Hold On To Me

Post apocalyptic Crosshair with guitar (it can also be used as a weapon btw). Concept by @devinsisland.

Last Line Challenge

Rules: In a new post, show the last line you wrote or drew, and tag as many people as there are words (or as many as you feel like).

Thanks for the tag @tealmisthams! Here is the last line(s) I wrote for my new Rook x Lucanis fic I'm working on (in the Dragon Age Fandom). The fic is And Always, My Love, and the first chapter can be found here on ao3.

After a moment more, she turned and made to leave the dining hall, regret rolling in her stomach. Had this been the right decision? Should she have taken the chance with Lucanis, despite everything? Could they have danced around each other’s wounds and hurts without hurting each other? She didn’t know. And now she never would.

NPTs: @tealmisthams (uno reverse mwahahah), @ladylucksrogue, @whyamismall, @queen-of-mandalore, @aknightreaderr and anyone else who wants to participate!

First Line Challenge

Thanks for the tag @tealmisthams and @aknightreaderr!

This is not the first line, but it is the first line I wrote today for my upcoming Crosslo fic. It is the one referenced in my WIP game post as “Crosslo confessions fic” so I’m tagging @julijuli77 as well since you asked about that one! I don’t wanna reveal too many details, but let’s just say there will be some confessions from both Arlo and Crosshair 👀

“Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving?” Arlo asked quietly as they turned on to her street, unable to ignore the subject any longer. Crosshair frowned but merely shrugged, seemingly unbothered.

NPT: @ladylucksrogue , @whyamismall , @acatinwinterfell , @saviinika , and anyone else who wants to participate!

Snip's Stories

This is a masterlist of my writing! All of my fics can be found on my AO3 🧡

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Current WIPs

Cross My Heart and Help Me Heal

Series of one shots & culminating in a long fic (coming soon!!). I tag this series with the tag 'Crosslo' on tumblr and AO3. The AO3 series can be found here.

Fandom: The Bad Batch

Pairing: Crosshair x OC (Arlo)

Rating: Variable, G to M

General Themes: Romance, domestic life, hurt/comfort, PTSD, Crosshair's tremor, accelerated aging cure, timeline spans early S3 to post Tantiss

Fics (listed in chronologic order):

Disobedient Hands (T) - one shot

A Chance Encounter (G) - one shot

Shoot Your Shot (G) - one shot

Not the First, But the Best (T) - short multichapter fic

Warm and Safe (T) - one shot

Unbidden (M) - short multichapter fic

Nearly Whole (E) - one shot, newest fic, just posted!

Why? (T) - one shot

A Pabu Tradition (G) - short one shot, Kiss Roulette prompt

Falling for You (M) - short one shot, Kiss Roulette prompt

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Race Force 99

First fic is up, long fic is in progress! Updates coming soon 🏎 🏎

Fandom: The Bad Batch

Pairings: Crosslo (Crosshair x OC: Arlo), TechPhee

Rating: T to M

General Themes: Bad Batch as Formula 1 Racing Drivers AU, racing, formula 1, trauma, PTSD, angst, competition, romance

Fics:

Space Race (T) - one shot

If You're Not First, You're Last - place holder title for the long fic, coming soon!!!

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Completed Works

Rexsoka

That Familiar, Yet Unfamiliar Feeling (M) - long multichapter fic, post order 66, romance and slow burn 🧡💙

Something More, for You and I (M) - first chapter up, more updates to come!

Hold on to Me (M) - one shot, Rexsoka Monthly prompt

A Well Deserved Rest (G) - one shot

Reasons (T) - one shot, Kiss Roulette prompt

Beside You (T) - one shot, Kiss Roulette prompt

Lost Without You (T) - one shot, Rexsoka Monthly prompt

The Beach Can Wait (M) - one shot, Rexsoka Monthly prompt

Tihaar? More Like Truth Serum (T) - one shot, Rexsoka Monthly prompt

If Only (G) - one shot

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Fivesoka

Reunion (M) - one shot, Kiss Roulette prompt

Impulse (G) - one shot, Kiss Roulette prompt

Sweet and Gentle, Let me Dream of You (G) - one shot, gift fic for the great galactic gift gathering

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Assorted The Clone Wars Fics

No Remedy for Guilt nor Grief (M) - Fox x OC, Angstpril one shot

Oh, My Charming Prince (M) - Fives x OC, one shot

No Rest, No Reprieve (M) - Kix-centric fic dealing with burn out, death and loss, one shot

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Assorted The Bad Batch Fics

Please Don't Make it Real (M) - Crosshair finds out about Tech's death from Omega

Not Strong Enough (M) - Tech as CX-2, written for Angstpril prompt

Chaos and Order (G) - Clone Twin Week prompt for Crosshair & Tech

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Other Fandoms

Dragon Age

Alone (G) - Solas x Female Lavellan, Exploration of Lavellan's heart break after the events of DA:I

Bellanaris (T) - Solas x Female Lavellan, exploration of the events immediately after Veilguard redeem ending

Just Like Them (T) - Solas x Female Lavellan, analysis of the parallels of Solas taking on a physical form and Lavellan agreeing to remove her vallaslin

And Always, My Love (T) - Rook x Lucanis Dellamorte, multichapter fic about the love story between my Rook, Delphine Mercar, and Lucanis - First chapter up, more to come soon!

