freesia-writes

[freesia-writes]

More Tup cuteness because I'm in a phase apparently, haha

Some Tup Love ❤️

Doing all these one shots for clones I’ve never written before has been SO FUN! I somehow lost the ask post for this one, but here is the sweet little glimpse into this adorable boy for @fives-girlfriend <3

.

Tup x Reader - Word Count: 3.6k

“Come on, Tup. It’ll be awesome!” Hardcase exclaimed, clapping him on the back with enough enthusiasm to nearly knock him off his bench. 

“Yeah, they’ve never done this at 79s before!” Fives added, and even Dogma nodded vigorously through his mouthful of food. 

“I know, it’s just…” Tup began, but Jesse’s arrival, accompanied with a loud “who’s ready to party tonight?!” drowned out the rest of his reply. 

It was the talk of the mess hall -- Sy Snootles was coming to perform at 79s, and she was bringing along an infamous troupe of Twi’lek dancers, supposedly heralded throughout the galaxy as some of the most luscious and lascivious one could encounter. The clones who were lucky enough to be on Coruscant were undoubtedly excited, as they were rarely considered deserving of such luxuries. A few squads were planning to attend, the 501st being one of them, as you had heard on your lunch break. 

You worked with them frequently when they were on world, providing armor improvements, repairs, and tune-ups beyond what they would do for regular inspections. You were part of a small team that scuttled from armory to armory, equipping troopers with updated devices and outfitting new squads. The 501st boys were some of your favorites, having enough personality among them for the entire GAR. One in particular had always held a soft spot in your heart, with his unassuming demeanor and quiet insight. You’d chatted with him often while going over various armor components, and the stories he’d shared about the horrors of Umbara had broken your heart for him. He’d formed strong bonds with his brothers, especially after enduring that nightmare, and you’d felt your affection growing as you saw him grow from a fresh little rookie to a skilled negotiator, brave soldier, and man of strong convictions. 

If you were honest, he’d grown on you a lot. You found yourself daydreaming, during slow hours, of slowly freeing his hair from its neat little bun, running your fingers through it, and tracing your lips across his cheek to the little teardrop tattoo beneath his eye. But you’d also become close friends, and you were fairly certain that was the extent of his perspective and feelings toward you. There was an intimacy and familiarity between you that had been established as he’d shared some of his most vulnerable moments and harrowing experiences while you’d listened quietly, patting his hand and offering empathetic platitudes that couldn’t begin to match the magnitude of what he had been through. At some point, it had grown into more than just fondness, you’d realized, and it resulted in a simmering attraction that burned in your chest whenever you saw him. 

So when you found him at the back of the cluster of troopers waiting for the lift after lunch, and he caught sight of you as you approached him from the side, it sent a little shiver of tingles down your spine at the small smile that curved across his face. 

“CT-5385,” you said quietly, giving him a solemn salute that earned you an eyeroll as he looped his arm across your shoulders, pulling you into a warm side hug. 

“Cut it out,” he commanded, dropping his arm as you filtered into the crowded lift. “You heard all the fuss about 79s tonight?” he asked, barely audible over the rest of the chatter in the small space. 

“I did. You going?” you asked, feeling a sudden whirlwind of mixed emotions at it. 

“I’m not really feeling it, but it doesn’t sound like I have a choice,” Tup answered, shrugging and tipping his head toward his fellow blue-striped 501st brothers. 

“I can call you in for an emergency armor upgrade if you’d like,” you offered, to which he chuckled and shook his head. 

“Why don’t you just come?” he asked, looking up at you with those large honey-brown eyes. “It would make it a lot more bearable, that’s for sure.”

Your heart skipped a beat, wondering if he did have feelings for you after all, or if it was just the simple statement of one enjoying the company of a friend. You couldn’t help but smile, though, and tried to angle your face away from the light as you felt your cheeks grow slightly warm as you wondered about his affections. 

“I will if you will,” you said, resuming your light and airy attitude as the lift doors whooshed open. 

“Game on,” he declared, giving you the cheesiest finger guns you’d ever seen, promptly cringing at it, shrugging, and pulling his helmet on as he trotted off after his squad. 

“It’s a date?” you whispered under your breath as he disappeared around the corner.

* * * 

79s was packed to the brim, and clusters of troopers spilled out onto the streets all around it. The atmosphere was infectiously exciting, as though the entire world were on pause and tonight was a chance to escape it all for a few hours. There were three times as many food carts as usual, as the local vendors were quick to pick up on any chance for some extra business, and the entire block seemed like a party in itself. You started to feel anxious and out of place, as this wasn’t usually your thing. It had been something you and Tup had bonded over from the start -- a preference for more quiet, intellectual, serene spaces as opposed to the vibrant party scenes that more of the troopers opted for. 

You adjusted your outfit, feeling slightly self-conscious as it was decidedly more fitted and flattering than your simple work jumpsuit. You realized you had never really seen Tup in a more informal setting, as your interactions were primarily in the mess hall, the armory, or the barracks. All the questions and doubts began to swirl in your mind, amplified by the booming music that assaulted you as soon as you pushed your way into 79s. Heading straight for the bar and downing a double shot of liquid courage before you even looked around, you wiped your mouth on the back of your hand, returning the glass to the countertop and scanning the room for familiar faces.

“You’re off to an ambitious start,” came a smooth voice from behind you. “Lookin to stir up some trouble? Give those Twi’leks some competition?” You smirked, turning to face Fives, whose presence could be felt as much as heard. His boisterousness and joviality always brought a smile to your face, and you admired his ability to channel that even after his harrowing experiences at war. 

“Oh, you know me…” you said, shrugging as you felt the tingly burn down your throat, warming your chest. “Where are the rest of the boys?”

“Upstairs, for now. Lost a fight with the 212th for the table by the stage, but we’re plotting our revenge,” Fives said with a conspiratorial wink as he jerked his head toward the stairs, motioning you to come along. There was something different about tonight, whether it was the setting or the occasion or some strange alignment of the stars, and you just felt an apprehensive prickle down your spine, as though something were about to happen. You ordered another double shot, taking it with you as you trotted up the stairs after Fives. 

A couple whistles and hoots met you as you reached the top of the stairs, and you grinned bashfully as Hardcase and Jesse catcalled you while Fives announced your presence. It felt like being welcomed home, as cheesy as that sounded in your own head, with the kind familiarity and brotherly acceptance they always had for you. Hopefully not TOO brotherly… for all of them at least… Your eyes roved across their faces, finding the one that made your heart flutter. Tup was crushed in the corner of the booth, mercilessly squeezed between Hardcase and Dogma, arms pushed into his sides. You laughed at the sight of him, and he carefully arranged his features into sarcastic disdain when he met your eyes. 

“Our little armorer here thinks she can keep up with us,” Fives proclaimed, gesturing grandly toward you as you gave him a quizzical look, having promised no such thing. “So let’s show her a good time tonight, eh boys?” A cacophony of agreement, friendly taunts, and promises followed his words, and you shook your head, the elation of the moment sweeping you up, and downed the double shot in your hand in one gulp. 

“Ohhhhhhhh she ain’t messin around!!” Denal howled, slapping the table amid the cheers and squawks. 

