A Splash of Destiny
Althea Squire wasn't the kind to trip over her own feet or spill her coffee. She was a fine example of Ravenclaw meticulousness, known for her punctuality, precision, and grace. But as fate would have it, one particular day, she managed to do both of those uncharacteristic things โ and that too on Sirius Black, a notorious, charming, utterly impossible Marauder.
It wasn't her full intention to splash warm coffee all over him. But if we're being truthful, there was a tiny little part of her that felt a guilty pleasure at the sight of the all-too-cocky Sirius Black dripping with coffee, looking splendidly ruffled. She was prepared for a sarcastic remark, a taunt, or even an old-fashioned Black glare, but Sirius only smiled gracefully, what little pride dented, but not destroyed.
His voice was mild, carrying the hint of an unexpected pleasantness, as he said, "Well, Squire, I must say โ that is one warm welcome!"
Stunned, Althea stared back, blushing furiously. "I-I'm so sorry, Sirius," she mumbled hastily, offering a hand to help him up. He politely declined her offer, getting up on his own and leaving Althea feeling awkward and embarrassed.
Gradually, the incident became a memory, not nearly forgotten but rarely remembered. They both moved on, Althea with her studies and Sirius with his Marauder shenanigans.
Then one clear, chilly evening, something changed. Althea found herself paired with Sirius for a demanding Charms assignment. This meant long hours of studying together, a virtual impossibility given their polar opposite routines.
Sirius was never one to respect timetables or schedules, while Althea thrived on them. She couldn't imagine staying up late with Sirius, struggles with their assignment. Still, they tried their best to cooperate.
Underneath the late-night lamplight, something unforeseen bloomed between them. Shared laughter over failed charms, small exchanges about Hogwarts and life outside the castle walls, talking in hushed tones when the clock struck midnight; they learned each other's strengths, failures, and quirks.
It was during one such study session that Sirius, out of the blue, apologized for not taking Althea's help when she'd spilled coffee on him. Surprised, she brushed it off saying it was all right, he was in shock.
They talked more, laughed more, fought more, and somewhere in between, they fell for each other. The realization struck Althea one day when she found herself looking forward to their study session, her heart fluttering at the thought of his smile. Simultaneously, Sirius realized he had developed feelings for Althea, a terrifying and exhilarating realization.
Taking a leap of faith, one frosty night under the enchantment of the waxing moon, Sirius held Althea's hands. His gaze held a glimmering mix of fear, excitement, and something else that made her heart race. She looked at him questioningly, her heartbeat echoing in the crushing silence around them.
"Althea," he started, "I fancy you. I do. And it scares me because I didn't want to. But here we are, and I couldnโt resist you anymore"
For a moment, she couldn't believe what she was hearing. Sirius Black, the Marauder, the one who had girls lining up for him, fancied her?
"Just tell me if my feelings are misplaced, Alth-" Before he could finish, Althea pulled him closer, her fingers twined with his, and their lips met in a sweet, lingering kiss. The warmth of his body, the tender touch of his lips, matched perfectly with hers. As the kiss deepened, they both lost themselves in the moment, hearts beating as one.
From that day on, Althea Squire and Sirius Black grew from being just classmates to soulmates, their love story beginning with a clumsy trip and a spilled coffee.
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Slip of the Tongue
Sergeant Hunter x fem!Reader (pabu native, fishing woman)
Word Count: 2621
Prompt: I had a very funny dream. You're welcome.
AU Fix-It: Everyone is happy on Pabu
Rating: PG for language, but as always Minors DNI ๐
Contents and Warnings: second hand embarrassment, confessions of feelings (accidental), side wagers, boys bein boys (affectionate and not evil), broken wrist mention but nothing graphic, light swearing and Crosshair saying "sex" at one point.
Summary: Hunter and Reader dance around their feelings because they're just not sure if the other is receptive or not. This spurs a bet between the members of The Bad Batch, will they confess on purpose? Or will it be an accident?
Author's Notes: I woke up from a dream about this laughing so damn hard. Shout out to Clone Force 69 for laughing with me about this silly dream.
Because this fic bounces around a bit, Reader is referred to as "Rea" instead of "you", but the MC is still left ambiguous/fem without description so anyone can place themselves there.
"Rea, careful." Hunter grabs her waist and pulls her away from the edge of the narrow steps along one of the outer walls of Pabu. Instinctively, Rea's arms go around him, but she laughs, a soft blush on her face, "You know I was born here, right?"
"And I was born on Kamino, doesn't make those waters any safer for me. Doesn't make the cliffs safer for you." Rea's heart speeds up when his thumb rubs her hip, but Hunter gently pulls away after she's steaded.
