#we all wanna see Tech without goggles | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

captn-trex · 5 months ago

Text

we never quite made it

Tech x F!Reader

word count: 10k

description: after first meeting on kamino, you and tech seem to keep running into each other, without being able to fully indulge in each other's company. will you ever find the time to be able to tell each other of the feelings that have bloomed over the years?

warnings: not a happy ending!! death, torture (not in any great detail), blood & needles, some mentions of other medical stuff, tech brainrot I fear, don't wanna spoil it but... cx-2...

a/n: okay this was originally just gonna be a cute little fluffy thing and then I kinda went over board. it's a little more high-concept (which feels like a generous word for it) than my other oneshots but i'm pretty happy with how it turned out :) also anyone who writes tech fics regularly I salute you 🫡 it is truly not for the weak

22BBY, KAMINO

You waited patiently in the medical bay, lining up your various tools so none of them were out of place. You weren’t necessarily a neat freak, it was just something to occupy your hands. You were about to see your first patient since transferring from the hospital on Coruscant, to Kamino, in an effort to help the war effort.

The other medics around you weren’t new, and seemed a lot more relaxed, and sure of themselves. You had faith in your abilities as a medic, you had graduated from university into the job a number of years ago now, but somehow this felt like a lot more responsibility, looking after the men that fought for the Republic.

Your fingers were fidgeting at your sides when the door to the medical bay slid open, and a large group of clones were ushered inside by a Kaminoan. You were at the back of the room, so the clones from the front of the group were shown to the medics closest to them. As the group parted, you could see there were a group of clones in vastly different armour from their brothers, and your interest was certainly piqued.

You watched with intrigue as they got closer to you, and before you knew it, one of them was standing in front of you. You still felt nervous, but the timid look on the youthful face of this clone was enough to snap you into gear.

“Hello” You smiled at him sweetly, gesturing to the cot next to you, “Do you want to take a seat?”

The clone didn’t say anything, but obliged quickly. He was taller than many of the clones you worked on before, his hair a light auburn, and he wore goggles that were tinted a subtle yellow.

“What’s your name?” You asked politely.

“CT-9902, Ma’am”

The nervousness was evident in his voice, which you noted was different from the other clones, a more formal twinge and bite to the vowels.

“No need for all that Trooper, just my name is fine” You chuckled a little, tapping the name badge on your uniform, “and I asked for your name. What do your brothers call you?”

The clone looked to the name badge and then up to your eyes, “Tech”

“Well Tech, I understand that this is your last check-up before you graduate, is that right?”

“Uh, technically, we have already graduated. We are waiting to be deployed” He corrected you and you nodded.

”I understand” You smiled, “I’m just going to take some of your blood, if that’s okay”

“Of course it’s okay” He said matter-of-factly, “I wouldn’t expect anything less”

You had to suppress a smirk at his observation as you took the syringe from the tray, “It’s just what they ask us to say, bedside manner and all that”

“Ah” He replied, a blush tinging his ears pink, “My apologies”

It was hard not to find Tech adorable. He was so young and fresh-faced, somehow more so than the other recently graduated clones around the room. Perhaps it was the difference in facial structure, slightly pursed lips, or the big brown eyes that looked up at you though his goggles.

“No need” You waved off his apology, “It’s nice not to have to baby your patients really”

Tech nodded thoughtfully, and took of his left vambrace to allow you access to the correct vein, rolling up his sleeve. You raised an eyebrow at his actions.

“You had a lot of blood taken before?” You asked, and he looked at you puzzled.

“No” He replied simply, “Why?”

“I didn’t have to tell you where I was going to take it from” You gestured the syringe towards his now bare forearm.

“Ah, well” He looked down at himself and back up, “I am… a little knowledgeable about such things”

You smirked a little as you took his arm, keeping him talking while you placed the needle to his skin, “Knowledgeable huh? and why is that?”

He looked up at your face as you worked, wholly uninterested in the needle that was pressing into his arm, “I am interested in knowing about it”

You hummed slightly in reply, drawing the blood from the clone and placing the syringe down again.

“Just a few more things to check” You said, taking the small torch from your belt, “Would you mind taking off your goggles for just a moment?”

The clone didn’t hesitate, and pushed his goggles atop his head.

“Now, look straight ahead” You told him, and shined the light into his eye, checking to see if his pupils were dilating properly. At some point his eyes flicked up to yours, and you were surprised by the flurry of butterflies that filled your stomach. “Eyes ahead, Tech” You reminded him, and he righted himself straight away. You had to bite back your grin at his certainly interesting demeanour.

As you moved onto his other eye, you let your curiosity get the best of you, “If you don’t mind me asking, why are you and your brothers… a little different?”

“I do mind you asking actually” He said plainly, and you were unsure if you had actually upset him, if he was kidding, or if that was just how he spoke.

“Okay” You smiled graciously, choosing to just move on, “You can put your goggles back on now”

Tech watched you carefully as he pulled down and adjusted his goggles until they were comfortable again. With your pleasant smile, it seemed that you were just being sincere and inquisitive in asking about him and his brothers, and he felt a little silly for just brushing you off.

“We usually get seen by the Kaminoans” Tech noted, “Why are there civilian medics on Kamino now?”

“We volunteered” You shrugged with a small smile, “Could you lie down?”

Tech once again did as you said quickly, a little too quickly this time, hitting the back of his head on the cot that was not as comfortable as he had thought. You winced a little and his cheeks flushed immediately.

”Good thing I’m about to scan you” You joked, “Hopefully that didn’t do any damage”

Tech pointed his first finger up as he talked, “It is highly unlikely that I would sustain any dam-”

“I know Tech, I was just kidding” You interrupted, and he stuttered as he looked up at you standing over him with a gentle smile

“Right” He nodded, “Of course you do, my apologies”

”There’s no need to apologise” You smiled, pulling down the scanner over him “Stay still now”

You stepped back from the machine and picked up your datapad, reading over the information as the scanner picked it up. It scanned his identifying code in his wrist and your eyebrows raised at his profile. Defective, genetically enhanced intellect and cognitive functions.

“Is something wrong?” He questioned your reaction.

“No, you’re in perfect health in fact” You answered his question, pulling the machine away so he could sit up.

“What is the… matter, then?” He asked slightly hesitantly.

“The machine scanned your identifying code” You explained, unable to hold back your grin, “You sound like a very interesting individual indeed, Tech”

Tech blushed furiously, looking away and noting that his brothers were already finished with their examinations, huddled together watching him with the widest grins he had ever seen from them. He only blushed further upon seeing them, scowling and turning back to you. You just watched him with a look of vague amusement on your face.

“Well, you’re all good to go now” You informed him, and he stood quickly, accidently knocking the elbow of his armour against your hip.

He was mortified. “I am so very sorry” He spoke hurriedly, turning back towards you with wide eyes, gently holding onto your arm without even realising.

“It’s really alright” You replied with a chuckle, though it was a little strained.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you, that is the last thing I would mean to do” He continued, and you couldn’t help but find his reaction so effortlessly charming

“I like the way you speak, Tech” You smiled, genuine happiness just taking over your face.

Tech didn’t think it was possible for his face to heat up even more, but he had to clutch at the edge of his blacks and pull them away from his neck so it didn’t feel like he was over heating. He didn’t know what to say at all. He couldn’t think of the last time he had ever been complimented by someone, let alone someone as pretty as you. He willed himself to get a grip, knowing he was just giving in to his body in allowing those kind of thoughts to fester, and he cleared his throat.

“Well, it was a pleasure to meet you” He added your name with an emphasis, as if it was to help him remember it, “If I weren’t about to leave I would ask you to explain the functionality of this machine you’ve just used on me”

“Maybe another time?”

Tech nodded, “Another time”

“Goodbye Tech” You smiled at him warmly, “It was a pleasure to meet you too”

Tech nodded and turned to leave, making a beeline for his brothers, who welcomed him by teasing him mercilessly, the largest of the bunch ruffling his auburn curls. You watched them leave, and caught Tech looking back at you as he exited the room.

21BBY, KAMINO

“New orders”

Before you could realise, a datapad was being thrown at you. Luckily you got your hands around it before it dropped to the floor. You looked over the screen, then up at the other medic.

“We're not trained for that” You implored.

“The GAR is running low on medics, they asked for some of us to fill the roles for now” They replied with a shrug, “It's probably more interesting than being here anyway”

You could agree with that.

“What squad are you with?” The other medic asked, and you looked back down, tapping on your name.

“Clone Force 99” You informed them. The name rung a bell from somewhere…

“Never heard of them” The medic replied, “Guess you'll find out tomorrow”

Having stayed up late investigating the group of clones you were instructed to be joining, it was no wonder that you were bouncing on your toes with a beaming smile as their ship came hurtling into the hangar. You were impressed by their success rate, not falling short of perfect, but it was from realising exactly who was a part of this team that made you so eager.

You would be lying to say you hadn't thought of Tech a few times since first meeting him. With him being your first patient here on Kamino, it was hard not to compare the other clones to him, and while you had no issue with the other clones, you had not enjoyed your time with them as much as that first encounter.

The ship was set down on the ground, and soon the small batch of clones emerged from inside, looking particularly disinterested, and your smile faltered. They huddled together outside, talking amongst themselves, some of them leaning on the side of the ship.

You walked over slowly, feeling a little more hesitant than you had initially been. You couldn't see Tech, as he was behind his brothers, but you recognised the rest of them by their differing appearances.

You cleared your throat, gaining the attention of the clones, and offering them a small smile. They turned to look at you, apart from Tech who's face was buried in a datapad.

“Hello, I think I've been assigned to your squad” You spoke, and that's when Tech's head snapped up, his eyes meeting yours.

He looked a bit older than the last time you had seen him. His face seemed slimmer, his cheekbones slightly more hollowed out and defined, his jaw strong, but his widened eyes had the memorable sparkle in them all the same.

“We don't need you here” One of the others said, earning a elbow in the ribs as you looked up at him.

“Shut up Cross” The elbow-er hissed quietly at the elbow-ee, “Ignore him, it's nice to meet you…”

You told the man your name.

“Well, I'm Hunter” He introduced himself, and you gave him a nod of acknowledgement.

Crosshair rolled his eyes, “Why are we being made to have a medic?”

“I'm not sure” You shrugged, “I wasn't really told all too much about it”

Crosshair seemed almost pleased that you were just in the dark as them, then grunted, pushing his way past you and onto the ship.

Hunter huffed, noting your slightly offended expression, “Sorry about Crosshair, he's in a mood. We just weren't… expecting this, is all”

You chewed the inside of your cheek, “Me neither”

“Well anyway, let's get going” He walked up the ship's steps.

“I'm Wrecker” The large clone introduced himself with a warm smile, which you were inclined to return.

You held out your hand to him, and he took it with a crushing strength. “Nice to meet you… Wrecker” You managed to peep out despite the force of his grip.

Wrecker followed his commanding officer up the stairs afterwards, and you were about to follow after, but realised Tech was still stood firmly in his place. You looked back at him and he was still staring at you.

“You coming Tech?”

His eyes went a little wider.

“You know who I am?” He said, his voice holding a clear tone of surprise, though it was nowhere near as timid as it had been the last time you saw him.

Your cheeks flushed a little, embarrassed that he had clearly made more of an impression on you than you had on him.

“Oh, you don't remember meeting?” You asked, keeping your voice even.

“No, no, I remember” He confirmed, “I just didn't think you would remember me”

You gave him a puzzled look, a smile growing on your face, “Of course I remember you”

“Can you two wrap it up, we're leaving” Crosshair shouted from inside, and you chuckled slightly nervously, walking up the ramp.

Tech was still frozen in place for a moment. He hadn't been excited to be getting a medic, having ample training and knowledge of the subject himself, but now, he couldn't help but feel a little exhilarated that it was you that would be joining them.

The few times that the squad had been back to Kamino since graduation, Tech had found himself wandering down to the medical bay. He hadn't talked to you, he was far too nervous to do that, but he had watched you work through the little window in the door. You had almost caught him one time, and that's when he decided to stop doing it, realising how strange he was behaving.

He walked up the stairs of the Marauder, a little on edge, a little nervous, but a little more happy than he had been when they landed.

21BBY, MARAUDER

Tech was staring. At you, to be specific. Once again.

His brain worked at a klick a minute, and yet, whatever you had just said to him had him stumped. His mouth hung open a little, his eyes slightly narrowed and his brow furrowed deeply. He wasn't saying anything. For once, nothing was going on in his head. It was like his brain had frozen, unable to process any new thoughts. He was confused.

“Tech?” You said hesitantly, drawing him from his stupor.

“I'm sorry, I don't think I heard you correctly” He replied assuredly.

You hesitated a little before asking again, “I asked you if you think I should leave”

That's what he thought you'd said.

“I don’t understand your meaning” He dropped the tool from his hand and stood up, facing you and trying to read every movement you made.

You felt a little uneasy under his scrutiny, but continued nonetheless, “Like… leave the team”

Tech still couldn't understand.

“Why are you asking me this?” He asked, his brow furrowing even deeper.

“Well, I figured you would give me an honest answer” You shrugged. Tech was nothing if not upfront, and it was one of the many things you liked about him.

“No, I mean… why are you asking this at all?” He surveyed your reaction to his words, your throat constricting as you swallowed and subtly wiped you hands on your trousers.

“Uh… I suppose I don't feel that my presence is very necessary”

“I don't see how you could possibly think that” Tech replied, “You have a very useful skillset”

“Well, I know that Hunter doesn't exactly love having me around, and Crosshair even less so” You argued, “And my ‘useful skillset’ hardly gets used around here”

Tech didn't know what to say. There was something nagging at him from the depths of his consciousness, urging him to tell you to stay. He found you exceedingly interesting, and enjoyed hearing about your medical exploits from before joining their squad. He always asked under the guise of learning new information, but his brothers all understood, far more than him, that it wasn't just knowledge that kept him asking you questions.

At this point, you had been with the Bad Batch for a few months, and - as you were explaining to Tech - you had not felt very useful at all. They rarely got injured, but even when they did, they would mostly refuse your help. Particularly Hunter. Crosshair had not warmed to you at all, though Wrecker did seem to enjoy your company. Tech was kind, in his own way. He always listened to you attentively, and as both of you were reasonably light sleepers, you had often found yourselves staying up together between missions, talking about a great many things. He seemed interested to know about medical procedures, but expanding his knowledge was only making you more and more obsolete within the group.

“I'm sorry if we've made you feel unwelcome” He said, and your gaze softened a little.

“It's okay, I know none of you really wanted me here in the first place”

“That’s…” Tech tried to find the words, “I would not say that is entirely factual. Though if you would like to leave, I think you should”

You couldn’t help but feel a little disheartened by Tech’s words, but you did come to him for the truth after all, you couldn’t be mad now.

“Alright, I'll notify the medical team back on Kamino then”

You walked away from Tech, and his brain began working, screaming at him to ask you to stay. He pressed his lips into a hard line, trying to come up with something, anything that he could say to make you stay, but all of the possibilities floating around in his head were jumbled and he couldn’t make sense of anything. He shook his head, trying to focus himself, but you had already walked away, already set on leaving.

“Get away from me”

You were crouched over Crosshair’s crumpled form, who was bent over and holding the wound to his side in the co-pilot's chair of the Marauder.

“Crosshair, I'm only trying to help” You insisted, trying to tend to him.

“I don't need your kriffing help, back off” He hissed, snatching the medkit from you.

You sighed deeply, taking a step back, “You know this is the reason I'm here right? To help when things like this happen?”

“We don't need you!” He shouted, “We never wanted you here, and we certainly don't now”

“Crosshair, calm down” Hunter scolded lightly, and when you turned to him you could see the look on his face, where you knew he agreed with his brother but was holding his tongue.

“Well good for you, I'll be gone soon” You mumbled as you stormed away, your eyes welling up instinctively from someone raising their voice at you.

You felt entirely useless.

You became a medic because you wanted to help people, and you joined the GAR medic team because you wanted to help clones specifically, but here you were, surrounded by clones, and they didnt want your help. It was hard not to feel downcast about it.

You understood Crosshair's contempt to a certain level, but did he really have to be so mean?

Tech could hear your soft sobs from outside the door to the cargo hold. He knocked firmly, and heard you sniff before telling him to enter.

When he saw the rosy tint of your nose and cheeks and the tears running down them, he realised that he had no idea how to comfort you in this moment. He stared at you as you stared up at him, waiting for him to say something.

“I'm sorry” He said unsurely, and you gave him a sad smile.

“It's fine Tech”

“I don't really think it is ‘fine’. I am very unimpressed with the way my brothers have behaved towards you” He asserted.

Looking down at you, your knees tucked into your chest and biting into your bottom lip to stop it quivering, he was reminded that he really didn't want you to leave, and even further, he realised the true reason why. He finally mustered up the courage to ask you to stay.

“I know that you're not happy at the moment, being with this team. I… I wish it were different, I wish we could have made you more comfortable. I am sure that if you stayed for a little longer and I talked to my brothers that-”

“I've heard from Kamino already, they want me back” You said softly, cutting him off before he could even say it.

“Ah, I see” He paused, then turned away “I shall leave you to-”

“Tech”

He turned back to you, and you offered him a soft, genuine smile, “I appreciate it, thank you”

He just nodded to you and left, the nasty feeling of rejection gnawing at his brain.

As the Marauder touched down in the hangar on Kamino, there was the most unpleasant sensation stirring in your gut. This was the right choice, you didn't fit in here, and you wanted to actually make a difference. Despite knowing all this, you couldn't help but feel strange, and descending the ship’s stairs felt like regressing, going backwards instead of forwards.

You turned to look at the clones as you left. Each of them, apart from Crosshair, gave a nod and a goodbye and walked back inside. Aside from Tech, of course.

He followed you down the steps, and it was the look on his face that placed that feeling in your gut. It was the reluctancy to leave behind this man that you had grown so fond of over the past few months, this man who listened to you and made you feel wanted despite the rest of the squad's insistency to not.

It had only been a few months, but you realised that you had grown very close with the clone before you, and your heart ached. You realised the depth of the feelings you harboured for him, that it was something you had never felt for another.

“I'll miss you Tech, it's been nice getting to know you” You spoke honestly, realising this could be the last time you saw him.

Tech sighed almost imperceptibly, “I agree, I shall miss… learning about medical procedures from you”

You couldn't help but laugh, “Well next time you're on Kamino, swing by the medical bay and I'll be happy to answer your questions”

“Are you making fun of me?” Tech suddenly resembled the shy cadet that you had met the first time.

“No” You smiled, “I'd always be happy to talk to you”

Tech didn't know what the correct thing to say was, so he said nothing. He just stared at you, once again, his mind fighting for anything to say once more. There was nobody that could send his mind spiralling like you did, and it seemed that you didn't even try to.

You smiled despite his slightly awkward silence, and stepped forwards, raising to your toes to plant a soft kiss to his cheek, “Goodbye Tech”

Tech could feel his face burning, from the blush that overtook him, and the feeling of your lips searing into his skin, rendering him completely speechless. As you walked away, he brought a hand to his face where you had kissed him and traced the area with his finger lightly.

“Ugh, I'm going to throw up” Crosshair asserted from the doorway of the ship.

“Shhhh” Wrecker pushed him and watched Tech swoon over you with a large grin.

Tech paid them no mind. He just watched you leave, a mix of emotions overtaking him. A frown settled on his face as your figure disappeared into the facility, but the feel of your lips on his cheek brought a warm feeling to his chest.

19BBY, ANAXES

“Hey Baar'ur'ika!” You heard the unmistakable voice of Jesse call out to you as he jogged over to the medbay in the Anaxes base.

“He doesn't call me that you know” Kix asserted from beside you, and you chuckled.

“Do you want him to?” You asked earnestly, but with an amused twinkle in your eye.

“That's besides the point" He grumbled, earning another laugh from you.

“Me and Kix are being sent on a mission with the Captain” Jesse said as he came to a stop in front of you.

“We are?” Kix asked

Jesse nodded, “Some special squad is joining us apparently”

“Special?”

“Yeah, I'm not sure why though, you wanna come find out?” He grinned, gesturing his head towards the landing strip.

“Can't. I've got all these reports to sign off” You sighed, holding up your stack of flimsi.

“Alright, we'll see you later on then Baar'ur'ika” Jesse smiled, ruffling your hair.

You huffed, putting the lose strands of it back into place, “See you later”

You took up your stylus again, clicking it absentmindedly as you read over the reports.

You had been reassigned to the 501st only a few weeks after leaving clone force 99, and you fit in so much better here. It seemed that the clones of the 501st actually wanted to get along with you, and they always included you in their shenanigans, reluctantly on your end. You got along with all of them really well, but Kix and Jesse were the ones you were closest with. You worked most closely with Kix, so that was only natural, but Jesse was certainly the most friendly to you from the outset.

You came across a report with an error, and checked the next piece of flimsi, and the same error had been made. You then leafed through all of the pages and realised the error had been made on every single one of them, and you groaned loudly. It then occurred to you that maybe you were the one making the error, and so you grabbed the stack of pages, rushing out the door to try and grab Kix before he left for his mission.

Luckily when you got to the landing strip, him and Jesse were still standing there with the Captain. You rushed over to them, almost dropping a page on the way.

“Kix, can I just ask you about something” You spoke, and the huddle of clones turned to look at you.

“Ah Baar'ur'ika, you came to investigate after all” Jesse slung an arm around your shoulders with a grin.

“I didn't come to investigate, I-”

Your voice seemingly stopped working as you turned your head and locked eyes with the specific ones that had always managed to draw you in and leave you speechless. Those wonderful brown eyes that always widened when they met yours

“Tech” You couldn't hold back the smile that grew on your face.

Tech spoke your name, and Jesse stifled a laugh when he felt a shiver run up your back.

You were absolutely mesmerised by the man in front of you. It had been just over a year since you had seen him, and in that time it seemed that he had only got even more beautiful. Your heart felt as if it had been set alight, the emotions that accompanied seeing Tech returning as if you had only said goodbye to him yesterday.

“We're here too” Wrecker laughed, snapping your gaze away from the spectacled clone.

