Hi! I was so happy to see you take requests!! I was wondering if you could do a Hunter X reader where she takes care of his hair? Plays with it and brushes it maybe then he confesses his love for her?
You write so beautifully and I would love to see any of your added flare! 💖
Hunter x Reader
You’d never admit it out loud, but you were obsessed with Hunter’s hair.
Not just in a “wow, that man is rugged and beautiful” kind of way—which he was, obviously—but in a “let me run my fingers through it and brush it until it shines like war-hardened silk” kind of way. It was therapeutic. Meditative. And, much to your delight, he let you do it.
Today, he sat cross-legged on a crate while you perched behind him on a bench, methodically brushing through his dark locks. His bandana was off, laying beside him, and he looked entirely too relaxed for a trained soldier.
“Y’know,” you mused as you carefully untangled a knot, “if you were any more relaxed, I’d think you were napping.”
“I might be,” Hunter replied, voice low and content. “Your fingers are dangerous. You could put a rancor to sleep with that touch.”
“Is that a compliment or a warning?”
“Both.”
You laughed and leaned forward slightly, tugging the brush down again. “So… you’re telling me I have tactical hair magic?”
“I’m saying if you ever turn on us, brushing me into unconsciousness would be an effective ambush.”
A beat passed.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” you said sweetly, and Hunter let out a low, amused chuckle.
“I like her,” Wrecker announced from across the Marauder’s hull. He was munching on something that definitely wasn’t a vegetable. “She’s got a whole plan to take you down, and you’re just sittin’ there like a sleepy tooka.”
“Only because you’re jealous I’ve got hair to brush,” Hunter quipped back.
Wrecker puffed out his chest dramatically. “You think if I glue some on, she’ll brush mine too?”
“No,” you replied immediately. “But I’ll draw flowers on your scalp.”
Tech sighed. “Please don’t encourage him.”
“Oh, I’m not encouraging,” you grinned. “I’m enabling. Very different.”
You reached into the little pouch at your side and pulled out a tiny cluster of wildflowers—yellow, blue, soft white. Carefully, you started weaving them into Hunter’s braid.
He noticed.
“…Are you putting flowers in my hair?” His voice held that dangerous edge, but you could hear the smile buried underneath.
“Absolutely.”
“I’m a soldier.”
“Even soldiers deserve to look cute.”
“Cute?” he asked, amused.
“Devastatingly cute,” you corrected, giving the braid a final tug. “There. Now you’re battle-ready and bouquet-chic.”
From the back, Echo groaned. “I can’t believe I’m seeing this.”
“You’re just mad no one wants to flower-bomb your hair,” you teased.
“He doesn’t have any,” Omega piped up helpfully, skipping into the room. She stopped in front of Hunter and beamed. “You look so pretty!”
Hunter raised an eyebrow. “Pretty, huh?”
“You should let her do your hair every day,” Omega added slyly. “You smile more when she’s touching it.”
Hunter froze. So did you.
Wrecker burst into laughter so loud it shook the crate.
“Oof! She got you good!” he said, pointing at Hunter like it was the funniest thing he’d seen all week.
You cleared your throat, cheeks warm. “Smart kid.”
“She’s not wrong,” Hunter muttered.
You blinked. “…What?”
Hunter turned, slowly, looking up at you with that intense expression that made your brain short-circuit. “I do smile more when you touch me.”
It wasn’t a tease. It wasn’t a joke.
He meant it.
Your breath caught in your throat. “That’s… dangerous information.”
“I trust you with it.” His gaze softened. “And maybe a little more than that.”
You stared at him, heart hammering. “Are you saying…?”
“I’m saying I love it when you brush my hair. I love it when you laugh. I love it when you drive the others crazy, and when you sneak me extra caf rations, and when you make even this ship feel like home.”
Wrecker snorted. “Finally.”
Echo made a gagging noise. Tech muttered, “Statistically speaking, it was only a matter of time.”
Omega clapped her hands and declared, “About time!”
Hunter smiled up at you through his flower-crowned braid. “So? What do you say?”
You bent down and kissed his forehead, fingers brushing gently through his hair. “I say… I’m going to need a lot more flowers.”
⸻
The ship had gone still.
No snark from Echo. No clanking from Wrecker. No light tinkering from Tech. Even Omega was tucked into her bunk, curled up with Lula like the galaxy couldn’t touch her.
And in the silence of that rare peace, Hunter sat on the edge of your bed with his back to you, braid still woven down his back, the tiny wildflowers now a little wilted from the heat of the day.
You stepped behind him quietly, holding the soft brush he always let you use. Always yours to borrow.
“Can I?” you asked gently, even though you both already knew the answer.
Hunter nodded once. “Please.”
So you started at the bottom—slowly, carefully loosening the braid, your fingers delicate. The petals came free one by one, falling onto the blanket like pieces of some strange memory.
He didn’t speak. Not yet.
And you didn’t push him.
Instead, you moved gently through his hair, unwinding the tightness of the day. With each pass of your hands, his shoulders lowered, his breath slowed.
You didn’t need the words.
But you wanted them.
You loved him. You’d known it for a while now. And maybe you were scared that if you said it, it would break the fragile, perfect peace that this quiet moment gave you both.
But you didn’t have to say it first.
He did.
Softly. Barely above a whisper. Like it had been resting on his tongue all day, just waiting to be safe enough to speak.
“I love you.”
You froze—just for a breath. Then smiled so softly it ached in your chest.
“I know,” you whispered back, fingers brushing behind his ear. “I’ve known.”
He turned to look at you. Hair loose, shadowed eyes soft, vulnerability written in every line of his face.
“Then why haven’t you said it?”
You leaned in, resting your forehead against his. “Because I wanted you to say it first.”
Hunter huffed out a tiny laugh. “Tactical move.”
“Always,” you smiled.
He reached up and cupped your jaw gently, his touch feather-light. “I love you,” he repeated, more sure now. “Not just when you’re brushing my hair. Not just when you’re teasing the others. Always.”
You kissed him this time—slow and lingering, hands tangled in his now-loose hair, wild and soft between your fingers.
“I love you too,” you whispered into the space between your lips.
The flowers were gone. The braid undone.
But somehow, this moment felt even more whole.
⸻
“Tech, you’re smarter than you look,” you said, fingers flying across the datapad as you recalibrated the long-range scanner’s neural relays.
Tech didn’t even glance up. “Is that a compliment for my intelligence or an insult for my appearance?”
You smirked, biting the inside of your cheek. “Maybe both. You’ll never know.”
That got him. He looked at you over the rim of his goggles, blinking once. “You are remarkably cryptic for someone so precise in data analysis.”
“And you’re remarkably dense for someone with a photographic memory.”
He opened his mouth—no doubt to deliver a factually loaded rebuttal—but Omega’s groan from the doorway cut him off.
“Ugh, will you two just kiss already?”
Wrecker let out a bark of laughter from the other side of the room. “They’re both so smart and yet so stupid. It’s kinda impressive, honestly.”
