#oc varel | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

captainrex89 · 2 months

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Crosshair x Varel Avano (OC belonging to @zaana)

This fic is inspired by the art and OC of @zaana! I got permission from Zaana to write and post this. I plan to write 1-2 more based off her Crosshair and Varel art, which you should check out, it's absolutely beautiful! I hope you enjoy, this is my first time writing :)

Again, please check out the art created by @zaana! She has a beautiful way of telling a story using only drawings! Varel is 100% her character, all descriptions are based off of the art as well as input when she read this prior to publishing it.

Crosshair x OC Jedi Varel Avano

The Bad Batch is assigned a mission with a Jedi who is an environmental scientist. Crosshair starts to notice some interesting emotions....

Crosshair was in a foul mood. The Bad Batch was being sent out on another mission, however, this particular mission was not one of the usual type for the elite commandos. The squad was being sent to an Outer Rim planet called Dunbar on a reconnaissance mission with a Jedi. Hunter had informed the squad this morning that the Jedi was an environmental scientist and that they were to escort this scientist while she investigated the planet. The GAR wanted to establish a base on this remote planet, but there was little known about the flora and fauna and whether it was safe to inhabit or not. Crosshair ground his teeth on the toothpick in his mouth. This was no mission for he and his brothers. Couldn’t this Jedi look after herself? He felt as though this were a waste of their skills. He leaned against the Marauder while Tech finished repairing damage sustained from the last mission. Wrecker was keeping himself occupied by bench-pressing Gonky, the quiet bustle of the hangar occasionally interrupted by the droid’s half-hearted protests. Crosshair shifted the toothpick in his mouth as he saw Hunter crossing the hangar floor.

“Alright boys, we leave in 20. Tech, do you have the repairs complete?” the Sergeant asked the lanky pilot.

Tech slid out from under the belly of the ship. “Of course I have,” he replied in a clipped tone. “Allow me to put the panels back in place and I will begin inputting our destination into the nav-system”. He then slid back under the ship and the clanking of metal soon sounded from his position.

“Wrecker, I need you to go to landing pad 13 and help General Avano bring her equipment to the Marauder.” Hunter continued. He then turned to Crosshair, observing the sniper’s arms crossed over his chest and the scowl that was on his face. “Cross, just be nice” the Sergeant said, pinching the bridge of his nose. Wrecker let out a loud “HA” as he lowered Gonky to the ground and strode off towards landing pad 13. Crosshair just rolled the toothpick in his mouth again and replied with his usual snark “Sir, yes sir”.

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Varel Avano was checking over her equipment as Wrecker approached her with a hearty “Hello General!” She looked up from the crate and smiled warmly at the large clone. “You must be Wrecker” she replied, tilting her head up to look him in the eyes. “Hunter said you would be coming.” Wrecker nodded his head. “What needs to go to the ship?” Varel closed the crate next to her and said “Just this crate here, I can carry the rest.” She picked up a small satchel which she slung across her shoulder, and then picked up the datapad next to it. “Yes ma’am, General” Wrecker replied as he shouldered the crate. “Please, call me Varel,” she stated, placing a hand on Wrecker’s arm. “Well, if you insist!” he replied with a large grin. Varel smiled back, and the two set out across the hangar.

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Crosshair looked up when he heard Hunter greet the General. His scowl deepened as he took in the young Jedi. She was petite, barely reaching the top of his shoulder in height. Her brown hair was pulled up in a half bun, the rest falling in soft tendrils around her face and over her shoulders. Freckles were scattered across her nose and cheeks, making her skin look slightly pale. She did not wear traditional Jedi robes, but wore a loose fitting skirt and tunic over the top of a pair of blacks. A standard Jedi belt was around her waist, from which hung a pouch and her lightsaber. Her bright green eyes danced as she chatted with Wrecker. Crosshair stared in silent shock. Maker, this girl looked as though she had never seen the outside of a lab. How had she been chosen to go on this mission? How was she so……pretty? Crosshair quickly shoved this thought away. He remained leaning against the ship next to the ramp as Tech descended from the ship, tapping away at his datapad.

“General Avano has quite the extensive studies in flora, fauna and all things environmental” he commented without looking up at Crosshair. “This should prove to be quite an informational mission.”

