#mikey the massiff

[the-starry-seas]

Whisper cozy in bed?

Also Kit.

And Kestrel.

Getting Whisper comfy in bed often takes what's legally referred to as an act of God. Or like a sixty-hour absence of sleep in an active war zone. Kind of the same thing really. (Things get very much worse after xe gets xeim arm chopped off. Oops?) But the Aces have been doing cuddle piles since they were cadets, and Whisper has four massiffs that keep guard for them (and Kag is trained for bite/protection work). It does not matter if xe's in a king's bed or on a slab of concrete. Put a squad and some massiffs in there, and xe's very comfortable.

Kit likes one (1) sheet and no blankets because he overheats easily. He also has a bajillion pillows because he's a cuddler and also they're soft. I think he makes his own for a fun craft project to keep his hands busy, and also because cool fabric! For more comfort items! He also has a few stuffed animals which are all canine-shaped. He has the dog equivalent of those four-foot-long stuffed tigers that used to be like, carnival game rewards? You know what I'm talking about?

Kestrel is such a weirdo and I adore it eternally for that. Raph has a big antique wooden desk in his room because like. You're not gonna find more sturdier furniture than that, and he's a big dude. This grand little idiot sleeps under the desk. It has a bed! It's been in cuddle piles and shared beds with its brothers and even slept on the couch in Donnie's lab! And it looks at those options and goes 'no thanks, floor under the desk for me'. Mikey does a craft project to attach a under-desk curtain, to make it even more of a hidey-hole. Kestrel wraps up in one of Raph's hoodies or blankets, and will sleep like it's in a coma for 3-16 hours.

[a-lil-perspective]

Hunter and Cyare taking the brood on a family hike. :)

There’s at least one (1) baby strapped to Hunter, Cyare’s pregnant, the ones who can walk toddle alongside them or are put in strollers.

Because they live out on some land located in the mountains they go hiking a lot as their family grows. The Uncles come along sometimes if they’re not busy with their own families.

At first it was just a Hunter and Cyare thing and then it became a Hunter and Cyare plus one thing (Hunter and Cyare would walk a lot towards the end of her first pregnancy especially to help induce labor) and then it became a whole family affair and their girlies (and Mikey the very good boy Massiff) love it. XD They always are learning something new and with Hunter’s enhanced senses and tracking capabilities he always makes the experience incredibly engaging. They learn to track just like their Papa. :)

Anyway. Went hiking today and was thinking about the Papa Hunterverse gang. :)

[a-lil-perspective]

~When I said no one finds out about Auntie what I meant was no one but Cyare. ;) ~

———

“So, who’s the lucky lady?”

Crosshair’s steps come to a regrettable halt in the doorway. He doesn’t look up as he removes his gear. “Excuse me?”

Cyare keeps her eyes trained on the intricate stitch in her lap, this impudent look on her face as she rocks serenely in her chair. “I don’t think I stuttered, Ram’ser.”

He pauses a moment too long. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

The wooden creak of the rocking chair is the only sound that fills the space.

Crosshair sets his jaw as he succumbs to her silent Try again. He forces himself to move further inside the home, discarding his remaining outer gear, his words thick with indifference. “What makes you think there’s any ‘lady’.”

Maker was that the wrong thing to say.

“Well, this is the third time this week you’ve been gone approximately three hours having left on the hour, which gives you just enough time for dinner, a nice quiet retreat because you don’t talk much, and time to walk her home because you are the pinnacle of a gentleman. Also, you got your hair done and that’s Alderaanian cologne, one of the finest on the market.”

His nose scrunches defensively.

Cyare pats her swollen belly appreciatively. “Hunter’s not the only one with heightened senses.”

A sudden wave of remorse washes over Crosshair. “I showered before I came. I apologize.”

Cyare’s face flickers something soft. “It’s not strong, don’t worry. He’s not even here. Ran into town for some supplies.”

Crosshair arches a brow. “You’re here by yourself?”

