#fives fluff

The first time Fives spotted you on that stool in 79's he had to do a double take because there was no way someone that gorgeous was willing hanging out at the tacky clone bar.

His next thought was he absolutely needed to go and talk to you, right now.

He nudged Echo, getting his attention before whispering to him .

“Don’t look now but... What about her? The one sitting by the bar” he subtly pointed over Echos shoulder. 

Echo obviously whipped around immediately, catching a look at you and snorting before laughing loudly

“Yeah right Fives, keep dreaming.”

The sound of the clones talking made you turn and look towards the two, startling when you found them both staring at you. Fives grimaced, sending you an awkward smile and wave. You looked taken aback but forced a small smile back.

As soon as your back was to them Fives angrily grabbed Echo’s shoulder, turning him back around.

“Kriff sake Echo, what part of ‘don’t look now’ do you not understand?” he hissed at his brother, who only smiled cheekily and shrugged.

“What? S’not like you had a chance with her anyway”

Fives immediately sent him an offended look "I’ll have you know I can easily get any girl” 

This made Echo spit out the drink he had in his mouth, laughing. Fives just crossed his arms and lent back, severely unamused.

When he saw Fives was in fact very much serious his laughs died down "Wait.. You actually believe that?”

Fives nodded firmly in response, Echo dissolving into giggles again

“What. You don’t think I can get her?” Fives huffed, making Echo laugh further in response, only able to shake his head.

Fives of course took this as a challenge and decided to make it his personal mission to woo you tonight. 1 because he thought you were absolutely stunning, and 2 because he was going to thoroughly enjoy the look on Echo's face.

Echo quickly nudged Jesse who was sitting next to him, getting an annoyed “What.’” in response.

“Trust me, you’re gonna want to watch this Jesse. Fives is about to get humbled.”

Fives huffed unamused, muttering angrily under his breath as he got up. Smoothing his hair and fixing his blacks he strolled over to you, pointedly ignoring Echo and Jesse who were giggling behind him.

He slid into the stool next to yours, oozing confidence as he sent you one of his most charming smiles

“Hey there beautiful.”

You turned to look at him, giving him a subtle up and down, raising an eyebrow at the way he'd sat with his legs spread, obnoxiously taking up way more space than needed Oh, so he was one of those guys then.

Catching you staring, he sent you a wink. "Like what you see meshla?"

You shrugged, shooting a glance behind him at his two friends who immediately scrambled trying to pretend they weren't just gawping at you two, one of them knocking over his drink in his haste.

The sight made you chuckle, turning your attention back to the trooper in front of you.

"Same as 90% of the guys in this bar right now. You're gonna have to try harder than that if you wanna stand out, trooper."

"What? These bad boys aren't doing it for you?" He smirked, flexing his arms and showing off his biceps.

His arms looked... good. Really good. You flushed, shaking your head to clear your thoughts and rolling your eyes to try to play it off.

Mistaking your head shake for a no, he decided on trying a different approach.

"No? Ok, I guess I'll just have to charm you with my words then."

You mearly tilted your head, raising your eyebrows at him and opening you hands in a 'go on then' gesture.

He smirked, resting his arm on the table top and leaning toward you, making sure to keep eye contact as he spoke.

"Y'know you look great in this lighting" he leant in even closer, whispering seductively "But you'd look way better in my bed"

This one got a surprised huff out of you, not expecting him to actually go full out. He smiled sheepishly at your reaction.

"Sorry, was that one too forward? Just couldn't help myself"

"No I just- well I'm not used to getting hit on like that I guess" you replied with a nervous smile.

He gave you a look of surprise "Seriously? Well, you've been hanging around the wrong guys then my dear. Guess you should have met me sooner."

You chuckled slightly, sliding a few credits ove the table for your drink before sliding off your seat. He finally clocked what you were doing, his hand automatically reaching out to stop you.

"Hey, hey. Where you goin'? I though we had something going on here?" he gestured a hand between the two of you frantically.

You smirked slightly, patting him on the shoulder

“Like I said, gonna have to try harder than that.”

His mouth parted slightly in surprise, scrambling for something to say, but you had already turned and were walking away. 

