WHO'S READY FOR THE HOME STRETCH? Yep, we're more or less in the final act of this story! Feels kinda odd to say lol.

Well, enjoy!

CW: Morning Horny, Alphian Female Anatomy Mention, Strong Language, Mild Sexual Themes/References

Birdsong.

Wind.

Sunlight.

Warmth.

Weight.

Weight?

On my chest and… thigh?

That was… new.

And why did the pillow behind my head move as if it were… breathing?

When I shifted to stretch, two pairs of arms wrapped around me. One around my waist, one around my… leg?

Ok. What in the blue heck was happenin' here?

Opening one eye, I discovered the culprits; two commandos. One lean with grey hair shaved underneath and one muscular with dark shoulder-length hair.

Crosshair and Hunter.

Memories trickled through my mind.

Occasionally being woken up, rotating watch changes, body heat on all sides, flashes of pain through my leg, and, of course, lots of snuggling. Lots of that. There was never a point where less than two commandos stayed curled around me. The finer details remained a fuzzy mess.

That's fine. I'm perfectly happy right now.

Wrecker's stomach served as my pillow while Crosshair rested his head on my chest and Hunter claimed my thigh, arms tight around my leg. Honestly, he probably had the better deal given I was flatter than Kansas thanks to Alphian DNA restricting growth in that region until they reached my 60s.

But hey, it helped me retain androgyny so I was happy.

Seeing the commandos wrapped tightly around me, making sure I didn't leave without them knowing, sent warmth through me in addition to the body heat radiating from all sides.

"Welcome to the team, Shadow."

A smile spread across my face as Hunter's words echoed through my head.

Tech's smile.

Wrecker's cheers.

Crosshair's tight embrace that followed.

Burrowing down farther into the pile, I looked at my sniper. Of all the men, he fell asleep in the most possessive way; an arm around my shoulder and another around my waist. Still asleep, he nevertheless gave a small murmur and wriggled closer when I put my arm around him, a faint smile ghosting his lips.

Oh, what I wouldn't do for a camera. That little smile could cure my depression. For all his aggression and snark, he was so cute when he slept.

Tech was nowhere to be seen, however, and his absence made my tail twitch.

How was his arm doing? Was he alright? Wasn't he tired? He only had two sleeping shifts throughout the night.

I should look for him.

The three commandos around me were less than happy with my plan, however. Hunter and Crosshair held on tighter as Wrecker's arm wrapped around my waist, drawing me further into the makeshift sleeping nest.

Hunter, watch that hand.

"Guys." I wiggled. "Can you let me up?"

Two mutters, but nothing I could recognize as words. Wrecker just snored.

"Y'all."

Hunter said something that vaguely resembled a "no", but Crosshair was still unintelligible. Wrecker remained dead to the world.

Accepting defeat, I sighed. "Tech? You around?"

Shuffling from above before Tech's feet appeared at the ladder. Carefully making his way down, he smiled once he saw me awake. "Shadow! How are you feeling?"

"Stiff and trapped," I said with a small laugh, jerking my chin at the trio of commandos locked onto me. "Pretty sure all my limbs are still asleep."

"It was a headache getting them to change out with me at all," Tech agreed, leaning on the wall. "Is your mental state better this morning?"

"Reckon so." I flicked my ears. "Still nursin' the wounds, but they are bandaged at least."

"I see." He walked over. "And your leg?"

"Must be fine, because the Sarge is layin' on it."

My sergeant.

"Thought it was the other one," Hunter slurred, lifting his head and looking up at me with one eye half open and hair spilling over his face.

"Lookin' like Kamino's Next Top Model, Sarge," I joked, rapidly twitching my ears as his sleepy voice sent a chill down my spine.

A faint smirk and low laugh. "'M flattered, Icey." He looked to my thigh then back up at me. "Said it was healed?"

"Yeah."

"Wonderful." He laid back down.

"Hunter, did you not think to check on their leg before you decided to use their thigh like a pillow?" Tech grumbled, shaking his head.