She recognizes the protective lilt in his voice almost immediately, and she frowns in feign offense. “Hey, I can take care of myself. And I’m not completely alone,” she jerks her head towards the bedroom. “‘Lara’s in her crib. And Mikey, of course.”

Of course. That damned Massiff who is very much a good boy.

Cyare gives him a wry smile. “Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me. Besides; it’s not my place to tell.”

“Some would argue otherwise.”

“Ba’vodu Cwoss?”

Crosshair’s head snaps up to behold his small niece in the doorway, having evidently climbed out of her crib at the hushed sounds of her Uncle. Crosshair swears sometimes Hunter’s kids have super hearing. He moves towards her soothingly, paternal instincts transforming his entire gait. “La-La, mesh’la it’s bedtime—” he disappears into the room, and Cyare listens keenly; his quiet murmurs lulling her back to sleep, her little voice piping up about how good he smells, and his sturdy pats to Mikey. He returns after several minutes with a job well done.

Cyare can’t help her Cheshire grin as he passes. “Does she like kids?”

Crosshair throws her an unamused look.

She snorts, holding her hands up placatingly. “Kidding, I’m kidding.” Remorse fills her quickly. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

Cyare leans back in her chair, perusing him. “It’s been awhile since I’ve seen you like this.”

“Like ‘this’.”

“Alive,” she supplies. “The way you get whenever you’re talking about your rifles. Or doing your best. Anytime you’re passionate.”

“And here I thought you were going to say ‘soft’.”

“‘Soft’? Crosshair? I would never.”

Crosshair lets his smirk fully develop, and it mirrors Cyare’s.

“Although all signs point to feelings of affection.”

Crosshair gathers his things, willing his eyes not to meet hers as he lets that sink in. “Somebody should’ve stuck with Intelligence.”

She catches her grin between her teeth.

“Just because I’ve had babies doesn’t mean I’ve lost my touch,” her eyes glimmer. “I know a love-struck tooka when I see one.”

“Now I’m insulted.”

Cyare’s shoulders shake with quiet mirth. She continues her appraisal. “That pack is new, too. That’s obvious, even for you.”

Crosshair acquiesces. “Guess I’m losing my touch.”

Cyare makes a sound of musing. “Preoccupied, I’d say.” She smiles to herself. “The things we do for love.”

Crosshair is quiet. “How do you manage.”

Cyare chuffs out a laugh, the regulated kind that being a mother has perfected. “Oh, I don’t. I don’t manage at all.”

“Thank you Cyare, that was very enlightening.”

Cyare purses her lips as she sobers. “It’s not something you ‘manage’. You just take it day-by-day, minute-by-minute. You let yourself feel these things and then you keep going,” her workings come to a standstill as she becomes lost in translation. “That’s the best part. You get to experience these feelings and everyday it’s something new. It gets easier once you become more receptive to it. But you,” she hums fondly. “You’re so used to anticipating, calculating, accounting for every angle. At some point,” she shrugs, “you just have to shoot.”

Certainly far more wisdom (and introspect) than Crosshair was comfortable with - although in hindsight he should’ve expected no less - he allows her words to thoughtfully absorb anyway. She breaks it down in layman’s terms with a hint of sharpshooting jargon, and it’s a quality with whose implications he can appreciate.

It’s a long time before he speaks again. “That predictable, huh.”

Her eyes glitter. “Just to me.”

Crosshair nods in light of a thousand unspoken words. But she knows. He knows. Her smile blooms.

“She makes you happy.”

It’s not a question, so Crosshair doesn’t know why he answers it. “Yes.”

Cyare nods. Her eyes fall back to the knit in her lap. “Then I’m happy.”

Crosshair finally allows himself to look her way. His expression softens. And suddenly, like so often these days, he feels lost and addled in this delicate web of feelings.

“Thanks for putting La-La back to sleep. I owe you one.”

She’s giving him a way out, and he accepts it with haste. “Just doing my part.” He quickly clears his throat. “You uh… won’t tell Hunter…?”

Cyare hands him the stitch. “Tell him what?”

[a-lil-perspective]

Ok Lil. I got one for you: How does Cyare tell Hunter the first time she’s pregnant? Or are they together when she finds out? And how does it change for each baby? Also your content makes my day, everyday!

