Can…we talk? I can't wait anymore.”

“Of course.”

Hunter turned shy. He found his hands extremely interesting as he fiddled with the blanket rim. His face turned red and he tripped over his words.

“I only said what I did because besides you….I wouldn't want to marry any other woman. Who would I even marry…if it wasn't you?”

He paused briefly before continuing.

“I always felt like you deserved way better than me…I can't offer you anything but myself and that's not much of a gift.”

“Hunter! No! You—” 

He gave you a sheepish look and cut you off.

“And I'm so sorry for everything that happened, for how I hurt you. I should have gone to you sooner, I should have…”

Now it was your turn to cut him off, but instead of with words, you captured his mouth with yours in a kiss 

You felt his shock, which made you smile, and soon he joined and returned your soft show of love, holding you even closer than before.

“You scared me.” Hunter said, kisses becoming needier. 

“You scared me first!” You countered, meeting his veracity. “More than once!”

When you both stopped for breath, you settled back in his embrace. 

“Hunter, you're all I could ever need or want. The gift of yourself is more precious than anything or anyone in the galaxy, and that's more than I deserve. All I've ever wanted was the war to end so we could have a family of our own, your brothers all be near us if they're not with us while we raise Omega and children of our own.”

Hunter's face darkened. 

“I wasn't strong enough to protect you or keep this family together. I lost Omega.”

“You didn't lose her, Hunter. She made a choice. She didn't want to lose you, and neither did I. You don't control the galaxy or have some responsibility for everything that happens. It's ok to breathe, Hunt, and let go. All we can do is move onward and face the galaxy together, just like we always do.”

Hunter nodded, the shadow slowly falling from his face, replaced with something gentler. 

“And that story I told before, about you in the white dress?”

“Yeah?” You blushed sheepishly, recalling with a bubbling laugh trapped inside your chest. 

“What do you say we make that real?” Leaning closer, he whispered in your ear, “I want to see you all in white, for real. I want to be yours, only yours, forever. I want to have a family, with you and only you. My brothers can all live close by and we can all be together. We can raise Omega the way she deserves to be raised…and I can love you, the way you deserve to be loved.”

“Yes! Oh yes! My sergeant, I am yours and only yours, now and forever!”

Filled with new determination, you smiled even wider, gripped his hand and got out of bed.

“Come on, now, love, let's go get our kid. Time to bring our family home. Time to start healing and growing.”

"The Empire be warned, we're coming."

Dividers by @stars-n-spice @ve-ti-ver and @djarrex

[staycalmandhugaclone]

You'll Have to Go Through Me

We're at a point where I strongly recommend not reading this until after working your way through the entirety of Doc's Misadventures beginning, of course with Touch Starved!

There are still some slots left for the 400 follower celebration. I'll be bouncing between Doc fics and reader oc fics bit by bit (though, I can't really stop mid arc for brain reasons, so you'll get part 2 of this fic before I pop back into Asks)

Last head's up: Given my last fics weren't Doc fics, I didn't start this yet, but after today, I'll be reducing my tag list. If folks haven't interacted in some way for a few fics, I'm going to stop tagging you. Because Tumblr just can't do things easily for me, I frequently hand type my entire list, so if yuh want me to take the time to tag you, ya'll have to give me something back so I know I'm not tagging people who've lost interest or aren't even on here anymore. To all my lovelies who silently reblog: I adore you and you can do no wrong in this world! To those of you who frequently comment/chat with me about this crazy little world I accidentally made: I would happily burn the world to see you smile

Warnings: Lots of heavy emotions in this one - angst, guilt, angry, blame, got some profanity in there, and reference to child soldiers kinda

WC: 3,171

There was a rumor that the Kaminoan’s eyes could see colors humans simply couldn’t; that everything from the unblemished armor of shinies to the very reports endlessly updating on their communicators was overlaid with additional data invisible to those deemed a “lesser race.” That rumor left the identical, monotone halls of their cities feeling even more unwelcoming; as though secrets laid all around me, taunting my every step in some undeniable proof that their prejudiced beliefs held a merit I would never be able to fight, but I couldn’t bring myself to care about that anymore.

I roamed those immaculate halls aimlessly, purely for the want of letting myself get lost in them. The need to hide, to flee despite there being nowhere I could run drove me to wander endlessly through the most distant corridors, blindly staring at barracks that had long since been left abandoned as the production of clones lessened with every day that passed. Once, each of the countless rooms around me had been home to cadets too young to understand the horrors awaiting them, and I bleakly wondered how many of those children were now lost to the never-ending demand for sacrifice towards a goal that seemed just as distance now as it had during that very first battle.

I’d nearly walked past him, utterly oblivious to his presence until his helm shifted just enough to catch my attention, and, with a sharp gasp, I was ripped from the illusioned reprieve of my thoughts.

“Kriff!” The curse hissed through clenched teeth, wide eyes locking on the lithe figure leaning silently against the tiny inlet of a doorframe. That silence lingered until my panic withered into that too familiar dread, air catching in my lungs as I stood frozen before him.

“We’re leaving in an hour. Hunter sent you a com.” He stated, and I nearly broke from the chill in his raspy voice.

“I… I haven’t read it, yet…” I finally admitted, jaw stiff. I’d remembered how my heart had dropped at the alert for the incoming message, certain I’d find orders detailing my reassignment lingering within, and I hadn’t been able to bring myself to look. Crosshair said nothing for a long moment, and I had to fight the nervous dance of my fingers. Without another word, he turned and began to walk away, and a new panic overwhelmed me.

“Wait!” I gasped, body stealing a half-step toward him before locking up once more. He paused, but didn’t turn back, and I could feel something on the verge of shattering within me.

“I thought you said you didn’t regret it.” It was quiet, as though whispering those words might hide the hurt in them, and the air fled me in a shuttered exhale.

“I…” My throat locked around that choked word, and I cursed myself for faltering when I so desperately wanted to offer him some hint of reassurance, but I could only stare as his shoulders sank before starting through those sickeningly pristine halls once more.

“Wait…” I begged, voice barely audible, but he didn’t stop, and finally, my body remembered itself. “Wait! Wait, dammit! I don’t regret being with you!” I shouted, racing forward to cut him off. He said nothing as he stared down at me, that emotionless visor offering nothing of the warmth with which he’d looked at me just days prior, and I could feel myself wilt beneath it. Letting out a carefully controlled exhale, I reached up to remove my own helmet, robbing myself of what protection that barrier feigned to lay myself bare before him.

“They… they can’t even look at me, Crosshair…” I whispered, and I could see the dark circles beneath my eyes in the sliver of my reflection, “and I don’t… I don’t know how to deal with that.” I couldn’t breathe as I waited anxiously for some manner of response. When he finally began to move, that need surged anew within me, and I could only watch as his hand slowly reached up to trail lightly along my jaw until his palm rested against my cheek.

“I told you they’d figure it out.” A short scoff escaped me, and I couldn’t keep myself from shifting further into his touch. My lips parted, breath catching with the beginnings of speech, but I felt the words abandon me, too weary to force out a response. Instead, I let myself grasp his hand reverently between both of mine and turned just enough to press my lips firmly against his gloved palm, fingers tightening with a desperation I couldn’t risk giving voice as I listened to the air leave him in a slow sigh. Without a word, he pulled his hand away and wrapped his arms around me. I didn’t hesitate, eagerly pressing myself against him for that familiar comfort of his embrace.

“Every time that damn com went off…” I whispered hiding against the rigid planes of his chest plate as sobs vied to rob even those strained words from me, “I was so sure it was an alert that I’d been reassigned…” and, I couldn’t fight back the tiny hitch of a sob as his arms tightened.

“That’s not going to happen.” A hopeless huff of laughter escaped me, but when he called my name, I found my gaze automatically turning up to his, and I couldn’t bring myself to doubt him. “Just give them some time… Please.” How could I not yield beneath the raw need in his voice? I barely noticed the way my head subtly nodded against him, but that didn’t diminish the truth of the gesture. Of course, I would give them time. I would grant them as long as they needed regardless the way my heart twisted at the mere thought of subjecting myself to the terrible quiet they fell into at the very threat of my presence… I knew I could never leave them… any of them… not unless they told me to… I’d promised.

-

I’d hidden away in those abandoned halls for three days before he’d come to find me. Following him back to the hanger had the same taste as an akk dog being dragged home from the pound, and I couldn’t keep my gaze from studying the metal ramp below as we eventually reached the Marauder. I’d finally glanced at my datapad as we walked and found myself wishing I hadn’t. There were only two lines of text in that initial com: the time of the mission brief, which I’d missed, and the time we were meant to leave, which we only barely made it back by. A subsequent message appeared to summarize that brief, but I didn’t have time to more than open it.

As soon as the ramp locked into place, Crosshair pulled off his helmet and stored it in his gun locker. I started to do the same, but paused at the sudden quiet that stole through him once I’d removed my bucket, fingers absently shifting over the ridge where padding covered the unyielding plastoid. He said nothing as he stepped toward me, but I melted at the first feel of his hand slipping up the back of my neck to just tangle into the base of my hair as his lips pressed against my forehead. He held me like that until the ship began to rise, and then he left, silently disappearing into the cockpit where, I assumed, the rest of his brothers waited.

I knew those little moments of softness were, in part, merely an effort to distract me from the guilt ceaselessly twisting through my chest, but that realization didn’t lessen the warmth they granted me. I’d always believed there was more to him than the snarky, eternally unimpressed persona he so loved to flaunt about, but to find myself the subject of such gentle affection was something I would never weary of.

Finding myself alienated from his brothers, however, was a sorrow that contrasted so starkly with the thrill that lingered after Crosshair’s touch that I was left in a place of violently conflicting wants and regrets each too overwhelming to allow even a moment’s understanding of any one emotion. Part of me wanted to follow him, to plead some ignorance that the easy dynamic we’d fallen into hadn’t been shattered so effortlessly, but I couldn’t.

Images of the detached distance in Hunter’s eyes when he’d last looked at me sent me, instead, to the small kitchenette if only to busy myself with restocking menial items in some useless plight to distract myself. When those heavy footsteps sounded from down the hall, however, I found myself regretting that decision, despite how I loathed the thought of hiding away in the medbay again, but my heart raced at the thought of Wrecker coming to a sharp halt at the doorway, at the awkward silence that would fall as he tried to make some excuse to flee, and the coming devastation that would bring me.

I didn’t turn to him when he stopped just outside, attention carefully turned away from him to grant an easier escape, but he didn’t move. After a few tense seconds, I glanced hesitantly toward him, and found myself frozen at the quiet in those mismatched eyes as he looked at me.

“I was worried you weren’t coming back.” He murmured, and I had to turn away for a moment, lungs straining to draw in a steady breath before I could answer him.

“I was worried you might not want me to.” His broad shoulders dropped, automatically taking several steps nearer to me before catching himself.

“Of course, we do!” He said quickly, voice vainly forced into something of a hushed whisper. “It’s just… it’s hard, I guess… different… but that don’t mean we don’t want you around! Just… gotta figure out how everything fits, now, I guess…” Relief and turmoil warred through me as he stammered to explain, and I had to catch my lip between my teeth at the question that followed. “Is that why you stayed away?”

“I think… I think I was trying to figure out how things fit, too…” I answered, stumbling over the same inadequacy of spoken word to touch on the chaos and doubt that led me to wander those abandoned halls.

“… Crosshair… he makes you happy?” He asked suddenly, and my gaze instantly darted back up to find his focus staring blindly toward the too-small table meant to house half the number we’d so often crammed around it.

“… yeah… he does” I hated the hesitation in my voice, and found myself wanting to say more; to offer some promise that… that what? That it wasn’t that Wrecker didn’t make me happy? That the whirlwind of emotions storming relentlessly through me was so devastatingly confusing that I couldn’t begin to sort through them? That I had to bite my tongue to keep from begging him not to hate me? Trapped in that indecision, I allowed myself to say nothing at all, and his response nearly brought me to tears.

“That’s good.” There was still a subtle edge of sorrow in his voice, but I couldn’t doubt the sincerity of his words, which made them all the more painful to hear. “Things have been… hard lately - guess they always are, but… you and Cross… Yuh both needed something to be happy about. So, I’m happy for yuh… Just… sorry it took me a while to figure that out.”

My breath fled me in a broken sigh, and I instantly threw myself toward him, arms locking around his shoulders as my face hid against his neck. I felt him automatically move to return the embrace before freezing, body tense.

“Uh… is…” He stammered hesitantly. “Is it, yuh know… okay for me to-to hug yuh?” The laughter that escaped me sounded too akin to a sob, and I held him even tighter for it.

“Of course, it’s okay for you to hug me.” I said, voice dropping back into a whisper lest the words break, and some of that crippling weight finally slipped from my shoulders as he readily locked me against him.

“You look at the briefing, yet?” He asked after I finally released him, and I couldn’t help but notice the trace of tension hidden beneath that boisterous excitement.

“Not yet,” I replied, watching him carefully though I tried to keep the hesitation from my voice, “I was planning to read over it tonight. What’s the mission?”

“Just stealin’ files off’a some fancy database, but after I get to blow the whole thing up so they can’t figure out what we took!” There was an overzealousness to his too-quick response, a nervousness that I doubted many others would note, but I knew him, and, when I reached for my datapad to finally look through the message, I wasn’t surprised to hear the way his breath caught slightly in his throat. It took only a brief glance to understand why, and whatever traces of guilt within me went silent beneath my sudden rage.

“Hunter!” I shouted, already storming around Wrecker, blind to the way his face pulled into a barely restrained cringe. Two data ports needed to be spliced simultaneously at opposite sides of a large compound on an isolated world recently lost to Separatist forces. Crosshair was being dropped off on a nearby cliffside to provide cover and report troop movement, while Wrecker would begin placing munitions strategically throughout the facility. Hunter and Tech would infiltrate the northern port, and Echo the southern one nearest Crosshair’s position. Meanwhile, I was meant to remain on the Marauder as “backup”.

“What the kriff is this?!” I snapped. He was just cresting the cockpit ladder as I approached with my datapad clutched in my hand.

“If you’d been at the briefing, you wouldn’t be asking that.” He retorted, arms crossing over his chest as he stared down at me.

“Oh kriff you, Hunter!” I snarled, numb to the hurt I knew I should have felt at the feigned impatience in those eyes. His brow twitched briefly together, but he offered no further response. “You’re leaving Echo practically defenseless!”

“Echo is an arc trooper. He’s more than capable of taking care of himself.” He replied blankly.

“Not when he’s plugged in!” My words reverberated slightly against the metal walls, and some part of me wanted to feel guilty for how his sensitive hearing surely ached because of it, but I couldn’t stop myself. “The instant he’s connected, his reaction time-”

“Is still better than yours.” He interrupted harshly. My jaw snapped shut, heart pounding against my chest as he began walking toward me, movements slowed beneath a purposeful intent, exhibiting every ounce of the intimidating, elite soldier he’d been painstakingly created to encompass, but my anger, my dread that something would happen, that his benching me might cost his life or the life of one of his brothers forbade me from yielding, from feeling even a whisper of fear as I stared him down.

“Until we figure this out, you’re a liability. I can’t have them distracted out there in the middle of a mission just because you don’t want to feel left out.” He continued, voice sharp, and I wanted to spit at the word ‘they,’ balking at the vain implication that he’d managed to convince any one of us that he was somehow unaffected. “Unless you want to go running off somewhere again, we can try to figure this out after, but we’re set to land in four hours, and I’m not spending that time playing mediator when we need to be focused on not getting killed.”

