? ~PROJECT SAC-1~ ??

It's been a kriffing sucky week, so I decided to post one of my completed chapters and look forward to any comments as a pick me up <3

🚫Trigger Warning, but not really, it shouldn't be a trigger warning... actually this is more like a squeamish warning ig but it shouldn't be either: We're gonna be discussing periods in this chapter, ya'll. If you are squeamish about periods, or anything beyond the usual cramps, comical mood swings and weird chocolate cravings media often only portrays, then you don't have to read :) I don't get 'graphic' tho, I promise 🚫

So here it is: Part 1 of the most requested one-shot/chapter I've had since I started this story a year ago

I hope I do you all proud :3

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(DAY 64 w/ THE BAD BATCH - CORUSCANT)

There was one thing that continued to nag at Hunter for weeks and weeks until he finally found the bravery to say something, and he carefully selected the words which would set the record straight once and for all.

Tonight, he was given the perfect opportunity to do so in private, seeing Talla plod into the kitchen around midnight when everyone else was asleep except for him, obviously. He rose from the couch, and wiped his sweaty palms on his pants. 'I can have a serious conversation with Talla about how I feel and not chicken out.' 😤 Was part one of his mini pep talk. With pushed-back shoulders and head held high Hunter marched into the kitchen, Talla no doubt getting a midnight snack. 'I can say something the right way instead of the wrong way that destroys her self-confidence or will to live.' 😮‍💨

In hindsight, he should have found it strange Talla went to bed so early in the first place, instead of offering to be his motivational cheerleader when he started and ended up finishing this last mission's Mission Report all on his own, the very reason he was up so late. This tedious ritual had become one of their things to do together. Hunter sensed Talla was feeling down when bidding a quiet goodnight to them all except Wrecker (out with Skylar), and while he knew her tendency to not say anything that would inconvenience someone, there were times she preferred to be alone like they all did. It was assumed this was one of those times based on the fact that she liked being out here, with people, during the day. She hated being shut up by herself her room.

'I do like the quiet sometimes, I just don't like being alone,' Talla mentioned once when questioned on it.

It was a rare occurrence indeed that the most social butterfly of the group holed herself up in her lonely room before 7 pm, when the sun was still dimly lighting up the planet of Coruscant. But Hunter didn't think anything of the strange situation at the time, assuming she'd open up about it in her own time like usual.

When entering the kitchen, however, the hunched and visibly miserable Agent was snapping the cap off a beer bottle. She guzzled down a third of it down in one go, and snatched the remaining sixpack off the counter with her free hand. Hunter's determination morphed to a concerned frown. "What's wrong?"

Trying not to cough, Talla's face puckered in discomfort as she swallowed the burning mouthful of alcohol, voice hoarse when answering, "Can't sleep."

She cleared her tingling throat, and Hunter firstly assumed, "Nightmares?"

And she had to clear it again. 'Son of a bantha, this is definitely not a Coruscant Cooler.' And yet she was planning on finishing this blasted six pack. "No." Was her clipped deny.