OH MY GOD. OKAY ITS HAPPENING. EVERYBODY STAY CALM! STAY FUCKING CALM!

Ok with that out of the way! Finally we get a confession! This was a blast to write, honestly XD
Before you ask, yes the "orb" mention is on purpose. That's a deliberate creation because fanfic tropes.

Hunter would look nice with wet hair.

For the second portion of the fic, I added a song in. Why? Because I saw a post where some star wars fans were complaining about self insert writers adding in singing to the fic. I'm a salty motherfucker, and have no tolerance for completely unwarranted hate (its singing?) so I wrote it in to spite those haters. Cause fuck em thats why!
Write whatever your little heart desires and tell the haters to take a long walk off a short pier.

Anyways. This chapter is 5000+ words (again) so I had to break it in two. The next chapter (20: Toe the Line) is uber fluffy and wonderful and will also probably be broken in two because Ive been sitting on that chapter for like a month.

OK NOW ONTO THE STORY

Content Warning: Mentions of kink, sexual references, strong language (the usual and no it doesnt happen during the confession scene)

With a confused glance at Crosshair, who shrugged, I said, "Uh... What's it about? I told you I'd explain the sailor thing tomorrow."

"It's not that," Hunter said with a shake of his head.

"Well, what is it?" I asked, swishing my tail.

"Come with me and I'll tell you."

I frowned. Why was he being so cryptic and why was he suddenly sweating? He'd also begun to tug the hair on the back of his neck, a nervous tic I'd noticed him doing a few times. But why was he nervous?

"Everything ok, Sarge?" I asked.

"Yes. I just need to talk with you. Now."

I blinked at the sharp tone, ears twitching backwards uneasily.

He tugged harder at his hair. "It's... it's just important," he backpedaled, tone less harsh.

"Uh... alrightly." I fished my phone out of my pocket and set it on the table after hanging my pack on the back of the chair. "Hey, Twiggs."

Crosshair looked up from the fish.

"I'm leavin' this here in case the rain starts. Try to hack it at your own risk."

"Why would I do that?" he asked, moving onto the next fish.

"Because you're Crosshair, that's why," I retorted. "Besides, that was more of a warnin' to give to Tech when he gets done."

The sniper merely glanced at me before turning his attention back to his task.

"Cross, do not spice them into the Outer Rim," Hunter growled in warning as he and I headed back towards the stairs.

"Aye, sir," Crosshair muttered sarcastically.

Leaving the sniper to his work, I followed the sergeant outside. As he walked through the door, I found myself jogging to keep up.

"Hey, Shaggy, uh, there's a storm comin'," I reminded him, a rumble of thunder emphasizing my words. "And not to play into the 'cats hate water' stereotype, but I don't wanna get wet."

"It'll hold," he said, voice taunt.

Damn, son, what got you wound tight?

As I followed behind him, I could see tense muscles outlined through his blacks. Damn he reallywas agitated about something . "You good? You're actin' more nervous than a long tailed cat in a room full of rockin' chairs!" I remarked as he led me to the river bank and through the trees away from where Tech had been sprayed. "Got me kinda worried here."

Still no response, just his heartbeat pounding ever so harder against my ear fur.

Something big was on his mind, and I had a feeling I was the focal point.

That piqued both my curiosity... and anxiety.

I wasn't just dealing with some dude. This was a soldier, a sergeant no less, of an unorthodox and unrivaled commando squad. It had to take a great deal to rattle him to this degree.

The tail along my fur bristled and a small voice in the back of mind warned that I should have brought a gun. Hunter wouldn't hurt me, I was, ironically, 99% certain, but his behavior was nothing short of erratic. Given his usually calm demeanor... well it was doing me a concern.

Finally he stopped, his heart pounding hard as he turned to face me. He took a deep breath and when he spoke, his words rushed out so fast I barely caught them. "You stole something of mine."

I stiffened. He brought me out here to accuse me of theft ?! "The fuck? I didn't do shit!" I replied, ears flat and tail lashing. "The hell I steal from you?"

"My heart."

"I-" Words caught in my throat as his words registered.

Nani ?!

Jaw hanging open and tail falling against the ground, I stared at Hunter with wide eyes.

Wait.

Did I hear that right?

No.

Yes?

Maybe?

What?

Hunter looked at me expectantly as he shifted his weight from foot to foot, uncertainty clear on his tattooed face. That quickly changed to shock as I started to fall backwards.

"Shadow, what are you doing?!" he yelped, lunging forward and wrapping an arm around my back to catch me.

