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LARKSPUR POV
Travelling with a bunch of men is not every girl’s dream. It wasn’t even mine, but the modified omicron-attack shuttle was totally worth putting up with the smells, the snores, the teasing, and the over-protectiveness of the guys when we went out to cantinas. They eventually grew on me though, and now I can’t imagine my life without my boys, Tech was my little nerdy man, Wrecker was my big lovable softie, Crosshair was my lanky crotchety protector, and Hunter. Hunter was everything to me. Although, I would rather die than admit that to him.
As much as the guys did grow on me, and I loved spending time with them, one thing I always super enjoyed was when I had the shuttle to myself, whether while on a mission, or when the guys went to the market or to pick up supplies. I got to spend one-on-one time with my baby the Marauder, and I got to spend some much needed alone time. When not on a mission, I would take advantage of spending as much time using the shower, having music blasting, doing regular maintenance such as, shaving, plucking, exfoliating, trimming my hair, and getting to use my light scent shampoo and conditioner. Hunter didn’t mind it too much, but he said he would prefer I used it, when he wasn’t on the ship.
Now usually I’m not a klutz, I’m actually quite coordinated, something I’ve always prided myself on. However, I’m not sure exactly what happened, maybe it was the soap on the floor, maybe it was the shampoo that had recently been rinsed from my hair, or maybe it was the fact I was dancing in the shower. All I know is, in that moment, somehow I slipped, and the razor that was on my leg dug in and cut me deep and long against my leg. Causing me to scream out bloody murder, and made me lose my balance entirely, falling to the floor of the shower with such force, I thought a droid had knocked my legs out from under me.
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HUNTER POV
I was halfway to the market with the guys, when it hit me like a punch in the face, the smell, it must have been some sort of perfumed powder convention, all I knew was that my nose felt like it was being held underwater, the pressure kept building, causing my head to feel as though it was in a vice grip. The closer we got to the market, the more the pressure built until my nose started to bleed. The guys suggested I head back, they told me there was no point in me developing a migraine or worse, just to get supplies.
I eventually had to agree with the guys, as the pain grew with each step I took. Inevitably, I trusted Tech to get what we needed, without having to worry about Wrecker and Crosshair trying to sneak in things that were not warranted.
The pain lessened with each step I took back to the Marauder, I was a few steps from the ramp, when I heard Larkspur scream out loud, it sounded like someone was hurting her, followed by a very loud thud. My heart beat faster than I ever thought possible, the idea that she was in danger, made me sick to my stomach.
She’d been travelling with us for the better part of two years. At first, I thought it was going to be difficult living with a woman, but she accommodated us, super gracious at times with our habits, and in no time, she became our fifth bad batch. When she stepped on board the ship, I thought for sure, she wasn’t up to the task, but then she proved me wrong. She's not only a brilliant mechanic and pilot, but definitely knows how to handle a blaster, which she has proven on more than one occasion.
That sound that ripped from her mouth though, that made my blood still, I had never heard her scream like that before. I ran on to the ship, calling her name, I looked everywhere for her, then I smelt it, I smelt the metallic coppery smell, now my stomach was ready to hurl, as all the worst case scenarios played through my head. She’s not dead, just badly injured, I kept repeating in my head over and over again. As I searched for her through the ship, I was vowing to whoever was listening, whoever hurt her, was going to regret staying on this ship. I’d make sure they would suffer worse than they made her suffer, that’s all I knew.
Yet, no matter where I went I couldn’t find her. I called her name, practically screaming it from the very bottom of my soul, and there was nothing, no sound, until I neared the refresher, and heard the shower going. I ran up to the door, and knocked on the refresher. There was nothing. No sound. Just the sound of the shower and music. Maybe someone attacked her in the shower? Maybe someone caught her unaware? I couldn’t wait for an answer, I forced the door open.
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LARKSPUR POV
I don’t know how long I was lying on the floor of the shower for, all I saw was the ceiling that needed a good cleaning, the music that had been playing was still blasting, the shower still on, pelting me with water that was still hot, I tried shifting when pain coursed through my whole body. I stifled a yell, and did my best to roll on to my side. I felt like a newborn animal, unsure of my limbs and slowly forced myself to try to stand up. I pulled my legs in, giving me support to stand up. I used the wall as a support to pull myself up, I pressed my back against the wall, as the water continued to stream over me, I rested my head against the wall, closing my eyes trying to get the room to stop spinning, and to force the pain I felt all over away.