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Thank you so much for reading!

If you read any of my works on AO3, please leave me a comment and a kudos, it is super encouraging to see what you think of my fics! I also love talking about my writing and my OCs, so feel free to leave me an ask or send me a message, I would love to chat 💙

Well, I ended up writing a little something for myself for this prompt which has now spawned an entire fic... Please enjoy chapter 1, posted below! The rest of the fic will be up over the next week or so and can be found here on ao3.

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And Always, My Love

The first time Rook kissed Lucanis, it was unexpected. She’d put one hand on his cheek and leaned over, landing a sloppy kiss on his cheekbone, just below his eye. They were both drunk, as were Neve and Bellara. The four of them had been trading stories over a bottle of wine. One bottle turned into two, and two quickly progressed to three, and three… begot a kiss.

Lucanis hoped he wasn’t blushing. Bellara laughed and pointed, reiterating the obvious: Rook was very drunk, and Lucanis was very surprised. Neve glared daggers. Lucanis wasn’t entirely certain why. They’d flirted, sure, but nothing was spoken for at this point. Spite roared in his brain.

TELL. HER. SHE NEEDS. TO. KNOW.

Lucanis met Rook’s gaze, enraptured by her shining green eyes, and not for the first time. Some invisible force behind her gaze tugged at his breastbone, and he watched Rook’s eyes widen as he leaned in. Her lips parted, and she gasped softly, drawing his gaze downward. Mierda. He wanted to kiss her. Badly.

Lucanis’ eyes flicked back up to Rook’s and the intensity of her gaze struck him to stillness. Did she want to kiss him too? The way her gaze roved over him, searching and hungry, made him believe so.

Now. Tell her. NOW.

Lucanis opened his mouth, but in the same moment, the reason he could not tell her anything walked through the door.

“Drinking without me?” Davrin asked, his voice as smooth as silk and as deep as the ocean dared dwell. Rook shot up immediately, the spell between them shattering into a million pieces, and flittering off into nothingness like the end of a shooting star. It blazed hot, when you could see it, but it was intangible once the moment had passed.

She fluttered over to Davrin, her long curly hair bouncing with every step. Lucanis grimaced as his friend lifted Rook up, spinning her around before kissing her forehead once he’d placed her back on the ground. They were a good match. Lucanis pretended he was happy for them.

We could KILL him. Easy. POISON in soup.

No.

You COOK. You ASSASSINATE.

No!

What if there was. A CONTRACT.

“Oh, shut up…” Lucanis murmured with a sigh before rubbing his forehead.

“That’s rather rude,” Neve quipped. Lucanis raised his head, confused. Neve continued to glare daggers at him. “All Rook asked was if you wanted another drink.”

Lucanis flicked his gaze over to Rook. The concern in her eyes made her look suspiciously sober, but the way she wavered at Davrin’s side, prompting the other man to loop a steadying arm around her shoulders, betrayed her intoxication.

“My apologies, I wasn’t talking to you, Rook. Spite was…” Lucanis searched for the right words, not willing to allow his friends to be privy to Spite’s foolish suggestion. Finally, he settled on,  “…being rather loud.”

Rook grinned, an adorable, lopsided twist of her lips in her drunken state. “Well, maybe Spite needs another drink.”

YES.

“No,” Lucanis said firmly, and resisted another sigh. Resolutely ignoring Spite’s protests inside his head he continued, “On the contrary, I think Spite and I have had a bit too much to drink. I will take my leave.”

“Noooooo Lucaaaaanis,” Bellara whined drunkenly. “You can’t leave yet.”

Lucanis rose to his feet and took a second to let the world right itself before he stepped away from the chairs in the library. He called on all his discipline and dexterity to look less intoxicated than he felt and avoid tangling his legs on the table that sat between them, strewn with glasses and empty bottles of wine.

“I’m sorry, Bellara. I’ve had enough for one night.”

“Ooookay but just wait,” Bellara said cheerfully and shot up from her chair. She stumbled over to him, likely intending to give him a goodbye hug, but accidently launched herself into his side when she tripped on the low table he’d so painstakingly avoided. Lucanis caught her without too much trouble, but he staggered a bit, just barely managing to keep his feet under them both.

“Sorry, whoa-“ Bellara said, wobbling all over again the instant Lucanis righted her into a standing position. This time Davrin stepped forward, taking her other arm. She let out a peal of laughter and Rook’s infectious giggles joined Bellara’s, the humor of Bellara’s disequilibrium obviously enhanced by the alcohol bubbling through their veins. Rook’s laughter was a beautiful sound; Lucanis couldn’t help but stare. The way Rook’s whole face lit up with joy, her eyes scrunched into adorable crescents, cheeks round and rosy… Mierda. He couldn’t keep thinking these things.

“I should be going,” Lucanis said, leaving Bellara in Davrin’s capable hands. He bid his goodbyes and made a quick exit from the library, managing to stay upright without too much effort. He just had to make it to his quarters. The walk wasn’t long. This he could do. Spending time with Rook… especially Rook and Davrin… that was something he was going to need to work on.

