This two-parter is once again deticated to the wonderful modern batch art of @transformersluna
I will soon be posting these on Archive of our own but I have to wait on that little mail thingy.
Ps: english is not my first language so please dont be too disappointed in my writing but I wanted as many people as possible to be able to read what I write.
Clutching the steering wheel tightly with his white knuckled hands, he parked on the side of the road leading to the house of Omega's friend Hera. The two met after Omega's prolonged period of isolation at school and soon became inseparable. So it was no surprise that Hera, who was throwing a big party (supervised, of course) for her 15th birthday, made Omega her special festivities coordinator.
When Hunter dropped her off there that afternoon, he promised to pick her up again, no later than 9 p.m. Rolling her eyes and pointing out that she wasn't a baby anymore that needed constant supervision, they finally agreed on 9:30 p.m. Wide victory smile, she skipped up the stairs to Hera's house and fell into her friend's arms on the porch. Hera's father behind them putting up garlands and fairy lights on the porch roof. He waved at Hunter with a friendly smile, and of course Hunter returned the gesture. And with another wave from Omega, he started the car and drove back home. Biting his lips, he thought of her last words.
-Hunter I'm not a baby anymore-
Something strange twisted in his chest at those words, accompanied by the usual turmoil of guilt. If only they had taken her out of Nala Se's poisonous hands sooner. He refused to call her a mother for what she did to each of them. But that was all over now, and Tech had already told him at least 100 times that, technically, since he didn't know about Omega at all until, she was 9 years old, it wasn't his fault.
However, after they learned of her existence, the top priority was to get her out of the abusive household of Nala Se as soon as possible. This turned out to be much more difficult than anticipated. A long uphill battle that Hunter and his brothers fortunately won. Omega had had to overcome a lot since then. But she had always been able to count on each of them. All Hunter ever wished for her was that she could have a normal childhood and grow up protected. Only, unfortunately, she didn’t have a chance to start that sooner. Bittersweet. He knew everything was better now.
He heard someone shouting behind him and stared into the rearview mirror. A shock of blond hair crept up to the side of the blue work truck. Turning around she waved once more and then reached for the driver's door.
''You're late.'' he sighed, eyebrows raised.
''Just-'' she turned her left wrist ''15 minutes. Sorry,'' she hissed. The apology only half-serious and delivered in a Chrosshair eske tone. He didn't even had to look at his sister, her eye roll almost audible. Defiance graced her face. He shook his head. She seemed to be downright looking for trouble with her brothers lately. Hunter remembered that teenage years were unpleasant but staying calm about a behavior he wouldn't let any of his brothers get away with was particularly challenging. Cross, to everyone's surprise, seemed to be the best at dealing with it. Showed her patience and understanding when no one else had any left. Hunter envied him for that.
Eventually it all would pass, Echo had said, and he clung tightly to that. Swallowing, he turned his head toward her.
''How was it?" he tried to start again.
''Great-'' Her voice sounded dishonest and pressed but for some reason Omega tried to fool him with a smile. She slid down in the passenger seat and leaned her head against the window. -not a good sign- Her features twitched whenever a streetlight illuminated her face. At the next traffic light, he eyed her more closely. Her nose was slightly red, her eyes glassy and dull. An outsider would probably not have noticed this, but Hunter knew better. No something was definetly up. -Was that why she was late?-
''You want to tell me what's going on?’’ His free hand reached for hers but she was faster and quickly slipped it into her jacket pocket. A sting to his heart. ''No. I just want to go home.'' A mixture of exasperation and anger. He pressed his lips together and nodded. With the radio murmuring softly in the background, he began to think.
Was it time for her monthly thing again? He thought back - A quick math break later established not for another two weeks or so- that couldn’t be it then. He cast her a suspicious look out of the corner of his right eye. When that became an issue some time ago, he was very grateful that Tech had taken over that particular conversation. He was very nonchalant and matter of fact about these kinds of situations and everyone, including Omega, appreciated that.
Something seemed to slide heavily into his stomach. He swallowed hard against it. What if someone tried to make advances on her? What if she tried to fight back? He kept hearing on the news that all kinds of things like that happened to young women. Why had he let her go to that stupid party? He growled.
''Hunter- I think Wrecker would prefer if you leave the steering wheel in the car.'' Omega turned to him with a startled look. He looked at his cramped hands which seemed to have parked the car by themselves in front of their house. Unease shook him to his very core. Something seemed to snap behind his pupils.
''We're going to talk about this now.'' his voice almost shouting in the standing car. She put on a pouty face. Her specialty. ''It can't go on like this. We're all not going to take this much longer, and you know that very well.'' Any bottled-up frustration seemed to spill out of him all at once. He knew it wasn't fair to take it out on someone half his age but he couldn't help himself. Maybe a good scolding would finally get her to open up. Heart hammering in his chest, he turned in the seat with his whole body facing her. He saw her blink heavily, heard a gulp and immediately regretted what he was doing. ''Omega-'' he started softly. But it was already too late.
She fled out the door, huffing and sniffling, and slammed the car shut with way more force than needed. He jumped out of the truck and tried to catch up with her. But she was faster. Without taking off her shoes or petting Gonky, she trudged loudly up the stairs to her room.
''Hello?’’ Echo's voice faded from the left side of the house cut off by the slamming of the upper bathroom door.
"LEAVE the house alone, will Ya?" Hunter called after her. He heard something muffled yelling back at him but for everyone’s sake he ignored it.
