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jangosweat · 2 years

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Journey (Part Three)

Pairing: Crosshair x Female reader Summary: you make to Ord Mantell, is this the safest bet or just a pit stop from your troubles? Length: medium Warnings: eventual NSFW 18+ ONLY, some strong language, a little explicit content if you squint, reader meets The Batch, alcohol consumption, possible pining from the murder toothpick. Tagging: @mysticalgalaxysalad @littlemisscare-all @keepcreative @drinkswithsatan @punkystrangeling @batmmarty @blackrose87 @erifi83 @catnip987 @eyecandyeoz @litttledaria @mylifeinthetardisforever @raccoonwithadream @jinx210 @starloriha @lackofhonor @breezey @momos-peaches @waiting-for-motivation @tomatodragonskull @photowizard17 @whatevs2416 @dionysuskid21 @saracarvalhaes-99 @wakeupjackthisisntfair @tinywitchgoblin @gimmebones715 @dumdumcourt @bi-witch-rose @shytastemakerthing @vale9765 @sithseunie @toxicpeep @gwenthewolfuniverse @kattarts @schotsaert @untitled7003 @dopebonk @imalovernotahater ENJOY!!!

Ord Mantell was a bustling hub before and after the fall, the mid rim city held all walks and skitters of life. Young and old traded their wares and spices, hanging fruits and roasted meats hung fresh in stalls. Crosshair had trusted his brother, landing his squired ship at the landing docks. You were sleeping so soundly he didn't want to disturb you but pressing matters seemed more dire. You startled in your bunk, he had put on his helmet.

"Afraid to wake you citizen but we've had a change of plans," you sighed and rubbed at your face, hissing when you touched your eye patch. "We are on Ord Mantell, my brothers are willing to help us."

"How many you got, long one?" You yawned and took his hand when he offered to help you down the ladder and towards the fresher.

"Four plus Omega."

"Whose Omega?" you asked, he heard the shower start and he rolled his eyes but kept his mouth shut. You were banged up, beaten and sore on the run for who knew how long. He hadn't gotten that explanation just yet, though he had mused about it to himself.

"According to Hunter she's a sister."

"A sister or your sister?" You called out.

"Ours."

He heard you mumble a reply to him, you shut off the water and suddenly your dripping wet and steamy arm was reaching out of the door, your body out of sight. Oh. Right. Crosshair dug around in the side closest for a fresh towel and handed it to you, the white cloth disappearing into the fresher with you.

"He sent me the coordinates for-"

"Let me guess," the doors all but flew open, you stood there wet with a finger in the air. "We're going to see Cid aren't we?"

Crosshair scoffed. "How did you know that?"

"Lucky guess. She doesn't give out anything for free, everything and everyone has a price and it's usually a hefty one. I've worked with her before." ....

Crosshair wasn't sold on your blip of an explanation. You had worked with Cid before, when, why and for what? Crosshair had heard of the bar owner a handful of times but had yet to meet the hard nosed woman in question.

He didn't even know your story yet, other than you needed some help. He was still uncertain and questioning himself, as the familiar beeping of the landing dock filtered through the ships' cockpit. Why was he helping you? why did he stick his neck for you, a stranger in a beat up alley, half-dead? he easily could have left you there, you had mentioned going up to see that Eden woman, why didn't he just leave you alone to do so?

Cross was lost in thought and plugging in his ships code to the neon glowing dock below, he didn't hear you or feel you until your face was damn near right next to his own. His namesake marked eye turned to your abruptly.

"Haven't been back here in more than a few months. Looks different." You announced and looked out the front window, the toll droid voiced that you were clear to land in a spot.

"Yeah well so you do you citizen." Crosshair grunted, finding a space big enough for the craft.

The streets of Ord Mantell (or Old M) as you called it when he landed the ship and extended the ramp, you still needed a bit of help. It took a whole four days to get here and your leg was still healing. You took his hand to get down onto the ground, he was about to punch in the location on his helmet but your hands stopped him.

You shook your head and told him none of that, that you knew a short cut. Even though you wore an eye patch, someone might recognize you and you didn't want the hassle.