I turned off the water with my eyes closed, a short time after I felt a rush of cold air, it took a second for me to register it and I lolled my head forward. As strange as it was to feel cool air, what really threw me off was the noises I heard coming from outside the ship, that wasn’t supposed to happen, the door was closed. I turned my head to the door and opened my eyes.
Through half-lidded eyes, I could see Hunter standing there, his chest was heaving like he had just run a marathon. His eyes were wide, his hands bracing the side of the door frame.
My mind was still reeling, I blinked a few times, making sure I wasn’t imagining him, then I noticed his eyes were looking me up and down, when I realized … wait … I’M NAKED!!!!!
I couldn’t hold it in, I screamed bloody murder, and tried to cover myself.
As embarrassing as that was, nothing could have prepared me for what he did, he screamed right back! Not just matching the intensity and duration of my scream, no, he felt it necessary to scream louder and in a higher pitch, sputtering out an apology and a plethora of sorries, then he slammed the door to the refresher shut.
I couldn’t believe what just happened, he saw me naked, and screamed!!! HE screamed!!!! I was so unbelievably embarrassed, I hobbled from the shower, grabbed my towel that had been hanging on the bar beside the shower. I began wrapping it around me, tightly. My body was shaking, partly from the fall, probably the concussion I received, partly from the loss of blood from the deep gash in my leg, and partly from the sheer embarrassment of the situation. I closed my eyes trying to orient myself, but I could still hear Hunter’s scream in my head. No matter how tightly I wrapped the towel, it wasn’t tight enough. I turned off my music, I couldn’t handle loud noise right now on top of his screams repeating.
A minute after I turned the music off, I heard a knock on the door. Sure, NOW HE KNOCKS!
I couldn’t hold in my frustration “WHAT!?” I yelled, but I didn’t get an answer.
I turned to the door and opened it, I thought what happened before was bad, but the sight before was just utterly ridiculous, Hunter had his bandanna over his eyes, he was a good feet back from the door, as he held out the med pack with one hand, his other hand covered his already covered eyes. Now, that was just adding insult to injury.
I couldn’t even say anything. I just snatched the med kit and slammed the door as hard as I could.
- - - - - - - - -
HUNTER POV
How could I have been so stupid! How … I can’t believe I just did that! I just gawked at her like I put in a holovid and sat down on the couch with some pop kernel. She will never forgive me. I have to get out of here before she decides to kill me.
I thought it was bad when I realized I had feelings for Larkspur, and how she warmed her way into my heart, but to see her like that … oh maker! That image is going to be burned in my head forever … well you stared at her long enough for it to be burned you ‘keye ava’r’ (dumbass). Yup, she’s going to kill me and she has every right to, that was so creepy. I needed to go for a walk, clear my head, get that image out of my brain.
I don’t even know how long I was walking, or where I was walking, all I knew was I had to make it up to her. Stars, how was she going to look at me? How was she going to face me ever again? Would she stay? Would she file a complaint?
“Hunter?”
I looked up at hearing Tech’s voice, oh great, I forgot about them. They were going to hear about it, probably from her, but if I told them, maybe they wouldn’t tease as much. Who am I kidding, of course they would!
“Hey guys”
“What are you doing out here?” Crosshair asked
“I had to get off the ship”
“Why?” Tech’s intonation told me he could sense something was off.
“Listen guys, stay off the ship for a little bit.”
“Why?” Wrecker asked, his curiosity, all their curiosity was clearly written on their face.
I probably should tell them, just not yet, maybe she wouldn’t say anything, yeah, let’s go with that.
“Just trust me”
Crosshair just shrugged, “fine, but I’m gonna sit on the crates in front of the ship, or is that off limits too?”
I thought about that for a second, that should be okay, “no, that’s fine.”
It didn’t take long before we were sitting in front of the ship, the supplies on the ground in front of us. When we heard a shift on the ramp, I looked over to see Larkspur dressed in her mechanic flight suit, it was probably one of my favourite outfits of hers, she looked amazing in anything, but seeing in her suit just always made it clear whose squad she belonged to.