TELL HER.

He couldn’t. It was better this way. Rook deserved better.

But. You CARE. About her.

That didn’t matter. He didn’t deserve Rook. He’d only entangle her in his mess.

WHAT. MESS.

Lucanis scoffed. The Crows. The Ossuary. The mess that was a demon inside his head.

But I CARE too. About Rook.

“It doesn’t matter,” Lucanis murmured to himself as much as to Spite. “She made her choice. And it was the right one. We… we are the wrong choice.”

LUCANIS IS. STUPID.

Lucanis rolled his eyes. “Whatever,” he muttered under his breath, staggering up the steps to the elevated courtyard. When he reached the top step, Lucanis sighed in relief, only to lose his footing instantly, his boot slipping on a particularly smooth stone.

Luckily, a pair of lithe but strong hands wrapped around his arm, saving him from a rather unfortunate fall onto the stone walkway.

“Careful darling.”

Lucanis sighed. “Neve.”

Neve looped her arm around his and helped him towards the dining hall at the far end of the courtyard, where his quarters lay. “We all had a bit too much to drink. Just wanted to make sure you made it back okay.”

“You didn’t have to do that,” Lucanis told her, shaking his head and then regretting it, as the world seemed to spin a little to the left.

“No, but I wanted to,” Neve replied, her voice light and hopeful. Lucanis frowned. This was a mess too. He’d started something flirty with Neve and he’d intended it to remain casual. It seemed she may want more than that.

“You deserve better, you know? She doesn’t get to demand your affections, not after she’s chosen someone else,” Neve said, turning up her nose as if the notion itself was distasteful to her. Lucanis and Spite both bristled, defending Rook immediately.

“She demands nothing.” He couldn’t tame the sharpness from his tongue, and it shamed him. While he did not deserve Rook, he had enough scraps of self-worth left to know how pathetic he must sound, defending her to Neve.

“Well then, how do you explain tonight?”

“I have… lingering feelings. That isn’t Rook’s fault.”

“Still,” Neve said, pausing outside of the dining hall before letting go of his arm. “Perhaps it’s time to find a new focus for your attentions.”

Lucanis’ frown deepened. He should have known this was coming. He’d never intended for anything serious between them, and he regretted if he’d given her the wrong idea. He tried to put her off.

“Look, Neve-“

“I’m not asking for you to fall in love with me, darling.” Neve interrupted. Slipping her fingers beneath his chin she caressed his jaw, drawing his eyes to hers. “But I think you could use a distraction.”

Lucanis raised an eyebrow, his apprehension fading as Neve presented him with a more familiar, easier option.

“A distraction?” He leaned in, coming nose to nose with Neve. Her brown eyes were half lidded as she stared at his lips. Her breath ghosted across his skin. It prickled in anticipation, and he waited, wondering what her next move would be.

After what seemed like an eternity, Neve spoke. “If you want to kiss me, you’d better hurry up.”

Without thinking, Lucanis crashed his lips against hers. Their kisses were rough and hungry, both desperate for a taste of the other. Lucanis wrapped one arm around her waist and the other he threaded into her hair, pulling at the soft brown strands, angling her mouth where he wished. She kissed him back fiercely, nipping his bottom lip and scrapping her fingernails pleasantly down the side of his neck. Pulling on her hair, he tipped her head back so he could kiss her neck. Rook’s skin was sof-

The hapless thought jarred him back to reality, and Lucanis pulled away abruptly.

LUCANIS. IS. STUPID.

Yes. Yes, he was.

“I-“ Neve started, looking rather flustered.

“Not tonight,” Lucanis cut her off, silencing any further questions with a shake of his head, and a thin lie. “I’m too drunk.”

Neve narrowed her eyes, obviously not entirely satisfied with his feeble excuse for such a sudden change in behavior. Her scrutiny was intense, but Lucanis was a Crow, and Caterina’s grandson. Learning to lie and resist interrogation had been both part of his training, and essential to escaping his grandmother’s wrath growing up. Silence came easily for him, drunk or not.

“Alright,” Neve said eventually, though the quirk of her lips told him she still retained her suspicions. “Rest well.”

Lucanis bid her farewell and staggered through the door of the dining hall, making his way to the pantry and promptly collapsing face down onto his bed.

What was he going to do with himself?

WHY. Are WE WRONG?

Lucanis sighed.

“We just are, Spite. We just are,” he mumbled into his pillow drunkenly, unwilling to delve any further into it. His mind was a mess, and not in the usual way. Lucanis squeezed his eyes shut tight. For the first time in a long time, he wanted to sleep. A brief reprieve from all this thinking… would be welcome.

As he drifted off, Lucanis murmured, “Don’t tell her while I’m sleeping. Please.”

He felt Spite slip towards unconsciousness with him for a change.

I WON’T BETRAY LUCANIS.

Lucanis was grateful. And then he slept.

Romance Prompt Questions:

✨ First Times ✨

To spark some positive fandom enthusiasm, I thought I'd try creating a ~fun little ask prompt~, so here goes!

Send an ask with "The first time..." and fill in the rest with whatever you like - then receive snippets, headcanons, or a mix of both!

