Trust the Cloak

"i'm a writer!!" i shout when someone uses my laptop and it's on a page of stab wound references

[trickthecloak]

Throwback

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11583177/1/My-Mare-Blaze Throwback to that fic I wrote a long time ago, in which: Gilan is cheerful, Old Bob is impressed, Halt is sulky, and Blaze (at least in Gilan’s eyes XD) becomes a horse Mary-Sue.

[trickthecloak]

Because I am incapable of writing any other genre...

[trickthecloak]

theme day 3: taunting/insults

"What's that shrimp doing here? Did he lose his nanny?"

The four senior cadets in front of him guffawed, and Gilan felt his stomach sink like a stone in water. He had been attending private training sessions with MacNeil for weeks now, and the swordsmaster had just barely decided to allow Gilan to join into the group sessions. Given the fact that he was only eleven, MacNeil had been hesitant to pit him with the older boys; a viewpoint that had changed as the man realized Gilan's obvious natural knack for the weapon. Group work was an important part of learning, MacNeil said, so here Gilan was.

"He's the Battlemaster's kid, remember? I'm sure so many strings were pulled to get him here."

"It's not fair; we all worked hard to get to train with MacNeil, and he just gets to waltz in because of who is father is?"

"Must be nice."

Well. Here Gilan was, but he suddenly was wishing he was anywhere but. Tears threatened to prick the corners of his eyes, which he hurriedly blinked away as MacNeil called the cadets to attention.

"Cadets!" MacNeil boomed, making them all flinch slightly. "We have a new student joining us - Gilan. I expect you all to help him learn how things work in our group classes."

MacNeil continued, but Gilan only had ears for the smirk intoned, hushed remark from the cadet in front of him.

"I'll show him how we do things... with my drill sword."

The cadet's friend snickered.

Gilan's mind stalled. He could already envision himself getting thrashed by these bigger, older boys, their laughter filling the air as they loomed over his humiliated form. His father asking, "How was class?", and Gilan answering with an unenthusiastic "It was fine."

Gilan could practically hear his father's voice ringing in his head: "You have to apply yourself, Gilan! You'll get as much out as you put forth."

"-lan!"

The boy came back to himself with a jolt, finding MacNeil's unamused eyes bearing on him. "Sir?" he asked in a shrill voice, wanting nothing more than to shrivel up and die. If he were dead, at least he wouldn't be able to hear the quiet snuffles of laughter around him.

"Quiet, cadets!" MacNeil barked roughly, before addressing Gilan directly. "I said, Cadet Gilan, that you will be paired with Cadet Conrad today. Pay attention next time, understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good. Break apart!"

Gilan gave a nervous swallow as he found himself face to face with none other than the smirk-happy cadet from earlier. "Hello," he said punily, feeling himself shrink as the other boy glared at him.

"Alright, twig. Let's start from the top. This," Conrad said mockingly, as if he were talking to a very small child, "is a drill sword. You hold this end, the handle, see? You don't hold the pointy end." Taking the drill sword that Gilan held loosely in his hand, Conrad tested the balance, his eyebrows raising in surpise.

"Huh. The balance on this thing is incredible. I bet Daddy got it for you, huh? Of course, good balance is only useful if you can actually use a sword in the first place. A bit of a waste of a nice sword."

The last bit was said under Conrad's breath, and Gilan felt his cheeks heat up, possibly because his father had gotten him the sword after his instructors mentioned how he was struggling slightly with the poorly balanced school swords due to his willowy frame. The better balanced sword had made a world of a difference, taking Gilan's already skilled sword work to a new level... to put it in short, not a waste of a good sword. Even still, Gilan clenched his teeth and kept quiet, knowing better than to pick a fight.

At Gilan's lack of response, Conrad gave a disappointed sigh before gesturing to the leather-padded practice post they had been assigned to. "Okay, shrimp. Show me what you've got. You do know the basics, right?"

Taking a deep breath, Gilan faced the pole and began the first sequence that came to his mind. After two strokes, Gilan knew his timing was off, the next stroke hitting the post awkwardly. In his effort to correct his hold, Gilan's grip fumbled, and the sword clattered to the ground.

The boy dove after it, cursing his nervousness and feeling his face redden with shame.

Conrad was right. Gilan clearly had no right being here.

Rolling his eyes as Gilan rose to his feet, Conrad shook his head. "Well. Someone didn't pay attention during basics. Seems to be a bit of a running theme, hm?"