“Alright, move out. I want to sit right THERE,” you demanded, pointing to the corner between Dogma and Tup, who were surprised by your sudden attention. Hardcase laughed, eternally ready to join in any sort of shenanigans and feeding off of your energy, and rose to his feet, pushing the rest of the clones right off the bench to make way for you to climb in. They filled back in, squeezing even more, and jostled each other for room until Kix toppled off the end and had to search for a chair instead. 

“Hey buddy,” you said to Tup, happily pressed against his side from shoulder to knee. His plastoid armor plates were carefully positioned to avoid digging an edge into your side, although as you snuggled in, you found yourself wondering what it would be like to slowly take each one off…

“You’re in rare form,” he noted, lifting an eyebrow at your effervescent attitude. “What was Fives on about?”

“That was all him,” you laughed, “But for some reason this just sounded really fun tonight. You excited about the dancers? Perhaps get yourself a special one?” Why were you baiting him like this? Your head felt a little bubbly, and the wild atmosphere was doing nothing to help it. Tup gave a low chuckle, dropping his eyes to the table, tracing his finger around a ring of condensation drops from his tall drink.

“Jesse threatened to buy me one, but I doubt he’ll go through with it. He’d rather spend the credits on drinks for the ladies…” 

“Well. You deserve a break. You can’t keep everything pent up inside all the time,” you affirmed, nodding confidently as you shifted to survey the rest of the crowd. Tup looked up at the side of your face, suddenly pensive and solemn, as though he yearned to speak. You felt his eyes on you and turned back curiously, eyebrows lifted and an inviting smile on your lips, but he just returned your grin with a small one of his own, shook his head a little, and followed your previous glance out to the crowd as the announcer began introducing the infamous guest stars. 

* * * 

The show seemed to go on forever, punctuated with breaks where the performers would come out and work the crowd… both literally and figuratively. The booth had emptied a bit, as the troopers scattered to the refresher, the bar, and other groups. You and Tup had been lost in conversation, heads leaned together, living through adventures and faraway thoughts, completely engrossed in each other’s company. The connection was absolutely vibrant, and you felt pulled to him more than ever before. The general raucousness of the bar got louder as the performers were making their way upstairs, scattering to dance and laugh with the clones there. You felt a sudden flare of passion, a mixture of jealousy, protectiveness, and the mounting pressure of all the feelings you had for this trooper that you’d been stifling for so long. 

Two of the dancers whirled over to the booth, purring their invitations. One slowly sat on the eager knees Jesse, who laughed and yelled, “For free?!” The other climbed onto the bench on all fours and began crawling toward Tup, who looked alarmed. In a rush of emotion, you scrambled to get up, banging your knee on the table incredibly hard as you suddenly threw yourself across Tup’s lap. As you straddled him, you turned and put a hand out toward the Twi’lek. 

“This one’s mine, honey!” you said, channeling all the sass you’d ever seen on the holovids. The performer laughed, waggling her finger at you and sidling back out of the booth, only to be quickly scooped up by a pilot trooper. You turned back to Tup, resting your hands on his shoulders and looking down at him now from your perch on his lap. He was sitting straight as an arrow, hands held up slightly out to the sides as if he didn’t know where to put them. Heat blossomed across your cheeks and throughout your chest, and you laughed, trying to seem lighthearted but also not wanting to move anytime soon.

“I’m just looking out for you,” you said teasingly, glancing over your shoulders in mock fright as though there were horrors lurking around every corner. As you came back to him, he let out a laugh that almost sounded forced, and you noticed his eyebrows were working overtime to conceal the cesspool of emotions that were funneling through his brain.

“Thank goodness,” he breathed, with another nervous chuckle, awkwardly lowering his hands to the outsides of your thighs and setting them down so precariously, you’d think you were made of glass. 

“Better make it convincing though,” you said, lifting your hands to his hair, where you gently pulled the band off of his ever-present man bun. His textured brown locks toppled down, holding their shape where they’d been twisted around each other day after day. It was comical, as it lay in messy tufts around his shoulders and one decidedly large bump in the middle, but it was also incredibly sexy, and you felt yourself literally salivating. You also felt a panic settle in all of a sudden, wondering if you were wildly crossing the line… Or perhaps you were getting a question answered that had been burning for a long time now. 

He lifted his chin, eyes fluttering shut for a full second as you slowly, painstakingly raked your fingers through his hair, now free of its tight constraint. Your hands continued across his skull, down the back of his neck, and then forward along each side of his jawline until they came together at his chin, where you finished by giving his nose a tiny boop. His eyes widened, realizing your face was within inches of his, and he suddenly shifted himself to the side, knocking you off balance and onto the bench. He scrambled out of the booth, catching one quick glimpse from Jesse, who had been oblivious to you two due to the undulating distraction in front of him.

You felt a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach, cringing so hard at the thought that you may have just ruined everything, and you flailed to get out of the booth after him. You caught sight of him disappearing out the balcony door (you didn’t know 79s had a balcony did ya? It does now!) just as it closed behind him. Pausing before following him out, you watched him lean on the railing, looking at the Coruscant underworld stretching out before him as his hair drifted across his eyes in the speeder-induced breeze. His expression was unreadable, and startled you in how foreign it looked. 

Taking a deep breath, you ventured outside, steeling yourself to try to patch things up. You pulled up next to the railing next to him and faced the city skyline, feeling too sheepish to meet him head-on. You fumbled for words, wringing your hands together in not-so-subtle anxiety. “I’m sorry…” you began.

“Don't ever do that again!,” he said suddenly, startling you into standing up straight and facing him fully. You were filled with regret, looking up at him apologetically and readying your explanations, until he continued speaking in a low growl that sent an electric shock through you. “You have no idea what it does to me…” he admitted, voice slightly hoarse at the end. He slowly stood from his lean over the railing, leaving one hand on it and turning toward you, the other hand pushing his hair out of his face. As your eyes found his, you were lost in the rich brown pools of emotion, accentuated by the wild mess of his hair that made him look like an entirely different person. His hand clenched at his side, and he shifted his eyes off to the horizon again. 

“What does it do to you, Tup?” you asked quietly, and he closed his eyes at his name, soft on your lips, before slowly opening them and taking a step closer. The intensity of his gaze and the singular focus of his presence were electrifying, and you felt as though your insides were trembling. 

“It drives me crazy,” he whispered, some dark waves twisting across his forehead as the breeze ruffled past. He looked from eye to eye, taking in your face with an enamored stare as though he were seeing it for the first time. “I don’t want to make things awkward. I love our talks. I love getting to see you. I love your wit, your intelligence, your curiosity…” His confession had been coming out more confidently but hit an abrupt halt as his gaze dropped to the ground. “I’m sorry if it ruins our friendship,” he said with a resigned tone, and your heart took a tentative leap in your chest as you processed his words, hoping they meant what you thought they did. 

Fueled by his vulnerability and absolutely irresistible look, you reached for him, slipping your hands around the back of his neck, one slightly roving up into the roots of his hair at the base of his neck, and pulled him gently toward you. His arms were around you in a flash, and after one last meaningful, searching glance that seemed to stretch out into eternity, he closed the distance and kissed you deeply. Your tiny gasp of delight was swallowed up by his mouth pressed against yours, muscles tightening around you, pulling you against his armor. His hair gently tickled your cheeks, and you savored the taste of his lips, the scent of his shampoo, and the electrifying excitement of being in his embrace. 