Later, the silence that fell between us would break me. Later, I would remember the way my hands clenched into fists as I glared at the man before me with an animosity that, just days prior, I would have thought impossible. Later, I would remember that I was to blame for the crippling discordance that so effortlessly brought our unbreakable family to ruin. In that moment, however, I wanted to hurt him for all the ways I was hurting, and I hated myself for it.

“This is a mistake, Hunter.” The words left in a strained growl, teeth clacking as my jaw snapped around his name. “You know that… and it’s going get one of them killed.” His lips tensed with the beginnings of a scowl just as his attention shifted ever so slightly behind him.

I couldn’t hear what was said, but I held no doubt that that was the intent, that one of his brothers had murmured some warning or plea before he could offer whatever justifiably harsh retort lay seething atop his tongue, and I was glad I couldn’t hear them. If it was Crosshair, would I have lashed out against his attempt to protect me? If I’d heard Tech recant some psychological study dismissing my concerns in favor of Hunter’s logic, would I have yelled at him with that same vehemence? Or if Echo… I couldn’t… I couldn’t do this… I couldn’t breathe beneath the sudden certainty that I was alone in that moment… that I had no one to turn to as my thoughts cascaded into a darkness I feared would consume me.

Gaze falling to metal flooring forever stained with oil and grime and far too much blood as my chest tightened into a vise around my heart, I found myself frozen for a mere second longer before turning away from him. He made no effort to stop me. I didn’t think I could have stopped even if he had. I needed to think… no… I needed to run; to hide… I needed to escape the unspoken accusation in his eyes. I needed to escape the nightmare of my own thoughts berating me for each word that fell so thoughtlessly from my lips, the terror that Hunter was right, that I’d turned myself into the deadly distraction I’d so feared becoming all those months back. I needed to escape this faltering reality as the consequences of my own actions threatened to rip my very sense of self from hands I still couldn’t manage to unclench.

It wasn’t until hearing the quiet beep of the medbay’s door denying entry that I even realized I’d locked it behind me, and I instantly knew who stood just beyond that wall of chilled metal. Wrecker would have called out, and I doubted the others were quite ready to speak to me directly yet. I knew it was Crosshair; knew that he stood there waiting to see if I’d yield, but the seconds turned into minutes, and I made no effort to haul myself from where I sat tucked against the corner, fingers tangled into my hair as I merely let myself hurt beneath the weight of everything I’d lost, everything it felt like I was still losing. I heard his fist fall lightly against the door just once before, after a final moment of denial, treading slowly back down the hall.

Look at this adorable FANART!!! - Thank you so much @mythical-illustrator!!

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Lullaby (2,705 Words)

More ba'buir Hunter? Your wish is my command!

This fic is heavily inspired by the song 'Kristoff Lullaby' from Frozen the Musical. If you want to read my short rant about how it suits a parent/child dynamic better than a romantic one, the link is here.

Omega experiences what Hunter calls 'the moment' and is reminded of the time that he realised Omega was more of a daughter than a little (big) sister. Lots of fluff and tiny baby Mina just for good measure!

As always, the link to my AO3 is here and the link to my masterlist on Tumblr is here.

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It was about a month into Mina’s life when it happened… when Omega had what Hunter liked to call ‘the moment.’ 

He had been woken up at around two in the morning; painfully early for him, but also unexpected. In the years since his retirement from fighting, Hunter had learned to enjoy a good night’s sleep and even though he was still a light sleeper, it was taking more to wake him now. For a moment he was confused as to why he was awake…

… until he heard the small whimpers of a baby coming from downstairs. Mina was up. Distantly, Hunter could also hear Omega humming a familiar tune that sent him spiralling back to a time when he had hummed the same song to soothe her to sleep after a nightmare.

Creeping out of his bed, he snuck downstairs and towards the living room; there, he spotted a sight that made his eyes water a little with sentimental tears.

There, in her pyjamas, was his daughter cradling her daughter as she swayed slowly and hummed a lullaby. Hunter could make out both of their heartbeats, Mina’s telling him that she had just fallen into a deep sleep once more. Omega’s, on the other hand, was slightly raised.

Hunter raised an eyebrow at this, wondering what could possibly be going on, but his question was answered when he heard small sniffle. His little girl was crying.

Coming out of hiding from his spot in the doorway, Hunter entered the room and went to stand in front of Omega. She had slow tears rolling down her cheeks and an unreadable expression painted across her face. Concern mounting inside of him, he reached out to brush away the tears with his thumb and smiled reassuringly at her.

“Everything okay, ad’ika?” he asked, trying not to sound too worried. “Everything okay with Mina?” He was met with silent nods as Omega smiled adoringly down at her daughter. Relief coursed through his veins, though that still didn’t answer the question of why she was crying. 

There was a moments pause, and Hunter was beginning to get fidgety before Omega eventually answered his question.

“I just love her so much, it’s like I can’t breathe.”

In that moment, Hunter smiled softly at his kid. His daughter, who he was pretty sure had caused most of his grey hairs, so completely and utterly in love with her own child. The thought made his heart swell, especially when he remembered the moment he had started thinking of Omega as his daughter rather than his little sister…

——

(Many Years Earlier)

Sunsets on Pabu were beautiful, Hunter thought to himself as he sat perched on the sea wall. The way the sun reflected off of the sea as it peacefully rolled in and out served as a reminder of how peaceful their lives could be if they accepted Shep’s offer of a place to stay permanently. 

“As a father, there isn’t a better place to raise a child,” he had said to Hunter as though the clone was a father himself. He didn’t correct the mayor, of course. It would be rude to correct someone who’s hospitality had been so great. And it’s not like this was the first time Omega had been mistaken for his kid. Only this time was the first time he had noticed Omega glancing at him with stars in her eyes as Shep made the comment…

In truth, he knew that the way he acted around the kid was different to the way his brothers did; Wrecker, Tech and Echo all acted towards her in a way he quite often saw in his interactions with them. Playful and teasing, lighthearted and caring. They were the ones she teased about being older than, the ones she played with or asked questions to. These interactions, once upon a time, had made Hunter jealous. How had his brothers managed to fall into the role of big brother so easily when all he could process around Omega was his stuttering heartbeat and the feeling of not being able to breathe unless she was safe? They were naturals at this, and it felt as though he was inadequate when it came to being the family member he wanted to be.

That was until the first comment had been made about Hunter being Omega’s father. She had gotten lost at the market and the wild terror in the sergeant’s eyes had alerted a kind shop-keeper. He had helped Hunter find the little clone, who had gone running into his arms sobbing and saying she was sorry for running away. She had been so little and so scared… it wasn’t long after their interaction with Cad Bane, so Omega was extra nervous about getting separated from her family. The shop-keeper smiled knowingly at Hunter’s thank yous, and had made the comment that had started the ball slowly rolling:

“Anytime. I’m a father. I know how nerve-wracking it can be to think your child’s missing.”

That night, Hunter had been mulling over the phrase as he tucked Omega into bed… that was something that she always wanted him to do, he realised. Never Wrecker, Tech or Echo. Always Hunter. Now that he thought about it, there were a few things he and Omega did that the others didn’t; she always asked for him when she’d had a nightmare and would curl up in his lap as he swayed his chair slowly. When she had grazed her knee, it was him she’d gone to and tearfully asked him to make it better. When she was ill, she wanted him and she clung to him like her life depended on it… Omega’s relationship with Hunter was different from the one she had with her other brothers, but that didn’t mean that Hunter was inadequate, not be any stretch. 

If anything, it made him special.

“What’re you thinking about?” a small voice pulled him out of his thoughts and into the present again. There, stood next to the sea wall, was Omega with a curious look on her face. She nimbly clambered over the wall and perched next to him, shuffling close so that she could hold him for support if she needed to. Hunter didn’t really know how to respond at first. How did one just turn to the kid that he’d practically adopted and tell her that he thought of her as his daughter? It wasn’t exactly a casual conversation to be having. 

“Just thinking about when we first met you,” he replied; not technically a lie. Omega nodded, her short, blonde hair waving in the breeze. “You’ve grown a lot since then, kid.”

Smiling, the young clone glanced down at herself. She was wearing her favourite outfit, the first one she had chosen and owned. She had sprouted not long after the fall of Kamino, which was a good thing really. She had needed new clothes and this gave them the perfect excuse to get them for her. Her favourite part of the ensemble was, of course, Hunter’s spare bandanna that she wore around her wrist. 

“We’ve had a lot of fun,” she replied with a small laugh. “I’m guessing you don’t regret letting me tag along all that time ago? I really thought you wanted to get rid of me when you tried to send me away with Cut and Suu.”

Regret washed over Hunter; he had never been so glad that Omega had chosen to come with them, even after he’d tried sending her away. He couldn’t imagine life without her now, though thinking about it made him go misty-eyed.

“‘Course not, kid. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me,” he cleared his throat as he spoke. The little girl glanced up at him, eyes wide at his admission. Hunter smiled down at her as she shuffled closer to him, forcing him to put his arm around her. 

“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” she whispered back, just loud enough for him to hear. “You’re not like the others… they’re amazing and I’m so proud to have them as my brothers but you’re different, Hunter.”

The man in question could feel his heart hammering out of his chest as he processed what was being said. Summoning his courage, he forced himself to remain calm as he tried to figure out what to say next. Turns out, he didn’t need to, because Omega wasn’t done talking; she buried her face in his side, nerves becoming apparent as she whispered a question that only he could hear. Hunter’s heart swelled and he blinked back the tears he could feel threatening to fall.

“Of course you can call me that, ad’ika,” he answered with a proud expression on his face. His little girl glanced up, stars in her eyes in the way that it had been when Shep had called him her father. She squeezed him tight, a grin on her face.

“Love you, buir.”

“Love you too, ‘Mega.”

That night, Hunter had tucked Omega into her bed in the house Shep had let them borrow. She had smiled sleepily as she wished him a goodnight and shuffled further under the covers. Her buir then went and sat in the living room of the home, his head resting against the back of the couch. His peace hadn’t lasted long, as not even an hour later, light footsteps padding down the stairs could be heard. Glancing up from his spot, he saw Omega pattering down the stairs and creeping into the living room like she wasn’t going to be spotted.

“Everything okay, ad’ika?” he asked, raising a concerned eyebrow. Omega nodded, wrapping her blanket further around her shoulders; she had Lula clutched in her arms as she clambered onto the couch and curled up next to Hunter

“Being in a bed is weird,” she whispered. “I can’t hear any of the normal sounds.” 

Hunter nodded his understanding. Being in a house was weird when all he and his brothers had known was the sterile labs on Kamino and the Marauder. He wrapped an arm around his kid, letting her curl further into his side as she settled once more. 

“You’re gonna get a sore neck if you fall asleep here,” he warned, but he didn’t really want her to move. Her response was a yawn and a shrug as if to say ‘I don’t care.’ Before long, Omega was drifting into a light sleep, her sleepy muttering only just audible.

“Goodnight, buir. I’m lucky to have you as my buir…”

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Hunter summoned the courage to reply. 

“Goodnight, ad’ika. Sweet dreams.” He pressed a light kiss to her hairline before resting his head back against the couch cushions. His eyes felt heavy and his heart felt full. A short nap here wouldn’t hurt, he mused to himself as he too drifted off…

… of course, that short nap turned into a deep, deep sleep.

Hours later, Hunter distantly heard Tech and Phee whispering as they crept past the soldier-turned-father and his daughter. One of them, Tech he thought, paused for a moment.

“What?” Phee asked, trying desperately to keep her voice down. Even with his eyes closed, Hunter could tell that Tech had one of his small, knowing smiles on his face.

“I believe,” he started in an equally quiet tone. “That Hunter has finally realised.”

“Realised what?”

“That he isn’t Omega’s older brother… I thought it was obvious from the way he acted around her, but he has remained pretty oblivious until our arrival here.”

There was a pause and a gentle huff of laughter left Phee. “Pabu has that affect on people,” she replied, a smile in her voice and Hunter could just tell that she was making what Wrecker would call ‘heart eyes’ at Tech.

The pair continued to sneak through the house; Hunter decided that he would store that information for later and enjoy using it to tease his brother. For now, he just wanted this moment with his daughter to last forever.

——

(Present Day)

Hunter couldn’t help the smile on his face as  stepped forward and pressed a gentle kiss against Omega’s hairline. The baby in her arms stirred slightly, her face twitching at a brief discomfort before she settled back into a deep, dreamless sleep. Her ba’buir kissed her forehead too, before Omega offered her to him. He gently held the little girl in his arms, revelling in her tiny nose and little tuft of slowly growing blonde hair. Mina was definitely her mothers’ daughter, that much was for sure. 

“That lullaby you were humming,” Hunter mentioned softly as he glanced up at his daughter. “The one I used to hum to you when you’d had nightmares.”

In reality, Hunter had memorised the tune and hummed it most nights after Omega had been rescued from Tantiss… both times. It had become the soundtrack to his evenings spent trying to soothe his little girl to sleep. She had gone through a period of refusing to go to bed at all, and when she eventually did collapse out of exhaustion she experienced the most twisted and disturbed nightmares. Nights on Pabu were full of tears and battling sleep, all the while Hunter would soothe his daughter with a simple melody he had memorised and long forgotten the words. 

The woman in front of him nodded, clearly thinking back as well.

“I want her to know that it’s a comfort,” she replied. “That it’s a sign that she’ll never be alone and that I’ll never let anyone hurt her.” Hunter pulled a face, guilt filling him, but Omega stopped his thoughts short. “You don’t need to blame yourself for what happened to me, buir,” she insisted in a hushed tone. “It’s over now, and I have Mina and you and Crosshair and Wrecker and Echo.” She grinned. “Besides, your bu’ad doesn’t like seeing her ba’buir sad.”

As if by magic, Mina whimpered in her grandfather’s arms and he panicked a little before swaying with her and humming the same melody Omega had been. Before long, the tiny baby was asleep once more.

“I really am so lucky to have you,” Omega whispered as she observed Hunter with the baby. “Mina’s lucky to have you too, ba’buir.” She still teased him about his title of grandfather, even though he wore it like a badge of honour. Hunter rolled his eyes and smiled fondly at his daughter.

“And I’m lucky to have you, ad’ika,” he replied. “Mina couldn’t have a more perfect mother.” Omega snorted and went to protest, but he cut her off. “Omega. She couldn’t ask for better,” he insisted. His little girl’s eyes watered slightly as she smiled, taking Mina off of her ba’buir. She reached up and pecked him on the cheek before wishing him goodnight and heading back to bed with her now sleeping child. 

Feeling restless, Hunter decided that he was going to go and sit outside.

He eventually found himself outside, on the roof of their home; it was something he had started doing when Omega had been rescued from Tantiss for the second time. Watching the stars had always been soothing, and doing it from the safety of his home only improved the experience.

As he watched them tonight, he thought of his brother and the words he had whispered to Phee all those years ago. He smiled sadly as he thought about Omega and how much Tech had missed…

“Omega’s finally realised, Tech,” he spoke softly to the stars. “It’s finally hit her.” He chuckled. “You’d be so proud of her, I know you are.” 

It looked as though the stars twinkled just a little bit more as he spoke, almost like they were listening to his conversation and replying to him.

‘I’m always proud of her.’

Laying back and sighing, Hunter allowed the cover of the stars and the gentle, warm breeze lull him into a light sleep. He was sure that his back wouldn’t thank him later, but he couldn’t bring himself to care in that moment. His eyes heavy and his heart full, he fell asleep thinking of how lucky he was to have his family.