Hunter's footsteps came to a stop at the bottom of the stairs. The squeak from the upper floors attic stairs announced her withdrawal. With another heavy sigh, he sat down on the steps and began to take off his shoes. The little Cat coming closer. Her green eyes sparkling. She meowed softly. ''Hey Gonky-" he stretched his hand further out. ,,Don’t worry. I didn’t forget about you.'' the little grey cat pressed her head affectionately against his shin. He nuzzled the back of her neck with his fingertips. Purring loudly, he lifted her in his arms and went into the living room to join his brothers.
"Well, that didn't seem to go over nicely." Tech chided. His eyes fixated on Hunters expression. He shrugged his shoulders, sitting down beside him. Gonky still in his arms.
"Seems to be her new usual if you ask me." He stared at the TV, not realizing it was turned off. "I cant seem to get through to her." He lowered his eyes on the cat. His breath hitched. "I yelled at her."
Wrecker gasped, Echo and Techs expressions remained neutral patiently waiting for him to continue with his confession. "And Echo before you try to lecture me- I know I shouldn't have. But I tried to guilt trip her to telling me what her problem with us is." The little cat massaged his chest with tandem movements. A short silence with muffled sounds above them followed.
Ever the observant one, Tech said "You shouldn't take hormonal imbalances evoked by adolescence too personal Hunter." His tone offering neither solace nor rebuke. He picked his crossword puzzle back up and scribbled a word into the white squares. Echo leaned forward, facing him. "She'll come around. She always does." He had a reassuring smile to offer, and Hunter took it gladly. His brother was right. He knew that. Even after a particularly bad mood swing, she still searched the company of her brothers. But Hunter couldn't shake the feeling that this was different. He anticipated the worst.
Trying not to startle Gonky he fumbled in his back pocket for his cell. Message from Cross bright on his screen. A gif from their conversation earlier. Too bad he worked night shifts. He could have needed his youngest brother right now. Hunter clicked the icon and typed.
Is it too late to give her back?
Seconds later, a speech bubble appeared. Three smiley faces with tears of laughter.
Fire station? Give me 15 minutes tops. Every word pinched with sarcasm.
Don’t be late. He jokingly wrote and added a scrouchy face for good measure. Clearly trying to overshadow his own insecurities he felt when it came to her parentage. Damn he loved his little sister, but she could push him to his limits, that was for sure. Cross typing again, Hunter hoped it would be something beneficial. But because it was Crosshair he was talking to; he knew it wouldn’t be.
Don't bash your heads in until I get back. I have to hold the camera after all. A gif of a monkey cartoon character swinging his wooden bat. Have to work now. Fucking nighttime walk-throughs.
Huffing he clicked the power button of his cell. Gonky slowly awoke from her tandem movements and began to creep across Hunter's lap between Tech and his crossword puzzle, which he had since finished. They heard heavy footsteps again, complemented by the crashing sound of glass and a loud drawn-out groan. What had gotten into her? Before the party she had seemed ok. Fine even, more than usual in the recent weeks.
His pulse raced as he rose from the couch. Tech pushed Gonky off his lap. ''I'll be right behind you.'' Hunter held him back with one hand and shook his head. No. he had to fix this on his own. To make her feel better about what the hell was bothering her. Starting now.
@thecoffeelorian OMG thank you so much for sharing/tagging me in this! Since you KNOW I am obsessed with Omega & Cross is my favorite sibling of hers! Omega & Grogu are my favorite characters of ALL TIME!
They help my mental health especially with all my chronic illnesses (physical & mental, also disabled veteran)! Along with Hawaii (#1on my bucket list/Learning Hawaiian, music (many types/bands lol but ESP Linkin Park & Bring Me The Horizon, LP can’t ever see :(, BMTH is #2 on my bucket list
Escape from Mt Tantiss 🧪
Happy Star Wars day and The Bad Batch 2nd anniversary!
White terns are found throughout Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, where instead of building nests, they lay their singled speckled egg on a small depression on a branch, roof or other surface. Such minimalism! (Photo: Melody Bentz. Image description: Two white terns on a branch of a blooming tree.)
Omg this is beautiful but also so sad, the ending of season one was heart wrenching!
good to have you back, brother
*screams into the void* the cameo at the end!!! 😭😭😭 I love it but it hurts me.
Hawaii is my number one bucket list things of all time! I know I’m a disabled veteran with a lot of limitations (due to different chronic illnesses and mental health illnesses I have unfortunately partly due to my injuries in the military), BUT I can still have dreams and aim for them! I still love Hiking, Lighthouses, anything nature (green and blue), history, language (teaching myself Hawaiian), culture, etc etc you name it I love and Hawaii has it. Probably one of the most extraordinary places to visit! And I WILL get there one day!
Oh and for my TBB/SW friends I will DEFINITELY be wearing my TBB and Grogu aka Baby Yoda shirts lol (I have a TON of them but especially for the lateral haha).
Someone please please please help me!!!! I cannot find barely anywhere (especially any that aren’t just a one shot) Fanfictions for Crosshair AND Omega. I’m looking for mainly ones that have just the characters from SW/TBB, not ones where the reader can insert themselves/make up the character(s) for themselves. If that makes sense at all (have TBI, traumatic brain injury and my sentences and words don’t always come out right/make the best sense).
I’ve read most on both Archive Of Our Own and FanFiction.Net is there anywhere else to find any? Or anyone that is currently working on any and/or finished work, etc :).
Apparently, I must be in a category mainly on my own with NEEDING these two and not getting enough of them. I’m SOOOO heartbroken over the finale! I don’t know why I’m so in love with these two characters and especially their dynamic together!!!!
Thank you so very very much in advance and if you are a big SW fan I would love to follow you! Always looking for pictures, Fanfictions, etc on this fandom especially for The Mandalorian and The Bad Batch!!! 🙏💜🧡💛💚😬🥺😍😻