Your POV

You’ve been working alongside the Bad Batch as a medic for quite some time now. At first, you were intimidated by their appearances. But the more you got to know them, the more it seemed that they were just a bunch of clones who were misunderstood.

You’ve come to learn how reliable Hunter was as the leader of the group and how much he truly cared for his brothers. And then there’s Wrecker, the one who was the most intimidating physically but the gentlest in reality. You loved hearing his terrible jokes and his attempts to lighten up the situation no matter how dark it seemed.

Tech was also an interesting clone, always focused more on the logical side of things. Yet it was clear to you that he valued his brothers although he doesn’t say it out loud. The newest member, Echo, had a hard time adjusting to the new dynamic and was very shy for the first few weeks. But he gradually warmed up and accepted his role as a part of the Batch.

Lastly, there’s Crosshair. Where do you even begin with him? Maybe you could start with how so far, he’s been the most difficult person to work with. Everyone is always mostly complacent when you’re dealing with their battle injuries. They might downplay their injuries a bit but after a bit of talking and coaxing, they would eventually allow you to do your job.

Crosshair though? He doesn’t let up without a fight. He would avoid you like the plague and come up with excuses. Last week, he disappeared for nearly twelve hours after a mission because he refused to let you look at a blaster burn on his shoulder. Only after being scolded by Hunter would he relent. You would always see him with a scowl on his face whenever you treat his injuries. He would also always be silent, staring at you intently as you work on disinfecting his injury.

“Can you work any faster?” he grumbled with that dry snarky tone of his. “I still don’t understand how someone like you got grouped in with us.”

You’ve learned to brush aside his rude comments. That’s just how he is, you reasoned. Although you would be lying if you said that it didn’t hurt. You just stayed silent and continued working on his wounds. Sometimes, you’d jab back an insult yourself, if you could call it that. “Maybe if you stop complaining, I can actually focus better.”

Crosshair’s POV

When Crosshair said he didn’t understand how someone like you got grouped in with the squad, he truly meant it. He knew the day you were welcomed into the squad that he was doomed. You with your smile and kind words. At first, he finds it repulsive. He placed his walls up around him, determined to keep you far away. Crosshair watched as you slowly conquered the walls of his brothers, dreading the day that you’ll come knocking on his too.

He never understood how you were able to tolerate his brothers. Especially Tech. Who is always rambling on and on about technology and whatnot. He could tell that you had a hard time trying to keep up with the conversation yet you never said anything to stop Tech from continuing. Crosshair sighed as he placed a new toothpick inside his mouth, watching as you fuss over his brothers.

“Tell me if it hurts, okay? I’ll be gentle,” you remind Wrecker.

Wrecker nodded timidly, watching in silent terror as the needle approached closer and closer to his skin. His grip tightening around Lula.

“You shouldn’t feel too much pain, it’ll feel just like a tiny bug biting you,” you reassured.

Wrecker looked away as the needle finally touched his skin, delivering the bacta shot. Crosshair could laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation, but he decided to play nice today. Watching it was entertaining enough.

“Good job, you can open your eyes now,” you said as you stepped away, giving Wrecker room to breathe.

He let out a huge sigh of relief, droplets of sweat slid down his forehead. “Hoo… Thanks again, (Y/N).”

“Of course, it’s my job after all,” you replied. You finally noticed Crosshair’s staring and turned to face him. “Your turn.”

Crosshair grumbled as he stood up from his spot, glancing around to see if he could escape the situation. Hunter gave him a knowing look, crossing his arms in front of his chest. Crosshair sighed in annoyance and reluctantly approached your medical station. He sat down on the chair previously occupied by Wrecker, he could still feel the warmth and indentation left behind by the huge clone.

You reeled closer in your chair, stopping right next to him. “So, what’s the issue? Are you experiencing pain in any location?”

He smirked and decided to tease you, excited to see that usual expression of yours when you’re unamused. “Guess.”

“Really?”

There it is. He enjoyed the way your eyes softened into that familiar look of exasperation, your lashes lowering as you fixed him with a long, unimpressed stare. The slight furrow between your brows appeared almost immediately, followed by the tiniest purse of your lips as you fought to keep your composure. It never looked quite right on you. Annoyance always seemed out of place on someone whose face was usually so open and warm.

Yet somehow, that only made him notice it more. The way your gaze lingered on him for a second longer than necessary. The faint flush creeping into your cheeks from frustration. Crosshair found his attention snagging on details he had no business remembering, watching the expression settle across your features and wondering, not for the first time, why he found it so difficult to look away.

“I thought you were the expert here,” his teasing continued.

You shook your head in disbelief and pinched his shoulder exactly where it hurts. He yelped in surprise, the sound coming out of reflex. He felt blood rush to his cheeks, both from embarrassment and from the radiant smile plastered on your face. Crosshair pushed your hand away as his face settled back to its usual gruff. “Guess you finally got the gut to punch back, huh?”

You said nothing back as you turned your attention towards the injury on his shoulder. “Just stay quiet and let me do my job.”

Crosshair settled into the chair as he watched your focused expression. He winces every now and then when you touch on the tender muscles, but he made an effort to keep it cool. You finally finished and wrapped his shoulder with bandages. “You’re good to go.”

