Howdy howdy!
Short on time so just gonna yeet this at y'all real quick!
Have some fun back and forth between me and the boys plus some mildly spicy HunterxShadow that was NOT planned but Hunter had another ideas.
Enjoy!
Content Warnings: Sexual content, jealous commandos
"Someone had a fun time," were Crosshair's first words to me as we returned, the sniper's gaze on my neck where at least three dark marks stood out against pale skin.
I shrugged. "Indeed I did. And I ain't gettin' kink-shamed for it by a disgruntled graveyard wraith."
"You tell 'im, Squeak!" Wrecker cheered, smacking me on the back.
"So you do know about kinks," Tech remarked, crossing his arms.
"Never said I didn't," I teased.
"So what are yours?"
"Tech!" Hunter exclaimed, looking up from the fire. "Knock it off." He turned his attention to me. "How far did you go?"
"Don't worry, Sarge, hands didn't wander." I twitched an ear. "Too much."
"Enough talk! I'm starved, Hunter!" Wrecker announced. Hugging me with one arm, he then left my side and jogged to the fire. Sitting down by Hunter, the large clone patted the space next to him. "C'mon, Squeak!"
"Shadow's sitting next to me," Tech said, taking my arm and pulling me to the other side of the fire.
"Hey!" Wrecker yelled.
"Wreck, I spent time with you now I gotta spend time with Techie," I reminded him.
"Aw, fine. But I got to spend time closer to her and with more of her than any of you!" Wrecker boasted.
"Perhaps. But being the first does not always mean you are the best," Tech retorted. "Experiments are often done numerous times to get a desired result."
"You're just jealous!" Wrecker retorted.
"Yet I am sitting next to her now and you are not."
"Boys," I warned. "Play nice."
"We are playing nice."
"Uh huh. Techie, you like noodles?"
"They are too packed with carbohydrates for frequent consumption, but I do enjoy them occasionally," Tech replied.
"Close enough. I can make ya some," I offered, going over to my bag.
"Noodles? In the middle of the woods?" Hunter asked.
"Yes, don't doubt me. Thought you boys would have learned by now that I can always surprise you."
"Unsurprising given your origins."
Not missing the way Hunter froze, I gave Tech a quizzical look. "My... origins?"
"There's something unusual about you, Shadow. You know about it too."
"Tech, just let Shadow fix your food," Hunter said, voice strained.
I shook my head. "No no, let the nerd speak," I said. "I wanna hear his evidence."
Tech eagerly shifted forward, ready to give his evidence. "You are very at ease and even resigned at any strange or downright fantastical occurrence. As if you expect it, or have even gone through it before. You welcome it even, frequently making light of the situation. Your hair, your time with the sailors, your unfamiliarity with most technology in the greater galaxy, and your previous knowledge about us."
Still digging in the pack, I happened to glance up and meet Crosshair's gaze head on.
Eyes slightly narrowed, he looked to be scanning me inside and out. But when my ears twitched backwards uncertainly, the scrutiny faded replaced by a look of what I almost could call reassurance.
No, it was reassurance.
But I had to be sure.
"There's... nothing wrong with me being unusual, is there? Won't change my standin' with y'all, will it?"
My question was directed at all of them, but my eyes were on the sniper and the sniper alone.
Dark brown eyes held my gaze unblinking, before a small smile appeared and Crosshair shook his head.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I looked back at the others as they all shook their heads as well.
"Long as you aren't going to betray us," Hunter assured me. "Nothing can change our care for you."
"Yeah! You're stuck with us and we're stuck with you!" Wrecker laughed.
"Heh, thanks guys."
"If anything, I enjoy your oddities. But I didn't mean to make you feel doubted, Shadow," Tech said, laying a hand on my shoulder.
"Not at all, Techie," I said, resting my hand over his. "There is something I wanna tell y'all, but I wanna wait a wee bit. So I don't put you into cardiac arrest."
"Why would it put us into cardiac arrest?"
