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substantial-exposure · 22 days

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I just realized I never posted my 3x03 blurb? Aka this was the reunion missing at the beginning of the season! Crosshair and Dasibri finally reunite!

Hunter felt his eyes water. His face tightened and a heavy sorrow had lifted from his chest and his shoulders. His arms wrapped around the young girl tightly. Not once in his life had he ever felt so relieved.

"How did you escape?" Hunter asked her. Pulling back from their hug. An expectant smile covered his lips and he held on to her shoulders, scared to ever let her go like that again.

Omega stared up at him. More than overjoyed to be reunited with her brothers again. "I had help." The girl had said. She turned around and her gaze followed to look to the Imperial shuttle she had stolen and piloted all the way here.

Distant footsteps echoed as they made it down the boarding stairs. The outline of a tall lithe man was illuminated eerily. It was as if time itself slowed as he came into view. As he swallowed his anxieties and clung to his pride, Crosshair exited the shuttle. He had made choices. Plenty of them. A lot of them he had regretted. With his head held high he made it down the stairs, out of the dark and into the light.

Wrecker and Hunter both raised themselves from their kneeling positions after their own personal reunions with Omega. Dasibri had stood on the stairs of the Marauder, watching from a distance and awaiting her turn.

Dasibri's foot hit the ground of the barren moon. Her eyes moved from looking to the blonde girl standing right before Hunter, to the silhouette she would recognize anywhere. He still seemed so far away. The Jedi took a centering breath, calming the nauseating nerve in her stomach. She looked at the outline quizzically. She stepped off the ramp and slowly walked closer. For every step she took, Crosshair took two.

After a few more steps she could actually see his face. Her heart sank. His eyes looked more sunken, as did his entire face. She wondered if they even fed him at all in that prison. Her husband had always been a very lean and agile man. But looking at him now, he looked malnourished and thin. It broke her heart. Despite how angry she had been for all these months, she walked towards him.

Crosshair met her in the middle. He stood impossibly close. After being a galaxy away, this almost seemed impossible. He found that the best place to start was to finally dismantle the distance that had kept them apart. Whether it was her own code, his own choices, the distance between them, or the Empire, Crosshair finally breached the threshold that had separated them. His eyes had been opened and he hoped the offer they all had extended to him hadn't yet expired. As still and rigid as he seemed. As confident and stoic as he looked. His heart was beating louder than a war drum.

He wondered if she was going to smack him and curse him to Kamino and back. That she would tell him to go back to that platform she had left him on and to go drown in the oceans of his home world.

The years had changed her. The Clone Wars had exposed her to the horrors of war and her place in all of it. The Outer Rim Sieges had cemented the eternal crease in her brow and hardened her. The Great Jedi Purge cursed her with long lasting guilt and a feeling she could never fully trust another living person ever again. The blaster shot she had sustained left her with a small but albeit permanent limp. The horrors that scared her, had not scarred her. At the end of the day, she would always be Dasibri Taraay, the most self-righteous and noble woman Crosshair had ever met.

For all he feared her to say, after all this time, Dasibri stepped close, looking up at the husk of a man her husband had become. Her hand reached out, fingertips tracing over the side of his hand. Her voice came out quiet and soft. As gentle as an Oktaran breeze. "You helped?" She asked him.

Crosshair shifted even closer. He swore he could see the faintest echo of a smile pull at the corner of her lips. Something he hadn't seen her do in his presence for a very long time. "Course I did." His hands moved boldly. Taking the leap of faith and bracing for the worst. He grabbed her, pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her. The first embrace they'd shared in over a year. Despite his grip on her waist and his arms tightly wrapped around her, he didn't look in her eyes. Almost embarrassed to admit that he'd finally gone soft. He felt timid hands slowly creep up to wrap behind his neck and pull him down into a hug.

Dasibri's grey eyes slowly started to fill with tears. She grasped tightly behind his neck, holding onto the collar of his shirt. "I knew you were still in there somewhere." She had whispered.

The ache in him compelled him to cry. He cocked his head to the side dismissively, trying to play it cool, like he always did. If he didn't laugh, he would cry. "Why would you ever think that?" He asked her, a small smile tugging at his lip. Crosshair let himself melt into his wife's arms.

Despite the difference in their height, he slumped down to reach her, giving into the comfort she offered. One of his hands, while shaking, cupped her cheek. His eyes met hers as he brought his face down just inches from hers. His brown eyes flickered from her eyes to her lips. Never in his life had he been scared to kiss her. Since the first kiss they shared, he had never thought twice about it. That was the crazy part. Because in that second, he was downright terrified.

So, he let her make the call.

Dasibri looked across his face, into his eyes, and into his soul. She didn't need to feel him in the force to make up her mind. Feeling him in her arms convinced her of enough. Her own hand came to run over the stubble on his chin and the side of his jaw. Slowly, whilst staring up into his eyes, she closed the gap even further.

Her eyes closed and she kissed him.

Crosshair felt the weight of an entire star system lift from his shoulders. He held her in his arms and let himself relax for the first time in months.

Omega had now stepped away from the hug shared between her and Hunter. A look of mild disgust plastered across her young face. She inched back towards the ramp to the Marauder. The girl looked up and over between Wrecker and Hunter. She grimaced as she looked back at Dasibri and Crosshair. "Are they.. usually like this?" Omega whispered quietly.

Wrecker only laughed. "You have no idea" he mumbled while placing a hand on the girls shoulder.

"Gross." Omega mumbled.

