Chapter Text
Lunch was far better than expected with Delta squad, it was hilarious.
Fixer was certain they’d make spectacles vying for food in their armor yet like all suggested priorities, the appeal for food exceeded pure rationale.
The twi’lek owner of this hole-in-the-wall they popped into didn’t seem put off by their hesitance, no no. This owner, rose pink under dingy front lights with maroon spots on her lekku seemed more pleased than scared of the five entering her tapcaf.
Unlike Quibba Hut, it was intimately colorful, nuanced in accented details with off world décor Niner hadn’t enough opinions to overthink. These Delta boys didn’t have it in themselves to be embarrassed too long, let alone with the offer of surprise hospitality.
“Why didn’t you bunch going to tell me the jetti had the abilities to make the air sing?” Niner said, biting so into his wings, seated on lime green scuffed seats. “And what's the deal on their robes?” Master Masla's dress code is far different from Etain and Jusik.”
“Who, that Nautolan nun with the beads on her veil?”
“They’re cowrie shells.” Niner said, eagerly taking another bite from his food bowl. Whatever flavor he tasted, zesty? Colorful? Whatever it was, this beat all the lumpy nerf steak they made do with. “I assume they’re something related to her parent culture on Glee Anslem, maybe if she’s from there?”
“Hold on, you think it's strange this jetti knows where she's from do ya?” Boss asked. “Why, for what?”
“Nothing.” “I mean, we were raised to believe the opposite.” Niner looked over to Sev intensive focus onto his food bowl, eyes focused elsewhere. “I mean the others are fine but far as I knew, all the jetti are orphans snatched up into a ciryc kar’ta taap. “Heartless stuff.”
“That’s crazy talk Nines.” Scorch whistled. “Oh you sweet sweet child, unknowing of the world.”
“We’re the same age, you haven’t seen the world either.”
“You're not wrong though evidence when you spot it with the jetti says otherwise.” Scorch mentioned flicking open his plastic orb bottle. “Otherwise Master Masla wouldn’t do much as a teacher, you did see her teach right?” “No mind wavy spell?”
“No, that was real what Asali and the others were doing.” Niner paused, eagerly reaching for flavored fries crisped to perfection. “I can’t argue the jetti aren’t connected to their culture if Master Dorje wears her homage like an insignia.”
“Around the quad I’ve more decorative jetti wearers skim baseline touches to their wardrobe vod'ika ." Fixer said, sipping from his beverage with the relief of a parched man. “Never all that harshly omitted from their ancestry I take it.”
“They what?” Scorch asked face pulling from his own food, pastrami meat occupying his lips. The others were too absorbed in their own food to speak. “Since when?”
"I don't know though seeing the differences up close was a lot..” “And I still don’t know how but whatever Asali did, she made me hear the temple sing?” Niner thoughtfully chewed while his cowrie shell gleamed on the vinyl table surface holding everyone’s meals.
The five of them split picking and observing it in the sparsely dim restaurant front, static buzz coming from the radio playing a bolo ball tournament. “Think if white noise can drift off far away but it’s not...and it's secular vocalizing.”
“Okay it’s like you're floating,” Niner struggled to explain, hands dropping to rest on his sides for comfort. “You're floating in zero g’s and our galaxy sector scooped up all the stars to blend like humming puree in your ears.”
“What does that sound like?” Sev asked half-shifted his way, not minding the other three.
“Angels.” Niner replied and so was that.
“Let’s gooooooooooOOOOOO.” Scorch bemoaned pulling at Fixer arm. “C’mon!”
“You shabla dolt wait two seconds!” Fixer snapped annoyed with his hyperactive vod ghosting his arm. “I don’t want kaff!”
“Well Niner does so come on!” Scorch hissed.
“No!” Fixer said equally spiteful. “Do you understand how weird of a combo that is just eating burgers and fries?”
“You practically eat the same thing?”
“That’s not the point!?”
Boss stared at the two with passive boredom crossing his arms until Sev's light cough drew his attention to Omega squadron Sergeant amicable curiosity. “Sorry you have to see this.”
