#fits idiots squad

[minteayoongimakesmewoozi]

de-aged idiots squad would be..... something

imagine if they all de-aged ten years. 6yo ayame, tanjirou and inosuke with 7yo zenitsu my beloveds

ayame and inosuke can and would fight anyone and everyone. tanjirou has to keep them in check. zenitsu has been crying for twelve hours straight.

not to mention. not to mention! ayame and tanjirou who aren't as close-knit as the rest of the kisatsutai are used to. tanyame might give off the vibes that they're childhood friends, but they're really more childhood acquaintances. tanjirou would still probably look out for ayame more than ayame looks out for him

also just imagine baby!ayame clinging to giyuu bc he has black hair and blue eyes and giyuu is o_o at this miniature ayame

[latenightsonrooftops]

Late night doodles

[sorry-i-call-it-soccer]

I saw the Leicester score and it must be said I am so happy for winksy

[meowzfordayz]

when you’re laughing nonstop

Author’s Note: humor isn’t exactly my selling point, so pls and ty enjoy my attempt(s) @ #funny. 🙃

when you’re laughing nonstop

Hashira x Reader, Kamaboko x Reader

Word Count: ~800

CW: explicit language

Emergency Request Fulfilled: If by any chance could you do the Hashira or the the kamboko squad, without trying to, makes the reader laugh like so hard they're crying, and any time they talk the reader just laughs more? (Idk if youve ever had those moments but those are the best laughs lol) How would they react?

~faqs~

When you’re laughing nonstop…

… Zenitsu panics, because he thinks you’re laughing at him?! It doesn’t help that after literally anything he says or does, you burst into giggles… and your inability to explain that you’re laughing with him rather than at him (albeit, he isn’t exactly laughing — more so pouting) due to the constant onslaught of giggles only exacerbates his panic and confusion.

… Inosuke thinks it’s a competition. “DID YOU REALLY BELIEVE YOU COULD OUT LAUGH ME?!” *cue maniacal laughing fit*  Meanwhile, you’re clutching your stomach, gasping for air, and entirely unable to inform him that: It isn’t a competition, idiot!

… Gyomei, the poor man, is just trying to meditate, but it’s hard for him to focus when you’re snorting every other second, your efforts to conceal your laughter less than successful. He doesn’t have the heart to ask you to leave, but he does gently (and sternly) cradle your head to his chest (he’s hoping his pulse’ll calm you), exasperated smile tugging at the corner of his mouth when you instead dampen his happi with your tears (from laughing so hard).

… Obanai tries to act irritated, but the twinkle in your eyes as you cling hopelessly to his haori’s sleeve, body shaking with laughter, is too endearing for him to maintain his facade. “Are you done?” he asks, indifference nearly giving way to a fond smile. “N-no!” you manage to gasp, promptly dissolving into another round of laughter, “Not even c-close!”

… Tanjirou waits for you to get it out of your system, smiling brightly the entire time. He doesn’t quite understand what’s so funny—all of his attempts to ask you result in half finished sentences interrupted by more laughter—but he does know you’re happy, and if you’re happy, then he’s happy! 

… your tears initially worry Mitsuri, but once she’s confident that they’re happy tears, and after observing that she seems to be the reason behind them, she brings you a handkerchief and does her best to prolong your laughter (facepalm worthy puns are her specialty).

… Shinobu clucks her tongue, already knowing you’re eventually going to end up with the hiccups. “W-where are you *hiccup* g-oing?” you whine, eyes narrow with suspicion, “Don’t leave meee!” Rolling her eyes, she lightly flicks your forehead, voice wry with amusement, “I’m getting you a glass of water,” raising an eyebrow as you hiccup again, “You’re clearly going to need it,” pressing a soft kiss to your shoulder, “I’m not leaving you.”

… Kyojuro watches you with great interest, and mild concern. It only happened once, but once was enough. (it being you choking on your own spit from laughing too hard, and almost passing out because he didn’t realize you were actually choking versus laughing)

… Sanemi swears you’ve been possessed by the devil. “Nothing in this world is that funny,” he grumbles, swatting away your fingers as you attempt to pinch his cheeks, “Stop it.” Of course, his petulant grimace only makes you giggle harder, and you know he isn’t really mad when he finally acquiesces and allows you to wield his hand: “Why are you hitting yourself? Why are you hitting yourself?” as you playfully smack his face with his palm, your delighted, triumphant grin soothing the glower in his stare. #the man is whipped #the man is in love

… Muichiro smiles ruefully, toe throbbing as you laugh and point at his misfortune. “A-are you o-okay?” you gasp between chuckles, “That chair really did a number on you!” What’s important to him is knowing that, were it a serious injury, you’d help first, laugh later… right?

… Giyuu prays it’ll end soon. Don’t get him wrong! He adores your smile, wishes he could bottle up your laughter for a rainy day, and overall cherishes your happiness… but he simply doesn’t know what to do when the giggles strike. Should I stand here and wait? Would now be an inappropriate time to go do laundry? Uh oh… they’re getting closer… if they get ahold of you, then you’ll have to stand here and wait… shit! *insert Giyuu awkwardly patting your head as you sob-laugh-sniffle into his chest*

… Tengen swells with pride, muscles subconsciously flexing, hair subtly shining, eyes glimmering. Who cares if you’re laughing at him? Either way, he’s the reason you’re laughing so hard, and he’ll be damned if he doesn’t get the credit for making you so happy. That being said, if the laughter shows signs of spreading to Hina… to Makio… to Suma… #Uzui Tengen is now running away #legend says he’s still running to this day (“What do you mean I’m running? Pfft! I can handle four hysterical spouses! Absolutely! 100%!”)

[recurring-polynya]

My kid asked me to explain blood types to her today, which made me remember the odd little fact that in the character profiles that appeared at the ends of the earliest Bleach volumes, there are blood types listed for the human characters, but not for the shinigami characters. Shinigami obviously have blood, we've all seen it, we've seen so much of it, honestly, but is it like blood blood? Is blood transfusion a thing they do?

I did not have any particular recollection of anyone ever receiving a blood transfusion in Bleach, but I looked up all the hospital scenes I could think of off the top of my head. Both Byakuya nor Hinamori have sort of a notable absence of things sticking out of them. I'm no expert and I don't even particular like doctor shows, but this is a situation where I would expect both of them to have IVs for hydration, if nothing else. Hinamori's got a respirator and some mysterious carts off to her far side, at least, and maybe Byakuya's just far enough on the upswing that he doesn't need it anymore.

Next shot was the famous Rukia and Renji sharing a hospital room scene.

Renji's respirator goes...under his blanket? Is this right? This doesn't seem right. Rukia doesn't seem particularly attached to anything, although there's kind of a bundle of wires? tubes? coming out of her right shoulder area. You can see them better in this shot:

That sure doesn't look like medical grade tubing, the lower one looks kinda like Hihiou Zabimaru, tbh. IVs usually work by gravity, no? Also those tubes are way too big to be going into someone's veins.

Finally, here's Kira, getting his dubious Squad 12 medical procedure.

More shady, giant, intestine-ass looking tubes that... go into him? wtf. They're attached to a computer. Maybe these are data cables?

The upshot of all of this is that I don't think shinigami have blood transfusions. I can't imagine that they don't know about them, so I imagine it's more of a case of their blood is just part of their soul, like, all of them is just soul all the way down, and it would be nearly impossible to accept a transfusion that was made of someone else's soul (soulmate-enjoying fanfic writers, take note). They do like sticking tubes in people, tho.

This sucks because when I was originally thinking about this, of course I was thinking about all the blood Renji has in his body and whether or not he's a universal donor, because, frankly, if he is, I think they would have a special framed painting of him at Squad 4 and let him have as much donuts and apple juice as he wants.

I think the main reason manga list characters' bloodtypes anyway is because Japanese people use it as a personality test, similar to horoscopes. For the record, here are the characters whose blood types we know:

Ichigo - AO Orihime - BO Chad - AO Tatsuki - AO Isshin - AB Uryuu - AB Don Kanonji (????) - BO

When I was trying to look up what they meant, I found this hilarious graphic, thank you verywellmind dot com

Looks to me like these blood types were definitely chosen to tie into personality at least to some degree (I'm not sure about Isshin, but he probably has fake Urahara Shouten-brand gigai blood-substitute anyway, so I am choosing not to read too deeply into that). Anyway, along those lines, judging from this chart, if we wanted to bootstrap Renji's blood type from his personality, I think he would, in fact, clearly fit into the idiot-on-a-skateboard quadrant. So he is a universal donor! (or at least he would be, if he were filled with blood instead of high-concentration ghost juice.)

[yuri-is-online]

Ok but how did ace even get a girlfriend in the first place? Did she confess and he just went along with it? Did he think having a girlfriend would make him seem cooler? Was it a dare or something? Cause for someone like ace to just go ghost on her and not have an actual talk, kind of makes me feel like these two were not friends before they were partners.

So then, fast forward to nrc, ace is trying so hard to lose the feelings he has for his best friend. Because that's all they are: friends, homies, if you (duece) will. Yuu has the cream of the crop to pick from, he's kind of at a disadvantage here.

Plus, whose to say their entire dynamic won't change the second they get together? He doesn't want to get bored and start to hate one of his dearest friends by proxy, so might as well just play it safe and suffer a little than take that risk and the both of you suffer a lot 🤷‍♂️.

Meanwhile yuu, who still has their old phone/mp3 player, has been playing Jenny by Studiokillers on repeat. Lying in their bed, just down horrendous for this absolute ball of boyish mischief. How dare he, honestly?

Well. At least he gives them a lot of openings to flirt with him?

*disclaimer, I was home schooled so my actual knowledge about middle school dating is beyond non-existent so take what I say with a grain of salt

The information we get about Ace's girlfriend comes from his suitor suit vignette and he does not mention how they actually got together, just some of the things that they did and how boring Ace thought all of them were. And I agree! The way they broke up does not make it sound like they were friends before dating, though they could have been casual acquaintances. The way Ace likes to goof around makes me think he was probably pretty popular, and had a lot of those types of relationships. His description of the relationship makes me think he probably went out with her because he thought she was cute and that it would be fun to have a girlfriend, but didn't actually stop to think about who she was as a person or what dating actually means. And hey, he was in middle school. He was going to be a bit stupid about those sort of things. The experience seems to have made him think a lot about what he wants in a partner, and we know from Ortho he was telling the truth when he's forced to spell it out:

His voice lines flesh out what he wants a bit more; he says he thinks it's important to find someone you have fun with and that he wants to get married later in life. So Ace knows what he wants... he just gets really embarrassed when called out on it and refuses to talk honestly about his feelings (though he kind of does that in general hehe)

So flashing forward to NRC. Ace knows what he wants and Yuu is such a perfect fit it hurts. Best friends to lovers is a popular trope in fiction sure, but in real life? At a school? Yeah right, Ace still has to see them every day if they break up, and not to mention... I feel like Ace, Deuce, Grim, and Yuu sort of fell into their dynamic almost immediately after the mine adventure and didn't ever stop to think about it because of how natural the friendship felt. And Ace knows if things end badly he's losing the whole squad, so yeah. Better to just swallow this and stay where he is. He's still in school! He doesn't need to think about dating! He's got a housewarden to surpass, upperclassmen he admires, and a bunch of idiots to take care of. He can worry about dating later. Besides, these feelings will go away after graduation he's delusional sure of it!!!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch Ramshackle Yuu is literally in a living hell. Maybe they're a bit more emotionally mature than Ace and they just know this could work out but THEY CAN'T TELL IF HE LIKES THEM BACK BECAUSE HE KEEPS GETTING SHY AND MAKING JOKES FML!!!! But like he also lets them steal his gym shirt :ccc and he gets pouty when someone else makes an offer :ccc and really smug when Yuu says no ccc: so like maaaybe? Or maybe not and this meaningless flirting is all they'll ever have and they just. Try to be ok with it and they sort of hate themselves for it.

until Sebek properly joins the friend group and looses his fucking shit

[iwritefandomimagines]

NEW YEAR’S KISS — JAMIE TARTT

masterlist

pairing: jamie tartt x reader

description: last time you saw jamie tartt, he’d laughed off your confession of feelings. now it’s new year’s eve, you’re at a richmond party, and he looks so fucking good in a suit.

warnings: swearing, bit of angst, bit of fluff, alcohol consumption, light sex references but no smut

author’s note: eeeek happy new year’s eve and happy new year for tomorrow all !!! sending lots of love n good vibes <3

———

You couldn’t even believe it yourself that you had agreed to attend the New Year’s Eve party that Dani had decided to host.

Sure, you loved any opportunity to hang out with the men you’d grown close to in your time working with the club, but given the way things went the last time you saw a certain Mr Jamie Tartt… You were regretting your agreement to come immensely.

Even worse, the last time you’d seen him was also at a squad event where one too many shots had been to blame for your actions, and you feared this would be repeated.

You’d stupidly let your guard down when he was flirting with you nonchalantly again, and confessed that you had feelings for him.

He’d laughed it off — assuming that alcohol and clouded your judgement instead of just instilling you with the boldness you needed to be honest.

Since then, you’d avoided him like the plague and turned down all of Keeley’s invitations to places you knew he’d be.

Given that you were only working with the club on a temporary basis anyway, avoiding him had been relatively easy.

But now here you were, because you had no other plans anyway and Keeley insisted that you couldn’t avoid Richmond forever — even if she didn’t know the real reason for it and believed you’d just been busy.

“Oh my God Y/N, you look well fit!” Keeley screamed when she saw you, eyes flitting over your frame before she yanked you into a tight hug, “I’ve missed you, babe!”

“I’ve missed you too,” you hummed, trying to quell the anxiety bubbling in your stomach as you felt all eyes on you, “Sorry I’ve not been around. Lots going on.”

“Too busy for us now, yeah?” Jamie sidled up to your side, a smirk on his face that you couldn’t quite tell the root cause of. Was he just pissing about or was he trying to be snide?

When you looked over at him, you felt your heart race even faster at the sight of him in a gorgeous, well-fitted, and frankly uncharacteristically smart goddamn suit.

Somehow, it made him look even more incredible than usual and only made the feelings you’d fought to deny since you last saw him become impossible to ignore.

You bit your lip, looking down for a minute and not catching the way his eyes scanned over you hungrily.

Your dress was certainly doing wonders for your figure, and he’d have been an idiot not to appreciate it, “Kiddin’, love. You look stunning. We’ve missed ya.”

You nodded for a moment, taken aback by his compliment even though they’d never been rare when you were around him more often, “Uh— thanks, Jamie. You still scrub up well, too. I’ve missed you all.”

Jamie’s smile softened now, reaching out his arm to link it with yours, “Wanna go get a drink, milady?l

You caught Keeley widening her eyes at him with a grin, as if encouraging him.

Oh fuck — did she know what had happened? Were they all laughing behind your back?

“I, uh, yeah sure,” you obliged, almost melting back into being comfortable with him like you used to, “Guess it is nearly midnight, I should probably catch up.”

And catch up you did — champagne glass after champagne glass being knocked back, while you tried your hardest to pretend that Jamie’s hand lingering on the base of your back every once in a while wasn’t driving you crazy.

It also didn’t help that there was a woman hanging around who you didn’t know — a woman who seemed very fond of Jamie, and spent much of her evening gracing him with lingering touches of her own.