“Hey Wrecker” You grinned, and he gave you a wink in return.

“Hey Hunter, Crosshair” You addressed the last two clones.

“Hey, it's good to see you” Hunter replied, a small genuine smile directed towards you.

Crosshair didn't say anything, but you hadn't expected him to.

“You know these guys?” Jesse asked, squeezing your shoulder.

“Uh, yeah. I was with them for a little while” You replied, looking to the floor for a moment before realising why you were here. “Oh! Kix, I just need to ask about this”

Tech watched you talking with the other medic and flipping through the pieces of flimsi as everyone else fell back into their previous conversation. His eyes lingered on the arm slung around your shoulders, and the way you placed your own hand on the shoulder of the other clone. You were clearly comfortable around these clones, and Tech's jealousy fizzled away to a form of sadness as he realised that you were so much happier with these clones than you had been with them. With him.

You settled the matter with Kix, and turned towards Tech once more, stepping forward so you stood in front of him.

“How are you?” You asked, clasping your hands behind your back.

“I am well” Tech replied flatly, not giving away an inch of the emotions that swirled within him, “How about yourself?”

“I'm good yeah” You smiled, “I've been here for a few rotations”

“With the 501st?” Tech asked.

“Oh no, just on Anaxes, I've been with these guys since… well, a couple weeks after I left you”

Something about the sentence pulled at Tech's heart. These clones were so lucky. They had got to spend all of this time by your side, all this time that he had spent with you only as a memory in his head, your absence taunting him constantly.

“I- Uh- I am glad to see you are doing well, you seem… happier, than last I saw you” He observed, pulling a small laugh from you.

“Maybe a bit. I do miss having someone to rant to though” You smirked a little at him, and despite his heated cheeks, he returned the gesture.

“I don't know that I'd call it ‘ranting’, you were always very precise with your words, very… intentional” He complimented you in a way that only made sense to both of you.

You hummed in response, “Well how's this for intentional - I've missed you Tech”

Tech couldn't hold back the small contented sigh that escaped him.

“I have missed you too” He admitted, indulging in losing himself in your eyes, inspecting ever fleck of colour.

“Hey Tech! We've gotta get going” Hunter shouted over to him. Neither one if you had realised the others had moved away.

Tech scowled inwardly, turning his attention back to you, “I was… I should like to ask you about biopsy methods, I am unsure of safe practice”

“Maybe another time?” You asked hopefully.

He nodded, a small smile quirking the edges of his lips, “Another time”

In a bout of confidence and rising adrenaline, Tech found himself leaning down and pressing a short kiss to your cheek, as you had done to him last time. Your mouth hung open a little as he then immediately walked off and joined his brothers on the gunship, surprised that he had actually done such a thing.

“Bye Baar'ur'ika” Jesse called teasingly, and you were snapped from your daze.

“Bye di'kut” You called, rolling your eyes as you clutched your flimsi close to your chest.

Tech's eyes locked with yours as the doors to the gunship closed, and it made your chest ache. You could still feel the warmth of his breath, the gentle scratch of his stubble, the softness of his lips. It was all too much and not enough, and watching him leave hurt more than you thought it would.

18BBY, CORUSCANT

You sat at your makeshift desk, your head in your hand and flicking through your datapad to survey the latest news. Things certainly had become bleak since the rise of the Empire.

You heard your name called, and your head snapped up to meet the golden eyes of Senator Chuchi.

“Senator, what can I do for you?” You asked, sitting up straight.

“Please, it's Riyo, and it's more what I can do for you” She said with a small smirk lifting the edges of her lips.

“Oh” You said, your eyebrows drawing together in confusion, “What do you mean?”

“There's a new clone joining us, I believe you know him” She replied, her smirk growing.

You immediately stood from your seat, “Is it who I think it is?”

“Perhaps” The Senator shrugged coyly.

You couldn't hold back your grin, “Where is he?”

“Just in the hangar” She nodded in the direction.

“Thank you Sen- Riyo” You said quickly, rushing from behind your desk towards the hangar.

You had known that Echo was alive, but this was the first time you would actually be seeing him since before the mission to the citadel where he had been presumed dead, and boy was he a sight for sore eyes.

“Echo!” You exclaimed excitedly, drawing the attention of the clone as you ran towards him across the hangar.

The clone's eyes lit up as he took in the sight of you, and stepped forwards, taking you in a tight hug when you crashed into him.

“It's good to see you” He said with a smile as he pulled away.

“It's even better to see you” You grinned, “I was so upset I didn't get to see you after you were rescued”

“I heard” He smirked, looking over his shoulder at Rex.

You looked over at the blonde clone too, and saw that he was watching on with three other familiar clones.

“Woah” You couldn't stop yourself from saying, “I heard you were hanging around with this lot nowadays”

Once your eyes found Tech, you couldn't bring yourself to look away. He seemed to be hanging back a bit, his eyes once again a little wide behind his goggles.

“Hey!” Wrecker said excitedly, earning a small laugh from you.

“Hey Wrecker, hey Hunter” You smiled at the clones.

“Hi” The Sergeant smiled at you.

Wrecker then pushed Tech forwards, and you smirked a little as he glared at his larger brother.

“Hey Tech, how's it going?” You asked, and he brought his eyes back to you.

In a way he couldn't define, you seemed more mature than when he had last saw you. Perhaps it was the tiredness he saw in your eyes, or perhaps it was the few small scars that adorned your skin, clearly earned in battle. The thought of you sustaining injuries made his stomach lurch, so he tried not to think of it.

The way you were looking at him was so familiar. Your smile was kind and easy, gracing your features in a way that was so uniquely you. The light crinkle around your eyes and lips, the small glint in your eye, the way one side of your mouth was more contorted than the other. Tech was certainly glad to see you.

“Uh… it is going well” Tech replied unsurely after a moment, and you smirked a little bit at his answer.

It was intoxicating to be in Tech's presence once more. Everytime you were around him, things felt a little different, like there was something in the air that made everyone else look a bit more fuzzy as he was brought into focus. It didn't ever help that he was seemingly always getting so much more handsome every time you saw him.

His auburn locks were a little longer at the moment, no doubt because his biggest priority whilst on the run from the Empire was not his hair, but you weren't complaining. His hair framed his angelic face so perfectly, his features undeniably sharper and more mature, though his eyes were still as soft and gentle as they had always been, with a startling youthfulness that he couldn't seem to shake.

“It's good to see you guys, I'm glad to see you're not… with the Empire” You said a little hesitantly, then noticed the small blonde girl that was hiding behind Hunter.

He noticed you looking at her and introduced her to you.

“It's nice to meet you Omega” You smiled, kneeling down to get on her level.

“It's nice to meet you too, though I have already heard of you since Tech talks about you a lot” She said matter-of-factly.

“Is that right?” You smirked, looking up at Tech, whose cheeks were positively burning.

“I think I may have mentioned your existence a few times” He spoke flatly, but the edge of squeakiness gave him away.

The idea of Tech talking about you, or even just casually mentioning your existence in a passing comment, was enough to set your heart alight. In whatever manner it had truly been, he had at least always remembered you in some way, and that brought the smile to your face.

Hunter then said goodbye to you, and then to Echo, and retreated to the ship. Tech did the same, but instead walked towards you, stopping just in front of you. You had to crane your neck a little to look up at him in the pleasantly close quarters. Had he always been this tall?

“I-” He just looked at you for a while, and you smiled at him, waiting patiently for him to continue. “I have many questions to ask you” He finished.

You chuckled, “Maybe another time?”

Tech couldn't help but sigh, the familiar words making his heart ache, “Another time, yes��

“I think I owe you something now” You said with a small grin, trying to ease the light crease in his brow.

Tech watched your expression change cautiously, “Owe me? I don't think so”

“I mean, if you don't want it then-”

“Well, I must admit, I am curious now”

You laughed at his interjection, smiling at him fondly, “Alright, here you go then”

You placed a hand on his cheek and brought your lips to the other one, placing a lingering kiss to his cheekbone. Tech closed his eyes at the bittersweet feeling of it, and opened them to look back into yours. He placed his own hand to your cheek before the moment could end, and gently rubbed his thumb back and forth, his eyes searching yours. He took a quick glance over your shoulder and saw his brothers all watching him, waiting for him so they could leave, and he chewed the corner of his lip a little as he looked back to you.

“One of these days, I'll give you a proper kiss” He said quietly, making your heart skip a beat, “If you'd like that”

“I'd like that very much” You replied quickly, the grin on your face only growing.

Tech cracked his own small smile. “Another time then” He whispered, and looked over your features for a second longer, before placing a soft kiss to your forehead and walking away.

You watched him leave with an undeniable fondness swelling in your heart. You had felt a certain affection for Tech from the very beginning, and the thrill of the idea of him returning the feelings that you harboured for him brought forth the newfound nature of said feelings.

It went deeper than just liking him in a special way. This emotion you felt when you looked at him, or when you thought of him, was different. The way your heart stopped when he looked at you, the way your breath hitched when he spoke your name, you knew it was different. This was far more profound than a silly crush. The longevity of your affections had caused them to develop into something deeper, more serious.

Something like love.

17BBY, REBELLION BASE

“I need to talk to you”

You looked up from cleaning your workstation and saw Echo striding towards you, determination in his eyes that seemed otherwise tired and possibly even sad.

“What's the matter?” You asked, rushing over to meet him in the middle.

He opened his mouth, trying to find the words, but finding them hard to say, to admit even to himself.

“I… was just on a mission with the batch” He started.

“Oh how are they? How's Tech?” You ask, your mood lifted just a little.

Echo's heart ached, his eyebrows pinching together as his lips formed a hard line. His eyes began to well up slightly and he blinked a few times to rid himself of the tears.

“I'm so sorry” He whispered.

“Why are you sorry?” You asked cautiously.

“Tech… He-” Echo swallowed, “He didn't make it, he fell”

The words hit directly into your heart, and you could almost feel it collapse in on itself.

“Wh- What?” You whimpered out, almost hoping that you had heard him wrong, or that it was just a cruel joke of some kind.

“He… He sacrificed himself for the squad, so that they could live”

You couldn't say anything, couldn't breathe, couldn't move, couldn't think. The only thing you could do, was let the feeling of everything crashing down wash over you. It truly felt as if the hinges of your life, the certain something that seemingly held it up, had come loose.

You heard Echo say your name, but it was distant, like he was in another room. Your knees slowly gave in, and he grabbed you as you fell to the ground. He held you in his arms as you cried silently, your tears soaking through his clothes. He stroked your hair comfortingly, whispering assurances about how it was going to be fine, that everything would be alright.

“I never got to tell him, Echo” You choked out eventually, cutting through his smooth words.

“Tell him what?” He asked tenderly, knowing all too well what it was.

“That I… love him” You said, and a small sob finally escaped you.

Somehow it felt even harder to admit now that he was gone. Your love didn't feel as if it was in the past tense. It felt present, current, and that's why the sudden grief stung so much - the love was still lingering, and it didn't feel as if it was planning on leaving anytime soon. After all, it had managed to survive not seeing him for long periods of time, and to your broken heart, it felt the same.

17BBY, IMPERIAL PRISION

You surfaced slowly into consciousness, your eyes trying to open, but to no avail. You could feel your wrists caught in restraints, held above you on either side of your head. You tried to remember what had happened, but everything was fuzzy. You were… at the base. The Bad Batch were there, then… You were attacked? You were running with… Howzer? and then…

You couldn't recall anything past that point, but when your eyes finally opened you had a little idea of what could have happened. Sat opposite you with their arms crossed, was a man dressed head to toe in black armour, like the operative that Rex had captured before the attack on the base. He began talking, but it wasn't initially intelligible.

You shook your head to try and clear the brain fog a little, “Wha-”

“Tell me where the girl is” He demanded. The sound of his voice was so eerily familiar, but it was heavily modified by his helmet.

“Girl?” You questioned through your delirious state, turning your wrists in their restraints. Naturally, you knew who he was talking about, but you weren't going to give up that easily.

“Omega. I saw you talking with her, I know you know her and her brothers. Now, tell me, where would they have taken her?”

You pressed your mouth into a hard line, you could hardly deny it if he had seen you. “I won't talk”

He sighed, standing up and walking over so he stood in front of you, “I don't need to hurt you…” He said your name, and a chill ran up your spine. How could he know your name?

“That's not my name” You narrowed your eyes, looking into his visor.

“You cannot lie to me, Cyare” He spoke, and ran a hand over your cheek, “It would serve you well to tell the truth, it would be a shame to have to ruin this pretty face”

You looked over the man's appearance, for any semblance of individuality, but there was nothing.

“Who are you?” You asked.

“No one that concerns you anymore” The man chuckled, stepping back from you, “Now, tell me, what has become of the defective clones?”

You clenched your jaw in defiance, refusing to spill anything without even a little bit if incentive. You were clearly in some kind of imperial facility, but you weren't in any immediate danger, so you would stay stubborn for as long as you could.

The man spoke your name in a warning tone, his head tilted to the side, “I need you to tell me”

“I wont tell you anything” You spat back at him. He was irritatingly calm and collected, something you had not experienced from the Empire before.

He folded his hands behind his back, humming thoughtfully, “You will. Perhaps, another time”

With that, he turned and pressed the button on the door panel to leave.

You let your head hang down again, letting out a deep breath. If you weren't so tired you were sure that you'd be more panicked, but as your eyes closed and you let the exhaustion take over, you couldn't find it in yourself to be scared. Your body ached, and you needed it to rest if you wanted any chance of getting out of here.

The mysterious operative returned often over the next few days, pushing for answers but always leaving empty handed. He would always threaten violence, but had not touched you once since caressing your face in that first encounter.

He was now stood opposite you as he always was, making another empty threat about how you would be hurt if you didn't answer him.

You rolled your eyes, “Are you ever going to hold true to that promise?”

He stayed silent, and you laughed a little.

“Come on, I dare you, hurt me” You urged, jutting your chin out.

You were so tired of this, and he was obviously worn out by your defiance as well.

“I told you” He spoke quietly, “The last thing I would ever mean to do is hurt you”

Your heart stopped, and your eyes went wide as the familiar voice finally placed itself, hearing the same words that it had said all those years ago.

“It can't be, you-”

The man reached up and took off his helmet with a short hiss. He looked different, his face scarred and weary, his goggles nowhere to be seen, but it was undeniably him. The only thing that could have convinced you otherwise was the fact that his eyes didn't have the youthful sparkle they always seemed to in the past. Instead, they looked tired, completely worn down, and cold.

“Tech” You whispered, your heart beating impossibly fast in your chest.

He stepped closer, “I do not go by that name anymore”

On instinct, your eyes began to water, and a single tear ran down your cheek, “What are you doing here? You- You're with the Empire?”

He didn't reply, but he took off a glove and brought his hand to your face to wipe your tear away. You closed your eyes, and he let his hand remain on your cheek, rubbing your cheekbone lightly.

“I need you to tell me what I want to know” He spoke so softly now, and you opened your eyes and look up into his. They were still so inviting despite their unfamiliar coldness.

“Tech, why are you doing this?”

He didn't reply again, but brought his other hand to your cheek and held your face gently, his own just in front of yours, “Tell me”

“I can't” You choked out, brow furrowed as he ignored your questions.

“Please, Cyare. They will hurt you if you don't talk”

“Let them” You said firmly, tugging your face from his hands, “I won't betray your brothers”

Tech just watched you for a moment before opening his mouth again.

“So be it”

He put his helmet back on and left the room, leaving you alone with the revelation that the man you had been in love with was not only alive, but under the control of the Empire, the very thing you had dedicated your life to defeating.

The following day, when you lifted your head to see Tech enter your cell, he was now joined by an Imperial officer, and a floating droid that had a thin needle protruding from it. You understood all too well what this droid was, what it was used for, and you pulled at your restraints, a string of grunts escaping your lips.

“Resisting will do you no good” The Imperial officer chuckled, standing before you as the droid positioned itself to your left.

Tech couldn't watch. He kept his head up, appearing to be looking straight through you, but he had to close his eyes. Your screams were enough. You were resisting at every turn, and Tech just wished you would relent so that he wouldn't have to listen to the awful sounds that escaped you. The sounds that cut deep through his conditioning and hit his very soul, causing his chest to ache.

“Please, Tech. Make them stop” You cried hopelessly, and he squeezed his eyes closed even further, trying to block everything out.

To you, he looked cold, unmoving, and even after the Imperial had left with the droid as you had not let anything slip, he didn't budge at all.

After a few minutes of quiet, the only sound that was heard being your heavy breathing, he stepped forwards, taking off his helmet and letting it drop to the floor. He reached up and let you down from your restraints, catching your body as it fell down, limp with exhaustion. He knelt on the floor, his hand on the back of your head as it rested in his lap.

Your eyes fluttered open to see his face. He looked undeniably remorseful, and his eyes had a little amount of that special spark that they used to. You reached up and touched his face, causing his eyes to close with a shaky breath.

“What have they done to you Tech?” You whispered, your throat raw from shouting.

He didn't speak, but his heart clenched in his chest, every word you spoke bringing him further from the conditioning he had been subjected to to make him the way he was.

“How you could you let them do this to your brothers? To me? Do you not care about me at all?”

His eyes were now glassy when he opened them and looked down at you. He leant down and brought his forehead to yours, “I care for you more than you know”

Your tears were streaming down your face, “Then why are you doing this?”

Looking so deeply into your teary eyes, something in him finally snapped. He had a moment of intense clarity, fighting through his conditioning and realising the severity of his actions, of who he now was, who he had been forced to become.

He helped you stand before tying you back up in your restraints, much to your confusion.

You were sobbing now, your body and mind heavy with exhaustion, “Tech, please. Please stop this”

“I will come back for you, Cyare” He whispered, bringing his forehead back to yours with a hand on the back of your head, “I will get you out of here, I promise”

He stepped back, and was about to put his helmet back on, but he looked up to you once more.

“I am so very sorry”

You saw a tear slip from his eye, and he then placed his helmet on his head, leaving you alone once more.

Holding true to his promise, Tech returned that night. He unclipped your restraints, and you crumbled to your knees.

“Come on Cyar'ika, I'm going to get you out of here” He said gently, helping you to stand.

You tried to get a good footing, but your legs were too weak, and you fell into him. Without needing to be told, he picked you up, slinging an arm behind your back and the other under your knees. You rested your hands on his chest, looking up at his helmeted face and feeling unsure about his motivations. You were too tired to inquire though, so you just leaned your head against his shoulder and let him take you wherever he was going.

Tech carried you through the corridors of the prison, looking around corners and making sure to take the route where there would be the least guards. He constantly made sure you were still with him, as you kept slipping in and out of consciousness, so he'd place his fingers against your pulse point.

He slammed his hand into the door panel, and entered the elevator that would take you to the surface. The doors slid closed and he looked down at you, and behind his mask, he couldn't help but smile.

You looked so peaceful, so calm, so… beautiful.

For the first time, he let himself think of the future. He would get you out of here, and then he'd be free to think about his future. Maybe he'd re-join his brothers on Pabu, maybe… you would come with him. He hoped you could forgive him for the mistakes he'd made.

The doors opened, and Tech stepped out, pacing quickly across the landing platform to the nearest ship. Before he could make it there though, a bright light was shone on the pair of you from above.

“Trooper, put the prisoner down” A voice spoke through a loudspeaker, and he held you tightly in defiance.

He continued towards the transport, but was stopped in his place as blaster fire ripped through the air. His leg gave way as one of the shots grazed him, and he collapsed onto his knee, keeping you close to his chest so you wouldn’t hit the ground. He heard you let out a strangled gasp, and his heart sunk to his feet.

He pulled back from you, and sure enough, a blaster bolt had ripped straight into your chest.

He began panicking instantly, his breath quick and ragged, his heart stuttering and beating at an uneven pace. He let you rest in his lap, looking up to him through half lidded eyes that told him what he already knew to be true.

“No” He said assuredly, “You’re fine, you’re okay”

“Tech” You whispered.

“Everything will be fine” He bit into his bottom lip, completely in denial of what was happening.

“Tech” You said more firmly, though your voice was croaky, “It’s okay”

“It is not okay!” He exclaimed, tears spilling from his eyes that had quickly welled up.

He just watched you in disbelief, now unable to control the sobs that left his mouth. He had never cried so hard at anything in his life, but right now it felt as if everything was ending when it had only barely just begun.

“I'm so sorry Cyare, for everything” He whispered, his heart aching when you gave him a half-hearted smile.

“I know Tech, I know” You said breathlessly, the feeling of the blaster bolt to your heart ripping any strength from you.

Tech held your body close to him as the life slipped from you.

“It shouldn't have been like this, I should've protected you” He sobbed into your chest.

You pulled his head back and hooked your fingers under the edge of his helmet, taking it off his head so you could look into his eyes. You placed your hand on the side of his scarred cheek, and he leaned into it savouring your warm touch while he still could.

“It's okay Tech, I forgive you”

He didn't even think, he didn’t want to. Instead he just brought his lips to yours, the salty taste of his tears finding your tongue. The kiss was perfect, yet so bittersweet. It was something you had both waited years for, but now it would be one of the last moments you would ever share together. Tech kissed you so fervently, pouring every inch of his being into you, connecting his soul to yours, and in return you gave everything you had, even as it was slipping away.

He didn’t want it to end, and neither did you, but you knew your time was limited, and you had something you needed to say. You had thought that you had missed your chance before, and you’d be damned if you missed it now, in your final moments.

“Tech” You whispered, pulling away from him and looking into his glassy eyes, “I love you”

He let out a choked sob and brought his forehead to yours, “I love you too Cyar’ika, I always will”

His forehead rested against yours as you slipped away. He was whispering apologies, his eyes closed, unable to look into your eyes and see the light leave them. After a few moments, your hand fell from his face, and that's when he knew you were gone.

Tech held you close to him for a moment longer before his blood began boiling with rage. He laid your lifeless body against the ground, closing your eyes and making sure you could be comfortable even in death.

He stood, a flame burning inside of him that spread throughout his limbs, urging his fingers to find the pair of blasters that sat at his hip. He unholstered them just as blaster fire once more resumed. He dodged what he could, shooting the stormtroopers that closed in on him and depleting their numbers single-handedly, but his luck was eventually going to run out, and he knew that.