Enough.

Without warning, fierce resolve flooded Gilan's person. Whirling around to face the post again, Gilan delivered a brutal sidecut.

He was good enough to be here.

Backhand side.

His sword wasn't a waste.

Thrust.

He didn't just waltz in.

A long whirlwind of lightning fast strokes later, Gilan finally dropped into parade rest position. Breathing heavily, the boy suddenly became acutely aware of how utterly quiet it was. Lifting his head and glancing around revealed the entire group of cadets frozen in place, watching him with something like awe on their faces. Conrad swallowed thickly as Gilan made eye contact with him.

He had several options here, Gilan knew. He could act smug. He could belittle Conrad and get angry. He could act haughty and standoffish.

None of those were his style. Gilan was, essentially, an easygoing and amiable person.

So, instead, Gilan gave a smile, a small shrug, and stated cheerfully, "I guess I paid some attention during basics!"

[trickthecloak]

theme day 2: gagged

"You smell like a privy."

Crowley made the comment casually from where he sat tied to a tree. His captor was alone, the man's comrades having left to go "hunt some grub," while the remaining man had been given the task of lighting a cookfire. The man didn't acknowledge Crowley's insult, the only evidence of his having heard it being the slight tightening in his jaw. Undeterred, Crowley tried again.

"You're not very good at this, are you?" the Ranger stated as the attempt at a fire fizzled out yet again. "Were you never taught how to build a half-decent fire? I guess your father didn't love you. That's okay, though - neither did mine. I still reckon I could get that fire running in five minutes."

At this, the man turned to him and snarled, "Don't you ever shut up?!"

"Of course I do," Crowley answered with some indignation. "My ma always told me to help others, though, and you seem to need an awful lot of help in areas like fire starting and personal hygiene. Probably in your shooting, too, huh? Otherwise the rest of your crew wouldn't have left you while they hunted-"

"Enough talking!" The man growled, stalking over to backhand Crowley in the face. The young Ranger's lip split, blood beginning to seep out. In spite of the circumstances, Crowley gave a knowing smirk.

"I can see why they left you - you hit like a nine-year old girl."

"You insolent brat!"

"Ooh, insolent is a big word. Are you sure you know what it means?"

Furiously withdrawing a dirty, stained, grimy bandana from his pocket, the man made for Crowley's face again.

The Ranger winced. "Clearly, your mother never taught you how to do laundry - I guess she didn't love you eith-"

The rest of his sentence was cut off by the sudden taste of dirst and sweat that filled his mouth. He admitted that he'd been asking for it, had practically egged the man on, but that didn't make the situation any more pleasant, Crowley thought sourly.

The next moment, his captor's eyes rolled into his head, falling like a cut tree as Pritchard's strikers slammed into his head.

"You all right?" His mentor questioned as he reached out to pull the gag down, his brow creasing with concern as his gaze leveled on the blood trickling down the boy's chin.

Making a face, Crowley attempted to spit the taste from his mouth. "You couldn't have done that before he put the gag in?"

Pritchard rolled his eyes and knelt to cut his student's bonds. "You're fine, I see. Next time, maybe don't be such a smart aleck. There's nothing wrong with sitting dignified. Control that red-headed temper, hm?"

Crowley stood and stretched out the ache from his arms. "I didn't lose my temper, honest! I just thought he ought to know his shortcomings, you know?"

Pritchard just shook his head in despair as he watched his apprentice leave to get the horses.

"It's gotta be the hair..."

[trickthecloak]

theme day 1: “you have to let go”

Halt had never been one to have a fear of heights, but the feeling of dangling over open space was beginning to bother him. That, along with the fact that the sweat-slicked grip of his apprentice's hand was the only thing keeping him from falling into said open space.

The Ranger flinched as a drop of moisture hit his face. A glance up revealed Gilan's ashen face, his eyes screwed tightly shut. The boy's lashes were shiny with tears, and even as Halt looked up, another tear dripped to leave a spot on the older man's face. Halt felt his hand slip slightly, but in the second it took him to give an unconscious exhale of fear, the grip on his hand adjusted with a desperate fervor.

Throughout the entire moment, Gilan's eyes never opened, the only sign of the slip being the harsh, shuddering inhale that the boy drew through clenched teeth.

"Gil?" Halt tried. There was no acknowledgement from his apprentice, so the Ranger tried again, more forcefully this time. "Gilan!"

