dustmusings

[dustmusings]

thank youuuu <3 not sure how often I'll update atm, might go for weekly :)

Angel of Small Death

— Chapter One: Peace

Pairing: Captain Howzer x Kisku Neirkinn (Politician!OC / Twi'lek!OC)

Tags/Warnings: strangers to lovers, mutual pining, angst, fluff, eventual smut, canon-typical violence & threat, political thoughts/discussions throughout, reference to clone rights/treatment/autonomy, pre!tbb appearance -> post!tbb, Howzer & Siaska POVs

Summary: In the wake of a new Empire, Howzer finds his position on Ryloth to be precarious at best — his men are acting strange, things are changing faster than he can keep up with, and it seems there is no peace to be found after the war. In a similar predicament, Kisku arrives on Ryloth at the side of the planet's senator. Wary of the new regime already, she becomes aware of a growing threat to her own safety when her participation in senate affairs presents a challenge to their ideals.

Chapter WC: 3.7k

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“Entering the upper atmosphere, secure harnesses for landing”

The ship shook ever so slightly as it passed through the clouds shrouding Ryloth’s surface. It was a Lambda-class shuttle, big enough that Kisku could find a quiet corner away from the man who called himself a Senator, but not so spacious that she could avoid him for the entire ride from Coruscant. She took her seat across him for landing, folding her hands in her lap and avoiding eye contact with both him and his aides. She had found them to be the most unpleasant company before she was ordered to return to her home planet, but now she couldn’t stand the sight of them.

“Representative Neirkinn” Orn Free Taa’s heavy drawl called to her.

Kisku turned her attention forward to address him, “Senator”

She aimed to keep any lingering animosity out of her tone. If she was to be working more closely with him for the time being, it would serve little purpose to further widen the proverbial cavern between them.

“I need not remind you why you are here” he claimed, though the statement was a reminder itself. Kisku knew that was how he meant for it to be taken, so she stayed silent. “In light of this, I would suggest making yourself scarce, where possible. You are only here because you have caused upset, and it would be best not to do so again”

Kisku nodded, even as her teeth ground together, “I understand”

‘Caused upset’ was a woolly description for what had happened. She had spoken out of turn, that was all. No harm had been done to anything or anyone but the pride of the man who now flaunted the title of Emperor. Kisku was not someone who tried to ruffle feathers by nature, and the fact that she was now en route back to where her political career began, was enough to tell her just what to expect from this new Empire. Palpatine had been a contentious man for as long as she’d had to deal with him, but this was a new low.

Since leaving for Coruscant all those years ago, Kisku had not been back to her home planet. She had missed it greatly, but somewhere along the way it had come to be something she accepted; that she may never return. If she knew the conditions of her return now when she accepted that, she would have cherished her time away more. Coruscant was never the planet she wished for herself to grow old on, but this was certainly a step backwards. It was hard not to feel cheated.

She blew out a long breath, slowly as to not get caught sighing by her traveling companions, and readjusted her skirts to lay more comfortably over her knees, smoothing down the velvet so she would be presentable for the welcome to the senate bureau.

She was not looking forward to this in the slightest.

Howzer shifted in his place at the door. Politics was not his usual playground, and he wouldn’t pretend to know much if he was asked, but it was obvious that the recent rise of the Empire had changed the game altogether. No matter what it had been before, now his job was to guard, to watch. Though what he really found himself doing more exactly, was listening — and he didn’t like what he was hearing.

The tension that hung in the air of the conference room was so glaring it felt as if another person sat at the table, more indecent and jeering than the rest of them. Howzer stood rigid, hands folded behind his back and eyes straight ahead as if he was indifferent to the discussion. Cham engaged with diplomats of various denominations around the large oval table, and every word spoken of the newly risen power made Howzer’s stomach tie itself in knots. He had not been privy to many political conversations before the last few days, but even the language used in the discourse seemed changed. There was something at play, but he couldn’t place it.

Into the bargain, there had been some damning rumours floating around concerning the new refinery situated at the edge of the city. Howzer had attended some of the meetings in which the refinery was discussed, and no such inhumane regulations had been put into place, not by Cham or any of his collaborators. He knew not to put stock in false claims, but the whispers were only growing louder. In any case, he wouldn’t dare speak of it to Cham. Especially not now, while tensions were already running so high.

His superior’s face was focused as ever as he let his eyes scan the room. It was a particularly displeased expression that he had grown to know all too well, a deep frown that would ordinarily turn the tide of any conversation in his favour. The senatorial representatives seemed unphased, however. Howzer presumed they were more familiar with the ploys of politicians.

Then again, Cham was not a politician. Despite his commitment in the fight for Ryloth’s freedom, a commitment that far surpassed anything offered by Orn Free Taa, that was what he remained; a freedom fighter. The Hammer of Ryloth they called him, and he would squash anyone in his path eventually, no matter how they were resisting his opening gambit. It was what Howzer admired most about him, but it was also what worried him more than anything.

It would not be long before Cham would be disallowed from partaking in discussions so far above his purview, especially when it was well known that the true senator of Ryloth felt threatened by his mere existence. Howzer worried what Cham would do then, how he would act out if it was perceived they were aiming to force him into subservience.

“Captain,” the voice of his superior called to him. Howzer straightened, his gaze shifting over to the Twi’lek who approached, “are you alright?”

“Fine, sir” he replied resolutely with a respectful nod.

The diplomatic guests stood from their seats to file out into the hallway, and Cham gave him an unsubtly doubtful look as they passed by.

“Well then,” he gestured to the doorway, “we must now head downstairs to greet senator Orn Free Taa in the foyer.”

Howzer winced internally as the door zipped closed behind him. He had never liked the politician. It was clear where his loyalties lay, and it wasn’t with the people he was supposed to be representing. Howzer didn’t play politics, but it didn’t take a genius to see that much.

He strode down the hallway in silence, the sound of his boots scraping the floor bouncing off the modestly decorated walls, filling the space instead. He kept one step behind Cham at all times, who in turn kept his distance from the senatorial reps that lead towards the turbolift.

“What is it, Captain?” the Twi’lek asked in a hushed voice, turning to face him.

Howzer released a heavy breath, his eyes dropping to the floor ahead of him so he wouldn’t have to lie to his face, “nothing, sir. It’s just been a long week”

Cham hummed, seemingly unconvinced by his explanation, but he didn’t question it further.

“Indeed it has been”

At the beginning of the week, Howzer was still a soldier of the Republic, a Captain in the Grand Army. Now? He wasn’t sure what he was, or what was to come of him either. Even before the emissaries from the core worlds had arrived, his men had been acting exceedingly strangely — more stiff, less amiable. It was a subtle enough shift, but with almost every solider adopting the attitude, it was more than a little jarring. Howzer didn’t know what to make of it. He figured that if he kept his head down and did as he was told for the time being then perhaps something would come to light.

The ride down to the ground floor was quiet, the lingering discomfort bred by political discussions leaving Howzer feeling restless. After a few minutes, the chime sounded to let them know they had reached the bottom, bringing a welcome reprieve to the irritability that surrounded the discontented politicians.

As the doors slid open, Howzer stepped out and watched as Cham’s wife, Eleni, swept down the stairs opposite, lifting the hem of her dress in one hand. She always held herself with the grace of a queen, acting accordingly, but he knew she also had a fire in her only rivalled by her husband. Howzer gave a steady bow of his head as she joined them, and she smiled warmly at him in return before greeting her husband with a kiss to his cheek.

“Where is our guest, my dear?” Cham asked, running a hand down her arm.

Eleni chuckled, a pleasant and breathy sound, “patience, my love”

As if on cue, the grand doors that opened into the courtyard parted, and a party of four were ushered in. The first was the Senator himself, an immediately recognisable figure, followed by two aides that Howzer had seen accompanying him before. The last individual was somewhat hidden from his view, though he caught the lilac hue of their skin from between the others.

He moved away to the base of the stairs to watch over the scene, keeping his distance as always. It was not part of his job to engage with the politicians, so he tried to stay away from them as much as he could, always opting to hover at the edge of everything. It was certainly no shame to miss out in conversation with Orn Free Taa, in any case.

The Senator stepped forward to greet Cham, still talking quietly with his aides.

“Senator” Cham welcomed him inside, “how wonderful it is to see you”

Howzer could hear the strain in his voice as he spoke the false words, and in the reply from the Senator even more so. He was not interested in the specifics of the mock flattery between the rival Twi’leks, even more so as his focus was drawn by the final member of their party.

Her demeanour was a stark contrast to that of her counterparts. She bore a plain expression, with none of the smug self-importance that the others had so perfected. Her clothes were a little more grandiose than the aides, robes of rich velvet and silk handing from her frame, cinched against skin and flowing freely in equal measure. She appeared regal, and yet there was something reserved about her, as if she didn’t want to make herself known.

Howzer’s eyes trailed down her lekku, stretching past her waist and adorned by pale swirling markings which reached forwards beneath her headdress. Her grey eyes were darkened by makeup, lips painted to match the burgundy of her dress, and a dainty gold chain adorned her neck, sitting comfortably between her collarbones. She piqued his interest quite naturally. He was not immune to beauty, after all.

Her eyes found his a number of times as the politicians spoke in strained pleasantries, and each time he was struck by a certain mirth that she carried. He tried to keep from staring outright, not wishing to appear improper, but his gaze always seemed to find its way back to her.

At length, she was finally noticed and addressed by Eleni. She asked her name, reaching for her hand to shake. The Twi’lek parted her lips to reply, but the Senator cut in before she could speak.

“My aide” he explained curtly, “Kisku”

Kisku briefly glanced at the Senator before bowing her head to in Eleni in a polite nod, “it’s a pleasure to meet you ma’am”

Her accent was similar to that of the other Twi’leks, though softened, a slight Coruscanti twinge that betrayed where she had travelled from.

Eleni smiled graciously, “the pleasure is all ours”

Kisku stepped back, her hands folded neatly in front of her, and the conversation shortly dwindled. Cham was finding that he had little to say to the pompous Senator, and thankfully he was saved by way of his daughter invading the room with her droid in toe. Howzer’s lip twitched at the sight, fighting off an amused smile at Orn Free Taa’s visible discomfort at the intrusion. He kept his head down, but instinctively glanced over at the woman he now knew by the name of Kisku, and was pleasantly surprised to find that she too was hiding her laughter.

Her lips were twisted in a smirk, shielding it behind her hand, though nothing was hidden from the clone. Her eyes met his, a shared amusement passing between them which left them both clutching harder for their composure.

Howzer was already convinced that, in time, he would find this new Twi’lek to be a most welcome guest.

When Howzer exited the barracks the following morning, he was displeased to find that the air outside still felt as heavy as it did inside. It had been that way since the shift in power, an invisible mist that surrounded the people of Ryloth, specifically his men. He took a deep breath, seeking some of the fresh air that should be present on sunny mornings such as that, but evidently the powers of the galaxy didn’t see fit to reward him with any relief.

His walk towards the Senate bureau was short enough, but Howzer revelled in every moment he could. Before long he’d be holed up inside the stuffy room once more, listening to overzealous politicians discuss the future of the planet, as if they knew the first thing about the inhabitants of it. Howzer couldn’t help but feel resentful towards the bureaucrats. They posed as public servants, but he knew from being on the inside of their talks that they only cared for themselves. It was the reason that Cham and his freedom fighters had had to step up during the war.

He tried not to let it weigh on his mind too much. There was nothing he could do to fix it, after all, and with the Empire of the rise, he wouldn’t presume that anyone else could either. He held back a sigh as he turned the corner into the square that the bureau overlooked, its imposing stature casting a shadow that felt eerily like an omen. As he strode across the square, his eyes caught a glimmer of light, shining and dancing in the early morning sun, which he discovered had bounced from the silver hardware of an individual’s outfit.

Howzer did not expect to see Kisku again so soon. He presumed that with her being in Orn Free Taa’s entourage, and Cham being so vehemently against the Senator, their paths would not naturally cross. Although now, he couldn’t help but notice how utterly lost she appeared to be, slowly wandering along the edge of the square, unsure and glancing about. Howzer fixed a polite smile on his face and adjusted his grip on his helmet, changing his direction to cross in her path.

“Are you alright miss?” he asked softly, not wishing to scare her.

Kisku whirled around nonetheless, evidently a little surprised to have been approached. The moment her eyes crossed his, he could see the embarrassment flash across them, as if she wasn’t used to being caught off guard. She let out a quiet and self-deprecating chuckle, an acknowledgement that she’d been observed as being in need of help.

“I appear to be lost” she informed him, though he had already figured out that much.

He didn’t feel the need to tell her, instead asking, “where are you headed?”

“I’m not entirely sure” she admitted, a mauve blush prickling at her cheeks. Howzer gave a patient smile as she collected herself, finding it difficult not to be instantly enraptured by the way she conducted herself. “Might you know where the Senator resides?” she asked, a certain hopefulness in her eyes.

