#echo and omega hold this team together

[magicandmundane]

I just rewatched The Crossing, and with the added context from s3, it’s honestly a wonder how the Batch got literally anything done during the Clone Wars before Echo and Omega joined them between Wrecker and Tech bickering over every little thing that goes wrong and Hunter and Crosshair beating each other up over snide comments lmao

[eatommo]

Hotshot [c.f.99]

CW: Poly!batchxreader, group sex, exhibitionism, oral sex (m&f recieving), double penetration, multiple orgasms, unprotected sex, vaginal and anal creampie, multiple partners, cumshots, anal sex, ass eating, spanking, praise, authority kink, cucking? kinda?, implied recording of sex, mention of weapons, mentions of aftercare, overstimulation, post season 7 pre omega, dom/sub dynamics, allusions to subspace, slight degradation, shower sex, mutual pining lots of kissing, no clonecest, liberties for hunter's tattoo, reader has hair long enough to pull, reader gets picked up and carried, i probably missed something let me know!

A/N: 5.6k of pure smut, absolutely no plot here. All mistakes are mine, repost and let me know what/if you like <3

As you climb the steps to the Marauder, something about this mission feels different.  It's been months since you've been away from the boys, and almost as long since you cared.  

Since running away from the clutches of the empire and charming your way aboard the ship you've become an asset to the team even in just your companionship, but it was also nice to have someone around who wasn't a clone.  It made it that much easier to do recon, and also that much easier to infiltrate a group because your face wasn't spread across every corner of the Empire. 

However, the longer you stayed with them, the more you valued what made them different.  You learned who to go to for help with blaster trouble, and even learned to overlook Crosshair’s slights during your target practice.  You’ve also learned that Hunter was sensitive to flowers and strong scents and that he had the best-smelling soap aboard the ship (and never seemed to mind when you used it). Tech, on the other hand, was always great at making you feel included, but was always, always going to double-check anything you did to the ship ‘just in case.’ Echo might've been one of the most interesting people to talk to, during his work with the 501st and the glory days of working alongside some of the most powerful Jedi in the galaxy he saw many planets and cultures that you had only dreamed about.   Wrecker, well, he was a big softy despite his talent for demolitions and overall penchant for violence, he was the first to volunteer to take you out and stretch your legs in a nearby city and to help you bring home rations (and a sweet treat or two) for the rest of the crew, and has even carried you home from cantina trips a time or two. 

They were closer than any other troop you'd seen, all depending and working so tightly and neatly together you'd think that adding you to the mix would complicate things but all you seemed to do was fit in like sand in the desert.   You fell into a routine, they'd leave you at the ship during more dangerous jobs, typically with Echo or Tech at your side to assist with any repairs as you kept the inside of the ship in order, and kept a close eye on any equipment and prepping rations and meals as they became available. 

After a stop on Batuu, in which you fought every urge to procure a Loth cat, instead letting Crosshair buy you a long thin vibroblade to appease you.  “I haven't given up by the way.” You shout over your shoulder, as you settle into your seat before the others.  

“I've thought so.” Tech, his voice more amused than anything.  “Let us not berate the woman so that she uses that thing on us, shall we? We are cleared for takeoff.” Wrecker chuckles at the idea of you brandishing the thin blade to any of them.  You could hold your own for sure, but you were no ARC trooper. 

You settle aboard, staying seated until you reach the upper atmosphere, locking your cloak away with your blade, settling back into the seat near the cockpit, and resting your head against the wall.   

“If you need rest, my bunk is open,”  Wrecker whispers his words and his voice contradicting each other.  He's gruff but his speech is soft like he's afraid to startle you, he's cleaning his blaster but leans forward to speak softly to you. “It's still the biggest bunk.” He smiles and with his helmet in his lap, you can see the intense scaring over the side of his head, and your fingers twitch at your side begging to caress it.

“I'm fine thank you.”  You beam at him surprised by the crack in your voice and not wanting to seem ungrateful for the gesture.  “I’m quite content out here.”  Wrecker blushes, as if embarrassed he even brought it up.  

You can hear the audible judgemental breath of Crosshair even from your position behind his back, as he examines his rifle, something amiss and there's a thick tension in the room you can't quite place.  Glancing around as they settle in for take-off, none of them seem to want to meet your eyes.  

“I didn't expect you all to get so shy, I thought maybe you were starting to warm up to me.”   You let your voice trail off, a hint of a tease that cuts into the thick tension in the air for a brief moment. Before Hunter sharply stands up and lets his feet carry him towards you.  

Last night’s mission for Rex was messier than any of you had expected and used up the last of your bacta supply.  Hence the trip to Batuu, and what you thought was a tense conversation about purpose or authority between the group.  You’d overheard something about keeping secrets when you’d greeted them at the ship’s ramp and the pinched nerve in Hunter’s jaw encouraged you to keep your mouth shut.  Since the tension between each of them has been as taught and dangerous as a tightrope.  As the long-haired clone approached you, you sat straighter, already apologizing for being difficult before he cut you off. 

Leaning down until he is practically whispering in your ear, "We are programmed to be professional first and foremost. And we are not always so shy."

Just sharing your space with him has your body reacting to him, vibrating in both fear and a sneaking feeling of arousal.  His breath is hot and you turn to look into his dark brown eyes, eyes you should be so familiar with. “I am not an officer, I do not bite, and there's no reason to be formal.” the sentence comes out as a squeak, and you try to hide embarrassment flashing through your cheeks. 

He smiles, his voice dips lower but is so soft you swear you can feel his words caress your skin, “Easy hotshot, we might like a woman who bites.”

Oh, oh wow. We.

In an instant, everything and all your feelings about them shift and change.  You spent the last few rotations convincing yourself it was normal to feel bubbly around them, they'd saved you, and they were providing for you.  This feeling, the unmistakable pull of longing and need in the pit of your belly, would complicate things.  

Hunter stands and departs the conversation with an ease you envy.  You take a deep breath and compose yourself just to look up and see the rest of the crew watching you, like a wounded animal, you catch just a glimmer of a blush in Echo’s face.  

Rex mentioned they were a tight-knit group he seemed shocked you fell in line with them, but hell you didn't expect this.  Each of them is in their thoughts as you glance around the ship.  Echo and Tech are busying themselves with the controls, but you can see Echo worrying his lip, and Tech turning his head to glance at you every few moments as if wondering what will happen first.  Or rather who?  

Crosshair stares at you, blankly like he's trying to read every line in your smile or every wrinkle in your clothes, your eyes click together and he smiles like a lothcat with a womprat in his teeth. “You're not intimidated by us?”  It's almost as if he's as shocked as the fact itself,   there's a cutting edge to the statement like you should be, and then a corner of his mouth turns up. “You like being here,” he tests the statement as if tasting the fact on his tongue, “with all of us.”

You smirk, doing your best to match the heat in his stare, “I am grateful. I've never felt so important or wanted,” you swallow thickly letting the heat in your body you know Hunter can sense, speak for itself,   “At least, not yet.” You shift in your seat glancing up at Hunter who is glaring hungrily at your chest as if he could hear your heart leap in your chest with every passing moment.  

 You glance up to the stars ahead of the ship, Tech looks like he's preparing the ship to jump to light speed.  The return mission, at its worst, should only take a few days and even less of that is travel, normally you're not one for long lightspeed trips but this time you wonder if it will be too short.

The way the crew looks at you makes your skin tingle, not sure if you’ve ever been paid this much attention before.  As the ship lurches into hyperspace, you let your head lull back to catch Hunter's attention, peering up towards his face as your chin hovers just a foot away from his codpiece.  

Doing your best to keep your breath even, a part of you wishes to stand and kiss him, but this time it’s your turn to feel shy.  You stand, brushing your chest across Hunter’s’ and waltzing over to lean against the control panel of the ship and the two quieter clones on this ship.

The moment Tech realizes you’re moving towards him his posture is stuck straight, but Echo only leans slightly towards you as you pass your hand over his shoulder.  Standing at the front of the ship has only allowed them all to stare at you, your heart skips a beat.  You see Hunter’s eye twitch, he is reading you like a book.

“Well,” you speak slowly and eloquently, playing into their curiosity, “How should we pass the time?”

“Come here.” the room's attention snaps to Crosshair, whose red-hot gaze is marring into your skin. Silence falls over the craft as Crosshair lifts a hand and gestures toward his empty waiting lap.   Slowly, Echo, Tech, and Wrecker turn again towards you but Hunter stays strong locked into some silent dialogue with his brother.  

You feel as if it is entirely dangerous to cross the space between the two. Yet your feet carry you without worry, and neither of them breaks until their vision is obstructed by your body. You turn facing the softened expression in Hunter’s eyes, and slowly lower yourself onto Crosshair's lap.  

Placing your hands on his knees to steady yourself, you lean back until your head is resting on his chest and his breath is hot against the shell of your ear. “Good girl.” 

His whispers send shivers down your spine and Hunter sinks to his knees in front of you, as Cross removes your shirt from over your head and the rest of the Batch descends upon you like wolves.  

As Hunter’s face presses against the softness of your hip, Tech's teeth graze your neck and Wrecker's hands smooth over your nipples, you're overwhelmed at their strength.  These are battle-hardened soldiers, Crosshair runs a calloused finger down your spine, and you're reminded how soft you are.  Your skin is plush and comforts all of Hunter’s senses as the boys proceed to lose themselves upon you, you're reminded of the comfort they provide for you, a safety net you never knew you craved and the appetite you never knew could become so hungry.  

Your canvas pants are ripped down the leg by Wrecker and Hunter’s combined efforts, the sound almost drowned out by a collection of panting wanton noises, and the scraps hit the floor out of sight.  

Hunter noses across the top of your panties, letting his breath fan over the sensitive skin of your pussy as you feel Cross shift his hips and push his hard cock into your ass.  All of them are in full armor, save for the helmets, yet you lie strewn out before them slick pooling in your panties as they take turns pulling pleasure from your body like they serve no higher purpose.  

It's Wrecker who pulls himself from his flight suit first, and you can't remember ever having such a physical reaction to something like this before.  You reach out on instinct, fingers not wrapping completely around his girth and teasing the pink tip until it begins to leak into your palm.  He towers over your head as whimpers and shudders wrack through his body as though he's never been touched.  

You catch a glimpse of Echo, standing slightly off to the side, watching with his pupils fully dilated as he follows the path of Hunter’s mouth on your skin his face flush with crimson.  Tilting your head back you turn towards Crosshair and give him a deep kiss, letting him lick into your mouth feverishly. Hunter’s fingers trace over your seam delicately over the thin fabric of your panties as they grow transparent with your desire.  

Wrecker’s cock is thick and heavy in your hand, and you clench wantingly around nothing, his hips brush into your hand with a tenderness you long to experience. Crosshair snakes a hand up your chest and cradles the thin skin over your throat, chasing Tech’s glancing kisses away,  but taking the opportunity to encourage you to grind your hips against his cock.  

In a few mere movements, the men surrounding you have altered your state of mind and each passing touch coaxes you further into submission.  Tech shifts and lets his breath ghost over your nipples, you turn your head and catch Hunter in a deep kiss noting how different he tastes and feels against you. You let your thumb swipe over the leaking tip of Wrecker's cock, and fight the urge to stuff your fingers in your mouth to taste.  

Hunter breaks the kiss and steps away, letting Echo take his place between your legs but not before using his dagger to cut the hip of your undergarments and stuffing them into one of his pant pockets.  

You blush at the obscenity of it all, but it quickly soothed away but the cool metal of Echo’s headpiece brushing over your thighs. Wordlessly Crosshair adjusts the seat so your pussy is presented to Echo, leaning more onto your back and looking up at the boys devouring your form. 

His mouth is hot, licking softly over your clit as you relax with Crosshair stroking the pulse point in your neck.  You’re slick with arousal and he doesn’t hesitate to lick it up teasing your entrance with the tip of his tongue. 

You writhe, letting yourself melt against him, fighting to stay concentrated enough to play with Wrecker’s balls tugging and rolling them beneath your fingers.  Eager to pleasure every one of them.  

Echo’s glove ghosts over your sex, teasing your entrance with a digit, the leather smoothly gliding over your skin. Hunter and Tech each take to stroking down your thighs and holding them in place, “Easy, meshla, we will take good care of you.” 

Your mind is swimming, when did this start? Tech steps a hair closer to your face, tilting your jaw up with his free hand, and slips a finger past your lips. You suck lightly, sure to match the pace at which you’re stroking Wrecker.  You get a praising hum, and Tech surprisingly is the second to drop his pants and pull himself free. Stroking himself to the rhythm of you teasing him with a curl of your tongue.    

It's the tangled moan of you around Tech’s fingers that breaks Crosshair, his pants unbearably tight and each little movement of your hips making him clench his jaw to stave the noises that die in his throat.  He lifts you to your feet, and removes his pants, letting himself spring free.  You have to admit you expected the armor to be harder to take off. 

You stand on unsteady feet, in an attempt to turn your head towards Crosshair, Hunter captures your chin in two fingers locking your eyes together.  “Echo.” A chuckle reverberates between them, all seemingly on board with whatever plan this could be. Echo slides flat onto his back looking up at you and the rest of the boys.  The realization is enough to make you shiver. Your pussy clenches, still empty, but a dripping mess sticks your thighs together.  Hunter’s eyes are burning through your resolve, there’s an intensity you’d come to respect that now sends a spike of fear through you.  “Sit.”

You go to protest but are quickly shut down and you look around at the men surrounding you eagerly but patiently waiting for you to follow his instructions.  Swallowing thickly over the lump in your throat, you sink to your knees and hover a few inches from Echo’s waiting mouth.  From your knees they tower above you, all but Hunter free from their confines.  You get a good look at the three cocks, all weeping and swollen pink across their tip, beautifully complimenting the darker-tanned skin of their shaft.  

Each of them was different, which only slightly surprises you, Wrecker being the thickest, but both Tech and Crosshair meet him in length.  You can feel each breath from Echo’s mouth, knowing you're probably close to dripping across his chin. You lower slowly, afraid to hurt him, until he licks the seam of your entrance savoring the hot flesh and you seek his tongue sitting on his face in earnest.  His mouth brings welcome waves of pleasure as he suckles on your clit.  

They pump themselves slowly, enjoying the view of your tits bouncing with each shiver.   You start to move your hips in small circles while reaching to palm over Crosshair’s balls and stroking up over his shaft squeezing a bead of precome from the tip.  You open your mouth and glance between them, expecting to see some kind of hierarchy emerge but they take a half step toward you together.  

