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- Abi chan Fiction Fan: FACTS XD. Oh trust me, it hurt my brain to write XD. Oooo Ive heard of that game and have actually been thinking about getting it for my PS4!
- Guest: Happy to hear! I actually do, I myself am getting kinda bored with just exposition and no true shenanigans
A/N
Let's start the New Year off right with another chapter! A 4871 word chapter at that!
I adore Wrecker yall just. I love he
The chapter is a bit messy and may feel a bit incomplete at times, but I'm really trying to forge ahead and get AT LEAST to Trust Shattered before the Bad Batch show comes out. I got until Feb or March if the rumors are correct. We've got a ways to go.
But hey, we're in it for the crazy!
I did actually post a shore peek at the extremely fluffy Chapter 20: Toe the Line on my tumblr (ShadowsStoryStuff) if you want to see that!
Next chapter, chapter 19, is honestly all over the place again and a patchwork so no idea when that will be out. Actually, I didn't expect to have this chapter out until next week but I wanted to get something out today so... yeah never know when the next chapter will be out.
Content Warning: Anxiety mentions
Really?
Really?
The first oc of mine I encounter other than Trevor, and it's a god.
Max of all of 'em!
Maybe it's some sign you should really get back into True Colors. That story has been collecting dust for quite a while...
Can we focus?
"Back up," Hunter demanded. "You're saying a god just showed up?"
"Seems that way!" I retorted. "Unless you have another explanation for how he pulled a Houdini and vanished into thin air!"
"What's a Houdini?" Wrecker asked.
Right... "Nevermind."
"Why would a ruler of the seas of another planet present himself here to just vanish again?" Tech asked. "Assuming, of course, that he was real. Scientifically-"
"Science is nothing but an assemblage of experiments, theories, and supported hypotheses," I interrupted. "We're not even allowed to say a hypothesis is correct, only supported. Science isn't the answer to everything."
I hadn't really seen Tech mad before, but he looked close. Definitely offended. "How can you say that?!" he sputtered.
Boi I jump between fandoms like it's a demented game of inter-dimensional hopscotch, think I'm entitled to a little bit of doubt.
"Given the crazy stuff I've experienced?" I replied, shaking my head. "Doubt in established science is the only possible reaction. Comes a time when you gotta trust your eyes rather than what other people tell you."
He crossed his arms. "Well I didn't see anything."
"Hunter did, right?" I asked, rising from my position by my pack.
Hunter nodded. "But why would a god of the seas show up here in the middle of a forested planet lightyears away from his own?"
"I'm a Kelusian. The gods can track creatures connected to their planets even across galaxies. And Maxolyn isn't just god of the seas," I said. "He covers health, dreams, and adventures. Adventurers actually pray to him before going on a quest. If he shows himself, the quest is blessed." I laughed briefly at the rhyme before continuing. "But if he doesn't, it's bad luck. Sailors do the same. If he shows, it's a blessed voyage. If not... well you can figure what that means."
Sailors always were a superstitious lot, what with their distrust of Fridays and bananas.
"So you prayed to him?" Hunter asked, tone hopeful. "That's why he showed up. Not some other reason?"
"No, which brings me to the next thing. If he shows and you didn't ask for his blessin', he's taken a personal interest in your adventure."
That didn't sit well with the sergeant at all judging by the scowl on his face. "That good or bad?"
"Both."
Hunter crossed his arms. "How so?"
"Usually means the adventure has a favorable outcome, but you hit significant snags on the way. One of those 'builds character' type scenarios. Which can be minor or utterly shatter someone."
Hunter looked rather unnerved. "No chance of it being a random appearance?"
"If you see him again, no." I pondered for a moment, calling up what I could recall off the top of my head without my notes. "He can't exactly affect the outcome of anything here, he's not a god of this planet. And he's an Ancient. They're low level gods. They've got a limited amount of power since they're tied to a planet. Same with the Creators, although seeing one of them is rare. Star Swimmers aren't tied to a planet, the planet is tied to them. They created and molded the planet, then made the Ancients to rule over it more closely and the Ancients made the Creators to make the creatures to inhabit the planets."
"You're ramblin'," Crosshair remarked, voice neutral as he leaned on the counter.
I fell quiet, ears twitching backwards. Shoot... got carried away again...
"Don't discourage her!" Tech protested, having slipped on his vambrace to note what I'm saying. He looked eagerly at me for more information. "Go on!"