Crosshair huffed with disdain “Some kid Jedi who likes plants,” he pulled the toothpick from between his lips and flicked it away. “Let’s just get this mission over with.” Crosshair was torn between wanting to more about Varel and wanting to keep his stony reputation intact. He quickly elected to put on an icy front and pushed off the ship to stand upright.

Hunter and Varel approached the two as Wrecker carried the crate on board. “General, this is Tech and Crosshair,” Hunter said, staring pointedly at Crosshair. Varel smiled brightly at them and said, “Please call me Varel.” Tech gave a nod of his head, replying “Very well, if that is what you prefer.” He then turned to the ramp of the ship and said “I will begin our final preparations for takeoff. You are welcome to come to the cockpit when we launch, I would very much like to learn about your areas of expertise” Tech made his way up the ramp, leaving Varel with Hunter and Crosshair. Varel turned and started to smile at Crosshair, but the sniper brushed past her without a word and boarded the ship. Varel’s smile faltered, unsure what to think of the interaction. Hunter sighed, “Don’t take it personally, Cross is like that with all new people.” Varel looked up at the tattooed face of the Sergeant. “Thanks,” she said with a smile. “I understand that this is not one of your normal missions. I could see how it would be an insult to be assigned to escort me.” Hunter chuckled at this. “Not to worry, he is easily insulted. Wrecker, Tech and myself are pleased to have you aboard. Tech may talk your ear off, Wrecker is always excited to meet new people.” He gestured to the ramp of the Maurader. “After you, General.” Varel gave a soft, breathy laugh and replied, “Yes Sergeant”

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Settled in the co-pilot seat, Varel gazed out the swirling blue and white space as the ship cruised thru hyperspace. Tech had insisted that she take the seat so that she could observe everything. He was an intelligent clone, and she appreciated his excitement to learn new things. He tapped away at his datapad as she told him what little she knew about the planet they were going to scope out. Now having settled into an easy silence, her mind drifted back to Crosshair. Varel had never had problems getting along with new people. She was a rather unconventional Jedi, having chosen to study sciences over being a diplomat. She still carried a lightsaber and was proficient in its use, but she still preferred studying plants to normal Jedi duties. Her gentle personality made it easy for others to work with her, and she had never found herself in this situation. Hunter had said not to take it personally, but she could not help but wonder why he was so displeased by her presence. She sighed, pulling her knees up to her chest and glanced over her shoulder. The other three clones were all sitting behind her and Tech. Hunter and Wrecker were engaged in a game of Dejarik, and Crosshair was carefully cleaning his rifle. The sniper looked up from his task and caught Varel’s glance. She quickly turned back to the viewport and wrapped her arms around her legs.

Crosshair felt a slight pang of guilt as the pretty young Jedi turned her face away. Growling internally, he focused on the task of cleaning his rifle. Why was he feeling this way? He had seen many pretty faces before. But none had made him feel bad for maintaining his cold exterior when it came to people other than his squad. He hadn’t even spoken to this girl, yet he had a deep yearning to know more about her. Crosshair shook his head and tried to push these unusual feelings away. Things like this would only cause trouble. However, he couldn’t help the warm feeling in his chest whenever Varel spoke.

