Tagged by @roofgeese to play with this one today!!!!!
Juliette Trix (Star Wars)
I call this one: ‘When the pilots ask to keep the stray lothcat and you’re being told to say no by everyone else, but you can’t say no because it’s purring and you’re already in love with her!’
(She lets them keep cat. Bet you can’t guess what they name her!)
Tagging: @just-some-girl-92 @voidika @muguathepapaya @leon-anna and @purgetrooperfox (no pressure!)
Warnings: Death, explosion, war injuries (let me know if I missed any!)
————
Juliette had returned to her room, and began rummaging around in her desk.
Cosmos leaned in the doorway, “well, you really turned these quarters into your own.”
Juliette smiled to herself.
Cosmos stepped in, shutting the door.
“Okay, I got something serious to talk about with you,” Cosmos knelt down.
Serious? Juliette stopped her search, turning her full attention to her best friend.
“I’m only asking because I care about you,” Cosmos assured, “is everything between you and Fang okay? You two were acting weird all day yesterday and then suddenly you were fine again. He’s not jerking you around, right? If he is, I’ll straighten him out.”
A smile spread on her face, “I knew I made a good choice.”
“Excuse me?” Cosmos held her face, “a good choice in what?”
“My best friend!” Juliette proudly declared.
Cosmos gave her an amused smirk, “oh yeah? Well, charming me isn’t going to make me drop this.”
“I’m fine,” Juliette pat his hand, “Fang just has some bad communication skills sometimes.”
“He should work on that,” Cosmos looked up at her ceiling. “I don’t like seeing you upset.”
Juliette closed and opened another drawer, then paused.
“Talk to me, Starlight,” Cosmos ordered.
Juliette sighed, “it’s just… I feel like everyone is constantly trying to protect me, but I can handle myself. But when I try to prove that, someone always gets upset and says I was reckless.”
“To be fair, for most of us,” Cosmos said, “you’re General number six. The 952nd was originally a Legion at the beginning of the war, but we are more of a relief Battalion now. Who’s to say that if you die, we get disbanded and the 952nd dies with you?”
Juliette blinked, trying to fight tears.
Why did he have to word it like that? I know I’m important, but I didn’t think of myself as their last shot.
“Sorry,” Cosmos dabbed his thumbs under her eyes, “that came out a little too dark, huh? But seriously, Juliette, none of us want to lose you. I don’t want to lose you.”
“But what about you?” Juliette cupped his face, “if I have to hear another one of my friends call themselves expendable, I might lose it.”
Cosmos placed his forehead to her’s, “we were made to die originally, but you make us want to live. At least, you make me want to live.”
Juliette giggled, “want to hear something stupid?”
“Always.” Cosmos leaned back on his hands.
“So, there’s this thing called kov’nyn,” Juliette explained, “it’s when a mandalorian head-butts you with their helmet on, and in gentler settings it’s a kiss.”
“Okay?” Cosmos nodded along.
“When we were in my childhood room and you came in to tell us dinner was being made,” Juliette giggled, “he was doing what you just did, and I was internally trying to figure out if he was kissing me.”
Cosmos laughed, “I knew you looked flushed!”
“Now you know,” she shrugged, “your friend is an idiot.”
Cosmos held her shoulders, “my best friend may be an idiot, but she is my idiot.”
He placed a big kiss on her forehead.
What a goof.
Cosmos slapped his knees, “now, is there anymore bombshells you wants to throw at me?”
“Like what?” Juliette teased. “Like that my boyfriend told me he loves me?”
Cosmos rolled his eyes, “that one was so obvious that he didn’t even have to say it.”
“But I still haven’t said it back,” Juliette waited for his reaction.
Cosmos blinked, “oh. Now you have my full attention. Talk to me, Starlight.”
****
Mirage already knew he was due for promotion.
Commander Colt told him so, but he didn’t think he’d be promoted like this.
Sitting next to his brother, Coyote, who looked torn as Commander Hardwire and Sergeant Cooper whispered to each other.
Poor vod, Mirage studied him, he actually wants this. Maybe I should let him have it and step down.
“Alright,” Hardwire addressed them, “we have a mission today. Consider this your test.”
“Mission?” Coyote sat up straighter, “what mission?”
“We’re delivering supplies,” Cooper explained, “Separatist have been spotted in the area, so it may not be so simple.”
Mirage turned to Coyote, “you ready for this?”
