ᴄʟᴏɴᴇ ᴏɴᴇ ꜱʜᴏᴛꜱ

Transparency Part 1 (Tech x Reader)

"Unfortunately for you, Omega," Tech continues, "this mission is too high risk, and your bounty too high. You will stay on the shuttle for the entirety of the time and keep it ready for a quick takeoff."

Omega's disappointed is evident, but she keeps quiet and stoic, mimicking Hunter's stance per usual. After the briefing, you follow Tech to leave, feeling the cold look from Portia as you do, but something in you needs to guard him from her prying eyes.  Is it the way he looks at him?  Is the Force trying to warn you of something?  Regardless, you don't waver, and instead, strike up a conversation with Tech.  It appears that Tech missed the movement, but Hunter didn't. He meets your eyes with a frown but you don't respond.

The ride out to open space is awkward. No one knows what to say with the tension between the crew and Portia, who is oblivious to the dynamic change.  Eventually, everyone but the pilot heads out of the cockpit to make an attempt at striking conversation over the blueprints of the ship.  When Tech enters the room after the jump to hyperspace, you eye Portia, who greets the genius with a nod. He pauses and returns a similar gesture before turning his attention to his datapad.

"Well," said Portia. Her silky voice makes you tense. "Seeing that we have so much time to spend, why don't we use it to get to know each other? After all, you wouldn't be able to have a workable team if you didn't trust everyone, right? You'd fear betrayal."

The air goes cold.  Each Batcher's eyes tell the same story: Crosshair. You recall the hatred in his heart even as you parted on the platform on Kamino.  Before this, you might have considered it, but now you have no desire in getting to know Portia, nor do you want her to know you. But a part of you is curious about how she ticks.  You want to understand where her interest in Tech comes from, and you want to know if it's her personality that dissuades you or something unseen.  Your chest grows heavy at the thought of betrayal, so you shake your head and look her in the eye.

"Didn't work very well last time I tried to understand a shady individual, so I'm not interested. I'm sure the boys would love to get to know you though."

Portia's eyes widen, suddenly aware that she has struck the wrong chord. "Oh, I worded that horribly.  I uh... read about him when learning about your team. I'm so very sorry that that happened. The horrors of war..."

You nod, jaw clenched. You can still sense Crosshair's pain from somewhere in the galaxy if you focus enough. The one whom you all called brother. You look at Wrecker, whose eyes are downcast.  Out of everyone, Crosshair's demise hurt him the most.  His sadness cries out for reconciliation in the force.

Hunter clears his throat and says, "We would appreciate it if you didn't mention him again."

"Not a problem.  I'm sorry it went there,"

Everyone sits in silence, Portia now fidgeting awkwardly. After what seemed a lifetime, Hunter speaks up again. "Tech, why don't you teach Portia the mods you've made to the shuttle in case things go south?  Omega, go listen in.  You might get something out of it."

The genius nods and leaves with the bounty hunter and child in tow. Once the door hisses closed, Hunter straightens and looks directly at you. It doesn't take special senses to know he is confused.  Echo and Wrecker exchange a glance behind him, Wrecker shrugging.

"What's with you today, y/n? You were fine till she showed up." He comes closer, talking quietly, "You sensing something we need to be worried about?"

You hum, shaking your head. Then with pause, you say, "It's something about her... I dunno. It probably isn't a threat."  You gaze briefly shifts to Echo, whose eyes seem to be looking through your skull and directly into your brain.  An involuntary nose-scrunch registers on your face before you can stop it.

"If anything, and I mean anything makes you think we need to abort the mission, I expect you to tell me. Until then, you'd better put what ever this is," He gestures to all of you, "away so your attitude doesn't affect this op."

"Yes, sir," you say.  Hunter sighs and returns to his brothers.

To pass the time, and hopefully to sway your mood, you decide to to to the cockpit and join the three.  Omega is listening intently as Tech explains certain controls to Portia, who stands by, making an occasional reply to prove she is paying attention.  She acknowledges your presence and Tech turns, doing the same.  

All of what the nerd is telling Portia is complete nonsense to you.  You fly through experience and hours of training.  Not once have you wished you knew the name of every instrument and toggle.  Tech, of course, hates this, and takes every opportunity he can to get you to learn alongside Omega, but you have one advantage that the kid doesn't: you know how to distract the man.  

Smiling, you sit in one of the chairs, spinning it back and forth a little as you recall one of the many instances you've gotten out of a specs lesson.  This one happened by your asking Tech to tell you about the most prominent worldview of the planet you were fixing to visit.  It took him a full hour to realize that you were no longer discussing the Havoc Marauder, but by then it was far too late to circle back. 

You tune back into reality as Portia leans against Tech to adjust one of the controls, and your brows furrow.  Was that necessary?  No, you realize as she takes a little too long to leave his space, making eye contact with him the whole time.  Definitely not necessary.  She smiles.  His cheeks flush as he mutters an apology.  Your stomach turns.

Frustrated, you turn to a datapad to read up on the news, watching for certain names or anything that might be of interest.  Your eyes are glued to the screen but you take in none of the information.  After a few minutes, you glance back up at the two.  It seems like they've finished talking about the shuttle.

They're speaking casually now about some of the planets they've both visited.  Small talk. You taught him that. You tear your eyes from the sight and back to the datapad, replaying Hunter's instruction in your mind. The longer you sit there hearing them talk so freely, the hotter your temper becomes. You have to do a check of yourself, wondering where the sudden mood has come from. Crosshair doesn't hold a light to the way you're brooding.

The best course of action, you realize, is to leave. They don't need this negativity before a mission. You bid them farewell and leave.  As you're passing through the main area of the shuttle, Hunter gives you a questioning look, but you shake your head as if to say, "Not now," and go to the back of the ship.

As you lie in your bunk, staring at the wall, one thing keeps drifting to your mind: the way Tech was looking at Portia. His eyes followed her, studying her. Like she is a masterpiece. You force your mind back to the plan. Back to the mission. The one that might earn your team enough credits to repay the debt to Cid. It is imperative that you don't let your focus wane even for a moment, but a strange fear keeps you on edge.  One that says that you might lose your place on the team.  One that says you might lose Tech. It doesn't make sense.  One can't lose someone that they don't have, and one can't have someone that they don't first take a risk to become vulnerable with. You have never done such a thing, so you don't deserve to be jealous.

That doesn't change the fact that you are.