“Took you long enough.” He stood up from the chair and grabbed his gear before walking back to his bunk. Crosshair couldn’t afford to look back, passing by Hunter who watched with a complicated expression. He settled the case on his cot as he began cleaning his rifle.

He felt the edge of his mouth twitching at the memory of seeing your smile. He wished he could see it everyday, even though he knew he didn't deserve it. Get your head out of the gutter. Kriff. His resolve wasn’t holding nearly as well as he’d hoped… No. He won’t go down easy like his brothers.

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A few days later, the squad was granted one day of silence. So, they decided to spend it on some random planet in the Mid-Rim. Well, Tech told them what planet they were headed to, but Crosshair could care less about that. Crosshair just kept his head low and prepared a plan to immediately leave the ship the moment they landed. He desperately needed space for himself to clear his mind.

He unbuckled his seatbelt right as the Marauder touched the ground, already slinging his rifle case onto his shoulder. “I’ll be back in a few hours,” is all Crosshair said as he immediately stepped away from the ship. He spared one last glance over his shoulder, catching briefly a view of Hunter and you, who had a look of concern on your face.

Crosshair ignored it and walked deeper into the forest until he found a decent spot. He stopped near a crystal blue lake as he sat himself on the ground, breathing in the fresh air. Over the last few days after that interaction, you’ve been growing closer and closer to him. Crosshair could feel it, the way his walls are slowly eroding.

He could still hear your voice from yesterday asking if his shoulder was healing properly. The way you left an extra roll of bandages beside his bunk because you knew he wouldn’t ask for them himself. That’s when he knew he needed to pull back. This was going way too far. If he had spent one more second near you, that wall might’ve crumbled right then and there. Would it be so bad? Yes. No. Maybe?

He couldn’t deny that you were pleasant company, but there’s always a voice stuck on the back of his head. You don’t deserve her. He knew that, but the way you were always so patient when dealing with him made him second guess himself. Crosshair brought his hand to his face.

A few minutes passed and he finally composed himself. His plan for now was to just stay as far away as he can from you. It pains him to pull away, but it’s necessary. Crosshair picked himself up from the ground and gathered random objects from the forest. He placed them all around the trees and grabbed his rifle. He lined up his shot and pressed the trigger. With each hit, he could feel the weight inside his mind lifting away.

When he got back, the sun was already setting. He climbed up the Marauder’s gangplank, his body stiff from the training when his nose caught a whiff of… soup? His eyes zeroed in on your figure who is busy cooking inside the kitchen. You were stirring the soup and Wrecker was there right next to you.

“Be patient, Wrecker. It’s almost done,” you said.

“How much longer? I’m starving!” Wrecker whined before adding, “And the soup just smells so good…”

You laugh at his antics when your eyes find Crosshair’s. Your eyes widened and he swore it lightened up. “You’re back! Come join us for dinner. I cooked us some soup since it is a special occasion.”

Crosshair felt his feet were frozen in place. There goes all his plans. He tightened the grip around his rifle case and cleared his throat. “No thanks.”

Crosshair couldn’t miss the way your eyes lowered in disappointment. He wanted to beat himself up right then and there, but he was too far gone. You recovered from your shock and nodded, “Alright then. How was your training?”

“It’s fine,” he replied in a monotone voice. Crosshair didn’t bother to elaborate and instead chose to head straight to the refresher. He couldn’t stand watching your heartbroken face anymore. He’s done enough damage for the day. As he stood in front of the sink, he could still hear muffles of your and his brother's conversation.

“Okay, well, food’s ready. Who’s up first?”

“Me! Me! Me!”

“Slow down or you’ll choke.”

Crosshair splashed some cold water onto his face before exiting the refresher. He caught a glimpse of you and his brothers sitting around the table. The scent of the soup wafted through the air and Crosshair found himself hungry. Yet he threw the thought far away. He can just get the leftovers later.

He walked to the direction of his bunk and laid on his cot, placing a hand over his eyes to shield it from the bright lights. Crosshair could hear your laughter echoing throughout the ship, but he could only imagine the smile you had right now.

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Months have passed now. You would still occasionally try to approach him, but the attempts are getting fewer. Your attention was divided even further with the addition of Echo.

It was just like any other day after a mission was completed. Crosshair sat on his cot as he let his muscles rest. You were fussing over his brothers, doing your routine check to make sure that none of them were seriously injured. But as usual, Crosshair kept his distance as far away as he could from you.

It’s been months but his brain still finds a way to circle back to you. It’s probably because you’re always there, just around the corner. He groaned, when will this ever end? The last few months had been harder than he anticipated it to be. And the thing that bothered him the most is that you weren’t even doing anything. You were just being yourself. Even with how he’s treated you, you still act polite around him.

As his mind slowly began to tangle around itself, Crosshair suddenly heard his name being mentioned. That made his brain pause. You were talking about him? He leaned closer to the edge of his bunk to get a better listen.

“Does he really hate me that much?” you asked.

“Crosshair always has a hard time adjusting to newcomers. You’ll get there eventually,” he heard Hunter answer.

“I know. I just wanna know if I did something wrong. Everything was going great and I thought we made progress, but I guess not anymore.”

“Well, you want me to knock some sense into him?” Wrecker offered.

