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starry-crossing-zone · 6 months ago

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Crash and Fall - Rex

Summary: Rex won't give up hope that his Jedi lover is alive after the Jedi Purge. Length: 3.7k Warnings: Mentions of Jedi Purge; Angst; Longing; Clone Rebellion; Special Guest Stars; Mentions of Pregnancy

Rex stood beside the Y Wing as Ahsoka took a moment with his fallen brothers. He typed away at the datapad, attempting to send a long-range message. Across the galaxy, his brothers were murdering the Jedi against their will. And he was frantically trying to get in contact with one specific Jedi so that she did not become the next victim.

It might have been too late already to warn her, but Rex needed to try. He refused to accept defeat.

When the comm failed to go through again, Rex couldn’t help the burst of emotion. Driving his fist onto the top of the Y Wing and tossing the datapad away angrily, he slumped into a crouch. Steadying himself with one hand and resting the other against his face, he didn’t fight the tears.

Ahsoka slowly walked over to him and gave him a moment to gather himself, giving him the space to grieve. Although they had never had a frank conversation about it, Ahsoka understood enough to know why Rex’s inability to get a message out caused him to collapse. Rex slowly lowered his hand from his face and started to stand up again.

“No luck,” Rex replied quietly.

“Where was she stationed last?” Ahsoka asked softly.

“More than halfway across the galaxy,” Rex stated, closing his eyes with despair.

They were too far away to help her. It would take them days to reach her. And he wasn’t even sure if that was her actual last location. Plans changed in a moment in the GAR. It was a start, but it was also more than likely swarmed with his brothers, who would try to murder them the moment that they arrived on the scene.

“There’s still hope, Rex,” Ahsoka replied quietly. “There’s still a chance.”

Rex nodded slowly, not trusting his words, before he turned to the Y Wing again. He climbed into the pilot’s seat and input coordinates to a safe location before starting the take off procedure. And trying to block the images of his beloved with blaster holes in her chest from his mind.

*~*~*~*

Washa was not a heavily populated planet. It was far from the major space lanes and had remained neutral during the war because there was nothing on the planet worth fighting over. It was mostly farmers and traders. No one of importance. Just like the Jedi were of no importance anymore. It was no wonder she fit in so well.

“Two please,” she told the vender, holding out the credits.

“Price just went up actually,” he remarked, turning his two noses up at her. “You need five more.”

She withdrew her hand and looked at the credits. Letting out a sigh, she stowed some of the credits back in her pocket and turned back to the greedy vender.

“Just one then.”

Taking her purchase, she stowed it in her bag and kept walking. She bought rations and some water before making the walk back to the small hut that she now called home. It would have to do, for her true home was gone. Destroyed. Forever. Sitting down, she crossed her legs and tried to meditate.

It had been a month since her own men turned against her. Men that she fought beside for years, thought she knew, men that she was prepared to die with. They raised their blasters at her and tried to kill her. And they had nearly succeeded too.

The scars on her back burned at the painful memory and she forced herself to take a breath. Pushing past the pain that lingered, she tried to connect with the Force again. Resting her hands with her palms upwards, she took a deep breath.

“I am one with the Force and the Force is with me.”

After she managed to escape the assault and effectively faked her own death, she had all but severed her connection to the Force. To reach out and feel the gaping, open wound quickly overwhelmed her and she had withdrawn into herself to survive.

“I am one with the Force and the Force is—”

She tensed as the nightmares that plagued her while she slept crept into the daylight. Ones that involved a clone in blue-painted armor raising his blasters at her. She shook her head, trying to banish the images, swearing to herself that Rex would never hurt her. She trusted him with her life. She cared for him well beyond the considerations of her culture.

But she trusted Sinker too. And Boost. And Comet. And they had all fired on her just the same.

And when it became too much, as it had countless times before, she broke down, holding her head in her hands as she struggled to hold onto her sanity.

*~*~*~*

“But we managed to save the padawan,” Hunter stated, causing Rex to pick his head up.

“Have you run into any Jedi since?” he asked, sounding more alert.

“No, none.”

Rex nodded slowly, trying to mask his disappointment. He spun his glass around on the bar top, letting his thoughts drift for a moment, before he focused back on the present. Echo, however, noticed the change in his brother.

“You’re looking for her?” Echo asked Rex knowingly. Rex turned to Echo and nodded slowly. “Tech can look in the Imperial database for you.”

“Already checked. Read the report. She’s . . .”

Rex trailed off, being very careful with his words. He knew what the report said. He’d practically memorized it at this point. But he also knew that these reports weren’t always accurate. He was dead, according to the Empire, so there was still a chance. And a chance was all that he needed. Hope was all that he needed. And it was all he had too.

“There’s a chance . . . and I need to know for myself.”

“I came back from the dead. So could she.” Nodding slowly to show his support for Rex, Echo promised him, “We’ll keep an eye out for her.”

“Thank you, Echo.”

*~*~*~*

When she felt that she had overstayed her welcome back on Washa, she found her way off planet. The number of planets that she would consider both safe and habitable was extremely low, but she managed to find her way to a small moon in the Outer Rim. It was warm, almost jungle-like and full of life. And she hoped that it would help her reconnect with the Force.

Weeks passed and she fell into a routine. There were a few remote villages scattered around the jungle and she made a few tentative acquaintances, but she was always quick to return to her alcove. She had managed to build a small home up in the trees and was starting to settle in.

And that was when the Force decided to pull the rug out from under her all over again.

Dropping her hands from her abdomen, she stared down at them as tears filled her eyes. Memories of her last few nights with Rex came to mind. They assumed that it was impossible or at least highly unlikely. They were safe in the beginning but as the war drew on and their ever-fragile mortality weighed on both of them, they forwent it.

And the spark in the Force that she sensed was the unmistakable result of that carelessness.

She fell forward and curled up on herself, that same fear that ate away at her for months now crawled up her spine yet again. Every labored breath she took pushed that numbing pain closer to her heart and mind, igniting flames where the now healed blaster bolt wounds had laid. She picked her head up, refusing to succumb again, but also terrified and alone, she reached out into the Force.

“Master,” she begged softly, “what am I going to do?”

*~*~*

Rex set his ship down on the dirt of a remote backwater planet that Senator Organa assured him would be a safe meeting location. Walking down the gangplank, Rex took off his helmet when he spotted Bail descending from his own ship. The two men greeted each other politely.

“What is this planet anyways?” Rex asked as he turned to follow the senator into his ship.

“It used to be inhabited two centuries ago. But then a civil war broke out and eventually destroyed all of the resources on the planet, forcing the survivors off world,” Bail explained, glancing out at the dustball. “And it’s not strategically located, so the galaxy has left it alone.”

Rex stared out at the landscape again, frowning as he thought about the galaxy’s current situation before heading inside the transport. They discussed intel and exchanged information. Rex delivered a copy of some Imperial intel that Nemec had managed to gather and Bail offered him what little he had heard about the remaining clones.

“You haven’t heard anything about any Jedi, have you, Senator?” Rex asked quietly.

“Not the one you seek information on, no,” Bail replied, causing Rex to look down. “I’m sorry, Captain.”

“All the more reason to keep fighting,” Rex reasoned, earning a nod of support from Bail. Grabbing his new intel, Rex added, “I won’t take up any more of your time. And I should be getting back to my men with this new intel.”

“Of course.”

“May the Force be with you, Senator.”

“And May the Force be with you too, Rex.”

*~*~*

“I told you that the hyperdrive was acting funny!” Echo huffed with frustration.

The Bad Batch struggled to their feet after crash landing on a remote jungle moon in the Outer Rim. Hunter was first back to his feet and quick to check Omega over for any injuries or scratches from their crash landing. Tech straightened up from his seat and slowly moved to stand.

“It appears that there was a slight misalignment,” Tech stated, adjusting his goggles.

“Slight?” Hunter emphasized sarcastically. He looked out at the dense jungle through the viewport and sighed. “Let’s get the door open.”

With a bit of an extra push from Wrecker, the door of the Marauder opened and the Bad Batch spilled out into the jungle. Hunter kept Omega close, aware of the high number of life forms crawling around. The Batch tried to pull the Marauder out from the dense foliage that it crashed into, but it was of no use. Not even Wrecker’s full strength was enough to pull it out. And not with light fading.

“What are we going to do?” Omega asked, glancing between her brothers. “It’s starting to get dark.”

“And I’m starving!” Wrecker sighed, sitting on the root of a large tree.

It was eventually decided, after some deliberation with Tech, to scout the nearby area for sources of food and water, as their rations were already low. Hunter led the way into the jungle with the team forming a single-file line behind him. Entering a clearing, Hunter scanned the area when Wrecker stepped around him.

“Hey, look!” Wrecker yelled, pointing over at some vines berries growing on them. “I bet that we can eat those berries!”

“I would disagree with eating whatever you find on the ground out here,” Tech stated, shaking his head as Wrecker ran over to investigate. “And there is a high probability that those berries could be poisonous to us.”

“Then let’s figure out what they—”

Wrecker yelled out when he was suddenly strung up by his ankle by a thick rope. It was looped over a branch of the tree side Wrecker and connected to a pulley system.

“Wrecker!” Omega yelled out as Hunter ran forward to help his brother.

He scaled the tree and jumped, slicing through the rope with his vibro blade. Wrecked landed roughly, but he was unharmed. As the Bad Batch gathered around Wrecker to assess the situation, the sound of a rifle clicking caused Hunter to spin around, putting himself in front of Omega protectively.

“Someone’s out there,” Hunter warned, pulling out his blaster. “And they’re armed.”

“The person who set the trap, more than likely,” Tech stated, scanning the jungle around them. “Though this system is not listed as civilized.”

“Where are they?” Echo asked, looking around the jungle. “Up in the trees? On the ground?”

Hunter paused for a moment, waiting to hear the individual again. But then he suddenly turned and held his blaster up, pointing at the shadows. A hooded figure stood just out of the light, with a rifle in hand that was aimed straight at the Bad Batch.

“Easy,” Hunter stated, trying to reason with the individual. “We’re not here to hurt anyone.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard that before,” a feminine voice replied, a bit gruffly. Echo paused for a moment, frowning at the familiarity of the voice. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll turn around, head back to your ship, get the kark off of this moon, and never come back.”

“We cannot complete that sequence of events. Our ship is damaged and stuck in the jungle growth. We are unable to get it out on our own,” Tech spoke up, causing the rifle to briefly train on him. “If you could point us to the nearest spaceport—”

“—There are none.”

“Then perhaps you have a device that we can use to remove our ship from the growth,” Tech continued, seemingly unfazed by the rifle. “Seeing as that is in line with your own objectives, it should be reasonable for you to provide us with assistance if you are able.”

“No.”

“Then perhaps—”

“—Are you always this talkative with someone holding you at blaster point?” the woman interjected, growing steadily more annoyed.

“Just him,” Wrecker stated, nudging Tech.

“General?” Echo called, causing the woman to hesitate. “Is that you?” The rifle lowered a bit more and Echo stepped forward, removing his helmet. “It’s me. Echo.”

“Who is it?” Omega questioned Echo curiously.

“A Jedi?” Hunter asked, causing the rifle to quickly lock on him.

“The Jedi are all dead,” the woman spat, though the edge of grief was easy to detect to Echo’s ear. “The Empire made sure of that.”

“We helped a Jedi escape,” Wrecker spoke up, causing the woman to train her rifle on him.

“A padawan. Caleb. He was General Billaba’s padawan,” Hunter recalled, causing the woman’s finger to shake as it rested against the trigger. “We received Order 66, but we never carried it out.”

“And they removed their chips,” Omega chirped, causing the woman to pause.

“What chips?” she demanded, causing Echo and Hunter to share a look.

“All clones were designed with inhibitor chips built into our brains. They were primarily designed to make us more obedient, especially to several predesigned codes to carry out specific orders that we would otherwise hesitate to complete,” Tech explained rapidly. “Every clone who heard the command, save for us really, immediately lost control of their minds and bodies to carry out the order.”

“Order 66,” she breathed out, remembering what Comet had been muttering to himself.

She looked down, starting to piece together the timeline of what happened that dark day. Echo shared a look with the other Bad Batchers before turning back to her.

“We all removed our chips. And we have the scars to prove it. And if you need, Tech can show you the report explaining what the chips are.” After a moment, he added, “It was written by Rex. Before the order came through.”

At the mention of Rex, she lowered the rifle completely. And after a moment’s hesitation, she stepped out into the light. Staring down at them with a measure of distrust still in her eyes, she sat the butt of her rifle down against the branch.

“Show me.”

After reading through the report for the third time, she tossed the datapad down to Tech again. Jumping down from the branch, she landed gracefully and straightened up. There was still an edge of distrust to her stance, but she looked more like the general that Echo remembered that a frightened hermit. And he considered that to be a success.

But when he glanced at the pack on her back, he paused. Because it was moving.

“Why are you here? What brought you here?” she asked, glancing between the Bad Batch.

“His faulty calculations,” Hunter explained, earning a sharp look from Tech in return.

“It was a minor misalignment.”

“You said that your ship is damaged?” she inquired, causing Echo to shake his head.

“We don’t think so. It’s just stuck in the vines.”

“Well, you won’t have any luck getting it out in the dark, even with my help,” she replied seriously. “There’s a lot more that lurks out here that you don’t want to run into in the dark.” After a moment of thought, she added, “Follow me.”

She turned around and for the first time, the Bad Batch could see what was in her pack. Or rather who was in her pack. A little swaddled baby was strapped to her back. Staring at the Batch, the baby cooed and giggled at their incredulous expressions.

“Is that . . .?” Hunter trailed off, sharing an incredulous look with Tech.

“A baby?” Omega completed softly.

The former Jedi turned around and slowly slipped her arm out of her pack until her son was strapped to her chest instead of her back. Resting her hands on the sides of his carrier, she slowly turned to look at the flabbergasted expressions of the clones in front of her.

And Echo couldn’t help but notice the blond hair atop the baby’s head.

“What’s his name?” Omega asked, taking a few steps forward.

“Atin.”

“Tenacious,” Tech translated quickly, adjusting his goggle. “In Mando’a, that is.”

“Yes,” she agreed, gently running her hand over her son’s head.

“Did he know?” Echo inquired quietly, causing her to shake her head.

“I didn’t even know. How would he?”

With a bitter smile, she turned and called for them to follow her again. Echo moved to walk beside her and Hunter held the others back a step, trying to give them some semblance of privacy. Echo glanced down at the baby content in the carrier before turning to the baby’s mother.

“He’s alive,” Echo stated softly, causing her to turn to him. “He’s alive. And he’s free.” After a moment, Echo added quietly, “And he’s looking for you.”

She nodded slowly, careful to step over a root, before carrying on her way. Echo walked beside her, giving her a moment to process the news. Reaching the base of a large tree, she turned to Echo with a tentative look in her eyes.

“Where is he?”

“It changes by the rotation,” Echo replied honestly. “He’s running around the galaxy. Freeing brothers. Stoking rebellions. Gathering intel.”

“I don’t think he knows how to relax,” she commented with an edge of humor before she glanced down at the child strapped to her chest. And then the smile slowly faded. “Do you think that you can convince him to come here? Alone?”

“I won’t take ‘no’ for an answer from him,” Echo promised her, causing her to smile softly again. “Rex didn’t give up on me. And it’s my turn to return the favor whether he likes it or not.”

“It’s like you two are brothers or something,” she joked, walking over to a hanging vine. Tugging on it until a ladder rolled down to the jungle floor. “Neither of you know how to give up.”

“It’s not in our blood,” Echo stated, glancing down at her baby. “Nor his.”

“Why do you think I named him ‘Atin’?” she asked rhetorically before moving to climb.

*~*~*~*

Rex wasn’t sure what Echo was thinking when he came out of hyperspace and spotted the jungle moon ahead. But he trusted Echo, so he flew towards the coordinates that Echo provided him. Slowly setting down the Y Wing on the jungle floor, Rex hopped out and started his short walk. Coming up on the meeting location, Rex looked around curiously when he heard a branch break behind him.

Grabbing his blaster, Rex whirled around, ready to defend himself. But when he saw her standing there, he dropped his blaster out of shock.

“Cyare?” he called softly, like he couldn’t believe that it was her.

“Rex,” she returned, smiling nervously.

Rex walked forward slowly. His blaster laid forgotten on the jungle floor. With his eyes never leaving her figure, he moved like a man possessed. She remained still, forcing her body to stay where it was, even as her mind screamed to move, to flee. Her nightmares started to creep up again but when Rex gently cupped her cheek, she returned to the present.

“What?” she asked quietly, staring up at him with tears in her eyes. “What is it?”

“You’re as beautiful as the day I lost you,” he replied, causing her lips to wobble.

They quickly held onto each other, in disbelief that they were able to have the honor again. Rex cupped the back of her head to keep her close and let his tears slip free. She buried her face in his neck, ignoring the uncomfortable way that the plastoid dug into her. She didn’t care. Rex was here. Her Rex was here. Despite everything, he was finally here. They were finally back together.

Rex only loosened his grip when he heard a gentle cry echo through the jungle. Looking up, trying to pinpoint the source of the noise, he turned back to her as she grabbed his hand. Gently leading him up the path and to the home that she built for them, she stepped inside. Rex, his heart thudding hard in his chest, waited a moment before walking in behind her.

And when she turned around with a baby in her arms, he fell to his knees.

She smiled, drying her own tears, before moving to join him on the floor. Sitting cross-legged in front of him, she held out their son to Rex for the first time. After hesitating for a moment, he gently moved to cradle his son—his son—against his chest.

“I believe you now,” she quipped, wiping his tears away.

“Believe me about what?” he croaked out, turning back to her with a loving expression.

“You are a natural blond.”

