cross my heart

It's been a roughly a month since the destruction of Kamino but he keenly remembered like it was yesterday. That day was supposed to be his day of reckoning: the day his righteous, simmering fury would finally subjugate his brothers to his will. Long had he waited to tell them that behind the stoic mask of duty, anger and a deep sense of betrayal had kept him going during his solitude on Kamino; yet he was robbed of that chance in their desperate fight for survival amidst the fire and rubble and churning, treacherous sea.

He remembered the testy exchanges he had with his brothers and watching them disappear into the Marauder one by one, his outrage mingling with disbelief as he realized they were about to leave him again, and then remebering nothing after that, until he awoke in cuffs inside the Marauder.

**********

"What the hell's going on?" He growled as he strained against the cuffs binding his hands. He tried to stand but a wave of nausea forced him back onto the rack with a groan. His vision spun as he looked around and immediately recognized the familiar surroundings of the Marauder.

A movement in the shadows caught his attention, and Crosshair fixed a steely glare on Hunter as he stepped closer.

"Hunter, you bastard," he seethed. "You stunned me. Again."

Hunter stared down at him. "I wasn't going to leave you behind, again," he replied evenly.

"You should have," he glowered. He kicked weakly at Hunter, who dodged with ease.

Hunter sighed heavily and sat across from him. "Crosshair. Too much has happened and I admit I still have my doubts, but I'm not making that same mistake again. You belong with us."

"Putting me in cuffs is a fine way of saying I belong," he snapped, holding up his hands.

"We had to make sure you were telling the truth about your chip. Tech scanned you, and..." Hunter pulled out his vibroknife and cut the cuffs open. "I'm not keeping you against your will. We're heading to Ord Mantell. Feel free to leave then if you want to."

Crosshair rubbed his wrists, still scowling, then noticed the sleeping girl curled on the floor by the foot of the rack.

Hunter followed his gaze. "She hasn't left that spot since we took off," he said quietly. "She's been waiting for you to wake up."

Crosshair made a disgusted sound and turned away. Hunter continued:

"Before we were soldiers, we were brothers. That's never going to change. I know you believe serving the Empire is your destiny, but...you saved her. That wasn't your mission directive. Why'd you do it?" He stood, his dark eyes boring into Crosshair's. "Think about that." He turned and walked away.

*******

It's been a month and he was still here, he reflected, chewing on his toothpick thoughtfully. His brothers had quietly welcomed him back, but there existed still a vague aura of unease whenever the Empire was mentioned. He felt it in their watchful glances and stilted conversation. Only Omega seemed genuinely comfortable around him.

"Crosshair? Crosshair, are you listening?" Omega's impatient voice jarred him back to the present. He blinked and narrowed his eyes.

"Should I? I've only heard this story three times today."

"Oh yeah? Then tell me what happens next!"

"You win a big smelly bantha after three games of dejarik. Grand prize."

"What? That's not what happened!" Omega shoved him lightly.

"I meant, four games," He drawled as he rolled his toothpick to the other corner of his mouth.

"You weren't listening!"

"You're all talk, kid. I could beat you easy."

Omega's eyes glinted with challenge. "You're on! If you have a board, let's do this."

"I've better things to do."

"Ha! Come on, Crosshair. I haven't played against you. Or are you chicken?" She laughed, flapping her arms around and making clucking noises.

"Look who's talking. You're a natural, kid."

"It's Omega. Oh-ME-gah, not kid." She paused, a puzzled look creasing her face. "A natural what?"

Crosshair's lips curved upward in the smallest of smiles.

**********

"What do you think those two are up to?" Echo asked, glancing over his shoulder curiously as another shriek of girlish laughter erupted from behind the curtain.

Hunter looked at the two dark shadows stark against the fiery orange-yellow curtain: one, tall and lanky, leaning against the doorframe, toothpick in mouth; and the other, flapping its arms like a drunk chicken, bobbing its head animatedly. He heard a quiet snort of laughter from Crosshair and an indignant reply from Omega.

He watched them a little longer before answering, committing to memory the blazing colors of sunset illuminated by the soft glow of the star-shaped string lights. He dared to imagine that behind the curtain, kindness and the pure, unconditional love of a child continued to thaw even the coldest of hearts.

First of all this line:

"Long had he waited to tell them that behind the stoic mask of duty, anger and a deep sense of betrayal had kept him going during his solitude on Kamino; yet he was robbed of that chance in their desperate fight for survival"

this is a fantastic way to summarize Crosshair's feelings. You could tell he had a lot to say in those scenes and we know he's not a talkative guy. This was his chance to let loose with what he'd been bottling up and it's nice to see him reflecting on that.

I love the way Hunter trails off about the chip, you can feel it weighing on him (and on us, ouch). And yet he tells Crosshair where they're going, they're essentially taking him to their hideout which is them showing they still trust him.

I also headcanon that omega would be the one most comfortable around Crosshair if he comes back, the reason his relationship with the others starts to thaw, and to see that here was just lovely!