He never complained, just smiled and continued about his evening like it was only natural that he was getting female attention.

Well, you supposed, it was.

It was somewhat nice to feel back to normal, but you couldn’t shake the feeling that everyone else was in the loop about something you weren’t.

It was five minutes to midnight now, and you decided that it was best you excused yourself for the countdown and got a little fresh air.

You were overwhelmed by suddenly being back around the Richmond squad — one man in particular — and weren’t sure you could stomach seeing Jamie’s inevitable new year’s kiss with a girl whose name you’d not even bothered to ask.

“What’re ya doing out here, love?”

God, try as you might, you would never get over the sound of him calling you love.

He was stood just behind you, the warmth of his breath fanning over your neck in the winter chill, “‘S nearly midnight.”

“I know,” was all you could muster up as you turned to face him, eyes avoiding meeting his as you took your bottom lip between your teeth.

His eyebrows furrowed as he watched how shy you were, and his hands left his pockets to tilt your chin up to look at him.

“All that time you spent away from us was ‘cos of me, wasn’t it?” his voice was quiet, almost inaudible, but it made your heart race all the same.

You gulped, “I was embarrassed. Didn’t want to see you again and be ridiculed.”

“Ridiculed? Y/N, I wasn’t gonna ridicule ya,” he shook his head, “I shut you down ‘cos I’m trying to be better. Been working on meself and I didn’t want you to do anything you’d regret with me.”

You’d met this Jamie before — this sincere, gentle, kind Jamie who was reserved only for those he held dearest. But it still startled you to hear him tell you all of this.

“I just—,”

“I wanted to kiss you, love, honest,” when did he get so close all of a sudden? “Just didn’t want you to hate me in the morning, or take back what you’d said or nothing.”

You swallowed thickly, “Jamie, I told you I liked you. I didn’t just throw myself at you and say I wanted to fuck you, or-or— anything like that. I was putting my heart out there and you just—you just laughed it off.”

“You were drunk, babe,” he sighed, “I didn’t know if you’d mean it all in the mornin’, that’s all.”

“Well, I did. Although more regretfully, after that.”

His eyes were sad now, almost glassy, as he watched you carefully to see what you’d do or say next.

You stepped back, your own eyes brimming with tears as your back met the fence of Dani’s balcony.

“I never meant to hurt ya, Y/N,” Jamie whispered, once again stepping closer, “I like you too, I just left you alone ‘cos I had some shit to get sorted before I could be good enough for you. ‘Nd I’ve been really trying.”

You finally gave in to the desire to make eye contact again, and felt your whole body crumble at the sound of his words, “You were always good enough, Jamie. I just— I thought I just wasn’t enough for you.”

He scoffed, his hand returning to your chin and his fingers caressing your cheekbones, “You’re too good for me, Y/N. Too good even for Jamie fucking Tartt.”

You let out a giggle at that, followed by a small sob, “What’re you saying here, Jamie?”

He looked down at his watch, “What I’m sayin’ is, it’s 15 seconds to midnight and I’d like to be your new year’s kiss. And, like, not to get ahead of meself… But I’d like to keep kissing you after that. Like, a lot.”

You nodded profusely, wiping away your few stray tears as you heard your friends calling out the final countdown inside, “3, 2, 1!”

He pulled you in close by your face, lips meeting yours with a furious passion as your arms enveloped the back of his neck.

It was everything you could have ever wanted… Even if you did feel fucking ridiculous for never just talking to him about it sooner.

“Happy new year, love,” Jamie smiled into the kiss.

You matched his smile, pulling back for a moment, “Happy new year, Tartt.”

You were silent for a moment as you just gazed at each other longingly, before a realisation hit you, “What about that girl in there, though? She was all over you.”

“Babe, I’m Jamie Tartt,” he shrugged, smiling smugly, “Just ‘cos the girls love me, doesn’t mean me mind hasn’t been focused on one girl in particular, even if she didn’t want to see me.”

“Oi, I wanted to see you, I was just scared to,” you stuck your tongue out as he grinned, “I’m so glad I came tonight.”

“Me fuckin’ too,” he licked his lips, “And in that dress… God, if you could see inside me head right now.”

“Down, boy,” you joked, fully conscious of the fluttering in your own stomach now, “If you’re good, you can take it off me later, yeah?”

Your lips met again hungrily now, your body pressed against the fence as you heard a round of whooping and clapping from your friends who’d found their way to the balcony now.

“A happy fucking new year indeed,” Roy showed the slightest hint of a smile as you and Jamie pulled apart again, blushing crimson, and interlocked your hands.

“Fucking finally.”

———

ok so i may have rushed to get this finish so i could post on nye — sorry if the ending is shit but i hope you enjoyed! pleaaase feel free to request more jamie if you’d like, obsessed again so i’d love that. meanwhile, here’s my masterlist!

[sgiandubh]

Human nature

We don't have to agree with everything I do believe and regularly post on Tumblr, as far as SC are concerned. And, for your information, I strive to bring every day something new or different, based on either facts or my personal life experience (it's often informing, I think). Not an easy task, but it should explain why I do not reblog very often and if I do, that means the reblog perfectly expresses my thoughts on the matter.

I can even take a disagreement, calmly and almost flatly exposed with facts, not whimsical twists to fit an agenda. Yet, I find it extraordinary that the worst liars in here will tell you everything they say is based on precisely that: FACTS. As for all propaganda, I find their interpretation both ethically wanting and intellectually insulting.

Anti blogs never impressed me (is that a sin? perhaps) with their depth, knowledge or morality. I found only power games, trolling, stalking, smirk, insults piled upon injury and parroting. Not a pretty sight. That Spanish woman opened the fire squad immediately upon my landing in here, with such preposterous assumptions about who I was (surprise, bitch), that all dialogue perspective was cut from the start. Her prerogative to be openly idiotic. My prerogative to despise her and others of her ilk. She was, however, instrumental in my not giving a rat's ass about whatever they would have to say on the Big Issue at stake. Ever.

The more and more it goes and the more I do believe what you think of Their Story is very telling about who you really are, the life that you chose to live and the values you hold near and dear. Or lack thereof.

I chose my side after a very long, tedious pondering and I am not going anywhere else. Whether you like it or not. Also, the Antis' assumption that all shippers believe the same things is a lame, very cheap fallacy. Despair and grasping at straws: mark me.

[epicbuddieficrecs]

Fic rec for my BFF, pt. 1

My best friend is currently watching 9-1-1. I've been trying to get her onboard the Buddie ship and she is graciously tolerating me. She's asked for some fic recs and so this is what I came up with! I did have to work with a few parameters to fit her taste, the most important one being nothing post season 3 cause that's where she's up to and she didn't want spoilers.

Hope you enjoy these bestie!

Canon to Canon Divergent

Things We're All Too Young to Know by Daisies_and_Briar / @cal-daisies-and-briars 

Canon S1-S6, S7 Spec | 123/? | 379K | Mature

This is a love story. Even if it doesn’t always look like it. Even if it doesn’t always feel like it. A look back on Eddie and Buck's lives up to now, and what led them to each other, interpreted from the current 9-1-1 canon.

THE canon fics to end all canon fics. I know it's still a WIP and it spans up to post-S6, but if you want a canon fic, that's the one to go for.

Leading with the Left by letmetellyouaboutmyfeels/ @letmetellyouaboutmyfeels 

Canon Divergent, Different First Meeting, Stripper Buck | 84K | Explicit

When Buck said he was a "bartender" in "South America" what he actually meant was "stripper" in "Mexico." And when Eddie said, "What's your problem?" what he actually meant was, "Is this about the time you gave me a lap dance?" In other words, there's a few things the 118 doesn't know about Buck. Or Eddie. Or Buck and Eddie's relationship.

One of my most re-read fics. The smut is impeccable. The angst is so good. Absolutely love this fic!

Your Scars and Your Lonely Heart by Taste_is_Sweet

Sentinels AU, Canon Divergent - Tsunami | 82K | Teen

Clara Williams just wanted to visit Pacific Park during her layover in Los Angeles. She never expected to find a young, exceptional Sentinel dying for lack of a bond. Actually, what she really never expected was a tsunami, or the same Sentinel to save her life. But Clara's a Guide, so now she's on a mission to keep Evan "Buck" Buckley alive until she can get him to Eddie Diaz, the Guide who should have bonded with him, but didn't. Because Clara can't bond with Buck, no matter how much she wants to. There's just one problem: Buck's convinced Eddie doesn't want him, and he might not survive long enough to find out the truth.

Another one of my most re-read fics! I had never read a Sentinels AU before and I fell in love with the concept!

the distance to the stars by cloudydaisies 

Didn't Know They Were Dating, Post-S3 | 27K | General

“Didn’t know you were seeing someone.” Buck just laughs. Like, honest to god giggles. Eddie is stuck fighting off doubly massive waves of butterflies and confusion, all while Buck just gazes down at him. “That’s cute,” he hears Buck mumble, just before climbing into the truck, calling Eddie after him. - or, everyone knows eddie is dating buck except for eddie, literally.

Don't know if you knew this, Marie, but Buddie is the #1 most tagged ship in the "Didn't Know They Were Dating" tag cause they're such idiots <3 and this is one of my favorite ones!

the weekly bet (but the forever kind) by theleftboobgrabber/ @theleftboobgrabber 

Late S3, Getting Together | 49K | Explicit

“Thanks,” Eddie mumbles, hiding his face deep in his pillow, even if Buck can’t see him in the dark. “What for?” Leave it to Buck to be confused about something so obvious. “Being you, idiot.” “And again with the name calling,” he answers, content and sleepy. Nights like this, Eddie feels like asking for a miracle. But to the team, it wasn’t a matter of if Abby would take him back, but when. A matter of days. When the squad bets on how long it will take for Buck and Abby to get back together when she comes back to LA, Eddie is forced to reconsider keeping his feelings for Buck a secret.

Top tier pining + oblivious Eddie = 👌

Always, All Ways by ashavahishta/ @tevankinkley

A/B/O AU | 85K | Explicit

“Buck is very dear, Mr Diaz. Not only to me but to the pack. You’ll find that if you treat him with anything less than utmost respect you’ll have a lot of people to answer to.”   Eddie swallowed. It was clear that in the absence of a mate, this omega had found himself a very protective pack. “Understood, sir.” Or: Buck’s the only omega in the 118. He’s got secrets, and walls a mile high. Eddie’s the alpha determined to knock them down.

There's not a ton of A/B/O fics in this fandom, and I should really try to read more of them, but this is probably my favorite one so far!

I Hit the Accelerator (But the Car was in Reverse) by extasiswings/@extasiswings, letmetellyouaboutmyfeels/@letmetellyouaboutmyfeels

S3, Friends With Benefits, BDSM | 68K | Explicit

When Buck is forced to confront the truth about his breakup with Abby, having casual sex with his hot new coworker seems like the best rebound idea. Unfortunately, that hot new coworker turns into his best friend. But best friends can keep having sex with each other, right? There's no way this could possibly go wrong.

THE friends with benefits fic! (ok lbr there's a ton of great ones, but this one is S2 focused iirc)

AUs

My Blood on Your Skin (My Rose on Your Snow) by letmetellyouaboutmyfeels/ @letmetellyouaboutmyfeels

Mythological AU, BDSM | 80K | Explicit

When Eddie needs cash and fast to take care of Christopher, his LAFD Academy buddy suggests a job as a bouncer at Elysium - an exclusive sex club in downtown Los Angeles. Eddie doesn't care what goes on there, so long as he's paid, but he finds he cares a lot bout the club's enigmatic owner, Evan Buckley, and it's not long before the two of them are violating every boss-employee rule in the book. But there's something different about Buck and the club, something not quite... human. If Eddie wants to keep Buck, he's going to have to delve into the world of immortals, and all the risks that implies.

You can expect amazing smut by this author as always, but also really interesting worldbuilding and characters!

All My Shattered Oaths by letmetellyouaboutmyfeels/ @letmetellyouaboutmyfeels

Vampires AU | 107K | Explicit

Eddie wants to stay away from his family’s legacy and give his son a normal life. Buck’s desperate to find a way to get over the love he lost. Fate has other plans for both of them.

SO GOOD. The canon divergent reincarnation vampire AU you didn't know you needed!!!

a bleeding sun on a silver screen by rarakiplin (gmontys)/ @hoediaz 

Actors AU, Friends With Benefits | 130K | Mature

One day, Buck will tell an interviewer that he would be happy to make movies with Eddie Diaz until the day he dies. But first, years before that, he sees Eddie for the first time on the set of Chimney’s fifth movie.

An epic tale of movie making and enemies to friends to FWB to strangers to lovers!

The Truth of Love (Amas Veritas) by allyasavedtheday/ @littlespoonevan

Practical Magic AU | 20K | Teen

Bobby opens his mouth like he wants to argue but decides against it. “Walk me through the logic here then. How will this make sure you never fall in love?” “Because I’m making someone who doesn’t exist,” Buck explains, glancing from the half-full bowl to Bobby. He can’t work out what the look on Bobby’s face means so he pointedly elects to ignore it. “They’ll have brown hair,” he starts, clipping another petal from the rose bush. “And brown eyes-“ “Lotta people out there with brown hair and brown eyes, kid,” Bobby says lightly and Buck rolls his eyes. “But not many that can ride a horse backwards,” Buck counters. “And whose favourite shape is a star and who’s got…two scars,” he decides, plucking a basil leaf and dropping it in the bowl. “One on each shoulder.”

Because Practical Magic AUs always make me think of you <3

I'll Scrawl it on Every Wall I See by letmetellyouaboutmyfeels/ @letmetellyouaboutmyfeels

Canon Divergent, You've Got Mail Fusion | 29K | Teen

When Eddie joins the 118, he and Buck don't exactly hit it off on the right foot. Or continue to walk on the right foot. In fact they kind of can't stand each other. Good thing they each have a beloved anonymous pen pal to share their daily woes with, someone completely unlike their insufferable coworker.

I do love some good romcom vibes!

[renewedmotionforjudgment]

My subtweet of Chinese netizens re: cdramas, part 2, because I periodically peak on the other side of the great firewall and immediately regret my actions.

Toxic beauty standard: honestly, this makes me glad that I didn’t spend my teenage years in the mainland. Bc apparently, being able to move your face when you make an expression is bad because you have lines.

And yet somehow critiquing in particular female idols and actresses for either photoshopping their pictures or getting plastic surgery to fit those beauty standards. The cognitive dissonance.

line delivery: I’m going to make this one on the record, so it may come back to haunt me. But honestly, as long as the way the line is delivered matches the scene and the emotions of the scene, I do not give a single flying fuck about whether the actor has “perfect mandarin” (a standard that literally is imposed by an authoritarian government to erase all traces of diversity within a country as big as China, there are 200 dialect and my family internally speaks 5 and we understand each other just fine.). Or, because I keep hearing this as this “gold standard” of line delivery — the clear enunciation of each character. Like is the founder of that standard John Malkovich? Literally unless the character is Captain Benjamin Sisko, people don’t talk like that and I like my characters even if they are in some Xianxia realm or a fake dynasty to sound like people, not like they are doing the morning news channel. I’ve consistently found that when actors either dub themselves or it’s real voice on set, the scene is so much more emotional, proper mandarin and enunciation be damned.