Gilan's eyes flew open. "Let me think," he ground out, his voice as rough as wagon wheels on cobblestones. "Just let me think."

The words would have been almost comical had their situation been different. You're an apprentice, you're not ready to think, came unbidden to Halt's mind.

However, as it was, Halt's life was hanging -literally- in Gilan's ability to think, so he let it be.

They were quiet for a moment, the only sound being Gilan's labored breathing, before Halt felt himself slip again, that uncomfortable swooping feeling in his stomach making itself known. This time, it wasn't the grip on his hand - rather, Gilan's entire body skid forward into the steepness of the overhang that Halt was hanging off of. The boy gave a guttural groan, his soft soled boots scrabbling for purchase before finding some form of anchor.

Halt could see it clearly in his mind's eye - Gilan's toes pushed into the dirt, with maybe a rock to hold against if they were lucky. Basically, holding the two of them up out of sheer stubborness. Gilan was nothing if not persistent; Halt knew this. Unasked for, another scene crossed Halt's mind.

Gilan slipping again, this time sending them both off the overhang because Gilan was too stubborn to let go of his teacher's hand. Both of them flailing through open air before the abrupt stop. Gilan's shattered body, the tears from the strain of his final efforts still cutting trails in his cheeks.

"You have to let go."

Halt's voice is calm, because it makes perfect sense, and Halt is a logical person. Gilan must let go, lest they both go over. By some miracle, the boy has been able to keep him up for this long, but Halt knows that he cannot last. The older Ranger can feel the way that Gilan is trembling with exhaustion, muscles pushed to the brink. He can feel the way that Gilan's shoulder joint strains against its socket, threatening to dislocate. Halt took an oath to protect this child, and he knows what must be done. Gilan must let go.

Though Halt is calm, Gilan is anything but. "What?!" The apprentice sputters, and Halt feels the grip on his hand tighten with newfound desperation.

"If you don't let go, we're both going to go over. This is the only way-"

"Shut up!" Gilan's voice is thick with fear, anger, horror, and everything in between. "I am not letting you go! I can do this! Just shut up and let me think!"

Halt is spared from answering by the panicked cry of one of Arald's knights - one of several that they had been accompanying, before they had all been separated when things went hairy. Gilan gave a groan of relief as Halt's weight was transferred away from him, and a moment later, the older Ranger was a boneless heap on the ground, utterly weak as the adrenaline coursing his body began to crash.

Gilan's angry voice cut into Halt's distant state of mind, and it was enough to make him focus. Anger was an unusual state for his typically cheerful, mild-mannered apprentice.

"If you ever say something that dumb again, I'll... I'll..." Gilan is shaking like a leaf in a windstorm as he cradles his strained arm against his body, tears pooling in his eyes even as he roughly smears them away. "Just, don't do that again!"

Halt recognized his apprentice's anger for what it was - fear.

He didn't blame him; he understood it, even.

That didn't change the fact that if someone had to fall, Halt absolutely knew -would ensure it, even- which of them it would be.

[trickthecloak]

Snippets Sneak Peek

Halt was extrordinarily capable in many ways, but right now, he was out of his element.

The Ranger had realized this the moment that he had returned to the room and had taken his trembling apprentice into his arms - the boy was burning with fever. Halt was out of his element, because he should have realized it when Gilan had been picking at his dinner before tiredly murmuring that he was going to go lie down.

Shivers were quaking down Gilan's thin frame... far thinner than a boy his age ought to be, Halt acknowledged with something akin to failure. There were a lot of things wrong about about a lot of situations, besides the one that involved his boy was burning with fever in his arms, with Halt helpless to do anything more than he had already done. There shouldn't be a war at their doorstep. Pritchard should be alive. Children shouldn't be training and fighting for their lives on a daily basis. This child should be in warm bed being fussed over by his mother, not shivering in a ratty old inn with not enough blankets and Halt as his only meager source of comfort.

Gilan's eyes were dim and glassy as he fitfully shifted, thoughtlessly clinging tighter to Halt, craving warmth even as heat radiated off every inch of him. Sweat was beading on Halt's forehead, but he didn't hesitate to more firmly close his arms around his apprentice, running a hand through Gilan's damp locks as the boy painfully pulled in shallow gasps through chattering teeth.

A thin, distressed sob made Halt's stomach clench. Gilan was so cold, so tired, so miserable, and Halt knew it would be hours yet before either of them found any sleep.