#star wars #star wars oc #jedi oc #the bad batch #bad batch #star wars fic #crosshair #tbb crosshair #dasibri taraay #star wars ocs #jedi #hunter #tbb hunter #wrecker #tbb wrecker #omega #tbb omega #bad batch fic #the bad batch fic

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substantial-exposure · 22 days

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Tales of the Empire: *randomly drops*

Me:

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substantial-exposure · 22 days

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Low Battery

Crosshair x Reader (GN)

Rating: Teen, SFW

Warnings: Party Setting, Mention/Allusion to drinking alcohol, overstimulation, low social energy.

Summary: Reader is at a party and has reached their limit for social interaction. They need an escape and find it unexpectedly with a grumpy Sniper hiding in a corner.

You’d been enjoying yourself with your group of friends, the party had been fun for a while, you’d had a couple of drinks and felt comfortably warm and fuzzy, and you’d had a great time conversing about life or telling entertaining stories. But now you were at your limit. The music was too loud, pulsing in your ears and making you feel like you were in a bubble that was increasingly pressing in upon you. The crowd mingling, dancing, and drinking all around you didn’t help the uncomfortable, claustrophobic pressure, either. Your friends were talking and laughing and part of you felt bad that you could no longer follow the conversation, words blended together into an audio mush with the music and the pulsing in your ears. You smiled and nodded back when they spoke to you, but the effort it took to respond and participate socially was just too much.

You sighed, running a hand over your head and wishing you could just go home, but as you’d arrived with one of your friends, you were stuck until they were ready to leave. You stood and walked around the room under the guise of getting a new drink, seeking a quiet place to hide until you could leave and recharge in the silence of your own home. You avoided eye contact as you passed other party-goers, dodging and weaving past waving, grabbing hands and gyrating hips.

Your eyes locked onto a dark, blissfully empty corner and beelined your way towards it, only to find, to your dismay, that it was already occupied. A tall white haired man leaned in the corner, piercing eyes glaring at every person who came too close. You knew of him, others called him Crosshair, but had never met him yourself, he had a bit of a reputation for being an abrasive a-hole and loner. He had a crosshair tattoo over his eye, a little on the nose, you thought, but it looked nice on him. He gave off an intimidating, do not talk to me sort of air.

You stopped in your tracks, unsure if you should try to find another spot to hide or give up and rejoin your friends. But just the thought of making your way back through the crowd and enduring more social interaction made your skin itch, so you shook your head, squared your shoulders and headed over to the corner.

The man glowered murderously at you as you silently found an area near him with enough space between you to suggest you didn’t wish to speak, and you kept your eyes focused anywhere but on the figure beside you. You crossed your arms over your chest, hugging yourself tightly, closed your eyes, and breathed in deeply, willing time to go by faster.

Surprisingly enough, Crosshair didn’t say a word and seemed content to keep to his own space, though he continued to glower dangerously at any person who got too close. After an undetermined amount of time, and after you’d relaxed somewhat and were leaning in comfortable silence against the wall, someone lacking the ability to read the room decided to try to chat you up.

“Hey, a babe like you shouldn’t be hiding in the corner…” The intruder’s voice made you cringe and you had to fight the impulse to flee. You groaned internally and simply stared at him, unsure how to respond.

“Come on pretty thing–” He leaned in, hovering in your physical space, you tried to shrink back but had nowhere to go.

“They’re not interested, di’kut.” Crosshair snapped irritably. “And you're in my space. Leave.” The voice was low, dangerous, like a coiled snake, and it was comforting despite the shiver that ran down your spine.

The intruder stepped back, eyeing Crosshair, sizing him up before rolling his eyes and shaking his head. “Freak,” he spits the word like venom but turns around and walks away without looking back.

Relief washes over you and you let out the breath you’d been holding, offering the man a grateful smile. “Thank you,” you speak softly.

He simply shrugged, but placed himself directly beside you before returning to his vigilant and piercing glares at any further intruders to your now shared space.

The both of you remained in comfortable silence, the pressure and overstimulation had lessened, though the pulsing music and close proximity of so many people still left you feeling drained and yearning for your bed.

Crosshair chuckled slightly, a surprising sound after the long stretch of silence, “So kriffing stupid…”

You followed his gaze to a group across the room, they were chanting and shouting and lifting one obviously drunk man up off his feet. Their hold on him was shaky and precarious, everyone past the point of making good decisions. You could see it coming, the entire group fallen to the floor and it would be a miracle if any of them left without injuries. You told Crosshair as much, just before the entire group collapsed in front of your eyes and you burst into startled laughter.

You and Crosshair spend the rest of the evening in relative silence, broken only occasionally by snide comments, gossipy asides, and punctuated by massive eye rolls. You're surprised at how natural it feels, being here with Crosshair, your social battery is low but his presence seemed to cost none of the energy you usually lost. It was nice.

He kept intruders from striking up conversations and you appreciated his sarcastic commentary.

By the time your friend found you and it was time to leave, you'd enjoyed a few solid hours of quiet companionship and found you'd actually enjoyed yourself. Though you were still exhausted and would likely need a few days of little to no social interaction to recover, you felt that if every party was like this one, you’d like them so much more.

Your friend regarded you and Crosshair with much confusion, but ultimately was just happy you’d found a comfortable space to enjoy yourself. You left with a quiet smile and listened to your friend’s recounting of the events you missed the whole way home.

As you readied yourself for bed, curled up in your most comfortable blanket, your comm beeped with a message.

- Next time you need an escape, comm me. We’ll leave all the idiots behind.

