#and the bad batch and omega can live out there lives peacefully

[barissoffee]

there's only 8 episodes left of the bad batch final season

[flyiingsly]

Nightmares

Square : I wasn't sleeping

Pairing : Crosshair x gn!jedi!reader

Warnings : angst, nightmares, trauma and implied PTSD, mentions of Mount Tantiss, Crosshair being touch starved, this man deserves more hugs honestly

Wordcount : 3,5k

Summary : Crosshair keep having nightmares after being rescued from Mount Tantiss. You are a former jedi who is very sensitive to other people's emotions, and you are able to feel how bad he struggles with them. One night, after another nightmare, you try to show him that he can count on you to help him overcome his trauma.

A/N : My second submission for the @clonexreaderbingo ! This is part of an Everybody lives AU in which the Batch end up peacefully living on Pabu after successfully rescuing Omega and Crosshair from Mount Tantiss, just has they deserved it :D

Disclaimer : I'm still struggling to understand English grammar properly, English is not my native language and even if I have proofread my writtings several times, there is probably still typos in it. I'm very self conscious about it and I apologize for it in advance, but I'm doing my best to do better and I'm actively working at improving my writting skills !

So if you spot a typo, feel free to point it to me so I can correct it, it will be much appreciated :)

It was a cold night on Pabu. The winter season was approaching, the days were shortening and the sun seemed to grow even more distant form the little island every day. It had been weeks since Crosshair was successfully rescued from Mount Tantiss and that the squad was finally reunited. You knew it was still hard for him to accommodate to his new life and his new environment. You could tell he was having a hard time socializing and trusting everyone around him. He was doing his best and was making efforts, but he was still often standing alone and was still a bit cold with those who tried to interact with him. It was going to take time for him to get over everything he went through, you and the Batch knew it, and you were all trying your best to make him the most comfortable and at ease as possible.

But nonetheless, at this point, he was starting to become close to his brothers and to trust them again, their bond was in the process of being restored, and you could see it was improving more and more with each day passing.

At first, you weren’t expecting him to open up much to you, as you weren’t originally part of the Batch. You have been knowing Echo for a long time now, since you were fighting along the 501st, before he was captured at the Citadel. You were a jedi, and have grown very attached to the clones during the war, so after you escape Order 66, you decided to go after Rex and Ahsoka, for you had the feeling that something had happened to them, but not in a bad way. You had the feeling that they had made it out of all of this mess. It was during your journey to find them that you met the Batch, and got reunited with Echo. You had worked with them before on a few occasions, and they took you in without hesitation. Since Crosshair wasn’t with them at that time and didn’t approve their decision to keep you, you were expecting him to not recognize you as one of the members of the squad. Furthermore, the last few times you had crossed his past, he tried to shoot at you …

But you were trying your best with him anyway, giving him all the time he’ll need to trust you, never rushing him, always being kind to him …  He was intriguing, and you took your time to get to know him. And surprisingly, as the time was passing by, that hard shell he was protecting himself under started to soften. He noticed all the efforts you made, all the patience you poured into trying to understand him, all your kindness … He wasn’t use to kindness, or to someone being so patient and open hearted with him. It felt strange at first, and even if he didn’t want to admit it, he was appreciating it sincerely. He felt at peace when you were next to him. All the attention and sympathy you gave him made him feel valuable and more human.

The two of you eventually became closer, although it was barely noticeable from the outside. He was still somewhat cold, distant and sarcastic, and you sometimes had troubles figuring out what he was thinking or feeling about you. But for the rest of the Batch, who knew him for so long, it was obvious that he ended up being really attached to you. You may be a jedi, but they were still a lot of things that you weren’t able to catch a glimpse of, even more with someone as mysterious as Crosshair.

Sleep was nowhere to be find that night, various and weird thoughts were spiraling through your mind and you weren’t able to get rid of them. You ultimately decided to do a better use of that spare time by reading some records from the previous mission that Tech had collated on his datapad then shared with you. You were the only one who was really paying attention to his ramblings about everything. You were an eager curious who loved to learn new facts as random as they can be, just like him.

You were absorbed in your reading when a strange feeling took over you.

You stopped your reading and just wait for it to go, but after a few seconds, you hear some very light footsteps passing by the door of your room. It wouldn’t have drawn your attention if it wasn’t for all the fear and anxiety that you were able to sense right now.

Something was wrong with the person crossing that corridor.

Crosshair.

You knew it was him, it was obvious. You knew he was regularly having nightmares about what happened to him on Tantiss. In fact, it happened to every member of the Batch to have nightmares from time to time. The war has left scars in everyone minds, even in yours. You’ve spent a couple of nights comforting them already, you knew how bad it was. But with Crosshair, it was worst. And although the others were able to talk to you about it, he, on the other side, was using a lot of energy to hide it and keep it to himself.

You could feel it anyway, his torments were so violent that it was overwhelming your senses every time you were near him after one of his nightmares. It felt as threatening as those Echo had after he was rescued from Skako.

Now you knew what was keeping you up and bothering your mind. You let the footsteps move away until you couldn’t hear them anymore. You hesitate for a moment, then get up of your bed. You knew he was more comfortable alone in these moments, but what you just felt was so intense that there was no way for you to not, at least, go check on him.

You put your clothes back on with a coat and a scarf and pull on your shoes. Your instinct was telling you to take a blanket as well, and within seconds, you were out of your room, the light of an electric torch guiding your steps in the dark.

As soon as you were out of the building, the cold wind hit you right in the face, freezing you on the spot and sending a violent shiver down your spine despite your heavy coat. The moon was full and its light was bright enough to allow you to shut down your torchlight.

You didn’t search for a long time before spotting him, for his strong emotions were leaving an easily identifiable trail behind him. You head toward the beach where the see was at its highest level. The light of the moon was beautifully reflecting on the waves, making them shimmer as they swirl.

“What are doing here ?” a cold voice took you aback, making you stop in your tracks. You were still a few meters away from him when he spots your presence behind him, addressing you without even turning his head to look at you.

“Well, I heard you leaving the building, so, I wanted to make sure that you were okay …”

He finally turns his upper body toward you, raising his head to look at you with a surprised expression.

“Did I wake you up ?” he asks. His voice was filled with concern. It was so unusual for him to not wear his little snarky tone that you weren’t sure how to interpret it.

“Oh, no, don’t worry ! I wasn’t sleeping anyway …” you answer briefly, not wanting to explain to him what was exactly on your mind. It wasn’t a lie anyway for you were, in fact, unable to sleep.

You looked at each other for a moment in complete silence and without moving.

“But, if you want to stay alone, I’ll understand … I just … wanted to let you know that I’m here if you need it …” you add hesitantly, waiting to be send packing any minute now, “and … I thought you’ll appreciate to have a blanket if you plan to stay here, the air is particularly cold tonight …”

He furrowed his brows, still not saying a word, and lectured you from head to toes, surprised and not really knowing how to handle the situation.

“You can stay.” He finally answers bluntly, turning back to face the see again.

You slowly move closer and sit next to him, keeping enough distance for him not to feel pressured. The silence goes on, as both your gazes were riveted on the moving water. What a coincidence, you thought, that the spot he picked up was your favorite one. It was the perfect place to stay hidden when you needed a moment on your own due to the high rocks border surrounding it.

You could feel that his anxiety level has decrease since you arrived. Even if he was still struggling, it was better than nothing.

Then your mind starts to drift toward some more joyful thoughts, fondly recalling the first time that you and the Batch arrived on Pabu.

“Didn’t you say that you bring a blanket ?” a voice suddenly pulled you out of your thoughts.

You look at Crosshair in surprise, you thought that he didn’t care about it at first.

“Of course, here.” You answer, holding it to him.

“Thanks” he mutters with a blank expression. You smile at him in response, not expecting him to smile back, before focusing on the water again.

As he unfolds the fabric, you notice that he was getting closer to you in the process. When you felt his arm brush against your back and the blanket being settled on your shoulders, your eyes widen. You automatically grab its edge to tighten it up around your body before his hand release it. It was your turn to look at him in surprise this time.

“Thanks …”

“I’ve already prevented you from sleeping and made you go out despite the weather, I just don’t want you to catch a cold because of me on top of that.” He was looking back at you too now, his piercing eyes profoundly rooted in yours. It wasn’t so often that you can meet his gaze, especially for such a long time.