“I’ll see you around?” he shouted out hopefully, to which you only responded with a quick wave over your shoulder before disappearing into the crowd.

He stood, staring dumbly at were you'd just been. Echo and Jesse gave up trying to hide their giggles and burst out laughing, the sound shaking Fives out of his trance.

“Told you so…” Echo said in a sing-song voice, only making Fives scowl. The look on his face must have been funny because it only seemed to make them laugh harder.

“Aw c’mon Fives, don’t get all moody on us now.” Jesse clapped a hand on his back “Better luck next time, yeah?"

—

The next time he spotted you he though he was hallucinating. You'd never told you you worked for the GAR but he could swear it was you under that walker. He squinted, taking a few steps closer before his face suddenly broke into a grin. Yep, that was definitely you.

He jogged up to you and put his foot on the edge of your creeper, making you squeak in surprise when he rolled you out from under the walker you were working on.

You blinked up dumbly as he loomed over you, forearm leaning against the side of the walker and head tilting.

“Baby we really gotta stop meeting like this” he purred, smirking down at you.

You huffed, pointedly rolling back under the walker and your response coming slightly muffled from underneath it.

“And you gotta stop distracting me while I’m working”

Fives chuckled and knelt down to your level. Much to your annoyance he grabbed you creeper and pulled you out again, stupid smirk still on his face.

"I couldn't resist, you just look so sexy with that grease all over your face."

Eyes widening, you furiously began wiping at your face with your sleeve, only managing to smear it further.

Feeling sorry for you he picked up a stray rag and gently swiped at your face. The tenderness of action making a light pink spread towards your cheeks. He caught your blush and raised his eyebrows at you, chuckling slightly

“Stop laughing at me” you tried to say it seriously but his continuous giggles eventually made you break into a smile. 

He gasped dramatically, pressing a exaggerated hand to his chest “So she does smile after all”

“Yeah yeah very funny." You rolled your eyes at him playfully. "Y'know if you insist on staying here then you might as well make yourself useful.”

"Why of course, it would be my pleasure" he made a slight bow "What does my lady require?’”

You chuckled, shaking your head at his antics “Just pass me that spanner will ya?”

He quickly picked up the one you were pointing at, staring to pass it to you but suddenly pulling it back just as you were about to grab it.

 “What the hell Fives?"

 “Your hands are so much smaller than mine. Here we should compare.”

Before you could protest he was already holding his palm up to yours and pressing your hands together. The tips of your fingers only reached halfway up his and you hated the fact that it gave you butterflies.

When you started to pull away he quickly interlaced his finger with yours, keeping you in place. If you thought you had butterflies before then you must have a whole war going on in your stomach right now. 

The look on your face must have given your feelings away because when Fives’ gaze flickered up to yours, his face quickly spread into a wide grin. 

Opening his mouth to tease you further, he was interrupted by a shout of his name.

“Fives! Stop flirting with my mechanic and get over here”

You both turned to see Rex glaring at him from across the hanger. Fives shrugged, looking back at you

“Sorry meshla, but duty calls” he pressed a quick kiss to your hand which was still in his, making you blush instantly.

“Fives! What did I just say?” Rex’s voice rang through the hanger again, making Fives scramble to stand up.

“Sorry Cap, coming!” . He shot you a quick wink over his shoulder “I’ll see you around gorgeous”

—-

He was determined you’d eventually give in, and after many many testing remarks and lame pick up from his side, you eventually agreed to go on a date with him.

And you could honestly say that that one date was the best you’d had in your life (not that you’d been on many).

Fives had completely outdone himself and seeing him out of his uniform and away from his brothers was a eye opener for you.

When it was just the two of you could really see his loving and caring side peek through, and you fell for it hard.

As much as you hated proving Fives right, he was right all slong. You two had crazy chemistry and his confidence perfectly balanced out with you shyness, truly bringing out the best in the both of you.

So, to your surprise (and Echo’s dismay) somewhere along the line he'd actually managed to win you over.

Which led to how you were right now, curled up against his chest in your bed, his arms wrapped around you tightly.

His back was against the wall, chin resting on your head. You were sat across his lap, looking down at your joined hands.

