Pinetree-tbb - PineTree - Tumblr Blog

^w^ always happy to help

I have decided that in the centaur AU the elk, deer and other horned animals based taurs will have horns and antlers. I have made myself a 3D horns reference for the drawings to keep them consistent: have Crosshair and Mayday with their amazing crowns

The idea was pushed to the surface by @pinetree-tbb

I am so happy and thank you all for reading >w<

Part 3 of Crosshair first days in the Pabu Sea Sanctuary

Once again written by the lovely @pinetree-tbb send them love!

Part 1 | Part 2

"Echo, I don't know." Phee said to the mer, but he just typed quickly on the pad wich voiced out,

"I. Do." while Fives nodded along. "Can. Get. Through. I. Know." He looked at her with a determined look.

"He's been in this hole for two days now Echo, he will starve." Kix said and crossed his arms.

"More. Time. Please." The pad voiced. Phee and Kix looked at eachother, than back at the twins.

"You better be right about this Echo." Kix said and handed him the bucket of fish standing next to him. He quickly signed a few 'Thank you's with his one hand while scooting towards the bucked. He picked out a few good looking fish, threw one towards his brother, who gladly bit into it, shoved the other under his arm and dived back into the water happily, Fives coming right after him.

"Hold this" Echo said and shoved the fish into Five's arms, then picked a bit of seaweed, took food again and wrapped them together quickly. "Come on, this time he'll eat, I can feel it!"

"What's your plan vod?"

"You'll stay at a distance and I will try to talk to him."

"I'm not gonna leave you alone with him, what if he attacks you?"

"I'm planning to not get to that point, I believe he won't do anything if I won't invade his personal space." Fives let out a small grunt.

"And why do I have to stay behind?" Echo smiled, not wanting his brother to worry.

"Because I hope that seeing only one individual will make him less hostile, plus I don't look like much of a threat." Fives gave him a worried expression

"Fine. But I will stay close."

"That's okay, just stay hidden." Fives nodded, still not looking all that convinced, and gave him the other fish and swam away to hide nearby.

Echo took a breath and swam to their new friend. Arriving at the stone pile, the one armed mer put the other few fish behind a rock and secured them, then repeated his steps. Laying down the food, putting a stone on them so they won't float away, poking a hole through the sand in the entrance and swimming away. He didn't leave this time though, instead he sat down on top of the rocks and waited. He heard shifting and soon after, the pile of sand began to move. Echo heard a low growl, then saw the tip of a tail flick the two fish away.

"You can eat them, they are for you." He heard nothing. "Don't worry, they are just normal fish." Echo slowly swam down towards the fish and picked them back up and moved towards the hole. He couldn't really see inside but saw two glowing eyes reflecting the sunlight. "See?" he bit a chunk out of one of the fish and held it out towards him "Just fish."

Echo smiled and put the food in the entrance and gave the kid a bit of space. No movement from inside, so he swam up again and pushed the fish into the hole, watched as it sank down, and backed off again. After a moment the fish was flicked out again, and Echo felt a little flush of frustration but also pity.

"Come on buddy, I know you are hungry..." Once again he swam closer, picked up the fish and ate it, looking into the hole. "See? Not poisoned."

"Go. Away." The curled up teen finally spoke, spooking Echo with his raspy and weak voice. The beta mer froze for a second, but gathered himself quickly and decided to start building their mutual trust and relationship.

"Only if you eat something." Echo said not intimidated, took a bite out of another fish and let it sink into the hole. The eel mer just grumbled and the fish came back. "Look. I'm trying to help you, okay? If you don't eat soon you will die, and then what?" Echo said and let out compassionate little whistles. "Please... I don't want you to die."

"Why do you care?" Came out from the hole with another hiss.

"Why shouldn't I?"

"You are just a human pet that for some reason cares for a random mer who really doesn't want or NEED helping"

"You're kidding right?" Echo shook his head confused "Phee, Kix, Riyo and all the others, brought you here and treated your wounds because helping someone in need is the right thing to do. We are not their pets, me and my brother, we’re their friends."

"Where is he?" The kid hissed.

"What?"

"Your brother."

"He's... around. I figured you would feel comfortable with only one of us talking to you." Silence. "Look, it looks like you've been through a lot and you don't trust anything at the moment. But you can trust us. You don't have to right away but I want you to know that you can. "We only want you to be safe, and most of all to be alive." He placed the fish in front of the hole again. "Please, eat it. We don't want you to starve, and you won’t be able to leave without regaining some strength."

There were a few more minutes of silence, then Echo saw a white hand gingerly reaching out of the hole, taking the fish and pulling it back in. Echo smiled.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

Crosshair checked the fish carefully. This mer bit into it and ate the other one, so it was most likely safe to eat? He already wanted to throw the fish out again when his stomach ached painfully.

In the end he took a little bite out of it, and the taste was better than he remembered! He ripped out a bigger chunk of the fish and let out a desperate groan which he couldn't hold back. The food was gone in seconds.

"You want more?" the same voice came from the outside, and Crosshair wriggled closer to the entrance

"You... got more?" He asked hesitantly. He would probably throw all of it up soon enough, but the feeling of a full stomach was too tempting.

"Sure do." The betta mer turned around and reached behind a rock, returning with a handful of fish. Crosshair felt a tingle on the back of his neck and his tail twitched impatiently. The guy came closer and placed two fish before the hole and swam back to his rock. The teen waited until he settled down again, then reached out to get the food. He gladly munched down on them, all gone in a moment.

"I still got a few." Crosshair peeked outside, the mer held another fish in his one hand. This time he did not leave them alone, instead he sat in front of the pile and waited. Crosshair hesitated, he knew the betta was trying to lure him out. "You can have them all, you just have to get them." The mer murmured, not even twitching suggesting if he was willing to back off or lounge once Crosshair swam closer. "I'll stay here, don't worry." As if his words meant anything.