His words made you understand that he knew why you weren’t able to find sleep, and why you were here. He knew how sensitive to other’s people emotions you were, and how comforting and helping your company was for his brothers when they were at their lowest. You couldn’t tell if it was his way to make you understand that he was in need of some comfort, but you decided to take the opportunity.

“You know …” you slowly start, picking your words with caution, “… if you need to talk to someone about anything, you can talk to me, I won’t judge you.”

You gave him another gentle smile, and slowly, you feel like if something was beginning to break apart inside him, as the glowing of his eyes became more intense and his jaw clenched. He suddenly looks away, lowering his eyes on the sand with a heavy sigh. You weren’t waiting for an answer, you just wanted him to hear it.

After a moment, his whole body started to shake as he buries his face into his trembling hands. But much to your surprise, after another heavy sigh, he raised his head from his hands and turned his body toward you, unexpectedly wrapping his arms around your neck and shoulders under the blanket, pulling you in a desperate and tight embrace.

Your eyes widen and you stood there in shock, processing what was just happening. You couldn’t move a finger at all, you were completely frozen to the spot by this out of character move. He immediately notices your tension and loosen his grip, realizing what he had just done.

“I’m … I’m sorry, I don’t know what was going through my mind, I shouldn’t have done that, I’m sorry, I didn’t want to force that on you …” He seems terrified, his voice was heavy, and you could feel guilt and shame in his tone.

But as he was trying to move away from you, you hold him back by placing your hand on his shoulder.

“Hey, it’s ok, don’t worry, you didn’t do anything wrong. I know you’re having a hard time, but it’s ok, you didn’t force anything on me, I was just … Surprised, you know. Because you’re usually not the huggy-kinda person, and I know that you particularly value your personal space, so I just wasn’t expecting that and I did not know how to react, but, it’s okay, really.” Your voice was calm and reassuring, but he still was feeling really bad about it.

“I know, I’m so sorry, I don’t know what happen, I got overwhelmed, that’s not my type, I should never have done that, I should’ve asked, or just don’t do anything at all …” He was so embarrassed and moved it broke you heart.

“Please,” you gently ask for his attention, “it’s not a big deal, really, I’m fine about it, right ?” you were looking at him, but his eyes were avoiding yours. “Right” he mumbles.

“Hey, come here” you whisper softly, squeezing his shoulder gently and opening your arms, the edge of the blanket tucked in your hand, to show him that he could still have that hug if he wanted it.

He raises his gaze to look at you right in the eyes, then looks at your hands with a hesitant expression on his face, then back at you, like if he needed one more sign of approval to be sure to not make a mistake again. You gave him an encouraging smile to show him that everything was definitely safe and alright, before he finally wraps his arms around you again, burying his nose in the crook of your neck.

He was so close that you were able to feel the beating of his heart. It was fast at first due to his sudden rush of anxiety, but it was slowly calming down to go back to its normal pace. You knew he was struggling with physical touch and people being too close to him, so you couldn’t have ever imagined that he was so eager for contact and so touch starved under his need for personal space and keeping distances. You gently move your hand that wasn’t holding the blanket to his head, and started to softly run your fingers through his silver hair, sending a shiver down his spine. His breath was warm and steady against your skin, and even if the struggle was still present on his mind, you knew he was more at ease than before.

The embrace was peaceful, and you really were enjoying it. You stay here in silence, again, as you hold him tight, your chin settled on his shoulder, contemplating the moving water, and offering him as much time as he needed to calm down. A few minutes later, he lets out another sigh, before starting speak in a hushed voice.

“It’s not that I don’t want to talk to you, it’s just that … I can’t. I can’t put words on those things to describe them, I can’t even say that out loud, my brain won’t allow me to do it. It feels like it’s too much, like if every time I want to talk about that, I suddenly forget how to talk. The words are stuck in my throat, like if they don’t want to get out … I feel restrained, like if I was having some sort of blockage … And …. I can’t even describe that feeling properly … It’s so frustrating, but I just can’t do it, not yet … They never taught us how to express our feelings on Kamino … We’re just … Not supposed to open up about all of this, we’re not meant for that, we’re just meant to follow orders without complaining, without showing how these things affect us, or it’s considered a defectiveness …”

His words were hard to swallow. He must have been suffering so much more that you could have imagine.

“It’s ok, I understand that” you whisper softly, “I know how hard it can be to put words on such hard-to-accept and frightening thoughts. I know it takes a lot of time to be able to clearly talk about these things and open up about it. But don’t worry, you have all the time you need to process and learn how to explain everything. Just know that you are safe now, even if it’s difficult to believe after everything you went through, but nobody is going to hurt you anymore, we will never let that happen again, I swear.”

You feel his grip around you tighten and his face press harder against your neck, just like if he was afraid that you could suddenly disappear.

“Thanks you” he simply breathes out.

His voice was filled with emotions, you knew that he really needed to let this out.

“Whatever you need.”

After a moment, he breaks the embrace, creating a space between you under the blanket. When you look at him, it seemed that his nervousness has returned.

“Can I … Can I ask you a favor ?”

“Of course, what is it ?” you curiously answer.

“I know it’s a lot, it’s probably awfully inappropriate, and I’ll understand if you tell me to get lost, but …” he hesitates before finishing his sentence, “can I share your bed tonight ?”

He was embarrassed to ask you and afraid of your rejection, like paralyzed, eyes riveted on the sand, waiting religiously for your answer.

You weren’t expecting that, and for a moment you thought that you had misheard his words, before quickly understanding that he was perfectly serious and sincere about it.

The last thing that you wanted was to make him feel bad or ashamed about it, or to give him the impression that you were hesitating. Honestly, you didn’t need to think about it, the answer was loud and clear in your mind.

“Of course, don’t worry. And nobody will know, if that’s what’s bothering you”

“Honestly … I don’t care about it, the only thing that matters to me right now is being with you.”

Your heart sank at his words. You were expecting him to do everything to prevent the other to know about all of it, or that everything that matters to him was to not be alone no matter with who it was, but he didn’t.

“Then I’m not going to let you down, ever.” You whisper, placing a gentle kiss on his forehead.

***

You stay on the beach for a little while after that, holding each other close and watching the see, before going back into the building. You made your way toward your room without a sound to not wake up anyone else, and when the door closed behind you, you both felt relieved. It was like if something long awaited but never asked for was finally happening. It was like a reunion you never knew you were both needing before.

The light of your bed lamp was warm, the room was small but cozy, like a protective cocoon. Now that he was sure that nobody could bother him anymore and that he was safe, he really started to lower his guard. You could feel it, and it warmed your heart to know that he was getting better.

You get into the bed first, placing yourself on a side as near of the wall as possible to give him more space. He crawls under the sheets without a word. You were so close to him that you could feel his heat without touching him.

“Are you ok ?” you ask, looking at him lying on his back.

His eyes left the ceiling to stare at you. He was hesitant, but after a while, he gets on his side, and you felt his hand gently settles on your back, pulling you toward him. The contact made you shiver, for his fingers were cold, and soon, his body meets yours, his warmth enfolding you. He huddles up against you, and buries his face in the crook of your neck again.

“Now I am.” he whispers against your skin.

You could tell he was smiling, and the beating of his heart was resonating steadily against your chest. Your cheeks were blushing, but you didn’t care anymore, for you were, too, feeling great right now.

“Perfect then” you whisper back, stretching your arm to reach the light switch. The room was plunged into darkness as you settle your hand on his back, pulling him even closer. Your other arm slides under his neck, allowing you hand to land on his head and your fingers to wander thoughts his hair just like before on the beach.

He lets out a sigh of relief, drowning into the comfort of your embrace, slowly allowing sleep to wash over his mind. It didn’t take you long to sink in either, and soon, you were asleep in each other’s arms, both secretly wishing that this shared night will not be the only one.

[zima74824]

Techs ending in bad batch au:

So you are all probably wondering in this au that TECH LIVES! What would his ending of the season be like?