#the bad batch #bad batch #tbb #captain rex x jedi reader #captain rex x oc #captain rex x reader #captain rex #tcw #sw tcw #sw tbb #rex x reader #rex x oc #star wars tbb

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nahoney22 · 2 months ago

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Perfectly Plucked

🫧 Pairings: Tech X Female!Reader

🫧 word count: 3.2k

Plot: Omega mentions to Tech that you love flowers, and luckily enough for him, you love him also.

Warnings: Fluff, safe for work, female reader (she/her), idiots in love, first kiss, nervous Tech.

A/N: it’s been a while since I wrote something cute with my darling, Tech 🩵

“So, what’s the plan?”

Omega’s voice is filled with mischief as she sways from side to side in the co-pilot’s seat, her eyes locked on Tech.

Tech doesn’t immediately respond. His fingers tapped lightly over the datapad, scanning through the incoming reports. But when Omega’s voice cut through the steady hum of the Marauder, his eyes lifted briefly, landing on her as she swayed back and forth in the co-pilot's seat. “Meaning?”

Omega leans forward, her grin widening as she tilts her head toward the viewport, pointing with her chin toward the object of their conversation. “You know... her,” she says in a teasing tone, her eyes sparkling with barely contained excitement. “Are you going to ask her out?”

Tech’s expression faltered for a split second—his eyes widened, just enough to give him away—before he quickly averted his gaze, pretending to focus on the datapad once more. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Oh, you definitely do. We’ve alll seen how you look at her. It’s pretty obvious.” Omega replies, rolling her eyes dramatically before jumping to her feet.

“I do not ‘look’ at her.” Tech mutters, his tone defensive. “I simply observe. That is all.”

Omega arches an eyebrow, a knowing smirk tugging at her lips. “Sure, ‘observe.’”

She pauses, tapping her chin thoughtfully as she begins to pace the cockpit.. “You could always make her something. You know, something nice and romantic! A gadget of some kind.” Then she frowns. “Although that doesn’t scream romantic.”

Tech looks up with a sigh. “Of course they are not. They are tools for beneficial use. And I do not believe she requires anything like that.”

Omega halts, then leans against the control panel, “Okay, maybe not gadgets,” she says, “But flowers might work. People give flowers all the time as romantic gestures.”

Tech blinks, his mind racing as he processes the suggestion. “Flowers?” His voice carries a hint of skepticism. “Why would she need flowers? They have no functional use. I would know if she had an interest in... what was it she said, ‘botanical remedies’?” He gives a small, self-assured smirk, as though this topic was already discussed between the two of them. “She tends to consult me on those matters.”

Omega rolls her eyes once but grins, “It’s not about the practical use, Tech. It’s about the gesture. Besides, she loves flowers.”

Tech’s brow furrows in thought. He glances over at you through the viewport, seeing you sitting outside the Marauder and methodically cleaning and refurbishing your armour.

His mind memorises Omega’s point, you were interested in flowers or any fauna.

Omega watches his expression change, a gleam of victory in her eyes. “You should really pay attention when she watches those holo-romcoms. You’d see how much she likes the idea of flowers.”

Tech’s fingers tap thoughtfully against his datapad, but his attention has clearly shifted. “I suppose that is true,” he murmurs, as though the idea of flowers suddenly isn’t so far-fetched after all.

Omega, sensing her triumph, beams. “So you’ll do it then? You’ll get her flowers?”

“No,” Tech answers quickly, looking back at his datapad with feigned disinterest. “I do not appreciate your attempts to manipulate me into admitting feelings. Again.”

She chuckles, remembering the long conversation she had chewed his ear off about flying being a ‘feeling’.

“So you do admit it?”

Tech shoots her a pointed look, his tone sharpening just a little. “Omega.”

She raises her hands in mock surrender, backing away with exaggerated slowness. “Alright, alright,” she sings. “But I know she would appreciate it. You just have to admit it.”

Tech huffs, his lips pressing into a thin line. He watches you for a moment longer, his mind still running through the possibility, before he mutters under his breath, “I’ll consider it.”

Omega’s eyes twinkle, her work clearly done. “Perfect.”

The warm, refreshing breeze threaded through your hair as you leaned back against the crate, letting yourself savor the simple pleasure of open air. Sure, it wasn’t exactly a luxurious beach chair on a pristine coast like you had been craving, instead it was a beat-up crate on an overgrown forest floor. Though after days cooped up inside the Marauder, it felt like paradise. Even if the company inside was great. More than great, really.

Your mind wandered, inevitably drawn to a certain member of the squad. You caught yourself smiling, and immediately cringed, pressing a hand over your face.

"Why do feelings suck?" you muttered under your breath, shaking your head at yourself.

After a few minutes, you sat up and surveyed your armour with a satisfied smile. You had to admit, you were really good at keeping it looking brand new. Gathering the pieces in your arms, you headed back toward the ship, still riding the lazy warmth of the afternoon.

You were halfway up the gangplank, not paying attention, when you collided with something - someone - solid. You grunted, stumbling back as a few pieces of your armour clattered to the floor.

“Oh stars, sorry, Tech!” you blurted out as you realised what happened, rubbing your forehead where you'd bumped it against him.

"Not to worry, I was not looking where I was going either," he said smoothly, though there was a softness to his voice that made your cheeks warm. Stars, he really got to you.

You quickly crouch to gather up the pieces of your armour, and Tech mirrors your movements without hesitation. His gloves brush against your fingers as you both reach for the same piece, and for a heartbeat, neither of you move. The slightest spark shoots up your arm, and judging by the way Tech’s hand stiffens just a fraction, you pondered wishfully if he felt it too.

True to form however, neither of you say anything about it. You clear your throat and pull your hand back, allowing him to pick up the last piece.

Once everything’s collected, Tech takes it and puts your armour in the Marauder. You move to step around him, but Tech moves at the same time. You both shuffle right. Then both to the left. You stifle a laugh, glancing up at him helplessly as you try again — and again — failing miserably to find your way past.

“We look ridiculous,” you mutter, half-laughing as you impulsively reach out and grab his shoulders to steady him and yourself.

His body goes stiff beneath your touch, as though uncertain what to do, and his adorable wide eyes blink down at you behind his goggles.

“Hold still,” you say through a grin, guiding him gently aside. He lets you manoeuvre him into place without a word, though you hear him clear his throat a little.

You finally step through the doorway into the ship, peeking back at him. “What were you up to, anyway?” you ask casually, hands on your hips

Normally, Tech would answer any question with straightforward precision, but today... today he falters. “I, ah... was merely seeking... additional reference material. For research purposes.” His voice, usually so confident and clipped, wavers strangely. It’s so unlike him that you tilt your head in suspicion, narrowing your eyes in a playful squint.

“Oh?” you say slowly, intrigued. “What kind of research?”

His mouth opens — and then promptly shuts again. He adjusts his goggles unnecessarily, his hands fidgeting at the edges of his belt. Definitely suspicious.

Your curiosity only grows. “Well, if you need help,” you offer lightly, “I’d be happy to join you. I wouldn’t mind stretching my legs.” But then you realise, “Actually, I don’t want to leave Omega on her own-”

You barely finish speaking when a voice pipes up right behind you, startling you.

“I can look after myself, you know,” Omega says, clearly having been eavesdropping the entire time. She crosses her arms proudly. “I’m not a little kid anymore.”

You and Tech both turn toward her. “Not going to start the ship up and fly away without us, right?” You tease.

“Well I can’t promise that” Omega teases, looking between the two of you. “But I’ll do my best to resist.”

“Alright then,” You nod, allowing her to stay behind but then look to Tech to get his verdict.

“I suppose we will not be long.”

“Great!” Omega chimes, “You two can enjoy your date - uh, I mean…”

You stare at her, wide-eyed and mortified at her slip (if it even was) of her tongue.

Tech’s ears burn under his goggles, shooting her a look that you don’t see. He straightens his posture, clearing his throat.

Soon after giving Omega one last warning not to do anything disastrous on your outing, you fall into step beside Tech as he leads the way off the ship.

He doesn't say much at first and you don't push about why he was oddly quiet. You’re quite content for a moment to simply walk through the warm, open air and the forest ahead looks inviting. And being with Tech was such an added bonus.

“So, what exactly are we doing?” you ask after a short while, glancing over at him. “You never did tell me what kind of research this was.”

He pushes his goggles up his nose, fingers twitching on a small device in his hand. “It is a standard environmental survey,” he says quickly, “Nothing particularly noteworthy.”

You squint at him, reading him like a book. “You’re a terrible liar, Tech.”

“I am not lying,” he says, his tone stiff. “I am merely withholding certain specifics for operational efficiency.”

You bite back a smirk but let it go, following him deeper into the trees.

The forest itself hums with quiet life around you. The soft chirping from unseen creatures and the faint trickle of a nearby stream was tranquil. The trees tower overhead, their bark a deep reddish-brown, had wide canopies of green and gold leaves that flutter gently in the breeze.

If Pabu didn’t exist, you would actually consider having a home here.

After a few more minutes of walking, you watch as Tech slows and veers off the beaten path. He stopped at the edge of a rocky clearing and looked over a bed of wildflowers that had tiny blossoms in vivid colours that sway.

He activates the device in his grasp with a quiet beep and starts scanning the flowers.

You lean against a large boulder nearby, resting your chin on your arms as you watch him work. His brows are knitted in focused concentration, a tiny crease forming above his nose.

Honestly? Adorable.

“You’re really invested in this ‘environmental survey,’ huh?” you tease lightly, smiling.

He doesn’t glance up. Instead, he carefully kneels and inspects a cluster of bright yellow blooms. He selects one, pulls a small pair of pliers from his utility belt, and snips the stem.

“What’s that one?” you ask whilst he holds the flower delicately between his gloved fingers.

He looks up at you, and there's something almost shy in the way he offers the information. “It is a part of the aurelia family, a plant known for its versatile healing properties," he explains. "It is particularly effective in creating salves for minor abrasions, something you once mentioned a preference for, if I recall correctly.”

You blink, caught off-guard by the thoughtfulness that he remembered a conversation you had with him quite a while ago now.

Before you can find the right words, he steps closer and offers the flower to you. “I would like you to look after it,” he says simply, placing it carefully into your hand quite quickly and looking away.

You cradle the delicate bloom as if it were made of glass. “I’ll guard it with my life,” you say with a mock-seriousness, but your heart thumps a little faster all the same.

Tech merely nods, satisfied, and turns to continue walking. You follow behind, hand still clutching the bright flower like it was something far more precious than just a plant. Well, to you it was anyway. You loved flowers.

You walk in easy silence for a while, the forest thickening around you as the path narrows.

You're still cradling the yellow flower carefully in your hand when you notice Tech slow again, his scanner flickering softly. He kneels by another patch of blooms — this time a cluster of small, delicate flowers in a soft shade of your favorite colour. You watch as Tech examines them, but instead of scanning them like before, he hesitates. His hand hovers for a moment before he plucks one gently between his fingers, standing up and turning toward you.

Without a word, he steps close, the flower dangling loosely in his grasp. His expression is unreadable behind his goggles, but there’s something almost... tentative about his posture.

You tilt your head, curious. “What’s that one?” you ask, smiling.

Tech visibly stiffens. His mouth opens, but whatever explanation he had seems to falter halfway through forming. “It does not possess any notable medicinal properties,” he admits, adjusting his grip on the flower. “It is... actually scientifically insignificant.”

You blink at him, confused. “Then why did you want me to hold it?”

For a second you swear you see Tech’s composure crack. He shifts awkwardly, looking anywhere but at you. “I considered it might be useful for... cross-referencing petal structure... for research purposes,” he says, far too quickly and far too technically to the point it sounded weird.

You narrow your eyes in mock suspicion, catching on that there’s definitely more he’s not saying. “Uh-huh. Sure,” you say, voice light but you can’t ignore that your heart beats a little faster. Did he want to give it to you… because he wanted to?

He seems to be silently warring with himself. His fingers twitch like he’s about to hand you the flower after all but at the last second, he stops.

Without another word, Tech then turns and — in a move so uncharacteristically flustered it makes you bite back a laugh — he tosses the little flower into the underbrush as he walks away.

You stare after him, baffled and amused in equal measur. Definitely suspicious.

Tech continues gathering flowers as you both wander through the forest, stopping here and there to snip a stem or examine a petal with meticulous care. You gave up asking about each one after the third or fourth as it became obvious he was just handing them to you without much explanation.

Instead, you quietly let him do it, your arms gradually filling with an array of blossoms: soft yellows, rich blues, gentle lilacs, vivid reds. The bundle was chaotic and beautiful.

After a while, Tech finally straightens and looks around the clearing with a satisfied nod. “This will suffice,” he announces.

You stop beside him, brushing your fingertips over the petals lightly, inhaling the gentle, sweet scent. “You picked a really pretty bunch for your research,” you admit softly, smiling over the bouquet at him.

Tech adjusts his goggles with a slight nervous twitch to the motion. “Yes, well...” he starts, voice a little stiffer than usual. “In truth, I would prefer you to keep them.”

You blink, surprised, lowering the flowers slightly to peer at him more clearly. “Keep them?”

He shifts on his feet, clearly uncomfortable but forcing himself to explain. “Omega mentioned that you appreciated flowers. She also suggested that they were considered a... romantic gesture. More appropriate than, say, a customised multitool.” He clears his throat, rapidly gaining momentum as he continues rambling.

“You wanted to get me flowers?” you interrupt softly, the words slipping out before you can stop them.

Tech freezes mid-sentence of his tangent. His mouth opens and closes once — then he nods, sharply, as if resigning himself to it. “Yes. That was the intended outcome.”

Your cheeks burn so hot you swear Tech could probably feel it. You hug the messy bouquet a little tighter to your chest, heart thudding so hard it drowns out the hum of the forest around you.

Tech, seemingly unaware of just how much he’s affecting you, blunders on, still trying to justify himself as if he really needed to. “Initially, Omega suggested a handcrafted gadget. However, after observing flora within the holo-romcoms you frequently view, I concluded that a floral gift might have a statistically higher probability of being well-received, despite its lack of practicality—”

You’re barely listening anymore. You’re too busy staring at the ridiculous, wonderful bouquet in your hands, and the man who meticulously gathered every single stem just to give them to you.

“So... there was no research,” you say, your voice catching slightly.

Tech hesitates, then tilts his head slightly, almost sheepish. “No, not exactly,” he admits.

You bite your lip, trying and failing to hide the grin spreading across your face.

Thinking for a split second, you pull a small flower from the messy bundle — a delicate little thing with soft pink petals — and step toward him. Tech watches you with a sort of curious stillness, almost like he’s bracing for whatever strange human interaction he’s about to experience for the first time. A soft tenderness he yearned for you.

Carefully, you tuck the flower into the side of his goggle band, the bright bloom resting just above his ear. You step back to admire your handiwork, smiling. “There,” you say lightly, “now you look even cuter.”

Tech blinks, his hand automatically coming up to touch the flower like he’s not sure it’s really there. He tilts his head, studying you as a small, almost hesitant smile curling at the edges of his mouth.

“That would suggest that you found me ‘cute’ beforehand.” He exhales through a deep breath he didn’t know he was holding.

You meet his gaze, feeling daring. “Maybe,” you say coyly with a shrug, the word slipping out in a playful lilt.

Something shifts between you. Tech’s smile lingers, but it’s gentler now. His hand drops back to his side, but he takes a small step closer, close enough that you can smell the faint, clean scent of him — old leather, warm metal and tools, and something sharper underneath, something just him.

Your heart thuds painfully against your ribs.

Neither of you speaks. The forest seems to go quiet, the golden leaves above stilling like even the world around you doesn’t want to interrupt.

Slowly, carefully, Tech raises his hand, fingertips brushing against your arm like a silent question. You don’t pull away. If anything, you lean closer, your bouquet pressed tight to your chest like it’s the only thing keeping you anchored.

“Would it... be acceptable,” he says, voice almost a whisper now, “if I—?”

You don’t even let him finish. You nod, once, fast and certain.

The distance closes naturally. His gloved hand slides up, cupping your cheek with a reverence that makes your breath hitch. You tilt into him instinctively, and when he finally, finally leans in, his kiss is as careful and deliberate as everything else he does. A featherlight brush of lips at first, testing the waters, before deepening ever so slightly as he feels you melt against him.

It’s sweet, and a little clumsy, and absolutely perfect.

When you finally pull away, you’re both smiling genuine smiles that don’t need words to explain.

The flower you tucked behind his goggles is a little crooked now, and somehow, that just makes it even better.

🫧 Masterlist

Tags: @tech-aficionado @grizabellasolo @therealnekomari @tech-depression-inventory @brynhildrmimi @greaser-wolf @kaminocasey @marvel-starwars-nerd @ladytano420 @ladyzirkonia @thesith @raevulsix @cw80831 @knightprincess @crosshairlovebot t @littlefeatherr @kaitou2417 @eyecandyeoz z @jesseeka @theroguesully @ladykatakuri @arctrooper69 @padawancat97 @staycalmandhugaclone @ko-neko-san @echos-girlfriend @fiveshelmet @dangraccoon @plushymiku-blog @pb-jellybeans @nunanuggets @sleepycreativewriter @erellenora @zippingstars87 7 @ezras-left-thumb @the-rain-on-kamino @tentakelspektakel l @stellarbit @imalovernotahater @sithstrings @whore4rex @imperialclaw801 @temple-elder @the-bad-batch-baroness @mysticalgalaxysalad @yunggoblin @photogirl894 @lulalovez

#the bad batch #tech #late #tech Tuesday #tech x reader #tbb tech #tbb tech x reader #bad batch tech #tech the bad batch #tech the bad batch x reader #nahoney22 writes #tbb #bad batch

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youretellingmethisdidnthappen · 1 year ago

Text

Omega: You and Hunter are having a baby.

Y/N: I'm sorry??

Omega, slamming adoption papers on the table: It's me, sign here.