Both of you were soaking up each other presence and silently enjoying the closeness of it all.

“I love your hands,” you mumbled, breaking the silence and getting a lazy hum from him in response.

Tracing your thumb over his knuckles, you carry on “They fit so well with mine.”

Fives chuckles, giving your hand a quick squeeze

“Lucky you then because there are thousands of my brothers with these exact hands across the galaxy”

You twist slightly, enough so that you could look at his face, smiling teasingly

“Then how come only your hands give me butterflies when you touch me?”

He melts instantly at you comment, grinning so wide his face hurts before shrugging and nuzzling his nose to yours, whispering softly against you lips

“Must be because I’m just that much more charmin'”. 

-----

tag-list: @techs-feral-wife @nekotaetae @softsunburstlove @lucyysthings

"I didn't want to, I swear." His smile never faltered, even as you reached for the now warm salted water and a cotton ball. You submerged the cotton into the water and squeezed out the excess. Not even the gentle sound of the water finding its way back into the small container made him flinch, which made you wonder what sort of agony Kix put the soldiers through to clean their wounds. "I wasn't the one looking for it." "I don't think the Goatee God was either." With the same tease, you held his prominent chin in your free hand and your thumb followed the fuzz that named it home. "Now, this will sting." "Nothing could sting more than a blaster bullet." His brows furrowed into a wince, the muscles around his eyes flinching, and his jaw tensed as he drew in a hiss at the salty ball on the cut. You rose a brow with a question of you sure? remaining unspoken, and the right side of your lips turned into a smirk you could barely hide. "Still not worse."

"There's not much I can do about it, I'm afraid." Even so, you pressed an apologetic kiss to the side of his nose as you continued cleaning the blood away. "So, who was looking for trouble this time?" "There was a brawl that broke out in front of 79s. I broke it up, or tried to." He pointed to his cheek. "You know how it is."

"Not personally, but I get the picture." You pulled back, happy with the job, and used the edge of a clean towel to dry the skin around the wound. Your brows furrowed now at the start of colour blooming in a tinge of reddish purple. "Must have been a whopper. You're already getting a bruise."

"It felt like one." Fives drew his hand to the back of his neck for a moment before taking a plaster from the first aid kit. "I didn't quite plan on that."

"It's a good thing you're an Arc Trooper then: you're better at thinking on your feet." A pause whilst a grin that matched his own mischievous ones plastered your face. "Until you're drunk. Then you can't even stand on them."

A gasp of feigned insult left his lips. As you reached for the plaster, he retreated his hand as far back as possible. "If you want it, you'll have to get it from me." "Fives, your handsome face has been through enough today as is. Do you want to risk symmetry?" He wiggled his brows in challenge and his grin was best described as boyish in confidence and dorky in his ever-mischievous ways. You lowered your shoulders with a sigh, your face adorned with a smile of gentle, affectionate dismay, and you shook your head. "It seems I have no choice..."

He went to speak, but you already leaned forward and grabbed his bicep with sheer determination. You were leaned forward and arched almost uncomfortably, arms reaching as far as you dared and straining as he shifted further back in escape, but it mattered not. The longer such a game went on, the louder and more common your shared laughter became in awkward entanglements with him trying to escape and you trying to get the plaster from him.

Knees had clonked into each other a multitude of times, and if you weren't bowing hair from your face every few seconds he was blowing it from his own before tucking it behind your ear.

Yet it seemed the only way to victory was to clamber. He, being solid, was impossible to move. Almost.

You had to put in more force than you would have liked and nearly fell into him to succeed, but he was finally flat on the table, arms kept in place, and your body was upon him in such a way that he was unable to take the plaster with his free hand.

He was strong enough to free himself, that was always obvious, but he allowed you victory with a beaming grin at the look of endearing triumph upon your face. You thought you must have looked like a child that had just won so many sweet treats or fluffy toys as a prize, but you were also adamant you could look as silly as you wanted and he'd look just as lovestruck as he did whenever you decided to dress up for little reason except to see the expression.

You sorted yourself into a straighter and a much comfier position whilst you opened the paper wrapping the plaster was in, then took off one of its protective flaps with hands that lightly shook in nerves.

"Alright, my dearest, stay still."