Divider by Vet-iv-er

Ye Olde Tag List:

@anxiouspineapple99 @wings-and-beskar @starrylothcat @secondaryrealm @arctrooper69 @sev-on-kamino @littlemissmanga @wolffegirlsunite @dystopicjumpsuit @idontgetanysleep @clonemedickix @sunshinesdaydream @followthepurrgil @yubnubhub @nahoney22 @jediknightjana @dangraccoon @wizardofrozz @mythical-illustrator @echoxbuggs @trixie2023 @ezras-left-thumb

#this is so cute-#fic rec

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substantial-exposure · 23 days

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Happy Bad Batch Day! This idea came in hot and it hasn't left me at all. I had to post a day late but shhh

This is just a Dasibri and Ventress lore drop lolz

Warnings: mentions of character death, lightsaber duel, impalement w a lightsaber, blasters and general angst?

The force occupied the space of Dasibris mind frequently. It would hum in her ears and trail in an out. It was comforting, steady, and reliable. But right here, and right now, as she stood on the other end of the island, it sang. With volume and decibel loud enough to make her ears ring and her head pound.

She had been enjoying the afternoon to herself. She'd taken a nice stroll around the fog covered island and taken a trip to the market. Within seconds the locally grown produce had become the least of her worries. Everything had been perfectly normal as she stood on the permacrete stone. And then the humming started. She had found that on Pabu there was never much need for concern. The nudging warnings from the force were usually for children running by or falling baskets. But this... this was something else. The usual humming turned sour, filling her ears with a noise so intense, it ached. All of her senses were on high alert. Her head felt just as foggy and dense as the island she stood on.

The force lacked its usual familiar gentle nudge it usually gave to guide her. Instead it felt as though it was pulling her, ripping her away and begging her to return back home. And what kind of Jedi would she be if she refused the force?

She bolted. The last time she felt an urgency like this... well she tried not to think about it. With her basket in hand, she ran through the streets. Robes and cloak flowing behind her as she called upon the force to aid her in speed and strength. What was going on? What could it possibly be?

Dasibri dodged people, carts, and children all during her mad dash back home. As she thought about what it could be, she didn't like where her head went. 'It's the Empire. They're here. Kriff, what if something happened to Crosshair? I cant lose him again. I cant. No wait! What if something happened to Omega? What if she got hurt? What if Omega is like seriously hurt? Can I save her? What if I cant stop it? I can stop it. Of course I can stop it. I have to." In her own self induced panic she found herself picking up speed until finally she let the force pull her to the entrance of the cavern by the shore.

Dasibri felt danger in the air, she felt it and then she could hear it. The sound of scuffling, of grunting, blasterfire, and then finally the constant and steady hum of a lightsaber.

Finally, inside the cave and seeing with her own eyes, Dasibri nearly doubled over from the sight. Crosshair, Wrecker, and Hunter wee huddled up and shooting at a woman with a yellow lightsaber. The air smelt of electricity. Her eyes narrowed in on that woman. Dasibri would know her anywhere. She would be able to know her while blind.

Asajj Ventress.

Without thinking, without any care or concern, disregarding the guilt and second guessing that had plagued her so long ago, Dasibri drew her saber from her belt. She hadn't even reached for it. Before she could even think it, her blade snapped into her her hand. Bright emerald green light emanating from the blade and illuminated her face. She had reached out and she had already known it in her bones that this was not an illusion or trick and was just as real as the metal in her hand.

The two girls had crossed paths plenty during the war. Enough for a very personal distain to grow between the two. They had crossed paths again, even after Asajj had apparently "renounced the Sith". Something Dasibri didn't believe a word of. People could change but not like that.

It was a long time ago and by now it had felt like ages. It was Dasibri's most disgraceful act.

Within no time at all, their history of violence and detestation of eachother rose quickly. They had crossed blades once again and fought like they had so many times before, only this time, it was different. It had only ended once one of them was dead. Dasibri had lost herself in Vaapad.

She had let herself become an open channel to the force. It is truth to say that she had been enjoying this fight far too much. More than any Jedi should. She'd been so immersed in Vaapad, too eager to end this fight once and for all, that she didn't stop. She didn't allow herself to. There was a split moment in the force where she knew she could end the fight without bloodshed. But she didn't listen. The fight would only stop once her opponent was dead.

And that was exactly how Dasibri had left her. Dead.

She knew it wasn't right, she knew she shouldn't have wanted it. But as soon as she saw her lightsaber beaming through the stomach and protruding out the back of Asajj, she knew she had won. It scared her more than anything. It had felt like a victory, it almost felt good. It felt like that for a minute but after... that was a different story.

The murder had eaten her alive. She had sulked and contemplated it for months after it had happened. Was it a misstep or had it been fully intentional? Could it of been an influence from the dark side that she'd exposed herself to? Even she didn't know the truth. But Dasibri knew herself well enough to guess the answer. She had let it happen. It was wrong and she shouldn't have done it. She should of found a way to make peace, or even taken her in alive, but she didn't. Channeling the force in all of its whole left room for the darkness as well as the light. Back then she had still had her Master at her side. Mace Windu had dutifully helped her through it to the best of his ability. He had made sure that she used Vaapad instead of it using her. After the murder of Asajj Ventress Dasibri had become a husk.

But standing in this cave, watching Ventress go against her husband and his brothers, she simply didn't care. Watching Crosshair brace himself for impact as Ventress threw him to the ground, she disregarded it all. The Nightsister had kicked Hunter down and left him on the ground. Her saber drawn and ready. Dasibri took a deep breath and put aside all of that guilt and pain. She tuned out the memories of the path she had walked and of the nightmares that followed. Nights of anxiety induced nausea. Regret so deep that no amount of meditation could rid. Dasibri had been put through hell and yet without a second thought, she leapt right back into the fight to do it all over again. The same fight that had followed her throughout the war. The fight she tried for too long to forget.