Crosshair thought for a moment to stay put, but his hunger got the better of him. He slowly, very slowly, came out of his hideout, eyes fixed on the mer, who just smiled at him. It was the first time he actually looked at the older mer, and was shocked to see that his tail was made out of a milky white material and wire, wrapping around the stump that must have been cut or removed. On his lower stomach and sides of head sat round pieces of metal, seemingly fused with his flesh. His right arm was also missing above the elbow. What could have happened if this betta survived such an awful accident? Did the humans above the water do it to him? Or did they save him, giving him a new tail and a safe place to live?

Hesitantly, Crosshair reached for the one fish, stuffed it in his mouth, took the other and quickly retreated back.

"Still got two left." The mer said and placed them at the same spot at the others. Crosshair came out again and reached for the first fish. "My name is Echo." He froze. "My brother is called Fives." Crosshair, back underneath the rocks, took a bite out of the fish.

"I'm-" he swallowed "I'm called Crosshair." He grumbled with full mouth.

"Pleasure to meet you Crosshair. We'll bring you more food later." Echo looked absolutely ecstatic and swam away, moving weirdly with the fake tail. Crosshair watched him waringly, then let out a relieved sigh. Finally having something in his stomach Cross yawned, the pleasant fullness making him tired. He rolled himself up and settled in the soft sand. Maybe he could trust this Echo... Only maybe, enough to know he wouldn’t bite or poison him. With that he closed his eyes and fell asleep.

I am so happy with what you created Pine, and can’t show my gratitude enough for this amazing piece of work!

Crosshair’s first day in the Pabu Sea Sanctuary part 2

Part 1

Once again written by the amazing @pinetree-tbb

Crosshair did not realize that he let out quiet whines and high pitched whistles while asleep. He didn’t realize he was sobbing. All he knew was that he was in pain

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

"You shouldn't have grabbed him so hard." Echo told his brother.

"Well, I couldn't just let him go over, you saw how hurt he is."

"He slammed right into the edge of the wall!"

"Not so loud!" Fives hissed "If he finds out we are here, he's probably never gonna rest!" The twins sat at the far end of the pond, hiding behind a few plants, looking to the stones where the eel mer burrowed himself under.

"All I'm saying is, that you could have been a bit gentler..."

"... sorry." From where they hid, they could hear the painful little whines from their new friend, Echo feeling a deep sorrow for him. "Come on, let's talk to the others." Fives chirped and with a few strokes of their tails they broke the water surface, Phee, Kix and Riyo already waiting.

"Hey boys" Phee greeted them and knelt down in the sand "He is still in the pool, right?" They nodded, sitting up in the water and Fives moved his hands to talk

'He burrowed himself under a pile of rocks at the bottom... He's hurt... very hurt.' The humans looked into the water.

"We have to get him to eat somehow..." Kix mumbled "He’s very thin, if he doesn't gain weight again soon, he will die of starvation and malnutrition. And I really don’t want to forcefully sedate him for an IV or feeding tube."

"I don't think he's gonna accept the food we provide, he seems very stubborn." Riyo noted.

"Idea." Echo's synthesizer suddenly voiced out. They all looked at him, he just smiled back and pushed the device again, which voiced out another "Idea."

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

Crosshair passed out after a while and fell into a dreamless sleep. When he awoke again he could smell something delicious. It was early morning, the sky only starting to brighten, and the eel mer tasted the water again. It was mostly tinged with the metallic scent of his own blood, but under it he smelled something different... something... tempting. A bit of sunlight shone through a tiny hole by the entrance of his burrow. He dug a bit of sand away to have a look at the outside of his hideout. As his eyes adjusted to the light he saw that, at an arm's length away from where he was curled up, sat two fish wrapped together in seaweed and with a stone attached on top to weigh them down.

He felt a stabbing pain in his stomach, but resisted the urge to go out and take it. It was obviously a trap, in which the humans probably put something in to make him lose consciousness or strength to recapture him. So Crosshair only narrowed his eyes, put his ears back and withdrew, shoving the sand up to close the hole again.

After a while, he didn't know if it had been minutes or hours, the smell of fresh fish filled the water again and he looked up. There was a hole in the sand with daylight shining through it. Which was weird, he knew he covered the entrance fully. Someone must have made that hole, which means that he was not alone in the pool. Crosshair moved, hissing slightly as the pain rushed through his entire body with every motion, removed a handful of sand and peeked outside.

There was another pair of fish next to the ones before, the new ones floating much closer to his burrow than the previous ones, but he just shoved the sand back up. With the painful growls of his stomach he fell asleep to wake up when the sun was already setting. He did not feel any better after rest, no, his wounds felt like they were stinged by a jellyfish and then alcohol was rubbed on them. He felt so nauseous he would probably throw up if his stomach wasn’t empty already. When he was finally able to open his eyes he noticed that once again, there was a tiny hole in the entrance of his hideout under the rocks.

Crosshair dragged his body to the opening to look outside again and saw a third pair of fish, directly in front of him. He was hungry, very hungry. He did not know how long he hadn't been eating. But he won't even touch this. With a quick flick of his tail he pushed the fish away and covered the entrance again. He had to get out of here, he had to find his brothers, he had to make a plan... But his pain and hunger woudln’t let him think straight.

Crosshair hadn’t slept the whole night, feeling the agony of his sunburned back and sand filled cuts. The scent of freshly killed fish didn’t help either, tempting and baiting him. He let out a huff, he was so hungry… He put his cheek on the blissfully cold rocks and continued to drift in and out of consciousness.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

"He still won't eat them." Crosshair shot up startled, eyes fixed on the entrance, when did someone get so close without him noticing?! He heard more clicking and whistling, two separate voices.