Hunter passed by without even looking up from his weapon check. “I give it three more arguments before one of them short-circuits.”
Echo, lounging at the gunner’s console, rolled his eyes. “I’ve seen better communication from malfunctioning droids.”
You turned bright red. “We’re not—! I mean, it’s not like that.”
Tech, completely deadpan: “I fail to see the logic in a kiss solving anything.”
“Oh my stars,” you muttered, pinching the bridge of your nose. “You’d think two geniuses wouldn’t be so emotionally… constipated.”
Omega laughed as she flopped into a chair. “Is that what it’s called?”
“Yes,” you said, shooting Tech a sidelong glance. “He’s got a whole datacard full of tactical strategy, but apparently no folder for feelings.”
“I have folders,” Tech protested, indignant. “I just haven’t… opened them.”
You crossed your arms and leaned back in your seat. “Well, maybe you should. Before I go flirt with Echo just to see if he can keep up.”
Tech’s goggles glinted as he straightened, spine stiff. “That would be inefficient. Echo’s humor is marginally less compatible with yours. Statistically, I am the superior match.”
The room went dead silent.
Even Hunter looked up.
“…What?” Tech asked, genuinely confused. “Was that not the correct response?”
You blinked, lips parting, but nothing came out at first. Finally, you leaned forward, resting your elbows on the table.
“Tech,” you said slowly. “Are you… trying to court me via statistics?”
“Well, that is the language I am most fluent in,” he said, as if it were obvious. “I have also calculated the probability of your reciprocal affection to be relatively high, based on prolonged eye contact, increased heart rate during proximity, and your tendency to brush your hair back when speaking to me.”
Your face went completely warm. “You noticed that?”
“I notice everything about you,” he said plainly. “I simply haven’t known what to do with the information.”
Your heart stuttered—because for all his clinical language, there was vulnerability behind it. Soft. Honest. Tech didn’t lie. He just struggled to feel out loud.
You offered a small smile. “You don’t have to do anything… except meet me halfway.”
He tilted his head. “Can you define halfway in this context?”
You stood up, stepped in front of him, and placed your hand gently on the side of his face—just enough pressure for his breath to catch. He froze like a statue.
“This,” you whispered, “is halfway.”
“Oh,” Tech said softly, eyes wide behind his goggles. “I see.”
And then—slowly, cautiously, with all the finesse of a man defusing a bomb—he leaned forward and kissed you.
Echo let out a low whistle. Wrecker whooped. Omega cheered.
Hunter smirked to himself. “About time.”
When you pulled back, Tech looked dazed. Awestruck.
You grinned and nudged his shoulder. “See? That wasn’t so hard.”
Tech adjusted his goggles. “I must say… I found it remarkably agreeable.”
“You’re so weird,” you whispered, grinning.
He smiled back. “Yes. But apparently, I am your kind of weird.”
⸻
Can i request a fox x reader where he's super soft towards them, not like in a ooc way but where he's just nicer and more relaxed with them than anyone else. And maybe the corrie guard overhears him being soft and they burst into the room like "who are you and what have you done with fox?" lmao
Loveyourwritingmydarlingokeybyeeee <3
Commander Fox x Reader
The Commander of the Coruscant Guard was many things: stern, intense, inflexible, direct, and famously immune to nonsense.
Except, apparently, when it came to you.
No one really noticed it at first. Fox wasn’t exactly the hand-holding type. His version of affection was a nod of acknowledgment or the way he’d always check to see if you made it back to your quarters safely after Senate briefings. But lately, the cracks in the durasteel facade were getting harder to ignore.
Like now.
You were perched on the edge of his desk in the command center, arms crossed lazily while he keyed in reports with one hand and let the other rest lightly—casually—on your thigh.
His voice, low and gravelly, was uncharacteristically gentle.
“You didn’t sleep much last night,” he murmured, not looking at you but very much not hiding his concern. “You’ve got that look in your eye again.”
“I’m fine,” you replied, giving a little smirk. “That’s just how my face looks when a certain commander forgets to bring caf.”
Fox exhaled a quiet laugh. A laugh. “That’s mutiny talk. You want to end up in a holding cell?”
“With you? Might be worth it.”
He stopped typing. Finally looked up. “Careful. I might take you up on that.”
You were just about to tease him back when the door burst open so violently that one of the wall panels actually rattled.
Thorn, Hound, Stone, and Thire stood there like they’d just walked in on a crime scene.
Stone was the first to speak, horrified: “WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH FOX?!”
Fox blinked. “Excuse me?”
Hound squinted suspiciously. “No, no, something’s not right. He laughed. I heard it. He laughed. He touched someone willingly. I’m calling medbay—Fox, are you concussed?”
Thorn pointed an accusing finger. “That was flirtation! You flirted, Fox! In Basic! With smiling! You’re a danger to the chain of command!”
Thire just slowly turned to you, deadpan. “How long has this been going on?”
You lifted your hands, grinning. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Fox stood, dead calm. “Get out.”
“No,” Hound said flatly, arms crossed. “Not until you admit you’re in love and also apologize for emotionally terrorizing us with your… softness. I mean, stars, Fox. You said she looked tired like you care. That’s romantic horror.”
Thorn leaned against the doorframe like this was the most entertaining thing he’d seen all cycle. “Is this why you actually smiled yesterday when she waved at you across the hall? I thought you were having a stroke.”
“I’m calling a medic anyway,” Stone added. “Just in case.”
You bit your lip to stifle a laugh. Fox just pinched the bridge of his nose.
“I am going to file so many disciplinary reports,” he muttered.
“And we’ll burn them all,” Thire chirped.
Hound grinned. “C’mon, just admit it, vod. You like her.”
“I never denied it,” Fox replied, surprisingly quiet. His eyes met yours. “I just didn’t think it was any of your business.”
The room went dead silent.
Then Thorn wheezed. “He said it. He said it out loud. Commander Fox has feelings.”
You leaned into Fox’s side, bumping your shoulder into his. “You might want to start locking your door if you’re gonna keep being sweet on me like this.”
“I will now,” he muttered, glaring at the four guards still standing there. “Get. Out.”
Stone waved as he backed out, still looking like he’d witnessed a live explosion.
Thire saluted dramatically. “We’ll leave you to your romantic crimes, sir.”
“I’m telling Jet,” Thorn added gleefully.
Fox groaned and sank back into his chair, rubbing a hand over his face.
You leaned down to kiss his temple. “You okay, Commander?”
He grabbed your hand and pressed it to his chest like it grounded him. “Only because you’re still here.”
From the hallway: “SICKENING!”
Fox raised his blaster. “I will shoot them.”
You just smiled and kissed him again.
Hiya lovely! I was wondering if you could do a Bad Batch X blind force sensitive Reader where they did the painting of her on their ship but since she can’t see she doesn’t mention it but the bit are flustered because she’s like their version of a celeb crush because of unorthodox on the battle field.
