Order 66 | The Bad Batch | Hunter

Chapter Eleven- Reunited

When she finally woke up, she was back on Ord Mantell. She was in a hotel room, probably one of Cid's, tucked into the bed loosely. Kiv could barely move her weak body, but she attempted to sit up, weakly falling back and hitting her head on the bed frame. The jolt awoke Hunter, who was asleep with his head laid on the bed next to Kiv.

"Kiv," he said breathlessly. "H-how do you feel?"

She reached out, grabbing Hunter's face, much to his surprise. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

Hunter reached up, grabbing her hand and holding it in his. "You have nothing to be sorry for. I'm sorry for not helping you sooner."

"I don't care what happened to me," Kiv said, her voice still rough. She pulled her hand away, proceeding to smack Hunter in the shoulder. "I told you not to come for me-"
"What?"

"I didn't want you risking your lives for me," she argued, pulling her legs over the side of the bed.

Hunter stood up, holding his hands out. "Hey, don't-"

"I'll do what I want," Kiv snarked, though she didn't mean it to sound rude.

She stumbled standing up, and Hunter caught her, grabbing hold of her waist.

He rolled his eyes. "Could you not be so stubborn for once?"

They were standing awfully close. Kiv looked up, finding his eyes, which were looking at her with all the love in the world. Of course he cared for her, how could she ever think he wouldn't have come for her. Kiv sighed, leaning into him, putting her head on his chest. His breath hitched but he didn't wait to pull her in, gently enclosing her in his arms.

They stayed like that for too long. Neither of them wanted to pull away.

"I was so scared," Hunter whispered.

"I'm sorry," Kiv responded. She felt him shake his head.

He pulled away, looking her in the eyes. "Kiv, I-"

"Kiv!" The booming voice of Wrecker sounded throughout the room as he came bouncing inside. "You're awake!"

"Wrecker," Tech scolded. "I told you to wait until they- Oh hello," Tech said, greeting Hunter and Kiv.

Kiv smiled. "Hey, boys."

Hunter's hand was still lingering on her waist. Wrecker stared at it. "Oh, did you-" Hunter was shaking his head vigorously from out of Kiv's vision.

"Did we what?" She asked.

"Uhh..." Wrecker grunted. "Did you-"

"What he was going to ask was, have you seen Omega yet?" Tech interrupted.

"Oh, no, I haven't," Kiv said, stepping forward lightly. "Where is she?"

"She's down in the bar," Hunter answered. "She's been waiting for you to wake up." Hunter led her out of the room, giving Wrecker a glare as they passed.

There was a light smacking noise, and then Wrecker grunted an "ow".

"Um, how long was I out?" Kiv asked.

Hunter grimaced. "Almost two days."

"Two days?" She groaned. "I'm a Jedi, I'm better than this."

"You were seriously injured. We're lucky you were only out for two days," Hunter argued.

Kiv could attest. Her whole body throbbed in pain. Her body jolted everytime she moved, the only comfortable feeling was Hunter's hand on her waist.

When she didn't respond, Hunter comfortingly rubbed his thumb along her waist, accidentally slipping it underneath her clothes, directly onto her skin. Goosebumps went down her arms.

Hunter noticed. "You alright?" He asked, hoping he didn't hurt her and that it was the reaction he thought it was.

Kiv opened her mouth to respond, her heart beating ridiculously fast, but before she could say anything Omega had yelled her name and came running from her seat at the bar.

"Careful," Hunter said as Omega pummeled into Kiv. She winced in pain, but shook her head at Hunter, just letting Omega hug her. She rubbed Omega's head reassuringly.

"Hey there, kid," Kiv greeted. Kiv let Omega grab her hand, leading her to sit at the bar.

The next couple days were very relaxing for Kiv. Not voluntarily of course, Hunter wouldn't let her go on any missions with them. He ordered her (as if she didn't outrank him) to rest.

None of the Batch questioned what Kiv had gone through with the Empire, but she had eventually told Hunter.

He was re-wrapping her wounds later the day she woke up. She winced as he attempted to wrap a large cut on her arm.

"I'm sorry," he grimaced. After spending the past two days taking care of her in her unconscious state, Hunter had seen a lot of her body. More specifically, a lot of the wounds she had been left with upon leaving the Empire.

"It's okay, these are all my fault," she whispered as he pulled the wrap tight.

"What?" Hunter asked, placing a hand on her thigh. "They are not your fault."

She sighed. "Well I got these as a punishment for calling you guys... If I had just not called, I wouldn't be in this state, and you guys wouldn't have risked your lives for me-"

"And you would still be a prisoner of the Empire, and probably in much worse of a state. None of this is your fault, you hear me?" He placed his other hand on her face. "None of it."

Kiv didn't say anything, but allowed him to keep wrapping her wounds, attempting to hide her pain, but he saw every wince.

When he finally finished, he put his hand out, helping her to stand. By the end of that day, she was already healthier, able to stand on their own. Hunter smiled, Jedi.

He led her to the door, but before he opened it, he leaned in the door frame. "Can I ask you something?"

Kiv shrugged. "Sure."

Hunter hesitated. It might be too soon to ask her to relive all of that trauma. To recount everything that had happened to her. To tell him-

"You want to know what happened," Kiv stated. Hunter was quiet. He smiled, but nodded. "Well..." and she proceeded to tell him a very short version of what had happened to her. She tried not to freak him out too much, but he could tell she was trying not to make it seem as bad as it really was.

When she was finished they were quiet for a moment. Hunter reached forward, grabbing her face and placing a kiss on her forehead. "I'm sorry, Cyare." He then took her hand and led her down to Cid's bar in silence.