So um... my mom's in the hospital today and I just... could I maybe have a quick drabble of fives or Rex comforting the Reader... I'm home alone and don't have anyone hear to do it.... it would just be nice idk. Love ur writing. Thanks
(Of course, love, I really hope sheâs okay - I totally know what thatâs like. Hope you feel better soon!)
Itâs when you start snapping atcleaning droids that you realize: you need a rest. Itâs not like thedroids care about being yelled at, but still â you need a rest. Youcanât go on like this. Without a word to anyone, you throw down yourbroom and run from the deserted battle bridge.
The job of night janitor on a Jedicruiser isnât exactly a prestigious one, but it gives you plenty ofquiet time. Usually thatâs a good thing, but not now. Not tonight.
With a tired sniffle, you collapse ontothe bench in your âofficeâ (really just a closet with a chair) andtake the paper out of your pocket again.
By this time, the edges are wornragged, but the letters, written in the neat hand of a clone officer,are just as visible.
Your homeworldâs been invaded, and theSeparatists have taken the capital. Where your family is. Tears bluryour eyes and you lean your tired head back against the wall.
âUm, hello?â The voice is familiar(how could it not be) but uncertain. Gasping, your eyes fly open andyou hurriedly wipe the tears from your cheeks.
âS-sorry,â you sniffle, standingup. âIâm sorry, I know I should be working, I-â
âHey, no, itâs fine,â the clonesays, stepping into the closet. Heâs dressed in grey off-dutyclothes, and thereâs a goatee on his chin and a number tattoo on histemple. âDonât be sorry. You alright?â
You want to say yes, to say youârefine, thank you. But looking at him â kind eyes, full of concern âyour face crumples with fresh tears.
He glances sideways, looking a littleuncomfortable â but then steps closer to you. âShh,â he says.âCome here. Itâs alright.â And despite the fact that you donâteven know his name, youâre perfectly happy to lay your head on hischest and let him hug you. You need a hug.
âIâm s-so sorry,â you mumble. âIâmgetting tears all over you â sorry, here -â You start to moveaway; he sets both hands on your shoulders.
âI, uh, I know Iâm just a clone,âhe says, âbut is there anything you wanna talk about?â
You dry your eyes. âJust a clone? Whydoes that matter?â
âI -â he stops; sits down and patsthe bench next to him. âNever mind, I guess. SoâŚwhatâs wrong? Idonât usually find people crying in the closet in the middle ofsleeping hours.â
You sit on the bench beside him, andtake a shuddering breath. âJustâŚthe war, I guess. My â myhomeworld, my familyâŚâ
Seeing tears threatening again, hewraps an arm around your shoulders. âHey, hey, itâs okay. AretheyâŚâ
He doesnât finish the statement, but hedoesnât have to.
âI donât know,â yousay miserably. âThatâs the problem. All I know is itâs beeninvaded, and Iâm sure as hell not going to get news of my family wayout here.â You set your chin in your hands. âIâll be alright. Whoknows? We might even head there if Iâm lucky.â
Hedoesnât offer advice â probably he doesnât know what to say â butjust telling someone makes you feel so much better. Youâd beenholding it in all day, and nobody noticed except the droids. You tellhim so, and he snorts.
âWell,I know that feeling,â he says. âJustâŚkeep your chin up, Iguess. AndâŚsorry, what was your name again?â
âY/N,âyou say with a watery smile. âIâm Y/N the night janitor.â
âFives,âhe replies. âARC trooper.â
âReally?âYour eyes widen.
âItâs,um, not a big deal,â he says, clearing his throat. âListen, Ineed to get some sleep before we land, but if you need someone totalk to again -â
âIâlltry to find you,â you finish. You stand and take up your broomagain. âThank youâŚFives.â
As heleaves, he winks one brown eye. âNo problem.â