MLWTBB: Business Is Business
aka the (continued) journey into my self insert nonsense✨
chapter summary: the reunion between Hannah and the Bad Batch is delayed due to interference from the Pyke Syndicate, and Hannah finally speaks her mind about how she truly feels about Roland.
notes: this is a continuation of my story, “My Life With The Bad Batch”; I highly recommend reading that first before this one! I created a few new planets for this story. I’m also not 100% versed in SW terminology, so forgive me if some things are labeled incorrectly! each chapter will be rated accordingly, as opposed to the overall fic. lastly, there is romance in this story. hope you enjoy! 💙
add. notes: I FORGOT TO POST THIS BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAYS WHOOPS 😅 this chapter was edited and proofread by my sis @jam-n-ham! thanks sis!! 😋💙 this was originally where this story was going to end, as it’s the end of the episode, but... well, you’ll see next time 😜
Chapter 3, 2700+ words, rated T (more gun violence and other violence, again just stuff from the episode 😬)
previous chapters: Chapter 1 - Chapter 2
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The parlor was a mess. All of Roland’s men had been wiped out and now littered the floor more than the actual trash. Cid did her best to not step on any of the bodies as she made her way inside, a smug smile plastered on her reptilian face.
“See? My plan worked like a charm. Even better than expected.”
The rest of the group did their best to avoid the carnage as well, stepping further into the parlor behind Cid. Hunter’s first instinct was to scan the room for any living persons, but found none, which honestly concerned him. He didn’t want to assume the worst, but his thoughts naturally went to worrying about where Hannah had gotten to. He could still smell her, which somehow worried him even more, but he said nothing about it. More importantly, he could feel footsteps approaching from the back room, which was about to potentially bring about even more trouble.
Stepping out of the hallway was Roland, cuffed at the wrists, followed by three Pykes. Hunter thought he sensed another presence, but didn’t see anybody else yet. Upon noticing Cid, Roland gestured towards her, saying, “that’s her, she’s the one you want.”
Yup. More trouble was definitely about to happen.
“It has come to my attention that you have stolen our shipment of spice,” the head Pyke said, stepping out from behind Roland. “Return it to us, and we will consider this matter resolved.”
Cid put on a confused face, replying, “Not sure what he’s been telling you, but we don’t have any spice.”
Despite their expressionless faces, it was obvious the Pykes weren’t buying the lie. “Kill them all,” the head Pyke said to the other two, who promptly pointed their blasters at Cid and the Batch.
“Wait,” Hunter said, throwing a hand up to stop them. “We don’t have the spice on us, but we know where it is.” He took a defensive stance in front of Omega, who gladly hid behind her big brother.
“My patience is wearing very thin,” the head Pyke dryly replied. “If you know where the spice is, then you should have no problem retrieving it.” His gaze then went downward, towards the little girl behind Hunter. “Until you do, the child stays here.”
All at once, the four enhanced Clones quickly drew their blasters at the Pykes, with Omega shrinking further behind her brothers. “Not happening,” Hunter growled.
“You misunderstand,” the head Pyke responded, completely unshaken by the attempted threat. “This is not a negotiation.” Without anyone realizing it, one of the other Pykes had gone back to the hallway and began dragging someone out into the main room.
Hunter knew who it was even before they came into the room. He heard Omega gasp. His eyes went wide and the grip on his blaster tightened. “Hannah...” Hunter’s blood boiled. It took everything in him to not gun down all the Pykes right then and there.
Hannah looked terrified. She was cuffed at the wrists like Roland, with a blaster stuck against her back from the Pyke who’d dragged her in.
The room went completely silent.
Then Cid, seeing the situation they were in, decided to speak up. “If I may?” The head Pyke silently approved, and Cid turned to Hunter, who definitely looked like he was about to pull the trigger at any second.
“You all don’t realize who you’re dealing with,” Cid said to the boys. “If you don’t lower your blasters, we’re all gonna wish we were dead!” She placed a hand on Hunter’s outstretched arm, which made him ease up only slightly. “Let me handle this.”
Hunter looked at Cid, then back at Hannah again. Like she had done earlier, Hannah was pleading with Hunter with her eyes, tears visibly welling in them. Hunter felt helpless, a feeling he couldn’t stand in the least. But he wasn’t stupid. He knew Cid was right. Shaking with anger, Hunter lowered his blaster and told the others to do the same. He could feel Omega beside him and desperately wished he could go in her place.
