#gar cyare fic

[wanderinginksplot-writes]

Gar Cyare Chapter Seventeen

You come across a new arrival on Kamino

Word Count: 7,400

Warnings: Missing a friend, stress, lies, threats, mentions and discussions of reconditioning, investigations, conspiracy, war crime mention

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Traat'Aliit (Squad)

It was strange, the difference that one person could make in something as big as a city.

When the original ARC class had left, Tipoca City had felt empty. You hadn’t spend much time with the ARCs-in-training outside of mealtimes and the occasional training you attended, but the whole planet had felt a little colder without the boisterous troopers hanging around. 

You had expected something similar with Limit gone from the planet, but you hadn’t expected that it would hurt just as badly as the ARCs. Sheer numbers would suggest that it wouldn’t, but Limit had been such a large part of your life on Kamino. You felt his absence every moment and each one took your breath away. 

Alpha had done his best to help fill the void Limit left, but he had his hands full. The new ARC group had arrived, and they were at the stage of their training that needed the most attention. You still saw Alpha regularly, but that was largely because he always found his way to your quarters at the end of the day. 

None of that helped take your mind off the most concerning thing for you: the report was essentially complete. You had purposefully left a few sections unfinished so you would have something to work on, and you still had to proofread everything and organize it into the Republic’s desired format, but none of that would take longer than a month. Jaiss’s polite requests for updates had turned into more urgent reminders that your extended deadline was coming up quickly. 

You were, undeniably, running out of time on Kamino. 

And that was why, unable to bear the idea of staying trapped in your office for another moment, you had found your way to one of the break spaces deeper in the interior of the stilt-city. If asked, you would claim it was because the caf there was better, but you needed to be somewhere else. Somewhere you couldn’t see the datapads and report notes. 

To your surprise, you had been in the break room for less than ten minutes before you were interrupted by the arrival of Commander Colt. 

“Oh,” he said, pulling up short. It seemed that you had surprised Colt just as much as he had surprised you. “I wasn’t expecting anyone to be here. Everything okay?” 

You started to give a rote assurance, but something about Colt seemed… off. There were stress lines etched into his face, which was filled with an expression of weariness. Even his posture was less perfect than usual, and you started to worry. “Is everything okay with you?” 

“Avoiding the question isn’t going to do you any favors,” Colt lectured. 

You crossed your arms, unintimidated by the way he was looming ominously over you. It was easy to do, since you were sitting down. “Back at you. I’m fine. And you?” 

Colt rolled his eyes at the pointedness of your question, but relented a moment later. He pulled out another chair at the table, slumping into it and rubbing at his forehead. “We have a new arrival on Kamino.”

“You mean the new ARC trainees?” you asked, befuddled. “They arrived a few days ago. Are they making trouble?” 

“No, Alpha’s already got them in line,” Colt said, the ghost of a smile passing over his tired face. It faded quickly, leaving you concerned and watching him closer than ever. “This one is… something else.” 

You leaned forward, scarcely aware of the motion. “Something else. Can you explain how?” 

Colt eyes you in weary amusement. “You and your tionase. He was sent here by his general for disobeying an order.” 

“They sent him to Kamino for disobeying an order?” It came out as a question, but you weren’t really asking. You had understood Colt, but the reasoning behind it was a mystery. “Why wouldn’t he go to Coruscant to be held accountable by the GAR? If it was that serious, why isn’t he facing a court-martial?”

“It’s not my story to tell,” Colt told you, looking away in apparent discomfort. Before you could apologize for upsetting him, he stood, muttered a goodbye, and left. 

Maybe this was exactly what you needed, you thought with a twinge of guilt. If the Senate wanted a report about the clone troopers, surely it couldn’t hurt to include an example of a time when a trooper didn’t obey orders. 

You hopped to your feet, discarding your caf and snatching up your datapad before hurrying out of the room. You had to find the trooper before anyone could stop you. 

At last, you located him. Kamino didn’t have much cause for a jail, but one of the smaller instruction rooms had been turned into a makeshift holding cell. The single clone trooper inside looked almost comically small, a single dot of color in the blank white expanse of a Kaminoan space meant to hold dozens. 

Then you stepped in the room and he looked over at you. He looked resigned, and weary enough to give Colt a run for his credits. 

Internally, you reclassified the unfamiliar trooper from ‘almost comical’ to ‘gut-wrenchingly sad’. There was something so desolate about him in that space, something that looked like a human version of a plaintive cry. Your heart ached just looking at him, especially when he struggled to his feet and offered a salute made clumsy with bound hands. 

“Sergeant Riptide, ma’am,” he reported. 

“Please, don’t…” After a moment of hesitation, you remembered the words. “At ease, trooper.” 

Riptide’s posture moved to something less formal, but he didn’t look any more relaxed. 

“Riptide?” you mused, trying to find a way to make him feel less worried. “Are you a SCUBA trooper?” 

He blinked, looking like you had thrown him off for the first time. “No, ma’am. I wanted to be, but I wasn’t chosen for the training. The name stuck, though. I hoped to get certified eventually, but…” 

The hopeless gesture at himself made you frown. “Well, I’m going to be honest with you, Riptide: I’m not officially part of this investigation.” 

“I figured that out, ma’am,” Riptide said slowly. “If you were, you’d have read about me in my file. You’d know I’m not a SCUBA, and you’d know that this isn’t an investigation. I won’t get one of those.” 

If ever there had been a phrase designed to make you want to fight, Riptide had found it. “I’ll have to disagree with you on that. I’ll make sure you get an investigation, even if I have to conduct it myself. But I need you to start by telling me what happened.” 

Riptide’s story was hard to listen to, but it was made worse by the detached tone he used to tell it. He didn’t sound uncaring, simply numb and resigned to facing the consequences of his actions. 

And what actions they were. 

Riptide had only just finished speaking when the doors opened to admit a small group. Nala Se was at the front, head swaying gracefully as she crossed the distance between you. Kaminoan expressions were notoriously difficult to read, but you didn’t believe she was pleased to see you. 

Behind Nala Se - and partially hidden by the Kaminoan’s height - was Shaak Ti. She looked serene as ever, though her expression was serious as she glided behind the Kaminoan. 

At the back of the group was Commander Colt. His eyes were fixed on the group ahead of himself, and the weary lines of his face seemed to be etched even deeper. He was nearly halfway across the space when he glanced up to find you standing beside Riptide. He didn’t pause, but you could see the instant of confusion that flashed across his face. 

“Administrator,” Nala Se greeted when she had approached. Her voice was gentle and polite as ever, but there was a coldness to it that gave you a glimpse of her true feelings. “We were not expecting you here.” 

“Really?” you asked, pretending to be confused. “But how can I write an accurate report for the Republic if I don’t see how the clone troopers behave when they are not performing to anticipated standard?”

The skin around Nala Se’s large eyes tightened. “Like any product, the clones can contain aberrations that make them function less effectively, but such incidents are rare.” 

“I agree,” you interrupted. “Even more so since I don’t believe that there is any reason for Riptide to be here at all.” 

“Is that so?” Shaak Ti asked, watching you consideringly. “And what brings you to that conclusion?”

“Riptide refused to follow an order issued by his commanding officer,” you explained. “But that order itself goes against the laws of warfare as determined by the Republic. All soldiers of the Grand Army of the Republic must recognize Chancellor Palpatine - and the Republic by extension - as the ultimate authority, superseding even their generals and others in their direct chain of command.”

“And what was the order you believe he disobeyed?” There was something pointed in Nala Se’s tone, and it was enough to put you on-edge. Maybe this wasn’t a simple misunderstanding, as you had hoped.

Still, you forged ahead with the explanation Riptide had given you. “His general ordered him to burn a village filled with Separatist sympathizers.” 

“We were given a different version of events, from a far more trusted source,” Nala Se countered. “CT-6287 refused to pass on his general’s order to retreat. His stubbornness and inaction resulted in the deaths of several clones. His general was disappointed and reluctant to send 6287 to Kamino, but he ultimately agreed that the clone’s continued presence on the battlefield was a risk to his entire battalion.” 

There was a finality to Nala Se’s tone, as if she had given a recalcitrant child such a logical explanation that the conversation could do nothing but end. 

She didn’t know you very well. 

“As admitting the truth would mean immediate jailtime for attempting to commit a war crime, I’m not surprised that Riptide’s general shifted the blame. But there are a half-dozen witnesses who saw what really happened. What have they said?”

Nala Se blinked. “They were not asked for their statements. Due to their enhanced loyalty, clones would be far too willing to lie for each other-” 

“Even if asked a direct question?” Shaak Ti asked incisively. “Because that would also constitute an unwillingness to obey orders. That is a far more serious problem, and one that may dissuade the Republic from making further orders from the Kaminoan laboratories.”

“General, I must protest.” Nala Se’s head bobbed more rapidly, her long fingers clasped together tightly. “You have seen many clones and work with one on a daily basis. Surely any true reason for concern would have been apparent far before now.” 

“I agree,” Shaak Ti said with a nod. “So I agree with the administrator: it is odd that this clone trooper would struggle with orders when so many of his brothers do not. Upon reflection, I believe it would be wise to dig into the accounts of the incident more thoroughly.”

Nala Se straightened, drawing herself up to an even more impressive height. “And who will be responsible for the investigation? You are quite busy and I certainly do not have the time.”

“I’ll investigate,” you volunteered. “I already have the names and comm frequencies of Riptide’s squadmates. That will be a good place to start.”

“I would think your focus would be on finishing your report so you may leave Kamino,” Nale Se said, sounding the closest to impatient you had ever heard from a Kaminoan. 

You lifted your chin stubbornly. “This is more important.” 

“And what about you, trooper?” Commander Colt asked, speaking for the first time since he had entered the room. “Anything to say for yourself?” 

“The only order I disobeyed was the order to kill civilians, sir,” Riptide said, voice quiet at first, but gaining strength as he spoke. “We clones only have our honor, sir. As you taught us.”

Colt nodded. 

“One more thing.” You were reluctant to snap the tension of the moment, but you needed to get started contacting Riptide’s brothers. “I want Riptide to get food and water. And a blanket. And a place to sleep.” 

“One more thing?” Nala Se asked waspishly. 

“Haven’t you had any food, trooper?” Shaak Ti asked, kneeling in front of the low cot where Riptide sat. The motion put her on his eye level.

He shook his head slowly, staring at her as if transfixed. “No, General.” 

She patted his knee kindly. “We will remedy that. Give us a few minutes to get the items you require.” 

“Yes, ma’am.” 

With a gentle gesture, Shaak Ti ushered everyone out of the room, closing the door behind herself. She faced the door for a long moment and you wondered if you were still supposed to be standing there. You leaned away from the door, ready to start walking back toward your office as soon as you gauged the tone of the conversation and whether you were going to be reprimanded. 

“Mistress Se,” Shaak Ti started as she turned around, fiercely glinting eyes contrasting against her otherwise peaceful expression. Nala Se straightened, seeming almost nervous… even to your human eyes. 

Suddenly, you decided against leaving. There was nowhere in the galaxy you would rather be at that moment. 

“Yes, General Ti?” Nala Se asked. 

“Why is it that clone trooper Riptide was deprived of food, water, and basic comforts?” Shaak Ti asked, going immediately for the verbal throat. “That is now how we treat detainees of any sort, and especially not those who belong to our own army.” 

“There is a perfectly reasonable explanation,” Nala Se assured her. “Riptide has been scheduled for reconditioning. The procedure is safest if there are minimal contents in the stomach. And it is far simpler if the clone’s body temperature is lower. It is customary for them to wear only their body glove in a cool chamber in the time leading up to the process.”

You had to look away from Nala Se or you were going to get violent. Instead, your eyes went to Shaak Ti - who looked more than a little capable of violence, herself - then to Commander Colt.

The sight of him made you twitch. Colt was always strong, ready to take charge and lead, especially if it meant protecting his brothers. But an unfamiliar man stood beside you. The discussion of reconditioning had made him draw into himself, as if he were creating a smaller target by instinct or design. His expression was miserable and haunted, eyes fixed on Nala Se as if she would turn her intentions to him, next. 

You took a slow step closer, subtly lifting your hand to press it against Colt’s back. He twitched hard, gaze shooting to you in shock and defensiveness. You offered an apologetic smile and lightened your touch in a silent offer to break the contact. Colt shook his head and leaned back slightly, pressing your hand against his back once more. 

“And you intended to… recondition this man without any approval from the GAR, the Senate, or the Jedi Order?” Shaak Ti asked, her voice dangerously polite.

“If our product does not perform to expected standards, we reserve the right to correct the issue,” Nala Se reminded her. “It is part of our continued contract with the Republic.” 

“It sounds as if there may be cause to believe that Riptide’s actions were correct,” Shaak Ti countered. “I propose we allow the administrator to proceed with her investigation. We may make our decision when she has found any additional information that may prove Riptide’s case against his general.” 

Nala Se silently swayed her head back and forth as she worked through that. “No, CT-6287 is a defective clone. He is our responsibility. The Republic has no say in this matter.” 

“I would argue that he is property of the GAR and the Republic.” Shaak Ti straightened even further, tucking her hands behind her back. “And as I am the liaison for both of those groups on Kamino, I am the one responsible for Riptide.” 

“Perhaps I should contact Senator Tohu,” Nala Se threatened. 

You were at a total loss on that name until something clicked in the far recesses of your brain. Lon Tohu was the new senator for Kamino, replacing the likely corrupt Klaanuc Dralnulo.

“You may certainly try.” Shaak Ti’s customary smile looked sharper than you usually saw it. “Given that it is shortly after midnight on Coruscant, I fear you may have to wait for a response.” 

Nala Se didn’t answer. Instead, she stalked away, headed toward the section of Tipoca City that housed the long-range comm system. 

“I believe you should start your investigation sooner rather than later,” Shaak Ti told you. “I cannot claim to know what hours Lon Tohu keeps, but he will answer eventually. Thank you for bringing all of this to my attention.” 

You frowned. “Your attention? I thought you were aware of whatever the Kaminoans were planning. Why else were you down here?” 

“Nala Se told us that someone had broken into the holding cells,” she said, shaking her head. “If I had known what sort of conditions they were holding Riptide in, I would have been here much sooner. Please trust that I will take a keen interest in any troopers returning to Kamino in the future.” 

You nodded and turned away, but paused at Colt’s soft voice. “Go get ‘em, ad’ika.”

Tracking down Riptide’s friends had been trickier than expected. His general clearly hadn’t expected there to be any repercussions after he sent Riptide away, so the rest of his battalion remained intact. However, no one seemed inclined to answer their comms. 

The last comm frequency you had belonged to Stick, Riptide’s second-in-command. “You’re who? No, Riptide isn’t here.” 

You patiently explained the situation to him again, hoping the connection would be stronger the second time. It would be easier to use the official long-distance comms, but you didn’t trust Nala Se not to interfere somehow. If she even allowed you to use them while she was trying to contact Lon Tohu. 

All you could do was hope that Alpha’s illegally modified long-distance wrist comm would last until this investigation was over. 

“Sarge is on Kamino?” Stick asked, sounding horrified. “The general told us that he had requested to be transferred to another unit. Did they-? Are they gonna-? Is he okay?” 

The hopelessness in Stick’s tone made your heart pang. “He’s fine, but not for long. I need some kind of proof that your general asked him to burn the Separatist sympathizer village. Because the general is saying that Riptide ignored an order to retreat. Says a bunch of troopers died.” 

Stick swore vividly, some of it in languages you didn’t even recognize. “That liar. The only men who died on that mission were the ones who listened to the general instead of the sarge.”

“Do you have any proof of that?” you pressed. “I’ve stalled them for now, but I don’t have long.” 

“I don’t,” Stick admitted. “But if anyone has some kind of proof, it’s Holo. The man records everything. Maybe he got something without the general knowing.” 

“Can you give me his comm frequency?” You hoped the urgency in your voice carried over the comms, but you could never be sure. “Or I can give you mine to pass on to him. But I need to speak with him as soon as possible.” 

“Give me two minutes,” Stick said, and the line cut a moment later. 

You were anxiously counting the seconds when your comlink rang again. “The general sent Holo out on a mission yesterday evening. He’s in hyperspace right now and I can’t get through to him. How long does the sergeant have?” 

“Not long,” you replied, biting your lip. “I’ll do everything I can, but the Kaminoans are fighting to keep him, and I don’t know how much longer Shaak Ti and I can fight them off. I guess there’s something in their contract that says they get to deal with troopers however they decide is best.” 

“Karkin’ long-necks,” Stick said grimly. “Let me keep trying. I’ll contact some of Holo’s squad-mates. Maybe he sent them something.” 

“Can you give me a frequency?” you asked. It was pushy, but there was only so long you could keep Riptide away from Nala Se and her reconditioning. Especially if Tohu got involved. “We can contact more people if we’re working together. Besides, this is my only focus for the day. I’d rather not just sit here wondering…” 

“I understand,” Stick agreed, and there was a weary understanding in his voice that said he understood all too well. You wondered how many times he had been stuck wondering about the safety of someone he couldn’t protect, but had to stop thinking about it. You didn’t have time to feel sad and hopeless. Not when there was a chance you could still save Riptide. “I’ll send you Dex’s frequency.” 

“Thank you.” The gratitude rang out over a line that had gone dead. Stick’s comm manners were a little rough, but he had other things that were more important. 

By the time you pulled the comlink away from your mouth, it was chiming with an incoming message. You called the frequency as soon as you could enter the proper commands and listened with your heart in your mouth as it rang.

“H’lo?”

The voice was rough and slurred with either sleep or alcohol. You hoped it was sleep, or Dex may not be the resource you needed. “Is this Dex?” 

“Speaking.”

“Hi, I’m an administrator on Kamino and I need-” 

A loud sigh interrupted you. “I don’t have any money. Di’kutla scam comms…”

There was a pause that made your fingers twitch - Dex was getting ready to end the connection. “Dex, wait! Please! It’s Riptide, Stick gave me your number because we can’t get in touch with Holo and I need-” 

“Hang on, hang on,” Dex ordered, sounding more awake than he had during the rest of the comm call. “Sarge? Thought you said you were on Kamino. Riptide is with his new battalion on Geonosis. Something about those bugs coming back for another round.”

“Riptide was never assigned to a new battalion,” you explained quickly. “Your general sent him back to Kamino for reconditioning.”

The silence stretched long enough that you thought Dex may have severed the connection after all. When he finally did speak, Dex’s voice was unsteady. “Is he already gone?” 

“He’s still here, for now,” you reassured him. “The Kaminoans are trying to send him for reconditioning. I’m working with Shaak Ti and Commander Colt to prove that Riptide didn’t disobey an order, but I need proof.” 

“Riptide did disobey an order, though,” Dex told you, sounding wearily resigned. “The general ordered him to do something and he refused. We aren’t allowed to do that.” 

“From what Riptide told me, the order needed to be disobeyed,” you countered. “But your general says Riptide disobeyed a retreat order, which got several troopers killed. Stick said that isn’t true, and his version of the story lines up with everything Riptide told me. I need proof, though. Otherwise, it’s Riptide’s word against the general’s. Stick seemed to think that Holo might have recorded it.” 

Dex swore. “The general must have thought the same thing. He ordered a total wipe of all HUD records and storage a week after the mission. Anything Holo might have had is gone now.” 

Your shoulders slumped and you had to bite back tears. You barely knew this trooper, but you hated to admit defeat. How could you look Riptide in the face and tell him that you had failed? That he was going to be punished for doing the right thing, and there was nothing you could do to stop it because the party who was actually in the wrong was untouchable? 

It… wasn’t fair. Few things were - and even fewer in a warzone - but that didn’t cut through the bitterness on your tongue. 

“But wait,” Dex said, perking you back up. “You said it was the sergeant’s word against the general’s. I’ll vouch for Riptide, and so would half the men in the battalion. We all heard the orders, and heard him refuse to follow them. We can tell whoever we need to that there was no retreat order.”

The hope melted away faster than an ice shard on Batuu. 

“It won’t work,” you said mournfully. “The Kaminoans have already said that they won’t believe the troopers. They think you’ll all stand up for each other, even if that means lying about what really happened.”

Dex swore again, and you half considered joining him. 

“I’ll reach out to some of the other men in our battalion,” he promised. “Maybe someone has something. And I’ll keep trying Holo, just in case.” 

“Good luck, Dex.” You grimaced. “Let me know if you find out anything. Stick is also comming everyone, so you might come across some troopers who already know what’s going on. I’ll stall the Kaminoans as long as possible.” 

“Thank you.” Dex’s voice was tight with emotion again. “He’s a good man and it isn’t right, what they’re trying to do to him. It’s a battle worth fighting, I promise.” 

“You don’t have to convince me of that.” You smiled sadly. “I knew as soon as I spoke with him that I couldn’t let this happen, not if I can help it. Just hurry, please.” 

Dex agreed and severed the connection. 

Unfortunately, that left you in a lull. Stick hadn’t give you anyone else’s comm frequency, and you didn’t want to comm him back and interrupt more productive conversations. Besides, if Dex had been anything to go by, there were good odds that the next trooper would sever the connection before you had a chance to explain yourself. It was asking a lot, to talk to a stranger and take their word on an internal event that had seemingly been handled. 

Something felt off to you, though. You managed to put your finger on it after a few minutes of soul-searching - the general had lied about where Riptide had gone. 

It could be that they weren’t very popular with their troops. Maybe it was easier to mislead everyone about where their sergeant had gone. But it could also be that the general didn’t want anyone to know where Riptide really was so they couldn’t try to interfere. With, say, some evidence that things hadn’t gone exactly how the general said they had. 

No, you refused to believe that the evidence had been fully destroyed. You refused to believe that someone so corrupt could be allowed to continue acting against everything the Republic stood for. You refused to believe that the situation was hopeless. 

You just needed to buy Stick and Dex the time they needed to follow up on leads. With nothing else to do, you started back for Riptide’s holding area. You sent a quick message to Stick on the way - written, so he could see it between calls: 

Stick, I got in touch with Dex. The general had Holo delete his files a week after the mission. Dex is following up now in case anyone had copies. I’m going back to Riptide now. Contact me with any news. 

You had signed the message with your name, though you weren’t actually sure whether you’d given it in your conversation with Stick. If nothing else, you reasoned, there were plenty of context clues for him to pick up on. 

Before you put the comlink away, you called Commander Colt. “I’m headed back down to Riptide. Have you heard or seen anything?”

“Nala Se hasn’t been back there.” 

You frowned. “Good, but did they give him a blanket and some food?” 

“He has a blanket and a ration bar,” Colt reported. “It’s not much, but he’s better off than he was earlier.” 

“Thank you, Colt.” 

You detoured on your way downstairs, picking up two more blankets and a pair of fuzzy socks you had ordered for Alpha (he had steadfastly refused to wear them). The mess hall wasn’t serving food at the moment, but you knew where the previous ARC groups stored their treats. If this group missed the handful of snacks you had taken, you would restock the stash yourself.

Riptide was asleep by the time you arrived. He was curled on the narrow cot as best he could be, huddled under a blanket that looked like it would be too small for a much younger trooper. The remains of a ration bar wrapper rested neatly under the cot. It looked as if he had all but licked it clean.

You carefully spread the blankets over Riptide, moving gently so you didn’t scare him awake. The socks and snacks ended up next to the ration bar wrapper. You sat on the floor, carefully angled so that you could see Riptide and the door, as well as block any intruders’ immediate view of the trooper and the gifts you had brought him.