The weird idea that a drama can only have flattering camera angles: this is me being a Zhu Ruibin defense squad member. But like, no, this isn’t an ad campaign. Camera angles should reflect what the director wants to convey for the scene.

Finally, the idea that international fans somehow are less knowledgeable or are idiots with bad taste. Which admittedly, I’m personally offended by this accusation. Most international fans can tell good and bad acting, thank you very much. But also, since I neither care about conformity to mainstream Chinese culture nor to the CCP, I’m free to enjoy things that appeals to me as oppose to holding it up to some arbitrary standard, whether that’s line delivery or beauty or mandarin pronunciation.

[tomsparkyr]

𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐎 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐉𝐔𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐓

*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:

summary: forbidden love from opposing teams was never one to stop mason, especially when it’s y/n he’s got his eyes on.

masterlist.

mason mount x footballer!reader

mason mount x fem!reader

warnings: fluff, pinning, small sexual references i think, nothing major? football ig

note: men and woman play on the same team in this !

word count: 1K+

please don’t steal any of my work, thank you!

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𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃𝐍’𝐓. 𝐇𝐄 knows he shouldn’t. The underlying weight of that thought lingering at the back of his mind 24/7 urges him to resist. He can’t, borderline. Most likely get fined, slammed in the media, and at risk of his reputation at Chelsea. But that’s what happens when you fall in love with a girl at Arsenal.

But it’s you, for God’s sake. You. Arsenal’s sweetheart, the face of the team. The fan’s favourite, Mason could name about every Arsenal supporter who has your name on the back of the shirt; chanting your nothings as you step a foot on the pitch. They worshiped the ground you walked on. And so did he.

As he warmed up on the pitch and relished in the noise of Stamford Bridge, the fans clamouring in and always one for an interesting match; Mason felt a nudge on his upper arm, looking beside him to see Raheem nodding his head towards the tunnel, shooting him a wink doing so. Mason turned his head to see what the fuss was about, and then he saw you.

He stood up from his lunge and swallowed harshly at your presence. You strutted out onto the ground you’ve scored countless goals at, suffering loses and multiple wins. Your hair was pulled into a high ponytail with a hairband supporting the stray hairs; Mason had never seen a more beautiful sight.

Straightening his posture, he ran his fingers through his hair and raised his eyebrows to Ben asking a quick ‘Do I look okay?’ in which the young left back nodded with a smile on his face.

Everybody in the squad knew about Mason’s boyhood crush on you, even the new head coach Graham Potter had caught onto the why Mason had coincidentally clicked on the same match highlights in which you scored a hattrick in multiple times. They all teased him, of course; Why wouldn’t they? Mason Mount, Chelsea’s starboy has fallen smitten for Arsenal’s leading lass, Y/N Y/L/N.

Mason made his way over to you tying your laces for the warmup before the London head-to-head match, not before Reece wolf-whistled causing Mason to snap his head back to his squad with a look making them all topple over in fits of laughter, Kai holding onto Trevor as they broke into smirks.

You perked your head up at the forthcoming presence, assuming it was Bukayo or Aaron, but why would they be wearing blue?

“Hey, Y/N right?” The british accent stuck out, your head tilting upwards to make eye contact with Mason, his brown eyes sending a wave of nervous bubbling in your stomach the more you realised just how much more attractive he was in comparison to seeing him on screen.

You smiled up at him, “Yeah, you’re that Mount boy aren’t you?” You teased back, causing Mason to start blushing furiously under your gaze; feeling like he was a school boy all over again. He swallowed harshly before finishing what he started. “I just wanted to wish you luck on todays game.” He blurted out before realising what a complete idiot he must of sounded, cringing when he saw your brows furrowed and head tilted.

You laughed lightly, “Aren’t we literally playing against each other in a London Derby?”

Mason licked his lips and looked you up and down, breathing in heavily before raising his brows and shrugging his shoulders, brushing off the embarrassment. “Just being nice before you lose to the best club in London.”

Your eyes widened and your mouth fell agape, causing Mason to laugh loudly and lean into your body slightly. He swiftly wrapped his arms around your shoulders, making you a blushing mess, before giving your left shoulder a tight squeeze and whispering, “Good luck.” Before he let go of you and waddled back to his team, a bright smile adoring his face when he realised just how close he has gotten to his childhood crush.

The match ended 90 minutes later, you and Mason neither subbed off; unfortunately you getting the shorter end of the stick as Chelsea secured the win with a 2-1 to the home fans, the away Arsenal fans already leaving the second Mason scored the extra time winner.

You sighed into your hands and crouched onto the pitch, breathing heavily as the full time whistle sounded. Sweat trickled from your forehead, hands clammy now the equaliser goal from yourself seemed worthless now.

Feeling a figure crouch down in front of you allowed you to lift your head with a fake smile, before seeing the brunette with a sympathetic look in his eyes. He whispered a small “Hey,” causing you to sniffle in the cold weather, Mason held his hand out for you to get up, you obliged.

Once you stood up, you pulled the under layers down to your fingertips feeling the adrenaline wear off and the breeze start to hit you. Mason looked you directly in your eye and admired you. He thought you couldn’t look more perfect.

“Good game.” He nodded. You smiled at him, not fake this time, and squinted “Good goal, Mount. Screwed up my winning streak.” You laughed, seeing Mason chuckle make you jitter.

He shrugged his shoulders, “I tried to warn you!”.

You and Mason swapped jerseys afterwards, Mason’s younger self internally freaking out that he had a hold of the jersey’s owner who he occasionally plans out their wedding and how well her name would fit with Mount. And also the fact he saw you take off your shirt.

Mason jogged into the Chelsea changing rooms, swinging your jersey around his head and cheering. The other boys looked over and begin jumping up and down, throwing empty water bottles around and all over the love-sick boy, and how he had gained atleast some progress on Arsenal’s golden girl.

It wasn’t until later at night when Mason got a notification, that maybe, he had made a bit more progress than he had imagined.

Y/N

hi mase, fun seeing you at todays match. had a great time talking to you!

wanna go out for coffee tomorrow morning?

Safe to say, Y/N did not stay a red for too long. Maybe it was her boyfriends influence to come to Chelsea. Only if Y/N could handle to constant messing from Mason’s teammates; but in fairness, Mason got the girl. Football’s Romeo and Juliet. Mason and Y/N.

this is ugly af but i miss mason so

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[minteayoongimakesmewoozi]

thinking about serpent tsuguko!ayame and how incredibly touch-starved she is, but also touch-avoidant

zenitsu is constantly throwing himself at her and she can't help but freeze and shudder, pulling away even as he pulls her closer. he eventually learns to stop the instinctive flinch to tug at her haori and cower behind her, although he still tends to use her as a human shield where possible. he just makes sure they don't touch, which means she makes both a relieved and a disappointed sound and he's pulling at his hair trying to fix it

inosuke notices the way she flinches out of the way when he goes in for a headbutt. at first, he thought it was just a show of strength! he's stronger than her after all! then he sees her in action in mount natagumo and realises that she isn't weak at all; she just doesn't like being touched. he knows what that's like, so he's always protectively hovering right outside her personal bubble, wary of anyone who tries to touch her without permission. (he hates the crawly feeling of panic that he can feel from her.)

tanjirou is the only person who can touch her without receiving a hiss or a flinch in response. he's familiar in a way that other people aren't. he knew her before everything, his touch warm and comforting. he can grab her hand without her slapping him away, and kuromaru doesn't even hiss when they bump against each other. this does mean he's twice as protective when they're in a crowd, always lingering close enough to headbutt or throw someone that gets close to her. on occasion, she might even seek out his touch - the deliberate brush of her knuckles against his, maybe her fingers curling into his haori sleeve for a half second before she's walking away, the most hesitant brush of her shoulder against his. the first time she takes his hand and the scent of happiness and suzuran fills the air and overpowers the cloying scent of fear, his heart stutters and soars in his chest

[mychoombatheroomba]

Quiet Moments

Between the Bones (Leon x GN! Reader) - Chapter 16

It would be time for lights out soon. You knew you should probably go to your barracks to avoid people coming to look for you. Leon had to have known it, too. And yet, neither of you moved.

(Cross-posted from Ao3)

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Chapter Index

Change was exhausting. 

You had finally settled into a comfortable routine - a world of knives and guns and cold memories. You hadn’t been happy, living that way. Quite the opposite, in fact. Still, you had found some peace in the repetition. In making yourself into more of a weapon than a person. Weapons didn’t die the same way people did, after all. 

Then Krauser pitted you against Leon Kennedy all those weeks ago, and that routine - that peace - was slowly shattered. 

As you sat side by side that night, the weight of something new settling between the two of you, you couldn’t help but wonder if the Major had orchestrated that fight with an ulterior motive in mind. He was a crafty bastard, after all. Always setting traps and tests. Maybe it was just a coincidence that he’d put you up against the only person on base that shared your experiences. Or maybe he’d wanted the two of you to find each other. 

Whatever the case, you were almost positive that he hadn’t intended for it to end up with the two of you tangling tongues behind the mess hall. He’d probably go homicidal, if he found out. You could almost hear him calling you an idiot and worse, and he might even be right for it. 

No, he would be right. You were a complete and total fool for doing this. 

But in that moment, sitting in the dark and listening to the crickets with Leon at your side, you didn’t care what was stupid and what wasn’t. All you could think about was how his mouth had felt against your own. How warm his skin had felt. How impossibly soft his lips had been. And how utterly spent you felt, after a day that held so much change. 

It would be time for lights out soon. You knew you should probably go to your barracks to avoid people coming to look for you. Leon had to have known it, too. 

And yet, neither of you moved. You just lingered there, your shoulders pressed against each other as you stared into the darkness. Fitting, because you had no idea what was coming your way, now. 

Even so, the dark seemed just a little less daunting when he was at your side.

“You know,” Leon said, and you turned to look at him, even if you couldn’t see much of him in the shadows. “Today turned out pretty well.” 

You snorted. “It started with you getting tear gassed and knocked out.” 

“Only had uphill to go from there,” Leon pointed out, and once again you found yourself delightfully confused by his optimism. 

“Krauser’s not going to make you guys sleep in your barracks, is he?” You hoped not - there was likely still some residual gas left over. Not to mention the blood you’d teased Leon about, and all manner of disarray that likely hadn’t been seen to. 

“No.” Leon sounded relieved about that fact. “We’re going to be in another bunkhouse for tonight.”

“And then I guess you’ll be moving into our barracks soon,” you grinned over at him. Not that it would mean much - not unless you and Leon planned on giving the rest of your squad a show. Still, you couldn't help but enjoy the idea. 

Even in the darkness, you could see his mouth curl up at the thought, too.

“Guess so.” 

“Valeria snores. Fair warning.” 

The comment earned you a laugh. “That’s alright. I’ve been told I talk.” 

“In your sleep?” 

Leon nodded, and even if you couldn’t see the intricacies of his expression, you could feel his energy shift. “Bad dreams.” 

You frowned. Tapped your fingers on your thigh. “I get them too.” 

Even in the dark, you could feel Leon’s gaze. Likely more empathetic than it had any right to be. “Hard not to, I guess.” 

You hummed, nodding your head and staring out into the distance again. You hoped that tonight there would be something else waiting for you when you closed your eyes than snow and blood and the smell of rot. You also knew better than to be that optimistic, so you decided you were going to think of something else. Run out the clock as long as you could before the two of you had to face your nightmares. 

“If you ever want to talk about them,” Leon offered, and you knew what he was going to offer. It wrung your heart even before he finished the sentence. “I’ll listen.” 

You bit the inside of your mouth. You’d already told him some of what you dreamed of. The infected. The knife. It was the things you hadn’t told him that gave you pause. The things your mind twisted and reinvented. You knew he would understand, because he always did, but . . . “Maybe,” you nodded. Tilted your head a bit. “Mostly it’s just memories.” 

“Me too,” Leon nodded. Went quiet for a little, like he was thinking hard about something. 

“Same goes for you. If you want to talk about them.” It was only right to offer. Especially after you’d avoided him for so many days. The guilt of that choice was still hanging over you, even now. You would bear it, though, because it was deserved as far as you were concerned. Now, you would try to make it right. 

“I might take you up on that,” Leon admitted, and you could tell by the way he spoke, he had a particular dream in mind. It took him a moment, but eventually, he made a shaky start. “That first night when you kissed me . . . well, the night before, I guess . . .” he shook his head, restarting once more with no small amount of difficulty. “I lost someone in Raccoon City.” You felt your stomach drop at the admission. “She . . . I really cared about her, and I couldn’t save her. I had a dream about her that night. Couldn’t get it out of my head. That’s why I pulled away.” 

You weren’t sure of what to say - there were too many thoughts rushing through your mind. Raccoon City wasn’t that long ago. Half a year. No wonder he’d flinched away when you kissed him. 

“I’m sorry. If I’d known-”

“No, it’s . . . I didn’t know her for that long, really,” Leon assured you. “It was just . . . well, it was complicated.” There was a story there, you could hear it in his voice. A story that held many, many emotions. One that he was ready to at least partially tell, it seemed, the words spilling out like he needed them gone. “I met her that night. She’s the reason I went down into the Umbrella labs for that virus sample. She said she was FBI, and that she was going to use it to bring Umbrella down. Turns out, she was a mercenary trying to steal it. She got hurt, so she needed me. Then things went bad and . . .” he trailed off, and you knew better than to seek more than he was willing to give. Besides, the way he tensed beside you and the way his words were filled with bitter regret told you enough.  

You were surprised to find yourself angry on his behalf - or, perhaps, more so saddened that someone would take advantage of him like that. Leon Kennedy was the kind of person who would throw himself into a fight to save a stranger - to take a beating to spare someone else a bruise. Of course he would have offered to help, and of course a mercenary would take that inch and run a mile with it. 

That injustice made you clench your jaw, and the only thing that kept you from hurling harsh words at this woman’s memory was the way Leon sounded when he spoke of her. “I know I shouldn’t miss her-”

“It’s alright that you do,” you said, firm in your belief. You of all people knew how grief worked. No one got to choose when they were free of it, or who they felt it for. “What was her name?”

“. . . Ada.”

You nodded. You weren’t so petty to think a ghost a threat, nor were you going to question Leon’s choice to pursue something with you now. He wasn’t the kind of man to use this to distract himself from the pain of that loss - and even if he was, you wouldn’t begrudge him. You of all people knew what it was to drag yourself through grief, using whatever you could find purchase on. If that was what this was for Leon, then you could live with that. 

The way he’d looked at you tonight, though - the way he’d held you and spoke of you - told you that this was very real for him. 

And that set a different kind of fear through you, one that you fought hard against. You’d spent a year without happiness. Whatever the future held, whatever worries you had, it could wait until morning. 

You hoped it would wait even longer than that.

“Sorry,” Leon finally said. “I just . . . wanted to explain myself. I didn’t mean to end tonight on a bad note.” 

“You didn’t.” You hoped that your voice conveyed just how truthful you were being. “Listening is the least I can do.” 

Leon’s eyes stole some of the moon and starlight to sparkle a bit as he smiled. “Thank you,” he said. Then, after a moment, he went on. “Whatever I felt for her, it doesn’t change how I feel about you.” 

The admission brought a smile to you and filled you with a bit of foolish pride. 

You had to go. You both had to get going before someone came looking. 

But then, you’d ignored sense for so much of tonight. What was one more time? 

“Feel like proving it?” you asked, sitting up and leaning towards him. 