“Why are you guys sitting out here?” she looked at the guys avoiding eye contact with me, waiting for a response.
Crosshair decided to answer, “Hunter told us not to go in.”
Larkspur turned from Crosshair and locked eyes with me. I'm not even sure what I should be feeling at that moment, she looked beautiful, truthfully, she always did, but the look that filled her eyes was pure death, which scared me to my very core. She glared and growled at me, before spinning and walking back in. The guys didn’t miss that at all, nor did they miss her muttering something, about “sure, now you stay out”.
Tech turned to look at me, I looked everywhere but at any of their faces.
“What did you do?” Tech didn’t wait for me to acknowledge his glare.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about Tech” I did my best to keep my gaze focused in front of me
“Hunter!”
I dipped my head, and let out a sigh, I tried to say it as low as quiet, hoping they would just drop it.
“You what!?” Wrecker asked
I threw my head back, and let out another sigh.
“I may have seen her naked”
“WHAT!” came from all three of them
Crosshair started smirking, “ohhhh she’s gonna murder you, for sure! 30 credits on Larkspur.”
Tech reached up and patted my shoulder “nice knowing you, Hunter. You’ve been a great leader.”
“It was an accident!”
“Sure, and the fact you had a crush on her since you first saw her, has nothing to do with it” Crosshair jeered
“That’s not …”
“What true?” Wrecker finished, “listen vod, you’re not as subtle as you think”
“Hold on” Tech began, holding up a finger, “I’m missing something here, why and how did you see her naked?”
I began telling the guys the events leading up to the inevitable disaster that has become my life, “… anyways I forced the door open, and she was … she was there, standing in the shower”
“In the shower?” Crosshair asks
I simply nodded, rubbing my forehead, could this get anymore embarrassing, maybe if I was lucky the ground would open up and swallow me.
“How did she look?” Cross inquired. I glared at him, Tech yelled, and Wrecker just took the physical route, and smacked him up the back of his head.
“Hey, doesn’t hurt to ask” he said laughing as he rubbed the back of his head from the sting. I thought that was the end of it, but Tech, Crosshair and Wrecker all looked at me, waiting for an answer.
“All I’ll say is it’s definitely an image that will be permanently etched in here” I said pointing to my brain.
“Yup, she’s definitely going to kill you” Wrecker added laughing.
“Not necessarily” Tech offered, “what happened when you saw her?”
“I …” I cleared my throat, “I froze”
“So … what would you like on your tombstone, this is a rare gift. Clones don’t usually get a chance to figure that out ahead of time, much less have one. We can do it up real nice” Crosshair suggested.
“It’s not that bad” I countered, hoping more than anything.
“No. No it is” Tech added, I shrugged my shoulders asking ‘why he thought that’, “what happened after you froze?”
“I guess she registered that someone was there, she looked over to me, and then she began screaming when she realized I was there and tried covering herself. Then I started screaming, because she was screaming, and partly because I was angry with myself. Basically, we stood screaming at each other for what felt like a minute. I offered a whole bunch of apologies, and slammed the door shut.”
I looked over to Tech, Crosshair and Wrecker, they were all trying to keep it in, but they couldn’t, Wrecker started laughing, Crosshair was lost, he fell over on Wrecker, holding his stomach, Tech kept slapping the crate and wiping the tears that were falling from how hard he was laughing.
“Guys it’s not that funny!” I yelled, which just caused them to start laughing even harder. “I didn’t do it on purpose. I was just thrown off. My brain turned off” I offered.
“Even I know you don’t just stare” Wrecker said, “it’s like looking at the sun, you glance and look away! Di’kut!”
“Yup, she’s gonna murder you!” Crosshair laughed out.
“Stop saying that!”
“Alright then what happened?” Tech asked, still wiping a tear from his eye.
“I grabbed the med kit, cause she was bleeding from her leg, pretty bad. I stood in front of the door, pulled the bandanna around my eyes, and made sure there was plenty of space between me and the door. I knocked as LOUD as I could, and used my free hand to cover my eyes.”
