We're back with an apology! And shenanigans, because I cope by humor.
I was going to give a long spiel on the truth behind emotion stress but y'all know by now that my character is unpredictable. Also, would most people react like this? Probably not. But this isn't about them, it's about my character. So, enjoy the makeup!
Annnnddd subsequent shenanigans because of who I am as a person.

The next chapter will be out March 29!

Content Warning: Emotional pain, sexual references (later half).

"I'm not a member of the team."

Yes, he was well aware of that fact.

Pain coiled in Hunter's chest at Shadow's dejected appearance. Shoulders slack, tail dragging the ground, ears low against her head...

He didn't think he'd ever forget the pain on her face when he raised his voice at her, nor would the way it made him feel like he'd been punched in the gut.

By Wrecker.

When the man was mad.

But how could she just blatantly disregard his command like that? He was an officer in the GAR, and a commando officer at that. Not to mention his combat experience far outranked hers.

She should listen to him!

"Get over yourself," Crosshair growled at him over the comms.

Hunter bristled at both the sniper's words and his timing. He swore his brother was a mind reader at times with how accurate his words were. Always hit his mark on and off the field. "Get off my frequency, Crosshair."

"You're treatin' her like us in the early days."

"I said-"

"Treatin' her like she's made of glass will only get her angry."

"I am not treating her like she's made of glass," Hunter snapped. "She is not fit for combat!"

"Look at her and say that again. She's not used to combat. She handles herself just fine in close quarters and I saw those targets in her room, same as you."

Karking hells did Crosshair get talkative when chewing someone out.

But he had a point...

Shadow was more than capable in hand to hand and her targets were impressive for a civie...

"She'll be fine," he grumbled. "She'll get over it."

Would she, though? The last person she got into an argument with was Crosshair...

And Hunter remembered all too well how that went.

He hadn't permanently damaged the relationship, had he? He wanted her to know he wasn't playing around but...

"You know she will not talk to you again unless you speak to her first."

Again with the mind reading? "Get off my frequency," he hissed again at his sniper, taking extra measures and switching off his private comm.

He couldn't bend this quickly. Shadow needed to know that just because he had a crush on her, his word still needed to be respected.

But does your word take precedent over Shadow herself?

Unfortunately... it did.

Much as he hated it... their mission did come first. Shadow or no Shadow, they would complete this mission. They couldn't fail. Their freedom depended on it, for if they failed they risked being recalled to Kamino.

However... he also cared for this woman.

Cared for her in a way he hadn't cared for someone before.

To lose her so quickly after establishing a connection...

He had to do something.

He had to fix this.

Hunter waited until they were almost at the top of the mountain when Shadow called for a break. It hardly surprised him that she asked for one so soon, for he'd smelled slight sickness on her when he'd woken up. The dip in the stream hadn't left her unscathed, and as a result she was moving slower than she had yesterday.

"Shadow," he said, walking to the woman as she sat near Wrecker.

Ever since the argument, she hovered close to the demolition expert, leaning on him numerous times in search of comfort. No words spoke between them, just Wrecker draping an arm around her shoulders whenever she nudged him.

Their easy interactions hurt.

An ear angled towards Hunter as he approached, but Shadow didn't lift her head. If anything, she leaned further into Wrecker...

Away from him.

Hunter swallowed his pain. "Shadow, I need to talk to you," he tried again.

She remained still before forcefully pushing herself up. Refusing to meet his gaze, she mumbled, "Lead the way."

Her voice, so strong and playful before, was now dull and quiet.

You di'kut. She's got ghosting issues and you storm off on her. Really shot yourself in the foot this time.

Hunter walked back down the trail, rounding a bend behind two large bounders and walking further down before stopping in a thicketed portion of the trail. It would give them enough distance and shelter that the others wouldn't hear. Stopping, he turned to face Shadow and pulled his helmet off after jamming his own comm.

Immediately, Shadow grumbled, "Prefer you keep your helmet on if you're gonna yell at me again..."

Maker, he karked up.