There was nothing to be nervous about except for placing the plaster in the wrong spot, which was hardly difficult to fix with only half of it prepared. Yet, somehow, and for some reason, you wanted it to be just so on him when, on yourself, it mattered not. But it wasn't a negative, anxious set of nerves. In truth, your heart was so full from simply five minutes of silly fun with him, laughter's warmth still taking residence in your being.

It was quickly resurfaced. The grazing of his fingers tucking a stray section of hair behind your ear tickled the light dusting of hair in front of it. You barely managed to press the first half of the plaster down before you swat his hand away and rubbed at the area furiously with a look of stifled laughter and embarrassment.

Fives only laughed wonderfully loud, hands on his chest with his head tilted back whilst you playfully made some form of noise to feign upset laughing in your sheepishness.

"It felt weird." Your free hand managed to finish your job as you breathed himself into a settled state, pulling off the second cover and smoothing the plaster against his skin.

He looked at you with such warmth in the depths of his eyes, fondness in his amusement, and pure adoration in his smile it caused a blush to creep onto your already embarrassed expression.

Your eyes scanned his face once more to memorise the expression for all eternity; your fingers traced the structure of the man you adored, slow and tender from the tattooed Five on his temple, over his cheekbones and down to the wondrous curve of his jaw, and you followed the bone until your thumb grazed his lower lip. You took no notice of how his eyes darkened despite the gleam, too focused on watching where your fingers were going.

But you did, however, take notice of the confusion that began to etch upon his face as you lightly tugged the hair below his lip, you saying some joke he'd said at some point (that you found hilarious at the time) with a voice that came more like a terrible GunGun impression without the idiolect whilst your eyes brimmed with innocent mischief. More amusing than that, was feeling his lips curl into yet another laughing grin once you could no longer contain your own giggles at how silly everything felt. He freed his goatee from your fingers (not that you were hurting him at all) by grasping your wrist, and he kissed the heel of your palm with grinning lips as he straightened onto his other elbow.

"Mysh'la," the way he spoke with sincere tenderness halted your giggling, his injured cheek nuzzling into your hand as he did so, "have I ever told you how beautiful you are when you laugh?" You titled your head against your shoulder, grinning from ear to ear with similar warmth. "Once or twice." Your fingers slowly stretched out until your hand cradled the side of his face, his skin beautifully warm. "Have I ever mentioned how intoxicating your laugh is? Or how bright you look when you're being a complete and utter dork?" "Hm..." His hum was in feigned thought. "Once or twice." Fives' eyes narrowed in affection and his free hand snuck innocently beneath your shirt to rest on your hip, his thumbs smoothing soft circles upon your skin. "So... still think I got in trouble?"

"Nah. You're innocent this time." With your free hand, you grasped his chin again and softly ran your thumb across the fuzz you had such a soft spot for with subconscious movements. "And the most glorious goatee lives to fight another day."

With a feigned pout, Fives released your hand to bring his own to your cheek, guiding you closer until he could trail his palm to the back of your neck to finish pulling you to him. "Those words from you sting more than salt to the wound."

You'd had a crush on him forever but could never admit it. As you tightened the oil connectors and closed the panel behind you, you wiped your arm across your forehead, noting when you lowered it that you'd gotten grease and dirt on yourself. Again. You were always distracted when you thought about Fives, frequently making small mistakes in your work on the Venator that he was assigned to when it came to Corsucant for maintenance. It was the end of the day, and you couldn't wait to get to the shower. Removing your jumpsuit, you pulled on the change of clothes from your locker -- a loose pair of cargo pants and your favorite crop top, which was plain black except for an adorable little green jalapeno in the middle.

You headed for the main lifts, searching your pockets for a wipe and cursing under your breath when you couldn't find one. You didn't even look at the others in the lift when the doors slid open, carrying you and the rest to your evening freedom. The entire herd shuffled off at the main stop, leaving you lost in your thoughts.