Halt was out of his element, but that wouldn't stop him for a second from trying.

[storminormins]

Have You Ever Tried to Drag Your Younger Sibling Somewhere They Don’t Want to Go.PNG

unlikely season 2 predictions but hey that’s what I’m here for

[trickthecloak]

This has me laughing like nothing else

[space-blue]

Brothers being good bros

One thing I noticed which had me pleasantly surprised, was how positive the dynamic was within the Dad Bad Batch.

[spoilers for episode 1 ahead]

Cross spends most of the runtime being a confrontational pain, pointing out Hunter's failing to follow orders. Though they do some mean staring at times...

Hunter never directly tells off or criticizes Cross. His leadership is never really in question, and when Cross goes and actually challenges it, Tech, Echo and Wrecker silently siding with Hunter diffuses everything. It's a sort of silent democracy, if you will.

In the food fight scene, it also turns into a chain of support. Omega takes an action, Wrecker backs her up, and the moment he's committed...

Hunter is immediately in the game. Echo facepalms and jumps at the nearest reg. Cross tries to stay out of it, to no avail.

And it's beautiful, wordless "us vs them". The first clone Cross downs is the one who just scored a punch on Tech.

Even after Cross has openly confronted Hunter in the brig, no one attacks him or shows any sign of open violence towards him. No one jabs fingers in his chest or scuffs him or shoves him. They just ask him wtf is going on with him.

Even as they acknowledge he's changes, even after an hour long episode of internal strife, Hunter still wants to go rescue him from wherever he's been taken, and no one blinks.

Of course they should rescue Cross, no matter how weirdly prickly he's been lately.

The look of dismay on Hunter's face when Cross comes out dressed in fresh armour tells it all.

And honestly this refreshing, non-toxic dynamic in a group of hardass men, is something I knew I wanted but had never dreamt of getting in a show like TBB. I hope it keeps up, and more:

I hope they rescue Crosshair. I hope we're spared the nonsense of "comes back to his senses just long enough to sacrifice himself" trope. I hope Cross gets his brothers' love to the bitter end, that they'll snatch him and dechip him, hug him and forgive everything without question.

I hope we get to see these two get closer.

[themaridenstationchronicles-dea]

YOU GUYS!!!

Okay, so I was just thinking about how Omega begs Hunter to ORDER the boys to turn around and get him. He doesn't. He ORDERS them to leave. So new theory:

Hunter somehow rescues Crosshair and they're trying to escape when the rest of the Batch arrives in the Marauder and Hunter demands to know why they disobeyed him. They just shrug, keep shooting the bad guys and say, " We never were too good at following orders."

[mandoposting]

crosshair knows the only way he's ever going to get saved by his brothers is if he literally captures them and then has them break him out by proxy

[serpentinesomebody]

I’m screaming about how ambiguous the ending of this episode was like??? Was Crosshair hoping to have all of them together to capture them? Or did he want them all together so he could explain the situation and how he’s not under the chip’s control anymore?

[rebekadjarin]

Crosshair was fighting the chip SO HARD

[fictional-men-ruin-lives]

The closure episode

Fandom is split between the “they have forgotten Crosshair, we don’t like that they’ve abandoned him completely” and “it’s just building up the plot and they can’t mention him every episode”.

While I belong to the first group, mad at the fact the bad batch has completely forgotten Crosshair was one of them and keep rescuing everyone but him, I think that this would have been easily fixed with one extra episode somewhen in the beginning of the season.

Failed rescue

The Bad Batch comes up with a plan to capture Crosshair but it backfires horribly. For the first time, they are faced with a mission too hard for them to complete and they are on the tactical disadvantage because their sniper is gone and they’re not yet used to that. They were confident as usual but this completely breaks them because it’s too hard to rescue him. One of them almost dies. For the first time, they are completely helpless. They need to escape, and do so in a rushed, panicked way.

An episode like this would have given the fans some closure on why the show goes on and Cross is not mentioned by others as more than just a threat, the characters would have been justified in their actions (looking at you, Hunter) and it would make sense why they are not actively planning on rescuing him anymore, or even talking about him.

It would also be nice to see an episode where the batch is helpless and is met with a challenge they can’t complete, setting them up for character development. To see them fail in the end. Also, strategically struggling without the sniper would be a great way to show that he played a role in the missions’ success, highlighting the importance of each member.