"I'm not yelling at you," he corrected, trying to temper the roughness from his tone.

She remained silent before growling, ears low, "Just put that bucket back on."

His chest ached. "I still care," he tried, uncertainty plaguing him.

As her ears shifted up, hope flickered through him... only to vanish as her ears then flattened. "Disappointment from those who care is even worse," she mumbled.

Stepping forward, he reached out and laid a hand on her arm. Her flinch knocked the breath from his lungs. "Shadow, look at me."

"Why?"

He didn't have an answer for that. Well aware the ice he tread on was dangerously thin, he cautiously reached for her face...

Only to have her turn away.

You're losing her!

"I just want to protect you," he blurted out, desperate.

Blue eyes finally met his, anger and pain mingled together with sadness in a look that churned his stomach. "I don't need protecting," she growled. "If you're worried you'll have to risk your team to watch my back, don't. Take care of your family, I'll take care of myself."

How could he tell her that he wanted her in his family too without plunging through the thin ice and into the frigid waters below?

Shadow closed her eyes, inhaled deeply, let it out slow, and met his gaze once more. She murmured, voice gentler, "I appreciate your concern, Hunt. I do."

Hunt... that was new.

But welcome.

The steel band around his chest loosened.

It wasn't over.

Reconciliation wasn't lost.

"But not like this," she continued. "I can take care of myself. Don't get me wrong, I want someone like y'all watching my back in a firefight. Can't think of anyone more skilled." Her eyes hardened, yet her voice cracked as she growled, "But I will not be a burden to the team."

Burden.

The reality blindsided him. How did he not realize it?

Shadow wasn't defying him out of pure stubbornness.

Wasn't defying him to try and prove herself a hero.

She was defying him so they didn't think she was a freeloader.

So they didn't think she was a liability.

In his effort to avoid a tripwire, he stepped on a landmine.

"You're not a burden to the team," Hunter stressed, shaking his head as he tried stepping closer. "That's not it at all, Ice."

She looked away again, arms wrapping around herself. "Not to mention if one of y'all got hurt because of me-"

"Shadow," Hunter cut her off gently, reaching for her arm again. "We're soldiers. We're bred to fight."

Bred to die...

"I don't care," she snapped, fists now clenched at her sides, yet Hunter knew by the pain in her eyes that her temper hadn't been shortened by anger. "I don't care what those bastard longnecks say. I don't care what those parasitic politicians say. You're far more than cannon fodder. You have as much right to live as any sentient being in the galaxy."

He took a risk and let his hand slide down her arm. When she made no effort to pull away Hunter slipped his hand into hers and interlocked their fingers. Giving her a reassuring squeeze, he said, "It's our duty, Shadow."

He didn't expect for Shadow to step forward and rest her forehead against his chest plate. But her proximity was welcome, and he let her know by softly brushing his thumb across the back of her hand.

Her tail flicked as her grip tightened. "You shouldn't have to worry about getting hurt to protect some guide you hardly know..."

"You're not just some guide." He paused, dropping her hand and resting his on her upper back. "You're far more than that." Ears twitched backwards at his words, and his hand shifted up to gently stroke one. "Hang on," he said, moving away to set his bucket on the ground before pulling her back to him and wrapping an arm around her as he rubbed her ears once more.

Shadow leaned into his embrace. "I... I just..."

"Yeah?" he whispered, drawing her closer.

"I just don't want you to think I'm... I'm more trouble than I'm worth..."

Look what you did. You karked up big time.

"Shadow," he whispered, taking a gamble. "I will not leave you."

Shadow's arms slipped around him and squeezed tightly in return. Letting her chin rest on his shoulder in the gap between his armor and neck, she inhaled deeply and leaned against him. "Promise?"

Her reaction confirmed his hypothesis; she thought they would abandon her.

Leave her.

Ghost her...

"I promise, Shadow."

Her grip tightened as she stepped closer to him. "Thank... thanks, Hunter."

"Of course." He almost extended his offer for her to join them right then and there but he knew better.