But it didn't matter. It was the fight that she had never left.

She would go through it all again to protect them. To protect anyone. She would put her fragile heart between any evil and anyone it ever dared try to touch. Asajj Ventress was back from the dead and it seemed Dasibris methods would have to rise back up to the challenge.

Ventress' voice snaked its way into the ears of everyone present. "Dasibri Taraay. I should of known you'd be here" she spat. She didn't bother to fix her hair, it fell slightly before her eyes as she tried to stare down the Jedi a few feet from her. Her armored hand and arm dropped, subsequently dropping Wrecker who she had been suspending in a force grip. "Now contrary to what you might think, I wasn't the one who escalated this."

The woman's words left a trail up Dasibris spine. Her feet moved against stone and within the blink of an eye, Dasibri was full force swinging her blade. Every strike had the potential for a deadly final blow. Gone were the days of exquisite displays and grandiose technique.

"I thought you died a long time ago." Dasibri muttered out. Her green blade held off the yellow one that was being thrown her way. "Then again... I'm not surprised you found a way to kark that up too" she grumbled.

"Dasibri..." Ventress said as if scolding her. The yellow blade slid off from the deflection. "How unbecoming of you." She said smoothly as the other woman swung at her. Ventless held her own saber and used it to hold off the attack. "It seems you really missed me." She chuckled.

The Jedi wasn't sure what to say in response. Something witty, something threatening. But all she could think about was her inner calling to vanquish the threat that lied in front of her.

Ventress pushed back her blade and let Dasibri take a few staggering steps back. The Jedi tried to keep her feet planted into the ground, she used it to hold herself and push herself forward. However the 'bounty hunter' called upon the force and leapt into the air, shooting herself backwards a few yards and taking stance. Ventress twirled her blade and looked across the cave to the Jedi.

The dance was on and the fight continued.

The Nightsister held her ready stance as she spoke. "I find it intriguing they called me for help." She chuckled and looked down through her lashes. "Couldn't figure it out then hmm?" Ventress said circling the Jedi. The two women circled eachother slowly, waiting for the other to strike. And for a moment, neither of them did.

"What are you doing here?" Dasibri asked her and looked down the length of her green blade.

Ventress cocked her head upwards, a smirk plastered over her dark lips. She looked smug as ever, happy to have a victory over the other girl. "Fennec reached out. It appeared you and your battalion of clones here had some questions." She said as she got closer. The circle was growing smaller, they were getting closer now. "I find it hard to believe that you had no idea about the kid." She continued. "Losing your touch, huh? Or was this a trap all along? Why didn't you tell them the truth?" She asked looking between the Jedi and the three soldiers that stood on the sidelines watching.

"I'm not an idiot." Dasibri answered. "Of course I knew." She grumbled and finally made the move to strike. Ventress immediately moved to deflect it. They continued on like that for what felt like a lifetime. Their altercation illuminated the cavern with sparks of lights. "I thought I'd finally gotten some peace and quiet from you." Dasibri said again after a moment. "How are you... how are you even here?" She had asked as Ventress held her blade tightly.

The Nightsisters blade was held against the Jedis, they intersected right before their faces. Ventress spoke happily. "You may have ended one life... but I have enough left to finally finish you off." Her threat almost sounded like a promise.

Dasibri looked at her. "Maybe... but you're going to need them all for that." She had said warningly. This fight would last until they tired themselves out and began to slip up. That was how it would always go. Until their were called off, maimed, or killed.

Ventress knew she could redeem herself in this moment. She could end the life that had taken hers. Finally, another point on the board. But even now she didn't agree with that sentiment. Maybe this didn't have to end this way. It was odd for her to have such revelations in the middle of a battle. She wasn't exactly the forgiving type. Especially under the circumstances when staring at the woman who kriffing killed her.

As Dasibri sank further into Vaapad, losing herself inside the fight in more ways than one, her blade moved wickedly fast. Ventress had remembered just how fast once she had to counter each and every strike. She couldn't even see which direction the Jedi's saber was coming from, it felt like it was coming from everywhere all at once. She found herself relying on feeling where it was, rather than seeing.

The rocks hadn't gotten any less algae slicken, and Dasibri used the strength she pulled from all areas of the force, to make the Nightsister back up towards them. Dasibri used strength and will alone to back the renounced Sith into a corner.

Hunter, Wrecker, and Crosshair all stood on the side lines. Watching with their mouths agape in horror. This was... not the average fight. They hadn't seen this side of Dasibri since the war. Even then she seemed to be consumed in her form of practice. Crosshair was worried. Very worried. He had no way of helping but he wasn't quite sure what he could even begin to do to help.

Fast footsteps reverberated through the cavern. Omega and her trusty side-kick Batcher had both come bolting into the cave. The young girl held a white flower in her hand, high over her head and she waved it joyously. "I got the-" she had begun to say long before her eyes finally registered what was going on.

Her eyes widened in shock. Dasibri held Ventress against the rocks, there was barely a breath of space between them. The light of their sabers were bright in the cave as the night sky darkened and the sun disappeared from outside. Omega watched as Dasibri pressed further on with her blade, which in turn brought Ventress's blade even closer to her own face. The Nightsisters expression turned into a scowl.

"What's going on in here!" Omega nearly yelled. Her voice and volume demanded an answer. She stood a step back, distancing herself from the fight. Her gaze faltered between the bounty Hunter, Jedi, and her brothers.