He pulled back, mouth falling open as though he couldn’t believe what had just happened, and stared at you in awe. You offered a sheepish smile, giddy at the sight of him so shocked and enthralled. He lowered his hands to take yours, shaking his head at the ground, still dumbfounded. 

“I’ve wanted to do that for a long time,” you admitted, and he jerked his head back up to you, mouth curving into an elated smile. “You’re my favorite, Tup. You’re brave and insightful and kind and complex… I think the world of you.” Each word you spoke seemed to inflate him more and more with an overjoyed enchantment that lit up his face in a way you hadn’t seen before. 

“I didn’t think people saw us as unique enough to be interested… for real…” he murmured, and you shook your head, surprised and sad that he’d have such a notion. You lifted a hand to his cheek, which sent his eyebrows up a little further, and touched your nose to his. 

“Well I do,” you said, leaning in to kiss him again. He eagerly reciprocated, pressing one hand against the small of your back and drawing the other up between your shoulder blades. His lips were so soft, yet firm and commanding, and his nose pressed into your cheek. There was more of a passion to it now, an intimacy and urgency that set off fireworks in your soul, and you dug your hands into his hair again, relishing the thick tufts between your fingers as you clenched it gently at the roots. A satisfied rumble came from his chest, and he tilted his head, deepening the kiss until you were seeing stars. When he finally let you go, you gasped in as much of the cold night air as you could as though it alone were tethering you to reality. He smiled, face inches away, glowing with wonder. 

“I think there might be more of those Twi’leks up here,” he said with a mischievous glint in his eye, and you laughed breathlessly. “Better make it convincing,” he murmured, turning to back you up against the side of the building, leaning in with a sudden confidence, and bringing his hands to your face. He was kissing you again, pressing against you all over, hands roving from cheek to shoulder to waist to hair. It felt as though a dam had broken, and so much that had been held at bay was crashing down in the most incredible, unbelievable way. You lifted your leg, wrapping it around him, and he immediately gripped it with a gloved hand, moving his armored thigh and hip into you for support and stability. Kissing your way down his neck as he rolled his head to the side, closing his eyes in blissful abandon, you gave the top of his turtleneck a little snap, sending both of you into a quiet giggle fit as you held yourselves together. Every inch yearned to be connected, and you slowly lowered your leg, nestling your head into his neck and shoulder, not daring to move lest you wake up from this dream. 

“I guess we did show you a decent time tonight, eh?” he whispered in your ear, wrapping his arms around your shoulders in a warm, protective hug.

[freesia-writes]

WOW!! What a list! Truly some amazing talent we have around here! 🥹

looking for tcw accounts to follow!! if you like the clone wars, the clones or anything clone related why don't ya pop over and say hi!

[freesia-writes]

A regularly-scheduled reminder, shared with the utmost warmth and love, that the best way to support writers and artists on Tumblr is the reblog function. 🥰

Add comments in the reblog or not. Add tags or not. Any reblog, empty or full, is appreciated and the most appreciated way to encourage us as we work to create lovely stuff for you to enjoy! ❤️

[freesia-writes]

This one gave me tingles, LOL.

"If you want it, you're gonna have to come and get it from me." for rex? please 💙💙💙

Ok, let’s gooo! I was panicking trying to figure out if Rex or Reader should say the line, so I just went with what came as I was writing... I always see Rex as awkward at first, but we all know he's got some passion underneath that can be coaxed out with the right situation. ;) Hope it's a fun read! <3

Rex x GN!Reader Word Count: 2.2k Content Warnings: PG-13 drinking, threats, kissing...?

Also, this picture was in my head the whole time. ;)

It had been weeks. The 501st had been on Coruscant while their Venator was undergoing major repairs after an obnoxious ambush by the Separatists. There were only so many drills and armor inspections that could be done, so the clones found themselves at 79s more frequently than they were used to. It was a good opportunity to blow off some steam, to enjoy a change of pace from the constant horrors of war, and they were in generally good spirits. You’d been frequenting the place as well, finding it a welcome distraction from your recent break-up and mundane, dead-end job. 

The boys in blue were always a good time, and you enjoyed the occasional chat with a few of them, but there was always one who tended to keep to himself, chatting with his fellow captains and other squad members in various corners of the bar. You’d made eye contact a few times, finding yourself oddly drawn to him, but he’d been quick to avert his gaze with a sheepish look. It seemed a stark contrast to what you’d heard about him as a fearless yet humble soldier, a courageous leader, and a proficient warrior. Needless to say, you were tired of the blatant approaches from the bar patrons with less finesse, and the idea of not being fawned over was an appealing one. Perhaps you could even have a legitimate conversation. 

You’d made some efforts to place yourself near him, but the way he’d shift uncomfortably on his feet made you wonder if your presence was unwelcome. Finally, after unabashedly using Fives as a cover for a few nights in a row, he called you out. 

“Just go talk to him,” he said suddenly, elbowing you in the side a little harder than he intended.

“What!” you gasped, partly in pain and partly surprised at his directness. 

“You’re not as subtle as you think you are. I don’t know how you’re so impervious to my charm, but it’s obvious you’ve been stealing glances at him while you’re talking to me. So just go talk to him.” His response was laced with a grin and a glint in his eyes, and a blush blossomed across your cheeks. 

“I don’t know what--”

“Alright, come on,” Fives interrupted, taking you by the elbow and heading toward Rex. Your heart was pounding in your chest, and it took all your concentration to avoid tripping over your own feet as you were steered toward the captain, who was talking with another clone and immediately stiffened as he saw you approach. 

“Hey Captain,” Fives said casually, pulling up in front of them, “We were just talking about that backward strategy you pulled on Saleucami, and this pretty little thing wanted to hear more about your battle tactics.”

You groaned inwardly, resisting the urge to slap your palm into your forehead, but the awkward noise that came from Rex immediately diffused the tension with hilarity. 

“Ehhrmmeheh…” he said, eyes darting from Fives to you. His companion chuckled, slapping him on the back and saying his goodbyes as he left with Fives, leaving the two of you staring at each other. 

“So uh… Battle tactics… That’s… hard…” you offered, clasping your hands together in front of you and trying not to fidget. 

“It’s… Well, we’re trained… And the generals, and admirals, and… you know. It’s not just me,” Rex offered, running a hand over his closely-shaved blonde hair. His helmet was on the counter nearby, and you noticed the interesting markings across the top, making a mental note to ask about them later. You took a deep breath, blowing it out slowly to steady your nerves, and leaned against the counter, feeling yourself relax a little. 

“Okay, so what would you do in this scenario…” You quizzed, and the two of you launched into the nerdiest discussion of war strategy you could have imagined. The minutes ticked by, and you started to feel much more comfortable. Rex was clearly engaged, enjoying the intellectual challenge and particularly appreciating the familiarity of the content. Drinks were refilled, you began coming up with increasingly ridiculous situations, both of you loosening up and laughing a bit more, and finally the conversation turned toward other things. He shared about the early days of the war, you talked about your aspirations for a career that seemed to be just out of your reach, and the discussion was occasionally punctuated by the arrival of someone else who wanted to have a quick talk with Rex. He would engage for a bit, sending you the occasional side glance and grin that made your heart skip a beat, then would turn back to you. 