"He probably thinks it's poisoned or something."

"You think this is gonna work Echo?" The voices swam nearer and Crosshair pressed himself in the back of his hole, his burns and cuts stinging by the movement.

"I know it will," He saw a clawed finger stick through the entrance, leaving behind a little hole, the morning light shining through. Was it morning already? "Just give him time." After that, the voices disappeared, outside quiet once again. Crosshair peeked out again and sure there they were, directly before the hole. Two fish wrapped in seaweed, weighed down with a stone. He considered for a moment, but then turned his back and shoved the sand up again with his tail.

Part 3

okie dokie, I've never done this before but let' give it a shot :D

Given the fact that Crosshair missed not one, but two shots and how Shep and Lyana managed to sneak up on Crosshair like that, it indicates that something is, wrong with him. Hunter isn't sure what but Crosshair is... different, from before. Though Hunter isn't sure if that's a good thing or not. After watching how Crosshair sat down the bowl and went back to shooting, Hunter decided to leave him be. He noticed how Cross stepped away from his rifle when he put it down, obviously showing to him that he won't hurt the two. For now, at least.

The last part of my last written one shot when I was brainstorming, thinking about Crosshair being on Pabu for the first time.

I tag @squad-724 because I don't have any other friends on tumblr and @the-stage-manager because I like their fic -Sun-Kissed really much (from wich I desperately wait for chapter three to come out xDP)

Last line challenge!!!

Hemlock hummed a calm melody as he fastened the restraints around his head, neck, arms, legs and chest, softly moving his gloved hand over the worse injuries, delighted as the CX’s muscles trembled. Even reconditioned to not flinch under the heaviest torture, his elite troopers reacted that was to the gentlest of his touches.

My 2AM writing is sounding tasty

Guess what's going on (it's a new AU I've been getting ready for whumptober)

Tagging @clownery-and-fuckery @floundrickthewayfarer @pinetree-tbb @electrikworm

I could post more if anyone's interested >:]

This is gold xD

I am so happy to be a part of this, and so glad that you liked my idea @squad-724.

:""D Thank you <3

Behold! More mer batch! Part 1 out of 3

Crossshair’s first day in the Pabu Sea Sanctuary

Warning for blood and heavy skin burns

This time with a snippet provided by @pinetree-tbb who did an unbelievably fantastic job at writing this three parter!

Crosshair woke up slowly, taking a few deep breaths and letting the cool water flow through his gills. He felt weird, like something was missing. Did his brothers let him oversleep? He made a small move to straighten out his tail, a sudden jolt of pain waking him up instantly.

With a gasp he raised up, eyes open and watching the room around him. He wasn’t on the ship deck anymore, but it didn’t look like underneath it either.

No, the room was stationary and clean. The lights were all turned off, but a smell of antiseptic and medicine lingered in the air. Instead of wet wood he was curled up in a sort of small pool with a weird aftertaste to it, fresh instead of salty. The last thing he remembered clearly was Hunter reaching for him while the imperial humans tossed him overboard into the ocean, the face of the man who tortured him and took his brothers. He had to find them!

He pushed himself up on his skeletally thin arms that almost gave up under his weight to look around. The pond he was placed in was below the floor level, covered under a dome made of a construction similar to lobster trap, but much bigger. Crosshair narrowed his eyes and went underwater again, then he looked at himself. The net was gone and was replaced with bandages in all the places the nylon broke through his skin and scales. All the wounds got dressed, but because of the wet environment the blood was still flowing, although slowly. Mer blood clots much quicker than human.

It would have to do. With one wave of his tail he was at the wall of the pool and trying to haul himself up to reach the metal bars that covered his prison. It took him a few tries, but he was able to hang on one of his elbows and rest before trying to reach the locking mechanism. Unfortunately that’s when the doors to the room opened and the outside illuminated the room. Crosshair hissed, shielded his eyes from the sudden light, dropped back into the pond and retreated into the opposite side of the pond.

"Well look who’s up, Kix! He's awake!" A female voice rang out as she entered the room and looked through the metal bars, dim light burned now and Crosshair could see the shape of a human, distorted by the water. He flicked his tail and bared his teeth as a warning.

"I think he's in a bad mood." She said to the man coming up to her, much taller and wearing a white coat. "Let's leave him alone for a bit longer to get used to the medical pond, then we can see if we can communicate in some way." He noted and with that the humans walked out, leaving the room in the darkness once more.

If they think they can just keep him here, they have another thing coming! Crosshair waited for a while after they left, then went to the edge of the pond again. He pushed himself out of the water. With the same technique as the previous attempt he hung off of his good elbow and pushed the lock of the metal dome open. It took some effort but he was able to drag his whole tail up and through the newly opened hatch.

With a wet flop he landed on the cold ground and hissed in pain, then propped himself up on his once again bleeding arms and crawl-slithered to the door. He tried the handle but it refused to open. Frustrated, he scratched at the door frame, leaving behind a few marks. After a few deep breaths he looked around but there was nothing else in the room. He growled, flicking the tip of his tail in annoyance. He had to get out of there. But how?

The only ones that knew how to open the doors were- the humans! The same ones that had a weird obsession with fixing his wounds. He now had a plan.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

Kix decided to come back in an hour, long enough for their new friend to get more comfortable with the pond and the room. He asked Phee to bring the soundboard, courtesy of the twin in providing sound samples of common phrases in the mer language for arrivals that did not know English. They hoped the eel friend did not come from afar, or the dialect could prove different enough for the tablet to become useless. He did not know of any pod, neither having a territory nor traveling through nearby, with similar features as the new patient.

However, all of his positive approach popped like a balloon when he turned on the lights of the emergency pool room, his horrified gasp making Riyo and Phee rush in too. The eel mer was floating unmoving on the surface of the water, face down.