Crosshair rolled his eyes at that. Like he’d ever lose to him. But that’s besides the point. He should be glad that everything is going according to plan, but when he heard you say that with a despondent tone, he couldn’t help but feel his resolve waver. What came out of your mouth next solidified the feeling further.

“No, of course not! I don’t want to force him to be nice to me,” you frantically said. “I just wish we could go along. Maybe it’s hopeless after all…”

Had he taken it too far? Crosshair mulled in thought. He had wanted distance. Not this. Not the disappointment in your voice. Not the possibility that one day you might stop trying altogether. He peaked slightly over the wall and caught a glimpse of the frown plastered across your face.

“Awh, alright,” Wrecker grumbled. “But if you ever change your mind, I’ll be right here!”

“Thanks, Wrecker. Anyway, I’m gonna go help Tech sort and catalogue our remaining supplies.” You stood up from your spot and left.

Crosshair retreated his head back and lowered his head. He truly messed up, didn’t he? If so, he needed to talk to you and clear the misunderstanding up. With a newfound goal, Crosshair got out of his bunk and trailed after you. As he slowly approached the cargo bay, he felt his heart rate spike. He quickly plucked a toothpick inside his mouth.

He peaked through the gap from the cargo bay’s door. Your unmistakable form was sitting on the ground along with Tech. Crosshair took a deep breath, trying desperately to slow his heart down. He was about to take another step when he heard something that made him stop.

“You know, you’re actually kinda funny, Tech,” you say while hunched over and laughing, placing two hands on your stomach.

“Thank you, I most appreciate your kind words,” his brother nonchalantly replied.

Crosshair gritted his teeth, he wanted to be the one who made you laugh. Jealousy boiled over and he felt his body move by itself, he slammed open the cargo bay’s door, startling you. Your wide eyes quickly turned around and found his. “Crosshair…?”

He ignored the strange look Tech was giving him and quickly said, “We need to talk.”

It was clear that you were stunned by his sudden boldness, but you agreed nonetheless. He watched as you stand up from your spot and bid goodbye to Tech before following after him. Crosshair led you outside, putting quite some distance to make sure Hunter or any of his brothers couldn’t hear your conversation.

He finally stopped after he felt he reached the right distance, he could hear your footsteps also stopping right behind him. Crosshair took one more deep breath. He didn’t think it through that far, what happened back there was an impulse. He ran his hand through his hair.

“Crosshair, w-what is it?” you asked timidly.

Kriff, did he scare you? Crosshair finally turned his body to face you. With one last sigh, the only thing his brain could come up with was to say, “I don’t hate you.” That was the last straw and he quickly ran back to the ship like a coward, he didn’t even pay attention to your reaction. At least, he said what he wanted to say, albeit being very direct.

Crosshair rushed back to his bunk before locking the door. He didn’t know if he had the strength to face you tomorrow. He just hoped you understood that what he said was sincere. Crosshair doesn’t hate you, quite the opposite actually, but he doesn’t have the courage to admit that yet.

The next day rolled by and Crosshair, for the first time in his life, nervously exited his bunk. He barely got any sleep last night, plagued with the memory of what went down yesterday. His mind kept replaying it over and over again, each time with a different rendition of how you reacted. If he could, he would’ve locked himself inside his bunk for an eternity. But seeing that he’s a soldier in a war, that is impossible.

After a few more seconds of convincing himself, he finally opened the door. Crosshair slowly walked towards the kitchen area, awaiting that dreaded awkwardness between you and him. But what greeted him instead was something straight out of his dreams. You were already there, brewing caf. You noticed his presence and greeted him. Crosshair could only stay silent.

“I made you caf,” you said, offering him a cup with that sweet little smile.

Crosshair stared at it for a moment before awkwardly taking it. He couldn’t believe it. You weren’t acting differently, he was the one acting awkward. He mumbled a thanks before quietly taking a sip. The caf was still warm, it was black, just the way he liked it. He smiled from behind the cup, what a way to start the morning.

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After that, you started brewing him a fresh cup of caf every morning. It became your routine together. The previous awkwardness was quickly gone, replaced by a cozy tranquility. It felt like a weight was finally lifted off his shoulders. Crosshair welcomed your presence back, yet he was still cautious of letting his walls down completely. He kept his distance but he didn’t push you away, he was fine with where you and him stood.

The war intensified, and the squad was now frequently sent on missions. Knowing that, you insisted on learning how to handle a blaster. His brothers were hesitant but after seeing how determined you were, they finally agreed, letting you choose who was to teach you.

Crosshair silently hoped you would pick him, even if it would be a bit of a nuisance. They barely get down time nowadays. But Crosshair wouldn’t mind, being with you would make it bearable.

His wish came true when his name rolled off your tongue. Crosshair nearly choked on his own spit when that happened. Out of everyone else, you had chosen him. Wrecker immediately burst into laughter while Hunter raised a knowing brow. Echo held up his hand to cover the smile growing on his face. Tech merely adjusted his goggles and looked between the two of you.

“Ha! Good luck, Crosshair,” Wrecker teased.

Crosshair rolled his eyes and sent him a sharp glare. “Shut up,” he snapped, though the heat creeping up the back of his neck suggests something else.

You tilted your head and smiled. “So, is that a yes?”