The first shot was to his shoulder, sending him stumbling backwards, but he fought through the searing pain and continued knocking down the soldiers. The second shot placed itself in his knee and he cried out as it gave way and he fell to his other knee, still fighting for his life. The third and fourth shots were the true nail in the coffin, both of them finding his chest and ripping him open as you had been. Even though he had armour, it was not enough to withstand two blaster bolts to the heart.

He fell forwards, his body sprawled on the floor unceremoniously. He lifted his head just a little to look towards your body. He grasped ahead of him and found purchase on your hand, still warm as if you were there comforting him through death as he had for you.

He laid down on his back as he saw his life flashing before his eyes, your hand clasped in his, and he mourned the life that could have been. Perhaps in another life, another time, things would have ended differently.

121 notes · View notes

fanfoolishness · 8 months ago

Text

Lightweight(s)

The Bad Batch's first ever night out on the town, early on in their careers. Fluff, silliness, alcohol, general shenanigans and boys being boys. ~4200 words, somehow!

---

“Maybe this isn’t such a good idea,” said Hunter, casting a wary eye at the entrance of 79’s. Booming music spilled out onto the platform, waves of synth-funk and pounding bass already half-deafening. The neon lights made his tongue prickle with the taste of ozone.

“Hey, how often do we get to shore up on Coruscant?” Wrecker asked, shoulder-checking him on his way out of the cab. “C’mon. The regs are always goin’ on about this place. I wanna see what the big deal is!”

”The big deal is alcohol, of course,” said Tech. He folded his arms over his chest, raising an eyebrow at the garish neon and the clusters of clones in off-duty blues and standard issue armor milling about. “And the chance to imbibe it aggressively. I’ve heard some of the tales that come out of this place, too, and things don’t always end well. I suggest we take a more moderate approach, given none of us has ever had the chance to drink before.”

“We’ll be fine, Tech,” Crosshair said, adjusting his toothpick. “We’re defective, remember? I’m sure we could drink these regs under the table.”

”Don’t get cocky,” said Hunter, though he had to admit he was curious. “It’s not a contest.”

They’d just come off their fifth ever mission, riding high on how they’d managed to pit two tactical droids and their armies against each other with epic results, and he thought of the medals they’d been awarded for it. He’d stowed his safely in his bunk on the Marauder until he could figure out what to do with it, but every time he glanced at it, he couldn’t help but feel a fierce pride. They did deserve to blow off some steam after that.

Wrecker led the way into the bar, more than a few clones turning and staring at him — then at the rest of them as they filed through. Too tall, too short, too broad, too skinny. Though they were wearing their blues, there was still no hope of blending in. A few stared at Tech’s goggles and Crosshair’s silver hair in particular; most were smart enough to avert their gaze at Wrecker’s bulk, given Wrecker would happily give them a shove if they mouthed off.

Hunter watched the other clones’ faces carefully, ready in case anything started, but they made it to the bartender without incident. Under the pounding music, he thought he heard a few whispers, but nothing major.

The clone behind the bar tilted his head, giving them an appraising look. “Ninety-nines?” he ventured, his face impassive.

”What gave it away?” Wrecker laughed.

“Problem?” Crosshair drawled, leaning over Wrecker’s shoulder.

”No problem. Money’s money,” the bartender said with a shrug. “What’ll it be?”

The four of them looked at each other. They hadn’t gotten that far.

”Four harvest brews,” Tech said. The bartender nodded and turned away. Tech leaned in close to them to be heard. “It’s a reasonable first drink. Lower proof, known to be easy to drink. I suggest we see how that goes and proceed from there.”

“Did you research the menu ahead of time?” Hunter asked, already knowing the answer.

”What do you think I was doing in the cab?”

”Lower proof,” Wrecker said. “Does that mean it’s for lightweights? ‘Cause I’m no lightweight.”

“We’d noticed,” said Crosshair.

”Careful, Wrecker. Don’t let it go to your head.”

The bartender returned with four large glasses of foamy amber ale and Hunter reached for his credits. The Republic didn’t pay much, but they had nothing else to spend it on. Why not this?

The bartender held up a hand. “Want to start a tab?”

”Yeah!” Wrecker said before Hunter could stop.

“All right, sure,” Hunter said, feeling only slightly uneasy.

They took their drinks to a far corner of the bar, where a bunch of regs clustered around a table lined with two sets of glasses. Hunter watched curiously as one tossed a small light ball into the air, bouncing it off the table until it clattered against the opposite side’s glasses harmlessly. He groaned, the clones beside him shoving him and telling him to get it together.

”I propose a toast. It’s traditional.”

”All right, what do you think?” Hunter asked Tech.

”To Clone Force Ninety-Nine,” Tech said, raising his glass high.

“To the Bad Batch!” Wrecker crowed, clinking his glass enthusiastically.

”To the Bad Batch,” they echoed, raising their glasses. They each took a drink.

”Phawww,” Hunter groaned, his nose wrinkling, sticking his tongue out. The ale was bitter and malty, with an odd sour note. It clung to the inside of his mouth, and he wished they had some ration bars on hand to cut the taste. “This is beer? It’s horrible.”

”I dunno, I kind of like it,” said Wrecker, taking a huge drink. He coughed and sputtered. “Maybe I don’t like it that much.”

”Perhaps it’s an acquired taste,” said Tech, looking less than pleased with his drink. He took another sip, grimacing slightly. “Or perhaps the intoxicating effects make up for the musty flavor.”

”I think it’s fine,” said Crosshair, drinking a quarter of his glass in one go. He stifled a cough by chewing frantically on his toothpick, and Hunter rolled his eyes.

”So we just… sit here? Drinking?” Wrecker asked, doing just that. He looked puzzled. “That’s really what people do here?”

”I suppose,” Hunter said. “You put it like that, it really doesn’t sound like much.” He tried his beer again, bracing himself, but it wasn’t as bad the second time around now that he knew what to expect.

“Well, we could always play a game,” Crosshair said slyly, glancing at the regs clustered around their table. “You know we could destroy them.”

”You don’t even know what they’re playing,” Tech admonished. He adjusted his goggles. “Then again, the rules do appear to be exceedingly simple. Throw the ball into the other team’s cup, they take a drink. The more intoxicated they become, the less able they are to throw accurately at the other team’s cups. It’s basic enough for even the wildly intoxicated to grasp. I suspect the wild intoxication is the point.”

”That sounds like a recipe for a fight to break out,” Hunter said, a dozen different incidents of fights they’d had with regs sober coming to mind. “C’mon lads, forget them. We’re celebrating kicking ass together, who needs the regs?” He raised his glass again. “Wrecker! You nailed Plan Forty-two. That was one helluva bomb!”

Wrecker laughed, taking another swig. “Yes it was! I almost thought I wasn’t gonna have enough chargers ‘til Tech helped me rig those downed droids to blow. That was awesome!”

”The ensuing explosion was nothing short of tremendous,” Tech agreed. “Truly inspired! I was happy to assist.”

”Well, what about Cross’s ricochet taking out half of ‘em before they even got going?” Wrecker said, clapping Crosshair hard between the shoulders. Crosshair nearly choked on his toothpick and took another drink, his cheeks flushing faintly reddish.

”It was easy,” he said, but Hunter knew he was pleased.

“Easy nothing. It was one for the books,” Hunter said, and Crosshair gave him a faint, surprised grin.

”Don’t forget Hunter’s planning,” Tech mentioned. “We’d never have gotten that trap laid without his enhanced senses.”

“All part of the job,” Hunter said warmly. Huh. He felt a little warm all over, come to think of it.

Wrecker drained the last of his glass, and not to be outdone, Crosshair did the same with his. “I don’t feel anything,” Wrecker said, disappointed.

”Me neither,” said Crosshair, though Hunter thought his voice sounded a little different, even accounting for the loud music. His face looked more flushed, his cheeks uncharacteristically ruddy. Tech was giving him an appraising look.

”It is not instantaneous,” Tech said. “Perhaps you should give it a moment before —“

”Another round!” Wrecker said, getting up to his feet. “C’mon, Cross, let’s try something different.”

”You’re on,” said Crosshair, following as Wrecker parted a way through the crowd with his massive shoulders.

Hunter turned back to Tech. “I have a bad feeling about this….”

---

Bad feeling? What bad feeling?

Hunter snaked an arm over Tech’s shoulders, gripping his arm hard. “Ahhh, glad we came out tonight,” he said. He felt pleasantly warm and more than a little giddy, and everything was just funny. “Just a couple bad batchers out on the town!”

”You could hardly call Coruscant a town,” Tech corrected, his cheeks pink and his goggles slightly askew. Instead of leaning away from Hunter’s hug, he completed it, his arm draped loosely around Hunter’s waist. With his other hand he gesticulated dramatically. “It is an ecumenopolis with the city structure covering all natural features entirely except for a sliver of the planet’s tallest peak, which has been preserved as a —“

”Tech, Tech, Tech,” Wrecker said, draining his second drink and then patting him on the shoulder. “Drink more. Smart less.”

”Shots?” Crosshair asked, elbowing a reg out of the way as he came back to the table. He had four tiny glasses balanced in his hands, each filled with blazing layers of red and pink and yellow liquid. “They call it a Kamino Sunrise. 79’s special.”

“We are already exhibiting sufficient signs of intoxication,” Tech pointed out, letting go of Hunter. He’d drawn the word sufficient out far longer than he needed to, enunciating each syllable. He held out his hand, tapping his palm as he counted. “Slurred speech, jovial attitudes, and an expansive broadening of our normal personalities. Trying these shots may put us over the line from tipsy to — what do the regs call it — wasted.”

”Live a little, Tech,” said Crosshair. He slammed the shots down on the table save one, a bit of liquid spilling over the rims. “Come on. We live or die like men.”

”What does that even mean?” Wrecker roared, laughing and swiping one of the glasses. “Hurry up!”

“I am living! But I am also not eager to completely obliterate my exceptional critical thinking skills,” Tech said defensively. “However, in the interest of brotherly camaraderie, I will try this shot against my better judgment.”

Tech and Hunter picked up their shot glasses, and Hunter gave Tech a look of Well, here goes nothing. They clinked their glasses together.

”To… to…what are we toasting this time?” Wrecker asked.

“Uh….” They stared around at each other, Crosshair nibbling his toothpick, Tech staring off into the distance, Hunter’s mind a complete blank. He stifled a giggle.

”To Lula!” Wrecker announced.

Hunter met his brothers’ eyes, and they nodded, roaring, “To Lula!’

They slugged back their drinks, and Hunter had time only to perceive burning sugar spicy sweet before he’d gulped the thing down. A wobble passed through his legs almost instantly, traveling like a wave from his head down, making everything glow.

“Uh, Cross? What was in these?”

“I dunno. I’m not a barkeep,” Crosshair said, weaving slightly where he stood. He caught sight of the regs at their table and grinned. “C’mon. Let’s get ‘em.”

---

The battle was fierce.

The regs had been less than welcoming. But with Wrecker looming and cracking his knuckles, Crosshair glowering, and Hunter’s relaxed shrug to say you may as well make it easy on yourselves, the regs had relented and given them a go. (Tech, for his part, had simply shaken his head and rolled his eyes at the whole idea.)

Hunter figured they were sorely regretting it now. They’d added this round to their tab (hope we brought enough credits!), which had gone a long way towards the regs playing with them. And like Tech had said, the game was easy. But it turned out bouncing the ball before it landed in a cup meant the other team had to drink double. So did calling which cup the ball was going to land in before tossing it. Absurdly, the effects stacked if both things were accomplished.

Which made Crosshair even more deadly than usual.

He sidled up to the table, toothpick jutting from his mouth, looming over the playing field like a vengeful Venator. Hunter could swear one of the regs, a shiny by the looks of him, was actually shaking. He nursed an ale, keeping watch on the situation. Funny how the beer seemed to taste a lot better now than it had in the beginning. He took another drink, grinning.

Crosshair was merciless, especially with Wrecker egging him on. It was hard not to. Hunter couldn’t help but whoop with both of them as Crosshair scored hit after hit. Even Tech whistled once or twice, one of those shrieking whistles with two fingers hooked into his mouth.

It was a massacre. Occasionally the other team managed to land a shot, but they were pretty damn gone and they missed far more often than they succeeded. The few times they did land a shot, Crosshair gamely took a drink each time. He started slurring his calls, but his aim was as good as ever.

“Cup six, two bounces.”

“One bounce, spin off the rim of cup two, it’ll land in four. Trust me.”

“Two bounces off the wall, back onto the table, it’ll hop into three --”

“Cup nine from ten feet back, come on, give me some room--”

The regs on the other end of the table groaned. “Come on! Someone else has gotta take a turn! He’s cheating!”

Crosshair drew himself up to his full height, instantly incandescent with rage, his eyes snapping. He spat his toothpick to the floor, raising his fists. Oh kriff -- Hunter had time to think before he jumped out in front of his brother, pushing him back with a hand on his chest. Crosshair staggered into Tech, who managed to catch him before he fell.

“No he’s not,” Hunter bellowed, whirling to face the regs. He glared at them, showing his teeth. He’d learned pretty early on with the skull tattoo it was a good way to scare people off, and two of the regs took a step back, sweating. “But if you’re a bunch of cowards who can’t handle it when someone’s better than you --” He puffed out his chest, crossing his arms.

“Hey!” Wrecker cried, leaning heavily on Hunter’s shoulder. “Hey Hunter. Why can’t we all just -- just get along?” He hiccuped, grabbing one of the cups off the table and taking a drink. “These guys ain’t so bad. They’re tiny. And they suck at ale pong. But maybe we should all be friends.”

Hunter snorted, looking up at his brother. “Now I know you’re drunk.”

“Not drunk! Just…” Wrecker searched for the word.

“Just drunk?” Tech supplied helpfully.

“Yeah! That’s it, drunk!”

Hunter buried his face in his hands.

Crosshair shoved past him, jerking a finger at the regs. “This isn’t over,” he snarled. He went to lean a hand on the table but missed, and promptly crashed to the ground in a pile of long flailing legs. The regs erupted in laughter.

Tech was bending down, helping Crosshair back up to his feet. Wrecker let go of Hunter and leaned down, elbowing Tech out of the way and hauling Crosshair up so fast he nearly fell over again. “Hey, little brother!” Wrecker said loudly. “You all right?”

“I’m fine, I just -- I must’ve --” Crosshair slurred. His face suddenly looked pale, and he gripped Wrecker’s arm hard. “Ooh. Dizzy.”

“Let’s get you to sit down,” Tech said. “I tried to warn you.”

“Shut up, Tech --”

“Listen to him, Crosshair,” said Hunter. “Don’t make me pull rank.” Crosshair glared, but the fight was going out of him.

They shambled their way back to a free table. Crosshair was very definitely wobbling. Wrecker was steady, but he was loudly singing something ridiculous. Some pop song from the bar? Hunter focused, or tried to. Everything was coming through muzzy and muted. His senses had never been so dull in his life, and he wondered vaguely if this was what normal clones felt like all the time.

Hunter pulled up a seat at the table, peering at Crosshair. Wrecker was still humming off-key under his breath. Tech had disappeared. Where had he gone to? Hunter pulled his gaze away from Crosshair, glassy-eyed and pale, and saw Tech over at the bar.

“Oh he’d better not be getting another round,” Hunter muttered, thinking of Crosshair. Although he felt fine, if a little wavy around the edges. Maybe he’d get one more beer before they headed out, ride this feeling a little further… Nah, that probably wasn’t the best move right now.

“See ya,” Wrecker said suddenly, getting to his feet and taking Crosshair with him.

“What? Where are you going?” Hunter called after them.

“He’s gonna upchuck!” said Wrecker cheerfully, bustling a tilting Crosshair off into the crowd. “Wanna come?”

Hunter groaned, torn between following them and waiting for Tech. He got to his feet, wending his way through the crowd until he found Tech at the bar, having an argument with the bartender.

“I’ve calculated our tab, and you have been wildly undercharging us!” Tech accused. “It’s highly suspicious --”

“It’s half-price night!” the bartender protested. “Don’t you remember me telling you when you came in?”

“No,” Hunter said. He leaned in. “Tech, what gives? If they want to charge us less, who cares?”

Tech opened his mouth to argue, then closed it again. He pursed his lips. “Well. I suppose it’s his prerogative.”

“Look, we’d better settle up. Whatever it is we owe you,” Hunter said heavily. The bartender gave him a price and he paid it, wondering what was going on with the pricing, but not caring enough to find out.

“Have a good night guys, all right?” the bartender said. “And here’s some water for the way home. You’ll need it.” He slid several bottles of water over to them and Tech and Hunter gathered them up.

“You just had to bring up math, didn’t you?”

“It doesn’t make any sense. There is no special, Hunter. I saw others close their tabs at the normal rate.”

“Maybe he charges less for defective clones. Credit error in our favor, right?”

“It’s ridiculous, but -- Ah. Where did Wrecker and Crosshair go?”

“I think Crosshair overdid it,” said Hunter. “They’re off to the ‘fresher. Let’s go find ‘em.”

They found Wrecker guarding the far stall in the busy restroom. Crosshair was slumped against the wall of the stall, cradling the toilet with one arm.

“Yikes,” said Hunter.

“I did warn you,” said Tech.

“He’s taking it like a champ,” said Wrecker proudly, leaning against the wall and crossing his arms. “Hey! You guys brought another round? I could go for somethin’ else!”

“It’s just water. And you’re in the bathroom,” said Tech in disgust.

“Aww, man!”

Hunter crept into the stall, crouching beside Crosshair, who had leaned his head against the wall with his eyes closed. The stall smelled of sick and sweat, nearly enough to turn his own stomach. “Cross. You all right?”

Crosshair cracked open one eye and glared blearily at him. “At least no one had to hold my hair back,” he muttered.

Hunter bristled. “Oh, you are such a little --” Then he grinned. “Yeah, I think you’ll be all right. Come on. Ready to get out of here?”

Crosshair closed his eyes, wincing, then swallowed. “Eurgh… another minute.”

Hunter hurried out of the stall, slamming the door shut behind him.

---

They finally made it out twenty minutes later, after Crosshair swore he was done puking. He was still wobbly on his feet but the glassy look in his eyes had faded. Wrecker was steering him through the crowd, clearing a path with his vast arms. Tech followed them, chattering to himself about inefficient business practices, while Hunter brought up the rear. The crowd had started to thin out by now and it was noticeably less jam-packed and quieter. Time to get a move on.

There was a lull in the music, and his ears pricked at a conversation carried through an empty pocket in the center of the room. It was the bartender, talking to someone. Hunter paused, listening, keeping his gaze averted so as not to alert the bartender he was being listened to.

“Damn, I’m glad I followed my instinct with those ninety-nines.”

”What do you mean?”

”Well, they may have been defective, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know a shiny when I see one. Gave ‘em the shiny special.”

“Isn’t that where you only serve ‘em half strength of what they ordered?”

“Yeah. The brainy one almost figured it out, but the leader called him off. Can you imagine how messed up those clones would have got if I’d let ‘em have the full-strength stuff? Bunch of lightweights.”

”Kriff.”

”Yeah. Poor bastards. Shinies always overdo it.”

Hunter swallowed. They’d been drinking half of what they thought they had? Crap. That was embarrassing. Shiny special, indeed.

He caught up to the others as they squeezed out through the front door and into the stale night air, finally free of the music that had been dully pounding in the background for hours. Tech turned back to him. “I’ve called a taxi. Should be here in twenty. I suggest we find a spot to sit down -- far from the edge of this platform, judging by the way our reflexes have been affected.”

“My reflexes are fine,” said Hunter, reaching for his knife to show off. His hand hit fabric and he remembered he’d left his vibroblade with his armor back on the ship. He gave Tech a flustered grin. “Okay, fair point.”

They found a spot to sit against the wall, well away from the plummeting empty space at the edge of the platform. For a moment, they were quiet, leaning back against the wall and sipping the water the bartender had sent them off with. Hunter shook his head. That clone had had their number, all right, as embarrassing it was to admit. He wondered if he should tell the others, but he kept quiet, his senses slowly coming back to him.

Speeders whizzed by in the dark, flashes of multicolored lights zigging against the blue-black void and the neon across the shaft. Their engines were bright little hums pressing against his eardrums. He could feel their wind against his hair, the closest thing to real wind one could find this far down. He watched them go, on and on, entranced.

Hunter looked over at his brothers. They all looked drowsy, eyes heavy, faint smiles on their faces. Tech yawned, leaning against him, head drifting to Hunter’s shoulder. Hunter adjusted, making it easier for Tech to lean on him. Beside Tech was Crosshair, his face slack and unfocused, his cheeks flushed, arm slung around Wrecker’s shoulders. Wrecker was still humming, a cheery little nonsense tune.

“Not a bad night, lads, all in all,” said Hunter.

“It was certainly experimental. We shall be better prepared next time.”

“You were over prepared! I coulda kept going.”

“And we all might have blacked out if we’d tried to keep up with you.”

“Don’t fight,” Crosshair mumbled. “Fun night.”

“Even if you puked your guts out! Ha, good thing I got you in there in time.” Wrecker looked way too pleased with himself. Hunter would have gently smacked him if Tech wasn’t in the way, burrowing further into Hunter to get comfortable, his goggles digging into Hunter’s shoulder.

Crosshair shifted, giving Wrecker something like a hug. “Wrecker, you’re the best,” he mumbled. “Had to tell you.”

“Me? Thanks, Crosshair!” Wrecker said, clearly delighted.

“Best… brother. ‘Cept when you hog Lula. Miss her,” Crosshair continued, closing his eyes, sounding half-asleep already. “Best brother. ‘Cept Tech. Or Hunter. Way better than those regs,” he rambled.

“I am clearly the best brother,” Tech announced, his face still jammed in Hunter’s sleeve.

“Nuh-uh! He said I was the best first!”

“He said I was the best last,” Hunter countered. “Beat that!”

“You are all… absurd. Yes. That is the word.”

“You’re just jealous!”

“All you… best. Best brothers…”

“Aww, I think I like cuddly Cross!”