“Oh no, is he?-” The pink haired woman didn’t get to finish her question before the doctor rushed towards the pool, the latch undone in one good yank and the man rushing to the mer. If it happened recently they still had the chance to help him.

His state was dire but non life threatening, did the starvation make the blood loss so much severe-

His colleague ran a step behind him, ready to assist. Phee stayed out while the two adults raised the patient out of the water, Kix lowering his head to listen for heartbeat.

Fast. Very fast. Same as breath. The eel mer wasn’t unconscious. He was waiting.

Before Kix could run the mer opened his eyes, and with a yelp the doctor was pushed underwater by his long, white tail. Bloodied water rushed into his nose and mouth.

As he choked, Riyo was faced with a snarling mer, blocking his leap towards her neck with her arm. With a strong shake he pushed her to the side and slithered towards the open latch of the pool.

"Don't- cough- let him out!" Kix called, Phee rushed the door, unfortunately not fast enough to outrun the mer, who pushed her to the ground and smashed his shoulder to fully open them. He let out a painful hiss but did not slow after pushing and crawl-slithered out of the room.

"Oisk!" Kix cursed and ran after him, Riyo close behind, grasping her bleeding arm. Phee jumped up to her feet and followed.

"Let's herd him to the Twins!" She called after them.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

He was out! It worked! Now he just had to get out of the building! Crosshair crawl-slithered as quickly as he could, biting down the groans which wanted to come out of him with every move. He didn't know where to go but he kept moving and hissing when someone got into his way. Crosshair heard his blood rushing in his ears and heart beating against his ribcage.

There! That must be the door to go outside! It was a glass door with two wings, fragile, so he threw himself at it trying to make it shatter. He growled and looked around for something heavy but when he turned around he saw the man from before in front of him, holding his hands up, coming slowly closer.

"Easy boy easy, we want to help you."

'Help? Yeah, not falling for that you fishhead!' Crosshair thought. He drew his shoulders up in a threatening manner and let out a deep slow hiss, flicking his tail in. He pushed against the glass behind him, trying to get it to open.

"Easy. Stay calm." The man whispered and came closer.

"I don't think he can understand you Kix." The short, pink haired woman beside him noted.

"Well, I hope he understands my tone and body language."

'Well you obviously don't!' Cross thought and slammed his tail against the glass, letting out another growl. The Kix guy took another step closer and Crosshair lashed out at him with his claws, which made him step back again.

"We have to get him secured before he hurts himself more." The dark skinned woman said, putting a hand on the man's shoulder. When his eyes moved to look at the gesture Crosshair spotted a chair to his left, so he slowly edged closer to it, without looking at it to give away his intention. He just stared down the man, the biggest danger in his current situation. When the chair was within reach he grabbed one of its legs and swung it behind him at the door, the glass shattering into a thousand tiny shards and rattling to the ground. Crosshair turned and rushed through the broken door, ignoring the pain as the pieces pierced his body.

"After him!" He heard the man call behind him but he kept crawling. The rocky concrete under him scrabbed up his hands and tail, and he felt the bandages around his body come loose. A quick look confirmed that his motions on the ground roughed up the bandages and made them tear apart. He had to get into the water. It was noon and the sun was burning from the peak of its travel across the sky, Crosshair running on the fumes of adrenaline, but he couldn’t give up now, he had to go back and find his brothers!

He sniffed the air, his nose filled with the metallic scent of his own blood, but underneath it he was able to smell the salty water of the ocean, in which direction he slithered towards.

Suddenly, a shape blocked his path, the man from the inside, this time a blanket in his hands. Crosshair made a sharp turn, avoiding the piece of cloth as it was thrown towards him, but not slowing down even for a moment, even as the burning concrete ripped a few of his scales. He made another dodge, this time to the left as the pink haired woman made her attempt at blinding him with her blanket.

He ignored the shout made by the man, sounding weirdly delighted, to finally see the shimmer of his destination, water! With a few more pushes forwards he reached the sand and then the blessed ocean. He was out!

FInally able to open his gills he took a deep inhale, letting the cold water flow through them as he swam further away from the humans.

Cross felt a sense of triumph, managing to escape from that place and darted through the currents, but then was abruptly stopped when he slammed into an invisible, no, glass, wall in front of him.

What?! No! No nO NO!!! He swam up to the surface, looking at the wall in disbelief. He turned around and saw the people from before at the beach and realized what they had done. Now it made sense what they wanted with the blankets! They shepherd him into this pond!

Crosshair growled deeply and looked back at the wall, he could easily jump over this. So he dived deeper and rushed upwards gaining speed. In his horror as he sprung out of the water he felt something grip his tail, instantly losing momentum for the jump. Crosshair slammed into the upper edge of the wall, crying out in pain. He tried to hold onto it, but slipped and fell back into the water. He looked around but could not find the reason for his failure of escape, so he quickly tried a second time, but he used up all of his strength he had in the first jump. He slammed into the wall, slipping back down, leaving claw marks on the clear surface. He tried another jump but the adrenaline that kept him going the past few minutes began to wear off, leaving him behind tired and exhausted.

As he slumped back into the water he just went limp and let himself sink. He watched as the surface became more distant and fogged with the slowly seeping blood from the wounds he reopened and obtained in the last few minutes. He looked at his hands, scratched up from the concrete ground and missing two claws which he must have ripped out while climbing. He watched his blood come out of his wounds, mixing with the water in tiny swirls. He was hurt, and tired, he didn't know what to do... He fought to keep his eyes open, but unconsciousness called to claim him...

No. Not here, not out in the open.

