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Tech closed his eyes and leaned back, listening to the noise of the bar, it was all horribly loud. He listened to Wrecker successfully seduce some random civilian man, to Hunter order a new round for the table, to Crosshair grumbling and heading to the bathroom, and finally to Echo nervously trying, and failing, to exit a conversation with some other clones. Tech rubbed his temples before standing from the booth and making his way outside 79’s. He found a wall and leaned on it before closing his eyes and sliding down to sit with his knees pulled to his chest.
It had been two weeks since Echo had joined the batch, and while he was adjusting well, Tech was not. The change was sudden and drastic, and worse of all, he hadn’t been asked if he was fine with it. Of course, as most things went in war, he didn’t have a say, yet he had assumed that he’d have a say on his own team… apparently not. Furthermore, Echo joining meant he brought along a habit from the 501st that Tech was not particularly fond of… partying. He was broken from his thought by someone resting a hand on his shoulder, he groaned.
“I am not interested in whatever activities you may desire, regardless of how attractive you perceive yourself.”
“Vod, I’m a clone too, plus I don’t even swing that way, I’m damn flattered though.”
Tech’s eyes flung open to see Kix already beginning to cackle, the technician couldn’t help but start to chuckle as well. He was so used to civilians being horribly intrigued by him and the rest of the Bad Batch, he had admittedly forgotten 79’s was a clone bar at its core.
“Why aren’t you in there with the rest of your squad? Get tired of being the item of all the civvy’s, admiration?”
Kix gave him an eyebrow wiggle, leading Tech to push him away with an eyeroll.
“It is not that, I am simply needing a break from the noise.”
“And you didn’t put on that fancy sound cancelling helmet? I don’t buy it. Either tell me what’s got you so upset or go back and have a round with me.”
Tech visibly cringed at the idea of going back inside with his squad, all the civilians cooing and fawning over their batch, and their newest member seemingly undecided whether he was loving the attention or hating it. Tech finally sighed and looked at Kix between slit fingers.
“I am simply missing the days before my squad began this partying habit.”
“Wanna tell me more?”
“Do you not have patents to tend to?”
Tech was slightly growing annoyed with Kix’s ever persistent nosiness of his life.
“Nah, they don’t need me till’ they stumble out that door wasted, I’ve got time. Sides’ I was told you were a yapper, so yap.”
Tech finally sighed and gave in, he raised his goggles to the top of his head, the goggles themselves nestling perfectly in his hairline, making Kix chuckle to himself. Tech finally opened his now squinted eyes before leaning on his knee to look in Kix’s general direction -too blind to actually see him. Tech began retelling stories from the batch’s younger days, Kix listening enthusiastically.
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Five months earlier, The Havoc Marauder needed a fuel refill, Tech was checking star maps in an attempt to determine the best planet to stop at. They needed one that was either neutral or sided with the Republic, yet there was only one like that, and he knew Crosshair would hate it. He sighed and set the course, flipped on auto pilot and walked away from the console to find Hunter. He finally found the sergeant studying battle plans in his bunk.
“Hunter, may I have a word?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah sure what’s up Tech?”
“We need to refill the Marauder’s fuel reserves.”
“Okay? So, land her and refill. What’s the issue?”
Tech sighed before turning his datapad to Hunter, the sergeant’s eyes growing wide with dread. Tech mumbled out what he knew his sergeant had just read.
“The closest neutral planet is Orto Plutonia…”
“…A snowy planet”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Kark, Crosshair’s gonna flip.”
“That is my mindset precisely.”
While none of the batch necessarily knew why, Crosshair had always hated snow. Even when they were cadets and Kamino would snow, he would simply ball up in their barracks with every blanket he could find and virtually hibernate until the snow would stop. Hunter sighed and shrugged.
“Well, best to get his snow gear ready anyway.”
After a bit more discussion, Tech’s datapad buzzed, notifying him that it was time to prepare for landing. He walked to the main ship and then the cockpit, leaving Hunter to prepare things for the landing, he hoped his sergeant would also prep the sniper as well, yet he knew deep down he wasn’t so lucky. Tech sat down in the pilot’s seat and began landing procedures, there wasn’t any weather occurring on the surface making for more or less, a gentle landing.
As they touched down on the soft ground, Crosshair emerged from his bunk, his hair a ruffled mess from oversleeping. He stumbled his way into the ‘fresher and looked in the mirror, silver curls framing his face meet his view as he growled and rummaged for one of Hunter’s spare bandanas before emerging with a growl.
