Clonetober Day 14: Shinies
May I offer you some dumb shiny Tup in this trying time? More specifically, may I offer you some dumb shiny Tup realizing he’s Very Into the ARC Trooper with the fancy kama?
I had to write baby shinies being so excited about the 501st.
Pairings: Fives/Tup (future)
Rating: T? G? It’s very SFW.
Words: 714
Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/34504687
“There it is!” Tup pokes Dogma in the side and tries not to bounce too much in place as he excitedly whispers into Dogma’s ear. He’s supposed to be composed, professional, but how is that possible when he’s looking at the Dauntless, the home base of the renowned 501st Legion? “We’re so close!”
“Just stay in formation,” Dogma replies sharply, but even his squadmate’s grouchiness can’t curb Tup’s enthusiasm.
“We’re joining the 501st, Dogma! You’ve got to be at least a little excited.” Tup forces himself to something more like stillness--he can feel the indulgently amused eyes of some of the more experienced vode. He doesn’t need to draw attention to how shiny he is, even if his armor is still gleamingly white.
Dogma just shakes his head tightly and doesn’t answer.
Luckily for Tup, he isn’t the only one who’s excited. Some of the other shinies with them are whispering among themselves and Tup chuckles quietly when he gets an excited elbow from another squadmate.
The shuttle docks and Tup will not gawk like a cadet no matter how much he wants to. He will, however, follow the blue-painted ori’vode off of the shuttle and into the hangar bay. If he’s been in the simulations once, he’s been in them a thousand times. He knows what a hangar bay looks like. It still sends a thrill up his spine.
“Well, what do we have here?”
Natborns say they all sound alike, but any vod can recognize the minute differences in volume, pitch, word choice, and tone.
Tup has absolutely watched enough footage to recognize Captain Rex’s voice instantly, even if he wasn’t given away by the stark blue jaig eyes on his helmet. He contains the urge to nudge Dogma and forces himself to attention with the others.
“Brought you back your fresh shinies,” one of the ori’vode says. His helmet has a large Republic cog painted smack in the middle of his forehead, but Tup never caught his name. “Looks like a fun batch.”
“That so?” Captain Rex removes his helmet and Tup’s heart nearly stops. “Let’s take a look at them.”
That’s Captain Rex of the 501st and Tup has just been assigned to the 501st and now he’s standing this close to The Captain Rex.
He looks exactly like he does in the holos, of course, eyes sharp as Tup’s ever seen them. There’s a smile twitching at the corners of his mouth that’s new. It sets some of Tup’s more frazzled nerves at ease. Captain Rex moves down the line of stiff shinies, close enough that Tup is sure he’s picking up on every scuff, every stance that isn’t perfect. He stops at the end of the line and smiles for real.
“At ease, troopers. Buckets off,” Captain Rex says. Tup is grateful to obey. His hair falls loose as soon as it’s free. If it could just grow a little faster, he might be able to actually tie it up. “Alright, vode. You’re going to spend today getting settled in. Duty starts tomorrow. ARC Trooper Fives will show you around.” He gestures to a vod who steps up next to him.
ARC Trooper Fives is a fully kitted ARC trooper, complete with pauldron and kama. Captain Rex has those too, but he’s Captain Rex. Seeing it on another vod makes Tup’s chest do something a little strange.
It’s not like he hasn’t seen kamas and pauldrons on some of the Kamino ARCs. Maybe it’s just the blue paint and the general excitement of his assignment.
“Follow me, vod’ike. I’ll take you to the barracks.” ARC Trooper Fives removes his bucket to reveal a bright grin and a striking tattoo on his temple. He walks by the line to start to lead them, but pauses in front of Tup. “Growing your hair out, vod?”
“Yessir.” Tup manages to say and immediately begins to pray for death.
ARC Trooper Fives reaches out to tug fondly on an errant curl, like they know each other. Like they haven’t just met.
“Looks good. You have a name yet?”
“Tup, sir.” Oh. Oh no. “Tup.” Fives tilts his head, considering. “I like it.”
“Fives, stop flirting and get them moving,” Captain Rex orders.
Fives laughs.
Oh.
Tup’s really in for it now.
