#working under ground on moving clones

[moriaarts]

212th Attack Battalion

I’m not saying I have a favourite battalion, but I have a favourite battalion and it’s all of the 212th. Whom make all their hair decisions as a result of being under Obi-wan’s command.

[clockwayswrites]

City Pigeons Bleed Green: Epilogue

masterpost

She didn’t even have the door all the way open before she knew that something was wrong. There was a creeping feeling along the back of her neck that made her reach for the tazer in her bag. Before she would have had a Creep Stick by the door, but she didn’t anymore, not after…

The door hit the wall as she swung it suddenly open. The few photos she had hung up rattled and she winced. Hopefully none of them fell; they were all she had. She tightened her grip on her tazer.

“I know how this looks, but I promise you that we don’t mean you any harm.”

Jazz slowly stepped over the threshold and closed the door behind herself. “I certainly hope that Batman doesn’t mean me any harm or I’ve really fucked up.”

Batman was standing in her tiny apartment kitchen diner. Another massive hero stood next to him, splashed in bold red. She was pretty sure that the one sitting cross legged on her table was Nightwing, leader of the Titans. Which, great, now she’d have to scrub her table. Nightwing popped a jellybean in his mouth. The all-black figure on the counter behind him held the bag of sweets that Jazz had left out earlier that day.

She set her bag down but kept the tazer in her hand. She doubted that it would do anything against the armored suits, but it made her feel better.

“You’re here about them, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

Jazz appreciated how direct Batman was.

Nightwing leaned forward. “My team, the Titans, are working on rounding up the last of the GIW. They’ve already taken care of all three headquarters. The Justice League is handling the legal side of it with the US government and the United Nations.”

The relief of the news was so heady that Jazz felt like her knees might go out. “That—that’s good. Thank you. What about…?”

What about them.

It was subtle, but all of the vigilantes but the one in full black tensed. It was Nightwing who forced himself to relax and speak. “We moved on the headquarters first. It seems that there was some attempt at… clean-up of their assets by the GIW. The doctor Fentons are dead.”

“Good,” Jazz bit. It made her gut roil, that she was glad that her parents were dead, but she was.

Nightwing nodded, as if pleased by her fury, and unfurled to rest his feet on the ground. “Why don’t you put the tazer down, and we can talk more.”

Jazz’s hand tightened unconsciously around it.

“Please don’t taze my new family, I want you guys to get along.”

It couldn’t be.

“I mean,” rumbled the one with red, “I hit B with a crowbar the first time I met him.”

“Spoiler threw a brick at Robin’s face,” said the one all in black. “Tim Robin.”

“Okay, that tracks. But still don’t taze them, please?” Danny asked. Danny who stepped forward between the two looming figures. Danny who was there with black hair and blue eyes and breathing. Danny who was alive.

Suddenly Jazz didn’t think she could breathe anymore.

Danny was alive.

“Your hair has gotten long,” Jazz felt herself say. What a stupid thing to say, but it had. It brushed the top of his shoulders and framed his face in a way that he almost looked like a different person. But Jazz knew her brother, new scars and all. God, there were so many scars. “I thought, I thought you were dead. Deader dead. I thought they had—”

“Nearly,” Danny said. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and shifted nervously. “I escaped. I didn’t know where you were, but I found out in their notes that I was, that, um…”

Danny glanced up at Batman, who reached up and pulled down his cowl. Like it was nothing. Like Jazz was just someone who was supposed to see the face under it. It only took a second to get why. It was older and harder in its line’s, but she’d seen that face almost every day of her childhood. It was Danny’s face.

“How…?”

“Cloning and a really long story,” Danny said. “I got to them about six months ago, but the GIW was still around. It wasn’t safe for me to come to you or let you know I was alive in case they were watching you and I wanted to Jazz, I did, but—”

Cutting her brother off, Jazz rushed forward. The heroes all tensed. Danny met her halfway into a crushing hug.

“Hey, sis,” he whispered into her shoulder. He was still so small, just like she remembered him.

“Hey, little brother,” she sobbed.

[sourle]

Forsaken x reader

Note: This has only been read over once so please don't mind the mistake spelling/pronouns

P.s : divider is by me

WARNIGS: Blood, vague gore, violent behavior, etc. read at your own risks!

PROLOGUE

The light dripping sound filled the empty mansion. The body in your hold, pinned against the wall, bleeding from the claw wounds. You can’t remember who you’ve killed, sadly you’ve already bitten off the half top of his head so you couldn’t put your finger on who. Even with the military Vest. Oh well, you would be careless. All the survivors are the same, just trying to survive you and your.. friends.

You can’t really call them that with how they treat you.

“Tch..”

You threw the body to the side, watching as it slid on the ground. Smearing their Delicious blood across the floor. Now you’ve got one of them, five survivors left.

You’ve got plenty of time to find them, each ticking second is just a countdown to their demise that you can’t wait to bring. Oh how lovely it would be to taste their flesh once more.

There’s a glow outline at the corner of your eyes, and with a grin you dash towards the highlight. Reader to claim yet another victim to feed yourselves.

The humming of a generator got closer as you sneak around, not wanting to be spotted yet. But your prey seems to hurriedly get up and run. With a frustrated huff, you pursued. Not wanting to lose this catch. It’s odd how they can spot you even as your steps are light as a feather. They know first hand if you’re close or not, just not your location. At least that’s an advantage.

Your stamina is slowly running out as well as the prey’s. You saw how they start to slow down and you take your chance, pouncing and pinning them down. Keeping them in place, under you, and tearing their skins and flesh with your claw. Making a big mess of the scene.

The red pooled underneath them, painting the grass. Matching it with their work attire. The sweet scent. A low growl escaped your throat whilst getting up, sniffing the air to find a new victim. You licked your fang in delight as another outlined show itself. It wasn’t far from your location, making it easier to pinpoint where. You waste no time, approaching the survivor, taking them by surprise with a slash of your claw from behind.

“Found you!”

You watch as the survivor grimaces and runs. You found this.. amusing. You love the mouse and cat chase they give!

You spare a glance on what they’re working on, a sentry. You presumed. Sad you broke it, it looks cool too. Not wanting to lose them, you pursued in the chase. Able to catch up to them. The fear on their face is an amusement. No doubt you’re gonna miss it after taking a bite.

“Boo.. even a kid is better at tag than you are.”

The melodic crunching sound satisfied you. Watching as their body limply hit the ground with a ‘thud’. You spat out the pieces of the construction worker hat in disgust before girnning. That’s two!.. Three left.

The ticking sound on the bar on your wrist reminds you of the time you have left, One and a half minute. Doesn’t matter, you can still find them and catch them. Seeing the all too familiar outline you didn’t hesitate on approaching it.

You found one and another. Even after the meal, you know you have another one left. The time luckily expanded from twenty seconds to a minute and fourteen seconds. One left till victory, just.. one more.

Seeing the highlight was far across the map, you grumble. Slowly closing the distance and once the one minute exact mark hits, you make your move. Chasing the last survivor.

Their burger hat was recognizable, 007n7. Who else would wear such a ridiculous hat?

Their hat.. It’s making it more endearing. Though you can’t deny, it is kind of adorable

You’ve been chasing him.. for straight FORTY SECONDS. You’ve fallen for his clones, MULTIPLE TIMES. How bad am I?

You’ve hit him a couple times, yes. Yet even that isn’t enough to bring him down. You tried to leap and pin him down but they teleported away LAST SECOND.

Once the timer hit zero, you froze. You can’t believe you lose to someone as useless as 007n7. Seeing the all familiar brick walls of the dungeon that’s keeping you and your friends locked up brings frustration in your blood.

“How did that PEWNY robloxian SURVIVE ME!?”

A glitchy chuckles comes from behind, a familiar noise from the one and only-

“Hey.. Noli..” You grumble out, turning to face the half faced man. The dim light from the torch only illuminates half of his face, seeing how it’s slowly decayed from the codes gives you a perturbed feeling.

“S-S-SupRISED M-M-Me!.. Y-YoU’ve- LOST!” His voice glitched and changed in pitch. It's often disturbed you the first few weeks you come in this entertaining loophole of a place.

“Gee… Who would’ve guessed!” Noli looks displeased with your sarcasm, lightly hitting your head.

“Don’t S-SarcAs ME!”

You rolled your eyes, already tired by his presence. You felt the hand once more on your head, lightly patting your head on the spot it previously hit.

“I’m leaving..” You whispered, turning away to walk into the hallway on the far back at the right bottom of the throne.

“[Name]! [Name]! Are we gonna play again?”

c00lkid, the youngest amongst the killers. Grabbed your hand, lightly tugging it. How did I almost stumbled.. This kid is hella strong-

“Hey Kiddo... I’m sorry, I don’t think I can.” This time you really stumbled once c00lkid pulls harder.

“Pleaseee?” He pleaded, trying to pull you out towards the garden. You hate denying the kid but you’re extremely tired from last round.

“.. After your round next, yeah?”

“Ok!”

Watching the kid walk speed away, you let out an amused hum while shaking your head. You wonder why a kid like him was forced into this.. Loophole of a place. You wouldn’t say he doesn’t deserve it.. more so you’re concerned for the kid.

The sound of echoing footsteps from the distance gave you a chilling feeling, shivering your skins. A heavy weight hits you as you begin slowly walking back towards your assigned room in the forsakened castle. It was no mistake, the fog full of hatred feelings belongs to none other than 1x1x1x1.

“I expected more from someone trapped here as long as me.” You hum in response to their words, sending them a soft glance. His approaching steps echoed in the hallways, getting more loud as you both walked next to each other.

“I.. Wasn’t expecting him to guess my patterns..” You muttered to the embodiment of hatred next to you, walking slowly side by side through the halls. “I do wonder if they figured out a way to fight us back.. but it seems only the useless one is able to figure a way to avoid our attacks.”

1x1 let’s out an amused hum, glancing at you before forward. “At least someone other than me keeping tabs on the survivors.” You nod, not knowing what else to say. The rest of the walk was filled with awkward silence.. or was it just you being nervous around this.. entity who’s full of nothing but hatred. Why does she gotta stay near, her room is across the castle!

Once you’ve arrived at your room, 1x1 didn’t say anything other than patting your shoulder and leaving. What an odd individual.

Entering your room, you rolled your shoulders. Tired from the back to back match. I guess The Spectre is feeling like bullying me today.

You wonder if c00lkid will be next, he’ll definitely be worn out from hunting the survivors. That’ll give you time to rest at least.

Having nothing else to do for the day you decide to just take a small nap, maybe 5-10 minutes. Laying down on your bed, you close your eyes.

The loud ticking sound awoke you from your slumber, you felt dizzy. Your nap felt short. It’s just pure darkness, nothing else. You opened your eyes, expecting the usual mossy ceiling.

But above you was a wooden ceiling. Odd.. Has the spectre decided to give you a new room?

You slide your feets off the bed to the side, feeling your legs felt lighter than usual. Glancing down you noticed how the corrupted part of your legs are.. normal?

You rubbed your eye with your hands not expecting the soft feelings and it made you flinch. Your eyes widen, the rocky corruption, is it really gone?

Your body feels odd and weird, like it de-morphed itself. Your hands and feets feel lighter, glancing down to see why. The corruption that had covered them is gone. Like it never existed- yet the horns and tail still stays.

There’s no traces of it. Like it never existed. You quickly got up tumbling with your vision darken as your blood rushed up your head from standing up too quickly.

The room.. felt unusually, it’s not yours. The walls are made of wood instead of the usual rocks.. cement?

Your body felt odd and weird, like it de-morphed itself. Your hands and feets feel lighter, glancing down to see why. The corruption that had covered them is gone. Like it never existed- yet the horns and tail still stays.

You stumbled a bit, looking around the unfamiliar place. It looks like any normal room when there’s a new killer.

The room has a small wooden cabinet next to the bed with an oil lamp on top. A window was on the far back right near the bed, giving a view of the ocean. It was almost like a near replica of your original room without your personal stuff and trinkets you’ve collected.

Letting an exasperated sigh, you felt a bit frustrated at the unfamiliar room. Though you guess The Spectre changed the castle to be the cabin, again. You decide to go and finally play with c00lkid plus explore more but as you walked towards the door, you heard some noises from the other side. Odd.. You did not smell any scent indicating anyone was near.

Ever since being in this room you can’t even smell your own scent.

Placing a hand on the handle and twisting it, you did not expect to be face to face with not one, BUT TWO survivors. You don’t not know the names but you do recognize them as the one who would always build and the other would always slashed you with their sword.

They both freeze, pausing their conversation as they finally take notice of you. The one with an orange hat narrowed their eyes, sending you a glare. While the other one just glanced to the side. Who the fu-

[bluetimeombre]

🀥 𝐇𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟, 𝐛𝐲 𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮

He's not your Logan, but you wish he was.

[I have so many Logan drafts I have to publish, oh no…. While I’m working on p2 of the Hugh Jackman and Ladypool I made this. It’s my first real attempt at smut and I cringed so bad.]

Warnings: death, grief, smut, dirty talk, language, oral (f! Receiving) penetration sex, not proof read

·:*¨༺ ♱✮♱ ༻¨*:·

The events of Logan:

When you'd seen Logan running through the field, soaking up more bullets than sweat, you knew it was going to be tough to save him. You knew it might even have been impossible but god you were going to fucking try. Even if he didn't want you to.

You'd gone with the kids, with Laura to keep them safe, but you hadn't thought you'd have to keep Logan safe to.

And you tried to. You tried so hard with your limited strength and ability, but it wasn't enough, not when you and Laura watched as his clone threw him into a fall tree, the other end poking out his bloody chest.

You screamed. You think you screamed. The only thing you knew for sure was that you took the adamantium bullet and shot it through the clone's head.

'Logan,' you stood over him. He was staring up at you, pale and watching your every move. 'No.'

Laura was at his other side and behind him. She started to hack away at the tree, until Logan groaned and slowly slid to the ground.

You grabbed him, gently settling him down as Laura joined your side. 'No, please.' You grabbed his hand and held it tight enough for them both.

His fingers gripped yours with the only strength he had left as his eyes cast to the girl. She was crying, tears down her cheeks as she whimpered. She looked down at his wounds, almost as if she was trying to find a way out. Even your hands were already soaking up his blood. 'Don't be what they made you,' he whispered. 'Laura... Laura.'

She sniffed and watched his lips slowly move to say her name. 'Daddy...'

His breath was short and shallow but even then he managed a small smile. His fingers around your hand became weaker as his eyes lifted to look you over. His smile remained and his eyes that had been filled with such pain and exhaustion filled with... love. They looked over you as if taking in every last detail. 'Look... look after our daughter.'

You cried, sobbing, holding his hand to your chest so he could feel the heart that only beat for him. 'I- I love you.'

His eyes softened, his lips forming words you could barely hear. His hold on your hand ended. 'Ah, so... so this is what it feels like.'

The smile on Logan's face fell and his eyes would stare at you forever. He was gone. The love of your life. Your best friend. Everything. Dead. It was over like that. His life span of years over in the snap of a finger.

'Logan?' you cried, brushing your fingers through his short grey hair.

Laura cried. 'No. No. Daddy?'

You fell back on your heels, hanging your head as tears hit the earth under you. The weight of their grief was enough to shake the earth.

Laura's small hand crawled up to claim the one that wasn't desperately clinging onto Logan's. She tucked herself into your side, her head resting on your chest. Finally, you brought your head up and rested it atop hers, your tears soaking her hair.

'Look after our daughter,' and you would. With your whole life.

The events of Deadpool and Wolverine:

'Who-who brought us here, anyway?' asked Deadpool.

'That would be us.'

Everyone turned, including Logan, as a girl- a young woman really, walked out from the shadows. There was another behind her, but they lingered back, staying closer to the dark and leaning on the doorframe.

Laura made herself visible to them all, stopping in front of Deadpool. 'Don't make us regret it.'

'Holy shit,' he said. 'Logan that's her, that's X-23.'

Logan watched the girl for a moment as he took a gulp of the bottle. The girl's eyes assessed him back, as if she had some of her own judgement. He didn't have anything to say to her- he didn't know her. But Logan caught whiff of someone else, a scent so familiar to him but having only been kept with him in a dream.

'Wait, who's that?' Deadpool looked to the figure.

Laura looked back, smiling at her.

Logan almost dropped the bottle as you walked down. You hadn't aged a day. You were just the same as the last day he'd seen you, that day he'd walked away and lost everything. It was your body he found last, surrounded by the children you had been protecting. Your ring, the ring he had given you, bloody.

'Y/N!' Deadpool gasped. 'No way! Holy shit! I didn't think you'd gotten any of my calls. Can I just say- woah. Logan, look who it is!' he boasted.

Logan was still looking at you. You didn't think he could ever look away, but neither could you. You weren't each other's, but you looked it.

'Oh yea, there's some tension here,' said Deadpool. 'How did you even end up here?'

'Our universes were dying and the TVA knew we wouldn't be going quietly, so they sent us here,' you said, walking down the last steps and busing yourself around the room, anything not to look at that Wolverine that wasn't yours.

But you glanced at him, you told yourself just once and he was still looking at you. Looking between you and Laura. Your Logan's last words replayed in your head. 'Look after our daughter.' and you had. Though it hadn't gotten you anywhere. Only to the void.

'The answer is yes, I'm in,' said Deadpool.

'In what?' asked Blade.

'The team. Me- you. You- me, all of us. All of us together, getting the hell out of this place.'

'Don't listen to him, he's a fucking lair!' Logan snapped.

'It was an educated wish!' he corrected.

'Ha!' Logan barked, taking a drink of the whiskey. He caught your eyes and thought better of it. He thought of the times the two of you would sneak to the kitchen to get a beer when you first met each other, how- once the two of you stayed in the same room- he'd never leave your side, even for a drink. Instead, he'd hold you tighter and just watch.

Deadpool, somehow, talked you all into a team up. You thought that's what was happening, frankly, you were distracted watching Logan.

'Hey,' Laura approached you quietly while everyone else spoke. 'You ok?'

'Yeah, yeah, i'm fine,' you assure her, brushing her hair back. 'You?'

Laura glanced back to him. 'I don't know yet.'

'Oh, Johnny must have loved you. X-23, what's it gonna be?' Asked Deadpool.

'The name's Laura,' she corrected him, looking from you to the room. 'Let's fucking go.'

'Let's fucking go.'

'You're all fucking dead,' said Loga.

'My god, read the room.

That night, before your big takedown, Logan took to sitting around the fire.

You and Laura watched for a good ten minutes, trying to come to terms with the father, the lover, you both lost.

'He looks just like him,' said Laura.

'I know,' you agreed. 'But it's not him.'

She looked up to you. 'What if, it could be?'

You didn't want to think of it or believe it. The only thing keeping you from him was the memory of your Logan's blood over yourself. 'It can't,' you told her. For a moment, the both of you continued watching, until Laura walked away from you. Toward him. 'Laura, Laura!'

He must have heard you calling as he glanced over to see her. 'No, no, no, i'm not looking for company, get outta here, kid.'

'You remind me of him,' she said, settling on the other end of the log. 'Angry, drunk, mean-'

'Sounds like a great guy,'

'I wasn't finished,' she said.

You were close enough to hear and you chuckled, watching the two. She was no more than ten the last time they saw each other, she could barley speak to him with all her words in English. It was their first chance to speak.

'He showed up when it mattered the most, couldn't help it. You might not know it, but you're a good man, Logan,' she told him.

'You might not know it but apparently i'm the worst Logan,' he said.

You lowered your head, holding onto the tree.

'I got to have a life because of you. And Y/N. But I got to grow up, because of you. A lot of kids did.'

Logan looked into the fire. 'A lot of kids didn't grow up because of me,' he was thinking about it again. Your body, the kids bodies around you. The blood. The ring. 'Trust me kid, i'm no hero.'

'That suit says different.'

He hummed and looked down at it. 'Scott used to beg me to wear it. So did Jean, Storm, Beast. All of them. Y/N. Wanted me to be part of the team, but I wouldn't. Told them they all look fuckin' ridiculous. I couldn't have them thinking I wanted to be there. Kept saying i'd leave, I only stuck around for Y/N,' he watched the fire. You watched him. 'Then one day I did. I left and the human's decided to go mutant hunting.'

'I can guess the rest,' said Laura.

Logan shook his head. 'No, no, let me say it- I- I need to say it. By the time i'd stumbled home shit-faced from the bar it was too late. They were dead- they were... and the suits all I got to remind me of who they were. What I did.' He took a gulp of his bottle and tried to forget.

You turned from them, thinking of how he lost you in his universe and how you lost him in yours. Both of you couldn't do anything to save it. Perhaps, you were destined never to live happily. You let him and Laura say their farewells in peace before she walked by you, offering you a small side hug.

'Is it your turn, bub?' Logan called to you. 'You gonna give me a speech?'

Cautiously, you stepped closer until you could see the tears in his eyes and the sweat on his brows. 'You never really listened to the speeches.'

He scoffed as you sat where Laura had, if not a bit closer. You couldn't help it. 'And you were never really the sort to give them,' he said, looking to you. His face froze when he caught sight of you. You wondered if he was thinking how similar you looked to her, because all you could think was how close he looked to him. 'You're not my, Y/N.'