Crosshair and Hunter both had dashed across the cavern to stand in front of the girl. Their guns raised and ready just incase Ventress managed to find an out and try to hurt the girl. Of course she never would of dreamed it but the clones certainly didn't know that.

Omegas voice seemed to snap the Jedi back to reality.

"She was helping us! Dasibri! What are you doing?" She asked loudly. Omega shoved her way between Hunter and Crosshair, standing in front of them and begging the Jedi to come to her senses and explain what had transpired inside the cave.

"Helping you? Omega, do you know who this is?" Dasibri said looking over her shoulder to glance at the girl. "She doesn't help people. She kills them." The Jedi explained and turned her gaze back to the woman held up against the rocks.

"and you don't!" Omega argued back. She took a few steps closer. She didn't notice Crosshair try and reach out after her and pull her back, he had missed her by an inch. "Dasibri you're a Jedi! You don't kill people" the girl said moving closer. Omega met eyes with Ventress. "You were helping me right?" She had asked.

Ventress let out a gruff from the effort of trying to keep Dasibri at bay. Her voice was strained as she spoke. "You asked me to test you. That was exactly what I was doing" she said turning her gaze to the Jedi above her. As the light reflected in Dasibri's eyes, Ventress lifted her leg and managed to knee the girl in the stomach and use the momentum to kick her back. While sending the other girl a few stumbling steps backwards Ventress sent herself airborne for a single second. Enough time to perch herself on top of the rock she'd just been held against. "I came here to help." She repeated looking the Jedi in the eyes. "That is all." She clarified.

Dasibri stood panting.

That was when the most surprising thing could of happened. Ventress turned off her saber and stood to her full height. Dasibris eyebrows knit in confusion.

"I never came here to fight. I had no idea you'd even be here." The Nightsister confessed as she jumped down and stood before the other woman. "Why don't.. why don't we talk." She said cautiously. This had been a feud that had spanned years now. And it seemed now, if Dasibri allowed it, they could both throw in the towel and call the whole thing off. It was the right thing to do. The Jedi thing to do.

But deep down, Dasibri didn't know what action to take. She could feel the aura radiating off of Ventress and it seemed genuine. This could end. Distant memories came to light. She remembered a very important lesson she'd learned once. The battle of Geonosis could of been thwarted by a single death. Mace Windu had once said "It could happen again. It will happen again." And everyday Dasibri made sure that she remembered it. If you are going to strike, make sure it's enough. She never wanted to hold a regret of that caliber. She wouldn't let herself be deceived.

She wasn't stupid enough to trust blindly.

Then again, in what universe did this make sense? Asajj Ventress trying to negotiate peace? That was the realization that brought Dasibri back to her feet and finally close her blade. When all choices seem wrong, choose restraint. And that was exactly what she did.

She clipped her hilt back onto her belt.

There's a part two for this in the works rn (as in the mental aftermath, it's just angst)

#star wars #the bad batch #bad batch #star wars fic #crosshair #star wars oc #jedi oc #dasibri taraay #Hunter #wrecker #asajj ventress #the bad batch fic #the bad batch season 3 spoiler #the bad batch spoilers #spoilers #tbb crosshair #crosshair x oc

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substantial-exposure · 23 days

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AHHHH I'm so sorry! I wasn't feeling well last night and I passed out at like 7pm and never got to post the blurb! I'll be working on it tonight and have up by then hopefully!

I'm so mad at myself rn omfg

#star wars #star wars fic #the bad batch #star wars oc #jedi oc #dasibri taraay

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substantial-exposure · 25 days

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It'a BOOPy trap!!!!

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substantial-exposure · 25 days

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The 3x09 blurb has now turned into two WIPS that are tearing me apart!

I started reading Shatterpoint and I've been listening to the RotS audiobook, and it's been doing things to me. I feel like I'm really getting into this bitchs head and omg!

- sneak preview from WIP #1-

Dasibri dodged people, carts, and children all during her mad dash back home. As she thought about what it could be, she didn't like where her head went. 'It's the Empire. They're here. Kriff, what if something happened to Crosshair? I cant lose him again. I cant. No wait! What it something happened to Omega? What if she got hurt? What if Omega is like seriously hurt? Can I save her? What if I cant stop it? I can stop it. Of course I can stop it. I have to." In her own self induced panic she found herself picking up speed until finally she let the force pull her to the entrance of the cavern by the shore.

Dasibri felt danger in the air, she felt it and then she could hear it. The sound of scuffling, of grunting, blasterfire, and then finally the constant and steady hum of a lightsaber.

Finally, inside the cave and seeing with her own eyes, Dasibri nearly doubled over from the sight. Crosshair, Wrecker, and Hunter wee huddled up and shooting at a woman with a yellow lightsaber. The air smelt of electricity.Her eyes narrowed in on that woman. Dasibri would know her anywhere. She would be able to know her while blind.

Asajj Ventress.

-sneak peak of WIP #2-

Crosshair crouched down beside her, hand on her shoulder and tried to speak. He didn't have an inkling of a clue as to what was going on. Not really anyhow. "Whats…." he had started. He had always been terrible with emotions. His own and others. He never knew what to do or say, he always found himself growing increasingly uncomfortable anytime he was caught in the crossfires of someone else's emotional outpouring. No matter the context. And now, sitting here, despite just how deeply he cared, he still hadn't a clue as to what to say.

He doubled down on himself. This woman, Dasibri Taraay, Jedi Knight, noble hero of the Republic, was his wife. A woman he had once understood and knew like the back of his hand, was sat crying beside him. He needed to fix it. He needed to help her. Just as she always helped him. Without delay and without fail, he would do the same for her. He had vowed to after all.

