The Bad Batch: One Shot Collection

If You're A Nightmare

Crosshair finally confesses to him that 1, he just accepted a marriage proposal to Jedi Padawan Anika Skywalker, which is messed up on a few levels and why he's been so cranky, and 2, he has no idea what to do about it. Hunter, as always, tries to make him feel better, even if he just wants to sleeeep.

Author's Note: I decided to do this in honor of the Bad Batch comic, because I really needed to do SOMETHING with them even if I've basically fallen out of touch with 'em.
ALSO. I know this literally makes NO sense because the Marauder doesn't have beds. Sylvie's voice, don't overthink it. :')

This is technically a sequel to 'If You're a Dream'. 

~ Rivana Rita

The bed dips wildly at his side beneath Crosshair's weight is added onto it, and Hunter pries his eyes open like they were welded shut with glue. He's used to this, though – any one of his little brothers curling up into his bed beside him voicing any one of a million complaints, be it "Hunter, I want another cookie," "Hunterrr Crosshair's being mean again!", "Hunter, we are out of sugar, I believe the twins will be very unhappy" (why'd you eat it all?), "sorry to wake you, but I can't get my stuff on with one hand and Tech's busy", "Hunter, I can't sleep again" (guess what, neither can I, Tech), or just a "I want a hug."

But instead, tonight, it's something even stranger than any of those.

"Do you need something?" Hunter asks softly.

His little brother flops face-first onto the bed hard enough the entire mattress bounces. "Yeah. Uh. I – I justagreedtogetmarriednadIdon'tknowwhattodowhatdoesthatevenmean?"

Hunter blinks. "I'm sorry?"

"Anika and I talked," Crosshair repeats slower, "We, uh, we set a date, I guess."

Hunter closes his eyes and slowly exhales. "Guess I did hear right, then," he says with a breathy laugh. He's not surprised, honestly. They all knew it was coming a parsec away. Tech had joked about it, Wrecker'd laughed about it, and Hunter'd been way, way too proud, because his baby brother is growing up.

He's all grown now. Still childish and downright adorable, but for being a kid, too, Hunter would say he raised him right. Tech, he's seen, looks at Crosshair with the same, an overwhelming amount of love and pride. Someday Hunter might ask him about it, and if they survive a few years past the war and get to lead a normal life, he might even tell Crosshair himself someday.

"You knew?" He sounds amused, maybe faintly nervous.

Hunter laughs again. "Yeah, we all did. Actually, Anika talked to us about it first. Asked if we'd be okay if – if you went further."

"You told her yes?"

"You know we did."

Crosshair smiles a little, though it fades fast, and he turns his face back into the pillow and sighs. "Thanks. But – what does it even mean? I've – I've never seen anyone – I don't know what it means. Does she have to move onto the ship? Or do I have to move into the Jedi Temple?"

Ah, yeah, that little problem still exists. Because Anika is still a Jedi padawan, and Jedi are forbidden to have such relationships, or any relationships, and she's still – seventeen?

And Crosshair is nine? Oh, yeah, he's not even a legal person. Can't forget that bit.

"How far off is it?" Hunter asks.

"Uh, six months?"

"Over half a year? That's not so bad."

"It's very bad!" Crosshair wails into their pillow. "I don't even know what it means."