Prompt:
(Y/N) has a strong hatred towards Clones, and Hunter tries to help her overcome her hatred.
Not a Request ♥︎
She/Her❥
1st POV
♡︎♡︎♡︎♡︎♡︎
"Did you hear the Republic Army is passing through?" a little boy by the name of Terence pulled on my pant leg, "I can't wait to finally see the heroes of the galaxy."
I smiled down at the young human, ruffling his dirty blonde hair, "They're not as great as the stories tell, I'm afraid. They're all the same, regardless whether they're Republic or Separatists."
Terence cocked his head to the side, ceasing his aggressive pulling on my dusty pant leg, "I know you had a bad run-in, but all Clones aren't like that."
"You're wise for your age, and it's annoying," I smiled, picking him up into my arms and dusting his little cheeks with playful kisses, "Now, go find your friends. I'm sure they're eager to meet the Republic like you are."
"Yes, Ms (L/N)," the little boy replied, squirming out of my grip and racing off to his little sand hut. That's about all any of us could afford on Tatooine.
Wiping my forehead with my wrist, I sighed, "I don't know why people blindly worship the warriors of the Republic. Bunch of Poodoo if you ask me."
"What does 'Poodoo' mean?" an unfamiliar voice asked from behind me— the front of my shop, "And no one worships us, don't worry."
I spun around on my heel, and immediately began blushing from embarrassment, "Did you hear all of that, sir?"
Four men in matching black and red armor stood, all of their arms crossed against their chest. The significant markings on their helmets and chest plates were the only things that distinguished their differences,
"We all heard," their apparent leader hummed while sitting at a booth in my shop, "What do you have against us Clones? Comparing us to Separatists?"
Trying to wipe away the heat from my face, I sighed, scratching the back of my head, "I'm sorry. At the beginning of the war, some of your Clones let my family die, and it's given me a different outlook on this war altogether."
The leader waved his squad away, I am guessing to do their own thing around town. He removed his helmet, and his wavy black hair flew out and sat comfortably on his shoulders, "I'm Sergeant Hunter, and my condolences about your family. I've lost many of my brothers in this war, and I've questioned if it's worth it as well, but my squad always reminds me that even within our loses we endure, we need to remember what we're fighting for."
I smiled softly, sitting on a stool in front of him, "Thanks, Hunter. Would you like anything to drink?"
"You got Dust Juice?" the Clone asked, laying his helmet on the counter beside his armored arm, "Haven't had that in a while. Maybe Wrecker will come back around— it's his absolute favorite, and he'd kill me if he knew I was having it without him."
I nodded my head, spinning around in the stool and heading towards my station, "Want me to make one for your friend too for when he comes back?"
"Yeah, that would be good," he confirmed as I poured a light orange liquid into a fancy glass, "Might I ask why you're treating me so well? I know damn well you hate my brothers and I."
I shrugged while continuing to concoct the perfect Dust Juice for my customer, "I understand at times my opinion may be biased, but I lost my family. My parents and my little brother, but you're still a human too, and even though you have the same face as that Commander Fox, I know you're not him."
Hunter stifled a laugh into his arm, "Commander Fox killed your family? Are you sure?"
Feeling a spike of irritation at his reply, I spun around and handed him his beverage, "With all due respect, Sergeant, I could never forget the name of the man who took my family's life."
Hunter's eyes went wide and he shook his head, "Oh no, I believe you. I'm just wondering what Fox and his boys were doing on Tatooine. Those Regs never leave the safety of Coruscant."
"Regs?" I asked, watching the Clone bring his alcoholic beverage to his lips, "What does that mean?"
"It means a Trooper who has no problems. My squad, the Bad Batch, we're all mutations in one way or another," he answered while I began the second drink for this 'Wrecker,' "We're the best of the best."
I smiled to myself, adding the same orange liquid to the second cup, then began stirring, "I wish you guys would've been assigned to Tatooine all those years ago. Maybe my family would be alive."
As I turned back around to place the second drink on the counter, Hunter already had his credits on the table, "Hey, no. You don't need to pay. You're risking your life everyday. You don't need to worry."
"Then consider it payment to hear your story. I want a reason to kick Fox's ass for once," he teased, softly flicking the sparkling credits forward, "I'll do it anyways, even if you refuse. I love giving those Regs a hard time."
I grinned at his hospitality and placed myself back down on the stool in front of him, "It's not a happy story," I huffed, twiddling my thumbs nervously.
"Are there any happy stories anymore?" he asked softly while placing his gloved hands on top of my fidgety fingers, "It's okay to talk— I'm a great listener."
I smiled softly, another soft blush appearing on my cheeks, but this time instead out of embarrassment, it was a legit blush— one showing my true feelings towards this newcomer. Just his soft touch on my ungloved hands sent anxiety flowing through my stomach like a flock of birds taking flight. His sweet eyes showed truly how much he's gone through within his sort time in the galaxy.
Why does he care about my story? I should be asking about all of his countless experiences within the Clone Wars. I bet he's the best storyteller,
"I'll only tell you if you promise to tell me one of your stories afterwards," I grinned, slowly intertwining my fingers with his, "I bet your experiences are more interesting than mine."