Things were going fantastically, but you were suddenly interrupted by a very unwelcome presence -- a regrettable one-night-stand from a while ago who had never quite gotten the hint that you didn’t want to talk to him again. He sidled up next to you, a little too close for comfort, sloshing his drink a bit as he leaned into your side with a foul-breathed greeting. 

“Well helloooooo! Fancy meeting you here!” he slurred, eyes roving over you with thinly veiled interest. You crinkled your nose, leaning away from him a bit, and Rex noticed your discomfort. 

“Hi there,” he said, a sudden air of authority in his voice that gave you goosebumps. “We were just heading out, but nice to see you, and hope you have a good night!” He rose to his feet from the stool he’d been resting on, offering his arm to you as he used the other one to tuck his helmet against his hip. You stood as well, taking his arm and muttering a farewell to the inebriated mistake of your past, who started rambling something incoherent after you as the two of you strolled out the front door. 

The cool night air hit your face, refreshing and invigorating after the cloying warmth of 79s as you walked down the street and around the corner. You realized with a start that Rex was looking at you, a little half-smile on his face that made you suddenly want to kiss him. What were you supposed to do now? It had been a diversion to leave the bar, but you now found yourself with no plan of where to go. You opened your mouth for some feeble attempt at a joke, but were suddenly interrupted by a loud voice behind you. 

“Hey! I wazzn done with you! I’sstill talkin n you left!”

You whirled around, matched in speed by Rex who had turned to face the threatening sound immediately. The obnoxious little hemorrhoid was staggering after you, still holding the glass from the bar, waving it angrily at the two of you. His face was bright red, mouth spluttering with words, and you wondered how you ever made such a bad decision like that. Your self-flagellation was halted by the gentle push of Rex’s helmet into your arms, as he stepped slightly in front of you to face the approaching complainer. 

“Easy there, brother. Why don’t you take your glass back and have a good night?” Rex said, striking a balance of firmness and affability. You marveled at his ability to be direct without the bravado that so many insecure men would immediately put on when challenged in any way. 

“YOU take thglass back!” the parasite spluttered, making a sudden lunge at the two of you. In one smooth motion, Rex moved the two of you sideways, out of the way of the ill-aimed charge, and you let out a little yelp of surprise as you backed up against the wall beside you, clutching the helmet in your arms. In a flash, Rex was in front of you, holding a hand up toward the angry little fuss, who was revving up for another go. He came at the Captain and was easily dodged, running past in a clumsy bundle of flailing limbs, crashing into some passersby who squawked in surprise and disapproval. 

“Time to go home,” Rex commanded, still squaring up in case the fool decided to have another go. And indeed he did, lowering his head and taking a swing at the clone, who effortlessly dodged it and quickly swept his legs out from under him. He fell backward with a disproportionately satisfying thwack, head knocking into the mirror of a speeder on the way down, sending the glass mug flying from his hand, and passed out cold. You cringed, pressing the back of your head into the wall in embarrassment, adrenaline coursing through your veins. Rex turned back to you, expression unreadable, and you began to offer your apologies.

“I’m so sorry,” you started, but he waved them away, and you were overcome with the sudden realization of just how damn sexy he was. The combination of hours of conversation, his intelligence and humility, and the fearless protectiveness were intoxicating, and the rush of all that had just happened hit you like the brick wall you were backed up against. 

“Eh, I guess it’s the struggle of having such devoted followers,” Rex said dismissively, a playful smile on his face. 

“More like clingy regrets from a moment of bad judgment,” you admitted, turning his helmet in your hands. 

“I’ll take that if you’d like,” he said, extending a hand warmly and nodding toward the helmet. 

Whether it was the thrill of the series of events, the culmination of the emotional roller coaster you’d been on in life, or just the sheer magnetism of the blonde beauty in front of you, a sudden courage found its way into your heart. You hoped it would be received well, but it just felt so… right. You took a step forward, shifting the helmet around behind your back, holding it in both arms between your spine and the wall, and lifted your chin toward Rex with a cheeky grin. 

“If you want it, you’re gonna have to come and get it from me.”

You didn’t know where it came from, but the spark between the two of you was undeniable, and you held your breath as Rex raised an eyebrow in surprise. Your heart skipped a beat when he pursed his lips, assessing you with a gaze that made your knees weak. He had seemed so awkward at the bar, so unsure of himself, but now he was none of those things. His presence exuded confidence, and he moved slowly toward you. The smoldering intensity in his eyes melted you to the core, and you inhaled sharply as he brought his face within inches of yours. You could feel his breath on your cheek as he leaned toward your ear, sending shivers down your spine. 

“Well look at you all of a sudden,” he purred, reaching an arm around your side. You temporarily forgot about the helmet as he moved his lips from your ear to your mouth, not touching, just barely hovering in the most tantalizing way. His eyelids were low as he took in a slow breath, raising his eyes to yours and brushing the tip of your nose with his own on the way. Your lips parted slightly, holding your breath, every nerve in your body on fire as you found yourself yearning to close the distance between the two of you but also finding yourself frozen in place, unable to move. 

The tension was suddenly broken as you felt the helmet slip out from behind you, and you fell back into the wall with a surprised gasp. Rex stood up straight, holding the helmet up triumphantly with an eyebrow waggle. The flood of emotions was indescribable -- shock, humor, indignation, disappointment, delight… 

“That’s not fair!” you breathed, feeling slightly embarrassed at being toyed with, and you took a hopeless swipe at the helmet, which he easily pulled out of reach with a smile. 

“You’re right…” he answered, surprising you as he pressed forward against you, snugly trapping you between his plastoid armor and the wall. You brought a hand to his chest plate, the other resting on his hip, looking up at him in thoroughly flustered admiration. You didn’t even know what to do with yourself at this point, but he lifted his free hand to your chin, tipping it upward ever so gently, and hesitated to scan your eyes for consent. You closed them, leaning forward slightly, and he dropped his helmet to the ground, snaking his other arm around your waist, pressing the most deliciously tender kiss to your mouth. Electricity coursed from your head to your toes, and you melted against him, drowning in his scent and taste and touch. A quiet, contented “hmm” rumbled in his chest, and you lifted a hand to the back of his neck, tilting your head and deepening the kiss blissfully. 

It felt like hours and seconds simultaneously when you finally parted, sucking in the cool air in disbelief and amazement. He leaned his forehead gently against yours, leaving his eyes closed for a moment, a small smile on his lips, and you reveled in the contrast of his sharp features and the softness of his touch. What a change from the flustered, awkward start of your interaction… A million thoughts and questions flew through your mind, but you let them all drift away to instead savor the moment. 

“Thank you?” you whispered, earning a tiny chuckle from him. 

“My pleasure,” Rex answered, “Should we go discuss some more battle strategy?” 

You laughed out loud now, giving his cheek a fond caress, "Fantastic idea."

LOOK!! Fanart!! 😭😍🥹👏🏻👏🏻 SO HAWTT!!

[freesia-writes]

Hey!!! If you're still up for doing the first kiss prompts, I'd love to see 'are you sure about this' with my sweet boy Tup!

❤️❤️❤️

Hiiii! I’m so happy I was finally able to write something for you! Your reblogs and comments and whatnot have been so appreciated for so long! I still feel awkward in my writing but this felt warm and fuzzy, haha, so I hope you enjoy!