#bad batch x reader #the bad batch #the bad batch incorrect quotes #the bad batch x reader #incorrect star wars quotes x reader #incorrect star wars #incorrect star wars quotes #incorrect bad batch #hunter x reader #tbb hunter x reader #tbb omega

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areyoufuckingcrazy · 2 months ago

Note

Happy Weekend! I was wondering if you could do an angst fic w/ TBB x Fem!Reader where they’re on a mission and the ground crumbles beneath her and she falls and they think she could be dead? Thanks! Xx

Happy Thursday! Sorry for the delay, I hope this is somewhat what you had in mind😊

“Echoes in the Dust”

The Bad Batch x Fem!Reader

Warnings: Falling, presumed death, grief, survivor’s guilt, panic

The ridge was narrow. Too narrow.

You moved with your blaster raised and your jaw set, following closely behind Wrecker as the team pushed forward. The rocky terrain was riddled with ravines, fault lines, and fractured earth—left scarred by years of shelling and seismic bombardments. The mission was supposed to be simple: infiltrate a Separatist holdout and extract data.

It was never simple.

“Movement on the northwest cliff,” you called into your comm. “Looks like clankers repositioning.”

“Copy that,” Echo’s voice crackled. “Tech, I’m sending coordinates to your pad.”

Hunter glanced back at you, just a flick of his head, a silent confirmation. You nodded. I’m good.

You were always good. Until the ground gave out beneath you.

It was subtle at first—just a soft shift under your boots, like loose gravel. But then came the snap. A hollow, wrenching crack that echoed through the canyon like thunder. The rock splintered beneath your feet. You didn’t have time to scream.

Just time to look up—into Hunter’s eyes.

“[Y/N]—!”

You dropped.

The last thing you saw was his outstretched hand, just a second too late.

Then the world became air and stone and darkness.

⸻

Above, everything exploded into chaos.

Hunter hit the ridge on his knees, arms dragging at loose rock, clawing like an animal trying to dig you back out. “No, no, no—”

Echo slid in beside him, scanning with one cybernetic arm extended. “I can’t see her. It’s—kriff—it’s a vertical drop. She went straight down.”

“I should’ve grabbed her!” Wrecker was pacing in wild circles, fists clenched, eyes wet. “I was right in front of her—I should’ve—she was right there!”

“She didn’t even scream,” Echo murmured. “She just… vanished.”

“I’m scanning for vitals,” Tech said, already tapping furiously at his datapad, but his voice was thin. “There’s no signal. No movement. Her comm—either it was destroyed in the fall or… or she’s—”

“Don’t finish that sentence,” Hunter snapped, voice like a knife.

The wind howled through the crevice she’d fallen into, dragging dust and silence with it.

Crosshair stood several meters back, motionless, his DC-17M dangling loosely in his grip.

“Say it,” Echo growled, glaring at him. “You’ve been quiet this whole time. Just say whatever snide thing you’re thinking so we can all lose it together.”

Crosshair’s eyes flicked up, storm-gray and unreadable.

“She’s dead.”

“Shut your mouth!” Wrecker roared, storming toward him, but Echo shoved himself in between.

“She could be alive,” Echo said fiercely, though his voice cracked. “It’s possible. People survive worse.”

Crosshair didn’t move. “Not from that height.”

“I said shut it!” Wrecker shoved him back, but it was all broken fury—guilt bleeding through his rage. “She was smiling, dammit. Right before. She looked at me and said, ‘We’ll all get out of this,’ and I didn’t even answer her back—!”

“Stop.” Hunter’s voice cut clean through the storm.

He stood now, rigid and furious, his back to the team, staring into the void where you’d fallen.

“She’s alive,” he said.

Tech looked up from his pad slowly. “Statistically—”

“I don’t give a damn about statistics.” His voice was hoarse. “I felt her. She was right here. She’s part of us. She wouldn’t just be… gone.”

His hand trembled slightly. Not from fear. From the weight of it.

He was the one who told you to cover the flank. He was the one who said the ridge was stable enough.

She trusted you, Crosshair had said.

No. She trusted him.

And he’d failed her.

Hunter turned and began strapping a rope to his belt.

“Sergeant?” Tech asked cautiously.

“We’re going down there. All of us. We don’t stop until we find her. I don’t care if we have to tear the planet apart.”

Echo moved first. “I’m with you.”

Wrecker stepped up beside them, his breath hitching. “Me too. Always.”

Even Crosshair nodded, silent again.

As Hunter stood at the edge, ready to descend into the place where you vanished, a single thought thundered in his mind:

She can’t be gone.

Not you.

Not when your laugh was still echoing in his ears. Not when you told him last night, during watch, that you’d be careful. Not when he never got to tell you that he needed you more than he ever let on.

He’d find you.

Or die trying.

⸻

The descent into the ravine was slow, agonizing, and silent.

The team moved as one—Hunter leading with a lantern clipped to his belt, casting narrow beams over jagged rock and twisted earth. Echo and Tech followed with scanners, mapping every crevice. Wrecker moved boulders with his bare hands, gritting his teeth with each one. Crosshair, ever the rear guard, watched from behind, but his silence was sharp, eyes flicking everywhere.

Hunter’s voice echoed through the narrow stone corridor. “Check every ledge. Every outcropping.”

“She could’ve hit a rock shelf and rolled,” Echo said, carefully scanning below. “Or worse…”

“Don’t,” Wrecker said. “Don’t even say it. She’s alive. She has to be.”

They moved deeper into the ravine—until the beam of Hunter’s light caught something.

“Wait,” Tech whispered, grabbing Echo’s arm.

There—thirty feet below them, half-buried under collapsed shale and bloodied stone—was a figure.

Your figure.

You were sprawled on your side, your body twisted unnaturally, one leg crushed beneath a slab of rock. Blood soaked through your jacket. Your head had struck something hard—too hard—and you weren’t moving.

Hunter nearly dropped the lantern.

“[Y/N]—!”

He was down the rest of the way before anyone could stop him, crashing to his knees beside you.

“Don’t move her!” Echo shouted, sliding in behind. “Not yet. Let me check—”

But Hunter’s hands were already trembling as they hovered over you, too afraid to touch. Too afraid that this—this fragile, broken thing—was all that was left.

“She’s breathing,” Echo said. “Shallow. Pulse is—kriff—irregular. She’s lost a lot of blood.”

Wrecker dropped beside them, tears already streaking the dust on his cheeks.

“Is she—? She’s gonna make it, right? Echo?”

“She’s unconscious,” Echo said quietly. “And we need to get her out now.”

“Spinal trauma is possible,” Tech added, eyes locked on his scanner. “Multiple fractures. Her femur is broken—bleeding into the tissue. Concussion. Rib damage. Internal bleeding likely.”

Crosshair didn’t come any closer. He stood just at the edge of the light, staring down at you with an unreadable expression.

“You said she was dead,” Wrecker growled, voice shaking.

Crosshair didn’t respond.

Because he knew now—death would’ve been kinder than this.

The med evac was chaotic.

Hunter carried you the entire climb back—refused to let anyone else even try. He held you close to his chest like something fragile, as if you’d fall again if he let go. Your blood had soaked through his armor by the time they reached the surface.

Back on the Marauder, the team worked together in silent urgency. Wrecker helped secure you to the gurney. Echo and Tech patched what they could. Crosshair kept watch, pacing like a trapped animal.

And Hunter… he sat beside you.

His hands were covered in your blood.

“I should’ve caught you,” he whispered.

No one argued. No one corrected him.

Because part of them believed it too.

You twitched in your sleep once—just a small movement, a flicker of pain across your brow—and Hunter nearly leapt out of his seat.

“She moved!” he barked.

“She’s still unconscious,” Tech reminded. “That doesn’t guarantee cognition. The swelling in her brain—”

“I don’t care what the scans say,” Hunter growled. “She’s fighting.”

He reached down and brushed a blood-matted strand of hair from your face.

“You hear me?” he whispered, voice cracking. “You hold on. You fight like you always do. You’re not going to leave us like this.”

Wrecker sat on the floor beside the cot, staring at your hand dangling off the edge.

“You’re not allowed to die, okay?” he said, softly, almost childlike. “You still owe me a rematch.”

Echo leaned against the wall, arms crossed, jaw clenched tight. “She shouldn’t have been the one to fall. It should’ve been—”

“Don’t,” Tech said, just as quiet. “We all blame ourselves. That’s not useful now.”

Only Crosshair said nothing.

But later—when the others had finally dozed off in shifts, and the med droid was running scans—he sat beside you alone.

“Idiots, all of them,” he muttered. “They think they lost you. I know better.”

He rested his hand beside yours.

“You’re not dead. You’re just too damn stubborn.”

There was a pause.

“…So come back. Or I’ll never forgive you.”

You didn’t wake up that night. Or the next.

But your vitals held.

You were still fighting.

And the squad—your family—never left your side.

⸻

It started with a sound.

A weak, choked wheeze from the medbay.

Wrecker heard it first—he’d been sitting on the floor beside your cot for the past hour, humming under his breath and telling you stories like he had every day since they pulled you from the ravine.

But when he heard your breathing stutter—heard that awful, wet gasp—he was on his feet in an instant.

“Tech!”

Footsteps thundered in from the cockpit.

Tech was there in seconds, datapad in one hand, expression already shifting from calculation to panic.

“Vitals are dropping. Pulse erratic. Respiratory distress—dammit—her lung may have collapsed.”

The med droid whirred a warning in binary, and Tech shoved it aside, already working to stabilize you. Wrecker stood frozen, fists clenched at his sides, helpless as machines blared and blood began soaking through your bandages again.

“She was getting better,” Wrecker whispered. “She was breathing normal yesterday. You said she was stabilizing!”

“I said her vitals were holding,” Tech snapped, voice tight and uncharacteristically sharp. “I also said we didn’t know the full extent of internal damage yet. The concussion is worsening. There’s pressure building against her brainstem. Her body is going into systemic shock.”

“Then fix it!” Wrecker’s voice cracked. “You fix everything! Please—”

Tech’s hands moved fast, too fast—grabbing gauze, recalibrating IV drips, re-administering stimulants. But beneath the precision was fear. A gnawing, brittle kind of fear that made his fingers shake.

“I’m trying,” Tech said, barely above a whisper now. “I’m trying, Wrecker.”

Your body jerked suddenly—just a twitch, but it sent a ripple of panic through them both.

Tech cursed under his breath. “She needs proper medical facilities. A bacta tank. A neuro-regeneration suite. This ship is not equipped to handle this kind of trauma long-term.”

“So what, we just wait and watch her die?” Wrecker whispered.

“No!” Tech snapped, louder this time. “We don’t let her die.”

He slammed his fist down on the console—just once—but the sound echoed like a gunshot through the Marauder. Wrecker flinched. Tech never lost control. Never raised his voice. Never made a sound unless it meant something.

And now, he looked like he was about to break.

“I’ve calculated a thousand outcomes,” Tech murmured, softer now. “And every variable keeps changing. Her body is unpredictable. She’s unstable. But she’s also resilient. She’s survived things that should’ve killed her ten times over.”

He looked up then, eyes glassy behind his goggles.

“But if we don’t find a way to get her real care—soon—we will lose her.”

Wrecker turned away, one massive hand covering his face. He’d never felt so useless. Not when they’d crashed on Ordo. Not when they’d been stranded on Ryloth. Never like this.

“I don’t know what to do,” he said. “I’m strong. I can carry her. Fight for her. But I can’t fix her, Tech. I can’t even hold her without hurting her worse.”

Tech approached quietly, placing a hand on Wrecker’s shoulder—a rare gesture.

“You are helping,” he said. “You’re keeping her tethered. She needs that. She needs us.”

The med console beeped—soft, steady. A pause.

Then a spike.

Her heart rate surged. Your head tilted slightly to the side. Blood trickled from your nose. Another alarm.

“No, no, no—stay with us,” Tech muttered, already grabbing the stabilizer. “Don’t go. Not yet.”

Wrecker dropped to his knees beside you, voice trembling.

“C’mon, sweetheart,” he whispered. “You don’t get to leave like this. You didn’t even finish your story about the time you pantsed Crosshair in front of the general. Remember that?”

He sniffed, brushing a strand of hair from your sweat-slicked face. “You said you’d tell me how you pulled it off without getting court-martialed. Said you’d sing me that dumb lullaby you like. Said you’d stay.”

Your fingers twitched.

A tiny movement. Almost nothing.

But Wrecker gasped.

“She moved!”

Tech’s head snapped up. “What?”

“She moved! Her hand—right here—she twitched.”

Tech scanned you again. “Neurological activity spiked. Minimal, but—”

You let out a weak, pained breath.

Another wheeze. Then a garbled sound—almost like a word, trapped somewhere deep in your throat.

“…H-Hun…ter…”

Both men froze.

Tears filled Wrecker’s eyes.

“She said his name…”

“She’s still in there,” Tech whispered, blinking quickly. “Cognitive reflexes are initiating. That’s… that’s something.”

He turned to Wrecker, and for once, there was nothing cold or clinical in his tone.

“There’s still time.”

They kept watch through the night. Neither slept.

Wrecker read to you from the old datapad you always teased him for hoarding.

Tech adjusted your vitals every hour, even when nothing had changed, just to keep his hands busy.

And in the silence between beeping monitors and heavy breaths, they both spoke to you—about nothing, about everything.

Wrecker told you about the time he and you almost got arrested on Corellia for stealing bad caf. How your laugh had made him feel human again.

Tech told you the probability of your survival was now sitting at 18.6%, up from 9%. And that statistically, if anyone could beat the odds, it was you.

Wrecker chuckled through his tears. “Told you, didn’t I? Too stubborn to die.”

Tech looked down at your still hand, then whispered—just once—“Please… don’t.”

⸻

The Marauder was silent.

Tech had finally collapsed from exhaustion in the co-pilot seat, goggles askew, still clutching the datapad with your vitals. Wrecker was curled on the floor next to your bed, snoring lightly with one hand near yours. Crosshair sat with his back to the far wall, arms crossed, eyes closed—but not asleep.

And Echo stayed awake.

He always did.

He was seated at your bedside, one cybernetic hand gently resting on the edge of the cot. The hum of the ship’s systems filled the space between the heart monitor’s steady rhythm. Your breathing—still shallow, but no longer ragged—was the only music Echo needed.

He hadn’t moved for hours.

You’d gotten worse. Then better. Then worse again. And through all of it, he’d held on. Let the others break. Let them rage. He had to be the one who didn’t fall apart.

But now, as he sat alone in the flickering light, his thumb brushed your bandaged hand—and he whispered, “You can’t keep scaring us like this.”

Your lips moved.

Barely.

He straightened. “Hey…?”

Your fingers twitched under his hand.

Your head shifted slightly on the pillow, a soft whimper escaping your throat. Your eyelashes fluttered—slow, disoriented, like your mind hadn’t caught up to your body.

“Hey.” Echo leaned closer, voice trembling now. “Come on… come on, mesh’la. You’re safe.”

Your eyes opened.

Just a sliver at first. Squinting into the low light.

“…Echo…?”

It was a rasp, a whisper, but it was real.

Echo’s mouth fell open.

And for the first time since the fall—since the screaming, the blood, the race against time—his composure cracked.

You blinked slowly, pain visible behind your glazed eyes. “W-Where…?”

“Still on the Marauder. We haven’t moved. We couldn’t.” His voice was low and hoarse. “You weren’t stable enough.”

Your brow furrowed faintly. “Hurts.”

“I know.” He gently adjusted your oxygen mask, smoothing your hair back. “You took a hell of a fall.”

You tried to shift, but your body betrayed you—wracked with weakness, ribs aching, limbs sluggish.

Echo placed a firm hand on your shoulder. “Don’t move yet. Please. Just stay still.”

You obeyed—too tired to fight it.

“I thought…” You coughed, eyes fluttering. “Thought I heard Wrecker crying.”

Echo actually smiled, though his eyes were wet. “Yeah. That happened.”

You let out the faintest exhale—almost a laugh. “He’s a big softie.”

“Only for you,” Echo whispered, squeezing your hand carefully. “You scared him half to death.”

There was a long pause.

You looked up at him, brow knitting again.

“…You thought I was gone, didn’t you?”

Echo’s throat tightened. “We all did.”

“But you stayed.”

“Of course I stayed.”

Your gaze lingered on him. He looked exhausted. Hollowed out. His prosthetic arm twitched like he’d been clenching it too long.

“You haven’t slept.”

He laughed quietly—bitter and warm all at once. “Didn’t want to miss this.”

Another silence.

And then, so faint it barely reached him, you whispered—

“…I’m sorry.”

Echo stared at you, stunned.

“For what?” he breathed.

“For falling. For worrying you. For being weak.”

His expression broke. “No.”

He leaned in, voice rough. “Don’t ever say that. You didn’t fall because you were weak. You fell because the ground gave out. Because war is cruel. Because life isn’t fair.”

He blinked back tears. “But you lived. And that means more than anything.”

Your vision blurred—not from injury this time, but from the emotion in his voice.

He looked at you like you were the most important thing in the galaxy.

“I thought I lost you,” he said. “And I wasn’t ready.”

You let your eyes close again, overwhelmed by exhaustion—but you smiled softly through cracked lips.

“I’m here.”

He pressed his forehead gently to your hand, exhaling a shaky breath.

“You’re here.”

When the others returned—when Hunter stumbled in and dropped to his knees, when Wrecker cried again, when Crosshair stood frozen for a full minute, just staring—you were already asleep.

But Echo met Hunter’s gaze.

And nodded.

“She woke up.”

And for the first time in days, the silence didn’t feel so heavy.

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1-have-no-idea · 7 months ago

Text

how they kiss you: part one

Clone force 99:

character(s): Hunter, Tech, Wrecker, Crosshair, Echo

genre: fluff, romance, crack (kinda)

overview: this is literally just how the boys would kiss you. literally just that.

warning(s): Tech doesn’t know how to kiss, Crosshair is a freak, (jk, he just gets a lil spicy with it), mentioned of making out, slobber, Hunter’s a lil suave, sexual innuendos, references and implications of smut

Hunter:

-okay, but he’s such a gentleman while doing it?