“It’s ok, kid,” he said, placing a hand on his little sister’s shoulder. “Stay with Hannah. We’ll be back, I promise.”
Omega looked at each of her brothers sadly, feeling as equally helpless as Hunter. Then she looked to Hannah, who was looking back at her solemnly. If nothing else, having Hannah there with her would make this slightly less painful. The little girl ran towards her friend, who immediately caught Omega in her arms, holding her close.
“A wise decision,” the head Pyke said. “I look forward to you bringing our spice back to us.”
Nobody said anything else as Cid and the rest of the Batch left. Soft crying could be heard from Hannah and Omega, which broke Hunter’s heart. He turned to look back at them one last time, just catching Hannah looking up at him at the same time. The two shared one last longing look before Hunter turned to leave. Hannah held Omega closer, afraid the small girl would disappear if she let go. She too felt nothing but helplessness.
**********************************
Hours passed as everyone at the parlor waited for the Batch to return with the spice. The Pykes had cuffed Omega the same as Roland and Hannah, and they were keeping them in the parlor, still littered with dead bodies. Hannah couldn’t bring herself to look at them, solely keeping her focus on Omega, who had not once left her side. But the little girl in question was much bolder and was already thinking of ways she could get out of this mess. She eyed one of the blasters laying on the ground, which didn’t go unnoticed by Roland.
“Don’t try it. They’ll kill you.”
Hannah eyed him crossly. “Well at least she’s trying to do something, unlike you.”
“Oh, you think I haven’t already?” Roland replied, equally cross. “Besides, if your friends don’t return with the spice, we’re all dead.” He huffed and leaned further against the table he was sitting against. “That’s what happens when you meddle in other people’s business.” He scowled at both of the girls, who were sitting on the floor just a few feet away from him.
“Us?” Omega exclaimed. “You’re the one who took Cid’s parlor from her!”
“You take what you want,” Roland said proudly. “That’s the Durand way.” He sighed. “It’s a tactic my mother has perfected.”
Again with the mother issues. Hannah scoffed, saying, “Yeah, that’s workin’ out real well for you, buddy.”
“So, your mother’s a criminal too?” Omega asked, genuinely curious.
Roland groaned and rolled his eyes. “You make it sound so undignified.”
Hannah wanted to crawl over and smack Roland on the head. “Gee, I wonder why that is!”
Roland chuckled to himself, ignoring Hannah. “If she saw me now...”
“You are unbelievable,” Hannah said, shaking her head at him and huffing.
“Coming from you, I’ll take that as a compliment.” A piece of trash came flying at Roland’s head from Hannah’s direction. He looked to see her scowling at him, her face nearly as red as her hair from anger.
While this happened, Ruby came crawling over from the corner of the room and snuggled into Omega’s lap, much to the little girl’s delight. Both Hannah and Roland put aside their squabble for the moment to enjoy the adorable sight.
“Ruby doesn’t take a liking to many people,” Roland said, almost sounding jealous.
Hannah snickered, adding, “Omega has that effect on others.”
Omega beamed and began petting Ruby on the back. “Don’t worry, Ruby. We’ll get out of this.”
Roland sighed and looked at Omega. His lip quirked. “How do you do it?”
“Do what?” Omega asked.
“How can you be so... hopeful? Despite everything that’s happened?”
Omega shrugged. “I don’t know. I have faith in my brothers, and Cid too. It’s part of what being a family is, after all.”
Roland groaned again. “Your family maybe...”
Hannah couldn’t take it anymore. By then, in her mind, Roland had officially become even more annoying than Vin ever was. “Oh my gosh, would you please stop with the ‘poor me’ crap? We get it, your mom is hard on you and your life is soooooo difficult because of it. If anything, I have more respect for her now knowing how much of a brat you are!”
The room fell silent after that. Even Ruby didn’t make a peep. Omega looked between Roland and her adopted sister, wondering if she should say anything or stay out of it.
Eventually, a snicker was heard from Roland. “How about that? You actually were listening to me ramble earlier.”
Omega decided to chime in now. “Hannah’s good at listening to others, even if she doesn’t like them.”
“A good quality to have, I suppose.” Roland looked at Hannah, who was once again glaring at him, then back to Omega. “You’re lucky to have someone like her in your family.”
“I know,” Omega said, leaning harder against her adopted sister.
Hannah just huffed and looked away, unable to hide the gratified look on her face. To her discretion, she began rethinking her previous statement about Roland. Yes, he was still terrible. But maybe he wasn’t as bad as Vin. Maybe.