And then you had nothing left to do but think. 

That was a bad thing, since you immediately fell into ruminations about your report. You weren’t going to include Riptide’s story in it. You had decided that much within minutes of meeting him. 

Which brought you right back to where you had started: the report was done. Yes, you could stretch things out for a while by working on the editing process, then making sure it was properly formatted, but Jaiss would probably offer to help you with all of that. You needed to figure out what your next steps would be. You needed to talk to Alpha.

A low groan came from behind you, followed closely by the sound of someone trying to carefully turn onto their side. 

You turned, finding yourself face-to-face with Riptide, who watched you with surprise. When he finally looked away, he glanced down at the blankets. The way he rubbed them between his thumb and forefinger bordered on reverential. 

“Thank you.” 

With a grimace, you shook your head. “You’re welcome, but I would prefer you didn’t thank me. The blanket they brought you was an embarrassment.”

Riptide snorted. It was the first time you had seen him smile, weak as it was. 

“I also brought you some food.” 

He blinked at you. “I already had a ration bar.” 

With effort, you managed not to make a rude noise in response to that. Instead, you said, “Yes, well… If you decide you want something with a bit more flavor, everything is under the cot.”

Riptide lasted all of three seconds before he glanced under the cot. “Oye! You brought the good stuff.”

“I did my best,” you agreed. 

He ate in silence for a minute while you kept an eye on the door. Eventually, Riptide asked, “Did you manage to get in touch with any of my men?” 

“Some of them,” you explained. “I spoke with Stick and Dex. Everyone is trying to reach Holo, but he’s in hyperspace right now and no one can tell me when he’s supposed to be back in range.” 

“They can’t,” Riptide answered automatically. “Confidential information. It would be a breach of Republic protocol to give away details like that.”

You didn’t answer that. It would be cruel to remind him that the current breach of Republic protocol was what had left his life hanging in the balance. 

Well, probably. If you were being honest, Nala Se had never said exactly what reconditioning was, but you had gathered that it was surgical in nature and - by her own description - ‘corrected’ the problem of troopers disobeying orders. It sounded suspiciously like they were killing troopers who they thought weren’t performing to expected standards. 

And it hadn’t escaped your notice that the troopers from Riptide’s battalion seemed to dread the idea of reconditioning. 

When the door opened again, you were on your feet quickly enough to disorient yourself slightly, but the sight of Nala Se’s cold gray eyes brought you back. 

“Well, administrator?” she asked, voice as dispassionate as her gaze. “What have you discovered about CT-6287’s mission?” 

“I have plenty of people who support Riptide’s version of events,” you told her, lifting your chin even as you wondered where Shaak Ti and Colt were. “None of them have even referenced an order to retreat, much less that Riptide refused to follow it.” 

“But do you have proof?” she pressed. 

“Not yet.” You took half a step forward. “But I will soon.” 

“It does not matter,” Nala Se said. “I have received confirmation from Senator Tohu that we have a contractual right to correct any manufacturing flaws that we discover.” 

“But the clone troopers belong to the Republic,” you argued. “The GAR and the Jedi Council are the ones who have to agree before you can make any ‘corrections’. If Tohu answered your comm, that means that the others should answer soon. Where are General Ti and Commander Colt?” 

“They have not come to find me since our earlier conversation.” Nala Se’s head bobbed thoughtfully. “You could always go discuss the topic with them personally.” 

Something in her inflection made you want to lift your arms to shield Riptide. “No. I have no guarantees that you won’t try anything if I leave.” 

“You do not,” she agreed. If Kaminoans made a habit of smiling, you thought she would have done so.

Your comlink buzzed and you glanced down long enough to see a short message: 

I always make copies of everything. 

There was a file attached. 

“Am I keeping you from something?” Nala Se asked, voice silky. 

“It was Commander Colt,” you lied, meeting her gaze. “He and General Ti are on their way.”

You forwarded the message to Colt, keying a quick request for him to remove any identifying information. You would not be responsible for any other troopers getting in trouble. 

The silence was uncomfortable, and Nala Se didn’t seem inclined to make it any less so. The air seemed thick with tension, almost difficult to breathe, and every time you or Riptide shifted, it felt like the loudest sound ever made. 

It was almost a half-hour before Commander Colt arrived, slightly breathless. “We’ve received the transmission. It shows all the proof we need. I copied it onto a data stick.” 

He handed it to Nala Se and you tensed, somehow sure she would destroy it. Colt glanced at you, a hint of a smile on his face. “And I took the liberty of creating an additional copy to display here.” 

Colt lifted his forearm, flexing his fingers to start a small holographic projector in his vambrace. A tiny pair of figures appeared, caught in mid-argument. 

“I can’t do that, sir,” the holographic Riptide said. 

“You can and you will, trooper,” the general ordered. You could see that he was humanoid and wearing a full uniform. Probably not one of the Jedi generals, then. “I gave you the order once and I do not appreciate repeating myself. Burn it down.” 

Some of the troopers around Riptide shifted uncomfortably, glancing at each other. Riptide spoke again. “Sir, there are civilians inside. Only civilians. No military leaders or targets at all.”

“You think i don’t know that?” the general snapped. “Nothing but Separatist sympathizers in there. The galaxy is better off without them.” 

“No, sir,” Riptide said firmly. “That is against the Republic’s Articles of War and therefore runs counter to the orders given by Chancellor Palpatine at the start of this conflict. I won’t burn it, and neither will any of my men.” 

The general snarled, but before he could reply, shots started firing from beyond the scope of the recording. Cries of the injured rose in the air and the general heaved an irritated sigh. “Retreat to the ship!” 

“Retreat!” Riptide echoed. “Stick and Justice, grab a few men to help the wounded. Let’s move!” 

The recording cut, leaving the room quiet once more. 

“That does seem fairly conclusive,” Shaak Ti said from the doorway. 

You hadn’t heard her approach, but you were indescribably relieved that she and Colt were there. You had never trusted Nala Se, and you certainly hadn’t decided to start now. 

“Should we start an investigation, General?” Colt asked. 

“Absolutely,” Shaak Ti confirmed. “In fact, we should go now. Mistress Se, please accompany me to the long-range comms. The Jedi Council has gathered, along with several key representatives of the Grand Army of the Republic. They are waiting for our report on this incident to open the investigation. Commander, please release Riptide and arrange for his transport back to Coruscant, then join us at the comms. Thank you. And thank you for your effort on this matter, administrator.”

You returned Shaak Ti’s nod with a smile and watched as the Jedi and the Kaminoan swept out of the room. 

“Old Holo came through after all, eh?” Riptide asked as Colt unlocked the binders. Riptide’s fingers were trembling, though he tried to hide it by gathering what remained of the snacks you had brought for him. “Good man.” 

“Especially since the general ordered them to delete their HUD footage,” you added mildly. “Speaking of, did you..?” 

Colt nodded. “Tech helped me anonymize the recording before I copied it.” 

You relaxed at that. If Tech had removed any identifiers, you could be certain that there was no way to trace the recording back to Holo, not through electronic means. 

“Want to come with us to the transports?” Colt asked. 

You smiled, but shook your head. “I think I need a little time to relax. That was the most stressed I’ve been in a while.” 

Before you left, Riptide shook your hand warmly. “Thank you, truly. I don’t- I’m not sure what would have happened if you hadn’t… Thank you.”

The immediate urge was to reject Riptide’s thanks, to insist that he didn’t need to thank you or that it had been nothing. But it hadn’t been nothing, and both of you knew it. He had almost lost his life because a general had lied about him and no one had searched for the truth. 

So you simply nodded instead, wishing him the best. 

By the time you got back to your quarters, Alpha was already there, lounging comfortably on your bed. You blinked at him, a little surprised before you realized exactly what the time was. 

Alpha looked up as you walked in. “Late night, little one?” 

“Long day,” you said. Alpha looked increasingly interested as you started stripping off your clothing, but you excused yourself to take a long shower. 

He was still awake when you came back out, and it only took a little prodding before the whole story came pouring out of you. 

To your utter shock, Alpha started to laugh. 

“What’s so funny?” you asked frostily. 

“You prevented a reconditioning,” Alpha explained. It wasn’t much of an explanation, and you gave him the evil eye until he continued. “That’s the closest thing the clones have to a horror story. Dying in battle is one thing, but reconditioning? And you just stopped one. Because you didn’t think it was fair.” 

“What… is it?” 

Alpha’s amusement didn’t fade immediately, but still faster than was typical for him. “We don’t talk about it.” 

“Why?” You silently promised yourself that you would stop asking questions the instant Alpha started to look uncomfortable, but he looked as unbothered as ever.

“Because it’s something no one wants to think about,” he said. “Much less admit happens to our vode.”

That wasn’t any better an explanation than you had before, but you tried to keep any frustration out of your voice. “So they… kill you? That’s what Nala Se implied.” 

“Did she?” Alpha leveled an arch look at you. “When have you ever known the kaminii to waste a perfectly good product?” 

You made a face at that. “She said they had full rights to control the quality of their products. That’s why she was fighting to recondition Riptide.”

“No, his body was fine,” Alpha argued, despite never having seen Riptide before. “They control for that from the growth tubes on. But if a trooper’s mind is bad, there’s no use in wasting a perfectly good body…” 

“So they… what? Brainwash troopers?” you asked with a chuckle. It disappeared entirely when Alpha didn’t join in on your amusement. “Wait, really? They brainwash you?” 

“Putting it lightly,” he muttered. “The Kaminoans built us, shaped the way our minds developed. If they don’t like how one turned out, they can tear it back down to its base components. You still look like you and sound like you, but… it’s not you. And you can never know how much of a trooper will survive the process. Some of ‘em act like they’ve been reset, but others… Well, no one wants to imagine being trapped in their own body for the rest of their life.”

You had to try a few times before you could speak. “But… But Nala Se made it sound like it was some kind of surgery?” 

Alpha tapped his temple. “Where do you think personality comes from? Remove the right part of the brain and you kill the non-spec parts of a person.” 

“That’s horrible,” you said with a shudder, climbing into the bed. You weren’t tired in the slightest, but wrapping your arms around Alpha always made you feel better. You could use that right now. “You’re lucky they’ve never done it to you.” 

Alpha snorted. “They could try.” 

“No, Alpha,” you chided quietly. “I can’t- can’t even think about that happening to you. I would never recover.” 

“Shh, neverd’ika,” Alpha soothed. “I’m in their good graces right now, and I don’t see that changing soon. Besides, if they reconditioned me, who would train their ARCs? No one else is lining up for that osik.” 

“Just be careful,” you pleaded, pressing a kiss to his collarbone. 

He squeezed you a little tighter, seeming content to cuddle you in silence for a while. You were almost asleep when he said, “You got a message on your comlink while you were in the ‘fresher.” 

You rolled out of the bed instantly, heart stuttering with cold fear that Nala Se had managed to trap Riptide after all. Instead, you found a message from a frequency you didn’t know. Your eyebrows lifted as you scanned over it.

“What is it?” Alpha asked. 

You read aloud, “You’ve been busy. If I’d known what kind of transmissions you’d be sending, I would have done more encryption. I’ll add some extra coding to it tonight. Power it off when you wake up tomorrow morning, wait five minutes, and turn it back on.”

As you read, another message came through. “Be careful.”

“I don’t recognize the frequency,” you said when you had finished reading. 

“Ordo,” Alpha supplied immediately. “He’s the one who encrypted the comlink for long-range calls. He must have seen more activity than usual from you and decided to check it out.” 

“He was listening in on my calls?” you asked, discomfited. “I don’t think I like that.” 

“I don’t like it, either,” Alpha admitted. “But Skirata keeps the Nulls busy. I doubt any of them are listening to your calls. Ordo probably just saw more activity than usual and decided to check it out.”

You grimaced. “Still.”

“Would it help if I threaten him over comms?” Alpha asked. “It wouldn’t do anything for me, but if it would help you feel better, I’ll do it.”

His tone was longsuffering, but there was a glint in his eyes that said he was teasing you. It wasn’t enough to make you forget about the stress of the day, but it did make you bite back a smile.

You rolled your eyes at him and Alpha grinned, clearly proud of his ability to get a reaction from you. When you stuck your tongue out at him, his surprised laughter made you feel warm all over. 

As Alpha recovered from the apparent shock, you crawled back into bed and cuddled into his side.

---

Author's Note - This was a really long chapter, but the next one will be fairly short. The two should even out nicely. Riptide is an OC and Alpha's definition of reconditioning is the fanon version. I'm pretty sure the canon reconditioning is just Kaminoans killing troopers, but this is somehow worse.

Thank you for reading!

[wanderinginksplot]

Gar Cyare

Being in a new relationship isn’t easy - especially when it must be a secret and you live on a planet where every move is observed. But life goes on, and there are new challenges for you and Alpha every day. 

(Alpha-17 x fem!reader. Warnings are included in individual chapters.)

Ranov'la (Secret) - 4.0k words.

Nynir (Strike)  - 6.2k words

Tome'tayle (Memories)  - 6.2k words.

Jatisyc (Delicious) - No sexual content, but this chapter has blunt conversations about sexual history and has been flagged as potentially mature. - 3.7k words.

Ba'balut (On Patrol)  - 8.9k words.

***This chapter is sexually explicit and is hosted on my alternate blog. 18+ only, please!*** Tome (Together)  - 6.8k words ***NSFW chapter, 18+ readers only!***

Ramikadyc (A Commando State of Mind)  - 6.3k words.

Jahaatir (To Deceive)  - 4.9k words. 

Echoy (Search) - 5.0k words.

Be'chaaj (Away) - 5.4k words. 

Aruetii (Traitor) - 5.1k words.

[somedaylazysomeday]

Gar Cyare Chapter 12.5

This is a continuation of Gar Cyare, a series typically posted under my main account, WanderingInkSplot. This chapter is here because it is NSFW and some of my typical readers prefer not to see NSFW works.

Alpha-17 x fem!reader

Rating: Explicit. Minors, DNI!

Word Count: 1,900

Warnings: Fingering, discussions of dangerous situations in the last chapter, references to desperation, mentions of protection, protected sex, fluff.

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---

Alpha’s lips were warm against yours, soft and insistent. 

You smiled despite yourself, pulling back enough that you could have looked at him if any of the lights were on. “This? This is how you want me to take care of you? Seems a little sudden, since you just got back from your mission.” 

“I’ll have you know that ‘return to planetside’ sex is a proud and honored tradition,” Alpha lectured, nibbling and sucking his way down your neck. “As is ‘we just survived an enemy encounter’ sex. Nothing like sex to make you remember that life is worth living.”

“Hmm,” you managed, skeptically. Alpha dropped a particularly stinging bite to your collarbone and your hum was interrupted by a gasp. 

Since you were already facing Alpha in the warm cradle of his arms, it was a simple thing to wrap your leg around his waist. 

Alpha growled, the sound rumbling deliciously against your skin. “Careful, little one. Keep going like that and I might not be able to control myself.” 

“Not exactly a threat,” you told him happily. If he had been working up a reply, it disappeared when you angled your pelvis against his. You were both fully-clothed, but there was no mistaking the heat between your legs… or the hardness between his. “After all, both of your traditional methods of care sound like they would be better with a little desperation.” 

A warm chuckle met your point. “You feelin’ desperate for me, neverd’ika?” 

“Always.” Your mouth was dry, and that was clearly audible in the way you had to swallow before you said anything else. “Felt like you were gone forever.” 

“To me, too.” Alpha plucked at the loose waistband of your pajama pants. “You sure you want desperate?” 

You nodded, trusting that he would be able to feel the motion with the way his head was tucked partially under your jawline. 

A moment later, Alpha’s hand had plunged inside of your underwear. You gasped at the suddenness of it, your hand wrapped around the strong column of his wrist. Tendons began to flex beneath your grip as Alpha started to work his fingers over you.  

Your folds were already slippery, the sheer thrill of having Alpha home and in your bed providing plenty of inspiration even before he started kissing you. Added to the fact that he hadn’t even bothered to strip your clothing from you before fondling the aching place between your legs? You could only hope you hadn’t soaked your clothes down to the mattress. 

Alpha’s fingertip rested against your entrance, and you stopped worrying about a wet spot on the mattress. Or the way your pajama pants were going to be permanently stretched by the bulk of Alpha’s forearm. Or anything other than the sudden spike of need that pierced through you. 

“Please,” you begged, squirming your hips closer and canting them in an effort to drive his finger into you. 

“Shh, ner karta,” Alpha soothed. “I’ll take care of you. I just want to make sure you’re ready for me.” 

His finger sank into you at a pace that was achingly slow. You could feel your core parting for him, the walls of your body letting him in as deep as he cared to go. It was beautiful, even if it wasn’t as fast as you would have preferred. When his finger had reached as far as it could, you got a jolt of pleasure as the heel of Alpha’s hand pressed firmly against your clit. 

Alpha took advantage of your parted lips to deliver a searing kiss. You returned it eagerly, though you got a little distracted when he began to thrust his finger inside of you. 

Your entire body jostled back and forth as he stroked through your core - all of the motion stemming from the force of you trying to counterthrust against his hand. Alpha’s touch never stopped being gentle as he nudged you inexorably toward your orgasm. 

“Alpha,” you gasped, trying to remember how to form words. “I’m getting close.” 

“Mmm,” Alpha said eloquently. “Been dreaming about seeing you like that again, little one. Come for me. Let me watch you fly.” 

That was enough to push you over the edge, and your head kicked back as you struggled not to cry out. Alpha nibbled a searing line across your jaw, fingers never slowing or stopping in their relentless drive into you. 

The frantic squeezing of your internal muscles slowed as you came down from your high. The feeling of Alpha’s finger inside of you was somewhere between ‘too much’ and ‘not enough’, and your hand flew down to push him gently away. 

“How do you feel?” Alpha asked. 

You smiled, feeling the sultriness of the heavy-lidded look you gave him. “Empty.” 

Alpha’s expression was too deep in the shadows of the room for you to see, but you could feel the way the smug anticipation spread across his face. “I’ve been looking for a new mission…” 

“And here I thought you wanted to forget all about missions and orders,” you said breathlessly. 

“I do,” he insisted. “I need to. When I think about how close I came to losing you… how many things tried to keep us apart…” 

You had started to ask if he was okay, the latter sentence having faded into an irritated grumble, when Alpha surprised you with a blazing kiss. If you thought his desperation had eased, you were sorely mistaken. 

His fingers reached between you, but paused when you gave a pitiful groan. “Please, Alpha. I’m ready, I swear.” 

He chuckled. “I know, neverd’ika. I just thought a little protection was a good idea.” 

You eased away from him slightly, giving him the room he needed to roll the condom over his length. He was back in a moment, pressing himself against you firmly enough to part your lower lips around him. 

Alpha shuddered over you. “Already feel so good.” 

“You, too,” you replied, canting your hips against him. “But it’ll feel even better whe-” 

A gasp cut your wheedling short. Alpha pressed pushed into you, sinking deeper and deeper until he was all you could think about. Your fingers scrabbled at the broad stretch of his shoulders, trying to ground yourself against the onslaught. 

When he was as deep as he could get, Alpha’s head dipped slowly until his forehead was pressed to yours. “Tell me if you need to wait.” 

You shook your head, careful to hold the keldabe kiss as you did. “I’m ready, Alpha.” 

He hummed softly. “If you change your mind, then.”

And then he took you at your word that you were ready. He stayed deep inside of you at first, doing little more than pulsing his hips against yours. But every time he withdrew, he pulled further out until the full length of him was slamming into you at every stroke. 

It was exactly what you needed, and you weren’t the only one. Alpha was surprisingly chatty in the bedroom, but he was quiet tonight. He gave an occasional grunt or sigh, but his usual comments and compliments about your body were absent. 

You found the brain power to ask, “You okay?” 

“Yes.” 

The clipped quality of the brief answer would have thrown you off, but you had caught the unsteadiness in the single syllable. And that let you piece together the rest of it: the way Alpha’s hands were holding you tighter than usual. The way he kept starting to say something and letting it die on his lips without being vocalized. The way he would kiss you instead, like he couldn’t stand the distance between you even for as long as it took to speak. 

You never needed much encouragement to indulge in Alpha being close. You sank into the touches and kisses and clinging arms, giving just as many as you received. 

Somehow, you convinced your weak knees to wrap around Alpha’s hips, holding him a fraction deeper inside of you. Your hands mapped the muscles of his back, feeling them flex and bulge with the effort of holding himself up and over you without letting his full weight crash down. You kissed him like you were drowning, and when he pulled away to catch his breath, you kissed across his cheek until you were nuzzling into his short hair. 

Alpha gave a disbelieving laugh. “I was teasing about you being desperate for me.” 

You inhaled the clean smell of his freshly-washed hair, sighing in unabashed pleasure. “I missed you.” 

Alpha bit back a groan, and the pace of hips against you increased. “I’m close… Gonna-”

“Come for me, Alpha,” you urged, rocking against him to push him closer to orgasm. 

Because your faces were pressed so close together, you could feel the way Alpha’s jaw firmed. “Not yet.” 

His hand dipped to your clit, dexterously avoiding your desperate writhing and his own pounding hips. Alpha stroked that cluster of nerves in quick, firm sweeps, making you keen for him. 

Alpha choked. “So tight-” 

And then he was surging as deep as he could get inside of you. The desperate pulsing of his hips against you kept those fingers from moving in their devastating rhythm, but Alpha’s hips took up the role instead. The push of him inside of you, the way the fullness seemed to reach to your depths… It dropped you unceremoniously over the edge just as Alpha’s stuttering half-thrusts began to slow. 

Your legs had relaxed around Alpha’s waist, ready to drop away from him as you struggled to absorb all of the sensations, but they locked tight around him once more as you started to come. The press of your legs around his hips and the way your fingers sank into his shoulders were the only things that kept you grounded. 

With the way your lips parted as you hit your peak, you probably said something. You had no idea what it could be, since the rushing in your ears deafened you temporarily, but judging from the satisfaction on Alpha’s face, it was probably his name. You watched him as you came, drinking in his expression the same way he was doing to you. 

When you finally came down, Alpha had rolled onto his side beside you. His hands were wandering, gently stroking the muscles of your arm. “You okay, neverd’ika?”

It took you two attempts to speak, but you finally managed, “Better than ever. I’m glad you’re home, Alpha.”

He gripped your waist, cradling you close like something precious. “You can’t be real.” 

“What?” you asked, already chuckling. “Alpha, what is that supposed to mean?” 

“No one can be so perfect,” he insisted. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were something the universe invented to trick me.” 

You shook your head even as you ran your fingertips along his jaw. “Trick you into what?” 

“Whatever it wants,” he said with a shrug. “I would do anything for you, especially if you kept looking at me like that.” 

“I don’t know what way I’m looking at you,” you admitted with a smile. “I’m just happy.” 

“Good,” Alpha decreed. “I’ll keep you happy, you keep giving that look, and we’ll be satisfied for a very long time.” 

You hummed, resting your head on his chest. “It’s a deal.”

---

Author's Note - That was much shorter than I'm used to writing, but I don't really want these chapters to be super plot-heavy. Especially since I want Gar Cyare to be readable for people who avoid smut.

Thanks for reading! The next chapter of Gar Cyare will be hosted on my writing side-blog. See you there!

[imabeautifulbutterfly]

Congratulations on the milestone! You more than deserve it, such a talented writer!

I'd like to request a fic for your event. It's been a song stuck in my head for days, "The Alcott" by The National, and the character being Hunter. It's such a beautiful song and I can't wait to see how you interpret it with his character!