-it depends on his mood really, and what the occasion is.

-Hunter doesn’t overdo kisses, but out of all of them, he is the one who probably will give the most (besides Wrecker, ahem.)

-He’ll kiss you when you wake up, when you make him food, right before he leaves, and when you go to bed.

-Unless he’s feeling a little… ahem. Y’know. A lil teasing that day

-His kisses are deep but short. Enough to make you blush but also leaving you yearning for more

-he’s a lil tease, but if you pout about it, he’ll just send you that boyish smile and give you another one

-”don’t gotta miss me that much, mesh’la,”

-yeah. That’s him..

-Hunter probably has somewhat chapped lips, (as most clones), but not to the point where they scrape yours. And they’re also somewhat thin (like most clones), so basically, they’re not that different from a regs

-except they’re a bit plushier, if that makes sense

-his stubble WILL scratch against you

-he’ll rarely give tongue unless he’s feeling a little freaky and has the intention on, well, y’know.

-”spread those legs, mesh’la,”

-yeah, y’know, the fun stuff

-so yeah.

-kisses are like a 10/10, would recommend

———————————————————————————

Tech:

-SO AWKWARD.

-sorry Tech lovers, but like. We’re talking about the Tech, the one who can’t understand or take hints whatsoever…

-a NERD.

-he’s such a virgin, smh

-but like… a subtle virgin, ykwim?

-you wouldn’t know he was a virgin. Like, you literally wouldn’t.

-until you kissed him and he expressed his shock and stated that this was an ‘interesting development.’

-”....fascinating. Do it again. This time I’d like to record the acceleration of our heart rates and the texture of your lips against mine. Allow me to retrieve my datapad–”

-yeah. Like. It’s either the most hottest thing hearing him talk all smart after the kiss or the most ‘dude, are you serious’ kinda thing.

-Tech is not really a kisser, but a pecker

-they’re not frequent, but they’re enough for you to still kinda expect them, yk?

-his kisses are chaste and respectful. Never awkward, but usually quick.

-such as, a kiss on your knuckles or your temple or hair. Tech doesn’t go for lips, but he doesn’t mind if you initiate those to him and he will depending on the mood you or him are in

-i actually like to think his lips are actually kinda soft. Not like, baby smooth, but soft.

-i don’t think he gets needy for them, but there are times where he really just wants to feel your lips on him

-he loves the texture and the warmth.

-he won’t really ask though.

-it’s more for ‘experimentation’, in his words.

-”I’d like to explore this further with you. This time, can you kiss me a little bit firmer?”

-7/10 in the beginning, but Tech learns quickly and is extremely observant, and soon learns exactly where to nip, suck, bite, lick, and kiss.

-just give him a little more lessons

-for science, of course

———————————————————————————

Wrecker:

-okay guys

-he is NOT as innocent as he looks, i’m sorry

-respectful, yeah. Gentle, yeah.

-but INNOCENT?? Yeah, no.

-have you seen that deleted scene in clone wars with the Padme art?

-”Yeah, she could negotiate with me any time!”

-erm. Guys.

-and that translates in his kisses.

-he’s not shy whatsoever.

-gentle, of course, but you want him to be rough?

-oh, he’ll be rough.

-okay, let me backtrack, so when y’all are still new to a relationship and all that, he’s nervous. Holds you like glass and kisses you like he’s unsure if he even wants to.

-he was scared. He knows he’s a big guy, and doesn’t wanna hurt you.

-but once you get to that point in your relationship with a lotta reassurance and carefulness and praise and teasing

-my man is most definitely a tank

-and packing one too– ahem.

-he kisses a lot. Anywhere. Kinda worships you with his mouth, lips, tongue and all. Take that as you will.

-his kisses are passionate. Deep. Like his love for you, but they can also be gentle. Soft.

-Large hands will come and cradle you or hold your hips in place, he loves picking you up when you kiss.

-his lips are different, they’re PLUSH. Plump, and bigger than his other brothers. Fully cushioned. It’s nice.

-”Hey! One more, baby! Miss ya already!”

-he’s actually a good kisser. Like, you’ll be starstruck

-and he’ll be giggling

-the type to be giggling and grinning into the kiss

———————————————————————————

Crosshair:

-holy. Where do I even start with him.

-he’s smooth. Annoyingly so.

-the type to kiss you to shut you up

-out of all his brothers, I feel like he gets hit on the most when he’s out and about.

-it’s just cuz he’s ‘mysterious’

-he’s actually never really interested, unless he’s feeling rather frisky and pent up

-when he’s not being angsty and emo, he’s actually low-key kinda flirty with you whenever moments like that actually do pop up.

-and you better believe, all his kisses include tongue.

-you go in for a kiss, that’s you asking for a makeout session, and if he’s feeling mischievous, he’ll tear away and walk away leaving you a breathless and yearning and hot and bothered mess.

-”So desperate for me and all I did was kiss you.”

-BULL. That’s bull. He knew what he was doing.

-there are moments where he’ll be gentle with you though. Usually when he feels vulnerable.

-others, they’re rough yanks to him. Hand on the back of your neck and slamming his lips on yours.

-tongue swiping over your bottom lip before pulling it between his teeth, soothing it with his tongue again before licking into your mouth and sucking on your tongue once or twice.

-messy and they lead to a messy bed afterwards too.

-most definitely a lil freaky

-and guess what? Despite having one of the thinnest lips, they’re baby smooth.

-wanna know why? Skincare.

-he’s obsessed with it. What a princess.

-yet he still looks sixty.

-not down below.

-definitely doesn’t feel like one.

-anywho, that’s not the topic, so he has really soft lips and knows how to use them

-WILL smirk into the kiss

-cocky bastard

-100% recommend if you wanna get laid.

-”Careful what you’re asking for, doll.”

———————————————————————————

Echo:

-my sweet baby

-i love him sm

-he’s shy in the beginning, but so gentlemanly

-his kisses really express his love for you. Every emotion, every feeling is poured out into that kiss.

-whether it be I love you, I missed you, I’ll be back, be safe, don’t be back too late,

-yeah.

-they’re deep and firm and gentle, but not timid

-he is NOT shy of his love for you

-one arm around your waist, his bionic hand cradling the back of your head, it’s so sweet

-he loves cupping your face with his flesh hand while kissing you

-he just loves the contact

-kisses are frequent, but not too

-he loves dancing with you and dipping you into a kiss.

-cliche, but Echo is an old-school romantic, believe it or not

-swaying around you, spinning you with a warm smile on his face, pale brown orbs glowing gold as he looked at you,

-”you’re beautiful,”

-and it’s a soft-spoken promise as he presses his lips to yours

-he does have cold lips, but it’s a nice feeling against your warm ones

-please pepper his cold skin with kisses, he’ll be a puddle for you and feel so loved, (and warmed up.)

-anywho, he doesn’t have that much experience, so teach him, because he’d love to learn.

-all in all, he just loves you so much–

-so sweet

-”Love you, angel. C’mere, lemme give you another one.”

#clones x reader #the bad batch #tcw x reader #tbb x reader #echo x reader #crosshair x reader #hunter x reader #tech x reader #wrecker x reader

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rainydaydream-gal18 · 1 year ago

Text

(The Bad Batch) How He Is with His Newborn Baby

Hunter: He adores them and spends a lot of time holding them. Hunter is also really big on the whole skin-to-skin contact, so it becomes a common thing to see him walking around shirtless with the baby cradled snugly in one arm. He gets pretty good at performing tasks around the home with the baby. He's enraptured by the little one, but also very attentive to your needs. Hunter makes sure you take the time you need to eat, shower, and just have time to relax every now and then. Literally, any excuse to hold them some more, and he's giving it. He is good at rocking the baby in such a way that they fall asleep instantly in his arms.

Wrecker: The baby has him wrapped around their tiny finger already. He's already telling them how much he loves them and how proud he is. Wrecker also just spends time telling them all the fun things they're going to do together when they're old enough to walk, talk, etc. He is so unbelievably gentle and sweet with the little one in general, and also of course with you. He'll randomly stare at you and tell you how beautiful you are and what a good job you're doing.

Tech: This baby is not at the point where they can retain any information yet, but Tech spends plenty of time just talking to them. He talks about anything his mind can conjure up. The baby becomes so accustomed to the sound of his voice that it has quite the soothing effect. Additionally, Tech is very quick to pick up on the baby's cycle of needs. It gets to the point where they cry, and he can glance at his chrono and pinpoint exactly what they need according to the little schedule he's created. He also regularly checks the baby's weight, vitals, to make sure they're in good health. From time to time he voices yet again how fascinating the miracle of birth is and how proud he is of you, also checking your health.

Echo: Spends the first few weeks only holding the baby when sitting down. He can't get over how fragile they are, and he just sits there and stares at them as long as he can in amazement and adoration before they wake up from their nap or fuss about something they need. When the baby bursts into a fit of wails, he goes into a bit of a panic mode worrying about what's wrong. Eventually, he gets more comfortable and gets used to the idea that the baby is just communicating a need. It doesn't take long for him to become a professional dad. He gets pretty organized with the diaper bag and supplies so that he can just pull out whatever the baby needs at the drop of a hat.

Crosshair: He spends a good while just quietly holding the baby in his arms and watching them. Internally, he thinks they're absolutely precious and realizes he loves them so much. He already knew he'd love them, but he didn't realize it would feel like this. The baby is heart-wrenchingly cute, and he'd do anything to protect them. You come to find that he becomes more vocal, telling the baby in a sort of Crosshair-style sarcasm that they need to get their act together every time he has to handle a diaper change, feeding, etc. He's up with you at any hour day or night to help with the baby without a complaint, and regularly makes sure you're taking care of yourself also.

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dindjarindiaries · 1 month ago

Text

Say Something

summary: Your peaceful life on Pabu was bought by a hard-fought battle, and the last thing you want to do is disturb it by confessing your unrequited feelings for Hunter. What you don’t know is that he feels the same exact way.

pairing: hunter (the bad batch) x reader

tags: mutual pining, post-s3/finale, tech lives, angst with a happy ending, perspective switches, mutual jealousy, alcohol, banter, love confessions, hunter is bad at feelings (but he’s trying), hunter is omega’s parent, protective hunter

rating: T

word count: 10.470k

main masterlist • hunter masterlist

You woke up just as the Pabu sun was starting to rise, for once feeling just as peaceful as the sight of it was on the horizon through your bedroom’s viewport. That was a rare feat these days, no matter how much time had passed since your final battle.

Resigning yourself to your awakened state, you got up and prepared for the day. There wasn’t much you, or the others for that matter, had going on, but there was a community event in the heart of town tonight. You had already agreed to go, and it was no doubt Wrecker’s scene, too. He was the most social of the group, after all.

With the two of you slated to be there, it wasn’t hard to guess who else would be coming along. His protective tendencies had only seemed to worsen after Tantiss, but you couldn’t blame him.

If all was as usual right now, however, everyone would still be asleep. If anyone else was actually awake, it would be Crosshair, but he would be roaming the shore with Batcher if that were the case. With that in mind, you carried yourself quietly out of the room into the upstairs corridor of the squad’s shared home.

That was still something you were getting used to. After countless months spent living out of a ship, it was unreal to have somewhere you could truly call a home. You would do anything to preserve its sacredness.

Even ignore the storm of complicated feelings for a certain someone inside the house that had long since been brewing inside of you.

As if to mock you, a dim light glowed out into the corridor from one of the refresher doorways, which had been left open. You lifted your brow in curiosity, stepping forward with weightless feet as you tiptoed closer to see who was inside without disturbing them.

You were thankful you had kept yourself as quiet as possible, because the refresher was currently being occupied by the person who had the highest chance of hearing you no matter what—and the same person you had just been thinking about. The relief was short-lived as the scene of what you were witnessing fully sunk in.

Hunter must have just hit the shower. His scarred upper half was still steaming as he tended to his hair in a gentle way that brought a mindless smile to your lips. For so long during the war, he hadn’t been able to take care of his hair the way it truly deserved; the last few months on Pabu had changed that. Now, his natural curls were allowed to shine.

That and everything else he offered would have been enough to keep you staring, but what continued to captivate your wandering eye were the maneuvers of his careful, practiced, and calloused fingers.

You weren’t used to seeing them so vulnerable when the former sergeant had almost always had them covered by his gloves. It wasn’t a sight you ever would get used to. Even just the thought of them brought a blistering warmth to your face and the tips of your ears, and the longer you stared, the more it burned.

Something in your chest pulled tight, as if there was an invisible tether between the two of you. You wanted so badly to see where it led, to find out if it was inside your own mind or something shared between you, but the peace you had achieved kept you from saying anything. Ruining everything he especially had worked to give you and the others was your worst fear.

That’s why you settled for this, lingering like his shadow as your eyes carved swirling designs into the skin of his fingers and the rippling muscles on his scarred upper half. You stayed just out of sight as you did so, barely able to see his eyes in the reflector as he watched his work carefully.

Then, for a fraction of a second that left you breathless, the reflection of his amber gaze flickered to yours.

Immediately, that burning warmth rushed down into your neck, and you turned on your heel to walk back towards your room. Of course, it would do nothing to stop him from addressing you in his usual low timbre.

“You’re up earlier than usual.”

You hummed, hiding the breath you took for composure, and turned back around to face him. You crossed your arms over your chest to keep him from seeing the heart you had accidentally been wearing on your sleeve. “I could say the same to you.”

Hunter let out an amused huff. One of his hands was set on his hip as his other side leaned against the doorway, and he tilted his head while his gaze regarded you with a fondness you couldn’t quite pinpoint.

All the while, you were trying not to visibly marvel at the sight of his hair falling freely without his bandana. It wasn’t a style he wore often at all—even on the island, he still wore a newer, woven bandana to keep his curls in place—but it was fitting on him. Liberating, even. It was a sight you wanted to get used to.

“So.” You tapped your fingers along your arms and raised your brow. “What’s got you rising with the sun?”

Hunter lifted a single eyebrow, matching the corner of his mouth that also rose in a slow, sly motion. “Considering you’ve been watching me for the last few minutes… I think you know.”

You fought off the warmth that attempted to overpower you as you shrugged. “Maybe I was just waiting for the ‘fresher.”

“There are other ‘freshers you could use.”

“Yeah, but this one’s my favorite.”

“Just like me, huh?”

You gave your eyes a dramatic roll, despite the way his words tightened the knot inside your chest. “You keep telling yourself that.”

Hunter chuckled and shook his head, jostling some of the curls he had just set. Your gaze softened at the sight before you could stop it. “Now, what about you?” Hunter’s expression grew more serious as he nodded at you. “Why are you up?” His warm gaze gave you a quick yet cautious once-over. “You feeling okay?”

You nodded to reassure him. “Yeah, yeah, I’m fine today.”

Hunter’s brow furrowed. “‘Today?’ Is something usually wrong?”

The pure concern in his voice made you feel safer than anything or anyone else in the galaxy ever could, but you quickly reminded yourself that he treated the rest of his family the same way. “I mean, I’m pretty sure that’s the case with all of us after…”

You hesitated to actually say the word. You hadn’t had it half as bad as Hunter did inside Tantiss, and you were reluctant to make him remember everything he had been through. You bit back a wince as you watched him avert his gaze for a few moments, his amber eyes glossing over with a haunted look before he circled his jaw and refocused.

“Fair point.” Hunter lifted himself from the doorway and straightened as his gaze pierced yours. “But you know you can always talk to me if you need to.”

You offered him a small smile and nodded. “I know.” You tightened your grasp on your arms and looked down at your feet. “You’ve got enough going on as it is, though, and I can manage it just fine on my own.”

Most of the time. It wouldn’t do Hunter any good to mention the times where you woke up utterly breathless and trembling from the terrors that haunted your mind relentlessly, especially when he was at the center of them all. If he learned that the torture he endured had also become your own torment, he would take responsibility for it—and you simply wouldn’t let him.

Hunter let out a soft sigh and took a small step closer to you. “You don’t have to do it alone.”

You looked back up at him. The depths of Hunter’s gaze were still plagued by hauntings he was clearly trying to hide, something that made concern flicker within your own chest as you gently raised your brow at him. “Neither do you.”

Hunter broke your stare, his gaze searching as he looked at the floor beside you. You let out a sigh soft enough that Hunter might not have even caught it with his delicate senses. The two of you made quite the sorry pair when it came to sharing feelings, in more ways than just one.

But one of those ways was just you.

The least you could do for him now was find an appropriate topic switch. Your gaze, unsurprisingly, continued to study him up close, catching specifically on his tightened jaw. He had always left behind just a touch of stubble while shaving, but it was clear he was starting to grow it out more here on the island. You smiled again and spoke up into the silence.

“Looks like you’re trying something new.”

Hunter’s gaze flickered back to you, his brow creased in silent questioning. You resisted the urge to reach forward and brush your fingers along his jaw, instead resolving to tap your own.

His eyes flashed with understanding, and there may have been a flush that appeared over his cheeks, though it was hard to tell in the dimmer lighting of the corridor. “Yeah. Yeah, I just… I got lazy with it one day, then decided to keep taking it further.” Hunter offered his best nonchalant shrug.

You let out a soft hum of approval. “I like it.”

Hunter’s shoulders lifted in a movement so subtle you would’ve missed it if you had blinked. “You do?”

You fought off a chuckle at his pure disbelief and nodded. “I do.” You let that sound of amusement out as you gave his bare shoulder a playful punch. “And I bet all the townsfolk who definitely have secret crushes on you are gonna love seeing it tonight.”

Hunter huffed and shook his head, running his hand over the back of his neck in clear embarrassment. “You’ve gotten as bad as them with that, you know.” He gestured with his head to the other sealed bedroom doors.

You let out another soft laugh and shrugged. “It’s true.”

Hunter sighed and gave his eyes a half-hearted roll. “It is not.”

You grinned. “Yes it is!”

“You think it’s funny, but it’s not.” Hunter’s growing smile betrayed his words.