Crosshair found himself staring at you for a second longer than necessary before quickly looking away. How was he supposed to say no when you looked at him like that? “Fine,” is all he managed to say. He didn’t miss the way your smile widened further.

The following afternoon, the two of you found yourselves standing in a small clearing several clicks away from the Marauder. The air was cool and crisp and the area was mostly quiet aside from the occasional chirping of wildlife hidden amongst the trees.

Empty ration tins and pieces of scrap metal had been arranged along a fallen log to serve as targets. You looked significantly less confident now that the blaster was actually in your hands. Crosshair crossed his arms over his chest, finding the sight amusing.

“Why is it so heavy?” you commented.

“Because it’s a weapon.”

You frowned at that and shot him your unimpressed look. “Gee, thanks for stating the obvious. Very helpful.”

“Don’t worry your pretty little head about it, we’re only covering the basics, for now.”

“That’s easy for you to say. You’ve spent your entire life holding one of these!”

Crosshair immediately had to look away before the corner of his mouth betrayed him. The more comfortable you became around him, the more expressive you got. And the more expressive you got, the more difficult it became for him to focus.

“Alright,” you huffed. “What do I do?”

Crosshair smirked and stepped closer. “You can start by holding it properly.”

You nodded and adjusted your grip although it still ended up being wrong. His hand reached forward automatically to help adjust before it stopped. Crosshair suddenly became very aware of how close the two of you were standing. He cleared his throat and rested his hand back to his side.

“Crosshair?” you called, waiting for him to continue.

“Your grip is wrong,” he explained.

“Oh.” You glanced down at your hands before glancing back at him. “Then, can you show me?”

You said that far too casually, seemingly oblivious to the effect your words had on him as you held the blaster out expectantly. After a brief hesitation, he finally stepped closer and reached for the weapon. His fingers brushed against yours. The contact lasted less than a second but Crosshair was painfully aware of it. He quickly adjusted your grip before taking a step back.

“Your wrist is too stiff, you need to relax.”

“Like this?”

“Not quite.”

Crosshair sighed before moving behind you. He questioned every life choice that had led him to this point.

“Relax your shoulders,” he instructed. You tried to do as he said but Crosshair could still notice the obvious tension in your posture. “You’re holding the blaster like it’s about to explode.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I know how blasters work.”

“Well,” you said. “Technically speaking, blasters do explode. That’s kind of how they function.”

Crosshair groaned. “You’ve been spending too much time around Tech.”

The first shot you fired missed the targets entirely. Your body jerked from the recoil and the bolt sailed several meters to the left because of that. The streak of blue light disappeared somewhere into the trees. “…I hit the forest.”

“You certainly did. Try again.”

The second shot was slightly better. You weren’t shocked from the recoil anymore and were better prepared, but your body still jerked a bit. The bolt narrowly missed the corner targets. You didn’t give up and kept trying. By the sixth attempt, the bolt was getting closer and closer. But every time, there’s always something that goes slightly wrong. Mostly because you were distracted by your surroundings.

“This is hard.”

“What? You wanna give up now?”

“Of course not!”

Crosshair smirked. Your determination was truly admirable. “Then try again until you hit it.”

Hours passed and the two of you remained in the clearing long after the sun had begun its descent across the sky. You celebrated every improvement. Every time you hit somewhere remotely close to the target, your face would light up.

Crosshair had spent years perfecting his aim. Yet he couldn’t remember the last time shooting had actually been fun. Then finally, a bolt struck directly against one of the ration tins. The metal spun through the air before crashing into the dirt.

A grin spread across your face so quickly it was almost blinding. “Crosshair, I did it! Did you see that? I actually hit one of them!”

Crosshair was tempted to say no. But seeing your excitement, he decided to let you have it this time. “Sure, you got lucky.”

“Lucky? I’ve been practicing all afternoon!”

Crosshair couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped him. The sound surprised him just as much as it surprised you. His smile disappeared immediately afterwards and he looked away. But it was too late, he’d already seen the look on your face. Crosshair had lost count how many walls were left standing between the two of you.

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The training sessions didn’t stop there, it continued long after you successfully hit your first target. At first, they were supposed to be temporary. Just enough to teach you the basics so you could defend yourself if things went wrong. Yet somehow, the lessons kept finding reasons to continue.

One day it was because your aim could improve. The next it was because Crosshair insisted your stance was terrible. Then it evolved into teaching you long-range shooting, before upgrading to moving targets.

That’s probably because you were determined to improve. It had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that he always seemed available whenever you asked. Of course not!

The war continued on regardless. Missions came and went. Through it all, you remained a constant presence. Whenever Crosshair found himself pinned down by enemy fire, he knew you would be nearby with extra ammunition or medical supplies before he even asked.

The same goes to you. Whenever you found yourself cornered during evacuations or rescue operations, Crosshair’s shots would appear from seemingly nowhere, eliminating every threat before they could reach you.

You didn’t have to say anything. You simply had each other’s backs. It all went along smoothly. Crosshair told himself that protecting you was the practical move. You were the squad’s medic and an integral part of the family now. That explanation kept him going until it didn’t. The realization came during a mission to infiltrate the Separatists on Raxus.