Slowly he flipped his tail to make himself turn around and look, spotting a few rocks at the bottom of the pond, in between the sand, corals and seaweed. He inspected it to see if there was enough space, then started to dig. Every move hurt, but he refused to stay out in the open like that. He made himself a hollow in the sand under the rocks and got in, and with his tail he pushed the overstanding sand back to the entrance to make it smaller. With his hand he shoved more ground up to close the entrance and his little shelter turned dark. Crosshair wrapped his long tail around himself and settled down. The hole wasn't big, but that made him feel safer... for now... The sand he laid on was soft, much softer than the sand in the open waters, so he burrowed a bit in with a few wiggles. Now, laying there in his burrow, Crosshair began feeling everything that hit him today. The pain of his wounds has doubled, each and every scab and missing scale sending jolts of stabbing pain. The blood finally stopped flowing when he stayed still, but now the sand got into the cuts caused by the net, and stung horrifically. He was scared. Alone, for the first time since his original pod abandoned him. He wanted Ninety Nine. And Hunter, Tech and Wrecker. He wanted to go back home to the bay. He wanted… to… sleep…

Part 2 coming soon

WWOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! YEAH BABY!!!!!

ghost agents . 'Jump back into Hyperspace Stories and find your allies when Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories: The Bad Batch: Ghost Agents #1 (of 5) lands in comic shops on January 15, 2025. '

darkhorse.com

THE "BAD BATCH" IS UP FOR ANOTHER MISSION IN "HYPERSPACE STORIES"

Set off for another harrowing mission with Hunter, Wrecker, Crosshair and Tech in their first solo comic mini-series, new from Dark Horse an

🥹🥹🥹

Crosshair learning that that betta mer doesn’t in fact want to eat him

It was… Nice.

At first the way Crosshair would force himself onto the two mers was to see where was the boundary; how much he would get away with before the adults would decide that the he was to be put in his place lower in the hierarchy, most likely by force. But for some reason it never happened.

Crosshair could take the food first, even seconds before their claws touched it, and the two bettas didn’t seem to mind, even smiling when he would hurriedly shove it into his mouth.

They didn’t hiss or bite him if he took the best basking spot, or hoard those floating mats to nap that he knew Echo always used if he was too tired to swim. But neither he or his fully able brother ever tried to get it back.

It was frustrating, trying to finally get them to act, to show where Crosshair’s place was, that they were in charge-

And never getting any pushback. Fives never tried to hurt him after the first time the teen was introduced to them and attacked Echo. Looks like this was the only way to find out how these adults would punish him for acting out of line.

It was a warm afternoon, Echo floating in the pool without his prosthetic tail, taking a nap underwater. Crosshair began slowly swimming up to the handicapped twin, his skin and scales still aching from the wounds caused by the net and sun three weeks back.

He knew Echo was aware of his approach, cause the betta opened his eyes to look at him with some sort of curiosity. If it was anyone from Crosshair’s pod, they would already bite his ears for interrupting their nap. But this one didn’t, instead he unwrapped his one remaining arm from his torso and… waited?

The eel mer slowly swam closer, until he was almost up to the betta’s face. He could wrap around him, drag him to the bottom of the pool, bite into his neck gills and force Fives to finally show what would happen to an unruly teen that didn’t know his place-

A quiet, low tune reached Crosshair’s ears, and immediately made him relax. His ears, flattened to the sides of his head until now, were now spread out and moving. Muscles of his back and tail, previously tense and ready to strike relaxed, so the mer teen started to sink to the bottom until his head hit the betta’s scarred chest. His eyes were heavy, and he realized how tired he was from all the stressing around the two adults in the same pool. He looked up to see a soft smile on Echo’s face as he hummed the song.

„Kid, did your mum never sing you the lullaby?” Crosshair tiredly shook his head, his left arms reaching out and instead of sinking his claws into the adult’s neck, it curled under the eel mer’s head to work like a pillow.

He fell asleep immediately.

The one way I cope with it is writing emotional storys regarding this topic for my ori'vod, myself and others :")

The other way is hoping that they saved all emotions and feels to give us Tales Of The Clones where we get to see all that was not shown on screen.

Like how the F Crosshair survived 32 Rotations on a platform in the middle of the ocean!

The interactions Tech and Phee had offscreen.

TBB as cadets!!!

The first time Cody met Obi-Wan, or Rex meeting Anakin

Fives and Echo being Fives and Echo!

Feel free to add things here!

Another way TBB S3 was disappointing to me: Crosshair's redemption arc goes into how loyalty is one of his big motivators, yet Tech's loyalty to him when he insisted they go after Crosshair and subsequently was lost on that same mission is NOT ONCE BROUGHT UP.

The number of ways the emotional impact of Tech's death is just flat out ignored is really grating to me and it's why I struggle to enjoy the season at all. Not even just his absence--though ofc that sucks too--but that his absence is only felt as a series of missing skills and in random asides. Where's Crosshair feeling especially raw over the fact that the moment Tech knew Cross was still loyal to them he was ready to come and fetch him, and died trying?

Never not going to be bitter about all the emotional beats which were thoroughly and completely ignored.

Every now and then I suddenly remember the fact that TBB gave us the beginnings of a sweet romance between a woman of colour and an openly autistic man and then they killed one of them

"Precautioned Recording"

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3

( tissue warning, because I made myself cry writing this )

- late evening on Pabu, a day after the events on Tantiss -

[ sits up in the tree on Pabu, listening to Tech's recording again ]

- You will be there for him, right?

[ slight audible outrage ] Of course I will, he's my brother. Di'kut head he is but he's my brother. [ calmer ] But, come on, he won't come to me, he doesn't even really like me.

Oh he does. I even think he was the first one to like you when we rescued you.

[ softly ] calling me out ey?

Oisk.

No. Just watch him. He's not much of a talker but his body language speaks sentences.

...

Don't worry, you'll get the hang of reading him eventually. [ audible smile ]

Well, guess he did managed that eventually. [ smiles ]

Right... The recording is still going.