I'm so excited to post these later in the week! I'm just hoping I get them done in time!

#star wars #the bad batch #bad batch #star wars fic #crosshair #star wars oc #jedi oc #dasibri taraay #asajj ventress

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substantial-exposure · 27 days

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Hunter and the Librarian - Chapter 7

Summary: Set in a modern AU: Wren is a librarian who meets Omega, a twelve-year-old living with her five older brothers. Omega feels Wren and her oldest brother, Hunter, would be good for each other and tries to play matchmaker. Wren's anxiety and shyness coupled with Hunter's own struggles with depression make that more difficult than Omega hoped. Wren is based on me and my experiences with anxiety and how it affected the beginning of my relationship with my husband.

Pairing: Modern AU Hunter x F!Librarian OC, Wren

Word Count: 3223

Warnings: Talk of anxiety, especially social anxiety and shyness.

Author's note: This is my first attempt at a fanfiction. I thought it might be helpful for some people who also deal with anxiety to see how it affects relationships, especially early on when it comes to social anxiety, and see that there are people out there who can "put up" with you...that you aren't "too difficult or exhausting" for the right person. (In quotes, because those are all things I thought about myself for years.)

My modern AU was inspired by the amazing Modern Batch AU stories by kaydear (Illyria_Lives) on AO3. Not to sound overly dramatic, but they changed my life.

Masterlist

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7

Dividers by animatedglittergraphics-n-more

On their way home after work, Hunter decided he’d go ahead and tell Wrecker about Wren coming to the cookout.

“Hey, Wreck. Guess who I saw today?”

“Wren!”

“Wha-…how did you know?”

“Well, I just assumed. You took longer at the lumber yard than usual, and you would have driven right by the library, so…”

“I didn’t take that long! But, yeah, it was Wren,” he conceded.

“Nice!! How did that go?”

“How did it go? What do you mean? It was fine…I-”

“Good!”

“Wreck, can I finish my story?”

“Oh yeah! Sorry, go ahead. I got excited,” and he laughed.

Hunter continued, “Well, I happened to see her sitting in the park when I was driving by, so I stopped…”

“Good job, Hunter!”

“Wrecker…”

“Oh dang, sorry!” Wrecker was just so excited he couldn’t help himself.

“I stopped and talked to her for just a few minutes, and this Sunday’s cookout came up. And I asked if she was going to be there, but she wasn’t sure. So we talked a bit more and by the time I left, she’d said she planned on being there.”

“Nice!! That’s awesome news!”

“I thought you’d like that.”

“Yeah, I like that…sure…just me…”

Hunter gave him an odd look and said, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Well you act like I’m the only one who wanted her to come.”

“I know you aren’t the only one. Omega is going to be really excited.”

Wrecker pushed further, “Yeah, just me and Omega then? We’re the only two who will be pleased?”

“Wrecker, I get what you’re trying to say, you aren’t subtle. I’m also pleased she will be coming over again. Are you happy?”

“Yes! I am, thank you!” And he laughed again.

Hunter just rolled his eyes at him. He needed to steel himself for the reaction of the rest of the family, especially Omega and Crosshair, and he was already dreading it.

That night at supper, Hunter was trying to come up with the best way to tell his siblings that Wren would be coming over again without them making a big deal out of it.

“So, Omega, guess who I saw today?”

“Who?!”

“Wren.”

“Oh, really! Where?”

Hunter explained, “I was driving to the lumber yard at lunch, and I saw her sitting on a bench in that little park just down from the library. I was caught off guard, but I pulled in real quick.”

Omega’s face lit up at what Hunter said. She shared a smile with Wrecker who was still almost giddy about the fact Wren would be back. He was pleased for Hunter’s sake, but he really enjoyed being around her as well. She was very nice to him, and didn’t treat him like he was dumb, like some people did.

Crosshair was quiet during the whole exchange. And Hunter didn’t look his way until after he’d talked to Omega. But once that happened, he looked at Crosshair across the table from him.

Crosshair’s expression was unreadable, even for Hunter, who had seen those same expressions his whole life.

Hunter began, “Do you think you’ll join us, Crosshair?”

“Am I welcome?”

“Of course you’re welcome! Why wouldn’t you be?” Hunter asked.

Crosshair snorted quietly, “Well, I wasn’t too popular after the last cookout.”

“Look, Crosshair, as long as you don’t try to make Wren uncomfortable, then there won’t be a problem. And I think that we’ve already talked about it enough, and you understand where I’m coming from with that.”

“Yes, I get it. Be nice to wonderful Wren.”

“Crosshair!” There was a chorus of voices at the same time.

Crosshair just chuckled quietly. “I’m just messin’ with all of you. I will behave. I don’t have a problem with Wren, I’m just still not convinced she’s right for Hunter.”

Omega said, “But why, Cross? What’s wrong with her?”

“Nothing is wrong with her. Really. As far as I know. She’s just so quiet and doesn’t really have much of a personality. With the way Hunter is, they’d just sit at home, watch TV all the time, and never do anything. I just think it would be better if he found someone who actually likes to do things and go places. Someone who could help him loosen up and have a good time now and then.”

Tech had stayed out of most of the conversations on this topic over the past few days, but he felt like this was the time he should speak up.

“Crosshair, just because Wren is quiet, shy, introverted and deals with anxiety doesn’t mean she and Hunter can’t have a good time. That’s a stereotype. She might not want to be around crowds or has a hard time at parties, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have stimulating conversations and pleasant excursions, together. Your idea of fun isn’t everyone’s idea of fun. And I think it would be best if we would leave Hunter and Wren to decide what their kind of fun is, and if they’d be compatible with each other.”