“You were already wearing the bandanna, schmuck!” Crosshair said
“I didn’t want to have a wardrobe malfunction on her, on top of everything else, anyways, she just opened the door, grabbed the kit, and slammed it closed.”
“You were worried about your wardrobe malfunction, when you saw her completely naked. You see the hypocrisy there, right?” Tech questioned
“Hey if it were me, I would have taken that razor to your throat” Crosshair offered, with no show of remorse.
“Good thing, I don’t plan on seeing you naked” I said
“So you did plan it?” Wrecker asked
“What? NO! It was an accident”
“I think you should talk to her, sooner rather than later.” Tech suggested, he was right, the longer I put this off the worse it was going to get.
“Yeah, you're right” I said, nodding in agreement, no one said anything, but I felt eyes on me, I turned to look at Tech, Crosshair and Wrecker, they all had the same expression on their face.
“Well…” Crosshair began
“What are you waiting for?” Wrecker finished
“Now?”
“No, I suggest you wait till she’s properly seething mad, so it’ll make it easier for her to kill you” I looked at Tech not sure if he was serious, “YES! NOW!” he shouted. I simply nodded and stood to walk towards the ramp. My foot was on the bottom of the ramp, when I turned to look at the guys.
“Anyone wanna come?” I offered
“No!” was the resounding answer.
I simply nodded, I was halfway up the ramp, and turned to look at them once again, “hey she may kick my ass right there, you sure you guys don’t want to come?”
Crosshair nodded in agreement, “true”, I saw him shift to stand, but Tech’s hand reached over and held Crosshair down.
“Go!” Tech commanded.
I let out a sigh, and mumbled fine, as I headed into the ship. I walked in, but everything was quiet, there was no music, no sound whatsoever. Oh maker, not this again! I called her, but again no answer, I looked in the kitchenette, nothing, the cockpit, nothing, the gunner at the back of the ship, nothing.
I was walking to her bunk, when I heard a loud thud again, and a few curses, I rushed to open her door, I thought maybe her leg caused her to trip. I didn’t even think, I just opened the door, cursing as soon as the door flew open, and there was Larkspur, on the ground, in her underwear, she was picking up her tools that she, I guess, must have tripped on.
- - - - - - - - - -
LARKSPUR POV
I was sitting in the cockpit, when my leg was starting to hurt from the cut, I looked down and saw that it was actually bleeding pretty bad, it soaked through my flight suit a little, despite the bacta and bandage.
I headed to my bunk, I still could hear the guys talking outside the ship, I didn’t pay attention to what they were saying, I heard laughing and yelling, which probably meant the guys were giving Hunter hell, which made me smile a little. I had taken off most of my flight suit, when I decided to kick it off my leg.
However, as smooth as I wanted it to be, my foot found my tool box and my tools and the box went flying all over my room, along with my flight suit. Dumbass! Not only would I have to try to find all the tiny tools I use to fix my baby, but now my toe felt bruised. I unleashed a slew of curses that would have made any pirate blush. I was on the ground picking up my tools from all over, when the door slid open, and there was Hunter. Again! Just like before, he just stood there staring!
“SERIOUSLY!” I said, lifting myself into a sitting position, resting on my knees, with my arms in the air.
Hunter didn’t say anything he just froze, yet again!
“WHAT! DIDN’T GET A GOOD ENOUGH LOOK LAST TIME!” I shouted
Hunter snapped out of it quickly, and turned his back to me, “no, that’s not… I thought … I mean, I heard … HAAR’CHAK! (Damnit!) WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING!!!!”
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HUNTER POV
I didn’t wait for a response, I ran off the ship and away from everyone as fast as I could, as soon as I stepped off the ship, I felt the guys eyes on me.
“How did it go?” Tech asked
“Hunter!” Crosshair shouted, I stopped as I was walking away, I rested my hands on my hip, my head lolling forward, I mumbled what happened, but they didn’t hear.
“What?” Wrecker asked
“I walked in on her … AGAIN!”
I didn’t have to turn to look, I could hear the guys dying from laughing, I heard three bodies fall on to the ground, howling, one was pounding his fist into the ground, Wrecker. Crosshair was wheezing from how hard he was laughing. Tech was more than likely wiping the tears from his eyes.