Brain trying to process, I blinked before grinning nervously and pointing finger guns up at him. "Fallin' for you!" I immediately grimaced and smacked my hand over my face. "Ah hell, sounded better in my head."

Silence stretched between us before a low noise caught my attention. That low noise soon revealed itself to be repressed laughter moments before the sound exploded full force from the sergeant.

My ears flattened. "Hey, don't laugh!"

"I'm not laughin' at you!" Hunter assured me, a cautious yet excited smile on his face. "I'm just glad I'm not pinin' after someone who doesn't feel the same."

"Oh trust me that's the opposite of the problem here." I slapped my hand over my mouth then covered my face with both hands. "Fuck's sake..."

"So you do have a crush on me as well?"

I looked at him through my fingers. "No shit, sherlock."

"So that explains the blush when I speared the fish," he teased as he helped me straighten up.

I smacked his chest. "Jackass! You did that on purpose to get me riled?"

Hunter pulled me closer, arm tightening around my back. "But you enjoyed it."

Heart hammering against my ribs, I chuckled nervously and looked away. "Well yes, it's amusing."

Oh we are close close.

"Amusin', hmm?" he asked, voice full of smug teasing.

I glared at him, fighting down a smile as heat rose to my face. "You, sir, are a piece of work."

"That you fell for."

I placed both hands on his chest and shoved him away playfully. "Don't be all suave with me, buster. You're not the only one who can smell fear, and I know you're internally screamin' just as much as me," I replied, jabbing an accusatory finger at him.

He laughed again, the sound ringing through the trees and widening the smile on my face.

"You've got a nice laugh, Sarge."

"And you have a nice smile, Ice," he replied with another smug grin.

Warmed by the compliment, I chuckled. "So we doin' one of those awkward hugs that people do when they profess their feelings? Followed by an awkward break apart?"

He raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms over his chest. "Do you want an awkward hug followed by an awkward break apart?"

"Hell no, I hate awkward but..." My tail twitched as I scratched the back of my neck. "You aren't the huggy type."

"I thought you weren't either," he replied slowly and shrugged. "Guess we're both wrong."

Hug him! Hug the Sarge!

Oh I wanted to. So, so badly. But... I didn't know where he stood with that...

"I feel obligated to warn you I have cracked ribs with my hugs," I said uncertainly.

"So has Wrecker." He opened his arms. "Come here."

I stepped forward into his outstretched arms which immediately wrapped around me and squeezed. Returning the strong embrace, a loud purr rumbled in my throat.

Two.

Two guys I had crushes on both liked me back!

Pure joy flooded my chest and my arms tightened around Hunter. He was a warm boy! Kinda squishy, but definitely solid. The perfect hugger. Would probably be great to cuddle with too!

This has gotta be one of the best days of my life.

Wrecker confessed he had a crush, Hunter confessed he had a crush, and even though the day started badly I was now on level ground with Crosshair.

But...

"Don't take this the wrong way, Shaggy," I ventured, pulling back to meet his gaze. "But... why?"

He looked confused, his arms still around my back. "What do you mean why ?"

"Why do you have a crush? I am a potato."

Rich brown eyes held mine before a smirk tugged his lips. "Good thing I like potatoes," he replied, reaching under my chin and lifting it slightly.

It was my turn to laugh despite the red across my cheeks. "Oh, you smooth motherfucker."

He laughed again. "Really want to know?" he asked, dropping his hands and taking a step back to look me over. "You're genuine. You get along with my team."

"Most of them," I countered, Crosshair coming to mind.

" All of them," Hunter corrected. "Cross isn't one to warm up fast, but he respects you. Not many people we've met reach that level with him." He paused. "But besides that, you care . You care about us not as assets or even as soldiers, but as men . Humans."

The last one was a bit of a low bar to reach, but nevertheless...

My smile softened and I rested my hands on his shoulders. "Of course, Hunter. You're no less human than me." I glanced back at my tail. "Figuratively speakin', of course."

He followed my gaze to the furry extension of my spine. "Couldn't work up the courage before, but I have to say your tail really is beautiful."

"Looks better when it's brushed and not full of burrs, twigs, leaves, mud, and who knows what else." I squinted at it as I dropped my hands from his shoulders. "Probably smells kinda funny too."

He hummed in thought and stepped to my side before reaching down with a glance at me to make sure it was ok.

I lifted the tail into his hands, curious as to what he was doing.

He picked some leaves off it then a chunk of briar. "There. Now it's only mud and who knows what else."

"How thoughtful of you, Shaggy," I replied, a warm fuzzy feeling settling in my chest as I whisked my tail from his hands. "Glad to know you like my tail."