He popped his helmet, slung his gun around to fit in it's place around his back and followed close behind. He didn't see the Havoc at the docks, either his brothers were out on a job or out of fuel somewhere or weren't even on Ord Mantell in the first place. It wouldn't be the first time Hunter had played a trick of Crosshair and would not be the last.

Your hand came out in a flash, stopping him from getting run over by a speeding speeder bike.

Cid's parlor was coming into view after several minutes of walking and skirting past questionable groups and unfamiliar food stalls, lit up with strung neon lights like hanging wires. A few small crafts zipped by just overhead.

The streets are dirty, wet and littered with unwanted things. Like some of the people here, unwanted or discarded like that box of crackers on the corner. You make sure the coast is clear and pat him to follow as you jog across the cobbled street. There's a giant sheet of what looks like sheet metal, graffitied and dented and more like a makeshift gate for the dingy looks of the parlor.

You waved him inside.

And here Crosshair thought the outside was bare, there were plenty of tables with not enough butts in them. The bar top was empty though a tender was keeping herself busy cleaning a probably already cleaned glass. She set it back on the shelf and grabbed another. A little game of darts was going on in the back, from the looks of it an intense game of Dejarik was also happening when the pair of you walked in.

His helmet scanned the patrons, nothing was a miss or had a warrant from what he could tell. Not that he was going to be arresting anyone, save that bullshit for the regs.

Faint jazz music played from somewhere in the establishment as he followed you to the bar.

"We're looking for Cid." Crosshair spoke first, a knowing but quiet smirk on your lips was just out of his frame. The Trandoshan woman set down the glass on the bar top and leaned on her forearms, she gave you a slight look but eyed Crosshair up and down.

"Don't tell me you're the missing link."

"I don't know what that means."

She snorted. "You're lookin' for Cid huh? what for?"

"Apparently they have dealings with my brothers and that they can help."

"Aha! so you are with those bumbling idiots then, why didn't you say so?"

"Don't be too harsh on him will ya'." You piped in, hopping up on one of the stools, you had your pick as no one else was around. Crosshair looked down at you, unsure if you were sticking up for him or if you knew this hostile woman with the bauble necklace.

"Now why would I wanna' go and do that hmmm?"

You looked around and leaned closer to the woman, Crosshair watched you flip up your eye patch. "Because deep down you're a big ol' softie."

"Put that kriffing thing down kid, I knew it was you!" Cid had shushed you and with her head directed you guys toward the back, to her office.

She shut the door rather quickly, with a swiftness Crosshair was used to dealing with from his own side, not the other way around made him on the side of nervous. He wasn't used to that.

"Are you trying to get me in trouble? I'm already elbow deep with his kind, let alone you too kid, a fugitive!" Cid scoffed and pushed him aside, sitting behind her desk with an annoyed huff.

"I'm not!" you cried and sat down across from her at the desk, careful of your shiner you held your cheeks while he remained still, behind your chair.

Monitoring the door.

"Really Cid I'm not, they tried to cut me out of our deal, said it was an equal pay out but they skipped me. I knew the location, the coordinates, how much would be there but they tried to kick me out so I did what I had to."

"Mhmmm. And that's exactly what a skimmer would say."

"I'm serious," Crosshair and Cid both looked at you as you pulled out your hidden satchel, some of those credits could have been used for the docking toll, he thought as you expelled them all out. Imperial credits, a few corners of harvested beskar and bit of calamari flan bounced on her desk. "See? you know what I'm worth, look at this kriff. You really think I would--"

"Okay okay kid, I believe you," she held up a few of the circles of flan to the overhead light and chose to bite into the beskar. "You've got more than enough for a nights' stay. You remember my policy though?"

Crosshair watched you nod.

"I remember."

Cid sighed and gathered what she thought she was owed, passing the flan back to you over her desk, giving your hand a sympathetic pat then. Crosshair wondered what the deal was just before the office door flew open.