"Didn't smell fresh blood," he mumbled. "Nor infection."

"You just wanted to snuggle with their thigh."

I raised a brow at the sergeant. "You a thigh man, Shaggy?".

"Sarge does like thighs," Wrecker mumbled sleepily, stomach moving behind my head. So he was awake.

"What's not to like with Shadow?" Hunter replied.

Tech rolled his eyes. "Isn't it too early to be making sexual advances towards Shadow so soon after trauma?"

Hunter cracked open an eye and glared at Tech. "Can't a man appreciate his partner physically without it being taken sexually?"

"Considering your favorite part is thighs," Tech snorted. "I'd say no."

Hunter opened both eyes and looked at me. "I didn't mean that sexually, Ice. You're just nice all around."

My ears flicked. "I mean you're respectful about it and aren't bein' pushy. I don't mind the comments as long as that's not the only thing you comment on. Which it's not, you've complimented me on plenty of other things. Besides." I shrugged. "Thighs are nice."

Bet you have some nice ones anyways, Sarge.

Put the brakes on those fantasies before someone smells you and gets the sniffles.

Crosshair clung on tighter. "Stop movin'," came the tired growl, the sniper's morning voice cracking on that last word.

"Sorry, Charlie," I said, gently running my fingers through his hair.

And immediately second guessing myself.

Was it too much? Would he not like it? Would he snap? Get upset? Was he not ready for physical touch this soon?

The sniper, however, leaned into my hand and relaxed. A soft laugh came from his throat as his ear pressed against my chest. "Heart's beatin' pretty fast, sweetheart."

Even as he teased me, I could still hear that newfound hesitation in his voice.

How long would it take to disappear, or would it even disappear at all? Would we ever be back to pre Shatterpoint snark levels?

Not wanting to discourage him, I rolled my eyes and poked him in the ribs. "Oh hush."

Wrecker's sleepy laugh shook his stomach. "Tell 'im, Squee."

I tensed as his forearm tightened over my abdomen. "Uh, may not want to do that."

"Oops, sorry," Wrecker rumbled, lifting his arm.

"Twiggy, lemme up." I poked Crosshair's shoulder. "Need to piss."

Crosshair grumbled unhappily but rolled off as Hunter also sat up. "Foul mouthed furball."

Freed, I stretched with a groan and a yawn before slowly getting to my feet. Shaking myself off, cursing when my arm continued to do an impression of the TV static channel, I looked down at my bandaged leg and gingerly poked the wound.

Feeling no pain, I smiled at Tech. "See? Healed." I eyed his arm. "Sure you don't want me to-"

"Quite certain," Tech replied without hesitation, holding his arm closer to his body.

I held up my hands in surrender before glancing back at the others. "I'll be right back."

"Watch for droids," Crosshair said, brow furrowing as he looked over my leg.

"Don't sense any," Hunter remarked, heading towards the packs. "Least not close by."

"Still good to stay alert."

"I'll keep watch, Cross," I assured the sniper before heading off.

When I returned, Crosshair and Wrecker were all armored up with Hunter helping Tech get his lower portion on.

"We headin' out?" I asked, stopping at the front of the shelter.

Crosshair, a toothpick between his teeth, shook his head. "Rations low. Goin' huntin'."

"Huntin'?"

"Yeah! We know food is your favorite thing!" Wrecker said with a grin, throwing an arm around me and hugging me close. "Wanna get you breakfast!"

Withholding a wince as my hip collided with his armor, I snorted and pushed him off me with a teasing grin. "Yes, my favorite thing."

"Hey!" Wrecker exclaimed, yet the smile spreading across his face indicated anything but hurt. As I bolted, he laughed and chased me around the trail shelter until I cheated and launched myself up into a high tree branch. Jumping to try and grab me, he yelled, "No fair, Squeak!"

"Fairs are for tourists!" I teased, swishing my tail just out of reach.

"Well, I'd say your leg is perfectly healed," Tech remarked, adjusting his goggles as he leaned against the wall in the lower level of the shelter.