Coyote nodded, “we got this.”
May the best man win.
****
In her room with just Fang, Juliette listened to him talk about possibly sneaking into market to get supplies. For what, he wouldn’t say, but he promised her investment would be worth it.
As she listened, she gathered her gear and scratched at her wrist where her faded scar was.
Rolling up her sleeve, Juliette traced her old burns.
“Are you ever going to tell me where this is from?” Fang asked taking her hand.
Juliette giggled, “it’s not a big deal.”
Fang ran his hand up her forearm, then drew her in closer. She felt the heat rise to her face as his right hand rested on her hip, and his left hand caressed her forearm.
“You mean everything to me,” Fang kissed her wrist.
Juliette turned her head away, covering her face.
Fang chuckled, “blushing?”
Juliette nodded, I’m so pathetic.
Fang pulled her down onto his leg, and kissed her cheek, “sweetheart, you’re beautiful.”
“Are you trying to make me blush?” Juliette hid her face in the crook of his neck.
“Yes,” Fang hugged her, “I love you.”
I’m a horrible girlfriend, Juliette wrapped her arms around his neck, why can’t I say that back? How can he be okay with me not saying it back?
Fang softly hummed, “so, it was suggested I take a break. But I’m not fond of sitting on the sidelines, so I’m coming along. Okay?”
Fang brushed his cheek against her head, snuggling her close.
“I would love to have you there,” Juliette traced his cheek, “but only if you’re up for it.”
“I want to go with you,” Fang kissed her forehead. “Please?”
“Okay, cyar’ika,” Juliette giggled, as he kissed her cheek.
Fang brushed his nose against her’s, “I love you.”
Juliette opened her mouth to say it, but it didn’t feel right to say out loud yet.
“We should get going,” she said instead.
Fang smiled, kissing her nose, “I’ll meet you at the gunship.”
He let her up off his knee, and got off her bed.
His fingers traced her jaw, and lifted her chin.
She could feel the love radiating in his eyes.
Then his hand left her face, and he was heading to the door. Smiling to himself as his finger hovered over the button to the automatic door.
“It was a grenade,” Juliette blurted out, “I was trying to prove to my buir that I could disable it on my own. It backfired, and I learned my lesson.”
Fang looked back, smiled, then left.
She went back to getting ready, listening to the muffled voices she loved outside her door go by.
****
Even though he knew she was fine, Mirage still had his hand out behind Juliette’s back.
In his head, he knew one day she’ll need him to catch her.
Across from him was Shadow, white armor now dawning their purple with a stripe of the light color going down one of his pecs, just like Mirage.
Mirage couldn’t help but smile, he’s copying me. Never thought I’d have someone look up to me like I did Colt.
Then his gaze shifted to Coyote and Fang, both ready to go as soon as those doors opened.
Act like a Corporal, Mirage told himself. Show some initiative, trooper. Colt didn’t train you to stay a Strategist forever.
Outside, he heard heavy fire.
There are Separatist here, Mirage watched as everyone shifted from relaxed to fight mode.
Mirage closed his eyes, feeling it course through him.
The calm before the storm.
As soon as those doors opened, he heard it and snapped right into it like a rubber band.
He waited for Juliette’s move, then followed her right off that ship. Even though he knew it was not his job anymore, he felt compelled to follow her everywhere on the battlefield. If she went down, he’d be right there to pick her up again.
****
Just as the reports said, there was Separatists who began invasion on this Republic planet.
Those droids waited for them, thinking they wouldn’t be prepared to fight.
Clone troopers—as Juliette had learned—are always prepared to fight.
While she could imagine their training was not the same, the lesson to always be on their toes was just as engraved in their blood as it was in her’s. Days and days of training, preparing for something that would come along one day. The day they’d put on their armor, hide their recognizable faces, and take on the Galaxy.
Only difference was, Juliette didn’t know her training was for a war. She doubted her father knew it either, because he might’ve trained her even harder; If that was even possible to do.
The comm chatter was going nuts.
All those similar voices talking over each other, it was overwhelming. First chance she got, she ducked undercover and adjusted the volume.
“Okay, General?” Mirage asked from beside her.
“It’s loud,” she called, “have to tune you all out or I’m going to overstimulate.”
“Gotcha,” Mirage pat her shoulder.
As obnoxious as she found it, it was comforting knowing she had someone following her.
