Chapter Text
Clones were just that clones, exact copies of each other everyone of them identical to the next… till they weren’t.
Nat borns either couldn’t see the differences in the clones or didn’t want to. Some differences easy to spot like hair style or tattoos. Others only brothers would notice like some brothers were more lean or some more broad things no one other than them would care to notice.
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Captain Rex walked through the hanger on Kamino he was to deliver supplies as well as pick up a new batch of shinies. After their last deployment Rex was short two squads worth of men and figured he might get a better pick of the bunch if he came to get them personally
“Commander” Captain Rex greets as he approaches the end of the hanger
There stands Commander Colt of the Rancor battalion he over sees the final phases of testing for the cadets before they graduate.
“Captain Rex I’m glad you came to oversee the shinies home yourself cause we need to talk” Colt said voice gruff
“Sounds serious what can I do for you commander?” The Captain asked
“Walk with me” Colt instructed
They walked through the halls of Tipoca city for a few minutes silently before reaching Commander Colts office. Colt removes his helmet and sits behind his desk and motions for Rex to do the same as well.
“What is this about Commander?” Rex asks curious about Colts sudden secrecy
“I’ve picked you out a real fine group of soldiers but I have a favor to ask I know it might seem like more responsibility but I need you to help me out here” Colt explained
“What kind of responsibility are we talking about Commander?” Rex asked leaning back in his chair crossing his arms in front of him
Colt sighed and looked Rex in the eyes
“I’ve got two squads for you but one was a group of four that I’ve recently added a fifth too. Tup he’s my add on is a few cycles younger then the squad he’s been placed with” Colt began
“Just how young are we talking?” Rex asked eyes slightly narrowed
“Tup is 8 or by nat standards 16” Colt started
“Kriff Colt” Rex groaned
“Look Rex there was an incident that led to Tup’s batch mates being decommissioned a few cycles back and since then he’s been in advanced training and has graduated with his temp squad but he’s got issues he’s shy almost scared to be around other vod he’s a bit sensitive but he’s smart and a good soldier but he needs brothers like you are torrent to guide him and help him trust his vod again” Colt explains almost pleads
Rex takes in everything The commander has told him and nods
“okay but I’m going to need a little more information on this kid” Rex agrees the relief in Colt’s eyes let him know he’s made the right choice.
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Tups hands trembled behind his back as he stood at attention with his squad before Commander Colt and his new Captain
“I’m Captain Rex here in a minute we will be boarding our shuttle back to the Resolute where we will then return to Coruscant.” He says tone strong and unwavering as he gives his direction
Tup can see other troopers gathering closer to their transports as they to prepare to leave Kamino.
“Welcome to the 501st men we are happy to have you” Captain Rex finished as Tup tuned back into his speech
Rex and by the looks of them two ARC troopers headed towards the shuttle Tup followed behind the squads as they filed in Tup being the last aboard.
Tup rung his hands nervously as his squad mates began to talk amongst themselves softly. He moved to stand at the back of the group putting just enough space between himself and everyone else for him to catch his breath a little.
His gut felt like it was doing flips as the shuttle left Kamino the thought of being surrounded by strangers, men he was supposed to consider brothers left him trembling. He caught the glances the Captain and the two ARC troopers were throwing at him but tried to ignore it.
He sniffles on a shaky breath and tries to focus on the weight of his armor and the hum of the shuttle’s engine. He lets it ground him let’s the weight hold him together so he doesn’t fall apart.
As they land and are directed on to the Resolute Tup let’s himself hope for just a second that things will be different with the 501st that he’ll go unnoticed and unbothered for his duration of the war that he’ll live simply till he dies in combat.
But dread quickly sets in, Tup knows that dying in battle would be to easy a death for him, he deserved to suffer.
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As the shinies settle into their new barracks Tup fidgets with his helmet in his lap trying to keep his eyes from wandering around the room. Looking up would be like an open invitation for harassment from his fellow troopers.
Tup had claimed the bottom bunk is the far left corner of the room Dogma one of the older clones from the squad he’d been paired with took the top.
They had been told to settle in for the ride back to Coruscant, that they should rest and by next rotation they’d arrive on Coruscant where they’d be till their next deployment.
Tup stood and carefully stripped off his armor stacking it carefully to regulation standard cause he knew Dogma was a stickler for Regs and he wasn’t in the mood for a lecture. He reached up to take his top knot out ready to just sleep the whole time to avoid being around anyone.
Tup’s hair fell down to his shoulders he ran his fingers through it as he moved to sit back on his bunk.
“I sure hope our new Captain will put you in your place and finally make you shave that mop” one of his squad mate jeered
“Oh don’t pick on the princess you’ll make him cry” another clone teased
Tup hated the attention he sat on his bed shoulders pulled up to his ears he wished he had his helmet on as he felt the tell tale prick in his eyes. He kept his back to his squad mates trying to ignore them.