'And you're not my Logan.'

You sat in silence for what could have been hours before Logan offered you the bottle. You took it and gulped down more than you should've. You coughed, practically shoving it back to his hands. 'God, I never knew how you drank that.'

He chuckled. 'I know.'

Perhaps not completely different.

'Wade says I died for her, that kid,' he said.

'Laura.' You smiled. 'You were dying anyway. Giving yourself up to protect the kids and her, is probably just a way to speed up the process.' You were taken back to that moment like it was a dream, the blood, his eyes, his last words.

He shook his head. 'If you're Logan was any Logan, then he'd never have voluntarily let you go.'

The two of you met each others gaze.

'I just wanted to make him happy,' you said. 'In the end, I couldn't even do that.'

'You made us happy,' said Logan. 'I'm sorry, about what happened to your Logan.'

'And i'm sorry about your Y'N.'

The after:

You were dying. At least, you thought you were. You could've sworn you were in the void. But then, the TVA turned up again (you may or may not have put up a fight when they put their hands on you and Laura) and whisked you away to another universe.

'Welcome to Wade's world,' said the murk with the mouth, opening the door to you and Laura.

'That's not the trade mark, right?' you asked.

Laura laughed and walked in, joining the party.

Wade had pulled a few strings to get you and Laura back to his world to be with his Logan. It was a work in progress, sort of what the whole party was for. A dozen of his friends were invited just to get you and Logan in the same room together. Everyone was in on it, he suspected even Logan knew what he was doing but he didn't oppose.

Instead, Logan dressed some what good for the evening and planned to try to get to know Laura and to see you as you and not once his.

Wade ushered you through the room. 'There's drinks, food, cocaine cause disney's not here anymore, oh and-'

Logan set the dog- dogpool- into Laura's arms and headed to you. This was his que. 'Hey, bub.'

'Hi.'

The two of you silently stared at each other while Wade watched like a giddy school girl before he found Vanessa in the corner of his eyes and rushed to her.

‘You’re here,’ Logan noted.

You nodded. ‘So are you. You’re out of the suit.’

‘Yeah,’ he looked down at his outfit.

‘You always looked good in plaid,’ you said.

Logan looked up at you through his lashes. ‘Yeah?’

You nodded, lips forming a tight line.

After some more awkward small talk, everyone set down for pizza. You and Laura were introduced to the large group, making talk with them all- some you recognised, others you didn’t.

Laura sat between you and Logan, like a true child with her parents. You were just happy to watch her interact with him, sipping a beer as Logan smiled and chatted happily. He’d changed. His face lit up and he didn’t look like your Logan, but a happy one. It was a rare thing. ‘Oh, I’m gonna get the dog!’ She slipped from her seat, forcing you and Logan to acknowledge each other.

He nodded to the bottle in your hand. ‘Want another?’

‘I’m good.’

He nodded, finishing the rest of his. ‘She’s a good kid,’ he said.

You glanced back at Laura who was chasing the dog around. ‘Yeah, she is.’

Logan smiled at you. ‘You did good.’

Those three simple words seemed to tip the tension over the edge. It was all you’d needed to hear, Logan, telling you you were doing good with his last wish. Your eyes tears up, your hands shook.

You cleared your throat and pushed your chair back. ‘Sorry, need some air.’ While everyone chatted you slipped up from the table and out the front door- Logan watching you go, startling out of his own chair.

Wade turned to him. ‘What the fuck did you do?’

‘Shut the fuck up,’ he couldn’t wait any longer and followed you out.

He couldn’t see you when he stepped out the building and panic set into his bones. He sniffed the air and followed the trail down the side of the building where you leaned on the wall, your back to him.

He said the suit was all he had, but on his dog tags, hiddin under, was your ring. The last thing he had to remind him of you.

You heard movement and whipped around to see him. ‘Sorry.’

‘It’s ok, bub.’

‘It’s just-'

‘I know,’ he said, holding up a hand.

You lean your back on the wall, taking him in as he stepped closer slowly. ‘You know i have nothing to remember him by. Not a suit. Not a picture. Even his dog tags were buried with him- or not anymore after what Wade did. Now, there isn’t even a grave. He exists only in here, in memory,’ you tapped your head. ‘And then you came and you’re just like him. Like a slap in the face.’

Logan nodded, listening and knowing the feeling. Every time he looked at you there was a twisting feeling in his gut, dread and desire mixing in the worst ways. ‘I told Laura that the suit was all I had to remember them by, but that wasn’t true.’

He stood before you and pulled at the chain around his neck. Dangling at the end were the familiar dog tags you knew and loved so much, between them a band of something else, branded with a diamond.

‘This was hers. Or yours, in my world. I’d given it to you a year before … the accident. Knew I loved you. Knew I needed you always. But I was still terrified, I’d never let you know that of course. This was all I had to remind me that you loved me.’

With enough time for him to tell you to stop, you reached out to the chain, looking at the ring.

‘You have good taste.’

He smirked. ‘Scott helped.’

You chuckle and gently set it back on his chest.

Logan took your hand, holding it, his thumb soothing over the back. ‘I know I’m not your Logan, but I want to be. I want you to be my Y/N.’

You knew the feeling. The hold he had on your hand, the only one to hold your hand since was Laura and even then, she carried a piece of him in her. Memories weren’t the only thing you had left of him- you had her. Your daughter.

Logan took one more calculated step toward you until the toes of your boots were pressed together. He held your other hand, pressing them between your bodies. ‘I want this, and so do you,’ his voice came out low, breaths like pants. He hadn’t been close to anyone in so long, it made sense the only one he’d return to was you.

You met his eyes and your resolve washed away like the ocean. You pulled your hands away from his to grab the side of his face and kiss him.

It was a slow movement of lips as you both got familiar with the taste of each other after all these years before his tongue licked over your bottom lip and you moaned into him.

Logan’s tongue swept in and the kiss became desperate. His hands fell on either side of you on the wall as you pulled him into cage you against the bricks. You barley pulled away for breath, like any space would kill you both.

You hands crept around until they were in his hair and tugging.

Logan bit down on your bottom lip before trailing down your jaw to your neck and biting down, groaning at the taste of your skin.

‘Logan,’ you gasped, rocking your body into his until you could feel the tent in his pants.

‘I need you, bub,’ he said into your neck, nuzzling his face there and licking and biting until you were bruised.

‘Baby,’ you trail a free hand down his chest until you grasped the outline of his heavy cock. He groaned and nipped harder.

‘Where are you- where are you staying?’

‘Hotel,’ you mutter in his ear, biting down in his earlobe.

‘Call a taxi.’

You pulled back enough to see his face, his expression drunk on you.

‘What about Laura?’

‘She can stay with uncle Wade!’ Called a voice from above. The two of you looked up to see Wade hanging out the window, looking down at the two of you. ‘We’ll have a girly night, let you guys get at it like rabbits in heat!’

Logan sneered. ‘Fucking jokes.’

Laura appeared next to Wade, poking her head out. As if indecent, Logan pressed his body into yours and you held onto his shoulders. ‘Yeah, I’ll stay with Wade!’

You sigh, knowing you’d regret keeping her with Wade but regret letting go of Logan even more.

·:*¨༺ ♱✮♱ ༻¨*:·

The two of you were like teenagers. Like being in love for the first time all over again. Your hands remained hovering over his crotch throughout the taxi ride and his lips never left you alone.

You walked through the lobby with some dignity but by the time the doors of the elevator slid shut, he had you pinned to the wall and was sliding a huge thigh between your legs and letting you grind yourself on it.

You just had to have a room on the top floor. At some point, an elderly couple joined you and Logan pulled away just in time. He kept a firm grip on your hand and you dragged him out as soon as you arrived at your floor.

You fumbled with the key card and threw it somewhere else as soon as you got in the room.

Logan growled and kissed you, tongue parting your lips and teeth nipping. His hands grabbed your thighs and hoisted you until you were wrapped around his body like a kola on a tree. His hands moved around until they cupped your ass and moved you to grind into him.

You moaned into his mouth, sucking on his bottom lip as he made his way toward the bed.

He dropped you down as you bounced on the mattress. Looking over you, he made quick work at pulling his shirt over his head as you opened your legs, inviting him in. ‘Desperate, bub?’

You nodded, biting down on your lips.

What a sinful look. He moaned just at the sight of you before dropping to his knees.

You fumbled with your jeans, undoing them quickly and shifting your hips until Logan pulled them down and threw them behind him.

His hands were just as rough as your Logan and just as large as they climbed up your legs, his lips following suit. With every dent his fingers made his lips kissed until he was hovering over you me panties, damp and waiting. ‘Oh, poor cunt hasn’t been treated in a while, has she?’ He whined, looking up to you from between your thighs.

You watched his tongue dart out to swipe across you hidden pussy before falling back on the bed in pleasure. He’d barley touched you and yet you were a mess, wiling to beg and do anything for him. For any part of him. ‘Logan, please.’

‘I will bub, I will,’ he smirked, inching closer and closer. ‘But we have all the time in the world.’

He blew against your clit and begun to make out with the dampness of your pussy. His tongue only made it more wet, going between farting out and taking long strokes.

‘Logan,’ you pulled at his hair, trying to get him closer.

He hooked a finger through your panties and pulled them aside, burying himself in there.

The moans you emoted were pornographic as he took long strokes with his tongue, teasing you as his tongue repeatedly nudged your clit.

‘Fuck!’ You moaned, holding a hand to your mouth.

Logan looked up, saw this and grasped your wrist, pinning it to your stomach. He pulled away. ‘I will fucking stop and let you do the job if you dare think about shutting up,’ his voice was rasp and it sent a shiver through you. ‘I want you to scream, sweetheart.’

He spread your folds and feasted like a man starved. He had been. He’d forgotten things about you, the depth of your laugh or the twinkle in your eyes. The way your body vibrates and the way you taste. Now, he was willing to work days and nights to get it all back.

Your thighs trembled, caging around his head.

Logan laughed against your pussy. ‘You want to keep me here, baby? Want me to suffocate between your thighs?’ He didn’t even try and pull away. He grabbed your thigh with one hand and with his other, he slid a finger into your.

Your hands gripped the bed sheets. ‘Logan, I’m..’

He groaned, moving his hips against the sheets. He wouldn’t last long and he knew it, but he wanted you on your face before he came inside of you. ‘You’re so tight baby, did other Logan not treat you right? The way you deserve.’

You muled, unable to do anything else but squeeze your eyes shut and feel your high approach.

Logan laughed. ‘He didn’t stretch you out enough, did he baby?’ He slid in another finger and rested his head back on your thigh, keeping watch on you with dark eyes. ‘If it were me, I’d have fucked this cunt every day. Made it fit for me and only me. Have it crying out for me all day and every day.’

‘Logan, I’m gonna cum,’ you gasp.

He darts his tongue out and flicks your clit and scissors his fingers until you moan out, trying to lift your hips as you come all over him.

Logan doesn’t waste a second to lick you up. His tongue cleaning you softly as his fingers trace circles in your thighs. ‘So good for me, fuck, you taste like your mine.’

‘I’m yours,’ you utter.

Logan looks up at you, backing away from your legs. Your all over his lips, his tongue, his mind. He thought his dick couldn’t get harder but it strained heavy against his trousers. ‘All mine, hey bub?’

You put yourself in your elbows and look down at him. ‘All yours, Logan.’

He leapt upon you like an animal, flattening you to the bed with all his weight on top of you. Your fingers fumbled with his belt as he pulled away enough to rip your shirt in two, bra following.

He squeezed your tits, rolling one nipple between his fingers and taking the other between his teeth.

You panted under him, that familiar ache climbing up your body as you ground your damp panties into him.

Once you’d undone his belt, Logan tugged them off, freeing his cock.

‘Good to see all Logan’s go commando,’ you tease.

He smirks. ‘Only for you, bub.’

He trails kisses between your tits, trailing all the way down your stomach before he found your panties again. He pulled them down agonising slowly with his teeth, your body awakening in shivers at the touch.

Once you were both left bare, he took his cock, pumping it and looking at you withering body, awaiting him.

‘You want my cock, sweetheart? Want it inside of you?’

‘Please.’

‘Were you always sweet for your old man?’ He asked, slowly sinking lower, this tip of his cock feeling your heat. ‘Did you tease him? Were you a good girl for him?’

‘Yes!’ You whine.

He laughed at your desperation.

‘You gonna be good and take it like my Y/N?’ As he asks, he slips the tip between your folds and moans out, throwing his head back as you bite down on your lip, whimpering. ‘Oh fuck, bub. Shit. Too good for me.’

You grasp at his back, trying to pull him in more.

He tutted. ‘That’s not very patient of you, thought you were gonna be good.’ He wanted to tease, wanted to spend the rest of the night getting familiar with you again, but fuck did you feel so good swallowing up the tip of his cock.

‘I’ll be good, Logan.’

‘Fuck, yea you will, bub,’ he slides in further, gripping the base of his cock to guide himself in. ‘Fuck.’

The two of you are silent, gasping and groaning as he tries to fit himself all in. Your legs are spread and you clutch onto his shoulders.

When he’s half way, he pulls back only to slide in faster, deeper. He repeats, muttering under his breath. ‘Fuck, fuck, shit Y/N.’

‘Logan,’ you moan.

‘I love hearing you say my name,’ he groaned, dropping a kiss to your shoulder as he moved in and out of you. He sped up, gripping you ass to hoist you up and reach in deeper.

You moan loud enough to shake the walls.

‘That’s right. Taking me- fuck- taking me just like you always have, he grunted, looking down at you. Looking down at where he disappeared inside of you, to know it was real.

You grabbed his shoulders, urging you over him as he thrusted in at an un-relenting pace. His chain of dog tags and the ring dangled in your face and you let your tongue out so he could dip the cool metal on your tongue.

Logan moaned and stilled, grabbing your hips. ‘Want you to ride me, bub.’

With a smirk, you tossed yourselves over until Logan was spread out on the bed and you could sink all the way down on his cock. You did it faster than he’d expected, just to see his eyes roll to the back of his head.

His grip on your hips remained tight enough to bruise, but he let you set the pace.

You dreaded yourself on his chest and started slow, agonisingly slow. Enough to torment him.

‘Bub,’ he growled.

You smirked and started to bounce, started to move quicker, throwing your ass against him every time.

The bed rocked on the wall and his growls were animalistic. The rocking of the bed became in time with the slap of his balls against you ass.

‘Keep going bub, I’m gonna cum,’ he said.

‘Cum inside of me,’ you pant, sweat causing the baby hairs to stick to you.

He looked in your eyes, his cock twitching inside of you. ‘Yea? Want me to fill you up, huh?’

You nodded, chasing that familiar buzz in your gut.

‘Bet your Logan didn’t fill you up to the brim. Not as much as you deserve, you deserve it all. Don’t you baby, say it!’

‘I deserve it all,’ you utter. ‘Logan I’m-‘

Logan groaned and he lurched up, gripping your body close to his as he came inside of you, his seed coating your walls as yours ran down his cock to the base. He bit down on your shoulder, twitching as he held you both.

Once you’d both recovered, gently, he rolled you over until you were back in bed and he was still inside of you.

You watched him, marking every bit of him in your memory.

Logan saw this and cradled your head. ‘I’m not going anywhere bub, and neither are you.’

He kissed you sweetly, taking his time to steal your breath and feel your lips. Tasting like home.

·:*¨༺ ♱✮♱ ༻¨*:·

When you next woke, with the sun up, you felt a heavy arm draped over you and an even heavier body practically on-top of you, caging you to the bed. He was warm, smelled like whiskey and sex.

Logan. Now your Logan, back in your arms

Memories of last night came back to you in fragments like a dream. You fingers brushed through his hair. There were a couple bruises littered around his neck but you were sure there were more on yours.

‘Mornin’ he grumbled, burying himself closer to you.

‘Indeed.’ Said a voice.

Your head shots up as Laura sits in a chair across from the bed, arms folded over her chest and smirking at the two of you. It was lucky Logan’s body covered yours, but all your clothes were still scattered everywhere and the quilt just about hung over Logan’s backside.

He hardly blinked, ‘hey kid.’

You fell back on the bed and for the first time in years, you laughed.

[1-have-no-idea]

scared

character(s): Tech, reader, Omega, Hunter, Wrecker

genre: angst to comfort

overview: You didn’t think it could get worse after Wrecker’s chip activated. Little did you know that Tech was closely following, and after the events, you go to comfort him.

warning(s): violence, fear, reader gets punched and their head slammed into the ground, guns, all that stuff

1684 words

This was bad.

This was insanely bad.

You didn’t think things could go worse with how everything was playing out, but fate just seemed to prove you wrong again. Everything was going well before, everyone was just trying to see what was wrong with Wrecker, get his chip removed, it would all be fine. One moment, the large and gentle clone was sitting, the next, he was up and holding Tech by his throat.

‘Yer in direct violation of Order 66,’ going into a monologue before chucking Tech against the wall. And in that moment, you finally had a lick of what panic tasted like. You’ve been on missions, shot down droids and others, have been on the run, seen deaths and gore, but you were traveling with soldiers and working with them while a war raged in the background, you were used to it. But when it came to the safety of your close ones, your loved ones… that was a different story. All hell broke loose. You hastily shoved Omega in the opposite way, heart pounding against your ribcage as you ducked down to avoid being hit with another thing being hurled your way. “Omega, run!” you shouted, scrambling with her and guiding her to safety. The young girl was horrified and terrified, naturally so, and heeded your words, running the opposite way while you fell back into the room where carnage was unfolding.

Swerving past the fallen down tables and chairs, you fell to your knees and pressed yourself up against a flipped over table, seeing the blaster shots fire past you with bated breath, spotting Tech crumpled to the ground against the wall. No….

Your eyes flickered behind you to see Wrecker charging into another room with Hunter, both of them yelling and fumbling around and crashing into things while fighting. You hurried over to Tech, crouched down in front of him as you felt his pulse. He was still breathing, but knocked unconscious. Thank the Maker or whoever was out there hopefully looking out for you. You glanced over to where the volatile clone left, before back to Tech, debating on if you should stay with him or help fight off Wrecker with Hunter. Deciding to stay, you turned back to the male, gently shaking him. “Tech-?” you whispered. You shook him again, and when you got no response, you cursed under your breath before wrapping your arms around him, heaving him up with a soft grunt and dragging him out of the medical room. You looked side to side in the hallway before carrying him into another room. You sat him down, deciding to leave him here where he was safe so you could help the others, but as you stood up to leave, a hand shot out to grab your wrist. You looked back down to see a dazed Tech, squinting at you and breathing out your name in a strained tone.

“I know, I know,” you didn’t know. “you’ll be okay. Just stay here, I’m gonna help the others,” you explained, gently brushing his hand off you and moving towards the door. But as soon as you tapped the button to let it release you, a high pitched beep left it, making you tear your hand away and look at it in confusion. “Access denied. Request permission from Holder.” “What?” you breathed out, before slowly turning around as you heard shuffling behind you. Tech slowly stood up, datapad in hand before he returned it back to the space in his belt, staggering before straightening up. “Tech?” you called out questioningly, horror slowly washing over you as you recognized what was happening. He groaned, face scrunching up in pain as he gritted his teeth, eyes squeezed shut.

Ba-dump. Ba-dump.

Then, he opened his eyes, blinking rapidly, before spotting you once again. All was still for a moment. Before his eyes narrowed behind his goggles and he reached for his blaster. “Traitor–” “Tech- no!”

BANG!

The first shot rang out and had you throwing yourself to the floor, a cry of fear leaving you before you narrowed your eyes at him, hunching over and lunging for him, grabbing him and tackling him into the floor where you tried to wrestle the gun from him. “Tech- stop- stop, please!” you begged, trying to pull the blaster for him but he only bucked writed underneath you, dexterous hands wrapping around your wrists and trying to pry your hands off the blaster. “Snap out of it- I–” finally you tore the weapon from his hands, aiming for the access keypad and shooting it. The door slid open with a fshh, but before you could get up and flee, the clone reared back his arm and-

Crack!

The world went sideways and you fell onto the floor beside him, body half on him as your eyes fluttered, a whimper of pain leaving you as you felt the swelling start up on your temple, before the man fisted your hair and shoved your face against the cool metal of the ground. You struggled weakly and he only raised you up by your head and slammed your head back against the ground with a sickening thud.

And the last thing you saw was the others running to the door and the muffled sounds of a blaster being pulled out and a shot ringing out and struggle happening around you before it all went black.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————

There was a faint whirring sound you heard as you slowly woke up. The whirring of the ship, you reckoned. It was just the faint creaks and noises of it settling.

Your head ached, and there was a dull throbbing in it, and you groaned softly. Your eyes cracked open, and you were met with the sight of the bunk on top of yours. You sat there for a moment, before slowly sitting up, bringing a hand up to cradle your head. The blanket draped around you slipped down to your waist, pooling there. Lula sunk more against your side, and you gently picked the doll up and smiled gently at it. Good to know Wrecker was okay now.

And that reminded you. Tech. Sucking in a breath, you swung your legs off the bunk and stood up quickly, only to stumble and lean heavily against the wall, hissing through your teeth. Then you registered the warm weight upon your shoulder, and someone helping you straighten up.

