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thegreymarveljedi · 20 days ago

Note

Hi! I am so in love with your story He’ll Be Home Soon 🥹 would you consider writing a part two where the reader is traveling with the bad batch after the war ends and something about how their relationship is then? If not I totally understand and in that case could I request some angst and fluff with wrecker please? Maybe the reader gets hurt or captured then its fluffy at the end? Tysm!! 💗💗💗

Battle Symphony

(Wrecker x Reader)

Of course! I am still mulling over in my head what kind of ideas I want to play around with when it comes to part 2 of He’ll be home soon cause I have another draft that would be suspiciously similar if I went the direction of the reader traveling with the batch but, there will be a part two, rest assured.

WRECKER ANGST AND FLUFF HOWEVER! That’s something I can do for sure.

Warnings: ANGSTTTTTTY, blood/gore, canon typical violence, near death experience, anxiety, medical procedures, sad Wrecker, self doubt, hurt/comfort, pre! Echo Era, fluffy, happy ending.

Words: 4.6k+

The sound of gunfire and explosions jolted (Y/N) out of her dazed stupor, eyes fluttering open to look up at the red and yellow tainted sky. The forests of Dol’har Hyde had been devastated by the battle that raged on, droids tearing through the terrain like it meant nothing. And to them it didn’t mean a thing. That’s why it was so easy for them to rig a trap, have the ground cave in and trap (Y/N) below the destruction.

“Where’s the general?!” A deep, smoky voice called out, the sound muffled and distorted by the ringing in (Y/N)’s ears. She tried to sit up, let them know where she was but every muscle in her body protested, leaving her helpless under the debris.

“I don’t kn- -r! I ha-‘t seen her,” another trooper called out, seemingly out of breath from the battle. (Y/N) couldn’t pin point who spoke or the full nature of his words but it was a regular clone, that much she could tell. Why were the regs… oh, right, they were on a mission assisting the 212th.

“We need- search the -field, find he-!” The first voice said, his tone slightly panicked though she couldn’t fully make out his words, the ringing in (Y/N)’s ears chopping the sentence up. She tried to move again but was stopped by a shooting pain in her thigh, the debris trapping her digging into her skin.

“Yes sir!” The 212th troopers called back, beginning their search around the battlefield. The gunfire had ceased finally, the droid arms decimated and what remained retreating from the front lines. Even with the battle won, there was no time to celebrate just yet.

“Crosshair can you see anything?” This time the voices came from close by, the words no longer as muffled, but clear, as if they were being spoken right into your ear.

“Not from this-“ Crosshair began but was cut off by Wrecker, who was panicking, his head moving frantically across the field trying to locate his- their general.

“(Y/N)!” He called out, his helmet pushed up on his head as he searched. He was so desperate to find her he hadn’t registered his slip up until he heard Hunter hiss over the comms.

“Wrecker, it’s general on the field, we talked about this,” Hunter growled before jogging up to his younger brother with a firm hand placed on his shoulder. He knew how much (Y/N) meant to Wrecker but it was not something he should be advertising openly.

“‘M sorry, just worried is all,” Wrecker said defeatedly, his eyes finding Hunter visors before he pushed his helmet back down, not wanting his older brother to see the tears brimming in his eyes. He knew Hunter would never judge him for showing his emotions, but he didn’t want anyone else to see him like this.

“We all are but getting yourself caught like this will do nothing,” Hunter said more gently this time, looking up at Wrecker. He wanted to do his best to be there for his brother and right now, he could do that by looking for (Y/N).

“Okay sarge, I’ll do-“ Wrecker started but was cut off by one of the regs voices coming over the comms.

“Over here!” One of them call out, Wrecker and Bunter sprinting over to the trooper as others from the 212th joined, trying their best to moved as much foliage and debris out of the way. They removed the top layer with almost no issues but it was further down that was more concerning.

“General!” Hunter called down the sizeable hole that had been made, watching as the slightest twitch of your head indicated that you were indeed alive and that you heard him.

“We need a medic over here!” Another one of the regs called out to Metric, the medic of the 212th. They were in a flurry of movement as other companies of the battalion focused of clean up of the battlefield.

“General Kenobi, we need a med-vac and fast,” Hunter called to Obi-wan over the comm channel, trying his best to find a way down to help you without making the situation worse.

“How bad is it sergeant?” Obi-wan responded, sounding a little more worse for wear but still as brave as a Jedi general.

“It’s not looking good, she trapped under debris,” Hunter replied, moving a little more out of the way so he could give General Kenobi more detail without interfering with the crew trying to moves what they could off of (Y/N).

“We’ll get you out general,” Wrecker said, his voice remaining as stead as it could with his lovers live on the line. He looked to Hunter for help, the sergeant still talking with General Kenobi about getting a med-vac out to their position.

“If you’re going to attempt to move it off of her, be careful, we don’t know what kind of damage it’s done,” Wrecker heard Obi-wan say faintly over the comms, Hunter nodding his head in response before turning back to Wrecker.

“We will try to get the medvac to you as quick as we can. I unfortunately don’t know how long that will take,” Obi-wan said calmly, though a ting of worry found its way into his tone. Hunter could only curse under his breath as he continued to look at Wrecker. He cut the comms with general Kenobi and instead opened a line with Tech before addressing Wrecker.

“Wrecker, get it moved, carefully,” Hunter said, giving the demolitions expert the go ahead to move the remainder of the debris. Wrecker nodded before getting to work on the debris trapping (Y/N) in the caved ground.

“Tech get over here,” Hunter called out into their private comm channel, not confident that the medvac would arrive before they lost their general to her injuries.

“I am on my way,” Tech replied, sounding as if he was already flying in their direction.

“Cross, keep your eyes on the field in case those clankers-“ Hunter started but was cut off by a massive explosion in the distance curtesy of Wrecker. The hulking clone didn’t even have the energy or desire to watch his work, his focus to consume by wanting to free (Y/N) from where she was trapped.

“There’s your answer,” Crosshair said with the hint of a smirk in his.

“Alright then regroup, Tech, bring the Marauder to our position. We need to get the general to the Negotiator and fast,” Hunter said, turning back to help Wrecker move the last of the lose debris that wasn’t directly on top of (Y/N).

“Sir yes sir.” both Tech and Crosshair responded before the com channel went off, both other members of the Bad Batch making their way to Hunter’s position quickly. Hunter quickly slid down into the hole with Wrecker, mindful that it could be unstable for them. He turned to face (Y/N), watching as her expression contorted in pain.

“You’re going to be okay general,” he said quietly, with as much confidence as he could in the moment. His eyes flickered up to Wrecker but all he could read on his brother’s face was distress. Wreckers eyes were focused on the piece of durasteel that remained on top of (Y/N), his eyes analyzing every corner to try and gage of damage.

“Mmm,” (Y/N) mumbled out, her eyes fluttering with the urge to close but knowing she needed to keep them open for as long as she could. But it was hard, so hard. The darkness was calling even as her head tilted in Wrecker’s direction. She wanted nothing more than to comfort her gentle giant but she could hardly keep her eyes open, much less np e her body.

“Take a deep breath for me (Y/- general,” Wrecker said softly, watching his slip up again even when he knew no one would hear it but Hunter. He carefully took hold of the durasteel that rested on (Y/N) body but a brief moment of lucidity made almost made her panic.

“C-can-n’t-t,” she stuttered out, her chest shuttering with every struggled breath she tried to take in. It felt as if she was being crushed on both sides, like she was being squished in a trash compactor with no hope of escaping.

“You’ve gotta try,” Wrecker said brokenly, removing his helmet from his head as he spoke, his usual volume gone as tears gathered in his eyes. (Y/N)’s eyes opened long enough to see the tears in Wrecker’s eyes and the desperate expression he wore. Against her better judgment and the protests of her body, she slowly lifted her hand to Wrecker’s cheek, running her thumb along his scar.

She looked at him with love in her eyes, the pain slowly beginning to fade. Wrecker held her hand as he watched the telltale signs of life slowly beginning to fade. Hunter watch with bated breath as well, but instead of giving up, he powered up his comm and called for Tech.

“Tech we need to get her out now!” He shouted, watching as Wrecker’s shoulders sagged and the hope seemed to drain from (Y/N)’s body. He could hear her heart begin to slowly, her breathing turning more shallow by the minute.

“What are her symptoms?” Tech asked, the sound of the marauders engines in the background doing little to give Hunter hope that Tech would make it in time. He could hear the voices of the regs saying the medvac was a few minutes out but he needed his brother to get here faster.

“Does it matter?! We need to get her out,” Hunter said, though his anger wasn’t meant to be directed at his little brother, it was at the separatists who put them in this position in the first place. He heard Tech grunt in response before he spoke again.

“Wrecker, move the metal carefully, we don’t want to cause more damage to the generals body,” Tech said through the coms. Hunter relaid what Tech had said and watched as Wrecker nodded, letting go of (Y/N)’s hand and donning his helmet once more, trying to find his spirit again.

“I’ll get you out (Y/N). I promise you’ll make it through this,” Wrecker muttered as he took hold of the durasteel that was trapping her once more, hoping that he could convey confidence to her through the visor of his helmet. (Y/N) only managed a small nod, hand fall back to the ground as she waited for them to free her.

“Okay, on three. One, two…three!” Hunter said as he took hold of the other side of the durasteel slate. He and Wrecker worked together to pry it off (Y/N)’s body, moving it off to the side once it was clear.

“AHHH!” (Y/N) screamed as the durasteel was removed from the top of her body, her lungs taking in the air she had been deprived of for what felt like forever, her chest heaving with continuous unsteady breaths.

“You’re okay general, you’ll be okay,” Hunter said as he breathed a sigh of relief, thinking they were out of the woods finally and that they could get their general help. Hunter could also read the relief on Wreckers face that they had been able to free her from the debris though there was something else in his eyes.

“Coming up to your position now,” tech spoke through the comms, the sounds of the Marauder coming closer to the hole where Hunter and Wrecker were with (Y/N) Hunter breathed another sigh of relief before focusing his attention back to (Y/N).

“Okay, I’m gonna pick you up, is there-“ Wrecker started but (Y/N)’s distressed voice cut him off before he could finish his sentence.

“N-no! No, can’t move,” she said painfully, feeling as though her body was in fire even after the debris had been moved. She could feel a pain in her back, a growing unease that seemed to spread heat throughout her body. She could barely lift her arm to grab Wreckers forearm, giving it a weak squeeze while looking at him with terror in her eyes.

“Why not?” Wrecker asked also desperately, placing his other hand over (Y/N)’s that rested on his forearm. Hunter’s eyes went wide as he used the scanner in his helmet to see if there was anything they had missed. And there was.

“Dammit,” Hunter muttered before looking to (Y/N) again, she had a knowing look on her face now but something else told Hunter not to say a word to Wrecker. But he couldn’t not say anything because if they were going to save her he needed Wreckers help.

“Crosshair, take over piloting for Tech. Tech I need you down here now if we’re going to save the General,” Hunter said frantically as Wreckers head perked up.

“Hunter what’s happening?” He asked, his voice cracking slightly as he took in the pained yet accepting expression on (Y/N)’s face. He didn’t want to lose her. He couldn’t lose her. Not now, not ever.

Hunter did say anything to Wrecker as Tech lowered one of the extension cables down the side of the Marauder and slid down, landing next to Hunter. Tech copied Hunter’s movements, using his scanner to scan over (Y/N)’s body to see what the damage was like.

“We are going to have to be careful if we do not wish to harm the general any further,” Tech said calmly and matter of factly. He knew he needed to remain calm especially for Wreckers sake, any hint of panic from him and he was sure the team would know something is very wrong. Wrecker and Hunter both nodded as Tech looked down to (Y/N).

“General, we are going to get you out of this and to the negotiator, you will make it through this,” Tech said, his voice certain. (Y/N) only nodded up at the goggled man, noting how calm he was. That filled her with a little hope because if tech was calm and sure she’d make it, then she could believe it too, even if it was a carefully crafted facade to ease his brother’s mind.

Tech then looked to Wrecker with a very small nod, watching as he placed on arm under (Y/N)’s neck and one under her knees, ready to lift her up on Techs signal. (Y/N) made a slight noice of discomfort only to bee dishes and soothed by Wrecker, his voice soft in her ear.

“I’m going to get you out of here cyar’ika. You’ll be okay.”

On Tech’s count, Wrecker lifted (Y/N) off of the debris that had stabbed her in the back, a painful, gut wrenching scream leaving her lips as whatever was stabbing her was forcibly removed. Tech moved quickly to apply a patch to the wound, Hunter helping him to secure it before the Batch made a beeline for the ascension cables, crosshair retracting them the second he knew everyone was secure.

(Y/N) whined in pain, squirming in Wreckers arms until they were safely on the marauder. Tech directed Wrecker to place (Y/N) down on the crash seats while he too over from Crosshair to get them to the Negotiator. Wrecker knelt down next to (Y/N), taking her hand in his, giving it a reassuring squeeze as he discarded his helmet haphazardly.

“We’re going to get you help mesh’la, I promise,” he said quietly, his voice betraying his worry for her condition.

“W-wrecker-“ she tried to speak but her voice was hoarse, mouth and throat dry, blood staining her teeth. Wrecker just shook his head, pulling his canteen from his belt only for (Y/N) to deny the water he offered her.

“Please Cyar’ika, hold on just a little longer,” Wrecker begged, tears in his eyes as he held her hand. (Y/N) just shook her head, trying to give her gentle giant a reassuring smile.

“I-I lo-ve you Wr-Wrecker,” She said quietly, watching as Wrecker closed his eyes and kissed her palm. He didn’t want to accept that she was giving up, that she could leave him in this moment.

“I love you too (Y/N). But you’re going to be okay. We’re going to get you help,” Wrecker said, his voice cracking as he watched her eyes flutter, her breathing shallow and chest rising and falling concerningly slow. She just gave a Wrecker another smile before her eyes became heavy, fluttering continuously as Wrecker called her name. She just needed to stay awake a little longer.

—

Wrecker rushed through the open doors of the medbay, a half conscious (Y/N) in his arms as blood continued to flow, dripping through the temporary bandages that Tech wrapped around her body. Her breathing was shallow and hands limp in her lap as her half lidded, unfocused eyes continued to try and focus on Wrecker. She knew she didn’t have much time left, her body slowly shutting itself down from how much blood she had lost. She had tried to tell him to let her go, that she was okay with becoming one with the force, but Wrecker refused to just let her drift away from him.

“Lay her here,” Metric said as he met Wreckers eyes, his good eye showing his fear for the woman in his arms. Wrecker did as Metirc said and laid (Y/N) down on the medical cot, reluctantly stepping back to let the medics work. Hunter came up behind his brother and pulled him away, giving Metric a nod before they left the medbay to wait outside, being greeted by Tech and Crosshair as they exited.

No one said a word as the Batch waiting outside the doors of the medbay. Hunter only kept a hand on Wreckers shoulder as his younger brother continued to stare at the doors of the medbay. Soon though he shrugged Hunter hand off gentle in favour of keeping himself moving.