Hunter, further inside tending to his own armor, smiled softly as he watched Wrecker and I goof off.

"Think so?" I called over Wrecker's head, still safely out of reach.

"Wrecker, save energy for huntin'," Crosshair said, flinging away the toothpick and slipping his helmet on as he emerged into the weak morning sunlight.

I watched the toothpick spiral off into some shrubs. "Hey, don't litter."

"Isn't wood biodegradable?"

"Didn't think you knew that word," Tech snorted, earning himself a dirty look.

"Get off your high horse," Crosshair shot back, the slight movement of his helmet indicating an eyeroll.

Wait, did they even have a concept of a horse?

Yet another weird Star Wars quandary.

"Be back with food, Squeak! And hugs!" Wrecker laughed, waving goodbye to me after scooping up his helmet and settling it on his head.

Jumping back down as the pair disappeared into the trees, I stumbled as my feet hit the ground and my wounded leg buckled.

Ok, maybe I wasn't ship shape yet…

Hunter caught me, my face nearly colliding with his thankfully unarmored chest. "You alright?"

"Peachy. Guess my leg isn't a fan of my antics." Looking up at him, still halfway through falling, I grinned. "Can't complain about the view though."

He laughed, the sound ringing through the trees as he helped me back to my feet. "Glad you're feelin' better, Shadow. Missed seein' that smile."

Grin widening comically, showing a majority of my teeth, warmth filled my chest as Hunter laughed again. Laughing with him as we walked back to the trail shelter, I looked over at Tech. "Hey, Techie," I called.

He looked up. "Yes?"

I sat down cross-legged and patted the space next to me. "Your turn to rest."

He tilted his head but joined me against the wall. As he carefully laid down on his back, mindful of his arm, I gestured to my lap.

"Can rest your head here if you'd like."

Needing no further encouragement, he shuffled back and laid his head in my lap. Smiling, he reached up brushed the back of his fingers over my cheek. "Thank you, Shadow."

I caught his hand and held it. "No problem, Techie. You need to rest some too." I hesitated before tapping his goggles. "Want to take these off for a minute?"

He nodded and carefully tugged them off before laying them in his own lap. Closing his eyes, he took my hand and held it again as he wiggled into a more comfortable position.

Hunter hummed in amusement, sitting beside me on the other side. "That took no time," he commented, eyeing Tech as the engineer's breathing gradually slowed.

"Well, he had a pretty rough night." I sighed. "All thanks to me"

An arm slipped around my shoulders. "Shadow-"

"Spare me the 'not your fault' schpiel, Hunt," I mumbled, shaking my head. Eyes not moving from Tech's face, I carefully ran my fingers through the mess of curly ginger hair, mindful to not yank at any knots. When Tech sighed happily in his sleep, I lightly scratched his scalp. "It was my fault. I did this to him."

Hunter's voice remained gentle. "But you didn't know."

"Don't matter."

"You said the regs turned with that order, right?"

I glanced at him. "Yeah?" I replied, not sure where he was going with this.

His eyes burned into mine. "Do you blame them?"

"They were mind controlled, Hunter. It's not the same-"

"You just went through two traumatic events, Shadow," Hunter said sternly, yet not unkindly. "We… hurt you in one. How could you think rationally in that state? You remind us that we're human when we mess up, but what about yourself?"

"I'm a Realm Walker," I said, shoulders sagging as I shook my head slowly. "I should be better."

"In your reality you're not a Realm Walker, are you?"

"Well, no-"

"You have the powers of a Realm Walker and the body of an Alphian, but the soul of a human. You deserve to get a second chance too." He turned my face towards his. "And you will get it. You didn't turn on us. You were confused."

"Hunter-"

"No. No 'Hunter'. No 'buts'." His face softened and his thumb stroked my cheek. "Be kinder to yourself, Shadow."

Kinder.

Be kinder.

How the hell was I supposed to shake a trauma response built over years? Wouldn't be half surprised if my lovely mental issues cocktail included a sprinkle of PTSD at this point.

Holding his gaze, throat burning as my vision blurred, I sighed and leaned into his hand. "Don't really know how."