[snippy-tano]

hey snips! I've noticed that you haven't written anything about good ol' sergeant Hunter and I was wondering if you could do a Hunter x female senator maybe? In which the senator is placed under the Bad Batch's protection and the sarg falls head over heels for the reader? Thx 💗

so. this one kind of got away from me.

i didn't realize how long it ended up being until the end. sorry not sorry. part of me was like, i should make this more than one part, but then i decided against it and just figured it would be a helluva a long one-shot. either way, i hope y'all like it!

this ask has been in my inbox for a while, so i apologize for that. maybe it's tbb being on that got me in a hunter mood. oh well. i'm not going to complain. i hope you like it anon! let me know what y'all think! or if you want to see more hunter! *wink wink*

((as some warnings, there are threats against the reader's life. nothing specific, but it is talked about quite frequently as there is someone out there threatening her life. also, someone does get injured over the course of this one-shot and there's some canon typical violence. just want to cover my bases!))

masterlist is here!

taglist is here!

tagging: @pro-fangirls-unsocial-life; @marvel-starwars-nerd; @mackstrut; @dissapointingpancake; @ahsokatano-thetogruta; @welcometothepedroverse; @lightningwolffe; @fractiouskat; @mandaloriandin; @lussyyung; @lowkeyodinsong; @str-wrs-fics; @bantha-shit; @badbatch-simp24; @katelynnwrites; @s1st3r; @leotatombs; @torchbearerkyle; @rain-on-kamino; @the-navistar-carol; @bombshe77; @arctrooper69; @social-mockingbird

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Of Senators and Sergeants

The threats against your life were just that, blank threats from individuals determined to slow you down. But they would never slow you down. The now near constant threats showed that you were on the right track. Clearly there were individuals who wanted you to stop digging, stop pursuing the answer, but that was never going to happen. 

They would have to make true their threats for that to happen, and you doubted they had the guts to do that. 

But your aides were worried. 

And because they were worried about the threats and your seemingly lack of interest in the threats, they reached out to the Jedi Council about providing protection. 

You didn’t like that. You didn’t need the protection and the Jedi were busy with the war effort. You were a senator from a small mid-rim planet with hardly any pull within the senate. You didn’t need a Jedi to be pulled from work that was benefiting the galaxy just to babysit you. 

Thankfully the Council expressed something similar, stating they didn’t have any qualified Jedi handy to keep an eye on you. Which was fine. You didn’t need to be watched. 

Unfortunately, they did assign a clone unit to act as your protection until the threats stopped. Apparently they had been on a few continuous missions and needed a “break” from the specialty missions they were always assigned to. 

You weren’t against the clones, not at all. You admired their skill and brotherhood. You only wished they weren’t forced to fight in a war. 

You were sitting at your desk when Hana, your closest aide, entered. “The unit assigned to protect you is here.”

You let out a sigh. “Show them in please.”

After setting aside your holopad and flimsi, you stood up just as the doors opened and four troopers walked in. You hadn’t been given much information on the men assigned to keep an eye on you. Just the name: Clone Force 99.

Of course you were beyond curious and spent many nights curled up in your apartment, when you should have been sleeping, researching the unit. You came to learn they handled incredibly specific missions designed for delicate care. It didn’t always turn out exactly like planned, but they had a near perfect success rate. Their unofficial name was the Bad Batch. 

Honestly, the more you read about them, the more curious you became. Maybe this wouldn’t be the worst outcome.

“Welcome.” You said with a smile, walking around your desk to greet the four men. “I may not agree with needing protection, but I appreciate your coming.”

“Just doing our job ma’am.” The one in the center said, his bucket tucked neatly under his arm. You met his gaze and gave him a smile.

“Thank you Sergeant Hunter.” 

“Wait, you know him?” The tallest (and biggest) man said, only to be elbowed by the one with a tattoo of a bullseye over his eye. 

You smiled softly. “Not officially. When I learned you were assigned to me, I did some research. It is nice to meet all of you. I again apologize you have to take a break from missions that actually matter to babysit me.”

“Every mission is vital to us.” The man with yellow goggles stated, Tech if you remembered correctly.

“You keep saying you were against protection, may I ask why?” Sergeant Hunter asked and you let out an empty chuckle. You waved to Hana who nodded before leaving. Then you headed back to stand behind your desk.

“I was against protection. Clearly I am on the right path with my inquiries and I do not believe I am in any real danger.” You said, picking up your holopad. 

“Your life has been threatened quite extensively. And the threats were incredibly descriptive and accelerating in quantity.” Tech said, looking up from his data pad. 

“They are just that, threats. I do not believe I am in any real danger. They are trying to get me to stop digging into their illegal exploitation of my planet and I will not be easily startled.” You stated. 

“What exactly are they doing on your planet?” Crosshair asked, playing with the small toothpick in his mouth. 

You sighed. “They have been smuggling spice through our agriculture exports. Normally, our police would have put a stop to this sooner, but I fear that the local police have been bought off. It was brought to my attention by several of my constituents who have been starving. With spice being moved instead of produce, their livelihoods have been disrupted. And with the added pressure of the war effort, my people have been suffering.”

“Isn’t that a job for your governor?” Sergeant Hunter asked. “I mean, you’re just a senator.”

“You’re right. This should be the governor’s responsibility. But the current governor could care less. As long as money is still moving and his expensive taste is quenched, he does not bother.” You said. “I am getting close to determining who is responsible, but I cannot quite seem to find the last remaining piece. Your assignment to me was urgent because I plan on returning home tomorrow. There is only so much I can do from my office here. I hope that by going home I will finally be able to put an end to this.”

“Tech, Hana has a copy of my itinerary. Right now, we have an official itinerary that is just a diversion. According to that, I am attending a conference on Naboo. My actual travel plans are only known by her and myself. If you would like copies of both, please see her. From what I read, you seemed to be the logistical member of your team.” You said, turning to the man who looked up from his datapad.

“Excellent observation. I am indeed.”

“More like the most annoying member.” Wrecker laughed loudly.

“I do not see how being logical is the same as being annoying.”

“That’s because you’re annoying.” 

“Alright. Tech, go get both schedules. Wrecker, go with him, but keep the arguing to a minimum. Check the hallways while you’re at it.” Sergeant Hunter jumped in and the two left, still bickering. “Cross-“

“-I know. Go check the departure location. There won’t be any surprises tomorrow.” Crosshair said before turning and leaving. The door shut behind him and you continued to flip through your flimsi.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Sergeant Hunter spoke and it startled you slightly. You let out a sigh, hands stilling. “I read some of the threats, Tech was being generous with his description. Anyone would be afraid or at least concerned.”

“I appreciate the concern but I am not afraid or concerned. They are just threats. It will take more than empty words to sway me. I will be fine once my people are no longer suffering.” 

He clearly wanted to pry further, but you quickly brought him up to speed on everything you had found so far. He didn’t quite buy your distraction, but didn’t fight it. You knew he would likely bring up your blasé attitude towards these threats again, but for now, he at least was offering some assistance. 

By the end of your work day, Sergeant Hunter and Wrecker accompanied you to your apartment. You waited patiently with Wrecker, chatting with him pleasantly while the tracking expert cleared your apartment. He returned a few moments later.

“I didn’t see anything. We should be alright to enter.” He said and you strode right past him.

“See? They’re just threats.”

You didn’t give him a chance to answer before you headed into the kitchen. You pulled out a few already prepped meals and placed them on the counter. “This is for you as well. Please make sure you get something to eat. I am going to wash up and get ready for bed.”

Sergeant Hunter nodded. “Wrecker will keep watch outside your apartment and Tech and Crosshair will be on a nearby rooftop. I’ll stay here to keep watch. You will be safe.”

You gave him a nod of thanks, grabbing a piece of fruit before heading for your room and closing the door. You slumped against the door, letting out a shaky breath. 

Was this really a good idea? Were you over your head and out of your depth? 

You shook your head before pushing off the door. Now wasn’t the time to think like that. You were so close to finding out. You couldn’t give up now. 

You spent the rest of the evening taking a long turn in the refresher, packing a light bag, and reviewing all the documents you had gathered up until this point. Earlier, you had sent the records to Tech after he assured you his datapad was unhackable and untraceable. It was nice to know that the Bad Batch was not only protecting you, but had realized they wouldn’t be able to stop you and had opted to assist you in your goal. You only hoped they didn’t end up regretting it.

There was a soft tap on your door just after midnight. You lowered your datapad and called them to enter. 

Sergeant Hunter stepped in, not fully entering and keeping his eyes downcast. “Everything seems to be clear. If anything happens or you think you hear something-“

“Don’t worry Sergeant. I will call for you immediately.” You reassured and he nodded once before closing the door. You took another deep breath before setting aside your reading glasses and datapad, flicking off the light.

Maybe tonight you’ll actually get some sleep. Although you weren’t holding your breath.

-----------------

You must have dozed because you awoke to the sound of scratching at your window.

It snapped you awake instantly. You have lived here for years. You knew what sounds to expect for the area you lived in. And those were not normal. 

Your heart began to race and you worked to keep your breathing even and not show signs that you were awake. Fighting against all of your instincts to act immediately, you slowly moved your hand under your pillow, fingers closing around the blaster you kept there. 

Your entire body was tensed, ready to move at a moment's notice. And then it came. You heard the sound of the window being opened and you moved. You rolled out of bed and immediately fired two shots at the window. There was a shout from the figure at the window and you were forced to duck down when they returned several shots. Your bedroom door burst open and more shots were fired. 

There was a brief break in the firing from the window and you peered back over the edge of the bed and fired. A body slammed into you and you were forced to the floor as more shots hit the wall opposite the window. 

“Tech! Crosshair! Do you have eyes on them?” Sergeant Hunter shouted near your ear and you winced. 

There was a muffled response and then silence. 

You let out a breath of relief, slumping further against the floor. You opened your eyes to see Hunter already looking down at you. His body covering yours.

“Still think they’re just threats?” 

You supposed you deserved that. 

-----------------

You didn’t sleep the rest of the night. Once Sergeant Hunter had deemed it safe, he let you up from the floor and quickly ushered you into the living room. A blanket had been placed around your shoulders and reports from the rest of the batch trickled in. 

They weren’t able to catch the culprit, but did find a few clues that may help point you in the direction of whoever hired them. Apparently even though they had been injured, likely from one of your shots, they were able to get away with help. The rest of the batch returned and set up a post much closer to the apartment. 

You didn’t report the attack.

Sergeant Hunter had insisted, but you didn’t want anyone finding out because then security would tighten around you. You needed the freedom to move around when you got to your home planet. He also tried to talk you out of continuing with your plan, but you promptly ignored him.

The plans however, did change. 

“I don’t like this idea, Hana.” You spoke to your closest aide who smiled sadly. 

“You don’t have to like it. But it is what we are doing.”

After Hana found out about the attack, she insisted the plans change. Your official schedule still reflected a trip to Naboo, but instead of just no one attending in your place, Hana had insisted she go in your stead. 

“Hana.”

“I am doing this Senator.” She said, placing her hand on your arm. “The guards will not know the difference. We need to make whoever attacked you think you are traveling to Naboo.”

You sighed. She was right, you just didn’t like it. It was one thing to place yourself in danger, it was another to ask a friend to do the same. “I spoke with Senator Amidala. Once you arrive, she will send for you and you will hide out at her private residence until everything has been resolved.”

“I appreciate that.” Hana turned to Sergeant Hunter. “Please make sure she does not get into any more trouble.”

“Hey!”

“I will ma’am.”

You crossed your arms, huffing in annoyance. Hana merely smiled at you. You pulled her into a quick hug. “Please stay safe.”

“You too, Senator.” 

You pulled back, sniffling. You turned to the Sergeant. “I’m ready.”

And then the pair of you left. You and Hana had swapped clothes before leaving, but you still pulled up your hood to conceal your face. With the attack the night before, it had been decided that it would be best for the Bad Batch to take you to your home planet themselves. They had their own ship and hopefully those who were trying to kill you didn’t know that they were assigned to your protective detail. It was easier to control the situation with their own ship versus risking public transport. 

Before you knew it, you were aboard their ship and on the way to your home planet. 

The Batch for the most part left you alone. Wrecker had made a big show of giving you the best seat on the ship, aka the empty bunk towards the back of the ship. It wasn’t much, but it was sweet of him to try to make things a bit more comfortable for you. 

About halfway through the trip, Sergeant Hunter came to check in on you. 

“That was some pretty good shooting.” He said, startling you out of your review of your findings so far.

You felt your cheeks warm involuntarily and looked back down at your datapad. “It could have been better.”

“You still managed to hit the assailant, which isn’t easy to do, especially without training.”

“Who says I’m not trained?” You replied and he chuckled once.

“You may have been taught to shoot a blaster and have pretty good aim, but there’s a difference between that and proper training.” He said, taking a seat on the steps that lead up into the bunk you were sitting in. 

“Is that a challenge, Sergeant?”

“Maybe it is.”

“Consider the challenge accepted. If I survive this, you’ll have to train me properly.” You returned to your datapad.

“Is there a reason you’re so set on proving this, even at risk of your own life? It seems you don’t care much for what happens to you.” Hunter said after a moment of silence and you clenched the datapad a little bit tighter.

“Incredibly bold of you to say Sergeant.”

“I’ve never been once to mince my words. Want to answer my question?” He countered and you let out a sigh.

“My people have always gotten the short end of the stick, ever since I was little. We always were the last to receive aid and no one really seemed to care about our concerns. I wanted to become a Senator so I could fight for my people the way no one else seemed to be willing. This is happening under my watch. I need to fix it for their sake. I don’t care what happens to me as long as my people can live without fear of starving or suffering.” You said, biting on your lip. “It’s foolish, I know, to think I can make a difference. But I have to try.”

“I think it’s admirable.” Hunter said and you looked up at him in surprise. “I don’t agree with your disregard for your own life, but I can admire your desire to give your people the best life they can have. We’ll do our best to help you and keep you alive to see the results Senator.”

You smiled softly. “Thank you Sergeant. Also, thank you for last night.”

Hunter shifted on the steps, clearing his throat and not looking at you. “It was no problem.”

“Still. If we all make it out of this, I will treat all of you to a meal. I promise.” 

He smiled and you could feel your heart stutter for a moment. But you quickly pushed it away. Now was not the time for heart skip at the smile of an attractive Sergeant. You had more important things to worry about. 

“Hunter?” Came Tech’s voice from the front of the ship. “We’ve arrived.”

-----------------

It was decided not long after landing that was best to split up, but stay relatively close.

Your research pointed to two possible locations of where the smuggling was centered. One seemed to be more heavily fortified and the other was just a hunch of yours and likely wouldn’t pan out. Sergeant Hunter had tried to convince you to stay behind, but you insisted on coming. Besides, if something happened when they were gone, you would be all alone.

Sure you could have handled it, but it was enough to convince Hunter to let you go along. Tech, Crosshair, and Wrecker would go for the more heavily fortified location of the docks. Hunter would accompany you to the location of your hunch. You didn’t know if it would pan out, but you had an unshakable feeling about the small seemingly normal storage unit. 

After promising to maintain communication, the groups set off. 

Your walk to the unit was quiet. It was late evening and most people had retired to their homes for the night. Which meant your walk was pleasant. Of course you were nervous of what you would find and hoped that you were right. Your people depended on it. 

You both arrived near the storage unit relatively quickly. Hunter held up a fist to stop you both and motioned you to follow quietly. Your hand tightened around your blaster as you followed. 

The storage unit area was empty, which was a bit strange. There was no one that you could see and you knew from your research that this place was usually pretty busy. It was enough to unnerve you. 