Well I’ll tell you

Tech : “life log 4,562…”

“The war ended with hemlock….now we’re able to live our own lives wrecker had decided to completely settle down with zima and live in pabu peacefully with their offspring ”

“Hunter and the others are doing their own thing and omega has reached adulthood my decision was to settle down with Phee and zima Phee and I created our own family….. with children of which we adopted I will discuss the information of our children in a different life log omega joined the resistance zima has trained her own children the ways of the force making Lucas the very first clone jedi to exsist ”

“I took a career upon settling down I am happy to report that I am a mechanic and a technician *chuckled* go figure right? My names tech and my job is being a technician?”

“Anyway I’ve been doing this job for a few years now I guess I underestimated zima when she spoke of a happy ending to our story…..”

“This is more than likely NOT the last log I do considering what we can all do now with our lives but until then tech, out”

[avathebestx]

My Thoughts on The Bad Batch Season 2 Finale

SPOILERS AHEAD!!

Techs Death

This hit me so hard, I am so affected I can’t even return to who I was before, no jokes. Tech dying just destroyed my heart, destroyed me as a person. I can’t recover, I just can’t. I knew it was coming, he got so much screen time and attention and when Hunter picked up his goggles, i knew it was end game. I had hope that he would return, like echo but seeing his goggles made me lose all that hope. Hunter was so devastated when he saw his little brothers glasses in pieces cause he had hope that Tech could be out there, but just like me, the goggles made him lose all hope. Rest in peace Tech, we love you. (My Eulogy’s at the end) 🥺💔

Cid’s Betrayal

I hate Cid with all my heart. This is why I made a petition to kill her. I hated her so much and that guy that warned them was right. I called it, I knew she would betray them to spite the batch. Even after they lost Tech, she just decided, fuck it let me just reck their lives more. She wasn’t sorry, she never has been. She just wants money and she’s so selfish and greedy it makes me sick. I hoped she would do the right thing but again, I was proven wrong. 💔

Omega’s Capturing

Since we just talked about Cid snitching on them, let’s get to Omega. She is the reason Omegas there, she’s the reason that they went through hell and they lost Tech. They were doing fine, all they needed was Crosshair back and they could live peacefully. Just like what everyone wanted. It breaks my heart seeing her back with the Empire and we will get into that doctor in a bit but let’s focus on Omega still. She is so strong, she fought for her brothers, risked her life for them because she knew they have done the same and that if tech died saving them, why couldn’t she? Omega is such an incredible strong girl who shows how much a sweet girl can turn into a sweet but tough girl. I wish Omega nothing but safety.

The Doctor

Welp, that’s Omegas sister now?? Jennifer make it make sense?? Does that mean the doctors a clone because according to the information we received in S1, Omega and Boba are the only first gen clones of Jango so where does she come in? Is it because they knew each other or because they were created both on Kamino? I still have very high hopes for the doc and I pray that she helps Omega and Cross get out of there. She reminds me so much of tech it hurts and I know it would hurt the batch if they had someone who reminds them of the brother they lost in battle.

Saw Gerrera

Honestly, I always disliked Saw but now it’s so high it’s overflowing. If he wouldn’t have been so inconsiderate and put others needs before himself, Tech would still be with us. He says he wants the fight the empire but doesn’t do what’s necessary to do so?? He’s so caught up in the moment he doesn’t care. He killed Tech. And I will always blame him for Techs death and nothing will change my mind regardless.

Crosshair

I’m shocked we didn’t get any valuable Crosshair scenes in the finale, like they whole point of last weeks episode was Crosshair? I thought he would play a bigger part but again, I was mistaken. It’s honestly heartbreaking to know that he doesn’t know Techs dead. It hurts me because he warned them, he put his life on the line to help them yet one of the smartest people on the squad dies? I already know this is going to hit him so hard when he finds out cause he already lost Mayday, someone he just met and if he loses someone he’s known his whole life to a cause he always supported?? He is going to have no remorse. He is going to kill and I can feel it. He is going to avenge Techs death and cherish the time he had with one of his oldest brothers.

My Eulogy for Tech

Tech, my smarty little Tech. I can’t believe your gone, the smartest of them all dies? Ironic to me. You put your life on the line when no one else could. You did what you needed to do for the safety of your family, and for the future you never got to live. I thank you for the amazing knowledge you always shared with us and the flying lessons with Omega. I thank you for you “Tech Turn” cause that’s all I will ever call it. I thank you for the love you showed, even when you thought you didn’t. I thank you for trying to understand your family members when they were going through hard times and always staying by their side to comfort them. I thank you for putting your life on the line, regardless of what was next. And I mean when it came to you and Omega in the cave and you in the finale. I’ll miss your smile and your amazing racing skills. I’ll miss your voice and your walk. I’ll miss your data pad you used to share your amazing discoveries. And most importantly, we all thank you for the fun we got with you for the (almost) 3 years we had. We love you Tech and we miss you. Also if you see Fives up there, tell him Echo said hi. He misses you both terribly. We love you Tech. Goodbye…💔

[the-bad-batch-baroness]

fic titles let's go!

A Distant Echo

Always and Forever

Not all who wander are lost

🤗 from @cross-my-heartt

Thank you for the ask darling 🥰 I had to sleep on these to get the idea juices flowing, but I hope you like what I came up with for these amazing titles!

A Distant Echo

After Fives is killed, he becomes a force ghost, just like all the clones do. He reunites with his fallen brothers and domino squad, and they all share a beautiful moment. However, there's one person missing, Echo.

After realizing Echo never died in the explosion, Fives goes searching for him. He eventually finds Echo on Skako Minor and is appalled by his state, but as a force ghost, he can't do anything to help him. So, he just stays there and talks to him. He tells him stories and jokes. Just like old times.

Then, one day, Rex shows up with a group of funky clones and rescues Echo. Fives is elated that Echo is awake and moving, but Echo still can't see or hear him. Fives hugs Echo as best he can through the force, but his feelings don't get through.

When Rex reveals to Echo that Fives is dead, Fives tries endlessly to console Echo, but he can't. Fives whispers, "I'm here. I'm still here", but Echo can't hear his voice.

Unhappy with his inability to reach Echo, Fives decides to follow him wherever he goes to make sure he stays safe. Fives, of course, is wary of Echo's new squad, but slowly warms up to each of them when he realizes Echo is happy.

Fives talks to Echo a lot. He'll hang over Echo's shoulder and comment on everything he does. He'll make hilarious jokes that no one laughs at. He'll try, and fail, to fight anyone who attempts to harm Echo. And he'll sit with him silently when he's sad.

When Echo finally passes and becomes a force ghost himself, the first person he sees is Fives. Echo rushes into Fives arms and cries, "I've missed you so much." To which Fives responds, "I never left your side."

Always and Forever

Omega is all grown up. She's fought with the rebellion, alongside the Bad Batch and Rex, for many years now. She's gone undercover, infiltrated imperial factories, battle stations, and much more. All for the sake of freedom.

Now, the rebellion is over. The remainder of the living clones are tired, very tired. As Omega aged normally, the clones aged rapidly. They all look like 'old men', while Omega is a beautiful young woman.

Unable to move as well as they used to, the old clones, weary from fighting, retire to Pabu. Omega runs the "old clones home" and welcomes any new clone that needs a place to stay, and eventually find a place to peacefully pass on.

The Bad Batch has slowly lost members. Old age has that effect on people. Omega mourns each one but continues to make the clones' last moments as comfortable as possible. Holding their hands. Letting them tell war stories. Wiping their tears. Never once allwong a single clone die alone.

But now. Now it's Hunter's turn. His health had steadily declined for the last few weeks. Omega watches closely, with immense pain in her heart. It's just like to Hunter to be the last of the Bad Batch to leave this world. He was too stubborn to die before the men he led so fearlessly.

Omega sits at his bedside, holding his frail hand against her face. She tries not to, but the tears begin to fall down her face. Hunter tugs his hand away, and Omega releases it. His shaking hand lifts up to wipe away her tears as he smiles. Omega smiles back.

"I'm going to miss you," Omega sniffles.

"Me too, kid," Hunter replies softly.

"You'll still be my brother, right?" Omega's voice cracks.

"Always and forever," Hunter answers as he drifts off to be one with the force.

Not All Who Wander Are Lost

After the fallout from Order 66, Captain Rex goes into hiding from the Empire. He bids Ahsoka farewell and embarks on a new mission. Perhaps the most important mission of his entire career: save the clones.

Rex watches from the shadows as the Empire casts out and discards clones across the galaxy. Labeled as useless or unfit for the Empire's needs. He begins to build his network and finds a home base on Coruscant for refugee clones.