-Rebel

Omg Rebel this is the cutest thing SO to start off I did a couple of pregnancy reveal headcanons (two, I think) and they are under the tag #pregnancy reveal. I won’t link them here because I don’t want them to take away from these new ideas but basically the main idea is that Hunter always knows first. Heightened senses, you know. So that’s what both posts revolve around except one is where Omega is also a little perceptive thing and “senses” it all on her own and it’s pretty neat. Both Hunter and Cyare are shell-shocked lol.

SO. I said all that to say, it’s tricky to come up with pregnancy reveal headcanons for Hunter because he knows before Cyare even has a chance to say anything—it’s always more “How does Hunter tell Cyare she’s pregnant?”

But this is so adorable and I have a lot of fluffy ideas so let’s set his mutation aside for a quick sec—yes he can “sense” the pregnancy but maybe he’s not 100% sure you know so let’s have Cyare confirm it for him each time. :) Also my Papa Hunterverse is constantly changing so these concepts are not set in stone.

~

Baby #1: Very special. Hunter gets a present. :) This is not long after he hears an extra heartbeat suddenly in the middle of the night while he and Cyare sleep and he thinks she might be pregnant but it was a one-time incident so he thinks he just imagined it.

Until Cyare comes up to him one day with a little wooden box and sets it in his lap on the couch. She kneels at his feet, looking up at him earnestly. He looks at her with his lopsided grin, maybe even muses, “What’s this?”

There’s a sparkle in her eye as she tells him, “Open it.”

To his delight: A pocket knife, with the word “Papa” engraved in the hilt.

Hunter is elated.

He’s just… staring at it. Smoothing his fingers over each letter, his fantasy-turned-reality.

“Tiny knife,” Cyare whispers sweetly.

When he looks up to her tears are brimming his eyes and it hits him. He chokes, “We’re gonna have a baby?”

Cyare’s near tears herself as she embraces him. “We’re gonna have a baby.”

*

Baby #2: Some help from Hunter Junior #1. :) Hold onto your britches cause this one’s adorable.

Hunter Junior wakes up early in the morning, she usually wakes up to Papa but today Cyare swooped in extra early in order to get everything ready. :) So she dresses Hunter Junior and sends her out to her Papa.

Baby loves greeting her Papa in the morning, it’s her favorite thing, both of them have the biggest smiles on their faces and Hunter scoops her up and holds her close like they’ve been apart for a lifetime—he’s been waiting a lifetime he says, so his fervor is well-warranted.

Anyway he’s kissing and loving all over her and the bold lettering on her little shirt catches his eye. He pulls back with, “Lemme see your shirt, Mesh’la.” And he reads the wording.

“I May Be Little But I’m Going To Be A Big Sister!”

His head snaps up to Cyare.

*

Baby #3: Mikey the Massiff helps with this one. A very good boi. :)

Short and sweet, Cyare ties a bandana around his neck that says “Guess what? Mom’s pregnant” for Hunter to see.

It’s hilarious because Hunter doesn’t notice for two whole days. XD

Cyare begins to lose all hope. XD

And like, Hunter is perceptive but sometimes he’s a dork and doesn’t notice the most obvious or minute things haha. So it’s funny for her to be subtle like this knowing it will take him a substantial amount of time to discover it.

But when he does.

His excited gasp of “For real, baby?!” from the other room has Cyare smiling knowingly.

*

Baby #4: Hunter unknowingly participates on his own reveal. XD

So they’re taking fun photos together and Hunter holds up this letterboard that says, at the top, “I Have No Idea What This Letterboard Says.”

Cyare fills out the bottom half in secret. :)

So she stands back to take the photo of the complete board that Hunter holds up with an (uneasy?) grin.

The official wording:

“We’re Having Another Baby!”

Hunter’s reaction when he sees it is priceless.

*

Baby #5 (& #6): Surprise surprise. :))

She hands him matching onesies and Hunter needs to sit down for a moment.