The unit you were looking for was towards the back and in a dimly lit area. Hunter again motioned you to stay put and you obeyed, knowing he had more experience than you in this area. He listened against the door to the unit, before coming back to where you hid. 

“I hear voices inside, but they’re faint. Almost like-”

“-there’s a secret unit and this is just the door.” You finished and he nodded. 

“I think your hunch was right.” 

That sent a swell of pride surging through you. You had been right. Something was going on and it did stem from here.

“Do we call the others?” You whispered, leaning closer.

He nodded. “I’ll send them a comm. We’ll wait until they get here and then investigate.” 

You were about to agree when the door to the unit suddenly opened. Hunter’s hand found your shoulder and pushed you down, him following the motion. You could feel him behind you, eyes trained through the small gap of the crates you were crouching behind. 

“-we need to move the supplies quickly.” came a voice and your blood ran cold.

Hunter must have felt you tense because he squeezed your shoulder. “What?” He breathed in your ear and you turned your head to look at him, nose brushing his chin.

“That’s the governor.” 

The only reaction Hunter had was squeezing your shoulder again. You turned back to listen to the conversation and heard Hunter tap at his comm unit. 

“Did you take care of the Senator?” The governor asked, clear disdain in his voice. 

You winced slightly. Sure the governor and you didn’t exactly get along, but you didn’t think he had this much contempt for you. You didn’t think he cared enough to want you dead. But maybe you didn’t really know him at all.

“They were unable to kill her, but they tracked her to Naboo and will act soon.”

You were moving before you realized it. Even Hunter wasn’t able to stop you in time. 

“It’s over, governor.” Your voice surprised the few individuals at the door to the unit, including the governor. 

His surprise was quickly swallowed when he sneered at you. “I shouldn’t be surprised you managed to sneak on to the planet, you always were a nuisance.” 

“You will be punished for this.”

He had the nerve to laugh. “No I won’t. Because you will never make it out of here alive.” 

The men who were with him reached for their guns and once again, you were faster. You had shot one down and were shooting at the next by the time they drew their weapons. Hunter appeared beside you, shooting at the men that must have come from behind. The governor turned and began to ran, several men flanking him.

“Hunter!” You cried and he turned to look. 

“Go! I’m right behind you!”

You moved immediately, chasing after him. For being such an old hermit, the governor sure moved fast. You caught up to him just outside of the units where a ship was waiting for him. You shot at one of the men with him, making them fall.

“Stop right there!” 

The governor stopped at your words, slowly turning. He was still sneering at you. 

“What do you hope to accomplish here? Even if I go down, the smuggling will continue. We are deeply entrenched here, nothing you can do will change that.” He said and you tightened your grip on your blaster. 

“Doesn’t matter. I will not stop until the people are no longer suffering.” 

He laughed.

“Hard to do that when you’re dead.” 

You saw a flash of light and tried to duck, but this time you weren’t fast enough. A blaster bolt hit your arm and you fell backwards. You heard your name yelled and blinked open your eyes to see the Sergeant. His arm was supporting your back and pressing down on your wound.

“Hunter, he-” You started only for him to catch your pointing hand.

“It’s alright, I got him. He’s stunned. You did it.”

You let your head fall back, relief once again washing over you. You lifted your head to see Hunter watching you with worry, his hand still clutching yours.

Another flash of movement caught your eye and you saw one of the criminals getting up and raising a blaster at Hunter’s exposed back. You lunged for Hunter’s discarded blaster and shot, striking the man down before he had the chance to take the shot. 

The Sergeant turned in time to see the man drop. He turned back to you as you dropped the blaster.

“Still think I need training?”

Hunter laughed and you felt yourself relax, vision starting to go dark. You could have sworn you heard him say something else, but it was lost to the ether as you slipped into unconsciousness. 

In the days that followed, a clone battalion was dispatched and began weeding out the corruption that existed under the governor’s guidance. It didn’t take long, once he realized he was done for, he practically outed everyone without stopping to breathe. 

Hana had commed you later in the days following to report that she was fine and would be returning to Coruscant to wait for you. You opted to stay a few days to make sure everything was taken care of. Your blaster wound was purely cosmetic, just a graze. It will likely scar, but you would have no other issues from it. 

The Bad Batch had stuck around to help as well and then offered to escort you back to Coruscant. You were going to decline, but they had insisted and you found it was hard to say no to Wrecker, so you obliged. 

It was your first day back at the Senate and your door was practically a revolving door with the amount of Senator’s coming to commend you on your actions. Some were genuine, some you could tell they wanted you on their side when it came to upcoming voting. You smiled at all of them and kept your answers as curt as possible. It was better this way. 

Late in the afternoon the visits finally stopped and you were able to get some actual work done. 

The door opened and you sighed. “Hana, please tell whatever senator that is here that I’m not here. Tell them anything, just let me have a minute to get some work done.”

“I’ll go if you want.”

Your head snapped up to see Sergeant Hunter motioning to the door. 

“No!” You said almost too quickly as you stood up. “It’s okay. I thought you were another senator.”

“Tired of their constant praises? You deserve all of it.” He replied and you cleared your throat, feeling your cheeks warm.

“No I just - I just want to go back to work. Go back to doing what I do best.” You said and he nodded as he slowly approached. 

“I understand that. I just wanted to stop by before the boys and I head out.”

“Another mission?”

Hunter nodded. “There’s always another mission.”

“I stand by what I said before.” You said, continuing when Hunter looked at you with eyes narrowed. “I want to buy you all a nice meal for your help. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without you.” 

“That’s not necessary ma’am.”

You said your name and he looked at you, surprised. “Please, call me by my name. I’d prefer it.”

He laughed lightly. “I think I can manage that.”

“Oh before you go.” You said, stepping around your desk and approaching Hunter. You placed a small piece of flimsi in his hand. “It’s my comm number. You did say you would train me.”

Hunter clutched the small piece in his hand before looking up at you with a faint smile on his face. “I’m starting to think you don’t need it. But name the time and place. I’ll be there.”

You smiled back. His hand enveloped yours and you squeezed his hand right back.

Sure your meeting was less than ideal and you did end up getting shot at the end, but you found that you’d do it all over again if it meant you got to meet Hunter. You didn’t know what came next, but you were excited to see where this went.

[dystopicjumpsuit]

Stars Beyond Number - Chapter 24

Lost Kingdoms

Rating: T (rating varies by chapter; mature content will be tagged; regardless of rating, minors DNI)

Pairings: Echo x Riyo Chuchi; Gregor x OFC Cerra Kilian

Wordcount: 2.5k

Warnings and tags: weapons; language; angst; minor spoilers for upcoming "Boil & Trouble" chapter.

Suggested Listening:

Summary: News arrives from an unexpected source.

A/N: This story shares continuity with Martyrs and Kings, "Double, Double Boil and Trouble" (part 2 here) and "Do It Again," but all the fics can be read as stand-alones.

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In this hollow valley

This broken jaw of our lost kingdoms

—T. S. Eliot, “The Hollow Men”

The second Cerra drew her blaster, every clone in the garage followed suit—except Rex. The newcomer’s face twisted contemptuously. He leaned casually against the door jamb, arms crossed over his chest, not making a move for the dual blasters holstered to his thighs.

 “Nice to see you, too, Cerra,” he said. 

“Stand down,” Rex commanded.

Cerra growled. “How the hell did he find us?”

“I told him we were here,” Rex replied. 

“What the kriff?” she asked, shocked. “You?” 

“I’m as surprised as you are, trust me,” Rex said. “But he said he had urgent intel. Now stand down. That’s an order.”

The rest of the clones lowered their blasters, but Cerra refused, clenching her jaw stubbornly as she kept her weapon aimed at the intruder. Her pulse hammered, adrenaline coursing through her veins. 

“Didn’t realize you needed an attack dog, Rex,” the clone said.

“Who says this is about Rex?” Cerra snarled. “I’ll blast you just for my own satisfaction.” 

“Same old Cerra,” the clone said. “You’re loyal, I’ll give you that.”

Rex reached out and rested his hand gently on Cerra’s shoulder until at last she complied and holstered her blaster. Gregor and the rest of the clones stared alternately between Cerra and the newcomer, confused and unsure of the situation but trusting Rex’s orders.

“What’s going on?” Fireball asked. “Who is this?”

“GAR’s biggest dickhole,” Cerra replied.

Rex sighed. “Everyone, this is Captain Hart.”

Judging by the blank expressions on the clones’ faces, the name meant nothing to any of them—except Nemec, whose eyebrows shot up. “The Captain Hart? I thought you were just a myth the shinies made up to give themselves hope after their first battle.”

“Oh, I’m real.” Hart glanced around the garage. “Quite the operation you have here, Rex, old man. Aren’t you worried a repair shop full of clone troopers is going to attract attention?”

“This deep in the lower levels?” Cerra asked. “Nobody cares what happens down here.”

“You might be surprised,” Hart replied, sauntering closer to the group. “I’ve stayed off the scopes of the Empire and the Republic for a long time, and I didn’t do it by being this careless or stupid.”

“You always this charmin’?” Gregor asked, arching an eyebrow.

“This is him at his most charming,” Cerra cut in. 

“Why are you here, Hart?” Rex asked. “You’re making me regret agreeing to this meeting.”

“Hospitable crowd,” Hart replied sardonically.

“You got a bounty on your head yet?” Cerra asked, quickly running out of patience. “I could use the credits.”

“Wouldn’t surprise me,” he shrugged. “You definitely do, though. Congratulations, Cerra. You’re wanted for murder and treason.”

Shocked silence descended abruptly on the garage as every gaze snapped toward Hart. Cerra’s breath stuttered to a halt, her mouth feeling suddenly very dry.

“What are you talking about?” Rex demanded. “Where did you learn that?”

“Got a lead on a new agency—Imperial Security Bureau, they’re calling it,” Hart replied. “Doesn’t matter how I know, and I’m not revealing my source, so don’t bother asking. They sent me this.”

He tossed a datachip to Rex, who plugged it into the holotable. A datafile flickered into view. Cerra stared into a hologram of her own face, accompanied by a brief but damning wall of text.

IMPERIAL SECURITY BUREAU Case #21118378 Suspect Identification Name: CERRA KILIAN Chain Code: NONE Occupation: SOLDIER - DESERTED Wanted for: MURDER; TERRORISM; TREASON Status: AT LARGE Criminal Profile Criminal Activity:  Abandonment of post; murder of Imperial officer; impersonation of an Imperial officer; destruction of Imperial property; theft of Imperial property; aiding and abetting a Jedi fugitive; seditious activities; spice running Arrest Record: ISB #4212187 - DAIYU Known Associates:  Admiral (retired) Shoan Kilian - uncle, estranged (see interrogation record #57047195) CT-7567, Clone Captain "Rex" - DECEASED (disputed, see casefile #5127066) CT-5555, ARC Trooper "Fives" - DECEASED CT-5385, Clone Trooper "Tup" - DECEASED CT-5597, ARC Trooper "Jesse" - DECEASED CT -6116, Clone Medic "Kix" - MISSING IN ACTION Remarks:  Suspect has extensive combat training and experience. Consider armed and extremely dangerous. Escaped custody after killing an ISB interrogating officer and stealing an Imperial shuttle. Linked to suspected terrorist organization - if possible, apprehend alive for further interrogation. Current Location: UNKNOWN

Cerra’s heart stood still as she read “Shoan Kilian - uncle, estranged (see interrogation record #57047195).” Please, Maker, no. She couldn’t bear the thought of Shoan being subjected to the ISB’s interrogation methods. He was a tough old man, but for kriff’s sake, he’d suffered enough.

“Not a half-bad holo of me,” she said with a forced laugh. “You know, for being taken in a holding cell.”

“Karabast,” Rex said grimly. “I guess this confirms our intel about the secret intelligence agency.”

“Oh, I got confirmation firsthand,” Cerra replied, gesturing toward her bruised, battered face. “Just hadn’t had a chance to tell you yet.”

“Anything in that datafile true?” Hart asked.

The group fell silent as they all turned to Cerra, awaiting her response.

“They’re half right,” she replied uneasily. “It’s not murder when it’s self-defense, though I doubt the Empire would agree. Can’t say they’re wrong about the treason part, though.”

“And the rest?” Hart pressed. “Terrorism? The Jedi?”

“No idea what they’re talking about,” she lied. “Making kark up for propaganda.”

“What propaganda?” Hart demanded. “This is an internal ISB datafile. Nobody is supposed to see it.”

“I don’t kriffin’ know,” she snapped. “Maybe they think I’m someone else. Or maybe somebody with a grudge is finding a way to justify the resources to hunt me down. Or—or—I don’t kriffin’ know!”

No way in hell was she revealing to Hart what Yularen had told her about Ahsoka Tano. Rex might trust him—Maker alone knew why after the shit Hart had pulled—but Cerra wasn’t taking a chance. Particularly not before she told Rex; he’d been close to the young Jedi, and he would want to know she had survived the carnage of Order 66. How the hell did everything fall apart so quickly? What the kriff am I supposed to do now?

“It doesn’t matter. The question we should be asking is what we’re going to do about it,” Rex said, as if he’d read her mind.

Cerra licked her dry, chapped lips as she considered. Rex was right. This changed things. With the ISB hunting her, she’d be putting the rest of the team at risk if she stayed at the garage. They couldn’t take that kind of heat. Her heart gave a painfully hard thump as she realized what this meant.

“It’s not like this is a surprise,” Gregor said, meeting Cerra’s eyes. “The Empire was never going to just let you walk away. Besides, you’ve been wanted for years.”

“This is different,” she argued. “Nobody was that interested in tracking down a nat-born deserter. But with these charges? They’re interested now.”

“They’re offering a bounty,” Hart interjected. “Sixty thousand credits.”

“Fierfek,” Nemec muttered.

“We can handle a bounty hunter or two,” Gregor said.

“It’s not going to be that easy, and you know it,” Cerra replied. 

“There are options,” Hart said quietly, and if Cerra hadn’t known what an absolute dickbag he was, she would have thought his voice held a sympathetic note.

Nemec jerked his head toward Hart, his eyes growing hard. Cerra forced herself to keep her breath at an even pace even as her palms grew damp and her heart raced so fast she could hear it thundering in her head. She fought down the rising tide of panic as she silently ordered herself to hold it together. 

“No.” Rex’s voice was firm. “Not a chance.”

“Hart is right,” Cerra said hollowly. “I’m endangering everyone else by staying.”

Her eyes stung and her vision blurred. She inhaled carefully through her nose to try to force the tears back down.

“Cerra?” Fireball stared at her, distress and confusion in his eyes. “What are you saying?”

She turned to Rex, her eyes begging him to give the explanation that she couldn’t bring herself to speak aloud.

“Hart has… connections,” Rex said slowly. “He’s been helping clones disappear from the GAR and the Empire for years.”

“What do you mean, ‘disappear’?” Gregor asked. “Go AWOL like us?”

“Not exactly,” Rex replied.

“I’m not that sloppy,” Hart cut in.

“Kriff me, you really are a dickhole,” Gregor said without heat.

“Call me whatever you want,” Hart shrugged. “Doesn’t make me wrong.”

Rex steered the conversation back to the point. “When Hart extracts someone, he sets it up so no one will ever come looking for them. If they were on active duty, they’d go MIA during a battle, or they’d end up listed as killed in action.”

“And then?” Gregor asked.

“Then, nobody would ever see them again,” Nemec said. “So the rumors really are true.”

Gregor glanced back and forth between Rex and Cerra. “How long have you two known about his little operation?”

Rex hesitated, so Cerra replied, her voice coming out in a hoarse croak. “A while.”