He nodded, “I can show you the way, if you like”

Kisku’s eyes seemed to light up at his words, “that would be lovely, though I do hope it’s not too far out of your way”

“It’s not” Howzer assured with a kind smile, nodding towards the building that towered above them, “this way”

She followed him silently across the square, and he took stock of her in a flick of his eyes. Her robes were a dark plum colour, a little less formal than the queenly get-up she had been sporting the previous day, but exceedingly opulent nonetheless. It was hard not to notice the quality of her attire, not only because of its sophistication, but because it was so foreign to Howzer. He never changed from the armour that he presently wore on his back, but that suited him fine — of all the things in his life that he might have to worry about, he was glad that clothes was not one of them

Howzer wasn’t especially certain on where he stood against Kisku in a hierarchical sense, as he had never had much interaction with the other aides that usually accompanied the Senator. He didn’t know what was the correct way to address her, if he should have spoken to her at all, or what was the proper amount of conversation to entertain. He often found that these were things to consider in the realm of politics, and it was a level of propriety he was still to become accustomed to.

“How long have you been working for Senator Taa?” he inquired, holding open the door to the building for Kisku to pass through.

She nodded appreciatively, though he noticed the way she sighed, squaring her jaw before speaking, “a little over 3 years”

“So… you live on Coruscant?” he prompted, aiming to move that conversation from the imperious senator.

“I did” she looked up at him as they walked in tandem, a smile pulling at the corner of her lips that betrayed a sense of wistfulness.

Howzer instinctively raised his brows under her steady gaze, “you don’t like it here?”

“I do” she confirmed in an assured voice, her hands closing around her robes and lifting them an inch as she began climbing the stairs, “it’s my home planet, it’s just…”

Her throat tightened as she forced herself to swallow, burying her words. The action was filled with all the grace and restraint of a politician, though it was obvious that something was bothering her.

She gave him a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, “I shouldn’t say. It’s not my place”

Howzer nodded with an amiable enough expression, though his eyes observed her movements carefully. Her fingers slotted together as the two of them reached the top of the stairs, hands joined in front of her robes, her gaze ahead of her, fixed and steady, and her mouth a hard line. She was impossible to read, and he found it more than a little unnerving.

“What about you?” she asked, turning the question back on him, “do you like it here?”

Howzer was a little startled. Aside from his brothers, no one but Cham or Eleni ever asked him about himself. There was an expectancy in her eyes however, something kind and patient as she waited for him to reply, something that told him she cared to know his answer.

“Oh, uh… well,” he began a little inelegantly, “anything is better than Kamino, I suppose”

Kisku chuckled, a charming sound that made Howzer’s heart flutter with pride, “have you always been stationed here?”

“For most of my time in the war, yes” he replied, guiding her through a doorway and towards the office that he had been searching out.

The hall was far more luxurious than those which Howzer usually passed through. There were grand arches framing the ceiling, satin curtains which swayed gently in the breeze with the lavish wooden windows thrown open to overlook the city. Kisku seemed to fit into the space more naturally. Her garb didn’t seem so imposing anymore, and not for the first time among such company, Howzer suddenly felt a little under dressed.

“Well, this is it” he smiled cordially, gesturing a gloved hand to the door at the opposite end of the hall. It seemed an appropriate buffer; an opulent hall to ward off any beings of lesser standing such as himself, to welcome the stature of senators and the like.

“Thank you” Kisku halted, squaring her shoulders with his and giving him an apologetic look, “I’m sorry, I didn’t even ask your name”

Howzer couldn’t help but regard her with more warmth, a smile of more intention. He had never known a politician of any sort apologise to him.

“It’s Howzer” he spoke softly, “and it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, ma’am”

The woman before him let out a breathy laugh, shaking her head with a certain twinkle in her eye, “the pleasure is all mine, as long as you don’t call me that again”

“Certainly” he huffed quietly in a self-deprecating manner, “my apologies”

“No need for apologies” she waved away the notion, “but thanks are in order. I would never have found my way here without you”

Kisku held out her hand, and it took a moment for Howzer to register what it was she meant to do. He hesitated a second longer even so, unsure if it was proper conduct to be touching Senate officials, but her gracious expression made him give in. He took her hand and shook it firmly, though not gripping too hard for how delicate it looked wrapped by his fingers.

“Anytime” he bowed his head in respect and let his hand fall from hers as he exited the hallway.

Howzer could now admit that he was entirely fascinated by Kisku. She had an air of such importance, especially for only being an aide. Though alongside that, she was unlike any of the Senate members he had had the misfortune of crossing. By contrast, she actually seemed pleasant to be around.

He walked the route towards Cham’s office, and had to suppress the grin that threatened to take over his face. He didn’t exactly know what he was grinning about, but he felt anything that could draw such a reaction from him in the troubling times he inhabited surely couldn’t be a bad thing.

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[dustmusings]

Angel of Small Death Masterlist

Pairing: Captain Howzer x Kisku Neirkinn (Politician!OC / Twi'lek!OC)

Tags/Warnings: strangers to lovers, mutual pining, angst, fluff, eventual smut, canon-typical violence & threat, political thoughts/discussions throughout, reference to clone rights/treatment/autonomy, pre!tbb appearance -> post!tbb, Howzer & Siaska POVs

Current Word Count: 3.7k

Read it on ao3 | Join the Taglist

— Part One: Home

Summary: In the wake of a new Empire, Howzer finds his position on Ryloth to be precarious at best — his men are acting strange, things are changing faster than he can keep up with, and it seems there is no peace to be found after the war. In a similar predicament, Kisku arrives on Ryloth at the side of the planet's senator. Wary of the new regime already, she becomes aware of a growing threat to her own safety when her participation in senate affairs presents a challenge to their ideals.

Chapter One: Peace | 3.7k

[dustmusings]

Angel of Small Death

— Chapter One: Peace

Pairing: Captain Howzer x Kisku Neirkinn (Politician!OC / Twi'lek!OC)

Tags/Warnings: strangers to lovers, mutual pining, angst, fluff, eventual smut, canon-typical violence & threat, political thoughts/discussions throughout, reference to clone rights/treatment/autonomy, pre!tbb appearance -> post!tbb, Howzer & Siaska POVs

Summary: In the wake of a new Empire, Howzer finds his position on Ryloth to be precarious at best — his men are acting strange, things are changing faster than he can keep up with, and it seems there is no peace to be found after the war. In a similar predicament, Kisku arrives on Ryloth at the side of the planet's senator. Wary of the new regime already, she becomes aware of a growing threat to her own safety when her participation in senate affairs presents a challenge to their ideals.

Chapter WC: 3.7k

Next Chapter | Masterlist | Join the Taglist

“Entering the upper atmosphere, secure harnesses for landing”

The ship shook ever so slightly as it passed through the clouds shrouding Ryloth’s surface. It was a Lambda-class shuttle, big enough that Kisku could find a quiet corner away from the man who called himself a Senator, but not so spacious that she could avoid him for the entire ride from Coruscant. She took her seat across him for landing, folding her hands in her lap and avoiding eye contact with both him and his aides. She had found them to be the most unpleasant company before she was ordered to return to her home planet, but now she couldn’t stand the sight of them.

“Representative Neirkinn” Orn Free Taa’s heavy drawl called to her.

Kisku turned her attention forward to address him, “Senator”

She aimed to keep any lingering animosity out of her tone. If she was to be working more closely with him for the time being, it would serve little purpose to further widen the proverbial cavern between them.

“I need not remind you why you are here” he claimed, though the statement was a reminder itself. Kisku knew that was how he meant for it to be taken, so she stayed silent. “In light of this, I would suggest making yourself scarce, where possible. You are only here because you have caused upset, and it would be best not to do so again”

Kisku nodded, even as her teeth ground together, “I understand”

‘Caused upset’ was a woolly description for what had happened. She had spoken out of turn, that was all. No harm had been done to anything or anyone but the pride of the man who now flaunted the title of Emperor. Kisku was not someone who tried to ruffle feathers by nature, and the fact that she was now en route back to where her political career began, was enough to tell her just what to expect from this new Empire. Palpatine had been a contentious man for as long as she’d had to deal with him, but this was a new low.

Since leaving for Coruscant all those years ago, Kisku had not been back to her home planet. She had missed it greatly, but somewhere along the way it had come to be something she accepted; that she may never return. If she knew the conditions of her return now when she accepted that, she would have cherished her time away more. Coruscant was never the planet she wished for herself to grow old on, but this was certainly a step backwards. It was hard not to feel cheated.

She blew out a long breath, slowly as to not get caught sighing by her traveling companions, and readjusted her skirts to lay more comfortably over her knees, smoothing down the velvet so she would be presentable for the welcome to the senate bureau.

She was not looking forward to this in the slightest.

Howzer shifted in his place at the door. Politics was not his usual playground, and he wouldn’t pretend to know much if he was asked, but it was obvious that the recent rise of the Empire had changed the game altogether. No matter what it had been before, now his job was to guard, to watch. Though what he really found himself doing more exactly, was listening — and he didn’t like what he was hearing.

The tension that hung in the air of the conference room was so glaring it felt as if another person sat at the table, more indecent and jeering than the rest of them. Howzer stood rigid, hands folded behind his back and eyes straight ahead as if he was indifferent to the discussion. Cham engaged with diplomats of various denominations around the large oval table, and every word spoken of the newly risen power made Howzer’s stomach tie itself in knots. He had not been privy to many political conversations before the last few days, but even the language used in the discourse seemed changed. There was something at play, but he couldn’t place it.

Into the bargain, there had been some damning rumours floating around concerning the new refinery situated at the edge of the city. Howzer had attended some of the meetings in which the refinery was discussed, and no such inhumane regulations had been put into place, not by Cham or any of his collaborators. He knew not to put stock in false claims, but the whispers were only growing louder. In any case, he wouldn’t dare speak of it to Cham. Especially not now, while tensions were already running so high.

His superior’s face was focused as ever as he let his eyes scan the room. It was a particularly displeased expression that he had grown to know all too well, a deep frown that would ordinarily turn the tide of any conversation in his favour. The senatorial representatives seemed unphased, however. Howzer presumed they were more familiar with the ploys of politicians.

Then again, Cham was not a politician. Despite his commitment in the fight for Ryloth’s freedom, a commitment that far surpassed anything offered by Orn Free Taa, that was what he remained; a freedom fighter. The Hammer of Ryloth they called him, and he would squash anyone in his path eventually, no matter how they were resisting his opening gambit. It was what Howzer admired most about him, but it was also what worried him more than anything.

It would not be long before Cham would be disallowed from partaking in discussions so far above his purview, especially when it was well known that the true senator of Ryloth felt threatened by his mere existence. Howzer worried what Cham would do then, how he would act out if it was perceived they were aiming to force him into subservience.

“Captain,” the voice of his superior called to him. Howzer straightened, his gaze shifting over to the Twi’lek who approached, “are you alright?”

“Fine, sir” he replied resolutely with a respectful nod.

The diplomatic guests stood from their seats to file out into the hallway, and Cham gave him an unsubtly doubtful look as they passed by.

“Well then,” he gestured to the doorway, “we must now head downstairs to greet senator Orn Free Taa in the foyer.”

Howzer winced internally as the door zipped closed behind him. He had never liked the politician. It was clear where his loyalties lay, and it wasn’t with the people he was supposed to be representing. Howzer didn’t play politics, but it didn’t take a genius to see that much.

He strode down the hallway in silence, the sound of his boots scraping the floor bouncing off the modestly decorated walls, filling the space instead. He kept one step behind Cham at all times, who in turn kept his distance from the senatorial reps that lead towards the turbolift.

“What is it, Captain?” the Twi’lek asked in a hushed voice, turning to face him.

Howzer released a heavy breath, his eyes dropping to the floor ahead of him so he wouldn’t have to lie to his face, “nothing, sir. It’s just been a long week”

Cham hummed, seemingly unconvinced by his explanation, but he didn’t question it further.

“Indeed it has been”

At the beginning of the week, Howzer was still a soldier of the Republic, a Captain in the Grand Army. Now? He wasn’t sure what he was, or what was to come of him either. Even before the emissaries from the core worlds had arrived, his men had been acting exceedingly strangely — more stiff, less amiable. It was a subtle enough shift, but with almost every solider adopting the attitude, it was more than a little jarring. Howzer didn’t know what to make of it. He figured that if he kept his head down and did as he was told for the time being then perhaps something would come to light.

The ride down to the ground floor was quiet, the lingering discomfort bred by political discussions leaving Howzer feeling restless. After a few minutes, the chime sounded to let them know they had reached the bottom, bringing a welcome reprieve to the irritability that surrounded the discontented politicians.

As the doors slid open, Howzer stepped out and watched as Cham’s wife, Eleni, swept down the stairs opposite, lifting the hem of her dress in one hand. She always held herself with the grace of a queen, acting accordingly, but he knew she also had a fire in her only rivalled by her husband. Howzer gave a steady bow of his head as she joined them, and she smiled warmly at him in return before greeting her husband with a kiss to his cheek.

“Where is our guest, my dear?” Cham asked, running a hand down her arm.

Eleni chuckled, a pleasant and breathy sound, “patience, my love”

As if on cue, the grand doors that opened into the courtyard parted, and a party of four were ushered in. The first was the Senator himself, an immediately recognisable figure, followed by two aides that Howzer had seen accompanying him before. The last individual was somewhat hidden from his view, though he caught the lilac hue of their skin from between the others.

