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“Crosshair.”
The soft spoken name in the silence of the night was filled with so much raw emotion.
Hunter must’ve been staring at the sleeping beauty by his side for what seemed like hours. Still, he did not feel tired or having the need to sleep himself. Wanting only to dwell on this perfect moment a while longer. Watching the myriad of emotions dancing on the sniper’s face like shadows from the past and present in the sliver of the pale moon light.
Even if Hunter was afraid of breaking the most perfect spell hanging around the two of them, Hunter wanted Crosshair awake suddenly. If not for any other reason then to convince himself Crosshair was really back. That Crosshair was really real. And so, calling out the name of the man, Hunter dared to break the blessed moment.
“Cross?”
“Yes, Hunter?”
The coarse sleep filled croak was his only answer, as Crosshair did not open his eyes.
A smile emerged onto Hunter’s lips. The plethora of emotions filling him in a gush of like a flood. All of them good, caring and loving. Having his partner by his side where he belonged was a treat, a privilege even Hunter had not expected to happen any time soon. Perhaps, never. But here Hunter was sleeping right beside Crosshair like so many times in their shared past.
“Crosshair…”
Hunter’s tone a whisper still while beckoning for the sniper to open his eyes. Knowing he wasn’t sleeping anymore, rather stuck between the moment of dream and becoming awake.
“I love you.”
Crosshair still with his eyes closed, but then reaching out with his hand, searching for Hunter. The extended sleep warm hand quickly but gently grabbed before tucked tight against Hunter’s chest, covered with his own equally warm one.
“I’ve missed you Cross. A lot.”
Hunter wanted to tell Crosshair everything. How he had felt when Crosshair had left for the Empire, when they had fought in between. The angst, the yearning, everything Hunter had endured while missing for his partner to be by his side. But the words had been difficult. The few ‘I am sorries’ and “glad to have you backs’ uttered was the most they had managed. For now at least.
“So you have said, repeatedly.”
A soft snort followed the statement.
Crosshair did not mind Hunter telling him how much he had missed Crosshair. Nor the fact that he too was sorry for what had expired between them. Not to mention the I love yous, mostly not spoken, but understood between them. Yet sometimes, the words needed to be spelled out. Just because.
There was a moment of silence hanging between them once again until Hunter broke it.
“I love you.”
“I know.”
Hunter really loved this, slightly changed version of Crosshair. Not really as snarky as before even if the clear bite was still present there. The snide attitude. But now, the more caring, feeling and perhaps nurturing version having come out ever since Crosshair and Omega’s return. The softer side of the sniper Hunter remembered seeing only when they were very young. And Hunter felt he loved Crosshair more now than before.
It was a small miracle to have Crosshair back, that much Hunter knew to be true. But that they had managed to parse the gap between them so quickly was certainly something Hunter had not dared to hope nor expected to happen. But he wasn’t complaining about that either. Too much time already having been wasted. And for what? Misunderstandings, wrong doings, jealousy and the Empire certainly had not helped any.
Crosshair was a changed man that much was true. For the better was also a plus. But most of all, Hunter had not put any conditions in his prayers and wishes when praying to the Force before Crosshair was still with the enemy. As Hunter had only wanted his sniper back in whatever form he could. Even if it would have meant for the two of them never to get back together again. Thankfully though, his wishes had been over exceeded if anything.
As here Crosshair was, sleeping right beside him, in his arms where he belonged.
Their lovemaking having been slow and gentle, taking their time this time around. Their very first time together since their reunion. The couple having reacquainted with each other first and foremost. Learning their lover’s bodies all over again. It wasn’t usually like this with the two of them, but Hunter was really glad of the change of pace, having been slow and less hurried despite the hunger and passion having still been there.
"So, no I love you back then?”
Crosshair let out another chuckle, the sniper clearly not sleeping any more.
“If I said it, would you let me go back to sleep?”
Hunter reached out to Crosshair’s face with his free hand, drawing light circles across the sniper’s face with his finger tips. Ever so gently tracing all the familiar planes.
Crosshair’s face crinkled slightly, Hunter’s touch still new but also familiar. Alas Crosshair wasn’t complaining either.
Their touches having grown frequent if light ever since visiting Barton-4. Until they had ended up kissing rather heatedly in the supply closet and then moving on from there to sleeping in each other’s arms every single night. That was all before this night. Having realised they wanted and needed more from the other after all.
Suddenly, Crosshair’s eyes flew open, his perma-stare aimed at Hunter. But there was no malice, no annoyance present there, only love, that much Hunter could see. Crosshair finally giving Hunter his answer.
“I love you too, Hunter.”
Hunter swallowed audibly. The words having been spoken before, true. But the impact of them nowhere near as much as Hunter could have imagined them to be right now in this moment. Even if the two of them had talked, a lot. Well, compared to the before. Crosshair really not the most talkative of the bunch, that much was true. Still, there was something Hunter wanted to know still, despite the confession.
“Will you promise me you will stay now? With us, with me? For good?”
Crosshair looked surprised, not really having thought about it too much. Him only wanting to settle in with Hunter and the others after everything. As this was Crosshair’s place, his family, his home. But guess Crosshair really was sure after all.
“I will promise you, Hunter.”
Crosshair leaned closer in to his partner. His lips finding Hunter’s, sealing the deal with a kiss filled with hope and more importantly, promise. A promise of forever and a day.