This can be serious ("the first time character A confided something in character B" / "the first time character B thought about kissing character A" / "the first time they dealt with loss together") or entirely silly ("the first time character A heard character B snoring" / "the first time character A's uniform was horribly out of place in front of character B" / "the first time they laughed so hard they cried together").

I encourage all writers and non-writers alike to participate however they wish! This isn't about creating mesmerizing prose, but about sharing in each others' love of the Characters™.

CHAT HEAR ME OUT FOR A MOMENT PLEASE 🤭

If still doing the kiss roulette, 35 or 43 Rexsoka? Pls and thanks.

Thank you so much for the request! I decided to do both prompts in one fic, so this one got a little longer than intended. I really hope you like it thought <3 This fic is set sometime during the later half of TCW and I want to make clear that this is an aged up, adult version of Ahsoka! If i ever write her during TCW I always age her up :)

Full fic below the cut!

Reasons

Kiss Roulette Prompts: 35 - a kiss against a wall & 43 - a bloody kiss

Pairing: Rexsoka

Word Count: ~1600

Warnings: blood, minor injury

Rex shoved Ahsoka against the wall, covering her body with his against the shower of shrapnel that followed the deafening blast from the Separatist cannons. Every nerve in his body was on high alert, and his muscles were tense, ready to jump and move again if need be. The shrapnel, gravel and debris pinged and clattered against his armor, and Rex pressed even tighter against Ahsoka, ensuring she was entirely shielded from the aftermath of the blast, knowing she wore far less protective equipment than he did.

Her hands were clutching his chest plate, and he listened to the sound of her breathing, muffled behind the ringing in his ears from the blast. Her respirations were clear and even, and Rex matched his breathing to hers, slowly calming his racing heart.

When it had been silent for long enough that Rex was certain another blast was not coming, he relaxed marginally and chanced a glance over his shoulder. Sure enough, the spot in the square where they’d been standing was now a crater, and various chunks of debris as well as troopers unlucky enough to be caught in the blast littered the area.

Rex couldn’t tear his eyes from the bodies, strewn at awkward angles throughout the square as they were. He fought the urge to run to his brothers, desperate to search for survivors, however small that possibility that might be.

“They’re…” Ahsoka coughed as the dust in the air tickled her throat, interrupting her words. “They’re gone, Rex.”

As she confirmed his suspicions, Rex let out the breath he’d been holding, shoulders slumping under the weight of his despair. His entire squadron, gone in one moment. He wished for the chance to mourn, but they needed to move, and they needed to do so quickly. They still had a shield generator to destroy so General Skywalker could move his troops through the main streets and into the legislative buildings were the Seppies were holed up, and now they needed to do so without the rest of their strike force.

With a sigh of resignation, Rex turned back to Ahsoka to suggest they do exactly that, but he found his words remained trapped within his throat at the sight of her.

Ahsoka was dabbing with her bare hand at a laceration on her forehead, just below her headband. As scalp wounds were wont to do, it was bleeding profusely, and the blood easily escaped her half-hearted attempts at tamponade, running down the right side of her face. It marred the beautiful white markings on her cheek, and stained her lips a bright red.

Rex was no medic, but he’d tended to his fair share of wounds. Theoretically, he knew this wound was superficial. Theoretically, he knew that the scalp was a very vascular part of the body, therefore although the blood loss looked impressive, it was likely not serious. Theoretically, Rex knew Ahsoka would be just fine.

But in reality, Rex tore his helmet from his head, letting it bounce haphazardly across the ground as he dropped it unceremoniously. He grasped her chin with trembling fingers and turned her head, pressing the gloved fingers of his other hand firmly against her wound, trying to stop the bleeding.

“Rex, please, it’s fine,” Ahsoka grumbled, trying feebly to free herself from his grasp, but he held her fast, pressing her into the wall more securely to prevent her from escaping.

Refusing to take no for an answer, Rex indicated to his belt with his chin. “There are a couple of bacta strips in the side pouch. Grab them for me.”

“You’re overreacting,” Ahsoka bemoaned with a roll of her eyes, but she did as he bid her, grabbing the bacta strips and handing them to Rex. “I’m fine.”

“You will be,” Rex agreed gruffly. Then more softly he said, “Please, just let me help you, ‘Soka.”

His gentle plea effectively silenced any further protests from Ahsoka. He made quick work of treating her wound, appraising his work briefly once he was done.

“There,” Rex stated softly. “Good as new.”

Ahsoka rolled her eyes and laughed softly, laying her blood-stained fingers gently against his cheek. Her smile was sad, as how could it not be in a world filled with war and death, but her words were light, buoying his heart against the darkness and fear.

“My hero. You saved my life and patched me up,” Ahsoka told him with a subtle wink, a little impishness making it through the sadness in her smile. Rex cradled her face in his hands, his eyes reflecting her melancholy, but also her resolve. They couldn’t linger long, but Rex took the chance to be with her now, if only for a moment. The reality of war had taught him to savour such moments. Nothing was permanent. He could lose her as easily as he’d just lost all of his men.

“Mmmhmm. And just how will you ever repay me?” he quipped, leaning down while losing himself briefly in her beautiful blue eyes. Ahsoka smiled fully, her gaze drifting down to his lips.