He scours the galaxy for more clones, rescuing as many as possible. Some go willingly, some refuse his hand, and others, well, others don't get a choice and perish before Rex can get them out. Their deaths weigh heavy on him, but he's only one man.

Slowly, he picks up more clones that will help with the cause, including Captain Gregor, Commander Wolffe, and, to many a surprise, Commander Cody. With a small force of some of the most loyal and trusting clones by his side, Rex continues his efforts.

Eventually, Rex recruits Echo into his cause, and the five clones, now a full squadron, lead the charge in clone rescue operations. Moving in perfect unison, they are a frightful force to be reckoned with. Follow Freedom Squad as they embark across the galaxy and save the clones!

[ellie-the-oracle]

TBB s2e13 Review & Discussion - Pabu, A Tropical Getaway

Per Usual, Massive Spoilers Ahead! 

Today’s episode was truly lovely. It was a nice break from the heartache that has been the last two episodes. I absolutely adored seeing Omega be a kid for once and have a friend her age. I also loved seeing the Batch just truly relax for once. The tsunami was genuinely scary to me. I never enjoy having to watch a natural disaster in a show simply because of how real an issue it is. It was unsettling to say the least. This episode also set up the possibilities for TBB to have a place to restart their lives and live peacefully, which is a good thing to keep in mind. That being said, I don’t think they are going to do that just yet, there is still cause for them to join the fight (SAVE YOUR BROTHER DAMMIT!)

Cid. Oh Cid. How the mighty have fallen. I used to enjoy her character as this dry and witty “auntie”. But as we have all come to realize, she is quite cruel and uncaring. This is not to say she is a bad character, because frankly she is written so well. But I’m just happy the Batch finally cut ties with her and are going on their own. I will say, though, that I am a bit surprised at how sudden it happened. She is totally going to sell them out to the Empire.

Alright, I’m going to address the elephant in the room. This fandom, while it has its good sides and I love that, needs to chill tf out. There is literally no reason to be going feral over fictional characters like this. it’s not that big of a deal. Everyone is allowed to have their interpretations, their ships and their likes/dislikes without warranting aggression from one another. You're allowed to be upset by today's episode as much as you're allowed to be happy with it. So please, let us remember that the point of a fandom is to bring people together, not push them apart. 

Anyways. With that being said, here are my thoughts on Tech and Phee. On the lowest of keys, I’m ever so slightly vibing. Initially (as in her first two appearances, earlier in the season) I was put off by her character because I thought “oh, here is yet another pirate…”  I had not been fond of the idea of her being a love interest to Tech simply because I could not gauge her character well enough at the time and therefore did not want to jump aboard the ship. This episode was fantastic in developing her character. I still don’t feel particularly inclined to jump aboard this ship, at least, not yet. However, because this episode gave Phee agency, morality, and drive, (which I seriously appreciated and I love that for her), I can now gauge her character far better and can understand how she and Tech could maybe be a thing in the future if that’s the direction the writers choose to go in. In my personal opinion, I doubt the writers will pursue this sub-plot and if they do, it won't be on a grand scale, considering the focus of the main story. And if I'm being honest, I'm not exactly sold on the idea of there being romance in TBB; that's just me though. But back to Phee, the fact that she is going out of her way to retrieve artifacts important to Pabu’s culture (even if they have no monetary value) just shows the viewers that she is more than just some pirate and that she values things that go beyond money. We live laugh love character development in this battalion.

7.5/10. Great episode, cozy vibes all the way.

[anthrogothic]

Body/Prision

sooooo here is the third part of the fic. that part was particularly tricky but I think it's because of the bad times I'm living. anyway, I hope you like it. <3 (originally written in brazilian portuguese. sorry for any error).

Pairing: Echo x f!Reader

Word Count: 4.1k :p

Warnings: some cute moments with the guys, mentions of trauma and sadness, things get a little hot maybe? (finally?)

You woke up to your usual loud alarm clock. Your dry mouth, heavy eyes, and messy hair. You sighed as you saw the storm outside again, the churning ocean crashing against the slopes of Tipoca. You missed the sun, the breeze and the feet sunk in the grass. You felt lonely. Your divorced parents, too busy with their new lives, the rest of your family in another System, your clone friends could die in war… it haunted you every day.

You tried to ward off the eminent sadness by deciding to get ready soon.

Your hot coffee in your mouth made you wake up a little more. Silently wondering why you woke up so tired, you barely had time to continue with the doubt.

You spent the night thinking about Echo. Wondering about his life before being picked up by the Separatists, how he feels, how it feels to have mechanical parts, how out of place he must feel, if he sleeps peacefully due to the noticeable dark circles… but mostly on his face delicate, despite the panic, his body defined in the tight black outfit identical to the one you wear, how his body, even dressed, reacted to your touches, his breath hitched whenever you got too close, the way his voice it sounded loudly close to your ear, his form poised and the eyes piercing…

You shake your head sharply as you realize that your saliva has almost run from your lips.

Heavens, what were you doing? Feeling attracted to him, obviously no one would want anything to do with you. Much less him… just because you share some possible insecurities with him? Just because you acted like a conscious being and helped him through a bad time? No. He was a soldier, molded quite differently from you. You who never even had a reciprocated passion, who at best only attracted interests because of the shape of your body. Your weird tastes, your clothes, the tattoos you did trying to be more attractive, the earrings all over your ears, none of it made you feel better or be any less lonely. You were only good in a lab and maybe being empathetic with people. You can't use someone just for want, like they did you.

The day passed slowly, monotonous as usual. And an extra weight, with the fateful waking thoughts. A laugh or two that Omega took from you, was what sustained you until mealtime.

At the same table with your friends, eating that not very tasty food, listening to random conversations and participating in a few of them and eventually wandering your gaze around the environment in search of certain clones.

Until a characteristic voice came up behind you, making your friends look in your direction, their features already not very happy.

- Look who is here!

Yelled Wrecker at his full size, which seemed so much bigger from your sitting position. You greeted him with a sincere smile.

Another came soon after, with a tattooed eye, gray hair, and a toothpick in his mouth. His face was a little more different, thinner and frowning. The slim but well-defined body.

- Oh, is she the one you talked about so much?

The clone stopped in front of you, studying you with a frown.

- Hmm… cute. Tech is the one who will be happy. Finally someone who will listen to your silly scientific facts.

He said, already turning towards the back of the cafeteria. Wrecker looking at you with a relaxed expression.

- Don't care about him. It's just a fucking bad mood.

Wrecker snorted. You couldn't hold back your laugh at the clone's expression.

Wrecker looked up above and you turned to see what caught his attention. His cheeks flushed in a way you didn't even know was possible.

It was Echo. Coming towards you. Glorious and imposing in his armor, the kama following the movement of his hips. The serious expression, the same slightly downcast eyes. He nodded at Wrecker and looked back at you, stopping in front of you, already having a much softer expression on his face.

- Hey, Echo. You look great.

You said, having trouble focusing on his eyes, having the entire length of his body right there in front of you.

- Uh… yes. Thanks to you.

You could have sworn his voice had wavered a little, and the little color of his skin was in his cheeks. You scratched the back of your neck, rather shy at the clone's declaration.

- Ah! You are talking too much! Let's eat!

Wrecker said, lifting you by the arm and then grabbing Echo's arm and dragging the two of you.

- Hey! Do you really go with them?

Shouted one of his friends, annoyed.

- Oh, relax. I'll be back later.

You said with a little disdain.

Arriving at the table where Bad Batch was, you were friendly greeted by Hunter, inviting you to sit next to him, and you, a little embarrassed by his strong gaze on you, eventually relented. Echo sat across from you and Wrecker beside him. Echo always giving you a slight smile whenever your gazes lingered too long on each other. Damn it. He was more adorable than you thought.

Then the gray-haired clone and the one even more different approached. Caramel hair, thin nose, and wide eyes, overshadowed by orange glasses. He was taller than the other, thin, and well defined. They were arguing about something.

- These are Crosshair and Tech, Y/N.

Hunter said, his eyes dismayed and his eyebrow raised at the sight of the fight.

Crosshair stopped by the table, avoiding sitting next to Wrecker, who was already looking at him with malice. The clone sighed and slowly went to sit beside you, visibly uncomfortable.