Oh, right. End supplemental.

[ short static noise ]

[ leanes back at the trunk, lowering the datapad in his lap, closing his eyes ]

[ another short static noise ]

... Second supplemental...

[ confused, looks at datapad again ]

[ slowly and hesitantly ] Right... If you are hearing this Crosshair, that means that you deserted the Empire and decided to come back to live with us...

Well, obviously that's the reason...

[ a bit mumbly ] But, I suppose there could me other ways that managed you to gain access to this file again, [ quickly ] but I doubt it.

[ takes datapad in "both hands", looks at it ]

The reason why you are listening to this recording again is probably because you are having another panic attack and we are not around to help you, though given the fact that the war is over now and we have a rather calm live here on Pabu, I suppose you just listened to it for old times sake and hear me ramble...

[ sit's up more, listening carefully ]

But I suppose the many people on Pabu might overwhelmed you a bit and you just need some alone time.

Or there is another reason why you listen to it, could be, I can't look into the future. [ sighes ] Gaah that's beside the point...

[ rusteling from the audiofeed, sounds of scratching (like scratching the back of the neck) Tech sighes again ]

What I want to tell you... what I fail at terribly to say [ scoffs slightly ]

Is... that we don't blame you... After everything...

I am not...

And I know you, I know that when you regret something that you will go down this... Self destructive hole, where you believe that you're not worth it, where you believe that you deserve to be punished.

Don't try to deny it. It happened more times than I want to admit... [ takes a breath ]

[ softly ] But it's not true. It's not, true Crosshair. You are worth it and you deserve to be happy and save. You deserve to be loved, wich I do, we all do brother.

[ begins to tear up ]

You are one of us... You are my little brother, whether you like to hear it or not. I'm not angry at you because of the things you've done, you... weren't really yourself... You were made believe things and wasn't able to see... well [ sarcastically ] the big picture...

[ takes a shaky breath, whisperes ] Tech...

I... I hope the reason why you are listening to this is just because you came home and pressed play for old times sake...

And/or you need to have some time alone... [ sighes ]

... Just... [ softly ] please, remember. That you can still talk to us. All of us. Even Omega, she would love to be around you, I just know it.

[ softly sobbing laugh ] You were right on this one...[ sniffs ]

And if you don't want to talk with any of us, then that is okay too. You can talk to Phee. She will listen and understand. She will give you advice when she can and would later on tell you that the conversation didn't happen.

She's a good person. Kind [ audible smile ] and nice to be around...

[ amused ] Someone's in love?

[ clears throat ] You can wipe that oisk eating grin off your face.

[ smiles, sadly laughes ]

... Please don't cut yourself off. We are all still here for you Crosshair. You are not alone anymore and will never be again...

I won't let it happen...

Talk to us and stay with us... You're gonna be okay...

I Love you Crosshair... We all do... And always will...

[ sounds of someone coming up the ramp of the Marauder in the distance ]

[ audible smile ] Tech, come on, food get's cold.

I'll be right there Omega.

Copy that [ runs off again ]

[ inhales deeply ]

[ chuckles softly ]

I... I hope you came back. And if you did...

Welcome home brother... [ audible smile ]

End second supplemental.

[ short static noise, recording ends ]

[ let's out sobbing gasp which he suppressed, sniffs, looks up into the stars ]

I am... I am home now... And I will stay...

[ tears ran down Cross's face but he smiles into the stars ]

I love you too brother... And I miss you- [ voice cracks at the end, sniffes ]

But- [ wipes nose with his wrist, sniffs ] I'm sure we'll meet again... [ smiles, wipes away tears ]

[ sad but happy laugh ]

Some day... [ inhales ]

Some day... we will all be together again... [ smiles into the star enlightened sky ]

"Precautioned Recording"

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3

[ short static noise ]

Crosshair

[ finally looks up ]

If you hear this recording that means that we got into a situation where you are having a panic attack during a mission where we have to stay radio silent.

[ voices begin to sound clearer again ]

I told you I would record this for you in case we would get in a situation like this. So don't worry, you are going to be okay, just listen to my voice.

Now, what we are going to do, is that I will give you instructions to calm down and help ground yourself and you are going to follow these instructions step by step.

First thing we are going to do, is do the so called 5 5 5 Rule. You breathe in for 5 sec, hold it for 5 and then let it out for 5 sec. Ready?

Breathe in. 1...2...3...4...5.

[ moving his hand slowly up infront of his chest and breathes in ]

[ inhales shakily ]

Hold it. 1...2...3...4...5.

[ holds breath ]

Now let it out. 1...2...3...4...5....

[ slowly lowering his hand again, breathing out ]

[ exhales shakily ]

You're doing great brother. Again, okay? Breathe in. 1...2...3...4...5.

[ moves hand up again and breathes in ]

[ inhales a bit steadyer ]

Hold it. 1...2...3...4...5.

[ holds breath again ]

And, let it out 1...2...3...4...5.

[ moves hand down again and breathes out ]

[ exhales a bit steadyer ]

And one more time. Breathe in.

1...2...3...4...5...

[ inhales stady ]

[ moves hand up again ]

Hold. 1...2...3...4...5.

[ holds breath a last time ]

And breathe out. 1...2...3...4... and 5.

[ moves hand down ]

[ exhales calmly ]

Okay. Now that we calmed you down, hopefully, we now do the 3 3 3 rule. It's where we you look around and identify 3 objects, when you found them you find 3 different sounds after that I want you to move 3 seperate body parts of your liking. This technique is meant to help you ground yourself and focus on the present. After all, it is not the place that is bothering you, it is the thought.

Good. Now look around and look for the first object. Say it out loud...

[ looks around and to the side ] Batcher...