He’s got the biggest grin on his face obviously he’s over the moon lol and he’s laughing hysterically at the Clone humor but he’s… really genuinely surprised. XD They both are. Here is where they start to think they’ve gotten in way over their heads. XD

But it’s sweet like, they’re laughing (not much else they can do XD) and Cyare’s just like “Babe what did we do.” lmao they’re about to have 7 kids altogether. (6 Hunter Juniors + 1 Meg-Meg :))

They’re both just sitting there like 😬😅😆

They decide here that this is probably gonna be the last batch. Full stop. (Provided there’s no more suprises…)

Oh and Hunter rocks his “Real Men Make Twins” shirt indefinitely. He’s very proud of that.

[a-lil-perspective]

Read the Bad Batch and tea parties headcanon and I desperately need one of Hunter’s daughters to decide it’s time for a tea party and her dad just *has* to be a fellow princess, as well as look the part (tiaras, makeup, hair bows, and all) Hunter is trying his best to be nice meanwhile cyare’s just laughing it up in the background like “looking great hon”

Oh yeah and he *has* to take off the bandana because it’s not tea party attire and he’s not too sure about that.

So instead of a bandana he has to wear this big ass bow and the babies are going to town “styling” his hair (it just ends up in knots😂) while he’s forced to sit in those tiny ass plastic chairs and Hunter is kinda straight up not having a good time BUT the smile on their faces is so worth it and it makes his chest warm. So he powers through it.

Also somehow Mikey the Massiff was wrangled in and the girls managed to secure a bow in his fur and he looks as miserable as Hunter. XD

And yeah Cyare is totally standing off to the side poking fun. XD

(Tea parties with Omega are way more chill. Hunter loves tea parties with his ‘Mega.)

Anyway. Sergeant Papa reporting for duty.

[a-lil-perspective]

Did my stupid ass brain just make the connection that massiffs are literally just a mix between Komodo dragons and a pit bull??? Yes yes it did. And now I can’t get Matty the Massiff out of my head:

Aka this reptilian dog slobbering all over Hunter’s and Cyare’s daughters when they get home from school, being the whiniest creature in existence when it’s time for food, absolutely addicted to apples (like my dog), the girls piling on top of Matty when they’re leaving for school. Yeah I love Massiffs

Yes YES Sydney (sorry yet another ask that took me forever to answer please forgive me fjdhdhdh) Mikey is the BEST boi and he’s perfect for Hunter’s gaggle of children. His favorite thing ever is when they come home from school and swarm him, they get him all riled up with treats and head pats and he cannot settle down for several hours which is a headache for Hunter but seeing his baby girls so happy is worth it. It’s always worth it.

Also Mikey is the most overprotective thing ever poor Cyare cannot get a moment’s peace when she’s pregnant between a husband, her brother-in-laws and a Massiff at her feet it’s maddening. XD Fun fact Mikey always sniffs her baby bump and the first time it happened the guys are like “hE’s HuNGrY!!” and for awhile Hunter did not trust him not to eat his baby. XD

[a-lil-perspective]

How do you think the dad batch would react to Omega (or even their bio child) getting a pet that just seems to love their kid but HATE them to the point go they want to straight body bag the dad batch😂 (fun fact this is currently happening to my army dad who is versing my sisters tiny parrot and the parrot is currently winning🤣)

Omg I love this so much and your sister’s tiny parrot establishing dominance is the funniest thing. XDD

Okay yeah, any pet that weasels its way into the Dad Batch’s abode is going to cause chaos with every member except the lil baby it was assigned to.

———

Omega can connect easily with animals; her curiosity and benevolent nature lets her warm up to them quickly, and them her. After her last run-in with a wild animal on the Lawquane’s farm, Hunter is leery to let her have any pet that isn’t a Tooka.

She wants a Massiff.

Hunter is left scratching his head wondering how the hell he got roped into that as Omega sits on the floor, her infant baby sister in her lap, and Mikey the Massiff curled around them. Glaring at Hunter anytime he comes close.

The feeling is mutual.