My tail twitched, unease slipping up on me. Crosshair was hardly hostile when he made the comment, but... damn anxiety was acting up again. Hunter hadn't asked for all that... he just wanted to know about Maxalon. Maxolyn. Max. Whatever I had his name as now. They probably didn't care about the rest. I was just boring them.
"Squeak?" Wrecker asked, voice quieter than usual.
They're waiting for you to get to the point. "Yeah, sorry. Uh, if you see him again, Hunter, just tell me. And I guess be alert but that's every mission for y'all I guess."
"Right." He looked me up and down. "You ok?"
"Yeah," I muttered, avoiding his gaze and missing the glance exchanged between him and Crosshair.
"Nice goin', Cross," Wrecker grumbled.
"Ain't his fault my brain is defective," I said quickly as Crosshair opened his mouth to defend himself. "'Sides, we should probably try to fish before that storm hits. We've got maybe twenty minutes."
"Should get moving then," Hunter said, going and grabbing his pistol just in case.
Crosshair went to drop his pack off, going out of his way to brush past me.
Catching his eye, I just flicked my ears and shook my head as I picked my pack off the ground.
Wasn't worth talking about.
Wrecker pushed himself off the couch. "Sure you're ok, Squeak?"
"Will be in a few. Don't worry, it comes and goes. Takes a bit more than an offhand comment to knock me out of the game permanently," I said, offering him a smile.
He still looked skeptical as I stood up and headed down the stairs. Following me down the stairs, he stuck close to my side as we stepped outside. "Cross didn't-"
"No, I know. He's cynical and combative, but not outright mean. Most of the time."
Wrecker chuckled nervously. "Heh, yeah. You two patch things up?"
I shrugged. "We're on level ground I feel like now, or at the very least have reached an understandin'. But about that episode back there..." Or whatever you call this curse. "It just... certain words trigger that. Ain't his fault. I'll recover," I sighed, heading towards the river. I then smiled up at the demolition expert. "But I appreciate the support, big fella, I really do."
Wrecker smiled warmly, resting a hand on my shoulder as we walked. "Of course, Squeak. I care, ya know?"
"I know, Scruffy," I chuckled, my mood slowly improving. "Wouldn't have told you the feelin's were reciprocated if I didn't think you did."
His smile brightened, the pure joy on his face melting my heart. His expression then suddenly changed into something more playful. "Hey... know what these blacks are made of?" he asked, a sly look on his face now.
Heard this one. Yet I could hardly be perturbed at the incoming flirtation. The big guy's boundless enthusiasm was just so contagious. "Let me guess... boyfriend material?"
His grin widened. "So you agree!" he laughed, tugging me close to his side.
Staggering into him, witholding a grimace as my hip collided with his thigh armor, I playfully poked him in the ribs. With the top portion of his armor removed, I now had easy access. "I didn't say anythin' 'bout that."
"Oh, but ya do! Wrecker can tell!"
"Can he now?"
"You bet, Squeak!"
I grinned, then shot a quick glance behind us. The others hadn't come out yet, but it was mainly Hunter I was worried about. He could hear farther than the others.
But I couldn't see him, so it should be safe. I turned to Wrecker. "Wreck, I absolutely would claim you as a boyfriend, hands down. But... I don't really know how the others fit into this yet. I don't want to rush into anything, you know?"
His smile softened. "'Course, Squeak. But ya know, we'd be open to sharin'."
"Well now I sound like a sandwich," I snorted, rolling my eyes.
"Nah, you're more like a pie."
"What?" I asked, head tilting to the side.
"A cutie pie!" he teased, picking me up and hugging me close again without breaking stride.
"You're gonna give me a toothache, Wrecker!" I laughed. I wasn't one for cutesy nicknames, especially one like that that flat out called me "cute", but Wrecker got a pass. I also had to admit being carried around by him was much more enjoyable without hard plastoid pressing into me.
Talk about touch starved...
He laughed as well, the action shaking his entire body and the sound resonating through mine. "So ya do like me too?"
"Well duh," I teased, poking his nose but avoiding the scars. It felt... too intimate to touch them yet. He was probably sensitive there as well, and with that milky eye probably wouldn't be able to see if I reached to that side of his face. Or maybe he could, I didn't know how advanced cybernetics were in Star Wars as far as eyes went.
"You're playful when ya aren't around the others," he remarked with a smile, thankfully unaware of my inner turmoil.