“Hey, hey, easy now. You should still be resting,” Hunter’s low tone rang out, the sergeant eyeing you with concern. You nodded, swallowing dryly and offering him a wry smile. “Thank you, Hunter, but I… is Tech..?” you trailed off, implication silent as you shifted nervously on your feet. Sensing your dread, Hunter shook his head. “Tech’s okay now. But I don’t think–” “Can I see him now?” Hunter grimaced slightly at your question, brows slightly furrowing. “...I think he wants to be left alone, [name]. He feels really bad,” he tried to explain, but you cut him off. “Please.” You didn’t have to say anything more. The eldest brother only sighed and helped you out of the room, a securing arm around you to keep you upright as he brought you to the cockpit.

And there was Tech. Bandage on his temple and hands gripping the wheel as if that were the one thing grounding him. His jaw was clenched tight, and his knee was bouncing erratically, and his thumbs ran soothing circles over the controls. Slowly, Hunter let you go and you carefully approached the genius. “Tech?” You called out, and the clone tensed even more before setting the ship in autopilot and abruptly standing up. “I have some unfinished projects I need to tend to,” he excused hurriedly, but your hand reached out and brushed against his wrist to stop him. “Wait- wait, please. Are you okay?” You questioned, and Tech paused, brows furrowing and fingers curling in unsurely. “...my wellbeing is fine. Yours was the one that was compromised, [name], you need not to worry about mine,” he explained bluntly and you only shook your head softly. “Yeah, but… I just wanted to check.” You stated, and he hummed at you, shifting his gaze down awkwardly. You were silent for a couple of seconds, before you took a step closer to him, making a bold move and wrapping your hand around his forearm to keep him still as if he was trying to run away. “I’m not angry at you, Tech-” “You should be.” “-it was the chip.” You defended for him, and he shook his head.

“I was aware of what I was doing, I just could not stop myself. I should’ve tried harder, I surprisingly didn’t know that was going to happen–”

“Neither did Wrecker, and you’re not upset at him for that.”

That silenced him, and he went quiet. You sighed, before using your free hand and cupping his cheek. “Look at me,” you ordered softly. And this time he did. “I’m not mad at you, Tech. Just like how you’re not upset at Wrecker. It was scary in the moment, but I know that you truly would never want or try to hurt me like that. I know.” And that made the clone breathe out as if a weight had been released from his shoulders, leaning into your touch. Then, surprising you, his arms looped around your shoulders, pulling you to him and cradling your head to his chest, one hand on your upper back and the other holding the back of your head. He ducked his head down and pressed a lingering kiss to your hair, fingers carefully brushing through your hair. “...I was scared.” He admitted, a rare amount of vulnerability in his voice. Soft and quiet and fearful. “I thought I’d lost you.”

“You could never lose me, Tech. S’okay. We’re okay.” You comforted, nuzzling further into him and he breathed you in, holding you just a tad tighter.

Because that’s all that mattered. The two of you were okay and you were safe and in his arms. That’s all that mattered.

Tags:

@taina-eny

[grapejuicestyless]

Quiet When I’m Coming Home

JJ Maybank x fem!reader

Summery: Y/n and JJ would give anything for each other, but yet JJ’s insecurities of failing Y/n lead to the one thing they both never wanted to happen, and it’s too hard to let that go.

“Don’t you know I’m no good for you?”

She smiled, her fingers dancing across the dimples in my cheeks, her breath tickling the hair that curled over my brows.

“I’ve learned to lose, you can’t afford to.” My hands traced the curves of her body, holding her against my ribs and dipping my palms underneath her shirt to feel the softness of her skin against the callouses on my hands, feeling the frayed bottom from where the hem was ripped off, the soft material wrapped tightly around my bicep. “You’ll be alone. It won’t take long for me to drag you into my shit.”

“I want to be a part of your shit.” She smiled softly, the moon shining down on her pretty face. She really was the prettiest thing I had ever seen.

“No you don’t.”

“You don’t know that.” She argued, her thumb wiping the dirt out from under my eyelashes, her concentrated stare watchful and gentle all at once.

“This was my favorite shirt, you know.” She toys with the fabric around my arm next, the edges of the scrape poking through. “But it doesn’t really matter because I have a lot of shirts I like, and I can still wear this one. It might be different now, but it works just the same. I love it just like I did before I ripped it up. It’s still a shirt.”

“You’re talking nonsense.” I smiled, leaning in closer to her, in a way that pushed the boundaries of friendship. I wanted to hold her and have her, but even if she swore she wanted everything I had with no regrets or second thoughts, I couldn’t do that for her. I liked her a great deal too much to do that to her.

“No.” She smiled with her teeth. “You just don’t get it yet.”

“I’m sure I don’t.” I agreed, making no effort to move away from her. I didn’t want to move away from her, I liked the way my hands fit around her waist and her legs slotted between my thighs. I liked the feeling of her soft hands wrapping her thin shirt around a scrape on my arm because it felt a whole lot sweeter when she was holding me than when I was.

“I love you, JJ.” She spoke softly, and my breathing stopped. Deep down, I knew without a doubt I shared the feeling, how could I not? But the fear of commitment, and the greater fear of fucking her up made all confessions die in my throat.

“Y/n…” I sighed.

“You don’t have to say it back. You don’t even have to feel the same way. But you mean a lot to me, and you’ve always been nice to me so I guess I just wanted to let you know.”

“It would never work between us.” I told her softly, not truly believing myself. She was perfect for me, my other half, a grounding force, but inside I felt just like the scared twelve year old boy who didn’t know what a family was, or how to express his feelings without yelling. “Your parents hate me.”

“Well, they hate me too, so we have that in common.” She joked quietly, even though it made me sad because it was true. Even if they had too much pride to admit it, they were always angry at how Y/n had turned out. Never mind the fact that she was smart, ambitious, sweet, and kind, she was bumming around with Pogues instead of laying around lavish houses with the Kooks.

They always wanted her to be the next Cameron, a clone of the fucked up children who lived expensive lives on figure eight. But she never was.

“They’d send you away the moment they would see us together.” I tried to reason. “What would I do then?”

“You’d come get me, I know you would.” She breathed softly. “But that wouldn’t happen, I’d run away before they could take me.”

“They’d get you in the night.”

“I’d sleep at the Chateau.” She argued quickly, a faint smile on her face. She really was something special.

Enough was said and we fell into silence, my nose bumping against hers in the darkness. I could feel her hair tickling my skin, and I knew it wouldn’t be long before I risked it all for her.

“What if I hurt you?” I asked softly, my eyes trained on her lips.

“I’ll let you.” She breathed.

It should have made me sick, the way she readily accepted the possibility, but it didn’t. Instead, in some sick way, it only made me want her more. Her devotion was something I’d never known before, and in her oath in which she held me, I wanted to be hers so badly.

“I told you! I told you I’d fuck you up and you promised me you wanted it!” I shouted at her in the doorway, the chateau shaking from how heavy my feet slapped against the wood. I could barely look up, no amount of weed could blur the tears rolling down her cheeks.

“I do, Jay! I want all of it, I want all of you!” She breathed out like it hurt her, like it was the last breath she could have taken and she used it on expressing herself to me.

“No you don’t. No you can’t, I’ll ruin you!” I fought back, and she pulled me away from the door. I could have easily slipped away, she hadn’t used much force, but she had me wrapped around her finger, and I let her drag me all the way back to where she stood, clinging onto the hem of my shirt and looking at me like it would kill her if I walked out on her now. Maybe it would.

“Then ruin me, I’m already tragic, so ruin me. Do whatever you want, but please don’t let me go. Don’t walk out just like everyone else ever has.”

Her teary eyes burned my heart, my stomach aching with a beating pain I’d never felt before. I didn’t want to ruin her, but when she begged so nicely, I realized how I’d only hurt her worse by abandoning her.

“Y/n/n, baby.” My thumbs wiped away her tears, my hands resting on her cheeks. Her face sat in the palms of my hands like it was meant to be admired by me, like we were supposed to be wrapped up in each other like this, a mess, but one that tangled itself back together in the end.

“I love you.”

Her voice was quiet, and needy, like she was scared to say it, not because of me, but because part of her believed that it wouldn’t be enough to get me to stay.

“I love you too.” I promised her softly, my lips pressing to her forehead in a lingering moment. “We just need a little space, baby. Just a little.”

She nodded understandingly, and her knuckles untangled themselves from where she pulled on my now stretched out shirt. I heard her mumble an apology under her breath.

“Don’t apologize, don’t. Stop it.” I held her firm again, her face tucked against my chest, her shoulders deflated. “I’ll step away for tonight, and I’ll see you in the morning, okay? It’ll all be alright.” I promised her, my lips finding a home on the top of her head, her hair smelling like sweet tea and mango.

“Okay, okay.” She sniffled, her tears drying up.

I felt the tips of her fingers sliding down from where her arms were woven around me tightly to the edges of my own hands. She held on tightly before flexing her palms, letting me go. Now that we were further apart I could see the redness in her eyes and the pout of her lips.

I wanted to kiss her, but it would only make it worse, so I headed for the door.

“I love you.” I reminded her. “And I’ll call you.”

She nodded, her hands clasped tightly together in front of her. She looked so beat down like this, and for a minute I wanted to stay, but I had to think of an apology, and I needed to clear my head.

“Call me when the party’s over?” She confirmed quietly.

“Of course.”

My boots carried me down the old wooden steps, the loud slapping of my feet quiet as they hit the grass at the bottom. I hoped the beer at the boneyard would help sober me up, ironically, and maybe help me get the courage to hold her without the fear of breaking her.

Her shirts took up most of the dresser I claimed back at the chateau. Not that I minded, but sometimes I did find it amusing because more often than not she was laying around in my clothes. She said she liked the smell, though I thought she smelled much better than me. She liked how it made her feel closer to me, in a way. At least, that’s what she told me once.

She always took up half of the bed at least, we had our own sides from the moment we met, but she always slept on top of me, her head resting in the crook of my neck. She was warm, and in the summer, we’d both wake up sweating, but neither of us minded. We’d lay there, tangled and sweaty forever if we could.

I used to look forward to going to work, not because it gave me space from her, but because no matter how long, or short the day was, she was always waiting for me with a smile and a laugh, ruffling my hair between her fingers and pressing a sweet kiss to my skin. I wanted to hold her forever.

Sometimes, her laughter still rang through the house. When we all went on the boat, or soaked up the sun and stuck our toes in the sand, I thought of her, and I know everyone else still did too.

Her parents said she’d be back when they thought she earned it, but they hated her more than anyone I ever knew hated anything. So I knew that day would never come, though Sarah told me I should be more hopeful.

Somedays, I still wondered why she went back home the day I went to the boneyard. Deep down, she knew they would take her away the minute she stepped foot inside the place she never knew as home, but she still went.

Part of me believes that it was because she was so trusting, so willing to let people ruin her, take pieces of her, take advantage of her sweetness, she truly believed that her own blood would never do such a cruel thing to her. But they were never family, and blood only goes so far if those who are supposed to look out for you and love you can’t even look at you.

Nowadays, I hated going to work. I hated the beach, and I couldn’t stand the boat. I lied to everyone and promised I felt fine coming home to an empty house, and I lied to myself when I looked in the mirror and told myself it was for the best, because everyone knew it wasn’t.

I had called her, that night before she left. Her voice was quiet, and I thought I heard her feet hitting cement, but I blamed it on the alcohol. She swore she loved me and would be there when I eventually stumbled through the door, but she wasn’t. And she never would be again.

It was so quiet when I came home, and now it would forever be that way. Even if my friends were yelling in the kitchen, silence was all I felt. An empty, hollow feeling.

I wished I had never given us space in the end, and I wished she had never let me. But I wouldn’t change a thing, not with her, not ever. Changing nothing is better than anything.

Even now, I can’t let her go. I can’t let myself let her go. But I can lie and say I like it like this, because it makes it easier to forgive.

[antrylis]

✨More Clones Brickheadz !✨

Since I acquired the Small Cody (40675), I found that there was an untapped mine. Why would they only make one ? Well. I don't have an answer to that, but I decided to take matters into my own one; so behold : 11 more. I went mostly for commanders here, but then I went a bit astray and so I added some captains to the mix.

In order, row by row :

Tukk (Not cannon but the colours are so beautiful)/Vaungh (died too soon-)/Rex (obviously)/Fordo (I did Rex, so I had to)

Gree/Doom/Thorn/Neyo

Bly/Cody/Fox/Wolffe

It was a really fun project, and I hope to do more of them in the future - maybe even phase 1s, some day~); supposedly not commanders because I did most of them (except Bacara, I know...The helmet was too tough).

And because I really like challenges, if you want to see another clone turned into one of these (Be it cannon or one of your ocs) feel free to send requests in my aksbox !)

Anyway this post is already far too long for anyone's dashboard, so closeups and details will be under the cut !

Let's start with the easy ones : Cody, Doom, Fox, Thorn

Obviously, Cody was easy, I just rebuilt the original one virtually - Nothing too hard. The printed pieces here are not the right ones, because Cody's are not available on STUDio yet, but the storm trooper ones were relatively similar, so I used these for most of these models. Of course, it means I'm lacking the sun bands, and a few other distinctive elements, but it works well enough for now.

Now, Doom is essentially a colour variation (minus a few antennas). I also used an old space piece, which has this big yellow arrow printed on it. I's not exactly what Doom has, but I feel like it's close enough for a first attempt.

Then, Fox is relatively similar to Doom, but with two DC-17s. I also moved the printed torso brick up to get that red line he has.

Thorn works in a similar way to Cody too, except I removed both accessories on the side of the helmet. I also added this tile with diagonal lines to figure the wings he has. One day I'll slap some real wings on there, but I haven't found the right image yet. I also gave him a Z-6, obviously. I really like it, so I might actually make that one physically, because the way it's build (with old binocular pieces) is pretty nice; although I doubt the pieces are available in black.

Moving on to two captains : Vaughn and Tukk !

Admittedly, not really that different either, except for one thing : I learnt to do custom prints now ! Yay ! Well, these are really basic : the blue line for Vaughn, and some trapezoids for Tukk's helmet (which are, indeed, not visible here - shame, I spent so long making these fit). The Ahsoka pattern was already in STUDio (because Ahsoka already has her own brickheadz, which I'll get my hands on someday~)

I must also add that having some cyan in this whole thing added some much needed colours in here, I'm grateful some people give their clones amazing colours (If somehow someone doesn't know who Tukk is, well just check High Ground Animation. Right now. It's really cool, trust me). Anyway.

As for design changes, I modified the faces slightly by adding 1x1 tiles, to allow for different colours variations on the face. It makes them look slightly blockier, but given the overall size of the head, it doesn't do much.

I also gave Vaughn a DC-15A. It's a bit messy, but it works out well enough. Past me forgot to render it, so here is a raw, in-software picture of it (from Fordo(s hand, but it's the same design for both) :

BARC helmets ? Wolffe, Fordo, Neyo

As I've been told, these look a bit wonky, and I'll admit its wasn't exactly easy, but in my defence, it's relatively hard to get such round shapes with bricks (lego cheated by adding the visor). Anyway, given that doing that with a printed piece was out of the question, I tried to replicate the filter's shape with actual bricks, and I used a printed piece which, technically, is Lando's moustache, but downward. I'd say it does the job relatively well.

I also added a rangefinder to Wolffe, which is a little big compared to everyone else's antennas, but It's still relatively to scale with the head itself. No custom prints for him (not sure where I would find the correct pattern images ?), but I've done it for Fordo and Neyo. Fordo obviously has his well deserved Jaig eyes (and who knew it would be that difficult to find a picture of that on internet ?), and Neyo has his symbol on the helmet, chest plate, and the shoulder not shown here.

The really tinkered ones : Gree, Bly, Rex :

Here, it was a matter of trials and errors to figure out just how to get the shapes right.

I actually started with Bly, by removing the previous visor and adding the macrobinoculars first, then I tried to shape the helmet around. Truth is, it doesn't make sense technically : the two separated parts of the helmet do not connected at all, if you remove the equipment. Luckily, no one has to know that.

Next is Gree. It took me some time to figure out how to properly get a round feel, but I feel like it's as good as I can make it like this. Colour-wise, it was surprisingly difficult to find how to balance the different shades of green, and equally hard was to figure out which silvery colour would render well in STUDio. The answer lied, as it always does, in Bionicle. Of course, none of these pieces exist in this colour, but it's not really my main problem (because none of the coloured printed pieces exist either).

Finally, Rex...He gave me some trouble, I have to admit. Firstly, the part-designing software decided to have some trouble with custom prints, which was problematic, because I simply couldn't do Rex without jaig eyes (and Fordo already had his). Then, I started with Gree's base and tried to go from there to fit Rex's custom helmet. I ended up using Boba Fett's printed visor piece for Rex, because these were all triangles. I also got rid of the printed chest piece and used some black plates to simulate the pouch he has; while also adding a a few more custom printed pieces for the arms and pauldron (barely visible, but they're here. I'm not entirely happy with it, but I don't see much other solutions than more and more custom prints, which isn't my goal, so it'll stay like that for now.

Anyway, that's way too much rambling for one post, so I'll just end by saying that next week I'll post an alt version of this whole build [here !], with some 'slight' colour alterations. Definitely nothing big.

[anonymousewrites]

A Not-So-Disastrous Romance (Book 3) Chapter Eleven

Saiki Kusuo x Reader

Chapter Eleven: Saiki versus Volcano

Summary: It's time for Saiki to face the thing stopping him from growing with (Y/N).

            “Morning, guys,” said (Y/N), already sitting with Saiki. The night was long gone, and their plan with the psychics was well on its way to fruition. Everyone was in place; they just needed to be, as well.

            “You’re up early,” said Kuboyasu.

            “Well, Saiki and I were planning on going out for a snack together.” (Y/N) smiled. “A date.”

            “That’s so romantic.” Yumehara sighed wistfully.

            “Have fun,” said Teruhashi.

            “Will we see you later?” said Kaidou.

            “Hopefully for lunch,” said (Y/N). If the world hasn’t ended.

            “Okay!” said Nendou.

            “Bye,” said Saiki.

            “Have fun!” said Hairo.

            (Y/N) smiled and waved before they headed out with Saiki. “And now we have our cover.”

            “We do.” Saiki was so glad to have them by his side.

            “And Toritsuka will meet up with the group ‘by chance’ to distract them a bit,” said (Y/N).

            “He’s an idiot, but he can get the job done,” said Saiki.

            (Y/N) chuckled.

l

            “I still don’t get all of this.” Miko waved a hand at all the clones of Saiki. “They’re weird looking. Can’t you, like, make them better looking?”

            “Their appearance changes slightly each time,” said Saiki. “I don’t control it.”

            “Plus, they’re here so that Kusuo doesn’t have to do all the work on his own.” (Y/N) frowned. “Or are the clones still him so it is on his own? These things are complicated.”

            “We need them all to prevent the eruption,” said Saiki. “Aiura, you’re here tell me where the eruptions will appear.”

            “Duh, I can do that,” said Miko.

            “And (Y/N) shouldn’t be here,” said Saiki.

            “No,” said (Y/N). “But I wasn’t going to let you do this alone.” They smiled.

            “And no one can say no to that smile,” said Miko.

            No one, thought Saiki. “Everyone, places. Ten minutes until eruption.”

            Saiki floated into the air towards an eruption site. Another clone stood by him. Others spread out through the mountains and to the ocean.

            “Saiki, problem!” said Miko as the tremors began. “I can only see as far as eruption seven.”

            “It’s fine,” responded Saiki telepathically. “Here it comes.”

            The tremors began, and (Y/N) watched Saiki anxiously as clones began to contain the eruptions with all of their power. Saiki kept a close on the clones.

            “Keep it up,” said Saiki.

            “Don’t say it like it’s easy, you try keeping the magma under control,” said the clone. Every single clone was working as hard as they could while the eruptions and tremors continued to grow stronger. “This may not hold!”

            “We’re out of clones, they’re all in position!” said (Y/N), eyes widening.

            “I’ll do it.” Saiki stepped forward.

            “Kusuo!” Worry was apparent in (Y/N)’s voice.

            “I’m ending this here.” Saiki slammed his hands down on the ground. “This eruption and this time loop. It’s to move forward!”

            With a final, tremendous shake, the mountain froze. (Y/N) held their breath. Saiki heaved in a few breaths.

            “It stopped,” said Miko in awe.

            (Y/N) darted forward instantly. “Kusuo!” They knelt beside him. “Kusuo, are you alright?”

            Kusuo collapsed the moment they were beside them. (Y/N) caught him, supporting him close as they gazed at him worriedly.

            “The eruption stopped,” he said, gazing at their face. It was worth all the strain. “Time is moving forward again.” He smiled slightly. He was going to have his future with (Y/N).

      ��     They smiled and hugged him. “I’m so proud of you. Seriously, Kusuo. I’m so proud.” They kissed him softly before leaning back.

            “Yare yare.” Saiki smiled and pulled them back in for another kiss.

            “Huh?”

            Miko, Saiki, and (Y/N) froze. They turned to see their entire friend group, including Toritsuka—complete with a guilty expression—staring at them. However, Saiki and the clone were the main focus.

            “What’s going on?” said Kaidou. “What’re you doing, Saiki, (L/N)?”