************************************
By the time night fell, the Pykes received word that the spice was en route back to the city. The girls looked at each other happily, proudly taunting Roland about how “they told him so”. Roland was genuinely surprised and impressed, but he played it off nonchalantly. The Pykes gathered the three of them up and brought them to Cid’s docking bay, along with Ruby, who was still being carried by Omega. They didn’t have to wait long before the Marauder came flying in – a sight that brought Hannah and Omega immeasurable joy.
Once the ship landed, the boys wasted no time hauling the reacquired spice crates out for the Pykes to see. Hannah’s heart swelled at seeing them again, this time believing she might actually get fully reunited with them. She still had a blaster to her back though and told herself to not get too excited yet.
After all the crates were offloaded, one of the Pykes opened a crate to confirm that the spice was still inside. Sure enough, despite whatever had happened to the crates, the spice was still all there and completely intact.
The head Pyke addressed Cid and the boys, saying, “Since the spice has been returned, the matter between us is resolved.” He then pulled a dagger out from behind him and turned towards Roland, who was still cuffed and kneeling on the ground. “But not with you.”
Omega and Hannah both looked at Roland sympathetically. Despite everything that had happened, Hannah still pitied Roland, if only a little. Then both girls were suddenly shoved forward, towards the others. They were finally free. Both of them immediately ran for Hunter, who had his arms out for each of them. Omega still had Ruby in her arms and was only able to lean against Hunter’s side, but Hannah practically crashed into him, clutching his neck tightly and burying her face into his shoulder.
The moment was quickly interrupted by the sound of Roland being shoved against one of the crates. Everyone watched as the head Pyke raised his dagger over Roland’s head. Hannah audibly gasped.
“Don’t!” Omega cried out, genuine concern in her voice. She stepped forward, causing Hunter to reach out in an attempt to stop her. “He made a mistake. That’s all!”
Cid stepped forward as well, adding, “She’s right – kill him, and you’ll be starting a war with Isa Durand. Do you want that heat right now? Call this a bad deal, and walk away.”
To say Hannah was shocked would be an understatement. She was used to Omega doing this sort of thing, but seeing Cid stand up for the guy who quite literally stole her parlor from her made Hannah almost think she was imagining things.
The head Pyke was not willing to listen though. “We do not accept bad deals,” he hissed in his monotone voice before once again raising his dagger over Roland’s head.
Hannah turned her face away as the blade swung down. She heard Roland cry out and could feel a pang in her heart. Cautiously, she looked back to see Roland not beheaded, but simply rolling on the ground in pain, clutching the top of his head. A severed horn laid on the crate in front of them, which was promptly picked up by the head Pyke.
“Our business is finished,” he said, then looked down at the writhing Roland. “It would not be wise for our paths to cross again.”
With that, the Pykes gathered the crates of spice and began walking off, leaving the newly disgraced Roland on the ground. Roland turned towards everyone else, an ashamed look on his face. He saw Omega walking towards him, still holding Ruby gently and looking at him sympathetically.
“Are you ok?” she asked, crouching down closer to him.
Roland shook his head and turned away from Omega, his newly severed horn now on full display. “It’s a small price to pay.”
Hannah looked up at Hunter, who looked back at her, wordlessly telling her that everything was ok. Gently, Hannah eased up her grip around his neck so that he could approach Omega. Wrecker was standing nearby and offered his arm out to her, which Hannah gladly took, wrapping her arms around his waist and getting pulled into a signature Wrecker squeeze. She watched as Roland stood up and was handed Ruby by Omega, with Hunter standing behind her.
“I’ll be going now,” Roland said, his face once again turned away in shame. He shot a glance towards Hannah, who acknowledged him before he turned and walked away.
It was weird seeing Roland just walk away like that. Compared to Vin, he really wasn’t as bad as Hannah initially thought. Maybe this event would change him in a way that Vin never got. Maybe. Hannah wasn’t going to get her hopes up, that’s for sure.
Once Roland was gone, Cid turned to Tech, Echo, and Wrecker, saying, “Come on boys. First round’s on me.”
Wrecker scoffed and patted Hannah on the back. “You owe us way more than that!”
Cid smirked and replied, “Don’t push your luck.”
For the first time all week, Hannah laughed. “Well, I guess I’ll provide the seconds then.”
Wrecker also laughed, giving her another squeeze and saying, “And this is why you’re our favorite!” The three boys then ran off, leaving Hannah behind with Cid.