It’s a heart racing stare-off, and Hunter’s battle instincts are cresting, coursing through his veins and shaping his defensive stance from across the way. Hunter’buir doesn’t plan on backing down anytime soon.

Maybe if he’d just put the knife away, Cyare suggests.

“I don’t think so.” He sterns.

It growls at everybody except the little tots milling about. Hunter’s babies are indifferent—as long as they can comb its fur and beautify the sharp-fanged thing.

Wrecker and Tech are more lenient with its territorial nature; Tech has tasked himself with studying the behavioral patterns and Wrecker is confident in his ability to crush it with his bare hands should the need arise. Even Echo has assured that it’s docile; the Corries domesticated and used them all the time. They’re loyal.

Ba’vodu Crosshair does not share the same sentiment.

And so he and Hunter take turns brooding, casting disdainful glances at the thing anytime it rears its gnarly head (which the babies insist on stroking).

It’s Crosshair who takes night watch.

And there’s nothing to report; the sight of a sleeping Massiff curled at the foot of her crib, a puddle of drool accumulating under its chin as it snores methodically, suggesting attentiveness even through the folds of slumber. It could spring to action before Crosshair so much as blinks.

To protect.

[a-lil-perspective]

Hunter and Cyare trying to have a nice date feat. Crosshair, Tech, and Wrecker

THIS IS GOLDEN.

And the dog is Mikey. XD

[a-lil-perspective]

Pregnancy Aesthetics: Cyare edition

This will not be near as long as Auntie’s don’t worry but I am excited to show you all the same! She’s so cute.

Comfy Cyare time!

Bonus w/ bebe.🥰

Like Auntie, Cyare prefers to keep it flowy around the house. Dresses are Cyare’s go-to but she’s also a big fan of rompers and jumpsuits. When working out in the garden she will break out the soft maternity jumpsuits and Hunter goes wild. He absolutely adores them on her. They are very flattering on her pregnant frame.

[a-lil-perspective]

~In light of the scare I had today with my Little going missing, here’s a scenario where Hunter’s little one toddles off and the Dad Batch spring into action.~

—

Sure, Omega has gotten away from them in the past, and it was a terrifying ordeal Hunter in particular will never forget—but it hits a bit different when it’s his 18-month-old that disappears.

She’s so small.

So vulnerable.

Out there on her own, Maker-knows-where.

(Hunter *knows* where thanks in no small part to his heightened senses.)

And it’s precisely why he fears the worst.

Both a blessing and a curse; Hunter and Cyare have a bit of land flanking their homestead, backing up to a woodsy area with a small river.

Where baby has toddled off to.

Mikey the Massiff (all my uwus to you if you remember him) is the one who alerts them.

He comes in just a barking and carrying on, and Hunter cannot figure what the heck is wrong and why he’s all out of sorts—until it dawns on him.

He doesn’t have time to point fingers or figure out who was supposed to be watching her and when. Time is of the essence, and when Mikey takes off into the woods, Hunter (with Cyare) is hot on his heels.

The entire Bad Batch is, really.

It’s like a convoluted battle simulation, their blood pumping a mix of adrenaline and cold terror as they seek out not battle droids, but a baby. Hunter’s baby.

Wrecker the muscle is clearing a path, overturning every structure (literally) and obstacle to find her. Tech with his ingenuity has pinpointed her signature and is working tirelessly to widen the range. Crosshair has taken to the heights, to see what others can’t, and he’s determined to set his sights on that little girl. His balance quakes and for the first time he feels so unsteady. Echo has drawn his blaster and his blood is boiling for a fight. Hunter is able to track her down with the most ease.

The search is over as quickly as it begins.

She’s alive and well, to Hunter’s immeasurable relief. But his warm feelings are short lived; his heart drops to his stomach as his surroundings settle in, no longer clouded by pitiful tunnel-vision.

She’s standing on a bridge; this old rickety thing he meant to tear down months ago that suspends precariously above a murky body of water.

Baby is happy as a lark as she toddles across it on chubby legs.

Hunter can do nothing but gape in horror, and he suddenly loathes his inability to be steadfast and capable.