Wrecker paced for a few minutes before dropping to the floor and putting his head in his hands, knees pulled up to his chest as he did his best to refrain from sobbing. Hunter watched Wrecker’s distress unfold, trying to think of a way that he could help but Hunter hung his head as he and only he heard the clear sound of a flatline through the durasteel door.

—

It took a few standard hours before Metric came out of the doors of the medbay, gloved hands bloody and face pinched in an uncertain frown. His shoulders were tense, a cloud of tension following him out of the Medbay and toward the batch. They stood from where they had sat down, eager to hear the fate that had befallen their Jedi general.

“Whatever happened out there must’ve been one hell of a battle,” Metric started, not having the energy to try and be humorous.

“How is she?” Hunter asked the question on all their minds, especially Wrecker, the Hulking clone having said nothing. He instead looked defeated, shoulders slumped, eyes red and tear stained. He wanted to have hope that she would be okay, a flicker in his eyes holding that hope.

“She’s in a bacta tank for now,” Metric said, eyes trailing to each member of the Batch, lingering on Wrecker who let out a sigh and slid down the wall he had been previously sitting against. “It took us some time but we managed to stitch her up as best we could,” the medic continued, now speaking to Hunter.

“Is there any way I could have access to her current medical file? With the treatment included?” Tech asked, typing away at his data load while waiting for an answer. Metric just gave Tech a look before sighing.

“You’ll have an update copy sent to you to keep on record,” Metric said, Tech nodding before looking back at Wrecker who’s head was leaned against the wall, elbows rest on his knees and eyes closed. He was trying his best to hold together, knowing that for now (Y/N) was safe and alive.

“Can we see her?” Crosshair asked this time, toothpick between his lips though this was the tenth he had gone through in the few hours they had been waiting.

“Not yet. Not until she’s out of the tank,” Metric said slowly, knowing that this answer might prove problematic for the batch.

“Why not?” Metrics thoughts were right as Hunters tone conveyed his distaste for having to wait to see their general, especially knowing how much this might affect Wrecker. He looked back at his larger brother but he hadn’t moved so much as a finger, eyes still closed.

“On General Kenobi’s orders, her room and bacta tank have been locked to all but himself and medical personnel,” Metric said wincing as he was bombarded with Hunter, Tech and Crosshair all talking at once.

“That is a fair judgment.”

“We should be allowed to see her!”

“He can’t do that.”

They continued to talk over one another with Metric trying to calm them down and assure them that he would keep them updated. All this went on as Wrecker sat against the wall, hands twitching as he listened to the bickering. Eventually it became too much for him, eyes stinging with unshed tears as he abruptly stood up, pushing past his brothers and making his way down the hall.

The bickering of the men ceased as they watched Wrecker walk away. From the medbay, from them, from (Y/N). Their concern for their brother only grew as they watched from a far, Wrecker disappearing down the corridor fore turning down another one.

“Let us know when things improve?” Hunter said and Metric only nodded as the rest of the batch took off after Wrecker. They made it to the end of the corridor where he had turned only to find that he was no where in sight. Hunter sighed and closed his eyes, trying to feel for Wreckers familiar energy through the Venator but came up short.

“Cross, check the training room, maybe he’s gone to punch his anger out on the bags,” Hunter said, receiving a grunt in response before the sniper split off and made his way to the training decks.

“Tech,” Hunter said turning to address the technician with a serious expression, “check the mess hall, see if he went to get some grub,” Hunter said and Tech nodded but stopped Hunter before he could walk away.

“What if he’s not there?”

“We’ll find him. He can’t have gotten too far.”

Hunter took off down the hall towards the hangar, thinking that he might find Wrecker on the Marauder. He hoped to find him and help him through this but he couldn’t know for sure what was going through Wrecker’s head.

—

It was another hour that Hunter finally met back up with Tech and Crosshair, both his brothers shaking their heads. Hunter sighed and smoothed a hand down his face, closing his eyes and wracking his brain for where else their larger brother could be.

“Maybe he does not want to be found,” Tech said, adjusting his goggles on his nose.

“Clearly,” Crosshair said with a roll of his eyes though it earned him a stern look from the sergeant.

“I am merely suggesting that we leave Wrecker to his own devices and comm him when Metric gives us the message that the general has been removed from the bacta tank,” Tech said matter of factly, turning to Hunter. The sergeant sat pensively for a moment before nodding, turning and heading down the hall toward the mess hall with Crosshair and Tech in tow.

Meanwhile, further into the Venator class star destroyer, Wrecker sat on a bed that didn’t belong to him. One that was more comfortable, softer and one that he had spent some time in here and there. He thumbed at bracelet he had pulled from his utility belt, the heavy metal of the beskar feeling like a comfort and a curse in his hand. He had planned to give it to (Y/N) next rotation when the Batch finally had shore leave but now he didn’t know what to do.

Wrecker wasn’t hungry, which was abnormal considering he could eat everything and anything in sight. But his stomach turned at even the thought of food at this moment. He was just waiting for any news now. It seems as if the someone had been reading his thoughts as his comm chimney with a message from Metric.

“She’s out.” Is all it read. Which is all Wrecker needed to stand from the bed, tuck the bracelet back into his belt and take off down the winding halls of the ship. He made it to the medbay in record time, composing himself as best as he could before walking in. The sight that freeted him made his heart sink only slightly but he was at least happy she was out of the tank.

(Y/N) was hooked up all sorts of medical equipment to assist with her recovery, he eyes closed and a breathing mask over her face. Her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm as Metric and one of the other medics spoke quietly to each other. When Metirc spotted Wrecker, he dismissed the other medic and nodded to Wrecker, silently converting that he would give them some a peace.

Wrecker returned the nod and pulled up a chair next to (Y/N)’s cot, taking her bandaged hand in his and hold it gently. Metric took his leave and made sure to close the curtains to (Y/N) cot, giving her and Wrecker as much privacy as he could. He like a couple of others knew of Wreckers relations and despite how they may view the batch as different, they kept their mouths closed.

“I’m so sorry cyar’ika, for not protecting like I should’ve,” Wrecker started, bringing (Y/N)’s hand to his lips, being mindful of the wires connected to her body. “I’m sorry I wasn’t strong enough to save you from this,” he continued, feeling tears well in his eyes as he looked at her. Wrecker felt the slightest pressure against his hand and opened his eyes to find (Y/N) looking back at him. He smiled in relief, kissing her hand again as he scooted closer to the bed.

Not your fault honey, (Y/N)’s voice sounded softly in Wrecker’s mind, true conviction in its tone as she tried her best to send reassurance his way. Wreckers shoulders deflated as he held her hand tighter.

“I blame myself though. Those explosions, those droids, I could’ve been more careful,” Wrecker whimper, bowing his head in regret. (Y/N) her head as best she could reaching one of her hand up to her face to carefully pull off the breathing mask on her face. Wrecker moved to help her, being mindful of the other wires and machines around her body. Once the mask had been removed enough for her to speak, (Y/N) spoke softly, her voice hoarse but as gentle as ever.

“I k-knew the ri-sk my lov-ve. It wa-sn’t you, o-okay?” (Y/N) said and as best she could, stuck her pinky out for Wrecker to take in his own. The gentle giant smiled and held her pinky in his own, a swear that he wouldn’t blame himself. It wouldn’t fix how he was feeling about the mission but for now, he found solace in the fact that (Y/N) was alive and breathing.

“I love you (Y/N).”

“I love you too Wrecker. I’ll be okay.”

“Promise,” Wrecker said as he squeezed her pinky in his once more. She let out an airy giggle and squeezed his pinky back, smiling a beautiful smile.

“Promise.”

Let me know what you guys think! If you have any requests send them my way!

Next up will be part 2 of my Echo x Reader story He’ll be Home Soon!

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youretellingmethisdidnthappen · 1 year ago

Text

Omega: You and Hunter are having a baby.

Y/N: I'm sorry??

Omega, slamming adoption papers on the table: It's me, sign here.

#bad batch x reader #the bad batch #the bad batch incorrect quotes #the bad batch x reader #incorrect star wars quotes x reader #incorrect star wars #incorrect star wars quotes #incorrect bad batch #hunter x reader #tbb hunter x reader #tbb omega

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clonetrooperjournals · 1 month ago

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Hello!! I had an idea for a 501st x force sensitive reader (maybe a bad batch cameo pls?), where she can see force ghosts of passed clones and she wants to try and find a good way of telling Rex and the others boys that their brothers are ok and happy. Maybe she gets headaches because ghost fives is talking her ear off while she’s trying to listen to the briefing.

Hope you had a good weekend!! Love your work!xx

Summary : You have a secret... You can see dead people. What happens when Captain Rex finds out? Pairings : Captain Rex x Fem!reader (Mechanic reader) x Fives? Warnings : ansgt, talks of death, talks of ghosts, talks of fives death and the beginnings of order 66, fluffy, cute ending, Rex is adorably awkward Words : 3.8k A/N : Okay I am in LOVE with this request! I had so much fun with this and I went a little crazy but I really hope you love it! It's absolutely one of my favourite stories I've done so far! And the Yoda cameo? we love to see our favourite little green Jedi! All ghosts talk in italics masterlist here

Be quiet

Be quiet!

Your head was pounding as you and your astromech R0-80 (or ROBO) were currently welding new paneling to a shuttle that is scheduled to leave in the morning. All around you whispers and cries that only you could hear were bouncing off your skull, giving you a wicked headache. Normally you could just ignore it and push through, you have your whole life but, on days like today when the talking is so loud you can’t think straight.

Please! I know you can hear me!

“Robo can you do the bottom of the shuttle while I weld the top?”

He chirps happily and rolls off under the ship to continue welding. Slowly and shakily, you climb up to the roof of the shuttle and start welding again.

I need to complete my mission!

Just ignore it. Just ignore it. Just ignore it.

You take a deep breath and continue your welds, slowly with slightly shaky hands but still straight. You finish your panel and move onto the next one, slowly crawling over to the next spot and it is only then that a voice yells out to you.

Please listen to me!

The shout makes you jump and lose your footing, and you go flailing backwards and fall off the top of the ship hitting the hangar floor with a hard thud! You lie there for a moment stunned, the voices quieter than normal, your vision slightly dizzy, when you hear heavy footsteps approach you.

“You alright ma’am?”

A gloved hand waves in front of your eyes making you jump. You look up to a blonde head and the most beautiful pair of brown eyes you’ve ever seen. Once the dizziness settles for a moment you realize that Captain Rex is standing over you looking concerned. You can hear quiet chuckles in the distance whether those are from other soldiers or from the voices you're not sure.

Your cheeks go bright red as you slowly sit up instantly regretting it as your head pounds behind your eyes, “I’m ok- Ouch!”

“Don’t move I’ll call Kix to come look at ya.” he says already comming the medic before you can protest, “Kix, we need you in the hangar and bring your kit!”

You look down closing your eyes to ease the aching of your head and to ignore the gaze of the beautiful captain above you, “Really captain I’m alright. No need to waste resources...”

“There’s no such thing as wasted resources when someone's in need.” he says gently patting your shoulder with a small smile.

You’ve watched Captain Rex and his men of the 501 since your first day. Like all the soldiers they gave a strong presence wherever they go and even though they are a bit radical like their general and commander you always admired them. They are really sweet and goofy and have even come over to talk to you sometimes while you were working asking you random questions, you think it was pre mission jitters that made them come over to you because there really isn’t any other reason to come talk to you but you appreciate it nonetheless.

Looks like captain is flirting. Didn’t know he knew how.

“He’s not flirting shut up!” you hiss.

Rex looks down at you with red ears, “What was that?”

You look up at him your cheeks burning bright, “Umm nothing!”

Rapid footsteps approach the two of you and you both turn to see Kix, “I’m here captain! Where’s my patient?”

“Our mechanic here took a fall from the top of the shuttle. I think she hit her head pretty good.” he explains while Kix opens his med kit and grabs a scanner. You sigh as he goes over your whole body, feeling the embarrassment of lying on the hangar floor being checked for injuries while groups of soldiers walk by and stare as they get prepped to leave on their next mission.

Kix looks down at you with a smile, “Good news is there’s no concussion. Just a visible bump on the head for the time being. A bacta patch and you’ll be good to go.”

“Thank you. I appreciate your help.” you say gently with a smile.

Kix applies the patch to your head making you wince, “Just doing my job. Now you be more careful up there. Don't wanna bruise that pretty face of yours.”

And now Kix is flirting... I shouldn’t be surprised all the boys are fawning over you. You are beautiful. Maybe I should shoot my shot too eh cyare?

“Kriffin hell please stop talking!” you say exasperated only to realize you said that out loud and both clones look at you with sheepish, confused expressions. “I-I’m sorry I didn’t mean that I... wasn’t talking to you...”

Rex and Kix both look at you confused, “Who were you talking too?”

“U-Uh... myself.”

Kix grabs his scanner from his bag again with a concerned look, “I’m gonna scan you again just to be safe...”

What the three of you didn’t know is that Master Yoda had made an unexpected trip down from the temple to the hangar when he felt something odd in the force. He stood from a far watching you as various fallen clones try to get your attention. The only way they would be this persistent is if they knew you could hear them, or see them...

As Kix stands over you with the scanner and Rex beside him you hear a faint tapping sound getting closer and the three of you turn to see Master Yoda coming toward you.

“General!”

Master Yoda nods at them as he stares directly at you with a curious smile, “come with me young one. Much to discuss we do!”

...

You remember the first time you seen a ghost, you were five years old. Your parents had been telling you a story about your grandma who had passed away many years ago, reminiscing on the time they had with her with fond smiles. You had never met her, but you had seen a holophoto of her taken a few days before her passing. As they told stories from the memories they had of her an old woman faded into view behind your mother. She had the same bright blue eyes that your mom had, and her hair was long and grey, braided in two braids just as your grandma always wore.

She smiled at you with a brightly, and you tilted your head curious, “What’s your name?”

Your parents looked at you startled wondering who you were talking to when they see you were talking to the empty wall behind your mother.

My name is Mary-Ann.

“Mary-Ann is a pretty name. My grandma has that name!” you say happily. Your parents look between you and the empty wall in horror not understanding what is happening in that moment. The old woman walks across the room slowly with her cane and stops in front of you.

You my granddaughter have a gift. Something special that not a lot of people have.

“I have a gift? You mean like superpowers?”

She chuckles warmly. Yes, you have been given the sight to see those who became one with the force once more.

“What’s the force?” you ask.

It's what connects all living things and if you have a special power like yours, it can connect you to things that are no longer living as well.

“So... I can see ghosts?”

Yes, that right. Though many of us do not have the strength to appear before you. You will hear most of us without ever seeing us.

“So, I can’t see the ghosts but... I can hear them?”

As you grow, so will your gift. It will be hard, and you will suffer, but my dear the force chose you for a reason. Never forget that. Take care and may the force be with you...