"Give yourself room to mess up," he said softly. "That's a start."

"Hard to do after years of tryin' to be perfect at everything."

"Tell me about it," he chuckled tiredly, smile faltering briefly.

Idiot. I just had to deal with family issues and grades while this man was out here trying to keep his brothers alive. How could I complain about my issues when he had much worse ones?

This ain't the Pain Olympics.

That was… true. Trauma was trauma, no matter how severe.

"Hey." Hunter thumbed away a tear. "You can overcome it, I know you can. You're strong."

Sniffling, I couldn't help but smile dryly and joke, "Hey, I'm as ready to get myself showered as you are."

A playful snort and an eyeroll. "I didn't mean your smell, Shadow."

"You gotta admit, I probably don't smell the best."

"You smell just fine to me. Besides." His hand left my cheek and a finger tapped my nose. "I dig the smell of the woods."

"You dig it?" I echoed. "That's… oh hell that's…" I covered my mouth with a hand, desperately trying to stop the laughter from escaping. To my dismay, some strangled snorts made it through.

Hunter's brows shifted upwards. "Was that a snort?" he asked, grinning.

"No," I lied as another one escaped me.

"Sounded like one to me," he sang, elbowing me lightly.

I swatted his arm. "You'll wake the baby," I scolded, gesturing to Tech who, somehow, hadn't woken up yet still retained a grip on my right hand.

Hunter held up his hands, but that smug grin didn't fade.

Smacking his arm again one more time for good measure, I leaned back against the wall as he scooted closer and rested his head on my shoulder. Stray strands of hair tickling my face, I purred softly as he slipped his hand under my left and intertwined our fingers.

"Love you, Icey."

Butterflies swarming in my stomach, I smiled and pressed my head against his. "Love you too, Hunt."

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How long?

How long would it take for him to no longer second guess himself around Shadow? No longer… doubt himself?

A week?

Two?

A month or more?

While he certainly couldn't stand the thought of going back to enemies as they were that first day, Crosshair couldn't help but miss how… simple it was. No second guessing. No worries about accidentally jabbing a sore spot. No constant, constricting fear about driving Shadow away. Because they were already away. He had nothing to lose.

Loneliness was horrible, but it was familiar.

He knew his part. Knew what to say, how to act, what to do. Tearing people down was what he was good at.

Building them up… now that was another war entirely. One he was, unfortunately, severely untrained and unprepared for.

So yes, while he deeply valued the connection he had with Shadow and wouldn't trade it for anything… some part of him wished for the simplicity that marked their relationship's start.

He made a comment. Shadow snarked back. That was it. Exchange over. No lingering feelings, no looming questions, no…

Uncertainty.

Crosshair hated uncertainty. The damn emotion had no place in war. If he allowed uncertainty, of any type, to sink its fangs into him, those precious moments he spent paralyzed could cost his team the mission.

Or their lives.

Uncertainty was weakness. Weakness the enemy could exploit in a heartbeat.

Exploit and use against him. Against his brothers. His family.

They'd face droids again. Soon, by days end no doubt.

He could not let it cloud his judgment.

A split second decision could mean the difference between life… and death.

"Hey, Cross, doin' ok?"

Wrecker's voice held none of the playful teasing from a few minutes ago. Only quiet and heartfelt concern.

"Yes."

No.

Wrecker stopped and turned to him. "Banthashit."

Crosshair stiffened. "I'm fine."

"No, you're not." The man's voice softened. "It's about Shadow, isn't it?"

Crosshair held his ground for a moment longer, shoulders rigid and jaw clenched, before caving. "Too much uncertainty right now." He kicked a pinecone. "Don't like it."

"It'll be different havin' 'em around," Wrecker agreed. "But you don't regret it, do ya?"

"No," he snapped. "But can't let myself be distracted."

He then winced. Shadow wasn't a distraction. It wasn't their fault. He… no it wasn't their fault!

Wrecker gently rested a hand on his shoulder. "There's no droids."

"For now."

