#bad batch x reader

Forehead and corner-of-the-mouth kisses.

His kisses are the kind that leaves you wanting for more. It's addictive, the weight and scent of him always lures you in.

You CANNOT convince me otherwise that he'll pull away just to whisper something under his breath. "You taste so sweet, mesh'la" before capturing your lips again. It's always something different every time, he just wants you to know the effect you have on him.

It's sweet, yet meaningful. It's protective the way he does it, and he takes this chance to breathe you in. Just to memorize your scent, and to let it stay longer on his senses. He won't just carry your scent, he'll remember you on him wherever he goes.

The way his mouth moves against yours is honestly hypnotic. He memorizes the hitch of your breath, the little sounds you make, the way you lean in when he pulls back, and the sound of your heartbeat beating softly beneath your chest.

Sometimes, he releases his own sounds to get you all hot and bothered. He knows exactly what it does to you. Then, he licks your lower lip, pushes himself hard into you, tightens his grip on your waist and neck. Just to hear your heartbeat jump and stutter.

Most of the time, his kisses are light. Calm and unhurried. But then, it gradually deepens. Like he's trying to mold himself into you, and he wants to make a home on your lips—something he could always come back to.

He wouldn't admit it to you, but kissing you turns him on immediately. Because he's so focused on everything on you, and it's driving him crazy honestly. But he has self-control, and he will try to stop himself from being too much. Unless, you gave him permission otherwise.

After returning from a mission, or right after a successful battle, he kisses you out of relief. Then, passion. Until it turns hungry, and you're left gasping his name while he claims everything from you.

ECHO

Oh, THIS man. This man right here kisses you like the way he YEARNS. And when I tell you this, he is a YEARNER.

Always so tender, soft, and deliberate. He has faced death before, but with you? Oh, he's filled with so much life, he's scared it'll be taken away from him again.

Cheek kisses are his ultimate favorite, also scar kisses (my baby).

Before kissing you, he'll look at you with that soft warmth in his eyes, full of awe and disbelief, like he doesn't believe you're real—like you're his. And you are, but he's still afraid he's gonna wake up and think this is all just a dream.

But when he kisses you? It's full of aching adoration that makes you melt. It's the kind of kiss that reminds you of stars—breathtaking, beautiful, and memorable.

So, so unbelievably gentle. Like he's afraid you'll break if he presses harder, and if he breathes too much you'll vanish like smoke. Because he doesn't believe he deserves this, after everything he's been through, he knows all good things are fleeting.

But with you? Oh, he always kisses you like it's the last time he'll ever do so. Full of quiet desperation—the devotion of a soldier and the passion of a lover.

He'll gently cup your face—staring into your eyes—before leaning down to place a gentle kiss on your cheek. It always makes you feel warm, giddy, and above all, loved.

He loves playing with your hair while kissing you, just letting his fingers glide through your strands/curls to feel its softness.

His kisses can feel shy at first, maybe even hesitant and afraid, but they grow stronger with time. As though he's taking his time to memorize you in case you'll be gone the next day.

The way he kisses can feel sacred. Like he's worshipping you in every shared breath, praising you in every languid stroke of his tongue, and an oath that weaves itself on your lips—a declaration and a promise of his undying love.

TECH

My stars, this man kisses you like you're his next puzzle. It's analytical, it's curious. And it's somehow endearing the way he is precise about it.

Thoughtful, timid, yet intentional. He doesn't do half-hearted performances, and he always makes sure to erase every thought in your head save for him.

Knuckle and temple kisses are his go to <333

Tech's kisses are based on his observations. He catalogs every reaction he evokes from you. What would you do when he glides his hand up your sides? What would you sound like when he shifts his mouth to your jaw? Would you squirm when he tries to place his knee between your—

It's experimental in an obsessive way. He wants to learn everything about you. Your body, your smell, your sounds, your touches. He wants to document it all while he's lost in the taste of your lips.

It NEVER fails to make you smile when he takes one of your hands to place a chaste kiss on your knuckles, followed by that soft adoring look behind his goggles.

Though, I also have a feeling he doesn't have much experience with this. But that won't be a problem, he can learn from you. He will learn from you.

And oh, his goggles bump every time he chases after your lips or if he gets so into it. You end up laughing, pushing the cursed thing up his head, before pulling him back to another messy kiss.

Following the last one. Imagine the kiss quickly turns heated, and he's pushing himself deeper into you with a kind of eagerness that leaves your mind reeling. But then– he removes his goggles mid-kiss, throwing it over his shoulder, before diving right back in with a newfound vigor.

DEFINITELY very vocal. Oh, you will HEAR him every time you kiss. If you like your men loud and vocal, he's all yours.

He also loves it when he hears you too.