Their interactions are adorable too - Omega's straightforwardness bouncing off Crosshair's cheeky sarcasm is just chef's kiss.

"He dared to imagine that behind the curtain, kindness and the pure, unconditional love of a child continued to thaw even the coldest of hearts." This one. Right in the feels.

and he would be the type of man who never asks for your opinion but somehow knows exactly what you want before you even realize it yourself.

if you’re tired, he’s already standing, his hand a firm, grounding weight on the small of your back to lead you away from the "vermin" without a single word of explanation to the people you were talking to.

he doesn't "escort" you; he moves you like a precious piece on a chessboard that only he is allowed to touch.

and his touch would be so rare that every time it happens, it feels like a divine event. he’s not a cuddler, but he is incredibly territorial.

if a stray hair falls out of place, he won't tell you to fix it. he will simply reach out, his long fingers cool and steady, and tuck the strand back behind your ear.

it’s a terrifyingly intimate gesture because his eyes never leave yours while he does it—a silent reminder that he notices every single flaw, and yet, he has chosen to correct yours himself.

and if he were to kiss you, he wouldn't be intense about it. there's no desperation in a god like him. he'd simply place his hand on your cheek, his thumb tracing the line of your jaw with just enough pressure to tilt your face up to his.

he would show love through absolute, unwavering standards. he doesn't give "participation trophies." if poseidon ever stays to watch you train or move, it’s because he finds your form flawless. as it should be.

he won't tell you "good job," but he will stare at you for a long, quiet minute before turning away, and that look—that brief moment where he actually sees you—is worth more than a thousand "i love yous" from a lesser god.

and he's the type to be silently jealous. he doesn't shout or pick fights with other gods.

if someone dares to look at you for too long, poseidon will simply turn his gaze toward them. he won't move a muscle, but the sheer, crushing weight of his intent will fill the room until the offender shuts their mouth and leaves. he doesn't do it to protect your feelings; he does it because no vermin has the right to gaze upon what is his. SMUT HCS HERE

poseidon is a man of absolute control, and that doesn't change when the lights go out. his desire is like the ocean—it’s calm and flat until it suddenly, wordlessly pulls you under.

he doesn't "initiate" with words or suggestive looks. he simply walks into the room, locks the door, and looks at you until the weight of his gaze makes you realize exactly what is about to happen.

and he isn't a fan of "risqué" behavior or sneaking around. why would a god hide his desires?

he finds the idea of public fumbling or quickies in hallways to be beneath him—the behavior of a clown who can't control their own impulses. he prefers the absolute privacy of his own space, where he can take his time without distraction.

and his kinks are all centered around quiet, firm dominance.

he’s a prone bone man through and through; he likes the view of your back and the way you look pressed down into the deep, expensive sheets. he doesn't need to see your face to know you're his; he can feel it in the way you tremble beneath him.

he wouldn't mind tying your hands behind your back, either—nothing cheap like rope, but a heavy, black silk tie. he wants you still. he wants you focused entirely on the sensation of him.

and he's incredibly iffy about bite marks or anything that "mars" your skin. he views your body as something perfect, a divine extension of his own space, and he doesn't want to see teeth marks on it the next day. however, he’ll leave a single, dark bruise on your hip where his thumb pressed too hard—a proprietary mark that only he will ever see.

he prefers the mouth—stolen, lingering kisses that remind you who he is.

his libido isn't high, mostly because he finds the "need" for sex to be a little too much, but when he decides it’s time, he is incredibly thorough.

he isn't a loud man, but he isn't silent either; when you move just right, he’ll let out a low, guttural grunt against the back of your neck. his praise is rare and sharp: "good. stay like that," or a simple, breathless, "perfect," when you finally break. it’s not meant to make you feel "good"—it’s meant to confirm that you are meeting his standards.

and for aftercare, he’s not the type to cuddle or whisper sweet nothings. he’ll sit up, compose himself, and then he’ll clean you both up with a damp cloth, his movements efficient and steady.

Thor's generally just sighing, pinching the bridge of his nose and continuing to walk off with his hammer in one hand thrown over his shoulders.

You can follow after him and make the comment again, but he's really not going to respond to it. He's not even thinking about it, just finding it... Naive.

He's generally not going to answer it: for one he doesn't even know how to answer it, and two, he finds no point in pleasing your strange mind.

Aftermath: he's unamused

Poseidon

"Did you know your small waist is holding big cargo?"

Poseidon's also giving you a very deadpan expression, although this one feels like a big side eye or just him being upset and annoyed.

He's silent for a moment, just giving you a glare and waiting for you to take it back or back away from him. He took it as a insult.

If you ask him again he's genuinely just ignoring you now, walking away and ghosting you for the rest of the day with such a sour mood and angry look on his face.

The other gods are noticing him being followed as he looks extremely upset now, it seemed ironic... Almost like they were in a alternate universe where Poseidon wasn't attacking people with his eyes alone.

He's about five more reasks away from slapping the shit out of you.

Aftermath: He's annoyed and ignoring you.

Hades

"Do all the kings get equipped with big boobies and small hips, or is it just you?"