"Trust me... it's gonna throw a spanner in the works of how you perceive the world around you," I chuckled, focusing back on the Jet-Boil I'd pulled out of my bag.
Definitely threw me for a loop.
"When will you tell us?"
"Soon. Still testin' things, you know?"
"I suppose. What do you have there?" Tech asked, peering at the Jet-Boil.
"Camp stove," I replied, fiddling with it. "Cook noodles in this all the time, but I don't think you'd like the chicken flavored ramen. Or the sodium in that. So imma just make plain noodles. Pretty sure I can achieve that."
"What kind of noodles?"
"Well let's see what I have in this bag," I replied, reaching back in.
Pretty sure I had to ask for a specific item at the beginning of this adventure, but honestly I'd given up on continuity.
Because I was pretty sure I had memories of Tech not being a curly redhead and Crosshair not having an undercut, but Redhead!Tech and Undercut!Crosshair memories were right alongside those for the exact same scenes so I didn't know anymore.
Didn't care either.
I was also pretty sure my lightsabers were disappearing and reappearing at random but I wasn't about to bring it up.
Tech was sus enough and, while I had openly talked about weird things happening in the past, I wasn't hopelessly crushing on all the Batchers back then, and certainly wasn't as emotionally intertwined.
Admitting I was from a different reality...
It could ruin everything.
"Ok, let's see," I hummed, pulling out two boxes as I tried to shift my thoughts. "Penne or bowtie?"
"What's easier to fix?" Tech asked
"Penne fits better," I admitted.
"That will suffice."
"Cool beans. You want some spice?"
"Spice?"
"Well, herbs," I corrected, pulling the shaker out of my bag.
"Got an entire pantry in there or somethin', furball?" Crosshair asked, still checking his gear.
"Honestly, Twiggs, wouldn't be surprised if I had an entire universe in this thing."
Given my notebook is probably in here with details about Stone's Throw, there probably is a universe in there.
"I would like to look inside at some point," Tech chirped.
"And perhaps you shall! Now, herbs, yes or no?"
"I would be willing to try it."
"Grand! Will smell good too."
Once the water started boiling, I put the noodles in. "I'm cookin', cookin' things. Cookin' things for people to eat. I'm cookin', I'm cookin' things. Things that people will chew," I sang, happily stirring the noodles with a handy fork.
"What was that?" Crosshair snorted, coming to sit on my other side.
Swishing my tail in a friendly manner when I heard no true malice in his tone, I replied, "A merry little cookin' tune!"
"Learned that where?" he asked, taking some of the boar from Hunter.
"Show I used to watch. Main character had a wacky brother named Spencer who was an artist but couldn't do electrical for shit so a runnin' gag was everything he touched caught fire." I laughed. "Even got blacklisted by the fire department!"
"Impressive," he mumbled, tearing at a chunk of meat.
"You're tellin' me! Yo, Hunt, gimme some vittles!"
He rolled his eyes and handed me some ribs. "Here, Cross picked it out for you."
My eyes widened and I looked at the sniper. "But, Cross, they're your favorite!"
Crosshair rubbed the back of his neck. "But they're yours too."
Huh? But... you weren't... what?! "How'd you know?"
"He asked," Hunter replied, giving an eager Wrecker his share of leftovers.
This man... this abrasive and coarse little noodle of a commando... went out of his way to get me something I enjoyed?
Hellfire I feel like the Grinch. Help me, I'm feeling! "Well... thanks, Cross," I said, nudging the sniper.
I got a nod and a grunt, but his smile didn't go unnoticed.
Really was a pity he didn't smile more, but the fact that he didn't do it often just made me cherish the times he did.
Finishing up with the pasta and giving Tech a decent portion, I squinted at the contents. "Jeeze, made a bit too much. Want more, Tech?"
"No, thank you. I have some vitamin bars left over to keep me full."
A nudge from my left. "I'll try."
"I want some!" Wrecker announced.