"Are you just riding this up and down tonight, or....?" a clone voice snapped you out of it, and you looked up to see none other than Fives, leaning in the corner with a witty grin. You felt a hot flush wash over you, attempting a feeble laugh and shrug, heading for the door. "No, it sounds like fun! Watch," Fives interrupted, blocking your way and hitting a button on the wall behind him. The doors slid shut, and the lift whirred to live as it shot upward. You laughed, completely dumbfounded, but immediately clammed up as he approached you suddenly with a tender expression, reaching for your face.

Your breath caught in your throat and you felt unable to move. His hand touched the side of your forehead, wiping across where you'd brushed off some dirt and grease earlier. As shocked as you were to remember that you'd left it there, it was completely overshadowed by his closeness, a small smile on his lips.

"Ah, sorry," you muttered, unsure why you were apologizing. "Job gets messy sometimes..." you attempted.

"That is the most attractive thing I've ever seen in my life," Fives said, a humorous gleam in his eyes, and your heart pounded in your chest.

"You're the most attractive thing I've ever seen in my life," you murmured without thinking, earning lifted brows and an expression of delight from him.

You're nervous, as you always are when you're on your way to meet Fives. It's that comfortable nervousness, the one that makes your heart beat faster just at the thought of seeing him soon, hearing his voice and melting under his cheeky smile.

Your pulse is fast, everything inside you is tingling the closer you get to your meeting point. You're on your way to the elevators that lead to the rooftop garden atop your apartment complex. This rooftop garden is where you always meet because you happened to meet there the very first time. It's a cute little tradition. You meet on the rooftop garden every time and then go from there to your apartment or to a restaurant or a movie theater. It had been Five's idea when you wouldn't tell him exactly where you lived on the first date.

As you're at the bend in the hallway leading to the elevators, you hear voices, clones, unmistakably. One of them is Fives, you can hear it in the way he emphasizes the words. The other voice of one of his brothers, apart from being the voice of a clone, is not familiar to you. Your heart beats faster with joy, but you stop when you hear the unknown clone say, "How long have you two been together now?"

"Almost three months," Fives replies, and your heart leaps at the proud tone that resonates in his words.

"And you still haven't been intimate?"

There is a pause and you feel your heart slip into your pants. You stay out of sight behind the turn in the aisle and prick up your ears.

"This is none of your business, but what makes you think that anyway?" asks Fives finally, a little irritated.

"Well, it's obvious from the way you walk," the other voice sneers.

You can hear Fives' eye roll in his voice as he says, "Gee, Sly, you sure are talking trash again"

"Trust me! I see that! The way you're walking it's obvious you've got bulging balls!" laughs Sly.

Fives laughs, "Shut up and get lost, I'm on my way to a meeting with her"

Sly lets out a whistle and says, "Ooooh, maybe she'll let you have her today."

"You let me worry about that", snorts Fives.

You waited until Fives got on the elevator and the other clone left. As you also board one of the elevators to the top, you have a very queasy, uncomfortable feeling in your stomach on the ride up and your heart feels heavy.

Fives is already standing there, as usual he has no patience in his butt. He paces up and down. But he smiles broadly as he sees you coming into the garden. However, his smile freezes and disappears, finally giving way to a worried expression.

"What's wrong? What happened?" he asks as he approaches you and finally gently grabs your upper arms with both hands, left and right.

Of course, he immediately noticed that something was wrong. You're apparently not very good at hiding your feelings, at least not from Fives.

Nervously, you say, "Nothing's wrong. What could be wrong?"

Fives tilts his head slightly to the side and looks at you scrutinizingly. He doesn't seem to believe you. You know that critical look in his brown eyes.

"Are you sure there isn't something you want to get off your chest?" he inquires.

You get even more nervous, can't look him in the eye anymore. In your mind's eye, you have a very strange image of Fives with thick, blue balls the size of meilooruns. You're not sure if you want to laugh or cry.

"It's nothing," you say, smiling shyly at him.

You know he still doesn't believe you, but doesn't press you further. With a soft sigh, he kisses your forehead and says, "Maybe you'll tell me later when we're cuddled up on the couch."

You almost forgot, tonight you have a movie night planned at your house. You swallow but keep smiling as he takes your hand and walks with you to the elevators. Of course you are attracted to him and with your touches and kisses you have felt arousal, even sometimes when you were just thinking about him. But you haven't even dared to touch yourself yet, how should you know how to touch him?