”I suggest we do not tell him of this in the morning. He appears to have avoided alcohol poisoning, but not by much. He may blackout and not remember.”

”Not tell him? Are you kidding? I’m gonna tell him every day!”

Hunter chuckled to himself, taking a drink of his water and trying to get comfortable against the wall until their taxi came. He watched the speeders zipping back and forth, his brothers arguing at his side, and he thought there was nowhere else he’d rather be.

---

Morning on the Havoc Marauder.

”Am I dead?”

”You are not dead. You are merely hungover.”

”I think I’m dead.”

”Have some water. Again, I must assure you, you are not dead.”

”Hunter, am I dead?”

”No. Listen to Tech. Drink some water.”

”But —“

“That’s an order.”

”Fine. Also, I hate you both.”

”Sure.”

”I find that unlikely.”

”Wrecker. Am I dead?”

”You better not be. I’d be pissed.”

“Aw. You’d miss me.”

”Yeah, I mean, probably.”

”I hate you too.”

”Love you, Crossie.”

”Don’t call me that — uggh. My head…”

“Just take it easy, Crosshair. It’s a while back to Kamino. Sleep up, take your pain pills, and drink some water. …lightweight.”

”I am not!”

The ship filled with laughter, and Crosshair took his pain pills, scowling fiercely enough to kill.

#the bad batch #the bad batch fanfiction #79's #the clone wars #hunter bad batch #crosshair bad batch #wrecker bad batch #tech bad batch #alcohol #drinking #my batcher fic

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levi-venn · 11 months ago

Text

The First Toothpick

Chapter Four: A Little Juicy Gossip

Gen Fic - Mentor/Protege

Summary: Cad Bane teaches Crosshair how to be a sniper. The kid picks up some other habits as a result.

Chapter Summary: Crosshair meets Todo 360 who does not know how to keep a secret.

Chapters: Ch 1 | Ch 2 | Ch 3 | Ch 4 | Ch 5 | Ch 6 | Ch7 | Ch8 | Ch9 |

Available also on AO3

“Great callouts, Hunter! You’re a natural leader. Wrecker, we’re gonna need stronger droids to handle your strength. Tech, you sliced those panels in record time! Now let's see," The lieutenant looked at his datapad, scrolling through the rest of the data.

Crosshair waited for his turn.

The lieutenant kept scrolling, frown deepening.

A brotherly hand squeezed Crosshair's shoulder. He pushed it away. He didn’t need comfort. He needed feedback.

“Alright, pack it up, soldiers,” the lieutenant said, tucking his datapad away. “The final test of the quarter is tomorrow.”

“Hey, wait,” Hunter said. “What about-”

Crosshair's elbow found Hunter's ribs, chasing the question away.

“Is there a problem, soldier?” The lieutenant asked, raising an imperious brow.

Hunter clutched his side. “No, sir.”

The lieutenant left.

Crosshair would have left too if not for his brothers surrounding him, blocking his escape.

“You did great , Crosshair,” Hunter insisted.

“You hit every single mark flawlessly,” Tech observed.

“Yeah! You’re wizard!” Wrecker shouted.

Molten anger heated Crosshair's cheeks. “It doesn’t matter what you think,” he hissed. “The lieutenant’s opinion is all that matters. They are going to retire me.”

“I won’t let that happen,” Hunter said.

“It’s not up to you, Hunter,” Crosshair said.

“Bugger this,” Hunter sighed and grabbed Crosshair’s wrist, tugging him towards a nearby ventilation grate. "Recon time. C’mon.”

Crosshair thought about kicking him, but...the recon may prove useful.

“Aww, recon?! I wanna come, too!” Wrecker whined.

“This mission requires more stealth than you are trained to handle, Wrecker” Tech indicated. “Also your size would break the air vent.”

“Hehe, yeah, I’m a real tank,” Wrecker grinned, proudly.

Hunter hoisted Crosshair up into the air ventilation tunnel before leaping up behind him. The tunnel ran in a dozen different directions like a many-armed rapthar, each path identical to the next. Hunter always knew instinctively where to go. It didn’t take long before they found the vent overlooking the lieutenant’s office.

There was another clone in the office with him.

No...not a clone...

“Is that Fett?” Hunter whispered. “Last time Fett was here, they took Radar away.”

“I know,” Crosshair snarled quietly.

“Oh yeah,” the Lieutenant snickered below, taking his seat at his desk. “He's the best in the facility.”

“Cut the sarcasm, Pynk,” Fett leaned against the wall, arms folded across his chest. “We need a sniper in this squad.”

“Don’t get me wrong, he’s a good sniper, but we train good snipers every day. This squad needs someone extraordinary and he isn’t. It’ll save a lot of time and energy to just retire him and pick up a normal sniper for the team.”

A normal sniper…

Crosshair had heard enough. He shoved Hunter down the tunnel and followed him, angrily wiping his blurry, wet eyes as they went.

“Are they gonna retire Crosshair?” Wrecker whispered loudly to Tech as Crosshair climbed out of the vent.

“They will have to retire me first,” Tech said, adjusting his goggles, not bothering to lower his voice. “I won’t let them take him.”

“Yeah,” Wrecker slammed his fists together, “me neither.”

He ignored them both. He made a point to ignore them both. They were all idiots, thinking they could change anything by just wishing it wouldn't happen.

And Crosshair was an idiot for daring to think he could be extraordinary.

The next day, Crosshair earned the nickname “Misfire.”

Not long after that the bounty hunter, Cad Bane, took him away.

***

Crosshair couldn’t sleep.

The room was too quiet without Wrecker’s chest-rattling snores, too dark without the faint glow of Tech coding on his datapad, and even though Hunter was practically a ghost at night even when awake, Crosshair missed him, too.

Facing the fact sleep wasn’t going to find him, Crosshair slung his rifle over his shoulder, tip-toed down the hall past Bane's room, slid down the bannister, avoiding the creaky stairs altogether, and slipped soundlessly out the front door. The weather-beaten porch was barely held together by whatever rusted nails poked out of the cracked wood. He kept his steps light, but each footfall he could feel the threat of a creak beneath his boots. He leapt over the stairs entirely and landed in the dark soil with little more than a quiet squelch.

The moon was a meager sliver in the sky that didn't do much to illuminate the wheat field, but the way it moved in the wind reminded Crosshair of the black waves of a rarely calm nighttime Kaminoan sea.

“Goin’ somewhere?”

Crosshair hadn't heard anyone approach. How was this possible? And yet, as he turned, he found that Bane had been sitting in a rocking chair in the darkest corner of the porch, only his red eyes, half-moons obscured by the brim of his hat, could be seen.

Crosshair refused to be rattled. He planted his feet firmly in the soil and and puffed up his narrow chest. “I’m going to scout the perimeter.”

“Got sensors for that, kid” Bane replied. “Ain’t a soul out there except for us n’ the Fabools.”

“Then I’ll go check on the Fabools.”

“You don’t gotta worry about them until tomorrow mornin’. Todo will show ya what to do.”

Crosshair had no response. Wrecker's clumsy question floated in his head.

Are they gonna retire Crosshair?”

He needed to do this. He needed to do...something.

Bane’s head tilted slightly. “What?”

Crosshair didn’t respond.

I don’t want to be retired. I want to live… at least long enough to fight a real battle with Tech.

Bane let out a strained growled, his spurs jingling as his boots landed heavily on the porch. In the darkness his scarlet eyes cast harsh shadows against his scarred face.

“You n’ me are gonna get along a lot better if ya stop bein’ so fuckin’ timid. You’re a soldier, right? You’re an elite sniper? You’re a tough guy? Then stop bein’ afraid of everything. I’m bein’ paid to train ya, but I may ask Jango for extra cuz I gotta go lookin' for yer spine first before I can teach ya anything.” Rows of sharp teeth gleamed in the dark. “Start talkin’.”

I want to live.

I-

“I…don’t want to be retired.”

The teeth vanished. The eyes dimmed. Bane leaned forward and into the meager moonlight, confusion etched into his scarred face. “What do ya mean ‘retired’?”

“If soldiers don’t meet their lieutenant’s expectations, they’re retired and their data gets erased. Radar and Pintsize were retired last year. No trace of them anywhere. Like they never existed.” Crosshair scrubbed his sweaty palms against his pant legs. He couldn’t stop talking if he wanted to, like trying to fight momentum down a steep hill. “Radar was redundant. Hunter’s tracking skills were sharper than his. Pintsize could barely hold a blaster with his tremors. The lieutenant said I’m not ‘extraordinary’ like the rest of my squad. I dropped my sniper rifle last test. They started calling me-”

The name seized in his mind. Tech’s magnified eyes glaring at him as if he was somehow holding onto the name.

“That’s not who you are.”

“Jango knows about this? These retirements?”

Crosshair blinked. “What?”

“The retirements. Are they his decision or not?”

“It’s the lieutenant’s decision.”

Bane rested his elbows on his knees, his unyielding glare boring into Crosshair. “Who’s this lieutenant? What’s his story?”

“A first generation clone. Lieutenant Pynk,” Crosshair thought about how to describe him. “He’s an asshole.”

Bane snorted. “Yeah, I gathered that much. So when you told me you’re the best in the facility that was his sarcasm I was hearing?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “Well, fuck Pynk. We’ll show him what extraordinary looks like.” he extended his hand. “Gimme your rifle.”

Crosshair tightened the grip on his rifle strap. “Why?”

“Oh yer full of questions now, huh?” Bane sneered. “Official inspection, soldier. Give it here.”

With a small hiss of protest, Crosshair handed the rifle over.

Bane gave the rifle a little spin as if testing the weight. He looked through the scope. He ran his fingers over the stock and gave it a good shake.

“No wonder you can’t razzle and dazzle anyone,” Bane snickered. “This here’s a piece of bantha poodoo .”

“There’s nothing wrong with my rifle.” Crosshair said. “I clean it everyday. I calibrated it this morning. It’s fine.”

“Yeah?” Bane tossed the rifle back to Crosshair. “Prove it.”

Bane stood up, reminding Crosshair just how tall the Duros was compared to him. He was taller than Pynk and somehow that was comforting to know. In one swift movement, Bane hopped over the porch railing and with a crisp snap of his leather duster, he vanished around the side of the house.

Crosshair followed. At first it looked like Bane had simply disappeared, but upon a closer look, the side of the house was covered with a wide wooden trellis far too reinforced to withstand just the weight of creeper vines. He looked up and saw a brief glimpse of the brim of Bane's hat on the roof. Crosshair slung the rifle over his shoulder and climbed.

Some of the roof tiles were flatter and smoother than they appeared, leading to an ornamental bell tower half the size of Crosshair and far too small for Bane to fit. Still, Crosshair peeked into the bell tower and found...a short chute leading into a spy holodrama.

It was one part sniper tower, one part high-tech surveillance bowl filled with panels and devices similar to the simulation models Tech ran through to practice slicing communications and monitoring air traffic.

Bane sneered up at him. "C'mon in, kiddo."

“What is this?” Crosshair asked, hoisting himself into the chute and using the short ladder to climb down.

“Crow’s nest, watchtower, sniper tower, reinforced bunker, whatever we need it for. There are a couple of cots under the false floor if we get swarmed and have to lay low for a while.”

“Who would attack us?”

“The local authorities, mercs lookin' to even the score, raiders aimin' to steal the Fabools which can sell for a pretty credit on the black market.” Bane pressed a switch under his seat and the blank wall flipped over to reveal a pair of LL-30 blaster pistols and a 773 Firepuncher rifle, the kind Crosshair had only seen in firearms databanks Tech sliced in for him.

Bane grabbed the rifle, charged it up, and checked the scope. “Don’t have to worry about any of that tonight though. Tonight, we’re doin’ some target practice...”

He dialed something into the control panel. A long opening slid 280 degrees around the tower at Crosshair’s eye-level, no taller than his fist, yet a screen flickered around the opening to reveal a holographic image of the surrounding area.

“I can see everything,” he said.

“That’s the idea,” Bane replied. “Watch the field.”

He flicked another switch and a blue light shimmered over the wheat field as the security shield went down.

The grass started to quiver almost immediately.

“What’s out there?” Crosshair asked, sliding the barrel of his rifle through the opening and peering through the scope.

“Stalker lizards,” Bane said. “Lookin’ for a free meal inside that Fabool enclosure. Tell me what ya see.”

Crosshair toggled the heat sensor display on and off, watching the heat signatures from the lizards and the dark shadows of the landscape. “Lizards about a meter long coming from the southwest.” He scanned the enclosure next, remembering his training. Always check doors, corners, exits, and blindspots.

“We have blindspots.”

“Where’re the blindspots?” Bane asked, clearly a test.

“South and East walls of the enclosure.”

“Already covered. Look again.”

The heat signatures didn’t change. The landscape didn’t change much either. Crosshair lowered his scope and leaned over the edge of the bell tower as if it would help. “How-”

Bane grabbed his jumpsuit and pulled him back. “Stay in here.” He pushed some monoculars into Crosshair’s hands. “Your little toy scope doesn’t have a range finder, use these.”

“It’s not a toy.”

“It surely is. You wanna be an extraordinary sniper? You gotta grow up n’ use a real sniper rifle. Now quit givin’ me that death glare n’ look at coords 233.32, 33.4.”

Fuming, Crosshair looked through the monoculars. “Coords 233.32, 33.4.” He repeated.

Crosshair dialed in the coordinates and let the cursor on the display guide his movements.

There were several panels in various parts of the field. Each panel was painted with a shiny yellow number and embedded with silver reflective discs. “Are those mirrors?”

“Tell me which one to shoot.”

“What?”

“Can’t believe I’m sayin’ this, but yer askin’ too many questions. Just do it.”

Crosshair rolled his eyes and shifted his scope from mirror to mirror until the caught the reflection of a stalker lizard climbing up the fabric wall of the enclosure.

“Panel two, center.”

A blaster shot rang out, it ricochet off the mirror and the low-power stun blast knocked the lizard off the enclosure, driving it back to the treeline.

“Again.”

Crosshair aligned his vision. Another panel. “Panel three, top left.”

The blaster bolt fired, ricocheted, and hit its target.

“Keep callin’ ‘em,” Cad said. "Faster."

“Six, low right. Four, center. Two, top center. Two, top left, no wait-”

“Two, middle left,” Cad corrected and took the shot.

“How do you see them without the monoculars?”

Bane snatched Crosshair’s monoculars and shoved the Firepuncher into his hands. “Built-in rangefinder in the scope. Give it a try.”

Bane’s rifle was heavier than his, but it also felt sturdier and a lot more powerful. He did a quick procedural check of the power cell, the scope angle, and acclimated himself to the weight before sliding the barrel through the opening. The scope was alive with readings. Rangefinder, coordinates scale, the crosshairs shifted as it looked for moving targets and returned to center when there was nothing.

“This is cheating,” Crosshair grumbled.

Bane snorted. “No such thing in this business. Besides, you can spend all the fancy credits in the galaxy and it don't make you the best. Yer greatest mod is yer eyes n' yer instincts. Now shut up n’ start firin’. Lizards are startin’ to swarm.”

The heat signatures doubled and Crosshair took shot after shot, chasing the lizards away.

“Good.” Bane said.

Good, but not extraordinary, Crosshair thought.

Two lizards scaled the corner of the enclosure. Crosshair hit the leader and it landed on its follower, scaring both away.

He waited for Bane to praise him. It was an impressive shot.

Bane remained silent.

Another lizard leapt from a panel onto the enclosure wall. He shot one mirror and it ricocheted off another mirror and hit the lizard between the eyes, sending it sprawling backwards before scurrying off.

That was impressive too. He waited for the Lieutenant...no...he waited for Bane to comment.

Bane said nothing.

“He’s a good sniper…This squad needs someone extraordinary.”

He took another shot. The blaster bolt bounced off the mirror and hit the tail of the lizard. It kept climbing.

He took another shot. The lizard dropped.

“Sloppy,” Bane said.

Crosshair’s bolt hit the edge of the enclosure, wool sizzled. The Fabools inside bleeted and honked irritably.

“Shit shot.”

“Are they gonna retire Crosshair?” Wrecker asked, eyes wet with tears.

Another miss.

“Worse,” Cad said.

And another.

“Shittier.”

He shot a mirror, it ricocheted into the night.

“Now yer takin’ yer failure out on the mirrors, huh?” Cad snickered. “Try again.”

The rifle felt heavier. Like the hands of a dozen laughing cadets and one unimpressed lieutenant was pushing it down.

“Look out, here comes Misfire.”

The heat signatures began to multiply through the scope.

“What’re you doing?” Bane asked. “I said try again.”

Shit shot…worse…failure…

The trigger refused to move.

“Misfire…Misfire…Misfire…”

“Dank farrick,” Bane swore and grabbed the rifle, firing five shots in quick succession. Blaster bolts soared and ricocheted off the mirrors, scaring away the rest of the lizards. He punched the control panel and the blue shimmering shield spread across the wheat field again. “What was that about? You forget how to shoot?”

Crosshair's hand twitched. He didn't move. He stared at the rifle.

“What the hell, kid?”

Crosshair couldn’t feel his fingers.

Hands shaking, he managed to hoist himself out of the bell tower. By the time he got to the bottom of the trellis he realized he had left his own rifle behind.

Tears blurring his eyes, he raced back to the front of the house, crashing through the door and stomping up the stairs.

He hid under the covers.

In a bed that wasn’t his.

Without the rifle that he didn’t deserve anyway.

***

The next morning, the house seemed empty. Bane wasn’t downstairs, but breakfast was waiting for Crosshair. A plate of bacon and eggs on a warming plate.

He ate quickly and guzzled the apple juice, politely pushing away the black caf and wondering if it was only there because he knew Fett was never far from a cup of caf.

He wandered outside to the sun sprinkling the wheat field with golden light. It made him squint. Climbing up the trellis, he poked his head in the bell tower. Neither rifle nor Bane was there.

His heart dropped. He felt sick. If Bane confiscated his rifle, then Crosshair was probably heading back home today. He hoped he’d be able to say bye to his brothers before they retired him. Then again, he didn’t get to say bye to Pintsize and Radar.

Climbing back down the trellis, he walked to the Fabool enclosure punching in the code he watched Bane use the day before. The gate swung open and before he could fall into a cuddle pile of Fabools, a stout droid flew directly at him, nearly slamming him against the gate.

“Who are you?!” The droid asked, round, unblinking yellow eyes flashing with suspicion, his thrusters hissing angrily as he floated in front of Crosshair’s face.

Crosshair pushed himself off the gate. “Bane told me to take care of the Fabools with Todo this morning.”

“I am Todo 360,” the droid declared, spindly arms flailing. “Did Mr. Bane order you to spy on me?”

“No. If I was going to spy on you,” Crosshair said, dryly. “You’d never know it.”

The droid’s three-fingered hand touched his non-existent chin thoughtfully. “Oh. Hmm. That’s…a valid point. Fine, you may stay, but I am in charge here and you will tell Mr. Bane that I am doing a perfectly good job and I don’t need any help.”

“Fine by me.”

“We’ll start with feeding practices!” Todo announced, shooing away the Fabools who seemed to hate the sound of his thrusters. They rolled towards Crosshair and away from the noisy droid. It was hard to worry about retirement when there were a dozen soft, bouncing balloons begging for his attention, and Crosshair decided to enjoy the moment, taking time to pet each one while Todo did all the work.

“Well, you’re already proving yourself to be an adequate assistant," Todo said, cleaning the water trough. "It takes me three times longer to fill their troughs when they try to bully me into their cuddle piles.” Todo floated towards the hose and dragged it across the enclosure, straining between words. “Your...reaction...to them...is...far…different…from…Mr. Bane’s…first…interaction.”

“What do you mean?” Crosshair asked.

“Oh, Mr. Bane was terrified of the Fabools when Fett brought him here. Practically climbed up on the fence to get away from them. He was scared of a lot of things back then though.”

Crosshair’s jaw dropped into his lap. “Bane? Cad Bane?”

“Well he wasn’t Mr. Bane back then. Just Cad. He hadn’t chosen a surname. Some Duros culture thing. I never understood it.”

“How long have you known Bane?”

“Many, many years.”

Crosshair cupped a Fabool chick in his hands and pressed it against his cheek. It snuffled at him, inquisitively. “Why was he afraid of the Fabools?”

“He full of paranoia when we met him,” Todo said, lightly. “Just distrustful of everything, in general.”

"But..." Crosshair stared dumbfounded at Todo. “How did he get so…”

“...so very 'Bane' ?” Todo asked.

“Yes.”

Todo held up an authoritative finger. “By eating his vegetables, little boy,” Todo hummed and floated towards the food sacks.

Crosshair rolled his eyes. “What else do you know about Bane?”

“Oh, I know lots about him. I’ve known him for a very long time. I’m his most trusted confidant. I am sworn to secrecy though so I couldn't possibly share anything with you.”

Considering how much Crosshair learned about Bane in the thirty seconds he knew Todo he decided to just nod. “Okay.”

“But…” Todo floated forward, hands rubbing together conspiratorially. “...I do have a few juicy tidbits I could share if you’re interested.”

Crosshair made a mental note to never tell Todo 360 anything about himself. “Sure.”

“Oh goodie! It’s so rare I find someone to gossip with that aren’t Fabools. Bossk and Aurra tell Mr. Bane everything .”

Crosshair scooted forward, setting the chick down on the ground only to have two fabools bounce into his lap and a third bounce against his back. Somehow all of the Fabools reminded him of Wrecker, only cuter and less annoying. “What else do you know?”

“Hmm…oh! Here's something. He didn’t know how to use a blaster when he met Mr. Fett. Mr. Fett taught him everything he knew about being a mercenary.”

“I figured that much.”

“But did you know that Mr. Fett and Mr. Bane engaged in a bar fight before Mr. Fett left for his secret project?”

“Why?”

“Is it not obvious? Mr. Bane idolized Mr. Fett, followed him around like a fabool chick bounces after a feed bag. When Mr. Fett left mercenary work, he left Mr. Bane behind. Mr. Bane took it very personally, but I think it was the best thing that ever happened to him.”

“Why?” Crosshair pressed.