"Not enough," Crosshair grumbled. "And I already asked."
Are these two about to get competitive over processed wheat?
"I'll make some for you tomorrow night, Wrecker," I said, deescalating the situation before it got out of hand.
"Aw, fine," Wrecker relented, glaring at Crosshair.
Thankful the crisis had been averted, I gave Crosshair the rest. "Here ya go, cannibal."
He rolled his eyes but tested the noodles. "It's good."
"Thanks, Cross!" I said, grinning before I focused on my ribs.
Tech, unsurprisingly, finished his meal before the rest of us and decided it was the perfect time to attach himself to my arm and doze off with his head on my shoulder.
I just rolled my eyes at Hunter and let the nerd readjust himself after he slipped his goggles off. He really was cute like that, though I had a feeling he'd bite me if I said that aloud.
Was kinda hard to eat ribs with one hand, but I managed. Finishing the last of mine, I glanced at Crosshair.
Tricky twig indeed. A man of hidden complexity, I really shouldn't have been blindsided by his thoughtfulness at going out of his way to get me food I liked. But I was hardly complaining. His affection wasn't as overt and noticeable as the others'; however, I'd be a damn liar if I said he didn't have his own quieter, more subtle way of showing it.
Just had to stick around long enough to decipher that enigma.
"Hey, Charlie."
Having finished the noodles and now working on the boar, Crosshair glanced at me from the corner of his eye.
"Got a joke for you."
A dark brow quirked up as he finished his bite and hummed questioningly.
A grin spread across my face. "What do a golfer... and a sniper have in common?"
Brows shifted downward. Swallowing, he grumbled, "Scared to ask."
"Aw, come now," I snickered, nudging him. I then immediately apologized to Tech as the sleepy engineer glared at me for dislodging him from my shoulder.
Grumbling incoherently, Tech hugged my arm tighter and snuggled close again.
"Do tell what the commonality is, sweetheart. Dyin' from suspense," Crosshair said, face deadpan.
"They both want to put a hole in one."
"That was dark," Tech muttered into my arm as Wrecker roared with laughter across from us.
Meanwhile Crosshair's face twitched before he turned away, coughing suspiciously.
"Eyy, I got Crosshair to laugh! Hell yeah!" I cheered.
"Did not," Crosshair growled, but I could see him biting his lip to prevent a smile.
"Did too! My charm is irresistible," I bragged, free hand splaying across my chest as I gave the sniper a toothy grin.
"Shadow..." Tech grumbled as the movement jostled him again.
I reached over and ran a hand through his hair. "Aw, sorry, Techie. Just gotta take any and every opportunity to tease Cross."
He leaned into the touch, especially when I scratched the back of his head where the goggle-band rubbed all day. "Apology deemed sufficient."
"Is 'sufficient' the best I get?" I teased. "Dare I ask what I need to get above that rating?"
"A kiss," Tech mumbled, but I heard him.
"A kiss, huh?" I asked, tugging lightly on his hair.
His eyes shot open. "I didn't... you heard that?"
"Aw, the nerd flustered? Well, this ain't gonna help." Leaning down, I kissed his forehead.
If there was a "bluescreen/error" face, Tech certainly had it. Eyes wide, mouth slightly open in shock, the engineer couldn't manage much more than a blink.
I laughed. "Think I broke the nerd!" Another laugh erupted from me at Hunter's pout. "Aw, c'mon, Sarge! I kissed your cheek today!"
"Ha! I'm the only one who got a kiss on the lips!" Wrecker boasted, hitting his chest with a fist.
If looks could kill, Hunter would have ended the demolition expert's life right then and there. "I marked her first."
"Yeah, but I still kissed her first!"
Unable to joke with Tech, since the engineer was still trying to process the forehead kiss, I rolled my eyes at Crosshair. "Didn't think your bros would be this weak to a kiss."