[ Batcher turnes head ]

Now, look for a second and call it out...

[ looks at Hunter again ] Hunter...

[ quietly ] So I'm an object now?

[ little smirk ]

And the third...

... the datapad...

Good. Now onto the sounds, though you may look for three scents as well when you can't hear anything at the moment.

Okay, sound or scent number one...

[ Batcher huffs ]

[ sniffs ] Batcher's breath.

[ chuckles low and smiles ]

Sound or scent number two...

Cold dust... I guess...

And, sound or scent number three...

Hunter's sweat.

[ raises eyebrow ]

Now onto the body parts, move anything you like, lift your arm or your leg, wiggle your toe or shake your hands. On my count.

Part one...

[ lift's right foot, drops it again ]

Part two...

[ lifts left arm, lowering it again ]

And part three...

[ moves head slightly side to side ]

Excellent. Now take a deep breath again.

[ breathes deeply ]

[ relieved ]

Listen to me, Crosshair.

You are not alone brother, Hunter, Wrecker and I will always be there for you. Wrecker will gladly cuddle the living oisk out of you if you ask him to give you a hug, but he will also be kind enough to not do it when you feel bad and will just give you one where he won't crush you.

Hunter will always be there if you want or need to talk. And I will be there for you if you just want to sit and do nothing while listen to me ramble. We got your back brother.

[ looks longingly at the datapad ]

Now, hold tight and stay calm, we're soon be together again and if you feel like you're gonna panic again, just relisten to this recording.

End recording.

[ short static noise ]

[ another short static noise ]

Supplemental.

About the 'always be there' part. I am certain that Echo will be there for you too. Even if he is rather new to our squad, he is a loyal member of it.

He's been with us only for a few weeks but in those weeks he has proven himself to be honorable and showed that he is willing to do whatever is necessary to protect the ones at his side. Think about it, I belive Echo would be glad to see that you trust him, actions speak louder than words and I know you're not much of a talker, unless you want to talk oisk, so show him your trust.

He'll figure it out.

[ at a distance ] Tech! Come on we gotta go!

On my way.

[ footsteps ]

[ nearer now ] What were you doing anyway? Sitting on a rock in the meadow.

I was recording.

[ audible smile ] What this time? The birds?

No. I made a supplemental to one of my recordings for Crosshair.

Okay?

[ explaining ] I recorded something he can listen to to help him ground himself if he ever finds himself in a stressful situation where there's no one of us around to help him.

Oh... [ audible realize ]

And I just added that you will be there for him too if he seeks comfort.

...

You will be there for him, right?

[ slight audible outrage ] Of course I will, he's my brother. Di'kut head he is but he's my brother. [ calmer ] But, come on, he won't come to me, he doesn't even really like me.

Oh he does. I even think he was the first one to like you when we rescued you.

Oisk.

No. Just watch him. He's not much of a talker but his body language speaks sentences.

...

Don't worry, you'll get the hang of reading him eventually. [ audible smile ]

Right... The recording is still going.

Oh, right.

End supplemental.

[ short static noise ]

[ presses stop ]

... I... I forgot he did this for me...

[ Batcher nudges Cross with her snout ]

[ pet's her gently ]

Well, you know Tech. Always making precautions... [ taps on datapad ]

Mmm... [ tearing up ] ... Hunter, I'm not a spy, I'm not... Please you have to believe me [ whimperes slightly ]

Hey hey [ put's hand on shoulder ] I believe you, Wrecker and Omega do too, we know you're on our side.

Thank you... [ breathes relieved ]

Feeling better?

A bit...

Good...

[ sniffs ]

Come on. [ hands back helmet ] let's go back.

[ takes helmet, breathes again ] Right...

[ helps Crosshair up ]

[ puts helmet on ] ... thank you Hunter.

[ nods ]

[ all three head back to the others ]

[ back with the others ]

Good, now let's keep moving. ( Rex )

[ hand's Crosshair his rifle ]

[ quietly, putting a hand on Crosshair's arm ] Are you okay?

[ nods ]

[ they all kept moving ]

- later on Echo's ship -

[ comes up to Crosshair in the bunkroom ] Here.

[ turnes around ]

[ pushes Tech's datapad in Crosshair's hand ] Keep it for now.

[ looks at the datapad ] ... Thanks... [ looks up at Hunter, smiles slightly ]

[ smiles back softly, nods slightly, leaves bunkroom ]

[ sit's down on bunk, brushes thumb over the datapad ]

"Precautioned Recording"

Something I came up with while having some alone time at work. I thought about panic attacks, what happenes, what the person goes through and ways to help.

I recently became addicted to The Magnus Archives and Protocol and it gave me the idea to write it like a script ( also because I plan to do a comic or animate it some day )

( TMA is a Podcast distributed by Rusty Quill, a really good Horror Podcast written by Jonathan Sims and directed by Alexander J Newall, if you like horror and good story telling I can only recommend listening to it! )

So, this is taking place in S3 Ep7. The Batch and the others are in the tunnels to flee, and I thought, what if the encounter with the CX-1 trooper triggered something in Crosshair wich resulted in a panic attack later.

I'm gonna cut it into parts tho, and thx to my ori'vod for helping me naming this <3

So yeah, hold your tissiues ready and enjoy part one :D

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3

Hunter Tech Wrecker Crosshair Echo Omega Other

- in the tunnels -

[ slightly shaking, trying to hide it ]

[ Batcher whines quietly at Cross ]

[ notices too, moves to put a hand on his shoulder but is interrupted by Howzer stepping between them ]

Alright! [ shoves him back, ripping Crosshair's helmet off of his head ]

Hey!