You spend the way to your apartment in silence and Fives keeps giving you a sideways glance. Whatever is on your mind doesn't seem to let him go. You'd love to know what's on his mind. Does he perhaps also have insecurities and fears towards you? Is he also worried that he might make mistakes?

"What are you thinking about?" you ask him quietly as you open the door and Fives walks into your living room with a thoughtful expression.

He turns to you as you are about to close the apartment door and says, "Honestly, I'm still wondering what's on your mind. I'm a little worried it might have something to do with our relationship."

For a moment you look at him with surprised silence. You didn't really expect him to be unsettled. Not Fives.

"What do you mean. What should be the matter with our relationship?" you finally ask him curiously.

Fives shrugs, flashes a wry little nervous smile, and replies, "I am one face among so many that are the same. Perhaps you have grown weary of the sight. Maybe another one of my brothers appeals to you more.... I don't know, things like that."

You are shocked to hear that he really has such thoughts. You certainly don't want him to feel so insecure. Fives should not be afraid that he might not be enough.

You finally give in and say, "It's nothing like that."

"Aha! So there' s really something bothering you?"

He has one eyebrow cocked at you, his expression scrutinizing.

"Yes. It also actually has something to do with our relationship. But not what you might think"

Fives frowns, looking even more worried than before. You can tell he doesn't know what to do with his hands. He scratches the back of his neck, then crosses his arms in front of his chest, as if he's already preparing himself for a low blow.

Fives takes a deep breath and says, "Okay. Shoot. What's up?"

You walk into the open kitchen where he can also see and hear you from the living room. As you pour you both a Corellian ale, you begin to speak.

"I don't really know how to say this. But I heard you earlier, or rather you guys. You and Sly, by the elevators. What you guys were talking about got me thinking."

Fives laughed, he was amused and relieved.

"Because of the comment about... My way of walking? That's just nonsense, mesh'la"

You hand him one of the ale glasses and take a sip of your own before saying, "Well. Is it really nonsense?"

He blinks in confusion and looks at you questioningly.

"What do you mean?"

You shrug your shoulders cautiously.

"So far, when we've been close, we've never gone very far, if you know what I mean. We've been together for a while, though, and I wonder how much more patience you can muster."

Fives laughs softly.

"As much as is necessary my love"

"And that is?"

He frowns.

"What exactly is it about this whole thing that makes you so nervous?"

You chew on your lower lip for a while and finally blurt out almost hastily, as if the sound of the words frightens you, "I'm a virgin!"

Fives blinks several times, then a light comes on.

"Oooooh. So you're nervous about that famous first time? That's what's on your mind?"

With a sigh, you admit, "In a way. I was worried you might get bored with me because you've been waiting so long. Besides, I would really like to get closer to you, even on a physical level. But I have absolutely no idea how and what to do, what to expect."

Fives grabs your hand and with a smile pulls you to the sofa, sits down with you and says, "I'm in no hurry. Sure of course I think about it, that's normal. But I've got so much love for you, Cyar'ika, it doesn't matter how long I have to wait for it"

Your heart beats very fast and wild in your chest.

"What if I want to try today?"

He smiles wryly.

"Then I would be more than willing to comply with your request. However, I don't want you to feel pressured because of my brother's stupid comments. That was just nonsense. He was just teasing me, we do it to each other all the time."

You shake your head.

"No, not exactly. I've thought about it before, his words just fueled the worries that were already there a bit. I really want to get closer to you very much"

Fives caresses your cheek.

"Anytime, beautiful"

"Can you show me a few things?"

Fives smile widens.

"I'd love to"

Ko-Fi

@rintheemolion

@andyoufollowyourheart @clone-whore-99

@brynhildrmimi @kaliel2310

@misogirl828 @tech-deck

@meshla-madalene

@chxpsi

@thebahdbitch

@nahoney22 @ladykatakuri

@darkangel4121

@ttzamara

“miss,” your advisor cleared his throat, his cerulean skin a silvery hue in the light, “i received word that your fiance has returned from umbara.”

your heart fluttered, a sliver of joy bubbling in your stomach.

“linus, will you inform him to come visit?”