She wanted to kiss him. He thought she wanted to get away. Neither got what they wanted.
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"Hunter, I um... I made some extra pasta last night, little too much actually, do you want to have lunch with me?" Rea's heart is pounding again, and Hunter can smell anxiety on her.
He's hungry, for more than just pasta, but Rea's anxiety makes him second guess. Before he can turn her down, she blurts, "Omega can join us! I-ive definitely got enough for her too, um--"
"Oh! Yes then, alright," his nod is too fast, her anxiety melding with sorrow now. He kicks himself for it later. Why wasn't he any good at this? He reads her emotions, knows what they mean, but somehow whatever he does he's wrong.
Omega isn't too upset about it, she loves to eat, and she loves spending time with Rea. Almost as much as Hunter does, and she picks up on that fairly easily. You'd have to be a brick wall, not to see it. "Thanks for lunch, Rea, I'm gonna see if Echo's called yet. He promised he'd check in today!"
When Omega scurries off, Hunter shifts a bit, more relaxed yet somehow his heart is still pounding, "You uh... you're a good cook."
Rea blushes, careful not to let the compliment go straight to her head, "Truthfully, not a very good cook. I started to learn how after you showed up, wanted to... wanted to um..."
"Rea? Do I make you uncomfortable?"
"No!" Her eyes go wide, hands darting for his on impulse, "No never! What makes you say that? Did I do something wrong?"
"No! No just- you're an asset," Hunter wants to slam his head into the table. Asset? Really? Idiot. He doesn't slam his head down, but he does scowl, angry with himself, looking down at their hands together.
His heart sinks further when Rea pulls her hands away. She thinks she's over stepped, folding them neatly in her lap, trying hard not to fidget, "well... I'm glad I'm useful for you, at least. I-I mean that! It's not a dig! I'm--" she sighs, looking at him under her lashes, "I'm happy I can do something for you, Hunter... and the others! Them too!"
Over by the Marauder, Wrecker smirks, crossing his arms over his chest as he jabs a thumb toward the impromptu picnic, "Accident."
Tech, shakes his head, a knowing nod toward the two helplessly flirting yet somehow never being upfront, "Incorrect. Given Hunter's senses, he knows that she is receptive to his feelings, and returns them in kind. They will confess on purpose."
"Bet on it?" Wrecker leans over, quirking an eyebrow.
"Wrecker, you are aware that you've lost the last dozen wagers we've had. Statistically, the odds do not favor you." Tech adjusts his goggles, now busying himself with one of his sensors, "Do you even have credits to wager?"
"All my snack funds. If it's an accident, you owe me what I lost the last five bets. If they do it on purpose, you get everything I have." Wrecker looks absolutely sure of himself, shoulders back, grin wide.
Tech would be lying if he said the offer didn't tempt him. All the money he earned from his and Wrecker's bets did go into their mouths anyway. The opportunity to have full control of Wrecker's diet and get him off those wretched fuel station snack foods was just too good to pass up. Because, statistically, this was an incredibly safe bet.
"Alright Wrecker, you're on."
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"Do you want us to bring anything? Wrecker eats a lot, and with Crosshair and Echo home, it's gonna be eight of us counting Wrecker's appetite." Hunter rubs the back of his neck, looking over at his group of siblings, "Are you sure you even want us over?"
Rea sighs, her shoulders slumping a little as a small smile turns on her lips, "Hunter..." He'd misunderstood her invitation to come to dinner. She'd wanted just him, a chance to finally tell him how she felt, but any opportunity to be with him, she would take it, "Bring a few drinks? Maybe a few ingredients if you and the others want something in particular. I'll see if my uncle will let me borrow his table."
"You're sure this is okay? You said your place was small, we aren't exactly small ourselves." His eyes widen just a touch when she holds his hand in hers. He relaxes a bit, smiles just enough for her heart to race, "Alright, we'll be by this evening."
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"She's gonna find someone who's actually upfront with his feelings if Hunter isn't quick enough," Echo chuckles, watching them interact.
"Care to join our friendly wager, Echo?" Tech looks up momentarily from his soldering panel to gauge Echo's interest, then proceeds with his explanation and his panel work, "Wrecker believes they will confess on accident, whereas the smart credits are that it will be on purpose."
"Oh yeah? Who's betting on the smart credits?" The edge of Echo's smile tilts up, smirking because he already knows the answer. Omega has regaled him on their last phone call.
"Right now the pool has a 1 to 3 split with four participants. You would make five."