The comm chatter quieted down after a few clicks, all that was left was the battle.
She turned her attention to Mirage. He was holding their position, poking around the wall and firing his blaster.
She lifted up her duo pistols, and tapped his back, “right behind you.”
“Ready?” Mirage ducked back into cover.
She nodded.
Mirage checked again, then gestured for her to move.
She moved around him, and ran into the battle unafraid with her ARC trooper right behind her.
While she didn’t need him, she still wanted him close. Battle zones still occasionally confused her, and who better to have than her ARC who always wanted to be with her?
They ducked undercover with Buck and Mick behind another crumbling building.
“Civilians are safe, General,” Buck reported. “We’re trying to do minimal damage.”
“Tell that to the clankers,” Mick quipped.
“I would, but they’d never listen,” Buck laughed.
Juliette did a scan, seeing everyone scattered in hiding places, including Fang with the Commander and a couple others across from them.
Her gaze fell on a trooper clutching his side out in the open.
Mirage noticed as well, and shook his head at her, “no, no risks. I’ll get him.”
Juliette sighed, I’m indestructible as long as I’m fully geared up.
However, she could figure, the brothers talked. Fang probably voiced his fears to a few of them, about not wanting to lose her. His worries, she imagined, planted seeds in their minds to also worry about her safety.
Juliette twirled her guns, then got back to firing.
Out of the corner of her visor, she saw Mirage grab the trooper quick and fall into the Commander’s barrier.
He tripped, she smiled, but he got him there safe.
She ducked behind the sturdy building, as plasma bolts wizzed by.
“Relax, General,” Buck reloaded his gun. “We’re fine.”
As soon as he said that, there was a flash and she felt like she was flying. Her helmet flew off, the back of her head hit the ground hard, and her ears were filled with a loud ringing.
Immediately, her hands went to ears to block out the white noise.
****
This is all my fault.
“Juliette!”
A yelp of pain, and Fang was down holding his shoulder.
Coyote grabbed the lovesick trooper by his ankle, pulling him back to cover as a hail of red bolts landed where his head just was.
Boomerang crawled over to Fang, “you okay?”
“Juliette…” Fang pushed him away, “she’s hurt!”
“She seems fine,” Cooper said, but his tone was laced with concern.
Mirage stood motionless, looking at the General and two troopers left behind.
Juliette’s face, twisted in excruciating pain as she held her ears. Cooper was half right, she did look fine minus the noise. It was his brothers who looked worse, as Buck laid motionless under the rubble and Mick held his busted hand, quickly scooting to cover.
Hey Caribou! Can you please describe the main squads' helmet designs? I just want to imagine them correctly ☺️
Of course, friend! 💜💜
When I think of the main squad, I typically think of Hardwire, Cooper, Keks, Mirage, Boomerang, Tracks, Fang, Coyote, and Cosmos (plus Juliette).
(This is the color palette when I think of their armor with lilac detailing, mostly the middle shade)
For Juliette, think the same typical Mandalorian helmet style of Bo Katan and Sabine Wren. Her’s, however, is completely gray (the color of mourning a lost love or family member). Her armor is mostly gray until she adds lilac to it, to match her men who she sees as her clan/family. It grows more colorful as time goes on.
Hardwire has a bold, lilac strip down the middle of his helmet, and a visor like Cody, Fox, and many other Commanders. He also has the scope, but he mostly uses it for tech work than shooting.
Cooper has a plain helmet, but has two lilac splotches on his helmet in the shape of little hands. The first is over his left eye, the second over his right ear.
Keks has double stripes like Echo, but they’re lilac zigzags.
Mirage is like Commander Colt’s. He took inspiration from his mentor, but did his full lilac instead of gray. Along with the design, he has his scope.
Boomerang’s helmet has lilac going across his helmet’s visor, and he has tallies all over the sides. He usually has an attachable macrobinocular that he wears in battle painted gray.
Tracks has the typical pilot helmet. The only difference between his armor and others is his is modified for his height, plus the painted shoulder plates; Juliette painted each pilot’s shoulder plates.
Fang and Coyote have the same helmet design of it painted lilac on one side, just opposite sides. Fang’s on the right, Coyote’s on the left.
Cosmos let Juliette give his helmet a makeover. It used to be a plain old pilot helmet, now he has dark purple around the glass visor and stars. He is the only pilot until Ace to have a unique pilot helmet.