“I’m going for a walk. DON’T follow me!”
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LARKSPUR POV
I came off the ship, and saw the guys on the floor laughing their heads off. Hunter probably told them what happened, I looked around but didn’t see him.
“Where did, dark and broody go?”
“To let off some … frustration” Crosshair said in between laughs.
“Don’t be gross, Cross” I said, but couldn’t help the laughter that came out as well.
“If it helps” Tech began, “I do not think he was purposefully trying to see you naked”
“I know, Tech”, I sat on the floor in front of the guys, “to tell you the truth, that’s not even what I’m really upset about. In a small ship, such as this, it was bound to happen that one of you would walk in on me, actually I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner.”
“Then what’s got you so mad?” Tech asked, as he sat himself up from the floor, Crosshair and Wrecker, both propped themselves up, resting their backs against the crates behind them.
“He screamed!”
“So did you” Wrecker said
“Yeah, but that was because I wasn’t expecting him or anyone to be standing there, and I was concussed, so it was jarring to see someone at the door. However, he screamed after looking at me for like five minutes or whatever. I mean, I know I’m no Senator Amidala, but to warrant a scream, and then a double blindfold! Come on!”
“I do believe his reaction was genuine,” Tech offered, trying to help his brother.
“Wow, thanks Tech! Way to make me feel even better” I made sure my sarcasm was dripping from each of those words.
Crosshair leaned over and smacked his brother upside his head, “what he means” Crosshair began, “is that Hunter probably got freaked out by everything and reacted because of his senses, not because he thought you were unattractive. Trust me sweetheart, no one here thinks that you are unattractive” Cross couldn’t help give me a grin and a wink.
“In fact” he added, “if you are prone to slips in the shower, I will gladly volunteer to be a supervisor or lifeguard for you, sweetheart. You know, providing you a … steady hand to lean on.”
I shook my head at his offer, “thanks Cross, but I’m good, and it would be a cold day in Mustafar for that to happen”
“Well I can certainly offer my grooming services, while you’re in there. Make sure you don’t cut yourself again” Wrecker offered, nudging Crosshair.
“You don’t have any hair!” Tech shouted
We all started laughing, this is why I loved these guys, they just helped me relax and see the ridiculousness of the situation.
“Thanks Wrecker, but I’m all good on that front too”
“Query?” Tech said holding up a finger
“Hmmm”
“How did it happen again? I mean the fact it happened once, was a fluke, twice and on the same day, the odds of that are 45,697 to 1.”
“Well I had to change my flight suit, because my leg started bleeding again and it soaked through my suit a bit. I was trying to kick it off, when I knocked over my tool box, spilling the tools everywhere. I figured I should just pick up the tools…” I looked over at Tech, whose eyebrow was quirked.
“What?” I asked
“How did you not injure your foot?”
“It wasn’t a hard kick, I mean it hurt, but there’s no bruise”
“Yet, you hit it hard enough to knock it over?” Tech asked
Crosshair snapped his finger, I looked over to him, he was pointing his finger at me, “you did it on purpose!”
“WHAT? NO!”
“You, so, did!” Wrecker said realization hitting him.
“Didn’t”
“Did” Wrecker said
“Didn’t”
“Did” Crosshair said
“Didn’t!”
“It’s okay, we believe you. However …” Tech looked at me, a smirk appearing, “you did”
Tech looked behind me, I turned and we all saw Hunter coming back into view, I was watching Hunter, when Tech, Crosshair and Wrecker stood. Tech offered me his hand to help me stand up. The guys picked up the supplies that had been resting beside them on the floor.
“We’re gonna leave you two to talk” Tech declared, he didn’t exactly give us an option, all three of the guys walked on to the ship, closing the ramp after them.
I turned to Hunter, “I guess they want us to talk”, he just stared at me like a deer in headlights, which made me nervous.
“I want to …” he began
“Listen …” I said at the same time
We both chuckled, I rubbed the back of my neck.
“You go first” Hunter suggested
“No-no, you first” I said looking into his eyes, I had embarrassed myself for one day, it was his turn.