“Because that is when Mr. Bane found that cool confidence in himself. Mr. Fett was always there to lift him up, reward his victories, and tutor his failings. Mr. Bane had to figure out how to exist without Mr. Fett and it was then I noticed that confidence grow like a hmm…like a cactus blossom! He went from Mr. Fett’s shadow to being quite the opposing figure himself.”

Crosshair sat quietly, absorbing this fact. It was hard to imagine the Bane today cowering from Fabools or needing help from anyone.

Or starving for someone else's approval.

When he thought of Bane, he thought of the easy stance, arms relaxed and thumbs hanging over his belt buckle, a toothpick casually moving between his teeth, round eyes behind hooded lids that could see through a person with more accuracy than a scope. That nonchalant drawl, the cheeky turn of phrase, unrattled, and prickly.

All the things Crosshair wanted to be.

“Has Bane ever had an apprentice before?”

“Not to my knowledge. Mr. Fett’s request is unusual, but Bane would do anything for-”

“Kid, get up.”

Crosshair startled, whipping his head back to find Bane leaning against the wall, arms folded, toothpick rolling lazily in his teeth. How long had he been in the enclosure? A Fabool snuffled at his boot, lost interest than bounce against Crosshair's head.

“Come with me.” Bane left the enclosure without another word.

Crosshair didn’t move at first. Not because he was covered in Fabools, but because he knew this was the end.

Retirement…

He’d finally find out what happened to Pintsize and Radar.

“Nice to meet you, Todo,” he said, standing up and gently rolling the fabools away who happily bounded towards the droid.

“Oh! Well nice to meet you too, um… ‘Kid’.”

“Sit down,” Bane said, pointing to the rocking chair on the porch before going into the house.

Crosshair sank onto the flower-patterned cushioned seat, trying and failing to rest his boots on the railing. It was too far away. He sighed and drew his legs up, hugging his knees. He watched the skies for a ship to come and pick him up.

Bane came out a few minutes later and sat in the other rocking chair, boots landing with a jingle of his spurs on the railing. Crosshair’s rifle was in his hands. It took all of Crosshair’s self-control not to lunge for it, hug it, and promise he would never abandon it again.

He hugged his knees tighter.

“Doesn’t take a genius to know why you ran out last night,” Bane began, tilting his hat up to look Crosshair in the eyes. “You crave praise like a dying man thirstin’ of jocola . I don’t reckon you get a lot of positive reinforcement at the facility n’ ya know what? Tough shit. The sooner ya realize the galaxy ain’t gonna give ya validation is the day ya actually become the extraordinary sniper I know ya can be.

“This is the last and only time I’m gonna say this," Bane continued. "Yer real fuckin’ good, and yer gonna be the best. I ain't ever wrong about shit like this. Now...you hold onto that praise because after this conversation, I ain’t gonna be nice to ya anymore. Yer gonna get pushed n' pushed hard, yer gonna get shaken, and I’m gonna do everythin’ I can to get ya past this bullshit worry about what everyone else thinks. Maybe you’ll hate me, hell ya might even shoot me in the back, but it’ll be worth it because it’s gonna send ya past that kraytshit extraordinary standard Pynk’s got for ya.”

Bane offered the rifle back to Crosshair. “I promise, by the time ya get back home, yer gonna be tougher than a reek’s horn n’ twice as deadly.”

The moment Crosshair’s fingers touched his rifle, he knew it was augmented. It felt like a Firepunch. Better scope, heavier stock, a weapon for a real sniper. He peered through the scope.

“Whoa,” Crosshair murmured, scanning the field with his scope, toggling between more scanners than he knew existed. “Wizard.”

“Listen kid, in this galaxy there’ll be plenty of people tryin’ to put you down, break your spirit, break your bones. Only person you gotta trust is yourself. Yer all ya need, you understand me?”

Crosshair realized it was a lesson Bane had to learn when Jango left for Kamino. It would be a lesson Crosshair would carry with him the rest of his life.

Even if Bane was hired to train him, to be this mentor, it meant something to Crosshair. "Understood."

“Go clean up. Food’s in an hour. Beef stew minus the carrots. After that you start yer real trainin’. Deal?”

Crosshair hopped up, slinging his rifle over his shoulder. “Deal.”

“One more thing, kid.”

“Yeah?”

“What did you and Todo talk about this morning?”

Crosshair didn’t bother lying. “You.”

Bane growled quietly. “That gossiping little shit. What did he say?”

Though Crosshair didn’t intend to lie, he also didn’t feel like ratting Todo out. So he was honest about the thing that mattered most.

“He said you’re better off without Fett around.”

The words seemed to splash cold water on Bane’s face. The mercenary looked away, out to the golden field, too bright in the noonday sun.

“Is it true?” Crosshair asked.

Bane’s glare didn’t skewer Crosshair as sharply as he expected. In fact, it looked like he may even answer.

“Target practice starts at dusk. Bring your A-game, kid. Not holding back on you. Now get outta here.”

And with that Bane sank into his rocking chair tilted his hat forward over his eyes.

The conversation was over.

Crosshair was happy he asked.

#tbb crosshair #bad batch crosshair #crosshair #the bad batch #tbb #star wars the clone wars #cad bane #tbb hunter #bad batch hunter #The First Toothpick

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silverwings22 · 9 months ago

Text

Song of the Sea: Chapter 33: Monstrosity

Chapter Warning: unethical experimentation, references to death Series Warning: explicit smut, alien anatomy (it's a monsterfucker fic, guys), major character injury, grief, canon typical violence, autistic meltdowns, and my terrible attempts at Mando'a

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Tech hadn’t realized when he let Shiani fly that she was going to turn into a princess in the pilot seat, but he couldn’t bring himself to mind too much. She was kicked back, legs on the console with her ankles crossed. “Cid’s calling in.” She muttered sourly. “Can I handle her? Please, Hunter?”

The sergeant chuckled. “I’ll let you lead, but I’m staying right here.”

“We all will.” Wrecker grinned darkly. “I wanna give her a piece of my mind.”

Shiani clicked her fangs together, the staccato sound they were all coming to be familiar with. “Only mind she’s gonna have.” She turned the ship holo on, angling it so her face was the only one the trandoshan could see. “You have a lot of nerve comming us, Cid.”

"Cant I check in on my best crew?"

“If you were someone who gave a damn about us.” Shiani crossed her arms, settling back with narrow eyes. “What have you got to say for yourself?”

“What’s got you in such a bad mood, Suckers?”

"We were stranded on that planet, Cid. And you left us!" Omega snapped. Hunter patted her shoulder and tried not to laugh at the look on Cid’s face in the holo when Shiani showed her teeth.

"And now you're not. Plus you got your ship back."

"No thanks to you." Wrecker grumbled.

"You want to mope or make money? I've got Intel on a wreck worth salvaging."

“Who says we wanna work for you anymore?” Shiani huffed.

"After all I've done for you, Suckers? Don’t give me a hard time."

“What about what we did for you? Got your Parlor back from Durand, saved you from the Pykes, and rescued you from Millegi on Safa Toma. But you still left us, knowing we had no supplies or escape, and we almost got put into slavery for ten years in that mine” The siren’s blue tongue traced over her teeth quietly. “You have a very personal problem with that, Cid. Maybe we should come straight back to Ord Mantell so you and I can discuss it in person?”

Cid swallowed hard, watching her teeth. "Thirty percent cut of something big would be worth your time. Maybe make it up to you?"

"Thirty percent is our standard rate." Tech pointed out casually. “You will have to do better if you are trying to impress Shiani.”

“C’mon. Isn’t Dark and Broody in charge of you guys?”

“I’m not in the habit of pissing off my brother’s venomous wife, especially when she’s the one flying my ship.” Hunter said coolly.

"Thirty-five? For the trouble."

Shiani snorted, polishing her black claws against her shirt front and inspecting them. “Try again.”

"Forty, then."

Omega climbed into Shiani’s lap so she could look into the holo, grumpy little face eclipsing Shiani’s. "After what you did?"

"Oh, come on! What do you want from me?”

“I want to bite you.” Shiani shrugged. “Anything else, I probably shouldn’t say in front of Baby Mega.”

Cid groaned. "Fine. Fifty percent, as a token of my goodwill, and everything will be fine from now on. Deal?"

Tech looked back at Hunter, who nodded. “You may send the coordinates, then.” The genius adjusted his goggles. His wife continued to look entirely unimpressed, but wrapped her arms around Omega instead of continuing to threaten Cid.

"About time you see reason. Don't come back without something worth scavenging."

"Why should we come back at all?” Hunter huffed.

"Don't test me, Bandana. Just get the job done." Cid hung up.

“Do we have to go back, Hunter?” Shiani frowned, looking back at their leader with an unhappy expression. “I hate how she treats you guys. Reminds me of longnecks.”

"Severing ties with Cid would be exceptionally difficult, given the information she has about us." Tech reached over and took her hand gently, giving it a comforting series of squeezes. "It may be wiser to consider this a final mission for her, and leave on good terms. Otherwise, she could become quite vindictive. And she does have quite a bit of information on us."

“Lacking a home base like the Parlor is dangerous, too.” Hunter sighed.

“Maybe we can find a new one?” Shiani asked hopefully, lowering her legs from the dash. “We could ask someone else for ways to make credits. Phee makes it work, we could ask for advice if not leads?

“I’ll make you a deal. If we find something before the supplies run out, we won’t go back.” Hunter patted her shoulder. “I don’t like her either. You’ve been right all along, she’s selfish.”

Shiani nodded. She’d ask Phee as soon as they finished this salvage mission, and see if there was a better solution. She’d had all of Cid she could stand before she just started biting to solve her problems.

Hunter chuckled. It looked like the adage was true that laid back, quiet men ended up with the feisty girls. Tech was just watching Shiani with a fond look in his eyes as she grumbled about no longer wanting to be the bigger person and starting to bite people like a rat. “What did Cid send, Tech?”

"Only coordinates, without any transponder data or cargo manifest. And nothing on the cause of the ship crash."

"Limited intel again." Wrecker groaned.

“She does that all the time.” Omega pointed out. " But scavenging a wreck can't be that hard."

Hunter nodded. Shiani made a face. “Never say that, Baby Mega. Something weird always happens!”

Shiani set the ship down carefully just outside the coordinates Cid had provided, following Tech off the ramp. There was a plateau of glittering lights that caught her attention and she paused, looking at them with the intensity of a moth caught in the light. It was a village, houses full of people living in a little close knit community that oddly reminded her of Acopit…

With the thought of leaving Cid and Ord Mantell behind so close at hand, she couldn’t help but wonder if this was something they could have. A home, and roots on the ground with neighbors and friends. Soldiers didn’t settle, Tech had once told her, but did he always have to be a soldier? He was, if he ever acknowledged it, a prince now. Didn’t a prince and his family deserve to be safe and comfortable after years of serving a regime that threw them away like the Empire had when it swallowed the Republic? She wanted a place they could call their own, where the danger went away and they could just be. Where Omega had a childhood without blaster fire reflected in her eyes, and Hunter could worry about her homework instead of her survival. Wrecker could spend his life trying every food known to the galaxy and Tech could finally build things he wanted, instead of things he needed. She’d follow him anywhere, but was it so bad to want them to be able to sit still instead?

Wrecker clapped a hand on her shoulder, seeing her fixation on the lights. “Looks like the wreck landed near the village.”

"That is likely how the crash was reported so quickly." Tech glanced over at Shiani, wondering what was running through her mind. He knew that look. "The ship appears intact on the scanners, so the cargo should be simple enough to transport."

She blinked away the haze of her longing and looked at him, smiling again. “I follow you, Tech.”

He reached for her, and led the group with his datapad in hand and hers in the other. It wasn’t a far walk to the crash site, and it seemed the scanner was accurate. Despite the fall, the ship was in one piece. A very battered piece, but one piece nonetheless.

Hunter and Wrecker check the hull, curious and slighting concerned. "No markings."

Shiani frowned and looked over the unmarked durasteel too. “This model wasn’t used during the Republic. It’s Imperial, absolutely. And no sign the paint was stripped. No marking means it’s hiding a secret.” She didn’t like this. Imperial secrets were never good.

The Empire was all the horror the longnecks had inflicted on her people, but on a much larger scale. It made her stomach churn just to think what might be inside this ship.

"Judging by the hull damage, it is likely the crew all perished. They will not be able to tell us." Tech popped the hatch open with a little effort and a shrug. She could almost imagine him just telling himself any fear was an illogical response as he shrugged it off. Sometimes she wished she could do that.

"They could be trapped inside. We should check." Omega gave Hunter a pleading look.

He sighed and drew his blaster. “Eyes open, everyone. Shiani, I could really use that inner alarm of yours.”

She nodded, ear fins twitching. “I hope the crew died in the crash.” She said softly. “Cause if they’re alive, they’re Imperial.”

Tech nodded, letting her drape a tentacle around his waist as he and Hunter led the way in with the sergeant's flashlight and Tech’s head lamp ahead of their blasters. Omega stayed right next to Shiani, with her bow out, while Wrecker brought up the rear.

“Feels like a tomb in here.” Shiani breathed, eyes reflecting the flashlight beams back in eerie disks of greenish light..

"Hey, check out out! High-volt electrostaff!" Wrecker scooped up the abandoned weapon off the floor and held it up for them to look at. Omega noted Shiani’s shoulders tense as she looked at it.

“What’s the matter?” She whispered.

“Looks like a cattle prod.” Shiani muttered. “Why would they need that on a ship in space?” She took a step back, bumping into the wall behind them. Instead of smooth durasteel, she felt something scratch at her tentacle and turned around. The metal was marked with deep gashes that had punched through the plating, and when Shiani put her hand up to the marks her claws fell right into the holes. She dragged her fingers down, marking the trajectory of the swipe that had caused the damage.

"Something unfortunate happened here." Tech whispered. “The electrostaff… may have been in a crew members hand before this occurred.

"Whatever did this wasn't human." Hunter didn’t scare easy, but his voice didn’t sound quite level.

Shiani brought her hand back to her side,rubbing her fingers together. There was a smudge of red on them. “These walls are reinforced… and it punched through like wet flimsi. We need to leave.”

"I will go to the bridge and restore power." Tech nodded. “That will speed this along.”

“No, Tech. We need to go now.” Shiani pulled him to her by his waist, swallowing hard. “Please. Let’s just go. Whatever is in here can’t be worth it.”

He cupped her face in both hands gently, looking at her wide eyes. “We cannot be sure of that until we get any relevant data and inspect the cargo. I understand you are uncomfortable. I am as well. But we will get through this.”

“I’ll go with you to the bridge, then.”

“Negative. Stay here with the rest of the team, in case your senses are needed. You have been consistently correct in that regard.” He pressed his helmeted forehead to hers in a light Keldabe kiss before leaning back. "Your concern is unwarranted. I will be fine."

She clenched her jaw to keep from begging him to reconsider as he walked off the opposite direction. “Hate this.”

Omega took her hand. “Me too.”

Shiani gave her three squishes, both to comforting both the girl and herself. “Tech’s right. We find what we came for and we get the hell out of here” She muttered.

Hunter nodded, waving for them to follow him and Wrecker down the opposite hall of the ship.

The center of the ship was a large room, and Shiani didn’t even have to stick her head in before she felt the sickening feeling the labs on Kamino had given her. It was the taste of disinfectant and machine coolant in the air, and the bubbling of growth tubes. How could it make her feel so horrified, when these were the kinds of machines that had made Tech? She should have celebrated them, but she wanted to unleash a scream that would shatter every piece of transparisteel in this room.

"This is Kaminoan cloning technology, but it looks different from what I saw in Tipoca City." Omega confirmed, looking up at her when she felt the shudder rolling down the siren’s arm.

Shiani shivered again. “Torture room.” She said softly.

Hunter couldn’t stand watching the siren so miserable, and he wanted off this Maker-forsaken ship before his blood pressure made him stroke out. He touched his comm. "Any luck, Tech?"

"The bridge power will soon be restored."

Shiani nodded, closing her eyes to focus on Tech’s voice. They’d be out of here soon. Just a little longer.

"These walls are even thicker than the ones in the hallway." Wrecker frowned, spotting a flashlight left on the ground. When he picked it up he almost gagged, finding it covered with some kind of viscous slime. "Oh, that’s gross…"

Shiani’s foot was tapping, eyes darting back and forth. She felt like something was hunting her, but she couldn’t feel a being around her. Either she was panicking, or it was sentient enough to hide itself in the Song-

A low growl behind her made her spin, and she came face to face with what she could only call a horror-holo monster. It had an oblong head with no visible eyes, and a long scaled tail. It’s growl got louder when Hunter’s flashlight illuminated it, and it took a step towards them, stalking them like a predator sizing up prey.

"What the hell is that?" Hunter whispered. “Why didn’t you sense it?”

“Because it’s sentient.” Shiani breathed, pushing Omega back behind her. “Back up slowly, don’t turn your back. It’s angry, and it’s afraid.”

It wasn’t bothering to hide itself anymore, growling at Shiani. She hissed back, showing her teeth warningly in a language it could understand. They hurt you, but I didn’t. These are mine, leave them alone.

Unfortunately, whatever the Empire had done to the creature was stronger than its willingness to endure Shiani’s explanation. It pounced, going after Omega, and the siren threw herself between the girl and it. Her fangs and claws glanced harmlessly off its scales, and it knocked her onto her back, dragging it’s claws down her chest plate. It would have punched through if Hunter and Wrecker hadn’t opened fire and scared it, forcing it to retreat up the wall and into the ceiling tiles.

When the lights came on, Shiani felt its focus shift and it leapt over them to bolt the direction they had come from. She slammed her hand on her comm. “Tech! We gotta go, please. There’s a… thing… on the ship.”

“What kind of thing, cyar’ika?”

“The kind of thing that claws open durasteel?” She touched the gouges in the front of her chestplate, faintly horrified at how close she’d come to having them in her flesh. In all her dreams of starships and lights, she never imagined herself in a dark Imperial ship with parts of her never meant for the light of day flayed open by a… whatever it was.

"It would seem this was a research vessel. Imagine what we could learn-"

She groaned as Wrecker helped her up. “Tech I love you so much but can you be a nerd on our ship and away from the biting thing?!”

"If you insist, my love." Based on his tone, she was pretty sure he had no idea how serious this was.

Hunter got on the comm as well. “Tech! It almost killed her!”

“... shit.”

Hunter led them back down the hall, blasters out, and found the creature with it’s teeth in a power cord. It had gotten larger, spines more prominent… and more familiar looking to Shiani.

Wrecker almost ran into Hunter’s back, making a strangled noise. "Does that thing look different to you?"

“It eats power.” Shiani whispered. “I know what it is.”

"Fascinating…" Tech had appeared on the opposite side of it, his eyes behind his goggles had gone massive with his normally endearing curiosity about the galaxy. Shiani would be in love with his mind again when it wasn’t about to get him eaten alive.

"Tech!" Both the siren and Omega screeched, snapping him back to reality. He glanced over and spotted the gouges in Shiani’s chest plate, and the cold realization of how dangerous this thing was hit him.

"Take cover!" He lifted his blaster and took aim at the reactor, while Hunter and Wrecker shoved Shiani and Omega behind the turn in the hall for cover.

The explosion blew out a wall, and the creature was both unharmed and annoyed when it escaped. Shiani groaned, sticking her head around the corner. “Tech?!”

“I’m alright.” His helmet poked out the opposite side, and she scrambled over to him. “Are you?” He touched the chestplate, wincing at how deep the claw marks went.

“I know what it is, Tech! I saw it on an old holonews reel when I was looking for fuel types. It’s a Malastarian Zillo Beast. One attacked Coruscant during the war!”

Tech blinked, glancing back at the way it had run. “I recall that being much larger…”

“It grew when it was chewing the cables.” Shiani clutched his hands tightly. “They were hurting it. It’s sentient, but its so angry and scared it won’t listen to reason now. We gotta catch it somehow or it’s gonna hurt everyone.”

"It likely ate the previous crew, so we are fortunate it is probably not hungry." Tech frowned. “Perhaps it will not-

"It ate the crew?!" Omega yelped.

Shiani looked back at her. “... there were no bodies on board, Baby Mega.”

The girl shuttered. “It ate the crew…”

Hunter’s eye twitched. "We let it out. We have to stop it."

"I will double back into the ship for further information." Tech started to turn, but Shiani didn’t let go of him. “... we will double back.” He conceded, and she released him fractionally.

Omega followed them. "I know about Kaminoan cloning technology."

Hunter nodded, he and Wrecker taking off for the Marauder to hunt the Zillo down. Shiani, Omega, and Tech ran back inside and headed for the control room. After a moment on the console, Tech gritted his teeth. “It is heavily encrypted. This may take a moment.”

Shiani nodded, inspecting the machines with Omega. “This is definitely cloning equipment.” Omega whispered. “I heard rumors that some cloning experiments were happening off of Kamino.” She got to another console and started poking at it. “There’s a little information here… extracting genetic material from a host.”

“Host is probably the Zillo.” Shiani scowled. “That would explain why it’s so angry. They were hurting it.”

“I almost regret they may have to use the ship’s weapons on it, in that case.” Tech muttered.

“Won’t do any good.” Shiani shook her head. “My claws didn’t touch it. The one that attacked Coruscant wasn’t affected by Jedi lightsabers either, according to the article I read.”

“That would explain this, then.” Tech muttered, eyes on the screen. “Its genetic material was being used for modified armor plating.”

“Your brother’s blasters just scared it.” Shiani nodded, swallowing hard. “At least it’s just a little one?”

Omega winced. “But it got bigger when it chewed on that cable.”

Tech looked up. “It stands to reason it eats energy, if it grew larger. And likely will continue to grow if it consumes more energy.”

“Is there a power grid in the village?” Omega blanched.

Shiani pulled out a scanner and fiddled. “... yes.”

Tech winced and commed Hunter. “This is indeed the same species that attacked Coruscant during the war. It feeds on energy, you must not let it get to the village's power grid or it will grow exponentially in size."

"Too late." Hunter groaned. “But we’ve got bigger trouble. The Empire is here.”