“I can think of something,” she murmured. She stepped closer, and Rex watched as her eyes fluttered closed. His own were half lidded.

“Hmm. Something nice, I hope…” he replied.

Ahsoka’s lips brushed his. “Very nice, I promise.”

Before Rex could respond, she kissed him. Her lips were soft and sweet, and Rex cradled her face gently between his hands, swiping his thumbs lovingly over her cheeks. All he could feel was her. She invaded all of his senses, sweeping him well away from the horrible reality of war, if only for a moment.

But as she deepened the kiss, the tangy, metallic taste of blood slipped through the blissful haze the movement of her lips had lulled him into.

Suddenly, he could hear the distant blaster fire, mixing with the even more distant clanking of battle droids. He could smell the scorched earth from the cannon’s blast and felt the dirt and dust upon his skin and hers.

The wounds on his heart opened anew as he thought of his men, dead in the square behind him while he stood, alive and well, kissing his Commander.

He should stop it. He should end things as regulation and expectation dictated. He was not a mere man, entirely susceptible and beguiled by the affections of a woman, even a very beautiful one such as Ahsoka.

But that was entirely the problem. This wasn’t some irresponsible dalliance, distracting him from his mission, his purpose. This was love. It was the desperation for a connection with another being, fighting for life amongst all the death.

Ahsoka was his whole world. The clones were bread to fight for the Republic. They didn’t need a reason to do so. But all the same, Rex knew Ahsoka had become his reason. He fought, day in and day out, for her.

Desperately, he deepened the kiss further, slipping his tongue into her mouth as he pushed her a few steps back towards the wall. Gasps left both their chests as they crashed harder than Rex had intended into the solid structure.

He couldn’t stop, and he didn’t want to, so he continued kissing her and touching her, pressing their bodies as close together as his blasted armor would allow. Ahsoka returned his passion with vigor, her fingers hooked around his chest plate, holding him close while her other hand scrapped against the back of his head.

They kissed without a thought for anything but each other. Rex didn’t even bother to stop for a breath until he could go no longer without one.

When he broke the kiss, his chest was heaving, his oxygen starved lungs begging for relief. Ahsoka’s breathing was similarly labored, and she clutched tighter at his armor, unwilling to let go.

“I love you,” she whispered, her voice breaking. Rex opened his eyes then to find hers filled with tears, which slowly slipped down her cheeks, creating tear tracks through the dried blood that still marred her beautiful features. Rex blinked away the blurriness from his own vision and held her tighter.

“I love you too, ‘Soka.”

They held each other for a moment more before Ahsoka let out a long sigh, breaking through the emotional veil of desperation, fear and love. Rex stepped back, standing at attention, while Ahsoka peeled herself from the wall, brushing her hands over her battle dress in an attempt to clear it of any dust and grime.

Bending down, she grabbed Rex’s helmet from the ground, studying it briefly before holding it out to him, He accepted it from her, but hesitated before placing it upon his head. Ahsoka pressed a hand to his cheek and tried to smile, although her eyes were still troubled by a stormy darkness, dimming her shining blue hues to a muted grey.

“Please don’t die,” she bid him, her voice breathy and desperate, as it seemed she too must have tasted their mortality and found it rather jarring. Rex leaned forward to press a kiss to her forehead, before pressing his own against one of her montrals.

“I go where you go, cyare. I have no plans to leave your side.”

“See that you don’t,” Ahsoka ordered before stepping back, her posture and expression morphing into that of his battle-hardened Commander once more, although the affection in her eyes remained.

“Yessir,” Rex agreed, nodding before securing his helmet upon his head. Taking a deep breath, he deferred to her, ready to jump back into the fray, as his duty bid him. “Lead the way, sir.”

Ahsoka nodded and they slipped around the wall, keeping to the shadows as they pushed on towards their objective. Although weary and worn, war left no rest for any but the dead, and Rex was not about to join them. So, he followed his Commander without question, staying close to her side as she bid him, and keeping her even closer to his heart.

And I’d Like To Believe

I Am The Sum

Of Everything

I Have Loved

Canon x OC Fanfic Writers are criminally underappreciated.

I refuse to believe that so many amazing stories with incredibly crafted original characters have barely any interaction, terribly lacking in comparison to x reader fics. I love a good x reader fic, smut or not, but so often I see authors on here whose x reader stories get traction while their larger, fleshed-out canon x oc stories aren't read or liked, much less reblogged or interacted with. It's sad to think that these writers spend so much time working on these stories because they are so complex. Crafting characters and full storylines to span tens of thousands of words and multiple chapters...they're out there writing novels and their work so often gets ignored because it's not a quick read and/or the reader won't explicitly see themselves reflected in the story. I always stand behind x reader fanfiction and love me some great x reader smut.

But can we please stop to think that there is so much more to reading fanfiction? With some of these stories, you could get a whole retelling of your favorite show with another character in the board to change the game. You could get parts of your favorite show you'd never see on screen, but they're being brought to life by a writer who loves it so much they're willing to pour their heart out into a story. Can we please stop for a moment and think of how magical these stories are?