She fades away slowly, and it is just you and your parents again. You look at your parents and their shocked expressions as tears fall from your eyes, “can you tell me more stories about grandma?”

After that encounter you started to hear people, whispers and quiet conversations of people who weren’t there. You very rarely seen a ghost, but you did on occasion. You came to learn that the more you knew about someone, if you had pictures or memories or stories that connected you to them in some way you had a higher chance of seeing them if they chose to appear before you.

You thought it was really cool at first, you had a super power that nobody else had, not even the Jedi, but as time went on and you would constantly hear voices talking in your ear, or cries of those who suffered before they died it changed you. You constantly got headaches, you mumbled and whispered to yourself as a way to ease the voices to thinking you were talking to them. You had no friends because everyone labeled you the weird kid, the one parents told their kids not to play with because something wasn’t right with you. Your parents tried there hardest, they took you to doctors, specialists and shamans, but nothing helped and nothing worked.

You continued to grow up isolated and alone with only the voices and ghosts of the past to comfort you over a gift you never asked for. You started to ignore the voices, ignore the ghosts and instead do everything in your power to drown out the noise. You took up mechanics, constantly tinkering and building, taking things apart and putting them back together. The loud noise of the tools, the memorizing of manuals, the comfort you felt in being able to fix something that's been broken like you wish someone could do for you, it became your life. You excelled in mechanics and when the war started you decided that you could use your skills for good and joined the GAR. It was also because the Jedi were the only people you haven't tried to talk to about your gift, and you figured if they couldn’t help you then nobody could.

You sat on a mat in front of Master Yoda as you told him all this his eyes never leaving yours. Somewhere during your explanation, you started crying and you felt as crazy as you probably looked to the old Jedi. He smiled at you, “Yes. A gift you have... From the force indeed it is...”

You sigh wiping the tears from your eyes, “but why me? I can’t do anything a Jedi can. I can’t lift things or jump high or fight with a saber. All I can do is hear people I don’t want to hear!”

“A mystery this is... Research we must do... Louder the voices have become, yes?” he asks you.

You nod, “Yes. I think... the fallen soldiers are talking to me.”

“Yes... Sense them around you I do.” he says as he sits in front of you now grabbing your hands, “Know you can hear them, they do...”

Master Yoda waves a hand around your head and your headache eases, the voices that were trying to get your attention now a whisper. “What did you do?”

“Trick of the mind. To quiet the voices. Still there they are but... less.” he explains simply and gets up again, “tell no one of this you must. Call for you when I know more, I will.”

You nod gratefully toward him, “Thank you, Master Yoda!”

...

The next day you sat in the mess hall at a table in the far corner away from everyone. Rex walks in with Jesse and sees you out of the corner of his eye and smiles slightly at you. You sat cross legged on your chair, your sandwich shoved in your mouth while you were tinkering with a bunch of small parts that looked like junk, but he could tell it wasn’t junk to you. Your hair was pulled up into a high tail that swung every time you turned your head, and your eyes kept scanning around you like you were looking for something. Rex grabs his lunch and against his better judgement walks over to your table.

“Hey uh... Mind if I sit here?” he asks with a hesitant smile.

Your heart flutters in your chest as you rip your sandwich out of your mouth, “S-Sure!”

He sits down and looks over at your bandage, “How's your head?”

“Hmm? Oh! It’s okay, I’m okay!” you say smiling, your cheeks burning. You look down at the parts you were tinkering with to avoid his gaze.

“What are you working on?” he asks trying to carry on the conversation.

You look up your gaze flickering between the parts in your hand and the warm brown eyes of the captain, “Umm... it will be a solar energy powered stun grenade...”

He looks startled, “You're building a stun grenade in the mess hall... for fun?”

“It’s solar powered. Which means it won’t go off and hurt anyone unless its charged with sunlight. And I... like to build things... keeps my hands and my mind busy.” you shrug as you continue to pull parts and jigsaw them into a sphere.

Oh Cap’s got it bad! He’s getting embarrassed look at his ears!

You casually glance up and see his ears turning red as he stirs his soup and you smile at him warmly, “You know Captain, this is the first time someone's sat with me at lunch.”

“R-Really?” he asks stunned.

You nod again, “Yeah, I’m... a little weird. Most people don’t enjoy my company...”

“Well, I enjoy your company.” he states matter of fact making you both blush and look down.

We all knew the captain was awkward but this is just painful...

You sigh at the soldier's voice and put the final pieces of the grenade together completing it. You smile at your little contraption and when you look at Rex, he’s watching you with a gentle smile, “You’re not weird you know. I think your pretty interesting.”

“Just wait. You keep hanging around me you’ll see...”

He chuckles, “Can’t wait.”

Captain you sly dog you!

Jesse comes over to your table and puts his tray down beside Rex eyeing you and him with a grin, “Hope you don’t mind captain but the other tables full and I would rather sit at a table with a beautiful view.”

Kriffin hell! The di’kut stole my line!

You chuckle at him as Rex looks at him exasperated, “who taught you that line? It's terrible.”

“Fives obviously. Who else?” he says with a sad smile that Rex returns.

“Whose Fives?” you ask curiously already thinking you may have the name of the soldier whose been annoying you for the last two months.

They both look to each other and nod, “He was one of the finest arc troopers in the army of the republic. He was also a terrible flirt.”

“And he had the most ridiculous sense of humor!” Jesse laughs.

Rex smiles warmly, “Yeah. He always stood up for us and all our brothers. Losing him hurt more than most...”

“Sounds handsome.” you smirk and the two of them start laughing.

Jesse slaps the table he’s laughing so hard, “We all have the same face ya know!”

“Thanks for the reminder” you wink at Rex, and he blushes hard rubbing the back of his neck.

Maker just ask her out already! It's embarrassing captain. Man up!

You try not to laugh at the nagging fallen soldier, “Why did he choose the name Fives?”

“His number is CT-5555. He even got a five tattooed on the side of his head,” Rex explains thoughtfully as you take a sip of water. It is then that a soldier starts to appear beside Rex, his hand on his shoulder. You lock eyes and you choke spitting your water across the table at Jesse and Rex.

“Oh maker! I-I'm so sorry I- hold on!” you stammer completely flustered as you grab a napkin and lean across the table to wipe Rex’s face.

You can see me! You see me! I know you did!

“It’s alright. I can get it y/n you don’t have to...” he says flustered as Jesse chuckles wiping his own face beside him.

You hand Jesse another napkin, “I am so sorry I promise I didn’t mean to do that I just... kriffin hell! I gotta go!”

You jump up grabbing your stuff and shoving it into your bag as you run off flustered and embarrassed beyond belief, leaving the two soldiers wet and confused. Rex looks beside him to the empty space wondering what you saw that spooked you so bad.

...

You sat on top of Master Yoda’s starfighter giving it routine maintenance to keep your mind busy. You heart hadn’t stopped racing since you left Captain Rex and Jesse in the mess, you really are ridiculous. Why do you even try to make friends? Honestly as if Rex would see you as anything other than a mechanic with a tendency to do the stupidest things. This is why you're better off alone, so you don’t get your hopes up.

Don’t throw a pity party it was a mistake. Honestly it was my fault.

“Of course it was your fault! You’ve been yapping in my ears for the last two months! What do you want?”

Fives sits on the hood of the starfighter looking down. Honestly, I’m not sure. I just... can’t rest until I know my brothers are safe.

You drop your tools in your toolbox, “Fives were literally in the middle of a war! Nobody can promise their safety!”

I know Rex put in a report on what happened when I... died. I know he’s searching for answers. Please tell him to be careful, it’s not his time to join me yet. He needs to finish what I started, for all of us but he has to be careful.

You sigh rubbing your aching head, “That’s an awful lot of responsibility to put on one man.”

Yes, but he can do it. He’s Captain of the 501, if he can put up with us and General Skywalker he sure as hell can do just about anything...

You hop out of the star fighter and sit on the hood beside Fives. You were right he was handsome. His hair was cut short showing his fives tattoo on the side of his head and a cute triangle goatee on his chin, and this lazy smirk that you could tell got him in all kinds of trouble.

“Is there something else?” you ask quietly.

He looks at you startled for a moment and then smiles knowingly. Yes. I want him to be happy. We all have had our fair share of loss but Cap he... has had to deal with so much. He needs a light at the end of the tunnel ya know?

You nod not really understanding where he was going with this.

He's had a crush on you for a long time and I-

You gasp, “He what!? Fives that’s not true...”

I’m not lying. It's pathetic really. He watches you when he thinks no one is looking. He even drunkenly admitted at 79’s one time that he wanted to ask you out but he’s just too busy to commit to anything and he wants to do right by you if he’s gonna ask you.

Your cheeks heat up, “Th-There’s no way. We barely talk. I literally spit water at him today like a lunatic! And that’s not including I'm literally sitting here talking to you beyond the grave right now! I am a mess, he doesn’t want me!”

He smiles at you warmly, y/n... you might just be what each other needs and you both don’t know it...

You sigh, “You said it yourself. Rex has been through so much. The last thing he needs is another person with issues to come into his life and cause more chaos for him to clean up. No matter how much I like him... I will not put him through more grief...”

“You like me?”

You jump as you look down and see Rex standing in front of the ship with bright red cheeks and wide eyes, you turn to Fives and he’s laughing, “You did this on purpose didn’t you? You knew he was there?” Fives just shrugs his shoulders and continues to chuckle. “If you weren’t already dead I would strangle you right now!”

You slide off the ship and stand in front of Rex your cheeks on fire, “How much of that did you hear?”

“I’m not gonna lie. I’ve been here for a while and I think we need to take you back to Kix because-”

“Rex... I have a secret. A gift that I’ve had since I was a kid, it’s... I can hear and sometimes see people who have... died.” you whisper while not looking at him. You can’t bear to see his expression.

“You...? Can see ghosts?” he asks confused.

“Y-Yes I can. And it’s alright if you don’t believe me, it's a lot to process which is why I don't tell people, and I shouldn’t even be telling you right now, but I just want you to know that I’m not crazy! I- well honestly, I might be crazy-”

“y/n”

“And I really don’t want to cause you any more trouble than I already have I-”

“y/n”

“Even if you don’t believe me, I just want to continue being frie-”

He grabs your waist and kisses you, hard. You freeze, all around you, you can hear cheers from thousands of soldiers only you can hear making your ears ring and your head pound, but you could care less in that moment. Fives stands off on the side hollering with a huge smile.

Atta boy Cap!

He pulls away and strokes your cheek, “I believe you y/n. And like I told you earlier today, I think you’re really interesting. I didn’t realize how interesting you were going to be but... I still wanna ask you out if that’s okay with you?”

“Really? After knowing what you know about me?” you ask stunned.

He nods, “The Jedi can do impossible things so who's to say there aren’t other people in our galaxy that can do them too?” he leans forward his head touching yours, “so can I ask you on a date then?”

You smile and you feel his breath on your lips, “I would love to go out with you Rex.”

Finally! I’m dead and even I didn’t know if he was gonna go through with it!

You can’t help but laugh, “Shut up Fives!”

dividers by @saradika-graphics

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nahoney22 · 1 year ago

Note

Me again! Please can I request some HC’s with the bad batch and how they react to reader (gn or female) accidentally crawling into the boys bunk at night 😂

Accidental Sleeping Arrangements

All Bad Batch Boys X GN!Reader

How the boys react to you accidentally crawling into their bunk at night.

warnings: Fluff, comfort, cuddles, some moody boys, gender neutral reader. Can be read as romantic or platonic.

Echo 💤

The first time:

As you slid into his bunk accidentally that evening, he was thoroughly bewildered. He had jolted awake and sat upright, observing your exhausted form snuggling against him, eyelids heavy with fatigue.

With tactful gentleness, he roused you from your slumber, delicately shaking you to bring you back to awareness. "Hey, um, you're in my bunk, trooper."

Your eyes flickered open, adjusting to the dim light, and a muttered curse escaped your lips as you retreated, cheeks warming with embarrassment. "Sorry, Echo," you apologized, slipping out of his bunk. "I must be completely drained," you sheepishly confessed.

"It's alright. I just didn't want to startle you by waking up to my face," he commented. You glance at him with a furrow forming on your brow before you shook your head.

"I doubt I'd be bothered by that..." your words trailed off, potentially carrying unintended flirtation. Echo's eyes widened slightly, his hand instinctively moving to the back of his neck, a clear sign of slight shyness at your words.

"Anyway," you say abruptly, spinning on your heel. "Sorry about that."

Echo simply nodded, silently observing as you retreated to your own bunk, leaving him with a sudden chill in the air, now yearning for the warmth you briefly brought beside him.

The second time:

With a tired yawn, Echo wearily approaches his bunk a few nights later, only to halt in surprise at the sight of someone curled up inside. Upon closer inspection, he realises it's you again, presenting him with a slight dilemma.

Despite his weariness, Echo knows he needs rest, and while your bunk is an option, his own provides the perfect setup for his cybernetics, ensuring he's at his best for the next day's duties.

Letting out a small sigh, hoping you wouldn't mind, he settles on the edge of his bunk and gently wakes you. "Hey, you're in my bunk again," he murmurs softly.

You stir, meeting his gaze before cringing slightly. "Again? I'm so sorry," you begin to rise, but his hand on your shoulder stops you.

"You can stay, but I'd also like to get some sleep... if you, uh, catch my meaning," he hints with a faint smile, hoping you understand.

"Oh," you blush, considering for a moment. "Well, I hope you don't mind sharing."

"Not at all," he reassures, his tone gentle as you make space. He lies beside you, and before long, you drift back to sleep. Echo finds solace in the rhythm of your soft snores, gradually succumbing to sleep himself... though waking up to find you both cuddling is a surprise he hadn't anticipated, yet one he welcomes warmly.

Hunter 💤

The first time:

When Hunter awoke to find you crawling into his bunk, confusion gripped him. Instantly alert, his hands tensed, ready to confront any potential intruder, but his apprehension melted away as he recognised you.

He lay there in silence, contemplating his next move.

While a part of him felt inclined to let you sleep, considering your recent exhaustion, he couldn't shake the concern of startling you upon awakening to find him beside you.

After ensuring you were deeply asleep, he carefully extricated himself from the occupied bunk, making sure not to disturb you.

Once free, he couldn't suppress a soft chuckle as he observed you, peacefully snuggled into his pillow, emitting gentle snores. “Sleep well.” He whispered to you before leaving you to rest.

He made a mental note to address the situation in the morning, but perhaps it’s better left unsaid since you’ll know your error when you woke up.

The second time:

As you woke up to find yourself in Hunter's bunk, mortification swept over you. Yet, when you encountered Hunter in the cockpit, he didn't mention a word about it, instead offering you a drink of caf.

A small part of you entertained the idea that perhaps he was unaware of the nighttime intrusion. However, your suspicions were confirmed a few nights later.