Tup x GN!Reader

Word Count: 1.3k

SFW, rated teen and up

Divider helmet artwork by @lornaka 💕

Rain pattered against the window as it always did, providing a gentle backdrop to the more sterile sounds of the medical equipment all around you. It had been a long day, working alongside the Kaminoans to evaluate squad after squad of troopers to deem them fit for active duty. You had greatly enjoyed your time on Kamino so far, at least once you got over the initial distaste from the “longnecks” (as the clones called them) at having a GAR medic scientist assigned to their facility. The troopers had blown you away with their unique personalities and incredibly diverse perspectives. While they all looked the same, more or less, you greatly enjoyed watching them develop in leaps and bounds in the short time you knew them — from the day they turned 18 to the day they shipped out, which usually wasn’t too long. That time would be spent in rigorous exercises and specialized training, where troopers would grow into a sense of self and a readiness for the battlefield.

You listened to their stories during their medical exams and fitness tests, growing in your affection for them and resenting more and more this intergalactic war that took so many of them in a seemingly endless demand. And the account from the last trooper you had examined was still playing on repeat in your mind when the door whooshed open and the next patient walked in. Your heart skipped a beat when you recognized that face, distinguished from an early age by a single teardrop tattoo beneath one eye, and the textured brown hair pulled into a tight top knot.

“Tup!” you exclaimed happily, almost too happily… But you couldn’t hide it anyway — the connection the two of you shared had been apparent for some time. He had a quiet way about him, an unusual meekness that also seemed to disappear when he stepped into “soldier mode“, and gentleness and depth that drew you in like a moth to the flame. You had known this day was coming for a long time, even though you didn’t want to believe it.

“Hey, Doc,” he said lightly, though there was a weight to his words. “Time for that final exam.”

“Don’t say it that way!” you said with a forced chuckle, patting the exam table. “I had better see you in here again.”

“I’m sure you will,” Tup answered as he sat sideways on the bed. “People seem to come back with injuries frequently from Umbara. At least that’s what I’ve heard. Although they may just be trying to scare me.”

“Umbara…” you echoed, running an instrument down his spine while you considered his words. “Is that where you’re going?”

“Mhm,” he mumbled, closing his eyes for a second as you took his head in your hands to gently tilt it side to side for range of motion tests. Your breath caught in your throat. His eyelashes were so long, his sharp features relaxing gently beneath your touch… The peaks of his upper lip were so perfectly-shaped…

You released his head and stepped back for a moment, shaking your own head as if to clear the thoughts away. His rich golden brown eyes found yours again, a small smile on his face. Did he know? Were you that obvious? Working quickly in an effort to distract yourself, you began placing electrodes on his body in various places.

It didn’t help that you had to reach under his blacks a few times, to place one on his stomach and a few across his chest and back. Your glance flitted from his to the monitors, currently populating with information from the initial scan. Grateful for the distraction, you turned to face them instead.

A creak of the exam table and motion in the corner of your eye caught your attention, and the next thing you knew, Tup was on his feet behind you, shifting awkwardly from one foot to another yet holding your gaze with a surprisingly determined one of his own. He was closer than before, and his formfitting blacks left little to the imagination. He was unassuming and kind, but he was a grown man and a skilled soldier, all of which felt heavily apparent with his close proximity. You even could’ve sworn you caught a whiff of something clean.

“You’re not done yet,” you spluttered, voice betraying you with a hoarse squeak on the last syllable.

“I know,” he said softly. “I was just wondering if I could test your range of motion.”

“What?” you laughed nervously, any further words freezing on your lips as he cupped your face gently with his warm hands. They were soft yet firm, and as he took another small step closer, you could feel the tremble in his arms.

“You know, range of… oh, nevermind…” he grumbled, dropping his hands and running one awkwardly over his head. “I was trying to be witty.”

Warmth blossomed in your chest at the realization, and you grinned helplessly at his flustered admission. Taking a step forward, you reached for his face with a single hand, dancing light fingers along one side of his jaw.

“You are adorably witty,” you murmured, waiting with bated breath to see where this was going. His face broke into a small, hesitant smile, as though he were loath to allow himself to believe it. “But let’s leave the physical therapy to the medics, and maybe you could communicate your feelings another way…”

His chin jerked up as he regarded you with surprise, and for a moment he wondered if you had assumed too much. Was he just being silly? No… The depths of conversation that you two had enjoyed as well as the meaningful looks and playful banter all seemed to point to more than just platonic flirtation. Goaded onward by the urgency of his imminent departure, you took a final step forward to where your bodies were almost touching.

His heart rate had been steadily climbing, the monitor proclaiming this at top volume as the beeping increased with each movement the two of you had made. Your cheeks curved into a smile, watching a slight flush creep across his as he noticed the sound as well. Sending a meaningful look at his lips before returning to his eyes, you waited, not wanting to make the first move.

“You sure about this?” Tup whispered, barely audible above the traitorous medical equipment.

“Yes please,” you answered, as naturally as if you were at a restaurant being asked if you’d like a refill on your water.

He swallowed hard, an irresistible smile on his own face as he lifted a hand to your face again, this time brushing his thumb along your cheek as he hooked his fingers behind your ear. Tilting his head slightly, he brought his lips to yours, pressing them together with such tentative care you thought your heart would burst. Tingles cascaded over you from head to toe, and you wrapped your arms around his waist, pulling his warm body against your own.

He lingered for a split second, then pulled away, speechless in the afterglow of a simple, chaste kiss that communicated so much. Ducking his head, he rubbed the back of his neck with one hand, looking off to the side.

“That was… um…” he faltered, embarrassed.

“Really nice,” you finished, pulling him into a tight hug. The faintest chuckle rumbled in his chest, and you rested your cheek on his shoulder, relishing the feeling of his arms around you.

“Really nice,” he echoed, and you knew that would not be the last time.

Tag List: @littlefeatherr @arctrooper69 @foreverdaydreaming1 @stunkbiggu @mxkyrie @littlemissbshine @dreamie411 @skellymom @followthepurrgil @the-hexfiles @1vlouds @ughhhhfoff @coraex @gt13tbbart @lune-de-miel-au-paradis @ghostperson69 @secondaryrealm @hellhound5925 @thew0nderer2342 @cloneloverrrrr @kashasenpai @clonethirstingisreal @dukeoftheblackstar @kimiheartblade @mooncommlink @stardusthuntress @starstofillmydream @eyecandyeoz @dhawerdaverd @ladylucksrogue @thiswitchloves9904 @isthereanechoinhere96 @tech-aficionado @foodmoneyandcats @eternal-transcience @cw80831 @adh-d2 @techmexicanvieja @ezras-left-thumb @trixie2023 @sleepycreativewriter @nonsenseandm3mes

Click here to join or leave the tag list.

[freesia-writes]

Just gonna put this one back out into the ether if you're looking for a fun, adventurous, romantic, plot-twisting, cozy, satisfying long read. :)

Hunter Fic Master List

Want to join the tag list? Message me for a fresh Discord server invite or fill out the form here. COVER ART BY @pinkiemme!!

