#crosswalker

"Crosshair, you come with me, we'll be able to cover up there, the rest remains overland, we'll meet at the Separatist base. Any problems, use the comms" Anakin's voice was firm and gave clear instructions on what should be done, and how to be done.

The first part of the mission was like any other. They landed at a distance from the Separatist base, destroyed some battle droids and proceeded to the base. The arrival was supposed to be stealthy, but there were still plenty of droids ahead.

Along the way Crosshair could see Anakin Skywalker up close on a battlefield, destroying the droids with his blue lightsaber, leading the squad, using the Force when necessary. Crosshair didn't understand much about the Force, but he knew it was something the Jedi can do, and for him that was enough.

When Crosshair heard Anakin calling for them both to go above and cover the others from the hill, he didn't quite understand how Anakin would help from the top, but he didn't contradict, and quickly followed the General up the hill while the others followed overland.

"You really don't talk much, do you?" Anakin walked a few steps ahead of Crosshair, and glanced back as he addressed him.

"We're not used to working with reg," Crosshair said in a casual tone. His heart sped up at the sudden question and he didn't have time to think of a better answer.

"Regs?" Anakin stopped and waited for Crosshair to get closer to him.

"Regular clones, that's how we call them." Crosshair stopped beside Anakin and they looked at each other for a few seconds. Crosshair again felt his heart speed up its beat and his throat dry up.

"I see, you usually work alone... And with other Jedi, have you ever worked together?" Anakin was clearly trying to hold a conversation with Crosshair, he was curious about the team sniper and what kind of missions they usually was requested for.

"Sometimes. Jedi are very… uptight." Crosshair searched for a better word, but thought that would describe what he was trying to say. He knew little about the Jedi, but he knew a few things about them. He hoped Anakin could say more.

"I assure you that not all Jedi are like that, sometimes it's really hard to be 'just right' and follow all the rules"

Crosshair looked at Anakin but said nothing, although there were many things he wanted to say or ask, he preferred to just keep walking. He again remembered what Anakin had said about doing things that Jedi shouldn't be doing, and about Rex being involved.

"General, we gonna come in into the Separatist base" Rex's voice echoed through Anakin's comm again waking Crosshair from his thoughts.

"Of course Rex. I'm spotting some droids approaching from the north. I'll take care of them with Crosshair and you take care of the base." Anakin said firmly as he wielded his lightsaber again and frowned looking towards the approaching droid army.

Crosshair looked at Anakin for a few seconds just admiring his beauty and the way he wielded the lightsaber. He had never seen such a beautiful Jedi in his life, in fact, he had never seen anyone else with such beauty in the entire galaxy.

"Come on Crosshair, I'll take them overland and you'll cover me with the sniper up here." Anakin jumped towards the approaching army and Crosshair instinctively tried to hold Anakin as he didn't expect such a move given the height they were at. But of course, Anakin was a Jedi and it was normal to do these things, "Crosshair please focus, FOCUS!" he thought to himself as he lay down on the ground and adjusted the gun so he had a good angle of the way ahead of him.

Crosshair positioned himself and looked through the sight of his gun, spotting Anakin just below, already destroying the first approaching droids. He then took aim at some bigger ones that were right behind and soon hit them. Before long there were no more droids in the way, Anakin had finished most of them. Crosshair was sure he alone could have handled it, but he was glad he had helped. Right now, it was just Anakin and him working together, and no one else.

He looked towards Anakin who waved back at him with a mission accomplished smile. Crosshair lowered his weapon and made a saluting motion with his right hand, just watching him. He was smiling under the helmet, glad no one could see him.

Rex and The Bad Batch left the separatist base and Crosshair could see Anakin approaching them "great, they're all down there now and now I'll have to go all the way down... well they could pass the ship through here" Crosshair thought as he went it lifted the edge of the cliff where he was just above the group.

"Hey Crosshair wait a minute, we'll get the ship and catch you soon." Crosshair recognized Hunter's voice through the comm, but said nothing, just removed his helmet and placed a toothpick in his mouth.

The ship approached where Crosshair was. "HEY GET CLOSER, HOW DO YOU EXPECT ME TO ENTER THE SHIP THIS FAR AWAY?" He saw Rex and Anakin laughing about something, but the noise of the ship was too loud for him to hear something that was happening inside the ship.

He suddenly felt his body float, and he was absolutely confused about what was going on. "HEY WHAT IS IT?" Crosshair thrashed as he was taken inside the ship. The others laughed at the scene as Crosshair was placed on the ship's floor.

"Did you like the rideCrosshair?" Anakin said with a soft smile on his face as he reached out to help the younger one get up off the ground.

