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Quiet Nook

Summary:

Fox is feeling conflicted, but Thorn helps.

Notes:

Whumptober Prompt 5: Enemy to Caretaker | Imposter Syndrome | Haircut | “I always make things worse.”
Corrie Week Prompt 2: That's Not How The Force Works/Inappropriate Use Of The Force
Flufftober prompt 5: Reading Nook
Fictober Prompt 5: "Are you sure you want to say this?"

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

"Fox?"

Fox curled up tighter, feeling particularly shamed when Thorn only sat down in the nook with him and didn't even bother asking to see his face. He didn't speak first either. Presumably he was either waiting patiently or maybe was actually using the nook for its intended purpose of reading. All Fox had known when he picked it for his moping thinking was that there were no Jedi around, and no signs there would be any around for some time. So eventually, the silence feeling heavier with someone else there next to him, Fox decided to speak.

"I always made things worse." He swallowed and continued past the disagreeing sound Thorn made, cutting off whatever he might have replied with. "I- I kept everything quiet, rather than trusting the rest of the GAR. Our brothers. Whatever it's like now... I think maybe they don't need me."

"Are you sure that's how you want to present things?" Thorn asked, quiet, but firm. "I know of a large number of us who would disagree with you. And your batchmates are kind of terrifying."

Fox couldn't help his snort. They had been focused during the war, and now with everything transitioning to clean up and the like, they were pretty unbearable in their need to get everything organized and settled. Not Fox though. Despite everything, or because of it-

"I can't do what they are. I. I don't feel like a commander. Like I was just wandering around faking everything and now it's... obvious."

"You don't have to be a commander."

"Hm."

"Everything was karked from the start, okay? You didn't do that. Anyway, even if all you can think of is the 'could haves', I know everyone else who knew you, at least all the Guard, we remember the things you did for us. I mean-" Thorn paused, laughing a bit, and Fox turned his head enough to see Thorn over his shoulder, a hand ruffling at the back of his head. "You helped with my hair. Despite the regs I definitely broke."

Very true. It was down to his shoulders, mostly curly, but bleached and dyed a bright blonde. It was nice to see it looking nicer now than it had been during the war. Probably one of his Jedi friends was helping him find the types of haircare products which no clone--least of all any in the CG--would have had access to before.

Thorn noticed his look, and the glint in his eyes gained a hint of mischief. "Yours is getting longer too, you know. What, can't the force help you cut it?"

"That's not how the force works," Fox said, rolling his eyes.

"That you know."

With a sigh, Fox uncurled and turned, sitting up properly next to Thorn. He wasn't going to be getting any peace at the moment anyway. And maybe he didn't mind that. It was a good reminder that, despite the discovery of whatever Force-kark was going on with him, Fox... wasn't alone. He had his family, no matter what he worried about. They were both determined and sometimes--often--lacking in common sense.

"-And besides which," Thorn continued with his tangent, "if you use the Force on a lightsaber, and use it to cut hair-"

...Yeah, Fox definitely needed to stick around; to keep them from accidentally cutting off their own hands, if nothing else.

Notes:

We need a little more fluff before we get into some more angst this month. ( ‵▽′)ψ

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