He moved away to the base of the stairs to watch over the scene, keeping his distance as always. It was not part of his job to engage with the politicians, so he tried to stay away from them as much as he could, always opting to hover at the edge of everything. It was certainly no shame to miss out in conversation with Orn Free Taa, in any case.

The Senator stepped forward to greet Cham, still talking quietly with his aides.

“Senator” Cham welcomed him inside, “how wonderful it is to see you”

Howzer could hear the strain in his voice as he spoke the false words, and in the reply from the Senator even more so. He was not interested in the specifics of the mock flattery between the rival Twi’leks, even more so as his focus was drawn by the final member of their party.

Her demeanour was a stark contrast to that of her counterparts. She bore a plain expression, with none of the smug self-importance that the others had so perfected. Her clothes were a little more grandiose than the aides, robes of rich velvet and silk handing from her frame, cinched against skin and flowing freely in equal measure. She appeared regal, and yet there was something reserved about her, as if she didn’t want to make herself known.

Howzer’s eyes trailed down her lekku, stretching past her waist and adorned by pale swirling markings which reached forwards beneath her headdress. Her grey eyes were darkened by makeup, lips painted to match the burgundy of her dress, and a dainty gold chain adorned her neck, sitting comfortably between her collarbones. She piqued his interest quite naturally. He was not immune to beauty, after all.

Her eyes found his a number of times as the politicians spoke in strained pleasantries, and each time he was struck by a certain mirth that she carried. He tried to keep from staring outright, not wishing to appear improper, but his gaze always seemed to find its way back to her.

At length, she was finally noticed and addressed by Eleni. She asked her name, reaching for her hand to shake. The Twi’lek parted her lips to reply, but the Senator cut in before she could speak.

“My aide” he explained curtly, “Kisku”

Kisku briefly glanced at the Senator before bowing her head to in Eleni in a polite nod, “it’s a pleasure to meet you ma’am”

Her accent was similar to that of the other Twi’leks, though softened, a slight Coruscanti twinge that betrayed where she had travelled from.

Eleni smiled graciously, “the pleasure is all ours”

Kisku stepped back, her hands folded neatly in front of her, and the conversation shortly dwindled. Cham was finding that he had little to say to the pompous Senator, and thankfully he was saved by way of his daughter invading the room with her droid in toe. Howzer’s lip twitched at the sight, fighting off an amused smile at Orn Free Taa’s visible discomfort at the intrusion. He kept his head down, but instinctively glanced over at the woman he now knew by the name of Kisku, and was pleasantly surprised to find that she too was hiding her laughter.

Her lips were twisted in a smirk, shielding it behind her hand, though nothing was hidden from the clone. Her eyes met his, a shared amusement passing between them which left them both clutching harder for their composure.

Howzer was already convinced that, in time, he would find this new Twi’lek to be a most welcome guest.

When Howzer exited the barracks the following morning, he was displeased to find that the air outside still felt as heavy as it did inside. It had been that way since the shift in power, an invisible mist that surrounded the people of Ryloth, specifically his men. He took a deep breath, seeking some of the fresh air that should be present on sunny mornings such as that, but evidently the powers of the galaxy didn’t see fit to reward him with any relief.

His walk towards the Senate bureau was short enough, but Howzer revelled in every moment he could. Before long he’d be holed up inside the stuffy room once more, listening to overzealous politicians discuss the future of the planet, as if they knew the first thing about the inhabitants of it. Howzer couldn’t help but feel resentful towards the bureaucrats. They posed as public servants, but he knew from being on the inside of their talks that they only cared for themselves. It was the reason that Cham and his freedom fighters had had to step up during the war.

He tried not to let it weigh on his mind too much. There was nothing he could do to fix it, after all, and with the Empire of the rise, he wouldn’t presume that anyone else could either. He held back a sigh as he turned the corner into the square that the bureau overlooked, its imposing stature casting a shadow that felt eerily like an omen. As he strode across the square, his eyes caught a glimmer of light, shining and dancing in the early morning sun, which he discovered had bounced from the silver hardware of an individual’s outfit.

Howzer did not expect to see Kisku again so soon. He presumed that with her being in Orn Free Taa’s entourage, and Cham being so vehemently against the Senator, their paths would not naturally cross. Although now, he couldn’t help but notice how utterly lost she appeared to be, slowly wandering along the edge of the square, unsure and glancing about. Howzer fixed a polite smile on his face and adjusted his grip on his helmet, changing his direction to cross in her path.

“Are you alright miss?” he asked softly, not wishing to scare her.

Kisku whirled around nonetheless, evidently a little surprised to have been approached. The moment her eyes crossed his, he could see the embarrassment flash across them, as if she wasn’t used to being caught off guard. She let out a quiet and self-deprecating chuckle, an acknowledgement that she’d been observed as being in need of help.

“I appear to be lost” she informed him, though he had already figured out that much.

He didn’t feel the need to tell her, instead asking, “where are you headed?”

“I’m not entirely sure” she admitted, a mauve blush prickling at her cheeks. Howzer gave a patient smile as she collected herself, finding it difficult not to be instantly enraptured by the way she conducted herself. “Might you know where the Senator resides?” she asked, a certain hopefulness in her eyes.

He nodded, “I can show you the way, if you like”

Kisku’s eyes seemed to light up at his words, “that would be lovely, though I do hope it’s not too far out of your way”

“It’s not” Howzer assured with a kind smile, nodding towards the building that towered above them, “this way”

She followed him silently across the square, and he took stock of her in a flick of his eyes. Her robes were a dark plum colour, a little less formal than the queenly get-up she had been sporting the previous day, but exceedingly opulent nonetheless. It was hard not to notice the quality of her attire, not only because of its sophistication, but because it was so foreign to Howzer. He never changed from the armour that he presently wore on his back, but that suited him fine — of all the things in his life that he might have to worry about, he was glad that clothes was not one of them

Howzer wasn’t especially certain on where he stood against Kisku in a hierarchical sense, as he had never had much interaction with the other aides that usually accompanied the Senator. He didn’t know what was the correct way to address her, if he should have spoken to her at all, or what was the proper amount of conversation to entertain. He often found that these were things to consider in the realm of politics, and it was a level of propriety he was still to become accustomed to.

“How long have you been working for Senator Taa?” he inquired, holding open the door to the building for Kisku to pass through.

She nodded appreciatively, though he noticed the way she sighed, squaring her jaw before speaking, “a little over 3 years”

“So… you live on Coruscant?” he prompted, aiming to move that conversation from the imperious senator.

“I did” she looked up at him as they walked in tandem, a smile pulling at the corner of her lips that betrayed a sense of wistfulness.

Howzer instinctively raised his brows under her steady gaze, “you don’t like it here?”

“I do” she confirmed in an assured voice, her hands closing around her robes and lifting them an inch as she began climbing the stairs, “it’s my home planet, it’s just…”

Her throat tightened as she forced herself to swallow, burying her words. The action was filled with all the grace and restraint of a politician, though it was obvious that something was bothering her.

She gave him a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, “I shouldn’t say. It’s not my place”

Howzer nodded with an amiable enough expression, though his eyes observed her movements carefully. Her fingers slotted together as the two of them reached the top of the stairs, hands joined in front of her robes, her gaze ahead of her, fixed and steady, and her mouth a hard line. She was impossible to read, and he found it more than a little unnerving.

“What about you?” she asked, turning the question back on him, “do you like it here?”

Howzer was a little startled. Aside from his brothers, no one but Cham or Eleni ever asked him about himself. There was an expectancy in her eyes however, something kind and patient as she waited for him to reply, something that told him she cared to know his answer.

“Oh, uh… well,” he began a little inelegantly, “anything is better than Kamino, I suppose”

Kisku chuckled, a charming sound that made Howzer’s heart flutter with pride, “have you always been stationed here?”

“For most of my time in the war, yes” he replied, guiding her through a doorway and towards the office that he had been searching out.

The hall was far more luxurious than those which Howzer usually passed through. There were grand arches framing the ceiling, satin curtains which swayed gently in the breeze with the lavish wooden windows thrown open to overlook the city. Kisku seemed to fit into the space more naturally. Her garb didn’t seem so imposing anymore, and not for the first time among such company, Howzer suddenly felt a little under dressed.

“Well, this is it” he smiled cordially, gesturing a gloved hand to the door at the opposite end of the hall. It seemed an appropriate buffer; an opulent hall to ward off any beings of lesser standing such as himself, to welcome the stature of senators and the like.

“Thank you” Kisku halted, squaring her shoulders with his and giving him an apologetic look, “I’m sorry, I didn’t even ask your name”

Howzer couldn’t help but regard her with more warmth, a smile of more intention. He had never known a politician of any sort apologise to him.

“It’s Howzer” he spoke softly, “and it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, ma’am”

The woman before him let out a breathy laugh, shaking her head with a certain twinkle in her eye, “the pleasure is all mine, as long as you don’t call me that again”

“Certainly” he huffed quietly in a self-deprecating manner, “my apologies”

“No need for apologies” she waved away the notion, “but thanks are in order. I would never have found my way here without you”

Kisku held out her hand, and it took a moment for Howzer to register what it was she meant to do. He hesitated a second longer even so, unsure if it was proper conduct to be touching Senate officials, but her gracious expression made him give in. He took her hand and shook it firmly, though not gripping too hard for how delicate it looked wrapped by his fingers.

“Anytime” he bowed his head in respect and let his hand fall from hers as he exited the hallway.

Howzer could now admit that he was entirely fascinated by Kisku. She had an air of such importance, especially for only being an aide. Though alongside that, she was unlike any of the Senate members he had had the misfortune of crossing. By contrast, she actually seemed pleasant to be around.

He walked the route towards Cham’s office, and had to suppress the grin that threatened to take over his face. He didn’t exactly know what he was grinning about, but he felt anything that could draw such a reaction from him in the troubling times he inhabited surely couldn’t be a bad thing.

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[dustmusings]

hey guys!! long time no speak I think

I've put this off for ages for no reason but basically I rewrote this fic to be howzer/OC instead and I'm gonna start posting it soon (tonight maybe?) ! if you're interested in that or whatever let me know and I'll tag you when I post :) I'll be revising my taglist soon anyway

also ! I'm rewriting technical devotion too lol [new name pending]. it exists in the same kinda au as the howzer fic, and falls between the two parts of it. I'll post all of that in chronological order — so howzer pt.1, TD, howzer pt.2 (and maybe something more..?)

this is the OC from the story —

I drew this ages ago and never posted it idk why. that is all ! thank you for reading and goodbye.

[p.s. this is the story banner —]

alright bye

[dustmusings]

training …

redesigned her a lil bit :) still figuring out backgrounds... it's slow going.

art tags (join here): @lonewolflupe @ghostymarni @cyaretra @returnofthepineapple @rex-meshla @liopleurodean @asgre @mae-lou-ron

[dustmusings]

so this is very random

I wanted to try drawing more interesting poses, and have been rewatching ATLA recently, and so the natural conclusion to that set of events is that I made a waterbender OC :D unnamed as of yet, might post more of her in the future

[dustmusings]

To Be His Wife***

🫧 Pairings: Crosshair X Female!Reader 🫧 word count: 12.5k (it might be worth it)

plot summary: Tasked to gather intel on a spice shipment, yourself and crosshair find yourself in a luxurious hotel but with only one bed and have to pretend to be married. But after a tense couples meal, you wonder what it would be like to truly be in his arms.

warnings: NSFW, 18+ ONLY. Fake dating trope, only one bed trope, sub/dom sexual content, explicit language, cunnilingus, blowjob, kissing, neck sucking/biting, spanking, dirty thoughts, dirty talk, praising and teasing, marriage kink, slight possessive sex, soft and rough sex, all consensual, creampie, aftercare, jealous crosshair, brief alcohol mention, reader wears a dress and minimal makeup, implied medium to long hair, minor sexist comment made to reader (not by crosshair), flirting, not proofread, pre order 66 so crosshair is not crossbald x

Anon, this is for you.

You pushed your way through the crowded bar, weaving between patrons with a small smile tugging at your lips. The parcel you’d just dropped off for some locals hadn’t paid much, but credits were credits. However, the smile didn’t last.

At the far end of the bar, the boys were clustered together in an unusually tight knot — heads tilted in, voices low. The closer you got, the more you caught the hiss of “shh, shh”.

You stopped in front of them and let your gaze sweep the circle. Hunter avoided eye contact by pretending to adjust the strap on his breast plate. Echo suddenly found his drink fascinating. And Wrecker’s big frame actually shifted behind Tech like he could use him as cover.

“Alright,” you said, planting your hands on your hips. “What’s going on?”

They exchanged a silent conversation with just their eyes. Eventually, Hunter straightened, cleared his throat, and said, “We’ve just got word on a potential new job. Good money.”

“Great.” You nodded slowly, scanning their faces. “…Is there a catch?”

Tech pushed his goggles higher on his nose, as if the gesture would somehow make his delivery smoother. “You will be the one doing the mission.”

You blinked at him. That wasn’t exactly unusual. “Okay… and what is it?”

Wrecker’s grimace was the first giveaway. Echo’s wince was the second. You knew those expressions — the last time they’d looked at you like that, they were trying to talk you into playing “happy wife” for some sleaze.

Your hands went up immediately. “Nope. Not a chance. I am not pretending to be married to some sleemo again.”

