Scales, Claws, And Other Signs Of Fatherhood
a little while back, i said that i'd like to write a crossover between my SW Dragon Batch AU and Canon, so this is a little test for that! If you like this, and would like to see more, please let me know! I'd love an excuse to write baby 'mega again.
The last soft, orange-tinted rays of dying light were just beginning to dip behind Corruscant's horizon as the members of Clone Force 99 sauntered out of their beloved ship, the Havoc Marauder. The enhanced clones had been invited out to 79's by one of their reg brothers, Commander Cody, a rare treat and one that they were eager to take their ori'vod up on. Tech, especially, was thrilled that he was going to have the opportunity to meet General Anakin Skywalker face to face. According to Cody, the 212th's general had heard about their exploits, and had mentioned them to his former Padawan. Apparently, the man had been very impressed, and had specifically asked to go be introduced the next time they were both planetside.
As they exited the ship hanger, the batch was greeted by the familiar faces of their brothers, Rex and Cody, as well as someone they'd only seen on holos or from a distance.
"General Skywalker," Hunter greeted, extending a hand, "It's nice to finally meet you."
"You must be Hunter. It's nice to meet you too." the Jedi replied with a smile, "Please, just call me Anakin. We're all equals here!"
The two men shook hands, and something in the air shifted.
A full-body shiver wracked Anakin's body, and his face scrunched in confusion as the Force surged with some unknown feeling. Even the clones, who were not in tune with the Force, felt a prickle of unnatural energy rush through them, the hairs on the back of their necks standing on end.
"General, what's-!" Rex started, but was cut off by a blinding explosion of light. The air crackled with energy, and all of the men flinched as their ears popped unexpectedly, their bodies becoming overwhelmed by a feeling of pins and needles that infected every muscle, leaving them unable to hold themselves upright.
Then, as quickly as it had come, the feeling dissipated.
Hunter managed to right himself first, groaning as he pushed himself up onto his knees. To his left, he heard something shift, a new heartbeat joining the six he already heard, not counting his own. It was slower than their racing pulses, yet it was slowly getting faster, like someone rousing from a deep sleep. Forcing his eyes open, the clone Sergeant turned his head.
Tech lay on the ground before him, his signature goggles missing from his face. He was dressed in a casual black shirt and dark gray pants, and he had a small, cream-coloured blanket strewn across his shoulder.
Hunter blinked, shook his head slightly, then glanced over his shoulder at the spot where his brother should be.
Tech was stirring from his place on the ground, still clad in his armor with his goggles firmly in place over his eyes.
"Ooough... I think I hit my head. 'm seein' double" Wrecker croaked, running a hand across his face. Hunter stiffened at the realisation that it was not just him that could see the Other Tech. General Skywalker, Cody and Rex were also up now, all three staring at the newcomer with saucer-wide eyes.
"You're not the only one." Crosshair hissed, reaching for his spare blaster.
The Other Tech shifted again, his nose wrinkling in irritation. It was an expression Hunter knew exceedingly well, having seen it time and time again on his batchmate's face.
"Wrecker, Crosshair, if you two wake Omega, I'll skin you both." the Other Tech grumbled sleepily, no real malice to his tired voice.
The sniper and demolition expert gave each other wide-eyed stares, before looking to their leader for some kind of advice or plan. Hunter, for his part, gave them an equally confused face.
"Tech?" he tried carefully.
"Yes?" twin voices replied to his gruff voice, something that caused both clones to become alert at last.
Tech and Other Tech nearly mirrored each other in the way they sat up, eyes wide and filled with equal parts curiosity and caution. Their heads tilted in sync.
"Fascinating." they spoke in perfect harmony, something that made both of them start in surprise.
Other Tech broke the parroting first, squinting at his counterpart first, before letting his gaze flick to the rest of the group, his mouth setting in a tight line. "Hmm, I don't suppose I'm lucky enough that this is all some kind of elaborate dream or hallucination?"
"Uh, no?" Anakin managed out, still recovering from the effect of feeling reality rip itself apart and stitch itself back together all around him.
Other Tech sighed. "I thought not. You're all too young for that to make much sense."
Once those words had been spoken, Hunter realised that Other Tech did look older than his vod'ika. He had the beginnings of a few laugh lines, and there was a look in his eye that spoke of wisdom his counterpart had yet to gain. Questions swirled in his mind, but one stood out among all the rest.
"Who's Omega?"
Other Tech stared at him for a moment, before shaking himself.
"Ah, yes, I had almost forgotten that there had been a time before we had a daughter. I suppose you wouldn't recognise her-"
Hunter's brain had nearly short-circuited at the word daughter, but he quickly pulled himself together as he watched his older-younger brother's face go from sleepy and fond to panic-stricken as he touched the blanket on his shoulder. Instantly, Other Tech was on his feet, whirling around as he searched for something, or, rather, someone that he clearly believed should be there.