CROSSHAIR

Oh, this man. This man is a sniper for a reason, and once he has you on his sights—you are not getting away easily.

Sharp, intense, and accurate. The same way he handles his rifle. The same way he lines up his next shot and fires. It always leaves you breathless, dizzy, and caught in the crossfire of his heat.

Neck kisses are his absolute favorite, also behind the ear!

He likes to kiss you slowly, almost on purpose, then pulls away when he notices you wanting more. And the bastard has the audacity to smirk down at you. Before you could even walk off with an annoyed scowl, he's grabbing your arm and tugging you back with another kiss that burns you whole.

He has this habit of tilting his head every time the kiss deepens, like he's peering through the scope of his rifle. Targeting every weak point you have, until you're subjected to surrender to his mercy.

And gods, he bites. Your bottom lip, your jaw, your neck, your collarbone. Everywhere his lips descend to, everywhere his tongue marks. He bites it afterwards like he's staking a claim.

To be more specific, he finds the line of your throat so irresistibly tempting, and I'm dying on this hill. Also, collarbones. He likes to kiss and nip on the skin there whenever he has the chance to—a very possessive way of telling others you're taken.

He also has this habit of using the tip of his toothpick to poke you, before laying a kiss on the area. You should be used to it by now, but the sudden sharp prick out of nowhere always surprises you. At least the kiss that follows afterwards makes you less annoyed.

The way Crosshair kisses is very unpredictable. He could be impassive and fleeting one moment, and the next he's stealing all the air from your lungs by pressing you up against the wall and—

Also, he has this staring habit, more like glaring habit, when his gaze pierces right through you. But in reality, he's fixated on your lips. Your neck. Your nape. Your shoulders. And imagines his mouth right there.

Did I forget to mention, this man is a HUGE tease? He smirks in between kisses, pulls away just to see you glare at him, and comes right back to silence the curse perched on your tongue.

WRECKER

Oh, this man is the ULTIMATE kisser. Absolute BIG fan of kissing. HUGE fan actually, can never get enough of it. Addicted is an understatement, he's OBSESSED with kissing you. Gosh, it makes him all fluttery, giddy, and lovesick.

Full, deep, and overwhelming. But all in a good way! He's just so happy and excited whenever he kisses you. His kisses are the kind that leaves you smiling from ear to ear, they make your heart pump louder and cheeks warm from the energy of it all.

LIP KISSES! But also, nose kisses <3

LOVES to pepper your face with smooches until you're laughing and your sides hurt from it. Again, with the cuteness aggression. He just can't help himself, okay? You're just too irresistible to him!

He WILL pout when you move your head away or push his off. Watch a 6'6" man, a literal war SOLDIER, march right off wearing the saddest expression you'd ever see. The only remedy? Kiss him, of course! And he'll immediately revert to his lovesick self, chasing after your lips for more.

He kisses you like a victory, like he's coming home from battle and you're his treasured prize. Swoops you off of the ground, attacks you with a bear hug, nuzzles his face against yours. Before kissing right then and there. Please, that's all he takes to make him happy.

100% obsessed with your lips. Their shape. Their color. The feeling of them on his. Every time you talk about something, he's stuck with that dreamy look and a stupid grin on his face.

And his hands, stars, his hands are always on your hips. He just likes the way he could grab something soft and plush and squeezes.

Also LOVES surprise kisses. The kind that makes you stop and stare at him, wide-eyed, and he's just giggling to himself at the dumbfounded look on your face.

He grins into the kiss, because it fills him with a kind of adrenaline that makes his heart beat faster. He is so down for the cuddling + kissing combo.

Sometimes it's messy. Especially when he's too enthusiastic or when you haven't seen each other for a while. And he's pulling you onto his lap, large arms around your frame, as the kiss starts from innocent and fun—to something else filled with ragged growls, wandering hands, and one aggressive make out session.

────────────── ★ ───────────────

Okay, here's the thing. He's a gentleman. He WANTS to give you aftercare. But the reality is, he's an absolute MESS after sex. Think absolutely out of it for at least half an hour, if not more. It's due to his hightened senses. So it'll probably be you giving him aftercare — or at least leading it — not the other way around.

A = Aftercare (what they’re like after sex)

B = Body part (their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

His favourite part on himself is his hair, if that counts. He loves when you pull him by it, of course, but he's also generally just proud of it.

On you, he loves your smile. It sounds cliche but it has a way of cheering him up even when he's tired and sad. Secretly, though, he also absolutely LOVES your ass. When you put on some shorts during a hot day on Pabu, his brain literally short-circuted. His jaw was on the floor. Crosshair still teases him about it.