Hunter had just been sitting, watching his brothers talk about him. He finally spoke up, “Thanks, Tech. I appreciate that. And Crosshair, I do appreciate your concern, I just think it’s misplaced. First of all, I don’t even know if Wren would be interested in going out with me-“

“Oh, she would be interested!” Wrecker interrupted. “She would be very interested; I can guarantee that.”

“Yes, Wrecker, I know you’re convinced she’s interested in me, and I know you’re pretty good at picking up on social cues. So, you might very well be right. But I don’t want to make a big deal out of it yet. Let us have some more time to get familiar with each other, in the group setting here, before we even think about anything more.”

Crosshair wasn’t quite done yet. “I just wonder what was wrong with those girls you dated a few times. They were really cute and seemed like they’d be a blast.”

“A blast. Yeah, I guess, if you want to go out to bars all the time, drink and get loud. And when have you ever known me to be into that kind of thing?”

“Well then, why didn’t you pass one or both my way.”

“Hey, buddy, you could have asked them out if you’d wanted.”

Omega had been listening, and finally spoke up, “Who are these women you’re talking about?”

“Barflies,” Echo stated.

“Barflies?” Omega asked at the same time Hunter said, “Echo!”

“What, that’s what they are. Omega, that refers to people who like to hang out in bars, usually to look for another person to go out with or go home with.”

“Echo!” Hunter’s voice got a little louder and sterner.

The other guys snickered.

“Ok, Hunter, then how would you describe them?”

“Well, they were women who liked to go to bars to hang out.”

“That’s what I said,” Echo sounded exasperated.

“Well, the way you said it made it sound much worse.” He turned to Omega, “’Megs, please don’t use that word to describe anyone. Echo shouldn’t have used it, no one should use it. It’s outdated and rude. It has a negative connotation that I think is best to avoid.”

“Sorry, Hunter,” Echo said. Then he looked at Omega, “Do as I say, Omega, not as I do. And I say don’t call people barflies.” And they all laughed, including Omega and Hunter.

“Ok, now can we move on from that conversation?” Hunter asked.

But Omega wasn’t done, “Ok, so I won’t call them that, but still…who were these women? Did you date them very long? Did you like them? What happened?”

Hunter closed his eyes, rubbed his forehead, opened his eyes again and stared daggers at his brothers, specifically Crosshair and Echo.

“Since I got back from the Army a couple of years ago, I’ve dated two women. Neither one for more than 3 months though. They were nice enough people, they just weren’t really my type. As I said, I don’t really want to hang out in the bars much, and that was what they always wanted to do. It got tiring. And we just didn’t have much in common. I never made it through a date with them without wishing that time would move faster so that the date would end quicker.”

Crosshair wasn’t done, “As I recall there were some good times, or it sounded like good times anyway…”

Hunter gave Crosshair a dirty look, as if to tell him to shut up. He didn’t want to go any further with this conversation with Omega. Yes, he’d had each girl over a few times, and things got physical, but that’s all it was. There was absolutely no connection between them. And he really didn’t want to have this discussion with Omega yet.

Luckily, it seemed like she was ready to go back to talking about Wren and leave these two women in the past where they belong.

“Well, I still really like Wren, and I agree with Wrecker that she seems to like Hunter. So…do you like her, Hunter?”

Hunter sighed quietly. He’d had a feeling this is how the evening would go after he mentioned he talked to Wren.

“Omega, I think Wren is a very nice person. I like talking to her and being around her. From what I’ve seen of her, yes, I do like her. But I really haven’t been around her enough to know anything for sure. Would I like to get to know her better? Yeah, I would. Is that good enough for now?”

“Yes!! That’s more than good enough!” Omega was practically bouncing in her seat she was so excited. She hopped up quickly and bent down, kissing Hunter’s cheek. “Thank you for keeping an open mind, Hunter!”

He laughed quietly and said, “You’re welcome, Megs. Just remember…”

“No pushing!” Omega said it at the same time as Hunter, and everyone, including Crosshair, laughed.

By Wednesday, Wren was thinking about the cookout quite a bit, even though it was still four days away. She didn’t feel quite as nervous as she did before the first one, but she was still pretty worried. She remembered that Omega had said she would be in the library on Wednesday after school, to study with some friends. Wren was trying to think of a way she could talk to Omega about it without being too obvious. She didn’t really have a plan, so when Omega showed up she’d just have to wing it.

It was about 3:00 when Omega came in with her friend, Hera. Omega immediately looked towards the front desk. When she saw Wren, she got a big smile on her face, waved, and said, “Hi, Wren!”

Wren waved back. She rarely told Omega to be quieter in the library, because she wasn’t all that loud. But still, Wren waited until the girls were close to the desk before she said hello back, so she didn’t have to holler across the room.

“Hi, girls. How are you today?”

Omega and Hera both said they were fine. Hera asked Omega where she wanted to sit, and Omega pointed at a table over by the windows.

“Ok, I’ll go grab the table.”

Omega stayed at the desk when Hera walked away, and gave Wren an even bigger smile than she did when they first walked in.

“So how are you, Wren?”

“I’m doing fine.”

Omega continued, “That’s good. So I heard you’re coming to our house this Sunday again!”

Wren figured that her face was getting pink, because she definitely felt warmth spreading over her cheeks.

“Oh, you did?”

“Yeah, Hunter told us Monday night. He said he saw you at the park.”

Wren said, “Yup, he did. I really wasn’t sure if I would go to your next cookout, but I seem to have trouble telling you and your brother no.” She smiled as she said that.