            Why are they here? thought Saiki, eyes wide.

            “What’s going on here?” repeated Kaidou.

            “Toritsuka wasn’t supposed to bring them here,” whispered (Y/N) in alarm.

            “Oopsy,” said Toritsuka.

            “…It’s a spirit,” sighed Miko, and (Y/N) and Saiki groaned.

            “Is that another Saiki?!” cried the group, staring at the clones.

            Oh, it’s not the volcano. It could be worse. Not by much, but still.

            “There’re so many!” said Kaidou.

            “Yare yare.” There didn’t seem to be a way out of this. Saiki gripped (Y/N)’s hand tighter. “Why are they here, Toritsuka?” he spoke directly into Toritsuka’s mind.

            Saiko, thought Toritsuka.

            Saiki sighed.

            “What is it?” whispered (Y/N).

            “Saiko’s fault,” said Saiki.

            “Of course.”

            “Why are there two of you?” said Saiko, appearing out of nowhere (not really, though, since a helicopter was behind them).

            “Yare yare. I didn’t notice because of the eruption,” groaned Saiki quietly, leaning on (Y/N). “We were seen from above.”

            “And Saiko brought everyone in the helicopter to impress them.” (Y/N) knew the people they cared about.

            “Hey, Saiki!” said Kuboyasu. “Explain how there are two of you!”

            “What were you doing holding the ground?” asked Yumehara.

            “What’s going on?” asked Teruhashi.

            Saiki paused and looked at (Y/N). They grimaced and squeezed his hand.

            “Okay, I’ll come clean. We’re twins,” said Saiki.

            “…” We already did the sibling lie.

            “Twins, really?!” exclaimed Kuboyasu.

            “How come you never told us?” said Kaidou.

            “Yare yare.”

            “We’re going to head off now.” The other clones waved goodbye at Saiki.

            Everyone’s eyes bulged out in shock. A second Saiki was something they could handle. Nine others? Nope.

            “Call us if you need us again,” said the clones.

            “I will—”

            “(Y/N), not you,” said the clones before walking away.

            I hate clones, decided Saiki.

            “Um. Uh…” (Y/N) and Saiki’s friends stared.

            “They’re all siblings!” said Toritsuka.

            “That’s a stretch,” said Miko, rolling her eyes.

            “I’m serious!” said Toritsuka.

            “I’m leaving.” Saiki was too tired to deal with this. He’d just erase their memories letter.

            “Just tell us the truth!” Kaidou spoke up, and everyone looked at him in surprise. “We’re friends, aren’t we? At least, you are to me, and I want you to trust me! Don’t keep secrets from us.”

            “Yes, tell us everything,” said Mera.

            “Nothing you say could make us hate you,” said Teruhashi.

            “Come on, Saiki!” said Yumehara.

            “Tell us!” said Kuboyasu.

            (Y/N) squeezed Saiki’s hand. “Whatever you decide to do is alright. This is up to you. Your boundaries are your own.”

            Saiki nodded shortly and squeezed their hand in return. “I’m sorry.” He looked at everyone. “But I can’t tell you. Not yet, anyway.”

            “What?” said Kaidou. “But—”

            “That’s totally fine.” Nendou, the only person who hadn’t spoken yet, smiled. “You don’t have to say if you don’t wanna.”

            (Y/N) smiled.

            “Nendou…” said Kaidou in surprise.

            “I’m stupid, so I don’t really get it,” said Nendou. “But if whatever he says isn’t gonna change our friendship, then there’s no need.”

            “Even with a few secrets, a pal’s still a pal,” said Nendou. “Is it friendship to force him to reveal his secret? I’ll wait until you’re ready. Isn’t that what a real friend would do?”

            …Nendou said something that made sense?! thought everyone in shock.

            It sounded like what (Y/N) said…That my powers don’t change who I am.

            “I agree with you,” said Hairo, smiling at Nendou. “Secrets don’t necessarily mean there’s no trust. Some secrets stem out of care and consideration for others. Until he’s ready—”

            “I don’t get that,” said Kaidou.

            “There are some things you just aren’t ready to tell people yet,” said Yumehara, smiling.

            “You have to wait until you are,” said Teruhashi. She smiled at (Y/N), who smiled in return. That was, of course, what she had done. She had told Saiki about her old feelings when she was ready.

            “I’ll wait until you’re ready, too, Saiki,” said Kuboyasu.

            “Me too,” said Mera.

            “It doesn’t matter to me anyways,” said Saiko.

            “Then this topic is over,” said Yumehara.

            “Our friends are pretty great, aren’t they?” said (Y/N) softly, smiling at Saiki.

            “They are,” said Saiki. They would accept him no matter what. It was…nice to know that. In fact, it warmed his heart. He smiled. “Yare yare.” He looked at his friends. “You guys are such a handful.”

            (Y/N) covered their mouth and laughed. He wasn’t going to tell him, but, in his own way, he was saying something much more important—that he loved his friends. Saik smiled again as he held (Y/N) close.

            Oh, well. I can go back in time and disable the helicopter later.

            Saiki was going to enjoy this moment for as long as he could. It was, after all, the moment when time started to move forward again.

l

            “So, the volcano is handled. Our future is ahead of us,” said (Y/N), smiling as they sat on Saiki’s bed. He sat at his desk chair, staring at the drawer with the power suppressor within. “What is your plan?”

            “Kusuke will be disappointed that he can’t compete against me. Dad will complain about doing things on his own. Mom will be worried about me,” said Saiki.

            “But they all want you to make your own decisions,” said (Y/N).

            “Right.” Saiki stared at the suppressor, the difference between his current life and a normal one.

            “This is your life, Kusuo.” (Y/N) stepped towards him and took his face into their hands. “You get to live it how you want.”

            Saiki gazed at them, and he touched their hand with his own. Gently, he let go and picked up the suppressed. (Y/N) lowered their hands and watched him hold it.

            “I’m ready.” He lifted the suppressor. “Bye to my annoying powers. Well, maybe it did help a few times.” Saiki pushed the suppressor in. He waited, then he pulled off his old limiters.

            (Y/N) gazed at him. “How do you feel?”

            No different.

            (Y/N) frowned. “Kusuo, how do you feel?”

            Saiki paused. Could they not…hear him? “Can you take off your earrings?”

            (Y/N) started at hearing his voice, but they nodded and took off their earrings, pocketing them.

            Nothing. Saiki couldn’t hear a single thought from them. Hesitantly, he took off his glasses. He gazed at (Y/N). Again, nothing.

            They smiled. Saiki smiled back.

            No powers. He had no psychic powers.

            Saiki stood, pulled them closed, and kissed them with joy. (Y/N) laughed and kissed him back, pulling him by his shirt collar.

            “I love you,” said Saiki, aloud.

            “I love you, too,” said (Y/N). They loved him no matter what powers he had. They loved Saiki for who he was.

l

            “Those are cute earrings,” said Teruhashi. “Are they new?”

            (Y/N) smiled as they headed into school. “Kind of. I haven’t had the chance to wear them yet.” The dangly earrings of pink and white beads were cute and (Y/N) had been looking forward to wearing them, but without germanium, they hadn’t wanted Saiki to hear their thoughts. Now it wasn’t a problem. “And I wanted to start year 3 with a change of style, just have some fun, you know?”

            “Of course,” said Teruhashi, smiling. She touched her own ears, now pierced as well. “I decided to get my ears done finally, too. I’ve never worn much jewelry, but I think I like them.”

            “I like them. Simple and gold. Very nice for you,” said (Y/N).

            “Thanks,” said Teruhashi. She sighed. “My brother tried to get me diamond earrings and pearls and a lot of jewels, but I like these ones. Imu bought them for me when she saw I’d gone to the piercer.”

            Aw. (Y/N) smiled. “That’s sweet of her.”

            “Yeah,” said Teruhashi, smiling. She cleared her throat nervously and waved her hands. “A-Anyways, I wonder who’s in our class this year!”

            “I hope everyone we were friends with.” said (Y/N).

            “Me too,” said Teruhashi.

            “Minus Saiko,” said (Y/N) brightly.

            Teruhashi giggled as they walked into class.

            “Kusuo!” said (Y/N), immediately spotting him. “We’re in the same class again!”

            Saiki nodded. He hadn’t been able to influence it without his powers, but it seemed the world was on his side for once.

            “This is amazing,” said (Y/N), smiling.

            “It’s nice,” said Saiki. He was still growing used to really speaking, but he liked talking to (Y/N). “I like your earrings.”

            (Y/N) grinned. “Thanks. I’m so excited to wear all of my new ones.”

            Saiki smiled slightly.

            (Y/N) gasped. “We should celebrate! Go out to the movies or for coffee jelly. It’ll just be the two of us.” No one else’s thoughts would even be an issue.

            Saiki nodded. “I would like that.” He always would.

            “Great.” (Y/N) smiled. “Meet after school, then?”

            Saiki nodded.

l

            “Alright, ready to go?” asked (Y/N), hoisting their bag over their shoulder.

            Saiki nodded. Let’s— “Let’s go.”

            They walked towards the door. Saiki froze as he saw something move out of the corner of his eye. It was a cockroach. Saiki’s eyes widened, and he jumped back.

            Crash!

            (Y/N) and Saiki stopped and looked at each other, eyes wide. Slowly, they turned towards the school window. The entire thing lay in shattered pieces on the floor.

            “…No way,” said (Y/N) and Saiki.

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[professional-yearner]

Saving Grace

Yandere Coruscant guard x reader

Pt.1

TW: for suggestive themes, yandere themes, murder attempt of major characters, obsession at first meeting,

(Very slow updates)

You sighed, trying to shake the drowsiness that seemed to stick to you like gum. You woke up a little late today. Scratch that, you had woken up exactly on time, but fallen back asleep almost just as quick. Luckily for you, it didn't affect your trip too much (seeing as you had learned to walk at a clip when you needed to) other than putting a bit of anxiety about getting to your job on time behind your actions.

Hoisting your work bag on your shoulder, you enjoyed the feeling of the wind whizzing by the open air transport as you lazily watched the guards patrolling the car in front of yours. They were doing what they usually did, checking tickets and making sure that no one was causing too much of a ruckus.

You rather liked the patterns and colors of the guards armor; one with stripes and the other with more of a color block paint job. They entered your car with a swipe of a security card, coming in silently and beginning to ask for tickets. Nodding blankly, you dug around your bag for your pass, only looking up when you heard a man raising his voice.

“I don't have to show you anything, clone.”

You turned to glare at him, only in time to see him shove the guard with the striped armor. Hard.

So hard he fell right past you and off the transport all together.

You gasped, grabbing for him without thinking. Catching his arm, you felt yourself lurch forward from his weight, falling to your knees as you tried to stop him from falling into the seemingly endless void of Coruscant traffic.

His helmet was gone in an instant, knocked loose by the blow and disappearing into the flow of cars.

His terrified eyes bore into yours as you struggled not to fall over yourself, trying desperately to pull him back to safety.

Your fingers felt like they were on fire as they dug into the space between his vambrace and elbow plate, only able to grip onto the black body glove underneath

Finally, you felt a pair of strong hands pulling you back from the edge by the waist, helping you succeed in pulling the guard up onto the shuttle once more.

He pushed himself up as his brother ran back down the train after his almost killer.

“Oh my god,” You panted, still on your hands and knees as you tried to catch your breath, “Are you alright?”

He was shaking, tears streaming down his face as he stared, looking in shock at the ground in front of him.

Your expression softened, tears of your own welling in your eyes for the man.

You reached over, resting your hand softly on his arm, “Hey,”

That made him look up at you, eyes unfocused for a moment before they widened, taking you in. They then moved to the hand you still had on his arm, making you blush.

You took it away quickly, “Sorry!”

The trooper shook his head, his own cheeks turning a bit red.

You both just looked at each other for a minute. It made you shift uncomfortably, unsure of if you should be the one to break eye contact first. Reprieve came in the form of the transport's robotic voice calling your stop, making you stand quickly. You felt bad for leaving him just sitting there, drying tears on his face in a transport full of strangers, but you didn't know what else to do.

You really needed this job.

“Sorry- sir, it's, um, my stop.” You said quickly, waving a bit as you stepped off, free of the once terrifying now awkward interaction.

You felt eyes on your back until the transport started moving again, leaving you mostly alone on the platform.

Von was in love.

He laughed to himself, feeling over the places she had touched him. Von felt himself twitch under his codpiece as his breathing became more ragged.

She was perfect. His perfect little savior. So soft and sweet, unlike her surroundings. Such a disgusting city didn't deserve someone like her, but he thanked the stars she was here anyways.

He hadn't been able to get her flustered face out of his mind since his brothers had brought him back to the barracks to recover from the attempt on his life. He had just been laying there for a few minutes, fantasies of her circling his thoughts as he stared into nothing.

Oh she was adorable.

The way she was so worried about him after getting him to safety, her sad little whimpers as she attempted to get him and all 70 pounds of his armor back onto the platform, how she flushed when she'd touched him.

He wondered how she'd blush when he touched her, knowing just the right spots to make her-

"Von, brother? You doing alright?" Hack called from the doorway, looking concerned.

He nodded, smiling and assuring the other clone, "I'm fine! Thanks, brother."

The blond clone nodded, "Just wanted to make sure,"

He walked back out into the hall, leaving his sibling once more, "You've been in there for hours."

[ct7567329]

What Comes After ~ Kix x F!Jedi Reader

Summary: Trapped together during a dangerous mission, you and Kix navigate both a tunnel on Utapau and the feelings you’ve hidden for too long.

Word Count: 7.1k

Warnings: Canon-typical violence (it's mostly fluff today!)

A/N: i loved seeing all the love for Kix in my latest poll! writing this actually put me in my Kix feels again. he's literally so precious and would absolutely be a perfect husband. if this does well enough (or enough people ask) i'll absolutely make a part 2 bc i'm simping hard for this man rn. anyways, I digress, enjoy 🫶

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The hangar bay of the Resolute thrummed with life. The cold, metallic air shimmered under the brilliant lights that bounced off durasteel hulls and rows of meticulously stacked crates. Shinies in crisp white armor moved like clockwork, securing gear, checking supplies, and loading equipment into waiting gunships. The familiar scent of lubricants, ozone, and the faint undercurrent of blaster residue clung to every surface, a constant reminder of the war’s omnipresence.

Kix stood among them, his helmet tucked beneath one arm, though his gaze was far from the tactical maps flickering in blue holo-light in front of him. His body was present, lined up alongside his brothers in the 501st, listening, or at least pretending to, while Captain Rex outlined their next mission with his usual calm precision. But his mind, stubborn and reckless, was elsewhere.

It was on you.

You stood a few meters away, your Jedi robes catching the faint breeze stirred by the gunships’ idle repulsorlifts. The glow of the holo-map lit your face in soft blue, accentuating the sharp focus in your eyes as you absorbed the briefing’s details. The way you tilted your head, one hand resting lightly on the hilt of your lightsaber, was a picture burned into Kix’s memory.

He should have been listening. Rex’s words were clear: infiltration of Utapau’s sinkhole systems, suspected Separatist droid operations, possible environmental hazards. But all Kix could hear was the steady, traitorous thrum of his heartbeat in his ears, the slight tightening in his chest whenever you so much as shifted your weight or brushed a flyaway strand of hair from your face.

He began to wonder when his infatuation with you started. Kix didn’t know exactly. Maybe it was that day on Kamino when you first arrived to join the 501st, presenting an unfamiliar face in the midst of sterile white corridors and the hum of rain on the domes. He’d noticed you then, not just because you were new, but because of how you carried yourself. Jedi often walked with detachment, a weight of the galaxy’s burdens on their shoulders, but you met the clones’ eyes. You spoke with them, not at them. You asked for names, not ranks.

Or maybe it was that deployment on Felucia. He remembered watching you work in the medbay after a mission, your sleeves rolled up, fingers steady as you healed a trooper’s shattered arm. You’d been exhausted, the stress lines faint at the corners of your mouth, but you’d still let out a tired and small, but genuine smile. And when Kix had offered to finish suturing the wound for you, your hands had brushed his, warm and grounding. He’d felt the spark then, quick and fleeting like the crackle of a deflector shield.

But it hadn’t faded. If anything, it had deepened into something more dangerous.

He caught himself staring again and quickly looked away, focusing instead on the lines of the hangar floor and the scuffed boots of Fives beside him.

“Hey, Kix,” came a voice at his side. Jesse’s tone was low, teasing, but not unkind, “You with us, or have you drifted off into love-struck oblivion?”

Kix scowled faintly but didn’t respond immediately. Jesse nudged him with an elbow.

Hardcase leaned in from the other side, his grin wide beneath his helmet, “C’mon, we’ve all seen the way you look at her. You’ve got it bad.”

“I do not,” Kix said, a touch more sharply than he intended, his cheeks warming beneath the cool metal of his helmet.

Fives, ever the opportunist, smirked, “What’s the matter, Kix? Scared she’s going to read your mind? Jedi can do that, you know.”

“I’m not—” Kix started, but Jesse cut him off, his grin widening.

“Relax, we’re just giving it to you. But if you faint during the mission because you’re too busy staring, we’ll have to carry you out.”

The others chuckled, and even Rex, though maintaining his composed expression, allowed the corner of his mouth to twitch in amusement.

Kix exhaled sharply through his nose, shaking his head, but he couldn’t fully suppress the smile threatening at the edges of his lips. His brothers meant well, and their ribbing, though embarrassing, felt like a grounding force amid the swirl of emotions he tried so hard to keep locked down.

The briefing concluded, and the troopers began to break formation, heading toward the waiting gunships. Kix adjusted the strap of his medpack across his chest, mentally reviewing the contents: bacta patches, field sealant, stim injectors, painkillers. He was too caught up in his own thoughts to realize he was standing still amidst the scattering of troops around him.

You approached him, your stride sure and light, your expression softening as you drew near, “Kix,” you said, your voice quiet but firm  “Are you ready?”

His throat tightened briefly, and he had to clear it before answering, “Yes, General. I’m ready.”

Your eyes met his, trying to ground him, but keeping a faint glimmer of something he couldn’t quite name, “Good. Stay close during the descent. I might need you.”

“I’ll be right there then."

As you turned to join the other Jedi boarding the gunships, Kix felt a pang of something sharp and tender twist beneath his ribs. He watched you for a moment longer before pulling his helmet into place. The world narrowed to the faint hiss of the seal locking and the muted sounds of the hangar outside.

Inside the gunship, he settled onto one of the benches beside Jesse and Hardcase, the others filling in around them. The rumble of the engines vibrated up through his boots, a low, comforting growl. The doors sealed shut, and the hangar fell away beneath them as the gunships lifted into the upper atmosphere.

The others continued their light banter, but Kix’s thoughts were elsewhere. He stared at the floor of the gunship, the scuffed metal, the faint traces of carbon scoring from past engagements. His pulse quickened as he replayed your brief exchange in his mind, dissecting every nuance of your expression, the subtle tilt of your lips, the glimmer in your eyes.

Naturally, he wanted to kick himself for being like this and not being able to push the feelings aside, like he was supposed to. Jedi were meant to be unattainable, distant. Attachments were forbidden. For you, love could mean danger, vulnerability, a risk to everything you fought for. But still, he felt the pull of something deeper, the ache of wanting more than friendship, more than duty.

Kix’s fingers curled slightly against the edge of his medkit. He couldn’t afford distractions. Not here, not now. The mission came first. His brothers depended on him to keep them alive, to mend their wounds and hold the line.

Yet his thoughts turned stubborn, reckless, insistent. Maybe it was foolish. Maybe it was dangerous. But if this mission went sideways, if something happened and you were hurt, Kix knew with a grim certainty that he’d move the stars to protect you.

Utapau’s surface stretched out beneath them as the gunships banked into descent. The world’s vast sinkholes yawned open like gaping mouths, their depths shadowed and secretive. From the upper atmosphere, the craggy edges of the sinkholes seemed almost delicate, like fragile lacework carved into the planet’s crust. But Kix knew those caverns were deep and treacherous, filled with unseen dangers and potential collapse points.

As the gunship shuddered slightly, dropping altitude, he glanced at you across the compartment. You sat with Anakin and Ahsoka, head bowed in concentration, perhaps meditating or simply preparing yourself for the challenge ahead.

In that moment, as the gunship’s engines roared and the ground loomed closer, Kix let himself feel the weight of his heart in his chest, the unspoken promise he’d made to himself. Whatever awaited them at the surface, he wouldn’t let you face it alone.

The gunship rocked violently as it descended into the sinkhole. Dust and grit battered against the viewports, painting streaks of dirt and shadow across the armored glass. Below them, Utapau’s craters swallowed the gunships whole, the sun’s light fading to a thin, dusty glow as they dropped deeper into the sinkhole’s throat.

Kix tightened his grip on the bench’s handholds, the vibration of the repulsorlifts rattling up through his armor. The hangar’s bright lights were gone now, replaced by the oppressive darkness of Utapau’s cavernous depths. The air grew heavier, the temperature cooler, the walls of the sinkhole rising like jagged teeth around them.

Beside him, Jesse murmured, “Lovely place for a picnic, huh?”

Hardcase snorted, but Kix barely heard them. His eyes, though obscured by his visor, were fixed on you as you rose from your seat to glance toward the cockpit. You leaned slightly forward, bracing yourself against the wall, the faint light catching in your hair.