Niner glanced at Scorch and Fixer aggressive tug of vambraces and rebuttal, shaking his head. Not even three minutes after leaving the pastrami shop Niner was bewitched by the smell of kaff so strong it tickled his taste buds. "You should give them credit they're making an effort;-I’ll make it fast.”
“Stop trying to be considerate and go get your drink, we’ll wait on you.” “We’re friends.” Sev cut in. “You want the little drinks we get the little drinks.”
“You don’t drink kaff.”
“My friend does fuck you.”
“Sheesh man.” Boss sighed over Niner averted laughter at their spat.
“We’ll be quick.” Niner sighed motioning at Delta sniper to follow him across the street to another fraternal store front; more blocky hand painted letters barricading near the ledge. The durable gray exterior did little to subjugate the interior on par to lime greens across the street, multi-colored swatches around the red color palette. Entering a new storefront made the two feel as off-placed as they looked, how they knew they looked. Parading republic soldiers stopping in for a fast meal in any far put environment would grace off-putting looks but not here.
Approaching the countertop they encountered an awaiting orange toned Torguta. If she was nervous of their intimidating armor she barely showed it.
“Welcome!”” The counter lady addressed them, beaming at Sev crimson slash armor. “You bought a friend!” “Good, I was wondering when you would come back!”
Sev willingly ignored Niner’s buy’ce turn to give the barista a returning headshake. “Apologies ma'am you know how things get on duty.”
“Ah.” Niner thought blinking sure behind his own buy’ce as the owner talked animatedly in kind. “ So they can make friends when they’re not up their shebs .”
“This place's sweetbreads taste so good it makes you want to be a better man.” Sev uttered to his buy'ce comm, aiding an outer perspective of two unsuspected quiet Mandalorians conversing. “About competes with Sarge tiingilar but you didn’t hear that from me.”
“Claiming it on bread isn't like you vod. ” Niner joke. “It must be worth it if you like it that much?”
Sev got quiet again, crossing his arms seemingly withdrawn from his compliment. "Take your pick."
“There’s too many options .” Niner thought, taking in five vertical rows of too many complicated titles of kaff. He could feel himself stiffening at the excessive drink titles more on the nose with his team's rocket energy after too many jellied candies.
“Do I need five syrups in kaff ?” “ Is pomegranate kaff syrup good with shortbread, why are there so many syrups in the first place ?” “ Won’t it be rude if I don’t try something new?” Oddly as were, hwas relieved the waiting Torguta seemed complacent over annoyed from his indecision.
“You broke the rules for Delta once, Asali twice...what's one more?” “Shame yourself later.”
“Boss likes dark chocolate.” Sev abruptly said to Niner, throwing him for a loop. “Figure you should know that.”
“Right.” Niner said, taking his buy’ce to meet Sev own heavy stare of indifference. “You figured out what to get?”
No answer.
Okay...okay.” Niner scanned the options again, debating what words sounded suspiciously decent. The Torguta worker awaiting them multi-spotting behind the counter to clean versus Sev silence was putting knots in his stomach. He just needs decent kaff to go, nothing extravagant.
He’s making Delta wait on his inept decision making for this miniscule matter he should’ve managed back at the barracks. The knots were trying to coil into ranger tied loopholes in his lower stomach now like his throat felt tight. The italicized Aurebeesh print on the menu swam in his corneas as Niner opened his mouth just too stop in his tracks at full attention. Feeling oddly off kilter at the option choices he read over and over, he couldn't help his curiosity offering more to his straight laced decorum.
If Sev caught on he spared his comment in favor of inhaling soft enough to where he could hear it. “You found it?”
Niner nodded relieved, looking to Delta's raspy toned sniper swallowing his gratitude. “This one’s on me.”
“We’re back with the goods losers.” Sev voiced out to his team.
“Tell me you got me something worth my time?” Scorch asked, boredom evident to where he, Fixer and Boss stood huddled together aside the storefront. “Listening to civilian chit-chat makes me want to run up the wall.