Thank you in advance, keep being awesome!

~🥀

Awwww @royalthunderbird that's so sweet of you!

I really hope you enjoy how I interpreted this song. It almost caught me off guard, but I was quite happy with how it turned out. Love The National and I've never heard this song before, so thank you for introducing it to me.

Love oo.

The Alcott

Warnings: Yo-yo relationship, food, declaration of feelings, angst, fluffish. I think that's it. If I miss anything please let me know.

Main Master List   | Star Wars Jukebox Roulette |   AO3 Link

You hadn’t planned on meeting Hunter, well… at least not this time. 

Both of you had been on again, off again so many times it was starting to give you whiplash. Yet, you couldn’t help it. He called and despite how many times you tried to argue, tried to justify not going, you still showed up. 

So there you were in the back of Dex’s Diner, waiting for him while you worked on your next article for HNE. You wrote in your golden notebook, writing out relevant dates and information that you’d need to look into later. 

“You want something honey?” 

You looked up to the waitress droid smiling, “Thanks Flo, could I get a Jamba Juice?”

“You got it, sweetheart.”

You watched her roll away as you focused back on the task at hand. 

Hunter stood outside the diner, just out of your line of sight. He leaned against the concrete building beside him, just watching you. The way you fiddled with the pen in your hand, the way it tapped against your lip, even the way you chewed on the end. A habit you’d been trying to break ever since the first time he met you. 

He let out a light sigh, Maker, you were still so beautiful. You had that smile on your lips, the one that you always wore. 

There was a time when you two first started going out, he asked why you always wore a smile on your face, you simply shrugged and said, “Why not? A lot of people are either having bad days or just haven’t had any sort of kindness in their life. If I can give them a little peace with a smile, then why not?”

He didn’t have a response to that; he just knew he fell in love with you at that moment. 

All he wanted to do was walk up to you, kiss you with all the passion his heart contained for you. To make you his once again, yet … he let out a breath shaking his head. He’d done this to you once too often, starting something only for either his job or yours to get in the way. 

The first time you two broke up, it was a misunderstanding between the two of you, both failing to recognize how you each felt about the other. 

The second time you broke up, it was because Crosshair implied you were only using Hunter to get classified information on the GAR.

The third time was because he misunderstood your relationship with an informant when he saw you holding their hand, simply because you were trying to console them.

Hopefully, this time … this time he could just be honest and tell you without regrets what he wanted. What he’s always wanted. 

He took a deep breath and righted himself, wiping off any visible dust, before he headed inside. 

You jotted down a few more names, as you were now on a roll with your research, questions that popped up that didn’t make sense, answers that were needed.

“H-hi cyare.”

You slowly lifted your head with a smile on your face as soon as you heard his voice, “Hey handsome. You’re late.”

He nodded as he sat, taking off his helmet and placing it on the table beside him, “Yeah, we ran into a little bit of trouble.”

“Oh! Anything good?” You teased as you smiled at him. 

“Hmm, yes and no. More of the fact that our aggressive negotiations took longer than expected.”

“Ahh, did they have better weaponry than you?” You wiggled your eyebrows, putting away your notebook and datapad, back into your satchel. 

“Sweetheart, you should know, no one has better weaponry than me.” He smirked as he looked at you.

You giggled as you nodded, “True. So…” you stopped fidgeting and focused solely on him, “how have you been? It’s been a minute since we actually spoke or even really saw each other.”

“Yeah,” he rubbed the back of his neck, “Sorry, about that. Things have gotten hectic the last few months.”

“Anything I should be concerned about?”

“Not that I can think of, but you still have your go-bag ready just in case, right?”

“Always.” You smiled as your head propped on your fist, “You look good.”

“So do you,” Hunter leaned forward, smiling. He was about to ask about your life and how you were doing when Flo came over and asked if they were ready to order. 

Once she was gone, Hunter just let out a contented sigh, as he looked at you. “I think I’m falling back in love with you.”

You looked startled for a moment, pulling back to sit up a little, you didn’t know what to say really. You had never stopped loving him, but … if he was falling back in love with you, then did that mean there were still trust issues between the two of you. What if you got back together and broke up for a fourth time? Could you handle that? What if you get back together and you realize this time you’re the one who’s moved on? What if there’s another misunderstanding, or if one of his other brothers says something that causes doubt in your relationship?

Hunter watched as you fidgeted with your finger against the table. 

Flo came back with your food, leaving it on the table. Even she noticed there was something odd with the intense silence that lingered between the two of you. 

He wanted to speak, but he decided against it. He didn’t want to distract you. He sat there silently, allowing you the time you needed to figure out what to do with what he said … maybe he made a mistake saying he was falling back in love, truth was he’d never fallen out of love with you. This would’ve been his fourth attempt to get back together with you, was he stupid for trying this? Maybe you wouldn’t believe him, when he said he was in love with you. Not that he blamed you.

Was he ruining this again before anything even started?

Was it over before he even got a chance to show you he changed?

He just needed you to look up at him, to smile at him. He just needed your smile. Why did he have to open his mouth?

You took a deep breath, and slowly lifted your eyes to look at him, “You’re falling back in love with me? So… you moved on and now … you’re … what, realizing you’re back in love?”

“No. Rather, I’m realizing, I’ve never stopped loving you. I …” he swallowed the nervousness that was bubbling forth from deep within. He clenched his hands. “I was an idiot. Every one of those times we broke up, it was my fault. I … I didn’t understand what it took to actually be in a relationship, and I know I’m asking a lot from you, by telling you all this, but I don’t want to run away, anymore. I don’t want to be scared. I don’t want to think I’m not good enough… I want to give us a real try.”

You looked at him and Gods, as hard as you tried, you just couldn’t stop that smile from appearing on your lips as you looked into his eyes. What do they say, fourth times a charm?

Main Master List   | Star Wars Jukebox Roulette |   AO3 Link

Tag list:

@liadamerondjarin @badbatch-simp24@spicymcnuggies@lady-ren @firstofficerwiggles @darkangel4121 @discofern @kavecika @monako-jinn-stories @ladykatakuri @avathebestx @theroguesully @furyhellfire66 @carodealmeida @ciramaris @sprout-fics @twinkofthedink @dindjarin-mandalorian @ulchabhangorm @littlemisspascal @tortor-mcgee @vodika-vibes @clonethirstingisreal @crosshair-is-the-superior-clone @totallyunidentified @griffedeloup @leotatombs @leotawrites

[lilolilyr]

What Mando’a have you learned yet?

Heh I know I said on my rec list here that I remember 90 words and that was true at the time but because I take ages to reply to asks it's been a while, so let's see what I still remember now, I've mostly read clone wars fic lately, nothing with that much Mando'a...

Gonna try to structure this a bit to try and remember more. Also btw this is definitely just what I remember from what I've learned via fic reading osmosis, so take this with a grain of salt, for actual Mando'a knowledge there are a couple online dictionaries you could check out!

...I've spent 35 minutes trying to remember All The words xDxD fandom brainrot much lmao, why can't I get obsessed with like an actual useful language xD anyway lots of words below the cut, indeed over 90! Lots of words on weapons and family which tracks with Mandalorian culture xD but also a whole bunch of other random words!

Culture:

Mando'a - Mandalorian language, manda'yaim - planet Mandalore, mando'ade - mandalorians (children of Mandalore), Manda - the mandalorian Force (the council of fallen mandalorian warriors), kara - stars/the Force, jetii - Jedi, jetiise - Jedi plural, dar'jetii - darksider/sith, aruueti - outsider or traitor, dar'manda - no longer mandalorian, demagolka - monstrous criminal

Counting 10 words

Weapons and stuff:

Buy'ce - helmet, beskat - sword, beskar'gam - armor, kar'ta beskar - heart of the armor, jetii'kad - lightsaber, kom'rk - vambraces, hal'cabure - chest plate, cabur - guardian, arane - also guardian/protector? Not sure whether there's a difference, ramikad - fighter, ori'ramikaade - supercommandos, deece - gun

Counting 12 words

Family:

Aliit - family, ad - child(son/daughter), adiik - child, ikaad - baby/infant/toddler, vod(e) - sibling(s), buir(e) - parent(s), ad'vod - nibling, ba'vodu - aunt/uncle, ba'buir - grandparent

Counting 9 words

Romance:

Riduruuk - marriage (vows), riduur - spouse, cyare - beloved, cyar'ika - darling, copikla - cute

Counting 5 words

Jobs & skills:

Baar'ur: healer/medic, mir'baarur - therapist/mindhealer, hibir - student, baji - teacher, bajuri - teach/educate/raise, goran - blacksmith, alor - leader, mand'alor - mandalorian king

Counting 8 words

Body parts:

Shebs - ass, kar'ta - heart, tal - blood

Counting 3 words (and I can't believe I forgot the words for head and chest and limbs. Also a bunch of words are used for private parts but most of them I'm sure are made up slang like deece (gun) for dick so I won't count those xD)

Insults:

Dikut - idiot, mir'shebs - smartass, shabuir - motherfucker, din'la - crazy, hut'uun - (goddamn I can't speak English anymore. The opposite of brave???)

Counting 5 words

Places:

Yaim - home, kar'yai - living room, Khedabe - keep/city of Keldabe, khi'khedabe - little Keldabe (the enclave on Coruscant), Coruscanta - planet coruscant

Counting 5 words

Pronouns etc:

Gar - you, ni - I, mhi - we, sa - mine

Counting 4 words

Other:

Kyr - death, gai - name, solus - one/alone, tome - together, dar'tome - apart, haat - truth, evaar - new, ijaat - honor, haa'it - vision, kyr'tayl - know, darasuum - forever, jate - good, ori'jate - very good, ori'haat - promise, ni ceta - I kneel (an apology), nayc - no, elek - yes, nu draar - no way!/not possible, an - all, bar - and, dinui - share, tuur - day, var'tuur - morning (new day), shereshoy - lust for life, ne'tra gal - (a strong alcohol), tingilaar - (a spicy stew), tihaar - (an alcoholic beverage), shig - (a mandalorian spice tea), olarum - welcome, oya - let's go, cin - white, tra - black,

Counting 32 words

So unless I've counted wrong we're at 93 words. Not bad! Pretty close to my guess from a month ago, and I'm pretty sure I've forgotten some in the meantime (or just can't think of them right now, there are always some that I can translate when I see the English word but can't think of when making a list in one go), so it's actually more than I expected!

+ these phrases etc:

Haat' mando'ade/haat'ade - true Mandalorians (Jaster Mereel's fraction), evaar('mando)'ade - new mandalorians backed by the Republic led by the Kryze family, kyr'stad - deathwatch (terrorists)

Jate var'tuur - good morning, Gai bel Manda: Ni kyr'tayl gai sa'ad - adoption vow: I know your name as my child, riduruuk: mhi solus tome, mhi solus dar'tome, mi me'nidui an, mhi bajuri verde - marriage vows: we are one together, we are one apart, we share all, we will raise warriors, ni kar'tayl gar darasuum - I will now you forever (I love you)

I don't quite know this one yet: 'today is a good day for someone else to die', it's a saying for going into a battle, especially when it's for revenge

Thank you for the ask xD

Edit: yeah looking at my list from the last time I counted my vocab there are a bunch of really easy ones I've forgotten to list here

Me'ven - what, Me'vaar (ti gar) - anything new? (Hey, how's it going), Su'cuy gar/su'cuy - hi (still alive), Returce'mhi/ret - bye (let's meet again), mandokarla - has Mandalorian spirit, udeesi - calm (down), Cin vetin - blank slate (white fields), Nasaade - nameless/clanless, Dha'kad - darksaber, Dral'han - mandalorian excision, ven'alor - next in line to lead, ven'riduur - fiancé, Mesh'la - beautiful, Osik - Shit, Kute - Bodysuit, Naas - nothing/nope (I'm fine), jare'la - stupidly brave

So def over a hundred word mandalorian vocab, just from reading too much fic xD

Also I remember the words Koyaci and Kandosi but I don't remember what they mean??? Gotta look them up one of these days

[sofasoap]

Mending Heart

Pairing : Din Djarin x f!reader. featuring Grogu, Paz Vizsla + OC.

Summary:  sequel  to heartbreak and Wrenching heart. Din is a big di’kut. His ad’ika to the rescue.

Slightly AU-ish, Din didn’t get N1 after Razor Crest got blown up.he got something similar. And his relationship with Paz isn’t that bad. He is still trying to redeem himself but didn’t get kicked out of the covert completely. Mummy Armorer is still pissed off at him though. 

Warning: Mature theme. strong languages. Alcohol use. 

English isn’t my first language, so I apologise for any mistakes. 

A/N : I seem to be writing all the Din fic for the University students at the moment to push them on ( Trust me, I know your pain. been there done that)   @groguspicklejar and @deakyjoe this is for both of you.

MASTERLIST

I am happy, I am back with Armour buir.

But where is Singing buir?

“She’s not here anymore, ad’ika.”

Why do you look so sad, armour buir? Armour buir isn’t happy anymore, I can feel it in the force.

There’s singing buir! We found her! She is happy to see me! But why isn’t she happy to see Armour buir? She is sad too.

Why are you crying Armour buir?

“I messed up, ad’ika. I really messed up.”

“You are a di’kut.” “ I know.” “ The biggest di’kut out there.” “ You don’t need to repeat that.” “Utreekov.” Din sighed. Sitting back to back with Paz, he Lift his helmet up slightly, downing another shot of spotchka. Trying to drown himself in alcohol and sorrow. Paz turn towards Grogu, “Gar buir kaysh mirsh solus” ( your father is an idiot ) “ Coo??” “ Can you not teach my ad’ika weird words.” “ He needs to learn some Mando’a you know.” Paz grab the cups, pour both another serving of spotchka. “Did you present her with a courting gift?” “.. I did, with my signet on it too.” “Hmm. Then I don’t know where you went wrong then.” “ Did you explain to her what it means?” Paz’s riduur chimed in as she put a plate of fruit and dried meat down for the men to snack on. “......NO.” “ I swear you Mandalorians always assume everyone should know all the hidden meanings behind the actions.” She sighed. Turning to Din, “You know Paz chuck me a knife the day after he saved the village, hover around me for days, expecting me to say something to him.”  she rolled her eyes. Din remembered. Paz kept sneaking out to the village, and when the Armorer ask him what he is doing, all he replied was, “Just to see everyone is alright at the village, I have to make sure the security is up to date.” 

His vod was so love struck by the woman who fought valiantly to protect her village, he didn’t even care she is a non-Mandalorian, he dug through his family weapon cache and gifted her a sacred heirloom. Pass down only from Father to son. It’s not until his now-riduur went up to him and push the knife back into his hand, “ I don’t need another knife, I have plenty in store, we got a stash full of weapons in the armoury here, Mandalorian. Keep this for your covert.” Only then did Paz realise his mistake in approach. 

He remembered laughing at Paz, from the great Vizsla clan,  who could have ANY Mandalorian, hell, there was no lack of warriors trying to throw themselves at him, he went for a non-Mandalorian. The chaos that ensued after that. How the tide turned. 

“ I am a di’kut.” Din groaned. “ I did tell you.” “Shush Cyare. Stop making fun of your Vod.” Sitting down by Paz, she consoled Din, “ Look, you can still redeem yourself…” “ I feel like I am redeeming myself a lot lately. This is probably going to be more impossible than finding living water on Mandalore.” “ As non-Mandalorian.. I can suggest gifting her more… conventional gifts? Flowers… sweets.. What does she like?” Din look at Grogu,  what do YOU like? Oh dear.

“Patu!” Turning your head as you heard the sound, narrowing avoiding the sharp edges of the wingspan of the ship you are fixing. Peli has been commenting on how you are really not concentrating lately. Connecting the heat exhaust vent to the life support system,  putting the fuel intermix back to front. You are embarrassed. You pride yourself in quality jobs, and here you are, mind wandering over the places. Giving back the vibroblade back to Mando was your own way of cutting the tie with him completely.  Forget about him. Moving on. He doesn’t care about you. You convinced yourself. Yet. You find yourself thinking of him even more. No. You just miss the little green pea. “ Patu patu!!” Now you feel a little hand smacking your thigh. Looking down, Grogu was there by your feet, trying to get your attention. “What are you doing here?!!” you shuffled out from under the wing, picking him up, he extended his two little arms, and presented to you dried flower in his tiny claw-hand. “ Aww, thank you little pea, is that for me?” You look around the hanger nervously, Grogu is here, does that mean Mando is here too?? Makers, that is the last thing you want. You spotted Boba Fett standing by the hanger door. What is the Daimyo here?? “Greetings Daimyo, what can I do for you today? Do you require me to fix one of your transporters ....” “ Relax, please, just call me Boba Fett. No need to be so formal. I am babysitting the little green thing here for the day. He insisted on coming here and giving you the flower.” You let out a breath of sigh. At least Mando isn’t here. The way Boba Fett is looking at you, you feel like there is something else he isn’t letting on.  Few weeks later, Grogu is back again, this time with a little colourful stone in his hand. Fennec is with him. With amusement written all over her face. Next was some hard-boiled sweets. The time after that was a bottle of perfume from Pasaana. A scarf from Coruscant. Cloud puffs from Bespin. 

Wasaka berry from Khashyyyk.

Five-blossom bread from Naboo. Your favourite pastry from your younger days. Now you are getting more and more suspicious about the gifts. The little Pea definitely didn’t choose them. Deep down you know who was instructing him to bring the gifts. Coward. You thought. Getting his son to do the job for him. “We got a secret admirer here?” Peli teases you. “You mean either the Daimyo or Fennec? I doubt it.” You rolled your eyes. The gift just keeps coming. Always Grogu bring them, accompanied by either Boba or Fennec. Until that night. Peli has gone out again, to one of her dates. “Zeltrons,” she commented, “ great drinking companions, they hardly get drunk with their second liver!”

You decided to take advantage with a bit of solo time, dragging one of the crates to the centre of the hanger, enjoying the beautiful light of the three moons with a glass of light liquor you save up for occasions. Hearing the slight clunk sound of metal door opening, you assume Peli was back from her outing, you made a comment without turning around, “Your date didn’t go as planned, Peli?” You were met with the sound of heavy boots coming towards you. That’s not Peli, alarm bells ringing in your brain. Why didn’t the security droid alert me? Out of habit, your hand went to your belt, grabbing the vibroblade, only to realise, you returned it to its original owner. Worse of all, you left your blaster in your bunk. 

Slowly turning around to face whoever the intruder was,  you saw something shiny reflecting under the moonlight. It’s Din. He strides towards you, only stopping about arm length distance away. You always admire the confidence he exuded when he walked towards his bounty, his prey. His helm tilting down slightly, looking straight at you. Suddenly that confidence he was showing disappeared a little. You swallowed hard. Why is he here? 

He spoke first. “... .You got all the presents?” “Yes.” So your guess was right. It was from HIM. Fidgeting your hand, you wait for him to say more. Instead, he reaches around to the back of his belt, and brings something forward to present to you. 

The vibroblade. The same one he gifted to you before. “I… In… In Mandalorian culture,” You can hear the wavering in his voice with the slight distortion through the modulator. “ We.. gift a weapon, with our clan signet on it.. To.. um… someone we intended to court..” He was shifting a bit on his feet. “ I.. I am sorry I didn’t explain it to you the first time I gave it to you.” You can tell he was getting nervous. “I came to apologise and.." he was practically begging by this point, “ Please forgive me. I have been a di’kut.. An idiot for pushing you away. I was only thinking for myself.. I didn’t realise you were just as equally as hurt after losing Grogu..”  “Please come back.. We miss your presence…. I MISS YOU…” You reach towards his helmet, he flinches and moves back a bit with instinct. Pausing a bit, silently letting him know you have no intention of removing his helmet, he shifts towards you a little bit more. Pulling him down, you rest your forehead against his helmet. You hear a gasp was too soft to be picked up by the modulator.  Din wonders if you know the significance of the action. “You are the biggest, most idiotic, most frustrating Mandalorian I ever dealt with, Din Djarin.” Din’s knee nearly gave out upon hearing you using his real name for the first time. “ I convinced myself to forget about you, but how can I forget our time as a family? As a clan of three? You were too good to us, Din….” Tears were slowly falling down your cheek.

“ I realise you care about us in your own way, but you really need to tell me what is going on in that beskar brain of yours.. I can’t guess what you are thinking all the time.” You were sobbing by now. Din moves one of his gloved hands towards your face, wiping away the tears. “You were ignoring me, not telling me what your problem was, I was so hurt. I thought we had something going on between us, yet you keep pushing me away, I don’t feel wanted anymore, just like my family.  Throw me away when I was no use to them.” Din’s heart tightened. This is the first time you let out any details of your former life.

“Yet, you wouldn’t let me go.” sucking in a deep breath, you continue pouring your heart out. “ I am not an object Din, you can’t trap me with you without giving me one good damn reason. So I ran. I ran as far as I could. But you still found me.” “ By pure chance.” he softly added. “ By pure chance. From that point I was actually believing the Force was leading us together. I wasn’t planning to stay here this long.” “But I didn't want to get hurt again. I want to cut my ties with you once for all.” “ That is why you gave me the vibroblade back.” Din replied with saddness in his voice. “ I didn’t know the significance of the gift. Though, even if I did, I would still have given it back. For what you have done.” Din looked down to the ground with shame. 

You sighed.  Pulling away from him, you push his hand with vibroblade back towards him. 

His heart dropped. 

“I am going to ask you again, do you miss me only because you have Grogu back and you need a maid to look after him again? To have someone fix your ship, clean up after you two, and throw me away again when I am not needed anymore?” You growled. “NO! It’s not like that Mesh’la… I..” He stepped forward and blurted out.

“Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum.” 

Your eyes widened. You vaguely remember the meaning of the sentence from your studies.

“I will know you forever..” You whispered. Din’s head whipped up, shocked. “ you…. “ “Yes Din, I know what it means.” you reach out to his hand and take the vibroblade from him. “ I can’t leave yet , Din. There’s too much work going on for Peli to deal with on her own. Come and pick me u in a few months. In the meanwhile. I will keep this gift of yours.”

Din pulls you into a tight hug. You bury your face in his hard beskar breastplate. It’s a start. You’ll see how this goes. You are allow yourself to hope again. 

If in doubt, use Grogu. He will melt anyone’s heart. Din was trying his luck with whatever he could find, hoping to hit the mark with one of the presents. Reader has been hurt so deeply, she needed a lot of reassurance from Din before she accepted his love. I can’t believe i am saying this.. I might write a bloody part 4. Gosh. 

If i feel like it...I might write about Paz and his riduur’s comedic courtship sometime. 

Thank you so much for reading, any likes, comments and reblogs are always appreciated! 😀

Tag list:

@frogtits1, @READINGFAN, @memester-png @jake-g-lockley @novaethecosplayer @foxgirl95

[gar-cyare]

Gar-Cyare's Masterlist

All works are NSFW and contain smut.

18+ ONLY, MINORS DNI

Din Djarin

A Long Time Coming - Din comes back from a difficult hunt and decides to have his way with you. [Cis F!Reader, fingering]

The Situation at Hand - You wake up to Din grinding on you in his sleep and decide to make the most of it. [Cis F!Reader, somnophilia]

Fives

Long Gone - Fives really is just that good with his mouth. [Cis F!Reader, oral (f receiving)]

[ladykatakuri]

Stardust Reblog Challenge October 2022

Participating in this challenge, I will post the stories I have read in october in this list. Other lists can be found here on my Masterslist.