You opt for taking Tech into your mouth, but only because he's in the middle, letting yourself drool around him as you suck on the thick knot of his cock head, before turning and spitting the excess saliva onto Crosshair’s cock coating it with slick to make your fist glide against him nice and quickly. Tightening around the base and working more of those beautiful precum drips from his leaking tip.  

You snap back to Tech’s cock, tasting the sweat of his skin, and the desire for your body grows with each passing second as he throbs needfully in your mouth.  

Echo is teasing your clit with calculated movements of his tongue, licking around it in sharp purposeful circles, and sucking on it every few passes.  Enough to make your brain fuzz up each time his lips seal around you as Tech nudges the back of your throat to earn a gag.  

You pull off him again, this time gathering the drool in your mouth to cover as much of Wrecker's cock as you physically can.  His cock is so heavy it sways low on his hips thick and so hard your body is already aching for the sting that will accompany the stretch.  You use the thick spit to pump him slower, allowing yourself a moment to admire what has to be the largest you'll ever get the chance to worship. 

The slick sounds are broken with an “Atta girl.”  in the shape of a deep growl from Wrecker’s chest.  He reaches and gathers some drool from your chin and brushes it over your lip and you open instinctively, just as Echo uses his tongue to prod at your entrance.  His praise is as wholesome as his affection for you.

Hunter has taken a seat across from the rest of you, watching as if analyzing each movement of your legs as they quiver from the ravenous pleasure and your throat tightens around the length of Crosshair's shaft.  His thin fingers find purchase at the back of your neck, urging you to sputter around him and the sick squelch just barely audible beneath your moans. 

Echo swiftly plunges two fingers into your pussy, crooking them and stroking deliciously at your g-spot and forcing you to pull yourself away from Crosshair to let your head drop as you fight for composure.  “Let yourself enjoy it little one.  It won’t be your last.” Cross takes the tip of his cock and taps the tip to your tongue.  

You swear, body humming and teetering on the edge before losing yourself to one hellishly explosive orgasm.  It shocks you, body shaking and toes curling against the cool floor as your body burns in the aftershocks Echo works you through it with some tentative kisses to your entrance, and he encourages you to sit up so he can slide out from under you. 

So much of the room is spinning you don’t notice Tech sitting in front of you until you’re kissing him.  His tongue finds yours in a syrupy sweet and methodical kiss as you fight to catch your breath.  Wrecker moves behind you, running his rough hands down your back and palming the flesh of your ass, striking it with a loud slap.  

Tech swallows your gasp, pinching your nipples and pulling them as Wrecker bends you at the waist until you’re scrambling to your hands and knees sucking Tech into your mouth with a compliant and satisfied hum.  

Hunter speaks up, “Turn around.” The trance is broken for the briefest of seconds, and you don't have time to think before they’re turning you so you’re faced with Wrecker’s huge cock and Tech teases your entrance with the tip of his cock.  The passive command that Hunter has over all of you gives you goosebumps, his authority even stronger than the ache they share for you. 

You sink to your elbows, propping your ass up on display and practically begging for Tech to fuck you, pushing back onto the head of his cock, all while blinking away tears as Wrecker’s size makes your jaw ache.  The larger man splays his hand across the back of your head, inciting your thick moans as you work as much of him as you can fit. 

Tech’s hips pitch forward and he’s splitting you open in one fluid deep thrust until your ass is nestled against his hips and he grunts at the eager squeeze of your sex around him. You work your hips in sync with your head the drag of his cock along your walls is unlike anything you’ve ever felt.  He shifts from both knees to one, allowing a deeper thrust to kiss your cervix with a hiss of pain-laced pleasure.  He sets a pace, hips meeting yours in synchronous harmony, and the three of you get lost in each other's pleasure.  

You’re briefly aware of Crosshair stroking himself above you and Hunter is still watching with bated breath as you service his brothers, wondering if you’ll let each of them have a turn or if they’ll need to give you a break.  

Tech snakes a hand around to press a firm thumb against your clit, and a rush of fluid hits the floor of the cargo space that permeates his senses. The sickly sweet smell of your release coats his tongue and he chokes the head of his cock through his clothes to stop him from cumming before he even gets to touch you.  

Your vision is white, and you’re vaguely aware of the spend running down your thighs.  When Tech pulls himself free with a grunt you feel the hot ropes of his cum on your back you whine, feeling ashamed that you long for him to finish inside of you.  You clench around nothing and sit up to look at Wrecker who brushes a hair out of your face.  You kiss him, softly at first, unsure of his comfort with the taste of his precome in your mouth, but he growls and lifts you by your waist, licking into your mouth as he helps you hover over his cock.  

You take advantage of the break, wrapping your arms around his neck and taking the weight off your knees in favor of straddling him. Even in his lap, you’re looking up at him.  Letting gravity do some of the work, you adjust to let him prod at your entrance and sink slowly onto him, the slick warmth of your pussy a welcome substitute for your pretty mouth. 

His chest rumbles beneath yours, groaning as your pussy flutters around him.  You kiss him through a grimace, “Take your time.” He whispers against your mouth, low enough you’re not sure the others hear him.  Heart swelling at the compassion, you let him slowly rock his hips against you, easing his way into your heat and keeping his hands splayed across your hips to support you.  

It’s a slow process, each inch accompanied by breathless and muffled moans followed by kisses and words of endearment.  “You can take it mesh’la.” You’re nearly there, body so in tune with his every word you nearly forgot your showmanship. 

Crosshair is to your right, one hand gripping the base of his cock as precome dribbles and hangs just out of reach from your eager tongue, muttering something in a language you don’t understand. 

You swear you can feel the throb of Wrecker inside of you, and he presses his mouth to your forehead as he pistons his hips slowly angling your body in a way so that he’s moving you along his shaft effortlessly. 

Breathless and spent, you let him.  Being filled by him is almost overwhelming, each push and pull feeling like he's going to split you in half.   He mumbles and groans into your hairline, speaking nonsense in between bitten-off praise.  When his fingers find your clit you all but cry, shaking your head in protest, “Please- I can't.” 

It's Hunter that answers your cries, “You can.” His voice hoarse with need and restraint, “Be a good girl.” Your brow furrows, in concentration, tossing your head back in near agony at the overstimulation. 

Wrecker leans forward and presses his mouth to the column of your throat sucking on the thin skin and leaving a pink welt in his wake.  You feel as if you could explode, not able to hear the sounds of your screams as you shudder and writhe under his touch, against his skin and your body falls slack with the overwhelming pleasure. 

He lifts his face and you catch a pleased smile, like a loth-wolf with its prey in its teeth.  As he throbs and fucks his spend deep into your core.  They all see the muted smile tug at the corner of your mouth as Wrecker cums inside you.  

He holds you for a moment, kissing over the reddish blemish on your throat and waiting for you to make eye contact with him before slipping free with a tangled whimper from both of you.  

Wrecker wraps your legs around him and stands on sturdy legs, you cling to him, resting your cheek on his shoulder hyperaware of the wetness between your thighs. He sets you on Hunter's lap, in your euphoria, he’s lost his pants and sits still in a pair of soft cotton underwear, stark black against his tanned abdomen.  It’s now that you notice his tattoo, so familiar with the portion on his face you never notice how the tattoo bleeds across the entire left side of his body.  

The lines are both clean and elegant, highlighting the rich flawless tone of his figure.  Gorgeously broad shoulders with rippling cords of muscles supporting your cheek as you rest your head lazily and admire him.  Placing a lingering and exhausted kiss to the stretch of skin between his shoulder and neck and relishing the warmth of him against your sweat-soaked skin, in the extra cold air of a ship in hyperspace.  

He runs his fingers through your hair, scratching lightly and working every line of tension out of you over a few minutes.  You distantly hear the sound of the fresher’s shower being turned on.  Crosshair is gone, and you fear a pang of regret and pity. 

 Your breath is coming easier by the time, Hunter carries you towards the sound of the water.  Crosshair meets you both under the water’s spray refreshing your senses and soothing the ache of your muscles. You get settled on your feet between them, legs feeling like they’re made of sand, Hunter’s body is pressed tightly to your back, anchoring and steadying you as you greet Crosshair with an inviting kiss. 

He welcomes your touch, all but overtaking your space completely as you get pressed between the two of them and lost to the feeling of their bodies against yours, Hunter nestled into the small of your back and Crosshair’s cock leaking and purple with need against your belly.

The steam only adds to the dreamlike quality of it all, tendrils wafting off the ground and highlighting the sight of your ass pressed against him.  Hunter doesn’t want to hurt you, but each passing second without fucking you is making him lose his sanity.  As if he might just sink into the floor with the weight of his need crushing him entirely.  

He nibbles at your earlobe, earning a low whine from your chest.  You tilt your head in invitation for his affection, kissing up the column of your neck and tasting the water on your skin tangled with the smell of his brothers.  He makes eye contact with Crosshair, and they communicate silently as they spin you around and switch roles.  

Hunter licking into your mouth and letting his hand run down to your hip and pull you to him.  Expecting the press of Crosshair to your back, you’re startled when you feel the graze of his teeth on your ass.  His palms run over the smooth skin, kneading the flesh and watching it move in response to his touch.  

Crosshair splays a hand on the small of your back, urging you to lean forward.  You glance over your shoulder as he spreads you open and licks a stripe across your asshole. The feeling sends a shiver down your spine, you hear a chuckle as he presses the pad of his thumb into you and watches you with a hungry stare. 

Hunter distracts you, kissing you slowly and running his hands soothingly down your back as Crosshair preps you to take him until he’s working two fingers in and out of you and sucking a bruise into your hip to match the one adorning your throat.  

You nibble on Hunter’s lip, and bury your hands into his hair, tugging at the root living for the whimpers you get out of him.  Crosshair kisses his way up your spine, standing straight, and this time you see them.  There’s a small nod of agreement and both of them turn their full attention to you, “You gonna let us fuck you cyar’ika?”

 Without hesitation, you nod.  You’re not able to explain, how you were able to wrap your arms around Hunter as he hoisted you up his waist and you sank down onto his length.  Maybe it was adrenaline, maybe it was the way he demanded your submission through the tone of his voice.  No, you thought, it was the way he sounded like he was begging you, he commanded your attention but the way he used his authority had you believing that you, and what he asked of you, was the most important thing in the galaxy.  You wanted nothing more than to give him everything he asked for and more. 

They give you a moment, Hunter biting his lip as your cunt squeezes him like you haven’t already come three times already.  You throw an arm around Crosshair’s neck opening your legs just enough for him to slot himself against you and slowly push into you with the cant of his hips.  

He goes incredibly slow, sawing his hips back and forth and relishing in the feeling of Hunter’s cock also nestled deep inside you making you impossibly tighter and the friction of your walls against him.  

It feels like too much, pain and pleasure mixing in an enchanting cocktail of stimulation, yet still the familiar tug of an orgasm stirs in your belly.  You suppress a sob at the idea of coming for a fourth time around the both of them.  They hush you, nuzzling against you and pressing righteous and thankful kisses to your skin, “Look at you, pretty girl.” Crosshair’s voice is so low and drawn out that it takes every last shred of your concentration to hear what he’s saying, “You look so good taking everything we give you.” 

The inflection acts like a highlight reel, your body remembering along with your brain the feeling of being the center of attention during your first orgasm.  The complexity of your second. The white-hot stretch of Wrecker using and worshipping your body filling you to the brim during the aftershocks of your third.  Hunter whispers against the shell of your ear, “Good girl.” Reading the signs of your body and feeling the crest of your orgasm build around him, and pulling you over the edge with his praise. 

He presses his forehead to yours as he follows close behind, senses overwhelmed and fighting the bend to his knees as they buckle with the intensity of his climax.

Crosshair pumps into you from behind, lifting one of your legs slightly and changing the angle so he can thrust deeper grinding into you, and urging you to lean more heavily on him to keep the three of you from collapsing as he stills and spills into you. 

The three of you pant in silence, ragged breath lost in the noise of the water hitting the metal floor of the fresher, you wordlessly separate.  The endorphins running through your bloodstream turn your muscles' pain into a blissful ache you never want to forget. 

[leapingbadger]

Delivery

Summary: While on the famous Nerf Nugget delivery for Cid, Hunter and Echo clash over their philosophies and future plans.

Word Count: 1,323

Read on AO3

***

��Was that the last crate?” Echo asked as Hunter made his way up the step of the marauder.

“Uhuh,” Hunter replied, tossing the case of credits at him in the pilot seat.

“What’s our cut?” Echo asked.

“Not enough,” Hunter grumbled.

Delivering nerf nuggets wasn’t exactly the best use of his expertise he thought as he sank into the co-pilot seat.

“I’m not sure why Cid only sent the two of us on this mission.” Echo said, flicking a few switches above him and making the Marauder roar to life.

“It’s a delivery, Echo, not a mission. It didn’t require the whole team.”

“Maybe she’s got something else in mind for the others that she didn’t share,” Echo said pointedly.

Hunter paused and sighed, “I wouldn’t put it past her. The sooner we get going to sooner we get back and see what they’ve been up to.”

“Well, let’s hope she doesn’t try to sell any of them.” Echo said, eyebrow raised.

Hunter rolled his eyes and chuckled, “I did apologize for that multiple times.”

Echo laughed as he guided the ship through the dark grey clouds, “I know. Maybe next time we’ll sell you.”

Hunter laughed. “I’m not sure I’d make a very good droid,” he said, taking a bite out of a ration stick and putting his foot up on the console.

“You ever think of going into the entertainment business? There are a couple of Twi’lek’s at Cids who I know would pay for your company,”

“ECHO!” Hunter threw his half-eaten ration bar at his brother. Echo’s Arc trooper training came in handy as he ducked out of the way and shoved Hunter’s shoulder, grinning from ear to ear.

As they cleared the atmosphere Echo pulled the lever sending them into the hypnotic blue swirls of hyperspace. Hunter watched his brother relax in the pilot seat and tear the top off his own ration bar. He sniffed it wearily before taking a hesitant bite.  Hunter smiled, Echo did this every time he ate.

“It’s probably time to cut ties with Cid.” he said, his mouth full and muffled.

“I know,” Hunter said, running his hand though his hair. “But then what do we do? We need credits, clothes, food, fuel…”

“We could get in touch with Rex. Join his network…” Echo said. The blue light of hyperspace bouncing off the metal parts inserted into his skull.