Family Dinner (2.5k words)

School (2.7k)

Boys at the Bar (2.2k)

A Shop Visit (2.2k)

A Heart to Heart (1.8k)

Hikes and Hurts (3.2k)

The Alignment (2.9k)

Further Developments (2.4k)

Storm on the Shore, Part 1 (2.6k)

Storm on the Shore, Part 2 (2k)

Farmer's Market (3.1k)

The Festival (3.2k)

The Gift (3.8k)

Blossoming (3.5k)

First Date (4.5k)

Foreign Contaminant (2.8k)

Graffiti (2.7k)

Beach Date (1.7k)

Montage (2.8)

Keytoll (2.6k)

Deceived (2.1k)

Departure (2.2k)

First Date, Take Two (2.7k)

Unmoored (2.2k)

Surrender and Dread (2.4k)

Confrontation (2.2k)

Reactivity (2.1k)

Party Hard and... (2.1k)

…Pay the Price (2.3k)

Wedding, Part 1 (2.8k)

Wedding, Part 2 (2.9k)

Disorientation (2.3k)

The Waterfall (3.4k)

Attack (3.4k)

Explanation (2.7k)

Clarification (2k)

Ceremony (2k)

Festival #2 (2.7k)

Finding Footing (3.3k)

Beach Date #2 (2.6k)

Cooking (2.6k)

Dancing (2.4k)

Settling (2.4k)

Full Circle (2.5k)

Fanart wish list (scenes to be drawn should they spark joy)

Enjoy a playlist with songs for each chapter

Artwork (links and credits below!!)

Hunter and Lyra on the Beach - by @amalthiaph

Hunter in the Cave - by @perfectlywingedcrusade

Family Dinner - by @nika6q

Hunter in the Kitchen - by @snotbuggle

Hunter's Butcher Shop - by @nika6q

Hunter and Lyra's dance - by @perfectlywingedcrusade

The Cave - by @the-little-moment

Hunter in a Rain Shower - by @the-little-moment

Hunter Tries Yoga - by @matookahitaki

Hunter in his Fancy Suit - by @marymunchkiin

Hunter and Lyra on a Fathier - by @ve-ti-ver

Hunter and Lyra - by @raevulsix

Tiki Bar with Luciana - by @clownbloody

Something To Be Revealed - by @clownbloody 😂

Hiking to the Waterfall - by @acryliccassetteart

It'll Be Okay - by @autistic-artistech

[freesia-writes]

mmmmnomnomnom

[freesia-writes]

MY FRIENDS.

THIS.

Even an empty reblog with some tags is better than nothing!!

I can't express how much I agree with OP. It's so much work, so much love, and so much excitement to share the product with others. Sure, we enjoy the process, but we do write for others in the same way that someone who loves to cook would really enjoy preparing a meal for others (AND hearing that it's good)!

<3

Re the last couple reblogs: the thing about all of it isn't necessarily that having the private discord fic servers is bad. And maybe if commenting is something that makes you anxious, you want to be able to react there first and that's a great idea.

The problem becomes if you never then share that reaction with the creator, because even if we aren't writing for you/for the audiences and responses, we're only bothering to post it where you can see it for that.

I mean I'm not going to lie: often we do in fact write for the response. Writing is work; I write very fast, and a thousand words of the very raw-est first-draft story still takes at least an hour just to do the physical writing, let alone the dreaming up, the planning, the editing, the remembering, and everything else. Sometimes the existence of the art in and of itself at the end is enough reward for that work - but bluntly sometimes it really isn't.

But in addition, posting is also work in and of itself. It is effort; even when I had it moooore or less down to a cut-and-paste for YBEB it was several minutes for sorting it out, posting it and double-checking it per single-chapter fic (multi chapter fics, all the more so).

Fan-creators put their stuff up for free; fanwriters in particular create the equivalent of hundreds of thousands of novels a year which are then available for free to those who like them. (Other fan creators also make amazing efforts but as my thing is writing writing is the one I have equivalent-estimates for).

Some kind of response that the author can see and is made aware of - that is positive - is the only reward the author gets for going to the effort of, if not writing it, at least posting it where you can see it.

If you want that to keep happening, it's probably a good idea to give the authors you like some kind of reward. And I really am speaking just of the fics you actually like a lot!

An easy way is just to have a lot of standard Delighted Responses that you can use - that much itself is actively worth it to share with the author, because that's specifically the recognition/awareness that someone has loved it that counts. Others have suggested the also delightful idea that you just c/p the gushing you may or may not do in the private servers, and so on.

But frankly "this was delightful" or other simple handsfuls of words expressing happiness to read it is all you really need.

[freesia-writes]

💀

ask game! give 5 boring facts about yourself and pass it on (no pressure!)

I did this already, but I'm quite boring, so here are five more:

I wear glow-in-the-dark nail polish outside of October.

I have DNA from three continents.

I hate sweating. (Yes, I see the irony.)

I save spiders I find in my house.

Chatting owls kept me awake last night. (Again, I see the irony.)

[freesia-writes]

👀

Funny story.

You know how sometimes you do writing research for things that you'll never, ever need in real life?

Well.

Turns out it's a damn good thing I learned how to improvise a tourniquet while writing a story last year.

[freesia-writes]

A regularly-scheduled reminder, shared with the utmost warmth and love, that the best way to support writers and artists on Tumblr is the reblog function. 🥰

Add comments in the reblog or not. Add tags or not. Any reblog, empty or full, is appreciated and the most appreciated way to encourage us as we work to create lovely stuff for you to enjoy! ❤️

[freesia-writes]

💀💀💀💀

Y'all are the best. 😂

🐺

...

Have you ever heard how foxes sound!? 📣🦊

I headcanon that Commander Wolffe and Commander Fox do this since they were tubies 🫠 Wolffe knows exactly how to get his brother to let off some steam! And Fox would never admit, but no matter how stressed he is, he plays along because it's one of the rare chances to get Wolffe chuckling! 🤩

I had this idea for quite a long time, but today I was so happy to stumble over it in this gorgeous piece of Wolffe and Fox tubies by @catawampuscorner! Your honor ✨ I had time and so that's it! 😂 Thank you for the inspiration to realize it! 🫶

Taglist: @eclec-tech @lonewolflupe @bixlasagna @returnofthepineapple @sunshinesdaydream @covert1ntrovert @general-ida-raven @vrycurious @dystopicjumpsuit @chaicilatte @groguandthebadbatch @justanotherdikutsimp @ladylucksrogue @spaceyjessa

Stay FOXed 🦊: @ghostymarni @thora-sniper @feral-ferrule @nika6q @foxwithadarkside

[freesia-writes]

🙈

We needed a lil somethin to propel things along, ya know? 😂

Also, hi!! How fun that someone's reading this!

Howzer + Aurelia Ch. 32 - Direction

Beginning with his shiny days, this story follows Howzer's character arc through some heartwarming romance, action, adventure, yearning, angst, and growth.

Content/Trigger Warnings for Entire Work (individual chapters not labeled): wartime peril, injury, and death; sexual assault up to kissing; relationship passion up to making out and heavy petting; sexual relationship alluded to (smut is posted separately); pregnancy, birthing trauma, and stillbirth (chapters 30-39, can be skipped and still keep up with the story).

Master List of Chapters

Word Count: 436 (sorry, it's a short one)

32. Direction

"What... How..." Aurelia spluttered, tripping backward into the wall behind her as horror and disbelief flooded her system. 

"Yes, yes indeed. It's me, alive and well. Moss Gowden, in the flesh," he said, hissing the last word with a chilling venom. "It would seem that your little clone admirer thought he could get rid of me by lying to the Pykes. Tsk tsk," he chided, taking a step closer and causing Aurelia to swallow in fear. "Should have known better. Anyway, it seems that he's out of the picture for now, eh? And you're here... all alone..."