“I’m not trying to be funny. I’m just telling the truth.”

The sound of a door opening in the corridor split the air, but neither you nor Hunter paid it any mind as he continued your banter. “That’s not the truth, though. You’re all making that up.”

You let out a scoff and shook your head. “No we’re not!”

Hunter set his hands on his hips and lifted his brow. “Yes, you are.”

“And why would we lie?”

Hunter gave his head a shake as he let out a heavy sigh. “Either way, it doesn’t matter.”

Your heart stalled in your chest as you gave him an inquisitive look. “Why not?”

Before Hunter could say anything, a shadow suddenly moved into the space between you. You had to take a step back to make enough room for them—just to realize it wasn’t a shadow, but was, in fact, Crosshair, who was headed for the nearby staircase.

Crosshair continued his stride as if the two of you hadn’t even been standing there, close enough to one another that you had to physically create more distance for him to fit. Both you and Hunter watched him go before you turned back to each other. Hunter’s smile was shy as he took a step back past the refresher’s threshold.

“I’ll be done soon.” With that, Hunter hit the panel on the inside of the refresher and closed the door.

You stood there, blinking into the sudden darkness of the corridor without the dim lighting of the refresher, as you recollected yourself. You hadn’t noticed how close you and Hunter had gotten, not until Crosshair passing by had made you realize it.

You wished that neither of you had noticed, because there was no telling how much closer you might have gotten if you hadn’t.

You inhaled a steady breath as you turned away from the door and continued towards the stairs. Following Crosshair’s path, you made your way downstairs and into the conjoined kitchen and living area. The sniper was already there, brewing a pot of caf as you leaned against the counter in your best nonchalant act.

“Morning.”

Crosshair cut his gaze at you. “Hmm.” He pressed a button on the caf machine and turned around to face you. “I thought you would’ve taken longer.”

You blinked at him as your lips parted in surprise. It took a few silent moments for you to even find the words to say in response. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Crosshair crossed his arms, his stare never once leaving yours as he slowly lifted a single eyebrow. “Nothing.” He took a toothpick from a nearby glass cylinder on the counter and balanced it between his lips.

You narrowed your eyes at him. “You wouldn’t have said something like that without a reason.”

Crosshair twirled the toothpick and shrugged. “You’re smart, aren’t you?” He lifted the toothpick and studied it closer than he had to. “You’ll figure it out on your own.”

You pursed your lips, but said nothing. Crosshair set the toothpick back where it was and turned to take two mugs from a nearby cabinet.

“Or… you’ll keep acting like an idiot.”

You sputtered as you pushed yourself off the counter and frowned at him. “Did you just call me an idiot?”

“No.” Crosshair turned to face you again. There was no hiding the clear amusement that tugged at the corners of his mouth. “I said you’re acting like one.” He pointed at you with his toothpick. “There’s a difference.”

You set your hands on your hips and furrowed your brow. “And how exactly am I acting like an idiot to you?”

Crosshair huffed, the best version of a laugh you could ever hope to get from him, and tilted his head. “By pretending you don’t know what I’m talking about.”

You palmed your forehead. “You’re not making any sense.”

Crosshair’s amusement flickered into frustration as he rolled his eyes. “Sure.” He spun back around to face the caf as it finished brewing. “You keep telling yourself that.”

You let out a sigh as your hand slipped from your forehead. Crosshair filled both mugs in silence, but the gears of your mind kept turning. Once Crosshair finished and handed one of the mugs off to you, you held it between your hands and stared into the steaming liquid. Your voice was hushed as you broke the silence.

“It wouldn’t matter, anyway.”

Crosshair hummed in acknowledgement. “Now you’re the one that’s not making sense.”

You huffed and set your mug down onto the counter, opening the cooler to grab the bantha milk. “If I faced the truth.” You removed the lid on the canister and poured it into the mug. “It’s only my truth.” You shook your head and resealed the canister. “I don’t want to break our peace here.”

“You’re not serious, are you?”

You leveled Crosshair with a glare from over the cooler door before you closed it. “What makes you think I’m lying?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” Crosshair drew a long sip from his caf as if it wasn’t still hot enough to burn his throat. “Just the fact that I saw something entirely different with my own eyes this morning.”

You frowned at him from behind the rim of your mug. “That wasn’t anything. We were just…” You paused, your gaze searching as you tried to find the words.

“Exactly.” Crosshair huffed and swirled his mug around. The amused smile was back on his lips. “You can’t even think of an excuse.”

Your ears burned as you offered him an unamused frown. “Whatever. You’re just trying to make me feel better.”

Crosshair gave you an unimpressed look. “You really think that I would do something like that?”

You pondered his words for a moment. “That’s… true, actually.”

Crosshair snickered and shook his head, his smug smile disappearing behind his mug as he drew another sip from it. Meanwhile, your gaze was left searching the floor beneath your feet. Crosshair’s words had gotten you far too lost inside your own mind, and you were desperate to find a way out before the feelings trapped deep within you got even more overwhelming.

You tapped your fingers along your mug and gracefully switched topics. “I’m surprised Omega isn’t up yet.”

Crosshair remained as unbothered as usual while he offered his response. “That’s because she isn’t here.”

Your brow shot up. “She’s not?” When Crosshair gave his head a small shake, you let out a soft hum. “She stayed at Phee and Tech’s last night, then?”

“That’s the only place she’s allowed to stay at overnight other than here.”

You let out a huff. “True.” You gestured to Crosshair with your mug. “Shep’s too, though.”

Crosshair hummed to acknowledge you. In the brief silence, you looked towards the stairs.

“I’m surprised Hunter didn’t end up staying there with her.”

Crosshair made a low sound of amusement that was quickly muffled by the sound of him sipping his caf. “Why else would he be up this early?”

Your stare returned to the sniper. “What do you mean?”

Crosshair’s metallic hand tapped his mug once, then twice. “He’s going to pick her up and walk her home.”

You let out a sigh at that, though the sound was too fond to be one of any true annoyance. “She would be just fine walking here by herself. They’re just a few streets over.”

Crosshair gestured with his chin to the stairs. “Try telling him that.”

You exhaled sharply through your nose. “Fair point.” Your attention returned to the stairs, where a faint glow had illuminated the corridor again. Your lips widened in a subconscious smile. “I think I’ll go with him.”

“Naturally.” You didn’t have to look at Crosshair to know that he was smiling. The smugness of it was evident in his tone.

Still, you cut him a look just as the stairs began to creak. You willed your sudden racing heart to calm down and hid behind your mug by drawing a sip of your caf. When you lowered it, you were greeted with the sight of Hunter leaning into the kitchen area to look between you and Crosshair.

“I’m headed to Tech and Phee’s to get Omega.” He gestured with his head to the front door. “I won’t be long.”

You spoke up before your shyness could take a hold of you. “Want some company?” You lifted the mug in your hand. “I’ll take my caf on the go.”

The corners of Hunter’s mouth rose in a small smile. “Sure.” His warm gaze flickered over to his youngest brother. “Cross?”

You also looked at the sniper, whose gaze flitted between the two of you before he shook his head. “I don’t remember offering my services as an escort.”

Hunter rolled his eyes and stepped fully into the living area. You threw Crosshair a look, but all you got was yet another sly smile in return. Your ears began to burn once again as you followed Hunter over to the door. It slid open, and he gestured for you to walk through the open threshold first.

As you stepped through, Hunter’s hand brushed over your back, a phantom touch that was just firm enough to intensify the warmth that blazed beneath the skin of your face and neck. The quick gesture left you silently reeling even as the two of you started to make your way down Pabu’s stone streets.

The sun had risen higher, but there were still streaks of pink, orange, and purple in the blue sky overhead. The smell of the salt sea drifted on the breeze that tugged at Hunter’s curls, which bounced lightly with each step he took as you stole a look over at him. It took a lot of effort to look away, especially as the warmth of the morning sun radiated off his skin and his amber eyes.

“I have to say, I’m surprised you didn’t stay with Omega.” You held your mug in both hands and stared ahead as you broke your peaceful silence.

Hunter let out a soft exhale. “I’m… trying to be better about giving her space.” His lips tightened into a firm line. “It’s not fair to her for me to be around all the time.” He shrugged. “And it’s Tech and Phee. She’s in good hands there. Safe hands.”

You softened as you glanced over at him. “I don’t think Omega would ever blame you for wanting to watch over her.”

“You’re probably right.” Hunter’s bare fingers fluttered at his sides, no doubt a subconscious habit to ready himself to grab his weapons—weapons that he no longer kept on his belt. “But she shouldn’t have to tolerate it for my sake. We’re safe here, anyway.”

“We are.” You paused to take a sip from your caf. You thought through your words carefully before you spoke them aloud. “I still think it’s nice that you want to watch our backs, though.”

The warmth of Hunter’s gaze burned through the side of your head. “You do?”

You turned to meet his stare and nodded with a soft smile. “Yeah.” You swung your mug out towards the surrounding view of Pabu. “This life is nicer than anything I could’ve ever asked for, but it’s still an adjustment. You watching our backs is something that’s… well, it’s familiar. It’s a nice constant in all this change.”

Hunter returned your smile, but he was quick to look back to the way ahead, his gaze lowering more than before. You took the time to observe the heaviness sitting upon his shoulders almost like a physical weight—one he had no doubt been bearing ever since cadethood.

You freed a hand from your mug to set it upon his arm, keeping your touch as light as your voice was when you went on. “But you do know that you’re allowed to rest now, too, Hunter. Right?”

Your words, and your touch, earned you the former sergeant’s gaze again. Every feeling you had been trying to push down that whole morning arose with even more strength than before as the urge to comfort him tugged at your heartstrings relentlessly. His stare flitted between your eyes before he faced the way ahead again.

“I’m trying. It's just…” Hunter let out a soft yet troubled breath. He lifted his hand and ran it through the curls that weren’t secured within his bandana. “It’s hard to let go.”

“I understand.” You gave his arm a gentle squeeze before bringing your hand back to your mug. “Are you at least sleeping better?”

Hunter shrugged. “Better than I was after Eriadu.”

His rough voice withered as he said the planet’s name. Tech may have survived that day—by a miracle that none of you could truly understand—but the permanent injuries he suffered as a result of his fall, and that stretch of time where none of you had known that he had even survived, left deep scars on all of you. Hunter’s, however, was the worst, given the responsibility he felt for it all.

Especially after Omega was taken.

“That’s good.” You offered him a smile from behind your cup of caf. You drew a sip from it and let yourself bask in the peaceful silence between the two of you. The only noises around you were the distant waves crashing against Pabu’s shores, the chirping of birds and moon-yos, and the gravel crunching beneath your feet.

Surprisingly, Hunter was the one to break your silence this time. “How about you?”

You looked over at him, observing the concerned knit in his brow.

“Are you sleeping okay? Other than what you mentioned this morning.”

You gave him your most reassuring smile. “Most of the time, yeah.”

Hunter’s amber eyes, glowing golden in the early daylight, flashed with something intense that passed too quickly for you to read properly. “Most of the time?”

You let out a soft chuckle and raised your brow at him. “You don’t have to worry about me, Hunter.” You playfully nudged his elbow with your own. “You’ve got to focus on your own sleeping habits first.”

Hunter didn’t match your amused energy. Instead, his brow tightened in further severity. “I’m always gonna worry about you.”

His words were enough to make butterflies take flight within your stomach—until he kept going.

“Just like I do with everyone.” Hunter tilted his head at you, his lips finally giving way to another small smile. “Remember who you’re talking to.”

You let out a huff, hoping it sounded lighter than it felt as you forced it out of your suddenly corrupted lungs. It was selfish not to be more appreciative of the fact that Hunter truly did worry about all of you because of the deep care he had for his family as a whole, but you couldn’t hide from the jab of jealousy his words brought you.

For once, just for once, you wanted to be special to him. You wanted him to worry about you just a little bit more than everyone else. Omega, of course, was the only exception; she would never stop being the ultimate priority for any one of you.

The two of you fell back into silence, though it was more tense on your end than it had been before—but you were only a few homes down from Tech and Phee’s. That kept both you and Hunter quiet as you eventually made your way up to their door. The thought of the couple eased the tension from your shoulders, and soon, you were smiling as Hunter lifted his fist and executed his signature knock.

It took a few solid seconds for the door to slide open. Tech was standing there with his walking stick, which—unsurprisingly—had even more specs added to it since the last time you saw him just a couple of days ago.

“You are late.” Tech blinked at his older brother before his gaze slid over to you. His brown eyes widened slightly behind his non-combat spectacles as the hand not holding the stick adjusted them. “Oh. I was not aware you were coming.” The corners of his mouth rose in a small smile. “Good morning.”

You returned his grin. “We’re late because he was doing his hair.” You rocked your shoulder against Hunter’s own as you stepped forward to give Tech a side-hug, minding the side that favored his walking stick. “Morning, Tech.”

“No, it’s because you’re a slow walker.” Hunter flashed you an amused grin even as he held Tech’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “Already added some more modifications?” He nodded at Tech’s walking stick.

Tech nodded. “I discover new ways to improve the device each time I use it.” Tech spared a glance behind him, further into the home he shared with Phee. “However, I do still prefer the cybernetic braces, when it is both convenient and advantageous to wear them.”

“Makes sense.” Hunter’s expression grew more serious as he gave his brother a once-over. “And they’re not giving you trouble anymore, right?”

“That is correct. I have made the necessary adjustments. As I told you before, I have plenty of experience from working with Echo on his own cybernetic legs.”

“I know. Just…” Hunter let out a soft breath. “Don’t be afraid to reach out to him for help if you need it, Tech.”

Tech’s gaze softened at Hunter from behind his glasses. “I understand.”

Your chest warmed at the brothers’ interaction, making you wait a few more beats before you changed the subject. “Where are Omega and Phee?”

“We’re here!” Omega answered for the two of them as she shouldered on her knapsack and bounded down the stairs. “Phee was making sure I had everything.”

“I told you, kiddo, it’s fine if you leave something here.” Phee shook her head fondly as she followed Omega down the stairs. “You’re here enough times for it not to matter. Plus, you’re right down the street.”

“Yeah, but I’m not allowed to walk here by myself.” Omega shot Hunter a look, but it was far from being one of anger or frustration.

You snorted. “Not yet.”

Hunter raised an eyebrow at you in warning. You hid your smile behind your nearly empty mug of caf as he let out a soft sigh and ran his hand over Omega’s head. “You ready to head back, kid?”

Omega nodded before she turned back to Tech and Phee. She gave Phee a hug first, and then did the same with Tech, whose balance was assisted by Phee behind him. “Thanks for letting me stay over last night, guys! Are you still coming for dinner tomorrow?”

“That is correct.” Tech looked between you and Hunter. “Though I presume we will be seeing you both this evening?”

You glanced over at Hunter, who returned your gaze expectantly. You laughed and nodded at Tech. “Yeah, I’ll be there. Wrecker definitely will, too, but I’m not sure about Crosshair.”

Hunter shrugged. “Then I guess I’ll be there, too.”

“As anticipated.” Tech offered a small wave. “We will see you then.”

“Be ready to have some real fun.” Phee grinned as she kept an arm slung over Tech’s shoulders and gave the one opposite from her a squeeze.

You responded to them from over your shoulder as the three of you started to walk away. “He’ll try!”

Hunter rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t hide the fond smile that spread across his lips. You bit back your own grin at the sight of it and turned your attention to Omega.

“Did you have fun with Tech and Phee last night?”

Omega nodded, looking up at you from her place between you and Hunter. “I did! I helped Tech make some of his new modifications to his walking stick.”

Hunter beamed at that. “So, he’s teaching you more about welding?”

Omega nodded. “Tech said there’s still a lot left for me to learn, even though I’ve been making good progress.”

You and Hunter shared a look before he let out an amused huff. “Of course.” He ran his hand over Omega’s head again, brushing away some of the loose pieces of hair that escaped her ponytail. “Well, I’m proud of you for still learning and training, Omega. I know Tech appreciates the company, too.”

Your chest warmed at Hunter’s praise for Omega, especially as his words made her entire face light up. “Thanks, Hunter.”

She grinned, but it began to somewhat falter in a way that made her true youth strikingly obvious.

“I love spending time with them, but… I still miss you guys when I’m there.” She shrugged. “It’s just weird not being together the way we all were on the Marauder, especially since Echo’s on Pantora, now.”

You let out a sympathetic hum and gave Omega’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. “I get it. A lot has changed in the past year.” When her sparkling eyes met yours, you gave her a nod. “But you know you’ll always have us, no matter where we are.”

Omega’s smile started to return at that. She returned your nod and looked between both you and Hunter, whose brow was furrowed at her in genuine attentiveness.

“I know I’m probably too old for this now.” Omega’s grasp on the straps of her knapsack tightened, and her voice lowered in shyness. “But… do you think I can hold your hands the way I used to? Just for the rest of the walk home?”

You softened as your chest ached with bittersweet affection, but before you could even part your lips to say anything, Hunter stopped in his tracks and knelt down to Omega’s level. His expression was soft yet serious as he set both his hands on her shoulders.

“Omega, you’re not too old for that. It’s okay to still be a kid.” Hunter offered her a small smile before he went on. “Hemlock and the Empire took too much from you already. Don’t let them take the rest of your childhood, too.”

You held your mug of caf against your chest to contain the warmth that blossomed there, especially when Omega sniffed and threw her arms around Hunter’s neck in an embrace that said more than her words ever could. Hunter closed his eyes as he held her back, his secret desperation to keep time from slipping away evident in the deep furrow between his brows.

After a few heartbeats, they both pulled away, and Hunter offered Omega his hand as he stood back to his full height. You offered Omega yours, and then the three of you were headed back down the Pabu streets to your home, the way you used to guide Omega through crowded marketplaces back during your wandering days on the Marauder.

You stole a glance over at Hunter, but he was watching Omega practically skip between you with an admiring smile spread across his lips. The amount of love he had to share was clear enough to make you breathless. It was so obvious how deeply he cared for every single person in his family, and yet you somehow still wanted more from him.