"Yeah well... I know I can let my guard down around you and you're playful back. The others aren't really," I replied, pulling my tail up into my lap so it didn't trip him or get stepped on. "Hunter a little bit, but not like you."
"I like this side of ya," he declared, then added with a smirk, "Guess I need to get ya alone more often, huh?"
"Good luck! Tech has been a magnet lately," I chuckled. Such an inquisitive little nerd. A lethal little nerd, but still a nerd.
"He'll prob'bly wanna go look for critters while we fish," Wrecker said, setting me down as we reached the river.
"Then we still got Hunter and Cross," I said, dropping my tail and scavenging for a suitable stick.
Wercker followed me. "Whatcha doin'?"
"Gonna show you how to make a makeshift pole. Would use a bamboo rod if we had bamboo but ain't got that."
"What about this?" Wrecker asked, holding up a stick.
I took the branch from him and inspected it. "Hmm. This could work! Now, you know how to make a makeshift rod?"
"Sorta... but I'd love for you to show me!" he said. "I like hearin' ya talk!"
At least you do. "Alrighty, Wreck! Watch and learn."
Pulling the supplies from my pack, I knelt on the ground with him beside me and helped him make the makeshift pole. After sticking himself with the hook a couple times, I took over with that part but finally he was able to present the finished rod to me.
"Not bad, Scruff!" I congratulated. Bit messy, but it'd do.
"Thanks, Squeak! Had a great teacher," he chuckled, nudging me.
I smiled. "Thanks, Wreck."
"Nice pole," Hunter commented, coming up behind us. Crosshair, still wearing the top portion of his armor, stood next to him.
"Squeak helped me!" Wrecker said.
"I see," Hunter commented. Looking to me, he asked, "Got enough in there for two more?"
"Cross not a fisher?" I asked before I noticed the makeshift spear in the sergeant's hand. "You spear fishin'?"
He shrugged. "Like to keep my skills sharp."
"Fair enough," I remarked, then noticed they were one member short. "Where's Tech?"
"Vermin huntin'," Crosshair supplied, looking for himself a stick.
"Thought he was a vegetarian?" I called after the sniper.
"Cataloging," Hunter said. "Not hunting."
"Ah, gotcha," I said and looked to Wrecker. "Think ya can put together another one for me while I go dig up some bait?"
"Sure, Squeak!"
I nodded and headed off to find some worms. Or crickets, those would work too.
Pulling a Tupperware container out, I picked a muddy spot and started digging. As I dug, I relished the cool dirt beneath my fingers, the sound and smell of the river, and the light breeze tugging my clothes. Damn did I miss this...
Gathering a decent supply of worms, I headed back. "Got some bait," I announced.
Hunter, up to his knees midway across the shallow river, peered at the container. "That's not one we eat out of is it?"
"What? Um, no?" I replied. "I'm not stupid."
"Just checkin'," he said, raising his hands before going back to fishing.
I rolled my eyes and sat down beside Wrecker. "Ok, bud, you know how to bait a hook?"
"Yeah!" he laughed. "Wait, aren't girls creeped out by worms?"
We are not about to do the "Not Like Other Girls" trope.
"Have you... not met girls who fish? Literally half my friends fish or hunt," I replied. "Then there's us equestrians who can stick our fingers in a horse's mouth, get coated in slobber and slimy leftover grass, and continue like nothing's happened. Hell, Sarah is like that! I'm not some vague species, I'm just a really masculine tomboy. Y'all need to meet more girls, jeeze."
"I'm happy with you, Squeaky," Wrecker laughed, nudging me.
"Aw, well that's sweet, Wrecker, I appreciate it," I replied with a grin, only half joking. He really was a sweetheart.
Wasn't his fault I had an aversion to sugar.
"Besides!" he continued. "Not all of you is masculine! Your figure isn't!"
Crosshair dropped his stick and I was pretty sure Hunter got whiplash from how fast his head jerked around.
I merely stared at Wrecker for a few moments before sighing and glancing behind me. "Well. Kickin' power has to come from somewhere."
"Exactly!" Wrecker grinned, unaware of the near horrified look Hunter sent his way.
Shaking my head and rolling my eyes, I set to work fishing and was soon joined at the bank by Crosshair and Wrecker as they dealt with their own poles.
Well, Crosshair was fishing. Wrecker had other plans.
The demolition expert leaned on the tree next to me. "So, Shadow," he began, a cheeky grin on his face.
"Yeah, Wreck?" I asked, distracted by the fact the tree he leaned on was dead. This should be entertaining.
