The Bad Batch: Oneshots

Kiss With a Fist

Context: Set a little after the batch gets back from Tantiss S3.15) oh, and Tech is alive cuz I say so.

     Hunter watched as Omega and Lyana disappeared into the crowd of other students entering into the school building. He was hesitant at first to send her to a school, but Shep talked to him about the benefits it would have on her. The ex-sergeant was proud when Omega was declared advanced enough to join Lyana in her year. While the batch hadn't had a formal education, it didn't stop them from teaching Omega almost everything they knew. Besides combat, shooting, and survival skills, Omega was well versed in the regular criculars as well thanks to Tech. Still, it was strange to see Omega in such a "normal" environment. None of them, especially Hunter, would have predicted their lives to end up where they were.

"Are you going to keep staring at the closed doors, or can we leave now?"

"Do you think she'll be okay?" Hunter turned to the sniper, ignoring his previous question. "What if she needs us—"

"Then she'll comm us."

"What if we didn't teach her enough—"

"She learned from Tech, I'm pretty sure she'll know more than enough."

"What if she gets picked on—"

Crosshair rolled his eyes. "She can handle herself, Hunter. Maker, you worry too much."

Hunter gave the school one last look, flinching as the bell rang. "Maybe you don't worry enough?"

"Get a job at the school then if you care so much!" The sniper walked past the sergeant letting out an irritated sigh.

Hunter closed the distance again as the two navigated their way back toward the house the Hazards and the villagers kindly gifted them— a thanks for helping save and rebuild lower Pabu from the sea serge.

"I'm sorry, Cross. I'm just...not used to her being away for so long."

If all the times Omega had been captured taught him anything, it was to cherish every moment he had with her.

"You'll get used to it," Crosshair said, opening the wooden door to the decent sized hut. "You can't protect her forever."

Crosshair immediately froze, guilt setting in as he finished his sentence. Before he dared to look at his brother he scrambled to rectify his mistake.

"What I mean is, Omega is getting older and will want to be more independent. She needs to grow outside of our care."

Hunter knew that. He knew he wouldn't be able to keep her safe for the rest of her life. The galaxy had already tested him of that multiple times before, but that didn't mean he wasn't going to try as long as possible.

Hunter plopped down on the soft, narrow couch in the living room, propping one elbow up on the arm as he gave a small chuckle.

"Cut told me raising a kid was harder than battling droids."

Crosshair smirked. "Well, what do you expect? She's taking a little after all of us."

"I guess I forgot to ask what happens after." A sad feeling sank in the sergeant's stomach.

If he wasn't so down in the dumps, the sniper might have poked fun at him for taking on the role of Omega's father figure to heart. However, Crosshair decided to keep his snarky comments to himself. After all, deep down, on a slightly different level, he felt the same.

Crosshair sucked up his dignity, placing a hesitant hand on Hunter's shoulder as a sign of comfort. "Back on Tantiss, surviving was the main objective, but here... living is all one can ask of. Quit focusing on what's to come and enjoy the time you have now."