Maybe that made you selfish, but it was a feeling that was only getting harder and harder to ignore—even if you continued to do so for the sake of keeping the peace.

════════════════════

You threw your head back in laughter at something Phee had just said, but all Hunter could see was the image of you laughing with Omega this morning as the three of you walked back to the house. The earliest lights of dawn had been flickering within your gaze, and he saw some of that same sparkle within them now, illuminated by the lighting of Pabu’s cantina.

“He’s not listening.”

Crosshair’s hiss snapped Hunter out of his daze. The former sergeant whipped his head towards his youngest brother, his brow lifting as he realized all his brothers were staring at him. His gruff voice managed to supply some kind of response to their attention. “What?”

Tech’s eyes crinkled with amusement behind his spectacles as Wrecker let out a boisterous laugh. Crosshair’s lips spread wide in a kark-eating grin, and Hunter had to fight hard to resist the urge to roll his eyes. “If you’re done staring, then maybe we can catch you up on everything you just missed.”

Hunter hoped the dimmer lighting of the cantina hid his flush from his brothers as he shook his head and tightened his hand around the remnants of the drink left sitting inside his cup. “Fine. I’m listening now.”

The remaining brothers shared an amused look before Tech spoke. “Hm. I remember a time when you were able to stare and listen simultaneously. Perhaps if you took some time to train again…”

Hunter gave his brother’s shoulder a shove, but he was much gentler than he would have been before Eriadu. It gave Tech’s cybernetic braces the proper amount of time to recover as he tripped a step. The engineer smirked as Wrecker chuckled.

“We were talkin’ about you.” It was Wrecker’s turn to give Hunter a light push.

Hunter let out a tired sigh. “What did I do this time?”

Tech blinked. “Well, other than the obvious failure to listen…”

“It’s not about anything you’ve done.” Crosshair glowered at Hunter as he unapologetically interrupted Tech and crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s about what you won’t do.”

Hunter was getting tired of his brothers beating around the bush. They had always been the direct type, and the former sergeant was missing that right about now. “Which is what?”

“Your tone suggests that you are agitated.” Tech’s sly grin indicated that he was still teasing his older brother, and clearly still getting amusement from it. “A deep breath could potentially be of great assistance in—.”

“I’m already starting to get a headache from this environment.” Hunter freed a hand from his glass to pinch the bridge of his nose. “And you lot are gearing me up for a migraine.”

Crosshair let out his own sigh and shifted his weight to one hip. “It would help if you stopped pretending that you don’t know what we’re talking about.”

Hunter’s brow shot up. He observed his brothers closely, but their gazes weren’t on him any longer. He glanced over his shoulder to where you were still standing with Phee, and for a moment, the light that danced across your eyes and your expression made him want to tune out the galaxy and admire you again—but the heavy weight of his brothers’ stares was quick to bring him back to reality.

“No.” Hunter exhaled through his nose and set his free hand on his hip as he faced his younger brothers with an all-too familiar authoritative look. “We’re not doing this again.”

“If not now, then when?” Crosshair’s voice was a hiss. “Shoving down your feelings won’t make them go away.”

“Yeah.” Wrecker nodded in Crosshair’s directions. “Didn’t ya’ learn that lesson after Tech and Omega, uh…”

“That was different.” Hunter narrowed his eyes in Wrecker’s direction first before leveling the same look upon his other two brothers. “What would you boys know about relationships, anyway?”

It only took one beat for everyone’s gazes to slide over to Tech. He adjusted his glasses as he visibly fought back another amused smile. Tech raised a single finger in the air. “I am, contrary to your question, quite well-versed in that area.”

Hunter fought off another sigh and forced himself to entertain the idea of taking relationship advice from… Tech.

If he had been told any of this just two standard years ago, Hunter would have bet a million credits that it wasn’t true.

“Alright, then.” Hunter gestured to Tech with his glass. “What’s your advice?”

Tech’s hand rose to his chin. “Well, you and I are two very different individuals.” He spared a look at you and Phee. “As are the two of them.” Tech’s attention returned to Hunter. “The nature of my relationship with Phee is also quite different from… whatever it is you two have been nurturing. On that basis, in addition to my own personal experience, I only have one potential piece of advice.”

Hunter was wary before he even spoke. “Which is?”

Tech deadpanned his response. “Perhaps you need to have a near-death experience.”

Both Wrecker and Crosshair began snickering right away, as if they had at least tried to hold back their laughter, but Hunter was just utterly shocked. He was still far too sensitive to Tech’s all-too-close brush with death on Eriadu to make jokes about it, even if that’s how the rest of the squad coped.

“That’s not funny.” Hunter lifted the glass to his lips and threw his head back to down the rest of the drink in his glass. The alcohol didn’t burn his throat nearly enough to remove the sting of what was happening around him. “And it’s not helpful, either.”

Hunter reached around Tech to set his empty glass on the bar behind him. He set both his hands on his hips when he had returned to his original spot.

“Can we move on, now?”

Crosshair rolled his eyes and took a step closer to his older brother. “We’ll move on when you stop being so dense.”

Hunter gave his brother an incredulous look. “What did you just call me?”

Crosshair threw up his hands, the metallic one on his right side catching the light as he did so. “There’s no way you don’t see that you both want the same thing.” He gestured with one hand over Hunter’s shoulder, no doubt in the direction where you were still standing. “Or do you expect me to pretend I didn’t see what happened this morning?”

Both Wrecker’s and Tech’s gazes lit up at that. Wrecker was the first to get the question out. “What happened?”

Hunter embedded a hand in his curls as he closed his eyes and sighed. “Nothing happened.”

Crosshair had a different answer. “They were close, and they were talking.” He smirked. “Sorry. Flirting.”

Hunter’s eyes reopened. “There’s no way you would have known that.”

“And? You weren’t even wearing a shirt.”

Wrecker’s eyes doubled in size. “What?”

Hunter’s hand moved from his hair to his forehead as he fought the uncomfortable heat that burned in his face and neck. “It wasn’t like that. I had just hit the shower.”

Tech’s brow furrowed. “Then you purposefully must have left the door to the refresher open. Correct?”

Hunter’s hand fell as he faced Tech. “To let the steam out.”

Crosshair’s sly grin widened the most it could for Hunter’s youngest brother. “Naturally.” He let out an amused huff. “You’re doing more flips trying to avoid the truth than you ever did during our training drills on Kamino.”

“Hah!” Wrecker nudged Crosshair, who scowled at him in response. “Good one, Cross!”

Hunter shook his head and stared at the floor. His brothers were giving him too much to consider, and pushing down his feelings was all he knew how to do—especially when he was still so concerned with everyone’s safety. It didn’t matter how much time was put between Tantiss and his family. Hunter was always on high alert.

You deserved better than someone who was constantly looking over his shoulder.

“Hunter.” Tech’s voice drew Hunter from his sudden spiraling. Both his tone and his expression had taken on a severity that was vastly different from before. “If I may give you a more fitting word of advice?”

Hunter remained silent, allowing Tech to continue. His younger brother set a hand on his shoulder as he did so.

“You must make use of the present. You can never be certain what may happen next.” Tech’s gaze gestured down to his own cybernetic braces. “You do not want to wait until it is too late.”

Hunter nearly winced at the raw truth of his brother’s words. Tech and Phee had only taken that first, true step in their relationship after Eriadu—after all of them, Tech included, had thought he was as good as dead. That moment would never fail to remind Hunter of how precious life really was, especially lives like theirs.

The Kaminoans were already taking half a lifetime away from all of them. Hunter had told Omega to stop letting Hemlock and the Empire take more from her, but when would he stop letting the galaxy take more from him, too?

Hunter trusted his brothers more than anyone else, aside from you and Omega. If they were so confident in their collective evaluation of the feelings between the two of you being mutual… then he was going to believe them, as terrifying as it was.

Hunter, whose gaze had fallen to the floor again, looked back up at his brothers. Crosshair had briefly stepped away to order a shot of some kind of clear liquor from the bar—it shocked no one that he preferred to drink everything straight up like that—but he had since returned. Hunter gave them all a firm glance before he nodded.

“Fine. I’ll… say something.”

Tech smiled in satisfaction while Wrecker let out a dramatic breath of relief. Crosshair lifted an eyebrow, as if he didn’t quite believe his older brother’s words. “Now?” The sniper’s gaze cut to the sight of you behind Hunter.

“Almost.”

Hunter leaned forward to take the shot from Crosshair’s hand, catching him off guard enough that it slipped from his grasp without a struggle. The former sergeant threw the liquor back before his youngest brother could protest, and the resulting burn was just what he needed to prepare himself for a conversation he had already mused upon for countless months.

“Now.” Hunter handed the empty shot glass back to a displeased Crosshair and spun on his heel before the sniper could say anything about it.

Hunter started to make his way over to you, gently weaving through the tight crowd of Pabu locals as he did so. He could hear his own heartbeat roaring loudly in his ears, but the master tracker forced himself not to focus on the sound. He had rehearsed this speech so many times in his own head, and he needed to get it right.

He was only about halfway over to you when he stopped abruptly. You were right where you had been before, but you weren’t with Phee anymore.

You were with someone else. Someone Hunter didn’t recognize. And you looked happy.

The crowds moved around Hunter in slow motion as he watched the stranger, another human, lean close enough to whisper directly next to your ear. They steadied themselves with a hand on your upper back, and you laughed sweetly at whatever they had said. If Hunter strained enough, he could probably hear…

No. That was a sickening violation of your privacy. Staring at the two of you felt violating enough for him.

And it was just enough to bring all of Hunter’s doubts back.

How could he and his brothers really be sure that you felt the same way? You would never act the same around him again if he confessed his truth and you felt differently. It would completely disrupt the peace you and the others had worked so hard to build here, and that was the last thing Hunter wanted to do.

Hunter could withstand a lot of difficult things, even the torture Hemlock had cruelly unleashed upon him on Tantiss, but a permanent, awkward distancing from you was something he truly wasn’t sure he could ever stomach.

The hot sting of jealousy burned sour in Hunter’s stomach as he turned and instantly headed back in the opposite direction of where you were standing. He planned to go around his brothers, but they had clearly been watching him, as Wrecker was already starting to approach him.

“Hunter, what’re ya’—.”

“I’m going home.” Hunter spared his brother a quick look. “Keep an eye on everyone and comm me if something’s off.”

That was all Hunter could bear to leave them with. He was too embarrassed, and too hopeless, to say anything else. He shouldn’t have let them talk him into even attempting anything tonight. If you found out… it could ruin everything.

Hunter shoved his feelings down deep inside himself and stepped out into the Pabu evening, caring little about the downpour that soaked every inch of him. He could use the cleanse, anyway. If he was lucky, maybe it would completely wash away these feelings, and he would never have to risk what closeness he still had with you.

════════════════════

You were grinning when you had spotted all four brothers standing across the cantina, but the brief conversation with your coworker had kept you from making your way over to them. Now, however, you were free to approach them, but your excited smile faltered when you realized there were only three of them now.

And you had definitely not expected Crosshair to outlast Hunter, even in an environment as overstimulating as this.

“Hey, guys.” You couldn’t hide the curiosity in your voice as you looked around the group. “Did Hunter get lost or something? I could’ve sworn he was just over here.”

Wrecker lifted a hand to the back of his neck and rubbed it, his gaze averting yours in a way that was wildly uncharacteristic of him. Even Tech’s eager stare refused to meet yours. Of course it was Crosshair who stood his ground across from you and shrugged.

“He said he’s going home.”

Your brow shot up. “Already?” You gave your head an aimless shake. “Omega isn’t even there right now. She’s with Lyana at Shep’s.” You circled your jaw and met Crosshair’s stare again. “Did he say why?”

“No.” Crosshair took a toothpick from his belt and set it between his lips. “But he was on his way to talk to you.”

You blinked at him a few times in shock. “When?”

Crosshair hummed. “Just a couple of minutes ago.”

There was something Crosshair wasn’t telling you. Your eyes narrowed as you cautiously asked your next question. “And what happened?”

“Again, he didn’t say.” Crosshair held his toothpick out and gave you a knowing look. “But if I had to guess? It’s because he saw you talking to whoever that was.” He pointed with his toothpick at your coworker, who had since rejoined their partner.

It only took you a few heartbeats to put the pieces together.

“No.” You shook your head almost frantically. “No, that wasn’t… no.” You had to let out a laugh in your disbelief. “We’re not—that’s just my coworker! They have a partner!”

Crosshair nearly looked amused, while Wrecker and Tech shared a look you couldn’t quite decipher. “We’re not the ones you need to convince.”

You glanced around the group. They were all giving you an expectant look, as if confirming the question you couldn’t bear to ask them.

They knew what Hunter’s intentions had been. You didn’t have to hear them say it to understand that. If he had really been that close to confessing the very same thing you had also been feeling for so long… you weren’t letting this chance slip away.

Without another word, you moved for the threshold of the cantina, slipping out of the lively atmosphere and into the dampness of the Pabu evening. The island was solely lit by the lanterns and other stringed lights that decorated the villagers’ homes, though even those lights were hard to see in the downpour that pounded against the stone streets you walked upon.

Your desperation to reach Hunter made you care even less about the way your clothing was beginning to stick to your skin. You blinked the droplets of water away from your lashes and squinted into the darkness, following the familiar trail home with haste until you caught up to him—if you could.

Then, when you were just one street away from the house, you saw him.

“Hunter!” You had to raise your voice to be heard above the sound of the rain hitting the stones beneath your feet.

Between that and Hunter’s enhanced senses, it wasn’t shocking that he almost immediately stopped in his tracks and spun around to face you. The curls he had worked so hard on doing this morning were now completely out of shape, sticking tight to his head and bandana and failing to move with him as he turned. His eyes widened in shock as he started to approach you.

“What are you doing out here?” Hunter shook his head, stopping when he was just a few paces away from you. “It’s pouring, and… I thought you were having a good time.”

“I was.” You took a step closer to him. “But whatever you saw wasn’t what you thought it was.”

Hunter’s brow furrowed, but it straightened as his gaze flickered with realization. “Let me guess. The boys told you that’s why I left?”

You bobbed your head. “Basically. But, Hunter, that’s not… they’re not—we’re just coworkers. They have a partner, so I can promise you, we’re not—.”

“Hey, it’s fine.” Hunter held out both his palms towards you. “You don’t have to explain anything.” He gestured with his head to the path behind him. “I just left because I started getting a headache. I was going to tell you, but I didn’t want to interrupt your conversation. That’s all.”

All you could do was blink at him for a few heartbeats as you processed his words. The difference between what Hunter was telling you now and what the rest of them had clearly implied at the cantina couldn’t have been greater.

The question was, who was telling the truth?

“Oh.” You forced out a laugh and gave your head a shake. “Well… sorry, then. I didn’t mean to bother you.”

Hunter flinched at that. “You’re not bothering me.” He lifted a hand in the direction of the cantina. “If anything, I feel bad that you left and walked this far in the rain just because you thought you had to explain yourself.”

This wasn’t the outcome you had been expecting. It was hard not to feel disappointed as you let out another fake chuckle and shrugged. “It’s fine.” You couldn’t meet his gaze as you instead focused on something behind him. “I guess I’ll just…” You stuck your thumb over your shoulder. “Head back.”

Hunter offered you a small smile, but it wasn’t like the ones you had seen on him earlier that day. This one was almost sad, as if he was forcing it onto his own lips. “Yeah. Wouldn’t want you missing out on anything else because of me.” He gave you a nod. “I’ll be fine.”

You finally met his eyes, and what you found there broke you. Hunter was easier to read than he probably liked to think, but maybe that was just because you had taken the time to truly learn him. What you found there was confliction and heartbreak, evidence that he was, indeed, the one who wasn’t telling the truth.

For some reason, he was trying to push you away.

“Keep an eye on the boys for me.” Hunter turned and started to walk away, though he added one more thing over his shoulder. “I’ll see you later.”

You closed your eyes and let out a long, trembling sigh. It would be so easy to let him go; Hunter was good at making it seem like he was okay, and that this was what he wanted, but he so clearly didn’t—and you didn’t, either.

You were tired of dancing around each other. You would never be able to enjoy the peace he especially had fought so hard to give you and the others if you lived with this secret forever. Even if nothing came from it, you had to tell him, and you had to do it now.

“It’s you, Hunter.”

You yet again raised your voice to be heard over the rain. Hunter stopped again, his head turning just enough for the tattooed half of his face to be visible to you. His brow furrowed before he spoke. “What?”

You tightened your hands into fists at your sides and forced yourself to go on. “When I can’t sleep well, and I wake up earlier than usual… it’s because I’m dreaming about you. About what you went through on Tantiss. The fact I couldn’t stop it.”

Hunter’s brow relaxed even as his jaw tightened in sudden severity. He slowly turned back around to face you fully, but he stayed where he was, and so did you. Now that your floodgates had opened, you weren’t holding back.

“But I’ve gotten used to those dreams, because I had similar ones after Bracca, and Daro.”

Hunter blinked once, then twice. He took a few steps closer to you, but his gaze looked more confused than anything else, as if he couldn’t process what he was hearing. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Because.” You inhaled and hesitated, suddenly growing shy.

No. Not now. Not when you’ve gotten this far.

Hunter took another step towards you. “Because?”

You closed your eyes and threw your hands up in frustration—towards yourself or him, you weren’t sure. “Because, Hunter!”

You reopened your eyes and let the knot in your chest loosen with the truth.

“Because I worry about you more than anyone else. Because I care more. Because I’m tired of only having you at a distance. Because I wish you had come over and interrupted my conversation tonight.”

You took a deep breath, never once letting your gaze stray from Hunter’s as you went on.

“Because I wish we hadn’t realized how close we’d gotten this morning before Crosshair walked between us.”