3rd:

Living the Unknown Dream, Hunter x F!Reader by: @nahoney22 NSFW

The Bad Batch - Dog Breed by: @zoeykallus SFW

TBB x F!Reader HC`s - Small Breasts by: @zoeykallus SFW ( partly suggestive )

TBB x Reader HC`s - Learning About Your Culture by: @zoeykallus SFW

Enemy Mine 6 - Choices, Hunter x F!Reader by @zoeykallus SFW/NSFW

Shadows and Shades Part 15, Crosshair x O.C by: @wild-karrde SFW

Prompt: Dirty Talk, Kix x F!Redaer by: @twistedstitcher27 NSFW

The Light Between Oceans Chapter One,Rex x F!Reader Fives x M!O.C Fives x F!O.C by: @rowansparrow NSFW

Rex - In Love and War 10, Rex x F!Reader by: @zoeykallus NSFW

TBB x F!Reader HC`s - Not Made for Parenthood by : @zoeykallus SFW

TBB x Reader HC`s - Stay Hydrated! by: @zoeykallus SFW

House of Sins & Pleasures - I. Prologue: The Gentleman by: @princessxkenobi NSFW

In Perfect Light Chapter 33 & Epilogue, Crosshair x F!Reader by: @interstellarwraith NSFW

Sun & Rain Chapter 53, Hunter x F!O.C by: @photogirl894 SFW

Clonetober 2022, The Dare. Prompt: Kamino/Cadets by : @ladysongmaster SFW

TBB +Howzer x Reader HC`s - Your Proposal by: @zoeykallus SFW some suggestive parts.

TBB x Jedi F!Reader, A Work Of Art by: @zoeykallus SFW

Walk me Home Chapter 2, Wolffe x F!O.C Cherise by: @cyarbika NSFW

4th:

Kinktober 2022 Prompt: Floor Sex, Fem!Shepard x Zaeed Massani by: @twistedstitcher27 NSFW

House of Sins & Pleasures - II The Playboy, Ben Kenobi - Voice Kink by: @princessxkenobi NSFW

TBB + Rex + Howzer x F!Reader Naughty HC`s - Caught in the Act by: @zoeykallus NSFW

My Beloved Enemy 40 - Crosshair x F!Reader by: @zoeykallus SFW

TBB x Reader HC`s - Workout by: @zoeykallus SFW

Trigger Shot, Crosshair x F!Jedi Reader by: @jedimastersovi NSFW

5th:

The Night is Dark and Full of Terrors - Rex x F!Reader by: @zoeykallus NSFW

Like a Moth to a Flame - Victor x GN!Reader by: @zaunitearchives SFW

Taken Care Of - Tech x Reader by: @rainydaydream-gal18 SFW

6th:

Descend to the Dark Side - TBB x Jedi!Reader HC`s by: @zoeykallus SFW

TBB x Reader HC`s - Formally Dressed by: @zoeykallus SFW

Thanks for the Lesson 2 - Inexperienced Crosshair x Experienced F!Reader by: @zoeykallus SFW

Prompt: Glove Kink - Commander Fox x Senator Aid F!Reader by: @twistedstitcher27 NSFW

Day 6 Tentacles or: He Really is That in to You - Marcus Moreno x F!Reader by: @ezrasbirdie NSFW

It Will Be Okay - Jesse x F!Reader by: @nahoney22 SFW with light suggestive mentions

Upside Down Chapter 33 - Various Characters x Various O.C by: @imabeautifulbutterfly SFW

Were.....Wolffe? Wolffepack were creature AU by: @ladysongmaster SFW

17th:

TBB x F!Reader Spicy HC`s Hot Tub by: @zoeykallus NSFW

Thank you for Loving Me, Tech x F!Reader by: @zoeykallus NSFW

House of Sins and Pleasure, Poe Dameron x F!Reader by: @princessxkenobi NSFW

The Bad Batch + Rex/ Fives/ Kix/ Gregor/Jesse / Fox/ Cody/ Wolffe/ Maul x Reader HC's - That Little Touch by: @zoeykallus Suggestive

There, but for Grace..., Ghost Company Clonetober Fic by: @ladysongmaster SFW

When Hope and Despair Collide, Dogma x F!Reader by: @rain-on-kamino NSFW

Gar Cyare Chapter Four, Alpha17 x F!Reader by: @wanderinginksplot NSFW

@imabeautifulbutterfly@chaoticvampirejedi@hellothere-generalangsty@cyroku@reluctant-mandalore@uponrightful@zinzinina@saradika@galacticgraffiti@ashotofspotchka@dindjarindiaries@dinbeskarbaby@djarrex@djarinsbeskar@rowansparrow@photogirl894@rigelmoonshine@rigel-the-moonstrider@nahoney22@loth-wolffe@neon-junkie@bobafetts-princess@cyarbika@charnelhouse@zoeykallus@kin-rokku@jgvfhl@honestly-shite@here-comes-the-moose@dindjarindiaries@firstofficerwiggles@fictional-men-ruin-lives @ladysongmaster @lozalot @moonstrider9904@lorjukka@m-o-o-n-s-g-o-o-n-s @rain-on-kamino @monako-jinn-stories @middimidoris

[hardcasey]

After Hours

Pairing: Commander Fox x F!Reader

Summary: It's no secret that Commander Fox has the best tits in the whole damn GAR, and you take advantage of that fact when he does something worthy of a little punishment.

Word Count: 3.6k

Ratings/Warnings: E, 18+ only!!!

Contains nipple play (including some biting), dom/sub elements (sub!Fox), light bondage (handcuffs), praise kink, thigh riding, and handjobs.

A/N: I was utterly possesed by thoughts of sucking on Fox's fat tits, so I ended up writing a whole fic about it so I could live a normal life again. Hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing~

Mando'a Translations:

cyare - darling, beloved

osik - shit

~~~

You sat on the sofa in Fox’s office, leaning back to sink into its plushness. Apparently some of the guard had gotten it for Fox after they learned he ended up sleeping in his office most nights. Scandalized that their commander was falling asleep at his desk, the rest of the guard had sprung for a nice comfy couch for his office. Since you spent so much time in his office, some of the throw blankets from your apartment had eventually migrated to their new place on the back of the couch, and you draped one over your shoulders as you kicked your feet up and settled in for the long wait.

Most days you would swing by Fox’s office after work, since it was one of the only ways you could spend quality time with him outside of the weekends - which really existed only for you anyway, Commander of the Coruscant Guard was a 24/7 sort of job. Depending on what time you got out, you would pick up some food on the way, knowing your Commander was probably running on the one nutrition bar he scarfed down during breakfast and the innumerable cups of caf he drank throughout the day. Getting at least one meal in him a day gave you some piece of mind, and though he’d protested in the beginning, he quickly started to look as forward to your mealtimes as you did.

The one problem was that most days it was a crapshoot if Fox would be able to join you in a timely manner. Some nights the two of you would have enough time to watch a movie while eating your dinner and others you would have to wait hours before he finally trudged through the door and all but collapsed next to you. Tonight, he’d texted you letting you know he’d probably be a little late and to not wait for him. As you pulled the lid off of your takeout container, the steam coming off of it warming your face, you sure hoped he would join you soon.

You had already finished your food and pulled out your computer to get a little work done when the door finally opened. You were on your feet as soon as you heard the door handle, your laptop and blanket shoved to the side in your haste.

“Sorry to disappoint, doll, but it’s just me,” Thorn teased you as he stepped into the room, watching you visibly deflate as you realized he wasn’t Fox. “I’m just dropping off a few reports for him to look over later,” he said, raising a holopad up to show you before crossing the room and placing it on Fox’s desk.

“Boo! Don’t give him any more work!” you groused at him. You didn’t want anything else eating away at your allotted Fox time.

“Don’t worry. There’s no rush so he can look at them tomorrow. I wouldn’t dream of eating up any of your precious alone time with Fox,” Thorn assured you with an eyebrow wiggle, showing you exactly what he thought your plans for the night were. He caught you two getting frisky in Fox’s office one time and has yet to let you live it down.

You didn’t dignify that with a response, instead sticking your tongue out at him. He blew a raspberry at you before adding, “He shouldn’t be much longer. Probably five minutes tops.”

You thanked Thorn and threw him one of the cookies that came free with your meal. Your throw was sub par and went wide, but he managed to lunge and grab it with one hand as he headed out, shutting the door behind him as he left.

Thorn’s prediction was right, and you only waited a few more minutes before the door opened again and Fox was walking in. He barely crossed the threshold before you were rushing up to him to wrap him in a big hug.

He wrapped one arm around your waist, pulling you closer to him as he used his other hand to slip off his helmet, placing it on his desk while simultaneously shaking out his hair and stretching his neck. The motion caused one strand of hair to fall against his forehead, a single dark curl that tickled your skin as he bent down to kiss you in greeting.

“Hey, cyare. Hope you weren’t waiting too long,” he said with a lazy half smile. As you ran a thumb across his cheek, you were happy to find that the bags under his eyes weren’t as dark as they had been on earlier this week. Hopefully that meant he was getting some amount of sleep, which was better than the usual none at all.

“Nope, not too long. But I did eat without you though,” you told him, pulling away so that he had room to begin the process of shedding his armor. “Want me to heat your’s up for you?”

“I’m okay right now. Toast brought some baked goods in and I had a few of those,” he informed you as he tugged off a shoulder bell, letting it clatter onto the desk as he rolled his shoulder. You must have given him a look because he added, “Don’t worry. I’ll eat it in a little bit. I have a few things I need to finish tonight, so I’ll eat it then. Can you leave it on top of the microwave for me?”

“‘A few things’ for you can take anywhere from five minutes to two hours,” you grumbled, causing him to laugh. As he continued undressing, you turned away to grab the plastic bag filled with his dinner and placed it on top of the microwave.

“It won’t take more than ten minutes, tops. I have a few reports to fill out and I’m pretty sure Thorn left me a few more that I have to look over, but he said those could wait…”

Fox continued his explanation but you were no longer paying attention. When you turned back around, he’d managed to remove the entire top half of his armor, exposing the wonderfully form-fitting blacks he wore underneath. All of the clones were well built - they were soldiers after all - but your Foxy just had the best damn tits in the whole GAR. His blacks molded perfectly to the contours of his chest, emphasizing his muscles perfectly. As he talked, he stretched his arms up over his head, making the fabric strain as it tried to keep everything in. And when he dropped his arms back down, you could have sworn you saw them jiggle. You bit your lip as your mind wandered with thoughts of burying your face between them.

Fox snapped his fingers at you to get your attention. “My eyes are up here, cyare,” he scolded, raising an eyebrow and putting his hands on his hips.

“Sorry,” you said sheepishly, biting your lower lip.

“You don’t look all that sorry,” Fox responded lowly, his eyes narrowing at you.

You pushed away from the counter and started walking towards him. “Mmmmh, no I’m not. I can’t help myself. These tits are just simply irresistible.” By then you’d made your way back over to him and did exactly what you’d been fantasizing about and pressed your face into his chest, inhaling deeply. He smelled of sweat and coffee and the remnants of the nice cologne you’d gotten him as a gift. You finished by peppering a few kisses across his chest, one of them catching the edge of his nipple in the process and earned you a small gasp, before resting your chin against him and looking up with a mischievous smile.

“You only love me for my tits,” he said, the corners of his lips curling into an amused smile.

“I love you for a lot of reasons. The tits are just an added benefit,” you shot back at him.

He laughed, a low sound that made his chest vibrate. His palms smoothed along the length of your back, and he gave your ass a quick squeeze before hoisting you up into his arms. You let out a surprised squeak as he brought you over to the couch and flopped down on it with you on top of him.

He wiggled around under you to get into a better position before settling, one arm resting behind his head while the other found your ass again. “You’re lucky I’m an ass man,” he said right as he smacked your ass, hard, the resounding crack echoing through the room.

You narrowed your eyes at him. “You’ll pay for that, mister.”

“I sure hope so,” he teased, looking as guilty as you did when you were caught staring - which is to say, not at all.

You pushed yourself up into a sitting position, your legs straddling his waist. You’d waited long enough for him, and now that you had him exactly how you wanted, you quickly got to work removing the main obstacle in the way of your prize. You tugged at the hem of his upper blacks, freeing them from where they’d been tucked into his armor, craning your neck so you could press kisses to each inch of skin you uncovered.

You started by pressing your lips right at the edge of his belt, wondering if he was already hard. By the way he sucked in a sharp breath as soon as your lips met skin, if he wasn’t already it wouldn’t take long before he was. You followed the trail of wirey hair that led from his belt up to his navel, making sure to lavish extra attention on any place that made him twitch or sigh, had his fingers digging harder into the meat of your ass. As your mouth trailed up to his chest, you kissed along the valley between his pecs, skipping past the main event to press your lips against his collarbone and neck, licking and nipping along his jawline before your lips finally found his own. The kiss quickly turned dirty, your tongue pressing into his hot mouth, his own tongue coming to tangle with it. A thin strand of spit still connected you both when you finally pulled away, and Fox took one look at it before chasing your mouth with his and pulling you back in for more. When you eventually had to come up for air, you made sure to suck at his lower lip, letting it go with a ‘pop’ as you sat back up.

“Hmmm,” you hummed, running your hands down his now bare chest, your fingers tangling into the thick hair there, salt and pepper just like the hair at his temples. When you’d first discovered that fact it set your body ablaze with lust and you’d practically jumped him. Later, you’d admitted to him that you might have a thing for silver foxes, complete with a cheeky wink and a laugh at your own joke, only to discover he’d never heard that phrase before. Once you’d explained it to him, he’d admitted that he didn’t think people found gray hair attractive and that he’d always been a bit self conscious about his gray hairs. That night and every night after, you’d made sure to remind him just how sexy he was, and tonight was no exception. “Foxy, you’re so kriffin’ hot!”

“I’m glad you approve,” he replied, trying to act cool even though you caught the way he averted his eyes at the praise. You always loved making your commander blush.

You smirked at him as you used one finger to trace circles around one of his nipples, your touch teasing and light. You lowered your lips back down to his collarbone, sucking a few dark hickies there before moving lower. Once your lips rested between his pecs once more, you were unable to resist the urge and brought both hands up to grasp the soft flesh of his tits, pressing them closer together before motorboating him.

You barely lasted a few seconds before you dissolved into a fit of giggles and flicked your eyes up to see if Fox was having as much fun as you. The smile on your face died when you realized that his eyes were not focused on you, but instead on the datapad he was holding over his face.

“Oh no. You are not reading reports right now,” you huffed, incredulousness coloring your voice.

His eyes darted away from the screen to you. At least he had the decency to look guilty. “I-”

You held your hand out for the datapad and he gave it to you with a sigh. You placed it on the desk before turning back to him with an eyebrow cocked and your arms crossed.

Fox deflated in front of you. “I’m sorry, babe. I thought I could bang out this report real quick so I didn’t have to get up later and we could spend the whole night together,” he explained, rubbing the back of his neck. “Forgive me.”

Honestly, you shouldn’t have been so surprised. Fox was the king of multitasking after all. One time you’d even seen him put a datapad in a watertight plastic bag and bring it into the shower with him, just so he could get a little more work done.

“Hmmm. I don’t know…” you drawled, pretending that you were still considering it even though a plan was rapidly coalescing in your mind. “Though I might have an idea how you can make it up to me.”

He must have recognized the devilish glint in your eye because he answered with a breathy, “Anything.”

You pushed him back against the couch and rucked his shirt up, pulling it just over his head so his arms were trapped above him. And then for good measure, you fished out the pair of stuncuffs he kept on his belt and secured them around his wrists. Once they were locked in place, you sat back to admire your handiwork.

“Now, what to do with my naughty, workaholic commander?” you asked aloud. Fox was smart enough to know not to answer, instead swallowing thickly, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat as your eyes raked hungrily along his body.

You ran your fingers along his chest and found his nipples again, tracing light circles around them like before. Without warning you rolled one of the stiffening buds between your fingers, earning you a small moan that Fox tried to bite back.

That wouldn’t do at all.

The fingers of your other hand found his other nipple and tugged hard, Fox’s stomach tensing up under you as you did.

“F-fuck,” he stuttered, eyes fixed on your fingers as they played with his nipples.

You pulled on them both at the same time before letting go, which made the soft flesh around them jiggle deliciously. You licked your lips and flashed him a wicked grin before latching your lips around one nipple and sucking - hard.

Fox keened at the sensation, his head rolling back against the armrest and eyes fluttering closed. You immediately pulled away from him and he whimpered - yes, whimpered - at the loss of your lips. His eyes snapped back open as you grasped his chin in your hands and tilted it back towards you.

“Eyes on me, Commander. That’s an order,” you scolded.

“Yes, ma’am,” he answered breathily, his gaze glassy.

You dipped back down to wrap your lips around his nipple, swirling your tongue around the stiff bud. He arched his back, pressing his chest closer to you. You hummed, pleased at his reaction. You’d learned early on that Fox liked his nipples teased during sex, but you’d never gotten this reaction before. Then again, you’d never really topped him like this before. It seemed like all your man needed was to let go and let you take care of him, and you were only too happy to oblige.

Fox squirmed underneath you as you licked and sucked at one nipple, moaning openly at your ministrations. Before pulling away to focus your attention on the other one, you bit down, not hard enough to really hurt, but enough to leave some nice teeth marks around his areola. You moved over to his left nipple, lathing your tongue around it before blowing gently on it. Fox’s whole body twitched at the feeling, his skin breaking out into goosebumps.

“Kriff, babe!” he whined as you did it again. You finally took pity on him and lavished this one with the same attention as the other, leaving similar marks around it before your lips started to wander, sucking and biting marks indiscriminately along his chest.

Fox’s eyes never left yours, though there were a few times they almost fluttered closed before he caught himself. He was trying so hard to be good for you and you told him as much.

“You’re being such a good boy for me, Foxy. I think you deserve a reward. Would you like that?” He nodded vigorously at you but you tsked at him and said, “Use your words, pretty boy.”

“Yes!” He gasped. “P-please!”

“So polite,” you praised, shifting your hips back so you could easily pull off his belt and codpiece. And for good measure, you pulled off one of his thigh plates, tossing it to the ground with everything else.

Once he was bare enough for your liking, you swung your legs over so you were straddling his uncovered thigh and pressed your palm against his clothed erection. The fabric was slightly damp from precome and the realization sent a bolt of heat to your core. As much as you wanted to draw this out and tease him more, you weren’t sure you could wait much longer, so you yanked the waistband of his blacks down to free his cock. It bobbed against his stomach, the head flushed and swollen, a bead of precome dribbling from the slit. He hissed as you wrapped your hand around it, his hips jerking up into your touch.

“So sensitive,” you cooed, running your thumb along a vein on the underside. “Go on, fuck yourself with my hand, sweet boy.”

Fox moaned brokenly as he started thrusting up into your hand. His head rolled back to expose his throat to you, though he still managed to keep eye contact with you through his half closed eyelids. As he chased his pleasure, you started rocking your own hips, using his leg to give you some friction. Fox flexed his thigh for you, adding to the feeling, making the seam of your pants press in just the right place to start working you towards your own finish.

It was your turn to gasp as heat shot up your spine, and you leaned so you were chest to chest with Fox, your lips finding his pulse point and alternating between sucking at it and whispering dirty praises against his skin.

“I-I’m so c-close. Can you b-b-bite my nip-p-ple again?” He begged, barely able to concentrate enough to gasp out a full sentence.

“‘C-course,” you replied, your own building pleasure making your mind fuzzy.

You bent down to take his nipple back in your mouth, sucking hard before rolling it lightly with your teeth. That was all it took for him to reach his peak, and he gasped and groaned as he came, shuttering underneath you as you felt this cum dribble down your hand. The sound and feeling of his orgasm triggered your own, your body seizing up as warmth spread through it, reaching all the way to the tips of your fingers and toes. When it subsided you slumped against him, your limbs feeling heavy as lead.

The two of you laid there catching your breath for a while, the sound of your panting filling the air. Fox was the first to break the silence.

“Osik, that was… amazing,” he sighed, pressing his lips against your sweaty hairline.

You pushed yourself up with your forearms to look down at him. “I’ll say,” you giggled as you pushed his hair out of his face. “Though you’re not supposed to enjoy your punishment. I think I’ll need more practice to get this dom thing right.”

“You can practice on me any time, baby,” he grinned back at you.

You rolled your eyes and sat up, running your hands down his sides as you did. He looked like a dream like this, hands bound above his head, face flushed and hair all mussed up, nipples skill swollen and hard with dark love bites all around them, skin slick with sweat and cum pooling on his belly under his softening cock.

“Can I take a picture of you, babe?” you asked, darting to grab your comm at his nod.

“Just hurry up, my arms are starting to get a little sore,” he replied before you snapped a few pictures.

Once you were done, you put your comm down and started digging around the pile of armor on the floor to grab his belt. “Where do you keep the keys?” you asked as you started to dig through its various pockets.

“Kriff,” Fox groaned, “Thorn has them.”

[kimageddon]

Prompt Challenge

I got this wonderful request from @nonsenseandm3mes

*waves shyly*. Hi! Um....may I have a fic with prompt 23 where they find each other again? Whatever two characters of your choice?

And yes absolutely! I hope this is satisfactory! I thought it suited this fellow entirely too much! Also a tag for my friend @potion-approaching999 as I know she loves Gregor too! <3

Masterlist | Prince of Dathomir Masterlist (Maul x Nightsister OC) | Read on AO3 | Prompt Challenges | Ko-fi Contains/Warnings: A bit of angst, fluff, grieving etc Prompt: 23. “Don’t cry. We’ll find each other again.”

Alone with Clone Commando Captain Gregor

This was hell. You couldn’t believe this. They were shipping him out already?! He’d just gotten back, and you’d barely had three days with him before he’d returned from a briefing with his head hung low. You knew from the grim expression that he’d been called forth to another battle. You held him for a long time after that moment. Just clinging to his strong frame, feeling the comfort of his broad chest and your arms around his neck. You didn’t want to leave, Gregor always gave the best hugs.

“Where did they say you had to go?” you ask quietly, barely wanting to acknowledge the fact that soon you would have to spend your nights and days alone again for… well you had no idea how long. He let out a sigh, his large warm hands caressing up and down your back slowly, offering what little comfort he could provide, considering the situation. Your fingers traced little indiscernible patterns on the back of his neck where his hair was trimmed short. The man hummed and let his head drop to rest on your shoulder.

“It’s one of the little planets in the outer rim, not to worry, we will be back before you know it, hm?” he replied with a little half smile. You knew it was war, you knew he was a soldier, you knew it was necessary. You knew all this when you met him and that having any of these moments were a blessing. Still, you couldn’t help but feel your chest tighten with this pain and the fears settling in your belly about it. You didn’t know what it was, but the anguish was stronger than it had been before. You felt hot tears prick at your eyes, your chest tight as your fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, and you sniffed, unable to hide the sadness you felt anymore. He pulled back suddenly and looked you over, his bourbon coloured eyes looking over your face as the first tear fell.

“Hey…” he began softly, a gentle hushed tone as he cupped your cheeks in his large warm hands. “Hey, it’s alright, butterfly, it’s gonna be alright. Don’t cry. We’ll find each other again,” he soothed, running one of his hands over your hair gently. “I’ll be back here to bother you before you can even miss me.” he chuckled.

“I think that’s impossible.” you mumbled in return.

“Well, cyare, I look forward to seeing that pretty smile you give me when we see each other again.” You nod and hold him a little longer, letting him shift you into his lap and hug you tight for a while longer.

“How long til you ship out?”

“I have to be back in the barracks in a few hours, we depart pretty early. Foxtrot and the 212th boys,” he grinned, “can’t go wrong with that team up!” You nod in response.

“Where did you say you were headed?” you ask, your head resting on his shoulder.

“Outer Rim, some planet called Sarrish.”

----

Sarrish. It was a word you cursed for months afterwards. A word that had burned itself to your heart and scarred it for life. You knew you would not be the same. The devastation, the loss. Just… not knowing. The representatives of the GAR hadn’t bothered to tell you, there was no letter… it wasn’t til weeks after you heard about the result of the battle that someone finally found you with answers. You’d been calling and calling the administrators for any information on your beloved Gregor but… they’d given you nothing. The clones were just property to them. It was when Marshall Commander Cody approached you one day, that you learned more. For a heartbeat you’d thought it was Gregor himself… but it wasn’t. Just his brother, one of millions. The scar on the left side of his face and the subtle differences in expression and posture was further proof that it wasn’t him.

“I’m sorry to disturb you, miss,” he began, explaining that he had only just realised you hadn’t been told. That he wasn’t supposed to be there, but Captain Gregor had mentioned a girl and he thought it only right to find you. Bless Commander Cody. He was a good man, and you knew it, despite the overwhelming misery that clawed its way through your body from the feet up. He’d held your hand when you broke down. Missing in action he said. Presumed dead. They had never found his body. They weren’t even going to have a funeral! You’d managed to hold it mostly together until the door closed, but you couldn’t keep in the scream of anguish that ripped itself from your lungs as you fell against the closed door. There was no way that Cody didn’t hear it.

The days after that were a blur. They blended into one another and you didn’t smile for at least two weeks after that visit. Days dragged into weeks, then into months and the deep despair and rotting black feeling in the pit of your stomach didn’t lessen, but you managed to work around it or push on in spite of the overwhelming ache you felt in your body. It wasn’t just your chest either. It hurt in your gut, your head, your heart, your arms and legs, this aching hollowed out feeling that didn’t seem to ease no matter how much you tried to warm yourself with clothes or food or idle conversation. It just… was missing that bright spark that gave your life colour. Everything just felt so cold and grey and miserable. You felt your heart clench every time you heard a Clone’s voice or saw one of his brothers in the holonet. You had to come to terms with it.. That things were different now… that he was… gone.

It was months later when you got another call. You hardly expected to hear from Commander Cody again. Why was he calling you?

“There’s been news.” he said bluntly as soon as you greeted him. A wave of emotion hit you in the chest. Things you had only just been getting over hit you again in full force. “Come down to the location I am sending you, I can’t say more, I’m afraid.” The call ended shortly after that, and the Commander had urged you to come down quickly. With no idea what they needed from you, you moved on almost autopilot, getting transport down to the coordinates you’d been sent. It was a medical facility, not one you’d been to before. There was a lot of confusion as to why you were there and the people in the front desk couldn’t give you any information, leaving you to wait for Commander Cody to return. It felt like ages until a Clone in familiar yellow and white plastoid approached.

“Good, you’re here, I’m sorry to keep you waiting, Miss,” he bowed his head in greeting, his words and steps rushed as he gestured for you to rise and follow him.

“Where are we going?” you ask urgently, having to nearly run to keep pace with his long strides. He said something you didn’t quite catch before he had a call on his commlink, speaking to a General, unable to answer your many questions. He led you down a busy hall and everyone working seemed to part instinctively for him as he led you to one of the rooms at the end of the hall. He paused at the door and his lips curved into a slight smile.

“I’ll give you a moment,” he nodded to the interior of the room and departed just as quickly as he’d arrived. Hesitantly, you stepped into the room and looked to the sole occupant of the bed before you. It was a clone, covered in bandages and medical wrapping. He sat up in the bed and seemed to be fiddling with a datapad. Your heart clenched as you looked him over, eyes wide. He looked up and you felt your lips part. You knew those eyes.

“Hey, butterfly,” he grinned weakly. Tears sprung to your own eyes as you had to cover your mouth to stifle the scream of sheer shock and relief that fought to burst from your lungs. He was alive. You nearly launched across the room into his arms only pulling back when you heard him gasp in pain.

“Sorry!” you hiss in a panic, “I’m so sorry… I… I thought you were-- they said you were--”

“No chance of that, cyare,” he giggled. A little whinny sound, high pitched and bubbly. You’d not heard that sound before but… it was kind of cute sounding. “I told you I would be back.” You held tight to him, making sure not to press against his injuries as he shuffled over for you to prop yourself on the edge of the medical cot. You rested your head on his shoulder, the tears flowing freely just as they had the night he’d left, sobbing hard against him. Though this time these tears were much happier. That warmth you had been missing, it was back, filling the hole in your heart and pushing away that hollow cold ache that had persisted since the day you’d heard the news. Eventually the wracking sobs slowed and settled, the emotion somewhat quelled.

“You lied to me…” you mumbled against his shoulder and he pulled back to look at you.

“What?”

“You lied,” you accused, face streaked with tears and a pout to your lips. “You said you’d be back before I could miss you…” you manage weakly, “but I did miss you.” He let out another of those little giggles.

“I missed you too.”

Taglist! @two-black-leviathans @fallenrepublick @eyecandyeoz @ashotofspotchka @sitherin-mxschief @littlepossss @octupus-on-the-moon @by-the-primes @justalittlecloud @nxctuaryninetythree @mach-opress @mustluvgd @nahoney22 @leotatombs Join the tagist here and lmk if you wanna be removed. <3

[wanderinginksplot-writes]

Gar Cyare Chapter Nineteen

You and Alpha travel to Coruscant for the trial. Nothing is quite the same as you remembered it.

Alpha-17 x fem!reader

Word Count: 6,500

Warnings: Nervousness, descriptions of space flight, made up descriptions of space flight, made up judicial proceedings, descriptions of a planet at war, feelings of alienation and displacement, loneliness, price-gouging

Previous | Next | Masterlist

---

Coruscanta (Coruscant)

“Are you okay, neverd’ika?” Alpha asked, resting a hand over the fists you had clenched in your lap. 

You mustered a smile. “Yes, I’m fine. This is just… the first time I’ve left Kamino since I got here. It feels strange to be leaving. To have left.” 

Watching the water-covered surface of Kamino disappear into the distance had been a nerve-wracking experience. Alpha had asked several times if you were afraid of hyperspace travel, clearly picking up on your discomfort, but you had truthfully told him that you had no problem with hyperspace flights. 

No, leaving Kamino made you think of a permanent departure. Despite your best efforts, it would probably happen soon. Jaiss had asked about scheduling a meeting when you were on Coruscant, and you were sure that she wanted to speak with you about finalizing the report. 

The trip from Kamino to Coruscant was not quick or easy. There were numerous star systems that you had to skirt around, and the gravity wells would only grow denser as you approached the Core Worlds. 

Fortunately, the Republic had authorized one of their faster ships, and you were granted access to the Corellian Run hyperspace lane. Even so, the trip would take roughly three days. You were scheduled to spend a full week on Coruscant, but with your own ship, that time could be lengthened or shortened as needed depending on how the trial went. 

Trial. 

Your stomach twisted every time the word floated to the surface of your mind. 

“Breathe,” Alpha murmured, thumb rubbing over the stark peaks of your straining knuckles.

The two of you were in the small seating area between the cockpit and the bunks. There were two pilots in the cockpit, which was designed to stay enclosed. You had been quietly amused by that when you stepped aboard - did the Republic think there was a risk that you and Alpha would have stolen the ship and disappeared if left to your own devices? 

Fortunately, you had thought better of it before you pointed that out to Alpha. The idea of being a suspect for desertion probably wouldn’t have struck him as being as funny as it did to you. 

There was a small kitchen opposite the seating area. It was little more than a flash-reheater, a conservator, and a sink, but it meant that you wouldn’t be eating ration bars for the entirety of your journey, so you thought it was beautiful. 

When you had peeked into the barracks, it had held four bunks, but Alpha had already informed you that the pilots would switch off. Each one would get eight hours to sleep, then they would share the cockpit for another eight before the cycle continued. 

You had been a little awed when you asked Alpha how he knew. He had scoffed lightly. “Standard troopers are trained to follow orders, not to think for themselves. Pilots can be a little more difficult to anticipate, but not much. They’ll stick to that schedule because it’s how they were instructed, and how the regulations say to work a flight of this length.”

There was a lot in that statement that made you want to ask questions, but you were preoccupied by other matters. All you had caught was that they had a definite routine, which meant that you and Alpha were free to spend as much time together as you wanted. As long as you tracked when the pilots were due to be passing through on their way to the bunks, you would probably be fine. 

“Are there recorders on Republic transports?” you asked suddenly. It was such a natural continuation of your internal thoughts that it seemed plain to you, but Alpha gave you a strange look. “Visual or audio?” 

“Of course,” he confirmed. “The Republic wants to know everything that happens aboard one of their ships, and if the ship is attacked, they want to know what happened.” 

“Do you still have your disruptor puck?” you asked, much quieter. 

Alpha nodded. “Never go anywhere without it.” 

“I’m surprised they haven’t figured you out yet,” you said, unable to keep the note of admiration out of your voice. 