- Oh, Tech. Have you met their new little friend?

His voice was pure mockery. But his gaze wouldn't stop analyzing you for a second. You reached out to Tech amicably.

- Hi Tech, I'm-

You were immediately interrupted.

- Y/N. Worked in the cloning division and is now Nala Se's right hand. Echo's description of your person even lived up to reality. I'm impressed.

Your eyes were simply wide open and your mouth slightly open. The silence at the table was overwhelming. Echo had commented on you, why?

- Uh… okay… I'm happy.

You barely managed to smile shyly at the clone, who as if nothing had happened, was already focused on his meal calmly. Echo had locked eyes with the food tray at her brother's declaration. Lips pressed together.

Hunter rested a hand on your shoulder, with an amused look as if he said "that's it, get used to it." You caught Echo staring at the Sergeant's hand on your shoulder, only relaxing when Hunter turned his hand back to brace himself on the table. You laughed at Hunter, turning your attention to your meal.

It was amazing to see the team interaction up close. They fought and agreed all the time. Just like a family. You felt comfortable giving in to whatever subject you had to say and noticing how safe and direct Hunter was, the way Wrecker was animated and loved to tease the brothers, the seriousness and good sense of Tech, the acid and provocative way of Crosshair and, finally, Echo's neutrality and calm. Despite not having been on the team for a long time, he had his spotlight. He was sweet, nice and reserved. The boys liked you. And you expect Crosshair too.

You all finished your meals and you walked down the halls together. The typical looks and whispers all over you, as usual. But no one came directly to offend you anymore.

Over time, you did everything together whenever possible. Even practicing some moves with Hunter in the training room, you were always being caught off guard when the clone took off his sweaty shirt and rubbed it against his forehead. The scientific discussions with Tech, which both always ended up in an impasse when arguing about. Wrecker definitely livened up your whole day, lifting you like you're nothing and crushing you against his strong, broad chest. Crosshair was quite an interesting exchange of false insults, always sneaky and slightly provocative when he cornered you just to feel in charge. And Echo, ah, how sweet he was. Something kept pulling you to him. Always so concerned and affectionate with you.

He always walked by your side. The issues between you two only grew. You talked from the bad meal to the battle methods used in training. And eventually, you got a smile out of him. And your heart swelled to the point of tearing your chest. And when the accidental physical touches happened, you two froze and apologized to each other over and over again. He gradually opened up with you more, avoiding talking about the past, but always demonstrating one thing or another. And you were always patient, trying your hardest not to push and give him comfort to feel safe.

Echo was feeling, for the first time since the accident, something close to being accepted, understood or even… passionate, considering that his sleep and attention were easily impaired by your presence or thoughts related to you. But of course he tried to retain that thought in the back of his brain whenever it surfaced. No one noticing, it would be okay.

A few days passed and your new friends were requested for a mission in Kashyyyk. You were swamped with work and had barely managed to do your chores with Echo or even spend time with the boys. When you can, you made sure to do all the physical tests on them. Sometimes getting lost in their strong, attractive forms with only the tight black clothes on their bodies. Getting a few hits or lunges when you couldn't disguise it enough.

Echo was waiting for you in the dorm that night. You still hadn't reconciled your spare time to meet. You would finish the job pretty early, and Echo would be free, so it was the perfect opportunity to finish testing the clone.

That night, Omega was with you. You guys talking and eating before Echo told you he was ready. Until then, he hadn't texted once on his communicator. "It must be because we see each other every day," you thought, dreaming of receiving messages from him all night long.

The communicator rang, in the message, Echo said: "I'm ready to be your guinea pig again, mad scientist. :)"

You laughed, already being teased by Omega.

- People in love laugh like that, you know?

She said, pretentious. Ready to hear your apology. You just wanted to run from the girl's gaze, fearing that her flushed eyes and cheeks would give you away.

- Ah, Omega. It's just Echo letting me know it's ready.

You said, running to get your metallic briefcase.

- Y/N, only a blind person doesn't see the way you look at each other. Even the boys have noticed.

She said naturally, munching on the goodies she stole from the cafeteria.

You looked at her disdainfully, rolling your eyes as if she'd heard the worst lie, but your insides screaming in agreement with the girl.

- So... uh, did you put my uniform here, Omega? I'm not comfortable with just this tight black outfit.

You said, looking at yourself in the reflection of the glass, releasing your long hair.

- Uh, I forgot in the lab when that toxic stuff spilled on you and you almost tore your clothes off.

The girl laughed, almost spitting at you.

- But I think you should go that way. Echo will like it. Better than that gigantic uniform. You look like an Ewok, but not that cute.

She laughed, getting a dirty sock in the middle of her face, which you threw at her.

- Be quiet, Omega. Or I'll throw you out the window.

You headed towards the door, Omega's sweet laugh in the background. You didn't really mind going out without a uniform, as the hallways were empty at night. You intended to stop by the lab to pick up your clothes before going to the dorm.

But you almost ran into Echo, turning down the hall. Startling a little, you looked him in the eye. Echo had a calm expression, already wandering his gaze over your marked body in that outfit, a completely new vision, strange things bubbling up inside him.

- I'm sorry to show up like this. I was going to your room since you didn't answer me.

Echo explained, with an amused expression.

- Oh, forgive me. I was in such a hurry that I didn't even tell you I was leaving.

Hey, you hadn't even taken that long… You couldn't keep your eyes on his for too long. Feeling practically naked in that outfit and feeling his gaze on you.

- Everything is fine. I think I was… anxious.

Echo looked away, scratching the back of his neck. You felt your ears heat and a flutter in your stomach. Was he looking forward to seeing you? Ah… no, it shouldn't be.

- All right dear, I understand it's still a little tense the whole testing thing and-

You were interrupted by Echo's hand on your arm, his gaze now fixed on you.

- I was looking forward to seeing you. I- I mean, you've been so busy lately...

Echo blushed at the unexpected statement, you mostly and you two were silent for a while, looking at each other.

- Ah, I… I wanted to see you too… before the mission. It's going to be hard to get through a few days without you… a-and the others, of course.

You said, completely embarrassed. Trying not to look so fond of him.

- Uh, don't worry, Kashyyyk isn't that dangerous.

Echo smiled slightly, withdrawing his hand.

- I hope so, I want you and the others in one piece.

Echo chuckled softly, the sound resonating in your chest.

- I think it's impossible for me to be less whole.

You punched his chest lightly, your offended expression playfully.

- Let's go then?

You asked and Echo nodded, clearing the way for you to continue your walk. You thought it best to finish these tests soon, so there wouldn't be any delays so Echo could go on a mission. Already embarrassed by your apparent "lack of clothing", checking the list of missing tests, you realized that you would need to look into Echo's cybernetics, which involved, of course, removing the clothing. Maker, can this get any more embarrassing?

You went to the dorm, the walk feeling longer than usual, the tension in the air so thick it could be cut with a knife.

Typing in the password, Echo gave you passage through the open door, entering right after you. You walked in almost having your legs frozen from being in a smaller room alone with Echo. Damn it. Were you really in love like that?

Echo gazed at your form, the light from the hallway reflected off your back, the hair gleaming and… well, your ass, before closing the door and trying to push the thoughts out of his mind (failing, of course). You were actually more attractive than usual.

Going to the bunk, you put your briefcase on the floor and sat on the not-so-comfortable mattress.

- You come?

You asked, a little nervous.

Echo, as if he had come back to consciousness at your words, nodded and walked over, sitting on the mattress beside you. You opened the briefcase and took out the list.

- Echo… I'm going to need to check your… cybernetics.

Your voice barely came out at the end of the sentence. Echo's eyes widened, already crossing his arms in front of his stomach.

- B-but… I thought not-

You interrupted him already fearing that he would think you deceived him in a way.

- Yes, Echo, it's not necessary in the basic test but Kashyyyk is very physical so unfortunately I need to look…

Your chest sank. Were you really going to expose him like that, or did you leave the test aside at the risk of him having problems in the mission? Echo sighed, his face worried, his eyes roaming his legs.

- I… I'm not very nice to look at.

The false humor in his voice. You got closer.

- I know I'll never really understand what you feel. But I understand a little bit about not liking the body you live in.

Your eyes lowered a little, the sad tone in your voice.