"Think there's a quiet spot further down the river where you and me might have better luck."
Charming.
Faint cracking caught my ears before the dead tree splintered and gave way under the man's weight. He stumbled and caught his balance at the last minute, laughing nervously.
"Uh huh," I snorted, eyeing the fallen tree before pointing my makeshift pole at him. "How about you try that line on the fish? Cause I ain't bitin'."
Hunter chuckled. "That's not how you reel in a catch like Shadow."
Casting a skeptical look in his direction, I received a small yet sly smile in return.
Heart jumping, I snorted and rolled my eyes, an amused smile on my own face. Commandos or not, they were still typical college age boys. But dammit this boy was not helping my internal crisis of trying to figure out where he stood. That's it, you and me are having a talk later tonight. "You're hilarious, Hunter."
"Are we flirtin' or are we fishin'?" Crosshair grumbled, casting into the river.
"Can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm with Cross."
The sniper rolled his eyes. "Flattered, sweetheart."
"Well, my life is complete, I've flattered the beanstalk." I looked towards the sergeant. "As for you, sir. Change your name from Hunter to Fisher for thirty minutes and see if you can get some dinner."
Hunter held my gaze, eyes narrowed slightly, before plunging the spear into the river. When he pulled it out, a trout had been impaled at the tip.
Shit... that's actually kinda hot.
I looked away before Hunter noticed my face had gone red. "Tch, whatever."
"Hey, you're blushin'!" Wrecker laughed.
"Can you not?!" I yelped, voice squeaking. I then glared at Hunter as he smirked. "Wipe that smirk off your face before I tele-push you into the deep in, Shaggy."
He made to reply, but a startled yell from down the bank cut him off.
Tech!
Dropping my pole, I took off down the riverbank. What trouble had the nerd gotten himself into this time!?
I abruptly stopped as a foul reek hit me in the face like a rogue wave. Coughing, eyes watering, I squinted at Tech as he stumbled out of the bushes.
He shook his head and waved his hands. "I'm fine!"
"The hell happened?" I exclaimed, blocking my nose with my arm as I backed away from the reeking trooper. "You smell like you got sprayed by a skunk!"
Crosshair and Wrecker had reached my side, followed soon by Hunter. They all copied me and gagged at the smell while covering their noses.
"Are they small and black with a white dorsal stripe?" Tech mumbled dejectedly, taking a step back from us.
"Aw man," I groaned. "How'd you manage this?"
"I... I planned to study the animal but-"
"Dammit, Four Eyes, told you to stop pissin' off vermin," Crosshair spat, the hand over his nose making his voice more nasally than usual.
"I didn't know it would spray me!" Tech protested, voice cracking.
"You couldn't figure that a prey animal would have a defense mechanism?" I asked in disbelief.
"Enough. Shadow, how do we get that stink off him?" Hunter asked, looking Tech up and down. "Because he is not getting into the barn loft smelling like that."
"Only thing I know of is a tomato juice bath," I replied. "Could ask Sarah if she has any. Tech would still have to strip down and get in a tub up the stuff. Him and his armor."
"I'll go with you. Can't stand that smell," Hunter grumbled. "You three remain here. Crosshair, Wrecker, continue fishing."
"And no redneck fishin' either," I warned the demolition expert.
Wrecker cocked his head to the side. "Redneck fishin'?"
"Dynamite. No throwin TNT into the river."
His eyes lit up. "That's a thing?!"
"Was really common in my dad's hometown, at least until it got banned. Some folks still do it though. But you, mister, aren't allowed to," I said, poking him in the chest.
"Aw!"
Hunter grabbed my arm and tugged me away. "C'mon, sooner we get that off him the better."
Quickly following after the sergeant, I picked up a trot to get away from the skunk spray faster.
Once we were decently out of range, I slowed to a walk and noticed Hunter had fallen into step beside me.
"Shadow... there's something I want to ask you."
The fur along my tail bristled. "Is it something I want to answer?" I asked uneasily, his tone worrying me.
"Maybe..."
Since when was Hunter uncertain?
"What is it, Sarge?"
He was silent for a minute. "It's... about the sailors."
No it isn't. There's something else. Not poking it, I simply cocked my head to the side.
"How did you survive?"
Odd question. "I mean they were all batshit insane and chaotic bastards who had no concept of gentle but most of my friends growing up were dudes with older brothers so I got used to roughhousin'. Hell I was the roughest one half the time."
