Work Text:
Thanks, for saving me
“This is it, I’m going to die.”
The final thought in Crosshair’s mind as he had lost all fight in him. The Clone Assassin keeping him there, below the surface in the icy cold waters. To die here, on this planet, this mission after everything he had done to atone himself.
Unlike advertised, life did not flash before his eyes.
There was nothing there, except the cold feel of darkness consuming him. But guess it was fine, all good too. Crosshair had done what he needed to do. Saving Omega, helped his brothers, even the regs. If this was it, then Crosshair could certainly die knowing he had finally made a difference.
Just as the darkness was about to consume him for good, Crosshair felt it. The tug of his body and then, a breath, another. Crosshair was breathing again!
Trying to catch his bearings, Crosshair realised his saviour had been none other than Captain Howzer. The one who had the most beef with Crosshair if being honest.
Only able to nod his thanks for the rescue, Crosshair was pulled out of the water and onto land.
*
“Thanks, for you know, saving me.”
Crosshair was sitting in the back of the ship, most of the team having taken themselves to some quiet corner or another to reflect on what had happened, perhaps catch some sleep too. Howzer remaining with the sniper though. Guess Howzer being a bit curious as to the change in the sniper and all.
“Well, guess I can’t really say ‘you had done the same for me’.” Howzer still somewhat sceptical of Crosshair perhaps. “But I would have hoped if the roles were reversed you would have though. Now at least.” Howzer had a kind of a smirk on his face, having found a new appreciation for the former imperial sniper during this mission.
Crosshair chewed on his pick, the sniper thoughtful for a spell. There was a change in him, true. Having even realised it himself, albeit gradually, during his incarceration. But would he have saved Howzer? The man chewing his shebs now and all because of what happened back on Ryloth. Back when Crosshair still served the Empire? Well, guess Crosshair couldn’t really blame the Captain for that. The loyalty Howzer had showed for his men, not the Empire. A lesson to be learned for sure. Especially for Crosshair.
“I would have, yes…” Crosshair looked at Howzer, really looked at him seeing the slight disbelief still present there. But he was honest. “I realise all that now, after a rather… personal experience before… well before Tantiss and all that.” Crosshair paused again, trying to organise his thoughts what he wanted… nay, needed to tell Howzer. “I realise we clones are the same and we are the only ones there for each other. The loyalty only shared between us, not the Empire or any other organisation for that matter.” Guess Crosshair really could see their worth, not to the GAR, not to the Jedi, certainly not the Empire. Only to themselves. Their kind.
It was an omission Crosshair had not thought of ever stating out loud, perhaps not even thinking about. Bit what happened on Barton-4, with Mayday… Well it had made Crosshair realise he had been in the wrong. Before. The regs were the same as he was, despite everything.
“I… guess the Empire has changed us all. Most for the better after seeing all they did while in service.” Howzer too was contemplative. It was a solemn moment the two having been working on the same side, then suddenly not. And even if Crosshair had given the order to arrest Howzer and his men, Crosshair wasn’t responsible for the aftermath of it. Not really.
“It has. The chips certainly did not help. Then the rest… well it was all a… giant mess.”
“Yeah, the chips. I guess yours activated then?” Howzer did not have the full story on Crosshair.
“Not just that, they enhanced mine.”
Howzer could only nod. It sounded too horrid. Having escaped the effect’s himself most likely due to some malfunction of said chip, Howzer could only imagine the state the sniper had been in, like the other clones had.
Another spell of silence fell on them. It wasn’t awkward but rather pleasant even. The silence between them speaking volumes. The two no longer enemies, not exactly friends either but guess they could set aside their past and work together after all. Just like they had done on Teth.
“So, the kid, Omega. She really looks up to you.” That in itself spoke volumes to Howzer. “She reminds me a lot of Hera, similar attitude in life they seemed to have.”
“The kid of Syndulla’s? Yeah I remember her. Sharp kid.”
“Indeed. I know she and Omega became friends, made the plan to rescue Hera’s parents and all, ya know during the… well incident back on Ryloth.” Howzer still wasn’t too comfortable of talking about what had happened back then. But thankfully the Syndullas were safe now. Thanks to the Bad Batch.
“Heh, sounds like Omega.” Crosshair wasn’t privy to everything Omega had done during the time Crosshair was with the Empire even if she had told a lot to him back on Tantiss.
“Yeah. Well I know you will take good care of Omega. I’ve seen how you are with her.”
Crosshair did not see himself as the fatherly sort. But guess it still rung a bell at the core of the sniper. Having followed Omega’s non-plan out of Tantiss, just because it had felt right to do so. To follow Omega’s lead. And everything else having fallen into place after that.
“I… I would die for her.”
It was something Howzer could easily understand. Crosshair’s admittance. Howzer would have died for his team too and the Syndullas as well. Loyalty being everything to him. He was a clone after all.