He mentioned it casually, like it had just come to mind but Hunter knew he’d been ruminating on it since they’d last seen Rex on Bracca. Hunter hung his head as silence permeated the air and he thought how to respond. He wanted to be sensitive, show Echo that he understood the pull to his old squad mate. But his hesitation to speak seemed to give Echo impetus to continue.

“If we worked with Rex we could use his support system, senators, mechanics… we could do something that matters.”

“Keeping us safe and together matters, Echo.” Hunter said quietly.

He felt Echo’s eyes on him and lifted his head to meet them. The Arc trooper’s intense golden gaze was impossible to turn away from and very difficult to say no to. Hunter had learned that the hard way over the last few months.

“We’re meant for more than this, Hunter.” Echo said seriously. “You know that.”

“You sound like Crosshair,” Hunter said, involuntarily wincing at the mention of his lost brother’s name.

“He’s not right about a lot these days. But he was right about that.” Echo said gruffly.

Hunter shot him a look but again said nothing. Time as the leader of the squad had afforded him some perspective and learning to hold his tongue or wait to voice an opinion was one of the enduring lessons he took with him.

“I understand your hesitation, but we’d not be putting much more on the line than we do now.” Echo continued unabated.

“You know why we can’t do that.” Hunter said firmly.

“Why? because of Omega?”

Hunter sighed. Of course, it was because of Omega. She should have a peaceful life, An actual childhood. Over the last few months she’d been shot at, chased, kidnapped and almost died in a sinking city. She needed a break. He needed a break.

“She’s a child. She deserves…” Hunter looked around as though the right words would fall from the blue clouds of hyperspace, “…I don’t know, safety, peace, a family…”

“We tried to give her that with Cut and Suu, Hunter. She ran. She chose us, she chose this.” He gestured to the Marauder, scattered with bits of machinery, blankets, empty food wrappers and debris.

“She’s our responsibility, Echo. We have to make the best decision for her and the rest of the squad. Even if it’s not necessarily what we want.”

Echo stood up in frustration and slammed his scomp into the durasteel siding. Hunter watched as he walked to the back of the ship, left hand on his hip, his boots clanging on the grated floor.

It was rare for Echo to lose his temper. That was one of the reasons Hunter enjoyed having him as a member of the squad. With the big personalities of Wrecker, Tech and Crosshair, when he was with them, Echo was steady and sound. He was another voice of reason that Hunter could always rely on.

The light on Echo’s metal headpiece flickered rapidly and Hunter wondered if that was a visual clue to Echo’s racing thoughts. Hunter forced himself up to continue the conversation, knowing he probably wouldn’t like the outcome.

He sank into the red chair next to the communication array and swiveled. Echo knew he was there but kept his back to him for a moment longer. They had had a similar conversation on their way to Serenno, in the exact same spot.

“I understand that this isn’t what you signed up for when you joined us,” Hunter said softly “It isn’t something I would have signed up for either. But this isn’t a fight we can win. I don’t like running anymore than you do, it’s not in my nature but some things are more important. Keeping Omega safe is more important. Keeping you all alive is more important. I can’t change the fundamentals of our situation. But I understand if this isn’t where you want to be anymore.”

Hunter kept his head down but looked up at Echo, like he was taming a wounded animal. Echo’s large eyes flickered left and right as though searching for the right words.

“I lost so much time on Skako. I’m not sure how much more time I’m willing to…sacrifice, when I know I could be making a difference.” Echo said.

“I respect that.” Hunter responded gently, trying to keep as much emotion out of his voice as possible. He didn’t want Echo to leave. Didn’t want to be responsible for the desertion of another brother. But just like Crosshair, if that’s what he chose, who was Hunter to get in the way?

“I don’t want to leave,” Echo said. The corners of Hunter mouth ticked up and he tried his best to hide it but failed, “I know your jobs not easy, keeping us together and in one piece.” Hunter nodded, thankful for the acknowledgement. “But I’m not going to be able to do this forever.”

“Understood.” Hunter said. He clapped Echo on the shoulder and started to head back to the cockpit.

“Hunter?”

“Hmm?”

“I can’t believe I’ve never asked this before but what do you want?”

“What do you mean?” Hunter responded, confused.

“Out of life. What do you want?” Echo asked again, his gravely voice curious.

Hunter shrugged, “I dunno, nothing much. Settle on a remote planet somewhere. Watch Omega grow up. We could all have our own space but be close. You know, peace, I guess.”

“Hmm” said Echo with a wistful smile. “Sounds nice.”

“Maybe one day,” Hunter said.

[vephyrus]

my goodbye’s to The Bad Batch.

Tech,

your mind is beautiful, and your heart is just as radiant. your selflessness is inspiring, and your drive for knowledge makes me want to know more. some may say that you are stuck up, but i see how much you truly love your family. you may process things differently than others, but you are worthy of the exact same love. i wish i could see your mind process more, i hope that you’re happy. may there be infinite knowledge where you are. you deserve the very best. i love you.

Wrecker,

you inspire me to be strong enough to be gentle. you have a beautiful soul, you make me laugh, and you are worthy of every delicious meal. you have protected your family well, and you have managed to do it with a smile on your face. i’m so proud of you for holding them together. i hope that wherever you end up, it is filled with laughter, full plates, and more excitement than you can wrap your head around. i love you.

Crosshair,

you are so worthy of love, never doubt yourself or your abilities. even if things aren’t necessarily the way they used to be, you are still worthy of love. i see the ways that you care for your family, and you are anything but a cold sniper. i am so proud of you for overcoming everything, even the things you don’t speak about, despite how difficult that may have been for you. i hope that you find rest, i hope that you heal, and i hope that you are happy. you deserve the best, Cross. i love you.

Omega,

you are such a light to your family. never doubt that, and never forget it. your brothers love you so so much, you have given them purpose. you changed them; you have done the best thing that anyone could have done for them. never forget how much you matter. you are so intelligent, beautiful, strategical, and you show so many positive traits of your brothers. there is such a wonderful purpose for you in this huge galaxy. never stop exploring, sweet girl. i love you.

Echo,

you have seen and overcome so much, and you have done an incredible job by remaining kind despite it all. you have always been a good soldier, and i hope that you never forget that. your wisdom, strength, and courage are inspiring. you are worthy of so many gentle and kind things. you work to make things right, and that is such an honorable trait to possess. anyone would be lucky to have you in their corner. i love your heart. i hope that you find the peace that you deserve, you are a good man. you deserve a happy ending. i love you.

Hunter,

you have been a good Sergeant; any team would be lucky to have you at the head. you have led your squad well, and i am so proud of you. never forget how loved you are. never forget how much they love you, and look up to you, and care about you. even when you think that the pressure is alone on your shoulders, you are never alone. the bad things were never your fault. you have grown into an honorable man, putting your family above it all. you have learned so much and come so far, and i am so grateful to have seen you change throughout the journey. you deserve peace, rest, and happiness. i hope that you are happy, wherever you are. i love you.

Clone Force 99 / The Bad Batch,

i love you all so much. i can’t believe that i’m saying goodbye to you all. you have made me feel so seen, you have made me feel like i’m not alone. the way that you love each other is so special; never forget to love each other above it all. look after your family, and honor those who have fallen. you have all been good soldiers, and even better men (and girl). i salute you, and i love you all. may the force be with you.

[soaringthroughthegalaxy]

Wash Away the Pain #2 - Hunter

Fleeing Kamino, Hunter knows they’ve made a mistake, but he isn’t sure how to fix it. Could they even fix it? Who knows. All he does know is that he’s way out of his depth.

Pairing: Hunter x gn!reader (can be seen as platonic or romantic)

Word count: 1.5k

Warnings: whump, guilt, hurt and comfort, brief mention of order 66, hopeful ending.

A/N: I was heavily inspired by these gorgeous drawings by @thattoothpick.

This is part of a mini-series where each of our boys will get their sad/angsty shower time, but they can be read as standalone's.

Check out others in the series: Echo, Tech, Wrecker, and Crosshair.

ps; don't care what's canon or not, the Marauder has a fresher 😂

Sign up to be tagged in my future fics.

It’s late, but Hunter can’t sleep.

How did things go so sideways?

They never leave their own behind, and yet…

He sighs, head thunking back against the shower wall. There wasn’t much room in the small fresher on the Marauder, but it was the only space he could be alone with his thoughts. Guilt churns in his gut. What the hell had happened to his baby brother? Why had he fired at them?

Crosshair’s demeanour had changed ever since the order on Kaller. His brother would’ve never fired on a child in the past; he would’ve listened – albeit with a snarky comment – when told to stand down. It was as if Crosshair had been replaced by someone else.

But rather than getting to the bottom of it, they’d left him.

He’d left him.

So much for being a good leader. A good brother.

The quiet click of the fresher door doesn’t even register to Hunter as his thoughts spiral, clutching the bandana wrapped around his fist.

The touch of your hand on his tattooed cheek rips him from his thoughts, head tipping forward to look at you standing before him under the shower spray.

You’d heard Hunter get up and had heard him head to the fresher and turn on the shower. Tech, Wrecker, and Omega remain asleep. Echo is on watch as you travel through hyperspace. As the squads nat-born medic, called in because of the inability of your boys to get along with regs, it was your job to look after their wellbeing. And now it felt like Hunter needed some care.

“Hey, H.” You greet him softly once he looks at you. Living in such close quarters had desensitised you to nudity – you’d seen all the boys in varying states of undress over the years and had even ripped blacks from them when they’d been injured to give you more room to work.

Hunter doesn’t bless you with any words, just a tiny nod of his head in acknowledgement. He doesn’t need to say anything for you to understand what’s going on in his head.

“It’s not your fault.” You whisper, fingers smoothing down his face and neck, pushing back wet strands of dark hair plastered to his skin until your palm presses against his chest. 

Hunter’s gaze lingers on yours, searching for reassurance that you may hold the answers he desperately seeks. The steam from the shower swirls around both of you.

“I should’ve done something,” Hunter mutters, his voice a low rasp. The guilt in his eyes mirrors the storm within him. “I left him behind. Left my own brother.”

Your fingers smooth over his collarbone, a gesture of comfort. “You did what you had to do to protect the rest of us. Crosshair wasn’t himself. You couldn’t have predicted it.”

Hunter’s jaw tightens, and his gaze drops to the swirling water pooling at his feet. The Marauder’s constant hum provides a backdrop to the heavy silence between you.

“He’s my responsibility,” Hunter admits, a raw vulnerability in his voice. “I should’ve found a way to save him.”

Your fingers tilt his chin, forcing him to meet your gaze again. “Hunter, you’re only human. You can’t control the choices others make. All you can do is protect the ones who are still here.”

He closes his eyes briefly as if trying to shut out the haunting images that plague his mind.

“You’re not alone in this, H.” You assure him. “We’re a team, and we’ll figure this out together. Whatever happened to Crosshair, we’ll find a way to bring him back.”

Hunter’s shoulders relax, if only slightly, under the weight of your words. The subtle touch of your fingers against his chest feels like an anchor, grounding him in the present moment.

A mixture of gratitude and anguish plays across Hunter’s features. He opens his mouth to respond, but no words come out. Instead, he steps forward, his wet skin meeting your soaked clothes as the shower’s spray cascades around you both.

Without a word, you wrap your arms around him, pulling him into a gentle embrace. A hand cups the back of your head, the other around your waist, holding you close. The water from the shower mingles with the tears that escape his closed eyes. You hold him, offering solace in the only way you know how. Hunter’s breath steadies as he clings to the lifeline of human connection.

As the minutes pass, the weight on Hunter’s shoulders seems to ease. The guilt doesn’t vanish entirely, but it becomes a shared burden. You pull back slightly, holding him at arm’s length. Your eyes lock onto his. “We’ll find him, Hunter.” You affirm, your voice unwavering. “Whatever changed him, we’ll get to the bottom of it. And if there’s a way to bring him back, we’ll find that too.”

Hunter’s expression softens, a mixture of gratitude and determination replacing the turmoil. He nods a silent agreement that resonates through the small fresher. The two of you stand there for a moment longer, the steady hum of the Marauder and the pattering of the shower the only sounds in the room.

You reach for his hand, unfurling the bandana wrapped around it. Quietly, you wrap one end around your hand, too. “We’re with you, Hunter. No matter what.”

Hunter’s grip tightens on his end of the bandana, the physical connection serving as a tangible reminder of the support he has. “What do we do about the kid?” He asks softly, thrown so far out of his element.

You shrug, not having thought that far ahead. “We figure that out, too. You said it yourself: she’s one of us.”

“Never raised a kid before.” Hunter murmurs, brows drawing down into a frown. He could remember himself and his brothers at Omega’s age, but that was his only reference point.

A soft laugh leaves you, echoing in the fresher. “And you think I have?” You tease, delight flaring in your chest as Hunter’s lips pull up slightly into a smile. That was more like it.

Silence lingers between you both again, comfortable as always, but you watch as Hunter’s eyes glaze over a little. “He’ll think we abandoned him in favour of her.” He swallows, jaw clenching as the earlier guilt rears its head again.

“Perhaps, but we know that’s not the case.” You reassure him, hand shifting from his chest to smooth across his bicep, across the dark ink that shades it. “We were kitting up to go and find him, to break him out of wherever he’d been taken.”

Hunter knows you’re right, but pushing away his thoughts is hard. “Should’ve stunned him. Should’ve…”

“Hey. We’re not falling down that ash-rabbit hole, okay?” Your voice is more assertive this time, though still laced with care. “There’s a lot of ‘should’ve’ in life, but if that’s all we focus on, then we miss out on the here and now and forget to look to the future. What’s done is done, how we survive this…takeover…of the Empire, and how we get him back are all matters.” You insist, both hands rising to cup Hunter’s face to draw his focus to you.

It works. Hunter’s eyes find yours as he leans into the comfort you willingly give him. “Think we’ll survive?”

“I’ve spent three years with you. I’ve seen you guys pull off the impossible before.” You point out.

Hunter’s lips quirked into a half-smile, a glimmer of hope breaking through the clouds of doubt that had shrouded him. “Yeah, well, we have the best medic in the galaxy on our side.”

You playfully roll your eyes at his attempt to lighten the mood, but it does its job. “Flattery won’t get you out of the next round of physicals, Sergeant.”