The gunship bucked as it banked hard to the right. The pilot’s voice crackled through the comms, "Approaching LZ. Separatist contacts on the outer rim of the sinkhole. Prepare for insertion.”

Kix felt his pulse quicken. He shifted his weight, checking his medkit with a practiced motion, double-checking the placement of the emergency bacta and ensuring his field injectors were secure. His armor felt heavier here, the close walls of the sinkhole pressing in around them, but he welcomed the weight.

The gunship’s side doors hissed open as the repulsorlifts strained to hold them steady against the swirling dust and debris. Below, the landing zone, a narrow ledge near the mouth of a cavern waited, but already, Kix could see flashes of blue and red as blaster fire crisscrossed the air.

“Go, go, go!” Rex’s voice cut through the noise. The troopers surged forward, dropping from the gunship’s skids with practiced efficiency. Kix was among them, landing in a crouch and immediately scanning the surroundings.

The air was thick with dust, the tang of electric from blaster bolts, and the distant rumble of shifting rock. The enemy wasn’t concentrated but instead was scattered pockets of droids taking potshots from behind boulders and natural outcroppings. But the terrain was treacherous and narrow ledge was uneven, riddled with fissures and loose stone.

You landed nearby, your lightsaber igniting with a snap-hiss of brilliant blue. The blade’s glow cast flickering shadows on the cavern walls as you deflected incoming fire, your movements swift and precise. Kix felt a sharp jolt of admiration, and perhaps something more, as he saw you turn, briefly, to ensure the clones were advancing safely.

The battle was quick but brutal. The Separatist droids, clearly not expecting such a coordinated assault, began to retreat deeper into the caves. Rex signaled for the squad to pursue.

“That way,” you called, gesturing toward the droids’ path. Your voice was clear, calm amidst the chaos, “They’re falling back into the caverns. We need to cut them off before they regroup.”

Kix hesitated for only a moment, then fell in step behind you as the squad moved forward. The ledge narrowed further, forcing them into single file, the cavern mouth looming ahead like the throat of some vast beast.

The ground beneath them trembled. At first, it was faint, barely more than a whisper of vibration beneath your feet. But then it deepened into a low, ominous rumble. Small stones began to clatter down the walls, bouncing and skittering across the ledge.

“Look out!” you shouted, turning sharply, your eyes wide with alarm.

A deafening crack split the air as the wall above them gave way. A cascade of rock and debris came crashing down, a landslide triggered by blaster fire or the unstable terrain. Dust billowed upward, blinding and choking.

“Take cover!” Rex’s voice rang out, but it was too late.

Kix’s instincts took over. He lunged toward you, grabbing your arm and pulling you toward a narrow fissure at the cave’s entrance. Together, you stumbled inside just as the landslide surged past, a wall of dust and debris sealing the entrance behind you.

The world narrowed to the space of the cave, the sudden silence broken only by the sound of falling dust and your ragged breaths. Kix coughed, waving a hand to clear the air, though the fine grit coated your armor, skin, hair, everything.

You were on your knees beside him, lightsaber extinguished but still in hand, your shoulders rising and falling as you caught your breath.

“Kix are you alright?” you asked, your voice rough from the dust.

He nodded, though his chest felt tight, “I’m fine. You?”

You gave a faint, breathless laugh, “I’ve been better. But I’m alright.”

Together, you turned to face the collapsed entrance. The pile of rock and debris was massive, a tangle of jagged stone and packed earth. Even a lightsaber would struggle to carve through it without risking further collapse.

You pressed a hand against the rubble, closing your eyes briefly. Kix watched as you reached out with the Force, trying to sense the stability of the remaining structure. The effort made your brow furrow, sweat beading along your temple.

“It’s too unstable,” you said softly, “If I try to clear it, it could bring the whole cavern down.”

Kix’s jaw tightened, “Then we’ll find another way out.”

You glanced at him, a flicker of gratitude in your gaze, “I'm pretty sure that's our only option.”

He nodded, his voice firm despite the tightness in his throat, "We'll figure this out, General."

You offered him a faint smile, playing with the use of titles, "We always do, Medic.”

As you rose to your feet, brushing dust from your robes, Kix felt the knot of tension in his chest ease slightly. Even trapped in a collapsing cave, with danger pressing in from all sides, your presence steadied him.

He swallowed hard, turning his gaze deeper into the cavern’s shadowed depths. The light from the entrance was faint now, a soft glow filtering through cracks in the rubble. Ahead, the tunnel sloped upward, the walls narrowing and twisting out of sight.

Kix adjusted his medpack, his hand brushing against the worn strap. The weight of it was a familiar comfort, but it also served as a grim reminder of the situation. They were cut off from the rest of the squad.

The thought made his gut twist. He’d faced danger before, through ambushes, explosions, blaster fire, but the idea of you, alone and vulnerable, struck a chord of fear he couldn’t shake.

“Let’s move,” you said softly, your voice steady despite the weight of the situation.

Kix nodded, falling into step beside you as you began to navigate the winding tunnel. The air grew cooler, the walls damp with condensation. Each footstep echoed softly, a reminder of the vast emptiness around them.

As they pressed deeper into the shadows, Kix felt a gnawing worry settle beneath his ribs. He wasn’t just concerned for your safety, though that alone was enough to make his hands tremble. It was more than that. It was the growing realization that he couldn’t imagine leaving this cave without you.

And in that moment, amidst the dust and silence and shifting shadows, Kix understood the depth of his feelings.

He was in love with you.

Kix’s steps echoed softly on the uneven floor as he followed you deeper into the darkness. Behind him, the sealed entrance was a heavy silence, broken only by the occasional hiss of shifting debris settling into place.

The only light came from the faint glow of your lightsaber as you ignited it, casting a gentle blue hue along the cave walls. It illuminated streaks of crystalline minerals and the occasional trickle of water seeping from cracks in the rock.

For a while, neither of you spoke. The narrow tunnel twisted and turned, descending deeper beneath the surface. Kix focused on each careful step, noting the way your shoulders were set with determined tension. You were trying to stay calm, to assess the situation, but he could see the fine tremor in your hand as it gripped the hilt of your saber.

He cleared his throat quietly, breaking the heavy silence, “You’re holding up better than most would,” he muttered, his voice low but warm, "you seem exhausted."

You glanced back at him, the blue light glinting in your eyes, "So are you, Kix. For both."

He gave a soft snort, more out of habit than humor, “I’m used to patching people up, not getting trapped in caves. But I guess it’s good to keep me on my toes.”

A flicker of a smile touched your lips, a small but genuine response to his attempt at levity. The sight made his pulse quicken, a tight ache settling in his chest.

He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about you for months now. Ever since that mission on Christophsis when you’d saved his life with a sudden, precise strike of your saber, cutting down a droid that had nearly shot him point-blank. He’d been shaken, grateful, but it was the calm, focused, protective look in your eyes that had stayed with him. After that, it was as if every moment spent with you was magnified. The way you tilted your head when you listened. The quiet, steady authority you carried in briefings. The rare moments when your smile broke through the mask of command and revealed something softer, something just for them.

But he wasn’t oblivious. A Jedi and a clone weren’t supposed to have that connection. Yet here in the shadows of a collapsing cave, the rules felt very far away.

As the tunnel widened slightly, you paused to scan the area. Kix watched the way your shoulders rose and fell with each breath, the soft sound of the lightsaber humming at your side. His heart ached with something sharp and unwelcome as he knowledge that if this cave became your tomb, he’d never get the chance to tell you how he fells.

“How deep do you think we are?” he asked, his voice soft but edged with a tremor he couldn’t quite suppress.

You turned, considering, “Hard to say. Utapau’s sinkholes run deep, and these caves are likely natural extensions. We’re probably under several hundred meters of rock by now.”

“Lovely,” he muttered.

You gave a small, tired laugh, “We’ll find a way out, Kix.”

“I know,” he said, though a shiver crept up his spine. His body was already aching from the weight of his armor, the strain of the mission, and now the added tension of uncertainty. But he pushed it aside. You were here and alive. That was what mattered to him.

A faint rumble echoed through the rock, and both of you instinctively crouched, scanning for signs of another collapse. But the tremor passed, leaving only silence.

You straightened, exhaling slowly, “Let’s keep moving. We need to find a passage that leads upward.”

Kix nodded, though his legs were beginning to protest. They continued forward, the tunnel sloping downward before finally leveling out into a wider chamber. The ceiling arched above them, glittering with mineral deposits that caught your lightsaber’s light like scattered stars. For a brief moment, it was almost beautiful.

Kix found himself staring at the light on the stone, the soft reflection in your eyes as you turned to scan the chamber. He wanted to say something, anything, but the words tangled in his throat. Instead, he stepped forward, his foot brushing against a loose rock.

The sudden shift sent a sharp pain lancing up his leg. He gasped, stumbling as his knee buckled beneath him.

“Kix!” you turned sharply, the saber flickering dangerously as you caught him before he could fall completely.

“I’m fine—” he started, but the pain worsened, a sharp, twisting agony that made his vision blur. He sank to his knees, clutching at his side where the armor plates had shifted.

You crouched beside him, urgency in your voice, "Where does it hurt?”

“Left side and lower back. Feels like something’s torn,” he ground out, his breathing shallow.

Your hands moved quickly, fingers tracing along the edges of his armor with practiced ease, “You might have a fracture or internal bleeding,” you murmured, more to yourself than to him, “I need to check.”

Kix gritted his teeth, “Don’t overextend yourself. You’ve already used Force to keep the landslide out of the cave. I don't want to drain you too much.”

Your hand stilled briefly on his arm, “Kix,” you said softly, and he heard the unspoken plea in your voice.

He forced a strained smile, “I’ll be fine. Just a little banged up. Not the first time.”

You gave him a look that silenced his protests. Slowly, carefully, you began to remove the plates of his armor, your fingers deftly releasing the catches. When you peeled up the lower hem of his upper blacks both of you winced. The skin beneath was bruised, swelling rapidly with discoloration spreading across toward his hip.

“Looks like a deep muscle tear or a bleed," you said quietly. “And I’m guessing you hit your back pretty hard, too.”

Kix felt lightheaded, his breathing shallow. The pain was intensifying, a deep, pulsing ache that made it hard to focus, “I’ll manage."

But you were already preparing yourself. He saw the way you closed your eyes, steadying your breath, gathering the Force around you. The faint glow of your saber dimmed as you focused, the air around you charged with energy.

Kix’s eyes widened, “No. You’re exhausted already. If you—”

“I’m not letting you die here, Kix,” you cut him off firmly, your voice a low whisper that sent a shiver through him.

The words struck him harder than any injury. He opened his mouth to protest and argue, but the glow of your hands as you pressed them gently to his side silenced him. The warmth of the Force flowed into him, a gentle, golden pulse of energy that soothed the tearing agony and slowed the bleeding.

His vision blurred, not from pain this time, but from a wave of emotion that threatened to overwhelm him. You were risking yourself for him, pouring every ounce of strength you had left into holding him together.

The pain dulled, and he felt his breathing steady, but as the glow around your hands faded, your shoulders slumped, and you sagged against him.

“No, no, General,” Kix’s voice broke as he caught you, his hands cradling your head as you slipped into unconsciousness, “oh come on. Stay awake, please."

The cave around them was silent except for his ragged breaths and the soft echo of his whispered pleas. Its walls loomed close like silent witnesses. The air was heavy with the faint tang of minerals and dust, broken only by the shallow echo of Kix’s ragged breathing and the soft rustle of your robes against the stone floor.

Your head lolled against his shoulder, your skin cool beneath his gloved hand. Kix's pulse hammered in his throat as he cradled you, his hands trembling slightly not from the terror of seeing you collapse like that.

"Please, General," he whispered, his voice frayed and raw, "Don’t leave me here. Please."

His fingers brushed your temple, tracing the curve of your cheek as if by sheer will he could anchor you to him, keep you tethered to this fragile moment. Your eyelids fluttered, lashes casting faint shadows, and his heart caught painfully.

Then, you let in a soft inhale, shallow but steady. Relief flooded him, so sharp it made his vision blur.

"Hey," he murmured, his voice cracking on the word. "You’re okay. You’re still here."

You stirred faintly, your weight shifting against him. Your voice was barely a whisper, "Kix?"

"Right here," he said, tightening his hold as if he could shield you from the cold, the fear, the crushing weight of rock above them, "You’re good. I’ve got you."

Your brow furrowed, a flicker of confusion crossing your face as you tried to sit up. But he was already guiding you back down, his hands steady but gentle.

"Don’t move too fast," he said softly, "You passed out after healing me."

Realization dawned in your eyes, along with a flicker of guilt, "Oh, Kix. I'm so sorry. I-"

"I know," he interrupted, his voice rough with emotion, "But you scared me half to death."

Your lips quirked faintly, the shadow of a smile ghosting across them, "That’s not an easy thing to do."

Kix let out a shaky breath, a sound that was almost a laugh but caught somewhere between relief and exhaustion. He brushed a thumb lightly along your cheek, the touch intimate in a way neither of you had dared before. "You didn't have to do that," he whispered. "You gave everything you had left."

"But for you though," you murmured, the words so soft they might have been a thought.

He closed his eyes briefly, the weight of those words settling deep in his chest. When he opened them, he saw you watching him, your gaze tired but steady.

"How’s your side?" you asked, your voice still faint.

"Never better," he replied, though the truth was more complicated. The pain was a dull throb now, numbed by your Force healing, but he could faintly feel lingering pinches. Still, he wasn’t about to tell you that.

"Good. Then let's get out of here."

Kix hesitated, then gently shifted you into a more comfortable position, resting your head on his lap. He leaned back against the cave wall, careful of the instability of the soil, and cradled you close.

"We will," he agreed quietly, though in truth, he wasn’t sure how. The cave was vast and treacherous, but in that moment, with your heartbeat steady against his, the crushing weight of fear eased. "Eventually," he continued, "let's just take a minute."

You hummed in agreement and let your eyelids close. There was something too comfortable about resting your head on Kix's lap that you couldn't resist his offer to relax for a moment.

Time passed in silence, broken only by the faint dripping of water and the soft rhythm of your breathing. Kix listened to it like a lifeline, grounding himself in the simple reality of your presence.

After a while, you stirred again, sensing his gaze was locked onto you. "You’re hovering, Kix," your voice was soft but tinged with a hint of humor.

His lips twitched, "I can’t help it. Occupational hazard."

You cracked one eye open, meeting his before you lifted your head up, resting your hand on the cave walls to help you stand up, "More like boyfriend hazard." The words slipped from your lips in a murmur, half-drowsy and teasing, but they hit him like a blaster bolt.

His breath caught, his pulse stumbling as he stared down at you, stunned into stillness.

Boyfriend hazard.

You said it like a joke, your voice light, your lips curving faintly in a tired smile. But Kix’s mind reeled, the weight of that single word sinking in. It wasn’t the playful tone you’d used, or even the way your smile softened the edges of the moment. It was the truth beneath the jest. The quiet acknowledgment of something fragile and unspoken blooming between you. Before you could get on your feet, he grabbed your wrist and tugged slightly. Acknowledging his silent wishes, you sat down next to him, legs crossed.

He swallowed hard, his throat tightening painfully. Slowly, his hand brushed your hair back from your face, his fingertips tracing the line of your jaw, down to your neck where your pulse fluttered faintly beneath his touch.

"Is that what I am to you?" he asked, his voice low and almost trembling, not from fear but from the overwhelming tenderness blooming inside him.

You blinked up at him, the teasing glint in your eyes fading into something softer, more open, "Well that would surely complicate things." You watched his smile fall before you continued, "but I'm not necessarily one to take the easy path."

The corner of his mouth curved, not quite a smile, more a raw, vulnerable thing. He leaned down slightly, his forehead brushing yours as he exhaled a shuddering breath.

"You’ve been in my head since Kamino," he whispered, his voice a confession, "I thought it was just a silly crush. But then you kept showing up. In the medbay, in the field, everywhere. And I realized I was looking for you. Every damn day."

Your breath caught, your lips parting as though to respond, but he pressed a gentle finger to them.

"And I’m not saying this because we’re trapped in here," he said quietly, his voice firm despite the tenderness, "I’m saying it because it’s been building for a long time. And I can’t pretend its not there anymore."

You shifted slightly, wincing as you moved to sit up, your forehead still close to his, "I don't like pretending either," you whispered.

His lips twitched faintly, his other hand coming up to cradle your cheek, "Then I'm an idiot for waiting this long."

You let out a soft laugh, the sound mingling with his. The weight of exhaustion and fear lingered at the edges of the moment, but here, in this quiet, hidden place beneath the surface of a war-torn world, it was just you and Kix. No ranks, no orders, no looming battles. Just a man and a woman, leaning into each other because it was all they had.

Kix’s thumb brushed the corner of your mouth, tracing the curve of your smile. His gaze dropped to your lips, lingering there for a heartbeat that stretched between you. But instead of closing the distance, he simply rested his forehead against yours, his breath mingling with yours in the hush of the cavern.

"We’re getting out of here," he said softly. "Not because we have to, but because we want to. But because there’s more than just survival waiting for us outside."

You nodded faintly, your eyes fluttering closed, your breath hitching slightly as you leaned into him.

For a while, neither of you spoke. His arms remained around you, steady and warm, his pulse a reassuring thrum against yours. You drifted, not quite asleep, but caught in that quiet space between wakefulness and dreams, wrapped in the safety of his embrace.

Kix’s fingers traced idle patterns along your back, his mind quiet for the first time in what felt like days. And though the cave around you was dark and still, in that small bubble of warmth and whispered promises, it felt almost like home.

For a long while, neither of you moved. Kix’s arms felt like a shelter while his breath pushed softly against your hair. The moment of confessions and half-spoken truths, lingered like a quiet echo in the stillness of the cave.

But eventually, the reality of your situation pressed in. The faint tremor of cold in your limbs was begging for you to move. You stirred first, a reluctant shift that made Kix’s arm tighten briefly around you before he reluctantly let you go.

“We should keep moving,” you suggested, forcing back a yawn.

Kix nodded, though he didn’t seem particularly eager to let you go. He pressed a gentle, soft, almost absent-minded kiss to the top of your head before drawing back and groaning as he got up.

“Yeah,” he agreed, "We should.”

You rose, stiff and aching, but determined. Kix retrieved his scattered armor and, with your help, strapped it back on as best as you could.

Once ready, the two of you began moving again, deeper into the labyrinth of rock and shadow. The air was cool and damp, heavy with the faint scent of moss and mineral-rich water. You used your lightsaber again to light the path ahead, a faint blue glow casting long shadows against the walls. For a while, the silence was companionable, the rhythm of your footsteps echoing softly off the walls.

But then Kix’s voice broke the quiet, tentative but steady, “When did you know?” he asked, glancing sideways at you.

You slowed slightly, startled by the question, "Know what?”

“You know,” he rolled out the syllables, dancing around what he asked, “I guess to put it simple, about the feeling being mutual.”

You bit your lip, hesitating. The cave narrowed, forcing you both to walk closer, your shoulders almost brushing. “I’m not sure,” you admitted after a breath, “I'm not sure if it was sudden. I can see little moments. Like the way you always look out for the others. How you never hesitate to help, no matter how bad things get. The way you laugh, even when you’re exhausted. How you always make me feel like I’m not just another Jedi. I feel like I'm just me.”

Kix rubbed the back of his neck, a faint flush coloring his cheeks, “I guess I didn’t make it easy to ignore, huh?” he winced wryly.

You smiled, the curve of your lips gentle in the dim light, “No. You didn’t.” The silence stretched again, but it was warmer now, filled with a quiet understanding. The sound of your footsteps echoed softly as you continued deeper into the cave.

Kix glanced at you again, his brow furrowed slightly, “I always wondered how the Jedi managed it,” he shrugged, “The whole no attachments thing. Doesn’t it get lonely?”

You stopped in your tracks, the question cutting deeper than you expected. “It does,” you admitted, "But we’re taught to suppress those feelings. To let them go, like we let go of everything else.” You waved your hand, the bitterness in your voice sharper than you intended, “But that’s- I don't know. I don’t think that's me."

Kix slowed, watching you with quiet intensity, “What do you mean?”

You sighed, your voice growing more determined, “The Jedi Code was written millenia ago, by people who couldn’t have imagined a galaxy at war like this. We’re supposed to be selfless, to put the needs of the galaxy before our own. But at what cost? Our happiness and humanity?”

Kix’s steps faltered, and he reached out, his gloved hand brushing your arm lightly, "So, you don’t agree with the Code?”

You met his gaze, allowing your hand to grab his, intertwining your fingers around his as you continued to walk. Kix couldn't help but look down at your hand in his and smile. It felt natural.

“Not entirely. I think it’s too conservative and rigid. We’re not droids, Kix. We’re people. We love, we grieve, we feel. Denying that it doesn’t make us stronger. It just makes us hollow.”

Kix’s grasp on your hand tightened, “Have you always felt that way?”

You hesitated, then nodded, “Honesty, for a long time. If it weren’t for the war, I probably would’ve left the Order already.”

Kix’s brow furrowed, “Left? You’d give up being a Jedi?”