Leon got the message and didn’t need much to be convinced. He leaned in, and your noses bumped in the dark. It made both of you laugh - a happy moment that you grabbed onto and refused to let go of. Your mouths met, still humming with laughter, and then there was a still, tranquil quiet. 

You’d been right. One kiss wasn’t enough. You weren’t sure you would ever have enough. 

But there was no time for more tonight.

“We should get going,” you whispered against his lips. 

“Pick back up here tomorrow?” Leon asked, stealing another little kiss from you. Your eyes widened in surprise, just as sure as your mouth curved up in satisfaction. Oh, he was going to be fun. 

“Not worried someone will see?” 

“No cameras,” Leon shrugged, still holding you close. His lips still brushing yours.

“Someone’s been paying attention.” 

“So? Is it a date?” God, he was cute. A date was dinner and a night at the drive-in. A trip to the bowling alley. Something - anything - but two spec ops recruits stealing kisses in the blind spots of the cameras. Still, it was the best you could hope for, and all you would ask for. 

“Maybe,” you grinned, feeling some dark elation that pushed you to kiss him again, harder this time. You caught his bottom lip between your teeth, nipping at him, and the little gasp he made set your blood rushing in your veins. You were going to get more of those reactions from him, you made that promise to yourself then and there. “If you can beat me tomorrow, after drills . . . then we’ll see.” The challenge was whispered with a hiss and a devilish smile. You were having far too much fun, and you only wished you could see Leon’s reaction better. 

“So that’s how it’s gonna be, huh?” He could try to act offended all he wanted. You could hear the excitement in his voice all the same. “I’ve beaten you before, you know.” 

“Well then tomorrow should be fun, right?” Another kiss. Leon snaked his tongue past your teeth, and you hummed at the feeling. 

When the two of you separated, he didn’t go far. “How will tomorrow be?” Leon asked, a touch more serious. He was asking about the training, you knew. Krauser wouldn’t give your new squad mates a reprieve. He would throw them into the water, where they would either sink or swim. 

“It’ll be hard,” you admitted, “but you’ll be alright. You’re tough.” 

Leon smiled. Nodded. “But there won’t be any more ambushes or anything, right?” 

“Telling you would-”

“Defeat the point, I know.” It was said with a roll of his eyes, his tone good-natured as it so often was. And he lingered there for a moment longer, like he didn’t want the night to end. Neither of you did. 

Still, you eventually both found it in yourself to stand. Leon left first - something you agreed upon to make yourselves look a modicum less suspicious. Not that it would really matter, you got the feeling. You were both living in a place that was under constant surveillance, after all. It would only be a matter of time before someone found out. 

Another thing you added to the list of reasons you were being a fool. 

Another thing you ignored as you let yourself smile at nothing while you walked back to the barracks.

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Chapter Index

A/N: Sorry for a brief delay, I got very busy this weekend! Hope you're all having a good New Year so far, thank you so much for reading! ❤️

[soaringthroughthegalaxy]

Prompt: someone is mean to wrecker and the rest of the batch either chooses violence or chooses to comfort wrecker

Hello there!

I saw this as an opportunity to write about the Batch as cadets, and I RAN with it. Though I broke my own heart having to write a few mean things about Wrecker 😭 They’re sweet babies, and I want to give them the galaxy 🥹

No reader in this, just the boys. Hope it's okay!

Art by @alligatorpie1945 - go check out her awesome art! I kept her 'Through the Ages' series on my screen while writing to help get me in the headspace. All her art is gorgeous!

Brotherly Bonds

The holonet can be a wonderful yet vicious place. When Wrecker’s feelings are hurt, and he questions his place in the squad, his brothers rally together to fix it and comfort him.

Word count: 2.5k

Warnings: Bit of whump, Wrecker being cyber-bullied by a Reg, caring brothers, protective brothers, bully gets called out, conflict is resolved, comfort and reassurance, happy ending.

The light of his datapad casts a blue glow over his face as he reads. It’s late, their barracks dimly lit by the moonlight, but Wrecker can’t sleep. His eyes trace the words repeatedly. Slow. Clumsy. Idiot. Each one feels like a vibroknife between his ribs.

It started a few days ago after a training drill with his brothers and a handful of Regs, who had seen him struggling with hand signals and tripping over his feet. It wasn’t his fault he was bigger than everyone else and that hand signals all looked similar to him from a distance. He’d been made this way. He was trying his best with what he’d been given. One day, he’d grow into his size and understand the signals. He was sure of it.

Wrecker sighs softly, turning onto his side to face the wall of his bunk. He pulls Lula closer, tucking her under his chin as he continues to read. He knows he should stop, that he’s only making himself feel worse by continuing, but he wants to know what everyone’s thinking and doesn’t want to walk into the mess hall tomorrow and be caught off guard.

The mean comments continue in the thread posted to the cadet chat boards. He and his brothers frequently ignore them, not caring for gossip, but Wrecker had heard things whispered under a Reg’s breath at mealtime – a Reg who hadn’t been part of their earlier drill. Other than hearing it through the grapevine, the boards would be the only other place.

Wrecker’s fingers tighten around the edges of his datapad, the cold metal digging into his palms. He takes a deep breath, trying to shake off the hurtful words. Despite his tough exterior, the comments on the chat boards have chipped away at his confidence. The camaraderie he shares with his brothers shields him from most insults, but the online world has found a crack in his armour.

As he scrolls through the thread, Wrecker can’t help but notice the lack of empathy in the words of his fellow cadets. The faceless avatars behind the comments don’t understand his challenges, trying to fit in a world where he doesn’t – metaphorically and literally. He wonders if they’d say the same things to his face or if the anonymity of the virtual space emboldens them.

Lula provides some comfort amid his turmoil, a reminder that his brothers care and love him, the stuffed tooka being a present from them. He squeezes her a little tighter as he contemplates shutting down the datapad, shutting out the negativity, but a stubborn curiosity keeps him scrolling. It’s as if he’s searching for that one comment that might offer understanding or support, even though he knows the likelihood is slim.

Wrecker’s brow furrows as he reads a particularly cutting comment. ‘Idiot can’t even understand signals. How'd he even make it out the tube? The rest of them are carrying him.’ The words sting, and Wrecker feels a surge of anger, but beneath it lies a more profound, more insidious emotion—doubt.

He glances at the sleeping forms of his brothers in the dimly lit barracks. They trust and depend on him, yet the doubts the Regs have planted in his mind start to take root. Wrecker wonders if he’s genuinely holding the team back. Maybe his brothers would be better off without him in the squad, with someone more agile and quick-witted in his place.

Lula’s stitched eyes seem to gaze at him with understanding, and Wrecker can almost hear Tech’s voice in his head, rattling off statistics and probabilities to prove that their team is more robust with him in it. But those voices are drowned out by the relentless comments scrolling on his datapad.

In the solitude of the night, Wrecker quietly shuts off his datapad and gets up, careful not to wake his brothers. He steps outside into the bright corridor and starts walking, going until he reaches one of the many bridges connecting different parts of Tipoca City. It’s cool out, but the earlier stormy weather has passed.

Leaning against the railing, Wrecker looks up at the stars. The vastness of the galaxy puts his problems into perspective. But the doubts linger. As he contemplates his place in the squad, he wonders if he should ask to be transferred. He doesn’t want to be the weak link, not when his brother’s lives are on the line.

A voice startles him. “Hey, Wreck, having trouble sleeping?” It’s Hunter, concern etched on his face as he reaches him, standing at his side at the railing.

Wrecker tries to shrug off the unease. “Nah, just needin’ some air.” He slaps on a grin. “Was hopin’ to see that big ol’ creature they say lives out here.” His gut rolls with the lie as he gestures to the choppy sea surrounding them, not wanting Hunter to worry. Although they were still cadets, he knew his older brother was already carrying a heavy weight, and he was being primed to lead them once they were old enough to fight.

Hunter studies Wrecker for a moment, his sharp senses missing very little. He sees beyond the forced grin and recognizes the turmoil in Wrecker’s eyes. Without saying a word, Hunter leans on the railing beside him. “Yeah, I heard about that creature too.” He says with a faint smile as he plays into his brother’s lie. “But I think it’s just a story to keep cadets like us from wandering too far.” He adds on. Silence lingers for a second before he speaks up again. “You doing okay, Wreck? You seem a bit off tonight.”

Wrecker hesitates, then sighs, the weight of the words on the datapad still lingering in his mind. “Just... things people are saying. About me. On those chat boards.”

Hunter’s expression tightens as he glances at Wrecker. “You shouldn’t let those get to you. People don’t know what it’s like for us.”

Wrecker nods, but the doubt remains evident in his eyes. “I know, but sometimes I wonder if they’re right. If I’m really holding the squad back.”

Hunter turns fully towards Wrecker, his gaze unwavering. “Wrecker, you’re an essential part of this squad. Don’t let some unfounded comments make you question that. We’re not just soldiers; we’re brothers. And brothers stick together. You’re not holding us back; you’re lifting us up with your strength, both in training and out of it.” His tone leaves no room for doubt.

Wrecker looks at Hunter, a mix of gratitude and uncertainty in his eyes. “You really think so?”

Hunter reaches out, placing a hand on Wrecker’s shoulder. “I know so. Who else could toss droids across the room like you do? Who else could diffuse a bomb so quickly without breaking into a sweat? We need your strength and steady hands, Wrecker, and more importantly, we need you. We wouldn’t be the Bad Batch without you.”

Wrecker’s tense shoulders gradually relax under Hunter’s reassuring touch. The doubt in his eyes begins to fade. He takes a deep breath, absorbing Hunter’s words.

“Thanks, Hunter. I appreciate it.” Wrecker says, a genuine smile breaking through his earlier turmoil.

Hunter nods, squeezing Wrecker’s shoulder before letting go. “Anytime, vod. Remember, the opinions of others don’t define you. We know your worth, and that’s what matters.”

Hunter’s words gradually sink in, pushing back against the doubts that had taken root in Wrecker’s mind. As they head back to the barracks together, Wrecker can’t help but feel grateful for the unwavering support.

The following day, as Wrecker takes his turn in the fresher, Hunter slips across to Tech’s bunk, gesturing with a hand for Crosshair to join them. The three boys gather, and Hunter shares what happened last night. Before he’s finished the story, Tech reaches for his datapad and other equipment strewn around his bunk area, fingers flying over the screen as he starts to pinpoint who started the thread and the names of every cadet who’d commented.

Crosshair’s expression darkens as he listens, his hawkish eyes narrowing on the information on Tech’s datapad. “We’re going to have a little chat with this individual.” He hisses, anger curling through his body that Regs were daring to pick on his brother. None of them deserved to be tormented, especially not Wrecker – he was the softest.

Tech nods in agreement, his fingers working efficiently on the datapad. “I’ve already gathered enough evidence to expose them.”

The day progresses as usual for the squad, with their training and drills occupying most of their time. Though still carrying the weight of the hurtful comments, Wrecker finds solace in his brothers’ unwavering support. Hunter keeps a watchful eye on him, and Tech and Crosshair discreetly work on their plan to confront the Reg who had started the thread.

As night approaches, the boys gather in their barracks after dinner. The atmosphere is tense, a mix of anticipation and determination. Wrecker can sense something is brewing, but his brothers maintain their usual poker faces. He decides not to pry, trusting in their brotherly bond.

They settle in for bed, comfortable in their bunks. Hunter, Tech, and Crosshair wait until they hear the familiar sounds of Wrecker’s light snores before they move, pushing back the flimsy sheets to put their plan into action.

The trio slip out of their bunks with practised stealth, moving like shadows through the dimly lit room. As they exit the room, the hallways of Tipoca City are eerily silent at this hour. Tech guides them towards the quarters of the cadet responsible for starting the thread.

They arrive at the designated quarters, one of many identical doors in the sterile corridor. Hunter knocks firmly, and a moment later, the door slides open to reveal a surprised cadet dressed for sleep.

“Hell do you want?” the cadet asks, eyeing the trio suspiciously.

Without a word, Crosshair steps forward, scowl firmly in place, making the cadet uncomfortable. Tech, meanwhile, holds up his datapad, displaying the evidence of the derogatory comments. Hunter’s gaze is stern.

“Axel, right? We need to talk.” Hunter says calmly, but there’s an undeniable edge to his voice.

Axel stammers, realizing the gravity of the situation. The brothers are not here for idle chit-chat. The door to the next room opens slightly, curious faces peeking out to see the commotion.

“Your comments about Wrecker end now.” Crosshair declares, his tone cold and uncompromising. “And we’re making sure everyone knows the consequences of targeting one of our own.”

Tech steps forward, his datapad at the ready. “We have evidence of every comment you made and the names of those who joined in. You can either stop this now and publicly apologize, or we can take this to General Ti and let her handle it.”

Axel, now visibly nervous, stumbles over his words. “I... I didn’t think it would get this serious. It was just banter, y’know?”

Hunter narrows his eyes. “Banter or not, it stops. Now.”

Axel nods quickly, realizing he’s caught in a situation he hadn’t anticipated. “Okay, okay. I’ll delete the comments, and I’ll apologize. Just... don’t involve General Ti, please.”

Crosshair leans in, his eyes piercing. “You mess with one of us; you mess with all of us. Remember that.”

The trio leaves Axel’s quarters, their message delivered. As they walk back to their own barracks, Tech speaks up. “I’ve ensured that the evidence is backed up in multiple locations. If they try anything again, we have leverage.”

Hunter nods in approval. “Good. Hopefully, this won’t happen again. We’re a team, and we protect our own.”

The three brothers slip back into their bunks in their barracks with the same practised stealth. Wrecker stirs slightly, arms tightening around Lula, but he remains blissfully unaware of the nocturnal mission his brothers had just undertaken on his behalf.

In the morning, as Wrecker and his brothers assemble for training drills again with the Regs, there’s a noticeable shift in the air. Although he’s still feeling a lingering sting from the chat boards, Wrecker picks up on the change. Only when they pause for a break, and he’s approached, does he start to piece together bits of the puzzle.

Axel approaches Wrecker with a hesitant expression. His eyes avoid direct contact, and there’s a nervous shuffle in his stance. The other cadets nearby glance between them, sensing that something is about to unfold.

“Wrecker.” Axel begins, his voice a mixture of discomfort and reluctance. “I... I wanted to apologize. I started the chat board thread, and what I said was out of line. I didn’t realize how much it would affect you. It was just stupid banter, and I didn’t think about the consequences.”

Wrecker looks at Axel with a mixture of surprise and scepticism. He wasn’t expecting an apology, and part of him wondered if this was just another act. Hunter, Tech, and Crosshair watch from a distance, ready to step in if needed.

Axel continues. “I deleted the comments, and I’m sorry for any hurt I caused. I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Wrecker studies him for a moment, then nods. “Apology accepted.” He says, surprising not just Axel but also himself. Despite the hurtful words, Wrecker knows that people can make mistakes, and perhaps this is an opportunity for growth.

Axel visibly relaxes, a mix of relief and gratitude on his face. The tension in the air began dissipating, and the other cadets exchanged glances, unsure what to make of this unexpected turn of events. Wrecker, however, feels a strange sense of closure, as if a weight has been lifted off his shoulders.

“Thanks.” Axel mumbles, still avoiding direct eye contact.