Very much enjoy reading your stories! 🧡🧡
The Bad Batch x Blind Jedi!Reader
Even before the Order made it official with her rank, she moved through warzones like a rumor given form. Jedi Master [Y/N], field strategist and warrior monk of the Outer Rim campaigns, was a living contradiction—unpredictable, untouchable, devastating.
And blind.
Not metaphorically. Physically. Her eyes were pale and unseeing, but the Force made her a weapon no enemy wanted to face. Not when her saber moved like liquid flame, her bare feet danced across fields of blaster fire, and her instincts cut sharper than any tactical droid could calculate.
Clone troopers told stories of her—how she once Force-flipped an AAT into a ravine because “it was in her way.” How she never issued orders, only spoke suggestions, and somehow her men moved with perfect synchronicity around her. How she’d once been shot clean through the shoulder and kept fighting, citing “mild discomfort.”
To Clone Force 99, she was something between a war icon and a celebrity crush.
They’d never met her. Not officially. But they’d studied her campaigns. Memorized her maneuvers. And after Tech had painstakingly stitched together footage from her battlefield cams, Wrecker had pitched the idea: “We should paint her on the Marauder.”
It had started as a joke.
But then they’d done it.
Nose art, like the old warbirds from Kamino’s ancient archives. Cloak swirling. Lightsaber ignited. Body poised in mid-air, wind tossing her hair. There were probably more elegant ways to honor a Jedi Master. But elegance had never been Clone Force 99’s strong suit.
And now, they were docking on Coruscant.
And she was waiting for them.
“She’s here.”
Hunter stared at the holopad in his hand. Her silhouette stood at the base of the landing platform, backlit by the setting sun, cloak fluttering in the breeze.
“Right,” Echo muttered. “No turning back now.”
“She doesn’t know about the painting,” Crosshair said. It wasn’t a question.
“She’s blind,” Tech replied. “So in all likelihood, no.”
Wrecker, sweating, mumbled, “What if she feels it through the Force?”
No one answered that.
The ramp lowered.
She didn’t move as they descended, but they all felt it—that ripple in the air, like entering the calm center of a storm. She stood still, chin slightly tilted, as if listening to their boots on durasteel. Her hands were clasped loosely behind her back. No lightsaber in sight. But the power radiating off her was unmistakable.
Then she smiled.
“I thought I felt wild energy approaching,” she said, voice warm, low, and confident. “Clone Force 99.”
The voice didn’t match the chaos they’d expected. It was calm. Even soothing.
They all saluted, more out of reflex than formality.
“Master Jedi,” Hunter said, his voice lower than usual.
“‘Master’ is excessive,” you said, tilting your head. “You’re the ones with the art exhibit.”
Hunter’s face went slack. Echo coughed. Tech blinked. Crosshair’s toothpick fell.
Wrecker choked on his own spit.
“…Art?” Echo asked, voice high.
You turned toward the ship—just slightly off to the side.
“The painting. On the nose of your ship. I hear it’s flattering.”
Hunter’s jaw clenched. “You… saw it?”
“No. I heard it. The padawan of the Ninth Battalion told me. With great enthusiasm.”
Wrecker groaned and dropped his helmet onto the ground with a thunk.
“I haven’t looked,” you added gently. “Don’t worry.”
That… only made it worse.
“I wasn’t aware I’d become wartime propaganda,” you continued, starting toward them with measured steps. “But it’s not the strangest thing I’ve encountered.”
Crosshair muttered, “Could’ve fooled me. You yeeted a super tactical droid off a cliff on Umbara.”
“I did,” you replied, smiling faintly. “He was being condescending.”
They walked with you through the plaza toward the Temple, though it felt more like a parade of sheep behind a lion. Despite your calm presence, none of them could relax. Especially not when you turned your head toward them mid-stride and said:
“Which one of you painted it?”
Silence.
Tech cleared his throat. “It was… a collaborative effort. Conceptually mine. Execution—shared.”
You grinned. “Collaborative pin-up Jedi portraiture. You’re pioneers.”
“I’m sorry,” Echo said sincerely. “We meant it as a tribute.”
“I know.” You touched his elbow lightly as you passed. “That’s why I’m not offended.”
Hunter, walking beside you, couldn’t help but glance down. You didn’t wear boots. Just light wrap-around cloth sandals. Not exactly standard issue for a battlefield. But then again, you were anything but standard.
“You don’t need to walk on eggshells around me,” you said to him softly.
“We painted you on our ship,” he replied, the words gravel-rough. “Forgive me if I’m not sure what I can say.”
You turned toward him, unseeing eyes oddly precise. “Say what you mean.”
Wrecker—trailing behind with his helmet under one arm—whispered, “She’s terrifying.”
“Terrifyingly interesting,” Tech whispered back.
“She can hear you,” you called over your shoulder.
Wrecker squeaked.
By the time they reached the Temple steps, all five were sweating—some from nerves, some from heat, some from the sheer existential dread of having their war-crush walking next to them and being nice about the whole embarrassing mural situation.
“You’re staying onboard the Marauder for this mission, aren’t you?” you asked as they paused near the gates.
Hunter nodded. “Yes, Master Jedi.”
“Then I suppose I’ll be seeing myself every time I board.”
Sheer panic.
“But don’t worry,” you added with a smirk, sensing it. “I’ll pretend I don’t know what it looks like.”
Crosshair grumbled, “Or we could repaint it.”
“Don’t,” you said, suddenly serious. “It’s nice to be remembered for something other than war reports.”
And then you were gone—ascending the Temple steps with grace that shouldn’t have belonged to someone without sight, cloak trailing like shadow behind fire.
The Batch stared after you.
“She’s—” Wrecker began.
“I know,” Hunter said, almost reverently.
Echo exhaled. “We’re in trouble.”
Tech is so cute Ɛ>
⸻
The cantina flickered with low, golden light. One of those places where time didn’t move right—where music played like a memory, and everyone spoke a little softer after dark.
You sat on the edge of a cracked booth, legs stretched, nursing a cheap drink you weren’t really drinking. Your armor was off, your hair a mess, and there was still grime on your hands from the skirmish earlier that day. You should’ve been back at the ship, cleaning up or passing out. But you weren’t.
Because he was still here.
Hunter leaned against the bar, arms crossed, talking quietly to the bartender. His bandana was off for once, letting those wild curls fall free around his face. He looked tired—always did—but he still stood like he carried the weight of everyone else’s safety before his own. That kind of burden was its own kind of beauty.
You didn’t realize you were staring until he turned and caught you.
He didn’t look away.
Neither did you.
Eventually, he walked over. Sat across from you without asking, sliding into the cracked booth like it had always been meant for two.
“You okay?” he asked.
You shrugged. “Still got all my limbs.”
He smirked. “That’s a start.”
You studied him under the flickering cantina lights. He was always so composed in battle, so sharp, so focused. But like this, up close and quiet, there was something softer behind his eyes. Something a little tired. A little lonely.