Please, go read some Canon x OC fanfiction. Go give these stories love. The stories and their writers deserve all the love. Reblog their stories. Engage. Comment. Support the writers blessing our fandom with brilliant work.

"You Weren't Loyal To Me": How Crosshair's Brothers Absolutely Failed Him in "The Bad Batch" Season 1

I know I'm not the first person to make these arguments, but after recently rewatching "The Bad Batch" Season 1, I feel compelled to play Devil's Advocate and assert that Crosshair's brothers absolutely failed him in Season 1.

Now, don't mistake me. I don't believe Crosshair was 100% in the right. Once he regained his free will -- whether he actually removed his inhibitor chip, or whether his injury on Bracca deactivated it or lessened its impacts -- he definitely should've left the Empire the first chance he had.

I imagine he was trying to make the best of a bad situation, but I don't see why he would stay with an organization hijacked his mind and ordered him to kill his family, civilians and other people who were trying to do the right thing.

But, I don't think his brothers -- I'm excluding Omega because she's a child and was following everyone else's lead -- are 100% in the right either.

I believe Crosshair's brothers basically abandoned him.

CROSSHAIR'S GREAT INSECURITY?

Now, I understand that they didn't initially plan to abandon Crosshair. But, once they knew he was being mind-controlled and especially once they knew how to undo its effects, they never even considered going back for him.

We never see them debate trying to save Crosshair. They don't discuss whether it's feasible, whether it's worth the risk, how they would even attempt it, etc.

I think this was a much-needed moment that we never get to see. In fact, as others have pointed out, we don't really get much discussion about Crosshair at all.

He's their brother. He's been by their side from infancy through their time as cadets through dozens of missions. Why aren't they more upset about him turning against him? Or being mind-controlled by the Empire?

They seem so blasé about it. Like it's more of an inconvenience than a tragedy, especially by 1.12 "Rescue on Ryloth." Like "Ope, Crosshair's here. I bet he's gonna try to kill us again."

As I'll discuss more later, Hunter gets captured on Daro, and Omega loses her frickin' mind. Even Echo, Wrecker and Tech seemed distressed too, even if the show didn't focused on their reactions as much.

But, Crosshair's mind and body get hijacked by the Empire, and nobody seems to give a shit.

No wonder why Crosshair felt so betrayed and said everything he does in 1.15 and 1.16. It probably confirmed something he always felt, or always feared:

That he was the odd man out in his squad -- the last to be included and the first to be excluded.

That they never cared about him as much as he cared about them.

Based on experiences in my own life, with friends and coworkers, I do wonder if Crosshair was always insecure about his standing within the group. This makes sense given that he's likely the youngest of the four original brothers, and that as a sniper, he isn't always in the middle of the action like they are. His personality doesn't really help either, but his brothers seem to be able to navigate it just fine in their "The Clone Wars" Season 7 arc.

Maybe this is partly why he seemed OK with Echo joining the squad at the end of TCW arc: because he felt like Echo would become the new 'odd man' considering that he didn't grow up with the Bad Batch and wouldn't know Crosshair's brothers like he does.

It's been a while since I watched TCW Season 7, so maybe I'm wrong.

But, I definitely think this is partly why he resents Omega so much in Season 1:

The Bad Batch -- mainly Hunter -- decided to risk their lives and their freedom to go back to Kamino for Omega. She might've been their "little sister," but they'd known her all of one day and Hunter still decided it was worth going back for her.

Yet they never went back for him.

Hell, as far as we the audience know, they never even considered it.

I'm not saying it would have been easy or risk-free. They also now have Omega in their care, and trying to extract Crosshair from Imperial custody while all parties involved would be trying to kill or capture them isn't an easy undertaking.

But, as I'll talk about more later, these guys do rescue and extraction missions all the time. They put their lives on the line for complete strangers several times in Season 1 to save them from Imperial custody, slavery, etc.

And I'm not saying they were wrong to do those things. It was objectively good that the Bad Batch saved the people they did.

But, I can absolutely understand why Crosshair would be infuriated that his brothers take on all these missions to help complete strangers but never bother to help him...

ANALYZING THE BATCH'S DECISIONS BASED ON THE SEASON 1 TIMELINE

I understand that, before he confronts them in the hangar in 1.01 "Aftermath," that they were planning to go back for him. And that they were forced to leave him behind because he was literally gunning for them. And -- as far as his brothers knew -- he was doing it of his own free will.

However, in 1.02 "Cut and Run," Omega tells them about the inhibitor chips, implying that that's how Crosshair is being controlled.

Then in 1.03 "The Replacements," we see that Tech is building a device to locate their inhibitor chips, and Omega tries to tell the Batch and specifically emphasizes to Hunter that Crosshair has no control over his actions. Hunter admits that he's angry at himself for leaving Crosshair behind, and Omega reassures him that they'll get him back someday.

So, it seems like -- at least in Omega's eyes -- the Batch was planning to save Crosshair at some point. And, Hunter at minimum feels guilty for leaving Crosshair on Kamino, even though they didn't really have much of a choice at the time.

However, the Batch gets sidetracked in 1.04 and 1.05. First, they need supplies; then bounty hunters are after Omega; then they need intel on who's after her and why.