He nodded in agreement, "It's a deal. And before you start, could I learn your name first?" he grinned, obviously teasing me, which caused my cheeks to light up even lighter red than before,
"I'm (Y/N) (L/N). I'm the owner of this shop," I commented, absentmindedly rubbing my thumb on the top of his hand, "I inherited from my father. I always wanted to be a doctor, I even went to a small academy to learn, but my schooling was cut short. My father was tending the shop when the Coruscant Guard filled in. They demanded my parents hand my little brother over— apparently he was a wanted criminal of the Republic."
Tears began welling up at the thought of my brother, "He was only 15. I don't know why they truly believed that. When my father refused to let them take him, they declared him and my mother fellow terrorists. They slaughtered them right in front of me. I was only 19. My brother, being who he was, grabbed a blaster and killed one, so Commander Fox ordered his execution. I was the only one who survived."
Hunter's hands continued to squeeze mine at the sound of my story, "Jeez, (Y/N), I'm so sorry. Was your brother even a criminal after all that effort?"
"Of course he wasn't," I sniffled, my voice raising ever-so-slightly, "He was 15– not even a man, and those godforsaken soldiers took him from me without a second thought."
"Hey, it's okay," the Clone whispered while raising his hand from mine and placing on my shoulder, "We're all not like Fox."
The Sergeant pulled himself up from his seat, and walked around the counter; dust beginning to pile up from an approaching sandstorm. He slowly pulled me out of my seat and wrapped me into a hug, "Don't be ashamed of shedding a few tears. Showing emotions is what makes us alive— makes us human."
Sniffling, I began to cry on this stranger's shoulder like he was a childhood friend. It was a strange feeling; accepting a random stranger as a shoulder to cry on. Even though I hardly knew him, Hunter had proven himself to be unlike Commander Fox, or any other Clone for that matter,
"Now it's my turn to ask," I sniffled out, leaning my head on his armored shoulder pad, "Why are you doing this for me when you know my feelings towards Clones?"
Hunter, with one hand, massaged my back, trying to get me to calm down, and with his other hand, he pressed my wet tears away with his calloused thumb, "Because you're a person with feelings. I may be a lab experiment, but I'm not heartless."
I wrapped my arms around his armored body and sighed, pushing my sadness away, "Of course I know you're not heartless. You're one of the most mysterious strangers I've met, Hunter, and honestly, I'd be honored to call you my friend. Perhaps, you'd like to stay even longer than your assigned trip?"
"Oh, Serg?" a voice called from behind Hunter's bulky body, "I didn't know you'd find a friend this fast into our visit."
I immediately began showing off my signature blush again as Hunter loosened his grip on my small body, and turned around to face the rest of his squad, "This is (Y/N)," he introduced, "(Y/N), I'd like you to meet Crosshair, Tech, and Wrecker."
Smiling, I stood beside Hunter and pointed at the pre-made Dust Juice, "Hunter told me you liked Dust Juice, Wrecker. I made you one for your return."
"Ah yeah!" the Clone laughed and took a seat. It was evident he was the owner of the voice from before— the one that interrupted Hunter and I's hug, "Thanks, (Y/N)!"
Crosshair and Tech still stood, just observing while Wrecker drank himself away. Hunter and I just stood and awkwardly stared at the rest of his squad,
"So, are you a permanent addition to our little dysfunctional family?" Crosshair asked, almost like he was taunting his Sergeant and I.
"Oh, I could never intrude like that," I shook my head at the Clone, who obviously didn't like my apparent relationship with his boss, "Not to mention I've just met you guys."
Hunter smiled down at me and knocked up against me playfully, "Why not come with us? You said you studied medicine, and we could always use a doctor!"
"Yeah, and she makes great booze!" Wrecker added while winking appreciatively at me, which caused me to throw a nod in his direction.
"Crosshair? Tech?" Hunter asked, eyeing his comrades, "What says you two?"
Tech rose up the binoculars on his helmet and nodded, "I've been looking around this place, and statistically she would be much happier with us, and she will probably live much longer, even in the thick of combat. I say she comes with us."
Crosshair picks his toothpick out from his mouth and shrugged, "It's whatever, as long as you don't get in my way, which is easy to do as long as you have an ounce of common sense."
Raising my eyebrows in irritation at the Deadeye, I stopped myself from snapping, and turned my attention back to Hunter, "You're not just saying this, right?" I asked, leaning against him, "I can really go with you guys?"
Placing his arm across my shoulder, he smiled softly, "I promise, and besides, even though you're not a Clone, you're still an outcast, which is just what we need for our squad. Also, I promised you a story, and you'll get a story, not to mention we will make our own," he smiled, leaning down and pressing his lips gently to mine.
I squeaked in shock, but slowly got used to this extraordinary feeling; wrapping my arms around my new Sergeant's neck; deepening our kiss that I wish would last forever,
"Not to interrupt anything, but we're on a time crunch," Crosshair huffed, rolling his eyes at our affection.
Hunter and I reluctantly separated from each other. The Clone pushed a piece of stray hair behind my ear, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead, "I guess we should find someone to take care of your shop while you're gone."
"I know just the guy," I grinned, intertwining my fingers with his and pulling him out of the shop right behind me, "His name is Terence, and his family is out of work right now, not to mention he looks up to soldiers of the Republic like crazy, so this'll probably make his year."
Hunter smiled, causing butterflies to go through my stomach, "Sounds like a plan."
May 14th, 2020
(Moved to Tumblr @ morgan_mwah)