“Thank Nines.” Sev smugly sipped his drink with his opposite hand, his buy’ce resting smug in his other. “You sleemo’s aren’t sweet enough.”
“You got us all something?” Boss looked at Niner shoving Scorch one hard time.
"Two Italian sodas for Scorch and Fixer, espresso chocolate cookies for you, and ge’tal keke for everyone else.” Niner lifted one black carrier bag he's seen civilian horde in their arms of bundled items conversing around previous quadrant hot spots. "That said if you don't want any I'll take it to my boys to handle." Niner waved the bag closer to his kit, biting his cheek at Delta startled expressions. “I know us sensitive ones need sweets to calibrate our emotions once a week.”
"Woah vod'ika what dumbass gives up free stuff?" Boss huffed, eyes catching the bag containing Niner’s items while Sev sipped on. "I'll take it if they don't."
“Corral Tonic matcha you are my new favorite weapon.” Sev murmured mouth occupying his cup, letting out a belch. “This guy's taste is immaculate."
“Okay kids let’s get a table and I’ll feed you boys.” Niner said over the four rising noises of excitement. One good look around showed an emptied table beside the shop they just left.
One paced walk over later Niner was ready to re-calibrate this idea directly in the trash.
“Commando wrangling is intense .” Niner tiredly sat in the middle of the infamous squad like shinies do another in their bunks. Somehow he’d pull it off, resulting in him between Boss and Sev. Fixer and Scorch were just one leg stretch opposite them. Typical jeering and snobbery launched across the table while Boss leaned in close to hear Niner.
“What did you say?”
“I said I cheated seeing the jetti temple before Darman could, I can't not tell him.”
The other three just like before stopped their chatter on que to stare in Niner’s direction.
“Uhm?” Scorch laughed. “You messing with us?”
“Shabla yikes.” Sev got out wide eyed. “Your Darman- Dar with the jetti link Darman?” “Lip-locking General Etain, you beat his shebs to the temple?” "Wow." Sev barked out his laughter, clutching his head. "Let me guess, telling would get him in his feelings like Skirata would?"
Niner pulled his lips in at his words, clenching his jaw tightly releasing one audible sigh. "It affects the team when we're kept out of the loop of things so yeah they’ll butcher me."
“Unusual, her being a jetti should give her the advantage to visit more than not even with her plus one.” Fixer's voice washed over the table, placing his empty soda down to reach for his seated tablet. “Strange isn’t it.”
“Don’t guilt trip the guy di’kut .” Boss scolded, elbows on the table. “Are you sure?” His eyes caught Niner’s stare for closure. The hand not closest to him flattened on the table palms up.
“ Lek I’m sure.” Niner resisted rubbing between his eyes. “Even when we all moved here to handle those terrorists I can’t recall anything of her causally going.” “If they went and I’m in the wrong fine but-”
“You wouldn’t know?”
“That’s the one.” “It’s not my business to know what Darman does as long as he’s careful but even with that,” He shook his head distracted by his thoughts. Not telling him at some point would be bad, same with the other three.”
“A society run by wizard monks that moves things with their minds just to be the Senate’s snot rag.” Fixer uttered irked stabbing at his cake slice. “Give me a break.” “We space out our carcasses for this Republic and somehow the jetti just nod along without any say on their space peace, space serenity against the CIS heathens.” “If they were always this incompetent their lot would've died way back.” “Some joke.”
“Weren’t the jetti responsible for us existing in the first place?”
“I might dare you to rethink that think-piece.” Fixer told Niner then to his near-empty drink. “They are semi-complacent on matters around our existence but some things are off about our inception equation.” Fixer looked at Niner's surprised face and blinked, taken aback as he'd forgotten something. “Thank you for the desert, it was nice.”
“Anytime.” Niner told him, adamantly avoiding the watchful eyes studying his left. This was not the place to randomly think of Boss relaxed shoulders.
These di’kuts won’t listen to me but nothing is ever that easy, not with the logistics and ergo massive data formatting done, there were likely interference.” Fixer scoffed at the other faces of boredom. "Stop it 07, 62 your not funny."