C = Cum (anything to do with cum, basically)

Anywhere you'll let him. Though he prefers coming inside you or on your chest/stomach. He might also secretly want to cum on your face but he's a gentleman and he won't bring it up out of fear of you taking it as him wanting to degrade you.

He also LOVES your cum. He has a slight oral fixation (see K=kink) and one of his favourite sexual activities is going down on you/sucking you off. He'll lick and swallow every last drop. If you're afab, he also loves it when you squirt.

D = Dirty secret (pretty self explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

He's obsessed with marking you. It's strong and primal for him. He's obsessed with smelling himself on you (see: K=kink). Though you'll probably have to figure out most of his kinks on your own cause he's a bit scared you'll find him disgusting.

E = Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?)

He knows what he's doing, in theory. But he has no practical experience with anything other than his hand. He wanted to, don't get me wrong. But he learned early on that sex leaves him very defensless and vulnerable due to his heightened senses so he never really trusted anyone before you enough to let go like that.

F = Favorite position (this goes without saying)

He prefers positions where you're on top, since he can fully let himself go (without worrying he'll fall on you from overstimulation)

G = Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.)

He's not opposed to making jokes but it's rare he'll crack one. It's usually him letting out a breathless chuckle at something you say. He's usually too overhelmed to think of anything, his mind is on you and you alone.

H = Hair (how well groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes? etc.)

He keeps it trimmed to a very specific lenght. Not short enough to not be there completely — since it itches when he shaves it fully and it starts to grow again — but pretty short. It's a sensory thing. When it does grow out sometimes on long missions, it's surprisingly straight. Not FULLY straight but there's definitly no curls there.

I = Intimacy (how are they during the moment? the romantic aspect)

Depends on the situation. More often than not, though, he'll be way more romantic after he comes down from the high. HOWEVER, if his focus that night is solely on you and your pleasure, he'll be the biggest romantic and gentleman.

J = Jack off (masturbation headcanon)

Rarely. Not because he doesn't have needs but because it's rare he gets enough time to himself without the risk of one of his brothers walking in on him. If he has the required privacy, he'll rub one out a few times a week but not every day. Usually as a way to relieve stress or because you're away and he's thinking about you *wink wink*.

K = Kink (one or more of their kinks)

Scent kink. If you're dirty and don't shower for a while and your scent is purely YOU, no artificial smells, just the smell of your skin, dirt and sweat? Oh, he's a goner. Sensory depravation, but only if he REALLY trusts you, as that usually sends him into blind panic otherwise. Edging/orgasm denial. Hair pulling. Just generally messing with his senses. If you do any of the messing with senses, though, he'll be exhausted, will need a lot of aftercare, and will probably only last one round. It'll be worth it, though.

Blindfolding/gagging/restraining you with his bandana. It surprises even him but when you happen to call him "Sarge" once during sex, he literally cums right then and there. Knife play. Oral fixation. Period sex. Maybe even a bit of watersports/omorashi for the sensation + marking aspect. Did I mention he loves to mark you with his cum? Yeah. And perhaps a biiiit of a breeding kink. He's generally into the more natural and primal things. Can you tell he's one of my favourites by how many kinks I put in here? Lmao

Like I mentioned before, he's a bit worried you'll be disgusted if he brings any of it up, so although he might mention the edging, hair pulling, bandana, and such things, you'll have to figure out the more "nasty" ones yourself.

Oh, and he's totally a switch.

L = Location (favorite places to do the do)

Your bedroom. Or any private room, for that matter. But ACTUALLY private and at least temporarily yours, since he'll need a bit to come back from the high.

M = Motivation (what turns them on, gets them going)

Your scent. You wearing shorts. You using his bandana to tie your hair (if you have it). You calling him "seargant". You in your armour. You straddling him/restraining him during training. You giving out orders. You.

N = No (something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)

Anything that could hurt you. Also age play and daddy kink. It weirds him out. And nothing with sensory overstimulation. He gets that for free, no need for trying.

O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)

He'll never turn down a good old blowjob but he definitly prefers giving. Just burying his face in your pussy/ass and eating you out or sucking your dick with his nose buried in your pubes. The taste, the smell, he loves everything about it.

P = Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.)

That highly depends on the mood. He can be fast and rough, but sometimes a certain mood will hit and he'll want to properly worship you and make love to you rather than fuck you.

Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.)

Quickies are unfortunately off the table due to his sensory issues. The long time it takes him to come back to himself kinda defeats the entire purpose.

R = Risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.)

He's open to try literally anything except for the few things I've mentioned above. It's hard to put him off. However, he'll never do anything risky in the terms of your shared health. And he won't do anything in public, or even semi-public. Or at least he won't be on the receiving end. He doesn't mind pleasuring you in semi-public/risky places, but it'd be dangerous for him to do due to — again — his senses.

S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?)