A vivid memory surfaced where it was one of Cid’s old jobs, where the fake husband in question had taken the role far too seriously. You’d told them you wouldn’t ever do something like that again after that, and a few months ago when they tried to pitch you something similar, you laughed in their faces.

“Maybe you’ll change your mind with this one?” Hunter offered, a faint smirk at the corner of his mouth.

“Doubt it.” You turned on your heel, but curiosity got the better of you two steps later. “…Go on.”

“You’ll be with Crosshair,” Hunter said.

Your gaze slid sideways to where Crosshair was leaning against the bar like the galaxy’s most bored sharpshooter, a toothpick balanced between his teeth. His eyes met yours for half a heartbeat before drifting away again.

You turned back to Hunter. “As in, he’ll be with me while I fake-date some idiot?”

“Not exactly,” Tech corrected, eyes still on his datapad. “You will be dating Crosshair.”

Your jaw actually dropped. “Huh?”

Hunter took over, laying it out in his steady, matter-of-fact way: a heavily guarded resort on Corellia, a contact who only worked with “registered guests,” the cover being a couple in a hotel suite.

“So, will you do it?” Echo asked, leaning on the bar.

“No,” you said instantly with a scoff. “Just because I know him doesn’t mean I want to spend an entire mission holding hands and pretending we’re madly in love. And did you even ask him if he’s okay with this?”

“Oh, he already agreed,” Wrecker said with a big grin.

Your head whipped toward Crosshair. “You what?”

He shrugged one shoulder, unbothered. “And hey,” Wrecker then added, “he cleans up real good.”

“Not the point,” you muttered, dragging a hand down your face.

“It’s good money,” Hunter reminded you, knowing exactly how to push.

You groaned, glaring at each of them in turn. “Fine. But if this blows up in our faces, I’m blaming all of you.”

“Atta girl,” Wrecker said, giving you a pat on the back that nearly sent you into the bar.

The others drifted off to start planning, leaving you and Crosshair alone. He finally pushed off the bar, sauntering past you as he pulled the toothpick from his mouth.

“Don’t worry,” he drawled, his voice low and mocking, “I’ll be a good husband for you.”

You opened your mouth to shoot back, but he’d already walked away.

This was going to be interesting.

When the Marauder settled down in the landing bay at the location, you and Crosshair stood side by side at the open hatch, bags in hand, both wearing expressions that could curdle milk.

“Maker,” Wrecker said from behind you, grinning in amusement, “You two’ve got faces like a slapped arse.”

You didn’t dignify him with a response as Crosshair just gave him a long, flat look that said Wrecker was lucky they were on a timetable.

The hatch closed behind them and the ship began to lift away, the sound of its engines fading as the Marauder disappeared into the hazy Corellian skyline.

You let out a quiet huff, adjusting your bag on your shoulder. “Well,” you muttered, “guess we’re doing this.”

Without waiting for him, you started up the paved path toward the resort. At least the place was nice. More than nice, actually.

The white stone gleamed in the sun, balconies lined with planters spilling over with flowers in deep reds and golds. There was even an elaborate fountain glittered in the courtyard. It was the kind of place you could almost enjoy if you weren’t here to play pretend.

You were halfway up the front steps when Crosshair’s voice stopped you.

“Wait.”

You turned just enough to give him a questioning look. “What?”

His brown eyes scanned the building like he was sighting a target. “You remember the plan?”

You rolled your eyes and resumed walking. “Yes. Do you?”

“Just making sure.” He replied, his mouth twitching in slight annoyance.

The two of you were… sort of friends. He was quiet, moody, and impossible to read, but you’d learned to tolerate him. In his own prickly way, he seemed to tolerate you too.

Crosshair fell into step beside you, lowering his voice as you reached the ornate glass doors. “We’re here to meet Sabaz Trill. Dinner with him tonight, part of some couples’ mixer the resort is hosting. You smile, you nod, you make it look like we belong here.”

“And tomorrow?” you prompted as he maps out the plan again just for reassurance.

“That’s when we get the intel on the spice shipment,” he finished. “Clean, simple.”

You gave him a side glance. “With us? There’s always drama.”

He snorted faintly but didn’t argue. You reached for the buzzer beside the grand glass doors when Crosshair’s hand landed lightly on your upper arm.

“Wait.”

You froze mid-reach and turned your head toward him, irritation slipping into your voice. “What now? The sooner we do this, the sooner it’s over.”

His eyes flicked past you toward the courtyard. “We need to act like a couple,” he murmured, his tone low enough not to carry.

You frowned but then followed his gaze. Right. All around you, other guests strolled hand-in-hand or with arms linked, smiling like they were in a holonet romance. Every one of them screamed we’re in love and on vacation. You and Crosshair on the other hand…

You bit your lip and nodded. “Right. Okay. Uh…”

The pause dragged, the two of you standing stiff as statues. You could probably fake coupledom with someone like Wrecker which would probably be more easy and natural. But Crosshair? Tall, quiet, and perpetually unimpressed? It felt like trying to warm up to a wall.

“Should we hold hands?” he asked finally, rubbing the back of his neck and looking very uncomfortable.

You hesitated. “Uh… no.”

His gaze dropped, not offended exactly, but definitely unreadable.

Guilt gnaws you, so you quickly held out your travel bag instead. “You could carry my bag for me, though?” Your smile was a little sheepish, a silent peace offering.

One dark brow arched at you, but then his mouth curved into the faintest smirk. “Fine.”

He took the strap from your shoulder in one smooth motion, slinging it over his own like it weighed nothing. Somehow, that small shift of just him holding your belongings made the whole act feel just a little more real.

“Better?” he asked, the corner of his mouth still twitching upward.

“Better,” you admitted, trying not to overthink why his smirk made your stomach swirl.

You both walked up to the reception desk, where a young, overly-joyous man practically beamed at you like the sun itself had possessed his face.

You tried to match his enthusiasm with a polite smile. Crosshair, of course, did not. His expression screamed I hate every second of this before the poor man had even spoken.

“Hello, and welcome to Under the Hearts Hotel! How can I help you?” the receptionist chimed.

“Hi,” you begin, doing your best impression of a cheerful tourist. “We have a room and meal booked for tonight?”

“Perfect! What name is it under?”

You froze. Right. The names. No one had told you what cover identities you were supposed to use.

For a heartbeat too long, your brain went completely blank. Then, mercifully, Crosshair leaned in ever so slightly: “Eres.”

You let out the tiniest breath of relief, glancing at him with a quick, grateful nod. He didn’t acknowledge it, eyes fixed on the desk clerk like he was ready to shoot the man for smiling too much.

The receptionist’s fingers tapped away at the monitor, his grin never faltering. Honestly, you were starting to wonder if it was painted on. Then he looked back up, eyes positively sparkling.

“Ah yes, here we are! The honeymoon suite — booked and ready for you! Rose petals on the bed and champagne on ice.”

Your mouth opened. Nothing came out.

You turned slowly to Crosshair, who looked equally frozen. Neither of you had been prepared for that particular detail.

The receptionist chuckled lightly at your strained expressions. “Oh dear, trouble in paradise already?”

Crosshair’s brow furrowed instantly. “Is that any of your business?”

“Cross!” you hissed under your breath, snapping out of your horror long enough to act. Quickly, you slid your arm through his and plastered on a sweet smile, tightening your grip on him — not a reassurance, but a don’t you dare warning.

“Sorry about him,” you said brightly, practically grinding your teeth through the smile. “We’ve… well, we’ve been traveling a long way to get here. Just need to put our feet up for a bit. Don’t we, my love?”

Your grip on his arm tightened enough to make the point.

Crosshair closed his eyes, jaw tight, then forced the stiffest excuse for a smile you’d ever seen. “Yes. Sorry. Long day.”

“Of course, of course,” the receptionist chirped, undeterred. He slid the room fob across the counter, still smiling that terrifyingly wide grin. “No worries at all. Our jacuzzi baths will wash that stress away in no time!”

You snatched up the fob like it was a lifeline. “Wonderful, thank you,” you utter quickly, already tugging Crosshair by the arm toward the lifts before he could open his mouth again.

Once you were safely out of earshot, you released him with an annoyed huff, spinning to face him. “So much for acting like a couple, Cross.”

He arched an eyebrow at you, unimpressed. “What? He asked, I answered.”

You threw your hands up at his lack of care. “Fantastic. Just fantastic. At this rate, they’ll kick us out before we even make it to dinner. Great job, husband.”

He smirked then, sharp and smug, clearly enjoying himself now that you were wound up. “Relax, sweetheart. Nobody’s buying the ‘happy couple’ act if you keep hissing at me like that.”

“Oh, don’t you start—” you groaned, stomping into the lift as soon as the doors slid open.

It’s not long until you get to the suite and as the key fob beeped and the door slid open with a smooth hiss, you both stepped inside and instantly froze.

The room looked like something straight out of a holovid romance: soft golden lighting, a massive circular bed in the center draped with pristine white sheets, rose petals scattered across the duvet, and a bucket of champagne on ice by the bedside table.

You blinked once. Twice. “...kriff,” you muttered under your breath.

Crosshair didn’t say anything, but you felt the shift beside you. His usual scowl faltered into something halfway between disbelief and annoyance. He let out the faintest exhale, almost like a laugh, before muttering dryly: “Subtle.”

Your eyes landed on the bed again, and your brain screeched to a halt. One bed. Of course it was one bed. It was the honeymoon suite. But at least there was a loveseat just at the end of it.

You didn’t point it out. Neither did he. The both of you just stood there, staring at the sheer lavishness of it all, like maybe if you ignored the obvious, it’d disappear.

You tugged at the collar of your shirt, suddenly aware of how warm the room felt. Or maybe that was just you. The whole setup—the petals, the champagne, the bed that looked entirely too inviting—was making your skin tinge in the worst possible way. Heat crawled up your neck, and you quickly turned toward the bathroom.

“Maybe I’ll, uh… check out the shower,” you said quickly, voice a little higher than intended. “Y’know. Before the dinner.”

Crosshair quirked an eyebrow at you, as if he could hear the nerves bleeding through your tone. He glanced toward the large jacuzzi tub visible just through the bathroom’s frosted glass door and gave a faint snort.

“Not good enough for the roses and bubbles?”

You shot him a look over your shoulder. “I’m thinking cold shower.”

The shower hissed to life, steam curling around the refresher stall as you stepped in. The hot water poured down your shoulders, washing away the travel grime and some of your stress. Eyes closed, you let out a soft sigh and tilted your head back.

But as the room filled with steam, another thought nudged its way in, uninvited. You hadn’t locked the door. Crosshair could come in at any moment. And for some reason… the idea didn’t repulse you.

It intrigued you.

Your pulse spiked at the thought of him stepping through the fog, his sharp eyes narrowing as they trailed over you, water dripping down your skin, steam sticking hair to your face. Would he hesitate? Or would he… join you?

You caught yourself sucking in a breath and immediately bow your head under the spray. “Get a grip,” you hissed at yourself, flicking water from your lashes. Maker above, what was wrong with you? Crosshair wasn’t someone you ever saw in that light. He was moody, sarcastic, aloof. Hardly your first thought for a lover. And yet… now, in this ridiculous hotel room, with only one bed and all the pretending you’d have to do…

No. Stop.

With a sharp twist, you turned the dial colder. The shock of icy water stung your skin, snapping you out of the fantasy as you scrubbed your face. By the time you shut the refresher off, the steamy images were shoved firmly to the back of your mind.

You dried quickly, wrapping yourself in one of the plush white robes—ridiculously soft, of course, because this was that kind of place—and wrung a towel through your damp hair.

When you stepped back into the room, Crosshair was leaning against the balcony railing. His posture was casual, but his eyes were distant, scanning the horizon like he always did. Always watching. Always wary.

“Like the view?” you asked, attempting something lighthearted as you rubbed at your hair.

For a moment, he didn’t move. Then he turned his head toward you and stilled.

Not long. Barely a heartbeat. But you caught it: the way his gaze flicked over you in that robe, the way his jaw tensed. It was gone almost immediately, his expression flattening back into its usual disinterest.

“It’s alright,” he muttered, eyes snapping back to the balcony. His voice was just a touch lower, rougher. “We’ll be safe here tonight.”

“I should hope so, if the client booked us,” you chuckled, padding over to the bed and perching on the edge. The mattress dipped under you, petals shifting with a faint rustle. It was ridiculously comfortable.

You tilted your head at him. “But I bet you brought your sniper anyway. Didn’t you?”

Crosshair’s lips twitched at the corner smugly as he moved back inside. Without a word, he crouched by his pack and unzipped it, pulling out the long, gleaming rifle like it was an extension of himself.

You let out a short laugh. “Figures. Romantic suite, rose petals, champagne… and you’re cuddling your blaster.”

He glanced up at you with that smirk which again made your stomach swirl. “At least it doesn’t snore.”

You scoffed, tossing the towel at him. He caught it one-handed, but instead of throwing it back, he just set it aside, unbothered. Somehow, that smug little win of his only made your chest feel hotter.

Crosshair disappeared into the refresher with a muttered, “Don’t touch my rifle,” which gave you just enough time to get yourself sorted.