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The flight to Dunbar took several rotations. During this time, Clone Force 99 became acquainted with the young Jedi General. Varel and Tech spent hours sharing information. Wrecker enjoyed playing Djarik and teaching her about explosives. Hunter showed her close quarters combat, something that was new to Varel. Crosshair, however, did his best to keep to himself. This proved to be difficult, as Varel would seek him out to ask questions about various rifles and blasters. He reluctantly answered her questions as briefly as possible. He started to realize that he was intrigued by her and listened in as she spoke with Tech about her upbringing at the Jedi temple. While she was a very intelligent individual, she did not show the same aptitude at lightsaber skills as the others she trained with. While she could handle a lightsaber, she preferred to surround herself with the Force and soak up all the information she could about the environment. She discovered that she had a special connection with animals. She loved plants and did extensive research on how to utilize them to heal sentient and non-sentient beings among many other things. She was allowed to take a different path than other Jedi, choosing to pursue her scientific studies over the diplomatic duties of the Order. However, at the start of the Clone Wars she was promoted to a General under the Courscant Guard and ordered to work on projects that would help provide more medical care to the troops, something that she was more than happy to do. Varel had never been in combat and admitted that she was a little nervous about her lack of combat training. Hunter reassured her that it would not be a problem. The Bad Batch was assigned to her for a reason, Wrecker told her. Varel smiled at the explosives expert, “Well I feel so much better about this whole venture knowing I have you at my side.” She couldn’t help but glance back at Crosshair. The man was an enigma to her. She wanted to know more about him, but he was so closed off. Crosshair looked up from the blaster he was cleaning and happened to catch her eye. Varel felt herself blush and quickly looked away. Over the last few days, she found herself struggling with feelings that were new to her. She enjoyed the company of all the clones on this mission, but there was something about Crosshair that felt different. She could sense that he was reluctant to work with her, but there was also a warmth that she felt when in his presence. Her thoughts were interrupted by the proximity alarm going off, indicating that they were nearing their destination. Tech assumed his spot in the pilot seat and Wrecker planted himself in the co-pilot seat. Hunter, Crosshair and Varel seated themselves in the jump seats, pulling down the restraints. Varel felt a nervous energy coursing thru her. She was excited about the prospect of new discovery, but also nervous. She felt a certain pressure on her to make sure that this planet was inhabitable. Across from her, Hunter looked at her with an expression that read “You good?”. She smiled back, nodding her head. Glancing to Crosshair, who was seated by Hunter, her gaze was met with his steely eyes. He raised an eyebrow, then shifted his gaze to her hands. Varel noticed that she was clutching the restraints quite tightly, and she felt her face flush as she loosened her grip and slid her hands to her lap. Tech landed the ship with no incidents, and he immediately started running scans to see if the air was compatible with life. Varel lifted the restraints and began to collect her equipment from the cargo hold. The other members of the squad went about collecting their own equipment, Hunter sheathing his vibro blade, Wrecker collecting a variety of explosives and Crosshair cradling his beloved Firepuncher. Shortly, Tech finished his scans, declaring the atmosphere hospitable. He collected his own blasters and turned to look at Varel.

“I believe we are ready to depart,” Tech stated, looking at Hunter who placed his helmet on his head. The others followed suit as Varel slung her bag over her shoulder, datapad in hand. “Wrecker, you and I will take point,” Hunter ordered. “Tech, you stay next to General Avano, and Crosshair, you take up the rear”. Hunter looked to Varel, “General, you do your thing.” Varel replied with a two finger salute and a hearty “Yes sir!”.

As the crew left the Marauder, Crosshair scanned the area. There were no immediate threats that he could see. Dunbar was a forested planet, covered with plants of varying sizes and colors. As he looked about, he couldn’t help but watch Varel. There was a sparkle in her eyes that Crosshair found mesmerizing. As they made their way thru the trees, the sniper kept an eye on the surroundings, but his gaze always wound up on Varel. At one point, she stopped dead in her tracks tapping away furiously on her datapad. She excitedly shared some info with Tech, and then suddenly turned to look directly at Crosshair, a brilliant smile on her face. Crosshair was glad his bucket was on, as he felt his face flush. Varel looked at where his eyes would be behind his helmet for a moment and then went back to talking to Tech, the smile never leaving her face.

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After spending several hours hiking thru the woods, the group returned to the Marauder. They started to set up camp, the plan being that tomorrow they would move the ship to another location and conduct more testing. Varel sat next to the campfire while Wrecker cooked some fish he had caught in a nearby river. Busily noting her findings on her datapad, she spoke to no one in particular. “So far everything we have found presents no danger to sentient beings,” Varel looked up at the trees and smiled. “The birds here are a new species to me, but they have yet to pose any threat.”

“I would agree,” Tech interjected. “They have been around us all day and have not shown any signs of aggression. Some curiosity, perhaps. I thought that one was going to land on Wrecker’s head.” Varel laughed, remembering the bright blue bird that had followed them for some time before swooping close to Wrecker’s head, causing him to duck. “I am hopeful that this planet will work for the Republic’s needs,” she stated. “All of the plant life seems to be harmless, I would love to see more wildlife though.” Hunter grunted in agreement. “If we fly low, we may cause something to show itself.”