“They may have,” Alpha said with a shrug. “But no one wants to formally call me out on it. If they did, they would have to admit that there is a way to disrupt their recording devices. The damage that knowledge would do is much worse than anything I might be doing while they can’t observe me.” 

“You know, we have several days with nothing else to do,” you pointed out, watching the shadows cast by hyperspace form under Alpha’s raised eyebrow. “You could teach me how to make a disruptor of my own.” 

“I could,” Alpha agreed, in a leading tone that made you narrow your eyes at him. “But you’ll have to do something for me in return.” 

For a wild moment, you thought Alpha was going to say something lascivious. Admittedly, you were intrigued, but it would be tricky to avoid the pilots…

Then he said, “You have to show me civvie life on Coruscant.” 

The surprise made you blink at him, but you valiantly tried to recover. “Civilian life, really? I thought you weren’t interested.” 

“I don’t trust you to choose a holofilm anymore, but the rest of it?” Alpha shrugged. “You’re the expert. And you lived on Triple Zero for a while. I trust you to show me what I should see.” 

Possibilities raced through your mind. It had been a while since you were last on Coruscant, but it would be nice to show Alpha some of your favorite places… “Okay, that sounds like fun! It’s a deal.” 

Alpha nodded, but his eyes were fixed on yours with an intensity that made you nervous. “What did you think I was going to ask?” 

You felt your face heat and reflexively looked away. “Nothing.” 

That, of course, didn’t work. With a renewed interest sharpening his voice, Alpha leaned forward and pressed, “Didn’t seem like nothing. Seemed like you had something very specific in mind.” 

You shook your head, still refusing to look at him. “Nope, it was definitely nothing.” 

Alpha gave a skeptical hum, letting his thigh press more heavily against yours. “Too bad. Though you were gonna be brave. Tell me, me’copaani?” 

Alpha must have influenced you more than you thought. Being lightly accused of cowardice put you on-edge, and then the soft entreaty to tell him what you wanted? You couldn’t help but respond. 

You rested your hand on Alpha’s thigh in a way that could have been casual, if it weren’t so high up toward the juncture of his legs. He gave a low groan. 

You met his eyes and lifted a brow, your lips curving into a playful smile. “Maybe it’ll be another fun civvie thing to show you once we get to Coruscant.” 

Alpha’s spine stiffened slightly as you leaned into his lap to give him a kiss, but he returned it eagerly. When you pulled back, he tried to follow, stopping only when you turned your head away teasingly.

“Anytime,” he growled fervently. “Just tell me where and when. I’ll make it happen.” 

You laughed, giving his thigh a squeeze and a pat before you removed your hand. “For now, let’s just focus on those disruptors.” 

That work kept you busy over the next few days, especially since you could only work on it while the pilots were in the cockpit or the bunks. They didn’t spend much time in the common areas of the ship, but they emerged for food or to use the ‘freshers fairly often. Alpha had been right about their schedules, though, and avoiding them was easy enough. 

By the time you were warned to strap in for the descent into Coronet City, you had created an array of three disruptors. The largest one was for your room on Kamino, the second largest was for your office, and the smallest was for you to carry on your person. 

Alpha had been a remarkably patient teacher, but he had insisted that you learn how to do everything yourself. He hadn’t taken over, even when you were stuck on a step and frustrated about it. But he had taught you how to get past every problem and fix every mistake you made along the way. You had even made your last disruptor while Alpha was sleeping, as a way to test yourself. 

When Alpha had examined the finished product, he had announced that he was proud of you. He had also added that he would have you make disruptors for him in the future, but you mostly focused on the pride. 

The sight of the spires and lights of Coronet City made your stomach twist in a combination of nerves and excitement. The landing was steep, but smooth. Since both pilots were in the cockpit to assist with landing, you held Alpha’s hand during the whole process. You really weren’t scared of ships or flying, but you were starting to wonder if you were afraid of Coruscant itself. 

When you were safely on the ground, the pilots announced that you and Alpha could gather your belongings, but that they had to be the ones to release the locks on the doors. 

You had packed light, but Alpha’s bag was little more than a backpack. He was wearing full armor, with the exception of the helmet he carried beneath one arm. He had already explained that he could go to retrieve an extra body glove if necessary, and he needed very little else. Even so, he slung his pack over one shoulder and pulled your larger bag free before you could even reach for it. 

“Don’t leave the hangar yet,” one of the pilots said, pausing on his way off of the ship. “Commander Fox needs a word with you both.” 

You managed to wait until he had left before you turned to Alpha, alarmed. “Fox? The commander of the Coruscant Guard needs to speak with us?” 

Alpha’s brows quirked. “How do you know that Fox is the head of the Corrie Guard?” 

“I was a Senatorial aide,” you reminded. “Some of the Senators had to have security escorts if they were threatened. I only met Commander Fox once, but I’ve worked with the Coruscant Guard quite a bit.” 

Alpha nodded slowly. “Good man, Fox. I’m not sure what he needs from us, but I trust him.” 

That was high praise, coming from Alpha, but your shoulders were still tight with tension as you followed him off the ship. You relaxed when you caught sight of the commander. Fox looked vaguely irritated, and you could see why - Nora was standing beside him with an impish look on her face. 

“Nora!” you greeted. 

The lawyer beamed, stepping forward with her arms already open for a hug. You stepped into them gratefully, happy for the familiarity of someone you already knew. 

“It’s so great to see you in person!” Nora gushed when you pulled back. “And Alpha, of course! He’s a big guy.” 

The last part had been delivered in a whisper, and you nodded emphatically. Sometimes, it was easy to forget how much larger Alpha was than the standard clone troopers, but the difference was especially striking when he was standing next to Commander Fox. 

Fox wasn’t a small man, himself. He was the same height as all of the other troopers, with a sturdy build that spoke of hours spent working on his strength. Fox had always exuded an air of competence, and the sense of authority he carried was noticeable enough to make even hardened criminals think twice about testing him. 

“Fox,” Alpha greeted simply, jerking his chin in recognition. 

“Alpha,” Fox returned. He glanced over and, seeing that you were looking back at him, greeted you by name as well. “I don’t know if you remember, but we met a while ago.” 

“I definitely remember,” you agreed, half-laughing at the idea of forgetting a meeting with Commander Fox. “It’s been a while, though. I’m surprised you remember.” 

Fox’s lips twisted into a wry grin. “I had a vague memory of you, but we’ve gotten more than a few shinies from Kamino since you started working there. They have plenty to say.” 

Your spine straightened reflexively, not sure whether or not that was a good thing.

“The pilot said you needed something from us,” Alpha said, subtly redirecting the conversation. “What is it?” 

Fox nodded slowly. “I thought it would be a good idea to let you both know the expectations for your time here. I’m not sure what she’s doing here.” 

Nora met his sidelong glance with a broad smile. “I heard that Commander Fox would be debriefing you both, so I decided to come along in case there are any questions or information that your counsel should be aware of.” 

“Again, this isn’t a debriefing,” Fox said, sounding tired. “Second, you aren’t their counsel for this trial. They don’t need counsel since neither of them are defendants.” 

“Well, I’m already here,” Nora said bracingly, shooting you a wink when Fox turned away to roll his eyes. 

“Captain, you’ll be staying in the GAR barracks,” Fox started at last. “Since court isn’t in session until tomorrow morning, you have some meetings scheduled for this afternoon. I’ll escort you to them personally. Advisor, the Senate has reserved a hotel room for you near the courthouse. They will update the reservation as needed for your testimony. I’ll transmit the details to your comlink.” 

He glanced back and forth between you and Alpha. “You are both expected to be in the courtroom at nine tomorrow morning. I cannot stress enough that you do not need legal representation.” 

“They’ve already tried to pin this osik on her once, Fox,” Alpha reminded lowly, tilting his head at you so Fox couldn’t possibly misunderstand. “I don’t trust that they won’t do it again.” 

“Much as I hate to agree with the commander,” Nora interjected. “I have to say that Fox has a point. If you come in with obvious legal protection, it could make you a target if their charges against Brid don’t stick.” 

“Could you just be… around?” you asked. 

Nora shook her head regretfully. “The proceedings are closed to the public since the trial is an internal Senate and GAR affair. I will give you some pointers about questions you should and should not answer, though. We’ll go out for dinner tonight, the three of us. After Alpha’s meetings, of course. Unless you’d like to come along, Fox?” 

Fox gave her a dry look, but didn’t offer any other response. Instead, he said, “The captain’s scheduled meetings will run fairly late in the evening.” 

“Oh, no…” Nora lamented, grinning all the while. “However will we find a Coruscanti restaurant that’s open after sunset?” 

Fox shook his head and looked back at you and Alpha. “Nine tomorrow morning. Alpha, let’s go.” 

Alpha’s eyes were on you and he stepped closer in an effort to speak more privately. Nora cleared her throat and hastily engaged Fox in conversation - and you were fascinated to see that he went along with it. 

“I’ll see you tonight, neverd’ika,” he promised. “Go get settled in the room and I’ll meet up with you and Nora as soon as these meetings are finished.” 

“Are you sure they’ll let you leave?” you asked. “Sounds like they’re trying to keep you occupied.” 

Alpha’s grin held an edge of violence. “They can try all they like. I’m an expert at keeping meetings brief. One way or another.” 

“Okay,” you agreed. “Be…” 

You trailed off. ‘Be safe’ seemed nonsensical. Alpha was going to the GAR headquarters. He would be surrounded by his brothers, many of whom he had worked with in the past or personally trained. Arguably, Alpha would be safer there than anywhere else, but you still fought not to tell him to be safe. 

Alpha seemed to understand. He rested his hand briefly on your shoulder. “You too, little one.” 

The warmth and solid weight of his touch stayed with you long after he had left with Commander Fox. 

You did as Alpha suggested, checking into the hotel room. It was… fine. Nothing fancy, but it was clean and quiet, near enough to the courthouse that you could easily walk there when it was time. You unpacked your outfit for the next day, hanging it up to avoid any creases. You were back on Coruscant, which meant that appearances were everything. 

You found enough to keep yourself occupied for almost an hour. But when your toiletries were arranged and your personal datapad was charging on the bedside table, the room started to feel… wrong. It was too small, and dark, and cluttered. It was hard to to breathe. 

Minutes later, you had gathered your wallet, comlink, and room key. A walk through the city was exactly what you needed to keep your mind off of the stress. 

You set a course through a familiar section of the city, waiting to feel the peaceful sensation of homecoming that had been lacking up to that point. In a perfect world, you would have commed some of your Senatorial aide friends to meet up. But the last you had heard, most of them had left Coruscant. Some had moved on to new jobs while others were part of personal staff for Senators. Since it was currently outside of the Senate’s season, they would only meet up on Coruscant if there was an emergency motion. For the moment, the Senators and their staff were on home planets and estates, or traveling reelection circuits.

It was startling to realize that you didn’t know many people on Coruscant anymore. It was even stranger to realize that you hadn’t lived on Coruscant for well over a year. 

The second realization became more and more apparent as you wandered through Coruscant. When you had left, the discussions of bringing in a clone guard force to augment the Coruscant Security Force had been raging, and there hadn’t been any sign of a consensus. To the displeasure of the CSF - and its union - Chancellor Palpatine had overridden the objections and pushed through a clone regiment. Now, the red-armored Coruscant Guard seemed to be everywhere you looked.

The war had taken its toll on the city in other ways. Every advertisement board switched between ads and governmental PSAs. Announcements about rationing and decreased utilities blared from assorted street corners. Graffiti splashed the walls - usually anti-war or anti-Republic, but you saw a few anti-trooper tags. 

Public services had clearly taken a hit with the budget constraints of waging a war. Every drinking fountain you passed was broken, street lights were out more often than not, and the duracrete sidewalks were starting to crack and crumble along the more popular streets. 

Most notably, plenty of businesses were closed. Some of the places you had loved when you lived on Coruscant were shuttered, a few of the doors bearing announcements that they hadn’t been able to compete in the wartime economy. One of your favorite restaurants had closed and your heart panged. You had planned to take Alpha there during your time on-planet.

Your already-low mood plummeted and you morosely turned back toward the hotel. 

With your inevitable expulsion from Kamino coming up as soon as you submitted the report, you had wanted this trip to be more than it was. You hadn’t realized it at the time, but you had pinned your hopes on Coruscant feeling like home, and using that feeling to bolster yourself about the possibility of returning to a life of semi-normalcy. 

Instead, it was growing more and more apparent that Kamino wasn’t allowed to be your home and that Coruscant no longer felt like the exciting surroundings they once had. Nothing was going as planned, and that made you feel irritable and off-balance. 

And since you were already thinking of unplanned things, it seemed entirely fitting that you didn’t recognize where you were. A combination of closed businesses, changed facades, and partially closed walkways made even the most familiar of streets seem utterly strange to you. 

You swore softly and tucked yourself off to the side, leaning against the railings to avoid passersby while minimizing how much Coruscant grime came away on your clothing. You might be able to find a comlink-accessible map, assuming that the frequencies hadn’t changed…

The sound of your name called in a familiar voice made you turn. When you glanced behind yourself, there was a tall, broad figure cutting easily through the crowd. You smiled. “Alph-”

You cut yourself off, frowning at the approaching trooper. His armor was red, and he made no move to take off his helmet as he stared down at you. More importantly, there was something about his bearing, the way he moved… 

This wasn't Alpha. 

At last, the trooper repeated your name and you nodded. “Yes. I’m sorry, have we met?” 

“I’m here on my brother’s behalf.” 

That didn’t directly answer any of your questions, but there was a suspicion forming in the back of your mind. You had never seen another trooper who could compete with Alpha's height and build, but this unfamiliar armored man was an exact match.

You tilted your head at him, studying the blank visor of his helmet as if you could see his eyes behind it. “You're another Alpha-class trooper, aren't you?” 

He touched his gauntleted hand to his visor, giving a short nod. “Alpha-26, ma'am.”

“Do you have a name, or do you prefer Alpha-26?” You did your best to ask the question without any inflection that could be misconstrued as derision, but you really hoped that he had a name. Preferably not ‘Alpha’, either. That would simply be too strange.

He watched you for a moment, visor unmoving. You did your best not to fidget under the pressure of his hidden gaze. At last, he said, “Maze.” 

“Maze,” you repeated with a smile. “It's nice to meet you.” 

He tilted his head in acknowledgement, but gestured for you to start walking. “Let’s get you out of here.” 

“Is everything okay?” you asked, already hurrying in the direction he had indicated.

Maze was a solid presence behind you. He followed a little further than Alpha usually did, but the similarities were uncanny. “You’re getting ready to testify in a Republic case, possibly linking to Separatist conspiracy. Wandering around in the depths of the city isn’t a smart idea.” 

The idea seemed laughable at first. After all, you were still on the surface of the planet. Things didn’t usually get dangerous above level seventy or so. But you remembered how the Separatists had planted detonators in the Coruscant power grid. You had been on Kamino when it happened, but the news had rocked the galaxy. Coruscant hadn’t been successfully attacked in over a thousand years.

Maybe you weren’t as safe in the city as you had wanted to think. 

You walked a little faster. “Did Alpha send you?” 

“He mentioned that you were here,” Maze said vaguely. “He was kaden because they have him in di’kutla meetings for the whole day.” 

“Yeah, Commander Fox said someone had made sure he had a full schedule.” You glanced around when you got to the next intersection. “Where are we going?”

“Up to you,” Maze said. “But wherever we go, we need to take the long way. I need to check for tails before we get anywhere important.” 

“Is that necessary?” you asked, fidgeting uncomfortably with your wrist comlink. 

Maze alternated between walking beside you and behind you. Since he was currently beside you, you could clearly see his nod. “There’s a humanoid following you. Has been for the last half-hour. I want to check it out before you return to your lodging.”

It was idiotic to glance behind yourself, but you tried until Maze physically blocked your way. In a dry tone of voice you had only heard from Alpha before, he said, “The idea is not to tip anyone off that you see ‘em.”

“Sorry,” you apologized reflexively. “Instinct, I guess.”

Maze hummed noncommittally. “How did you know I was an Alpha-class trooper?” 

It was your turn to answer in a dry tone. “Just a feeling.” 

From the tilt of Maze’s visor in your direction, he wasn’t impressed.

You waved a hand. “Alpha is the only trooper I’ve ever met who is so much larger than the average. I know he’s not the only Alpha-class trooper, so it was pretty easy to guess.” 

Maze was quiet beside you. You had honestly assumed that his attention was on whoever was following you, until he said, “A civvie with critical thinking skills? Wish there were more like you.” 

“That was… almost a kind thing to say,” you replied. 

He shook his head. “Kindness isn’t really what I’m known for. The same used to go for Alpha, but looking at you… apparently, that has changed.”

The idea of anyone but you calling Alpha ‘kind’ was too funny. Maze shushed your laughter. With a stern look, he warned, “You’ll draw attention.”

“If someone is tailing me, I think I already have their attention,” you countered. 

Maze’s sigh reminded you so strongly of Alpha that you laughed again. 

“Doesn’t matter. I was trying to get him close enough to get a good scan of him, but if he gets a look at me, he’s more likely to hang back and blend into the crowd.” Anything you had planned to say in your own defense was cut short when Maze straightened, pushing you onward as he disappeared into the swarm of people surrounding you. “Keep moving. I’ll find him and catch up.” 

Even with his considerable height and the breadth of his shoulders, Maze disappeared into the crowd within seconds. You caught the eye of several curious onlookers, but they lost interest when you just offered them a bewildered shrug. 

You kept going in the vague direction of your hotel, walking alone for long enough that you started to wonder whether Maze had been injured. For a moment, you hesitated, ready to turn back, but a gruff-sounding sigh at your side made you think better of it. 

“Keep walking, civvie,” Maze ordered. 

You did, aiming a curious glance in his direction. In answer to your unspoken question, Maze lifted one armored shoulder. “We’re all good. It was one of Obrim’s boys. Apparently, you’ve been labeled a flight risk.” 

“Obrim?” you repeated. “A flight risk? They think I would run?” 

“Apparently.” Maze seemed unconcerned. “But if it makes you feel better, Seventeen is marked down as the one they would send to retrieve you. So whatever you’ve got going on, you’re keeping it reasonably ranov’la.”

While you were happy that Maze thought you and Alpha were being subtle, you weren’t entirely sure that Alpha would want his brother knowing about his personal life. He could be strange about things like that, and you didn’t officially know how Alpha felt about Maze. 

“Alpha's a great friend,” you said carefully, “but he's a loyal Republic soldier. I'm sure he could find me easily if I decided to do something as foolish as running.”

Maze gave you a look that strongly implied you were losing grip on reality, but he just snorted instead of actually saying anything. 

“Did he send you?” you asked at last. “How did he know I had left the room?” 

“Comlink,” Maze said succinctly. “But Seventeen didn't send me.” 

A sense of foreboding tightened your stomach. “Oh.” 

“I've heard about you,” Maze said, after giving you a minute or two to scan for possible escape routes. “Not from Alpha, but others. Vode who came from Kamino. You're important to him. So you're important to me. I got your comm frequency from one of them.”

“Really?” you asked, forcing yourself to relax as you feigned curiosity. “Who was it?” 

Maze snorted. “Trying to check whether I am who I say I am? Clever civvie. Seventeen didn’t send me. He didn’t have to. He mentioned that you were wandering around the city while he can’t be nearby to keep an eye on things. Seventeen doesn’t do small talk. He mentioned it because he was worried about you. So I came to find you.” 

That made a lot more sense, and your wariness faded. Maze eyed you, shouldering through a group of beings who were blocking the pathway and keeping you falling victim to their disturbed centers of balance. 

“Still don’t trust me?” he asked after you had made it through the crowd. 

“It’s not that I don’t trust you-” you argued.

“But you don’t,” Maze finished, nodding like he had made some kind of decision. “Hold.” 

You were trying to figure out whether to offended by being given a single-word command like a trained massiff while Maze typed a message into his comlink. You had decided to overlook it just as he lowered his arm to his side and watched you expectantly. 

A moment later, your own comlink chimed. When you checked it, you had a message from Alpha: 

I see Maze found you. He’s a di’kut, but he’s not dangerous. You’re in good hands.

You chuckled at that as you glanced back up at Maze. “Fair enough. You’ve been vetted.” 

“What a relief,” Maze said, tone dry. “Let’s get you back to your hotel.” 

A nearby chronometer caught your eye. “I’m supposed to meet Alpha for dinner. Is that something that is still happening, or will his meetings take the rest of the night?” 

“They’ll keep him busy for a while longer,” Maze explained. “But if you don’t want to go back to the hotel, we can go to the GAR headquarters. Alpha can meet you after he’s done.” 

“The GAR headquarters?” you asked, perking up a bit. “Can I take a look around while I wait?” 

“Absolutely not.” 

You must have looked disappointed, because Maze sighed. “Not without an escort. And I suppose I’m not doing anything important right now.” 

The GAR headquarters were dull at first. Everything was painted in varying shades of tan and gray, laid out in a grid pattern that left you both bored and utterly dependent on Maze to lead you through the labyrinth. 

But when you actually paid attention to your surroundings, you found that they were far more fascinating than you had believed at first. Beside every door was a neat little label explaining what you could find inside, and you had read through enough GAR documents to understand the enormity of the operations that were housed in the unassuming building. People you passed in the halls ran the gamut from shiny trooper to famous general, all of them greeting Maze with a salute or a kind word, respectively. 

Maze wasn’t much of a conversationalist. You couldn’t bring yourself to be surprised by that, but it made the trip less of a tour and more of a fun experiment in keeping pace with someone whose legs were so much longer than yours. But he mentioned things here and there, and when you asked him a question about something you saw, he always knew the answer. He reminded you a little of Alpha. 

Then, when one trooper stopped to make conversation with you and got flirtatious, Maze reminded you strongly of Alpha. If that trooper ever spoke to another woman inside the GAR headquarters, you would be surprised. 

“That was a little harsh,” you remarked as the trooper rapidly disappeared from sight. 

“A little?” Maze repeated unhappily. “I’ll have to do better next time.” 

You didn’t actually see Alpha’s approach. You were watching a group of troopers approach from the opposite direction when you saw their eyes slide past you and widen. You turned, horrified that there was a general behind you, someone who would object to a civilian in GAR headquarters regardless of who was accompanying them, but when you turned, it was your boyfriend. 

“Alpha,” you greeted happily. “I was starting to worry that they were never going to let you leave.” 

“They did their best,” he agreed, looking irritated.

Maze glanced down at his comlink. “That why there’s an announcement to keep lookout for you? What did you do - walk out?” 

“Yeah.” 

You gaped while Maze gave an appreciative chuckle. “Good on you - they’d have kept you all night, otherwise.” 

“Aren’t you going to get in trouble for that?” you asked. 

Alpha’s mouth stayed pressed into a grim line, but the corners of his eyes crinkled the way they always did when he was trying not to smile at you too obviously. “I can handle it.”

Maze scoffed. “You two are disgusting. Get out of here before I report a sighting of you.”

Alpha nodded, but stepped close to Maze before they could split too far apart. Alpha spoke lowly in Mando’a, far too quickly for you to keep up. But he clapped Maze on the shoulder when he was done, so you assumed it wasn’t anything too negative. Maze gave him a shallow nod in return. 

Before he could completely turn away, you called, “It was nice to meet you, Maze. Thank you for showing me around.” 

Maze froze, glancing back at you for a long moment. Then he offered you a nod, too, and left.

You smiled up at Alpha. “Ready to go? I can comm Nora about where we’re going, but I’ll need you to lead me out of here. I have no idea where the exit is.” 

Alpha chuckled lowly. “Follow me, neverd’ika.”

—

Nora had chosen a lovely restaurant for the three of you. 

It was small, especially by Coruscant standards. There couldn’t have been more than a dozen tables in the building, but the atmosphere managed to be cozy and intimate rather than cramped. The effect was helped by plentifull windows that displayed the lights of Coruscant’s cityscape to best advantage. Inside, small lights hanging from the ceiling mirrored the lights outside, giving the impression that the city extended even into the restaurant itself. 

You weren’t shocked when the owner came out to speak with Nora personally, greeting her by name. 

You were shocked by the amount on the bill. It was going to take a substantial chunk of your savings to cover the meals that you and Alpha had enjoyed, but you valiantly grabbed the check anyway. 

Nora snatched it from your hand in an instant. “Oh, no. I chose the restaurant. This is my treat.” 

“I can’t let you do that,” you argued. Alpha watched the discussion with an inscrutable look in his eyes. “It’s too much-”

“If you think that’s too much, you should have seen how much I charged the owner of this place to get out of their legal troubles,” Nora informed you with a smirk. “I think he overcharges me in revenge, but the food is so good that I come back anyway.”

When you left the restaurant, Alpha said goodbye. You stared up at him, dismayed, but he shrugged and explained, “I was given strict orders to stay at the GAR barracks tonight, and I would never disobey a superior officer.” 

Nora snorted, but Alpha looked sincere. You may have even believed him if he hadn’t snuck a wink in your direction and tapped his comlink. 

As Alpha’s hovercab disappeared among the swarming traffic of the Coruscanti skies, your comlink chimed lightly. 

I have to check in at the barracks, then I’ll be at the hotel. ETA one hour.

You didn’t even realize that you were smiling until Nora cleared her throat lightly. “So,” she asked leadingly, “how long have you and Alpha been dating each other?” 

Stars, how did this keep happening to you? And why did it always come up when Alpha wasn’t around? 

“I’m- We’re not-” 

If Nora’s eyebrows arched any higher, they would levitate from her head. “Please. Anyone who has seen the two of you in the same space knows better than that. And, honestly? If you weren’t dating, you would be the biggest idiots in the galaxy. It’s obvious that you both care about each other.” 

You sighed. “Are you going to tell me it’s a terrible idea?” 

“Why would it be?” Nora’s tone was genuinely curious, which lowered your hackles a bit.

“Well, he’s a trooper, permanently stationed on Kamino and I…” You shrugged. “The process of writing that report isn’t going to last forever. I’ll have to leave Kamino eventually, then we’ll never see each other.” 

“I mean, would leaving Kamino be the worst?” Nora asked gently. “I would think you’d be a little happy to come back home.” 

You rubbed the back of your neck. “Is it strange that this doesn’t feel like home anymore? I’ve been gone so long and so much has changed…” 

“That makes sense,” Nora agreed. “Would you stay there if it was an option?”

“In a heartbeat.” You laughed ruefully. “But I haven’t exactly made friends with the Kaminoans. At this point, I’ll be lucky if they don’t permanently ban other Republic officials from the planet.” 

Nora gave a thoughtful sort of hum. “What if you could stay?” 

The simple question sent a wild wave of hope through your chest. “What do you mean?”

“Did you know that parts of your report have spread outside of the Senate?” she asked instead of giving a direct answer. 

“My- It has?” You shook your head, befuddled. “I can’t imagine who would be interested in reading it outside of the Senate. It’s a little… dry.” 

“I agree,” Nora admitted, “but certain parties would beg to differ. Including a group I work with often, Sentient Rights.” 

Your heart was racing. 

“They think you’re doing important work on Kamino,” Nora continued without prodding. “When you’re finished with your report, they want to make sure you stay on Kamino, to prevent any sentient rights violations. What do you think?” 

You hesitated. “Why did you wait until Alpha was gone to bring this up?” 

Nora smiled, shaking her head. “The last thing I want to do is pressure you to stay somewhere you don’t want to be, even if the company makes it tolerable. If Alpha was here when you answered, I’d never know for sure whether you really wanted to stay on Kamino or if you just didn’t want to hurt his feelings.”

“Fair enough.” You thought about the resignation on Riptide’s face and the corresponding helplessness on Colt’s. You thought about the horror and devastation in the voices of Riptide’s squadmates, then about the way Alpha described reconditioning. You gave Nora a firm nod. “Give me their frequency. I’d love to talk with them.” 

“I had a feeling you would,” Nora said with a smile. “Just like I have a feeling that a certain captain will be very unhappy if you’re late to meet him at your hotel room. Have a good night and we’ll talk after the trial.” 

You agreed, thanking Nora for dinner before calling a hovercab. You were still worried about the trial, but the day had given you plenty else to think about.

---

