TBB - His eyes has laugh lines (CROSS/MAYDAY)
By Gun Roswell
Preface
The ruckus so heartwarmingly good
The reasons a plenty along times accumulating
Laughing can be a Mojo, right?
Preface
Set somewhere in Star Wars the Bad Batch and the Clone Wars galaxy, in the Multiverse of Star Wars Fan Fiction by Yours Truly.
Crosshair does have laugh lines. Yes, you heard me right! The sniper does or rather did laugh. At least in the past.
After being rescued together with Commander Mayday, the duo has taken residence with the rest of the squad with several other rescued clones on the island of Pabu.
And then something unexpected happens, surprising the rest of the team.
Part of Crosshair/Mayday Series
The ruckus so heartwarmingly good
'Surprising someone sometimes when they least expect it can be good, even fun.'
The throaty but hardy chuckle filled the room. Emanating far beyond the walls for all to hear.
Something so familiar, echoing from the past, not having been heard since… Well, suffice to say it had been a long, long time. And they all heard it too, loud and clear. The five of them quickly having gathered behind the half closed door, as if summoned and they totally had.
Glancing at each other, the five slowly and gently entered the room following the continuous alluring sound. It was as if a song sung by a temptress from the ancient holo novels luring them all into its net. The five closing in on the source currently seated rather languidly at the table there in the house they all now called home.
Echo, Hunter, Tech, Wrecker and Omega all stood there. Staring, glaring, gawking even, all wide eyed like creations in some holo cartoon.
Crosshair's laughter had subsided somewhat after their arrival. A few soft puffs escaping from the mirth still lingering inside the sniper clearly. It seemed he had some troubles containing is joy.
"Wot?"
The usually acerbic tone wasn't present however even of Crosshair's brow knitted In somewhat of an annoyance. At least he tried to be annoyed at the gawkers entering the room. But the laughter seemed to linger there still, tugging at his lips as Crosshair gazed back at Mayday. The other clone obviously the source of the rather joyous ruckus and Crosshair's great mood as well.
"Nuttin'"
Hunter finally responded for them all, not wanting to spoil the moment for any credits in the galaxy. As seeing the mirth and hearing the laughter of their sniper's person was the best reward they could get in Hunter's mind. Well, part from having Crosshair back of course.
"Crosshair… is laughing?" Omega half whispered short from pointing at the man the Kid being in total awe and surprise. "He can actually, laugh?" Omega could not help it, her eyes never wavering from Crosshair.
"Shh." Echo silenced her quickly. After all, gawking and stupid questions were never polite.
Crosshair gave Omega a stare, but the smirk was there. Crosshair letting out a toothy grin only in response shocking Omega even further.
"Why don't you all join us. We were just…" A smirk emerged onto Mayday's lips as well, Crosshair letting out a chuckle once again. Clearly the joke or whatever else Mayday had told Crosshair had been that good. Or then it was something else completely.
"Sharing, um, funny anecdotes here." Crosshair finished the sentence for the Commander looking at the man with the most mushy and adoring look anyone had ever seen on the lanky sniper. And granted, Crosshair seemed to be doing that a lot lately too. Staring adoringly at Mayday. Something not having gone unnoticed by the others either.
"Yeah. That." Mayday laughed out loud and motioned for the others to take seats at the table.
They all did as offered. Sitting down at the table. Hunter and Echo exchanging glances only hoping the other two would keep their humour and anecdotes on the PG level at most while Omega was present. Mayday poured them all mugs from his own special brew. Well not Omega naturally, the Kid getting herself some juice before they all settled in for a wee chat.
"So, did I tell you about the time when me, Echo and Hunter were locked in the…" Crosshair started telling Mayday, the others listening in intently as this was all new, them all sharing some fun time together, like a family.
The tales from the past, the funny stories Crosshair continued telling Mayday while the others kept chipping in here and there. Then Mayday in turn shared a few funnies of his own escapades in turn. All of them having a good laugh for a change. But mostly it was Crosshair whom they all listened to. His laughter the best medicine for an otherwise having started dull day. Not that it really was that dull on Pabu. But the clouds had been hanging low and the rain had hit the island, so staying indoors was their best bet for now.
The reasons a plenty along times accumulating
'The past can be a vicious memory, but letting go of the bad is a must to be able to move forward.'
The past can be daunting, haunting even but only if you let it be. Having friends and family around helps, as being alone is never easy. Something which Crosshair had found out the hard way. The time spent as basically a solitary clone had given him time to reflect on his life past and present. Well, after the chip's effect had worn off and his initial anger having subsided of course. Only then had Crosshair come to terms with the fact that clones, including himself, were not meant to be alone.
It had been a fluke though, him getting out of the Empire. Having met Mayday and his team on that icy planet of Barton-4. Barely surviving the ordeal. Something which had flipped the switch inside of Crosshair. The flip of a switch causing Crosshair to choose the side he wanted to be on. That of the clones. Those clones wanting to make a life for themselves.
Crosshair, despite anyone thinking otherwise had been quite different from the surly and tight lipped permascowled man he had become. That all happening in almost in a blink of an eye. It had all gone to hell for him pretty much ever since the Order. Order 66. The team had not seen it though, the change happening. Even it having been as clear as day. But they had not understood why Crosshair had behaved like he had. Especially Hunter having been blind and then turning his back on the sniper.