Then, by the events of 1.07 "Battle Scars," we see that they've fallen into a routine of doing jobs for Cid. It's safe to assume they've done -- or at least attempted -- a dozen jobs for her at this point, based on Wrecker and Omega's 20 orders of Mantell Mix.

And then Rex shows up and tells them point-blank that the clones can't fight the inhibitor chip's effects, re-emphasizing Omega's earlier point that Crosshair had no control over his actions.

The Batch then experiences this firsthand with Wrecker, whose chip activates before they can extract it. We see that, even with Wrecker fighting the chip's effects with all his might, he endangers his brothers and was *this* close to killing Omega, but thankfully Rex stuns him in the nick of time.

Now, we have confirmation based on both Rex and Wrecker's experiences that removing an active chip restores a clone's free will.

Thus, by the end of 1.07 "Battle Scars," the Batch definitively knows:

Crosshair is being controlled by an inhibitor chip and is being forced to do the Empire's bidding;

How to remove an inhibitor chip; and

That removing a clone's active inhibitor chip will restore his free will

And yet, despite all this knowledge, the only effort they make to save Crosshair is to tell him about the inhibitor chip.

They don't attempt or even discuss possibly stunning him on the artillery deck and taking him with them.

But, admittedly, this isn't the best time to attempt a rescue, as they're outnumbered and essentially trapped aboard the Jedi Cruiser. And then Omega gets captured by Cad Bane and Hunter gets shot, and the others are desperately trying to get off Bracca before Crosshair & co. shoot them down. Fine. Getting off Bracca safely and then trying to find Omega should be their priority.

But, once they recover Omega on Bora Vio, and their lives aren't in immediate danger anymore... this would've been the perfect time to at least debate going back for Crosshair.

Again, they have all the information needed at this point.

As for how they find him, well, I'm sure they could get the information somehow. Or they could just cause a stir somewhere so he'd show up to arrest them again, like he did on Bracca.

But, no, they just continue doing jobs for Cid in 1.10-1.13. They don't bring him up at all until they see him on Ryloth in 1.12 "Rescue on Ryloth," and again, the tone is like, "Well, Crosshair is here. That's annoying."

If not being able to locate him was the only reason they didn't try to save him after 1.08/1.09, that argument doesn't apply to 1.12 "Rescue on Ryloth." He's there. They know he's there. They're already there doing an extraction job anyway... why don't they just grab him too???

Yes, there would be additional risks, but YOUR BROTHER HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED BY THE EMPIRE AND FORCED TO DO ITS BIDDING, AND YOU DON'T SEEM TO GIVE A SHIT!!!

Which brings us nicely to:

THE DOUBLE STANDARD

Throughout Season 1, but especially in the latter half, we see The Batch putting themselves in harm's way for complete strangers, or at most, friends-of-friends.

They rescue Muchi the Rancor and other people from enslavers; they extract the former Separatist Senator from Raxus; they extract the Syndullas from Ryloth; they break Gregor out of the Imperial base on Daro.

In the latter three cases, the Batch went to Imperial-occupied planets and an Imperial base, despite all the risks involved. And, especially when they saved Gregor, they had very little information going in and basically just winged the entire thing.

It just feels like, when you look at all these cases, any argument the Batch could make for not saving Crosshair just falls apart.

"We didn't know where he was." He was on Ryloth -- grab him then.

"We didn't have enough information." You didn't on Daro, and you still snuck into a heavily fortified Imperial base to rescue Gregor.

"Everyone there would've been trying to kill us." You literally extract/rescue people from Imperial forces for a living...

"It would've endangered Omega." Well, buddy, have I got a story for you...

You see, when Hunter falls on Daro and gets captured, the Batch still comes to his rescue despite knowing it's a trap AND THEY BRING OMEGA WITH THEM!!!

Every excuse they could've made for not saving Crosshair sooner is gone. The Batch will literally run into a trap for Hunter, and they constantly throw themselves into danger to save Omega, but they never do the same for Crosshair.

It really feels like such a double standard.

They seem to care about everyone BUT him.

Plus, sadly, there's one more parallel I can draw. One more instance where the Bad Batch put themselves in harm's way to save a fellow clone who was being mind-controlled by their enemies in an attempt to kill them...

Echo.

Yes, remember all the way back in TCW Season 7, when we find out that Echo is the one behind the algorithm that's giving the Separatists an advantage in all these battles?

Even though Rex thought Echo was dead, the minute he suspects Echo's still alive, he goes after him. He even punches Crosshair over it, after Crosshair bullies Rex for leaving Echo for dead at the Citadel.

One of the "regs" went back for his brother despite knowing his was being mind-controlled by the enemy and forced to attack them.

Rex, Anakin and the Bad Batch save Echo from a terrible fate. They extract him from the Separatists, restore his free will and essentially give him his life back.

Yet, when the exact same thing happens to one of their own, the Batch don't even consider going back for Crosshair the way Rex went back for Echo -- hell, the way they went in for Echo too, even though they didn't know him!!

SOME CONSIDERATIONS

I will give the Batch this: once Crosshair confronts them on Kamino and Hunter stuns him, Hunter decides not to leave Crosshair behind this time. And that was even after Crosshair refused to say when he had his chip removed. So, for all they know, he might've been acting of his own free will when he tried to kill them on Bracca.