You gave a small, wistful smile, "Oh I enjoyed my time at the Temple, mastering the force, being knighted. I love what it’s taught me. But I also want more. I want a life and home and people to come back to and to laugh with them without guilt. But to love without rules, that would be nice for once.”

Kix’s voice was rough, almost disbelieving, “That sounds like something us clones can only dream of.”

You shrugged lightly, a trace of sadness in your smile, “Maybe one day, when this war is over I’ll find that. Somewhere quiet and peaceful. Perhaps you can too."

Kix’s lips parted as if to speak, but no words came. Instead, he reached up, his hand brushing your cheek, his thumb tracing a soft line along your jaw. His touch was light, almost reverent, as though he were memorizing the feel of you beneath his hand, “I’d like that,” he murmured, his voice barely audible, "To find something like that." He hesitated briefly, "but something about the idea of doing it all with you makes it somehow seem even dreamier."

Your heart stumbled, the quiet confession sinking into you like a warm tide. For a moment, the war, the cave and the danger lurking outside all faded, leaving only the fragile thread of possibility stretching between you.

You leaned into his touch, your breath catching as his fingers tangled gently in your hair, "You mean that?”

His smile was faint, but it reached his eyes, crinkling the corners with quiet sincerity, “I wouldn't lie to you. I’ve been so focused on patching up the others and keeping everyone else going that I never thought I could want something for myself. But after Saleucami and meeting Cut and his family, knew I wanted more than just surviving day to day. I want to live.”

A shiver ran down your spine, not from cold but from the weight of his words. You leaned forward, your forehead brushing his as you whispered, “I get that." For a long moment, you stood there, your bodies close, the warmth of him steady against your cheek.

Eventually, Kix drew back slightly, his expression soft but determined, “As you said before, we should keep moving,” he teased, though his voice was tinged with reluctance.

You nodded, your fingers still grasping onto his. As you walked side by side, your shoulders occasionally brushing, the air between you felt lighter.

The air felt a little less heavy now, though the shadows still pressed close as you and Kix moved deeper into the cave system.

There was a shift between you, something that hadn’t been there before. Some sort of openness perhaps. The fragile confessions, the quiet touches, the slow realization that whatever had bloomed between you in these dark tunnels wasn’t going to be left behind.

You glanced sideways at him, taking in the faint smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth despite the exhaustion in his eyes. His gaze met yours briefly, and something unspoken passed between you.

After a while, the tunnel narrowed again, forcing you both to slow. Ahead, there was a faint draft of cool air, and you realized with a start that this might actually be an exit. Not a clear, wide path back into daylight, but a crack in the rock wide enough to let air flow through.

You paused, hand braced against the wall, and looked back at Kix. He was breathing hard, but determination was written in every line of his face.

“We’re almost there,” you nodded into the breeze.

His smile was soft but wry, “I think you've  been saying that for the last hour.”

You gave a quiet laugh, shaking your head, “This time I mean it. Feel that breeze?”

Kix nodded, his expression clearing just a little, “Yep. It smells like fresh air.”

You both stood there for a moment, shoulders brushing, letting the cool air wash over you. Then Kix took a shaky breath and pushed off the wall, “Well,” he said, his voice low and rough, “guess it’s time to stop being the medic and start being something else.”

You raised an eyebrow, “Something else?”

He gave you a playful smile, "I mean we came into this mess as a Jedi and a clone medic, right? I think we’re leaving as something more.” The words were light, almost teasing, but you heard the truth in them, and it sent a quiet warmth spreading through your chest.

You stepped closer, brushing your knuckles lightly against his, “Together,” you winked.

Kix smiled, and for a moment, you both just stood there, the air from the crack in the wall stirring faintly around you. The cave was still a cage, but it no longer felt like a prison. It felt like a threshold. “I was worried,” Kix said after a moment, his voice quieter now, “That when we got out of here, you’d just go back to being a Jedi and I'd just go back to being the battalion medic and we would just pretend this never happened.”

You shook your head, firm, “This isn’t something I can pretend didn’t happen. It’s not just some," you paused before giving a half laugh, "I don't know, cave moment.”

Kix’s lips twitched, “Cave moment?”

You sharply exhaled from your nose, “You know what I mean.”

His smile grew, a soft warmth in his eyes, “Over analyzing everything you say is one of my new duties now, is it not?"

You let out sigh of content, your fingers brushing his cheek, tracing the faint stubble there, “I won't leave us behind down here."

He leaned into your touch, his breath warm against your palm, “Good,” he retorted, “because the guys are going to give me hell when we get back.”

You snorted softly, "Oh?”

Kix’s grin turned playful, though there was a faint flush at his ears, “Oh, yeah. They’ll say something like, 'You finally did it!’”

You laughed, the sound echoing softly against the cave walls, “They’ve been waiting for this?”

He shrugged, his expression mock-innocent, “Maybe. I might’ve let a few things slip. It's hard not to when you’re stuck in a ship with the same squad."

You rolled your eyes, but your smile didn’t fade, “Great. So, we’re the gossip of the 501st.”

Kix’s arm tightened around your shoulders, “Well, if we’re going to be the gossip, we might as well make it worth their while.

You laughed again, the sound lighter than it had been in hours. Then, more softly, you continued, “We need to get out of here.”

Kix raised an eyebrow, “I thought you said we were almost there.”

You gave him a crooked smile, “We are. But I mean we need to get out of here. Out of the cave and whatever bubble we had up around each other. We’ve got lost time to make up for.”

His expression softened, and he leaned in, his forehead pressing lightly against yours. His voice was low, steady, "We will. One step at a time. But let’s start with getting out of this cave, yeah?”

You nodded, your breath catching slightly at the quiet promise in his voice. Together, you turned toward the narrow opening, your hands brushing as you prepared to squeeze through.

The light beyond wasn’t full daylight, instead just a faint shimmer of something brighter than the dark. But it was enough to tell you that there was a way forward.

As you and Kix moved toward it, shoulder to shoulder, you realized something.

You weren’t just walking out of a cave, you were stepping into something new together.

tags:

@trixie2023 @clon3wh0r3 @melonmochiii @alice-in-wonderland111 @marvel-starwars-nerd @simping-for-fives @horsegirl4561 @koskareevesismyqueen @katelynnwrites @pinkiemme @youmaynowdothething @808tsuika @dangerdumpling @ahsoka-padme @persaloodles @soclonely @coffeeandtodd @gryffindorqueensworld @obiorbenkenobi @jedi-dreea @lightning-wolffe

[badgalsasuke]

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2Dmkhjv/

Hey! I saw this tiktok and I was just so mad because I felt like they were taking these scenes out of context and just disregarding the other things that clearly showed that Sasuke has no interest in her. I wanted to know your thoughts on it too.

Hi anon!

Alright let's see it, some of this are true, some are filler and some are egregiously taken out of context.

Here, during Gaara's attack against Konoha, Sasuke is putting Sakura in the hands of Pakkun after Gaara attacked her and rendered her unconscious. At this point Sasuke still cared for her as his teammate, it wouldn't be until he wakes up from his coma after Itachi comes back that he stops caring about her.

Here the two panels at the bottom are filler so they don't matter. However, the two panels at the top are taken out of context.

Sasuke was buried by Kakashi during the bell test and Sakura who found him got scared and fainted.

Once Sasuke manages to get out of the hole he was in, he wakes Sakura who hugs him unexpectedly. I've discussed in another ask how SS shippers like to use this moment as "proof" of Sasuke having a secret crush on Sakura, you can check it here if you haven't seen it. Anyway, as you can see Sasuke tells Sakura to let him go (he always does that when Sakura is touching him) and when Sakura tries to get closer to him under the guise of working together to get the bells, Sasuke changes his demeanor and gets pretty hostile with her, rejecting her offer.

Let's keep going. Here Sasuke is smiling at Naruto and it's pretty obvious, I mean he's looking at his left and who is at his left? Naruto, even in the anime you see Sasuke looking at Naruto. But SS shippers have been trying very hard since the chapter came out years ago to convince people Sasuke was looking at Sakura lol

Okay, this one is funny. The first two images you see correspond to chapter 632. But the two at the bottom are from Gaiden.

Sasuke does react like that to Sakura's strength. Later alongside Naruto, he saves Sakura from the crature that appears after the dust settles. It's a cute team 7 moment mostly from Sakura's perspective because right away Sasuke turns his full attention to Naruto who does the same.

Moving to the images from the bottom, the most egregious ones. Sasuke isn't smiling at Sakura, he's smiling at Sarada who is fighting with the Sharingan activated for the first time since she's awaken it. It's Sarada who's hitting the ground and attacking all those clones, not Sakura.

I don't think the person who posted that Tiktok was trying to post about some "Uchiha family" moments or trying to create parallels between the way Sasuke "looks at Sakura" and the way he looks at Sarada because because they don't mention that in the image or in the tiktok. I think they're just being dishonest pretending it's teenage Sasuke looking at teenage Sakura and then adult Sasuke looking at adult Sakura.

For this last one, I don't remember if it's from Sakura's novel or one of Sasuke's novels but it's filler either way, of a scene describing their first kiss that only happens in filler.

EDIT: I’ve been informed in the comments that this image is actually fanart from one of the animators LOL

In canon they've never kissed. As we see in Gaiden, it is implied twice Sakura has never received a kiss from Gaiden. The first time when Sarada asks, Sakura changes the topic after making a sad face. The second time is more in your face because it's Sasuke literally rejecting Sakura in our faces. Isn't funny how the tiktok avoided Gaiden altogether except from the two images they took out context? lol

[cookybananas]

It's Been A Long Time Old Friend (Part III) - Unburnt!Darth Vader x Reader

author's note: y'all I'm a liar, but here is the final part! thank you for reading!

summary: where Darth Vader arrives on the planet of Lianna. Only to discover that the Queen of Lianna was once his old flame during his Jedi years. part I: It's Been A Long Time, Old Friend (Part I) part II: It's Been A Long Time, Old Friend (Part II)

The sound of Vader's heavy footsteps were muffled by the lavender colored carpet in your private chambers. He was scanning the room, hoping to find any personal items that belonged to you, especially your lightsaber.

The faint sounds of heels clicking on the marble flooring had become increasingly louder and louder behind the door. Vader picked up your force signature, sensing that it was you getting closer and closer. He was going to confront you for once and for all.

You had bursted through your bedroom doors, frantically searching for something. Vader had hid behind the curtain that was draped behind a large pillar, watching your backside as you rummaged through your closet and drawers.

When you pulled out the last thing you needed in the dresser, your lightsaber. Your ears picked up on an all so familiar modulated breathing. Feeling a breeze of cold air hit you, your blood runs cold as your chest begins to heave.

You couldn't move, you felt the force surrounding you to keep you in your place, it was cold. You knew it was him. You weren't sure what to do, you knew you would have to face and fight him, or just run away as fast as you could. You probably had a better chance of surviving if you ran.

You felt your feet leave the ground as you began to float and find yourself slowly rotating around as you faced the most feared man in the galaxy. Darth Vader.

"Y/N L/N, Jedi Knight of the Galactic Republic. Your former master was Master Yoda. You fought alongside General Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker did you not?" Your eyes widen at his words, your jig was up. How could he possibly know this about you?

"I-I have no idea what you're saying." You mustered out, he was going to kill you now, you could sense it.

"My dear Y/N, you were never a good liar." Vader said, taking small steps towards you as you were suspended in the air with the force. "Your thoughts are loud... I do not have the intention on killing you."

"Yeah? And how would I know for sure you won't pull a fast one on me." You retorted. Vader turned his head towards you, his red lens boring into your eyes now.

"Search your feelings my love. I could never hurt you." Vader's voice soften as he raised his gloved hand toward you, touching the scar on your cheek. The scar you had gotten back in the arena on Geonosis, just when the Clone War had broke out.

"A-Anakin...?" You whisper under your breath, trembling underneath his touch. "N-No, it, it can't be!" Shaking your head profusely, hoping he would remove his hand from you.

"Out of all the men in the star system, you decided to marry, him?" Vader commented. You were still stunned, trying to imagine that it was your Anakin behind that mask. All of the things you have heard that he had done, Anakin could never commit such deeds. Your eyebrows furrowed as you tried to process the informational at once.

"I didn't have much of a choice... Either I work myself to death while avoiding you and your inquisitors, or this." You responded after collecting your thoughts. "I thought you were gone..." You whispered under your breath, continuing to avoid eye contact with him, but Vader still heard you.

"I have scoured to the ends of the space system the past two years, looking for you. Only to find out, that you had been married to that snob Kairos this entire time." He snared out. You snapped your head up at his words, anger seething through you at his accusation.

"I-I had no choice! You left me. You left us!" You exclaimed, looking at him now. "I thought you died Anakin...I thought you would never return to me."

That had set him off, the both of you were arguing back and forth now. The heartbreak and resentment that had been building up within you was coursing through you, and Anakin could feel it. The more you expressed your anger, the more amusing he found it, never did you become so heated before.

"For a Jedi, you seem to hold a lot of anger." Vader quipped. Your eye twitches at his comment, wanting to slap the hell out of him for all he had done to the Jedi, to Obi-Wan, and to you.

"I am no Jedi...You seem quite ignorant for man who had not realize the damage he had done to those around him." You spat back.

With that, Vader released you from his grip. You landed on your feet in surprise, and now in fear, uncertain on what he was planning to do next.

Vader swiftly removed his helmet. You were taken aback at his appearance. His eyes no longer held their original cerulean-colored pupils, but instead were bloodshot yellow, the color of a Sith's eyes. Despite his eyes, he still looked the exact same all those years ago.

The man whom you saw your future with all those years ago. The man who held you tightly in his arms every night during the war. The man who would promised that he would leave the Jedi order for you, so that you would never have to keep your relationship a secret. The man who had left you in the dust two years ago, with no explanation, nothing to explain his absence.

"Everything I had done, was for you, my love." Anakin said softly, almost sounding defeated. Almost sounding hurt as if you weren't as grateful for what he had done for you, for his empire.

"I didn't want any of it...Anakin, why couldn't you have told me?" Your lips began to tremble, as your eyes began to tear up. "All I wanted, was you, just you Anakin...No empire, no imperial stormtroopers, none of that. Just you."

You were right in front of him now, your hands on his chest plate, as you looked up at him, hoping that there was still some good him. Anakin stared down at you, his face softening at your words and now, you. You felt his tense shoulders relax under your touch.

"Leave the empire, please... We can be together again, we can have a family...There's no Jedi order or anything stopping us." You pleaded, hoping to change his heart selfishly. You were aware of the bloodshed that followed Vader, but now knowing that it was your lover who was behind the mask, you couldn't help but to try and stop any further harm from being done.

"I...I serve the Emperor and his empire now." Anakin huffed out, his voice now monotone. You take a step back from him, shaking your head as you watched the love of your life slip away from you and into the dark side for the second time.

"Then at least leave Kairos and the Kingdom of Lianna alone." You bargained, praying that nothing would happen to this beautiful planet and that Kairos wouldn't have to pay the price for your deeds.

"And leave you with that scoundrel?" Vader responded, unamused and slightly disappointed at your request.

"I-I don't plan on staying here any longer...But all I ask for you, is to not hurt him or this planet." Still begging at your former lover. Shouting was heard outside by the landing platform. You turn your heard in the direction of yelling, running over to the large window that overlooked the landing platform. A squad of stormtroopers were pointing and aiming their blasters at Kairos, Chira, and the pilot. You turn around to look at Anakin, whom hadn't moved an inch.

"Anakin, please. Don't do this." You begged, but you were too late, as the sound of muffled blaster fire was heard outside. Your stomach dropped as you began to tremble in fear, afraid to look out the window to find the bodies of Kairos, Chira, and the pilot laying in their pool of blood.

"I wish things hadn't gone this way." You whispered out, clutching your bag of belongings as you made your toward the door.

"Y/N." Anakin whispered, you stopped in your tracks, your hand just on the door knob. "My love for you, will always remain." You hung your head, biting the bottom of your lip before swinging the door open and darting down the corridor.

Anakin watched as you ran out, the sound of your heels clicking on flooring descended further and further away from him. He took a deep breath before letting out a frustrated sigh, tears forming around his eyes.

He was given a second chance with you, but threw it away for the sake of the empire once again. Perhaps he wanted to give you a chance to live without him, but how could you live freely with the Empire still in power? Already convinced, Anakin believed you would lead a happier life than to be with him, especially with what he has done.

Anakin slowly made his way to the large window where you just were, looking down, he sees Chira and Kairos ushering you onto the ramp before it closed shut. The bodies of the stormtroopers laying lifeless in their pool of blood.

He felt a pair of eyes on him. Scanning the landing platform, Kairos stood there. For just a moment, their eyes lock. Kairos had an unreadable expression as he analyzed the Sith lord's face. Anakin stared down at him, anger bubbling within him, but he was reminded of your wishes to let this planet be.

In the distance, your ship jumps into light speed and disappears out of the planets atmosphere. A tear rolls down Anakin's cheek, he decided to put back his helmet back on before making the decision to leave this planet.

-

author's note: thank you for reading and your support! I know the final part and ending seems rushed, but I wanted to get the finale out so I can upload my other works.

[clockwayswrites]

Cosmas the Clone

this is a first draft and I am full of migraine and very tired, please no editing or concrit <3 I just needed something with low expectations to work on today.

cw: blood and injury from canon typical violence

Usually when Danny found blood on his roof, it was from a pigeon. The dumb things got hurt all of the time in all sorts of ridiculous ways. So much so that Danny had finally just built a small coop for rehabilitation on his roof. And then he’d added another coop to it when there started being birds that wouldn’t have managed to survive in the city any longer if he released them. It was a hobby, at least.

One notable time the blood had been from a low level goon. Danny had decided to just treat the goon like a pigeon. He patched them up, got them talked into going into rehab, and a job at Wayne Enterprises in the loading docks.

This time, the alarming trail of blood lead towards the coop.

Which was both weird and concerning.

Maybe it was just an injured cat or raccoon that had followed the scent of the birds. Or a very large rat. Gotham had surprisingly large rats even before accounting for the mutant ones. It could just be a rat, Danny tried to convince himself even as he pulled some of his power to pool in the palm of his hand.

It wasn’t a rat.

Luminescent green eyes, blown wide with pain, stared back at Danny from the kid—fuck it was a kid—who had tucked themselves in the storage space under the coop. Blood seeped from between their fingers where they clutched at the black and green tunic. The fist shook with each rattling breath.

Danny crouched slowly, hands up and empty on his knees where the kid could see them. “Hey. It looks like you could use some help. I can call an ambulance or take you to—”

A pigeon startled in the coop above.

It was like a starting gun.

The kid lunged forward. Danny hit the ground hard, breath knocked out of him as a knee gabbed into his side and some squishy organ there. Cold, sharp metal pressed against his neck.

“Okay, no hospitals or ambulances,” Danny said softly. He was careful to move his throat as little as possible while he spoke. “But I can still patch you up as best as I can myself. I think maybe that might even be pretty good, what with the color your eyes are glowing. I thought it was just that you were bleeding out, but you’re a little dead already, aren’t you?”

Those ectoplasm green eyes blinked down at Danny, but he didn’t know how much the kid was actually seeing right then.

“But how about we keep you just on the little side of dead,” Danny urged as he slowly reached up and grasped the kid’s wrist at his neck. The kid wavered as Danny pulled the arm back and the bladed brass knuckles with it. “Let me help you.”

“Ah…”

Danny rested his hand on the kid’s tan cheek. It was too cold. “Please.”

Those bright green eyes rolled back into the kid’s head. They went limp. Danny scrambled to catch them and put pressure on the wound without getting slided by the blades. He clutched the kid desperately against him. “Okay, right, okay. At least I can get you inside like this. Come on, pigeon, let’s try to keep you alive.”

[ghostofskywalker]

Evolving Opinions

Rex/Fem!Former Sith Assassin!Reader

Words: 3,272

Summary: With the lifestyle you now led, the appearance of someone from your past was usually an ill omen of what the future had in store. But Rex was also on his own, and the two of you found yourselves forming bonds that your previous selves would have never expected (or condoned).

Warnings: descriptions of death/dead bodies, murder, and violence

Note: another fic for the @cloneficgiftexchange life day exchange! this is a gift for @happy-beeeps, who joined the exchange a little later as a pinch hitter :) it's not really a surprise since you already knew i was writing something for you, but i hope you enjoy it anyway!!

Clone Troopers Masterlist

The scope of your rifle was perfectly trained on the man you had been hired to kill, and at any moment you could have taken the shot. Despite the fact that there were still one or two people in the alleyway, your vantage point was tucked away, perfectly hidden among the shadows of a nearby rooftop. 

But your job was always the easiest when there weren’t as many people around to ask questions, so biding your time was the most prudent decision.

The lightsaber strapped to your leg was itching to be used, but the risks you would take by lighting it would surely outweigh any rewards it reaped. The Empire was still on the hunt for whatever was left of the Jedi, and since that search showed no signs of abating, you were forced to play it safe. Even though your experiences had been focused on the dark side of the Force and you hadn’t once set foot in the Jedi Temple, you weren’t convinced that the Empire’s bumbling infantry would spare your talent solely because your saber glowed red. 