Now wasn't a good time. She was too vulnerable right now. It could, would, backfire. Not to mention the initial fallout from Crosshair...

The sniper's kneejerk reaction would be rejection and Shadow did not need to cope with that plus Hunter yelling at her.

Shadow suddenly began to shift backwards. "I-If you'd rather me not hug you... since... that senses thing...

Hunter brushed her hair to the side and rested his chin on her own shoulder. Letting his nose graze her neck, he whispered, "Stay... I like it when you're cuddly."

Shadow twitched before commenting, that characteristic dryness peaking through once more, "Romantic, but careful. I'd rather not put an end to this by accidentally bruisin' your face when I twitch because you whispered at the wrong spot. Already on the rocks with you and a headbutt wouldn't help."

Right, she was ticklish.

A mumbled "Understood" was his reply, but he didn't lean back.

Heart pounding loud enough that he himself could hear it, Hunter swallowed his nervousness only to chicken out at the last second and nuzzle her jaw with his nose instead of his lips.

Later. He wanted the first time he kissed her to count. And also not be associated with their first fight.

Besides, Shadow's reaction to a simple nuzzle was enough to send searing affection racing through his body.

A purr.

Shadow was purring.

He let his fingers slip through her hair as his grip around her back tightened, causing the noise to get louder.

Sergeant Hunter definitely had a new favorite sound. Especially when it was loud like this, nearly rivaling the hum of a speeder's engine.

"Atta girl," he rumbled, careful to keep his tone purely reassuring. He didn't want her thinking he was taking advantage of her vulnerability. That was the last thing on his mind.

At first she stiffened, sniffing the air, but upon finding nothing she relaxed in his grip. Her tail brushed his leg before curling around it as her purr grew louder still.

"Love this sound," he murmured, again watchful of his tone.

Shadow's response was an even louder purr. She tilted her head to press it against his, inhaling deeply before pulling away. Arms still loosely wrapped around him, she ventured, "Guess we can try to work out a compromise." Her ears flicked as her head lowered. "I don't like fighting with you..."

Hunter agreed wholeheartedly. "What's the compromise?" he asked, letting his fingers slip through her hair as his hand fell.

A faint smile appeared on Shadow's face. "Since when does the mighty Hunter agree to a compromise so quick?" she joked, removing her arms from around him and lightly punching his chest.

Since I fell in love. But he bit back those words. Not now. Not with her like this. He'd tell her before this mission was over, but not yet. Instead, he chuckled, "I'm feelin' generous."

Ears wiggled as a tired yet sly smile crept over her face. "Oh, are ya now?"

Warmth spread through Hunter's chest once more. The fight was over. The relationship, whatever it was, had been mended. Still at risk, and he'd have to mind his words, but it was easier to heal a bandaged wound rather than an open one. "I am, Icy," he said.

"Har har."

She's definitely resilient. Just got to give her time... "What plan do you have?"

"If at all possible, I'll set up a sniping position and take 'em out from the shadows. Live up to my name. That way I'm out of sight, but I also get to help." She offered her hand to shake, but held it up as if she were about to arm wrestle him. "Deal?"

It was a pretty good deal. They both got what they wanted, and it offered the ability to surprise the droids. He'd prefer it if she was totally out of harm's way, but Crosshair did have a point. They had a battalion coming. Shadow's plan allowed her to get a taste of gunfire before the big battle while remaining relatively safe.

Hunter returned her gesture, clasping her hand with his. "Deal." Slight surprise sparked through him when Shadow pulled him in and knocked their shoulders together before letting go.

"What was that?" he had to ask as they dropped hands.

"Seal the deal. You guys are rougher. It's like guys versus girls with hugs. Girls hug nicely." She walked past him, putting a hand to her lower back. "Guys try to give each other scoliosis."

Hunter snorted softly and turned to watch her walk away. "You don't hug nicely."

"That's 'cause I'm not like other girls, Sarge." Shadow turned and pointed finger guns at him, winking as she bared her teeth in that characteristic smirk that made him fall harder every time he saw it. "I'm worse."