At first, he'll shoot FAST. This man has no experience and super heightened senses. The first time he'll probably cum in his pants like before you even properly touch him. And he'll be out of it for a while. He'll be super embarrassed and apologectic after. And he'll definitly make it up to you. His heightened senses also help him stay in tune with your body so he'll know exactly what you need and he will be AMAZING at giving you pleasure from the very beggining, despite his lack of experience. With time, he'll learn to last longer and he'll usually last just slightly shorter than he would've with normal senses.

He can go for a few rounds, too. His refractory period is pretty short. Though if you go for more than one or two rounds, he'll be EXHAUSTED afterwards. So it's reserved for special ocassions. He does always make sure you cum at least three or four times though, if not more.

T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)

He's open to toys. He's confident enough in his skills that he doesn't feel threatened by you suggesting toys. But he won't suggest it himself. Not because he's opposed to it, but simply because he just wouldn't think of it.

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

He doesn't really have the patience to tease you, to be honest. It's more likely you'll be teasing him than the other way around.

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

Oh, he is LOUD. Think a lot of pathetic noises like whimpers, loud moaning, but also some low grunts and even some screaming (especially during orgasms). He's got a wiiide range of sounds. Not only due to his senses but also because with you he can finally fully let go. He'll be especially loud when you dom him. He's also surprisingly — or not — good at dirty talk.

W = Wild card (a random headcanon for the character)

This is a common headcanon but his tattoo is not only on his face. I'll just leave this here.

X = X-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes)

Okay, so for this one I might have analyzed a bunch of pictures and gifs from later seasons when he had THOSE PANTS and his bulge was showing. Yea, I did it. Sue me. (Example for reference)

I think he packs good 7 inches and he's fairly girthy, just enough to stretch you well but not enough to hurt.

Y = Yearning (how high is their sex drive?)

Pretty high at the beggining. He has a looot pent up. Especially since he essentialy needs a longer period of privacy to jerk off and he doesn't get that with his brothers. With time, though, it'll go down to pretty average. It'll still be very easy to get him riled up, though.

Z = Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

Hunter moves the datapad onto the workbench next to him, his heavy, armored arm instantly wraps securely around your shoulders to pull you flush against him. Because of his enhanced senses, your sudden presence completely grounds him. He buries his face into your hair, breathing you in deeply, and begins making an incredibly soft, rhythmic humming sound in his throat, trait he only ever displays when he is one hundred percent relaxed.

"The datapad can wait," he whispers, his gravelly voice dropping to a soothing, private register as he presses a soft kiss to the crown of your head. "You're much more important to me, cyare.” He gently rubs his thumb against your arm, completely content to stay frozen in that exact position for hours just to keep you comfortable.

TECH

Tech is completely in his element at his workbench, goggles securely on and wires spilling across the table as he hyper focuses on fixing a broken terminal interface. His fingers move at lightning speed across the keys while he mumbles rapid calculations to himself, totally lost in his own world. You walk up directly behind his chair, lean over his shoulder, and gently rest your chin right on top of his head. When his typing doesn't stop, you take your hands and softly cup his face from behind, your fingers resting right over the strap of his goggles.

"Tech, I want your attention," you say softly, your voice cutting through his frantic muttering.

His hands instantly hover over the keyboard as a bright, geometric pink flush creeps up his neck and spreads across his cheeks. "I am currently handling live electrical currents, which makes this specific positioning highly illogical and potentially hazardous," he squeaks out, though he makes absolutely no effort to move away from your touch. The second you gently nuzzle his hair, he lets out a defeated little huff, carefully powers down his datapad, and pushes his goggles up onto his forehead.

Turning his chair around to face you, he grabs you by the waist and pulls you right into his lap, burying his face in your neck. "If you required companionship, you merely had to state the parameters," he murmurs, his voice dropping to an incredibly soft, shy register as his heart beats a mile a minute against your chest. "I will always adjust my schedule for you. The terminal interface is a fixed variable and your presence is... significantly more time-sensitive."

CROSSHAIR

Crosshair is lounging lazily on his bunk, chewing on a toothpick while staring blankly at the ceiling of the hold. He looks entirely unapproachable, radiating his usual cynical aura that effectively keeps the rest of the galaxy at a distance. You completely ignore the invisible barrier, climbing onto the narrow mattress and crawling right over his long legs until you lie down flat on top of his chest like a human blanket, resting your chin on his sternum.

You look straight up at him and say clearly, "Crosshair, I want your attention."

The toothpick immediately stops moving between his lips, and he rolls his eyes dramatically while letting out a small, possessive smirk. "You are incredibly needy today," he mutters, his voice a low, lazy drawl that lacks any real bite. He pretends to be annoyed by the disruption, but his large hands immediately find their way to your waist, tightening their grip to pull you up until your face is perfectly level with his.