“You’re always looking after everyone else,” you said suddenly, voice low. “Who looks after you?”
Hunter blinked, caught off guard by the question. He looked down, then back at you with a small, dry laugh. “You know… I don’t really think about it.”
“You should.”
You reached out and brushed a thumb across his knuckles—just once, just enough.
He didn’t flinch.
“You’re good looking when you’re not pretending to be indestructible,” you murmured. The words slipped out like a secret.
Hunter tilted his head, smile crooked, eyes watching you like he was trying to decide if he was dreaming or if he just hadn’t let himself want this before.
“You’ve been drinking,” he said.
You held his gaze. “A little. But I’d say it sober.”
He leaned forward, forearms on the table, his voice low and gravelly. “Then say it again.”
You felt your breath hitch, just a little.
“You’re good looking, Hunter,” you said. “But I think I like you even more when you let yourself feel.”
A beat passed. Two. He looked down at your hand, still near his. Then he reached for it—gently, carefully, like something fragile in a war-torn world.
“I think I feel too much when I’m around you,” he said. “And that scares me more than battle ever could.”
You didn’t answer. Just let the silence sit between you—heavy, intimate, real.
The music kept playing. The world outside kept spinning. But for now, it was just the two of you, sitting across from each other like the war had paused. Like the night belonged to people who’d been scarred, and tired, and still dared to want something more.
Captain Rex x Reader x Commander Bacara
The cantina had never felt so alive.
Over the last several weeks, she had joined the Bad Batch on a few of Cid’s more difficult jobs. Recovery runs, extractions, a few tight infiltration missions—each one forging a subtle bond between them. She and Hunter found common ground in silent understanding, Wrecker made her laugh despite herself, and even Tech, with his logic and curiosity, had started asking her opinion more often than not.
Cid still didn’t know her full story. The Trandoshan just assumed she was another burned-out merc who’d gone to ground after the war, hiding her past in the quiet monotony of bar work. And that suited the her just fine. The fewer people who knew, the safer everyone was.
But on one mission—one where they’d helped two bold sisters named Rafa and Trace Martez—she’d felt it again. That familiar pull in the Force, that reminder of what she used to be. Rafa had seen it too, maybe not for what it was, but she’d looked at her like someone who knew the fight wasn’t over yet. Trace had even asked if they’d ever met before.
She had only shaken her head. “Not in this lifetime.”
Now, back at Cid’s, sweaty and aching and dusty from another run, the Batch filed in ahead of her. Her boots dragged slightly, exhaustion settling in her bones like old echoes. She was about to hang her blaster at the rack when her breath caught—sharp, immediate, deep.
She felt him before she saw him.
The Force surged like a wave just under her skin. A presence wrapped in memory and loyalty and grief. Her head snapped up.
Standing in the corner of Cid’s parlor, talking low with Hunter, was Captain Rex.
He hadn’t changed much—still clad in familiar white and blue armor, cloak drawn over one shoulder, a little more wear on his face, a little more heaviness behind his eyes. His gaze was sharp as ever.
And then his eyes locked with hers.
The world fell away.
She didn’t breathe. Neither did he.
“Rex?” she said, barely a whisper.
Cid squinted at her. “Wait—you two know each other?”
Neither answered.
“Holy kriff,” Wrecker muttered.
The room fell into silence. Even Tech looked up from his scanner, blinking rapidly.
She took a step forward, heart in her throat. He took one too.
“…You’re alive,” Rex finally said.
“So are you,” she whispered back.
Rex’s voice broke just slightly. “I thought I lost you on Mygeeto.”
She wanted to say a thousand things. She wanted to cry. Or maybe scream. Instead, she smiled—tight and aching.
“You almost did.”
“You were reported dead,” Rex said, his voice lower now, almost reverent. “The logs said your ship was shot down before it cleared Mygeeto’s atmosphere. That you never made it off-world.”
She blinked, her mouth parting as if to speak, but nothing came at first. Her throat tightened.
“No,” she said finally. “That… never happened. I made it out clean. No damage. No one even fired at my ship.”
Rex stared at her, confusion shadowing his face. “That doesn’t make sense. That kind of discrepancy… someone altered the report.”
Her heart began to pound harder now, a slow, rising pressure like air being sucked out of the room.
A beat passed.
“…Bacara,” she said aloud, but not to Rex—more like to herself. The name slipped out like a bitter taste on her tongue.
It didn’t make sense. And yet, it did. The moment on the battlefield, when his blaster had locked on her with terrifying precision—then hesitated. Just for a breath. And she had felt something underneath the chip-induced obedience. A pause. A struggle.
And then the fake report.
Did he lie? The thought whispered through her like a crack of light through stormclouds. Did he lie to protect me?
But the thought was gone as quickly as it came—burned out by the searing heat of Rex’s presence.
“Doesn’t matter,” she muttered, shaking it off, forcing herself back to the now. “I survived. That’s what matters.”
Rex wasn’t looking at her anymore. He was looking past her, to the others.
To the rest of the Batch.
His body tensed, like a wire pulled too tight.
“…You haven’t removed your chips,” Rex said suddenly, voice sharp and cold as a vibroblade.
The Bad Batch stilled.
“What?” Echo stepped forward. “Rex—”
“I said,” Rex growled, stepping into the middle of the group, “you haven’t removed your inhibitor chips. After everything we’ve seen—after what happened to her—you’re still walking around with those things in your heads?”
“We haven’t had an episode,” Tech offered calmly. “We believe our mutation suppresses its effectiveness.”
Rex’s hand hovered near his blaster now.
“Belief isn’t good enough. You’re a threat to her.”
The reader stepped between them, her heart in her throat.
“Rex—”
“No,” he said, not to her, but about her. “She barely survived the last time a squad turned on her. You really want to gamble her life again?”
Hunter met Rex’s fury head-on, calm but firm. “We’re not your enemy.”
“Not yet,” Rex snapped. “But I’ve seen what those chips do. I felt it tear my mind apart. You think just because you haven’t activated, it won’t happen? You don’t get to risk her.”
The reader put a hand on his chest, stopping him, grounding him.
“I can take care of myself,” she said quietly. “They’ve had plenty of chances. And they haven’t.”
But Rex’s gaze didn’t soften. Not yet.
“I lost everything,” he said, finally looking at her again. “Don’t ask me to stand by and watch it happen again. Not to you.”
⸻
The makeshift medbay in the old star cruiser felt colder than the cantina ever had. The surgical pod hissed softly as Tech monitored the vitals, his face pale in the glow of the console.
Wrecker sat on the edge of the table, visibly uneasy.
“I really don’t like this, guys,” he muttered, voice strained. “This doesn’t feel right.”
Hunter stepped forward, voice calm. “You’ll be okay. We’ve all done it now, Wreck. You’re the last one.”
