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dindjarindiaries · 2 months ago

Text

Say Something

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

pairing: hunter (the bad batch) x reader

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

rating: T

word count: 10.470k

main masterlist • hunter masterlist

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“You’re up earlier than usual.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

“There are other ‘freshers you could use.”

“Yeah, but this one’s my favorite.”

“Just like me, huh?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But one of those ways was just you.

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

“Looks like you’re trying something new.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You grinned. “Yes it is!”

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

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

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

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

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

“And why would we lie?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Morning.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“It wouldn’t matter, anyway.”

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

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

“You’re not serious, are you?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Especially after Omega was taken.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You snorted. “Not yet.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

════════════════════

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

“He’s not listening.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Can we move on, now?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Fine. I’ll… say something.”

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

“Almost.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Hunter, what’re ya’—.”

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

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

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

════════════════════

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

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

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

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

“He said he’s going home.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The question was, who was telling the truth?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“It’s you, Hunter.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hunter took another step towards you. “Because?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Guess you feel the same way, then?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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