Wrecker grins, clapping a hand on Axel’s shoulder, being careful not to jostle him. “No hard feelings. Just remember, we’re all in this together.”

Axel nods, and with that, he retreats to his group, who shoot curious glances in Wrecker’s direction. The training drills resume, but the atmosphere has shifted. Wrecker notices a few glances exchanged among the cadets and the odd appreciative smile as he uses his strength to help them, but this time, he holds his head high.

Later that day, as he and his brothers gathered in their barracks, Wrecker couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratitude towards them. They hadn’t said anything, but he knew they’d played a part in Axel’s apology. Hunter, Tech, and Crosshair may not have erased the pain caused by the hurtful comments, but they’ve shown him that he’s not alone. They’ve stood by him, defended him.

As the evening progresses, the solidarity among the brothers remains strong. They fall into their usual cuddle pile, sharing laughter and snacks salvaged from the mess hall, reinforcing their unbreakable bond.

Wrecker reflects on the events of the past few days in the quiet moments before sleep claims them. The weight of doubt and hurt that had burdened his shoulders has been replaced by a newfound resilience. His brothers, the pillars of strength in his life, have reassured him of his worth and taken action to protect him. 

As Wrecker drifts into slumber, he clings to the knowledge that, no matter what challenges they might face, he’s part of a united family. In the moonlit barracks, the Bad Batch rests, stronger than ever, ready to face whatever the galaxy throws their way.

Tag list: @clonethirstingisreal

[hugmekenobi]

S2: The Bad Batch (16)

Chapter Sixteen: Plan 99

Gif by @dreamswithghosts

Hunter x femaleJedi!reader

Series Summary: Some time has passed since everything that happened at Kamino and you and the Batch are trying to figure out your place in the rapidly changing Imperial galaxy. And you're having to do all this whilst figuring out where your relationship with Hunter fits into it.

Chapter Summary: There was a mission gone wrong and then there's what happened during and after Eriadu.

Masterlist for S1

<Previous Chapter

Genre: Friends (idiots) to Lovers (we're in the lovers stage now)

Chapter Warnings: Canon-typical violence, swearing, MAJOR CHARACTER 'DEATH', HEAVY ANGST, my interpretation of thought processes, relatively detailed injury and torture descriptions, vomiting, slight hurt/comfort, brief kissing, Hemlock being a creep and just generally himself, I project my feelings again and reader makes a questionable choice but it needed to happen, no happy endings here

Word Count: 8.8K

Author's notes: If I have done my job right in any capacity, this'll be a rough one to get through. However, I promise I have a oneshot planned that'll fix some of what just happened and if S3 doesn't fix the rest, I will do it then!

You helped Hunter with opening the car doors and as you all saw the awful freefall that lay below you, you knew it was going to take a lot to get out of this situation in one piece.

“This… is not ideal.” Tech commented.

“At least we’re not hanging under the car.” Wrecker offered.

“This isn’t much better.” You said before you ducked as a round of blaster fire headed in your direction.

“Echo, get this car moving.” Hunter instructed as the rest of you fired back.

“The explosions must’ve knocked out the power to the rail line.” Echo theorised irritably.

You moved away from the edge of the doors back to the middle of the car. “What if I just take down their railcar? It wouldn’t take long.” You suggested.

Tech shook his head. “I do not think that would be wise. There would be no guarantee that the resulting impact of you destroying that line would not affect the terminal that we need to get moving. And we’d still be stuck here whilst the Empire can easily send more reinforcements and-”

“Okay, fine do it your way.” You interrupted as you went back to focusing your fire on the Imperials.

“I can try to reboot the system, but I will need to plug directly into one of the terminals on the track.” Tech said.

Hunter addressed the rest of you, “You four, give us cover, Tech up top with me.”

--

Tech and Hunter moved to the next level of the railcar and Hunter gave his brother a boost up to the roof so he could climb onto the track.

As Tech got underway, Hunter opened the other set of doors and opened fire, particularly on any soldiers that were aiming for Tech.

--

“I am plugged in. Stand by.” Tech said into his comm as he got to work.

--

You all were doing a decent enough job at holding them back. They had more numbers, but your squad was more skilled, so you were managing okay.

That feeling of things being under control did not last long as Hunter heard the familiar sounds of ships coming your way. “We’ve got three ships inbound.”

You muttered a series of expletives as you scanned the sky around you for them.

“Where? I can’t see them.” Omega asked fearfully.

“Tech, we need power!” You urged into you comm as you could hear them drawing closer with each passing second.

You all took up positions to open fire on them, but it did very little. The ships got a round of shots away and you had to fight to stay balanced as the car shook with the impact.

Tech stared at his datapad and finally the screen turned green. He tapped his comm, “Echo, now!”

Upon Tech’s word, Echo plugged back in, and the railcar finally came back online.

“Tech, get your ass back here.” You hurried as you saw the ships getting ready to make another pass.

Tech unplugged and got himself across to the main track and started running but he could hear the ships getting nearer.  

Hunter concentrated his fire on the oncoming ships. He was able to clip one in the wing and it collided into another which he thought would be enough.

It wasn’t.

The third ship came speeding through and fired a series off shots that found their mark. You all stumbled inside the car as it violently shook and struggled against the onslaught of blaster fire.

The explosion flung Tech backwards, and he fell from the track onto the roof of the bottom half of the car. He tried to stand but the resulting shot had seen to it that the back of the railcar was tearing itself away from the track and as it titled backwards, he went with it. He managed to hook his grappling cable onto one of the grates, but he was stuck hanging over the abyss.

--

“Come on, Tech! Hurry!” Wrecker implored as he peered down the broken end of the railcar.

“I am climbing as fast as I can.” Tech replied with a grunt as he started to make his way up the cable, but the additional weight and well-placed rogue enemy blaster fire exacerbated the fragile state of the car and it lurched backwards, sending him further down the cable once more.

“Tech!” Omega cried as she saw him fall whilst Wrecker debated the best way to get down the sloped hallway.

“Why aren’t we moving?” Hunter asked Echo as he took refuge from the blaster fire.

“The car’s being ripped from the track.” Another harsh vibration sounded shook through it as he tried to get it moving.

“Wrecker, get him on board.” Hunter pressed, desperation seeping into his voice, before he opened fire on the soldiers again.

Wrecker made to step down, but the car dipped significantly.

“Don’t!” Tech yelled as he fell down even further. “Any shift in weight could send both of these cars over.”

You glanced behind you at Wrecker and Omega and made the call that the others could hold the troopers off. You needed to help Tech now. Channelling the Force, you focused on the point where the two hinges met but it was already fragile, and it would take a lot of energy and focus to keep them together since they were wanting to do anything but and the circumstances were hardly ideal to have that focus but you had to make it work. You could hear more ships coming but you ignored them, you didn’t care.

“You must sever the connection hinge. Now!” Tech instructed.

“Not until you’re up here.” Wrecker argued.

“Tech, I can hold them, just climb or let Wrecker-”

“You can’t keep them steady and wait for me to get up there with the time we have left.” Tech interrupted you as he saw the ships in the distance closing in again.

“She’s got it, Tech.” Wrecker said, doing his best to keep the distress out of his voice as he edged his way forward. As he did so, the cart swayed forward, and he glanced back at you.

“Go.” You said through gritted teeth as you focused on keeping both carts level, but each moment of blaster fire and Wrecker’s added weight were making it harder.

Tech fell a few more metres as the cart continued to pull itself away from the track. He looked around and he knew what he had to do. He needed you all to get away. He wasn’t wrong about this. You all would make it out. He just needed to take himself out of the equation. “There is no time.” He pulled out his blaster. “Plan 99.”

Your heart plummeted. Not that plan, any plan but that one.

Wrecker’s heart filled with dread.

Omega felt nothing but panic.

“Tech, please-” You broke off as you channelled more of your energy into keeping both carts stable, but another round of shots meant the car swung again. Your knees buckled and your hold faltered slightly.

“Don’t you do it, Tech.” Wrecker ordered as he tried to creep forward once more but the cart continued to protest against the strain.

Tech sighed before he accepted his next course of action. It was, in a way, a rather easy decision. Omega had once asked him if they were a family. His answer had been yes, and it was true. He just didn’t think he’d really said it enough, but he loved his family. And what do families do? They protect each other… and that’s exactly what he was going to do. “When have we ever followed orders?” With that, he fired a shot through the glass of the railcar that met its mark, and the connection hinge was severed.

Even if you could hold it, you were out of time. The ships would make their pass at any second and you couldn’t prevent your section of the railcar reconnecting or else none of you would make it out of this.

And you hated it. You fucking hated it, but you were left with no choice; you dropped your hands, released your hold and watched in agony as Tech fell.

“No!” Wrecker cried out as he helplessly watched his brother fade from view and there was nothing he could do nothing to stop it.

“Tech!” Omega yelled.

The railcar reconnected to the track and sped away from the troopers on the opposite side.

Hunter grabbed Omega’s wrist as she moved closer to the open end of the car. “Omega-”

“Go back! Go back!” She said desperately, reaching out as if she could still grab him.

You felt numb. You couldn’t move. Every other noise around you sounded fuzzy. The skulking darkness that had been circling you since Saw Gerrera showed up was asking for a way in. It took every fibre of control to not let it. Hunter’s voice dragged you back to the current moment.

“The car’s going too fast.” Hunter said urgently.

“The system’s fried. I can’t stop it.” Echo replied, desperately trying to plug back in to do something to stop the rapid descent as the back wall of the station grew dangerously close.

You knew your help wouldn’t be fast enough either, and you felt Hunter’s internal conflict as his helmeted gaze darted between you and Omega. It’s Omega first, every time.

Hunter lunged for her just as the cart collided and smashed through the wall of the terminal.

--

Everything was grey, and dull and bleak.

If it wasn’t for the bitter scent of smoke in the air, she wouldn’t have been sure that she’d even opened her eyes at first.

Debris from the wreckage surrounded her.

And she ached. Her entire body burned with the pain it took to stand.

Tech. She needed to find Tech. He couldn’t be far. She called his name but only managed a few paces before she collapsed once more.

She tried to fight it, but it hurt too much, and the encroaching darkness was too tempting.

As the pain overwhelmed her, she didn’t have the strength to turn it away.

--

You groaned as you came to and immediately felt woozy as you attempted to sit up. Your hood had already come loose from the collision, but you pushed your mask down to catch your breath and breathe through the soreness radiating through your body.

You brushed the dirt off your face but felt something wet leaving a trail down your cheek. You took off your glove and touched it to find your fingertips covered in blood. You carefully followed the path of blood to the source and winced as you touched the oozing deep cut by your temple. Fighting the dizziness, you looked around to see the others pushing themselves up but then your eyes caught sight of an unmoving figure and your blood ran cold.

You forced yourself to stand, ignoring the shooting pain that coursed through your ankle, and staggered over to Omega. You dropped to your knees next to her and felt for a pulse, which thankfully you found but it was weak. “Omega, come on honey, open your eyes for me.” You begged her as her body shivered beneath your touch. You felt the others come by your side. You hung your head in relief when you saw her eyes flicker open, but she couldn’t stay awake, and you knew she was in bad shape.

“We have to get her out of here.” Hunter said, doing his best to not let the panic he felt upon seeing her like this come through.

Wrecker picked her up. “I got you, kid.”

“Incoming! Get to the Marauder!” Echo shouted as Imperial reinforcements arrived.

You picked up Omega’s bow and provided Wrecker and Omega cover fire as you all retreated back to your ship.

--

“Head to Ord Mantell. AZ can help her. Hurry!” Hunter instructed Echo as he made his way to the cockpit.

You watched Wrecker gently place her down on your bunk whilst Echo got the ship in the air and into hyperspace.

“You’re bleeding.” Hunter stated, worry etched in his voice as he brushed some of your hair back and caught sight of the mix of fresh and dried blood on your skin.

“I’m fine.” You said groggily as the fading adrenaline meant you had to work harder to fight against the light-headedness you were experiencing. You then noticed the awkward way he clutched his forearm and at the fact standing up straight appeared to cause him some issues. “Are you okay?”

Hunter didn’t answer directly. “Are any of us?”

You glanced around you and felt the anguish in everybody that you knew also resided in your own heart. “No, no we’re not.”

You focused on watching Omega’s chest rise and fall as a way to keep you grounded and willed the journey to go quickly.

--

“Cid, AZ, we need your help!” You shouted as you limped into the parlour.

Cid took in all of your various injured states and nodded, too taken aback to offer anything else.

AZ dropped the cleaning supplies he was using and flew over to Wrecker. “Follow me.” He led the way to Cid’s room.

“It is best if you leave, and I can work on her without distraction.” AZ instructed.

Neither of them really wanted to, but they didn’t want their presence to be a problem, so they did as he said.

“Where’s Goggles?” Cid asked as Hunter and Wrecker came back into the main parlour.

And it was that question that snapped you all out of what ever fatigued state of denial you were in.

You half collapsed into one of the booths and blinked back the angry, grief-stricken tears that threatened to escape.

Wrecker released a shaky breath and just shook his head as he sat down on one of the bar stools.

And Echo- now that he knew Omega was getting the medical attention she needed- just left the room. For the first time in his life, he needed the solitude.

“We- we lost him.” Hunter just about managed to say as the loss overwhelmed him and he sat down next to you. He welcomed the loving hold you took of his hand as you rested it in your lap and rubbed circles on the back of it and was grateful for tender way you pulled his head to rest on your shoulder. He ignored the slight discomfort the position caused him.

“I’ll give you guys some time alone.” Cid said quietly as she made her way towards the exit.

You all were in too much pain and too emotionally exhausted to notice the comm she took with her.

--

You’d lost track of how long you’d all spent waiting for AZ to come back with news so when he finally entered the room, the room was ripe with nervous tension. She had to be okay. She just had to be.

“AZ?” You said uneasily.

“Omega’s injuries were severe, but I have stabilised her and she should recover. It is just a matter of time of waiting for her to wake up.”

You all let out a collective breath of relief.

“Thank you.” Hunter said gratefully.

AZ nodded. “Now, what injuries of yours can I assist with?”

“(Y/N) has an actively bleeding head injury and a wounded ankle and Wrecker’s neck is causing him problems. Leave me for last.” Hunter said.

You knew disputing the order wouldn’t be helpful to anyone right now, so you let AZ come over to you first.

--

After you all were taken care of, AZ went back to monitor Omega and give you guys some space.

“What are we going to do now?” Wrecker asked as AZ left.

Hunter sighed deeply. “We have nothing to go on. No location, no leads. Nothing. And with Tech-” He broke off with a cough before continuing, “With Tech gone and Omega being hurt like that…” He paused for a moment as he considered his next words, “I can’t put her through something like this again. I can’t put any of you through it again. We’re done. We’ll find somewhere to settle.”

“What about Pabu?” Wrecker offered quietly. “She likes it, and we were going to settle there anyway… right?”

Hunter looked to you and you nodded. “He gave us another chance. We should take it any way we can.” You said, clearing your throat as the pain of the loss threatened to overcome you.

“Alright.” Hunter said before he got to his feet. “I’m going to go wait until Omega wakes up.” He left the room.

“Wrecker, will you be okay for a moment?” You asked as you also stood.

Wrecker understood. “Go.”

You bowed your head in thanks and followed Hunter.