“We’re not saying no.” Sev grunted out. Where he pulled out a death stick Niner couldn’t say, patting down his wares before laying his head down on the table atop his arms. His death stick hung loose from his fingers sparred it's purpose. “All I’m saying is don’t be upset if the answer you want doesn’t please ya.”
“Look at our ade ready to take his nap.” Scorch mocked. “And with a stranger, he’s that easy to warm up too?”
"Sarge I got to hand it to you, your psycho containment works wonders.” “Might need to keep you around a while longer if Sev can relax around ya.." Fixer said, shoving his empty cake plate aside.
“When I get my hands on you both your thumbs are first.” Sev uttered, eyes half-closed. “Leave me alone.”
“Will that drink keep you up?” Niner turned to him, noting the taunt rise of his back unlike his droop expression.
“No.” Sev said, eyes catching amber rays under the scripted sunny skies. "I'm fine." "I'm not your ade tip-yip to smother up."
Niner shrugged, looking up at the umbrella awning covering them all, counting six iron wires tirelessly arched to support the umbrella fabric above. "Alright."
Sev shifted, angling his arms one reach from Niner's own, normally brushed hair upswept from the wind.
"Thank you though." Sev eyes closed on his own volition, aggressively dropping the middle finger at the two across the tables cooing.
“Your drink hasn’t lost its foam.” Boss softly called, distracting Niner, tapping his appreciation onto Sev's red streaked pauldron. “Is it still hot?”
Feeling himself blink too many times to play it straight Niner looked to his half sipped drink tentatively slow. “Not really why?”
Boss rubbed the side of his nose bridge with an utterly calm expression Niner hadn’t seen in awhile. “Can I taste it?”
Niner mouth dried at his request and the world minutely spun off-key. He nodded to show his approval and at the man’s relaxed state mentally shook off any potential panic. Watching Boss hand reach for his hot drink like it’ll burn him Niner spur his, one long gloved forefinger pushing the heated plastic towards Boss’s free space.
Watching Boss raise the cup just so to his lips almost made Niner bang his head to the table, witnesses and all.
“Ni ni!” Scorch whisper shouted, adding to his mortification. He wanted to dissolve into micro plastic in his seat. “What are you drinking?”
“Blue calm matcha.” Niner dumbly said, watching Boss second timed surprise savoring his flavor drink.
“This is different.” Boss marveled, placing it down where they’re hands met. He didn't place his hand back right away, palm downward to lull beside his own. “What made you get this?”
“Blue’s a good color.”
Niner watched down the hallway from Delta squad, no, his friends back to their barracks. Four idiosyncrasies colors shone under the evening's streaking shadows; on the ground commentary too far off to hear.
Boss looked over his left shoulder back at Niner, eyes tired no doubt from their long day. Even so, his visible amusement after spoke volumes.
“See you later Ni-ni .” he mouthed, stretching the syllabus slowly from his lips as if he prepped in advance, remembering to quote his nickname like it's mandatory.
Niner, unable to farce any response nodded, gripping his beverage with surprisingly light ease. How hadn’t he dropped it he doesn’t know, his index finger pressing loosely on the lid’s opening. Boss' fast glance to his cup came with his commending smirk and gone he was, conversing into the loud conversation he looked away from.
It was no less enduring as it was frustrating.
With the tip of his fingertips reaching vainly for the back of the neck, pressing on his skin how Asali did. Light, padded touches reaching for warmth.
No second guessing, his heated neck matched the way his cheeks felt. Holding his breath at the realization rather than unveil his thoughts, Niner turned for his barracks blast doors, tapping his HUB card easily. The pulse point of blood rushing through his eardrums didn’t stop until he was at last inside the barricaded walls, audible sounds of vod existing beyond his vision.
He’s fine. He did it, he encountered the unexpected.
One unexpected kiss.
Shab get a grip!
“You're ghosting us now?” “Where‘d you go?” Fi called out from their kitchen, grabbing for audible sounds of food. “Darman was thinking up some search and rescue rendezvous.”