While taking Crosshair with them at the end of 1.15 was a step in the right direction, I don't think it was enough to make up for everything they failed to do.

And, while he doesn't specify exactly what, Hunter later admits to Crosshair in 3.05 "The Return" that he has regrets too. And considering the context and the timeframe they're talking about, it's possible Hunter regrets not going back for Crosshair sooner/at all, among other mistakes he's made. (Story for another time.)

I'll also give some consideration to Wrecker, who was the only one of the brothers who said he actively missed Crosshair in 1.03 "The Replacements." Tech mentions Crosshair very flippantly a few times, and Echo doesn't really mention him at all.

Obviously, we'll never know for certain, but I do wonder how Crosshair would've reacted if his brothers had rescued him and removed his chip at some point. Would he have stayed with them? Would he have wanted to rejoin the Empire voluntarily?

Considering he (supposedly) had his chip removed and still stayed with the Empire willingly in-universe, it's possible he might've wanted to do the same thing in an AU where his brothers rescued him.

He definitely despised that they were fugitives and "scavenging like rats," while he had authority, respect and purpose as a soldier of the Empire.

But, I think a large component -- although not the only one -- of why he stays with the Empire is that he felt like his brothers abandoned him. He brings this up several times in 1.15 and 1.16, and the way he does indicates this is a major sore spot for him.

We see in 1.01 "Aftermath" that the chip enhancement procedure is painful. He scrunches his face, flexes his hand and squirms around in the chamber. Plus, the machine itself looks similar to the Mind Flayer from other "Star Wars" properties.

Crosshair was literally being tortured by the Empire. Maybe he doesn't recall that once the procedure's done, but we see him getting his chip enhanced in both 1.01 and 1.03, and it's possible it was enhanced even more times off-screen.

I cannot stress enough: the Empire basically took Crosshair prisoner, tortured him and hijacked his free will.

And his brothers essentially did nothing to save him.

It would be one thing if his brothers were civilians like you and me, and didn't know the first thing about how to infiltrate an Imperial compound or how to navigate a firefight despite being outnumbered.

But, that doesn't apply to The Bad Batch. That's literally their bread-and-butter.

And Crosshair -- especially once he seems to regain his free will between the Bracca and Ryloth arcs -- watched his brothers risk their lives to save complete strangers while doing nothing for him.

I would've been livid too.

Not to sound like Tech, but while I don't agree with Crosshair's decision, I can understand why he decided to stay on Kamino rather than go with them at the end of 1.16. His brothers offered him no real comfort and no real apology, and I think he desperately wanted to hear that, especially from Hunter.

I know after everything that's happened -- especially Crosshair refusing to say when he had his chip removed -- that it would've been hard to admit their mistakes. But, Crosshair wanted to hear something beyond: "You can come with us if you want. And if you don't, we don't have to be enemies."

The closest thing to comfort any of them offer is Omega affirming that, despite everything, she still cared about him. This seems to be the only thing that really effects him, that causes him to doubt his decision, that causes him to show any kind of emotion beyond anger.

I legitimately believe that if someone had talked to Crosshair one-on-one for like five minutes, and really showed how much they still cared about him and always did, that he would've rejoined them.

Granted, it's really hard to tell.

Crosshair has, as Tech said, always been severe and unyielding. Plus, he really suffers from this "in for a penny, in for a pound" kind of mindset, which is partly why he stays with the Empire for so long even after regaining his free will.

But the fact that all his brothers leave him on Kamino again so effortlessly, so easily is just tragic. No final goodbye. No hug. No nothing.

For all any of them know, this could be the last time they ever see each other. (And, for Tech and Crosshair, it was.)

I know it wouldn't have been easy after everything that's happened, but for crying out loud, I just wanted them to try.

And I imagine Crosshair did too.

IN CONCLUSION

Honestly, I think the TBB writers and producers purposely never gave us a scene of The Batch debating whether to go after Crosshair, or a scene of them outlining to us the audience why it wasn't possible even though they wanted to.

I think the creative team wanted us to sympathize with Crosshair when he says "You weren't loyal to me," while also arguably giving our protagonists a weakness to overcome later.

This really seems like the case if we look at Season 2.

Once the Batch finds out Crosshair's being detained by the Empire's Advanced Science Division in 2.14 "Tipping Point," they immediately start discussing whether and why they should try to save him, even after everything that happened between them in S1.

On top of that, this time they actually decide to do whatever it takes to get him back, despite limited intel and the imminent danger behind such an undertaking.

I think the Batch genuinely learned from their mistakes in Season 1 and, as Hunter maybe alludes to in 3.05 "The Return," regretted not going back for Crosshair sooner/at all after the Empire started controlling him.

I'll admit: I think when I first watched Season 1, I was basically in the Batch's corner. Crosshair was gunning for them at every opportunity, and Omega's well-being quickly became their priority (understandably so).

But, after rewatching Season 1 -- especially now that the show is over and we see how everyone's arcs play out -- it really hits me just how much Crosshair's brothers failed him in Season 1.

Again, I'm not saying Crosshair didn't make mistakes too. He definitely did.

But Crosshair's brothers failed him first.