Hunter was frozen, and you hung onto his every breath. His chest rose and fell a few times before he took a few more steps towards you, nearly closing the gap between you. His brow pinched together before he spoke. “Are you being serious?”

You let out an incredulous huff. You weren’t sure whether to laugh or be offended by his words. “Really, Hunter?”

He set his hands on your shoulders and gave you a once-over, as if he couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing—or what he had just heard. “You’re not joking, like you were this morning?” His gaze flickered to the street behind you. “The boys didn’t put you up to this, did they?”

You shook your head. “They might tease you, Hunter, but they wouldn’t do something as cruel as this.” You tightened your jaw. “And neither would I.”

Hunter’s shoulders rose and fell in another steady breath. “So, you are being serious.”

You rolled your eyes. “Yes, Hunter!” You nearly let out a laugh in your pure frustration, now that he seemingly didn’t believe what you were saying. “Is it really that hard to believe? How many times do I have to say it before you—?”

You didn’t have a chance to get the rest of your words out, because in an instant too quick for you to even process, Hunter’s hands had suddenly risen from your shoulders to the sides of your face—and he was fully closing the gap between the two of you the way you had secretly hoped for that very same morning.

By the time you were able to register the fact that Hunter’s lips were on yours, he had already separated from you, his expression uncertain at your lack of reciprocity. His hands even started to slip away from your face, regret quickly darkening whatever light had once been shining in his eyes.

That was when you threw your arms around his neck and pulled him back to you.

Nothing about this kiss was shy. It ached with fierce longing and a familiarity that surprised you, given how new this affectionate display was for both of you. You devoured one another as if you were making up for the time you had already lost, the months and even years spent keeping each other at an arm’s distance for no good reason.

Now, being this close to him, feeling and tasting the true warmth and sweetness of everything he forced himself to hide within the depths of his being, made you want to curse yourself for not saying anything sooner.

But Hunter made up for it, whether he understood how you were feeling in that moment or not. He held you and touched you in all the right places, somehow even managing to shelter you from the downpour in the protective cover of his own body. It was easy to lose track of time when this rhythm was all that mattered, superseding that of any chrono—or even your own heartbeat.

You only pulled away when you had completely lost your breath, and even then, you stayed close, if only to convince yourself that this was real. Your forehead and nose continued to brush against his as you let out a breathy laugh.

“Guess you feel the same way, then?”

Hunter huffed, and you were filled with warmth at the sight of his eyes regaining their sparkle, even in the darkness of the rainy Pabu evening. “Need me to prove it to you again?”

You hummed, your gaze flickering between his eyes and his lips as you shrugged. “It wouldn’t hurt to have a reminder.”

He was the one who chased you this time, holding you closer than anyone else ever had. It was an embrace you never wanted to escape, and his mouth was a delicacy that could never be matched.

This was the peace you had long since been seeking. It was the final step in your healing, already dispelling the remnants of darkness that had lingered like shadows on your psyche. This was the full, true reminder that no matter what you had been through, you were okay, and Hunter was, too.

You hadn’t been able to save him then, but you were doing so another way now.

You were so engrossed in these thoughts and in him that you were genuinely alarmed by the sound of another voice from somewhere near him. “Couldn’t even make it home.”

You and Hunter both jumped apart to look at whoever had spoken. Of course, it was Crosshair, who wore his signature kark-eating grin from underneath a rain shield he had clearly conned off of someone inside the cantina. He gave his head a shake before he rolled his eyes.

“And you two idiots thought the feeling wasn’t mutual.”

Crosshair simply kept walking after that. You and Hunter shared a look before you burst out laughing. Hunter chuckled with you as he shook his head at his youngest brother.

“I hate that he’s almost always right.” Hunter turned his attention back to you and ran a hand over your head. “He does have a point about getting home, though. Don’t want you getting sick or something.”

You raised your brow at him. “And did you even consider that for yourself before you marched out here with no rain shield?”

Hunter leveled you with a similar protective stare. “Did you not do the same when you came after me?”

You rolled your eyes, though your fond smile betrayed you. “Whatever.” You held the tattooed side of his face to press a kiss against his opposite cheek. “Come on.” You laced your fingers through his. “Let’s go home.”

Despite the fact that the house on Pabu had been your home for quite some time, it was different saying it now as you looked over at Hunter—because your true home had been extended to a person. He must have felt the same about that, too, because he pulled you closer to his side in response.

You then hurried home together, leaving every thought, doubt, and feeling you were no longer taking with you behind in the downpour.

main masterlist • hunter masterlist

hunter tag list: @zenrobbins0021 @cw80831 @yunggoblin @maddiedrmr @Molmcb @jellybeanstacey0519 @violetlilly2020 @singularattitudeofasafetypin

#BUT DADDY I LOVE HIM! also clearly i'm incapable of keeping anything brief anymore so. enjoy this mammoth story #tbb hunter #hunter tbb #hunter bad batch #sergeant hunter #the bad batch #tbb hunter x reader #the bad batch x reader #the bad batch fanfiction #dindjarindiaries

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43110there · 1 year ago

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"Don't look now..."

Summary: You join the guys for a run at 79's, and you notice people taking interest in them. Just some drabbles of their various reactions and the conversations that follow.

Warnings: nah, it's fluff. Some are a lil romantic.

A/N: Right now it's just Rex, Fives, and Echo. Might make another post to include more. But for now it's just a smol post with luv <3

The bar is crowded. It's a sea of bodies mingling, drinking, and respecting not an ounce of personal space. To anyone who's gone off-world on crazy missions for the Republic, it’s kriffing delightful. What else could you expect from 79’s? You sit beside one of the troopers and glance around at the scene, from booth to booth, until someone catches your eye. A devious grin appears behind the rim of your glass as you take a sip, licking your lips and leaning forward so that your companion hears you.

“Don’t look just yet, but I think there’s someone checking you out across the bar…”

Rex

He stiffens. He doesn’t break eye contact with you, and for a second you’re worried that he’s planning his next movements like some kind of battle strategy.

“Well? Are they still looking?”

Oh. There is no plan.

It takes a few minutes to explain to Rex that there’s nothing to worry about. He’s an attractive man, so you’re surprised he’s less prepared to deal with this kind of attention.

“You should go talk to them!” You insist, almost making a big gesture at the people in question and tossing discretion to the wind. But Rex catches your hand before you do.

“Y/N!” He’s got a hint of a smile on his face amid the seriousness. “I’m not looking for that kind of attention tonight.”

“Well, you’ve certainly got it.” You wiggle your eyebrows at him with a smirk. “Didn’t realize I was walking in with the man of the hour.”

He gives you an exasperated huff and takes a sip of his drink. You can tell he’s still hiding that smile, though.

Fives

He wouldn’t even turn in the direction you gave. He’d rest his elbows on the counter and lean in closer to you.

“Well I hate to disappoint them, but the only one I want looking at me is you.”

Someone would smack him across the back of his head. Might be Jesse or Echo.

But nonetheless, he wouldn’t miss that bashful smirk on your face, the roll of your eyes as you take another sip of your drink to distract yourself.

No matter how hard his brothers tease him for his flirtatious ways, that reaction out of you is totally worth it.

Every time.

Echo (After Skako Minor. This would be at Cid’s cantina rather than 79’s)

He wilts a little. You’ve been friends for a while now, so he should know better than to think you’re poking fun at him. But still, his self-esteem and general confidence seems to run at a natural low nowadays.

However, when he realizes you’re not kidding around, his eyes go wide.

��Really? Huh… That’s a little… odd.”

He’s not used to the attention. At all. Even though he understands the situation better, he doesn’t seem to reserve any confidence from it. You squint your eyes at him. He deserves to think highly of himself, in the same light you see him.

You give an exaggerated huff. “Guess I’ll have to work harder for your attention now.”

He gives a start. “What? You’re don’t—”

“You just have soooo many girls lined up for you.”

“Y/N!” Now he can’t hide the grin from his face.

“It’s ok! I’ll just get in line. You’ll probably get to me by tomorrow morning.” You make as if to slide off of your stool to go wait in the line you described, only stopping when Echo gives your arm a little jab with his scomp link. You burst into a fit of giggles as you get back on the stool. He tries to contain that big smile of his while he watches you.

“Thanks, Y/N.”

#tbb #echo tbb/reader #echo/reader #echo fluff #arc trooper fives/reader #fives/reader #fives romance #captain rex/reader #captain rex fluff #tbb/reader #79's #sw #sw clone wars

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stellarbit · 1 year ago

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Shifting Loyalties

No warnings. 2.3k words

Word Count: 2.3k

Warnings: nada

Pairings: SFW The Batch x fem!reader

Summary: You're a dropout Jedi who left with Echo to join the Bad Batch. You and The Batch are assigned to work with the 501st. The Batch get a bit spicy about how friendly you are with the regs.

NSFW Edition

Inspired by physical touch by @queenariesofnarnia :') it's perfect

The Marauder's landing ramp wasn't halfway extended, and your foot tapped with anticipation. Spotting the 501st squadron as you descended, they stood in a group, not in formation, eagerly awaiting your arrival. Working with the Bad Batch was a thrill, but you couldn't deny missing your first squad.

When Echo departed, Hunter extended you the same offer to join the Bad Batch. As a Jedi dropout, you no longer belonged on Coruscant or in the Order. Your path diverged, but that didn't mean you didn't occasionally yearn for your old teammates.

Before it was fully safe to exit, you hurled yourself out of the ship, dashing toward the awaiting clones. The Batch were momentarily stunned; even Tech tore his eyes away from his datapad at your sudden outburst.

"Shorty!" Fives exclaimed as you barrelled into his arms, spinning you around before settling you among your old squad.

"Shorty?" Crosshair sneered, visibly annoyed by what he was seeing. You darted between the regs, embracing each one, sometimes two at a time.

You meshed well with the Batch, but they weren't the touchy-feely type. Consequently, you lacked the courage to breach physical boundaries, especially considering how often you seemed to get under their skin. After your fallout with the Order, you couldn't risk facing any more rejection.

As the Batch followed after you, Wrecker swiveled his head toward his brothers, clearly confused. "Wha- what's going on?" He scratched his head, gesturing in your direction. "What's all that about?" He referred to your playful antics with the group of regs, laughing and roughhousing like a child.

You weren't cold toward them; in fact, you engaged in comfortable teasing. However, you maintained a professional distance, refraining from physical contact, let alone running into their arms.

Echo shrugged, a smile playing on his lips as he reminisced about his former life. "She's just saying hi," he explained. "She served with the 501st for a long time, even before I was taken to Skako Minor." Nostalgia washed over him at the sight of you standing with his 501st brothers - just like old times.

Hunter blinked in astonishment. "That's normal for her?" He had never witnessed you so carefree and jovial before.

Tech tucked his datapad away, adjusting his goggles as he observed the scene. "By their reactions, this doesn't seem abnormal for her. Why this is the first time we're witnessing it, I'm uncertain." He turned to Echo. "Have you seen this behavior before?"

"Sure, but you're all overthinking it," Echo replied, realizing the tension building among his brothers. "She's just comfortable with them." He regretted the last sentence immediately, sensing their egos regarding regular clones turning this joyful reunion into an unspoken competition.

"If she's so comfortable with them," Crosshair spat, "Maybe she should go back to her precious regs." It was exactly the response Echo feared.

The group watched as you responded to Jesse's teasing with a flirtatious elbow, then stumbled slightly into Rex, who steadied you with a hand on your shoulder.

"It's good to see you. Keeping Echo out of trouble?" Rex smiled down at you, then glanced at Echo standing among the Batch. His smile faded upon noticing Clone Force 99 in various stages of glowering. He patted your shoulder. "Uh… why don't you find General Skywalker while I brief the rest of your squad?"

Without a glance back at the Batch, you followed the order. Anakin briefed you on the mission before easing into conversation. "How are you holding up?" He leaned against a crate of supplies.

"It was hard at first, but I feel…" You paused, feeling a warmth spreading over your chest, grateful it rarely reached your cheeks. "At home with the Batch." You couldn't suppress the smile the thought of the Batch brought you. They made your life exciting, and you felt safe fighting alongside them.

Anakin hadn't missed the looks Clone Force 99 threw your way, especially the nastier ones aimed at the clones you hugged. "I'm glad to hear that, Short Stuff." When Hunter and Wrecker glanced over at the two of you with something like disdain, Anakin smirked. Oh, this is too easy. He leaned down just enough so that your face eclipsed his, just out of sight of the Batchers. "Though, it looks like your new crew isn't too happy with you."

You jerked back, incredulous. "Excuse me?" By the time you whipped around, the Batch were already to the Marauder. Everything seemed normal. You shoved Anakin back. "Kriff off, Skywalker."

Anakin raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright. Anyway, it looks like it's time for you to rejoin your squad. Good luck."

"Pfft, good luck?" You pulled a face and cracked your neck. "I don't need luck on missions." You may have missed the Jedi General, but you did not miss his arrogant humor.

Anakin smirked as you headed back out and out of earshot. "It wasn't for the mission."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Inside the ship, the atmosphere shifted when you returned. Hunter, Wrecker, Crosshair, Tech, and Echo were scattered about on various tasks, their sudden silence and exchanged glances going unnoticed by you as you busied yourself with pulling out sleeping supplies. There was no way you were missing a chance to sleep off the ship.

Sat cleaning his gun, Crosshair’s eyes bore into your back. It didn’t take Hunter’s senses for you to feel his glare. Still packing, you said over your shoulder, “What is it, Crosshair?”

“Oh, nothing,” Crosshair sneered, leaning forward. “Just didn’t realize you missed your regs so much.”

“And why wouldn’t I miss them?” You snorted, not realizing that earned you an even nastier look from the white-haired clone. “Some people have friends, Crosshair. What’s wrong with that?”

Raising an eyebrow, you turned to face him, a smirk playing on your lips. "And what's wrong with that? Some of us actually have friends, you know."

Tech, engrossed in a control panel, interjected, "He's not questioning your friendships. He's just pointing out the obvious preference you seem to have for your old squadmates."

Your hands stilled, and you turned to face them, sensing an underlying tension in the air. "What's going on here?"

Wrecker shuffled awkwardly, his expression troubled. "We just thought you were happier with us."

"I am happy!" you exclaimed. "But it's natural to be excited to see old friends, isn't it?"

When Wrecker’s defeated look didn’t change you looked to Hunter, the sensible brother, for relief. Instead, he had his arms crossed and eyes fixed away from you.

They can’t be serious. You started to turn to Echo when Crosshair abruptly got up, setting his gun aside, and loomed over you within a second.

“Don’t look at Echo to save you,” Crosshair growled, his voice low and menacing. "You seem a little too cozy with them for just 'old friends.'" You tried to step away, but found yourself backed against the counter behind you.

“Cross,” Hunter warned, but his brother didn’t heed the caution, slamming a hand on the shelf a few inches from your face.

The close proximity allowed you to catch Crosshair's scent—gun oil and mint—a combination you'd never been so close to before. It left you breathless, barely able to formulate a response. Crosshair raked his eyes over you as he idly lolled a toothpick around his mouth. He leaned in close. “Why so shy now, Shorty?” he taunted, his voice dropping even lower.

Despite the shiver you felt at the nickname rolling off Crosshair’s tongue, ignored the jibe. “What’s your problem with ‘Shorty’?” you bit back, unwilling to back down.

Tech swiftly wedged himself between you and Crosshair, his tone firm but diplomatic. "Let's not act like children here." Placing a hand on your chest and the other on Crosshair's shoulder, he continued, "Although 'Shorty' might not be the most accurate nickname. If you prefer something else-"

His voice trailed off as he noticed the flush creeping up your chest and spreading to your cheeks and ears. Tech's wide eyes darted between your face and his hand, realizing the unintended intimacy of his touch. "Oh," he stammered, but didn’t pull back his hand. "I-I apologize."

Feeling the weight of their collective stares, you squirmed uncomfortably, yearning for some space to breathe. Tech's touch, coupled with Crosshair's taunting sent a flurry of conflicting emotions coursing through you, rendering you speechless. It seemed like every part of you was reacting, including that one lower part that seemed to have a mind of its own.

Before the tension could escalate further, Echo chimed in with an observation. "Well, I've never seen that before."

Returning to reality, you brushed Tech's hand away and swiftly grabbed your sleeping gear, attempting to regain your composure. "You're all acting like a bunch of-"

"It looks like our sarad is finally blossoming," Crosshair mocked, his voice laced with amusement.

Unable to take another word from him, you shoved past Tech to lunge on Crosshair, whose scowl was now a shit eating smirk. “I’ll wipe that smug-”

Hunter jumped in to hold you back. “Back off, Cross.” You were still grabbing for Crosshair when Hunter’s firm grip on your waist registered with you. You stiffened as Hunter detangled your arms from his shoulder and pulled you aside. He turned to you and surprised you by gently cupped your cheek. “Listen, we’re not trying to upset you.”

You were too aware of all the places your bodies had just touched - where his hands had been. It was all too much and with his hand on your face you simply couldn’t move.

The unexpected closeness and the warmth of his touch left you momentarily stunned, struggling to process the flood of sensations. With an effort to maintain your composure, you pulled away from Hunter's touch, grabbing your gear tightly. But before you could make your escape, Wrecker wrapped you in his arms and wrung you off your feet. “Aw, don’t be mad, we were just worried!” All you could focus on was the size of his hands and how nice his arms felt. When he dropped you, you just stood hunched over with a death grip on your sleeping pack.

The way you just stood at the mouth of the ship wide eyed and huffing, you probably looked like a deranged blurg. You felt deranged. In mere minutes you’d gone from composed to weak kneed simply from a few touches and teases. Being the center of their attention in those minutes had lit something in you that was quickly getting out of control. You still couldn’t manage words when you took off down the Marauder’s ramp.

At once Hunter, Wrecker, Crosshair, and Tech looked back at Echo. Echo echoed the collective astonishment, his tone tinged with bewilderment. "I've never seen her act like that before."