He chuckles, the sound a welcome reprieve from the heavy atmosphere that had lingered moments before. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

“Let’s get some rest.” You suggest, the exhaustion evident in both of your eyes. “We’ll face whatever comes next with clear heads and a plan.”

With a nod, Hunter switches off the shower, and the two of you step out to towel off, changing into clean blacks stored in the only locker in the room. As you return to the racks, you glimpse Omega, still curled on her makeshift bed. She stirs slightly but settles quickly. Hunter places a hand on your shoulder, a silent expression of gratitude.

As you settle into your bunk, you glance at Hunter, resting in his bed across from you. His eyes meet yours, and an unspoken promise is made in that shared gaze. The journey may be arduous and treacherous, but together, as a family, you will face it all. The Marauder hurtles through the star-studded void, a small vessel carrying the hopes and dreams of those who refuse to be crushed by the weight of a galaxy in turmoil.

Tag list: @clonethirstingisreal @littlemissmanga @starrylothcat @cw80831 @dreamie411 @issa-me-bry-blog

[intricatechaosofyou]

Sewing Lessons

Fandom: The Bad Batch; Star Wars

Summary: Life Day is quickly approaching, so you and Omega set out to give your boys some gifts.

Using the prompts “Did you get us matching pajamas?”

Warnings: sewing needles (no one gets poked, they just exist), kissing, I am unaware if mistletoe is a thing in the Star Wars universe but it is now so deal with it

Author’s note: Happy Life Day Exchange @wizardmandoo !! It was great getting to write for you. I hope you enjoy this story and have a fantastic Life Day season, babe!

And thank you to @cloneficgiftexchange for putting this together!! This was my first exchange and I’m so glad to take part!

━ ━ ━ ━ ━ ━ ━ ━ ━ ━ ━ ━ ━ ━ ━ ━ ━ ━

Strands of green hung around Omega’s door frame as she sat in the gunner’s mount that served as her makeshift room. The young girl had never experienced a real Life Day before. Kamino wasn’t known for their festivities; the long-necks claimed they took away from their work time. So although the boys didn’t have much experience actually celebrating the holiday either, they all tried their best to give Omega a perfect first Life Day.

Hunter had let you all stop for a few days on a snowy planet. With enough supplies, he figured you could take a break somewhere festive for the holiday.

Wrecker had let Omega sit atop his shoulders to hang up homemade garland around the Marauder.

Tech had taught her about the history behind the holiday, telling her everything he had learned from the Holonet.

Crosshair had taught her to make the perfect snowball and helped her perfect her aim.

And Echo told her stories every night before bed he had heard back during his days celebrating Life Day in the 501st.

Yes, all the boys had done their best to give Omega a perfect Life Day. But Omega was even more excited to give them a perfect Life Day. The girl had the biggest heart, so that’s how you found yourself crammed in the gunner’s mount with her, carefully watching as she stitched her design.

She had wanted to give the boys gifts, and when you recommended pajama pants, she jumped at the idea. The boys only had their blacks and sometimes the Marauder could get cold, even for them.

So the two of you found the perfect red and black pants that would match the team’s colors, and Omega was insistent on adding the Clone Force 99 symbol onto the pants, skull and all.

“It’ll be perfect!” She claimed.

So you found the sewing kit you kept in case someone’s clothes needed repair and showed her how to sew.

The girl was very intent in her escapades, listening and watching your stitching intently. She put her all into making the design. And when she was disappointed about her stitches being crooked, you reassured her that her brothers would love them no matter how they looked.

“I’m done with Tech’s,” she announced, holding up the pants to show the freshly sewn design on the left leg.

“Perfect, Megs. Now only Echo’s and Hunter’s left.” You took the garment from her and folded them up to add them to the pile of finished gifts.

She nodded and began to thread her needle when Wrecker called her name from the cockpit.

“I got something else to hang up!” He called.

Placing her supplies down, she rushed down the ladder to help Wrecker hang up another decoration.

You laughed and climbed down from her room as she took off. You smiled at the small girl before looking to your left, finding Hunter leaning against the wall, arms crossed across his chest.

“Hey there, Sarge,” you smiled.

He smiled and glanced over at Omega. “You two are certainly spending a lot of time up there.”

“Just having a little girl time.”

His eyebrow raised at your response. Although it wasn’t a complete lie, it wasn’t the complete truth either.

“Anything I should be concerned about?” He questioned.

You adamantly shook your head. “Nope!”

He smirked and leaned in to whisper in your ear so Omega wouldn’t overhear him. “No Life Day gifts hidden up there?”

You gasped and gently hit his arm. “How dare you accuse us of hiding something!”

He rolls his eyes, but he doesn’t move away from you. “Don’t worry, I won’t ruin the surprise, cyar’ika.”

“You better not,” you retorted as Omega came rushing back up to the two of you.

She immediately grabbed your hand and tugged you back towards her project. You didn’t resist the girl’s pull and sent Hunter a wink before heading back to Omega’s little room.

———————

The seven of you sat in the middle of the hull of the Marauder. Omega had practically been bouncing off the walls as the time to exchange gifts came around. She happily handed each of them their gifts. Even though you didn’t have enough credits to wrap them in something nice, it was clear by the look on their faces that they appreciated the gesture.

As they unfolded the garments, Hunter smiled at you. “Did you get us matching pajamas?”

You nodded and gestured to the girl beside you. “Megs is the mastermind behind this one. She wanted to do something special for you boys.”

“Do you like it?” The young girl asked, eyes sparkling in anticipation.

“They’re perfect, Omega,” Echo replied.

“They’ve even got our symbol on ‘em!” Wrecker shouted, glee evident in his voice as he held up the pants. “Looks great!”

Omega smiled and happily retold the story of sewing the symbol on as the boys listened, indulging her in the exaggerated tale. Even Crosshair had a small smile on his face as Omega spoke.

You happily listened along from your spot on the floor when you felt a hand on your shoulder. Looking up, you found Hunter standing above you. Subtly, he tilted his head towards the doorway of the cockpit.

Getting the message, you nodded and stood up, careful not to interrupt Omega’s story as you two made your way to the cockpit.

“What’s up, Hunter?” You asked, voice barely above a whisper as you stood in the doorway.

There was a pause as he considered his next words, fingers twitching as if he was twirling his vibroblade between them.

“I wanted to thank you. For the pants,” he finally said.

“Megs and I just want our boys to be comfortable,” you responded, heat blooming in your chest. “Thanks for not spoiling the surprise.”

A smirk made its way onto his face and he leaned back against the doorway, arms crossed over his chest. “So you two were hiding Life Day gifts.”

“We weren’t hiding anything. We just evaded your senses,” you lied, smiling innocently at the sergeant.

Hunter clicked his tongue. “Nothing evades my senses, cyar’ika.”

You tensed slightly, wondering if that was true. Could he hear the way your heart was fluttering in your chest? Could he see the way you smiled just a little bit bigger when you saw him? Could he feel how your skin was always warm when he was around?

Hunter opened his mouth, no doubt to tease you again, when Crosshair’s voice rang out through the ship.

“The mistletoe seemed to evade your senses though.”

You glanced at the team’s sniper, brow furrowing before looking above your head.

There it was. A small plant hung from the cockpit’s doorway: the new decoration Omega and Wrecker had hung up a few days prior.

Glancing back at Crosshair, you found that the rest of the team was staring at you.

“What‘s so important about mistletoe?” Omega asked innocently.

“It means they gotta kiss,” Echo explained, a teasing lilt in his voice as he glanced at the two of you.

“Technically—“

Tech was quickly cut off when Wrecker shoved him.

“Shush!”

You turned back to Hunter, slightly confused when you saw the small smirk on his face.

“Hunter…”

One of his hands came up to cradle your jaw, tilting your face towards his.

He leaned in, nose brushing yours. “I told you. Nothing evades my senses.”

Before you could respond, you felt his lips press against yours. It was completely intoxicating, and you grabbed his shoulders to keep yourself steady. The kiss was filled with such precision, every movement careful but filled with such feeling, you felt like you were drowning in him.

As Hunter pulled back from you, the rest of the world came crashing back on you. The cheers of his brothers, the feel of his blacks beneath your fingers, and yet you could only focus on his eyes and how they remained fixed on you.

You, stumbling over yourself as your mind tried to catch up.

Your head spun as you connected the dots, the fact he brought you over here purposely, knowing the mistletoe hung above you.

Just to kiss you?

It seemed surreal, the ghost of Hunter’s lips still on yours. But it was real.

A smirk spread across your lips. “I’m glad you liked the present.”

“That’s all you have to say?” He asked.

“Happy Life Day,” you whispered, before reconnecting your lips, earning another round of hoots and hollers from his brothers and Omega.

And as you two rejoined the group, Hunter’s arm draped across your waist, you smiled to yourself. Happy Life Day indeed.

[badbatchposts]

Quiet Corners of the Galaxy, Ch. 24

Relevant tags/content warnings: Crosshair/Original Female Character, Slow Burn, Enemies to Lovers, Periodic Smut, Canon-Typical Violence, Alcohol Use, 18+/Explicit

Read the full fic so far on AO3

Read previous chapters on Tumblr: Ch. 1 l Ch. 2 l Ch. 3 l Ch. 4 l Ch. 5 l Ch. 6 l Ch. 7 l Ch. 8 l Ch. 9 l Ch. 10 l Ch. 11 l Ch. 12 l Ch. 13 l Ch. 14 l Ch. 15 l Ch. 16 l Ch. 17 l Ch. 18 l Ch. 19 l Ch. 20 l Ch. 21 l Ch. 22 l Ch. 23

Chapter 24 summary: The squad searches an abandoned facility for clues to the whereabouts of the missing clones.

“So…how was it?” Wrecker demanded exuberantly, clapping Crosshair on the back hard enough to shove him forward a few feet. The sniper glared at his brother, huffing.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he insisted. He did, of course—Wrecker could only be referring to one thing. Crosshair was actually surprised that Wrecker had managed to hold back on the subject for this long, chatting away about nothing in particular the whole morning while they searched for any clue as to what the Empire had been doing here.

Now, as they waited for the others to join them outside the abandoned facility, Wrecker had apparently finally deemed it the right time to gossip. It was just Crosshair’s luck that he was stuck with the two nosiest members of the squad—barring, perhaps, Omega. Hunter had already scolded him, and he suspected he wouldn’t hear another word about it from him unless the Sergeant felt like it had become disruptive for the team. Tech would surely make a snarky comment or two, but he wouldn’t expect to receive any information directly from Crosshair, preferring to observe and come to his own conclusions. No, it was Wrecker and Echo who were the problem, and already Crosshair could tell by the look on Echo’s face that he was relishing the opportunity to pry. Sure, he would act all innocent and embarrassed as long as Omega or Dara herself were around, and maybe he wouldn’t want every sordid detail, but the ARC was a busybody, and everyone knew it.

In fact, Echo and Wrecker were exchanging gleeful looks right now, their grins positively wolfish.

“Oh, I think you know, Crosshair,” Echo teased. “It took you two long enough. Thought the Marauder might blow up from the amount of sexual tension. Felt like we were losing oxygen in there the last few weeks.”

The sniper crossed his arms and looked away sullenly.

“Aww, come on, Crosshair! You should be happy! We all know ya like her.” Crosshair just barely managed to sidestep Wrecker, who was reaching out for what was likely to be a bone-crushing hug.

“No, I don’t,” he muttered petulantly. “It was just sex.”

Echo rolled his eyes. “Sure it was.”

“Piss off,” Crosshair growled. “I mean it. In case you forgot, the person you all thought she was is a lie. In reality, she’s stubborn and hotheaded and she spied on us. Not to mention, Wrecker, that she shot you.”

Wrecker rolled his eyes and gestured accusatively. “Yeah, well, you shot me before too! And that time wasn’t a stun!”

“That’s not the point,” Crosshair snapped. “The point is that we hate each other and last night was nothing but a chance to finally let all that out. It was a quick, rough fuck in the woods and that’s all.”

Echo grinned slyly and cleared his throat. “Oh? How quick?” He managed to dodge the shove that Crosshair aimed at him, but not the toothpick that the sniper flicked at his face.

Wrecker, on the other hand, knit his brows together in concern.

“So…it wasn’t good?” he asked.

Crosshair scoffed, then let a smirk just barely lift the corners of his mouth. “I didn’t say that.”

Echo guffawed, and Wrecker brightened considerably, the grin returning. “Knew it.”

The sniper inserted a new toothpick and rolled it from one corner of his mouth to the other, his scowl returning. “Doesn’t matter anyway. Won’t happen again.”

Wrecker frowned. “Well, if it was good, then why not?”

Crosshair stared off in the direction of the facility, avoiding his gaze. “She’ll never be able to look past what I did with the Empire.”

“You’ve changed since then, Cross,” his brother insisted gently, resting an oversized hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry. She’ll see it.”

The sniper rolled his eyes, unable to come up with a retort and uncomfortable at his brother’s all-too-typical display of vulnerability and emotional support. He was relieved when they were interrupted by the arrival of the rest of the squad, though he took care to avoid looking anywhere in Dara’s direction.

If he had hoped that finally fucking would get her out of his system, he was sorely mistaken. If anything, he was worse, feeling drawn to her like a magnet so that he had to make the conscious effort to face toward the facility. The memory of her breathily moaning his name last night kept intruding into his thoughts.

With any luck, Hunter would continue to keep them separated as they searched the building, like he had split them into separate groups to scout this morning. Crosshair, still feeling the overwhelming urge to turn back towards her like a compass finding north, was certain that if they were alone together again he wouldn’t be able to resist touching her. He wasn’t prepared yet to find out if, after last night, she would even let him.

Hunter came to stand beside Crosshair and considered the building thoughtfully, no doubt tuning into his enhanced senses to assess the situation they were about to enter. “I’m not getting anything. Tech?”

“I am not scanning any heat signatures,” Tech affirmed from somewhere behind them. “This facility does, indeed, appear to be abandoned.”

“I hope it’s not ’cause of a giant monster or something. It always seems like it’s ’cause of a giant monster,” Wrecker groaned.

Tech blinked. “I have found no information to indicate that to be a concern on this planet, but much of its flora and fauna remains uncatalogued, so I am unfortunately unable to rule it out.”

“That’s real comforting, Tech,” Echo muttered.

The group approached the door cautiously. “Power’s out,” Hunter noted. “Wrecker?”

Grinning, the demo expert gave the panel a few well-placed hits from his large fist, denting it until it shifted out of place so that he could pry it open easily. The men activated their helmet lights while Dara and Omega pulled glowrods from their packs before proceeding into the darkened hallway.