“dully noted miss,” linus dipped his head, “although, from text inscribed in the transmission, you may want to prepare yourself, (y/n).”

“what do you mean?”

linus’ eyes scanned the datapad, shaking his head slightly, “it appears as if the clone army suffered from heavy losses-”

“that is all i need to hear,” you exhaled, crossing over to your desk, “please, linus, if you see fives, just send him in, will you?”

“always,” linus responded coolly, his head tails swinging behind him as he turned, padding towards the grand doors, “the second i am aware of his presence in the senate building, i will fetch him.”

“thank you,” bringing your fingers to your temple, you inhaled deeply, in a vain attempt to keep your composure.

“anything for you.”

settling into your chair, you absentmindedly sift through some paperwork. yet, it was no use. 

there was no distracting from the inevitable. 

it was almost as if you could sense his presence as he approached the doors. the temperature of the air decreased, the space crackling as three soft knocks echoed. 

springing from your chair, you smoothed out your gown, running a hand through your hair, “come in.”

the soldier who stood before you was no where near the man you once knew.

eyes that were once glimmering chestnut pools, bursting with joy and amusement were now hollow and vacant. 

two obsidian canyons, deepened and carved by grief, hardened by loss.

new wrinkles etched into his forehead, his lips curved into a frown. 

yet, the moment his gaze fell on you.

the corners of his lips tugged into a weary, broken smile. 

“i never thought i would have lived to see that gorgeous face again.”

“oh fives-” your lower lip quivered, tears blurring your vision. 

there was a flurry of arms, bodies tangling together as you held onto him, clinging to his blacks. his head burrowed into your chest, his shoulders shaking as he wept. wails rang through the office, bouncing off the walls and back into your ears.

the cries were far more horrid the second time.

“i-i-” fives sputtered, but you were quick to hush him.

“my love,” you murmured, your voice faltering, “you don’t have to-”

“we lost so many,” the words were barely strung together, “we lost so -- i lost so many of my brothers.”

squeezing your eyes shut, you inhaled sharply, “fives, i am-”

“i wish i could forget. baby, their faces are permanently ingrained in my head. they won’t fuckin’ leave. every time i close my eyes, i see their faces. i see us all in the mess hall together, sharing a meal. i remember the jokes we shared and the nights where we’d disobey orders, just to sneak out and watch the stars as we floated in space. but then, oh gods. i can’t shake it away. i remember how they died, and how i just watched.”

“fives,” his name was firm as it rolled off your tongue, an attempt to soothe him, yet your fiance continued, his voice eerily quiet as his head rested on your collarbone. 

“how come it was them but not me? how come i got to live while my brothers perished?”

a hand laced into his dark hair, fingers running through the locks, “fives, i want you to listen to me. i was not there at umbara, so i cannot even fathom how awful it was. i know how much you adore your brothers. not only do you fight for the republic, but you fight for your brothers too. i can promise you that their deaths were not your fault, fives. i know that you fought hard for them.”

“but i failed to protect--”

“you did not fail,” you whispered, “fives, you did not fail.”

“i love you,” fives let out a shaky breath, his breathing more steady as the cries ceased, “i couldn't even fathom of any other woman in my life, cyar'ika. you know when the timing is right and you always say the right things.”

“i need you,” you murmured, your voice delicate, “i love you too, fives.”

“i need you, cyar'ika,” his gaze drifted upwards, “i’ll always need you. especially during times like this.”

“i won’t ever stray from your side,” leaning in, you placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, “i won’t ever leave you, fives.”

“do you promise?” the words were a content sigh as your fingers began to roam, tracing his back.

the soldier’s grief dissolved for a moment, his features softening as fingertips danced, drawing lazy circles and shapes. 

for a moment, the memory of umbara disappeared from fives’ mind, his thoughts replaced by the sheer bliss of being in your embrace. the arms of the love of his life. his soul mate. 

for a moment, the sorrow was diminished. 

yet, in your heart, you knew that there would be more instances like this. more moments in which you would bring the soldier comfort as he wept, promising that there was always a new dawn. that there would always be a light at the end of the tunnel. that there would always be light in the darkness. 

that there would always be joy to come after the sorrow.