The reader stood to the side, hands clasped tightly. She had helped on this mission, grown close to them over the weeks. The thought of any of them hurting her—or Omega—was almost impossible. But she’d seen what the chip could do. She had lived it.
“You trust me, don’t you?” Omega asked softly, standing near Wrecker’s knee.
Wrecker gave her a pained smile. “’Course I do, kid.”
She left his side reluctantly as Tech activated the procedure.
Then it began.
Sparks of pain registered on the screen—neural surges, error readings. Wrecker groaned, clutching his head.
The reader’s breath hitched.
“Tech?” Echo stepped forward. “That’s not normal—”
Wrecker’s growl cut through the room. His hands gripped the edges of the table until they bent under his strength.
He lunged.
Tech hit the emergency release—but too late. Wrecker was up, snarling, wild-eyed.
“You’re all traitors!” he shouted.
Hunter shoved Omega behind him. “Wrecker, fight it!”
“In violation of Order 66!” he bellowed, locking eyes with the reader.
She barely had time to ignite her saber as he charged.
They clashed hard—fist to blade. Sparks flew. Her heart pounded. He was trying to kill her.
He wasn’t Wrecker anymore.
“You don’t want to do this!” she cried, dodging as he smashed a console.
Echo and Hunter tried to flank him, but he threw them aside effortlessly. He moved toward Omega next—drawn to the Jedi-adjacent signature she carried.
“No!” the reader screamed, hurling him back with the Force.
That dazed him just long enough for Tech to line up the stun shot—two bursts of blue light—and Wrecker dropped to the ground, unconscious.
The silence afterward felt deafening.
Omega rushed into the reader’s arms, trembling.
“I-It wasn’t him,” she whispered. “That wasn’t Wrecker…”
The reader just held her tightly, blinking away her own tears.
“I know, sweetheart. I know.”
The cruiser’s medbay was quiet again, the hum of the equipment the only sound as Wrecker stirred.
He groaned, eyes fluttering open, then blinked blearily at the harsh lighting above. The reader stood near the far wall, arms crossed, eyes guarded. Omega was asleep in a nearby chair, curled up beneath a blanket.
Wrecker sat up slowly, then immediately winced. “Urgh… what happened?”
Hunter leaned forward, cautious. “You don’t remember?”
Wrecker rubbed his temple. “Just… pain. Then nothing.”
Tech stood near the console. “Your inhibitor chip activated. We had to stun you to prevent serious harm.”
Wrecker glanced around, gaze slowly landing on the reader. His heart dropped.
“I—I hurt you, didn’t I?” he rasped.
She didn’t speak at first. Her jaw was tight, her knuckles white where they gripped her sleeves.
“You tried to kill me,” she said quietly. “Tried to kill Omega.”
Wrecker’s shoulders slumped, devastated.
“I’m so sorry,” he said, barely able to get the words out. “I couldn’t stop it… I wasn’t me. I’d never hurt you. Or her.”
The reader finally stepped closer. “I know,” she said. “It wasn’t you. It was the chip.”
“But it was me,” Wrecker insisted. “It was my hands. My voice. I said those things…”
Omega stirred then, blinking awake. She saw Wrecker sitting up and scrambled over, hugging him fiercely before anyone could stop her.
He held her gently, cradling her as if she were made of glass. His voice cracked when he whispered, “I’m sorry, kid.”
“I forgive you,” she murmured.
The room went still.
The reader watched them, throat tight. The bruises on her arms still throbbed. But the sincerity in Wrecker’s voice, the pain in his eyes—it reached something inside her.
She gave a small nod. “So do I.”
Wrecker looked up, eyes glassy. “Really?”
She stepped closer, touching his shoulder. “You were the last one with that thing in your head. It’s over now. You’re still Wrecker.”
He exhaled, like he’d been holding his breath for days.
Echo gave him a nod. “You’re one of us. Always.”
Tech cleared his throat. “Now that we’re all… unchipped, we can begin operating more freely. No more sudden execution protocols.”
Hunter placed a hand on Wrecker’s arm. “We move forward together.”
Wrecker nodded slowly, and Omega curled back up beside him, calmer now.
The reader stepped back, quietly observing them.
Something had changed in her too. Watching them risk everything for one another, seeing how hard they fought to stay together, to be together—it stirred something she hadn’t let herself feel in a long time:
Hope.
⸻
Ord Mantell’s night air was thick with the scent of dust and ion fuel, the stars low and heavy above the cluttered skyline.
She stood alone on the overlook behind Cid’s parlor, arms folded against the breeze, her lightsaber weighing heavy at her side. It was the first time she’d clipped it there in months.
She didn’t flinch when Rex approached. She felt him before she heard him.
“You sure?” he asked, stopping beside her.
She nodded, slow. “Yeah.”
They stood in silence for a long time. The clatter of cantina noise bled faintly through the walls. Somewhere below, Wrecker was likely teaching Omega how to throw a punch without breaking her wrist. Echo would be reading. Hunter brooding. Tech lecturing some poor soul who made the mistake of asking a question.
They’d become a strange sort of family. And that made this harder.
“I’m not running,” she finally said. “Not from them. But I can’t keep hiding in a bar like the war never happened.”
“You don’t owe anyone an explanation,” Rex said quietly.
She turned to look at him, really look at him—his expression weary, but his posture still sharp. There was always weight behind his gaze, but now it was heavier. Lonelier. She recognized it. She felt it too.
“I think I owe them a goodbye,” she said.
⸻
Inside, the Batch were gathered around the table. She stood before them, her saber now visibly clipped to her hip.
They all turned. Omega was the first to speak. “You’re leaving?”
“I am,” she said. Her voice didn’t shake. “With Rex.”
A beat of silence.
Hunter stood. “You’re sure?”
She nodded. “You all gave me something I didn’t realize I needed. But I can’t stay here while there’s still a fight out there.”
Tech removed his goggles briefly, nodding with rare sincerity. “You’ve always been capable. I suspected it the moment I saw you cleaning barstools like you’d rather stab someone.”
That earned a faint laugh, even from her.
Wrecker stepped forward, wrapping her in a careful, crushing hug. “Just don’t get shot or anything.”
“I’ll try not to,” she muttered into his chestplate.
Echo approached last, meeting her gaze with quiet understanding. “Stay safe. And if you ever need us—”
“I’ll find you,” she said. “I promise.”
Omega flung herself into her arms, teary-eyed but brave. “Will you visit?”
“If I can,” she whispered. “I’ll try.”
⸻
Outside again, Rex waited by the speeder. She joined him in silence, the saber at her hip now humming softly against her side.
“You ready?” he asked.
“No,” she said. “But I’m going anyway.”
Rex smirked faintly. “Good answer.”
They mounted the speeder, and as it took off into the dark, she didn’t look back.
Not because she didn’t care.
But because it hurt too much.
And because the future waited.