“I sure hope this planet has a hair cutter on it, otherwise I’m buzzing this osik off.”
“Good morning to you too sunshine, you may want that longer hair for this planet.”
Hunter replied nonchalant, he knew what was in store, yet didn’t want to be the bearer of bad news… Crosshair would be fine… most likely. Crosshair tilted his head and walked a bit closer to Hunter.
“Why… would I need this hot shebs mop on my head? I don’t even know how you deal with yours.”
“Lots of time and care Cross…”
“Don’t we all know it? You take karkin’ hours in the ‘fresher.”
Hunter chuckled to himself before finally deciding to bite the bullet, he was the sergeant, it’d be best for Crosshair to get mad with him rather than Tech or Wrecker. He sucked in a breath before shoving the sniper’s winter gear at him, Crosshair’s light brown eyes darting wide.
“Why did… you hand me this… Hunter I swear to maker…”
“Dress warm Cross, we need fuel and Orto Plutonia was the closet neutral planet.”
He patted the sniper on the shoulder before skittering off and plopping down next to Tech in the cockpit.
“How did he receive the news of our location?”
“Not sure…”
“You ran away to allow me to deal with it, didn’t you?”
“Whaaaat nooooooo…”
Tech rolled his eyes before sliding out of the seat.
“You and Wrecker go ahead and find the fuel station; I will stay with Crosshair for a moment.”
Much to Tech’s annoyance, the two allotted exit, quickly evacuated the ship, leaving him to deal with Crosshair alone. He sighed and made his way around the Marauder in search for the now hiding sniper, unfortunately for Tech, a skill Crosshair is adept at. He sighed as he opened his datapad and plugged a scomp into a nearby port, unfortunately for Crosshair, Tech knew this ship and it’s diagnostics by heart. His datapad soon made a sound, announcing an anomaly in the far-left wall of the cargo hull, he smirked to himself and followed the signal, soon finding a loose panel -that he made a note to repair at a later date- and slid it open, to find Crosshair curled into a ball.
“Are you planning to hide here for the remainder of the time we are stationed here?”
“That’s the plan, now leave.”
Tech scoffed at the attempted command, he took a small pen blade he had and sliced a small cut on Crosshair’s hand, making him hiss.
“What the kriff is your problem Tech!?”
“You are now injured, thus as the teams medic as well as technician I currently outrank you, now come with me.”
“That was crooked.”
Despite the protest, Crosshair crawled out of his hole and followed Tech back into the main ship, pouting as the technician wrapped his hand in batca soaked gauze. After Tech finished, he put on his helmet, tossed Crosshair’s at him and made his way to the main door before opening it.
“I believe you should come with me.”
“Outside? Absolutely not.”
“Crosshair, do you truly believe that I would allow something to happen to you in your vulnerable state?”
Tech smirked and gestured to Crosshair’s hand, the sniper finally chuckling and giving in and plopping his helmet on.
“Fine, but if I freeze, I’m haunting your shebs.”
“I am willing to take such a risk.”
And with that, Tech led Crosshair down the ramp, the latter pausing just before his boots hit the snow, Tech smiled, knelt down, and picked up some of the fluffy substance. He then offered it to Crosshair, the sniper stepping back slightly before Tech plopped the snow in his hand.
“There is nothing to be afraid of, it is simply a collection of ice crystals, you are properly dress and thus are safe. Crosshair, I will never allow you to be hurt in the snow. As long as I am with you, this I will guarantee.”
Crosshair looked at Tech for a moment before smiling softly, soon transforming into a devious grin.
“You shouldn’t let your guard down around a sniper, Tech!”
Before balling up the snow and chunking it directly at Tech’s helmet, the technician blinking for a few moments before grinning and returning fire, hitting Crosshair Square in the faceplate
“Nor should you Crosshair, you are aware you are not the only sniper on Clone Force 99 afterall.”
And with that the young clones devolved into giggles and snowballs.
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As Tech finished his story, he was startled to hear Kix burst out laughing before wheezing out.
“I had no idea Crosshair was afraid of the snow! That’s karking hilarious Tech!”
Kix wheezed a bit more before being hit in the face with a snowball, he shook his head to see none other than Crosshair himself standing there, smirking. Tech chuckled as his batchmate spoke.
“He forgot the bit of me demolishing him at that snowball battle, I have no qualms destroying a reg too!”
And with that, both Tech and Kix scrambled out of Crosshair’s line of fire, soon both enhanced clones targeting the 501st medic, and not long after that, all clones in the area had joined in the battle; all enjoying a break of pure innocent fun before their next assignments.