I don’t like that the transition to being without Crosshair was that smooth, as if he was never needed. I would have loved to see them struggle the first 1-2 missions because it would have shown the role Crosshair played in the team. The way they did it, Cross is expendable and just an addition, not important. They should have shown the team adjusting to the change and almost failing because Cross was not there and they forgot it. Come on.

And yes, I know that the first episode did something like this when Cross shot Wrecker but that’s different. They weren’t expecting him to turn imperial and be surrounded by that many troopers. I would have done similarly- retreat, hide, come up with a plan, come back for him on my own terms. It doesn’t have that much effect on them if it was unexpected. If it was planned and they still fail- that’s the point they can realise how helpless they are.

[trickthecloak]

While I have come to terms that Crosshair isn’t going to get a good redemption/reunion with the Batch (sad day ugh)... I am coping with the mental image of the Batch doing a big clone huddle around a freshly de-chipped Crosshair because he’s their brother and they love him and they are happy he’s back????

And when Crosshair wakes up and is surrounded by his favorite bros he just murmurs real softly, “You miss me? How touching...” 

And there are hugs and softness and sunshine and they retire and start a farm. 

[moonstrider9904-deactivated2022]

Rampart

He doesn't fool me. He was introduced as a charming guy in the series, hopeful for the Empire's potential. But listen, he's cunning and more dangerous than he was presented to be. He knows what's up. What did he say to Crosshair? "I'm more worried about what you're capable of."

He stated in Episode 8: he doesn't care about a squadron of rogue clones. So why does he accept (after thinking about it) when his best trooper, freaking Commander, requests to go after the rogue clones he doesn't care about?

Although he admits he underestimated the Bad Batch, I have the feeling it's a setup. I might be wrong about it. But we saw throughout episode 12, as well as all those times we saw the undeniable sadness in Crosshair's eyes, that he can shine through the chip. Crosshair didn't shoot Howzer. He didn't order the "traitors" to be killed. I dare say the augmentation is wearing off, and I get the feeling Rampart has more than noticed this change.

Maybe he'll keep a close eye on Crosshair as he hunts down the Bad Batch, and no doubt he'll cause all sorts of trouble, and maybe that's what the ominous soundtrack in that final scene was hinting at, because Crosshair was indeed smiling and his eyes were very soft, I'm not changing my mind about that.

In any case, Rampart's probably a factor that will determine the course of the next few episodes and I can't wait to see it. What do you guys think about this?

Of course I might be totally wrong and things will go very differently, in which case, let's just enjoy my rambling!

Seriously, I remind myself of this guy.

[feltpool]

I’d say Rampart is exactly as dangerous as he was presented to be.

Just because he was introduced as a charming, well mannered, and attractive younger man than Tarkin doesn't mean he wasn't introduced as dangerous.

He was pushing War Mantle when he first appeared, made it clear right from the start that he wants rid of the clones so his conscripted soldiers can take over.

There was nothing non-dangerous about him.

And I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could spit him.

Has he failed to notice that Crosshair hasn’t managed to bring his brothers in, or even managed to do them any serious harm? Yes, of course he has. He isn’t stupid.

Has he allowed him a longer leash so he can watch what he does with it? Absolutely yes!

The real question is whether Crosshair has already factored that into his plans. Because he’s no idiot either.

[moonstrider9904-deactivated2022]

Rampart

He doesn't fool me. He was introduced as a charming guy in the series, hopeful for the Empire's potential. But listen, he's cunning and more dangerous than he was presented to be. He knows what's up. What did he say to Crosshair? "I'm more worried about what you're capable of."

He stated in Episode 8: he doesn't care about a squadron of rogue clones. So why does he accept (after thinking about it) when his best trooper, freaking Commander, requests to go after the rogue clones he doesn't care about?

Although he admits he underestimated the Bad Batch, I have the feeling it's a setup. I might be wrong about it. But we saw throughout episode 12, as well as all those times we saw the undeniable sadness in Crosshair's eyes, that he can shine through the chip. Crosshair didn't shoot Howzer. He didn't order the "traitors" to be killed. I dare say the augmentation is wearing off, and I get the feeling Rampart has more than noticed this change.

Maybe he'll keep a close eye on Crosshair as he hunts down the Bad Batch, and no doubt he'll cause all sorts of trouble, and maybe that's what the ominous soundtrack in that final scene was hinting at, because Crosshair was indeed smiling and his eyes were very soft, I'm not changing my mind about that.