“Delta boys pulled me in for a joyride.” Niner got out making the easy steps to join him, leaning against the countertop wall, boots kicking, knocking to wall plaster.
“How’d that go?” Fi voice came first before his footsteps dragged out on the floor. He appears unassuming across from Niner, visibly bored holding his yellow bowl center his palm. “You micro-pick them to death or what?”
Heavy hot pins poked Niner’s face at his words before he could even speak. He felt weird.
“They didn’t not not like me.”
“That’s nice.” Fi smiled easily then, like how people discuss the weather and the tension wore away. “I hate to think otherwise.”
“Did I do something to upset you?”
“Pshh no…. Ordo doesn’t think they’re good influences.” Fi said leaning over the counter bowl safely propped. “I don’t want you to be hurt by them.”
“Well before ori’vod tells me anything about influences he can make some friends first.” Niner shook his head. “I don’t think he even knows crushes exist.
“Niner Skirata what’s- you- young man!” Fi’s dramatic hand raise to his throat left him in kneeled laughter. “Don’t let him hear you say that.”
“Hear him say what?” Atin voice adds to the noise, Darman hot on his heels. “Sarge, we got an extra controller in case you want to play with us.” “Anything serious happened?”
"Oh just seeing how Delta rolls around." Niner said, looking at the open conservator door handle.
The temple.
Asali.
Master Dorje cowrie shells.
Sev hugging him.
The Jetti temple.
Boss lips on his cup.
Niner's head swam.
Boss right hand one cup wall from his.
Boss lips on his cup.
Everything totaling one unsuspecting Kal’buir induced heart attack.
“I’m happy you’re unscathed from those hog heads.” Darman said, unsuspecting to Niner’s treadmill thoughts. “Who knows what they would’ve put you through.”
The three of them converse around him unrushed for snacks and Niner watching them never felt more implied to say something. He felt how metal scalds fingertips picking up hot beskar’gam left from training simulations back on Kamino. Alarm bells buzzing, hitched breaths of dread or relief synchronized in groups of fours.
There were no longer alarm bells to suppress down dread, nor the unspoken tragedy that snipped Niner from his first team. Only taught de facto calm assessment and the acknowledgement to act on it.
Niner took another quiet inhale and in that moment reminisced the kindness given to him that entire day. The three before him, unknowing of his adventure made his ears feel hot.
“Any other surprises Ni ni or that’s it?”
Niner exhaled and looked down to see Atin distracted back reaching for his snacks, turning to side swipe Fi play kick to his bent knees. Shrieking laughter erupted from Fi like irritation craved Atin brows.
“I think Kal’buir is lying to us about something .”
That’s what he wanted to say, the words were vibrating right under his molar caps. All it would take was one tongue click and opening his mouth.
“The world is bigger than I thought and it’s messing with my head.” Niner said, feeling this heavy ache covering his shoulders. “I saw some things today.”
“Like what?”
Niner felt like he was falling forward without the gravity tilt pushing him down. “I don’t know the world I guess, they took me to this district place, we should go sometime.”
Atin nodded, standing up to his full height snack bag in hand. “Everybody look, mister deep thinker is seeing the world.”
“Pssh shut up!” Niner reached to give Atin one earned finger flick to the forehead. “I’m trying.”
“Okay okay stop I get it.” Atin snorted and quickly stepped out their kai’yam back to the oya’la yamika holding his interests. “Good on you though!”
“Yeah Ni ni you held it down, didn’t lose your top and you got to hang out with your crush.” Fi voice caught his attention, him leaning so against the countertops. “That calls for some tiingilar to celebrate your date not date.”
“You hung out with Boss today?” Darman asked suddenly beside Niner before he could comprehend it. “He didn’t hurt you did he?”
“Not at all.” Niner said, blinking at the two fraternal grins his way. “He looked at me a lot.”
“Like he wanted to kiss you looking?” Darman hissed hands on his arm. “Was he flirting?”
“No, he just watched." "I didn't think you'd be into this stuff like Fi here."
"Nuh uh, watching and gazing are two different things Nines!" Fi fussed arms waved. "Dar this calls for immediate interrogation."