"We have acquired what you wanted-- Cross!" Tech flipped up his goggles, making certain that it was in fact his distanced brother was real and in this room. He hugged him instantly, he noticed the way your eyebrows knitted together at the sudden and offhanded show of affection. The bulkiest brother being Wrecker did the same, even lifting him off of his feet.

A few others had piled into Cid's already cramped office, in the same black and red plastoid armor.

"Crosshair you silly old fool, didn't think I'd see you again brother!" Wrecker settled him down to his feet, batting his pauldron.

"I tried to keep it that way," Crosshair grunted and slapped his arm plates, shoving himself away for a moment. Fearful that his biggest but youngest brother would shove Lula in his face again in front of you. "Put me down."

"Sure thing!" His voice boomed even louder in the cramped back office.

Omega walked in after Hunter, she smiled pleasantly up at him.

Tech tossed what looked to be a fancy looking tablet and a box of special batteries.

"Hi, I'm Omega." The little sister said to you, Cross watched as the others talked with Cid about something just out of ear shot.

You hunched over, keeping your bad leg straight and Crosshair's heart skipped a beat, he was thankful you had remembered otherwise he would have to fix all his hard work. But would that really be such a bad thing, you did have nice legs after all. Dank Farrik Cross, get real. He grumbled lowly and kept watch.

"Well hello there, nice to see a smiling face around here. This one isn't much for those." You shot him a smirk then listened to Omega.

"No he isn't, but it's not his fault. Not really. He's just stubborn."

"Thanks for the reputation." Crosshair griped.

"I'm Y/N, is it safe for you to be running jobs with these guys?"

"Oh yeah! I've never felt safer, plus their all my brothers," she pointed to Cross then to the animated group around Cid's desk. "We keep each other in line, well for the most part anyway. Wrecker is quite the Bantha in a plate shop."

You laughed and Omega smiled. "I'm guessing he's the big guy, huh?"

"Right. And the one with the goggles is Tech, then there's Echo just there," when you followed her eyes Echo had been looking over at your little group and he gave you a small wave and half a smile. "And Hunter."

"Good to know."

"So," Omega turned back, "What are you doing with Crosshair?"

You slowly turned your head towards him, he knew you're name but you did not know his. Until now, better to keep it as consensual as to not get any sort of attachment. He could just remain a clone to you and nothing more.

"Crosshair, huh? explains the eye."

"You didn't know his name and yet you traveled with him? maybe I should be asking you if it's safe to go on with him." Omega giggled and forced one out of you too.

"Well you did say he was stubborn, seems he lives by the way."

....

"You're much too pretty to be hangin' out with ol' Cross you know?" Wrecker announced and downed a drink at once of the plenty of booths. After his vod's finagling with the parlor owner you all had filed out, in line and sat around, ordered a few rounds and some little snacks.

You were sharing some with Omega when Crosshair looked down the bar as Wrecker sat next to you, nearly blocking you out entirely with his size. He could just make out your arm lift the glass and less of it came back with a little slosh.

"You think so huh? even with the eye patch?"

"Oh for sure! I like it. Gives you character, like a mystery!" He chuckled boldly.

"Kinda' like us; we're degenerates ya' know?"

You choked on your spit, he clapped you once and you probably could've fallen over by the force. Crosshair pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head a little.

"That's not-" Tech gave you a sympathetic glance while Hunter sat back with a smile. "What Wrecker means is not that we are degenerates, we are defective clones."

"Yeah yeah that, sorry."

You smiled. "I was wondering why you guys looked a bit different from the other clones I've met."

"You've met other clones?" Omega asked after finishing up her snack.

"Sure, there's plenty of them running around. Bound to run into one or two somehow!"

Crosshair felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand at attention, he didn't pull out his sniper rifle but he did press a hand to a smaller and more discreet vibroblade from its sheath on his hip. He whirled around in the hallway and came face to face with Hunter.

His marked brother strode up to him, keeping his voice down. "So what do you wanna' do here, Cross?"

"I don't know. She'll need a new chain code, possibly two just in case. We should lay low for a few days then see if we can get her onto the Marauder without issue." Crosshair tucked his knife away and watched his brother cross his arms over his chest.

"She's coming with us? I thought you just wanted a bit of help."