He plucks the toothpick out of his mouth, tosses it onto a nearby shelf, and uses his long, steady fingers to gently tuck a stray piece of hair behind your ear. "Fine," he whispers, another tiny smirk forming on his lips as his thumb lingers to trace your cheekbone with uncharacteristic gentleness. "You win. But if you're going to use me as a mattress, you're trapped." He rolls over just enough to tuck you securely against his side, wrapping his long limbs over you completely so you can't escape even if you wanted to, before resting his chin on your head and closing his eyes.

WRECKER

Wrecker is sitting cross legged on his bunk, happily sewing a loose patch onto Lula while humming a loud, clunky clone marching cadence. He is absolutely bursting with physical energy, completely occupied with his favorite tooka doll. You walk directly into his line of sight, tug gently on the hem of his tank top, and open your arms wide.

You give him the absolute highest concentration of puppy-dog eyes you can muster and say, "Wrecker, I want your attention."

His eyes go wide as saucers, and he instantly drops everything he is holding. Lula falls to the floor and his sewing kit rattles against the frame, as a massive, radiant grin splits across his face. "CUDDLE TIME?!" he booms out at the top of his lungs. He immediately catches himself, clapping both hands over his mouth with a guilty look to ensure the noise didn't scare you, before whispering loudly, "I mean... cuddle time?"

He scoops you up into the biggest, warmest bear hug in the galaxy, lifting your feet completely off the deck and spinning you around once in the air before falling backward onto his bunk with you safely tucked on top of his chest. He acts like a walking radiator, making you feel like you've been wrapped in a heated blanket fresh out of the dryer. He reaches down to tuck Lula right between the two of you, rocking you gently from side to side. "You're the best, you know that?" he beams, wrapping his massive arms securely around your back. "We're staying like this forever! No one's allowed to wake us up!"

ECHO

Echo is standing near the cockpit threshold, intently reviewing tactical flight maps on a datapad in full soldier mode, his posture perfectly straight and serious as he checks off standard maintenance protocols. You walk up to his side, slide your fingers into his human hand, and gently interlock them.

You lightly tap a quiet cadence against the cool metal plating of his prosthetic arm, look up at him, and whisper, "Echo, I want your attention."

He blinks rapidly, his highly trained tactical brain completely short-circuiting at the sudden sensation. He looks down at your joined fingers, then up at your face, his cheeks turning a lovely shade of crimson in the dim lighting of the ship. "I... I was just completing the perimeter logs," he stammers, but the datapad is shut off instantly and clipped to his belt anyway as he squeezes your human hand back with an incredibly tender, protective grip.

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.”

Hunter:

Sex can be a little overwhelming for him just in terms of overstimulation/sensory overload. he's always pretty spent after and needs a few minutes to come back to himself. he'll bury his face in your neck or chest and go quiet, catching his breath and grounding himself in you. physical reassurance from you rather than verbal helps him alot, just gently rubbing his back or running your fingers through his hair. once he regains himself, his attention will turn to you and he'll lift his head to look at you, hand cupping your face as he asks "You alright?". his hand will trail down your body like he's physically checking that you're fine, lingering on any marks he left and brushing his thumb over them. if you need anything, he'll get it for you, but he really just wants to lie there and hold you. gets all quiet and thoughtful after sex, mostly thinking about you, your relationship, how much he loves you, etc but doesn't voice much of it. falls asleep pretty fast after sex, usually before you which is unusual otherwise. likes sleeping with his head on your chest. is always better rested than usual when he wakes up

Wrecker:

Super affectionate after sex. also immediately wants to know if you're good. "You okay?" "I didn't squish ya, did I?" "You sure? You're good?" he's terrified of accidentally hurting you and his first thought afterwards is ensuring that he didn't. as soon as you reassure him, he relaxes and pulls you against his chest, hugging you tight with a "You tell me if you need anything, yeah?" also likes making you laugh after, just making things lighter by poking your side gently or making a dumb joke or nuzzling into your neck really dramatically. also really likes when you praise him afterwards and he'll do the same. he's always really drowsy afterwards though and you've only got a few minutes before he's out lol, even if it's just a short lil nap. once he wakes up he'll be double-checking with you that you're still good and will carry you to the shower to clean you up

Tech:

Is completely focused on you, making a bunch of observations about your breathing rate and muscle tension and micro-expressions and stuff even while he's still panting hard and trying to catch his breath. it's out of a combination of fascination and care, studying you to ensure you're comfortable. eventually catches himself and asks directly "Are you experiencing any discomfort?" if you need anything, he's on it immediately, cleaning you up, getting you water/tea/whatever, adjusting the blanket over you. asks you a lot of questions about how you're feeling, how the sex was, ways to improve, etc. doesn't really think of himself as needing aftercare but blushes if you tell him he did well and likes when you pull him in to cuddle. his mind is still super active afterwards (if anything he's more wired than usual after lol) and he doesn't fall asleep fast, but he will just lie there and hold you, trailing his fingers absently along your skin. keeps talking quietly for a bit esp if he knows it helps you fall asleep. has sudden little affectionate moments as he studies you and will randomly kiss your forehead and tell you he loves you

Crosshair:

Lies down on his back next to you, eyes half-lidded and breathing slow. will reach out and grab your hand, lacing his fingers with yours, but isn't super touchy after otherwise. once he recovers a bit, he starts stealing glances at you to gauge how you're doing and if he decides you need something he'll wordlessly get up and take care of you. would never admit to needing any kind of aftercare himself. if you pull him in to cuddle he'll click his tongue and admonish you for being clingy but will wrap his arms around you and tuck you against him anyway. barely says anything afterwards because he doesn't want things to get any more vulnerable, but also because he doesn't want to ruin anything by saying something too snarky lol. if you tease him or praise him or anything he'll say something dry but the tips of his ears go pink. doesn't fall asleep for a while after, stays awake thinking for a long time, staring at you as you fall asleep. might eventually fall into a pretty light sleep. once you wake up he'll press a rough kiss to your temple or forehead and help you get up and get dressed/cleaned up

Echo:

Instead, your gaze drifted past her. The moment Crosshair appeared at the top of the ramp, every other thought seemed to fade into the background. The sounds around you dulled until they felt distant and muted, as though someone had lowered the volume on the entire world. You couldn't look away from him. Months had passed since you'd last seen him, yet you recognized every detail immediately. He looked thinner than you remembered. The sharp angles of his face were more pronounced, and there was a noticeable exhaustion etched into his features that hadn't been there before. His posture remained rigid out of habit, shoulders squared and back straight in the way years of military training demanded, but the confidence that once accompanied that stance seemed diminished. There was a heaviness to him now, something weary and worn that lingered beneath the surface. You hated how quickly you noticed those things.

After everything that had happened, after all the anger and frustration you'd carried for months, part of you had expected seeing him again to be easier. You had imagined yourself feeling vindicated, perhaps even indifferent. Instead, the sight of him standing there stirred emotions you had spent far too long trying to suppress.

You hated it. Hated how quickly concern replaced anger. Hated how your first instinct wasn't to turn away. But nevertheless, your feet remained firmly planted where you stood. Every part of you knew you should move. Say something. Do something. Yet your body refused to cooperate. The distance between you wasn't far, but it felt impossible to cross. There were too many unanswered questions, wounds left open, and emotions tangled together for you to make sense of. Crosshair's gaze finally lifted. For one brief moment, his eyes met yours. The world seemed to narrow around that single point of contact. Then, almost immediately, he looked away. His gaze dropped toward the ground as though it physically hurt to look at you. You weren't surprised. The guilt radiating from him was impossible to miss.

Crosshair had never been particularly expressive, but you knew him well enough to recognize what lay beneath the surface. The shame hung around him like a physical weight, pressing down on him from all sides. It reminded you of the oppressive heat Ryloth was known for during the height of the day; relentless and impossible to escape. You couldn't stand there any longer. Without a word, you turned on your heel and headed for the Marauder. The metal ramp echoed beneath your boots as you climbed aboard. Each step felt strangely heavy. You kept your gaze fixed ahead, refusing to look back.

Behind you, Crosshair watched you disappear into the ship and a familiar ache settled in his chest. He wasn't sure what he'd expected. Realistically, he knew things couldn't simply go back to the way they had been. Too much time had passed. Too much damage had been done. Even so, seeing you walk away without a word stung more than he cared to admit. Throughout the journey back, he had found himself imagining this reunion despite knowing better. In none of those imagined conversations had you welcomed him with open arms, but there had always been words. Anger. Frustration. Demands for answers. Something.

Hunter and Wrecker exchanged brief glances before following after you. Neither brother said anything as they passed him. The tension hanging in the air was obvious enough without anyone pointing it out. Hunter simply gave Crosshair a measured look before continuing toward the ship. Omega lingered for a moment longer. When Crosshair finally glanced in her direction, she offered him a small smile. "You coming?" she asked softly. Crosshair glanced toward the ship. After a moment, he nodded, "Yeah."

Omega waited until he started moving before heading up the ramp herself. Left with little choice but to follow, Crosshair released a slow breath and climbed aboard the Marauder. The familiar interior greeted him immediately. The scent of machinery, worn metal, and recycled air was exactly as he remembered. It should have felt comforting. Instead, it only served as a reminder of how much had changed. His eyes found you almost instantly. You were seated in the pilot's chair, staring straight ahead at the navigation console. Whether you had heard him board or not, he couldn't tell. You didn't move. Didn't turn around. Didn't acknowledge his presence in any way. Crosshair's jaw tightened.