⸻
*Time Skip*
The AT-TE creaked in the dry wind, its repurposed hull groaning like an old man settling into bed. Panels of mismatched metal were welded over the gaps, creating a patchwork home that had weathered years of storms, dust, and silence. A line of vapor-trapped cables ran down from a salvaged power generator, and the front cannon had long since been converted into a lookout perch—with an old caf pot hanging just beneath it.
Out here on Seelos, nothing moved fast—except time.
She sat alone atop the forward deck, legs dangling over the edge, her lightsaber in a locked case at her feet. She hadn’t opened it in years. Some days she forgot it was even there. Other days, her hand would rest on it unconsciously, like a phantom limb that still itched.
Behind her, laughter echoed from inside—Gregor’s wild cackle, Wolffe grumbling that something in the stew “smelled too fresh,” and Rex… softer now, slower in his step, but still unmistakably him.
He didn’t wear armor anymore. Not really. The old pauldrons were used as patch plates on the AT-TE, and his helmet rested on a shelf with a layer of dust thick enough to write in. His hair was white now, and his back bent a little more with each passing year. She could see the toll the war had taken on his body—clones weren’t built for longevity. But his eyes? Those still held that sharp, earnest fire when he looked at her.
They had made a quiet life together. A small garden. A stripped-down comm dish for the occasional transmission. She cooked. He read. Some mornings they sat in silence with caf, the sun rising red over the Seelos horizon like blood on sand.
And yet, there were moments—when the wind howled just so, or when night came too quiet—when her thoughts drifted elsewhere.
To him.
To Bacara.
She hadn’t seen him since Mygeeto. Since she watched him gun down Master Mundi without hesitation—since he turned on her with no emotion at all, like a stranger wearing a familiar face. But sometimes, she wondered. He’d lied in his report. She was sure of it. He said her ship was shot down before it breached the atmosphere… but it wasn’t. He let her go.
Why?
And where was he now?
Did he ever think about her? Did the chip ever break like it did in Rex? Or did he die a soldier, still bound to the Empire? Still hunting Jedi in the shadows of a life that used to mean more?
She shook the thought away.
She had Rex.
And this peace… this was real.
The perimeter alarm chirped—one long tone, then two short. A ship. Small. Civilian or rebel-modified. Old programming still made her spine go rigid.
She stood, heart steady but alert, as the vessel descended into view. The dust curled beneath it, kicking up into the dusk-lit sky.
By the time it touched down, she was already at the foot of the AT-TE, hand hovering instinctively near the saber case tucked behind the front hatch.
Then the ramp lowered.
She felt it.
The Force.
Before they even stepped out.
Two Jedi.
A Mandalorian.
And a Lasat.
Ezra Bridger emerged first, cautious and respectful. Sabine Wren followed, helmet in hand, and Zeb let out a low grunt of approval at the sight of the old war walker.
And then him.
The Jedi.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Not because he was a stranger.
Because he wasn’t.
Caleb Dume.
He didn’t look the same—not exactly. Older now, guarded. His hair longer, beard fuller, movements tighter like someone who had lived on the edge too long.
But she knew those eyes.
“Kanan Jarrus,” he introduced himself, stepping forward.
She didn’t return the greeting immediately. Her voice was quiet. “I knew you as Caleb.”
He stiffened, face unreadable. The others exchanged a glance. The Lasat’s hand twitched near his weapon, but Hera gently put a hand on his arm.
Kanan didn’t deny it. “Then you’re…?”
“I was with Master Mace Windus second padawan,” she said. “I remember you at the Temple. You were small. Loud. You used to sneak into the archives to look at holos of war reports.”
His expression softened. “That sounds like me.”
“You survived.”
“So did you.”
They stood in silence for a moment. The past stretched like a shadow between them.
Ezra finally stepped in. “Do the numbers CT-7567 mean anything to you? Ashoka Tano said he might help us establish a network… fight back against the Empire.”
Behind her, footsteps thudded—Rex stepping out of the AT-TE, wiping his hands with a rag, eyebrows raised as he spotted the group.
“Told ya they’d find us eventually,” Gregor called from the hatch, cheerful as ever.
The reader didn’t take her eyes off Kanan.
He was studying Rex, but his focus kept flicking back to her.
She could feel the tension like a storm behind his eyes. The chip. Order 66. Old scars. Unspoken pain.
She understood. But this wasn’t about the past anymore.
This was the beginning of something new.
A new hope.
⸻
Previous Chapter
Scorch (RC-1262) x Fem!Reader
Warnings: Suggestive content
You shouldn’t have let him take the detonator.
But here you were—sprinting down a blackened corridor on a Separatist cruiser, the air behind you thick with smoke and laughter. His laughter.
“Scorch!” you shouted, coughing. “That was not what I meant when I said ‘make a distraction’!”
He turned, grinning under his helmet, shoulders relaxed like this was a holiday and not a mission gone sideways. “Come on, mesh’la. It worked, didn’t it?”
“You blew out two support beams and almost buried us alive!”
He jogged backward in front of you, still grinning. “Almost only counts in sabacc and thermal charges. You should know that by now.”
You skidded to a stop near a still-smoking hatch, chest heaving. The emergency lights flickered blood-red across the metal walls, shadows dancing. Scorch leaned one arm against the bulkhead, casually blocking your path like this was some kind of game. His visor tilted down toward you.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” you asked, trying to catch your breath.
His voice lowered, suddenly rougher. “Because you’re flushed, panting, and glaring at me like you want to kill me or kiss me.”
Your lips parted. “And if I do both?”
“Then I really hope you start with the kissing.”
The heat between you wasn’t from the explosions anymore.
You stepped forward, crowding into his space, fingers curling into the edge of his armor. “You know you’re a menace, right?”
Scorch reached up, tugged his helmet off with one hand and dropped it with a careless clatter.
“I’m your menace,” he said.
And then his mouth was on yours—hot, fast, unrelenting.
His hand cupped your jaw, tilting your head back so he could deepen the kiss, and you didn’t even try to hide the sound you made. It felt like falling into the middle of a detonation—chaotic and exhilarating and impossible to stop.
He tasted like heat and danger. The kind of kiss that burned.
You shoved him back against the wall and bit his bottom lip just enough to make him growl.
“You get off on this, don’t you?” you breathed. “The adrenaline. The explosions. Me pissed off and in your face.”
“I like the view,” he said, eyes dark and wild. “You in combat gear, cursing at me. Gets my blood pumping.”
You rolled your eyes, but your hands didn’t leave him. One of them slipped under a loosened strap on his chest plate. “You’re so full of it.”
“I’m full of something,” he muttered, voice low.
You kissed him again—harder this time. His hands found your hips, grounding you like a storm. You didn’t have time to undress, not here, not now—but Maker, you wanted to. And he knew it.
Instead, you just stayed locked together like that—gripping, kissing, devouring—until the hallway filled with smoke again and the comm crackled to life.
“Scorch, where the hell are you?” Sev’s voice snapped. “Extraction in four minutes.”
Scorch broke the kiss with a low groan and leaned his forehead against yours, breath hot on your skin.