“We shall have to restore power to see if we can access any information about this facility’s purpose,” Tech informed them.

Hunter nodded. “You and Echo go on ahead. We’ll do a sweep and see if we can find anything else useful.”

After the pair departed, the rest of the group took their time checking each room carefully, gleaning what information they could. The facility was not old, but the Empire had already been gone long enough for dust and debris to settle eerily in its corners. Some areas had been cleaned out entirely, leaving only faded outlines where equipment once stood, like ghosts imprinted along the walls. In others, state-of-the-art technology lay broken and derelict, unworthy of salvage. Their first clue as to the building’s purpose was revealed in a room still crowded with metal gurneys, the shattered remnants of broken vials, and chemicals gleaming in stoppered beakers.

“Woah,” Omega breathed. “I think this was a lab. Or some sort of medical center, maybe.”

Crosshair was staring hard into a corner of the room. “Is anyone else seeing that?” he asked.

“What is it? The rest of us can’t see everything you do, Cross,” Wrecker reminded him.

“Something’s…glowing,” the sniper explained.

“Hang on.” Dara fiddled with the settings on her glowrod until it emitted UV light, and the rest of the group was suddenly able to see the faint blue glow coming from the direction that Crosshair was facing. Amid a pile of shattered glass, one vial was cracked but remained intact, preserving the bright blue liquid inside. Dara stooped and carefully retrieved the vial, holding it up for the others with a knowing glance.

“This remind the rest of you of anything?”

Hunter furrowed his brow. “The chemical from the vault,” he pointed out, just as Crosshair murmured, “The river.”

Wrecker frowned. “What river?”

Crosshair hadn’t entirely meant to say it out loud. When Tech had launched into an explanation of bioluminescence as they were passing over the river yesterday, the daylight meant that its glow still wasn’t visible. Only he and Dara had seen it last night. The image of a nude Dara, haloed in blue, came into his mind unbidden. He shook away the thought as he explained, his voice clipped.

“Near the camp. There’s a bioluminescent river. It glows blue at night. Tech told us.”

Around them, the facility suddenly shuddered to life as the overhead lights came on.

“Indeed, I did tell you,” Tech informed them over comms. “That is most interesting. Echo and I are now proceeding to the facility’s records storage to determine if any data escaped being erased. It is too bad that the sample from Prium’s laboratory was lost—if we still had it, we would be able to determine if the chemicals are the same. As it is, we will have to rely on the rudimentary scan I took in the vault.”

“Ah… hmm. Well…” Dara stuttered. “I may have another confession.”

The clones in the room with her all turned to stare.

“What kind of a confession?” Echo growled over the comms.

Dara shrugged. “The vial didn’t actually get smashed. I thought it might be the project that Prium was working on for the Empire, and I was worried it might be dangerous. So I hid it. I was planning on taking it with me for us to study when I left. It’s still on the Marauder.”

“Well, that is most fortunate,” Tech replied cheerfully.

Dara looked relieved that he was taking it in stride, rather than holding it against her. “We’ll save the vial for you to match the sample from Prium’s lab, Tech,” she replied, holding her datapad up to the container. “For now, I’m sending you a scan of its chemical composition.”

Hunter just sighed and held a hand to his visor in exasperation. “Alright. Let’s keep moving,” he ordered.

The group returned to their search, but were stopped short a few doors later, when the panel slid open to flood the corridor with bright, midday sunlight. They stepped into the enormous room, whose roof and three sides were made of transparisteel. The area was divided by a series of raised beds in neat, even rows, though the soil that filled them was entirely devoid of plant life.

“A greenhouse?” Wrecker questioned.

Omega trailed her fingers through the nearest bed, swirling designs into the dirt. She grabbed a handful and gave it a curious sniff. “What were they growing?”

With a faint smile on his face at her futile mimicry, Hunter pinched his own sample and did the same, nostrils flaring slightly. “I think…they were growing that.” He gestured to Dara, who retrieved the herb they had found outside from her bag and handed it to him. He took a whiff of the plant and nodded firmly. “Yep, that’s definitely it.”

“Hey, guys,” Echo piped up over the comms. “We were able to restore some data that wasn’t erased properly. You might want to come meet us.”

Hunter held a hand up to his helmet. “There in a few,” he replied.

When the group had reunited with Tech and Echo, they all circled up, ready to report their findings. Echo’s brows were drawn together sharply with worry.

“Well, we were able to confirm that the missing clones were here,” he commented darkly. “We found a list of CT numbers. Dozens of them were being detained. But they’re not listed as prisoners—they’re listed as test subjects.” Hunter and Crosshair, who stood on either side of the cyborg, each laid a comforting hand on one of his shoulders. For obvious reasons after his imprisonment by the Techno Union, Echo was rather sensitive to the idea of experiments being conducted on sentients against their will.

Tech frowned sympathetically. “Yes. Unfortunately, the identical genetic makeup of clones makes us rather ideal for the purpose of controlling variables during the initial stages of scientific research.”

“Did you find any connection to Kumalon—Prium’s pharmaceutical company?” Dara inquired.

Echo shook his head. “We couldn’t retrieve much else—nothing on what they were testing or where the clones ended up.”

Omega frowned. “So we have some dug-up plants that the Empire was trying to grow indoors, a strange chemical that glows under UV light, and the clones are still missing.”

Hunter sighed. “We only have a few hours of daylight left. Wrecker, Tech, and Echo, search the rest of the facility in case anything else turns up. Dara, Omega and I will head back outside and look over the grounds—we might find more evidence of digging or a clue to where the clones are. Crosshair, head to the roof and check if you can see anything from a higher vantage point.”

The group separated, Crosshair searching for a roof access. By the time he emerged into the fresh air, Hunter, Omega, and Dara were exiting from the front of the facility where they had first entered. He watched through his scope as Dara and Hunter had a brief discussion before splitting up, Hunter and Omega heading right, while Dara headed left, each circling around the building’s perimeter. He did his own scan, searching the tree line that surrounded the facility for anything obviously out of place, but came up empty.

Finally, he found his scope drawn to Dara almost of its own accord. He tried to tell himself that he was just watching her back—Omega had Hunter to protect her, but Dara was alone, after all. He had pointedly kept his helmet turned away from her during their search of the facility, only allowing himself to check in on her out of the corners of his eyes. She, on the other hand, hadn’t looked at or spoken to him at all. He wondered if she could sense that he was watching her now. At the thought, he shifted his scope, checked in on Hunter and Omega’s progress—Omega was happily laughing at something as Hunter looked down on her with a fond smile—and scanned the area again.

When he turned back in the direction Dara had been walking, she had disappeared.

Crosshair forced down the uncharacteristic throb of panic clawing its way up his throat and searched again. She couldn’t have just vanished, there was no time, he must have just missed her somewhere, maybe she’d gone to check out something just inside the forest, she was—

There. Dara was scrambling her way back up over a small rise in the terrain between the facility and the tree line, looking the worse for wear, clothing coated in some sort of filth and debris. As he watched, she stood, turning and staring down at something he couldn’t quite make out, just beyond the rise. She bent over, brushing her hand against the soil, then suddenly dropped to her knees. He was just about to go against his better judgment and check if she was alright when her voice came through his comm.

“Crosshair.” It was a hoarse whisper, drained of strength.

“What happened?” He tried to keep his own tone even, although that inexplicable feeling of panic had not quit.

“Do you have eyes on Hunter and Omega?” Dara choked out. “Are they far from my position?”

With difficulty, Crosshair tore his scope away from the scene before him for long enough to locate the others.

“They’re still on the other side of the facility. What happened? Do you need help?”

Dara was facing away from him; her shoulders trembled, and he could hear a few shuddering breaths. After a tense moment, she stilled, and her breathing returned to normal. He heard a beep as she switched over to the open comm line.

“Hunter,” Dara began, voice now far steadier, although she stumbled over a few of her words. “I found—I found the missing clones. They’re dead.”

Next chapter

Tag list: @stardusthuntress @skellymom @megmegalodondon @somewhere-on-kamino @morerandombullshit @zahmaddog

Thanks again to @cloneflo99 for the amazing banner!!!

Author's note: I think it's a fun idea to imagine that Crosshair's enhanced eyesight includes being able to see part of the non-visible spectrum.

[tending-the-hearth]

to whoever first decided to connect pabu to scariff i hope you know i'm now living in constant fear because can you IMAGINE?

the batch finally living away from war, maybe echo's planning on going to join up with rex and ahsoka, see what he can offer in ways of intelligence before officially stepping away and retiring for good, maybe tech and phee have their own little house a little ways down from the rest of the batch, maybe crosshair and wrecker have traded their droid count competition for how much fish they can catch when they go out in the afternoons.

maybe omega's finally started calling hunter her buir (let's be honest, she started doing that years before), hunter's relaxing, just taking in the feeling of being surrounded by his family, not having to stress over keeping them all safe, and just having everyone he loves happy and healthy.

but then he feels it.

a tremor, not unlike the ones the batch has come to be used to in their home.

in the distance, it looks like a sunrise. which wouldn't be unusual, except for the fact that it's midday, and they've been feeling the sun's rays on their shoulders for the first half of their family day.

hunter knows something is wrong. feels it in his bones, especially as he watches the waves of water approaching the island. moving too quickly for it to be a sea surge.

briefly, each of the batch looks up, wondering if they can get to the now barely functioning Marauder in time.

but something whispers to them that it won't work, that it's time.

their luck has run out.

by some miracle, they're all together when it happens.

wrecker pulls omega into the center of their huddle. echo tucks crosshair between himself and hunter, and tech grabs onto wrecker's arm. huddled together as a team, a family, one final time, sharing meaningful glances filled with emotions that there isn't enough time to speak about.

they hold one another as the burning light encompasses their home, their paradise.

as the rebel alliance gets word that the plans for the death star have been successfully transferred, amongst the cheers and bittersweet celebrations, rex feels the pit in his stomach form. the familiar, horrible ache that he thought was finished for good.

ahsoka feels it too, feels one of the last bright spots of blue in the force flicker out, feels the life of one of her brothers disappear, and she can't do anything but reach out to rex as he falls to his knees, mourning the loss of his last boy in blue, the loss of his ey'ika, the loss of his brothers.

[connecting-the-stars]

Missed Opportunities:

While I did love a lot of the aspects of the finale, I walked away feeling a bit empty? Maybe confused is the right word.

I’m still not fully settled with the finally, maybe it’s the whiplash of seeing Omega all grown up, or Crosshair claiming that clone force 99 died with tech after so many episodes of his death never being acknowledged by him, or maybe the shock that CX-2’s identity really turned out be unimportant or needing to take a day and rewatch the episode again. But I do feel like either the pacing is what put me off or there were arcs we were following that end up being incomplete.

I’ve seen a few people bring up the missed opportunity that the writers had to really tear at our hearts with the lack of CX-2’s identity being revealed.

I just feel like it could’ve been a full circle if crosshair had been the one to change his mind and be determined to bring his family back together, to use the hope omega has shown him and given him, that he won’t leave his family. The show demonstrates his PTSD and his hesitancy to return to tantiss, and throughout the season it had Crosshair revealing more and more about the information he had about the tests and operations. We know that he was tortured and went through the painful process of reprograming that had failed on him, but it almost feels like the progression was leading to a bigger reveal, like he had this massive secret that he refused to share under any circumstance. That paired with the absence of any acknowledgment of tech’s death by Crosshair besides yelling that clone force 99 died with tech, when season 1 really pushed with the fault being on the empire, that crosshair’s loyalty to that authority being the reason the team was never the same again. He knows that he made his own bed and had to lie in it, the deep seated isolation looming over him throughout season 2 really hammered in how much of a mistake it was to refuse rejoining his brothers. The team was never complete without their brother, and you feel the weight when Tech pushes for Crosshair’s rescue. “He is our brother. We do not leave our own behind.”

Crosshair’s growth this season has been wonderful to see, and I feel like rampart singling him out to be “just like him” which he corrects just furthers this idea that he’s changed a lot, that his perspective has changed. Having Crosshair going through this journey of guilt and self forgiveness is so important, and I want that to be echoed to others. From “I deserve to be in here” to “none of us belong here.” Repeating omegas words. Wouldn’t it be so impactful to have Crosshair come face to face with his brother who had faith in him all along when he had been turned by the inhibitor chip and for Crosshair to be the one to hold out hope. For Crosshair being placed in Hunter’s position from season 1 being helpless to save his brother from the empire, forced to leave him behind, but this time they are not abandoning anyone, not again. From giving up ever rejoining his family, literally fighting to send a message that they should go into hiding vs. trying his best to bring his family back together. From tech always having faith, hope that his brother would join them once more, going on that horrid mission in the hope that they might gain info to rescue cross vs. it’s crosshair that has faith that tech will come back to them, standing in the face of death in order to bring his brother home. To not give up on each other, even when the empire has done everything to tear them apart.

The idea that tech’s sacrifice could be represented in his fractured mind, would hold weight to his fall. The clone that’s mutation is to have an accelerated brain functions and highly enhanced technology skills is now failing to remember keys details or who he even used to be. He has to rebuild himself, rediscovering who he was and who he wants to become. He’s not doing it alone, his family and Phee provide support every step of the way, helping him reconnect to memories that had been burned away. If cross still loses his hand, then both of them would be in a similar spot where they now have to become more than what they were originally programmed and created to be. Finding a new purpose, creating your own future.

I’m gonna give it a day, try to rewatch the finale without crying this time. The moment where Omega adjusts Tech’s goggles hit me like a plane crash, like damn.

(I really did love the epilogue showing hunter’s continued care and support for Omega, and her being so passionate about helping others. My heart really did want 4 seasons of this show, I just wanted more time with these characters. My heart was so proud of Omega, just like hunter was.)

[stars-n-spice]

KHEA + TBB:

A little look into the dynamics Khea shares with each member of the Bad Batch!

Khea + Wrecker:

Opposites attract - they’re nearly opposites in every way but they make it work

Slow burn baby because Khea took forever to open up and admit to her feelings, but thankfully Wrecker is patient

Wrecker keeps her grounded and is her voice of reason, he's there to reassure her that things are okay

Fuck, if they don't love explosions and causing a scene - they can be reckless as hell and it's advised not to leave them alone together or they will get into trouble

Khea is not used to men who wear their heart on their sleeve so finding out Wrecker was genuine in his affections and promises threw her in for a loop

Since Khea isn't a verbal person about her feelings, it's great that Wrecker has such a high emotional intelligence and can just tell when something's wrong and it's even better for her because he knows what to do when he does sense something is wong

In return, Khea always makes sure that Wrecker is looking out for himself because she realizes he's the glue holding the team together and doesn't give time for himself, so she makes sure that every now and then he takes a break from everything

Wrecker fell first, Khea fell harder.