The dress slipped smoothly over your skin, the fabric hugging in all the right places without being too much. Knee-length, off the shoulder—simple, elegant, and just enough to look like you belonged in a place like this. You dried your hair, styled it with a little extra care (because Maker forbid you look out of place next to a table of polished couples), and added a touch of makeup for good measure.

You’d barely finished adjusting the hem of your dress when Crosshair reappeared. His damp silver hair had been combed back neatly, and he’d traded his blacks for a crisp white shirt and fitted black slacks. And for a second, you forgot yourself.

He stood at the mirror, tugging at his collar and you just couldn’t stop your gaze from dragging over him. Simple, understated, but undeniably… handsome. You swallowed the thought down and busied yourself with your earrings, pretending you weren’t staring.

Neither of you said much as you left the suite. The quiet stretched between you as you moved through the elegant halls; both of you so out of place with the expensive décor. Crosshair walked with his hands tucked behind his back, eyes flicking here and there, ever alert.

Then, almost without thinking, your arm slipped through his. The movement was instinctive and you found yourself leaning closer, your shoulder brushing against his as if it had always been that way. He stiffened for a moment, but he didn’t pull away.

By the time you reached the dining hall, it was already in motion. A long, polished table stretched across the room, covered in glittering glassware and plates that looked far too pristine to ever eat from. Couples mingled and chatted with easy smiles. You had expected Sabaz Trill. You hadn’t expected all of this.

Crosshair leaned down, his voice low in your ear. “Didn’t realise we’d be dining with the whole kriffing hotel tonight.”

You gave his arm the faintest squeeze. “Smile and nod. Let me do the talking.”

He shot you a look, dry as bone. “Wasn’t planning on anything else.”

Together, you approached the table, sliding into your seats that were the only ones available. The schmoozing began almost instantly. Other couples introduce themselves, complimenting your dress and asking about “your story.” You smiled, laughed, told little fabrications as if you’d been rehearsing them for years. Crosshair played his part the only way he knew how: quiet nods, forced polite smiles. If you're lucky, he will push out the occasional one-word reply.

Then Sabaz Trill himself turned his gaze on you.

“Ah, there she is,” he said smoothly, his voice carrying over the chatter. “My dear, you look radiant tonight.”

Before you could reply, he lifted a bottle and poured wine into your glass—only yours.

The crimson liquid swirled in the crystal, catching the candlelight as you blinked at him, a polite smile plastered onto your face. Crosshair’s hand tightened almost imperceptibly on his napkin, but his expression didn’t change.

You raised the glass lightly in thanks, meeting Sabaz’s eyes with the same warmth you’d given everyone else. “You’re too kind. I should be careful though,” you added with a playful lilt. “A few more of these, and I might embarrass myself in front of the table.”

The other couples chuckled politely. Sabaz didn’t. He only smirked, his gaze lingering on you just a beat too long before shifting back to his plate.

Crosshair’s jaw ticked. You felt it more than saw it.

You smiled at Crosshair, soft and sweet and the way a woman in love ought to. But his eyes were elsewhere, distant. It made your chest pinch a little.

Slipping your hand beneath the table, you let your fingers brush his knee before resting there with the lightest pressure. It startled him just slightly, meeting your gaze.

“Are you okay, my stars?” you murmured.

The words left your lips in the same careful tone you’d used all night but this time, it didn’t sound like part of the act. Not to him, anyway. For the briefest moment, his chest tightened.

“Fine,” he answered steadily. “Just taking it in.”

You didn’t believe him, not entirely, but you didn’t press. Before you could, the couple seated across from you smiled warmly, drawing you into conversation.

“So,” the woman leaned forward, “How did you two meet?”

You let out a little laugh, your hand still ghosting Crosshair’s knee as you launched into the story you’d rehearsed.

“Oh, it’s hardly romantic,” you said, feigning modesty. “We met when I was visiting Coruscant for work. I was lost and asked him for directions. He was polite, but very blunt. I thought he was the rudest man I’d ever met.”

The table chuckled, and you reached for Crosshair’s hand on the table, lacing your fingers through his.

“But,” you continued, glancing at him with that same staged fondness, “I ran into him again two days later at a café. He bought me a caf to make up for being so… well, him. And we’ve been together ever since.”

The woman sighed, clearly enamoured. “That’s wonderful. Fate has a way of working, doesn’t it?”

Her husband, however, leaned back in his chair with a smirk. “And have you given him any children yet?”

The question caught you so off guard you awkwardly laughed aloud, shaking your head quickly. “No… not yet. We only recently got married.”

“Well,” the man chuckled, lifting his glass, “give it time, eh? And I assume you don’t have to work, not with a husband like that. He looks like the type who brings home the credits while you get to lounge about. Lucky thing.”

Your jaw ticked, but you forced your expression into one of pleasant neutrality. Beside you, Crosshair set down his knife with deliberate care.

“I don’t know about luck,” he begins, his voice calm but carrying an edge sharp enough to slice the air. “She does more than her share. I’d be nowhere without her.”

The man faltered, clearly not expecting such a clean rebuttal. Crosshair didn’t flinch or waver, just leaned back with the ghost of a smirk tugging his lips.

“I’d suggest you don’t underestimate her,” he added smoothly, raising his fork to his mouth. “Wouldn’t want to embarrass yourself.”

The table chuckled again, but this time the sound was thinner, laced with unease. You, meanwhile, found yourself fighting a different reaction entirely. The sudden, overwhelming urge to drag him back upstairs and–

Okay, stop.

Leaning in, close enough that your lips just barely brushed the shell of his ear, you whispered, “Thank you for that.”

Crosshair didn’t so much as twitch, though you felt the faintest tilt of his head toward you, like he was subtly indulging the warmth of your breath. “No need. I’m just saying the truth.”

Your chest gave an odd little pull at that, but you covered it with another soft smile as you sat back, reaching for your knife and fork to focus on the meal placed before you. You ate in silence for a few minutes, letting the rich flavours distract you, until Sabaz’s voice broke through the murmur of the table.

He leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice. “Tomorrow,” he said, “we can speak of… private matters. No need for heavy words tonight. But I trust you understand what I mean.”

His words were subtle enough not to draw suspicion, but clear enough for you to understand. You inclined your head smoothly, lifting the delicate glass of wine to your lips.

“Of course,” you replied. “Tomorrow.”

Sabaz’s eyes glinted as he watched you drink. “And? How does it taste?”

You couldn’t hide the small hum of approval as the flavour lingered on your tongue. “It’s… honestly the nicest wine I’ve ever had.”

His mouth curved, amused. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Turning, you nudged your glass toward Crosshair. “Want some?”

He shook his head without hesitation. “Not my thing.”

Sabaz’s chuckle was low, a little too warm. “A shame. It suits her, don’t you think? Expensive tastes…”

You thought nothing of it, brushing off the remark as idle banter, but Crosshair’s jaw twitched almost imperceptibly. Sabaz was clearly referring to himself and as the meal stretched on,

Sabaz’s comments came in trickles. Harmless, on the surface. But Crosshair’s eyes tracked every word and every look.

Finally, after one particularly lingering comment about how “gorgeous” you looked in the candlelight, Crosshair snapped.

“Tell me,” he drawled, tone calm but carrying steel. “Do you flirt with all the women who are married, or just mine?”

The words silenced the table around you. You turned wide-eyed at him, stunned, your knife clinking faintly against your plate.

Sabaz chuckled, leaning back with the relaxed confidence of a man who already knew more than he should. “Married, are you? Mmm. Perhaps you’d give her more attention.”

Your eyes drop to your half-eaten grub, finding it hard to breathe all of a sudden. You can’t have tonight screw up over some… some… jealousy? Was he?

Crosshair, however, didn’t flinch at his words. He leaned back as well, long fingers drumming idly against the table, his gaze cutting through the man opposite him.

“She has all the attention she needs,” he responds coolly, voice like a blade sliding free of its sheath. “From me.”

The way he said it was utterly possessive and you can’t help but feel the heat curling low in your stomach.

Sabaz only chuckled again, raising his glass in mock salute before turning the conversation back to lighter topics. But you could feel it—the tension buzzing under your skin.

You left the dining hall together a little later on, the heavy atmosphere of the meal clinging like smoke. Another couple joined you in the lift, chatty and smiling, and you forced yourself to match their tone, your hand looped neatly through Crosshair’s arm. But the second the lift doors slid shut after the couple exited on their floor, your hand dropped from his arm like it burned.

The silence stretched for a beat before you sighed and pinched the bridge of your nose. “Want to tell me what that was about?”

Crosshair didn’t look at you, his gaze fixed straight ahead on the lift’s closed doors. His voice was calm, as if nothing had happened. “What’s the issue? We’re still meeting him tomorrow.”

“Yeah,” you huffed, sharp and low. “Thanks to me. Because I had to apologise to him after the meal for the way you acted.”

Crosshair’s eyes flicked to you then, narrow and unimpressed. “The way I acted? You didn’t notice him? The way he kept looking at you? Talking to you?” His lip curled faintly. “I didn’t like it.”

Your jaw tightened, heat pricking the back of your neck. “You didn’t like it? We’re not actually married, Crosshair.”

The silence that followed was thick, humming with all the unsaid things between you. Crosshair’s expression barely shifted, but his shoulders set, rigid under the crisp fabric of his shirt.

The lift pinged. Doors opened. Neither of you moved at first, locked in that silence. Then you both stepped out, footsteps echoing too loud against the plush carpet of the corridor.

When you got back to the suite, you didn’t even glance his way as you made a beeline for your travel bag, pulling out the little bundle of satin nightwear you’d tucked away earlier. Without a word, you slipped into the bathroom and shut the door behind you with a soft click.

You perched on the edge of the jacuzzi bath, hands braced on your knees, and just breathed. Maker, tonight has been… a mess.

Crosshair had been jealous, there was no other word for it.

And yet… stars above, you’d never found him more attractive than when he’d calmly cut down that other man’s sleazy sexist little jabs at dinner.

It made your thoughts twist in knots. Jealous Crosshair was frustrating. Protective Crosshair was devastatingly sexy.

You rolled your eyes at yourself, muttering something under your breath that this whole place felt like a huge aphrodisiac. Soon you stripped out of the dress, letting it pool on the tiled floor. The satin nightwear slipped over your skin with a soft sigh, the fabric clinging in all the right places. The colour brought out the warmth in your skin, and though you weren’t dressing for anyone’s eyes but your own, you couldn’t help but imagine what Crosshair might think if he saw—

You stopped that train of thought before it could wind you up further.

A splash of cold water on your face dulled the day’s makeup, you tied your hair up, loosening the strands around your face, and studied your reflection for only a heartbeat before flicking the light off and stepping back into the suite.

Crosshair was sitting on the edge of the bed, elbows resting on his knees, still fully dressed and deep in thought.

“Do you want some caf?” you asked quietly after a moment, nodding toward the sleek caf machine gleaming on the dressing table.

He shook his head, then looked at you. The sight of your satin nightwear hit him like a blow, pupils dilating before he could stop it. His throat bobbed with the faintest swallow as he cursed himself silently and dragged his gaze away.

“You should get some sleep,” he muttered, voice low.

You tilted your head. “I could say the same thing about you.”

Your bare feet padded across the carpet, rose petals soft beneath your toes and you stood directly in front of him. He looked up, sharp eyes catching yours for a charged moment before closing them.

Crosshair pushed himself to his feet. “I’ll take watch.”

You frowned, confusion flickering. “Crosshair, the door is locked. We’re safe here.”

He didn’t meet your eyes, just reached for his rifle and moved toward the small loveseat at the foot of the bed. “You can never be too sure.” He gestured at the bed with a tilt of his chin. “Get some rest.”

There was so much more you wanted to say, but you swallowed it down. No good would come of pressing him tonight. Not when everything already felt odd.

So you slid into the left side of the bed instead, sinking into the impossibly soft mattress. The sheets smelled faintly of lavender and something warm and expensive. You didn’t even bother to remove the rose petals.

The lamp across the room threw a faint amber glow over Crosshair where he sat, long legs stretched out, rifle propped against his thigh. A sentinel in the half-dark, sharp eyes fixed on some distant threat only he could see.

Your body melted into the mattress, the exhaustion of the evening tugging at you like a tide. You watched him for as long as your heavy eyelids would allow, the image of him—silent, watchful, stubborn—burning behind your eyes until sleep finally dragged you under.

You stirred, rolling onto your other side with a groggy sigh, only to find the chair opposite the bed still occupied. Crosshair sat there like a shadow carved into the half-light, rifle propped against the armrest, a toothpick twiddling absently between long fingers.

Your eyes flicked to the chrono on the wall. Only two hours had passed.

Chewing the inside of your cheek, you tilted your head as you sat up and whispered, just loud enough for him to hear, “Cross… come get some sleep.”

His eyes lifted, shadows and conflict tangled in his gaze. He shook his head once. “No… I can’t.”

You frowned softly, leaning forward. “Why not?”

The sound he made was halfway between a scoff and a tut, quiet but sharp. His jaw flexed. “I can’t sleep in the same bed as you. It’s…”

Your brows arched. “It’s what?” You pulled the duvet back and shifted onto your knees. The simple movement snagged his attention; his sharp gaze lingered, “It’s just me.”