Tech, ever the analyzer, observed the physical signs of your distress with keen interest. He looked down at the hand he'd placed on your chest. "Her heart rate and temperature were elevated," he noted, his analytical nature kicking in. "Her coloring was..." He paused, searching for the right word, "...unexpectedly vibrant." Tech was quick to record his observations, whether mentally or digitally, finding your behavior to be a fascinating new discovery.

"Intriguing," Tech mused, adjusting his glasses with a confident shrug. "Her conduct with us doesn't align with her interactions with her former squadron. This divergence suggests a remarkably positive correlation." His conclusion was delivered with a note of excitement, indicative of his realization of the significance of your reaction. "And I am seldom wrong."

Each member of the Bad Batch absorbed Tech's assessment in their own way, contemplating the implications of your behavior.

When it was time to part ways with the 501st, you made your good-byes. The Batch weren’t much for good-byes, aside from Echo giving an extra farewell to Rex, they watched on from the mouth of the Marauder. You didn’t know when, or if, you’d see them again so you were saying good-bye to each clone.

Jesse sauntered over to the Batch as you engaged in one last round of roughhousing with Fives. He glanced at you, then at the Batch. An obvious jab that didn't fail to elicit a snarl from Crosshair. “Looks like she's clinging to her ‘regs’ a bit too tightly,” he remarked, his tone laced with thinly veiled mockery. Crosshair's lip curled in response, a silent warning brewing beneath his steely exterior. “Maybe it's time she remembers where she belongs.”

“Ay! Sarad!” Wrecker’s voice boomed out suddenly, your head immediately snapping to attention. “You comin’ or what?”

Tech, with a slight adjustment to his goggles, couldn't help but notice the telltale signs of your embarrassment—the faint flush creeping up your cheeks, the nervous smile that flickered across your lips. It was a sight that stirred something in his usually analytical mind. “Looks like she's right where she belongs,” he remarked softly, a rare hint of sentimentality in his tone.

Jesse let out a huff of resignation. “I suppose so. Just make sure you take care of her,” he muttered before slipping away.

As Wrecker slung his arm around your shoulders, nearly toppling you over, you hesitated for a moment. But instead of pulling away, you returned the gesture with a small hip bump, a silent olive branch. This is really going to take some getting used to.

Hunter, helmet tucked under his arm, stepped forward. “If you ever decide you want to go back to the 501st... we'd understand,” he offered, his tone tinged with sincerity.

You shook your head with a laugh, stepping out of Wrecker’s embrace. Playfully knocking an elbow into Hunter’s side, you grinned. “You think I’d trade you guys for the 501st? Not a chance,” you replied, your words carrying a hint of affection.

“Oh, spare us the sentimentality,” Crosshair interjected dryly, though the faint twitch of his lip betrayed a hint of amusement.

As you stood among the Batch, you laughed to yourself. This is going to be fun.

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meshla-cyarika · 11 months ago

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book-place-incorrect-quotes · 1 year ago

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Y/N: Get out of my room, Wreck!

Wrecker: *being a little shit and standing outside the doorframe* I’m not in your room!

Y/N: HUNTER-

Wrecker: Hey! No fair! You can’t just call Hunter every time you want to get your way!

Y/N: Fine.

Y/N:

Y/N: CROSSHAIR-

Wrecker: *immediately running away* That’s so much worse and you know it!

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queenariesofnarnia · 9 months ago

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a mouthful 🤭

various male characters x f!reader (let that imagination go crazy babes🤩)

warnings: just a bit of a non descriptive blowjob, 18+ mdni !

wc:200

one hand was in your hair that you spent time perfecting. his almost animalistic groans filled the small room that he dragged you in. his hips move at a steadily increasing as he thrusts into your mouth.

“look at me baby” he commands gently, his free hand under your chin. you meet his eyes seeing his pupils blown in pleasure. you can feel spit running down your chin and tears form as his cock hits the back of your throat. “you look so pretty like this” he coos at you. you thank him with your mouth still full but he knows. his thrusts begin getting sloppier when you begin massaging his balls.

“i’m so close baby are you going to swallow it like a good girl?” you nod enthusiastically answering his question. he chuckles between grunts as he hits the back of your throat one last time his warm release coats your tongue and throat. he wipes the tip on you lips leaving some cum behind. “open up let me see. go ahead and swallow” as he watches you do so he smiles at you lovingly, pulling you up for a kiss. “now lay down my love it’s your turn”

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nahoney22 · 1 year ago

Note

Me again! Please can I request some HC’s with the bad batch and how they react to reader (gn or female) accidentally crawling into the boys bunk at night 😂

Accidental Sleeping Arrangements

All Bad Batch Boys X GN!Reader

How the boys react to you accidentally crawling into their bunk at night.

warnings: Fluff, comfort, cuddles, some moody boys, gender neutral reader. Can be read as romantic or platonic.

Echo 💤

The first time:

As you slid into his bunk accidentally that evening, he was thoroughly bewildered. He had jolted awake and sat upright, observing your exhausted form snuggling against him, eyelids heavy with fatigue.

With tactful gentleness, he roused you from your slumber, delicately shaking you to bring you back to awareness. "Hey, um, you're in my bunk, trooper."

Your eyes flickered open, adjusting to the dim light, and a muttered curse escaped your lips as you retreated, cheeks warming with embarrassment. "Sorry, Echo," you apologized, slipping out of his bunk. "I must be completely drained," you sheepishly confessed.

"It's alright. I just didn't want to startle you by waking up to my face," he commented. You glance at him with a furrow forming on your brow before you shook your head.

"I doubt I'd be bothered by that..." your words trailed off, potentially carrying unintended flirtation. Echo's eyes widened slightly, his hand instinctively moving to the back of his neck, a clear sign of slight shyness at your words.

"Anyway," you say abruptly, spinning on your heel. "Sorry about that."

Echo simply nodded, silently observing as you retreated to your own bunk, leaving him with a sudden chill in the air, now yearning for the warmth you briefly brought beside him.

The second time:

With a tired yawn, Echo wearily approaches his bunk a few nights later, only to halt in surprise at the sight of someone curled up inside. Upon closer inspection, he realises it's you again, presenting him with a slight dilemma.

Despite his weariness, Echo knows he needs rest, and while your bunk is an option, his own provides the perfect setup for his cybernetics, ensuring he's at his best for the next day's duties.

Letting out a small sigh, hoping you wouldn't mind, he settles on the edge of his bunk and gently wakes you. "Hey, you're in my bunk again," he murmurs softly.

You stir, meeting his gaze before cringing slightly. "Again? I'm so sorry," you begin to rise, but his hand on your shoulder stops you.

"You can stay, but I'd also like to get some sleep... if you, uh, catch my meaning," he hints with a faint smile, hoping you understand.

"Oh," you blush, considering for a moment. "Well, I hope you don't mind sharing."

"Not at all," he reassures, his tone gentle as you make space. He lies beside you, and before long, you drift back to sleep. Echo finds solace in the rhythm of your soft snores, gradually succumbing to sleep himself... though waking up to find you both cuddling is a surprise he hadn't anticipated, yet one he welcomes warmly.

Hunter 💤

The first time:

When Hunter awoke to find you crawling into his bunk, confusion gripped him. Instantly alert, his hands tensed, ready to confront any potential intruder, but his apprehension melted away as he recognised you.

He lay there in silence, contemplating his next move.

While a part of him felt inclined to let you sleep, considering your recent exhaustion, he couldn't shake the concern of startling you upon awakening to find him beside you.

After ensuring you were deeply asleep, he carefully extricated himself from the occupied bunk, making sure not to disturb you.

Once free, he couldn't suppress a soft chuckle as he observed you, peacefully snuggled into his pillow, emitting gentle snores. “Sleep well.” He whispered to you before leaving you to rest.

He made a mental note to address the situation in the morning, but perhaps it’s better left unsaid since you’ll know your error when you woke up.

The second time:

As you woke up to find yourself in Hunter's bunk, mortification swept over you. Yet, when you encountered Hunter in the cockpit, he didn't mention a word about it, instead offering you a drink of caf.

A small part of you entertained the idea that perhaps he was unaware of the nighttime intrusion. However, your suspicions were confirmed a few nights later.

Fatigued and not paying attention to your surroundings, you headed towards what you thought was your bunk and climbed inside, only to be surprised by the presence of another person. "Hunter, what're you doing?" you blurt out, eyes widening in disbelief.

"I could ask you the same question," he chuckles, adjusting his position and turning to face you. "This is my bunk."

Blinking in realisation, you glance around, confirming his assertion. "Oh," you laugh sheepishly, "I thought this was mine."

His smile is gentle, his eyes gleaming faintly in the dim light. "You're more than welcome to stay," he offers casually, though he soon realizes the potential implications of his words. "If you want to, that is."

A part of you knows you should return to your own bunk, yet there's an inexplicable pull keeping you there. "Well, I'm all comfy now..." you hint with a small smile.

He nods, turning his gaze away and closing his eyes. "Me too. Sleep well."

It took you a moment to fall asleep but just like how Hunter didn’t tell you that you had slept in his bunk first initially, you won’t tell him how he pulls you into his body as he slept and held you close throughout the night. Not that you seemed to mind.

Wrecker 💤

The first time:

"Wrecker, you scared me! What are you doing in my bunk?" you exclaimed, startled by the unexpected intrusion.

As you thought you were settling into your bunk for the night, using your hands to navigate through the darkness, you accidentally crawled onto something large and hard.

Assuming it was just your sheets bunched up, you attempted to smooth it out, only to be met with a small yelp that made your heart skip a beat.

"Huh?" Wrecker groggily emerged from his sleep cocoon, rubbing his eyes. "This is my bunk, isn't it?"

"No, I'm pretty sure it's mine," you asserted, but as Wrecker shifted in the bunk and reached under the blanket, he pulled out his beloved Lula.

"Oh. Maybe not then." You felt pretty embarrassed by your mistake, but Wrecker didn't seem to mind at all.

"It's alright, thought I was going to get an extra cuddle buddy for a second there!" he chuckled heartily, waving Lula in your face. His laughter filled the room, and you couldn't help but feel a warmth spread through you at the thought of being Wrecker's "cuddle buddy," though you weren't entirely sure if he was joking.

Deciding not to dwell on it further and eager to avoid keeping Wrecker awake any longer, you offered a meek apology before retreating to your actual bunk. As you settled in, you couldn't shake the image of Wrecker's playful grin from your mind.

The second time:

Wrecker stared down at his bunk, finding it already occupied with not much room left for him. You were snoozing away, oblivious to his dilemma. Wrecker knew he could be a bit of a grouch without his sleep, so he decided to gently prod you awake.

"Hey," he nudged you, rousing you from your slumber. "Is this you asking to be my cuddle buddy?"

You stirred awake, blinking in confusion as you glanced at him. It was then that you noticed Lula on the pillow next to your head. "Oh shoot, sorry Wrecker," you sighed groggily, just wanting to fall back asleep into the warmth of his bunk.

"It's alrigh’," he chuckled softly, his deep voice filling the room with warmth. "But uh... I kinda need to sleep."

"Then come cuddle next to me," the words slipped out before you realized what you were saying, but you didn't want to take them back either. The thought of Wrecker's warmth beside you was oddly comforting.

Wrecker was surprised for a moment, his eyes widening slightly, before a soft smile spread across his face. Without hesitation, he slung his armor off and crawled into the space beside you. "Are ya sure about this?"

"Mhm," you replied sleepily, your arms spreading over his chest as you nestled into him like a log warming a fire. "You're warm."

Wrecker smiled to himself, feeling a sense of contentment wash over him as he closed his eyes, feeling your steady breathing against his chest.

Tech 💤

The first time:

Sleep was not a common occurrence for Tech, so when he made the rare decision to nestle down for the night, he wasn't too perturbed to find you asleep in his allocated spot.

He paused for a moment, considering whether to wake you, but recalling your exhausted state earlier, he reasoned that you wouldn't have intentionally taken his bunk.

Instead, he quietly observed the peaceful rise and fall of your chest, noting the serenity that graced your features, before silently retreating back to the cockpit where he remained awake for the night once again.

"Tech, why didn't you wake me? I feel terrible," you expressed your guilt that next morning upon discovering that you had accidentally slept in his bunk, leaving him to forego his own rest.

"That is not necessary. You were tired, and I can always keep my mind occupied with tasks or reading intel," he replied in his usual composed manner, peering at you over his datapad. "I shall assume this was a one-time occurrence, and my bunk shall be my own again tonight."

“Yes, of course," you nodded, your expression reflecting genuine concern as you offered another apology before preparing for the demanding day ahead. Despite Tech's assurances, the weight of your unintended intrusion lingered.

The second time:

It just so happened to be the next night that you found yourself once again interrupting Tech's sleep. Moving through the dark ship with heavy eyes and a yawn on your lips, it was no surprise that you once again miscounted where your bunk was and crawled into the wrong one.

Your head hit the pillow, and your eyes shut as the warmth of the bed enveloped you. However, despite the comfort, a small flickering light kept intruding upon your consciousness, prompting your eyes to flutter open. At first, you didn't register the source, but as you turned your head to the right, your eyes widened in realisation: Tech laying there on his datapad, as if nothing had happened.

"Tech, what... am I...?" you began, your voice trailing off as confusion clouded your thoughts.

"In the wrong bunk?" he interjected calmly, settling his datapad down and gazing down at you. His goggles rested atop his head, allowing you to see the brightness of his eyes in the dark. "That is correct."

You sit up, feeling a rush of embarrassment flood over you, and run your hand over your face in frustration. "I'm sorry. I don't know what's up with me.”

Tech raises a single brow, his expression softened with genuine concern. "Perhaps in the morning, I should run some tests if you will allow me?" he suggests softly, his voice carrying a hint of worry. "But for now, I suggest you get some sleep."

Nodding in agreement, you reluctantly pull the blanket off your body, preparing to retreat to your own bunk. However, before you can make your escape, Tech's hand gently rests on your shoulder, stopping you in your tracks.

"You are free to continue sleeping in my bunk tonight if you find it comfortable," he offers unexpectedly, his gesture of kindness catching you off guard.

"What, really?" you respond, turning to face him, searching his eyes for confirmation.

With a nod, Tech reclines back and retrieves his datapad. "Yes, really. I do not mind."

"But what if I keep you awake again?" you voice your concern.

"Do not worry about me," he reassures softly, a warm smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Now, get some rest before I give you a lecture about the benefits of getting sleep."

You chuckle softly at his remark before settling, finding comfort in his understanding demeanor. As you prepare to drift off into slumber, you can't help but feel thankful for Tech's compassion and generosity.

In the quiet of the night, you woke up only once, feeling Tech's arm drape gently across your body. Yet, instead of feeling unsettled, you found comfort in his presence.

Crosshair 💤

The first time:

As you prepared to settle in for the night after a long day, exhaustion clouded your judgment, leading you to absentmindedly crawl into a bunk without much thought. However, your relaxation was short-lived as you were startled by a gravelly voice beside you.

"What are you doing?" The abrupt question made you jump, and you inadvertently knocked your head against the top of the bunk in surprise.

"What am I doing? What the kriff are you doing?" you retorted in annoyance, rubbing your sore head as Crosshair sat up beside you, his expression stern in the dim light.

"I'll think you'll find this is my bunk," he hissed, his sharp gaze piercing through the darkness. As you glanced across the room, you realised your mistake—the bunk you were in wasn't yours.

"Oh."

"Yes. Oh. Now get out before I drag you out," he threatened, though you could tell it was more playful than serious.

"Alright, alright, keep your hair on," you sighed as you obediently crawled out of his bunk, feeling the absence of warmth as you departed.

Crosshair grumbled under his breath and rolled back onto his side to sleep, while you mentally chided yourself for the blunder, making sure you never accidentally try to sleep in his bunk again.

The second time:

You're exhausted, your head throbbing with the relentless ache of sleep deprivation from the past few days, and you've reached the point where you don't care where you sleep anymore. And that includes Crosshair's bunk.

As you settle down on the edge of his bunk, the closest one available, you feel the weight of his gaze on your back, following your movements as you swing your legs around and lay down. "What are you doing?" his voice cuts through the silence, tinged with irritation.

You don't reply, simply closing your eyes as you allow the fatigue to wash over you, hoping for a moment's respite.

"This is my bunk," he asserts firmly, his agitation evident, but as you remain silent, his annoyance shifts to confusion.

"Are you... alright?" he inquires, concern creeping into his voice.

You shake your head softly, and you hear him sigh, but he doesn't press you further. Nor does he demand that you leave.

As sleep begins to claim you, Crosshair remains awake for a while, his thoughts swirling. In his mind, he tells himself that this is a one-time occurrence.

Yet, if you're upset and in need of somewhere to rest for a while, he doesn't mind if you sleep next to him again. After all, it turns out to be the best sleep he's had in a while too.

Masterlist

Tags: @littlefeatherr @kaitou2417@eyecandyeoz @captxin-rex x @jesseeka @theroguesully y @ladykatakuri @arctrooper69 @padawancat97@staycalmandhugaclone @ko-neko-san @echos-girlfriend @fiveshelmet @dangraccoon @plushymiku-blog @chrissywakingup @pb-jellybeans s @nunanuggets s @sleepycreativewriter @erellenora @zippingstars87 7 @ezras-left-thumb @the-rain-on-kamino @tech-aficionado @grizabellasolo @therealnekomari @tech-depression-inventory @brynhildrmimi @greaser-wolf @tinyreadersmur @seriowan @kaminocasey @marvel-starwars-nerd @ladytano420 @ladyzirkonia @thesith @raevulsix @cw80831 @knightprincess @crosshairlovebot @imalovernotahater @id-rather-be-a-druid @the-bad-batch-baroness @lulalovez @green-alm0nd @thiswitchloves9904

#the bad batch HCs #the bad batch x reader #bad batch x reader #echo x reader #tech x reader #Hunter x reader #Wrecker x reader #crosshair x reader #the bad batch #tbb #nahoney22 writes

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