Hunter + Khea:

Khea takes great joy in teasing Hunter at any chance she gets (all in good fun of course) because she claims it's her 'right' as the younger sister-in-law to do so

Khea will never admit to how much she respects/thinks highly of him as both a leader and older brother

Khea has a bad habit of stealing Hunter’s things (both intentionally and unintentionally)

Hunter is the other one outside of Wrecker who makes her feel like she's not as closed of a book as she thought she was because he can always sense when something's wrong but unlike Wrecker he doesn't know how to go about it to try and make her feel better

They both have sensory issues (yippee) and bond over that; giving each other tips and whatnot to avoid being overstimulated in dire situations

Khea's always there to help Hunter out with Omega whenever he needs it (especially with 'girl' things)

One of Khea's favorite things to do is give Hunter crap about him not tying up his hair because she thinks it's impractical to have it all out while under the helmet or when fighting

Khea + Echo:

Next to Wrecker, Echo is the closest Khea is to out of the group

Was the first of the Batch that Khea actually opened up to and he was the first one to hear about what happened with her brothers

Khea sorta sees Echo as the older brother she never got to have; one that's patient and kind with her but also makes sure to keep her in check

Bond over the trauma of losing their brothers + the guilt over not being able to save them

Echo gives her tough love often and will call her out on her bullshit, constantly pushing herself to be better and to take care of herself in healthier ways

Khea calls Echo "Eyayah" - which means 'Echo' in Mando'a

Echo lets Khea work on his prosthetics and Khea has made adjustments/attachments of various sorts for him

Kama buddies :) (sometimes Khea takes his kama on "accident")

Khea + Tech:

Both are big nerds, Khea's just more subtle about it

Their interactions are either them talking each other’s ears off or working in complete silence on projects next to each other

Tech does not understand how or why Khea is with Wrecker but since they’re both happy, he’s happy

Tech is learning Mando’a from her

Sometimes will butt heads and will passive-aggressively ignore each other until they’re forced to make amends (i.e. Wrecker makes them apologize to each other)

Like when they fight, they FIGHT; both hate admitting to being wrong whenever they come into conflict with each other and it's like bone on bone. It's never anything physical, it's always emotional and verbal assaults

Tech likes to point out things about Khea that Khea will adamantly deny or ignore because it pisses Tech off (i.e. Tech telling her she is nearsighted and should get some glasses or something and her insisting she's fine and it's okay to see things a little blurry sometimes)

Both are incredibly blunt people and maybe probably are on the spectrum one way or another (another thing Khea will deny when Tech points it out)

Khea + Crosshair:

Both are little shits

Crosshair takes his role as the 'annoying younger brother-in-law' VERY seriously

Took some time for them to warm up to each other once Crosshair was reunited with his family (He didn't know what to make of her let alone how Wrecker managed to pull her)

Khea only knew so much about him from the others (Wrecker and Omega occasionally told her things about him) but decided she'd try and be nice to him should she ever meet him but that went right out the door when he pointed out she was a little short for a Mandalorian

Would rather be caught dead than getting along in front of Wrecker because he will cry tears of happiness

They love to hate each other and their competitive personalities make them clash ALL the time (which can be both amusing and irritating depending on the situation)

Crosshair learns about Khea's brothers and the things she went through from Wrecker and after that, he's a little more understanding and compassionate with her

Khea drinks and Crosshair smokes; they like to poke fun at each other for who is going to die first from their bad coping mechanisms

Khea + Omega:

Khea and Omega both see each other as sisters (neither of them knows what it’s like to have one)

Tag team when it comes to raising Hunter’s stress levels (all in good fun)

Khea is fiercely protective of Omega as she kinda sees her as a “Mitcan Redo” - she would, can, and has killed for the kid

Omega was the one who got Khea to open up a little more to their squad (was also the first to pick up on how she felt about Wrecker and vice versa)

Omega is really interested in Mando culture and Khea takes delight and pride in telling her stories and teaching her things during their time off

Khea likes to tease Hunter and say that she's going to make Omega a Foundling (Omega loves the idea) and has promised to one day get Omega some beskar and maybe even a helmet if she wants it

Omega made her a little charm of a star that she wears on a necklace and totally didn't cry when Omega gifted it to her, nope

Khea sometimes finds herself incredibly frustrated over Omega's situation and wishes that someday Omega will get the chance to just be a kid and enjoy life without having to worry about things no child should have to worry about

[holdingonforheaven]

TBB S3E5

*stefon voice* This episode has EVERYTHING

first of all, Crosshair back with his family 😭😭😭😭😭

actual discussion of Crosshair's tremor

ECHO

an Echo/Omega hug 💜

snarkiness

emotional vulnerability

Omega being the tired older/little sister

Crosshair being the annoying younger/big brother

but also simultaneously showing more emotional maturity than hunter??? "Don't hold it against him; he's just worried about you." Goddamn, he really is Omega's third parent

WRECKER SAVED CROSSHAIR'S ARMOR 😭😭😭 wrecker, ily

returning to the outpost

ice vultures!

Crosshair grieving Mayday 💔

Echo breaking up fights

TENSION

Hunter and Crosshair FINALLY addressing their issues

"I risked everything to get you that message, and you ignored it. You let Omega be taken to Tantiss." hOW DID I NEVER REALIZE CROSSHAIR IS MAD AT HUNTER FOR FAILING TO TAKE CARE OF OMEGA OH MY GOD OH MY GOD

"you're mad because she escaped with my help, not yours." i am chewing drywall

the team actually functioning as a TEAM. good old fashioned working together to reach a goal (in this case, not getting eaten by an ice worm)

Batcher just unquestioningly accepted as a member of the family, but also Batcher being Crosshair's emotional support animal 🖤 he loves that dog

Echo reminding Omega that she is helping the clones still stuck on Tantiss, and that the most important thing was for her to get out

1000000/10 good vibes, such an amazing ep overall

all it was missing was Tech

[allwaswell16]

Part 3 of my favorite One Direction a/b/o fics as requested in this ask. Another long one because I love this trope. Please leave kudos and comments for the writers if you enjoy the fic! You can find my other fic recs here. Happy reading!

Part 1 /// Part 2

Alpha Harry/Omega Louis

Follow Your Arrow by LadyAJ_13 / @ladyaj-13

(T, 36k, canon) They said Louis playing alpha wouldn’t affect anything. It was the best thing for the band, so he doesn’t really regret it except deep in the dead of night, when he bites down on his knuckles to swap the echoing ache of depri for a sting of pain.

Mark my word (we gon’ be alright) by harioandlouigi

(E, 35k, pack dynamics) an A/B/O AU featuring an oblivious Harry as the pack leader, a pining Louis as his second-in-command, and an entourage of friends and family who are a little too good at keeping their mouths shut.

Compass to my Soul by LadyLondonderry / @londonfoginacup

(T, 31k, canon) Louis Tomlinson, omega, is 1/5 of world famous boy band One Direction. He spends his time hoping his bandmates don’t notice him.

Misbehaving Honeys by thinlines / @thinlinez

(E, 28k, football au) In which Omega Louis can't figure out why the alpha newbie on their footie team seems to hold a grudge against him.

how do I stay tender by jessicamcqueen

(E, 16k, neighbors) Louis has touch depri and Harry is the alpha neighbor that offers to help.

Breathe me in, breathe me out by @lunarheslwt

(G, 14k, touch deprivation) Louis is drawn into a quaint candle shop in his desire to find ways to soothe himself while struggling with touch depri. 

baby, you're the end of june by @disgruntledkittenface

(E, 13k, courting) In which Harry courts Louis. Entirely by accident.

Hint: I want to be yours by bluegreenish / @greenblueish

(M, 11k, fwb)  the one where Harry unconsciously starts acting like Louis' alpha after they spend his rut together and Louis finds ways to make sure Harry's affection doesn't end.

good enough (for you) by localopa / @voulezloux

(G, 8k, olympics) omega louis is next in line to rule the pack. in spite of the rule saying he needs an alpha to rule, he creates an impossible olympics to find a worthy mate.

Tastes like Strawberries by @sadaveniren

(E, 5k, uni au)  Louis texts Harry by mistake. It works out

you fit me better by docklands / @hershelsue

(E, 3k, laundry) At the laundromat, he meets Harry, a meddlesome alpha who smells divinely enough to ease his anxiety.

Simply the Nest (Better Than All the Rest) by @homosociallyyours

(G, 2k, omega drop) It's been a few months since Louis moved to a new town, and he still hasn't managed to get his nest to feel as comforting as he'd like it to. 

Alpha Louis/Omega Harry

Ace of Spades by @allwaswell16

(E, 78k, pirate au) Louis is a pirate, Harry is his captive, and no one is who they say they are.

These High Walls by LarryAlways28

(E, 68k, CEO Harry)  when the older, and wildly attractive Harry Styles offers him a deal in exchange for saving his family's legacy- how could Louis ever refuse that?

Unveiled��by phdmama / @phd-mama

(M, 65k, royal au) There are no robes. And not a single one of them is veiled.

I Like You, Say It Back by ishiplouis / @pocketsunshineharry

(E, 43k, fwb) the one where it takes a lot of time for Harry and Louis to figure it out. But they do, they always do, don't they?

 take my hand, wreck my plans by amomentoflove / daggerandrose

(T, 38k, Cinderella au) Louis meets the man in the center of the room, feeling every eye on him.

The Risen (series) by @creamcoffeelou

(E, 20k, cult au) In search of the next breaking story, Harry goes off to do something no one else has been able to do: get the scoop on Louis Tomlinson and his devoted group of followers.

It's Been Ages by @2tiedships2

(NR, 13k, friends to lovers) Louis shook his head in exasperation. “If you’ve been watching, you would see that Harry is interested in, like, alpha alphas. Not me.”

Find Me in the Kitchen by @neondiamond

(E, 9k, cooking au) When Harry sees Louis step in his beginners cooking class for the first time, he’s surprised to say the least.

Moon Baby by @jaerie

(E, 7k, porn stars au) Moon Baby is arguably the most well known pregnant omegas in the same circle. 

A Silver Lining In A Storm (You Were Lightning, I Was Born) by @fallinglikethis

(E, 7k, arranged marriage) the only responsibility he’s aware of is to give his husband, the future king, an heir.

to wrap me in paper by @juliusschmidt

(E, 6k, uni au) Louis hasn't been keeping track of his ruts, but, it turns out, Harry has.

Nontraditional Dynamics H/L

dip you in honey by delsicle / @eeveelou

(E, 28k, omega/omega) Princess Harry, the pearl of England, is set to be married to the youngest prince of France in just six months.

Single Bells Ring by nonsensedarling / @absoloutenonsense

(M, 16k, alpha/alpha) A holiday singles event is not where Louis wants to be tonight, but there he is, helping his best friend find love.

Never Been Knotted by @allwaswell16

(E, 9k, alpha Louis/beta Harry) There's just one small problem: he'd really like to be knotted.

All I Do the Whole Day Through by @lululawrence

(NR, 6k, omega/omega) But why was Harry using Louis’ clothes and items that probably smelled like him in his nest?

Where I'm Meant To Be by Halos_Boat / @halohamilton

(E, 6k, alpha/alpha) When Louis helps Harry out with his rut so he can get it done in time for his exam, they're forced to face feelings they were habouring for a while.

Rare Pairs

Make It Up As We Go Along by @lululawrence

(NR, 52k, ot5) When a baby is left on their doorstep, their lives become the definition of chaos...but maybe that is exactly what they need to see what has been right in front of them all along.

enough to make a girl blush by @disgruntledkittenface

(E, 22k, Niall/Louis) When Louis moves from her small hometown to the city, she runs into her childhood friend Niall. Despite her surprise at learning that Niall presented as an alpha, she’s immediately drawn to her. 

over my shoulder by @nouies

(E, 11k, Louis/Sebastian Stan) The media thinks omega singer Louis Tomlinson is dating alpha actor Sebastian Stan because they bump into each other all the time.

All The Small Things by restless_rebels / @restless-rebels

(NR, 6k, Louis/Liam) Louis finally looked up, staring at the same boy from the laundry room, his hair dry and soft looking, a short quiff at the top of his head. “Hey, uh, Liam, right?”

[literallyjustanerd]

At Sunset In Summer - IV

Omega is ready to join The Rebellion. Hunter is not.

Previous First

Chapter Four - Summer

The heat of the sun is a balm to Hunter’s stubborn joints. He’s moving better these days, on knees less stiff and creaky. Still, nothing can stop the ache in his lower back after spending the previous day hunched over the garden. While he's used to the pain, it doesn’t make the climb to the top of the island any easier. He hoists himself up another step, and a sharp twinge lances up his spine. Though he stifles the groan that comes with it, it’s already too late – Omega appears at his side, her arm bracing his, relieving his weight. She fixes him with a stern look, and the message is clear: No arguing. Not today.

The town square is quiet when they arrive. Eerily so, for a scene lit so bright under the midday sun. Stark shadows move solemn and mute as they press on to the base of the weeping maya. A small crowd has already gathered under its winding branches. Smaller than it should be, and smaller than it would have been months ago, years ago. Without the hum of conversation, only the lazy, wandering birdsong and lapping waves below dare to break the silence. Even the winds have stilled, and in their absence, the maya itself appears almost to be holding its breath. The pit in Hunter’s stomach stretches deeper.

Echo is dead.

The transmission from Rex had come through two days ago. Pre-recorded and less than a minute in length. Their operation was still under critical threat, he had said; he couldn’t risk a longer message. He had not included a when, nor a how. Still, the thin, sandpaper rasp of his tone, and the quaking of his breath like bulwarks set to splinter, it told them all they needed to know. Their brother is gone.

There is scarcely little they could find of Echo’s that would make a fitting memorial. He had never spent more than a week on Pabu at a time, and had never collected much in the way of personal effects. All that he had was given over to the team, or traded or sold for something more “practical.” All as a matter of course, without a moment of hesitation. 