Gregor was silent for a moment. “You’ve used him before, haven’t you?”

“Believe me, we wouldn’t have if there’d been any other way,” Rex said.

Gregor waited expectantly, and when none of the three seemed inclined to elaborate, he asked, “Are you going to tell us—”

“No.” Three voices snapped simultaneously.

The commando shrugged. “Worth a try.”

A tense, uncomfortable silence descended. Nobody seemed eager to break it, but inevitably, Rex turned to Cerra.

“I can’t order you to stay,” he said slowly. “But, Cerra, you don’t have to go.”

“It’s the smart move,” she said quietly.

“Banthashit,” Gregor snapped. “Everyone in this garage is either wanted or presumed dead. What makes you think you’re so special that you should be the one to leave?”

Cerra stared at the floor, refusing to meet his eyes. Her stomach churned, and for a moment, she thought she might actually throw up.

“It’s a little harder to fade into the crowd when there aren’t millions of people walking around with the same face as you,” Hart pointed out.

“Are you really going to stand there and pretend you need to sacrifice yourself to protect the rest of us?” Gregor continued inexorably, ignoring Hart’s interruption and stepping closer to Cerra. “We’re soldiers, for kark’s sake. We can take care of ourselves. And there isn’t a clone in this room who’ll agree to this.”

“Gregor—” Cerra began, still refusing to look him in the eyes.

“Ask them!” he exclaimed. “You think Fireball is just going to let you walk away? Nemec? Fuck, Cerra, do you think I’m going to let you go?”

She looked up, and the abrupt motion finally caused her tears to overflow. She inhaled shakily. “I—”

Gregor rested his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him. “I know your head is all twisted up because your family rejected you when you needed them most, but we’re not them. We’re not going to turn our backs on you.”

Her chest felt tight; her throat too tense to speak. Her head ached with the effort of holding herself together when the galaxy was falling apart around her.

“Can someone make a Force-damned decision soon?” Hart demanded. “I don’t have all day to stand around watching a holodrama.”

“Leave, then,” Gregor replied, not taking his eyes from Cerra’s. “Nobody here needs you.”

Hart looked impatiently at Rex, who frowned. “It’s her call.”

“The hell it is,” Fireball blurted. “She belongs here.”

“She’s not going anywhere,” Nemec added.

Something deep inside Cerra’s chest cracked and crumbled, and she gave a pained gasp, her eyes darting around the group as she realized something she should have known from the very beginning: she wasn’t alone, and she never had been.

“Well?” Hart asked impatiently.

She turned to him, her gasping desperately as she tried to formulate a response.

“You’re not—” Fireball swallowed hard. “You’re not going with him, are you, Cerra?”

She wiped her tears ruthlessly away with her clenched fist, and at last, she spoke. “No, Fireball. Not today.” 

“Not ever,” Gregor said firmly. 

“Don’t say I didn’t try,” Hart muttered with a resigned expression. He rummaged through his pockets and eventually pulled out a scrap of flimsi, which he handed to Cerra. “If you change your mind.”

She glanced at the card. “A fortune teller?”

Hart nodded shortly. “Ask for Tas. Tell her I sent you. She’ll know what to do.”

Cerra tucked the card into her pocket and finally asked the question that had been bothering her since Hart had shown them the datafile. “Why are you helping me?”

He almost smiled. Almost. “We used to be friends.”

“So this is, what, nostalgia?” she asked. “Seriously, why did you come here? You could have just sent us the datafile. Why risk it?”

He observed her for a moment, considering his words before he replied. “In case you hadn’t noticed, it's a damned time bomb out there. We don’t stand a chance on our own. Kriff, we might not stand a chance together, either. But it’s worth a shot, don’t you think?”

“You want to be allies now?” Rex asked. “After everything?”

“Wouldn’t be the first time we’ve put aside our differences for the greater good,” Hart said pointedly. “Look, I don’t expect you to trust me, at least not any time soon. But the time might come when some of you will need to escape the Empire’s attention for good. When it does, you know how to reach me.”

With that, he turned and stalked toward the exit. Rex walked with him, and as they reached the landing platform, he drew a deep breath.

“Spit it out,” Hart ordered.

“How is she?” Rex asked quietly.

Hart froze, then turned to Rex with an icy glare. “She is none of your business any more, and she never will be.”

Rex clenched his jaw and looked away. Hart stared at him for a moment before he sighed and relented.

“She’s fine. She’s… with our mutual friend at the moment.”

Rex’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “You mean—”

Hart grunted, mounted his speeder bike, and without another word, he was gone.

Inside the garage, the group relaxed slightly. Howzer and his men milled about somewhat awkwardly, while Fireball and Nemec showed signs of wanting to celebrate Cerra’s return at last. She cast a longing glance toward the refresher, fantasizing about the shower that she still hadn’t gotten, but before she could excuse herself to go get cleaned up, Gregor tugged her behind a stack of crates for privacy. 

He traced his fingertips along her jaw, tilting her head to meet his gaze. “You all right? That was a hell of a welcome home.”

Home. The word echoed in her mind, and she leaned close to Gregor, burying her face into the nook where his neck met his shoulders. He wrapped his arms around her and held her in a comforting embrace.

“Your fight isn’t over yet, Cerra Kilian,” he murmured. 

She shook her head slightly. “It’s a big fight, Gregor.”

He kissed the side of her head softly. “Good thing I’m here to watch your back.”

---

Next chapter

Thank you so much to @nika6q for the stunning mugshot of Cerra! I appreciate you more than words can say.

[ariadnes-red-thread]

I'm sorry if this is a repeat! It said something went wrong with my ask when I tried to send it!

Congratulations on 150 followers! That is quite a feat to accomplish and deserves celebrating. Have some confetti!

I have a request for Rex. SFW or NSFW is up to your discretion and if you want to ignore altogether, you can. No worries!

How about a fic with an introverted reader who's more reserved with Rex in terms of affections in public, and not only because of GAR regulations? She might snuggle into his side, hold his hand, hug and kiss when no one's looking, but that's it. Maybe she starts feeling a little insecure over how Rex might feel about it (probably because she sees other girls hanging all over his men at 79's/maybe someone tried to flirt with Rex because it's not obvious that they're together) and they have a heart-to-heart.

Like I said, you can ignore this if you want. It's just that I've read quite a few fics with readers who are much more extroverted and forward with Rex in the PDA department. Haven't read many with us more introverted type girls. Just because we're a little stiff in public doesn't mean we don't get wild for our special someone behind closed doors.

Hi Nonnie!! Thank you so much for asking this, and thank you for celebrating with me! Honestly, I loved this ask, and I completely got carried away. I accidentally wrote 1500 words and I probably could have easily written another 1000 more if I had time. I also haven't written for Rex in ages (a crime!), and I missed it! This was very personal, so thank you for trusting me with this request. I hope I did it justice!

Pairing: Rex x F!Reader

Warnings: Feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy, Jealousy, Sexual themes/implied sex

You and Rex have been dating for a few months now, and it’s been - well - a dream. He was everything you had ever hoped for and more in a partner. Rex was kind, he was caring, he was unbelievably handsome, and he was charming in his own sweet and occasionally awkward way. Even with your busy schedules, he always made time for you with date nights out on Coruscant and surprise flowers while he was away. You thought that the GAR would be more concerned about one of their high-ranking clone officers having a relationship with a civilian mechanic, but you quickly learned that there weren’t any rules against it. If anything, Anakin and Ahsoka had been almost helpful - almost. Rex told you later that the Jedi had teased him so badly about his obvious crush that Obi-wan finally begged him to ask you out so it would stop distracting “those two impossible children”.

The only thing that worried you about your relationship had almost nothing to do with Rex. If anything, it was your problem. You were more introverted. You always have been.  You had your close friends and didn’t mind getting to know new people if the situation was right, but you rarely put yourself out there, except for that one time that Fives forced you to do karaoke with him, and you swore that your cheeks burned red with embarrassment for a week. Up until now, you’d never considered it a fault. Being introverted made you careful, thoughtful, and caring, all traits you loved about yourself. And, of course, Rex had never made you feel anything less than special, but you were starting to worry if you made him feel special enough. Your reserved nature meant you had trouble expressing your feelings for him, especially in public. When you were on duty, the two of you hovered near each other but always kept it professional. Even when you were able to relax, like out at 79’s with the other members of the 501st or on brunch dates to Dex’s, you would steal a kiss in a quiet moment, lean against him in the booth, or hold his hand under the table, but that was the extent. Sometimes, you would watch him laughing along with his brothers, whose partners sat on their laps and hung around their necks, and you wondered if it was enough - if you were enough.

Tonight was one of those nights. Despite the loud music of 79’s, Rex’s hand occasionally grazing your knee, and the antics of Torrent Company, you couldn’t shake this feeling of being too shy. And now, as if you weren’t already feeling insecure, you had a front-row seat to the cute waitress flirting with Rex. You couldn’t fault her. How could Rex not catch her eye? With his close-cropped blonde curls, the tight compression shirt that covered his top half, his cool smile, and his kind manners, Rex stood out, even in a bar full of clones. She had spotted him the moment she came to wait on your table. And the beautiful young woman had made her intentions clear, been dropping hints all night about being single while her lingering eye contact progressed to gentle touches of his shoulder. Now your stomach twisted as she ran her hand along his arm, asking if he needed another drink. You wished you were bold enough to kiss him right in front of her, but even as badly as you wanted to, you knew you couldn’t. Instead, you looked away.

“I’m all set.” Rex gave a nod to the beautiful woman before he leaned back away from her. 

Under the table, his hand found yours and gave you a small squeeze. He nodded to Jesse, who quickly jumped in and began chatting with the waitress.

Later that night, you couldn’t shake the image. Even as Rex wrapped himself around you in bed, his breath hot on your neck and his hands on your hips, you couldn’t close your eyes without seeing how her hand grazed him. 

“Rex,” You whispered his name into the darkness.

“Hmm.” The groggy syllable was quickly followed by a kiss to the back of your neck as if he had been drifting and just remembered where he was. 

“Rex, can I ask you a question?”

“Course.” The reply came quickly. Rex was awake now.

“Does it bother you I’m not…I’m not more extroverted?”

The question came out in a tumbling exhale. As you took another breath, you held it and chewed on your lip while you waited for a response. Behind you, the mattress shifted and Rex coughed as he began to stutter.

“I’m… uh… you’re going to have to give me more than that, mesh’la.” 

You could hear him running his hand along the back of his head, and your heart panged at the nervous tic. You loved him, truly and deeply.

“It’s just… that waitress at 79’s was really flirty tonight, and I’m not mad. I don’t blame her. Like, look at you. You deserve to be flirted with and doted on and all that PDA. I wish I could do that, but it’s just not me, and you… you deserve more.” You stumbled over the words. They felt heavy and tilted as you tried to form them, but you knew you had to get them out. Rex deserved more, and he should understand that.

“Is that what you think, mesh’la?” Rex’s arms found you as he sank in close behind you once again, wrapping around your waist and pulling you tight against him. “That you’re not enough for me?”

“You deserve more.” The floodgates were open, and you couldn’t hold back anymore. “You’re incredible, Rex. You deserve someone who shows you in all the ways, someone who’s brave enough for public displays of affection, and that’s not me. I wish I could, but I’m never going to be the girl that’s sitting on your lap at 79’s or making out with you in a dark corner.”

“Thank the Maker.” Rex snorted into your shoulder. “Far too much risk of running into Fives or Jesse there.” 

“I’m serious, Rex.”

“I am too.”

You sighed. He didn’t get it. 

“Hey,” Rex reached and turned on your bedside light. “Look at me, mesh’la.”

You turned to face the man you loved. He laid his arm out so you could tuck your head in his elbow. The dim light caught his deep brown eyes, and the marbled flecks twinkled as Rex stared at you. His look was serious, but a soft smile settled across his face as he studied your features.

“I… I know what I deserve.” Rex chose his words carefully. “And I know what I want. And I’ve never wanted anyone more than I want you. I love our moments. I love that we can check in with each other over a glance and that when you squeeze my hand, you’re saying I love you. I don’t want big displays. I want you. Don’t I deserve what I want?”

“Yes,” You glanced down at the crumpled covers between you. 

It was true. You also loved how your eyes always found his, even in a crowded room. You loved your own special language of unspoken words and connections. The doubt that had gnawed at you from the inside out began to abate. You’d never met anyone more clear-headed than Rex, and no one deserved what they wanted more than Rex. Time and time again, he always made it clear that what he wanted was you.

“Well then,” He placed the knuckle of his index finger under your chin and slowly tilted your head back up towards him. “What’s the problem then?”

“I guess there’s none.” You gently shrugged. 

“That’s what I thought.”

His hand moved from below your chin and unfurled itself as he clasped your cheek. You leaned into his palm, savoring its heat. Gently, he guided your face up to meet his.

Rex’s lips found yours softly at first, meeting your kiss at the same time you were washed over with a grateful feeling for his love. You had found someone who understood you and saw you for all that you were. Someone as incredible as Rex. The kiss deepened as his hands fell to your hips. You met him as that grateful feeling turned into a breathless need.

“You have to know how much I want you.” He rasped as he dug his fingers into your skin.

“I do, Rex.” You pecked his lips one more time before you pulled away. 

With a hand on his shoulder, you gently pushed on Rex’s broad chest until he rolled onto his back. You sat up and swung your leg over to straddle him, grinding against him as you moved. You could feel him start to harden against you. Rex’s eyes flashed as his hands found your hips again, pulling you even tighter as he instinctively searched for friction. You leaned down to whisper in his ear.

“Now, let me show you how much I want you.”

[dumfanting]

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I think we could all use a little love right now. So, I’m going to tag a few people and list my favorite fics of theirs, hopefully those tagged will do the same. Let’s show each other off!

@kaminocasey has a whole slew of single stories and multipart stories, so it’s hard to choose! They’ve never posted something I didn’t like, so I narrowed it down to the ones I keep coming back to and picked one at random.

Love, Sex, and Magic- E | Jesse/F! Reader | Series (I think?)

You and Jesse try to take down Maul at one of his exhibitionist parties. He catches onto the two of you and makes you step out of your comfort zones.

Explicit (exhibitionism kink)

By the maker, ya’ll. This is so goddamn hot. I may have discovered something about myself after reading this one.

@madameminor has never disappointed me, and I know they put a lot of work and effort into their stories

In More Ways Than One- E | The Bad Batch /F! Reader | Series

A night out with the Batch almost turns into a bar brawl, until your quick thinking sets up the perfect cover. Then your squad starts thinking it doesn't have to stay a cover. Sharing is caring, after all. | Explicit

I’ve been reading this series since it began and I’m obsessed! Each of the guys are so in-character, and it’s got the bonus of being hot as hell too.

@zoeykallus has more amazing one-shots than I can count, but a series in particular stands out to me.

My Beloved Enemy- E | Crosshair /F! Reader, past Tech/F! Reader | Series

You are a rebel and every now and then, you collaborate with the former Bad Batch. You're on a solo mission when you unexpectedly run into a former member of Clone Force 99 - Crosshair. Standing on opposite sides, your first encounter is understandably rather complicated. | Explicit

This one starts like a firework and never fizzles out, my only complaint with this is that the chapters are so short! Absolutely love it.

@rain-on-kamino is fantastic, I can’t say enough good things about them! If you want something hot with a side of feels, you’ll find it here.

