#kinda half assed...

Fives and Echo explain the long list of reasons not to go to their captain. But when their grumpy captain just happens to be pulled into the conversation, well, he's not having it.

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"Don't tell the Captain"

Something said a lot, when someone forgets to do something, did something stupid, or are planning on doing something stupid. But in this case, it was Fives and Echo filling in the shinies.

"You have an itch? Don't tell the Captain, go to Kix. Are dehydrated cause ya didn't listen when Rex says drink ya water, go to Kix. Need your hair cut? Tup's your boy, the Captain may have excellent hair but he doesn't wanna spill his secret. Hungry in the middle of the night? Rex is too grumpy to wake up unless someone is dying. Come to me or Echo, we have goodies."

Fives had explained all the 'unsaid' rules to the newest batch of shinies. Don't go to the Captain for anything that isn't too 'official'." Fives told his newest brothers. "It's not that he won't help you, he just doesn't want to."

"Oh, and if you want to go have an adventure when on leave go to Hardcase, he always has some fun things planned" Echo added with a smile.

"Questions?" Echo asked as he finished handing out the reg manuel that he wanted them to read. (But they weren't going to).

"J-just one." A shiny spoke, raising his hand. Echo turned in delight, they usually never get asked questions. Fives nodded to the clone, granting permission. "What about relationship advice?"

Echo's eyes widened slightly. That was actually a new one. He decided to turn to Fives, who was arguably the more suave of the two.

"Well, uh, leeme think." Fives said. He didn't have an answer. Usually he could bs it, but who did they confide in? "Well, uh, I guess any older brother you feel comfortable with?"

"But.. What's the reason we can't go to the Captain?" Another spoke. Fives looked at the shiny and plastered a fake smile as he thought of yet another bs answer. "Like does he not wanna talk about his relationships? He hasn't been in one? Or he just doesn't wanna talk about something so informal." He spoke.

Echo looked to Fives, who returned the glance and sighed, "Well, uh, I haven't personally thought about it, I mean..." Echo scratched the back of his head as he looked around for anyone who could give a better answer. "My guess is Rex just doesn't wanna talk about it?"

"Talk about what?" Their esteemed captain had appeared behind both Fives and Echo, causing them to jump.

"Oh, uh we're just telling the shines who to go to for personal issues not work related" Echo explained as his heart rate calmed down.

Rex raised an eyebrow then glanced over his new men, "What have these two told you shines?" He asked.

"Well sir," one begun to speak, "We know where to get our hair cut, midnight snacks, wierd itches, uh, and uh where to go if your dehydrated" he explained. "But they hadn't answer our question about relationships"

Rex's usually face of annoyance grew slightly as he looked to his ARC troopers. "This is what you tell them?" He mumbled, shaking his head. The Captain then looked back to his eager group of shinies, awaiting an answer. "Well, I suppose Kix would be your best bet, or Jesse. Kix will give you serious advice, whereas Jesse will talk about pickup lines and such." Rex explained.

His men mumbled in understanding. "Anything else" Rex sighed, part of him wishing he hadn't walked in at all.

"Wait, sir- Fives and Echo explained all the reasons to go to other brothers and not you, what's the reason sir?" Spoke one of the braver shinies. Echo's and Fives' face quickly dropped, with only one thing on their mind. 'Oh no.'

Oh no, yes, oh no indeed. The Captain stared blankly at the shines then angrily at the two trouble makers. "Well.." He started, gritting through his teeth, "If I ever had the time to sit down and actually tune into the conversation with you, I'd give you an answer, but it probably won't be the one you'd expect." He explained. "Does that answer all your questions?"

"Yes, sir!" They all seemed to shout in unison, much to the Captain's dismay.

Rex forced a smile and nodded. "Well then, I'll leave you with the capable hands of Echo while I talk to Fives." He said, giving a look to one of his ARC troopers.

"Uh, yes, sir" Fives said as he followed after Rex.

"Please don't tell me you're teaching the shines to avoid me when they have problems?" He asked Fives once they had gained a respectful distance from the group.

"No, no, just the ways to stay out of trouble and leave you alone at all times." Fives explained, glancing to Echo, wishing he was with him.

Rex sighed, he was no longer tense. "Alright, Just... Just make sure you two aren't making them feel like they can't talk to me, Fives, you know how important trust is." Rex explained. "I don't want them to think I can't be bothered with them."

Fives nodded, "Of course, sir. Well, I guess I best, uh..rearrange how I say things." He chuckled. Rex nodded and gave a small smiling, patting Fives' shoulder.

"Good man, well have fun." Rex said, giving Fives one last look before leaving.