It took the sniper a minute, but then I got a smirk. "Considerin' it's from you, not surprised they fell apart." Then, almost immediately, as if he were trying to backtrack, "They all have crushes on you, after all."
I'd kiss you too if we weren't stuck in this slowburn dance...
That revelation caught me off guard.
Would I kiss Crosshair?
I admitted the crush to Wrecker but... had my feelings escalated that damn quick?
Quick? We are, ironically, 69 chapters and over 112k words into this slowburn enemies to lovers. 50k is considered impressive!
Even so. It'd only been like three days.
Days shamays. It's a Fanfiction Fasttrack on the Self-Insert Speedway. You gonna kiss the sniper man or not?
Eventually, maybe.
A lot could still go wrong in a few days.
I jumped as a thin finger flicked the side of my head. I shot a glare at Crosshair. "Yo, what gives?"
"You zoned out again."
"I have ADD! I do that. Not to mention I'm a writer."
"That's what makes your eyes go all distant?"
Why, sir, are you looking at my eyes? Sniper man sus.
"I like your eyes when you're thinking," Tech said, finally finding his voice as he recovered from the forehead kiss.
I chuckled and looked at the nerd still attached to my arm. "You just trying to get in my good graces to score another kiss, aren't ya?"
"Depends."
"On?"
"Is it working?"
I snorted and ruffled his hair. "Not quite, Techie. Shadow kisses are on a surprise basis only. Gotta keep my chaotic persona up somehow."
"You exist, that's chaotic enough," Crosshair teased, smirking at me as he took another bite of his food.
"Flattered, Twiggy. Flattered," I laughed.
Finally we all finished and I was able to pry the nerd off me so I could put away the Jetboil. Once I finished, however, I realized someone was hovering close to me.
And it wasn't Tech.
"Shadow, can I talk to you?"
Uh oh.
"Sure, Sarge." I followed Hunter down the trail, tail tip twitching nervously.
The moment we were out of earshot of the others, I tugged his arm to make him stop. "You're hurt, aren't you?"
He stopped and turned to me. "Not hurt, just confused."
I raised an eyebrow and stayed silent.
Hunter sighed. "Ok, a little hurt."
Damn it. "Didn't mean to hurt ya, Sarge," I said, risking a hand to his shoulder.
He twitched, but rested his hand atop mine and squeezed. "It's just... you said you didn't want to go farther because it was an intimacy thing. You... you trust Wrecker more than me?"
My ears flattened. "Dropped me in a minefield, Shaggy..." I mumbled, tail hitting the dirt.
His hand moved to my cheek. "Not my intent."
"Wasn't my intent to hurt you." I glanced away.
The truth wasn't easy, and I honestly felt a little bad about it, but I wasn't about to lie. A lie would always come back and bite you. Besides, my genuineness, or whatever it was called, was one of my best qualities.
"It... I know I can stop with Wrecker."
"I wouldn't push you to do something you're not comfortable with."
I chuckled tiredly, meeting his gaze again. "It's not you I'm worried about."
Suddenly it clicked and Hunter's frown turned into a smirk. "Oh, I see. Darlin' wouldn't be able to get enough of me, hmm?"
The switch in tone from gentle but confused to husky and teasing rekindled the embers from my adventure with Wrecker. "Somethin' like that."
"If you want a taste, all you need to do is ask," he purred, free hand moving to the small of my back and pulling me close.
"Sergeant, in all honesty..." I dropped my voice to a seductive whisper. "You're the type where a simple taste won't satisfy me."
Lookie there, I'm still horny. Grand.
"Good."
"Good?" I echoed.
"Because a taste of you..." He leaned in close, our lips not quite brushing. "Wouldn't satisfy me either." Before I could close the distance, he leaned back. "Ah ah ah, not yet. Shadow kisses may be on a surprise basis, but, darlin', two can play at that game."
I glared at him. "This punishment for teasin' you at dinner?"
The hand at my back slipped down just below my waistband and wrapped around the very base of my tail, giving the extra limb a soft pull. "Maybe."