Crosshair drew in a long breath through his nose, pressing the heel of his hand over his eyes as if that might ground him. “I don’t want to bother you,” he muttered, voice rough. “I’ve already done that enough tonight.”

For a moment, you said nothing. Then slowly, you crawled toward the foot of the bed, knees sinking into the mattress until you sat back on your heels, steadying yourself.

Your hand extended, palm open, reaching across the small distance between you. “Come to bed.”

His amber eyes locked onto you. He watched you as though weighing a hard decision, gaze running over your face, your hand and the space you’d made for him.

“We need to act like a couple, right?” You prompt and that’s when he finally, with the faintest exhale he flicked the toothpick into the bin and rose to his feet.

He crossed the few steps to the bed in silence. He stopped just before you, the mattress dipping faintly under your shift forward.

Your lips parted, breath caught, as you tipped your chin up to look at him. He loomed above, gaze tilted down, unreadable except for the faint storm flickering beneath.

You straightened, sitting taller on your knees, and without hesitation placed both hands flat against his chest. The warmth beneath the fabric hit you instantly, as did the hammer of his heart pounding against his ribcage. It made a small smile tug at your lips, your eyes softening as you whispered, “You can’t sleep in this shirt…”

His breath caught with an imperceptible hitch.

Your fingers curled into the fabric at his chest, tugging gently. He hesitated, but only for a moment, before his arms moved, allowing you to peel the white shirt away from him. Inch by inch, the fabric slid over his shoulders, revealing lean muscle and skin mapped with faint scars.

Your eyes went wide, breath catching as you pushed the shirt down his arms and let it fall to the floor. A sound, no, an almost moan, threatened to escape you, but you swallowed it back. Still, your hands had a will of their own and began trailing slowly up and down his torso.

You felt the hard ridges of his stomach, the steady rhythm of his breathing. His reaction was immediate, his eyes fluttering shut as his jaw tightened. The bottom lip caught between his teeth betrayed what he was trying to suppress.

The sight made a heat coil low in your stomach, your own breath turning shallow.

Your gaze drifted lower, tracing the line of his abdomen until it landed on the waistband of his black slacks. He seemed to sense the shift in your attention, because his voice came low, rough, like gravel dragged over velvet.

“Do you want them off, too?”

The rasp sent a shiver racing down your spine.

You blinked, meeting his eyes again, a laugh slipping from your throat, “If it will make you comfortable… yes.”

The corner of his mouth twitched into a faint smirk, but his gaze burned steady on you as he reached for the latch of his trousers.

You swallowed hard, watching as his long fingers hooked into the waistband of his trousers and pushed them down. The sound of the fabric sliding over his legs seemed louder than it should’ve been. When they hit the floor, he straightened, standing there in nothing but his briefs with hs hand not-so-subtly shielding the hard outline straining beneath the thin fabric.

A hot pulse bloomed deep inside you, your arousal pooling between your thighs as your breath caught. You broke your gaze away, feigning innocence, though the ache in your chest gave you away. “See? Is that better?”

Crosshair’s eyes dragged over you with open hunger, the sharp angles of his face softened by the shadow of want. “Much…” he breathed, like it was the only word he could find.

Your pulse stumbled, your eyes drawn back down before you could stop yourself. His hand shifted just slightly, enough that you caught the movement of the deliberate, slow palm against himself. Your heart stalled, then thundered.

You licked your lips, your voice almost breaking into a whisper as you shifted back. “Like what you see?”

“Do you?”

Your head tilted, eyes half-lidded as your fingers danced at the band of your satin shorts, teasing without quite committing. “I do,” you murmured, letting your body arch ever so slightly, the pose dripping with invitation as you leaned back on your hands. “Now tell me, do you… husband?”

His eyes narrowed, studying every subtle shift of your body. His jaw worked, and then he gave the smallest of nods, voice rough and quiet. “A lot.”

The words sent your skin prickling with awareness. Your hand slid from the band of your shorts to your thigh, fingertips tracing upward, grazing your skin softly as though demonstrating exactly what his stare made you crave.

His eyes followed your movements, darkening as though he were fighting to keep control.

You raised a single finger, crooking it toward him. A wordless summon.

Crosshair’s gaze burned hotter, but he obeyed without hesitation. His long, lean frame shifted forward as he planted both hands on the mattress for the first time, the springs dipping beneath his weight as he prowled closer. When he reached you, he hovered over your body, his face so close you could feel the warm graze of his breath against your lips.

“What do you want?” he asked, low and rough, his voice scraping like gravel, like he already knew but needed to hear it from you. He dipped his head nearer, inhaling deeply, his nose brushing your temple as though memorising the scent of your skin.

Your lips parted, your tongue darting out to wet them, every nerve in your body trembling as you leaned in, close enough your mouth brushed his. Your voice broke into a heated whisper, “I want you to fuck me.”

The words detonated between you.

A sharp hiss of need left him and before you could second-guess yourself, his mouth was on yours, scorching and demanding.

His lips moved with bruising force, teeth catching your bottom lip as though he’d been starving for the taste of you. One hand slid from the bed to your waist, gripping and dragging your body flush against his until there wasn’t an inch of space left. You could feel every inch of his arousal pressed against your belly, hot and unyielding.

You gasped into his mouth, fingers tangling in his short hair that soon became unkempt as his tongue swept past your lips, claiming you with a hunger that made your head spin.

When he broke from your mouth, it was only to trail searing kisses along your jaw, down your throat. His breath was hot, uneven, his teeth scraping sensitive skin before his tongue soothed the sting. “You have no idea…” he rasped between kisses, “…how long I’ve wanted this.”

You blush intensely, arching your back into him, craving more of that heat, that weight. His hand dipped lower, spanning your hip, fingers digging into the satin of your shorts as though he could crush the fabric away.

Your lips brushed his again in a soft, fleeting kiss. You pulled back with a mischievous glint in your eyes that made Crosshair chase the contact immediately but you giggled and tilted away, planting a kiss instead against his cheek.

“Tch,” he mutters, but you only laughed again, moving lower. You kissed along the sharp cut of his jaw, slow and deliberate, feeling the subtle twitch of the muscle beneath your lips. He exhaled through his nose, trying to keep control, but you knew you had him wound tight.

Your mouth hovered at his ear, your words a sinful whisper. “You like fake dating me, then?” you teased, lips brushing the sensitive skin just beneath. “Is this how you’d treat me if I was yours?”

He groaned under his breath, his hands clenching against your hips as though debating whether to hold you still or let you drive him mad. His chest heaved against yours, hot and solid, and when you kissed lower down his throat, his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard.

And then, almost in the same breath, you were pulling at each other’s clothes, the tension too much to keep contained. His hands fumbled your satin vest before he pulled it over your head meanwhile you hooked your fingers into the waistband of his briefs, tugging impatiently. He then stripped you of your shorts as you shoved his last layer down.

When his lips crashed back onto yours, your words slipped out between ragged breaths, needy but daring: “It was sexy… watching you defend me at dinner.”

Crosshair froze for only a moment, pulling back just enough to smirk down at you. “Sexy, huh?” His voice was a rasp of sin. “Did it turn you on?”

You didn’t give him the satisfaction of a verbal answer. Instead, your hand slid boldly between your bodies, fingers wrapping around his rigid heat. The sound that left him was a low, primal and guttural groan that vibrated in his chest and into your palm. His head dropped against yours, lips parting as his eyes squeezed shut, every muscle in his body shuddering under your touch.

Your smirk was wicked as he whispered, “I’ll take that as a yes.”

Confidence blooming inside you, you gave him a little push that made Crosshair fall back into the mattress. His long body stretched out beneath you, skin lit faintly by the bedside glow.

You straddled him, your bare skin sliding against his as you pressed down into the lines of his chest and abdomen. Lower still, the thick weight of him rested against your thigh, hot and heavy. His eyes tracked you like a predator and yet… there was awe in them too, something reverent, almost disbelieving.

It made you ache.

“Cross…” you purred, dragging your palms down his chest, tracing the scars and sharp dips of muscle, before raking your nails ever so lightly across his stomach. He hissed, the muscles flexing beneath your touch, his fists knotting in the sheets.

“You’re beautiful,” you whispered, pressing a kiss to his chest before sliding lower.

Your hand wrapped boldly around him then—thick, hard and burning against your palm. His whole body jerked at the contact, a sound low in his throat. You gave him a slow, deliberate pump, feeling him twitch against your hand, and his breath hitched.

He bit his lip, sharp eyes flicking away as he tried to choke back the groan threatening to break free.

Now that wouldn’t do.

You leaned down, lips brushing against the swollen head of his cock as you looked up at him. “No,” you whispered, sultry and commanding. Your tongue flicked out, teasing a slow lick across his length, tasting the salt of him. His hips bucked despite himself. “Don’t hold back from me. I want to hear you, husband.”

That broke him. His marriage kink unable to be tamed any longer.

A guttural moan spilled free, raw and gravelly, vibrating through his chest as his head tipped back into the pillow. His long fingers shot into your hair, not forcing, but clutching like he needed to anchor himself.

“Fuck…” he rasped, eyes squeezing shut as you stroked him firmly, your tongue teasing at his tip. His voice dropped lower, almost desperate now. “You’re gonna kill me, sweetheart.”

You let your lips ghost over the head of his cock, just enough to make him twitch. His sharp inhale was music, the kind of sound that made your pussy ache. You opened your mouth slowly, letting him slide past your lips inch by inch, your tongue flattening against the underside to savour.

Crosshair’s body went rigid, another deep groan breaking from his chest before he managed to stifle it behind his teeth. His hand clenched tighter in your hair, the other curling into the sheets so hard the fabric threatened to tear.

“Stars…” he hissed, voice gravel rough. His eyes cracked open to watch you, his pupils blown wide, jaw tight as he fought for control. “You’re—.”

“Mhmm? A good cock-sucking wife?” You hummed around him, the vibration making his hips twitch up involuntarily before you slap his cock against your tongue.

He cursed again, raw and breathless, as you then sank lower, taking more of him into your throat with a languid patience. When you finally pulled back, strings of saliva connected your lips to him. You stroked him with your hand, pumping lazily as you licked your lips, gaze never leaving his.

“Sloppy enough for you, sniper?” you teased, your voice husky.

He swallowed hard, chest heaving. His eyes darted to your mouth, wet and swollen, then back to your gaze. “Fuck—don’t tease.”

You smirked and slid him back between your lips, this time messy, unrestrained. Your spit coated him as you bobbed your head, tongue working every sensitive ridge. The wet sounds filled the room were obscene and echoing.

And Crosshair lost the last of his composure.

His hips thrust up, shallow at first, testing your tolerance. When you moaned around him in approval, he swore viciously and gave in, driving himself into your mouth with snapping thrusts. His groans grew louder, unfiltered now of pure need.

“Fuck—sweetheart—you feel so—” His head tipped back, tendons straining in his neck as he lost himself in the wet heat of your throat. His grip on your hair was tight but not cruel, guiding the momentum. “Don’t stop… don’t you dare stop.”

Your eyes watered, spit dripping from your lips and chin as you let him use your mouth, the sight of his unraveling making you slick between your thighs.

The more he thrust into your mouth, the less control he had, his rhythm breaking into jagged, needy snaps of his hips. His jaw slackened, head tipped back and his voice dropped into a low, desperate growl.

“Stars—” his hand fisted your hair tighter, his thighs tensing under you, “I’m—fuck, I’m gonna—”

You hollowed your cheeks and moaned, and that did it. Crosshair groaned in pleasure as he spilled hot and thick into your mouth, the taste of him flooding your tongue. You swallowed around him greedily, gulping down every drop, your eyes fixed on him while his face contorted with the kind of pleasure he’d never let anyone else see.

When his hips finally stilled, his chest heaving, you pulled back slowly, breathless, lips shining. A stray strand of saliva clung to your chin as you licked him clean and swallowed the last of him with a shaky exhale.

Crosshair stared at you like you were a miracle. In a blur, he sat up and pulled you into him, his mouth crashing onto yours. The kiss was searing, teeth and tongue, his taste mingling with the faint salt still lingering on your tongue. His hands framed your face like he couldn’t get enough, like he was starved for you.

Then he was easing you down onto the bed, his body covering yours as he grabbed a pillow, slipping it beneath your head with an odd, almost tender care. His lips broke from yours only long enough to mutter against them, voice rough and hungry:

“My turn.”

His breath fanned hot over your lips before he started kissing lower—your throat, your collarbone, the swell of your breasts. His hands roamed as though he had to touch every inch of you, his mouth trailing fire down your body.

When he finally reached the edge of the bed, Crosshair settled between your thighs, his sharp gaze fixed on your glistening pussy like it was the only thing in the galaxy worth worshiping. His lips parted, his breath hitching audibly, and he muttered low—more to himself than you—

“Fuck… you’re perfect.”

Crosshair didn’t dive in straight away. He hovered, eyes locked on your pussy as though the sight alone could undo him. His lips curved into a lazy smirk, and he dragged two long fingers down your inner thigh, stopping just short of where you needed him most.

“Maker…” he murmured, “You don’t even know what you do to me, do you?”

Your breath hitched as he finally let his fingers ghost over your folds, feather-light, so teasing you nearly whimpered. He let them trail lower, then flicked—just the faintest tap against your clit. The jolt of sensation had your hips twitching and a broken whine slipping from your lips before you could swallow it back.