Author's Note - This is the chapter that Tried Not To Be. It was a struggle to write, and I've been trying to post it for three weeks now. Then tumblr and AO3 both tried to get cute when I finally had a chance to work on it. Anyway, sorry for the wait. Hopefully this monstrous chapter was worth it!

If any Legends fans have opinions about how I did with Maze, please feel free to let me know! I tried not to make him an exact copy of Alpha, but I see them as being very similar.

Thanks for reading! The next chapter is still planned to come out at the end of this month, so I'll see you soon!

[wanderinginksplot]

@moon-wrecked this was so sweet! 🥹 I'm so honored you took a chance on my fic and I'm glad you enjoyed it (both of them)! Here's hoping for more Alpha-17 fics in the future - either from me or anyone else, I'm not picky! 😂

Captain Alpha-17

Alpha-17 is part of the original batch of clone troopers. Trained by Jango Fett himself, the Alpha troopers are more intense than many of the following generations. After a few successful missions with Obi-Wan Kenobi, Alpha-17 was assigned to train ARC troopers on Kamino. 

Alpha-17 + “Hey. Look at me.” + Dark - gn!reader - 5.1k words. You have information about a new Separatist weapon. Alpha is assigned to deliver you to the Republic. 

Alpha-17 + Plus-Sized Reader - gn!reader - 2.2k words. An ill-advised scrolling session leaves you feeling insecure about your appearance. Alpha has some thoughts. 

Alpha-17 + Sick Reader - gn!reader - 4.2k words. You’re on a mission and don’t have time to be sick. Even if everyone in the running bet wants you to be. Fortunately, Alpha isn’t willing to let you be sick, either.

Series: Alpha-17 x fem!reader

Gar Cabur  - 94k words. You are sent to Kamino to compile a report on the clone troopers. You find more than you bargained for with a compound of flirty cadets. Alpha decides to help you out. 

Gar Cyare  - 63k words (and ongoing). The early days of your relationship with Alpha are filled with challenges - both external and between the two of you. 

[ooops-i-arted]

Headcanon: How Din and Cara’s undying love for both each other and for their people grew during her pregnancy with their first-born daughter.

Anonymous asked: How would Din Djarin react to Cara’s pregnancy with their first-born daughter? How would Grogu react?

Now these I had enough ideas for to get fic out of it! Hope you enjoy. Also on AO3, but the link feature is being weird for me right now. See my pinned post for a link to my AO3.

-

Din returned to his family’s private quarters, head still buzzing with the discussions from the council meeting and reminders to himself to talk to Master Skywalker about the next stage of Grogu’s training and those warriors Boba had requested on Tatooine to help push back against Crimson Dawn’s attempts to gain a foothold on that planet.  Grogu was out with the other children for a few more hours, but at least he could see Cara.  Talking to her always eased his thoughts.  But when he stepped inside he found her sitting on the bed, staring at some hologram in her hands.  “Cara?”

She about jumped a mile, something he didn’t think he’d ever seen before.  “Just me,” he said.  Did she seem paler than usual?  “What is it?”

“Um,” she said, looking between him and the hologram she’d just shut off.  “I, um…”

Din set his helmet aside, sitting on the bed with her.  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you at a loss for words before,” he teased gently.

“It’s, um,” she stammered.  “It’s something to lose words over.  Sleep over.  Everything.”

“Like your lunch?  Are you still feeling nauseous?”  He tucked a loose strand of hair before her ear; she hadn’t even fixed her usual braid today.  “Did you see one of the medics?”

“Yeah, I did, actually,” she said, fidgeting with the puck in her hands.

She didn’t say anything more, so he finally prompted, “And?”

Cara lit the hologram, the image of some tiny dot floating in a bean shape.  “I’m pregnant.”

Din stared, and suddenly the tiny dot wasn’t just a dot anymore.  “You… you are?!”

“Yeah,” Cara said, nodding.

He was hugging her before he was even aware of what he was doing.  He needed her in his arms.  “Kando’sii’la, cyare.  Cuun ad…”

Cara clung to him, shaking a bit.  “Din, Din this… this is…”

He stroked her hair.  “Talk to me.”

She pulled back to look at him.  “Din, this will be a whole - a whole ’nother person!  And we have to feed it and clean its shit and keep it alive and… dank farrik, how the hell am I supposed to do that?!”

He wiped a bit of moisture from her eye with his thumb.  “Same way we did for Grogu.”

Cara looked down at the hologram.  “What if I’m not good enough?”

Din caught her chin, gently guiding her to look at him.  “You will be.  You’re already amazing with Grogu.”

“I dropped him in the privy last month.”

“It’s Grogu.  We couldn’t have stopped him once he got the thought in his head.  But you fished him back out, right?”

“Yeah…”

“You’re the most amazing person I’ve ever met.  You can do anything you put your mind to.  And if you want this, I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

She finally smiled a bit.  “Well.  If I have you… I think I could do it.”

“You’re sure?” Din asked, stroking her cheek.

“Stars, I’m terrified of messing them up.  Can’t say I’m thrilled about losing my body for most of a year either.  But yes… Yes, I want this.  With you.”

Din kissed her, then pressed their foreheads together.  “Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum, Cara Dune.”

“I love you too,” she said, and when she leaned in to hug him, he held her tight.

-

Cara didn’t want to spread the news around.  Not yet.  Right now it was her and Din’s secret, and she was fine with that.  She already could barely wrap her head around it - around the idea of having a baby.  She could hardly imagine telling all of Mandalore.  Especially when there were plenty of Mandalorians out there who disdained their Mand’alor for taking a non-Mandalorian riduur.  The last thing she wanted was to bring Din political trouble when things had finally settled down.

But it was hard to hide the fact she couldn’t make it through a council meeting without having to leave to pee or throw up these days.  Or Din, bless his heart, constantly trying to offer her stomach-settling snacks and an extra cushion for her seat or grabbing anything heavier than three pounds to carry for her, and generally doting on her like a nesting thranta.

The day Grogu sat on her lap and patted her belly obsessively was the day Paz jokingly said, “I think he’s asking you for a sibling,” and she and Din’s long look at each other as they tried to figure out how to answer that, was the day the council was told.  One of the palace workers leaked it to the gossip rags before she and Din had managed to pen the official announcement.

Cara lay in bed that evening with Grogu tucked in her arm, scrolling through holochannels to try and find a news broadcast that was reporting on something important instead of the Mand’alor’s impending heir.  “You never like to do things the easy way, do you, buddy?”

“Patu,” Grogu said agreeably.

-

Cara had thought at least it was out.  But then the council decided they should make a formal announcement to the people of Mandalore.

“The entire fucking galaxy knows I’ve been knocked up,” Cara snorted.

“I’ve done a lot of ceremonial bullshit to please the remaining New Mandalorians,” said Din sharply.  “I draw the line at parading around my family like they’re the newest exhibit at the Corellian Zoo.”

“It’s not just the New Mandalorians it’s pleasing, though,” said the Wren representative.  “Every time there’s been a formal function, the people of Mandalore have stated it’s enjoyed.  They like seeing their ruler and his family.”

“As Mand’alor, you must lead our people by example,” said the Armorer.  “Not just in battle, either.  And isn’t a new member of your clan something all of Mandalore should celebrate?”

Of course once the Armorer thought it was a good idea, that was what finally persuaded Din.  So the beskar was polished, out came his gilded underarmor and finest cloak, and as for Cara she somehow managed to squeeze herself into the loosest Alderaanian dress she had and topped it with her own pauldron and some formal braids, and off they went.

It went well enough, though Cara could barely remember to smile and spew her lines with the dress pinching in places it never did before and her ankles weirdly achey and her stomach both starving and nauseous at the same time.  She was fine with holding Grogu and letting Din do the majority of the talking and was just grateful when she could lay down and relax with her boys on either side of her.

It was in a few days when the first box arrived.  “From Clan Senn, for the new ad of the Mand’alor and his riduur.”

Cara and Din, interrupted from lunch, glanced at each other in confusion.  “Senn?” Din asked.

“A clan under House Kast.  They live in the city here, and have sent this gift.”  The courier opened the box, and they peered inside.  Nestled within a soft blanket were a few holodiscs of children’s books, a toy block set, and a note: For the newest member of Clan Djarin.  Oya Mand’alor bal riduur!

“Do Mandalorians do baby showers?” Cara asked.

“Why would you shower a baby?” Din asked, confused.  “Don’t you usually give them baths?”

Cara couldn’t stifle her giggle.  “No, it’s a party for an expecting parent, so they can receive gifts for the new baby.”

“No,” Din said.  “No, they just sent this out of kindness.”  He asked the courier to wait, so he could send a message of thanks back to Clan Senn.

Then another box came.  And another.  Then more until there was a line of couriers waiting to meet with them and Din and Cara had to start splitting duties when it came to receiving them.  Families all over the reclaimed planet were sending gifts - toys and blankets and clothes and diapers, notes from experienced mothers full of advice, messages from other expecting parents who were excited to be on the same journey and had words of encouragement, and even a very sweet drawing from a young child who had drawn Cara with a baby in her arms.  Cara put that one in their room, next to all the holopics of Grogu being cute, the ones of her and Din together, and of course the holoscans the medical droid did of her growing child.

-

Din had tried not to stress over the various announcements and formalities and logistics that came with a new baby; Cara did that enough and she needed less stress, not more.  He handled her royal duties as needed when she was nauseous or just plain tired, he went over the details of converting the side room into a nursery and did any manual labor before Cara could get to it, and he did his best to be a caring husband and rub her feet or bring her whatever snack she was craving whenever she looked the least bit put out.  But there was one thing they both worried over together, the most important announcement of all:  telling Grogu.

Grogu knew something was up.  He was fascinated by Cara’s belly and now that she was actually showing he was constantly wanting to touch it or snuggle up to her side and just stare.  Luke told them that Grogu sensed there was something there with his powers, but he didn’t understand that he sensed a still-developing life.  He didn’t realize it was a new sibling yet.

They must’ve rehearsed a dozen times before Din and Cara finally sat Grogu down on the couch with them one evening.  He immediately crawled onto Cara’s lap, patting her rounded stomach and cooing curiously.

“You’ve been wondering what’s in there, huh?” Din asked him.

Yes, Grogu signed.

“Your mama and I have something to tell you,” Din said.  The ears perked up; that was always a good sign, and he looked over at Cara.

She smiled softly down at their first son.  “We’re having a baby.  You’re going to be a big brother.”  She took his tiny hand and pressed it against her stomach, before showing him the sign for baby and folding his little fingers into the same sign.

Grogu blinked, signing Baby and patting her belly a few times before signing Where egg?

“Egg?” Din asked, confused; a look at Cara showed she was just as boggled.

Need egg, Grogu signed.  He started looking frustrated and signed Frog egg no eat egg open tadpole.

“Oh!”  Din stifled a laugh.  “No, not like the nice frog lady we transported.  For humans the baby grows inside the mama’s tummy.”

Grogu patted Cara’s stomach, eyes going wide.  “Yes,” Cara said.  “Yes, the baby’s in there.  Your new brother or sister.”

At first Din smiled as Grogu pressed his hands to Cara’s stomach.  Then he recognized the narrowing eyes and look of concentration.  “No!” he shouted, snatching Grogu off Cara’s lap.

Grogu squeaked, ears pinning down.  “No, no Force on Mama or the baby,” Din said firmly.  Grogu’s lip wobbled and Din held him close with a sigh, rubbing his back.  “I know you didn’t mean anything bad, buddy, it’s okay.”

Grogu squirmed enough to get his hands out.  Baby out, he signed.

“No, it’s not ready yet,” Cara said, taking Grogu from Din and holding him close, letting him touch her belly again.  “The baby is still growing.  When it’s ready, it will come out.”

Grogu baby play? Grogu asked.

“Yes,” Cara said with a smile.  “You and the baby can play.  It will have to grow and learn, but you two will play and be best friends.  You will be their special ori’vod, their big brother.”

Grogu looked down, then squirmed down to cuddle against her belly.  Din felt his heart melting and knew, no matter how long he lived, he would never forget this moment with his clan.  His family.

Baby out how? Grogu signed after a moment.

“Ask your father,” Cara said.

-

Cara lay awake at night.  It was happening more and more often.  She was always nervous.  Din constantly told her she was already a wonderful mother to Grogu, and there was no one else he wanted to raise a child with, but no matter how many times he said it, the fluttering feeling in her stomach kept coming back.

The dreams didn’t help either.  She hadn’t dreamed so much of her family, of Alderaan, since its destruction.  The thought sent a quick pressure against her gut, almost like she’d been kicked.

She sat up, pressing her hand to her stomach.  And then she felt it again, so light she felt like she could have imagined it.  But no, that was definitely a kick.

There was no way to see them, unless she demanded the medical droid do a scan right now.  But she knew it was her baby.  Her baby was moving.

“Cara?” Din asked sleepily.  “What is it?”

“They’re kicking,” she told him, still hardly able to believe it.

Din sat up.  “The baby?”

“Well it wasn’t you this time,” Cara teased with a chuckle.

Din sat up, pressing his hand to the swell of her belly.  Cara felt movement again and Din gasped in surprise.  “I felt something!”

“Guess something made them wake up and start combat practice,” Cara said, twining her fingers with his.

“You were dreaming again, weren’t you,” Din said, pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek.

She sighed, but nodded.  “I keep seeing it.  Home.  My family.  I wish… I wish they were here.  I wish the baby could know them.  I wish I could ask my mom about… everything.”

“I know,” Din said softly.  “I wish my parents were here too.”

“Wonder what they’d think of us, being Mandalorian royalty.  My parents would have a nerf calf if they realized they were grandparents to a Mandalorian baby,” Cara chuckled.

“Not just Mandalorian,” Din said.  “They’ll be Alderaanian too.  Both of our peoples have survived the Empire, and will thrive again.”

Cara smiled.  “You’re right.”  And from then on, her dreams were much better.

-

Grogu watches Mama walk across the room, pressing a hand to her back.  Dad says Mama does not waddle, but that’s not true.  Mama’s stomach is so big and she does waddle.  He even put a ball under his robe and waddled around too, just to show them.  Dad covered his mouth and made that face that meant he knew he shouldn’t laugh, but he was anyway.

Baby when? he keeps asking, but no one will answer.  Soon, Mama and Dad say.  But they won’t tell him how many days.  No one will tell him how it comes out, either.  Maybe Mama has to throw it up.  Her tummy is still sick sometimes and she throws her food up, and Dad goes and holds her hair and rubs her back for her.  He wishes he could fix it, but he only knows how to fix cuts with blood coming out.

Everyone is very excited about the baby.  They are happy when they see how big Mama is.  They say it is good to have a new baby.  Sometimes people are so busy talking to Mama and Dad about the baby they forget to hug him or give him nice pats or words.  Sometimes even Dad is too busy rubbing Mama’s tummy and talking to the baby inside.  But if he whines they say he has to be a big boy now.  Sometimes he wishes he was a baby instead, so he could be cuddled and picked up all the time.

He goes on a walk.  He likes walks, and he is allowed to go by himself in some parts of the palace because it is safe here.  Mama can’t go on long walks anymore, and Dad doesn’t like to leave her a lot now.

The guards and palace workers who see him smile and say hello and su cuy’gar, and he signs hello back to them.  Paz sees him too and scoops him up and throws him in the air the way Dad tells Paz not too, and he giggles and is happy.  But even Paz calls him big brother.  Even Paz is thinking just about the baby.

His feet take him down, down to where it’s warm and dark except for the firelight.  He isn’t really supposed to be in the forges without Dad, but he likes it here.  The Armorer is here, and she is quiet both with her voice and her mind.  She is calming to be around, and she never minds when he sits and watches her work, like now.

When the beskar cools from red-hot to silver, she shows him what she is working on.  “A new mudhorn signet.  Until your new vod can wear a pauldron like you and your parents, they can carry this with them.”

His ears fall a bit.  The Armorer sits across from him.  “A new member of the clan is to be celebrated.  What troubles you?”

He isn’t even sure, but the Armorer waits patiently.  Finally he signs, Baby special - new - he fumbles with his fingers to try and find what he means.  All thoughts baby.

“It is an exciting event,” says the Armorer.  “When you joined the clan, we were not able to celebrate properly, because it was a time of war and desperation.  With Mandalore reclaimed, there is more time for joy, for activities besides war.”

He nods, but there is still a secret fear that has been hiding deep in his chest.  The Armorer waits patiently, and when he is ready, he signs, Mama Dad all thoughts baby.  Mama Dad no thoughts Grogu.

Grogu looks down, ashamed at the very thought.  Mama and Dad tell him all the time how much they love him.  He still gets cuddles and kisses every morning and every bedtime and all day too, they still play with him, and even though Mama can’t bend down and pick him up, she still holds him when she is sitting down, and Dad still holds him a lot.  But what if they decide they love the baby more?

The Armorer takes one of his little hands in her big one.  “A newborn human needs much care,” she says.  “They will have to spend much time looking after it.  This is true.  But you are still their son.  No true Mandalorian ever abandons a member of their clan.  Your father chose to name you his own son, just as he chose your mother as his riduur, and they chose to have this child too.  Your clan is strong.  Even in times of uncertainty, I know they will not abandon you.”

Grogu love Dad Mama, he signed.

The Armorer nodded.  “They love you too.  And you will meet your new vod, and while they will take time to grow, they will love you too.”

-

Din tried not to be jumpy.  Cara was moody and grumpy and done with being pregnant, and him being jumpy annoyed her.  But when she suddenly gasped and doubled over it was impossible to not jump up and run over.  “Cara!”

“It’s probably just another false one,” she said, swatting him away.

“Don’t we have to time it?”

“Din!  Can’t you go play with Grogu or something?”

A few hours later, however, Din was dropping Grogu off to stay with the Armorer and escorting Cara to the medbay and getting her settled in, trying to ignore the medical droid and call for the midwives while Cara cursed in four different languages and all but wrung his arm out of its socket.  He knew the whole process could take a while, and promised himself he would be the best and most supportive riduur his wife could ask for.

Eight hours, a lot of ice chips, and many creative curse words later, Cara demanded, “I have to be almost dilated by now, right?!”

The medical droid scanned her.  “You are five centimeters.”

“What?!”

“That’s halfway through active labor,” said one of the midwives encouragingly.

“That does not include transitional labor, where you will be pushing, however,” the medical droid added cheerfully.

Din caught Cara when she lunged, clearly intending to rip it apart with her bare hands.  “Cyare, come on, why don’t you lie back for a little bit?”

She either cursed at him in Shyriiwook or was actually growling at him, but did lay down.  Din wiped her sweaty face with a cool cloth.  “You’ve been pacing most of this time.  You need a rest.”

“I don’t want to rest.  I want this fucking baby out of me.”

“You will,” Din said soothingly, setting aside the cloth and taking her hand.  “You’re getting closer.”

“Not close enough,” Cara grumbled.  She pushed her hair back from her face; her braid was coming undone again so Din started to fix it.  “Mom said I took seven hours.  My brother took six.  I was hoping we would be done by now,” Cara said, almost whining.

It made his heart ache for her.  “I know,” Din said, weaving her blue Alderaanian ribbon, her only remaining possession from her homeworld, back through her braid.  “You’re the strongest woman I know.  I know you can do this.”

She finally smiled at him, and Din kissed her forehead.

It took hours more.  But finally a little baby girl came into the world, red and screaming with all ten fingers and ten toes and soft dark hair on her head.  They wrapped her in a blanket and laid her in Cara’s arms, and Din knew he would never, ever forget the sight of his wife holding their newborn daughter, smiling as brightly as the stars.

“She’s perfect,” he said softly, sitting beside her.  He held out a finger, his daughter’s entire hand wrapping around it.

“She looks like you,” Cara said.  Their daughter finally opened her dark eyes, blinking at them curiously.

“I think she looks like you.  She’s beautiful,” Din said, gently stroking her soft head.  “What should we call her?”  They’d discussed it a lot, but still hadn’t made a final decision.

“I want to name her after my mother,” Cara said.  “An Alderaanian name.  Alanne.”

“Alanne Dune-Djarin,” Din said, trying it out.  “It’s perfect for her.”  He smiled, kissing Cara’s cheek.  “Grogu is going to be so excited.”

“Grogu is going to try and feed her frogs.”  Cara held out her arms a bit.  “Here.  It’s your turn.”

“You did all the hard work, cyare.  You hold her as long as you want.”

“I’m disgusting right now and I want to clean up.  Take her.”

Din gulped.  Suddenly the little baby in his wife’s arms looked so delicate and fragile.  He remembered Grogu in the pram the first time he saw him, the urge to pick him up and hold him that he’d fought down until later, and the wonderful moment when he’d finally first held the boy in his arms after rescuing him from the Imperials.  Carefully, he took Alanne and held her.  She fit as perfectly in his arms as Grogu did, looking up at him with huge brown eyes uncannily like her brother’s.

“Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum, Alanne, ner ad’ika,” Din said softly, and he swore his daughter almost smiled.

-

Din’s main priority was making sure Cara was comfortable and could rest, the two of them spending time with their newborn daughter.  He was exhausted and wanted to sleep, and so did Cara, but there was one more thing that needed to be taken care of first.

The Armorer was occupying him with some basic crafting, linking metal beads into necklaces and bracelets, but as soon as Din appeared Grogu ran over to him, arms up, rapidly signing Baby? Baby?

Din scooped him up and smiled.  “Yes, the baby is here.  Would you like to meet her?”

Yes!  Yes! signed Grogu.

“Congratulations, Din Djarin,” said the Armorer.  “I will ensure there is no announcement until you and your wife give the word.”

“Thank you,” Din said.  This time as a family was too precious; they could worry about the official announcements and telling their friends later.  He brought Grogu to where Cara was still staying in the medbay, tended to by the droid and midwives.  She had Alanne in her arms when Din walked in.  Grogu gasped excitedly, pointing at the baby and rapidly signing Baby baby baby!

“That’s her,” Din said, unable to hide his smile as he walked them over and Cara adjusted Alanne in her arms so Grogu could see her easily.  “This is your baby sister.”

He set Grogu down on the bed, and he immediately toddled up to Cara and the baby.  He reached out and then paused.  Touch baby? he signed.

“You can touch her.  Just no Force,” Cara said.  Grogu carefully reached out, gently patting the baby on the head the same way he liked to be patted.  Din smiled.  Alanne let out a soft cry and Grogu jumped, pulling back.

“She can’t talk yet,” Cara explained.  “She can only cry.  It’s okay.  Do you want to hold her?”

Grogu’s ears flying up was a yes before he signed it.  Din helped him sit down and he and Cara gently lay Alanne in Grogu’s lap.  The two were about the same size, despite Grogu being fifty-three years older.  Grogu cooed softly, patting Alanne’s head gently, being so careful with his claws.

“Do you like her?” Cara asked.

Grogu love baby, he signed.  Din had to blink a bit because his vision was watering a little.

“Her name is Alanne,” said Cara, carefully spelling the name out in sign so Grogu could copy her.  “We will make a sign for her like we did for you.  But right now you can sign her name like this.”

Alanne, Alanne, Grogu practiced.  Grogu love baby sister Alanne.

“And we love you,” Din said.  He sat on the bed too, together with his clan, and knew there was nothing in the galaxy he could love more than his family.

[hellothere-generalangsty]

The Bad Batch - Quart d’Heure Américain

Summary: In French, we use the expression “quart d’heure Américain” (lit. “American quarter”; I think it’s “Lady’s choice” in English) to talk about that moment during an evening out/ a party where they play slows and couples dance together (very sweet and romantic, yes)

So here is the Quart d’Heure Américain, Bad Batch Edition™

Pairing: Crosshair x reader; Echo x reader; Hunter x reader; Tech x reader; Wrecker x reader; the Bad Batch x reader

Reader description:  f!reader [she/her], no real physical description

Word Count: 5463 words

CW/ TW: Nothing, just pure fluff and cute relationships (some established, one not quite yet) also there’s a LIL BIT of someone being sad/ a LIL BIT in pain BUT promise it doesn’t last and it gets all soft

Tags: @loth-wolffe @m-o-o-n-s-g-o-o-n-s @allamarisss

@imalovernotahater @murdertoothpick (if you want to be added to the tag list for future stories/ if you want to be removed and not tagged again, please let me know! )

Notes: This is for you all, because you deserve it and I hope it’ll sooth whatever you need soothed; and here is a quote that quite grasp the concept of this small fic

“Quand je danse, je danse” –Montaigne (“when I dance, I dance”; enjoy the moment and don’t think about anything else)

Crosshair: Something Stupid – Nancy Sinatra, Frank Sinatra (1177 words)

Had someone asked you beforehand, you never would have been able to tell that Crosshair was an amazing dancer. You didn’t expected him to invite you out that night, especially not when everyone in town was speaking about this Dancing Night. But he did, and now he was next to you, moving like he had done it all his life.

“You’re doing great, mesh’la,” he complimented as you tripped on your feet.

“I already told you,” you nodded a thank you when he helped you get back up, “I don’t understand Mando’a.”

Well, you did, but only a few words. You grew used to them, because Crosshair would use them all the time when speaking to you, but never once did he told you what they meant. So you did what every logical person would have done, and asked Tech.

“Well, mesh’la could be translated to ‘beautiful’, and cyare to something like ‘love’ or ‘my heart’. Why you asking?”

“I heard that on the radio, in a song once and I just wanted to know what it meant. Thanks Tech!”

And you had left him as soon as he was done explaining their meaning to you, because the more you stayed here, the more he could guess why you really asked. But you didn’t want Crosshair to stop calling you mesh’la or cyare. It sounded so peculiar when he would whisper it close to your ear as he would walk behind you; “out of my way mesh’la”, “you truly are a lost cause, cyare”. It wasn’t really a lie not to tell him you knew; more of a covered truth.

The song changed and went from a catchy tone to a slower, more sensual one. Crosshair waited for you to come to him before gently grasping your waist, a hand holding your own, fingers folded around yours. He pulled you closer, so close you could feel his chest moving according to his breath. You looked straight at him, trying to decipher his expression, to find any feeling uncovered behind those bewitching whisky eyes.

“Are you scanning me?” he softly asked.

“Maybe.” you confessed. “I want to know what’s going on behind this pretty face.”

It slipped out. You didn’t mean to say that; yes, he had a pretty face, yes you meant it, but-

“I think, about you mostly.”

Ho.

“You’re…pretty.” He sharply nodded, as a way to keep up his facade. You almost tripped over again, so taken aback by his little confession.

“Sorry,” you muttered, “sorry, I- that’s very… very kind of you to say.”

He didn’t say anything, but the grip on your waist tightened. You decided to try it, and slowly came to rest your head on his chest. You could hear his heart beating, muffled by the layers of skin and cloth. You felt a cold spot on your waist, and a hand brushing your hair off of your face, tucking them behind your ear before resting on your shoulder.

You couldn’t yet guess it, but he was craving for more, he wanted you closer to him, wanted to bury his face in your neck, hum your scent and kiss you all the way to your jawline, your cheek, the tip of your nose; and your lips.

But never once did he flinch, or let out any sign of his heart bleeding to feel you so close, yet so out of reach. Instead he held you there, slowly leading the dance, almost silently telling you to “move left, come back to me, and left again; great job mesh’la”.

He couldn’t yet guess it, but you were craving for more. More Mando’a’s nicknames, more gentle touch on your face and body, maybe a bit of appreciation in his eyes, a bit of love on his mouth.

And you thought you could hold on, spend the night glued to his body, feeling the warmth of his embrace, the delicacy of his moves; and still be able to pull out a straight face, to pretend mesh’la and cyare were unknown words to you, that your heart wasn’t racing at the sole thought of getting more.

But you didn’t.

“Ni kar’tayl gar darasuum”.

It slipped out tenderly, purposefully. And this time, he almost tripped on his feet.

“What did you say?”

You raised your head, taking a small step back to look at him in the eyes.

“I said I love you, but I guess my accent sucks a bit. I- I asked Tech about it last time.” You confessed in a small voice.

Crosshair couldn’t even speak anymore. He completely stopped moving, staring at you like you were the only one here, with him.

“Look, we can just…forget about it if yo-”

“Shut up.”

Your eyes widened at the command, and nothing could have prepared you to the devastatingly exquisite sensation of his lips brushing against yours before completely diving in. Nothing could compare to the fire in your belly, to the sweet bite on your lower lip, his teeth briefly pulling on it before letting go; and the overwhelming sensation filling your mouth as his tongue caressed yours in a heated, terribly slow kiss.

None of you could pull away; if he tried to release your lips, you would dive right back in, and if you gasped for air he would barely give you time to breathe before coming back to you. He couldn’t resist the urge to hold you tight in his arms, and you were too afraid of letting go so you firmly held his face against yours.

You felt his weight shifting to the left, then to the right, and once again you followed his lead. You felt it, the uncontrollable grin against your mouth, and the way he spin round with you, making sure no one else but you existed in that moment.

When you finally let go of each other, you were both heavily breathing, and a mutual stare was enough to get you both chuckling like kids.

Yes, you loved him, with all of your heart and soul, and you would gladly learn more Mando’a if it got you that type of enthusiastic reaction every time you did so.