“They were transporting the Zillo, they want it back.” Shiani said helplessly. There was no way to free the creature without sacrificing the village, and no way to save the village without killing the Zillo. “We have to go, Tech.”

"The data transfer is not complete." He looked up at her.

She met his eyes, holding Omega’s hand tightly. “This ship was unmarked and everything encrypted. This was a secret. They’ll destroy the wreck to keep it, and us along with it. Please, Tech. We have to go.”

Tech hesitated a moment, then nodded and stepped away from the console. There were, he supposed, more important things than the pursuit of knowledge. Two of them being his sister and his wife.

They barely made it out when what Shiani had predicted came to pass and the Empire blew the shuttle they’d evacuated into scrap. There were Venators in the air, and LAAT gunships buzzing around between V-wings, and the smell of fire and fuel was thick in the smokey air.

It was supposed to be a simple scavenge mission. How had they stepped from claiming crashed cargo to being in the middle of a whirlwind straight from Hell itself?

The Marauder came into view, slowing but not going to be able to stop with two V-wings on its tale. Shiani wrapped tentacles around both clones and jumped when it came close, suckering herself to the side and pushing Omega and Tech into Wrecker’s arms where he waited on the ramp. Once they were safe she slithered on board, the hatch closing behind her.

Hunter had the controls in a death grip and all but threw them into hyperspace before they’d fully cleared the atmosphere..

Tech was sitting on the floor where Wrecker had dumped him, catching his breath. “Is… everyone alright?” He murmured.

Shiani crawled over to him and buried her face in his chest, clinging with all of her limbs. Hunter turned around in the pilot’s seat and looked at him. “Where the hell did they even get a Zillo? I thought the one that attacked Coruscant was the last of its kind?”

“It was.” Tech sighed. "It appears that one was a clone, made from the genetic material of the one that attacked Coruscant." He cradled his trembling siren tightly.

“They hurt it.” She mumbled. “It was sentient. It was afraid and hurt, and they were torturing it. And they’re going to do it again.”

“I know.” He breathed, petting her head gently as she started to shake harder. “Its creation, however, cannot be entirely blamed on the Empire. It was made prior to the end of the war, during the Republic.”

Hunter sighed, sinking into the chair. "Where were they taking it?".

"The ship did not have a destination in its system. It was heavily encrypted data, even on the ship's internal system." Tech glanced at Shiani again. "I… do not believe the Empire destroyed the cities on Kamino to end cloning, but to control it."

Shiani sobbed softly into his chest. It made sense, her home sacrified for nothing more than a power trip. The seas full of blood, the longnecks slaughtered and her own people would soon become a casualty of the same war. The Emperor had seen her, knew about her now. How long before they found sirens in cages?

"Send the data to Rex and Echo. See what they make of it." Hunter replied quietly.

Tech nodded, picking up Shiani and carrying her to their bunk. He’d deal with the transmission… but right now she needed him. And, the longer he looked at the near-fatal claw marks dug into her armor, the more he was sure he needed her too.

#explict #original character #clone force 99 #the bad batch #star wars #fanfic #tbb tech #song of the sea #oc shiani illumai

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the-hydrogen-hydroxide · 2 years ago

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Ok, I don't wanna sound like I'm in denial about what happened in today's TBB ep, but I have some Thoughts ™

Ok so. Yes I am mad about the death. Yes it sucks cause he's my favorite bad batcher and also autism rep. But also. I'm not 100% convinced he is dead.

Number one reason I don't think he's dead is that they didn't show any kind of body. Think about it: when Echo "died" in the Citadel, he was assumed dead but we never saw a body. Same deal here.

Number two is because he fell to his death, and as we all may know in star wars, that doesn't mean very much of anything. Darth Maul fell and survived, as did Boba Fett, and Ben Solo, and even Obi-Wan in ROTS or Luke in ESB.

The TBB writers even went as far to show that Hemlock and his team *went to the site of Tech's death and recovered his goggles,* and I think that either means that a) Hemlock lied, and Tech is a prisoner, or b) Tech somehow escaped before Hemlock's team found him (I think this second outcome is pretty unlikely).

Anyways. We'll see how this continues in TBBS3, but we all know how frequently Star Wars likes to do "deaths" without showing a body, and then a "surprise! Glup Shitto is still alive!" twist.

Later y'all

#tbb #the bad batch #tbb spoilers #the bad batch spoilers #tbbs2

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fwitolei · 11 months ago

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Please Don't - Bad Batch Oneshot

Summary: Jaye and Hunter cope (terribly) with Tech's death

Word Count: 761

Original Character: Jaye N’Cante

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Jaye brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, sighing deeply. It had been twelve days since the events of Eriadu, twelve days since Tech and Omega had gone. The Marauder was a complete mess. She had joined Hunter and Wrecker in tearing apart the galaxy trying to find Omega, but now she was more concerned about tearing herself apart in the process. As the two clones sat in the cockpit, Jaye stood in the cargo hold cleaning the ship from top to bottom. She had cleared out the cargo racks that doubled as bunks, completed an inventory, and organized ammunitions before finally sitting down and taking a break.

She ran her fingers through her hair, sighing again. Her eyes drifted across the room to the gunner’s mount where Lula lay limp. A light layer of dust began to gather on the plush, an ear falling to the side. Omega… Jaye sighed, turning to the goggles on the racks.

Tech.

The frame was broken and bent, the audio device sitting on the right side marred and useless. Orange-tinted shards clung to the frame, dirt and grime smudging the lens. Jaye stared at the goggles, grief welling up in her chest. Those goggles were a constant reminder of the hell she and the Batch had endured, of the fate the Empire had condemned them to; Tech’s death, Omega’s kidnapping, and Hunter and Wrecker’s despair.

Damn it, Ashla…

Jaye pinched her wrist, repenting for her curse. Now wasn’t the time to be angry at ancestors, or the Empire for that matter. It was time to act. Jaye stood and took the goggles, opening the nearest crate. She looked down at the lens once more, her face twisted in anguish before moving to lay the goggles out of sight.

“What are you doing?!”

Jaye whipped around to see Hunter in the doorway. His eyes darted between her and the goggles in her hand, a mortified look written on his face. Jaye glanced down at the goggles, saying, “I was just — I didn’t want us to spend all day ruminating over the past. Not when we still have to find Omega.”

Hunter started forward, staring at Jaye. “Are — Are you kidding me?” He reached out, trying to snatch the goggles out of Jaye’s hand. “You just want to move on? You wanna just — just forget about Tech?!”

“Of course not!” Jaye exclaimed, pulling away. “But if we keep sitting around doing nothing we’ll never find Omega!”

Hunter grabbed Jaye’s wrist and pulled her toward him, grabbing the goggles and wrenching them out of her hand. “What makes you think you have the right to take his things and act like he was never here?” Hunter shouted, waving the goggles in front of Jaye. “He left because he didn’t have a choice, unlike you, who left without a word!”

Jaye stopped struggling against Hunter’s grip and glared at him. “Excuse me?” she scoffed.

“You heard me. It took you months to come back to us after ‘grieving’ for your own squad, and now you’re telling us we have to put Tech behind us not two weeks after we lost him?!”

Hunter thrust Jaye’s wrist away to emphasize his point. She stared at Hunter, watched his hands ball into fists around the goggles. Anger and grief clawed at her chest. “Believe me, Hunter,” she choked out, her hand resting on her chest. “I loved Tech as much as you did. He was like a brother to me, too! He was the closest thing I had to having Colell back—”

“Please, don’t compare my brother to yours,” Hunter spat, his body shaking with rage. “You never saw Tech; you only saw Colell.”

Something snapped within Jaye. She stared at Hunter as his brows furrowed, his words registering for the both of them. Tears streamed down Jaye’s face as she whispered, “You don’t mean that.”

Hunter said nothing. His eyes flickered, averting his gaze for a fraction of a second, but he met her gaze once more, too prideful and angry to apologize. Jaye gritted her teeth and stormed past Hunter, slamming the controls to lower the ramp as she raced out of the ship. Hunter stared at the opposite side of the room for a moment, sighing deeply. Why did he say that? He turned toward the cockpit to see the ramp open and Wrecker gazing out the window. He turned and looked at Hunter with confusion written all over his face. Hunter closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.

Why did he say that?

#the bad batch oneshots #tbb oneshots #the bad batch #tbb #tbb oc #tbb oc jaye n'cante #tbb hunter #hunter x oc #hunter x jaye #star wars #fanfic #fandom #writing community #creative writing #writers on tumblr #writeblr

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localwebslingers · 1 year ago

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"Calling it a lab might be...generous." an amused look was given to Harry as Peter smiled a little, “When I was trying to figure out how to keep Max from damaging my web shooters with electricity, you wanna know what my safety gear was? An old diving suit Uncle Ben had laying around and the goggles for it, with exactly one fire extinguisher. My lab at home is a workbench in a garage turned workshed.” which was about as low tech as it could get but hey, that was kind of just what the Spider-Man way was.

Work with what he had and figure out how to rig what he needed. So far it worked, not without a few mishaps here and there but overall Peter would call it a success, “...I do have somewhere else to work sometimes, but it’s not close to home. So most of what I need to do gets done there.”

Another bite of the pizza was taken, “Tiny bee drones to protect actual bees from predators. Yeah, color me impressed and wowed by that, definitely on the bucket list of things to see now.” even if they were small so it was going to be hard getting a good look at the designs. Honestly just hearing about how they operated and functioned at all would be incredible to see, Oscorp backed or not. Just the idea of maybe having a chance to see them was enough to be exciting.

He looked at Harry a moment before setting the slice of pizza down and pulling his bag over before digging around a moment, “Yeah but that’s work from both of us, so we both get credit for that being really cool.” Peter defended, grabbing the top of his suit and pulling it out with one of the gloves. It was careful but familiar movements to detach one of the web shooters from the sleeve before he held it up, “Compacted, and locked for when they aren’t in use,” he pulled his jacket sleeve up to wrap the band around his wrist and twisted part of it, before the pressure pad extended out to rest in his palm, “ready to go.”

The band was removed and he held it out in offering, “Come on, I’m serious, you already showed me the cloaking device you had with you. Just point this part here, away from yourself because “hair trigger” is an understatement. This thing is timed to the millisecond and if you web yourself in the face, I will laugh at you before getting to solvent for them.”

\\ @inhcritance \\

Harry was far from unfamiliar with the weight of thoughts or ideas when he really should be sleeping or doing other things. And while he was rather comfortable with his ability to focus, he had far too often taken advantage of having a lab at his place. Enough so that his sleeping habits had long been a mess anyway.

"I haven't gotten to the level of having a blanket and a pillow at my lab, but then again I got the lab safety training at Oscorp, of all places." He shrugged. "The paranoia has been strong ever since."

He'd fallen on his bed on lab clothes more than once, however. And fallen asleep at the lab more than once... but he wouldn't admit it. Not easily, that is.

And then the talk of bee drones had Peter's attention, and despite everything, Harry couldn't help his enthusiasm as he nodded.

"Tiny bee-shaped drones. Cute, so they don't scare people, and bee-shaped to avoid stressing the bees. They're meant to protect them against predators." He explained, because that was one of his favorite projects, even now.

And at the offer to sign an NDA, he found himself letting out a small huff of laughter, eyes still too pale but still clearly amused, because they both knew that if Peter contacted Oscorp, he'd have far worse problems than NDA's.

And he'd have far worse problems than those, if Peter hadn't been there. Twice, now.

"We're building a device to travel the multiverse." He pointed out. "That's plenty interesting. But," he admitted, some of the amusement vanishing from his expression, "can't deny I'm curious about the webshooters."

And having a chance to take a look at them without a fight in the middle was certainly worth the curiosity... and the practicality, given how most of his experiences with those had been far from pleasant.

@localwebslingers

#muse | peter parker(tasm)#inhcritance #[v: down at street level]

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djarrex · 3 years ago

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Pretty please can we have something where Echo and TBB find out Rex and reader are expecting? Bonus points for Omega's reaction cause I wonder sometimes whether she knows much about the natural way babies are made? I figure she wouldn't have need of that information in the Kaminoans' eyes.

I wanna preface this by expressing the joy I feel and the appreciation I have when you guys come into my inbox asking or wanting to talk about Post-Order 66 Rex and fam. I love it SO MUCH you have no idea :’)

So, if you remember, Hunter was briefly in Insatiable and has a couple lines of dialogue - he even congratulates them on the pregnancy and wishes them well in case he doesn’t see them soon - which is shown during Rex + reader + Hunter’s short interaction. The squad is told the happy news before the events of that particular installment, and I’m thinking that it happens when Rex contacts them to ask if they would be able meet him on [planet] for a little help with [mission].

Find the rest of the series and related works in the Post-Order 66 Rex ML

Let’s go back in time when Rex makes contact with TBB, which preludes the events of Insatiable: (pregnant!reader, TBB + Omega finds out, about 1.6k words)

<<<>>>

"We’re being hailed.”

All members on board the Marauder drop what they’re doing and turn their attention to Echo, who had just called out and is signaling for everyone to congregate in the cockpit. Hunter sheathes the knife he’d been twirling in his fingers and nods before stepping towards the rear of the ship and calling for Omega, while Wrecker sets down Gonky and waves her over. Tech and Echo are already sat in the cockpit, getting the signal steady for the incoming transmission to come through.

"What is it?" Omega jumps down from the gunner's nest - now her room thanks to Wrecker's kind heart and creativity - and joins her brothers in the cockpit. The pilot seats are swiveled around and facing the small space in the center of all of them - the bust of a familiar captain popping into view. "Oh, it's Rex! Hi Rex!" She waves at his translucent blue form with a giddy smile plastered on her face. “Where is-”

"Hello Omega," you chime in with a smile as your head pops into the perimeter of the holo. Her sweet face lights up even more, and her eyes move back and forth between you both, unsure of whom to focus on. From the room you’re still staying at in a high-rise located in Yerbana City, the two of you exchange quick greetings with the five who are currently traveling through hyperspace.

“What’s goin’ on, Rex?” The gentle giant asks with a grin and hands placed on his hips. The captain straightens his stance and crosses his armored arms across his chest plate, and instead of directing his impending response to Wrecker, Rex’s attention turns to Hunter, who’s leaned against the frame at the threshold of the cockpit. A moment passes as the two share a nonverbal understanding before Rex opens his mouth - the focusing pairs of eyes on one another.

“I wanted to see if your squad would be available to help me out.” You quietly observe each individual who are all appearing on your end as full-body projections, landing on Omega to where she’s sitting on top of their Gonk droid - her hands folded neatly in her lap, legs swinging.

“Name it.” Echo is quick to respond with a affirmative nod as he meets the eyes of each member - cutting off Hunter before the sergeant can get a word in. Rex’s oldest friend found himself caught at the receiving end of a very slight glare coming from directly across from him, and begins to backtrack. “I-”

“What is it, Captain?” Hunter interjects.

You sort of tune out the rest, having already been given the spiel by Rex long before you’d suggested for him to contact Hunter for some much-needed assistance. It’s a simple mission: scouting out an abandoned base in hopes to obtain supposedly valuable information from the obsolete Republic database and perhaps to also restock on munitions if there’s anything left there. Normally this would be something Rex could manage on his own, though his thoughts have been a little busy since the start of your extended stay in Yerbana. The two of you ended up taking a little much-needed ‘vacation’ in the repopulating capitol city after receiving the incredible news, and you’re just now getting back into the swing of things. Well, for the most part. Rex doesn’t quite trust his focus as of late with far too many other important things swarming around in his mind, and is worried that he'd make a mistake doing the mission solo, no matter how simple the objective appears to be.

Hunter accepts without resistance, and confirms that they'll meet the two of you just outside the abandoned base immediately after they’ve finished their current objective for Cid, which will probably be in another eighteen hours or so. Rex transmits the coordinates, and it falls silent; the awkward clearing of the throat coming from Rex crackles through the air on their end.

“Somethin’ else, Rex?”

“Actually, yeah. We have some news.” Rex grins and rubs at his nape, and you can't help but to smile wide at him from your position at his side. The squad members all share a glance - a mixture of raised, inquisitive brows and narrowed, concerned eyes. Hunter steps closer to the projection, caution engrained within the features of his half-inked face as he crosses his arms.

“Tell them, love,” your sweet voice of reassurance crackles with the brief wavering signal - your hand laying to rest on his pauldron. Rex chuckles down at his feet and grabs your hand to bring it up to his chest, squeezing gently as he begins to acknowledge the others.

“Everything okay, you two?”

“Based on their lifted expressions and display of affection towards one another, it appears that this ‘news’ is of a positive, exuberant nature.”

You can’t help but laugh at Tech being Tech, which results in mixed reactions at the other end of the call. Rex inhales deep - the air quietly seeping through his nostrils on the exhale. “We’re, uh- we’re gonna have a baby.” His lit up eyes drop to his boots and he’s smirking at his feet as soon as the words leave his lips. You watch as the multiple pair of eyes widen with smiles creeping their way onto each member of the squad’s faces, but the first person to audibly respond is Tech - his focus not lifting from the device held in his hands.

“Are you certain?” All heads snap in Tech’s direction to where he’s leaned forward in the pilot’s seat, elbows resting on his thighs, continuing to tap away at the datapad. Smacking his bother’s knee, Echo squints at Tech and shakes his head.

“Yes, Tech,” you giggle as your hand releases from Rex’s and moves to rest against the beginnings of your baby bump, though you’re unsure if they are able to see either one of you from the chest down. “The bun has been confirmed as baking in the oven. We risked a brief visit to the local med center here, so, we’re certain.”

“Well then.” Tech’s brows lift above the rim of his goggles as he readjusts the spectacles with a finger pushing between them. “Felicitations to you both. That is quite extraordinary news. It seems that I was correct in-”

“That’s so wonderful!” Omega exclaims with the largest grin - hopping off the GNK and clapping her hands excitedly as she approaches you. “When are you getting the baby? Are we going to see the baby when we meet them at the rendezvous, Hunter?”

“Of course you're going to see the baby, Omega,” you answer softly for Hunter, giving him a quick smile and nod, saving him from having to explain. “It won’t be for quite a few months, though. Not until after the baby is born.” Omega’s brows pinch together in confusion, and you cautiously elaborate, unsure of what she already knows as far as what the natural-born process entails. “The baby has to grow inside of me first, and that takes a little while.”

"Inside of you?" Her curiosity is absolutely adorable. She turns to her brothers - soft eyes flickering to each one of them.

"You see, Omega, when-"

"Uh, Tech?" Rex clears his throat, and the intelligent trooper is quick to get the hint - closing his mouth and resuming to silently tap at the datapad. Echo is next to chime in, and he’s smiling like a fool, eyes wide.

“You’re gonna be a dad, eh? Wow... that’s- that’s just incredible, brother.”

“I’m gonna be an uncle!” Wrecker very loudly exclaims, and Omega and you share giggles at his enthusiasm.

“Technically, Wrecker, we are all going to be ‘uncles’ since Rex is our brother, genetically speaking. Therefore, any offspring he may produce would be considered as our nieces and nephews. That is how the nat-borns conduct their family trees.” Tech punctuates his statement with a sure nod - speaking with his finger raised in the air so as to draw attention to his point.

You’re so lost in the way Rex’s eyes continue to positively sparkle with pride and adoration as his brothers and Omega shower the two of you with congratulatory praises that you’re forgetting to respond to all of them.

“We appreciate it, everyone,” you say with an ear-to-ear grin - beaming at Rex.

“We’ll see you all soon,” Rex concludes, “Stay safe out there.”

The holo vanishes as the transmission disconnects, leaving the squad on board the Marauder to go over some more details of their next objective as well as to process the news.

“So...” Wrecker turns around and leads Gonky back to where he was benching the power droid before the call. “What do ya think Rex is gonna do?”

Hunter raises the brow bordered with dark ink. “What do you mean?”

“Are they going to keep this up, now that they’re going to have a kid? You know, the missions and stuff?”

“We have Omega,” Tech inputs matter-of-factly as he prepares the ship for exit from hyperspace. “And we are managing just fine, barring our dwindling ration supply.” Omega smiles sheepishly, but nods with confidence.

“Rex is a good man.” Echo swivels his seat around and sits up straight, meeting the four pair of eyes now gazing back at him. “Always tried to do what was best for his men, his brothers, and still does, even if it's beyond his control or out of his hands. Now that Rex is... free,” Echo puts the most stress into that word as it’s spoken - glancing down at his feet and chewing the inside of his cheek before continuing, “He’s in control of his life, and is able to choose his own path. And that path will lead to what’s best for his family.”

<<<>>>

everyone tags:

@bvcketfvcker @deewithani @chromia7567 @threevie @letitrainathousandflames @thefact0rygirl @justanothersadperson93 @ohtobeamoth @14mcmd1122 @tacticalsparkles @cheesemachine44 @damerondala @buckethead-over-heels @purgetroopercody @socially-anxious-fangirl @cloneygoodness @marya-komar @beskarprincessjenny @awkward-katiesaur @katiebits1 @kawaiitimecharm @shiny-mando @sapphichorrorpictureshow @fat-zygerrian @foodandbooksplease @the-siren-writes-it @ken-obiwan @dinner-djarin @howie-ner-cyare @99squad @chewychewyque @obiwan-djarin @vaderthepotater @blackrose4242 @the-sad-batch @quantumowl @ashotofspotchka @queen-simp @kaorikoizumi @mylifeinthetardisforever @sitherin-mxschief @escapedthesarlacc @sydnubabu @megalinditron @whatanoof @4rosydreams @ahsoka1 @colorfulloverbatturkey @venomous-ko @monako-jinn-stories @paige6768 @diagonallie5400 @galacticgraffiti @commxnderwolffe @fivedicksinatrenchcoat @jediknightdjarin @nikolekenobi @clonecyare @bobafettuccini @rebelpitstop @rowansparrow @shiniest-captain @techs-hairline @no-idea-what-to-write-here @zazzysseoul @ladykatakuri @badbatch-simp24 @royal-stardust

clones only tags:

@sergeant-hunter @kriffclone @saberdeity @echofoxfives @alucas528 @captainrexscyarika @kirinpl @lastphoenixfalling @bambiswriting

#post-order 66 rex #djarrex writes #request #rex gayiyla #the Gayiyla family #captain rex x reader #captain rex x f!reader #star wars fic #captain rex #the bad batch

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tragedy-for-sale · 4 years ago

Text

Dance With the Devil

Tech losing his cool while protecting Omega? Yes please. (Gore/violence TW).