--

You paused by the doorway and studied the way he sat in the chair as he watched over Omega. His posture was tense, and his leg bounced anxiously. You knew he was barely keeping it together, but he was making himself because he was still the leader and had to be. But you wanted to give him a chance to let himself drop the appearance, if only for a moment.

“You don’t have to be strong right now. Not in front of me.” You walked around to the front of the seat and kneeled in front of him. You placed your hand on his cheek to turn his face towards you as he was keeping his eyes firmly on Omega. At your words, it looked like a weight just left his body and he let his head and shoulders hang lowly.

“That plan was never supposed to be used.” He uttered, his throat bobbing as the mask of composure started to drop.

Your heart ached as you felt the guilt and sorrow within him. You reached up and placed your arms around his neck and just held him close to you. I’m so sorry.

“I only got two of them.” Hunter mumbled into the crook of your neck as he met your embrace.

“Hmm?”

“The ships. There were three and I only got two of them. If I had just made sure, he wouldn’t have fallen from the track. The third got the shot away that killed him.”

You pulled away as you picked up on the way the typical rasp in his voice got lower and more uneven. You cupped his face in your hands and rubbed away the stray tears. “Hunter, you can’t do that to yourself.”

“I was supposed to look after us. By taking that mission, I put everyone in danger and look what happened.”

“You went because you knew it was the right thing to do. It gave us a last chance to get Crosshair back. What happened-” You took a second to draw a calming breath of your own. “What happened was cruel and unfair, but it wasn’t your fault. I know that guilt may never truly fade, I’ve been there, but you still have the rest of us. You still have me. Whenever you need a reminder that this was not your doing, I will be there, I promise.”

Hunter couldn’t help but search for any doubt or lies in your eyes and voice but found none. He pressed his lips into your palm and the sincerity and love in your tone served to remind him that he could do this. “We’ve lost two brothers.”

You brought your forehead to press against his and whispered understandingly, “I know.”

“I can’t lose anyone else.” He breathed against your lips, but he could feel himself starting to regain the composure he knew he was going to need for what was to come.  

You placed a delicate kiss to his mouth. “You won’t.” You caressed your thumb along his cheek before you stood behind him with your hands on his shoulders as you both waited for Omega to come back around.

--

“Hunter? (Y/N)?” Omega winced with a groan as her eyes opened once more and saw you both standing by her bedside, the worry on your faces now becoming relief.

“Hiya, kid.” Hunter said warmly as he brushed some of her hair back and reached for her hand.

She let Hunter support her back as she tried to sit up and took in the various bandages that graced both of you and her own fading pain prompted the reminder that the mission had gone very wrong. “What happened?”

Before either of you could reply, AZ whirred into the room and Hunter delicately laid her back down.

“Hello, Omega. I am relieved you are awake.” He scanned her. “You each sustained multiple injuries. However, you all will make a full recovery with proper treatment and rest.”

His reassurance helped calm the anxiety you were feeling over her injuries. You tenderly hugged her as Hunter assisted in getting her upright.

“You’re- You’re okay.” Wrecker said with relief as he came into the room. He crouched in front of her. “Don’t scare us like that again.” He put an arm around her in a fond embrace.

You passed her some water. “How do you feel?”

Omega took it from you but didn’t drink it. “I don’t know. The last thing I remember, we were in the railcar when…” She released a horrified gasp as the images came flooding back. “Where’s Tech?”

“Omega, Tech didn’t make it.” Hunter said, his voiced laced with sadness at having to tell her this again. Part of him had hoped she’d remember so she wouldn’t have to go re-experience the hurt of the loss.

“We have to go back! What if he’s hurt? He- He need us. Tell him, Wrecker. We can’t just leave him!” But Wrecker only looked back at her with nothing but sorrow on his face.

“Omega…” Your voice cracked slightly as you attempted to rest a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Omega hit your hand away. “No! Tech’s not gone! He- He can’t be!” Tears fell down her face.

Her reaction nearly broke you all over again.

“I- I know, kid.” Hunter said quietly as he moved to sit beside her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

Reliving it all got too much for Wrecker. He wiped his eyes and backed out of the room.

You glanced over your shoulder as Wrecker left and you knew Hunter needed to talk to Omega about what the rest of you had discussed. “I’ll give you two a minute.” You said, your voice still thick with emotion.

--

“Why did Tech do that?” Omega said tearfully after you and Wrecker had left. She wiped her eyes. “He didn’t let us save him.”

“He knew we were out of time.” Hunter explained as simply as he could. “Tech put the squad ahead of himself. He made a sacrifice, Omega, and we’re not gonna waste it.”

“What does that mean?”

“The galaxy has changed, and so have we. It’s time to put being soldiers behind us for good. The three of us think Pabu could be a good place to make a new life for ourselves. And the rest of it, well, we can figure out along the way. Omega, is that something you want?”

She thought it through for a moment before she nodded.

“Then that’s what we’ll do.” Hunter said. This would work. You all could heal together and make it out okay. It would get better.

--

You pulled yourself onto the bar stool next to the one Wrecker was sitting on. “What can I do?” You asked caringly. You knew there was nothing you could say that would immediately ease the pain of grief, but if there was anything you could do to help, you would.

“Just being here is fine.” Wrecker mumbled roughly as he kept his emotions at bay.

You rested your hand on top of his- an act he gently mirrored with his own before he removed his hand. You know I love you, right? It was a sentiment you realised you had not shared enough with the others and you didn’t want that to continue anymore.

Wrecker breathed deeply. “I love you too… and it’s not just because you’re with Hunter. You became a part of this family long before that.”

The genuine and heartfelt way he said that touched you deeply. You swallowed the lump that formed in your throat. “It’s a pretty good family to have.”

“Tech would’ve been able to tell you the exact date, I’m sure he kept a record of it.” Wrecker said with a sad chuckle.

You managed a half smile at his words. “That would be in character for him.”

A natural quiet descended on the two of you.

“Did we miss something? Did we miss a way to save him?” Wrecker asked into the silence.

The question was one you had been torturing yourself with ever since the ship had left Eriadu. “What we needed was time, and- and Tech knew we were out of it by that point.”

“Yeah.” Wrecker released a dejected sigh. “He always was the smart one.”

--

“Here. These are on the house.” Cid gifted you both a drink.

“It won’t help.” Wrecker said as he nudged it out the way.

You did the same.

“I’m sorry about Goggles. I always liked him.” Cid said sympathetically.

“Yeah. Us too.” Wrecker said with a crestfallen sigh.

Despite her words, you, and Wrecker both noticed the way she kept avoiding eye contact with both of you.

“What’s with you?” Wrecker asked.

Cid gulped, “You know, I tried to look out for you guys. But you got too much heat on you. And you brought it here to my place of business. I had to make the best of a bad situation.”

You picked up on her awkwardness and agitation. “Cid, what did you do?” You asked as a hollow pit of dread sat heavy in your stomach.

“I’m sorry.” That was all she said before she looked to the door.

You and Wrecker followed her stare, and a squadron of Imperial troopers came marching through the door with their blasters drawn.

You both instinctively reached for your blasters, but both of yours had been lost in the crash.

Wrecker was unaffected by the first stun blast that contacted him, and he charged at the group, but his neck brace severely limited his mobility.

You dodged the stun shot that was sent your way and realised keeping up a pretence would be pointless now. You threw your vibroblade into the shoulder of the closest threat to you before you Force-pushed multiple troopers against the back wall and used your ally to snap the wrists of others that aimed for you.

“Stop!”

You turned in the direction of the voice to see Wrecker half-conscious, kneeling on the floor with his wrists bound and a trooper holding a blaster to his head whilst the squad regrouped and pointed their weapons at you.

Your jaw tightened but you did as he ordered and let them take you. A kick to the backs of your knees brought you down. They took your comm off you and, judging by the way the cuffs he put on you were slightly different to Wrecker’s, they’d come prepared. You weren’t going to have an easy way out.

“She was right, Sir. This is the Jedi.” One of the troopers that was holding you down by the top of your shoulder said to Doctor Hemlock as he came through the crowd to stand at the front.

You glanced up at the man you now recognised as Doctor Hemlock who was staring down at you.

“Wonderful.”

--

He’d acted quickly when he knew the Empire was here and he’d kept Omega safe. That’s what mattered first. She was in the mining tunnels and on her way to Echo. The Empire wouldn’t find her. He could now focus on getting you and Wrecker back.

Hunter rounded the corner to the main parlour with his blaster drawn but his heart stopped at the sight. Both you and Wrecker were cuffed and being held at gunpoint by Imperials and Hemlock was right in the middle. He advanced forward a few paces, but the troopers focused their blasters on him.

“That’s not very strategic, Hunter.” Hemlock cautioned. “You don’t need to use your enhanced senses to know you’re outnumbered.” He turned his attention to the owner of the parlour. “The Empire thanks you for your assistance. Our business is done. Leave.”

“You piece of shit.” You hissed as you fought against the grip the troopers had on you as you watched her take the case of credits and walk out the door.

“Please consider your next move very carefully. I would hate for this to end poorly for all of you.” Hemlock advised. He paused and studied your handiwork on the wounded that were now being evacuated from the building. “Such an exquisite creature.” He brushed the fingers of his ungloved hand across your cheek. “You chose well.” He complimented the Sergeant.

You recoiled from his touch.

“Don’t fucking touch her.” Hunter snarled.

Hemlock ignored the clone for now and kept his attention on you. He lifted your cuffs by the middle. “How can someone so powerful be limited so easily?” He dropped your wrists. “Please. Do me the honour of just trying to use it.”

You stared him down in refusal.

“Or both of them will be killed.” Hemlock said simply.

You gritted your teeth and hoped the message behind your eyes as you looked to Hunter was clear- he had to keep it together.

Hunter didn’t understand what was about to happen. You were telling him to stay calm and remain where he was, but he didn’t fully know why. What was Hemlock talking about?

You braced yourself as you did as Hemlock said. You were met with the expected electric current that shot through your system. You didn’t cry out despite the pain; you didn’t want to give him the satisfaction, but you couldn’t help but fall forward on all fours. You had to take a few deep breaths before kneeling upright once more. The binds themselves had also grown tighter.

“Incredible.” Hemlock mused. “Years spent studying your people and the Force and we have barely scratched the surface of understanding you, yet science still finds ways to prove itself. Go again.”

“No!” Hunter protested. Watching you do that once was bad enough and you were hiding it well, but he knew you were in pain, and he couldn’t let it continue. Instinct took over and he moved a half step closer to you, but the line of blasters stopped him from advancing.

“How touching.” Hemlock mocked, internally thrilled that the reaction from both of you had been as he predicted. It made the process far more enjoyable. “But if you value your fellow clone’s life, you will not stop this.”

“I can- I can handle it.” You said breathlessly as a way reassure Hunter and stop him from doing anything reckless- you knew this torture was as much for him as it was for you, and you needed him alive. But you couldn’t prevent the pained grunt that left your mouth this time and you fell forward once more, and the cuffs pinched the skin of your wrists.

“Again.” Hemlock ordered you.

“Don’t.” Hunter pleaded, but he wasn’t talking to Hemlock, he was looking at you. This wasn’t something you should have to handle. There had to be another way. He should be the one to take that pain.

Whatever it required to keep them both alive. “It’s okay.” You said, your voice hoarse. You did it again and an audible cry fell from your lips.

Hemlock waited until you sat up. “Again.” He demanded.

You inhaled with a wince and did as he said.

The cycle continued until Hemlock said otherwise.

--

Hunter wanted to stop it. Despite your words, his resolve was weakening by the second. The only thing stopping him from doing something was that Wrecker’s life was also involved here but he couldn’t stand that all he could do was watch you go through this torment over and over again.

Wrecker struggled against his captors as he watched, but they were too many securing him.

“Stop.” Hunter finally growled at Hemlock after this last round saw to it that you were barely able to right yourself. He saw your arms give out from beneath you with the effort it took to remove yourself from the ground. And from the way you were trying to flex them, he guessed you were losing feeling in your fingers.

Hemlock smirked, “I am merely giving her a preview of what’s to come. I need to know what it’ll take to crush someone like her.”

He kneeled beside your crumpled body and spoke into your ear. “I will look forward to breaking you.” He kept eye-contact Hunter.

Hunter was clenching his jaw so hard that his teeth hurt. The thought sickened him.

You believed him. That quiet, menacing tone in his voice told you he truly meant what he was saying and… and that brought out a level of fear you’d never felt before. But you wouldn’t let that happen yet. Your arms trembled as you braced your palms against the floor and you panted through the throbbing discomfort in your body, but you managed to get back to a kneeling position. In a way, you were also grateful for the harsh but secure hold the troopers resumed since it meant you weren’t required to keep yourself stable.

“Such resolve.” Hemlock whispered to you. “And now onto the other matter at hand.” He said breezily as he stood upright once more and addressed Hunter. “Here’s how this is going to go. You will lower your blaster and hand over Omega. And I will allow you to keep breathing.”

“Omega’s not going anywhere with you.”

The fierce protectiveness of the clone brought out a soft snicker from Hemlock. “Oh. Well, who knew clones are so paternal? Fascinating.”

To hear that observation come from that man had bile rising in your throat.

“I was saddened to learn of your friend’s demise. What was his name? Oh, yes. Tech.” Hemlock taunted cruelly.

“Don’t fucking say his name.” You spat as you strained against your captors. An act Wrecker joined you on.

Hemlock merely reached his hand out to one of the soldiers and took the object. “I’m afraid this was all I could salvage. Consider it a gift.” He tossed the broken goggles across the room to Hunter’s feet.

Your strength was returning and at Hemlock’s actions, you attempted to lunge for him, but the troopers acted quickly and, with a strong grip on your shoulders, they forced you back to your knees.

Hemlock was unphased and stepped forward a few paces. “To lose one of your own, it must weigh heavily on you as their leader.” He signalled back to his men who pressed their blasters against the back of yours and Wreckers heads. “And if you don’t lower the blaster now, you will lose more.”

Hunter looked past Hemlock and you and Wrecker.

Wrecker did the best he could do to shake his head.

“Hunter, n-” The sharp tap of a blaster interrupted you.

He wasn’t losing any anyone else. And with Omega gone, the rest of you could find a way out.

You helplessly watched as Hunter put the blaster down and delicately picked up and studied Tech’s goggles.

“Wise decision.” Hemlock praised before he waved his men forward.

Hunter let them pass and allowed himself to be cuffed and brought over to join the two of you.

You and Wrecker were pulled to your feet, and you attempted to wriggle out of their grip, but they wouldn’t give.

“Sir, the girl’s not in the office.” The troopers informed Hemlock as they came back out.

You and Wrecker glanced at Hunter who subtly nodded at the two of you.

You and Wrecker shared a small breath of relief. As long as she was safe, you could manage whatever came next.

“She’s long gone. Like I said, Omega’s not going anywhere with you.” Hunter said to Hemlock.

Hemlock merely hummed. “We’ll see.”

The three of you were escorted out but what you couldn’t work out was why you were still being physically restrained whilst the other two got to walk normally.

--

Ord Mantell was in chaos.

People were screaming and clamouring to get out of the way of the Imperial soldiers and AT-AT walkers that were making their presence known.

 A series of warning blaster fire halted you all from continuing. You turned in the direction of the fire and your stomach dropped as you saw who was on an upper platform staring down at the rest of you. No, she wasn’t supposed to be here.

