Hunter's POV of We Stay Together

Change

One look at her, and he was blown away. This woman he didn't know had a hold on him. He stared, and the universe made sense. As though one look had cured him, compelled him to her. He felt alive, and it happened all at once. Emotions stirred up in his chest, and he just knew. This woman he had caught staring at him made him feel like they had met before. As though this wasn't the first time they had seen each other, he couldn't remember if there even was a first time. A sweet and gentle demeanor about her became the main reason Hunter couldn't look away. It was the first time anyone looked at him without disgust or hate. He was looking into the kindest pair of eyes, which did it for him.

    He became stuck in a bubble of awe and confusion, and he blurred words away. He couldn't hear what the Chancellor was saying anymore, and he no longer cared. It didn't matter because there was no Republic. There was no war which meant no need for clones. He had put those pieces together then became distracted by the stares of two girls from the platform above. And among all those perfect-shaped soldiers, they saw him. Nothing but a defective experiment. But those short seconds, he felt transparent.

    Hunter stiffened in place. It was a natural reaction that he had no control over because he had never been in this situation. Hunter glared. He swore he didn't mean to, but he couldn't control his instinct. She looked away. He scared her off, he thought. If only he were normal, maybe he'd get the chance of a do-over and make a better impression of himself. The thought felt ridiculous, however. He would never meet her. For all he knew, she's superior. A respectable woman who is inferior to clones. She was elegant, after all. Clean and graceful. Qualities of a Senator.

There was no way he would get the chance to meet her, and there was less of a chance she would want to meet him.

    Despite the thoughts he juggled in his mind, it made sense why there would be a Senator on Kamino. It's as everyone knew now, the war was over. Someone had to oversee the clones. Someone needed to take that burden.

    Hunter felt himself become softer. He eased up when she was no longer looking at him. He watched as the child beside her tug on her shirt. The kid was smiling at... him? No, that couldn't be right. He wasn't sure if he saw clearly, but it seemed like it.

    "What is it?" And it was Tech's voice that erupted the minor illusion he was in.

    Hunter glanced away from the girls for a moment, catching Tech's concern. There were times when Tech was too observant, and how did he see Hunter in a dazed moment? He didn't know.

    Hunter trailed back to the girls without any intention, and Tech's eyes followed. He saw what Hunter was stuck on, only this time, the kid was gone.

    "Nothing," he lied. There was something that felt important, but he wouldn't prove it. The universe created a clear sign on the platform above, and he refused to believe in this supernatural voice. It was what the Jedi believed in, and now, they're dead. He wasn't going to risk anything on a feeling. Especially when that feeling would sound absurd if he ever tried to explain it, he couldn't deny it either, that woman and that girl, they felt significant.

He told himself that he is no Jedi, and there is no force. Who was he to determine that these strangers would become necessary? He was no one.

    Hunter watched as a worried look washed over the woman's face. She looked around her surroundings, and there was this urge he had to laugh. He hardly ever laughed. But that look, he knew it, he practically perfected it. He constantly worried, having four brothers to watch over, and they didn't know it.