[ drops rifle, backs of scared ]

Howzer! ( Rex )

What did he ment by asking you?! What are you not telling us?! [ Howzer pushes Crosshair against the wall ]

[ grunts by the impact with the wall ]

[ Batcher barks outraged ]

Spit it out!!! ( Howzer )

[ breathes heavily, pressing his eyes shut ]

Hey!! [ grabs Howzer by the collar of his back and picks him up ] Back. Off!! [ let's him down, shoves him away, put's himself infront of Cross ]

It's all his fault! He's feeding them information! ( Howzer )

No! No he's not! He changed! [ stepps up beside Wrecker ] He's on our side!

Oh yeah? Then how- (Howzer)

[ voices seem muffled like being underwater breathes heavily, pressed up against the wall, a hand on his chest, trying to calm himself. flashes of Tantiss come up, the torture, the pain, the cold... the lonely, whimperes ]

-Huh? Why that?! Enlighten me! ( Howzer )

He did nothing! It's not his fault!!

Back off Howzer! You have no idea what you are talking about! [ stepps up beside Omega ]

He's a traitor! [ points at Crosshair ]

[ lifts arm up to shield Cross more and hide him behind him ]

[ can't seem to calm down, begins to panic ]

[ looks at Crosshair worried ]

[ Batcher growles at Howzer ]

[ voices still muffled, hears blood rushing and his heart pounding in his ears, breathing becomes hoarse ]

Everyone stand down! ( Rex )

[ can't take it anymore, runs off, just wanting to get away ]

[ Batcher runs after ]

Crosshair? Crosshair! [ wants to go after too ]

[ holds her back ] Let him go.

Running off to feed them new informations huh?! ( Howzer )

[ shoves Howzer back ] Listen here! You don't know anything about him, nor what he's been through! So back the hell off, now!!

[ Howzer steps back intimidated ]

Now. [ steps up to Omega, opening her backpack, shuffles through it ] I'm going after him and bring him back so we can finally get out of here.

[ quietly ] What's with him?

[ sights ] He's having a panic attack. [ pulls out Tech's datapad ] Wait here. [ picks up Crosshair's helmet, runns off ]

[ put's a hand on Omega's shoulder ]

[ everyone looks after Hunter running after Crosshair ]

[ runs down the tunnel, stumbles and falls, groaning by the impact with the ground, gets up again and keeps running ]

[ Batcher trotting beside him, looking up at him ]

[ falls again, panting, crawls to the side, presses himself in a gap in the wall, head in his hands, balls up ]

[ Batcher whines ]

[ runs down the hall, falling into a jog after seeing Batcher in the distance ]

[ Batcher looks up at Hunter after he comes closer to them ]

[ calmly ] Crosshair?

[ whimperes ]

Crosshair it's okay [ kneeles down ]

[ still whimpering and gasping ]

[ types through datapad ] You're gonna be okay Crosshair...

[ sobbs slightly ]

[ finds wanted record ] Here, just listen, okay? [ presses play, hold's datapad up infront of him ]

Something which also confirms this is the one interaction between Tech and a Reg on Kamino when they arrive after the events on Kaller.

Hunter: "Not just the clones on Kaller, all the Regs are acting strange."

Tech: "Let's test that theory. Excuse me, trooper what division are you from-?"

Reg: "Step aside."

Tech: "Oh. Well they seem the same to me."

'They seem the same to me' Which tells me that the Regs had always rejected them, pushed them around and treated them badly

I am demanding a "Tales of the Clones" Series where we get one or two episodes with TBB as cadets! >:P

When we are first introduced to Clone Force 99 in The Clone Wars, the "regs" make several notes from the get-go of the fact that these commandos are different ("They're clones? They don't look like clones"), but the open animosity starts with Crosshair (Wrecker backs him up, but Hunter and Tech seem more inclined to try keeping the peace). So it would be easy to assume that any issues between CF99 and the regs started with CF99.

But then, in "Aftermath," Tech (one of those who didn't cause any issues with the regs in the intro story, I'll say again) is genuinely surprised by Omega's choice to stay with them in the mess hall, and says:

"You WANT to sit with us? That's never happened before."

And given that Tech isn't one for exaggeration or misrepresenting the facts, I'm inclined to take Tech's word for it that none of the regs ever wanted or made any effort to openly associate with his squad.

Now, I love the regs too, and I'm not saying all the regs went out of their way to pick fights with the Bad Batch when growing up on Kamino; but being ignored and passively dismissed can be very hurtful, especially when it occurs your entire life.

All this to say that I am convinced Crosshair's superiority complex was a defensive reaction to being shunned by (most of) the other clones his entire life, rather than this complex being the original cause of the Bad Batch's friction with the regs.

Also really speaks highly of Cody's and Rex's characters that they have the honor of being regs the Bad Batch actually like.

┬─┬ノ( º _ ºノ)

┻━┻ ︵╰(°□°╰)

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH!!!

Crosshair Mer Anon, 👋, just dropping in to see if you have any more art for us?

Also, is he out of that net yet?

Crosshair got a hand in getting out of the net from a fisherman that found him on the shore

After finally finding out how to post stuff here:

For all TBB fans, my first ever posted work on AO3

Omega being a big sister to a scared and traumatized Crosshair after escaping Tantiss with Batcher.

A few one-shots I have written a while ago, where I recently finished the last chapter of it, for one of @summer-of-bad-batch week 10 prompt: Hugs

happy reading :D

Finally found out how to reblog here xD

And there's another fic?! NICE!!

Here is the link to my fanfic >w<

Summer of Bad Batch

Week 1/Alt. Prompt: “It’s not what you think.”

Tech: It’s not what you think

Phee: It's exactly what you think

@summer-of-bad-batch UPD!: Awesome @pinetree-tbb wrote a fic inspared by this art :D Сheck this out: Not what you think! by PineeTree99 on AO3 UPD2: Another fic from @clone-protection-agency! Weeeee!!!