Bring Them Home (Sergeant Hunter x Reader)
Notes: SPOILERS FOR SEASON THREE EPISODE TWO: PATHS UNKNOWN. DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE SEASON THREE PREMIERE. Children, angsty Hunter
Edit: STUPID TUNGLR POSTED THIS WHEN I MEANT TO SAVE IT SO PSA-- If you read this before 10pm EST on Feb 27, this one-shot is officially completed so please reread it again and enjoy it in its full glory.
gif by @dreamswithghosts
It had been months since you'd seen Hunter, so of course you and Phee were there when the Marauder touched down in the Archium. Wrecker waved to you both as the ramp lowered, beckoning to someone inside the ship.
Hunter said they were bringing someone with them, but you didn't expect the cadets-- the children --to look so bewildered when they stepped off the ship.
"They're so young," Shep said softly, and you wondered how round and baby-faced they must have been when they left Kamino, the only home they'd ever known.
The three cadets lingered on the steps of the ramp, looking around in earnest while Wrecker waited patiently.
"It smells like Kamino," the tallest said as you approached.
"Mox, did you see the ocean? D'you think they'll let us go swimming?"
"You can do whatever you want here!" Wrecker laughed encouragingly. He gave you his classic thump on the shoulders, and you smiled. It was the happiest you'd seen him since they lost Tech and Omega.
"Hi," You introduced yourself to the cadets, "What're your names?"
"I'm Deke. This is Mox, and that's Stak." The shortest of them stepped forward, while his brothers watched you warily.
"And I'm Phee Genoa, liberator of ancient wonders," Phee smiled warmly at them all.
"Welcome to Pabu," Shep said, "I'm the mayor here. We have a warm bed and fresh food for all of you."
"Thanks," Mox, the tallest, said softly. His arms were crossed over his chest, and Stak's hands fidgeted at his side.
"Wrecker, why don't you and Phee show them the island? I reckon they're as hungry as you."
Wrecker chuckled softly and nodded towards the ship, catching your drift. He beckoned for the kids to follow him. They seemed to trust a clone more than other humans, but that was understandable.
"Have you boys ever heard of Skara Nol?" you heard Phee asking them.
"What's that?" Deke asked.
"It's a big mountain, filled with lots of puzzles!" Wrecker said, waving his arms to demonstrate.
At that point, you'd stepped aboard. The warmth of the sun dissipated as you were enveloped in the Marauder's dim lighting. Hunter sat at the navicomputer to your right, half asleep and blanketed by a hazy blue glow.
"Those boys aren't the only ones who could use a home-cooked meal, you know." You said, putting more weight into your steps so he wouldn't be surprised by your approach.
"I assume you've brought some, then?" He said.
You rolled your eyes and took the canteen of gumbo from your bag.
"Only when you step away from the computer. It won't do you any good to spill it all over Tech's equipment now."
Hunter sighed, and set another diagnostic to run through the files.
"We've got another lead," He said, turning away from the computer. Your heart fluttered at the note of hope in his voice.
"The Intel from the Durands was too old, the kids were all that's left of that lab, but we scraped some data from one of the data banks. We think it could tell us where Hemlock took Omega."
You handed him the spoon, and Hunter tried to eat politely, but it soon gave way to his hunger as he shoveled spoonfuls into his mouth without waiting to chew.
"Careful, you'll make yourself sick," You warned him, "You've been eating too many rations. I'll have to send you off with some real food this time."
Hunter looked up at you, and you used your thumb to wipe some sauce from his chin, but you couldn't quite meet his eyes.
"You could always come with us. How's your leg doing?"
The only reason you hadn't gone with Hunter and Wrecker when they set out to find Omega was because your femur was broken in the same railcar crash that took Tech. Phee had promised to look out for you and keep you from getting too bored while they scoured the galaxy. Despite your protests, you knew that in your injured state, you couldn't be much help at all.
So you made yourself useful in Pabu. You sewed clothes to replace those lost in the tsunami, you looked after children while their parents rebuilt, you made your family's old gumbo recipe for those who were too tired to cook at the end of the day.
Those like Hunter.
"What about the kids? Deke, Mox and...Stak?"
Hunter nodded, "Shep said there were some families on Pabu who could take care of them for now, he even offered to take two of them into his own house."
"Oh," You said softly, "That's kind of him."
Setting the empty canteen to the side, Hunter squeezed one of your hands as it hung at your side.
"Everything alright, cyare?"
"Oh!" After so long without him, you forgot how well he knew you.
"I just...I was hoping we could take them in, take care of them."
Hunter's eyes softened, and finally stood. "I'll admit I thought about it myself, but..."
"Not while Omega's still captured," You finished for him, dropping his hand and folding your arms.
Hunter's thumb brushed against your cheek, begging for you to look at him.
"You remember that night on Ord Mantell, right?" He asked.
You pouted, bottom lip jutting out, "We spent a lot of nights on Ord Mantell." Too many, to be precise.
"You know the one I'm talking about," He cupped your face in both hands, and you looked up at the dark circles beneath his eyes.
And you did know the night he mentioned. It was a full moon, so you could actually see the moon high above all the neons and smoke from the city. Hunter had made you a promise then and there, and you made one to him too. Nothing like marriage, but something like it.
Biting your lip, you reached up to run your thumb over his crows' feet. His eyes closed, blissfully relaxed beneath your touch. You knew how much he needed to find her. He could never forgive himself if anything happened to you, to Wrecker, or any of the cadets they'd just saved.
"I meant what I said that night," He whispered, eyes glistening as his forehead rested against yours, "We'll have our own family some day, something Kamino and the Empire won't ever be able to take from us. We just have to wait a bit longer."
You sniffled just a bit, and buried your face in his chest. You wrapped your arms around his torso, and when he wrapped his arms around you he leaned more of his body weight on you than he usually did. He felt frail, delicate even, like too much pressure in one place would snap him in half.
Hunter needed you, and you needed him.
"I'm coming with you," You whispered. He sighed with relief.
"Let's bring her home."
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