Varel nodded, “The birds and insects are easy to deal with, I am curious to see what kind of predator type animals there are here.” She looked back to her data pad. “Depending on what we find tomorrow, I would be comfortable declaring Dunbar safe for a base, given that proper precautions are taken for any sentient natives.” She bit her lip and looked up at Hunter and Tech. “It’s a large planet, so with the amount of time we have been given I can’t say that it will be safe in that regards. I can only say that the plants and animals that we see present no danger to our forces.”

Tech adjusted his goggles, looking at his own datapad. “The Republic will be able to handle any sentient beings should they make themselves known. Do not worry over that.”

After eating their meal, the clones and the Jedi began to settle down to sleep. With the temperate weather, they opted to sleep outside the ship, something Varel greatly appreciated. Hunter stated that he would take first watch. “Can’t be too careful,” he said, holstering his blaster. “We haven’t seen all the creatures that could be around.” Varel nodded in agreement. Wrecker offered to take second watch, followed by Crosshair, Varel, then Tech. As Varel laid out her bedroll, she glanced over at the sniper as he made his own bed. She didn’t say anything, but she felt him glancing at her all day. “What is his deal?” she thought, sliding under her blanket and making sure her lightsaber was close. She lay down, looking up at the stars. “And why can I not stop thinking about him?” She continued to ponder these confusing thoughts as she drifted off to sleep.

Varel was startled awake by an abrupt presence in the Force. Not even a second after her eyes shot open, a single blaster shot rang out. Varel sat upright quickly, glancing around. Crosshair was crouched in a kneeling position with his DC-17 pointing away from the camp. The other clones were all awakened by the blast. “What did you see?” Varel asked, scrambling to her feet. “Let’s find out,” Crosshair replied, standing up to walk into the tall grass next to the camp. He pulled out a creature with feline features and about the size of a Lurca hound. Varel gave a soft cry “You didn’t kill it, did you?” She rushed over to where Crosshair laid the creature on the ground and knelt next to it. “No,” the sniper growled. “Just stunned it.” He turned and stalked away back to the ship. Varel looked up at Hunter, who just shook his head and quietly said “He’ll get over it.” Varel sighed and turned her attention to the creature as Tech came over with his datapad in hand.

Crosshair made his way up the ramp of the ship. “Did she really think I was going to kill it?” He thought angrily. This thought came as a surprise to him. He didn’t care what others thought about him. Why was this girl so different? He growled as he went to grab his cleaning kit. Cleaning his weapon always calmed him, gave him time to think. “Could I really like this girl?” he thought. He shook his head as if to rid himself of that thought “She’s a Jedi, they don’t allow themselves attachments.” As he finished cleaning, he came to the conclusion that he would continue to do his job, but maybe not be so cold to her.

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As the sun came up the next morning, Varel found herself less distressed than she had been last night. She felt relief when Crosshair had informed her that he had only stunned the creature, but then felt a pang of guilt when he stormed off. “I shouldn’t have assumed that he killed it.” she berated herself. She wanted to try to get to know Crosshair better, and this was not the way to go about it. She sighed deeply as she picked up her bedroll. “Get yourself together Avano,” she thought sternly. “It’s a new day.” She was relived to find that Crosshair didn’t act any more distant than he normally was. “This is a good start.” she said to herself as she loaded her gear onto the Marauder. With everyone on board, Tech piloted the ship over the forest to a less densely wooded area. Flying low, he hoped to cause creatures to come out of hiding. Several herbivore animals that Varel recognized made an appearance, plus one more predator creature that she was familiar with. She made notes in her datapad as they travelled. The creature Crosshair had stunned the night before was new, and she had made a profile of it as well. When they arrived at a suitable landing area, Tech put the ship down so that they could explore the area on foot. Varel reveled in the new surroundings, taking in all the info she could. As the day grew warmer, the boys removed their helmets to breath in the fresh air. Crosshair walked alongside Varel, discreetly watching her. A horned beetle flew by, it’s shiny green carapace the same shade as Varel’s eyes. As it buzzed by noisily, Crosshair watched as Varel tracked its path thru the air. Suddenly, she closed her eyes, gently lifting her hand. Crosshair watched as the beetle made a lazy turn and drifted back towards the Jedi. It landed in the palm of her outstretched hand, and Varel opened her eyes. A gentle smile spread across her freckled face as she looked at the beetle. Crosshair felt his heart skip a beat. “She is so different from any other Jedi.” he thought.