The elevator dinged and the doors slid open, but Aurelia didn't move. A small group of loud adolescents spilled out of it, smacking each other and hurling insults as they trotted through the atrium. An elderly man approached from the side, holding a hand in the elevator and looking at Aurelia curiously. 

"Are you going up?" he asked, his voice weathered with age. 

"She is," Gowden answered, flashing a winning smile that barely hid the revolting gleam in his eyes. "She's got to get some good rest before she comes in to work tomorrow!"

"Okay then," the man said, shuffling in and pressing a button, still holding the door for her. 

Aurelia slid toward it, not wanting to move an inch closer to Gowden, but he leaned in right next to her ear, causing her to freeze in panic again as he whispered so only she could hear.

"You will come in tomorrow, or there will be... consequences."

* * * 

Aurelia burst into her apartment, banging on the keypad to close the door behind her as quickly as possible. She locked it, double checked it, and then ran to pull the curtains across the transparisteel panels along her living room wall. She felt like an animal trapped in a cage, and her churning stomach threatened to empty its contents. Taking a shaky seat on the couch, she held her head in her hands, allowing the tears to fall freely. It was too much. Any one of these events was enough to rock her entire world, but to have all of it heaped up in one day? 

It was dinnertime, but she had no sense of hunger whatsoever. She pulled her datapad from the table, tapping furiously as she sought the only option she could think of... 

—————————————— ENCRYPTED TRANSMISSION//1800 HRS

IVAADI -- IN DANGER, CAN'T EXPLAIN -- PLEASE CONFIRM CORUSCANT POSITION WITH SURGEON AND ASK FOR ESCORT FOR ME TO DEPART ASAP, BEFORE 0600 TOMORROW. PLEASE CONFIRM RECEIPT AND TRANSPORT ASAP. CANNOT LEAVE APARTMENT.

RELI

——————————————

.

Next Chapter

[freesia-writes]

🥵

Hunter sketch page

[freesia-writes]

There are soooo many creators on here that I love dearly, but to be completely honest, DJ is my favorite writer of all time.

Martyrs and Kings, a post-stasis Kix longfic literally lingers in my mind. It's so engaging and beautiful and such an incredible ride (figuratively and literally with some satisfying smut, LOL).

The Stars Beyond Number longfic is GENIUS because it parallels the shows but from the POV of the other clones setting up the rebellion. Plus some incredible sexy scenes, really moving characters, and just all the warmth and enjoyment

And finally, this sexy little hair-pulling Tup one-shot is something that also sticks in my mind in the most satisfying way. ;)

LOVE YOU @dystopicjumpsuit!!

Welcome to Piña’s Creator Corner!

Twice a week I will showcase a creator that I love in TCW/TBB fandom!

This week I want to shout out @dystopicjumpsuit

DJ is a prolific creative. From fics, to art, to graphics, and so much more DJ is a huge contributor to the fandom and we are all so much better for it!

This cocktail masterlist is just so cool and creative!

These graphics are amazing!

Double, Double Boil and Trouble is a fantastic fic!! There just isn’t enough Boil content!

Divider by @djarrex

[freesia-writes]

oooo GORGEOUS! So tranquil and yet something else too... Love her face. 🥹

The ocean on Kamino is the womb that gave her birth

(Commission)

[freesia-writes]

😄

Ch 36: Clarification

Master List ~~ Previous Chapter ~~ WC: 2k

Hunter watched as the ship disappeared into the clouds, feeling its jump to hyperspace as he stared after it in utter disbelief. He couldn’t get to Tech’s fast enough, mind racing the entire way. 

“That is a most fascinating series of events,” Tech observed after Hunter had filled him in on the tumult of the last few days. 

“That’s one way to put it,” Hunter grumbled, taking a long drink from his cup of caf. “So, she wasn’t lying?”

“I did not detect a single trace of deception. Considering your apparent affinity for attracting supernatural activity on this island, it will likely be a fruitless search for concrete scientific answers.”

“I’m not looking for this supernatural stuff.”

“I know.” Tech skimmed through the data the scanner had recorded, reviewing and confirming what he’d surmised. “Her mind seems entirely convinced of the story she told. There are some odd physiological markers in the parts of her brain responsible for memory. It would appear that she has somehow been reverted to a past state, with absolutely no recollection of any of the events you shared together. It is a neurobiological phenomenon called autobiographical amnesia.”

“You’re sure?”

“There is no other possibility. If there were, I would likely have some inkling and would be able to follow the trail to a solid conclusion. But, as it stands, the semi-sentient island seems to have freed you entirely from any potential repercussions or further concerns.”

“I don’t believe it…”

“Hunter,” Tech said, slightly exasperated now. “It is not the first time we have seen inexplicably mystical occurrences, both here and in the galaxy at large. I would advise that you consider it a wonderfully fortuitous part of your narrative and proceed as usual.” 

“Better than any of the alternatives,” he said darkly, having considered every possible way to neutralize the threat that she represented, some of which were decidedly more gruesome than he felt comfortable with.

“Indeed. It is wildly convenient. This island seems to be quite useful in your story.”

“Guess so.”

“The only additional matter at hand is any remaining interaction between you and Lyra.”

Hunter took a deep breath, his rich brown eyes fixed in a distant gaze out the window.

* * * 

The door swung open shortly after the gentle knock, and Lyra beamed when she saw Hunter, then quickly adjusted it into a smaller, more acceptable smile. She ushered him in, having dressed in her usual attire – a loose, beige dress made of linen and a knitted cardigan over it, although this time the sweater was a blush pink color that gave her a more feminine look. A litany of drool-worthy smells filled his nose as they arrived in the kitchen, the counters strewn with nearly every cooking tool she owned, and she rested her backside against the counter, regarding him meekly. 

“Apparently I like to cook when I’m stressed,” she confessed with a self-effacing chuckle. “You hungry?”

“I wasn’t before I walked in,” he rumbled, gaze moving from the baked goods cooling on a rack near the window to the large pan on the stove with a savory scramble steaming in it. She smiled, moving at once to put a kettle on and fetch some plates. 

“So uh… What the heck happened?” She couldn’t wait a moment longer to hear the rest of the story. 

“Tech is absolutely positive that she somehow reverted to her life a few years ago. She’s completely convinced that she was here on vacation, never met us before, has no idea who we are, and was content to go back to her freelance journalist job based out of Coruscant. Apparently she still has an apartment there, and GNN allows her to come and go instead of requiring a steady presence, so it will be unbelievably effortless for her to just slip back into life there.”

“I don’t believe it,” she said softly, stirring a splash of cream into his caf the way she remembered he liked it. 

“Me neither, to be honest. But Tech was sure.”

“How would it–” She was interrupted by the chime of Hunter’s commlink, and he pulled it from a pocket and clicked a button. 

“Yeah?”

“I have some additional information for you and Lyra,” Tech’s distorted voice reported. 

“Great,” Hunter said, not sure how many more complications he could take. 

“I was further piecing together all of the events that have transpired from the very start and corroborating them with any and all evidence I could locate. A recent news development may prove to be reassuring to both of you.”

“Alright, let’s hear it,” he said. Lyra stepped closer to listen, brushing her arm against his before pulling away self-consciously. 