"That's what this is, Hunter. I'm not just gonna' leave her to the fucking regs! they find out who she really is, Y/N is fucked. Galactically fucked."

Hunter squinted at him, tilting his head up. "Why do you care? what happened to you in a matter of a week and a half brother hmmm?"

"Nothing happened."

"Sure it did. You're sticking your neck out for some woman, she's a real riot and smart but... you don't know her. She could be lying for all we know."

"She's not lying."

"How do you know?"

"I just. Know." Crosshair didn't like what Hunter was implying, not at all. You weren't a liar and you weren't the thief some cheapskates had made you out to be.

"Well I hope you're right Crosshair."

"I always am."

Hunter smiled loosely, his gaze startled when you swayed into the doorframe. You had a few too many drinks it seemed, a cute smile on your lips and if Crosshair wasn't careful he might've thought for the briefest of seconds that you were happy to see him, to find him. Though it could have been easily mistaken for you drunkenly looking Hunter like some of the other women he knew.

"There you are," you leaned against the door frame, holding yourself up. " 'm getting tired. Can you help me up to my room?"

Hunter winked at his brother and gave him a little push. Punk ass Hunter, Crosshair thought. You reached out your hand as he walked closer, ducking under the archway. He shot Hunter a knowing look only to see Hunter wiggling his fingers playfully before he left the hallway and joined the others.

Crosshair helped you up the flight of stairs, this would definitely be a bitch to get you down rather than up he thought. You pressed yourself into his side for the last three steps, giggling when you weren't wincing in pain. Maybe you would need a more than a few days to heal up still, those bastards must've gotten you worse than he thought.

He watched you fumble with the keycard, nearly dropping it in your drunken state. You smiled sheepishly when the doors whirled to life and opened. You hobbled inside, the lights in the room automatically came on to a soft orange, it was decent, better looking then downstairs he had to admit. You made it to the bed and collapsed with a sigh.

"Thank you Crosshair."

"You got it. You'll be fine for tonight, maybe get some water for later. I'm gonna'-" You suddenly sat up and fixed him with knitted brows. "You aren't leaving are you?"

Cross straightened up and looked at you just the same. "You want me to stay?"

You stared at him for a beat, a beat too long as he felt heat and flame start to smolder his insides.

"Would you? I don't want to be alone."

Crosshair sighed then, he had planned on making sure you got to bed safe and sound before he'd go out the loading docks and crash in the ship he'd acquired, or maybe there was still room for him on the Marauder or maybe even snag a room from Cid like you had done.

He cleared his throat. "If that's what you want."

You nodded and toed off your shoes, stripping out of your mended flight suit over jacket, an almost sheer tank underneath. Crosshair didn't mean to look directly at your chest but it had happened and there wasn't a way of taking it back. He turned around and shut the door, leaning his rifle next to the frame as you made yourself comfortable on the bed.

Crosshair took his time unclasping each piece of his armor, stacking it neatly on the little dresser against the wall. When he was just left in his blacks he turned around, tossing his gloves to the rest of the pile, you were already snuggled down into the blankets. He could make himself a spot on the floor next to your bed which was his plan but then your hand reached out and patted the empty side of it behind you.

He bit the inside of his cheek and climbed into bed with you.

What was he doing?

This was quite out of character for the sniper, he hadn't had this long of an interaction with a woman in... forever. He was used to his vods, to the regs on Kamino, to taking job after job to get the bigger picture into focus. But this was strange new territory, a lay of the land that he hadn't found on any sized map. He was alone in this universe.

And even though nothing was happening, Crosshair laid there looking up at the ceiling, trying to sort out his story that his brothers would no doubt ask in the morning. He huffed and cupped his hands behind his head, absently scratching at his neck.

You were already fast asleep, the room seemed to sense it as soon as Crosshair did and suddenly the lights were pleasantly dimming until it snuffed entirely out, leaving the pair of you in darkness, just a faint hint of orange was lit under the freshers' door.

Then your hand was on his chest and he froze. You took a deep breath and Cross let out the one he was holding.

This was going to be a long fucking night.

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