Alright, ima say it, yall need to cut Hunter some slack as well
Listen, listen, I understand Crosshair's POV, being left behind, hurt and betrayed, and for him it seems they never even spared him a thought, and that's an absolute horrible feeling and everything he told hunter is absolutely necessary and he should say it! That's exactly how he felt and lived things, but remember he speaks FROM HIS POV
Thing is, I only see people undertsanding and defending Crosshair's side, and I always see this, and in most things, people always ignore the leader's side SO HERE I GO
Let's hop to Hunter's POV, literally everything he knows of Cross is that he's trying to kill them. That the Empire wants to take Omega, and get rid of the rest of the batch. And yes, he did risk everything to go back for her, but this was when his whole squad was together, and the whole context of the galaxy's situation hadn't sinked in, they didn't even know. But THEN one of his brothers completely turned on them, and actively tried to kill them. And so they are forced to leave (or they'd quite literally die). So now imagine Hunter when
1.-He has ALSO been betrayed by a brother (he doesnt know of the chips yet) and he just saw him try to KILL THEM (that leaves a scar i mean come on)
2.- On future missions, this same person that's hunting them KNOWS how they plan, move, act and even THINK. And on every encounter all they see is that he wants them dead, NOT ONLY THAT but it's not just Crosshair who's there every time, BUT A BUNCH OF OTHER SOLDIERS AND SHIPS AND PEOPLE TRYING TO KILL THEM TOO NO QUESTIONS ASKED AND WHO DON'T LEAVE THE SNIPER MAN'S SIDE FOR A MOMENT
3.- His squad is broken now! Everything he knew were his brothers, his team and how to move with them, and now that's been completely broken, which comes with the next one
3.1.- He has no superiors, his orders and decisions are HIS and ONLY HIS and literally EVERYONE is counting on him to make the right choice, every time, and keeping them all safe, alive and well, and LITERALLY ANY CONSEQUENCE IS ON HIM. Even if it's a team effort or something, if anything happens its on HIM. AND THAT'S REALLY FREAKIN EXHAUSTING AND A SHIT TON OF PRESSURE ON SOMEONE and many say like "uh sure, no ones blaming only him, they are a team blah blah" but take a look at literally EVERY piece of media reactions, or history even and ALL the responsibility ALWAYS comes down on the leaders
3.2.- HAVE YOU SEEN ALL THE RESENTMENT HE HAS FOR LEAVING CROSS?? He carries all the guilt with him! And even all across the fandom it's all about HUNTERS FAULT ON EVERYTHING! So imagine the weight of knowing your brothers do what you say and it's still all on you!
4.-So NOW he has to make sure they leave safely, and thing number one someone NEEDS to survive?? THATS RIGHT: FOOD AND SUSTENANCE, AND HOW DO WE GET THAT? MONEY YES so that's why they need a JOB
5.- They go out to find out that the galaxy is all incredibly messed up, that everyone's being controlled, that they as clones and as soldiers have LITERALLY LOST THEIR PURPOSE. Everything they've fought for is GONE. AND SO they try to find WHO THEY ARE, sometimes on jobs, and sometimes doing the morally right thing because ITS ALL A MESS RN AND THEY ARE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY ARE AND THEIR ROLE THAT HAS BEEN BLASTED OUT OF THEM. THERES NOTHING LEFT THEY STAND FOR? SO WHO ARE THEY??
6.- He has 4 other people to take care now! And to look out for them ALL THE TIME! So while YES he left Crosshair behind, he has to try to juggle all and find a way to survive without leaving behind the ones he's with RN! And he has to, not choose or decide but BEGIN TO FIGURE OUT what's best for them! He has no context or experience or base as to what to do or what they need! Leave with Rex? Join another cause? Drift even farther apart from the possibility of saving Crosshair? Are they soldiers? Of what?
6.1.- He has to figure things out DAY BY DAY, because at any moment the Empire or Bounty Hunters or ANYONE COMES FOR THEIR NECK! SO PLANNING IS A BIT TOUGH IN THAT CASE! SPECIALLY WHEN RESCUING SOMEONE WHOS AFTER YOU
7.-As far as he's concerned Cross is "safe" with the Empire and HUNTER'S REMAINING SQUAD ISNT SO HE HAS TO KEEP FOCUS, also as far as he knows Crosshair doesn't WANT or NEED, or even CARES for them, so chances of taking him back willingly are SO SLIM, EVEN MORE WHEN HUNTER DOESNT KNOW WHERE CROSS IS HALF THE TIME, IF CROSS ISNT TRYING TO KILL THEM, FORCE KNOWS WHERE HE IS THE REST OF THE TIME, so sure try to go save him???
8.- He's now taking care of a child as well I mean please
So imagine juggling all this at the same time, fully knowing they should not leave anyone behind, but still seeing ALL OF THIS and knowing whatever happens is on YOU, without even understanding WHO YOU ARE???
And I know there are a lot who'll still say "well he should find a way" or whatever, and that's what always happens with leaders, but really, decision making related to you and four other people's LIVES, and all that responsability and inner conflict isnt goddamn easy
And again, I'm NOT saying Crosshair's POV is 100% WRONG, that's how he felt and lived it and IT REALLY HURTS
Just... cut Hunter some slack man, leading isn't easy, and far less in a situation like that
Anyway, thanks for coming to my TED talk