He knew some of the teasing was supposed to be in good fun at least most of the time, but the older clones were also known to use Tup as their scapegoat or take their frustrations out on him cause he wouldn’t stick up for himself.
“Aww Tup’ika don’t you dare cry already you baby he’s just teasing” another groaned obviously reading Tup’s body language
“See the Captain is gonna take one look at princess crybaby and his luscious locks and think we’re all a bunch of pansies” the other clone continued
Tup knew it to be Rock he was the most gruff of the older squad he’d been placed with the most common to tease and mock Tup for his hair or age or any weakness Tup showed.
“Regulation says as long as hair is well groomed, away from the face and doesn’t inhibit the ability to wear your bucket or preform in battle you can have whatever hair style you choose” Dogma defends
Its repetitive at this point they all know he’s said it a million times but it doesn’t defer the taunting from Rock. Justin the sort of leader of their squad sighs as the bickering between his brothers beings.
Dogma and Rock huff insults at eachother as the four of them make for the door to the main hall probably heading to the mess for late meal.
“You coming Tup?” Casper asks stopping just before the door to turn and look back at his brother
Tup just shakes his head back still turned to the other clones he hears a sigh before the door is hissing shut. He lets himself slump a bit his anxiety quelled a bit at finally being alone.
He curls up on his bunk pulling his blanket over him facing the wall in front of him he feels his throat clench and squeeze he knows there’s no point in trying not to cry he will sooner or later and he’s likely not going to be alone in the bunk room for long.
As the tears begin to stream his breath hitches softly as he cries he’s so scared and it hard to place of what exactly he’s scared of. Is it the thought of fighting in a war or being in a new place or is he afraid of the clones that will soon fill the barracks with him.
His anxiety returns full force at that thought his stomach clenching a sob falling from his lips quickly muted by slapping a hand over his mouth. He continues to tremble through sobs under his blanket terrified at the thought of being around to many other clones.
Tup has always been shy, painfully so. Even as a young cadet Tup would fill the rise of panic when the attention fell on him but after what happened with his batch mates Tup was more than just shy he was terrified.
He couldn’t stand to be touched by other clones he couldn’t participate in the easy comfort they all seemed to fall into always touching in eachothers space they seemed to crave touch from their brothers.
Tup thinks maybe at one point he had craved it too, but now he just feels this growing pit of dread he can’t trust his so called brothers not after what happened.
The long haired teen cried himself into a fitful sleep after awhile a few clones would begin to trickle in and out of the bunk room around the sleeping clone.
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Echo didn’t usually stop by the bunk room in the main barracks on the resolute as torrent had a private room together but he figured he’d grab any shinies that looked lost and lead them to the mess.
But as he looked around it seemed the only shiny around was the long hair clone Rex had pulled him and Fives aside to talk about. He walked closer to the boy at the back of the room and saw that he was fast asleep in his bunk.
The teen was laying on he back head lulled to the side his eyes looked puffy and red and his cheeks damp it was obvious the boy had cried himself to sleep.
Echo’s heart clenched when Rex had explained that they were taking on such a young clone he had said that he needed to be looked after had said something had happened that left him afraid of his brothers.
And once again his heart gave a painful squeeze at the sight of the sleeping teen he couldn’t imagine how lonely he’d feel without his brothers he relied on them for comfort and support they all did and for the vod’ika to be all alone seemed awful to him.
With a final look Echo headed out of the room and to the mess deciding to let his new little brother sleep.
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Rex looked around the mess trying to spot his new shinies around the room but came up empty and he sighed
“What’s wrong?” Fives asked across from him
“I don’t see any of our shinies” he explained
Fives hummed and turned to scan the room as well his eyes drift to the door as it slides open and in walks the shinies he laughs and nods towards the door and Rex follows his gaze.
Rex studies the group for a moment quickly realizing there’s only nine. He immediately scans for the top knot or long hair he’s been told belongs to Tup and comes up empty
“My problem child seems to be missing” he sighs he had honestly hoped Colt was being dramatic and over protective but it seems the young vod is already avoiding his brothers.
“He cried himself to sleep” Echos voice chimes next to him as he slips into his seat
Fives raises a questioning brow at his twin
“Went to see if the shinies would need help finding anything and the only one there was Tup long hair all over his pillow and his eyes red and puffy” Echo explained
“poor kid” Fives huffs
“what could possibly had happened to this kid” Echo asks
“I already told you Commander Colt didn’t tell me much just that he got hurt really bad” Rex sighed
“yeah and it got his batch decommissioned so they did something to the kid” Fives almost growls
“It’s not our business if he tells us it’s his choice our only job is to show the kid he doesn’t need to be afraid of his brothers” Rex says
The two ARC troopers nod and they all eat conversations picks up as more of torrent company trickles into the mess.
Word about the new shiny was passed through Rex’s company he knew he had some of the most caring brothers around and with all of them he was starting to feel a bit more confident in taking care of Tup.