Wrecker sighed. "Thought about talkin' to Shadow? About it?"

"After last night? No. Can't risk…"

Can't risk hurting them again.

"If ya want it to work, need to be vulnerable."

Crosshair stiffened. "Vulnerability is deadly."

"Shad's vulnerable," Wrecker pointed out. "Emotionally."

The sniper turned away. "That's different."

"How?"

He shrugged angrily, frustration burning his throat. "They're used to it."

"Probably weren't at first."

"I don't have the luxury they did."

Even as he said it, guilt ran through him. Shadow didn't create him for battle and battle alone. Shadow didn't bully him day in and day out. Shadow didn't watch him like a hawk ready to throw him out into the reject pile.

Shadow didn't breed him for war.

Shadow gave him kindness and encouragement. Friendship. He shouldn't be so critical of them…

Why couldn't he shake that knee jerk reaction of hostility whenever someone got close to him?

Shadow didn't mean him harm. Shadow cared for him. Loved him even.

Yet why did he want to push them away?

"Shadow's doin' their best to be kind and open to you," Wrecker was saying. "Would it kill ya to do the same for them?"

It very well could…

But he had to try. If he tried, that was all Shadow asked for.

Later. On the next leg of the journey, after they got off this cursed rock, he'd get them alone and discuss it.

He just hoped he didn't mess it up.

"Meet me halfway."

"Fine. I'll talk to the furball."

Wrecker hugged him with one arm, nearly lifting him off the ground. "That's the spirit!"

Growling as he wiggled out of his brother's embrace, Crosshair hissed, "Now quiet. Before you scare the rest of the food off."

Making their way down the backside of the mountain, Crosshair switched to the heat signature filter inside his helmet with a couple of rapid blinks. Seeing nothing other than some small tree dwelling rodent that quickly disappeared, he muttered a few curses and switched back to normal vision.

At this rate they'd be lucky to grab anything at all.

Walking above a small ridgeline, which steeply sloped down into a sandy gully, they passed under an immense hardwood tree with a gaping hole in the dark wood around two meters up.

Wrecker wandered over. "Maybe there's somethin' here?"

Half distracted by the nearby smell of something rotting, Crosshair narrowed his eyes at the hole. "Doubt it."

Yet just as the words left his mouth and Wrecker stuck his head in, a flurry of bats burst from the trunk.

Wrecker recoiled with a yelp, slamming into Crosshair and sending the man over the hill.

And into a nest.

Empty aside from shattered eggs, thankfully, but what if it hadn't been?

"Wrecker, you idiot!"Crosshair snarled, thankful he landed on an exhale. His backside was still sore though, the pain racing up his spine.

"Sorry, Cross!" Wrecker exclaimed, kneeling at the edge of the hill. "Are you-" His eyes shifted behind Crosshair. "Oh."

Oh?

Crosshair looked behind him.

Oh.

There, just meters away, lay the half-eaten carcass of an armored insect-reptile hybrid roughly the size of Wrecker. Flies swarmed around the open chest cavity, the stench rolling over Crosshair and causing the man to gag as he quickly scrambled away.

Whatever it may have been was dead, but whatever killed it may not be.

And whatever was able to take down an armored beast outfitted with a multi-spiked stinger tail, wide jaws full of teeth, four legs tipped with razor sharp claws, and two barbed forelimbs was certainly not something Crosshair wanted to tangle with.

"Wrecker," Crosshair said through clenched teeth, eyes darting around for any signs of life. "Do a scan. Now."

"Uh… only one small one besides us. But it's…" A gulp. "Under the ledge behind you."

Dank farrik!

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"Wrecker, you idiot!"

"Sorry, Cross!"

I cracked open one eye at the yells and frowned. "Hey, Sarge?"

"It's fine," Hunter said, eyes still closed as he shook his head softly and waved his hand for me to stay down.

"One of those 'better if I don't even know' yells?" I asked with a faint laugh.

"Correct."

I hummed in amusement and settled back down. "Those two definitely go at it like batchmates. More so than they do with you two."