50 Shades of Dates- E | The 501st /F! Reader, Cody/F! Reader | Series

Just a bet - or the most stupid idea you ever had? Neither. What started with 'just' kisses... ended in a night of passion and nine incredible men in your bed/kitchen/shower... It developed into something more profund... and now you find yourself having dates with your favourite boys in blue and Cody and each of them sweeps you off your feet in his special way but always loving and caring. | Explicit

A perfect example of smut with feels, each of the guys are so well written and the scenarios are just *chefs kiss* so damn hot.

(Not all of their works are explicit, I just happened to pick all sexy ones haha)

Not only are these folks great writers, but they’re great people and good friends, each and every one of their stories are worth a read, so go read (and reblog!) and share the love.

[batshieroglyphics]

[FIC] To Be Free Once More (That's Worth Fighting For) ~ Star Wars: Prequels ~ Fox/Obi-Wan ~ Mature ~ Ch 4/15

Title: To Be Free Once More (That's Worth Fighting For) Fandom: Star Wars Prequel Era Author: Batsutousai Rating: Mature Warnings: Alternate Universe, Qui-Gon survives, Jedi Shadow!Obi-Wan, Jedi culture positive, Coruscant Guard deserve better, clone trooper dehumanisation, institutional abuse, discrimination, learning to trust, Jedi and clone trooper relationships, strangers to friends to lovers, idiots in love, trans/nonbinary/agender clone troopers, trans/nonbinary/agender Jedi, character deaths (Palpatine, some Corries, offscreen Jedi OCs; more detail in notes of relevant chapters) Summary: As a Jedi Shadow, Obi-Wan hadn't expected to have much to do with the clone troopers. Until, suddenly, he does.

CHAPTER FOUR

The captain clearly considered that for a moment, then turned to more fully face him and asked, "Do you not want to be here, Knight Kenobi?"

Well, that was a loaded question, Obi-Wan considered as he folded his arms a little tighter together, where he'd had them resting in the well-practised Jedi stance of arms clasped in front of him, hidden by the large sleeves of his borrowed robe. "It is not about my wanting," he said in as bland a tone as he could manage. "The barracks are intended as a safe space for you, where you can relax; I can't imagine the introduction of a, hm, nat-born is of much comfort to the troopers, no matter what I may have brought with me."

Carver sighed. "Right. First, everyone was warned you were coming before Stone sent you the directions."

Ah, so CC-5869 was Stone.

"Second, the main hallway and common areas like the refectory are considered fair game for other battalions or visiting nat-borns to poke their noses in. If you tried getting into any of the dorm rooms without an explicit invitation, then you'd be invading a safe space."

"Ah," Obi-Wan breathed. That was...fair.

"Third," Carver stressed, "as far as command is concerned, you're our Jedi. That means everyone's just going to have to get used to you."

That Obi-Wan, admittedly, wasn't certain what to do with. Somehow, despite his intentions, he'd still managed to get adopted by an entire battalion of clones.

Carver turned back towards the queue of clones, their awe and hope and bursts of delight filling the room, pushing away the pervasive sense of absence. "If that's a problem, the easy solution would be to stop pretending to care."

It felt like he'd been stabbed in the chest, a reminder of every moment of inadequacy—imagined or otherwise—throughout his life dropped at his feet like it didn't matter that he had the power to hurt them the same way he'd once been hurt.

He stared outward, letting the warmth filling the room buoy him, soothe away the edges of hurt, and somehow his voice came out collected when he said, "I don't make a habit of abandoning other beings, Captain; if the Coruscant Guard want me to piss off, you'll have to be explicit about it."

Read it on Archive of Our Own.

If you reblog this post, consider yourself one of my favourite people.

[beansterpie]

B, D, J, L, T, U

Thanks for the ask moth!! <3

B - A pairing–platonic, romantic or sexual–that you initially didn’t consider, but someone changed your mind.

LMFAO Agohiru from ES21 😂 I remember when I first got into es21 back in highschool, Hiruma was my fav, but I didn't think much of Agon other than 'wow what an asshole!' and didn't like him. (Also I was a big Hirumamo shipper at the time, and I'm the type who clings onto One Ship for a character and isn't too interested in anything else lol) It wasn't until I got back into it in the last couple of years that I've come to appreciate how much fun it is to bat that asshole around, and just how loaded Hiruma and Agon's ~history~ is.

Though I guess no one person specifically changed my mind, unless you count past me vs present me lol. OH actually, what changed my mind was the fic "Independent Variable" on ff.net. I think I got back into es21 and was like 'you know, hiruma/agon totally has potential' and so was looking up fics of that pairing, and then I read that fic and was lost.

D - A pairing you wish you liked but just can’t.

Hmmmm oh, Merther (Merlin/Arthur) lol. Their set up as a ship is extremely juicy (two sides of the same coin?? fate ties them together??? conflict because their initial world views are diametrically opposed????) and there's soooo much fic for them, but. I just. I don't like Arthur 😭 Like, I mean, he's FINE. But the writing of the whole show is so inconsistent and there's entire seasons where he's just so shitty to Merlin for no damn reason in a way that I'm supposed to take as funny and silly which pisses me off more.

J - Name a fandom you didn’t think about until you saw it all over Tumblr. (You don’t have to care about it or follow it; it just has to be something that Tumblr made you aware of.)

I mean, most shows that have mainstream popularity that I never checked out lol, though I think one that I've seen a lot of shipping art for on my dash is Star Wars? I've seen the main movies, but I think this is from.... Clone Wars, or the Obi-wan show or something. I see a lot of Obi-wan shipped with... one of the clone guys I think lmfao.

L - Say something genuinely nice about a character who isn’t one of your faves.

Hmmmm this isn't even a character I dislike, but whatever-- Judeau! I like him a lot tbh but I also find him shady 😂

I like how his 'friend who gives good advice and just has your best interests at heart' vibe is subverted by his personal biases and emotions, even if he'd probably deny that lol. He's flawed and it colors the advice he gives, and he even has moments that I'd argue are kind of judgy. It's what makes him interesting!

T - Do you have any hard and fast headcanons that you will die defending? 

Yes! Main one coming to mind rn because I've been thinking about Hiruma (ES21) a lot, is that Hiruma is on the ace spectrum! I'm usually pretty take-it-or-leave-it when it comes to sexuality headcanons, like I can buy most interpretations but I generally don't feel strongly about them, but with Hiruma I really struggle to see him as anything else.

U - Three favorite characters from three different fandoms, and why they’re your favorites.

OOHHHH. Well in Berserk, it's legit a tie between Guts and Griffith. I wouldn't like either one of them as much without the other in their orbit, and Berserk is one of those rare stories where both characters are really complex and compelling in their own way, and bring a lot of significant baggage into their dynamic lmfao. With Guts I love how sensitive he is, and the various ways in which he subverts and deconstructs the Macho Male Power Fantasy™ archetype, how at the end of the day he just wants someone to care about him and find worth in his existence. With Griffith, I love his ideals and his fragility in the face of the sacrifices those ideals demand from him, I love how much he cares and how much he gouges himself for caring, and how all of his stress and guilt and obligation still aren't any match for his love for Guts. And with both of them, I love how their upbringing informs their decisions so well to ruin everything even though they care about each other so much :')

w/ ES21, it's Hiruma lol which might be basic because he's everyone's fav, but for good reason! He's just fucking fun! I love how unhinged and demonic he is, I love the borderline slapstick loony-tunes tyle antics he gets up to, and I love his shamelessness. But I also love how accepting and realistic he is about his limitations, and how that doesn't stop him from striving for the top and going for what he wants. And like, for such an anime-level strategic genius type character, I love that such a core part of what makes him great is that he brings people together and uses teamwork and creativity to overcome everyone's various limitations. He's just-- so much fun!

And because this list is depressingly male lemme throw in a wild card-- Chase from Midnight Furies! It's a webcomic that I recently read for the first time, and Chase is the deuteragonist and a Hiruma expy lol. Which you can definitely tell, they both have the unhinged vibe and shark teeth, as well as the mysterious past and having a lot of cards up their sleeve, but I also think they're quite distinct. Obviously, Chase is a butch lesbian (which really does just add to her cool factor), but also I feel like Midnight Furies is a more grounded story compared to ES21, despite there being supernatural elements lol, and so Chase feels more grounded and realistic as a character. She's a bit more raw in her relationships to other people, and she shows vulnerability more, but she's also much more of a direct physical threat than Hiruma is. Because of that, she has moments where calculation gets thrown out the window in favor of a good ol' beat down, which of COURSE I love to see. And I think she has the capacity to be more ruthless. ANYWAY, awesome character, A+++ (please read Midnight Furies)

[alphabet ask meme]

[bagheerita]

for the ask game - d, i, j, x, y!

Woohoo!

D - A pairing you wish you liked but just can’t.

This is kind of hard because there's very few pairings that I straight up DON'T like and of those I feel like there are reasons I don't like them, either because they just don't make sense to me or because I don't like one of the characters, so there isn't really a WISH to like them. There are certain pairings I wish I liked *better* than I do... SGA is my main fandom at the moment, and I wish I liked Teylabeth more than I do, or really any pairings with Weir; I feel like Sparky has a lot of potential, but I haven't found any fics for it that make sense to me.

I - Has Tumblr caused you to stop liking any fandoms, if so, which and why?

Not really a fandom, but overexposure to McShep through tumblr has made reading fics that focus on it less enjoyable, and so I don't usually read new fics anymore, though I'll occasionally reread ones I already know I like. It's fine as a pairing, but I feel like a LOT of fans consider it "canon" and... okay, do what you want, but that's not something I can agree with.

J - Name a fandom you didn’t think about until you saw it all over Tumblr. (You don’t have to care about it or follow it; it just has to be something that Tumblr made you aware of.)

The Shape of Water. And in general, other movies. I feel like single movies don't have the same fandom potential as series, but I'll see people making gif sets and realize "hmm I should check that out on AO3 and see what they've got..." I found a really great fix it/continuation for the Shape of Water that I adore.

X - A trope which you are almost certain to love in any fandom.

I love it when characters are convinced of their own unworthiness or unlovable-ness and are then surprised and touched when someone is loyal and loving to them. ❤

Y - What are your secondhand fandoms (i.e., fandoms you aren’t in personally but are tangentially familiar with because your friends/people on your dash are in them)?

Merlin, Clone Wars/The Bad Batch/(anything star wars that isn't the movies/OG novels/The Mandalorian/TBOBF), Sherlock Holmes, Supernatural, Black Sails, some show called 911 that is all over my dash now, Ted Lasso. Though as we go down this list I know less and less about these fandoms. (Edit: how could I forget fucking BG3??? it's everywhere and i have no idea what's going on) There's also a lot of fandoms I'm only "in" for one reason, like for She-ra I like the fanart but I don't read much fic and am not really interested in the headcanons, and for The Last Kingdom I like gifs and tumblr posts but also don't read much fic.

Thanks for the ask! 💕

Ask game!

[thechaoticfanartist]

The Roof

Taking place during Chapter 35 of The Clone Wars Gets A New Victim we see Grim after she runs from Anakin and before Anakin joins her on the roof.

Warning: Suicidal thoughts, (Almost) attempted suicide

Note: I've been debating about posting this for a couple of months due to the above warnings. It's only (heavily) implied in the original chapter but this fic really goes into Grim's headspace in the moment. I don't recommend reading this if you're not in a good mental place.

It was a good thing Anakin hadn’t followed the padawan, if he had, he would have seen her crying.

  She ran outside the opera hall, past the extravagant guests in their fancy outfits flaunting their riches. She didn’t care for them, and they did not care for her. Tomorrow when she was dead, they would celebrate. For them the war would be over, and they would care naught for all the lives that had been lost. Their hardships would be over - but for any other citizen, for any survivors of the coming purge, a new wave of problems would surge. 

 Grim found the speeder she had borrowed from the Temple, parked not too far from the place where she had spied and heard what she had gone to hear - The result to her was clear, she had lost.

  Light and hope were gone. The darkness won. 

 Grim got into the speeder and made her way back to her home. To the Jedi Temple. Her vision was blurred by her tears. Her mind clouded by her grief. Everything was over. 

 Tomorrow she would die. 

 And when she reached the Temple, a horrible thought arose. 

 So why did it matter, if she was still alive?

 So when she had reached the Temple, she did not go to her room. To sleep off this grief, and prepare for the following day. Which would be the final day of its kind, because it would be the last with this home of light.

  She ran to the rooftop. Tears flowing freely, as she ran to the edge and just screamed. 

 Grim screamed into the endless night. 

 She had planned to jump off the roof. To allow gravity to carry her to her doom. No Sith involved, not her brothers, not her brother. She would never have to know the pain of hearing the words be uttered, the words that would write her fate so certainly. Even though it was plainly written now. 

 No matter what - she thought - she would die. 

 So it could be now, never knowing that pain for her own personal experience. Never falling to the hands of the Sith and becoming another victim in his cruel game. 

 Or it could be tomorrow. Either by the plasma bullets of the men she saw as her brothers. Or by the blade of the ghost who she now knew was dead beyond a doubt. 

 She could die from betrayal, or end it now. 

 Yet, she couldn’t.

  She couldn’t step off the roof. The light radiating from her home kept her there. So she just fell to her knees. Sobbing until her chest hurt. Sobbing until she couldn’t sob anymore. Allowing these three brutal years of unshed grief to pour from her. Sobbing until there would be no more grief left to spare for the next day. When she knew, they would lose everything.

 All Grim could do was mourn.

  Because, although still here. Still right there. She could feel it now. She could sense all of the life that filled this home of light. 

 Even still, she knew. She knew it would all be gone tomorrow. So she mourned for those who still lived today. 

 Grim also knew, so very clear that she would soon join them. She would join them in their deaths. Just as she had joined their lives. She knew - she was convinced - that she wouldn’t survive. 

 It was in this moment, as Grim relaxed herself, and hung her legs over the roof, sitting back as she watched the stars. It was in this moment, the Padawan realized something else.

  She didn’t want to die. She just didn’t want to feel this pain. This grief that had consumed her heart slowly throughout the three years she had been fighting. All of that fighting that had been nothing. 

 She looked up at the stars. She never believed in fate, but she couldn’t help but try to find it written in the sky. As if the stars would tell her, her story. As if the stars themselves could save her from this tragedy she knew awaited her. 

 The tragedy that had begun all those years ago, the one Grim had walked into. Despite everything she knew. 

 She could blame it on her awestruck youth. She could blame the fact that she had been wrapped up into something so beautiful that she never wanted to leave. She could blame it on her childish self that only saw a galaxy that she had always adored. She could blame it on every one of those early and beautiful moments. 

 But that would be a lie. She could only blame herself as of now. 

 Because she had always had a choice in this story. She knew that. 

 She always chose to stay. Even after she had been through so much of the pain that the galaxy had to offer.

 Grim always had the option to walk away. She just always made the choice to stay.

 So that was all Grim could do now. She could stay. 

 There was no walking away at this point, it was far too late. The only escape, she had just denied. Even though she felt as if she wouldn’t survive. 

 Grim had to see her own story - her own tragedy - through until the end. 

 She tried to find that ending in the stars. But saw nothing. 

 All she knew was this: 

 Tragedy awaited. That was the ending. It was something she had known the moment this story began. This was the ending. This was the tragedy. This was her destiny.

 Even knowing, she had made the choice. She didn’t regret those choices either.

 She could’ve. Maybe to anyone else, she should’ve, but she didn’t. Because even through all of the pain she had gone through, even still with the ending tomorrow she had made memories that she would forever cherish.

 Even if forever only lasted until tomorrow. 

 Grim sat on the roof of the Jedi Temple, and watched the stars in the sky, sparkling with her tears. From the grief of all these years.