- You? Please. You do not have a defect-

Echo gasped, but too late. You looked away, tugging a lock of hair behind your ear.

- Oh please. Do not exaggerate.

You decided to start testing right away, you had no idea how to continue this subject.

Echo was clearly annoyed. You would be the first person close to him to see his body in that state. All the scars and… well… everything else.

You, on the other hand, had some discomfort below your navel. See him naked. This has made you imagine hundreds of things.

Echo slowly turned and peeled off the top of his black outfit. Several times stopping in the middle of the process, as if to gather courage with each movement. You decided not to interfere, respecting his time and space...

Gradually he revealed his defined back, the cervical prosthesis, all along the length of his spine, the chest that expanded with each deep breath he took as he revealed more of his body.

The prosthesis expanded slightly toward the two broad shoulders and met the cybernetics Echo wore around his head. Your scientist side was intrigued and awestruck by the prostheses, but your human side… was admiring the pale, defined silhouette. Skin identical to porcelain, with scars and some bruises from previous missions. The muscular, strong arms gave you goose bumps.

Echo just stood there, eyes closed and his back to you.

- Echo... if you're not okay-

The clone was hugging the shirt he had taken off, covering his chest and part of his belly when he abruptly turned around.

- I am fine!

His voice sounded steady, perhaps, but his movements faltered. He tossed the shirt aside, already feeling completely naked and vulnerable. He took a deep breath and continued, standing up.

You couldn't help but follow the movements of cybernetics and Echo's thumb moving along the waistband of his pants, slowly lowering them, exposing the cybernetics of hips, thighs, and legs as the fabric was discarded. Okay, it was metal, but perfectly molded and fit, mechanically harmonious and sexy. You noticed that in his pelvis, Echo had a kind of smock, as a protection. You reprimanded yourself for thinking that it was for... did he still have-

You shook your head, cursing yourself internally.

Echo held the pants to his chest as he straightened, he didn't meet your eyes, his head was down, embarrassed. The fabric fell down the front of his body, slightly covering his belly and part of his waist.

You got up, slowly, stopping in front of the clone. The heart at a thousand beats per minute. You felt sorry for him. And you felt disgusting about it. He was a soldier, a warrior, a survivor of so many things worth pity? Damn your sentimentality.

You put your hand on his strong, broad shoulder, he reacting slightly to your touch.

- You can trust me. You are not just a product to be tested today.

His heart warmed at your words. Was he more than that to you?

Echo stared steadily at your fingers traveling over his biceps and down, until your hand came back to your side.

- What am I for you?

His little eyes were gleaming slightly and his brows drawn together in question. The question hit you like a well-placed blow to the face. You never stopped to find a definition for him for you. He wasn't just an acquaintance, of that you were sure. But how to say that he makes you shy? That you always want to be beautiful around him? That you bring up subjects constantly for fear of seeming boring to him? That you genuinely care about him and find him beautiful, and now very attractive? Your face boiled over the seconds, looking him in the eye became impossible.

- Uh… y-you are… my friend, aren't you? I mean, you are all-

Your shaky thinking was interrupted by Echo's black pants coming your way. He put it on your left shoulder very slowly. You followed the movement and when you returned to the front, you felt that characteristic twinge in your gut.

- I mean, what do you think when you see this...

The soft voice, almost like a sad whisper. His hand pointed at himself.

The broad, defined chest, the pale nipples, the deep collarbones, the last ribs barely visible around the cybernetics he had on his chest. His belly was defined, his waist slightly slimmer than his hips, the cybernetics and splint low enough for you to follow the V that extended to his pelvis. The bulk of the thighs and the bulging codpiece. A hand on your chin, pushing up, broke your reverie.

- I'm up here, in case you've forgotten.

His voice was amused, the slight smile lifting the corners of his mouth, the higher cheekbones.

- I'm glad you didn't react like the others.

His voice was more serious, his rough thumb caressing your chin.

You swallowed dry. Looking up, pausing for a moment to take a closer look at the cracked, swollen lips parted. You felt him appreciating your lips too, on the contrary, flushed, shiny, silky-looking and outlined as if it had been drawn. Echo frowned, his brows almost drawing together. He didn't know he would be able to feel the slightest attraction to someone again. That he could behold the beauty in someone, that he could get so close to someone physically and… emotionally.

He was naked in front of you and it didn't bother him as much as it did in the beginning. How had he not noticed this before? You're always so jealous of him, and he's always looking for more and more, trying to reciprocate. The sensation burning in his chest, deep inside, beneath the cybernetics.

- You…

You said it almost as a whisper. Lifting your hand to caress his forearm with your fingertips, to the limit between skin and metal.

- Is strong, sweet, determined…

Your fingers moved up past his shoulder, placing your palm on his strong, broad chest. His eyes trailing all the way. Your heart trembled to say how enchanted and in love you were… but you didn't feel safe enough.

- You're beautiful. Human, above all. And yet, the Hero of Anaxes.

Echo had his eyes closed when you faced him again. His eyes narrowed as he tried to absorb your words. Your act sent him back years ago. Still soldier, a normal clone, with his armor and the blue palm that was nailed to his rib plate. A token of honor.

He opened his eyes, tears welling up, blurring his vision.

Your heart ached, making you hug him tightly, propelling him back. Echo responded slowly as he realized what you were doing, pressing you against him, pressing his nose against the base of your neck. The two of you digging your fingertips into each other's backs. His tears warming your shoulder and running down your shoulder blades. You rested your head on his chest, listening and feeling his deep breathing and strong heartbeat. Your slim, tight uniform allowed you to feel every rise and texture of Echo's physique. Your breasts crushed against his chest.

Stars, it felt like heaven. You barely remember when you did this. This man deserved to have all his pains extracted and his dreams perfectly reconstructed.

When both realized, it had been some time, you were stroking the clone's back, and he had dropped his hands to your waist.

He only got up because of the pain in his back from having to bend over to hug you. You looked at him smiling and cradled his face in your hands.

- Better now, darling?

Echo smiled, his little eyes reddened from crying. He nodded, a little embarrassed, feeling like he'd ripped his body open and showing you his insides explicitly. Echo sighed, allowing himself to enjoy your touch. Giving in to your soft, gentle touch. Which he didn't even remember what it was like anymore.

- Thanks…

You smiled as sweetly and sincerely as you could. You were really happy to be there. But there was work to be done.

- Can we continue, Echo? If not, you won't be able to bring those beautiful Kashyyyk flowers I asked for.

You said sweetly, giggling, lowering your hand to his shoulder.

Echo smiled, little did you know he would be able to bring you moons and stars. Echo was kind to everyone. Never sparing efforts to help. But with you… he felt he would be able to destroy planets if you asked.

[ladykatakuri]

She is his treasure Part 3

This is it! The last part of my Crosshair x Reader fic. I finally finished it and i hope you like it. Since English is not my native language i might have spelling mistakes in it, you are most welcome to let me know ofcourse.

Pairing: Crosshair x F. Reader

Warnings: None, it is just sweet and a little fluffy and small mention of injury. Maybe a little sad like at places?

Wordcount: 5334

The first thing you notice is the scent. It is that balanced mix that has always made you feel at ease and the exclusive scent that belonged to the one person in the entire galaxy

that you could not give up on. Why did you smell it now though? Trying to open your eyes was a task of itself and you struggled with it for a good minute.

The last thing you remembered was the shuttle crashing back down to the ground, just seconds after it took off, or at least it felt like seconds. The next thing was the pain in your body that was all consuming and the fear of what happened to your unborn child. Then, darkness and a heavy, tired feeling in your body and a numbness of mind. All thoughts seemed to have been fleeting, no more pain or concerns, no more fears.

Now you tried to open your eyes while you had this familiar scent surrounding you.A mixture of cleaning oil, Ozon, musk and an earthy smell. Oddly comforting despite the fact that it could mean your child was in great danger. “Little one!” The thought of the danger your baby could possibly be in wakes your mind when you open your eyes and look around with blurry vision.

As you turn your head to the left, you suddenly notice a warm pressure on your belly and turn your head back to stare at the hand that lays on it. You know this hand and all it`s small scars and lines and smudges. You take a deep breath and look at your right.

“Crosshair….” You look at the man who peacefully sleeps as he is slumped over at your side. His hand on your belly and his upper body resting next to you on your bed. The position he is in appears highly uncomfortable but there is still a glimpse of a smile on his face. “When was the last time he smiled like that?” You softly shake your head as you gently try to move.