Oh, tug o war?
I reached up, entangled my fingers in the locks at the base of his neck, and tugged. A sly grin crept over my face as a barely stifled moan slipped out of the sergeant. "Awww, someone likes that."
A hand found my throat. "And I know someone likes this. Don't you, cyar'ika?"
Eyes shifting to the large tree behind him, I smirked and braced my forearm across his neck before pushing him back into the tree. "And now we're even, Pretty Boy."
"Pretty Boy?" He smirked, hand tightening around my throat. "Kinda like that. But it seems you'd rather be the leader, so I yield." His hand slipped off my throat as he smiled innocently.
I scowled and let go of him. "Hey, we had a good thing goin'."
"You're adorable when you pout."
Growling, I aimed a fist at his chest.
Only for him to catch it, twist it, spin me around, snatch my other wrist, and push me against a tree before pinning my wrists in an x over my head.
Mouth open, I blinked at the sergeant. How in the what?!
A finger lifted my chin. "Close your mouth, darlin'." He gripped my jaw. "Easier to kiss you that way."
Holy.
Shit.
So erotic was that statement that I forgot to chuckle at the fact we were the same height.
An involuntary, sheepish smile tugged the corners of my lips. "A kiss?"
"Does cyar'ika want a kiss?" Hunter purred, gripping my jaw with more force.
"Maybe?"
"Then I better hear a 'please' from her."
I scowled, ears flat. "You're really gonna make me beg?"
The hand holding my wrists tugged with more force. "Won't give unless you ask."
"Not getting a please from-"
His leg shifted between mine and pressed upward.
"-Me!" I squealed.
"Sshhh, sweetheart," Hunter whispered, his thigh wedged snuggly between mine. "Don't want to draw the others. Better be quiet."
I narrowed my eyes, trying to ignore the heat rippling through my gut at the firm muscle brushing that oh so sensitive area. "Make me."
"Oh darlin'." He leaned in close. "Careful what you wish for."
Wrecker's kiss had been gentle and slow yet filled with yearning, the man taking care not to spook me by going too fast.
Hunter's was slow too, but full of pure desire. At risk of sounding cliché, I could only describe it as hunger born from too many close calls and repressed wanting. Craving, even.
Hand sliding from my jaw to curl ever so lightly around my throat, his tender touch and the stroke of his thumb sent bolts of electricity racing up and down my spine. Senses fading out as I closed my eyes, I sighed softly into the kiss.
The firm grip on my wrists weakened, his rough warm hand slowly trailing down my arm and side until it found my hip, slipped just under my waistband, and squeezed.
He was giving me a chance to push him away, I realized.
Not in a million years.
My hands dropped to his shoulders, smoothing over firm muscle and massaging gently as we leaned deeper into the kiss.
A low moan rose from Hunter's throat, fingers pressing harder into the skin as the hand at my hip shifted up to my side. His thumb brushed the lower band of my sports bra, but he didn't take it any higher.
Probably for the best.
I was just thankful neither Wrecker nor Hunter was sloppy with their kiss. Nothing wrong with it but...
Well my sensory disorder got picky.
Finally breaking the kiss, Hunter pressed his forehead to mine. "How was that for our first kiss, cyar'ika?"
Heaven. Consider me a dust in an updraft because I have ascended.
Wow, wasn't that a romantic image.
"If you want a comparison to Wrecker," I began. "Ya ain't gettin' it. Like muffins and pancakes, both have their merits but I don't like one more than the other."
Hunter leaned back and raised an eyebrow as his hand slipped off my throat. "Muffins and pancakes?"
"Hey, leave me and my weird idioms be," I snorted, playfully punching his chest.
"Don't worry, think they're cute, Icy," Hunter chuckled, poking my side.
I yelped. "Hey! No pokes!"
"Oh, that's right."
"Hunter no."
"Someone's..."
"Hunter, I swear!"