Everything was going according to plan. But then something went wrong, then explosions started. They were found out. Crosshair remembered hearing Hunter yell something through the comms. He remembered the feeling of the ground shaking under his feet. Most of all, he remembered seeing you. A section of the platform you were on had collapsed.

The edge of the platform could no longer hold you and you disappeared. Crosshair felt his entire body go cold. The rifle nearly slipped from his hands. His mind supplied possibilities faster than he could process them.

Crosshair had spent months convincing himself he could keep his distance. Months convincing himself that whatever existed between them could wait. But right now, all he could think of was what if there wasn’t another opportunity? What if the last conversation you ever had was over a cup of caf? What if the last thing he ever said to you was some sarcastic remark he couldn’t even remember anymore? Then his mind arrived at the worst possibility of all: death.

Crosshair moved without hesitation, abandoning his position in favor of you. He ignored the comm chatter that’s ringing through his helmet. It was nothing compared to the desperate need to reach you. By the time he arrived, Hunter had managed to catch your arm.

Somehow, you managed to hold on a ledge long enough for him to find you. You were alive. Crosshair stopped so abruptly that his boots skidded across the floor. Relief was the first thing Crosshair felt.

His lungs finally remembered how to function and Crosshair noticed the way his arms were shaking just now. He lowered his head at the implication. Because normal concern didn’t feel like this. Normal concern didn’t make the galaxy narrow down to a single person. Normal concern didn’t leave him feeling like his heart had nearly been ripped from his chest.

As you climbed safely back onto the platform, you brushed dirt from your clothes and laughed nervously. “That was scary.”

Crosshair could only stare at you. You were smiling. As though you hadn’t just scared several years off his life. He found himself speechless. Crosshair watched as his brothers gathered around you.

“It was scary but I managed to hold on. I’m fine now.”

Fine. The word echoed mockingly inside his head. You almost weren’t. That was the problem. After the mission, he remained unusually quiet. It didn’t go unnoticed by his brothers. Hunter kept giving him strange looks. Wrecker asked if he was feeling sick. Echo offered to talk with him. Tech looked one second away from conducting an investigation. Crosshair ignored all of them.

Because he finally understood. The walls he had built around himself finally crumbled. The feeling he’d spent months trying to suppress. The reason your smile lingered in his mind long after conversations ended. The reason hearing your laughter made entire days easier to tolerate. The reason he couldn’t stand the thought of you giving up on him. Crosshair had feelings for you.

That night, as the Marauder drifted through hyperspace, Crosshair sat alone in the cockpit. The stars stretched endlessly beyond the viewport. For once, he wasn’t paying attention to them. His thoughts remained fixed on you.

On how close he had come to losing you. On how empty the galaxy suddenly seemed when he imagined a future where you weren’t there. Crosshair closed his eyes. One thing was for certain, he couldn’t live in a world where you weren’t right beside him.

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Months passed again and Crosshair could feel the war coming to an end. With the death of Count Dooku and just now, Tech had shared the news that General Grievous’s location had been found. The Separatist was losing, it was only a matter of time. But he couldn’t celebrate too early. Crosshair sat on his cot and wondered: What will happen to them after all of this ends?

Now that he’s welcomed you to his life, your relationship with each other has grown significantly. Crosshair didn’t know if you shared the same sentiment, he never thought of it before. What life would look like after the war.

Tech’s POV

Tech remembered the moment the transmission went through. “Clone Force 99 is to return to Kamino to be assigned a Jedi general.” He remembered thinking about how pointless and redundant it was. They were operating perfectly fine without any help from the Jedi, so why would they need one now? Or ever, for that matter. Yet, there was nothing he could do to change that. All he could do is to steer the Marauder back to Kamino, just as they were expected to.

“Ooh, who do you think we’ll get?” Wrecker asked from behind him, tapping his feet excitedly to the floor.

“Hopefully they will give us someone competent,” Tech answered. His only wish is that the Jedi they are assigned to will be someone more intelligent than his brothers, which is not a high bar to clear.

“I bet you they won’t last more than a month with us,” Crosshair commented bitterly, moving the toothpick around inside his mouth.

Wrecker is undeterred by his snark comment. “Well, whoever they give us, I hope they’re someone awesome! I mean, we get to see a lightsaber up close!”

Hunter sighed tiredly, running his hand through his hair. “Just, let’s not give them a hard time. Play nice.”

Tech scoffed. He always acted nice, he just needed to know if the other person deserved his ‘kindness’ or not. For example, regular clones or regs. With the exception of Commander Cody. They’ve always been outcasted by the regs, bullied and mocked for their appearance. It doesn’t matter though, most of them ended up in maintenance work anyway. How does he know that? He hacked the Kaminoan’s database and saw the info, obviously.

Thunder roared outside and turbulence rocked the ship. Tech approached the open hangar as the ship slowly began to lower. He’s done this hundreds, if not thousands of times already. The landing went smoothly as always. He got up from his seat and joined the rest of his brothers. Hunter opened the door and exited first.

The blinding white light of Kamino greeted his eyes, wiping away the tiredness. Tech adjusted his goggles, the world blurry for a second before coming back to focus once the angle was right. He smiled in satisfaction before proceeding to lead his brothers to the meeting area.