If he is here, his squad is somewhere around as well and that means danger not only for you, but for your child! You can only hope that the guys are already far away from this place with Omega. A sudden groan stops you in your movement and when you lock eyes with the man you desperately missed but did not want to see there now, you shiver. “Cross.” You swallow as you try to move away from him. Restricted by the rail of the bed you look at him and make up your mind. “Please…. Before you do what you came here for….”

When he notices the slight movement, he wakes from his slumber and the first thing he notices is your fear and the determination in your eyes when you speak up. The moment you say his name, he knows you put on a brave facade for the sake of your child and the crew that became your family, and that is his family once again. “Y/N, wait.” He lifts his hand to stop you from talking and gently places his hand back on yours that is placed protectively over your belly.

“It's me sweets.” He stares into your eyes when he says it and gently squeezes your hand. For a moment there is no thought in your mind, he used the nickname he only ever uses for you in private. It is the name he started to call you after a day spent together where he found out how much you loved sweet fruits and how much he loved the taste of it on your lips. From that moment on you were his sweets, the only sweets he would ever truly love.

With a cautious smile you look at him, really look at him and that is when you notice the small new scar on the side of his head. The same scar that his brothers had after the removal of their chips. Gently you raise your hand and trace it. Crosshair leans into the touch with his eyes closed, “I`m so sorry sweets. I…. I didn`t…. I couldn`t….” His voice breaks while he tries to find the right way to explain it all, but there are no words he can use to tell you how much it has hurt him. How long he felt as if he was trapped inside of himself, only able to make small decisions of his own. The pain and anguish when he would get the order to hunt you and his brothers down, to kill them, to kill other innocent people. To watch as he would take position and press the trigger that would end a life.

You see his struggle and his pain. The deep and tormenting pain he will have to work through, but not longer on his own. You stop him from trying to find the words to explain his actions by raising your hand once more and cupping his cheek. Carefully you sit up and pull him towards you, softly brushing your lips across his. “I know love, we will get through this.”

He leans into the kiss as you take his hand and place it on your soft belly. Smiling, you place your forehead against his, “You have something else to think about now love.” Gently laying down, he follows your movement and cuddles up next to you in the bed. The bed is small but with his small frame, even a bit smaller after all the stress he had been through, you both fit in perfectly. He tugs your soft body against his and your face against his neck. Arms snaking around you he finally lets out a sigh of relief, “I love you so much sweets. Ner Yaim.”

You smile at his last words as you slowly begin to fall asleep. “You are home with us now my love. We are your home, always have been.” Now you can both get some rest and work on what is to come after that. For the moment you are safe with your small family, here in bed at the hospital. Tomorrow you will figure out how to leave for safety with the entire family, but not after you both have heard the recording of your childs heartbeat that Tech had made.

This is how the rest found the two of you, lying in eachothers arms, soft smiles on your faces, happy. They took care of the elite squad that was once known as CT-9904`s Elite Squad, but would now have to be renamed. For all they knew, their leader had been killed in an explosion and they themselves were either severely injured or knocked unconscious in the process of their firefight with the Bad Batch. Wrecker walked into the room wanting to show off his trophy, one of the buckets he took as evidence but stopped in his tracks when he saw you both in a peaceful sleep. Omega, happy that the family was finally complete once more, took the helmet and carefully put it on the small bedside table, placing a soft, grey tooka doll in it as if it were a basket.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

It had been a while since you all escaped the planet where your shuttle crashed and where you were reunited with the love of your life. You explained to him you always had a plan if you were not successful in rescuing him from the Empire and removing his chip. You made a recording for your unborn child, the child you would do anything for, that you would save by giving it a life far away from you and your family.

Sitting between Crosshairs legs in his bunk, leaning against his chest with his arms around you and cradling your swelling belly, you both look at the recording.

The recording begins with a shot of you smiling at the camera. Your eyes are soft, the smile reaching your eyes, but still, there is something in the eyes that is speaking of a great sadness.

“Hello sweet one. It's me, your mom. I know that you probably have a lot of questions and I am sorry I can not answer them all. But I will try to explain to you why I am not there with you and why your father is not there either.

I hope that you watch this somewhere safe and that you are happy. That truly is the most important reason why I gave you up the day you were born.” You swallow away a soft sob, not wanting to let your child see you cry, while you stare off in the distance, looking at what you hoped would be a safe and happy future for your child.

“When I realised I was pregnant, we lived in trying times. Your father had succumbed to the effects of the inhibitor chip that all of his brothers had implanted and the Empire began its expansion. So much pain and suffering ensued from that moment my love and with one war over and a new one starting….. I could not let you become a part of this.

Sweet one, you are the best outcome of the love of your father and me. Don't ever doubt that. When I escaped Kamino with your uncles and niece Omega, we had to leave your father behind. It was not his fault, he was under the control of the Empire. That was at that time the most painful decision we had to make and there have been many before and after as well.

Your father is a great man. He has a strong will and the kindest heart, though he might have grumbled something about this if he heard it.” You chuckle as you think about the snarky sniper you love so much. If he heard you say that at that time he would surely have made a grumpy remark about it and then held you as he nuzzled your neck.

The chip does not allow him to feel and that is the reason why I made this decision. Right now, he is tracking us as we make our way through known space. He is good at what he does and I have no doubt he will find us at some point. So, I made a plan.

If for whatever reason I can reach your father, or the part of him that is still there, I will offer him a deal. I will come with him without resisting, but he will have to allow me to let you go. There are medical procedures that will save you, as little as you are now my sweet and I will do what I can to keep you alive. I know I can reach that part of him that is still him and I know he will let me keep you safe.

This is a lot to take in my sweet and it might not make much sense right now, but I will include files to this message with information about us. The Bad Batch, the group your father belongs to, your father and me and your niece Omega. Read and watch it all, and decide then if we were right in what we did.

I ask only one thing…. Forgive your father. He would never have done what he did without that chip. We will try to save him and get him back. If we fail and we are taken prisoner and are killed…. Forgive him. He loves you sweet one, I promise you that, I swear to you that he does. You are the outcome of our shared love and his humanity. No matter what people might say, he IS truly human and perhaps an even better one then most in this war.”

You look into the recorder with a look of deep love and devotion brimming off of your face. “We love you sweet one. Live and be happy. And always remember, you are your fathers true treasure.”

The recording ends with a picture of Crosshair and you. You with your head on his shoulder as you both sit against the wall of the Marauder and look at a report on a datapad.

@loth-wolffe Sweets i did it! I finished the story :O

[letsunity]

Not Afraid - Chapter 3

Summery -  

The Bad Batch go to Tatooine to resupply and avoid the Empire. As per the usual, Omega gets separated from the group. Fortunately for her, Krayt's Claw just so happens to be nearby. Bossk and Embo guide her to Boba Fett, who takes interest in why the Kaminoans want her. It's a reluctant partnership, with the Bad Batch having to rely on Krayt's Claw to navigate non-military life.

When it came to hunting, it's good to start small and work your way up. This lot were soldiers, so at least they already had training. Omega didn't, so they'd have to work on that. Being a usual child, she'd get into trouble, so she needs to learn how to protect herself.

A relatively safe place is Lothal, a minor planet nobody cared for. Because no one cared for it, it was a good spot for hunters to refuel and get some supplies. The kid gets to look around, too, which was a bonus. She couldn't be dad's clone, so he wanted to know who her template was.

There's also a connection; he could feel her more than most people. It was a sixth sense kind of thing, knowing people's feelings and such. He didn't talk about it, given that it gave him an advantage over adversaries. It also told him when to be wary around his comrades, as the concept of loyalty is very different in the hunting world.

Whatever it was, he knew that his father had it too. Dad could feel things and react to them, to the point where Boba didn't need to talk sometimes.

There was the possibility of Arla.

Jango had a sister in his original family but assumed her dead. If they had a sliver of her DNA, then that could've been used to make Omega. It was only a theory, but ignoring any possibility was stupid. For all he knew, she's a combination; the Kaminoans can certainly do it.

"Embo, you're babysitting."

Knowing how Dengar could get, the Kyuzo wasn't going to argue. The man had a habit of causing unmitigated chaos when left unsupervised. It was useful, but when not working, it was a pain. Marrok snarled at Dengar, shaking his head at the man's poor smell.