Wordlessly, he made his way toward the bunk that had once been his. For a moment, he simply stood there. The bunk looked exactly as it always had. Looking at it now, however, felt strange. He had imagined returning so many times that the reality seemed almost unreal. Slowly, he removed the outer layer of clothing he had been wearing and folded it with practiced precision. Once finished, he set the neatly folded garments at the foot of the bunk before lowering himself onto the mattress. The bunk creaked softly beneath his weight. Crosshair leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he stared at the floor.

After a moment, he lifted his head and glanced toward the cockpit. The soft blue glow of the navigation console illuminated the edges of your figure. Your attention appeared fixed entirely on the controls, fingers moving across familiar switches and buttons as you prepared the Marauder for departure. A hand dragged slowly over his face as he leaned back in the bunk and closed his eyes for a moment. The familiar sounds of the Marauder surrounded him; the low hum of the engines and the occasional beep from one of the ship's systems. They were sounds he had once taken for granted.

A soft set of footsteps drew his attention a short while later. Crosshair opened his eyes and turned his head just enough to see Omega making her way through the ship. The overhead lights had been dimmed for the evening, leaving most of the Marauder bathed in soft shadows broken only by the glow of various control panels. Omega slowed when she reached his bunk, lingering there for a moment as though trying to decide whether she should say something. In the end, she settled for a "Goodnight." After everything that had happened, Omega had welcomed him back with a kindness he wasn't entirely convinced he deserved. "Night, kid." Omega grinned as she continued on her way. A moment later, the curtain slid shut, and the ship fell quieter once more.

One by one, the others eventually turned in for the night. Wrecker passed through first, offering Crosshair an awkward nod before disappearing toward his bunk. Hunter lingered longer, moving through his usual routine. When he finally finished, his eyes briefly met Crosshair's. Neither seemed particularly interested in forcing a conversation that neither was ready to have. After a moment, Hunter simply turned away and headed for his quarters.

Crosshair remained awake. Sleep should have come easily after everything that had happened. His body was exhausted. Every muscle ached from days spent fighting his way back. The lingering effects of Tantiss still clung to him no matter how much distance now separated him from that mountain. Yet every time he closed his eyes, his thoughts dragged him back to the same place. To you. Eventually exhaustion won the battle. Not even bothering to pull the cover over himself, Crosshair rolled onto his side and reluctantly drifted off to sleep.

The following days passed painfully slow. Life on Pabu settled back into its familiar routine almost immediately. Repairs needed to be finished and the villagers always seemed to have another project that required an extra set of hands. You threw yourself into all of it with a determination that bordered on stubbornness. If your hands were busy, your mind had less opportunity to wander. At least, that was the idea. In reality, it worked far less effectively than you would have liked. No matter what task occupied your attention, your thoughts inevitably drifted back to the same person.

You saw him often enough to make things difficult but not enough to make them easier. Sometimes he was helping Hunter repair equipment near the docks. Other times he accompanied Omega through the village or disappeared for hours at a time. Whenever your paths crossed, neither of you spoke. There would be a brief glance and then one of you would look away. By the end of the week, you were thoroughly tired of the entire situation. You were helping sort supplies near the harbor when the frustration finally reached its limit. After spending nearly an hour reorganizing crates, you slammed the lid of one shut harder than intended. The sharp crack echoed across the dock. Several nearby villagers glanced over before quickly returning to their work.

You dragged a hand through your hair and exhaled heavily. This ridiculous stalemate had gone on long enough. Crosshair had spent months living in your thoughts whether you wanted him there or not. Now he was standing only a few hundred meters away most days, and somehow neither of you had managed a proper conversation. Before you could second-guess yourself, you abandoned the crate and went looking for him. Finding Omega proved easier than finding Crosshair. The moment you asked if she'd seen him, a knowing smile appeared on her face, "He's up on the western cliffs," she said,"He goes there a lot." You nodded, thanking her before turning away.

The path leading toward the cliffs wound through the quieter parts of the island. Colorful homes gradually gave way to rocky terrain and sparse vegetation. The further you traveled from the village, the more distant the sounds of everyday life became. The bustle of the marketplace faded until they were replaced by little more than the steady rush of wind and the distant crash of waves below.

Eventually, the path narrowed as it climbed higher along the cliffs overlooking the ocean. The late afternoon sun had begun its slow descent toward the horizon, painting the sky in soft shades of orange and pink. The sea stretched endlessly beyond the island, its surface glittering beneath the fading light. It didn't take long to spot him. Leaned against a rocky outcrop stood Crosshair. His rifle laid on the ground a few feet away.