So, instead, Wrecker stands a lone granite slab upright at the tree’s base. Below Echo’s name, carved out by dozens of hands with varying skill (or lack thereof), there is a list of the names and designations of each clone rescued from Tantiss. All the clones who owed their lives and their freedom to Echo. The epitaph is simple. Two short words that Hunter is still staring at when he realises that people expect him to speak.

“Echo was the speech guy. He’d never admit to that,” he says, with a halfhearted laugh that falls dangerously close to tears. He tries to continue, but the words jam up, wedged together at odd angles that wrench and tear at his throat. His misty eyes won’t move from the carving on the stone.

Our brother.

 It’s been years since he has felt this particular kind of grief. He’s out of practice. It presses down like a vice and wrings the breath from his lungs, steals the sun’s warmth and leaves the tips of his fingers numb and shaking from the cold. It’s faintly familiar, in the worst way. Like waking from a nightmare he hasn’t had in years. 

He’s about to give up altogether and step down from the crowd when a hand comes to rest on the back of his arm. He turns to Omega, and she gives him a smile, a weak, puffy-eyed thing that conjures bittersweet memories. Memories of target practice, of Omega glowing under stern-faced, hard-earned praise. Memories of endless drills and rote-learned battle plans, of bitter disagreements and incessant games of dejarik. They both know that Echo’s coaching is the reason Omega always beats him now.

“He always knew exactly what he wanted,” Hunter says, as much to himself as to the gathering around him. “We argued about it, back then. When the rest of us were ready to run, Echo wanted to keep fighting. Kept saying we should be doing more for our brothers. Drove me insane… mostly because I knew he was right.” The hand on his arm tightens just slightly, and Hunter lets go of a shaky breath, trying and failing to keep his focus.

Today is Omega’s last day on Pabu. He has known it since the moment they had received Rex’s transmission. And from the growing tension in the house, the way his brothers’ heartbeats skittered and skipped at seemingly random moments, stirred by some private thought or fear, it was clear they both knew it, too. He supposes he has no right to feel blindsided by it. He had felt Omega growing restless long before they had heard about Echo, the longer they worked on The Liberator and the more dire the news they heard from the front. As the days grew hotter, it almost hurt to stand too near to her, as though he could feel the simmering under her skin, rolling off her in waves like heat off a durasteel roof. She’s ready. She’s been ready a long time. And with Echo’s death, the one Hunter has to blame (to thank?) for Omega’s strong sense of duty, Hunter knows with a grim, proud certainty that she can no longer hold it off.

  “Echo would give his life for you in a heartbeat,” he continues. “And because you knew that, you’d do the same for him.” Reaching back, he wraps his arm around Omega’s shoulders, holding her against his side, keeping her close to him while he still can. She lays her head on his shoulder. Tall as she’s grown, she still fits perfectly in the groove of his neck.

“It's up to the rest of us to keep that spirit alive for him. Keep fighting for what we know is right. Make that smug bastard proud.” Omega laughs, but the collar of Hunter’s shirt is still damp when she pulls away.

They’re the last ones there, sitting together under the tree long after everyone else has left. Wrecker is passing around short-necked bottles of ale, trying hard to lift their spirits with worn-out stories they’ve heard a thousand times before. 

“When you mentioned you and Echo fighting,” he says, easing down onto one of the Maya’s larger roots, “I’m surprised you didn’t mention his Life Day present for Omega. You know the one.” 

The memory makes Hunter groan, his head falling back against the tree with a hollow thud.

“Please, not this again,” he mumbles, but it’s too late - Omega’s righteous anger has been reignited.

“I’m still mad you kept that from me,” she says indignantly. Hunter scoffs.

“Forgive me for not letting a child walk around Pabu with a DC-15 blaster carbine over her shoulder.”

Wrecker grins widely, his shoulders a little more lax. In the few days since they’d heard the news, Hunter had scarcely seen Wrecker take a full breath, watching constantly over Omega and his brothers to keep them all together. He had been the one to organise the memorial, while the rest of them were still paralysed by grief.

“I agree with Hunter,” Crosshair says. He's reclined back against the trunk of the tree, eyes closed and arms folded across his chest. Hunter is about to thank him when he continues, “the DC-15a rifle would have been a far better choice.”

Hunter heaves a sigh, shaking his head.

“Better that blaster stay locked away than we pay thousands of credits in property damage,” he declares.

“Geez, Hunter, just say you don’t trust me,” Omega shoots back, a wry grin on her face that betrays her serious tone. Hunter gives her a playful shove, sending her scrambling to keep her balance on the tree’s lowest branch. Crosshair is very nearly drenched when she fumbles her bottle. She laughs, and the sound is beautiful over the waves and the faint birdsong. A single blossom has fallen from the vines above to land on her shoulder. There’s light, bright and molten gold, pouring through gaps in the leaves, setting her hair aflame. Every part of the island folds so perfectly into her, embraces her, loves her, as though it’s trying to whisper to her the same words Hunter has been bottling up all day: You don’t have to go. You’re home. Stay with us.  And as though she can hear its pleas, Omega’s gaze drifts, and wanders out to the distant horizon, her smile turning cool and vague. Hunter’s heart aches, and he’s trying to be alright with that.

The heat lasts late into the evening, until the air turns dense and syrupy and the shadows stretch long and sluggish in the purple twilight. Time has slowed to a crawl, the sun weighing heavy on the waves but refusing to sink. Reluctantly, each of them drifts from the weeping maya and from each other, drawn off to their own busywork, to fill the last few hours before the sky gives way to darkness and the world as they know it ends. 

Batcher used to bound along the shore so fast she'd kick up huge fans of sand in her wake, carving a deep, jagged trail along the beach in search of sea birds to chase or something to dig up. Now, though, she plods slowly along the shoreline, only stopping here and there to sniff at a piece of driftwood, or just to look back over her shoulder and make sure Hunter is still following.

“You getting old on us, too, girl?” he says, patting her head softly. She gives an answering snuffle, shaking sand from her back in what could almost pass for a protest. “Sorry. Happens to the best of us.” 

He knows exactly where he’s going, but he walks slowly enough that he can still deny it to himself and pretend this is just a leisurely walk. Still, as inevitable as the sun finally dipping beneath the water, he reaches his destination. The sand turns rocky beneath his feet, the cliffs looming tall over his head. Gingerly, he picks his way through the damp, black boulders and into the cave, and as the lilac sky slips out of view, he can see the faint outline of The Liberator in the darkness. Omega had moved the ship days ago, and said nothing of it. It had confused Hunter: they all knew she was leaving, so why be so secretive about the preparation? It had only struck him that afternoon that Omega planned to go without telling them.

Batcher settles at his feet when he picks a spot to sit and ready himself for what is to come. He doesn’t have to wait long before she arrives, her brow set and her hand gripping tight to the bag at her hip. And while there’s no anger in his words, Hunter can’t help but tease just a little:

“Thought you could just sneak off?”

It’s easier than he had expected, to piece the words together. Time has worn the jagged shards smooth, and they don’t hurt so much now when he reaches for them. Omega, too, has softened, and her expression is almost apologetic when she speaks.

“I made my choice, Hunter. I want to do more.”

“And we want to keep you safe.”

His tone is resigned, the words impotent, though no less sincere. It’s not an argument, but a catharsis: a correction of the past, everything he should have said on that first day in the kitchen and every day since. Everything she already knows, but needs to hear nonetheless. And in return, Omega tells him what he has known for months, for years now, and what he’s finally beginning to accept.

“I’m ready.”

He cries when he watches her leave. Their little girl, their Rebel. No longer does he have the strength of a soldier to hold back his tears, but as he watches her weave her ship deftly into the tapestry of stars, he is buoyed by a new kind of strength. One forged from hot summer nights, from music echoing through a sweltering kitchen. From dinners on the table and dishes in the sink. From oil-stained fingers and new patches in an old jacket. From feeling the joy of another as your own, as they shout the words to a favourite song you have always found annoying. From learning to live his own life for the sake of another.

Hunter takes a breath. He holds it carefully, gently, lets it fill his chest and warm his ribs. Then, before he’s ready (he’ll never be ready), but when he knows he will survive it: 

Hunter lets go.

[skotiwolves]

My thoughts are so scattered and I can’t grab one to focus on, but I sincerely LOVED episode 5 for so many reasons

TBB ep5 spoilers

Omega and Cross having this… warm relationship. How she’s able to run down the beach on Pabu and sit down beside cross and ask him questions about being a sniper. Laying her hand on his shoulder and giving him advice. Joking with him and having Crosshair chuckle at her ‘little brother’ comment? Absolutely wonderful in every way possible. I cannot wait to see them through the rest of this season

Hunter and Crosshair. Hunter’s extreme distrust and wariness of Cross, understandably so. Hunter shoving Crosshair, wanting answers from him, now that he finally has the chance. That glare present every time he looks at him, not knowing if Cross had something up his sleeve or not. Their argument in the snow.

And yet, their loyalty in still being brothers. Hunters line “not alone. We’ll do it together.” Crosshair (and batcher) tracking him through the ground and digging a hole out for him. Crosshair shouting Hunter’s name when he fell through the ice—a reaction that is real. Cross holding his rifle down for Hunter to grab onto and for him to help pull him to safety. That understanding nod after the wyrm was outside of the sensors. And of course their conversation at the end, them finally starting on up and up to trusting each other again

The general feel of the team. Seeing the boys all with their armor back on was emotional. It felt like old times in the best way possible. And, even with Tech’s absence, omega filled that place of knowledge and skill. It felt like he was still there. It felt like s2 of bad batch. All of them, together, on a mission. Everyone with a role and a part to play to complete it. I love the dynamic of it and I didn’t realize how much I’d truly missed it

Wrecker wrapping Cross and Hunter in one big hug?? Crosshair and batcher being inseparable best friends??? Echo’s arms open wide for omega’s running hug??? AZI being back and helping with Crosshair’s aim??? A visit to Pabu aka where they’ll ALL be at the end of the season when they’re all very much alive and well and safe and NOT dead??? Omega sleeping with Lula in the safety of the ship with hunter and wrecker standing right outside??? The little nod that cross does know about Tech and that he’s very clearly upset over it??? Dad hunter??? Rex on the outside and getting all the info he can so they can all plan to infiltrate tantiss??? The bird from Mayday’s episode??? Cross putting all the clones helmets on the box so they’re not just some trash on the floor???

Exquisite. Phenomenal. One of the best episodes out of the bad batch.

[solalunar-eclipse]

@teamxdark happy birthday!!! I'm sorry I haven't been able to make you any gifts in a while...hopefully this one makes up for it. I've done my best to write everyone in character, and I hope that you enjoy reading someone else's writing for Team Dark (Hotwing ver.) ^ ^

“I have to do this…for all the people on this planet…for Maria!”

Shadow was floating in space. Somehow, he could breathe just fine in spite of what should have been a crushing vacuum, but he hardly noticed—his attention far too fixated on what was happening right in front of him to even consider it.

Rouge hovered a ways away from him, her fur blazing silvery-gold in lieu of her usual white coloration. She was staring up at the ARK, the space station a hazy blur when contrasted against the light emanating from her form.

Shadow felt his legs dimly, wanted to sprint towards her and scream at her to stop, but he couldn’t muster the strength to move. He couldn’t do anything at all.

He watched as she announced one final “Chaos Control!”, and the Space Colony ARK disappeared from his periphery—and Rouge began to fall.

Shadow still couldn’t move, even as tears began to well up in his eyes, even as Rouge plummeted towards the world she’d always wanted to visit in a trail of golden light. It was only once she was nothing more than a spark burning out in the sky below that he felt the muscles in his chest unlock.

Shadow screamed.

The sound echoed in his ears, one single raw sound of loss and agony and guilt all tangled together into a blend of pure, unfiltered grief, the likes of which he would never have made had he thought anybody else could hear him. Suddenly, though, gravity took hold of him as well with a lurch, sending him plunging down and crashing into the floor with a cry.

…the floor?

The black hedgehog blinked slowly, struggling to adjust to his new position. He was currently hanging half-upside down, his torso and head flat on the floor and his legs tangled in some sort of cloth. He looked up, and…oh.

He’d recognize that tacky beige ceiling anywhere. He was lying on the floor of his bedroom, in the apartment he shared with Rouge and Omega. Rouge wasn’t dead, she hadn’t even died when falling to the planet’s surface. As a matter of fact, she was currently paying a third of the rent for their shitty landlord who didn’t ask questions and let a robot live with them.

Shadow groaned quietly. Apparently, he’d fallen out of bed while in the middle of a nightmare. Just fabulous. At least he was able to get off without a sore spot on the back of his head, though he’d have to deal with the scratches his still-tense quills had made in the flooring at some point.

Since he was alone in his room, Shadow indulged himself in a bit of immature behavior and twisted himself to lie fully facedown on the floor. He hated these nightmares.

Yes, he’d formed a stupidly strong bond with Rouge within literal days of knowing her, all because she was kind to him. Yes, that bond was somehow enough for him to track her down across six months where she was presumed dead and to continue following her around even when she’d lost all her memory. His brain didn’t need to rub it in by reminding him of all the ways he was inadequate and couldn’t be helpful or useful to her, but it had elected to make that its full time job without his permission anyway.

So now he was awake before even the fucking sun, with the sight of Rouge falling to her almost-death seared into the backs of his eyes. Lovely.

Slowly, Shadow dragged himself to his feet, fully certain that he looked like death warmed over. He didn’t even make a cursory attempt to straighten his spines, his arms feeling too much like lead to bother. Instead, he shuffled out of his room and down the hall, hoping to grab himself a glass of water just so he could have something else to focus on.

He at least made an effort to tiptoe lightly around Rouge’s room so he wouldn’t wake her—she worked hard enough to earn money each day, she deserved as much sleep as she could get. Honestly, he was feeling pretty pleased with himself for his stealthy maneuvers (seeing as Rouge had her hearing cranked up to eleven, what with the bat genes and Ultimate Lifeform powers), and he kept it up as he walked through the living room, just so he didn’t disturb Omega either.

“SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG.”

Shit!

The jewel thief nearly felt his heart exit his body, jolting so violently it was a wonder he managed to get his hand over his mouth in time to choke down a scream. He whirled to face the now obviously awake robot, gasping for breath in an attempt to recover from the shock.

“Good fucking Gaia, Omega, what was that?” he hissed. “How long have you been awake?”

Omega’s eyes glowed red in the darkness, something that would have intimidated anyone who knew him less but just left Shadow distinctly irritated.