Fatigued and not paying attention to your surroundings, you headed towards what you thought was your bunk and climbed inside, only to be surprised by the presence of another person. "Hunter, what're you doing?" you blurt out, eyes widening in disbelief.

"I could ask you the same question," he chuckles, adjusting his position and turning to face you. "This is my bunk."

Blinking in realisation, you glance around, confirming his assertion. "Oh," you laugh sheepishly, "I thought this was mine."

His smile is gentle, his eyes gleaming faintly in the dim light. "You're more than welcome to stay," he offers casually, though he soon realizes the potential implications of his words. "If you want to, that is."

A part of you knows you should return to your own bunk, yet there's an inexplicable pull keeping you there. "Well, I'm all comfy now..." you hint with a small smile.

He nods, turning his gaze away and closing his eyes. "Me too. Sleep well."

It took you a moment to fall asleep but just like how Hunter didn’t tell you that you had slept in his bunk first initially, you won’t tell him how he pulls you into his body as he slept and held you close throughout the night. Not that you seemed to mind.

Wrecker 💤

The first time:

"Wrecker, you scared me! What are you doing in my bunk?" you exclaimed, startled by the unexpected intrusion.

As you thought you were settling into your bunk for the night, using your hands to navigate through the darkness, you accidentally crawled onto something large and hard.

Assuming it was just your sheets bunched up, you attempted to smooth it out, only to be met with a small yelp that made your heart skip a beat.

"Huh?" Wrecker groggily emerged from his sleep cocoon, rubbing his eyes. "This is my bunk, isn't it?"

"No, I'm pretty sure it's mine," you asserted, but as Wrecker shifted in the bunk and reached under the blanket, he pulled out his beloved Lula.

"Oh. Maybe not then." You felt pretty embarrassed by your mistake, but Wrecker didn't seem to mind at all.

"It's alright, thought I was going to get an extra cuddle buddy for a second there!" he chuckled heartily, waving Lula in your face. His laughter filled the room, and you couldn't help but feel a warmth spread through you at the thought of being Wrecker's "cuddle buddy," though you weren't entirely sure if he was joking.

Deciding not to dwell on it further and eager to avoid keeping Wrecker awake any longer, you offered a meek apology before retreating to your actual bunk. As you settled in, you couldn't shake the image of Wrecker's playful grin from your mind.

The second time:

Wrecker stared down at his bunk, finding it already occupied with not much room left for him. You were snoozing away, oblivious to his dilemma. Wrecker knew he could be a bit of a grouch without his sleep, so he decided to gently prod you awake.

"Hey," he nudged you, rousing you from your slumber. "Is this you asking to be my cuddle buddy?"

You stirred awake, blinking in confusion as you glanced at him. It was then that you noticed Lula on the pillow next to your head. "Oh shoot, sorry Wrecker," you sighed groggily, just wanting to fall back asleep into the warmth of his bunk.

"It's alrigh’," he chuckled softly, his deep voice filling the room with warmth. "But uh... I kinda need to sleep."

"Then come cuddle next to me," the words slipped out before you realized what you were saying, but you didn't want to take them back either. The thought of Wrecker's warmth beside you was oddly comforting.

Wrecker was surprised for a moment, his eyes widening slightly, before a soft smile spread across his face. Without hesitation, he slung his armor off and crawled into the space beside you. "Are ya sure about this?"

"Mhm," you replied sleepily, your arms spreading over his chest as you nestled into him like a log warming a fire. "You're warm."

Wrecker smiled to himself, feeling a sense of contentment wash over him as he closed his eyes, feeling your steady breathing against his chest.

Tech 💤

The first time:

Sleep was not a common occurrence for Tech, so when he made the rare decision to nestle down for the night, he wasn't too perturbed to find you asleep in his allocated spot.

He paused for a moment, considering whether to wake you, but recalling your exhausted state earlier, he reasoned that you wouldn't have intentionally taken his bunk.

Instead, he quietly observed the peaceful rise and fall of your chest, noting the serenity that graced your features, before silently retreating back to the cockpit where he remained awake for the night once again.

"Tech, why didn't you wake me? I feel terrible," you expressed your guilt that next morning upon discovering that you had accidentally slept in his bunk, leaving him to forego his own rest.

"That is not necessary. You were tired, and I can always keep my mind occupied with tasks or reading intel," he replied in his usual composed manner, peering at you over his datapad. "I shall assume this was a one-time occurrence, and my bunk shall be my own again tonight."

“Yes, of course," you nodded, your expression reflecting genuine concern as you offered another apology before preparing for the demanding day ahead. Despite Tech's assurances, the weight of your unintended intrusion lingered.

The second time:

It just so happened to be the next night that you found yourself once again interrupting Tech's sleep. Moving through the dark ship with heavy eyes and a yawn on your lips, it was no surprise that you once again miscounted where your bunk was and crawled into the wrong one.

Your head hit the pillow, and your eyes shut as the warmth of the bed enveloped you. However, despite the comfort, a small flickering light kept intruding upon your consciousness, prompting your eyes to flutter open. At first, you didn't register the source, but as you turned your head to the right, your eyes widened in realisation: Tech laying there on his datapad, as if nothing had happened.

"Tech, what... am I...?" you began, your voice trailing off as confusion clouded your thoughts.

"In the wrong bunk?" he interjected calmly, settling his datapad down and gazing down at you. His goggles rested atop his head, allowing you to see the brightness of his eyes in the dark. "That is correct."

You sit up, feeling a rush of embarrassment flood over you, and run your hand over your face in frustration. "I'm sorry. I don't know what's up with me.”

Tech raises a single brow, his expression softened with genuine concern. "Perhaps in the morning, I should run some tests if you will allow me?" he suggests softly, his voice carrying a hint of worry. "But for now, I suggest you get some sleep."

Nodding in agreement, you reluctantly pull the blanket off your body, preparing to retreat to your own bunk. However, before you can make your escape, Tech's hand gently rests on your shoulder, stopping you in your tracks.

"You are free to continue sleeping in my bunk tonight if you find it comfortable," he offers unexpectedly, his gesture of kindness catching you off guard.

"What, really?" you respond, turning to face him, searching his eyes for confirmation.

With a nod, Tech reclines back and retrieves his datapad. "Yes, really. I do not mind."

"But what if I keep you awake again?" you voice your concern.

"Do not worry about me," he reassures softly, a warm smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Now, get some rest before I give you a lecture about the benefits of getting sleep."

You chuckle softly at his remark before settling, finding comfort in his understanding demeanor. As you prepare to drift off into slumber, you can't help but feel thankful for Tech's compassion and generosity.

In the quiet of the night, you woke up only once, feeling Tech's arm drape gently across your body. Yet, instead of feeling unsettled, you found comfort in his presence.

Crosshair 💤

The first time:

As you prepared to settle in for the night after a long day, exhaustion clouded your judgment, leading you to absentmindedly crawl into a bunk without much thought. However, your relaxation was short-lived as you were startled by a gravelly voice beside you.

"What are you doing?" The abrupt question made you jump, and you inadvertently knocked your head against the top of the bunk in surprise.

"What am I doing? What the kriff are you doing?" you retorted in annoyance, rubbing your sore head as Crosshair sat up beside you, his expression stern in the dim light.

"I'll think you'll find this is my bunk," he hissed, his sharp gaze piercing through the darkness. As you glanced across the room, you realised your mistake—the bunk you were in wasn't yours.

"Oh."

"Yes. Oh. Now get out before I drag you out," he threatened, though you could tell it was more playful than serious.

"Alright, alright, keep your hair on," you sighed as you obediently crawled out of his bunk, feeling the absence of warmth as you departed.

Crosshair grumbled under his breath and rolled back onto his side to sleep, while you mentally chided yourself for the blunder, making sure you never accidentally try to sleep in his bunk again.

The second time:

You're exhausted, your head throbbing with the relentless ache of sleep deprivation from the past few days, and you've reached the point where you don't care where you sleep anymore. And that includes Crosshair's bunk.

As you settle down on the edge of his bunk, the closest one available, you feel the weight of his gaze on your back, following your movements as you swing your legs around and lay down. "What are you doing?" his voice cuts through the silence, tinged with irritation.

You don't reply, simply closing your eyes as you allow the fatigue to wash over you, hoping for a moment's respite.

"This is my bunk," he asserts firmly, his agitation evident, but as you remain silent, his annoyance shifts to confusion.

"Are you... alright?" he inquires, concern creeping into his voice.

You shake your head softly, and you hear him sigh, but he doesn't press you further. Nor does he demand that you leave.

As sleep begins to claim you, Crosshair remains awake for a while, his thoughts swirling. In his mind, he tells himself that this is a one-time occurrence.

Yet, if you're upset and in need of somewhere to rest for a while, he doesn't mind if you sleep next to him again. After all, it turns out to be the best sleep he's had in a while too.

Masterlist

Tags: @littlefeatherr @kaitou2417@eyecandyeoz @captxin-rex x @jesseeka @theroguesully y @ladykatakuri @arctrooper69 @padawancat97@staycalmandhugaclone @ko-neko-san @echos-girlfriend @fiveshelmet @dangraccoon @plushymiku-blog @chrissywakingup @pb-jellybeans s @nunanuggets s @sleepycreativewriter @erellenora @zippingstars87 7 @ezras-left-thumb @the-rain-on-kamino @tech-aficionado @grizabellasolo @therealnekomari @tech-depression-inventory @brynhildrmimi @greaser-wolf @tinyreadersmur @seriowan @kaminocasey @marvel-starwars-nerd @ladytano420 @ladyzirkonia @thesith @raevulsix @cw80831 @knightprincess @crosshairlovebot @imalovernotahater @id-rather-be-a-druid @the-bad-batch-baroness @lulalovez @green-alm0nd @thiswitchloves9904

#the bad batch HCs #the bad batch x reader #bad batch x reader #echo x reader #tech x reader #Hunter x reader #Wrecker x reader #crosshair x reader #the bad batch #tbb #nahoney22 writes

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rainydaydream-gal18 · 1 year ago

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(The Bad Batch) How He Is with His Newborn Baby

Hunter: He adores them and spends a lot of time holding them. Hunter is also really big on the whole skin-to-skin contact, so it becomes a common thing to see him walking around shirtless with the baby cradled snugly in one arm. He gets pretty good at performing tasks around the home with the baby. He's enraptured by the little one, but also very attentive to your needs. Hunter makes sure you take the time you need to eat, shower, and just have time to relax every now and then. Literally, any excuse to hold them some more, and he's giving it. He is good at rocking the baby in such a way that they fall asleep instantly in his arms.

Wrecker: The baby has him wrapped around their tiny finger already. He's already telling them how much he loves them and how proud he is. Wrecker also just spends time telling them all the fun things they're going to do together when they're old enough to walk, talk, etc. He is so unbelievably gentle and sweet with the little one in general, and also of course with you. He'll randomly stare at you and tell you how beautiful you are and what a good job you're doing.

Tech: This baby is not at the point where they can retain any information yet, but Tech spends plenty of time just talking to them. He talks about anything his mind can conjure up. The baby becomes so accustomed to the sound of his voice that it has quite the soothing effect. Additionally, Tech is very quick to pick up on the baby's cycle of needs. It gets to the point where they cry, and he can glance at his chrono and pinpoint exactly what they need according to the little schedule he's created. He also regularly checks the baby's weight, vitals, to make sure they're in good health. From time to time he voices yet again how fascinating the miracle of birth is and how proud he is of you, also checking your health.

Echo: Spends the first few weeks only holding the baby when sitting down. He can't get over how fragile they are, and he just sits there and stares at them as long as he can in amazement and adoration before they wake up from their nap or fuss about something they need. When the baby bursts into a fit of wails, he goes into a bit of a panic mode worrying about what's wrong. Eventually, he gets more comfortable and gets used to the idea that the baby is just communicating a need. It doesn't take long for him to become a professional dad. He gets pretty organized with the diaper bag and supplies so that he can just pull out whatever the baby needs at the drop of a hat.

Crosshair: He spends a good while just quietly holding the baby in his arms and watching them. Internally, he thinks they're absolutely precious and realizes he loves them so much. He already knew he'd love them, but he didn't realize it would feel like this. The baby is heart-wrenchingly cute, and he'd do anything to protect them. You come to find that he becomes more vocal, telling the baby in a sort of Crosshair-style sarcasm that they need to get their act together every time he has to handle a diaper change, feeding, etc. He's up with you at any hour day or night to help with the baby without a complaint, and regularly makes sure you're taking care of yourself also.

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leenathegreengirl · 20 days ago

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So uh…this happened 😄

But don’t worry, I’ll explain everything soon! 💜💜💜

(dm me if you want the uncensored version!

💕💜Tag List💜💕

@legacygirlingreen @thora-sniper @thecoffeelorian @neyswxrld @somewhere-on-kamino @clonethirstingisreal @royallykt @morerandombullshit @burningfieldof-clover @tbnrpotato @keantha @returnofthepineapple @antisocial-mariposa @techs-stitches @resistantecho @kimiheartblade @dezgate @fiveofirstmuse @freesia-writes @heidnspeak @queenjiru @commanderfury @kyda-atshushi @deezlees @thebadbatchfan @aknightreaderr @eclec-tech @noirrart @justanotherdikutsimp @teryx16 @jack-o-alltrades

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dindjarindiaries · 2 months ago

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Say Something

summary: Your peaceful life on Pabu was bought by a hard-fought battle, and the last thing you want to do is disturb it by confessing your unrequited feelings for Hunter. What you don’t know is that he feels the same exact way.

pairing: hunter (the bad batch) x reader

tags: mutual pining, post-s3/finale, tech lives, angst with a happy ending, perspective switches, mutual jealousy, alcohol, banter, love confessions, hunter is bad at feelings (but he’s trying), hunter is omega’s parent, protective hunter

rating: T

word count: 10.470k

main masterlist • hunter masterlist

You woke up just as the Pabu sun was starting to rise, for once feeling just as peaceful as the sight of it was on the horizon through your bedroom’s viewport. That was a rare feat these days, no matter how much time had passed since your final battle.

Resigning yourself to your awakened state, you got up and prepared for the day. There wasn’t much you, or the others for that matter, had going on, but there was a community event in the heart of town tonight. You had already agreed to go, and it was no doubt Wrecker’s scene, too. He was the most social of the group, after all.

With the two of you slated to be there, it wasn’t hard to guess who else would be coming along. His protective tendencies had only seemed to worsen after Tantiss, but you couldn’t blame him.

If all was as usual right now, however, everyone would still be asleep. If anyone else was actually awake, it would be Crosshair, but he would be roaming the shore with Batcher if that were the case. With that in mind, you carried yourself quietly out of the room into the upstairs corridor of the squad’s shared home.

That was still something you were getting used to. After countless months spent living out of a ship, it was unreal to have somewhere you could truly call a home. You would do anything to preserve its sacredness.

Even ignore the storm of complicated feelings for a certain someone inside the house that had long since been brewing inside of you.