When the door opened, Nala Se and Jedi Master Shaak Ti stood there next to someone. You must be our new Jedi general, Tech assumed. He stepped in first and his brothers filed in after. Hunter stepped forward, nodding his head to Master Shaak Ti, “General.”

“Thank you for coming on such a short notice,” Master Shaak Ti said, nodding back to Hunter.

“Of course,” Hunter replied, his eyes drifting to you. “So, is this our new general?”

“Yes,” Master Shaak Ti replied before nudging you. “You may introduce yourself.”

You nodded, taking a step forward and bowed. “Nice to meet you, my name is (Y/N). I’ve heard many great things about your squad. I look forward to working with you.”

Hunter seemed stunned at the politeness before quickly recovering. “Nice to meet you too, General. The name’s Hunter.” He went on to explain everyone’s role in the squad. Starting from Crosshair, Wrecker before finally, Tech. You smiled and nodded at each one of them.

“(Y/N) actually just recently became a Jedi Knight, hence why I think she’s the perfect fit for your squad,” Master Shaak Ti explained.

“Jedi Knight (Y/N) will be assigned to your squad temporarily. I will monitor the compatibility since Clone Force 99 is known for their unorthodox way of… handling things,” Nala Se added.

Tech expected for you to just nod and agree with the Chief Scientist, which would mean you’re offhandedly mocking them. But he didn’t expect for you to instead laugh before saying, “Don’t worry too much about me. I can handle myself just fine and their squad seems fun too.”

Wrecker nudged him on the side and whispered loudly to his ear, “I like her.”

Tech shook his head at the volume but quietly agreed anyway. You didn’t seem half-bad. After a few more formal jargons, Hunter and you shook hands. Nala Se and Master Shaak Ti left the room after making sure you were alright. Master Shaak Ti placed her hands on your shoulder one last time before finally leaving. You observed them once more and Tech found himself nervous under your watchful eye. What did you think of them?

“Well then, what’s our first mission together, Sargeant?” You asked Hunter with a playful glint in your eyes.

He turned to Tech. Which in turn, made you shift your attention fully onto him, waiting for him to say something. Tech composed himself before answering, “Apologies. I’ve just received the transmission, but we are to leave for Felucia.”

“Let’s go, shall we?” You proposed, adjusting your robe as you moved across the room.

Everyone still seemed wary but followed you nonetheless. You walked alongside them in silence. Tech kept throwing glances at you, analyzing you silently inside his head. So far, the only thing he noticed is the two lightsabers clipped onto your belt and how utterly captivating your eyes were.

They are so warm and inviting, he can practically feel the kindness flowing out of it. Your eyes held no judgement against them. There was no hatred or disgust. He was fascinated by it, no one has looked at them that way before. Not the Kaminoan scientists and definitely not the regs. He was so entranced that when he finally came to, he realized they were already back at the hangar.

There’s only one thing floating inside his mind now: How much he can’t wait to get to know their new Jedi general.

Your POV

When you first became a Jedi Knight, the first thing that came to mind is how proud you were for being able to reach that goal. But then another thought immediately followed afterwards: The Clone Wars.

War was something completely unfamiliar to you. The Republic had always been peaceful if not for a few conflicts occasionally. But those were easier times, back then they would’ve just sent a Jedi Master and their Padawan to handle it. Now? There’s several different parties coming together and they’ve somehow managed to drag clones into this.

You were perplexed at the idea. You’ve heard how they were bred specifically for the war, prepared since infancy to become soldiers. You’ve thought about how cruel it sounded. But the Republic didn’t really have a choice. Well, neither did the clones. They needed soldiers to be deployed throughout the galaxy. Still, you couldn’t be more grateful for their creation. Always look for the positives in life, your master would say.

Because if they weren’t created, how would you be able to meet them in the first place? Get to know them better? They weren’t mindless beings. It made it easier to connect with them, but also devastating when their life is lost. Each clone was unique and special with their own little quirks. And that is especially prevalent within your own squad.

Clone Force 99 had a reputation within the clones like no other. Before you were even assigned to them, you’ve heard a great many things about their squad. The Jedis would say they were very efficient at what they did. The Kaminoans would say that they are bad at taking orders but they’ll still get it done. The Clones would say to steer clear from them, that they’re dangerous and wild.

It was a mixed review, but you chose to see for yourself before making any judgement. Even though you knew the chances of meeting them would be small, they are just a squad consisting of four clones after all.

So, just your luck, that after your Knighting ceremony, you would get the news that you’ll be working together with Clone Force 99. It was as if the Force wanted you to see the answer for yourself.

Tech’s POV

True to his observations and analysis, the Jedi they are assigned to has been nothing but pleasant company. You were the perfect match with them, if he could say so himself. That might’ve been an exaggeration, but you deserve the highest praise. Even Crosshair’s hard built walls could not withstand the kindness you offered at every chance.

What should’ve been a temporary assignment ended up being permanent. You’ve been through many missions ever since. Around 57 times, he counted. Tech could go on and on about how impressive you were. How effortlessly you made it look when you sliced through the waves of battle droids. How you listened and followed his plans or suggestions. How you always looked after them when something went wrong.