“It’s fine,” Cid said, turning to Hannah with a smirk. “I can admit when I’ve been beaten.”
Hannah laughed again. “Alright, who are you, and what have you done with Cid?”
“Hey, even an old codger like me can change if necessary.” Cid came up to Hannah and patted her on the arm. “Besides, believe it or not, you’re my favorite too, Red.”
Hannah’s eyes lit up, genuinely touched by Cid’s words.
Cid leaned in closer, saying, “Just don’t tell the boys I said that.”
Hannah giggled and nodded in reply.
Cid and Hannah began making their way back to the parlor together, the other boys long gone by now. Cid hoped they were making themselves useful by cleaning out the bodies, which Hannah had forgotten about and grimaced at the thought of. She quickly realized though that she was missing something. Two things actually. She let Cid continue on and stopped to look back at the docking bay.
Still standing together, side by side like usual, were Hunter and Omega – her lover and her adopted sister. Everything that had happened that week suddenly didn’t matter anymore. It was over now. All that Hannah cared about most was what was right in front of her, in that moment. She saw Omega run towards her and smiled fondly, holding out a hand for her. They began walking together, hand in hand, like they had done from the very first day they met. Then turning to the other side, Hannah held out her other hand for Hunter, who she knew was right behind them. He gently grabbed her hand and interlaced their fingers together, pulling her closer and kissing the side of her head.
Hannah was definitely not going to be lonely for a while.
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don't you want to be a cult leader? - danyal al ghul au
this is mostly a joke post but i thought it was funny and had to share so--
his first mistake was, obviously, inheriting his father's inability to see an injustice and stand still. -- actually, danyal's first mistake was his lair being so big. a mountainous island with a large temple in the center resembling his old home in Nanda Parbat? With sprawling foliage and rivers and streams and waterfalls galore? What was he going to do with all that space? Let it go to waste? He had plants there! Native trees of the ghost zone growing from the soil! He couldn't let it all be left unchecked!
So naturally after helping a fellow teenage assassin ghost -- who he later learns is named Akihiko, -- from Walker of all people, he sent them over to hang low at his lair until it was safe enough for them to wander around the Zone. Walker couldn't get through Danyal's astrofield if his life depended on it, and trust him -- he's tried. Danny was clearing out debris from his stupid transport vans for weeks.
Honestly it wasn't so bad, he and Aki really quickly became fast friends and Danny loves having a sparring partner close to his level again -- he hasn't had this much fun fighting since he left the League. Aki was very dedicated and levelheaded, the both of them clicked really well because of it.
Nonono, the real trouble began after Danyal met some long-passed League members and allowed them to come join his island as well. Apparently they had made a few enemies of the zone, and maybe Danyal still felt some loyalty to the League. He couldn't just let them be left to rot. Their zealotry could be overlooked so long as they kept it contained and helped him take care of his island.
And it.. snowballs from there? He meets a teen squire aptly calling himself Ambroise -- whether that was his living name or not is yet to be seen -- who died during feudal france, who is just about as dramatic and passionate as every french stereotype makes them out to be. He calls Danyal "my moon and great muse" -- which is both flattering and little uncomfortable, but Danyal's grown up in the League as the Grandson of the Demon Head, he is used to mild worship. he passes it off as nothing more, nothing less. -- and while his energy is overwhelming on the worst of days, he helps Danny draw out of his shell more in ways that Sam and Tucker still struggle with.
Him and Aki butt heads a lot, but the two seem to hold the other in at least some positive regard, so Danny doesn't worry too much about them fighting while he's gone. It only becomes a mild issue when Aki also begins calling Danny "my moon". It's a little sweet, so Danyal brushes it off.
Then he takes in a troupe of ghosts some time after he defeats Pariah Dark and they begin calling him "great one" just as the yetis do in the far frozen. This is where he meets the twins -- a pair of sibling ghosts who call themselves Trixie and Missy (short for Trick and Mislead) -- who aren't quite as passionate as Ambroise but more energetic than Aki. Eventually they also start calling Danyal "my moon" and attach themselves to his hip, even within the living. They like to hide in his shadow and cause trouble for the rest of the students. He makes sure they don't hurt anyone.
He's pretty sure Aki is jealous, same with Ambroise, but he can't be too certain other than the fact that they become much more lingering (re: clingy) whenever he visits the island.. Something he's trying to do much more often these days due to the increasing amount of people living there now. Since when did he become so popular?