"You know," he said, voice lowering. "That's not the only thing I like about you."

Welp, how do I respond to that ?

I made to reply but a drop of rain landed squarely on the tip of my nose. Going cross eyed to glare at the offending droplet before directing my anger towards the sky. "Hey! Tryin' to have a moment, rain."

I received a droplet in the eye for my grievance.

Pressing my palm against my eye with a hiss of pain, I sighed and looked at Hunter with my functional orb. "What say we skeddadle back to the barn before we get soaked?"

The patter against the leaves grew heavier as I finished, a rumble of thunder accompanying the steadily growing roar of rain.

"Or maybe skeddadle back before we get more soaked," I sighed.

"Good idea," Hunter chuckled, and we took off at a sprint back to the barn.

This quickly devolved into an unspoken race, which the far more conditioned space marine would have won had his boot not slipped in the mud and almost sent him to the ground.

Panting as we stood under the overhang in front of the door, I teased, "So much for the sure footed sergeant."

Wet hair is a nice look on him .

"I had a distraction," he shot back, grinning at me from under dripping bangs.

Straightening, I laughed. "Flattered, Sarge."

"Ah, looks like I keep my winning streak."

I shoved him then shook myself to get rid of what water I could.

Hunter held up a hand to shield his face. "Hey!"

"Oh, you're already wet," I snorted, picking up my tail and wringing it out before heading inside. The moment I hit the top step, I heard the click of a blaster ready to fire.

Crosshair, silver hair still partially damp and sticking up in some places, stared down the sights of his pistol at me before slowly lowering it. Dressed in just his blacks now, I guessed he must have just recently gotten out of the shower.

Flicking my tail, I protested, "Didn't you hear us talkin' outside?"

He shrugged. "Habit."

Uh huh. You want an excuse to blast me, vindictive popsicle stick. I then stared at my phone, which rested in Tech's hand. "Are you tryin' to jailbreak my phone?" I demanded.

"No!" he defended, then admitted, "Maybe."

I rolled my eyes at Hunter and shot a glare towards Crosshair as he dried his hair with a hand towel. "Hey, Twiggs, I said defend my phone."

"Not my problem."

"Ain't you a helpful henry?" I huffed, walking over to yoink my phone from Tech.

"How did you know I would try to get into your phone?" Tech asked in amazement.

"'Cause you're a curious little hackerman, that's why," I replied, plucking it from his grip.

"Who are those people on your comm device?" Tech asked.

I looked over the lockscreen and a soft, bittersweet smile crossed my face. "Some characters of mine. Scarlett, Thatcher, Skipper."

"They look happy."

Don't remind me...

"Well yeah. They're reuniting after..." I grimaced. "The two dudes are, em, deceased."

"Deceased?" Tech exclaimed.

"I'm a mean mom to my beans, ok?" I sighed as I dropped my phone in my bag. "My dark heart craves angst."

"Your heart is far from dark, Ice," Hunter remarked.

You ain't seen what I'm capable of, Sarge. I can't even read their death scene, it hurts me so damn bad. And I wrote it!

I glared goodnaturedly at him before turning my attention to Tech. "Anyways, Techie, I'd advise against hackin' into my phone. May find somethin' you don't wanna find." I thought for a moment. "Or maybe you do."

Tech strikes me a closet kinkster. Is that even a term? Is now.

Eyes filled with innocent, blissfully ignorant curiosity, Tech asked, "Why? What do you have on there?"

I winked at him. "Haven't unlocked that information yet, Techie."

"What information?" Wrecker asked, emerging into the kitchen clad in his blacks. Or perhaps some sort of sleepwear variant, for they looked looser and the sleeves had been slashed at the shoulders. He must have just showered.

"What Shadow hides on her phone!" Tech supplied.

"Oh?" Wrecker asked, smirking at me. He wiggled his brows. "Whatcha got on there, Squeak?"

"Like I told Techie, you haven't unlocked that information yet," I countered, crossing my arms.

"Aw! You can tell ol' Wrecker," he teased, coming over and nudging me.

"Perhaps I shall. When you unlock that information." I looked over at Hunter. "You want dibs on shower first? I'll probably be a while."

"Why?"

I lifted my tail.

"Right," he mumbled, digging in his pack for himself some blacks before slipping past me to the shower. He nudged me with a soft, almost boyish smile on the way past, winking at me before disappearing down the hall.

Orb
Fuckin...
ORB

Also! You can see the image for my phone lockscreen AND its speedpaint on my tumblr ShadowsStoryStuff!