“Your accent is actually quite cute,” he managed to tell you, and your smile only grew wider, and his eyes only got lovelier. “But maybe you should say it again, just in case it was luck.”

“I sure will, but I think I need you to tell me; how do you say it, again?”

He shook his head, both defeated and amused.

“Ni kar’tayl gar darasuum.”

“Ni kar’tayl gar darasuum”, you repeated, and he nodded in approval. “I think I won this round.”

“You did.”

He grabbed your arms and pulled you closer, leaving small misses on your forehead, your cheeks, your nose, and your lips. The song was over; it had been for a few minutes now; but you didn’t care. Crosshair was still dancing with you, his hands on your back, a smile on his face; and maker he was even more handsome when he smiled. You had him, and he had you, and you were glad you said something as stupid and childish, and sincere and deep as this.

I love you.

.

.

.

.

.

 Echo: Everybody Loves Somebody – Dean Martin (1168 words)

“Alright, open your eyes.”

Echo’s voice tickled your ear, making you smile. Your eyes had no trouble getting used to the light outside; it was dusk already, and a small campfire was gently crackling a few meters away from the Havoc Marauder. Earlier that day, you made a stop on an isolated planet to get some supplies and land foot for the night. It was a quiet place, mostly villages and beautiful landscapes, covered in grass, moss, and flowers like you’d never seen before.

Echo asked you to wait inside, and it had been almost an hour, but now that you were standing here…

“Is it…Did you do that for me?”

“I’d dare say for us,” Echo smiled, “today is a special day for us, remember?”

Ho.

“You forgot, right?”

“Echo, I’m so sorry, I-”

“Don’t be! I kinda hoped you would, this way it could be a real surprise for you.”

You couldn’t quite tell what about him always got you flustered. Maybe the way he was fondly looking at you, or the softness in his voice when he whispered “Surprise!”, or how he left your side for a moment, bending over the blanket to grab a small package before giving it to you.

“I don’t have anything for you,” you quietly confessed.

“Take it.”

You accepted the gift, giving him another look of apology, but all you saw in his eyes was…something soft – soft and loving.

You carefully unwrapped the paper, exposing a Tooka plush, proudly wearing the colours of the Bad Batch.

“I thought it was more than time for you to have your own.” he said as he got closer to you, a smile glued to his face. “Do you like it?”

You barely nodded, too occupied trying to decipher your gift. The limbs were gracefully mixing a red and black pattern, and the symbol of the Republic’s paramedic had been carefully stitched in white, where the heart should be. You softly stroke it, the tip of your finger following the edges of the seam.

“I.. I love it,” you couldn’t help but smile at the attention. “I’ll call him Handsome Jr.”

“Whatever pleases you, love.”

You shifted you attention to Echo, the lovely grin on his face making your heart melt even more. You closed the gap between the two of you, wrapping your arms around his waist, just above his prosthetics. He held you against his chest, resting his chin on your head.

“I’ll get you something tomorrow, I’ll be up before the sun.”

“I already have everything I need, cyare.”

“Echo…,” you chuckled, “I don’t want you to get nothing. It’s an important date for us.”

“Well, if you insist…There is something you could do for me.”

“Anything, Handsome.”

He waited an instant, savouring your embrace.

“Would you dance with me? The way we did that night?”

You remembered that night. It was quite some time ago, before the Citadel. Echo invited you to the base you were both settled in for the night, on Corusant. His general gave his troopers a night off, and his first thought was to take you out on a date. You remembered the way Fives came up your office, panting, still fully armoured, and asked you to follow him. You didn’t know it at the time, but Echo and some of his brothers were taking care of decorating and preparing dinner.

You remembered the cantina being empty, except for a table with two plates and beautiful flowers in a glass way too small for them; and how every clone you had crossed path with in the hallway innocently smiled at you. They knew, obviously, but none of them made any comment, only wishing you a good night.

You remembered Echo, blacks on and slightly stylised for the occasion, offering his hand to you for a dance. And you repeated the answer you gave him that night.

“Of course, Handsome. I’d love that.”

He took a step back, looking at you intensely, falling in love all over again with the shape of your face, the light in your eyes, and the delicacy of your lips. He wanted to kiss them, so badly, but there was still something to do before that.

A static sound resonated behind you, and a voice emerged from it.

“Not that- The other one, Tech.” Echo threw a look at his brother, who was already changing the station, until he got the right one. He then barely let slip a “Pretend I don’t exist.” before disappearing inside the ship.

“Sounds familiar,” you joked, thinking about the way Fives did the same things all those years ago.

“Some things never change, right?”

You didn’t need to hear the end of the sentence; his eyes were speaking for him. He brought you closer, his prosthetic arm gently pressing your waist as his left hand held yours. The Citadel changed him, but deep down he was; and would always be, your Echo.

“You’re so beautiful, my pretty boy,” you said, stroking his cheek with your thumb. “Some things indeed never change.”

He chuckled and started moving his legs, inviting you to follow his lead. He never really had a chance to dance since he joined the Bad Batch, but tonight; tonight was all he needed. Holding you close, smelling your hair, delicately balancing you on your left, a step back, on your left, a step back…

“Your love made it worth waiting.”

You slowly raised your head until you could look at him. His eyes were shining, wet from the emotion, filled with adoration and fond memories of you both. You smiled, trying to swallow the knot forming in your throat. His hold on you was so gentle, his smile so sincere. You knew he was falling in love with you all over again. You knew, because you were too.

You let your hand slide to his neck, pushed yourself on your tiptoes until you could feel his warm breath tickling your face. He tightened his grip, pressing his lips against yours, abandoning himself in your arms, making you feel like nothing but you mattered.

His kiss was gentle, he took the time to taste you, for the first time, the hundredth, the thousandth; it didn’t matter. Even after all these years, he couldn’t get used to the softness of your lips, the warmth of your tongue, the dizziness in his head and the knots in his stomach when you were confessing, wordlessly, your love for him.

Nothing broke you apart. The sun could go down, the song could stop, but none of it mattered, because all you truly needed was each other.

“Waiting for someone like you.” you finally replied.

“Waiting for you, and only you.”

You kissed him again, taking great delight in the sensation of your pounding heart, of his tongue against yours, of his hand letting go of yours to slim on your waist, down to you hip, finding his way to the back of your pant.

He was all you ever needed.

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Hunter: Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye (989 words)

“Everyone, out, let’s go.”

Hunter waved his hand toward the door, a tired, maybe a bit painful expression glued to his face. Hi brothers obeyed, knowing what it meant, and left the room in silence. You tried to copy them, because you knew Hunter was getting overwhelmed by his senses; it happened sometimes, and you knew you couldn’t sooth his pain by remaining with him. But he firmly pressed his hand against your chest.

“Not you.”

Echo closed the door behind the two of you, giving you a sympathetic look before disappearing behind the grey metal sliding. Hunter tilted his head back until it touched the cold wall behind him, letting a long sigh slip from between his lips.

“Could you turn off the light, please?” he barely whispered to you, eyes closed.

You nodded, even though he couldn’t say, and switched the light off. All that remained was the small, dim blue light above your head. Tech had it installed after a bad power cut that lasted three days. Hunted asked for the blue shade, because it was the one which was the less aggressive to his eyes. You liked it, because it nicely highlighted his features, blending his tattoo a bit more with his skin, making the marking look almost natural.

You could hear him, deeply inhaling, slowly exhaling; probably trying to sooth the pain away. After a moment, he opened his hand to you, and you gently took it, slightly stroking the skin on his palm with the tip of your thumb.

“Love you.”

You softly kissed his knuckles.

“Missed you, too.”

His voice was barely breaking the silence of the room, but you still heard him relaxing a bit more.

“Can you hug me, sweetheart?”

He couldn’t bring himself to open his eyes, even if he truly wanted to. He managed to cut off sound and light, because he wanted to focus on your touch, and your touch only. And it felt great when your arms delicately wrapped him, when your body pressed against his, holding still as you listened to his heartbeat.

“Is it okay like this?” you asked, and he nodded, a light smile on his face. “I love you too.”

He straightened up his head, blindly stroking your back, his hand getting lower and lower…

“I see what this was all about.” And the smile in your voice betrayed you, and the chuckle he let out showed you he felt a bit better.

“I just wanted some time with you, sweet thing” Hunter stated, innocent.

“Well, here I am now, pretty boy.”

He finally opened his eyes, taking a few seconds to get used to the lighting, but immediately shifting his attention to you, your face. You were another kind of beautiful; the kind he could hold against him at night when he had troubles sleeping; the kind that could sit on his lap, telling him all about your day while he stroked your hair; the kind of beautiful that he never knew he could have.

He gave you a soft kiss, humming your scent as his lips brushed yours, and you tried as hard as you could not to make it too much for him. But how could you, when he tightened his embrace, humming to you that song you liked so much, when you could feel his warm breath against the crook of your neck, and his low, slightly raspy whispering in your ear.

“From that day on, I made a vow…” a kiss on your skin, “I’ll be there when you want me…” another kiss, gentle, loving.

He pushed himself away from the wall, his head buried against you, singing to you the way you liked it, and it came naturally to you both. He balanced you one side, you came back and led him to the other side, and you kept going like this, following the low rhythm of his voice, barely giggling when he would – more or less in a dramatic and theatrical movement – bend you over like in those holomovies, pressing kisses against your neck, your jawline, crawling his way back to your mouth.

That mouth. Hunter missed it so much, the way you moved it, the softness of your lips, the warmth of your tongue, and the tight embrace as you tried to remember each curve, each spot; barely biting his lip to let you know you were here, you missed him too.

And you couldn’t help but fall in love again when he kept humming against you, when he led your hands to his lower back, a grin painting itself as they slid down the back of his pants.

“I love your heart,” he told you, lips on your skin, “the way it beats. I hear it pumping faster when I hold you, and- maker, I love it.”

He abandoned your neck for a moment, diving into your eyes like it was the first time ever, hypnotised by the blue reflection on your iris.

“I love you, the way you feel under my fingers,” he touched your face with the tip of his thumb, “the way your brush your hair over your shoulder, how you always come back to me when the lights are out and the night is still; I love you and your smile,” you granted him one, tender and oh so caring, “and your eyes, and your mouth. I love how you move your hips when you dance with me, how you crave for closeness, and how I can’t do anything but offer it to you every time, all the time.”

And you knew words couldn’t possibly offer a good answer, so you simply hummed back.

“Nothing could keep me from getting to you, baby.”

He let out a sweet laugh, kissing your nose and the top of your head, seeking for your embrace once again as you led him dancing.

“I know, sweetheart.”

And I love you for that, too.

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Tech: My Guy (Single Version) Mary Wells (1078 words)

You didn’t expected Tech to ask you out tonight. He was usually quite content living around the Marauder, but when you walked next to that clothing shop, something ticked in him. He dragged you in, told you all about the different tissues, how the colours were applied, how the stitches on this dress were obviously done by Twi’leks because you see that little knot? This is a signature from the crafters, more precisely from the members of a tribe that moved around…

You loved hearing him talking. Sometimes you would ask him a question, fully aware of the answer, simply because you were eager to hear it coming from him. And every time, without any hesitation, he would answer with as much precision as possible. He probably didn’t know it, but it was one of the reason you fell for him.

“What about this one, cyar’ika?”

“This one would fit you perfectly.” he had held the dress against your body, bending his back to get a better look at it. “The colour matches your skin tone and the shape would really highlight the curves of your hips.”

“Then I’ll take this one.” You had nodded with a smile.

And now, a few hours later, you were wearing said dress while walking to the counter of the restaurant to order another drink. As the bartender was pouring a blue liquid in a fancy glass, a man smoothly accosted you.

“Were you sculpted out of Kyber crystal? Because you sure bring some light in here.”

“Thanks, but it’s mostly because my cyare chose that dress for me,” you confessed.

“Well, he sure have good tastes,” he took a step back and pursued, “may I ask which one of these…?”

He threw a look at the tables around, and you pointed to the one where Tech was visibly waiting for you, waving when he noticed you looking at him.

“Is it…Is it him?”

“It is indeed,” you fondly smiled.

“Well, at least he got some taste in dresses and women,” he conceded, visibly surprised by his “intellectual” look. But you couldn’t care less, because he didn’t had Wrecker’s body, or Hunter’s features; but he had soft shapes and sweet lips, he knew everything there was to know, and even more, because he loved learning almost as much as he loved you.

You grabbed your drinks and started walking away, only turning around to slide a little “Glad you recognise it” before returning to your table. When you pushed his glass in front of him, Tech gently grasped your hand.

“Thank you for the drink,” he glanced at your body, a little something lightening his eyes, “and for buying that dress. You really are the prettiest.”

“I couldn’t be that pretty if I didn’t have you to tell me all about cloths, you know.”

“Love, you could wear sheets and you’d still be the most beautiful person I’d ever seen.”

You slightly bent over, bringing his hand close to your lips, kissing his knuckles as a thank you. There was a brief silence, Tech analysing every inch of your face, so focused on the curves of your lips and the shape of your eyes that he stopped talking.

And you heard it. The soft music playing in a corner of the room. When you looked behind Tech, you noticed a jukebox, and a few people dancing. You got up, pulling on Tech’s arm to drag him with you to that part of the room. He tried to protest, but the way you moved in that dress, how it fell oh so delicately on your knees… He couldn’t resist.

He grabbed your waist, offering you a soft kiss on the cheek as you started swinging in rhythm, left, right, left, right, and a turn. In a second, you were barely touching his hand, and then you were pulled against him, spinning round until you crushed in his arms.

He chuckled, bewitched by your smile, your movements, and you could tell he only had eyes for you. Truth be told, he was all you could focus on too. Nothing could take your attention off your guy, because nothing could equal his lovely smile or the soft kisses he landed on your lips every time he pulled you against him before letting you spin away in rhythm.

“Cyar’ika, tell me all about dance.” You asked, panting a bit.

“Well, you have to be more precise, because there are a lot of dances out there,” he laughed, and you felt your heart melting at the warmth of his voice.

“Then tell me about all of them. Tell me about this one,” and you wrapped your arms around his neck, breathing slowly to calm your racing heart.

“This one would be a form of slow dancing, quite far from the twists and swings you did earlier,” he confessed in your ear, making you shiver. “but initially it was a- well, it depends of the planet actually, but it was originally a ritual to make official a relationship between different people.”

“So if you danced with someone, it meant you had a certain relationship with them?”

He firmly grabbed your waist, lifting you for a few seconds as he turned round.

“Exactly, it meant you shared a profound bond with them, that you were able to get comfortable with them being very close to you…”, he let you spin away from him, “or very far.”

You proudly smiled at him, letting go of his hand and taking a step back. He understood what you intended to do and grounded himself, catching you up without any problem as you run into his arms.

“Well,” you muttered in the crook of his neck, “I don’t want to be far from you, smart boy.”

“And I don’t want you away from me, pretty girl.”

You lifted your head to look at his eyes, filled with love and appreciation. The music stopped as you filled the gap between the two of you, kissing him with the same energy you had dancing. You could feel him smiling against your lips, carrying you like you weighted nothing until you let go, sliding back onto your feet.

You kissed him once again, a gentler contact, taking your time to memorize the shape of his mouth, the soft touch of his hands on your hips, the smooth tone he used to tell you how fitting this dress was.

Yeah, nothing could compare to your guy, your Tech.

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Wrecker: You Aksed Me To Be Yours – The Tymes (972 words)

You knew the mission was rough when Wrecker struggled to give you a full smile as you entered the cockpit. He was sitting there, all alone, and your heart got tight when you heard his low “hi, mesh’la”.

“You want to talk about it?”

He refused with a shake of his head, visibly upset.

“Do you want me to leave you alone?”

“No, I want you to stay. I- I need company.”

You quietly nodded, offering your hand to him, which he held close to his heart. You kissed the top of his head, softly rubbing his check with your free hand. He closed his eyes for a moment, letting himself rest on the embrace, taking a long, deep breath.

“I’ve missed you,” he whispered, “t’was a long day without you.”

“I’m here now.”

The remark made him smile a bit, as he realised that you were indeed here with him. He pulled you closer to him to hug you, straightening in his seat so you wouldn’t have to bend too much to snuggle in his arms.

“You smell good. You always smell good, it’s amazing.”

You slightly blushed, letting out an amused sigh. Even when things went wrong, he always found something positive to comment on. People usually looked at him as the “big dummy”, but you knew how sensitive and emotionally invested he really was, under all the muscles and loud exclamations.

“Do you think we could, like…get up for a bit?” he asked, hesitant.

“Sure, everything’s fine?” You let go of his grip and helped him get up. He wrapped his arms around you, resting his forehead on your shoulder.

“Yeah, t’s’all fine,” he murmured, “I just wanted us to stand.”

You rubbed his back, slow movements tracing imaginary lines and shapes against his blacks. He let out a sigh, tired yet satisfied. You felt the upper part of his body move; slightly at first, rocking from one side to the other. When he felt you following his lead, and with the absence of any question or remarks, he marked a more regular pace in his balancing.

You started humming, lips barely touching the skin on his neck, your warm breath tickling him until a light shiver shook his back. You left kisses, here and there, still humming the song you heard on the radio earlier that day. It was a beautiful ballad, something sweet about love and closeness. You found parts of Wrecker in the lyrics, and knew you’d have to sing it to him.

It wasn’t the first time Wrecker did something like that. Usually he would do it before going to bed, or after a long time away from you. He would grip you tight, whispering soft words to your ear, telling you how much he missed you, how pretty you were, how lucky he felt to have you in his life. But this time, you wanted to make that first move.

“I see that love is there, so real and so true…”

You felt his fingers tighten, then relax. The rocking slowly turned into a dance, moving step by step, never following a precise direction. Your voice was a balm to him, healing the wounds no one could see, covering his heart with warmth and love.

He slightly let go of you, just enough to dive into your eyes, scrutinizing the details in your iris, the way light reflected on them, adding to the sparkle they usually carried. You could see how his attention shifted from your eyes to your lips, then your eyes again, and the delicacy in his silent ask. You gave him your most heartfelt smile, and he leaned toward you, kissing you in a tender, desperate way, as if something or someone would come in at any moment and rip you both away from each other.

You let his tongue meet yours, dancing the way your bodies were. His hands left your waist, raising to cup your face and pulls you even closer to him. You held his wrists, preventing him from pulling away, savouring the taste of love coming out of his mouth.

He only broke the kiss when he truly needed to breathe, deeply inhaling and exhaling. You couldn’t stop a chuckle, to which he grinned.

“I know, I know…”

“How do you expect to kiss me if you faint?”

“I don’t know!” he laughed, his nose wrinkling in such a lovely way. You could read through him like an open book, and now you just knew he was contemplating how beautiful, and soft, and delicate you were. “I don’t know, I just want you. I want to hold you, and kiss you, and dance with you all night.”

You pecked his scarred cheek, nodded in approval.

“Then let’s dance all night, and hold onto each other, and kiss you breathless.”

He relaxed the tension in his shoulders, visibly happier than when you arrived.

“Can you sing that song again? I really liked it.”

His eyes gleamed with happiness when you took back where you stopped. You couldn’t tell if you got all the lyrics right, but it didn’t matter to Wrecker. You were here, ready to spend the whole night on your feet just to make him feel better, and it was already working so well. But he never told you so, too content to hug you and kiss you and feel you.

And you, of course you knew. But you played along, because you loved him so dearly, so profoundly that you could spend every night in this cockpit, humming and swinging with him, as long as you could feel his breath on your neck, his hands stroking your hair and your back, his lips pressing against your skin, where he knew he could get a shiver from you.

“Thank you, cyar’ika.”

“Anything for you, ner Wrecker.”

Anything for you.

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I hope you guys enjoyed it; it's really not the angsty stuff I was supposed to work on (that I will do now) but I guess I just had a soft spot for the boys tonight and the songs I listened to didn't help getting over this idea!

[wild-karrde]

For the recommendations here we go:

Gar Cyare by @wanderinginksplot This is coming after Gar Cabur and tells all about the relationship between Alpha and Reader and everything that it entails as a blossoming relationship. Gar Cabur was already awesome and though it is only Chapter 1, you just know it will be awesome ! https://wanderinginksplot.tumblr.com/post/693426331279622144/gar-cyare-chapter-one

OOOOOOOOH another Alpha-17 fic gets added to the rec list! Every time I see a fic or some art featuring him, I'm reminded that this is one part of Star Wars lore I am SORELY lacking on, so I appreciate the rec to add to my "to read" list! :)

Participate in Fandom Friday to show your favorite creators from this week some love! :)

[aerynwrites]

A/N: This post - which I HIGHLY recommend everyone to see was drawn and shared by @ollovae3​. She draws amazing, fun, accurate, and touching art of all kinds of characters but mostly focusing on the Star Wars universe. Boba has always been a comfort character of mine and Ollo’s OC, Bee (short for Bui'cyare), has been such a fun character to follow and see the relationship that Ollo has created between Bee and Boba. So, after seeing this post with Bee helping post sarlacc Boba with the aftermath of his trauma, I had to reach out to her and see if she would let me expand on this sweet moment in writing. Thankfully she was super kind and amazing to talk to and gave me permission to create this one shot. @ollovae3​ I hope I did Bee and her relationship with Boba justice and I hope you enjoy! I haven’t written non-reader insert fic in years so this was a fun little thing for me to do!

WC: 1.2k

Warnings: mentions of phantom pain, amputated limbs, prosthetics, chronic pain, fluff, hurt/comfort, fluff fluff fluff!!

Boba Fett x Bee (this OC belongs to @ollovae3​!!!)

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Boba enters his quarters just as the sun begins to set on the Dune Sea, where the unrelenting heat of the day finally gives way to the frigid cold of night. As the Mandalorian enters the shared space, Boba’s eyes fall to the figure hunched over the workshop table in the back of the large room. When the door closes immediately behind him, several lamps can be seen lit throughout the room, casting a soft glow against her skin as she focuses on the chestplate sitting in front of her. 

Boba smiles as he takes a few labored steps further into the room, “Repainting your armor again?” he calls as he pulls the heavy helmet from his head. 

A small chuckle escapes the woman’s lips as she turns to look over her shoulder, “I’m just touching it up, is all,” she states, “Believe it or not I don’t actually do a full repaint all that often.”

The man let’s out a small hum in response, opting instead to turn his attention towards his own armor...and the task of taking it all off. As he removes each piece, he works slowly, slightly more than usual, setting it neatly against the wall near their bed. With every movement, his joints creak and throb, feeling an ache in his left leg-- or, at least he thinks he does, where the comfort of his robe beneath the armor, rubs uncomfortably against his scars.

Today is a bad day. And Bee notices immediately.

She turns away from her work, watching with narrowed eyes as her partner struggles with himself. She can see he is trying to hide his pain and discomfort from her, but as he shifts unsteadily to favor his right leg, she automatically knows. 

“Is it the phantom pain again?” she asks, voice soft as she approaches him, bare feet padding gently against the sandstone. 

Boba stills, gripping the last piece of armor in his hand as he avoids her gaze. “I’m fine, cyar’ika, no need to worry about me.”

She purses her lips. While they have broken through most of eachother’s walls in their relationship, Boba was still as stubborn as an old bantha when it came to Bee worrying about him. Looking at him for a moment longer, acutely aware of the waves of discomfort rolling off of him, she sighs. 

“We’re partners, Boba,” she reminds him, “Both on and off the job. It’s kind of my responsibility to worry about you. Just like you worry about me. Even if you won’t admit it.” her voice is teasing with her last words, and Boba can’t stop the smile that tugs at the corners of his lips. 

He gives her a small nod, grunting as he turns to sit on the bed. “I thought the medicine was helping,” he finally admits, one hand falling to where his prosthetic ends, rubbing it absentmindedly. “And my karking knee is acting up again, and my scars…” he looks away from the woman again, eyes falling to the floor instead. “It’s been a long day, is all.”

Bee’s heart aches as she looks at the man she loves. This journey of losing him to the sarlacc, getting him back, and dealing with the aftermath hasn’t been easy on either of them. But, seeing Boba struggle is one of the worst things for her, especially when he tries to keep it to himself. 

She moves to sit beside him on the bed, one hand running gently over his back as she rests her chin on his shoulder. “Well,” she begins slowly, “I found this new form of bacta cream in town the other day when you sent me out to search for parts for the Slave I. Why don’t we try it? You know that hot compresses help with joint pain.”

Boba turns to look at her, their noses brushing as he does so, and he feels his chest swell with adoration at the emotion swimming in her eyes. Without thinking, he reaches up and cups the back of her head, fingers threading through the long locks as he presses his lips to hers. She responds immediately, smiling into the action before pulling away and standing from the bed.

“I take that as a yes?” 

Boba lets out a playful scoff, “Yes,” he breathes, “We’ll try this special lotion of yours.”

Bee smiles down at him, before turning to go fetch the canister from the fresher. However, just before she enters the room, she turns back to the man sitting on the bed. “Take your robes off, and your prosthetic too,” she instructs gently. “I’ll be right back.”

Boba nods and does as instructed before waiting for her return.

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It doesn't take long before Bee emerges from the fresher, carrying a small metal container and a steaming washcloth. With his prosthetic set off to the side, and propped up next to him, Boba sits on the edge of the bed, wearing only his briefs. Neither of them say much in the next few moments. Instead, she places the container onto the bed beside him, before gently placing the warm cloth over his right knee, just to make sure that it hadn't been too hot. Once he confirms that the temperature was okay, Bee crawls onto the bed behind him, taking the container in her hands before unscrewing the lid. She dips her fingers inside and scoops out a generous amount of the cream, before rubbing her hands together. 

Bee leans over his right shoulder and looks at him, “What’s bothering you the most?” 

Boba quietly reaches up and gestures vaguely to his back, shoulders and chest. In their silent understanding, she lathers the cream over his shoulders and down his back, deciding to start there and getting to the rest later. Her gentle ministrations feel soothing, as she massages the ointment into the scarred skin. 

Boba seems to relax into her touch immediately, his shoulders sagging tiredly, with his posture less rigid, as if the salve had pulled the pain right out of him. Letting out a relieved sigh at the feeling of her hands roaming over him, the salve feels cool and smooth, as she rubs the rest in. It is the most relief he’s felt all day, as if it had almost completely doused the dull fire beneath his skin, to which he smiles at the feeling. 

Once she’s sure the ointment has been absorbed, she reaches down for a bit more, scooting closer to Boba, as she moves to work the salve further into his chest. But just as her hands begin to make contact, a familiar rough hand covers her own, looking up from her work only to be met with the deep pools of brown she had grown so fond of. She tries to ask him if anything is wrong, but is cut off by the gentle squeeze he's given to her hand, all while pressing a soft kiss to her cheek.

“Thank you, cyare,” Boba’s voice is a rumbled whisper as he speaks, but Bee hears him and sends him a small smile.

“Ni kar'tayl gar darasuum, Boba,” Bee whispers back, giving him a kiss of her own, before turning to look down as she continues her treatment. 

Boba smiles for what feels like the dozenth time, his earlier pain and frustration forgotten, as he relaxes back into her, all while whispering,

 “I love you too.”