As if to mock you, a dim light glowed out into the corridor from one of the refresher doorways, which had been left open. You lifted your brow in curiosity, stepping forward with weightless feet as you tiptoed closer to see who was inside without disturbing them.

You were thankful you had kept yourself as quiet as possible, because the refresher was currently being occupied by the person who had the highest chance of hearing you no matter what—and the same person you had just been thinking about. The relief was short-lived as the scene of what you were witnessing fully sunk in.

Hunter must have just hit the shower. His scarred upper half was still steaming as he tended to his hair in a gentle way that brought a mindless smile to your lips. For so long during the war, he hadn’t been able to take care of his hair the way it truly deserved; the last few months on Pabu had changed that. Now, his natural curls were allowed to shine.

That and everything else he offered would have been enough to keep you staring, but what continued to captivate your wandering eye were the maneuvers of his careful, practiced, and calloused fingers.

You weren’t used to seeing them so vulnerable when the former sergeant had almost always had them covered by his gloves. It wasn’t a sight you ever would get used to. Even just the thought of them brought a blistering warmth to your face and the tips of your ears, and the longer you stared, the more it burned.

Something in your chest pulled tight, as if there was an invisible tether between the two of you. You wanted so badly to see where it led, to find out if it was inside your own mind or something shared between you, but the peace you had achieved kept you from saying anything. Ruining everything he especially had worked to give you and the others was your worst fear.

That’s why you settled for this, lingering like his shadow as your eyes carved swirling designs into the skin of his fingers and the rippling muscles on his scarred upper half. You stayed just out of sight as you did so, barely able to see his eyes in the reflector as he watched his work carefully.

Then, for a fraction of a second that left you breathless, the reflection of his amber gaze flickered to yours.

Immediately, that burning warmth rushed down into your neck, and you turned on your heel to walk back towards your room. Of course, it would do nothing to stop him from addressing you in his usual low timbre.

“You’re up earlier than usual.”

You hummed, hiding the breath you took for composure, and turned back around to face him. You crossed your arms over your chest to keep him from seeing the heart you had accidentally been wearing on your sleeve. “I could say the same to you.”

Hunter let out an amused huff. One of his hands was set on his hip as his other side leaned against the doorway, and he tilted his head while his gaze regarded you with a fondness you couldn’t quite pinpoint.

All the while, you were trying not to visibly marvel at the sight of his hair falling freely without his bandana. It wasn’t a style he wore often at all—even on the island, he still wore a newer, woven bandana to keep his curls in place—but it was fitting on him. Liberating, even. It was a sight you wanted to get used to.

“So.” You tapped your fingers along your arms and raised your brow. “What’s got you rising with the sun?”

Hunter lifted a single eyebrow, matching the corner of his mouth that also rose in a slow, sly motion. “Considering you’ve been watching me for the last few minutes… I think you know.”

You fought off the warmth that attempted to overpower you as you shrugged. “Maybe I was just waiting for the ‘fresher.”

“There are other ‘freshers you could use.”

“Yeah, but this one’s my favorite.”

“Just like me, huh?”

You gave your eyes a dramatic roll, despite the way his words tightened the knot inside your chest. “You keep telling yourself that.”

Hunter chuckled and shook his head, jostling some of the curls he had just set. Your gaze softened at the sight before you could stop it. “Now, what about you?” Hunter’s expression grew more serious as he nodded at you. “Why are you up?” His warm gaze gave you a quick yet cautious once-over. “You feeling okay?”

You nodded to reassure him. “Yeah, yeah, I’m fine today.”

Hunter’s brow furrowed. “‘Today?’ Is something usually wrong?”

The pure concern in his voice made you feel safer than anything or anyone else in the galaxy ever could, but you quickly reminded yourself that he treated the rest of his family the same way. “I mean, I’m pretty sure that’s the case with all of us after…”

You hesitated to actually say the word. You hadn’t had it half as bad as Hunter did inside Tantiss, and you were reluctant to make him remember everything he had been through. You bit back a wince as you watched him avert his gaze for a few moments, his amber eyes glossing over with a haunted look before he circled his jaw and refocused.

“Fair point.” Hunter lifted himself from the doorway and straightened as his gaze pierced yours. “But you know you can always talk to me if you need to.”

You offered him a small smile and nodded. “I know.” You tightened your grasp on your arms and looked down at your feet. “You’ve got enough going on as it is, though, and I can manage it just fine on my own.”

Most of the time. It wouldn’t do Hunter any good to mention the times where you woke up utterly breathless and trembling from the terrors that haunted your mind relentlessly, especially when he was at the center of them all. If he learned that the torture he endured had also become your own torment, he would take responsibility for it—and you simply wouldn’t let him.

Hunter let out a soft sigh and took a small step closer to you. “You don’t have to do it alone.”

You looked back up at him. The depths of Hunter’s gaze were still plagued by hauntings he was clearly trying to hide, something that made concern flicker within your own chest as you gently raised your brow at him. “Neither do you.”

Hunter broke your stare, his gaze searching as he looked at the floor beside you. You let out a sigh soft enough that Hunter might not have even caught it with his delicate senses. The two of you made quite the sorry pair when it came to sharing feelings, in more ways than just one.

But one of those ways was just you.

The least you could do for him now was find an appropriate topic switch. Your gaze, unsurprisingly, continued to study him up close, catching specifically on his tightened jaw. He had always left behind just a touch of stubble while shaving, but it was clear he was starting to grow it out more here on the island. You smiled again and spoke up into the silence.

“Looks like you’re trying something new.”

Hunter’s gaze flickered back to you, his brow creased in silent questioning. You resisted the urge to reach forward and brush your fingers along his jaw, instead resolving to tap your own.

His eyes flashed with understanding, and there may have been a flush that appeared over his cheeks, though it was hard to tell in the dimmer lighting of the corridor. “Yeah. Yeah, I just… I got lazy with it one day, then decided to keep taking it further.” Hunter offered his best nonchalant shrug.

You let out a soft hum of approval. “I like it.”

Hunter’s shoulders lifted in a movement so subtle you would’ve missed it if you had blinked. “You do?”

You fought off a chuckle at his pure disbelief and nodded. “I do.” You let that sound of amusement out as you gave his bare shoulder a playful punch. “And I bet all the townsfolk who definitely have secret crushes on you are gonna love seeing it tonight.”

Hunter huffed and shook his head, running his hand over the back of his neck in clear embarrassment. “You’ve gotten as bad as them with that, you know.” He gestured with his head to the other sealed bedroom doors.

You let out another soft laugh and shrugged. “It’s true.”

Hunter sighed and gave his eyes a half-hearted roll. “It is not.”

You grinned. “Yes it is!”

“You think it’s funny, but it’s not.” Hunter’s growing smile betrayed his words.

“I’m not trying to be funny. I’m just telling the truth.”

The sound of a door opening in the corridor split the air, but neither you nor Hunter paid it any mind as he continued your banter. “That’s not the truth, though. You’re all making that up.”

You let out a scoff and shook your head. “No we’re not!”

Hunter set his hands on his hips and lifted his brow. “Yes, you are.”

“And why would we lie?”

Hunter gave his head a shake as he let out a heavy sigh. “Either way, it doesn’t matter.”

Your heart stalled in your chest as you gave him an inquisitive look. “Why not?”

Before Hunter could say anything, a shadow suddenly moved into the space between you. You had to take a step back to make enough room for them—just to realize it wasn’t a shadow, but was, in fact, Crosshair, who was headed for the nearby staircase.

Crosshair continued his stride as if the two of you hadn’t even been standing there, close enough to one another that you had to physically create more distance for him to fit. Both you and Hunter watched him go before you turned back to each other. Hunter’s smile was shy as he took a step back past the refresher’s threshold.

“I’ll be done soon.” With that, Hunter hit the panel on the inside of the refresher and closed the door.

You stood there, blinking into the sudden darkness of the corridor without the dim lighting of the refresher, as you recollected yourself. You hadn’t noticed how close you and Hunter had gotten, not until Crosshair passing by had made you realize it.

You wished that neither of you had noticed, because there was no telling how much closer you might have gotten if you hadn’t.

You inhaled a steady breath as you turned away from the door and continued towards the stairs. Following Crosshair’s path, you made your way downstairs and into the conjoined kitchen and living area. The sniper was already there, brewing a pot of caf as you leaned against the counter in your best nonchalant act.

“Morning.”

Crosshair cut his gaze at you. “Hmm.” He pressed a button on the caf machine and turned around to face you. “I thought you would’ve taken longer.”

You blinked at him as your lips parted in surprise. It took a few silent moments for you to even find the words to say in response. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Crosshair crossed his arms, his stare never once leaving yours as he slowly lifted a single eyebrow. “Nothing.” He took a toothpick from a nearby glass cylinder on the counter and balanced it between his lips.

You narrowed your eyes at him. “You wouldn’t have said something like that without a reason.”

Crosshair twirled the toothpick and shrugged. “You’re smart, aren’t you?” He lifted the toothpick and studied it closer than he had to. “You’ll figure it out on your own.”

You pursed your lips, but said nothing. Crosshair set the toothpick back where it was and turned to take two mugs from a nearby cabinet.

“Or… you’ll keep acting like an idiot.”

You sputtered as you pushed yourself off the counter and frowned at him. “Did you just call me an idiot?”

“No.” Crosshair turned to face you again. There was no hiding the clear amusement that tugged at the corners of his mouth. “I said you’re acting like one.” He pointed at you with his toothpick. “There’s a difference.”

You set your hands on your hips and furrowed your brow. “And how exactly am I acting like an idiot to you?”

Crosshair huffed, the best version of a laugh you could ever hope to get from him, and tilted his head. “By pretending you don’t know what I’m talking about.”

You palmed your forehead. “You’re not making any sense.”

Crosshair’s amusement flickered into frustration as he rolled his eyes. “Sure.” He spun back around to face the caf as it finished brewing. “You keep telling yourself that.”

You let out a sigh as your hand slipped from your forehead. Crosshair filled both mugs in silence, but the gears of your mind kept turning. Once Crosshair finished and handed one of the mugs off to you, you held it between your hands and stared into the steaming liquid. Your voice was hushed as you broke the silence.

“It wouldn’t matter, anyway.”

Crosshair hummed in acknowledgement. “Now you’re the one that’s not making sense.”

You huffed and set your mug down onto the counter, opening the cooler to grab the bantha milk. “If I faced the truth.” You removed the lid on the canister and poured it into the mug. “It’s only my truth.” You shook your head and resealed the canister. “I don’t want to break our peace here.”

“You’re not serious, are you?”

You leveled Crosshair with a glare from over the cooler door before you closed it. “What makes you think I’m lying?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” Crosshair drew a long sip from his caf as if it wasn’t still hot enough to burn his throat. “Just the fact that I saw something entirely different with my own eyes this morning.”

You frowned at him from behind the rim of your mug. “That wasn’t anything. We were just…” You paused, your gaze searching as you tried to find the words.

“Exactly.” Crosshair huffed and swirled his mug around. The amused smile was back on his lips. “You can’t even think of an excuse.”

Your ears burned as you offered him an unamused frown. “Whatever. You’re just trying to make me feel better.”

Crosshair gave you an unimpressed look. “You really think that I would do something like that?”

You pondered his words for a moment. “That’s… true, actually.”

Crosshair snickered and shook his head, his smug smile disappearing behind his mug as he drew another sip from it. Meanwhile, your gaze was left searching the floor beneath your feet. Crosshair’s words had gotten you far too lost inside your own mind, and you were desperate to find a way out before the feelings trapped deep within you got even more overwhelming.

You tapped your fingers along your mug and gracefully switched topics. “I’m surprised Omega isn’t up yet.”

Crosshair remained as unbothered as usual while he offered his response. “That’s because she isn’t here.”

Your brow shot up. “She’s not?” When Crosshair gave his head a small shake, you let out a soft hum. “She stayed at Phee and Tech’s last night, then?”

“That’s the only place she’s allowed to stay at overnight other than here.”

You let out a huff. “True.” You gestured to Crosshair with your mug. “Shep’s too, though.”

Crosshair hummed to acknowledge you. In the brief silence, you looked towards the stairs.

“I’m surprised Hunter didn’t end up staying there with her.”

Crosshair made a low sound of amusement that was quickly muffled by the sound of him sipping his caf. “Why else would he be up this early?”

Your stare returned to the sniper. “What do you mean?”

Crosshair’s metallic hand tapped his mug once, then twice. “He’s going to pick her up and walk her home.”

You let out a sigh at that, though the sound was too fond to be one of any true annoyance. “She would be just fine walking here by herself. They’re just a few streets over.”

Crosshair gestured with his chin to the stairs. “Try telling him that.”

You exhaled sharply through your nose. “Fair point.” Your attention returned to the stairs, where a faint glow had illuminated the corridor again. Your lips widened in a subconscious smile. “I think I’ll go with him.”

“Naturally.” You didn’t have to look at Crosshair to know that he was smiling. The smugness of it was evident in his tone.

Still, you cut him a look just as the stairs began to creak. You willed your sudden racing heart to calm down and hid behind your mug by drawing a sip of your caf. When you lowered it, you were greeted with the sight of Hunter leaning into the kitchen area to look between you and Crosshair.

“I’m headed to Tech and Phee’s to get Omega.” He gestured with his head to the front door. “I won’t be long.”

You spoke up before your shyness could take a hold of you. “Want some company?” You lifted the mug in your hand. “I’ll take my caf on the go.”

The corners of Hunter’s mouth rose in a small smile. “Sure.” His warm gaze flickered over to his youngest brother. “Cross?”

You also looked at the sniper, whose gaze flitted between the two of you before he shook his head. “I don’t remember offering my services as an escort.”

Hunter rolled his eyes and stepped fully into the living area. You threw Crosshair a look, but all you got was yet another sly smile in return. Your ears began to burn once again as you followed Hunter over to the door. It slid open, and he gestured for you to walk through the open threshold first.

As you stepped through, Hunter’s hand brushed over your back, a phantom touch that was just firm enough to intensify the warmth that blazed beneath the skin of your face and neck. The quick gesture left you silently reeling even as the two of you started to make your way down Pabu’s stone streets.

The sun had risen higher, but there were still streaks of pink, orange, and purple in the blue sky overhead. The smell of the salt sea drifted on the breeze that tugged at Hunter’s curls, which bounced lightly with each step he took as you stole a look over at him. It took a lot of effort to look away, especially as the warmth of the morning sun radiated off his skin and his amber eyes.

“I have to say, I’m surprised you didn’t stay with Omega.” You held your mug in both hands and stared ahead as you broke your peaceful silence.

Hunter let out a soft exhale. “I’m… trying to be better about giving her space.” His lips tightened into a firm line. “It’s not fair to her for me to be around all the time.” He shrugged. “And it’s Tech and Phee. She’s in good hands there. Safe hands.”

You softened as you glanced over at him. “I don’t think Omega would ever blame you for wanting to watch over her.”

