(Y/n) and the Bad Batch

Who Else Wears a Hat Like That?

Early this morning, not to early, but early enough, Wrecker, Echo, and Omega went out. It was supposed to be a patrol, but I knew that it would never be if Wrecker and Omega were in the same place. I was with Hunter and Tech, we were gathering some potential supplies, and making getting closure with Rex. Instead of leaving late the night I went to see the stars, he left early this morning. I was glad I was able to say goodbye, but I was not sure how I felt about Rex. He had originally given me so much to hope for, then I broke his trust, and I was hanging onto every word he said.
I had hoped I could part with him in friendship, and though we did, I felt that something was missing. Something that I should have said did not come out of my mouth, I felt that he also felt the same.

"Y/n, can you hold this for me?" Hunter was struggling to hold up some fallen items.

I was so deep in thought that I had not even heard the noise of the crashing items. That is something I almost never did.

"Sorry, Hunter, I... didn't... wasn't paying attention," I walked over to him and effortlessly pulled some items off of him.

"Not hearing that is highly unusual for you," Tech commented, looking up from his data pad briefly, "not flinching away from it even if you don't know why too."

"Agreed," I sighed, "I'm an emotional mess I guess. Hey that rhymes!"

"It's Rex isn't it?" Hunter asked, pushing some supplies into something of a modified shopping cart, "something he said."

I knew Hunter preferred to go toe-to-toe with anyone that hurt me, but he, thankfully, would not do it to his brothers.

"Not something he said, more about how he made me feel, and it's not even his fault." I rambled, "don't say something sarcastic Tech, I can feel it coming."

I did not hear anything important from Tech other than a deep breath and sigh.

"I-if you want the truth... well... the truth is... that I felt like something from our parting was missing," I gave Hunter a look with sparkling eyes, "like both and I should have said something that wasn't said... but I can't figure out what I should've said."

"Isn't it obvious?" Tech said with a hint of restrain in his voice, "his feelings for you?"

"Feelings?" Hunter and I both looked at Tech like he was crazy.

"Apparently I am the only one who can see things hidden in plain sight," Tech shook his head, clearly annoyed with the subject.

"Tech, you know me, when it comes to these things, I'm totally oblivious; but, now that you mention it, I can see it," I said, hints of shame and realization dotted my voice.

"I suppose that's true," Tech responded, a little bit of restrain gone from his voice, "but it is still obvious that he harbors feelings for you."

I looked down, was that what missing? 'I love you?' Or an, 'I still care for you?'

Hunter gave a look that I had never seen before, "do you?"

"Do I what?" I returned, looking downcast.

"Do you still care for him?" Hunter sounded like a father about to give his child dad-lore.

I could not answer right away, I was trying so hard to collect my feelings. I could tell that Tech was feeling miserable on the inside, Hunter was beginning to go in dad mode, and I... I was confused about what I should say.

"Maybe I did once," I pondered my next few sentences carefully, "but I don't know if there's much of anything left. As you are all well aware, I have intense care for all clones, all of my brothers. Rex... well... some things obviously happened between us that aren't what you would expect. Both of us are still recovering, maybe we never will. I don't think I love him any longer... I fell into this bunch instead."