Then there's Pēnelópeia from the Greater Athens, who ran away from home and joined his Island after he ran into her while she was being chased by Skulker -- and he's pretty sure the reason was because of her chimeric appearance. Her strange eyes and mismatched wings and lion's tail and talons. She assimilates into his friend group very easily, she gets along well with Ambroise and Trixie and Danny usually finds the three of them climbing the trees to pluck the most fruit from the top. They can fly and he knows it, but they prefer to climb.
Then finally there's silent poet Akkara who comes from ancient mesopotamia, who gets along most with Aki -- which is no surprise there considering their similar personality dispositions. he watches Aki and Danyal fight each other and leaves comments on this or that that he notices. He writes Danyal poems on clay tablets and leaves them by his room.
They're one big mismatched group of outcasts, and Danny's got the other ghosts on his island to tend to, because they're living on his island and he wants to be hospitable even if he struggles with that. But he spends the most of his time with them.
Sam and Tucker are making fun of him. Tucker jokingly tells him 'careful Danny, at this rate you're gonna start a cult'. Danny really wishes he had taken that joke more seriously.
He just. keeps. collecting people. Wayward souls lost in the zone, looking for shelter or refuge from something or other -- whether that be another hostile ghost, or a past afterlife, or just a purpose. Danyal finds them, he takes them in, offers them a place on his island until they are ready to leave. Many seldom do. He's not complaining -- he has the space, and it feels like it's only ever growing.
His close friends, his "inner circle" as he's heard the others call them, keep insistently calling him "my moon". He starts calling them his stars, because then it only feels fair. They're his stars, this is his constellation. It becomes a thing; little star halos begin forming behind their heads, picking them out from the rest. He loves them so much, it's hard to place. Sam and Tucker are also his stars, but they reside in the living realm, they're his tie to Life. Meanwhile, his friends here know what it's like to be dead, and sometimes its nice to relate.
Those living on his island keep calling him "Great One" and he's beginning to notice zealotry in their care for his island. He really, deeply appreciates it. His close friends gain nicknames -- as his stars, it's only natural for him to pick them out from the cluster in the skies. Akihiko, his Sirius and bright star. Trix and Missy, Castor and Pollux, the twins and troublemakers. Ambroise, his zealous Antares and close friend. Penelopeia, chimeric and loyal Vega. And Akkara, his Arcturus and strength.
It's ridiculous how long it takes for him to notice; he is, of course, a deadly trained assassin. He is meant to be observant -- and normally he is! But somehow this becomes a blind spot. One that becomes too big to be dealt with by the time he realizes it.
He should've noticed when Aki, his Sirius, stood beside him one day while Danyal looked over his island and saw the sprawling spirits carrying on about their afterlife and bowing to him as they saw him, and said: "I looked down into the depths when I met you; I couldn't measure it." They aren't one for flowing prose, it took him so off guard he was silent for over a minute before he finally spoke.
Danyal should've recognized devotion for what it is, and yet he didn't. He should've recognized it when Antares began spouting praises about him, crowing about his radiance and resplendence to the heavens. He just brushed it off as Ambroise being Ambroise. He should've recognized it when Trix and Missy nearly broke Dash's leg after he knocked Danyal's books out of his hands, he excused it as them being protective. Of them coming from times where such violence may have been customary -- after all, that's what he used to be like. What he was still like, sometimes, when his emotions nearly got the better of him.
He should've noticed it when the people living on his island followed his word like gospel, looked at him like he hung the stars in the sky. When his friends gifted him a shawl with the moon phases delicately embroidered into it, with silver, shimmering thread and moving stars lovingly stitched into it. Their constellations seen clear as day in the dark fabric. When he found small shrines dedicated to him -- but they lacked any image of him beyond stones carved to look like moons, so he ignored it. When the religious imagery began popping up.
He really, really should've noticed it when a bunch of cultists accidentally summoned Antares, and Antares had turned to him when he arrived and called them heretics. But he was so centered on the fact that they had kidnapped one of his stars, that he hadn't paid much attention to what Ambroise had said.
Sages say that faith is blind, they should also say faith in you is even blinder.
It really only hits him one afternoon while he's sitting in Sam's room studying with Tucker, Missy and Trixie lounging at his feet, Aki sat on his right, Penelopeia braiding his hair, Ambroise draped against him, and Akkara lurking over him. Its one of the rare few times they're all in one room together.
It hits him like a bolt of lightning. He looks up from his textbook. "Oh Ancients," he says in no amounting shock. Everyone looks up to him.
"I've become my grandfather."
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