Omega laughed. “Well, I’m really glad he was able to convince you to come. I was going to be disappointed if you weren’t there.”

Wren looked at the girl with a serious face, “Why is that though, Omega? I didn’t really add much to the conversation, didn’t have any entertaining or interesting stories or jokes. I kind of felt like I was probably just in your way…an extra mouth to feed and not much to offer. You wouldn’t even notice if I didn’t show up.”

“What?! I would totally notice! All of us would. We like you, Wren!”

“That wasn’t me begging for a compliment, Omega, I just really feel like your brothers might be relieved if I didn’t show up. I feel like maybe you’re forcing the issue with them, making them feel like they have to invite me.”

“No, Wren, I’m really not. I promise!”

“How did Crosshair react when he heard I was coming?”

“Crosshair was Crosshair, but he was just trying to mess with us. He said he wouldn’t bother you. And he will keep his word, I’m sure of that.”

“Ok, I’ll trust you on that.” Wren smiled.

Omega said she should start studying. “I’ll come by here before we leave.”

Wren saw a couple of more kids about Omega’s age come in and go directly to their table. They studied until around 4:30 and never once got loud or disruptive.

The kids all stood up around the same time. Wren could hear a chorus of “Good-bye’s” and “See you tomorrow’s.”

Hera and the other two waved at Wren and then went out the door. But Omega came up to the front desk.

“Hey, Wren, do you mind if I ask you something?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

“What do you think of Hunter?”

Wren’s head snapped up from the books she was working with. She could only imagine how dumbstruck she looked. She realized after a few seconds that her mouth was hanging open a little, so she snapped it shut and looked back down. The heat started rising up her neck.

She took as deep of a breath as she could without being obvious and said, “What do you mean?”

“Well, I mean, do you like him?”

“Well…sure I like him. He’s a really nice guy.”

Omega smiled and said, “I know he’s a nice guy, but do you LIKE him?”

Wren needed to sit down, so walked over to her desk and sat down. She pulled up her email and acted like she was reading something. Omega walked over and sat down in the chair next to Wren’s desk.

“Why are you asking that, Omega?”

“Because I think you and Hunter would be a nice couple, and could make each other happy, so I was just wondering if you thought about him like that.”

Wren decided she would just be honest with the girl. She was mature for her age, and seemed very interested in Hunter’s happiness. She deserved honesty from Wren.

“Omega, I think Hunter is a really nice guy…I know I’ve already said that, but that’s the main thing I think about him. He’s so nice, and he makes me feel like he really listens to me when I talk and that he’s interested in what I have to say. I’m not used to that with guys, so that’s really sweet. And…well…I think he’s really handsome. I’m sure a lot of people do, so that probably doesn’t surprise you.”

Omega smiled and said, “Yeah, he gets attention because of his hair and his tattoo…I’ve seen a lot of women looking at him when we’re out at the store and places like that.”

“Oh, I’m sure they do. And that’s the thing…he looks like that. And he could probably have just about any woman he would want. It doesn’t matter what I think of him, I’m not the type of woman men like Hunter notice and want to spend time with. He’s nice to me when I’m around, but I’m just not the type he’s going to think of when I’m not around.”

“How do you know that?”

“Well, because I’ve lived in this body with this face for almost thirty years, and I know how guys react to me and how they feel about me.”

“Hunter likes you.”

Wren replied, “What do you mean?”

“I mean, he LIKES you.”

“Omega, I find that hard to believe. What makes you say that?”

“Because he said he did! He said that you’re a very nice person and he’d like to get to know you better.”

Wren was messing around with papers on her desk, rearranging them and straightening them up. Anything to avoid looking at Omega.

“Just because he thinks I’m nice and wants to get to know me better doesn’t mean that he LIKES me.”

“Well what does it mean then?”

“It could just mean that he thinks of me as a friend.”

“No, that’s not what he meant. I specifically asked him if he liked you, and he said he does. So if he asked you out on a date, would you say yes?”

“Omega…I really don’t think he’s going to do that.”

“Hey, I’m around Hunter a lot, and I can tell when he’s being sincere. And he was being sincere when he said he likes you.”

There was silence, because Wren didn’t know what to say. What could she say to that? She really didn’t believe that Hunter “like-liked” her. Yes, he was very nice to her. He walked her out to her car and told her he thinks she’s sweet. He stopped by the park to talk to her. He’d stopped by the library to talk to her before that. But…it was just too difficult for Wren to wrap her mind around the idea that he would want to go out with her.

Omega’s phone rang to break the silence. She took it out of her pocket and answered it, “Hi Hunter, what’s up? … I’m at the library….yeah, I was just getting ready to leave…ok, yeah, I’ll see you in a little bit.”

She looked at Wren with a small smile and said, “That was Hunter checking to see where I was.”

“Oops, you’d better go.”

“Yeah, I’m not even that late…just a few minutes. He’s a worrier!”

Wren laughed and said, “Some of us can’t help it!”

Omega laughed with her and said, “Yeah, I know! Well, I guess I’ll see you on Sunday then. You’ll still come?”

“I said I would, so I’ll be there.”

“Ok, great! Bye, Wren!”

“Bye, Omega. You’re not going to say anything to Hunter about what we talked about, are you?”

“I won’t. But think about what I said. I think if you pay attention to Hunter on Sunday, you’ll see I’m right. Bye!!”

“See you then.”

And she was gone. There is no way she can be right about Hunter. It’s just not possible. Those things don’t happen to Wren. Guys like Hunter aren’t interested in women like her. She needed to stop thinking about it. It would just make her more awkward when she saw him on Sunday. And she didn’t need anything to make her more awkward than she already was.

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