"Worse?" he echoed, taking hold of her wrist as she turned away. Pulling her back to him, hand resting on her lower back and drawing her to him, he risked a smirk. "I beg to differ."

Her eyes went wide, and Hunter couldn't help but chuckle. Of all the things, flirting was one of her weaknesses and for some reason he found that hilarious.

At least, he thought flirting was one of her weaknesses until her look of shock turned into something just short of seductive as she stepped in, lifted his chin, and purred, "You're cute when you beg, Sergeant."

Now the one caught off guard, his jaw went slack and his knees weakened as Shadow laughed and slipped from his grip to head up the trail back the way they came.

He watched her disappear, armor suddenly tighter than before, and swallowed.

Oh, he was a goner.

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

That move definitely got him heated.

Leaving Hunter behind, I trotted back up the trail.

A weight had definitely been lifted off my shoulders, warm relief spreading through me now that Hunter and I were on good terms again.

It had been... rough getting through that but I did it.

We did it.

Was it a bit ooc for him to compromise so readily? To be the one to admit fault?

Probably.

But this story wasn't supposed to be super canon anyways.

Canon sucked.

And it was consistent with what I'd personally seen face to face with him so far. I liked this version of Hunter better than whatever canon would give me anyways, so I would happily stick with this one.

Plus this Hunter liked to nuzzle.

And was handsy.

Quarantine really turned my asexual ass into a repressed Victorian maiden, huh?

Nevertheless, I'd be a damn liar if I said I hadn't hoped his lips rather than his nose would brush my neck. Emotional pain could knock my legs out from under me, but it couldn't take my sarcasm. Or my utter unpredictability.

Especially when dealing with a certain tattooed commando. The damn trooper had my emotions all over the place like a bunch of caffeinated grasshoppers.

How did Disturbia go again? What's wrong with me? Why do I feel like this?

Sergeant Hunter definitely had me going crazy now.

"Squeaky!" Wrecker called happily, jumping up as I came into view. Crosshair was leaning against a tree trunk checking his rifle while Tech took notes on a plant. Jogging down to meet me, Wrecker smiled tentatively. "You and Sarge make up?"

I glanced back down the trail. "Yeah. We're good."

Arms wrapped around me and lifted me off the ground. "Yeah! All right! Squeak and Sarge are back together!" he cheered, spinning around with me in his arms.

Well Wrecker definitely ain't ooc.

Nevertheless, his enthusiasm and joy brought a smile to my face and I had to laugh.

"They were never together in the first place," Crosshair grumbled.

I'm working on it, Twiggy!

"You're just jealous, Cross!" Wrecker retorted, still holding me off the ground.

Crosshair just snorted.

I spotted a tree. "Hey, Wreck, while you got me off the ground, care to toss me into the tree so I can take a break up there?"

"Sure thing, Squeaky!" Wrecker exclaimed, jogging over and gathering me in his arms before gently tossing me up. "Yeet!"

Steadying myself on the tree, I sat down and settled back against the main trunk. "Thanks, Scruff!"

"Anything for you, Squeak!" he grinned, winking and giving me a two finger salute.

"You would do anything," Crosshair taunted.

"You're just mad I have the high ground above the mighty Twiggs," I retorted, sticking my tongue out at him.

Eyes narrowed before the sniper got up, walked over, and climbed up to my branch and sat directly in front of me, showing me his back.

What kind of spiteful cat energy? Man was damn near sitting in my lap.

Ain't no sexual tension here, just plain salt!

"Hey, this is my tree!" I barked at him.

"Yeah? What are you gonna do about it, sweetheart?" Crosshair said, glancing over his shoulder.

I looked him dead in the eyes and muttered "Long live the king" before slamming my foot into his backside, sending him flying off the branch.

As Wrecker dove to catch his brother before he hit the dirt, I roared with laughter. I don't care who you are, that's funny right there!

Hunter, having just arrived back with us after walking up the hill, just raised an eyebrow and shook his head at the scene. "I can't leave you alone for a second, huh?" he asked, a lazy smile on his face as he raised an eyebrow at me.