“You’re probably right.” Hunter’s bare fingers fluttered at his sides, no doubt a subconscious habit to ready himself to grab his weapons—weapons that he no longer kept on his belt. “But she shouldn’t have to tolerate it for my sake. We’re safe here, anyway.”

“We are.” You paused to take a sip from your caf. You thought through your words carefully before you spoke them aloud. “I still think it’s nice that you want to watch our backs, though.”

The warmth of Hunter’s gaze burned through the side of your head. “You do?”

You turned to meet his stare and nodded with a soft smile. “Yeah.” You swung your mug out towards the surrounding view of Pabu. “This life is nicer than anything I could’ve ever asked for, but it’s still an adjustment. You watching our backs is something that’s… well, it’s familiar. It’s a nice constant in all this change.”

Hunter returned your smile, but he was quick to look back to the way ahead, his gaze lowering more than before. You took the time to observe the heaviness sitting upon his shoulders almost like a physical weight—one he had no doubt been bearing ever since cadethood.

You freed a hand from your mug to set it upon his arm, keeping your touch as light as your voice was when you went on. “But you do know that you’re allowed to rest now, too, Hunter. Right?”

Your words, and your touch, earned you the former sergeant’s gaze again. Every feeling you had been trying to push down that whole morning arose with even more strength than before as the urge to comfort him tugged at your heartstrings relentlessly. His stare flitted between your eyes before he faced the way ahead again.

“I’m trying. It's just…” Hunter let out a soft yet troubled breath. He lifted his hand and ran it through the curls that weren’t secured within his bandana. “It’s hard to let go.”

“I understand.” You gave his arm a gentle squeeze before bringing your hand back to your mug. “Are you at least sleeping better?”

Hunter shrugged. “Better than I was after Eriadu.”

His rough voice withered as he said the planet’s name. Tech may have survived that day—by a miracle that none of you could truly understand—but the permanent injuries he suffered as a result of his fall, and that stretch of time where none of you had known that he had even survived, left deep scars on all of you. Hunter’s, however, was the worst, given the responsibility he felt for it all.

Especially after Omega was taken.

“That’s good.” You offered him a smile from behind your cup of caf. You drew a sip from it and let yourself bask in the peaceful silence between the two of you. The only noises around you were the distant waves crashing against Pabu’s shores, the chirping of birds and moon-yos, and the gravel crunching beneath your feet.

Surprisingly, Hunter was the one to break your silence this time. “How about you?”

You looked over at him, observing the concerned knit in his brow.

“Are you sleeping okay? Other than what you mentioned this morning.”

You gave him your most reassuring smile. “Most of the time, yeah.”

Hunter’s amber eyes, glowing golden in the early daylight, flashed with something intense that passed too quickly for you to read properly. “Most of the time?”

You let out a soft chuckle and raised your brow at him. “You don’t have to worry about me, Hunter.” You playfully nudged his elbow with your own. “You’ve got to focus on your own sleeping habits first.”

Hunter didn’t match your amused energy. Instead, his brow tightened in further severity. “I’m always gonna worry about you.”

His words were enough to make butterflies take flight within your stomach—until he kept going.

“Just like I do with everyone.” Hunter tilted his head at you, his lips finally giving way to another small smile. “Remember who you’re talking to.”

You let out a huff, hoping it sounded lighter than it felt as you forced it out of your suddenly corrupted lungs. It was selfish not to be more appreciative of the fact that Hunter truly did worry about all of you because of the deep care he had for his family as a whole, but you couldn’t hide from the jab of jealousy his words brought you.

For once, just for once, you wanted to be special to him. You wanted him to worry about you just a little bit more than everyone else. Omega, of course, was the only exception; she would never stop being the ultimate priority for any one of you.

The two of you fell back into silence, though it was more tense on your end than it had been before—but you were only a few homes down from Tech and Phee’s. That kept both you and Hunter quiet as you eventually made your way up to their door. The thought of the couple eased the tension from your shoulders, and soon, you were smiling as Hunter lifted his fist and executed his signature knock.

It took a few solid seconds for the door to slide open. Tech was standing there with his walking stick, which—unsurprisingly—had even more specs added to it since the last time you saw him just a couple of days ago.

“You are late.” Tech blinked at his older brother before his gaze slid over to you. His brown eyes widened slightly behind his non-combat spectacles as the hand not holding the stick adjusted them. “Oh. I was not aware you were coming.” The corners of his mouth rose in a small smile. “Good morning.”

You returned his grin. “We’re late because he was doing his hair.” You rocked your shoulder against Hunter’s own as you stepped forward to give Tech a side-hug, minding the side that favored his walking stick. “Morning, Tech.”

“No, it’s because you’re a slow walker.” Hunter flashed you an amused grin even as he held Tech’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “Already added some more modifications?” He nodded at Tech’s walking stick.

Tech nodded. “I discover new ways to improve the device each time I use it.” Tech spared a glance behind him, further into the home he shared with Phee. “However, I do still prefer the cybernetic braces, when it is both convenient and advantageous to wear them.”

“Makes sense.” Hunter’s expression grew more serious as he gave his brother a once-over. “And they’re not giving you trouble anymore, right?”

“That is correct. I have made the necessary adjustments. As I told you before, I have plenty of experience from working with Echo on his own cybernetic legs.”

“I know. Just…” Hunter let out a soft breath. “Don’t be afraid to reach out to him for help if you need it, Tech.”

Tech’s gaze softened at Hunter from behind his glasses. “I understand.”

Your chest warmed at the brothers’ interaction, making you wait a few more beats before you changed the subject. “Where are Omega and Phee?”

“We’re here!” Omega answered for the two of them as she shouldered on her knapsack and bounded down the stairs. “Phee was making sure I had everything.”

“I told you, kiddo, it’s fine if you leave something here.” Phee shook her head fondly as she followed Omega down the stairs. “You’re here enough times for it not to matter. Plus, you’re right down the street.”

“Yeah, but I’m not allowed to walk here by myself.” Omega shot Hunter a look, but it was far from being one of anger or frustration.

You snorted. “Not yet.”

Hunter raised an eyebrow at you in warning. You hid your smile behind your nearly empty mug of caf as he let out a soft sigh and ran his hand over Omega’s head. “You ready to head back, kid?”

Omega nodded before she turned back to Tech and Phee. She gave Phee a hug first, and then did the same with Tech, whose balance was assisted by Phee behind him. “Thanks for letting me stay over last night, guys! Are you still coming for dinner tomorrow?”

“That is correct.” Tech looked between you and Hunter. “Though I presume we will be seeing you both this evening?”

You glanced over at Hunter, who returned your gaze expectantly. You laughed and nodded at Tech. “Yeah, I’ll be there. Wrecker definitely will, too, but I’m not sure about Crosshair.”

Hunter shrugged. “Then I guess I’ll be there, too.”

“As anticipated.” Tech offered a small wave. “We will see you then.”

“Be ready to have some real fun.” Phee grinned as she kept an arm slung over Tech’s shoulders and gave the one opposite from her a squeeze.

You responded to them from over your shoulder as the three of you started to walk away. “He’ll try!”

Hunter rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t hide the fond smile that spread across his lips. You bit back your own grin at the sight of it and turned your attention to Omega.

“Did you have fun with Tech and Phee last night?”

Omega nodded, looking up at you from her place between you and Hunter. “I did! I helped Tech make some of his new modifications to his walking stick.”

Hunter beamed at that. “So, he’s teaching you more about welding?”

Omega nodded. “Tech said there’s still a lot left for me to learn, even though I’ve been making good progress.”

You and Hunter shared a look before he let out an amused huff. “Of course.” He ran his hand over Omega’s head again, brushing away some of the loose pieces of hair that escaped her ponytail. “Well, I’m proud of you for still learning and training, Omega. I know Tech appreciates the company, too.”

Your chest warmed at Hunter’s praise for Omega, especially as his words made her entire face light up. “Thanks, Hunter.”

She grinned, but it began to somewhat falter in a way that made her true youth strikingly obvious.

“I love spending time with them, but… I still miss you guys when I’m there.” She shrugged. “It’s just weird not being together the way we all were on the Marauder, especially since Echo’s on Pantora, now.”

You let out a sympathetic hum and gave Omega’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. “I get it. A lot has changed in the past year.” When her sparkling eyes met yours, you gave her a nod. “But you know you’ll always have us, no matter where we are.”

Omega’s smile started to return at that. She returned your nod and looked between both you and Hunter, whose brow was furrowed at her in genuine attentiveness.

“I know I’m probably too old for this now.” Omega’s grasp on the straps of her knapsack tightened, and her voice lowered in shyness. “But… do you think I can hold your hands the way I used to? Just for the rest of the walk home?”

You softened as your chest ached with bittersweet affection, but before you could even part your lips to say anything, Hunter stopped in his tracks and knelt down to Omega’s level. His expression was soft yet serious as he set both his hands on her shoulders.

“Omega, you’re not too old for that. It’s okay to still be a kid.” Hunter offered her a small smile before he went on. “Hemlock and the Empire took too much from you already. Don’t let them take the rest of your childhood, too.”

You held your mug of caf against your chest to contain the warmth that blossomed there, especially when Omega sniffed and threw her arms around Hunter’s neck in an embrace that said more than her words ever could. Hunter closed his eyes as he held her back, his secret desperation to keep time from slipping away evident in the deep furrow between his brows.

After a few heartbeats, they both pulled away, and Hunter offered Omega his hand as he stood back to his full height. You offered Omega yours, and then the three of you were headed back down the Pabu streets to your home, the way you used to guide Omega through crowded marketplaces back during your wandering days on the Marauder.

You stole a glance over at Hunter, but he was watching Omega practically skip between you with an admiring smile spread across his lips. The amount of love he had to share was clear enough to make you breathless. It was so obvious how deeply he cared for every single person in his family, and yet you somehow still wanted more from him.

Maybe that made you selfish, but it was a feeling that was only getting harder and harder to ignore—even if you continued to do so for the sake of keeping the peace.

════════════════════

You threw your head back in laughter at something Phee had just said, but all Hunter could see was the image of you laughing with Omega this morning as the three of you walked back to the house. The earliest lights of dawn had been flickering within your gaze, and he saw some of that same sparkle within them now, illuminated by the lighting of Pabu’s cantina.

“He’s not listening.”

Crosshair’s hiss snapped Hunter out of his daze. The former sergeant whipped his head towards his youngest brother, his brow lifting as he realized all his brothers were staring at him. His gruff voice managed to supply some kind of response to their attention. “What?”

Tech’s eyes crinkled with amusement behind his spectacles as Wrecker let out a boisterous laugh. Crosshair’s lips spread wide in a kark-eating grin, and Hunter had to fight hard to resist the urge to roll his eyes. “If you’re done staring, then maybe we can catch you up on everything you just missed.”

Hunter hoped the dimmer lighting of the cantina hid his flush from his brothers as he shook his head and tightened his hand around the remnants of the drink left sitting inside his cup. “Fine. I’m listening now.”

The remaining brothers shared an amused look before Tech spoke. “Hm. I remember a time when you were able to stare and listen simultaneously. Perhaps if you took some time to train again…”

Hunter gave his brother’s shoulder a shove, but he was much gentler than he would have been before Eriadu. It gave Tech’s cybernetic braces the proper amount of time to recover as he tripped a step. The engineer smirked as Wrecker chuckled.

“We were talkin’ about you.” It was Wrecker’s turn to give Hunter a light push.

Hunter let out a tired sigh. “What did I do this time?”

Tech blinked. “Well, other than the obvious failure to listen…”

“It’s not about anything you’ve done.” Crosshair glowered at Hunter as he unapologetically interrupted Tech and crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s about what you won’t do.”

Hunter was getting tired of his brothers beating around the bush. They had always been the direct type, and the former sergeant was missing that right about now. “Which is what?”

“Your tone suggests that you are agitated.” Tech’s sly grin indicated that he was still teasing his older brother, and clearly still getting amusement from it. “A deep breath could potentially be of great assistance in—.”

“I’m already starting to get a headache from this environment.” Hunter freed a hand from his glass to pinch the bridge of his nose. “And you lot are gearing me up for a migraine.”

Crosshair let out his own sigh and shifted his weight to one hip. “It would help if you stopped pretending that you don’t know what we’re talking about.”

Hunter’s brow shot up. He observed his brothers closely, but their gazes weren’t on him any longer. He glanced over his shoulder to where you were still standing with Phee, and for a moment, the light that danced across your eyes and your expression made him want to tune out the galaxy and admire you again—but the heavy weight of his brothers’ stares was quick to bring him back to reality.

“No.” Hunter exhaled through his nose and set his free hand on his hip as he faced his younger brothers with an all-too familiar authoritative look. “We’re not doing this again.”

“If not now, then when?” Crosshair’s voice was a hiss. “Shoving down your feelings won’t make them go away.”

“Yeah.” Wrecker nodded in Crosshair’s directions. “Didn’t ya’ learn that lesson after Tech and Omega, uh…”

“That was different.” Hunter narrowed his eyes in Wrecker’s direction first before leveling the same look upon his other two brothers. “What would you boys know about relationships, anyway?”

It only took one beat for everyone’s gazes to slide over to Tech. He adjusted his glasses as he visibly fought back another amused smile. Tech raised a single finger in the air. “I am, contrary to your question, quite well-versed in that area.”

Hunter fought off another sigh and forced himself to entertain the idea of taking relationship advice from… Tech.

If he had been told any of this just two standard years ago, Hunter would have bet a million credits that it wasn’t true.

“Alright, then.” Hunter gestured to Tech with his glass. “What’s your advice?”

Tech’s hand rose to his chin. “Well, you and I are two very different individuals.” He spared a look at you and Phee. “As are the two of them.” Tech’s attention returned to Hunter. “The nature of my relationship with Phee is also quite different from… whatever it is you two have been nurturing. On that basis, in addition to my own personal experience, I only have one potential piece of advice.”

Hunter was wary before he even spoke. “Which is?”

Tech deadpanned his response. “Perhaps you need to have a near-death experience.”

Both Wrecker and Crosshair began snickering right away, as if they had at least tried to hold back their laughter, but Hunter was just utterly shocked. He was still far too sensitive to Tech’s all-too-close brush with death on Eriadu to make jokes about it, even if that’s how the rest of the squad coped.

“That’s not funny.” Hunter lifted the glass to his lips and threw his head back to down the rest of the drink in his glass. The alcohol didn’t burn his throat nearly enough to remove the sting of what was happening around him. “And it’s not helpful, either.”

Hunter reached around Tech to set his empty glass on the bar behind him. He set both his hands on his hips when he had returned to his original spot.

“Can we move on, now?”

Crosshair rolled his eyes and took a step closer to his older brother. “We’ll move on when you stop being so dense.”

Hunter gave his brother an incredulous look. “What did you just call me?”

Crosshair threw up his hands, the metallic one on his right side catching the light as he did so. “There’s no way you don’t see that you both want the same thing.” He gestured with one hand over Hunter’s shoulder, no doubt in the direction where you were still standing. “Or do you expect me to pretend I didn’t see what happened this morning?”