“Guess we’ll have to finish this later, sweetheart.”
“Assuming you don’t blow us up first.”
He smirked. “Now where’s the fun in playing it safe?”
You grabbed your blaster and turned down the corridor. “You coming?”
He slipped his helmet back on, voice crackling through the filter. “Behind you, always.”
And as you ran, side by side toward the drop zone with the scent of smoke and something wilder still clinging to your lips, you knew this was how it would always be with him.
Fast. Fiery. Unpredictable.
A joyride with a lit fuse and no brakes.
And you wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Boss (RC-1138) x Reader
Theed’s skyline shimmered under the afternoon sun, its golden domes reflecting the light in a display of serene beauty. Yet beneath this tranquil facade, tension simmered. The recent assassination attempts on Queen Jamillia and Senator Padmé Amidala had prompted the Royal Security Forces to request additional protection from the Republic.
You stood at attention in the palace courtyard, your crimson uniform crisp, hand resting on the hilt of your blaster. As a member of the Royal Naboo Guard, your duty was to protect the monarchy and its representatives. Today, that duty extended to welcoming the Republic’s elite clone commando unit: Delta Squad.
The low hum of a Republic gunship grew louder as it descended, kicking up dust and causing your cape to flutter. The ramp lowered, revealing four armored figures stepping out in formation.
Leading them was RC-1138, known as Boss. His orange-striped armor bore the marks of countless battles, and his posture exuded authority.
Behind him, RC-1140, or Fixer, moved with calculated precision. His green-accented armor was immaculate, and his visor scanned the surroundings methodically.
To Fixer’s left was RC-1207, Sev. His armor bore red markings resembling blood splatter, a reflection of his grim sense of humor and reputation as a fierce sniper.
Bringing up the rear was RC-1262, Scorch. His armor was marked with yellow accents, and he carried himself with a relaxed confidence.
As they approached, Boss stepped forward, his helmet concealing his expression.
“Sergeant RC-1138, reporting in,” he stated, his voice modulated through the helmet’s speaker. “Delta Squad is at your service.”
You offered a formal nod. “Welcome to Theed, Sergeant. I’m Lieutenant [Y/N], Royal Naboo Guard. We’ve been briefed on your assignment.”
Boss inclined his head slightly. “Understood. Our primary objective is to ensure the safety of Queen Jamillia and Senator Amidala.”
“Correct,” you affirmed. “We’ll coordinate patrols and share intelligence. Your squad will be integrated into our security protocols.”
Behind Boss, Scorch leaned slightly toward Sev and whispered, “Think they have any good caf here?”
Sev replied dryly, “As long as it doesn’t taste like ration packs, I’ll consider it a luxury.”
Fixer, without looking up from his wrist-mounted datapad, interjected, “Focus, Deltas. We’re here for a mission, not a vacation.”
Boss turned his head slightly. “Maintain discipline. We’re guests here.”
You raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement tugging at your lips. “Your squad has a unique dynamic.”
Boss’s tone remained neutral. “We operate efficiently.”
⸻
Over the next few days, Delta Squad integrated into the palace’s security framework. Joint patrols were established, and you found yourself frequently paired with Boss. His stoic nature made conversation sparse, but his presence was reassuring.
One evening, during a perimeter check, you decided to break the silence.
“Your squadmates have distinct personalities,” you observed.
Boss glanced at you. “They’re effective.”
“I’ve noticed,” you replied. “Scorch’s humor, Sev’s intensity, Fixer’s precision. And you—you’re the anchor.”
He paused, considering your words. “Leadership requires stability.”
You nodded. “It’s commendable.”
A brief silence settled before he spoke again. “Your team is well-trained.”
“Thank you,” you said. “We take pride in our duty.”
As the patrol continued, a comfortable silence enveloped you both, the foundation of mutual respect beginning to form.
⸻
The days turned into weeks, and the collaboration between your unit and Delta Squad deepened. Shared meals and joint exercises fostered camaraderie. Scorch’s jokes became a familiar background noise, Sev’s rare smirks were victories, and Fixer’s occasional nods signaled approval.
With Boss, the connection grew subtly. Shared glances during briefings, synchronized movements during drills, and the occasional exchange of dry humor.
One night, after a successful operation thwarting an assassination attempt, you found yourselves alone on a balcony overlooking Theed.
“The city’s peaceful tonight,” you remarked.
Boss nodded. “A welcome change.”
You turned to him. “Do you ever think about life beyond the war?”
He was silent for a moment. “Sometimes. But duty comes first.”
You smiled softly. “Always the soldier.”
He looked at you, his gaze intense. “It’s who I am.”
“And yet,” you said, stepping closer, “there’s more to you.”
He didn’t respond verbally, but the way his hand brushed against yours spoke volumes.
The city lights glittered below like the reflection of a thousand quiet thoughts. The silence between you and Boss wasn’t strained—it was gentle, natural. It had become that way over the last few weeks. You stood shoulder to shoulder, close enough to feel the warmth of his armor radiating softly through the Naboo evening chill.
His helmet was still on, the ever-present barrier between his world and yours. But something in his posture shifted, a subtle drop in his shoulders, a small exhale that sounded more like a sigh than static.
Then—quietly—he said, “It’s strange.”
You turned to look at him. “What is?”
“Peace.” A beat. “This planet. The quiet.” He paused, like he was deciding whether to say more. “I’m used to marching into warzones. Places that smell like carbon and blood. Where the air’s thick with ash and tension. But here… it’s almost too quiet. Makes you feel like… something could go wrong any second.”
You studied him for a moment, surprised he was sharing this. “Maybe it’s not that something will go wrong. Maybe it’s just that you’ve never known anything but chaos.”
There was a pause. Then, slowly, his hands came up to his helmet. You heard the hiss of pressure release before he pulled it off and cradled it against his side.
This was the first time you’d seen his face. You had imagined it—many times—but the reality was softer than you’d expected. Strong features, yes, but tired eyes. Eyes that had seen too much, too fast. He looked younger without the helmet, and older all at once.
He didn’t look at you right away. His gaze stayed fixed on the skyline.
“I don’t usually take it off,” he admitted. “Feels… exposed.”
You smiled gently. “You don’t have to explain. But thank you for trusting me.”
His eyes finally met yours then, sharp and searching, but not cold. “You’re different from the officers I’ve worked with before.”
“Good different?” you teased softly.
He didn’t smile, exactly—but something softened around his mouth. “Real different.”
You leaned against the railing beside him, your fingers brushing his. This time, he didn’t move away. He turned his hand slightly until his gloved pinky hooked around yours.
“I don’t know what happens after this assignment,” you said quietly. “But I know I’ll remember this. You.”
He nodded once. “Same.”
The moment stretched—not romantic in the overly dramatic way holodramas would tell it, but intimate in its honesty. The weight of your fingers against each other. The hush of the Naboo breeze. The flickering of torchlight behind you, and the way his gaze lingered on your face like he was memorizing it.