In any case, Rampart's probably a factor that will determine the course of the next few episodes and I can't wait to see it. What do you guys think about this?

Of course I might be totally wrong and things will go very differently, in which case, let's just enjoy my rambling!

Seriously, I remind myself of this guy.

[fangirl-goes-nova]

Can we discuss this scene now?

Updated because I've learned something cool!

Because, apart from this trick-shot having me in stitches while simultaneously blowing my mind, I really find this scene really interesting...

Context: our favourite sniper has offered to buy the Batch some time while they exit the space ship, and then he follows them, through the corridors whilst pursued by droids.

On his way Crosshair throws these little reflective disks on the walls, floor and ceiling then reunites with the rest of the group and slides to a stop like Greased Lighting (some of you may be too young to get that metaphor...).

Now, so far, Crosshair has enjoyed playing the part of the arrogant, egotistical jerk. He plays it well. And that is what it is, a role, a part. He's bravado-ing it up for the Regs and probably Skywalker too in this scene.

Because we're seen that he is a team player (see him providing cover fire on the field, getting transport to pick up the Batch plus Rex and Co., and working with Hunter to seal the doors on Skako Minor) and that he's not a total jerk.

Because we do see little moments of humanity and of a kinder Crosshair shining through (think of him squeezing Echo's shoulder after the rescue, the little salute he gives the Poltek chief etc).

We see a little playfulness here. In the above gif, notice Hunter - he's in on the game, he's already looking over at Wrecker and Skywalker to see their reactions before Crosshair even takes the shot.

Hunter knows that Crosshair is up to something and that in all likelihood it's to beat Wreckers droid count.

Crosshair has those little disks stuck to his belt, he most likely enjoys doing trick shots with them (wouldn't surprise me in the slightest).

And if Crosshair wasn't playing here, he wouldn't have thrown that look back over his shoulder and wouldn't have delivered his little "Did you miss me? How touching" line.

Is he all business? No. If you're ALL business you keep your focus and our boy has time for a little bit of showboating here.

This is also premeditated. He's had to think this through and work out the angles etc. He's enjoying this and he can't resist playing a little.

But because he is so subtle and understated in his gestures this is something easily missed.

This is Crosshair playing. Not Crosshair being a prick.

Look how he sets up the shot. This is apparently an older way that snipers were trained to shoot. (& I wonder if this is what he added that shoulder fin for in the first place?)

Please see the comment by @super-shanbam

Think of what his posture must be like: he has his arms crossed over his chest, with his Firepuncher resting on top of them.

We can see this in the next gif. He unfolds his arms after taking the shot. This is Cross going old school. Smug git (but don'tcha love him?).

We also know he can shoot without holding the barrel grip with his left hand (think TBB Episode 1 when he takes a shot at Hunter in the landing bay on Kamino - he balances his rifle on the back of his wrist). But apparently this is helpful way to take more complicated shots.

He is kinda showing off, yes, but in a fun way.

Let's see the aftermath. We aren't treated to seeing the Batch + Baby Vader's expressions as the droids are dispatched, but look how shocked they are when the camera pans back.

Skywalker stands up from a crouch, arms wide, hands spread. This is disbelief and awe, but he's tried to play it cool.

Wrecker, sweet boy, has the same body language but he is even more astounded and we see this by him removing taking his helmet, as if to see the carnage better. And the look on his face! He's also upset that his brother has beaten his droid count for this mission. The anguish is real.

Hunter is turning to Wrecker. As we know he goes to console him. Because Hunter knew this -or something like it- was coming. Hunter is surprised but not THAT surprised. He knows Crosshair's skills. The Dad also comes out briefly, here.

Back to Cross. If he was so unconcerned and cool about what he just did, he would have turned to his left before walking off. This would mean going right on screen.

But he turns to his right, screen-left, because he actually wants to see his brother's reactions, so he turns to face them before sauntering off. Maybe this glance is also him wanting a bit of validation for what he's just done?

Either way, I would bet he has the smuggest, most self-satisfied expression under his helmet. But we will never know...

Bonus:

He's definitely playing. Look at the little wiggle as he does as he sidles up to Wrecker. His shoulders come up, too: he is just gleeful here, but again it's understated and restrained, because it's Crosshair.

And Wrecker knows Cross is playing, that it's not malicious, because Wrecker doesn't respond angrily. And I like to think that this is Crosshair's nature real coming through.

In summary: *chef's kiss* perfect scene.

🖤❤️🖤