For a moment, you remained where you were. The water below masked the sound of your approach completely. Crosshair hadn't noticed you. His attention remained fixed on the horizon. Without armor, he looked different. The civilian clothes suited him more than you expected. The setting sun painted warm colors across his features, replacing the harsh shadows you had grown accustomed to seeing. You really didn't need another reminder that he looked good, especially not when you were supposed to be angry with him. Drawing a slow breath, you cleared your throat. Crosshair's head turned sharply toward the sound. The moment his eyes found yours your heartbeat pick up.

The ocean thundered against the cliffs below, sending sprays of white foam against the rocks. The breeze carried the scent of salt through the air, tugging lightly at your clothes and hair. Yet all of it seemed distant compared to the weight of his gaze. You noticed his eyes flick briefly toward your hands before returning to your face. Then your shoulders. Your expression. Taking in every detail. Crosshair had always been observant. Now it felt less like observation and more like he couldn't help himself.

"Didn't think you'd come looking for me," he said quietly. His voice was rougher than you remembered, worn thin by everything he'd endured. The words weren't defensive. If anything, they sounded almost resigned. As though he'd convinced himself long ago that you wouldn't. You folded your arms across your chest to keep your hands occupied. "Neither did I." The honesty slipped out before you could stop it. A humorless laugh escaped you afterward. "I've spent the last week trying not to." Crosshair's gaze lowered briefly. You watched the muscles in his throat work as he swallowed. "You were doing a good job of it." His voice remained calm, but there was something beneath it. Something that sounded suspiciously like disappointment. "You think I wanted this?" you asked, frustration finally beginning to crack through the wall you'd built around yourself. "You think ignoring you has been easy?" His eyes lifted immediately at that. The question hung between you. Because despite the months apart and the damage he'd caused, both of you knew the answer. Neither of you had found any of this easy.

Crosshair stared at you for several seconds before speaking again. "No." The single word came quietly. "I don't." The simplicity of it caught you off guard. There was no argument or attempt to defend himself. No accusation thrown back your way. Somehow that made the anger simmering inside you harder to hold onto. "Then why?" Months of frustration poured into those two words. "Why did you leave? Why did you keep choosing them? Why didn't you come back?" Crosshair looked away again as his brows furrowed "I don't have a good answer." You laughed bitterly. "That's not an answer at all." "I know."

The conversation died off for a moment. Crosshair dragged a hand across the back of his neck. When he finally spoke again, his voice was low enough that you almost missed it. "I thought I was doing the right thing." His gaze remained fixed on the water. "And then after a while..." He stopped, jaw tightening. "After a while I wasn't sure how to come back." Something twisted in your chest. Because you could hear the struggle in his voice. The self-loathing rooted in every word. Crosshair had always carried his burdens alone. Always convinced himself he deserved whatever pain came his way. It was one of the things you'd loved about him and hated about him in equal measure. "You could've tried," you said quietly. "I would've listened." That made him face you once more. His face held a raw pain, "Would you?" he asked.

You opened your mouth to answer and then stopped. Because the truth was complicated. Months ago, you probably wouldn't have listened. You'd been furious and heartbroken because you were convinced he didn't care enough to stay. . But standing here now, seeing the exhaustion in his eyes and the weight he'd been carrying alone, you couldn't honestly say you would've turned him away forever. "Eventually," you admitted, "I would've." "I never stopped thinking about you."

For a long moment neither of you moved. Then cautiously, you stepped closer. The distance between you shrank by only a few feet, but it felt monumental "You're an idiot," you said softly. Crosshair blinked, "I've been told that before." Despite yourself, a small laugh escaped you. The sound seemed to surprise both of you and something warm flickered briefly across his face. Not quite a smile, but close enough.

"You hurt me," you continued, the humor fading. "More than anyone ever has."

Crosshair lowered his gaze, "I know."

"And I'm still angry."

"You should be."

"And I don't know if I can just pretend none of it happened."

"I'm not asking you to."

The two of you now stood right in front of each other. You couldn't stand the space between you any longer. Grabbing the front of his shirt, you tugged him down toward you, and the second your lips met, every thought vanished. The kiss was messy and desperate, driven more by emotion than precision. It carried all the frustration and longing that had built up during your time apart. Crosshair immediately melted into it, his hands finding your waist to pull you flush against him. One of your hands slid beneath the hem of his shirt. The touch pulling a groan from him.

The kiss broke soon after as you both stood there panting. Neither of you moved far, reluctant to give up the closeness you'd both missed for so long. Crosshair rested his forehead against yours and let out a quiet breath, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.

"Never leaving you again," he murmured as he embraced you once more.