Let Me Save You
Crosshair couldn’t say for sure when he had fallen in love with (Y/N). One moment she had joined his small squad and the next she was the only one whom really had any effect on him. Through every mission during the war his thoughts went to her, always asking himself if she was safe. Always telling himself he had to stay focused to ensure nothing happened to her or his brothers. He always found himself looking forward to the scout missions, knowing he’d be paired with her for hours on end, he’d have an excuse to be near her, to talk and feel her warmth as she got closer to him. He’s lost count how many times his heart betrayed him and skipped a beat, how many times Hunter had looked at him with that look.
Yet he also knew all of it was in the past. He never acted on his feelings and the pair of them had been separated in the cruel twist of fate. His brothers had left him on Kamino, forgotten about him in the midst of their adventures across the galaxy. Yet he hadn’t forgotten them or (Y/N). She was somewhere else, somewhere he knew his brothers wouldn’t go. Although she had survived the purge, she had been injured, the troopers to have found (Y/N) had took pity and allowed her to live. The high ranking Imperial officials had allowed her to live also, although they had quickly imprisoned her. First on Kamino but she had been moved to a more secure facility afterwards. A place only Imperials could go.
He’d often thought about (Y/N). Hell he’d been to Daro a few times, each time resisting the urge to visit her. He’d convinced himself she would hate him, after all he had essentially done to her what his brothers did to him. He’d abandoned her, even if it was against his own will. Yet he hadn’t forgotten about her, often did his thoughts drift to (Y/N) during his quiet moments, the moments were he wished things could have been different. Where he wished he have been with her that day, he wished he had acted on his feelings instead of accepting the friendship she offered him. If Crosshair concentrated hard enough, he could still feel her gentle touch burning against his skin, he could still hear her softly spoken words echoing in his ears, as if she were next to him, as if she were standing before him.
Before he really knew it, he’d decided his next trip to Daro, he’d visit her. He’d give her the answers to her many unanswered questions, he’d remind her of the times they’d spend together. In the very moment he knew he wouldn’t abandon (Y/N) again, he wouldn’t ignore her or purposely forget about her. He wouldn’t do to (Y/N) what his brothers had thrust far done to him. He would fight for her, he’d do what he had to to ensure she was with him, even if he was in the cell with her as a prisoner. All he wanted was (Y/N), to tell her the truth on his unspoken love for her, to let the words he held back for so long escape from his lips, to allow his golden gaze to find her again.
His next trip to Daro, he did as he planned. During his own time he found out where (Y/N) was located, unsurprising to she had been locked away in a cell, like a relic of the past she had become. The red ray shields doing little to bother her, if anything it brought her comfort knowing something stood between her and the new TK recruits. When Crosshair found her cell, she’d been asleep. He would’ve stood their for hours watching you, like he’d done on the Marauder during the war. Yet he found himself reaching for the controls, deactivating the ray shield stopping him from reaching her. She was peaceful but he could tell she’d been through hell and back. Her hair was a mess, several bruises scattered her skin, some accompanied by scratches. All in different stages of healing. Yet he also noticed burn marks, likely from the torture she’d been through during interrogation.
Without really thinking Crosshair reached out to (Y/N), running his curled fingers down her cheek with softness. Yet he noticed quickly she’d likely be too weak to really do anything. He’d been too scared to read the reports on the interrogations. Yet now he’d seen her, he found he was more angry at his brothers. They didn’t just abandon him, but (Y/N) as well, they’d forgotten about her too, left her to your fate without even considering she’d survived the purge. Yet still he couldn’t bring himself to hate them. Just as he knew she wouldn’t truly hate him as he had convinced himself.
“Crosshair” (Y/N) weakly whisper, her dull eyes on him, yet no hatred or judgement shone in them as he had once been pretty convinced would be there. Instead only gentleness and relief shone brightly, her gentleness from seeing someone she knew, whom had willing come to her without the intention to hurt her further. Yet the relief to finally have the answer to her question of what happened to him. Her eyes soon locked on to the burn to the side of his head, as if it hit her, he was there of his own will rather than being controlled as so many clones were.
“I’m here ner runi” whispered Crosshair, finding himself pulling (Y/N) up into a seated position. The need to care for her overtaking him, just as he felt the need to kill those whom had done this to her. As if on cue, he was met with Rampart at the cell door, yet he seemed calmer than normal, as if he knew eventually the Commander would find (Y/N), as if he knew he would eventually look for her. The Admiral stepped into the cell, his eyes locked on the pair as he did so, as if he expected Crosshair to draw his weapon in her defense.
“I was wondering how long it would take you to realize the Jedi was here” started Rampart, as if all of it was some kind of game to test Crosshair. Yet his expression was surprisingly calm, in his hands was a med kit, something that confused Crosshair, as his arms wound tightly around (Y/N), as if to offer protection from anyone else who wished harm. “Now you’ve found her, you’re free to take her to your quarters, but she’s your responsibility” announced the Admiral before placing the med kit down and walking away as if nothing happened. Crosshair could only looked to (Y/N), pulling her closer to himself, feeling her warmth and tears against the crook of his neck.
Yet as Crosshair, truly looked her over, he could see how pale she was, how she had been starved and tortured. Just how thin and weak she’d become. A far cry from the strong willed woman she’d been during the war. He could see she had long since given up on being free, or at least believed her only true freedom would be death. The sniper found himself reach over to the med kit, leaning (Y/N) against the paneled wall behind her. He wanted her to live and hope again, he wanted to look after her, he wanted to share his love with her, he just wanted her in general. She hadn’t abandoned him or betrayed him, instead she had in a similar situation to him. Where someone else decided her fate.
“Let me save you, ner kar’taylir darasuum” whispered Crosshair, as if he didn’t want anyone else to hear his words. As if he wanted to keep her a secret from the other imperials. Just as he had kept his love for his brothers a secret. As he picked her up to leave the cell, he felt as if his missing piece had been found, as if this was where he was meant to be. (Y/N) in his arms, her head resting in the crook of his neck. He maybe apart of the empire, but that had brought him closer to (Y/N) again. His brothers had willingly chosen their path, it was time he chosen his. “Ni gaanader gar” hummed Crosshair as he left the cell she’d been locked away in for far too long. As he walked toward a possible future with her.
A/N - Mando translations below.
Ner Runi = My Soul
Ner kar’taylir darasuum = My Love/ My Eternal
Ni gaanader gar = I choose you