Tag List (let me know if you want to be added or removed) : @padme--amygdala @soclonely @mrfandomwars @jgvfhl @starlonkedd @milfspectre1 @togrutanduin @jedi-valjean @one-real-imonkey @traygaming @roseofalderaan @keoxus  @tranakin-thighhighwalker @veiled-in-stars @sentineljedi @spicysucculentz @purgetrooperfox @amelia-song-pond @kohtoyah @saturnsokas @thejediprincessqueenofnaboo

[yana125]

The ‘Weevil is actually…’ Theory

So this wasn’t even supposed to be a theory. I had other plans for theories, but this happened. All because I wanted to write one fanfic… But it’s kind of a running gag at this point…

So I had this idea that combined the theories of Crocomom, Whitebeard is Crocodile’s father, and the idea of Haki negating Devil Fruit abilities (thank you Heart Pirates vs Blackbeard Pirates). I had this vivid image in my head of Crocodile with Armament Haki coating his arm, holding back Weevil’s punch, standing tall in his pre-transition form, and telling Weevil that Whitebeard only had one biological son and a sorry excuse of a human could never be from his blood. This image didn’t let me live until I actually wrote it. In one sitting. I published this at 4 am.

So now you have two options. In this fic I added an idea about Weevil that you can experience in the fic first, or you can read the following theory then go and read the fic if you’re interested. Either way thank you for reading, or if you’re choosing the third option happy scrolling and have a nice day! May 2023 be kind to you!

So the theory!

I think that Weevil is not the biological son of Whitebeard.

He’s a clone of Whitebeard.

We know that MADS (Vegapunk, Judge, Caesar, Queen, and a mystery woman) discovered Lineage Factor – in the real world known as DNA. With that they can manufacture humans (later Devil Fruits) and with a few mutations they can manipulate the Lineage Factor to create something new.

MADS and their work was discovered by the World Government. Vegapunk was arrested then he started to work for the Government who gave him funds for his research. The others were forced to go on their separate ways but every known member still continued their research.

Vegapunk used Kuma to create the Pacifista, cybernetic clones of the original. As the technology developed the Seraphim were created, who are the clones of the Warlord with their Lineage Factor enhanced with Lunarian DNA. The Seraphim appear as children.

Judge also continued his research with cloning and created the ‘Clone Pawns’. It takes 5 years in a tube to create a 20 years old clone. These clones have no idea that they are clones.

So what makes me think that Weevil is a Whitebeard clone? He’s not like any of the Pacifista or Seraphim we know at the moment.

First we need to look at Weevil’s first appearance in Chapter 802.

The Marine officer says Weevil is Whitebeard’s ‘flesh and blood’ but they have doubts about him. ‘Flesh and blood’ can not only mean that they had a parent-child connection, but that he can literally be his ‘flesh and blood’, a clone.

Kizaru doesn’t care where Weevil came from and says that he’s just like a young Whitebeard. Judge’s ‘Clone Pawns’ reach maturity in 5 years. But no matter how much they look like a 20-year-old, they are still 5-year-olds. More about this and Weevil later. (Also note that the first person who talks about Weevil is Kizaru who also has a connection to Sentomaru and is on his way to Egghead Island at the moment, connecting him also to Vegapunk.)

Bakkin shows Weevil a photo of Whitebeard and thinks he’s looking into a mirror. Judge’s ‘Clone Pawns’ are not aware that they are clones. This moment can indicate that Weevil himself is not aware of it either and when looking at the photo of Whitebeard he thinks he’s looking at himself.

You may say, okay, but who’s Bakkin then? She claims to be the mother, no? Yes. But she’s not the mother we think she is.

Bakkin claims to be Whitebeard’s lover and is after the money he left behind for Weevil.

But Whitebeard didn’t leave behind any money. He didn’t even leave anything for his sons. Because all the money he had went straight to his hometown.

If Bakkin was really Whitebeard’s lover she should’ve known about that. But they did know each other since they were in the same pirate crew about 40 years ago, most likely the Rocks Pirates. The Rocks Pirates were the most dangerous pirate crew, not only to the world but to each other too. If Bakkin was really the part of that crew then 1) Rocks had to be interested in her for some reason to let her into the crew and 2) she had to be dangerous to the other crew members too.

So who is Bakkin? Well she did create Weevil, but in a lab. Because I think Bakkin was a scientist and is both the creator and handler of Weevil. Weevil does everything she says and the one time Weevil showed some independent thought (him wanting to go after Blackbeard to avenge Whitebeard) Bakkin ‘overwrites’ it (money is more important). She’s basically Weevil’s Sentomaru.

But a scientist? Really?

Yes.

A reoccurring theme with One Piece scientists is the need of money and resources. They need funds for their research. Caesar works for Doflamingo, the most influential underworld broker. Judge is the leader of a mercenary kingdom. Queen works for Kaido. Vegapunk works for the World Government. MADS itself was funded by Du Feld.

So what I think is happening is that Bakkin wants to follow her former scientist friends and get money for her own research project.

Wait… Former scientist friends?

Yep.

Mystery woman from the Chapter 1070 cover is Bakkin.

Apart from ‘this is One Piece, people can change a lot in a few decades’ so this person very well could be Bakkin, what connected the two for me is the way they wear their coat. But maybe it’s a stretch. Mystery woman could very well be Stussy too.

But what isn’t a stretch is what was mentioned in Chapter 1065 in true Oda fashion. Just an innocent speech bubble but then we move on to ‘the Island of the Future is the Island of the Past’ reveal, which would then create a bigger reaction (and it did) and everyone would be occupied with that instead of this (same with the green blood that was later explained):

Accelerating the Seraphim’s growth can present new obstacles. That explains why the Seraphim are children. But what kind of obstacles does an accelerated growth present? Maybe a failed clone that has the strength of the original at that age but mentally can’t follow that rapid growth?

Could Weevil be a clone whose aging was accelerated but that resulted in him to be defective? Is he mentally stuck in his actuall age while his body is as stong as Whitebeard’s was in his youth? Could it be that Bakkin wants Whitebeard’s non-existent hidden money to fund her research and correct her mistake? To create the perfect Whitebeard clone? Does the World Government know about this and this is why they use the Seraphim even though they are children because A) they didn’t expect the Warlord System to end so soon and the Seraphin couldn’t properly grow or B) they are simply impatient and want the power that the Seraphim have right now? We will need to wait and find out once the crew gets to Sphinx Island.

Also I’m crossing my fingers for Crocodile X’D

[danceswithsporks]

On the 10th (late) day of Batchmas I give to all of yooouuu

Shhhhhhhhhhh

Oh we getting SPICY! This ficlet was influenced by anneofficial on tiktok and her Star Wars line of person x y/n hiding behind the door videos! Go give her a like and a follow!

As this is very much 18+ Minors do not interact! I can not stress this enough! Do. Not. Interact.

Now this will take place in the universe I’ve built for my fic A Star Above the Rest! Some may be sneak peaks at future events, little glimpses into past events, or things I wanted to do but couldn’t work into the story! I hope you all enjoy them and Happy Holidays!

Day 10 of 12 days of Batchmas- Shhh

“Well, not counting the rocky escape, I’d say that mission went remarkably well.” Tech clicked the autopilot on and leaned back in the pilot chair.

“Oh, totally.” Zirena rolled her eyes as she finished placing a bacta patch on her upper arm. Covering a now sizable cut she had received while helping the batch escape. “If you count being shot at by two hundred droids while carrying medical supplies, then yes. That went totally well.”

“You could have stayed on the ship, ma’am.” He tossed her a teasing look at the title. Knowing how much she hated it. “A delicate politician such as yourself really shouldn’t be out in the field.”

An eye roll was tossed to the clone as Zirena pulled out her datapad and began to look through her missed messages. “But then I would have placed a delicate mission for supplies in the hands of clones, defective clones at that.” A smirk rested on her lips as she continued to look at her tablet, already knowing he was giving her a disapproved look.

“Well we all can’t be the great Captain Rex.” He watched as her eyes read over something. Whatever it was, it was interesting enough for her not to come back with a retort. “Something interesting?”

Zirenas emerald eyes went dark as she looked up at him through her lashes. “Very.” Passing her datapad to him, she allowed him to read the conversation.

Capt.Rex: So we’ve talked and come to a decision.

Rep.Rexalus: oh? And what would that be?

Capt.Rex: You can go ahead and have some fun with Tech.

Rep.Rexalus: Really!?! Are you two sure?

Capt.Rex: Very. Have fun and I’ll see you in a week.

Rep.Rexalus: Oh you two are so getting a special gift for this!

Tech raised his goggles and smiled mischievously. “Is that saying what I think it’s saying?”

Standing, she walked over and ran her finger under his chin. Her green eyes stared at his caramel ones as she bit her bottom lip. “Mmm, only if you want it to.” With that she turned and headed towards his designated room. One of the joys of taking a medical transport, everyone got their own room.

Oh he really wanted it to. Techs legs moved faster than he intended. But while everyone was currently asleep; it didn’t mean someone wouldn’t wake up soon and he’d rather keep this between them. At least until they were done. Then he’d rub it in their faces. He watched as she leaned against his door with a delicious look on her face. Those gorgeous gemstones that where her eyes beckoned him and how could he deny her?

Leaning down, he took her lips in his and hummed at the taste of her chapstick. It was a berry of some kind, though for once, he didn’t care to figure it out. His hand slid around her waist and he pulled her close to him, hating his damn armor for being in the way. A little squeak came from her as he held her close and they both snickered. “Lets get in my room before someone catches us.”

Zirena smirked as she stood on top if his boots, allowing him to walk them both into his room. “What? You don’t want to share me?”

Tech easily maneuvered both of them into his room before shutting and locking the door. “Believe it or not, I tend to be a bit possessive. I’d rather enjoy this lovely ass of yours all to myself.” An ass he’d spent way too much time thinking about.

“Well that I can understand.” Slowly she walked her fingers up his chestplate up to where she knew the latches would be. In one easy motion she undid the clasps and allowed his armor to fall to the floor. Using the force, she made sure the pieces landed quietly. “I’ve been wondering what was hiding under all of this armor.” Where her boys were normal clones and deliciously blessed with large cocks. She wondered if a ‘defective’ clone would be the same.

The way she so easily undid his armor was impressive. No doubt learning from her lovers. Leaning down he pulled at the hem of her shirt. “I would say I’ve dreamed about seeing what’s under this shirt. But seeing as I’ve seen you nude already, this will just be a more delicious reintroduction.”

Zirena shivered slightly as the cool air of the ship hit her stomach as her shirt was pulled off. The lacy red and black bra she wore, now visible to the clone. She loved the way he was staring at it, as if he was surprised to see their colors on her. “Mmm, I always knew you enjoyed seeing me that way.” Sliding her hands down his chest, it only took her a moment to slip under his top and run her nails across his abs.

“How could I not when a Jedi as stunningly beautiful as yourself was naked in front of me.” Her fingers felt magnificent against his skin, never had he expected to actually feel her skin against his this way.

“You do remember I was unconscious, right?” She didn’t exactly have a choice in that matter.

“Well you are conscious now.” His hand raised to her cheek and his thumb ran against it. “What would you like, Cyare?”

A shiver ran down Zirenas spine as he spoke. Now this was a side of him she’d been dying to see. “I want you,Ace.”

“Good.” Tech pulled her against him and took her lips in his. His hand gripped her chin and neck and held her close. Slowly his other hand slid down her side and onto her ass before squeezing it tightly. Another squeak came from her and he smiled into the kiss. “Keep making that noise and you’ll wake up Hunter.”

“I bet he’s already awake and listening.” Pulling at his shirt she finally got it off and inhaled instantly. Maker, he was a lot more muscular then she’d expected. Didn’t they always say it was the smart ones?

“Mmm, then let’s give him something to listen to. Help me with this?” He tapped his codpiece, loving the way her eyes went wide.

“And how would you like me to do that?” Delicate black fingernails tugged at the item in question. “With my fingers? Or the force?” Kneeling in front of him she smirked wickedly. “Or my lips?”

So many options. “How about you start with your fingers and then show me what these pretty lips of yours can do after?”

Zirena squeezed her legs together tightly, adoring the way he was speaking to her. “Perfect.” Leaning forward she let her fingers slide under the piece in search of the clasp. Just as she was about to pop the latch a knock sounded on his door. “Son of a…” Techs hand quickly covered her mouth.

His head tilted to the side of his door. They moved across the room quickly and Zirena pressed her back against the cold wall. She shivered slightly and smirked at Tech.

He’d kill whoever this was. Opening the door he sighed at the sight of Crosshair. “What?”

“Hunter wants to know when we’ll be dropping out of jump?” The sniper didn’t exactly care to be an errand boy but for some reason Hunter wasn't able to do this himself.

So it was Cross? Now this could be fun. Carefully she reached behind herself and undid the clasp on her bra before allowing it to fall to the ground. Silenced by the force once more. She winked at Tech before chewing her lip and wiggling slightly.

Damn this Jedi. Tech swallowed as he felt his codpiece get tighter. Reaching out he placed his hand over her mouth to try and still her. “Last I checked we had approximately six hours to go. The autopilot will alert me when we…” his voice stopped momentarily as Zirena moved his hand and took one of his fingers into her mouth. Slowly she ran her tongue against it, teasing him horribly. Coughing a few times he tried to continue his sentence. “Are thirty minutes away from our destination.”

Crosshair raised an eyebrow to the usually perfect clone. “Alright.” He took in how the clone was dressed and crossed his arms. “Why are you half dressed?”

Right, he was half dressed. He usually was never like this. “I was getting ready to grab some sleep. It was a long mission.” Zirena nibbled the pad on his thumb and he had to stop himself from hissing. “Now if you’ll excuse me.”

“Fine.” Cross began to turn but stopped looking back to Tech. “Have you seen the politician?”

Zirena made a face as she tried to stop herself from snickering. Definitely not where he expected her to be. She watched as Tech tried to formulate a response. Honestly, with a flick of her hand she used the force to have something down the hall fall.

“Last I saw she was heading to her room.” Maker, he was thankful for her force powers.

“I guess I’ll speak to her later then.” With one last glance he left Techs door.

The moment the door was shut and locked, he was on her. Pressing her against the wall he placed his lips against her neck. “That was very unfair, Commander.” His hand gripped her side tightly as he rubbed his leg between hers. “I think you should be punished for that.”

Stars, yes. “P-Please punish me, Tech.” She whined softly at the feeling of his leg against her core. With the way he was moving it she’d be able to come quickly. Her head fell back against the wall and she moaned softly.

“Oh you like that?” Pressing his leg against her harder he felt her grind down. “Do you want me to keep doing this? Or would you rather enjoy something else?”

Her mind was short circuiting, she wanted both. Another moan came from her as she continued to grind against him. His head moved to her breasts and his lips easily surrounded one of nipples. “F-fuck.” It felt so good. “T-Tech. C-close.” It had been far too long since she’d had a good release and she could feel one welling up inside her.

Oh how he enjoyed the sound of her voice saying his name like that. “Do you want to cum?” When she nodded her head he smirked wickedly. “Then let me assist you properly.” He shifted his leg just slightly to the right at a seventy seven degree angle and then increased the speed in which he was vibrating his leg. Within moments she was coming undone. Tech watched as she tried to stifle her whines of pleasure but his hand was quickly pulling hers away. “No no, don’t hide those beautiful sounds, Mesh’la.” Burying his face into her shoulder, he allowed the heavenly sound of her voice flit through his ears.