Varel watched the beetle as it took off, and she became acutely aware that Crosshair was looking at her. She turned to meet his gaze, and to her surprise her gave a slight smirk and nodded his head “General” he said, as he turned away and continued walking to catch up with his brothers. Varel felt herself blush, as she returned the greeting with a quiet “Crosshair” and nod of her head. She stood still for a moment, watching as he walked on ahead. Perplexed, she shook her head and followed.

Later on in the afternoon, the group came upon a lake surrounded by a multitude of flowers. “This area would be ideal for a base,” Varel stated to the group. She pointed to the trees and cliffs not too far off from the lake. “Ideal coverage for dwellings at the bases of the cliffs, open area to land ships and a fresh water source.” Tech was busily tapping away at his datapad and looked up to survey the area. “I agree,” he said. “This planet has great potential for several bases.” Hunter decided that he and Tech would go back for the Marauder, and they would camp for the night here before leaving for Courscant the next morning. Wrecker said that he would fish for dinner in the lake while they waited for Tech and Hunter’s return. Crosshair stood silently observing, Varel stated she was going to take a closer look at the flowers around the lake. With a reminder to stay alert, Hunter left with Tech. Wrecker happily made his way to the lakeside, leaving Crosshair and Varel together. She looked at Crosshair out of the corner of her eye. “Well, I am going to go document the plants over there,” she pointed to a large tree that spread its wide leaves over the edge of the lake, providing a shaded area. She began to walk that direction, and to her surprise Crosshair followed a moment later. He had put his helmet back on, and when they got to the tree, he leaned against the trunk with his arms crossed over his chest. Varel gave a small gasp when she saw a purple flower that was swirled with sliver streaks. Gently taking one of the blossoms in her hand, she said “This is one of my favorites of the nebula orchid family!” She looked up at Crosshair, with a gentle smile on her face. “The nebula orchids are known for…..” She trailed off and bit her lip. “Sorry,” she said quietly. “I’m sure this doesn’t interest you.” She let the flower drop from her hand and started to turn away. “Go ahead,” She looked up in surprise and raised an eyebrow, as if to question if she really did hear those words from the sniper’s mouth. “Can’t be any worse than Tech’s rants.” The smile crept back across Varel’s face. Turning back to the dark purple flower, she went on. “The nebula orchids are known for resembling various nebulas, as the name indicates. This particular one,” she stated as she gently traced the silver streaks of the petals, “originates from Alderaan.” She looked back at Crosshair. “I especially like this one as it glows in the moonlight. Sadly, they can’t be found on Courscant.” Crosshair nodded his head, and Varel continued to document the plants. The quiet of the afternoon was periodically interrupted by a triumphant shout from Wrecker.

Tech and Hunter soon returned with the ship. When it came time to set up camp, Varel insisted that they lay out the bedrolls near the tree. “We can put the fire on the small beach over there,” she said. “Trust me, you don’t want to obstruct the moonlight tonight.”

When it came time to bed down, Varel took the first watch. As the moonlight filtered into the camp, the squad was amazed to see the purple flowers come to life. The dark purple became a brilliant glowing shade, and the silver streaks sparkled and seemed to swirl over the petals. As Crosshair drifted off to sleep, he couldn’t help but keep his eyes on Varel’s face as she basked in the glowing light of the nebula orchid.

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The return to Courscant was uneventful. Varel was disappointed to leave the squad, but they had other missions to attend to. Wrecker lifted her in a bone crushing hug, which she gladly reciprocated to the best of her abilities. A small transport arrived to take Varel and her equipment back to her small apartment on the GAR base. She gave a two fingered salute to the clones as she piloted the craft away. Upon arriving to her apartment, she returned her equipment to the small lab that was attached to her dwelling. She then went to report her findings to the Council. After a couple of hours, she finally returned to her apartment. Locking the door behind her, she turned towards the living area. To her surprise, she found on the table a pot with a single, purple nebula orchid.

To be continued!

#the bad batch #star wars #tbb crosshair #jedi oc #crosshair x oc

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