I pointed finger guns at him and winked again, receiving an amused shake of the head.

Furiously ripping himself from the grip of his brother, who was also laughing hard, Crosshair quickly scaled the tree and loomed over me. "You'll regret that, fleabitten furball," he growled, jabbing his toothpick at me.

I brought a foot up and braced it against the plate of armor protecting his stomach. "Make me, Twiggs."

His scowl changed into a smirk. "Careful what you wish for."

Oh shit.

Terror would not have quite been the accurate word in that instance.

Quickly shoving him away with my foot, buying myself a precious few seconds, I twisted around and scrambled up the tree, yanking my tail out of reach. A few branches above Crosshair's head now, I shifted into a tacrumel and scampered over to the next tree.

"You're cheatin'," Crosshair accused, easily making his way up into the higher branches and following me across.

"All's fair in love and war!" I called.

"There ain't no 'love' here, kitten," the sniper snorted before swinging across a branch as if it were simple monkey bars a few feet off the ground.

Ok, Twiggs clearly had no fear of heights. He had that advantage.

I leapt across to a different tree, or tried to. Reaching the edge of the branch, my vertigo kicked in something fierce and the ground swam below me. Unable to stop so suddenly, my momentum carried me forward off the branch and towards the ground below.

A thin hand suddenly grabbed my scruff, halting my descent.

"Gettin' ahead of yourself," Crosshair purred, turning me to face him.

This was literally the worst situation. Quite literally at the mercy of Crosshair... nah chief. Not good. I did not like the look of his face as the sniper held me meters above the ground, the sly smile speaking of bad things ahead for me.

"C'mon Cross, just put me back on the branch," I said, trying to keep the nervousness out of my voice.

"What's in it for me?"

"I ain't beggin', if that's what you want," I grumbled, crossing my arms. Good thing Tacs had the appendages of a monkey or I'd only have my tail to show my anger.

"Little beggin' may change my mind."

For you? No. Hunter? Maybe.

"Ain't happenin'," I growled.

Dark eyes held mine. "In that case... long live the queen."

"Asshole!" I screamed at him as he let go and I plummeted to the ground.

A pair of arms caught me, one equipped with a vibroblade holster.

I was immensely grateful Hunter could not see my embarrassment. "Howdy, Sarge."

"Nice of you to drop in," he teased. "This is... the second time you've fallen for me, correct?"

"Ha ha ha, put me down."

"Aw, you're so cute in that form, Squeaky!" Wrecker said, grinning ear to ear as he stepped over.

A wicked plan formed in my head to get Hunter back for being smug. Making sure to smack Hunter in the face with my tail, I jumped over to Wrecker and wound around his neck, purring loudly.

"Hey!" Hunter protested, clearly disgruntled.

I twitched my whiskers at him and rubbed my head against Wrecker's, much to the demolition expert's delight.

"Told'ja she likes me best!" he laughed, running a hand along my back.

Hunter scowled. "I have better hair than you."

Can't argue with that.

"I have bigger muscles than you. And a bigger blade!"

Oh no. I know where this is going.

"I can use mine more efficiently."

"Mine's still bigger."

"Size matters not," I mumbled under my breath, painfully aware that they probably weren't talking about knives anymore.

"Heard that," Crosshair said from above as he climbed down.

"Well it's true," I said. "With a smaller blade you gotta be creative and can't just rely on the size to do the job."

"Ha!" Hunter exclaimed triumphantly.

"I promise ya, Squeak, my blade is very effective!" Wrecker declared.

Tech looked up, an unamused frown on his face. "I am not so naïve that I cannot tell you are talking about your-"

"Do not finish that sentence," Hunter warned Tech, his dad instinct taking over.

Tech just rolled his eyes.

Jumping off Wrecker's shoulder, I hopped to the ground and shifted back into my Beta form. "Alrighty, boys." I looked up towards the ridgeline, the crest silhouetted against the brilliant blue and white sky and partially hidden by patches of greens and golds. "Now it's time for the real fun to begin."