Echo flinches just a second before the humor returns to him, "Tech, who's betting on their confession being on purpose?" He laughs a bit louder as Tech frowns, "Just you then huh?"
"It's logical! Hunter and Rea share similar feelings, he can sense her willingness and receptivity, there is nothing that says otherwise. When they confess, it will be purposeful."
Echo rolls his eyes affectionately, "Alright, I'll join the bet."
"Excellent, you understand the logi-"
"This has accident written all over it, Tech, I'm going with the smart credits, betting against you."
"Traitor." As Tech huffs, Echo busts laughing, and throws his credits into the mix with Crosshair, Wrecker, and Omega's.
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To say the little home was crowded would be an understatement. Wrecker was very quickly banished from the kitchen, his tall and broad frame took up far too much room for anyone be productive while he was there. "Awww that's no fair, I'm the best cook!"
"Debatable," Crosshair ticks, pushing Wrecker into the backyard area, "Let's go big guy. I'm sure there's something out here we can do."
Omega grins brightly, her bow coming off her back quick, "Rea has clay disks! We could shoot!"
"Now hang on, that's-" but Rea cuts Hunter off quick with the squeeze of his hand, "Rea?"
Rea smiles at Omega, then look up to Hunter, "I asked her what could be fun for everyone to do, and I... well, my brother and I used to shoot clay disks when we were kids. Since Crosshair and Omega are both sharp shooters, I thought it would be nice, so I bought a few cases. Wrecker can throw them, those two can shoot, Tech can do calculations, Echo gets to relax for a second, and-- I um... I'd like your help in the kitchen, if that'd be alright?"
His eyes are soft on Rea... of course. Of course she'd thought of them. She was always thinking about them, bringing med kits, real food, taking them exploring on Pabu, making sure they felt at home. That he felt at home. Hunter finally manages a smile at her, soft and light, "I'd be happy to help."
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Tech nudges Wrecker as the big man opens up the crate of clay disks, "There, see? A confession. I told you it would be on purpose."
Omega giggles at that, "Uh, Tech, that wasn't really a confession. They make eyes at each other like that all the time."
"She asked his help, specifically to help in the kitchen, which she had just informed us no one else should be there but her. It was a confession, she wants him by her side." Tech crosses his arms, and Omega mirrors him, making their brothers chuckle.
"Not a confession." Wrecker tosses one of the disks, cheering as it explodes thanks to a quick shot from Omega.
"Think about it, Tech," Crosshair takes a turn with Omega's bow, nodding at Wrecker to throw several disks at once, "You're a man of facts. Does "happy to help" sound anything like "I love you"," he pulls the bowstring and lets loose three bolts in rapid succession, making Omega and Wrecker both whoop as the disks burst, "Sounds a lot like "I'm doing you a favor" to me."
As the others murmer in agreement, Tech huffs, then flicks up his data pad, "Crosshair has six disks, to Omega's two."
"Damn straight."
"Ah just wait Crosshair, I'll beat you this time!"
Omega didn't beat Crosshair, but they did have fun, and that was win in itself.
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"Hunter, I'm fine, I can walk." Rea flinches as she's lifted from the dock. She cradles her wrist, careful not to put more pressure on it as tears spill down her cheeks.
"No you're not," Hunter's voice is hard, not cruel, but protective, "I heard your bones, that's not a twist, it's broken, now quit squirming."
Crosshair rolls his eyes, watching Hunter carry Rea away from the docks and back to the town, "If I didn't know any better I'd say they were married, the way he overreacted at that fall."
"Jealous you don't have someone to carry you, Cross?" Echo ribs him, pushing his shoulder playfully, "I think Wrecker would if you asked nice."
"And die of the stench? I'd rather walk," a smirk hits the corner of Crosshair's lips, and he pushes Echo back, "Just think it's ridiculous, that's all. It was her wrist, not her ankle. He didn't have to carry her."
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"Hey Echo? You got a sec?" Hunter rubs the back of his neck, looking sidelong at Rea as she shows Omega a few new fishing techniques popular to the peaceful island, "It's about Rea..."
"She okay? Wrist better?" Echo leans back to glance around Hunter, then looks back at Hunter when he notices nothing out of the ordinary, "What, she got a boyfriend?"
"Does she?" Hunter looks embarrassed near immediately, smacking the butt of his fist into his forehead as Echo laughs, "Kriff, shut it!"
"Okay, alright, what's your question?" He tries to keep the laugher down, mostly for the sake of the bet.