His smirk deepened. “There it is. Thought you were gonna keep all those sweet little sounds from me, hm?” Another tap, deliberate this time, making your thighs clench around him.

“Cross…” you gasped, tangling your hands into your hair in frustration as he refused to give you what you wanted.

“Patience, sweetheart,” he drawled, his breath ghosting hot over you as he leaned closer. “Gonna take my time with you.”

And then, instead of another flick, he pressed his lips to your pussy. Not a lick. Not a graze. A kiss—slow, tender, as if he were kissing your mouth. His nose brushed your clit as his lips molded against your folds, and your back arched helplessly.

“Oh, stars—” you whimpered, every nerve alight.

“Mmm,” he hummed against you, his lips moving in lazy, wet kisses over every inch of your cunt, the sound obscene and intimate all at once. Between each press of his mouth, he whispered filth in that low gravel of his:

“So soft…” kiss.

“So sweet…” kiss.

“Mine…” another kiss, deeper, his tongue teasing past his lips just enough to taste you.

Your thighs trembled around his shoulders as his hands held you steady, his kisses reverent and filthy all at once. The sensation was maddening, tender enough to make you shiver but edged with hunger that had your body straining for more.

When he finally let his tongue part your folds and give one long, deliberate lick, he groaned into you like he was the one unraveling. “Fuck, you taste better than I imagined.”

And then he was back to kissing, savouring and making you whimper and writhe with every press of his lips.

Your breath hitched when Crosshair finally gave in to what you’d been silently begging for. His lips parted and his tongue slid between your folds, slow at first and deliberate. He pushed deeper, tongue-fucking you with unhurried precision, dragging every needy whimper out of your chest.

Your fingers fisted the duvet, crushing a rose petal or two between them as your back arched off the bed. “Baby—” your voice broke, strangled, your thighs trembling against his shoulders.

He groaned low, the vibration making you gasp, before his tongue left you only to wrap his lips around your clit. He sucked once, hard enough to make you cry out, then let it go with a wet pop, smirking up at you with his mouth glistening.

“That’s it,” he cooed, voice soaked in lust. His grip shifted, long arms sliding under your thighs so he could pin your hips down, your body useless against his strength. “Such a good wife, taking it just like that.”

The filthy words made your pussy clench, heat flooding you in a new wave, and you let out something between a whimper and a moan. “Fuck…Crosshair…”

He chuckled against you, the bastard, and dragged his tongue back through your slit before sucking your clit again, longer this time. Your body jolted against his hold, toes curling, fingers grabbing fistfuls of bedding and petals alike.

“I’m so glad it’s you who volunteered,” you gasped, words spilling out broken, your thighs tightening around him. “So glad it’s—ah—fuck!”

His chuckle was muffled against your folds, his tongue relentless, before he pulled back just enough to mutter against your swollen pussy:

“The others wouldn’t treat you like this.” His teeth grazed your clit, playful, making you shudder. “They wouldn’t know how to worship you.”

Then his mouth sealed over you again, sucking hard, tongue teasing, his hands keeping you caged and helpless as he devoured you.

Crosshair pulled back again with that maddening pop of his lips leaving your clit, strings of spit shining between you. He didn’t go far though—just hovered, breath hot against your swollen flesh, and you swore the sound of him inhaling your scent was almost louder than your whimpers.

“Maker, look at you,” he murmured, thumb coming up to flick your clit once, twice—sharp little sparks that made your hips buck against his unrelenting grip. “All puffy and dripping for me. For your husband.”

“Cross—” you tried, but it came out as a broken moan, your thighs twitching around his shoulders.

“You like this, don’t you?” His tongue darted out, giving a light, taunting lap over your slit before moving away again. “Being spread out like this, my mouth on your sweet cunt, making a mess of my face.” He chuckled, low and dark, and flicked his thumb over your clit harder, making you cry out. “Bet you’d let me keep you here all night if I wanted.”

Your hands tangled in your own hair, pulling at the strands, desperate. “Please—” you gasped, voice shaking as your body jerked when he suddenly tapped your clit with his fingers, light but fast, like he was testing how far he could push you. “Fuck, please!”

He groaned, sounding almost feral, like your begging was better than any victory he’d ever had in battle. His teeth grazed you again, soft nips that made you jolt. “Not yet,” he rasped, giving your clit another sharp flick that made your whole body seize. “I want you begging properly first.”

You sobbed his name, hips fighting his hold as he alternated between sucking you into his mouth and pulling away with those obscene, wet pops that echoed in the quiet room. Each time he left you empty you wanted to scream, and each time he came back it was too much, your orgasm building like a storm he refused to let break.

“Tell me,” he drawled, lips brushing your clit, not giving you the pressure you craved. “Tell me you want to come for me. Tell me no one else could get you this way.”

Your head thrashed side to side against the pillows, sweat beading at your temple. “I—fuck—I want to come for you, Cross. Please. No one else—no one could—just please let me—”

He hummed in satisfaction, mouth closing over you again, sucking slow and deep while his fingers tapped in time with your racing pulse. “Good wife,” he muttered against your soaked heat, “that’s my girl…”

Your whole body tightened, teetering right on the edge, held hostage by his mouth.

Crosshair must have the way every muscle in your body went taut beneath his grasp. How your breath came in sharp little gasps like your lungs couldn’t keep up. He groaned into your cunt, and then mercifully gave you what you’d been begging for.

His mouth sealed over your clit, sucking hard and steady, tongue flicking in relentless little strokes that pushed you right past the edge. His grip on your thighs tightened, locking you down as your body jolted violently against him.

The orgasm ripped through you like fire, so sharp it almost hurt, and you cried out his name in an almost a sob as you broke apart as your vision blurred.

Crosshair didn’t stop. He groaned against you, drinking every drop of you down, his lips and chin slick as he worked you through it. “That’s it,” he rasped between licks, voice ruined but steady. “Good girl. Come on, give it to me. Give it all to me.”

You were shaking, trembling uncontrollably under his hold, pleasure crashing in waves so strong it left you breathless. He eased the pressure only when you began to whimper from overstimulation, his kisses softer now, soothing little laps that felt almost adoring against your swollen clit.

When he finally pulled back, his lips and chin glistened and he tenderly kissed the inside of your thigh before crawling up the bed. His body caged yours in, the hard weight of his cock pressing heavy against your hip as he gathered you into his arms.

You were still gasping, chest heaving, tears pricking your eyes from the intensity of it all. He brushed damp hair away from your face with surprising gentleness, thumb swiping at the sweat along your temple.

“Good girl,” he whispered again, voice gravelly, leaning down to press a kiss to your lips. “You did so well cyare.”

You hummed weakly against his mouth, lazy and sated but achingly aware of the thick length pressed against you. He groaned as your thigh shifted, brushing it on purpose, and his hips twitched forward helplessly.

“Fuck,” he muttered, forehead pressed to yours, his cock throbbing now and resting against your stomach.

He kissed you slowly as though you hadn’t just come undone screaming his name minutes before. His tongue brushed yours, unhurried, while his hand slid down your hip, anchoring you. “More,” you moan beautifully into his mouth, “I want more.”

When he shifted, rolling halfway onto his side beside you, you felt the slick head of him glide down against your folds. You gasped, shuddering at the sudden jolt of sensation as your pussy was still swollen and tender from his mouth. He didn’t push in, though. Just stroked his length along your soaked slit, letting the tip bump your clit in maddening, teasing drags.

Your hips did a desperate little roll that had his lips curve into that infuriating smirk. “Still sensitive, huh?” he rasped, the gravel in his voice betraying just how tightly he was holding back. You tried to answer, but all that left you was a breathy whimper as he dragged himself down and back up again, coating his cock in your wetness.

“Look at you,” he murmured, gaze locked to your face as his hand tilted your thigh open wider. His tip nudged right at your entrance, circling but not pushing in yet. “So fucking ready for me.”

He then lowered his head, lips kissing your shoulder so tenderly that your heart melts. You caught his eyes when he finally lifted his head. Neither of you spoke, but the air between you thrummed with silent consent, the kind that left no room for doubt.

His forehead brushed yours, lips hovering as he rasped low, “I’ll go slow.”

And then, slow but steady as he promised, he started to press forward. His breath stuttered the second his tip pushed inside, the blunt head parting you inch by inch.

Heat—wet and velvet-tight—closed around him, and Crosshair almost crumbled then and there, his body trembling faintly as he held himself back. “Ffff—” He bit off a curse, jaw tightening.

You whimpered softly, the initial stretch making your walls flutter around him. It wasn’t painful. Just thick and slow. A fullness that made you gasp. Your fingers clutched at his arm, nails grazing the skin as you whispered, “Cross…”—your voice shaky, needy, urging.

His cock twitched deep inside at the sound, his hips rolling forward another careful inch. “You alright?” he rasped, voice breaking low.

You gave a quick nod, looking down as his cock disappeared inside you with every slow movement.

He didn’t slam, didn’t shove. He inched forward, then drew halfway back, then pressed in again with a rhythm of patience. The drag of him pulled a breathless moan from your throat.

“Breathe,” he muttered, his lips brushing your temple as if grounding you as much as himself. He let you cling, let you adjust, every tiny movement deliberate. “I’ve got you, mesh’la.”

The way he said it made your heart lurch, like it wasn’t just about sex…like he meant all of it.

And when you finally tilted your hips, just slightly, letting him know you were ready for more, his control frayed. He sank in deeper, a low moan slipping out of his throat at the way your body welcomed him.

Crosshair bent close, lips brushing over the shell of your ear as he murmured, voice roughened with memory, “When you called me ‘your stars’ back at that meal…” His hips pressed deeper, making your body jolt against the mattress. “…Maker, I wanted you then and there. Didn’t care who was watching.”

Your mouth fell open, breath catching, a whimper spilling out with the way his words wrapped around you as intimately as his body did. You tilted your head back, enough to find his lips. The kiss was soft, slow, your tongues brushing as his cock slid out and then back in with a steady glide.

Each thrust melted into the next, your body clenching around him instinctively as you clung into his chest. His groan rumbled against your mouth, and when he broke away, his forehead pressed to yours. “Feels so good like this. You, wrapped around me, taking me slow.”

The pace wasn’t frantic. It wasn’t about release. It was about every inch of him inside you, every shiver of your body responding, every sigh and moan you gave him like it was for him alone.

He kissed you again, even more gentler this time, lips brushing yours in little whispers of touch before pulling back to watch your face twist in pleasure as he filled you over and over.

His rhythm stuttered for a moment, pulling all the way out of you with a slick, obscene sound that made your body twitch in protest. The sudden emptiness tore a desperate whine from your throat, your hands clutching at the sheets.

“Shh,” he rasped, voice dripping with smug satisfaction. “Already needy, aren’t you?”

Before you could form a reply, he shifted up, long fingers curling under your thighs. In one smooth move he lifted your legs and hooked them over his shoulders, folding you open for him as he sat on his knees. You gasped at the change and at how vulnerable it made you feel… owned.

And you fucking loved it.

Crosshair smirked, eyes gleaming as he angled himself, the fat head of his cock nudging back against your soaked entrance. “Yeah,” he murmured, dragging it through your folds, coating himself in you. “That’s it. This is where you want me, isn’t it?”

You nodded helplessly, breathless. “Yes—fuck, yes, Cross—”

He slid back inside with a single, deliberate thrust that made your vision spark, filling you to the hilt. A strangled moan tore from your throat, your back arching against the bed. He groaned deep in his chest, bending forward so your calves squeezed tighter against his neck. “Shit, you feel so good. So fucking tight. Like you were made to take me.”

The pace changed—no longer slow and sweet, but harder, sharper, his hips snapping against yours with wet, slapping sounds that echoed in the suite. Every thrust pushed you further up the bed, rose petals clinging to your damp skin.

Crosshair turned his head to the side, his lips brushing your calf before biting lightly, sending another shiver racing through you. “Look at you,” he muttered against your skin, voice dark and possessive. “Spread out for me. Letting me fuck you like you’re mine.”

Your nails clawed at the duvet, head tipping back as the words spilled out of you before you could stop them. “I am yours, Cross. No one else—just you.”

The admission made his hips slam harder, a ragged growl leaving him. His hands wrap around your legs, holding them tight to his body, keeping you pinned. “Say it again,” he demanded, amber eyes burning into you as he drove deeper, harder.

“I’m yours!” you cried out, voice shaking, tears stinging your lashes with the force of it. “All yours, Crosshair!”

He smirked, satisfaction dripping from every thrust as he fucked you rougher, his possessiveness unraveling in every movement. “Good wife,” he groaned, bending lower so your thighs framed his face, “my perfect fucking wife.”

He didn’t even pause to catch his breath, just gripped your hips and dragged you to the edge of the bed. With a swift, fluid motion, he flipped you onto your stomach, and you gasped at the sudden change of angle, the cool sheets against your bare skin.

“You like it when I take control, don’t you?” he rasped, one hand landing hard on your arse, sending a delicious shock through your body. You grinned, breath hitching, letting out a low laugh that was part pleasure, part defiance.

“You’re mine,” he whispered, sliding himself back inside you from behind.