Both Wrecker’s and Tech’s gazes lit up at that. Wrecker was the first to get the question out. “What happened?”

Hunter embedded a hand in his curls as he closed his eyes and sighed. “Nothing happened.”

Crosshair had a different answer. “They were close, and they were talking.” He smirked. “Sorry. Flirting.”

Hunter’s eyes reopened. “There’s no way you would have known that.”

“And? You weren’t even wearing a shirt.”

Wrecker’s eyes doubled in size. “What?”

Hunter’s hand moved from his hair to his forehead as he fought the uncomfortable heat that burned in his face and neck. “It wasn’t like that. I had just hit the shower.”

Tech’s brow furrowed. “Then you purposefully must have left the door to the refresher open. Correct?”

Hunter’s hand fell as he faced Tech. “To let the steam out.”

Crosshair’s sly grin widened the most it could for Hunter’s youngest brother. “Naturally.” He let out an amused huff. “You’re doing more flips trying to avoid the truth than you ever did during our training drills on Kamino.”

“Hah!” Wrecker nudged Crosshair, who scowled at him in response. “Good one, Cross!”

Hunter shook his head and stared at the floor. His brothers were giving him too much to consider, and pushing down his feelings was all he knew how to do—especially when he was still so concerned with everyone’s safety. It didn’t matter how much time was put between Tantiss and his family. Hunter was always on high alert.

You deserved better than someone who was constantly looking over his shoulder.

“Hunter.” Tech’s voice drew Hunter from his sudden spiraling. Both his tone and his expression had taken on a severity that was vastly different from before. “If I may give you a more fitting word of advice?”

Hunter remained silent, allowing Tech to continue. His younger brother set a hand on his shoulder as he did so.

“You must make use of the present. You can never be certain what may happen next.” Tech’s gaze gestured down to his own cybernetic braces. “You do not want to wait until it is too late.”

Hunter nearly winced at the raw truth of his brother’s words. Tech and Phee had only taken that first, true step in their relationship after Eriadu—after all of them, Tech included, had thought he was as good as dead. That moment would never fail to remind Hunter of how precious life really was, especially lives like theirs.

The Kaminoans were already taking half a lifetime away from all of them. Hunter had told Omega to stop letting Hemlock and the Empire take more from her, but when would he stop letting the galaxy take more from him, too?

Hunter trusted his brothers more than anyone else, aside from you and Omega. If they were so confident in their collective evaluation of the feelings between the two of you being mutual… then he was going to believe them, as terrifying as it was.

Hunter, whose gaze had fallen to the floor again, looked back up at his brothers. Crosshair had briefly stepped away to order a shot of some kind of clear liquor from the bar—it shocked no one that he preferred to drink everything straight up like that—but he had since returned. Hunter gave them all a firm glance before he nodded.

“Fine. I’ll… say something.”

Tech smiled in satisfaction while Wrecker let out a dramatic breath of relief. Crosshair lifted an eyebrow, as if he didn’t quite believe his older brother’s words. “Now?” The sniper’s gaze cut to the sight of you behind Hunter.

“Almost.”

Hunter leaned forward to take the shot from Crosshair’s hand, catching him off guard enough that it slipped from his grasp without a struggle. The former sergeant threw the liquor back before his youngest brother could protest, and the resulting burn was just what he needed to prepare himself for a conversation he had already mused upon for countless months.

“Now.” Hunter handed the empty shot glass back to a displeased Crosshair and spun on his heel before the sniper could say anything about it.

Hunter started to make his way over to you, gently weaving through the tight crowd of Pabu locals as he did so. He could hear his own heartbeat roaring loudly in his ears, but the master tracker forced himself not to focus on the sound. He had rehearsed this speech so many times in his own head, and he needed to get it right.

He was only about halfway over to you when he stopped abruptly. You were right where you had been before, but you weren’t with Phee anymore.

You were with someone else. Someone Hunter didn’t recognize. And you looked happy.

The crowds moved around Hunter in slow motion as he watched the stranger, another human, lean close enough to whisper directly next to your ear. They steadied themselves with a hand on your upper back, and you laughed sweetly at whatever they had said. If Hunter strained enough, he could probably hear…

No. That was a sickening violation of your privacy. Staring at the two of you felt violating enough for him.

And it was just enough to bring all of Hunter’s doubts back.

How could he and his brothers really be sure that you felt the same way? You would never act the same around him again if he confessed his truth and you felt differently. It would completely disrupt the peace you and the others had worked so hard to build here, and that was the last thing Hunter wanted to do.

Hunter could withstand a lot of difficult things, even the torture Hemlock had cruelly unleashed upon him on Tantiss, but a permanent, awkward distancing from you was something he truly wasn’t sure he could ever stomach.

The hot sting of jealousy burned sour in Hunter’s stomach as he turned and instantly headed back in the opposite direction of where you were standing. He planned to go around his brothers, but they had clearly been watching him, as Wrecker was already starting to approach him.

“Hunter, what’re ya’—.”

“I’m going home.” Hunter spared his brother a quick look. “Keep an eye on everyone and comm me if something’s off.”

That was all Hunter could bear to leave them with. He was too embarrassed, and too hopeless, to say anything else. He shouldn’t have let them talk him into even attempting anything tonight. If you found out… it could ruin everything.

Hunter shoved his feelings down deep inside himself and stepped out into the Pabu evening, caring little about the downpour that soaked every inch of him. He could use the cleanse, anyway. If he was lucky, maybe it would completely wash away these feelings, and he would never have to risk what closeness he still had with you.

════════════════════

You were grinning when you had spotted all four brothers standing across the cantina, but the brief conversation with your coworker had kept you from making your way over to them. Now, however, you were free to approach them, but your excited smile faltered when you realized there were only three of them now.

And you had definitely not expected Crosshair to outlast Hunter, even in an environment as overstimulating as this.

“Hey, guys.” You couldn’t hide the curiosity in your voice as you looked around the group. “Did Hunter get lost or something? I could’ve sworn he was just over here.”

Wrecker lifted a hand to the back of his neck and rubbed it, his gaze averting yours in a way that was wildly uncharacteristic of him. Even Tech’s eager stare refused to meet yours. Of course it was Crosshair who stood his ground across from you and shrugged.

“He said he’s going home.”

Your brow shot up. “Already?” You gave your head an aimless shake. “Omega isn’t even there right now. She’s with Lyana at Shep’s.” You circled your jaw and met Crosshair’s stare again. “Did he say why?”

“No.” Crosshair took a toothpick from his belt and set it between his lips. “But he was on his way to talk to you.”

You blinked at him a few times in shock. “When?”

Crosshair hummed. “Just a couple of minutes ago.”

There was something Crosshair wasn’t telling you. Your eyes narrowed as you cautiously asked your next question. “And what happened?”

“Again, he didn’t say.” Crosshair held his toothpick out and gave you a knowing look. “But if I had to guess? It’s because he saw you talking to whoever that was.” He pointed with his toothpick at your coworker, who had since rejoined their partner.

It only took you a few heartbeats to put the pieces together.

“No.” You shook your head almost frantically. “No, that wasn’t… no.” You had to let out a laugh in your disbelief. “We’re not—that’s just my coworker! They have a partner!”

Crosshair nearly looked amused, while Wrecker and Tech shared a look you couldn’t quite decipher. “We’re not the ones you need to convince.”

You glanced around the group. They were all giving you an expectant look, as if confirming the question you couldn’t bear to ask them.

They knew what Hunter’s intentions had been. You didn’t have to hear them say it to understand that. If he had really been that close to confessing the very same thing you had also been feeling for so long… you weren’t letting this chance slip away.

Without another word, you moved for the threshold of the cantina, slipping out of the lively atmosphere and into the dampness of the Pabu evening. The island was solely lit by the lanterns and other stringed lights that decorated the villagers’ homes, though even those lights were hard to see in the downpour that pounded against the stone streets you walked upon.

Your desperation to reach Hunter made you care even less about the way your clothing was beginning to stick to your skin. You blinked the droplets of water away from your lashes and squinted into the darkness, following the familiar trail home with haste until you caught up to him—if you could.

Then, when you were just one street away from the house, you saw him.

“Hunter!” You had to raise your voice to be heard above the sound of the rain hitting the stones beneath your feet.

Between that and Hunter’s enhanced senses, it wasn’t shocking that he almost immediately stopped in his tracks and spun around to face you. The curls he had worked so hard on doing this morning were now completely out of shape, sticking tight to his head and bandana and failing to move with him as he turned. His eyes widened in shock as he started to approach you.

“What are you doing out here?” Hunter shook his head, stopping when he was just a few paces away from you. “It’s pouring, and… I thought you were having a good time.”

“I was.” You took a step closer to him. “But whatever you saw wasn’t what you thought it was.”

Hunter’s brow furrowed, but it straightened as his gaze flickered with realization. “Let me guess. The boys told you that’s why I left?”

You bobbed your head. “Basically. But, Hunter, that’s not… they’re not—we’re just coworkers. They have a partner, so I can promise you, we’re not—.”

“Hey, it’s fine.” Hunter held out both his palms towards you. “You don’t have to explain anything.” He gestured with his head to the path behind him. “I just left because I started getting a headache. I was going to tell you, but I didn’t want to interrupt your conversation. That’s all.”

All you could do was blink at him for a few heartbeats as you processed his words. The difference between what Hunter was telling you now and what the rest of them had clearly implied at the cantina couldn’t have been greater.

The question was, who was telling the truth?

“Oh.” You forced out a laugh and gave your head a shake. “Well… sorry, then. I didn’t mean to bother you.”

Hunter flinched at that. “You’re not bothering me.” He lifted a hand in the direction of the cantina. “If anything, I feel bad that you left and walked this far in the rain just because you thought you had to explain yourself.”

This wasn’t the outcome you had been expecting. It was hard not to feel disappointed as you let out another fake chuckle and shrugged. “It’s fine.” You couldn’t meet his gaze as you instead focused on something behind him. “I guess I’ll just…” You stuck your thumb over your shoulder. “Head back.”

Hunter offered you a small smile, but it wasn’t like the ones you had seen on him earlier that day. This one was almost sad, as if he was forcing it onto his own lips. “Yeah. Wouldn’t want you missing out on anything else because of me.” He gave you a nod. “I’ll be fine.”

You finally met his eyes, and what you found there broke you. Hunter was easier to read than he probably liked to think, but maybe that was just because you had taken the time to truly learn him. What you found there was confliction and heartbreak, evidence that he was, indeed, the one who wasn’t telling the truth.

For some reason, he was trying to push you away.

“Keep an eye on the boys for me.” Hunter turned and started to walk away, though he added one more thing over his shoulder. “I’ll see you later.”

You closed your eyes and let out a long, trembling sigh. It would be so easy to let him go; Hunter was good at making it seem like he was okay, and that this was what he wanted, but he so clearly didn’t—and you didn’t, either.

You were tired of dancing around each other. You would never be able to enjoy the peace he especially had fought so hard to give you and the others if you lived with this secret forever. Even if nothing came from it, you had to tell him, and you had to do it now.

“It’s you, Hunter.”

You yet again raised your voice to be heard over the rain. Hunter stopped again, his head turning just enough for the tattooed half of his face to be visible to you. His brow furrowed before he spoke. “What?”

You tightened your hands into fists at your sides and forced yourself to go on. “When I can’t sleep well, and I wake up earlier than usual… it’s because I’m dreaming about you. About what you went through on Tantiss. The fact I couldn’t stop it.”

Hunter’s brow relaxed even as his jaw tightened in sudden severity. He slowly turned back around to face you fully, but he stayed where he was, and so did you. Now that your floodgates had opened, you weren’t holding back.

“But I’ve gotten used to those dreams, because I had similar ones after Bracca, and Daro.”

Hunter blinked once, then twice. He took a few steps closer to you, but his gaze looked more confused than anything else, as if he couldn’t process what he was hearing. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because.” You inhaled and hesitated, suddenly growing shy.

No. Not now. Not when you’ve gotten this far.

Hunter took another step towards you. “Because?”

You closed your eyes and threw your hands up in frustration—towards yourself or him, you weren’t sure. “Because, Hunter!”

You reopened your eyes and let the knot in your chest loosen with the truth.

“Because I worry about you more than anyone else. Because I care more. Because I’m tired of only having you at a distance. Because I wish you had come over and interrupted my conversation tonight.”

You took a deep breath, never once letting your gaze stray from Hunter’s as you went on.

“Because I wish we hadn’t realized how close we’d gotten this morning before Crosshair walked between us.”

Hunter was frozen, and you hung onto his every breath. His chest rose and fell a few times before he took a few more steps towards you, nearly closing the gap between you. His brow pinched together before he spoke. “Are you being serious?”

You let out an incredulous huff. You weren’t sure whether to laugh or be offended by his words. “Really, Hunter?”

He set his hands on your shoulders and gave you a once-over, as if he couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing—or what he had just heard. “You’re not joking, like you were this morning?” His gaze flickered to the street behind you. “The boys didn’t put you up to this, did they?”

You shook your head. “They might tease you, Hunter, but they wouldn’t do something as cruel as this.” You tightened your jaw. “And neither would I.”

Hunter’s shoulders rose and fell in another steady breath. “So, you are being serious.”

You rolled your eyes. “Yes, Hunter!” You nearly let out a laugh in your pure frustration, now that he seemingly didn’t believe what you were saying. “Is it really that hard to believe? How many times do I have to say it before you—?”

You didn’t have a chance to get the rest of your words out, because in an instant too quick for you to even process, Hunter’s hands had suddenly risen from your shoulders to the sides of your face—and he was fully closing the gap between the two of you the way you had secretly hoped for that very same morning.

By the time you were able to register the fact that Hunter’s lips were on yours, he had already separated from you, his expression uncertain at your lack of reciprocity. His hands even started to slip away from your face, regret quickly darkening whatever light had once been shining in his eyes.

That was when you threw your arms around his neck and pulled him back to you.

Nothing about this kiss was shy. It ached with fierce longing and a familiarity that surprised you, given how new this affectionate display was for both of you. You devoured one another as if you were making up for the time you had already lost, the months and even years spent keeping each other at an arm’s distance for no good reason.

Now, being this close to him, feeling and tasting the true warmth and sweetness of everything he forced himself to hide within the depths of his being, made you want to curse yourself for not saying anything sooner.

But Hunter made up for it, whether he understood how you were feeling in that moment or not. He held you and touched you in all the right places, somehow even managing to shelter you from the downpour in the protective cover of his own body. It was easy to lose track of time when this rhythm was all that mattered, superseding that of any chrono—or even your own heartbeat.

You only pulled away when you had completely lost your breath, and even then, you stayed close, if only to convince yourself that this was real. Your forehead and nose continued to brush against his as you let out a breathy laugh.

“Guess you feel the same way, then?”