“Am I correct in assuming that Vuxpasian Trawley is Lyra’s former boss, the one that has been seeking to have her either incarcerated or disposed of?”

“Yes,” she answered, and Hunter felt the tension grip her entire body. 

“Excellent. He is dead.”

“Very straightforward, Tech. Thank you,” Hunter said, voice laced with affection for his brother’s unique style of communicating as Lyra gasped softly beside him, both hands racing to her mouth.

“I also have some additional information,” Crosshair drawled. Apparently everyone was on the same comm frequency today.

“I am not finished–” Tech protested.

“Too bad. This is important,” Crosshair insisted, not waiting for a reply. “Hunter… A Bantha sent a message. He wants to know why you stole his hairstyle.”

The guffaw that burst out of Lyra’s mouth made her immediately clap a hand over it, her cheeks flushed with immediate embarrassment as she looked apologetically at Hunter, whose lips were pressed together.

“Sorry,” she mouthed.

Tech continued, sparing not a single moment for Crosshair’s ridiculousness. “Anyway, while not directly stated in the official documents, it is more than obvious that it was none other than Emperor Palpatine who saw him dead. Trawley was reported to have been conducting his own research in the field of cloning, which as we know, is of utmost importance to Palpatine. By reading between the lines, I was able to deduce that he tried to blackmail the Empire by threatening to sabotage their own work in the field if they did not give him a position of esteem. Needless to say, it did not end well for him. So he, and anyone else who would have cared about the evidence possessed by Lyra and her daughter, have been… neutralized, to put it more gently for the apparently sensitive ears.”

Lyra stared at the comm, a myriad of expressions dancing across her face as she shook her head slowly, reeling from just how much had changed in a single twenty-four hour period. A deep, shaky breath was her best attempt at calm, and she pulled out a wooden chair to settle herself at the table. 

“The two of you may benefit from some time to process all of this. It is downright astonishing how every single factor that would stand in the way of a peaceful, happy future without fear of outside threats seems to have been taken care of. If I believed in fate, I would posit that it is in your favor. Anyway, see you at family dinner on Benduday.”

“And maybe try to put that mess into a ponytail,” Crosshair added, followed by Wrecker’s laugh and a deep inhale. Hunter clicked the comm off before he could finish whatever he was about to say.

He sank into the seat beside Lyra, rubbing his forehead with one hand before resting them both on the table. They both faced the wall, staring at the endless array of knick knacks and nature collections that summed up her delight with the simple things in life, and lost themselves in thought. 

“So… We’re just free to live happily ever after?” she finally asked, her skepticism laced with a depth of yearning that she didn’t want to admit. 

His distant stare dropped to the table, following the gnarled pattern of the wood grain that flowed and spiraled beneath his hands. The self-imposed yoke of doubt that rested heavily across his shoulders reminded him of the improbability, and yet that cynical voice of disbelief now had a competitor: a tiny, wistful flicker of hope.

“Want to eat?” Lyra broke the silence with her timid question. The delicious scents of her kitchen frolicked back into his consciousness, and he nodded, bringing himself back to the present. She fetched a couple of mismatched plates, one dark blue and handmade, the other more elaborate with a delicately woven vine along the edges, and piled each one high with a scramble, croissant, chopped potatoes, and fruit. Hunter couldn’t help but chuckle as she set the single-plate feast in front of him, and he quickly clarified as her face revealed insecurity.

“No, this is great,” he said quickly. “It’s just enough to make Wrecker feel full… for at least an hour.” 

She laughed self-consciously, fingers toying with the messy braid resting over her shoulder, and shrugged. “I’ll tell you what I told Breslin as a child – eat what you want and leave the rest.” Her expression deepened as the memories surfaced, and Hunter found himself with a strong desire to be privy to her internal thoughts. 

“You were pretty young yourself, yeah?”

“Yeah,” she sighed, stabbing a potato with her fork. “Young and dumb,” she smiled. “But I’ve always been an old lady at heart, no matter my actual age.” Her little snicker warmed his heart, and then she became suddenly serious, eyes distant and full of thought. 

Hunter waited.

“If we really are safe… I wonder if Breslin could come live here… Although she had a pretty good setup on Keytoll, so I don’t know if she’d even want to. But gods, I’ve missed her.”

“How old is she?” 

“Twenty-four.”

“So you had her when you were–”

“Eighteen. It wasn’t ideal by any means, and there’s never been a father in the picture. She was the consequence… turned into a gift… of some foolish choices.” She reflected for a moment, slowly swallowing another bite of potato, then studied him intently, a question on her lips that she seemed to be holding back. 

“What?” he prompted, catching her gaze. 

“You’re… twenty-eight?” The barely-restrained cringe on her face spoke volumes, and he felt his heart sink a little. 

“Yeah… But…” The truth of his engineering hung over him like a shameful dark cloud. “We were created with an accelerated aging process. So we age at twice the rate of… real people.” The pain in his voice at the last two words was unmistakable, and Lyra’s face deepened with compassion. 

“You are a real person,” she whispered, eyes glistening with emotion. 

“I guess so.”

“So…” she mulled it over. “In ten years, I’ll be fifty-two, and you’ll be…”

“Forty-eight,” he muttered. 

“And in fifteen years, you’ll be beating me by a year… fifty-eight when I’m fifty-seven…And so on and so forth,” she continued, doing the math in her head. 

“Yup.”

Silence rested between them for a moment.

“What’s it like?” Her question surprised him, and he tilted his head, resting his fork and knife on the edges of his plate as his hands loosely clasped them. 

“What?”

“Growing so quickly?” 

“I don’t know… Never known anything else. Honestly, I don’t think any of us really thought we would make it past the war. It was pointless to think that way. We’re… disposable.”

“Hunter,” she said softly, hand twitching toward his before pulling back. 

“No,” he said suddenly, setting down his eating utensils and slowly rising to his feet. A tornado of thoughts was tearing through his mind, and he was beginning to spiral along with it, utterly exhausted from the last twenty-four hours. “I can’t… I can’t do this right now.”

“This?” Her voice quavered. 

He looked at her, wrought with conflict, insecurity, regret, frustration, then with a small shake of his head, turned for the front door, pausing as he twisted the handle, then continued out with slumped shoulders.

.

Previous Chapter ~ Master List ~ Next Chapter

Join the tag list by commenting for the discord server link or filling out my form.

@techhasmjolnir @falconfeather23435 @ladylucksrogue @padawancat97 @baddest-batchers

@anxiouspineapple99 @yunggoblin @littlefeatherr @cw80831 @all-mights-babygirl

@totallyunidentified @lightwise @moonstrider9904 @clonemedickix @dangraccoon

@nursekyra @callsign-denmark @heidnspeak @stardusthuntress @lune-de-miel-au-paradis

@ivyyyyy @kashasenpai @followthepurrgil @littlemissmanga @littlemissbshine

@crosshairscrustysock @lamiliani @skellymom @burningnerdchild @galaxyofthoughts99

@sweeticedtea @starrylothcat @mxkyrie @reader6898 @eyecandyeoz

@trixie2023 @vrycurious @youreababboon @photogirl894 @subbing-for-clones

@yve-barr @salaminus @ezras-left-thumb @etod @dhawerdaverd

@techsgalaxy02 @shadowphantomreaper @violatiger8