She’s much too far away for him to reach.

He goes to shout for her but Cyare silences him with a firm hand on his shoulder.

“Hunter—don’t.” He can hear shreds of panic behind an otherwise impeccable calm. “You’ll startle her and she could fall. We’ll find another way.”

Hunter takes a few deep breaths to ground himself, and contacts the others. And the orders are simple (and genius):

“Tech, swing around to the other side; distract her so we can sneak up from behind. Crosshair, get a harpoon ready. Wrecker get down to the bank below and be prepared to catch her. Echo fire up the Marauder’s engines and bring her to a hover above the bridge—quietly.”

Hunter secures the supplied cable to Cyare—because she’s lighter on her feet and the bridge will hold her better—and she can now safely cross the decrepit structure to retrieve baby.

She sneaks up slowly, surely. Time slows painfully around her. Her heart is in her throat. She listens keenly to Tech on the other side, knelt down, coercing the toddler with his cool gadgets and fun facts she can’t at all understand but that she’s giggling over all the same. Baby loves when her Ba’vodu Tech talks.

She’s not quite ready to go to him, though.

Because it’s all a game, to baby. She’s played hide-and-seek up until this point but suddenly it’s tag.

“Tag, Mommy’s got you.”

Baby squeals in surprise as Cyare scoops her up and holds her tight, and oh she’s never loved the feeling of her baby in her arms more than in that moment. Hunter’s on pins and needles watching from afar and when Cyare makes sweet blessed contact with their baby he could honestly cry.

Tech helps Cyare across the remaining length of bridge, unhooking her cable and keeping her close as Hunter and the others circle around with all haste.

And Papa Hunter is a mess when he gathers Cyare and baby in his arms, now that he’s shed his Sergeant skin to pave the way for his delicate feelings.

“Mesh’la you scared Papa,” he chokes out, cradling his daughter with shaky hands. “You scared me so bad. You can’t run off on us like that. I-I could’ve lost you…”

Baby just blinks at him.

She knows when Papa is sad, though.

And so her little hands find the tears streaming down his face.

“Sowwy Papa…”

-

It’s quiet when they all make it back to the house. Guilt hangs heavily in the air, despite the fact that all is well. The solemnity is stifling, eyes downcast, as each member refuses to look one another in the face for fear of the shame they’ll find.

Each one feels he’s to blame.

When all is said and done, Hunter doesn’t care who was ‘supposed’ to be watching her or any miscommunication that might’ve took place. He makes his brothers look him in the eye as he tells them this.

“It’s nobody’s fault. She’s safe now. That’s what matters.”

It doesn’t make it any less dismaying.

And the Batchers are a little bit (a lot) more protective of this unassuming tot now, trying to get back in her good graces (in which they never left) and expressing extra sentiments. They’ll never take her for granted again.

When the dust settles and the emotions finally hit, Cyare can’t say she’s faring as well as the others.

It’s the first time the Batchers truly see her cry.

Because my God, she’s Mom, she should’ve known where her baby was at all times.

The water works start flowing and the boys are like pups on her heels; Echo asking if she’s alright, Tech offering her water, Crosshair telling her to breathe, Wrecker wanting to comfort.

She wants to be alone to drown in her shortcomings but Hunter won’t let her.

He follows her outside the house where she cries into him, apologizing profusely, and it’s tearing him up because she sounds so broken. He’s gotten so used to her being a fortress; he sometimes forgets about her own delicacy of feelings.

He apologizes too.

And then he silences her penitence, because it is not her fault.

“But I’m Mom.”

“And I’m Dad.”

It’s a burden they share equally, and he reminds her as much.

“Children will always find ways of getting into trouble; it’s what they do.” He lifts her chin. “Protecting them is what we do.”

Hunter reflects on the way Cyare protected her—saved her. The way she ran after their missing child like a lioness, the fierce look in her eyes as she crossed the bridge; nothing was going to stop her from reaching her baby.

Cyare is extraordinary.

Hunter’s eyes glimmer with pride as he pulls her close. “You did good.”