If this was what he was able to do with his leg then she was in for a treat. His lips peppered kisses against her collarbone and shoulders as her finger made quick work of his codpiece finally. Her hand slid down and rubbed against the bulge in his blacks and her eyes went wide. He felt bigger than her boys. A whine escaped her at the thought of it inside of her earning a chuckle against his throat.

“Is it bigger than you expected?” Tech watched her hit her bottom lip and nod. “Wait till you see it.”

“I’d rather taste it.” Left her mouth far quicker then she’d wanted it too. But she was horny and ready to be destroyed by him.

Now that was something they both wanted. Removing his leg from between her, he easily lifted her in his arms. Loving the way she gasped and wrapped her arms around his neck. A thought came to him as he deposited her into his bed. “Little Jedi, do you think your lovers would enjoy a video of you being fucked by me?”

She knew she’d love one, but would her boys? After thinking for a moment she nodded. “That’s one of your best ideas so far.”

Smirking, Tech walked over to his helmet and flipped the record feature on. “Now make sure you’re nice and loud for the camera, pet.” Turning back to her, he made his way back across the room and took her chin in his hand before rubbing his thumb across her bottom lip.

“What about the others?” His coarse thumb sent a shiver through her as she closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling. Her fingers tugged at the top of his pants, ready to finally see all of him.

Tech laughed as he took her lips in his once more. Savoring the way they moved against him and the way she hummed into it. “Let them hear us.” He was done with keeping her silent. He wanted to hear how loud she really could be and knowing that his brothers would hear her and know that he was making her make those noises? Nothing made him want to fuck her more.

A long airy breath came from Zirena as she heard him speak. Now this was a Tech she was thoroughly enjoying. Gripping his pants tightly she finally pulled them down and whined as his cock bounced infront of her face. “F-fuck.” He was longer and thicker than she expected. She could fit him….right? Licking her lips, she leaned towards the tip and licked it slowly.

A satisfied groan came from Tech as he felt her mouth around him. Now this really had to all be a dream. He always dreamed about them doing this but now that they were it was hard to believe. Zirena moaned around him and sent a vibration through his body. “That’s my good girl.” Looking down, he watched wide eyed as she took all of him into her mouth, her nose pressing against his abdomen. “Take that so we’ll don’t you?” His hand ran through her hair and stopped on the back of her head. Gripping it gently he helped her head move back.

The feeling of his hand in her hair was magnificent and she allowed him to move her head back and then forward once more. A long moan came from them both as she continued the motion. His pace quickened as deliciously lewd sounds came from her mouth as he pistoned into her. Zirena loved the taste of him and knowing she could take all of him in her mouth was the icing on the cake for her. Her hand slid down the front of her own pants and she began to play with herself.

Echo pulled away from her with a pop and watched as she whined loudly, a hand still in the front of her pants. “Take those off and turn around.”

Zirena inhaled at the demanding tone he used with her. “Yes, sir.” Standing she turned her back to him and leaned over slowly as her pants were pulled down. Looking over her shoulder she savored the way he watched her. “Enjoying the show?”

Tech nodded as he licked his lips at the sight of her wet panties. He’d done that, he’d soaked them. “Loving it.” When she removed her panties he allowed his feet to carry him directly behind her. “Now this is a sight I can get used to.” Running his hand down her ass he slid his fingers into her warm heat and savored the feeling of her clenching around it. “Like that?” Was growled at her and he felt her squeeze his fingers once more.

A whine came from her as he began to pump his finger. “Yes.” Leaning forward on the bed, she supported herself on her elbows. “Please. You. I want you.”

How could he deny her when she whined like that? “Need to get you ready, ma’am. Is that ok?” A second and third finger was added to her as he began to stretch her.

“Stars, yes. Please, hurry.” Rocking her body, Zirena rode his fingers for as long as possible. She could go for a while like this, but then he curled his fingers into that spongy spot deep inside her. A loud gasp came from her before she fell forward onto her fists and moaned deeply. Tech was surprisingly skilled in this field.

He loved how she looked bent over like this, all from his fingers. Now it was time to give her exactly what she wanted. Pulling his fingers out, he used her slick to lube up his own cock before lining up behind her. “Ready?” When she nodded, he slowly pushed into her. Tech stopped every few moments to allow her to adjust, loving how she gasped and moaned. Bottoming out in her was euphoric in its own way. The way he fit into her just right made him smirk. “How’s that feel?”

“S-so. Good. So. Full.” Any bigger and she felt he’d break her. Tech pulled back slowly before thrusting back into her, earning a loud squeak followed by a moan.

They started out slow, allowing her body to continue to adjust to him. Within minutes he was pounding against her ass loudly, the delectable sounds of their bodies hitting echoing in the room. Zirena did her best to support herself on her elbows but the way he was fucking her just felt so good. Their shared moans filled the room and the hallway outside the door. Anyone walking by would hear their bodies slapping hard against each other and Zirenas voice moaning out Techs name. But for now the only one who could hear them was Hunter and both Zirena and Tech loved knowing that.

The goggled clone felt himself getting close to his release. She just felt so damn good. Reaching under her stomach, he gripped her tightly and turned her towards his helmet. Taking her hands quickly, he pinned them behind her and near her ass with one hand and with the other he gripped the back of her head. “Now, Zirena. I want you to be a good Jedi and cum for your lovers and I.”

Zirena whined loudly as he pushed deeper into her and pinned her arms back. She really never knew he had this in him. His voice was low and lust filled as he demanded she cum. “Y-yes.” His fingers scraped against her head as he pulled it back so she could see the helmet.

He pounded into her at a brutal pace, loving how she moaned and screamed out his name as she tightened around him. He fucked her hard through her orgasm and near the end of it he finally released inside her. A deep guttural moan came from the clone as he filled her with hot strings of cum.

“Tech!” She gasped at the insane fullness that she now felt. Zirena wondered if his release would come squirting out of her the moment he removed himself, like a tube being filled too much. Strong hands removed themself from her hair, quickly working their way around her waist to support her body. Tech removed himself from her and she whined at the now empty feeling.

Carefully, he lowered her to the ground and knelt next to her. “Was that too much, Mesh’la?” His hand ran across her hair quickly, worried that he’d overdone it.

Rolling into her back, Zirena shook her head quickly. “Not at all.” Reaching out to him, she grabbed his wrist and pulled him down to her. “That was amazing.” A kiss was quickly placed against his lips before he was fully pulled down. A delicate hand rested on her stomach as she enjoyed the almost full feeling he’d left her with. Maybe he’d want to go again? They had a week until they landed on Coruscant. A lot could happen during that time.

This image of her, full of his seed and smiling like this, it made Tech incredibly happy. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.” Placing his hand over her stomach, he enjoyed the happy him she kept releasing.

Turning onto her side, Zirena smiled at the way he was looking at her. “So, six hours until we fall out of jump?”

“Technically we are now about five and a half hours.” He couldn’t resist correcting the woman. She giggled at his words and he felt that warmth in his cheeks once more.

“Then that leaves us with five more hours of fun. Doesn’t it?” She walked her fingers up his chest and to his chin. Taking it in her fingers she pulled him into another kiss. “How long do you need?”

Tech smirked at her. “Give me five minutes. You can decide the position this time.”

Zirena bit her lip in excitement as she looked him up and down, her hand resting on his chest. “Perfect, I hope you’re ready.”

-*-

Exactly thirty minutes before they dropped out of hyperspace both appeared in the cockpit freshly dressed and very satisfied. Hunter watched as Zirena nestled back into her seat with a very happy smile on her face. “Take it you two had a nice rest?”

Looking up from her datapad, Zirena smirked at the leader of the Batch. “You tell me.”

[dedkake]

G J and R

G - Do you remember your first OTP, if so who was in it

i remember very clearly!! the first ship i ever really participated in online fandom with was !! heero/duo from gundam wing! lmao weirdly matched bffs in a war zone with tons of h/c potential. whoever knew that baby me and current me are exactly the same 😂

J - Name a fandom you didn’t care/think about until you saw it all over tumblr

i'm not sure i've ever gotten into a fandom because of tumblr. i have certainly watched shows/movies because of tumblr. schitt's creek and the old guard come to mind, but i wouldn't say i'm particularly in those fandoms. currently have rogue heroes up on deck because of tumblr, too. but again, don't think it'll impact whether or not i join the fandom.

i came to tumblr because i wanted to participate in xmen fandom more though! and i started to talk to people about stargate because i saw everyone having fun in the tags! but i was already engaged in fic writing/reading outside of tumblr for both of those fandoms <3

R - A pairing you ship that you don’t think anyone else ships

i don't think i'm truly alone in shipping anything, but i'll be over here yelling about clone!carson/john for the rest of time. specifically the two of them together without prime!carson/john having come first. and i'm pretty sure there are no other fics there about this besides my own 🥲

[quietwingsinthesky]

Pssst! I sent an ask about this a while back, and I'm not sure if you haven't gotten to it, or the ask got eaten. If you haven't gotten to it, I'm sorry for the repeat ask and I understand, take your time :) But in case it got eaten, I'm curious: what are your fave parts of the star wars franchise? Like, which movie, characters, ships, etc?

alsofjfkfk im not gonna lie, anon, i saw it and went ‘oh cool i’ll answer that in a minute’ and the second i closed my inbox, my lack of object permanence kicked in and i forgot it existed. and then i repeated that process. many, many times.

but i will not allow it to happen again. we’re answering this now, damnit.

okay, see, the thing about me is i am an extremely basic star wars bitch. i have seen all of the movies. i have not read any books or comics. my friend in high school made me watch 1 episode of the mandalorian, and i went ‘haha cool! baby yoda!’ and then never watched more of it. (the fact that i don’t have disney+ contributed to this, but really, if i had tried, i’m sure i could have made do. i did not try.) i tried very very hard at one point to get into the clone wars show, and i remember only that there was some sort of small jabba the hutt and yoda telling some clones that their lives were meaningful in the force or something, so i have no idea how far i made it but probably not very. i have played exactly one game, jedi: fallen order, which my playstation tells me i 100%, but for the life of me, i can’t remember a single thing about it other than ‘robot buddy cute’ and ‘fun 👍’, which either is my incredibly small brain showing off its inability to store information or really doesn’t bode well for the quality of whatever story was in there lmao.

BUT. i love the movies. i’m a stupid sucker for the joy and hope of the original trilogy. i think the prequels are so fun and people are mean to them for no reason, like yes, they’re a mess, but you know how sometimes you look at a product and go ‘oh this is so corporate and soulless that nothing about it is worth seeing with my eyeballs?’ the prequels are not that. people cared about making these movies, and i can always be charmed when i can tell that there was love there, even if it didn’t work as perfectly as it wanted to.

which is probably why i’m so fond of the force awakens despite it all, because watching it feels like everyone there cared so so much about the new potential star wars. i remember watching behind-the-scenes when it first came out and seeing them talk about how they mixed practical and cgi effects for a bunch of the aliens, and i fell in love with finn because his character was basically catnip for me. my traumatized cat who was abducted and brainwashed and raised a soldier and still his heart was too big to be destroyed by the first order. poe was fun for the little screentime he had, and rey was aloof and fierce and hurt underneath it all, and kylo ren had so much fucking potential as the villain and foil for rey & finn that it actually causes me physical pain knowing what happened next. and han was there! until he died! i was heartbroken about it! it was a well-executed death! leia was there, and i could never shake the tragedy that this war she’d fought so hard to win in her youth had never really ended, that now she had to fight it alone again when luke left and han ran away. luke was not there, but this was pre-the last jedi, so i could actually be excited about what he might do when he showed up! the force awakens is a good movie.

the last jedi is a very pretty movie. the rise of skywalker feels like what everyone thinks the prequels are like. i do not watch those movies. i just mentally replace them with the utterly fantastic fic have you heard by peradi and pretend that we did get a stormtrooper rebellion <3 (if you haven’t read it, you should.)

what else, what else. i am incredibly boring when it comes to favorite characters in each trilogy, it’s just The Main Guy. i already talked about finn, but. anakin and luke. my little dudes. anakin has everything ever wrong with him, and i do not blame him for going of the rails. i mean, he did kill a lot of children and help install space facism but have we considered that the jedi were mean to him. and also that palpatine’s been grooming him since he was nine. and also that there is actual literal slavery happening in star wars and the response of everyone around him was to go ‘oh well anakin, guess u gotta let go of the fact that your mother will never be free. and if you can’t, that’s your fault.’ sorry. nope. feeling emotional about how one of the first things baby anakin asks qui-gon when they meet is if qui-gon is here to free them all, because that’s what jedi are supposed to do, they’re supposed to be heroes, and qui-gon tells him they aren’t. and then he does free anakin, and he’s got a fucking lazer sword and magic powers so who the hell would have been able to stop him from at least bringing shmi too, but instead he just takes anakin away. insane choices. george lucas im at your doorstep explain yourself.

and anyone who says they don’t love luke skywalker is a liar. u don’t like luke? luke who wants to see so much more of the universe than his little farm? luke who wants to believe in the force so strongly, his only connection to his father and soon, to obi-wan? luke who blows up the death star because he feels the force so strongly? luke who is such a shining star of hope and goodness and loyalty that han freaking solo turned around and came back to save his ass? and all that just in one movie. luke is so powerfully good, you know? and it had to be that way, the movies just wouldn’t work without him at the core of it. i love him so so much.

ships. well obviously im a c3po/r2d2 stan. as we all know, tragic love story for the ages. im a believer that r2d2 is unmemorywipeable, that trash can is too stubborn to let anything he stores be deleted, so really, we’re looking at the world’s shortest and rudest rebel spy and his overly polite amnesiac husband. im joking but im not.

taking it more seriously, i’m very easily convinced to see main character trios as poly ships. number 1 proponent of padme/anakin/obi-wan over here, a fate sealed by many good fics that i’ve read confirming this. if i may suggest one of my favorites, Queen’s Gambit by bedlamsbard, truly a fantastic star wars au work and it has an incredible podfic by reena_jenkins that inspired me to begin podficcing in the first place. following that, i also love han/leia/luke, in whatever configuration that comes, if it’s just han getting two skywalkers on his arms or if it’s luke and leia also following up on their kiss in empire strikes back. (‘i knew all along’ my ass, girl, either you didn’t or you did and you went straight for the lips alsjfjlssjkf.) From Orbit by gh0strobin is a favorite of mine for them, as well as a bed of daysided gold by lotesse.

and finally, most obviously, i was onboard with finn/poe/rey from day one of the force awakens. the reylos never got me. i was too busy thinking about the main trio kissing. (and i was a ‘rey & ben solo are cousins at least or somethjng’ truther back during force awakens, which for once, meant i had zero interest in shipping them and far more interest in using their possible backstories to explore this fascinating dynamic they had vis a vis the legacy and/or lack of one they inherited, what they were owed as children of legends. and well. i mean, i was kind of right by the end but by god i wish i wasn’t!!!) (and terrible news, i’m realizing that the majority of my post-force awakens reading on ao3 happened before i was bookmarking fics, so i don’t even have recs!!! >:( i need to rectify this immediately. but know that there are many fantastic fics for that trio and you should go looking for them.)

okay, one last round of fic reccing and i’ll leave it be, but there’s some great ones I’d be remiss not to mention. Double Agent Vader is a brilliant Vader character exploration series and it will hurt you and make u love him so so much. The Fires is a Mustafar groundhog day loop that Hurts (and fun fact, was the second fic i ever podficced for myself :( but the files are long gone. still have my first ever podfic though.) And The Force Breathes Once Again is a short and interesting fic about the force being Weird And Fucked Up. And Intertwine is a Padme Lives AU that’s just lovely. so many brilliant fics in this fandom, i swear.