"I clearly didn't expect this. Jedi stuff" Crosshair said in a grumpy voice and reached his hand out to meet Anakin's.

His hands touched and Crosshair felt his body shudder. He couldn't feel Anakin's skin due to the gauntlet of his armor, but he could feel the firm, sure hand pulling him up close to him. When he rose to his feet again, the ship rattled with turbulence and Crossahair fell straight into Anakin's arms, who promptly caught him.

There was Crosshair into Anakin's arms. For some seconds, the world outside just stopped, and there was nothing else beside him and Anakin. He felt his cheeks flush and his body shudder.

"Oops, get you" Anakin said through chuckles as Crosshair walked away dazed by what had happened.

"I'm fine, t-thanks." Crosshair quickly straightened his posture and frowned, not wanting to show that he was completely weak in that moment.

He walked away while the others still laughed at the scene that had just happened, and Crosshair shrugged. He put a toothpick in his mouth and concentrated on his thoughts. He didn't quite know how to describe what he was feeling, he was nervous and in a cold sweat remembering Anakin so close to him, with his arms around Crosshair. He felt safe, for the first time in his life he wanted that moment to last for hours. "Crosshair enough, this is getting ridiculous" he thought to himself.

Tech's voice echoed through the ship interrupting Crosshair from his thoughts "I tracked the signal emitted by the CT-1409 and it's a live signal, it's being emitted from Skako Minor" The ship was already close to the base in Anaxes, and was preparing to land.

"Fine, we'll go there. As soon as we land, we'll draw up a plan for Skako Minor and leave later today." Anakin had his arms crossed close to his body and with a serious posture as he spoke, everyone paid attention to the orders of the Jedi in front of him and Crosshair was no different. His brows were furrowed and he watched with attention to Anakin's every expression and movement.

~

The ship landed at the base in Anaxes and everyone leave it. It was already night and there was a fire near where the ship had landed, some clones were nearby. "Me and Rex are going to go over some points and we'll meet soon, wait for us here" said Anakin towards Hunter, who just nodded.

Crosshair saw Anakin and Rex walk away from the group, once again he remembered Anakin's phrase about "things the Jedi shouldn't be doing" and his expression quickly contorted.

"Hey Cross lets join some regs?" Wrecker said chuckling as he put his arm around Crosshair's neck, who automatically snorted at the idea.

"If you insist" He sighed and followed the others towards the clones who were sitting by the fire.

Crosshair, Wrecker and Tech approached while Hunter stayed at a distance just watching the group. "Should have stayed with Hunter" Crosshair thought as he sighed and approached the other clones. He sat down on a log and Wrecker followed.

"They are the Bad Batch, the clone force 99" Cody said introducing the others to the clone next to him.

"Defective clones" said Kix as he gave a light laugh.

Crosshair was not used to being silent in these situations, but he was so absorbed in his thoughts of Anakin that he chose to just ignore the comments. He just heard some voices in the background. His expression was serious, and he stared ahead where the ships were, and waited Anakin and Rex to return as soon as possible.

He saw two figures approaching and soon got to his feet "finally we're leaving this place" he thought to himself and frowned again.

"So you don't usually work with normies do you?" He heard the clone named Kix referring to him. "That's why you're quiet, don't you like to joing some 'regs'?"

"Congratulations, you got it right," Crosshair said dryly as his face contorted. He took the toothpick out of his mouth and threw it at Kix. Crosshair had already ignored too much and he allowed himself to have some fun with the clones.

"What the hell is that?" Kix said with a frown as he walked towards Crosshair. He quickly pushed the clone, who again came towards him, this time with more force than the first one.

"Whoa, guys, that's enought stop it." Anakin was right in front of Crosshair, his hand on his chest pulling him away from Kix. Crosshair's expression was of surprise. He stared at Anakin for a few seconds and his eyes were the most beautiful he had ever seen. Crosshair shivered and for the first time in his life wanted to kiss someone else. "No, Crosshair what are you thinking?" he quickly spread the thought out of his head and straightened up again. He heard Kix say something about the toothpick, but he shrugged, not wanting to make another scene in front of Anakin.

"Perfect, the ship is ready, can we go?" Anakin said stepping away from the clones and walking towards the ship on the other side of the runway.

Crosshair snorted at Kix and Cody held him back. He gave a bitter smile, and walked towards his brothers who were already on their way to the ship.

As he walked he reflected on the scene he had just done. "What a shame Crosshair, fighting with normies and being separated by Anakin, what will he think?" He put a hand on his head in disapproval of his attitude, but now he had nothing else to do.

Part of him wanted the mission to end soon, but another part was thinking about saying goodbye to Anakin. There was still some time to go until the moment of farewell, but for the first time, Crosshair was suffering from anticipation of the end of the mission.