Like this one time, they had a mission on some snowy planet. An explosive was set off, triggering an avalanche. Wrecker was nearly buried in the snow but you didn’t give up on him. You used the Force to lift him out just in time and you all made it back safely onto the ship.

How you would spend time with each of them to heal their wounds. On one of the many missions, they were ambushed. You were the only one who didn’t get hurt. You spent weeks nursing them back to health, forcing a very unpleasant Wrecker to take his daily medication. Tech chuckled at the memory.

He grew a deep sense of admiration towards you. He found you to be a reliable partner that helped improve the performance of the squad. Even more so after he found out that you were intelligent and knowledgeable too. Not as much as him, but still, compared to his brothers, you were much better company. You could actually keep up and participate actively in your conversations.

Tech greatly enjoyed the time spent together with you. Whether that be when he’s repairing the Marauder after a narrow escape or he’s building a new piece of technology.

It was also not uncommon for you to seek him out first whenever something on the Marauder malfunctioned, even when Hunter or Wrecker were closer. You claimed Tech explained things better than the others did. He found it most especially pleasant when you look at him with those bewitching eyes of yours. He couldn’t ask for a better Jedi, because you were already the best.

But that all changed when a new member was introduced to their squad. Echo.

Your eyes were now focused more on Echo instead. Before Echo joined the squad, your attention had belonged almost entirely to him. You used to spend hours beside him while he worked, asking questions about his modifications and theories even long after his brothers had grown bored of the discussion.

Tech remembered one particular night where you spent nearly three consecutive hours beside him while he recalibrated the Marauder’s navigation system. Even after midnight, you continued asking questions about hyperspace algorithms despite visibly struggling to stay awake.

Hunter eventually had to drag you away to rest while you protested tiredly from the doorway that Tech had not finished explaining one of his calculations yet. But now? Tech found those conversations cut shorter more frequently than before. Sometimes you would leave to check on Echo instead.

The change itself was not drastic. In fact, objectively speaking, most would likely fail to notice it at all. But Tech noticed. He always noticed. Tech wouldn’t admit it out loud, he knew he was being irrational. Echo had gone through so much after Skako Minor, he didn’t deserve any of that. It was also in your nature to bring comfort and security to others. But that didn’t stop the annoyance that bubbled up.

Could it be… Was he jealous? He’s only ever read about descriptions of it but he didn’t felt like it perfectly represented his emotions at the moment. No. He pushed the thought away. Of course not. That’s not possible. For jealousy to be present would mean that he would had to have feelings for the other person. He shook his head and focused on his datapad instead.

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Tech would often hear you praise Echo. “I think your cybernetics are cool. Don’t ever feel ashamed of it, you hear me?”

“Ah, thank you, General,” Echo mumbled shyly.

“If you’re experiencing any discomfort, let me know, okay? I’ll try to see if the GAR could issue you some of the more newer cybernetics.” With that, you stood up from your spot to enter your bunk and contact someone through your comlink.

He noticed how much you were spending time with Echo, how it spiked up to 42 minutes more than usual. It also wasn’t lost on him how on every chance, Echo would opt to sit beside you. Why haven't you treated him this way anymore? Why haven’t you praised him the way you had with Echo?

Tech’s grip around his datapad unconsciously became tighter. He grit his teeth at the question gnawing inside his mind. Okay, he needs to calm down. This is getting out of hand. Think of a way to win her attention back subtly, Tech. He closed all tabs that he had opened and started anew. He began listing all possible ways he could do to draw your attention.

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A few days later, you were fiddling with the caf machine. Tech had just entered the ship after performing a modification outside when he noticed your furrowed brows. Perfect. He approached you, “Allow me.”

“Oh, sure. Go ahead.” You stepped aside and allowed him to inspect the machine.

Tech ran a quick diagnostic on the faulty machine. Within seconds, he managed to find the issue and fixed it. He brewed your usual evening caf and handed the steaming cup to you. You took it graciously and smiled, “Thanks, Tech.”

“Of course, are there any other problems you’ve encountered?” He silently hoped there was more, wanting to increase his daily time spent with you. Even if it’s just for a few more minutes.

“Hmm…” You hummed in thought before shaking your head. “Nothing for now, but if I find one, I’ll be sure to let you know.” You took a sip from your caf and sighed. “Thanks again, Tech. I’m gonna go and meditate now.”

Tech could only nod as he watched your figure retreat outside. His body felt warm at the compliment he just received. Finally, after weeks of not hearing it. For a brief moment, Tech wondered if perhaps he had been overthinking everything after all. He smiled in satisfaction and quickly wrote down what happened on his notes. How glad he is to have his recording on. At least now he can look back at the footage and observe your smile.

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Echo’s new cybernetics upgrade finally arrived. The whole day is spent on helping him adjust to it. Tech was tasked to perform a few tests on him to make sure his mobility was stable. He couldn’t really stay focused though as he felt your gaze was on him.

Once he confirmed that Echo was doing fine, you jumped up from your spot and walked up to Echo. “Congratulations! I’m so glad you finally got those upgrades!”

Echo laughed at your enthusiasm. “It’s all thanks to you, General. I’m the one who should be thanking you.”

Your cheeks flushed slightly, “Ah, it was nothing. You deserve it anyways.”

Echo smiled. He glanced past you briefly, his gaze landing on Tech for only a second before something unreadable crossed his expression.