Hunter nodded, “I wanted to apologize for the ridiculousness that was this day, which is actually what I was attempting to do the second time.” He let out a deep sigh, “what I did … both times, was an accident. The first time, I thought someone was hurting you. I heard you scream, it sounded like you were in such pain, and then the loud thud… Larkspur, I don’t think I have ever been so scared before, I was so freaked out, I just rushed in without thinking. The second time, I thought the injury to your leg was a lot worse, and you passed out because of it. Either way, it doesn’t excuse me walking in on you, and then freezing when I saw you. I do apologize from the bottom of my soul, for walking in and staring, it was creepy, unprofessional, and completely disrespectful of you.”
Never let it be said this man didn’t know how to apologize, cause damn!
“Thank you, Hunter, apology accepted. Truthfully, I was a little annoyed that you walked in, really irritated that you stood there staring at me like I was a holovid, but that’s not even what really upset me. As I told the guys, it’s a small hip, it was bound to happen, maybe not the staring, but the walking in on me.”
“Then, what did upset you?” Hunter had such an unsure face, it was like he was trying to divide quantum mechanics with wormhole theory, his brain just couldn’t make sense of what I said.
“First, let me clarify, did I expect to see you standing there while I was concussed, bleeding, wet and naked, no! But you have to know, the lighting in the refresher isn’t … what I mean is things weren’t … that’s not how I look, okay! I was covered in blood, and remnants of soap and shampoo. I probably looked super pale because of the blood loss, and the head injury…”
“What?” Hunter cut me off shaking his head, he still couldn’t get on board with what I was trying to say
“You screamed! and not a manly scream, like you stubbed your toe, no, no, you screamed like it was pure terror! Like what you saw was going to haunt you for the rest of your life!”
Hunter began laughing, his hands rubbing his face, “mesh’la, I screamed because you did, and I got freaked out. I was angry that I had basically stood there while you were bleeding and probably had a pretty nasty head injury. When you screamed it was like, I needed to scream too. It's not cause you’re unattractive.”
My mouth gaped open, “really Hunter! Wow!”
“No!” Hunter quickly tried to backtrack, when he saw my face, “I mean … Haar’chak!”
“No don’t hold back, Sergeant, not like this sinking feeling of self-loathing could get any bigger.”
Hunter stepped forward, closing the respectful distance he had maintained, “that’s not what I meant”, his eyes locked with mine. He stepped closer, “you’re beautiful”, he reached his hand up, tucking a strain of my hair behind my ear.
“Ever since you walked into our lives, mesh’la, I have thought you were the most talented,” he moved his hand to rest on my shoulder, while his fingers trailed up my neck, while his thumb rubbed tiny circles on my cheek, “the most courageous”, his other hand reached forward, gliding hair off my forehead, as his fingers traced the side of my face, until he cupped my cheek. “The most tenacious” he leaned down placing a kiss on the left side of my forehead, “most optimistic” he placed another kiss on the right side of my forehead, “most adaptable” pressing his lips to the centre of my forehead, “most confident” leaving a kiss on my left cheek. “Most charming” he left a kiss on my right cheek.
He stepped closer, tilting my head back a little to be able to look him in the eyes, my hands rested on his biceps, as he leaned down, my breath caught in my throat, “most beautiful woman I have ever met.” He leaned down grazing my lips with his, “the image of you in the shower” he said as his lips pressed against ever so slightly, “will haunt me”, I felt his breath fan over my lips, I couldn’t help close my eyes, “because you are beautiful, not just inside, but outside too”.
I wanted him to close the distance, I wanted the pressure, to feel his lips against mine, but he pulled back, he pulled his hands off my face, and stepped back. All I felt was the cold breeze as I missed his warmth and scent. I was so confused, I opened my eyes and saw him smirking at me.
“What? What just happened?” I asked
“Think you’re the only one who can tease? Two can play that game” he smirked and walked towards the ramp.
I was sooo not happy.
“Hunter!”
He stopped before pressing the button for the ramp, looking back at me, “I swear if you don’t come back over here, and kiss me this instant, after walking in on me not once, but twice today! I can guarantee you, that image of me in the shower! Will be the only image to keep you warm at night till the end of the war!”
Hunter laughed as he walked back over, snaking his arms around my waist, “so impatient”, he chuckled.
“Shut up and kiss me Hunter!”