Hunter scuffs his boots on the dock, one hand on his hip as the other continues to rub his neck. Echo's patient with him, knowing he's not the best with words, but Hunter catches him off guard, "D'you think she likes me?"
Echo takes a very deep breath, pinching the bridge of his nose, then lets it out slow. "Hunter, I'm gonna ask you a few questions."
"Alright," the Sergeant crosses his arms with a nod, "Let's hear em."
"Has Rea ever greeted one of us, not counting Omega, before you?"
"No."
"Has she ever brought anyone else caf in the mornings?"
"Crosshair, once."
"But what is actually for him, or did he just steal it from you because you weren't there to collect it? I'll tell you the answer: Crosshair's a thief."
Hunter scowls at Crosshair further off on a fishing boat, then looks back at Echo to keep going. Echo chuckles, shakes his head, and leans forward with his elbows on his knees, "Kriff, Hunter, really? Fine. Does she ever actually invite the squad to meals, or do you just assume so because she said "you"?"
It takes a moment for Hunter to answer that one, and he's embarrassed about the conclusion, "I've been inviting you lot, haven't I?"
"Even Tech would've recognized that as her asking you out. Hunter, she likes you."
There's a pause, Hunter's eyes searching the ground as he thinks. Arms crossed, a slight scowl, "You sure?"
Echo just sighs, pats Hunter's back, and starts walking back toward town, "Good luck Sergeant."
"Echo! Are you sure!?"
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There's a bit of apprehension as Rea opens up the boat engine, "What the kriff did you guys do to my ship!? Race her!?" When no one meets her eyes, Rea huffs and seats herself near the engine, "Hunter, get my toolbox."
"I will assist with repairs, perhaps even streamline the fuel systems and-" one sharp look from Rea has Tech silenced, "Right. I will be over there with the others."
"Got your kit, need any help?" With Hunter, Rea's glare softens almost instantly, and when she nods, he sits himself down beside her to help, "what do you need?"
"Spanner wrench first," she near drops it when their fingers touch, but recovers quick enough to catch it before him, "Thanks Hunter."
About an hour of repairs passes, Rea giving and taking tools from Hunter, who's been doing his own smaller repairs on the control panel. Fixing sticky switches, making sure the wires aren't fried, nothing Rea would bite his head off for. She's particular about fishing boat, they know that much. Lucky she lets them on at all.
"Hey Hun, pass me my driver?"
"Sure darling, here."
Rea sits up fast, her eyes wide, face a mix of shock, blush, and engine smudges, "What."
Hunter had frozen as well, trying to think of anything that could have been misheard as darling in the context. The longer they stand there in eye locked silence, the redder their faces become... until they hear the clinking of credits.
"How does that constitute a confession?" Tech mutters as he pays out to Wrecker, Echo, Crosshair, and Omega, "He called her darling, how is that a confession but nothing else has been? Further, how are we so sure this wasn't on purpose?"
Wrecker chuckles, slaps Tech on the back, and calls over, "HEY HUNTA! DID YOU MEAN TO CALL HER THAT!?" The look on Hunter's face only serves to make Wrecker laugh harder, "Told ya! They had accident written all over em!"
"Hang on were you betting on us!?" Hunter takes one step off the ship, his face in a snarl, "Explain, now!"
Omega steps forward, her eyes apologetic, her smile, anything but, "It wasn't to be mean! Promise! You and Rea just... I mean, come on, Hunter! We've been here for months, and you didn't tell her you love her until now?! How could we not bet! Even Echo's playing, and he wasn't here most of it!"
Echo shrugs, a very satisfied smile on his face, "I told you she likes you."
"Hunter..." in his sudden burst of anger, he'd forgotten for a moment that Rea was standing right behind him.
As he turns around, he tunes into her again. Slightly elevated body temperature, quickened heart beat, her scent anxiety forward. "Rea... look, I know this makes things... different, but-"
Two quick steps was all it took to close the gap between them. Rea takes Hunter's jaw in her hands and stands up tall on her tip toes. She pulls them together and presses her lips to Hunter's. His hands go to her waist, holding her close as he returns the needy kiss.
"Kriff, just have sex already." Crosshair snipes with a chuckle, making Hunter and Rea snap back to reality.
"Crosshair!!" Their outburst only serves to make the others laugh.
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Tag list: @anxiouspineapple99 @wolffegirlsunite @wizardofrozz @eclec-tech @dystopicjumpsuit @clonethirstingisreal @wings-and-beskar @sunshinesdaydream @multi-fan-dom-madness @starrylothcat @n0vqni @sev-on-kamino @mythical-illustrator @523rdrebel @littlemissmanga
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