It was the day Omega realized, the day she truly understood, that her family, that Tech, was capable of a great violence.

─── ❖ ── ✦ ── ❖ ───

Mercenaries. They wanted to jump them. But Tech was prepared when they cornered him and Omega in an ally. While Omega hid behind him, Tech fixed his hair as he put on his helmet. "Before we start, does anyone want to leave?" He asked walking forward, he looked around, none of them moved. One against five. "Ah, very well." Tech sighed. He slumped his shoulders but then, in a swift motion, he high-kicked one of them in the jaw, the other four started closing in.

"Tech!" Omega cried out when one of the four punched Tech, sending him tumbling back. She let out a cry as he fell to the ground and the group turned to her. Her instinct was to run, but not without Tech. Luckily, as one of them reached for Omega, and as she ducked, Tech's helmet flew at them. Tech was back on his feet and he was running at the group, jumping on the back of the tallest one, who Tech quickly sent to the ground by choking him with his thighs. Once that man was on the ground, he gave Omega a small smile, as if he was trying to tell her everything was okay. But nothing about this was okay.

He then tuned back into the fight. He ran up to the third one, ducking to dodge a punch. Tech jerked up then head butted the man, slamming so hard his own head shook and there was a crack. His goggles. Tech let a grin take his face as he laughed. Oh, what an evil laugh that was. "Pathetic." He whispered as that man went down. He turned around, ready for the last two. He wiped the blood from his nose away with his thumb before running towards the next one. Even while dizzy, he was precise. He high-kicked another one, sending them to the ground.

As he landed back on his feet, the last mercenary was throwing a punch. Tech saw the fist out of the corner of his eye, he turned and caught the man's arm, "That's a no-no." Tech shook his head before twisting the man's wrist, not stopping until the man let out a cry. Not smiling until he heard those cries.

Tech let go, then grabbed the man by their neck, lifting them up, "Don't try that again." He hissed, walking away from Omega and towards the wall of the building, to which Tech then threw the man at. The man, looked up at Tech, who already had his gun in his hand, he then pointed it directly at the man.

Omega's eyes went wide, she was going to protest, but she couldn't distract Tech, he could get hurt. So she watched painfully as Tech took aim, and pulled the trigger. The man went unconscious, the blaster was on stun.

Tech still had a scowl on his face as he put his blaster away and walked back towards Omega, grabbing her arm tightly. "I thought you were going to kill him." Omega whispered as she tried to keep up with Tech. She never realized how strong Tech really was until she realized the grip he had on her arm hurt.

"He was going to kill you." Tech answered, that sharpness still in his voice. "Come, child," He said. Which Omega knew meant be quiet.

As they walked, his grip softened and soon enough, they walked hand in hand. A little after that, Tech bought her an ice cream cone. Soon enough, Tech was back to how he usually was, it was as if the man who fought all those men wasn't the man walking next to her. She felt a little uncertain, looking around for another Tech, perhaps slipping into the shadows. But no. It had been the same Tech.

She looked up, he had that soft smile, one she could trust. Not like the one he wore while fighting those men. She shuddered at the thought. "Are you cold?" Tech looked down, she took note of how he spoke too, he spoke softly. Omega knew she wasn't supposed to hear Tech say, 'Pathetic.' But she had, and it hadn't left her mind. Never had he spoken in that tone. "-We need to get you a jacket." Tech stated, looking up, he would buy one for her now.

"Oh, no, I'm not cold." Omega shook her head, "I wanna go home." She said. Tech nodded, smiling down at her. Omega tried to smile back, she didn't know why she found it so hard. She'd seen them fight countless times, she herself had fought with them. But she had been taken so off guard, she never really considered their individual fighting styles. She never thought about what it took, to come out victorious.

"Oh, yes, that is where we are headed." Tech nodded, looking back up. Omega nodded and followed him. When they were back on Havoc, she watched them all. She gave a Wrecker a hug, a memory flashing in her mind, Wrecker throwing Tech at the wall, just as Tech had with one of those men. She remembered how effortless it looked, with Tech in Wrecker's hand and that man in Tech's. She pulled herself into a hug.

"You okay?" Echo sat next to Omega, putting his arm around her. Omega rested against him. She didn't dare look at him in the eye. She nodded, but it was obvious she was lying.

Omega then sat up, turning and whispering, "Are you a shadow too?" She watched Echo's face drop, mainly to one of confusion, he then cracked a smile. Omega was getting tired of reassuring smiles, those smiles only appeared when they were trying to hide something.

"A shadow? Omega, what are you talking about?" Echo asked. Omega looked down, then gestured towards Tech. Echo looked, trying to piece it together, but he was not a mind reader. "I'm a little lost," He whispered, this seemed like a conversation meant for whispers. That was another thing Omega hated, why did they whisper?

"Tech." She whispered back, maybe she did know why they whispered. This is where Echo's face truly fell to one of confusion. He then looked over to Tech again, scanning and noting his cracked glasses.

"Oh," He said, "Tech was saying you ran into some trouble." Echo thought out loud. He looked to Omega, but this time, he didn't smile, he only frowned. "I'm sorry, I guess that was pretty scary, huh?"

Omega's head shot up, she was going to protest but then her shoulders slumped, she was embarrassed. "It wasn't the bad guys who scared me." She mumbled, hugging Echo to hide her face.

"I see." Echo muttered, hugging her back. He looked to Tech again, he did have a side to him that, at times, made him unrecognizable. Echo knew better than to question it, wars leave scars, and sometimes, open wounds too. Echo looked down to Omega, he remembered a conversation, long ago, Ahsoka in Fives' arms. The first time Anakin struck fear in the hearts of more than just their enemy. "He's still the same person." Echo whispered, hearing his brother's voice.

"You promise?" Omega looked up, when Echo looked down, he only frowned, remembering where he was. He then nodded, "... Is that the part he hides? Like the way you walk in the back so we don't notice when you stop?" When you stop because you're in pain.

Echo's eyes went wide, "Y-yeah, I guess it is." He sighed, rubbing her back, "Adults do that a lot, sweetie," was all he could say. Omega figured he'd be grateful if she stopped talking. So she nodded and relaxed in Echo's arms. As she laid there, she looked over to Tech, narrowing her eyes as she tried to see his shadow slipping away. His shadow was the real him, not the man in front of them, no, the real Tech, she knew wasn't kind. They only hid the parts of themselves they don't like, 'cause it's the part that defines them the most. So, Tech wasn't that one who was laughing and making fun of Hunter. The real Tech, Omega decided,

Was the man who smiled at the sight of blood

─── ❖ ── ✦ ── ❖ ───

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echos-newlegs · 4 years ago

Note

Number 47 with tech? Nsfw if your up for it

Jealousy for the Senator

I wasn't sure what gender to do, but I looked at your account and saw it said "male" so I'm doing he/him pronouns. Hope that's okay, if not lemme know and I can change it 😎 with that being said I do apologize I’m not really up for bxb nsfw. No hate, just as a cis female I don’t wanna do something wrong or offend anyone, if that makes any sense? I hope you understand bromeo 👊😔

S/N = Senators Name. I wasn't sure what other Senator to use.

Tech x Reader: “You’re jealous, aren’t you?” “I’m not jealous!”

Warnings: angstish? Tech doubting himself, and you doubting yourself if you squint

Tech wasn't even sure how he landed you. A handsome, kind hearted senator. That he and his brothers saved from a separatist attack. Something you were so grateful for. You didn't care if they were defective. Anytime they were near your home world out in the outer rim. You always made it a point on letting them know they could visit and even stay at your home if it was easier.

They were reluctant at first. They assumed you were doing it out of pity. To be nice, but Tech couldn't get over how absolutely devine you were. He spent most of his free time looking you up on the holo and learning all he could about you. It didn't take long for his Ori'vods to catch on. Hunter deciding maybe a visit wouldn't hurt. Especially if it meant they all got to see Techs happy-go-lucky attitudewhen around you.

That was a mistake on Hunters behalf. Not only did Tech get the pleasure of seeing, and even being able to hang around you, but he and his other brothers. They got special treatment as well, and they all loved it. Hunter especially loved his bed he was given. Each had their seperate rooms. Meaning no bunking together. The walls were sound proof keeping Hunter isolated and able to sleep without waking up to whispers or even the light steps of his brothers. Besides Wrecker, he tried, but he was clumsy at times.

Crosshair found himself a shooting gallery with movable targets. Along with the ability to buy accessories for his gun. He didn't, even though you offered to pay for some if he wanted. He just liked browsing, and even the offer. The fact you wanted to spend your money on him. It made his view on you shift. Maybe not all Senators were stuck up snobs?

Wrecker found himself entranced by one of your gardeners. They would go on short walks around the long halls. Or out in the garden where they would explain to him the different flowers, and even let him pick some of the fruit. Which then the two would sit under a tree and eat them with one another. Eventually they found a stray Hoth Kitten. They begged for you to let them keep it, and you finally agreed.

Not only were you thankful for taking up your offer, but you were thankful for them being so nice and polite. Giving your home that special type of spice. Even if they did all have their.. well- moments.

Last but not least, there was Tech. He followed you anywhere you offered to take him. Which was about anywhere. He could be biased by the amount of love he had hidden away for you. But he swore you were the prettiest, most charming senator in the whole kriffing galaxy! Not only were you nice to him, but you were just as nice to his brothers. That in itself meant the world to the goggled clone.

The two of you, after about 8 visits and keeping in contact in between the visits. Decided to scavenge the courage to ironically ask one another out at the same time. You started, nervous, clammy palms. Darting eyes, and he finished. "You were gunna ask me out?" He spoke and you froze a bit. "You don't, yes, no, I mean, yeah I guess." You spoke, coughing into your sleeve as if it would hide the waver in your voice. "I was actually gunna see if you would let me take you out, my treat." His words were just as nervous, but he was more sure about himself than you seemed. He felt more confident knowing you felt the same. You both did.

He decided on taking you to a restaurant. It wasn't too fancy, nothing you needed to dress up for. But it wasn't 79's either. He had never been there, but apparently you had before. He had to borrow a fancier outfit. Due to the fact the fanciest thing he owned was his blacks. Or even his armor, since he got a new paint job, and you weren't about to let him humiliate himself on a first date.

He found you waiting outside. Dressed up just as evenly as he was. You smiling softly as you extended a hand for him, which he happily took. "Ready?" You questioned and he nodded. "Yeah."

The trip there wasn't too long, but it didn't keep the clone from fidgeting and rambling. "You know, that star over there is a planet. They say it's one of the most beautiful in the galaxy." He informed, looking out the window of the cab. Making you smile. Scooting closer while leaning against him a bit to catch a glimpse of the star. "Really?" His breath hitched a bit when he noticed how close to him you were. Making you smile.

He nodded as he looked over to you. Eyes staring into yours. "Yeah, but I beg to differ." You tilted your head a bit in question. Shifting so you were now just sitting next to him in the middle seat. A shoulder pressed to his. "How come?" You asked, and he smiled. "Because you're probably the most beautiful star I've ever seen," he spoke lowly. It wasn't like him to flirt, and even from the short time you have known him. You knew this.

Your smile was sheepish, and you looked down to your lap. "Tech, you're too kind." He smiled back in accomplishment. "Least I can do for how kind you are to us."

When the cab stopped the two of you exited. You didn't leave any time for him to even circle around the cab to help you out. You didn't really care for being enabled. Even if he was doing it out of the kindness of his heart.

That didn't stop him from holding your hand into the building and clear to the table, though. You leaning against his side. It had him screaming internally. He'd never felt so thrilled and happy over such a simple experience.

You followed beside him to the table. Only letting go of his hand when the waiter told you where you would be seated. The two of you sitting across from one another. Tips of you shoes pressed up against one anothers. Another simple act that had Tech practically howling.

You ordered, and then he did. After asking you what was good, of course. The two of you getting some dessert to share for after you finished your food. While waiting for food, though. You decided to strike up a conversation. "So, how was your last mission?" You asked, prepared for a ramble and a half. That was something you enjoyed about him. How passionate he was about nearly everything.

"It was alright, had a near scare there with some of the droids." Your furrowed your brows. "Did you get hurt?" He paused, and then nodded. Noticing the concern written on your face. "Don't worry Cyar'ika. It isn’t anything severe, just a cut on my abdomen and a few bruises. Wrecker got it worse, but you know him. He was too happy to see his Sarad." You watched him with a small smile. "What's a Sarad?" You didn't speak Mando'a, and he knew this. But he was happy to tell. "It means flower, that's what he calls the gardener. His Ner Sarad." You smiled at that, you were happy he had made a friend, or what may even be more than a friend. You weren't about to judge.

You opened your mouth, ready to ask what Cyar'ika meant, but you were interrupted by a hand on your shoulder. Making you flinch just a bit as it caught you off guard. "Woah, woah, Senator Y/L/N, Calm down. Just a friend here to say hello." Anither Senator was there to your surprise. "Oh, S/N! Funny seeing you here." You spoke, looking up to him with a grin. Standing to meet them and catch them in a quick hug. Then seating yourself once more.

They looked to you, and nodded. "Yeah, I figured I'd stop by and see you. I didn't expect to see you here, honestly." They told you. Then looked over to Tech. Who was staring at them with a glint of displeasure in his eyes. He wasn't sure who they were, but they were taking away from the short time he had with you, and he didn't like it one bit. "Who's this?" Tech asked, and you nearly cursed yourself for being so informal. "Tech, this is Senator S/N, we worked together before I became Senator." S/N smirked at that, "you were always the most handsome there, too. He gives the best hugs as well. Has he given you a hug?" S/N asked Tech, and Tech shook his head, muttering a quick 'no.' "Shame," they added, and you interrupted with a quick and nervous chuckle. "Haha, anyways, S/N, this is Tech. He's a good friend of mine, part of Clone Force 99, he saved me from that attempted assassination on me a while back." You added, looking to the clone with a loving smile.

That reassured Tech a bit, but what chased that aways was when S/N leaned down and whispered something in your ear. 'A clone? You date clones now, hm? You always know where to find me if this doesn't work out,' is what he thought he heard. He wasn't 100% sure though. That bugged him, out his on edge. Especially when he saw your face turn pink with embarrassment.

He was thankful when they left. Watching the Senator drift off while glaring dagger at him. "Tech," he didn't hear you. Too lost in thought. Was this a mistake? Should he have listened to the little voice in his head. Reminding him he was a defective clone that didn't deserve nor could attain the love of a senator like you? "Tech!" You raised your voice again, and he came back to. Looking at you with a bit of shock in his eyes. As if he didn't realize he zoned out.

You reached over to place a hand on his. Frowning a bit when he flinched. "You alright?" "They seemed.. Judgeful." He spoke. Making you sigh. "They're like that, it's fine though, don't let them get to you," but how could he when he saw the way they looked at you? The way you two already knew each other. How much closer you two seemed. It had his brain turning for answers that would go unsaid.

The whole night was practically ruined for Tech, but he tried to keep up his positive attitude for you. So he wouldn't ruin yours, but you could see past his mask. The glint of uneasiness in his eyes. The way his eyes darted everywhere but to yours. Or even just the way he picked at his food and his hands trembled ever so lightly. You couldn't help but wonder if this was a mistake on your behalf. You didn't feel you were good enough for the man now.

When the two of you left the building. S/N stopped you to give you a quick kiss on the cheek and a lingering goodbye. Tech began walking off before you even noticed. Though when you did you cut the conversation short and ran after the taller male. "Tech, wait! What's wrong, please talk to me!" You spoke. Reaching out to grab his wrist, but he snatched it away. Turning to face you with a hurt expression, but it softened a bit. "Does everyone greet you like that? Like they want to jump you the moment they see you?" He asked, and you were a bit taken back. Picking at the palm of your hand. Looking down then back up to the other. "No, not everyone, Tech. Why?" You asked with a bit of a frown and he shook his head. "Nothing," "you're jealous, aren’t you?" You blurted. Catching the man off guard. "What? No! I'm not jealous!" His voice raising an octave and you sighed. Walking up to him.

Watching as his eyes scanned your face, then looked away. "I'm not jealous, I'm just.. I don't like how he talked to you, he acted like he owned you, and he doesn't. No one does, or- or they should.. shouldn't" He rambled. Beginning to stammer and stumble on his words when you reached up to cup his face with your hands. "Tech," he watched you for a moment before answering. "Yes?" "I like you, more than a friend wise, I'm not about to run off with some arrogant ass when I have you right here." You reassured. Feeling him relax under your touch.

His eyes softened, bringing a hand up to hold the back of one of your hands. His other hand holding at your waist. The two of you stood like this for what felt like hours, but was probably only a minute or two. "So, how about you take me home.." you trailed off, looking down. Bringing your hands down to play with the cuff of his shirt. "And I'll show you there's nothing to be jealous over, hm?"

#tech x male!reader #tech x reader #tech bad batch #bad batch x reader #star wars #star wars writing #the bad batch #the clone wars #writing #clone x reader #clone x male!reader #the clone wars x reader #clone force 99 #star wars the clone wars #the bad batch tech x reader #tech the bad batch #bad batch tech

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the-broken-truth · 3 years ago

Text

Broken-Style Remix: The Red Hood & Shadow Hunter (Jason Todd & Bellatrix Todd)

Broken: So, I happened to read one of @anxiousnerdwritings's works about Jason Todd and Damian's Twin sister being a team and going against Bruce and the Bat-Family who want Damian's twin sister with them. This idea came to mind and I thought you would like it. Let the words weave and enjoy!

@anxiousnerdwritings's version: LINK

Quick Note: Bellatrix's Name is Shadow Hunter - Her Armor is like Jason's but it is more wolf-like (My personal touch) and has a bit more tech to it.

Blue eyes forced through the magnifying glasses on the face of the Eldest Wayne Heir, yet the one who cast the name aside for one that better understood her and a family that would better understand her than the Dark Knight or his gaggle of infants ever could. She sat in the darkroom - well, not entirely dark; the sparks from the tools in her hand made occasional lights that illuminated the room every now and then, plus there was the desk lamp on the workbench - shining light on the hand & forearm model and the gadget in the making that Bellatrix was working on. It was an attachment to her suit - Claws that gave a lightning discharge. She could use it to knock someone out or remove them completely with enough voltage but she won't do that - she won't live on the Al Ghul Blood, she won't be like Talia Al Ghul or the boy she once called brother.

Speaking of brothers.

"Another all-nighter?" A familiar voice called out, causing Bellatrix to turn off the tools, placed them down, and turn in her seat while lifting the goggles off her face to look at the man in the doorway with a cup of coffee in his hand.

"Yeah, I wanna make sure the claws are ready for our next patrol." Bellatrix explained as she pulled the goggles off her head and placed them on the table before getting up and walking over to Jason, who gave her the coffee cup once she was in front of him. "Thanks." She said as she took a sip.

"No problem, what are brothers for?" Jason asked with a smirk.

"Other than entering their little sister's workroom without knocking?" Bellatrix asked with a raised eyebrow.

"As your brother, I have a right to invade your privacy for the greater good." Jason said with a smirk.

"And to be nosy." Bellatrix added as she walked past him.

"And to be..." He stopped when he realized what he was gonna say, "Hey! I'm not nosy!" He yelled as he followed behind her to the kitchen where breakfast was waiting.

[Later That Night]

Shadow Huntress secured her clawed boots shut before standing to look at the modified claws before sliding them on and latching them closed. She then positioned her right hand as if she was going to strike with her claws and smiled as the light blue electric current waves ran flowed from the bottom of her forearm to the tip of her claws; the tried with her other arm and everything was perfect. She grabbed her sword in one hand and her mask in the other before heading out to see what Hood was doing.

"Anything?" Huntress asked.

"They're still moving - I think they might be hiding to the abandoned warehouse on the edge of town; you know, the one near the waterfront." Red Hood said.

"I think that's where they are heading. Look." Huntress hits some keys on the supercomputer and the cameras in that area showed the factory. "See those boats? They're new, no one has been in that district and it's the only place to do a deal uninterrupted because the cops don't patrol that area anymore." Huntress explained.

"Then, we have our place. Let's move out." Red Hood said as he placed on his helmet and Huntress did the same - both masks locked into place and the two of them were out of there.

[Gotham Rooftops]

Red Hood soared through the open spaces of the backstreets of Gothan while the Shadow Huntress ran across the roofs with the speed and prowess of a wolf on the hunt. She leaped for a high roof and used her claws to climb to the top before running and jumping to the next one while Red Hood attached his rope to another point and began to swing.

The two of them landed on the roof at the same time - a vantage point that showed the trucks driving into the warehouse and the men that stood out to keep watch; not seeing the two hunters crouching on the roof, waiting and watching.

"What do we got?" Red Hood asked. Huntress placed her fingers on the control pad of her mask's visor to activate heat-vision mode - seeing the heat signatures in the building.

"There's about 25 of them - not counting the ones that are waiting outside." Huntress explained.

"What do you think we should do about it?" Red asked.

"We take out the guys outside, then we find the generator and cut the power; under the cover of darkness, we take them out - one by one." Huntress explained.

"What if they see us or hear the noise?" Red asked.

"Then we beat the hell out of them." Huntress said as the two of them rose to their feet and jumped down.

Everything was going good until Jason decided the throw someone through the window, everyone was high alert - it was ass-kicking time.

Red Hood and Shadow Huntress were knocking thugs down left and right, showing the combos that brother and sister made together. Huntress saw one of the thugs pointing his gun at Red Hood and jumped in the way, taking the bullet in the side but she still stood. She cracked her hand in the claw formation and the lightning came to life, causing her to pounce on the thugs, knocking them out through electrical waves while Red just beat the hell out of them.

When the last thug fell, Huntress grunted as she held the bleeding hole in her side, causing Red to run to her.

"Huntress, you alright?" He asked.