"No," he said, shaking his head. "How'd you survive a building falling on you?"
"Plot armor," I replied.
"That doesn't make any sense."
"No it don't. But that's what happened," I said with a shrug.
"I'm serious, Shadow," Hunter said, grabbing my arm again and pulling me to a stop. "How did you survive that?"
I looked him dead in the eye. "Hunter, if I told you the real reason, you would never believe me."
Not that I blame you. I wouldn't believe me either if I hadn't lived through it myself.
He held my gaze. "Try me," he said softly.
I stared into his eyes, tail twitching. Should I tell him? No, he'd think I was messing with him. A natural and logical response.
"I'll tell you tomorrow, alright?" I relented. "You'll probably trust me more then, and won't think I'm lying."
His voice remained soft. "I... I wouldn't think you were lying. Tell me."
You most certainly would think I'm lying.
"Hunter... I'll tell you tomorrow, alright? I promise." I extended my hand towards him.
He glanced down at it before shaking it, squeezing slightly. "Tomorrow."
I nodded and let go of his hand. He held on for a second longer, almost as if he didn't want to let go, but finally dropped it as well.
Not looking too closely at that, or the fact he was standing pretty close, I scrambled to find another topic.
That's not completely off topic but... it'll work.
"Oh, uh... there's one small detail I should probably mention about the truck incident," I said slowly, scratching the back of my head.
"Did you make it up?"
What's with the hopeful tone?
"No no, it happened. Got a jagged scar on my lower back from either brick or mortar." I tugged the back of my shirt up and tried to twist my head around to find it. "There it is."
"Ah."
Tell me that smell isn't hormonal... "It wasn't that it didn't happen. The detail is..." I hesitated.
"Yes?"
"The whole gettin' hit by a truck thing... it wasn't their idea. It was mine."
Hunter's jaw dropped. "You... asked to get hit by a speeder?"
"I knew I'd survive!" I protested. "The building falling on me wasn't planned, but hey. It be like that."
Hunter looked me up and down. "You're crazy."
"Comin' from you? Not sure if that's a compliment or an insult!" I laughed.
He chuckled uncertainly. "Definitely not as meek as you originally portrayed. I just didn't assume you were reckless."
"I assessed the risk before I asked them!" I countered. "We all had a nice long conversation before we settled on that. And I did not plan for Tom to hit me that hard."
I recalled how horrified he'd been after I hauled myself out of the rubble, profusely apologizing that he thought he hit the break when he actually hit the gas pedal.
Neil and Hobbs, after making sure I wasn't dead, found the whole thing hilarious. Allan just groaned about a new headache to deal with.
"The driver, Tom, was very against the plan. See, I'd known them before but got separated for a bit. We needed to get me on the ship in a way that wouldn't incriminate me. So I suggested that because otherwise I'd have to injure 'em to make it look authentic. I didn't want to hurt the guys, so I suggested they hit me with a truck. Mind you, I didn't say run me over. Just bump me or something. I'm a good actor, I'd play dead. Anyway, Tom was nervous as hell and meant to hit the break when the truck hit me. Instead his feet got confused, and he floored the accelerator. The look on the poor guy's face when I drug myself out of the rubble..." I started laughing.
Hunter blinked, jaw slack. "Hells, Ice, you're giving Wrecker a run for his money."
I grinned and gave an exaggerated bow. "Why thank you, Sarge!" Straightening, I added, "That's one noodle incident solved."
"Noodle incident?" Hunter asked, confusion written all over his face.
"Yeah, like when there's some event that is never actually explained but you know it's outlandish as hell just by the name," I explained as we started walking again. "Example, one guy on the ship, Jaggerman, didn't have eyelids."
Hunter did a double take. "He..." His mouth seemed to be at war with his brain as he tried to form the words. "No eyelids? What in the Nine Corellian Hells...?"
"All they would say was 'that was one hell of a card game' or 'you had to be there'," I said with a shrug. I was partially certain my oc had been there for the event in my original fic series, but time had stolen the memory from me. "That's an example of a Noodle Incident."
"You... have certainly met some interesting people."
"Sailors are always interestin'."
"I see that," he snorted as we reached Sarah's door.
I knocked and soon the woman opened it.
"Shadow!" Her nose then wrinkled. "Someone get sprayed?"
"The nerd," I sighed. "Got anything to get the stink out?"
"I should! Come on in," she offered.
"I better not," Hunter said, and it was then I realized that he was still dripping wet from the knee down and mud caked his boots.