The Empire, oh the Empire!
It had been perfect at first. Just what Crosshair needed. The others not understanding his fascination though. Not that Crosshair had made it easy for his former squad either. To understand him and what he saw in the fascist operative regime. Having chased his former squad, trying to capture them and… oh well… Crosshair could have easily blamed the chip of course for it all. Alas, some of it had been of his own doing. The anger, the hatred he had harboured for the Batch. His Batch, his family. For leaving him behind.
As that was what Crosshair felt it had been like. The Bad Batch having abandoned him.
After seeing what the Empire was doing, his own abandonment issues aside had certainly not helped the sniper and his feelings. As Crosshair certainly had those. Feelings. Deep, wounded feelings even if never having been too vocal about them. But Hunter had known he had them. The others of his team too had been privy to said feelings. And that very fact had made the hatred even more powerful. They had known, or at least having suspected something was wrong with the sniper but then done nothing about it. Believing in the lies Crosshair had been spewing when ever their paths had crossed.
So, if there were no smiles to be found, no laughter nor a hint of mirth present within the sharpshooter? There sure were plenty of reasons for him not doing any of those cheerful things. Right?
Besides, it wasn't as if the Empire had encouraged any of its soldiers to do or be anything else except the automatons they were designed to be. The clones. Expendable creatures only to serve and die. Even if they all knew and had experienced differently in their lives prior to the imperial rule.
And so, the blame being shared on all sides for sure. The reasons having piled up to a size of a large size hill for certain for Crosshair during his time away from his squad, his, family.
But that, was all in the past now. They were all safe, together, having found each other again.
Laughing can be a Mojo, right?
'Perhaps it only takes the right person to make one smile after all.'
"So, you and Mayday…"
Hunter knew better than to ask, but it wasn't as if the two of them had discussed the matter either. Not too much anyway.
"… spend a lot of time together."
Crosshair's eyes found Hunter's, their gazes locking. The warning written in Crosshair's gaze for Hunter to thread lightly with his questions even if the two had made a truce. Sort of. As the two not really having discussed everything. Most things. Skimming the surface mainly. But it was a start and Echo had warned Hunter it would take time and effort to mend the broken fences between the two. Perhaps some things never really getting fixed at all. But they both wanted to try. That much, was clear.
"And?"
Crosshair really did not want to discuss the topic. At all. Not with Hunter and perhaps not with the others either. But he was in a good mood and guess Crosshair did not mind answering the lingering question after all. Well…
"Nothing!" Hunter raised his hands on mock surrender. "Is all good!" Hunter tried to assure Crosshair. After all, seeing the sniper happy and smiling, laughing even was certainly something Hunter could not falter and knowing it was mostly Mayday's doing.
Crosshair chewed on his pick, thinking of the answer to give Hunter. It was simple. After all, the best things in life usually were. And why would Crosshair deny about what was going on between him and Mayday?
"He likes me. For me. Who I am. And besides, Mayday, makes me laugh."
Simple as that. And it really was. Especially now that it was all out.
Hunter could only nod in agreement. After all, he had never seen Crosshair sour when in the company of Mayday's. Surely a first as the Sergeant did not remember anyone getting along with Crosshair all the time. None of them had in the past. Crosshair had always been more complicated than the others. In a manner of speaking. And so, a first for sure and something to be congratulated for.
"And the more?" Hunter dared to ask him.
"Well, we are getting there. Slowly but surely." Crosshair sounded somewhat vague, but it was obvious what their relationship was with anyone with eyes on their heads.
Just then, Echo and Mayday were back, having been talking to Rex over the comms as he needed the two for an upon coming op. Crosshair and Mayday already having promised to help Rex whenever he needed them. Echo only too glad Mayday and Crosshair were onboard with Rex's Cause. More so than Hunter liked to be.
The two found Crosshair and Hunter in the living area of their shared house. Seeing the two chatting there rather comfortably which was always a good thing. There could have been knives pulled out after all! An on going inside joke amongst the rest of the Batchers.
"You two look cozy." Echo joined at the table beside Hunter.
"We, were talking… ya know, about… stuff." Hunter smirked, getting an appreciative nod from Crosshair. After all, there were things the two needed to settle between them still and the other two did not need to know everything.
"You! Talking! That is… great!" Mayday was all smiles, seeing the few rapidly chaining expressions on Crosshair's face at smile however immediately disarming whatever snide remark would have been forthcoming from the old Crosshair. Mayday always seemed to have that effect on the sniper.
"Yeah, we were." Crosshair looked serene, positively radiating as the Commander took a seat next to him. "Talking I mean." Turning to look at Mayday just then, the look hiding nothing of the admiration Crosshair had for the other man.
"So, any juicy rumours going around then?" Echo asked in general. Hunter and Crosshair having been in the town square for mid meal earlier with the other two, before them having been summoned by Rex's call just a little after the rowdy group of rescued but always gossipy troopers had joined them.
"Well, one of the vod told us about how…" Hunter started telling about something of rather funny happenstance he had heard from the one of the troopers, eliciting hardy laughs from the other three. But especially Crosshair, his loud mirth warming the hearts of the other three. As Crosshair had finally gotten his laughing mojo back.