Your legs instinctively spread wider as he pulled you closer, his hand tangling in your hair. He tugged sharply, bringing your head back so you bounced against his cock with each controlled thrust. “That’s it, bounce for me. Show me how good it feels, wife,” he growled, every word thick with control.

You cried out, loud and unrestrained, the bed creaking under the force of him driving into you. “Oh, Cross—yes! Harder! Please—don’t stop!”

He chuckled darkly, leaning over you so your cheek pressed into the sheets, his lips brushing the back of your neck. “Good girl,” he praised, hand slapping your arse again, rough and loving at the same time. “So fucking good for me. Look at you, taking me so well.”

Your chest heaved, legs trembling but you kept bouncing back, your body obedient and desperate, lips parted in a moan that didn’t care who could hear.

He angled himself just right, hitting deep and slow at first, then snapping his hips faster, letting you feel every inch. “Maker, you’re perfect,” he groaned, voice low and commanding. “So wet, so tight… all mine.”

You pressed your face further into the sheets, moaning around the muffled sounds, your body arching up instinctively. “Crosshair! Oh—yes! I’m yours! Always yours!”

He responded by tugging your hair harder, his cock driving into you with relentless force, hand roaming over your hips and arse, marking you with every movement, praising and claiming you at once.

You turned your head just enough to catch his burning eyes over your shoulder. Your lips curved into a wicked grin even as your body shuddered with every rough slam of his cock.

“Look at you,” you moaned, voice sharp and sultry, “losing yourself inside me. You can’t help it, can you? I’ve got you wrapped around my finger just as tight as I’ve got you wrapped inside me.”

His thrust faltered—just for a second—as if the words themselves had tripped him. His eyes narrowed, mouth falling open, but the sound that came out was a raw and pathetic whimper betraying how undone he really was.

“You love it,” you taunted, rolling your hips back against him with a delicious grind that had him growling through clenched teeth. “My good husband, falling apart because of me. Cockdrunk.”

“F-fuck—” he hissed, the word tearing out of him. His pace grew erratic, desperate, like he was chasing something he couldn’t hold back any longer.

Then suddenly he hauled you, panting and trembling, onto your back again. Your legs spread wide as he pressed himself flush against you, cock sliding right back into your soaked heat without hesitation.

The air punched from your lungs as he buried his face in your neck, breath hot and ragged, his weight pinning you down deliciously. Your nails raked down his back, dragging red marks into his skin while he drove into you with merciless force. The headboard slammed rhythmically into the wall with every thrust, each clap of wood-on-wall punctuated by your screams and sobs of pleasure.

“Yes—yes, Crosshair, please—” your voice broke, cracking under the relentless pace. Your body arched under him, sweat slick between you, every nerve ending aflame as his hips pounded into yours.

“Where—” he groaned into your throat, biting your skin like he needed to anchor himself, “where do you want it, baby? Tell me—fuck—where should I come?”

Your head snapped back, eyes wild, desperate tears clinging to your lashes. You clutched at his back, pulling him tighter, legs wrapping around his waist to lock him in place.

“Inside!” you cried, voice shaking, pleading. “Please, Cross, come inside me. I want it, I need it—fill me with your hot cum. P-please!”

He groans like a man possessed, hips snapping even harder, his control shredding as he buried himself deeper and deeper.

Crosshair’s movements became almost frantic, hips stuttering as he drove into you with a desperate rhythm. His hand slid down between your bodies, fingers landing squarely on your clit, rubbing with perfect pressure and speed, coaxing you closer and closer to your edge.

“Come for me, right now, right now,” he growled, his teeth grazing your neck as he slammed his cock into you. “I’m going to fill you up, good girl—come on my cock.”

Your body convulsed at his words, every nerve screaming as your climax hit with a white-hot force. You grabbed his face, forcing your lips to his, biting his lower lip as you panted hotly into his mouth, gasping, moaning and utterly undon. .

“Baby…” you whispered between ragged breaths, your fingers tangling in his hair as your body shuddered uncontrollably around him.

Crosshair’s groan deep as he tensed, shuddered, and finally spilled inside you. Warm and overwhelming. You felt him pulse inside you, his hips stuttering with each breathless thrust, as your own climax trembled out against his hand, still pressing your clit with maddening rhythm.

Even after he came, he stayed buried deep, hips rocking slightly, his chest pressing to yours, letting you feel every lingering pulse of him. He nuzzled against your neck.

Crosshair let out a low, almost inaudible sigh of relief, his forehead resting against yours as you melted into his side. His hand lingered soflty on your waist, fingers tracing lazy circles over your hip.

There was a small tension as you saw him look down where his hands had been on you. You use your finger to angle his face back to you and say reassuringly, “you didn’t hurt me.”

“I can’t believe we just did that,” you rasp, voice trembling slightly from exertion and lingering arousal.

He hesitated for a moment, the usually unshakable Crosshair sounding almost vulnerable. “Do… do you regret it?”

You cupped his jaw with one hand and silenced any doubt with a slow, deliberate kiss. And when you pulled back, your eyes softened.

“Definitely not, my stars,” you said fondly, voice carrying sincerity. His lips twitched, almost a smile, though he’d never admit it outright. Relief settled into his posture, the tension leaving his shoulders, and for the first time since the two of you had been tangled together, he seemed… at peace.

Your fingers brushed over his chest, tracing the rapid rise and fall of his breath. “You feel… amazing,” you whispered, pressing a soft kiss to the side of his neck, feeling the steady thrum of his pulse beneath your lips.

He let out a low hum, nudging you closer with his shoulder. “So do you,” he murmured, still holding you like he was afraid to let go.

The two of you lay there, sweaty, sticky, and utterly spent, yet somehow more connected than ever.

You do eventually shift, muscles sore but tingling from the aftermath of everything, and groan quietly as you attempt to tug your nightwear back over your body. Crosshair watches you with a glint in his eyes, “You look ridiculous like that,” he teases.

You shoot him a mock glare, though your cheeks betray the flush of heat and lingering pleasure. “Oh, and you don’t?” you retort, finally wriggling into your nightwear.

He hums, the sound rumbling in his chest. “Maybe not,” he admits, voice edged with amusement, “but I think we’ve earned a bit more… relaxation.”

Your brow quirks, intrigued. “Relaxation?”

Crosshair tilts his head, smirk growing. “The jacuzzi,” he says simply, climbing off the bed. “Warm water, bubbles… think you can handle that after an hour like this?”

You let out a breathy laugh, the soreness in your thighs reminding you just how much fun you’d had. “I think I could manage. Maybe,” you tease, still rolling your shoulders to loosen the tension.

He steps closer, eyes tracking your movements, and reaches for your hand. “Then come on,” he says, dragging you toward the bathroom. “Let’s make the next hour… just as enjoyable.”

You let him lead you to the jacuzzi once it’s filled, the scent of soap and warm water filling the room. And as you both sink into the bubbling warmth, the world outside ceases to exist.

Crosshair leans back, one arm draped across your shoulders, and you curl against him, feeling both soothed and mischievous as you ponder just how long you two could stay here.

Silence stretched comfortably between you. He shifted after a moment, reaching for a bar of soap resting at the edge. Without a word, he lathered it between his hands, then pressed his palms gently against your back, his fingers smoothing over sore muscles. He was careful as he washed down your arms, sliding his touch from your shoulders to your wrists. Every stroke was accompanied by a quiet kiss to the back of your head, your temple, the damp strands of your hair sticking to his lips.

“You’re spoiling me,” you teased softly.

“Good,” he muttered against your crown, fingertips tracing over your skin like he was memorising it.

A sly smile pulled at your lips. “You know, you enjoyed calling me your wife a little too much back there.”

You felt him stiffen almost imperceptibly, his hands faltering just for a second before resuming. “…You noticed.”

You turned your head, grinning up at him. “Hard not to. You sounded like you meant it.”

For a long moment, he said nothing, eyes fixed on the water, jaw tight. But then his shoulders relaxed, and he exhaled, lips brushing your temple once more. “…That’s because I did.” His voice was low, almost grudging, but the truth in it made your heart soar.

“Crosshair—”

“You’re… marriage material,” he cut in, avoiding your gaze as you tilt your head back, as though the words embarrassed him more than any of the filthy things he’d whispered between the sheets. His thumb traced circles absently on your shoulder. “Don’t ask me to say it twice.”

You blinked, stunned into silence for a moment before a soft laugh slipped free. The sound made him glance down, eyes narrowing like he regretted saying anything at all—until you leaned up and pressed your lips against his.

“Good thing I only need to hear it once,”

Tags & those who may appreciate: @littlefeatherr @Kaitou2417 @eyecandyeoz @Jesseeka @theroguesully @ladykatakuri @arctrooper69 @padawancat97 @staycalmandhugaclone @ko-neko-san @Echos-girlfriend @fiveshelmet @dangraccoon @plushymiku-blog @Pb-jellybeans @nunanuggets @sleepycreativewriter @erellenora @zippingstars87 @ezras-left-thumb @the-rain-on-kamino @tentakelspektakel @stellarbit @griffedeloup @Tech-Aficionado @grizabellasolo @Therealnekomari @tech-depression-inventory @Brynhildrmimi @Greaser-Wolf @kaminocasey @marvel-starwars-nerd @LadyTano420 @ladyzirkonia @thesith @raevulsix @Cw80831 @Knightprincess @crosshairlovebot @freesia-writes @littlemissmanga @imalovernotahater @sithstrings @whore4rex @Imperialclaw801 @Temple-Elder @lulalovez @Mysticalgalaxysalad @yunggoblin @photogirl894 @thora-sniper @skynikan @dreamie411

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OMG THIS IS SO GOOD!!!

the poseeeeeee the armourrrr my god

Commander Thunder Thighs adding some sparks to the Galaxy

(Remember this WIP? Holy kark I finished it)

AAAAAAAAAAAAH I had so much fun with this piece!! I did most of the art before my unplanned Tumblr/art break, but added the final touches today (thanks again @ghostymarni for your feedback <3)! I thought it would be fun to add this as a card to my RedBubble shop, but *imposter syndrome* so for now, please enjoy it digitally here (:

Taglist (read to join): @aknightreaderr @returnofthepineapple @sunshinesdaydream @xchainfreak @kotemf @thecoffeelorian @lycanwingbat @lezz-agna @dreamie411 @cryptidtheism @heidnspeak @earlgreyci @cyaretra @bulletproofskoll @alor-ika @feralferrule @maybe-some-words @imperialsprig @blaze-echo

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Hiii, are you still doing the clone OC sketches?

I have like so many OCs lol hard to choose, but I'd love to see Dell. He has shorter hair (not buzzcut, more like Dogma but with a normal hairline lol). And he has a face tattoo - it's a 4 small leaves on his cheekbone, starting from next to his ear and going in a horizontal line till right underneath his eye. (always pictured them like the leaves in heartstopper, that doodle style, but all black ink) He has a cool story - he and one of my Jedi OCs were the only survivors from Keeli's garrison on Ryloth, then Dell gets put in the 104th. He's a really sweet guy, always has a kind smile on his face.

I love your art style, it's really pretty <3

thank you !! eeeee sweet clones are my favourite

sorry I took so long to get around to this, I'll get back to responding to other sketch requests now ! still open for requests if anyone wants me to do a quick mock up like this :)

art tags (join here): @lonewolflupe @ghostymarni @cyaretra @returnofthepineapple @rex-meshla @liopleurodean @asgre @mae-lou-ron

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Fives for @returnofthepineapple <3

So apparently I returned to Tumblr just in time to join celebrating Piña Appreciation Week! And since I really felt like drawing Fives, I dedicate this to you, Piña! Maybe you recognise it, because it's a redraw of the Fives art I did for you for my Advent Event!

And I still very much agree with the words of appreciation I wrote back then for you. You're such a kind and supportive person, always first in line to shout your love for the clone content here on Tumblr, but also for all the clone x OC stuff. Thank you for being so welcoming here, and I hope to see you around here for a very long time <3

Also huge shoutout to @freesia-writes for the amazing idea <3

[dustmusings]

Oh wow hi you all sure really liked that Boba Fett, here’s some more sketches from the same page~🩸🌿

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Very quick Elwing and her lighthouse while I am at the seaside ♡

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...and she walks like a soldier !!!

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no offense to mr. and mrs. antilles but who the fuck looks at a baby and thinks “i’m gonna name it wedge”

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PADMÉ NABERRIE AMIDALA — Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)

Made for the event Where Is Padmé? hosted by @butchvaderkin 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 | 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤: 𝟏 𝟐 𝟑 𝟒

SOURCE 🔗 🌷 ⌔ 💌 ⌔ 🌷 | ☁️ ⌔ 🤍 ⌔ ☁️ | 🌷 ⌔ 💌 ⌔ 🌷

[dustmusings]

— Caethagos, my silmarillion OC

this is the most fully rendered piece I've done so far and I'm pretty proud of it tbh :) one day I'll get really good and he might even get some clothes as well (sorry man)

[dustmusings]

do you guys ever follow a writer and go: man I wish they'd write for [insert character name here]?

writers are you ever curious what kind of writing your readers would want to see more of from you?

Readers: Go on anonymous (or don't) and let writers know what characters / genres

"Hey! I thought it would be really cool if you wrote for [insert character / genre name here]"

Writers: reblog if you've ever been curious!