"Out of all planets, what's with this one?" Hunter inquired, noticing a settlement a mile away.

"In communities like this, there's always trouble. Where there's trouble, someone is willing to pay for it to disappear," Bossk answered, attaching his blaster to his back. "You're good with droids, but how're you with people?"

In the clone wars, they fought droids. They were trained to be ruthless with droids. When it came to people, however, they didn't have as much experience. People aren't as durable as droids, so they could seriously hurt someone without meaning to. Knowing how to restrain themselves was important.

"Highslinger can guard the ships; he isn't overly fond of crowds. One of your guys can go with Embo and Dengar to get food, the rest with us."

"I get to come?" Omega beamed, to which the Trandoshan grinned. Boba tossed his helmet to her, watching her investigate the design. "What's this for?"

"You've got a bounty, and people have eyes everywhere. That'll keep your identity hidden, and it's durable enough to take a blaster rifle. Stick with us, and it'll be fine," Boba said, feeling disapproval from the Batch. "Sheltering her is only going to make it easier to catch her. She's going to learn somehow, better early than later."

While Hunter didn't want Omega in danger, she had a habit of getting in trouble anyway. The helmet was a little big on her, but she was certainly obscured.

She could see clearly with the helmet, and it sealed around her neck, making it airtight. It filtered the air, keeping it fresh and safe. She couldn't smell anything, but Omega was ok with that. She could tag along and help instead of getting in the way.

Wrecker complimented her, calling her a little soldier.

"You're confident she'll be fine," Echo noted, disliking the look he got from the teenager. "What? What're you staring at?"

"I thought you were familiar. Everyone's heard about the 'Hero of Anaxes'. The one that escaped the Techno Union and used their own bullshit against them. It won't help much, but I doubt a traitor would do that."

As expected, the pale clone was heavily disturbed. Boba knew that he felt guilty over it, even though that didn't make much sense. It's like blaming a blaster for shooting somebody.

"We did that too!" Wrecker cheered, punching Bossk's shoulder. "We blew shit u-AH!"

Bossk punched him back, harder than he intended.

A thing many people forget is that Trandoshans and Wookies are natural enemies. Trandoshans are capable of being in a fistfight with a Wookie and potentially win. Puny clone trooper armour isn't going to protect against something like that. It made Wrecker excited, knowing he can brawl with someone without restraining himself.

Hunter didn't want them to get attached to this lot; it was a reluctant partnership. Walking with them made him constantly anxious, given how they aren't the honourable sort. The moment they deemed it necessary, they'd turn on Hunter in a second.

Their boss was Hunter's age, though he aged slower. The Bad Batch had been in the field for nearly four years; he's been out here his whole life. The only thing making them allies was the blonde question mark. As soon as Boba got his answers, there was no telling what he'd do.

He has leverage regarding the underworld, but Hunter has something to make the teen need him. If the hunters needed them, then they won't consider betraying them.

"What do you know about Order 66?" Hunter inquired, expecting the boy not to know.

As he did with Echo, the teen looked through him, like he was peering into Hunter's soul. He appeared amused, although Hunter couldn't imagine what he found so funny.

"No point being shy about it, Sarge. What've you got that I'd be interested in?"

So much for being sneaky about it. He'll figure this kid out, preferably sooner than later.

"Inside of every clone is a chip. Once activated, it makes you follow orders, regardless of loyalties. It's why the clone troopers turned on the Jedi," he stated, watching Omega skip around the grass.

Bossk and Wrecker were casually wrestling around, getting filthy and messing about. Echo was keeping Omega away from their frolicking, and Boba wasn't fazed by it. He was more interested in Hunter's revelation.

"Fuck that. Nobody's in charge of me except for me. The girl has one as well?"

He hadn't even considered that possibility. Sure, it was entirely likely that she had her own inhibitor chip, maybe with a different code. Once again, more questions that'll be dangerous to answer.

"Probably. We haven't been affected because of our mutations, and you're already aware of Echo. We had someone else with us, but his chip worked."

"Whose to say that they aren't? It could be acting slower for you."

"Which is why we're trying to deactivate them. When we do ours, we can save our friend, maybe save all of the troopers."

"And the ones that side with the Empire anyway?"

"We'll blow up that bridge when we come to it."

"Already talking like a Bounty Hunter, Sarge."

Alright, maybe the kid wasn't so bad after all.

"You don't have to call me Sarge."

"Listen, Jungle Ramclone; I do what I want. If I want to acknowledge your rank, I will. If you earn a title, you keep the damn thing."

That was the first time someone threateningly called him a Sergeant.

It didn't take too long to arrive at the settlement, a small town. People lived peacefully in a bustling market, trading goods and leading mundane but comfortable lives. Cut used to have a life like this before the Empire ruined it, and it was only a matter of time before the same happened here.

While Hunter wanted it for Omega, it wasn't the life she wanted. She wanted to stay with them, to be a part of their team. Learning how to look after herself would make matters easier. The more experience she had, the less that Hunter had to worry. He'd always worry, but at least he'd be comforted knowing that she could manage alone.

Running into Krayt's Claw could've been the best thing to happen to her. They had connections now, guides who can give them a footing in the galaxy. The dark secrets that the Republic fought to uncover was readily available for them. He didn't intend for this to last, but it provided options.

Maybe becoming a group of hunters was their best option, considering that civilian life doesn't suit them. They're warriors to the bone; combat was engineered in them. Becoming mercenaries with a strict moral code was something to look into.

While observing the various stalls, Hunter took notice of a Sakiyan causing trouble. Duty-bound, the Sergeant stepped in, getting between the man and the young woman. She had an infant in her arms, only a day or so old. The Sakiyan wasn't intimidated until Wrecker walked up behind him, glaring through his helmet.

His presence was enough to send the thief running, not wanting to be on the clone's anger. Hunter helped the woman stand, being careful of her infant child.

"Thank you, kind sirs," she smiled, looking over her baby. He had a small tuft of black hair reminiscent of stubble. "How may I repay you?"

"No problem. Just keep that little one alright, and it's all good," Wrecker smiled, forgetting that she couldn't see it. "If anyone needs a hand, we're gonna give it!"

The baby squirmed at the loud noise, opening a pair of lavender-blue eyes. He looked to hunter, gurgling slightly. Unsure of what to do, Hunter gave a short wave, not used to infants.

"Ezra likes you," she smiled, kissing her baby's forehead. "My name is Mira. If you need some help, come and find me. You're more than welcome in the Bridger home."

And like that, they made an ally. Wrecker felt good, and Hunter had a hunch that the kid would grow into someone special. It was just a feeling; he had something similar about Omega.

Said girl was with Echo, exploring the market with Bossk watching like a hawk. The Trandoshan bought her some fruit, slightly overpaying for it. Hunter started to decipher the reason for this behaviour.

By proving themselves to be generous and kind, the people would be more cooperative. They'd enjoy engaging with such 'honourable' gentlemen, even though they were violent by profession. Boba alone decimated a Star Destroyer at Omega's age, which could be why he had so much faith in her.

Hunter should have more faith in her, too. She was inexperienced, not a fragile piece of glass.

"Build a relationship, provide a financial reward, and you've got yourself a spy," Boba smirked, chewing on some dried meat.

That's what he meant by eyes everywhere. Hunter assumed droids or cameras, but no, he meant average citizens. Anyone was a potential spy for a bounty hunter, the variety ensuring their secrecy. The entire town could be spies for anyone, even the likes of Fennec.

Omega needs to keep that helmet on until she gets her own. Keeping themselves obscure would be wise, too. Their armour is easily recognisable; they can't disappear if everyone knows what they look like.

The teenager nodded as he tossed some to Wrecker, who practically inhaled the meat.

"You're starting to get it."

While it was creepy how the kid knew his feelings, it also made things easier. Boba could feel his intentions, possibly explaining why he was helping. He threw a piece to Hunter, casually re-joining Bossk, Echo and Omega as the girl held a fuzzy loth-cat toy. Bossk repeated the action from before, complimenting the Rodian working there.

He was manipulating the woman. By appearing so sweet with a kid, it'd make her reluctant to tattle.

There was a lot more to this profession than even the Senate could ever realise. He wanted to know more about it.