“I EXITED SLEEP MODE UPON HEARING A SOUND BRIEFLY IN EXCESS OF EIGHTY DECIBELS. SUBSEQUENT ANALYSIS SUGGESTS IT WAS PRODUCED BY YOU.” he informed Shadow, who glowered unhappily back at him.

“Yeah, well, it’s a good thing that’s none of your damn business then, huh?” he grumbled sourly, turning back to his initial mission of getting a drink. 

“I LIVE HERE. THAT MAKES IT MY ‘DAMN BUSINESS’, IF ONLY PERIPHERALLY.”

Shadow pointedly took a gulp of water in favor of answering, turning away to lean on the counter of the apartment’s tiny kitchen.

“VERY WELL. IF YOU INSIST ON BEHAVING IN THIS MANNER, I WILL BE FORCED TO RESORT TO DRASTIC MEASURES.” Omega announced, not sounding even the slightest fraction either reluctant or remorseful.

“You know you’re not allowed to shoot this place up, you signed the contract like the rest of us,” Shadow muttered. He refused to grant Omega the courtesy of eye contact, electing to remain facing the wall.

Omega whirred sharply, sounding almost as though he had scoffed. “YOU THINK TOO LOW OF ME, SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG. MY PROCESSORS ARE SUPERIOR TO ALL OTHERS, AND THEREFORE I CAN CALCULATE COURSES OF ACTION THAT DO NOT INVOLVE VIOLENCE IF I CHOOSE TO DO SO.

“AND BEFORE YOU ASK, THE REASON I DO NOT CHOOSE THIS MORE OFTEN IS BECAUSE IT IS, AS YOU WOULD SAY, ‘LAME’.”

“Oh yeah?” he taunted, finally turning around. “So what’re you gonna—” 

His words dried up in his throat, clogging it and making it difficult for him to breathe.

Omega had called Rouge.

“I don’t know what he told you, but whatever it is, he’s a filthy liar,” Shadow said instantly, nearly tripping over his words with how quickly he spoke.

“…so you didn’t have a nightmare?” Rouge asked him, her voice far softer than he preferred (than he deserved).

The hedgehog scoffed. “Psh, what, me? Nightmares? Since when?” 

“Then what was that scream I heard earlier?” she pushed, one eyebrow raised doubtfully. (So she had heard him after all. Dammit.)

“Um, I just fell off the bed, and it startled me!” Shadow explained—why did this have to happen so damn early? He wasn’t at his best in the middle of the night…

Rouge gave him a Look. “And why did you fall off the bed?”

“BECAUSE HE HAD A NIGHTMARE.” the traitor robot said.

“Omega I will actually sell you for scrap.”

Rounding the counter corner into the kitchen, Rouge stopped less than a meter in front of him. “Somehow, I’m inclined to believe Omega here,” she remarked dryly, clearly attempting to get him to snap back with his usual sass.

But he couldn’t. Not when the sight of her tumbling to the planet was still fresh in his mind.

“Believe whatever you want,” he mumbled.

“Shadow…?” Rouge moved a little closer. “Why won’t you talk to me about this?”

Shadow shrugged listlessly. “You shouldn’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.” He attempted to summon up his usual cocky smirk, but only managed a ghost of the real thing. “You’ve already got enough on your plate, yeah?”

Suddenly, he was startled by a pair of hands landing firmly on his upper arms, holding him with a gentle strength that belied Rouge’s true power.

“Do you even hear what you’re saying?” she asked him, so visibly concerned he almost wanted to apologize just to get her to stop looking like that. “You had ‘enough on your plate’ trying to survive an alien invasion, but you tracked me down not once, but twice just to convince me to snap out of it and save everyone. Heck, you had ‘enough on your plate’ when it came to making me and Omega stop fighting long enough to survive, but you still somehow got us to actually team up so I could recover my memories when we’d been at each other’s throats seconds earlier.

“After all that, well—I’d drop everything else in a heartbeat to help you if I thought I could.”

Now it was Shadow’s turn to frown. “I didn’t do all that so you’d owe me.”

“I know you didn’t. You tried so hard to hide it, but I could tell…you were worried. And I’m worried now, so please, tell me what’s going on?”

Rouge looked so earnest. He’d only seen her like this a handful of times: when she was struggling with her memories, when she was standing up to Black Doom…when she’d thrown herself into the final battle against the Finalhazard…

He couldn’t look at her. Not now, not like this. “I know I wasn’t there when it happened, but somehow I still see you saving the ARK sometimes. And—and I can’t save you. When you fall, I can’t help.”

Rouge’s eyes widened. “Shadow…I’m so sorry. I should have known it would hurt you when I chose to do that…I was in a lot of pain and convinced myself that I’d already pushed you away, but that’s no excuse.”

“B—wha—of fucking course that’s a good excuse! I should’ve tried harder, reached out again, anything! I could’ve helped somehow!” he sputtered, visibly taken aback.

“You did help me, in the end. And don’t say anything about doing it sooner!” she insisted, cutting him off just as he opened his mouth to speak. “I was determined to fight until I was worn down. You came for me at just the right time to make sure I could find myself and rebuild my life.”

Shadow scowled, still doubting her. “You’re just saying that to make me feel better.”

“Can’t I do that and also have it be the truth?” Rouge asked.

“…what do you mean?” 

The bat smiled faintly at him. “I care about you, Shadow, of course I want you to feel better. That doesn’t mean I have to be lying.”

“Oh. Um.” He blushed nervously, reaching up to brush his quills back in an unconscious movement. “You…you care about me?” he asked, in the smallest voice possible.

Rouge looked a little awkward in the face of such a raw moment, but continued onwards regardless. “I did ever since I met you, I think. It just took a while for me to realize it…and then once I had, no matter how hard I tried to deny it, I couldn’t stop.”

Shadow’s face fell. “So you don’t actually want to feel that way?” He sounded pathetically lost and confused even to his own ears, and his insides twisted harshly with shame.

“No, no, that’s not it at all!” Rouge said hurriedly. “It…felt like I was betraying Maria, at first. But after a while, I realized that she would want me to keep living—and more importantly, I wanted to keep living. And I wanted to do it with you and Omega.”

“I APPRECIATE THE INCLUSION.”

Shadow rolled his eyes, and Rouge half-smiled. “Anytime.” 

She turned back to Shadow, and then, almost hesitantly, held open her arms to him. 

He felt his eyes burn with unshed tears as he practically threw himself into the hug, reveling in the feeling of being held with genuine care by another. Rouge was here, she wasn’t dead, she was here and holding him and liked him.

“…ttle br…Shadow.”

“Huh?” His ears flicked upright, too late to properly register what Rouge had said. “I didn’t catch that, what’d you say?”

When he pulled back to look at her more closely, he saw that Rouge had started to blush a light green, and was biting her lip nervously. “Back on the ARK…before everything…Maria used to call me her Little Sister Rouge. I got older than her eventually, though—weird genetics stuff, you know—but she didn’t call me Big Sister until…that day.”

Shadow didn’t need clarification as to which day she meant.

“Lately, I’ve been thinking, and I want to—I’ve started, in my head…saying “L-Little Brother Shadow.” Rouge explained, her voice and posture stiff with discomfort.

That was the final straw for the young hedgehog, who promptly burst into tears.

“Ah—Shadow! I’m sorry, are you okay?”

“Y-you really wanna c-call me that?” he gasped, in between sobs.

“Only if you’re alright with it,” she reassured him, pulling him into another hug and wrapping her wings around him as well.

“I—I am.” He gave himself a minute, just taking some deep, shuddering breaths. Then he added, still crying a little, “…can I call you ‘Big Sister Rouge?’”

She froze for just a moment, before swallowing thickly. “I’d like that a lot.” she confessed, sounding as though she might shed a tear or several herself.

They stood there in the kitchen together for a long moment, just holding each other and resting in the newfound security that was their love made obvious. Eventually, Shadow did stop crying (after feeling a few drops on his head that had made his throat tighten all over again), but he didn’t let go just yet, reluctant to potentially ruin the mood.

Then, of course, it was ruined anyway.

“MIDDLE SIBLING OMEGA DEMANDS PARTICIPATION IN THE HUG.”

Shadow felt his stomach lurch, looking up at Rouge to see if she’d be upset with Omega’s brazen co-opting of her special words. Instead, however, she looked amused more than anything, a smile pulling at the corners of her mouth despite her still-damp eyes.

“Very well. Come on…Little Brother Shadow.”

And when his Big Sister Rouge said that, before pulling him into a hug pile on the floor with Omega (and lots of pillows and blankets), well.

How could he ever say no? 

[chicknstripz]

∘₊✧ [[ Take our leave ]] ✧₊∘

Pairing|| GN!Reader X Echo Word Count|| 1239 Tags|| Angst, Fluff, PTSD, body dysmorphia, Reader is hinted as being shorter then Echo Synopsis|| You’ve known for some time that Echo wants to leave the batch, have come to dread the moment he finally takes his leave, and when it finally comes? Well lets just say you make the only choice that feels right in your heart. 

Your heart aches. You knew this day would come, that you’d eventually have to choose between your heart and your friends, but for it to come so soon? It kills you.

You stand there and watch as Hunter wishes Echo the best, the Sargent’s face awash with deep understanding as he rests a hand to his shoulder. He’d known for some time that Echo wants to do more for the rebellion, that the morals that guide his heart causing deep distress for the former ARC every time they go on a mission. There had been a few days where he’d hoped to talk his brother round, had been moments where he begged silent gods to keep them together, but he knows that’s selfish - so he lets him go - his smile sad as he reminds Echo he still has a home with them Wrecker and Tech are next to say their goodbyes, their understanding of Echo’s nature revealed on their proud features. They knew their brother hated working for Cid, the skills he’d learned on Kamino barely tested by their missions, just as they knew that he’d like he was growing apart - his place in the batch never fully cemented. They didn’t need his slicing skills, Tech was just as good if not better then him even with his scomp, and they certainly didn’t need his infantry skills. The only reason why he’d gone with them, at first anyway, was because he felt like it was the only place he belonged - his dysphoria pushing him from his vode and toward the batch. Then you’d come along. The kaminoans had thought it prudent to assign a medic to the team, what with his addition to the group so soon after his discharge from the medbay, and you with your soft smiles and easy chatter had won him over. It also helped that you guided him through his PTSD more times then he could count, the soft thrum of your heart a reminder that he wasn’t stuck in some cryo-tube! Those nights had been some of the best, the way your hand covered the bare skin of his scalp soothing him back to reality, and he wishes he could ask you to come with him - the selfish thought burning his throat as you gather his hands into your waiting palms. “You’ve been wanting to do this awhile, haven't you?” It’s a statement more then a question, the soft words morphed by your accent. “Yeah.” His voice sounds like a stranger’s, the emotions that cling to his heart holding his throat with such intensity that he feels like he’s choking. “Why didn’t you say something?” He thought he’d made it obvious that he’d wanted to leave, his endless arguments with Hunter proving his deep discontent. But then he realizes something. Every argument he’d had? It had revolved around the Batch doing something, not him, his lips parting in a slight ‘O’ as he brings your hand to his armoured chest. “I was worried you might ask me to stay.” Your heart leaps at the admission, the cool outer of his armor leaching through your palm and into your heart. You’d never ask him to do something he was firmly against, but at the same time you knew just how hard you’d fight to keep your found family together. Hunter and his paternal desire to protect everyone in a ten foot radius. Tech and his annoying habit of becoming a back seat medic whenever you needed to patch someone up. Wrecker and his booking voice that filled the close confines of the Marauder. Omega and her boundless curiosity, her eye misted with unshed tears as she tugs at Echo’s kama. “What about me? What if I asked you to stay?” “Oh, Omega” He crouches, allowing his sister to fling herself to his chest. “I’d love to stay, but I’m needed elsewhere.” Omega hiccups a tiny sound that lances through your heart as you watch the sweet interaction. Echo wasn’t much of a hugger, his lingering belief that no-one would want to touch him manifesting in a deep self-loathing for his physical form. But here was Omega, flushing herself to him with complete disregard for his cybernetics, her warm cheek flush against his earpiece as she quivered with soft sobs. Leaving her was always going to be hard, but she had the Batch to keep her safe, and it wasn’t like this would be forever, his scomp patting the middle of her back as he pulled back. “I’ll see you again someday, I promise.” “Both of you?” He looks from Omega to you, his heart fluttering wildly at the idea of taking you with him, but that - that would be selfish of him. The batch needed a medic, a good one, and woe betide if he stole you away from them. “She’s not --” “Of course we will.” You cut him off before he can finish, the firm statement coming out of left field. “Mesh’la --” Again you cut him off, the glimmer in your eyes mischievous as you place your hands to your hips. “Someone’s got to run upkeep on your cybernetics, might as well be me.” He pushes back the urge to tell you Rex could help him with that, that he’s sure there’s someone in the resistance that’s familiar enough with cybernetics to run any maintenance he needs. You hated when other people tinkered with his prosthetics, hated when Tech tried to bluster his way through a supposed ‘update’ to his synthetic nerves. Mainly because Tech treated him more like a machine, his methods sparking flares of pain in the former ARC whenever the commando poked his spanner into whatever needed fixing. You hated it even more when it was a stranger that did it, the heated look in your eyes when EZ tried to treat him in the med bay making him all kinds of flustered. “You sure?” “Surer then rain on Kamino.” The mention of his former home causes a flare of homesickness, the palm of his hand ruffling in Omega’s hair as he gives her a smile. “Make sure Tech keeps up with those lessons of yours, and don’t let Phee talk Hunter into any funny business -- okay?” She holds out her hand, pinky first, and he smiles as he wraps his much larger pinky finger around hers. “I promise!” “Atta girl, knew I could count on you.” He watches as she skips toward Hunter, the warm flush of heat that radiates from your body confirming that he’d made the right choice. But had you? He’s got nothing to offer. No home, no stability, and certainly no ability to see in the next day. Kriff, he could be dead tomorrow for all he knew, yet here you where wrapping your arm around his hips as if you where watching your kid leave for a school day, the waver of your lip betraying your emotions as you rested your head to his shoulder. “Thank you.” “For what?” “For coming with me. I -- know it wasn’t an easy choice to make. “You’re right, it wasn’t, but it was the right one.” You might be sad to leave the batch, might even cry about it when you laid your head to your pillow later that night, but in your heart of hearts you knew that your place was with Echo and the growing rebellion, your smile growing as you entwined your fingers with his.