"Oh Gods, not again." his voice cracked dangerously, his breath hitching in panic.
Hunter forced his legs to work, his elder batchmate instincts kicking in. He knew the signs that Tech was about to have a panic attack, and it seemed as though time had not changed them. Around him, his vode pulled themselves out of their shock and stood as well, not knowing exactly what they should do in this situation. Tech, especially, seemed lost, mouthing the word 'daughter' to himself in disbelief.
"Hey, vod, breathe. It's okay, we're okay, and you're okay." Hunter soothed, "I'm going to put my hand on your shoulder, is that okay?"
Instead of the jerky nod or head shake he was used to, Other Tech whipped around and snarled at him, his teeth fang-like and wicked sharp as he bared them. His pupils had narrowed into slits, and Hunter could see glittering grey scales beginning to dot his brother's face.
"It is not okay!" he snapped, and Hunter stumbled back a few steps as a pair of wings suddenly formed on the other clone's back, leathery and tipped with ivory claws.
There was real anger in Other Tech's voice, but what Hunter really heard was fear, raw and almost palpable. The sudden turn that this already bizarre situation had taken made Hunter feel afraid too, not that he'd ever admit it.
It must have shown on his face, however, because Other Tech stepped back, his pupils rounding out again as he drew his wings in close to his body.
"I- I apologise. You have no way of understanding the situation I have just come from, but that does not give me the right to bare my teeth at you." he said, sounding genuinely sorry.
"WHAT THE KRIFF ARE THOSE?!" Wrecker shouted, having put himself between Crosshair and Tech, who were, like everyone else, staring at the two new appendages that had just sprouted from the other man's back.
Other Tech blinked at the question, before slowly extending a wing towards the group, one eyebrow raised. "My... wing? Wrecker, are you feeling alright?"
"Why do you have wings?" Cody barked, causing the other to shrink back at his 'I'm so done with this banthashit' tone of voice.
"Why do I- is that meant to be some kind of joke? I'm afraid I'm not the best with humour." Other Tech frowned. "We all have wings, I am not the exception here."
Hunter swallowed hard, stepping towards this strange, otherworldly version of his little brother. "Actually, vod, you are."
Other Tech stared at him, eyes wide.
"You- you're just human? All of you?!"
"Yes?" Hunter replied, becoming more and more convinced he was the one hallucinating by the second.
"What else would we be?" Anakin asked.
Other Tech looked at everyone, eyes searching for some kind of lie, some hint that they were all joking. When he found one, he exhaled hard, pinching the space between his eyes before speaking.
"Dragon shifters. Where I'm from, we're all dragon shifters."
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Angstpril 2024
Hi everyone!
It’s that time of year again! We are excited to announce that we are hosting the event again this year!
All prompts, FAQs and rules can be found in the graphics and below the cut!
Prompts:
1. homesick
2. frozen
3. broken-hearted
4. longing
5. rise from the ashes
6. this isn’t going to work
7. bad dreams
8. lost battle
9. trust issues
10. phantom pain
11. no way out
12. a little too late
13. learning the truth
14. surrender
15. confrontation
16. cry for help
17. last chance
18. left behind
19. trembling
20. broken
21. faking a smile
22. drained
23. swept away
24. the ghost of you
25. cold shoulder
26. grief
27. panicked
28. never see you again
29. betrayal
30. the last time
Alt Prompts:
1. troubled mind
2. not strong enough
3. you were never mine
4. the night we met
5. mental scars
6. miscommunication
7. jealousy
8.rock and a hard place
9. emotionally distant
10. paranoid
Rules
All posted content must be your original content. The use of AI for creation of any kind is prohibited.
All tags must be utilized in order to be reblogged. NOTE: the mods are human beings, so not all works will automatically be reblogged, even if all tagging is correct.
Any art form is acceptable, including original writing, gif sets and fan art.
FAQs
“Do I have to create for all thirty days?”
- Not at all! Feel free to jump in whenever you’d like. This is a creation event, so create as much or as little as you want! However, if you want to be entered in the shout out post, you must participate in all 30 days.
“Can I post a creation after the day has already passed?”
- Yes! You’re welcome to post for a prompt day even after the date, just be sure to tag with which day and prompt you’ve created for! You will only be eligibile for the shoutout post if you complete all 30 days within the month of April.
“What if I don’t understand/like a prompt?”
- We have a list of 10 alt prompts for you to choose from if you don’t like the main 30. Feel free to use our alternate prompts for any day, and if there’s any confusion send us an ask!
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