Hades doesn't clock your question in it at first, just agreeing with a small hum. After a hot minute, he's pausing the little chess game between you both and staring at you.

He's confused and surprised. What?

Hades gives a warm chuckle as he moves his pawn piece, asking you to repeat it. He doesn't really give an actual answer, just shrugging it off unsure why.

Despite this, he thinks about it quite a lot but doesn't really comment on it unless you brought up again.

He finds it a little... Funny, it's not like the all respected but feared King of Hellheim gets many visitors who try to crack him with a joke or nonsense. He'll take it, but don't try it again he'll just shake his head from it being childish.

Aftermath: he found it a little witty.

Apollo

"Did you always know you had a snatched waist and large boobs?"

He's turning to you with a almost surprised look before laughing it off.

Awe, he found it so charming, how sweet. He's now got his ears and eyes on you. That's what you wanted, right? To catch his attention? You've definitely got it now.

He's very intrigued, asking you to tell him more about it, why you thought this and how it took you so long to notice.

Apollo's mostly just using this to feed into his ego, making himself feel good. He's twirling his hair with a hand on his hip, making himself presentable and posing for you.

Although eventually it gets to a point where you're both complimenting each other, humbling one another and laughing it off.

Aftermath: he found it to be charming.

Shiva

"Nice tits, is it difficult holding them with such a tiny waist?"

He turns to you with a confused expression, two of his hands that were behind his head fell from the feeling of being caught off guard as he stood there with one eyebrow raised. Eventually his lips quirked up into a smile.

He's rubbing the back of his neck and patting you on the shoulder, telling you that you've got a strange yet humorous way of talking to people.

Although, he thinks you need some mental help.

If you ask Shiva again he'll indulge you and start charming himself about how well he's made it to the top with hard work: fun and exercise.

Shiva doesn't really realize it but the question turns into him giving you tips on exercise and how to better your body.

Lu Bu: Arms, Neck, Collarbone

Physical affection is not his thing, but after you showered him with love, he basically mimics you. Arms to show how much he loves your strength. Neck and collarbone after a hard day's work, like training together or fighting. 

Sasaki: Cheek, Hands, Mouth

A tease WITH lazy kisses??!?!? (god i love him so much 😍) Despite not knowing much about romance, he's very affectionate, as he kisses you on the cheek a lot. Whenever you give him a gift or just offer food in general, he thanks you with a kiss on the cheek. Hands for whenever the two of you are lazy and cuddling each other. Mouth for sharing a tender moment of love, like those times when you're so in love with your partner and you're just staring into each other's eyes. 

Jack: Hands, Cheek

The TRUE gentleman among gentlemen. Kisses your hands to show how devoted he is to your relationship, promising he'll give you the world if it means you'll be happy, and nothing shall ever reduce you to the depths of fear and loneliness. The cheek is for when you gift him something or you help him with a task.

Qin: Cheek, Arms, Mouth

I headcanon he's a bodyworshipper, so except kisses on every part of your body. Yes. EVERY part. The cheek is for when he's trying to act all cute after doing something stupid, the arms are to grab your attention, but he always ends up kissing you on the mouth. You're sleepy? You're cooking? You're having sex? You're in danger? You're scolding him again? Kisses galore. 

Nikola: Hands, Cheek

My guy is a busy man, but luckily, cheek kisses are quick and simple to do while he's working. Of course, he does feel guilty at times, believing he doesn't show enough love, so he kisses your hands to remind you how much you mean to him every day, followed by a string of praises, a faint blush, and stars in his eyes. (god i love him too 🤧)

Okita: Cheek, Nose, Mouth

He likes to peck your face randomly because he likes to surprise you. Cheek and nose are the most common, but it can be anywhere on your face. One kiss stolen and he zooms off, giggling like a child. He finds it more fun when you chase him for more, though sometimes he might do something random while kissing you, like tickling your sides. The mouth is when he really wants to play with you.

Leonidas: Arms, Thighs, Mouth

Just like Loki's spot is your breasts, Leonidas' spot is your thigh. Except lots of hickey marks and bruises on them. That's his spot and his spot alone. Trailing kisses on your arms is meant to comfort you after a long day while also expressing how much he loves your strength. Since he's very forward, Leonidas has no shame in kissing you in public. The mouth is always meant to strike fear and dominance in the eyes of onlookers, as it shows the most emotion and passion.

Nostradamus: Cheek, Mouth

Second place tease; no one can beat Loki. When he kisses you, it's always in the most dramatic way possible. Memorizing a whole sonnet by heart in French whilst you're in his little arms, placing the sweetest kisses upon thy lips of yours. Cheek kisses to bother you or when he's "apologizing" for doing something stupid, like that chivalric display of love.

Kintoki: Mouth, Jaw

Definitely not afraid to kiss you in public, and when he does, usually aims for your mouth. Gives the deepest kisses, like tracing your molars and canines until he can make a map of your teeth. The jaw is for lazy cuddles or after a heated argument between you two. 

Simo: Hands, Arms, Forehead