“Lower your weapons.” Hemlock instructed his soldiers before he called over to the young girl, “Hello, Omega. We were just talking about you.”

Omega kept her bow activated. “Let them go!”

“Omega, run!” Hunter shouted before he got held back by one of the troopers.

“I won’t let them take you.”

“How about an exchange? If you come with me, your friends will live.” Hemlock negotiated.

“You fucking bastard.” You seethed as you pulled against the hands that were holding the upper part of your arms.

“I don’t believe you.” Omega replied suspiciously.

“I did not come here for them, Omega. I came to return you to Nala Se. She needs your help.”

“He’s lying. They killed the Kaminoans.” Hunter countered.

“Incorrect. Nala Se is alive and well care for.” Hemlock retorted before he returned his attention to the girl. “As you will be.”

“I’m not going with you.” Omega affirmed but she didn’t sense the clone trooper behind her.

“Omega, look out!” You shouted but it was too late.

All of you watched with devastation as Omega met the receiving end of a stun shot and her limp body got picked up by the trooper.

“Scour the city. When you find the third clone, send them back to Eriadu. Governor Tarkin wishes to question you personally.” Hemlock walked over to you. “But you…” He smiled coldly at you. “Your use lies elsewhere.”

Your heart shattered as you realised what that meant.

Hunter’s head turned sharply to look from Hemlock to you and the pained panic on your face mirrored his own. He reacted instantly and ran for you, but he didn’t make it far before the troopers separating the two of you got in the way and shoved him back. He continued to try and fight his way through, but the cuffs limited his effectiveness and a strong punch to his stomach winded him and he hunched over in discomfort. He took a few deep breaths and wriggled free of the two soldiers that had come to bring him back in and tried again but this time he was met with a kick to his already wounded torso.

You were shouting unintelligible sounds of protest as you writhed and struggled against the strong hands holding you back and attempting to drag you away. You managed to stamp on the foot on one of your captors and elbow one of the others in the stomach and their grip faltered.

But they regrouped quickly.

A swift hit of a blaster on your still wounded head had you blinking away black dots. You could do nothing to stop the severe grip one trooper took on the back of your neck, forcing you to hunch over whilst the others grabbed your arms and got ready to take you away.

“Let them.” Hemlock held a hand up to stop the actions of his soldiers. It would only help with his process. Let the two of you have the chance at a last moment together dictated by him and stopped by him. The emotional turmoil it would create would play beautifully.

Still half-dazed, when the troopers let you go, you were left with no choice but to fall to the ground.

Hunter shoved past the line of soldiers and knelt before you. As gently as he could manage, he placed his hands under your chin to push your head up. “I love you.” Hunter choked out.

Hemlock signalled his men.

You wanted to say so much more but you didn’t have the time. “I love you too.” You replied, your voice cracking. Your lips met for the briefest of moments but that was all you managed before you got hauled to your feet and they yanked you away from him.

As he watched your fading figure, Hunter didn’t have the strength to fight the troopers that lifted him to his feet and led him and Wrecker in the opposite direction.

--

The only thing that was keeping you from giving into the pounding agony that was bouncing around your skull was that Omega was now being carried alongside you. You would hang on for her.

“What are we doing?” One of the remaining troopers asked as he saw the group split off.

“Doctor Hemlock wants her getting a separate shuttle in case the others get away and come looking for them.” The clone in charge of the group answered.

“Please.” You begged with a broken breath as you saw the group separate and Hemlock disappeared down the street with Omega. “Just let me go with her. I won’t-” The butt of a blaster meeting your cheekbone shut you up and you groaned with the stinging pain it left you. Your vision kept blurring in and out of focus.

“Quiet! Keep walking!” The trooper ordered you.

You had so little resolve left. Hopelessness had overwhelmed you, so you followed their orders, your feet dragging as they led you in the direction of wherever the other shuttle was.  

--

Hunter could feel the fight leaving him as he and Wrecker were escorted to the shuttle that would take them to Eriadu. So much of what he cared about had been ripped from him and now the remaining people in his life that he loved would pay the price for his failure. The echoes of explosions and blaster fire grabbed his attention, and he looked up to see a walker come stomping round the corner but it’s aim was directed towards the Imperials.

“Echo?” Wrecker asked.

“Gotta be Echo.” Hunter agreed as he dug deep for the energy to fight back.

Wrecker broke his cuffs open on the top of his knee and Hunter landed a kick to the trooper behind him to give Wrecker time to undo his cuffs.

The two of them worked on taking care of the remaining troopers and stole their blasters and fired on the clones that were aiming for Echo’s walker. What they couldn’t stop however, was the next walker that rounded the corner that fired on Echo’s.

Echo went to the hatch and jumped out of the walker just as it collapsed to the ground.

“Where are the other two?” Echo asked as he emerged from the downed walker with AZ and took cover with his brothers.

“That Imperial took them.” Wrecker answered.

“It was Hemlock. We’ve got to stop his ship from leaving.” Hunter said.

The three of them scanned for ways out but reinforcements were arriving from both sides. It was then though that Hunter noticed a platform that ran above the landing pad where Hemlock’s shuttle must be and the group of them made their way up to it, avoiding enemy fire as they did so.

--

Hunter ran ahead to the edge of the platform and could only watch with despair and agony as Hemlock’s shuttle took off. He paid no attention to the surrounding sounds of blaster fire; he couldn’t turn his gaze away from the departing ship.

Half his life was on that ship.

Hell, his heart was on that ship.

And he couldn’t stop it.

He couldn’t stop any of it.

And it broke something in him.

It killed him.

Echo’s voice dragged him back.

“Hunter, we have to go!”

Hunter managed to find his voice. “Get to the Marauder!” He ordered and the three of them started to run once more.

--

They made it to their ship and managed to take off but there was no relief in the feeling. The air was thick with grief and loss.

“There was no way to track Hemlock’s ship. He could’ve taken them anywhere.” Echo said forlornly from the cockpit.

Hunter glanced back to where Omega’s room was, then he saw Wrecker cradling Tech’s goggles. Then he found himself fiddling with the cord around his neck and his fingertips grazed the small symbol attached to it. He’d failed so many people. Everything he’d promised both to himself and to his squad had fallen apart so quickly before his eyes and he couldn’t do anything to stop it. Well, no more. He refused to let this be how things ended. “We are going to get them back.” He said darkly. “And we don’t stop searching until we do.”

--

The shuttle you were being taken to was on the other side of the city, but you had finally arrived.

The ramp lowered and you didn’t resist them as they nudged you towards it.

You walked a couple paces but then you spotted the smoke bomb thrown at your feet.

Fog engulfed you.

You were set free but all you registered were the panicked shouts and shots from blasters around you.

The Imperials didn’t last long, in rapid succession you heard the thud of each body that had brought you here.

Then everything went quiet.

A hand from behind grabbed your shoulder.

You reacted quickly and swerved out of the grip and whipped around to land a punch wherever you could reach. You heard the satisfying thump of your fists meeting bone and the figure backed away a few paces.

You readied yourself for the next attack, but it didn’t come.

“That’s a hell of a punch you’ve got. Would hate to see what you’re like when you don’t have cuffs on you.”

You recognised that voice and you pushed the faintness away and peered through the smoke at the figure approaching you, sniper rifle on her shoulder as she massaged her jaw. You relaxed your stance. “Lyra?”

“Hey, stranger.” She greeted you as she began picking the locks of your cuffs.

“What are you doing here?” You massaged your wrists as your binds came loose and you felt the Force start to flow through you again, but it felt… tainted. You searched in the Force around you for any sign of them, but there was nothing there. You really wished that meant they’d found a way out and escaped safely but everything felt disconnected. You weren’t yourself; something had shifted, and you weren’t sure if you would be able to right yourself anymore.

“Rescuing you, kinda thought that much was obvious. Where are the others?”

You felt your throat tighten as you searched for the words, but you couldn’t find them, and your stomach turned with both the aching in your head and your heart. You braced your hands on your knees and threw up.

The smoke had cleared, and Lyra was able to take you in properly. Your ankle was strapped, the skin on your cheek had broken and a purple bruise was starting to take shape and the stitches by your temple were starting to tear open as specks of blood escape the wound. It also wasn’t just your obvious injuries she saw- your body looked heavy with defeat. “What do you need?” She asked kindly.

“I need a ship.” You rasped as you wiped your mouth and stood up.

“You have one.” Lyra pointed to the shuttle right next to you.

“No. I wouldn’t get out of the system in that. They’d find me immediately.” You reached down and took a blaster from one of the unconscious bodies.

“So, you need something off the grid that would not pass any standardised mechanical check?”

“Add in an already scrambled signature and yeah pretty much.” You inhaled deeply as another wave of nausea hit you.

“I know someone who owes me a favour and makes a living from selling ships like that. Can’t promise we’ll get very far but it could work.” She paused as she saw the way you still swayed on your feet. “Are you sure you’re up for that? I can go myself and meet-”

“I’m not getting separated from anyone else.” You said sharply before you straightened your shoulders. “Lead the way.”

--

You waited as Lyra squared up deal and studied your way out of here. The ship did look like a hunk of scrap metal, but it would get you out unnoticed and that’s all that mattered.

“Okay, let’s go.” Lyra said as she came over to you.

You sighed, “Lyra, thank you. For all of this. But you can’t come with me.”

Lyra placed her hands on hips in defiance. “I have nothing here, they wrecked my stall and raided the other stores. I’m going with you. At the very least, you need someone to treat that serious concussion properly.”

Dealing with your injuries were way down on your priority list. You could feel it creeping in again and you weren’t sure you had the strength to oppose it anymore. “What I am… what I’m going to do, you shouldn’t be around for. I can’t-”

“Can’t be worse than what I’ve seen already. Come on, we gotta get going.” She said with finality as she walked past you and up the ramp to the ship.

On her head be it. You thought to yourself as you followed her up and she got the ship in the air.

--

Omega walked out the Imperial shuttle with a deep sense of unease. She recognised Mount Tantiss and the presence of Nala Se troubled her. She feared for what this doctor had planned for her.

“Have Emerie see to her injuries.” Hemlock ordered the assistant that came to greet them.

Omega didn’t follow the woman, she just looked to Nala Se. “Why did they bring me here?” She didn’t get to hear a reply for the trooper behind her prodded her back to make her go inside.

Hemlock addressed the Kaminoan after Omega was out of earshot. “Your prime minister mentioned you had an attachment to the young clone, so I’ve returned her to you. Perhaps now, you will reconsider working on the Emperor’s project.”

“What he seeks is not possible.” Nale Se argued.

“Make it possible. If you refuse or fail, Omega will suffer the consequences.” Hemlock threatened.

Satisfied that his threat had landed effectively, he waved the Kaminoan away and went to go inside but a clone voice stopped him.

“Sir, we’ve heard reports on an attack on the squad escorting the Jedi and the shuttle never checked in. It would seem she escaped.”

Hemlock had to hide his surprise. Clearly something had happened he had not anticipated. “That is… unfortunate, but we’ll make do… for now.”

--

Omega was led into a lab and what she saw horrified her. There were tubes and rows of unconscious clones strapped down onto testing tables. Then her eyes caught sight of someone she knew. “Crosshair!”

She ran over to him and tried to rouse him, “Crosshair? Crosshair?” He showed no signs of movement. She heard the sound of oncoming footsteps and turned to see the woman that must be ‘Emerie’ standing behind her.

“You must be Omega.” Emerie said.

“What did you do to Crosshair?” She asked angrily.

“He’s recovering. I tried to warn him what would happen if he did not cooperate with the doctor.”

“I want to talk to Nala Se.”

“Ironic. You trust the Kaminoan, but not me.”

“I don’t know you.”

“No?” Emerie kneeled in front of the young girl and removed her glasses. “You might know me better than you think.”

Omega furrowed her brow.

“We’re sisters, Omega.”

--

Lyra finished tending to your head and cheek before she went to the cockpit to give you some time.

As you stared down the corridor and out into the blue clouds of hyperspace, you gained a true moment of clarity. The galaxy and the Empire had taken much from you, but you’d always been able to push through.

In a strange way, you’d even thought you were better off because of where you’d ended up. You had gained a greater sense of purpose, you had room to properly care for the people in your life, you had a family.

But now they’d gone too far. Too much had been taken from you, your family, from the people you loved, and you weren’t going to let it happen anymore. You couldn’t let it happen anymore.

You weren’t as strong as you’d thought you were. Something gets cracked enough times enough times, it’s bound to break.

You were done hiding.

Your arms fell to your sides and your fists clenched and the darkness you had been running from since Eriadu came flooding back. Only this time, this time you weren’t going to fight against it.

This time.

This time, you embraced it.

Oneshot>

Tagging: @noeasyisnoisy, @fuckoffthanos, @tpwkcalli, @graciexmarvel, @arctrooper69, @nightmonkeysstuff, @brujaporfavor, @flyingkangaroo, @sunkissedclones, @ladytano420, @keep-calm-and-drink-caf, @yyourmotherr, @xxeiraxx, @dragonrider9905, @skellymom, @lokigirlszendaya, @starwarsnerd111

[cainnleacghlovers]

World Cup Shenanigans - CP

Pairing: Christian Pulisic x fem!reader

Summary: The USA have beat England, who would’ve thought? Christian only wants to celebrate in one way. (I know they drew, but for the sake of this fic, they won.)

Warnings: smut

The final who she blew. The USA had beaten England. Read that again. The USA (the idiots who call it soccer) beat England. In what world does this happen?

You watch, as your boyfriend slides across the grass on his knees with his team mates. No, they were more than that. His brothers, his family. And you’d grown to love them too. American accents and all.

You watch, with a massive smile on your face, as Christian does his lap around the pitch. The one and a half year old, perched on your hip. Clapping his baby hands, at his dada.

Your son, Brogan, was a bit of a surprise for you and Christian. Not that your relationship was new, the pair of you dating since you did a transfer year in America, joining his high school. You two managed, and your son was the best thing that had happened either of you. The minute he was placed on your chest, you’d felt complete.

Bouncing Brogan up and down, you and Christians mum (you can practically hear him mocking your accent, and saying ‘babe it’s mom’) head onto the pitch. Christian seems to be doing a quick interview, and you congratulated Weston. He had a banger of a match.

“Dada!” Brogan exclaimed. Recognising the shirt Weston was wearing, one his dad has worn so often. The comment left Weston chucking, and he squeezed the babies cheeks. The whole squad grew very fond of Brogan.

“We’ll find your dada soon Broggy.” Kelley remarked. Dotting over her grandson. Walking across the grass, you seen Mason. Giving him a quick wave. Brogan too, recognised Mase, and gave him a wave. Mason wasting no time to wave back at the boy, he too, very fond of the toddler currently in your arms.

Kelley took the boy off of you, knowing you’d want a moment with Christian.

And there he was. Number 10. Your number 10.

His hair sticking to his forehead, as you’d finally convinced him to grow out the curls. Recognising his babies laugh, Christian turned and made his way over to you. The grin on his face, exactly the same as the boy in Kelley’s arms. Brogan was Christians copy. The same freckles, that you liked to call constellations, and the same brown eyes you’d fallen in love with, all those years ago in Mrs Browns English class.

Christian gave you a kiss. A loving kiss, as if he he was pouring all the love he had for you into it, because believe me, that boy had a lot. The kiss lingered, probably too long for tv. Awkwardly turning away to some other player in the team, maybe even a sad English player.