With a fall from grace that was quick and secretive, contract labor and mercenary work was the path of least resistance, and you had taken the first steps down it even before the end of the Clone War. Dooku had high standards for his assassins, and once your performance had been deemed unsatisfactory, you barely escaped with your life. With no love lost for any of the factions vying for rule of the more valuable systems, you worked tirelessly to facilitate your fade into oblivion in tandem with the rise of the Empire. 

You rarely saw familiar faces this far outside the galaxy’s center anyway. 

Your pointer finger curled inwards as the number of witnesses dwindled, and it was just barely hovering over the trigger of your rifle when a flash of white and blue caught your peripheral attention. A cloaked figure had entered the alley, a dark and bulky poncho obscuring most of his identity, but the movement of his arms and legs as he walked revealed glimpses of the plastoid covering his limbs. Whatever his name was, this man was a clone trooper, and from the looks of it, you had come into contact with his former battalion. 

Your attention was certainly piqued, as you had yet to see a clone who had been allowed to keep the identifying markings on his armor. Word on the street was that the Empire was no longer in the market for identical soldiers, so what was this man doing? 

If he was trying to be stealthy, it wasn’t exactly working. 

You watched a sneer fill your target’s face as he was finishing up a conversation on his comm device, having noticed the newcomer in the space. Whether that expression was born of a hatred for clones or of this man personally, you had no idea. But as the clone pulled a blaster out from under his bulky cloak and trained it on your quarry, you could tell that the interaction was not going to be one of trust and understanding, and that you needed to step in. 

Your target pulled out his blaster as you tapped into the Force, waiting for the perfect moment to strike, unknown and unseen. A crueler version of yourself might have let them take each other out before pulling the trigger, but you moved before that could happen, leaving only one body laying on the cold ground this time. 

It took a simple leap off the roof to enter the space, and you slung the rifle across your back as you stared at the clone trooper, who immediately trained his blaster on you (and to be fair, you didn’t exactly blame him for acting on instinct). 

But everything about this interaction changed once you heard this particular soldier speak your name, his tone sharp as he made no move to lower his weapon. 

Even if he hadn’t spoken, the glimmer of recognition on his face was impossible to ignore, as was the knowing fear that he was probably trying so hard to hide.  

Your lightsaber was in your hand in an instant as you stared him down, searching your memory for any clue that might clue you into his identity. It had been a pleasure antagonizing Anakin Skywalker and the 501st legion on multiple occasions, but you had never seen any of the troopers without their helmets, and you didn’t think he’d react too kindly if you asked him to remove the cloak so you could get a better look at his armor. 

He had blonde hair (is this really what they all looked like?), and the bulky poncho draped over his body was dirty from however long he had spent wearing it without wash. You could see the fatigue on his face, cementing your observation that he was indeed a deserter, but despite the glare he wore and the gun in his hands, you couldn’t help but notice how attractive he was. 

“What are you doing here?” he spoke again, and a memory stirred in your mind as you recognized the cadence of his voice. Of course Skywalker’s second-in-command would be able to recognize you, the two of you had chased each other through more hallways, tunnels, and alleyways than you could really count. 

Retracting your lightsaber (though not yet stowing it away), you raised your hands, palms outward. “I’m not bad anymore,” you said, a lightness present in your voice that matched the small smile on your face.  

Captain Rex though, didn’t seem to show the same level of comfort that you did in this moment. “That's a classic good person thing to say." 

A short laugh escaped your mouth. “What, you don’t believe that people can change?” you said, hoping that this wouldn’t come to a fight. “I spared your life, didn’t I?” 

Rex was silent as he considered the truth, that he had no idea you were hiding in the shadows for every moment that he had spent in this alley, and that you definitely could have killed him if you wanted to. “And yet you’re still an assassin,” he eventually retorted.

“I prefer the term bounty hunter actually,” you said. “Since I get paid for my skills now.” 

“What?” 

“Despite the fact that Dooku was loaded, he wasn’t exactly the most generous boss,” you responded. “Something I think you might be able to understand, since I know the Republic never gave you anything but a blaster and a kama for your troubles.”  It was at this point that Rex finally lowered his weapon, and the smile returned to your face as you let out an exaggerated breath of relief. “Thanks doll.” 

His face morphed back into a glare for that comment. 

“Look, I’m only here for him, and I have no intention of chasing you down,” you said, gesturing down at the corpse still splayed out across the ground between you. Despite the fact that you wanted to trust him, you were holding your saber in a way that it could be lit with but a moment’s notice. “If we both leave now, it can be like this never happened, and you can go on doing whatever kind of ugly business brought you to this Maker-forsaken system in the first place.”

The air was silent as he stared, this time making no expressions to indicate whether he might be considering your proposition or not. You really didn’t want to have to kill him, and it was only partially because you were finally made aware of how handsome he was (even if the poncho was a little much). 

Besides, you weren’t lying when you said (in less eloquent terms) you weren’t working for the Sith anymore, and you wished him no harm. 

Thankfully though, he didn’t raise his weapon again, and you could feel your shoulders relax, the hand holding your lightsaber drooping slightly. “Deal.” 

No more pleasantries were exchanged as he disappeared, and once a holopicture of your target’s lifeless body was safely stored on your datapad and the body had been moved to rot behind the dumpster, you didn’t stick around either. 

Later that evening, as you laid on the makeshift cot in the abandoned warehouse you were using as a temporary base of operations, you couldn’t help but wonder if you would ever see him again. The chances were unlikely, sure, but you wanted to believe that they weren’t completely off the table. 

***

Out of the corner of your eye, you could see a flash of blond hair. No, it couldn’t be him. 

It had been two standard years since you first ran into Captain Rex in that desolate alleyway, and you’d be lying if you said he hadn’t found his way back into your thoughts multiple times since that day. It certainly didn’t help that every once in a while the two of you crossed paths once more, the looks you shared laced with a surmounting amount of tension.

The second time had been at a market in the middle of the Outer Rim, and despite the sweltering suns high in the sky, you recognized the loose cloak he wore and the glimpses of armor that peeked out when he moved. Did he not have any other clothes?

You hadn’t spoken to him that time, and the same thing transpired after that, when the two of you locked eyes on Corellia a few months later. Yet again too far away to actually speak, he had offered a knowing nod as the two of you went about your various businesses. You had long since refused to take any jobs that marked runaway clones as a target, and word of a fugitive network of former Republic soldiers was starting to spread. It gave you hope, in a way you didn’t quite understand. Sometimes you found yourself hoping to catch a glimpse of him, but things never seemed to pan out when you were actively looking.  

Now though, in a seedy cantina nearly half the galaxy away from the place you saw him last, you could have sworn you recognized the plastoid he tried so hard to hide with an ill-fitting cloak. 

Yeah, that was definitely him. 

“Funny seeing you here,” you said, voice airy and casual as you sat down. This table was far too big for just one person, with the bench stretching around three sides rather than just two across from each other. 

Though no surprise registered on his face, Rex just rolled his eyes as he looked up from the drink he was nursing. The ice in it had long since melted, no doubt worsening the taste, but you suspected it was more of a prop than a refreshment at this point. “Who are you here to kill this time?” 

Shrugging in response to his question, you reached across the table to grab the glass from his loose grip, face curling in disgust as you took a sip. “That’s terrible, you’re actually drinking it?” Immediately, you had flagged down a serving droid and ordered another round for both Rex and yourself.

Despite your friendly tone (and the fact that you were getting him a new drink), his stare did not waver. “You didn’t answer my question.” 

Playfully rolling your eyes, you shot him a smile. “No one, actually,” was your smug response. “But it’s nice to know that you think so little of me. Why are you here?” 

He tensed. “Information.” 

“Ah, is that why you’re acting all cagey? Am I messing with your cover?” 

The glare that you were starting to know all too well returned to his face. “No, but you are messing with my ability to listen to what’s happening around me.” 

The serving droid had returned with the drinks you ordered, and you pushed one in Rex’s direction. “I was looking for information too,” you said. It was a foolish move, especially since you weren’t entirely sure you could trust him, but you couldn’t stop yourself in time. “And I don’t always kill people for money.” 

“But you admit that you have, even after you left the Sith.” If you looked hard enough at him, you could swear that the ghost of a smile was starting to pull on the corners of his lips. You wondered if to him, this tone was equivalent to flirting. 

“There’s not too many positions open out there for someone with my skill set,” you responded, shrugging once more as you took a sip of your drink. “Especially now, without legal chain codes.” 

“There’s always the act of resistance,” Rex said. “We could use someone with your skills, you know.” 

“How much do you get paid?” you asked, and the look on his face told you everything you needed to know. “Thanks, but no thanks.” 

A short laugh escaped his lips, but you didn’t get too much time to recognize it before the doors to the cantina were thrown open and Imperial stormtroopers came barging in.  

The bar chatter cut out in an instant as patrons stared at the newcomers, trying to discern what they could possibly be doing here. Immediately, you could see fear flash across Rex’s face, even though he tried hard to push it away. He shifted, moving so that he was situated in the corner of the booth, now not as visible to the newcomers as he previously was. 

You didn’t ask exactly what information Rex had been after, but you’d be willing to bet your saber that it had to do with either the Empire or its financial allies. While you had fallen off the face of the galaxy in the days after your departure from Dooku, and become even more of a shadow after his death, It didn’t seem that Rex had been allowed the same luxury (and it didn’t help that he couldn’t exactly deny being a clone). 

You moved away from the edge of the booth as well, the two of you closer than you had ever been before. You could hear a distant order from the troopers for patrons to show their chain codes, and your heart dropped. You knew that you would only draw more attention to yourself (and Rex) should you try to leave right now, but it wasn’t looking like you really had any other choice. 

The two of you stared at each other as the soldiers started to make their way around the bar, and an idea took hold in your mind. Reaching out to grab his arm, you pulled him closer, the two of you nestled in the corner of the booth. “Please trust me,” you said, voice pitched low as you leaned in. 

Confusion didn’t even have time to settle on his face before the sound of heavy footsteps grew closer, and he quickly nodded. Your lips were on his before anything else could happen, you’d be lying if you said you weren’t enjoying this a little bit. 

Maker, he was a good kisser. 

You could feel Rex’s hands move to rest on your waist, and the material covering the booth’s benches made it even easier for him to pull your body closer. Maybe you could have gotten away with remaining completely still as you tried to remain unnoticed, but it certainly made more sense to really go for it, to really sell the act to whoever dared interrupt you. 

The sound of someone clearing their throat cut the brewing fantasies in your brain short, and you detached your face from Rex’s to see two stormtroopers in stark white armor staring down at you. “What?” you growled. 

To Rex’s credit, he took things a step further. While you glared at the Imperials, he didn’t even turn to look at them, instead keeping his face hidden as he placed kisses on your neck. Starting out feather-light, his lips lingered more with each passing second, and if you were being honest, it was starting to become a little bit of a distraction. 

“We need to see yo-your chain codes,” one stuttered, the other shifting uncomfortably on his feet. It was clear that they were trying to look anywhere but at you, and another idea took hold in your brain. 

A breathy whine left your lips as you nodded, and you could feel Rex smile against your skin, knowing exactly what you were trying to do. His arms pulled you even closer, to the point that with another movement you would be fully on his lap. 

When he gently nipped at the lobe of your ear, a shocked breath filled the space, and if you weren't so focused on survival in the moment, a fire might have taken hold in your stomach. 

Thankfully though, this seemed to be the push these troopers needed to take the hint. “Come on,” one of them said, and even though you couldn’t see his face you knew he was rolling his eyes. “We don’t get paid enough for this.” 

Once there were no longer Imperial eyes on you and the other troopers began to leave the way they came, Rex pulled away. “Quick thinking,” he mused, voice deeper than usual. 

“Just one of my specialties,” was your response, as you desperately tried to keep from glancing at his kiss-swollen lips. “Where’d you learn to kiss like that?” 

“Nowhere,” he said with a shrug, that quick flash of a smile once again appearing on his face before he moved back to the earlier topic of conversation. “You really wouldn’t want to work for the rebellion?” 

You paused. “I’m not opposed to it, but I highly doubt anyone in their right mind would trust me, given my past allegiances.” 

“I don’t know,” he responded. “Like you’ve told me the first time we ran into each other, people can change.” 

“I think you’re forgetting the fact that I still kill people for money, and you’re mobilizing to take down an oppressive mega-regime.” 

“Half the people I work with are fugitives, smugglers, or soldiers. Personally, I think you’d fit right in.”

A sly smile spread across your face as you looked at him. “Is this just because you want to be able to kiss me again?”

You expected a playful jab, a huffed response to the question before the two of you ultimately went your separate ways, but much to your surprise, Rex nodded. “Yeah,” he said, his lips curling into a genuine smile. “Because given the amount of times we’ve run into each other all across the galaxy, I’m starting to think it’s fate.”

A playfully scathing response was on the tip of your tongue, but as much as you wanted to throw a gentle jab about the foolishness of belief in his direction, you stopped. Deep down you wanted the same thing that he did, and you really didn’t want to mess up your chances. “I don’t know about fate, but I’d really like to give this a try.” Your voice was soft as you spoke, and the expression on your face was a more vulnerable one than you’ve ever worn before. 

You were still so close to each other, despite the atmosphere of the cantina having generally returned to normal after the troopers left, and you could feel Rex reach out to take your hand. “Me too,” he said, before leaning in and placing his lips back on yours, in a much more caring and passionate manner than before. 

Technically, you hadn’t even started the business you had come here for in the first place, but as his hands found your waist once more, that was the furthest thing from your mind. 

- the end -

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[hugmekenobi]

S3: The Bad Batch (4)

Chapter Four: A Different Approach

Gif by @azertyrobaz

Hunter x femaleJedi!reader

Series Summary: Ever since Eriadu, Clone Force 99 had been a fractured squad. Months have passed but you're finally back with the Batch but Omega is still out there and you won't stop until you find her again.

Chapter Summary: A reunion may be on the cards sooner than you thought

Masterlist for S1 and S2

<Previous Chapter

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

Chapter Warnings: Canon-typical violence, gambling, again we have my interpretation of headspaces, limited use of y/n, fluff and mild angst, discussion of character death, protective reader and Hunter, reader and Crosshair kinda get into it

Word Count: 5.3K

Author's notes: Now we're getting into part of the series where each episode allows for a bit more creative license which I'm very excited about! It starts with the end of this one and I hope y'all like it! Also, with regards to tagging people, I'm only tagging the users who still officially register when I do it. Please, please let me know if you want tagged/for me to try your username again!!

Sparks flew from the control as Omega did her best to stabilise them, but it was proving to be a rather challenging task. “I could use some help up here! Our comms are down. I can’t contact Hunter!”

From down below in the shuttle, Crosshair was also doing his best to get things under control but the smoke, electrical malfunctions and the persistent screech of the alarm told him that was a very unlikely outcome. He analysed the screen dictating the state of the ship. “That’s not the priority. The ship sustained heavy damage.”

“I can see that.” Omega retorted.

Crosshair made his way back up to the co-pilot’s seat, with Batcher following close behind. “Get the stabilizers back online!”

“That’s what I’m trying to do.” Immediately after she said that a large spark of electricity crackled from the console and the ship was torn out of hyperspace and spiralled towards the planet ahead.

“We have to land.”

“A little hard to do when nothing’s working.” Omega snapped at him as she fiddled with the steering but to no avail.

The ship entered the atmosphere and started to plummet towards the ground.

Omega pulled hard on the lever to even out the ship as the ground grew ever closer. It was all she could do before it crashed landed and skidded along the surface.

When it finally came to a halt, Omega opened the glass roof to allow them all to get some air and eventually exit the wrecked vehicle. She looked in dismay as the controls fully shut off and the last dying spark flickered. “This will take forever to repair.”

Crosshair exhaled a sore sigh as he got his bearings, but that soreness was soon replaced by irritation as the hound pushed insistently on the back of his chair. “No. there’s no time for that.” The dog’s fussing got too much for him. He stood up to allow her to jump past him and off the shuttle.

“We need to get the nav reader online to extract the coordinates to Tantiss for when we go back.” Omega said, turning to look at him.

He couldn’t understand how she’d only just escaped that hell and was already talking about returning. “We’re not going back.”

“We left the other prisoners behind.”

“And the Empire is going to be searching for this ship and us.” He grabbed the pack with the blasters and hopped out of the shuttle. “We have to move. I scanned a spaceport a few clicks east. We’ll start there.”

Omega followed his example and let him lead the way to the spaceport.

--

With the establishment of the new plan being they would get to the spaceport and sneak onto a shuttle, they acquired their disguises and the two of them blended in with the civilians of the town.

They walked past the various troopers in the town as casually as they could so as not to arouse any unnecessary suspicion.

Omega warily analysed the situation ahead as they reached the spaceport. “It’s too well-guarded. We’ll never slip past all those troopers undetected.”

“I can take out at least half before they know what’s happening.” Crosshair stated confidently.

“Or… or we could try a way that doesn’t involve blaster fire.” Omega countered.

“Like what?” Crosshair asked, his voice filled with doubt.

“Watch and learn.” With that, Omega calmly led the way to the ticket attendant.

“Oh, I can hardly wait.” Crosshair said with a sigh as he followed a few paces behind.

“Hello. We’d like two tickets on the next shuttle please.” Omega requested pleasantly.

“Chain codes?” Came the standard reply from the attendant.

“About that. We lost our chain codes.” Omega said coyly.

“No chain codes, no passage.”

“Right. But you see, a problem for us could be an opportunity for you if, say, you knew of an alternate way of booking passage without a chain code.” She advanced towards the desk.

The attendant leaned forward. “Are you insinuating that I should take bribe?”

“If that’s what you want to call it.” Omega replied, feigning innocence.

“I do. And that could be arranged… for 15,000 credits.”

Omega’s composure slipped slightly upon hearing that price, “For two tickets?” She exclaimed.

“Per ticket. And it’s non-negotiable. You’re lucky I’m not charging extra for the creature.”

“Where do you expect is to get 30,000 credits?”

“Sounds like a you problem. Don’t come back without the credits.” The attendant waved a hand in dismissal.

Omega hung her head in defeat and left the port with Crosshair.

“Well, that went well.” Crosshair remarked sarcastically.

“Stow it.” Omega grumbled.

--

“Storming the spaceport would be easier than finding 30,000 credits.” Crosshair hissed as they aimlessly wandered the streets of the town.

“I don’t want to hurt anyone.”

“Don’t be naïve. Every second we’re here, we’re at risk.”

They came to a stop outside a bar.

“The quite wasting time complaining.” Omega argued before two troopers exited the bar and they both averted their gaze, but the opening of the door had given Omega another idea. “I think I know how we can make some fast credits.”

“Of course you do.” Crosshair mumbled as he saw her getting ready to make her way into the bar. The fluttering of a scrappy piece of paper caught under a nearby crate grabbed his eye before he entered, and he came to a sudden stop as he picked it up and saw what- or rather who- was on it.

Omega noticed he had stopped and when she turned back to enquire what was wrong, the question died on her lips as she saw what he was looking at. Only half the information on the sheet was news to her, but the rest made her eyes widen in shock. By the looks of things, you had been on your own for the time she’d been on Tantiss and clearly, you’d stopped hiding. And judging by the harsh language and substantial reward offering, the Empire wasn’t too happy about that. Now, not only was there the trouble of how exactly this information would go down between you and Crosshair but she also couldn’t count on the fact that you were back with Hunter and Wrecker. She glanced up at Crosshair and, despite the fact that most of his face was covered, he could not conceal the emotions that flashed behind his eyes. “Oh… um… she- well back when- I’m sure she would’ve told-” She broke off with a sharp breath as she struggled to find the words to say.

“Doesn’t matter.” Crosshair said dismissively, crumpling it up and putting it away before he carried on into the bar. The fact that Omega seemed to already have an idea of what your… situation… gave him enough of a timeline to go off of.

“One thing at a time, right girl?” Omega said with a shaky breath, patting Batcher’s side as the hound nuzzled into her. Putting her mind onto the task at hand, she too entered the bar.

--

The bar itself was relatively busy, especially compared to how Cid’s had usually been, and it gave Omega the chance to study her potential adversaries from their booth by the wall unnoticed.

“That’s your plan? You want to hustle someone?” Crosshair repeated sceptically. What had they taught this kid?

“I’ve done it before, and I prefer to think of it as a temporary requisition of funds.”

“And bet with what? We don’t have anything.”

“They don’t know that.” Omega said with a cheeky grin.

“And if you lose?”

“Well… I guess we’ll be in more trouble.” With that, she made her way to the card table in the middle of the bar and sat across from the Trandoshan and got her performance ready to go.

--

To say that Crosshair was surprised would be an understatement, the kid was winning every hand against the Trandoshan and securing credits within a matter of minutes. Whatever experience she’d gained with the rest of his squad was clearly something to be admired. Although the mental image of Hunter even allowing her to hone such a skill felt very out of place, he was quietly grateful for it right now.

The bar came to a sudden hushed silence as the door opened. Omega heard Crosshair clear his throat in warning and she looked to the entrance to see an Imperial officer flanked by two troopers enter. She studied them carefully but remained at the table as she won the next hand much to the Trandoshan’s disappointment. “I think I’ll quite while I’m ahead.” She said in response to his pleas for another game. Having an Imperial official here complicated matters and it was time she, Crosshair and Batcher left.