Sarah waved him off. "It's a cabin. Get in here."
I shrugged at Hunter and stepped inside. He cautiously followed me and we waited by the door as Sarah dug around under the sink in her small kitchen.
"Going to give you some special soap. He needs to shower with it, and throw his armor in or anything that got sprayed. There's a wash-stall downstairs I use for the Hillguides. Throw him in there." She glanced back at me. "You'll probably want to find something else to do while he does that. He'll need to strip down."
I shrugged. "Aight. I'll find something to do. May go scavenge for vittles, not a fish eater."
"You want some left over venison?" Sarah asked, pulling out a jug of what I assumed to be the soap.
As Hunter took the jug from Sarah, I pondered on that before nodding. "If you wouldn't mind sharin'."
"Not at all!" Sarah smiled, heading to her fridge.
"What's in here?" Hunter asked, examining the jug.
"Something to counteract the chemical agent of the spray," Sarah explained. "Get that on him as quickly as you can."
"Hunter, run ahead," I said. "I'll be there shortly!"
Hunter nodded and hurried out the door.
I turned back to Sarah as she presented me with the venison. "Thanks, Sarah."
"You're welcome," she smiled.
"Oh yeah," I said, suddenly remembering my promise to the Hillguides. "I may or may not have told Whisperin' Wind and the ones that carried us that I'd negotiate them some special feed for helpin' us..."
She groaned good naturedly. "Putting me on the hook, huh?"
I grinned sheepishly. "My bad."
Sarah chuckled and shook her head. "Go on, get back to your team."
"Heh, they're not my team."
Much as I wish they were.
"I don't know, that sergeant has taken a liking to you," she teased.
Oh I wish.
"I think I just amuse him," I deflected.
"Uh huh."
I squinted. "You know something?"
"Me? What do I know? I'm just an old ex-Jedi who chose to be a recluse," she said with a mischievous smile.
"Right. Well thanks for the meat," I said.
"Need all your energy for the jungle crossing tomorrow!"
Jungle?! Wait... yeah we are near a magic leak. "Right," I sighed, heading to the door. "We may leave early in the morning to get a head start. But we'll say goodbye before we leave."
"Please do! See you tomorrow, Shadow!"
"See ya!" I called, heading out the door.
Looking up at the darkened sky as wind whipped my hair and fur, I groaned. "Jungle... great... just what we need. What kinda monstrosity does this one hide?"
My jungles were always full of who knows what. As long as we didn't run into a Howler, we'd be perfectly fine.
What were the odds that thing would be on this planet anyways?
Jogging back to the barn, avoiding the main interior where I heard Wrecker and Tech yelling at each other, I took my venison upstairs. As I reached the top of the stairs, I was greeted with Crosshair cleaning the fish and Hunter pacing back and forth.
"You good, Sarge?" I asked, the sound of his rapid heartbeat pulsing against my ear fur. It tickled and I twitched my ears to rid myself of the sensation.
Hunter didn't stop to look at me. "Yes. Fine."
Crosshair glanced at me and rolled his eyes.
"Right..." I said, moving past them both to toss in my venison. Closing the fridge, I stood as close as I dared to the sniper and watched him expertly clean the fish.
He's good with his hands.
Crosshair glanced at me but didn't move away, indicating he didn't mind me in his space.
I edged closer, seeing where the limit was for future reference. My arm nearly brushed his before he shifted, letting me know I was too close. Taking the hint, I stepped away and the sniper relaxed again.
I eyed the other fish laid out, noting that only one had a spear hole through it. The rest must have been Crosshair's catch. "Least y'all didn't get skunked," I commented.
"Tech's the only one who got sprayed," Hunter said as Crosshair continued to clean the fish.
"No, skunked is a term for when you don't catch any fish. You get skunked."
"Why?" Hunter asked.
"Dunno. It's one of those weird country terms that literally no one else understands," I laughed.
"I see."
I watched him as he continued to pace. "Jeeze, man, you're gonna wear a hole in the floor, chill!"
"Does this when he's nervous," Crosshair remarked.
"Oh yeah?" I asked, looking back at Hunter. "What's got the stoic sergeant ansty?"
"Nothing."
I raised an eyebrow at the curt tone and crossed my arms. Let the silence stretch. He'd cave eventually. People always did.
You're not the only one with a soul stare, Sarge.
Finally, he sighed. "Shadow... I need to talk to you." He swallowed. "Alone."