"I'll be fine. Let's get out of here and we can get it patched up." Huntress said as she rose to her feet and the 2 of them jumped through the window. They scaled the wall of the roof to stop and breathe for a moment while Jason removed the bullet that got stuck and clean the wound before wrapping it. They were waiting when Huntress's Robotic Wolf Ears shot up at the sound of footsteps - 4 pairs of them, she groaned.

"They're here." Huntress groaned and just when she said that 4 Figures landed on the roof in front of them.

The Dark Knight - Batman, a.k.a Bruce Wayne; Bellatrix's Father.

The Latest Robin - Damian Wayne; Bellatrix's Womb Mate.

Nightwing - Dick Grayson.

Batgirl - Barbara Gordon; the Police Commissioner's Daughter.

"What the hell do you 4 want?" Red Hood said as he rose to his feet.

"We received reports about gunfire in this region, we came to investigate." Batman said to Jason, but his eyes remained on Bellatrix, who just glared at him.

"There was a Firearms Deal going on and we put a stop to it before it could have even begun." Huntress said as she rose to her feet and stood beside Red Hood; Nightwing looked over the edge and whistled.

"They put a stop to it alright - everyone is laid out." He said.

"Laid out? You killed them?" Batgirl asked.

"We're not above killing but we try not to, per Huntress's request." Red Hood said as he gestured at his sister.

"You don't kill but you partner yourself with a killer? How backward you are, Bellatrix." Damian said.

"It is no business of yours, Wayne." Huntress growled.

"You're my sister, so it is my business, and you're a Wayne too; as well as an Al Ghul." Damian countered but Bellatrix scoffed.

"I've never been an Al Ghul, that's why you and your mother cast me aside; the only one who saw any worth in me in that family was my grandfather. Just like you wiped your hands of me back then, I wiped my hands of you - you're nothing to me but a stranger I happen to share my blood with." Huntress said.

"Bellatrix, that's enough." Bruce said.

"You have no say over me, Bat-Boy; I don't have to listen to you." She said.

"I am your father, you need to listen to me." Bruce said.

"I may have your blood but I damn sure don't have to listen to a damn thing you have to say because I don't live with you, nor do I work with you." Huntress said.

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about. Bellatrix, you've been hanging around Jason for too long, it's making you reckless and dangerous. I think it's time you came to live with me, with us, with your family. There is a room waiting for you at Wayne Manor and we can talk about patrols and missions once you get settled in but you need to be with us now; Todd is a bad influence on you." Bruce said.

"You're joking." She said.

"No, Father is right - you've been living with this brute for too long. You're a Wayne and an Al Ghul, it's time you started acting like one." Damian said.

"Let me tell you something: I stopped being an Al Ghul when I left that hell you called home, and I never accepted to be a Wayne. Last time I checked, my last name is Todd and I want nothing to do with you...and of you." She glared at all of them. "Let's go, Bro. I'm done with this." Huntress began to walk away with Jason at her side.

Jason was her brother.

Jason was her family.

Bellatrix was a Todd and there was nothing anyone could do it change that.

#jason todd #damian wayne #bruce wayne #dick grayson #barbara gordon

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johannstutt413 · 3 years ago

Text

(requested by mathmaticalknight)

Blemishine was in the Engineering Department, hiding from Zofia with her fellow tech-heads as she often did, the day she first encountered the Nian. She’d heard rumors about the meandering meddling metallurgist and her amorphous armaments, but it was only when the Doctor finally gave in and let her work with the Department that the Kuranta came into contact with her.

“Workshop #3 just sent up the results from their latest alloy test,” Passenger reported matter-of-factly. “No progress.”

“I’m definitely starting to see why we haven’t figured this thing out. It’s like the metal is...alive.” Blemishine was watching VODs of Nian’s combat performance to try and get some new data-

-which meant she was the perfect target when the real Nian arrived and glanced over her shoulder. “Well, you look like you’re having fun.”

“She’s incredible, isn’t she?” The knight looked over her shoulder, realized it was THE Nian standing over her, and with a blush said, “You’re incredible.”

“A lot of people don’t trust me, that’s true. I’m gonna borrow her, alright, Elliot?”

The Liberi waved an arm. “Bring her back in one piece.”

“Oh, you know I’d never hurt a hair on her head.” She hooked one of her arms under one of the Kuranta’s and pulled her out of her chair. “Let’s go.”

“Ehh? O-okay! I’ll be back, Passenger!” And without any resistance, Maria was off on an adventure.

At least, she thought that’s what was happening, though the Nian didn’t exactly explain as they walked through the corridors of Rhodes Island in the direction of the shuttle bay. “What’s your name, kid? I haven’t seen you around much.”

“Blemishine’s my codename, but you can call me Maria.” Honestly, she’d prefer the latter. “Is it true you’re not a Rhodes Island employee? I know you spend a lot of time in Engineering, and I mean, you’d have to be a smith to have a weapon as cool as yours, but I’ve never seen you in person before.”

“Closure offered me a job, but that’s not why I’m here. You like shopping? We’re heading into town.” Now wasn’t the time for worrying about the future; she did that plenty on her own, especially with Dusk around now.

The knight shrugged. “Auntie and I go every now and again, and when I needed new parts for my projects I’d go out to get them, but since I started helping out at the Department I don’t have as much time for that.”

“Projects?” Nian smiled to herself. “Like trying to recreate my weapon? I hope y’all figure it out.”

“Oh, that’s for the Workshop, it’s fun but not really the kind of thing I’d do in my free time, you know? I’m a mechanic at heart, and now that I’m working for the Department, maybe they’ll let me supe up one of the shuttles. I used to have a car that could get some real speed going before I became a competition knight...”

Thinking about the past was just as bad, but fortunately they’d reached the shuttles. “So you wanna mess around with one of these?”

“We’re here already? And yeah, that’d be really fun! They don’t run on quite the same intake system I’m used to, and I’d have to make some openings in the hood to fit everything on I’d need to, and then there’s the nitrous canisters- oh, there I go again.” Blemishine didn’t know many people who actually wanted to listen to her talk about this kind of stuff. “Sorry about that!”

“What do you mean? Keep going! I hate when people try to tamp down on their enthusiasm just to make other people happy, and you were really building up steam there.” Plus, she was super cute when she got excited.

Maria blushed again. “Alright, but only because you asked. So obviously we’d have to start with taking one of these babies apart - I think I could get Broca to help out with that, it really takes two people to get a car onto a maintenance lift when you’re trying to keep the engine cool - because they won’t let me look at the schematics yet even though I asked Closure specifically if I could...”

The entire drive into town was essentially like that; the knight went into the blow-by-blow description of what she wanted the shuttle to look like under the hood when she was done, and Nian only occasionally interrupted with an insight or a question to help her along. She was impressed with how much the Kuranta actually knew despite not having much opportunity to act on that knowledge back in Kazimierz (Nearl’s sister, no question about where she was from), but more than that, she was reminded of some of her old acquaintances who used to get the same gleams in their eyes when talking about sword-smithing or armor-forging. This girl wasn’t like her usual kidnappees for sure.

“-Hey, Nian?” Blemishine looked out the window. “I think we drove past town.”

“Did we? Shit, I guess we did.”

They weren’t turning around. “Are we gonna keep going?”

“Just a little bit.” The Nian smiled to herself. “I was going to take you shopping, but since we’ve been talking about cars, there’s a place I wanna show you. Might help out with this plan you’ve got.”

“Oh, it’s not really a plan, just some ide- is that a junkyard? Out here?!”A sign poked out from behind a dune. Looks like her birthday’d come around early this year.

The smith laughed. “You sound like a kid going to the candy store.”

“Candy can’t take you a hundred kilometers away in an hour, though, and that’s much more exciting than some sugar!” Maria giggled. “Not that I’m against sugar.”

“I can take it or leave it. There was one place I visited that had these cinnamon-pepper candies; those were more my style. Speaking of style...” They pulled into the lot, broken-down vehicles already visible from the entrance, and the tour began.

Well, less of a tour and more of a scavenging run; this wasn’t a museum, after all, and Nian never left home without a few tools. The Kuranta popped the hood on the first ground-level car within eyesight, putting on a pair of goggles and pulling a tool roll seemingly out of thin air. “This one’s in great condition; how’d you end up, little guy? Don’t worry, we’ll be gentle. Hey, Nian, could you help me roll this one forward a bit?”

“I’ve gotcha.” She popped open the door on one side, Blemishine did the same on the other, and the two pushed the car to where there was plenty of room on all sides. “Looking for something specific?”

“Just want to double-check a few things. How’d one of RI’s shuttles end up out here, do you think? I mean, if we had the keys, I’m sure we could get this one to run again, no problem...Do you hear that?”

The Nian sighed. “The rustling from over there? I heard.”

“Hands up!” A gruff voice barked as a small gang of bandits mobilized from behind other junk piles, crossbows trained on the pair. “Thanks for the fresh wheels, ladies. Toss us the keys and leave, and we won’t have to get nasty.”

“What kind of gang sets up shop in a junkyard? You can’t possibly make enough stops to survive,” Maria observed, hands still below her head.

The presumed leader, a Sankta with a black halo, spat on the ground. “Don’t change the subject. Hands, up, or your pretty little friend gets it.”

“Which one of us is little?” The other Defender asked casually, a pool of silver forming around her feet. “We’re about the same height, after all.”

“...Well, boys, can’t say I tried.” The Sankta fired at the Kuranta-

-and missed, partially because his target rolled out of the way, and partially because there was now a lump of metal where his Adam’s apple had been. Nian’s malleable murder-metal formed a curtain around her as she started walking forward with a smile. “Well, boys, you picked the wrong couple to rob.”

“Couple?” Blemishine asked as she reemerged from cover, sword and shield at the ready. “A couple of what?”

“A couple of-” At that moment, a bolt detonated against her tectonic armor, blasting shrapnel through and into her shoulder, and the Beast awoke.

A few minutes later, after the junkyard had had a proper bloodbath, the Nian was sitting on the hood of the car they’d rolled out while Maria patched her up. “Exploding bolts? That’s higher grade gear than your average bandit, isn’t it?” The knight asked

“Probably. Not that we’ve got to worry about it now.” She felt the debris-free gashes knitting back together in the Kuranta’s light. “I need a snack after that. Mind if we head back to town?”

“Nah, I don’t mind; there’s an ice cream shop that Surtr recommended I’ve been meaning to try. We can get a milkshake with two straws, like in the movies.”

Nian would have rolled her eyes if that didn’t sound like something she wanted to try. “You’re the first person I’ve dragged out with me who wanted to make a date out of it.”

“You’re the one who called us a couple,” Maria replied with a momentary smirk. Momentary because she wanted her next words to have the proper gravitas. “But I meant what I said earlier. You really are an incredible person, Nian, and now that we’ve gotten a chance to talk, I know it’s not your weapon we should be trying to emulate at the shop, but your spirit.”

“...I haven’t heard praise like that in a long time.” The Nian slid off the car.

Blemishine stepped off to walk back to their shuttle as the other Defender took her hand. “I don’t know if I’d call it ‘praise-’”

“What else do you call complimenting a goddess?” That stopped the knight in her tracks as Nian walked around her. “And praise of that calibre deserves a blessing.”

“You’re seri-” Whatever thought Maria had loaded up crashed to desktop as the ‘blessing’ in question turned out to be a kiss.

It was a good thing the smith’s eyes had closed before their lips connected; she might’ve gone blind from the Kuranta’s flash of light otherwise.

#arknights #arknights fic #blemishine (arknights)#nian (arknights)#tmw you wrote three pages because it refused to wrap up in two #maria is faqing cute #dunno if i have her voice right yet #but i'll be getting plenty of practice with the next few fics...

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characcoon · 4 years ago

Text

The Way of Business

Words: 2143

Summary: How Donnie first met Charles.

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"I'm trying my best to not question, but… "Cat claws, be sure they fell naturally" and he wrote the last word with capital bold letters." Donnie pokes the shopping list with his finger "And my favorite, "Coffee beans (digested)", which, by other terms, means coffee that has been shat."

"Keep not questioning." April says, hands on her pockets "It's witchy, magic stuff. We already went through this, Dee. Sometimes it doesn't make sense and that's fine."

"I'm aware. But it's not everyday you have poop coffee on your grocery list. What's he even going to do with these?"

"I don't think that anything Barry does should be our business."

April and Donnie walk around a busy street in the shopping district of the Hidden City, trying to identify the things on Draxum's list only by looking at the shops and vending stands, since the old sheep Yokai didn't think of writing where exactly to find the stuff.

"Maybe it's a cake." Donnie mumbles, stopping by a counter and quickly examining some items "Mikey's been teaching him some more recipies, he might be returning the favor by making Yokai food."

"Pooped coffee cat claws cake! Yummy." April gags, then points at a jar filled with sparkly deep blue glitter labelled mermaid bone powder "I think we need that one."

They continue shopping for another 20 minutes until they reach a part of the district that is definitely more shady and quiet. Sales are made among whispers and the shops have much less products on display, everything of importance stocked in the back.

As April intimidates a merchant to lower the price of the cat claws, Donnie spots something familiar in a corner and curiously turns around to look. It's one of Big Mama's guards, but not just any guard; it's that specific one that seems to be on a higher rank, that was at the scene when the spider Yokai first took the Shredder to make him her champion. Donnie hums, watching as the guard dives between two stores and vanishes into another street.

"Got it for half the price." April comes to him, smiling proudly and shaking a tiny bottle filled with cat claws, then notices Donnie isn't paying attention "Earth to Donnie?"

"Wanna put some noses where they don't belong?" He sends her a trickster smile, bumping his fingers together.

"That depends, are you going to explode the whole street again?"

"Scoff!" the turtle scoffs "I saw one of Big Mama's guards going that way."

"And we need to go after them because…"

"Because it's her personal guard. The personal, stealthy, silent guard. The guard she sends to kill people without leaving a trace. The guard that probably has a cool name that makes people shiver in fear upon hearing it. The guard I just saw going that way."

April puffs her cheeks and blows out air in sections, a thoughtful expression on her face. Then she sighs, puts the bottle on Donnie's hand and starts walking.

"Alright, let's seek trouble, why not."

Donnie silently celebrates and dashes across the street, April right on his tail, following the same path of the guard. They go between the stores and find themselves in a smaller street with much less stores that are much more shady, to the point of being just holes between the brick walls. They reach the end of the street, turn to the only side available into another short road that hits a dead end. The guard is on that far end, with their back to the two curious teens who are slowly and quietly getting closer by using the little things around that can be used as barricades.

“We could make business faster if you tell me what you want straight up, I don’t do well with riddles.”

Donnie peaks behind a depression in the wall he and April are hiding in and notices a big trashcan shoved inside the wall with some christmas lights dangling from the sides and some mechanisms bending the lid and forming a roof. The guard is in front of whoever’s speaking, neither Donnie or April can see who.

“Or you could send the Great Milf here personally! Would love to catch up with her, if you know what I mean.”

Donnie gags in silence.

“She wants the Barnacle.” the guard speaks, voice muffled and distorted.

“The Barnacle! Wow! And why would I have that, exactly?”

“You were seen with it, at the docks. Took the package from Captain Piel.”

“Stupid lump of rotten flesh ratted me out, huh.” the other mumbles and sighs “Alright, I’ll get it, gimme a minute.”

April and Donnie glance at each as they hear ruffling and some crashing, the immovable form of the guard giving no indication of noticing the eavesdropping happening behind them.

“Is she gonna pay me at least?” the guard doesn’t answer “Y’know, in my land we have this saying. Quem cala consente. It means “silence means yes”, so I’m expecting some good cash unless you say words. No? Nothing? Talking to a door is funnier than talking to you.”

“The Barnacle, Charles.”

With a flicker of their wrist, a kunai appears between the fingers of the guard. Donnie instinctively moves his arm to his back, near his staff, and April gets into a better position to either fight or run.

“Is that handle made of Calligraphy Stone?” the merchant, possibly named Charles, speaks with excitement “Oh, damn, how much do you want for that?”

“Not for sale.”

“Oh, c’mon, it’s Calligraphy Stone!”

“Not for sale.”

“You’re boring. Y’know that? Boring. Wanna know what’s for sale? The Barnacle inside this box, this pretty doormat I made this morning and this GUN!”

A loud bang can be heard and the guard violently flies backwards, a blast of light illuminating the whole street. The guard smacks hard on the floor, smoke coming out of their chest, unmoving. Charles can now be seen; it’s a raccoon, very short, doesn’t go past Donnie’s knees. His tail is pink and orange, he wears duffle bags strapped to both sides of his hips, metal bracelets taking both his entire forearms and a gray sleeveless hoodie. On his face, big steampunk goggles and a wide, manic grin. On his hands, a gun definitely made out of garbage and nonsense, reminiscent of a grenade launcher, bigger than his whole body.

“I lied! The gun is not for sale!” he laughs and points the gun to the guard again “Now scram before I blast you into pieces!”

April notices the guard starting to move first, but doesn’t have time to warn everyone; they’re up and running in a second, blade slicing where Charles’ standing. The raccoon hops above the slash, smacks the guard in the head with the gun and drops it, then dashes towards the exit, but takes a sharp turn and bumps into the two teens. Before any of them can make any noise, he removes a disk from one of his bags, puts it on the floor and clicks. A translucent green wall blinks for a second before going orange. Donnie opens his mouth to speak, but the raccoon turns and shushes him so hard he even forgets what he was going to say. April goes equally quiet.

The guard finds his footing again after the blow and walks a few quick steps to the exit of the road, stopping right in front of the hideout of the other three. Charles silently clicks on his bracelets and long, sharp claws form as gauntlets on his hands and he gets into position, fur standing up, body tense and ready. Donnie’s breath gets caught on his throat when the guard swiftly turns their head and locks eyes with him, even knowing that the disk on the ground is some sort of cloaking tech making them all invisible.

The guard stands down, turns to the end of the road and walks back to the trashcan. They’re after the Barnacle, after all. Before they can reach it, however, the raccoon takes a small switch from his pocket and clicks on a button. The lid of the trashcan slaps close with a car alarm noise and the entire thing, wall included, poofs out of existence.

The road, not a dead end anymore, extends back to the one Donnie and April were previously on. Passersby and merchants turn to look at the wall that vanished and the guard just standing there, hand stretched to grasp nothing. Their stance slowly becomes neutral and it takes another minute for them to go away as a blur of movement.

Only then Charles snorts, so sudden and loud that Donnie jumps away from him.

“Idiot.” he continues laughing, disengaging his gauntlets and the cloaking device.

“That was so cool!” April speaks up “You played them so hard!”

“Yeah, I-” his ears go up and he flinches, remembering there were other people there too. “GUN!”

He turns around with two properly sized guns on each hand, pointing one to each of them. Donnie shows his hands and April smiles.

“You’re a human.” he shakes a gun at April “The hell you doing down here?”

“Shopping.”

“And the mecha-frog?”

“Frog?!” Donnie makes an offended expression and scoffs “Frog!”

“Are you a pokemon, only speaks your own name?”

“Wh- no! I’m a turtle!”

“Be nice, Dee. This dude’s super cool. And has a gun pointed at your face.”

“You should listen to the lady, Dee.”

“My name is Donnie.”

“Okay, Donnie Dee.” Charles opens his hands and his guns turn into liquid metal that surround his arms and turn back into being bracelets “I gotta go now. See ya around.”

He pulls the same switch he used to make the wall disappear and opens a side panel.

“Wait, you sell stuff, don’t you?” April takes Draxum’s list from Donnie “Do you have crystallized coral?”

“I do, yeah. But the shop’s all the way up to the surface now, so you should finish everything you have to do down here first. Y’know, time efficiency.”

“We are done here, right?” Donnie asks and analyzes the list “If you have the coral, digested coffee beans and petrified wood. Did we get the owl feathers?”

“We did.” April answers.

“Then.” he turns to the raccoon “Do you have those other three items?”

“100%.” Charles smiles “Hold onto me and we can warp there, pronto.”

Charles extends one hand to them and they grab one finger each, April making a squeaky noise. He clicks on his switch and they all teleport away.

Donnie recognizes the street they appear on, it’s not too far from the Lair. The trashcan store shoved into the wall is there, creating another dead end that he’s sure didn’t exist before. Charles rushes to it, opens the lid and jumps inside, sighing in relief.

“Alright, let’s get to business. Coral, wood, coffee. Talking about coffee, would you like some to drink? I always have one jar ready.”

“It’s not digested, right?” Donnie makes a face.

“No, it’s black coffee. From the store. Completely normal, I assure you.”

Donnie asks for a cup and the raccoon serves him, then asks which street they’re on. The turtle answers, gets a thanks and watches as the small merchant goes around opening drawers and boxes.

“What’s the Barnacle?” Donnie asks “And why would Big Mama want it?”

“It’s an invisible creature.” Charles answers, putting one big box with crystal coral by the counter “A plague. Sticks to the boats and sucks out life force to grow bigger. When a ghost ship is found and they can’t find out why everyone’s dead, they blame the Barnacle. 80% of the time they’re right.” another box, with petrified wood balls “And I think you can guess why Big Mama wants it. The damn thing might have a preference for boats, but it can stick to any wood structure.”

And finally, a bag of digested coffee beans.

“Pick as many of these as you need.” he points to the coral and wood “Only have this bag of coffee for sale. Stupid spider shut down more of my contacts.”

“You two seem to have some history” April starts to collect some wood balls.

“Oh, dear, if only you knew.” the raccoon laughs “You gotta keep a hold of the competition. It’s how business go.”

After taking the necessary quantity and paying, they say their farewells. Charles slides two business cards to them before they leave.

Quinquilharias, the card says, with a resume of the services and products in the back of it. Donnie hums as he reads it, considering returning more times soon, since it’s so close to the Lair and he’s the most charismatic merchant he’s ever met. And his coffee is decent enough.

And of course, he would be lying if he says he’s not curious about what’s his deal with Big Mama.

#The Tiny Trash Uncle #rottmnt #rottmnt fanfic #rottmnt self insert #rottmnt oc #rottmnt april #april o'neil #rottmnt donnie #rise of tmnt #2k words #fanfic #writing #char writes

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