"Sorry Sarge." Darman grinned, pushing him out of their kai'yam . "No sneaking off to handle data pads just yet."
"You're supposed to be on my side here." Niner said feeling the same warmth from earlier tickled his chest. "Why jump me when the real target is behind us?"
"Because you never let yourself want things Nines." Darman said vaulting his hands on his matte armor. "You never let yourself want things, haran you don't talk about you enough!" "All it took was some cocky shabuir to set you of, just osik man." "You're doing stuff now, stuff you can't tell me you would've done three months ago.” "You get this look, what's it called Fi?"
"Adoration?" "Love sickness?" "Bewilderment, wonder, mastiff eyes."
"I don't have mastiff eyes." Niner scoffed.
"Okay baby tooka eyes, how's that for your dictionary?" Fi leaned back off the counter to hunt for his own brigade for snacks in their cabinets. "Seriously it's cute, harmless."
"Etain told me once the Force connects us, even us clones to the greater galaxy, uh something with living beings and stuff."
"Stuff." Niner snarked. "My feelings for Boss are stuff."
"No butttt you haven't named it and you don't not mind his attention right?" "Maybe the force is trying to tide things for you, like waves to the next riptide?"
"Huh." Niner responded complexed at his words, trying to circle them in.
"His presence doesn't bother you right?" Darman asked, head tilted. "You don't want to rip his insides out and wear it on your gear right?" "If you do that's really karking sick vod ." "You don't seem the type."
"No Darman I don't want his organs." Niner started as Fixer walked past him.
"Yeah his lips!" Fi said, ducking out the way of an unsuspecting hand. "Maybe those big arms for a promotional bonus."
"Hey, hey hey lovebirds!" Atin whistled, grabbing their attention. "Some of us have things to do, chop chop!" "We're leaving in eighteen hours, you know how much cramming I need to squeeze in these last six?" Shaking the console with the ire of any young adult ready to engage in strenuous activities. "Dar come on!"
"Oops." Darman laughed, squeezing Niner shoulders while Fi sauntered over to join him on the floor. "Start without me."
Atin shook his head, slouching his shoulders to the title screen's opening screen. "Fine but I'm not telling you where I'm stopping, that's on you."
"One last thing I gotta know vod , did Boss do anything else?" Darman asked quieter, eyes searching his own. "Anything that might’ve given something away?"
The seared image of his cup flashed against his will in his brain and Niner couldn't help one unsure hand pat to the other's forearm. "Maybe?"
Darman stared at him so unimpressed Niner felt he needed to look behind him to see if anyone else was getting his look. "Just maybe?"
"Let me get my head together and I'll tell you." Niner murmured. "It's too much right now." Two upright eyebrows made his throat feel funny. "Ni swear bat ner oyay."
"I know where you sleep at night, remember that." Darman cheerfully slapped his shoulders and turned to join the other two, sneaking up behind Atin just to mess with his stretched out leg. "Okay I'm here." Making way to sit behind him close to Fi. "Watch, I’m not going to freak this time!"
"No one can resist my good looks, I'll protect you Dar." Fi joked pointing to the LED screen showing the pixelated protagonist, blaster on deck in the laboratory. "The ugly lumpy guy is in this level in case you forgot." "The one with the wide stretchy mouth remember?"
"....Shab.." Darman hissed, wiggling one inch, two inches closer to Fi. "Yeah."
Looking over his squad settling back into their occupation Niner simply made way for his shared bunk room with Darman, reaching to pull out his parting gift. He stared at the cowrie shell, smiling recalling the Mikkian light steps shadowing his memories in light splotches. It sat in his palm easily enough, brightly innate against his blackened armor.
He's going to make something of Asali and Dorje gift as soon as he finds something durable enough to stitch into. Leather would be good, black?
No, Asali brown one suited her so he'll stick to that, add some orange squares to it. Knowing it'll be a matter of time before his face betrays his thoughts Niner kept his sights on the shell until he placed it atop his bunk blankets, half hidden from curious eyes.