“Leaving so soon?”

Omega turned her head to face the officer as he stood by the table.

“You’re in my seat.”

The Trandoshan let out a low snarl before he departed and gave up his seat to the man.

Crosshair tensed as he saw the Imperial sit but Omega waved him back.

“So, you think you’re good at this game?”

Omega replied with a nonchalant shrug of her shoulders.

“Want to try against a, uh, real opponent?” He suggested to the young girl. “I insist.”

--

“Your mutt don’t seem to like me.” He said as the dog released a series of growls.

“She’s harmless.” Omega said in reply as she organised her cards.

“She’s a distraction. Get rid of her.” He demanded.

Omega signalled to Crosshair to take her out.

Crosshair got to his feet, clicked his tongue, and led Batcher to wait outside.

The Imperial watched them go. “Never seen you or your dad around before.” He commented.

“We’re just passing through.” Omega replied as she watched him flip the next card and the rise in murmurs indicated that both he and the crowd seemed to think her time was up.

“Eh, I’ll admit you’re not bad. But you seem to have misunderstood your enemy.”

Omega only smirked, “Did I?” She placed her cards down and flashed the set of the three Eastern Stars. Game over. “I’ll take those 20,000 credits.” She grew nervous however when his two guards made to approach the table.

He held a hand up to stop them. “I concede. You beat me fair and square.” He gave her the credits. “Nicely played.” He left the table.

The Imperial went back to his men and one of them addressed him.

“Sir. Patrol found a crashed Imperial vessel on the outskirts of town.”

“I wasn’t notified about any shuttles arriving today.” He angled back to look at the two strangers with a newfound sense of suspicion. “Now, hang on a minute.”

Omega gathered the credits in her bag and, now that Crosshair had returned, she got up to leave with him, but the familiar voice of the Imperial stopped them both.

“We’re not done here.” He chuckled coolly. “You haven’t paid your fine.”

“What fine?” Omega asked.

“Gambling’s illegal in these parts.”

“What?” Crosshair snarled as he made to step forward, but Omega’s arm stopped him.

“The law is the law. Now, all you gotta do is pay the fine. And I’ll be on my way.”

“How much?” Omega asked him as she did her best to keep her disgust at bay.

“Ten thousand credits… unless you prefer to be arrested instead.”

Omega got the credits out and handed them over.

“Excellent. Consider your fine paid in full.” He said smugly. “Try and stay out of trouble.” He dipped his cap and left the establishment.

Omega sighed in relief. “Let’s get out of here.”

Crosshair caught her shoulder. “How many credits do we have left?”

Omega checked the bag. “Thirty-five thousand. Enough for two tickets and a little extra.” She made the first move to leave.

--

“Crosshair, where’s Batcher?” Omega asked anxiously as she scanned the area for her companion.

“Oy. You looking for that hound?”

The two of them turned to look at the young boy speaking to them.

“You know where she went?” Omega queried.

“Sure do, but the answer’s gonna cost you. Ten thousand credits.”

The fact that he was a child made no difference, Crosshair sighed and stood intimidatingly over the boy. “I’m getting tired of this.”

“Okay, okay.” The boy backtracked. “Five, but that’s my final offer.”

Omega touched Crosshair’s arm to call him off before she gave the boy the money.

The boy examined the credits before he supplied the information, “That Imperial officer and his troopers snatched the creature and headed for the cargo docks. Down that way.” He pointed. “Nice doing business with ya.” He ran away from them before they could change their mind about the money.

Omega started off in the direction of the docks.

“Omega.”

She angled back to face Crosshair. “You heard him. Batcher’s this way.”

“And the spaceport is that way. Forget the hound. We have to get off this planet.”

“We never would be escaped without Batcher. I’m not leaving her.”

“You’re making a mistake.”

“I’m not abandoning her!” Omega angrily tossed the bag of credits at him. “Take the credits. If you wanna go, then go. I’ll find my own way.” She stormed off.

Crosshair watched her go but before he got ready to go his own way, he felt guilt coil in his gut. It was becoming very clear as to the impact she could have on someone and explained why his squad had cared so much for her since he too found himself following her rather than doing the more sensible thing of leaving from the spaceport.

--

“Fine. We’ll do this your way.” Crosshair agreed begrudgingly as he placed the bag down before Omega scaled the gate to the cargo docks herself. “But my skills are being wasted.” He offered his hands as a means to boost her over the top.

Omega gave him a warm smile, “Noted.” With his assistance she was able to climb over the gate with ease.

Crosshair made the quick climb after her and together, they snuck through the docks looking for where Batcher was being kept.

Omega then heard a series of whines and she saw Batcher’s cage. “There’s Batcher.” She signalled to Crosshair before she analysed the situation around her. “Shouldn’t we free the other animals too?”

“Don’t push it.” Crosshair replied.

--

They had managed to covertly make their way around to get better access to the centre console but before they could make a move, that dull voice spoke up.

“I thought you’d come searching for your mutt. Yeah, unfortunately for you, Lau has a very strict pet policy. No license means a hefty fine.”

“How much this time?” Omega asked, pretending to play along as the two of them were swiftly surrounded by troopers.

“How ‘bout you give me all my money back? Credits won’t do you any good when Hemlock shows up.” He saw the shared looked between them. “Oh, did you think I wouldn’t piece it together when I found that crashed shuttle? Nothing gets by me. I run this town.” He drew his own blaster. “So, hand over the credits and surrender.”

Omega sighed, “Alright.” She chucked the bag to the Imperial. “Let’s try things your way.” She murmured to Crosshair.

“Finally.” Crosshair waited until Omega ducked to cover before firing the first shot, but he noticed his hand was still no unsteady and his aim was more compromised than he liked.

Omega used the chaos of the firefight to get to the controls and release all the animals, the resulting stampede thinning out the Imperial forces and reuniting her with Batcher.

“I’ll handle this. Take Batcher, and power up the ship.” Crosshair ordered. He provided her cover fire as she got the ship ready and when he saw a break in the blaster fire, he made his move towards the step.

Once he was on board, Omega got the cargo ship in the air and into the safety of hyperspace.

--

You had remained on the ship to study Tech’s datapad and the various planets and their coordinates whilst the other two dealt with the lead on this particular planet, but its name escaped you- you’d been to so many in this sector already, the names of them were beginning to blur together.

You were doing what you could to try and determine the next, more efficient course of action whilst the others were out but the words and data on the screen were moulding into one pile of unintelligible information. You put the datapad down for a minute and rubbed your eyes as you huffed a tired breath from your lungs. You stretched your neck and adjusted your posture but before you picked the datapad back up, a faint chirping caught your ears.

You swivelled in your chair to see the communications light flashing and you knew you weren’t supposed to be hearing from Echo any time soon. So, when you patched the encrypted message through and untangled it to find coordinates to the moon just outside of Ryloth, you knew there was only one other person who could’ve sent it.

You jumped out of your chair and cleared the steps of the Marauder in one leap before you sprinted to find Hunter and Wrecker.

--

“What’s wrong?” Hunter asked urgently as he saw you come running towards them.

You shook your head as you glanced between them. Your breath was heavy from the running but also from excitement as you said, “It’s Omega.”

--

“Look, I hate to be the one to say it, but what if this message is a trap?” Wrecker broached carefully as the ship flew through hyperspace.

“Who else would know those codes?” You disputed.

“But if the Empire has her…”

“If it’s a trap, then we’ll get out of there but if it is her… we need to be there, Wrecker.” Hunter said as the ship disengaged from hyperspace, and he entered the landing cycle. There was no sign of another ship yet, but he opened the door anyway.

“There’s no one here.” Wrecker murmured, wringing his own hands anxiously.

“Then we wait.” You said calmly though your own heart was pounding.

--

“The Empire will be able to track this vessel. We need to ditch it.” Crosshair advised as he entered the cockpit after getting rid of the hat and face covering that he had donned back in Lau.

“We will. I’m heading to a remote location, and I sent a coded transmission for Hunter and Wrecker and (Y/N) to meet us there.” Omega responded. She only hoped you’d be with them too.

Now that this reunion was approaching ever closer, he found himself unprepared for what was to happen next. “Omega. It’s- it’s been months. You don’t know if they’re still ali-”

“They’ll be there.” Omega interrupted sharply.

The ship exited hyperspace and as she peered out the window, she saw the welcomed sight of the Marauder waiting there.

Omega dashed down the ship’s steps but paused as she saw no immediate sign of any of you.

--

A few hours had passed but there was still no sign of the ship and nerves were starting to get the better of you all.

Hunter had begun pacing the length of the cockpit, you had not stopped fidgeting with your vibroblade and alternated between that and examining the hilt of your lightsaber, and Wrecker was busying himself around the rest of the ship.

You saw the uneasy expression on Hunter’s face, and you pulled yourself together enough to be there for him. You caught his shoulders and looked deep into his eyes. “Just wait, take a breath. She’ll be here, Hunter. I know it.”

“But-” He broke off as he heard the sound of a ship landing and a whole different type of nerves overtook him.

Wrecker made the first move to look outside and what he saw filled him with pure joy. “Now there’s a sight!”

Take your time. You caressed Hunter’s cheek with a comforting and utterly relieved smile before you ran outside to join Wrecker.

Hunter braced his hands on the back of the pilot’s chair. He needed a minute to gather himself. This was the moment he had been seeking out for months but part of him couldn’t quite believe it was happening.

--

“Wrecker!” Omega cried in relief as she ran towards him and let him pick her up.

“I wasn’t even sure your message was real!” Wrecker said with a happy laugh as he held her close.

“I knew you’d show up.” Omega closed her eyes and let the comfort of his strong hold overtake her.

“We wouldn’t have missed it.”

Omega opened her eyes to the sound of your voice, and she smiled brightly as she saw you standing just behind him.

You knelt down with your arms open as Wrecker lowered her.

Omega fell into your embrace and nuzzled into your shoulder. “I wasn’t sure if- I thought you might’ve been-” She pulled away with a teary sniff.

You tilted your head as you tenderly wiped away the tears that had slid down her cheek and stroked a hand through her hair, the longer length of it a painful reminder of how much time had truly passed. “I’m right here, nothing happened to me.” You didn’t need to worry her about past events right now- that rehashing undoubtedly would come up later- but this current moment was something to be celebrated and not clouded by anything else.

Omega went to clarify what she meant but Wrecker’s words stopped her.

“We crossed the galaxy four times looking for you.” Wrecker revealed, wiping his own tears away.

“Five.”

Omega glanced past you as she heard Hunter’s voice and the sight of him created a feeling of pure elation that she wasn’t sure she would never experience again.

“But you’re the one who found us.” Hunter said with a smile from the doorway of the Marauder.

Omega started to run towards him.

Hunter darted down the steps two at a time and came to his knees as he held his arms out to her.

Your heart swelled and the emotions of the moment got stuck in your throat. That sight had been one you had been waiting to see for quite some time. You sensed and visibly saw how relaxed and content he looked, and you felt tears prick at the corners of your eyes.

Wrecker put a friendly arm around your shoulder as you both go to your feet, and he saw your reaction to their reunion. He too felt himself getting caught up in it all. Finally, things were looking up.

“We missed you, kid. We never stopped searching.” Hunter said affectionately and as he tightened his hold on her and felt her reciprocate, for the first time since Ord Mantell, he felt truly at peace. He pulled away but kept his hands on her shoulders, “But how did you escape?”

Omega hesitated before saying, “I had help.”

Hunter looked past her to see… well to see his brother descend the stairs of the ship, but what hit him was far more complicated than the relief he had been experiencing a mere second before.

You all followed his eyes and whatever happiness and lightness that had been surrounding you all immediately vanished and was replaced by a palpable tension as you all faced the clone that walked down the steps.

Your hand automatically came to cover your lightsaber.

Omega gaze darted between you all and she saw the shift in body language as well as the serious and distrusting expressions on all of you. It appeared she may have miscalculated as to how this smoothly this particular reunion would go.

“We can do this now and remain by a ship the Empire will be currently tracking, or we can get out of here.” Crosshair said simply.

Hunter placed a guiding hand on Omega’s back and jutted his head to Crosshair as the rest of you boarded the ship.

Crosshair followed them, with Batcher now close on his heels and the Marauder entered hyperspace once more.

--

Omega stood in the middle of the hallway. None of you had so much as made a sound or really moved since the ship had begun the journey back to Pabu and it was getting rather unbearable. “So… I got a dog! Her name’s Batcher.” Omega said with an uneasy laugh into the dead silence of the ship, but it got no reaction. The four of you continued your standoff with Crosshair positioned down the hall of the ship closest to her room/gun turret and the rest of you closer to the cockpit. All of you had your arms crossed and you, Hunter and Wrecker looked particularly guarded. She took that resulting quiet as her cue to perhaps let you all have it out right now. She took a seat and called Batcher over to sit by her feet and waited.

It was Crosshair who broke the silence first, “Where’s Echo?”

“Working with Rex.” Hunter replied briskly.

Crosshair released a soft hum in acknowledgement before he asked the question that he’d been putting off since he’d deduced it from how Omega had talked to him all those months on Tantiss, “And Tech… he’s- he’s really gone?”

“Yeah. It-” Hunter released a sad sigh, “It was a mission gone wrong and he- he sacrificed himself for us so we could get away. He knew what he was doing but… yes, he’s gone.”

Crosshair’s jaw tightened. He knew exactly what mission Hunter was referring to. “So much for Plan 88.” He couldn’t help but say, the grief and tense situation getting the better of him.

“What?” You remarked with a glare.

“You were supposed to stay hidden.”

“We couldn’t do that.” Wrecker said grimly. “Not when it looked like you were in trouble.”

“We couldn’t leave you behind, Crosshair.” Hunter added quietly, some of the fight leaving him as he recalled the events of Eriadu.

“Why? You never had trouble doing that before.” Crosshair retorted harshly.

“Excuse me?” You growled.

“Hey, it’s okay, don’t-” Hunter came to stand in front of you, but you stepped past him.

You couldn’t help it, the protectiveness that hit you was all you could act on. “You don’t get to do that. You don’t get to throw your choices back in his face. You were offered a different path, but you decided the Empire was where you wanted to be. And yet, despite all of that, the moment we found out you needed us, there was no real alternative. We never knew what had happened to you, but we didn’t need to. All we knew was that you were in trouble. We all knew the risks of ignoring that plan… Tech knew the risks. Don’t you dare-”

Crosshair wasn’t prepared to explain what happened to him yet, so he kept up with his provocation instead, “You want to talk about risks? What are you playing at staying around with them?”

Hunter and Wrecker both looked sharply towards Crosshair.

Your posture stiffened. “I don’t know what-”

“I may have been out of action but I’m not blind. If the lightsaber on your belt didn’t give it away, the wanted poster I just saw sure as hell did.” Crosshair spat as he flung it towards you.

You unfurled the paper, and your breathing became irregular saw this was one of the more detailed wanted ads that had been circulated. You crumpled it back up and then glanced to Omega who could only offer an apologetic grimace that she couldn’t warn you earlier, “That’s what I was trying to tell you.”

You looked back to the clone, “Crosshair, I-”

“You’re a Jedi and that wasn’t something you felt the need to share?”

“Every day.” You said tightly, “But I couldn’t chance something happening-”

“Well, something’s happened now, hasn’t it?” Crosshair bit back angrily. “Do you have any idea the danger you’ve put us in? Do you even care? You’d be doing us a favour by leaving.”

Even Omega joined Wrecker in shaking her head at him this time.

“Crosshair.” Hunter cautioned as he saw the guilt and shame that flashed across your face as your mask of composure slipped. “She’s not going anywhere. We’ve handled it so far.”

“You don’t know what the Empire is capable or what she is. I read what she’s done, and they won’t stop-”

“We’ve got it handled.” Wrecker repeated again as he noticed the way your shoulders started to heave.

Your jaw clenched. “You weren’t there. You don’t know-”

“I was there on Devaron.” Crosshair snapped. “I was there when you decided to join us. I was there when you decided to spend every day lying about what you are.”

“Crosshair.” Hunter warned again and there was no mistaking the protectiveness in his tone or his stance now.

Crosshair picked up on Hunter’s reaction, but he wasn’t to be dissuaded. “You want to judge my decisions, but you betrayed-”

“You don’t get to talk about betrayal, Crosshair.” Hunter interjected coldly as he came to stand by your side.

You only let out a bitter laugh. “Yeah, I made my choices in the beginning but when would you have liked me to tell you, Crosshair? On Kaller? But would that have been during or after your attempts to kill the Padawan? Or perhaps you would’ve preferred it on Kamino when Tarkin was there, and you were talking about how great the Empire was and how the Jedi were traitors and what happened to them was justified? Or would you have liked to have a sit down during one of the many occasions you were already actively trying to kill us? Tell me, when should I have entrusted you with this part of me?”

This time he didn’t have a response for you, he just shifted uneasily on his feet and glanced down at the floor.

You continued to speak but there was a distinct sadness to your voice now, “I wished I had been honest with all of you from the start. Truly I do. But after everything that’s happened, I’m glad you’ve only just found out because looking at you now, knowing what I do, I can’t be certain that if you had known what I was on Kaller, that you wouldn’t have tried to kill me too.”

Crosshair went to speak but found that he couldn’t immediately offer the reassurance that was needed.

“You’re our brother, Crosshair, and you’re welcome to stay on Pabu with us but don’t expect any of this to be easy.” Hunter said, placing his hand on your back in support.

“He helped me get out of Tantiss. He’s different now.” Omega remarked quietly.

Wrecker grunted and nodded towards his brother, but you and Hunter made no such moves, instead you both retreated further into the cockpit.

You sat in one of the passenger seats and stared at the paper again as you read the painful reminders of how you’d acted when you’d been separated from them. He’s right, you know.

“No, he’s not.” Hunter disagreed firmly as he knelt before you and untangled the wrinkled piece of paper from your hands. He paid it no attention as he threw it away. He came back and placed his hands on your shoulders as he crouched before you. “Are you alright?”

You breathed deeply and nodded. And you?

Hunter also nodded before he got to his feet and sat in the seat across from you.

--

“So, when did this happen?” Crosshair asked, gesturing to the two of you. The way you both were behaving wasn’t totally different to how things had been in the months before Kaller, but there was a definite shift that marked something more official. There had been a lot he’d missed out on.

“After Tipoca City.” Omega informed him as Batcher eagerly greeted them.

Wrecker enthusiastically petted the hound as he moved closer to Crosshair and Omega. “About time, right?” He added with a hint of humour in his voice, but the stern looks from the two of you had him clearing his throat awkwardly.

Crosshair simply hummed in reply and found himself wondering just quite how difficult things were about to be.

Next Chapter>

Tagging: @noeasyisnoisy, @andreaaxy, @dominoeffectsworld, @nightmonkeysstuff, @arctrooper69

[thecutepoison]

Guys, I'm kinda freaking out... we learned last episode that in the abscence of the previously estipulated successors, the position of principal of aguefort would fall upon the student's council president, right?

I'm going to state the obvious for a second. It's a given that Kipperlily is trying to win the election for more reasons than a personal achievement. She was 100% aware of the gap in the rules, which would mean Aguerfort's joke would be interpreted as the only manifestation of his will. This is the girl who said she's busy studying the student government and takes active joy in finding loopholes in the rules (like acing the year bc the rogue teacher found her).

But what is her angle here? It's a powerful position for sure, but the Rat Grinder's must be after something specific. So I started asking myself what specifically would help them in the plan of raising this Forgotten God from the dead. Aguefort's office must have dangerous items aplenty given the incident with the crown and his general personality. Do they want access to that?

Then it dawned on me.

Lydia Barkrock's body is under the fucking school.

For those who don't remember, in sophomore year it was revealed that Arthur Aguefort cloned Lydia while she was sleeping and placed her soul into a new body, hiding her original one in the depths beneath the school. Crazy ass move bc he did that without warning her, but that's what prevented Kalina from permanently killing Lydia in season 2 - upon the clone's death, she gained consciousness in her original body.

It's only fair to assume that Aguefort made this precaution again after sophomore year for the same reason: Lydia's death would entail Bakur's escape. And if Kipperlily is elected and becomes the principal... it's very likely she would have access to Lydia's original body since it's on school ground. Her vulnerable, unconscious body, the only thing preventing the fiend from escaping.

That's really bad, guys. Bakur knows how to do the divine ressurection ritual, he only failed because he picked the wrong place. But the Rat Grinders do know a place that would work!! Kipperlily specifically asked Jawbone about Yes! and he did tell her that this god was created by Kristen when she died in Prom and went to corn heaven. So, a god was born in corn heaven - that's why the Rat Grinders personally requested Buddy Dawn, a cleric of Helio. Maybe by using him, they can pass through the pearly gates to perform the ritual. After all, Arthur Aguefort did the same thing using Kristen.

Basically, if Lydia dies, all pieces fall in place for them. Together with Bakur, they have all the info necessary to pull this God from the Astral Plane back to existence. They would just have to kill her unconscious body and slay the clone holding her soul. What they lack right now is the access, which solved by gaining the position of principal.

PS: Also, there's a rat society under the school?? Perhaps it's close to where Lydia's body is localized?? Idk Brennan is insane