"Ticklish!"
Two second later I found myself wrestling the sergeant on the ground, trying to squirm out of his iron grip as his fingers attacked my sides.
"You rotten bastard!" I hissed between laughs.
"Payback, Icy!" Hunter taunted with a grin, aiming now for my stomach.
"This is cruel and unusual punishment!"
Tumbling down the hill, I managed to roll myself on top briefly only for Hunter grab my hips and jerk me to the side. Once again trapped under a commando straddling my waist, I huffed and blew hair out of my eyes.
"Oh, Sarge," I sang. "Don'tcha remember what I said last time you sat on me like this?"
Hands braced by my sides, he raised an eyebrow. "What was that- oh."
With him now hovering horizontally in the air a few feet above me, I grinned and held him in place with telekinesis. "Flyin' lessons, remember?"
"You did warn me," he admitted, crossing his arms and giving me a sly grin.
"In the words of a certain handsome commando sergeant, I don't make threats. I make promises," I purred, echoing his first warning to me back in the outpost before we embarked on the chase.
"You certainly proved a... skilled opponent."
"Skilled is the best you got?" I laughed, sitting up and keeping the man in the air.
"My thoughts are, admittedly, elsewhere," he replied, looking me up and down.
"Oh yeah?" I asked, smirking as I stood. Now holding him vertically, I walked forward until we were almost nose to nose. "Elsewhere, huh?"
"Yeah, now c'mere."
I stepped back as he reached out. "Ah ah ah, sarge. Two can play the withholdin' game," I purred, wagging a finger in his face.
"So, you're vindictive?" he chuckled.
"Nah. Vengeful," I corrected, setting him back down as my telekinesis began to weaken.
"Then we understand each other." Hunter lunged forward and caught me in a one-armed headlock.
An elbow to the side and twist of the arm later, I stood behind him with a hand on his throat as I pushed his arm up towards his shoulder blades. "I suppose we do," I whispered in his ear, pinning his arm harder behind his back.
"Clever. But you forget." His left hand pulled my thumb back, freeing his throat. Spinning out of my grasp, he came up behind me and secured me in a two-armed headlock this time. "Someone taught me how to get a hand off your throat." He chuckled. "I know your tricks, Icy."
Raising both arms straight above my head, I dropped out of his grip. Diving forward into a roll, I jumped up and faced him with both fists raised in a fighting stance. "Not all my tricks, Shaggy."
His smirk grew. "Ah, always got somethin' up your sleeve. Love that about you."
I sarcastically bowed, my eyes not leaving his. "I aim to please."
"You most certainly do," he chuckled, extending a hand to me. "Now c'mere."
"And get tickled again?"
"Aw, c'mon, cyar'ika," Hunter teased, starting to circle me. "I wouldn't do that, would I?"
"Don't pull that innocent routine with me, Sergeant Hunter," I retorted, a small smirk on my face as I mirrored him. Eyes narrowing as I shifted my weight to my toes, I pointed an accusatory finger in his direction. "You're a schemin' bastard if I ever saw one."
"Schemin'?" he echoed with mock offense, shifting directions which forced me to do the same. "You wound me, mesh'la."
"Good." I darted in, a rolling backfist aimed at his head. When he raised his arm to block, I jabbed towards his exposed ribs with my free hand.
Catching my wrist, he yanked me in and trapped me in a bear hug from behind. "So you confess to a deliberate attack?" he whispered in my ear, arms tightening around me. "I don't know, darlin', may have to... punish you for that one."
"Er, what's the price of a bribe to avoid that?" I asked, twitching as fingers brushed my ribs.
He hummed in thought, resting his chin on my shoulder. "A kiss."
"Drive a hard bargain, sergeant," I chuckled. "But I agree to your terms."
"Knew you would, Icy." Letting go, he spun me around and pressed me back up against a tree. A smirk played across his handsome, tattooed features as he leaned in, voice barely reaching a whisper. "I knew you would."