Tech watched the interaction silently. He waited for you to sing him praise but… nothing. You fawned over Echo’s new upgrades along with the rest of his brothers. Tech’s gaze lowered to the floor. A new plan started brewing inside his head.

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“What is it that you want me to see, Tech?” you asked as Tech led you to the cockpit.

“It’s a surprise,” his answer was short. He had spent the last two days upgrading his goggles. He was hoping it would impress you the same way it did with Echo’s upgrade.

Once he made sure none of his brothers were there to overhear, he sat you down on the copilot seat while he sat on the pilot seat. He swiveled the chair and picked up a small box from the side. He took a deep breath and nervously opened it.

You raised your brows, “Oh?”

“It’s my newly improved pair of goggles,” Tech proudly announced.

You nodded and clapped your hands. “What does it do that the old one didn’t?”

“I upgraded the scanning system, expanded the recording storage, and integrated a predictive combat algorithm,” Tech explained casually, as though he had not spent the last forty-eight hours rebuilding half the internal circuitry of his goggles.

He handed the goggles carefully to your hands, relishing the soft feeling when your hands briefly brushed against his. The contact lasted less than a second, yet Tech found himself thinking about it long after you had already adjusted the goggles over your eyes. Now, he just needed to wait for your praise. He wonders, which feature are you going to praise?

You brought the goggles closer and tried it on. It was nauseating at first, but after a couple minutes, your vision finally adjusted. “Wow… You’re impressive, Tech.”

He felt his brain short circuited. “O-of course,” he stammered.

You giggled at his response before continuing, “I can see how this would help you on the battlefield. Still, I’m more impressed how you don't feel like you’re gonna throw up when wearing these.”

“It gets better over time, eventually,” Tech answered. The response was not what he had anticipated. Yet somehow, hearing you praise him directly felt significantly more satisfying than admiration toward the goggles themselves would have.

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You were sitting with Echo now in the main area. Tech could only sit there and watch the two of you. What was wrong with him? Why was he feeling this way? After showing you his goggles, he left to reflect on his journal. He documented the precise feeling he experienced and did some research, but nothing conclusive was found. He felt his chest tightened when he heard you laugh at Echo’s jokes.

“Did you have to make it so obvious?” Crosshair suddenly said from behind him, startling Tech.

When he turned around to face him, he noticed that Hunter and Wrecker was also there. Wrecker had an obnoxious grin plastered on his face. Hunter just had a knowing smirk while Crosshair was scowling as usual.

“I don’t understand what you’re trying to convey,” Tech replied.

Crosshair groaned and took the toothpick out of his mouth and flicked it onto his forehead. “You really want me to spell it out to you? I thought you were the smartest out of all of us.”

Hunter gave Crosshair a disapproving look before sighing, “Tech. Don't think we’ve been blind,” Hunter said seriously.

Tech raised one eyebrow, still not understanding what message his brothers was trying to say. Wrecker finally caved and whispered, “We know you like like her, y’know?”

Tech’s eyes immediately widened and he felt his cheeks flushed. “W-what could possibly make you come to that conclusion?”

Crosshair chuckled at his reaction. “Like I said, you weren’t being subtle about it.”

Hunter smiled as he said, “We’ve seen how you look and act around her, Tech. No need to hide it around us.”

Wrecker nodded in agreement. “Yeah!”

Tech’s head seemed to be working faster than before. Has he really been that obvious this entire time? So obvious that even his below average intelligence brothers could notice? How embarrassing. Tech stood up from his seat and took his toolbox. He said nothing as he shoved past his brothers to exit the ship. He needed to do something before his mind imploded.

He climbed up the Marauder and set his toolbox aside. He took a deep breath and exhaled. That wasn’t real. How long have they known then? No. He doesn’t even want to know. Tech brought up the ship’s schematics, going over his plan to upgrade the exterior of the ship. Once that’s done, he started working. His mind was on autopilot as his hands were busy, trying everything to forget what had just happened minutes prior.

He was so focused, he failed to notice another presence climbing up the Marauder. It was only after he heard his name rolling off your tongue did he snap out of his daze. “W-what?”

“There you are.” You grinned as you continued, “Everyone’s worried for you, they’re saying you’ve been acting differently these past few days. So, I’m here to check up on you.”

“That is not necessary,” Tech replied quickly. “I am perfectly fine.”

“Alright then, I believe you. What are you doing up here?”

“Just some minor fixing and upgrades. The Marauder took heavy damage from the last mission, I was planning to upgrade our shield system…” He stopped when he noticed you were staring. Maker help him, your eyes.

“That sounds like a great idea! Would you like some help? I think I remember you taught me some of the basics before…”

He cleared his throat, “Of course. An extra hand would be nice.”

Tech nearly dropped the hydrospanner from how close you were beside him. He continued his work as you occasionally helped him, either by holding a flashlight or handing him the tools that he asked. It brought him straight back to the first time he and you had spent time together.

“Good job, Tech,” you praised, like music to his ears. “You know, it’s been a while since we’ve done this. If you’re going to do some more upgrades, count me in, okay? It’s fun.”

You hopped off the Marauder and landed on the ground, you looked up at him. “Thank you, Tech. I’ll be off now.”