Reena and Blackie decided to try this restaurant that everyone was raving about: However Blackie found himself unable to enjoy it.
"Hey I know you're worried about what happened but you gotta try and relax" Reena looked at him with sympathetic eyes.
"I know I'm sorry it's just hard to when I know at any moment he could strike again" Blackie sighed.
"And if he does he will get the claws" Reena said.
A robotic waitress brought them their food. Blackie finally started to relax as he enjoyed the tasty nerf steak that he was eating, it was the best thing he had ever eaten not that it's saying much considering all clones get to eat is ration bars or the bland stuff they get in the messhall.
"Man this food is delicious I wonder who the owner is" Reena said.
"You wish to speak to the owner?" a passing robot waitress asked.
"Oh no I was just wondering" Reena said.
"I'll go get him" the robot left before anything more could be said.
A few moments later the owner came out, Blackie's breath caught in his throat and he nearly choked on his food. The owner was a red haired clone, his emotions came out faster than he could control them. He began to cry as he stood up and gave him a hug.
"Aww it's alright brother" he hugged him back.
"Wow you're a clone" Reena said.
"Yep I'm Fever and I'm the owner of this establishment, you wanted to speak to me?" Fever said.
"Oh I just wanted to say that this food is amazing," Reena said.
"Well thank you very much" he smiled.
After a few minutes of sobbing uncontrollably Blackie finally pulled himself together and released his death grip on Fever, he sat with them.
"Sorry about that I guess I miss my brothers more than I originally thought" Blackie was rather embarrassed.
"It's ok I understand I miss them too sometimes plus I can tell you're one of those newer clones" Fever said.
"Also I confess that I've been getting eaten alive by guilt ever since I left the Republic I guess it eases the guilt a bit to know I'm not the only one" Blackie admitted.
"I get it you felt like a traitor and a coward when you deserted so did I but I don't regret my decision to leave because this is what I really love doing not fighting in some war" Fever said.
"How did you afford all this? I mean it's not like they paid us" Blackie asked.
"Well I sacrificed sleep and took on side jobs to earn credits and when I raised enough to buy this building I went on patrol and never returned. It was easy since I was in the Coruscant Guard. What about you?" Fever asked.
"Well my first mission was a total disaster that resulted in all but one of my squadmates' deaths and when I found out it was all the fault of a Jedi I just questioned everything" Blackie sighed.
"Well It's always nice to see a brother following his dreams" Fever said.
"The problem is I don't know what my dream is exactly, I just wanted to get away from the war. I didn't really think about where I was going or what I wanted to do, how did you know that you wanted to own your own restaurant?" Blackie said.
"Well I've always been interested in cooking but also since clones usually aren't welcome in many place I just wanted to open a restaurant were everyone would feel welcomed also I get to meet a lot of people some have some pretty interesting stories, I've met many friends here I just love it" Fever smiled.
"Well as of right now I'm working at a hair salon but I don't really know what I want to do with my life. Does that make me a loser?" Blackie was worried.
"Of course not some people know what they want to do their whole lives others it takes decades to find out everyone is different and there's no time limit" Fever reassured him.
"However I do have an offer for you, I know you said you work at a hair salon but that's out of necessity right?Well I would love for you to come work here with me it would be nice to have a brother around again. I never thought I would miss seeing my own face everywhere" Fever chuckled.
"Wow that's uh very generous I…I don't know what to say" Blackie swallowed hard as he thought about what Essami said.
"Of course you can take your time and think about it" Fever said.
"Hey Blackie there's still a lot to do for the gala so I'm going to head home now, I'll see you later" Reena stood up and was walking away.
Blackie watched her worriedly. Was she mad?. He had to admit that women were hard to read sometimes so he didn't always know how they were feeling; he noticed the way her ears drooped. He did do something wrong, there was no way he could let her leave without apologizing. He stood up to go after her but he realized it would be rude to just up and leave Fever.
"Go ahead brother" Fever seemed to read his mind.
He thanked Fever and hurried out of the restaurant.
"Reena wait! I'm sorry did I do something wrong" he felt really bad.
"I'm sorry I left in such a hurry I just felt left out" Reena looked sad.
"I'm so sorry I didn't mean to make you feel that way, you are right I was supposed to be there hanging out with you but I was too busy talking to Fever I'm really sorry" he apologized.
"No no don't be I know you were just really happy to see one of your brothers," she said.
"But still I made you feel left out and I'm sorry I'll make it up to you I promise" he placed his hand on her cheek. She nuzzled his hand and purred.
"Do you have to go home right now can't we hang out a little longer?" he asked flirtatiously.
"I'd like nothing more," she purred lovingly.
As they were walking Blackie could tell something was bothering her.
"Hey I'm sorry too I should have just been happy for you I know you've had a lot on your mind lately I should have been more supportive at least you were relaxed and happy" Reena looked at him with guilt in her eyes.
"It's ok don't give it a second thought" Blackie squeezed her hand.
They walked hand in hand enjoying each other's company and for a moment Blackie forgot the troubles of his life. They sat in front of a beautiful fountain and just talked and laughed. Blackie admired the way she looked in the sunlight. He just felt at ease with her like he didn't have to worry about a thing, he wished all his brothers could know this feeling she noticed he was staring at her and he turned away and blushed.
"Like what you see" she batted her eyelashes at him.
"Very much," he said.
"Oh you" she giggled and leaned into him.
The sun was setting by the time they reached the Minnau manor. He was sad as he didn't want their time together to end.
"Well thanks for walking me home, are you sure you're going to be ok?" Reena worried.
"Yes I promise I'll head straight over to the salon I'll get there in time to walk home with Scoria" he said.
"Well ok if you're sure I'll see you tomorrow" Reena hugged him.
He hugged her back and didn't want to let go. "You know I've never properly thanked you" he said.
"Thanked me for what?" Reena tilted her head.
"For taking my mind off everything that's happening and just being here for me" he said.
"As I said it's what mates do and if it means I get to spend more time with you then you know I'll be there" Reena smiled at him.
"Well I'll see you tomorrow" Blackie said as he left.
As he was walking down the street he was on cloud nine, he never imagined he would find such an amazing woman who made him so happy, after meeting her he definitely knows he made the right choice in leaving the Republic, he wished he could find some way to show Reena how much he appreciated her. Perhaps Scoria would have some ideas after all she was a woman so she would know what women like. He couldn't wait to tell her about the day he's had
He was so lost in his thoughts that he forgot to check his surroundings, he didn't notice the dark figure glaring at him from an alleyway nor did he notice the figure emerge from the alleyway.
"Hey look out!" he heard someone shout he didn't have time to react before he felt a piercing pain in his chest and he collapsed. He hardly registered what happened before everything went black.