And then, with the kind of quiet confidence that came from someone who rarely acted on impulse, Boss leaned in slightly—slowly, giving you time to stop him if you wanted. His forehead came to rest gently against yours. It was a simple thing. No kiss, no dramatics. Just contact. Shared breath. A moment stolen from the endless march of duty.
“I can’t afford to be soft,” he murmured, voice barely above a whisper. “But you make me want to be.”
You closed your eyes, forehead still pressed to his. “Then let this be the place where you can.”
His hand, calloused and heavy, rose to cup the side of your neck for a second before falling away. Not because he didn’t want more—but because he wasn’t ready yet. And maybe you weren’t either. But that was okay. It was enough.
Tonight, it was enough.
Omg! I saw you take requests! I love your work especially bad batch! I was thinking a Hunter x Fem!Reader where the reader is new to the ship, like medic or maybe even a soldier? But she uses like perfumes and obviously a different soap and he’s obsessed with trying to figure out what she smells like and with how nice it smells? You’re amazing! :))
Absolutely - sometimes I run out of ideas so love getting request! I hope you like it x
⸻
⸻
The Marauder had always smelled like metal, boot polish, and testosterone. Maybe a little like burnt caf on bad days. It wasn’t bad—it was just what Hunter was used to. Predictable. Familiar.
Until you showed up.
Fresh off an assignment with a battalion on Christophis, you were the newest addition to Clone Force 99—medic, technically, but you could hold your own in a fight too. The regs had spoken highly of your skills. That’s all Hunter needed to approve the transfer.
What he hadn’t anticipated was you.
Not your skills, not your sharp tongue or how fast you could stitch a man back together mid-firefight.
No, what Hunter hadn’t anticipated—what was currently driving him up the kriffing wall—was how good you smelled.
⸻
It started on the first day.
You’d walked up the ramp in your gear, throwing a satchel over your shoulder, hair pulled back, confidence in your step. The moment you passed him, it hit Hunter like a punch to the senses.
Sweet. Warm. Not too strong. Not floral, not fruity. Something clean. Something… familiar but elusive. He couldn’t place it.
His head had snapped toward you like a damn hound on instinct.
You hadn’t noticed—too busy joking with Tech about the medbay setup.
Hunter had clenched his jaw and focused. Or tried to. You walked past him again and—there it was. A whisper of something rich and soft. Stars, what was that?
⸻
The next few days were worse.
Every time you were near, his senses lit up like a battle alert. The scent of your soap after a shower. The subtle perfume that lingered on your neck and collarbone when you leaned over the holotable. Even the way your gear smelled—fresh, clean, nothing like the usual musty armor worn too long.
Hunter could track someone through a jungle with a five-day head start, but your scent was all he could think about, and you were right there—constantly in his space, brushing shoulders, handing him bandages, laughing at something Wrecker said.
He was losing it.
⸻
He caught you in the galley one night, the ship quiet, everyone else asleep.
You were perched on the counter in sleepwear and a hoodie, cradling a cup of caf like it held the secrets of the galaxy. The scent hit him again—stronger this time. No armor, no barrier. Just you, soft and warm and godsdamn intoxicating.
“You okay?” you asked, eyes flicking up to meet his.
Hunter blinked. “Yeah. Just… couldn’t sleep.”
You tilted your head. “Too much stimcaf or just the usual war trauma?”
He smirked. “Bit of both.”
You chuckled, then held out the cup. “Want some?”
He stepped forward—and nearly flinched when the scent hit him again. His jaw tightened.
“You good?” you asked, raising a brow.
“I, uh…” He cleared his throat. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“What do you wear?”
You blinked. “Excuse me?”
Hunter rubbed the back of his neck, ears flushing. “I mean, you smell… different. Not in a bad way! Just… I can’t place it.”
You stared at him for a beat—then burst into laughter. “Is that what’s been bothering you?”
He scowled, only mildly embarrassed. “It’s been driving me nuts. I can’t figure it out.”
You hopped off the counter, still laughing, and came to stand close. Too close. He tensed when you leaned in just a little, tilting your head.
“It’s amber and sandalwood. Little bit of vanilla. And my soap’s just some fancy one I stole from an officer’s shower kit. Want me to make you a batch?”
Hunter’s brain short-circuited.
The scent was right there—intimate, surrounding him, and your voice was low, teasing.
“I—uh…” he stammered, then pulled back just slightly. “No. No, I think I’ll go insane if everything smells like you.”
You smiled slowly, eyes dark with amusement. “So… it’s a problem?”
He gave you a flat look. “Yes.”
You leaned in again, grinning. “Guess you’ll just have to get used to it, Sarge.”
Hunter’s voice was gravel. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
⸻
⸻
Blaster fire lit up the crumbling ruins like lightning in a dead storm. You ducked behind a scorched column, heart pounding, comms blaring with garbled voices. Another skirmish, another senseless conflict in a war that never stopped taking.
You weren’t a soldier, not really. Intelligence officer, field analyst—whatever title the Republic slapped on you, it didn’t change the fact that you ended up on the frontlines more often than not. Especially when you were assigned to the 501st.
Especially when he was there.
“Behind you!”
Fives’ voice cut through the noise, sharp and commanding. You dropped low just in time for him to fire over your head, taking down the droid that had been about to fry you. He slid into cover beside you, breathing hard, face streaked with soot and blood.
“Close one,” you muttered.
“You really know how to pick your spots,” he said, flashing that grin—the one that used to make your knees weak. Still did, if you were being honest.
You laughed, short and bitter. “This war’s got a habit of throwing us into hell together, huh?”
“Yeah,” he said, voice quieter now. “It does.”
You looked at him then, really looked. Fives wasn’t just tired—he was worn, stretched thin by secrets, loss, and the weight of being more than just another number. He was alive, but barely hanging on. And you hated that the Republic didn’t see it. That they didn’t see him.
He caught your gaze, like he always did, reading you like a datapad.
“What?” he asked softly.
You shook your head. “Just thinking.”
“Dangerous habit.”
“Maybe in another life,” you said before you could stop yourself, “you and I would’ve had peace. Time. A place not drowning in war and death.”
His eyes darkened. “Maybe.”
You turned away, blinking fast. The next words came without permission. “I would’ve loved you, Fives. Fully. Properly. Without fear of losing you every time we touch ground.”
He was quiet for a beat too long. Then: “Why not this life?”
Your breath caught. “Because this life isn’t made for love. Not for us.”
“It could be,” he said, voice raw. “If we fought for it. If we carved it out from the chaos.”
You looked at him, heart breaking. “You’d really risk everything?”
He leaned in, forehead brushing yours. “I already have.”
And then the comms cracked to life. New orders. Pull out. Another planet to bleed for. Another reason to bury the moment.
You both stood, back to war. No promises. No declarations. Just a look that said maybe—maybe in another life. But neither of you could help hoping:
Why not this one?