"They're the only batchmates in this group."

I sat up, dislodging Hunter from my shoulder but miraculously not waking Tech. Man was he a heavy sleeper. "They're from the same batch?" I asked, then before I could stop myself, "What happened to their other batchmates?"

Hunter remained silent and that persistent fear trickled back once more.

"I-If that's too intrusive-"

"No," Hunter replied quickly, giving me a reassuring smile as he rested a hand on my leg. "Figurin' the right way to explain it."

"Would it be better to wait until they got back?"

Hunter pondered on that, then nodded. "It's better if you hear it from Crosshair himself."

I relaxed. "I'll feel less guilty for pryin'."

"That will make me feel better too."

I smiled at him and we settled back down. Yet the topic nagged at me, eating away at my conscience and demanding me to ask at least one question. But oh was it a damning one. "They… the others," I began, voice soft. "They were… decommissioned, weren't they?"

It was never explicitly stated in the Clone Wars show what decommissioning meant, but if I learned anything, it was that this universe was a blend of legends and canon. So, if it was… then decommissioning could only mean one thing.

Crosshair and Wrecker's batchmates had been culled.

Hunter said nothing, just nodding sadly.

Fur bristling violently, I fought to keep my claws in as rage rippled through me like the shockwave from an atomic blast. Markings flickered to life and were I part Rageryan, I had no doubt I'd be snorting smoke right now.

How? How could those kaminoans just… toss clones aside as if they were nothing more than an undesired fruit fly in a college biology lab? How could they be that heartless? Living, breathing men, with thoughts, hopes, dreams. Just killed off because they didn't fit a standard.

Hunter draped an arm around my shoulder. "Easy, Cyar'ika," he soothed, nuzzling my cheek. "They can't hurt us anymore. We never go back to Kamino, and even if they recalled us we wouldn't listen. We're safe now."

"You are," I said. "But… I know you don't like regs, Hunter, but they… the tapeworm bastards-"

"I know," he said, hugging me closer with that one arm. "But we're safe now. It's alright."

"No. It's not. You know it's not. It's eugenics, plain and simple." My tail lashed. "It's wrong and sick."

"What can we do?" he asked after a long pause, tone sharp yet so, so tired. Defeated. "The Republic will never see us as anything more than numbers on a spreadsheet."

"Then guess someone needs to make them see you as more," I growled, tail twitching violently.

And I'd do it. Didn't care who I'd have to go through to get it done either.

"A battle for another day, cyar'ika," Hunter said, a hand on my cheek once again. "For now, let's focus on the peace we have at the moment, alright?"

I sighed, leaning into his touch. "Fine. But only because I don't know how to fly myself to Coruscant and hold the Senate hostage until they recognize you as human. Then again, maybe I'll get Cad Bane to help me. He's done it before," I remarked dryly.

Hunter chuckled. "Knowin' you, you'd tear Bane apart if you met him."

Clone death after clone death, as well as Hunter's run in with him, flashed through my head. "You right." I leaned against the sergeant. "You right. I got bones to pick with him."

"I'd expect nothing less. But I'll say this."

I glanced at him.

"Glad to have a Realm Walker in my corner willin' to go to war for me," he said with a smile.

"Always, Hunter." I curled my tail around him. "Always."

Snuggling together once more, the sound of footsteps eventually reached us followed almost immediately by voices.

Or, more accurately, yelling.

"You're holding it wrong!"

"Am not! How would you know?"

"Watch its head!"

"I am!"

Tech stirred. "Huh? What time is it?"

"How did that wake you up but our chatter didn't?" I asked with a laugh as I stretched, claws unsheathing and leaving shallow marks in the earthen floor.

"Selective hearing I suppose," Tech said with a shrug.

Hunter chuckled as he also stood and stretched before heading to the edge of the shelter. "What did you guys-" He froze. "Cross, what the kark is that?"

"They find something?" I asked, trotting over. Only to immediately leap back with a hiss, eyes wild and tail puffed out twice its size. "Put that thing back where it came from or so help me!"