Hunter huffed, and you were filled with warmth at the sight of his eyes regaining their sparkle, even in the darkness of the rainy Pabu evening. “Need me to prove it to you again?”

You hummed, your gaze flickering between his eyes and his lips as you shrugged. “It wouldn’t hurt to have a reminder.”

He was the one who chased you this time, holding you closer than anyone else ever had. It was an embrace you never wanted to escape, and his mouth was a delicacy that could never be matched.

This was the peace you had long since been seeking. It was the final step in your healing, already dispelling the remnants of darkness that had lingered like shadows on your psyche. This was the full, true reminder that no matter what you had been through, you were okay, and Hunter was, too.

You hadn’t been able to save him then, but you were doing so another way now.

You were so engrossed in these thoughts and in him that you were genuinely alarmed by the sound of another voice from somewhere near him. “Couldn’t even make it home.”

You and Hunter both jumped apart to look at whoever had spoken. Of course, it was Crosshair, who wore his signature kark-eating grin from underneath a rain shield he had clearly conned off of someone inside the cantina. He gave his head a shake before he rolled his eyes.

“And you two idiots thought the feeling wasn’t mutual.”

Crosshair simply kept walking after that. You and Hunter shared a look before you burst out laughing. Hunter chuckled with you as he shook his head at his youngest brother.

“I hate that he’s almost always right.” Hunter turned his attention back to you and ran a hand over your head. “He does have a point about getting home, though. Don’t want you getting sick or something.”

You raised your brow at him. “And did you even consider that for yourself before you marched out here with no rain shield?”

Hunter leveled you with a similar protective stare. “Did you not do the same when you came after me?”

You rolled your eyes, though your fond smile betrayed you. “Whatever.” You held the tattooed side of his face to press a kiss against his opposite cheek. “Come on.” You laced your fingers through his. “Let’s go home.”

Despite the fact that the house on Pabu had been your home for quite some time, it was different saying it now as you looked over at Hunter—because your true home had been extended to a person. He must have felt the same about that, too, because he pulled you closer to his side in response.

You then hurried home together, leaving every thought, doubt, and feeling you were no longer taking with you behind in the downpour.

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hunter tag list: @zenrobbins0021 @cw80831 @yunggoblin @maddiedrmr @Molmcb @jellybeanstacey0519 @violetlilly2020 @singularattitudeofasafetypin

#BUT DADDY I LOVE HIM! also clearly i'm incapable of keeping anything brief anymore so. enjoy this mammoth story #tbb hunter #hunter tbb #hunter bad batch #sergeant hunter #the bad batch #tbb hunter x reader #the bad batch x reader #the bad batch fanfiction #dindjarindiaries

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stellarbit · 1 year ago

Text

Shifting Loyalties

No warnings. 2.3k words

Word Count: 2.3k

Warnings: nada

Pairings: SFW The Batch x fem!reader

Summary: You're a dropout Jedi who left with Echo to join the Bad Batch. You and The Batch are assigned to work with the 501st. The Batch get a bit spicy about how friendly you are with the regs.

NSFW Edition

Inspired by physical touch by @queenariesofnarnia :') it's perfect

The Marauder's landing ramp wasn't halfway extended, and your foot tapped with anticipation. Spotting the 501st squadron as you descended, they stood in a group, not in formation, eagerly awaiting your arrival. Working with the Bad Batch was a thrill, but you couldn't deny missing your first squad.

When Echo departed, Hunter extended you the same offer to join the Bad Batch. As a Jedi dropout, you no longer belonged on Coruscant or in the Order. Your path diverged, but that didn't mean you didn't occasionally yearn for your old teammates.

Before it was fully safe to exit, you hurled yourself out of the ship, dashing toward the awaiting clones. The Batch were momentarily stunned; even Tech tore his eyes away from his datapad at your sudden outburst.

"Shorty!" Fives exclaimed as you barrelled into his arms, spinning you around before settling you among your old squad.

"Shorty?" Crosshair sneered, visibly annoyed by what he was seeing. You darted between the regs, embracing each one, sometimes two at a time.

You meshed well with the Batch, but they weren't the touchy-feely type. Consequently, you lacked the courage to breach physical boundaries, especially considering how often you seemed to get under their skin. After your fallout with the Order, you couldn't risk facing any more rejection.

As the Batch followed after you, Wrecker swiveled his head toward his brothers, clearly confused. "Wha- what's going on?" He scratched his head, gesturing in your direction. "What's all that about?" He referred to your playful antics with the group of regs, laughing and roughhousing like a child.

You weren't cold toward them; in fact, you engaged in comfortable teasing. However, you maintained a professional distance, refraining from physical contact, let alone running into their arms.

Echo shrugged, a smile playing on his lips as he reminisced about his former life. "She's just saying hi," he explained. "She served with the 501st for a long time, even before I was taken to Skako Minor." Nostalgia washed over him at the sight of you standing with his 501st brothers - just like old times.

Hunter blinked in astonishment. "That's normal for her?" He had never witnessed you so carefree and jovial before.

Tech tucked his datapad away, adjusting his goggles as he observed the scene. "By their reactions, this doesn't seem abnormal for her. Why this is the first time we're witnessing it, I'm uncertain." He turned to Echo. "Have you seen this behavior before?"

"Sure, but you're all overthinking it," Echo replied, realizing the tension building among his brothers. "She's just comfortable with them." He regretted the last sentence immediately, sensing their egos regarding regular clones turning this joyful reunion into an unspoken competition.

"If she's so comfortable with them," Crosshair spat, "Maybe she should go back to her precious regs." It was exactly the response Echo feared.

The group watched as you responded to Jesse's teasing with a flirtatious elbow, then stumbled slightly into Rex, who steadied you with a hand on your shoulder.

"It's good to see you. Keeping Echo out of trouble?" Rex smiled down at you, then glanced at Echo standing among the Batch. His smile faded upon noticing Clone Force 99 in various stages of glowering. He patted your shoulder. "Uh… why don't you find General Skywalker while I brief the rest of your squad?"

Without a glance back at the Batch, you followed the order. Anakin briefed you on the mission before easing into conversation. "How are you holding up?" He leaned against a crate of supplies.

"It was hard at first, but I feel…" You paused, feeling a warmth spreading over your chest, grateful it rarely reached your cheeks. "At home with the Batch." You couldn't suppress the smile the thought of the Batch brought you. They made your life exciting, and you felt safe fighting alongside them.

Anakin hadn't missed the looks Clone Force 99 threw your way, especially the nastier ones aimed at the clones you hugged. "I'm glad to hear that, Short Stuff." When Hunter and Wrecker glanced over at the two of you with something like disdain, Anakin smirked. Oh, this is too easy. He leaned down just enough so that your face eclipsed his, just out of sight of the Batchers. "Though, it looks like your new crew isn't too happy with you."

You jerked back, incredulous. "Excuse me?" By the time you whipped around, the Batch were already to the Marauder. Everything seemed normal. You shoved Anakin back. "Kriff off, Skywalker."

Anakin raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright. Anyway, it looks like it's time for you to rejoin your squad. Good luck."

"Pfft, good luck?" You pulled a face and cracked your neck. "I don't need luck on missions." You may have missed the Jedi General, but you did not miss his arrogant humor.

Anakin smirked as you headed back out and out of earshot. "It wasn't for the mission."

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

Inside the ship, the atmosphere shifted when you returned. Hunter, Wrecker, Crosshair, Tech, and Echo were scattered about on various tasks, their sudden silence and exchanged glances going unnoticed by you as you busied yourself with pulling out sleeping supplies. There was no way you were missing a chance to sleep off the ship.

Sat cleaning his gun, Crosshair’s eyes bore into your back. It didn’t take Hunter’s senses for you to feel his glare. Still packing, you said over your shoulder, “What is it, Crosshair?”

“Oh, nothing,” Crosshair sneered, leaning forward. “Just didn’t realize you missed your regs so much.”

“And why wouldn’t I miss them?” You snorted, not realizing that earned you an even nastier look from the white-haired clone. “Some people have friends, Crosshair. What’s wrong with that?”

Raising an eyebrow, you turned to face him, a smirk playing on your lips. "And what's wrong with that? Some of us actually have friends, you know."

Tech, engrossed in a control panel, interjected, "He's not questioning your friendships. He's just pointing out the obvious preference you seem to have for your old squadmates."

Your hands stilled, and you turned to face them, sensing an underlying tension in the air. "What's going on here?"

Wrecker shuffled awkwardly, his expression troubled. "We just thought you were happier with us."

"I am happy!" you exclaimed. "But it's natural to be excited to see old friends, isn't it?"

When Wrecker’s defeated look didn’t change you looked to Hunter, the sensible brother, for relief. Instead, he had his arms crossed and eyes fixed away from you.

They can’t be serious. You started to turn to Echo when Crosshair abruptly got up, setting his gun aside, and loomed over you within a second.

“Don’t look at Echo to save you,” Crosshair growled, his voice low and menacing. "You seem a little too cozy with them for just 'old friends.'" You tried to step away, but found yourself backed against the counter behind you.

“Cross,” Hunter warned, but his brother didn’t heed the caution, slamming a hand on the shelf a few inches from your face.

The close proximity allowed you to catch Crosshair's scent—gun oil and mint—a combination you'd never been so close to before. It left you breathless, barely able to formulate a response. Crosshair raked his eyes over you as he idly lolled a toothpick around his mouth. He leaned in close. “Why so shy now, Shorty?” he taunted, his voice dropping even lower.

Despite the shiver you felt at the nickname rolling off Crosshair’s tongue, ignored the jibe. “What’s your problem with ‘Shorty’?” you bit back, unwilling to back down.

Tech swiftly wedged himself between you and Crosshair, his tone firm but diplomatic. "Let's not act like children here." Placing a hand on your chest and the other on Crosshair's shoulder, he continued, "Although 'Shorty' might not be the most accurate nickname. If you prefer something else-"

His voice trailed off as he noticed the flush creeping up your chest and spreading to your cheeks and ears. Tech's wide eyes darted between your face and his hand, realizing the unintended intimacy of his touch. "Oh," he stammered, but didn’t pull back his hand. "I-I apologize."

Feeling the weight of their collective stares, you squirmed uncomfortably, yearning for some space to breathe. Tech's touch, coupled with Crosshair's taunting sent a flurry of conflicting emotions coursing through you, rendering you speechless. It seemed like every part of you was reacting, including that one lower part that seemed to have a mind of its own.

Before the tension could escalate further, Echo chimed in with an observation. "Well, I've never seen that before."

Returning to reality, you brushed Tech's hand away and swiftly grabbed your sleeping gear, attempting to regain your composure. "You're all acting like a bunch of-"

"It looks like our sarad is finally blossoming," Crosshair mocked, his voice laced with amusement.

Unable to take another word from him, you shoved past Tech to lunge on Crosshair, whose scowl was now a shit eating smirk. “I’ll wipe that smug-”

Hunter jumped in to hold you back. “Back off, Cross.” You were still grabbing for Crosshair when Hunter’s firm grip on your waist registered with you. You stiffened as Hunter detangled your arms from his shoulder and pulled you aside. He turned to you and surprised you by gently cupped your cheek. “Listen, we’re not trying to upset you.”

You were too aware of all the places your bodies had just touched - where his hands had been. It was all too much and with his hand on your face you simply couldn’t move.

The unexpected closeness and the warmth of his touch left you momentarily stunned, struggling to process the flood of sensations. With an effort to maintain your composure, you pulled away from Hunter's touch, grabbing your gear tightly. But before you could make your escape, Wrecker wrapped you in his arms and wrung you off your feet. “Aw, don’t be mad, we were just worried!” All you could focus on was the size of his hands and how nice his arms felt. When he dropped you, you just stood hunched over with a death grip on your sleeping pack.

The way you just stood at the mouth of the ship wide eyed and huffing, you probably looked like a deranged blurg. You felt deranged. In mere minutes you’d gone from composed to weak kneed simply from a few touches and teases. Being the center of their attention in those minutes had lit something in you that was quickly getting out of control. You still couldn’t manage words when you took off down the Marauder’s ramp.

At once Hunter, Wrecker, Crosshair, and Tech looked back at Echo. Echo echoed the collective astonishment, his tone tinged with bewilderment. "I've never seen her act like that before."

Tech, ever the analyzer, observed the physical signs of your distress with keen interest. He looked down at the hand he'd placed on your chest. "Her heart rate and temperature were elevated," he noted, his analytical nature kicking in. "Her coloring was..." He paused, searching for the right word, "...unexpectedly vibrant." Tech was quick to record his observations, whether mentally or digitally, finding your behavior to be a fascinating new discovery.

"Intriguing," Tech mused, adjusting his glasses with a confident shrug. "Her conduct with us doesn't align with her interactions with her former squadron. This divergence suggests a remarkably positive correlation." His conclusion was delivered with a note of excitement, indicative of his realization of the significance of your reaction. "And I am seldom wrong."

Each member of the Bad Batch absorbed Tech's assessment in their own way, contemplating the implications of your behavior.

When it was time to part ways with the 501st, you made your good-byes. The Batch weren’t much for good-byes, aside from Echo giving an extra farewell to Rex, they watched on from the mouth of the Marauder. You didn’t know when, or if, you’d see them again so you were saying good-bye to each clone.

Jesse sauntered over to the Batch as you engaged in one last round of roughhousing with Fives. He glanced at you, then at the Batch. An obvious jab that didn't fail to elicit a snarl from Crosshair. “Looks like she's clinging to her ‘regs’ a bit too tightly,” he remarked, his tone laced with thinly veiled mockery. Crosshair's lip curled in response, a silent warning brewing beneath his steely exterior. “Maybe it's time she remembers where she belongs.”

“Ay! Sarad!” Wrecker’s voice boomed out suddenly, your head immediately snapping to attention. “You comin’ or what?”

Tech, with a slight adjustment to his goggles, couldn't help but notice the telltale signs of your embarrassment—the faint flush creeping up your cheeks, the nervous smile that flickered across your lips. It was a sight that stirred something in his usually analytical mind. “Looks like she's right where she belongs,” he remarked softly, a rare hint of sentimentality in his tone.

Jesse let out a huff of resignation. “I suppose so. Just make sure you take care of her,” he muttered before slipping away.

As Wrecker slung his arm around your shoulders, nearly toppling you over, you hesitated for a moment. But instead of pulling away, you returned the gesture with a small hip bump, a silent olive branch. This is really going to take some getting used to.

Hunter, helmet tucked under his arm, stepped forward. “If you ever decide you want to go back to the 501st... we'd understand,” he offered, his tone tinged with sincerity.

You shook your head with a laugh, stepping out of Wrecker’s embrace. Playfully knocking an elbow into Hunter’s side, you grinned. “You think I’d trade you guys for the 501st? Not a chance,” you replied, your words carrying a hint of affection.

“Oh, spare us the sentimentality,” Crosshair interjected dryly, though the faint twitch of his lip betrayed a hint of amusement.

As you stood among the Batch, you laughed to yourself. This is going to be fun.

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