“I’m so proud of you Chris.” You mumbled again this lips, his arms finding your neck, as he pulled you closer to him. Chest to chest. Heart to heart.

“Thank you sweetheart.” He said, with another peck to your lips. “Did you like my goal?” He smiled against your lips, knowing that goal was dedicated to you and your little boy. They all were.

“Which one?” You smirked at him, it was true. Christian scoring twice.

“The one where I showed my love to the Irish.” He smirked down at you. The shamrock tattoo that armoured his chest, dedicated to you. His shamrock, as he’d call you, when he was feeling particularly lovey.

“The one where you took your top off? Oh i loved that one.” Dragging out the d, on loved, he gave you another kiss.

“Now where’s my boy?” Christian said, his eyes scanning for his son. Which he found, in his mums arms. Making a face at Brogan, which caused the baby to erupt on a fit of laughter, he took him out of his mums arms, and threw the toddler up in the air. Tickling his side, as he smiled lovingly at him.

Christian had so much love for his son, and any worry you’d had, of being young parents was gone as soon as Christian held that baby. He was meant to be a dad. And by god, was he a good one.

Watching Christian kiss Brogans cheeks, you made your way over to Kelley, as you both watched the boys with so much love.

“I don’t think I had any say in Brogan. Biggest betrayal ever. I carried him for 9 months, for him to have the nerve to be an absolute replica of his dad.”

Kelley laughed.

“Sure have another one.” The woman said, making you laugh.

“No chance.”

You two chatted away pleasantly, Kelley had became a second mum to you. Christian came over to his mum, and gave her a hug as he continued to play with Brogan. Walker, someone Brogan was very fond of, found us.

“There’s my favourite Puliśić!” Walker exclaimed, dramatically dropping to his knees as Brogan ran over to him, falling into his arms.

Walker came over to you, Brogan in his arms.

“I’d say you’re my favourite Puliśić, but Christian’s taking his sweet time.” Nodding his head to your empty ring finger.

“I might as well be one at this point. I’ve had two inside me at some point.” That comment earned a laugh from Walker, as he played with Brogans cheeks. God, you weren’t ready for the toddler cheeks to go.

Christian snuck up behind you, arms around your waist, as he span you around to face him. His hands drawing random shapes on your back. You knew the ‘Pulisic’ on your back was driving him absolutely insane.

“I know what you’re gonna say. The answers still no.”

Knowing Christian would love another mini him, or you, running around.

“But look, we make such cute babies!” He pouted, looking down at you.

“Well that’s true. But get back to me in a few years.”

“Oh don’t worry. I will. I have to go do a stupid interview now. I just wanna spend time with my two favourite people.” He said, holding you close.

“Well you have to show the world how much of a superstar you are. Captain America.”

Laughing at the nickname, he placed a light kiss on your forehead. No one else could call him that. Ever.

“Well i’ll see you later, because mom is taking Brogan, and I am taking you out.”

“Did you check with me? See if i’m free?” You joked.

“Well are you free? To go on a date. With your sexy, super hot, talented, man of the match boyfriend?” He joked along. You loved the banter you had in your relationship.

“Oh! Somethings freed up. Looks like I can go after all.”

“Amazing. I’ll see you in a bit sweetheart. I love you. So much.”

“And I love you Chris. So much.”

With one last kiss, he jogged off, giving his son a kiss goodbye. We’d both decided that we weren’t gonna post Brogans face. He was after all, only a baby. And he didn’t deserve that.

Brógan came trotting back over to you, Kelley close in hand. You picked up your baby, giving him a kiss, right when you got a mouthful of muck. The wonders of mother hood.

—

“I’m home sweetheart!” You heard Christian shout through the house of where you were staying for the world cup, thankfully your boss, let you have time off, so you could join Christian.

“Bathroom!” You quickly shouted back. As Christian came into the bathroom, he seen you kneeling on the floor, your son covered head to toe in muck.

“He’s your son.” You joked, Christian laughing softly. He kneeled down beside you, his hand cupping his sons cheeks as he lightly squeezed them.

“You’re making work for mama, eh?” Playing with Brogans cheeks, as he made the boy laugh.

“Dada!” He squealed, that word making Christians heart swell. He always wanted to be a dad, and you’d given him that.

“That’s right buddy. Dada. Here let me do it.” Christian knew you did a lot with Brogan, especially when he was away for international duty. He wanted to give you a break. Not that you minded, your son was your entire world.

“Christian, no offence, but go shower.” You joked.

“Your mama is so mean to me Broggy. Saying I smell.”

“Mama!” The baby smiled.

“That’s right Broggy. Dada does smell. See Brogan agrees with me. Daddy doesn’t know what he’s doing.”

“You won’t be saying that later.” Christian smirks at you. Giving you a nudge, earning a smack on the arm from you.

“No Christian. I won’t be saying that.”

“Hmm we’ll see.” Leaving one last kiss on Brogans head, Christian got up. Giving him the finger, as he gave it back.

“Let’s get you all clean pumpkin.”

—

Packing a bag for Brogan to stay with his grandparents, Christian offered to drop him off, which you were thankful for. You wanted to get a shower before you two headed out.

“I’ll drop him off with mom.”

“Thank you Chris.” Giving him a kiss, as you went upstairs to get ready. Stripping your clothes to get into the shower. As you soaked your hair, you heard the door open, and clothes fall on the floor, as a pair of familiar hands found your waist. You span around to face him, hands falling loosely around his neck.

“You were so good today Chris.” You smiled at him, as he worked his way down your neck, stopping at your collar bone, and sucking a little at the skin. He hummed against you, as he spoke.

“How good?” He decided to try his luck, see how far his teasing could get him.

“Really really really good.” You said, giving him exactly what he wanted.

“I was?” He hums against your breast. Evoking a light moan out of you.

“Hmm hmm. I was thinking of ways to show you how good you were.” Your turn to tease, your hand traced along his collar bone, and down along the grooves of his abs, right until his v-line. Feeling his hard dick against your leg, you were satisfied.

“What’d you come up with?” He mumbled, breath hitching as your hand made its way to his crotch. Giving him a few light pumps, his tip leaking pre cum.

“A few things.” You said innocently, dropping to your knees and looking up at him through your eyelashes.

“Oh baby you’re killing me here.” As your hands traced along his thigh, and your nose bumped his pubic bone. Giving him a few light strokes, before you took his tip in your mouth, giving a few light licks. He moaned, and threw his head back.

“Baby please. No teasing. I need you. Now.” He whined, and you were satisfied with his begging. You took his length in your mouth, and stroking with firm motions, what you couldn’t fit in your mouth. He threw his head back in pleasure, as his hips bucked towards your face, making you gag a little. Looking down to see if you were okay, Christian groaned at the sight in front of him. Saliva dripping down your chin, as you took him in your mouth. One hand gripping his thigh, the other palming the part of his dick that wasn’t in your mouth. His hands found your hair, as he made it into a makeshift ponytail, tugging on it slightly whenever you took him deep in your throat.

“Not gonna last long baby. I-i.” Christian groaned one last time, pushing his hips forward as he came in your mouth. You looked up at him, swallowing as he helped you to your feet. He gave you a passionate kiss, that had you groaning in his mouth. He pulled away, grinning at you.

“Wash my hair will you?” You said.

“Of course, sweetheart.” He replied sweetly, flipping you around so he could wash your hair.

—

Stepping out of the shower, Christian ah did you a towel, which you wrapped around your body. His eyes raking up and down your body.

“Now get out so I can get ready.” You shooed him out, plopping down in front of the mirror.

—

Turning the straighter off, and taking a photo of it, so you knew you’d done it. You were debating on which lip colour.

“Chris babe, could you come in here a quick min!” You shouted out the door.

Christian came in, his shirt half buttoned. His tinned chest on display. And boy, did you take full advantage of that. Your eyes widened as you stared, and he smirked. Loving that he still worked you up after all these years.

“You’re drooling baby.” He stated, making you blush. He wasn’t gonna win that easily. Bending down in front of him, you took of the hotel robe you had on, showing him the bra and pantie set you had on. Now it was his turn to drool.

“You’re drooling Chris.” He laughed, slapping your arse lightly.

“What was it you wanted sweetheart?”

“Red lip or pinky lip.” He didn’t didn’t even have to think about that one.

“You look so sexy with ref lips.” He hadn’t realised he’d said that out loud. Whoops.

“Red lip it is.”

—

You two had an enjoyable night, sharing a few drinks and chatting with his teammates, and their partners. At around half past 12, Christian had enough of pretending like he didn’t want to fuck your brains out, so you two excused yourself, and rushed hastily home.

—

Feet sore from your heels, you took them off. Christian seeing this as an opportunity to carry you, so he took your waist, and carried you bridal style into the house. Cursing as he fumbled with the locks, eventually getting it open.

“It’s like you’re trying to get in my pants Christian.” You giggled as he hastily carried you up the stairs, needing to feel you around him. Now.

“That’s exactly what i’m trying to do baby.” He replied, kicking the door open with his foot, and dropping you on the bed lightly as he took his own shoes off. He grabbed your ankles, and dragged you to the end of the bed, where he was. Leaning over you, and pressing a hungry kiss to your lips. He bit your bottom lip, a sign for you to open your mouth. His tongue entangled with yours, and the kiss shared so many things. The love you had for each other, and the desire to be as close to one another as possible.

Grabbing him by the belt buckle, and without breaking the kiss, you pulled him closer. Groaning in your mouth, as his hard dick met your clothed pussy. Moving your hair out of the way, he began to press feverish kisses down your neck, sucking on the bruised he’d already made earlier in the shower. Pushing the strap of your dress down for more skin. Hands in his hair, slightly tugging on it, he moaned against your skin. Knowing you had him where you wanted him, you flipped over so you were on top. Looking down at him, as your thighs were on the other side of his, straddling him.

“Fuck, this is gonna be a fun night.” Christian moaned, as your lips once again, found his. Your lips fit like puzzle pieces. You were meant to be, and nothing was ever gonna change that. Grinding down against his hard dick, he was sure he was gonna burst out of his jeans. Pushing your dress down, to show your black lacy bra. He groaned hungrily at the sight, and made quick word of discarding the bra. He wasted no time in taking your right nipple in his mouth, and you moaned at the contact. Christian knew your body so well, and licked a strip between your breast, as his finger rolled your other nipple. You moved his arms up, to take his shirt off, and your legs instantly shuddered when you seen him.

Beginning at his neck, you kissed down his chest, moans escaping his lips as his hands gripped your waist. His hips bucking up at yours reflexively. He craved your touch, and god, he wanted to be in you.

Pushing your dress down over your hips, and using his finger to hook your panties off. You sat on top of Christian, naked, and he’d never seen anything more beautiful.

“You’re so fucking beautiful. You know that right.” He groaned against you, as he discarded his jeans, and you began to rock against him. The friction too much for him. He flipped you back over, as began kissing up your thighs.

“Christian. This is supposed to be all-” You couldn’t even finish your sentence, as he lips attached them to your aching core, as he licked up and down, the exact motion you’d taught him 7 years ago, when you were 17. Your back arched uncontrollably, as your fingers found his hair. The slight stubble he head, adding to the erotic pleasure you were feeling right now. He added a finger, and you cried out in pure pleasure. Moaning his name, as you felt him too, moan against your core, sending vibrations through your whole body. You felt your stomach tightening, as your vision became dazed.

“Christian i’m gonna-”

“I know you are baby. I can feel you clenching against my fingers. You look so pretty like this. My head between your thighs. I love you. So much.”

You couldn’t even breath out an ‘I love you’ as he sucked on your cliff. You moaned loudly, cursing every which way as you came around him. He licked up your cum, as he made his way up your body. Feather like kisses against your abdomen, as his lips connected with yours.

You were overwhelmed with that fact, two people could share this much love and infatuation for each other, as he rid himself of his boxers, lining up with your entrance. He looked you in the eye, a devilish glint twisting in his beautiful eyes.

“Will you ride me baby?” He said against your left tit. You moaned at his words and nodded, as he flipped the two of you over, his hands on your hips, as he raised you slightly, so you could position yourself on top of him. You sank down on him, both of you moaning into each others mouths, as you began to rock your hips back and forth, your clit exploding in pleasure as his dick rubbed against it. His hands on your hips, guided your movements as he threw his head back in pleasure.

He’d died and gone to heaven. The sight of you on top of him, your tits in his face, his, his, name leaving your mouth in breathy moans was enough for him to cum his pants like his 16 year old self might of done, after seeing you in your cheer uniform.

Deciding that he wanted more, he flipped you over, and drove into you. His lips trailing across your boobs, as you moaned in pure pleasure.”

“You feel so fucking good. Doing such a good taking me cock baby.” He moaned into your skin, leaving trails of his love for you, in the form on dark purple bruises.

His hand, that wasn’t playing with your nipples, doing your hand, and he clasped it tightly. Your nails digging into his palms, as his hand snaked down your body to your rub your clit. The pleasure erupting through your body.

His hand rubbed your thumb lovingly, as he titled your chin up to look you in the eye.

“I love you Y/N. so damn much.” He said into your mouth.

“I love you too Chris.” You managed to get out, that familiar feeling in your stomach coming back.

Chris knew your body too well. “Go on beautiful, come for me again.”

That was all you needed, as you came around dick, he threw in a few more sloppy thrusts before he too, came inside you. Lying down to look you in the eye, he gave you a loving kiss. He waited for both your breaths to come back, before he pulled out of you. Lying down beside you, tucking you into his chest. The place you were meant to be. He stroked your hair, as he placed a kiss on your forehead. Flipping you over, and kissing all over you face. Ah, here you were. Squirming under him, yet again.

He grabbed your cheeks with hands, and looked at you, with those beautiful brown eyes of his. You’d always thought they looked like a warm hearth, burning brightly.

“I. Love. You.” He said between kisses, and you giggled.

He gave you one last kiss before getting up to get you a towel, wiping your legs down before he flopped onto bed, pulling you tightly into him.

“Thank you.” Was all he said, as tiredness both over came you.

—

You woke up that morning, reaching out for Chris, only to be met with empty sheets. Adjusting your eyes to the sun peaking in through the blinds, you pulled your shorts on, and put your bra back on. Making your way to the kitchen.

There, in all his glory, stood Christian Puliśić. His bare back facing you, as he fried something on the oven. You wrapped your arms around his back, peppering kisses down it. Paying attention to the freckles that adorned it.

“Morning baby.” You mumbled against his back.

“Morning beautiful.” He turned around, giving you a proper kiss.

“You hungry?” You just nodded, and he laughed, plating up eggs, and the toast he’s already made you. Just now you liked it. God you were so in love with this man.

—

Finishing your breakfast, Christian added.

“Funny enough, i’m still hungry.” You thought nothing of this comment, considering you had eaten half of his breakfast.

“Oh. What do you want? Cereal-” His hands found the leg of your chair, as he dragged it closer to him. Pulling you onto his lap.

“Baby.” He said, his hands snaking up your legs, and know you knew what he meant. Moving your legs, so both were opposite his. He stood up, your legs wrapped around his torso.

“What times Broggy coming home?” You asked, not wanting to traumatise Kelley and Brogan, when Christian was knuckles deep inside you.

“12. Plenty of time.”

A long one!! This was loosely inspired by @thoseboysinblue amazing fic about the world cup, which was just 😙🤌